North Bridgewater was, until very lately, a part of the town of Bridgewater, which was settled by a company from Duxbury.

   The first settlement, was in the year 1651; and in the year 1656, the town was incorporated.

   The first settlements were, in what is now called West Bridgewater; and Mr. James Keith, a native of Scotland, was their first minister.—He was ordained in 1664.   The settlements extended first into the south part of the town.   The South Parish was incorporated in 1716, and the East Parish in 1723.

   There were no permanant settlements in what was afterwards called the North Parish, until after the year 1700; and the first settlers were principally descendants from the first settlers in the town.

   They continued a part of thc West Parish, and attended meeting there, until the year 1738.

   In that year they sent a petition, signed by fifty-five persons, to the General Court, praying to be incorporated into a separate town.   The petition was so far granted that they were set off a separate precinct, called the North Parish.

   The first parish meeting was held on the 5th of February, 1739.   Timothy Keith was chosen Moderator, and Robert Howard, Clerk.   The parish committee were Timothy Keith, David Packard, and Daniel Howard.   Robert Howard, continued to be chosen parish clerk thirty-two years successively.

   The inhabitants composing the North Parish had, in the year 1737, erected a meeting-house; it stood a little south west of where the present meeting-house now stands.

   The Rev. Mr. Dunbar, of Stoughton, preached the dedication sermon, from Solomon's Songs, viii. 8—"We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts; what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?"