Cape Ann

Gloucester was founded at Cape Ann by men from Dorchester and chartered by James I in 1623. It was one of the first English settlements in what would... more

by Tom Gari Gallery-Three-Photography

Title

Cape Ann

Artist

Tom Gari Gallery-Three-Photography

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Gloucester was founded at Cape Ann by men from Dorchester and chartered by James I in 1623. It was one of the first English settlements in what would become the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and predates both Salem in 1626 and Boston in 1630. The first company of pioneers made landing at Half Moon Beach and settled nearby, setting up fishing stages in a field in what is now Stage Fort Park.
Life in this first settlement was harsh and it was short-lived. The settelers abandoned Gloucester in 1626, and the people move to what is today known as Salem. They wanted to take advantage of more fertile soil for planting . Some years later the area was slowly resettled. The town was formally incorporated in 1642. It is at this time that the name "Gloucester" first appears on tax rolls, although in various spellings. The town took its name from the city of Gloucester in South-West England, perhaps from where many of its new occupants originated but more likely because Gloucester, England, was a Parliamentarian stronghold, successfully defended with the aid of the Earl of Essex against the King in the Siege of Gloucester of 1643.
This new permanent settlement focused on the Town Green area, an inlet in the marshes at a bend in the Annisquam River. This area is now the site of Grant Circle, a large traffic-rotary at which Massachusetts Route 128 mingles with a major city street (Washington Street/ Rt 127). Here the first permanent settlers built a meeting house and therefore focused the nexus of their settlement on the "Island" for nearly 100 years. Unlike other early coastal towns in New England, development in Gloucester was not focused around the harbor as it is today, rather it was inland that people settled first. This is evidenced by the placement of the Town Green nearly two miles from the harbor-front.
. The fisherman of Gloucester did not command the Grand Banks until the mid-18th century.
This image shows theT arr And Wonson Paint Manufactory, it was taking from the back of the boat as we headed into port, the view is looking out to the Atlantic Ocean

Uploaded

September 27th, 2012