Naumkeag Before European Colonists settled what is now Salem, it was known to the Algonquit Indians as Naumkeag meaning eel, or a place to fish. 1622 the settlement of Cape Ann was failing in commerce many settlers headed for warmer temperatures, however 40 fishermen followed Conant (a Puritan) to Naumkeag. 1628 John Endicott was named Naumkeag's royal Governor due to its success as a Cod Fishing port. John Endicott re named Naumkeag to Salem from the Arabic Salaam, or the Hebrew Shalom, meaning the city of peace.Governor Endicott assembled the first armed American protection force in 1629. Witch Hysteria 1692 In the spring of 1692 three girls under the care of Reverend Paris in Salem Village fell Ill.The girls seem to be under a wicked spell, high fevers,convulsions,and seeing things.Doctors unable to locate a cause turned the case to Puritan Reverends who leaned towards witch craft! Connecticut had hanged a woman for Witch Craft in 1647, the next year a woman was hanged in Boston, 3 more women were hanged in Boston up till 1688 just 4 years before the Salem cases.In 1692 19 were hanged at gallows Hill in Danvers today, 1 man Giles Corey was pressed to death under heavy stone in Salem.When the accusers went as far as to point a finger at Massachusetts Governor Phipps own wife it all came to shameful end. After the world famous Boston Tea Party parlament in England passed the Intolorable Acts in 1774. One Act was to move the Massachusetts State capitol of Boston to Salem. Samuel Adams at the old Salem State House held the last legislative meeting before Massachusetts delegates head to Philadelphia. Salem had the first armed force prepared for the war commanded by Salem hero Timothy Pickering. Pickering had written a Soldiers training manual titled "Simple Discipline of a Militia". This manual would be used by His Majesty George Washington .Washington would use this book to train his armies until 1778. February 1775 2 months before Lexington and Concord riders headed in the night towards Salem. The message was that Colonel Leslie was headed to North Salem on ship with 300 Red Coats. Daniel Mason, and Timothy Pickering lead men in the night to cut off the Red Coats at Salem's North Bridge. During the altercation a man from Danvers was Bayoneted by a Soldier. Leslie turned his men and marched them back to Marblehead boarded thier ship and returned to Boston. This was the first bloodshed of our Glorious Cause for Independence. Timothy Pickering would go on to become Quarter Master General at York Town 1783, Washington, and John Adams Secretary of State. Pickering retired as a Federalist Champion. Salem's Golden Age of Sail After America's Revolutionary War Salem Sea Captains turned their fleet towards far away shores setting up new bold trade routes to China,the Baltic Sea, and exotic Sumatra. Names such as Derby, Cabot, and Peabody would lead the way for America's first millionaires.Many small villages in China to this day think of Salem as a country !.Salem would dominate American trade until 1840's when Salem's horse Shoe shaped harbor would just become to small for larger more modern ships from Boston and New York. The Pagan Community
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Samuel Pickman House 1681 
