At the top of the hill on Welch Family Farm and Forest in Hancock, a boulder bears two plaques on either side: One details the history of the Welch family, who lived on the property between 1862 and 2000. The other shares the lesser-known history of the Due family, who first owned the property two-and-a-half centuries ago.
“That’s like a total embodiment of American history. One sign tells it one way, highlighting the story of the white owners of the farm, and the other side tells the story differently, highlighting the first owners of the farm, which were Black and free,” said JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire.
On Sept. 12, the Black Heritage Trail and the Harris Center will lead their annual tour to the Due family’s plaque, recounting the lives of the family from approximately 250 years ago.
The Due family can be traced back to when Hancock was founded in 1779, and lived in the town until the 1850s. James and Hannah Due were landowners, and in early U.S. census records, the family is listed as “free colored persons.”
Their daughter, Betsey Due, lived close to their property during her adult life and stood up against the Hancock Church of Christ when the family was targeted for adultery and deception.
This year, the tour includes a visit to the Due family’s former homestead and to where Betsey Due lived until the late 1850s. The Black Heritage Trail continues its partnership with Eric Aldrich, senior writer and content manager at The Nature Conservancy.
In addition to learning about the history of the Due family in Hancock and their resistance to the Church of Christ, Dave Anderson of the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests will discuss the abandonment of these farms in the Granite State.
“It’s an opportunity to tie in the conservation aspect of it as well and learn more about the land where the history happened,” said Dariya Steele, a program assistant at the Black Heritage Trail.
With approximately 35 historical markers across the state, Hancock was the first town to receive an official plaque from the Black Heritage Trail.
Boggis said this site is special — not only because it was one of the first, but also because hikers can wander upon it and learn about this forgotten history.
“It totally changes your perception of the space that you’re in. It makes you question and wonder and ask,” Boggis said. “By populating and peopling these spaces with Black stories, we’re changing our perception of what New Hampshire is, was, and could be.”
Those interested in joining the bus tour and short hike can sign up for free online: https://blackheritagetrainh.wufoo.com/forms/zgz49ge044tfra/