New Hampshire was originally part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The area was first settled in 1623, at Odiomnes Point, near the current location of Portsmouth. The settlers of New Hampshire were an independent group and did not like being governed from Massachusetts. In 1679, New Hampshire was separated and became the a Royal Province, with John Cutt as governor. They were reunited in 1686 and redivided in 1691. New Hampshire continued to be separated until 1698, when it came under the jurisdiction of Massachusetts, once more, with Joseph Dudley as Governor. In 1741, New Hampshire returned to its royal provincial status with a governor of its own. Benning Wentworth, was its governor from 1741 to 1766.