Marblehead in 1700 - The Marblehead Museum and Historical Society

To the performance of all which abovef d premifes the faid persons by thefe prefents do bind and oblige
themfelves their Heirs, Executors and Affignes each to other. In witnefs of which the f d persons have fett to
their hands this fix th of March one thoufand fix hundred and feventy eight/nine
Signed and delivered John Woollcot
in the presence of us W m Bowditch
Samuel Cheever John Dever # marke
Mofes Mavericke Rich: Knott
John Elathorp James Dennes
Samuel Morgan
M r Samuel Cheevers and M r Mofer made oath yt that they were prefent & faw abovef d figne and Deliver
each to other this writing as ther Covenant Taken upon oath 24: 1 mo: 80 before me
W m Hathorne mf t
All the owners, except Capt William Bowditch, worked upon the mill in its construction.
After the mill was finished, it was tried, and found to be faulty in several ways by William Traske, John
Traske, Simeon Booth, Joshua Buffum and Edmond Bridges, who were chosen to test it. They took up the
stones, and found that the nick and rine needed flowering, and the stones to be hung true. They also
found that the nicke and spindle were insufficient in both weight and workmanship; that the building
was not sufficiently underpinned nor tightly covered; and that one of the main posts of the mill house was
broken; also that the hopper and many of the utensils were insufficient. The owners refused to pay for the
construction, and Mr. Wilcott brought a suit against them to recover what was due to him.
On June 26, 1680, Thomas Bobbins, John Buffum, William Trask and Walter Fairfield examined the mill
and found it not fit for use in grinding meal, and that it would cost more to make it fit to grind corn than the
mill was worth; its vanes, arms and sails and upper running gears begin insufficient. The mill had nothing "to
stop her or to command her with in a gale of wind," and seven men" could not turn her to the wind." Many
interesting depositions are on file with the papers in the case; one of them being that of William Poate, who
testified that he heard John Wilcott, jr., say that the mill would never amount to "nothing," and that they
didn't care so long as they got their money; did not care if the Devil had the mill if they got their money.
The windmill was used apparently for several years, although originally so defective that the plaintiff lost
his suit in the action referred to.
Nathan Bowen of Marblehead, shopkeeper, conveyed one-third of the windmill in Marblehead, nigh the
road that leads from Marblehead to Salem, etc., and one-third of the bolting mill therein standing and onethird
of the land thereto belonging, Nov. 2, 1723, to Stephen Minot, jr., of Marblehead, merchant,* and on
the same day another third to John Oulton of Marblehead, merchant.†
*Essex Registry of Deeds, book 43, leaf 181.
†Essex Registry of Deeds, book 43, leaf 182.
What is now Washington street, which runs over this hill on the northwesterly side of Abbot hall, was the
original road running through the town. It was called ye way going out and into ye town of Marblehead
in 1700; the main street, 1753; the main road leading into Marblehead, 1783; the main street leading out of
town, 1808 ; the main street leading from training field hill to the South schoolhouse, 1818 ; the street or
way up to Training field hill, so called, 1820 ; the highway over training field hill, 1827; and Washington
street in 1835.
Middle street was called the middle street in 1767; a way leading into Marblehead, 1783; the middle
street leading from the training field hill to the South school-house, 1804: the main street leading to the
South school; house, 1813: and Middle street in 1828.
South street was called ye highway in 1720; the main street, 1722; street or southernmost way that leads
into the said town of Marblehead, 1778; a street leading from Read's corner to the South schoolhouse, 1802;
street leading from the South schoolhouse to Coney lane, 1805; and South street in 1859.
Tucker street was early in use. It was called ye broad highway going into town in 1715; the street or
lane, 1721; the main street, 1751; lane leading to Nixis cove, 1780; the southeasterly highway leading
over training field hill, 1787; and Tucker street in 1825.
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