380 History of Hingham. 



ALMSHOUSES AND WORKHOUSES. 



There were two classes of people whose condition affected the 

 general welfare, to which the colonists gave early consideration ; 

 and the same classes exist to-day as they always have and always 

 will in society. They comprise, in the words of the early laws and 

 the later statutes, those who are " poor and indigent and want 

 means to employ themselves," and those " who neglect and refuse 

 to exercise any lawful calling or business to support themselves." 

 In other words, society recognizes the justice of helping those who 

 would work but cannot, and of compelling those to work who can 

 but will not. 



A colony law of 1639 gives authority to certain magistrates to 

 dispose of poor persons in " such towns as they shall judge to be 

 most fit for the maintenance and employment of such persons and 

 families for the ease of this country." 



Further colony and province laws relating to the care of the 

 poor were passed in 1659, 1674, 1675, and 1720, and one in 1692, 

 providing for the compulsory employment of " idle persons and 

 loiterers." 



In 1743 [17 George II. Ch. 2] there was passed " an Act for 

 •erecting work-houses for the reception and employment of the idle 

 and indigent." This was the first general law authorizing towns to 

 erect such houses, and it was essentially the same as the Massa- 

 chusetts Act of 1788, Chapter 30, which has been practically in 

 force to the present time, being modified from time to time as 

 advancing civilization required. 



This is so well-known a department of our social system that it 

 is not necessary to recite the details of the laws relating to it. 

 It is sufficient to say that the common law of humanity prompts 

 all Christian people to lend a willing, helping hand to the help- 

 less, and the exact and inexorable law of justice demands that 

 every able-bodied member of the human race should perform his 

 part in maintaining and promoting general prosperity. 



Until 1785 the poor of Hingham were boarded out in private 

 families at the town's expense. 



In 1784, or early in 1785, " the House for the poor of the town " 

 was erected. The building, which is now private property, stands 

 on its original site, on the westerly side of Short Street, and the 

 account rendered by the committee, dated March 3, 1786, shows 

 that it cost, including the well, <£373 17s. 2d. Among the dis- 

 bursements in 1786 authorized by the selectmen is one of <£14 

 14s., paid to Joshua Loring " for Overseeing the Poor." He was 

 the first keeper of the Almshouse. The Selectmen's Records for 

 the annual town-meeting, March 6, 1786, show amounts paid to 

 John Cushing for carting goods to the workhouse, and to Charles 



