PUBLIC CONVEYANCES. 



BY FRANCIS H. LINCOLN. 



The avenues for transportation of people and merchandise 

 from Hingliam to the neighboring country have been two-fold. 

 The boat by water and the beast by land have conveyed to the 

 desired destination the inhabitants and the products of their in- 

 dustry. By water, first shallops, then the larger packets, and 

 finally the steamboats ; by land, oxen, horses with the saddle and 

 pillion, then wagons and stage-coaches, and finally the railroad, 

 represent the evolution. 



Public highways were established as increasing necessity for 

 communication between towns required them. Other roads were 

 made and streams bridged over by private enterprise when public 

 works did not supply the need of short routes. These were the 

 turnpike roads. 



The establishment of stage lines for public travel came about 

 gradually. In the early days the people travelled as they could ; 

 then the more affluent neighbor's horse and chaise were bor- 

 rowed or hired, until the increasing desire to go abroad demand- 

 ed greater accommodation, and better roads made it possible to 

 travel with heavier vehicles and larger loads. 



In a work entitled " Wonder Working Providence of Sion's 

 Saviour, in New-England," published in London, 1634, said to 

 have been written by Capt. Edward Johnson, Hingham is de- 

 scribed as " a place nothing inferiour to their Neighbours for scit- 

 uation, and the people have much profited themselves by transport- 

 ing 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." Naturally, 

 as the town was on the sea-coast and there were no roads, the 

 earliest method of transportation for people and merchandise was 

 by water. Rev. Peter Hobart, the first minister, came to Hing- 

 ham by water, and landed where Ship Street now joins North 

 Street, probably coming into the cove as far as the depth of water 

 made it navigable. In considering the means of transportation, 

 therefore, we take first in order the water routes. 



VOL. I. — 16* 



