The Deacon Uriah Lincoln beakers: A pair of American silver beakers, Nathan Hobbs, Boston, dated 1821

slightly tapered cylindrical with molded base rims and flared rims, engraved with presentation inscription, each marked once on base HOBBS in rectangle

The Church of Christ in Cohasset,  1821 to the present.

E. Alfred Jones, The Old Silver of American Churches, Letchworth, England: National Society of Colonial Dames of American, 1913, p. 131.

both with very minor dings, one foot rim slightly out of round, otherwise good, engraving crisp
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The inscription reads, "The Gift of Deacon Uriah Lincoln to the Church of Christ in Cohasset. 1821."

Deacon Uriah Lincoln (Hingham 1746-Cohasset 1826) was the son of Isaac Lincoln Jr. and Ruth Beale; Isaac's cousin John Lincoln would be the great-grandfather of president Abraham Lincoln.  About 1740 Issac's father, also a Church Deacon, built a house which still survives at 405 South Main St., Cohasset, in a group of houses built by members of the Lincoln family.

Uriah Lincoln married in 1773 his step-sister Mary Lincoln (1755-1793), daughter of his father's second wife Sarah Hobart by her first husband, Francis Lincoln.  Francis was a carpenter and one of the builders of the 1747 meetinghouse, while Sarah was the daughter of Pastor Nehemiah Hobart and his wife, herself the niece of Deacon John Jacobs. 

Uriah was "Deacon of the church, and a man of prominence in town affairs" (Genealogies of the Families of Cohasset, Mass.); he was Town Clerk from 1786 to 1800, moderator for seven years about the same time, and Selectman 1787-1800 and 1803-1810.  Around the time of the revolution, he developed a successful tannery at the mouth of Bound Brook.  In the 1790 census, he reported two young boys and seven females living in his residence.  His youngest son graduated from Havard in 1800, becoming one of the first physicians in Maine and a trustee of Bowdoin College.  In 1795, Uriah Lincoln was one of two deacons assigned to "wait upon" Job Cushing for the fullfillment of Deacon John Jacob's bequest of two beakers to the church (see previous lot).  This may have inclined him towards the current gift of beakers, shortly before his death in 1826..

For Nathan Hobbs' connection to Cohasset, see note to following lot.