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I 90 HIS TOR V OF COHASSE T. 



work for them. But even one public servant was not 

 apportioned to them. They still kept up the bombarding 

 of the stubborn town government. They were determined 

 either to have accessible preaching or to be released from 

 further taxation to support preaching. Accordingly, about 

 two years later (March 7, 17 14-15) they came again before 

 the town meeting* and proposed three alternatives. 



F"irst, they "desired the town that they would be pleased 

 to give their consent that they might be made a precinct." 

 If this were allowed, they would have the authority to tax 

 themselves for ministerial and school purposes, and could 

 select or direct as much of those functions as they might 

 choose. By this arrangement they certainly could get 

 some preaching in their own community, though it might 

 not be for more than a part of each year. They were at 

 least willing to be cut off from the privileges of Hingham 

 in these things and to assume their own responsibilities. 



But if this desire failed, their second alternative was 

 "that they might be allowed something out of the town 

 treasury to help to maintain the worship of God amongst 

 them." 



They were willing to pay double tax, that to support the 

 Hingham church and some more to piece out what grant 

 they might get from Hingham to support preaching here. 



Their third alternative was, "that they might be abated 

 that which they pay to the minister to maintain the wor- 

 ship of God at the town." 



The Hingham records confess that " the vote of the 

 town passed in the negative concerning all the foremen- 

 tioned particulars." 



Seventy-one years had passed by since the town of 

 Hingham in her militia rebellion so stoutly claimed her 

 independence ; but now when a subordinate community 



* The town warrant for this year held the following sympathetic article : — 



" Also to consider the circumstances of their neighbors and brethren of Cona- 



hassett, whether they will allow them anything or how much towards the worship 



of God amongst them." , 



