138 



Merlin. January 7, 1776, a contemporary private jour- 

 nal says, "Trees on Cat Island cut down last night 

 supposed by the Merlin." 



Its shores are for the most part steep and rocky ; its 

 average elevation of surface being perhaps twenty or 

 twenty-five feet. It is at present without a tree or shrub, 

 and commands an uninterrupted view towards the ocean, 

 which is unsurpassed, as well as on the land side, the 

 green slopes of the North Shore, Salem Neck, and Naugus 

 Head. 



The first mention we find of the island is contained in 

 the Colonial Records for 1655. 1 It was then granted to 

 Governor Endicott on his own request, May 23, and is 

 there described as " the Hand catted Catta Hand, being 

 about a two acres, lying neere to Marble Head." In point 

 of fact, it has an area of about sixteen acres of upland. 

 Felt, following Dr. Bentley, who seems to have been in 

 error, states the area at "about nine acres." Dr. Bentley 

 wrote in his Description of Salem in 1800, " the extent 

 of the soil is 2,167 links, about N. W. and S. E. ; but 

 the rocks being included, the island is above 28 chains. 

 At the northwest end is a high beach which forms a point 

 directly opposite Marblehead. The shore is irregular 

 and rocky. There are springs on the S. E. end which 

 terminates in a high, rocky head." 



Gov. John Endicott, 2 in a will which took effect upon 

 his death in 1665, left the island to his wife for life, and 

 after, to his "two sons John and Zerobabel, or the 

 longest liver of them." John died first without issue, 

 and Zerobabel on his decease, 1684, gave the island to 

 his five daughters. 



1 See Coloniiil Records of Massachusetts, Vol. Ill, p. 389. 2 Gov. John Endicott 

 died March 25, 1665. See "The Endicott Family," by C. M. Endicolt, N. E. Hist. 

 Geu. Reg., Vol. I. p. 335. 



