The town records are kept by the Town Clerk, but some are available online at familysearch.org. Note: prior to 1649, Marblehead was part of Salem and the city has records related to the pre-incorporation time period. Below you will find a selection of records specifically related to Black, Indigenous and People of Color in Marblehead.
“Warn the Affricans and Negroes of this town to depart”
At a Selectmen’s Meeting on April 24, 1788, the Selectmen formed a committee to find and instruct “Affricans and Negroes” to leave Marblehead within 10 days. At this time, it is unclear what precipitated this order or whether it was carried out, as People of Color still resided in Marblehead when the 1790 Federal Census was enumerated.
Transcription:
At a meeting on Thursday the 24th of April 1788 at two oClock afternoon according to adjournment —
Capt William Hooper moderator —
Voted that the Report of the Committee be accepted & filed —
Voted that a Committee of five persons be appointed to warn the Affricans [sic] and Negroes residing in this Town, to depart —
Voted that Mr John Huston, Mr Richard Martin, Mr Thomas Laskey, Mr Josiah Martin, and Mr William Hooper Jr be a Committee for that purpose —
Voted that the said Affricans and Negroes have ten days notice to depart this Town —
Voted that if said Affricans and Negroes, or any of them, refuse to depart this Town within ten days after notice the Committee are to return their names to the Selectmen – [MTCVTR]
Two days earlier, a “list of Negros residing in this Town” was collected:
MTCVTR: April 24, 1788. Page 544. Marblehead Town Records. “Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-9979-H8CN?cc=2061550&wc=Q4DH-BZC%3A353349401%2C353440401%2C353454701 : 20 May 2014), Essex > Marblehead > Town records 1648-1710 vol 1. citing Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth, Boston.