Thank you for your question.

New England was originally settled by native peoples notably the the Abenaki, the Penobscot, and the Wampanoag. It was sparsely settled leading Europeans to believe it was “virgin territory.”

It was settled in 1620 by the Pilgrims seeking a new territory to practise their religion. France settled the New France area to the north which was mainly in Canada but included parts of Maine.

If you need just a few words, I would use to set up a place where the Pilgrims could exercise their religion and virgin land for colonists.

I have attached sources for your reference.

Regards

Reference

Wikipedia New England

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_England

New England History

http://www.newenglandhistory.info/

New England Colonies

http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/Colonization_NE_Colonies.html

About.com History of New England

http://gonewengland.about.com/od/history/History_of_New_England.htm