History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 115

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 115

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).

Abiel Packard

6 Jabez Field.

7 6

3 Mark Ford

C. Southworth

2 6

Walter Downie. 2

Jacob Rickard

Charles Richardson

Lieut. John Howard. 2

1 Adam Howard

John Johnson. 0 0 0

Peter Edson ..

1 3 9

John Pratt ...

3 9

1 3 9

Ebenezer Packard.

2 Henry Kingman, Jr.

John Kingman, Jr .. Levi Keith

Abiah Keith

3 9

Reuben Packard

Ebenezer Hill.

Thomas Henry

Seth Packard.

1 William Shaw.

John Battles. 1

Matthew Buck

1 3 9

Lieut. Josiah Packard ..

Joseph Phinney .. 1

Widow Keith

0 Daniel Packard.

1 Seth Thayer.

1 Joshua Warren

1 1

Asa Pettingill

7 6

Ephraim Willis .. ..

Isaac Allen

3 9

John Brett.

Josiah Perkins.

1 Thomas West.

3 William French

Zechariah Cary ... ...

3 0 Edmund Pettingill

1 Isaiah Fuller ..

Edward White. 1

Joseph Pettingill

2 Lieut. Daniel Noyes.

John Randall. 2

7 6 Charles Snell ...

1 3 9 Daniel Richards.

2 Jacob Noyes ..

John Richards.

0 0 0 Constant and Nath. South- worth.

Joseph Porter.

Edward Southworth ...

2 Samuel Dike.

Ephraim Cole. 1 Jesse Perkins.

Joseph Cole, Jr.

1 Jacob Packard, Jr.

Ephraim Churchill

2 Moses Cary

Names.

Polls.

Names.

Polls.

Joseph Allen

Dr. Philip Bryant 1

Samuel Brett ..

Seth Bryant. 1

Simeon Brett ...

3 Job Bryant. 1

Matthew Buck

3 Jeremiah Beal 2

Names. Polls.

Names.

Polls.

Japhet Beal.

Ashley Curtis, Jr

Zechariah Cary 1

Joseph Cole .. 1 Elisha Dunhar, Jr

Samuel Cole ....

2 Seth Dunbar.

Zachariah Gurney .. Lieut. Elisha Gurney

1 Jesse Dunbar ..

Micah Gurney

Daniel Howard, Esq. 1 Jabez Field .. Levi French

Capt. Barnabas Howard 1

Ebenezer Snell ..

Robert Howard, Jr.

Cornet Charles Snell 2

Eleazer Snow, Jr. 2

1 Samuel Sturtevant.

1 1

Josiah Hayden

Abiah Keith.

Jacob Thayer.

Nathan Keith

2 Enoch Thayer.

1 Zechariah Watkins, Jr.

1 1

John Brett

1 Ephraim Willis ..

Capt. Abiel Packard.

Demetrius Rickard

Thomas Packard

1 Fobes Field.

Timothy Packard.

1 Samuel Brett, J.

David Packard

David Packard, Jr

Abram Packard

Enos Thayer

William Packard.

Barnabas Curtis

William Packard, Jr. 1 Eleazer Cole ...

Lemuel Packard.

1 Daniel Ames.

2 Timothy Ames

1 Noah Ames.

Benjamin Ames

Simeon Alden.

1 1

Benjamin Edson ... 3 3 11 3

Thomas Pratt

Jonathan Perkins.

Stephen Pettingill.

1 James Edson.

1 Benjamin Edson

William Edson

Micah Langford.

3 9 Samuel Brett ....

3 9

Jonas Reynolds.

Timothy Reynolds

1 Isaac Fuller

Widow L. Packard 0 Caleb Phillips 1

0 Benj. Pettingill. 1

Ens. Issachar Snell

Zebedee Snell.

Nehemiah Lincoln.

1 Matthew Kingman 1

1 John and Adam Kingman ... 1

Thomas Terrill .. 1

3 9

Simeon Packard.

John Coley ..

3 9 James Packard

Lemuel South worth

1 Benjamin Southworth. 1 3

1 Joseph Sylvester.

1 2 2

Thomas Reynolds .. 1 Samuel Pettingill .. 1

3 9

- Ames

1 3 9 Eliab Packard.

Barnabas Packard.

George Packard

1 Ezra Warren.

Benj. Hayward.

3 9

Thomas Buck.

3 9 Benj. Edson, Jr .... 9 John Dailey ..

0 0 9

William French. 1 David French ... 1

1 3 9

Edw'd Southworth. 2 2

7 6

1 3 9

Shepard Fiske ... 0

Joshua Packard.

Thomas Thompson.

Nath'l Reynolds.

3 9

Japhet Rickard, 0

1 3 9

1 Ebenezer Warren

1 0 0 0 3

1 3 9 Samuel Pettingill

0 Samuel Noyes. David Porter

Poll-Tax List for 1770 .- The following list is in- serted to show the residents of the North Parish of Bridgewater (now Brockton) in 1770, with the num- ber of polls against each householder :

3 9

Jacob Packard

Jonathan Cary 1

3 9

Nathan Packard

Zechariab Snell. 2 2 6 William French. 0 0 0 1 1 0 Elisha Donbar 3 9

7 6 Benjamin Worrick. John Buck.

3 9

0 Zachariah Cary. 2 1

3 9 Joseph Pettingill ... 1 1

Caleb Philips

Capt. Eliphalet Phillips 1 Jacob Edson.

Philip Reynolds.

1 Ebenczer Edson

Capt. Isaac Packard.

Ahia Packard

Eusign Abel Packard. 2

1 3 9 John Packard

1 3 9 David Brown. 1

3 3 9 9

Daniel Howard. 1

3 9

John Kingman (3d) 1 I 3 9

Robert Howard. 2

7 6

Deacon Packard ... 2 Zechariah Packard 2

3 9 A. Thompson.

7 6

Thomas Reynolds.

1 Thomas Hendry, estate.

1 1

Ahiezer Packard

1 Ens. John Dailey

Capt. Robert Howard

Elisha Hayward.

Joseph Hayward.

Jonathan Ilayden.

1 Ezekiel Southworth

2 Edmund Soper

Jacob Keith

Daniel Manly

1 Eleazer Cole.

2 Ezra Cary

3 1 1 1

1 1 Isaac Brett

Nathan Packard, Jr.

Nathaniel Reynolds.

1 3 9 3 9

Lieut. Henry Kingman 2

Daniel Field, Jr.

Zepio (colored )

3 9

1 1

3 9 Abiah Keith 1

1 1

Joseph Sylvester, Jr., March 24. 1817.

Howard Cary, Esq., March 25, 1819.

1 Silas Dunbar.

Elisha Dunbar

United States Land Tax .- " General list of all Dwelling Houses which, with the Out-Houses appur- tenant thereto and the Lots on which the Same are erected, not exceeding two Acres in any Case, were

Simeon Cary ..

9 6 Pelatiah Phinney .. 1

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

548

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

owned, possessed, or occupied, on the 1st day of Oe- tober, 1798, within the Assessment Distriet No. 10, in the Sixth Division of the State of Massachusetts, exceeding in value the Sum of One Hundred Dollars :"

Valu-

Names of reputed owners. ation.

Perez Southworth $210

Joromiah Thayer.

John Tilden .. 275 Enos Thayer

Thomas and Thomas

Thompson, Jr .......

460 Thomas Willis 500 Ephraim Willis 250

James Thompson. Seth Thayer.

110

Valu-

Names of reputed owners. ation.

Daniel Alden. $200

Thomas and Elijah Pack- ard. $175

Timothy Amues .. 230

Noah Ames. 225

Abiah and Howard

Packard. 250

Joseph Alden .. 110

Daniel Alden. 230

Jonas Reynolds 150

Philip Bryant ... 500

Ainzi Brett. 110

Joh Bryant .. 200

Samuel and Wm. Brett .. 275

Ephraim Sturtevant. 275

Japhet Bcal. 250 Jonathan Snow 200

Ephraim Colc ...... 500 Silas and Widow Snow .. Zechariah and Oliver

Jonathan and James Cary.

325 Snow

275

Jonathan Cary, Jr .......

200 | Jeremiah Beal. 175

620

325

Rufus Brett. 110

Daniel Cary. 350

Jacob Dunbar, Jr .....

Samuel Dike, Jr.

Manasseh and Samuel Dickerman

325

Ichabod Edson .. 250

Seth Edson

105

Samuel Chesman Benjamin Keith Shepard Keith. 150

Edson

120

David Edson

230 Seth Kingman

500

James and Josiah Edson. 120

Josiah and Elisha Eamcs. James Eaten.

200

Matthew Kingman ..

275

Fohes, Jabez, and Daniel Field.

500

William Field

175

Henry Kingman.

Asa Ford

175

Nehemiah Lincoln 175

Mark and Samuel Ford .. 150

Bezaleel and Bethuel

Field

200 Daniel Manley.

230

Zechariah Gurney

105

Thomas Macomber .. 200

200

Hayward Marshall. 175

Caleb Hayward

125

Josiah Packard 500

Jolin Howard ..

500

Alfred Howard.

230

Robert and Robert How- ard, Jr ...

400

Mary Howard }

200

Ebenezer, Lot, and Rob- ert Packard .. 360

200

Jonas Packard. 150

Asaph Hayward 275

James Porter. 120

Joseph Hayward. 175

Barnabas and Jonas

Hayward

Jonathan Perkins. 110

Daniel Howard (2d). John Hunt.

180 Jesse and Zadoc Perkins. 625

Oliver Howard ...

350 Rebecca Perkins ? 120

Gidcon Howard

400 Noah Packard

William Jameson

James Perkins 600

Asa Jones.

175 Thomas Packard. 130

Ephraim Jackson

230 John Porter,

Jonathan Keith

230 Luke Perkins. 200

Levi Keith

350 Shepard Perkins 275

Luke Perkins and Isaac Porter ..

Josiah Perkins,

Benjamin Packard.

450 Joseph Snell .. 110

Joseph Packard ..

105 Joseph Sylvester. 120

150 Joseph Sylvostor, Jr ..... 350

175 Benjamin Southworth ... 105

Levi Packard. 325 Shepard Snell. 150

Widow Dorothy Packard. Cyrus Packard

275 William and Micah Shaw 300

175 | Nathaniel Snell 275

JOHN WHITMAN,

SOLOMON HAYWARD,

DANIEL CARY,

Assistant A88e880r8. Joer

DANIEL FOBES,

BRIDGEWATER, March 5, 1799.

CHAPTER II.

Precinct Controversy and Incorporation of the Town-Indian History-Petition of the North Parish (Asa Howard and others) to he Incorporated into a Town-Remonstrance of Gideon Howard and others-Remonstrance of Eliab Whit- man and others-Petition in aid of Asa Howard and others for an Act of Incorporation-Remonstrance of Daniel How- ard, 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.

Precinct Controversy and Incorporation of the Town .- The people of the North Parish remained contented with their connection with the other portions of the town for a long time ; but, as the number of inhabitants increased, they commeneed to diseuss 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 notifieation, "the above article was negatived, and the meeting was dissolved by the moderator."

Things remained quiet in reference to the subject of division of the town till Nov. 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 Bridgewater, or such other name as the parish may think proper, with all the rights

and this

was

com

subj tom

Col

mari

Job Ames .. 225

Josiah Pratt. ...

JONATHAN COPELAND,

con

COD par

Simeon and Howard Cary ... ...

Isaac and Joseph Brett .. Samuel Brett 150

Jacob and Ebenezer Dun- bar ...

220 150 Thomas Craft 550

120 Ephraim Churchill. 105 Barnabas Curtis. 120

Joseph and B. Crosswell. Moses Cary 110 175 275

105

William and William

105

Matt. Kingman (guar- dian of Isaac Packard). 325 Ahel Kingman. 150 Nathan Keith.

120 150

Zechariah Gurney Jr.

Silas Sturtevant

Ephraim Groves

Ephraim Noyes. 500

Ichabod Howard. 625

Silas Packard 625

Jonathan Perkins, Jr .... 150

Solomon Hill

Waldo Howard

110

Asaph Howard.

Josialı Packard 200

Lemuel Packard. 650

500 300 Nathan Packard. 325

Widow Abigail Perkins Zebedee Snell. 175 400

120 Issachar Snell ..

Widow Content Packard. Mark Perkins.

Eliphalet Packard. 150

Nathaniel and Leonard Orcutt 135

fa K S m

sho for ten

ap sat

por in

CO to

Daniel Manley. Jr.

110

Ames Packard .. 110

Natban Leach 130

Nathaniel Manley .. 230

550

Widow Elizabeth Rey- nolds .. 150 Seth Snow .. 105

NAHUM MITCHELL, Assessor.

.....

$110 230 John Wales. 130

par

549

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

and privileges of other incorporated 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 themselves, and to report at a future meeting." Col. Caleb Howard, Daniel Howard. Esq., Abel King- man. Esq .. Gideon Howard, Esq .. Howard Cary. Esq., Joseph Sylvester. Esq .. and John Wales were the committee. The meeting was then adjourned- to April S. 1816, at which time the parish came to- gether, and. after hearing a verbal report from their committee, " Voted to take measures to have the parish separated 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 committee did towards forwarding the wishes of the town does not appear on record. Again, November 11th of the same year. the parish " voted to take measures to have this parish separated from the town and incor- porated with the privileges of a town." Thirty-nine in favor, nineteen opposed to the measure. 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., Col. Edward Southworth, and Col. Caleb Howard were the com- mittee 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 one hundred and twelve; the nays, nineteen.

Indian History .- The war of the colonists with King Philip proved very disastrous to the Indian race. Many obstacles were thrown in their way, which so far discouraged them that they were forced to give up their possessions and seek other localities away from the new-comers, who were gradually extending their territory westward.

" There was a time when red men climbed these hills, And wandered by these plains and rills, Or rowed the light canoe along yon river, Or rashed to conflict armed with bow and quiver, Or, 'neath the forest leaves that o'er them hung, They council held, or loud their war-notes sung."

To what extent Indians occupied the North Parish (now Brockton ) we are unable to learn. We have no doubt, however, that they were quite numerous, as

the plow frequently brings to light some relic of past days and of an uncivilized people. Spear-points, arrow-heads, mortars, pestles, gouges, and stone hatchets are often found in different sections of the town.

In the north part of the town are found hearth- stones of ancient Indian wigwams. There was one directly under the house of the late Oliver Howard, which was taken down a few years since. Judging from the number of relics found in the northerly section of the town, we should judge they fre- quented that part of the parish to a considerable extent.

The writer has a clay pipe found by Mr. Willard Howard near his residence; also specimens of arrow- heads of stone found by Bela Keith, Esq., on his land at Campello, which are splendid specimens of natives' work, besides many other relics of barbarous days.

There is another evidence of the town having been the residence of the red man. In the west part of the town, on what is called "Stone House Hill," a natural cave is found in the solid stone, from which the hill derives its name, which is said to have been the dwelling of some tribe of Indians. It is situ- ated on or near the old road leading from North Bridgewater (now Brockton) to Easton, and near the residence of Timothy Remick.

It is also traditionary that Indians had their huts in the valley of Salisbury River, opposite Campello, and so on north as far as the bridge at "Sprague's Factory." There was an Indian family named Ham- mond, who lived on the land recently owned by the late Benjamin Kingman, Esq., west of his farm-barn, in a lot formerly known as the " Old Pasture," and nearly opposite the residence of Lucius Keith, or the Seth Kingman place. The native Indian tribes living upon maize and fish principally, as well as game, we are inclined to the opinion that they generally sought for dwelling-spots near some stream, where fish could be found, as it made no difference about their game, that they could find all over the forests.

It is impossible at the present time for us to realize to ourselves the situation of the first white settlers of the town. They lived in constant fear of a sudden attack. Exposed at all times, they were haunted in their imaginations by death with torture, or of a hope- less captivity. The principal companion of the white man, whether in the field or at his dwelling, was his gun. While at his daily labor in the cultivation of his lands, if he had not his gun, he was likely at any time to be carried away.

Even down to a late period, when people assembled

550

HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

for public worship, a guard was the first thing to es- tablish, in order that they might not be suddenly captured.

We do not learn that the people of the North Parish were so mueh molested as in some other por- tions of the ancient town, for the reason the white people did not settle that portion to any extent till after 1700.

Mitehell, in his excellent " History of Bridge- water," says " that the people displayed great eourage and intrepidity during Philip's war, and were often advised to desert their dwellings and repair to the sea- shore towns." They, however, resolutely kept their ground, and helped other towns to do the same. Whatever others may think, there is something sad in the reflection that the natives of these hills and valleys have disappeared, and at the same time we eannot regret that a Christian and enlightened people have taken the places of a barbarous and heathen raee. The last vestige of the tribe that onee traveled over the soil of Bridgewater has long ago disappeared.

" Alas for them ! their day is o'er ; Their fires are out on hill and shore."

Petition of Asa Howard and others .- Mareh 25, 1819, the parish " voted to petition the Legisla- ture the next session for a division of the town." Abel Kingman, Esq., Col. Caleb Howard, Joseph Sylvester, Esq., and Col. Edward Southworth were ehosen a committee to draft a petition and get peti- tioners. The following is a copy of the same as pre- sented to the General Court :

" To the Honorable Senate and Honorable House of Represen- tatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled, A.D., 1819 :

"The petition of tho subscribers, inhabitants of the north precinct of Bridgewater, humbly shows that the town of Bridgewater is large and extensive in territory, and furnishes about eleven or twelve hundred voters, of which numbor nearly three hundred belong to the north precinct, and have to travel from five to sevon miles en an averago to attond town-meetings, over a piece of way which is generally very bad in the months of March and April; and in having to transact our town busi- ness such a distance from home, it subjects us to a great ex- pense of timo and travel, which might be saved if we wero set off into a separate town, as we then could transact all our town and parish business on the same days. We would further rep- resent that it is very difficult in full meetings doing the busi- ness of the town in their present house on account of it being out of repair and not of sufficient size. Several attempts havo bcen mado to repair and make the houso suitablo for the whole town to meet and transact their business in, but have failed.

"Your petitioners, thorefore, humbly pray that the honor- able Legislaturo will tako into their wise considoration the grievancos above stated, and sct off and incorporato said pro- cinct into a soparate town, by tho namo of North Bridgewator, and by the lines and estates that it was incorporatod by, and

has been improved to, as it rolates to the town of Bridgewater. And in duty will ever pray.

" Asa Howard.

Daniel Alden.

Jeremiah Beals, Jr. Akerman Pettingill. Caleb Howard.

Azel Gurney.

Jeremiah Beals.

Arza Leonard.

Asa Ford.

William Kimball. Reuben Drake.

Caleb Phillips.

John Packard (2d).

Oliver Snell, Jr.

James Willis.

Oliver Snell.

Gideon Packard.

Jeremiah Snell.

Jonas Keith.

Thomas Reynolds.

Joshua Jenkins.

Daniel Ames.

Daniel Bryant.

Gustavus Sylvester.

Ephraim Sturtevant.

Arza Keith.

Nehemiah Lincoln.

Caleb Jackson.

Cyrus Packard.

Jonathan Snow.

Sullivan Packard.

Zachariah Gurney.

Newton Shaw.

John Burrill.

Joel Ames.

Benjamin Ames.

Galen Packard.

Isaac Horton.

Welcome IToward.

Jonathan Porter.

John Burrill, Jr.

James Hatch.

Benjamin Crosswell.

Orren Faxon.

Samuel Snell.

Lemuel French.

Zachariah Thayer.

Isaac Clapp.

Nathan Jones.

Ambrose Packard (2d).

Joseph Brett.

Joseph Whiting.

Zebedee Snell.

Joseph Wild.

Nathan Bryant.

Zenas Packard, Jr.

Silas Howard.

Barnabas Edson.

Cyrus Snell.

Simeon Dunbar.

Levi French.

Zenas Packard.

Ezekiel Reed.

Oliver Dike.

Fobes Field.

Abel Kingman.

Simeon Reynolds.

William Tribou.

Alfred Bolton.

Jonas Howard, Jr.

Harvey Hawes.

Jonathan Cary.

Daniel H. Cary.

Perez Crocker.

Benjamin Southworth.

Bela Keith.

Zenas Brett.

Eliphalet Brett.

Hezekiah Packard.

Ambrose Packard.

Thomas White.

Zophar Field.

Lemuel Tirrill.

Ichabod Howland.

Isaac Whiting.

Elijah Drake.

Jonathan Edson.

Cyrus Warren.

Asa Battles.

Parmenas Brett.

James Loring.

Apollas Howard.

William Brott.

John Porter.

Waldo Field.

Martin Drake.

Martin Southworth.

Joseph Roynolds.

David Ames.

Simoon Dunbar.

Samuel Brett.

Apollas Packard.

Samuel Brett, Jr.

John Battles.

James Porter.

Asa Pratt.

Ebonezer Warren.

Israel Packard.

Abiozor Hobart.

Barzillai Fiold.

Thomas Walos, Jr.

Micah Faxon.

John Field.

Mark Faxon.

William Bndger.

Peroz Southworth.

James Churchill.

Matthew Snell.

Oliver Bryant.

Cyrus B. Phillips.

Lomuel Packard.

D CI

Ornan Cole.

the

tb Se

J S

]

Levi Packard.

Elisha Tillson.

Silas Snow.

Daniol Field.

551

HISTORY OF BROCKTON.

Josiah Ames.

Bethnel Field.

Robert Howard.

Nathan Leach, Jr

Sprague Snow.

Edward Pratt.

Mark Ford.

Nathan Harward.

Benjamin F. Dickerman.

Parmenas Packard.

Rosseter Jones.

Alexander Thayer, Jr.

Josiah Brett.

William Alden, Jr.

Martin Carr.

David Ford.

David Ford. Jr.

Ahijah Knapp, Jr.

David Packard (2d).

Alpheus Tribou.

Charles Lincoln.

Isaac Reynolds.

John Packard.

Eliphaz Sprague.

Benjamin Kingman.

Adin Packard. Jesse Perkins.

Jabez Kingman. Simeon Packard.

Stillman Willis.

Joseph Faxon.

Ziba Keith.

Nathaniel Ames.

David Edson, Jr.

Micah Packard.

Samuel Ilarris.

Galen Warren.

Jobn May.

Joseph Silvester. John Cobb.

Nathaniel Manley.

Perez Southworth, Jr.

Samnel Dike, Jr.

William Brown, Jr.

Jonas Packard.

Icbabod Howard.

Samnel Ford.

Alvah Warren.

Adin Packard, Jr.

Oliver Leach.

Thomas Wales.

Josiah Edson.

Noah Chesman.

Micah Shaw.

Howard Cary.

Samuel Dike.

Isaac Keith (3d). Sylvanus French.

John Ilumphrey. Lewis Dailie.

Zibeon Brett.

James Humpbrey.

Ozen Gurney.

Joseph Hayward. Nathaniel Hobart.

Asa Jones.

Nathan Leach.

Zibeon Packard.

Howard Packard.

Abiel Kingmau.

Daniel J. Dickerman.

Zibeon Cole.

Nathaniel Wales.

Joseph Reynolds, Jr.

Aphia Alden.

"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 Conrt, that all persons interested may then appear and sbow cause (if any they have) why the prayer of said petition should not be granted.

"Sent down for concurrence.

" JOHN PHILLIPS, President."

"IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 4, 1819. " Read and concurred.

" TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker. " A true copy. Attest : "S. F. MCCLEARY, Clerk of the Senate."

" BRIDGEWATER, September 27, 1819.

"This order of notice, with a copy thereof, was left with me by Abel Kingman, Esq.

" ELIAKIM HOWARD, Town Clerk."

At the second session of the General Court, the town of Bridgewater was represented by Daniel How- ard, who had been chosen as the agent of the town to oppose the petition of Asa Howard and others for an act of incorporation. Remonstrances against the pe- tition were also presented from Gideon Howard and ninety-eight others, and Eliab Whitman, 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 :

Remonstrance of Gideon Howard and others. -The following is a true copy of Gideon Howard's remonstrance :

" To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled, January Term, 1820 :

"Tbe subscribers, inbabitants of the North Parish of the town of Bridgewater, 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 privi- leges of a town. Your remonstrants feel imperiously urged by a sense of duty to again come forward, the steady and decided supporters of the union of the town of Bridgewater. The preservation of the union, resources, influence, respectability, and friendly intercourse which subsists between the sections of so large a town is with them an object truly desirable; aud, 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 importance. It is a fact well known that but few towns in the county of this Commonwealth have managed their public business more correctly for fifty years past than the town of Bridgewater ; and it is believed that, at the present moment, did not the question about division agitate and, indeed, irritate the feelings of its inhabitants, the business of the town might be performed understandingly, decently, and in order. We feel assured your Honors will search in vain for reasons to support an opinion that the lasting and substantial interests of the town will be 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 objections 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 re- monstrants with confidence in renewing their opposition to an. impolitie measure. They are further encouraged by a recent vote of the town, wbich, by a majority of sixty-five votes, de- clared that the North Parish should continue a part of the town of Bridgewater. The town has at all times been uniform in its opposition to division, and an application being made to the

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 115

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706