Founding of Connecticut: Religious Freedom and the Puritan Migration

Connecticut's Origins: The Puritan Quest for Godly Commonwealth

Connecticut was founded by English Puritans seeking religious autonomy and economic opportunity. Unlike Massachusetts Bay (corporate charter), Connecticut emerged from congregational migration—entire church communities relocating with their ministers.

Key Settlements (1633-1639)

• Windsor (1633): Plymouth traders establish post at Matianuck; Dorchester congregation follows 1635.
• Wethersfield (1634): "Ten Adventurers" from Watertown, MA; oldest permanent English settlement.
• Hartford (1636): Thomas Hooker leads 100+ from Newtown (Cambridge), MA. "Fundamental Orders" (1639) = first written constitution.
• Saybrook (1635): Fort at Connecticut River mouth; Lion Gardiner for Saybrook Company.
• New Haven (1638): Davenport/Eaton company; distinct "Bible Commonwealth" theocracy.

Why Leave Massachusetts?

• Land Pressure: Growing families, limited arable land in MA Bay.
• Religious Differences: Hooker disagreed with Cotton/Winthrop on suffrage (property vs. church membership), church-state relations.
• Economic Opportunity: Connecticut River valley's fertile meadows, fur trade access, Long Island Sound ports.

Unification and Charter

River towns (Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield) formed Connecticut Colony 1639. New Haven Colony separate until 1662. Royal Charter (1662) from Charles II—remarkably generous self-governance—secured boundaries and legitimacy. Survived Andros' Dominion of New England (1687) when charter hidden in Charter Oak.

Revolutionary Legacy

Connecticut's tradition of self-government, written constitution, and militia system (Israel Putnam, Nathan Hale) made it a Patriot stronghold. 5th state to ratify US Constitution (Jan 9, 1788)—"The Constitution State."