Everybody knows that the first settlers of Massachusetts were Puritans, who came here to get away from persecution in England. But beyond that, we usually don’t know much of their story— who was persecuting them? What did they do to get themselves persecuted? The common stereotype of the Puritans—a bunch of gloomy religious fanatics who were happy only when spoiling other people’s fun—doesn’t fill most of us with eagerness to make their acquaintance. But they were a more interesting bunch than that stereotype suggests. Knowing the Puritans better probably wouldn’t make most people want to join up, but there are good reasons to give them at least some respect.
- Home
- Documented Beginnings
- Cambridge Farmers' Petition, 1682
- General Court Response, 1682
- Cambridge's Counterpetition, 1683
- General Court's Two Responses, 1683
- Survey Committee Appointment Order, 1684
- Survey Committee Report and Map, 1684
- General Court's Two Responses, 1684
- Intermission, 1684–1691
- Order Granting the Farmers’ Petition, 1691
- Cambridge Farms Parish Covenant, 1696
- Cambridge Town Records, 1712–1713
- Order Making Lexington a Town, 1713
- Cambridge on the Map
- Lexington on the Map
- Colonial Contexts
- Site Map
