The Crowninshields and prior residents.

Prior to 1700 after the occupancy of the Native American Naumkeag and other tribes in all territories, the land was then occupied by Lynn, Peabody and Salem’s early European settlers. 


On June 10th, 1696 Daniel Richards, mariner of Lynn, released lands of inheritance at Spring Pond to Robert Bronsdon.  In January, 1698, Robert Bronsdon sold the Spring Pond estate to John Clifford of Salem.  Elizabeth (Clifford) Allen and Jacob Allen settled on the lands near Spring Pond.

c.1700, Dr. John Casper Richter Von Crowninshield (Johannes Kaspar Richter Von Kronenscheldt, as first spelled), a physician from Germany, descendant of the ennobled family of the Kingdom of Saxony, ancestor of the respectable Boston Brahmin Crowninshield Family of Boston, married Elizabeth- daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Clifford) Allen of Salem.  He purchased the land near Spring Pond from Elizabeth (Clifford) Allen, widow of Jacob Allen.  He settled on the land in the interest of retreat and farming. Eminent personages were entertained at his retreat, including Cotton and Increase Mather.