aass__iL'L2.. "^ Book HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF TOWNS IN PLY3I0UTH AND BARNSTABLE COUNTIES, I MASSACHUSETTS. , 3 ticUeM BOSTON : D. DUDLEY & CO., Publishers, 31 Exchange Street, (formerly 8 Congress Square.) Sntered according to Act of Congress in the year 1873, by Dean Dudley, in the OtBce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. OOISTTEISTTS, Barnstable Town History,.. .150 I Kingston, Brewster, 133 Marion, Briiljifcwater, 82 Marshtiekl, Chatham 1 50 ?o Marshpee, Dennis, 150 j)' North Bridgewater, Duxbuiy 110 Orleans, , East Bridgewater 106 Plymouth, Easthatn, 124 Provincetown, Falmonth, 150ee Sandwich, Halifax 108 Scitnate, Hanover, 116 South Scituate, . Harwich 148 Truro Hiiio-hani, 119 Wellfleet 150/tX^ Yarmouth, Hull, , Likeness of the author i»t ihe a<j;o of 32 y;vu'.-*. Engraved by Mr. Geo. K. Ilalin. / I S T O Rl'T OP TOWNS IX TLYMOUTII AND BARNSTABLE COUNTIES. By dean DUDLEY. NORTH BRIDGEWATEIl. This town is twenty miles south of Boston, on the Fall River branch of Old Colony Railroad. There arc four vil- lages in the town, viz: " Centre," " Campello," "Factory Village," and " Northwest Bridgewater." The Centre is the largest village, containing seven or eight churches, and is a great manufacturing and mercantile com- munity. The citizens are very patriotic and enterprising. In- deed, the whole town is noted for its intelligence and thrift. The surface of tho land is generally level, except a few small elevations. There are three or four small streams, hav- ing factories, where considerable business is carried on. This part of old Bridgewater was called the North Pre- cinct. But this Precinct included also West Bridgewater. In 1738, 55 citizens belonging to the North Parish, petitioned the General Court to be set off into a separate township. Thereupon they were allowed the powers of a distinct parish. Kev. John Porter was called to be the minister in 1740. laying in 1802, he was succeeded by his colleague. Rev. Asa Meech, who had been called and ordained in 1800, and was dismissed in 1811. The third minister was Rev. Daniel Huntingdon, ordained in 1812, dismissed in 1833. The fourth minister was Rev. Paul Couch, born in Newburyport, graduated at Dartmouth College, 1828, settled here in 1835. He preached here till 1859, when he was called to North Cambridge, Mass. Rev. Nathaniel B. Blanchard, was the next minister, a native of Abington, and then, in 1863, Rev. Edward L. Clark. A Second Congregational Society, was formed in 1824, and many other sects have arisen since, which are well de- scribed in Kingman's elaborate history of the town. Public Schools were early established, and the town was divided into " ricks," or districts. In 1794, this Parish voted £15, to be assessed on the in- 10 a ^X^ O p 78 HISTORY OF TOWNS. habitants of the parish for the purpose of English schooling. In 1864, the town appropriated a large sum for schools, and the people subscribed $1,000 more. The number of polls in 1840 was 1679, the number of houses 388. In 1860 the ratable polls were 1,574, houses 952, valuation of property in town $2,173,965. In 1865, the shoes manufactured were 1,009,700, pairs ; value of blacking made, $43,806 ; acres of land improved 3,761 ; acres of wood land, 3,034. The north parish of Bridgewater did her part in the ser- vice of the French War, and a great many men enlisted from this town in the various companies, formed hereabouts for the patriot army of the Revolution. Most of their names are reported in Mr, Kingman's history, and other facts too nu- merous for repetition here. They represent the best blood of the town. Among them are the names of Packard, Gurney, Cole, Kingman, Ames, Beals, Alden, Fields, Perkins, Reynolds, Brett, Bryant, Edson, Dickerman, Dike, Groves, Keith, Sylvester, Snell, Southworth, Thompson, Thayer, Wash- burn, Warren* Porter, Fuller, C'ary, Shaw, Hayden, Crafts, French, Pratt, Jackson, Dunbar, Howard, Leach, Pettingill, Snow, Keith, Bailey, Orr, Webster, Mitchell, Porter, Thomas, Peirce, Knox, Prentiss, Marshall, Lothrop, Cobb, Edgell, Allen, Wade, Robinson, Jacobs, Partridge, Wood, Tyler, Sparrow, Hancock, Bickncll, Putnam, &c. Some of these were of other towns, perhaps aiound North Bridgewater. This town took some part in the war of 1812 with Eng- land, and a very conspicuous part in the late war of the Rebellion. " In council March 11, 1817." The Military committee of Council, to whom Avas re- ferred the petition of Lemuel French and sixty others, be- longing to a company of Militia in the north part of Bridge- water, now conmianded by Captain Adln Packard, and in the third Regiment, first Brigade, and fifth Division of Militia, requesting that said company, with the approbation of the ofBcers, may be disbanded, and that they, with others, may bo permitted to form themselves into a grena- dier company, respectfully report that His Excellency be advised to disband the company of Militia in the north parish of Bridgewater, now commanded b}'' Captain Adin Packard, and to annex the non-commissioned officers and privates of the same, to the other company in said parish, commanded by Captain Silas Dunbar, and to permit the NORTH BRIDGEWATER. 79 aforesaid Lemuel French and his associates, together with such others as may hereafter join them from within the limits of the said north parish, to form themselves into a grenadier company, and when they are organized, to have them annexed to the aforesaid third Eegiment. (Signed), " D. Cobb." "In Council, March 11, 1817." This report is accepted, and by the Governor approved" (Signed), "A. Bradford, Secretary of Commonwealth. " Secretary's office, March 11, 1817." A true copy. At- test Alden Bradford, Secretary of Commonwealth." Commonwealth of Massachusetts, '« Head Quarters, Boston, March 12, 1817." *' General Orders. The Commander in Chief having approved the forego- ing order of Council, orders the same to be carried into eflect. Major General Nathaniel Goodwin, Avill give the necessary orders for that purpose, and when said company is organized, it will be annexed to the aforesaid third Reg- iment." " By His Excellency's command," " ; (Signed), Ebenezer Mattoon, Adjt. General." "Head Quarters, Plymouth, March 18, 1817." *' Division Orders." The Major General of the fifth Division, directs the foregoing general order of the 12th instant, be car- ried into effect without delay." (Signed), " N. Hayward, Aid De Camp, to M. Genl. "Head Quarters, Middleboro, March 25, 1817." The Brigadier General of the first Brigade, directs that the foregoing General and Division orders be carried into effect without delay." (Signed), " Abiel Washburn," "Brigadier General, First I3rigade, Fifth Division." Note. At that date the local militia of what is now Abington, and the four Bridgewaters (except the Artillery and Cavalry), formed a Regi- ment, known as the third Regiment in First Brigade, in the fifth divi- sion Mass. Militia. The Abington Artillery Company belonged to a Battalion of Artillery, composed of Abington, Plymouth, and Hanover Artillery Companies. Note. From the office of Captain of this Grenadier Company, Nahura Reynolds was promoted to Major of the Plymouth County Regiment of Light Infantry, now known as the third Regiment. John Cushing, of Abington, was then Colonel of this Regiment, and Cephas Water- man, of Kingston, Major. 80 HISTORY OF TOWNS. The conipiiiiy of Grenadiers was organized !j,nd annexed to the Ihini i': uiaieiit of Infantry, and so continued until 1834, when it was made a part of the Plymouth County Regiment of Light Infantry, then commanded by Colonel Gideon W. Young, of Scituate, and afterwards by Colonel Nalmm Reynolds of North Bridgewater. A Cavalry company existed for a time in North Bridgc- Avater. It was known as the Xorth Bridgewater Dragoons. Nahum Reynolds was the first who held the office of Cap- tain. This dragoon company was not annexed to a Regi- ment, but made a Brigade Corps, and annexed to the second Brigade in First Division, under Brigadier General Eliab Ward, of ]\Iiddleborongh, and continued so to exist under General Ward's successor in office, General Ebenezer W. Peirce, then of Freetown. The population in 1870 was 8,008. TOWN OFFICERS. Town Clerk. — W. H. Wales. Selectmen and Overseers of the Poor. — Isaac Kingman, Henry A. Ford, W. H. Wales. Assessors. — R. P. Kingman, Edward Crocker, H. A. Ford. Treasurer. — Oakes S. Soule. School Committee. — Ira Copeland, C. W. Wood, A. T. Jones, Ellis Packard, C. R. Ford. Road Commissioners. — Isaac Kingman, 3 years, E. H. Joslyn, 2 years, Jos. AV. Kingman, 1 year. Collector. — W. H. Wales. Auditors. — R. P. Kingman, C. C. Bixby, Gorliam B. Howard. Constables. — A. S. Porter, Otis Hay ward, George Pack- ard, AVilliam Steavens, Thomas P. Lucas, C. E. Sproul, David Bullock, Charles E. Jenney, J. W. Foye. CHURCHES, &c. Porter Evangelical Church. — Rev. R. G. S. McNeille, Pastor. S. AV. S. Howard, Clerk. Simeon Packard, El- bridge II. Packard, S. W. S. Howard, George C. Cary, Dea- cons. Isaac Kingman, Aug. G. Jones, George C. Cary, Standing Committee. AVest Alethodist Episcopal Church. — Rev. E. L. Hyde, Pastor. Bradford Packard, Sunday School Superintendent. NORTH BRIDaEWATER. 81 First Congfregational Church. — Rev. Henry H. Stevens, Pastor. C D. Brigham, L. B. White, H. M. Littlefield, Standing Committee. O. S. Soule, Treasurer. W. A. San- ford, Clerk. C. D. Brigham, Collector. Universalist Society. — Kev. S. S. Hebbert, Pastor. S. A. Hayward, Clerk. Elmer W. Holmes, Treasurer. John W. Hayward, Collector. E. L. Thayer, L. D. Hervey, Ellis Packard, Parish Committee. South Congregational Church. — CampSllo Village. Or- ganized December 3, 1836. Second Methodist Episcopal Church. — T. M. House, Pastor. E.Williams, Local Preacher. J. B. Wiswell, Ex- horter. St. Patrick's Catholic Church. — Main, near Belmont. Dedicated 1859. Rev.