The larger family story surrounding John Hancock is
one worthy of examination as we untangle the biography of this complex and
somewhat elusive American Revolution patriot. Two thorough biographies of the
man add considerably to our understanding: William Fowler’s
The bulk of biographical material
on Dorothy Hancock comes from a fairly glorified “saintly” narrative style of
late 19
Conducting research at several Boston-based
collections has prompted me to integrate into the family narrative several surviving
objects related to the Hancock’s children and to flesh out the very real
experience --one many of us can relate to -- of
family grief and loss.
Lydia Henchman Hancock (1776- 1777) was named in
honor of John’s beloved aunt, Lydia Henchman Hancock (1714-1776) who
essentially acted as a surrogate mother for both John and Dorothy. Baby Lydia
died before she reached her first birthday.
She was born in Philadelphia and died in Boston. In one letter, John
notes that he is anxious to have the child inoculated once the baby and Dorothy
arrived in Philadelphia. In a letter dated 10 March 1777, John writes to Dolly:
“I have sent everywhere to get a gold or silver rattle for the child with a
coral to send but cannot get one. I will have one if possible on yr. [your]
coming.” 1 Unsuccessful, in his quest, he sends along “a sash for her”.
John Hancock was busy attending to political matters and so Dorothy was on her
own when the child died. John learned of the loss via letter. One can only
imagine the sad aspect Boston must have held for her in that late summer of 1777: Aunt Lydia
had died in 1776, Boston was deserted and John was away. Coming from such a
large family, one suspects she had brothers and sisters to provide comfort, as
well as members of the household staff, such as the stalwart and dedicated Mrs.
Brackett.
This surviving photographic copy of Lydia dates from
the 1940s and was part of a locket (sold; whereabouts unknown; collection of
http://www.masshist.org). A posthumous rendering by a currently unknown artist, it is charming
despite its melancholy subject. The child has an infant’s over scaled head, fused
atop a diminutive form, holding a single rose. She is clad in a baby cap,
common to the time. Behind her, the oft used symbols of death and mourning, an
urn and willow. Her face is lovely and sweet and highly delineated for a child of under a
year. One can image the care with which her mother donned the locket holding
the image.
John George Washington Hancock (1778-1787), known as
“Johnny” was nine years old when he died from a mortal head wound as a result
of ice skating in Milton Massachusetts. By all accounts a sweet and talented
boy, all of Boston greieved with John and Dolly. The funeral procession was
noted by several contemporaries. Johnny was already being groomed by his father
to take an active and important role in the young nation. A standard survives
at the Massachusetts Historical Society noting that it was given by John and
Johnny to an African-American regiment, recognizing their service during the
American Revolution. (More on that in a future post.) As Samuel Adams Dorr wrote in the weeks
following Johnny’s death:
"This
amiable child gave every indication of future eminence; and while his sweetness
of temper, his strength of memory, and brilliancy of genius, led his parents to
hope, that he would be not only the staff of their age, but eminently useful in
the world!—Their hopes are suddenly blasted, and they feel the deepest
affliction: Why falls the budding flower? Why dies the youth? Presumptuous
reason crys. 'Tis not for us To search the
ends of fate nor fault its means; Religion answers
and our breasts are calmed."
-
Published
in the American Herald, January, 1787.
The miniature of Johnny is simple
yet compelling. He is appropriately attired in the clothing of a youth of the day
and his hair, unfettered.
In addition to the two locket
reproduction miniatures, the Massachusetts Historical Society holds in its
collection two mourning bracelets, comprised of gold beads and hair. They most
likely date from c. 1793, the year of John Hancock’s death. 2
I was fortunate to view these
fragile and delicate jewelry items at the MHS. It was an incredibly moving
experience to gaze upon the bracelets and ponder what they meant in the lives
of the parents who outlived their children. Clearly they were treasured.
Suddenly it strikes you – you are looking at actual strands of John Hancock’s
hair (over 220 years old), in combination with the hair of his children (blonde
for Lydia and light brown for Johnny) crafted into a momento mori. In a CSI world of DNA anyalsis and so on, this
form of mourning is an exceedlingly powerful talisman.
Below find the catalog
descriptions of the pieces from the MHS collections.
Hancock, Lydia H.
1776-1777
Mourning bracelet made of hair of Lydia Henchman Hancock
(Aug. 1776- Nov. 1777), only daughter of Gov. John and Dorothy Quincy Hancock. Maker
unidentified, [Boston?, circa 1793]
Hair, gold beads, gold, crystal, gold foil; 1cm H (at
clasp) x 14 cm W (open) x
Bracelet made of 2 strands of braided dark hair [of John
Hancock?, d. 1793] looped together by a series of hollow gold beads. Elongated octagonal gold clasp has oval
crystal front, under which are some strands of blond baby hair and gold cipher
initials "LH". Engraved in
script on back of clasp: "L Hancock/ Obt Augt 1 1771/ aet. 9. mo"
Hancock, John G.W.
1772-1781
Mourning bracelet made of hair of John George Washington
Hancock (1778-1787), only son of Governor John and Dorothy Quincy Hancock. Maker unidentified, [Boston?, circa 1793]
Hair, gold beads, gold, crystal, gold foil; 1.1 cm H (at
clasp) x 11.2 cm W (open)
Bracelet made of 2 strands of braided dark hair [of John
Hancock?, d. 1793] looped together by a series of hollow gold beads. Elongated octagonal gold clasp has oval
crystal front, under which are strands of lighter brown hair [J.G.W.
Hancock's], and gold cipher initials "JH". Engraved on back of clasp: " JGW
Hancock/ Obt Jany 27, 1781/ aet 9. years"
1. “John Hancock Letter to Dorothy Hancock, 10 March
1777” http://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/john-hancock-letter-to-dorothy-hancock-march-10-1777.html
2. For additional information on the mourning
jewelry, see the excellent book “In Death Lamented: The Tradition of
Anglo-American Mourning Jewelry” by Sarah Nehama, 2012.
My thanks and
appreciation to Anne Bentley, Curator of Art, Massachusetts Historical Society.
All illustrations are courtesy of the Massachusetts
Historical Society.
