Gas Line Replacement in Cohasset, MA

Cohasset was inhabited by the Pokanoket until 1649, when it was conquered by the Wampanoag, and then the Massachusett in 1668.

The area entered the written record in 1614, when Captain John Smith explored the coast of New England and described an encounter of his ship with four Native Americans in a canoe at Quonahasit, two of whom were shot by the Europeans. In 1634, “Conihosset” is listed as a “noted habitation” in New England in a list of both indigenous and colonial settlements, though the area was first settled by English settlers in 1670 suggesting this was a settlement of Massachusett people. The town’s name came from the Massachusett word “Conahasset,” possibly meaning “long rocky place” or “fishing promontory.”

Much of the land was originally granted without consultation of its indigenous inhabitants to the “Conahasset Partners.” At a special town meeting of January 1670, the shares in the new town were apportioned and divided among the new proprietors, many of whom were large Hingham landowners. The largest number of shares (35) went to Hingham Town Clerk Daniel Cushing, with the second largest (25) to Reverend Peter Hobart, Hingham’s minister. Others receiving large grants were: Capt. Joshua Hobart, Peter Hobart’s brother (18 shares); Lieut. John Smith (15 shares); Ensign John Thaxter (16½ shares); and deacon John Leavitt (with 14½ shares). The layout of the town was distinctive. Many lots were laid out in long narrow strips, facilitating more lots with road frontage, and avoiding back lots.