The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889, Part 30

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 30

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).

The railroad connecting Peterboro' with Hillsboro' passes along the shore of the Contoocook river in Hancock, crossing the Man- chester & Keene road at Hancock Junction. It was in operation as early as the summer of 1879.

There are three railroad stations in town - one at the Center, one at "Cavender's," and one at the "Junction."

Telegraph lines have been extended along both these roads, with operating-stations at Hancock Center and Hancock Junction.

POST-OFFICES. - The first post-office was established in Hancock

1 This was the first beginning on the line, and quite a company were present. Rev. A. Bigelow made remarks and offered prayer ; T. H. Wood, president of the company, made an address, and the first earth was moved during a salute by Platoon B, Ist light battery, N. H. N. G.

-----

HANCOCK JUNCTION AND ELMWOOD POST OFFICE.

275

SOCIETY LAND.

in October, 1812. In all these years there have been only three postmasters at this office - John Whitcomb, Esq., Adolphus D. Tut- tle, Esq., and the present incumbent, C. W. Farmer.

A post-office by the name of Elmwood was established at Han- cock Junction in April, 1880, Miss Ella F. Robinson was appointed postmaster, which position she continued to hold until her death in September, 1881, at which time the present postmaster, Henry F. Robinson, received the appointment.

CHAPTER XVII.1 SOCIETY LAND.

FROM the early pages of this work it will be seen that the terri- tory bearing this name was quite extensive for several years after 1753. Prior to and during the early stages of the Revolutionary war, it was commonly known as "Royal Society Land," as is proved by several deeds of lands situated within its borders, now in our possession.

From the records of Hancock, and Cochrane's "History of An- trim," we are led to suppose that there was some kind of an organi- zation of this territory prior to the incorporation of Hancock. If such was the fact, no records of its transactions have come into our possession, and probably none are in existence. From the record book of Society Land now before us, we learn a meeting was held March 25, 1782, at which the usual and customary town officers were chosen. This record bears out the presumption that there had been a previous organization. But be this as it may, it is cer- tain that the inhabitants of the territory situated immediately east of Hancock had such an organization as was allowed by law or usage to unincorporated places in this state, within a little more than two years and four months after the incorporation of Hancock.

In 1785 a meeting was called by John Duncan, Esq., of Antrim, agreeably to an act of the General Court, to effect a more perfect organization. This meeting was held at the house of Joseph Put- nam, where the hotel of Bennington now (Jan. 29, 1888) stands. Most of the town officers chosen at this meeting appear to have been

1 Chapters XVII and XVIII have, at my request, been prepared by Orland Eaton, Esq., the authorities in Bennington not being willing to allow their records to be taken out of the state. W. W. H.

276

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

residents of that part of the territory absorbed by Greenfield a few years later.

The meeting of 1788 was also held at Joseph Putnam's, March 31st. Robert Dinsmore was one of the selectmen this year ; Joseph Putnam was constable. Joseph Huntington, John Dustin, and Zac- cheus Dustin's names appear among the highway surveyors chosen at this meeting.

At the last annual meeting prior to the incorporation of Green- field, at Joseph Putnam's, March 28, 1791, the town officers chosen were from territory now in Bennington and Greenfield, in very nearly equal proportions.1

Greenfield was incorporated June 15, 1791, and absorbed the south part and more than one-half of the territory (see Society Land map) then known under this name, and probably a still larger per cent. of its population and wealth.

On June 8th of this year a meeting was called by Robert Dins- more alone, as selectman, addressed to Zaccheus Dustin, constable, to be convened at Joseph Putnam's on June 23d. This meeting was duly held, and some action taken as to the division of the school money and as to "warnings out."

A petition was presented to the legislature in 1792, in the summer session of that year, by Joseph Huntington and forty-one others, praying that a new town might be constituted from the remainder of Society Land, with portions of Francestown and Deering, and requested "the honble Court to grant them the prayer of sd petition or the favour of an impartial Committee (at their expense) to view their Situation and to report whether the prayer of said petition ought not to be granted in whole or in part as to your Committee & your Honors will seem most just & your petitions as in duty bound will ever pray." (See town papers, vol. xi, pp. 684-685.)

The legislature sent a committee to "view the ground," and Fran- cestown chose a committee to meet them, at a town-meeting Aug. 27, 1792. Probably this "view" was taken about Oct. 1, 1792.

The committee reported unfavorably (see town papers, vol. xi, p. 685), and the prayer of their petition was not granted.

The name of Joseph Putnam appears among the petitioners for

1 At this meeting Robert Dinsmore was instructed to procure a town book, and they voted "to give Jonathan Gillis six shillings and six pence for to record what the selectmen thought proper of the past transactions of the town." The records prior to this date appear to be all in one handwriting, and probably Mr. Gillis was the Peter Warren (see p. 96) of Society Land.

277

SOCIETY LAND.

the proposed new town, and we will presume all the resident free- holders of what was then known as Society Land were included in the list. Discouraged by this failure to become a resident of a town, Mr. Putnam petitioned, in 1793, to have that part of his estate where he resided, in Society Land, annexed to Hancock, alleging that "they injoy no privileges " (see p. 116). The prayer of his petition was granted (see p. 117).

When Mr. Putnam and his estate were a part of Hancock, and all danger of being obliged to pay for one-half of the expense of a bridge over the river was past (see p. 117, note 1), the remaining inhab- itants again petitioned their friend, John Duncan, Esq., of Antrim, to start a town organization for them. He complied with their re- quest, and at a meeting held June 16, 1794, the usual town officers were chosen, and a town life again commenced.

" Voted, That Robert Dinsmore be first Select Man and Select Clark John Dusten seccond select Man Gowen Amore third select Man," etc. The usual business of a town-meeting was then transacted.

At a meeting of the inhabitants, May 12, 1797, a protest against the legality of the proceedings of the last town-meeting was made by Joseph Huntington and Robert Dinsmore, the reason given being that "the Cunstable was not Qualified by Law at the time." This reason being valid, they were again without a legal organization. Zaccheus Dustin and thirteen others petitioned their good friend, Hon. John Duncan, of Antrim, to start them again in a town life. Agreeably to the prayer of their petition, he called a meeting on June 1st of this year, when they were again legally organized.

Voted, "Benjin Kilam town Clark Benjin Kilam first Select man Gideon Dodge Seccond Selectman Isaac Tenney third Select man." This year a division of the territory into three school-districts was made by these selectmen. In 1798 they voted "to accept of a Deed from M' Andrew Taylor" of their burying-place.

" Mar 18th 1802 This day aprobated True Webster to Keep a public House where he now lives in Society land Certified per us

"ROBERT DINSMORE } Select

" HUGH BELL Men"

The homestead farms of Hugh Bell, Robert Dinsmore, and John Felch were severed from Society Land, and annexed to Francestown, by act of the legislature June 17, 1802, which was a serious loss to the first-named place; but Messrs. Dinsmore and Bell continued to

278

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

act as selectmen of Society Land, until their successors were chosen in March, 1803.

Many of the early town-meetings were held at Mr, Webster's house, which was where Levi Colby now lives. Joseph Putnam, son of the first owner of Putnam's mills, was a selectman in 1807, and also one of the highway surveyors, and again a selectman in 1808. The accounts of the selectmen of the previous year were accepted. Samuel Abbott's was $2.51; Captain Dodge's, $3.09; John Colby's, 50 cents; and we think they did the right thing, un- less they expected these men to look after their interests for a whole year and take their pay in honor alone. "at a training on the last wednesday in June, A. D. 1812 -- the inhabitants of this Town that ware present agreead to make up the soldier that was caled for twelve Dollars per month and John Wilson inlisted and they agrad to Give him twelve Dollars a month that is Seven Dollars be- sides what the state Gives "

We find the first notice of representation in the state legislature in 1815, when the inhabitants of Society Land and Windsor chose Benjamin Nichols their representative.

At a town-meeting called Feb. 1, 1820, by John Dodge and John Fleming, selectmen, " the following votes were given in: art. 1 - chose John Fleming Moderator; art. 2- drawed out John Hun- tington to serve as juryman." John Dodge was chosen to represent Windsor and Society Land in the legislature of 1824.

John Dodge, John Fleming, and Reuben Wason were selectmen in 1829-30. John Fleming was representative of Society Land and Windsor this year. An attempt to form a new town, with its center in the east part of Antrim, was then being pressed, and the second record book of Society Land commences with the record of the annual meeting on the second Tuesday of March, 1830. The war- rant this year contained an article, "To take the sense of the quali- fied voters on the subject of a new town now under contemplation, to be taken from the east part of Antrim, west part of Deering, and the whole of Society Land." Two voted in favor, and seventeen against, this proposition. As twenty-seven persons had voted for governor in the early part of the day, it would appear that eight of the voters did not care to vote at this time. On May 21st a second town-meeting was held, and John Dodge was chosen as their agent to "prevent the proposed new town."

" Voted, James S. Burtt, David Woods, and Levi Fearson a com-

279

SOCIETY LAND.

mittee to measure the roads, and to meet the committee on the 27th inst."

" Voted, To give the agent power to borrow as much money as may be necessary to defray the expence."

It will be seen by these votes that Society Land was very decided in its opposition to being included in the limits of the proposed new town. We find no evidence of any serious attempt to include "Hancock Factory" within its limits. Although the com- mittee appointed by the legislature to examine the ground reported in favor of a new town, this enterprise was not sanctioned by the legislature. It was largely an Antrim movement, and we refer our readers to Antrim history, pages 99, 100, 101, for further facts.

Dec. 16, 1834. The selectmen of Hancock and Society Land perambulated the line between the places according to law. We insert the results of this work: -

" We began at the South-west corner of the Putnam Farm so called, thence east twenty five rods to stakes and stones thence north about three hundred rods to a stake and stones on the east bank of the Contoocook River.

"EBEN. WARE - Selectmen

SIMEON LAKIN Jr.

KENDALL GRAY Hancock.

JOHN DODGE

Selectmen

JOHN FLEMING of MOODY BUTLER Society Land.

"CRISTY DUNCAN Surveyor."

It would appear by this that there was never any change in the lines between the "Putnam Addition " and Society Land, and that the map executed in 1806 is not accurate, and in consequence of this error our town map (see p. 67) and note 2, page 117, are in- correct.

A straight line drawn from the south-east corner of the dotted line in Bennington corner of town map, to the south-west corner of the same, on the east bank of the river, would give that part of the Putnam Farm east of the river with more accuracy. Society Land was included within the limits of Bennington in 1842, but was re- quired by the act of incorporation to continue its organization (a precinct within a town), until its debts were paid.

A meeting was called, addressed to "the inhabitants of that part of Bennington, formerly known as Society Land," March 18, 1843, at which the necessary officers were chosen, and $250 was raised " to pay the debts of the town and incidental charges."

280

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

On March 22, 1845, the last meeting of Society Land was held, and a further assessment of $65 was voted to pay debts and incidental charges. It was then " Voted, That this meeting be dis- solved." It was thus that the last of this territory ceased to have a place legally entitled to bear its name. As has been before noted, the early records of the place were kept on loose sheets of paper, and when these were arranged, only those deemed of sufficient value were to be recorded. It is to be presumed that some papers of value to the antiquary and historian were destroyed. The records of the place, which have been preserved, are in excellent condition, and will be of great value to the future historians of both Bennington and Greenfield.

CHAPTER XVIII.

BENNINGTON.

SEVERAL causes were operating to render a new town desirable where Bennington now is, previous to its incorporation. Society Land, weakened as it had been by the incorporation of Greenfield in 1791, had been still more crippled in strength by the loss of the Putnam Addition to Hancock, and three or more farms at a later date to Francestown, and was unable to support all the institutions of a well-ordered town. It is true its citizens had vigorously opposed the attempt to include their territory in the proposed new town on their north-west corner in 1830; but this by no means proves them to have been unwilling, even then, to give up their indepen- dent existence; indeed, it is supposed that the hope of the more de- sirable alliance which was consummated twelve years later was one motive for their action at this time.

A store had been built, previous to this date, and a post-office was established at Hancock Factory at about the time of the decision of the question of a new town with its head-quarters in Antrim, where many of its citizens enjoyed mail facilities, and several of the peo- ple of Society Land were members of, while others were regular attendants at, the Baptist church in this village. A little later, Han- cock built the highway from the Factory village to Antrim line, and Antrim built its part, thus forming a closer connection with

281

BENNINGTON.

South Antrim; and the increased intercourse and acquaintance of the citizens of these villages with each other tended to weaken the ties which bound them to Hancock.1 The village cemetery was set apart, at the Factory, a little later, and as one by one the mortal re- mains of loved ones were laid here, their friends found an added cord drawing them to this place. The erection of the present hotel in 1839 was an increasing attraction to the village, as it provided a needed home for strangers.

The organization of the Congregational church of Hancock Fac- tory this year, and the Hancock Baptist church (see p. 205), one year later, caused a cessation of the weekly journeys of those who had heretofore gone from the one place to the other for public wor- ship.

Hancock Factory village was also peculiarly situated at this time, as the line between Hancock and Society Land passed through it, and the excellent barn of one of its most esteemed citizens was located in two towns. The Congregational church edifice was so located as to stand in Society Land, with its entrance in Hancock; and the same facts were true of its village cemetery. There was also begin- ning to be some slight friction between the growing and enterprising Factory village and the more conservative village at the center of the town.

It will be seen by the above account that events had been tend- ing for years towards a movement for a new town at this place, which only needed a starting-point for its attempted consummation, and this was not long delayed.

The annual town-meeting of Hancock in 1842 was an exciting one, and the representative to the state legislature was only chosen by one majority, at a late hour in the day, and after many previous fruitless ballots. As no resident of Hancock Factory had been hon- ored by an important office, we can well presume the journey of its forty voters to their homes seemed unusually long and "hard to endure " (see p. 47), that evening.

A movement for a new town was commenced this year. Han- cock naturally (and may we not add, properly?) opposed it (see p. 153), as it regretted to lose such valuable and esteemed citizens as resided in that part of the town, with their taxable property. There

1 The covered bridge at Bennington was built by Hancock at this time, and Hon. Harrison Eaton, of Amherst, brother of William Eaton, Esq., of Bennington, was the first person to pass over it with a team.

282

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

was a feeling, also, that the movement (which most regarded as in- evitable eventually ) was premature, and that they were not yet quite strong enough to assume the responsibilities of a town. The coun- sel of Hancock, in opposition to its incorporation, was Hon. Charles G. Atherton, of Nashua, afterwards a United States Senator from this state. The petitioners employed Hon. Franklin Pierce, of Hills- boro', afterwards President of the United States. The name of Bennington for the new town was recommended by Mr. Pierce, and accepted by the petitioners.

The "family jar" (see p. 46) was short, and the town was incor- porated by the legislature, Dec. 15, 1842. We give here as much of Section 1 of the act as relates to the boundaries between the new town and Hancock as now constituted, commencing " at the South- east corner of Antrim, thence westerly on the line between Antrim and Hancock one hundred and sixty-three rods to a stake and stones, thence south two hundred and nine rods to a stake and stones; thence south twelve degrees, west fifty-eight rods, to land of Wil- liam Darrah; thence south eighty-eight degrees, west twelve and a half rods, to a corner of said Darrah's land; thence southerly, by the westerly line of the lands of said Darrah and John Higgins, to land of Hezekiah Ober; thence westerly, southerly, easterly, and southerly, by the line of said Ober's land, to the south-west corner thereof at the road near the house of Moses Gray; thence easterly, by the northerly line of said Gray's land, to the Contoocook river." The last of this section provides as follows, viz: "Provided, how- ever, that no person resident in said Society Land shall gain a set- tlement in said Bennington by virtue of the incorporation of said Society Land, any law to the contrary notwithstanding." Section 5 authorized and required Society Land to continue its organization until its debts were paid. Section 6 authorized John Dodge, John W. Flagg, and John H. Fleming, or any two of them, to call the first meeting of the town of Bennington.

These persons called a meeting Jan. 16, 1843, at which their charter was accepted, and the town's legal existence commenced. The necessary town officers were chosen at this meeting. In con- sideration of the loss the incorporation of Bennington would inflict on the old town, Hancock was not required to pay their share in the public property of the town to Bennington, and was allowed to collect and retain in its treasury all the taxes assessed in 1842.

Bennington is composed of the last of Society Land, Hancock

BENNINGTON, FROM DARRAH HILL.

283

BENNINGTON.

Factory village, and a few farms from Hancock near the village, with portions of Deering, Francestown, and Greenfield, and, like the mother-town, has a great variety of soil and considerable difference of climate. The mills of Bennington and most of its village are nearer the level of the sea than any portion of Hancock, and its east part, on Crotchet mountain, is nearly as high as Mount Shatutakee.

The farm-houses of William H. Darrah and Lewis A. Knight,1 on the Hancock side of the river, with the homestead of John C. Dodge (called "Bennington Heights "), the Taylor house, Favor house, and others in the Society Land part are resorts of summer boarders. There is some excellent farm land in the town, but it is generally admitted it will not average so good for farm purposes as will Hancock. There was once a heavy growth of pine where the village now is, but this has nearly disappeared. It is to the

MILLS AND MANUFACTURES

of Bennington that the town is most largely indebted for its pros- perity. At the time of the incorporation of Hancock the region around the "Great falls" (see Society Land map) was an unbroken wilderness; but it was not long to continue so, as Joseph Putnam, a resident of, and a miller in, Temple began to look for a better water-power soon after this date, and, Oct. 14, 1782, purchased a lot of land here, described in the deed as follows: " A certain lot or tract of land lying in the Royal Society, so called, Viz .: in lot Number 31, in the North range, as they are laid out and marked, said lot laid out on the original right of Jotham Odion, Esq., of Portsmouth, deceased"; and seven years later he added by pur- chase, on the opposite side of the stream, -from the river farms, - one hundred and seven acres, and owned most of what is now Ben- nington village for years.

Mr. Putnam erected his saw and grist mill in 1783, and it has never been burned or taken down from that day to this; while extensive repairs, enlargements, and alterations have been from time to time made in it, it (like the boy's jack-knife) remains the same old mill yet, and, it is supposed, some of the materials used by Mr. Putnam are doing good service to-day. He remained here until 1804, when he sold to John Dustin, who operated it for a few years and then sold it to Mr. Burtt. The Burtt family owned and occu-

1 The view of Bennington from Darrah hill was taken from this section.

284

HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

pied it for many years, and were succeeded by John Carkin, George W. Burns, Jonathan E. King, and John L. King. The present owners, W. C. & F. C. Starrett, are extensive manufacturers of, and dealers in, both lumber and grain.

Hancock factory was built in this village in 1810, by Amos Whittemore, Sr., Benjamin Whittemore, and Paul Cragin; and so energetically did they push the work that the timber was cut and hewed and the frame raised in one week. Benjamin Whittemore was the first agent. They manufactured at first cotton yarn, and put it out to be woven by hand, but soon put in a few looms. In 1825 Amos Whittemore, Jr., became the agent, and the next year built an addition to the first mill, of thirty feet to the west, three stories high, and added some twenty-five or thirty looms, employing about fifty hands. The goods manufactured here were of an extra quality, and it is said nearly one-half of the quantity made in New Hampshire was for a time produced here. (See p. 46.)1 The next agent (who was also one of its owners) was Benjamin A. Peavey, who ran'it for a few years, after which it was idle for a time.

Samuel Baldwin operated it as the first cutlery establishment in the place, at a later date, and the Woods Brothers used a part of the power in the manufacture of their patent cutlery. In 1872 D. H. Goodell joined in organizing the Woods Cutlery company, at Bennington, and carried that on in addition to the other works at Antrim until 1875, when both were merged in the Goodell company, and united at Antrim. Caleb Jewett Kimball commenced the man- ufacture of hoes and other edged tools here, in 1860, and continued for a term of years. In 1873 his son became equal partner in the business, and they now employ about a dozen hands, whose daily wages are from $1.50 to $2.00 per day, some piece-hands earning more than the last-named amount. They now manufacture solid cast-steel drawing knives, butcher and shoe cutlery, tanners' flesh- ers, etc.

Nehemiah Chandler put in a fulling-mill in his father-in-law's (Mr. · Dustin's) mill soon after his marriage, in 1804, which he operated for a few years; and Chapin Kidder followed him in the same line of business, at the same place (then Burtt's), in 1815, but did not remain here long.

Merrick Wentworth built the first mill where Goodell company's

1 There were no mills in Manchester, Nashua, and Dover then.

CONDELL COMPANY'S CUTLERY WORKS

285

BENNINGTON:

works are now located, in 1820. This was operated as a carding and cloth-dressing establishment for a few years. John W. Flagg, Esq., afterwards occupied this spot as a paper mill and manufactory of writing and blank books for several years while it was in Hancock. This mill was burned at a later date, and the power unused for a time. Taylor D. Lakin built the present establishment at this place, which was operated as a pulp mill for a few years by Dea. Nathan Whitney. This is now one of the plants of Goodell company. It is here that the heavy work of this enterprising company is executed. It contains the heavy hammers and large grindstones, with the other works needed for the first processes in their business.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889, Part 30

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