The township of Bridgewater was formed by letters patent from George II dated April 4, 1749, and it is without doubt the only official "letters patent" for the formation of any township in the county of Somerset of which any record is kept. This charter was in the possession of the township clerk until within about two years, but is now missing. It is written on parchment, and, fortunately, a copy was made some years ago by Dr. A. Messier for his "History of Somerset County," and is here given Sig PROVINCE Nostrae. NOVA Ceserea IN Amirica.

George the Second by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the faith, ate., TO ALL to whom these presents shall come GREETING. Know that we of our Especial Grace Certain knowledge and Mere Motion Have Given and Granted, and by these presents do give end Grant for us our Heirs and Successors to the Townships of the South or moat part of the Northern Precinct of our County of Somerset in our Province of New Jersey within the following boundaries, to wit. Beginning at the mouth of Bound Brook where it Emties Into Raritan, thence up the mid Bound Brook to the mouth of Green Brook; thence up the said Brook to the King's Road at Lawrence Bath's Mill, thence northerly up the said Road to the Top of the Second Mountain, thence westerly along the top of the mid Mountain to the Gap by Jacob Brewer, thence down the said Gap to Chambers' Brook by McDonald's Mill, thence down the said Brook to the North Branch thence up the said Branch to Leomatoug to the Division Line between East and West Jersey, thence along said Line to the South Branch of Raritan River, thence up said Branch to the month of the North Branch of said River, thence down said Raritan to the place where it began To be and remain a Perpetual township and Community, In word and in Deed to be called and known by the name of the Township of Bridgewater. AND we FURTHER GRANT to the Inhabitants of the township aforesaid and their successors, and to choose annually a constable, overseers of the poor, and overseers of the highway for the township aforesaid, and to enjoy all the Privileges, Rights, Liberties, and Immunities that any other township in our said Province do or may of Right enjoy, and the said Inhabitants are hereby Constituted and appointed a Township by the name aforesaid-To HAVE, HOLD AND ENJOY the privileges aforesaid to them and their successors forever. In TESTIMONY whereof we have Caused these our Letters to be made Patent and the Grant Seal of our said province of New Jersey to be hereunto affixed.
Witness Our Trusty and well-beloved Jonathan Belcher, Esq., our Captain-General and Governor-In-Chief in and over His Majesties Province of Nova Ceserea or New Jersey and Territories thereon depending in America, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral in the same, etc., at our City, of Burlington in our mid Province the fourth day of April in the twenty-second year of our Reign, Anne Dom MDCCXLIX.
"(Signed) READ.
" Let the Great Seal of the Province of New Jersey be taxed to the within Letters Patent.
" To the Secretary of the Province of New Jersey,
" J. BELCHER."

The first book of record of the township is mostly preserved, from the organization till 1808. The leaves that contain the record of the election of officers of 1749 and 1750 are gone, and the first that appears is of an election held on March 12, 1751, as follows

" The TOWNSHIP OF BRIDGEWATER 1750.
" At a Meeting Held this 12 Day of March, 1750, att the House of George Middagh, by the Inhabitants aforesaid, for Chusing officers according to the patent Granted aforesaid and cording to an act of assembly provided for that purpose, John Brought, Clark; Daniel Blackford, Constable; Matthew Ten Eyck and son, Richard Compton, Overseers of the Pour; Henry Stevens, John Venom, Freeholders; Thomas Anther, Jun., Lucas Tipple, John Harris, Lucas Belyon, Commissioners, of which two Is to be choesing by ye Court; Francis Cosset, Assessor for the Township; Tobias Van Norden, Collector for aforesaid; Hendrick Van Stay and Abraham Bodine, Isaac's Son, Assessors for the Poor.
" Overseers of ye Highways for ye year 1751, For Overseers of the Highway: Harper Hoes, In the room of Frederick Bodine; Edward Hall, In the room of Richard Hall; Samuel Staats Coejeman,In the room of Jeremiah Van Neat; James Wilson, In the room of Andis Cossine; Andris Ten Eyck, Jun., In the room of Wm.. McKinney; Rynear Van Nest, In the room of Jerry Reamer; Power Anther, In the Drum of John Neilsen; Denise Tunison, In the room of Folkert Sebring; John Sebring, Jun'r, In the room of Joseph Goiter."

The following is a list-of township officers as far as Can be ascertained. From 1808 to 1854 the town records are lost, but for that period a few names have been obtained from other official sources; from 1854 to 1880 from the record of the township board.

TOWNSHIP CLERKS.
1752-57, John Bronghton; 1156-88, Jacob Van Norstrandt; 1789-1808, John Brokaw, Jr.; 1824, Dickinson Miller; 1827, Thomas Talmage; 1844-35, James Van Derveer; 1836-37, Aaron Van Natta; 1838, A. 0. Mollison;1839-41, P. T. E. Tunison;1854-65, John W. Taylor; 1956-58, James Bergen; 1859-61, James T. Van Derveer;1862-63, John I Van Derveer; 1664-65, John H. Bunn; 1886, John I. Bergen; 1867, Colin R. Covely; 1868-69, Caleb Brokaw; 1870-75, Matthew Van Derveer;1876, A P. Sutphin; 1877, Eugene S. Doughty, Jr.;1878-79, Cornelins Vanderbeek; 1860, W. W. Dorland.

FREEHOLDERS.
1752-57, William Crook, John Vroom;1757-61, William Crook, Matthew Ten Eyck, Andrew's Son; 1764-68, Aaron Lane, Peter Van Nest, North Branch; 1766-69, Aaron Lane, Peter Dumon; 1770, Peter Dumon, James Castner; 1771-75, Samuel St. Coejman, James Castner; 1775-76, Edward Bunn, William Lane; 1777-80, William Lane, John Symonson; 1781,Thomas Farmer, Hendrick D. Vroom;1782-83, Thomas Farmer, John Symonson; 1784, Matthias Baker, John Symonson; 1785-86, Thomas McEirath, John Symonson; 1787-88, Jonathan F Morris, George B. Van Nest; 1789-92, John Elmendorph, Jonathan F. Morris; 1792, John Hardenburgh, John Elmendorph; 1792-95, Jonathan F. Morris, John Elmendorph; 1795, John Hardenburgh, Richard Hall; 1796, John Elmendorph, John Hardenburgh;1797-98 George McDonald, John Hardenburgh; 1799, John Elmendorph, George McDonald;1800, Dickinson Miller, John Elmendorph; 1801-2, John Elmendorph, John Frelinghuysen; 1803-4, John Frellinguy-een, Jacob De Groot; 1805-8, Jacob Do Groot, Jacob Ten Eyck; 1808, Cornelins Van Horne, Jacob Ten Eyck; 1624, Andrew A. Ten Eyck, Charles Toms; 1834, Cornelins Waldron, James Martin; 1839, Henry Van Middlesworth, Peter Van Nuys; 1854-56, John C. Garretson; 1857-58, Simeon Dunn; 1869, Eugene S. Doughty; 1860-61, Jacob Long; 1862-64, Joshua Martin; 1865-67, John It Paraells; 1668, Samuel M. Tunison; 1869, John McBride; 1873-74, James T. Cox; 1675, Joseph McBride; 1876, AM, R. Dilts; 1877-78, Joseph McBride; 1879-60, John D. Voorhees.

COLLECTORS.
1752-58, Tobias Van Norden; 1754-55, Hendrick Fisher, Jr.; 1756-72, Jacob Van Norstrand; 1773, Jacob Ten Eyck, Jr.; 1774, William Lane; 1775-84, Peter Demon, Jr.; 1785-86, John Hardenburgh (let); 1787-96, Philip Van Arsdalen; 1797, Jonathan Ford Morris; 1798-1800, Philip Van Arsdalen; 1801-7, Henry Van Derveer; 1808, John Brokaw; 1824, John H. Voorhees.; 1834-35, N. V. Steele; 1837-39, Denny S. Hall; 1640-41, John H. Voorhees; 1854, Simeon Dunn; 1855-57, John Hardcastle; 1856-60, John I. Todd; 1861, Kortenius G. Schenck; 1862-63, George W. Reed; 1864-66, Orson C. Cone; 1667, Walter Cammann; 1869, Aaron C. Martin; 1871-80, John S. Ammerman.

TOWN COMMITTEE.
1798-99, Jacob De Grote, Benjamin Harris, Garret Tunison, Peter Studdiford, Richard Hall; 1800, George McDonald, Thomas Talmage, Joseph Doty, John Simonson, Garret Tunison; 1801, Garret Tunison, John Simonson, Joseph Doty, Thomas Talmage, George McDonald, Edward Elmendorf; 1602, Thomas Nesbitt, Garret Tonison, George McDonald, Joseph Doty, John Simonson; 1803, Andrew Howell, Joseph Doty, George McDonald, Garret Tunison, Thomas Nesbitt; 1804-5, General Morris, John W. Hall, Edward Randolph, Philip H. Van Arsdalen, Garret Probasco; 1606, Dr. Morris, Garret Probasco, Philip Van Arsdalen, Andrew Howell, John W. Hall; 1807, Dr. Morris, Joseph Molleson, Philip Van Arsdalen, Andrew Howell, John Brokaw; 1808, Dr. Morris, Israel Runyan, Philip H. Van Arsdalen, Daniel Latourette, John Wyckoff; 1824, Cornelins Van Derveer, George Vosseller, Absalom Martin, John Ross, Charles Toms; 1825, Ferdinand Van Derveer, Cornelins Van Derveer, George Vosseller, John Frelinghuysen, Cornelins Van Horn ; 1826. J. Frelinghuysen, Cornelins Van Horn, Cornelius Van Derveer, John Ross, Absalom Martin; 1827, Cornelins Van Derveer, John Ross, Absolute Martin, George Vosseller, John Wyckoff; 1828-29, Cornelins Van Derveer, Absolute Martin, Peres Bonney, Garret Ditman, John Wyckoff; 1830-32, Cornelius Van Derveer, John Frelinghuysen, Peres Bonney, Henry Tunison, John Wyckoff, Jr.; 1893, Author Schenck, Peter Van Nuys, Job. Rosh, Robert Cross, Edward Campbell; 1834-35, Dennis Hall, Peter R. Hall, Robert Cross, John Ross, Edward Camp bell; 1636, Abram Quick, Peter R. Hall, Peeves Bonney, N. G. Steele 1637, Above Quick, Peter N. Hall, N. G. Steels, 8. K. Martin, Pare, Bonney; 1838, Abram Quick, Jonathan Higgins, John Steele, Jr., John C. Garretson, Samuel K. Martin; 1639, Aaron J. Auten, Jonathan Higgins, John C. Garretson, John Stashes Jr., Samuel K. Martin; 1840, Samuel Hall, Aaron J. Art.., John C. Garretson, John Steele, Jr., Samuel K. Martin; 1841, Aaron J. Amen, Samuel Hall, Job. R. Staats, Kortenius G. Schenck, Cornelius Sebring; 1554, John M. Mann, Archibald C. Mollison, Charles G. Wilson; 1855, John M. Mann, Charles G. Wilson, William N. Adair; 1856, John M. Mann, Charles G. Wilson, Kortenius G. Schenck; 1657-58, Job. M. Mann, N. McCord, Kortenius G. Schenck; 1859, John M. Mann, Nathaniel McCord, Daniel Talmage; 1860-61, John M. Mann, Joseph H. Hoffman, Archibald C. Mollison; 1862, Leonard Bonn, John Ross, John M. Mann; 1863-64, Leonard Bunn, John Ross, John V. Wortman; 1865-67, Andrew V. D. B. Vosseller, Jeremiah Whitenach, Andrew Rockafellow; 1868-69, Andrew V. D. B. Vosseller, James H. Coin, Lawrence V. D. Shepherd; 1871, Andrew V. D. B. Vosseller, James H. Cain, James McNabb; 1872, Andrew V. D. H. Vosseller, James J. Quick, Andrew Rockafellow, John A. schenck; 1873, John A. Schenck, John McCullough, A. V. D. B. Vosseller; 1874, A. V. D. B. Vosseller, Henry S. Long, David Todd; 1877, A. V. D. B. Vosseller, David Todd, Conrad Stein, Charles M. Young, William Van Nostrand; 1878, A. V. D. B. Vosseller, Charles M. Young, Conrad stein, David Todd, Henry S. Long; 1879, Conrad Stein, A. V. D. B. Vosseller, Henry S. Long; 1880, Conrad Brain, Alexander H. Brokaw, Benja
min F. Littell.

No changes were made in the territory of the township from its organization till the setting off of Branchburg in 1845. The following action, however, was taken at a meeting held in April, 1799:

" A, move was made at our annual town-meeting for a division of the township, or a part thereof, on which a vote was taken of the sense of the town was made known. It was agreed unanimously that the town committee be authorized to draw up a remonstrance and present to the next session of Assembly to oppose the same."

It is evident that the township was not divided at that time, as its territory remained intact.

THE POOR AND THE POOR-FARM.

The first action taken by Bridgewater in reference to the poor of which any record is kept was at townmeeting March 13, 1764, when it was agreed to raise the sum of £100 (proclamation), and the further sum of £125 (proclamation money), by a tax "at some convenient time between this and next fall." Overseers of the poor were elected from the organization of the township, but no record was kept of any proceedings, if any were made. March 18,1766, an agreement was entered into by a committee composed of the freeholders and overseers of the poor, with Benjamin Harris, he agreeing' to take care of the poor chargeable to the town at his own expense for one year from May 1, 1766. The committee agreed to pay him the sum of £125, proclamation money. March 17, 1767, the committee met, and agreed that the poor belonging to the township be sold to the lowest bidder " altogether, to be kept under the care of one man."

Although the town-meeting of 1768 agreed "that there shall be a work-house erected at some convenient place, in conjunction with one, two, or more townships, for the maintainance of the poor," none was built until after 1807, as in that year the town, by resolution, petitioned the board of freeholders "to purchase or build a suitable house for the accommodation of the poor of the county." The township records from 1808 to 1824 are missing, during which period a poorhouse was erected. Mrs. Drearwell was chosen keeper of the poor-house, to take possession April 1st. She received sixty cents per week for each pauper, with the privilege of the poor-house lot. Drs. McKissack and Skillman were chosen physicians, at a salary of $15, increased to $40 the next year under Dr. William Griffith. April 11, 1831, it was

"Resolved, That a farm be purchased for the use of the poor, at the discretion of the town committee, and that the committee sell the present poor house establishment."

The committee in July bought a farm of 308 1/2 acres, in possession of Rynear and John Van Nest, executore of George Van Nest, deceased. Edward Campbell purchased the old property for $516.99. In the November following he, as the lowest bidder, took charge of the poor-farm, and was followed by Tunis Soper.
It was found that the expenses of keeping the poorhouse exceeded the proceeds of the farm, and the town-meeting of 1838 resolved to sell the latter. March 20, 1840, a portion of it (120 acres) was sold to Nathan Auten. It is now occupied by John Davis.

No change of any importance occurred in the management of the poor or of the poor-farm until 1867, when a contract was made with Asa R. Dilts for the erection of a new building, which was completed in 1868 at a cost of $9779. The old building was sold to A. V. D. B. Vosseller for $167. The report of the committee on the poor-farm for 1880 shows the following:

nventory of stock and goods $2972.51
Average number assisted in the poor-house 12
Number of tramps assisted 400
Coat of support at the poor-house $945.61
Cost of support outside 3448.74

From Oct. 1, 1874, to April 1, 1875, 3500 tramps were assisted, and 3000 from Oct. 1, 1875, to April 1, 1876. A steady diet of bread and water in later years has somewhat reduced this number.