Page "Hingham, Massachusetts" Paragraph 7

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, 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 on Hingham's Turkey Hill earlier that year.

Now the two men were instructed to deliver payment for their 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 ".

With that payment the matter was considered settled.