Independent Colonies

Continuing The American Revolution series...

While today we may take for granted the union of the American colonies as inevitable and logical, back in colonial times each colony was a separate entity unto itself, complete with its own distinct culture. The colonies had more in common with the mother country than with each other. As well as a lack of an emotional connection, the colonies also lacked physical connections. The lack of good roads discouraged trade and communication. Each colony saw to its own interests. 

Despite their independence from one another, there were three times prior to the American Revolution when the colonies united for purposes of self-defense. The first was in 1643-64 when New England colonies formed defense against the Dutch and Indians. The second attempt was spurred by actions of the British government. Fearful that the colonies weren’t loyal to the monarch, in 1686 the British government formed the Dominion of New England, which fused the New England colonies with New York and New Jersey and was ruled by unpopular governor Edmund Andross. When the Stuart monarchy fell in 1689, colonists were quick to topple Andross and his officers. The third attempt, known as the Albany Congress, came in 1754 as the colonies met to discuss relations with American Indians and defense against the French. 

For genealogy purposes, knowing the colonies were independent should alert the researcher to closely scrutinize an ancestor's movements between colonies. What may seem like an ancestor moving around could be a case of confusing two different people. Moving from one colony to another was not as casual as the movement we make between states today.

JO