378 History of Hingham. 



house, at which a committee was appointed to procure a funeral 

 car and harness, at a cost not exceeding one hundred and seventy 

 dollars. A building was then erected near the present entrance 

 gate of the Hingham Cemetery, near the old meeting-house, in 

 - which the car, or hearse, was kept, until it was removed to Elm 

 Street. 



The hearse with its equipments was owned by proprietors, and 

 there were about three hundred shareholders to the capital stock. 

 Single shares were placed at $1 each, and were transferable. 

 This hearse was completed Dec. 18, 1824, and was first used at 

 the burial of Mrs. Martha S., wife of Benjamin S. Williams. She 

 died the 21st of Dec, 1824. 



After more than forty years of service the old hearse became 

 somewhat antiquated, as well as out of repair, and unsuited to 

 the solemnities of a funeral occasion. The committee, therefore, 

 who had charge of the same issued the following notice : — 



At a meeting of the Proprietors of the " Funeral Car " in this town,, 

 held Wednesday evening, Jan. 25th, it was 



Voted, To procure a new Funeral Car. 



Voted, To assess old proprietors $1-. 



Voted, That all persons who have paid Si- for the use of said Car may 

 become proprietors by notifying either of the Committee chosen for that 

 purpose and paying $1- within thirty days from the time of holding this, 

 meeting, to Henry Siders, Joseph Ripley, or Bela H. Whiton. 



Voted, That new proprietors pay $2- per share. 



Voted, That Henry Siders, Joseph Ripley and Bela H. Whiton, be a 

 Committee to procure a new Funeral Car, etc. 



(Signed) John Todd, Clerk. 

 Hingham, Feb. 3, 1865. 



The new "Car" was completed in April, 1865, at a cost 

 of about $300. It was first brought into use at the funeral 

 of Capt. Thomas Andrews, April 14, 1865 ; and five days 

 later (April 19, 1865), was drawn by four white horses in the 

 procession at the funeral solemnities of President Abraham 

 Lincoln. 



Within the memory of many of our citizens the inhabitants of 

 South Hingham were dependent upon the hearse located at the 

 north part of the town for the means of transporting their dead 

 to a place of burial. This method of conveyance, with an occa- 

 sional use of the bier, was kept up until 1843, when a hearse was 

 purcbased, and the present hearse-house near the church was 

 erected in which to keep it. 



In 1870 a new hearse, to replace the one first used, was pro- 

 cured, and, as in the case of its predecessor, was paid for by 

 subscription. 



The proprietors at their last election chose the following of- 

 ficers, viz. : Elijah Shute, President ; William Gushing, Clerk ; 

 Charles Q. Cushing, Treasurer. 



