MASSACHUSETTS VITAL RECORDS
BRIDGEWATER 1641-1908

Oxford, Massachusetts: Holbrook Research Institute, 1992
LC 82-81851, ISBN 0-87623-160-1 (ISBN 0-931248-23-X Set)
30-frame, double-image format at 25X & 30X reduction
37 volumes on 176 microfiches
Copyright 1992 by Jay Mack Holbrook
 

1-39: Town & Vitals 1641-1853
40-64: Town & Vitals 1645-1887
65-74: Town & Vitals 1645-1881
75: Marriages 1788-1815
76-77: Births, Deaths 1639-1882
78-98: Purchasers 1645-1847
99-100: Proprietors 1725-1835
101-102: School 1826-1855
103-109:Town 1789-1863
110: Town Record 1703-1728
111-115: Accounts 1821-1859
116-118: Taxpayers 1837-1849
119-122: Valuations 1840-1850

123-124: Militia 1840-1867
125-126: Rebellion 1861-1865
127: GAR Register 1890-1914
128-131: Paupers 128-131
132-141: Intentions 1835-1929
142: Marriages 1759-1843
143-147: Birth Index 1843-1956
148-151: Marr Index 1843-1956
152-156: Death Index 1843-1956
157-159: Vital Records 1843-1856
160-164: Deaths 1857-1904
165-168,174: Marrs 1857-1907
169-73,175-76: Births 1857-1908

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Bridgewater, originally part of Duxbury, became a town in 1656. The town then shared boundaries with Dorchester and Taunton. At the first town meetings, attendance was taken at the beginning and the end of the session, and a fine imposed upon those who were absent! By 1665, Quakers were routinely expelled from the town. In 1676, much of the town was burned by Indians--a timely rain prevented greater destruction. Parts of Bridgewater were later taken to form other towns in Plymouth County: Abington, NO. BRIDGEWATER (now Brockton), West Bridgewater and East Bridgewater.

The 37 volumes in this collection include three major categories of records. First, original town records and transcripts (fiches 1-77) incorporate the earliest vital records. Second, a group of miscellaneous records; e.g., land, tax, militia, and pauper (fiches 78-131), help identify residents and economic conditions in the town. Third, individual vital record books and indexes (fiches 132-174) list births, marriages, intents, and deaths from about 1835 to 1900. Dates listed on book titles often vary widely from actual dates in the books.

 

Copy of Bridgewater Records 1656-1739.
Compare this copy of the First Book of Records with the original record (fiches 40-41) and another copy (fiches 65-67). Data for 1645 or earlier is found, but it is unlikely that records later than 1710 are included. Besides vital records, there are land records, town boundaries, records of ear marks and stray animals, "warnings out," minutes of town meetings, and several indexes.

Town & Vital Records ca 1645-1701, #1-60

FICHE 1

Town & Vital Records ca 1669-1703, #60-119

FICHE 2

Town & Vital Records ca 1681-1710, #119-174

FICHE 3

Topical Index, pp 175-188

FICHE 4

Miscellaneous Index, pp 189-206

FICHE 4

Marriage Index, pp 207-208

FICHE 4

Birth Index, pp 209-212

FICHE 4

Death Index, p 213

FICHE 4

 

Copy of Bridgewater Town Records 1702-1738. Inventory #127.
This is an 1871 copy of the Second Book of Records (fiches 42-46). Births and deaths from about 1664-1816 are found, as well as marriages from about 1704-1738. Entries 1-282 are data, with each number referring to the original page. The remainder of the book, pages 285-358, is indexes. Dark ink and artistic penmanship characterize the volume. See fiches 68-72 for another copy.

Births & Deaths 1673-1807, #1-49

FICHE 5

Town Records 1698-1732, #50-64

FICHE 5

Town Records 1703-1737, 1744, 1788, 1793; #64-117

FICHE 6

Births & Deaths 1709-1812, #118-123

FICHE 6

Births & Deaths 1696-1816, #123-159

FICHE 7

Town Records 1703-1739, 1745-1751; #160-185

FICHE 7

Town Records ca 1704-1778; #185-212, 215-222, 228-238

FICHE 8

Marriages 1737-1738, #212; 1724-1738, #223-227

FICHE 8

Baptist Church Records, 1756, #213-215

FICHE 8

Town ca 1704-1756, 1783-1784, #238-248, 260-269, 279-282

FICHE 9

Marriages 1704-1726, #250-259

FICHE 9

Baptist Church Records 1753, 1756; #264-265

FICHE 9

Vital Records 1706-1770, #278-279

FICHE 9

General & Miscellaneous Indexes 1698-1793, pp 285-310

FICHE 10

Index of Persons Warned Out of Town, p 311

FICHE 11

Birth & Death Indexes 1673-1816; pp 312-342, 353-358

FICHE 11

Marriage Index 1704-1738, pp 343-352

FICHE 11

 

Copy of Bridgewater Records 1739-1784. Vol 3.
This is a copy of the Town Records 1739-1784 located on fiches 47-55. The vital records include births as early as 1715 and deaths as late as 1846. They also include marriages and intentions from about 1738 to 1786, though intentions seem to be missing for the years 1745-1752 and 1758-1760. Among the town records, the price-control policies of the day; e.g., entries #518-521, are especially interesting. Throughout the volume, the numbers preceding each set of entries refer to the page numbers from which the data was copied.

Town Records 1739-1758, 1780-1782; #1-51

FICHE 12

Town Records 1757-1773, #51-96

FICHE 13

Town Records 1773-1779, #96-133

FICHE 14

Town Records 1740-1750, 1757; #134-145

FICHE 14

Births & Deaths 1739-1814, #146-147

FICHE 14

Marriages 1766-1785, #148-154

FICHE 14

Marriages 1772-1786, 1738-1772; #155-165, 167-192

FICHE 15

Town Records 1779, #166

FICHE 15

Births & Deaths 1734-1820, #193-208

FICHE 15

Births & Deaths 1715-1823, #208-271

FICHE 16

Births & Deaths 1720-1817, #271-317

FICHE 17

Marriage Intentions 1742-1768, #318-330

FICHE 17

Marriage Intentions 1768-1774, #330-337

FICHE 18

Births & Deaths 1722-1820, #338-395

FICHE 18

Births & Deaths 1754-1846, #395-439

FICHE 19

Marriage Intentions 1774-1784, #440-455

FICHE 19

Births & Deaths 1769-1817, #456-465

FICHE 20

Town Records 1779-1784, #466-505

FICHE 20

Town Records 1784-1785, 1776, 1744; #505-522

FICHE 21

Births & Deaths 1764-1821, #522

FICHE 21

General Index ca 1739-1786, pp 528-537

FICHE 21

Name Index ca 1739-1786, pp 538-558

FICHE 21

Pauper Index ca 1739-1786, pp 559-560

FICHE 21

Birth Index by Parents 1715-1800+, pp 561-578

FICHE 22

Birth Index by Children 1715-1800+, A-P, pp 579-610

FICHE 22

Birth Index by Children 1715-1800+, P-Y, pp 611-628

FICHE 23

Marriage Intentions Index 1742-1784, pp 629-664

FICHE 23

Marriage Index 1738-1786, pp 665-701

FICHE 24

Death Index ca 1738-1846, pp 702-712

FICHE 24

 

Copy of Bridgewater Records 1785-1808. Vol 4.
This is a copy of the Fourth Book of Records on fiches 56-64. Vital data here includes marriage intentions from about 1800-1835, deaths from 1808-1823, marriages from about 1698-1835, and births and deaths by family from about 1712-1853+. Other town records extend from about 1785-18108. Numbers before each set of entries refer to pages in the original volume.

Marriage Intentions 1806-1812, #1-6

FICHE 25

Town Records 1785-1789, #7-#31

FICHE 25

Town Records 1789-1794, #31-67

FICHE 26

Marriage Intentions 1813-1815; #44-45, 50-51

FICHE 26

Deaths 1820-1823, #66

FICHE 26

Town Records 1794-1798, #67-100

FICHE 27

Deaths 1808-1819, #73

FICHE 27

Marriage Intentions 1816-1819; #74, 87, 89, 97

FICHE 27

Town Records 1798-1802, #100-129

FICHE 28

Marriage Intentions 1819-1820, #110 (460)

FICHE 28

Town Records 1802-1808, #129-165

FICHE 29

Marriage Intentions 1800-1801, #164-165

FICHE 29

Marriage Intentions 1801-1805, 1785-1800; #165-189

FICHE 30

Marriages 1782-1790, #190-196

FICHE 30

Marriages 1785-1805, 1774-1777; #196-208

FICHE 31

Marriages 1801-1827, #209-227

FICHE 31

Marriages 1827-1830, #228-229

FICHE 32

Births & Deaths by Family 1765-1842, #230-305

FICHE 32

Births & Deaths by Family 1764-1844, #306-399

FICHE 33

Births & Deaths by Family 1712-1853+, #399-457

FICHE 34

Births & Deaths by Family 1718-1843, #457-459, 481-485

FICHE 35

Marriage Intentions 1820-1835, #460-470

FICHE 35

Marriages 1830-1835, #473-474

FICHE 35

Out-of-Town Marriages 1698-1799, #487-518

FICHE 35

General Index, pp 519-520, 527-548

FICHE 36

Intentions Index A-P, pp 549-582

FICHE 36

Intentions Index P-Y, pp 583-597

FICHE 37

Marriage Index, pp 597-638

FICHE 37

Birth Index by Parent, pp 639-656

FICHE 38

Birth Index by Children, pp 656-695

FICHE 38

Death Index, pp 696-702

FICHE 39

Pauper Index, p 703

FICHE 39

Index of Those Performing Marriages, pp 703-705

FICHE 39

Marriages & Indexes 1759-1783, 1788-1843, pp 706-733

FICHE 39

 

Records of Bridgewater 1656-1702. Vol 1. Inventory #191.
This appears to be the First Book of Records. The old-style writing in these original records is a challenge to decipher. Dates earlier than 1645 and later than 1702 may be recorded. See fiches 1-4 and 65-67 for copies and indexes of this book.

Table of Contents

FICHE 40

Town & Vital Records 1645-1702, pp 1-82

FICHE 40

Town & Vital Records 1645-1702, pp 83-174

FICHE 41

 

Bridgewater Second Book of Records, 1702-1738.
In this original volume, some page edges are badly faded. See the transcripts on fiches 5-11 and 68-72. Vital records include births and deaths from about 1664-1816 (pages 1-49, 118-159, 255, 277-278) and marriages from about 1704-1738 (scattered from pages 212-280). An index of most of the births and deaths is found on pages 281-298. The remaining town records include town meetings, "warnings out", stray animals, church certificates 1753-1757, proprietors records (pages 228-229, 266-277) and court records. Of special interest, on page 211, is a notice of intent to free a slave girl, Phebee.

Town & Vital Records 1664-1793, pp 1-61

FICHE 42

Town & Vital Records ca 1699-1812; pp 62-127

FICHE 43

Vital & Town Records ca 1696-1816; pp 128-185

FICHE 44

Town & Vital Records 1683-1806, pp 186-245

FICHE 45

Town & Vital Records 1704-1770, pp 246-299

FICHE 46

 

Bridgewater Town Records 1739-1784. Book 3. 522 pages. Inventory #95.
The dates of 1739-1784 listed in the title apply mostly to town records, marriages and banns of matrimony. For some of those years, however, the banns may be missing; i.e., 1745-1752 and 1758-1760. Births (and scant, associated deaths) span a greater time period, about 1715-1821+, though most births seem to occur before 1800. Later records, some as late as 1842 and 1846, generally are deaths. An obscure town record is a list of 1744 jurors on page 522. Items of special interest are the Declaration of Independence on pages 515-518 and a long list of price-controlled goods and services on pages 518-521. See transcripts on fiches 12-24 and 73-74.

Table of Contents

FICHE 47

Town Records 1739-1761, 1780-1784; pp 1-55

FICHE 47

Town Records 1762-1777, pp 56-115

FICHE 48

Town Records 1777-1779, 1740-1749, 1757; pp 116-145

FICHE 49

Births & Deaths 1721-1820; pp 146-147, 193-233

FICHE 50

Marriages 1738-1786, pp 148-192

FICHE 50

Town Records 1779, p 166

FICHE 50

Births & Deaths 1715-1821+, pp 234-291

FICHE 51

Births & Deaths 1733-1820; pp 292-317, 338-349

FICHE 52

Marriage Banns 1742-1773; pp 318-337

FICHE 52

Births & Deaths 1722-1816; pp 350-409

FICHE 53

Births & Deaths 1752-1821+; pp 410-439, 456-465

FICHE 54

Marriage Banns 1774-1784, pp 440-455

FICHE 54

Town Records 1779, pp 466-467

FICHE 54

Town Records 1779-1784, pp 468-511

FICHE 55

Marriage Banns 1784-1785, pp 512-513

FICHE 55

Declaration of Independence 1776, pp 515-518

FICHE 55

Price Controls, pp 518-521

FICHE 55

Births & Deaths 1764-1774, 1815-1821; p 522

FICHE 55

 

Bridgewater Records 1785-1808. Book 4. 518 pages.
Included in this book are births and deaths from about 1712-1855+, marriages from about 1698-1833, and marriage intentions from 1785-1835. Page numbers seems to skip from 309-340. Also, there are two indexes to births and deaths--one at the beginning and the other at the end of the book. Both seem incomplete; e.g., neither index pages 66, 73, 309-340 nor 404-414.  See transcript on fiches 25-39.

Birth & Death Index for pp 398-403, 415-459, 481-485

FICHE 56

Marriage Intentions 1806-1812, pp 1-6

FICHE 56

Town Records 1785-1788, pp 7-23

FICHE 56

Town Records 1788-1796; pp 24-44, 46-50, 52-83

FICHE 57

Marriage Intentions 1813-1816, pp 44-45, 50-51, 74-75

FICHE 57

Deaths 1808-1823, pp 66, 73

FICHE 57

Town Records 1796-1804, pp 84-96, 98-143

FICHE 58

Marriage Intentions 1817-1820, pp 87, 89, 97, 110

FICHE 58

Town Records 1805-1808, pp 144-163

FICHE 59

Marriage Intentions 1785-1805, pp 164-189

FICHE 59

Marriages 1782-1797, pp 190-203

FICHE 59

Marriages 1795-1830, pp 204-229

FICHE 60

Births & Deaths 1767-1823, pp 230-263

FICHE 60

Births & Deaths 1759-1834, pp 264-353

FICHE 61

Births & Deaths 1760-1838, 1843, pp 354-411

FICHE 62

Births & Deaths 1712-1855, 1869, 1887, pp 412-459

FICHE 63

Marriage Intentions 1820-1835, pp 460-470

FICHE 63

Marriages 1830-1833, pp 473-474

FICHE 64

Births & Deaths 1718-1843, pp 481-485, 486

FICHE 64

Births & Deaths Index to pp 230-308, 341-431

FICHE 64

Out-of-Town Marriages 1698-1799, pp 487-518

FICHE 64

 

Copy of Bridgewater Records 1656-1739. Inventory #168.
Though most of this volume is an annotated copy of data from the First Book of Records (fiches 40-41), data after 1702 seems to be original. There are a couple of entries earlier than 1656; e.g., 1641 on page 96. Most of the ink is especially bright and easy to read. A partial index is found on page 175. See fiches 1-4 for another copy and more indexing.

Copy of Town & Vital Records 1641-1710, pp 1-55

FICHE 65

Copy of Town & Vital Records 1641-1710, pp 56-115

FICHE 66

Copy of Town & Vital Records 1641-1710, pp 116-175

FICHE 67

 

Copy of Bridgewater Town Records 1702-1739. Book 2. Inventory #94.
Compare this copy of the Second Book of Records with the original record (fiches 42-46) and another copy (fiches 5-11). Found here are vital records from about 1664-1808 and other town records from about 1698-1808.

Vital Records 1664-1808, pp 1-47

FICHE 68

Vital Records 1703-1776+; pp 48-49, 118-121

FICHE 69

Town Records 1698-1745, 1788-1793; pp 50-117

FICHE 69

Vital Records 1696-1792+, pp 122-159

FICHE 70

Town Records 1703-1751, pp 160-181

FICHE 70

Town Records 1694-1806, pp 182-241

FICHE 71

Marriages 1724-1738, pp 212, 223-227

FICHE 71

Church Record 1756, p 213-215

FICHE 71

Town & Vital Records 1704-1783, pp 242-282

FICHE 72

Marriages 1704-1725, pp 250-259

FICHE 72

Church Records 1753-1756, pp 264-265

FICHE 72

Index of pp 1-159, 211, 216, 220, 244, 250 on pp 281-282

FICHE 72

 

Bridgewater Meetings 1739-1740, Births & Marriages 1727-1842. Inv #126.
Except for the last two pages (1689 land records) and a few other entries, this book seems to be a transcript, possibly of parts of Book 3 (fiches 47-55). The town records are sparse; they consist of scant data for 1739-1740, 1748-1749, 1757 and 1779-1881. Blank pages include 6-142 and 168-191.

Town Records 1739-1781; pp 1-5, 143-145, 166

FICHE 73

Births & Deaths 1734-1820; pp 146-147, 193-211

FICHE 73

Marriages 1766-1786, 1738-1740; pp 148-165, 167, 192

FICHE 73

Births & Deaths 1707, 1715-1824+; pp 212-264

FICHE 74

Land Records 1689, pp 231-232

FICHE 74