The history of Salem, Massachusetts, vol 1, 1924, Part 1

Author: Perley, Sidney, 1858-1928
Publication date: 1924
Publisher: Salem, Mass., S. Perley
Number of Pages: 610


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ـبي البـ


غير عبيد.


اشجعيه


நாதபுரம் சர் கட்டி க்


எங்குஸம் ஸி புரிய பிடிச்சிர்ஸ் ச்சைவுக்கு ரே


Gc 974.402 Sa32pe v.l 1626-1637 1236190


GENEALOGY COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01115 3720


BEN


A.W. Elson & Co, Belmont, Mass


To. Endicott


1


THE


HISTORY OF SALEM


MASSACHUSETTS


By SIDNEY PERLEY


Author of History of Boxford; Goodridge Memorial; Poets of Essex County ; Historic Storms of New England; Dwellings of Box- ford; Indian Land Titles of Essex County ; Hovey Book; Plumer Genealogy; etc.


VOLUME I 1626-1637


SALEM, MASS. SIDNEY PERLEY 1924


PREFACE 1236190


NYONE who makes an investigation of the history of Salem will come to the conclusion that no one person can write it. The history of Salem is so varied, so connected with almost everything in this country and much across the sea, so interesting and important historically, that when the work was once begun, the writer would be bewil- dered by the breadth and depth of the subjects and the mass of authority. The collection of the sources of information would occupy a score of years and to secure the material would take as long and the preparation of the data into form for printing with the frequent demand for new research would consume many years.


More than thirty years ago, the writer began systematic examination of the titles to land in original Salem, to discover the first grants and layouts of lands, and also the location of roads and lanes, of houses, tracts of field, pasture and woodland, and the area of land and water at the time of the first settlement. Local history is so largely connected with the places where in- cidents have occurred and people have lived that it is necessary to know the true locations.


The history of the men and women before they came here and the part they had in the development and life of the settle- ment are most important. Whenever available the portrait and autograph of each of the settlers and the genealogy of his descendants as far as Salem is concerned are given. These genealogies are contained in footnotes, a paragraph being devoted to each generation, and the names of the sons whose families are


I


.1 ) 2128$


J


II


PREFACE


given in the succeeding paragraph are indicated by being printed in italics.


This work is based entirely upon research and original sources, regard being had to modern writings only for references and clues to sources, except those which are the result of actual research in records. It is also exhaustive, including everything in records and original memoranda which should be preserved.


During all the years of this scientific research the Essex In- stitute, through its presidents and other officers and members, has assisted materially in the work; and Mr. William C. Endicott, who is now president, has generously donated the photogravure frontispiece, the portrait of Gov. John Endecott, taken directly from the original painting in his possession. The Institute has paid for the photographs from which a considerable number of the illustrations have been engraved, and also the cost of many of the engravings. The friends who have helped in various ways are so many that it would be a task to mention them all and it is unfair to select a part of them for commendation.


SIDNEY PERLEY.


Salem, Mass., March 6, 1924.


CONTENTS


Chapter I. NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS. Page I


II. THE INDIANS. 24


III. DISCOVERIES, EXPLORATIONS AND PATENTS. 51


IV. THE OLD PLANTERS. 60


V. THE COMING OF ENDECOTT. 89


VI. IMMIGRATION OF 1629. I02


VII. INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENT.


I43


VIII. FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH.


I5I


IX. MILITARY DEFENCE.


171


X. SICKNESS AND DEATH. I77


XI. SEAT OF GOVERNMENT REMOVED FROM SALEM. 185


XII. LABOR, ETC. 199


XIII. COMING OF ROGER WILLIAMS. 227


XIV. THE RED CROSS INCIDENT. 259


XV. BANISHMENT OF ROGER WILLIAMS. 264


XVI. COMING OF HUGH PETER. 278


XVII. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TOWN.


309


XVIII. LIFE IN THE COLONY.


320


XIX. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COURT.


334


XX. FISHING AND SHIPBUILDING. 365


XXI. THE FERRIES. 404


XXII. THE PEQUOT WAR. 409


XXIII. THE NOTORIOUS VENNER. 417


XXIV. HERESY. 437


APPENDIX :


Land Grants. A. 454


Land Grants. B. 460


INDEX. 467


III


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


Portrait and Autograph of Gov. John Endecott.


Frontispiece


Relief map of original Salem.


Page I


Gale's Point rocks, Manchester.


2


Town head, Manchester.


3


Castle rock, Marblehead Neck.


4


Naugus head, Marblehead.


5


Singing Beach, Manchester.


7


Devereaux Beach, Marblehead.


7


Wenham Lake.


8


Glacial groove, Mack Park.


9


Kettle hole, Marblehead.


IO


Ship rock, Peabody.


IO


Agassiz rock, Manchester.


II


Wigwam rock, Peabody.


I2


The Butts, Peabody.


I2


Remains of the Indian fort, Marblehead.


28


Throgmorton Cove, Marblehead.


3I


Site of shell heap, Marblehead.


32


Stone implements, etc.


35 37 64


Portrait of Edward Winslow.


Sheffield patent.


67


Autograph of Thomas Gardner.


68


Autograph of Roger Conant.


79


Danvers River.


8I


North River.


8I 82


Autograph of John Balch.


83


Map of Old Planters settlement.


84


Autograph of Peter Palfrey.


Site of Old Planters settlement.


Capt. John Smith's map.


84 85 87 87


Autograph of William Allen.


88


Autograph of Dea. Charles Gott.


94


Autograph of Capt. Richard Davenport.


94


Autograph of Capt. William Trask.


94


Autograph of Thomas Graves.


IO6


Autograph of John Brown.


107


Stone bear.


View of North fields.


Autograph of John Norman.


V


VI


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


Autograph of Samuel Brown.


I07


Autograph of William Dixey.


107


Chart of Beverly Harbor.


113


Title-page of New-Englands Plantation.


II5


Autograph of William Dodge.


II6


Autograph of Robert Moulton.


I18


Autograph of Lawrence Leach.


119


Massachusetts Bay Colony charter (first sheet ).


145


Colonial seal.


149


Autograph of Dea. John Horne (Orne).


152


Sempringham Church, England.


156


Autograph of Samuel Skelton.


I73


Autograph of John Holgrave.


174


Sword of Gov. John Endecott.


175


Deed of parsonage.


181


Plan of Charter Street burying ground.


183


Portrait of Gov. John Winthrop.


192


Stocks.


205


Autograph of John Legg.


206


Autograph of Francis Johnson.


213


Autograph of Samuel Archer.


217


Autograph of William Ager.


217


Autograph of Jeffry Massey.


218


Autograph of John Devereaux.


228


Autograph of Rev. Roger Williams.


232


Map of Cradock and Allerton lands, Marblehead.


234


Autograph of John Lyon.


235


Autograph of Moses Maverick.


235


Palisade fence.


239


Stone wall.


239


Half-high wall.


239


Pole fence.


240


Split-rail fence.


240


Board fence.


240


Part of a page from the Psalm Book.


244


Part of William Wood's map.


245


Autograph of John Marsh.


252


Plan of site of the meeting house.


257


Ensign.


Autograph of Thomas James.


270


Letter of Rev. Hugh Peter to Church in Dorchester.


271


Autograph of John Black.


278


Autograph of Elias Stileman.


278


Autograph of George Williams.


279


Tattershall, England.


157


Pike.


179


Charter Street burying ground.


183


Cromwell gravestone.


188


Portrait of Sir Richard Saltonstall.


204


Autograph of Isaac Allerton.


260


-


Autograph of John Norton.


II7


155


1


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


VII


Autograph of Edward Giles.


280


Autograph of George Norton.


282


Autograph of Jacob Barney.


283 284


Autograph of Maj. William Hathorne.


285


Autograph of John Hardy.


287


Map of Endecott lands, Danvers.


289


Autograph of Townsend Bishop.


294


Autograph of Edmond Batter.


294


Rev. William Walton's spring, Marblehead.


297


Portrait and autograph of Rev. Hugh Peter.


299


Autograph of John Woodbury.


30I


Plan of grants at Suntaug Lake, Peabody.


302


Autograph of Gervas Garford.


302


Autograph of John Blackleach.


303


Autograph of Robert Cotta.


303


Autograph of Philip Verrin.


303 304


Autograph of John Galley.


304


Autograph of Henry Herrick.


305


Autograph of William Lord.


306


Autograph of Nicholas Merritt.


307 308 309


Map found in British Museum.


3II 312


Layout of the Town.


313


Layout of the North field.


315


Layout of the South field.


317 321 322


Putnam sideboard.


323 323


Massey cradle.


Candle stick.


323 324 324 325 327


Hour marks on window sill.


332


Governor Endecott's sun dial.


332


Mrs. Endecott's sampler.


332


Hourglass.


332


Plan of Humphrey and Peter grants, Marblehead.


335


Plan of Cole and Read grants, Peabody.


337 340


Autograph of Richard Bishop.


340


Plan of Blackleach and Horne grants, Beverly.


34I


Autograph of George Ropes.


342


Autograph of Richard Raymond.


355


Autograph of Thomas Goldthwaite.


356


Portrait of Gov. Henry Vane.


360


Autograph of John Thorndike.


The ancient ways.


Ancient road in Highland Park.


Autograph of Thomas Trusler.


Trask chest.


Osborn chest.


Tin lantern.


Pewter porringer.


Flax brake.


Plan of the thousand acres granted to Old Planters, Beverly.


Autograph of Capt. Thomas Lothrop.


Autograph of Thomas Scruggs.


VIII


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS


Autograph of John Barber.


365


Autograph of William Browne.


366


Autograph of John Alderman.


368


Autograph of Pasco Foote.


368


Autograph of Edmund Grover.


370


Autograph of Robert Leach.


370


Autograph of Robert Morgan.


370


Autograph of Francis Perry.


372


Autograph of William King.


373


Autograph of Thomas Rootes.


373


Autograph of Benjamin Parmiter.


374


Map of Salem Neck and Winter Island.


376


Autograph of Richard Waters.


382


Autograph of John Burton.


384


Autograph of Nathaniel Porter.


385


Autograph of Richard Walker.


388


Autograph of Michael Shaflin.


390


Autograph of Francis Skerry.


390


Autograph of Dr. George Emery.


390


Autograph of William Goose.


39I


Autograph of Thomas Watson.


392 392


Autograph of John Symonds.


393


Autograph of John Pickworth.


402


Ferry landing at head of Bass River, Beverly.


405


Ferry landing at Butt point.


407


Autograph of John Abbe.


417


Autograph of Edward Burcham.


418


Autograph of John Pickering.


420


Plan of Hathorne grant. Danvers.


421


Autograph of Christopher Youngs.


423


Portrait and autograph of Thomas Venner.


425


Autograph of Thomas Chadwell.


426


Autograph of James Standish.


426


Autograph of John Fiske.


429


Autograph of John Browne.


430


Autograph of Henry Skerry.


433


Autograph of Thomas Spooner.


433


Autograph of William Vincent.


434


Autograph of Joseph Grafton.


435


Autograph of Job Swinerton.


438


Portrait and autograph of Col. Stephen Winthrop.


439


Autograph of John Gedney.


440


Autograph of John Herbert.


44I


Autograph of Thomas Oliver.


443


Autograph of Thomas Paine.


444


Autograph of James Underwood.


444


Autograph of Erasmus James.


449


Autograph of Francis Lawes.


449


Autograph of William Charles.


449


Autograph of Anthony Buxton.


450


Autograph of John Bourne.


RELIEF MAP OF ORIGINAL SALEM BY SIDNEY PERLEY


HISTORY OF SALEM


CHAPTER I.


NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS.


HEN Roger Conant and his companions left Cape Ann and built their little houses in what is now Salem they had no thought of limitation or boundaries of the territory of which they then took possession. So far as they knew, there was no claimant of the forest in any direction. Originally, it included the present cities of Salem, Beverly and Peabody, the towns of Wenham, Manchester, Danvers and Marblehead and parts of Middleton and Swampscott. Until nearly a decade later, when other settlements were made near them, the question of the boundaries of Salem did not arise. The line between the village of Salem and the hamlet of Lynn had to be legally determined, also between Salem and Ipswich and Salem and Gloucester. When this had been done, the location of Salem was known and fixed. Only a strip of land along Ipswich River, in the extreme southern part of Middleton, was originally a part of Salem. Except as above stated, Salem did not extend northerly of Ipswich River until 1661, when a certain private grant was added to it. The area of this tract of land was about eighty-six square miles or fifty-five thousand acres, its extreme length being about twenty-two miles and its extreme width about fifteen miles. The geographical location of the present city of Salem is north latitude 42° 33' IO" and west longitude 70° 53' 40". In places the land rises gradually from the bay, where the green sward and the water meet; but numerous bold cliffs of varying height form a large portion of the shore - a representative part of the "rock-bound coast" of New England.


The bed-rock of Marblehead is principally hornblende diorite, with outcrops of quartz diorite on the outer shore. The slates and sandstones on the Neck are metamorphosed by veins and masses of hornblende granite and felsitic porphyries. Three interesting and attractive natural features are found on the Marblehead shore - the rocky bluffs at Clifton Heights, and


I


2


HISTORY OF SALEM


GALE'S POINT ROCKS, MANCHESTER.


Castle rock and the "churn" on the Neck. The latter is a fissure in the rocks about thirty feet deep, and a yard wide, into which the incoming tide rushes with a roar, sometimes throwing the spray to a height of fifty feet. Remains of the Cambrian rocks are to be seen at Naugus Head, in Marblehead, on Pickering's point, in Salem, and at the base of Goat Hill, in Beverly. Hornblende diorite is also the out-cropping bed-rock in Salem. Castle, Legg's, Gallows and Ledge hills, in Salem, and the bed-rock hills in Peabody and Danvers are composed of this diorite. Salem Neck and Winter Island, however, contain much syenite. The western end of Buxton's Hill, in Peabody, the ledges between and includ- ing Folly Hill, in Danvers, and Cherry Hill, in Beverly, east of Wenham Lake from North Beverly and Montserrat to the sea, and from Pride's Crossing to Beverly Farms are of hornblende granite. So are Great Egg rock and Graves Island, off Man- chester. The latter was connected with the mainland a century ago, but is now an eighth of a mile away, with deep water between. The highest points where the syenite rocks occur are Briscoe, Poor-house and Bald hills, in Beverly, and Ram and House islands, in the harbor, which are composed of augite syenite.


There are thirteen hills within the original territory of Salem that rise more than two hundred feet above mean sea-level, eight


3


NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS


of them being in Peabody, four in Danvers and one in Middleton. In Peabody is Prospect Hill, which is more than two hundred feet high, and Orne's Hill1 which is two hundred and sixty-five feet. The latter is one of the largest of the bed-rock hills, and great boulders lie scattered upon this immense ledge even to its summit. Northwest of the railroad station in South Peabody is a hill, two hundred and forty feet high, in the heart of the woods and about a mile from any highway. The ascent is so gradual that the incline is hardly noticeable. Its pointed top rose above the sur- rounding trees, and furnished an unobstructed view for several miles in every direction. The summit is now passing away before


TOWN HEAD, MANCHESTER.


the blasts of the quarrymen. Walden Hill, also in Peabody, two hundred and twenty feet in height, is the most southern of the great drumlins in the western portion of original Salem. Next


1Orne's Hill is the eastern end of Dog Pond rocks and is a coast survey station. It affords a broad and delightful prospect for fifty miles along the coast.


4


HISTORY OF SALEM


CASTLE ROCK, MARBLEHEAD NECK.


is Upton's Hill, also in Peabody, two hundred feet high; and beyond that, south of the paper mills, is Pine Hill, a large drumlin of similar height. On the line between Peabody and Danvers, near the bend in Ipswich River, is Bald Hill,1 also a drumlin, rising two hundred feet. Easterly from this eminence, a series of elevations extend for nearly four miles. The highest part of this range is Mount Pleasant (Hog Hill) which rises two hundred feet above mean sea-level. This is an elevation of bed-rock diorite, having at its summit a ledge of hornblende granite, almost entirely exposed. Folly Hill,2 in Danvers, is a drumlin two hundred and seven feet high. It is long, with steep sides, while at either end the ascent is gradual. From its top, Salem Harbor is presented picturesquely with its islands and shores, and the various rivers of Danvers and Salem are so plainly and fully seen that the view


1Bald Hill was so called as early as 1669.


2For many years this elevation was known as Long Hill, and in 1692 it bore the name of Leach's Hill, from the principal owner. About 1740, William Browne of Salem erected a great mansion house upon its summit. The people of the time regarded its location and construction as extravagant and foolish, and shortly characterized the incident and structure as "Browne's folly." Subsequently, the name was applied to the hill, in the abbreviated form of "Folly hill." In 1752, it was within the territory which was then set off from Salem and annexed to Beverly, but, in 1857, by a change in the town lines it became a part of Danvers. It has been a coast survey station since I848.


5


NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS


furnishes a better idea of their courses and environment than can be obtained otherwise. Thomas' Hill, also in Danvers, is a drumlin two hundred and twenty feet in height, and north of it is Hathorne's Hill,1 which measured two hundred and fifty-eight feet high until 1876, when it was cut down eighteen feet for the site of the Danvers State Hospital. The hill is a drumlin; its sides are abrupt; and from its summit, on clear days, Mount Monadnock, in New Hampshire, and several of the higher eleva- tions in Massachusetts are plainly seen. Easterly from this hill is another drumlin, two hundred feet high, known as Putnam's Hill.2 Wills Hill,3 in Middleton, is. also two hundred feet high.


NAUGUS HEAD, MARBLEHEAD.


The most northern point of Marblehead is a headland, ending in a round elevation. It occupies a prominent position on the southeasterly side of Salem Harbor, and has attracted attention from the very first settlement. It resembles the headland on the right of the river Wey, in Dorsetshire, England, as the stream enters the English Channel.4 The English headland was in the


"This hill was early in the possession of. Maj. William Hathorne, from whom its early name was derived. While it was owned by the Dodge family, the last private owner, it was known as Dodge's hill.


"A large portion of this hill has been in the possession of the Putnam family since 1647.


3This hill was so named because it was the site of the wigwam of old Will, the survivor of the Indians in that locality.


"The river Wey runs from above Dorchester, through the ancient parish of Radipole, which originally bounded on the Channel. In a deed given by


6


HISTORY OF SALEM


possession of the Darby or Derby family at the time of our settle- ment,1 and it was occupied by a castle. As early as 1633, the hill in Marblehead was known as Darby fort, probably because of the resemblance of the two headlands.2 It was so called as late as about 1700. In 1709, a new name appears in the records- "Nogg's head."" This is the English word "nog", which means "the angle of a stream."4 The water of Salem Harbor along the whole length of the northwestern side of Marblehead was called Forest River in the days of the early settlement. Vessels sailing out from this section proceeded in a northeasterly direction until they reached this headland, when the course was changed at almost a right angle. This was indeed the angle of the stream. In its derivation and meaning this word is similar to the word knob, which means "a protuberance of any kind"; "a rounded protuberance";" or "a rounded protuberance at the end of any- thing," as of a rounded hill at the end of a stretch of land. It was called "Nogg's head" as late as 1826;" and this name later drifted into "Naugus head," by which it has been known for many years.


There are several areas of level upland which early received notice. The larger tracts are "The Plains," in Danvers, and John- son's Plain, in Peabody.8 The former has an area of about five hundred acres, while the latter is somewhat smaller. Trask's Plain, in Salem, and Stone's Plain, in Peabody, are smaller, but well-known by those names in the early times.


There is a small beach on Marblehead Neck, and longer stretches of sand are at Beverly and Manchester. The longest is West Beach, in Beverly, which is narrow and about a mile in length. At Manchester is a long and wide beach, in shape a


John Calley, of Marblehead, mariner, March 18, 1720-I (Essex Registry of Deeds, book 38, leaf 107), he states that the land conveyed is "in Ratterpol or most Commonly called ye Ferry in Marblehead." Probably many of the early settlers of Salem and Marblehead were well acquainted from the earliest days with the shores of the Wey, which was the way by water from the Puritan city of Dorchester, and noticed the similarity of the English and American headlands.


1None of the Darby or Derby families appeared in New England until 1676.


2New Englands Prospect, by William Wood, 1633.


3In a deposition of John Dixcy of Marblehead, May 4, 1709 (Essex Registry of Deeds, book 21, leaf 57), he called this headland "a place known by ye name of Nogg's head."


*English Dialect Dictionary, by Joseph Wright, 1903.


5Royal Standard Dictionary, 1794.


6Thesaurus Dictionary, by Francis A. March.


"In a deed given by Thomas Haskell, conveying some land at this place, April 7, 1826 (Essex Registry of Deeds, book 241, leaf 179), this hill is called "Nogges head."


&Johnson's Plain was so called because Francis Johnson received, in or before 1634, a grant of nine score acres of it from the town of Salem.


7


NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS


1


SINGING BEACH, MANCHESTER. .


crescent, which has at either end craggy rocks, forming bold promontories. It is called the "singing beach" because of the peculiar musical, rasping sound produced when a person walks or shoves his feet upon the sand. This motion causes to be rubbed together the sharp projecting points of a hard mineral substance, which constitutes much of the sand. There are several small shingle beaches, but the only one of considerable extent is Dever- eaux Beach, in Marblehead, which is wide and about half a mile long.


DEVEREAUX BEACH, MARBLEHEAD.


8


HISTORY OF SALEM


Comparatively little salt marsh and fresh meadow are within the original limits of Salem, the largest area of low land being the Wenham swamp and great meadows, which together contain about two thousand acres.


The several rivers are tidal waters and virtually arms of the sea.1 Ipswich River, at the northwestern part of the territory, however, is a small and slowly flowing stream. Into these various rivers flow brooks which have their origin in springs.


In 1634, William Wood wrote as follows of the water supply of this region: "For the Countrey it is as well watered as any land under the Sunne, every family, or every two families having a spring of sweet waters betwixt them, besides these springs, there be divers spacious ponds in many places of the Countrey, out of which runne many sweet streams, which are con- stant in their course both winter and summer, whereat the Cattle


WENHAM LAKE.


quench their thirst."" The planters sought the springs in the early days, and built their houses as near to them as possible. The most noted of these sources of water supply is Cold spring,3 in North Salem, and Jeggles' spring,4 in South Salem.


1North River was so called very early, and Wooliston (Danvers) River in 1635. The Indians called the latter Orkhussunt River. They called Forest River Massabequash River; Waters River Soewamapenessett River ; and Crane River Conambsquenooncant River. Bass River was so called as early as 1635. Porter's River was called by the Indians Pouomeneucant River ; and by the English, as early as 1637, Frost-fish River.


"New Englands Prospect, by William Wood, 1634, chapter V.


3Cold spring was so called as early as 1793. It was known as Goodale's spring as early as 1658, because Robert Goodale owned it and lived in the field northeasterly of it at that time.


Jeggles' spring is near the southerly end of Forest River Park, and it was known by that name very early, as the land in which it is situated was owned by William Jeggles, who died in 1659.


GLACIAL GROOVE AT MACK PARK.


9


NATURAL CHARACTERISTICS


Wenham Lake is the only large sheet of fresh water within the original bounds of Salem. It is forty feet above mean sea- level, and has an area of two hundred and fifty-five acres. Its greatest depth is fifty feet. It was called the great pond in 1635. Suntaug Lake, Pleasant Pond, Beaver Pond, Spring Pond, Brown's Pond, Coy Pond and Muddy Pond are smaller sheets of water. There was a pond in the rear of West Beach, in Beverly, about three-fourths of a mile in length, and known as Long Pond. It broke into the sea in 1696, and never filled again. A brook now runs through the former bed of the lake, but a large portion of the area which it covered has been filled with earth.


Both Salem and Marblehead harbors are spacious and deep, and Salem Harbor is well sheltered. Rev. Francis Higginson called Salem Harbor Marvel Harbor in 1629.


Of the islands off the shore, the largest is Misery Island, which contains about eighty acres. It is sandy toward the main- land and rocky seaward. Nearby is Little Misery Island, of four or five acres in extent, which is mainly an outcrop of hornblende gabbro rock. Baker's Island is nearly as large as Misery Island, and is a massive outcrop of quartz diorite rock. Cat, or Lowell Island, off Marblehead, the next in size, is about nine acres in extent. Eagle Island, of about four acres, has less than an acre of soil, its southern end being of a slate formation. Tinker's Island contains about two acres, and oceanward its shore is a ragged rock. Cunny Island contains about one and one-half acres, little more than half of it being soil. House Island has an area of about five acres ; and Kettle Island, off Manchester, is considerably smaller.




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