135 



humbly crauing the favor of this Court to grauut them 

 the propriety of the ilands called the Miserjes and 

 Baker's Island, the Court judgeth it not meete to graunt 

 theire request." 



On the 16th of October, of the same year, 1660, how- 

 ever, the Court acceded as follows : — 



" Vpou a motion made in the behalfe of the inhabitants 

 of Salem, this Court judgeth it meete to graunt to them 

 certaiue islands knowne by the name of the Miserjes & 

 Baker's Island, lying in the mouth of theire harbor : pro- 

 vided, that it shall be lawful for any fishermen to make 

 vse of them in making of fish, & whateuer conduceth 

 thereto, as building houses, stages, &c., as also wood 

 & flaking in all fishing seasons." 



The subsequent proprietorship can be easily traced 

 from the public records. 



The Names 



of ledges, shoals and rocks present a curious theme for 

 study and inquiry. Who, for instance, can state the ori- 

 gin and significance of the terms Satan, Pope's Head, the 

 Brimbles, the Endeavors, the Triangles, Kettle Bottom, 

 Great and Little Haste, Great and Little Aqua Vitae, 

 Cutthroat Ledge, House Ledge, Pilgrim Ledge, and nu- 

 merous rocks that might be mentioned ? 



The Haste was called Johnson's Haste before 1697, and 

 probably from one John Johnson of Salem, who, in 1693, 

 prays redress for what he considered oppressive Custom 

 House charges, the said petitioner " having for nigh three 

 years followed the trade of boating goods " to and from 

 Boston. 



Rising States Ledge was probably so called from a ves- 

 sel of that name touching upon it, but can any of our old 

 commercial men tell when and under what circumstances ? 



