Pre 1776 America

Question

I have noticed that there are many questions about Pre 1776 America and what the standard is for WT. As far as I see there is no set standard. I ran into the same problem with 1772 Pennsylvania, United States. I figured it out that there was no United States before 4July 1776. I did a little research and what I found out is that Pennsylvania's official name then was the Province of Pennsylvania. According to www.dictionary.com/browse/province  A province is an administrative division or unit of a country. Some people said they just write Pennsylvania colony which was accepted everywhere but the Official name was Province of Pennsylvania. There were also discussions about whether it was a British colony or a colony of England. This site listed them as colonies  of England.The Province of Pennsylvania was an English colony in North America that existed from 1682 until 1776, Since United States before 1776 is incorrect (and rightfully so), I would like to research about America and create a standard and have a short explanation of what to call the colonies so it would have a more standard form to it instead of everyone adding what they want and hoping it will be ok. All colonies would be included.

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In a WikiTree standard it will be called The Province of Pennsylvania. from 1682 until 1776.

From 1776 to present the colonies are called United States

From 1776 to the present It is Pennsylvania, United States or Pennsylvania, USA (or whatever colony is being questioned).

WT could have a small group to create the names uniformly. And one or two people to make it look all nice and professional like they do for the Sources. It would be a one time thing just to create the standard to eliminate the questions of what to call any of the colonies.It would be nice to have a standard to where there is no confusion then end up being an error with very little explanations. All comments and ideas are welcome.

Comments

Great idea...already implemented :)

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https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Colonial_American_Place_Names

Answer 1

https://www.wikitree.com/g2g/396932/new-space-colonial-american-place-names

Comments

up-voted

Answer 2

Thanks for taking us the challenge! There were other colonies besides the ones along the eastern seaboard of present-day United States. Spain and France had colonies and there were areas not claimed by Europeans during that time period (Native American or First Nation). Canada also needs to be worked out.

Comments

I do know that there were other colonies besides the British colonies. I was attempting to launch a much bigger campaign and begin with the English colonies which I was more familiar with. But someone was thinking a little quicker than I was and had already accomplished what I was thinking of and he did a great job. So many people  have offered a bit of history lesson here but to include all of it would create a larger and possibly a confusing timeline. When to call a certain state a certain name because there were several different times in American history which I think by adding them would muddy the intent of what was being attempted. Still with all of the input that pre1776 has, I think that there should be a certain standard.

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My only question to what this genealogist has done was to use Wikipedia as the source. Wikipedia is a very good source of information but anyone can add or change the information there which would then make our site's history of the colonies moot.. I believe we need a more standard information source of history. An online History site that des not allow any member to change their information

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I was just thinking to make a standard but allow for some personal touch. I'm my example, allow the standard to accept American colonies or British colonies or British American colonies. How far do we build a timeline to stay ?

1. From 1682-1775 Pennsylvania was known as Providence of Pennsylvania.

2.By 1775 Pennsylvania was governed as a Proprietary Colony

3. On  4 July 1776 the colonies declared their independence. Do we call  Pennsylvania a state now?

4. If you recall that the colonies did not have separation from British rule until 1783.

5. Delaware "The First State" became a state on 7 December 1783. The Pennsylvania Colony became a state on December 12, 1787.

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They won't be British Colonies before the act of Union .http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/evolutionofparliament/legislativescrutiny/act-of-union-1707/

As Wikipedia relies on secondary sources, it may not be the best source of what people actually used

One  good place to see what was used in documents   is to try some of these names out in the search engine of the National Archives. I can find lots of  uses of New England (wills and maps) where the town and New England are used ie

"Sentence of Richard Wharton, Merchant of Boston, New England, 1690" or how about "wiill of John Larabee of New England, North America in 1694" For Connecticut, I find that a map created in 1697 is of the "Boundings of New Cambridge County in New England. Beginning at the middle part of the mouth or entrance of Connecticut in New England 1697 and Will of Benjamin Fen of Milford Connecticut, New England 1675   There are zero hits for the Providence of Pennsylvania , there are some for  the Province of Pennsylvania, Ebenezer Currie of the Province of Pennsylvania wrote his will in  1747. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/