John Hancock was one of the more influential founders during the early portion of the war. He was called the purse of the revolution, while Samuel Adams was called the mouth. While his influence was great, he led a somewhat tragic family life, which makes his rise to the top even more impressive.
John Hancock was named after his father, John Hancock Sr, who died when he was 7 years old. Hancock was raised by his uncle Thomas, who was one of the wealthiest merchants in the New England Colonies.
Jump to:
As fortune would have it, John would become like a son to Thomas, who did not have a male child. He learned the merchant trade, which led to him becoming wealthy.
John Hancock married Dorothy Quincy Scott, and the two had two children. However, both would die young, and John was left with no heirs.
Since John Hancock's children did not survive until adulthood, they did not get married, so this famous Revolutionary War hero and Signer of the Declaration of Independence's direct line ends with him.
Family Overview
John Hancock came from a well-known and wealthy family in Boston.
His father died when he was young, but another family member taught him the trade that would make him a wealthy man.
His mother would outlive him and remarry after his father. However, the children she had from the next marriage would not survive into adulthood.
He had two siblings, which included a sister who married and had several children and a brother who served in the Continental Army.
John Hancock and his wife had two children, but they did not survive into adulthood.
Family Tree Chart
Parents:
John Hancock (1702 - 1744) - He was the son of Rev John Hancock 1671 – 1752 and Elizabeth Mary Clarke 1674 – 1760, was born June 1, 1702, in Lexington, Mass., and died May 7, 1744, in Braintree, Suffolk, Massachusetts. John Hancock, Jr. was a colonial American clergyman and father of politician John Hancock, who signed the Declaration of Independence. Hancock graduated from Harvard College in 1719 and served as librarian there from 1723-1726. He was ordained on November 2, 1726, and settled in Quincy, Massachusetts, as pastor of the Church of the North Precinct of the town of Braintree between 1726 and 1744,
Mary Hawke Perkins (1711 - 1798) - She married three times due to her husband's dying, and she had three children. She lived a long life and saw her son help lead the colonies to independence and then serve as Governor afterward. She also outlived her son.
Spouse:
Dorothy Quincy Scott (1747 - 1830) - Dorothy was first married to the Honorable John Hancock on 28 August 1775 in Fairfield, Connecticut. After his death, she married James Scott in 1796. With Hancock, she had two children, and neither lived to see their teens. After Hancock's death, she was married to Captain James Scott and lived with him in New Hampshire until his death in 1809. She then moved back to her hometown of Boston, Massachusetts, where she lived until her death. Contemporary chroniclers record that Dorothy Scott was beautiful, well-spoken, intelligent, strong-willed, and a great hostess.
Children:
Lydia Henchman Hancock (1776 - 1777) - She was the first child but unfortunately died at a young age.
John George Washington Hancock (1778 - 1787) - He was named after George Washington, but tragically, he died on Jan. 27, 1787, in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, from a head injury while skating on a pond in Milton, Massachusetts.
Siblings:
Mary Hancock Perkins (1735 - 1779) - She was the eldest daughter. She married and had four children.
Ebenezer Hancock (1741 - 1819) - He was a Harvard graduate who married and had children with his wife. He served in the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
Daughter Perkins (1752 - 1752) - She died young
Son Perkins (1752 - 1752) - Also died young.