316 History of Hingham. 



at Harvard University in 1728. He settled in his native town as a 

 physician, probably succeeding Dr. Daniel Greenleaf. He became 

 eminent in his profession. " In the controversy between the 

 colonies and the mother country, he espoused the cause of the 

 former, and his opinions had a most favorable effect on the com- 

 munity in which he lived. His charities were extensive, as his 

 means were adequate to do much good. He was among the bene- 

 factors of Harvard University. In his will, executed Nov. 29, 

 1770, he directs his executrix to pay to the corporation of that 

 University, <£1000, 'the interest thereof to be by them appropri- 

 ated towards the support of a professor of anatomy and physic' 

 His widow gave the same sum for the same purpose. A profes- 

 sorship was established on this foundation, entitled the Hersey 

 Professorship of Anatomy and Surgery." * Dr. Hersey died Dec. 

 9, 1770, leaving a widow, but no children. He resided on South 

 Street, near the present R. R. station at West Hingham. 



James Hersey, second son of James and Mary (Hawke) Her- 

 sey, and brother of Dr. Ezekiel Hersey, was born in Hingham 

 Dec. 21, 1716. He was a physician, and resided at Barnstable, 

 Mass., where he died the 22d of July, 1741, in the 25th year of 

 his age. 



Nathan Hersey, born in Hingham January 28, 1743-44, was 

 the oldest son of Elijah and Achsah Hersey. He was a physician 

 at Leicester, Mass. 



Alexander Hitchborn, a native of Hingham, and born in 1822, 

 was the second son of Alexander H. and Cinderilla (Gardner) 

 Hitchborn. His early education was acquired in the public schools 

 of this town, in which he was an apt as well as a brilliant scholar. 

 About the year 1854 he removed to North Bridgewater (Brockton) 

 to establish himself as a physician. Here he met with sufficient 

 encouragement to warrant a permanent settlement, and his ready 

 conversational powers, added to a kind and obliging disposition, 

 won for him many friends. At the commencement of the Civil 

 War he enlisted in the Twelfth Regiment Mass. Yol. Infantry, and 

 was commissioned captain. The year following he was appointed 

 assistant-surgeon of the Seventh Infantry of the regular army. 

 He was killed at the battle of Chancellorsville, Va., in May, 1863, 

 aged 41 years. 



Peter Hobart was contemporary with Dr. Daniel Shute, and 

 both were graduated the same year (1775) at Harvard University. 

 He was a son of Deacon Peter and Lucretia (Gill) Hobart, and 

 was born in Hingham July 31, 1750. After his early schooling 

 was completed he began his business life as an apprentice to Jere- 

 miah Lincoln, a blacksmith, whose shop was in the square near 

 the present Torrent engine-house, West Hingham; but having 

 a taste for classical studies, he fitted for college, and was grad- 

 uated in 1775, as stated above. He afterwards studied medicine, 

 and for six months or more was a surgeon in the War of the Rev- 

 olution. His wife, whom he married in Hingham Nov. 16, 1779, 



* Lincoln's History of Hingham. 



