Hello, I am searching for information on Joseph Hancock of Hampstead, NH. He may be related to William (previously of Haverhill, MA) &/or Jacob of Canterbury, NH - both about the same age. Joseph m: 15 Aug 1754 in Hampstead, NH Abigail Keyser and d: 1776 in Canterbury, NH. Abigail (John, John, John, George 1, George) Keyser b: 14 Feb 1738 Hampstead, NH. Children??: (see below) 1) George b: 25 Jul 1756 Hampstead, d: 1799 age 43 m: "of" Northfield (Merrimack Co) NH 27 Feb 1777 Sarah Williams 2) Joseph 31 Jul 1757 Hampstead d: 1831 m:1 Polly Heath m2: Susannah Page 3) Abigail b: bef. 1763?, m: by 1788 William Perkins 4) John b: aft. 1763? m: Naomy Sweatt 5) Judith b: aft. 1763? m: ? Heath 6) Elizabeth b: ca 1764 Canterbury? d: 21 Jun 1838 Canterbury m: Morrill Shepard (MY LINE) 7) Mary m: Charles Noyes 8) Martha m: Nathaniel Colby 9) Sarah b: 5 Jun 1759 d: Jul 1759 The problem with the children of Joseph is conflicting sources. 1) History of Canterbury - page 180 Jacob Hancock settled in that part of the Canterbury that afterwards became Northfield near the Merrimack River. According to tradition he married into the Kezer family at Hampstead, but no record is found. Jacob Hancock was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. His children were: 1. George, 2. Joseph, 3. John, 4. Abigail, 5. Keziah, 6. Azuba, 7. Dorothy. George Hancock b. 1749 and d. 1799; m: Sarah dau of William and Elizabeth (Hills) Williams. 2) History of Northfield - page 160 Jacob Hancock was of English descent. He was the first of the name to settle the town. He married Elizabeth Kezar, sister of Azuba, wife of Benjamin Blanchard, both of Hampstead. Children: 1) George b. 1749 d. suddenly of spotted fever at the age of 50 (1799), Mrs. Hancock was Sarah, dau of William Williams. She died Jan 14, 1860. 2) Joseph b. in 1759. m. (1) Polly Heath, (2) Susannah Page of Sanbornton Bridge. 3) John b. 1791; m. Dorothy Sanborn of Sanbornton 4) Abigail became the wife of Col. Shepard of Canterbury 5) John m. Naomi Sweatt she died July 1806 6) Dorothy m. Charles Noyes of Canterbury 7) Alice m. ? Perkins 3) New Hampshire Shepards by Gerold L. Shepard - 262 Morrill Shepard b. about 1761, died at Canterbury, NH 23 Oct 1844 aged 83; m. Elizabeth Hancock b. about 1764, d. at Canterbury 21 Jun 1838, aged 74 daughter of Joseph and Abigail Hancock. On 29 Mar 1810, Morrill Shepard and Elizabeth Shepard, of Salisbury "gentleman and spinster" conveyed to Joseph Hancock of Northfield, land in Northfield which was of the estate of "our late father" Joseph Hancock, late of Northfield, deceased. Administration of the estate of Joseph Hancock of Canterbury was granted 16 Dec 1776, at the request of the widow Abigail, to their eldest son George Hancock. The distribution, made 8 May 1778, named the children as George Hancock, Joseph, Abigail wife of William Perkins, John, Judith, Elizabeth, Mary and Martha Hancock. (I have a bad copy of this will) 4) History of Hampstead, Vol, 1 & 2 (by Henrietta Noyes, pub 1899): page 446: marriage of Joseph Hancock & Abigail Kezer. page 212: John Hancock gave a gift of a watch page 2 & 5: 2 Petitions to incorporate the town of Hampstead are both signed by William Hancock Children being baptized into Hampstead Congregational Church included: page 183: July 1756, George, son of Joseph Hancock page 184: June 1757, Joseph, son of Joseph Hancock Another researcher suggests that my Joseph might be related to William Hancock previously of Haverhill, MA. The line between MA and NH was moved in 1741 and the New Hampshire side of Haverhill, MA became Hampstead, NH. 4) History of Haverhill, MA by George Wingate Chase 1861 pg. 310-311 - William Hancock living in 1741 on the NH side of Haverhill. "A List of Polls and Ratable Estate Real & Personal, for the Town of Haverhill in the County of Essex, Taken in the year 1741" "By the running of the new line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, in 1741, nearly one-third of the population, territory, and property of the town of Haverhill, fell to the north of the line." "Soon after the State line was run, the town instructed its selectmen to take an exact list of the polls and estates on the north side of the line, which was done. This list contains only those living in that part if town that falls into N Hampshire Province according to Mr. Mitchels Line. pg. 327 signed a petition Mar 1 1748 "NH men who did not qualify to vote in Haverhill" pg. 330 signed complaint on May 25 1748 the selectmen and assessors were neglectful ("wicked & corrupt") and hadn't "cured their great neglect in not valuing the estates and facilities of the inhabitants. Can anyone help me with is group? I'd appreciate any information or suggestions you might be able to offer. I will certainly share any material I have. Thanks! Laura Armetta