Marblehead in 1700 - The Marblehead Museum and Historical Society

Jonathan Corwin House. John Gatchell owned and lived on this lot as early as 1652 and as late as 1664,
and Jonathan Corwin, esq., of Salem, merchant, owned it in 1689. Judge Corwin owned a house upon the
lot which was "demolished" before Jan. 21, 1709, when he conveyed the lot to Richard Skinner of
Marblehead, mariner.* The exact location of the house is not known, and the location given on the map is
approximate only.
*Essex Registry of Deeds, book 22, leaf 29.
Estate of John Russell Lot. This was a part of the four-acre lot of John Gatchell of Marblehead, planter, as
early as 1661; and he conveyed this part of his lot to his son Thomas Gatchell of ______, tailor, on or
before Jan. 29, 1671. With his wife Waybrough and his son Thomas and wife Sarah, for eighteen pounds, he
conveyed the lot to Henry Russell of Marblehead, fisherman, Dec. 28, 1681.† Mr. Russell died before 26: 4:
1683, when administration upon his estate was granted to his widow Elizabeth Russell, and the lot was a part
of his estate in 1700.
†Essex Registry of Deeds, book 7, leaf 79.
Estate of William Browne Lot. This, "the westermost hill that lieth before John Gachel's," was granted
by the town of Marblehead to George Chine May 19, 1652.‡ John Codner subsequently owned it; and
William Browne of Marblehead brought a suit-at-law against him. In this suit Mr. Browne recovered
judgment, and to satisfy the execution issued thereon this land was set off to Mr. Browne in or before 1683.
Mr. Browne died in February, 1683-4, when this lot of two acres was appraised at eight pounds. The land
belonged to Mr. Browne's estate until Oct. 12, 1700, when his sons, William, Thomas and John, conveyed it to
their sister Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Severitt of Marblehead, fisherman.§
This hill has been known by the names of its various owners and others who lived near it, namely, Chin's, Gatchell's
and Severitt's, the latter name continuing through the last two centuries.
‡Marblehead town records.
§Essex Registry of Deeds, book 37, leaf 181.
William Furnace House. On this lot a house was built by John Gatchell, sr., of Marblehead, or Jonathan
Gatchell, before May 24, 1681, when John Gatchell conveyed the land on which the house stood, to Jonathan
Gatchell of Marblehead, joiner.* Eight days later, Jonathan Gatchell conveyed the dwelling house and shop
or working house and lot to William Furnace of Marblehead, tailor.† The committee of the commoners of
Marblehead conveyed this lot to John Gatchell, sr., Feb. 14, 1684‡ The house stood some years after 1700,
but was probably removed before the division of his estate in 1743.
*Essex Registry of Deeds, book 6, leaf 4.
†Essex Registry of Deeds, book 6, leaf 5.
‡Marblehead town records.
Richard Skinner House. John Gatchell, sr., of Marblehead built his house on this lot before 1651; and
March 15, 1670-1, the town of Marblehead granted a part of it to him,‡ there being no record before that date
showing how and when he obtained that part where his house was built. He probably removed the house in or
before the spring of 1673, and had built a new frame before Aug. 15, 1673, when the town of Marblehead
sold the land to him.‡ Mr. Gatchell lived there in 1681; and probably disposed of the estate soon after the
death of his wife in 1684.
Madam Elizabeth Corwine of Salem, widow of George Corwine, deceased, owned the lot and house thereon,
"formerly called Jn a Gachell's new house," Sept. 16, 1693, when she conveyed it to Richard Skinner of
Marblehead, fisherman, for forty-five pounds.§ Deacon Skinner died March 9, 1726-7 ; and the lot was
assigned to his daughter Tabitha, wife of Capt. Joseph Smethurst. A house then stood upon the lot, but
whether or not it was the Gatchell house is not known.
‡Marblehead town records.
§Essex Registry of Deeds, book 9, leaf 140.
John Kelly House. John Kelly of Marblehead, fisherman, built a dwelling house upon this lot before
Feb. 5, 1689-90, when the trustees for the commoners of Marblehead granted this lot of land to him.‡; Mr.
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