Susanna's Adventures in Time: Salem, Massachusetts : Part 1 Salem Beginnings (17th Century)

Salem, Massachusetts:

Part 1 Salem Beginnings (17th Century)

Hello friends,

It has been a long time since I told you about my time travel adventures. My guardian has time to unlock her computer for me now so I can show you what I have been up to.

Follow me to Salem, Massachusetts on the North Shore near Boston. Salem was founded in 1626 by Roger Conant who left England because of his unusual religious beliefs. ("Roger Conant? Wait a minute! He's my ancestor!," claims my guardian.) Roger Conant founded a fishing village. He called it Naumkeag.

Roger Conant

In 1628 the Massachusetts Bay Colony sent an official governor named John Endicott.

John Endicott was kind of snobby and mean. Roger Conant left to go found another town nearby. John Endicott stayed. He was the official Puritan governor. The English settlers now called their village "Salem." That means "place of peace" in Hebrew.

Salem was in the backwoods of nowhere on Massachusetts Bay. Most people lived in cabin like houses.

The houses were made from wood boards with shingle roofs. Inside the walls were lined with grass plants. If you were lucky you had a window with a wooden shutter than closed over it.

Kids didn't have a lot of time to play. They were busy working. In winter evenings people might play games like these.

Kids learned to read from a wooden paddle covered with a piece of animal horn. I think you all recognize this object! Puritans thought it was important to know how to read the Bible so they made sure everyone could at least read some. Not everyone could write.

The governor did not like the simple houses common folk lived in. He moved a much bigger house from Cape Ann nearby. This house is much bigger, fancier and has glass windows!