USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hancock > The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 > Part 16
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The explanation of this extraordinary proceeding may perhaps be found in the fact that at the annual meeting Doctor Tuttle and Samuel Ward had brought in a bill for services rendered the year before for visiting schools. Doctor Tuttle's bill was $8, and Mr. Ward's bill was $3.50.
May 22d. "Thatcher Bradford bid of the boarding of Mr. Gay at fifty five cents per week. Said Bradford to provide suitable diet washing Lodging and tobacco for Said Gay."
Aug. 27th. Members of congress voted for : Josiah Bartlett and John A. Harper each received 97 votes; Obed Hall, 96; David L. Morrill, 95; Samuel Dinsmore, 94; Jedediah R. Smith, 1; George Sullivan, William Wald, Roger Vose, and Daniel Blaisdel, 12 each; James Wilson, 11; and John Taylor Gilman, 1.
March 12, 1811. Three members of congress voted for. The party in the majority brought their vote up to 115, and the minority party brought their vote up to 15.
" Voted Revd Reed Paige and Mr. John Whitcomb be a committee to inspect the several schools."
March 10, 1812. " Voted to abate Elisha Kents taxes in Collector Wason's list. 1810, which is, 98 cents also Jacob Hart taxes in said list which is . . . $2: 00 which if the said Wason Can ever recover said taxes then the said Wason is to pay the same to the selectmen of this town."
Rev. Reed Paige, Doctor Tuttle, John Whitcomb, Samuel Ward, John Clark, Mr. Bacon, Salmon Wood, and Thatcher Bradford were appointed a committee to inspect the schools.
June 2d. Noah Wheeler was directed to pay seventeen cents for
138
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
each crow that was killed in town between the second day of June and the first day of July.
June 25th. It was voted to make the wages of all soldiers who might be called into service up to $12 per month, with what the government should allow. All soldiers were to receive, in addition to their wages, $5 as a bounty, when they were called upon to march.
Sept. 14th. This meeting was called in behalf of the soldiers, and to choose five delegates to a convention to be held in " ware." It was voted to provide a stock of powder, balls, and flints for the use of the town. No delegates were chosen to the convention.
Sometime in the month of October a post-office was established in Hancock, and John Whitcomb was appointed postmaster.
Nov. 2d. New Hampshire was now entitled to six representa- tives to congress. The vote was much larger for representatives and electors than it ever had been before. For representatives 188 votes were cast on the one side, and 30 on the other. Daniel Webster was a candidate on the Federalist side. The vote for electors was 182 on the one side, and 30 on the other. One elector, however, on the Republican side, received 181 votes.
March 11, 1813 Rev. Reed Paige, John Clark, and Dr. Peter Tuttle were chosen a committee to inspect the schools, free of expense.
Timothy Moors, Jr., William Keyes, Samuel Whiting, John Ram- say, James Cavender, Moody Lakin, Abner Keyes, Jr., Hosea Ester- brooks, and Oliver Lawrence were permitted to constitute a school district by themselves.
Aug. 26th. The town's stock of ammunition was to be put in the " garret " of the meeting-house ; and if any one wished to have it under lock and key, he could be accommodated by providing the same, the key to be kept in the hands of the sexton.
March 11, 1814. " Chose Rev Reed Paige, John Whitcomb and Stephen P. Steel Esq. a committee to visit the schools"
" Voted that the select men procure a notification box."
Aug. 29, 1814. The vote for members of congress was 190 on the one side and 26 on the other.
March 14, 1815. Rev. Reed Paige, Henry Whitcomb, and Oliver Lawrence were chosen to examine schools.
It was voted to abate certain taxes in so far that the collector was not obliged to pay them over to the town unless he could col-
139
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
lect them, but if it was in his power to collect them he was to pay them over to the town.
March 21st. "Voted to make up to the Soldiers that went to Portsmouth from this town fourteen dollars per month including the sum which they may get from government."
"Voted that the selectmen pay them immediately."
April 19th. $50 were appropriated to support a singing-school.
April 24th. Samuel Hosley put in a claim on land back of the meeting-house.
Voted, To give him $10 "if he will give a Quit claim deed to the town of land which he Says he had a right to the improvement of by a vote of the town in the year 1789." Certain votes were passed respecting the stables on the common at this time. Those who held stables were to remove them to a line from fifty feet back of the back side of the stable on Washburn's line to the front of the pound. New stables were to be built near the east line of the town's land, beginning near Washburn's shop and running northerly on said Washburn's line.
" Received of the town of Hancock Ten Dollars in full of claims which I have to the improvement of land which was exchanged with me as per vote in the year 1789. " SAMUEL HOSLEY.
" The above Receipt was written by the direction of David Knight and Salmon Wood selectmen."
An elaborate plan for the location of stables on the common was brought in by a special committee and adopted.
"AN INVENTORY OF THE POLLS AND RATEABLE ESTATES IN THE TOWN OF HANCOCK FOR THE YEARS 1815 AND 1816.
1815
1816
213
211
Polls
41
4312 Acres of Orchard Land
180
177 Acres of Arable Land
768
772 Acres of Mowing Land
1360
1395 1
Acres of Pasture Land
1
Stallion
160
151
Horses Wintered five Winters
19
23
Horses Wintered four Winters
24
21 Horses Wintered three Winters
25
25
Horses Wintered two Winters
234
235
Oxen Wintered five Winters
70
66
Oxen Wintered four Winters
590
616
Cows Wintered four Winters
275
217
Neat Stock Wintered three Winters
313
395
Neat Stock Wintered two Winters
$48
48
Yearly income of Mills
$5823
5834
Value of Buildings
$190
660
Stock in Trade
.
1
140
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
$3700 2005 Money at Interest
9733 9524 Value of unimproved land
1044 1434 Carriages of Pleasure
250'ts State Tax on a Single Poll
5 Cts 57 Cts State Tax for a Cotton factory
$36 Value of yearly income of said factory
" The above inventory Copyd by us
THATCHER BRADFORD Selectmen
" November 16, 1816
JOSEPH SYMONDS JR of
JOSEPH IHILLS Hancock "
" Copy Attest JOHN WHITCOMB Town Clerk "
March 12, 1816. Chose Rev. Reed Paige, Henry Whitcomb, and Dr. Peter Tuttle a committee to visit schools.
" Voted to set off Asa Whittemore and Jacob Emerson to be a highway district by themselves."
Sept. 10th. "Voted to repair the steps to the meeting house "
Chose Dea. Daniel Kimball, Moses Dennis, and Sampson Tuttle a committee to provide preaching, said committee to provide as many days' preaching as they shall see fit until the first day of the next April.1
Sept. 14th. " MASONIC. Altemont Lodge will be consecrated and the officers in- stalled at Dublin, Wedy. 18 inst. Masonic brethren invited
" Hancock Sept. 10, A. L. 5816 PETER TUTTLE Sect " - Amherst Cabinet.
Nov. 4th. Town voted for members of congress and presidential electors. The state was entitled to six members of congress. The vote for congress stood 171 to 16; for electors, 166 to 15.2
March 11, 1817. Chose Dr. Peter Tuttle, Henry Whitcomb, and Dr. Jonas Hutchinson a committee to visit schools.
Chose Dea. William Boutell, Capt. Joseph Symonds, and Henry Whitcomb a committee to provide preaching.
The custom that had for some time obtained was continued of abating taxes conditionally, that is, if they could not be collected they were abated.
" Voted to pay the funeral charges of the Revd Reed Paige De- ceased" $485 were raised to provide for preaching, $500 raised for schools, $600 to repair roads and bridges, and $200 to defray town charges.
Dec. 26th. Voted, Unanimously, to hire Mr. Joshua Chandler to preach four Sundays, "agreeable to a report of the committee."
1 Rev. Mr. Paige died in July, 1816.
2 1816 was known as "cold-summer" and "poverty year." There were frosts in every summer month, and a large percentage of the corn planted failed to ripen.
141
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
Feb. 3, 1818. "Voted to give Mr. Joshua Chandler a call to settle with us in the ministry. Ninety six in favor of giving him a call and Twenty six against it " By a subsequent vote Mr. Chandler was to receive a salary of $500 if he accepted the call. Oliver Lawrence, Sampson Tuttle, and Samuel Gates were appointed to confer with Mr. Chandler and extend to him the invitation of the town.
Feb. 24th. Mr. Chandler came into the meeting and gave his answer to the invitation that had been extended to him in the neg- ative.
March 10, 1818. Chose Dr. Peter Tuttle, Andrew Wallace, and Dr. Jonas Hutchinson a committee to visit schools.
July 28th. The object of this meeting was "To see if the town will give an invitation to the Revd Ebenezer Brown who has lately been preaching in this place to come and further preach as a can- didate for settlement in the Gospel Ministry."
Mr. Brown appears not to have made a very favorable impression on the town. At this meeting, after choosing a moderator, and a considerable discussion, it was voted to pass the article, and the people dispersed, and so the meeting dissolved.
Oct. 17th. "Voted not to hire Mr. Marcy to supply the desk in this place."
March 9, 1819. Chose Dr. Peter Tuttle, Dr. Jonas Hutchinson, John Clark, John Dennis, and Sampson Tuttle a committee to visit schools.
Voted for six members of congress. Clifton Clagett received 147 votes; with this exception, and 1 vote cast for George Long, the vote stood 153 to 4.
March 12th. $50 raised for singing; the singing-school to be kept in the center of the town.
$700 were raised to repair roads and bridges. $1 per day for a man and 75 cents per day for a yoke of oxen, allowed for work on high- ways previous to Oct. 1st; after that time, 75 cents per day for a man, and 50 cents per day for a yoke of oxen. Ten hours to constitute a day's work.
Chose Dea. William Boutell, David Nahor, and Salmon Wood " a committee to lay out the money for to hire preaching."
May 24th. "Voted to give Mr. Joel Raney Arnold a call to settle with us in the Gospel Ministry. One Hundred and Four in favor of it and Twenty Five against it."
142
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
· "Chose Oliver Lawrence, Samuel Gates, Thatcher Bradford, David Knight, Ebenezer Goodhue, David Nahor, John Clark, Daniel Kimball & Ninian Clark a committee to see what compensation they will give him yearly for his service as a minister and report in half an hour."
·
Said committee reported that Mr. Arnold receive $500 per year as long as he may remain the minister of the town and supply the pulpit, with no settlement. The report was accepted.
Voted, That one-half of the powder in the possession of the town be appropriated to the use of the soldiers on muster day, and the other half to the several surveyors of the highways.
"Nov. 18, 1819. This certifies that we have this day perambulated the line be- tween the towns of Hancock and Dublin and renewed the marks and bounds.
" THADEUS MORSE RICHARD STRONG Selectmen of Dublin JACOB G. LAKIN For the Selectmen of Hancock
"Copy Attest JOHN WHITCOMB Town Clerk " 1
There is no record of the reply that Mr. Arnold made to the in- vitation extended to him. It will be remembered, however, that about this time, by an act of the legislature, called "The Tolera- tion Act," the town felt relieved from all responsibility in church matters.
In the Cabinet, under date of Saturday, Oct. 30th, we find the following notice: "We learn, verbally, from Hancock, that the meeting house in that place was burned to the ground on Thursday last. It was occasioned through the carelessness of a boy, who was carrying a coal of fire from a blacksmith's shop to the school- house near by. In passing close to the meeting house, the fire burning his hands, he laid it down, and a spark is supposed to have communicated to the shavings under the house, where a large quantity was deposited (probably) when built. The fire had com- municated so generally before discovered, as to baffle all attempts to check its progress. . A large and handsome range of sheds contiguous to the meeting house, we learn, were also principally burned."
This was a hard blow to the town; but from the records we learn that immediate measures were taken to replace the lost meeting- house with a better one.
1 " Perambulating " the lines between towns is required by state law once in seven years. As between Greenfield and Hancock, this is unnecessary and impracticable, as the center of the river is the boundary.
143
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
Nov. 15th. This meeting was called to meet at Jedediah Fox's hall, but when met, it was adjourned to the Center school-house. It was "Voted to dispose of the remains of the old meeting house by vendue, except the stone, which the committee will dispose of as they shall think most prudent."
John Whitcomb, Ninian Clark, David Nahor, Peter Tuttle, Elijah Washburn, Moses Dennis, Cristy Duncan, Josiah Stone, and Salmon Wood were chosen a committee to confer with a committee that might be chosen by the First Congregational society relative to the building of a meeting-house and town-house. This committee was to make a report at the next meeting, Nov. 19th.
The committee chosen to confer with a committee from the Con- gregational society reported substantially as follows: That it would be for the interest of the town to give said society $1000, and fur- nish a spot to set the house upon, provided the society would build a house nearly of the size, construction, and form of the Congrega- tional meeting-house in Dublin; the house to be built of wood, and underpinned with hewed or hammered stone.
The society was to accede to the following proposals : -
" 1st The town shall have a right so long as said house shall remain in existence, to make use of it as a town house for town purposes.
" 2nd The pews shall be sold at public auction to the highest bidder (previous notice having been given of said auction) giving every Person an equal and fair chance to purchase if he choose." Every person so purchasing was to have a right to transfer his right to others.
"3d All denominations of Christians who may own an interest in said house shall have their rights equally respected according to what they may have paid."
The society was to reserve four pews in the lower part of the house for the use of elderly persons who might not be able or in- clined to purchase pews. The seats in the gallery were also to be reserved for the use of those who might see fit to occupy them, with the exception of those occupied by the singers. It was also recommended "that the house be set directly back of where the old one stood, the north end to stand six feet south of the wall where the stables stood that were burned."
The above report was accepted with the exception of the location. After several votes for and against the location recommended, it was finally decided to so place the house "That the south sill of the
144
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
projection to the meeting house be placed so far south as the south sill of the old meeting house."
March 14, 1820. The sense of the legal voters being taken re- specting a division of the county, 5 were in favor of a division, and 213 against it.
Voted, To raise $500 for schools. Chose David Boutell, John Dennis, and Sampson Tuttle, Jr., a committee to visit schools.
Sept. 29th. A committee on the part of the town was chosen to confer with a committee on the part of the Congregational society, in regard to the public pews. Their report, which was adopted, was "to reserve the two pews on the wall nearest to or adjoining the Pulpit, and the two pews on the right and left of the center aisle nearest to the front door."
Ninian Clark, Thatcher Bradford, Sampson Tuttle, Samuel Good- hue, Capt. Aaron Knight, and Jacob G. Lakin were chosen to super- intend the leveling of the common, to serve free of expense.
Oct. 21st. It appears that the town took a part in the dedica- tion of the new meeting-house. John Clark, Dr. Peter Tuttle, David Nahor, Dr. Jonas Hutchinson, and Henry Prentice were appointed to represent the town in the dedication. It was voted to invite the following clergymen : Revs. Putnam Bradford, Moses Bradford, Elijah Dunbar, John M. Whiton, John Walker, Levi W. Leonard, Gad Newell, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Merrill, and Mr. Ainsworth.
" Voted to have the house dedicated Oct. 25, 1820." This was one year, lacking three days, from the time the first house was burned.
" AN INVENTORY OF THE POLLS AND RATEABLE ESTATES IN THE TOWN OF HANCOCK FOR THE YEARS 1819 AND 1820.
1819
1820
208
201
Polls
42
414
Acres of orchard land
168 16234 Acres of Arable land
77514
77712
Acres of Mowing land
1444
1410
Acres of Pasture land
132
138
Horses wintered five winters
33
29
Horses wintered four winters
30
12 Horses wintered three winters
15
32
Horses wintered two winters
189
197
Oxen wintered five winters
70
59
Oxen wintered four winters
527
513
Cows wintered four winters
203
162
All neat stock wintered three winters
247
307
All neat stock wintered two winters
$48
42
Yearly income of Mills
15951
15065
Value of unimproved land and Buildings
$825
930
Stock in trade
$2108
1630
Money at Interest
145
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
$1210 931 Carriages of Pleasure 30 cts State Tax on a single Poll
22 cts 23 cts State Tax for a cotton Factory Taxed as Mills $12 Yearly income of said factory
" The above inventory copied by us JACOB G. LAKIN Selectmen
" Oct 23, 1820 BENJAMIN WHITTEMORE : {
of
NATHL. DOW
Hancock
" Copy Attest JOHN WHITCOMB Town Clerk "
Nov. 6th. The state continued to be entitled to six members of congress. At this election, according to the report, there was a very light vote. Three men received 117 votes each, two received 89 votes each, one received 29 votes, and one 28 votes. For electors there seems to have been no division, as eight men received 100 votes each.
March 13, 1821. Chose David Boutell, Simon Ingersoll Baird, and John Dennis a committee to visit schools.
" Voted that the bell may be rung at sunrise if it can be done free of expense to the town."
Voted in regard to a revision of the constitution of the state. In favor of a revision, 20; against a revision, 119.
" Voted to approbate the selectmen in putting such persons on oath as they suspect do not give a true invoice "
March 12, 1822. Chose David Boutell, Andrew Wallace, and Jacob G. Lakin a committee to examine the schools.
The care of the meeting-house for the year ensuing, "including the ringing of the bell at noon and nine o'clock at night, sweeping the house four times, tolling of the bell at funerals, and ringing it at all public times," as had been done in previous years, was let out to the lowest bidder, and awarded to Cristy Duncan at $11.75.
For the division of the county for registering deeds there were 96 yeas and 9 nays.
Benjamin Whittemore, Thomas Manning, Jephthah Wright, Eb- enezer Burt, Jr., Chapin Kidder, Benjamin Burt, Jesse Woods, Ebenezer Burt, Sullivan Burt, and Benjamin Whittemore & Co. presented a petition to the town, wishing to be taken from District No. 2 and formed into a district by themselves, stating that by the petition they meant to include all the families and rateable property lying on the east side of the river in Hancock. The petition was granted.
Sept. 16th. The vote for representatives to congress was some- what broken. We give the names of those voted for, with the
.
10
146
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
number of votes received by each: Ichabod Bartlett, 83; William Plummer, Jr., 84; Charles Woodman, 11; Matthew Harvey, 84; Aaron Matson, 78; Thomas Whipple, Jr., 77; Nehemiah Eastman, 54; Edmund Parker, 18; Richard Odell, 1; David L. Morrill, 6; William Pickering, 4.
" Voted that the selectmen procure guide boards and cause them to be erected in such places as they may see fit."
March 11, 1823. For the first time we find it recorded that the school committee made a report to the town; said report was ac- cepted and placed on file. Rev. Mr. Burgess, Charles Boutell, and David Nahor were chosen to visit the schools.
" Voted to prohibit neat cattle from going at large on the high- way from the first day of April to the last day of October agree- able to a law of this state framed June 17, 1811."
Voted, That the selectmen deliver each soldier one-fourth pound of powder, "to be expended on muster day."
Sept. 16th. "Voted to lay out sixty dollars on the road from David Davises to Nelson line." This road, in the warrant, was designated as a post road to Nelson.
March 9, 1824. The sense of the qualified voters was taken in regard to the shire town. The question was between Amherst and Mount Vernon. Those in favor of Amherst were 100; those in favor of Mount Vernon were 48.
$450 were raised to defray town charges; $500 for schools, and $50 for a singing-school.
Dr. Peter Tuttle, Charles Boutell, and John Clark were chosen to visit the schools.
The care of the meeting-house, etc., this year was to include, in addition to what had been done previously, "the dusting of the seats." Joshua Davis agreed to do the work for $23.
Nov. 1st. But little interest was manifested in the election of representatives to congress and presidential electors.
For electors only one ticket was in the field. The vote was from ninety-three to ninety-five. For representatives, not much more interest was manifested, as only ten persons were voted for. We give their names, with number of votes received: Ichabod Bart- lett, 106; Nehemiah Eastman, 96; Jonathan Harvey, 97; Titus Brown, 87; Joseph Healy, 75; Thomas Whipple, Jr., 105; Daniel C. Atkinson, 11; Ezekiel Webster, 9; James Miller, 37; Phinehas Henderson, 11.
147
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
March 8, 1825. " Chose Doct. Tuttle, Luke Woodbury and Reuben Hills a committee to visit schools.
" Toted that one of the aforesaid committee visit at the commence- ment of the school, and two of them at the close of the schools .-
" Voted that the committee examine the teachers at the commence- ment of the school and if found disqalified to report the same to the agent."
March 14, 1826. Capt. Joseph Symonds, Thatcher Bradford, Henry Whitcomb, David Nahor, Dr. Peter Tuttle, Jacob G. Lakin, and Samuel Gates were chosen to take into consideration the con- dition of the poor, and report at adjournment.
March 17th. The above committee made a report at this meeting, which was adopted. We give the report in part. The committee stated that in considering this subject they had the following ob- jects in view : First, to see that the poor were properly provided for; second, economy ; third, to support them in a manner that would be calculated to discourage indolence and intemperance, - two fruitful sources of pauperism; fourth, that the children of paupers be suitably provided for, and instructed in some useful call- ing that would render them useful to themselves and the community.
The recommendations were somewhat specific in their character. It was recommended that all children supported by the town, seven years old and upwards, be bound out, as far as practicable. Cer- tain families were to be provided for. As a general principle, the paupers were to be cared for by those who would engage to do it at the lowest rate. It was also recommended that the town pro- vide a house of correction for the keeping, correcting, and setting to work of rogues, vagabonds, common beggars, lewd, idle, and dis- orderly persons. The recommendations in regard to the manage- ment of the house of correction were somewhat severe - more so than would be accepted at the present day ; but no paupers were to be sent there-only those that refused to submit to good and whole- some rules and regulations.
By his consent the house of Thatcher Bradford was appointed as a house of correction for one year, and Mr. Bradford was appointed as overseer.
This year is memorable as having been the "grasshopper year." There was a severe drouth in the summer. The grasshoppers came in such numbers that they almost destroyed every green thing. The hay crop was almost cut off, and the pastures were bare of
148
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
verdure. The drouth was broken Aug. 28th by a heavy rain that caused a freshet that did much damage to roads and bridges, and swept away several mills. A special town-meeting was called Sept. 12th to devise means to repair the damage done. At the meeting a special highway tax was laid, equal to the one of the previous spring. The loss to the town must have been great.
March 13, 1827. Vote for representatives to congress : Ichabod Bartlett, 110; David Barker, Jr., 98; Titus Brown, 111; Jonathan Harvey, 111; Joseph Healy, 101 ; Thomas Whipple, Jr., 91; Nehe- miah Eastman, 10; Abner Greenleaf, 2; Edmund Parker, 4; Samuel Cantland, 9; Frederick Farley, 1; George Farley, 1; Samuel C. Webster, 2.
Capt. Timothy Moors' house was appointed for a house of cor- rection for one year ; Mr. Moors to have the charge of it.
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