250 History of Hingham. 



sea and on land, the sons of Hingham creditably participating. 

 They are in the contest as soldiers, as officers, as councillors and 

 advisers, and in numbers which seem at times almost incredible 

 considering the probable population of the town. It is interest- 

 ing too, to note the individual names of those concerned in the 

 later French wars, and afterwards to observe the use to which so 

 many put the invaluable experience and knowledge then gained, 

 in the subsequent service of the Revolution. 



The extremely small scale, as compared with modern days, 

 upon which financial matters were carried on by the town in 

 connection with its military interests, will doubtless have been 

 observed. An interesting illustration is afforded by an entry in 

 the Selectmen's Records of 1691, as follows : — 



The first clay of July, 1691, then received by the Selectmen of Hing- 

 ham tenn pounds in silver money of Mr. Daniell dishing. Sen., of Hing- 

 ham. which hee, the said Daniell Cushimr. lend to the Country for the 

 carving one the present expedition against the Common enemys of the 

 Country and is to have it payd to him, his heirs, exexutors, administrators, 

 or asigns, in silver money on or befor the last day of September next 

 insuing the dat hearof. 



Cushing's diary, under date of July 14, 1694, says that 

 " Edward Oilman was pressed to be a soldier to go out against 

 the French army," and under date of October 29 of the same year 

 we are informed " that Edward Oilman came home out of the 

 country's service." This small draft from Hingham, if indeed it 

 was all, was probably her proportion of the force raised to meet 

 the barassing and incessant incursions of the Indians, incited by 

 the French, which for the ten closing years of the century left 

 no peace to the colony, and which had for its principal episode 

 in that year the attack on Groton, July 27th. Captain John 

 Smith, who died in 1695, was probably succeeded in the command 

 of the company by Thomas Lincoln, who had long served as an 

 officer, having been an ensitrn as earlv as 1681. At all events we 

 find in the town records of 1697-98, the following : — 



The town stock of ammunition is in the hands of the 3 commanders of 

 Divs. viz., Capt. Thomas Lincoln 1 bbl. of powder and 198 weight of 

 bullets and 260 flints : to Lieut. David Hobart, 1 bbl. of powder and 200 

 and a half of bullets, gross weight, & 260 flints : to Ensign James 

 Hawks 1 bbl. powder & 190 weight of bullets, net, and 260 Hints. 



In 1702 a second company was formed in that part of Hingham 

 which is now Cohasset, and which been me what was formerly 

 known as the Second Precinct. 



In 1722 the colony declared war, owing to exasperating Indian 

 depredations upon Ipswich and other places, and among the 

 names of men serving under Captain Ward, of Scarboro', are 



