Puritanism was increased tremendously in England during the later years of James I. Puritan and Pilgrim was not synonymous terms. The Puritans were those who sought to purify the English church and to modify forms, while remaining with in it. The word "pilgrim" has required a religious meaning. It was applied only to the Separatists or Independents who settled at Plymouth because of their migration. But eventually the Puritans became independents, not only in America, but in England as well. .
There were many companies entering New England, but the Puritans mass departure was yet to begin, as a large number of them were now ready to join the colony, to them it was deemed far more satisfactory to have a royal charter than a plain land grant. A charter was therefore secured from Charles I in March 1629. This new company was styled the Governor and Company of Massachusetts Bay in New England. The government was to be placed in the hands of a governor, representative governor, and eighteen assistants, to be elected annually by the company. .
Accordingly, a small party of leading Puritans met at Cambridge in august 1612 adopted the "Cambridge Agreement" to migrate to Massachusetts, on condition that the charter and seat of government be transferred thither. The Massachusetts Bay Company agreed, and John Winthrop a gentleman of wealth and education was chosen governor. Thomas Dudley was chosen Deputy Governor. A party of 300 was sent to Salem with Winthrop, with a large company, for the New World. Many Puritans of 1630 were men of education and fortune, members of Parliament, or clergymen of the most liberal education. Led by such men, the movement created a profound impression in England, and thousands now prepared to cross the Atlantic Ocean onto New England. .
Winthrop had brought with him the charter, and his first step was the fusing of the company and the colonists into one body. The second step was the admitting of the colonists, or "freemen", to a membership in the company.
