Signing of the Dover Combination

October 22, 1640

The Dover Combination, signed in 1640, was an important agreement in the early colonial history of America. It was signed by the settlers of Dover, which is now in New Hampshire. This agreement is significant for several reasons:

· Self-Governance and Democracy: The Dover Combination is an early example of self-governance in the American colonies. It represented a form of social contract among the settlers, where they agreed to band together for their common good and establish a community governed by majority rule. This was a significant step towards democratic governance in the New World.

· Unity Among Settlers: The agreement helped to unify the settlers of Dover, who were a mix of different groups, including fishermen and farmers, and who had different religious and cultural backgrounds. By agreeing to the Dover Combination, they committed to working together despite their differences.

· Foundation for Future Governance: The Dover Combination laid the groundwork for the development of more formal and structured forms of government in the region. It was an early example of the kind of political organization that would eventually lead to the establishment of town meetings and other democratic institutions in New England.

· Response to External Threats: The agreement was partly motivated by the need for a united front against threats from indigenous peoples, as well as from other European powers, such as the French and the Dutch, who were also establishing colonies in North America.

· Historical Context: The Dover Combination must be understood in the context of the broader political and social developments of the time, including the ongoing struggles in England that would eventually lead to the English Civil War. Many of the settlers in New England were Puritans who had left England in search of religious freedom, and their ideas about governance were influenced by their religious beliefs and their experiences in England.

In summary, the Dover Combination was a significant early step in the development of democratic governance in the American colonies and reflected the settlers' desire for self-governance, unity, and security in a challenging new environment.

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com

Here's a list of the signatories as they appear in the document, along with the corrected or more commonly known versions in parentheses. We are descended from 10 of the 42 signers. Yellow highlights indicate the relationship is on my paternal side, blue indicates my maternal side, and green indicates there is a connection through both sides.

· Abel Camond (possibly Abel Camock)

· Anthony Emery

· Bartholomew Hunt

· Bartholomew Smith

· Edward Colcord

· Edward Starr (probably Edward Starbuck)

· Francis Champernoon

· George Webb

· Hansed Knowles

· Henry Beck

· Henry Lahorn

· James Nute

· James Rawlins

· John Crosse

· John Follett

· John Hall

· John Heard

· John Phillips

· John Underhill

· John Upgroufe

· John Wastill

· Peter Garland

· Philip Swaddow (Philip Swadden)

· Richard Laham

· Richard Pinckhame (Pinkham)

· Richard Waldern

· Robert Huggins

· Robert Nanney (possibly Robert Varney)

· Samuel Haines

· Steven Teddar (possibly Stephen Kidder)

· Thomas Canning (Cannie or Canney)

· Thomas Dunstar (sometimes given as Durstin)

· Thomas Larkin

· Thomas Layton (Leighton)

· Thomas Roberts

· William Bowden

· William Furber

· William Jones (two signers with this name)

· William Pomfret

· William Storer

· William Waldern

These corrections or alternative spellings reflect the challenges of historical document transcription and the evolution of name spellings over time.

Transcription of the Original Dover Combination Wording

"Whereas sundry Mischeifes and inconveniences have befaln us, and more and greater may in regard of want of Civill Government, his Gratious Matie haveing hitherto setled no Order for us to our Knowledge:

Wee whose names are underwritten being Inhabitants upon the River Piscataquack have voluntarily agreed to combine our Selves into a Body Politique that wee may the more comfortably enjoy the benefit of his Maties Lawes. And do hereby actually ingage our Selves to Submit to his Royal Maties Lawes together with all such Orders as shalbee concluded by a Major part of the Freemen of our Society, in case they bee not repugnant to the Lawes of England and administred in the behalfe of his Majesty.

And this wee have Mutually promised and concluded to do and so to continue till his Excellent Matie shall give other Order concerning us.

In Witness wee have hereto Set our hands the two & twentieth day of October in the Sixteenth yeare of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles by the grace of God King of Great Brittain France & Ireland Defender of the Faith &c Annoq Domi: 1640."

[Here follows the list of signatories]

Translated for Modern Meaning

The Dover Combination essentially states:

Due to various problems and potential greater issues arising from the lack of a formal civil government, and considering that His Majesty (the King) has not yet established any specific order for us:

We, the undersigned, who are residents along the Piscataqua River, have voluntarily decided to form ourselves into a political group. This is so we can more effectively enjoy the benefits of His Majesty's laws. We hereby commit ourselves to follow His Royal Majesty's laws and all decisions made by a majority of the free men in our community, as long as these decisions do not contradict the laws of England and are made in the King’s interest.

We have mutually promised to do this and to continue doing so until His Majesty provides other instructions concerning us.

In witness of this, we have signed our names on the twenty-second day of October in the sixteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord Charles, by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, in the year of our Lord 1640."

[Here the signatories would have put their names]

In simpler terms, the settlers of Dover agreed to band together to form a political community. They pledged to follow the laws of King Charles I and any rules they collectively agreed upon, as long as these rules did not conflict with English law. This agreement was to remain in effect until the King provided different instructions. The document was signed as a formal commitment to this agreement.

Prepared by Michelle (Laviolette) Dumas

December 12, 2023