USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 175
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"In the House of Representatives, Read and Ordercd, that the North and South Precincts of the said Town be served with a copy of this petition, &c .; and that they may shew reason, if any they have, why the prayer thereof should not be granted, on the third Wednesday of May Sessions.
"In Council Read and Concurred. Consented to Dec. 22, 1722."
"The Petition of ye Inhabitants of the East End of the North Precinct in Bridgewater (as entered Dec. 22d, 1722), with the answers of the other part of the North Precinct and of the South Precinct were Read and fully considered, and the follow- ing Vote passed thereon, viz. :
" In Council : Ordered that Isaac Winslow and Samuel Thax- ter, Esq., with such as the Honble House of Representatives shall appoint, be a Committee to repair to Bridgewater in the recess of the Court and hear the pleas and allegations of all Parties, and view the Town and consider the situation and eir- cumstances of the several parts thereof, and make report whether they judge it reasonable that the East end of the North Precinct be set off as a separate Precinct, and, if so, whether any or all of the Thirteen or Fourteen Families prayed
.
836
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
for from the South Precinct ought to be added to them, and by what lines the said East part should bo set off, the charge to be paid by the Inhabitants of the East end of the North Precinct, who are tho petitioners. In the House of Representatives, Read and Concurrod, and ordered that Josiah Cotton, Isaac Little, and John Quincy, Esq., be added to the Committee for tho end and purposes ahove.
"June 13th, 1723. Consented to. WM. DUMMER."
" Isaac Winslow, Esq., from a Committee of Both Houses, gave in the following Report as to a New Precinct in the Town of Bridgewater, viz. :
" In obedience to an Order of the General Court, bearing date June 13th, 1723, the Committee appointed to repair to Bridge- water, and hear the pleas and allegations of all parties, and view the Town, and consider the situation and circumstances of the several parts thereof, and make report whether they judge it reasonable that the East end of the North Precinct be set off as a separate Precinct, and if so, whether any or all of the thirteen or fourteen families prayed for from the South Precinct ought to be added to them, and by what lines or bounds the said East Precinct should be set off.
" Having accordingly met together at Bridgewater aforesaid on the 8th of July, 1723, & performed the service aforesaid, are humbly of opinion that the East end of the North Precinct he set off as a separate Precinct, when they have procured a Con- stant, Learned, and Orthodox Minister among them, and that the dividing line between the East & West Precinct, be a North & South Line from the Centre, and that nine of the thirteen or fourteen families prayed for from the South Precinct-viz., the Families of Barnabas Seabury, Thomas Latham, Charles Latham, Nicholas Wade, Nathaniel Harding, Thomas Hooper, Wm. Conant,1 Isaac Lazell, and Joseph Washburn (six of which have signed with the petitioners)-be set off to the said East Precinct, and that the great road which leads fron Plymouth to the Town of Bridgewater he the dividing line between the South and East Precincts, and that they be freed from bearing any charge in the South Precinct.
"ISAAC WINSLOW, pr order of the Committee.
"In Council Read & Accepted, & ordered that the East End of the North Precinct of Bridgewater be set off a distinct Precinct accordingly. In the House of Representatives Read & Concurred, Dec. 14th, 1723.
" Consented to,
WILLIAM DUMMER."
Villages and Localities .- East Bridgewater con- tains a number of villages or hamlets; the principal one-often called East Bridgewater or East Bridge- water Village, sometimes the Old Village-is near the centre of the town. Here are located three houses of worship,-the Unitarian, Methodist, and Roman Catholic,-the town hall, high school, post-office, the railroad station of the Bridgewater Branch, the savings-bank, stores, iron-foundry, etc.
Elmwood Village (formerly Joppa), in the south- west corner of the town, has a post-office of its own, and lics on the road to Bridgewater. There are the New Jerusalem Church, stores, and shoc manufac- tories. The Elmwood Station of the Branch Rail- road is at the crossing of West Street, near the house of Henry Hill. A little farther westward, on the
same street, is the East and West Bridgewater Station of the Old Colony and Newport Railroad. A few rods from the depot is the stone which marks the spot where once stood the Centre Tree, indicating the centre of the ancient town of Bridgewater. Near this sta- tion, where a few years ago was but one house, is a rapidly-growing little village.
Beaver Village, in the northwest part of the town, derives its name from the fact that the stream running through it once abounded in beavers, the remnants of their industry having been visible in recent years.
Satucket, in the south part of the town, contains on one side, not far from the E. Carver Gin-Works, the hill on which the territory of Bridgewater was purchased of the Indians.
Northville, in the northeast part of the town, was formerly called the Northeast School District, where a few years ago was the first Methodist house of wor- ship in the town.
Eastville is in the east part of the town, as the name implies. It is in the centre of the east part.
Curtisville, in the southeasterly part of the town, near Hanson and Halifax, was named from Simeon Curtis, a respected resident, who died there in 1864.
Matfield is mostly on that part of Pleasant Street north of the Union meeting-house, and includes a part of West Bridgewater where are the Matfield post-office and railway-station of the Old Colony and Newport Railroad.
Auburnville (formerly called West Crook), a school district in the north part of the town bordering on Abington, received its new name in 1873. On the incorporation of the town of South Abington, in 1875, a large part of the district was set off to the new town. The remainder of the territory is still a part of East Bridgewater.
Each of the above-mentioned localities has its dis- trict school or schools, except Matfield. The chil- dren of the East Bridgewater part of Matfield attend the Beaver schools.
Post-Offices .- The first post-office in the old town of Bridgewater was established in the East Parish of Bridgewater, in November, 1799, and denominated the " Bridgewater Post-Office." Nahum Mitchell, Esq. (afterwards Judge Mitchell), was appointed the first postmaster. The post-office was kept in his law- office. Prior to 1799 there were but four post-offices in the county of Plymouth, and in the United States but six hundred and thirty-nine. Dr. Cornell, tho mail-carrier, went on horseback carrying the mail from Boston to Bristol, R. I., once in a week. Thursday was tho regular day for him to appear at the post-
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il
Jis
1
837
HISTORY OF EAST BRIDGEWATER.
office in this village, but sometimes he did not arrive till the following Sunday. Before the office here began operations, people were accustomed to go to Weymouth for their letters. For the first few years the number of newspapers taken here was small, and the amount of business done through the mail was very little.
Mr. Mitchell appears to have continued in office till December, 1803, when Asa Mitchell was appointed postmaster.
John M. Goodwin became postmaster April 20, 1808.
Silvanus L. Mitchell became postmaster July 1, 1818.
On the 30th of November, 1831, the name of the office was changed from Bridgewater to East Bridge- water.
Silvanus L. Mitchell was appointed postmaster, Nov. 30. 1831 ; Aaron Hobart (afterwards Judge Hobart). Feb. 4, 1835; Hector O. A. Orr, March 31, 1836 ; Benjamin Watson Keith, July 1, 1861, and is the present incumbent.
The post-office in Northville Village was estab- lished Jan. 28, 1839, and Moses Bates, Jr., was appointed postmaster at the same date. John Wood- bridge Jenkins was appointed postmaster Sept. 1, 1841. This office was discontinued March 7, 1844.
The post-office in Joppa (now Elmwood Village) was established July 1, 1861, and Warren K. Church- ill appointed postmaster at the same time. He still holds the position.
Tax-payers, 1729 .- In order that the reader may get an idea of who the residents of the precinct were at an early date, we append a list of tax-payers' names for 1729, as follows :
List of tax-payers in the East Precinct of Bridge- water, who resided to the west of the meeting-house in 1729:
Per- sonal. Total.
Polls. Real. s. d.
8. d. 8. d.
. d.
Samuel Allen
3 6
1
9 1 2
06 05
Nehemiah Allen ...
1 9
1 11 11
04 09
Nicholas Whitman
7 0
1
5 0 9
09 02
Widow Alden
0 0
0
0
0 5
00 05
Josiah Byram
1 9
1
9
0 3
John Cary
1 9 1 2 0 5
03 04
Elnathan Bassett & Samuel Beal
3 6 0
8 0 8
04 10
Ebenezer Alden
3 6
1
4
0 8
05 06
Isaac Alden.
1
9
0
9
0
1
02 06
John Alden.
1 9
0
3
0
3
02 03
Deacon James Cary.
3 6
1
0
0
7 05 01
Deacon Recompense Cary 1 9
1
0 0 3
03 05
James Snow
1 9
0 11 0 5 03 01
Widow Shaw.
0 0
1
0 3
01 06
Samuel Edron ..
1 9
0
9
0 8
03 02
Timothy Edson.
1 9
0
7 0 5
02 09
John Gillmor & Robert Gill- mor.
3 6
1
4
0 8
05 06
Ebenezer Hill .. 1 9
0
4
0 5
05 06
Ene. Ephraim Cary. 3 6
1
9 0 7 05 10
s.
8. d.
s. d.
. Gain Robinson ..
1 9
1
4
0 8
03 09
Thomas Washburn.
0 0
0
3
0 4
00 07
John Orcutt.
1
1
6
0 9
04 00
Isaac Snow
9
0
6 0 3
02 06
John Whitman
1 9
0
0
0
01 11
Jonathan Bass.
1
9
0
9
1
2
03 08
James Barret.
1
9
0
1
4
02 02
Widow Sarah Hayward.
3
6
0
6
0 3
04 03
Nathaniel Hayward & Timo- thy Hayward.
3
6
1
7
0 +
05 08
Joseph Byram
1
9
0
3
0
7 02 07
John Johnson.
1
9
0
4
0
6
02 07
Christopher Askins.
1
9
0
0
0
1
01 10
David Gillmor.
9
0
0
0 0
01 09
Ebenezer Shaw.
9
0
0
0
2
01 11
Joseph Shaw.
1 9
0
5
1
6
0
2 02 05
Jonathan Snow.
9
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
00 02
Richard Whitmarsh ...
0 0
0
2
0
0
00 02
Thomas White.
0
0
0
6
0
0 00 06
Collonall Lathrop ..
0
0
0
2
0 0
00 02
Capt. Lowren
0
0
2
0
0
1 01 10
Thomas Whitmarsh.
0 0
0
2 0 0
00 02
" This Bill of assessment for Defraying County Charges, to be collected by Ebenezer Alden, was made Bridgewater December 15th, Anno Dom. 1729.
" JOSEPH EDSON,
" CHILTON LATHAM,
" NEHEMIAH WASHBURN,
" Assessors of ye town of Bridgewater."
The above list of tax-payers belonged to that part of the parish located west of the meeting-house. The names of the males above mentioned taxed for real estate only were those of non-residents.
List of tax-payers in the East Precinct of Bridge- water, in 1729, who resided to the east of the meet- ing-house :
Ebenezer Allen.
Samuel Harris.
Elisha Allen.
Thomas Hooper.
Josiah Allen.
Daniel Hudson, Jr.
John Alden.
John Johnson.
Samuel Beals.
Chilton Latham.
Moses Bisbee.
James Latham.
Josiah Byram.
Charles Latham.
Ebenezer Byram.
Joseph Latham.
John Cary.
Thomas Latham.
William Conant.
Isaac Lazell.
David Conant.
Theodosius Moore.
Samuel Dawes.
David Pratt.
William Davenport. John Pryor.
Thomas Records.
Matthew Gannett.
Barnabas Seabury.
Joseph Gannett.
Ebenezer Sanders.
Nathaniel Harden.
Thomas Snell.
Benjamin Hayward.
John Trask.
John Holman.
Nicholas Wade.
John Hanmer.
Joseph Washburn.
Isaac Harris.
Josiah Winslow.
Assessment for 1757 .- The list of assessments to defray the necessary charges arising in the East Pre- cinct in Bridgewater, together with the Rev. John Angier's salary, and is to be collected by Zacharias
E
Matthew Allen, Jr ..
1
9
0 1
01 10
Ebenezer Whitmarsh
0
0
0
0 00 02
Robert Askins.
1 9
0
0 4 4
02 06
0 2
02 00
Thomas Whitman
1 9
Per- sonal. Total.
Polls. Real.
s. d.
9
1
2
1
M
F
03 09 Dennís Egerton.
838
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
Shaw, constable, made by us, the subscribers, this 9th day of December Anno Domini 1757. Signed, Eben- ezer Alden, Thomas Whitman, John Orcutt, assessors.
Deacou Seth Allen.
Ensign Matthew Allen.
Isaac Allen.
Capt. Edward Mitchell.
Elisba Allen.
Hugh Orr.
Jonathan Allen.
Jonathan Perkins.
John Lazell.
Thomas Torrey.
Ebenezer Alden.
Samuel Porter.
James Lovell.
Josiah Torrey, Jr.
Isaac Alden.
Samuel Porter, Jr.
Johu Lazell, Jr.
William Vinton.
John Alden.
Joseph Porter.
Isaac Alden, Jr.
Ebenezer Porter.
Capt. Elisha Mitchell.
Jouathan Alden.
Joshua Pool.
Ensign Cushing Mitchell.
Widow Bayle and Israel.
Micah Pool.
Widow Beal.
Joseph Roherson.
Nathan Beal.
Joseph Shaw.
Daniel Beal.
Ebenezer Shaw.
Jonathan Beal.
Zacharias Shaw.
Benjamin Beal.
Widow Mary Whitman.
Hugh Orr, Esq.
Lieut. Jonathan Bass.
Widow Elizabeth Whitman.
Capt. Robert Orr.
Nathan Orcutt.
David Edson.
John Whitman.
David Whitman.
Eleazer Whitman.
Samuel Porter, Jr.
James Porter.
Nathan Whitman.
Lieut. Samuel Pool.
Micah White, Jr.
Elijah Peck.
Eleazer Whitman.
Solomon Packard.
A list of assessment for the Defraying the Charge in the East Precinct in Bridgewater, together with Revd Mr. Angier's Sallery, to be Collected by Jona- than Conant, Constable, made by us Jan. 28, 1778. Signed by David Kingman, Nathan Alden, Assessors for East Precinct, Bridgewater.
Mr. Matthew Allen.
Samuel Allen.
Japhet Allen.
Samuel Whitman. Stepben Whitman.
Josiab Alleu. Benjamin Whitman.
Ebenezer Byram.
Capt. Simeon Whitman. Simeon Whitman, Jr.
Jonathan Conant. Elias Conant.
Thomas Whitman, Jr. Liout. Anthony Wiuslow.
Nathaniel Chamberlin.
Wido Anna Washburn. Levi Washburn.
Benjamin Chamberlin.
Consider Cushman.
John Chamberlin.
Lieut. Robert Dawes.
Ebenezer Crooker.
Nathan Dawes.
Josiah Cary.
William Dauiels.
Winslow Clift.
Amos Ford.
Arthur Harris.
Widow Mahetable French.
Capt. Joseph Gannett.
Edward llayford. Jolin Ilatchi.
Simon Gannett.
Lleut. James Koith.
Seth Gannett.
James Keith, Jr.
Matthew Gannett.
Isaac Allen, Jr.
David Kingman.
Widow Martha Gannett.
Ensign Charles Latham.
John Gardner. Nathan Hudson.
Thomas Latham.
John Hudson.
Seth Latham.
John Hooper.
John Bisboe. Ebenezer Bishee, Jr.
Jacob Hill.
Jonathan Benll.
Elenzer Hill.
Benjamin Parris.
Lient. Nohomiah Latbau.
David Pratt.
Mayhew Belcher.
William Hersey. Solomon Hersey.
Allen Marshall. Seth Mitchell. Jacob Mitchell. Seth Mitcholl, Jr.
Joshun Pratt, Samuel Pratt, Jr. Anthony Peirce. Mark Phillips.
Jesse Byram. Josiah Byram. Benjamin Byram. John Brown. Job Bearco.
William Horsey, Jr. Josiah Johnson. Robert Jamerson.
Wlillumin Johnson.
Capt. Joseph Keith.
William Robinson.
David Keith.
David Keith, Jr.
Eleazer Kcitli. Scth Keith.
Joseph Smitlı.
George Keith.
Ebenezer Shaw. Christopher Sover.
Daniel Kingman. Silvanus Lazell.
Deacon Zachariah Shaw.
Isaac Lazell.
Zachariah Shaw, Jr.
Poly Bara
Jobo
Wid
SELE
Samme! Chilton Deacon
Ť. Capt. '65 Capt. Lieut. Deacon Capt. E Descon James Nabum Capt. '10 Alfred
CLERK Ebenez Ebener James
Seth All John 0 Daria K Nathan
David
Nabam Ezra K '09 Bartho! TREAS
Assessments for 1778 .- A list of assessment for the defraying the town and county charge for the year past, to be collected by Josiah Johnson, consta- ble, and was made by us Jan. 24, 1778. Signed by David Kingman, Eleazer Cary, Josiah Richards, as- sessors for the town of Bridgewater.
Capt. Matthew Allen.
Willianı Barril.
Capt. Nathan Alden. Isaac Allen. Ezra Allen.
Ensign Joshua Barril. Joseph Bolton.
Lient. Ephraim Cary.
Nathan Alden, Jr.
Ephraim Cary, Jr. Daniel Cary. Joseph Cranchi. Ebonezer Drake.
Woodward Latham.
Isaac Alden.
Samuel and Nathaniel Edson. John Edson.
Perkins Gurnoy.
Widow Mary Latham & Son. Lient. Benjamin Harris.
Natlinniel Lowdon. Robert Lathan.
Thomas Parris.
Azariah Beall. Joseph Beall.
Hezeklah Hill.
Jacob Ilill, Jr.
Joseph Noyes. Dr. Isnne Otin. Dr. Josiah Otis.
James Robinson.
Robert Robluson.
Tho Wid
Hezekiah Reed. Benjamin Robinson. Edward Robinson.
lucr Wing Elija
Jam Aoth
Widow Bety and Josiah Whit- man.
Alexander Munro.
Nicholas Whitman.
Nathan Niles.
Isaac Whitman.
Silas Niles.
Deacon Thomas Whitman.
Baniah Niles.
Lient. Peter Whitman. William Whitman.
Benjamin Byram. Ephraim Cary, Jr.
Deacon Jas. Cary and Barril. Deacon Recompense Cary.
John Cary.
Ichabod Cary.
Samuel Whitman.
Joseph Wesley.
Ebenezer Whitman. Abuer Kingman.
Samuel and Nathaniel Edson.
Joseph Edson, Jr.
James Edson.
John Keith. Ebenezer Hill, Jr.
William Corbit.
Theophilus Byram.
Ebenezer Hill.
Jacob Hill.
John McWhorter.
Eleazer Hill.
Nathan Whitman.
William Hearsey, Jr.
Micah French.
Joseph Keith.
Jobn Price.
Joseph Keitb, Jr.
John Hagan.
James Keith.
Jolin Hanmore.
David Keith.
John Wbitman, Jr. Jonathan Orcutt.
John Egerton.
Hezekiah Egerton. Perkins Gurney.
Peter Whitman.
Nicholas Whitman.
Jacob Whitman.
Zebulon Cary.
John Barril.
Henry Cary.
Jesse Byram.
Capt. Thomas Whitman.
Peter Pratt.
Samuel Porter.
Eleazer Washburn. Jacob Whitmarsh. Lieut. John Whitman. Marlboro Whiten. Ezra Whitman.
Col. Edward Mitchell.
George Vining.
Josepb Vinton.
John Mitchell.
Isaac Otis, Jr. Jonathan Perkins.
Joseph Allen.
Widow Rhodah Conant.
Job Chamberliu.
Jonathan Snow.
Jonathan Alden. Simeon Alden.
Ebenexer Bisbeo.
Lient. David Kingman. James Lovel.
Galn Robinson.
Samuel Nehemis Jonatha Chilton Ebenere Isaac Ha Lient. F. Samuel Joba On Thomas Charles Joseph John Ca Joseph Cornet S Capt, Jo Matthew Seth A l Edward
839
HISTORY OF EAST BRIDGEWATER.
Thomas Russel. Widow Mary Ramsdle.
Increase Robinson. Winslow Richardson. Elijah Smith.
James Shaw. Anthony Shearman. Polycarpus Snell. Barnabos Snell. John Smith.
Widow Sarah Stetson.
Widow Abiah Taylor. Jonathan Whitman. Seth Whitman & Son.
Oliver Washburn.
James Wade. Nicolas Wade. Robert Wade. Amos Whitman. Ebenezer Whitman, Jr.
John Young. Robert Young.
SELECTMEN OF THE EAST PARISH OF BRIDGE- WATER.
Samuel Allen, 1724.
Chilton Latham, 1,25. '26, '2", '25, '29, '30, '31, '32, '33, '34.
Deacon Recompense Cary, 1735. '36, '37, '38, '39, '40. '41, '42. '43. '44. '45. '46, '47. '48, '49, '50. '58, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56. Capt. Thomas Whitman, 1757, '58, '59. '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65. '66.
Capt. Edward Mitchell, 1767. '68, '69, '70, '71, '72. 73. Lient. Ephraim Cary, 1774. '75, '76, '77.
Deacon Nathaniel Edson, 1778, '79, 'S0, '81, '82, '83.
Capt. Elisha Mitchell, 1784, '85, '86, '87, 'SS, '89.
Deacon John Whitman. 1790, '91. '92, '93.
James Thomas, 1794, '95.
Nahnm Mitchell. 1796, '97, '98, '99, 1800.
Capt. Ezra Kingman, 1501, '02, '03, '04, '05, 06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, 'I7, '18, '19, '20.
Alfred Whitman. 1821, '22, '23.
CLERKS OF THE EAST PARISH OF BRIDGEWATER. Ebenezer Byram, 1724, '25, '26, '27, '28, '29. Ebenezer Alden. 1730. '31.
James Cary. 1732, '33, "34. '35, '36, '37, '38, '39, '40, '41, '42, '43, '44. '45, '46. '47, '48, '49, '50.
Seth Allen, 1751, '52, '53, '54, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59. John Orcutt, 1760, '61. '62, '63, '64.
David Kingman, Jr., 1765.
Nathaniel Edson. 1766, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73, '74, '75, '76. '77.
Darid Kingman, 1778, '79, '80, 'S1, '82, '83, '84, '85, '56, '87, 'S., '59, '90, '91, '92, '93, '94, '95.
Nahnın Mitchell, 1796, '97, '98.
Ezra Kingman, 1799, 1-00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '02, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18, '19, '20, '21, '22. Bartholomew Brown, 1823.
TREASURERS OF THE EAST PARISH OF BRIDGE- WATER.
Samuel Allen, 1724.
Nehemiah Allen, 1725.
Jonathan Bass, 1726.
Ephraim Cary, 1749.
Chilton Latham, 1727. Ebenezer Alden, 1728.
David Hill, 1750.
Daniel Hudson, 1751.
Jonathan Bass, 1752.
Hugh Orr, 1753. Jesse Byram, 1754.
Capt. Thomas Whitman, 1755, '56, '57, '58, '59, '60, '61, '62, '63, '64, '65.
Ensign Joseph Keith, 1766, '67, '68, '69, '70, '71, '72, '73. David Kinginan, 1774, '75, 776.
- William Snell, 1777.
David Kingman, 1778, '79.
Ephraim Cary, Jr., 1780. Capt. Elisha Mitchell, 1781.
-
Nathan Whitman, 1782.
David Kingman, 1783, '84, '85. '86, 'ST.
Deacon John Whitman, 1788, '89.
David Kingman, 1790. Capt. Isaac Whitman, 1791, '92.
David Kingman, 1793, '94, '95. Isaac Whitman, 1796, '97, '98, '99.
Ezra Kingman, 1800, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06. Nahum Mitchell, 1807,' 08, '09, '10, '11, '12.
Deacon William Harris, 1813, '14, '15, '16, '17, '18. Cushing Mitchell, Jr., 1819. William Harris, Jr., 1820. Cushing Mitchell, Jr., 1821, '22, '23.
CHAPTER II.
First Church in East Bridgewater-First Meeting-House -- East Parish of Bridgewater-Original Church Members- Second Meeting-House-Rev. John Angier-Rev. Samuel Angier-Third Meeting-House-Rev. James Hunt-Rev. Benjamin Fessenden-Rev. John A. Williams-Rev. Elipha- let P. Crafts-Rev. Samuel Adams Devens-Rev. George A. Williams-Rev. Ira Henry Thomas Blanchard-Rev. Na- thanicl Whitman-Rev. Joseph Hobson Phipps-Rev. Silas Farrington -Rev. Francis Charles Williams-Rev. John Wil- liams Quinly-Deacons of the First Church.
First Church in East Bridgewater,-On the 28th of October, 1724, a church was gathered in the east part of Bridgewater, now the town of East Bridge- water, and Rev. John Angier, son of Rev. Samuel Angier, of Rehoboth, was ordained, according to Con- gregational usage, its pastor. For sixty years the dwellers herc had worshiped in the meeting-house at West Bridgewater, which the greater part of that time had been the only meeting-house in the whole of Bridgewater, but the distance which many were obliged to travel was so great that it became very de- sirable to have a place of worship much nearer. The number of people here was not large. No exact cen- sus has been obtained, but from a tax-list of 1729, and an enumeration of familics, the number may have becn three hundred and twenty-five. Some time prior to the establishment of the ministry, or the incorpora- tion of a parish in this part of the old town, the in- habitants with their slender mcans had erected a meeting-house on the spot where the present first parish meeting-house stands. According to a diary kept by Deacon James Cary, the house was raised on the 15th of March, 1721. The land on which it was placed was owned by Samuel Allen, son of Samuel Allen the first settler here, who, on the 23d of the following May, as the deed of the land declares, " for and in consideration of the regard he hath for settling the Ministry in the east end of the North Precinct in Bridgewater, doth give, grant, make over, convey, and confirm unto the said east end of the North Precinct (designing with submission to the authority
Isaac larrie, 1729, '30, '31. Lieut. Ebenezer Byram, 1732. Samnel Edson, 1733. John Orcutt, 1734.
Thomas Whitman, 1735.
Charles Latham, 1736. Joseph Keith, 1737. John Cary, 1738. Joseph Gannett, 1739. Cornet Samuel Beals, 1740.
Capt. John Holman, 1741. Matthew Allen, Jr., 1742. Seth Allen, 1743, '44, '45. Edward Mitchell, 1746.
David Kingman, 1747. Joshua Pratt, 1748.
840
HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.
to be a distinct precinct), to their proper use, bchoof, and disposal, a certain small piece of land lying in Bridgewater aforesaid, on which the frame of a meet- ing-house nearly erected, in said Precinct, now stand- eth, for conveniency about said meeting-house, etc.".
East Parish of Bridgewater (now the First Parish of East Bridgewater) .- The East Pre- cinct or Parish of Bridgewater was incorporated by the General Court of the Province of Massachu- setts Bay, Dec. 14, 1723, and the first meeting of the parish as such legally called, and presided over by Joshua Cushing, Esq., " one of his Majes- tie's Justices of Peace for the County of Plym- outh," was held on Monday the 27thi of January, 1724, at which Capt. Nicholas Bryam was chosen moderator ; Ebenezer Byram, clerk ; Samuel Allen, Nathaniel Hayward, and Recompense Cary, assessors ; Josiah Allen, collector ; and Samuel Allen, treas- urer.
" An Act to change the name of the East Parish of Bridge- water : Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, that the parish heretofore known and called by the name of the East Parish or Precinct of Bridgewater, in the County of Plymouth, shall no longer bear that name, but henceforth shall be called and known by the name of the First Parish in East Bridgewater, and all officers of said parish shall hold and exercise their respective offices in the same manner as they would have done had not the name of said parish been changed." June 12, 1824.
On the 10th of February the parish voted to raise by a tax the sum of fifty pounds, which sum was to be collected by the 1st of the following June, and Chil- ton Latham, Samuel Allen, Isaac Alden, Nathaniel Hayward, and Capt. Byram were chosen a committee to obtain a minister. The society was then in work- ing order, and candidates were heard.
On the 14th of April, "ye inhabitants then met, agrced by a unanimous vote to give the Rev. Mr. John Angier a call to settle with them in ye work of ye Ministry according to the Gospel." His answer at first was in the negative, but afterwards so strong a desire was expressed for his consent to become their spiritual guide, that he yielded and was ordained.
The compensation to the young candidate was a " grattis" of one hundred and fifty pounds, together with ten acres of land, and an annual salary for the first year eighty pounds, for the second year eighty- five pounds, for the third ycar ninety pounds, for the fourth year nincty five pounds, for the fifth year a hundred pounds, and henceforward a hundred pounds each year.
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