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 had enlargement beyond Massachusetts' path, when they have viewed it."

   Two years afterwards the court passed the following more explicit and definite order: —

   "August, 1644.   Upon the petition of Duxbury men it is