4 History of H Ingham. 



CONTROVERSY WITH THE MAGISTRATES. 

 [From the "History of Hingkaiu," by Solomon Lincoln, 1827.] 



It does not appear that the harmony of the church or the pros- 

 perity of the town was interrupted until the year when the un- 

 fortunate occurrence of the military difficulties caused a serious 

 injury to both. The prominent part which Mr. Hobart took in 

 this unpleasant controversy rendered him less popular at home 

 and obnoxious to the government. His friends, however, were 

 much the most numerous and influential party in the church ; and 

 his conduct in relation to the minority, although it gave rise to 

 some jealousy, and in a few instances to strong dislike, does not 

 appear to have diminished the attachment which a majority of the 

 citizens had uniformly exhibited towards him. From the severe 

 and burthensome fines and expenses to which he was subjected in 

 consequence of his zeal for popular rights, he appears to have 

 been relieved by the liberality of the people of his charge. 



Previously to the difficulties of 1644, we have reason to suppose 

 that the town was flourishing and prosperous. The situation was 

 eligible ; the facilities for fishing and for intercourse with other 

 towns by water contributed to enrich it. In 1654 it is described 

 by Johnson, in his " Wonder-Working Providence," in the follow- 

 ing manner, viz. : — 



"A place nothing inferiour to their Neighbours for seituatiou ; and the 

 people have much profited themselves by transporting Timber, Planke, 

 and Mast for shipping to the town of Boston ; as also ceder and Pine- 

 board to supply the wants of other townes, and also to remote parts, even 

 as far as Barbadoes. They want not for fish for themselves and others 

 also. This towne consisted of about sixty families. The forme is some- 

 what intricate to describe, by reason of the Seas wasting crookes where 

 it beats upon a mouldering shore. Yet have they compleat streetes in 

 some places. The people joyned in Church covenant in this place were 

 much about an hundred soules, but have been lessened by a sad, un- 

 brotherly contention which fell out among them, wasting them every 

 way — continued already for seven yeares' space, to the great grief of 

 all other Churches." 



It is this "sad unbrotherly contention"' which first attracts 

 our attention in the early history of Hingham. It is to be re- 

 gretted that most of the writers of the time when these difficul- 

 ties arose should have been of that class which disapproved of 

 the proceedings of a majority of the citizens of the town, and 

 that no statement by those opposed to them in opinion has been 

 preserved ; because, by comparing opposite statements, we should 

 perhaps view the conduct of those of our ancestors who were 

 then considered to be acting in an unjustifiable and disorderly 



