When the North field was laid out is unknown, but it must have been before the town records were begun. Apparently most of the original lots consisted of ten acres each. By tracing the land titles the accompanying plan is made possible. The following is a list of the lots with the names of the owners at the dates stated.

WT = William Towne, father of three accused witches Rebecca Nurse, Mary Estey and Sarah Cloyes.
C = Cromwells
G = Goodells
S = Scudders
T = Tompkins
F = Fosters
P = Peases

North Salem is the city’s oldest neighborhood. Long before the white settlers arrived, the area was inhabited by Native Americans. Rev. John Higginson recalled that a settlement of Naumkeags existed at the intersection of what are now North and Osborne streets when he came to Salem in 1629.

North, Dearborn, Liberty Hill, and Orne are some of the neighborhood’s oldest streets. William Dennis, writing in the Salem Observer in 1912, noted that North Street was once “The Country Road” and Dearborn was known as “Liberal” or “Generous” Street because of its width.

The bottom of Liberty Hill Avenue was the site of Cold Spring. This spring was a popular source of fresh water for local inhabitants until recent years. It was also a favorite stopping place for Nathaniel Hawthorne, a one-time Dearborn Street resident, on his rambles around Salem.

Manning Street owes its name to Hawthorne’s uncle. Robert Manning, one of America’s leading authorities on fruit, who established his famous pomological gardens on Dearborn Street in 1823. Manning’s “Book of Fruits” was the last word on the growing of pears, cherries, and other fruits in New England.

Agriculture was the primary activity in North Salem in the 17th and 18th centuries. Maps of Salem in 1700 show the area between the North River and Dearborn Street was subdivided into narrow farms and was known as Northfields. Access to the Salem peninsula was by ferry until the original North Bridge was built in 1744.

According to William Dennis, the area north and west of the bridge near what is now Mason Street and Mack Park was once called “Paradise.” North Salem in general was known as Pigeontown (or Pigeonville). Wild pigeons were trapped in the Liberty Hill-Kernwood area and sold at market.

The present Kernwood Country Club property was once the estate of Francis Peabody. This noted chemist helped usher in Salem’s industrial age in the second quarter of the 19th century. Peabody opened a lead works and a jute-bagging plant in Salem and promoted other industries.

North Salem has been the home of other important individuals and businesses. As was mentioned in last week’s column, General Electric CEO Jack Welch was raised at 15 Lovett St. and Wayne Millner, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968, spent most of his young adult years at 196-8 North St.

1. The horse pasture, was owned by: Capt. George Corwin (5/14ths), Philip CROMWELL (5/14ths), William Browne, sr. (2/14ths, and Dr. George Emery (2/14ths) in 1669.	2. Thomas Watson, 1669.	3. Robert Butten before 1674.	4. John Shipley about 1650.	5. Robert GOODELL, 1658.
6. Francis Skerry, 1682.	7. Francis Lawes and John Luff, being two ten acre lots, in 1659.	8. John Massey, 1700.	9. Francis Lawes and John Luff, 1659.	10. John Trask, 1695.
11. Thomas Robbins, 1690,	12. Daniel Ray, 1655.	13. Alice Fermaies, 1655.	14. Thomas Watson, 1655.	15. Thomas Tuck and Joseph Harris, 1659.
16. Mark Fermaies , about 1670.	17. Thomas Wilkes and wife Mary, 1656.	18. Thomas Watson, 1656.	19. Thomas Oliver, about 1670.	20. John Symonds, [Father-in-law of Jacob Towne] before 1670. (See today’s Symonds Street)
21. Robert Buffum, 1661.	22. The easterly part belonged to widow Spooner and the westerly part to George Corwin very early.	23. Robert Buffum (See today’s Buffum Street) before 1690.	24. John Kitchen, 1659.	25. Edward Gaskill, 1659.
26. Thomas Spooner, 1659.	27. John Trask, 1672.	28. – Marshall, about 1650.	29. Thomas Gardner, 1658.	30. Henry Phelps, 1658.
31. William Bacon, 1653	32. Thomas Gardner, 1644.	33. Richard Bishop, 1654.	34. Samuel Gaskill, 1670.	35. Thomas Gardner, 1674.
36. Samuel Gaskin, 1682.	37. Robert Stone, 1682.	38. John Alderman, about 1650.	39. Samuel Gaskill, 1659.	40. Thomas Goldthwaite, 1659.
41. Job Swinerton, 1681.	42. William Place, about 1650.	43. James Symonds, 1698.	44. Samuel Ebourn, about 1680.	45. Col. Bartholomew Gedney, 1697.
46. Col. Bartholomew Gedney, 1697.	47. Samuel Ebourne, 1698.	48. John Blevin, 1698.	49. John Gedney and John Symonds [Father-in-law of Jacob Towne], 1665.	50. John Gedney, 1667.
51. Hugh Peter, 1640.	52. John Higginson, 1679.	53. John Norman, Sr., 1636.	54. Mr. Herbert, before 1650.	55. Robert GOODALE, 1663.  (Click here for today’s Goodale Street)
56. Thomas Reed, 1663.	57. Henry Bartholomew, (Thomas SCUDDER‘s son-in-law) 1663.	58. Thomas Reed, 1667.	59. John FOSTER, 1700.	60. David Foster, (Son of John FOSTER) 1700.
61. John Tompkins, (Son of Ralph TOMPKINS) 1675.	62. Edward Beacham, 1682.	63. Benjamin Gerrish, 1682.	64. Thomas Spooner, before 1680.	65. John Hill, 1675.
66. Hugh Pasco, (Son-in-law of John PEASE,) 1682.	67. Caleb Buffum, 1682.	68. John PEASE, about 1680.	69. Job Swinnerton, 1664.	70. Joseph Pope, 1664.
71. Henry Birdsall, 1650.	72. John Bourne, 1653.	73. Hugh Jones, 1688.	74. Anthony Buxton, (David Foster’s father-in-law) 1680.	75., John Pudney, sr., 1692.
76. William Robinson, 1661.	77. Thomas Wheeler, about 1661.	78. George Corwin, 1658.	79. Edward Beachem, 1662.	80. John Alderman, 1656.
81. Thomas James, 1662.	82. John FOSTER, 1675.	83. John Small, 1700.	84. Henry Williams, 1654.	85. Robert Butten, before 1650.
86. William TOWNE, 1652.	87. Richard Waters, 1658.	88. John Tompkins, (Son of Ralph TOMPKINS) 1658.	89. John Tompkins, (Son of Ralph TOMPKINS) 1664.	90. Robert Cotta, about 1650.
91. John FOSTER, 1664.	92. Thomas SCUDDER, about 1660.	93. Thomas Robbins,| 1681.	94. George Semith, 1679.	95. Henry Cook, 1680.
96. Samuel Goldthwait, 1687.	97. John Burton, 1683.	98. John Marsh, 1673.	99. Nathaniel Felton, 1667.	100. Lawrence Leach, 1660.
101.- Veren, 1660.	102. William Cantlebury, about 1660.

1636 – In the division of land “Rob[er]t Goodell” received twenty acres (in the non-freeman’s part of the list)[STR 1:23].

25 Dec 1637 – In the division of marsh and meadow “Rob[er]t Goodell” received one acre, for a household of seven[STR 1:102].

21 Jan 1638/39 – “Robert Goodale” was granted “20 acres more to be added to the 20 already granted in all 40 acres to be laid out by the town”[STR 1:78].

11 Feb 1638/39 – “Robert Goodall desireth an enlargement of land”[STR 1:83].

31 Aug 1649 – There was “granted to Frances Skerie a little [spot] of ground between the sea and his field which was formerly Goodel’s”[STR 1:159].

13 Feb 1651/52 – “Robert Goodell having 40 acres of land granted long since by the town and he having bought land of several others that had the land granted to them viz: Joseph Grafton 30 acres, John Sanders 40 acres, Henerie Herick 40 acres, William Bound 40 acres, Robert Pease & his brother 30 acres, Robert Cotta 30 acres, William Walcott 30 acres, Edmund Marshall 20 acres, Thomas Antrum 20 acres, Michall Shaflin 20 acres, Mr. Venor 40 acres, John Barber thirty acres, Philemon Dickenson 20 acres, Mr. Goose 50 acres, in the whole 480, it is ordered that the said Robert Goodell shall enjoy the said 480 [acres] of land being part of the eleven hundred acres, he discharging the town of the abovesaid grant and he is allowed to said 480 acres of upland 24 acres of meadow provided that the meadow laid out within his upland be a part of it”[STR 1:171].

31 Mar 1652 – “Rob[er]t Goodhall of , planter,” sold to “David Carwithen three acres of salt marsh on Royall Side[ELR 1:12].

4 Apr 1653 – “Rob[er]t Goodell of , planter,” sold to “Francis Skerry … four acres of land in Salem Neck”[ELR 1:17].

7 Jul 1656 – “Robert Goodall of …, husbandman,” sold to “David Carwithen of the same place 3 acres of salt marsh on Riall Side”[ELR 1:34].

26 Oct 1653 – “John Barbour, late of , carpenter,” sold to “Rob[er]t Goodhall of the same, husbandman, thirty acres of land in Salem[ELR 1:21].

28 Feb 1653/54 – “Thomas Antrop of ” sold to “Rob[er]t Goodhall forty acres of land lying near the sad Rob[er]t’s land within the bounds of [ELR 1:22].

31 Oct 1653 – “John Blackleich of , merchant,” sold to “Rob[er]t Goodhall of fifty acres of land lying between Mr. Higgesson’s and Mr. Alderman’s lands”[ELR 1:20].

15 Mar 1659/60 – “Robert Goodell of , … husbandman,” sold to “Giles Coree of Salem … fifty acres of land, which was a fifty acre lot formerly given by the town of to E[d]ward Giles, & sold by him to Mr. Blackleech, of whom the said Rob[er]t Goodell lately bought the said land”[ELR 2:68, 26:172].

20 Dec 1662 – “Robert Goodell sometime of , planter,” sold to “Mr. George Corwin of the same town, merchant, a piece of salt marsh containing by estimation two acres” in ” aforesaid, at the upper end of a place called the Great Cove…, having a spring of water in it, with a small parcel of meadow”[ELR 2:61]

6 Jan 1662[/3?], “Robert Goodell of Salem …, farmer,” sold to “Tho[mas] Flint of the same place, farmer, … a certain parcel of land containing fifty acres”[ELR 2:76].

14 Aug 1678 – “Robert Goodale of …, husbandman,” sold to “Thomas Flint, carpenter, of the same town, three acres & fifty-eight pole of meadow & upland … lying near the now dwelling house of the said ” [ELR 11:16]

7 Jun 1697 – “Nathaniel Felton Senior aged about eighty-two years & John Massey Senior aged about sixty-six years both of both testifieth & saith that the field commonly called the East Field in lying between the great pasture belonging to Col. Gedney & the field belonging to John Cornwall now in the possession of John Higginson Junior was formerly two houselots of about two acres each lot & that there was erected and standing on each of said lots a dwelling house which were inhabited by Robert Goodale & Peter Wolfe before the year of our Lord one-thousand six-hundred sixty & one”[ELR 11:253].

7 Jun 1667 – “Rob[er]t Goodell of …, husbandman,” sold to “Mr. Nicholas Manning of the same town twenty acres of upland with some meadow contained in it … in a place called the North Field”[ELR 4:176].

29 Jun 1672 – “Robert Goodall of … and Margaret his wife” sold to “John Buxton of the aforesaid four & forty acres of swamp & upland … it is to be understood, the forty-four acres of land before mentioned is part of the six hundred acres granted by the town of in small parcels to several men, many years ago, & purchased by the said Goodal”[ELR 3:177].

29 Dec 1674 – “Robert Goodell of … & Margaret my wife” sold to “John Buxton of aforesaid one & twenty acres of land … near the great river commonly called Ipswich River”[ELR 4:132].

21 Jul 1658 – “Robert Goodell of ” exchanged land with “John Smith my son-in-law,” Smith receiving “ten acres of upland … with an old house upon the same … near the great cove in a neck of land commonly called the north neck,” and Goodale receiving “fifty acres of land … adjoining to a farm of the said Robert”[ELR 1:39-40].

20 Sep 1665 – “Robert Goodell of ” deeded to “my daughter Sara Bacheler the wife of John Bacheler of … thirty-two acres of upland & two parcels of meadow about eight acres, situate & being in the limits of aforesaid, being part of the eleven hundred acres granted by the town of to several proprietors on the south side of the river commonly called Ipswich River”[ELR 6:28].

16 Nov 1666, “John Bacheler of ” sold this same land to “Lott Killum of the same place”; “Robert Goodell” acknowledged “the abovesaid upland & meadow to be a free gift unto John Bacheler with his wife Sarah my daughter at her marriage”[ELR 6:54].

26 Oct 1665 – “Robert Goodell of ” deeded to “my son Zachariah Goodell of aforesaid sixty acres of land … being part of the eleven hundred acres of land granted by the town of for small lots, lying near my house”; “it is to be understood that 50 acres were given by the said Robert Goodell, as a legacy for his portion, & the other ten acres were sold to him for a valuable sum”[ELR 6:71].

1 Feb 1667/68 – “Robert Goodell of ” deeded to “my son Zachariah Goodell of the said ten acres of fresh meadow … near the river commonly called the great river”[ELR 6:71].

10 Feb 1667/68 – “Robert Goodell of ” deeded to “my son Isaack Goodell of the place aforesaid one hundred acres of upland … near the river commonly called the Great River … & seven acres of fresh meadow lying almost in a triangle”[ELR 4:207].

3 Nov 1668 – “Robert Goodelle of , farmer,” sold to “his daughter Hanah Killum of 35 acres of land in , 10 acres of which adjoined the home field of said Robert …; the other parcel of 25 acres adjoins 40 acres of Lot, husband of Hanah Killum”; “said Killum promised not to sell this land without his wife’s consent”[EQC 7:294].

14 Aug 1678 -“Robert Goodell of …, husbandman,” for a consideration provided by “my daughter Elizabeth & her former husband John Smith deceased,” deeded to “the said Elizabeth, now the wife of Henry Bennett … a certain parcel of land called ten acres, yet containing fifteen acres … & is part of that land of mine not far from my now dwelling …, also two acres of meadow lying at the great river so-called”; “Margarett Goodell” joined in this deed and made her mark[ELR 6:66].

In his will, dated 12 October 1682 and proved 27 June 1683, “Robert Goodell being now aged & weak in body, as also my wife and my daughter Elizabeth Bennett hath taken care of me,” bequeathed to “my daughter Elizabeth Bennett, & my grandchild John Smith my house & the orchard & all the meadows that I now possess with the pasture, which is about eight acres of upland”[EPR 302:46].

7 Nov 1682 – “John Pease Senior, aged about 53 years, saith that in his knowledge, the land that my father-in-law Goodell sold to his son-in-law John Smith was laid out by my father Goodell’s order & appointment several years before the land that my father gave to his son Isaac Goodell”[ELR 6:80].

The inventory of the estate of “the late deceased Robert Goodell,” taken 10 Mar 1682/3, totalled £79  16 s., of which £71 was real estate: “the house, upland, orchard & meadow,” £71 [EPR 302:46].

23 Feb 1684/85 – “Margarett Goodale of ” sold to “the aforesaid town of my whole orchard with six acres of planting ground upon which the orchard stands, & four acres of meadow ground near unto the said orchard & two acres of ground for a pasture near unto the said orchard & also one cow, all which was given me by my husband Rob[er]t Goodale deceased, for my comfortable subsistence after his decease, as by a deed of gift bearing date the thirteenth of August one-thousand six-hundred & sixty-nine”[ELR 7:19].

Sources:

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyterry/towns/salem/nofield_lots-sal.html

http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nyterry/towns/salem/maps/nofield_salem_map.jpg

http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Northfields-Salem-MA.html

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/h/a/Carol-A-Chadwick/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0589.html