Plymouth Company facts for kids
The 1606 grants by King James I to the London and Plymouth companies. The yellow area was given to both companies. They could not build settlements within 100 miles of each other.
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Trade name
|
Plymouth Company |
|---|---|
| Part of the Virginia Company | |
| Industry | Shipping, trade |
| Fate | Closed down |
| Founded | (10 April 1606) at Westminster, England |
| Founder | King James I |
| Defunct | 24 May 1624 |
| Headquarters |
,
England
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Area served
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New England |
| Products | Cash crops, wood |
The Plymouth Company, also known as the Virginia Company of Plymouth, was a group of English business people. They were part of a larger organization called the Virginia Company. Their main job was to help England set up new settlements along the eastern coast of America. They were in charge of the area between what is now Philadelphia and Canada.
Contents
How the Plymouth Company Started
In the early 1600s, England wanted to create colonies in North America. These colonies would help England get new resources and become more powerful. So, in 1606, King James I gave permission for two companies to do this.
One company was the London Company, which focused on the southern part of the coast. The other was the Plymouth Company, which was given the northern part. These companies were made up of merchants and investors. They put money together to pay for ships, supplies, and settlers to travel across the ocean. In return, they hoped to make a profit from the goods the colonies would produce.
Early Attempts to Build Colonies
The Plymouth Company tried to start its first colony in 1607. This settlement was called the Popham Colony. It was located in what is now the state of Maine. The Popham Colony was meant to be a northern partner to the Jamestown Colony, which the London Company started in the south.
However, the Popham Colony faced many challenges. The winter was very harsh, and the settlers struggled to survive. After only one year, in 1608, the Popham Colony was abandoned. The settlers returned to England.
Changes and New Plans
For several years after the Popham Colony failed, the Plymouth Company did not do much. But in 1620, the company was given a new chance. It was reorganized and renamed the Plymouth Council for New England.
With a new official document, called the New England Charter of 1620, the company had new rules and goals. About 40 people who had invested in the company became "patentees." This meant they had special rights to the land. The Council for New England was set up to manage their efforts to build new settlements.
The End of the Company
Even with its new name and plans, the Plymouth Council for New England struggled. It stopped operating in 1624. At that time, many of the early colonies in America became "Royal Colonies." This meant they were no longer controlled by private companies. Instead, they were directly governed by the King of England.
The Plymouth Company played an important role in the early history of English settlement in North America. Even though its first colony failed, its efforts helped set the stage for future colonies in the New England area.
