What exactly is a Puritan?

Question

and were there puritans in the chesapeake colonies as well as the new england colonies, or were they only in the new england colonies? if so, why?

Answer 1

They were some sort of calvinist sect in england who didn't think the english church had gone far enough to cleanse itself of catholicism.  So they traveled to new england.  

Don't know about the second part of the question though.

Answer 2

Here is the Wikipedia article on Puritanism which covers origins in English Christianity, doctrine, family life, beliefs etc. and goes on to discuss Puritanism in New England.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritan

Hope it helps.

Answer 3

Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy

Answer 4

A Puritan is a Christian who is very serious about his religion. Oliver Cromwell is a famous one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritan