Massachusetts History Question

Hello,

I'm new here but I love to learn about history, especially about the US. Can any of you tell me what parts of Massachusetts was once a part of New France? I try to look through Google but all the suggested websites tell me only about the British influence in Boston and so on. Well I'm from Boston originally and I know about the Dutch to the south in Cape Cod. But was just wondering. If you all could tell me more about Massachusetts history that maybe I don't know about that would be great. Thank you all
 
Welcome to the board.

I don't have access to my computer at the moment but I'll post what I have found.

Besides Verrazano and de Champlain exploring the region, there were various places where the French had decided to "set up shop." In Maine, which was a part of Massachusetts for quite a while, there was St. Croix Island and Fort Pentagouet. In Vermont, which the Province of Massachusetts Bay laid a claim to due to a charter signed in 1629, the French built Fort Sainte Anne.

As far as a French presence within what would be the modern day borders of Massachusetts is concerned, I am unsure.
 
Samuel de Champlain briefly considered setting up a French colony on Cape Cod in 1605/06, but was turned against it by the local Nauset people.

There was also a significant Huguenot population in Massachusetts, including Peter Faneuil who donated Faneuil Hall to Boston. For at least 40 years in the 18th C. there was even a Boston French Church catering to the Huguenots.
 
I understand, but what about when western Mass was unsettled? Samuel de Champlain just claimed Lake Champlain, VT for New France. Where does that leave western Mass to the south? Does that mean the land unsettled to the south of VT and to the west of the Connecticut River uncharted New York territory or New France territory? Thank you
 
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This map is what I'm talking about. Please clarify. Why didn't Mass keep the territories of New Hampshire and Maine? If it is true then for how long would this period last? (Of mass being a part of new france). Thank you to whomever responds
 
Ultimately, the borders were drawn by people in London and Paris.

Western Mass was originally going to be part of Connecticut, but Boston took better care of the residents of Springfield than Hartford could.
 
a little update for you all. I was able to find a little info on land disputes. If France declared Vermont a part of New France in 1666 does that mean that maybe the new france territory moved a little south into western mass? The map that I layed out above sure looks like it. any help is needed Thank you
 
Your territory is what you occupy and can defend. I don't think there was ever a significant French presence within the western areas of the modern borders of Massachusetts. I'm not sure if they ever claimed part of it though- offhand I think not. I think just Vermont, Maine, and such points north.

When France claimed the Champlain area, the importance was really was to control access north from the Hudson, not to head east into Massachusetts. But Britain had the Hudson. I don't think the French moved much south from Champlain.

What's the source of that map you posted? The "New France" label is not implying that everything yellow is New France. It's implying that the limits of New France's control "is up there somewhere." It's vague. Sort of because it was vague.

Mind you, I wouldn't be surprised if some obscure events prove me wrong. This really isn't my era. I start around the French and Indian War.
 
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I just recently found an excerpt from a book by Henry David Thoreau, that reads in part: "On successive maps, Cape Cod appears sprinkled over with French, Dutch, and English names, as it made part of New France, New Holland, and New England." There's no map or anything to show proof. Does anybody know who this guy is? I just thought I might share that with you. If any of you know anything about this please share it on this forum. Thank you
 
View attachment 328881 This map is what I'm talking about. Please clarify. Why didn't Mass keep the territories of New Hampshire and Maine? If it is true then for how long would this period last? (Of mass being a part of new france). Thank you to whomever responds

Maine was broken off in the Compromise of 1820. If Missouri came in as a slave state, slave states would outnumber free states. So they carved Maine out of Massachusetts to maintain the balance.
 
The trick is to understand what Henry David Thoreau is saying. He obviously knows something about mass history that the rest of us may not know about. Why would he say that cape cod or mass for that matter was part of new france, new holland, and new england. I hope to God it's true. Maybe there's a part of history that no one knows about and that's not written anywhere online.
 
Sadly, I suspect Thoreau is using the term New France in its meaning of 'anything in America that the French ever owned, named or looked at for more than five seconds' rather than its meaning of 'the Formal French Empire in America'.

Because of the (relatively) low colony populations throughout the period it's hard to square exactly where a European states influence lay. Large tracks of the New World were claimed by the Europeans without having any Colonist populations so while it's possible that on some or another map there was part of the Massachusetts were shaded Blue, I strongly doubt that New France seriously extended into Massachusetts in any on the ground, physical way.
 
Moving on, the new france in massauchsetts status is: to be determined. I know for sure that Cape Cod was a part of New Netherland. But it would seem as if they only settled in the southwestern part of it, around Narragansett Bay. But I would like to know if they settled the whole cape? I think I read online they lay claim up to where Plymouth is. If anyone knows anything please respond. Thank you
 
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