Salem, located at the mouth of the Naumkeag
river at the site of an ancient Native American village and trading center, was
first settled by Europeans in 1626, when a company of fishermen from Cape Ann
led by Roger Conant arrived. Conant's leadership had provided the stability to
survive the first two years, but he was immediately replaced by John Endecott,
one of the new arrivals, by order of the Massachusetts Bay Company. Conant
graciously stepped aside and was granted 200 acres (0.81 km) of land in
compensation. These "New Planters" and the "Old Planters"
agreed to cooperate, in large part
