218 History of Hingham. 



enced officers, in the use of arms " as small guns, pikes, bows and 

 arrows " but excepting such as parents forbade. This order was 

 renewed in nearly the same form in 1G47. Another order pro- 

 vided that any man not having arms might be excused from the 

 usual penalty by bringing to the company clerk corn to one-fifth 

 greater value than the cost of the articles in which he was defi- 

 cient. " But if any person shall not be able to provide himself 

 arms and ammunition through mere poverty, if he be single and 

 under thirty years of age, he shall be put to service by some ; if 

 he be married or above thirty the constable shall provide him 

 arms, and shall appoint him with whom to earn it out." How 

 indicative are all these orders, both of the constant dangers which 

 necessitated them, and of the efficient and untiring provisions 

 against surprise and ruin. The distaste for temporary officers 

 from other towns, and the danger from farther delay apparently 

 led the people to seek a settlement of the military trouble, and 

 we find in the State archives the following petition : — 



The Humble Petition of the Soldiers of Hingham to the Honorable 

 Court now sitting in Boston. Sheweth That we acknowledge ourselves 

 thankful to you for many favors ; especially considering how little we have 

 deserved them, either from the Lord or yon his instruments. Yet your 

 bounty does encourage us and our own necessities forces us to crave help 

 from you that so we may be provided for the defense of ourselves, wives, 

 children, and liberties, against all oppressors. Therefore we crave this 

 liberty, as the rest of our neighbors have which we take to be our due, to 

 choose our own officers, which if granted it will be a great refreshment. 

 But if we be not worthy of such a favor for present as your allowance 

 herein, then that you would be pleased to set us in a way that we may be 

 able to do you servis and provide for our own safety and not be in such 

 an uncomfortable and unsafe condition as we do. So praying for the 

 presence of our Lord with you, we are yours as he enables us and you 

 command us. 



In answer to this it was ordered that Bozoan Allen be lieutenant, 

 and Joshua Hobart, ensign. Three years later at the request of 

 the town both these officers were promoted, and Allen obtained at 

 last the rank for which he had vainly striven six years before. 

 He was a man of much force and considerable pugnacity. On at 

 least one, and probably two occasions he was compelled to humbly 

 beg pardon for disrespectful words spoken of Governor Dudley, 

 and in 1G47 he was dismissed from the General Court for the 

 session. He held, however, many positions of honor in Hingham, 

 being repeatedly elected a deputy, serving often with his friend 

 Joshua Hobart. He came to [Iingham in 1638, and as already 

 mentioned was, with Lieutenant Eames, one of the owners of the 

 mill. He removed to Boston in lf!52 and died the same year. 

 Joshua Hobart, a brother of the Rev. Peter Hobart, succeeded to 

 the command of the company in 1053. He was a man of great 



