Marblehead appears to have two founding dates — and there is a reason why. Marblehead was incorporated as a part of Salem in 1629.
At that time, it was a small fishing village, included in the overall group of villages known as Salem. Always isolated because of its geographic isolation, Marblehead was reachable primarily by sea.
The roads in and out of town were limited and of poor quality. Atlantic Avenue and West Shore Drive didn’t exist, and the population was settled in the Little Harbor area.
Another way that Marblehead was isolated from Salem was through religious beliefs. Most settlers to Salem were Puritans. They arrived with a clear idea of how they wanted to practice their religion and how they wanted to govern themselves. Settlers to Marblehead had no such plan. They came to fish and make a better life for themselves and their families.
Friction between Marblehead and Salem was inevitable from the start and continued over the next 20 years. Early colonial court records indicate that Marbleheaders were frequently brought into Salem court for offenses such as public drunkenness, foul language and not attending church, all behaviors condemned by the laws of Puritan Salem.
Finally, in 1649 Marblehead separated from Salem to become a separate and independent town, undoubtedly a relief to all. The town prospered and by 1660 the king’s agents declared Marblehead to be “the greatest Towne for fishing in New England.”
The small band of fishermen had grown into a strong community known for its hard-working, hard-living individuals.
