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 24
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
291
THE REBELLION OF 1861.
the night of the 15th, when they recrossed the river to Falmouth with their corps. During the battle, the Twelfth was under fire six hours, and their loss was chiefly sustained during the last two hours. During that time they had five officers wounded, and fifteen men killed, eighty-seven wounded, and three missing, making an aggregate of one hundred and five out of two hundred and fifty-eight, with which they went into the fight."
We have now brought the chapter of the great rebellion of 1861 down to the close of enlistment of troops in Septem- ber, 1864. From this time to the close of the war, there was one continuous line of successful victories over the Con- federates.
The year 1865 opened with bright prospects before us, by the capture of Fort Fisher, January 15th ; of Columbia, S. C., February 17th ; Charleston, S. C., February 18th ; Wilming- ton, N. C., February 21st ; of Richmond, April 3d ; flight of the Confederate officers of State from Richmond, April 4th ; surrender of Lee's army, April 9th; surrender of John- ston's army, April 26th ; capture of Jeff Davis, May 10th. But that which gave the greatest joy to the Union people was the surrender of Lee. Then we began to see through the clouds that had been so long over us. And, in the middle of May, 1865, the greatest armed rebellion of the world was at an end, so far as fighting was concerned ; and the nation now appears to be as prosperous as ever. Business is good ; mechanics have returned to their occupa- tions, the farmers to their long-neglected fields ; and every- thing wears the appearance of a peaceful and prosperous hereafter. We are, as a people, stronger than before the war. We have stood up against everything that any people has ever been called to bear; and now the " star-spangled banner in triumph still waves over the land of the free and the home of the brave."
CHAPTER XV.
MILITIA HISTORY.
First Militia Company. - Officers. - Military Division of the Parish. - North and South Companies. - Plymouth County Brigade. - First Cavalry Company 1787. - North Bridgewater Dragoon Company 1853. - Militia Districts. - Active and Reserve Companies. - District Number Sixty. - District Number Sixty-one.
INTHE first military company formed in the ancient town of Bridgewater was formed October 2, 1689 ; Thomas Hay- ward was chosen First Captain, John Hayward, Lieuten- ant, and Samuel Packard, Ensign. At that time, the militia of the counties of Barnstable, Plymouth, and Bristol, consti- tuted one regiment, and Josiah Winslow, of Marshfield, was the Colonel.
In 1762, the population of the town had become numerous enough to increase the number of companies to six. The ono in the North Parish of Bridgewater (now North Bridge- water) was called the Sixth Company. Daniel Howard was First Captain in the Parish, Robert Howard, Lieutenant, and Abiel Packard, Ensign. These were succeeded by Robert Howard, promoted to Captain, Abiel Packard, promoted to Lieutenant, and Henry Kingman, Ensign. Afterwards, Lieu- tenant Abiel Packard was promoted to Captain, and Ensign Henry Kingman, promoted to Lieutenant, and Constant Southworth, Ensign.
These continued in office till about 1765, at which time the Sixth Company in the town was divided into two distinct and separate companies, known as the North and South. The line of division was across the Parish from East to West, near the Centre Village. The officers of the North Company were Barnabas Howard, Captain, John Howard, Lieutenant, and Abiel Packard, Ensign. The officers of the South Com-
292
293
MILITIA HISTORY.
pany were Isaac Packard, Captain, Josiah Packard, Lieuten- ant, and Issachar Snell, Ensign. These officers held their commissions till the Revolutionary War.
In 1773, the military companies of ancient Bridgewater had been increased to nine, and these, with two companies from Abington, constituted the Third Regiment, of which Josiah Edson was Colonel. This regiment was honored with a review by Governor Hutchinson on the 13th of October of that year. Josiah Hayden was appointed Colonel of this regiment, July 1, 1781; Daniel Cary, Major, September 6, 1792.
In 1810, the Plymouth County Brigade was placed under the command of Colonel Sylvanus Lazell, promoted to Briga- dier-General. The brigade then consisted of four regiments of infantry, a battalion of cavalry, and a battalion of artil- lery. Among the field and staff officers of the Third Regi- ment, were : -
Caleb Howard, Lieutenant-colonel, appointed April 19, 1817.
Nathan Jones,
October 3, 1829.
Martin Cary,
October 1, 1832.
Benjamin Keith,
November 17, 1838.
Edward Southworth, Major, .. August 22, 1815,
Martin Cary,
September 22, 1831.
This regiment disbanded April 24, 1840.
April 7, 1787, a cavalry company was organized in the town, and Isaac Lazell was appointed First Captain.
The following are the names of commanders from the North Parish : -
Gideon Howard, Captain,. May 25, 1803.
Noah Chesman, . September 23, 1811.
Jeremiah Beals, Jr., “ .September 9, 1819.
Nathan Hayward, “ September 20, 1823.
This company was disbanded April 10, 1828.
In June, 1853, a charter was granted to Nahum Reynolds and fifty others, to form a cavalry company, which was organ-
294
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
ized June 27, 1853, under the name of " North Bridgewater Dragoon Company." The first meeting for the choice of officers, was held in Tyler Cobb's Hall, General Eliab Ward presiding over the meeting, at which time the following officers were chosen : -
Nahum Reynolds, Captain.
Robert A. Stoddard, First Lieut.
H. A. Raymond, Third Lieut.
J. Freeman Ellis, Second Licut. Jonas R. Perkins, Fourth Lieut.
SERGEANTS.
Freeman Bicknell, Ist, Charles T. Packard, 2d, Samuel S. Brett, 3d, E. C. Mayhew, 4th, James H. Case, 5th.
CORPORALS.
Lucius Richmond, George N. Holmes, Welcome White,
Daniel Hayward.
MUSICIANS.
J. H. Smith, Samuel Parsons, Henry Kitman, William Upton.
PRIVATES.
Cyrus B. Kingman,
James C. Snell,
Frederic Perkins,
Ephraim Noyes,
Manly Packard,
Julius Thompson,
James E. Lyon,
F. P. Hartwell,
Bela T. Brown,
Peter Dalton,
Mitchell Willis,
Charles J. F. Packard,
E. A. Packard,
Horace Bryant,
Rufus S. Noyes, Leander Waterman,
George L. Howard,
James S. Sherman,
Richard M. Fullerton,
Edward B. Packard,
Charles E. Smith,
Willard Packard,
Shubael P. Mears, Isaac Kingman,
Oliver Jackson,
Horatio G. Macomber, William Poole,
David F. Tribou, E. M. Dunbar,
George W. Leach,
Charles Woodward,
H. T. Sanford, Harrison Packard. ·
In consequence of the various calls upon the common- wealth for troops for the United States service, during the rebellion of 1861, the volunteer militia of Massachusetts, as it existed previous to the beginning of the war, was nearly broken up, by the enlistment of its members individually, and as companies and regiments, for three months', nine months', one year's, three years', and one hundred days' service ; and the law establishing the volunteer militia being no longer
1
295
MILITIA HISTORY.
in conformity with the system of organization prescribed by the laws of the United States, it was found impossible to recruit this militia as the law then stood. To remedy this evil, the Legislature of Massachusetts passed a law, in 1864, for the reorganization of the entire militia of the common- wealth.
This act was approved May 14, 1864, and all laws in exist- ence previous to that date, for the regulation of the militia, were repealed.
· The new law provided for a new enrolment, to be made by the several assessors of the towns throughout the State, of all persons between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, the same to be returned to the adjutant general.
The commander-in-chief then proceeded to divide the commonwealth into military districts of companies. Under this arrangement there were two hundred and forty-nine dis- tricts established. North Bridgewater and West Bridgewa- ter constituted two districts, and was divided as follows : -
District Number Sixty includes the whole of North Bridge- water except the School Districts Four, Five, Six, and Seven, otherwise known as " Marshall," " Ames," " Campello," and " Copeland " Districts.
District Number Sixty-one comprises the southerly school districts, numbered four, five, six, and seven, in North Bridgewater, and the whole of West Bridgewater.
An order was next issued to some justice of the peace with- in the district, to call a meeting for the election of captains of the several companies. After the election of the captain, it became his duty to enroll all persons liable to enrolment, within their respective limits. " And all persons under the age of twenty-four years, liable to do military duty, shall be enrolled in one roll, and constitute the ' Active Militia.' And all such persons as shall be above the age of twenty-four years, together with all persons that shall be exempt from
296
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
duty, excepting in cases of riot, invasion, insurrection, war, etc., shall be enrolled in another roll, and constitute the ' Reserve Militia.' "
The Active Militia was to have been formed into regi- ments, brigades, and divisions, by the commander-in-chief, and organized in conformity with the laws of. the United States, subject to such changes as the commander-in-chief might make from time to time.
The Reserve Militia was to have been organized into com- panies, regiments, brigades, and divisions, and attached to such brigades in the Active Militia as the commander-in- chief should deem expedient, when ordered out for actual service.
Orders were received by George W. Bryant, Esq., to notify a meeting to be held January 30, 1865, for the choice of a captain for District Sixty. The meeting was held at the armory on Chapel Street, at one o'clock P. M., when Samuel F. Howard was elected captain, who was commis- sioned January 30, 1865. A meeting was subsequently held for the choice of lieutenants April 1, 1865, when George Southworth was elected First Lieutenant, and Bradford Wild, Second Lieutenant, both of whom were commissioned April 1, 1865.
The choice of captains for District Sixty-one was made at a meeting held at West Bridgewater on Friday, January 27, 1865, at which Austin Packard, Esq., was called to preside. Mr. Thomas P. Ripley was elected captain, and received a commission dated January 27, 1865.
At a meeting of the company soon after, in April, Nathan- iel M. Davenport, Jr., was elected First Lieutenant, and Ziba C. Keith, Second Lieutenant, both of Campello.
Agreeably to instructions from head-quarters an enrolment was made by the captains of the above-named districts, and placed in the adjutant general's office, in which we find
297
MILITIA HISTORY.
the number of persons enrolled in District Number Sixty, Captain Samuel F. Howard, for Active Service, was one hun- dred and thirty men; Reserve Militia, five hundred and nineteen men. The number of persons in District Number Sixty-one, Captain Thomas P. Ripley, for Active Service, was seventy-eight men ; Reserve Militia, three hundred and nine men.
We have given the foregoing account of the militia organ- ization up to May, 1865. The companies had hardly been formed, and officers chosen, when the Legislature passed a law, approved May 16, 1865, disbanding the " Active Militia," allowing them to volunteer in the service for five years. "All companies that do not volunteer within sixty days, from May 16, 1865, shall be discharged," thus leaving a militia force of volunteers only, of which there are but few old companies. Neither of the above companies has volun- teered to do duty, and hence in a short time will be dis- banded, according to law.
CHAPTER XVI.
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Public Roads. - Streets. - Turnpike. - Railroads .- Stages. - Post-Offices .- Post- masters. - Town Maps. - Newspapers. - Publications by the North Bridge- water People. - Libraries. - North Bridgewater Library Association.
ITHE laying out of public roads has but little interest to the stranger, having merely a local value which may serve to locate some of the early residents of the town. The prominent thoroughfare through this town was what was termed the " Old Bay Path," reaching far out towards the shore towns. This was also called, in the records of early date, the " Country Road," and which extended the entire length of the town, and at first was very crooked. Many of the earliest roads were but the foot-paths of Indians, and it was common to build roads in the tracks that were used by them in their travels.
The following are published, hoping they may be of some interest to the people of the town in which they are lo- cated : -
PUBLIC ROADS.
1673. Thomas Snell was to make and maintain two horse Bridges, one at the hither end of Salisbury Plain over the Brook, and another over the River.
1741. A Road from Ames's Land by Downey's house, and so on, between Abiel Packard's and Daniel Richards's Land, to the Country Road.
1742, September. Layed out a way from Bay Path or Country Road to William Packard's house, past David Packard, Jr.'s, house.
1744, March 30. Road from Danicl Ames's, running between Daniel Richards's and Downey's house.
1781, March 10. Road from Abram Packard's, by land of Benjamin Kingman and Lieutenant Henry Kingman, to Simeon Packard's.
1785, March 14. From Widow Mary Howard's at the head of the way casterly of Mrs. Howard's, continuing the same point to the south-west corner of Abington.
298
299
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY ..
1786, March 28. A Road one hundred Rods long on westerly side of Bay Road, northerly side of Rev. John Porter's land, and adjoining Benjamin Packard's land, to Thomas Macomber's house.
1789, Marelı 24. Road beginning at road leading from Joseph Snell's and Joseph, Jr.'s, at Nathan Keith's line, to the south-east corner of Aker- man Pettingill's land, by Ephraim Jackson's and Anna and Keziah Keith's land, to the road leading to Jacob Dunbar's.
1790, March 19. Road beginning at south-west corner of Jacob Rickard's land, and then running west in the two mile grant, to Easton.
1790, March 19. Another road a little south from Mark Ford's, running east to Jonas Packard's house.
1791, March 14. From North Boundary of Asa Keith's land, then to the Bridge north of Salisbury Plain, called Drift Road.
1793, March 11. Road beginning where the road through the West Shares (so called) in the North Precinct strikes the four mile line, running easterly on said line to road leading by Dr. Philip Bryant's.
1799, May 13. Road beginning at Colony line, between Edward Faxon's and John Hunt's, then running south, then east to Abington line.
1801, April 6. Road from Ridge, near John Bisbee's on Beaver Brook, to Dea. David Edson's, to where a gate lately stood.
1801, October 12. Road beginning at the intersecting of two Roads at westerly end of Mill Dam, at Howard's Saw-Mill so called, east and north over said dam, and called the Mill Dam Road.
1803, April 25. Road beginning at middle of road opposite south-west corner of Nathaniel Snell's woodland, Lying on Road leading from Shepard Snell's to Samuel V. Turner's.
1803, April 25. Also a Road beginning East side of Road leading from. Lieutenant Samuel Brett's to Deacon Josiah Eames's house at South-east corner of Land of Josiah Packard's heirs East to Abington Line.
1818, October 29. Drift Road Laid out at Campello, from the Burying Ground to " Sprague's Factory."
1821, October 29. Road from John Smith's near School House, to Bridge west of Abel Kingman's.
1822, November 4. Road from Galen Packard's to -- Street leading by Ephraim Cole's.
1823, May 12. Road from near Samuel Ford's, to Jonas Reynolds's.
1823, September 22. Road leading from near Jacob Packard's, to where it intersects the road west of Jacob Fuller's, now known as " Town Farm."
1831, December 19. Road leading from nearly front of Williams Cary's Dwelling House, running northerly till it intersects the old Road leading from Williams Cary's to Mike's Brook.
1834, November 1. Road from Captain Asa Jones's to Joseph Brett's, built by John Packard.
1836, July 11. Road leading from Captain Ziba Keith's, to West Bridgewater line and East Bridgewater.
1837, April 4. Road from Caleb Copeland's to Jesse Packard's, widened and straightened.
1841. Road from Sidney Howard's to Willard Snell's.
300
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
1841, July 21. Road from North Corner of Tyler Cobb's to A. K. Bor- den's.
1842, March 14. Road from Captain David Ames's to Benjamin Ames's.
1844, April 22. Road from John Ide's house to Warren Goddard's.
1846, March 4. Road south portion of Pond Street and Elm Street.
1846, June 15. Montello Street, from Lincoln to Centre Streets.
1847, March 29. Road from Main Street in Campello, to Campello Depot.
1850, April 19. Eliot Street, from Asa B. Jones's to Montello Street, and across Railroad, east.
1851, October 6. Pond Street, from Warren Goddard's to Spring Street.
1852, March 22. Road from corner Rockland Street, near Austin Snow's dwelling-house, running west to Turnpike Street.
1852, February 27. Road from Sidney Packard's house, east to Curtis's land.
1853, February 28. Road from IIotel to Crescent Street.
1853, March 28. Road from Spring Street, north to Apolos Packard's.
1854, February 14. Road from the late Caleb Howard's farm to the Turnpike.
1854, February 14. North Side of Elm Street widened.
1854, December 7. Road from westerly side of Montello Street, near William Snell's house, to Main Street in Campello.
1856, June 15. Road from north-east corner of Lyman Clark's land, past Railroad Depot, to Azel Packard's .*
1860, February 15. Grove Street, from Main Street to Railroad.
1861. Green Street, across Parish Green, from Colonel E. Southworth's store, to Pond Street.
The following list comprises the different streets in the town, as named, and on record : -
STREETS.
Main Street, from Old Colony line, East Stoughton, to West Bridgewater line.
Albion Street, from John May's corner to Howard Street.
Howard Street, from Main, near William C. Leonard's, to East Randolph line.
Winter Street, from Howard Street, near Willard Snell's, to the corner near Widow Martin Cary's.
Quiney Street, from Randolph line, at Sassafras Stake, to the corner ncar Samuel Packard's.
* When the commissioners - John B. Turner, of Scituate, Thomas Savory, of Warcham, and Joshua Smith, of Hanson - were called to lay out Centre Street, that leads from Robinson's store to railroad depot, and so on to Abington Road, pass- ing the cemetery, they thought it could not be called a public thoroughfare. The road was finally built through the generosity of public-spirited individuals, among whom were Colonel Edward Southworth, Franklin Ames, Esq., Charles Packard, and others interested.
301
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
Chestnut Street, from Randolph line, near Danicl Faxon's, to Quincy Street, near Simeon Warren's.
Ashland Street, from Main, near the burying-ground, to Abington line.
Cary Street, from Crescent, near F. Sylvester's, crossing Ashland, by Edward B. Packard's, to Quincy Street.
Ames Avenue, from Main, near David Ames's, to Cary Street.
Montello Street, from Ashland, near the burying-ground, to Plain Street.
Court Street, from Main, near D. Cobb's, crossing Montello, Cary, and Quincy Streets, to Abington line.
Centre Street, from Main, near Lyman Clark's, crossing Montello, Cary, and Quincy Streets, to Abington line.
Short Street from Centre, near Alvah Noyes's, to Court Strect, near Widow Reliance Ames's.
Crescent Street, from Main, near Micah Faxon's, to Centre Street.
School Street, from Main to Crescent.
Pine Street, from Crescent, near Sprague's Factory, to South Abington line.
Plain Street, from Main, near Ziba Keith's, to West Bridgewater line, near Josiah Dunbar's.
Summer Street, from Pine to Plain Street.
East Street, from Summer, near Jesse Packard's, 2d, to West Bridgewater line, by Enos Thayer's.
Hammond Street, from Pine to East Street.
South Street, from Main, near Josiah W. Kingman's, to Liberty Street, at G. and S. Manly's.
Belmont Street, from Main, near John Wales's, to Easton line.
Manly Street, from Belmont, near Martin Dunbar's, to Liberty, near Galen Manly's.
Mill Street, from Manly to Liberty Street.
Linwood Street, from Belmont, near Fiske Ames's, to West Bridgewater line.
Ash Street, from Belmont, by Perez Crocker's, to South Street.
Grove Street, from Main to Sprague's Factory.
Pond Street, from Belmont, near Josiah Packard's, to the corner near Freeman Dexter's.
Elm Street, from Main, near W. F. Brett's, to Pond Street.
High Street, from Main to Pond Street, near Rev. Warren Goddard's.
Pleasant Street, from Main, near First Congregational Church, to Easton linc.
Spring Street, from Main, near John Battles's, to Pleasant Street.
Prospect Street, from Main, near Asa D. Jones's, to Pleasant Street. Oak Street, from Main, near William C. Leonard's, to Turnpike Street. Battles Street, from Main, near Thomas Wales's, to Oak Street.
Eaton Street, from Prospect to Battles Street, near Nahum Battles's.
Cross Street, from Prospect to Battles Streets, near Zibeon Brett's. Turnpike Street, from Stoughton line to West Bridgewater line. Sumner Street, from Pleasant, near Meritt French's, to Stoughton line.
302
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
West Street, from Pleasant, near Eliphalet Thayer's, to Belmont Street.
Rockland Street, from Belmont, near Fiske Ames's, crossing Turnpike Street, to Easton line.
Church Street, from Rockland, near Silas Snow's, to Turnpike Street.
Liberty Street, from Turnpike, at Tilden's Corner, to West Bridgewater line.
Stone IIill Street, from Turnpike, near M. L. Reynolds's, to Easton line. Chapel Street, from Main to Montello, near David Howard's.
TURNPIKE.
The road known as the old " Taunton Turnpike " extended from South Boston to Taunton, passing through the towns of Raynham, Easton, West Bridgewater, North Bridgewater, Stoughton, Randolph, and Milton. Its location was like most other roads of that day, - it was laid out in as near a straight line as could conveniently be done without regard to hills or valleys, believing the shortest way to be the most expeditious.
This road was chartered as a turnpike corporation to Messrs. John Gilmore, Joshua Gilmore, Samuel Bass, and William P. Whiting, and constituted the " Taunton and South Boston Turnpike Corporation " in June, 1806, and was built during the years 1806 and 1807.
This road ran through the westerly portion of the town, or what is well known as the "West Shares " or North-west Bridgewater. At one time there was a large amount of travel upon this route, both by stages, and heavy baggage teams.
It is, however, of very little account as a toll-road at pres- ent, the counties through which it passes having taken it into their own hands to repair, and use for the public good.
" The old Turnpike is a pike no more, Wide open stands the gate ; We have made us a road for our horse to stride, Which we ride at a flying rate.
" We have filled the valleys and levelled the hills, And tunnelled the mountain side ;
And 'round the rough crag's dizzy verge, Fearlessly now we ride."
303
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
RAILROADS.
March 25, 1845, the Legislature of Massachusetts granted a charter to Messrs. Artemas Hale, Nahum Stetson, Aaron Hobart, Solomon Ager, Benjamin B. Howard, Dwelly Fobes, Edward Southworth, Benjamin Kingman, Henry Blanchard, Ebenezer Alden, Royal Turner, and David Blanchard, and their associates and successors to build a railroad from the Old Colony Railroad at South Braintree, running through Randolph, Stoughton, and North Bridgewater, to Bridge- water, to connect with the Middleboro' and Bridgewater Railroad, under the name of the " Randolph and Bridgewater Railroad Corporation." The road was finished, and com- menced running cars to North Bridgewater in 1846. Pre- vious to this, the " Fall River Branch Railroad " had been in existence for some time, from Myrick's Station on the " Taunton Branch Railroad " to Fall River. Another short road was chartered, to run from Bridgewater to Myrick's Station, to connect with the "Fall River Branch Railroad," thus making a continuous route from the Old Colony Road at South Braintree to Fall River, and three different corpo- rations. These were united in one, under the name of the " Fall River Railroad Corporation," by which it was known until, by an act of the Legislature March 25, 1854, the " Old Colony Railroad Company " and the " Fall River Railroad Company " were made into one corporation, under the name of the " Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Corporation." The road has since changed its name, upon the completion of the road to Newport, to " Old Colony and Newport Railway Company." The town has now direct communication with Boston, Fall River, Newport, Middleboro', and towns on Cape Cod, and also to Fairhaven. Mr. Joseph O. Bennett was the first station agent at the centre village, succeeded by George W. Bryant, Calvin Keith, and the present agent is J. Her- mon French. There is another depot at Campello Village,
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.