USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hancock > The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 > Part 19
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The damages awarded were, to David Hills, $350; to Joseph Davis, $20.
Dec. 28th. At a legal meeting held at this date, called at the request of Joseph Davis and ten others, T. H. Wood made an address concerning the benefit of a railroad to the town, and gave some reasons why a gratuity should be given to aid in the con- struction of the same; but for want of a two-thirds vote, as pro- vided by law, the proposed aid was not granted.
Jan. 25, 1875. At a legal meeting held at this date, called at the request of Orland Eaton and twelve others, for the purpose of considering the subject of a gratuity for the Manchester & Keene railroad company, by a vote of 59 to 11 a gratuity of five per cent of the valuation of the town at that time was granted to said railroad company, provided the company would build and complete a rail- road into the village, or within one-half mile of the town-hall in Hancock, with suitable depots for the convenience of its inhabitants and the public. A statement is made in the margin, attested by Joseph Davis, town clerk, that by the order of the Supreme Court, held at Nashua on the first Tuesday of September, 1878, the record on this page was amended as follows: "Insert after the words, 'and the public,' the words, 'and complete the road on or before the
171
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
1st day of January, A. D., 1878.'" On a lower line in the margin, after a word a little indistinct, but which may be "Mem.," are the words, " Amendment made Feb. 17, 1879."
I have passed over many items of interest in these "Annals," and had this page been examined previously to taking up the subject matter of it, I should have been tempted to pass this over also; but as it is an important item in the history of the town, I do not feel at liberty to do so. But how a Supreme Court can amend a record in a town-meeting, is beyond my comprehension.
March 9, 1875. Vote for member of congress: Austin F. Pike had 96 votes, Samuel N. Bell had 115 votes.
The subject of repaying the money that had been paid out by persons as commutation, or for substitutes furnished to fill the quota of the town during the late Civil war, came up. David R. Patten presented a resolution that such money should be refunded. The resolution was lost by a vote of 72 in the affirmative, and 76 in the negative.
March 10th. "Voted, That the selectmen give six months' notice to all the owners of the horse-sheds which need repairing, and if not repaired in that time, they remove the same out of the way."
At the request of Abijah Hadley and twelve others, there was an article in the warrant to have the vote in regard to a gratuity for the Manchester & Keene railroad company reconsidered. The article was dismissed.
It was voted to reconsider the vote by which the article that had reference to refunding money, etc., had been indefinitely postponed, and a resolution, presented by James D. Matthews, was adopted.
Said resolution was, substantially, that moneys paid out by persons for commutation and for substitutes, should be refunded; it being based on an act of the legislature, passed at the June session of 1874.
At a subsequent meeting, called at the request of John Duncan and sixteen others, April 24th, the above vote, after the reading of a letter from Hon. Samuel N. Bell relating to the subject, was re- considered and rescinded.
Nov. 8th. At a legal meeting held at this date, called at the request of Albert Jaquith and ten others, the selectmen were in- structed to select and stake out a suitable piece of land belonging to the town, on which to build an armory and public hall, at their earliest convenience, the town reserving the right to remove said
172
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
building at any time when it might cease to be used for public purposes. This was done at the request of Albert Jaquith, Frank Barney, and eight associates, who desired that the armory might be used by Section B of the New Hampshire Battery of volunteer militia.
March 14, 1876. On the question, "Is it expedient that a con- vention be called to revise the constitution ?" 111 voted in the affirmative, and 18 voted in the negative.
Voted, To appropriate a sum not exceeding $100 "for centennial celebration on the Fourth of July next; it being for powder and decorating the graves of Revolutionary soldiers and others." It was not deemed necessary to raise any money to defray town charges this year.
Sept. 16th. At a legal meeting called at this date at the request of Joseph Davis and ten others, "To see what method the town will adopt to raise the money voted as a gift to the Manches- ter & Keene railroad company, and see if the said gratuity, or any part thereof, shall be paid to said railroad company before the com- pletion of their road as specified in a former vote of the town," it was voted to dismiss the article.
It was voted to instruct the selectmen to enforce the liquor law in town.
It was also voted that the Manchester & Keene railroad company have the privilege of filling up the road near E. M. Baldwin's, pro- vided they will make it at grade, from one hill to the other, with the railroad.
Nov. 7th. The town voted for presidential electors. The vote was 102 to 81. John H. Felch was elected as delegate to the constitutional convention.
March 13, 1877. There were thirteen amendments to the con- stitution upon which the town was permitted to vote. The vote of the town was in the main favorable to these amendments. For eleven there was a majority in favor; for one there was a tie, and for one a slight majority against.
For member of congress James F. Briggs had 83 votes, Alvah W. Sulloway had 113 votes.
Jan. 2, 1878. At a legal meeting called at this date at the re- quest of John Duncan and ten others, the selectmen were instructed to contest the liability of the town to pay the demands for which the town had been trusteed by John H. Dorr and others. The sense
-------
ABIJAH HADLEY.
173
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
of the voters present at this meeting, who were also present at the meeting of Jan. 25, 1875, was taken upon the question whether or not there was a limitation of time in the motion passed at that meeting. This vote was declared in the affirmative.
April 8th. At a legal meeting called at this date at the request of J. F. Eaton and nine others, it was resolved that the correction of the records be submitted, upon an agreed statement of facts, to the Supreme Court for their decision.
Nov. 5th. The Congregational society was allowed to build chimneys in the town-house, for the joint use of the society and the town, the latter to bear one-third of the expense.
The selectmen were instructed to appoint a committee of one from each school district, to report at the next regular March meet- ing on the advisability of adopting a new school system.
Jan. 6, 1879. At a legal meeting held at this date, at the request of David Hunt and thirty-three others, the selectmen were instructed to contest the suit brought against the town by the Manchester & Keene railroad company. They were also instructed to notify said company to put in order the crossing at Coolidge mills within one month.
Nov. 22d. It was voted to accept a legacy of $1000 left to the town by Abijah Hadley. Said legacy, according to the terms of Mr. Hadley's will, was left to the town on the conditions that the town should take and forever hold the same in trust, and annually pay the interest thereof to such persons as might annually be ap- pointed for the purpose, for the purchase of new books for the town library.
Adolphus D. Tuttle was chosen an agent to take charge of said legacy, and invest the funds in such securities as he might deem best. He was also authorized to draw from the treasury a sum of money not exceeding $30, to pay any premium that might be nec- essary to pay for said securities.
A resolution was passed, based on the preamble that it was "the sense of the meeting that the interest and the honor of the town alike demanded the speedy publication of a town history"; request- ing the selectmen to insert an article in the warrant for the next annual town-meeting, to take all necessary action in that direction, including an appropriation of money for said object.
March 13, 1880. A resolution was introduced by John H. Felch, and passed, in favor of an early publication of a town history; and
174
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
the selectmen were authorized to make arrangements with some suitable person to write said history. They were also authorized to subscribe for one hundred copies of the work, and a sum not ex- ceeding $300 was appropriated for the payment for the same, - the work to be completed in three years.1 It was voted that all aid, pecuniary or otherwise, whether coming through the centennial committee or through other channels, would be thankfully received.
The following resolution, presented by Albert Jaquith, was adopted : " Resolved, That the town accept the flag presented to the town by the absent sons and citizens of Hancock, the same to be used on all public days and occasions, and forever kept by the officers of the town as a token of high respect for their native town, and as a memento to the names of the donors."
April 6, 1880. Adolphus D. Tuttle made the following state- ment to the meeting: "Adolphus C. Whitcomb offers the town of Hancock $2000 in cash, on the following conditions : That the town procure or purchase a piece of land as near the centre of the village as it can be obtained, and on said land erect, or cause to be erected, a brick building one story in height, with a tin or slate roof, to be called the ' Hancock Town Library Building,' to be kept in repair by the town, and used forever for the purposes of said town library, and for no other purpose whatever, excepting this : provided the town at some future time purchase a fire-proof safe for keeping the old records and papers belonging to the town, or provided the town desire to build a brick vault when said library building shall be erected, for the safe keeping of said old records, then the town may have the privilege of keeping said safe or building said vault in said town library building; but said building shall not be used as a town clerk's office. The town may choose a committee of three or more persons, or instruct the selectmen to appoint said committee to erect said building."
In reply to this statement the town passed the following resolu- tion : " Resolved, That the town will accept, with the conditions specified, of the very handsome gift of $2000 offered by Adolphus C. Whitcomb, Esq., and do hereby cordially tender sincere thanks therefor, promising to use the same for the purposes designated."
In recognition of Mr. Tuttle's services in securing this donation, he and the selectmen were appointed a committee to procure a suit-
1 The limit of time was afterwards extended by vote of the town.
ADOLPHUS C. WHITCOMB,
175
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
able lot and erect the building, and a sum not exceeding $500 was appropriated for the purchase of the lot. Mr. Tuttle was also appointed agent of the town to accept the building when completed.
Orland Eaton, Joshua S. Lakin, and John P. Hills were appointed a committee to assist the selectmen in soliciting facts and other aid toward the publication of the town history.
On June 10th the present library lot was deeded to the town by John F. Eaton, in consideration of $325. It is about fifty-seven feet front by eighty feet deep.
Nov. 2, 1880. The vote for presidential electors resulted as fol- lows: The electors in favor of James A. Garfield received 97 votes, and those in favor of Gen. W. S. Hancock 111 votes. Vote for mem- ber of congress: James F. Briggs received 96, and Alvah W. Sul- loway 111 votes. At this election the only break in the Democratic voters from the state and county party ticket was in the vote for sheriff, when seven Democrats voted for Charles Scott, the Repub- lican candidate. The Republicans were nearly as united as their opponents.
March 8, 1881. A resolution was introduced by John H. Felch, that it is expedient to consolidate the school districts of the town ยท into one district. This resolution was not adopted. Vote: affirm- ative, 17; negative, 95.
Voted, To raise $1000 for school purposes, - $200 for one term of high school, and $800 for common schools.
Voted, To raise one-fourth of one per cent of the town valuation as a summer tax for the repair of highways, and that the selectmen appoint suitable agents to "see the money worked out." This method of repairing the highways appears to be a departure from that employed hitherto, which was by the aid of highway surveyors and the individual working out of taxes. The selectmen were also directed to appoint agents to see that the roads were broken out in winter.
$400, in addition to what the town might receive from other sources, were raised to defray town charges.
Voted, To instruct the selectmen to pay the town's proportion for painting the meeting-house; also,
Voted, To paint the dials of the town clock.
The following is the report of the selectmen, dated March 1, 1882 :-
176
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
VALUATION OF THE TOWN BY INVOICE TAKEN APRIL 1, 1881.
190 polls, $100 each
$19,000 00
Real estate
233,385 00
183 horses
11,215 00
1071 cattle.
24,983 00
570 sheep.
1,605 00
11 hogs
90 00
15 carriages
835 00
Stock in public funds
700 00
Bank stocks.
15,700 00
Money on hand or at interest
22,250 00
Stock in trade
3,870 00
Mills ..
2,200 00
Total valuation1 $335,833 00
Rate per cent on $100, $1.16.
AMOUNT OF MONEY RAISED BY TAX.
State tax
$ 860 00
County tax
656 07
Schools.
1,000 00
Town charges.
400 00
Highway tax.
839 58
Surplusage on above.
138 95
Tax on dogs.
61 00
Committed to Enoch N. Baldwin for collection. $3,955 60
ASSETS OF THE TOWN.
State bonds.
$2,700 00
Cash on hand.
743 00
In Collector F. Barney's hands, for the years 1875, '76, '77.
60 11
In Collector D. Wilde's hands, for the year 1878. 1 32
In Collector E. N. Baldwin's hands, for the year 1881.
26 50
FUNDS HELD IN TRUST.
Hubbard legacy for town library. $1,000 00
Hadley legacy for town library.
1,000 00
Hubbard legacy for town poor
1,000 00
Nov. 7, 1882. Vote for representative to congress : Ossian Ray had 86 votes, J. D. Hosley had 114 votes.
1 It is probably fair to assume that the property included in this (as in previous invoices) would sell for a larger sum. This may be a proper place to state that the citizens of Hancock have over one hundred thousand dollars deposited in savings banks in this state, and thousands invested in railroad stocks, which are taxed by the state, and that Hancock derives an income of over one thousand dollars a year as its proportion of these taxes. Its citizens also hold real estate out of the town and deposits in savings banks out of this state, and hold untaxed United States bonds to some extent. It will be seen by this note that the real value of the town is much in excess (possibly twice as large) of the invoice given above, and much in excess of its wealth at an earlier day, when savings bank deposits were included in the money-at-interest column, and taxed by the towns. The town is undoubtedly gain- ing in wealth from year to year.
177
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
The following resolutions, presented by Orland Eaton, were unani- mously passed : "Resolved, That we take the first opportunity, after our Town Library Building is opened for use, to express in our corporate capacity our hearty thanks to the donor, Adolphus C. Whit- comb, Esq., for his very valuable and acceptable gift to his native town, and to express to Messrs. Jaquith and Copeland our apprecia- tion of the very thorough manner in which the work has been performed.
"Resolved, That in gratitude to the donor, and in appreciation of his respected father, John Whitcomb, Esq., the building be hereafter known as ' The Whitcomb Library Building.'"
Feb. 5, 1883. Several meetings had been held, in which the sub- ject of paying the gratuity that had been voted to the Manchester & Keene railroad had come up, but nothing definite had been done. At this meeting it was voted to instruct the selectmen that when they should ascertain that final judgment had been rendered in all suits pending against the town, or in which the town have any interest, they were to settle all judgments, costs, and expenses there- with connected. To do this, they were to borrow, on the credit of the town, $10,000, and also to sell the state bonds in the pos- session of the town, pledging the town's credit for the $3000 worth of bonds that represented the Hubbard and Hadley legacies.
March 13th. John P. Hills read from the will of Miss Salina Hills a clause giving $200 to the town of Hancock in trust. The conditions of the gift were, that it should be received by the town in trust, the interest thereof to be paid annually to the treasurer of the Hancock Sabbath-school Association of the First Congregational church in said Hancock, to be used as the members of said association may vote; but in case said association should at any time fail to hold a session for five consecutive Sabbaths, then the gift should be transferred to the benefit of the town library, and the interest thereof be used annually for the benefit and support of said library; said fund to be called the "Salina Hills Memorial."
It was voted to accept the above legacy according to the terms of said will.
It was voted to appropriate $100 to purchase a fire-proof safe, or to build a brick vault in the town library building, as the selectmen and town clerk may elect, to be used for the storing of the records of the town.
12
178
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
" Voted, To raise and appropriate the sum of $100 in aid of the Town History."
" Voted, Resolved that we, as a town, will, by our moral influence, sustain the selectmen in the enforcement of the Prohibitory Liquor Law."
From the selectmen's report of the year closing March 1, 1883, we gather the following facts: Total valuation of the town, as per invoice taken April 1, 1882, $337,188.00; rate per cent tax on $100, $1.09; amount of money raised, $3742.81 ; assets of the town, $570.02; liabilities of the town, $13,118.78; debt of the town less assets, $12,548.76.
From the report of the agents chosen to purchase the land on which to build the library building and to erect the same, we learn that the cost of the land was $325.00; the cost of curbing-stone, brick for walk, grading the lot, setting the curbing-stone, etc., was $281.35; the cost of erecting the building was $3416.92; the cost of the plan was $72.00; the furnishing of the building cost $211.08; making the entire cost of land, grading and curbing, library build- ing and furniture, $4306.35, of which sum Adolphus C. Whitcomb gave $3700.00.
March 11, 1884. Town-history agent reported progress, and asked for a moderate extension of the time for the completion of the same.
Voted, To accept the report and to extend the time for publica- tion to Jan. 1, 1886.
Nov. 4th. Voted for presidential electors. The candidates for electors who supported Grover Cleveland received 97 votes; those who supported James G. Blaine received 90 votes, and those who supported John P. St. John received 4 votes. For representative to congress, John H. George received 97 votes, Jacob H. Gallinger received 90 votes, and Josiah M. Fletcher received 3 votes.
On the question, "Is it expedient that a convention be called to revise the constitution ?" there were 12 yeas and 118 nays.
"Voted, To instruct the selectmen to purchase one Champion Road Machine on terms proposed by Mr. Hadlock."
"Voted, To instruct the selectmen to purchase one Thatcher Road Machine."
March 10, 1885. The selectmen were instructed to enforce the liquor laws, including the sale of cider and lager beer, by a vote of 52 in the affirmative and 1 in the negative.
179
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
March 9, 1886. "Voted, To raise and appropriate $100 for the repair of the town-hall."
The time for completion of the town history was extended to January, 1887.
The selectmen were instructed to establish the bounds of the common, stop all further encroachments on the same, consider the practicability of fencing a part of it, and act in conjunction with any society that may be willing to aid in improving it.
$25 were raised to support street lamps.
The question of revising the constitution came up again -- 18 voted in the affirmative, and 54 in the negative.
" Voted, To dispense with a liquor agent.".
To Ephraim Weston Post, No. 87, G. A. R., was granted the free use of the town-hall not more than twice in any one year, and skat- ing rinks were excluded from the same.1
SELECTMEN'S REPORT.
VALUATION OF THE TOWN BY INVOICE TAKEN APRIL 1, 1885.
Real estate
$237,385 00
191 polls
19,100 00
183 horses
11,825 00
88 oxen
5,460 00
422 cows
12,804 00
278 neat stock.
5,235 00
306 sheep
907 00
48 hogs.
425 00
5 carriages
290 00
Public funds
200 00
Bank stocks ...
12,000 00
Money at interest
20,494 00
Stock in trade
4,350 00
Mills
2,100 00
Total valuation
$332,575 00
MONEY RAISED BY TAX.
State tax.
$ 792 00
County tax.
576 58
For schools
925 00
For town debt and interest.
1,600 00
For road machines
300 00
Town charges.
200 00
1 An excellent town fair was held in September, 1886, and a second was held in 1857, which proved a complete success. The enthusiasm of the citizens in clearing away useless rubbish and trimming the trees that remained in the rear of the church and Grange hall, proved a permanent improvement to the "Hosley Gift," which has been still further improved by work on Arbor Day, 1887, and later. It is probable some changes will soon be made in the highway in front of Grange hall, and the good work of improving this property will be continued.
180
HHISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
School-house No. 3 lax
$ 50 00 Surplusage. 195 95
Highway fax. 831 44
Dog ta
71 00
Rate per cent, including highway, $1.63.
LIABILITIES OF THE TOWN.
Notes held by John D. Butler. $7,000 00
For Hubbard legacy for library 1,000 00
For Hadley legacy for library .. 1,000 00
For Hubbard legacy for town poor. 1,000 00
Due the several school districts - literary fund. 71 98
Due March 1st, damage to sheep by dogs.
71 00
$10,042 98
ASSETS OF THE TOWN.
Cash on hand.
$492 18
Due from the county. 332 71
Amount in town liquor agent's hands 57 21
882 10
Debt of the town less assets. $9,160 88
Held in trust by the town the Salina Hills Memorial fund, $200.00.
ADOLPHUS G. FOSTER,
Selectmen
ANDREW B. STONE, of
GEORGE W. GOODHUE, ) Hancock.
A true record. Attest :
Nan Symonds.
Town Clerk.
This, with the exception of the subjoined tables of town officers, etc., completes this part of our work. It is by no means perfect ; many items of interest have been left out for want of space, and it is possible that some items have been inserted that are not of in- terest to the reader. With a few exceptions, the items have been gleaned from the town records. It will not be safe to infer that everything that the town voted to do was accomplished, but as a rule this was the fact. Certain records concerning the amount of money raised for different purposes are given, but without any fixed system. They are given from time to time, that we may be able to have some idea of the progress of the town. Could the amount of money raised for all purposes have been given, it would have been an improvement, but space would not permit.
181
ANNALS OF THE TOWN.
In the tables below we give the names of the moderators of the annual town-meetings, of the constables of the town for fifty years, of the town clerks and selectmen, representatives to the General Court, and of the supervisors since that office was created. We also give the votes for the president of the state under the old con- stitution, and for governor beginning with the year 1793. In any instance where there is an omission, it is from the fact that no record has been preserved. It will be noticed that no representa- tive to the General Court was chosen from the town until 1795. Previous to that time, in the years 1789 and 1791, Hon. John Dun- can, of Antrim, was chosen to represent Deering, Antrim, and Hancock. Mr. Cochrane, in the "History of Antrim," states that the district composed of Henniker, Hillsboro', Deering, Antrim, and Society Land was represented by Capt. Joseph Symonds, at Exeter, in 1776 and 1777; also, that the same district was repre- sented by Isaac Andrews in 1778, by Capt. James McCalley in 1779 and 1780, by Capt. Robert Alcock in 1781, and again by Capt. Joseph Symonds in 1782. Mr. Cochrane also states that Mr. Dun- can represented the towns of Antrim, Deering, Hancock, and Society Land from 1783 to 1796 inclusive. Although concerning the years 1785, 1786, 1788, 1790, and 1794, he is somewhat doubt- ful, and respecting the years 1795 and 1796, he is certainly in error, yet we are under great obligations to him for the light he has thrown upon this early history of the town.
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