57 



purpose. The name Cotta's lot, originated from Robert 

 Cotta, who was the first owner. There were two houses on 

 it before l(3{il. Next east was a lot of three acres, which 

 Michael Shaflin convej^ecl, in 1684, to Eobert Kitchen 

 "as the son and heir of John Kitchen" in consideration 

 of "£15 by me received of John Kitchen in the year 

 1638." John Kitchen had ])een in possession of this lot 

 for many years, probal)ly from the year 1638, and lived 

 on it at one time, but afterwards removed to the other 

 side of Essex street, where he built the house that was 

 taken down about twenty years ago, on the western cor- 

 ner of Beckford street. March 6, 1654, the town granted 

 to John Kitchen sufficient laud "to make a sellar neare 

 unto goodman Trusler's fence over against the house of 

 the said John Kitchen." Thomas Trusler's homestead was 

 on the opposite side of Essex street, and was afterwards 

 owned by Thomas Bobbins, who in 1679 conveyed to 

 Robert Kitchen, as son and heir of John Kitchen, a 

 quarter of an acre, bounded east by Beckford street, and 

 south by Essex street. This, as well as the deed by 

 Michael Shaflin, was undoubtedly to supply the loss or 

 want of a previous deed to John Kitchen. 



[2*0 be Continued.'] 



LESLIE'S EXPEDITION TO SALEM, 1775. 



The following communication from Mrs. Sparks, is a 

 valuable and interesting contribution to this portion of 

 om- local history. 



\_Copied by Jared Sparks, in the Public Offices of London, 1828.] 



Boston, March 4, 1776. 

 Gage to Dartmouth. — "I have the honor to transmit 

 to your Lordship a paper of intelligence of the machina- 



ESSEX ENST. BULLETIN. 8 



