Bridgewater, Plymouth Co., MA
Extracted from
Vital Records of Bridgewater, Massachusetts
to the Year 1850
1916
Transcribed by Coralynn Brown
EXPLANATIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
1. The fact that a birth, marriage, or death is recorded in Bridgewater does
not prove that it occurred in this town; but when places other than
Birdgewater and Massachusetts are name in the original records, they are
given in the printed copy.
2. In all items from town records the original spelling is followed, and no
attempt is made to correct errors appearing in the records.
3. The various spelling of a name should be examined, as items about the
same family or individual may be found under different spellings.
4. A baptism is not printed, if it occurs within one year after the recorded
date of birth of a child of the same name and parents or if it is clear that
the child baptized is identical with the child of the birth record; but
variations found in the baptismal record are added to the birth record.
5. The birth of a married woman is recorded under her maiden name, if it is
known. But if the maiden name cannot be determined, the entry appears under
the husband's name, with a dash enclosed in brackets, i.e., [______], to
signify that the maiden name is unknown. If it is not known, whether the
surname is that of a married or unmarried woman, ? is placed in brackets
after the Christian name.
6. Marriages and intentions of marriage are printed under the names of both
parties. When both the marriage and intention of marriage are recorded, only
the marriage record is printed; and where a marriage appears without the
intention being recorded, it is designated with an asterisk.
7. Additional information which does not appear in the original text of an
item, i.e., any explanation, query, inference, or difference shown in other
entires of the record, is bracketed. Parenthesis are used to show variations
in the spelling of a name in the same entry, to indicate the maiden name of a
wife, to enclose an imperfect portion of the original text, and to separate
clauses in the original text.
8. In addition to this book the vital records of Brockton, West Bridgewater,
and East Bridgewater should be examined.
NOTE: (by cb)....this was published in Boston in 1916.
a. - age
abt. - about
b. - born
bp. - baptized
bur. - buried
ch. - child
chn. - children
C.R.1.- church record, Unitarian Church
C.R.2.- church record, Trinity Church
C.R.3.- church record, Central Square Congregational Church
C.R.4.- church record, Scotland Trinitarian Congragational Church
C.R.5.- church record, Church of the New Jerusalem
Co. - county
d. - daughter; day; died
Dea. - deacon
dec'd - deceased
dup. - duplicate entry
Eld. - Elder
enl. - enlisted
Ens. - Ensign
G.R.I.- gravestone record, Mount Prospect Cemetery
G.R.2.- gravestone record, Pratt-town Cemetery
G.R.3.- gravestone record, Cherry Street or Harlow Cemetery
G.R.4.- gravestone record, Conant Street Cemetery
G.R.5.- gravestone record, Hillside Cemetery
G.R.6.- gravestone record, Scotland Graveyard
G.R.7.- gravestone record, Old Graveyard
G.R.8.- gravestone record, Alden or Vernon Street Graveyard (Titicut)
G.R.9.- gravestone record, Keith or South Street Graveyard (Titicut)
G.R.10- gravestone record, Trinity Church Graveyard
G.R.11- gravestone record, Japan Graveyard
G.R.12- gravestone record, Great Woods Graveyard
G.R.13- gravestone record, Small Pox Graveyards
h. - husband
hrs. - hours
inf. - infant
int. - publishment of intention of marriage
Jr. - junior
Lt. - Lieutenant
m. - married, month
min. - minutes
P.C.R.- Plymouth County Records
P.R.I. - private record, from a record kept by the Rev. Richard M. Hodges,
now in the possession of the South Parish Church
P.R.2.- private record, from a record of burials in the Scotland Graveyard
P.R.3.- private record, from a record of burials in the South Precinct
Burying Place, kept by Lt. John Washburn, 1739-1797
P.R.4 - private record, from a record of deaths kept from 1766 to 1820 by
Oliver Alden, and from 1820 to 1846 by his son, Caleb Alden, and grandson,
Comwell Alden, or members of the family now in the possession of the
Bridgewater Public Library.
P.R.5. - private record, from an Ames family Bible, now in the possession of
Fisher Ames of Bridgewater.
P.R.6. - private record from a Keith family Bible, now in the possession of
Henry A. Keith of Bridgewater.
P.R.7.- private record, from the Salmon Keith family Bible, now in the
possession of Henry A. Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.8.- private record, from a Wilbor family Bible, now in the possession of
Henry A. Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.9. - private record, copied from the Israel Richmond family Bible and
now in the possession of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
P.R.10 - private record, copied from the Job H. Johnson family Bible and now
in the possession of the New England Historic Genealogical Society
P.R.11 - private record, from the Calvin B. Pratt family Bible, now in the
possession of Dr. Calvin Pratt of Bridgewater.
P.R.12 - private record, from the Jonathan Washburn family Bible, now in the
possession of Dr. Calvin Pratt of Bridgewater.
P.R.13 - private record, from the Jacob Perkins family Bible, now in the
possession of Dr. Calvin Pratt of Bridgewater
P.R.14 - private record, from the Packard family Bible, now in the
possession of Harrison D. Packard of Bridgewater
P.R.15 - private record, from a Packard family Bible, now in the possession
of Harrison D. Packard of Bridgewater
P.R.16 - private record from a Mitchell family Bible, now in the possession
of Leonard Mitchell of Bridgewater
P.R.17 - private record, from a Wilbar family Bible, now in the possession
of Mrs. Fred T. Holmes of Bridgewater
P.R.18 - private record, from a Holmes family Bible, now in the possession
of Mrs. Fred T. Holmes of Bridgewater
P.R.19 - private record, from a Hayward family Bible, now in the possession
of Mrs. Joseph H. Smith of Bridgewater
P.R.20 - private record, from the Walker Gassett family Bible, now in the
possession of Fred N. Gassett of Bridgewater
P.R.21 - private record, from a Mitchell family Bible, now in the possession
of Leonard Mitchell of Bridgewater
P.R.22 - private record, from the Bible of Mrs. Horatio B. King, now in the
possession of Mrs. Edward M. Alden of Bridgewater
P.R.23 - private record, from the Aretas Fobes family Bible, now in the
possession of Paul O. Clark of Bridgewater
P.R.24 - private record, from the Joshua Bates family Bible, now in the
possession of Miss Catharine Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.25 - private record, from the family Bible of Andrew Tucker of
Middleborough, now in the possession of Miss Catharine Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.26 - private record, from a family record of Nathaniel Tucker of
Middleborough, now in the possession of Miss Catharine Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.27 - private record, from the Snell-Carver family Bible, now in the
possession of Francis Carver of Bridgewater
P.R.28 - private record, from a Keith family Bible, now in the possession of
Samuel David Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.29 - private record, from a Wood family Bible, now in the possession of
Mrs. Martin Wood of Bridgewater
P.R.30 - private record, from a Benson family Bible, now in the possession
of Zeno Benson of Bridgewater
P.R.31 - private record, from the Ephraim Edson family Bible, now in the
possession of Zeno Benson of Bridgewater
P.R.32 - private record, from a Leonard family Bible, now in the possession
of Mrs. Samuel L. Leonard of Bridgewater
P.R.33 - private record, from a Bryant family Bible, now in the possession
of Charles L. Bryant of Bridgewater
P.R.34 - private record, from the Eleazer Carver family Bible, now in the
possession of Calvin B. Carver of Bridgewater
P.R.35 - private record, copied from a memorial of Ephraim Keith's family
and now in the possession of the New England Historic Genealogical Society
P.R. 36 - private record, from a manuscript of Dr. Nahum Washburn, now in
the possession of Miss Clara S. Washburn of Bridgewater
P.R.37 - private record, from a Fobes family Bible, now in the possession of
Albert W. Fobes of Bridgewater
P.R.38 - private record, from a Keith family Bible, now in the possession of
Wales Hayward of Bridgewater
P.R.39 - private record, from the Daniel L. Hayward family Bible, now in the
possession of Wales Hayward of Bridgewater
P.R.40 - private record, from the Daniel Leach family Bible, now in the
possession of Wales Hayward of Bridgewater
P.R.41 - private record, from the Washington L. Ames family Bible, now in
the possession of Miles S. Ames of Bridgewater
P.R.42 - private record, from a Leach family Bible, now in the possession of
Henry Clarence Leach of Bridgewater
P.R.43 - private record, from the Alpheus Leach family Bible, now in the
possession of Henry Clarence Leach of Bridgewater
P.R.44 - private record, from a Holmes family Bible, now in the possession
of William Holmes of Boston
P.R.45 - private record, from the Laban Fobes family Bible, now in the
possession of Fremont J. Turner of Bridgewater
P.R.46 - private record, from the family Bible of Cornelius Holmes 3d, now
in the possession of Fremont J. Turner of Bridgewater
P.R.47 - private record, from a Keith family Bible, now in the possession of
Oliver Otis Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.48 - private record, from the Simeon M. Bump family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Alexander K. Ripley of Bridgewater
P.R.49 - private record, from the Solomon Keith family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Julia A. Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.50 - private record, from the Levi Leach family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Solomon Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.51- private record, from a Keith family Bible, now in the possession of
Mrs. Solomon Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.52 - private record, from the Sumner Keith family Bible, now in the
possession of Chester P. Keith of Bridgwater
P.R.53 - private record, from the John A. Keith family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Frederick T. LeBaron of Bridgewater
P.R.54 - private record, from the Joseph Hooper family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. George M. Hooper of Bridgewater
P.R.55 - private record, from the Paul Revere family Bible, now in the
possession of Miss Lizzie Revere of Bridgewater
P.R.56 - private record, from a Wilbar family Bible, now in the possession
of Mrs. Theodore C. Wilbar of Bridgewater
P.R.57 - private record, from a Burt family Bible, now in the possession of
Mrs. Matthias T. Burt of Bridgewater
P.R.58 - private record, from an Alden family Bible, now in the possession
of Joseph Thomas Alden of Bridgewater
P.R.59 - private record, from the family Bible of Caleb Hobart, now in the
possession of his son, Artemas Hale Hobart of Bridgewater
P.R.60 - private record, from the family Bible of Thomas Ellis, now in the
possession of his grandson, Artemus Hale Hobart of Bridgewater
P.R.61 - private record, from the Charles Jones family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Isaac R. Alden of Bridgewater
P.R.62 - private record, from the family Bible of Caleb Keith, now in the
possession of his granddaughter, Mrs. Isaac R. Alden of Bridgewater
P.R.63 - private record, from the James S. Alden family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Isaac R. Alden of Bridgewater
P.R.64 - private record, from a Perkins family Bible, now in the possession
of Mrs. Henry Perkins of Bridgewater
P.R.65 - private record, from a Hall family Bible, now in the possession of
Mrs. Asa E. Copeland of Bridgewater
P.R.66 - private record, from the Isaac Alden family Bible, now in the
possession of Elijah F. Andrews of Bridgewater
P.R.67 - private record, from the Benjamin B. Hayward family Bible, now in
the possession of Benjamin F. Hayward of Bridgewater
P.R.68 - private record, from a Pierce family Bible, now in the possession
of Mrs. Hannah Wade of Bridgewater
P.R.69 - private record, from a Dunbar family record, now in the possession
of Miss Mary Anne Mitchell Dunbar of Bridgewater
P.R.70 - private record, from a Mitchell family Bible, now in the possession
of Miss Mary Anne Mitchell Dunbar of Bridgewater
P.R.71 - private record, from the Simon W. Mitchell family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. C.E. Caswell of Bridgewater
P.R.72 - private record, from a Seaver family Bible, now in the possession
of Mrs. Mary Allen Hewett of Bridgewater
P.R.73 - private record, from the Bela Mitchell family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Mary Allen Hewett of Bridgewater
P.R.74 - private record, from a Mitchell-Cary family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Mary Allen Hewett of Bridgewater
P.R.75 - private record, from the George Bassett family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Mary F. Conant of Bridgewater
P.R.76 - private record, from the Seth Pratt family Bible, now in the
possession of Frederick Crane Pratt of Bridgewater
P.R.77 - private record, from the Samuel H. Worcester family Bible, now in
the possession of Mrs. Elizabeth ___ Worcester of Bridgewater
P.R.78 - private record, from a Townsend family Bible, now in the
possesssion of John P. Townsend of Bridgewater
P.R.79 - private record, from a Bela Fobes family record, now in the
possession of Mrs. Ella Maria Eaton of Bridgewater
P.R.80 - private record, from a Bassett family Bible, now in the possesssion
of Nathan A. Bassett of Bridgewater
P.R.81 - private record, from the Spencer Leonard family Bible, now in the
possession of Miss Cora C. Leonard of Bridgewater
P.R.82 - private record, from the Richard Whitmore Wilber family Bible, now
in the possession of Richard Whitmore Wilber of Bridgewater
P.R.83 - private record, from the William Hooper family Bible, now in the
possession of William R. Hooper of Bridgewater
P.R.84 - private record, from the Cyrus Hooper family Bible, now in the
possession of William R. Hooper of Bridgewater
P.R.85 - private record, from a Thomas family Bible, now in the possesssion
of Mrs. James F. Witherell of Bridgewater
P.R.86- private record, from the John Crooker family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. James F. Witherell of Bridgewater
P.R.87- private record, from the Bible of Jemima Leonard, now in the
possession of Mrs. Anna W. Bates of Bridgewater
P.R.88 - private record, from the Bible of Seth Washburn, now in the
possession of Mrs. Anna W. Bates of Bridgewater
P.R.89 - private record, from a Pratt family Bible, now in the possession of
E. Austin Pratt of Bridgewater
P.R.90 - private record, from a Wentworth family Bible, now in the
possession of Miss Annie C. E. Wentworth of Bridgewater
P.R.91 - private record, from the Samuel Ward Bates family Bible, now in the
possession of Samuel Ward Washburn of Bridgewater
P.R.92 - private record, from the Edward Mitchell family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Samuel Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.93 - private record, from the Caleb Christian family Bible, now in the
possession of Miss Lucia L. Christian of Bridgewater
P.R.94 - private record, from the Bible of Mrs. Experience Pratt, now in the
possession of Mrs. F.E. Smith of West Somerville
P.R.95 - private record, from the Nahum Stetson family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. Mary L. Stetson of Bridgewater
P.R.96 - private record, from a Hunt-Washburn family Bible, now in the
possession of Arthur C. Dyke of Bridgewater
P.R.97- private record, from the Bible of Elijah Alden, now in the
possession of Ebenezer Alden of Campello
P.R.98 - private record, from the Bible of Lewis G. Lowe, now in the
possession of Dr. Everett Jones of Brookline
P.R.99 - private record, from the Bible of Seth Wilber, now in the
possession of Henry A. Keith of Bridgewater
P.R.100- private record, from a family Bible of Francis Copeland, now in the
possession of Mrs. Albert Fobes of Bridgewater
P.R.101- private record, from the Thomas Sherman family Bible, now in the
possession of Mrs. George W. Chamberlain of Malden
P.R.102- private record, from a notebook of Timothy Fobes of Bridgewater,
now in the possession of Henry D. Forbes of Boston and printed in Pilgrim
Notes and Queries, volume 2, number 10.
P.R.103- private record, from "Marriages in the Town of Bridgewater previous
to its Division", printed in New England Historic and Genealogical Register,
volume 21.
P.R.104- private record, from a copy of the town records of Bridgewater,
printed in 1889 under the title "Records of John Cary, The first town clerk
of Bridgewater, Mass. from 1656 to 1681."
P.R.105- private record, from a diary of Nathan Mitchell, son of Hon. Nathan
Mitchell and Anne Cary, kept between 1786 and 1833, now in the possession of
the New England Historic Genealogical Society
P.R.106- private record, copied from a record of deaths kept by Rev. Isaac
Backus and his grandson, Joseph A. Backus, and now in the possession of the
New England Historic Genealogical Society. The record by Joseph A. Backus is
of deaths in Titicut, a parish which included parts of Bridgewater and
Middleborough
P.R.107- private record, from a framed record in the possession of the New
England Historical Genealogical Society.
q.v. - which see; whom see
R.R. - Rebellion Record
rec. - recorded
s. - son
Sr. - senior
T.C. - town copy
w. - week; wife
wid. - widow
widr. - widower
y. - year