Dominion of New England: Polity Style: 1686-1689

Dominion of New England: Polity Style: 1686-1689
25 May/4 Jun 1686	the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, the Provinces of New Hampshire and Maine and the Narragansett Country (King's Province) are placed under the administration of the President and Council of the Territory and Dominion of New England in accordance with a royal commission to Joseph Dudley of 8/18 Oct 1685 which was read and published on 25 May/4 Jun 1686 in Boston (Massachusetts Royal Commissions, pp. 37-43; Dudley Records, pp. 226-230) [1]
25 May/4 Jun 1686 - 18/28 Apr 1689	Territory and Dominion of New England in America
18/28 Apr 1689	the government of the Dominion in Boston ceased to function as a result of the coup d'état of 18/28 Apr 1689 (Andros Tracts, 1:3-10) [2]


[1]	According to the royal commission to the President and Council (8/18 Oct 1685), the Territory and Dominion of New England included the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay, the Provinces of New Hampshire and Maine, and the Narragansett Country (King's Province). The Colony of New Plymouth was added to the Dominion by the first royal commission to the Governor-in-Chief Andros (dated 3/13 Jun 1686, published on 20/30 Dec 1686 in Boston). The additional powers and instructions (13/23 Sep 1686) also authorized the governor to demand the surrender of the Charters of Connecticut and Rhode Island and to take both colonies under the government of New England. The second commission to Andros (dated 7/17 Apr 1688, published on 19/29 Jul 1688 in Boston) attached the colonies of Rhode Island and Connecticut, the Province of New York, East and West Jersey to the administration of the Dominion.
[2]	The Lieutenant Governor of the Dominion of New England (Francis Nicholson) and some members of the Council received a report on the deposition of the Governor-in-Chief (Andros) at their meeting in New York on 26 Apr/6 May 1689 (New York Historical Society Collections, 1868, pp. 244-245). Nicholson and the Council continued in office in New York (Andros Tracts, 1:3-10). The Council continued to meet until 10/20 Jun 1689. Nicholson departed from the city of New York on 11/12 Jun 1689 and sailed for England on 24 Jun/4 Jul 1689.

Last update: 07 Dec 2023