March 10, 2008 — We have a new address!   Many USGenWeb sites have relocated, and we have, too.   Please bookmark our new address.

July 5, 2004 — Special thanks to Wendy L. Hawksley, who in June transcribed the gravestones in four of the southern Bridgewater Cemeteries - the Conant St., Harlow, Hillside and Orange St. cemeteries.

May 3, 2004 — The 1790 Federal Census Data is now online.

February 12, 2004 — I have completed the online transcription of Nahum Mitchell's History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register (Boston: Printed for the author by Kidder and Wright, 1840; repr. Bridgewater: Henry T. Pratt, 1897; Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1970; Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1983; Salem, MA: Higginson Books, 1992).  This work was begun by the late CJ McNew, completed by the current webmaster and supported by the greatly appreciated efforts of many volunteers.  Although a number of errors have been discovered in this work it is still a very useful starting point for research on early Bridgewater families.

October 2, 2003 — I have completed the online transcription of "The Vital Records of Bridgewater, Mass.," transcribed by George Ernest Bowman and published in The Mayflower Descendant between 1900 and 1914.  These literal transcriptions of births, marriages and deaths from the first two volumes of the town records are often referred to by professional genealogists in preference to the alphabetized version published by NEHGS.  I began transcribing these pages in order to expand the source citations in my genealogical database and believe that they will be a valuable resource for Bridgewater researchers who don't have easy access to The Mayflower Descendant.

June 14, 2003 — The Vital Records of Bridgewater (the "Tan Book") are now online, transcribed by Coralynn Brown and posted by Jane Devlin.

May 28, 2003 — Williams Latham's Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater is now complete and online.  This 1882 work contains literal tramscriptions of all of the gravestones in the oldest cemeteries in Bridgewater, East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater.  The online version has been transcribed by Arthur Richardson and Dale H. Cook, and includes all of the illustrations, cemetery plans, indices, corrections and appendices from the book.  We have added an extra page including online map links, locations, directions to some of the cemeteries and photographs of many of them by Arthur.

May 22, 2003 — The Cemeteries Page has been revised, and now includes photographs of some of the cemeteries taken by Arthur Richardson.

April 29, 2003 — There is a new page for Bridgewater Family Researchers and Websites where you can list specific Bridgewater families that you are researching or web sites specializing in Bridgewater families.

April 26, 2003 — A list of Bridgewater and Brockton newspapers has been added, showing library holdings on microfilm.

February 22, 2003 — The list of Cemeteries and Cemetery Transcriptions has been revised and expanded. The location of each cemetery is given, and links to online map sites have been added to help you locate the cemeteries.

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Lookups

If you have any Bridgewater material and would like to volunteer for lookups please send email to Dale H. Cook.

When requesting a lookup please use the email link following the listing for that book, limit your request to one or two specific names on separate lines, and please thank the volunteer for their time and effort.

Lookups Available

Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1916) — Dale H. Cook.

Ann S. Lainhart, 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts State Censuses for Bridgewater (Boston: By the Author, 1988) — Dale H. Cook.

Heman Howard, The Howard Genealogy: The Descendents of John Howard of Bridgewater, Massachusetts (Brockton, MA: The Standard Printing Co., 1903) — Email Aaron Howard —

Resources

"The Vital Records of Bridgewater, Mass.," transcribed by George Ernest Bowman and published in The Mayflower Descendant between 1900 and 1914. These literal transcriptions from the town records are often referred to by professional genealogists in preference to the alphabetized version published by NEHGS. An index of names has been included.

Bradford Kingman, "Marriages in the Town of Bridgewater Previous To Its Division" (New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 21 [1867]:225-228).

Ray Brown has transcribed the Bridgewater marriage records from Early Massachusetts Marriages Prior to 1800 by Frederick W. Bailey. They are available sorted by husbands' names or by wives' names. His New England Genealogy site on RootsWeb includes many other transcribed records, genealogical information for several Connecticut families and many other resources for New England research.

1790 Census Transcriptions from Ray Brown's Web Site.

Early Bridgewater Families includes information on the early generations of Bridgewater families founded by Samuel Packard and John Washburn.

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Books About Bridgewater

You can find copies of books for sale by using the search engine at Bookfinder.com.

Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1916). See above for lookups. Note that although errors in this work are few in number, some have been found and are corrected in my errors page. Your additions, properly documented from contemporary records, are welcome.

Ann S. Lainhart, 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts State Censuses for Bridgewater (Boston: By the Author, 1988).

Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater... See the full citation under Books Online below. Note that although a number of errors have been discovered in this work it is still a very useful starting point for research on early Bridgewater families.

Loring W. Puffer, ed., Records of John Cary, the First Town Clerk of Bridgewater, Massachusetts, from 1656 to 1681 (Brockton: By the Author, 1889).

Williams Latham, Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater... See the full citation under Books Online below.

Katherine M. Doherty, ed., History Highlights: Bridgewater, Massachusetts: A Commemorative Journal (Bridgewater: Bridgewater Bicentenniel Commission, 1976).

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Books Online

Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1916), transcribed by Coralynn Brown and posted by Jane Devlin. Note that although errors in this work are few in number, some have been found and are corrected in Errors in Vital Records of Bridgewater Massachusetts to the Year 1850. Your additions, properly documented from contemporary records, are welcome.

Nahum Mitchell, History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater, in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, including an extensive Family Register (Boston: Printed for the author by Kidder and Wright, 1840; repr. Bridgewater: Henry T. Pratt, 1897; Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1970; Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1983; Salem, MA: Higginson Books, 1992). This work was begun by the late CJ McNew, completed by the current webmaster and supported by the greatly appreciated efforts of many volunteers.  Although a number of errors have been discovered in this work it is still a very useful starting point for research on early Bridgewater families.

Moses Cary, A Genealogy of the Families Who Have Settled in the North Parish of Bridgewater, to Which is Added an Historical Sketch of North Bridgewater (Boston: Printed by Bannister and Marvin, 1824; repr. n.p. n.d., possibly 1903). This book has been moved to USGenWeb Brockton. Special thanks to the late CJ McNew for putting this book online.

Williams Latham, Epitaphs in Old Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Illustrated with Plans and Views (Bridgewater: Henry T. Pratt, printer, 1882; repr. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1976; Middleborough, MA, 1986). This book has been transcribed by Arthur Richardson and Dale H. Cook.

      Bridgewater cemeteries included are:

• Old Grave-Yard, transcribed by Dale H. Cook.
• Alden or Vernon Street Grave-Yard, transcribed by Dale H. Cook.
• Scotland Grave-Yard, transcribed by Arthur Richardson.
• Keith (South St.) Grave-Yard, transcribed by Arthur Richardson.
• Trinity Church Grave-Yard, transcribed by Arthur Richardson.
• Japan (Jennings) Grave-Yard, transcribed by Arthur Richardson.
• Great Woods Grave-Yard, transcribed by Arthur Richardson.

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Newspapers

A newspaper often had a succession of titles on its masthead during the course of its publication. Some libraries list newspapers by the last title used, followed by previous titles. Other libraries list all holdings under the most common, most familiar or most recent title. For each title the library's holdings are given.

Boston Public Library - Microtext Department

   Bridgewater

• Bridgewater Independent   1879-1880,   1884-1924
     Every Sunday   1876
• Bridgewater Townsman   1992 to present
     Townsman   1991-1992
     Bridgewater Townsman   1985-1991
• Plymouth County Republican   1836-1837
     Bridgewater Republican and Old Colony Press   1835-1836
     We, the People and Old Colony Press   1832-1835

   Brockton

• Brockton Times   1895-1934
• Brockton Weekly Enterprise   1887-1888
• Brockton Weekly Gazette   1893-1894
     Brockton Gazette   1892-1893
     Brockton Weekly Gazette   1874-1891
     North Bridgewater Gazette   1851-1874
• Enterprise   1982 to present
     Brockton Enterprise   1979-1981
     Brockton Daily Evening Enterprise and Brockton Times   1934-1978
     Brockton Daily Evening Enterprise   1906-1934
• Old Colony Reporter 1850-1851

Brockton Public Library - Historical Room
Note: Microfilms may be borrowed through Interlibrary Loan

   Brockton

• Brockton Enterprise   Jan. 1880 to present
• Brockton Gazette   May 1874 - Dec. 1876,   Jan. 1880 - May 12, 1894
• Brockton Times   Feb. 1895 - Mar. 24, 1934
• North Bridgewater Gazette   May 1851 - Nov. 1856,   May 1857 - Apr. 1874

Bridgewater Public Library - Historical Room

   Bridgewater

• Bridgewater Independent   1876-1924
  

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Vital Records

"The Vital Records of Bridgewater, Mass.," transcribed by George Ernest Bowman and published in The Mayflower Descendant between 1900 and 1914. These literal transcriptions from the town records are often referred to by professional genealogists in preference to the alphabetized version published by NEHGS. This is a work in progress - those pages currently available have been noted, and an index of names has been provided for available pages.

Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts to the Year 1850, 2 vols. (Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1916). See above for lookups. Note that although errors in this work are few in number, some have been found and are corrected in Errors in Vital Records of Bridgewater Massachusetts to the Year 1850. Your additions, properly documented from contemporary records, are welcome.

Massachusetts Vital Records Information from Ancestry.com

Deeds and Probate

Plymouth County Registry of Deeds
50 Obery Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
508-830-9200
Fax: 508-830-9221
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Researchers can search grantor books or grantee books at no charge.

Plymouth Probate and Family Court
9 Russell St.
Plymouth, MA 02360
508-747-6204
Fax: 508-746-6826
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Order Probate Records Online

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      The area known as the Bridgewaters was originally inhabited by Wampanoag who called it Saughtuchquett (Satucket). In 1642 Marshfield was established from the northern part of Duxbury and inhabitants of the latter petitioned for compensating land in the interior. The General Court granted their petition in 1645 and six trustees were appointed to divide the land - Captain Myles Standish, John Alden, George Soule, Constant Southworth, John Rogers, and William Brett. The action by the General Court was primarily an authority to purchase land, and Captain Standish, Samuel Nash, and Constant Southworth were appointed to make the purchase. The March 23, 1649 deed which they signed with Ousamequin (Massasoit), "Sachem of the county of Poconocke", was witnessed by John Bradford and William Otway (Alias) Parker. The purchase was said to have been executed on a hill called Sachem's Rock.

      Fifty-four original proprietors each received one share in the new land, and two additional proprietors were later added. The purchases of additional lands were granted in subsequent years. Settlement began after 1650 in what is now West Bridgewater, but only eighteen of the fifty-six proprietors ever lived on their new land. The area was at first known as Duxbury New Plantation, and was incorporated as the township of Bridgewater in June, 1656. On Dec. 24, 1683, the "great division" of the township into four parts was assented to by the proprietors, the central part remaining common land.

      The first church in the township was established in the West Parish with the ministry offered to a Mr. Bunker in 1660, but it appears from the records that he never settled there as minister. About 1662 a minister's house was erected and the settlement of Reverend James Keith as the first minister was recorded on Feb. 18, 1664. He was granted one of the two additional proprietorships, the other going to Deacon Samuel Edson. A new and larger meeting house was built in 1671.

      Many Bridgewater men fought in King Philip's War, which began June 21, 1675. Although some outlying homes and barns were destroyed and some livestock killed no Bridgewater lives were lost in that conflict.

      The South Parish was settled soon after the West Parish, and on June 1, 1716, was incorporated as the second precinct. It encompassed what is now the town of Bridgewater. The Second Church of Bridgewater was established there, its meeting house was dedicated June 14, 1717 and its first minister was ordained in 1718. In the East Parish the meeting house of the Third Church of Bridgewater was raised on March 14, 1720 and its first minister ordained in 1724. On December 14, 1723, the East Parish was constituted the third precinct. Settlement of the North Parish began in 1679, and on January 3, 1738, it was incorporated as a precinct. The meeting house of the Fourth Church of Bridgewater was erected there in 1737 and a church organized with its first minister ordained in 1740. On February 4, 1743, the Titicut Parish was incorporated as a precinct lying along both banks of the Taunton River and including part of the current town of Middleborough, and having its own meeting house and minister.

      Early Bridgewater industries included the manufacture of iron, small arms and cannon. Edged tools and the first machine-made nails were early products, and textile mills were in operation by the late eighteenth century.

      From Mitchell's History of the Early Settlement of Bridgewater ..., p. 34:

The Town Clerks have been
John Cary from	1656 to 1681.
Thomas Hayward, Esq., appears
to have made the entries in	1682 & 1683.
Samuel Allen was Clerk from	1683 to 1702.
Nathaniel Brett         "      "	1702 to 1736.
Nathaniel Brett, Jr.   "      "	1736 to 1779, excepting that
Col. Josiah Edson was Clerk a
few years previous to	1745.
Capt. Eliakim Howard  "   "	1779 to 1822, when the town was divided.

Census Data

Currently available: 1790 Federal Census

Maps

1893/94 Topographic Map of Bridgewater (1661 x 1182 - 1.5 Mb)
From the 1894 Dedham Quadrangle, the 1893 Abington Quadrangle, the 1893 Taunton Quadrangle and the 1893 Middleborough Quadrangle (15 minute series)

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Bridgewater Home Page

Bridgewater Town Hall
64 Central Sq.
Bridgewater, MA 02324
508-697-0921
Fax: 508-697-0941
Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Fri. 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District

First Parish Church (Universalist Unitarian , originally the Second Church of Christ of Bridgewater, established 1716)

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Portions of Bridgewater became the towns of Abington, Brockton (North Bridgewater), East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater

Commonwealth Communities page for Bridgewater

South Shore Network Bridgewater Page

Town Online Bridgewater Page

The Web Directory for Bridgewater

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Plymouth County, MA - USGenWeb

Plymouth County Records Online - USGenWeb

Massachusetts Genealogy - USGenWeb

The USGenWeb Project - Home Page

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