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and used in part, for many years, according to tradition, 

 as a public house, under the cognomen of the "Black 

 Horse Tavern." Mr. Felt, in his "Annals of Salem," in- 

 forms us that in the year 1690, Wm. Trask was recom- 

 mended as an innkeeper. Six generations of his descen- 

 dants were born, have lived and died there. Isaac Bul- 

 lock, who deceased Dec. 30, 1870, in the 71st year of 

 his age, was the last of the descendants of Capt. Wm. 

 Trask, who drew their first breath within the walls of this 

 old mansion. Mr. B., iir one of his illustrated books* 

 that he has left behind him, showing his refined taste and 

 great genius, gives a colored view of the old house, his 

 home. He remarks that it was used as a tavern from 

 1600 until about 1740, which would be a period of about 

 fifty years. A part of the ancient bar remains in the lower 

 western room. The house of the father, Capt. Wm., is 

 mentioned in his will of 1666, written a few days before 

 his death. This house is supposed to have been about 

 one hundred feet in the rear of the present edifice. The 

 original well dug by the "old planter" as early it may 

 have been as 1627-8, nearly two and a half centuries ago, 

 is still used. It is quite deep. The water is superla- 

 tively good, and the supply abundant. It is said to have 

 been in the front yard of the former house ; it is in the 

 rear of the present one. 



It will be remembered by those conversant with the 

 early history of Salem that Capt. Trask was an important 

 personage in the town and colony, in a civil and military 

 capacity. He was a particular friend and companion of 

 Governor Endicott, but came to this country before him, 

 probably with Roger Conant. From a document extant 

 in the Massachusetts archives, we learn that in 1648-9, 

 Wm. Trask exchanged two hundred and fifty acres of land 

 with the Governor for five hundred apple trees of three 



