USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Bridgewater > History of Bridgewater, Massachusetts > Part 7
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
72
HISTORY OF THE
1702 .- A road laid out from Jonathan Haward's, at the rocky gutter, running out of Cranberry Meadow, directly to the bridge over Lathrop's swamp-then turning on the westerly side of the swamp, and in the trodden path to the next swamp-so onward to the south side of Mr. Keith's land-so over the river where the bridge is, and across John Turner's land to the line of the north purchase, (now Easton).
1703 .- A way laid out from Taunton road between Captain Edson's and Edward Fobes' land, to the brow of the hill, near Captain Edson's, and turning along the beaten way to John Willis' land, and over Joseph Leonard's land, and turning between the land of John Washburn and said Leonard, and by Leonard's house, and so to the way formerly laid out. And beginning again at Jonathan Washburn's, a way was laid out on the west side of his house and barn, and by the west end of old Goodman Conant's house, and crossing South Brook at Captain Edson's meadow, and so to Amos Snell's land.
A way from the bay road on Little Plain, south of Rich- ard Field's house, easterly to Matfield River, and crossing the river at the cart way, and across Thomas Snell's land, and turning up the side of pine swamp, and warping about again to the south east corner of Samuel Kingman's field.
A way beginning a little to the west of Zaccheus Pack- ard's land, so as to run square over Daniel Field's land to the south-west corner of John Snell's orchard, and by his house to the common.
1706 .- A road laid out from the old way between South Brook and Ebenezer Whitman's house, and running across his land to the river-so over on to Benjamin Hay- ward's land-so to the range between said Hayward and John Hooper-so near said Hayward's house and barn-and over the plain to Plymouth Road.
1710 .- John Haward and John Field were permitted to stop up the old road across their house lots, and turn it down
Dgiized by Google
73
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
the mill lane, and so before John Field's door, and along by the river.
1713 .- A way from the bridge, over South Brook, at William Orcutt's-then up the hill by Orcutt's door-so near the corner of a swamp, and into the beaten way-so over the causey at bear swamp, and up the hill, and as near the ridge as may be, to Josiah Washburn's fence- then turning on the northerly side of his house to the plain, and down the plain to the south end of it-then more westerly across a little swamp, and along the beaten foot-path to the burnt swamp, and through it to the plain not far from Nathaniel Woodward's field- then easterly, by the north side of his house, to Na- thaniel Allen's land.
A way from Josiah Washburn's to Josiah Leonard's, run- ning by Widow Willis' fifty acres, and a little northerly from the fence of Josiah Washburn, Jr., and over the causey by Noah Washburn's-so running before his door, and across the swamp, to the south side of Josiah Leonard's land.
1714 .- A way new marked and settled, from the north-west corner of William Ripley's land, over a little swamp, on a corner of Joseph Keith's land, to the range of James Haward's land-then turning by the southerly side of the swamp to a rock-so straight into the old way, to the east end of said Haward's barn-and then again from the rock in the range of said Keith's and Haward's land, till it meet the way that was laid out to Daniel Packard's.
1715 .- Allowed thirty hands to build a bridge at William Co- nant's, they to be freed from all other highway work so long as they should keep said bridge in good repair.
1715 .- A way from where the road was laid, from James Keith's, toward the neck, at Joseph Hayward's-running over the bridge to the east end of Hayward's house-turn- ing on the east side of a pond to the range between Jonathan Haward and Joseph Hayward-turning west- erly in the range of said lots, till it passes the second
Digitized by Google
74
HISTORY OF THE
valley, to a corner of Joseph Hayward's fifty acres-so to the bridge-so over the bridge and Joseph Hay- ward's land, to the north purchase line, (now Easton).
1716 .- A way laid out toward Poor meadow : beginning on the east side of the river, and running across the meadow and river, and by a bound of John Whitman's meadow -and so between John Whitman and John Read's lands westerly crossing a poison bottom, by John Whit- man's corner bounds and a pond hole-so straight into the old beaten path on the north-east side of a great rock-and so keeping the beaten way, to the swamp at Ebenezer Allen's where the way was for- merly laid out.
A road from where the old way over Spruce Swamp ended, running first northerly and then westerly, and so into the old saw mill way, crossing the swamp to the north-west, and keeping the old way till it crosses James Haward's land, and comes to the land left for a way from the old saw mill to West Meadow.
1717 .- A way laid out, beginning where the three ways part to the eastward of Ensign Johnson's, and so along the southernmost beaten path by John Willis' house- then over a corner of Willis' field, and running down by Thomas Washburn's door, and a little beyond his barn-then turning eastward across a steep ridge, and on the southerly side of a pond hole, and so into the old beaten path that goes to Joseph Alden's.
" A way towards Titicut from Benjamin Washburn's land, and so on the south side of the four mile line on Nehi- miah Washburn's land to Joseph Hayward's land, and across his land to the common land ; and beginning again at John Keith's house, and running northward to Samuel Edson's land, and so over South Brook, and into the way formerly laid out.
1721 .- A private way from the country road on Byram's plain, at the northwest corner of Elisha Allen's land-then southerly by his house across the trodden path, to John Haward's land, and across his land and over the west-
Dgiized by Google
75
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
erly side of Elisha Allen's land, to the north-west corner of John Haward's twenty acre lot, and so on said in lot or near the beaten path to the westerly side of Josiah Allen's land, and then across the bridge at burnt hill gutter over Josiah Allen's land to his north- west corner-then over a poison bottom in Ebenezer Byram's land, and by his barn, and over black Brook as far as John Haward's land-so easterly to the out- side of Byram's land.
1721 .- A private way from the road between Joseph Latham's and the ridge-so across James Latham's and Whit- man's lands, near to the corner of Jonathan Washburn's land-then on the westerly side of a swamp over Washburn's land, and running above the head of Joseph Washburn's home land, and by the head of Isaac Lazell's land, and over a corner of it, and along over William Conant's land, and by the easterly end of his house to the highway.
.. A way from Deacon Alden's to Mr. Perkins', keeping the beaten way to John Bolton's lane, and through Jonathan Sprague's field, to the range between him and John Bolton, Jr., and then to come into and keep the beaten way to Mr. David Perkins'.
A way from the old road, over Flaggy Meadow Brook, to the top of the hill-then turning and going near by the house of Israel Alger, Jr., so down over the swamp on the side of a pond hole, and into the way to the bridge over the cove-so westerly near Joseph Alger's house, and by the mile line to Cutting Cove fence. And from the bridge a way was laid over the slough by the west side of Israel Alger's meadow fence, and so by the east side of Thomas Alger's fence to John Field's land.
A way from West Meadow, at a corner of Joseph Snell's fence, near Josiah William's across Snell's land and Benoni Hayward's land, to Seth Brett's land, and so by Brett's land to the country road. Hayward and Snell leave to set up gates.
Digitized by Google
76
HISTORY OF THE
1721 .- A way from Thomas Wade's to Jonathan Cary's : from near Wade's house to where Joseph Bassett, Jr., was going to build-so turning into and keeping the cart- way to Cary's land-so over the swamp and Cary's land, and by his house in a drift way, to the old road leading to the great meadow over Bassett's plain.
1722 .- A way from Edmund Hobart's orchard to Lieutenant Davenport's house -- then between Davenport's and Jo- seph Pratt's land out to the common. And Davenport and Thomas Hayward agreed Hayward should have a way to pass with horse or cart across said Daventort's land, on a stony ridge out into the above way, Hay- ward keeping sufficient gates.
A way from Plymouth old road towards Weymouth road, viz :- from the ridge through and over the swamp, and not far from Isaac Harris' fence, and so by his barn in the old way to the river where the bridge is, and up the hill, and turning more easterly, and coming into the way from Josiah Allen's, and keeping said way towards Elisha Allen's-then on the east side of John Haward's and west side of Elisha Allen's land, northerly over the plain to the east side of a tree in Elisha Allen's other lot, and across the road leading to Ebenezer Allen's-so over the corner of Captain By- ram's lot, and on the west side of Ebeneazer Allen's corner, and across the east corner of Samuel Allen's land, and by the side of this lot into the road leading to Weymouth.
1724 .- A way beginning twenty rods westerly of the house of Jonathan Haward, Jr .- then northerly over said Haw- ard's land, and on the westerly side of Lathrop's swamp, over Joshua Haward's and Thomas Hayward's land, to the range between Elihu Brett and John Lath- rop's lands-so to the extent of Brett's land, and to the top of the hill-still northerly to Samuel Cary's land, and so across Carey's, Brett's, and Joseph Hay- ward's lands, keeping the beaten way to the saw mill.
1724 .- A way from the head of the lane by Samuel Kingman's, northerly by the swamp to John Kingman's house, and
Dgiized by Google
77
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
by John Wormell's house, across Benjamin Edson's land, and on the easterly side of a little pond hole, and still northerly over John Kingman's land, to a small run of water, and across Henry Kingman's land, and down to James Packard's land, to the south-eastward of a ridge, and so on the ridge by the easterly side of James Packard's land to the saw mill.
1725 .- A way from the easterly side of Captain Edson's meadow, near South Brook, first southerly, and then easterly to land of Ruth and Hannah Field-so near to Benjamin Pratt's, and still easterly across Joseph Pratt's land, to the way leading by Lieutenant Davenport's.
A way from the road on the northerly side of Benjamin Willis' land-then easterly to and over Samuel Lath- rop's land, to John Benson's house .- Also from the road leading by William Orcutt's to the causey, and over a brook and so to Amos Snell's land .- Also from the road north side Benjamin Willis' house, to run between his house and barn south to Amos Snell's land.
1726 .- A way from William Orcutt's land easterly towards Amos Snell's, and over a corner of his orchard, and by his house, and southerly by William Washburn's land to the road leading from Josiah Washburn's to William Washburn's.
A road from the old way, leading by the easterly end of Josiah William's house to West Meadow-southerly to Joseph Packard's house, and thence to the new saw mill on West Meadow Brook.
A way from widow Bolton's to Mr. David Perkins', between land of John Willis and land he sold Jonathan Washburn, to said Perkin's land-so westerly and down the hill, and over the bridge above Mr. Perkin's mill, and by the coal house till it comes into the road near Mr. Perkin's house.
The way by Chilton Latham's turned westerly on the northerly side of his land to the new saw mill, and over the river just above the mill dam-then to extend northerly to the way leading to Byram's Plain.
Digizod by Google
78
HISTORY OF THE
1727 .- A way from the old malt house of Ensign Mitchell, de- ceased, near his late dwelling-house-then in the old range, formerly between him and John Haward, de- ceased, to Plymouth road-then westerly to land of Francis Cary deceased, to Ebenezer Hill's land, to Na- thaniel Hayward's land, to Ebenezer Hill's shop-so along the beaten way to the Centre Tree-so along to Ensign Johnson's, between his and Solomon Johnson's house, and so along the beaten way to the old meeting- house.
" A way from Samuel Edson's, by the house of Joseph Snow, and Joseph Snow, Jr., and Henry Kingman's- then turning southerly till it comes to Daniel John- son's, and so between his house and barn to David Johnson's, where the three roads meet.
1728 .- The way at Robinson's turned to go where the bridge now is.
1729 .- A private way from the road by Ebenezer Alden's, to the country road by Josiah Byram's: beginning at a stake between Isaac Alden's and Ebenezer Alden's- thence south twenty-three deg., east thirty-six rods- thence south eleven deg., east forty seven rods-thence south four deg., west fifty-eight rods-thence south twenty deg., west seventy-seven rods-thence south ten deg., east thirty-six rods to the country road aforesaid.
= A way from where two roads part, about twenty rods east of Black Brook-one leading to Moses Bisbee's, and the other to Samuel Pratt's-thence to Samuel Pratt's house-so on to Mr. Moore's house-thence to the saw mill, and over the bridge below the mill-then over rocks and mire, and leaving the old way, about two rods to the left hand, and going through the swamp to William Gould's land, where his house stauds.
1730 .- The bridge below Moses Bisbee's to be moved further down where the old bridge was, if the selectmen find it convenient.
The way leading from Isaac Harris' to Abington, turned to the eastward of widow Allen's land.
Dgiized by Google
79
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
1730 .- A way from the road between John Keith's and Francis Wood's easterly to a small brook-then turning up a hill-and so northerly to the range between Keith and Wood, and easterly to a corner bound of Wood's land.
" A road from Ephraim Jennings' over Joseph Jennings' land, and by his house, and over land of John Brett, and over a small brook-so to land formerly William Brett's, and by Nathaniel Hayward's house to land of Zechariah Standish, and so to Middleborough (now Halifax) line.
.. A road over Comfort's Bridge to the house of John Willis, Jr., and to the road leading from Thomas Washburn's to David Johnson's.
1731 .- A way from Benjamin Hayward's, over John Hayward's land, and the said Benjamin's land to Josiah Hayward's land, and between his house and barn, and over Jen- ning's bridge, and on John Packard's and Joseph Packard's land, and so over Samuel Jennings' and Richard Jennings' land, and over a small brook, and so between Jennings' house and barn, and up the hill, and by Ephraim Jennings' house and barn, and over Joseph Jennings' land, up a hill, and so to a small slough by Plymouth road.
A way from Taunton road to Moses Washburn's land- thence a drift way through gates and bars to the island in the great meadow, to run between the field of Samuel Packard, Jr., and the pond, and on the west side of Packard's house, and so to the great meadow.
1732 .- A way from Titicut River, at the road over the brook below the saw mill-then over Nehemiah Washburn's land, and by Nathaniel Hooper's house and orchard, and so by William Hooper's house-then turning easterly to the brook, and keeping the beaten way by Nehemiah Washburn's house to the road already laid out.
" A way from Taunton road on the hill south of Ebenezer Willis' to the southerly side of the plain, and along by a rock south-west of Samuel Alden's house, and
Digitized by Google
£
80
HISTORY OF THE
along to the west side of Joshua Fobes' house, and to the arm of the saw-mill pond, and so between the land of Captain Edson and Nehemiah Washburn, and so east to the great river at Titicut.
1732 .- An open road from Nicholas Wade's to the Plymouth road, at Sandy Hill, viz :- from Wade's land at the bank of the pond westerly over the mouth of the river, and south of David Robin's house, and to a tree within the gate, and so along by a pond hole, and so along eight rods south of the house of Benjamin Hayward, Jr., and along the old road to the top of the hill, and along by the corner of Chilton Latham's land to the Plymouth road at Sandy Hill.
1733 .- Nathaniel Woodward and Solomon Leonard agree upon a road by their houses, and across their lands.
.. A way from John Lathrop's across the swamp to Joseph C'ary's land, and between Cary's and Lieutenant Haw- ard's land, and by Thomas Hayward's bars at West Meadow across a swamp and over the brook, and over a corner of a swamp in Samuel Packard's land, and so to the beaten path leading to West Meadow, and so to the road leading to Josiah Williams' and Joseph Packard's. on the east side of Williams' house.
1734 .- A way from Captain Edson's house northwesterly to Benjamin Snow's house-then westerly to Samuel Ed- son's land, and so to Taunton road.
= A way from Joseph Washburn's, on the side of the hill between his house and causey, as it goes to Thomas Conant's-so over the causey and the beaten way from said Conant's to Nathaniel Conant's, and into the lane by Nathaniel Conant's, and up along to the bounds between Nathaniel Ames and Bethiah Ames, and so before Lindsay's door and by Richard Davenport's land to the bounds between John Washburn and Icha- bod Orcutt to said Orcutt's house and the old road.
A way laid out anew or turned, at the request and free consent of John Johnson, Isaac Lazell, David Conant, and John Holman, between Major Holman's and Wil-
£
Dgiized by Google
81
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
liam Conant's, from the corner of Holman's pasture, turning out of the old way, and into the pasture south- westerly to a flat rock near Johnson's fence, and so over his field, and between his house and shop, straight to the east end of Lazell's house, and so by his orchard fence to an old coal pit-then turning more easterly to David Conant's range, and gradually entering on said Conant's land, till it has the whole way on it, and so keeping Conant's line ten or twelve rods-then across Conant's field to the highway.
1741 .- A way turned on the further end of Byram's plain, out of the old road, at the south-west end of Josiah King- man's field, straight to the westerly end of Captain Byram's barn, and so between the house and barn, and thence straight to the north-east corner of the old orchard on the plain, that was formerly Jeremiah Newland's.
A drift way for David Kingman and his near neighbors to go to meeting, viz :- from the south-west corner of Cornet Beals' ten acre lot, where John Hanmer lives, straight to Dr. Byram's house-thence to the north end of the forge dam, and so to the Little House, and thence by the fence to the waste way that runs before the door.
" A way from Ames' land by Downey's house, and so on between Abiel Packard's and Daniel Richard's land to the country road.
1746 .- A way from Abington, to the road near Captain Bass' house, viz :- from the line between Bridgewater and Abington, south of Thomas White's house, in the lane between his house and barn-thence to Samuel Por- ter's barn, and by his house to land of Thomas Whit- marsh and James Lovell, and between their lands to Woodbridge Brown's land, and keeping the beaten path or near it over the said Brown's land to Snell's meadows, and over the meadows where the causey is made, and by Eleazar Whitman's house, and so to James Latham's field, and by his house, and between his house and barn in the beaten way to Lieutenant
Digitized by Google
82
HISTORY OF THE
Beals' land-then turning westerly till it comes even with Ensign Kingman's house, and then turning down by his house straight to Joseph Byram's barn, and so to the bridge across the Forge Pond, and over the bridge and by the pond in the trodden way, till it comes to the country road a little northward of Capt. Bass' house : laid out at the request of the neighbors. 1746 .- A way laid out on William Gould's land from a great rock, and running south eleven deg. east twenty rods against his house-thence south twenty-three deg. east twenty-five rods to Pembroke line. (This road is now in Hanson.)
1756 .- The way turned from Ephraim Cary's straight to Edward Mitchell's, by his request, and thence straight to Tim- othy Hayward's and into the old way.
1757 .- The road turned from a stake standing on the south side of the road, by Moses Bisbee's, south nine deg. east from the south-west corner of Charles Bisbee's house, and running ninety rods on the same point to Job Chamberlin's land, where it meets the road ;- this was done at the request of Moses Bisbee, Nathaniel Cham- berlin, Isaac Lazell, Jr., Job Chamberlin, and Simeon Whitman.
Dgiized by Google
FAMILY REGISTER.
EXPLANATION.
-a. before a date, stands for about-b. for born-d. for death or died- m. for married-s. for son-ss. for sons-w. for wife-gra. for graduate or graduated-B. U. for Brown University-D. for daughter-Ds. for Daught- ers-H. U. for Harvard University- added to a name or date of a birth, signifies that the person died in youth or without issue-W. B. for West Bridgewater-S. P. for South Parish of Bridgewater, now Bridgewater-E. B. for East Bridgewater-N. B. for North Bridgewater-Tit. for Titicut. Other abbreviations will occur, which being usual and common, deed no explanation.
ALDEN .- Hon. John Alden arrived with the Pilgrims at Plymouth in the May Flower, 1620; was about 21 years old, and was one of the Governor's Assistants many years, and oth- erswise much employed and greatly distinguished in the infant colony ; he removed early to Duxbury, and was one of the original proprietors of Bridgewater, as we have already seen ; he d. at Duxbury Sept. 12, 1687, æ. 88, of course was born 1599 : he m. Priscilla, D. of Wm. Mullens, 1623, and had John, Joseph, David, Jonathan, Elizabeth, Sarah, Ruth and Mary .- John was a captain, a mariner and master of a vessel, removed to Boston, m. Elizabeth, widow of Abiel Ewrill, and D. of Maj. Wm. Phillips, 1660, and had John 1663, William 1669, Nathaniel 1670. Zechariah 1673, gra. H. U. 1692, Nathan 1677, and Henry, and also several Ds .; he d. 1702, she 1719 ; his will dated 1701. He was accused of witchcraft .- David and Jonathan remained at Duxbury, and had families there .- Elizabeth m. Wm. Paybody .- Sarah m. Alexander Standish .- Ruth m. John Bass, 1657 .- Mary m. Thomas Delano.
2. Joseph, (2d son of Hon. John 1.) had his father's proprie- tary share in Bridgewater, and was an early settler here; he m. Mary, D. of Moses Simmons, sometimes written Symonson ; and had Isaac, Joseph, John, and probably Elizabeth, who m. Benjamin Snow, 1691, and Mary who m. Samuel Allen, 1700 ; he d. 1697, æ. a. 73.
3. Isaac, (s. of Joseph 2.) settled in E. B., and m. Mehitabel, D. of Samuel Allen, 1685, and had Mehitabel 1687, Sarah 1688, Mary 1691, Isaac 1692, Ebenezer 1693, Mercy 1696, Abigail 1699, Jemima 1702, and John .- Mehitabel m. Benjamin Rich- ards, 1711 .- Sarah m. Seth Brett, 1712, and afterwards Dea. Recompence Cary, 1727 .- Mary m. John Webb, of Braintree,
Digitized by Google
84
ALDEN.
1720, and d. 1772, æ. 82 .- Isaac lived a bachelor, and left a large real estate .- Mercy m. Zaccheus Packard, 1725. Jemima m. Dea. Thomas Whitman, 1727.
4. Dea. Joseph, (s. of Joseph 2.) lived in S. B., and m. Han- nah, D. of Daniel Dunham, of Plymouth, 1690 ; and had Daniel 1690, Joseph 1693*, Eleazar, 1694, Hannah 1696, Mary 1699, Joseph 1700*, Jonathan 1703*, Samuel 1705, Mehitabel 1707, Seth 1710; he and she both d. 1747, he æ. 80, she 78 .- Hannah m. Mark Lathrop, 1722 ; Mary m. Timothy Edson, 1719; Me- hitabel m. Barnabas Eaton, and d. æ. 30.
5. John (s. of Joseph 2.) had his father's homestead in W. B., and sold it to Isaac Johnson a. 1700, and removed to Titicut in Middleborough ; m. Hannah, D. of Captain Ebenezer White, of Weymouth ; she was born 1683 ; he had David, who m. Judith Paddleford, and was father of Solomon ; Priscilla, w. of Abraham Borden; Thankful, w. of Francis Eaton ; Hannah. w. of Thomas Wood ; Lydia, w. of Samuel Eddy, and and afterwards of John Fuller ; Mary, w. of Noah Thomas; Abigail, w. of Nathan Thomas; Joseph, who m. Hannah Hall; John, who first m. Lydia Lazell, and had Capt. John, of Fairhaven, and Nathan, and then m. Rebecca Weston, and d. April, 1821, æ. 102 ; Ebe- nezer, who at the age of 20 went to Cuba, and was taken prisoner and suffered hardships for 10 years, m. Anna Whitaker, and afterwards Rebecca Smith, and settled in Ashfield ; Noah born 1725, a Baptist minister, settled at Stafford 1755, and afterwards installed at Bellingham 1766, a member of the convention for forming the Constitution of Massachusetts in 1780, and also of the convention for adopting the Constitution of the United States in 1788, m. Joanna Vaughn and had 3 ss. and several Ds., and d. 1797, æ. 71.
6. Capt. Ebenezer (s. of Isaac 3.) lived in E. B., and m. Anna, D. of Joseph Keith, 1717, and had Anna, 1718, Susanna 1719, Abigail 1721, Nathan 1727, Ezra 1732 .- Anna m. Eleazar Washburn, Susanna m. Ephraim Cary, Abigail m. Ebenezer Byram, Jr., Esq., all three m. together, at the same time, viz. :- Nov. 22, 1738 .- The mother d. 1775, æ. 79, the father 1776, æ. 83, and was the last surviving member of the first church in East Bridgewater, gathered in 1724.
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.