Gorges first served his uncle Sir Ferdinando as a lieutenant at Plymouth Fort. He was then appointed as Governor of the Province for New Somersetshire, a grant Sir Ferdinando obtained from the Plymouth Council for New England when its territories were divided up in 1635. William Gorges went to New England in 1636 with other settlers, including "craftsmen for the building of houses and erecting of saw-mills," as well as cattle for a private plantation to be established for his uncle.[1]