-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IhoVTTBJDDUVt90C8k0eN44KwoX6GHPExLC52S8CNUG+KaaCq6lW6EW+kObON40y
 SvFDPJjhsQ+IcDMTEFJIbg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-000712.txt : 20040108
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-000712.hdr.sgml : 20040108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040108085111
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-000712
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURKE WILLIAM F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001229422

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16143
		FILM NUMBER:		04514421

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		71 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST ESSEX BANCORP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000808246
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				042943217
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		71 MAIN ST
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5086817500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		71 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			ANDOVER
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01810
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
<periodOfReport>2004-01-07</periodOfReport>
<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808246</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST ESSEX BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FESX</issuerTradingSymbol>
</issuer>
<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001229422</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURKE WILLIAM F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>71 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ANDOVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01810</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector>
<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
<isOther>0</isOther>
<officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
<otherText></otherText>
</reportingOwnerRelationship>
</reportingOwner>
<nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<transactionDate><value>2004-01-07</value>
</transactionDate>
<transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
<transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
</transactionCoding>
<transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>378</value>
</transactionShares>
<transactionPricePerShare><value>60.00</value>
</transactionPricePerShare>
<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value>
</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
</transactionAmounts>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>47020</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeTransaction>
<nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</securityTitle>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5659</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
<natureOfOwnership><value>By 401(k) plan</value>
</natureOfOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</nonDerivativeHolding>
</nonDerivativeTable>
<derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.50</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>1995-12-29</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2004-12-29</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>6500</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6500</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.375</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>1997-01-11</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2006-01-11</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>12000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>19.75</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>1998-10-09</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2007-10-09</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>23.9837</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>1999-07-08</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2008-07-08</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2478</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2478</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.75</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2000-03-11</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2009-03-11</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>4531</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4531</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.3125</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2001-03-16</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2010-03-16</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>6650</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6650</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
<derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock option</value>
</securityTitle>
<conversionOrExercisePrice><value>21.5625</value>
</conversionOrExercisePrice>
<exerciseDate><value>2002-02-09</value>
</exerciseDate>
<expirationDate><value>2011-02-09</value>
</expirationDate>
<underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock</value>
</underlyingSecurityTitle>
<underlyingSecurityShares><value>2579</value>
</underlyingSecurityShares>
</underlyingSecurity>
<postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2579</value>
</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
</postTransactionAmounts>
<ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value>
</directOrIndirectOwnership>
</ownershipNature>
</derivativeHolding>
</derivativeTable>
<footnotes></footnotes>
<ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Douglas E. Moisan</signatureName>
<signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate>
</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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