USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 116
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Calvin Bryant. Jouas Reynolds. Samuel Chesman.
Enos Thayer. Eliphalet Thayer.
Alexander Thayer.
William Packard. Isaac Packard. Joseph D. Snell. Isaac Brett.
David Packard.
Bernard Jackson.
Edward Southworth.
552
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
General Court fer division has invariably voted by handsomo majority to preservo its nion. Your remonstrants, however, confident of suecoss in thoir opposition, may be disappointod. With all due deference to tho decision which the Genoral Court may make on this important subject, anxious for the fate of Bridgewater as a town, thoy will early search for the evidenco of a final result. And tho first moment of doubt will induce them to petition your IIonors to belong with the property which they respectfully hold to tho town of Bridgewater.
" Gideon Howard.
Ebenezer Dunbar.
Luke Packard.
Samuel Wood.
Asa Battles.
Isaac Hartwell, Jr.
Shepard Packard.
James Willis.
James Cary.
Abijah Knapp.
Theron Ames.
Martin Dunbar.
Job Ames.
John Tilden.
Darius Howard.
John Tilden, Jr.
Lewis Howard.
Daniel Manley.
Sidney Howard.
Howard Marshall.
Moses Cary.
Gilbert Snell.
John Craft.
Enos Thayer.
Silas Packard.
Ephraim Cole.
Jonathan P. Crafts.
John Ames.
Jesse Perkins, Jr.
Rev. Thomas Beresford.
Ehenezer Edson.
Samuel Packard.
Seth Snow.
Isaac Eames.
John Smith.
Otis Alden.
Eliphalet Kingman.
Alvin Snell.
Josiah Perkins.
Shepard Snell.
Nahum Perkins.
Loring Brett.
Thomas Thompson.
Cyrus Howard.
Nathan Packard.
Josiah Dunbar.
Samuel Bryaut.
Silas Dunbar.
Seth Kingman.
Waldo Hayward.
Galen Manley.
Enos Thayer (2d).
Benjamin Marshall.
Seth Edson.
John Wales, Jr.
William Edson.
Ephraim Noyes. Merritt Noyes.
Gideon Howard, Jr.
Oliver Howard, Jr.
Oliver Howard.
Barnabas Curtis.
Lott Blanchard.
David Noyes.
William French.
Moses Noyes.
Ezekiel Merritt.
John Ritchie.
M. II. Perkins.
Ansel Perkins.
Amos Whiting.
Robert Packard.
Turner Torrey.
Perez Robinson. Ortho Hayward.
Darius Howard.
Asa Battlos.
Theron Ames.
Ansel Perkins.
Martin Dunbar.
Turner Torrey.
Henry Kingman.
Daniel Howard, Jr.
Jacob Fuller.
David Battles.
Isaac Curtis.
Salmon Manloy. Austin Howard.
Jaceb Dunbar.
Ezekiel Merritt.
Preston Packard.
John Wales.
Caleb Copeland, Jr.
Eliab Whitman.
Oliver Jackson.
Samuel Holmos.
Charles Dunbar.
Jonathan Porkins.
Jacob Duubar.
" IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 15, 1820.
" Read and committed to the Committoo on the Incorporation of Towns.
" Sent up for concurronco. TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker."
" IN SENATE, January 18, 1820.
" Read and concurred. JOHN PHILLIPS, President."
Remonstrance of Eliab Whitman and others. -The following is a copy of the remonstrance of Eliab Whitman and others of the North Parish :
" To lhe Honorable the Senate and the Honorable the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Gen- eral Court assembled, Anno Dom. 1820.
"We, the undersigned inhabitants of the North Parish in Bridgewater, understanding that an order of notice from your honorable body has been served on said town of Bridgewater, purporting that Asa Howard and 213 others have petitioned the General Court praying that said North Parish may be set off from the town of Bridgewater, and incorporated into a sep- arate town by the name of North Bridgewater, do most respect- fully represent that, in our opinion, the proposed dismember- ment of the town of Bridgewater cannot be supported by such reasons and arguments as will justify a measure so repugnant to the interest and happiness of the said North Parish, as well as to the town at large. We cannot conceive what new reasons or arguments can be offered for dividing the town. It is a fact that the population of said town has been nearly stationary for forty years past, and the distance from the centre has not in- creased, but in several instances has been considerably shortened, and the roads very much improved in that time. It is also a fact that there are sections of the south, east, and Titicut parishes nearly as remote from the centre of the town as the most remote section of the North Parish, and they cannot be much relieved by the proposed division. The town-house is a substantial building, and ample in its size, and with a very small expense might be made a convenient accommodation for our most numerous town-meetings. Nevertheless, should your Honors, in your great wisdom, think it expedient to grant the prayer of said petition, and incorporate the said North Parish into a distinct and separate town,
" We, the undersigned inhabitants of said North Parish, being deeply impressed with the belief that such a measure will be pregnant with many great and serious evils to said North Parish, do most carnestly wish, and humbly pray your Honors, that we, the said undersigned, may, with our estates, be exempted from said Act of Incorporation, and still retain our connection and relation to the town of Bridgewater; and, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
" Eliab Whitman.
Silas Dunbar, Jr.
Lott Blanchard. Thomas Thompson.
Gideon Howard, Jr. David Battles.
Lewis Heward. Job Ames.
Issachar Snell.
Shepard Keith. Joseph Snell.
Zina Hayward.
Shepard Keith.
Hayward Marshall. James Willis. Benjamin Marshall.
Ebonezer Dunbar. Josiah Perkius. Silas Packard.
Charles Packard.
Shepard Snell.
Jacob Fuller.
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Ephraim Neyes. Mosos Noyes. 1
Josiah Dunbar. William French. John Wales, Jr. Moses Cary. Seth Snow.
Ortho Hayward. Austin Howard.
Rev. Thomas Boresferd.
E. Edson, his X mark. Jonathan P'. Crafts.
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John Tilden, Jr.
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Sidney Iloward.
John Crafts.
Samuel Packard.
Jonathan Perkins.
M. H. Perkins.
Charles Packard.
Azor Packard.
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Jelin 'T'ildon. Abijnh Knapp.
Otis Howard.
John Thompson.
553
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Seth Edson.
Enos Thayer (2d).
Nahum Perkins.
Nathan Packard.
Jesse Packard.
Joseph Snell.
Isaac Curtis.
Oliver Jackson.
Oliver Howard. Waldo Hayward.
Isaac Eames.
William Edson.
John Wales.
" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 19, 1820.
"Read and referred to the Committee on Incorporation of Towns.
"TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker."
" IN SENATE, January 19, 1820.
·· Read and concurred.
" JOHN PHILLIPS, President."
Petition in aid of Asa Howard and others. -The following is a copy of a petition in aid of Asa Howard and others :
" To the Honorable Senate and the Honorable House of Repre- sentatires in General Court assembled. A.D. 1819 :
"The petition of the undersigned inhabitants of the North Parish of Bridgewater humbly shows that whereas there is now pending before the honorable legislative body the petition of Asa Howard and two hundred and thirteen others praying for said North Parish to be set off into a town for various reasons did not sign said petition, but have since taken into considera- tion the subject matter of said petition, and are of an opinion that it will be very advantageous to the inhabitants of said parish to be set off as aforesaid, and cannot see any disad- vantage that will arise to the remaining part of the town by granting the prayer of said petitioners. For the foregoing reason vonr petitioners wish to have their names annexed to said petition, and, in duty bound, will ever pray.
" Bela C. Dike. Abijah Pitcher.
Ebenezer Warren Jr.
Ephraim Brett.
William Cary.
Luke P. Lincoln.
Ephraim Howard.
Joseph S. Packard.
Job Bryant.
Orin Packard.
Elisha Belcher.
Shubael Clark.
Jobn Marshall.
John B. Harris.
Moses Packard.
Martin Snow.
Joel Packard.
Charles Gurney.
Algernon S. Silvester.
Issachar Snell."
" IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 18, 1820. " Read and committed to the Committee on the Incorporation of Towns.
" Sent up for concurrence.
" TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker."
"IN SENATE, January 18, 1820.
" Read and concurred.
" JOHN PHILLIPS, President."
Remonstrance of the Town of Bridgewater. -The following is a copy of remonstrance from the town of Bridgewater, by Daniel Howard, Esq., as agent :
" To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled.
"The subscriber, an agent for the town of Bridgewater, duly appointed for this purpose, begs leave, in behalf of said town, respectfully to remonstrate against the petition of Asa Howard and others, praying that the North Parish of said Bridgewater
may be set off and incorporated into a separate town, by the name of North Bridgewater.
"This renewed attempt to divide the town of Bridgewater has been witnessed by a large majority of its inhabitants with feelings of regret and surprisc. It was hoped and believed that the petitioners would acquiesce in the decision of the last Gen- eral Court, whose attention was called to the subject by a peti- tion, both in substauce and in form like the present. The petitioners, however, having seen fit to renew the controversy, renders it necessary on the part of the town again to protest against the adoption of a measure which no exigence or neccs- sity requires, and which, it is believed, would affect very inju- riously the best interests of the inhabitants of Bridgewater.
"The evils which the petitioners suffer from their connection with the town are, as they allege, the distance which they have to travel to attend town-meetings, the badness of the roads at a certain season of the year, and the want of a house convenient for the transaction of the business of the town.
" There is no town in the Commonwealth the inhabitants of which, if so disposed, cannot complain of some inconveniences to which they are subjected in the transaction of their muni- cipal concerns. The inconveniences experienced in this respect by the town of Bridgewater are not more numerous than what are suffered by the greater part of the towns in the State. The distance traveled by the petitioners to attend town meetings, and the badness of the roads, may be inconveniences, but they are not more so now than they have ever been since the town was incorporated. They are inconveniences to which the in- habitants of every country town must, in a greater or less de- grce, submit, and to which the people of the North Parish, in their more unambitious days, quietly submitted, in the full per- suasion, no doubt, that they could not be remedied without subjecting themselves and the town to others of a much more serious and formidable nature.
" It may be asserted, however, with truth, that the roads in Bridgewater are, generally speaking, uncommonly good. They have been much improved, and, within a few years, new ones have been opened, lessening the distance of travel from various parts of the town (particularly the North Parish) to the centre. "The numerous population of Bridgewater, to which the petitioners have alluded, constitutes no impediment to the cor- rect and orderly transaction of the business of the town.
"Their system of town government, practiced upon for many years, very much facilitates the management of their municipal concerns. Each parish has the nomination, and, in fact, the appointment of its proportion of town officers, and thus the interests of all are equally consulted.
" If the town house is out of repair, as stated in the petition, it can be easily fitted so as to accommodate all the inhabitants, and nothing has prevented this but the fear of a division, which the petitioners have contributed so much to excite and keep alive.
"The whole amount, then, of what the petitioners would gain by a separation would be barely saving to themselves of a few miles' travel, an advantage too inconsiderable to balance the many disadvantages to the town at large, of which such a measure must be productive.
"The separation of the North would doubtless be followed by a total dismemberment of the ancient and respectable town. A short time would see us divided into four or five petty towns, with an increase of expense to each, involved in perpetual liti- gations with each other, and vexed with internal broils. The seeds of dissension are already sown among us, and wait only the favorable moment of a separation to spring up and yield a plentiful harvest.
"It is unnecessary to pursue this subject further, and set
1
554
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
down in order all that can be said against granting the request of the petitioners. Enough has been said in this brief state- ment, it is apprehended, to convince every candid and reflecting mind that a separation of the North Parish woukl, to itself, bo prodnetivo of no real advantage, but to the town of great and lasting injury.
"January 15, 1820." " DANIEL HOWARD."
"IN SENATE, January 18, 1820.
" Read and committed to the Committee on Incorporation of Towns.
"Sent down for concurrence.
" JOHN PHILLIPS, President."
"IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 18, 1820.
" Read and concurred.
" TIMOTHY BIGELOW, Speaker."
" The Committee of both Houses appointed to consider ap- plications for the Incorporation of Towns, to whom was referred the petition of Asa Howard and others, inhabitants of the north precinct of Bridgewater, praying that said precinct may be in- corporated into a separate town, have had the same under con- sideration, and ask leave to report, that the prayer of the pe- tition be so far granted that the petitioners have leave to bring in a hill for that purpose.
" Which is respectfully submitted, by order of Committee. "EBEN GAY, Chairman."
"IN SENATE, February 2, 1820. " Read and accepted.
" Sent down for concurrence.
"JOHN PHILLIPS, President."
" HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Feb. 11, 1820. " Read and concurred.
"E. H. MILLS, Speaker pro tem."
Vote of the Town .- The vote on the acceptance of the report was seventy-eight in favor, and sixty- eight opposed. An effort was made to reconsider the above vote, which was rejected.
In the first session held in June, 1820, the petition was again presented, and the following action taken :
"IN SENATE, June 10, 1820.
"On the 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 Bridgewater, thirty days at least before the first Wednesday of the next session of the pres- ent General Court, that all persons interested may then and there appear and show cause (if any they have) why the prayer of said petition should not he granted.
"Sent down for concurrence.,
" JOHN PHILLIPS, President."
" IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 10, 1820. " Read and concurred.
" E. H. MILLS, Speaker.
" A true copy. Attest :
"S. F. MCCLEARY, Clerk of the Senate."
" Received this order of notice by hand of Ahel Kingman, Esq., the seventh day of August, 1820.
" ELIAKIM HOWARD, Town Clerk of Bridgewater."
The town, upon the receipt of the above order of notice, held a meeting Nov. 6, 1820, " to see whether the town would vote to be divided." One hundred and forty-four voted in favor of division, and one hundred and sixty-four against the same.
The meeting then adjourned to the 24th of No- vember, at which time the vote was put to see whether they would choose an agent to oppose a di- vision of the town. Two hundred and six voted to choose an agent, and three hundred and twenty-one voted against the same. This is the last attempt of the town to oppose the passage of the bill to ineor- porate the North Parish into a town.
Petition of Jesse Packard and others in aid of Asa Howard .- At the next session of the General Court, held in Boston, January, 1821, the subject of division was again brought to their notiee, as appears of record. The petition was read and referred to the Committee on Incorporation of Towns, Jan. 18, 1821, together with the following petition :
" To the Honorable Legislature of the Commonwealth of Mas- sachusetts :
"The undersigned humbly represent that we did, in the course of the last year, sign a paper remonstrating against the peti- tion of Asa Howard and others, inhabitants of the North Parish of Bridgewater, praying for said parish to he incorporated into a town, and was at that time fully of an opinion that it would be hest for the town to keep together ; hut, taking into consid- eration the petition of the West Parish to hecome a town, and the proceedings of the town at a late meeting on the subject of said petition, do not think it proper to oppose any further; but if the honorable Legislature should think proper to grant the prayer of the said Asa Howard and others, we wish to be incor- porated with them, notwithstanding any petition to the con- trary.
" NORTH PARISH, Jan. 10, 1821.
" Jesse Packard. Hayward Marshall.
Oliver Jacksen. Nathan Packard.
Jacob Dunbar. Ansel Perkins.
Ehenezer Dunhar. Samuel Bryant.
Ezekiel Merritt. Joh Ames.
Turner Torrey. Theron Ames.
Abijah Knapp.
Shepard Snell."
Isaac Hartwell, Jr.
The committee to whom was referred the above petitions reported as follows, namely :
"COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
"The committee of both Houses, to whom was referred the petition of Asa Howard and others, praying that the North Precinct, in the town of Bridgewater, in the county of Plym- outh, may be set off from Bridgewater, and incorporated into a separate town, have had the same under consideration, and ask leave to report that the prayer of the petition be so far granted that the petitioners have leave to bring in a bill for that pur- pose.
"Which is respectfully submitted, by order of the committee.
" MARK DOOLITTLE, Chairman."
" IN SENATE, Juno 9, 1821. " Read and accepted.
"Sent down for concurrence.
" JOHN PHILLIPS, President."
"IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 11, 1821. " Read and ooncurrod.
" JOSIAH QUINCY, Speaker."
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555
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Act of Incorporation .- The following is a copy of the bill as passed by both Houses, assembled June 15, 1821 :
" Ax ACT to establish the town of North Bridgewater.
" SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Represen- tatives in General Court assembled, and by authority of the same :
" That all that part of the North Parish of Bridgewater which lies within the said town of Bridgewater, according to the pres- ent territorial limits thereof, be and hereby is established as a separate town, by the name of North Bridgewater; and the in- habitants of the said town of North Bridgewater are hereby vested with all the powers and privileges, and shall also be sub- ject to all the dnties and requisitions of other corporate towns, according to the constitution and laws of this commonwealth.
" SECTION 2. Be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of the town of North Bridgewater shall be holden to pay the arrears of all State, connty, and town taxes which have been legally assessed upon them, together with their proportion of all debts due from the said town of Bridgewater prior to the date of this act ; and the said town of North Bridgewater shall be entitled to receive their proportion of the said debts and taxes due to the said town of Bridgewater, when collected and paid into the treasury of said town ; and the said town of North Bridgewater shall be entitled to hold their proportion, accord- ing to the present valnation of all the real and personal prop- erty belonging to the town of Bridgewater before the passing of this act.
"SECTION 3. Be it further enacted, That the said town of North Bridgewater shall be holden to support their proportion of the poor of the town of Bridgewater which are now charge- able to said town, which proportion shall be ascertained by the present valuation of the town ; and all persons who may here- after become chargeable as paupers to the said towns of Bridge- water or North Bridgewater shall be considered as belonging to that town on the territory of which they had their settlement at the time of the passing of this act, and shall in future be charge- able to that town only.
"SECTION 4. Be it further enacted, That all future State and Connty taxes which may be levied on the said towns of Bridge- water and North Bridgewater, previons to a new valuation, shall be assessed and paid in the same proportion as they now are according to the present valuation.
" SECTION 5. Be it further enacted, That any Justice of the Peace for the Connty of Plymonth is hereby empowered, upon application therefor, to issue a warrant, directed to a freehold inhabitant of the said town of North Bridgewater, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants thereof qualified to vote in town affairs to meet at snch convenient time and place as shall be appointed in the said warrant, for the choice of such officers as towns are by law required to choose and appoint at their annual town-meetings."
" IN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 14, 1821.
"This bill having had three several readings, passed to be enacted.
" JOSIAH QUINCY, Speaker.
" IN SENATE, June 15, 1821.
"This bill having had three several readings, passed to be enacted.
" Jnne 15, 1821. " Approved. "J. BROOKS."
" JOHN PHILLIPS, President.
The first town-meeting held after the incorporation
of the same was July 4, 1821. The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev. Daniel Huntington, the pastor of the First Congregational Church. Joseph Sylvester, Esq., was chosen moderator, and Col. Ed- ward Southworth town clerk. Abel Kingman, Esq., Howard Cary, Esq., and Capt. Zechariah Gurney were chosen selectmen, after which the other town officers were chosen. The number of voters present at the first town-meeting was about two hundred.
CHAPTER III.
SITUATION AND TOPOGRAPHY.
Situation and Extent-Topography-Centre Village-Cam- pello-"Sprague's" or Factory Village-Salisbury Heights- Northwest Bridgewater-Rivers, Brooks, Hills-Natural History-Birds, Fish, Wild Animals-Geological Formation -Official History-Selectmen-Assessors -- Town Clerks- Treasurers-Moderators-Dates of Annual Meetings-Engi- neers of the Fire Department-Councillors-Senators-Rep- resentatives to the General Court-Coroners-Notaries Public -Deputy Sheriff's-Justices of the Peace-Trial Justices- Votes for Governor in Brockton-List of Governors.
Brockton is a city in the northwest part of Plym- outh County,-bordering on Bristol County on the west, and Norfolk County on the north,-and is sit- uated between 42° 03' and 42° 08' north latitude, and between 70° 57' and 71° 04' west longitude ; and is bounded on the north by Randolph and Stoughton, on the cast by Abington and East Bridge- water, on the south by West Bridgewater, on the west by Easton. It is twenty miles south from Boston, thirty miles northeast from Providence, twenty-four miles northwest from Plymouth, the shire-town of Plymouth County, sixteen miles southeast from Ded- ' ham, the shire-town of Norfolk County, fifteen miles northeast from Taunton, a half shire-town of Bristol County, thirty-five miles northerly from New Bed- ford, thirty and one-quarter miles northeast from Fall River, forty-nine and one-quarter miles northeast from Newport, R. I., one hundred miles from Provincetown, two hundred and ten miles from New York by rail and steamer. The city is five and a half miles in length from east to west, and five miles in width from north to south, and contains about thirteen thousand acres, and is about four and a half miles square, -- has a total length of nearly one hundred miles of pub- lic streets, and it may truly be called a "live" place.
Campello .- The next in importance is a neat and pleasant locality, about one and a half miles south from the centre of the city, formerly known as " Plain Village," now Campello. This name was first sug-
556
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
gested to the citizens of Plain Village at the time of the establishment of the post-office, in February, 1850, on account of the name of Plain Village being often confounded with other places spelled nearly the same. It was proposed by Rev. Daniel Huntington, and unanimously adopted by the people as a proper one, it signifying a small plain. It has always been noted for its extensive manufacturing establishments of boots, shoes, cabinet furniture, and musical instru- ments ; and the thrift and industry of her citizens may be clearly seen in the neat and tidy appearance of the small cottages scattered throughout the limits of the same. The growth of this place was mate- rially checked, May 23, 1853, by one of the most de- structive fires that ever occurred in the city, if not in the county. It is now growing rapidly, and bids fair to be among the best localities for business. Here there is a large amount of business done in the shoe trade, several large establishments being engaged in manufacturing goods for foreign mar- kets, the owners or proprietors of which have stores for the sale of goods in Boston, one manufactory of musical instruments, several variety stores, gro- cery stores, post-office, railroad depot near by, ren- dering it a desirable place for trade or for a private residence. The main street runs the entire length of the city, north and south, with graceful elms on either side. There are schools in the place and five churches.
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Salisbury Square .- Sprague's Factory Village, or Salisbury Square, is another small and beautifully- located cluster of houses and manufacturing establish- ments, about three-fourths of a mile east of the main street of the city, on the road leading to Abington. There is a large manufactory of last and boot-trees in this place, with water- and steam-power, formerly owned and conducted by the late Chandler Sprague, Esq., to whom the citizens of that portion of the city owe their success for the enterprising manner in which he rendered the place attractive. Several years since he erected a large and convenient building for his use, in which were conducted several branches of manufacturing ; also a beautiful residence now owned by Dr. S. J. Gruver, situated but a short distance from the factory ; also a store. In this vicinity is a neat and roomy school-house, having a tower, with a bell ; a saw-mill, and several shoe manufactories, besides other establishments for the manufacture of shoc tools.
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