March 4: Royal Charter is granted for economically successful Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The founding of Massachusetts Bay Colony encompasses a history of both religion and business. Colonies had only been established in New England, the first being Jamestown, named after the king of England (King James I / King James VI of Scotland) in 1607. In 1624, the colonization of this area had been unsuccessful, but in 1628, with a burst of emigration, the colony would be founded successfully.

On this day, March 4th, in 1629, King James I would grant a royal charter of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The colony covers portions of modern day Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and of course, as the very name of the colony infers, Massachusetts.

The formation and granting of the royal charter is cloaked in ambiguity because of the intent for the colony. As is well known, Puritans came to the New World to escape persecution in England. Ironically enough of the Puritans themselves became incredibly religiously intolerant. When King James I signed the royal charter, it was under the guise that this would be strictly business, but as history unfolded, it became clear that the intention was to house the Puritan community. King James wasn’t wholly incorrect, as the Massachusetts Bay Colony proved to be very economically successful while trading with England and the West Indies.