USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Bridgewater > History of the early settlement of Bridgewater, in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family register > Part 4
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
The following is an extract from an ancient manuscript, of which Comfort Willis, who then held the office of " Town Trooper," is supposed to have been the author :----
" On Saturday, Capt. (Thomas) Hayward, Sergeant (Samuel Jr.) Packard, John Willis, and Isaac Harris, went out to see if
40
HISTORY OF THE
the Indians were coming down upon them, and they saw an Indian, which made them think the enemy was at hand; and they immediately pressed Comfort Willis and Joseph Edson to go post to the Governor the same day at night to tell him of it. And he went to Plymouth with them the next day, to send Capt. Church with his company. And Capt. Church came with them to Monponset on the Sabbath, and came no further that day ; and he told them he would meet them the next day. And Com- fort Willis and Joseph Edson came home at night and told their friends of it, and Ensign (John) Haward, Samuel Edson, Josiah Edson, Joseph Edson, John Washburn, Samuel Washburn, Thomas Washburn, John Field, Nicholas Byram, Samuel Allen, Samuel Allen, Jr., John Gordon, John Hayward, John Pack- ard, John Ames, Comfort Willis, Guido Bailey, Nathaniel Hayward, John Whitman, John Packard and Samuel Leach went out on Monday, supposing to meet with Captain Church ; but they came upon the enemy, and fought with them, and took seventeen of them alive and also much plunder. And they all returned, and not one of them fell by the enemy, and received no help from Church."
The following extract of a letter from Gov. Josiah Winslow to Thomas Hinckley was written about the same time :-
" May 23, 1676. Last Saturday, 4 o'clock P. M., a second post came from Bridgewater, and informed they had discovered about one hundred of the enemy at Titicut, very busy killing cattle and horses, as if they intended some stay there; and Taunton and Bridgewater had agreed in the night to advance towards them in the morning ; and requested a few men from us if possible. The warning was very short, yet we obtained from Plymouth, Duxbury, and Marshfield about forty smart lads and sent to Bridgewater that night, but have not as yet heard of, or from them. They knew of your intended march, and if they miss of those Indians they may very probably meet with yours to range toward Seconet. Mr. Church will inform you what I have written to Rhode Island." There was also a skirmish with the enemy near the great river in the south part of the town, July 31, 1676, when some of Philip's "special friends"
41
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
were killed, and among others his uncle, who fell by his side. Had the soldier known "which had been the right bird," as Hubbard says in his narrative, Philip himself might have fallen, and the war thus have been brought to a more speedy and less disastrous result ; but " the cunning fox escaped them for that time." John Ames and Nicholas Byram are said to have dis- tinguished themselves on that occasion.
Capt. Church joined them the next day and pursued the enemy till the 3d of August, when, "having no provision but what they took from the enemy, they hastened to Bridgewater, sending an express before to provide for them, their company being now very numerous, having killed and taken one hundred and seventy-three. The gentlemen of Bridgewater met Capt. Church with great expressions of honor and thanks, and received him and his army with all due respect and kind treatment." The prisoners were conveyed into the town pound at night, and an Indian guard set over them. "They were well treated with victuals and drink, and had a merry night ; and the prisoners laughed as loud as the soldiers, not having been so well treated before for a long time." The next day Capt. Church arrived safe at Plymouth with all his prisoners.
Amidst danger, and often actually assaulted in their dwellings, it is remarkable that during the whole of that war, in which from time to time great numbers were engaged, not one of the inhabitants of Bridgewater were killed. All the narratives of that conflict speak of the town as fortunate and highly favored in this respect, while they unite in ascribing to the inhabitants high praise for their courage and activity in the service. John Snell, who was killed at the Isle aux Noix on Lake Champlain in the French war in 1760, was the first inhabitant of the town that ever fell in battle ; and Capt. Jacob Allen and Abner Rob- inson, who were killed at Saratoga at the capture of Burgoyne during the war of the American Revolution, in 1777, were the next. Gideon Washburn was killed at sea about the same time.
Hubbard informs us that "in June, 1676, (it was 1675) a man and woman were slain by the Indians at Dartmouth; and that another woman was taken ; but, because she had kept an Indian
6
42
HISTORY OF THE
child before, so much kindness was shewn her as that she was sent back, after they had dressed her wounds; and the Indians guarded her till she came within sight of the English." The man and woman alluded to were probably Jacob Mitchell and his wife ; and Dorothy Hayward, who afterwards gave the fol- lowing deposition, was probably the woman who was made a prisoner, and treated with such exemplary humanity ;-
" Dorothy Hayward, aged 30 years or thereabouts, being engaged upon oath testifieth, that she being taken by the Indians in June, in the year 1675, in Dartmouth, in Plymouth Colony saith, William Palmer was slain by the Indians, and Jacob Mitchell and his wife, and John Pope. This deponent saw these Indians, Ponoho, Watanom, John Bryant, Nenpos, Potak, Tosa- nem. These be the names of them that we know to be in being. No further this deponent saith .- Taken before me upon oath, JOSEPH CLARK, Assistant. NEWPORT, R. I., June 25, 1677."
During the American Revolution, Bridgewater was firm and patriotic, entering heartily into the struggle, and bearing her full proportion of its burdens. Those who fell in battle were not numerous, and some of the principal names have been already given.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
THE first settlements having been in the west parish, the first church was of course formed there, and although social worship on the Sabbath had not probably been omitted or at all neg- lected, yet having been few in number and feeble in substance, they were at first unable to maintain a minister, and, by thus forming themselves into a regular church, enjoy the full benefit of the christian institutions. In this situation they remained from 1651 to 1664, a period of a little more than twelve years. They had in the mean time employed a Mr. Bunker, to preach as a candidate, and made him an offer of settlement, which
43
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
however for some reason not appearing on the records did not take place. They also as early as 1661, agreed and voted to build a house for a minister, who should be called to settle among them, and to give him also an entire purchase right in the township.
Feb. 18, 1664, the settlement of the Rev. James Keith, their first ordained minister, is recorded, and the terms of it particu- larly expressed. He is there called "a student in divinity, having some competent time improved his gifts amongst them in the work of the ministry, and having also due approbation by the testimony of the Rev. Elders of other churches of Christ, to whom he was known." He was a Scotchman, educated at Aberdeen, and probably came to Boston about the year 1662, and was introduced to the church at Bridgewater by Dr. Increase Mather, whom he always esteemed as his patron and best friend. In the second preface to the " Bridgewater's Monitor," the first having been written by Increase and Cotton Mather, it is said, Bridgewater had not an ordained minister till 1663. This had reference to the old style, probably, when the year commenced on the 25th of March. The terms of his settlement were liberal ; a double house lot of twelve acres with a house built thereon, and a purchase right, so called, being a fifty-sixth part of the original grant; £40 annual salary, £20 to be paid at Boston in money, and the other half at home. In 1667 they gave him an additional grant of thirty cords of wood annually, "the cutters of the wood to have five groats, and the drawers seven groats a cord." In 1681 they raised it from £40 to £50, £20 to be paid at Boston in money, and £30 at home in corn and provisions. In 1689 they agreed to allow him £10 in corn in lieu of his thirty cords of wood. He died July 23, 1719, æ. 76, of course was about 21 when he was ordained.
Mather, in the Magnalia, places him in the third class, " who were all such ministers as came over after the re-establishment of the Episcopal church government in England, and the conse- quent persecution of the non-conformists." This must have been a mistake, as Mr. Keith was from Scotland, and besides could not have been a minister before he came over, being very young and but a student when he arrived. The text he sclected
44
HISTORY OF THE
for his first sermon was from Jeremiah 1, 6. " Behold I cannot speak ; for I am a child." The Lord however indeed encour- aged him, " and put his words into his mouth," and he proved a worthy man and faithful shepherd over his infant and feeble flock. His advice and influence with the civil authorities of the colony were also considerable. In the case of the capture of Philip's wife and son, when the question as to what should be done with the son was in agitation, and the opinion of grave divines desired, Mr. Keith's opinion, stated in a letter to the Rev. Mr. Cotton, in favor of mercy, and differing from most others, had great weight, if indeed it was not decisive on the occasion. The boy's life was spared, and with his mother he was sent out of the country, and probably to the Bermudas. The letter follows, and is well worthy of a place here.
" October 30, 1676. I long to hear what becomes of Philip's wife and his son. I know there is some difficulty in that Psalm 137, 8. 9, though I think it may be considered, whether there be not some speciality and somewhat extraordinary in it. That - law, Deut. 24. 16, compared with the commended example of Amazias, 2d Chron., 25. 4, doth sway much with me in the case under consideration. I hope God will direct those whom it doth concern to a good issue. Let us join our prayers at the throne of grace with all our might, that the Lord would so dispose of all public motions and affairs, that his Jerusalem in this wilder- ness may be the habitation of justice, and the mountain of holiness, that so it may be also a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down." He preached the sermon at the dedication of the new meeting house in South Bridgewater in 1717, two years only before his death, which was printed in the " Bridgewater's Monitor," and which contains some pertinent and impressive remarks on the subject of intemperance even at that early period. " Besides other evils," said he, " which might be mentioned, I would refer particularly to that of intemperance, the excessive and prodigious expense upon strong drink, above all, that of rum; I say, the scandalous and horrible abuse of rum, which threatens ruin unto this land and to this place ; a ruin to all our dearest interests, both civil and religious. If there be any such houses among you, as I fear there are, that
45
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
vend that strong drink contrary to the law of God and the wholesome law of this province, let such of you as are vested with civil power and stand obliged unto the oath of God, see that such grievous profanation be suppressed, lest that iniquity, the abuse of rum, be our ruin."
His posterity have been, and still are, very numerous. The names of two hundred of them in Bridgewater, alone appear on a late census ; and there are a great many also in Middleborough, Easton, Mendon, Maine, and other parts of the United States. Israel Keith formerly Adjutant General of the Commonwealth was one of his descendants.
William Brett, among the first planters of the town, was a ruling elder in the church, ordained soon after Mr. Keith, and probably aided and assisted them in their public worship from the commencement of their settlement, and even after the ordi- nation of Mr. Keith. He was a well educated and intelligent man as is manifest from his letters to Gov. Winslow, still extant, and was much esteemed by his brethren, and often employed in their secular affairs .- The following extract, bearing testi- mony to the worth and good character of the church and its officers, is taken from the early church records of Plymouth. " The worthy church of Christ at Bridgewater have for their pastor Mr. James Keith, who came by the wise disposing hand of Providence out of Scotland. William Brett, a grave and godly man, is their ruling elder; and John Willis, their deacon, a good man and one that hath proved himself faithful. They carry on in a way of peace, holiness, and good gospel order."
The Rev. Daniel Perkins, successor of Mr. Keith, was ordained October 4, 1721. He was a native of Topsfield, in the county of Essex, and graduated at Harvard University 1717. He died September 29, 1782, æ. 86th, and in the 62d year of his ministry, which was not long only, but peaceful and efficacious.
The Rev. John Reed, S. T. D., successor of Mr. Perkins, was ordained as his colleague June 7, 1780. He graduated at Yale College, 1772, and was son of the Rev. Solomon Reed, of Titicut, who was a native of Abington .- Dr. Reed died Feb. 17, 1831, æ. 79. He was an able and sound divine, and much
46
HISTORY OF TIIE
employed on ecclesiastical councils ; and although deprived of his sight for many years previous to his death, he continued to preach till the last, and with his psalm book open in his hand would recite the psalm at length .- Many of his occasional ser- mons are in print, and also a work of his on infant baptism,
South Parish.
A second precinct was incorporated June 1, 1716. This did not take place without some opposition. The original appliea- tion was made in 1715, the petitioners ealling themselves inhabi- tants of the easterly part of the town of Bridgewater. A viewing committee was appointed consisting of John Cushing and Edmund Quincy of the council, and George Leonard, Henry Hodges and Jacob Thomson of the House. They made a favorable report April 18, 1716, which was accepted, and an act of incorporation passed with this condition, " that the whole town stand obliged to an honorable maintenance of the Rev. Mr. Keith, their present aged minister, if he should outlive his powers and capacities of discharging the office and duty of their minister." The dividing line began "at the brook, called the mile brook, where the road from Boston to Taunton crosseth the said brook, and from thence by a line running west and by south to the uttermost extent of the said township, and from the station first mentioned by a line running easterly in the midway between the dwelling house of Wm. Hudson, and the dwelling house of David Perkins, Jr., and from thence the said line to be continued in the midst between the dwelling house of Edward Mitchell and the dwelling house of Nathaniel Hayward, and from thenee the said line to be continued easterly in the midst betwixt the dwelling house of James Latham, and the dwelling house of Joseph Washburn, Jr., and from thence by a line due east to the extent of the said township." The new parish was called the south, and the old one the north precinct. Much the largest part of the town remained with the north, as it was suggested, "that there might soon be need of a third meeting- house." They recommended that the new meeting-house be erected " on the high or rising ground on the southerly side of the highway, going by John Washburn's house, being the easterly
47
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
part of his field," and " that the old house remain where it was, for five years, and then be removed down to Isaac Johnson's field, where divers roads meet convenient for that purpose." The new meeting-house was dedicated June 14, 1717, and Mr. Keith delivered the sermon as has been already stated. Before the time arrived for removing the old house in the north, (now west,) the east began to think of being incorporated into a parish, and therefore they assisted in repairing the old house where it stood, and were to have the money refunded to them when they came to build their own, and so the house was never moved.
The Rev. Benjamin Allen, their first pastor, was a native of Tisbury, of Martha's Vineyard, graduated at Yale 1708, and ordained July 9, 1718. He continued with them about thirteen years, but being an unsuccessful manager of his private secular concerns, he fell into debt, and his parish after often relieving him, became at last weary of it, and he was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council. He preached his first sermon in the meeting-house August 18, 1717, and his last October 11, 1730. He was soon afterwards installed at Cape Elizabeth, and was the first minister of that place, where he died May 6, 1754, æ. 65. A grand-daughter of his by the name of Jourdan, married the Rev. Enos Hitchcock, D. D., of Providence.
The Rev. John Shaw, his successor, was a native of the east parish of Bridgewater, and son of Joseph Shaw : graduated at Harvard University 1729, and ordained November 17, 1731. He died April 29, 1791, æ. 82, and in the 60th year of his ministry, much beloved and respected by his people. He delivered the sermon at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Taft, of Randolph, which is in print.
His successor, the Rev. Zedekiah Sanger, S. T. D., was born at Sherburne, and graduated at Harvard University 1771 : was first settled at Duxbury, and afterwards installed as colleague with the Rev. Mr. Shaw, December 17, 1788. He died Novem- ber 17, 1820, æ. 73, after a life of usefulness and great activity. He was a scholar and a learned divine. His house was a semi- nary, in which he prepared young men for college, and instructed young students in divinity. Amidst his ministerial and pastoral
48
HISTORY OF TIIE
labors, he was also for several years preceptor of the academy in his neighborhood. He enjoyed in a high degree the affections and respect of his people .- His successor was Richard M. Hodges, from Salem; graduated at Harvard University 1815, who after performing his pastoral duties there for many years, was peaceably dismissed at his own desire; and the present Rev. Theophilus P. Doggett, who graduated at Brown's Univer- sity 1819, was settled as his successor.
There is a small ministerial fund in this parish, the trustees of which were incorporated Feb. 7, 1803. It was then nearly one thousand dollars, and has been augmented since.
The south was settled very soon after the west parish. Among those who came in from other towns and resided there before and soon after 1700, were Samuel Kinsley, Thomas Mitchell, William Orcutt, William Hudson, Daniel Hudson, John Wash- burn, John Washburn, Jr., Richard Jennings, David Perkins, John Aldrich, Eleazar Carver, Nathaniel Conant, Richard Davenport and Joseph Pratt.
East Parish.
December 14, 1723, the east end of the north parish, then so called, ever since called the west parish, together with nine persons of the south parish, namely, Barnabas Seabury, Thomas Latham, Charles Latham, Nicholas Wade, Nathaniel Harden, Thomas Hooper, William Conant, Isaac Lazell, and Joseph Washburn, with their families and estates, were constituted a precinct, called the east parish. This was done also in pursu- ance of a viewing committee of court, consisting of Isaac Winslow, Samuel Thaxter, Josiah Cotton, Isaac Little and John Quincy. The boundaries were on the west, a due north line from the south parish, through the centre tree : and on the south- easterly side the Old Plymouth Road to Halifax. The first meeting house was raised March 14, 1720.
The Rev. John Angier, graduated at Harvard University 1720, was their first Minister, ordained October 28, 1724. He was son of the Rev. Samuel Angier, of Rehoboth, and afterwards of Watertown. IIe died April 14, 1787, æ. 86th, and in the 63d of his ministry.
49
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
His son, the Rev. Samuel Angier, graduated at Harvard Uni- versity 1763, was ordained colleague with him December 23, 1767, and died January 18, 1805, æ. 62d, and in the 38th of his ministry. The father, the Rev. John Angier, preached the ordination sermon, which appears bound with the last edition of the "Bridgewater's Monitor."
The successor of the Rev. Samuel Angier was the Rev. James Flint, D. D., a native of Reading, Mass., and graduated at Harvard University 1802, and ordained October 29, 1806; and after officiating among them in his pastoral office for twelve or fifteen years, he was dismissed at his own desire, and afterwards installed at Salem. The Rev. Benjamin Fessenden, from Sand- wich, who graduated at Harvard University 1817, was then settled as his successor ; who was dismissed November 7, 1825, at his own request, and removed to Rhode Island, and has retired from the ministry ; and the Rev. John Adams Williams, of Roxbury, who graduated at Harvard University 1820, was settled as his successor, October 18th, 1826; who remained in his office but a short time, having been dismissed by his own solicitation, August 4, 1828; and was succeeded by the Rev. Eliphalet P. Crafts, who graduated at Brown University 1821, and ordained November 19, 1828, and who after a few years asked a dismis- sion, which was granted him, March 28, 1836, and he is now installed at Sandwich .- And the parish is now vacant.
The first settlers in the east parish before 1700, who came in from abroad, were Robert Latham, Nicholas Byram, Jonathan Hill, Edward Mitchell, Thomas Whitman, Samuel Allen, and Joseph Shaw. Some of these were there about 1666 .- Some of the sons of the first settlers in West Bridgewater were also among the early settlers in the East, as John Howard, Jr., William Brett, Jr., Elisha Ilayward, Nathaniel Hayward, Jr., Isaac Alden, Francis Cary, Jonathan Cary, James Cary, Joseph Edson, Isaac Harris, and Samuel Harris.
7
50
HISTORY OF THE
North Parish.
January 3, 1738, the north part of the west parish and a small ' part of the north-west corner of the east parish were incorpo- rated into a precinct, and called the north parish. It was bounded by a due east line from Easton, half a mile north of " the white oak tree at Jonathan Packard's corner" to the east parish line : and thence north-easterly to Beaver Brook, together with three families and their estates, on the east side of the river.
Their first pastor was the Rev. John Porter, a native of Abington, graduated at Harvard University 1736; ordained October 15, 1740; died March 12, 1802, æ. 87th, and in the 62d of his ministry.
His successor, the Rev. Asa Meach, was ordained October 15, 1800, and dismissed by a mutual council 1811, and after- wards installed at Canterbury, Connecticut. He was a native of that state.
His successor, the Rev. Daniel Huntington, a native of Nor- wich, Connecticut, graduated at Yale College 1816, was ordained October 28, 1812. He was brother of the late Rev. Mr. Huntington, of Boston, and son of General Jedediah Hunting- ton, of New London. His salary was $700, the highest then of any in the town .- He remained with his parish many years, but by his own solicitation was at length dismissed, and returned to Connecticut. The Rev. Mr. Thompson was his successor, who continued but a short time, and the Rev. Paul Couch is now their pastor.
The north was the last settled part of the town. There were no settlements north of the old powder house in West Bridge- water, till after 1700. Among the first settlers were Daniel and Robert Howard, David, Solomon, John, James, Zaccheus and Abiel Packard, Henry Kingman, and Timothy Keith : all of whom came from West Bridgewater.
51
EARLY SETTLEMENT OF BRIDGEWATER.
Titicut Parish.
February 4, 1743, the south-west part of the south parish, with a part of Middleborough, was incorporated into a precinct, called Titicut Parish. It lies south of the old four mile line, so called. The Rev. Solomon Reed before mentioned, a native of Abington, graduated at Harvard University 1739, was their first minister. The Rev. David Gurney, son of Perkins Gurney, of East Bridgewater, graduated at Harvard University 1785, was his successor. Their third minister is the present Rev. Philip Colby. The meeting-house is in Middleborough, and all their ministers have resided there, the largest part of the parish belonging to that town.
Besides these territorial precints there is an Episcopal church in the south parish, incorporated June 14, 1815, by the name of Trinity Church. It is of much longer standing, having origi- nated in a grant of about fourteen acres of land, made January 23, 1747, by Samuel Edson, of Bridgewater, to the society in England for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, on condition that the income be applied to the support of public worship according to the usage of the Church of England. Their house was erected in 1648 by individual subscription. In April, 1812, they conveyed the glebe to the trustees of donations at Boston, and it is leased for nine hundred and ninety-nine years to John Edson, one of the members, for twenty-one dollars a year. June 12, 1816, having repaired their house and laid an assessment for the support of public worship, it was solemnly consecrated by Bishop Griswold, and the Rev. Messrs. Blake and Crocker. The Rev. Henry Blackaller is now their pastor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.