The Massachusetts Bay Colony established political freedom and a representative form of government. In 1641, the first code of laws of the colony was set down in a document known as the Body of Liberties. But the Puritans permitted no religion except their own in the colony. Some religious groups were put out of the colony, and others left on their own. These Massachusetts settlers helped colonize other parts of New England in their search for religious freedom. They established settlements in Connecticut in 1635, Rhode Island in 1636, New Hampshire in 1638, and Maine in 1652. Connecticut and Rhode Island soon became independent colonies. New Hampshire did not separate from Massachusetts until 1680. Maine remained a part of Massachusetts until 1820.