36 



Ser. Vol. 5, p. 102), written by Wm. Hubbard, who was 

 well acquainted with Roger Conant, he says, "After they 

 had made another short trial there (Cape Ann) , of about 

 a year's continuance, they removed a third time a little 

 lower towards the bottom of the bay, being invited by 

 the accommodations which they either saw, or hoped to 

 find on the other side of the creek near by, called Naum- 

 keag, which afforded a considerable quantity of planting 

 land near adjoining thereto. Here they took up their 

 station upon a pleasant and fruitful neck of land, invi- 

 roned with an arm of the sea on each side, in either of 

 which vessels and ships of good burthen might safely 

 anchor. In this place (soon after by a minister that 

 came with a company of honest planters) called Salem, 

 from that in Psal. Ixxvi, 2, was laid the first foundation 

 on which the next Colonies were built." He also says 

 that Roger Conant had previously examined this place, 

 "secretly conceiving in his mind, that in following times 

 (as since is fallen out) it might prove a receptacle for 

 such as upon the account of religion would be willing to 

 begin a foreign plantation in this part of the world, of 

 which he gave some intimation to his friends in England." 



As Collins Cove is almost dry at low tide, it would be 

 impossible for "ships of good burthen to safely anchor" 

 there. Indeed it seems to us quite evident that the neck 

 of land which these early writers refer to, must mean 

 that upon which the main part of the town now stands, 

 between the North River and the South River. 



We propose now to show who were the occupants of 

 the land near what is now Bridge street, at the earliest 

 date to which we have been able to trace its history. 



Where the Gas Works are now, was called Neal's 

 Point ; the Cove south of it was called Waller's Cove, and 

 that to the north of it Massey's Cove. 



