Essex County, Massachusetts, was created in 1643. The towns that existed within its bounds during the 1600’s fall into four groups: (1) those settled and incorporated before the county’s creation, (2) those that were settled, but not incorporated until after the county formation, (3) those that were both settled and incorporated after the county formation in 1643, and (4) those settled in the 1600s but not incorporated until the 1700s.
Understanding when a community was first settled is important to genealogical research. See the section on why this matters below.
Settled or Incorporated Before County Formation
These places were functioning communities before Essex County was named as such. Listed in order of incorporation.
- Salem — settled in 1626 as Naumkeag or Naumkeag Plantation, incorporated in 1629 as Salem.
- Ipswich — settled in 1633 by John Winthrop Jr. as Agawam, incorporated in 1634 as Ipswich.
- Newbury — settled 1635, incorporated 1635.
- Rowley — settled 1639, incorporated 1640.
- Salisbury — settled 1638 as Colchester, incorporated in 1640 as Colchester, but changed to Salisbury in 1641.
- Haverhill — settled 1640, incorporated 1641; early references describe it as the plantation at Pentucket.
- Gloucester — settled c.1623–24, incorporated 1642; early “Stage Fort” settlement.
- Wenham — originally part of Salem, settled 1636 and known early as Salem Hamlet; incorporated in 1643 as Wenham.
Settled but not Incorporated until After County Formation
These places were settled before county formation but did not get organized as a city until after 1643. Listed in order of incorporation.
- Lynn — settled 1629 as Saugus, name changed to Lynn 1637; geographically part of Essex but set off to Suffolk for courts at times before stable alignment; considered an Essex town by late 1600’s.
- Manchester — settled 1629–30; incorporated 1645.
- Andover — granted 1643, incorporated 1646; settled in the 1630’s as Shawshin or Shawshin plantation.
- Marblehead — settled 1629–32 as part of Salem, established as a separate town in 1649.
- Amesbury — originally part of Salisbury; incorporated separately 1668.
- Beverly — settled c.1626–28 as Bass River; or Bass River side incorporated separate from Salem in 1668.
- Bradford — from Rowley lands; incorporated 1672; later annexed to Haverhill in 19th century.
- Salem Village — settled in the 1640’s and 1650’s; incorporated as Danvers in 1757.
Settled and Incorporated After County Formation
- Topsfield — settled 1643–44, incorporated 1650.
- Boxford — settled 1646–1650s, incorporated 1685.
Settled in the 1600s, but not incorporated until the 1700s
- Methuen — area settled in the 1600s, incorporated 1726.
- Danvers — settled in the 1600s as Salem Village, incorporated 1757.
- Middleton — settled in the 1600s, incorporated 1728.
- Lynnfield — settled in the 1600s, incorporated 1782.
- Hamilton — settled in the 1600s, incorporated 1793.
- Newburyport — area settled 1630s as part of Newbury, incorporated 1764.
The recognized towns in formal existence during the 1600’s were: Amesbury, Andover, Beverly, Boxford, Bradford, Gloucester, Haverhill, Ipswich, Lynn, Manchester, Marblehead, Newbury, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Topsfield, and Wenham. Boundaries evolved over the century, and a few towns shifted counties temporarily, but the above list reflects the historical-geographic reality for genealogical and local history work.
Why This Matters
Knowing when a community was settled helps genealogical research for several practical reasons:
Records and Jurisdiction. Settlement dates mark when civil and ecclesiastical structures appear. Before a town exists, records may be filed under another jurisdiction, such as a parent town, a plantation, or a county seat. Misplaced land deeds, tax lists, births, and marriages often trace back to the older authority.
Migration Paths. Early settlement chronology shows how families moved. Newer towns drew population from older ones nearby. Identifying the source town can help locate origins and family networks.
Religious Organization. Churches usually formed after settlement reached a stable population. Baptism, marriage, membership, and burial records follow this timeline and may predate full civil incorporation. Knowing the sequence helps researchers know where to look for vital events.
Boundary Changes. Towns that spun off from larger parent towns frequently carried their early settlers in the parent’s records. Without the settlement context, researchers may search the wrong place or wrong period.
Land Distribution. Early land grants, proprietors’ records, and allotments were tied to initial settlement schemes. These often contain the earliest named individuals in an area and may provide the original deed to the parcel of property.
Demographic Context. Settlement dates signal when families first appear in an area and help differentiate between pioneers and later arrivals.