Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume III.djvu/287

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BRIDGETON BRIDGEWATER 281 dare and Leighlin, Ireland, and subsequently approved by the pope. The rule embraces the three vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and has special reference to the direction of parish schools. The habit is black, similar to that of the Presentation nuns and the Sisters of Mercy. The first convent of the order was opened at Tullow, county Oarlow, and the sec- ond at Mount Rath, in 1808. One was estab- lished at Buffalo, N. Y., about 1853. BRIUGETOJV, a city, port of entry, and the capital of Cumberland co., New Jersey, situ- ated on both sides of Oohansey creek, 20 m. from its entrance into Delaware bay, 60 m. S. S. W. of Trenton, and 40 m. 8. of Philadel- phia, with which it is connected by the West Jersey railroad; pop. in 1870, 6,830. The city is divided into three wards, is neatly built, and its opposite parts are connected by a drawbridge across the creek. It contains 8 churches, a court house, a bank, two acad- emies, a public library, and two newspaper offices, also an extensive iron foundery, a roll- ing mill, nail, glass, and woollen factories, be- sides other manufactories. Ship building forms an important industry; 13 vessels (12 sailing and 1 steam) of 389 tons were built here in 1870. The trade of the city employs a large number of schooners and sloops. In 1871 the total number of vessels registered, enrolled, and licensed here was 282, with an aggregate tonnage of 15,113 tons. The town of Oohansey was annexed to Bridgeton in 1868. BRIDGETOWN, a city and the capital of Bar- badoes, situated on Carlisle bay at the 8. W. end of the island; pop. about 24,000. It is about 2 m. long and half a mile wide, and is the principal port of the island. Besides many fine houses surrounded with extensive grounds, it contains a handsome square, called Trafalgar square, in which a bronze statue of Lord Nel- son was placed in 1813. There are also a cathedral, a Jewish synagogue, numerous churches and schools for blacks and whites, a handsome market place, the barracks, and several hospitals. The town contains some excellent literary and scientific societies and good libraries ; a free public library was estab- lished in 1847. Bridgetown is the residence of the bishop of Barbadoes and of the governor general of the Windward Islands. The town was founded about the middle of the 17th cen- tury, but was almost entirely destroyed by fire in 1766. It also suffered severely from fire in 1845. BRIDGEWATER (Indian name, Nunketest), a township of Plymouth co., Mass., on the Fall River and Bridgewater branch railroads, 27 m. S. E. of Boston, and 20 m. N. W. of Plymouth. It once formed part of Duxbury, was purchased of the Indians in 1645 by Oapt. Miles Standish, and was incorporated as a separate precinct in 1716. In 1790 it contained 4,975 inhabitants ; three new townships were afterward separated from it, and incorporated as East, North, and West Bridgewater. OLD BRIDGEWATEB is plea- santly situated on Taunton river, embraces some of the best land in the county, and possesses considerable commercial importance; pop. in 1870, 3,660. It is the seat of a state normal school, with a library of 5,000 volumes ; of an academy, incorporated in 1799 ; and of a state almshouse. There are 15 or 20 public schools, and Episcopal, Swedenborgian, and Congrega- tional churches. The town contains 2 rolling and slitting mills, a forge manufacturing an- chors, chain cables, &c., a brass foundery, a paper mill, 3 saw mills, 2 manufactories of hollow ware and castings, 2 of cotton gins, 1 of cotton, woollen, and other machinery, 1 of metal sheathing for vessels, and 2 of tin ware. A weekly newspaper is published here. EAST BBIDGEWATEB is about 25 m. S. S. E. of Boston, on Beaver and Sautucket rivers, branches of the Taunton; pop. in 1870, 3,017. It has im- portant manufactures, some of which have been carried on since its first settlement, about 1688. Cannon were cast here during the revolution. The town contains 2 shoddy mills, 2 rolling and slitting mills, 2 forges manufacturing bar iron, 6 saw mills, 1 manufactory of cotton gins,, and 2 of tacks and brads ; 299 males and 97 females are engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. A weekly newspaper is published here. There are several churches and good schools. NOETH BEIDOEWATEB is about 20 m. 8. E. of Boston, on the Fall River railroad, and is wa- tered by the Salisbury river; pop. in 1870, 8,007. It has a good soil, adapted to grazing, and contains Congregational, Swedenborgian, Baptist, and Methodist churches, a weekly newspaper, and good schools; 1,059 males and 208 females are employed in the manufacture of boots and shoes. There are also manufac- tories of mechanics' tools, tacks, brads, lasts, shoe pegs, blacking, musical instruments, tin ware, &c. WEST BBIDOEWATEB is about 25 m. S. E. of Boston, on the Fall River railroad ; pop. in 1870, 1,803. A branch of the Taunton river flows through it, affording motive power to several mills and factories. There are 4 saw mills, 3 manufactories of hollow ware and cast- ings, and 1 of soap ; and 144 hands employed in the manufacture of boots and shoes. There are churches of various denominations and sev- eral schools. BRIDGEWATER, a seaport, parliamentary borough, and parish of Somersetshire, England, on the river Parret, the Bristol and Exeter rail- way, and the Taunton and Bridgewater canal, 29 m. S. W. of Bristol ; pop. in 1871, 12,101. It is a place of much antiquity, mentioned in "Domesday Book" by the name of Brugie. The Parret admits vessels of 200 tons, and opens on the Bristol channel. The foreign trade is principally with the United States, Canada, the West Indies, and Russia. About 8,500 tons of shipping belong to the port. Brick and tile making is carried on in the neighborhood, the making of white brick, known as Bath brick, constituting a staple trade of the town. The parish church is a fine structure. There