168 History of Hingham. 



followed by M. C. Cloudraan, who afterwards sold out to Peter N. 

 Sprague. John M. May hew manufactured boots and shoes for a 

 while on Hersey Street. 



In the South Ward there were engaged in this industry as man- 

 ufacturers, Hersey & Lane, Hersev & dishing, Caleb Hersev, at 



Queen Ann's Corner; Aaron Swan, Solomon Gardner, Belcher, 



on Gardner Street; Whitcomb & Bates, who were on Friend, near 

 Main Street, ten years. They were succeeded by Whitman, Whit- 

 comb, & Co. Edmund French also carried on the business to 

 some extent in connection with other pursuits. 



Among those who have been engaged in the manufacture of 

 saddlery, harnesses, and trunks in Hingham were Thomas Loring 

 and his grandson Thomas, both of whom were known as saddlers. 

 They were located where now stands Agricultural Hall, at the 

 corner of East and Leavitt streets. Joshua Loring, son of the 

 last-named Thomas, was a harness maker; and Zenas Loring, a 

 son of Joshua, was best known as a saddler, although he probably 

 followed to some extent the special vocation of his father. Joshua 

 Sprague, who lived on Main Street, nearly opposite the spot where 

 stands the Public Library, was a chaise and harness maker. Josiah 

 Siders was a manufacturer of trunks in the North Ward ; he also 

 repaired harnesses and other leather goods. David A. Hersey 

 made a specialty of the manufacture of harnesses at his shop on 

 Main Street. Hingham Centre, following the pursuit for more than 

 sixty years. William D. Stoddor carried on this industry on Fort 

 Hill Street, as did Isaiah G. Tower, and Reuben Tower, Jr., near 

 Hobart's Bridge. 



At the present time (1893) Henry Cushing, on Main Street, 

 near Pear Tree Hill, and James Nelson, on Water Street, near 

 the harbor, are the only practical manufacturers and repairers of 

 saddlery and harnesses in town. 



According to the statistics of Massachusetts for the year ending 

 June 1, 1855, there were tanneries in Hingham, 2 ; hides tanned, 

 10,100 ; value, $47,000. Currying establishments, 3 : value of 

 leather curried, $86,000 ; hands employed, 19. Boots made, 300 

 pairs; shoes made, 69,317 pairs; value of boots and shoes made, 

 $95,480 ; males employed, 205 ; females, 31. Manufacturers of 

 saddles, harnesses, and trunks, 4 ; hands employed, 7. 



Hingham records furnish but little conccrnimr the earlv history 

 of ship building ; but from this source, from old diaries and pri- 

 vate account-books, the following is gathered : — 



Thomas Turner probably built vessels on land granted him by 

 the town in 1637, at Goose Point, on the westerly side of the 

 harbor. He removed to Boston about ten years after, where, in 

 1650, he completed a contract for building a " barke." 



William Pitt had liberty to build ships here as early as 1675. 



The selectmen of the town under date of May 3, 1680, voted to 

 allow Joshua Hobart, of Hingham, mariner, an abatement on his 



