1Fn Iftew BnglanD 



few scattered plantations, with as few 

 houses." 1 



In 1639, a settlement under Mr. Wheel- 

 wright was begun on a tributary of the 

 Piscataqua, and called Exeter. Eastward 

 of this were large marshes which pro- 

 duced a native grass that was used as a 

 fodder before a more nutritious one was 

 raised upon the uplands. Two years pre- 

 viously, a settlement under the jurisdic- 

 tion of Massachusetts had been started at 

 Hampton. While the site of many of 

 the early settlements was undoubtedly 

 determined by the good arable soil found 

 in the valleys of the large rivers, and the 

 consequent better horticultural opportu- 

 nities presented, there were other causes 

 that combined to promote the advance 

 of the last mentioned, among which the 

 Antinomian dispersion may be included. 



Almost simultaneously with the re- 

 moval of Blaxton to Rehoboth and Roger 

 Williams to Seekonk, and afterwards to 

 Providence, there was an important 

 1 Five Voyages^ etc. 

 99 



