164 



men was dredged during the forenoon off the Misery, It was very 

 different from tlie single species of Liparis wliich had heretofore 

 been fonnd in ]\Iassachusetts Avaters. 



Mr. Joseph E. Ober, of Beverly Farms, gave the following account 

 of West's Beach : — 



West's Beach took its name from John West, the first settler of 

 BeA'erly Farms ; this is evident from the fact, that John West bought 

 the land adjacent to the beach of John Blackleach of Boston, who held 

 said lauds by a grant from the town of Salem. 



In the Essex Connty Eegistry of Deeds, book 2, page 39, dated 

 Dec. 14, 1660, is a deed recorded " conveying to John West at the 

 Creek, in consideration of £350, all that messuage, uplands and meadow, 

 situate and lyiug in Salem aforesaid, as hath beeu at any time or times 

 befoi'e the day of the date hereof,, been given and granted unto the 

 said Johu Blackleach, formerly in the name of Lawrence Leach, but 

 now in the name and occupied b}' John West." 



The following is from the Ancient Town Eecords of Salem : — "At 

 a meeting of the selectmen lOtli da.v of 12th month 1666, It is agreed 

 with Johu West at the Creek yt whylst hee shall mayntayne the Cause- 

 Avay over the Marsh at the farme which was ]\Ir. Blackleach in Salem 

 Bounds, a suflicieut hie waye to the town of Gloster and the Manches- 

 ter mens use ; hee shall enjoy the use and benefit of all siich ground 

 which lyeth in Common between the sayed farme and the farme of 

 Nicholas Woodberry. Avith Pond and Beach, and hath liberty to set 

 up a gate therou for his use, any former records nulled." 



1668, 10th month, 8th day, John West and Avife Mary, together 

 with their son Thomas and his wife Elizabeth Avere, upon letters of 

 dismission from the church in IpsAvich, received into communion Avith 

 the church in BeA-erly. 



The children of Johu West were John, Joseph, and Thomas (John 

 and Joseph died A"oung and uumarried). Thomas married Elizabeth 

 Johnson (daughter of Johu and Catherine Johnson), by Avhom he had 

 nine children, four of Avhom died young and unmarried; of the others, 

 Euth married William Haskell in 1668, and has numerous posteritj- at 

 the Farms and elsewhere ; Samuel married Mary Norton, had eight 

 childreu, most of whom were married and have posterity settled all 

 over New England. Mary married Robert Woodberry, and has an 

 exteusiA'e posterity. Thomas married Christiauni Woodberry. Chris- 

 tianna Woodberry (or West) inherited a large tract of Avoodlaud lying- 

 in Manchester near the Beverly line, Avhich has ever since been knoAvu 

 as Christian's Hill. In book 92 of the Essex Registry of Deeds, page 

 87, may be found a record of a deed dated in those earh' times, of cer- 

 tain beach lauds and flats, being a part of the beach knoAvu as West's 

 Beach. 



For a great number of years the causeway, named in the original 

 grant to John West from the town of Salem, was kept in repair by the 

 iieirs of said West. They were so particular Avith regard to comply- 

 ing Avith said grant, that they divided and subdiAided the causcAvay 

 which was tAventy-tAvo rods long, according to each heir's respectiA^e 

 part or share to maintain aud keep in repair. It is a fact little 

 known, perhaps, outside the limits of the town of Beverly, that this 

 same causcAvay has, from those early times, been kept in repair by in- 

 dividuals up to 1852, Avheu the legislature granted an act of incorpo- 



