|
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
|
