Thomas HANCOCK

                   NAME:
    Thomas HANCOCK, Jr.
                  

                   SOURCES:
    1. Family Records
    2. Ancestral File

Historical information included in notes

Solomon Hancock
Solomon Hancock, 3rd son and 4th child, of Thomas and Amy Hancock. He being born in Springfield, Mass. 14 August 1793 moved around some with his folks as a boy and was in Winchendon, Mass. in 1800. He married Alta Adams 12 March 1815 and lived near his father, later purchasing the farm where his father lived from his brother, Levi. He remained here to the fall of 1819 and then moved to Euclid of Cuyahoga County in Ohio. 
He says, "being our parents were reduced in property and monetary worth, we became suitable subjects for the western frontiers, preparing the way for the coming civilization and the generations of man. We sought game of the woods, such as deer, elk, moose, black bear, and the smaller game, together with fish and fowl, all of which were plentiful and a little bread and beans, with prudent care, made a living. We were in York State and also Vermont, thus deprived of proper schooling, so our education was limited. Our first schooling was such that I first done the house work and then walked to school six miles and back every day. We were well pleased with Vermont and we sent the following verses to our friends: 
Come all ye laboring men who toil below
Upon your scanty soil you plow and sow,
Upon your hired lands, let out by cruel hands,
twill make you greater men to up and go.
For who will be a slave that should be free,
Here you good lands may have, just come and see,
the soil is deep and good n Rutlands pleasant woods,
where you can raise your food and happy be.
Here cows give milk to eat, by nature fed,
The land affords good wheat and corn for bread,
Here stands the sugar tree to sweeten all the land,
We have them at our hand, be not afraid.
Heres roots of every kind to preserve our lives,
The best of anodine in price is costly,
The balsam of the tree supplies our surgery,
no safer can you be in any land.
Here runs pure pearling streams that never fail,
to spread the richest cream oer the pleasant vale
as rich as Eden soil, before that sin did spoil,
for man was doomed to toil to get his bread.
Here grows the lofty pine which make a show
As straight as Gunters line, their bodies grow,
they rear nigh to the highest sphere,
where winged tribes repair and sweetly sing.
The chestnut, beach, and butnut tree,
They strive to grow as long and high as they,
but falling much below, they make a pleasant show,
The pines more lofty grow and crown the woods.
Here salmon trout do glide so neat and fine,
That you may be supplied, with seine or line,
They are as good a fish, to make a dainty dish
as anyone could wish to fee upon.
The pigeon, goose and duck, they fill our beds,
The beaver, mink or fox, they crown our heads,
The harmless moose and deer are food and clothes to wear,
Nature can do no more for any land.
"My parents read the bible to their children and explained it to them, taught them to pray also. To keep the Sabbath was a must, to keep it Holy to the Lord and to be attentive to the minister at meetings. I joined the Methodist, and having inherited a good talent for vocal music, became their favorite singer in camp meetings, which were frequent in those days."
"At these meetings, I became acquainted with Miss Alta Adams whose talent, like mine was for vocal music. She had a Christians love, having been taught by her parents. She became my wife, and when we were in Ohio in 1830, four men came to the city of Mayfield, where they held meetings, proclaiming that they had a book which was a history of a people who once inhabited this land.
My brother, Levi took my mother to one of these meetings on horseback. Parley P. Pratt was the speaker and Sidney Rigdon asked the people to hear the words of Brother Pratt. At the close of the sermon, Parley P. Pratt asked if anyone wished to be baptized? Alta joined in and was baptized, followed by her father-in-law Thomas and his daughter, Clarissa."
Solomon wasnt baptized till February 1831. He joined with the Mormon Faith and went to advocating that cause, being a full believer, and was called to serve a mission in June of 1831. He went to the Kirtland Temple and received the "Power form on High" with Parley P. Pratt, Newell Knight, Peter Whitmer, and Simon Carter. He had a little song or ditty that he sang:
Once I was a Methodist, Glory Halleluja,
Then I thought that they were best, Glory Hallelujah,
But when I read the Bible right, Glory Hallelujah,
I found myself a Mormonite, Glory Hallelujah."
Alta was the daughter of Asael Adams and Sarah Herrick Adams and was born in Paulette, Vermont 17 March 1795. Alta was of the "Adams" blood of the patriots in the formulation of this country, America, and the famed "Constitution", also of Presidents. A Royal daughter that would bestow these traits to the coming generations In 1831, He was called to be a preacher or Missionary in Ohio and vicinity, converting and baptizing many. He was in the company of Simon/Simeon Carter and assigned to Missouri, following the Ohio Mission. They preached and baptized by the way, without purse or script, relying for sustenance on the promises of the Saviour to his deciples. Their journey lay through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. 
They came to the Mississippi River at a place called Commerce. It was then populated by the Pottowatomie Indians. They had corn planted on the bottom land and their squaws were hoeing it. There was but one house there and it was built of stone and occupied by a French Trader". This was the 4th of July 1831 and being no easy way to cross this great river, we traveled down on the East side of the river, passing a small town on the bank of the river called Warsaw, thence to Quincy of Adams County. It had only one house there, and it belonged to a fellow by the name of John Woods and was built of hewn logs. They continued to a ferry at a place called Marion City about ten miles below Quincy. 
"We then wound our way with but a trail, skirted with little timber, through huge, broad prairies and only a few settlers with cabins to be found. Through much fatigue and hunger, we finally reached Jackson County Missouri. We found some of our brother missionaries sent here even as we were, but in different directions, to meet there for a Council and to hold a Conference. This location had been pointed out for a gathering place for the Church by the Prophet Joseph Smith." 
After the conference, they left for their homes in the East via different routes, preaching, baptizing, confirming, and Ordaining as was needed, and wisdom taught. Solomon arrived home at Chagrin, Ohio in late fall of 1831 and continued preaching and laboring for the family support. 
In 1832, Solomon Hancock and his family were on their way to Jackson County Missouri and settled on the Big Blue River's edge, six miles west of Independence. On the way there, while traveling by water, the steamboat ran into a sandbar and could not get out. The river was falling fast and it was thought best to go to land and finish the journey to Jackson County. The Steamboats name was, Donguan(Don Juan). They had brought wagons with them. The boat hands and passengers had been attacked by the dread disease Cholera. A f flatboat was obtained and all was loaded onto it, made shore and camped a distance from the river, at an old uninhabited cabin there. The water was not good and it was surrounded by Cypress trees and swamps. 
Our little company consisted of three families; Samuel Shepherd and family of eight; Daniel Stanton and family of eight; and Solomon Hancock with a family of nine. All were very sick, nearly unto death, except Alta Adams Hancock and her son Charles Brent Hancock. Asael and Cyrus died nearly at the same time. They were buried in the same grave, one in a trough and the other in a board coffin. Charles was only about eight and was required to dig the graves. The ground was clay, so he had to chop it with their axe and handle the dirt with the fire shovel. This experience and requirement was not from a need, or ambition, and his strength ebbed. The lady, Mrs. Shepherd, died and a child also. They were buried by some men who lived not far off. only for pities sake dare they venture near. 
"We got some oxen and started for our intended homes." Their health got better as they traveled and enjoyed safety. The County of Jackson was well timbered and with fruit, plums and grapes, and many varieties of nuts. Many grew spontaneously, game and honey aplenty. "The wagon was traded for land and in the Spring of 1833, we built a house and planted a field of corn and a garden." All grew well and matured in plenty. The hostilities of the older settlers were aroused because of the Mormon communities exceeding industry, the buying of more land, and the pronouncement of Patriarchally inheriting them. 
"In July, our printing office and store was destroyed in independence, Missouri. In the Fall, after the crops were ripened and cared for, we were ordered out of the county by a Military Mob. November 10th to 13th, we were fleeing from the county in many ways and in small companies, seeking shelter and friends. The falling stars on 13 November 1833, at the time of the exit, had considerable to do in laying, or quieting the mob spirit, and preparing friends, for those who were driven from their homes and property."
"On the night of 12 November, a mob headed by a Mr. Wilson, came to the house of David Bennett, near the Big Blue River and found him at home. The mobbers took his gun and broke it and then beat him nearly to death. After this, two of Wilson's men got on the house and proceeded to throw the roof off. A boy of fifteen years being near, gave one a shot in the leg, which brought them down, the one saying, I am shot." Just then a few of our men came to the scene and took Bennett away to care for him. The mob taking flight, they went to their camp only three miles away. Bennett was unable to move and we did not leave till after the 13th and took a by way to the South, out of the county, then into Van Buren (later Cass County.) 
"For three days, we were traveling across burnt prairies, children destitute of shoes, their feet bled much, many rode on our oxen as the wagons were stacked with bedding and bundles so there was no room to ride. We endured much hunger and cold for those three days. At night, just as a cold storm came, we found a large cave in the rocks, which afforded a convenient shelter with plenty of wood for a fire. We had three raccoons, well boiled and some parched corn for the thirty-five persons with us. The snow fell about one foot deep that night. It was followed by Sunday, and we slaughtered one of the oxen for meat. Some corn was found in a nearby field and we ate and rested. We had Sunday meetings as usual and the sun came out warm." 
NOTE; A song was written but no author was identified, but it was most likely Solomon Hancock and follows: 
Come Gentlemen and ladies too 
who loves your countries glory 
Hark if you've nothing else to do
while I relate a story. 
But mark whats done, like days of old 
by mortals in their fury 
for tis not often you behold
such mobbers, as Missouri. 
Oh, Missouri, the mobbers of Missouri, 
The Mobbers of Missouri. 
A hundred years behind this age
if you'll allow for lying 
There stood upon our nations page 
A savage set of beings, 
Who always sought for blood and strife
Despising judge or jury 
and cowered like the well armed staff 
as mobbers of Missouri. 
Oh Missouri, the mobbers of Missouri 
The Mobbers of Missouri. 
It was ten thousand pounds at hand
They robbed from the printer,
and drove the church from off their lands
to parish in the winter.
And to the Reverend J.M. Coy
was one among this legion
who came with gun for to destroy,
Because of pure religion.
Oh Missouri, the mobbers of Missouri
The Mobbers of Missouri.
Some few at first, to try their Faith,
They scourged with tar and feathers;
And after whipped almost to death,
not asking whys or whethers.
They tore down houses, pillaged goods,
and seemed all power defying,
while women fled into the woods,
with children round them crying.
Oh Missouri, the mobbers of Missouri,
The Mobbers of Missouri.
But once to show our fathers blood,
And prove their valor ample;
The Mormons in their defence stood,
and gave the mob a sample, 
and when when so near, we heard them swear,
We thought it time to still them;
And twould have made a soldier stare,
To see the Mormons quell them.
Oh Missouri, the mobbers of Missouri,
The Mobbers of Missouri.
Go spread the news from sea to sea,
Let truth to all be given,
In eighteen hundred thirty three
the church of Christ was driven,
away from houses, homes, and land
in this, a land of freedom,
because a worthless mob commands,
as priests and lawyers lead them.
Oh Missouri, the mobbers of Missouri,
The Mobbers of Missouri.
Some of the men that lived round about, came horseback and gave invitations, to come to their settlement and to stay as long as they needed to. They would furnish houses to live in, and provisions, and no mob should disturb us while with them. They accepted their offer and followed the directions they gave us, and found an abundant feast prepared and houses, as they had said. We stayed until the Spring of 1834. Father Solomon made two trips back, to get some things, that had been left in the house in Jackson County, also some corn. The house had been pillaged by an apostate Mormon named Akeman/Aikman. All passed through the winter well, and April found them in Clay County Missouri, near the three fishing rivers. They saw the terrific rain and the high water, also "Zions Camp", the many sick, and also the graves of those that had died. 
Solomon and Alta Adams Hancock's children are: (1) Lucina Hancock born 25 March 1817 in Springfield, Mass. and died the next year, 4 June 1818. (2) Rufus Hancock born 12 April 1819 at Springfield, Mass. and died the same day. 3 Eliza Hancock was born 7 May 1820 at Euclid, Ohio and married Erastus H. Rudd. She died at Winter Quarters 28 January 1848. (4) Joseph Hancock born 7 May 1822 at Euclid, Ohio and married Harriet Broke/Brooks 14 August 1844, and died July 1924. (5) Charles Brent Hancock born in Columbia, Ohio 23 December 1823 and married (1) Samantha Priscilla Rawson; (2) Melinda Melissa Crockett; (3) Rachel Moore; (4) Cloe Rawson. He died 24 January 1904. (6) George Washington Hancock born in Columbia, Ohio 8 March 1826 and married (1) Betsy Jane Fackrell; (2) Amy Hancock, daughter of Joseph Hancock, an uncle. (7) Asael Hancock was born in Columbia, Ohio 19 March 1828 and died in Illinois November 1832 of cholera. (8) Cyrus Hancock was born in Chagrin, Ohio 22 March 1830 and died 12 November 1832 of cholera. (9 Nephi Hancock born in Chagrin, Ohio 3 March 1832 and die 12 March 1832 in Ohio. (10) Ameren Hancock born in Van Buren County (name changed to Cass County 19 Feb 1849) Missouri 29 December 1833 and died in Clay County Missouri December 1834, of exposure. 
Solomon started on his Mission in the Fall of 1834, and during this period of time, Alta died. Alta Adams Hancock died in Clay County Missouri 18 January 1835 and was buried by the child, Ameren, that had died just after the trek from Jackson County, in fact six of her ten children had died before her death. 
Solomon hadn't been gone to the East on his mission long before the death of his wife, Alta Adams. Alta's father was Asael Adams and Sarrah Herrick. Alta had a sister named Betsy Adams and she married Isaac Adams. One of Isaac Adams and Betsy Adams children is a daughter, Phebe Adams born 7 June 1811 in Ontario County New York. 
Phebe developed an uncommon bravery at a young age, as this story will suggest; One evening as she was passing a cemetery, as a young girl, she saw something-white rise up out of the ground. Phoebe thought it to be a ghost and was very frightened, even running as fast as she could for a She stopped and said to herself, "Now Phoebe, you go back there and see what that was." Shaking and trembling with fear, she retraced her steps slowly back. She was very relieved to find that it was only a large, white rock. This experience