Hingham is one of the oldest towns in Massachusetts. There were settlers here as early as 1633. Its first name was Bearcove or Barecove, perhaps due to , the exposure of almost its entire harbor at low tide. It was incorporated on Sept. 2, 1635, only eleven towns being incorporated earlier.

In 1638, one hundred and thirty-three persons came over in the ship 'Diligent,' of Ipswich, and settled in Hingham, Prior to that date, between 1633 and 1638, forty-two persons were granted land in Hingham. Thus, by the end of 1638, there were one hundred and seventy-five settlers. All total, two hundred and six persons came out of Norfolk (chiefly from Hingham, and its vicinity) from 1633 to 1639, and settled in this Hingham

In fact, while the number two handred and six persons was based on a statement from the third town clerk of Hingham, there was a much larger number of settlers here in 1639. They undoubtedly came in from other places

Many of the first settlers removed to other places during the militia difficulties which occurred within a few years after the settlement of the town; and a considerable number had previously obtained lands at Rehoboth.

List of Early Settlers

Land grants in 1635:

• Ralph Smith
• Nicholas Jacob with his family, of Hingham, England
• Thomas Lincoln, weaver
• Edmund Hobart and his wife
• Thomas Hobart with his family, from Windham, in Norfolk, England
• Theophilus Cushing, Hingham, Eng.
• Edmund Hobart, senior, Hingham, Eng.
• Joshua Hobart, Hingham, Eng.
• Henry Gibbs, Hingham, Eng.
• Thomas Chubbuck (1634)
• Joseph Andrews, sworn as constable in 1635
• Rev. Peter Hobart
• Jonas Austin
• Nicholas Baker
• Clement Bates
• Richard Betscome
• Benjamin Bozworth
• William Buckland
• James Cade
• Anthony Cooper
• John Cutler
• John Farrow
• Daniel Fop
• Jarvice Gould
• Wm. Hersey
• Nicholas Hodsdin (Hogdon or Hodsdon)
• Thos. Johnson
• Andrew Lane
• Wm. Large
• Thomas Loring
• George Ludkin
• Jeremy Morse
• William Nolton
• John Otis
• David Phippen/Phippeny
• John Palmer
• John Porter
• Henry Rust
• John Smart
• Francis Smith (or Smyth)
• John Strong
• Henry Tuttil
• William Walton
• Thomas Andrews
• William Arnall
• George Bacon
• Nathaniel Baker
• Thomas Collier, 1576
• George Lane
• George Marsh
• Abraham Martin
• Nathaniel Peck
• Richard Osborn
• Thomas Wakely
• Thomas Gill
• Richard Ibrook
• William Cockerum
• William Cockerill
• John Fearing
• John Tucker

1636:

• John Beal, senior (should be Edward/Edwarde Beales?)
• Anthony Eames
• Thomas Hammond
• Joseph Hull
• Richard Jones
• Nicholas Lobdin
• Richard Langer
• John Leavitt
• Thomas Lincoln, Jr., miller
• Thomas Lincoln, cooper
• Adam Mott
• Thomas Minard
• John Parker
• George Russell
• William Sprague
• George Strange
• Thomas Underwood
• Samuel Ward
• Ralph Woodward
• John Winchester
• William Walker

1637:

• Thomas Barnes
• Josiah Cobbit
• Thomas Chaffe
• Thomas Clapp <probably either this Thomas or this Thomas>
• William Carlslye (or Carsly)
• Thomas Dimock
• Vinton Dreuce
• Thomas Hett
• Thomas Joshlin
• Aaron Ludkin
• John Morrick
• Thomas Nichols
• Thomas Paynter
• Edmund Pitts
• Joseph Phippeny
• Thomas Shave
• Ralph Smith
• Thomas Turner
• John Tower
• Joseph Underwood
• William Ludkin
• Jonathan Bozworth

In 1638 there was a considerable increase of the number of settlers. Among them were:

• Mr. Robert Peck
• Joseph Peck
• Edward Gilman
• John Foulsham
• Henry Chamberlain
• Stephen Gates
• George. Knights
• Thomas Cooper
• Matthew Cushing
• John Beal, Jr. (should be John Beal?)
• Francis James
• Philip James
• James Buck
• Stephen Payne
• William Pitts
• Edward Michell
• John Sutton
• Stephen Lincoln
• Samuel Parker
• Thomas Lincoln, husbandman
• Jeremiah Moore
• Mr. Henry Smith
• Bozoan Allen
• Matthew Hawke
• William Ripley

All of those preceding, who came to this country in 1638, took passage in the ship 'Diligent,' of Ipswich, John Martin, master. In addition to these, the following named persons received grants of land in the year 1638, viz.:

• John Buck
• John Benson
• Thomas Jones
• Thomas Lawrence
• John Stephens
• John Stodder
• Widow Martha Wilder
• Thomas Thaxter

1639:

• Anthony Hilliard, land grant
• John Prince, land grant
• Hewett (Huet), mentioned in Hobart's Diary
• Liford, mentioned in Hobart's Diary

Later:

• Burr, 1646
• Jams <James?> Whiton, 1647
• John Lazell, 1649
• Samuel Stowell, 1649
• Garnett, 1653
• Canterbury, 1653

sources

1. History of Hingham published 1893, pages 201-209 OCRed and editing by David Blackwell and Lisa Whiting 1998.