spelled died london merchant politician governor founded organization businessmen organized established massachusetts bay colony visited colony owned property businesses acted behalf london business trading empire encompassed ships extended west_indies north_america europe dominant figure tobacco trade strong supporter parliamentary cause years leading english civil war opposed royalist member supported root branch attempts radically reform church_of_england played leading role died long early life business known early life family cousin named mayor built mansion site father grandfather merchant family members involved trade twice married wife daughter named second wife children apparently survive survived children mentioned apprentice major london shipping firm probably began trading northwestern europe eventually expanded business joined purchased stock served director death business personal connections establish lucrative trade shipping tobacco sending provisions colonies north_america west_indies produced known owner owner ships relatively small number businessmen trade encompassed eastern trade india levant trade european waters end stood center largest trading business involved americas member group business men opposed conservative royalist leadership engaging unsuccessful attempt reform company interest london merchants establishing managing colonial settlements north_america waned failure subsequent conversion colony virginia crown colony notable exception major investment formed group religious business leaders assets failed new ventures north_america elected company governor long company acquired grant land massachusetts bay sent small group settlers begin process establishing colony place called salem massachusetts company land grant problems overlapped grant previously acquired wrote early warning issue suggesting settle colonists claimed area treat old surviving colonists failed settlement recommended colonists work building ships profit making activities later small fleet sailed colony board addition settlers skilled types engaged businesses company order protect claims acquired royal charter named colony governor london governed colony year financial instability government caused king charles desire prosecute war scotland led company investors fear investment risk meeting july suggested company transfer governance colony possible charter specify company meetings held investors want colony means buy investors needed devised negotiating summer agreement reached august called shareholders buy remained england seven years receive share colony business activities including fur trade shareholders elected company governor october sailed massachusetts fleet carrying colonists included ships agents servants commercial interests took leave isle remained england representatives secured plantation base business operations funded including colony shipyard colony developed land holdings expanded include properties travel colony continued operate london behalf worked recruit sympathetic ministers sought permission king freely export provisions colony claiming colonists dire straits shortage provisions threats native americans governor exchanged letters written promised establishment institute higher learning known harvard_university actions massachusetts bay colony rulers came question opponents charges colony administrators sought independence crown laws england company representatives called council answer charges successfully defended actions colonists opponents succeeded having ships colonists detained sailing february colonial charter presented council inspection called provide informed council charter colony secured release ships promise charter delivered colonial council boston wanting send document fear charter revoked claiming july meeting document released vote colony scheduled meet september time matter taken refused consider issue began expecting military confrontation issue launch ship intended carry force colony unsuccessful ending military threat colony political threats continued charter colony land grant revoked furthermore criminal charges clearly laid associated acquitted charges convicted authority deprived ability act behalf company politics april elected member parliament elected november london mps politically allied faction sir younger supported root branch petition calling radical reforms church_of_england opening session denounced king plan tower london declared city contribute share taxes garrison removed early brought word parliament reports king planning send armed troops seize tower london news sparked played leading role continued active parliament serving committee death apparently sudden
Matthew Cradock