Is there any connection, apart from having the same name, between the town of Boston in east England, and the city of Boston, Massachusetts?

satguru

Like many others in the States, Brewer's dictionary of names confirmed it was named directly after the English one, though the origin of the name is uncertain. Mar 24 05, 11:17 AM

MrsAce

There are quite a few city/town names throughout New England that were named for towns in England. For example: Manchester, NH; Bristol, CT; Plymouth, MA; Leicester, MA; Amesbury, MA; Andover, MA; Bath, ME; Bristol, RI; Coventry, RI, etc. Mar 24 05, 12:50 PM

MrsAce

The connection could be the Massachusetts Bay Company. Mar 24 05, 12:59 PM

picqero

Thanks MrsAce, the company could be part of the connection, though Boston, Ma, was founded by John Winthrop who was born at Edwardston, Suffolk, England. A strict puritan, he studied law at Trinity college, Cambridge. He worked mainly in London before his departure for America in 1630, but I haven't yet been able to establish a Boston, England connection. From what I've read about Winthrop, I can't imagine him doing anything lightly so he must have had a very good reason to choose the name 'Boston' for his newly founded settlement. Mar 24 05, 2:04 PM

MrsAce

There's references to St. Botolph for the naming of Boston in East England. Haven't really dug into Boston, Mass for the reference, but there is a St. Botolph Street in the city. A surrounding city outside Boston, Mass is named for Winthrop. I believe that Suffolk County, which consists of Boston, Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop, were all part of Boston way back when. I'll keep looking. Mar 24 05, 4:22 PM

onlytrivial

John Winthrop, from Boston, UK, was the first governor of Massachusetts. Four men who were prominent members of the legislature of Massachusetts all came from Boston, and were members of John Cotton's congregation at St. Botolph's. http://www.bostonuk.com/historicboston/ Mar 24 05, 10:30 PM

picqero

All the references I've seen show John Winthrop as being born in Edwardstone, Suffolk which is a considerable distance from Boston, Lincolnshire and has no obvious connection. My curiosity on this issue is becoming increasingly aroused, and as Edwardstone isn't very far from where I live, I think I'll drive out and have a look round the place. It's a nice rural area if nothing else! Mar 25 05, 12:44 AM