Jasper Mauduit was an agent during the time of the reign of George III.
At the time, the Province of Massachusetts was governed by the Charter of William and Mary.
While colonial agencies existed in the seventeenth century, they were temporary and mostly concerned with affairs of great importance, when affairs in the colony seemed to call for a greater level of communication with the British government.
Often, these agents were prominent persons from the colonies that were sent to England to be representatives at court.
As colonial management developed in the 18th century, agencies became a permanent representation, rather than a temporary special embassy.