Founding Documents

Fundamental Orders of 1639

Fundamental Orders of 1639

For as much as it hath pleased Almighty God by the wise disposition of his divine providence so to order and dispose of things that we the Inhabitants and Residents of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield are now cohabiting and dwelling in and upon the River of Connectecotte and the lands thereunto adjoining; and well knowing […]
The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina – March 1, 1669

The Fundamental Constitutions of Carolina – March 1, 1669

Our sovereign lord the King having, out of his royal grace and bounty, granted unto us the province of Carolina, with all the royalties, properties, jurisdictions, and privileges of a county palatine, as large and ample as the county palatine of Durham, with other great privileges; for the better settlement of the government of the […]
Plantation Agreement at Providence August 27 – September 6, 1640

Plantation Agreement at Providence August 27 – September 6, 1640

Wee, Robert Coles, Chad Browne, William Harris, and John Warner, being freely chosen by the consent of our loving friends and neighbors the Inhabitants of this Towne of Providence, having many dig erences amongst us, they being freely willing and also bound themselves to stand to our Arbitration in all differences amongst us to rest […]
Quintipartite Deed of Revision, Between E. and W Jersey – July 1st, 1676

Quintipartite Deed of Revision, Between E. and W Jersey – July 1st, 1676

This indenture, quintipartite, made the first day of July, Anno Domini1676, and in the eighth and twentieth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord King Charles, the Second, over England, &c. Between Sir George Carteret, of Saltrum, in the County of Devon, knight and baronet, and one of his Majesty s most honourable privy […]
Resolutions of The Germantown Mennonites – February 18, 1688

Resolutions of The Germantown Mennonites – February 18, 1688

This is to the monthly meeting held at Richard Worrell’s: These are the reasons why we are against the traffic of men-body, as followeth: Is there any that would be done or handled at this manner? viz., to be sold or made a slave for all the time of his life? How fearful and faint-hearted […]
Royal Commission for Regulating Plantations – April 28, 1634

Royal Commission for Regulating Plantations – April 28, 1634

Charles, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc.. To the right reverend father in God, our right trusty and wellbeloved counselor, William, by the providence of God, Archbishop of Canterbury, primate and metropolitan of all England; to our right trusty and well-beloved counselor, Thomas, Lord […]
The Second Charter of Virginia – May 23, 1609

The Second Charter of Virginia – May 23, 1609

JAMES, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France. and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all, to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. WHEREAS, at the humble Suit and Request of sundry our loving and well-disposed Subjects, intending to deduce a Colony, and to make Habitation and Plantation of sundry our […]
The Third Charter of Virginia – March 12, 1611

The Third Charter of Virginia – March 12, 1611

JAMES, by the Grace of God, King of England;, Scotland, France, and Ireland;, Defender of the Faith; To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. WHEREAS at the humble Suit of divers and sundry our loving Subjects, as well Adventurers as Planters of the first Colony in Virginia, and for the Propagation of Christian […]
Frame of Government of Pennsylvania – February 2, 1683

Frame of Government of Pennsylvania – February 2, 1683

The Frame of the Government of the Province of Pennsylvania and, Territories thereunto annexed, in America. To all persons, to whom these presents may come. Whereas king Charles the Second, by his letters patents, under the great seal of England, bearing date the fourth day of March in the thirty and third year of the lying, for […]
The Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England; May 19, 1643

The Articles of Confederation of the United Colonies of New England; May 19, 1643

The Articles of Confederation betwixt the Plantations under the Government of the Massachusetts, the Plantations under the Government of Plimouth, the Plantations under the Government of Connecticut, and the Government of New Haven with the Plantations in Combination therewith: WHEREAS we all came into these parts of America with one and the same end and […]
Charter of Carolina – March 24, 1663

Charter of Carolina – March 24, 1663

CHARLES the Second, by the grace of God, king of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c., To all to whom these present shall come: Greeting: 1st. Whereas our right trusty, and right well beloved cousins and counsellors, Edward Earl of Clarendon, our high chancellor of England, and George Duke of Albemarle, […]
Charter of Carolina – June 30, 1665

Charter of Carolina – June 30, 1665

CHARLES the Second, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. WHEREAS, by our Letters Patents, bearing date the twenty-fourth day of March, in the fifteenth year of our reign, We were graciously pleased to grant unto our right trusty and right well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor […]
Charter of Connecticut – 1662

Charter of Connecticut – 1662

CHARLES the Second, by the Grace of GOD, KING of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting. Whereas by the several Navigations, Discoveries, and Successful Plantations of divers of Our loving Subjects of this Our Realm of England, several lands, Islands, Places, Colonies, […]
The Charter of New England – 1620

The Charter of New England – 1620

JAMES, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. to all whom these Presents shall come, Greeting, Whereas, upon the humble Petition of divers of our well disposed Subjects, that intended to make several Plantations in the Parts of America, between the Degrees of thirty-ffoure and […]
Charter of the Dutch West India Company – 1621

Charter of the Dutch West India Company – 1621

The States-General of the United Netherlands, to all who shall see these Presents, or hear them read, Greeting. Be it known, that we knowing the prosperity of these countries, and the welfare of their inhabitants depends principally on navigation and trade, which in all former times by the said Countries were carried on happily, and […]
The Combinations of the Inhabitants Upon the Piscataqua River for Government, 1641

The Combinations of the Inhabitants Upon the Piscataqua River for Government, 1641

Whereas sundry Mischiefs and Inconveniences have befallen us, and more and greater may, in regard of want of Civill Government, his gracious Majesty haveing settled no order for us, to our knowledge wee chose names are underwritten, being Inhabitants upon the River of Pascataqua have voluntary agreed to combine ourselves into a body Politick, that […]
Commission of John Cutt, 1680

Commission of John Cutt, 1680

The Com’ission constituting a President & Councell for ye Province of New Hampshire in New-England Charles ye Second, &c, To all to whom these prsents shall come Greeting Whereas Our Colony of ye Massachusetts als Mattachusetts bay in New-England in America, have taken upon themselves to exercise a Government & Jurisdiction, over ye Inhabitants & […]