First Settlers of Hingham
Communicated by Andrew H. Ward, Esq.,
Extracted from
New England Historical & Genealogical Register
Vol 2, p 250 to 252
July 1848

[Note:-- Hingham Massachusetts was part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and Suffolk County from its settlement until 1803. It was never in the Colony of New Plymouth and did not become a part of Plymouth County until 1803.]

Names of the first proprietors in Hingham, who drew thier house-lots on 18 Sep 1635, from the Cove on the north side of the road to Fort hill, viz:--

Many of the above named persons owned other pieces of land in the year 1635; and some others not mentioned above, viz:-- Names of persons to whom lands were granted by the town between the years 1635 & 1640, including those before named, viz:-- Names of other persons not before mentioned who had lands granted between the years of 1640 & 1692, viz:-- The above was copied from a copy of the Rev. Peter HOBART's Journal from which the following is also extracted.

"Mr. Peter HOBART was born in England at or near Hingham in the County of Norfolk the latter end of the year 1604.

He was educated at the University of Cambridge, was employed at different places as a preacher of the Gospel; the last place of his residence in England was the town of Haverhill; his parents and brothers & sisters had, to his great affliction, embarked for New England.

Some time after this, owing to the persecutions in England, he also resolved to remove to New England.

Accordingly in the summer of 1635, he embarked with his wife and four children, and after a tedious voyage and constant sickness, he arrived at Charlestown, on the 8th of June, where he found his relations, who had safely arrived before him.

Several towns now adressed him to become their minister -- but he chose with his fathers family, and some other christians, to form a new plantation, which they called Hingham, and there gathered a church.

He continued a faithful Minister for about 13 years

Soon after his arrival in New England, his wife died -- he married again and had a number of children.

About eight weeks before his death, he assisted in the ordination of the Rev'd Mr. NORTON, his successor."

This account of Rev. Mr. HOBART was probably entered in the journal by his son, David HOBART, who continued it for many years, and after him, others, in like manner, in which the Rev. Mr. HOBART kept it. It consists of a record of baptisms, marriages & deaths, beginning in 1637, and brought down to 1847.

The following appears to have been the first entry made by Mr. HOBART in his journal:

"Jun 8, 1635 -- I, with my wife and four children came safely to New England -- forever praised be the God of Heaven, my God and my King."