distinguished in its early years by waving elms but hard to access because of its expansive flats at low tide, the 10-acre apple island was initially part of the town of boston, used for sheep and cattle grazing. it fell into the private hands of thomas hutchinson, father of royal governor thomas hutchinson, in 1723. hutchinson the elder willed the island to an english mariner in 1802 , and a gentleman named mr. marsh purchased it for $550 in 1822. marsh died in 1833 and was buried on the island's western slope, and his home burned down two years later.