I 84 HIS TOR Y OF CO II A SSE T. 



women could gain the social life which they craved was a 

 double blessing. It drew them into the very midst of earthly 

 interests, while it lifted them above the things of the earth. 



To have a minister and a schoolmaster was the simplest 

 necessity of every New England community. Conse- 

 quently, when the first homes of Cohasset came to realize 

 that they formed a community, they felt it necessary to 

 have their own church and school. But how could they 

 afford it? For a whole generation before the year 1700 

 they had paid school and church taxes without a fair 

 amount of privilege in return, and now after that time a 

 number of new settlers had gathered about our Cove and 

 had paid taxes for another whole generation without any 

 adequate benefit from Hingham. 



It is not to be wondered at that in the early part of the 

 eighteenth century some of these citizens claimed the 

 right to a church and school that the whole town of Hing- 

 ham should support among them. 



For these many years they had paid taxes for privileges 

 never received, and now they asked privileges somewhat 

 more than their own taxes could pay for. It seemed to some 

 a fair reimbursement for past payments ; but by a charac- 

 teristic stroke of human nature, Hingham refused ! 

 V-— The increase in the number of Cohasset settlers during 

 the first ten years of that century added much weight to 

 their claims. 



As early as the year 171 1* there were thirty-six poll 



*The valuation list for the year 1711 is the earliest one I have been able to find. 

 By the kindness of George Lincoln of Hingham, who owns it, I have made the 

 accompanying list of property from the original valuation list. The list for the year 

 1708, which also Mr. Lincoln has, is only fragmentary. The names and tax 

 amounts of the 1708 list are as follows : — 



The rest of the names are torn out. 



