The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889, Part 3

Author: Hayward, William Willis, 1834-
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Vox Populi Press, S. W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1257

USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hancock > The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 > Part 3

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Prominent to view was Hancock Light Battery, Lieut. Albert Jaquith commanding, with Alvah Copeland, orderly sergeant. In nearly the center of the common a grand stand, capable of shel- tering two hundred or more, had been erected, and furnished with settees, for the use of the officers of the day, speakers, singers, band, etc., and on the southern side were placed seats capable of accommodating two thousand people. Prominent upon the east end of the stand, in large letters were the words "Hancock wel- comes home her sons and daughters." On the north side "1779," " 1879.""

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Scattered about in every corner and nook bordering on the com- mon were to be seen booths and tents, and venders from wagons, each doing their best to dispose of their wares.

Visiting the antiquarian room and art gallery, which was in the vestry building, nearly opposite the grand stand, the first thing that attracted our attention on the right were several ancient pictures, and the old swing sign which seventy-five or eighty years ago swung in front of the hotel then kept by a Mr. Fox ; next a chest of drawers labelled "150 years old, which has descended to the oldest girl in the family, from one generation to another, and belongs to Mrs. Fred Hunt"; an ancient wash bowl, pitcher, and stand, and chairs ; a bedstead and bedding, all in excellent condition, which were in fashion seventy-five or eighty years ago ; next a show case contain- ing ancient jewelry, books, spoons, and other curiosities ; on the north side of the building we find the extensive display of curiosi- ties of every shape and name gathered from foreign countries, and the property of Mrs. Patten and Mrs. Davis, which formed a perfect museum of themselves, We should be glad to particularize, but time and space forbid. There were souvenirs in fancy wood, coins of every denomination, crockery, worsted work, pictures, etc. On the west side is a chest belonging to J. Barney, which was brought over from England by the Morison family of Peterboro'. On it were various Indian relics, etc. Next an old-fashioned brick fire- place; then a "dresser," with its tin plates and other kitchen ware; here another ancient made-up bed meets our view, and in the near corner are many things of a military and warlike character, among which was a gun, the property of William Robinson, which was carried by Hugh Gregg, of Peterboro', in the Revolutionary war, which bears a bullet mark on its stock, made in the battle of Still- water, at the surrender of Burgoyne; attached to it is a powder-horn which went through the battle of Bennington. There were many other relics, each of which has a history. On the south is a case of ancient books ; in the center is an ancient loom, which was being operated by an old lady whose name we did not learn ; distaff, spin- ning wheel, cradles, chairs, etc. ; and upon the walls are numerous pictures, which, with one or two exceptions, are the work of home artists. Notably among these are the splendid paintings of Hart- well Tuttle. These are among the finest to be found anywhere. The majority of them are fruit pieces, but there is also a very fine portrait of Mr. Otis Tuttle. This building was constantly filled with

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admiring spectators-in fact, was the center of attraction during the entire day. It was worthy many miles' travel to see. .

A peep into the town-hall revealed stacks of bread, meat, pies, doughnuts, and everything necessary for the satisfaction of the in- ner man. There were fifteen hundred pounds of boiled beef, tongue, and ham, and over four hundred uncut loaves of bread. Still further on we find the armory hall, with tables all set and neatly arranged, especially for the speakers and invited guests, and capable of seat- ing ninety persons at one sitting.

At 10 A. M. the procession formed on the common in the order of the programme,1 under the excellent marshalship of A. B. Stone, Esq., as chief, and W. A. Washburn and C. P. Hayward as aids.

But we must not fail to mention those in the procession who were in ancient costume, viz .: Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Hayward and Miss Jones, all in an antiquated chaise, with horse, harness, and equip- ments to correspond, and following close behind were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hunt, also in costume and mounted upon a horse in the true old-fashioned, go-to-meeting style of one hundred years ago. The line of march was west, to near the depot and return; thence to the east end of the plain and return to the stand. During the march a slight scud of rain drove everybody, except those in the pro- cession, to cover.

At 11 A. M. the stand was filled and also nearly all the seats in front, and soon after the chief marshal, A. B. Stone, Esq., intro- duced the president of the day, Joshua S. Lakin, Esq., who delivered a warm address of welcome to the multitude.

ADDRESS OF WELCOME.

Ladies and Gentlemen : - I have been called to preside over you to-day and I regret that I am not better qualified. It is very pleasing to me to see so many of our former townsmen, who have come home to unite with us on this interesting occasion, and friends from neighboring towns, we welcome you all. We thank our former townsmen for the liberal manner they have assisted us on this occasion.

I again welcome you all who have come to assist us in our Centennial Cele- bration.

At the close of the President's address, the exercises continued in the following order :-

1 No procession arriving from Bennington, the procession was formed in front of the church, led by Peterboro' band, a delegation of Peterboro' lodge, No. 15, I. O. O. F., taking the place of Peterboro' cavalry which had been ordered into camp on that day.

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Invocation of Divine blessing, by Rev. J. W. Coolidge.

Scripture reading, by Rev. Hervey Gulick.

Singing, - " Glorious is Thy Name, Almighty Lord," by the choir ; Mrs. Simonds, organist.

Prayer, by Rev. James Holmes, of Bennington.

[The reverend gentleman invoked the continued favor of God on the exer- cises of the day ; and implored the Divine influences to work on the minds and hearts of the people of both Bennington and Hancock, that, although divided for nearly forty years in their town relations, they might always be friends, and remember their fathers were one, citizens of one common town. ]

Reading of Town Charter, by town clerk, A. D. Tuttle, Esq.

Following this was the very interesting and appropriate Centen- nial address by Rev. W. W. Hayward: -

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, Sons and Daughters of Hancock :-

. We have met here this beautiful autumnal day under circumstances of peculiar interest. On this spot, selected by our fathers as the center around which their municipal and religious life was to cluster, with the grand old hills, beautiful valleys, and sparkling waters before us, that gladdened their eyes a century ago, we have assembled to celebrate the completion of the first hundred years of the life of our town. We have come together, from our homes scattered far and wide, to exchange friendly greetings; to take each other by the hand and renew the friendship formed years ago, before we went out from the homes of our youths.

There is a tinge of sadness in our hearts mingled with our joy as we do this, for we remember that all are not here; many loved ones, who have wel- comed us in the past, when we have come to these homes, who have looked forward with fond anticipation to this day, are not here. Their mortal forms are sleeping quietly in yonder burying-ground, and the tears of regret must fall as we miss them to-day; but it is only in keeping with the mysterious Providence that accompanies us in life's pathway. All are not permitted to witness the fruition of their hopes here on earth. The great lawgiver of ancient Israel was only permitted to view the fair land his people were to occupy. His experience was the experience of thousands in all the ages of the world. It was the experience of those whose familiar faces we miss to- day. But who shall say that they are not with us in spirit, and that they do not share our joy ?

It is eminently fitting that we should celebrate this event. As we look around us we see on every side evidences of unparalleled prosperity. No- where can be found pleasanter homes, or a more prosperous people ; nowhere but in our favored land can be brought together such an audience as I see before me. Culture and refinement are visible everywhere. We have not here a populace, we have an intelligent people; no favored class, for all are on an equality It is but natural that we inquire, Whence the origin of this state of affairs? It is no easy task, but with your permission, I will try to answer this question. In order to do this satisfactorily I would briefly trace

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the history of the town, the church, the school, and the militia ; for I believe that these are the corner-stones upon which rest almost everything that makes life what it is to us.

A hundred years ago the fifth day of next November the legislature of New Hampshire granted a town charter to certain plantations within the limits of what was then known as "Society Land," and Jonathan Bennett was authorized to call a town-meeting. The new town bore an honored name. John Hancock, one of the original proprietors, was one of the wealthy merchants of Boston. In espousing the cause of the colonies in their struggle with the mother country he had much to lose; but that did not deter him from what he deemed to be his duty. So obnoxious were he and Samuel Adams to the crown, that they were excepted when the royal pardon was offered to the citizens of Massachusetts if they would submit. When the British troops had possession of Boston he was consulted in re- gard to the expediency of burning the city in order to dislodge them. His reply was : "Burn Boston and make John Hancock a beggar, if the public good requires it !"

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As President of the Continental Congress, his bold signature was the first to be affixed to the Declaration of Independence. From his well-known generosity and self-sacrificing spirit, it was but natural that our fathers ex- pected he would bestow upon the new town that had honored itself by adopting his name a substantial present. In this they were disappointed ; and after soliciting aid from him and his heirs, year after year in vain, they made an attempt to change the name of the town to York. Their efforts in this direction, fortunately, were unsuccessful; and to-day the town bears the name it bore a century ago.

There is a peculiar significance in the manner in which the first town- meeting was called. Four years previous it would probably have been called in the name of the king, but they had renounced their allegiance to the gov- ernment of Great Britain. It was not called in the name of the state, for they were not quite sure they had a state. As far as the state and the nation were concerned, everything was in a chaotic condition. The colonies were simply struggling for their national life. The words they used were fraught with a meaning nobody could misunderstand. In the name of the govern- ment of the PEOPLE of the state, they were called together. The New England town is one of the corner-stones upon which rests the Temple of Liberty.

"Town-meetings," says De Tocqueville, "are to Liberty what primary schools are to Science; they bring it within the people's reach; they teach men how to use and enjoy it."

In the town-meetings of the colonies were developed a race of men who

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

knew their rights, and knowing, dared maintain. In that school were trained Adams and Otis, and other statesmen of the Revolution. Our fathers, there- fore, when they came together in the capacity of a town-meeting, were only putting into practice the lessons they had learned in the various towns where they had been born and educated.

The settlement of our town was late, compared with many of the towns in the immediate vicinity. Almost a century and a half elapsed after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth before the primeval forest was broken and the first log hut was erected upon our soil. It may be well to inquire, Who were the men and women who brought their household gods to this wilder- ness? Who felled these gloomy forests, that the sweet sunshine might rest upon our plains and our hillsides? Who reared here their humble homes, the school-house, and the church? A majority were the descendants of the Puritans, who came to these shores between the years 1620 and 1640 - " the winnowed wheat of the English nation." "They left their native land in search of freedom, and found it in a desert. Divided, as they are, into a thousand forms of policy and religion, there is one point on which they all agree : They equally detest the pageantry of a king and the supercilious hypocrisy of a bishop."

A hard school and a stern discipline was theirs. They had difficulties to contend with that would have appalled ordinary men.

" They travailed in pain with the births of God, And planted a state with prayers."

Their occupation was -

" Hunting of witches and warlocks, Smiting the heathen horde; One hand on the mason's trowel And one on the soldier's sword."

A respectable minority were of a different lineage; they were Scotch Pres- byterians, whose ancestors were the disciples of John Knox. They were from the

" Land of brown heath and shaggy wood, Land of the mountain and the flood"-

the land of Wallace and of Bruce. They belonged to a race that never had been subdued, upon whose neck the foot of the conqueror had never pressed. Driven by religious persecutions from Scotland in the latter part of the seven- teenth century, they remained for a time in northern Ireland and began to emigrate to our shores about the year 1719. They were at first looked upon with suspicion. The habits of life of the English and Scotch settlers were not the same; the Scotch-Irish ate potatoes, the English did not; the Scotch- Irish put barley in their pot liquors and made barley broth; the English put beans in theirs and made bean porridge. These differences soon wore away. The Scotch were a hardy, industrious people ; they introduced the culture of flax, the spinning-wheel, and the Irish potato. These two peoples brought together were our ancestors. Better blood flows not in human veins. There was no organized colony at any time. They came by families from various

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towns in our own state and Massachusetts. From Groton, Hollis, Peterboro'. New Ipswich, Antrim, Greenfield, Londonderry, Nottingham West, Littleton, Weston. Westford, Needham, Natick, and many other towns they came ; and as a natural consequence their town life was not as harmonious as otherwise it would have been.

The earlier records are scanty and not entirely trustworthy. In the book entitled "New Hampshire as it is," it is stated that John Grimes was the first settler, and that he came in 1764. I find that there is a difference of opinion in regard to the place of his settlement. It was probably in the vicinity of what is now known as Half-Moon pond. I think his stay in town was brief. Moses Morrison, William Lakin, and a Mr. Ferguson came soon after. In 1767 there were only two families here. When Joseph Symonds came from Groton in 1778, he found but six families. James Duncan from Londonderry found eight families. Andrew Morrison was born in 1770; Molly Moor in 1773; Margaret Duncan and Jonathan Lakin in 1775.

These scanty records are about all I have been able to find previous to the incorporation of the town. There must have been quite an addition to the number of the settlers in the years 1778-9. Probably there were thirty or forty families at the latter date. I tind in the records of the first five or six years the names of Jonathan Bennett, John Moor, Asa Adams, Moses Mor- rison, Robert Duncan, Joseph Symonds, David Ames, William Lakin, Wil- liam Lakin, Jr., John Foster, Adam Patterson, John Miller, Peter Warren, Edmund Davis, James Duncan, William Williams, Phineas Ames, Elijah Davis, Thomas Jones, Samuel Gates, Eneas Knight, Oliver Lawrence, Joseph Dodge, and others. They were almost all of them young men, in the prime of their early manhood, under thirty years of age, as indeed were those who followed them, previous to the beginning of the nineteenth century. They came with their wives and their little ones to make permanent homes, and went resolutely to work to accomplish their purpose. Their life was no holiday pastime.

The scene before us is as fair and beautiful as could well be desired. Pleasant homes, cultivated fields, and all the appliances of a high state of civilization are here. Could we have stood here a hundred years ago, our eyes would have beheld an almost unbroken tract of gloomy forest, from whose dark recesses the wolf, the bear, and other dangerous wild animals had not all been driven. They were not exposed to savage warfare, as were the settlements a few years before this time. The French war, that closed in 1763, had put an end to the troubles with the French and Indians. It was, however, during the dark days of the American Revolution; Burgoyne had surrendered two years previous, but the crowning victory that attended the American arms at Yorktown was not till two years later. Few as were their numbers, there were then soldiers from Hancock in the army. Washington was continually calling for aid, and imploring New Hampshire as well as the other colonies to help him in his dire extremity. Bounties for soldiers and con- tinental beef, so-called, and I may be permitted to add, continental rum, were asked for and cheerfully furnished. Hardly a town-meeting was convened that did not have these problems to meet and solve. What were their occu-

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

pations? They had their land to clear, their homes to build, and their families to feed and clothe, - how they did it is to me a mystery ; they must have been obliged to get along with the barest necessities of life, with hardly anything that we consider indispensable.

In their corporate capacity, besides the demands of the state and the nation to meet, there were roads to build. Transcripts of roads, as they were called, were regularly presented for acceptance at almost every town-meeting, which no doubt called out grave discussions. If one-half of them were ever built, they must have been discontinued long ago. It was no small task then to build roads. You have come here to-day from the east and the west, and the north and the south, over good roads. As you rolled along in your easy car- riages have you contrasted the roads of the present time with the paths our fathers called roads a century ago? Then the surveyors, with patient labor, marked the way through the forest. The axe-men followed to cut down the trees, and a slight path was made. There being but few wheeled vehicles, the bushes were not always kept down, and in some instances it was harder to cut the bushes than it had been to clear the road originally. Then it was not deemed safe to attempt to travel without an axe to cut away the timber that might have fallen across the highway.

Building roads was not the only things that engaged the attention of our fathers. I have said that most of them were young men; they were, with high hopes for the future. They came here to remain. To subdue the rugged soil demanded a large share of their energies ; but they were not unmindful of the future. They knew full well that sooner or later the strongest must be called away from the scenes of earth. Nor did they ignore the fact that there must be a center where they could meet to worship the God of their fathers, as well as transact their ordinary town business. They would have been untrue to their early training if questions so momentous had been dis- regarded.

Accordingly, we find in the records of the early town-meetings that these subjects were constantly coming up for discussion and action. "Where," said they, " shall we choose a place for a center, to build a meeting-house and bury our dead ?"

" On other shores, above their mouldering towns, In sullen pomp the tall cathedral frowns; Pride in its aisle, and paupers at the door, Which feeds the beggars whom it fleeced of yore.

" Simple and frail, our lowly temples throw Their slender shadows on the paths below; Scarce steal the winds that sweep his woodland tracks The larch's perfume from the settler's axe, Ere, like a vision of the morning air, His slight-framed steeple marks the house of prayer."

To find a center was no easy undertaking. For ten years most of the town-meetings, and what few religious meetings they were able to have, were held at the house of Joseph Symonds, or rather his barn. A portion of them,

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however, were held at the house of Edmund Davis, and one or two town- meetings on Norway Plain, where we are to-day.

In 1785 Deacon Hosley gave the town land for the common and burying- .place, for public purposes and for no other purpose whatsoever. The deed was made out in 1792. Even that generous gift did not settle the matter, and it was finally decided by a committee appointed by the court. In justice to the settlers, I would say they accepted the decision cheerfully and went to work to build their church.

There were, in 1788, ninety men between the ages of eighteen and seventy ; no orchard land; eighteen acres of tillage land; one hundred and seventy- six acres of mowing land; one hundred and fifty acres of pasture land ; eight horses, forty oxen, ninety cows, and eighty-seven young cattle and colts. Of sheep and swine there is no record. There was no stock in trade, and no money, either on hand or at interest. Rents of mills, exclusive of repairs, £8; real estate owned by residents and non-residents, £1042. Rye and flax-seed were at that time, and for some time after, made use of as legal tender in paying taxes.

I make these statements that we may be able the better to understand the difficulties the people had to contend with, and their extreme poverty. I have said that they were agreed in regard to the location of the meeting- house, but not so in regard to its dimensions. Five or six times, if my mem- ory serves me correctly, they changed their minds in regard to its length, breadth, etc. One thing, however, they did agree to : In 1788 they "Voted that Seth Hadley provide three barrels of New England rum, and store the same against the raising of the meeting-house."

After much discussion and many weary delays, the meeting-house was finally built in 1789; or, to say the least, it was raised then and finished as the means of the settlers would permit. It was not exactly where the meet- ing-house is to-day, but nearer the center of the common. It was a modest structure; but in the eyes of its builders, probably it was about all they desired at the time. For the first time since they had made their homes in these wilds, they realized they had a religious home. As they wended their way thither from their homes in different parts of the town, I have no doubt that the words of the devout Psalmist were theirs : "I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord."

We have a large number of people here to-day. I have been told that it is the largest assemblage ever gathered in this town; but when we take into consideration the facilities for traveling and the number of people in the vicinity, there are not as many present as there were eighty-eight years ago, when the Rev. Reed Paige was ordained. The church was not large enough, and a platform was erected on the outside for the purpose.

With your permission, we will try to forget the present and go back to the summer of 1791, and enter the church where our fathers worshiped. It is unlike any thing the eyes of this generation have ever beheld, in its form and the structure of its pews; without steeple and without bell. In the pulpit stands Reed Paige, a young man, not yet ordained ; but he is the choice of his people. I will read a list of the pew-owners. Most of them are here

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

with their young families to receive those instructions that will help to ilt them for life's responsibilities. On the right hand of the pulpit is the min- ister's pew, as yet empty. Then we find in order, as we read their names : --

James Duncan, Enos Knight,

Oliver Lawrence,

John Whitcomb,

Edw'd Spaulding

Abijah Hadley,

Samuel Gates,

Jacob Hadley,

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The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889, Part 3

Author: Hayward, William Willis, 1834- Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Vox Populi Press, S. W. Huse & Co. Number of Pages: 1257

Author: Hayward, William Willis, 1834-
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Lowell, Mass., Vox Populi Press, S. W. Huse & Co.
Number of Pages: 1257