Certain settlements in New England before 1633 added greatly to the character of the Rhode Island and Massachusetts colonies.

They are: 

• those settled by Thomas Weston in 1622; 
• settlers who arrived with Robert Gorges in 1623; 
• those sent by the Dorchester Company to the Cape Ann settlement, from 1624 to 1628; 
• those sent by the Company with Capt. John Endecott aboard the Abigail, 1628; 
• those who came with Rev. Francis Higginson and Rev. Samuel Skelton in the fleet of 1629, and established Salem town; 
• the passengers of the Mary & John who founded Dorchester, 1630; 
• the settlers who came with the Winthrop fleet of 1630; and those who came on the relief ships;
• certain pre-1633 permanent settlers of Piscataqua, Sagadahoc, and Maine.

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