Malden, Massachusetts

Also referred to as Mysticside

From History of Malden by Deloraine Pendre Corey p 18

Malden, was settled by Puritans in 1640 on land purchased in 1629 from the Pennacook tribe. The area was originally called "Mistick Side" and was a part of Charlestown. It was renamed "Malden" by prominent settler, Joseph Hills, who is a Johnson ancestor. It was incorporated as a separate town in 1649.

In 1628, John Endicott of Dorcetshire, one of the shareholders in the Massachusetts Bay Company, brought a small company on the ship Abigail to Naumgeag, where they built a settlement which they named Salem. In 1629, six more ships arrived, bringing, among others, Ralph, Richard, and William Sprague, who began an exploration of the country around the settlement. They were the first known Europeans to visit the hilly woodland area north of the Mystic River, which they called Mysticside. Moving back to the south side of the river, the Spragues, with others, settled Charlestown. Later settlers, beginning with Increase Nowell, began spreading north and west of the river into Mysticside, and the first land division took place in 1633/4 giving ten acres to each inhabitant.

https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=njp.32101019677671;view=1up;seq=193

Johnson Direct Line Ancestors Who Lived in Malden

Places to visit in Malden

  • Monument to our immigrant ancestor Joseph Hills Sr. at the corner of Main St. and Salem St.

  • Converse Memorial Library and the outside of the Davenport Mansion, both designed by celebrated architect H. H. Richardson. The library is at Salem St and Park St. just north of the Joseph Hills Memorial. Call (781) 324-0218 to arrange a tour. The Mansion is just north of the library and is now an assisted living facility.

  • Bell Rock Park – Where the first church in Malden was built. - Main St and Ellis St.

  • Bell Rock Cemetery where ancestors Joseph Hills Jr, his wife, Hannah Smith Hills, and probably his mother, Rose Cleerke, are buried. – Medford St. and Green St.