On this date in 1620, the (Plymouth) Council for New England was chartered by the king of England as a joint stock company with monopoly rights on (found here):
“…all the Breadth aforesaid throughout the Maine Land, from Sea to Sea [emphasis ours], with all the Seas, Rivers, Islands, Creekes, Inletts, Ports, and Havens, within the Degrees…”
The profits should be derived from (found here):
“…the Firme Lands, Soyles, Grounds Havens, Ports, Rivers, Waters, Fishings, Mines, and Mineralls, as well Royall Mines of Gold and Silver, as other Mine and Mineralls, precious Stones, Quarries, and all, and singular other Comodities, Jurisdictions, Royalties, Priveliges, Franchises, and Preheminences…”
The payments of those profits should be paid to (found here):
“…Us [England’s Royalty], our Heires, our Successors, the fifth [20%] Part, of the Ores of Gold and Silver, which from time to time, and aft all times hereafter, shall happen to be found, gotten, had, and obtained, in or within any the said Lands, Limitts, Territoryes, and Precincts, or in or within any Part or Parcell thereof, for, or in Respect of all, and all Manner of Dutys, Demands, and Services whatsoever, to be done, made, or paid to Us, our Heires, and Successors.…”
By 1635, the charter for the Council of New England was revoked. However, within the time of the Council for New England’s existence, which later folded into the Massachusetts Bay Company and other corporate entities, the wheels of a new nation were put into motion.