USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Proceedings of the 250th anniversary of Old Bridgewater, Mass. at West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, June 13, 1906 > Part 4
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Where in the world were these illustrious qualities ever more fully or consistently displayed than by those men whose great acts and exalted character we this day celebrate ?
There are some who try to disparage the motives and belittle the achievements of the pilgrim fathers.
They assert that they were only common people, rude, illiterate, peasants, who by some good fortune, under wise leadership, builded far better than they knew. But since when was it that ignorance and stupidity produced orderly civil government, enacted wise and salutary laws, and maintained sound domestic and foreign policies ? In a sense they were common people, but they were the most uncommon common people of the 17th or any other century.
In the matter of education, however, they easily sustain comparison with the inhabitants of England or any of her colonies. There were among them few illiterates, and the proportion of highly educated men was much larger than it is in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts today or in any other state of the Union. Above all, they had wisdom and sound understanding, which mere learning does not always bestow.
Others have regarded them as a band of zealous, religious sectaries, narrow and bigoted in their views, whose religious doctrines have become obsolete and whose achievements are of little worth. Nothing could be farther from the truth, and he has read history to little purpose, if at all, who has not learned that civil liberty and the right of self-government were inextri- cably involved in the struggle for religious freedom, in which they were engaged.
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John Fiske truly observes : "Much as he (the Puritan) loved self-government he never would have been so swift to detect, and so stubborn to resist, the slightest encroachment on the part of the crown, had not the loss of self-government involved the imminent danger that the ark of the Lord might be abandoned to the worshippers of Dagon."
Hume, who certainly cannot be accused of partiality toward any form of religion, thus writes of England under the Stuarts : "So absolute indeed was the authority of the crown that the precious spark of liberty had been kindled and was preserved by the Puritans alone, and it was to this sect that England owes the whole freedom of their constitution."
Greene, the English historian, says, "From the moment of their establishment the eyes of English Puritans were fixed on the little Puritan colony in North America."
A controversial literature of considerable size sprang up, soon after the founding of the colony, in which Winslow and Bradford and others successfully maintained the cause of the colony against the attacks of its enemies.
Thus and in other ways Englishmen were kept fully informed of the doings of their countrymen in Plymouth. They beheld a company of free men exercising self-government under a constitution of their own making, levying taxes, enacting laws, punishing offenses, even of a capital nature, making treaties with neighboring tribes and colonies, and finally estab- lishing courts and a representative assembly. Plymouth colony had ceased to be an experiment, it was an assured success.
Then followed that remarkable emigration from England which continued from 1630 to 1640, resulting in the settlement of Boston, New Haven and other New England towns.
The effect upon the fortunes of Plymouth colony was great. The existence of the large and vigorous colony on the North insured its safety and greatly promoted its growth and prosperity.
Thus Scituate, the second town of the colony, was peopled by the men of Kent ; Taunton, the fourth town, was settled by immigrants from England and Wales who came by way of Boston ; Barnstable, the fifth town, was occupied by people who
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came from Scituate; Sandwich and Yarmouth, the sixth and seventh towns, were settled by an overflow of people from Lynn.
Very few of the original inhabitants of Plymouth went to those towns.
Duxbury, the third town to be incorporated, but the second in order of settlement, was peopled wholly by the inhabitants of Plymouth.
Among the first settlers of that town were several of the leading men of Plymouth colony, William Brewster's two sons, Love and Jonathan, Miles Standish, John Alden, Samuel Eaton, Constant Southworth, Samuel Nash, George Soule, William Bassett, Experience Mitchell, Henry Sampson, William Collier and others. William Brewster himself came later.
The lands around Cut or Green river were held by the inhabitants of Duxbury, under grants of the court as a planta- tion. But after Edward Winslow settled there, a new town was incorporated in 1640, by the name of Rexham, afterwards changed to Marshfield.
When the inhabitants of Duxbury, by the incorporation of Marshfield, were thus deprived of the productive and extensive meadows which gave the name to that town, they felt aggrieved and began to look about for other lands to recompense them for the loss. All the contiguous shore north and south had already been occupied. Only to the west and inland was it possible to extend their possessions. Miles Standish from his favorite seat on the summit of Captain's hill, now crowned by the noble monument to his memory, gazing toward the setting sun, beheld a vast expanse of unbroken primeval forest, stretching as far as the eye could reach in gentle undulations of varied green. Within the sweep of his vision would lie a large part of the territory of the ancient town of Bridgewater. It was an inviting prospect, and the people of Duxbury were not slow to enter in and possess the land which they probably began to do soon after the incorporation of Marshfield.
In 1645 a formal grant was made by the court to the inhabitants of Duxbury of a competent proportion of lands about Satucket toward the west for a plantation for them, and to have
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it four miles every way from the place where they shall set up their center. Miles Standish, John Alden, George Soule, Constant Southworth, John Rogers and William Brett were made trustees of the grant for the equal dividing and laying forth the lands to the inhabitants. The inhabitants of Duxbury, who thus became the original proprietors of Bridgewater, were fifty-four in number, to whom were afterwards added their first minister, Rev. James Keith, and Deacon Samuel Edson of Salem. For several years the place remained a part of Duxbury under the names of Satucket and Duxburrow Planta- tions.
On March 23, 1649, Miles Standish, Samuel Nash and Constant Southworth, in behalf of all the townsmen of Duxbury, purchased from Massasoit, who then called himself Ousamequin, a tract of land usually called "Satucket," extending seven miles east, west, north and south from the weir at Satucket, and the purchase was made and the deed executed on a small rocky hill, since called Sachem's Rock, near the weir. The deed of purchase still exists and may be found in the archives of the Old Bridgewater Historical Society. Though the Satucket weir was thus made the center of purchase, it was not regarded as the center of the town. Immediately after the title was secured, the settlement of the new plantation was begun.
On either side of yonder stream, then called Nunkatest, or Nunkatetest, the first settlers staked out the houselots of six acres each, which had been allotted them, and built their rude dwellings. To protect themselves from Indian attacks, they built their houses, many of which were fortified, close together, and also erected a stockade or garrison, on the south side of the river.
Let us in imagination enter one of those buildings. Walls of rough hewn logs meet the eye and overhead the floor beams are exposed to view. No carpet is there. It may be that a few rugs, made of rags braided by the thrifty housewife, lie here and there on the rough floor. Light is admitted through windows filled with oiled paper. A large fireplace with its swinging crane supporting a huge kettle, furnishes warmth for the household in winter, and suffices for cooking the simple fare
Sachem's Rock where deeds conveying Old Bridgewater were signed by Massasoit under the name of Ousamequin.
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of the inmates. In place of a piano stands a spinning wheel and perhaps a hand-loom. Pine knots, or at best candles, supply the little artificial light which is needed for people who usually retire and rise with the birds. A row of shining pewter ware, the pride of the worthy matron of the house, is ranged along the dresser. On a shelf may be seen a well worn Bible and a few other books. Everything betokens the res angustae domi, which characterized also the homes of the early settlers of imperial Rome. And from homes like this, wherein dwelt the antique virtues of faith, honesty, purity, love of home and love of country, sprang the imperial nation whose achievements in the arts and sciences, and in the elevation of humanity are eclipsing the glories of even the ancient mistress of the world.
Though only two of the nineteen original proprietors of Bridgewater who removed from Duxbury and settled here were first comers, namely Mitchell and Bassett, yet the sons of Standish and Alden came later, and nearly all the first inhabi- tants were of the Leyden community. Among the others were John Washburn, John Ames, John Cary, Arthur Harris, John Howard and Solomon Leonard, names which have become illus- trious in the history of the town and state.
Other men of like character and purpose joined them, Nicholas Byram, Robert Latham, Thomas Whitman, Samuel Allen, Benjamin Willis, Thomas Hayward, John Fobes, John Kingman and John Shaw.
Bridgewater shares with Duxbury the honor of being the direct offshoot of Plymouth. Other towns, as has been shown, were largely settled from other sources, but Bridgewater is the child, or grandchild, if you will, of Plymouth. Sachem's Rock, whatever its geological formation, is of the same geneological, political and theological stratum as Plymouth Rock.
The colonial records of the year 1656 contain this entry : "Ordered, that Duxburrow New Plantations be allowed to be a township of itself distinct from Duxburrow, and to be called by the name of Bridgewater, provided that all publick rates be borne by them with Duxburrow upon equal proportions."
The name of Bridgewater had begun to be used some time before the town was incorporated. There is no evidence that
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any of the inhabitants came from the English Bridgewater, but they had close business relations with New England Taunton, and it is quite probable that the proximity of that town suggested the idea of taking the name of the town which lies adjacent to the English town which bears that name. The fortunate selection of a name so honorable in English history, so euphonious, suggestive of rippling brooks and gently flowing rivers, reconciles us to the loss of its Indian name, Satucket.
The town as originally constituted, comprised a broad domain of about ninety-six square miles, which included the whole of what is now the town of Whitman, a large part of the towns of Abington and Rockland, and the greater part of the town of Hanson, which was formerly a part of Pembroke.
By the incorporation of Abington and Hanson the area was reduced to about seventy.two square miles, extending from the colony line on the north to the Titicut river on the south, and from Taunton (now Easton and Raynham) on the west to Hanson on the east, a territory greater than many of the European principalities of that time, and nine times as large as the present domain of the Prince of Monaco.
It was a goodly heritage into which they had come, with possibilities of comfort and even wealth for its fortunate posses- sors. Along the numerous streams by which it is traversed were many good mill sites. Great meadows afforded abundant pasturage and hay for their cattle. The ponds and streams abounded in fish and fur-bearing animals and water fowl in their season. Game large and small frequented the vast forest. Gigantic pine, oak, maple and other valuable trees flourished all about their habitations. These trees later furnished the stout keels, ribs, and sides of many good ships built at Duxbury, Kingston and Plymouth, and even at Titicut in Bridgewater, where ships of 150 tons were built and floated down on the spring freshets. Some persons now living remember to have seen timber gotten out for that purpose.
But if these sources of livelihood and comfort excited their hopes and filled them with joyful anticipations, there was a darker side to the picture. Within the forest skulked the dusky savage, capricious, treacherous and fierce, and dangerous
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wild beasts lurked there, threatening their cattle and even their lives. One of the earliest entries in the town records is this : "It is agreed that there shall be five wolf traps made." The only roads then existing were Indian paths or trails, one of which may still perhaps be traced near Sachem's Rock. For lack of roads, carts and carriages appear not to have been used. Among Miles Standish's effects, who died in 1666, were five horses. and colts, two saddles and a pillion, but no cart or carriage.
Under such circumstances the people were of necessity, as well as by temper and disposition, alert, active, resolute, laborious and self reliant. The town records show the several divisions of land which were made between the original proprietors and those who purchased from them. From these records the names of the land owners who were principal men of the town are known.
One of the first cares of the original settlers was the erec- tion of a church. For several years they had no settled minister, the candidate whom they employed apparently not meeting their requirements. In 1661, they voted to build a house for a minister who should settle among them, and to give him also an entire right in the township.
On February 16, 1664, Rev. James Keith, of Aberdeen, Scotland, was settled as their first minister and liberal provision was made for his support. The house which they built on the double house-lot granted to him, still stands, a lasting monu- ment to the piety and liberality of the people.
Until the year 1716 all the inhabitants of the town worshipped at the first church. Then a second precinct or parish was incorporated, but by the act the whole town was obliged to an honorable maintenance of Rev. Mr. Keith if he should become incapacitated from performing the duties of his office. The town was thus divided into the north and south precinct or parish. Rev. Mr. Keith preached the sermon of the dedication of the new church June 17, 1717. In 1723, the east parish and in 1730, the north parish was incorporated. These parishes were created for ecclesiastical purposes only and the town continued undivided till 1821 when North Bridgewater
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was set off and incorporated, and later on in 1881 was incor- porated as the city of Brockton.
West Bridgewater was set off and incorporated in 1822, and East Bridgewater in 1823, leaving Bridgewater to bear the name and continue the existence of the ancient town.
Thus for nearly two centuries the ancient town maintained its political existence before the requirements of increasing population made division desirable. Even then many of the inhabitaints earnestly opposed the breaking of the bonds which bound the parishes into a municipal unit and were grieved that the identity of the old town should be destroyed.
The act by which the town of Bridgewater was incorpor- ated is itself notable, not because it differs materially from other similar acts of the court, but for its brevity and for what it assumes. Thirteen words suffice to create the town, viz : "Ordered, that henceforth Duxbury New Plantation be allowed to be a township of itself." No attempt is made to define or limit the powers and duties of the town. The act contains no condition or proviso other than that "all public rates be borne by them with Duxburrow upon equal terms." It assumes not that the powers and duties of town were unlimited, but that they were well known to the incorporators and were a part of the unwritten law of the land. It made the town an independent, self governing body in all local concernments, in fact an imperium in imperio-a republic. In creating this and other towns the forefathers restored the ancient town of the Anglo- Saxons which by aggression of Norman kings and lords and their successors in England had been robbed of its political rights, and in many cases reduced to a mere ville or appanage of some manor house, and enlarged its rights and functions.
The New England town meeting was a revival of the folk- mote or March meeting of the Teutonic tribes. To New England therefore justly belongs the imperishable renown of originating and leading the movement for the creation of republican institutions, which in due time overwhelmed the monarchical and aristocratic tendencies of the southern colonies and determined the form and character of our state and national governments.
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Distinguished thus in its origin, how has the town of Bridgewater and its succeeding municipalities fulfilled the promise of its early days ? Has it been true to the principles and examples of its founders ? Has it performed in peace and in war the proper functions of a town so formed and so empowered ?
As regards its growth and material prosperity it is only necessary to look around for an answer. Every vestige of primeval forest traversed by Indian trails has long since disap- peared. A thriving village with substantial, commodious houses covers the site of the rude dwellings of the pioneers of the town. Broad, well constructed highways, at all times the evidence of a high degree of civilization, traverse the county in every direction, facilitating social intercourse and the prosecu- tion of business. Steam and electric cars and the dashing, jaunty automobile whose signals reach our ears, have consigned the saddle and the stage coach to the rubbish heap except for purposes of pleasure. The mail car, the telegraph and tele- phone have superseded swift messengers on foot or horseback, the mail carriers of that early time.
The population within the original boundaries of the town, has multiplied and increased more than fifteen hundred fold, the number of pupils attending the public schools in Brockton today is greater than the entire population of the four Bridge- waters in 1837. Four populous towns, not to mention a large part of Abington and part of Rockland, and one city of nearly 50,000 inhabitants, have grown up within the borders of the town as incorporated.
The arts of peace have flourished here. Agriculture, the first and most necessary of human occupations, favored by a soil for the greater part fertile and easily cultivated, prospered, and the town early became famous for its agricultural produc- tions.
The numerous water privileges furnished by the various streams which permeate the town, invited manufacturing enter- prises and the inhabitants quickly availed themselves of the opportunities thus afforded. Grist mills, and saw mills, the prime necessities of the pioneers, were early built. Deacon
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Samuel Edson, the miller, who was given a proprietary share in the township presumably to induce him to locate here, owned and probably built the first mill in the town near this place.
The discovery of iron ore in enormous quantities in the form of bog iron found at the bottom of ponds and swamps in the Old Colony, gave rise to iron industries which soon became important. The Leonards of Taunton and Bridgewater were the pioneers in this branch of the business.
Though Bridgewater seems to have been second in time to Taunton in establishing iron manufactories, it can justly claim to have surpassed all other New England towns in inventive genius applied to its development. Hon. Hugh Orr, Scotchman, who had learned the gunsmith's trade in his native country, came to Bridgewater in 1740, and erected a mill and set up a trip-hammer on the Matfield river near the village of East Bridgewater, using for that purpose the timbers of the first meeting house built at East Bridgewater. Firearms were there made by him. There also machinery for carding and spinning cotton was manufactured. Cannon and firearms made there and at the Bridgewater Iron Works and the North Furnace were supplied to the American armies of the French and Indian war and the Revolution. In the war of the Rebellion the Bridgewater Iron Works furnished many cannon to the United States, one of which of enormous size was exhibited at the fair of the Plymouth County Agricultural Society and afterwards mounted before Fort Sumter at Charleston, S. C., and aided in reducing the place. Mitchell says, "It may therefore with truth be perhaps said that the first firearms, the first solid cannon cast and the first cotton thread ever spun in America were made in Bridgewater." The first machine for cutting and heading nails at one operation was probably invented and made by Samuel Rogers of East Bridgewater.
Gins for cleaning cotton were also first made at the factory near the Satucket weir. Mitchell justly remarks, "Few places, therefore, have done more towards the introduction and promo- tion of the mechanic arts than Bridgewater." But the great industry of Bridgewater and its succeeding municipalities is the manufacture of shoes. Beginning in a small way about 100
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years ago, it increased with great rapidity until it became the leading industry of the four towns. By the invention of wonderful machines which now turn out shoes with astonishing rapidity and almost without human aid, the business has been entirely revolutionized. The cobbler's bench of early time and the little shoe shop which succeeded it have disappeared.
North Bridgewater, now Brockton, early took a leading part in this business, and when the introduction of complicated machinery, necessitating a constant supply of highly skilled and intelligent labor, rendered the concentration of plants very desirable, if not indispensable, that town which seems to have inherited its full share of the enterprise and business ability of the forefathers of Bridgewater, attracted to itself nearly all the shoe business of the surrounding towns. The resulting growth has been marvelous. Factories by the score, some of vast proportions, furnish employment to thousands of workmen. Shoes of every kind and description are produced by the million. The output has increased from 142,610 cases in 1876, to 692, 183 in 1905, with a valuation of $38,070,065.
Among the names of the most successful manufacturers may be found some of the first settlers of Bridgewater, such as Keith, Packard, Southworth, Howard, Bryant, Brett, Leach, Kingman, Cary, Alden, Dunbar and Whitman. While others like the Hon. W. L. Douglas, late governor of Massachusetts, have upheld the best traditions of the town for business sagacity and enterprise.
Nor has this splendid success been attended by the sacrifice of principle and humanity on the part of employers, nor of the moral and physical well-being of employees. It is well within the bounds of moderation to say that there is no great manu- facturing center in the country where a higher degree of intelligence and comfort prevails among the people in general and none where wiser, more generous, and public-spirited employers can be found. Magnificent public buildings and palatial private residences evidence the wealth which has resulted from this industry.
In educational matters Bridgewater has had an honorable record. Instruction during the early years of the settlement
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was probably given in private schools. But later, when popula- tion and wealth had increased, public schools were established and were liberally supported. The people were also interested in the higher learning. Rev. Mr. Keith and Elder Brett raised £12 by subscription towards the support of Harvard College, then in its infancy.
In 1799 Bridgewater Academy was incorporated and for many years until its recent absorption into the Bridgewater High School, furnished excellent instruction in the higher branches, training and preparing many young men for college.
In 1838, one hundred and thirty-one Bridgewater men had graduated from Harvard, Yale, Brown, Dartmouth and Nassau (now Princeton,) nearly one-half of whom became ministers. It is probable that twice that number have since then secured a college education. Eight of the thirty-two graduates from the east parish during that period bore the name of Whitman. It appears that one-quarter of the graduates of the class of 1785 at Harvard were from Bridgewater.
The splendid common school systems of the four munici- palities which celebrate this day, supervised by experts in the science of pedagogy, comprising schools of every grade from the Kindergarten to the High School, presided over by teachers specially trained for their work, and housed for the most part in modern buildings equipped with all known appliances and aids for imparting knowledge, with free transportation for pupils residing at a distance, and supplemented by the Bridgewater Normal School and Howard Collegiate Institute, are all the legitimate and natural outgrowth of the foresight and wisdom of our progenitors in planting and nourishing the tree of know- ledge in the wilderness two centuries and a half ago.
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