THE ENDICOTT PEAR TREE 



varieties. Mr. Higginson, who came to the 

 colony in June, 1629, records the fact that 

 "Our Governor hath already planted a vine- 

 yard, with great hopes of increase. Also 

 mulberries, plums, raspberries, currants, 

 chestnuts, filberts, walnuts, small nuts, hurtle 

 berries and haws of white thorn, near as 

 good as our cherries in England — they 

 grow in plenty here." ^ 



This unusual variety of good things was 

 probably transferred to the "Orchard Farm," 

 so called, consisting of three hundred acres, 

 given to Governor Endicott as the first 

 grant in 1632, and confirmed by the Colonial 

 Authorities in that year. It was called "a 

 necke of land lying about three miles from 

 Salem," and was known by the Indians 

 as Wahquamesehcok (birchwood).^ 



Authorities differ as to the probable date 

 of the planting of the pear tree, which has 

 survived all of its companions. According 

 to a family tradition, Endicott's dial, bearing 

 date of 1630, and the fruit trees, including 



• See "Memoir of John Endicott" by Chas. E. Endicott. 

 ^ Hanson, "Hist, of Danvers." 



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