Plymouth Town (part 9 of 54)

" WHErtEAS, At his Majesty's general court, held at Plymouth the i"' of June, 1685, it was ordered and enacted that the court of assistants be from time to lime a committee empowered to examine, allow, and confirm all such claims and titles to lands which were formerly granted or allowed by the general court, either to townships or particular person.-, which, being allowed by the said committee, shall pass the seal of the Government for further confirmation thereof; and forosuiuch as it hath been made to appear to the said court of aasL-iiants, now sitting at Plymouth, the first Tuesday in March, lG85-b(). that a certain tract of land was granted by W"" Bradford, Esq., and his associates, assembled in court, in the year of our Lord 1646, unto the inhabitants of the town of Duxbury (a cuuipetcnt proportion of lands), about a place called by the Indians M'tnixi- -jHutucketf for a plantation for them, the inhal'itauts uf L)u.\bury, and that they shall have it four miles every way from the centre; tho inhabitants of Duxbury being lilty-six in number, by agreement among themselves, every otic were tu have equal shares, who, by the approbation and appointmeut of his Majesty's honored court in New Plymouth, U>4o, did employ Mr. Constant Soutbworth, with some others, to purchase the above-mentioned tract of lund of Ossamequin, chief .Sachem of tho Poconocket country, which being done, anil now inhabiteil by many of the proprietors, is now called BfiUtjctnilti\ and all such privileges allowed to them as the court alluws or toother townships; and having set up their centre, his .Majcaiy's court held at Plymouth, lUliS, did giant to Ji, nlijuLniti- six miles from ibe centre on all four sides, where furiucr grants made by the court bindereth not, as appears in court records, and is bounded out by the agents of each re-^peciive town adjoining, as appears by their hands to their agreeiiiellt, and assented to and acknowledged before the Governor and his associates, sitting in his Majesty's cuuit held at Plyiiiuuth, the L'ud of March, 1685/6, the bounds of the whole town>liip being settled between them and other towns adjoining, are as tolluwctli : The bounds betwixt Bridgewater and Tauntun being a heap of stones lying four miles west from thu centre, and running north from station to sUtion lUl it meet with tho line of the culniiies ; and from said heap of stones south to a heap of stones lying to thu west uf Unkete«t Pond, and from thence southeast into a greiit wliile oak beinj; umrked witb a T for Taunton, and on the Durtli side witb & li fur Itridgcwaier, iiud 60 fiuQi ?t:ition to citation till it cunie to the gre;it river on the westward sidu uf a spot uf ineuduw, according; to the a>;reeiucnt uf the u^entd of botli towns. And the buunds between MIddlcliorough and Brid-^uwater is the great river, until it come to tlie north sido of Mr. StaDdi.-h's land, lying un the mouth uf Winnetuxit rivur, and so from the norlh side of said Slundish's lund until it meet with the easternmost line of BritJgewiLter, being a liciip of stuuc^, t'uur miles from the centre, which is the bounds between tbem and the Major's purchase, runutiig from ;^aid hca[> uf stones «outh and by west half a jiuint wc.-lerly until it uicet with said StiinJish's land, »te., and from the afi)resaid heap uf stones running north-ni»rtliPU!-t from station to station tu fuur whiteoaks, the easternmost marked on all four sides, and sO fiom station to station until it meet with the north line. The north bounds being six miles Horn the centre to a cuuipany uf small trees marked, being to the northwiird of a great roeli, and frum the aforesaid marked trees running ea^^t until it meet with the above said northeast line, and from the afuremeutiuncd marked trees running west until it meet with ibe line of the colonies, und with the line of the colonies till it meet with the westerly line and Taunton (now Ea^ton) bounds. AM which lands, both upland and meadow, swamps, cedar swamp:*, ponds, rivers, brnoks, springs, wood, underwood, and all herbage, ieedings, minerals, with all riglits, liherties, privileges, and appurtenances tiicreto belonging, unto the appropriated inhaliilants and uilier proprietors, though not iuhabitants uf the said town of Bridgewater, according to each person's several and respective title or interest therein, excepting two-tilth parts of the royal mine, one-fifth part to his royal majesty, and the other one-hftb part to the president and cuuneil. To have and tu hold unto the said town and proprietors respectively, to their and every uf tlieir heirs and assigns furever, according to the tenor of our eharter or letters patent granted by tho honorablu council at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, fur tho planting, ordering, and governing of New England, derivatury frum his Majesty King James the First, of happy memory; and in testimony hcrcuf duth allow the public seal of the Government to beathxud thereunto for the further cuntirmution thereut.

" Knuio i/e, that X, Josiah aforesaid, for and in con:*ideration of ten pounds in monoy to uie in hand paid, and one hundred acres of land lying on the upper und uf Poor Me;idow, on the lower side of a foot-path thiit goeth to Scituate, lying on buth sides of the river, doth cuufirm, establish, und ratify untu Samuel Eiison, sen., Eosign Julin Ilaward, and John Willis, sen., in behalf uf tho purchasers and town of Bridge water, in New Plyuiouth Colony, in New England, and to their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns furever, all that whole tract of litnd lying northward of the south four-mile line of Bridgewater, which 0?samequin, Suchein of the Pueonocket country, by the consent and approbation of his Majesty's General Court hehl at Plyuiuuth, in New England, in the year 1G45, sold to the inhabitants of Duxbury, as appears by deed, under Ossameq^uin's bund, to Capt. Miles St:indish, Mr. Constant Southworth, and

Samuel Nuub. as agents for tho town of Duxbury. I, the above said Josiah, do ratify and cuntlrm the above said sale of Ossame<iuin's, and bargain of lands belonging tu liiidgewater, as uplands, swamps, meadows, brooks, rivers, punils, timber, underwood, herbage, mines, witb all cotnmuditien, buneliis, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances whatever tlieruin contained.

" I, the above said Josiah, also do ratify, establish, and cunfirm, aud forever make over all my right, title, and interest in the above-mentioned land from me, my heirs, exccuturs, and assigns, unto the above said Samuel Edsun, John Haward, and Juhn Willis, agents for the town of liridgewater, their iieiis, executors, admini.-trators, and assigns forever, to have, and to hold, occupy, and enjoy as their proper right forever, witliout any claim, title, interest, or molestation to be made by me, my heirf, executors, or as^signs, or any other person or persons, to any part or parcel thereof, in, by, or under me any way appertaining; and do by these presents bind myself, and heirs, and

; executors, and assigns tu maintain and dcl'end the altuve-mentioned sale of lands against other Indian ur Indians tliat shall make any claim or title to any part or parcel thereof."

The o(ie hundred acre.s uieiitiiiucd in tiie abuve confirniation were afterwards repurciiufted by individuals in the town. From this deed it appeals the -greatest part of the town was twiec puiclia.-icd of the Endiaos, - ouee of tlie Massasoit, and auaiii of Wauipatuek, - and a valuable consideration paid each liiue. By the boundaries of the town, a.s described in Governor Hinckley's deed of cunlirniation, it is evidunt a j;ore of land was still left un the ntirth between Bridj^ewater (now Brockton) and tlie lint? of ihe colonies, commencing at tlie point where the six-mile line met the colony line towards the northwest corner of the town, and thence extendinj^ easteily to the northeast corner of the town, where the distance to the county line is considerable. The westerly und narrow end of this j^ore having been purchased of the government after the union of the colonies by Daniel Howard and Robert Howard, was, on the petition of the selectmen of the town, annexed to Bridgewater, Oct. 15, 1730. These several grunts aud additions constituted all the territory ever belonging to Bridgewater in its greatest extent. Tlie greatest part ol Abingtou and what is now Hanson at that period belonged to Bridgewater, which must then have contaioed abuut ninety-six square miles. In this situation, and with these extensive territorial dimensions, the town remained without change or diminution till June 10, 1712, when Abington was incorporated.

When ihe Abington petitioners first applied for an act of incorporation, July 4, 1706, they denominated themselves " certain inhabitants of the east part of the town of Bridgewater, and proprietors of a certain tract of land between the towns of Weymouth, Hingham, Scituate, and Bridgewater," and when the act was finally passed, in 1712, the boundaries were thus described :

" On the north with tlie line of the colonics of the Massuchusettd Biiy and Plymoth, on tlio eadt upon the town of SciCuate, on the ijouih with the line thiit is the southerly bounds of lund of John Gushing, Esq., and of John Gushing, Jr., Esq., thence on the southwesterly side by certaio bounds which the town of Bridjjewaicr have set and prefixed to Beaver Brook, and on the west with the said brook until it comes to the extent of Bridgewater noithward, together with a small gore of land lying between the siiid town of Bridgewater and the said line of the colonies, the town of Bridgewater having signified their consent thereto."

By tiie plain and express language of the statute, the whole gore is included in Abington ; but for some reasons now unknown, the '- Howard Farms" aecm, as the seluctiueu of Bridgewater in their petition stated, to have been considered as " belonging to no town," till they were annexed to Bridgewater iu 1730. Another considerable tract on the east part of the town was annexed to Pembroke, June 7, 1754, and now constitutes the greater part of Hanson. The old Bridgewater line was as far east as the west line of the farm formerly owned and occupied by the late Rev. Dr. Hitchcock. These two are the only instances in which any considerable portions of the town have been annexed to other corporations. Questions and disputes as to boundaries were formerly frequently arising between this and neighboring towns. The latest occurred with Middleboro', which was finally settled by court June 8, 17 IG, when the great river was constituted the boundary between them. This seems to have been done in pursuance of the express power which the court had reserved to itself in the "two-mile additional grant." The boundaries of the town, as finally settled, may be thiLS described : On the east it is bounded by Halifax and Hanson ; on the north by Abington, Randolph, and Stoughton ; on the west by Easton and Raynham ; and on the south by Middleboro', Titicut River there constituting the boundary. It is the northwest town in the county of Plymouth, adjoining the county of Norfolk, or Old Colony line, on the north and the county of Bristol on the west. Its dimeosioDS may be estimated at about twelve miles by six, and as containing at least seventy square miles. The centre of the town is about twenty-six miles from Boston, twenty from Plymouth, and ten from Taunton.

Chapter

Petition of tbe Nortli Precinct to be set otF into a separate Town - Charter for ii Precinct - First Meeting of tlio Satue - Selectmen - Clerks - Treuuurers - Parish Committee - Moderators of Precinct Meeiings - Parish Tax for 1744 - Poll Tax List fur 177U - Unilod States Land Tax, 1798.

North Parish of Bridgewater. - On account of the labor of attending ou church worship at "so remote a distance" from home, fifty-five individuals belonging in the old North Parish sent a petition to the General Court, xsking to be set off into a separate township, which petition was so far granted as to allow them the powers and privileges usually allowed to parishes.

"To His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq""., Ciipt*° General and Guvernuur in Chief in and over bis Majesties Province of the Mastiuchu.<ctt^ Bay, in New England, and to the llunuuroblc hid ^Majesties Cuuueil and House of Representatives in Generil Court Assembled at Boston, on the 31"*' of Alay, 173S, the Petition of us, the Subscribers, Inhnbitants of the Town of Bridgewaler, Consisting Chiedy of tbe North part of the west precinct, and two Familys of the East Precinct, in s** Town, -

" Humbly Sheweth : "That, when the meeting-house was lately bult In the West precinct, the Inhabitants of the North part of a<^ Wedt preeinrt Cheerfully C»UAented to, and Did their proportionable part In, building of b"^ meeting House where it Now stand;;, tho very Remote from the Pclitioni-rs, and at sucU a Diatnncc iiom them so as but few of their Fjiiuilies Ever Cuuld, without Great DitHculty, attend tlie Publick Worship of God there; but, Notwithstanding, thay were Willing to Do the utmost of their power and ability to l*rumt>ie tlie Worship ot God their. In hopes when they were able to have it Nearer to them; and, by tho Piovidenci: of God. tiiay are Greatly Increased In Numbers and Something In Estates, So that tbay look upon themselves Capable of ! Buldiuga Mt L-ting-Hou^c, and Sittling a Minister,aud uphold- | ing the PuhlicU Worship of Guil amuug themcelves, aud are lu j ho[>es that the Best part ol' the Town and \Vcst preeinet have ! no Just Cause to ol'jeel uguinst it, Since we have been 5o help- I ful, aud Done to the utmo.-t of our power in SittUng the uiiu- ; i?ter ami Uulding the New Meeting House, In s** We?t preeiiiuts i and we are willing aud Desirous that what we then Did should be left to that precinct, who are now able of themselvei, under I their priesent good and Growing Circumstance-'^, to maintain tlio Publick Worship of God there without us, us will appear by the Valuation of their E^tates herewith exhibited, which the more Eruboldens us to petition this Honourable Court to Set us oil' a Distinct and Separate Township, by the following metes and Bounds, which Includes not only the North part of Bridgewatcr, but a small Tract of land and a few of tbe Inhaliitants of the town of Stoughton, which suitable accomoditea them as well as ufl, viz.: Beginning at a white-oak tree standing on the North west part of Jonalhun Packard's field, on the Easrerly side of Countrey Road, and from thence East and West till It meets with EastoQ Line, and East till it meets with the East precinct Line, and (hen North on s*^ Line Half one uiile, and then North East till it meet with Beaver Brook; then by ^aid Brook to tbe Colony Line, So called; then Westerly by s^ Lino to a Beacb-tree which is the Easterly Corner Bountls of Stoughton ; then on the Line between Brantrey and Stoughton to Capt. Curtis' Land; then Westerly to Salisbery plain River; then Southerly by a** Rover to the Colony Line; then Westerly by a** Line to Easton Lino; and then South By a*^ Line lii.-t mentioned. We, having in tinie pa;<t once aud again petitioned this Honourable Court for Relief in the prouiises, hut it i^o happened that this Honoured Court Did not then Grant the prayer of our petition in full, But Nevertheleas, according to oui' Denier, Sent a Committee to view aud Consider our Cireumrtam.es, whoso report (we bumblcy Coucove) was something DiUerent from What wo prayed for in our petition, and the uialier falling through, in as much as it happeucd that his Excellenoy tho Governour Did not then sign what the Honoured Court atled on »aid report, and we remaining under oui' Dillicultles and unrelieved, But yet taking encouragement t'runi what wa> acted ou s^ report by the Honoured Court, and also from what was acted by our town in general, at a Town-meeting Legally Callid and Notified to that purpose, on the lo^i^of February T^aaf, In which Wo had tbe major vote for our being set oil' a Di>tinrt Toun- Bhip, and, that we might not be under Ditllculties In Bulding an Uouso and Settling a Minister all iit once, have ereeleil ami Incloaed a good House lor the publicke Wor.--hip of tJod Wliere it may Best accomodate us all. AVe Do therfoic think it uiir duty oueo mure humbly to Renew our Petition thai We may bo set ort' a Township as Before herein [irayeil for, and we Iltnnblo beg leave here to say, that what we uow oiler in Ite-peel ol our being So Set otf is Sincerity for the promoting the Wurahip of God and Religion In the Puriety uf it among u:-.

" Wherefore we pray your Excellency and lluuouis would be pleased to here our Ret^uest and Grant our pL-tiiion, aud ar we in Duty Bound Shall Ever pray.

History Of Brockton

-' Iv Tin: HousK of UKiMiEsiCNT.VTn-Ks, June U, IT.'iS. " Kcail anil ordi-re.l that lliu petitioners .«aivo the We;^t Precinct in the town of l!i idgoivalcr, and also the town ul' Stonghtou, with a Copy of the peiition, that Ihay show Cause (Ifany they havej, on the lir.-t Thursday of the jetting of the Couit, why the prayor thereof .-hould not be granted; and Ihe petition is referred, the njcautime, fur Consideration. "Sent lip for Concurancc.

" lle.id again, togather with the answer of the West Precinct, In the town of Bridgewater, and otiier papers In the Case ; and, the parties bciug admitted before the Bord. were fully Heard, in their picas and allegations, thereon ; all which being considered, -

" Or.Df;i:i:u, That Ihe prayer of the petition be so far granted as that all the land, with the inhabitants thereon living, half a mile to Ihe northward of an east and wett line, from the whitoouk at Jonathan Packard's corner, together with David Packard, .Solomon Packard, and Jacob Allen, inhabitants of the east aide of the river, their families and esuies, bo set ott' and constituted a distinct and separate parish, and be invented with the poures, privileges, and imniunitys that all other precincU or parishes wetliin this Province do or by law ought to Injoy.

"The North Precinct, In Bridgewater, Being Legally Notifyed, meet to (iather at the place and time of Day Spesselied In the Notilication, and the meeting was settelcd by Iho Chose of Timothy Keith, ilodorator of a^ meeting, i Robert llawaril was chosen Clark of s'' meeting, and the Moderator, by the voice of the precinct, ajorned the meeting Half one Houre to the house of John Johnson, :ind Robert Haward was precinct L'lark for the present year, and sworn to the faithfull Discharge of his Ollise, anil Timothy Keith, David Packard, ,v Daniel llmvaid ware Chosen precinct Commettec, and it was further put to vote whether the precinct would Ch use any more precinct Ollisers, and it was voted In the Negetive,

Official History of the North Parish of Bridg-ewater (now Brockton). - Previous to 17uo the imuiber of selectmen in the old town of Bridgewater was three, and they were chosen by nomination, which cu.stom was continued till 1757, when the number chosen yearly was five, - one from each parish, - till the incorporation of the town of North BriiJ;.;ewatLT. The following are those chosen for the North Pari.^h of Bridgewater :

Parish Committee Moderators Of Precinct Meetings

MODERATORS OF PRECINCT MEETINGS. Moderators of the yearly precinct meetings for tlie choice of officers from 1738 to the incurjiurution of the town of North Bridgewater in 1821, also the date of annual meetings :

History Of Brockton Parish Tax, 17-14

PARISH TAX, 17-14. Tlie following is a list of rates as made out by the assessors in the North Parish of Bridgewator (now Brockton) for the payment of Rev. John Porter's salary for the year 1744, as made out by Daniel Howard and Robert Howard, assessors of the precinct, September ye 14th, 1744, and committed to Joshua Warren, constable, for collection, and is inserted to show the inhabitants of tlie parish at that date:

Poll-Tax List for 1770. - The followin<: list is inserted tu bliuw the rcMdents of the North Purisli of Bridgewater (now Brockton) in 1770, with the number of polls against each householder :

United States Land Tax. - ** General list of all Dwcllinj; Huuiies which, with the Out- [louses appurtenant thereto and the Lots on which the Same are erected, not exceeding two Acres in any C;ise, were owned, possessed, or occupied, on the 1st day of October, 1798, witliin the Assessment District No. 10, in the Sixth Division of the State of Massachusetts, exceeding in value the Sum of One Hundred Dollars :"

Precinct Controversy and Incoiporation of the Town - Indian History - Petition of the North Pari.-h lA.-a Howard and otliers) to be IncoipuratcJ into a Town - Bcmon.-.tranee of Gideon Howard and others - Remonstrance of Eliab Wliilraan and others - Petition in aid of Asa Howard and others for an Act of Incorporalion - itemoustrance of Daniel Howard, Esq., a.s .\gent for the Town of Bridgewater - \'oie of tho Town - Petition of Jesse Packard and otlicrs in aid of Asa Howard's Petition - The .\ct of Incorporation .is pastel Juno 15, 1821 - First Town-Meeting.

Precinct Controversy and Incorporation of the Town. - Tlie people of tiie Nortli Parish luiiiaiiioii contented with their connection with the otiier portions of the town for a lonj^ time ; but, as the iiuinher uf iuluibitants increased, they coniuieuced tu di.scu=s the propriety of becoming; a town by tlieinsclvL-.s. The first step taken in that direction was in IT'Jo. In a warrant fur a pari.sh meetiiii;', dated Jiuu! 1:'), ITLl."!, we find the following :

" To see if tiie Parish will petition to the town to bo set off into a. town by themselves, or petition the West Parioli to join with them into a town if they should get voted off by said town." At a meeting held June 26, 1793, agreeably to notification, " tlie above article was negatived, and the nieeting was dissolved by the moderator."

Things remained quiet in reference to the sulijeet of division of the town till Nov. 25, 1814, at wliicii time a meeting was held " to see if tho parish will petition the town of Bridgewater to vote tiicm off into a separate town by themselves." -' Vutcd nut tu do so."

Another measure was then proposed ; namily, -' To see if tlie parish will petition the Legislature of this Commonwealth to incorporate them into a town by the name of North Bridgewater, or such other name as the parish may think proper, with all the rights aud privile;res of otiier iocorporated towns." Upon tills aitic.lL' " no action was taken, and the meeting was di.'j.stilvcd." Ai:ain we find, jMurch 4, 1816, a coiuajlttec of sovou were chosen " to consider the subject of requesting the town to .set them off into a town hy themselves', and to report at a future meeting." Col. Calub Howard, Daniel Howard, Esq., Abel Kingman, E.S(|., Gideon Howard, Esq., Howard Gary. Esq., Joseph Sylvester, Esq., and John Wales were the coniuiittoo. The meeting was then adjourned to April 8, 181 G, at which time the parish came together, and, after hearing a verbal report from their commitice, '- Voted to take measures to have the pari.-ili separated from the town and incorporated with tile privileges of a town." Also " voted the .same cuiumittee petition the town to vote that the parisli be incorporated." What this committee did towards forwarding the wishes of the town does not appear ou record. Again, November 11th of the same year, the parish " voted to take measures to have this parish separated from the town aud incorporated with the privileges of a town." Thirty-nine in favor, nineteen opposed to tlie measure. We should judge by the records that nothing was done for a few days, aa we find auotlier meeting was held ten days after the above vote was passed, at which a committee of four was chosen, with full instructions to petition the Legislature to incorporate the parish witli the privileges of a town. Sixty-two were in favor, aud thirty-six opposed to the same. Abel Kingman, Esq., Joseph Sylvester, Esq., Col. Edward Southworth, aud Col. Caleb Howard were the committee to carry the above vote into effect.

At a meeting held May 5, 1818, to uscertaia the yeas aud nays on the question of a division of the town, the yeas were one hundred and twelve; the nays, nineteen.

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

** Tlici-e Wi»g a tiuio wlicn red men climbed these hills, And wandered by tlioso pliiins tiiid rilln, Or ruwed the light canoo alung yon river, Or ru:jhcd to conflict armed with huw and quiver, Or, 'ncath the forest leaves that o'er tiiem hung, They council held, ur loud their war-notea sung."

To what extent Indians occupied the North Parish (now Brockton) we are unable to learn. We have no doi^t, however, that they were quite numerous, as the plow frequently brings to light some relic of past days and of an uncivilized people. Spear-points, arrow-heads, mortars, pestles, gouges, and stone hatchets are often found in different sections of the town.

In the north part of the town are found hearthstones of ancient Indian wigwams. There was one directly under the house of the late Oliver Howard, which was taken down a few years since. Judging from the number of relics found in the noitherly section of the town, we should judge they frequented that part of the parish to a consideiable extent.

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

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

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

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

We do not learn that the people of the North Parish were so ujuch molested as in some other portions of the ancient town, for the reason the white people did not settle that portion to an}' extent till after ITUO.

Mitchell, in his excellent '* History of Bridgewater," says " that the people displayed ^rcut courage and intrepidity during Philip's war, and were often advised to desert tlicir dwellings and repair to the seashore tuwiis." They, however, resolutely kept their ground, and helped other towns to do the same. Whatever others may think, there In something sad in the reflection that the natives of these hills and valleys have disappeared, and at the same time we cannot regret tiiat a Christian and enlightened people have taken the places of a barbarous and heathen race. The last vestige of the tribe that once traveled over the soil of Bridgewater has long ago disappeared.

Petition of Asa Howard and others. - March 25, 1810, the parish *' voted to petition the Legislature the next session for a division of the town." Abel Kingman, Esq., Col. Caleb Howard, Josepli Sylvester, Esq., and Col. Edward Soutliworth were cliosen a committee to draft a petition and get petitioners. The following is a copy of the same as presented to the General Court:

"The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of tho north preciuet of Bridjjewutor, humbly showi that the town of BriJgowater is largo an<l extensive in territory, and furnishea about cluvun or twulve hundred votert^, of which number nearly three hundred bolon;; to the north preoinot^ and have to travel IVoiii nve to seven miles on an average to attend town-meetings, over a piece of way which is generally vcr)- bad in the montiis of March and April ; and in having (o transact our town busine.'^^j such a distance from home, it subji-uts us to a great expense of timo and travel, which might be saved if wc wuro set oil' into a suparute town, as we then could transact alt our town and [latish buaineas on the same days. \Vu would further rcpreseut that it is very ditlicult in full meetings doing tlic business of the tiiwn in llieir piesenl huu^e un account of It being out of repair and not of suU'icieiit size. Several atteiupts havu been made to repair and make the house suitable for the whole town to meet and transact thuir buaiiiess in, but liave failed.

"Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that the lionorable Legislaturu will take into their wiae consideration tho grievances above slated, and set oil" and incorporate said precinct into a separute town, by the name of North Uriilgewater, and b> >he liiicfi nnd estates that it was incorporated by, and

History Of Brockton

" On a petition aforesaid, Ordered, That the petitioners c;iuse an attested cupy of their petition, with this order thereon, to be served on the Town Clerk of said town of Bridgewater, thirty days at least before the second Wednesday of thu second Session of the present General Court, that all persons interested may then appear and show cause (if any they have) why the prayer of said petiliua should not be granted.

" S. F. McClEARY, Clerk of the Senate." " Bridgewateu, September 27, 1819. "This order of notice, with a copy thereof, was left with me by Abel Kingman, Esq.

At the second session of the General Court, the town of Bridgewater was represented by Daniel Howard, who hud been chosen as the agent of the town to oppose the petition of Asa Howard and others fur an act of incorporation. Remonstrances against the petition were also presented from Gideon Howard and ninety-eight others, and Eliab Whitman, Esq., and fifty-eight others, also residents of the North Parish, and a petition of Bela C. Dike and nineteen others, whicli we publish in full, to show the feeling of tlie parish at that time:

'* To the Honorable Senate and House of Jiepretien tat ices of the Commonwealth of Masaachiiaetts m General C<*nrt amtembUd, Januari/ Term, IS20:

'* The subscribers, inhabitants of the North Parish uf the town of Bridgewater, beg leave respectfully to remonstrate against the petition of Asa Howard and others praying the General Court of Maaaachusotta to set off and incorporate tiic Nurth Parish of the town of Bridgewater aforesaid witii all the privileges uf a town. Your remonstrants feel inipcMiously urged by a sense of duty to again come forward, the steady and decided supporters of the union of the town of Bridgewiitcr. The preservation of the uuioo, resources, indueuce, ropeetabiliiy, and friendly intercourse which subpii*ts between ihc sectiima of so large a town is with them an object truly desiriible; ;iDd, upon must caudid examination, they ate at a loss ou what to bottom this eager desire to loosen the bauds of its uniou and degrade its importance. It is a fact well known that but few towns in the county of this Commonwealth havo uiaiiagcd their publio business more correctly for fifty years past th^in the town of Bridgewater; and it is believed that, at the prc.-cnt moment, did not the question about division agitate and, imleed, irritate the feelings of its inhabitants, the business of the town might bo performed understandingly, decently, and in order. We feel assured your Honors will search in vain for re:iaons to support au opinion that the lasting and substantial interests of the town will be promoted by division; and we feel equally assured that tho Bepanitioo of the section prayed for in the petitiuii aforesaid will immediately result in a complete division of the whole town. Your remonstrants would not attempt a display of arguments or objectioaa on this subject, but cheerfully submit their interest and wishes to your wise consideration. A former decree, on a petition to divide the town of Bridgewater, inspires your remonstrants with ooDfidcnce in renewing their opposition to an impolitio measure. They are further encouraged by a recent vote of the town, which, by a majority of sixty-live votes, declared that the North Pariah should continue a part of the town of Bridgewater. The town has at all times been uniform in its oj)po8ition to division, and an application being mad« to the

Gonerul Court for division h;Ld invariably voted by liaadsoiue luajority to preserve ltd union. Your remonstrants, boivever, conlidt'Dt of .success in tlieir oppositiun, may be diiuppuinted. all due deference to tbe decision wbicli tlio General Cuurt may make on ih'is important subject, anxious fur ibe fate of Bridgewater us a town, they will early search for tbe evidence uf a final result. And the first ui.iuicnt of doubt will intlueo them to petition your Honors to belonj^ with the projicrty which tbey respectfully hold to the town of Bridgewater.

" 7o Ihe Honorable the Senate and the JIononiLlc the Ifuime of UeurtventatioeH of the CumnionioeHlth uf Mii-.iiarhnaetta hi General Court anaeniLled, Anno Dom. 18'_'U.

"We, the undersigned inhabitants of the North Paiish in Bridgewater, understanding that an onler of notice frutn your honorable body has been served un said town of Bridgewater, purporting that Asa Howard and 2FJ others have pttitioued the General Court praying that said North Pari=h may be set otr from the town of Bridgewater, and incorporated into a separate town by the name of North Bridgewater, do most respectfully represent that, in our opinion, the propu^ed diaiuenibcrment of the town of Bridgewater cannot he suppui ted by such reasons and arguments as will justify a mc:i^ure mi re[uignant to the interest and happiness uf the aaid North Parish, as well as to the town at large. Wo cannot conceive wliat new reasons or arguments can be offered for dividing the town. It is a fact that the population of said town has been nearly .-tationary for forty years past, and the distance from the centre has not increased, 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 i^uuth, east, and Titieut parishes nearly us 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. Tlie town-house is a substantial building, and ample in it3 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 Nortli Parish, being deeply impressed with the belief that such n measure will be pregnant with many great and serious evils to said North Parish, do most earnestly wish, and humbly pray your Honor:?, 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 hound, will over pray.

" To the iloiioraUe Seittite unit the Ilonuiable Uoime of Kepre- HcuUilnet 111 Geiicrul Coitrl aaaeiubUll, A.l). 1SI9: "The petition of the underai;^iieil inhabitants of the North Pariah of liridgewaier humbly shows that whereiLs there is now pcndiu;; before tlic honorable legislative body the petition of Asa iluwaril and two hundred and thirteen others praying for said Xoitli Parish to bo set oft' into a town for various reasons dill not sign said petition, but have .'iincc taken into con:>idera. 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 olf iis aforesaid, aud cannot see any disadvantage that will arise to the remaining part of the town by granting the prayer of said petitioners. For the foregoing reiison your petitioners wish to have their names anne.\ed to said petition, and, iij duty bound, will ever pray, "liela C. Dike. Abijah Pitcher.

" To the lioiiorahU Semite and Himne of Repreieutativea in General Court annembled. " 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 Aaa Howard and others, praying that the North Parish of said Bridgewater the petitioners would acquiesce in the decision of the last (Jeneral Court, whose attention was called to the subject by a ]ielition, botb in substance and in form like the present. The

"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 municipal concerns. The inconveniences experienccil in this respect I by the town of Bridgewater are not more numerous than what j are sulTered by the greater part of the towns in the State. The I distuuce traveled by the petitioners to attend town meetings, I and the badness of the roads, may bo inconveniences, but they are not more so now than they have ever been since the town was incorporated. They are inconveniences to which the inhabitants of every country town must, in a greater or less degree, submit, and to which the people of the North Parish, iu their more unambitious days, quietly submitted, in the full persuasion, no doubt, that they could not be remedied withtiut 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 oucs have been opened, lessoning the distance of travel I'roni various parts of the town (particularly tho North Parish) to the centre. "The numerous population of Bridgewater, to which the petitioners have alluded, constitutes no impediment to the correct and orderly transaction of the business of the town.

" Their system of town government, practiced upon lor 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 oQicers, and thus the interests of uil arc equally consulted.

" If the town house is out of repair, as stated in the petition, it can be eiuily fitted so as to accommodate all the inhabitants, aud nothing ban prevented this but the fear of a division, which the petitioners have contributed so much to e.xcitc aud 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 measuro must ho productive.

"The separation of the North would douhlless 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 iu perpetual litigations with each other, and vexed with internal broils. Tho 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.

down in order all tliiit can bo said against granting tho request of llio petitioners. Enough has been said in this bi ief stutoment, it is apprehended, to convince every candid and reflecting mind that u separation of tlie North Parish would, to itself, be productive of no real advantage, but to the town of great and lusting injury.

" The Coiuuiittee of both Houses appointed to consider applications for the Incorporation of Towns, to whom was referred tho petition of Asa Howard and others, inhubitauts of tho north precinct of Bridgewater, praying that said precinct may bo 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 purpose.

Vote of the Town. - The vote on tlie acceptaueo of tlie report was seventy-eight in favor, and sixtyeight opijosctl. An effort was made to reconsider the above vote, which was rejected.

"On the petition aforcAaid, Urdcreil, That the petilioilers cause an attested copy of their petition, with this order thereon, to be served on the Town Clerk of Bridgewater, thirty Jays at least before the lirst Wednesday of the next session of the present 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 be granted.

Tlie town, upon the receipt of the above order of notice, lield a meeting Nov. G, 1820, " to see whether the town would vote to be divided." One iiundred and forty-four voted in favor of division, and one hundred and sixty-four against the same.

The meeting then adjourned to the 24tli of Novetuber, at which time the vote was put to see whether they would choose an agent to oppose a division 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 incorporate the North Parish into a town.

Petition of Jesse Packard and others in aid of Asa Howard. - At the next session of the G^'iieml Court, held in Boston, January, 182 1, the subject of division was again brouglit to their notice, 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 :

"Tho undersigned humbly represent that we did, in the course of the last year, sign a paper remonstrating against the petition of Howard and others, inhabitants of the Xorth Parish of Bridgewater, praying for said parish to be incorporated into a town, and was at that time fully of an opinion that it would be best for tho town to keep together; but, taking into consideration the petition of tho West Parish to become 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 Asu Howard and others, we wish to he incorporated with them, notwithstanding any petition to the contrary.

"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 Plymouth, may be set off from Bridgewater, aud incorporated into a separate town, have had the same under consideration, and aak leave to report that tho prayer of the petition be so far gratited that the petitioners have leave to bring in a bill for that purpose.

" Tli-.a all tliat part of tho North Parish of Bridgewatcr which lies within tiie suid town of'BriJjjcwaler, ueuording to the present territuiiiil limits thereof, be mid hereby is estiiblir^hed aa a separate town, by the uaiue of North Uridyewater ; and the inhabitiinu-i nf tiie ^aid town td' North Uridyewatcr aie iierulty vested wirh all the poweis and privileges, and shall uL-o be subject to ail the duties and requisitions of other corporate towns, accordiuL; to the constitution and laws of this commonwealth.

"StcTlo.M 2. Le ,t farther eiiavleU, 'iha.1 tho inhabitants of the town of North Ujidgewater shall bo holden to pay tho arrears of all State, county, and town ta.\es whicli have been legally a:-scssed upon them, together with their proportion of all debts line front tlte said town of Bridgewater prior to the date of this act; and the said town of North Bridgewater shall ho entitled to receive their proportion of the said debts and t4LXes due to tlie said town of Bridgewutcr. when collected and paid into the treasury of said town ; and the said town of North Bridgevv;ttcr shall be entitled to hold their propoitioD, accord- ] ing to the present valuation of all the real and personal property belonging to the town of Bridgewater before the passing of this aet, I

".Skction 3. Be it further eimclej. That the Haid town of i North Briilgewater shall bo holden to support their proptn'tion of the poor of the town of Bridgewater which are now chargeable to said town, which proportion shall be ascerUiincd by tho present valuatiou of the town; and all persons who may hereafter become chargeable as paupers to the said towns of Bridgewutcr or North Bridgewater shall be considered as belonging to that town on tho territory of which they had their settlement at the lime of the passing of this act, and shall in future beclmrgcable to that town only.

"Slctiox 4. Be it farther enaeted, That all future State and County ta.\cs which may be levied on tlie said towns of Bridgewater and North Bridgewater, jirevious to a new valuation, shall be assessed and paid in the same ]iroportion ad tliey now arc accoiding to the present valuation.

"Skltiox 5. lie it further enacted, Tb^t iiny Justice ij{ the Peace for tho County of Plymouth is hereby empowered, upon application therefor, to issue a warrant, directed to a freehold inhabitant ot' the said town of North Bridgewater, retjuiring him to nolify and warn tho inhabitants thereof qualilicd to vote in town aH'airs to meet at sueh convenient time and place as shall he appointed in tho said warrant, for the choice of such otBeers as towns are by law required to choose and appoint at their annual town-meetings."

of the same waa July 4, 1821. The meeting wa.s opened with prayer by Rev. Daniel Huntington, tiiu pastor of the First Congregational Church. Joseph Sylvester, Esq., waa chosen moderator, and Col. Edward Southworth town clerk. Abel Kingman, Esq., Howard Cary, Esq., and Capt. Zechariah Guriiey were chosen selectmen, after which the other town oflBcers were chosen. The number of voters present at the first town-meeting was about two hundred.

Chapter Iii Situation And Topogkapiiy

Situation and Extent - Topography - Centre Village - Campello - " Sprague'a" or Factory Village - .Salisbury Heights - Northwest Bridgewater - Rivers, Brooks, Hills - Natural History - Birds, Fish, Wild Animals - Geological Formation - OtEcial History - Selectmen - Assessors - -Town Clerks - Treasurers - Moderators - Dates of Annual Meetings - Engineers of tho Fire Department - Councillors - Senators - Ue])- rcsentatives to the (jeneral Court - Coroners - Notaries Public - Deputy Sherills - Justices of the Peace - Ti ial Justices - Votes for Governor in Brockton - List of Governois.

Brockton is a city in the northwest part of Plymouth County, - bordering on Bristol County on the west, and Norfolk County on the north, - and is situated between 42° 03' and 42° OS' north latitude, and between 70° 57' and 71° 04' west longitude; and is bounded on the north by Randolph and Stoughton, on the east by Abington and E;ist Bridgewater, on the south by West Bridgewater, on the west by Easton. It is twenty miles south from Bo.ston, thirty miles northeast from Providence, twenty-four miles northwest from Plymouth, the shire-towii of Plymouth County, sixteen miles southeast from Dedham, the shire-town of Norfolk County, fifteen miles northetist from Taunton, a half shire-town of Bristol County, thirty-five miles northerly from New Bedford, 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 public 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- 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 uiKinimoubly adopted by the people as a proper otie, it signifying a small plain. It has always been noted for its extensive manufacturing establishments of boots, shoL-s, cabinet furniture, and musical instruments; and the thrift and industry of her citizens may be clearly seen in the neat and tidy uppearauco of the small cottages scattered throughout the limits of the same. The growth of this place was materitilly checked. May 23, 1853, by one of the most destructive fires that ever occurred in the city, if uot in the county. It is now growing rapidly, and bids fair to be aunnig 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 markets, the owners or proprietors of which have stores I'ur the sale of goods in Boston, one manufactory of musical instruments, several variety stores, grocery stores, post-office, railroad depot near by, rendering it a de.-iirablo place for trade or for a private residence. The main street runs the entire length of tiie city, north and south, with graceful elms on either side. There are schools in the place and live churches.

Salisbury Square. - Sprague's Factory Village, or Salisbury Srjuare, is another small and beautifullylocated cluster of houses and manufacturing establishments, 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 couducced 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 shoe tools.

Brockton Heights. - The next is the " West Shares, or "Northwest Bridgewater" (now known as Brockton Heights"), a prominent height of land from which magnificent views may be had. It is the highest portion of land to be found in all the four Bridgewaters. On the north we have a view of the Blue Hills of Milton, and on the west we have a jiicturesque view of the Western Hills ; and no place can excel it for its lovely scenery and its healtlil'ul locality. The land is of a good (|Uality, and the jieople in this portion of the town arc mostly finucrs. In immediate proximity to this place is one MethuJist Church, school, post-office, and store, and is situated at about equal distance from Stoughton and Centre of Brockton.

Rivers and Brooks. - This town is well watered by brooks and streams, only one large enough to he called a river, and that of small size. Most of these have had mills erected upon them. The most prominent of these is the Salisbury River, which rises in the town of Stoughton, running southerly one-half mile west of the Centre Village, till it crosses Belmont Street, a short distance below the mill known as the Caleb Howard Mill, when it turns and runs east till it meets Trout Brook.

This brook also rises in the southerly part of Stoughton, and runs south about a half-mile east of the middle of the town till it meets Salisbury Brook, near Sprague's works. At this point the two are joined, and run in a southerly direction, a short distance east of Campello village, into the town of East Bridgewater.

Beaver Brook is another stream, rising iu Weymouth ; runs in a southerly direction, and forming a boundary-line between Abington and North Biidgewater, till it enters East Bridgewater. Another river rises in Easton, and runs through the southwest part of the town into West Bridgewater, and is called Cowesett Brook.

West Meadow Brook rises north of the residence of Caleb Phillips, near Pleasant Street, and runs in a southerly direction into West Bridgewater, near Henry Jackson's.

Another small stream rises in the south part of Stoughton and north part of Brockton, near George W. Hunt's; running southeasterly it empties into Salisbury Brook, near Galen Packard's mill.

Also, a small stream rises near the residence of the late Deacon Silvanus French, and, running south, enters West Bridgewater east of the late residence of Nahum Hayward, and empties into Salisbury River.

Although the streams in this town are small, there has been, at various times, considerable manufacturing done by water-power. There are no ponds in town of any size, excepting those made by flowins; meadows for mill privileges, ihe largest in town being that at Sprague's works, next at Howard's mills, and one at Tilden's Corner. There is about a thousand acres in the town covered by water, the balance is well divided into woodland, pasturing, and mowing, and there is do city or town in the county where there is less unproductive or unimproved land than in this town. There are over four thousund acres of good woodland, and over eleven hundred acres of land tilled, uxclusive of orcharding ; over fifteen hundred acres of good upland mowing land, about eighty acres of orcliardiug, about six hundred acres of fresh meadow, about three thousand acres of pasture land.

its surface is comparatively level, with but a few hills. Besides those already mentioned, there are some elevated spots liere and there, prominent among which is Gary Hill, situated in the northeast part of the town, overlooking the village on the south, gently sloping in either direction, from the top of which we may get pure air and tine views in an autumn day. When the leaves are turned into rich drapery, it is worth while to ride to this place for the prospect that may be hail. It is of very easy access by good road.s, and the wonder is that it is not more generally selected as a place of residence by those wishing a healthy and retired lut-ality. The land in the immediate vicinity is good, well adapted to tillage, produces fine crops with little labor.

Prospect EI ill is another high and pleasant spot of land, very desirable for building purposes, and but a short distance from the village in a northwest direction, west of the late Capt. A.sa Jones' residence. On this heiglit are many tine residences.

Ridge Hill is a rough and rocky pasture, running from near the residence of Freeman Holmes, in the south part of the town, northerly for about one mile, and lias been much celebrated for its plentiful crops of huckleberries and blackberries.

Stone-House Hill is situated on the boundary-line between Brockton and Easton, a short distance west of the shoe manufactory of Jonas Reynolds at Tilden's Corner. At this place is an old cave, made in the solid stone ledge, and is said to have been used by the Indians as a dwelling. The cave may now be seen as formerly used. It is situated on the old road leading from Brockton to Easton. A pastoral poem was written by George H. FuUerton, Esq., the late postmaster of Brockton. This work is worthy of a perusal.

Every town has its natural history, and every mile of its surface, with its hills and plains, its rivers, ponds, rocks, and trees, - all have a charm that clusters around the home of childhood. The forests of Brockton consist of red-, white-, and sugar-maple (although the latter is scarce, it is occasionally fuund), white-, red-, and black-ash, the tremulous poplar and verdant hemlock, the tall spruce, much used in building, white-ash, used for carriage- work, scjthes, and rake-handles, for hoops, sieve rims, and boxes, and u superior wood for oars. Sa.ssafras was in early times quite plenty, valuable only for medicinal purposes. Chestnut is not abundant. White-oak is used fur carriages, red-oak for casks, the bark of which is used for tanning; hickory afibrding plenty of good shellbarks ; butternut is not common, - here and there a j tree ; white-pine is tolerably plenty, although it h;is been of late much cut for fuel and building purposo ; I pitch-pine is quite plenty, - good only for fuel, being ' knotty and pitchy ; red cedar, used for rail-fences and ; pencil-woods, also very useful for linings to che.sts, :i.s ' a protection from moths ; red-beech, used for plane, woods, last, and boot-tree forms. Tall and graceful elms rejoice the eye in every direction. In the early settlement of the town large quantities of ship-timber of oak and chestnut were carried I'rom the town to the sea-shore towns of Weymouth, Scituate, and Du.xbury. Among those who did a large trade in that line were Messrs. Abel and Eliphaiet Kingman, and, later, Edwin H. Kingman. Of late years a ready market is found at home for all the wood cut, where formerly large lots were either carried to Boston and the seaport towns, or made into charcoal, and then sent to Boston. Since the railroads have been built wood has been mucli used on the locomotives, and has made it scarce at times, but if we take a look about the town we shall find " a few more left of the same sort."

Fruit-Trees. - Of tliis kind of tree not so great a variety is found as in many places, although the writer is happy in believing that there is an increasing interest being felt in this most important of agricultural pursuits, - that of raising fruit. The must commou fruit is the apple. There is a fair assortment of them in the town, and the now orchards contain choice varieties, while the old and wild orchards have given way to the woodman's axe. Now the apple is a staple article of consumption, the consumers being more numerous than the producers, and people are looking more to tlie cultivation of all kinds than ever before. Choice varieties are engrafted upon the stumps of old trees, and were it not for the borers that eat the roots, canker-worms and caterpillars that cat the leaves and branches, we might look witii duligiit upon as fine orchards as could be found in any place. These pests have destroyed the orchards, as grasshoppers have the nice fields of gra.ss, and the ways and means of ridding the orchards of these plagues is not yet fully understood. Next to the apple comes the pear-tree, which does not appear to thrive as well in this town as in many others, the land not being well adapted for this kind of fruit, tliough of late many have been successful, and raised choice kinds.

Peaches are rai.sed to a very limited extent, the climate not being adapted for the successful cultivation of this variety. The trees are said to be shortlived, and do not flouri.ih.

Cherries do very well, and much is being done in this kind of small fruit, many varieties being cultivated. Of the native shrubs, we find the town has the usual variety, - such as the blueberry and huckleberry, - that affords employment for the boys and girls in a pleasant afternoon, and a source of pleasure to older persons, furnishing an agreeable repast when eaten with milk. Then we find the raspberry, gooseberry, and tliimbleberry. Of the raspberries, there are the red and white, that grow wild, and are cultivated in gardens. Gooseberries of late years have become an article of much use, many new varieties having been introduced, the best of which is the English Variety, that grow aa large as shcllbarks. Then we have the currant, an exceedingly useful article of culture, and easily raised, valuable for wine or table use. Of these we have also several varieties, - red, white, and black. Then comes that highlyesteemed and valuable luxury, - " a dish of ripe strawberries, smothered in cream." These are found in many places growing wild in the piLStures, and, although tliey are sweet and deliciou.s, they are found so scarce that not much account is made of them. The cultivated fruit of this kind is a tavorite dish, of which there is a great variety, among which are the " Huvcy's Seedlings," " Early Virginia," and " Boston Pine." These are fast becoming an article of cultivation as much as the potato or corn, and large amounts are cultivated in the gardens and fields of this town. The first that were raised for market to any extent were those by Mr. B. F. Lawton, of the West Shares. Since then several have raised them with profit and sent them to market, among whom

" Wife, into the gardeu, and set me a plot With stra wherry-root-s of thu best to be j^ot; Such growing abroad amont^ thorn.-j in the wood, Well cbu:ieD and picked, prove excellent :ind good."

Birds. - The birds common in this locality are the quail, partridge, snipe, woodpecker, woodcock, sparrow, thrush, robin, blue-bird, bobolink, wren, pewee, lark, king-bird, blue jay, black-bird, chickadee, marten, barn- and bank-swallow, cat-bird, cuckoo, huiumingbird, kingfisher, whip-poor-will, owl, hawk, crow, bats. Wild geese occasionally alight on the siuall ponds in the outskirts of the town.

Fish. - Among the difierent kinds of fish that abound in our streams may be found the trout, pickerel, sucker, shiner, minnow, hornpout, eels, perch. Herrings in early days used to run up the rivers, but of late are seldom found.

Wild Aaimals. - The early forests in town had their share of vexatious animals that were common in this part of the country, - as wolves, wild-cat. Poxes have become shy of company. Skunk, musquash, and mink have been severely hunted. Woodchucks, rabbits, and squirrels of difierent kinds. Raccoons, that damaged the cornfields, have almost disappeared. Moles and meadow-mice are found in the fields, and often do much damage, gnawing bark off of trees in winter.

But the worst enemy the early settlors had to contend with among the beast kind was the wulf, which troubled the infant settlements exceedingly, - so much that shepherds were appointed over the tiocks by da}', and they were put in folds at night and securely guarded, - and even after the town became quite thickly settled these pests would make night hideous by their howling around the farms. Rewards were offered by the town for their heads, and wolf-traps were common in all parts of the town.

Geology. - The geological formation of Brockton is similar to many other towns in Plymouth County. The hills, meadows, large plains and intervales, deep swamps and rocky pastures furnish food for almo.st all kinds of grass, trees, and shrubs. Of the rocky portions of the town we find sienite, or compusition of feldspar, quartz, and hornblende. Saj's Dr. Hitchcock, in his survey through the State, - ton, and in other parts of Plymouth County. Its btue consista of quartz and feldspar, with an abundance of epidote, di^seuii* Dated and in veins. This rock, if poliiihed, would form, it seems to me, the most oroainentat stone in the State. The feldspar, crystal, that conititutts it a porphyry, are of a flesh color. There is a dark-colored mineral ditfused throughout the mass, which may be hornblende or mica."

Large quantities of peat have been cut in the meadows of the town in pa.st times, and it is now being used as a fuel, which is of an excellent quality.

Large quantities of iron ore have been found iu tlie western aud other sections of the town, and some has been manufactured into iron. It is not, however, plenty now, aud the business of making it into iron ceased several years since.

Official History. - There are many who like to know who have liad the management of public affairs both iu town and State. To see a list of those having lield positions of trust and confidence can hardly fail to be of interest to us as showing the estimate in which they were held by their follow citizens. To be a selectman, or " townsman," as they were sometimes called, was cotisidered as being one of the fathers of the town." The selectmen have nearly the control of the affairs of a town, and it is very common, even to this day, in town-meetings, " to refer the matter to the selectmen, with full powers," or to leave business at the discretion of the selectmen, with suggestions from the towti. Hence the value that should be placed upoti such officers, and the reason why none but men of good judgment and integrity should be selected. Anytliing and everything, not otherwise provided by law, in regard to town affairs, I'alls by custom to the care of the selectmen, and generally such men have been chosen.

1 'i'he selectmen have performed the duties of assessors and overseers of the poor from the incorporation of the town to 1875, at which date they became a distinct board of olficers.

Town Clerks

List of towu clerks of North Bridgewater, now Brockton, from its incorporation to its incorporation as a city, with the years each has served :

Representatives To The General Court

List of representatives to the General Court from the town of North Brid"rewater and Brockton from its incorporation to tlie time of its incorporation into a city:

Justices Of The Peace.'

1 Those marked with * are of the Quorum ; those marked with t are to qualify civil officers; those marked with I are trial justices; those marked with ^ are justices throughout the commonwealth. All others are county appointments.

Number Op Votes Polled For Governor

* Owing to an amendmeut in the Constitution there were two elections in 1831, which required the Governor to be choaen in November instead of April, and to take his seat on the hrst Wednesday of January instead of the hist of May. The reader will therefore understand that, from 1832 those who wercoleetej in November aie chosen for the following year.

History Of Brockton

The fullowiDg list of Goveniors of the State will show when Nortli Bridgewnter (now Brockton) acted with a luajority of the people of the couimonwcalth :

Chapter Iv

First .Mceting-llouse in the North Parish - Its Appearance - Second llousi. - Description - Sale of I'ows - First Bell - Seating of Colored People - Third Meeting-House - Pow- Holdcra - Clock - First Stoves - Erection of the Fourth Meeting-llousc in 1354 - Dedication - Description of the Same - Sale of Pt'ws.

Meeting-Houses of the First Congregational Parish. - Tlie tirst uieetiug- house io the North Parish was built in 1737, ou or near the spot where the present edifice now .xtands. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Dutibar, of Stou^'hton, from Solomon's Song viii. 8 : " We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts : what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?"

From the best information' gained, it was a small, plain structure, in keeping with the times, facing south, without steeple, bell, or chimney ; the windows

To this place the people of the parish gathered from Sabbath to Sabbath, with cumiucndablc regularity, on horseback or on foot. Thoy '- kept the Sabbath and reverenced the Sanctuai-y."

At the time of the incorporation of the parish the house was '- Erected and Inclosed," but not finished. At a meeting held iMarch 12, 1739, '- Timoiliy Keith, Benjamin Edson, David Packard, Daniel Howard, Edward Curtis, were cho.sen a committee for the finishing of the meeting-house in s'' Precinct;" also " voted to raise two Hundred and fifty pounds for the finishing of the same, to be paid by the last of August ;" chose Abiel Packard " Recover of .stuf and meterels." March 26, 1739 :

"The committee appointed to tinisb the ineeting-housc made demand of the several inhabitants how they would pay their Keats, or what they would percure tords the proseculii<n of the work of hnishing the meeting-house. In order to pay their Raits Whare upon a number subscribed what they would percure, as Krst ;

"James Packard to do the Glazing of tlio House, and what it amounts to more than his Reals Come to, to take his pay at the forge. In Iron ore or Cole next fall Insewing. Juhn Johnson and John Kingman to do the uiasing work and nails, and to take his pay over and Abuv his Ruits at the fornes or forge, In Labour, or Cole, or Iron ore the next fall Iii.-cwing. David Packard, Solomon Packard, and Jacob Allen to tiiid Lime.

"Joshua Warren, to find llenges; Timothy Keith, David Packard, Solomon Packard, Jacob Allen, Benjamin Edson, Daniel llaward, to find all the sheet work."

Iluit3." Oci. 8, 1739, "Voted to sell roooie for pews in the rneetiDg-liouse." Dec. 10, 1739, "Voted to sell room for pews ia order to Ruise money to buy a Gushing."' Jan. 15, 1740, "Voted to chuse three men to set a prise upon the pews to be Gin to Bid at, so that no man should Beed below the prise thay should set, maid chuise of James Packard, Abicl Packard, and Isaac Kingman for the same." Jan. 21, 17-tO, " Meeting held to-day," and " voted to sell the pews to the highest bidder." " John Kingman, veiidue-master, who sest up the first pew on the west aide of the pulpit to be sold to the highest Beder, and so all the Rest Sucksesevely Round the meetin-hou^re to the

Vi'ted, that W'cddow Ledah Packarii .'-hould have the ninth pew. It being 6 ft. 10 inches frout and 4 ft. 7 inches deep, for (Nu amount given.)

"January 12, 1741. 'Voted that John Colly should have Thirty-five shillings for sweeping the meeting-house the year lusuing.' March 23, 1742, Abiel Packard to swee)) the meeting-house the present year fur 35 shillings.

"June 6, 1743. A meeting was held * to see whetlicr the precinct would vote to Buld Seat^ In the Galiryes, and it was voted in the negative.' It was then put to vote to see whether the precinct would ' sell Roouie over the stairs and behind tlie front Galiry next to the wall for pews and it was voteil in the Affirmative."

From the above it appears that the house iiad j:alleries put up, but not finished. The usual practice in building churches in early times was to finish the inside and sell " pew-room" or sections, whicii each purchaser would finish to suit himself Hence we frequently find votes in the records as follows:

June 20, 1743. '* It was put to vote by the nioderatoi- of the meeting to see wiietlier the precinct would vote to sell fore pews Uehind the front Galary, and over the Stayers at a publick vandue to the highest licder. The Demctishions of s'* Pews are as followotb : 'over the woim-n's Stairs 0 feet front and live feet and half deep, liehiiid wmuen'.-i front Lialary, S feet front and five feet deep. Behind men's front Galary si.x feet and a half front, and five feet deep, over the men's stairs >i.\ feet front, and five and a half deep, alowing Convenunt Pto(»mc to pasc up and down the stairs.' Voted in the affirmative."

" The pew over the men's stairs was sect up by the moderator to sail and Timothy Keith Budiiig two pounds and ten shillings upon s'' pew. It was struck of to him, he being the highest Beder."

" The pew behind the women's front galary was set up by the moderator to sail, and Constant Suuihworth Beding twenty pounds and five shillings upon s'' pow. It was struck ofi" to him, he being the highest Beder."

June 28, 1746. It was put to vote " to see If the Precinct would vote to'finish the meeting-house this year, and it was voted in the affirmative."

What tlie effect of the above vote was we find no record, and are left to judge that it was never carried into effect, as appears by the following record, uimiug at the same thing, namely, - to have the " meeting- House" Completed.

Aug. 15, 1748. "Voted that Abiel Packard, Constant Sdiuhworth, and Samuel Brett be a committee to finish the meeting-house the pi'csent year."

The following persons were supposed to have worked . upon the house in the completion of the same, as it appears March 27, 1749. The following sums were voted lo be paid: To Samuel Brett, for work " Don In the uieecing- House," £6 7s. To Luke Perkins, £1 10s. March 29, 1750, "money voted to Simeon Cary for Labour Don abought the Meeting-House, to be Drawed out of the Treasury, £8 1 4." " Voted to Archabiel Rob.son for Bannisters for the Meeting- House £4 10 shillings Lasvfull Money."

At a meeting held Sept. 27, 175G, it was " voted that the Petition between the men and women's frount Gallery Slmld be bult up a gain where it fir.'st stood. Also Voted that the Rumc on the women's side of tlie Petition should be for the women."

By the above votes we see the custom prevailed of keeping the men and women in separate pews, aud have no doubt the work was completed, and that they were kept in their proper places, for we find Barnabas Pratt was allowed £3 8«. for putting up a " petition" between the " Gallereyes and the Hind Sects."

At a meeting of the precinct held Dec. 4, 1758, " voted that the committee provide an Iron Latch and Bolt for the South Dorc of the Uieeting-house."

Second Meeting-House. - The subject of building a new church, or of enlarging the old one, was talked of in 17U0, and a meeting called to see what the precinct would do, which was held Dec. 1, 1760:

" To dee if the Preuinct will vote to enlarge the Moeting- Housu by splittioguf It In tow, or making ua addition to it, or botii, unJ al:io to Seo if any person ur perdona will under. take the Doin;^ of it for the Uuine In the addition that shall be maid to the uieetiug-house, and in case the Precinct should not vote to Inlargu the meeting-house, then to see if the Precinct will vote to Iluld a new Meeting-House, and when and where it shall be set, and uf what Bigness it shall be bult." The vote was first put '* to see if the Preeinot would build a new House, which was voted iu the negative." ** Then lo see if the Precinct would rote to Inlarge the Meeting-House by splitting of it. Voted in the negative."

Thus things remained for over a year, when the subject was again brought up at a meeting held Dec. 29, 17G1, at ten o'clock a.m., " To see what sum of money can be raised towards the Bulding a new Mectiuir-Hou.se. In the North Precinct of Brid^rewater, by selling the pew Rome to the Highest

After the sale of the above pews " the Precinct aGorned the meeting to Monday the forth Day of Jenuary, at twelve o'ck, M." "Agreeably to agornment the precinct gathered together, and the vanduemaster, chosen by the precinct for the sail of the

Description of the New House. - Jan. 5, 1762. " Voted to Buld a meeting house of the same demenslions of the South meetin<,'-liouse In Bridgewater, excepting two side Gallary to be bult in sects ;" also " voted to Buld the meeting-House the next summer, within twelve month Irom the aforsaid Date hereof;" and " voted that ail the posts of the Body of the meeting- House shuld be sawed and the house faced South." Robert Eaward, Capt. Simeon Gary, and Mr. Abia Keith were chosen a committee for " prosicuting the Buldiug the meeting-House in the North Precinct." " Voted that the house shuld be Shilingled with sedar shingles."

Monday, Nov. 8, 17tJ2. " A meeting was called to sec if the precinct will vote to Buld a Bclfree to the nioetiug-house," and it was voted to " Build one over the East Dore," also " voted to Buld a porch over the west Dore, and to sell the stairways for pews to the highest Bcder." it seems nothing had been done towards I'orwarding the building of the " Belfree" in January, as another meeting was called to meet January 17th, " to see if the precinct will vote to buld the Belfree, and spire, already voted to be built, provided it can be don by subscription, and without taxing the precinct," which was voted iu the afErmative; also "voted that the Belfry should be twelve feet square, and eighty-five feet high from the grown." Capt. Simeon Gary, Isaac Packard, and Barnabas Howard were chosen a committee to -' Buld" the same. In the spriug of 17G2 the building was commenced. The frame was raised iu June, 1763, and in December of the same year the house was completed and dedicated to the woi-ship of God the lust week of that month. Rev. Mr. Dunbar preached tlie sermon in the forenoon of the day of dedication, from the text, Isaiah Ix. 7 : " I will glorify the house of my glory." Rev. John Angier, of the East Parish, preaclied a sermon in the afternoon from the text. Psalms cxxii. 1 : " I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." The first sermon preached in the new raeeting-house by Rev. Mr. Porter was from text, Haggui ii. 9 : " The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former." The carpenters that performed the carpenter-work upon this house were Deacon Jonathan Gary, Benjamiu Packard, Micuh Packard, Sclli Packard, Barnabas Pratt, Thomas Pratt, Job Biyant, Gamaliel Bryant, Samuel Hayden, PhiiiLhas Paiiic-, Jeremiah Beals. Col. Josiali Hayden was the master-workman of the inside of the hou.-,e. Cul. Simeon Gary, who was one of the building cuinniiltee, was master of the outside of the house. Col. Hayden also built the pulpit and sounding-board. All uf the above mechanics belonged in the town.

We have already seen that the precinct voted to have a steeple built by subscription, but for some reason which does not appear on record it was not all paid in. For this purpose the pew back of the " Deckon seet" was put up for " sail" to liul[i pay the committee that built it what expense had been incurred. May 17, 1764, " Voted to sell the old meeting-house for the use of the precinct in jcnerail."

First Bell. - Also voted the same day to " Gect a Bell for the New Meeting House, not exceeding six hundred Wale." Daniel Howard, E.sq., Ca|)t. Abiel Packard, and Lieut. Henry Kingmau were chosen a committee to purchase the same. Oct. '1\, 176"), " Voted to Build stairs to the BellVee." It aeeiiis ilie bell of the new meeting-house became broken from some cause, and at a meeting held Oct. lU, 1768, to see if the precinct would vote to mend the bell, voted in the afifirmative, also " voted that Lieut. Henry Kingman should gect it mended." We presume that the bell was past mending, aa we afterwards find, Dec. 11, 1769, a vote " to geet a new Bell of Seven hundred wate. Lieut. Henry Kingman, Col. Simeon Gary, and Capt. Isaac Packard were appointed a committee to go and agree with Mr. Hubbard, for the making and taking down of the old Bell and hanging the new one." Jan. 11, 1770, " Voted to Imploy Mr. Aaron Iluburd and Mr. Gellomer to new Run the Bell, and that it shall bo of Seven hundred wate." In the early part of 1772, a number of persons became " larned" in the rules of " musick" under Mr. Billings, and asked that seats might be as^iigued to them iu tliL' south part of the women's pallery. This request WU.1 complied with as follows: Nov. 30, 1772, " Voted to the singers the South part of the women's Galiary During pleasure." We find this produced some dia.-iatisraction, and efforts were made to restore the seats back to the women. Various meetings were called until, April 8. 1778, a special meeting being called, the (|uestion was put by the moderator to see if the precinct will vote to restore the Southerly part of the womens galiary to the womens use again." It wa.s " voted in the negative." April 3, 1775, The above vote was reconsidered, and a vote passed " allowing the north part of the womens seets During the pleasure of the Parish," also " voted to build a pair of stairs in the Belfree." Dec. 11, 1788, " Voted to sell the Deef Seet." Also " voted to sell the two hind seets each side of the Broad alley." Now the parish begin to think that some jepairs are needed, and a committee of three were chosen to report what repairs were necessary. Job Bryant, Moses Cary, and Jeremiah Beals were that committee, who reported the following to be done : -' new .sett the Glass in putty, paint the Door, windows, and walls, and the platform of the Belfree be covered with Led." Voted '- that the window frames and sa.shes be painted white."

Seats for Colored People. - March 19, 1789. " Voted to build a porch provided it can be Don without expense to the parish, and also to put seats in the porch and Belfree for the negroes, and sell the room where the .stairs and negro pew now are." Thus we see that in this year the negroes were to sit in the loft provided on purpose, which created no little feeling on the part of the colored population.

In the year 1800 we again find a disagreement between the colored people attending worship and sitting in the same seat with the white people, which very much annoyed some of them, and to remedy this trouble a meeting was held August 4th, " To see what measures the Parish will take to prevent the bluc/cs from occupying the seats appropriated to the use of the white people, so as to prevent any disturbance in time of Public woi'shipe," at which time it was " Voted that the side galleries and the seats in the Body of the meeting house be appropriated to the use of the white people, and the seals in the porch above to the use of the blacks."

Jan. 19, 1801, "Voted to erect seats in the front gallery for the singers, in front of the front pews," and " voted that they be erected in a surkerler forme."

April 30, 1801, " Voted to paint the inside work that ha.s heretofore been painted, to be under the direction of the Parbh Committee." Early in the year 1805, the people of the parish, wishing to improve the looks of their house of worship, called a meeting, which was held March 11, 1805, "To see if the Parish will repair the meeting Hous, and what repairs they will make the year in.suing." At this meeting a committee of nine was chosen to view the house and report at the adjournment of the meeting. This committee consisted of the following persons : Capt. Abel Kingman, Capt. Howard Cary, Maj. Caleb Howard, Jeremiah Beal, Jesse Perkins, Gideon Howard, Esq., Perez Southworth, Silas Packard, Daniel Packard. This committee report " that it wa.s necessary to make new the wast bords and water table from the north east corner of the meeting hous, and on the South side, to the South side of the Porch door, that as many of the sashes as are defective should be made new, and such repairs on the doors as shall be found necessary; that the bell fraim, banisters, &c., be made new, and all the trimmings together with the spire be painted, that the body of the house together with the rouff be painted." A committee of five were appointed to select a color for painting, who reported " white, one shade on the yallow." Moses Cary, Jonathan Beals, and John Wales were chosen a committee to carry the above repairs into execution. Aug. 30, 1805, " Voted to Polish the Vain."

Dec. 5, 1816. We again find a vote respecting the seating of the colored people, as follows : Voted " that the People of color may occupy the two Back seats in the west gallery of our meeting house & no other seats, or that they may have ground for one pew in the northwest corner of the Gallery, and ground for another pew in the North East corner of the Gallery as they Choose, and that the Parish clerk serve the people of color with a copy of this vote."

In 1818 the subject of warming the meeting-liouse came up in the following manner: Some of the churches in the neighboring towns having fouud it a luxury to have the house of God warmed and made comfortable, thought it would not be too much of a sin to enjoy the same comfort. The idea at first met with .serious opposition ; for the first article in a warrant concerning the purchasing of a cast-iron stove was negatived, which move was made Dec. 10, 1818, as follows : " Voted to have the article of getting a stove inserted in a warrant for the next spring meeting," and in the following spring, March 25, 1819, " voted the stove or stoves to a committee of five," consisting of Col. Caleb Howard, Daniel Howard, Esq., Abel Kingman, Esq., Capt. Zachariah Gurney, Eliphalet

KiDgmaD. Dec. 13, 1819. This committee reported it " iuexpedient to p;et a Stove." March 7, 1S22. " Voted the South part of the East Gallery for the use of the youu<^ womeu." Previous to Februaiy, 1823, this Parish had beeu known by the name of the " North Parish iu Bridj;e\vater." Dec. 22, 1S22, The pari.sh " voted to take measures to alter the name of the North Parish of Bridpewater. aud that it be called the ' First Parish iu North liridgewater ;' also voted that the Parish take measures to petition the Legislature to carry tiie above into eS'ect." Caleb Howard, Esq., Perez Crocker, and Perez Southworth Were appointed to petition the Legislature in behalf of said parish ; so that from that time forward it was known as the " First Parish iu North Bridgwater." Li the early part of 1824 the bell of this parish was found broken, aud Abel Kingman, Esq., Caleb Howard, Esq., and Rev. Daniel Huntington were chosen a committee to purchase a new one, JMarch 2, 1824, with discretionary power to " gitt a Bell of the wate of from 10 to 12 cwt." A bell was purchased of George H. Holbrook, of West Medway, Ma.ss., April 17, 1824, which was warranted for one year with fair common usage, and weighing twelve hundred and forty-two pounds, at an expense of $465.75. An article was inserted in a warrant for parish meeting, March 2, 1824, "To see if the Parish will agree to make any alteration in the form or shape of the Meeting House, either inside or out, or to make any repairs to either." This was the first movement toward rebuilding or repairing the old house. At this meeting it wa.s voted to make some alteration, providing that they can agree witli the pew-holders on reasonable terms. For this purpose a committee was chosen to see upon what terms the pew-holders would consent to " give up thare pews." This committee consisted of Howard Gary, Silas Packard, Capt. David Ames, Nathaniel Littlefield, Bela Keith, Eliphalet Kingman, Capt. John Packard, Capt. Asa Jones, Col. E. Southworth, Israel Packard, Capt. Jeremiah Beals, who were to report at the next meeting, which report was as follows : " 25 were willing to have their pews appraised, 24 willing to sell, 13 willing to exchange their old for new ones." " Voted not to accept of the committee's report," and also " Voted they wouldn't make any alteration iu the Meeting-House." Feb. 25, 1S25. " Voted to dismiss the article concerning alteration of the Meeting House." Sept. 4, 1820, the subject was again brought before the parish, '- To see if the Parish will agree to alter, repair, or rebuild their Meeting-House." Third Meeting-House. - A committee of fil'teen were chosen to take the subject into consideration, who reported in favor of building a new house. Oct. 23, 182(j. Voted to choose a committee of five out of town to appraise the pews in said meeting-house. Col. Royal Turner, of Randolph ; Ezra Forbes, of Bridgowater ; Wade Daley, of Easton, John Belcher, Micah Nash, of Abington, were appointed said committee, who proceeded to their duty Nov. 7, 182(), and appraised the whole, amounting to two thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. Feb. Ifi, 1827. Chose a committee of eleven to nominate three as building committee, au J six iis advising. Abel Kingman, Lieut. Isaac Packard, aud Benjamin Kingman were appointed as the building committee, and the two first named rcsiLiiiing, B. Kingman was chosen as agent to build the house, aud Belah Keith, Esq., Asa Jones, Daniel II. Gary, Col. Isaac Littlefield, Lieut. Ephraim Cole, and John Tilden, Jr., were chosen as advising committee. A committee of. five were appointed to locate the house, consisting of the following persons: Slla.s Packard, Jesse Perkins, Esq., Col. Edward Southworth, Col. Cyrus Porter, Abel Kingman, lisq , who reported in favor of setting the house its width south, and half its length west. Report accepted Jlarch 16, 1S27.

The old house was taken down in -Vpril of this year. On the first day of the week in which this was to be done, and the ground cleared for another house, a sermon was delivered by Rev. D. Huntington, the pastor of the church, from Zachariah xii. U : And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again iu her own place, even in Jerusalem." Aud as many of the society could not go abroad to worship while the new house was in process of building, it was thought best to provide temporary accommodations. For this purpo.-c an addition was made to the sheds at the southwest corner of the green, in which seats were provided I'ur the congregation, and to which the pulpit of the old house was removed. And the author has often been told that in that humble place there were many precious hours spent, and some of the most interesting seasons of religious exercise enjoyed there that ever they experienced. The new house of worship was completed iu November, so that the sheds were occupied by them during the interval of time between those dates. The house was dedicated Nov. 27, 1827, with highly appropriate aud iuteresting exercises.

Nov. 15, 1827. At a meeting of the parish the following persons were chosen a commitiee of arrangements for the dedication of the new hou.se, namely, Benjamin Kingman, Capt. David Ames, Col. Nathan Jones, Col. Isaac Littlefield, Lieut. Ephraim Cole ; also Silas Packard and Benjamin Kingman were appointed and authorized to convey the pews to those that purchased. Voted that the sale of pews take young woiuen. And again the subject of seating the colored people comes up, and it was " Voted that the South west and North west pews be reserved for the people of Colour." Jan. 14, 1828. At a meeting held this day, " To see if the parish will vote to procure a timepiece,'' it was " voted to defer the subject of getting a timepiece to a future meeting." January 2Sth, the same subject was brought Itefore the parish for action, when it was " voted not to do any thing re.specting getting a timepiece."

-' The total cost of the new house, including the furniture, as furnished at the expense of the parish, was seven thousand five hundred and nine dollars and seventeen cents. The old house sold for four hundred and three dollars and thirty-seven cents, which, deducted from the cost of the new building, leaves the nett cost seven thousaud and nincty-tive dollars and eighty cents."