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Tell me which geographical area you would have headed for if you were arriving from England during the mid-17th Century. Base your decision on whatever you want – religious, industrial/agriculture, political, or other reasons.
I would have preferred the Lower Colonies because of the warmer climate and the relative wealth they enjoyed compared to the Norther Colonies in the early going. Of course the wealth shifted away from the South within a couple of generations.
I would have preferred the New England colonies. Better climate overall, despite some colder weather. Back in the day it would have been weather that was more conducive to living in as it would have been familiar to the English, and given Puritan-era dress codes it would have been more bearable. On the downside, agriculture would have been more difficult to be successful at and profitable crops from a European trade standpoint would likely have come more from the South.
I think specifically I would have picked Virginia. Climate not as severe as New England and longer growing season.
Virginia was actually the most unhealthy of all the colonies initially. The marshes around the Chesapeake were infested with malaria. Also, the Powhaten natives were quite antagonistic to the early settlers….and were very powerful compared to their neighbors. But Virginia, once cleared, became a thriving cash crop economy second only to South Carolina.
Then how did they deal with the malaria? Was it simply a matter of draining the swamps to reduce mosquito proliferation?
This is such an interesting question, imo, considering all the factors involved. Through genealogy work, I've proved that ancestors of my father came over not too long after the Mayflower and settled in Virginia then moved onto North Carolina. I've found the same to be true of my mother's maternal relatives. So, using those facts as a basis for this answer it's obvious where I would have lived. Now, if you factor in that I've converted to the Catholic faith, going back in time I would have settled most likely in the Baltimore area, I believe.
As the only background I have that comes from the UK is Irish I'd have likely gone it the back-country… if they were coming that early. However, family history tends to indicat they came later (during or post famine) then likely New York (?) and moved west. Great GF was in the Ill. Vol. in the Civil war according to family legend.
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