History of Manchester-by-the-Sea :

The Town of Manchester-by-the-Sea was included in a grant of land to the Massachusetts Bay Colony made in 1629 by Charles I who signed the charter in that year. By June of the same year the first ship, the Talbot, dropped anchor in Manchester Harbor carrying settlers who were attracted by "the promise of a safe harbor, streams of water, the sheltering hills and an abundant opportunity for building fishweirs, which offered an almost ideal spot for the planting of a new settlement."

Manchester became "Manchester" in 1645, when the people of "Jeoffereyes Creeke" requested and were granted the village name. Before that, the area was part of the town of Salem, and before that belonged to the Algonquin Indians. The settlers acquired land by purchase or by "peaceful possession" until 1700, when a final payment was made to the grandson of Masconomo. At that time, the Native Americans relinquished all right, title, and interest in the land then comprising this township.

During this period, because there were many Manchesters in New England, it became vogue to call the town "Manchester-by-the-Sea." The usage so irked Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes that he headed his letters to Manchester friends "Boston-by-the-Charles." Regardless, the custom persists today.

Manchester is probably best known for its exceptionally beautiful beaches and harbor, its pleasant residential character, its numerous buildings of historical significance and its handsome estates.