The Middle Colonies The Middle Colonies New York The Duke of York named the colony New York for the English. The location was an excellent seaport and the colony flourished with a diverse population and shipping industry. New Jersey The Duke of York divided his colony and gave the land to two English proprietors. Like New York, New Jersey had a diverse population. With no natural harbors, It did not become a major center of trade like New York. Pennsylvania Pennsylvania was founded by William Penn, a wealthy English Quaker. The Quakers were a Protestant group looking to escape religious persecution in England. The colony became the most popular port and Philadelphia the most prosperous city. Delaware The land in southern Pennsylvania had been settled by people from Sweden. When the English took over Pennsylvania, they allowed settlers in the southern counties to form their own legislature. These counties worked as a separate colony known as Delaware. Delaware still remained under the authority of Pennsylvania's governor.