Responding to Michael: Many thanks for the link to the Charter of New England! Fascinating read -- is it incorporated as a resource document for early Plymouth history on WikiTree?
Key takeaways in this context: In the first paragraph, the text definitively recognizes the that the English colony of Jamestown is henceforth be called the "first Collonye".
Next, this document clearly specifies the purpose and geographic coverage of the "Second Collony" which is named New England and includes all territory between the 40th and 48th degrees. Here is one key passage at end of l-o-n-g first paragraph:
" And to the End that the said Territoryes may forever hereafter be more particularly and certainly known and distinguished, our Will and Pleasure is, that the sa.ne [ed.: same] shall from henceforth be nominated, termed, and called by the Name of New-England, in America; and by that Name of New-England in America, the said Circuit, Precinct, Limitt, Continent, Islands, and Places in America, aforesaid, We do by these Presents, for Us, our Heyrs and Successors, name, call, erect, found and establish, and by that Name to have Continuance for ever." Note also that this document specifies that Sir Ferdinando Gorges, and certain Knights and gentlemen Adventurers and "Persons of Quality" have taken actual possession of the fort and island by Plymouth (in New England) as well as having "sustained many Losses in seeking and discovering a Place fitt and convenient to lay the foundation of a hopeful Plantation".
Above wording indicates that this document is an ex post facto confirmation of the 1620 settlement at what the Pilgrims called Plimoth Plantation, later New Plymouth (or Plimoth) in the first decade of settlement. Note that date at the end of the document is ""the Third Day of November, in the Eighteenth Yeare of our Reign over England, &c.", which means November, 3, 1621, not 1620 as the modern title of web document implies.
Technically speaking, the term "Plymouth Colony, New England" did not come into general use until Puritan migration to Boston and surrounding areas forced Plymouth settlers to clearly define their territorial claims (late 1630's), leading to the 1640 agreement on northern boundary shown on map linked in my message above. But the alternative of "Plimoth Plantation, New England" has obvious downside, and most WikiTree users would find something like "Plymouth Colony, New England (1620-1690)" to be helpful when editing or reading profiles from that period.
