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           AttheEssexInstitute,whichwaswellknowntohimfromformersojournsintheglamorousoldtownofcrumblingPuritangablesandclusteredgambrelroofs,hewasverykindlyreceived,andunearthedthereaconsiderableamountofCurwendata.HefoundthathisancestorwasborninSalem-Village,nowDanvers,sevenmilesfromtown,ontheeighteenthofFebruary(O.S.)1662-3;andthathehadrunawaytoseaattheageoffifteen,notappearingagainfornineyears,whenhereturnedwiththespeech,dress,andmannersofanativeEnglishmanandsettledinSalemproper.Atthattimehehadlittletodowithhisfamily,butspentmostofhishourswiththecuriousbookshehadbroughtfromEurope,andthestrangechemicalswhichcameforhimonshipsfromEngland,France,andHolland.Certaintripsofhisintothecountryweretheobjectsofmuchlocalinquisitiveness,andwerewhisperinglyassociatedwithvaguerumorsoffiresonthehillsatnight.

           Curwen’sonlyclosefriendshadbeenoneEdwardHutchinsonofSalem-VillageandoneSimonOrneofSalem.WiththesemenhewasoftenseeninconferenceabouttheCommon,andvisitsamongthemwerebynomeansinfrequent.Hutchinsonhadahousewellouttowardthewoods,anditwasnotaltogetherlikedbysensitivepeoplebecauseofthesoundsheardthereatnight.Hewassaidtoentertainstrangevisitors,andthelightsseenfromhiswindowswerenotalwaysofthesamecolor.