John Winthrop was an English Puritan lawyer and a leading figure in the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the second major settlement in New England following Plymouth Colony. Winthrop led the first large wave of colonists from England in 1630 and served as governor for 12 of the colony's first 20 years. His writings and vision of the colony as a Puritan "city upon a hill" dominated New England colonial development, influencing the governments and religions of neighboring colonies in addition to those of Massachusetts.
A 17th century portrait of Winthrop
Winthrop's eldest son John Winthrop the Younger
John Endecott preceded Winthrop as governor in Massachusetts
Engraving showing Winthrop's arrival at Salem
The Massachusetts Bay Colony (1628–1691), more formally the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, was an English settlement on the east coast of North America around the Massachusetts Bay, one of the several colonies later reorganized as the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The lands of the settlement were in southern New England, with initial settlements on two natural harbors and surrounding land about 15.4 miles (24.8 km) apart—the areas around Salem and Boston, north of the previously established Plymouth Colony. The territory nominally administered by the Massachusetts Bay Colony covered much of central New England, including portions of Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Connecticut.
John Winthrop, who led the first large wave of colonists from England in 1630 and served as governor for 12 of the colony's first 20 years
Constructed in 1641, the Fairbanks House is a First Period home with clapboard siding
Salem Common was established as a village green in 1667
Quaker Mary Dyer was hanged on Boston Common in 1660