USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 47
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 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
Jonathan Snow.
Bernard Jackson,
Samuel Brett.
Zachariah Gurney.
Joseph Sylvester.
Samuel Brett, jr.
John Burrill.
John Cobb.
James Porter.
Benjamin Ames.
Samuel Dike, jr.
Ebenezer Warren.
Isaac Horton.
Jonas Packard.
Abiezer Hobart.
Jonathan Porter.
Samuel Ford.
Silas Snow.
James Hatch.
Adin Packard, jr.
Daniel Field.
Orren Faxon.
Thomas Wales.
John Field.
Lemuel French.
Noah Chesman. Howard Cary.
William Badger.
Isaac Clapp.
James Churchill.
Ambrose Packard, 2d.
Isaac Keitlı, 3d.
Oliver Bryant.
Joseph Whiting.
Sylvanus French. Zibeon Brett.
Lemuel Packard.
Joseph Wild.
Calvin Bryant.
Zenas Packard, jr.
Ozen Gurney.
Jonas Reynolds.
508
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.'
Barnabas Edson.
Edward Southworth.
Samuel Chesman.
Simeon Dunbar.
Asa Jones.
Sprague Snow.
Zenas Packard.
Zibeon Packard.
Mark Ford.
Oliver Dike.
Abiel Kingman.
Enos Thayer.
Abel Kingman. William Tribou.
Joseph Reynolds, jr.
Alexander Thayer.
Jonas Howard, jr.
Daniel Alden.
Alexander Tlayer, jr.
Jonathan Cary.
Akerman Pettingill.
William Alden, jr.
Perez Crocker.
Caleb Howard.
William Packard.
Bela Keith.
Arza Leonard.
Isaac Packard.
Eliphalet Brett.
William Kimball.
Joseph D. Snell.
Ambrose Packard.
Reuben Drake.
Isaac Brett.
Zophar Field.
Ornan Cole.
Alpheus Tribou.
Ichabod Howland.
James Willis.
Isaac Reynolds.
Elijah Drake.
Gideon Packard.
Eliphaz Sprague.
Cyrus Warren.
Jonas Keith.
Adin Packard.
Parmenas Brett.
Joshua Jenkins.
Jesse Perkins.
Apollas Howard.
Daniel Bryant.
Stillman Willis.
John Porter.
Ephraim Sturtevant.
Ziba Keith.
Elisha Tillson.
Nehemiah Lincoln.
David Edson, jr.
Martin Drake.
Cyrus Packard.
Samuel Harris.
Joseplı Reynolds.
Sullivan Packard.
Galen Warren.
Simeon Dunbar.
Newton Shaw.
John May.
Apollas Packard.
Joel Ames.
Nathaniel Manley.
John Battles.
Galen Packard.
Perez Southworth, jr.
Asa Pratt.
Welcome Howard.
William Brown, jr.
Israel Packard.
John Burrill, jr.
Ichabod Howard.
Barzillai Field.
Benjamin Crosswell.
Alvah Warren.
Thomas Wales, jr.
Samuel Snell.
Oliver Leach.
Micah Faxon.
Zachariah Thayer.
Josiah Edson.
Mark Faxon.
Nathan Jones.
Micah Shaw.
Perez Southworth.
Joseph Brett.
Samuel Dike.
Matthew Snell.
Zebedee Snell.
John Humphrey.
Cyrus B. Phillips.
Nathan Bryant.
Lewis Dailie.
Josiah Ames.
Silas Howard.
James Humphrey.
Bethuel Field.
Cyrus Snell.
Joseph Hayward.
Robert Howard.
Levi French.
Nathaniel Hobart.
Nathan Leach, jr.
Ezekiel Reed. Fobes Field.
Howard Packard.
Nathan Hay ward.
Simeon Reynolds.
Daniel J. Dickerman.
Benjamin F. Dickerman.
Alfred Bolton.
Nathaniel Wales.
Parmenas Packard.
Harvey Hawes.
Aphia Alden.
Rosseter Jones.
Nathan Leach.
Edward Pratt.
Zibeon Cole.
Eliphalet Thayer.
509
PRECINCT CONTROVERSY.
IN SENATE, June 3, 1819.
Read and committed to the Committee on the Incorporation of Towns. Sent down for concurrence.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 3, 1819.
Read and concurred.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
Here follows the action of the General Court upon the petition :
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
IN SENATE, June 3, 1819.
On a petition aforesaid, Ordered, That the petitioners cause an attested copy of their petition, with this order thereon, to be served on the Town Clerk of said town of Bridgewater, thirty days at least, before the second Wednesday of the second Session of the present General Court, that all persons interested may then appear and show cause (if any they have) why the prayer of said petition should not be granted.
Sent down for concurrence.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 4, 1819.
Read and concurred.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
A true copy, attest.
S. F. McCLEARY, Clerk of the Senate. BRIDGEWATER, September 27, 1819. This order of notice, with a copy thereof, was left with me by Abel Kingman, Esq. ELIAKIM HOWARD, Town Clerk.
At the second session of the General Court the town of Bridgewater was represented by Daniel Howard, who had been chosen as the agent of the town to oppose the petition of Asa Howard and others for an act of incorporation. Remonstrances against the petition were also presented from Gideon Howard and ninety-eight others, and Eliab Whitman, esq., and fifty-eight others, also residents of the North Par- ish, and a petition of Bela C. Dike and nineteen others, which we pub- lish in full to show the feeling of the parish at that time.
The following is a true copy of Gideon Howard's remonstrance :
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts in General Court assembled, January Term, 1820 :
The subscribers, inhabitants of the North Parish of the town of Bridgewater, beg leave respectfully to remonstrate against the petition of Asa Howard and others pray-
510
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
ing the General Court of Massachusetts to set off and incorporate the North Parish of the town of Bridgewater aforesaid with all the privileges of a town. Your remonstrants feel imperiously urged by a sense of duty to again come forward, the steady and decided supporters of the union of the town of Bridgewater. The preservation of the union, resources, influence, respectability, and friendly intercourse which subsists between the sections of so large a town, is with them an object truly desirable; and, upon most candid examination, they are at a loss on what to bottom this cager desire to loosen the bands of its union and degrade its importance. It is a fact well known that but few towns in the county of this Commonwealth have managed their public business more correctly for fifty years past than the town of Bridgewater ; and it is believed that, at the present moment, did not the question about division agitate and, indeed, irritate the feelings of its inhabitants, the business of the town might be performed understandingly, decently, and in order. We feel assured your Honors will search in vain for reasons to support an opinion that the lasting and substantial interests of the town will be pro- moted by division; and we feel equally assured that the separation of the section prayed for in the petition aforesaid will immediately result in a complete division of the whole town. Your remonstrants would not attempt a display of arguments or objec- tions on this subject, but cheerfully submit their interest and wishes to your wise con- sideration, A former decree, on a petition to divide the town of Bridgewater, inspires your remonstrants with confidence in renewing their opposition to an impolitic measure. They are further encouraged by a recent vote of the town, which, by a majority of sixty-five votes, declared that the North Parish should continue a part of the town of Bridgewater. The town has at all times been uniform in its opposition to division, and an application being made to the General Court has invariably voted by handsome ma- jority to preserve its union. Your remonstrants, however confident of success in their opposition, may be disappointed. With all due deference to the decision which the General Court may make on this important subject, anxious for the fate of Bridgewater as a town, they will early search for the evidence of a final result, And the first moment of doubt will induce them to petition your Honors to belong with the property which they respectively hold, to the town of Bridgewater.
Gideon Howard.
William French.
Isaac Eames.
Luke Packard.
Ezekiel Merritt.
Otis Alden.
Asa Battles.
M. H. Perkins.
Alvin Snell.
Shepard Packard.
Amos Whiting.
Shepard Snell.
James Cary.
Turner Torrey.
Loring Brett.
Theron Ames.
Issachar Snell.
Cyrus Howard.
Job Ames.
Shepard Keith.
Nathan Packard.
Darius Howard.
Joseph Snell.
Samuel Bryant.
Lewis Howard.
Henry Kingman.
Seth Kingman.
Sidney Howard. Moses Cary.
Jacob Fuller. Isaac Curtis.
Galen Manley. Benjamin Marshall.
John Craft.
Charles Packard.
John Wales, jr.
Silas Packard.
Preston Packard.
Ephraim Noyes.
Jonathan P. Crafts.
Caleb Copeland, jr.
Merritt Noyes.
511
PRECINCT CONTROVERSY.
Jesse Perkins, jr.
Oliver Jackson.
Oliver Howard, jr.
Ebenezer Edson.
Charles Dunbar.
Barnabas Curtis.
Seth Snow.
Jacob Danbar.
David Noyes.
John Smith.
Ebenezer Dunbar.
Moses Noyes.
Eliphalet Kingman.
Samnel Wood.
John Ritchie.
Josiah Perkins.
Isaac Hartwell, jr.
Ansel Perkins.
Nahum Perkins.
James Willis.
Robert Packard.
Thomas Thompson.
Abijah Knapp.
Perez Robinson.
John Thompson.
Martin Dunbar.
Ortho Hayward.
Josiah Dunbar.
John Tilden.
Azor Packard.
Silas Dunbar.
John Tilden, jr.
Zina Hayward.
Waldo Hayward.
Daniel Manley.
Daniel Howard, jr.
Enos Thayer, 2d.
Howard Marshall.
David Battles.
Seth Edson.
Gilbert Snell.
Salmon Manley.
Wllham Edson.
Enos Thayer.
Austin Howard.
Otis Howard.
Ephraim Cole.
John Wales.
Gideon Howard, jr.
John Ames.
Eliab Whitman.
Oliver Howard.
Rev. Thomas Beresford.
Samuel Holmes.
Lott Blanchard.
Samuel Packard.
Jonathan Perkins.
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 15, 1820. Read and committed to the Committee on the Incorporation of Towns. Sent up for concurrence.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker. IN SENATE, January 18, 1820.
Read and concurred.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
The following is a copy of the remonstrance of Eliab Whitman and others of the North Parish :
To the Honorable the Senate and the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled, Anno Dom. 1820:
We, the undersigned inhabitants of the North Parish in Bridgewater, understanding that an order of notice from your honorable body has been served on said town of Bridgewater, purporting that Asa Howard and 213 others have petitioned the General Court praying that said North Parish may be set off from the town Bridgewater, and incorporated into a separate town by the name of North Bridgewater, do most respect- fully represent that, in our opinion, the proposed dismemberment of the town of Bridgewater cannot be supported by such reasons and arguments as will justify a meas- ure so repugnant to the interest and happiness of the said North Parish, as well as to the town at large. We cannot conceive what new reasons or arguments can be offered for dividing the town. It is a fact that the population of said town has been nearly stationary for forty years past, and the distance from the centre has not increased, but in several instances has been considerably shortened, and the roads very much improved
512
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
in that time. It is also a faet that there are sections of the south, east, and Titient parishes nearly as remote from the centre of the town as the most remote section of the North Parish, and they cannot be much relieved by the proposed division. The town house is a substantial building, and ample in its size, and with a very small ex- pense might be made a convenient accommodation for our most numerous town meetings. Nevertheless, should your Honors, in your great wisdom, think it expedient to grant the prayer of said petition, and incorporate the said North Parish into a distinct and separate town,
We, the undersigned inhabitants of said North Parish, being deeply impressed with the belief that such a measure will be pregnant with many great and serious evils to said North Parish, do most earnestly wish, and humbly pray your Honors, that we, the said undersigned, may, with our estates, be exempted from said Act of Incorporation, and still retain our connection and relation to the town of Bridgewater ; and, as in duty bound, will ever pray. '
Eliab Whitman,
Rev. Thomas Beresford,
Ezekiel Merritt,
Lott Blanehard,
John Tilden,
Josiah Perkins,
Gideon Howard, jr.,
Abijah Knapp,
Silas Paekard,
Lewis Howard,
Seth Edson,
Jacob Fuller,
Darius Howard,
Nahum Perkins,
John Crafts,
Theron Ames,
Jesse Paekard,
Josiah Dunbar,
Martin Dunbar,
Isaac Curtis,
William French,
Shepard Keith,
Oliver Howard,
John Wales, jr.
Jonathan Perkins,
Waldo Hay ward,
Moses Cary,
M. H. Perkins,
John Wales,
Seth Snow,
Jacob Dunbar,
Silas Dunbar, jr.,
E. Edson his × mark,
Ebenezer Dunbar,
Thomas Thompson,
Jonathan P. Crafts,
Charles Packard,
David Battles,
John Tilden, jr.,
Shepard Snell,
Job Ames,
Enos Thayer, 2d,
Sidney Howard,
Asa Battles,
Nathan Packard,
Samuel Paekard,
Ansel Perkins,
Joseph Snell,
Ephraim Noyes,
Turner Torrey,
Oliver Jackson,
Moses Noyes,
Hayward Marshall,
Isaac Eames,
Ortho Hayward,
James Willis,
William Edson
Austin Howard,
Benjamin Marshall,
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 19, 1820. Read and referred to the Committee on Incorporation of Towns.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
IN SENATE, January 19, 1820.
Read and concurred.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
The following is a copy of a petition in aid of Asa Howard and others :
513
PRECINCT CONTROVERSY.
To the Honorable Senate and the Honorable House of Representatives in General Court assembled, A. D., 1819 :
The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the North Parish of Bridgewater humbly shows that, whereas there is now pending before the honorable legislative body the petition of Asa Howard and two hundred and thirteen others, praying for said North Parish to be set off into a town, for various others, did not sign said petition, but have since taken into consideration the subject matter of said petition, and are of an opinion that it would be very advantageous to the inhabitants of said parish to be set off aforesaid, and cannot see any disadvantage that will arise to the remaining part of the town by granting the prayer of said petitioners. For the foregoing reason your petitioners wish to have their names annexed to said petition, and, in duty bound, will ever pray.
Bela C. Dike, Moses Packard,
Orin Packard,
Ebenezer Warren, jr.,
Joel Packard,
Shubael Clark,
William Cary,
Algernon S. Silvester,
John B. Harris,
Ephraim Howard,
Abijalı Pitcher,
Martin Snow,
Job Bryant.
Ephraim Brett,
Charles Gurney,
Elisha Belcher,
Luke P. Lincoln,
Issachar Snell.
John Marshall,
Joseph S. Packard,
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 18, 1820. Read and committed to the Committee on the Incorporations of Towns. Sent up for concurrence.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker. IN SENATE, January 18, 1820.
Read and concurred.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
The following is a copy of remonstrance from the town of Bridge- water, by Daniel Howard, esq., as agent :
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled :
The subscriber, an agent for the town of Bridgewater, duly appointed for this pur- pose, begs leave, in behalf of said town, respectfully to remonstrate against the petition of Asa Howard and others praying that the North Parish of said Bridgewater may be set off and incorporated into a separate town, by the name of North Bridgewater.
This renewed attempt to divide the town of Bridgewater has been witnessed by a large majority of its inhabitants with feelings of regret and surprise. It was hoped and believed that the petitioners would acquiesce in the decision of the last General Court, whose attention was called to the subject by a petition, both in substance and in form like the present. The petitioners, however, having seen fit to renew the con- troversy, renders it necessary on the part of the town again to protest against the adoption of a measure which no exigence or necessity requires, and which, it is be- lieved, would affect very injuriously the best interests of the inhabitants of Bridge- water.
65
514
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
The evils which the petitioners suffer from their connection with the town are, as they allege, the distance which they have to travel to attend town meetings, the bad- ness of the roads at a certain season of the year, and the want of a house convenient for the transaction of the business of the town.
There is no town in the Commonwealth the inhabitants of whichi, if so disposed, can- not complain of some inconveniences to which they are subjected in the transaction of their municipal concerns. The inconveniences experienced in this respect by tlie town of Bridgewater are not more numerous than what are suffered by the greater part of the towns in the State. The distance travelled by the petitioners to attend town meet- ings and the badness of the roads may be inconveniences; but they are not more so now than they have ever been since the town was incorporated. They are incon- veniences to which the inhabitants of every country town must, in a greater or less de- gree, submit, and to which the people of the North Parish, in their more unambitious days, quietly submitted, in the full persuasion, no doubt, that they could not be remedied without subjecting themselves and the town to others of a much more serious and formidable nature.
It may be asserted, however, with truth, that the roads in Bridgewater are, gener- erally speaking, uncommonly good. They have been much improved, and, within a few years, new ones have been opened, lessening the distance of travel from various parts of the town (particularly the North Parish) to the centre.
The numerous population of Bridgewater, to which the petitioners have alluded, con- stitutes no impediment to the correct and orderly transaction of the business of the town.
Their system of town government, practised upon for many years, very much facili- tates the management of their municipal concerns. Each parish has the nomination and, in effect, the appointment of its proportion of town officers ; and thus the inter- ests of all are equally consulted.
If the town house is out of repair, as stated in the petition, it can be easily fitted so as to accommodate all the inhabitants, and nothing has prevented this but the fear of a division, which the petitioners have contributed so much to excite and keep alive.
The whole amount then, of what the petitioners would gain by a separation would be barely saving to themselves of a few miles' travel, an advantage too inconsiderable to balance the many disadvantages to the town at large, of which such a measure must be productive.
The separation of the North would doubtless be followed by a total dismemberment of the ancient and and respectable town. A short time would see us divided into four or five petty towns, with an increase of expense to each, involved in perpetual litiga- tions with each other, and vexed with internal broils. The seeds of dissension are al- ready sown among us, and wait only the favorable moment of a separation to spring up and vield a plentiful harvest.
It is unnecessary to pursue this subject further, and set down in order all that can be said against granting the request of the petitioners. Enough has been said in this brief statement, it is apprehended, to convince every candid and reflecting mind that a
515
·
PRECINCT CONTROVERSY.
separation of the North Parish would, to itself, be productive of no real advantage, but to the town of great and lasting injury.
JANUARY 15, 1820.
DANIEL HOWARD.
IN SENATE, January 18, 1820.
Read and committed to the Committee on Incorporation of Towns. Sent down for concurrence.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 18, 1820.
Read and concurred.
TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker.
The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider applications for the Incorpora- tion of Towns, to whom was referred the petition of Asa Howard and others, inhab- itants of the north precinct of Bridgewater, praying that said precinct may be incorpo- rated into a separate town, have had the same under consideration, and ask leave to re- port, that the prayer of the petition be so far granted that the petitioners have leave to bring in a bill for that purpose.
Which is respectfully submitted, by order of Committee.
EBEN GAY, Chairman. IN SENATE, February 2, 1820.
Read and accepted. Sent down for concurrence.
JOIIN PHILLIPS, President. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, February 11, 1820.
Read and concurred.
E. H. MILLS, Speaker pro. tem.
The vote on the acceptance of the report was seventy- eight in favor, and sixty-eight opposed. An effort was made to reconsider the above vote, which was rejected.
In the first session held in June, 1820, the petition was again pre- sented, and the following action taken :
In SENATE, June 10, 1820.
On the petition aforesaid, Ordered, That the petitioners cause an attested copy of their petition, with this order thereon, to be served on the Town Clerk of Bridgewater, thirty days at least before the first Wednesday of the next session of the present Gen- eral Court, that all persons interested may then and there appear and show cause (if any they have) why the prayer of said petition should not be granted.
Sent down for concurrence.
Read and concurred.
A true copy. Attest,
JOHN PHILLIPS, President. IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 10, 1820. E. H. MILLS, Speaker. S. F. McCLEARY, Clerk of the Senate.
516
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Received this order of notice by hand of Abel Kingman, esq., the seventh day of August, 1820.
ELIAKIM HOWARD, Town Clerk of Bridgewater.
The town, upon the receipt of the above order of notice, held a meet- ing, November 6, 1820, "To see whether the town would vote to be divided." 144 voted in favor of division, and 164 against the same.
The meeting then adjourned to the 24th of November, at which time the vote was put to see whether they would choose an agent to oppose a division of the town. 206 voted to choose an agent, and 321 voted against the same. This is the last attempt of the town to oppose the passage of the bill to incorporate the North Parish.
At the next session of the General Court, held in Boston, January, 1821, the subject of division was again brought to their notice, as ap- pears of record. The petition was read and referred to the Committee on Incorporation of Towns, January 18, 1821, together with the follow- ing petition :
To the Honorable Legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts :
The undersigned humbly represent that we did, in the course of the last year sign a paper remonstrating against the petition of Asa Howard and others, inhabitants of the North Parish of Bridgewater, praying for said parish to be incorporated into a town, and was at that time fully of an opinion that it would be best for the town to keep together; but, taking into consideration the petition of the West Parish to become a town, and the proceedings of the town at a late meeting on the subject of said petition, do not think it proper to oppose any further; but if the honorable Legislature should think proper to grant the prayer of the said Asa Howard and others, we wish to be in- corporated with them, notwithstanding any petition to the contrary.
NORTH PARISH, January 10, 1821.
Jesse Packard,
Turner Torrey,
Anzel Perkins,
Oliver Jackson,
Abijah Knapp,
Samuel Bryant,
Jacob Dunbar,
Isaac Hartwell, jr.,
Job Ames,
Ebenezer Dunbar,
Hay ward Marshall, Theron Ames,
Ezekiel Merritt,
Nathan Packard,
Shepard Snell.
The committee to whom was referred the above petitions reported as follows ; namely,
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
The Committee of both Houses, to whom was referred the petition of Asa Howard and others, praying that the North Precinct, in the town of Bridgewater, in the County of Plymouth, may be set off from Bridgewater, and incorporated into a sep-
517
PRECINCT CONTROVERSY.
arate town, have had the same under consideration, and ask leave to report that the prayer of the petition be so far granted that the petitioners have leave to bring in a bill for that purpose.
Which is respectfully submitted, by order of the Committec.
MARK DOOLITTLE, Chairman. IN SENATE, June 9, 1821.
Read and accepted. Sent down for concurrence.
JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 11, 1821.
Read and concurred.
JOSIAH QUINCY, Speaker.
The following is a copy of the bill as passed by both Houses, as- sembled June 15, 1821 :
AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE TOWN OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by authority of the same :
That all that part of the North Parish of Bridgewater which lies within the said town of Bridgewater, according to the present territorial limits thereof, be, and hereby is established as a separate town, by the name of North Bridgewater; and the inhabitants of the said town of North Bridgewater are hereby vested with all the powers and privileges, and shall also be subject to all the duties and requisitions of other corporate towns, according to the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth.
SECTION 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of the town of North Bridge- water shall be holden to pay the arrears of all State, County, and Town taxes which have been legally assessed upon them, together with their proportion of all debts due from the said town of Bridgewater prior to the date of this Act; and the said town of North Bridgewater shall be entitled to receive their proportion of the said debts and taxes due to the said town of Bridgewater, when collected and paid into the Treasury of said town; and the said town of North Bridgewater shall be entitled to hold their proportion, according to the present valuation of all the real and personal property be- longing to the town of Bridgewater before the passing of this Act.
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.