Marblehead in 1700 - The Marblehead Museum and Historical Society

MARBLEHEAD IN THE YEAR 1700. NO. 2.
BY SIDNEY PERLEY.
THE accompanying map includes that section of Marblehead lying between Pleasant and Washington streets
and the harbor and westerly of Waldron street to the western end of Rowland's hill. This was the
western part of the section of the town known as "Newtown" a hundred years ago, the bridge on Washington
street, at School street, indicated on the map, being called "Newtown bridge."
Rowland's hill was so called, probably, because Richard Rowland lived at its eastern end. It was called
Newtown hill at one time. This was laid out and granted as “ recompense” land in 1726.
The original road into the town ran on the south side of Rowland's hill, a little higher than the present
Prospect street This was the way in 1677, but soon after the course was changed to the north side of the
hill where Pleasant and Washington streets now run, except at the western part, above the "workhouse
rocks." The dotted lines show where the street now runs, and the continuous lines the former location. The
eastern end of Vine street and the short narrow court near "workhouse rocks" are parts of the original way.
Washington street was the ancient way to Marblehead. It was called the road to Marblehead in 1727;
country road or main street in 1736; street leading out of town in 1815; the main street in 1827; and
Washington street in 1848.
Waldron street was a way from the earliest settlement. It was called the way to or through the fish fence
lands in 1734; Waldron's lane in 1754; street leading to the fish fences in 1797; highway in 1807; and
Waldron street in 1880. The northern end of Waldron's court was laid out by the owners of the Andrews
lot, to reach the rear of the lot before 1734; and was subsequently extended, from tune to time, as needed.
It was called Waldron's court as early as 1842.
The part of Gregory street included in this section had its beginning in the right of way granted by John
Waldron (shown on the map) to Rev. Samuel Willard, Feb. 21, 1682,* in order that Mr. Willard might
reach his lot from the highway. It was called the road leading through the fish fences in 1808; road or way
to the fish, fences in 1811; and road leading to the fish yards in 1852.
*Essex Registry of Deeds, book 34, leaf 258.
Barnard street was a way leading between the rope-walks† in 1764. It was called the way to the
ropewalk in 1827; ropemaker's court in 1845; Barnard street in 1852; and the road or way between the
ropewalk of the Marblehead Cordage Company and Hawkes' ropewalk in 1853.
†On either side of what is now Barnard street were ropewalks, the longest being six hundred and
seventy-five feet in length.
Hawkes street was called the highway leading from Redstone cove to the hay scales‡ in 1810, and Hawkes
street in 1867. Hawkes' court was so called in 1867.
‡The hay scales were on the eastern corner of the junction of Washington and Prospect streets.
South street was called the street leading from Reed's corner to the South schoolhouse in 1802; and South
street in 1880.
Rowland street was laid out in 1726, and was called the road over Rowland's hill in 1845.
Prospect street was so called in 1847.
Chestnut, Commercial and Cottage streets were so called respectively in 1852.
Lindsey street was called a new street about 1854.
The harbor was so called in 1715; Marblehead harbor in 1735; and the harbor of Marblehead in 1739.
Robert JBarttett and Nathaniel Walton and Martha Munjoy lots. These lots belonged to Rev. William
Walton of Marblehead very early. He died in October, 1668, intestate, leaving widow Elizabeth and several
children. The next year the county court ordered that the widow should have the use of the estate as long as
she lived. She was appointed administratrix of the estate, and in that capacity, for forty pounds worth of debts
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