SEPARATION FROM HINGHAM. 



271 



On that twenty-eighth of March, 1770, the General 

 Court, consisting of both Council and House, appointed 

 three men, Jonathan Bradbury, Colonel Gerrish, and 

 Major Bancroft, who were ordered April 11 "to repair to 

 Hingham, as soon as may be, view the said Parish, and 

 report to the Court what in their opinion is proper to be 

 done." 



An interesting document of remonstrance was written 

 to this committee from a sturdy dweller in Beechwood, 

 who seems to have been the only objector with the courage 

 to sign his name. 



It reads as follows : — 



To the Honb' John Bradbury Chaireman of Comm. 



We the Subscriber Who are Inhabitants of the Second Parish 

 in Hingham & Petitiners that the Same may not be made a 

 Destrect, beg Leave to offer the following Reasons for our Dessent- 

 ing from the other Part of the Parish, that is 



ist. The Parish is Small 



2 The fishery fails Which is a Considerable Part of our Depend- 

 ance 



3 It is Represented to be Nine Miles to Tend Publick Meet- 

 ings. We are the Parley and by going four we Cann attend metings 

 for it is that Dist to our own Meeting house 



4 We have been att the charge of bulding a Wharfe and Pow- 

 der house in s^ Town. 



5 . We are Threatened that we Shall not Draw our Proportion 

 of the School money, as has been for years Past by Reason the 

 Inhabitants Living So Scattering that Small Children may Have the 

 benefit of Schools 



6. It is our minds that Halfe the Parish would Chuse to Con- 

 tinue as we are 



7. And We are Pers waded that it will Create Charge Which our 

 Present Circumstances will not admit of. 



8. We ar apprehensive it is only Push^ by Designing men 



9. We understand it is Represented that what we have Done is 

 out of Spite which is altogather Groundless. Where as we only 

 mean the good of the Parish. 



