3. John Jacob

Born in Hingham on July 31, 1679, John Jacob was named after his older brother who Indians killed on April 19, 1676. When he was 14 years old, his father bequeathed him a house and barn in Jacob's Meadow in Cohasset near Cold Spring in 1693. It is one of the earliest recorded dwellings. Jacob helped found the First Church becoming its first Deacon, an essential and greatly respected community role. He was elected to the high office of representatives for Hingham at the General Court in Boston from 1726 to 1733. Jacob was one of the founding members of the first school committee in Hingham and represented Cohasset from 1742 to 1745. By 1759, he was Cohasset's wealthiest man with an inventory list including a “livestock category” with a negro man valued at 50 pounds and a negro woman valued at zero.

Thomas Lothrop, who was Jacob’s principal heir and his wife's grand-nephew inherited the “old house” at age 15.  To Cushing Kilby, his wife's nephew, he left one portion of his new dwelling-house on South Main Street. Later, Kilby or his heirs purchased the remaining half.