132 



noon-day ! '] He immediately went on shore, and the 

 owners were very much alarmed at his sudden appear- 

 ance on such a tempestuous night, and at first could 

 hardly be persuaded that he had not been wrecked. And 

 cordial indeed was the welcome which he received from 

 one who had been listening to the warfare of the elements 

 with all the solicitude of a sailor's wife." 



The Manifest is an interesting and valuable relic, and 

 should be carefully preserved. 



THE ISLANDS. 



Baker's Island was so called as early as 1630, probably 

 from one Baker, a ship-carpenter, as is supposed. This 

 and the other islands were long covered with the primi- 

 tive forests, and complaints were frequent that the woods 

 suffered from depredators. In 1670 the town authorities 

 issued the following order : 



That " Francis Collinse haue liberty to fell twenty trees 

 for to build his son, John Brown, a house, and himself a 

 house, vpon Baker's Hand, and ther to take what he 

 wanteth, and is apoynted to take care, that not any cutt 

 timber or wood without leave of Selectmen." 



In 1673 a committee was empowered to have wood, 

 illegally cut down thtffe and on Moulton's Misery, brought 

 away, and to use .suitable means to prevent similar 

 offences. 



Baker's Island was leased to John Turner, and the 

 Miseries to George Curwen, in 1678, for a thousand 

 years and a day. In 1731 a son of the first lessee pur- 

 chased the fee of Salem in the premises thus let to him. 

 The price paid for Baker's Island was one hundred and 

 thirty pounds, in bills of credit, at eighteen shillings and 

 sixpence for an ounce of silver. A like sum was paid 

 for Misery Islands. In 1783 Baker's Island was described 



