Hingham, Massachusetts

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For the census-designated place, see Hingham, Massachusetts (CDP).
Hingham, Massachusetts
Town
The Old Ship Church, Hingham
The Old Ship Church, Hingham
Official seal of Hingham, Massachusetts
Seal
Nickname(s): "Bucket Town"[1][2][3]
Motto: "History and Pride"[4]
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Location in Plymouth County in Massachusetts
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Country United States
State Massachusetts
County Plymouth
Settled 1633 (as Bare Cove)
Incorporated 1635
Government
 • Type Open town meeting
Area
 • Total 26.3 sq mi (68.1 km2)
 • Land 22.2 sq mi (57.5 km2)
 • Water 4.1 sq mi (10.6 km2)
Elevation 60 ft (18 m)
Population (2010)[5]
 • Total 22,157
 • Density 998/sq mi (385/km2)
Time zone Eastern (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) Eastern (UTC-4)
ZIP code 02043
Area code(s) 339 / 781
FIPS code 25-30210
GNIS feature ID 0618342
Website Hingham, Massachusetts

Hingham is a town in metropolitan Greater Boston on the South Shore of the U.S. state of Massachusetts in northern Plymouth County. At the 2010 census, the population was 22,157.[5] Hingham is known for its colonial history and location on Boston Harbor. The town was named after Hingham, Norfolk,[6] and was first settled by English colonists in 1633.

History

The town of Hingham was dubbed "Bare Cove" by the first colonizing English in 1633, but two years later was incorporated as a town under the name "Hingham".[4][7] The land on which Hingham was settled was deeded to the English by the Wampanoag sachem Wompatuck in 1655.[8] The town was within Suffolk County from its founding in 1643 until 1803; and Plymouth County from 1803 to the present. The eastern part of the town split off to become Cohasset in 1770. The town was named for Hingham, a village in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia, whence most of the first colonists came, including Abraham Lincoln's ancestor Samuel Lincoln (1622–90), his first American ancestor,[9] who came to Massachusetts in 1637. A statue of President Lincoln adorns the area adjacent to downtown Hingham Square.

Hingham was born of religious dissent. Many of the original founders were forced to flee their native village in Norfolk with both their vicars, Rev. Peter Hobart and Rev. Robert Peck, when they fell foul of the strict doctrines of Anglican England. Peck was known for what the eminent Norfolk historian Rev. Francis Blomefield called his "violent schismatical spirit". Peck lowered the chancel railing of the church, in accord with Puritan sentiment that the Anglican church of the day was too removed from its parishioners. He also antagonized ecclesiastical authorities with other forbidden practices.[10][11]

Seventeenth-century English Colonial architecture, the Old Ship Church, Hingham

Hobart, born in Hingham, Norfolk, in 1604 and, like Peck, a graduate of Magdalene College, Cambridge, sought shelter from the prevailing discipline of the high church among his fellow Puritans.[12] The cost to those who emigrated was steep. They "sold their possessions for half their value", noted a contemporary account, "and named the place of their settlement after their natal town". (The cost to the place they left behind was also high: Hingham was forced to petition Parliament for aid, claiming that the departure of its most well-to-do citizens had left it hamstrung.)

While most of the early Hingham settlers came from Hingham and other nearby villages in East Anglia, a few Hingham settlers like Anthony Eames came from the West Country of England.[13] The early settlers of Dorchester, Massachusetts, for instance, had come under the guidance of Rev. John White of Dorchester in Dorset, and some of them (like Eames) later moved to Hingham. Accounts from Hingham's earliest years indicate some friction between the disparate groups, culminating in an 1645 episode involving the town's "trainband", when some Hingham settlers supported Eames, and others supported Bozoan Allen, a prominent early Hingham settler and Hobart ally who came from King's Lynn in Norfolk, East Anglia.[14][15] Prominent East Anglian Puritans like the Hobarts and the Cushings, for instance, were used to holding sway in matters of governance.[16] Eventually the controversy became so heated that John Winthrop and Thomas Dudley were drawn into the fray; minister Hobart threatened to excommunicate Eames.[17]

Perez Lincoln House, c. 1640, North Street, Hingham

The bitter trainband controversy dragged on for several years, culminating in stiff fines.[18] Eventually a weary Eames, who was in his mid-fifties when the controversy began and who had served Hingham as first militia captain, a selectman, and Deputy in the General Court, threw in the towel and moved to nearby Marshfield where he again served as Deputy and emerged as a leading citizen, despite his brush with the Hingham powers-that-be.

File:Signature of Samuel Thaxter.jpg
A deed signed by Col. Samuel Thaxter of Hingham,a property of Dr. Shiwei Jiang of Virginia

Although the town was incorporated in 1635, the colonists didn't get around to negotiating purchase from the Wampanoag, the Native American tribe in the region, until three decades later. On July 4, 1665, the tribe's chief sachem, Josiah Wompatuck, sold the township to Capt. Joshua Hobart (brother of Rev. Peter Hobart) and Ensign John Thaxter (father of Col. Samuel Thaxter), representatives of Hingham's colonial residents. Having occupied the land for 30 years, the Englishmen presumably felt entitled to a steep discount.

The sum promised Josiah Wompatuck for the land encompassing Hingham was to be paid by two Hingham landowners: Lieut. John Smith and Deacon John Leavitt, who had been granted 12 acres (49,000 m2) on Hingham's Turkey Hill earlier that year. Now the two men were instructed to deliver payment for their 12-acre (49,000 m2) grant to Josiah the chief Sachem. The grant to Smith and Leavitt—who together bought other large tracts from the Native Americans for themselves and their partners—was "on condition that they satisfy all the charge about the purchase of the town's land of Josiah—Indian sagamore, both the principal purchase and all the other charge that hath been about it".[19] With that payment the matter was considered settled.

Grave of colonist Josiah Leavitt, Old Ship Burying Ground, Hingham

The third town clerk of Hingham was Daniel Cushing,[20] who emigrated to Hingham from Hingham, Norfolk, with his father Matthew in 1638.[21] Cushing's meticulous records of early Hingham enabled subsequent town historians to reconstruct much of early Hingham history as well as that of the early families.[22] Cushing was rather unusual in that he included the town's gossip along with the more conventional formal record-keeping.[23]

Geography

Hingham distance marker

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 26.3 square miles (68.1 km2), of which 22.2 square miles (57.5 km2) is land and 4.1 square miles (10.6 km2), or 15.58%, is water.[24] Hingham is bordered on the east by Cohasset, and Scituate, on the south by Norwell and Rockland, on the west by Weymouth, and on the north by Hingham Bay and Hull. Cohasset and Weymouth are in Norfolk County; the other towns, like Hingham itself, are in Plymouth County. Hingham is 14 miles (23 km) southeast of downtown Boston.

Hingham lies along the southwest corner of Boston Harbor, at the portion known as Hingham Bay. The bay leads to a harbor, which cuts a U-shaped indentation into the northern shore of the town. The town is separated from Hull by the Weir River and its tributary, which leads to the Straits Pond. The northern third of the town's border with Weymouth consists of the Weymouth Back River, which empties out into Hingham Bay. There are several other small ponds and brooks throughout town. The town also has several forests and parks, the largest of which, Wompatuck State Park, spreads into the neighboring towns of Cohasset, Scituate and Norwell. There are also several conservation areas throughout town; the portion of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area in Hingham includes Bumpkin Island, Button Island, Langlee Island, Ragged Island, Sarah Island and the World's End Reservation, which juts out into the bay. There is a marina along the mouth of the Weymouth Back River, and a public beach along the harbor.

Demographics

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See also: List of Massachusetts locations by per capita income
Historical population
Year Pop. ±%
1880 4,485 —    
1890 4,564 +1.8%
1900 5,059 +10.8%
1910 4,965 −1.9%
1920 5,604 +12.9%
1930 6,657 +18.8%
1940 8,003 +20.2%
1950 10,665 +33.3%
1960 15,378 +44.2%
1970 18,845 +22.5%
1980 20,339 +7.9%
1990 19,821 −2.5%
2000 19,882 +0.3%
2010 22,157 +11.4%
* = population estimate. Source: United States Census records and Population Estimates Program data.[25][26][27][28][29][30][31]
New North Church

As of the census [32] of 2000, there were 19,882 people, 7,189 households, and 5,478 families residing in the town. The population density was 884.8 people per square mile (341.6/km²). There were 7,368 housing units at an average density of 327.9 per square mile (126.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.5% White, 0.40% Black or African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.75% of the population.[33]

There were 7,189 households out of which 37.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.7% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.19.

In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 27.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $83,018, and the median income for a family was $98,598 (these figures had risen to $100,444 and $134,259 respectively as of a 2007 estimate).[34] Males had a median income of $66,802 versus $41,370 for females. The per capita income for the town was $41,703. About 2.4% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 3.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Top employers

According to the Town's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[35] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of employees
1 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts 1,400
2 Talbots 1,200
3 Town of Hingham 1,019
4 EMD Serono 601
5 Linden Ponds 450
6 Russelectric 239
7 Harbor House 227
8 Stop & Shop 190
9 Whole Foods Market 169
10 Eat Well 148

Government

Loring Hall, Main Street

On the national level, Hingham is a part of Massachusetts's 8th congressional district, and is currently represented by Stephen F. Lynch. The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Elizabeth Warren. The state's junior Senator is Ed Markey, who was elected in a special election in 2013 to fill the seat vacated by John Kerry being appointed as United States Secretary of State.

On the state level, Hingham is represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives as a part of the Third Plymouth district, by Garrett Bradley. The district also includes Cohasset, Hull and North Scituate. The town is represented in the Massachusetts Senate as a part of the Plymouth and Norfolk district, by Patrick O'Connor. The district also includes the towns of Cohasset, Duxbury, Hull, Marshfield, Norwell, Scituate and Weymouth.[36] The town is patrolled on a secondary basis by the First (Norwell) Barracks of Troop D of the Massachusetts State Police.[37]

Hingham is governed on the local level by the open town meeting form of government, and is led by a town administrator and a three-member board of selectmen. The town hall is located in the former Central Junior High School building, which it moved into in 1995. The town has its own police and fire departments, with a central police station next to the town hall and fire houses located near the town common, in West Hingham, and in South Hingham. The town's nearest hospital is South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, where all emergency calls are sent. There are two post offices in town, one in downtown Hingham on North Street and another in South Hingham right on Route 53. The town's public library is located on Leavitt Street in Center Hingham, and is part of the Old Colony Library Network.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment as of October 15, 2008[38]
Party Number of Voters Percentage
  Democratic 4,101 25.63%
  Republican 2,976 18.60%
  Unaffiliated 8,870 55.43%
  Minor Parties 56 0.35%
Total 16,003 100%

Infrastructure

Education

Hingham is home to seven public schools:

Hingham is home to five private schools:

Transportation

South Street, Hingham

A small portion of Route 3 passes through the southwest corner of town, with one exit in town and another at Route 228 just south of the town line. Routes 3A and 53 also cross through the town, the latter mirroring the path of Route 3. Route 228 passes from north to south in town; the rest all pass from west to east.

Public transportation is currently served by the commuter boat ferry service from the Hingham Shipyard to Rowes Wharf in downtown Boston, the MBTA's Bus Route 220, with Route 222 also passing through a small section of town, and the MBTA Commuter Rail to Boston South Station. Commuter rail has been restored along the Greenbush Line through Hingham. Trains stop at two stations in town; West Hingham and Nantasket Junction. As part of the MBTA's agreement to restore train service, a tunnel has been built to carry the commuter trains under historic Hingham Square. There were disputes in Hingham about whether to allow the train to pass through the town. Some people felt that Hingham is becoming less like a town and more like a small city. Others felt that the line will benefit the town. Ferries also run from Hingham Shipyard to several islands in Boston Harbor during the summer as well as to Pemberton Point, Hull. There is no air service in the town; the nearest airport is Logan International Airport in Boston as well as smaller public airports in Norwood and Marshfield.

Notable people

Historical marker, Samuel Lincoln House
Old Burying Ground

Hingham's most famous line of citizens came from two unrelated families named Lincoln who emigrated to Massachusetts from the English county of Norfolk in the seventeenth century, from Hingham[39] and Swanton Morley respectively.[40] A bridge in Hingham over Route 3, the Southeast Expressway, is named after American Revolutionary War General Benjamin Lincoln of the Swanton branch. General Lincoln is best remembered for accepting Cornwallis's sword of surrender at the Siege of Yorktown. But the most famous Hingham Lincoln never lived in the town: United States President and Civil War Commander-in-Chief Abraham Lincoln, descended from one of several Lincoln families who settled in Hingham—and unrelated to General Benjamin. A bronze statue, a replica of the famous sitting Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. sits at the foot of Lincoln Street at North Street.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.wickedlocal.com/hingham/features/x775083181/What-is-a-Hingham-Bucket
  2. ↑ http://www.hingham-ma.gov/about_history.html
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ The first settlers of Hingham, Historical Collections: Being a General Collection of Interesting Facts, John Warner Barber, published by Warren Lazell, Worcester, 1844
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Godly Reformers and Their Opponents in Early Modern England, Matthew Reynolds, Boyell Press, 2005
  11. ↑ Rootsweb details for Robert Peck (c. 1580–1658)
  12. ↑ History of the Town of Hingham, Vol. II, Thomas Tracy Bouvé and others, Published by the Town, Hingham, 1893
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 History of the Town of Hingham, Vol. I, Part I, Thomas Tracy Bouvé and others, published by the Town, Hingham, 1893
  14. ↑ History of New England, Vol. II, John Gorham Palfrey, Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1860
  15. ↑ Legal case involving Bozoan Allen and Anthony Eames in 1643
  16. ↑ Hingham, Massachusetts, 1631–1661: An East Anglian Oligarchy in the New World, John J. Waters, University of Rochester, Journal of Social History, 1968, JSTOR
  17. ↑ John Winthrop: America's Forgotten Founding Father, Francis J. Bremer, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003.
  18. ↑ The History of New England from 1630 to 1649, John Winthrop, James Savage, Vol. II, Little, Brown and Company, Boston, Mass., 1853
  19. ↑ A Narrative History of the Town of Cohasset, Massachusetts, Edwin Victor Bigelow, Priscilla L. Collier, Published Under the Auspices of the Committee on Town History, Press of Samuel Usher, Boston, Mass., 1898
  20. ↑ Hingham's early settlers intermarried extensively. Town clerk Daniel Cushing, for instance, was brother-in-law to John Leavitt, founding deacon of Old Ship Church, for whom today's Leavitt Street is named. (They married daughters of Edward Gilman, Sr., who settled in Hingham before moving to Exeter, New Hampshire. The immigrant Edward Gilman's sister Bridget married Edward Lincoln, father of Samuel Lincoln, ancestor of Abraham Lincoln.) Later the Cushing and Leavitt families themselves intermarried—resulting in descendants named both Leavitt Cushing and Cushing Leavitt.
  21. ↑ The Genealogy of the Cushing Family, Lemuel Cushing, Lovell Printing and Publishing Company, Montreal, 1877
  22. ↑ Abraham Lincoln and His Ancestors, Ida M. Tarbell, Kenneth J. Winkle, University of Nebraska Press, 1997, ISBN 0-8032-9430-1, ISBN 978-0-8032-9430-1
  23. ↑ [1]
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ factfinder.census.gov for Hingham, MA, 2000 census
  34. ↑ Factfinder.census.gov
  35. ↑ Town of Hingham CAFR
  36. ↑ Index of Legislative Representation by City and Town, from Mass.gov
  37. ↑ Station D-1, SP Norwell
  38. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. ↑ Pedigree chart for John Lincoln (1716–88)
  40. ↑ Pedigree chart for Benjamin Lincoln (1643–1700)
  41. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. ↑ Bostonherald.com
  44. ↑ Following in HIs Hingham Footsteps after 350 Years, Connie Gorfinkle, GateHouse News Service, wickedlocal.com
  45. ↑ Yale.edu
  46. ↑ Google Books Search
  47. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  48. ↑ http://aagpbl.org/index.cfm/profiles/zipay-suzanne-parsons/472

External links

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