History of West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, USA

West Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Plymouth county. This is the second daughter of the venerable Bridgewater, who found it difficult to find names for her progeny. This daughter was born in 1822, and although not so stout as her sisters, is healthy, comely and industrious. The manufactures of West Bridgewater consist of iron castings, shovels, forks, hoes, ploughs, boots and shoes: annual value, about $100,000. West Bridgewater is supplied with mill privileges by a branch of Taunton river, and is 25 miles S. from Boston, 19 N.W. from Plymouth, and 9 N.N.E. from Taunton. The number of her children in 1837, was 1,145; increase in 7 years, 103.

In 1820, ancient Bridgewater contained 5,662 children: the whole family, in 1837, consisted of 7,865 members.

This town was the oldest settlement of Ancient Bridgewater, and the first interior settlement in the colony of Plymouth.

A branch of Taunton River gives it some valuable mill sites.

The inhabitants valiantly defended the town in Philip's War, and suffered less than many that were less exposed. It has manufactures of shoes and iron.

Distance from Plymouth, 19 miles ; from Boston, 25.

West Bridgewater, a post-township in Plymouth co., Massachusetts, on Fall River railroad, 26 miles S. from Boston. Pop., 1447.

West Bridgewater, one of our oldest settlements, is situated in the northwesterly part of Plymouth County, 25 miles south of Boston. The main line of the Old Colony Railroad skirts the eastern border, with stations at Matfield and Satucket; sending from the former a branch to Easton, which bas stations at West Bridgewater centre and Cochesett. The last two places and Matfield are the post-offices. The other village is Jerusalem.

The town is bounded on the north by Brockton, on the east by East Bridgewater, on the south by Bridgewater, and on the west by Easton. The assessed area is 9,822 acres; of which 2,890 are wood-land, containing pine, maple, oak and birch. The underlying rock is sienitic and carboniferous. The surface is remarkably even, with a gentle inclination toward the south. Nearly 1,000 acres are in swale, or wet meadow, which produces a valuable hay-crop. The soil is generally a sandy loam. The town is drained by Salisbury-Plain River in the northeastern, Town River...

West Bridgewater, a post-village in West Bridge- water township (town), Plymouth co., Mass., on the New York, New Haven and Hartford R., 25 miles S. of Boston. It has an iron-foundry, etc. Pop. of the town in 1900, 1711 ; of the village, about 750.