NEW ENGLAND is the north-eastern portion of the United States, comprising the six States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. It formed part of the territory of “North Virginia” granted by James I. to the Plymouth Company in 1606; and in 1614 the name of New England was bestowed upon it by Captain John Smith (1579-1631), whose Description of New England appeared at London in 1616.