Final answer:
Maryland was the colony founded to reward England's Catholic gentry for their support of Charles I, and it became a safe haven for Catholics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colony founded as a reward for England's Catholic gentry for their support of Charles I was Maryland. Maryland was established in 1633 as a proprietary colony under the leadership of Charles Calvert, a Catholic, and it served as a haven for Catholics fleeing persecution. This founding occurred well before the chaotic period of English history between 1640 and 1660, and prior to Charles II's Restoration in 1660, which led to the founding of other proprietary colonies like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Carolina. Maryland's economy thrived on cash crops such as tobacco, which were exported back to England, mirroring the success of Virginia's tobacco industry.