hingham house tour - thomas chubbuck jr house

In my last post, I wrote about the Hingham Historical Society's annual House Tour - and how two of the houses belonged at some point to my ancestors.  This post will show some deeds related to the Thomas Chubbuck, Jr. House.  

The Thomas Chubbuck Jr. House - 1778

Courtesy of Hingham Historical Society

Another house on the Hingham Historical House Tour that one of my ancestors lived in is the house of Thomas Chubbuck, Jr (b. 1757).  Thomas Chubbuck, Jr. is my 5th great grand-uncle, the brother of Sally (Chubbuck) French.  According to the Hingham Historical Society, Jeremiah Chubbuck, my sixth great grandfather, owned this land before his grandson Thomas Jr. built his house here.

The house description from the Hingham Historical website is as follows:

"Thomas Chubbuck, Jr. was a patriot and soldier of the Revolution, serving in the Battle of Bennington in 1777. He was descended from the first Thomas Chubbuck, a large landowner and early planter who arrived in Hingham in 1634. Upon his return from war in 1778, Thomas Jr. built this house atop a knoll in the Liberty Plain area on property owned by his father, Thomas, whose house at 1175 Main Street is also on the tour this year. This land was originally granted by the Town to Robert Peck. Subsequently, it was owned by the Thaxter family from 1641 to 1692 and was then purchased by Theophilus Cushing. It was part of the land that passed to the Chubbucks (detailed in 1175 Main Street history). In 1749, a portion of the land was mortgaged to Harvard University by Jeremiah Chubbuck to pay for his college tuition. Thomas deeded the land to Thomas Jr. who married Joanna Whiton, daughter of Captain Enoch Whiton and Joanna (Whiton), in 1787. Thomas Jr. died shortly after their marriage, and he and Joanna had no children, but Joanna lived here 60 more years until her death in 1850."

The land that this house is on is probably part of the 100 acres purchased from Seth Cushing by Thomas Chubbuck in 1742, recorded in the first deed I wrote about in the previous post, Suffolk County deed 73(164).  I have not found deeds which show how the land is transferred to the later generations of Chubbucks; I am assuming the land was handed down through wills or maybe part of some other deeds of land referenced above.  (see note 1)

I did find the Suffolk County deed 76(147), which records Jeremiah Chubbuck's first transaction with Harvard College.  The college treasurer pays to Jeremiah one hundred pounds for...

"a certain piece or parcel of land situate and being in Hingham aforesaid butted and bounded as follows, viz, eastwardly partly on the highway and partly on the land of Thomas Chubbuck, southerly on the land of Daniel Wyton, west on the river, and northward on Seth Cushing the whole containing by estimation about 40 acres be the same more or less now lying in partnership with my father Mr. Thomas Chubbuck, the land hereby intended to be granted is the one moiety or half part of the above described land and premises..."

dated March 1749

and another Suffolk deed 81(101) records the mortgage of Jeremiah's land to Harvard College; where the treasurer of the college pays fifty pounds for...

"one full moiety or half part of a certain piece of land with the fence thereon situate lying and being in Hingham aforesaid butted and bounded as follows viz southwardly on Accord Pond westwardly on the proprietor's land, and the land of Peter Ripley, northwardly on Seth Cushing's land, and eastwardly on the river, containing in the whole 45 acres..."

dated August 1748

I believe later in the deed it is stated that Jeremiah is expected to pay back the fifty pounds, with interest, and the deed will be void.  The language was a little difficult for me to understand while I was reading it quickly.
I am not sure that Jeremiah did pay the college back, as another deed records a division of land between Jeremiah Chubbuck and Harvard College, Suffolk County deed 87(66).

[Harvard College and Jeremiah Chubbuck] "do hold and enjoy in common and undivided a certain tract of land situate and lying at a place called the great plain in Hingham aforesaid containing in the whole sixty eight acres and thirty eight rods...and is bounded northerly with the land of Enoch Whitten easterly with the country road southerly with Daniel Whitten's land and westerly with the land of Peter Ripley and the said Enoch Whitten...that a partition and division of the same land be made between them...that the divisional line of said tract of land begin at a stake and heap of stones standing in or near the highway nine rods...from the northeast corner of said Chubbuck's dwelling house...college has northerly part containing about 30 acres...southerly part contains about 35 acres to be Jeremiah Chubbuck's... "

dated may 1755 

Eventually, the land that Jeremiah has left, the 35 acres, is probably handed down to his son Thomas, and Thomas' son Thomas, Jr. who builds the house pictured above.

notes:

1. There are some Suffolk County deeds which describe transactions between Seth Cushing and Jeremiah Chubbuck, it looks like Jeremiah and Seth exchange about 100 acres in Hingham back and forth.  It looks like Seth Cushing buys this land suffolk deed 67(236) and 67(237) back from Jeremiah Chubbuck in 1742.  These may be mortgages, as the end of the deed describes how Seth will pay Jeremiah.  Then also in 1742, suffolk deed 70(183), Jeremiah pays 600 pounds to Seth Cushing for part of this land, 100 acres.

nathaniel french (part 3 of 3)

death

Nathaniel French died on September 19, 1818 in Hingham, MA.  His death is recorded in the Vital Records of Hingham available on americanancestors.org.  This record has Nathaniel's age as 42 years old, which would make Nathaniel's birth year 1777.  This date conflicts with the birth date I have for Nathaniel as son of George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  The date of their son's birth is 1768.  This death record is a transcribed document; though, so it could be incorrect. 

Hingham Vital Records, death of Nathaniel French

To complicate things a little, I did find another transcription of Hingham town records on ancestry.com, Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988.  This record has the same death date of September 19, 1818 for Nathaniel French in Hingham, MA; but has his age as 52, not 42 years old.  This transcription makes much more sense for my Nathaniel, which would give him a birth date of about 1767.  This is close to the birth date of 1768 for the son of George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  I do believe that the first record was transcribed incorrectly and Nathaniel is the son of George and Sarah.  I did not find any other Nathaniel's in the town records for births or deaths that match.  Which makes things a little easier to trace Nathaniel in Hingham. 

Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, Hingham, Nathaniel French death

When Nathaniel died, he left his widow Sarah with two daughters, 13 and 15 years old; and three sons at the ages of 17, 19, and 21. None of his children were married yet. Most were probably still living at home when Nathaniel died (the 1820 census has all but one older son living with their mother Sarah).  I was also able to find Nathaniel French's probate file on familysearch which supports the 1818 death date of Nathaniel French in the records above.  Once you get into the actual probate records, they also do mention his widow, Sarah. 

From nathaniel french march 2013

The first probate document is a letter of administration for David Whiton, of Hingham to be the administrator to Nathaniel French's estate.  It was signed by Jedidiah Lincoln and John Curtis.  David Whiton was probably a friend of the family as I do not have him listed in my family tree. Nathaniel's son Freeman marries a Joanna Whiting, but she does not seem to have a David in her immediate family. (Plymouth Probate vol. 46, p. 308)

The next document provides the names of the men who will appraise the estate of Nathaniel French: David Whiton, gentelmen; Perez Whiton and Daniel Wilder, yoeman. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p. 49)

There is also an inventory of Nathaniel's Estate provided in his Probate file. This is where Nathaniel's widow, Sarah, is first mentioned. The documents show Sarah will receive any items she chooses to the sum of $300.00. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51)

The inventory is interesting to see what Nathaniel and his family possessed. It seems Nathaniel had land in Abington in addition to Hingham.  (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51)  One of Nathaniel's sons, Freeman, does move to Abington after he marries around 1826. Maybe he purchased the land at auction from his father's estate, although he only would have been about 17 years old. Abington is part of Plymouth County so I will search for deed transactions for this county around 1818 up to 1826.

The inventory also mentions that Nathaniel owned a farm and 1/2 of a Coopers Shop. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51).  I found an interesting article on coopers from Old Sturbridge Village website which discusses both the trade of coopers and how they often also kept farms. Most of the tools listed in Nathaniel's inventory seem to be farm tools. (see note 1)  I was a little surprised to see that Nathaniel was a Cooper, as the History of Hingham book states that he was a packetman (p238). I have not found any evidence of this profession for Nathaniel, I wonder if he could have done both. Part of the description for Coopers on the Old Sturbridge Village website does discuss making barrels that are used for shipping. Maybe his barrels were sent on the ships.



Another document in Nathaniel's probate allows the adminsitrator, David Whiton, to sell items or land from the Estate of Nathaniel French to the sum of $800.00 so that he may pay the debts of Nathaniel.  (note 2) (Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p 427)

These debts are also listed in Nathaniel's Probate file.  The article on Coopers does mention that usually accounting books were kept noting bills and receipts. I am guessing that is where the administrator accessed the information for Nathaniel's debts.  These debts list many familiar surnames, such as Chubbuck, Gardners, Whitings and Whitons, and Dills. Also mentioned are Deacon John Jacobs and Doctor Shute. (Plymouth Probate vol. 53, p.131) (note 3)  I have not been able to find any information on a Deacon John Jacobs for this time period, but the History of Hingham book does discuss Dr. Daniel Shute and his son Dr. Daniel Shute Jr., who both resided on Main Street in the south part of Hingham. This is probably the area in Hingham that Nathaniel French also lived as most of the above mentioned surnames are also from South Hingham.

Having these probate records is great, but they have left me with some questions, such as:

• Who was the land at auction sold to? Was it the land in Hingham or Abington, or both?
• Who owned the other half of the cooper shop?
• Did his widow Sarah remain on land in Hingham, and who was that handed down to?
• Since he had property and items to hand down, why didn't he leave a will, did he die suddenly?

notes:
1.  Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51

Inventory of Estate of Nathaniel French

• 25 1/2 acres of land in the homeplace at 35.............................................................$892.50
• 7 acres of woodland in Abington, 56...dwelling house 575.....................................$631.00
• 1 barn 100, 1/2 a Cooper shop 12 ...........................................................................$112.00
• $1635.50
• 1 hog 30, 2 sheep 5, 3 cows 60..................................................................................$95.00
• 3 Tom English Hay ?, Salt? 10, pesh? 15..................................................................$70.00
• 2 ladders 2,25, 4 hay forks 2, 25, 3 rakes 3,25............................................................$2.25
• 1 hand cart 2, 9 hoes ?, 4 spade ? ...............................................................................$4.00
• 1 ? shovel .40, 1 dung fork .75, 2 scythes and staff .75, 3 yokes .50 .........................$2.40
• 1 ? hoe .50, 1 bill hook .50, 2 iron crows ? ................................................................$3.50
• 1 beetle and 3 wedges .75, 1 collar and hamer .50, 1 gindstone ?..............................$2.50
• 3 ? ?, 1 cropeut saw ?, 1 handsaw .50, 2 wood saw ?..................................................$6.50
• augen? gimblets chipals?, old iron ? , 2 pittelyards ? .................................................$6.00
• 1 gun 8.00, 1 pistol 1.00, 4 kat? irons 1.00, 1 coffee mill .50 ....................................$5.50
• 4 dish kettles 2.00, 2 pots 1.50, 1 tea kettle 1.00, 3 spiders 1.50 ...............................$6.00
• 1 toad iron .50, 1 bread ? .50, 1 cheese ? .50, wooden ? ? 10...................................$11.50
• 2 meal ? 1, dairy furniture 2.50, 9 kitchen chairs 2.50................................................$6.00
• 1 table .50, 1 fire sett 1.50, 1 lantern, candlestick, lamps and bellows 1.....................$3.00
• books 6.00, bed, furniture in the East Back chamber 12.00.......................................$18.00
• wool and sundries in the West Champber 3.00, 3 bbls cider? 6.00............................$10.00
• potatoes 13.00, empty bbls, keg? in the cellar 5.00, cheese 10.00 ............................$28.00
• bed and purniture in the front room 36.00, crockery in the frontroom closet 5.00, ...$41.00
• 1 doz knives and forks 2.00, 9 silver teaspoons 3.00, 1 silver watch 10.00 ...............$15.00
• ? 19.00, wearing apparel 22.00 .....................................................................................$41.00
• $399.15
• pew in meeting house ..................................................................................................10.00
• $409.15

David Whiton, administrator on the Estate of Nathaniel French, late of Hingham in said County, yeoman deceased...You are hereby directed to deliver to Sarah French the widow of said deceased so much of his personal Eastate in such articles as she may choose as will amount to the sum of three hundred according to their appriased value the same being an allowance much her for necessaries...after the widow Sarah French has selected from the personal Eastate of said deceased the allowance that has been made her you are hereby...

pg. 51

authorized to sell the residue at public or private sale as you shall judge most beneficial to all persons interested therein and account unto me for the porceeds thereof...

2. Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p 427

To the Hon Joshua Thomas, Esq, judge of Probate for the County of Plymouth, who petition of preresentation of David Whiton administratior on the Estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham in the said County yeoman deceased humbly show that the personal Estate of said deceased is insufficient by the sum of eight hundred dollars to pay all his past debts and incidental charges therefore prays that he may be licensed and empowered to sell so much of said deceased real Estate as shall produce the sum aforesaid ...

Plymouth Court of Probate, Dec 6th, 1819, on the foregoing petition ordered that the said David Whiton cause personal notice to be given to all persons interested in said Estate of this his petition and order thereon and that they may appear at the Court of Probate now held at Scituate in said County on this first monday of Dec instant at three o clock pm when and where they may appear and show cause if any they have why the prayer of said petition should not be granted...

Plymouth December 6, 1819 by virtue of the within I have notified the widow and children of the deceased Nathaniel French to appear at the times and place and for the ? within mentioned.

Plymouth Court of Probate Decmeber 6 1819 David Whiton Administrator of the Estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham in said County yeoman deceased having filed in the probate office for said County his petition for License to sell as much of the real etsate of said deceased as will produce the sum of eight hundred dollars for the purpose of paying his just debt and incidental charges and the said David Whiton having given notice to all persons interested in said Estate agreeable to the order of this Court all which being made evident to me by due Examination, therefore ordered that the said David Whiton be and hereby empowered to sell and pay deed to convey so much of said deceased in real Estate as shall produce the sum.

3. Plymouth Probate vol. 53, p.131

The account of David Whiton adminstrator on the estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham yeoman deceased

The said accountant charges himself with sundry receipts viz

• for sundires sold at auction as ? 25.27 cash ? of Benjamin Whiton balance of ? .............31.29
• Warren Thayer note ?, Joshua Damon 15, Daniel Chubbard note ? 116.25 ..................135.25
• Deacon John Jacob note of interest 11.85, Jesse Gardner 1.63, Joseph Whiton 3.05......16.53
• Col Washington Cushing 1.75, Deac J. Jacobs 2, David Whiton balance of ? 319.82...323.57
• Sundry articles of personal estate including cash delivered widow on account of allowance by the judge..........................................................................................................................273.90
• cash received for the real estate sold at auction by order of court.............................800.00

                                                                                                                                             1580.84

And ? allowance for the following payments and charges viz

• sundries delivered the widow by order of the judge 277.90 as paid samuel gardner jr 2.61................................................................................................................................280.51
• james gardner 5.78 joseph whiton on 2 notes and interest 15.60 -................................21.38
• job loring jr. 5.50 perez whiting balance 7.94 davis whiting balance 10.35 ..................23.79
• eliha whiton 2.08 mary dills note 152.01 doctr shute jr. 25.49...................................179.58
• daniel dills note and int. 15.58 emma dills 22.72 whiton and fearing's acct 19.57........57.87
• doctr shute 2.40 deacon john jacobs note and int 138.22 ? 70.12................................210.47
• henry chubbuck note and int 107.55 ditto 35.20 ditto 154 ditto 256...........................552.75
• ditto for cash lent 60 abigail gardner note and int 23.98................................................83.98
• patience gardner 41.34, ditto 4.36 anthony gardner bill 4.09.........................................49.79
• perez whiting 2.25 david whiton and co. bill 27.47 daniel wilder 2.32..........................32.04
• ? Lane 2 B wilder collector 5.20 B. wilder collector 8.42..............................................15.62
• paid joshua hersey jr collector 3.20 joseph wilder ? .30...................................................3.50
• probate fees 5.85 ditto for inventory 1.25 for license to sell real estate 5.50 ................12.60
• perez whiting collector 4.53 administrators services 30, probate fees for recording ?...36.53

                                                                                                                                             1560.68
                                                                                                          Sarah French left her mark x





to do:

1.  Search for the deed for Freeman French's land in Abington - Plymouth County Deeds - 1818-1830.  Freeman then moves back to South Scituate/Norwell, where all his children were born - after Nathaniel's death.   (need to search index at registry in Plymouth for these dates - records are online, but need book vol. number, etc)

2. Find where Nathaniel's land went after his death and after his wife's death - their children:

• son Theodore said to have removed from Hingham in the History of Hingham book.  I could not find a record of him in Hingham.
• son Nathaniel stayed in Hingham, died in 1867 - look at his children too.
• daughter Mary French marries Joseph Wilder, remains in Hingham - have a son Joseph Wilder
• daughter Sarah dies in 1863, marries Jacob Dunbar - not sure where they ended up or if they had children.

nathaniel french (part 2 of 3)

family life

Nathaniel French married Sally Chubbuck on January 8, 1797, in  Hingham, MA.  The record is from the Vital Records of Hingham, from americanancestors.org.

index of marriage record for Nathaniel French and Sally Chubbuck, Hingham, MA

The first census that Nathaniel and Sally are found in show that they are not living in the almshouse, like Nathaniel's father, George.  In fact, the Massachusetts and Maine direct tax census of 1798 shows that Nathaniel lives in the South Parish of Hingham, with 1/2 shop and 12 acres of land.  I do not know if Nathaniel purchased this land, or if he inherited it.  The next step would be to check Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, since Hingham is in Norfolk County from 1793-1803. (note 1)

The 1800 census shows Nathaniel's growing family:

1800 US Federal Census, Hingham, Nathaniel French

1800 census : 2 males under 10 (nathaniel and theodore); 1 male 26-44 (nathaniel); 1 male 45+ (?); 1 female 26-44 (sarah) 

There is one male over 45 years old who is unaccounted for in Nathaniel's household in 1800.  It may be Sarah's father, Thomas Chubbuck, since his wife died in 1797, and I was unable to find him listed separately in the census.  Thomas died in 1802 in Hingham, so most likely he was living in Hingham in 1800.  I checked to see if it could have been any of Sarah's or Nathaniel's brothers, but none of them would have been 45 or older in 1800.  It also was probably not likely to be Nathaniel's father as he is married in 1800 (to his third wife, Fanny).

The 1800 census shows who Nathaniel's neighbors probably were.  The listing under Nathaniel is Daniel Dill, which is Sarah's sister's, Mary, husband.  This would probably be her family, living next door to each other. 

1810 census...

1810 US Federal Census, Hingham, Nathaniel French

1810 census : 1 male under 10 (freeman); 2 male 11-15 (nathaniel and theodore); 1 male 26-44 (nathaniel); 2 female under 10 (sarah and mary); 1 female 26-44 (sarah); 1 female 45+ (?) 

By 1810, the older male living with Nathaniel and Sarah in 1800 is no longer in their household.  This would make sense if it were Thomas Chubbuck, as he dies in 1802.  There is; however, another older female living with them that is over the age of 45.  Both Nathaniel's and Sally's mothers had died before 1800 according to History of Hingham book.  Perhaps this woman is a sister of either Nathaniel or Sally.  Nathaniel does not have any living sisters in 1810.  Sally has two sisters age 45 and over.  Her sister Mary is married, but her other sister, Patience, never marries.  I am guessing it is more likely to be Patience, than Mary.  I did not find a separate entry for Patience in the 1810 census. 

It seems likely that the land Nathaniel and Sarah are living on in Hingham may have come from Sarah's family for a few reasons.  The 1800 census has Nathaniel and Sarah probably living with Sarah's father.  Maybe they lived in his house as he was older, taking care of Thomas if he needed it.  Also, the 1810 census has them most likely living with Sarah's sister, Patience.  Perhaps Thomas handed down his land and house to Sarah and she was to provide residence for her sister Patience.  Also, Sarah's other sister, Mary, is living next door to Nathaniel and Sarah in the 1800 Census.  Mary may have also been given land from her father Thomas.  The 1810 Census is alphabetized for the town of Hingham, so that does not show who Nathaniel and Sarah's neighbors may have been.  I am not sure if Thomas Chubbuck left a will or probate, but that would provide many clues as to where Nathaniel and Sarah were living in Hingham. (note 2)

(to be continued...)

notes:
1.  Hingham is in Norfolk County from 1793-1803; Plymouth County starting 1803; before 1793 in Suffolk County.    Norfolk County Registry of Deeds do have all their deed register books online.  I found a great guide to using the Norfolk Register of Deeds webpage here - from GeneaMusings blog.  If you are looking for deeds before 1900 you have to search through their scanned index.  There were no French's or Chubbuck's at all from Hingham listed.  In fact, I did not see any listings for Hingham, which makes me think that maybe Hingham was not included in these deeds.  Perhaps because it was in Norfolk County for such a short time, they are still indexed with either Suffolk or Plymouth County for these years.  Have to go to Plymouth Registry of Deeds to look at their index.

2.  I looked in Probate index, Norfolk County, Massachusetts ... 1793-1900, vol. 1, online through Internet Archive, and did not find an entry for Thomas Chubbuck, Sarah's father, who died in 1802 in Hingham, MA.  Again, there were no Chubbucks from Hingham listed.  Thomas is also not listed for the Plymouth County Probate files available online through familysearch.   I will have to look in the Suffolk County probate. 

to do:
1.  Check the Suffolk and Plymouth county deeds to find where Nathaniel got his land in Hingham, MA - around 1797 - year of his marriage.  Plymouth county deeds are online, but for this time period, need to know book number.  I did look at French surnames for 1910-1915, to see if maybe some deeds would link back through his descendants, but there were none that matched.  I also asked on the Plymouth County ancestry boards if anyone had access to the Plymouth county deed index.  The Plymouth County Deed index is available at Plymouth Registry of Deeds, and available from Family Center microfilm. I am not sure about process for Suffolk County Deeds yet. 
 
2.  Since Thomas Chubbuck is not in the Norfolk County Probate index and his probate record is not online for the Plymouth County Probate records, check Suffolk County probate for Sarah Chubbuck's father, Thomas Chubbuck, d. 1802 in Hingham, MA (Nathaniel's father George died in almshouse). 

3.  Also look at Sarah's brothers' probates - Plymouth county probably.  Sarah's brother Thomas has a son Henry Chubbuck who leaves land to Sarah Chubbuck and her children - including Freeman French.  Henry's will also mentions Sarah's sisters Mary Dill and Patience Chubbuck.  Strange to me that Henry left to his aunts and cousins, but maybe he had no children and maybe his father Thomas did not have many other children. 

nathaniel french (part 1 of 3)

childhood

Nathaniel French, one of my 5th great grandfathers, was born around 1770 in Hingham, MA.  (note 1)  The closest birth record I could find for a Nathaniel French in Hingham was the Nathaniel born January 19, 1768 to George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  I have written a bit about George Lane French and my difficulty obtaining records for him in many posts. 

possible birth of Nathaniel French to George Lane French and Sarah Tower (from: NEGHS, Vital Records of Hingham, MA; newenglandancestors.org)

Nathaniel was about 7 years old when the Revolutionary War began.  He and his brothers would obviously have been too young to fight; but his father, George Lane French, does have an entry in the
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, vol. 6; (pg 71; available on internet archive).

French, George Lane. Private, Capt. Pyam Cushing's co., Col. Lovel's regt.; service between March 11 and March 29, 1776, 2 days; company assembled to guard the shore.  

If Nathaniel's father is George, he was not gone long due to the Revolutionary War.  Even though his father was home; however, Nathaniel probably did not have an easy life.  George and his family spent at least some years in the almshouse in Hingham, MA.  The records show George Lane French's death occurred while residing at the almshouse in 1814.  The death of Nathaniel's sister-in-law and nephew (Delight Rice French, wife of George French, and Phinneas French) also occurred at the almshouse in 1791.  I am guessing that Nathaniel may have spent some years here also, as a child or young adult.

I tried to find Nathaniel's family in the 1790 Census, but was not very successful.  Nathaniel would be about 22 years old by the 1790 census; old enough to be a head of a household and enumerated in the census.  I did not find him listed in Hingham, MA; perhaps he was still living with his father as he was not yet married. (note 2)  There are only 4 pages for Hingham and I browsed through each page to make sure the index did not miss him.  The only George French enumerated in Hingham is Nathaniel's brother George, who married in 1785 and had a family of his own.  It does not seem that anyone else is living with George other than his wife and his own children.  (A year later, George's wife Delight and son Phinneas' deaths are recorded from the almshouse also.)

1790 Cenus Hingham; George French (children's names are from History of Hingham book) : Males - Under 16: 2 (joshua, phinneas) Males - 16 and over: 1 (george); Females: 2 (sarah, delight)

I also did not find an entry for Nathaniel's other brothers, Phinneas (20 years old), Theodore (18 years old), and Perez (14 years old).  Their brother Joshua probably died by 1778, (according to The History of the Town of Hingham, p237), and their sister Sarah died in 1782.  I have not been able to find out more information for any of Nathaniel's brothers other than George who dies in 1832 in Hingham, MA.  The other brothers do not seem to be listed in the later censuses, nor did I find death records for them in Hingham.  They may have either died and did not leave a record, or they removed from Hingham.  Their father, George Lane French, did not have a probate as he died in the almshouse, so no information can be found that way. 
The other French's that are listed in the Hingham 1790 census are as follows:

• Miss French : 1 female (not sure who this is)
• Ezra French : 1 male 16 and over, (ezra) 3 females (daughters lucy, hannah, sarah) - not sure where sons samuel and reuben were; and wife died in 1790 [George Lane French's cousin]
• Jonathan French : 5 males 16 and under (charles, martin, daniel, bela,?) 1 male 16 and over (jonathan), 3 females (betsey, elizabeth, elizabeth) [George Lane French's brother; Nathaniel's Uncle]
• Theodore French : 2 males 16 and over (theodore, theodore), 1 female (wife persis or daughter hannah) [George Lane French's brother; Nathaniel's Uncle]

Since I could not find Nathaniel or his father George in the 1790 census, I am guessing they may be living in the almshouse by this time.  The number of residents residing at the almshouse were included in the 1790 census, as shown below.

1790 Hingham Census showing number of residents of almshouse (6 males over 16, 1 male under 16, 12 females)

If Nathaniel was at the almshouse with his father, he managed to leave it and obtain his own residence by the 1800 census with his wife.

(to be continued...)


notes:
1. I have a name of Nathaniel French for my 5th great grandfather from my 4th great grandfather's birth record, Freeman French.  (Freeman's death record does not list parent's name).  I have an approximate birth date of 1766-1774 from the 1800 and 1810 census for Nathaniel.

2.  Nathaniel's mother died in 1782 according to the History of Hingham book.  Nathaniel's father George remarried to an Abigail Lewis in 1783.  Abigail died in 1790, and George remarried again to Fanny Humphries in 1791. 

to do:
1. find deeds of Nathaniel's father George - Hingham book states he resided on Hersey Street.  Was this after the almshouse?  George's father Jonathan resided on French Street according to Hingham book, as did George's brothers, Theodore and Jonathan.  Some of George's siblings were born in Weymouth - did Jonathan (Nathaniel's grandfather) sell their land in Weymouth when they came to Hingham.  Did George Lane French (Nathaniel's father) come to Hingham as an adult or with father Jonathan?

2.  find information on Nathaniel's brothers : Phinneas, Theodore and Perez.  History of Hingham book does not have information on them either.  May need to browse through the Holbrook Massachusetts Vital Records database on ancestry.com.  Familysearch does have a death date for a Perez, son of George, in Hubbardston, MA in 1868 - but states he was born in Hubbardston in 1796.  Record could be incorrect.