USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hancock > The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 > Part 26
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By a special act of the legislature of 1885, the town system of schools was adopted, said act going into effect in March, 1886. By an express provision of the act, such towns as may desire to return to the district system can do so, at the end of a trial of five years of the town system. If at the end of the five years the good results of the restored system do not become apparent to all, it is the advice of this historian that such persons examine, as he has, the
233
SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION.
records of the past hundred years, on almost every page of which are evidences of the friction caused by the district system.1
We have given the names of the superintending school committee who served the town previous to 1826 (see Annals of the Town). Below are the names of those who have served in that capacity in subsequent years : -
1826 .- Rev. A. Burgess, Reuben Hills, David Nahor.
1827. - Rev. A. Burgess, Henry Whitcomb, Reuben Hills. To serve free of expense.
1828-1830. - Toted, "That each school district appoint their own prudential Com- mittee."
1831-1839. - No record.
1840. - Richard Emerson, James M. Bradford, Harry Knight.
1841. - Richard Emerson, James M. Bradford, Joseph Davis.
1842. - Joseph Davis, David Low, Daniel Goodhue.
1843. - Jacob A. Wood, M. D., James M. Stickney, M. D., James M. Bradford.
1844. - James M. Stickney, Richard Emerson, Jacob A. Wood.
1845. - Joseph Davis, James M. Bradford, Ephraim Knight.
1846. - James M. Bradford, John W. Colcord, James M. Stickney.
1847 .- John W. Colcord, James M. Stickney, William Burnell, Joseph Davis (ap- pointed May 9th to fill a vacancy).
1848. - Joseph Davis, James M. Stickney, Rev. Lorenzo Tandy.
1849. - Joseph Davis, Rev. Lorenzo Tandy, Ebenezer Ware, Jr.
1850. - Joseph Davis, Ebenezer Ware, Jr., Henry Knight.
1851. - Joseph Davis, Rev. Asahel Bigelow, Henry Knight.
1852-1854. - Joseph Davis, Asahel Bigelow, Ephraim Weston.
1855. - Joseph Davis.
1856. - De Witt Clinton Hadley, M. D., Ephraim Weston, William W. Hayward.
1857. - DeWitt Clinton Hadley, Joseph Davis.
1858 .- Joseph Davis, DeWitt Clinton Hadley, John Paul, A. M. S. Carpenter (ap- pointed in November to fill a vacancy).
1859. - Asahel Bigelow, Joseph Davis, John H. Felch.
1860-1861. - Joseph Davis, John H. Felch, Isaac Craigue, M. D.
1862. - John H. Felch, Joseph Davis.
1863. - John H. Felch, Henry Knight, Xenophon W. Brooks.
1864. - Joseph Davis, John H. Felch, Xenophon W. Brooks.
1865. - Joseph Davis.
1866-1868. - Cyrus A. Whittaker.
1869. - Albert H. Taft, M. D., Rockwood G. Mather, M. D., George I. Hayward.
1870. - Albert H. Taft, M. D.
1871-1872. - Cyrus A. Whittaker.
1873 .- Joseph Davis, William Weston.
1874. - Joseph Davis, W. H. Weston.
1875. - Will M. Stevens, John H. Felch.
1876. - Rev. Theodore C. Pratt, John H. Felch.
1877 .- John H. Felch.
1878. - John H. Felch, Horatio McIntire.
1879. - John H. Felch, Henry T. Robinson.
1880-1883. - Rev. Hervey Gulick.
1884. - Andrew A. Haig, M. D.
1885. - Rev. Hervey Gulick.
1886. - SCHOOL BOARD -Joshua S. Lakin, Rev. Hervey Gulick, William Weston.
1 The valuable library connected with the Congregational Sunday-school and the public town library are excellent aids to the moral and intellectual improvement of the inhabitants of the town.
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234
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CHAPTER XIII.
MILITARY HISTORY.
IN 1718 it was enacted by the legislature of New Hampshire that all able-bodied men between the ages of sixteen and sixty, with a few exceptions, be held liable for military duty. Later this law was so modified that the military age was between eighteen and forty- five.
At what time the first company of militia was organized in this town it is impossible to determine. No militia records of any kind have come to hand, although they have been sought for with dili- gence. It is highly probable that the early settlers brought their muskets with them, and at the earliest opportunity were organized into a company for mutual protection, and also to be ready for any emergency that might arise.
Hancock artillery was organized about the year 1805. (See cen- tennial address.) The citizens of Hancock never forgot its first captain, who afterwards achieved a national reputation, and on the occasion of his returning to New England, after his campaign under General Harrison, a public dinner was given by them in his honor. This company was attached to the Twenty-sixth regiment, Third brigade, Fourth division, New Hampshire militia, as was also a company of cavalry made up in part of soldiers and officers from Hancock.
The May and September "Training days" were red-letter days to the boys of the period, to say nothing of what they might have been to older persons. But with all the interest attached to these gatherings, there were evils incidentally connected with them that caused many thoughtful persons to look upon the whole system with suspicion. I distinctly remember listening, one afternoon, to a con- versation between Rev. Mr. Burgess and a gentleman, on the sub- ject, that somewhat dissipated my previous rose-colored views. Counsels of this nature finally prevailed, and the year 1849 wit- nessed the last of these gatherings, and the militia was virtually disbanded. After the close of the war of the Rebellion, Hancock artillery, under another name, was organized ; but it has been dis- banded.1
1 Several of the citizens of Hancock are members, and one is a prominent officer, of the Peterboro' cavalry.
235
MILITARY HISTORY.
William Lakin, and his brother, Oliver, who was here but a short time, had both served in the last French war, and according to tradition, they had quite a severe experience, having been taken prisoners. Lieut. John Cummings served for a time in this war.
George McLeod (probably McCloury) was in the service from Peterboro' in 1759. Captain Crabtree, of whom little is known, had without doubt seen service in this war, and possibly there may have been others ; but as most of the settlers were too young for the service at that time, it is not probable.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
There were but few inhabitants in the town until towards the close of this war, therefore but few men were actually sent from Hancock.
There were only nine men at home to sign the petition relative to the incorporation of Antrim, Aug. 29, 1776, three of whom, and perhaps more, had been in the service; and they state that at that time several of their small number were away from home on that account, and they desired that nothing should be done until the absentees should return. This, I think, is a good showing for the spirit of patriotism manifested by these men.
To Peterboro', Antrim, and Amherst the credit was given for some of our soldiers, as we had at that time no town organization. As far as can be ascertained, the following list of soldiers were, at the time they went into the service, residents of that part of Society Land now known as Hancock :-
Thomas English was a member of Capt. William Brown's com- pany ; mustered July 22, 1776, by Moses Kelly. He served in the expedition to Canada.
George McCloury was in the service in 1775-6. He was engaged at the battle of Bunker hill.1
Jonathan Barnet was also at the battle of Bunker hill. He was in Capt. William Scott's company.
George McCloury and Robert McCloury were in Capt. Joseph Parker's company, raised out of Col. Enoch Hale's regiment; joined the northern army at Ticonderoga; mustered July, 1776, for five months, by Enoch Hale, muster and pay-master.
1 In Doctor Smith's History of Peterboro' it is stated that George McLeod was a member of Captain Scott's company at Bunker hill; also, that he was wounded. Without doubt, he was George McCloury, of Society Land, father of George and Rob- ert McCloury, and the same man who served in the French war from Peterboro'
236
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
William Lakin, Jr., was a member of the 1st N. H. regt. He was discharged Nov. 3, 1782; wounded in the hand and hip; examined April 1, 1789 ; received a pension of $2.00 per month. The date of his enlistment is not at hand, but it was early in the war, and probably his term of service was longer than that of any other one who went from the town. His nephew, Omar A. Lakin, has in his possession a cane that he made from a limb of a crab-apple tree at Valley Forge in the winter of 1777-8. When General Arnold deserted his post at West Point in September, 1780, he was one of the three soldiers who rowed him out to the British ship, Vulture.
Thomas Williams was in the service, as the town records show (see p. 91).
Robert Lakin served from July 7 to Oct. 2, 1780 (see History of Peterboro').
Lemuel Lakin was a member of Peter Clark's company, Colonel Stickney's regiment, General Stark's brigade, from July 21 to Sept. 25, 1777. This was a company made up in Lyndeboro'. Young Lakin, then only sixteen years old, enlisted probably into the com- ยท pany when it marched through the town on its way to Bennington, Vt.
Samuel Mitchell, Jr., was a resident of the town in 1776. How long he remained here is uncertain, but his name fairly belongs to this list. He was at Cambridge in 1775; also at Bennington and Saratoga in 1777.
We give below a list of the settlers who served in the army before they became residents of the town. This list is made up from various sources, and may be incomplete; but I think it may be relied upon as being correct as far as it goes. The names are given without regard to rank or term of service. (For further information in this direction, see genealogical record.)
David Ames,
Ebenezer Barker, David Barker, John Bonner, John Bowers, William Boutelle, John Bradford, Salmon Blodgett, John Brooks, John Cummings, Abraham Davis, Isaac Davis, Moses Dennis,
Joseph Dodge, Samuel Eames, Jeremiah Eaton, Lemuel Eaton, Samuel Eaton, Peter Fletcher, Jeremiah Fogg, Samuel Gates, John Gay, John Gilson, Abijah Hadley, James Hosley, Daniel Kimball, Oliver Lakin, Simeon Lakin, Josiah Lakin, Oliver Lawrence, Thomas May, Jonathan Margery, Robert Matthews, Abraham Moors, Timothy Moors, Ebenezer Pratt, Abner Preston, Nathaniel Hazelton, Levi Priest,
Thomas Peabody, Peter Putnam, Joel Russell, Ezekiel Shattuck, David Sloan, Joseph Simonds, Samuel Tyrrell, Elijah Washburn, Joseph Washburn, Salmon Wood, Wm. Williams, Jr., Abel Winship, Jacob Wright.
237
MILITARY HISTORY.
WAR OF 1812-15.
In this war quite a number of Hancock men served for a short time, and a few during the greater portion of the war.
Simeon Lakin, 2d, was sergeant in Capt. Benjamin Bradford's com- pany, 1st regt .; pay-roll from April 1 to May 1, 1813.
Samuel Dennis was corporal in the same company.
Abraham Davis and Robert Matthews were in this company.
Moses M. Lakin enlisted for "during the war" in Capt. Benjamin Bradford's company, 45th regt. U. S. infantry, Denny McCobb, colo- nel, March 9, 1814; promoted to sergeant June 18, 1814.
John G. Lakin, corporal, enlisted at the same time in the same company.
Plummer Wheeler and Ephraim Smith, sergeants in the same company, enlisted for one year, Dec. 15, 1813.
Ira Whitcomb and David Woods enlisted in the same company for " during the war," March 9, 1814.
John Clark, corporal, enlisted in the same company for five years, Jan. 7, 1814.
Isaac Davis enlisted in the same company for one year, Feb. 14, 1814.
Thatcher Bradford, third lieutenant in Capt. Hugh Moor's com- pany, detached militia; sent to Portsmouth in an emergency; en- listed for three months, Sept. 18, 1813. With him went Isaac Brooks, Benjamin Ball, Abraham Davis, John Gilson, William Gray, Jesse Hall, Mark Pierce, and Peter Rumrill.
Charles Boutelle was fifer in Capt. S. Trivett's company, 2d regt. detached militia; enlisted for sixty days, Sept. 27, 1814.
Abijah Hadley, Amasa Reed, Benjamin Stone, Joseph Washburn, Watson Washburn, Asa Washburn, and Eli Washburn enlisted in Capt. William Gregg's company, of Antrim, Sept. 27, 1814, for sixty days.
Samuel Matthews and Daniel Lakin served from Sept. 11 to Sept. 28, 1814, in Capt. Alfred Smith's company, 4th regt. detached militia.
Whitcomb May and John Robinson enlisted for sixty days, Sept. 26, 1814, in Capt. Josiah Bellows' company, of the 1st battalion de- tached militia.
Ebenezer Hubbard served in Capt. John McNeil's company, 11th U. S. infantry, for two months from July 1, 1813.
Jonathan Lakin died of disease contracted in the service, in cen-
238
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
tral New York. He was probably a member of a New York regi- ment.
John Brooks Bonner served in Captain Dent's company ; regiment unknown.
Otis Wheeler and Timothy Paige were educated at West Point. Mr. Wheeler held the rank of captain in the regular United States army and served in the Florida war. He was also in the service for a long time in Louisiana and Arkansas, and died not long ago in Mis- souri, leaving two sons, one of whom was a judge, and one a United States marshal. Mr. Paige served under General Harrison in the Indian wars. He was stationed at one time at New Orleans, and for a time had command at Key West. He held the rank of lieu- tenant in the Regular army.
Hancock had no soldiers in the Mexican war.
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
In this war Hancock bore a fair share of the burden. In another place we have given a brief account of the work done at home, and in the genealogical record will be found a more extended account of the service rendered by those who "went to the front" than we are able to give in this connection.
SECOND REGIMENT. - Capt. Ephraim Weston commanded Co. G, 2d regt .; died from disease contracted in the service, Dec. 9, 1861.
Sylvester C. Duncklee was a member of this company; mustered June 5, 1861; severely wounded July 2, 1863; mustered out June 21, 1864.
His father, Sylvester J. Duncklee, subsequently enlisted as a re- cruit in the same company; was wounded at Gettysburg, and dis- charged for disability.
Frank A. Fletcher, of Bennington, was also in this company.
SIXTH REGIMENT, Co. E. - Maj. John A. Cummings enlisted from Peterboro', but he belonged to a Hancock family, and spent a portion of his early life here. First lieutenant, Nov. 30, 1861 ; cap- tain, April 23, 1862; discharged to accept promotion (major of cav- alry), April 5, 1864.
Frank L. Gray enlisted Nov. 28, 1861; second lieutenant, April 20, 1863; severely wounded May 12, 1864.
Charles E. Barker enlisted as corporal Nov. 28, 1861; drowned in the Potomac, Aug. 13, 1862.
----
239
MILITARY HISTORY.
Henry A. Barker enlisted Nov. 28, 1861; discharged for disabil- ity Jan. 19, 1863.
Myron J. Duncklee enlisted Dec. 10, 1861; died Jan. 20, 1862.
Albert L. Murphy enlisted Nov. 28, 1861; re-enlisted Dec. 27, 1863; was wounded in service.
Willis A. Nutting enlisted Nov. 28, 1861; mustered out Nov. 27, 1864.
Charles M. Sheldon enlisted Nov. 28, 1861; mustered out Nov. 27, 1864.
Harlan P. Knight enlisted as a recruit in August, 1862; killed at Fredericksburg, Dec. 21, 1862.
Samuel Gardner Knight enlisted at the same time. He is credited to Nelson.
This regiment was in twenty-five regular battles, besides fifteen other engagements.
Alden S. Johnson, Co. K, - regt., enlisted Oct. 12, 1861; dis- charged Feb. 12, 1863.
SEVENTH REGIMENT. - Heber J. Davis, second lieutenant Co. I, July 19, 1863; first lieutenant Co. A, Feb. 6, 1864; was on the staff of General Hawley; severely wounded at Fredericksburg.
EIGHTH REGIMENT. - Jesse Wilson enlisted Dec. 23, 1861; dis- charged for disability, April 10, 1862.
THIRTEENTH REGIMENT, Co. G. - William H. Clark enlisted Sept. 19, 1862; wounded Sept. 22, 1864.
Samuel Hadley enlisted Sept. 19, 1862.
G. W. Matthews enlisted Sept. 19, 1862; discharged Nov. 30, 1863.
Myron R. Todd enlisted Sept. 19, 1862; died May 18, 1863.
Porter B. Weston enlisted Sept. 19, 1862.
Edwin Ware, corporal, promoted to sergeant and to lieutenant, enlisted Sept. 19, 1862; wounded four times.
Charles W. Washburn, musician, enlisted Sept. 19, 1862.
This regiment was in about fifteen regular battles, among which were Fredericksburg, Suffolk, Drury's Bluff, Cold Harbor, Peters- burg, Fort Harrison, etc., and was the first to enter Richmond after Lee's retreat.
SIXTEENTH REGIMENT, Co. G .- Alden S. Wood enlisted Oct. 24, 1862; first sergeant Nov. 13, 1862; mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.
Albert A. Buxton enlisted Nov. 13, 1862 ; mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.
Elverton G. W. Duncklee enlisted Oct. 24, 1862; mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.
240
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Horace Farrar enlisted Oct. 24, 1862; died at Baton Rouge, La., June 23, 1863.
James H. Johnson enlisted Oct. 24, 1862; drowned at Springfield Landing, July 2, 1863.
Edward P. Kimball enlisted Oct. 24, 1862; mustered out Aug. 20, 1863.
Hartwell HI. Shepherd enlisted Nov. 3, 1862; died on his way home.
David L. Wood enlisted Oct. 24, 1862; died at Baton Rouge, July 12, 1863.
Corydon D. Keyes and his son, Owen B., were members of this regiment. They enlisted from Wilton, but they had previously lived in Hancock, and their monuments are here. The father died at Baton Rouge, La., June 28, 1863, and the son at Cairo, Ill., Aug. 20, 1863.
The service of this regiment was short, but it suffered severely from the climate and hard marches.
Franklin Due served three years in Co. C, 4th regt., N. H. vols.
Horace Bowers was a member of Co. H, 23d regt., Mass. vols .; died from the effects of disease contracted in the service, Feb. 28, 1862.
James H. Bugbee enlisted in an Indiana regiment, but was counted for this town. He was killed at Gettysburg, July 1, 1863.
Albert H. Bugbee was in the 12th regt., Mass. vols .; mustered in Sept. 17, 1861, and served nearly four years. He was twice wounded, being in nineteen engagements.
John C. Wilkins was a member of the 13th Mass. battery.
John A. Bullard enlisted from Peterboro' in the 13th regt., but he was for many years a citizen of Hancock, and was buried here.
Charles L. Symonds was a member of Co. I, 104th Ill. regt .; died in the service.
Albert H. Taft, of Nelson, but for several years afterwards a citizen and physician of Hancock, was mustered into Co. E, 9th regt., as corporal, Aug. 6, 1862; discharged for disability Septem- ber, 1863.
Rockwood Giddings Mather, previous to his residence in Han- cock, was assistant surgeon in the field hospital of the 18th army corps. He entered the service in the summer of 1864.
James Emory Boutelle enlisted in the 2d company, Mass. cavalry, in 1862. He was severely wounded at Fredericksburg.
241
MILITARY HISTORY.
William W. Hayward was mustered into the 13th regt., Maine vols., Sept. 26, 1864, as chaplain ; mustered out, on account of ex- piration of regimental organization, Jan. 6, 1865; was offered a commission as chaplain of 2d Maine cavalry in March, 1865, but declined to serve.
Charles A. Wood was the first volunteer enrolled in Wisconsin, his adopted state, in April, 1861; made orderly sergeant of Co. H, 1st Wis. infantry vols .; elected captain Aug. 1, 1861; made lieu- tenant-colonel 11th Wis. infantry vols. Nov. 2, 1861 ; resigned on a surgeon's certificate June 28, 1863.
Benjamin Franklin Bigelow, during the last two years of the war, was assistant surgeon in the navy.
Parker Hart was a member of the 9th regt., N. H. vols. He was in nine battles; was twice wounded.
Isaac Stearns Knight was a member of the Mass. 6th regt. He died from disease contracted in the service.
George W. Weston was lieutenant in the 26th regt., Iowa vols. He died in the service, Aug. 18, 1863.
Owen A. Willey served in the army nine months.
John Adams Dennis was a member of Co. D, 25th regt., Iowa infantry vols. His term of service was three years.
Otis Tuttle served nine months in the 44th regt., Mass. vols.
James M. Bonner enlisted Oct. 3, 1861, as a musician in the 60th N. Y. regt. band, and served until the close of the war.
James Edwin Hills served in a Vermont regiment; died of dis- ease contracted in the army, at Brattleboro', Vt., in January, 1865.
Benjamin Lindsey was a member of the 19th Mass. vols.
The three sons of Richard Razee were also in the army from the West.
Charles Hart, George A. Crocket, Benaiah Colby, Dudley H. Colby, Walter Comstock, Joseph E. Symonds, Eugene Wason, Levi H. Brooks, Dr. Horatio McIntire, Martin Elliot, Elias Smith, J. P. Snow, and Charles H. Lee, all of whom are or have been citizens of Hancock, were in the service.1
In addition to those named above, several patriotic citizens put in substitutes, and others of this class were placed in the service by the town authorities to fill quotas, whose names are not at hand.
1 The parents of Maj .- Gen. John Gray Foster were from Hancock, and other natives and descendants of the town saw service, of whom mention will be made later.
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242
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
CHAPTER XIV.
SOCIETIES.
IN April, 1839, Jason Putnam, Charles A. Whitcomb, Lucius A. Willard, and their associates, formed themselves into a society for the purpose of establishing a library in connection with the Literary and Scientific institution. This association was organized in ac- cordance with a law of the state of New Hampshire, of July 1, 1831, empowering library societies to assume corporate powers. The clerk of the society was W. L. Foster.
WHITCOMB TOWN LIBRARY.
Many of the facts in connection with the history of this institution have already been given (see " Annals of the Town"). What we give in this connection is simply supplementary.
In the early part of 1860 money was raised at a "Levee and other- wise," for the purpose of establishing a public library in town. This money being tendered to the town at the annual meeting, was accepted. The by-laws of the Peterboro' town library were adopted as the by-laws of the Hancock town library. The selectmen were directed to appoint a committee of three to take charge of the library : the first to serve one year, the second to serve two years, and the third to serve three years; and one person was to be ap- pointed annually for the term of three years, to fill the vacancy that naturally would occur. $50 were appropriated by the town at this meeting, for the purchase of books for the library.
From the first report of the library committee we learn that there had been received from the town treasurer $205.76. This money had been expended for books and freight on the same. Number of volumes purchased, 235. The following persons had presented books to the library : H. Bugbee, 9 volumes; E. Weston, 18; A. Bigelow, 3; A. Copeland, 2; A. D. Tuttle, 5; E. B. Pearsons, 2; M. W. Tap- pan, 17; Jeremiah Baldwin, 2; James H. Hadley, Mrs. D. Low, Mrs. S. B. Lakin, and Mrs. C. L. Tuttle, 1 each; making the entire number 297. The library had been open for the delivery of books eighty-three times. Whole number of volumes taken out, 2448; number of individuals who had taken out books, 318.
This library has been well sustained by the town. From time to time, entertainments have been given to raise money to buy books.
WHITCOMB LIBRARY BUILDING, POST OFFICE, AND WHITCOMB HOUSE.
243
SOCIETIES.
We have already cited the gifts it has received, including the present commodious library building.
Adolphus D. Tuttle was the librarian for some twenty-two years. In 1882 William Titus was appointed to fill the place, which he has continued to fill until the present time. The whole number of books in the library at the present time is about 2000.
Joseph Davis, Ephraim Weston, and Adolphus D. Tuttle were appointed the first library committee. Joseph Davis was reap- pointed in 1861, and J. H. Felch was appointed in 1862. As far as the records show, Messrs. Felch, Davis, and Tuttle served until 1867.
The rule laid down by the by-laws not being literally followed in regard to term of service, we can simply give the dates of the ap- pointment of those who subsequently served on the committee :-
1867. - Alfred M. Hardy.
1868. - Richard Emerson.
1870. - Albert M. Taft.
1873. - Richard Emerson.
1874 .- R. G. Mather.
1876 .- A. B. Stone.
1879. - John P. Hills.
1880. - Adolphus D. Tuttle, John P. Hills, Charles G. Mathews.
1883. - Hervey Gulick, Addison C. Ware, William Titus.
1884. - John H. Felch, Addison C. Ware, Lucy M. Tuttle.
1885. - John H. Felch, Lucy M. Tuttle, Warner C. Goodhue.
FIRE COMPANIES.
On page 154 may be found an account of the organization of an engine company at Hancock Factory. This company appears to be a successor of a similar company, organized Aug. 27, 1832, of which Lewis A. Fletcher was captain, and Samuel Baldwin clerk. Its members, in addition to the two named above, were-
Arnold Burtt, J.F. Keyes,
Wesley Wilson, James French,
David Bean, Amos Whittemore, Archibald Winn, Francis K. Cragin,
Merick Wentworth,
John Gilson, Jr., Gilbert Hall, William C. Cross,
Ebenezer Burt, Jr.,
Amon Symonds, Geo. A. Whittemore, William D. Butler.
Thomas Dodge,
Benjamin A. Peavy, John J. Whittemore,
HANCOCK TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
This organization was effected May 12, 1841. It took high ground on the subject. We give in this connection the
PLEDGE.
"We, the subscribers, do pledge ourselves to abstain from the use of and traffic in all intoxicating liquors whatever, as a beverage; that we will not furnish them for the entertainment of friends, or the use of laborers; and that we will use all lawful and consistent means, in the spirit of kindness and philanthropy, to discourage their use and the traffic of them in the community."
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