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Editor’s Note: To funner celebrate the 200th anniversary of the signing of the United States constitution The Friendship Oak Chapter, NS DAR presents a research paper covering little known facts about John Hancock for whom Hancock County was named. Joe Pilet, a charter member of the chapter, lives in Bay St. Louis as did
It takes a bit of digging into old court records, letters, etc. to glean information to assist in depicting the character of this complex and unusual man.
Shall we begin at the beginning? John Hancock was bom on January 12,1737 in Braintree, Massachusetts. His grandfather was the Rev. John Hancock who for more than half a
aduate was put to work in his father’s merchantile establishment where he did very well.
Then to round out his education a couple of years were spent in travel visiting several European countries where he was accepted by royalty. While in England he attended the funeral of George the Second and saw the coronation of George the Third.
When Thomas Hancock died he left his entire fortune amounting to about $350,000 to his adopted son as well as his beautiful mansion. This made John Hancock one of the richest men in Massachusetts.
He said his objective was not to make money, but to give employment to many and to share his good fortune with others. Life was filled with gayety at the Hancock Mansion.
Hancock owned a ship called Liberty, and he had a vested interest in several sea-going vessels. It is a recorded fact that John Hancock was a smuggler. He despised the taxes imposed by the British.
A classic case is that of the good sloop Liberty which carried a cargo of Madeira wine. Its crew locked the British custom officer in a cabin and unloaded the wine without paying the required duty. The British seized the vesel, brought an unsucesful suit against Hancock..riots followed.
John Hancock was in trouble with the Court of Admiralty. Claims against him amounted to more than $300,000. An order was out for Hancock’s arrest. He and Samuel Adams went in hiding.
The patriot Paul Revere was bom in
JOHN HANCOCK