USA > New Hampshire > Hillsborough County > Hancock > The history of Hancock, New Hampshire, 1764-1889 > Part 9
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Asclepias incarnata (swamp milkweed). Asclepias cornuti (common milkweed). Asclepias phytolaccoides ( poke milk- weed).
Asclepias verticillata (whorled milk- weed).
OLIVE FAMILY.
Fraxinus Americana (white ash). Fraxinus pubescens (red ash). Fraxinus sambucifolia (black ash).
BIRTHWORT FAMILY.
Aristolochia serpentaria (Virginia snake- root).
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65
THE FLORA OF HANCOCK.
AMARANTH FAMILY.
Amarantus paniculatus. Amarantus retroflexus (pigweed). Amarantus albus.
BUCKWHEAT FAMILY.
Polygonum aviculare (goose-grass, or doorweed).
Polygonum Persicaria (lady's thumb). Polygonum amphibium (water Persica- ria).
Polygonum acre (water smartweed). Polygonum Hydropiper.
Polygonum arifolium (tear-thumb).
Polygonum sagittatum.
Polygonum convolvulus (black bind- weed).
Polygonum dumetorum (climbing buck- wheat).
Rumex orbiculatus (great water dock). Rumex Britannica (pale dock).
Rumex crispus (common dock).
Rumex sanguineus (bloody - veined dock).
Rumex Acetosella (sheep-sorrel).
MEZEREUM FAMILY.
Dirca palustris (leatherwood).
NETTLE FAMILY.
Ulmus Americana (American, or white elm).
U'rtica dioica (nettle). U'rtica gracilis (fence-nettle). Urtica urens (small nettle). Taportea Canadensis (wood-nettle).
PLANE-TREE FAMILY.
Platanus occidentalis (buttonwood).
WALNUT FAMILY.
Juglans cinerea (butternut). Carya alba (shag-bark hickory).
OAK FAMILY.
Quercus alba (white oak). Quercus rubra (red oak). Fagus ferruginea (American beech). Corylus Americana (American hazel). Corylus rostrata (beaked hazel).
Osteya Virginica (American hop-horn- beam).
Carpinus Americana (hornbeam).
SWEET GALE FAMILY.
Myrica gale (sweet gale). Comptonia asplenifolia (sweet fern).
BIRCH FAMILY.
Betula lenta (sweet, or black birch). Betula lutea (yellow birch). Betula alba, var. populifolia (American white birch). Betula papyracea (paper, or canoe birch). Alnus incana (alder).
WILLOW FAMILY.
Salix cordata (willow). Salix longifolia.
Salix alba. Salix lucida.
Populus tremuloides (American aspen).
Populus grandidentata.
Populus dilatata (Lombardy poplar).
Populus balsamifua var. candicans (balm of Gilead).
PINE FAMILY.
Pinus rigida (pitch pine).
Pinus resinosa (red, or Norway pine).
Pinus strobus (white pine).
Abies nigra (black spruce).
Abies Canadensis (hemlock spruce).
Abies balsamea (balsam-fir).
Larix Americana (American larch).
Taxus baccata, var. Canadensis (ground hemlock).
ARUM FAMILY.
Arisæma triphyllum (Indian turnip). Calla palustris (water arum, or wild calla). Symplocarpus fœtidus (skunk cab - bage).
Acorus Calamus (sweet flag).
CAT-TAIL FAMILY.
Typha latifolia (cat-tail flag). Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved flag).
WATER PLANTAIN FAMILY.
Triglochin palustre (arrow-grass). Schenchzeria alisma (water plantain). Sagittaria variabilis (arrow-head).
PICKEREL WEED FAMILY.
Pondederia cordata (pickerel weed).
ORCHIS FAMILY.
Orchis spectabilis (showy orchis). Habenaria fimbriata (large purple- fringed orchis). Habenaria psycodes (smaller purple - fringed orchis).
Habenaria lacera(ragged-fringed orchis). Habenaria blephariglottis (white-fringed orchis).
5
66
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Habenaria vireseens.
Habenaria hyperborea. Spiranthes gracilis (ladies' tresses).
Gordyera pubescens (rattlesnake plan tain). Pogonia ophioglossoldes. Arethusa bulbosa. Cypripedium acaule (lady's slipper).
Microstylis monophyllos.
IRIS FAMILY.
Iris Virginiea (slender blue flag). Iris versicolor (large blue flag).
Sisyrinchium Bermudiana (blue-eyed grass).
LILY FAMILY.
Trillium erectum (birchroot, or purple trillium).
Trillium erythrocarpum (painted trilli- um).
Medeola virginica (Indian cucumber root).
Veratrum viride (Indian poke).
Uvularia sessilifolia (bellwort).
Clintonia borealis.
Streptopus rosens (twisted stalk).
Smilacina bifolia (false Solomon's seal). Smilacina racemosa.
Polygonatum biflorum (small Solomon's seal).
Polygonatum giganteum (large Solo- mon's seal).
Lilium Philadelphicum (wild orange- red lily).
Lilium Canadense (Canada lily). Erythronium Americanum (adder's tongue).
PIPEWORT FAMILY. Eriocaulon septangulare (pipewort.)
FERN FAMILY.
Polypodium vulgare (polypody).
Adiantum pedatum (malden-hair).
Pteris aquilina (common brake). Woodwardia virginica (chain fern).
Asplenium trichomeus. Asplenium ebeneum.
Asplenium angustifolium.
Asplenium thelypleroides (spleenwort).
Asplenium felix-formina (lady fern). Phegopteris polypodioides (beech fern). Phegopteris dryopteris (beech fern).
Aspidium Thelypteris.
Aspidium cristatum (wood fern).
Aspidium spinulosum (shield fern).
Aspidium marginale.
Aspidium acrostichoides.
Cystopteris fragilis.
Onoclea sensibilis (sensitive fern).
Woodsia obtusa. Dicksonia punctilobula.
Osmunda cinnamonea (cinnamon fern).
Osmunda regalis (royal fern). Botrychium ternatum.
Botrychium virginicum (moonwort).
Opheoglossum vulgatum (adder's tongue).
CLUB MOSS FAMILY.
Lycopodium lucidulum.
Lycopodium annotinum.
Lycopodium dendroideum. Lycopodium cleratum.
Lycopodium complanatum. Selaginella rupestris.
These tables have been prepared with much care, and are ex- haustive. We will only give in addition, in this place, the location of some of the different kinds of trees found in the original forest.
In the south-east part of the town much of the original forest- growth was white pine. Many of these trees would probably have been reserved for "His Majesty's Royal Navy," as was the case in towns earlier settled, had not "His Majesty " just about that time been compelled to relinquish all claim to the soil and its productions.
The stump of a tree, in good preservation, is standing on land now owned by Augustus W. Gray, in Bennington, the timber of which was used in the construction of the first bridge over the Con- toocook, at the point where an iron bridge was recently built, near Goodell's works.
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EARLY SETTLERS.
Towards the west, with an increased altitude, deciduous trees became more numerous. Near the center of the town and on towards the west, were found beech, birch (several varieties), black and white ash, and white maple trees. The rock or sugar-maple was the prevailing growth in some sections of the west part of the town; the red oak was also frequently found. Black ash was very plenty near Tenney's pond, and this was said to have been the cause of the settlement in that locality of Daniel Tenney, who was a basket-maker. Hemlock and spruce were scattered through the town then, as now, and near the center there was an abundance of Norway pine, whence the names given to the pond, plain, and hill.
A tract of land bordering on Moose brook, known as the bog, was covered with a dense growth of cedar, which was of great value to the early settlers. This timber was killed by the rising of the water, caused by Jesse Rogers' dam, at the spot marked on the map XII.
CHAPTER V.
EARLY SETTLERS.
JOHN GRIMES, the first settler of Hancock, came from Notting- ham West, by the way of Peterboro', in the summer of 1764. He built his log cabin (to which he brought his family in the spring of 1765) not far from the south shore of Half-moon pond (No. 1 on the map1). The citizens of Hancock erected an appropriate monu- ment on this spot in 1884. As his name does not appear in any of the papers connected with the incorporation of the town, he had probably returned to Nottingham West previous to that time.
1 The map of Hancock, which we take great pleasure in presenting to our patrons, is drawn from one published in 1:58, with corrections and additions to such an ex- tent that it is substantially a new map. The names of those occupying houses in 1 5s are retained in their proper place. Houses erected on new sites since that time have been added, with the names of their occupants in script. Abandoned house spots are numbered. As there will be continual allusion to those numbers in subse- quent chapters. it has not been deemed necessary to give the names in this place. Abandoned mill sites are numbered with Roman numerals. (See chapter on Sources of Income., Additions have also been made, giving the locations of the two rail roads, hills, names of hills, streams, and lakes, and various points of interest. The courses of the streams have also been changed in some instances, as the origina_ map was somewhat imperfect in this regard.
The artist, Miss Lelia J. Wood. is not responsible for any errors, if such there may be found. The border of the map is entirely her own design. Of it she writes : " I felt it to be appropriate to suggest the different employments in which people of Hancock and neighboring towns are interested, - the different subjects which occupy their
68
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Some of his children subsequently returned to Hancock, and his widow died there in 1827.
MOSES MORRISON came from Peterboro' as early as 1769. He settled on what is known as Morrison hill, east of Half-moon pond.
WILLIAM LAKIN came from Groton, Mass., probably in 1770. He settled on the farm now owned and occupied by his great-grandson, Joshua S. Lakin.
GEORGE MCCLOURY came from Peterboro'. He settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Willis A. Washburn. The date of his settlement is not known, but probably it was as early as 1775.
SAMUEL MITCHELL, JR., came from Peterboro'. He was a resi- dent of the town in 1776.
JOHN YOUNG and JOHN ESPIE were also here at that time, but nothing more is known of them.
JOHN MOORE came from Bedford as early as 1773. He settled on the north-east side of Miller's mountain (No. 57). Six children were born here ; but about the year 1790 he sold his farm to Robert Mathews and returned to Bedford.
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THOMAS ENGLISH was a brother-in-law of John Moore, and came from Bedford in 1776. Settled near Mr. Moore (No. 56), and re- moved to Antrim in 1779.
JOHN MILLER came from Goffstown as early as 1775. Place of settlement, No. 55.
THOMAS MILLER's name appears as one of the signers of the memorial relative to the incorporation of Antrim, in 1776. He was probably a brother of John Miller.
JONATHAN BENNETT, STEPHEN BENNETT, and ASA ADAMS came from Shirley, Mass. They settled on and near what is now known as the "Old Stoddard road," on the north-east side of Mount Skat- utahkee. The first town-meeting was held at the house of Jonathan Bennett. At that time it was supposed to be the center of the town.
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JONATHAN BARNET was at Bunker Hill from Society Land.
hearts, minds, and hands. I have suggested the farm products by vegetables and grain arranged in one corner, by grapes and apples in another corner; the raising of animals and the dairy business by horses' heads, sheep, and cattle in another division of the border [portraits of these faithful friends]; some few manufactures by specimens of cutlery and farming tools ; saw- and grist-mills by logs, lumber, and bags of grain; and the literary and religious interests by books, papers, and cards, with the names of subjects."
Thus we have here illustrated the religious, literary, and artistic tastes of the people, as well as the different industries in which they have been and still are actively engaged. The design is a great addition to the value of our work; but per- haps the greatest interest attached to it is the fact that it is the production of one of our own artists; thus giving in itself an illustration of Hancock's choicest treasures - its gifted men and women.
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69
EARLY SETTLERS.
He also signed the memorial relative to the incorporation of An- trim in 1776. It is probable that both names apply to the same per- son, but not certain. Stephen Bennett was in town as early as 1778, and Asa Adams as early as 1779.
ROBERT DUNCAN came from Londonderry to Society Land in 1774. He settled at first on the east side of the river. In the early part of 1779 he removed to what is now Hancock, and settled on Nor- way hill. A little later he removed to the place where C. E. L. Hayward now resides.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS and WILLIAM WILLIAMS, JR., came from Shirley, Mass., locating at the place marked No. 24.
JOEL RUSSELL settled at the place marked No. 86.
JOSEPH SYMONDS came from Groton, Mass., through New Ips- wich, in the early part of 1779, possibly in the fall of 1778. He settled on Norway hill.
OLIVER LAWRENCE, JOHN CUMMINGS, JOHN CUMMINGS, JR., and REUBEN CUMMINGS, came from Hollis. They were, without doubt, here at the time of the petition for the incorporation of the town; had purchased their farms, and were engaged in clearing their land, but did not remove their families here till a little later. Mr. Lawrence settled on what is known as the Nathaniel Dow farm, in 1782. John Cummings and John Cummings, Jr., at the place marked No. 88, at about the same time. Reuben Cum- mings came many years later, if at all.
TIMOTHY MOORS came from Groton, Mass., through New Ips- wich, probably in the early part of 1779. He settled on the place marked No. 107.
JAMES DAVIS came from Paxton, Mass. He settled at the place marked No. 30.
DAVID AMES came from Peterboro'. He settled on a spot about three rods north-east of the Center station.
JOHN FOSTER came from Deerfield, Mass. He settled on the place marked " Mrs. Cummings."
ARTHUR GRAHAM came from Windham. He settled at No. 46.
NATHAN MERRIAM is supposed to have boarded with Stephen Bennett.
ADAM PATTERSON settled a little to the north-east of Jack's pond (No. 39).
This makes up the list of those whose names appear on different documents previous to the incorporation of the town. Others
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70
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
came before the charter was granted, and within a few years quite a number were added to the list of settlers, with whose history we are more interested than we are with some of those whose names are here enumerated, but want of space prevents their appearance in this connection. The reader is referred to the genealogical record for further information in this direction.
The first settlers of Hancock were subject to all the hardships incident to their position. It will be noticed that their homes were far apart, and further on, as we trace the successive settlements, we shall discover that they seemed anxious to have all the room possible. Without any system of roads, all communication must have been attended with a good deal of difficulty. Their homes were of the rudest description, log cabins, without floors or windows, and many of them without chimneys, were all that at first they aspired to possess.
The first glass window in town was brought by Mrs. Moses Den- nis from Andover, in 1784. William Lakin made his home at first in an abandoned hunter's camp. Many of the deserted house- spots, of which there are so many in town, were occupied but a few years, while many others of which no mention is made, soon gave place to better homes near where the first ones stood.
We need not here repeat the story of their hardships, it is so familiar to all. Incidentally, however, we may be able to refer to it in subsequent chapters.
There were some compensations for the difficulties that they met. The virgin soil was more fertile than it is at the present day ; as has been mentioned, an abundance of fish were to be found in the streams and lakes, which must have been a great help to them in the absence 'of other food. In the lakes were to be found pickerel, perch, hornpouts or catfish, and other fish. In the brooks were the delicious brook-trout and suckers, while salmon were caught in the Contoocook.
Wild animals were also numerous. The larger and more danger- ous, the wolf, catamount, wild-cat, bear, deer, and beaver, have dis- appeared ; while the fox, rabbit, woodchuck, hedge-hog, raccoon, mink, musk-rat, otter, and a variety of squirrels are still to be found.
Of birds we would mention the eagle, hawk, crow, owl, black- bird, partridge, robin, bobolink, bluejay, and sparrow.
Bears were not uncommon visitors of the sheep-pastures and pig- styes of the early settlers. Joseph Symonds, Sr., caught a large one
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71
EARLY SETTLERS.
in a trap soon after his arrival in town, near Norway pond, which was to him a real acquisition, as the flesh was said to have been excellent food.
Mrs. James Duncan drove a bear away from her pigs with a club soon after her settlement here.
Abraham Moore, who lived on the place marked No. 33, on one occasion having started to carry a spinning wheel-head to a neigh- bor's, met a bear on his way, which offered him the usual challenge of a wrestle by the back.
Mr. Moore declined the challenge, and sent the wheel-head rolling toward him. The bear, not comprehending this mode of warfare, beat a retreat, but Mr. Moore did not care to follow to investi- gate, so as to ascertain where he might be found.
Other visits were made by the bears to the early settlers, the last being made to Josiah Stone, Sr., not far from the close of the Eighteenth century. Mr. Stone then resided on the farm where Jonathan Bennett first settled. He had lost some of his lambs and pigs. He mistrusted that a bear had been the thief, but was not sure; it might have been foxes. He took his gun, with a mod- erate charge of shot in it, and his dog, and went to the sheep pasture. He met a bear, and discharged his gun, but only wounded and enraged the bear. He ran, the bear after him. Just as he at- tempted to get over a large log the bear caught hold of him and tore a part of his clothing off. The dog then made an assault upon the bear from behind, which diverted his attention to such an ex- tent that Mr. Stone escaped. It is needless to add that that dog was kept by the family until he died of old age.
Wolves were also numerous and troublesome. Capt. John Cum- mings and his brother-in-law, Joseph Symonds, were compelled to swing fire-brands, to keep them away from their camp, nearly all of the first night of their stay in town. They had some fresh meat in their camp, which the wolves were determined to get.
A hunter and trapper, who occupied for a time the place marked No. 8, left his gun outside the door of his hut one night, and was obliged to swing fire-brands till daylight, to keep at bay a panther, which had got between him and his gun.
Rachel Adams (afterwards Mrs. Isaac Davis), whose home at that time was with her brother, Asa Adams, made a visit one day with the daughters of Moses Morrison, and was escorted to her home by wolves.
72
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
Zebedee Whittemore, who lived at No. 92, was treed one night by wolves, and compelled to remain in that unpleasant position till morning, although near his home.
During the dark day of May, 1780, Mrs. James Duncan was alone, her husband having gone to Society Land for goods. The floor of her house was full of cracks. Looking through them she saw the glaring eyes of a wolf. How long he remained there we do not know, but it would be hard to realize a more thrilling experience than that of this young wife and mother. The day itself was one that would appal the stoutest heart.
"There fell
Over the bloom and sweet life of the spring, Over the fresh earth and the heaven of noon, A horror of great darkness, like the night In day, of which the Norland sagas tell - The twilight of the gods.
The low-hung sky
Was black with ominous clouds, save where its rim Was fringed with a dull glow like that which climbs The crater's sides from the red hell below.
Birds ceased to sing, and all the barn-yard fowls Roosted; the cattle at the pasture bars Lowed and looked homeward; bats, on leathern wings, Flitted abroad; the sounds of labor died; Men prayed, and women wept."
Mrs. Duncan was alone in the savage wilderness, her only com- panions two young children, - one two years and a half old, and one barely two months. We can only say of her as Whittier writes of Abraham Davenport, that she is
" A witness to the ages as they pass, That simple duty hath no place for fear."
Mrs. Bezaleel Spaulding, on one occasion, went after her cow, and lingering too long, to pick berries, was greeted by the howis of wolves. Nothing daunted, she seized the cow by the tail and made quick time for the barn.
There is at Marshfield, Vt., a bell which was once worn by sheep to keep off the wolves in what is now the streets of Bennington.
Deer, though not numerous, were sometimes shot by the settlers. The last one shot in town was killed by Isaac Fitch in 1818, near Antrim line. Mr. Fitch, who was a great hunter, also shot the last lynx seen in town, at a somewhat later date.
Wild turkeys were frequently seen. Joseph Symonds, Sr., saw one or more in the road near his house. Edmund Davis shot a large
1
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73
EARLY SETTLERS.
one near his home (No. 28). They were frequently heard by the Goodhue family, who lived near Antrim line. Their head-quarters seem to have been in what was then known as "Tophet Swamp" (now called swamp woods), near the line between Peterboro' and Hancock.
Simeon Lakin, Sr., who had become somewhat acquainted with their habits when a soldier, determined to secure some of them. They were pretty quiet during the day, but Mr. Lakin found their roosting-place, and scattered unthreshed rye from this place to the cleared land near Samuel Ames' mill (No. I). Here he built a bough house. After the turkeys were well baited, Mr. Lakin and his neighbor, Nathan Brooks, who lived at No. 101, went down in the night and waited for them to come out for their morning meal. With the early dawn they made their appearance, led by a staid, old gobbler. Mr. Brooks was so excited that he fired at them with- out taking good aim. The ball lodged in a tree; but all the injury inflicted on the turkeys was, they were badly frightened! Mr. Lakin afterwards was able to capture some of them in a trap.
Wild pigeons were numerous, and large numbers were captured in nets or "pigeon stands." Within forty years, Remington Tuttle was quite successful in capturing them.
Perhaps in this connection it would not be out of place to give Moses Morrison's celebrated moose story. It is substantially as follows : -
"One morning Brother Duncan [they were brothers-in-law ] came up to our house and wanted to borrow some meat. I told Brother Duncan I would be glad to let him have some, but could not, as we were short at our house, too. I told him that there was a moose up in the bog, and we would go right up and try and get it. He con- sented and took his gun, and I took my 'little dog' and gun, and we went to the bog.
"We soon found the moose and shot it, and began to skin and dress it. Brother Duncan was awful hungry, and began to cut off from one quarter and to cook and eat it. The first I knew he had eaten it all up! When the moose was all dressed, I told Brother Duncan to take his gun and one quarter, and start. I swung the other two quarters, with the hide and my gun, on to my back, and we started. Pretty soon Brother Duncan began to feel a little sick, and I told him to throw his gun and the other quarter on the top of my load. By-and-by the 'little dog ' got tired, and Brother Duncan
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74
HISTORY OF HANCOCK, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
put him on the top of the load. Before we got out of the bog Brother Duncan got so sick he thought he could go no farther. I was afraid wolves might get him, so I told him to get on to a stump, and when I went by, to get on. He did so, and I carried Brother Duncan, moose, 'little dog,' and guns to hard ground."
When we remember that a moose will dress several hundred pounds, we can understand that it was very kind in Mr. Morrison to be so helpful.
Moose brook takes its name from this story, which has not prob- ably lost any thing in the hundred years since it was first told.
Other towns have pre-empted many of Mr. Morrison's stories, so it may not be well to repeat them here. We must, however, protest against the imputation that he was " a mere story-teller," and that "it is for this only that his memory has survived him." He was really the first permanent settler of the town. The records show that he bore an honorable part in its early history ; and al- though the historian of Peterboro' knew "of no one who could furnish a record of his descendants," the statement reveals the fact that that historian had a limited knowledge of the history of at least one adjoining town.
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