Farmer, Sarah Bridge "Folk-Lore of Marblehead, Mass.," Journal of American Folk-Lore, Vol. 7 (1894), p. 252

A curious animal was believed to roam over the marshes [near Marblehead], making a roaring sound. I never knew one who claimed to have seen it, but a very clear idea of its appearance prevailed; a person who looked unkempt or fierce was compared to "a rumbling marsh lion," or one who talked boisterously was said to roar like "a rumbling marsh lion." The old people were sure that it was a real live thing wandering around, and not altogether canny. Could a sea-lion have strayed up some of the salt creeks in days long ago, and so given rise to the legend?

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