NEW HAMPSHIRE - Known today as the Granite State and one of the original thirteen colonies, has a history that predates the formation of the United States. Like its New England neighbors, its identity evolved during the colonial era. So, what was New Hampshire called before it officially became a state?
Before the Granite State: Understanding New Hampshire's Colonial Name
The answer lies in its origins as a land grant under the English Crown.
The Province of New Hampshire (1629)
The primary designation for the region before statehood was the Province of New Hampshire.
- The Grant: In 1629, King Charles I of England granted a significant tract of land between the Merrimack and Piscataqua Rivers to Captain John Mason.
- The Naming: Mason officially named this territory the "Province of New Hampshire" in honor of his home county of Hampshire in England. This act formally established the geographical and political entity that would eventually become the state.
A Shifting Status: Royal Province and Part of Massachusetts
New Hampshire's colonial governance wasn't always straightforward. Its status shifted over time:
- Royal Province: Initially, it was established as a Royal Province, meaning it was under the direct authority and control of the English monarch.
- Under Massachusetts Jurisdiction: For several periods during the 17th century, due to political changes and administrative convenience, New Hampshire fell under the jurisdiction of the neighboring Massachusetts Bay Colony. During these times, it was sometimes referred to as the "Upper Province of Massachusetts".
- Self-Governing Royal Province: Despite periods under Massachusetts control, New Hampshire fiercely maintained its desire for autonomy. It eventually regained and solidified its status as a separate, self-governing Royal Province, distinct from Massachusetts, though still ultimately under the British Crown.
From Province to State
The Province of New Hampshire played its part in the growing tensions leading up to the American Revolution. Following the Declaration of Independence, it transitioned from a royal province to an independent state. New Hampshire was the ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution in 1788, the act which officially established the new government of the United States.
Before achieving statehood and becoming the New Hampshire we know today, the region was primarily known as the Province of New Hampshire. Established by charter in 1629 and named by its proprietor John Mason, this colonial designation reflects its origins under the English Crown. While its administrative status sometimes overlapped with Massachusetts, its identity as the Province of New Hampshire remained its core designation until it joined the newly formed United States.
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Sources:
- New Hampshire Historical Society
- New Hampshire State Archives
- Colonial Records of New Hampshire and Massachusetts Bay Colony
- Histories of Colonial New England
- Biographies of John Mason
