Dorchester Company

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The Dorchester Company was a short-lived settlement society in the 17th century.

history

Puritans under the leadership of the Reverend John White , active in Dorchester , founded a company in 1623 that had the aim of trading with the colony of Virginia and exploiting the fishing grounds off New England, as well as establishing a settlement on Cape Ann .

The first attempt at settlement took place in 1623 near what is now Gloucester , but supply difficulties forced the colony to give up in 1626; most of the settlers returned to England. The company was then dissolved, but was re-established as the New England Company in 1628 under the leadership of John Endicott . A group of emigrants under his leadership went to New England to reunite with the remaining settlers under the leadership of Roger Conant in Naumkeag, today's Salem .

In 1629 the Massachusetts Bay Company emerged from the New England Company after it had been guaranteed extensive autonomy by the royal charter of March 4, 1629.

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