The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889, Part 12

Author: Hayward, William Willis, 1834-
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Vox Populi Press, S. W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1257

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hancock > The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 > Part 12

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JOHN DUNCAN LEVI SPAULDING JO: YOUNG "

Another important event transpired on this third day of May. The town-meeting convened at eight o'clock in the morning, and immediately adjourned until three o'clock in the afternoon. It is not to be supposed that during the intervening hours the voters were idle, or that they returned to their homes.

Non-resident land owners, as a class, were not any too popular at that time, as a petition sent to the General Court on the 16th of May will show. One man, however, then a non-resident, but after- wards a citizen of the town, was an exception. James Hosley, without doubt, was present. How much influence he might have had in settling the question of the day we can only infer from the action of the town when the voters came together in the afternoon; it was then "Voted, That James Duncan, Joseph Dodge, and John Foster be a committee to meet with Deacon Hosley upon the com- mon and consult with him how much land will be sufficient for said common which the Deacon purposed to make a present of to the town."

This present of Deacon Hosley was formally accepted by the town Nov. 25, 1785. The deed of the land was given Dec. 30th of

ANNALS OF THE TOWN.

the same year, but was not recorded until April, 1792. A certified copy of the deed is given in this place : -

" TOWN DEED, ENTERED APRIL, 1792.

" Know all men by these presents that I James Hosley of New Ipswich in the County of Hillsborough and State of New Hampshire Gentm

" In consideration of the Town of Hancock's being pleased to agree upon a plat to set a Meetinghouse on, upon my Land and for diverse other good causes and consid- erations I do hereby give grant and convey unto the Town of Hancock for the fol- lowing purposes (viz) for a convenient Common about said Meetinghouse for sta- bling of Horses on the Sabbath-for to build Houses on for people to asemble in upon Sabbath day-noons for a Burying yard and Training Field-for Roads &c-or for any other necessary publick use at the Direction of the Town, and for no other purposes a certain piece of Land situate around said Meetinghouse place to extend east of the Meetinghouse six rods to a line running North and South from the top of the sandy or pine Hill to the North line of the Lott (provided the Meetinghouse shall stand where the Courts Committee appointed), thence Westwardly on the line between the second and third Ranges to the top of the great sandy Hill, thence Southwardly and Eastwardly to the first mentioned line suposed to be about six or seven Acres -be the same more or less -

" To have and to hold the said granted premises for the foregoing purposes and no other-to them their heirs &c for ever, and I do covenant with the said Town that I am Lawfully seized in fee of the premises-that they are free of all incum- berances-that I have good right to give and convey the same as aforesaid and that I will warrant and defend the same to the said Town against the Lawful Claims and demands of all persons Claiming by for or under me my heirs or Assigns &c In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the thirtieth day of December A. D. 1785-

" Signed sealed & Delivered in pres-

ents of - JOSEPH DODGE HUGH ORR EDMOND DAVIS

James Hosley

" Coppy Attest -

" JAMES HOSLEY Town-Clerk "

" June 18, 1798 In concideration that the bounds of the land contained in the within Deed not being particularly fixed and some part liable to be disputed we have this day fixed them as follows viz the line running north & south to be six rods from the most easterly part of the Meetinghouse thence westerly betwixt No two and No three to a stake and stones at the turn of the of the great hill-thence southerly to the Southwest corner of Burying yard as the fence now stands-thence easterly to a stake and stones at the turn of the hill a little west of south from the Meetinghouse-thence easterly till it intersects to the said north and south line as near the northwest corner of the school house where it now stands as may be -

" JAMES HOSLEY "

We give in this place Mr. Hosley's statement in regard to the change that was subsequently made in the boundary of the com- mon; as we have a certified copy of the deed and also a certified copy of the change in the boundary, in Mr. Hosley's own hand- writing, no doubt can ever be entertained in regard to it.

" AUGUST, 1802.

" This may Certifiy whom it may concern, that when I the subscriber disposed of the land on the north and south sides of the road leading from the Meeting house

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

to the west line of the land belonging to Lt. Joseph Symonds, I then reserved four rods wide for a road & that after that time the Town gave Samuel Hosley a piece of Land north of the stables (which then belonged to the Common, I gave them) in ex- change for enough more to make said road six rods wide where it joins the Com- mon at six rods east of the Meetinghouse so that said road ought ever to be con- sidered as six roads wide at six rods distance from the Meetinghouse and four at said symonds line any deed bargain or conveyance to the contrary notwithstanding

" test. SAMUEL HOSLEY

HENRY PRENTICE"

JAMES HOSLEY

PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO LEVY A TAX TO BUILD A MEETING-HOUSE, 1785.

"STATE OF NEW HAMPRE } to the Honorable the Sennet & House of Representatives HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY ) in general Court Convened -

" A Petition in behalf of the Inhabitants of Hancock Humbly Shews : that &d Han- cock was not Granted to any number of persons as other towns in this State have Been nor aney Lands Given for aney publick Use but a Great part of the land in sd town is owned by non Residents the most of whome lives in the massachusetts who do not incline to Sell or Settle there lands : so long as they find them advancing by our labour: whilest all the burthing of Roads &c, layeth heavy on the oppressed in- habitants & Whereas other towns in the same sittuation have Upon applycation been Relieved, which incorigeth us to hope that we will not be worse Used than other subjects wherefor we pray that your honors would Grant us a small tax on all the Land in sd Hancock for the sole purpose of bulding a house for Publick Wor- ship, and your petitioners as in Duty Bound will Ever Pray

"HANCOCK may ye 16th 1785 SETH HADLEY }

ENOS KNIGHT Comittee"

The foregoing was granted by an act passed Nov. 4, 1785 :-

" STATE OF § In the year of our Lord one thousand seven

NEW HAMPSHIRE - ( Hundred and Eighty Five.

"AN ACT impowering the selectmen of Hancock to assess the lands in sd Hancock for the purpose of building a meeting house in sd Hancock. 1

" Whereas a petition has been presented to the General Court in behalf of the In- habitants of sd Hancock in the County of Hillsborough and state aforesaid requesting that a tax may be laid on all the lands of sd Hancock for the sole purpose of building a Meeting House in sd town of Hancock for Reasons mentioned in sd petition and public notice being given to all persons concerned to make objections if any they had to the contrary, and the sd petitioners being heard thereon and the prayer thereof being reasonable and Just.

"Be it therefore Enacted by the Senate & House of Representatives in General Court Convened that the selectmen for the town of Hancock aforesd be impowered and they are hereby impowered to assess the Land in sd Hancock at the rate of one penny for each Acre of Land in sd Hancock, and the Collector or Collectors of sd Hancock be impowered to lay and collect the same and to pay it to the selectmen of sd Hancock or their successors for the purpose aforesd and for no other purpose what- soever and sd Tax shall be made in one entire List, by itself, and not blended with any other tax whatsoever, and shall express the name of the owner of the land so taxed if known with the number of Acres, and some description of the lot, and where the owner is not known the lot and number of Acres shall be described with the name of the original owner thereof, and the same shall be collected and paid in the same manner as is prescribed for collecting public taxes of Land of non-resi- dents by laws now in force in sd State and the same tax of one penny per acre as aforesaid shall be continued for the space of three years and no longer

ANNALS OF THE TOWN.

" STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE.

"In the house of Representatives Nov. 2nd 1785

" the foregoing bill having been read a third time Voted that it pass to be enacted " Sent up for concurrence JNO. SULLIVAN Speaker

" In Senate Nov 4 1785

" This bill was read a third time & Voted that the same be enacted

"JOHN LANGDON President

" Recorded according to the original act under the state seal " Attest E. THOMPSON Sec."

This petition reflected somewhat severely on the non-resident land holders of the town. The argument put forth was a just one, and the granting of the request made shows a wise statesmanship on the part of the General Court. Another petition that bears no date shows that some of the non-resident land owners were disposed to be just. It was probably sent about the same time, and in justice to the signers we give it in this place : -

PÉTITION FOR SPECIAL TAX TO BUILD A MEETING-HOUSE.

" STATE OF NEW HAMP'RE ) to the Hon' the sennat and House of Representives in HILLSBOROUGH SS Gen1 Court at Concord convened

" The Memorial of us Nonresident Owners of lands in Hancock shews that whereas a Petition hath been prefered Requesting a tax to be Laid on all the Lands in sd Hancock for the purposs of building a house for publick worship & it appear- ing to be for our interest & the publick Good we also pray that the subject matter prayed for in sd petition may be Granted and your Memorialests as in Duty Bound will ever pray &c -

" JAMES DAVIS JONA DAVIS JOHN PRESTON

AMOS BARRETT BEN'N KNIGHT MOODY MORSS

ELEZER CUMINGS CHARLES BARRETT ELIJAH HILLS "

JAMES HOSLEY

NOAH WHEELER

In the autumn of 1785, Governor Hancock sent a letter to the town, the purport of which does not appear. Peter Warren was in- structed to send a reply. Joseph Simonds, Enos Knight, Edmond Davis, John Foster, and Oliver Lawrence were appointed a com- mittee to look out a ministerial lot. "Voted, To build a pound." The care of building said pound was entrusted to Edmond Davis.

March 13,.1786. Two important offices were instituted in town this year.

Abraham Mores was appointed to serve as pound-keeper, and Peter Cummings, James Smith, and Jonathan Sawyer, to serve as " Hogg Reifs." £55 were raised for roads.

" Voted, To raise fifteen pounds to hier Preaching for this year."

"Voted, That Lemuel Lakin hier a Preacher." The selectmen to instruct Mr. Lakin how to agree with a preacher.

100

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

There seems to have been some hope of building a meeting-house immediately, as it was voted to have the meetings at Deacon Hos- ley's barn, " Except there be a House built in the center." David Hubbard was engaged to provide for the minister for six shillings per week.

April 3d. " Voted, To allow Peter Warrens account for writeing in the town Book."

" Voted, Not to act upon the eighth article," which was, " To see if the town will build a small house on the common to meet in till such time as they may be able to build a meeting House."

" Voted, To make a present of five dollars to John Duncan, Esq."

" Voted, That a plan of the town be procured " and that Seth Hadley procure a plan of New Boston pattern.

Nov. 27th. The General Court had sent out a plan for "Emitting" paper money for the towns to vote upon. The plan did not com- mend itself to the town, and it was voted not to accept it. James IIosley, Peter Warren, and James Duncan were chosen a com- mittee to instruct our representative. This instruction was not, however, to be given without the approbation of the town, so the meeting adjourned for one week, then came together and voted on the instruction that had been prepared, and accepted it.

In the winter of 1786-7, the subject of building a meeting-house was again brought up; a meeting was called for Dec. 25th. At this meeting James Hosley, Mr. Hadley, Mr. Simonds, Mr. Knight, and Mr. Duncan were appointed a committee to prepare a plan for building said house, and the spring of 1788 was designated as the time to begin the work. The first year's tax was to be paid in cer- tificates, boards, shingles, and slit-work, at prices named in the re- port, which was one-third in advance of the hard-money price. Mr. Foster, Mr. Hosley, and Mr. Lawrence were a committee to let out the lumber and receive it in. It was decided that the house be fifty-six feet long and forty-five feet wide. The selectmen were instructed to petition to Governor Hancock for ministerial and school lots, and to take possession by cutting one acre on each lot.

1787. £15 raised for preaching (James Hosley committee), to be at James Hosley's and James Duncan's.

The vote in regard to the size of the meeting-house was recon- sidered, and it was voted to have it fifty feet long and forty feet wide.

It had transpired that " certificates " were of little value for the

101

ANNALS OF THE TOWN.

purpose of purchasing materials for building a meeting-house, so the selectmen were instructed to send the following petition to the General Court : -

NEW HAMPSHIRE -)

" STATE OF ¿ To the Great and General Court of said state to be conven'd on the first Wensday of June next, -

"The Selectmen of the town of Hancock in behalf of sd Town Humbly Shews - that they received an Act passed by said Court upon the 2nd of November 1785, Im- powring the Select Men of Hancock to Assess the Lands in said Hancock for the pur- pose of Building a Meeting house in sd Town at one penny an Acre for the term of three years .- But in sd Act there appears liberty for the whole thereof to be paid in Certificates .- which liberty must of Necessaty prevent our Building at present for we Cannot purchase one article for Building with them so as to answer our purpose - we therefore pray the Honorable Court to take our Case into there Consideration and reverse that clause of said Act which has respect to said Tax being paid in Cer- tificates and Order it to be paid in hard Money Grain and Lumber, or some other way to Answer our purpose, as they in their wisdom shall see meet, and your Petion- ers in duty bound shall ever pray.

"HANCOCK April 26, 1787 EDMOND DAVIS Selectmen of

" Honble the General Court

SAMUEL GATES

OLIVER LAWRENCE Hancock "

This petition seems to have been a reasonable one, but it was dismissed. In July it was " Voted, That the Town Inhabitants may pay their part of the meeting house Rate in Rye, to have one Bushel equal to 8/4 in Certificates -or in Lumber equivalent thereto." Edmond Davis, Robert Duncan, David Hubbard, and Asa Davis were appointed "to lead the congregation in singing for the present"; James Hosley and Robert Duncan to "read the Psalm for the present."

Aug. 27th. It was decided to have the meeting-house forty-two feet wide, fifty-five feet long, and twenty-six feet high between joints ; the second year's meeting-house tax to be paid by residents with rye, at eight shillings and four pence for five pecks.

Sept. 24th. All former votes respecting the dimensions of the meeting-house were reconsidered, and it was decided that the house be forty-five feet wide and sixty feet long, with porches at the ends.

As an indication that now they meant to prosecute the work, it was voted that the frame be let out to the lowest bidder, to be ready for raising by the middle of the next September. James Duncan, Peter Warren, and James Hosley were appointed a committee to prepare articles of sale. They subsequently reported substantially as follows: The frame to be awarded to the lowest bidder; the posts to be of oak; the outside sills to be of oak or white pine; the plates, beams, and gallery sills to be white pine, and to be in all parts,

102

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

both as to size and goodness, equal to the frame of Packerfield meeting-house; to be completed and ready for raising by the middle of next September, and good bonds to be given for the performance thereof. Half the pay was to be in rye, at four shillings per bushel, and the other half in state certificates, at ten shillings per pound - one-half to be paid in four months, and the other half at the time of the raising of the frame; " the Timber to be found standing by the Town."

It was bid off by Thomas Spaulding at £94.1

Nov. 30th. Thomas Jones, John Cummings, Jr., John Foster, and Joseph Dodge were appointed a committee " to look, dig, and heap stones for the underpinning of the Meeting house."

Dec. 1st. Mr. Dodge and Mr. Holden were appointed to dig and pile stones one day for the underpinning, and "all hands" were to turn out and haul the said stones on New Year's Day. At this meeting it was decided not to make preparation to raise the house at the time specified at an earlier meeting. It was voted to let out by lots "twenty-one thousand of boards and thirty thousand of shingles, for to use in building the meeting house, the shingls to be fifteen inches long, and both boards and shingles to be delivered at the meeting house place within fifteen months; to be surveyed and accepted by surveyors under oath, and to be paid for in money or grain at the cash price at the end of said term."

The boards and shingles mentioned above were bid off as follows: John Foster, four thousand hemlock boards, at twenty-two shillings a thousand; Thomas Jones, three thousand hemlock boards, at twenty-two shillings a thousand; Moses Dennis, two thousand clear white pine boards, one inch thick when seasoned, at forty-two shil- lings a thousand ; Daniel Kimball, four thousand white pine floor boards, one inch thick, at thirty-one shillings a thousand ; Asa Mer- rill, five thousand shingles, at eight shillings a thousand ; Joel Russell, five thousand shingles, at eight shillings a thousand ; Capt. John Cummings, five thousand shingles, at eight shillings a thou- sand; Eli Maynard, five thousand shingles, at eight shillings a thousand; Moses Merrill, ten thousand shingles at eight shillings a thousand; Phineas Ames, four thousand hemlock boards, at twenty-three shillings a thousand ; Bezaleel Spaulding, four thou- sand hemlock boards, at twenty-two shillings a thousand.

1 The bond, as given the town for the due performance of this work, signed by Thomas Spaulding as principal, and James Hosley as surety, is now before us.

103

ANNALS OF THE TOWN.

The time given to Mr. Spaulding to get the meeting-house ready for raising was extended to June, 1789.

At a special meeting, called March 24, 1788, as the records show, -although there may have been a mistake of one month, as the record precedes the regular meeting of March 10th, -another vote was taken in regard to the dimensions of the meeting-house, and this vote, it is stated, was in accordance with an agreement of both parties. All previous votes were reconsidered, and it was finally decided that the house be fifty-four feet long, forty-two feet wide, and twenty-five and one-half feet high, with two porches.

March 10, 1788. At this meeting it was voted not to raise money to hire preaching this year. At the same meeting, however, it was voted that "Preaching be performed at Joseph Symonds Barn." This meeting was held at the house of Timothy Moors. It was voted to have the town-meetings this year at the house of Joseph Simonds. The adjourned meeting, March 24th, met at Mr. Moors' house, and immediately adjourned to Mr. Simonds'. £12 were raised at this meeting for preaching. Daniel Kimball and James Duncan were appointed a committee to provide the same. Lieuten- ant Davis was to have six shillings and six pence for boarding ministers. £60 were raised for roads. (For inventory this year see Centennial address.)

June 4th. £45 raised to provide provisions to be used at the raising of the meeting-house. The selectmen were appointed a committee to provide a place for the minister to board.

Sept. 3d. Elijah Washburn, Joseph Dodge, Seth Hadley, and John Foster were appointed a committee to prepare the stones to haul for the underpinning of the meeting-house, and call on the inhabitants to draw them, free of charges to the town; but if they would not do it, to hire it done.

Nov. 4th. "Voted, That the constable take Rye at four Shillings per bushel for the 85 Pounds tax, & pay said Rye to the selectmen or their successors." Oliver Lawrence was to store the rye, and be paid six shillings for his trouble.

Seth Hadley was directed to procure three barrels of New Eng- land rum and store it ready for use at the raising, at two shillings and six pence per gallon ; the rum to be paid for with rye, at four shillings per bushel.

Mr. Cochrane, in History of Antrim, states that in February of this year, Hancock, Antrim, and Deering were represented in the

104

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

convention called to act upon the new constitution prepared for the United States, by Evan Dow, supposed to be of Deering.

New Hampshire was one of the states that was prompt to accept the constitution, but our representative voted against it.

Dec. 15th. The town for the first time voted for members of congress and presidential electors. It appears that at this time the state was entitled to three members of congress, and that all the members were chosen at large, and not by districts, as at the present time. We give the number of votes cast for each individ- ual. By a singular coincidence the highest number of votes cast was the same as that reported of Antrim -36.

FOR REPRESENTATIVES :

HIon. Samuel Livermore. .36

Benjamin Bellows. .35

John Sullivan. 31

FOR ELECTORS :

Ilon. Timothy Farrar. .. 31

James Hosley. .28

Jacob Abbott. .25

Charles Barritt. .22

John Pickering. .11

John Bell. 11

Abel Foster 10

The third article in the warrant for this meeting was, "To see if the Town will Provide the State Law." Passed in the negative.

Feb. 2, 1789. It appears that the members of congress were not chosen at the December meeting, and another meeting was called at this date. At this meeting Benjamin West received 27 votes ; Samuel Livermore, 27; and Abel Foster, 26.

March 9th. £9 were raised for preaching this year, to be held at Joseph Simonds'; Salmon Wood and Joseph Simonds, committee. £70 were raised for highways.

" Voted, To board the minister at Joseph Symonds'."

On the last Monday in March of this year (1789), the voters of Deering, Antrim, and Hancock met at the house of Seth Hadley, in Hancock, and chose John Duncan, of Antrim, to represent the said towns in the General Court. He is called in the records their " asembley Man."

June 3d. The second week in September was assigned as the time for raising the meeting-house. It appears that there was some lumber at the center that needed looking after, and James Hosley was appointed for that purpose.

105

ANNALS OF THE TOWN.

June 22d. It was decided not to have two companies of militia in town. Benjamin West had declined to serve as member of con- gress, and a new election had been called for. The town gave forty-six votes for Benjamin Bellows.

Sept. 2d. Vigorous preparations were made at this time for the raising of the meeting-house. Edmond Davis was instructed to build a ladder for three days' work. James Davis and Jonathan Sawyer were appointed a committee to provide ropes and blocks for raising, and bring them to town. It was voted to invite Rev. Mr. Paige, Mr. Anon, Mr. Goodridge, and Mr. Foster to attend the raising. It was decided that the important event take place on the sixteenth of September. "Voted, To raise with Ginns." Elijah Washburn, Aaron Parker, John Brooks, and Salmon Wood were appointed a committee to invite the raisers. Fifty men were to be invited. Thomas Spaulding was to make the ginns. Aaron Parker, Joseph Simonds, and James Davis each bid off the making of two hundred pins.

Sept. 7th. Chose Robert Duncan, Samuel Gates, Seth Hadley, Enos Knight, and James Davis a committee to provide for the " raisers." Seth Hadley, Abner Whitcomb, Lieutenant Dodge, Lieutenant Davis, Captain Cummins, and James Duncan were chosen a committee "to take care of and Deal out the liquor " ; the above committee were instructed " to provide half a hundred shugar, two Barrells Beer, and all needfull vesals for holding and carring drink." Captain Morrison, Esquire Hosley, and Phineas Ames were instructed to provide ginnpoles.

Voted, That " every man in Town meet at the senter on tuesday the fifteenth day of Sept., in order to carry on the lumber, and have three shillings for the Day."

It was decided that the house be underpinned with stone one foot high, and the rest with timber.

Without doubt the meeting-house was duly raised on the six- teenth day of September, and now the great problem was to cover it, for it will be remembered that Mr. Spaulding's contract was simply to furnish the lumber for the frame. Sept. 21st, it was " voted to board and shingle the meeting-house this fall."

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The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889, Part 12

Author: Hayward, William Willis, 1834- Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Vox Populi Press, S. W. Huse & Co. Number of Pages: 1257

Author: Hayward, William Willis, 1834-
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Vox Populi Press, S. W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1257