USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hancock > The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 > Part 25
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March 29th. John Newell and Lucetta E. Lee, both of Hancock.
223
MARRIAGES.
BY REV. THEODORE C. PRATT.
1876, April 13th. Henry F. Cilley, of Stoddard, and Cate D. Cooper, of Bennington. BY REV. ASAHEL BIGELOW.
June 14th. Solon D. Hadley and Alzina L. Hayward, both of Hancock. BY REV. THEODORE C. PRATT.
1877, Jan. Ist. Otis F. Forbush, of Acton, Mass., and Nettie F. Cummings, of Hancock. BY REV. J. L. FELT, OF ANTRIM.
Feb. 7th. Charles W. Coolidge, of Leominster, Mass., and Kate L. Brown, of Hancock.
IN NEWPORT, BY REV. IRA PEARSONS.
April 12th. William L. Lakin, of Hancock, and Henrietta J. Craige, of Mont- pelier, Vt.
IN EAST WILTON, BY REV. CHARLES H. TINDELL.
1878, June 5th. Fred Hunt, of Hancock, and Alice J. Fessenden, of Wilton.
. IN KEENE, BY REV. W. W. HAYWARD.
June 19th. Walter A. Jaquith and Carrie J. Wood, both of Hancock.
BY REV. J. WESLEY COOLIDGE.
Nov. 2d. Lawton Thomas Hadley, of Rutland, Mass., and Harriet Emelia Weston, of Hancock.
IN GREENFIELD, BY REV. S. H. PATRIDGE.
Nov. 27th. Almon Hill and Addie A. Cheney, both of Hancock. IN LEOMINSTER, MASS., BY REV. E. A. SMITH.
Dec. 11th. Cristy H. Duncan, of Hancock, and Helen A. Walker of Leominster. IN GREENFIELD, BY REV. S. H. PATRIDGE.
1879, Jan. 26th. James W. Wilds and Carrie A. Parker, both of Hancock. April 20th. Edward A. Hill, of Hancock, and Sarah A. Dutton, of Greenfield.
BY REV. GEORGE M. RICE, OF DUBLIN.
July 1st. Fred B. Richards and Emogene W. Lakin, both of Hancock. IN PETERBORO', BY REV. JAMES L. HARRISON.
Sept. 18th. George W. Goodhue and Ella D. Tuttle, both of Hancock. IN PETERBORO', BY REV. GEORGE DUSTIN.
Sept. 27th. Edward B. Sherwin and Chestina R. Wilds, both of Hancock.
BY A. D. TUTTLE, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
Oct. 15th. George H. Marvell and Abbie Bullard, both of Hancock. IN PETERBORO', BY REV. GEORGE DUSTIN.
1880, May 26th. Frank A. Wood, of Hancock, and Julia F. Wood, of Winchendon, Mass. IN HILLSBORO', BY REV. JOHN H. HILLMAN.
June 9th. Myron E. Johnson, of Hancock, and Clara E. Ellenwood, of Deering. IN PETERBORO', BY REV. GEORGE DUSTIN. Dec. 9th. Charles H. Dutton, of Hancock, and Edna Maria Barber, of Peterboro'. IN HARRISVILLE, BY REV. GEORGE H. BECKWITH.
1881, Feb. 10th. Albert E. Ware, of Hancock, and Minnie S. Knight, of Harrisville. IN KEENE, BY REV. J. A. LEACH.
April 11th. John R. Putney and Arvilla Knowlton, both of Hancock. IN MANCHESTER, BY HENRY E. BURNHAM, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE. June 7th. Thomas F. Shea and Annie S. Welch, both of Hancock.
224
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
IN ANTRIM, BY REV. W. R. COCHRANE.
1882, June Ist. Hiram B. Marshall and Jennie M. Willard, both of Hancock.
BY REV. J. L. MERRILL, OF MARLBORO'.
1883, Jan. 4th. Clifford H. Tenney, of Hancock, and Clara E. Lowell, of Marlow.
BY REV. HERVEY GULICK.
April 28th. William A. Parsons, of Hancock, and Josephine Wentworth, of Effingham.
Nov. 6th. John J. Martyn and Hattie J. Whittaker, both of Hancock. IN PETERBORO', BY REV. W. HI. WALBRIDGE.
Oct. 28th. Henry A. Manning and Nellie E. Danforth, both of Hancock.
IN GREENFIELD, BY REV. S. H. PATRIDGE.
Nov. 17th. Almon Hill, of Hancock, and Lois Dutton, of Greenfield. BY A. D. TUTTLE, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
1884, July 19th. Charles F. King, of Lyndeboro', and Nellie Amlaw, of Hancock. BY REV. HERVEY GULICK.
Oct. 27th. John Doherty and Susan O. Brian, both of Hancock. IN MARLBORO', BY REV. C. J. CHASE.
1885, Aug. Ist. Ellsworth E. Balcom and Lydia A. Gates, both of Hancock.
IN PETERBORO', BY REV. W. II. WALBRIDGE.
Dec. 2d. Charles G. Mathews and Mrs. Nettie V. Mathews, both of Hancock. IN JAFFREY, BY REV. P. L. MCEVOY.
1886, Jan. 26th. John Cody and Maggie A. Cassion, both of Hancock.
BY REV. J. WESLEY COOLIDGE.
April 10th. John Wesley Coolidge and Ida Elizabeth Goodhue, both of Hancock. BY REV. HERVEY GULICK.
May 2d. Wilfred A. Sheldon and Orissa J. Lee, both of Hancock.
Dec. 27th. John Gilbert Thompson, of Sandwich, Mass., and Helen Susan Titus, of Hancock.
IN EAST JAFFREY, BY REV. P. L. MCEVOY.
Nov. 2d. Patrick Cody, of Bennington, and Kate Cuddihee, of Hancock. IN NEW IPSWICH, BY REV. WILLIAM A. THOMPSON.
Dec. 29th. James Woodward and Eliza Wellington, both of Hancock.1
CHAPTER XII. SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
THE educational advantages that had been enjoyed by a majority of the first settlers of Hancock were without doubt limited. They were practical men and women, endowed with good, strong common sense, but "innocent of books" and the culture of the schools. There were few persons, however, who could not read and write. John Moor, the first constable, made his mark instead of signing his
1 Not a few persons who gave their homes as Hancock in the foregoing list were merely temporary residents in the town.
225
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
name; but we have no record that any other official was compelled to do this.
At a town-meeting held Dec. 25, 1786, it was voted not to have schooling that winter. This was probably the first attempt that was made to raise money for that purpose.
About a year later (Dec. 1, 1787) another attempt was made to raise money for schooling, and this time they were more successful, as £10 were raised. James Duncan, Mr. Dennis, Mr. Dodge, Seth Hadley, and Robert Duncan were appointed a committee to divide the town into five districts and report at the next March meeting. The money raised was to be divided equally, each district to receive forty shillings. The schools must have been held in the houses of the settlers, for as yet no attempt had been made to build school-houses. Daniel Wood, when about three and a half years old, attended school for the first time in Mr. Wheeler's barn, the school being held in that part of the barn called the "lean-to." The teacher of this school was afterwards the wife of Jonathan Davis.
These schools at the best had a precarious existence. In 1789 no money was raised for this purpose. From the beginning there was continually manifested an uneasiness in regard to the boundaries of the several school districts, which did not cease until the district system was given up.
At first the selectmen had charge of the several schools, the per- sons teaching being required to produce a certificate, as the law directed. No hint is given in the records in regard to who was the proper person to give these certificates, as no one was appointed by the town to look after the schools until 1806. It is to be presumed, however, that these certificates were granted by the minister of the town, and Mr. Paige proved himself to be an efficient helper in the cause of education.
In 1788 it was decided to divide the town into nine districts, and a committee of nine men, consisting of the five men appointed the previous year and Oliver Lawrence, Nathaniel Davidson, James Davis, and Jonathan Sawyer, were appointed to make the division. £8 were appropriated for schooling, but each district was left to provide its school-house.
No money was appropriated for schooling in 1789, the building of the meeting-house probably absorbing about all the means that the town had at command.
In 1792 another committee was appointed to divide the town into
226
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
school districts. This committee reported a division of the town into eight districts. The boundaries of the districts were definitely fixed, and a transcript of said boundaries was recorded in the town book ; but for fear that the decision of the committee might not be acceptable to all parties concerned, it was provided that if it should appear to the committee, on complaint, that any person could be better convenienced in any other district than that to which he was assigned, then he was to be permitted to make any exchange for better convenience, if it should appear reasonable to the committee or the town. It is by no means certain that this division of the town was accepted.
In May, 1792, a district in the center of the town was organized in due form. The names of the following persons are given as being members of said district : -
John Cumings,
John Cumings, Jr., Robart Taggart,
Samuel Whitcomb, Josiah Blodgett, Salmon Blodgett,
Samuel Hosley, Phinehas Ames,
Stephen Kittredge,
Joseph Symonds,
John Whitcomb,
Thomas Boynton,
Timothy Moors,
Jonathan Sawyer,
James Hosley,
James Duncan,
Nicholas Lawrence, Edmond Davis,
Thomas Jones,
Abraham Moors,
Thomas Craige,
Ebenezer Ware, Ebenezer Ware, Jr., Lemuel Eaton, Joseph Dodge, Abraham Davis, David Hosley.
The persons enumerated above were authorized by the town to assemble at the meeting-house on the first Wednesday of June, at two o'clock in the afternoon, to act on such matters and things as they might think proper respecting the building of a school-house in the center of the town; also, "to raise money and to tax them- selves for payment."
This was the beginning of the school-district system in the town. The divisions mentioned above were simply territorial. The entire management of the schools had been in the hands of the selectmen ; now a new departure was made. A description of this school- house may not be out of place in this connection :-
After deciding to build a school-house, the district "voted to have twelve squares to a window, and four windows to the main room, the glass 7 by 9."
" Voted the House twenty-two feet square and with a hipt roof."
"Voted to set up the fraim to board and shingle it, to set up the Chimney, put in two windows, make the Outward door and lay the lower floor, and to have the work done by the first of Novm. next, the Boards to be halved round the sides."
The building of the above house, with the specifications named,
227
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
was awarded to Hugh Grimes, at £23, "to be done workmanlike." It was "Voted that Samuel Gates and Edmond Davis, selectmen, assess the money by the last inventory by them taken," and "that Edmond Davis collect the money."
In January, 1793, the selectmen were instructed " to indulge those persons who wish the schooling of their children put off till next spring." They were also instructed to permit those who might wish to have their children sent to school that winter, to send them, and to pay their money to the school that might be the nearest to them. 1
No money was raised for schools, or for school-houses, in 1793, nor at the annual meeting of 1794; but at a special meeting, called on the 5th of May, it was voted to assess the whole town for £400, to build school-houses, and each district was to provide itself with a school-house, to be paid for with this money, at the time said district, by a majority of its voters, might decide.
All new persons were to be taxed, if any such came to town before the school-houses were built ; and all who had been taxed for houses then built, should have credit therefor.
This money was not raised, and two years later (June 20, 1796) the vote was revived, and £200 added to the original sum.
As late as June 5, 1798, it appears that the £400 for building school-houses had not yet been raised. The districts were in a chaotic state. Some houses had been partly built, but none were in a good condition. The location of the schools, or the condition of the roads, was such that many of the families in town were not satisfied, and some families desired to send their children to two or more schools. The whole matter was entrusted to a special com- mittee, which made an elaborate report, that want of space alone prevents us from giving in this connection. Among the wise and impartial provisions of the report we would mention that that per- son who had paid a tax, in any part of the town, towards this object, should not be compelled to pay again. No person was expected to pay his tax until about the time the school-house which he was ex- pected to help pay for should be completed.
Stephen Poor, Jonathan Sawyer, and Josiah Stone were chosen a special committee to determine what persons should have the priv- ilege of sending their children to school in two districts. The fol- lowing vote may be of interest :-
" Voted, Samuel Gates, Daniel Kimball, Oliver Lawrence, John
228
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Clark, and Sampson Tuttle to inspect the building of the several school Houses, and to apprize them when built, and also to fix the Center when the district cannot agree, and that they apprize the school Houses that are partly done in those districts that shall not inform the select men by the month of September next of the sum required to finish their Houses."
At this date the number of pupils in the schools had become quite numerous. A few years later the average attendance in most of the districts was from sixty to seventy. Again we quote from Mrs. Boyle's letter: "Martin Hall, whose home was in Alstead, taught our school three terms. He was anxious to have one hundred scholars for at least one day. Accordingly the parents gathered their flock together the last day he taught there, and sent in ninety- nine scholars in the forenoon. In the afternoon they found one more. It was brought in in its mother's arms." 1
The standard of education in these early years was not very high (see Rev. Daniel Goodhue's address on page 47); but the good results emanating from our system of free schools can not be over- estimated.
A high school was established in the town at an early period; but I have not been able to learn much about it. Among the dis- tinguished men who here received a part of their education may be mentioned Franklin Pierce, afterwards President of the United States.2 This school was held in the upper story of the school-house built by the center district, which was burned down about the year 1825.
In the year 1834 educational interests in town were at a low ebb. So little interest was manifested in the welfare of the public schools, that, by vote of the town, the superintending school committee were instructed to dispense with visiting them.
1 This was at what is now known as No. 2.
2 Hon. George W. Nesmith, of Franklin, and Hon. William B. Dinsmore, of New York, were also among the pupils of these early schools. Judge Nesmith has re- cently sent us interesting reminiscences of his school-days here, and the New York gentleman reports as to the discipline, etc. It appears that these early preceptors believed in not "sparing the rod." Mr. Dinsmore writes us he came here to school a mere lad, and was engaged one morning by a drover to help him start his cattle from the village for " four pence half-penny." The drover did not dispense with. his services until it was too late to get back in season for the commencement of the school. On putting in a late appearance the master very kindly loaned him his knife to cut a stick and bring it in for him, and made him stand and hold it on his return until noon, " the envy of all the other boys in the school "(?). Mr. Dinsmore had pro- cured the stick on the Sand hill (Hosley street), and supposed it was cherry, like those which some of his predecesors in suffering had procured. Unfortunately it proved a tough willow, and our young hero was compelled to dance several jigs, etc., without the stick's breaking. The six and one-fourth cents of the future million- aire cost him heavily in the end.
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HANCOCK COMMON IN 1840, FROM PINE RIDGE CEMETERY
229
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
As it is always darkest just before day, this state of things was the precursor of the establishment of two flourishing institutions of education of a higher grade in town-" Hancock Literary and Scientific Institution " and " Hancock Academy."
The charter of the Literary and Scientific Institution was granted June 14, 1836, - Dr. Jonas Hutchinson and seventeen others being authorized to build a school-building and establish a high school therein. The building was on land belonging to the town, - it be- ing a part of the common; and as it was designed for public pur- poses, the town had a right to grant the request made by Doctor Hutchinson, David Patten, and others (see page 151).
The object of this institution is thus set forth by its founders :-
" It shall be the primary object of this Institution to furnish the means of a thorough Elementary Education in science and Literature.
" All branches of education shall be here taught which are usually taught in similar institutions.
" It shall ever be the duty of the Instructors to inculcate and endeavor to impress upon the minds of the youths who may here resort from time to time, such moral and religious principles as shall by the blessing of God prepare them for usefulness and respectability in the various departments of life, and for happiness in the world to come.
" The formers and proprietors of this Institution wish it to be distinctly known to all who may hereafter have any concern in its government that they consider a moral and religious education indispensable, not that they would make it a special object to teach the peculiarities of any sect of Christians."
I can bear witness that certainly in the later days of this institu- tion the desires of its founders were not disregarded.
According to the specifications of the charter, this institution was under the control of twenty-one directors or trustees. Seven of these trustees were to be members of the Dublin Baptist associa- tion, seven of the Milford Baptist association, and seven of the original proprietors and their successors.
From the best information that can be obtained, the school was opened under the direction of Rev. Zebulon Jones in August, 1837.
In 1838-9, the following persons constituted the board of trustees : -
Levi Willard, Esq., Keene.
David Patten, Esq., Hancock.
Hon. Luke Woodbury, Antrim. Jobn Whitcomb, Esq., Hancock. Rev. Mark Carpenter, Milford. Rev. D. D. Pratt, Nashua. Rev. John Atwood, Hillsboro'. Jonas Hutchinson, M. D., Hancock. William Parker, Esq., Francestown. Mr. D. Gibbs, Sullivan.
William Wallace, Esq., Milford. Rev. A. T. Foss, Mount Vernon. Rev. John Woodbury, Hancock.
Rev. A. Belknap, Jaffrey. Hon. Franklin Pierce, Concord.
Hon. John Stevens, Mason.
Rev. David Gage, Washington.
Rev. Thomas Rand, Hinsdale. George Raymond, Esq., Mount Vernon.
Rev. John Davis, Antrim.
Gen. Solomon McNeil (ex-officio), Hills- boro'.
Hon. Israel Hunt (ex-officio), Nashua.
Joseph Carter, Esq. (ex-officio), Charles- town, Mass.
230
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Levi Willard, Esq., was president of the board of trustees, Rev. Mark Carpenter was secretary, and David Patten, Esq., was treas- urer. The instructors were : W. C. Richards, principal and teacher of languages and the natural sciences; E. Knight, teacher of mathe- matics ; A. P. Shattuck, teacher of penmanship ; J. A. Woodbury, teacher of music; Miss M. A. T. Sawyer, teacher of mathematics, the natural sciences, and the Latin language ; and Miss M. C. Wil- lard, teacher of French, Italian, and the ornamental branches.
Among the students of that year, I would mention Joseph Davis, of Acworth; William Lawrence Foster, of Keene; Asa B. and A. Judson Hutchinson, of Milford ; De Witt Clinton Hadley and Eph- raim Knight, of Hancock; David A. Russell, of Walpole; George W. Stevens, of Stoddard; Mark True, of Francestown ; John H., Charles A., and Adolphus C. Whitcomb, of Hancock; Elijah M. Tubbs, of Hancock; Love Maria Whitcomb, of Hancock ; Rebecca W. Davis, of Hancock; Isabel A. B. and L. Josephine Hutchinson, of Hancock ; and Elvira T., Syrene, and Alice Jane Patten, of Han- cock. The aggregate number of students for the year was two hundred and seventy-nine.
This institution was sustained until the autumn of 1851. Among its eminent instructors who succeeded Mr. Richards we will men- tion Professors Colcord, Ephraim Knight, W. B. Burnell, Mark True, and Rev. W. M. Guilford.1
Hancock academy, under the control of the Congregationalists, was instituted at about the same time the Literary and Scientific institution was.
The upper story of the brick building mentioned on page 207 was suitably divided into school-rooms, and for several years the academy was a flourishing institution. That there was something of the spirit of rivalry in these two institutions, an impartial historian can not deny; but the result was of incalculable advantage to the town.
The exact date of the opening of this school, I have not been able to ascertain. Rev. Daniel Goodhue states that, according to his best information, it was organized in 1839. As he was a student at that time, he is probably correct ; but he does not say whether it was in the early part of the year, or the autumn term. The sub- scription paper for the erection of the building was drawn up Jan. 1, 1836, and as it is distinctly stated that the building " shall con-
1 Hon. D. H. Goodell, of Antrim, and other distinguished persons, were among the later students at this institution.
231
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
tain, first, an apartment for the occasional public worship of God, to be called the vestry; also an apartment for a public school or academy"; and as the shares were taken up by seventy persons, most of whom, if not all, were citizens of Hancock and members of the Congregational society, - it does not seem probable that it took them three years to get ready for the school.1
In the catalogue before me, for the year ending August, 1840, it is stated that this " academy is sustained by an association of gentle- men, by whom the following have been elected as a board of directors : Rev. Archibald Burgess, president; Moses Wood, secretary ; Col. David Low, treasurer; Andrew C. Cochran, Capt. Timothy Moors, Nathan Wheeler, Esq., David Boutelle, Oliver Whitcomb, Jr., Samuel Ordway.
"Instructors : Thomas Miller, A. B., principal ; Daniel Rice, A. B., principal during the fall term. Assistant teachers : Miss Martha East- man, fall term; Miss Nancy E. Fiske, spring term ; Miss Susan Reed, summer term. Assistant pupils : Aaron P. Hughes, Arche- laus Wilson, Lydia A. Duncan, Sarah I. Duncan, Harriet Rice, Helen M. Thompson."
The aggregate number of students for the year was two hundred and ninety-seven. Among the names registered we find the fol- lowing : James M. Bradford, Charles A. Burgess, James C. Duncan, Samuel E. Hills, Charles B. Pearson, Jacob T. Steele, Peter C. C. Whitcomb, Marian Clark, Margaret A. Low, Susan G. Pearson, Maria M. Symonds, Mary Wheeler, John, Nathaniel I., and Stephen D. Duncan, Irvin W. and Samuel O. Gates, Charles O. Foster, Daniel Goodhue, David Washburn, Elizabeth T. Cochran, Maria H. Hills, Susan M. Low, and Frances A. Wood, all of Hancock; Corban C. Curtice, of Windsor; Farnum F. Lane, of Swanzey; William B. Washburn, of Winchen don, Mass .; Thomas E. and James M. Boutell, of Antrim; and Francis H. Knight, of Lexington, Mass.
In this institution due attention was given to the training of the moral and religious natures of the pupils.
In connection with the catalogue under consideration, we find the following: "Past experience convinces that the improvement of the mind is best promoted in connection with that uniform attention to the cultivation of the heart which its importance demands."
Among the names of instructors who had charge of this school,
1 Unfortunately the records of this school can not now be found.
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HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
in addition to those enumerated above, we would mention Scott and Gilbert.
As first organized, this school flourished for some six or seven years; after which time it was suspended for a few years. Subse- quent to the closing of the Literary and Scientific Institution it was again opened. Andrew Washburn had charge of it in the fall of 1852; J. C. Kimball for three terms in 1853; and in later years Charles A. Wood and John Paul had charge of it several terms, and others.
In the year 1873 the town was constituted as a high-school dis- trict, and from that time until the present, one or more terms of this school, yearly, have been enjoyed by all the pupils in the town who have chosen to attend and have been able to pass the necessary examination.
The influence of these institutions of a higher grade upon the common schools of the town was decidedly of an elevating char- acter. The standard of education in the town was raised, and but few towns in the state can boast of better schools than those in this town for the past fifty years.
On the twenty-seventh day of December, 1881, Otis Tuttle and fifty-four others presented a petition to the school committee and selectmen, praying that the whole or a part, as might be deemed expedient, of districts Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 be united to district No. 1, for school purposes, after due notice and hearing should be given to all those interested. The school committee and selectmen being disqualified for this purpose, Lewis W. Clark, associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, appointed Ezra M. Smith, of Peterboro', John R. Russell, of Greenfield, John Q. Adams, of Peterboro', and John C. Dodge, of Bennington, to take the matter into consideration. There was a hearing at the town hall, on the 21st of June, 1882. All parties having been heard who desired to be heard, the prayer of the petitioners was not allowed, and a decision was made against them.
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