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 8
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REV. T. B. MS NULTY
77
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
ufactured by Messrs. Howard, Clark, & Co. In the south- west corner of the house is the sacristy, and in the northeast corner is a private room out of which is the entrance to the basement story. In point of durability and style of architect- ure, this house is not to be surpassed by any in the town. Its position is prominent, and makes a bold appearance upon the principal thoroughfare in town.
This church was dedicated Sunday, May 22, 1859 ; and al- though the weather was quite rainy, there was a large assem- bly present. The services were as follows : -
Bishop Fitzpatrick, of Boston, delivered the Sermon. High Mass was celebrated by Rev. Mr. Roach, of Randolph. Rev. Mr. Shahen, of Salem, officiated as Deacon. Rev. Mr. Tallon, of New Bedford, as Subdeacon. Rev. Mr. Haley, of Boston, was Master of Ceremonies, a number of other priests as- sisting. Rev. Mr. McElroy, of Boston, preached at Vespers. Singing was performed by a choir from Salem.
The number of attendants on church worship at this place is about two thousand.
FIRST UNIVERSALIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
This society was organized August 31, 1857, at which time Josiah V. Bisbee was chosen clerk, David F. Studley, treas- urer, Ellis Packard, O. O. Patten, Lorenzo D. Hervey, F. O. Howard, William H. Cooper, executive committee, Thaddeus E. Gifford, collector.
Previous to this time, this denomination had no regular preaching, and since its organization it has had transient preachers until the settlement of Rev. William A. Start.
The following persons composed the society at its forma- tion : Otis Hayward, Lorenzo D. Hervey, Ellis Packard, Da- vid Hall, David F. Studley, F. O. Howard, Amasa O. Glover, Marcus Holmes, Oren Bartlett, Thomas Swift, E. L. Thayer,
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Jerome Thomas, F. A. Thayer, Luther Tower, Martin Pack- ard, Isaac Harris, Waldo Field, Thaddeus E. Gifford, Edwin E. Pollard, John W. Hayward, A. B. Marston, Seth Leonard, Joseph E. Estes, Josiah V. Bisbee, O. O. Patten, Charles E. Tribou, Samuel F. Tribou, Elijah Tolman, C. G. Swift.
The society erected a neat and commodious house of wor- ship on Elm Street, in the month of May, 1863. Its dimen- sions are sixty feet in length, thirty-eight in width, and con- tains sixty pews, capable of seating three hundred persons comfortably. The pews are of a circular form, with the seats nicely cushioned, floor carpeted, and in all respects, the house is complete. In the rear of the pulpit is the following in- scription upon the wall, which is nicely frescoed : " Behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people." Underneath this house is a capacious and conven- ient vestry.
The house was dedicated, with appropriate exercises, on Wednesday, May 20, 1863, commencing at 10 o'clock A. M., as follows : 1. Voluntary, by the Choir; 2. Prayer of Invo- cation, by Rev. E. Hewitt ; 3. Reading of the Scriptures, by Rev. J. G. B. Heath ; 4. Anthem, by the Choir ; 5. Conse- crating Prayer, by Rev. A. P. Cleverly ; 6. Hymn; 7. Ser- mon, by Rev. A. A. Miner, of Boston; 8. Anthem ; 9. Prayer, by Rev. H. Jewell ; 10. Hymn; 11. Benediction. The sermon was from the text in Psalm xxii. 27, 28: " For the kingdom is the Lord's, and he is the governor among the nations." At the conclusion of these services, the friends were invited to a most generous repast in the vestry ; and the society spared no pains or expense to secure temporal as well as spiritual comfort to their visitors. After a short intermission, the services of installing Rev. William A. Start as pastor of the church was commenced in the following or- der of exercises: 1. Anthem, by the Choir; 2. Invocation, by Rev. J. Eastwood, of Brighton; 3. Reading of the Scrip-
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
tures, by Rev. M. R. Leonard, of South Dedham; 4. Hymn; 5. Sermon, by Rev. J. Crehore, of Abington, text, Eph. iv. 12, 13: " For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;"* 5. Hymn; 6. Installing Prayer, by Rev. G. H. Emerson, of Somerville ; 7. Charge to the Pastor, by Rev. A. A. Miner, of Boston; 8. Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. James Eastwood, of Brighton; 9. Charge to the People, by Rev. A. P. Cleverly, of Boston ; 10. Prayer; 11. Anthem; 12. Benediction, by the Pastor.
This society owe much of their success to the active, zeal- ous, and persevering efforts of Rev. A. P. Cleverly and Rev. J. Crehore.
QUAKERS, OR FRIENDS.
There was an Association, or Society of Friends, in North Bridgewater, formed April 26, 1838, and consisted of twen- ty-five members, as appears by record, which is as follows :-
" We the undersigned hereby become members of a Society forming of this sect, called Quakers, and do hereby agree to subject ourselves to the rules and regulations which shall be adopted by said Society, in the town of North Bridgewater."
Michael O. Neil, John R. Morrill,
William Ripley,
Nahum J. Smith,
M. B. Peircc,
Charles S. Johnson,
Cyrus Packard,
Jabez D. Lamson, Jarvis D. Smith,
Jacob W. Crosby, Ambrose Packard, Thomas Batchelder,
Edward Southworth, Jr.,
Josiah Fuller, Edwin W. Bosworth,
Daniel Guild, John L. Skinner, Noah Blodgett,
Charles L. Hathaway,
Apollos O. Howard,
Nathan Packard,
Roswell Richardson,
Reuben S. Webster, Jeremiah Stetson, Jr.
John Leonard,
At the request of Nahum J. Smith and twenty-four other
* The sermon was very timely and effective, as well as practical, showingfully the needs of a minister, his dependence on the people for support, the minister's relation to the sorrowing, the various relations of the people, and the sources of inspiration to his labor, and the awards as fruits of his toil.
-
80
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
members, a meeting was called by Hon. Jesse Perkins, Esq., a justice of the peace, which met at the hall of Col. Edward Southworth, April 30, 1838, at seven o'clock P. M., for the purpose of organization; at which time Edward Southworth, Jr., was chosen clerk, who took the oath of affirmation in the usual form; Jacob W. Crosby, Nahum J. Smith, John L. Skinner, were chosen overseers; Cyrus Packard, treasurer and collector, besides a committee to prepare a constitution and by-laws ;- meeting then adjourned to May 8, 1838. The "meeting met according to adjournment, and after discussing various matters connected with the Society, ad- journed to June 7," when they again came together for friendly conversation, and again adjourned sine die.
The above is the latest record to be found concerning this society, and it is presumed that the society did not flourish for any length of time. Many of the members mentioned above are living, from whom a reliable account can be had.
SECOND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was formed in 1842, consisting of about thirty members, among whom were the following persons : -
Sanford Alden, Eliza G. Alden, Liberty Packard, Mary A. Packard, Israel Packard, Jr., Jane W. Packard, Cornelius H. Dunham, Lucia Dunham, Thaddeus Gifford, Abigail Gifford, Mary Edson, Fearing W. Bent, Mehitabel W. Bent, Jarvis D. Smith, Martha Smith.
The society first held meetings in Hayward's Hall, com- mencing March 2, 1842; afterward occupied the Unitarian Church till July 23, 1843, when they removed to the hall of Tyler Cobb.
Rev. O. G. Smith was their first pastor, who preached to them from the organization of the church till 1844. He was succeeded by Rev. Addison Childes, of the Providence Con- ference, who soon after closed his earthly labors, and the so-
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
ciety employed Rev. H. C. Atwater, a graduate of Yale Col- lege, and at that time a teacher of the Adelphian Academy, till the close of the conference year, when he was admitted to the conference, and stationed there in 1845. During the same year, a plain but substantial house of worship was erected, costing $2,600, built by Messrs. Dunbar & Soule. Sanford Alden, Fearing W. Bent, Thomas Hathaway, Liberty Packard, Israel Packard, Jr., Cornelius H. Dunham, and Oliver D. Shepardson were appointed trustees.
Henry Smith was located for this church in 1846, and re- mained two years; Lemuel Harlow in 1848, but was not re- ceived. His place was filled by
1. Rev. Edward Otheman, in 1848. 7. Rev. Robert McGonegal, 1857-8.
2. Rev. J. B. Husted, in 1850. 8. Rev. J. Cooper, 1853.
3. Rev. John Livesey, Jr., 1851-2.
9. Rev. N. Bemis, 1860-61.
4. Rev. Azariah B. Wheeler, 1853. 10. Rev. M. P. Alderman, 1862.
5. Rev. Erastus Benton, 1854-5. 11. Rev. R. T. Ely, 1862-3.
6. Rev. Andrew Mckeown, 1856. 12. Rev. F. A. Crafts, April, 1864.
The number of members in this church in 1864 is 174.
Officers of the church: Sanford Alden, Philip Reynolds, Elijah Gay, Darius C. Place, John Ellis, Edwin J. Benner, George R. Whitney, Thomas Hathaway, John Montgomery, trustees.
During the year 1853, this society erected a new and splendid church edifice, at an expense of $24,000. Barnabas Snow was the contractor and master-builder, Isaiah B. Young, of Boston, architect. The building is ninety-four feet long by sixty feet wide, with a tower one hundred and ten feet high, containing a bell weighing 1,827 pounds, from the foundry of Henry N. Hooper, of Boston, costing $665. The interior of the house is furnished with one hundred and ten pews and an elegant organ, manufactured by Mr. George Stevens, of Cambridge, Mass. A baptismal font of marble, was presented to the society by S. S. Green. Also, a beau- tiful Bible and hymn-book, presented by the "Young Gen-
11
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
tlemen's Charitable Association," connected with the church.
The corner-stone of this church was laid July 25, 1853, with appropriate ceremony, as follows : 1. Remarks, by Rev. A. B. Wheeler ; 2. Reading of the Word, by Rev. Paul Couch ; 3. Singing; 4. Prayer, by Rev. T. B. Gurney ; 5. Benediction.
Previous to the benediction, occurred the ceremony of depositing a tin box in one of the corner foundations of the tower, which contained the following : ---
Records of the Second Methodist Church in North Bridge- water ; names of original and present members of the Second Conference ; officers of the Sabbath-school; trustees of the church ; building committee; architect and master-builder ; pastors of the various churches in town ; copies of order of exercises on the occasion ; minutes of the Providence An- nual Conference ; missionary report of the Methodist Epis- copal Church; Sabbath-school report; discipline of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church; copies of Zion's Herald, Church Ad- vocate and Journal, Missionary Advocate, Sabbath-School Advocate, North Bridgewater Gazette.
This house was dedicated to the worship of God, June 1, 1854, with the following order of exercises, commencing at 10 1-2 o'clock : -
1. Voluntary on the Organ; 2. Reading of the 84th Psalm, by Rev. George W. Stearns ; 3. Voluntary, by the Choir ; 4. Reading of the 964th Hymn of the Methodist Collection, by Rev. J. B. Gould ; 5. Reading of Solomon's Prayer at the dedication of the temple, - 1 Kings viii.,- by Rev. J. Ma- ther ; 6. Dedicatory Prayer, by Rev. F. Upham ; 7. Volun- tary, by the Choir ; 8. Sermon, by Rev. Miner Raymond (Principal of Wilbraham Academy), text 1 Tim. i. 15: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners ; " 9. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. I. J. P. Collyer ; 10. Reading of the 970th Hymn, by Rev. W. T. Harlow.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
The sermon was spoken of as a masterly exposition and defence of the cardinal doctrines of the gospel as taught by that denomination.
Pews were sold to the amount of $16,000 a short time after the dedication, and everything bade fair for a prosperous and useful society.
This church was blessed with a great revival in January, 1843, the result of which was, large numbers were added to the church, and a flourishing Sabbath-school organized.
The Leaders of this church, for 1864, are Philip Reynolds, Darius C. Place, John Montgomery, L. Simmons, V. R. Brown.
The Stewards are Sanford Alden, Isaac Jacoy, George M. Copeland, Stephen Mason, John Ellis, Gustavus Newman, Cyrus Jernegan, George R. Whitney.
CHAPTER V.
MEETING-HOUSES OF THE CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
First Meeting-House in the North Parish. - Its Appearance. - Second House. - Description. - Sale of Pews. - First Bell. - Seating of Colored People. - Third Meeting-House. - Pewholders. - Clock. - First Stoves. - Erection of the Fourth Meeting-House in 1854. - Dedication. - Description of the Same. - Sale of Pews.
ITHE first meeting-house in the North Parish was built in 1737, on or near the spot where the present edifice now stands. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Dunbar, of Stoughton, from Solomon's Songs, viii. 8: "We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts : what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for ?"
From the best information gained, it was a small, plain structure, in keeping with the times, facing south, without steeple, bell, or chimney ; the windows had diamond-shaped glass, walls plastered, but not warmed by stove or furnace.
" Our meeting-house - our meeting-house - It stood upon a hill,
Where autumn gales and wintry blasts Piped round it loud and shrill. No maple-tree with leafy shade, Nor tall, protecting oak Stood near to guard the ancient house When tempest round it broke.
No steeple graced its homely roof With upward-pointing spire ; Our villagers were much too meck A steeple to desire. And never did the welcome tones Of Sabbath-morning bell Our humble village worshippers The hour of worship tell."
To this place the people of the parish gathered from Sab- bath to Sabbath with commendable regularity, on horseback
8.4
85
MEETING-HOUSES.
or on foot. They "kept the Sabbath and reverenced the - Sanctuary."
At the time of the incorporation of the parish the house was "Erected and Inclosed," but not finished. At a meeting held March 12th, 1739, " Timothy Keith, Benjamin Edson, David Packard, Daniel Howard, Edward Curtis, were chosen a committee for the finishing the meeting-house in sd Pre- cinct," also " voted to raise two Hundred and fifty pounds for the finishing of the same, to be paid by the last of Au- gust," chose Abiel Packard, " Recever of stuf and meterels," March 26th, 1739. "The committee appointed to finish the meeting-house made demand of the several inhabitants how they would pay their Reats, or what they could percure tords the prosecution of the work of finishing the meeting-house. In order to pay their Raits Whare upon a number subscribed what they would percure, as first : " -
James Packard to do the Glazing of the House, and what it amounts to more than his Reats Come to, to take his pay at the forge, In Iron ore or Cole next fall Insewing. John Johnson and John Kingman, to do the ma- sing work, and nails, and to take his pay over and Abuv, his Raits at the fornes or forge, In Labour, or Cole, or Iron ore the next fall Insewing. David Packard, Solomon Packard, and Jacob Allen, to find Lime.
Robert Haward, to find one thousand of pine Bords,
Zacheus Packard, to find one thousand of oak Bords,
Solomon Packard, to find one thousand of pine Bords, Benjamin Edson, to find one thousand of pine Bords, Abiel Packard, to find one thousand of pine Bords, Timothy Keith, to find one thousand of oak Bords, Daniel Haward, to find one thousand of pine Bords, Theofilus Curtis, to find five hundred of pine Bords, Edward Curtis, to find five hundred of pine Bords, James Barret, to find one thousand of pine Bords,
Joshua Warren, to find Henges, Timothy Keith, David Packard, Solomon Packard, Jacob Allen, Benjamin Edson, Daniel Haward, to find all the shect work.
The above offers were accepted, by vote of the meeting in " Lue of money so far as shall pay their Raits." Oct. 8th, 1739, " voted to sell roome for pews in the meeting-house."
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Dec. 10th, 1739, " voted to sell room for pews in order to Raise money to buy a Cushing." * Jan. 15th, 1740, " voted to chuse three men to set a prise upon the pews to be Gin to Bid at, so that no man should Beed below the prise thay. should set, maid choise of James Packard, Abiel Packard, and Isaac Kingman, for the same." Jan. 21st, 1740, " meeting was held to-day," and " voted to sell the pews to the highest bidder." "John Kingman, vendue master, who seet up the first pew on the west side of the pulpit to be sold to the high- est Beder, and so all the Rest Sucksesevely Round the meet- in house, to the Number of 13 pews."
Voted that John Kingman shuld have the first pew, It being five £ s. d. feet Two inches front, and five feet Three inches deep for 17 05 0 1
he being the highest Beder,
Voted that Daniel Haward should have the Seckond pew, It being 5 ft 2 inches front and 5 feet 2 inches deep for 13 00 0
Voted that Charles Snell should have the Thurd pew, It being 7
ft 8 inches front and 4 ft 6 inches deep for 14 10 0
Voted that John Johnson should have the Forth pew, It being 6
ft 10 inches front and 4 ft and 6 inches deep for 13 00 0
Voted that Jabez Field should have the Fifth pew, It being 7 ft 9 inches front and 4 ft and 6 inches deep for 12 10 0
Voted that Walter Downe should have the sixth pew, It being 6
ft and 10 inches front and 4 ft 7 inches deep for 5 00 0
Voted that James Packard should have the Seventh pew, It being
7 ft 3 inches front and 4 ft 7 inches deep for 23 00 0 Voted that Nathan Keith should have the Eighth pew, It being 7 ft 3 inches front and 4 ft 7 inches deep for 26 15 0
Votea that Weddow Ledah Packard should have the ninth pew,
It being 6 ft 10 inches front and 4 ft 7 inches deep for (No amount given.) Voted that Zachriah Snell should have the tenth pew, It being 7 ft 9 inches front and 4 ft 6 inches deep for 16 15 0
Voted that Abiel Packard should have the Eleventh pew, It being 7 ft 9 inches front and 4 ft 6 inches deep for 15 00 0
Voted that David Packard should have the twelfth pew, It being 7 ft 10 inches front and 4 ft 6 inches deep for 23 05 0 Voted that Robert Haward should have the thirteenth pew, It be- ing 6 ft 9 inches front and 5 ft 6 inches decp for 27 00 0
Robert Haward was chosen, "recever of the Bonds," given for the pews.
* Probably this was for the pulpit.
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MEETING-HOUSES.
A LIST OF CHARGES GIVEN IN TO THE PRECINCT FOR BUILDING THE NEW MEETING HOUSE.
£ s.
£ s. d.
James Packard,
55 19 0
Theofilus Curtis,
05 13 8
Abiel Packard,
24 15 0
Solomon Packard,
12 00 0
Weddow Ledah Packard,
15 09 6
Benjamin Edson, 04 11 0
Zacheus Packard,
11 09 0
Timothy Keith,
07 00 0
Jacob Allen,
10 01 0
David Packard,
53 12 0
Joshua Warren,
07 16 0
John Kingman,
05 06 5
James Barret,
08 02 6
Josiah Snell,
16 00 0
John Johnson,
39 15 9
Mr. Barnabas Pratt,
08 02 0
Daniel Howard,
11 00 6
Zachariah Snell,
00 15 0
Robert Howard,
8 00 0
John Colly,
06 06 0
Elezer Washburn,
74 17 0
Total 386 11 4
January 12, 1741. " Voted that John Colly should have Thirty-five shil- lings for sweeping the meeting house the ycar Insuing." March 23, 1742. Abiel Packard to sweep the mecting house the present year for 35 shil- lings.
March 28, 1743. John Coly to have 40 shillings for sweeping the mect- ing house this year coming.
June 6, 1743. A meeting was held " to see whether the precinct would vote to Buld Seats In the Galiryes, and it was voted iu the negative." It was then put to vote to see whether the precinct would " sell Roome over the stairs and behind the front Galiry next to the wall for pews and it was voted in the Affirmative."
From the above it appears that the house had galleries put up, but not finished. The usual practice in building churches in early times was to finish the inside and sell "pew room," or sections, which each purchaser would finish to suit himself. Hence we frequently find votes in the records as follows : -
June 20, 1743. " It was put to vote by the moderator of the meeting to see whether the precinct would vote to sell fore pews Behind the front Galary, and over the Stayers at a publiek vandue to the highest Beder. The Demenshions of sd Pews are as followetli : 'over the womens Stairs 6 fcet front and five feet and half deep. Behind womens front Galary, 8 feet front and five feet deep. Behind men's front Galary six feet and a half front, and five feet deep, over the mens stairs six feet front, and five and a half deep, alowing Convenant Roome to pase up and down the stairs.' Voted in the afirmative."
" The pew over the mens stairs was seet up by the moder-
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
ator to sail and Timothy Keith Beding two pounds and ten shillings upon sd pew, It was struck of to him, he being the highest Beder."
" The pew over the womens stairs was bid off by Daniel Howard he Beding two pounds and ten shillings on sd pew."
" The pew Behind the mens front galary was seet up, and Simeon Brett Beding twenty seven pounds upon sd pew, It was struck off to him."
" The pew behind the womens front galary was set up by the moderator to sail and Constant Southworth Beding twen- ty pounds and five shillings upon sd pew, It was struck off to him, he being the highest Beder."
Abiel Packard, Robert Haward, and Zachariah Snell were a committee to give confirmation to the above " sail of pews."
September 3, 1744. "Voted to buld two seats in each side Gallery."
The first thing to be done after building a church in early times was to " seet the peopel " and provide a pew for the minister.
September 3, 1744. We find " Jabez Field & charge voted for Bulding Mr. Porter's pew, £3 10 shillings."
June 28, 1746. It was put to vote "to see If the Precinct would vote to finish the meeting-house this year, and it was voted in the affirmative."
" Voted that James Packard, Henry Kingman, and Jabez Field be a committee to see the meeting house be finished."
What the effect of the above vote was we find no record, and are left to judge that it was never carried into effect, as appears by the following record, aiming at the same thing; namely, to have the " meeting House " completed.
Aug. 15, 1748. "Voted that Abiel Packard, Constant Southworth, and Samnel Brett be a committee to finish the meeting house the present year."
The following persons were supposed to have worked upon
89
MEETING.HOUSES.
the house in the completion of the same as it appears March 27, 1749. The following sums were voted to be paid : to Samuel Brett for work "Don In the meeting House " £6 7 shil- lings. To Luke Perkins £1 10 shillings. March 29, 1750, " money voted to Simeon Cary for Labour Don abought the Meeting House, to be Drawed out of the Treasury, £8 1 4." " Voted to Archabiel Robson for Bannisters for the Meeting House £4 10 shillings Lawfull Money."
At a meeting held September 27, 1756, it was " voted that the Petition between the men and womens frount Gallery Shuld be bult up a gain where it first stood. Also voted that the Rume on the wemens side of the Petition should be for the wemen."
By the above votes we see the custom prevailed of keep- ing the men and women in separate pews, and have no doubt the work was completed, and that they were kept in their proper places ; for we find Barnabas Pratt was allowed £3 8 shillings for putting up a " petition " between the " Gallereyes and the Hind Seets."
At a meeting of the Precinct held December 4, 1758, " voted that the committee provide an Iron Latch and Bolt for the South Dore of the meeting house."
The subject of building a new church, or of enlarging the old one, was talked of in 1760, and a meeting called to see what the Precinct would do, which was held December 1st, 1760,
" To see if the Precinct will vote to enlarge the Meeting House by spliting of It In tow, or making an addition to it or both and also to See if any per- son, or persons, will under-take the Doing of it for the Rume In the addition that shall be maid to the meeting house, and in case the Precinct should not vote to Inlarge the meeting house, then to see if the Precinct will vote to Buld a new Meeting House and when and where it shall be set, and of what Bigness it shall be bult." The vote was first put " to see if the Precinct would build a new House which was voted in the negative." "Then to see if the Precinct would vote to Inlarge the Meeting House by spliting of it. Voted in the negative."
1
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
.
Thus things remained for over a year, when the subject was again brought up at a meeting held December 29, 1761, at ten o'clock A. M. "To see what sum of money can be raised to wards the Bulding a new Meeting House. In the North Precinct of Bridgewater, by selling the pew Rome to the Highest Beders. In a Meeting House of the same Demenshons of the South Meeting House, in Bridgewater, the number of them and the Setuation and Begness may be seen by a plan that will be Provided in said meeting on said day." " voted that Capt. Simeon Cary shuld be marster of the van- due to sell the pews to the Hiest Beders," and also " voted that the pew on the Right Hand of the pulpet stairs shuld be for the use of the menestry In said Precinct," and it was fur- ther " voted that Every person that had a pew struck of to him by the vandue master, shuld pay Down a Dolor, as Enerst for his pew."
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