The small but mighty town of Hancock has been making contributions to American independence since the beginning, as highlighted in the Hancock Historical Society’s newest exhibit.
“Hancock in 1776 would have been considered the frontier,” Ruth Wilder, volunteer and board member of the historical society, said
Tracing the history of Hancock to before the town was officially incorporated in 1779, the historical society volunteers have found soldiers from Hancock who fought in the Revolutionary War.
One of the men includes John Graham, the first white settler to Hancock, who died in the war.
Wilder explained there were about 10 families living in the town as of 1776 and approximately half of the families sent husbands, fathers and sons to fight in the war.
During that time with the Tea and Stamp Act, women showed their rejection of English rule by making items instead of buying from the British.
As an act of defiance, women would spin flax and create their own fabric despite how much more complicated it was.
“One of the things that they did more of as a show of support, of independence, was wearing homespun,” Wilder said.
In addition to the lineage of Hancock soldiers, the Hancock Historical Society has its own flax wheel and historical items as part of the exhibit.
The walls have documents, photos, paintings, homespun and weapons from battles tracing back to the French and Indian War. A gun hung on the wall was taken from a French solider and the spontoon hung below it represented rank in battle.
In their exhibit downstairs, the Hancock Historical Society has more weapons from the era, including a gun cartridge box from 1776.
The exhibit also features the history of John Hancock, namesake of the town.
Wilder explained John Hancock inherited the 2,000 acres from his father and promised to give the land to the town, but after consistently “forgetting” to send notice to the Select Board at the time, the town became a bit hostile and even thought of renaming the town to York.
In the end, John Hancock’s niece sold the land to the town once John died, but for a higher price since the town residents had increased the property value of the land over time.
This complicated and interesting history of the town is stocked full in the historical society, whether it’s notable pieces or items that demonstrate day-to-day life in the late 18th century to early 19th century.
Wilder said there has been increased interest in familial connections to the Revolutionary War and this era.
“I think because of the 250th birthday of the country, a lot of people are interested in their connection to the revolution and the birth of our nation,” she said.
To learn more about the exhibit or the history of Hancock in general, explore the Hancock Historical Society website at www.hhsnh.org.
The museum is open on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. through September and the office is open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to noon.