Marblehead in 1700 - The Marblehead Museum and Historical Society

of Governor Winthrop and had brought over from England "at great charges, all things fitting for taking wild
fowl by way of Duck Coy." He obtained leave of the General Court to set his decoys in these ponds. It was
ordered that no man "should shoote in any gunn within a half mile of the ponds, nor use any other means
for the disturbance of the fowle there." Mr. Downing returned to England and probably died about 1657,
having granted this fifty acres of land to his grandson Solomon Stoddard of Boston, gentleman, "fellow of ye
College of Cambridge." For fifty pounds, Mr. Stoddard conveyed the land to Moses Maverick and Richard
Rowland, both of Marblehead, May 1, 1667.‡ This tract of land comprised the lots on the map marked James
Darling, Estate of Richard Rowland, and Ambrose Gale.
†Essex Registry of Deeds, book 1, leaf 1.
‡Essex Registry of Deeds, book 3, leaf 26
Messrs. Maverick and Rowland conveyed to Johns Peach, sr., one-fourth, to John Peach, jr., one-eighth
and to Samuel Ward one-eighth of this fifty acres Jan. 20, 1667.§ Some division of the land was made
apparently and Mr. Maverick and "one of the Peaches" conveyed the lot marked James Darling to George
Darling, sr., of Salem, yeoman, in the seventies.|| The lot marked Estate of Richard Rowland was Richard
Rowland's portion of the Coy pond lands as probably divided. The lot marked Ambrose Gale was the oneeighth
of these lands- conveyed by Messrs. Maverick and Richard Rowland to Capt. Samuel Ward of
Marblehead, vintner, Jan. 20, 1667.*
§Essex Registry of Deeds, book 3, leaf 27.
||Essex Registry of Deeds, book 14, leaf 308.
*Essex Registry of Deeds, book 3, leaf 27.
The remainder of Mr. Humphreys' farm, about four hundred and fifty acres, was owned by him at the time
of his decease. By her attorney, William Hathorne of Salem, Mrs. Lydia Bankes, late of Salem, for one
hundred and thirty-three pounds, conveyed to Moses Maverick, David Corwithen, Arthur Sandin, William
Charles, John Peach the elder, and "others the inhabitants of Marblehead, all that farm called y e Playnes farme
ling in Salem, being 400 acres, with all y e housing, &c., excepting 50 acres & 2 ponds formerly granted to Mr.
Downing," 24: 7: 1645.Ӡ The list of grantees and the amount each one paid toward the purchase is only
partially known. The tract of land was subsequently divided among the purchasers in proportion to the
amount each one paid.
†Essex Registry of Deed, book 1, leaf 29.
The road running near the Coy ponds, as shown on the map, was the ancient road leading from Salem to
Marblehead. Its course in Salem was through the great pastures to the head of Broad street. Upon the laying out
of the road through the South Fields of Salem in 1666, this fell into disuse and was used principally to go to
the Darling farm. It was called, in 1677, "ye highway y t goes to George Darlin's"; in 1728, "Boston road";
and, in 1731, "ye country road”.
Where this road left the town was the "Marblehead gate," which was there as late as 1708. In the early
settlement, each town was fenced, and at the highways gates in the fence were maintained.
The southern highway shown on the map is that over which electric cars now run between Marblehead
and Lynn and was called "ye old waye y t went to Mr. Bang's" in 1677; "ye old highway," 1682; "the old
country road," 1687; "the old path and road which was to Lynn," 1691; "ye old path and road which was
formerly to Lynn," 1701; "the old path," 1710; "ye old highway y t formerly led from Marblehead to
Lynn," 1715 ; "highway that leads to Lynn," 1719; "the old path and road which was sometimes to Lynn,'
1724 ; "ye road leading to King's farm," 1728 ; “ye way y t leads to Reddans," 1734; " and “ye country road,"
1739.
The road leading to Salem over Forest River was laid out by committees chosen for that purpose by the
towns of Salem and Marblehead in the spring of 1666. The following is a copy of the record of their
return:—
The Returne: of thofe that weare Apoynted to laye owt the Common hie waye: betwixt salem towne and
marblhed: is vydz: that the waye: shall: lye: out of the towne of marblhed: as: the Common Cart waye now
lyeth: fower Rodds wyde and soe to Runn: fower Rodds broade: as wee have m'ked trees: neere the way as It
is Commonly ufed: only uppon the midle of the playne wee Leave the common waye: and goe: somwhat one the
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