NATHANAEL BRETT (William1) was the youngest son of William and Margaret, and spelled his name as above, although later the spelling was usually Nathaniel. The date of his birth, 1661, is taken from manuscripts, and is undoubtedly correct. He married November 21, 1683, Sarah Hayward, born October 25, 1663, and through her their descendants are of Mayflower ancestry. She was daughter of Sarah (Mitchell), whose father Experience Mitchell married Jane Cooke, daughter of Francis and Hester (Maiheu) Cooke. Sarah Mitchell married John Hayward, called John of the Plains, to distinguish him from John Howard, their names being pronounced alike. Nathanael was Town Clerk in Bridgewater from 1702 to 1736, when his son Nathaniel took his place. He also held minor offices in the town, was surveyor, school teacher, and probably took his turn at keeping off the Indians, if not in their capture. He was one of the Titicut Proprietors, and it is stated in the Records that “having been employed by the Purchasers for several years to take the several pitches of the several Grants of land, the Purchasers have given him ten acres of land to take up in the undivided lands for a recompense for his pains.” His inheritance from his father carried with it the stipulation that he should take care of his mother, which he did.
Sarah (Hayward) Brett died July 11, 1737; Nathaniel died November 17, 1740, and both probably were buried in the first burying ground in West Bridgewater, although this is not known positively. Children (births recorded in his handwriting, Bridge-water Records):
i. A son, born Jan. 2, 1684-5; died at birth.
ii. ALICE, born Jan. 29, 1685-6; died Mar. 7, same year.
iii. A son, born Dec. 9, 1686; died same day.
(15) iv. SETH, born Feb. 24, 1687-8; married Sarah Alden.
v. A son, born June 9, 1690; died the 11th of the same month.
vi. A son, born June 15, 1691; died the same day.
(16) vii. MEHITABLE, born Aug. 12, 1692; married 1721 Samuel Edson.
viii. SARAH, born Jan. 28, 1694-5; died Dec. 28, 1774.
ix. A son, born Feb. 4, 1697-8; died on the 15th of the same month.
(17) x. HANNAH, born Oct. 18, 1699; married Joseph Gannett.
(18) xi. WILLIAM, born April 26, 1702; married Bethia Kinsley.
(19) xii. NATHANIEL, born Nov. 3, 1704; married (1) Rebecca Searles, (2) widow Mary (Barnes) Dyer.
