Dorchester Company
The Dorchester Company of Adventurers was a
safe haven on the North American Coast where supplies could be stored. This was established at Cape Ann.[3]
The Dorchester Company was composed of members of White's congregations in addition to other Puritans that he contacted. They chose to establish a colony at Cape Ann instead of Plymouth because the pilgrims there had a separatist orientation.[4] The company had 119 members.[5] After selecting the destination, the company contracted 14 sailors who were willing to sail and help establish the settlement. The company closed due to a lack of funding.[4]
Although the company only existed for three years it played a significant role in the later development of the
Massachusetts Bay Company. White, who was still intent on establishing a colony, was able to transfer Dorchester Company's charter to a new group, the New England Company for a Plantation in Massachusetts Bay or more commonly known as the New England Company.[4] Six of the original members of the Dorcherster Company were able to sail and join the Massachusetts Bay Company.[5] The new trading association also included West Country men that had interests in the Dorchester Company such as Thomas Southcott, John Brown, and John Humfrey.[6]
References
- ^ "Dorchester Company of Adventurers". Oxford Reference. Oxford University. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-61423-286-5.
- ^ Palfrey, John G. "The Great Puritan Migration to New England – History Moments". historyweblog.com. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8239-3801-8.
- ^ JSTOR 24440500.
- ISBN 978-90-04-43139-3.