General Histories & Memoirs

The History and Traditions of Marblehead. Samuel Roads, Jr. In numerous late 19th century editions, local historian Samuel Roads, Jr. recounted the history and lore of Marblehead. 1880 edition. The 1897 edition includes additional information, including detailed appendices concerning soldiers of the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and prisoners of war, as well as history of people of color and native peoples.

Marblehead Timeline, alongside a timeline for the Jeremiah Lee Brick Kitchen and the world. 

A Guide to Marblehead. Samuel Roads, Jr. A tourist’s guide to the town, but with lots of historical summaries of people, places, and events. Late 19th century. Also, sixth edition.

“A Short History of Marblehead.” Jonathan H. Orne. An excerpt from The Standard History of Essex County, compiled by the Essex Institute, 1878.

Marblehead 101. A series of news articles, published in the Marblehead Reporter, about Marblehead’s past and its unique place in the history of the United States.

The Journals of Ashley Bowen (1728-1813). Transcribed in Volume 44 and Volume 45 of the Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, in collaboration with the Marblehead Museum. Originals available at the Museum. The detailed journals of a sailor, sailmaker, and resident at the heart of industry and culture of Marblehead, as well as his experiences in the French & Indian War.

“Louis Russell’s Genealogy and Reminiscences (Part 1 and Part 2).” Local Genealogy plus some town legends and lore, including stories about the Marquis de Lafayette’s visit to the Lee Mansion and the illumination of the Lee Mansion to celebrate the end of the War of 1812.

Marblehead Manual by Samuel Roads, Jr., 1883. Extracts from Nathan and Edward Bowen’s Journals, 1757-1808; extracts from the journal of a privateersman in British prisons and prison ships during the War of 1912, 1813-1815; a list of prisoners who died at Dartmoor prison, and lists of selectmen, town clerks, and other public officials. 

Marblehead: An Album of Photographs by Herman Parker, 1892. Photographs of people and places around town. Available from archive.org.

“Historical Sketch of Philanthropic Lodge, F. and A.M., of Marblehead, Mass., delivered at the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the lodge, March 25, 1885.” Stephen Putnam Hathaway., 1885. History of the members of the Masonic lodge in Marblehead.

Marblehead in 1600: A Powerpoint Presentation by Standley Goodwin.

Learn about fairies, ghosts, and other folk lore discovered in Marblehead at the end of the 19th century. “Folk-Lore of Marblehead, Mass” by Sarah Bridge Farmer Source: The Journal of American Folklore, Jul. – Sep., 1894, Vol. 7, No. 26 (Jul. – Sep., 1894), pp. 252-253. Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/532844.

Further Reading:

Virginia Clegg Gamage & Priscilla Sawyer Lord. Marblehead: The Spirit of ’76 Lives Here. Chilton Book Company, 1972.

Lauren Fogle. Colonial Marblehead: Form Rogues to Revolutionaries. The History Press, 2008.

Pam Matthias Peterson. Marblehead Myths, Legends, and Lore. The History Press, 2007.