New England Colony New Hampshire Founded in 1623 Founded by John Wheelwright Presented by Mitchell Mogler and Annabelle Smith

Geographical Characteristics & Climate Ice and rocks cut deep valleys through the mountains. The glaciers scraped up the rich soil and pushed it south leaving a thin layer of dirt. Summers were warm, but winters were long and bitterly cold. The growing season lasted only from late May to early October.

Reason For Settlement Wanted economic freedom and religious freedom. Wanted economic freedom and religious freedom.

Religious Beliefs ! They were puritans. They were puritans. They disagreed with the church of England. They disagreed with the church of England. They wanted to make themselves and their church pure or free from fault. They wanted to make themselves and their church pure or free from fault.

Government / Laws They self – governed them selves. Usually only male church members could vote or serve in town government.

Settlements\ Homes They lived in small wooden houses with few rooms and windows. Most light came from candles or lamps. Many homes had just one main room with a huge fireplace. Wealthier families might have a second story or loft, where there would be more room for sleeping.

Education / Recreation Puritans wanted to be able to read the bible. Some parents taught there children how to read and write at home, but many New England towns had schools. Older boys could go on and study at colleges such as Harvard. Sports such as horseracing, and bowling were common. People also played an early version of baseball called town ball. In winter colonists went ice skating or sledding down hills.

Agriculture/ Manufacturing There Agriculture was potatoes and fishing. There manufacturing was textiles and shipbuilding.

Towns and cities The first settlement in New Hampshire was in 1623 by a Scottish man named David Thompson at the mouth of the Piscataqua River and was named Little Harbor. Edward Hilton a London fish merchant founded Dover 6 miles up the river. In 1631, some English colonists sent by John Mason began a town where wild strawberries grew. They called there town Strawberry Banke. It was later named Portsmouth.

Other Interesting Facts The French and Indian War had cost the English a lot. Now they had to raise money. So England started taxing the American colonists. The colonists hated those taxes. At first they just protested. But then they became fighting mad.

Important people to know John Mason. He was a English colonist who wanted to start a colony in New Hampshire. Martin Pring. He was the first known explorer in New Hampshire.