History of Marblehead, Massachusetts, USA

Marblehead, Massachusetts
Essex county. This is a noted fishing town, on a rocky point of land extending into Massachusetts bay, with a hardy and intrepid crew of fishermen and sailors. The harbor is commodious and easy of access. The quantity of fish exported from this place in 1794 amounted to $184,532. Since that time the fishing business has greatly increased, and this place has now become one of the largest fishing ports on the American coast. There belong to this place from 90 to 100 sail of fishing, coasting and merchant vessels. Tonnage of the district, in 1837, 10,037. First settled, 1631. Incorporated, 1649. Population, 1837, 5,549. It lies 14 miles N.E. from Boston and 4 S.E. from Salem. The value of the cod and mackerel fishery the year ending April 1, 1837, was $153,487; employing 500 hands. The manufactures of Marblehead, the same year, amounted to $398,565. The articles manufactured consisted of boots, shoes, bar iron, chairs, cabinet and tin wares, vessels, soap,...

Marblehead was originally a part of Salem, and it is a rocky cape or badland, as its name denotes.

Its situation and its harbor are peculiarly adapted to commerce; and perhaps no place in the United States is, and always has been, so completely commercial.

The patriotism of Marblehead, by sea and land, has never been excelled. Her fisheries have supplied our fleets with seamen ; and, in the struggle for independence, this little town furnished an entire regiment of soldiers.

General John Glover, a brave officer of the Revolution, and Elbridge Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, were natives of Marblehead.

Besides its immense share in the fisheries, its manufactures of boots and shoes are very considerable.

Distance from Salem, 4 miles; from Boston, 16.

a massive storm with hurricane-force gales caught the fleet by surprise. The crippled ships limped back to Marblehead, missing at least eleven vessels.

Marblehead, a post-village and port of entry of Essex county, Massachusetts, on an irregular rocky peninsula of its own name, and at the terminus of a railroad by which it has communication with Salem, 18 miles N. E. from Boston. It is pleasantly situated on an excellent harbor, which is accessible at all sea sons to vessels of the largest class. A break water constructed in 1845 also renders it safe during storms. The inhabitants are extensively engaged in the cod fisheries, in which about 60 vessels are employed. The quantity of fish annually taken is about 60,000 quintals, in the curing of which upwards of 60,000 bushels of salt are consumed. The shipping of Marblehead June 30th, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of 1191 tons registered, and 6114 tons enrolled and licensed. Of the latter 1857 tons were employed in the coast trade, and 3675 tons in the cod fisheries. The foreign arrivals for the year were 168, (tons, 12,129.) of which 161 (tons, 11,464) were by foreign vessels. The...

TEN ACRES OF BUSINESS AND DWELLING HOUSES SWEPT AWAY IN A FEW HOURS -ALL BUT THREE OF THE SHOE FACTORIES OF THE TOWN, THE PUBLIC HALL AND ARMORY, A CHURCH, AND OVER 70 SHOPS AND DWELLINGS DESTROYED - OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS LOSS, WITH HALF OF IT INSURED.

Special Dispatch to the New-York Times.
BOSTON, June 25. - Worse than the great fire of 1870 was to Chicago, or that of 1872 to Boston, or the last destruction at St. John, was the conflagration that swept through the historic town of Marblehead this morning, when the relative size and wealth of the place is taken into consideration. The worst feature of this severe trail to the towns people of this thriving and industrious place, is that little doubt remains that it was an incendiary's torch that started the disastrous fire. Ten acres of the business portion of this town were laid waste in a few brief hours, embracing all but three of their shoe factories, the chief industry of the place, their public hall and armory, one...