USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Bridgewater > History of Bridgewater, Massachusetts > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
Digitized by Google
58
HISTORY OF THE
McClure, to weave jeans and corduroys by hand with a fly shut- tle, much in the same manner as it is now done by water power. It may therefore with truth be said, perhaps, that the first small arms, the first solid cannon cast and bored, the first cotton thread ever spun by modern machinery, in America, were made in Bridgewater. The first nails manufactured by machinery in the United States were made here; probably the first nail com- pletely cut and headed by machinery at one operation in the world, was made in East Bridgewater, by the late Mr. Samuel Rogers. In laying the shingles on the present meeting-house in East Bridgewater, which was erected in 1794, nails made by hand in a small machine invented by him, were principally used. The writer well recollects the circumstance, and often saw the machine in operation. It had been invented and constructed long before, and was supposed to be the first method ever dis- covered of making a perfect nail at one operation.
Some of the present manufactures carried on here, such as cotton gins and others, are probably the first ever made in New England .- Few places therefore have done more towards the introduction and promotion of the manufacturing and mechanic arts, than this ancient town of Bridgewater.
CENSUS.
West. 880
South & Titicut. 1,318
East. 959
North. 833
Total.
1764,
3,990
1790,
4,975
1800,
5,200
1810,
1,065
1,552
1,195
1,354
5,166
1820,
1,055
1,692
1,435
1,480
5,662
1830,
1,042
1,855
1,653
1,953
6,503
1837,
1,145
2,092
1,927
2.701
7,865
Families in
1764, 5
121
221
157
131
630
Dwelling-houses in
1764,
S 106
203
142
120
571
Dgiized by Google
59
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
Families in 1790.
830
Houses in 1800, . 740
Families in Titicut 1764 were 48 1 All included
Houses =
41
above with
Inhabitants 66 1764 " 262 the South.
1810
318
The last United States land tax was in the West, $505,47 ; South, $552,99 : East, $579,82; North, $598,52 ; Titicut, $150.54. Total, $2,387,34.
Emigration from the town was formerly very great, and of course the increase of population in it was small. They first went to the western part of the State, and into New Hampshire and Vermont. Afterwards principally into Maine. Emigration of late has been less frequently, and of course population has increased.
Bridgewater with Abington constitutes the 3d Regiment in the first Brigade, and 5th Division of the Massachusetts militia.
MISCELLANEOUS EXTRACTS FROM EARLY RECORDS IN A · CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.
1656. June .- The town was incorporated. -
November 3 .- It is agreed upon by the town that all who neglect to attend a town meeting after lawful warning shall pay Is. 6d .; and for tardiness, and not answering when their names are called, 9d .- and the same for going away before the meeting is closed.
Nathaniel Willis and Lawrence Willis bind themselves to free the town from any charge in keeping their brother Jonathan Willis.
About the holsters bought of Goodman Hill. Goodman Hayward, Sen., and Goodman Harris, having engaged for the payment of them, being 12s., the townfis wil- ling to pay it them again in their rate in the best of their pay, which they shall be amerced to pay out of their rates.
It is agreed that there shall be five wolf-traps made.
Digitized by Google
60
HISTORY OF THE
1660 .- It is ordered and agreed upon freely and willingly to give to Mr. Bunker, if he shall come hither to supply the place of a minister, the sum of £30, or £20 and his diet.
1661 .- It is agreed upon to build a house for a minister who shall be called to settle with them, and give him a purchase right.
It is agreed upon that those things that are agitated by the town for the good of the whole, shall be carried on by a major vote, and the vote be called for by the town clerk.
1663 .- Constant Southworth and William Paybody laid out to Miles Standish three hundred acres at Satucket Pond, on the north side of Winnetuxet River, and butting upon Satucket River, one hundred and sixty rods in length from Satucket River.
1664 .- The town make their agreement with Mr. Keith, student in divinity, for settling him in the ministry, and give him a purchase right and other lands, with a house built thereon, on condition that he continues with them.
1665 .- Land granted to John Ames on both sides of a brook, called Hullet's Brook, down at the end of Hullet's Plain.
1666 .- Samuel Edson, Nicholas Byram, and John Willis, ap- pointed by the court Counsellors of War with the military officers of the town.
1667 .- A jury was named by the court to be empannelled to lay out all ways requisite in the town of Bridgewater, viz. : -Nicholas Byram, Samuel Edson, Thomas Hayward, Samuel Packard, Nathaniel Willis, Lieutenant Thomas Hayward, Jr., Arthur Harris, John Cary, Ensign John Haward, Mark Lathrop, Robert Latham, Joseph Alden, and if by Providence any of these be hindered, that then Samuel Allen and John Ames do supply.
1669 .- Arthur Harris and John Ames chosen troopers this year.
Dgiized by Google
61
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
1671 .- Comfort Willis chosen trooper for five years, to find horse and furniture, only the town to find a pair of pistols and holsters, and if they were out of kelter at any time, he to repair them; and if he went to Yar- mouth, he was to have 20s .; if to Plymouth, 15s .; and if to Taunton, ros .; and Israel Packard to be trooper also on the same terms.
" John Hayward of the plain, and Nathaniel Willis to enquire who drink strong liquors in ordinaries.
Voted to build a new meeting-house, and granted four score pounds and no more for falling, squaring, fram- ing, enclosing, covering, flooring. glazing, and seating, and whatsoever belongs to the finishing of the same, excepting the galleries and ceiling: the dimension to be forty by twenty-six feet, and fourteen feet studs.
1672 .- At meeting of the purchasers or proprietors, a commit- tee was appointed "to consider the manner to be adopted in future for laying out their lands. This was the first meeting held separately by the proprietors.
The town being met the 17th of June, and Mr. Constant Southworth, assistant, coming through the town, and having been appointed by court to choose and give oath to a jury for laying out highways convenient in the town, did accordingly perform the service, and appointed Samuel Edson, (foreman), Lieutenant Hay- ward, Ensign Haward, Mark Lathrop, Joseph Bassett, Samuel Tompkins, John Ames, Thomas Snell, John Washburn, John Hayward, John Willis, Jr., and John Cary.
1673 .- It was voted that Mr. Keith, having been some compe- tent time with them, should have the house and lands where he lived, twelve acres, and a whole purchase right.
1674 .- The town ordered that a new book for the recording of lands should be procured, and a committee was chosen to see that the records were made and transcribed cor- rectly, and on good evidence.
Digitized by Google
62
HISTORY OF THE
1674 .- The young men were allowed to build galleries to the meeting-house, and to have the front seats to them- selves.
1675 .- The meeting-house and minister's house ordered to be fortified, powder and ball to be procured, and pay for soldiers provided.
It was agreed there should be two wears to catch fish ; and the parties for Satucket should be from the elder's, (William Brett's), and so all the families along to Sa- tucket, with John Washburn, Guido Bailey, John Leonard, Samuel Leonard, and Nathaniel Hayward : and all the rest of the town for Mill River.
All the householders and male children twenty years old and upwards, now found to be sixty-four in number, shall be proprietors in the lands at Titicut, just bought of the Indians.
1675 .- The fortification about the meeting-house to be made with half trees seven feet high above the ground, six rods long and four rods wide, besides the flankers ; and every quarter or squadron to do, each of them, a side or an end ; and they that do the ends must make each of them a door, and each of them a flanker ; to be done by the 6th of November.
Provision made for soldiers that should be pressed into the service, and such necessaries procured and money raised as they might need.
1676 .-- A vote was called to see what should be done with the money that was made of the Indians, that were sold last, and it was voted, that the soldiers that took them should have it.
Elder Brett, Deacon Willis, and Mr. Samuel Edson were appointed to distribute the contributions made by divers christians in Ireland for the distresses of the Indian wars.
Deacon Willis and John Cary were chosen to take in the charges of the late war since June last, and the expenses of the scouts that were sent out before and since June.
Dgiized by Google
63
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
1678 .- Mr. Keith being sick, Elder Brett was chosen to assist him in carrying on the work of the ministry between this and May next.
1683 .- The purchasers agreed that the old field to the north- ward of the highway, by Goodman Bailey's, be reserved for a training-field.
1685 .- The Selectmen to take bond of Joseph Washburn for the maintenance of his uncle, Philip Washburn.
1686 .- It was agreed by the town and purchasers that the four rods to lay out lands by, should be thirteen inches over by the box rule.
It was agreed that the layers out of lands, when they leave lands for highways, shall leave four rods, or one line, in breadth for allowance for highways; and the highways through such lands where allowance is so made, shall not be less than forty feet.
1686 .- Ten acres of wood land to be laid out to each purchaser nearest to their habitations, as the land will afford it to be laid out, viz :-
Lots 'on the south side of Town River, below Goodman Alden's, namely, to William Snow, Samuel Edson, Edward Fobes, John Ames, Elihu Brett, Samuel Ed- son, Jr., Josiah Edson, Matthew Gannett, (of Scituate,) Solomon Leonard, Giles Leach, Benjamin Willis.
North side of the Town River, viz :- John Willis, Nathaniel Hayward, John Willis, Jr., Captain Wads- worth, (Samuel, of Duxbury,) Lieutenant (Thomas) Hayward, Joseph Bassett, William Bassett, Joseph Alden, John Robbins, Goodman, (William) Orcutt, Joseph Wadsworth, (of Duxbury,) Thomas Washburn.
On the west end of the town, towards West Meadow Brook, viz :- Goodman, (Guido) Bayley, Goodman. (Mark) Lathrop, Ensign (John) Haward, Goodman, (Samuel) Packard, Elkanah Willis, Mr. Keith, Good- man, (George) Turner, John Field, John Hayward of the plain, Thomas Snell, Arthur Harris.
Digitized by Google
64
HISTORY OF THE
South side of South Brook, viz :- Goodman (John) Washburn, Goodman, (Thomas) Washburn, Goodman, (Samuel) Washburn, John Porter, Captain Wadsworth.
John Kingman, at the end of his land where his house is.
Joseph Cary, in the swamp below John Kingman's and John Hayward's.
Easterly side of Stony Brook at the Centre Tree, viz : Elisha Hayward, John Cary, Jonathan Hill, William Brett, Joseph Edson.
Easterly side of Satucket River, near Jonathan's plain, and down the river, viz :- Goodman (Robert) Latham, Samuel Allen, Thomas Whitman.
At the head of Spring Brook, viz :- Nicholas Byram, Nicholas Byram, Jr., John Whitman, Thomas Whitman.
NOTE-Gannett and the Wadsworths were not inhabitants of the town,-all the rest were, and these locations will give some idea of the places of their residence.
1687 .- John Usher's warrant sent to the constable of Bridge- water for choosing commissioners for taking a list of males from sixteen years old and upward, and valuing estates, was received by me, Joseph Edson, constable, August 22. Samuel Allen chosen commissioner.
1688 .- Division of highways third Monday of May, for repairs, viz :-
For John's Bridge. Goodman Bayley, Guido Bay- ley, Jr., Goodman Orcutt, William Orcutt, Jr., Richard Jennings; John Packard, to make a horse bridge there.
NOTE-This was formerly called Jennings' Bridge, then Pack- ard's Bridge, and now Pope's Bridge. It was first called John's Bridge, after John Packard, who lived there, but was not long known by that name. Joppa Bridge was more usually called John's Bridge, after John Haward, who lived near it.
For the bridge at Satucket River, at Isaac Harris' house, Joseph Washburn, James Latham, Joseph Latham, Thomas Whitman.
For the highway at Goodman Alden's swamp. Thomas Washburn, Goodman (Joseph) Alden, Comfort Willis.
Dgiized by Google
65
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
For the ways over at Joseph Hayward's. Elihu Brett, Nathaniel Brett, John Bolton, Zaccheus Packard, John Kingman.
For South Brook to Comfort Willis'. Samuel Wash- burn, John Washburn, Goodman (Nathaniel) Conant, John Leonard, Benjamin Washburn.
For the bridge at Ensign Haward's .- Samuel Edson, Ensign Haward, Edward Fobes, John Ames.
For Salisbury Plain .- John Hayward on the plain, and Thomas Snell.
For Mile Brook .- John Willis, Benjamin Willis, John Aldrich.
1689 .- Lieutenant Hayward and Samuel Allen chosen agents to go to Plymouth about settling the Gournet.
John Willis appointed by court to solemnize marriages, to summon witnesses before grand jurors, and to ad- minister oaths, &c.
Josiah Edson, Nicholas Byram, and Edward Mitchell to issue the difference between the town and John Soul and Joseph Brastraw, (Barstow.) about the four mile line.
David Perkins, John Ames, and Samuel Washburn to get in Mr. Keith's salary by all loving persuasions and legal means.
1690 .- It was voted to be at charges for procuring a charter and to bear their proportion of the expense in case it may be obtained, and but one, Giles Leach, voted against it, and two appeared afterwards and spoke by word of mouth ; voted also that Mr. Wiswall should be their agent to act for them.
1691 .- It was voted the constables should not pay any more money towards the Canada expedition, till their own charges on that account be paid. and the rest of the towns in the colony had gathered and paid their pro- portion, as they themselves had done : and until further order of court at New Plymouth.
1694 .- It was granted that Mr. David Perkins should have lib- erty to make a dam across the river below his house,
Digitized by Google
66
HISTORY OF THE
against his own land, provided he damnifies none of his neighbors by overflowing their lands. And Thomas Washburn, by deed 1697, gave Perkins the right of joining the dam to his land.
1694 .- Captain Thomas Hayward, Lieutenant John Haward, Deacon Brett, Thomas Snell, and Samuel Allen, to order the seats to each person in the meeting-house : and Ensign Packard, Sergeant Josiah Edson, Sergeant Samuel Washburn, Sergeant Edward Mitchell, and Sergeant Nicholas Byram to seat the above committee.
" Edward Mitchell and Jonathan Haward to inspect and take notice of any disorder among the young persons in the galleries on the Lord's day, and declare them by name after the exercise is done.
1694 .- Thomas Snell, according to former agreement, bought a new book to record the purchasers' lands in, and they gave him for it eighteen acres of land.
1696 .- Thomas Randall, William Manley, and their neighbors allowed to come here to meeting, and to make a horse bridge over Cutting Cove River.
1697 .- The town agreed that for the time to come at every town meeting they would choose a moderator for said meeting.
1699 .- The town agreed to choose town officers annually on the first Monday in March, beginning at 10 o'clock, and also to divide the town for constables into two parts. All on the south side of the town river, and from Lieutenant Haward's on the west side of the highway going to Braintree, to one constable. And from Lieu- tenant Haward's all on the east side of the highway going to Braintree, on the north side of the town river, to the other constable.
1703 .- Voted to divide the town into three constablericks, as follows, viz :- All on the easterly side of Matfield and Satucket rivers to be one constablerick ; and the other two to be divided by the town river.
1708 .- The town passed a clear vote to petetion the General Court for the continuance of the country road where
Digitized by Google
67
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
it was laid out-when removed from the place where the great bridge was at Jones' River, (at Kingston.)
1717 .- The town gave Mr. Allen (minister) liberty to make use of the pine trees on the stated common on Bayley's Plain for drawing of turpentine.
1737 -- The town voted their consent that the north should be- come a distinct town, agreeably to their petition ; and on November 29, 1738, they also voted their consent that the south and east precincts might also each be- come distinct towns; but these votes were never at- tempted to be carried into effect only as it regarded the north, who, although they petitioned originally to become a town, were indulged so far only as to be in- corporated into a precinct.
1757 .- Voted to choose five selectmen : hitherto they had chosen but three, one from the west, one from the south, and one from the east; ever after they chose one from each of the five parishes, east, west, north, south, and Titicut.
1767 .- Several of the neutral French were supported and pro- vided for in this town for several years previous; and this year Joseph Latham was paid 215. 4d., for carry- ing them to Plymouth ; (for transportation probably.)
EARLY LOCATION OF HIGHWAYS.
1664 .- IT is ordered by the feofees, and agreed upon by the town, that every man shall have a convenient highway to his meadow lands.
" They whom it doth concern may have a way through the spruce swamp.
1667 .- There was a highway left by individuals between Na- thaniel Hayward's six acre lot, and Thomas Snell's ten acre lot, upon the east side of Goodman Bacon's on the plain, and a piece of common land between the lots in form like a gussett.
Digitized by Google
68
HISTORY OF THE
1668 .- A way towards Plymouth, viz :- from the meeting-house to Arthur Harris' range, to the common-through the swamp to Sandy Hill-up the hill and over to John Hayward, Jr.'s range-and across his lot to Daniel Bacon's house-and in the old way to widow Bassett's lot to the wolf-trap-over the same lot to Thomas Hayward, Jr.'s lot, and across to Goodman John Tompkin's lot-and so to a piece of land left for a road betwixt him and Thomas Snell-over a corner of Snell's lot, near the river to the bridge-through Nicholas Byram's land to his house-over a little river and over the plain to a narrow place in the swamp, and so to Arthur Harris' fifty acre lot, and on the hard ground to his son Samuel Harris' house-and in a straight line to a bridge on Satucket River, as the rocks will permit-and straight to the highway near Robert Latham's barn-then to the usual road to Ply- mouth, as far as the bounds of our town extends- only in the way we fetch a little compass to avoid a steep hill, a little way from Latham's lot.
1,668 .- 2d .-- A way towards Boston, viz :- from the meeting- house on the same road above mentioned, to John Hayward's range-then to the usual road reaching into the bay as far as our bounds extend.
" 3d .- A way to Taunton, viz :- from the meeting-house to John Haward's-then over the river and between the lots that were Mr. Love Brewster's and John Fobes'- and so into the usual way that leads to Taunton.
¥ 4th .- A way to the great meadows, viz :- to come from out of Taunton way at the head of Edward Fobes' six acre lot-so to the head of Samuel Edson's six acre lots to William Snow's-then between said Edson's and Snow's land to the common-then to the river.
These four were laid out by a jury in 1667 and 1668.
1673 .- Thomas Snell was to make and maintain two horse bridges, on at the hither end of Salisbury plain, over the brook, and another at the further end over the river.
Dgiized by Google
69
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
1677 .- A piece of a highway granted to John Willis, through his lands, to the river.
1680 .- Ten men were appointed to build and maintain a horse bridge over the river, near where the three rivers meet in the road way laid out by a jury for the Ply- mouth road to Pimpkin bridge. (At Pope's bridge.)
1684 .- Lieutenant Thomas Hayward, Nathaniel Willis, Joseph Hayward and Francis Cary to maintain the bridge and causey at Lieutenant T. Hayward's house, fit for cart, horse, and foot: and are to be freed from all other highway work. And John Field, John Washburn, Jr., and Nathaniel Packard are to maintain a like bridge and causey towards Thomas Snell's house, at Sandy Hill, on the same conditions.
1685 .- Samuel Allen, Samuel Allen, Jr., William Brett, Isaac Harris, John Haward, Jr., Jonathan Hill, and Thomas Whitman, pray for a road and bridge over Matfield River, (at Joppa.)
1690 .- A way laid out from John Aldrich's to the corner of Goodman Edson's field, where it meets with the way that comes from the town : the way is to be where it's beaten.
A way to Isaac Alden's; beginning at the road leading from John Kingman's towards Nicholas Byram's- thence by the edge of Huckleberry plain to the old cow path and to the river-thence upon the plain com- monly called Jonathan Cary's plain -thence by a slough and across a swamp to the northward of Jona- than Cary's house-thence to Beaver Brook, at the cartway between Isaac Alden's and James Cary's- thence to Isaac Alden's house-and thence to Snell's plain .- " The jury ordered to lay out such highways as are needful for the inhabitants to come to meeting and to mill, and to their meadows, especially the way to Indian Field and the meadows at Coasters' Kitchen."
A way to the meadows called Coasters' Kitchen ; from the road at the corner of the land that was Mark Lathrop's-thence keeping the easterly side of the ridge to the meadows.
Digitized by Google
70
HISTORY OF THE
1690 .- A road laid out by a jury from Isaac Harris' house to Goodman Whitman's house on the east side,-thence to the river, and over the river and between Edward Mitchell's and John Haward's-so across Haward's land where the way is above his barn, or between his house and barn-so along the way to town.
A way from Goodman Bayley's farm and South Brook agreed upon, viz :- the way now goes from South Brook to Samuel Washburn's, where the way now is it runs on the north side of the barn to a tree where it meets with a way that comes from South Brook below Goodman Ames' meadow, where the way goes over the brook to the said tree-and thence to a white oak-thence in the way over a small run-thence to John Leonard's house-thence with the way to Samuel Edson's land, and down on Comfort Willis' land, and across Samuel Edson's land to John Willis' land- then to a wild cherry tree-then to a rock near the outside of John Willis' land-then through Samuel Edson's land to marked trees-and then to town.
A way from the north end of Samuel Lathrop's land in town over the Spruce Swamp where the bridge is- so straight up through Jonathan Haward's land and Elkanah Willis' land to Ensign Packard's land-thence to a tree on the east side of the way in Lieutenant Hayward's land-then to the way that comes from the west meadow, where there is a rock on the easterly side-then as the way is to West Meadow, till it comes to Samuel Tompkin's land-then between Mr. Keith's and Samuel Tompkin's land, till it meets the west meadow path.
Road from (Sproats) or the meeting-house in Middle- borough, over Thompson's bridges, to the road lead- ing from Bridgewater to Plymouth, (at Thomas Drews) then following Bridgewater road by James Latham's to Byram's plain, to the road leading to Weymouth- then as the road goes on the westerly side of Andrew Ford's house, and so to the patent line.
Digitized by Google
71
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
1697 .- A way ordered to be laid out to and over Satucket River at the great Gall at Thomas Mitchell's and Na- thaniel Allen's, and so to Plymouth road.
1698 .- The town agreed to make a cart bridge over the town river at Lieutenant Haward's, and the owners of the saw mill, viz. : - Josiah Edson, Edward Fobes, Ephraim Haward, Thomas Snell, and Joseph Hayward agreed to do their parts to it over and above what the rest of the town did, because their mill pond make a necessity for the bridge.
The selectmen ordered to lay out a highway from John Whitman's to the commons.
1701 .- The selectmen authorised to lay out a road from Taun- ton road, at the other side of Four Mile Brook to John Leach's house, and so to Taunton (now Rayn- ham) line.
1702 .- A road laid out from Ensign Mitchell's, along the lane where the way is now trodden, and across Nathaniel Hayward's land, and crossing Samuel Haward's land, and so along the beaten way, and passing on the east- erly side of a great rock with a cleft in it, straight down to Plymouth road, and along the old way that went to John Packard's, till it comes to Ensign Miteh- ell's, and keeping the beaten cartway to his farm in. the neck.
A way determined on at the westerly end of Samuel Hayward's land, next Israel Alger's to John Bolton's lower lot.
A way laid out from Taunton road by Samuel Keith's house to Edward Fobes' land and Thomas Wade's land, and over the brook and south side of Wade's house to William Bassett's house, and over Nathan Packard's and Samuel Leach's lands, and by Leach's barn across the brook to the north side of Ebenezer Leach's house, to the corner of the pond at the mouth of the brook, across the neck, and over the corner of the pond to Taunton (now Raynham) line.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.