Arbella

"The Arbella was one of the first ships to cross in the Great Migration that carried about 20,000 English to New England between 1630 and 1640", says John Goff in a news article about this historic vessel. The Arbella crossed from Southhampton England to Salem between March 22 and June 12, 1630. She had 3 masts and weighed 350 tons. Among the noteworthy passengers were Gov. Winthrop, Richard Saltonstall and the future Gov. Dudley. The ship was named for a prominent puritan, Lady Arbella Johnson, who was on board with her husband Isaac. The city of Salem built a replica of the Arbella for the 300th anniversary of the famous voyage. It was the first historic tall ship replica done in this state, long before the Plymouth Mayflower II and the Boston Tea Party ship. It was berthed east of Pioneer Village on the beach, from 1936 and 1954. The replica began life as a 1870's lumber schooner, Lavolta. She was reconfigured with a high forecastle on the bow and a stern to look like Winthrop's original vessel. On June 12, 1930 an historical pageant took place at Pioneer Village reenacting Winthrop's arrival. More that 20,000 onlookers enjoyed the spectacle that day. Unfortunately, minimal upkeep and a bad storm heavily damaged the vessel in the 1950's and the vessel was removed from Salem in 1954.

See Also

• "Remembering the astounding Arbella" Salem Gazette, Nov. 17, 2006, p.5
• "Arrival of "Arbella" was dramatic climax to a unique pageant" Salem Evening News, June 13, 1930, p.1
• Vertical File in Salem Collection - Arbella