History of Manchester, Massachusetts, USA

Manchester, Massachusetts
Essex county. This is a flourishing fishing town on Massachusetts bay, 26 miles N.E. from Boston and 5 S.W. from Gloucester. It was taken from Salem in 1645. Population, 1837, 1,346. There are a number of vessels belonging to the town employed in the fishing and coasting business. The value of the fishery, the year ending April 1, 1837, amounted to $12,800. The value of the articles manufactured was $96,473. Those articles consisted of vessels, boots, shoes, leather, chairs, cabinet ware, palm-leaf hats, and ships' wheels. The village is very pleasant, and commands fine prospects. Although Manchester is a rocky, rough township, it can boast a rare native production in this climate,—the magnolia, a beautiful flowering tree.

Manchester, when a part of Salem, was called Jeffrey's Creek. The Magnolia, a beautiful flowering tree, is found in this town, and no where else in New England, in a native state.

The inhabitants are more or less connected with navigation.

Distance from Salem, 8 miles; from Boston, 26.

Manchester, a post-village and seaport of Essex county, Massachusetts, on the Eastern railroad, 9 miles N. E. from Beverly, and 23 miles N. E. from Boston. The industry of the inhabitants is chiefly directed to the manufacture of cabinet-ware, which employs a capital of $500,000. Incorporated in 1045. Population of the township, 1648.

Manchester, one of our most beautiful towns, lies along north side of Massachusetts Bay, in the southeasterly part of Essex County, 8 miles northeast of Salem, and 25 miles northeast of Boston. It is on the Gloucester Branch of the Eastern Division of the Boston and Maine Railroad, which has stations at West Manchester, Manchester and Magnolia. Manchester is the principal village and the post-office. Other villages are Crescent Beach, Kittle Cove Village, West Manchester and Newport. Northeast of Manchester village is Rosedale Cemetery; and a locality beyond, near Baker's Pond, formerly bore the name "North Yarmouth."

It is bounded on the north by Essex, on the east by Gloucester, on the south by the sea, and on the west by Beverly and Wenham. Its shore line is about 4 miles. In the offing are House, Kettle and several smaller islands. The area is 5,134 acres; about two-thirds, chiefly along the northern side of the town, being well filled with forests of oak, pine and hemlock....

Manchester, a post-village of Essex co., Mass., in Manchester township, on the Atlantic Ocean, and on the Gloucester Branch of the Eastern Railroad, 23 miles N.E. of Boston. It has 3 churches, and manufactures of chairs and cabinet-furniture, &c. It is a popular seaside resort, and has several fine beaches and bold promontories. Pop. of the township, 1560. Here is a noted mass of rocks in the sea, called Norman's Woe.

Manchester, or Manchester-by-the-Sea, a post-village of Essex co., Mass., in Manchester township (town) on the Atlantic Ocean and on the Boston and Maine R., 23 miles NE. of Boston. It has manufactures of furniture, etc. It is a popular sea-side resort and has several fine beaches (including a "singing beach") and bold promontories. Pop. of the town in 1900, 2522. Here is a noted mass of rocks in the sea, called Norman's Woe.