The document summarizes the founding and early history of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and other New England colonies. It discusses how Puritans fled persecution in England and received a charter to establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1629. The colony grew to over 2,000 settlers by 1631 and established the communities of Boston and surrounding areas. It faced internal dissent from figures like Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson over religious freedom and separation of church and state. Williams was banished and founded Providence, Rhode Island in 1636 based on principles of religious tolerance. Hutchinson was also banished and some settlers from Massachusetts later founded the colonies of Connecticut and New Hampshire.