1623

Roger Conant leaves England for the New World. He arrives at Plymouth and lives, for a while, on Cape Ann near present day Gloucester

1626

Canaanite finally settles in Naumkeag, later renamed Salem. Early settlers rely on fishing and subsistence farming. Shipbuilding gradually becomes an important industry.

Mid-1600's

Trade with the West Indies develops. Lumber and dried fish are traded for molasses and sugar which are turned into rum.

1660 & 1663

Navigation Acts give Americans a virtual monopoly of shipping between the mainland colonies and the West Indies. Salem prospers with this trade.

1689 663

Reverend Samuel Parris is hired to be Minister in Salem Village. He brings with him Tituba, a slave from the West Indies.

1692

Witchcraft Hysteria begins in Salem Village (today, most of the town of Danvers and part of the city of Peabody)

1693

Governor Sir William Phipps releases most of those still being held for witchcraft

1733

Molasses Act places heavy taxes on sugar and molasses imported from non-British lands. This has a negative effect on Salem's trade with the West Indies.

1776

American Revolution begins. Salem's trade suffers during the revolution, but many merchants use their ships as privateers

1784

Elias Hasket Derby's Grand Turk opens China for trade with Salem.

1780's to early 1800's

Trade with China, India, and the Spice Islands flourishes. Salem is the center of world commerce.

1806

Salem reaches its peak as a major world trading port

1807

President Jefferson's Embargo Act declares that no ship can sail from a U.S. harbor to a foreign port. Embargo cripples Salem's economy.

1809

Embargo is lifted and ships from Salem resume trade with the East .

1812 War of 1812

Many Salem ships do not survive the conflict, and Salem never regains its commercial power.