Category: Salem, Massachusetts

Categories: Essex County, Massachusetts | Dorchester Company

Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, in the United States.

Salem, located at the mouth of the Naumkeag river at the site of an ancient Native American village and trading center, was first settled by Europeans in 1626, when a company of fishermen from Cape Ann led by Roger Conant arrived. Conant's leadership had provided the stability to survive the first two years, but he was immediately replaced by John Endecott, one of the new arrivals, by order of the Massachusetts Bay Company. Conant graciously stepped aside and was granted 200 acres of land in compensation. These "New Planters" and the "Old Planters" agreed to cooperate, in large part due to the diplomacy of Conant and Endicott. In recognition of this peaceful transition to the new government, the name of the settlement was changed to Salem, a hellenized form of the word for "peace" in Arabic سلام (salaam) and Hebrew שלום (shalom).

Resources:

• The Salem Press Historical and Genealogical Record, Volume 1, 1890-1891, published by Salem Press Publishing and Printing Company (contains information back to early 1700's, as well as information on Salem Witch Trials, etc.)
• Vital Records of Salem, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849
• The History of Salem, Massachusetts

This page was last modified 13:02, 10 October 2020. This page has been accessed 4,566 times.