216 History of Hingham. 



and insubordination by fine, imprisonment, corporal punishment, 

 the stocks, etc., and every town was obliged to provide a place for 

 retreat for their wives and children, and in which to store ammu- 

 nition. The meeting-house answered for this double purpose in 

 Hingham, although the military stores were often distributed 

 among the commissioned officers of the town, thus securing greater 

 safety and availability in case of surprise. Every smith was 

 directed to lay aside all other work, and " with all speed attend 

 the repairing of the ammunition of the several towns, fitting them 

 for any sudden occasion, and shall receive country pay for it." In 

 every town there was a council of war, consisting doubtless of the 

 military officers, the selectmen, — generally including in their 

 number these same officers, — and perhaps other prominent citi- 

 zens. This council seems to have had certain advisory powers, 

 and perhaps even of direction in emergencies, but in the event of 

 its failure to act, the commander of the company was specially 

 authorized to use his own discretion both for defence and offence. 

 The General Court directed, too, the manner in which alarms 

 mia'ht be given in case of danger. Anv inhabitant was empowered 

 to distinctly discharge three muskets, to continually beat the 

 drum in the night, or to fire the beacon, or to discharge a piece 

 of ordnance, or to send messengers to adjoining towns ; and every 

 soldier was to respond at once, under a penalty of live pounds. The 

 captains of the three towns nearest that in which the enemy should 

 be discovered were to proceed thither with their companies. The 

 watches throughout the country were posted at sunset at the beat 

 of the drum, and discharged at sunrise drumbeat. From this 

 arose the custom of payments which we find made to many indi- 

 viduals through a long series of vears for " maintaining the drum." 

 Thus among the ;t disbursements paid out of the Towne rate for 

 the Towne's use " in 1662, are the following: — 



" To Joshua Beals for maintenance of ye drum, <£01 00 00. 



" To Steven Lincoln for maintenance of ye drum, £00 10 00." 



And again, — besides many other similar disbursements, — 

 " John Lincoln to be paid ten shillings a year for drumming, he to 

 buy his own drum : " this in 1690. 



Increasing rumors of Indian conspiracies induced greater vigi- 

 lance and more careful preparation from year to year. In 1043 

 the military officers were placed in charge of the arms brought to 

 public meetings, and the care of ammunition in the farmhouses 

 was given to them ; and in 1644 all inhabitants were compelled to 

 keep arms ready for service in their houses. At a town meeting, 

 June 24, 1645, it was voted to erect a palisade around the 

 meeting-house " to prevent any danger that may come into this 

 town by any assault of the Indians." Previous to 1645 Hingham 

 appears to have had no captain, and it is probable that for pur- 

 poses of military organization and discipline the soldiers of Hull 

 and Weymouth were joined with our own in forming a company, 



