vi Preface. 



The report was accepted, the recommendations adopted, 

 and the following committee appointed to carry the same 

 into effect, viz. : — 



George Lincoln. E. Waters Burr. Edmund Hersey. 



Fearing Burr. Elijah Shute. Amasa Whiting. 



John Cushing. Henry Stephenson. Joseph 0. Burdett. 



Francis H. Lincoln. John D. Long. Walter L. Bouve. 



Amasa Whiting was unable to serve, and Arthur Lincoln 

 was appointed in his place. 



Liberal appropriations have been made by the town 

 from time to time, for the accomplishment of the work. 



The first question which confronted the committee was, 

 " Who shall write the History ? ' It was agreed at once 

 that for the preparation of the Genealogies of Hingham 

 families Mr. George Lincoln was best fitted, on account of 

 the amount of material already in his possession, his many 

 years of research, and his familiarity with the families 

 of the town. He was therefore employed by the com- 

 mittee to furnish that portion of the work. Had there 

 been known to the committee any one person possessing 

 the ability and taste for historical writing, the leisure to 

 devote to it, and familiarity with the history and tra- 

 ditions of our town, he would have given to the work a 

 uniformity of style and continuity of narrative which is 

 very desirable. But no one answering this description 

 appeared to be available, and as assurances of a willing- 

 ness to write upon special topics were given by several of 

 our citizens, who seemed to be well adapted to such special 

 work, the plan was decided upon which has its fulfilment 

 in the following pages of " Historical " matter. The work 

 of these authors has been without compensation other than 



