USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hancock > The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 > Part 2
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" Portsmouth, October 17, 1753.
" By me, ROBERT FLETCHER, Surveyor."
" Francestown and Deering took their names from the name of the wife of the last royal governor of New Hampshire, Frances (Deering) Wentworth.
4
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
which remained as Society Land until 1842, when the town of Ben- nington was formed.
This tract, composed of about one-half of Francestown, the larger part of Greenfield, and all of Antrim, Hancock, Bennington, and Deering, was for a long time designated as Cumberland,1 a name now almost forgotten. It seems that there were some changes in the membership of this society previous to the division of the fifteen lots, as there were then but fifteen members, and some of the names enumerated at that time are new ones.
In the division of the fifteen lots, No. 1 was drawn by Mark H. Wentworth ; No. 2, by Samuel Solley and Clement March ; and No. 3, by Col. Joseph Blanchard, Nathaniel Meserve, Joseph Green, and Paul March. With each lot there was an intervale farm; and as Joseph Blanchard owned the mile square, at the date of the division of the lots (Oct. 17, 1753), the township, at that time, was the private property of the persons named above, viz : Mark H. Wentworth, Samuel Solley, Clement March, Joseph Blanchard, Nathaniel Meserve, Joseph Green, and Paul March. In the act of incorporation granted to Peterborough, Jan. 17, 1760, the territory north of that town is designated as " Land claimed by Mark Hunk- ing Wentworth, Esq.," and " Land claimed by the Heirs of Joseph Blanchard, Esq., deceased," the terms used showing that at that time there was yet some doubt in regard to their having a clear title.2
It is highly probable, however, that through these persons all subsequent titles to land in Hancock have come.
At the time of the incorporation of the town, it was largely owned by non-residents. John Hancock, at that time, had come into pos- session of a large part of "Great Lot " No. 2. As late as 1795 his heirs were taxed for eighteen hundred and seventy acres of un-
1 A map of this territory was discovered recently among the mouldy records of the "Society," by Geo. C. Patten, Esq., of Deering, and through his courtesy has been reduced one-half in size and inserted here. Some errors were inevitable in so ancient a document in locating streams and mountains; the only important one being the location of Crotchet mountain, which is really about one-half the width of it farther west than here designated. The line between Bennington and Frances- town is over it a little west of its highest summit. Each of the proprietors of the Great Lots seems to have pursued his own plan in sub-lotting. Great Lots Nos. 1 and 2, appear to have been lotted one-half mile from north to south, and one hundred rods from east to west. Great Lot No. 3 was lotted by "New Boston Patterns," as appears from deeds of this section.
2 From a vote of the town Nov. 25, 1785, it appears that the representatives of Gov- ernor Allen had not at that time given up their claims. It was "Voted that James Duncan go to the Allen proprietors with a pertition for a minsteriel Lot - Voted that James Duncan Joseph Dodge Eneas Nights and Sam' Gates be a Committee to Draught a Petition for that purpose "
Note: the corners, in general have a mark, madethus: X, with an ax, a knife, or marking won , by Robert Fletcher .
the line of towns : socalled
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5
EARLY PROPRIETORS-INCORPORATION.
improved land. Although the town adopted his name, he never appears to have in the least interested himself in its welfare. With- out doubt other matters engrossed all his attention ; great questions were to be settled, large interests were at stake, and the ownership of a few thousand acres of land in that remote wilderness, which prob- ably cost him but little, was to him of little moment. Charles Bar- rett, Esq., of New Ipswich, was also a large owner. Among the names of non-resident tax-payers, in 1779, we find William Clark, Thomas Barrett, Jesse Christie, Amos Barrett, Charles Barrett, Jonas Wheeler, John Preston, Joseph Hayward, and Jona. Davis.
The first settler came in 1764; others followed, but the numbers did not increase very rapidly. At the commencement of the Revo- lutionary war there were not, probably, more than eight or ten families, some of whom were only here temporarily.
In 1776 the inhabitants of that part of Society Land that is now Antrim petitioned for an act of incorporation. This petition brought before the legislature of the state the following vigorous protest from the inhabitants of that part of Society Land now in- cluded within the limits of Hancock. (See Town Papers, vol. xi, p. 107.)
" MEMORIAL RELATIVE TO INCORPORATION OF ANTRIM, 1776.
" To the Honourable Council and house of Representatives in and for the State of New Hampshire :- The memorial of us the Subscribers Inhabitants of Part of a tract of Land Colled the society land Laying between the townships of Hillsborough and Peterborough in the state aforesaid Humbly Sheweth that whereas there has been a Petition prefered to your honors praying that five miles wide west of Contoocook River might be incorporated and vested with town privileges this memorial hum- bly Shews that if your honours should condesend to grant the prayer of said Peti- tion or any other of the Like nature that we the Inhabitants of the South part of said Society land will be left utterly incapable of acting in any manner as a body pol- itic a Narrow Strip of land only being Left extending west of Peterborough North west corner on Dublin line with a Jogg and cannot be connected with any part of the Society Land on the east side of Contoocook River sd River being a great part of the year Impassable and can not be bridged by reason of mountains and vast platts and that part which Lays on the west side of the River is more than six miles in Length and said west part to the River does not extend to Peterborough North east corner by Near two miles and will Never be annexed to Peterborough as they will Not Nor cannot accept of us unless to their great disadvantage we your memorial- ists or Petitioners must be Left in capable of forming into any Society or acting upon any social plan we your memorialists humbly pray as a Remedy for those inconven- iences that said Society Land west of said River may be equally divided in the middle or that nothing may be done at present untill matters may be better adjusted as Several of our Small Number now in their Countries Service -Your honors Compli- ance will greatly oblige your memorialists and they as in duty bound will ever pray. " Society Land August 29th 1776.
" MOSES MORRISON SAML MITCHELL JUNR JOHN MOORE
THOMAS ENGLISH
JOHN YOUNG JONATHAN BARNET
THOMAS MILLER JOHN ESPIE (?) WILLIAM LAKIN."
6
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
This appears to have been a fair request, an equal division of the land on the west side of the Contoocook river. Such a division would have given to Hancock about one-half of Great Lot, No. 4, including most of the mountain in the south-west corner of Antrim, and the road that now causes so much trouble to the people of our sister town.
Without doubt Hancock would at any time be glad to take the south-west quarter of Great Lot, No. 4, this road included.
The people of Antrim were unwilling to yield to this request. What inducements they held out, or what arguments they used, are now unknown, but Jan. 14, 1777, Moses Morrison, George McCloury, Jonathan Barnet, John Moore, and Thomas Miller signified their con- sent to the division on a line between Great Lots, Nos. 3 and 4, thus giving four out of seven of the Great Lots, and the lion's share of nine intervale lots to our ambitious sister town, which was incor- porated according to the original petition as to boundaries, March 22, 1777. (See Society Land map.)
The following petition relative to taxes, sent to the legislature in 1779, is an additional evidence that the proprietors of the township at that early date were not to be imposed upon with impunity :-
" STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. To The Honble the Council and House of Representa- tives for the State of Newhampshire aforesª in Generel Assembly Convened -
" The petition of the Inhabitants and Proprietors of the Lands of the place called and Known by the name of ye Society Land in the County of Hillsbo in the State of Newhampshire aforesd humbly showeth-That ye said place called ye Society Land is Taxed for ye Current year for a Larger Sum than other places and towns in propor- tion in the same State, being One pound five shillings 11d to Every Thousand pound - and we further shew that in fact we the said Inhabitants are very poor and Low in the world, our Lands are a great part of them Low and Sunken, we have many Large ponds and some very mountainous and Rocky Land - which are not and nor Ever Can be improved - The Road thro. ye Township could not be made Good and passable for Teams, in One year for ye whole sum ye Township is worth it being so Exceeding Rocky mountainous and Sunken -
" We declare our Selves Good and faithfull Subjects to the state aforesd and Truely willing to pay our full proportion of publick Taxes : but at the same time upon con- sidering Every Circumstance, we are assured and do plainly see that our Valuation was given in three Times too Large in Proportion to other Towns. Therefore we humbly pray for an abatement in our Tax in such proportion as your Honrs in your Wisdom shall see fit and your petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever pray. -
" Society Land September 7, 1779
" SIGNERS NAMES
" JACOB AMES DAVID HUBBARD
WILLIAM LAKIN.
BENJM WILSON WILLIAM WILLIAMS
ROBERT DUNCAN
THOMAS BARRETT. JONA DAVIS.
JOHN MOOR
DAVID AMES. AMOS BARRETT.
JAMES DAVIS
JONATHAN BENNETT.
JOSEPH HAYWARD. CHARLES BARRETT
JOHN MILLER. MOSES MORRISON THOMAS MILLER
JONAS WHEELER
JESSEE CHRISTEY.
STEPHEN BENNETT. ROBERT WILLIE
JOHN PRESTON "
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WILLIAM CLARCK ASA ADAMS ADAM PATTERSON EDMUND DAVIS
7
EARLY PROPRIETORS- INCORPORATION.
If the reader chances to notice in the petition for the incorpora- tion of the town, dated about three months earlier than the above, a slight discrepancy in regard to the description of the township, its value, etc., I would ask him to be lenient in his judgment ; hu- man nature is about the same the world over, and property to be taxed is not generally overestimated by its possessor.
The petition for the incorporation of the town is dated June 3d. Previous to sending the petition the inhabitants obtained the consent of those on the east side of the river, as will appear by the following :-
"CONSENT OF INHABITANTS OF THE EAST SIDE TO THE INCORPORATION OF HANCOCK, 1779.
" STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AND COUNTY OF HILLSBOROUGH These may sartify the honorable Council And house of Representatives for said state. That we whose names are underritten and sined who live in Society Land So Called on the East Side of Contoocook River have no objections to make against the inhabitants on the west Side of s' River in Society afore sa to be incorporated Into Town and Likewise to be disenexed From that on the west. -
" Society Land April 20th 1779
" ROBERT ROGERS ISAAC BUTTERFIELD, JOHN GREGG
CHARLES LAWRENCE SAMUEL BUTTERFIELD, SAMUEL DICKEY "
ALEXANDER PARKER,
JAMES GRAGG
The consent of their neighbors on the other side of the river hav- ing been gained, the few inhabitants then living within the limits of what is now Hancock sent to the legislature the following
" PETITION FOR AN INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN, 1779.
" To the Honourable Council and House of Representatives for the State of New hampshire in generel asembly Convend at Exeter in the month of June 1779. - " the Humble petetion of us the subscribers Inhabitants of that part of the Society so Called Laying on the west Side Contoocook River and south of Antrim north of petter Borough & Dublin & East of Packersfield. -
" Humbly showeth that by Reason of the large flats on Each side of Contoocook River it will Ever be Impractable to Build any Bridge and therefore there Can be no Communication with those that inhabite on the East Side of Said River all which will Render it inconvenient to be incorporated into one Body and them Inhabitants on the East side of st River have signed their willingness to be disenexed from those on the West .-
" farthermore your pettioners would Inform your Honnours that the tract of land on which we Inhabit from the River west to packersfield East Line is six miles and one Half, and from Antrim South Line to Pettersborough North Line is five miles and near one Half and the Land is so good that it will make a very Comodious town or Parish and your petitioners pray your Honours that they may be Incorporated and invested with all town privaleges as other Incorporated towns -
" Your Honours Compliance with the above petition Will greatly oblidge your pe- titioners and they as in Duty Bound will Ever Pray.
" Society June 3ª 1779.
" ROBERT DUNCAN STEPHEN BENNETT JOEL RUSSELL NATHAN MERIAM
MOSES MORRISON WILLIAM WILLIAMS. JOHN CUMMINGS JUNER ADAM PATTERSON
JONATHAN BENNETT JOHN CUMINGS, THOMAS MILLER JOHN MOOR JOHN MILLER THOMAS ENGLISH
OLIVER LAWRENCE
ARTHER GRAYHAM
JOSEPH SIMONDS, JAMES DAVIS
DAVID AMES
TIMETHY MOORS, WM WILLIAMS JR
WILLIAM LAKIN
REUBEN CUMINGS. ASA ADAMS
JOHN FOSTER,"
8
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
The prayer of the petitioners was duly considered and granted Nov. 5th of that year, as the act of incorporation given below, copied from the town records, will show :-
" In the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and Seventy nine
" STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE An act to Incorporate a part of the Society Land So called in the county of Hillsborough -
" Whereas the Inhabitants of that part of the Society land So called laying on the west Side of Contaucook River and South of Antrim and north of Peterborough and Dublin and East of Packersfield have pertistioned the General Court Praying that they may be Invested with Town priviledges By Incorporation of which potistion and the order of Court thereon Due notice hath been given and no objection been made and the prayer of Said petistion appearing reasonable
" Be it therefore Enacted by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the Same that there be and hereby is a Township Erected and Incorporated By the name Hancock bounded northerdly by Antrim Easterdly by Contaucook River Southerdly by Peterborough and Dublin and westerdly by Packerfield, and the Inhabitants thereof Erected into a body politick - and Corporate to have Continance and Succession forever and hereby are Invested with all the power and Enfranchised with all the Rights Priviledges and Immunities which any Town in this State hold and Injoy. To Hold to the Said Inhabitants and Successors forever and Mr Jonathan Bennett hereby authorised to call a meeting of Said Inhabitants to chuse all necessary and Customary Town officers giving fourteen days notice of the time place and Design of Such meeting and Such officers Shall hereby be Invested with all the powers of the officers in any other Town in this State, and every other meeting which Shall be annually held -
" In Said Town for that purpose Shall be on the Second munday of march forever.
" In the House of Representatives Novm ye 4th 1779
"this bill having been Read a third time Voted that it pass to be Enacted - Sent up for concurence
JOHN LANGDON - Speaker
" In Council the 5th of Novm 1779 this bill Read a third time Voted the Same be En- acted
M. WEARE President
" A Coppy Examined E. TOMSON Secryt
" A true Record of the Incorporation JONATHAN BENNETT Town Clark"
CHAPTER II.
HANCOCK CENTENNIAL.
8 AT the annual town-meeting in March, 1879, the subject of ob- serving the centennial anniversary of the town was introduced as a preliminary step towards the compiling of a history of the town. As this was the first movement towards the preparation of the his- tory, it has been deemed best to insert the proceedings in connec- tion with that celebration at this place, as an introduction to what may follow. It was voted that the anniversary be observed. Or- land Eaton, Joshua S. Lakin, Esq., and John P. Hills were chosen a
ORLAND EATON.
JOSHUA S. LAKIN.
JOHN P. HILLS.
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9
HANCOCK CENTENNIAL.
committee to take the matter in charge. By a subsequent vote the sum of eight hundred dollars, or as much as might be necessary not exceeding that amount, was appropriated for the expenses of that occasion.
After considerable progress had been made it was discovered that the vote appropriating money for the purpose under considera- tion was of doubtful legality.
The committee were therefore compelled to decide between the two alternatives : to abandon the enterprise, or to rely upon volun- tary aid in this direction from citizens and former citizens of the town. They chose the latter course and proceeded in their work. The expenses of the occasion, including the purchase of a beautiful flag, were $503.06. About one-half of this was contributed by the citizens of the town, $71.31 was realized by the sale of lumber, pro- visions, etc., after the celebration was over, and the balance was received from former citizens. All the receipts and expenses of the occasion were accounted for, item by item, by the treasurer, John P. Hills. Among the largest contributors from former citizens, were Augustus N. Clark, Mrs. Lucinda Taft, and Thomas J. Hadley.
The committee had several meetings during the summer to ar- range preliminaries.
At a public meeting of the citizens, held early in September, Joshua S. Lakin, Esq., was chosen president of the day, and John P. Hills, Esq., first vice-president, secretary, and treasurer.
At a later meeting Orland Eaton, Esq. (who had declined to have his name used for president), was appointed a vice-president ; John H. Felch, Esq., toast-master, and A. B. Stone marshal, with W. A. Washburn and C. P. Hayward as aids.
Cards of invitation were at the disposal of all who wished to in- vite friends, the following being a copy :-
" You are hereby cordially invited to meet with us on Wednesday, September 17th, 1879, at the Celebration of the Centennial of the Incorporation of the town of Hancock, N. H.
" ORLAND EATON, JOSHUA S. LAKIN, JOHN P. HILLS,
Centennial Committee.
" Hancock, N. H., Aug. 20, 1879."
The programme of the day, of which twenty-five hundred copies were distributed to those present, we also give as being a document. of historical interest. The exercises here outlined were substan- tially carried out with a few changes, as will appear in the report of
10
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
the proceedings, for which we are greatly indebted to the enter- prising publishers of the Peterboro' Transcript.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF HANCOCK, N. H., WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17, 1879. PROGRAMME.
Ringing of Bell and Firing Salute at Sunrise.
Bennington Procession will form at Bennington (formerly Hancock Factory Village) at 8.30 A. M. Hancock Procession will form on the Bennington road at 9.30 A. M., and await the arrival of the Bennington Procession. There form in the follow. ing order for march to the Speaker's Stand :-
Chief Marshal and Aids; Band; Peterboro' Cavalry; Hancock Battery ;
President of the Day, Vice-Presidents, and Toast-Master; Orator, Speakers, Town Clerk, Clergymen, Choirs, Town Officers, Aged People, Guests from other towns, and Citizens generally.
Chief Marshal will announce President of the Day, JOSHUA S. LAKIN, ESQ.
President's Address of Welcome.
Invocation of Divine Blessing
REV. J. W. COOLIDGE.
REV. HERVEY GULICK.
Scripture Reading CHORUS.
Singing-" Glorious is Thy Name, Almighty Lord "
REV. JAMES HOLMES, Bennington. Prayer.
Reading of Town Charter by Town Clerk. A. D. TUTTLE, ESQ.
Singing -" God Keep Our Country Free for Evermore" . CHORUS.
Oration .. By REV. W. W. HAYWARD, of Keene, N. H.
Singing . By the BARKER FAMILY.
Poem. .By MRS. L. M. WILLIS, of Glenora, N. Y. Singing-" Hurrah for Old New England."
DINNER.
Social Hour, enlivened by Music by the Band.
Singing -" Star Spangled Banner."
RESPONSES TO SENTIMENTS :
1. " The Past of Hancock contrasted with the Present."
2. " The Clergy of Hancock."
3. " New England Character in its Influence on the Destiny of our Country." Music by the Band.
4. " The Physicians of Hancock."
5. " Hancock Artillery, and other Military Organizations of Hancock."
6. Singing-" One Hundred Years Ago," by Military and Continentals in Costume.
7. " Lawyers of Hancock,"
8. " Hancock Forty Years Ago." Music by the Band.
9. " The Men and Women of 1788 who laid the foundation of the first Church in Hancock."
10. " Bennington : The Mother rejoices in the prosperity of her Daughter."
11. " The Schools of Hancock - Past and Present." Other Sentiments and Responses.
Singing - Original Hymn.
Closing Words by President.
Benediction.
A Salute by the Battery will be fired at the close of the exercises.
N. B .- An Art Gallery and Antiquarian Room will be open during the day - free to all.
Hancock, N. H., September, 1879.
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11
HANCOCK CENTENNIAL.
THE DAY'S DOINGS.
Centennial celebrations are always rare occasions, hence they are invariably largely attended by the public. The celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Hancock was no exception to the general rule. The actual centennial date occurred on the fifth day of November, but the good people of Han- cock, in order to avoid the discomforts of cold weather, which would seriously conflict with the full enjoyment of the occasion, took time by the forelock, and decided, through their efficient committee of arrangements, to observe Wednesday, Sept. 17th, with appropriate ceremonies.
All day Tuesday the sky bore a threatening aspect, and many and anxious were the glances cast heavenward to discern, if possible, some sign of promise for the coming day. But none was seen, and when the day closed the prospect was gloomy indeed. But ere the morning sun arose, the clouds had disappeared, the stars were shin- ing brightly, and many a heart was lightened. From daylight till half-past eight o'clock, the rapidly drifting clouds caused varying hopes and fears, but at the latter hour all fears were dispelled by the appearance of the bright, warm sun.
At an early hour the people began to assemble on the common, and at 9 A. M. there must have been nearly two thousand people present, and before noon over three thousand. The delightful breeze of the morning gaily wafted the numerous flags which had been flung out, Peterboro' brass band was early on the ground, and discoursed refreshing music, and everything went merry as a mar- riage bell. The committee of arrangements - Messrs. Orland Eaton, Joshua S. Lakin, and John P. Hills, had, with indefatigable labor, put everything in perfect readiness.
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