Welcome to Marvell Head

In a sleepy little ocean port of Fowey in Cornwell, they told the story of a colony in the New World where fish filled the harbor, while dry-footed fishermen walked from one side of the harbor to the other on their large board backs. And later, we have the legend of the “Golden Cod”. The sea has always been an important part of life in Marblehead.

This is part of the early lore of our community, Marblehead. In the 1629, the fishing station, known as Marvell Head, was settled as a plantation of Salem. It was also known as Foy by immigrants from Fowey, Cornwall. These early stories helped attracted the first settlers to Marblehead.

In spite of our early history, and that of “Fowey” immigrants, many Marblehead residents would join the fight of American freedom. You see in the mid-1640s many of the people of Fowey were Royalist. Unlike the Puritans [Parliamentarians], common folks were forced to join a side in the English Civil War based on what army arrived at their town to [forced] recruit them. The result was that Foweys joined the cause of King Charles I.

Many of stories of the strength and resolute of early American women, were told from the experience of Marblehead women. There is the recounting of the capture of Native American prisoner by Marblehead women as retribution for atrocities committed during the King Phillip War, and the stories of fishermen wives’ “vicious and unwavering defense” of their families.

This is our Marblehead, and the folklore and legends that create the lore and legends of our community. Over the next weeks and months, I will share my thoughts about this independent spirit and the strength of the people, past, present, and future, of our communities – Marblehead – and our neighbors.

I invite you to join me by sharing your thoughts, opinions and experiences.