Plymouth Town (part 1 of 54)

Preface

More than twenty years ago I wrote a short account of the origin and first settlement of Bridgewater, which was published in the 7th vol. 2d series of the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society. In course of the requisite enquiries and researches it came in my way to acquire some distinct knowledge of the names and families of the original proprietors and early residents. To the stock of information thus obtained I subsequently, from time to time, as opportunity presented, made considerable accessions till my manuscripts became numerous and somewhat particular. This becoming generally known to my friends in the town and vicinity, applications were frequently made to me for information as to the genealogy of particular families ; and at length desires were strongly expressed that what I had collected in this way should be published. These solicitations have been repeated and multiplied for several years past, and have sometimes been met on my part with partial promises of compliance. Many causes have concurred to delay a final determination, and it is not without much hesitation, and some reluctance, that I have come at last to the conclusion to publish.

While many seem to care but little, and think less, about their own descent, or from whom they are sprung : there is, nevertheless, in most of us a strong desire to know something of those who have preceded us on the same stage, and of the manner in which they have performed their respective parts. There is also an increasing attention to the biography of our fathers and the first planters of New England. Each one finds a pleasure in knowing something of his own particular ancestor, who first left the old world and set his foot on the new ; and in being able to trace accurately his own descent from him. But the elements of such knowledge are fast fading away, and the difficulties of acquiring it, already great, are constantly increasing.

The principal purpose of the present publication is to afford the inhabitants of Bridgewater, and those who were born or early resided there, wherever they may now live, some knowledge of those from whom they are descended, and if possible to enable them to see every link of the chain connecting them with their first American ancestor. There are but few instances where it has been practicable to go beyond our own shores in search of European ancestry ; and in many cases it has been difficult, and often impossible, to ascertain the first ancestor even in our own country. This has been the case especially where new families in later times came into the town from other distant places. And where any individual, with or without his family, has removed from the town, it has not generally been attempted to trace the descent any further. It would be not only difficult, but liable to much error. It must be observed also, that as most of this work was prepared many years ago, the descent is not generally brought down much Avithin the present century, and that therefore the younger families born since, and most of the numerous families, who have come into town within the last twenty or thirty years, will not appear at all in the account here presented. It would have swelled the book, already large, to an unwieldy size. Having brought it down within the knowledge and memories of the present generation, they can continue it, each one for himself, if disposed. In giving dates, months and days are generally omitted, but can be supplied when necessary by a recurrence to the records. The insertion of them would have occupied much room without any adequate advantage.

Great as has been the labor of research and the care in compiling this publication,there will still appear in it great deficiencies. No notice will be found of many individual members, and even whole branches of many of the families. Some parents neglected altogether to have their children recorded. Others had it done partially, their younger children not being found on the record. These defects were to be supplied only, if at all, by resorting to other sources, many of which were not always to be relied on, and family traditions and recollections least of any.

All, who have been most conversant with investigations of this kind, have had frequent opportunity to test the truth of this last remark. These defects are much to be regretted as they often occasion an apparent breach in the line of descent.

The first part of this work contains a short history of the original purchases, locations, and early settlement of the town, embracing much of the former account, with such additions as were thought to be generally interesting. There is a great similarity in the general history and internal management of public affairs, in all our New England towns, the recital of which therefore, to most readers, would be but dull repetitions, and uninteresting details. Very little of this nature is here inserted ; and individual biography also, always a delicate subject, and often leading to invidious distinctions, has been for the most part avoided. Facts have been principally regarded, and the most sedulously sought, both in the historical and genealogical department of the work.

The plan here adopted in presenting the genealogy of families may be objectionable ; but after a full examination of all the methods, which have fallen under my notice, and after much consideration of the subject, this appeared the most simple and easy of comprehension. Every head of a family is numbered, the common ancestor being number one, expressed or understood, and after disposing of the daughters by showing who they married or otherwise, and such of the sons as had no families, or removed from town, then the first son who had a family is taken and numbered two, and then the next son, numbered three, and so on, proceeding with the family of each, as with that of the father ; and this course is pursued through each generation. It will not therefore be expected always to find the son next in place immediately after the father, but he must be looked for often several numbers further on, and sometimes at a considerable distance. So in tracing back a descent the inner numbers within the parenthesis will direct where the father may be found, and being found the parenthesis there will direct where the grandfather will be found, and so on quite back to the common ancestor. A little use will render it familiar, and it is believed to be the simplest method, on the whole, which could have been adopted, especially in such numerous and extended familes as sometimes occur. It will often be found that some of the children named are not afterwards noticed, which happens in cases only where no knowledge of them could he obtained. Female ancestors, if inhabitants of the town, will be ascertained generally by a recurrence to the respective families to which they belong.

Much labor and care have been bestowed to render the work correct, but after all it cannot be but many mistakes have been made. The genealogy in particular is peculiarly liable to them. In large families there are often the same christian names to be found in the different branches, and one may be often mistaken for another, and in this way, among others, no doubt much confusion may have happened. Probable as it is, however, that many errors will be detected, it is still hoped those partial friends who have been most solicitous for its publication, and who anticipate both pleasure and profit from its perusal, may not be wholly disappointed. Having labored for their gratification, it will be gratifying in turn to find the labor has not been in vain.

In preparing the work the records of the town of Bridgewater, and of its several parishes and churches, have been the first and principal sources, whence the materials have been derived. The old Colony and Plymouth county records have furnished also valuable information. Judge Davis' improved edition of Morton's, New England Memorial, Farmer's Register, the Collections of the Mass. Hist. Society, and various local histories have also been advantageously consulted. But so many and so various have been the sources, both public and private, from which information and facts have been obtained, that it would be difficult, if recollected, to enumerate them. The loss of all the early records of Duxbury previous to 1G54, which are said to have been burnt, is greatly to be regretted, as it was the parent town of Bridgewater, the first home and residence in this country of most of our fathers and original settlers in this then Plantation. It may well be supposed those records would have furnished us with much valuable information. The Colony records of births and deaths previous to 1CI7 are also lost, some of the first leaves by time or accident having been destroyed, which to the antiquarian is a deprivation much to be deplored.

There was formerly among- all nations, as well christian as pagan, a great diversity not only with regard to the commencement of the year, some adopting the autumnal and some the vernal equinox, some the winter and some the summer solstice, and others other periods of the year ; but also as to the epochs of the different eras, as the creation of the world, the deluge, the call of Abraham, and the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt, in sacred chronology, and the destruction of Troy, the building of Rome and other events, adopted among the ancient and eastern nations. There seemed to be no specific common standard.

When the computation of time by the Christian era com* menccd, which was about the year 527, the year was made to commence on the 25th of March, supposed to be the day of the Annunciation of the Incarnation of Christ. This, known now by the name of the Old Style, continued in England and throughout all her dominions till 1752, when by an Act of Parliament eleven days were stricken from the month of September, calling the 3d the 14th, and one day added to February every 4th year, herein conforming to other nations, several of whom on the continent had about 1582 adopted this computation, for the purpose of correcting the error occasioned by the precession of the equinoxes ; and by the same act the 1st day of January instead of the 25th of March was also established as the commencement of the year. In the interim, between the time of its adoption by other nations and 1752, when England adopted it, double dating from January 1st to March 25th was frequently practised in England and her Colonies in order to correspond with the computation on the continent. Thus, for instance, February 8th 1720-21, or 1720-1 was substituted for simply February 8, 1721, the last number being the true date, and if omitted might occa.- sion an error of a year. This has been called the Gregorian year (Pope Gregory 13th having established it in 1582), or New Style, and is very necessary to be known and observed by all when consulting ancient dates and records. In this work ancient dates are generally made to conform to the New Style, double dating being rejected. NAHUM MITCHELL.

Page 93. James Alger (s. of Thomas 12.) m. Olive, D. of Joseph Snell, 1781, and not Mehitabel Briggs of Norton : this last was copied by mistake from Thomas 12, page 92.

Page 114. JosephBeal 1752, finally removed to Plainfield, where he was Deacon, and the subject of the " Mountain Miller"; and Azariah was son of Jonathan 5, and not (of Samuel 1.).

Page 161, No. 12. The title of Judge prefixed to Abner Fobes should be General in both instances ; and Edward of Buckland had William, Sarah, and Abner who gra. Williams College 1S20, and is preceptor of the Smith School in Boston, and writes his name Forbes. Also under No. 19, for Phrez read Perez.

Page 162. Susanna, D. of Eliab Fobes, m. a King, partner of Thomas Fobes in Boston, and afterwards a Lamphear, who afterwards m. Lucinda, D. of David Ames of Springfield ; and Hannah m. a Tucker. Susanna who m. a Hooper, and Hannah who m. a Macomber, belonged to some other family probably.

The reader is informed that besides the abbreviations noticed at the head of the Register, the initials only of the neighboring and adjoining towns are often used ; as A. for Abington, C. fo/ Canton, E. for Easton, H. for Halifax, M. for Middleborough, P. for Pembroke, R. for Raynham, S. or St. for Stoughton, T. for Taunton, &c.

Original Grants, Additions, And Boundaries

Bridgewater was originally a plantation granted to Duxbury. When the township of Marshfield became a separate and distinct corporation, Duxbury, from which Marshfield had been principally taken, applied to the Old Colony court, at Plymouth, for a grant of common land, or, as they expressed it, " an extension to the westward," as a compensation for the great loss of territory they had thus sustained. We find in the records the following order of court relating to it : -

" March, 1642. It is concluded upon by the court, that the northerly bounds of Marshfield shall be, from the rock that is flat on the top, to the North River, by a north-west line from Green's Harbor Fresh, to the tree called Poole's, and to take in Edward Bonpass' land; provided that Duxbury have enlargement beyond Massachusetts' path, when they have viewed it."

thought good by the court, that there be a view taken of the lands described by them, namely, twelve miles up into the woods from Plymouth bounds at Jones' River ; and if it prove not prejudicial to the plantation to be erected at Teightaquid, (Titicut,) nor to the meadows of Plymouth at Winnytuckquett, (Winnetuxet,) it may be confirmed unto them; provided, also, the herring or alewife river at Namassachusett shall be equally between the two towns of Duxbury and Marshfield."

" 1645. The inhabitants of the town of Duxbury are granted a competent proportion of lands about Saughtuchquett, (Satucket,) towards the west, for a plantation for them, and to have it four miles every way from the place where they shall set up their centre ; provided it intrench not upon Winnytuckquett, formerly granted to Plymouth. And we have nominated Capt. Miles Standish, Mr. John Alden, George Soule, Constant Southworth, John Rogers, and William Brett, to be feofees in trust for the equal dividing and laying forth the said lands to the inhabitants."

How the town proceeded in dividing these lands among the inhabitants, or how, by whom, or when it was determined what residence or other circumstance should entitle any one to a share, no record informs us ; we are only told in subsequent writings, and particularly in Gov. Hinckley's confirmation, that the inhabitants settled this matter " by an agreement among themselves." They were at first but fifty-four, each of whom had one share, and were denominated original proprietors. Their names are thus given on the town records : - William Bradford, Edward Hall,

To these fifty-four shares the proprietors afterwards added two more, and granted one to the Rev. James Keith, of Scotland, their first minister, and the other to Deacon Samuel Edson, of Salem, who erected the first mill in the town, making in all fifty -six shares. The grant of this plantation was considered by the court as preemptive merely, and as little more than an authority or right to purchase it of the natives : and accordingly Capt. Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth, were appointed to make the purchase, which service they performed as will appear by the following deed.

"Witness these presents, that I Ousamequin, Sachem of the country of Poconocket, have given, granted, enfeofed, and sold unto Miles Standish of Duxbury, Samuel Nash and Constant Southworth of Duxbury aforesaid, in behalf of all the townsmen of Duxbury aforesaid, a tract of land usually called Satucket, extending in the length and breadth thereof as followeth, that is to say, from the wear at Satucket seven miles due east, and from the said wear seven miles due west, and from the said wear seven miles due north, and from the said wear seven miles due south ; the which tract the said Ousamequin hath given, granted, enfeofed, and sold unto the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth in the behalf of all the townsmen of Duxbury as aforesaid, with all the immunities, privileges, and profits whatsoever belonging to the said tract of land, with all and singular all woods, underwoods, lands, meadows, rivers, brooks, rivulets, &c, to have and to hold to the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth in behalf of all the townsmen of the town of Duxbury, to them and their heirs forever. In witness whereof I the said Ousamequin have hereunto set my hand this 23d of March, 1649. John Bradford, ) Witness the

In consideration of the aforesaid bargain and sale, we the said Miles Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth do bind ourselves to pay unto the said Ousamequin for and in consideration of the said tract of land as followeth : -

It appears the worthy old Sachem, when called on to execute his deed, endeavored to verify the testification he had offered, by affixing his mark or signature to the instrument as near as he could in the rude form and shape of his hand.- The grantor, Ousamequin, or Ossamequin, sometimes also written Woosemequin, was the good old Massasoit himself, who in the latter part of his life had adopted that name. It was no uncommon occurrence for these Chiefs or Sachems to assume new names, which were probably appropriate and expressive of the principal exploits or events, which had occasioned the change.

This purchase and contract were said to have been made and executed on a small rocky hill, anciently called Sachem's Rock, a little south of Whitman's Mills, where the East Bridgewater manufacturing establishment now is, and near the house where

Early Settlement Of Bridgewater

Seth Latham formerly lived, now owned and occupied by David Kingman. The Indian name of the place was Wonnocooto. The wear, which was made the central point of the purchase, was some distance above the present mills, directly back of the late Deacon William Harris' house on the south side, and of the late Deacon Barzillai Allen's house, on the north side of the river, near the ancient fording place and where the first mill on the river was erected. Traces of the old road are still visible on both sides of the river, and particularly on the south side. The mill was subsequently taken down, and a new one erected further down stream, near where the works now stand. The old wear was entirely overflowed by the iicav mill pond, and of course discontinued as a fishing place.

This river, and the pond from which it proceeds, now called Robins' Pond, as well as the whole neighborhood in which they are situated, still retain the name of Satucket, a contraction of Saughtuckquett, Saughquatuckquett, or Massaquatuckquett, as it was sometimes written. While the grant from the court was only four miles every way from the wear, equal to eight miles square, this purchase from the Indians was seven miles every way, equal to fourteen miles square. The reason of this difference is not very obvious, but probably the purchase was made thus extensive, with a view to additional contemplated grants, or perhaps to give themselves room to locate their four miles every way more advantageously, as they had the express privilege of setting up their centre, wherever they should deem it most conducive to their interest. For some reasons, however, now inexplicable, they neglected to fix and establish their centre, notwithstanding the frequent and pressing admonitions of the court. In 1656, eleven years after the grant of the plantation, and the same year in which Bridgewater was incorporated into a distinct township, a grant of three hundred acres had been made to Capt. Miles Standish, "with a competency of meadow to such a proportion of upland, lying and being at Satucket Pond ; provided it came not within the court's grant of Bridgewater." Hence it became necessary that the centre of Bridgewater should be fixed, in order to ascertain its limits and extent. It was with this view, and for the purpose of running out and locating Capt. Standish's grant, that the court had so urgentlycalled on Bridgewater to fix and " set up" their centre. In the spring of 1658 the court ordered, "that the centre of the town of Bridgewater should be set sometime this summer before October court." Still it was not done. Again in 1660, Mr. (AVilliam) Bradford, Constant Southworth and William Paybody were " requested and appointed by court to lay out the land granted to Capt. Standish, at Satucket Pond ;" and at the same time ."Mr. Josiah Standish was appointed by the court to join with any two, whom the town of Bridgewater should appoint, to set out the bounds of their town, betwixt that time and the last of July then next on the penalty of fifty shillings, which, if forfeited, should be paid to those appointed to lay out Capt. Standish's land, who were ordered to lay out their line." It seems, however, the town still neglected it, as we find no record of any committee appointed for the purpose, nor any other movement or agency of the town concerning it. The only record relating to the subject appears altogether historical, without date, and quite out of place in the book where it is inserted. It is as follows : -

" The town, receiving an order from the court at New Plymouth to fix and set up the centre of their town in order to the laying out of Mr. Alexander Standish's land, joining to the outside of said Bridgewater four mile line from the said centre ; which being, according to said order, done about the year 1659 ; the centre being a small white oak tree of low stature about a foot over, standing on high ground, on the westerly side of a stony swamp and brook, about ten rods to the westerly side of said brook on the southerly side of the highway ; the said .tree being marked on the easterly side with an S, and on the westerly side with a C, it being a mile and a quarter to the eastward of said Bridgewater meeting house." This entry, without date, by the place it occupies in the records, and the dates of entries immediately before and after it, appears not to have been made before 1695, thirty years or more after the work was performed ; and it is moreover incorrect as to the year in which it was done, as the court's committee was not appointed till 1660, and Standish's land was not laid out till 1663. It is very evident also that the court's committee at last, and not the town, fixed the centre, as the monumental tree bore the initials of Constant Southworth, (C. S.,) who no doubt was the efficient member of the court's committee in performing the work. Capt. Miles Standish had in the mean time deceased, and the land was laid out to his son Alexander. It cannot be doubted that Bridgewater was assenting to, if not aiding in this result, as there is neither record or tradition that any dissatisfaction was ever manifested by them. This centre is about a mile and a half west of the old wear at Satucket, and the place has ever since been called the Centre, and is near the house of Thomas Hayward, now aged eightysix, whose father Thomas, and grandfather Thomas lived on the same spot, which will probably also descend to his son Thomas now living with him. They have successively owned and occupied it from its first settlement ; about 140 years.

In 1658 the town petitioned the court for a grant of a large and valuable tract of sAvamp and meadow lands, called by the Indians Hockomock, lying on the west side of the town towards Taunton, (now Easton and Raynham,) as appears, as well as the reasons assigned for it, in the following order of court : -

"It is agreed by the court that there shall be chosen such as the town of Bridgewater shall think meet, that are no ways engaged in the new plantation of Duxbury, to view out the land and meadow desired by Bridgewater, and to consider of the reasonableness of their desire, in reference to the accommodating of some useful men in church and commonwealth, and make true report of the same to the court." - The. same was afterwards granted, and confirmed to them as follows : -

" 1662. " In answer to a petition preferred to the court by Bridgewater it is agreed, that the meadow land lying northward and westward from the Centre within the seven miles is granted them."

The centre here, as well as the seven miles, refers no doubt to the original purchase of the Indians, the new centre tree not having been then fixed and established. This will appear from the deposition of Constant Southworth and Samuel Nash, two of the purchasers, which had been taken about this time in consequence of some doubts entertained by the court probably,

" The town (Duxbury) appointed me with others to purchase of Ossamequin a tract of land about a place known to our town by the name of Satucket, which we did from the centre six miles, which centre is the wear in the river above expressed, and we paid him for it ; the writing or deed expressed, under Ossamequin's own hand, was seven miles. - The oath of Constant Southworth, Lieut. Nash being also deposing to the same ; in court held at Plymouth, June 10th, 1002."

A few years afterwards, July 5, 1007, the town made application to the court for a more general and extensive grant, whereupon " Capt. Bradford, (William) and the Treasurer, (Constant Southworth) were appointed to view the land desired by Bridgewater in reference to their enlargement according to their petition." The following grant was accordingly made : -

" An additional grant made by the court of New Plymouth to the town of Bridgewater, AD., 1088. In reference to a former grant upon a petition presented to the court by Bridgewater, desiring their enlargement may extend to where the six miles extends that they purchased of the Indians by order from the court ; the court having granted unto the township of Bridgewater that they shall have six miles from the centre on the north side, if the line of the Colony hindereth not, and on the west side up to Taunton bounds, (now Raynham and Easton,) and on the south and south-easterly sides unto Titicut River, as far as the six miles extends ; and so likewise on the east side ; that is to say, the whole six miles from the centre east, west, north and south ; always provided that grants of lands formerly made by the court be not molested. It is also ordered, that as to those lands that are between Bridgewater and Namasket, (Middleborough,) already granted, it shall be determined by the court unto what town they shall belong ; and that the Indians be not molested, notwithstanding this enlargement ; and that all these grants that arc within the six miles shall belong to the township of Bridgewater ; and that the said town of Bridgewater be careful to accommodate Mr. Keith, (their minister,) with a competency of land within the said grant of six miles."

This has been commonly called the "two miles additional grant," and the first one, the " old four mile grant." It would seem by this grant, as well as by Constant Southworth's deposition, as if it were understood by the court, that the original purchase of the Indians had been only six miles each way, and not seven as the fact was. This, hoAvever, was so expressed in conformity with the new centre, which had been established' a mile or more farther west, leaving them not more than six miles on the west side, and on the east six miles would extend to, and even beyond the Major's purchase, so called, of which the great cedar swamp in Hanson constitutes a principal part, and which, being an earlier grant, was the utmost limit of their purchase on that side of the town. By this additional grant, therefore, they obtained their two miles on the north towards the Massachusetts Colony line, and a part on the south, but little, if any, on the east and west. On the south, the six miles would extend into the Indian settlement at Titicut, which the court reserved in all their subsequent adjacent grants. This reserve had been early made to the Titicut Indians, extending three miles on each side of the river. In the former account of Bridgewater, it is stated that the Indian plantation of Titicut was granted by Chickatabut, a Sachem of Massachusetts living at Neponsit. This is probably incorrect, as he died in 1633, of the small pox ; and Titicut, as we have already seen, was not established till after 1644, when it was spoken of as "being about to be erected." If granted at all, therefore, it must have been done by his son Josias Chickatabut or Wampatuck, who lived at Mattakeset, or Pembroke, and who went to the Mohawk country after 1666, and there died, and whose son Josiah gave a deed of confirmation of the Titicut purchase to Bridgewater in 1686, who had a son Jeremy, whose son, Charles Josiah, was the last of the race. If it was ever granted, or was anything more than a reserve, the limits were probably not very accurately defined ; as the court in their grants round about it required the grantees not to encroach or locate their lands "too near to Titicut," or to " molest the Indians." There seems to have been some uncertainty as to the precise limits of the respective jurisdictions of Massasoit and Chickatabut. We find on record the deposition of five Indians taken before Increase Nowell, John Eliot, and John Hoare in 1G50, as follows : - "We do all affirm, that Chickatabut's bounds did extend from Nishamagoguanett, near Duxbury mill, to Titicut, near Taunton, and to Nunckatateset, (a pond in Bridgewater,) and from thence in a straight line to Wanamampuke, (Whiting's Pond in Wrentham,) which is the head of Charles River, this they do all solemnly affirm." Notwithstanding this, Massasoit as we have seen, sold and conveyed the whole of the eight mile square, containing the principal part of Bridgewater, and a part of Abington and Pembroke, all within the above limits, to Duxbury ; which corroborates a remark of Prince in his chronology, that "these Massachusetts Sachems were not completely independent, but acknowledged a degree of subjection to Massasoit." This Indian testimony favors the plea of Massachusetts, in the case pending between us and Rhode Island with regard to the line of jurisdiction, in which the great Wrentham Pond is claimed to be the southernmost part of Charles River, which claim is contested by Rhode Island. All the land on the north side of Titicut River was within the six miles, and Bridgewater were allowed afterwards to purchase it, and Nicholas Byram, Samuel Edson, and William Brett were appointed by the court for that purpose ; and the deed they procured is as follows : -

" This deed, made November 20th, AD. 1672, witnesseth, that I, Pomponoho, alias Peter, an Indian, living at Titicut, in the colony of New Plymouth, in New England, have sold for the full sum of sixteen pounds, viz., six pounds of current money of New England, and ten pounds in good merchantable corn, as by bill appeareth, all the lands lying on the north side of Titicut River within the bounds of Bridgewater, what lands were mine, or were either my father's or grandfather's, or any otherwise conferred on me, excepting those lands expressed as follows, viz : - one hundred acres of land lying up the river to the eastward of small brook, given to an Indian called Charles, my brother-in-law, and a certain parcel of land lying against the wear, and bounded by the landing place, running to the head of my field, containing about ten acres at the utmost, I gay, I, the abovesaid Pomponoho, alias Peter, have bargained, sold, and by these presents do bargain, and sell for myself, my heirs and assigns forever, unto Nicholas Byram, sen., Samuel Edson, sen., and William Brett, sen., in and for the use of the townsmen of Bridgewater, joint purchasers .with them, which persons above mentioned were ordered by the court to make purchase of those lands, as by court record appears, I say I have sold all these lands, with every part thereof, and all the immunities and privileges belonging thereunto to them, their heirs and assigns forever, the same quietly and peaceably to possess, without the lawful let, interruption, or molestation of me, the abovesaid Pomponoho, alias Peter, or other persons whatsoever lawfully claiming by, from, or under me, them, or any of them. In witness whereof I have here set to my hand and seal. his

The two reserved lots, in the above grant, were afterwards purchased by individuals in the town. Thus all the lands within the most extensive limits of the town appear to have been justly and fairly purchased of the Indians ; and we have the above named Governor Winslow's attestation on record, that this was the case in all the towns in the Old Colony of Plymouth.

In the year 1685, the court of assistants were empowered to examine, allow, and confirm from time to time all claims and titles to land formerly granted either to towns or individuals by the general court, and, when allowed, they were to " pass the seal of the Government for confirmation." In pursuance of this order, all the grants made to Bridgewater as above stated and described, were confirmed by the following deed under the hand of Governor Hinckley, and the seal of the Government.

History Of The

Esq., Governor of his Majesty's Colony of New Plymouth, in New England, sendeth greeting. - Whereas, at his Majesty's general court held at Plymouth the 4th of June 1685, it was ordered and enacted, that the court of assistants be from time to time 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 persons ; which being allowed by the said committee, shall pass the seal of the Government for further confirmation thereof; and forasmuch as it hath been made to appear to the said court of assistants now sitting at Plymouth, the first Tuesday in March, 1685-6, that a certain tract of land was granted by William Bradford, Esq., and his associates assembled in court in the year of our Lord 1645, unto .the inhabitants of the town of Duxbury, (a competent proportion of lands,) about a place called by the Indians Massaquatucket, for a plantation for them the inhabitants of Duxbury, and that they shall have it four miles every way from the centre ; the inhabitants of Duxbury being fifty-six in number, by agreement among themselves, every one were to have equal shares, who, by the approbation and appointment of his Majesty's honored court in New Plymouth 1645, did employ Mr. Constant Southworth, with some others, to purchase the above mentioned tract of land of Ossamequin, chief Sachem of the Poconocket country, which being done, and now inhabited by many of the proprietors, is now called Bridgewater, and all such privileges allowed to them as the court allows or grants to other townships ; and having set up their centre, his Majesty's court held at Plymouth 1668, did grant to Bridgewater six miles from the centre on all four sides, where former grants made by the court hindereth not, as appears in court records, and is bounded out by the agents of each respective town adjoining, as appears by their hands to their agreement, and assented to and acknowledged before the Governor and his associates, sitting in his Majesty's court held at Plymouth, the 2d of March 1685-6, the bounds of the whole township being settled between them and other towns adjoining, are as followeth : - The bounds betwixt Bridgewater and Taunton being a heap of stones lying four miles west from the centre, and running north from station to station, till it meet with the line of the colonies ; and from said heap of stones south, to a heap of stones lying to the west of Unketest Pond, and from thence south-east unto a great white oak being marked with a T for Taunton, and on the north side with a B for Bridgewater ; and so from station to station till it come to the great river on the westward side of a spot of meadow, according to the agreement of the agents of both towns. And the bounds between Middleborough and Bridgewater is the great river, until it come to the north side of Mr. Standish's land, lying on the mouth of AVinnetuxit river, and so from the north side of said Standish's land until it meet with the eastermost line of Bridgewater, being a heap of stones four miles from the centre, which is the bounds between them and the Major's purchase, running from said heap of stones south and by west half a point westerly, until it meet Avith said Standish's land, &c, and from the aforesaid heap of stones running north northeast from station to station to four white oaks, the easternmost marked on all four sides, and so from station to station until it meet with the north line. The north bounds being six miles from the centre, to a company of small trees marked, being to the northward of a great rock, and from the aforesaid marked trees running east until it meet with the abovesaid north-east line, and from the aforementioned marked trees running west till it meet with the line of the colonies, and with the line of the colonies till it meet with the westerly line and Taunton (now Easton) bounds. All which lands, both upland and meadow, swamps, cedar swamps, ponds, rivers, brooks, springs, wood, underwood, and all herbage, feedings, minerals, Avith all rights, liberties, privileges, and appurtenances thereto belonging, unto the appropriated inhabitants and other proprietors, though not inhabitants of the said toAvn of BridgeAvater, according to each person's several and respective title or interest therein, excepting tAvo-fifth parts of the royal mine, one fifth part to his royal Majesty, and the other fifth part to the President and Council. To have and to hold unto the said town and proprietors respectively, to their and every of their heirs and assigns forever, according to the tenor of our charter or letters patent granted by the honorable council at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, for the planting, ordering, and governing of New England, derivatory from his Majesty King James the first of happy memory ; and in testimony hereof, doth allow the public seal of the Government to be affixed thereunto for the further confirmation thereof. THOMAS HINCKLEY, Governor. «- Attest Nathaniel Clark, Secretary.

" To all christian people to whom these presents shall come, Josiah Wampatuck sendeth, greeting. - Know ye, that I Josiah aforesaid, for and in consideration of ten pounds in money to me in hand paid, and one hundred acres of land lying on the upper end of Poor Meadow, on the lower side of a foot path that goeth to Scituate, lying on both sides of the river, doth confirm, establish, and ratify unto Samuel Edson, sen., Ensign John Haward, and John Willis, sen., in behalf of the purchasers and town of Bridgewater in New Plymouth Colony in New England, and to their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns forever, all that whole tract of land lying northward of the south four mile line of Bridgewater, which Ossamequin, Sachem of the Poconocket country, by the consent and approbation of his Majesty's general court held at Plymouth, in New England, in the year 1645, sold to the inhabitants of Duxbury, as appears by deed under Ossamequin's hand to Capt. Miles Standish, Mr. Constant Southworth, and Samuel Nash, as agents for the town of Duxbury. I, the abovesaid Josiah do ratify and confirm the above said sale of Ossamequin's, and bargain of lands belonging to Bridgewater, as uplands, swamps, meadows, brooks, rivers, ponds, timber, underwood, herbage, mines, with all commodities, benefits, privileges, immunities and appurtenances whatever therein contained. I the abovesaid Josiah also do ratify, establish, and confirm, and forever make over all my right, title, and interest in the above mentioned land from me, my heirs, executors and assigns, unto the abovesaid Samuel Edson, John Haward, and John Willis, agents for the town of Bridgewater, their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns forever ; to have and to hold, occupy and enjoy, as their proper right, forever, without any claim, title, interest or molestation to be made by me, my heirs, executors, or assigns, 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, to maintain and defend the above mentioned sale of lands against any other Indian or Indians, that shall make any claim or title to any part or parcel thereof. In witness whereof, I have set to my hand and seal this twenty-third day of December, and in the second year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord King James II, AD. one thousand six hundred and eighty-six.

Pr. Samuel Sprague, Recorder. The one hundred acres mentioned in the above confirmation were afterwards re-purchased by individuals in the town. From this deed it appears the greatest part of the town was twice purchased of the Indians, once of Massasoit, and again of Wampatuck, and a valuable consideration paid each time.

By the boundaries of the town, as described in Governor Hinckley's deed of confirmation, it is evident a gore of land was still left on the north between Bridgewater and the line of the colonies, commencing at the point where the six mile line met the colony line towards the north-west corner of the town, and thence extending easterly to the north-east corner of the town, where the distance to the colony line is considerable. The westerly and narrow end of this gore, 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 October 15th, 1730. These several grants and additions constituted all the territory ever belonging to Bridge water in its greatest extent. The greatest part of Abington, and what is now Hanson, at that period, belonged to Bridgewater, which must then have contained about 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 the Abington petitioners first applied for an act of incorporation, July 4, 170G, 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 the line of the colonies of the Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth, - on the east upon the town of Scituate, - on the south with the line that is the southerly bounds of land of John Cushing, Esq., and of John dishing, Jr., Esq., - thence on the south-westerly side by certain bounds, which the town of Bridgewater have set and prefixed, to Beaver Brook, - and on the west with the said brook, until it comes to the extent of Bridgewater northward : together with a small gore of land lying between the said town of Bridgewater and the said line of the colonies : the town of Bridgewater having signified their consent thereto." By the plain and express language of the statute, the whole gore is included in Abington; but for some reasons now unknown, the " Howard Farms" seem, as the selectmen of Bridgewater in their petition stated, to have been considered as " belonging to no town," till they were annexed to Bridgewater in 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 Middleborough, which was finally settled hy court June 8, 1716, 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 thus 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 Middleborough, Titicut river there constituting the boundary. It is the north-west 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 dimensions 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.

Settlement, Divisions, And Proprietors

Bridgewater was the first interior settlement in the Old Colony. The grant of the "plantation, as we have seen, was made in 1645, but the actual settlement was not commenced till after 1650. Each settler had at first a grant of a house lot of six acres on the town river, then called Nuckatest or Nuncketetest, an Indian name in close affinity with that of the pond from which it flows, now called Nippenicket, formerly written Neapnucket or Neapnuncket. The first lots were taken up in West Bridgewater, and the first houses built, and first improvements made there ; and the settlement was called after the name of the river, Nuncketest, or Nunckety, sometimes Unkety. These Indian names were variously written in the early records and documents. We have seen that in Governor Hinckley's deed of confirmation, the pond itself is called Unketest. The plantation bore the more general appellation of Satucket. These house lots were contiguous, and the settlement compact, with a view to mutual aid when common protection and defence against the Indians should be required, and extended on each side of the river, from where Seth Lothrop lately lived, clown to Johnson's four corners, a little easterly of where Capt. Rider now lives. The proprietors or original purchasers, whose names have already been given were fifty-four in number, and were all inhabitants of Duxbury, excepting William Bradford, about whom there are some doubts. He is supposed to have been the son of the Governor and afterwards Deputy Governor. He lived in Kingston, near the line of Duxbury, and owned land in Duxbury, and, as it is said, attended meeting there. He was about twenty years old when the grant was made, but before the actual settlement of it, he was over twenty-six, and when the town was incorporated was over thirty.. These were probably house holders, or heads of families ; many of them were so certainly, and probably all. Deacon Samuel Edson, from Salem, was an early settler in the new plantation, and built the first mill in the place ; and the Rev. James Keith, from Scotland, was their first minister ; and the proprietors gave to each of them one share, making the whole number of shares fifty-six, as has been before stated. Of these proprietors, not more than one third actually removed and became inhabitants of the new plantation. The rest from time to time conveyed their shares to their sons, or sold them to others, who became residents there. The following original purchasers became permanent settlers, viz : - Thomas Hayward, John Cary,

None of these, except Bassett and Mitchell, were among the Plymouth " Old Comers" or Forefathers, who arrived in the three first ships, viz : - the May Flower, the Fortune, and the Ann ; nor is it ascertained at what time they came over ; but it is certain they were here very early. The names of most of them appear on the colony records soon after 1630. In 1629 thirty-five of the Ley den people, with their families, arrived at Plymouth : and in IG30, sixty more came. Many of the Bridgewater proprietors were doubtless among these.

The plantation was incorporated into a separate and distinct town in June 1656, by the following concise and laconic order of court, agreeably to the usage of those early times : -

" Ordered, that henceforth Duxbury New Plantation be allowed to be a township of itself, distinct from Duxbury, and to be called by the name of Bridgewater ; provided that all public rates be borne by them in equal proportions :" and the same year this proportion was settled by the court, by the following order : - " The court have agreed that for the present year the town of Bridgewater is to bear one part of three with Duxbury, of their proportion of the country rates for the officers' wages and other public charges." And by a tax assessed about that time, it appears that Duxbury accordingly paid £6, 0, 9, and Bridgewater £2, 0, 3. The plantation in some early records had been called Bridgewater before its incorporation. The name was probably adopted from fancy, as many of the names of towns in the vicinity were, none of the settlers here, as we can ascertain, having come from Bridgewater, in England. From this period the town took its place with others in the public records, while its own have also been generally well preserved, which will render its subsequent history more authentic. John Cary was chosen Constable 1656, the first officer ever chosen in town, and the only one in that year, as it was not incorporated in season for the spring elections. In May, 1657, the town officers were John Willis, Deputy ; Lawrence Willis, Grand Juror ; Samuel Tompkins, Constable ; Arthur Harris and John Havvard, Surveyors of highways. The first freemen Avere

These had taken the Freeman's oath probably before the incorporation of the plantation. In 1G57 we find among the freemen of Bridgewater, these additional names, viz : -

These names assist us in ascertaining who were the first settlers in the place. Some of them, as Standish, Lawrence Willis, Godfrey, Bayley, Lathrop, and Snow, were not original proprietors, but most of them came from Duxbury, and had afterwards probably became purchasers. Josiah Standish was the second son of Capt. Miles Standish, and had his father's share perhaps ; he married Sarah, daughter of Samuel Allen, of Braintree, and settled here, but after a few years returned again to Duxbury. Besides these and a few others from Duxbury, as Mitchell, Alden, and Leonard ; there soon came in several families from the adjoining towns in Massachusetts, as Packard, Byram, Allen, Whitman, Shaw, Bacon, Kingman, Conant, Hooper, Hudson, Lazell, Dunbar, Hill, Perkins, Johnson, Leach, and others, as also Field from Providence, Alger from Taunton, Snell from England, Latham from Marshfield, and others from different parts of the country. We have been told that, before the two colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts were united into one Province in 1691, and long after, a distinction was kept up in the town between the old Duxbury settlers and the Massachusetts settlers, each viewing the other, in some measure, asNa separate race or clan. We never learnt, however, that it produced any unkindness or even unsocial habits, feelings of friendship and mutual courtesy having been generally observed and cherished among them.

From the west the settlements extended first into the south part of the town, towards the great pond on the road to Taunton, with which place they held their principal intercourse, where was the nearest corn mill, and whither also they were accustomed to go frequently on foot, with their grists on their backs.

Early Settlement Of Bkidgewater

Their proprietary concerns were managed in town meetings in the same way their other town affairs were conducted, and all the records and votes respecting their lands were entered by the town clerk in the town books. This was owing no doubt to the fact, that every inhabitant was at first a purchaser or proprietor. The -first separate or distinct meeting held by the proprietors, of which we find any account, was July 9, 1672, at which they chose a large committee " to consider the manner to be adopted in future for laying out lands, and to report in October next ;" and the same year application was made to court stating, that " some of the committee formerly appointed for laying out their lands, were dead, and others taken off by other occasions, and praying that they might depute some among themselves for that purpose," and the court " declared their willingness that they might so do, and in case the proprietors shall agree upon any thing respecting their lands, that the clerk of the town shall commit such their conclusions to the records of the town ;" and consequently the clerk of the town was also generally clerk of the proprietors. The town also in 1674 " ordered that a new book for the recording of lands should be procured, and a committee appointed to see that the records were made and transcribed correctly, and on good evidence." Again in June 14, 1695. They " agreed that the town clerk should record, all, that was of general concern to the purchasers, in their new book, namely, the preface, table, list of their names, court grants, several divisions of lands granted to be laid out by them, their general deeds of the Indians, and confirmations from the court, and lists of the names of the proprietors of all their land within their township, and to page said book. Chose also Lieut. Hayward and John Field to have some oversight of the recording of lands for the purchasers and proprietors." Hence it is that the same records sometimes appear on different books, having been transcribed agreeably to the aforesaid orders.

The outermost mile of the " old original four mile grant," that is, one mile in width all round on the outside of the purchase, was laid out in 1683 into four great divisions, one on each side of the town, and the shares in each were drawn by lot, by the original fifty-six proprietors, namely seventeen on the north, fifteen on the east, fourteen on the west, and ten on the south ; and the proprietors in each division were authorised to lay out their lands among themselves in such manner as they saw fit. The following extract with regard to this proceeding are taken from the town records : -

"The purchasers being generally met together upon this 24th of December, 1683, it was then proposed to them the laying out of great divisions of land to every purchaser round the outside of the town in the four miles, or fourth mile from the centre ; and it was to be done by casting of lots for them. After some agitation about it silence was desired, and this proposition was publicly and openly there propounded twice, and after proposal they were desired to declare their assent to it by their usual way of holding up their hands, which was done, and the major part by many, did declare their assent to it. The order of this division of land is, that it should be laid out a mile inward in breadth from the four miles square from the centre, and whatsoever purchaser in Bridgewater having any former lots of land laid out within this fourth mile should not be molested by this great division. Further, the order of this great division is, that there should be ten on the south side of the town, and fourteen on the west, and seventeen on the north, and fifteen on the east side ; and every purchaser was to have his division of land as it fell to him by lot, the lots being drawn. Their names and lots are in order as followreth.

Those, whose lots fell out on the north, were to begin at the west at the line betwixt Taunton (now Easton) and Bridgewater, and to run seven miles east in length, and one mile in breadth from the north line southward.

" And from the extent of this seven miles of those on the north, those on the east are to begin on the north line, and to run a line due south till it meets with Mr. Alexander Standish's land, or Middleborough (now Halifax) bounds. All the lands lying easterly betwixt the above said line so run, and the line that was run by the agents of Bridgewater and Middleborough, (now Halifax,) and the Major's purchase, (now Hanson,) belongeth to these fifteen men whose names and lots as they fell out are in order as followeth : -

"And those fourteen on the west are to begin at the end of the mile in breadth at the north end, and to run along in the line betwixt Taunton, (now Easton and Raynham,) and Bridgewater, till it meet with a cove in the pond that cuts the line betwixt Taunton, (now Raynham,) and Bridgewater ; and are to have a mile in breadth inward from the west fine, as those have upon the north line, except it be against the great meadow.

" And the ten on the south are to begin at Taunton, (now Raynham,) line, and to run east till it meet with the great river for length, and is to be a mile in breadth inward, as it is on the north.

Lawrence Willis, Of these persons, whose names are contained in these four divisions, it appears, that John Washburn at this time owned four lots, and of course, four proprietary shares, Nicholas Byram two, Joseph Wadsworth two, Widow Wadsworth two, and Samuel Packard two ; and all the rest one share each. They were all inhabitants of the town except the Wadsworths, who retained their shares much longer than any of the non-residents, and were the last of the Duxbury proprietors to relinquish them. At this period forty-nine persons owned the entire original grant. The inner three miles were never allotted, but still remained in common, as the whole had done before, to be occasionally laid out as their interest or necessities might require. When any of the common lands were appropriated and allowed to be taken up by individuals, it was done by what they called a division or grant. These grants were from time to time made of a certain number of acres to a share, which each proprietor was entitled to pitch and to have laid out to him by the locating committee ; which, being done and recorded on the proprietors' books, created a perfect title in such proprietor. Any person, not a proprietor, finding common land, might purchase a right of any proprietor, who had not taken up his full quantity upon any of the existing grants, and procure to himself a title to it in the same way. Instances of common land having been found and thus taken up, have occurred even down to the present time. The following is a table of these grants in the order of time in which they were made, next after the house lots of six acres already mentioned : -

All the lands obtained by the additional two mile grant, or six miles from the centre every way, including the lands at Titicut, contained in the deed from Pomponoho, were divided into lots and drawn by the proprietors in 1783. They were subdivided in the first place into four parcels or tracts, three on the north and one on the south. That on the south was called "the Titicut purchase." Those on the north were variously designated : the three miles at the west end were called the "West Shares ;" the next, or middle division, was called the " easterly three miles ;" and the most easterly one was called the "young men's shares." These divisions all appear on the proprietors' records, with the names of those to whom the lots respectively fell. The Titicut purchase was shared and divided agreeably to the following vote 1675. " All the householders and male children twenty years old and upwards, now found to be sixty-four in number, shall be proprietors and full purchasers in the lands at Titicut, which had been bought of the Indians ;" but the division was not actually made, and the lots drawn, till some years afterwards, viz : 1C85, and consisted of two divisions of lots called the great lots and the little lots. Those who had the young men's shares above mentioned, were such as were twenty-one years of age and upward, and had no interest in any other lands, who were Samuel Lathrop, Mark Lathrop, Jr., Edward Lathrop, James Haward, Jonathan Haward, Nathaniel Brett, Jonathan Cary, Isaac Alden, John Whitman, John Aldridge, Jonathan Hill, Samuel Shiverick, William Snow, Jr., Benjamin Willis, Richard Holt, Solomon Leonard, James Latham, Samuel Leach, Joseph Snow, Samuel Allen, Jr. - The following is an early list of the proprietors, with the number of shares each owned, viz : -

All these, except the Wadsworths, Thatcher, Gannett, and Partridge, were residents in the town at this period, which was as early at least as 1680. But shares were frequently nought and sold, and the proprietors of course often changing.

The. first military officers were Josiah Standish, Lieutenant, 1660, who soon after returned to Duxbury, and Thomas Hayward, Jr., Lieutenant ; and John Haward, Ensign, appointed 1664. And in 1689 they were promoted, and Samuel Packard appointed Ensign. - Deacon John Willis was appointed to administer oaths, &c, in 1660, but Captain Thomas Hayward, Jr., was the first Magistrate in town, and one of the Governor's Council or Assistants 1690, and also a Judge of the courts : he was killed by a fall from his horse, August 15, 1698, while on a journey to Marshfield on business. - Elihu Brett was the next Magistrate, and he was also appointed a Judge of the courts 1700; he died suddenly in his chair January 12th, 1712.

The first House of Representatives or Deputies in the Old Plymouth Colony convened in 1639. From June 3, 1656, the date of the incorporation of the town, to the year 1691 inclusive, when the two colonies were united into one province, the Representatives from Bridgewater to the general court at Plymouth, appear in the following order : -

Benjamin Willis and Nathan Mitchell were delegates to the convention at Cambridge for forming the Constitution of this Commonwealth, in September, 1779. - Daniel Howard, Elisha Mitchell, Hezekiah Hooper and Daniel Howard 2d, were the delegates to the convention of this State, at Boston, for adopting the constitution of the United States in 1788.

The counties in the Old Colony of Plymouth were formed and established in 1685. The Senators for the county of Plymouth, elected from Bridgewater, were for 1785 and 1786, Hugh Orr ; for 1787, Nathan Mitchell ; from 1788 to 1794, inclusive, Daniel Howard ; from 1796 to 1S05, Beza Hayward ; for 1813 and 1814, Nahum Mitchell.

Philip S War

Many of the earlj settlers of Bridgewater were young men, bom in this country, well acquainted with the Indian character, and therefore well calculated to encounter the troubles and dangers of the savage warfare they were soon to experience. In Philip's war, so called, which commenced early in 1675, they displayed great courage and intrepidity. Being wholly an interior settlement, remote from their friends on the sea-board, *' they were strongly urged to desert their dwellings, and repair to the towns by the sea-side." They however resolutely kept their ground, and defended their settlement, and encouraged and assisted other towns to do the same. They erected a stockade or garrison on the south side of the river, and also fortified many of their dwelling houses. At the commencement of hostilities, June 21, 1675, seventeen of their number, " well armed and furnished with horses, the first that were on the march in all the country," went to Metapoiset, a small settlement about twelve miles from Swansey, "to strengthen the garrison at that place." They were met by people from Swansey, driven from their habitations and filled with terror, who advised them to return ; but they fearlessly pursued their course and accomplished their object. They were in many perils while there, but returned safe after the greatest part of the garrison, consisting of seventy persons, most of whom were women and children, were safely conducted on to Rhode Island. Six persons of that vicinity, who were killed at that time, while they were with their teams conveying their corn into the garrison, were the first that fell in that war.

April 9, 1676, the enemy burnt a house and barn in the east part of the town. The following extract from a letter of the Rev. Mr. Keith to Thomas Hinckley thus alludes to it : -

" April 17, 1676. God hath now begun to pour out upon us the cup of trembling ; yet the Lord doth remember us still with mercy, yea very great mercy. The 9th of this instant, being the Lord's Day, as we were assembling in the forenoon, we were alarmed by the shooting of some guns from some of our garrisons upon discovery of a house being on fire, which was Robert Latham's; his dwelling house and barn are wholly consumed. The house was deserted but a few days before. He had considerable loss in lumber. The corn and chief of his goods were saved. There were divers other out-houses rifled at the same time, but no more burnt. There was a horse, or two, killed ; three or four carried away ; and some few swine killed. We sent out a party of men on the Lord's Day night upon discovery, who found their trackings. Our men judged there might be about ten of them. They followed them by their tracks several miles, but having no provision, they were forced to leave the pursuit. We are in expectation every day of an assault here. The Lord prepare us for our trial."

May 8th, about three hundred Indians with Tispaquin for their leader, made another assault on the east end of the village on the south side of the river, and set fire to many of the houses ; but the inhabitants issuing from their garrison houses,, fell upon them so resolutely, that the enemy were soon repelled ; and a heavy shower of rain falling at the same time, the fires were soon extinguished. The attack was then renewed on the north side of the river, but it was soon defeated, and the next morning the enemy entirely disappeared, after having burnt two houses and one barn. On these several occasions thirteen houses and. four barns only were burnt, and but five of these were in the village ; the rest were on the borders of the settlement and deserted at the time. Excepting the garrison houses, it is said, every house but one in town was burnt. These were probably the out dwellings only on the skirts, and not in the village, where the houses were all in some measure fortified. The house excepted is said to have been Nicholas Byram's, which was in the east, where Capt. Isaac Whitman lately lived, and quite remote from the principal settlement.

The following is an extract from an ancient manuscript, of which Comfort Willis, who then held the office of " Town Trooper," is supposed to have been the author : - the Indians were coming clown upon them, and they saw an Indian, which made them think the enemy was at hand ; and they immediately pressed Comfort Willis and Joseph Edson to go post to the Governor the same day at night to tell him of it. And he went to Plymouth with them the next day, to send Capt. Church with his company. And Capt. Church came with them to Monponset on the Sahbath, and came no further that day ; and he told them he would meet them the next day. And Comfort Willis and Joseph Edson came home at night and told their friends of it, and Ensign (John) Haward, Samuel Edson, Josiah Edson, Joseph Edson, John Washburn, Samuel Washburn, Thomas Washburn, John Field, Nicholas Byram, Samuel Allen, Samuel Allen, Jr., John Gordon, John Hayward, John Packard, John Ames, Comfort Willis, Guido Bailey, Nathaniel Hayward, John Whitman, John Packard and Samuel Leach went out on Monday, supposing to meet with Captain Church ; but they came upon the enemy, and fought with them, and took seventeen of them alive and also much plunder. And they all returned, and not one of them fell by the enemy, and received no help from Church."

"May 23, 1676. Last Saturday, 4 o'clock P. M., a second post came from Bridgewater, and informed they had discovered about one hundred of the enemy at Titicut, very busy killing cattle and horses, as if they intended some stay there ; and Taunton and Bridgewater had agreed in the night to advance towards them in the morning; and requested a few men from us if possible. The warning was very short, yet we obtained from Plymouth, Duxbury, and Marshfield about forty smart lads and sent to Bridgewater that night, but have not as yet heard of, or from them. They knew of your intended march, and if they miss of those Indians they may very probably meet with yours to range toward Seconet. Mr. Church will inform you what I have written to Rhode Island." There was also a skirmish with the enemy near the great river in the south part of the town, July 31, 1676, when some of Philip's "special friends" were killed, and among others his uncle, who fell by his side. Had the soldier known " which had been the right bird," as Hubbard says in his narrative, Philip himself might have fallen, and the war thus have been brought to a more speedy and less disastrous result ; but " the cunning fox escaped them for that time." John Ames and Nicholas Byram are said to have distinguished themselves on that occasion.

Capt. Church joined them the next day and pursued the enemy till the 3d of August, when, "having no provision but what they took from the enemy, they hastened to Bridgewater, sending an express before to provide for them, their company being now very numerous, having killed and taken one hundred and seventy-three. The gentlemen of Bridgewater met Capt. Church with great expressions of honor and thanks, and received him and his army with all due respect and kind treatment." The prisoners were conveyed into the town pound at night, and an Indian guard set over them. " They were well treated with victuals and drink, and had a merry night ; and the prisoners laughed as loud as the soldiers, not having been so well treated before for a long time." The next day Capt. Church arrived safe at Plymouth with all his prisoners.

Amidst danger, and often actually assaulted in their dwellings, it is remarkable that during the whole of that war, in which from time to time great numbers were .engaged, not one of the inhabitants of Bridgewater were killed. All the narratives of that conflict speak of the town as fortunate and highly favored in this respect, while they unite in ascribing to the inhabitants high praise for their courage and activity in the service. John Snell, who was killed at the Isle aux Noix on Lake Champlain in the French war in 1760, was the first inhabitant of the town that ever fell in battle ; and Capt. Jacob Allen and Abner Robinson, who were killed at Saratoga at the capture of Burgoyne during the war of the American Revolution, in 1777, were the next. Gideon Washburn was killed at sea about the same time.

Hubbard informs us that "in June, 1676, (it was 1675) a man and woman were slain by the Indians at Dartmouth ; and that another woman was taken ; but, because she had kept an Indian child before, so much kindness was shewn her as that she was sent back, after they had dressed her wounds ; and the Indians guarded her till she came within sight of the English." The man and woman alluded to were probably Jacob Mitchell and his wife ; and Dorothy Hayward, who afterwards gave the following deposition, was probably the woman who was made a prisoner, and treated with such exemplary humanity ; -

"Dorothy Hay ward, aged 30 years or thereabouts, being engaged upon oath testifieth, that she being taken by the Indians in June, in the year 1675, in Dartmouth, in Plymouth Colony saith, William Palmer was slain by the Indians, and Jacob Mitchell and his wife, and John Pope. This deponent saw these Indians, Ponoho, Watanom, John Bryant, Nenpos, Potak, Tosanem. These be the names of them that we know to be in being. No further this deponent saith. - Taken before me upon oath, JOSEPH CLARK, Assistant.

During the American Revolution, Bridgewater was firm and patriotic, entering heartily into the struggle, and bearing her full proportion of its burdens. Those who fell in battle were not numerous, and some of the principal names have been already given.

Ecclesiastical History

The first settlements having been in the west parish, the first church was of course formed there, and although social worship on the Sabbath had not probably been omitted or at all neglected, yet having been few in number and feeble in substance, they were at first unable to maintain a minister, and, by thus forming themselves into a regular church, enjoy the full benefit of the christian institutions. In this situation they remained from 1651 to 1664, a period of a little more than twelve years. They had in the mean time employed a Mr. Bunker, to preach as a candidate, and made him an offer of settlement, which however for some reason not appearing on the records did not take place. They also as early as 1661, agreed and voted to build a house for a minister, who should be called to settle among them, and to give him also an entire purchase right in the townsbip.

Feb. 18, 1664, the settlement of the Rev. James Keith, their first ordained minister, is recorded, and the terms of it particularly expressed. He is there called " a student in divinity, having some competent time improved his gifts amongst them in the work of the ministry, and having also due approbation by the testimony of tbe Rev. Elders of other churches of Christ, to whom he was known." He was a Scotchman, educated at Aberdeen, and probably came to Boston about the year 1662, and was introduced to the church at Bridgewater by Dr. Increase Mather, whom he always esteemed as his patron and best friend. In the second preface to the " Bridgewater's Monitor," the first having been written by Increase and Cotton Mather, it is said, Bridgewater had not an ordained minister till 1663. This had reference to the old style, probably, when the year commenced on the 25th of March. The terms of his settlement were liberal ; a double house lot of twelve acres with a house built thereon, and a purchase right, so called, being a fifty-sixth part of the original grant ; £40 annual salary, £20 to be paid at Boston in money, and the other half at home. In 1667 they gave him an additional grant of thirty cords of wood annually, " the cutters of the wood to have five groats, and the drawers seven groats a cord." In 1681 they raised it from £40 to £50, £20 to be paid at Boston in money, and £30 at home in corn and provisions. In 1689 they agreed to allow him £10 in corn in lieu of his thirty cords of wood. He died July 23, 1719, se. 76, of course was about 21 when he was ordained.

Mather, in the Magnalia, places him in the third class, " who were all such ministers as came over after the re-establishment of the Episcopal church government in England, and the consequent persecution of the non-conformists." This must have been a mistake, as Mr. Keith was from Scotland, and besides could not have been a minister before he came over, being very young and but a student whe"n he arrived. The text he selected for his first sermon was from Jeremiah 1, 6. " Behold I cannot speak ; for I am a child." The Lord however indeed encouraged him, " and put his words into his mouth," and he proved a worthy man and faithful shepherd over his infant and feeble flock. His advice and influence with the civil authorities of the colony were also considerable. In the case of the capture of Philip's wife and son, when the question as to what should be done with the son was in agitation, and the opinion of grave divines desired, Mr. Keith's opinion, stated in a letter to the Rev. Mr. Cotton, in favor of mercy, and differing from most others, had great weight, if indeed it was not decisive on the occasion. The boy's life was spared, and with his mother he was sent out of the country, and probably to the Bermudas. The letter follows, and is well worthy of a place here.

«« October 30, 1676. I long to hear what becomes of Philip's wife and his son. I know there is some difficulty in that Psalm 137, S. 9, though I think it may be considered, whether there be not some speciality and somewhat extraordinary in it. That law, Deut. 24. 16, compared with the commended example of Amazias, 2d Chron., 25. 4, doth sway much with me in the case under consideration. I hope God will direct those whom it doth concern to a good issue. Let us join our prayers at the throne of grace with all our might, that the Lord would so dispose of all public motions and affairs, that his Jerusalem in this wilderness may be the habitation of justice, and the mountain of holiness, that so it may be also a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down." He preached the sermon at the dedication of the new meeting house in South Bridgewater in 1717, two years only before his death, which was printed in the " Bridgewater's Monitor," and which contains some pertinent and impressive remarks on the subject of intemperance even at that early period. " Besides other evils," said he, " which might be mentioned, I would refer particularly to that of intemperance, the excessive and prodigious expense upon strong drink, above all, that of rum ; I say, the scandalous and horrible abuse of rum, which threatens ruin unto this land and to this place ; a ruin to all our dearest interests, both civil and religious. If there be any such houses among you, as I fear there are, that vend that strong- drink contrary to the law of God and the Avholesome law of this province, let such of you as are vested with civil power and stand obliged unto the oath of God, see that such grievous profanation be suppressed, lest that iniquity, the abuse of rum, be our ruin."

His posterity have been, and still are, very numerous. The names of two hundred of them in Bridgewater, alone appear on a late census ; and there are a great many also in Middleborough, Easton, Mendon, Maine, and other parts of the United States. Israel Keith formerly Adjutant General of the Commonwealth was one of his descendants.

William Brett, among the first planters of the town, was a ruling elder in the church, ordained soon after Mr. Keith, and probably aided and assisted them in their public worship from the commencement of their settlement, and even after the ordination of Mr. Keith. He was a well educated and intelligent man as is manifest from his letters to Gov. Winslow, still extant, and was much esteemed by his brethren, and often employed in their secular affairs. - The following extract, bearing testimony to the worth and good character of the church and its officers, is taken from the early church records of Plymouth. " The worthy church of Christ at Bridgewater have for their pastor Mr. James Keith, who came by the wise disposing hand of Providence out of Scotland. William Brett, a grave and godly man, is their ruling elder ; and John Willis, their deacon, a good man and one that hath proved himself faithful. They carry on in a way of peace, holiness, and good gospel order."

The Rev. Daniel Perkins, successor of Mr. Keith, was ordained October 4, 1721. He was a native of Topsfield, in the county of Essex, and graduated at Harvard University 1717. He died September 29, 1782, as. 86th, and in the 62d year of his ministry, which was not long only, but peaceful and efficacious.

The Rev. John Reed, S. T. D., successor of Mr. Perkins, was ordained as his colleague June 7, 1780. He graduated at Yale College, 1772, and was son of the Rev. Solomon Reed, of Titicut, who was a native of Abington. - Dr. Reed died Feb. 17, 1831, se. 79. He was an able and sound divine, and much employed on ecclesiastical councils ; and although deprived of his sight for many years previous to his death, he continued to preach till the last, and with his psalm hook open in his hand would recite the psalm at length. - Many of his occasional sermons are in print, and also a work of his on infant baptism,

South Parish. A second precinct was incorporated June 1, 1716. This did not take place without some opposition.' The original application was made in 1715, the petitioners calling themselves inhabitants of the easterly part of the town of Bridgewater. A viewing committee was appointed consisting of John Gushing and Edmund Quincy of the council, and George Leonard, Henry Hodges and Jacob Thomson of the House.* They made a favorable report April IS, 1716, which was accepted, and an act of incorporation passed with this condition, " that the whole town stand obliged* to an honorable maintenance of the Rev. Mr. Keith, their present aged minister, if he should outlive his powers and capacities of discharging the office and duty of their minister." The dividing line began "at the brook, called the mile brook, where the road from Boston to Taunton crosseth the said brook, and from thence by a line running west and by south to the uttermost extent of the said township, and from the station first mentioned by a line running easterly in the midway between the dwelling house of Win. Hudson, and the dwelling house of David Perkins, Jr., and from thence the said line to be continued in the midst between the dwelling house of Edward Mitchell and the dwelling house of Nathaniel Hayward, and from thence the said line to be continued easterly in the midst betwixt the dwelling house of James Latham, and the dwelling house of Joseph Washburn, Jr., and from thence by a line due east to the extent of the said township." The new parish was called the south, and the old one the north precinct. Much the largest part of the town remained with the north, as it was suggested, " that there might soon be need of a third meetinghouse." They recommended that the new meeting-house be erected " on the high or rising ground on the southerly side of the highway, going by John Washburn's house, being the easterly part of his field," and "that the old house remain where ft was, for five years, and then be removed down to Isaac Johnson's field, where divers roads meet convenient for that purpose."7 The new meeting-house was dedicated June 14, 1717, and Mr. Keith delivered the sermon as has been already stated. Before the time arrived for removing1 the old house in the north, (now west,) the east began to think of being incorporated into a parish, and therefore they assisted in repairing the old house where it stood, and were to have the money refunded to them when they came to build their own, and so the house was never moved.

The Rev. Benjamin Allen, their first pastor, was a native of Tisbury, of Martha's Vineyard, graduated at Yale 1708, and ordained July 9, 1718. He continued with them about thirteen years, but being an unsuccessful manager of his private secular concerns, he fell into debt, and his parish after often relieving him, became at last weary of it, and he was dismissed by an ecclesiastical council. He preached his first sermon in the meeting-house August 18, 1717, and his last October 11, 1730. He was soon afterwards installed at Cape Elizabeth, and was the first minister of" that place, where he died May 6, 1754, se. 65. A grand-daughter of his by the name of Jourdan, married the Rev. Enos Hitchcock, D. D., of Providence.

The Rev. John Shaw, his successor, was a native of the east parish of Bridgewater, and son of Joseph Shaw : graduated at Harvard University 1729, and ordained November 17, 1731. He died April 29, 1791, se. 82, and in the 60th year of his ministry, much beloved and respected by his people. He delivered the 6ermon at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Taft, of Randolph, which is in print.

His successor, the Rev. Zedekiah Sanger, S. T. D., was born at Sherburne, and graduated at Harvard University 1771 : was first settled at Duxbury, and afterwards installed as colleague with the Rev. Mr. Shaw, December 17, 1788. He died November 17, 1820, se. 73, after a life of usefulness and great activity. He was a scholar and a learned divine. His house was a seminary, in which he prepared young men for college, and instructed young students in divinity. Amidst his ministerial and pastoral labors, he was%lso for several years preceptor of the academy in his neighborhood. He enjoyed in a high degree the affections and respect of his people. - His successor was Richard M. Hodges, from Salem ; graduated at Harvard University 1815, who after performing his pastoral duties there for many years, was peaceably dismissed at his own desire ; and the present Rev. Theophilus P. Doggett, who graduated at Brown's University 1819, was settled as his successor.

There is a small ministerial fund in this parish, the trustees of which were incorporated Feb. 7, 1803. It was then nearly one thousand dollars, and has been augmented since.

The south was settled very soon after the west parish. Among those who came in from other towns and resided there before and soon after 1700, were Samuel Kinsley, Thomas Mitchell, William Orcutt, William Hudson, Daniel Hudson, John Washburn, John Washburn, Jr., Richard Jennings, David Perkins, John Aldrich, Eleazar Carver, Nathaniel Conant, Richard Davenport and Joseph Pratt.

December 14, 1723, the east end of the north parish, then so called, ever since called the west parish, together with nine persons of the south parish, namely, Barnabas Seabury, Thomas Latham, Charles Latham, Nicholas Wade, Nathaniel Harden, Thomas Hooper, William Conant, Isaac Lazell, and Joseph Washburn, with their families and estates, were constituted a precinct, called the east parish. This was done also in pursuance of a viewing committee of court, consisting of Isaac Winslow, Samuel Thaxter, Josiah Cotton, Isaac Little and John Quincy. The boundaries were on the west, a due north line from the south parish, through the centre tree : and on the southeasterly side the Old Plymouth Road to Halifax. The first meeting house was raised March 14, 1720.

The Rev. John Angier, graduated at Harvard University 1720, was their first Minister, ordained October 28, 1724. He was son of the Rev. Samuel Angier, of Rehoboth, and afterwards of Watertown. He died April 14, 1787, as. 86th, and in the 63d of his ministry.

His son, the Rev. Samuel Angier, graduated at Harvard University 1763, was ordained colleague with him Decemher 23, 17G7, and died January IS, 1805, a?. 62d, and in the 38th of Lis ministry. The father, the Rev. John Angier, preached the ordination sermon, which appears bound with the last edition of the " Eridgewater's Monitor."

The successor of the Rev. Samuel Angier was the Rev. James' Flint, D. D., a native of Reading, Mass., and graduated at Harvard University 1802, and ordained October 29, 1806 ; and after officiating among them in his pastoral office for twelve or fifteen years, he was dismissed at his own desire, and afterwards installed at Salem. The Rev. Benjamin Fessenden, from Sandwich, who graduated at Harvard University 1817, was then settled as his successor ; who was dismissed November 7, 1825, at his own request, and removed to Rhode Island, and has retired from the ministry; and the Rev. John Adams Williams, of Roxbury, who graduated at Harvard University 1820, was settled as his successor, October 18th, 1826 ; who remained in his office but a short time, having been dismissed by his own solicitation, August 4, 1S28; and was succeeded by the Rev. Eliphalet P. Crafts, who graduated at Brown University 1821, and ordained November 19, 1828, and who after a few years asked a dismission, which Avas granted him, March 28, 1836, and he is now installed at Sandwich. - And the parish is now vacant.

The first settlers in the east parish before 1700, who came in from abroad, were Robert Latham, Nicholas Byram, Jonathan Hill, Edward Mitchell, Thomas Whitman, Samuel Allen, and Joseph Shaw. Some of these were there about 1666. - Some of the sons of the first settlers in AVest Bridgewater were also among the early settlers in the East, as John Howard, Jr., William Brett, Jr., Elisha Hayward, Nathaniel Hayward, Jr., Isaac Alden, Francis Cary, Jonathan Cary, James Cary, Joseph Edson, Isaac Harris, and Samuel Harris.

January 3, 1738, the north part of the west parish and a small part of the north-west corner of the east parish were incorporated into a precinct, and called the north parish. It was bounded by a due east line from Easton, half a mile north of " the white oak tree at Jonathan Packard's corner" to the east parish line : and thence north-easterly to Beaver Brook, together with three families and their estates, on the east side of the river.

Their first pastor was the Rev. John Porter, a native of Abington, graduated at Harvard University 1736 ; ordained October 15, 1740 ; died March 12,. 1802, ae. 87th, and in the 62d of his ministry.

His successor, the Rev. Asa Meach, was ordained October 15, 1800, and dismissed by a mutual council 1811, and afterwards installed at Canterbury, Connecticut. He was a native of that state.

His successor, the Rev. Daniel Huntington, a native of Norwich, Connecticut, graduated at Yale College 1816, was ordained October 28, 1812. He was brother of the late Rev. Mr. Huntington, of Boston, and son of General Jedediah Huntington, of New London. His salary was $700, the highest then of any in the town. - He remained with his parish many years, but by his own solicitation was at length dismissed, and returned to Connecticut. The Rev. Mr. Thompson was his successor, who continued but a short time, and the Rev. Paul Couch is now their pastor.

The north was the last settled part of the town. There were no settlements north of the old powder house in West Bridgewater, till after 1700. Among the first settlers were Daniel and Robert Howard, David, Solomon, John, James, Zaccheus and Abiel Packard, Henry Kingman, and Timothy Keith : all of whom came from West Bridffewater.

February 4, 1743, the south-west part of the south parish, with a part of Middleborough, was incorporated into a precinct, called Titicut Parish. It lies south of the old four mile line, so called. The Rev. Solomon Reed before mentioned, a native of Abington, graduated at Harvard University 1739, was their first minister. The Rev. David Gurney, son of Perkins Gurney, of East Bridgewater, graduated at Harvard University 1785, was his successor. Their third minister is the present Rev. Philip Colby. The meeting-house is in Middleborough, and all their ministers have resided there, the largest part of the parish belonging to that town.

Besides these territorial precints there is an Episcopal church in the south parish, incorporated June 14, 1815, by the name of Trinity Church. It is of much longer standing, having originated in a grant of about fourteen acres of land, made January 23, 1747, by Samuel Edson, of Bridgewater, to the society in England for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, on condition that the income be applied to the support of public worship according to the usage of the Church of England. Their house was erected in 1648 by individual subscription. In April, 1812, they conveyed the glebe to the trustees of donations at Boston, and it is leased for nine hundred and ninety-nine years to John Edson, one of the members, for twenty-one dollars a year. June 12, 1816, having repaired their house and laid an assessment for the support of public worship, it was solemnly consecrated by Bishop Griswold, and the Rev. Messrs. Blake and Crocker. The Rev. Henry Blackaller is now their pastor.

There is also a Baptist meeting-house in the west part of the west parish. The society consists of members partly from Easton and partly from Bridgewater. It was formed about the time Dr. Reed was ordained, but not incorporated till March 9, 1804. - Their ministers have been Mr. Robertson, Mr. Rathburn, Mr. Smith, Mr. Shurtliff, and the Rev. Bartlett Pease is now their pastor.