2. Salem MA welcomes East Budleigh

Togetherness: in two different communities. 

Top: East Budleigh's 2018 Street Party; Lower: Naturalization ceremony on Citizenship Day 2007 on the stairs of the Custom House, Salem MA

Image credit: Dr Torsten Henning  

The American city of Salem in Essex County, Massachusetts, with a population of well over 40,000 is quite a lot larger than East Budleigh village, where the total number of residents was estimated at 817 in 2017.

But they’re both historic communities in their way. In fact there are still locals who will tell you that East Budleigh is much more ancient than its better known neighbouring town of Budleigh Salterton.  That the village church has Saxon origins, well before the Norman Conquest of 1066 AD. And that the town should in any case be called Salterton, while the village’s rightful name is Budleigh.

So the East Budleigh-based group behind the Conant 400 project was delighted to hear from Salem MA – origins going back to only 1626.

As it happens, explained Salem’s Whitney Leese, the American city is in the early stages of planning for 2026—the 400th anniversary of Roger Conant’s arrival there.

‘A link between Salem and East Budleigh absolutely seems appropriate given the occasion and we would be happy to hear about your 2023 initiatives to recognize Conant and his transatlantic influence,’ she continued.

While the city has yet to establish its plans for the 400^th anniversary, Whitney – full title Project and Communications Coordinator for Imagine Salem and Salem 400 – suggested that in the meantime its tourism office, Destination Salem, is planning the first-ever Salem Ancestry Week next year, from 1-4 May 2020.

‘This celebration will feature lectures, tours, and research opportunities and will explore Salem’s myriad ancestral and immigrant connections. We would welcome East Budleigh’s involvement and/or attendance at an event!’

You can read more about the event at https://www.salem.org/ancestryweek

I'm sure that lots of Conants will be attending. 

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