Final answer:
Religious families, mostly Puritans and Pilgrims, were primarily attracted to New England in its earlier years to escape persecution and establish a society based on reformed Protestantism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The settlers that were primarily attracted to New England in its earlier years were religious families, particularly the Puritans and Pilgrims. These settlers were spurred by religious motives, aiming to escape persecution in England and to establish a region where reformed Protestantism could thrive. They sought not only to practice their own religion without persecution but also had the goal to create a new society based on their religious beliefs. Thus, the correct answer to the question is A) Religious families.