Conant, Roger

Roger Conant (1591-1679) was the founder of Salem, coming here in 1626 after a failed settlement at Stage Point, Gloucester. Salem was called Naumkeag at that time, later changing its name to Salem, from the word for peace "Shalom". Conant came to Naumkeag with a dozen or so of the better men from the previous settlement. A new English group of about 50 settlers came in 1628 under leadership of John Endicott. They merged and that was the beginning of the new settlement know as Salem. Conant later moved to Beverly where he died in 1679.

See Also

• Roger Conant Salem Focus website
• History of Salem by S. Perley, v.1, p. 78-88
• Roger Conant, a founder of Massachusetts by C.K. Shipton
• "Conant was a settler, not a witch" Salem Evening News, April 9, 1992. p.9 celebrating Conant's 400th birthday.