USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > North Bridgewater > History of North Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to the present time, with family registers > Part 16
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JAMES F. RICHARDS, M. D., is son of Col. Jason and Sophia (Forsaith) Richards, of Plainfield, Mass .; was born July 16, 1832; taught school in Virginia; studied medicine with Dr. Forsaith, M. D., of South Abington, Mass .; graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York in 1859; and is now a resident of Campello, enjoying a highly lucra- tive practice.
EDGAR EVERETT DEAN, M. D., is the son of Charles Dean, of Easton, Mass .; born December 17, 1837; came to North Bridgewater in June, 1861, and succeeded Dr. Alexander Hichborn in the practice of medicine. He received his early education in the district schools of his native town till he was fourteen years of age ; student at Bristol Academy from 1853 to 1856; studied medicine with Dr. Luther Clark, of Pinckney Street, Boston ; graduated at Medical School, Har- vard, March 6, 1861; practised in Boston for a short time, and from thence to this town, where he enjoys a lucrative and successful practice.
HORATIO BRYANT, M. D., is son of Micah and Drusilla (Harlow) Bryant; born in Plympton, Mass. ; fitted for college with Rev. Elijah Dexter, and at Amherst Academy ; entered Amherst College ; taught school at Castleton, Vt .; graduated at Union College, Schenectady, N. Y .; taught academy at Plainfield, N. J .; studied medicine at Yale College, where he graduated in 1839 ; he commenced practice as a physician
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
and surgeon at Blandford, Mass., where he remained several years. He married Lucretia, daughter of Ebenezer Clark, of Conway, Mass., and has one daughter. He removed from Blandford to Campello, Mass., about 1848. He now resides at Independence, Iowa.
DR. THOMAS STOCKBRIDGE was born in Scituate, Mass .; came to North Bridgewater about 1837, and practised as a physician several years, until he removed to New York; he continued his practice in that city till about 1855, when he returned to North Bridgewater, and continued to practise as before till his death, which took place January 14, 1863.
DR. JAMES EASTON was in practice for some time.
DR. NAHUM SMITH was a botanic physician in the town for many years till he removed to Haverhill, Mass.
DR. E. R. WADE came to North Bridgewater about fifteen years since, and is a botanic physician.
HENRY EDDY, M. D., came to North Bridgewater, as a physician, from Guilford, Conn. He was formerly an Ortho- dox clergyman ; settled in East Stoughton, Mass.
DR. JAMES LEWIS HUNT was born in Jay, Essex County, N. Y., November 27, 1817; educated at Kimball Union Acad- emy, Meriden, N. H., and graduated at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H., in 1842; attended medical lectures at Cleve- land and Cincinnati, Ohio; graduated at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1851; married Miss Maria Baldwin, of Medina, Ohio, September 11, 1850 ; practised medicine at Bellevue, Ohio, Plymouth, Mass., and North Bridgewater ; removed from the last-named place but a few years since, and now resides at Painesville, Ohio.
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
SILAS L. LOOMIS, A. M., M. D., was born in North Coven- try, Conn., May 22, 1832; son of Silas and Esther (Case) Loomis; educated at the public schools of his native town till fourteen years of age; studied six months at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. ; three years at Holliston, Mass .; graduated at Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn., at the age of sixteen ; taught school; elected teacher of mathematics and natural sciences at Holliston Academy, in 1839; held that position during preparatory and part of his collegiate studies ; in connection with his brother, established the Adel- phian Academy in North Bridgewater in 1844, of which he was associate principal for ten years ; was elected member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1853 at the Cleveland meeting; principal of Western Acade- my, Washington, D. C., 1855; graduated Doctor of Medicine, Georgetown College, 1856; accepted the appointment of chief astronomer of the United States Lake Survey Expedition in 1856; published the " Normal Arithmetic " and " Analytical Arithmetic " in 1859 ; elected professor of chemistry, physiol- ogy, and hygiene of Georgetown College in 1861, and the same year was elected president of the Washington Scien- tific Association ; in 1862 was appointed assistant surgeon, U. S. A., and accompanied the Union Army of Gen. McClel- lan from Fortress Monroe to Harrison's Landing, and after- ward stationed at the United States General Hospitals ; in 1863, elected to the chair of Chemistry and Texicology, med- ical department, Georgetown College, and has written various articles upon medical and scientific subjects, many of which are highly recommended by the press and distinguished men of all classes.
LAFAYETTE CHARLES LOOMIS, A. M., M. D. ; born in North Coventry, Conn., July 7, 1824 ; son of Silas and Esther (Case) Loomis ; he was educated at the public school till the
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
age of thirteen; studied at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., and at Holliston, Mass .; graduated at Wesleyan Uni- versity, Middletown, Conn., in 1844; he commenced teaching in the public schools at the age of fifteen, which he continued to do winters through his academic and collegiate studies ; In connection with his brother established the Adelphian Academy in North Bridgewater in 1844, of which he was as- sociate principal till 1851, afterward principal of Irving In- stitute, Tarrytown, N. Y., in 1852-3; elected Professor of Rhetoric and Natural Science in Wesleyan Female College, Wilmington, Del., in 1853; Professor of Moral and Mental Philosophy in 1854, which chair he held till his election as president of the college in 1857. Several articles appeared in the "National Magazine" during that time. He was elected a member of the American Association for the Ad- vancement of Science in 1856. In 1857 elected president of the Delaware State Teachers' Association. In 1858 he pub- lished “ Mizpah, Prayer and Friendship," a devotional work of great merit; removed to Washington, D. C., and established the "Lafayette Institute," a seminary for young ladies ; edited " Mrs. Thomas's Travels in Europe, Egypt, and Pales- tine " in 1860 and in 1861; wrote upon various subjects ; graduated Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, medical depart- ment, Georgetown College, in 1863.
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LAWYERS.
LUCIUS CARY was son of Moses Cary ; born 1776 ; gradu- ated at Brown University 1791; was an attorney-at-law, and died at Charleston, S. C., 1806, aged thirty years.
ELIAB WHITMAN, the subject of this notice, was the son of Seth Allen Whitman; born in that part of Bridgewater now known as East Bridgewater May 30, 1788. He prepared for
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
college at the Bridgewater Academy under the tuition of John Shaw, then the preceptor of the academy (and who is still living in Bridgewater); graduated at Brown University, at Providence, 1817; returned to his native town, and there studied law in the office of Hon. Nahum Mitchell, afterward Judge of the Probate Court, and later Judge of the Court of Commonpleas for Plymouth County. After his admission to the bar, he settled in Lisbon, Me., where he practised his pro- fession for about two years. In 1813 he returned to Bridge- water and settled in that portion of the town which was af- terward incorporated as North Bridgewater; married Susan- nah, daughter of John Wales, May 18, 1817; here he passed his life without ambition in the quiet discharge of the duties that rested upon him. He was twice representative of the town in the Massachusetts Legislature, in the years 1840 and 1841, but generally shrunk from public office. He is de- scribed by one who knew him well, as a man of severe in- tegrity, whom neither money nor emolument of any kind could induce to practise any misrepresentation, trick, artifice, or injustice. He was not an advocate, rarely engaged in trials before a jury, or even before the bench; but his integ- rity, punctuality, diligence, and carefulness brought him a considerable office business, and he was present to attend to it at all proper hours until age and infirmity prevented. In a word he minded his own business and that of his clients, and was utterly devoid of the ambition of making a figure in the world. He was the only attorney in the town for many years; was on the school committee several years. He had three children.
JONATHAN WHITE, EsQ., is son of Jonathan and Abigail (Holbrook) White; born in East Randolph, Mass., August 22, 1819 ; fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover ; entered Yale College in 1840; graduated in 1844; studied
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
law at Cambridge Law School; opened a law office in North Bridgewater in 1849; appointed Justice of the Peace March 19, 1851, and Justice of Peace and Quorum throughout the commonwealth March 15, 1859; represented the town of North Bridgewater in the Legislature in 1864; is a suc- cessful attorney and counsellor at law.
JONAS R. PERKINS, son of Rev. Jonas and Rhoda (Keith) Perkins ; born in Braintree, Mass., February 18, 1822 ; fitted for college with his father; entered Brown University in 1837, and graduated in 1841 ; kept school two years in Roch- ester Academy, Mass .; studied law in the office of Timothy G. Coffin, of New Bedford, Mass .; was associated with Mr. Coffin in the practice of law three years; from thence sailed for California July 10, 1849; returned to Massachusetts in July, 1852, and in September of the same year opened a law office in North Bridgewater, where he continues to practise with success. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1852; Captain of North Bridgewater Dragoon Company, 1857; elected selectman of the town in 1864.
AUSTIN PACKARD, EsQ., was son of Thomas Packard ; was born in North Bridgewater January 15, 1801 ; graduated at Brown University in 1821; studied law in the office of Hon. William Baylies, of West Bridgewater, and was admitted to the bar in 1824, and is now an attorney and counsellor at law in West Bridgewater ; is a successful practitioner. He has been a prominent man in town affairs, having held many public of- fices of trust; represented the town of West Bridgewater in the Massachusetts Legislature in 1848; is a Justice of Peace and Trial Justice for Plymouth County, which office he has held since that office was created; he has also been select- man, assessor, and overseer of the poor for eighteen years in succession ; married Charlotte, daughter of Abiel Ames, of West Bridgewater.
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
DANIEL HOWARD was the son of Daniel and Vesta Howard; born in North Bridgewater February 6, 1775 ; graduated at Harvard College, Cambridge, in 1797; studied law with Hon. Judge Nahum Mitchell, of East Bridgewater, Mass .; com- menced practice at Turner, Me. ; from thence he removed to Buckfield, Me., afterward to New Gloucester, Me., then to Jay, Me., from which place he removed to East Vassalboro', about 1832 or 1833. He was a man of very respectable talent, although not distinguished; of modest, unassuming demean- or, and having never taken an active part in political mat- ters, has never occupied any public offices ; he was not a political office-seeker, choosing private life to that of public contention and strife ; he was a man of very temperate habits and strict integrity ; has had a family of seven chil- dren, most of whom are married and have families of re- spectability ; fitted for college with Rev. Jonathan Strong, of Randolph, and Rev. John Reed, of West Bridgewater; taught school one year at Weymouth Landing.
LUCIUS KINGMAN is son of Eliphalet and Zilpha (Edson) Kingman ; born January 23, 1803 ; graduated at Brown Uni- versity, Providence, 1830; represented the town of North Bridgewater in the Legislature of Massachusetts several times; is now engaged in the Land Office of the United States at Quincy, Ill., and an attorney and counsellor at law.
CALEB HOWARD is son of Thomas Jefferson and Lavinia (Tilden) Howard; born in North Bridgewater August 2, 1834; studied law at Philadelphia and the Cambridge Law School; removed to the Sandwich Islands.
MELVILLE HAYWARD is son of Ambrose and Hannah Hay- ward; born in North Bridgewater April 21, 1836; was a student at the Adelphian Academy, graduating in January,
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
1850 ; removed to Williamsburgh, L. I., in May, 1851; stud- ied law with P. J. Fish, Esq .; admitted to the bar in New York in 1857. In the call for troops in April, 1861, he en- listed with the famous New York Seventh Regiment for ser- vice, and again in May, 1862.
ELLIS WESLEY MORTON was born in North Bridgewater October 8, 1840; is son of Ellis J. and Abby S. (Anthony) Morton. He received his early education at the Adelphian Academy and North Bridgewater Academy under the care of S. D. Hunt, Esq .; graduated at the Classical High School, Providence, R. I .; studied law at Cambridge Law School ; graduated with degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1861; ad- mitted to the Suffolk Bar, Boston, October 8, 1861; ap- pointed Assistant United States Attorney for Massachusetts November 1, 1861; received the appointment of Justice of the Peace January 13, 1862; admitted to the bar of the United States Circuit Court for Massachusetts February 17, 1862; admitted to the bar of the United States Supreme Court at Washington, D. C., March, 1864; is now a resident of Boston.
BRADFORD KINGMAN was born January 5, 1831; is son of Josiah W. and Mary (Packard) Kingman. After the usual at- tendance in the district schools of his native town, he attended the Adelphian Academy, North Bridgewater, Williston Sem- inary, East Hampton, Mass. ; studied law with Lyman Mason, Esq., of Boston ; admitted to the Suffolk Bar April 21, 1863; elected member of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society of Boston February 6, 1861; appointed Justice of the Peace for Norfolk County, January 22, 1864; is now an attorney and counsellor at law, resident of Brookline, Mass. and Trial Justice for the County of Norfolk.
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
MISCELLANEOUS.
THOMAS JEFFERSON SNOW was the son of Jonathan and Hul- dah Snow ; born February 21, 1802, in that part of North Bridgewater called North-West Bridgewater, or West Shares. He had early in life acquired a fondness for books, and his parents, discovering that he had more than ordinary think- ing powers and a desire for learning, decided to give him a collegiate education ; he fitted for college under the tuition of Dr. Caleb Swan, of Easton, Mass., and Thomas Tolman, Esq., of Canton, Mass .; he entered Brown University, Providence, R. I., a year in advance, and graduated in 1825 with the usual honors. His natural inclinations were of a literary cast. He never published works of any kind, but was frequently em- ployed to deliver lectures. The most of his life was spent in teaching, with the exception of three years. He was a very - successful teacher. He was first principal of Hingham Acad- emy, afterward principal of Franklin High School, in Nan- tucket, Mass .; he then accepted the principalship of the Milton Academy, Milton, Mass., where he taught six years, and was elected honorary member of Harvard College. This position he resigned for the purpose of removing West, which was in 1835, when he moved to Michigan City, in the northern part of Indiana ; from thence he removed to Kentucky, where he resided twelve years, teaching and educating his sons ; but fearing to have his sons brought up and coming under the in- fluence of slavery, he removed to Illinois in 1851. He opened a school the same year in Peoria, where he taught till his death, October 6, 1851, aged forty-nine years. He was buried in the Masonic Cemetery with the honors of that order. He held the office of "Royal Arch Mason." He left a wife and seven children to mourn his loss as a kind friend, a good teacher, and good counsellor ; he was a warm receiver and firm advocate of the doctrines of the "New Jerusalem
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Church." His eldest son, Hector O. Snow, was formerly professor in Shelbyville College, also professor in the com- mercial colleges, Chicago, and is now principal of the Taze- well High School, Tazewell County, Ill. ; his second son, Orin T. Snow, is principal of Batavia High School, Kanc County, Ill. ; Croyden P. Snow is principal of the Second District Grammar School, Peoria, Ill .; Herman W. Snow was a teach- er in the last-named school for seven years, when he re- signed to enter upon the profession of law, and is now settled in Peoria, Ill., attorney-at-law, member of Peoria bar.
FREDERICK CRAFTS, A. M., is son of Rev. Thomas and Polly (Porter) Crafts ; born June 5, 1797. In early life he resided in the West Parish of Middleboro', Mass., of which his father was pastor ; he fitted for college at Pierce Academy, Middle- boro'; graduated at Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1816; studied law and was admitted to the bar of Plymouth County. He soon left the practice of law, and, after teaching at Boston, Taunton, and other places, was appointed principal of the Bridgewater Academy, where he remained till 1861, when he resigned. He is now a resident of Bridgewater.
HEMAN PACKARD, born in North Bridgewater, was the son of Levi and Ruth (Snow) Packard; resided in that town teaching school for many years ; at length, his health being such that he could not reside in the northern climate, he en- gaged in travelling as colporteur; for four years ·he distrib- uted tracts up and down the Mississippi among the flatboat and rafts men coming down the river. In the year 1842 he was appointed colporteur for the American Bible Society in the city of New Orleans, afterward receiving the agency of the South-West Bible Society and American Sunday-school Union, also of the Presbyterian Board of Publication. He was a warm-hearted, devoted Christian man, whose whole aim and
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
purpose seemed to be devoted to doing good, cheerfully giving of his time and substance to that object. He left his native town about the year 1838 or 1840, having spent about twenty years in his labor of love. He died January 12, 1858, at New Orleans.
At a meeting of the Bible Society, held at New Orleans on the day of his death, resolutions were passed expressive of the sorrow for the friends of the departed, also, " That in his death the society has lost one of its best and truest friends and servants. So long as he lived we always felt that it had the earnest, faithful, effectual, and fervent prayers of a right- eous man ascending to the throne of God's grace in its be- half."
AUGUSTUS T. JONES, A. M., was born in North Bridgewater May 21, 1832; fitted for college at Adelphian Academy and at Phillips Academy, Andover, Mass; entered Amherst Col- lege September, 1854, where he remained two years ; entered junior class at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., September, 1856, and graduated in July, 1858 ; had the degree of Master of Arts conferred upon him in 1862; was principal of high school at Williamsburgh, Mass., from 1860 to 1862; began to publish the "North Bridgewater Gazette " in September, 1863, of which he is now publisher and editor.
HEMAN PACKARD DE FOREST * is son of Isaac and Jane Baker (Packard) Packard ; born August 20, 1839. After receiving the usual common school education in his native school dis- trict, at the age of fifteen, he entered the North Bridgewater Academy, which had then been in existence but a short time; commenced fitting for college in the fall of 1856; graduated
* The name of De Forest is an adopted name in honor of David C. De Forest, who had left a sum of money to Yale College to be appropriated to the education of those who should adopt his name.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
at Yale College in July, 1862; entered Yale Theological Seminary in September, 1863.
S. D. HUNT was born in Sudbury, Mass., June 8, 1823; son of Sewall Hunt ; received his education at the academies in Derry, N. H., and Framingham, Mass .; taught high school at Concord, Mass., eight years, ending 1854; removed to North Bridgewater, and established the North Bridgewater Academy in 1855.
DR. JONATHAN PORTER CRAFTS was son of John and Olive (Porter) Crafts; born in North Bridgewater September 9, 1792; graduated at Brown University, Providence, R. I., in 1817; studied medicine, but never practised his profession; died in 1822, aged thirty years.
DR. GEORGE B. COGSWELL had an office in Wheeler's Block in 1859, where he remained but a short time.
DR. ALEXANDER HICHBORN had an office in the village, and practised as a physician till 1861, when he enlisted as a cap- tain in Co. F, 12th Regiment, Colonel Fletcher Webster ; af- terward became surgeon in the army.
REV. SAMUEL FULLER DIKE is son of Samuel and Betsy (Burrill) Dike; was born in North Bridgewater March 17, 1815 ; fitted for college under the instruction of Rev. Daniel Huntington, and at the Weymouth and Braintree Academy, Samuel T. Worcester, instructor, and the Bridgewater Acad- emy, Hon. John Shaw, instructor ; entered Brown University Providence, R. I., in 1834; graduated in 1838 ; was a pre- ceptor of Yarmouth Academy, Yarmouthı Port, Mass., one and a half years; studied theology with Rev. Thomas Worces- ter, of Boston; completed his studies for the ministry in
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
1840; was ordained as minister of the New Jerusalem Church at the session of the General Convention of New Jerusalem Churches at Philadelphia, June 7, 1840, by Rev. Thomas Worcester, of Boston; commenced preaching as a candidate in Bath, Me., June 14, 1840. At the end of the same year, he received a call to settle with the society where he now labors ; this call he accepted, and was duly installed Sunday, October 10, 1841. He has continued his labors of love to that church and society to the present time. On the Sabbath, June 13, 1847, he was made an ordaining minis- ter of the New Jerusalem churches by the general conven- tion holden in the city of New York. He has been pres- ident of the Maine and New Hampshire Association of the New Jerusalem Churches for nearly twenty years ; also, superintendent of the public schools of Bath from 1847 to 1863.
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CHAPTER IX.
OFFICIAL HISTORY.
W E present to our readers in this chapter the names of those who have held public office, and although it may not be of interest to every one, yet there are those that like to know who have had the management of public affairs both in town and state. To see a list of those having held posi- tions of trust and confidence can hardly fail to be of interest to us as showing the estimate in which they were held by their fellow-citizens. To be a Selectman or "Townsman," as they were sometimes called, was considered as being one of the " fathers of the town." The Selectmen have nearly the control of the affairs of a town, and it is very common, even to this day, in town meetings " to refer the matter to the Se- lectmen, with full powers," or to leave business at the discre- tion of the Selectmen with suggestions from the town. Hence the value that should be placed upon such officers, and the reason why none but men of good judgment and in- tegrity should be selected. Anything and everything, not otherwise provided by law, in regard to town affairs, falls by custom to the care of the Selectmen; and generally such men have been chosen.
LIST OF SELECTMEN FROM THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF NORTH BRIDGE- WATER TO THE PRESENT YEAR .*
Howard Cary, 1821-24.
Ephraim Cole, Jr., 1824-28.
Zachariah Gurney, 1821-23.
John Packard, 1824, 25.
Abel Kingman, 1821-23.
Robert Packard, 1824.
Eliphalet Kingman, 1824-28.
Caleb Howard, 1824.
* The Selectmen have performed the duties of assessors and overseers of the poor ever since the incorporation of the town.
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Jesse Perkins, 1826-28.
Benjamin Kingman, 1829-33.
Darius Howard, 1829-35.
Nahum Perkins, 1829-33, 39, 40, 45. Linus Iloward, 1834, 35.
Lucius Kingman, 1834, 35.
Ellis Paekard, 1855, 59-61.
William H. Cooper, 1855.
Lorenzo Wade, 1836.
Vinal Lyon, 1855. Franklin Ames, 1856-63.
Nathaniel II. Cross, 1836, 37.
Isaac Eames, 1837, 39, 40, 50.
Edwin H. Kingman, 1846-48, 56, 57. .
Newton Shaw, 1840-44.
Franklin Keith, 1856-58.
Caleb Copeland, 1836, 40-42, 45.
Josiah W. Kingman, 1838-41, 58, 60-63.
Ruel Richmond, 1854.
Nathan Packard, 2d, 1862, 63. Jonas R. Perkins, 1864.
Rufus L. Thatcher, 1864, 65.
TOWN CLERKS.
Next in importance among the officers of a town is the Town Clerk. Upon him devolves the care of all the records and doings of the Selectmen and town meetings; and this of- fice requires a man of accuracy and good judgment, as well as firm integrity ; experience, also, is an important requisition for good clerks. Hence we find most of the clerks of this town have served long terms.
LIST OF TOWN CLERKS OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER FROM ITS INCORPORATION TO THE PRESENT TIME, WITH THE YEARS EACH HAS SERVED.
Edward Southworth, 1821-29. Franklin Ames, 1839-54.
Jesse Perkins, 1830-38. Horatio Paine, 1855-61.
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