Just a quick question about settlements. So far it seems like Preston Garvey is the one who want you to create settlements and make them join Minute Men as well.

My thinking is, I should be able to make settlements without involving the Minute men? What if I don't go to Concord, instead I just go to a place where I can make a settlement and start from there? Should be doable, right?

As I found a settlement area completely by accident/exploring without any NPCs directly involved - yep it should, just dont know for how many locations.

I found 3 yesterday and got the quests to "free them from raiders/mutants" so I guess I don't need the minutemen, although, the minutemen seem to get credits from freeing the settlements.