<P> The first English settlers in Massachusetts , the Pilgrims , established their settlement at Plymouth in 1620 , and developed friendly relations with the native Wampanoag . This was the second successful permanent English colony in North America , after the Jamestown Colony . Before heading to the New World , they migrated to Holland to escape the harsh treatment from King James for rejecting England 's official church . Although they were allowed some religious liberties in Holland , the liberalism and openness of the Dutch to all styles of life horrified them . They approached the Virginia Company and asked to settle `` as a distinct body of themselves '' in America . In the fall of 1620 , they sailed to North America on the Mayflower , first landing near the tip of Cape Cod ( modern - day Provincetown , Massachusetts ) . Blown north off its course , the Mayflower landed at a site that had been named Plymouth . Since the area was not land that lay within their charter , they created the Mayflower Compact , one of America 's first documents of self - governance , prior to landing . The first year was extremely difficult , with inadequate supplies . They also suffered grievously from smallpox and malaria . They were assisted , however , in their time of trouble by the Wampanoag under - chief Massasoit . </P>
<P> The first English settlers in Massachusetts , the Pilgrims , established their settlement at Plymouth in 1620 , and developed friendly relations with the native Wampanoag . This was the second successful permanent English colony in North America , after the Jamestown Colony . Before heading to the New World , they migrated to Holland to escape the harsh treatment from King James for rejecting England 's official church . Although they were allowed some religious liberties in Holland , the liberalism and openness of the Dutch to all styles of life horrified them . They approached the Virginia Company and asked to settle `` as a distinct body of themselves '' in America . In the fall of 1620 , they sailed to North America on the Mayflower , first landing near the tip of Cape Cod ( modern - day Provincetown , Massachusetts ) . Blown north off its course , the Mayflower landed at a site that had been named Plymouth . Since the area was not land that lay within their charter , they created the Mayflower Compact , one of America 's first documents of self - governance , prior to landing . The first year was extremely difficult , with inadequate supplies . They also suffered grievously from smallpox and malaria . They were assisted , however , in their time of trouble by the Wampanoag under - chief Massasoit . </P>
where did the colonists of massachusetts come from
where did the colonists of massachusetts come from
English
English