In 1639 the first legislative body brought together representatives from the towns of Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Taunton, Scituate, Duxbury and Plymouth. Thus we have representative government in its formative state. Boundaries Established [Sidenote: 1640] In 1640 the boundaries of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies were established. In the several patents there had been some overlapping of territory. This resulted in considerable controversy. “The Court of Massachusetts appointed some to range their lines according to the bounds of their patent, and (as they went to work) they made it to take in all Scituate and I know not how much more. Again, on the other hand, according to the line of the patent of this place, it would take in Hingham and much more within their bounds.” After much discussion it was finally settled on the 9th of April and subscribed to by William Bradford and Edward Winslow for Plymouth and John Endicott and Israell Stoughton for Massachusetts Bay. [Sidenote: 1643] The death of William Brewster occurred early in 1643. Bradford speaks of him in endearing terms: “I am to begin this year with that which was a matter of great sadness and mourning unto them all. About the 18th of April died my dear and loving friend, Mr. William Brewster, a man who had done and suffered much for the Lord Jesus and the gospels sake and had borne his part in well and woe with this poor persecuted church above 36 years, in England, Holland and in this wilderness and done the Lord and them faithful service in his place and calling.” etc. New England Confederacy Due to the plottings of the Narragansetts and what seemed to be a general Indian conspiracy against the English settlers, it was decided to form an alliance with Connecticut for mutual protection. This is recorded in the Plymouth records as of June 6th, 1643, as follows: “It is ordered and concluded by the Court that Mr. Edward Winslow and Mr. William Collyer shall have full Commission and Authority in Name of the whole Court to subscribe the Articles of Confederation (now read in the Court) with the Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Haven and to subscribe the same in name of the whole and to affix thereto the common seal of the Government.” (sic.)—Plymouth records, Hazard’s Historical Collection. Volume 1. p. 496. Shortly thereafter a final liquidation of the obligations of the Plymouth Colony to their English partners and associates was effected. This was based upon Articles of Agreement made and signed on October 15th, 1641,[14] by “John Atwode[15] (Atwood), William Bradford, Edward Winslow, etc.”—Page 452, Bradford’s History of The Plymouth Plantation. In the face of the adversities that had beset them from the beginning and from which they were never entirely free, this seems a noteworthy achievement. [Sidenote: 1649]