The English settlements in Eastern North America, ca. 1700

By 1700, the English settlements in Eastern North America had expanded and new colonies had been established. Here are some notable English settlements around 1700: 

Province of Massachusetts Bay: including major towns such as Boston, Salem, and Charlestown, it remained an influential  English-speaking region.

Province of New Hampshire: Portsmouth, Dover, and Exeter continue to be significant settlements.

Connecticut Colony: predominantly composed of English Puritans; the main settlement was established at Hartford, with other major towns including New Haven, Saybrook, and Windsor.

Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations: it continued to thrive as a center of religious freedom; significant towns: Providence, Newport, and Portsmouth.

Province of New York: New Amsterdam had been renamed New York in 1664 and became a major English-speaking town under the new administration.

Province of Pennsylvania: founded by William Penn, Philadelphia had become a major city and an important English settlement in the region.

Province of New Jersey: in 1702, the provinces of East and West Jersey are again combined into one colony, sharing governor with New York; the ex-capitals, Perth Amboy and Burlington, continue as seats of government for the colony’s divisions.

Province of Maryland: by 1700, with St. Mary’s City declining, Annapolis became the colony’s capital and a thriving settlement.

Province of Virginia: Jamestown remained a prominent settlement, but the colony’s capital is transferred in 1699 to Williamsburg.

Province of Carolina: founded in 1663, the province had split into two separate entities by 1700: Albemarle province in the north and Clarendon province in the south. In 1712, the provinces became separate colonies with Bath serving as the capital of North Carolina and Charles Town (Charleston) as the capital of South Carolina.

These English settlements played a crucial role on the development of the British colonies in North America, forming the foundation for the later United States of America. They experienced growth in population, trade, and cultural exchange during the 17th century, setting the stage for the subsequent expansion and development of the colonies.