Editor's Choice
Which English colony was the best place to live in the 1600s?
Quick answer:
In the 1600s, Pennsylvania was often considered the best English colony to live in due to its fertile soil, religious freedom, and relatively peaceful relations with Native Americans. Founded by William Penn, a Quaker, it welcomed diverse backgrounds and offered economic opportunities without relying on slavery. While other colonies had their merits, Pennsylvania's balanced social and economic environment made it particularly attractive.
The answer to this is going to depend on your individual values. If you value close family ties and a community united by a strong work ethic, then perhaps Massachusetts would be the colony for you. However, if harsh weather, threats from Native Americans (King Philip's War, for instance) and puritanical religious impositions are not your style, then look elsewhere.
Rhode Island may be a good choice. It was founded on the idea of religious freedom and was much less stodgy than the rest of New England. Rhode Island colonists of the 17th Century tended to have decent relationships with the Native Americans there, although there were the occasional conflicts. Even during the 1600s, the city of Newport was a thriving port town, meaning there were many opportunities to grow one's wealth in this colony.
If you came from wealthy stock and were well connected, then I might suggest Maryland....
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Unlike the other colonies, Maryland was organized closer to the feudal Medieval model. If you were granted one of the colony's estates, you could rest easy having your indentured servants and tenant farmers do much of the work while you reaped the benefits.
As most of the other educator answers here suggest, Pennsylvania was one of the best colonies to live in for most people at the time. Farmers enjoyed rich soil and a decently long growing season. Merchants in Philadelphia did a lively trade. All religions and backgrounds were welcome. Relations with Native Americans were stable for the most part. This made Pennsylvania relatively well-rounded overall.
The best colony to live in would have been Rhode Island, officially called Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Founded by Roger Williams, a dissenter who fled Puritans in Massachusetts, Rhode Island granted its inhabitants freedom of religion. This right was enshrined in the Royal Charter of 1663, granted by the British king, Charles II. The colony was a haven for religious minorities, including Quakers and Jews, who, according to some sources, arrived as early as 1658 from Portugal. Rhode Island took an enlightened stance on issues such as slavery and witchcraft. For example, the colony abolished witchcraft trials and outlawed slavery for whites and blacks in 1652. The colony also outlawed capital punishment. These were novel and forward-thinking stances to take in the 1600s.
If we include the late 1600s, I would pick Pennsylvania as the best colony in which to live. Unlike the South, there was not much slavery in Pennsylvania, which makes it attractive. Unlike New England, it was not dominated by Puritans. In fact, Penn was committed to the idea of freedom of religion. That would have been a major plus for me at least. Finally, the climate would have made Pennsylvania a nicer place to live and an easier place to farm than the New England colonies would have been. For this combination of lack of slavery, good climate, and freedom of religion, Pennsylvania would have been the best place to live.