USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 46
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Jesse Perkins, 1826, '27, '28. Benjamin Kingman, 1829, '30, '31, '32, 33. Darius Howard, 1829, '30, '31, '32, '33, '34, '35. Nahum Perkins, 1829, '30, '31, '32, '33, '39, '40, '45. Linus Howard, 1834, '35. Lucius Kingman, 1834, '35.
497
OFFICIAL HISTORY.
Albert Smith, 1836, '37, '38. Lorenzo Wade, 1836.
Nathaniel H. Cross, 1836, '37.
Isaac Eames, 1837, '39, 40, '50.
Newton Shaw, 1840, '41, '42, '43, '44
Caleb Copeland, 1836, '40, '41, '42, '45.
Josiah W. Kingman, 1838, '39, '40, '41, '58, '60, '61, '62, '63.
Perez Marshall, 1842, '43, '44.
Col. Nathan Jones, 1843, '44.
George Clark, 1846, '47, '48, '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '72.
Bela Keith, 1845, '46,'47,'48,'51,'52,'53,'54. Frederick Howard, 1849.
John Field, 1849.
Marcus Packard, 1851, '52, '53,
Ellis Packard, 1855, '59, '60, '61.
William Cooper, 1855.
Vinal Lyon, 1855.
Franklin Ames, 1856, '57, '58, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63.
Edwin H. Kingman, 1846, '47, '48, '56, '57. Franklin Keitlı, 1856, '57, '58.
Nelson J. Foss, 1859, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '72.
Isaac Kingman, 1850, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70 , '71, '72, '73. '74 ,'77.
Ruel Richmond, 1854.
Nathan Packard (2d), 1862, '63.
Jonas R. Perkins, 1864,
Rufus L. Thatcher, 1864, '65, '66, '67.
George Stevens, 1866.
Jonathan White, 1868.
Elbridge G. Ames, 1869.
Henry A. Ford, 1870, '71, '73, '74, '75, '76, '79, '81, '81.
Albert Keith, 1871.
Welcome H. Wales, 1873, '74, "75, '76, '77, '78.
Davis S. Packard, 1875, '76, '78."
S. Franklin Packard, 1877.
Henry Southworth, 1877.
Sanford Winter, 1877.
Henry B. Packard, 1878.
Daniel Dunbar, 1878, '81.
John J. Whipple, 1878.
Henry H. Packard, 1879, '80, '81.
William W. Cross, 1879, '80.
Ziba C. Keith, 1879. Walter F. Cleaveland. 1879.
William S. Green, 1880.
Henry E. Lincoln, 1880, '81.
Rufus P. Kingman, 1881.
Among the most important officers in a city or town is the clerk. Upon him the care of the records depends, and he is responsible for the accuracy of the records of the town meetings, and usually those of the selectmen. This office requires care, diligence, and good judgment, coupled with integrity. Experience is also a valuable requisition for good clerks. We notice those of Brockton have held that position for long terms.
TOWN CLERKS .- List of town clerks of North Bridgewater and Brockton, from its incorporation to its incorporation as a city, with the years each has served :
Col. Edward Southworth, 1821, '22, '23, Jesse Perkins, 1830, '31, '32, '33, '34, '35, '24, '25, '26, '27, '28, '29. '36, '37, '38,
63
498
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Franklin Ames, 1839, '40, '41, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, '47, '48, '49, '50, '51, '52, '53, '54.
Horatio E. Paine, 1855, '56, '57, '58, '59, '60, '61.
Welcome II. Wales, 1862, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67,'68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74, "75, '76, '77, '78.
Henry A. Ford, 1879, '80, '81. De Witt Clinton Packard, 1881.
MODERATORS .- Date of annual town meetings, and list of mod- erators from the incorporation of the town in 1821 to its incorporation as a city :
July 4, 1821. Joseph Sylvester. March 18, 1822.
= 7,1853.
16
22,1823.
15, 1824.
14, 1825.
66
66
66
30, 1857.
66
16
66
10, 1828. 9,1829. 8, 1830.
Abel Kingman. 66
66
4,1861.
66
7,1831.
Joseph Sylvester.
6
9, 1863. 14, 1864.
66
66
66
7,1865.
66
2, 1835. 7,1836.
Nathan Jones.
66
4,1867.
66
66
66
6, 1837.
Joseph Sylvester.
16
7,1870.
16
66
66
2, 1840.
66
8,1841.
66
.
66
3, 1873.
66
20, 1843.
Jesse Perkins.
66
9, 1874.
1, 1875.
=
17, 1845.
16, 1846.
66
66
66
15, 1847.
20, 1848.
66
66
66
19, 1849.
(.
66
1,1880.
66
66
11, 1850.
24, 1851.
66
~
66
12, 1860.
W. H. Cooper. Rudolphus H. Williams.
66
5,1832. 18, 1833. 17, 1834.
Abel Kingman.
22, 1858.
66
66
Joseph Sylvester.
29,1859.
66
46
66
5,1866.
66
66
9, 1868.
8, 1869.
66
66
4, 1839.
66
1, 1871.
11,1872.
66
66
16
18, 1844.
66
6, 1876.
5,1877.
66
66
4, 1878.
3, 1879.
66
66
7,1881.
66
6, 1854.
April 2, 1855.
March 24, 1856.
W. H. Cooper. George Clark.
66 13, 1826. 12, 1827.
10, 1862.
66
66
5,1838.
Nathan Jones.
66
14,1842.
66
March 1, 1852. Jesse Perkins.
TREASURERS .- List of treasurers of the town of North Bridgewater and Brockton from its incorporation to its incorporation as a city :
66
499
OFFICIAL HISTORY.
'Col. Edward Southworth, 1821-29. Jesse Perkins, 1830-38.
Franklin Ames, 1839-54. Francis M. French, 1855.
Rufus P. Kingman, 1856-64. Oakes S. Sonle, 1865-61. HIenry A. Ford, 1882.
ASSESSORS .- List of assessors1 of the town of North Bridgewater and Brockton from 1875 to the date of its becoming a city :
Edward Crocker, 1875.
Elisha H. Joslyn, 1877, '79.
Henry A. Ford, 1871, '75, '76.
Henry E. Lincoln, 1878, '79, '80 ..
David S Packard, 1875, '76, '78.
L. F. Severance, 1878.
Henry Southworth, 1876, '77."
Barnabas Snow, 1880.
Isaac Kingman, 1877.
Albert Keith, 1880.
S. Franklin Packard, 1877, '79, '81. Frederic Howard, 1870.
William Rankin, 1880, '81.3 Rufus C. Kimball, 1881.
ENGINEERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT .- List of engineers of the fire department since its organization in 1846 to the incorporation of the city of Brockton :
Benjamin Kingman, 1846, '47, '48, '49. Edward Southworth, 1846, '47, '48, '49 50, '51, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58. Josiah W. Kingman, 1846, '47, '48, '49, '50, 51, '52, '53, '54. Charles Lincoln, 1846, '47, '48, '49, '50, '51, '52, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59. Ruel Richmond, 1846, '47, '48, '49, '50, '51, '52; '54.
Chandler Sprague, 1846, '47, '48, '49, '50, '51, '53.
William S. Gay, 1846, '47, '48, '49.
Bela Keith, 1849, '50, '51, '52, '53.
Benjamin G. Stoddard, 1849, '50, '51, '52. Charles Howard, 1852, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59. Lorenzo D. Hervey, 1853, '54.
Francis M. French, 1853, '55, '56, '57. Aaron B. Drake, 1853. '54, '55, '56, '57. Edwin H. Kingman, 1854.
Darius Howard, 1854, '55, '56, '57, '60, '61, '62, '63.
Lewis Fisher, 1855, '56, '57, '58, '59. Nelson J. Foss, 1857, '58, '60, '61. Barnabas H. Gray, 1858, '59. Chas. L. Hauthaway, 1858, '59.
Daniel Dunbar, 1859. Alpheus K. Harmon, 1860.
Benjamin P. Lucas, 1861, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71.
George Sawyer, 1864, '65.
Samuel Mclaughlin, 1864, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71.
Isaac H. Hartwell, 1864, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71.
William Stevens, 1866, '67, '68, '69, '70. Hiram D. Kendrick, 1871.
E. L. Stevens, 1871.
Nehemiah S. Holmes, 1872, '73, '74, '75, '76, '77, '78, '80, '81. Benjamin S. Clark, 1872, '73, '74. David R. Eldred, 1872, '73, '74, '75, '76. '77, '78, '79, '80, '81.
1 The selectmen performed the duties of assessors and overseers of the poor from the incorpora- tion of the town to 1875, at which date they became a distinct board of officers.
2 Three assessors previous to 1877, then five were chosen.
3 Chosen to take the place of H. E. Lincoln.
500
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Elisha Hollis, 1872.
Charles E. Tribou, 1872.
Josiah S. Lincoln, 1873, '74.
Samuel Waterman, 1873, '74, '75, '76, '77.
J. E. Hollis, 1873, '74.
J. Lowell French, 1876, '77.
Kenneth McLeod, 1876, '77, '78, '79.
William H. Jacobs, 1876, '77, '78, '79, '80.
Henry A. Willis, 1876, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81. Zenas L. Marston, 1877, '78, '79, '80, '81. Charles A. Eaton, 1881.
Solomon Leighton, 1875. Robbins B. Grover, 1875.
Francis Goodwin, 1875.
Uriah Macoy, 1875. William S. Green, 1878.
REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL COURT .- List of representa- tives to the General Court from the town of North Bridgewater and Brockton from its incorporation to the time of its incorporation into a city :
Caleb Howard, 1822. '
Howard Cary, 1823, '24.
Capt. John Packard, 1825.
Abel Kingman, 1828, '29 '30, '36, '37. Ephraim Cole, 1829, '30.
Rev. John Goldsbury, 1831.
Eliphalet Kingman, 1831.
Lucius Kingman, 1834,.'35.
Albert Smith, 1838, '39.
Eliab Whitman, 1840, '41. Benjamin Kingman, 1842, '43.
Daniel Huntington, 1844.
Henry French, 1845, '46.
Josiah W. Kingman, 1847, '48.
Jesse Perkins, 1831, '33, '34, '35, '36, '37, '39, '40, '49, '51, '52. No choice, 1850.
Nahum Perkins, 1853.
No choice, 1854. Lewis Fisher, 1855.
Rev. A. B. Wheeler, 1856.
Rev. Paul Couch, 1857, '58. Edward Southworth, jr., 1859, '60.
Lorenzo D. Hervey, 1861, '62. George B. Dunbar, 1863. Jonathan White, 1865. Nelson J. Foss, 1864.
Uriah Macoy, 1866.
C. C. Bixby, 1867.
Welcome H. Wales 1868, '70.
J. C. Lewis, 1869. Loring Thayer, 1871, '72.
Edward O. Noyes, 1872, '73 T. M. House, 1873. Ziba C. Keith, 1875, '76.
Alfred Laws, 1875. Henry B. Packard, 1877.
Baalis Sanford, jr., 1877. Alfred C. Monroe, 1878, '79.
Albert Keith, 1879, '80.
Davis S. Packard, 1880, '81.
LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES from the city of Brockton, from its in - corporation to 1894 :
Davis S. Packard, 1882.
Francis E. Howard, 1882.
Enos H. Reynolds, 1883, '84. William L. Douglas, 1883, '84. John J. Whipple, 1885. Warren T. Copeland, 1885, '87.
Charles H. Cary, 1886. Patrick McCarty, 1886, '87,.'88.
Henry E. Lincoln, 1887. A. Cranston Thompson, 1888, '89. Charles C. Bixby, 1888, '89 Charles F. Porter, 1889.
Stranais E. Howard .
501
OFFICIAL HISTORY.
Edward E. Herrod, 1890, '91.
Hiram A. Monk, 1890, '91.
Harrison O. Thomas, 1890, '91.
George H. Garfield, 1892, '93.
Emery M. Low, 1892, '93.
David W. Battles, 1892. Frederic W. Hathaway, 1893, '94. James J. Dowd, 1894. Alpheus M. Eldridge, 1894.
COUNCILORS .- Executive councilors from district number one, in- cluding the city of Brockton.
Hon. Franklin Ames, 1859.
Hon. Ziba C. Keith, 1893-94.
SENATORS .- State senators from North Bridgewater and Brockton in the Second Senatorial District.
Hon. Abel Kingman, 1836, '37. Hon. Jonathan White, 1869, '77, '78. Hon. Henry W. Robinson, 1875, '76.
Hon. Jesse l'erkins, 1841, '43.
Rev. Azariah B. Wheeler, 1857.
Hon. William L. Douglas, 1886.
IIon. Edward Southworth, jr., 1861.
Hon. Ziba C. Keith, 1887-88.
Hon. Edward Crocker, 1868.
Hon. Hiram A. Monk, 1892, '93.
CORONERS .- Coroners in the town of North Bridgewater, now Brock- ton :
Thomas Packard, Dec. 17, 1811.
Benjamin A. Packard, Feb. 11, 1856.
Thomas Wales, jr., July 3, 1821.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE .- List of justices of the peace, with the date of their commission, in the town of North Bridgewater, and since the incorporation of the city of Brockton : 1
Nathaniel Reynolds, June 14, 1776. Silas Packard, July 3, 1818.
Barnabas Howard, March 14, 1782.
Edward Southworth, Feb. 1, 1819.
Daniel Howard,* May 17, 1787.
Micah Packard, Aug. 20, 1823.
Daniel Howard ( 2d ), June 19, 1790.
Jonathan Snow, Jan, 7, 1824.
Issachar Snell, March 11, 1791.
Eliphalet Kingman, March 1, 1827.
Gideon Howard, July 4. 1803.
Linus Howard, Aug. 27, 1829.
Issachar Snell, jr., March 5, 1804.
George Clark, June 25, 1830.
Caleb Howard, Jan. 25, 1806.
Jesse Perkins,*+ June 16, 1831.
Howard Cary, July 10, 1807.
Austin Packard, t# Sept. 29, 1835.
Simeon Dunbar, Feb. 17, 1810.
Bela Keith, July 7, 1837.
Abel Kingman, Feb. 22, 1811.
Franklin Ames,*+§ March 31, 1842.
Lemuel Packard, Feb. 25, 1812.
Isaac Eames, June 20, 1843.
Perez Crocker, June 20, 1843.
Joseph Sylvester, Feb. 25, 1812. Eliab Whitman, *+ July 3, 1816.
George W. Bryant,f# March 31, 1846.
1 Those marked with * are of the quorum, those marked with it are to qualify civil officers ; those marked with # are trial justices ; those marked with § are justices throughout the common- wealth. All others are county appointments.
502
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Isaac Kingman, Oct. 13, 1847.
Jonathan White,*§ March 19, 1851.
Edwin H. Kinginan, March 26, 1851.
Perez Marshall, April 25, 1851. Jonas R Perkins, ## Nov. 20, 1852.
Charles Lincoln, Feb. 9, 1855.
Francis M. French, Feb. 9, 1855. Hiram Jernegan, Oct. 1, 1855. Dennis Snow, Feb. 11, 1856.
Rufus L. Thatcher,# Feb. 9, 1857.
Manley Packard, March 24, 1857.
Nathan Jones, March 24, 1857. Ellis Packard, March 24, 1857. Cornelius H. Dunham, March 24, 1857. Willard Keith, Oct. 29, 1857.
Franklin Keith, Feb. 15, 1858.
William H. Cooper, March 10, 1858.
Horatio E. Paine, Jan. 26, 1858.
Loring W. Puffer, Feb. 8, 1859. Algernon S. Sylvester, Feb, 15, 1859.
Edward Southworth, jr., March 29, 1859.
Chandler Sprague, Nov. 23, 1859. Galen E. Pratt, Jan. 2, 1860.
Daniel Crocker. April 30, 1860.
Sumner A. Hayward, Nov. 27, 1860.
Isaac E. Snell, Feb. 6, 1861.
Arza B. Keith, Feb. 19, 1861.
Charles Gurney, Feb. 26, 1861.
Nelson J. Foss, May 17, 1861.
Ellis W. Morton, Jan. 13, 1862.
David L. Cowell, Dec. 31, 1862.
William Perry, Jan. 30, 1863.
Josiah W. Kingman, Jan. 14, 1864.
Bradford Kingman, §# Jan. 22, 1864.
Augustus T. Jones, July 31, 1867. F. C. Blanchard, March 4, 1870. John Le Roy Morgan, Sept. 23, 1871.
Charles C. Bixby, Feb. 1, 1871. Rufus P. Kingman, Feb. 27, 1873. Alfred C. Monroe, April 22, 1873. W. W. Wilkins, April 23, 1873. John J. Whipple, July 1, 1873. Albert Keith, Feb. 13, 1874. William M. Thompson, Dec. 18, 1874. Frederick Howard, Feb. 16, 1875. C. D. Fullerton, Jan. 29, 1875. H. A. Ford, March 19, 1875. De Witt Clinton Packard, May 14, 1875. Hamilton L Gibbs, Dec. 27, 1875. F. M. Wilkins, June 22, 1876. S. Franklin Packard, July 29, 1876. George Farwell, July 14, 1877. Alfred Laws, Oct. 18, 1577.
Eliot L. Packard, Jan. 9, 1877. John Cronin, Nov. 16, 1878. Charles W. Sumner, March 15, 1879.
Ira A. Leach, April 1, 1879. Daniel Dunbar, June 14, 1879.
Preston B. Keith, Jan. 20, 1879.
John D. Fiske, Sept. 3, 1880.
T. E. Gifford, Nov. 10, 1880. David H. Gibbs, Jan. 20, 1881. Albert Keith, Jan. 26, 1881. F. B. Washburn, Mar. 10, 1881. Henry H. Packard, Mar. 28, 1881. Baalis Sanford, jr., Dec. 27, 1881. C. D. Fullerton, Jan. 28, 1882. Sewall P. Howard, March 25, 1882. Ziba C. Keith, May 5, 1882.
Francis E. White, Dec, 13, 1882.
Francis M. Freuch, Dec 27. 1882. Francis B. Gardner, Feb. 15, 1882.
CITY OF BROCKTON.
Elmer C. Packard, March 26, 1884. Fred M. Bixby, April 16, 1884. Edward McParland, Aug. 13, 1884. Isaac H. Harris, Dec. 17, 1884. Eugene Linehan, March 11, 1885.
Herbert H. Chase, July 19, 1885. Warren A. Reed, Dec. 16, 1885. George T. Coughlin, Dec. 23, 1885. George H. Luce, Dec. 23, 1885. George H. Leach, Jan. 15, 1886.
Loyed E. Chamberlain, Nov. 12, 1877.
503
OFFICIAL HISTORY.
Lyman G. Horton, April 7, 1886. George A. Wheeler, April 21, 1886.
Charles H. Kingman, April 21, 1886. Daniel Dunbar, June 2, 1886. Fred B. Howard, July 7, 1886. Joseph M. Day, Dec. 8, 1886.
Isaac S. Emerson, Jan. 5, 1887.
Henry E. Lincoln, Jan. 26, 1887.
Rufus E. Packard, Sept. 7, 1887. Benjamin C. Travis, Nov. 30, 1887. Albert R. Wade, May 2, 1888. John Barbour, May 31, 1888. Zenas H. Lane, Sept. 19, 1888.
Winslow F. Holines, Oct. 31. 1988. Samuel L. Beal. Dec. 12, 1888. Charles C. King, Feb. 20, 1889. John L. Utley, Feb. 27, 1889. Charles W. Robinson, March 27, 1889. Bradford E. Jones, May 22, 1889. James J. Dowd, Oct. 9, 1889.
William L. Puffer, Jan. 22, 1890. Joseph C. Snow, Feb. 12, 1890. Horace N. Packard, Feb. 12, 1890. Edward B. Mellen, March 19, 1890. Warren Goddard, May 7, 1890.
Charles A. Gilday, June 26, 1890. Edward D. Loring, August 7, 1890. Charles D. Coleman, August 14, 1890.
George A. Joy, Nov. 19, 1890. George H. Ackerman, Dec. 17, 1890. Charles T. Field, Feb. 18, 1891. Edward E. Herrod, April 15, 1891. Clarence R. Fillebrown, June 3, 1891.
Thomas Drohan, June 18, 1891. Charles W. Kingman, July 30, 1891. Harry W. Flagg. Sept. 1, 1891. Oliver Cushman, Sept. 23, 1891. T. Albert Taber, Oct. 16, 1891. William F. Kane, March 9, 1892. Judson W. Greene, March 16, 1892. Ernest Pratt, June 8, 1892. Walter Rapp, June 15, 1892. Fred W. Sargent, June 15, 1892.
Otis Rogers, July 7, 1892. Francis H. Spear, July 7, 1892. James H. Mahoney, Oct. 25, 1892. Joseph A. Deschamps, Nov. 2, 1892. Stephen R. Jones, Nov. 29, 1892. Heman Howard, March 8, 1893. Edward A. Terhune, May 4, 1893. Charles N. Swift, March 16, 1893. Frank N. Sherman, June 1, 1893. Joseph R. Reach, July 8, 1893. Frank E. Packard, July 8, 1893. James P. Barlow, Sept. 7, 1893.
NOTARIES PUBLIC .- Notaries public in the town of North Bridge- water, now the city of Brockton :
Jonas R. Perkins, * Dec. 6, 1853. George W. Bryant,* May 10, 1854. Charles W. Sumner,* June 27, 1874. Charles T. Fullerton, May 9, 1876. Hamilton L. Gibbs,* June 14, 1878. John J. Whipple, March 16, 1881. Loring W. Puffer, Jan. 20, 1882. Ira A. Leach,* April 28, 1882. Loyed E. Chamberlain, March 22, 1887. Fred M. Bixby, Feb. 29, 1888. Warren A. Reed, March 12, 1888.
Herbert H. Chase, April 4, 1888. Henry C. Gurney, Nov. 26, 1890. Herbert L. Tinkham, March 27, 1892. Herbert E. Stevens, May 12, 1892. John Barbour, May 16, 1892. Sewall P. Howard, May 25, 1892. Charles C. King, July 9, 1892. Horace A. Poole, July 18, 1892. Alfred Laws, Dec. 24, 1892. Henry S. Porter, Oct. 26, 1893.
* Deceased.
504
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
COMMISSIONERS TO QUALIFY CIVIL OFFICERS.
Eliab Whitman, July 3, 1816.
Franklin Ames, March 31, 1842.
Jesse Perkins, June 16, 1831. Jonas R. Perkins, Nov. 20, 1852.
Austin Packard, Sept. 29, 1835.
Augustus T. Jones, Nov. 19, 1881.
George W. Bryant, March 31, 1836. De Witt Clinton Packard, August 29, 1884
DEPUTY SHERIFFS resident in the town of North Bridgewater, now the city of Brockton.
Darius Howard, 1806-12.
Otis Hayward, 1862-65.
Fiske Ames, 1815-22. George A. Wheeler, Oct., 1876.
Benjamin Kingman, 1819-51, '54, '55.
Ahira S. Porter, Oct., 1876.
Sumner A. Hayward, 1852, '53, '57, '59 Henry S. Porter, Sept., 1879.
Charles J. F. Packard, 1856-59.
J. Wallace Packard, Sept., 1879.
Alpheus K. Harmon, Esq., formerly of Brockton, has filled the office of Sheriff of Plymouth county for a long term of years in a very satisfactory manner.
COMMISSIONER OF INSOLVENCY .- Fred M. Bixby, February 2, 1887. MASTER IN CHANCERY .- Hamilton L Gibbs, July 16, 1881.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR .- Hon. Jonas R. Perkins.
REGISTER IN PHARMACY .- Hon. John J. Whipple, October 18, 1889.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS .- Hon. Benjamin W. Harris, of East Bridge- water, was for several years District Attorney for the southeastern district of Massachusetts, including Brockton, and has been succeeded by Hon. Edward L. Pierce, of Milton ; Hon. Asa French, of Braintree ; Hon. Everett C. Bumpas, of Weymouth; Hon. Hosea Kingman, of Bridgewater; Hon. Harvey H. Pratt, of Abington; Hon. Alonzo B. Wentworth, of Dedham ; Hon. Charles W. Sumner, of Brockton ; Hon. Robert O. Harris, of East Bridgewater, who is the present incumbent.
JUDGES OF PROBATE AND INSOLVENCY for Plymouth County since sessions of the Probate Court have been held in Boston .- Hon. William H. Wood, of Middleboro; Hon. Jesse E. Keith, of Abington ; Hon. Benjamin W. Harris, of East Bridgewater, who is the present incum- bent.
COMMISSIONERS OF HEALTH, LUNACY AND CHARITY .- Dr. Edgar E. Dean, July 13, 1883 ; Hon. Ziba C. Keith, January 1, 1890.
505
PRECINCT CONTROVERSY.
MEDICAL EXAMINER .- A. Eliot Paine, M. D., July 8, 1891.
COMMISSIONER ON METROPOLITAN SEWERAGE (Boston) .- Hosea Kingman, August 14, 1889.
CHAPTER XXIV.
PRECINCT CONTROVERSY AND INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER, NOW BROCKTON.
Petition of the North Parish (Asa Howard and others) to be Incorporated into a Town -- Remonstrance of Gideon Howard and others -- Remonstrance of Eliab Whitman and others -- Petition in aid of Asa Howard and others for an Act of Incorporation- Remonstrance of Daniel Howard, Esq., as Agent for the Town of Bridgewater -- Vote of the Town -- Petition of Jesse Packard and others in aid of Asa Howard's l'etition -- The Act of Incorporation as passed June 15, 1821 -- First Town Meeting.
I "HE people of the North Parish of Bridgewater (now Brockton) remained contented with their connection with the other portions of the town for a long time, but as the number of inhabitants increased they commenced to discuss the propriety of becoming a town by them- selves. The first step taken in that direction was in 1793. In a war- rant for a parish meeting, dated June 15, 1793, we find the following :
" To see if the Parish will petition to the town to be set off into a town by themselves, or petition the West Parish to join with them into a town if they should get voted off by said town." At a meeting held June 26, 1793, agreeably to notification, "the above article was nega- tived, and the meeting was dissolved by the moderator."
Things remained quiet in reference to the subject of division of the town till November 25, 1814, at which time a meeting was held " to see if the parish will petition the town of Bridgewater to vote them off into a separate town by themselves." " Voted not to do so."
Another measure was then proposed, namely, "To see if the parish will petition the Legislature of this Commonwealth to incorporate them into a town, by the name of North Bridgewater, or such other name as
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506
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
the parish may think proper, with all the rights and privileges of other incorporated towns." Upon this article " no action was taken, and the meeting was dissolved." Again we find, March 4, 1816, a committee of seven were chosen "to consider the subject of requesting the town to set them off into a town by themselves, and to report at a future meeting." Col. Caleb Howard, Daniel Howard, esq., Abel Kingman, esq., Gideon Howard, esq., Howard Cary, esq., Joseph Sylvester, esq., and John Wales were the committee. The meeting was then adjourned to April 8, 1816, at which time the parish came together, and, after hearing a verbal report from their committee, " Voted to take measures to have the parish separated from the town, and incorporated with the privileges of a town." Also " Voted the same committee petition the town to vote that the parish be incorporated." What this committee did towards forwarding the wishes of the town does not appear on record. Again, November II of the same year, the parish " voted to take measures to have this parish separated from the town, and incor- porated with the privileges of a town." Thirty nine in favor, nineteen opposed to the measure. We should judge by the records that nothing was done for a few days, as we find another meeting was held ten days after the above vote was passed, at which a committee of four was chosen, with full instructions to petition the Legislature to incorporate the parish with the privileges of a town. Sixty-two were in favor, and thirty-six opposed to the same. Abel Kingman, esq., Joseph Sylvester, esq., Colonel Edward Southworth, and Colonel Caleb Howard were the committee to carry the above vote into effect.
At a meeting held May 5, 1818, to ascertain the yeas and nays on the question of a division of the town, the yeas were 112; the nays, 19.
March 25, 1819, the parish "voted to petition the Legislature the next session for a division of the town." Abel Kingman, esq., Colonel Caleb Howard, Joseph Sylvester, esq., and Colonel Edward South- worth were chosen a committee to draft a petition and get petitioners. The following is a copy of the same as presented to the General Court : To the Honorable Senate and Honorable House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in General Court assembled, A. D. 1819 :
The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the north precinct of Bridgewater, humbly shows that the town of Bridgewater is large and extensive in territory, and furnishes about eleven or twelve hundred voters, of which number nearly three hundred
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PRECINCT CONTROVERSY.
belong to the north precinct, and have to travel from five to seven miles on an average to attend town meetings, over a piece of way which is generally very bad in the months of March and April ; and in having to transact our town business such a distance from home, it subjects us to a great expense of time and travel, which might be saved if we were set off into a separate town, as we then could transact all our town and parish business on the same days. We would further represent that is very difficult in full meetings doing the business of the town in their present house, on account of it being out of repair and not of sufficient size. Several attempts have been made to repair and make the house suitable for the whole town to meet and transact their business in, but have failed.
Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that the honorable Legislature will take into their wise consideration the grievances above stated, and set off and incorporate said precinct into a separate town, by the name of North Bridgewater, and by the lines and estates that it was incorporated by, and has been improved to, as it relates to the town of Bridgewater. As in duty bound will ever pray.
Asa Howard.
Josiah Brett.
Daniel H. Cary.
Jeremiah Beals, jr.
Martin Cary.
Benjamin Southworth.
Azel Gurney.
David Ford.
Zenas Brett.
Jeremialı Beals.
David Ford, jr.
Hezekiah Packard.
Asa Ford.
Abijah Knapp, jr.
Thomas White.
Caleb Phillips.
David Packard, 2d.
Lemuel Tirrill.
John Packard, 2d.
Charles Lincoln.
Isaac Whiting.
Oliver Snell, jr.
John Packard.
Jonathan Edson.
Oliver Snell.
Benjamin Kingman.
Asa Battles.
Jeremiah Snell.
Jabez Kingman.
James Loring.
Thomas Reynolds.
Simeon Packard.
William Brett.
Daniel Ames.
Joseph Faxon.
Levi Packard.
Gustavus Sylvester.
Nathaniel Ames.
Waldo Field.
Arza Keith.
Micah Packard.
Martin Southworth.
Caleb Jackson.
David Packard.
David Ames.
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