170 History of Hingham. 



Bassett's Wharf, on " Cove Street," soon after the Revolution. 

 His launching ways were attached to the wharf, or slip, and when 

 all was ready the vessel was pulled off by two lines, and dropped 

 into the water. Captain Bassett was succeeded by his son Daniel. 



From 1832 to 1836 inclusive, there was a shipyard on the west- 

 erly side of the cove, within a short distance from the spot where 

 Hon. John D. Long resides. It was occupied by Charles Keen for 

 about two years, and afterwards by Barnes & Jenkins. Before 

 commencing work at this place, Keen had built the schooners 

 " Henry Clay" and u Banner" at Davis's, near Commercial Wharf, 

 on Summer Street. Lawler, of Chelsea, also built a clipper yacht 

 at Davis's, which was launched May 1, 1853. She was afterwards 

 known as the " Olata." 



William Hall, previously mentioned, carried on a large business 

 at shipbuilding on the easterly side of the harbor, about midway 

 between Barnes's Rocks and the present steamboat landing. The 

 " Waldron," built by Mr. Hall in 1844, was the largest ship ever 

 launched in Hingham harbor. 



The early settlers of Hingham were principally farmers and 

 mechanics. Their former homes in Norfolk County, England, 

 were more than thirty miles from the sea, and in the midst of an 

 agricultural community. Upon their arrival in the Massachusetts 

 Bay, there were but eleven places that preceded the one which 

 was to be their new home. These were all within a comparatively 

 short distance from Boston ; hence the settlement at Bare Cove 

 was not on account of its nearness to the fishing grounds, but 

 rather from its easy approach by water to the port of entry and 

 large market place, Boston. 



For more than a century after the town was incorporated, fish- 

 ing, except around the islands and inlets lying between Hingham 

 and Hull, or from the more venturesome haunts which skirt the 

 rocky coast from Nantasket to the Glades, was, in most instances, 

 a pastime rather than a permanent occupation. This is shown 

 by wills and conveyances as well as by our local records. 



At the expiration of a century, which usually covers about 

 three generations, Hingham valuations give the tonnage of ves- 

 sels and the names of their owners, as follows : — 



1737 : Y e burden of sundry vessels, viz. — Tons. 



John Stephens 1 24 



Canterbury Stodder 18 



Rodger nichols 15 



Thos Humphry 80 



David Bate 7 



Nathaniel nichols 4 



Jeremiah Stodder, Junr., one 16 



another 12 



1 Should probably read " Stephenson." 



