BURIAL-GROUNDS. 



BY GEORGE LINCOLN. 



INDIAN BURIALS. 



There are several localities in Hingham where the rude imple- 

 ments of Indian warfare, of fishing and hunting, of husbandry, 

 and of household use have been unearthed, which were occupied 

 as burial-grounds by the aborigines prior to the settlement of the 

 town by Englishmen. These burial-places were principally near 

 the seashore. They have been found at Downer Landing, at Old 

 Planters' Hill, at the head of Weir River, and at or near Cuba 

 Dam or Little Harbor in Cohasset, which was originally a part of 

 Hinffham. From these localities have been taken at short dis- 

 tances below the surface of the earth stone hatchets, axes, gouges, 

 spear and arrow heads, sinkers, corn-crushers, pestles, copper 

 trinkets, pottery, etc., which in most instances were near human 

 bones ; and, although no record has come down to us relating 

 thereto, they indicate unmistakably where some of the Indians 

 who preceded the English, probably of the tribe of Wompatuck, 

 were buried. 



BURIAL-GROUND OF THE EARLY SETTLERS. 



The first spot of land in Hingham consecrated to burial pur- 

 poses by the emigrants from England was that which adjoined 

 the first meeting-house. It was situated on rising ground in front 

 of what is now the Derby Academy lot, and for fifty years or more 

 was the only burial-place for the inhabitants of the town. A nar- 

 row roadway skirted its northern and southern boundaries, while 

 on the east and west the ground sloped down in conformity to its 

 surroundings. Several stately trees beautified its westerly decliv- 

 ity, and a single tomb facing southward, used probably for winter 

 interments, is still remembered by persons who are now living. 

 Here, with few exceptions, most of the early settlers were buried. 

 If the monuments which were erected to their memory had been, 

 preserved, rough and unartistic as they were, they would have 



