A School History of the United States by John Bach McMaster
page 28 of 523 (05%)
page 28 of 523 (05%)
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100 miles along the coast,--50 miles each way from its first
settlement,--and 100 miles into the interior. 2. The First Company, a band of London merchants, might establish its first settlement anywhere between 34° and 41° north latitude. 3. The Second Company, a band of Plymouth merchants, might establish its first settlement anywhere between 38° and 45°. 4. These settlements were to be on the seacoast. 5. In order to prevent the blocks from overlapping, it was provided that the company which was last to settle should locate at least 100 miles from the other company's settlement.[1] [Footnote 1: Over the affairs of each company presided a council appointed by the King, with power to choose its own president, fill vacancies among its own members, and elect a council of thirteen to reside on the company's lands in America. Each company might coin money, raise a revenue by taxing foreign vessels trading at its ports, punish crime, and make laws which, if bad, could be set aside by the King. All property was to be owned in common, and all the products of the soil deposited in a public magazine from which the needs of the settlers were to be supplied. The surplus was to be sold for the good of the company. The charter is given in full in Poore's _Charters and Constitutions_, pp. 1888-1893.] %20. The Jamestown Colony.%--Thus empowered, the two companies made all haste to gather funds, collect stores and settlers, and fit out ships. The London Company was the first to get ready, and on the 19th of |
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