The 1691 Massachusetts Charter established the office of Royal Governor. The office lasted 85, until 1776, when Governor Thomas Gage left with the British forces on March 17. While Gage was the last of the Royal Governors, the actions of his two predecessors, Francis Bernard and Thomas Hutchinson did much to make the bring down the royal governorship. Roberta DeCenzo on the Last Royal Governors of Massachusetts.
The Colonial Society of Massachusetts has digitized the papers of Governors Francis Bernard and Thomas Hutchinson.