What religious group had the most influence in the northern colonies of New England

Puritans had the most influence on the New England colonies. When coming to the New World, Puritans hoped to create a society in which they "purify" (aka fix) the Anglican Church (which was the official church of England). A new start in this foreign territory would allow these Puritans to learn from the mistakes of the Anglican Church in England and develop a "city upon a hill."

This concept of a "city upon a hill" was created by John Winthrop and became a phrase used to describe an ideal Puritan society.