Besides being one of the first shipwrights in the colonies, my ancestor William Barstow also was one of the first settlers of Hanover, Ma., and built a bridge over the North River. In 1910 Hanover published a town history written by Jedediah Dwelley and John F.Simmons. In it I found this about the bridge:
"Very early in the history of the colony the necessity of a bridge at this point became imperative, and, in 1656, "before William Bradford, Governor, and Thomas Prince, William Collier, Timothy Hatherly, John Alden, and James Cudworth, Counsellors," William Barstow agreed "for the sum of 12 pounds to make a good and suitable bridge over the North river at Stony Reach, being the place where now passengers go frequently over—the said bridge to be made sufficient for horse and foot, and to clear and mark a way to Hughes' Cross and beyond toward the Bay." This bridge was completed before October, 1657, as on that date the Court appointed a committee to see "that the horse bridge over the North River and the way unto it be sufficiently done, and to judge what William Barstow is worthy to have for his work and pains thereabout."'
During the next ten years there were several orders of the Court relative to this bridge. One was in 1663, when "the Major and the Treasurer were appointed a committee to agree with William Barstow to repair the bridge at North River, the charges thereof to be levied by rate on the said townships of this government."
The next year William Barstow gave bonds to the Court, "in consideration of the payment to him of twenty pounds, to forthwith repair the bridge and keep it in repair sufficient for the transportation of passengers, horses and cattle for the full term of twenty years." Mr. Barstow died in 1668, and others took up the work of repairs.-pp239-240
There was also information about William running an "ordinary " near the bridge:
We will not further follow the orders relative to the first bridge (which was always called Barstow's bridge) but will say a word about William Barstow, the builder, as we have glimpses of the strength and weakness of his character. He was one of four brothers who came to New England about 1635. Barry says that William was "the first settler of whom we have any record on the present boundary of Hanover.'' He was a large land-owner and was often engaged in the business of the Colony. He was highway surveyor for the town of Scituate, this being then the most important town office. He was one of the jurors in a murdei case, and on a committee for laying out lands. Soon after the construction of the bridge, (in June, 165?) he was authorized by the Court "to draw and sell wine, beer, and strong waters for passengers that come and go over the bridge he hath lately made or others that should have occasion, unless any just "exceptions" came in against." These "exceptions" came evidently, as in 1666 the Court passed an order censuring him for "not keeping an ordinary fit for the entertainment of strangers." "This ordinary was kept by his son Joseph after the death of his father, and in 1684 he was discharged from "keeping an ordinary at the North River" and Joseph Sylvester, the ancestor of the Sylvesters who now live near the bridge, was licensed to keep it.
An interesting episode in the life of William Barstow was his apology before the Court for slandering the Rev. Charles Chauncy, pastor of the Church in Scituate, who afterwards became president of Harvard College. Mr. Barstow had stated publicly that Mr. Chauncy's utterances were the cause of the death of his brother George. He closes the apology by saying "and I desire that this sad experience of my aptness to offend God and his people may be a motive unto me to set a better watch over my tongue in the future."-p240
History of the Town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with Family Genealogies published by the Town of Hanover, Hanover, Ma. 1910
I need to see if I can find the location of that bridge once the weather turns warmer!
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