History of New England

By Mark Colvin
  • Jan 1, 1497

    New England Claimed

    Giovanni Caboto (John Cabot) claims New England for King Henry VII.
  • Jan 1, 1524

    French Expedition Commissioned

    King Francis I of France commissions Giovanni Da Verrazzano to lead an expedition to the New World.

  • Colonists Arrive in New England

    Bartholomew Gosnold and other colonists arrived in New England, named Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard and set up a colony that lasted 3 weeks.

  • British Pilgrims settle in Massachusetts

    British Pilgrims settled in Massachusetts after 'The Mayflower' lands in New England, starting a permanent European settlement in the New World

  • First Thanksgiving

    First Thanksgiving celebrated in New England after Governor William Bradford announced a 3 day feast after a successful harvest, following the winter when half of the first 102 colonisers died.

  • Mystic Massacre occurs during Pequot War

    Many Pequot villages are burned down after the Pequot Indians start a riot, leading to a 4 year war between the Pequots and the British.

  • Portsmouth Founded

    Town of Portsmouth founded in Rhode Island.

  • King Philip's War

    King Philip's War breaks out between the Wampanoag tribes and the British colonizers and resulted in the deaths of 40% of the tribe's population. Most of the male survivors were sold into slavery in the West Indies. Many women and children were enslaved in New England.

  • Salem Witch Trials

    Witch Trials held in Salem, Massachusetts where 156 people were accused of being witches and 56 pleaded guilty and 21 were killed.

  • American Revolution

    American Revolution and independence day occurred, meaning that the 13 US colonies disconnected themselves from the British Empire. The people of New England had been fighting with the British and the congress secretly approved the US Declaration of Independence and separated their new Country from Britain on July 2, 1776.