Marblehead in 1700 - The Marblehead Museum and Historical Society

MARBLEHEAD IN.THE YEAR 1700 NO. 4
BY SIDNEY PERLEY
That part of Marblehead which is included between Hooper, Rockaway and Watson streets on the west and
State and Mugford streets on the east and between Green street on the north and the harbor on the south is shown
on the map on the opposite page. The map is based on actual surveys and title deeds, and is drawn to a scale
of three hundred feet to an inch. It shows all the houses that were standing upon that portion of the town
in 1700.
State street was a highway as early as 1665, when it was called a highway that goes down to ye harbor. It
was called Norden's lane in 1725; highway leading down to the new wharf in Codner's cove in 1726; King
street in 1729; and State street after the war of the Revolution.
Mugford street was called the lane or highway that leads to ye comon or woods in 1667; a highway in 1684;
ye highway or street that leads up to the new meeting house in 1717; Queen street in 1734; the street leading
from the town house to the ferry, so called, in 1757; and Mugford street as early as 1844.
Green street was the old ferry road, and was called the highway which goes to the ferry in 1724; the street in
1725; the street leading from the new meeting house up to the ferry, so called, in 1773; and Green street before
1882.
Elm street was called the lane or highway that leads to ye comon or woods in 1667; the highway, 1696; ye
highway on ye back side of ye town, 1711; the Back street, 1727; and Elm street since 1831.
Watson street was an old way and was called a lane very early. It was named Watson street before 1882.
Rockaway street was an old way, and was called a lane in 1737; Frog lane, 1761; and Rockaway street
before 1882.
Hooper street was the ancient way to Nick's cove ; and was called ye highway in 1723; the highway
leading down to ye cove, 1727; the street leading down to Nick's cove, 1728 ; the main street, 1797; and
Hooper street as early as 1831.
Washington street was a highway or street in 1665; and was called the town highway, 1667; the main
street of ye town of Marblehead, 1721; the main street leading to the town house,* 1794; and Washington
street as early as 1859. The triangle in which the old town house stands was called Market square in 1856,
and Washington square in 1875.
* This was the old town house, built in 1727, and now standing.
Water street was called the street leading up to the hill from the cove in 1836; the highway near the head of
the cove, 1847; and "Water street, formerly called Felton's hill," in 1790.
Front street was in use about 1700, but the time of its origin is not exactly known. It was called a highway
in 1707; way leading from Nick's cove to Codner's cove, 1727; ye way leading to the new wharf, 1728; the
street leading to Nick's wharf, 1729; street leading from cove to cove, 1731; highway or street leading
from Neck's cove to the new wharf, 1746; Fore street, 1761; the street leading to new wharf from upper
wharf, so called, 1819; and Front street as early as 1824.
The braces marked "a" shows where Darling street runs. It was laid out about 1730; and was called
Cross street in 1733; New street, so called, 1777; Darling's lane, 1788; and Darling street before 1882.
The brace marked "b" shows where Hanover street begins. This was laid out as a private way, sixteen
feet in width, by Stephen Minot, Esq., of Marblehead, through his land, in 1728; and was called Hanover
street as early as 1729.
Summer street was laid out and so named before 1882. The braces marked "e " shows where it runs.
The braces marked "c" show where Pleasant street now runs. It was a private way, fifteen feet
wide, in 1715, and was laid out as a public way about 1772. It was called a lane in 1787; a highway,
1791; and Pleasant Bystreet before 1882.
The braces marked "d" show where Harris street runs. The eastern portion of this way was first laid out,
Aug. 23, 1736, in the division of the estate of John Northey, two rods wide, to reach the rear land, and
was at first called a drift way.* It was called a passage way leading to Northey's orchard in 1748; a road
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