History of Cohasset, Massachusetts, USA

Prior to incorporation, Cohasset was a part of Hingham.

Cohasset, Massachusetts
Norfolk county. A town on Massachusetts bay, noted for its rocky coast and numerous shipwrecks. 6 miles E. from Hingham, 20 E. by S. from Dedham, and about 16 S.E. from Boston by water. Incorporated, 1770. This place has about 40 sail of merchant, coasting, and fishing vessels, and a large tide-water power. Cohasset has become a great resort for citizens and strangers, in summer months, to enjoy the marine scenery, exhilirating air, and all those pleasures for which Nahant is celebrated. The value of the fisheries, for the year ending April 1, 1837, was $75,536. The value of salt, vessels, boots, shoes, and wooden ware manufactured, was $35,920.

Cohasset was originally a part of Hingham, which belongs to Plymouth County.

Its seashore is girt with dangerous rocks, and distinguished for numerous distressing shipwrecks.

Shipbuilding and the fisheries give employment to many of the inhabitants.

Of late, Cohasset has become a pleasant summer retreat for the citizens of the metropolis.

The little town of Hull, though joined to Cohasset, belongs to Plymouth County.

Distance from Dedham, 20 miles ; from Boston, by water, 16.

This town was originally a part of Hingham; it was incorporated in 1770. The first minister of Cohasset was Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, the grandson of Rev. Peter Hobart. the first minister of Hingham. He was ordained in 1721, and continued in the ministry till his death, in 1740. His successor was Rev. John Fowle, who continued here about thirteen years. Rev. John Brown was the next minister, who was settled here in 1747, and died in 1791. His successor was. Mr. Shaw, who was in the ministry here about four years. The Rev. Jacob Flint, the next minister, was settled here in 1798. A Trinitarian church was built here in 1826, and Rev. Aaron Picket was installed the first pastor.

This town is noted for its rocky coasts, and for the numerous shipwrecks which have taken place on its borders. Cohasset rock, which consists of several small islands and sunken rocks. lies about three miles north east of the harbor; they have proved fatal to many vessels. This town has become quite a place of...

Cohasset, a post-township of Norfolk county, Massachusetts, 16 miles S. E. from Boston. The village is the terminus of the South Shore railroad. Population, 1776.

Cohasset is a pleasant seaboard town and watering-place 20 miles southeast of Boston by the South-shore Railroad. The town of Hingham separates it from the rest of Norfolk County, to which it belongs. It has the southeast part of Hull on the northwest, Massachusetts Bay on the north and northeast, Scituate on the south east and also on the south, with an angle of Norwell, and Hingham, on the west.

[old and new Minot's-Ledge Lighthouses, Cohasset]

The geological formation is sienite, and ledges of this rock give a romantic aspect to the town, and form many picturesque and dangerous reefs, points and islands off the shore. "The Cohasset Rocks, so called, have sent many a proud vessel to destruction, and are greatly dreaded by the mariner when driven to wards the coast by the northeastern gale. The lighthouse on one of these rocks, called "Minot's Ledge," with its two keepers, was carried away in the tremendous storm of April 16, 1851. Another lighthouse, on the model of the...