<P> Other colonists settled to the north, mingling with adventurers and profit - oriented settlers to establish more religiously diverse colonies in New Hampshire and Maine . These small settlements were absorbed by Massachusetts when it made significant land claims in the 1640s and 1650s, but New Hampshire was eventually given a separate charter in 1679 . Maine remained a part of Massachusetts until achieving statehood in 1820 . </P> <P> Under King James II of England, the New England colonies, New York, and the Jerseys were briefly united as the Dominion of New England (1686--89). The administration was eventually led by Governor Sir Edmund Andros and seized colonial charters, revoked land titles, and ruled without local assemblies, causing anger among the population . The 1689 Boston revolt was inspired by England's Glorious Revolution against James II and led to the arrest of Andros, Boston Anglicans, and senior dominion officials by the Massachusetts militia . Andros was jailed for several months, then returned to England . The Dominion of New England was dissolved and governments resumed under their earlier charters . </P> <P> However, the Massachusetts charter had been revoked in 1684, and a new one was issued in 1691 that combined Massachusetts and Plymouth into the Province of Massachusetts Bay . King William III sought to unite the New England colonies militarily by appointing the Earl of Bellomont to three simultaneous governorships and military command over Connecticut and Rhode Island . However, these attempts failed at unified control . </P> <P> The Middle Colonies consisted of the present - day states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware and were characterized by a large degree of diversity--religious, political, economic, and ethnic . </P>

Who was responsible for appointing governors in the early american colonies