January 22, 204 By The Hingham Historical Society
The Hingham Historical Society invites residents of Hingham and the South Shore—and history lovers everywhere—to participate in Hingham’s 47th annual Lincoln Day on Saturday, February 10, 2024. Lincoln Day commemorates two famous Lincolns with Hingham roots: Benjamin Lincoln, Major General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, was a life-long Hingham resident, and Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President, was a descendant of Samuel Lincoln, who settled in Hingham in 1637. On Lincoln Day, we honor this local history and celebrate civic awareness and engagement.
The day’s events are free and open to the public.
This year’s Lincoln Day celebration will begin at 10:15 AM with a muster of the Hingham Militia Company at the Memorial Bell Tower next to Old Ship Church on Hingham’s Main Street and military salutes accompanied by laying of wreaths at General Lincoln’s tomb and Governor Andrew’s grave in Hingham Cemetery. At 11:00 AM, the proceedings will move inside for a Commemoration Service at Hingham’s First Parish “Old Ship” Church, with an address by the accomplished historian Michelle
Marchetti Coughlin who will discuss the life of Mary Cushing Lincoln, wife of Major General Benjamin Lincoln, and participation by elected state and local representatives, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company and more. Musical selections will be played throughout the program and the winners of this year’s Hingham Historical Society Middle School Lincoln Day essay contest will be announced and invited to join us in the ceremonies.
Michelle Marchetti Coughlin is a historian and author whose research has focused on recovering information about early American women, who continue to be underrepresented in the telling of America’s story. Michelle has served as a Mass Humanities Scholar-in-Residence and a historical consultant, and was guest curator for Pilgrim Hall Museum’s 2019-2021 exhibit “pathFOUNDERS: Women of Plymouth.” She has lectured widely, at institutions ranging from Brown University to Historic Deerfield, and has written for both academic and general audiences. As a board member of the Abigail Adams Birthplace, she has created numerous programs highlighting women’s history and African-American history, some of which have aired on C-SPAN.
This program will be followed by a procession to the Abraham Lincoln statue in Hingham’s Fountain Square for the laying of wreaths and, along the way, a stop outside New North Church, which General Lincoln helped found, where coffee and hot chocolate will be served. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, all are invited for light refreshments back at the Hingham Heritage Museum, the Society’s headquarters, at 34 Main Street. As part of the Hingham Historical Society’s Lincoln Day 2024 observation, the Benjamin Lincoln House, a house museum owned and operated by the Hingham Historical Society, will be open from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM for FREE guided tours on February 10th.
Thank you Hingham for continuing to preserve and celebrate history and your kind invitation for our participation. These are yearly not-to-be-missed events, and this past weekend blessed us with seasonable weather. Ms Coughlin was a delight, and the program director never fails to bring wonderful keynote speakers to the annual event.
U.S. Sanitary Commission – Boston Branch