'We're very excited': Lincoln Day to celebrate Hingham's rich history

HINGHAM – Lincoln Day will return to Hingham on Feb. 11, when town residents will celebrate the lives of Army Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, a Revolutionary War hero born in Hingham, and President Abraham Lincoln, whose ancestors settled in Hingham in the 1630s.

The 46th annual event, organized by the Hingham Historical Society, will begin at 10:15 a.m. The Hingham Militia Company will assemble and begin the celebration at the Memorial Bell Tower next to Old Ship Church on Main Street. Military salutes will be accompanied by the laying of wreaths at Gen. Lincoln’s tomb and Gov. John A. Andrew’s grave in Hingham Cemetery.

At 11 a.m., participants and spectators will move inside for a commemoration service at Old Ship Church, with an address from keynote speaker and Lincoln historian Edward Achorn. Elected state and local representatives, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion, the 22nd Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Company and the Massachusetts 54th Regiment Company will also participate.

Achorn is a Pulitzer Prize finalist for journalistic commentary and a former longtime editorial page editor and vice president of The Providence Journal. Achorn’s book “Every Drop of Blood: The Momentous Second Inaugural of Abraham Lincoln” was published in 2020.

An open reception, a book signing and a light lunch will follow at the Hingham Heritage Museum. There will be music and the winners of this year’s Hingham Public School eighth grade Lincoln Day Essay Contest will be announced.

Hingham Historical Society Assistant Director Sarah Doggett said Lincoln Day draws between 175 and 200 people. She said the event is great for families.

"We really just want people to come and learn and celebrate their civic pride and walk away with having learned maybe something new," Doggett said. "We want to bring people together through the society, neighbors and community members who have a common pride in where they live."

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Lincoln Day celebrates the deep Lincoln heritage in Hingham, Doggett said. All Lincolns in America originally came through Hingham, she said, and tourists often visit the Hingham Historical Society to unravel the history.

"There's many people from near and far who come to Hingham to learn about their Lincoln ancestry," she said.

The Hingham Historical Society shares information and resources to help people learn about their ancestors. Doggett said 11 generations of families lived at the Benjamin Lincoln House in Hingham, which is open to the public.

For more information on Lincoln Day, visit hinghamhistorical.org.

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Reach Joel Barnes at jkbarnes@patriotledger.com.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Benjamin, Abraham Lincoln to be honored at Lincoln Day 2023 in Hingham