Dartmouth Water Division

Dartmouth Water Division Municipal Water Report Info

In 1620, the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth. The original settlers were joined by colonists from the "Fortune" in 1620, and the "Ann" in 1623, along with several other vessels in subsequent years. During this period, the Plymouth colony established strict regulations regarding religious worship and resident conduct.

Gradually, a group opposing the colony's conventional religion sought to separate from Plymouth. This faction grew with members of the Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers, who settled in present-day Dartmouth. The settlement of Dartmouth began around November 1652, though the purchase appears to have occurred approximately six months earlier, as records show a meeting in Plymouth on March 7, 1652, with thirty-four proprietors, each share encompassing roughly 3,200 acres.

This deed bears Wamsutta's signature, and for the colonists, John Winslow and John Cooke. Part of the deed states: "Massasoit and Wamsutta sold to William Bradford, Captain Myles Standish, Thomas Southworth, John Winslow, John Cooke, and their associates, for thirty yards of cloth, eight moose skins, fifteen axes, fifteen hoes, fifteen pairs of breeches, eight blankets, two kettles, one clock, two English Pounds in Wampum, eight pairs of shoes, one iron pot, and ten shillings, that land called Dartmouth."

The initial settlements were established in Russells Mills, Slocum Neck, and Smith Neck (called Nomquid by the indigenous people). Shortly after, settlers branched out from the original settlement to establish communities in Smith Mills, Fairhaven, and eventually New Bedford. On March 20, 1661, John Russell acquired Myles Standish's full share of Dartmouth. Standish appeared to make a reasonable profit on his property, as his portion in the original purchase cost approximately $5-$10, which after holding for nine years, he sold for about $210. This share included what is now called Padanaram, extending from Bush Street northerly to Russell's Mills Road, encompassing Bliss Corner and vicinity—approximately 3,200 acres in total.

In 1664, King Philip (Sagamore of Pokannockett, often called Metacomet), son of Massasoit, officially defined the township boundaries. The charter reads: "Dartmouth made a towne" At the General Court of Election held at Plymouth on June 8, 1664: "At this court, all that tract of land commonly called and known by the name Acushena, Ponagansett, Coaksett is allowed by the court to be a township, and the inhabitants thereof have liberty to make such orders as may conduce to their common good in town concernments and that the said town be henceforth called and known by the name of Dartmouth."