New Maresh

The Hobbits of Middle-earth had migrated from the Anduin Valley into Eriador in and around T.A. 1050-1150. A portion of these Hobbits, primarily Stoors,had settled south of Tharbad in the Gwathló Basin. In 1300, many of the Hobbits around Bree were forced to move further south, west, or east back over the mountains to escape the forces of the Witch-king. This increased the number of Hobbits in the Northern areas of Dunfearan. The next major migration occurred 300 years later in 1600, when a large number of Hobbits from Bree and the surrounding area moved to the Shire. Thirty years later, many of the Stoors of Dunfearan also moved there,leaving only a small number of Hobbits in later Dunland.

By 1640, the number of Hobbits had decreased even further because of the plague. The only community of any size left was New Maresh, which had originally been founded about TA 1240. It was located 60 miles southwest of Tharbad along a small tributary of the Dunstrem which they called the Reedwater, about seven milesfrom the Dunstrem's confluence with the Gwathló. The land around was marshy and had patches of quicksand which all the Hobbits knew about. Since the creek which ran through thearea had a fairly swift current, little stagnation occured and thus insects were only a real problem in a summer after a mild winter. This quaint little village was set on a low hill in the middle of this marsh area. It was fairly self-sufficient; the Hobbits fished extensively andvnearly all citizens had gardens. When traders came through and brought other goods from time to time, the Hobbits traded small handcrafts and medicinal herbs they found in the marsh. This was one of the prime sources for the herb Reglan in this area. The Hobbits also had boats which they used on the stream and in the marshes.Sometimes, they even traveled down the Gwathló

The town was slowly dying as each year more of the townsfolk left for the Shire. While the Hobbits here had few enemies, wild animals did range through this area at times and an occasional ruffian showed up and made trouble. These Hobbits were by no means timid, and would take whatever measures were needed to secure their safety. To this end, they used the marsh very effectively, luring the unwanted into it and then getting them lost. Many brigands had fallen victim to this strategy and found their grave at the bottom of a quicksand pit. The Hobbits were all skilled with shortbows and spears which they normally used to fish. Strangers were usually treated with kindness, tempered with suspicion until they had proved themselves to be no threat.One of the major health risks for the Hobbits was the populationof Jatewoones, or Cleaverbeaks as the Hobbits called them. These large birds had killed Halflings on several occasions. The Hobbits conducted hunting parties when the Jatewoone population became too high.