THE AUTONOMY OF A PKF.CINCT. 191 



begged of her an independence vastly more reasonable 

 and just, she refused it. 



In their extremity the Cohasset unfortunates sent to 

 Boston to present their case to the General Court of the 

 province, praying for relief from a tyranny that levied 

 taxation without ministration. 



But close upon their heels the citizens of Hingham sent 

 a committee "to give answer to" the Cohasset presenta- 

 tion at the session of June, 17 15. A committee from the 

 General Court was appointed " to repair to Hingham and 

 have a town meeting called for the purpose of securing 

 satisfaction for the Cohasset petitioners." At this town 

 meeting in July of that summer the town made a proposal 

 not much more to their credit. 



It was voted that the inhabitants of Conahasset, that is to say 

 the inhabitants of the First Division, and Second Division, and 

 second part of the Third Division, of Conahasset upland to the 

 fifty-fourth lot of the said second part of the Third Division, be 

 freed from time to time from paying towards the support of a 

 minister in Hingham during the time that they provide an ortho- 

 dox minister among themselves, provided they cheerfully accept 

 of the same. 



The record goes on to say that the "inhabitants of 

 Conahasset replyed that they could not cheerfully accept 

 thereof." It is clear that such an arrangement would 

 entail a burden upon this struggling community for the 

 support of a church three times as heavy as the Hingham 

 settlers bore. 



So few in number were the people here and so poor in 

 property that the continuous support of a minister was 

 too great an undertaking. They might strain themselves 

 to the task for a while, but so soon as they were com- 

 pelled to give up, then the Hingham church tax would 

 fall back upon them. If they were only a precinct they could 

 support a minister for a while, and then be without one for 

 a while, but always with the sweet privilege of autonomy. 



