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 33
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408
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Samuel Herrod has also introduced steam power in his fac- tory, at the north end of the town, on Main Street. George Stevens has recently erected a large and commodious build- ing, for manufacturing boots and shoes by steam power, on Montello Street, Campello.
Probably no town in the country has superior advantages or facilities for manufacturing boots and shoes than the town of North Bridgewater; the facilities of transportation to Bos- ton and New York are convenient, and workmen of all kinds are at hand to do any amount of labor that may be required.
In 1835 George W. Bryant manufactured custom boots and shoes, and sold leather to manufacturers.
B. P. Davis commenced the retail boot and shoe business on Main Street in 1850. Charles D. Brigham has a boot and shoe store at 423 Main Street. Thomas P. Reynolds has a custom boot and shoe store in Central Block, on Centre Street.
We have thus far given a list of those who have at any time been engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. No doubt some may have been omitted ; but it was our inten- tion to give all who could be found by inquiry or otherwise. In 1860 nearly all of the shoe manufacturing towns had a strike, known as the "shoemakers' strike." What were the particulars of this organization in North Bridgewater, we have no facts from which to write. We think, however, it did not meet with universal favor.
In the foregoing list of business men, and the different kinds of trades carried on in the town, we have endeavored to give them all, as near as could be found. It is impossible to give a heading to every kind or variety of business ; but we have taken great pains to insert single names in some form. We insert the following list of miscellaneous branches, which is the conclusion of the chapter of mechanical and manufacturing interests, as well as of those in trade.
409
1
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
This town has been noted for the excellence of the musical instruments manufactured in the town. Caleb H. Packard was the first person in the town that engaged in the manufac- ture of musical instruments. He commenced the business of making melodeons in 1839, and was the first to introduce piano keys to those instruments, which was a great improve- ment.
A few years since Calvin Hatch, Nelson J. Foss, and Isaac T. Packard were associated together, under the firm of Pack- ard, Foss, & Co., for the purpose of manufacturing seraphines, melodeons, and reed organs. This firm was in business for several years over the store now occupied by B. Swain, and formerly occupied by Sidney Packard in Campello.
Mr. A. B. Marston commenced making musical instruments in July, 1855, in the shop that liad formerly been occupied ~ by Caleb H. Packard. Mr. Marston purchased the stock and interest of Mr. Packard, and conducted business at the old stand till the building and contents were destroyed by fire, September 2, 1858. Mr. Marston then erected a new and commodious .building on Depot Street, in January, 1859, where he continues to manufacture the best quality of instru- ments. Messrs. Isaac T. Packard and Edmund Packard were engaged in the same kind of business for several years, in the rooms over L. D. Hervey's house-furnishing store, in the Cen- tre Village. Edmund Packard afterward continued the busi- ness alone till May 1, 1862, when he sold to Philip Reynolds, of Stoughton, who is now engaged in that line of business. The town has always been well supplied with such mechanics as are required in all large country towns, and has a great variety of stores, sufficient for the wants of the commu- nity. It has, indeed, been the resort for people to trade in all kinds of goods, for a region of fifteen to twenty miles. Those who have occasion to patronize the milliners will find a variety of goods seldom found in the country. 52
410
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Among those engaged in that kind of goods, are W. M. Shedd, in the building owned by Howard, Clark, & Co .; Mrs. Sarah H. Studley, in the bank building; Mrs. Mary R. Reynolds, in Ruel Richmond's building ; Mrs. Mary A. French, in Captain Henry French's house. There are in the town at present agencies for the sale of all kinds of sewing-machines, among whom is W. D. Hamilton, agent for Singer's machines, J. Wallace Packard, agent for Leavitt sewing-machines, and Thomas Leonard, agent for Wilcox & Gibbs; also, one hoop- skirt manufactory, recently opened ; one periodical depot, for the sale of newspapers, etc. There is also a good supply of refreshment saloons and provision stores, that would do credit to many a place of larger size, where the best of meats, veg- etables, fruit, etc., can always be found. There are also several halls, where concerts and singing-schools are held, and which are generally well patronized, especially in the winter evenings.
LIST OF PATENTS GRANTED TO NORTH BRIDGEWATER PEOPLE, WITH THE DATES OF THE SAME.
NAMES.
DATE.
DESCRIPTION OF PATENT.
Jesse Reed.
June
9, 1801. Making nails from heated rods.
66 .
66
. July 15, 1802.
Rolling iron for nails.
.Feb. 22, 1807.
Cutting and heading nails.
June 3, 1808.
Machine for rasping dye woods.
April 15, 1809.
.Sept. 16, 1810.
Wheel for feeding iron plates. Nail cutting and heading.
. Nov. 14, 1811.
Nail cutting and heading.
Oct. 22, 1814.
Nail cutting and heading.
Dec. 16, 1814.
Manufacturing nails.
. Aug. 1, 1816.
Making tacks.
. April 21, 1825.
Slitting iron and feeding appa- ratus.
66
.Feb.
3, 1826. Cleansing Sea Island cotton.
Jan. 5, 1831.
Furnace to generate steam for culinary purposes.
. Aug.
5, 1831. Improved pump.
.Sept.
1, 1831. Corn-sheller.
James Hall.
. July 27, 1832.
Machine for pointing pegs.
Jesse Reed
Nov. 19, 1833.
Cast iron pump.
66
-
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
411
NAMES.
DESCRIPTION OF PATENT.
Jesse Reed.
DATE. July 22, 1833. Plug and trunnel gear for ships' usc.
John Hall .May 6, 1836. Machine for making shoes.
Jesse Reed. .July 24, 1838.
Improved pump.
Azel H. Buzzel
. Aug. 25, 1840.
Jesse Reed. . April 16, 1841.
Joseph J. Couch . Mar. 27, 1849.
Julius Thompson . Sept. 7, 1852.
Isaac T. Packard
Sept. 23, 1852.
Henry Eddy .. .Sept. 19, 1854.
Soranes Dunham .Dec. 25, 1855.
Isaac A. Dunham .June 24, 1856.
Martin Snow . April 8, 1856.
Henry Eddy Jan. 6, 1857.
Manley Packard. . April 27, 1857. Improved method of adjusting and holding knives on spoke- shaves.
Isaac A. Dunham. .Sept. 22, 1857. Edge planes for trimming boot and shoe soles.
E. Sumner Snell .. . Mar. 9, 1858. Machine for pricking and cut- ting heels.
Varanes Snell. . July 20, 1858. Heel shaves, for boots and shoes.
Daniel G. Greene, as-
signer to self and Wil- >Aug. 30, 1859. Improved wagon wrench. liam Nash,
William H. Rounds. . Feb. 7, 1860. Machine for skiving, trimming, and chamfering leather.
E. Sumner Snell. April 10, 1860. Azel Reynolds. . April 17, 1860.
Edge planes for boots and shoes. Staging supporter for mechanics.
Improved clothes-wringer.
E. W. Bates, assigner Mar. 1863. Improved wood-saw frames.
to John Ellis,
L. F. Thayer, assigner Feb. 9, 1864. Improved lasting tack. to William Faxon,
T. K. Reed. Aug. 1864. Eyeleting machine.
Reed & Packard Aug. 23, 1864. Catch button.
Aberdeen Keith . Sept. 1864. Machine for cutting leather into counters.
E. D. & O. B. Reynolds. . Jan. 24, 1865. T. K. Reed. . .Mar. 1865. Improved mouth for bags.
Combined cultivator and harrow.
Walker & Tribou. . . April, 1865. Clasp for fastening wheel rims.
Improved method of tanning sole leather.
Improved pump.
Machine for drilling rocks.
Blow-pipe for dentists.
Improved bellows for rced in- struments. Improved beehive.
Improved method of hanging saws. Shoemakers' edge planes.
Spoke-shaves.
Improved mode of constructing horse stalls.
Caleb H. Packard. .Feb. 22, 1862. John W. Kingman. 1862. Patent composition for roofing.
412
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
We take great pleasure in recording the above list to show to what extent the people of the town have been an inventive people. By these we can see that there has been a consider- able of patience and persevering industry in the town since the year 1800. Among the prominent ones, and deserving special notice, is that of Jesse Reed, who was born in North Bridgewater, August 29, 1778. At the age of nine years he went to Easton to reside with Mr. Dean, with whom he resided three years, during which time his mechanical taste was displayed in the construction of a trip-hammer, put in operation by a wheel and cam-shaft, propelled by water. At the age of twelve he returned to his father, and soon after constructed the main part of a wooden clock. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to a joiner in Randolph, Mass., where he served a regular apprenticeship at that business.
During this period he tried his skill on perpetual motion, and the result of his labors is thus given in his own words: "I worked two days and three nights without sleep. The last night, a little before daylight, I got it ready to put into operation ; and, to avoid notice, I went into a little pine grove, with a friend, to put it together and set it in motion. I found that, as soon as it was put together, it would go as well ono way as the other, and that it would not go either way with- out help. I was then fully convinced that it was out of the power of man to put machinery together so as to produce perpetual motion, and that nothing short of the power to create could do it. To this belief I have ever since adhered." His first invention was a rotary pump, which was soon laid aside. His mind was next drawn to improvements in the manufacture of cut nails from heated rods ; his next plan was to roll the iron to a thickness, and slit it into pieces of the right size for the body of the nail, and flatten the point; but this plan failed. The next plan was to cut and head nails at one operation. Soon after this he established a machine shop
413
MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY.
in a small house, near a waterfall, the upper part of which he used as a residence, the lower portion as a shop. Here he built two or three nail-machines, which caused him pecuniary embarrassment, and he lost all, - his labor and money. From thence he removed to Boston and worked at his trade of joiner, and was employed in constructing the first lock on the canal through Medway. He then removed to Providence, R. I .; from thence he removed to West Bridgewater, and com- menced making a machine for making fourpenny nails, to be propelled by foot, making sixty-two nails per minute. He next made machines for fourpenny and sixpenny nails, and set up in Plymouth, Mass .; from thence he removed to King- ston, in 1808. About this time he invented a machine for pulverizing dye-woods, for Messrs. Barrett & Shattuck, silk dyers, of Malden. Since that time he has invented several machines, for different purposes, as machines for steering vessels, different kinds of pumps, cotton-gins, treenail-ma- chines, etc.
" Mr. Reed is a man of indefatigable industry, and of indom- itable perseverance. He has made and lost several fortunes in his day. Free and generous in his manners, he is not one who hoards all his gains to increase his own stores ; but con- siders himself as a public servant, and expends on new inven- tions the fruits of his previous toils. Thus, in his old age, not a millionnaire, resting from his labors, he is still at work, with a mind as active and vigorous as ever, at Marshfield, Mass." *
Since the inventions of Mr. Reed we notice several of the patents are for use in the making of shoes and boots, which have been of great service to the public and a source of profit to the patentee.
Of all the patents above named, we cannot fail to notice that of Caleb H. Packard, which consists of a wringing-ma-
-
* Rev. J. S. Barry, in his " History of Hanover."
414
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
chine with rubber rolls, by which clothes are made dry with very little labor. The idea of wringing clothes by machine is of a very recent date; and among the many machines in use, that of Mr. Packard, made by Bennett & Whiting, is a superior machine for that purpose. We wish the inventor success, and we hope the number of improvements and in- ventions may go on increasing every year.
CHAPTER XXI.
PRECINCT CONTROVERSY AND INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
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 Petition. - The Act of Incorporation as passed June 15, 1821. - First Town Meeting.
?
ITHE people of the North Parish remained contented with I 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 themselves. The first step taken in that direction was in 1793. In a warrant 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 negatived, and the meet- ing was dissolved by the moderator."
Things remained quiet in reference to the subject of divi- sion 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 Bridge- water, or such other name as the parish may think proper, with all the rights and privileges of other incorporated
415
416
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
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 them- selves, and to report at a future meeting." Colonel 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 com- mittee, "Voted to take measures to have the parish sepa- rated 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 commit- tee did towards forwarding the wishes of the town does not appear on record. Again, November 11 of the same year, the parish " voted to take measures to have this parish sep- arated from the town, and incorporated with the privileges of a town." Thirty-nine in favor, nineteen opposed to the meas- ure. 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 Legisla- turo the next session for a division of the town." Abel Kingman, Esq., Colonel Caleb Howard, Joseph Sylvester,
417
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
Esq., and Colonel Edward Southworth were chosen a com- mittee 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 ex- tensive in territory, and furnishes about eleven or twelve hundred voters, of which number nearly three hundred belong to the north precinct, and have to travel from five to seven miles on an average to attend town meet- ings, 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 dis- tance 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 it 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 will ever pray.
Asa Howard,
Josiah Brett,
Daniel H. Cary,
Jeremiah Beals, Jr.,
Martin Cary,
Benjamin Southworth,
Azel Gurney,
David Ford,
Zenas Brett,
Jeremiah 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, John Packard,
Jonathan Edson,
Oliver Snell,
Benjamin Kingman,
Asa Battles, James Loring,
Thomas Reynolds,
William Brett,
Daniel Ames,
Levi Packard,
Gustavus Sylvester,
Waldo Field,
Arza Keith, Caleb Jackson,
Martin Southworth, David Ames, Samuel Brett,
Jonathan Snow,
Zachariah Gurney,
Joseph Silvester,
Samuel Brett, Jr.,
John Burrill,
John Cobb,
James Porter,
Benjamin Ames,
Samuel Dike, Jr.,
Ebenezer Warren,
53
Jabez Kingman, Simeon Packard, Joseph Faxon, Nathaniel Ames, Micah Packard, David Packard, Bernard Jackson,
Isaac Whiting,
Oliver Snell, Jr.,
Jeremiah Snell,
418
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Isaac Horton,
Jonathan Porter, James Hatch, Orren Faxon,
Jonas Packard, Samuel Ford, Adin Packard, Jr.,
Thomas Wales,
Noah Chesman,
Isaac Clapp,
Howard Cary,
Ambrose Packard, 2d,
Isaac Keith, 3d, Sylvanus French,
Lemuel Packard,
Joseph Wild,
Zibeon Brett,
Calvin Bryant, Jonas Reynolds,
Barnabas Edson,
Edward Southworth, Asa Jones,
Sprague Snow,
Zenas Packard,
Zibeon Packard, Abiel Kingman,
Enos Thayer,
Abcl Kingman,
Zibeon Cole,
Eliphalet Thayer,
William Tribou,
Joseph Reynolds, Jr.,
Alexander Thayer,
Jonas Howard, Jr.,
Daniel Alden,
Alexander Thayer, 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, Isaae Brett,
Ambrose Packard,
Reuben Drake,
Olnan Cole,
Alpheus Tribou,
Ichabod IIowland,
James Willis,
Isaac Reynolds,
Elijah Drake,
Gideon Packard,
Eliphaz Sprague,
Cyrus Warren,
Jonas Keith,
Adin Packard, Jesse Perkins,
Apollas Howard,
Daniel Bryant,
Stillman Willis, Ziba Keith,
John Porter, Elisha Tillson,
Nehemiah Lincoln,
David Edson, Jr.,
Martin Drake,
Cyrus Packard,
Samuel Harris,
Joseph Reynolds,
Sullivan Packard,
Galen Warren,
Simeon Dunbar,
Newton Shaw,
John May,
Nathaniel Manlcy,
Perez Southworth, Jr.,
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, Joseph Brett,
Samuel Dikc, John Humphrey,
Matthew Snell,
Zebedee Snell,
Cyrus B. Phillips,
Nathan Bryant,
Lewis Dailie,
Josiah Ames,
Silas Iloward,
James Humphrey,
Bethuel Field,
Cyrus Snell,
Robert Howard,
Levi French,
Abiezer Hobart, Silas Snow,
Daniel Field, John Field,
William Badger, James Churchill,
Oliver Bryant,
Joseph Whiting,
Zenas Packard, Jr.,
Ozen Gurney,
Samuel Chesman,
Simeon Dunbar,
Mark Ford,
Oliver Dike,
Zophar Field,
Parmenas Brett,
Joshua Jenkins,
Ephraim Sturtevant,
Apollas Packard, John Battles, Asa Pratt,
Jocl Ames,
Galen Paekard,
Micah Shaw,
Perez Southworth,
Joseph Hayward, Nathaniel Hobart,
Lemuel French,
419
INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
Nathan Leach, Jr., Ezekiel Reed,
Nathan Leach,
Edward Pratt,
Fobes Field,
Howard Packard,
Nathan Hayward,
Simeon Reynolds,
Danicl J. Diekerman,
Benjamin F. Dickerman, Alfred Bolton,
Nathaniel Wales,
Parmenas Packard,
Harvey Hawes,
Aphia Alden.
Rosscter Jones,
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 4, 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.
Read and concurred.
A true copy, attest.
IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 4, 1819. TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker. 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. Re- monstrances against the petition were also presented from Gideon Howard and ninety-eight others, and Eliab Whitman,
420
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Esq., and fifty-eight others, also residents of the North Parish, and a petition of Bela C. Dike and nineteen others, which we publish in full to show the feeling of the parish at that time.
The following is a truo copy of Gideon Howard's remon- strance : -
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled, January Term, 1820 :
The subscribers, inhabitants of the North Parish of the town of Bridge- water, beg leave respectfully to remonstrate against the petition of Asa Howard and others praying 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 de- sirable ; and, upon most candid examination, they are at a loss on what to bottom this eager desire to loosen the bands of its union and degrade its im- portance. It is a fact well known that but few towns in the county of this Commonwealth have managed their publie 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 last- ing and substantial interests of the town will be promoted 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 ohjections on this subject, but cheerfully submit their interest and wishes to your wise consideration. A former decree, on a petition to divide the town of Bridgewater, inspires your remonstrants with confidence in renew- ing 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, de- clared that the North Parish should continue a part of the town of Bridge- water. The town has at all times been uniform in its opposition to division, and an application being made to the General Court for division has inta- riably voted by handsome majority to preserve its union. Your remon- strants, however confident of success in their opposition, may be disappointed. With all due deferenee to the decision which the General Court may make on this important subject, anxious for the fate of Bridgewater as a town, they will carly 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.
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