Adventures in Colonial America: Volume 5

New Hampshire: From One Colony, Two Independent States

By: Mary Baewer

Narrated by: Deren Hansen

The fifth installment in the Adventures in Colonial America series focuses on New Hampshire, another colony with a unique founding and history.

New Hampshire was founded through land grants issued to John Mason and Fernando Gorges in 1622. Unable to create a formal government for several years, the colony was split in two, each with its own governor. However, the divided usually fall and realizing their weakness, they sought protection from Massachusetts. Although New Hampshire was governed by Massachusetts, the Massachusetts legislature allowed New Hampshire some self-government.

Turbulent times were still ahead and in 1691, King William and Queen Mary issued charters that separated the two colonies permanently.

New Hampshire colonists were not satisfied fighting amongst themselves however; they also fought against other colonies, particularly New York and a territory known as the New Hampshire Grants, created by Benning Wentworth. The New Hampshire Grants, where Ethan Allen became famous, eventually became the 14th state - Vermont.

War was part of the colonial history of New Hampshire as it was in all the colonies, whether the fight was against local Native Indian tribes, against the New French, or against the British ultimately leading to independence. The Battles of Breed's Hill, Bunker Hill, Bennington, and Hubbardton will be examined, as will Father Le Loutre's War, the fifth in the French-Indian War series.

No survey would be complete without discussing the lives of the men from New Hampshire who were delegates to the Continental Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, who voted for independence and wrote what are probably the most important political documents in our nation's history.

©2014 Mary A. Baewer (P)2015 Mary A. Baewer