In the early history of Panchiao, the Lins played a leading role in developing the area, following in the footsteps of Lin Chen-chu, a Fukien native who came in the reign of Yung Cheng, to start agricultural settlements there in the period of Chien Lung.
在板橋早期發展史上，林家望族的確扮演著關鍵性的角色。不過，林家遷入板橋是在清代咸豐年間，板橋的開墾卻早在乾隆時代。板橋的開闢，應歸功於林成祖，他是福建漳浦人，雍正十二年渡海來台，先在大甲一帶墾殖。