Thomas Hancock III

Thomas Hancock of Long Meadow, Mass. was too young to enlist in the army with Washington in the beginning of the war, but at the last offered his services, but Washington told him "No, one man now will make no difference, you go home and take care of your mother, she has sacrificed enough, having sacrificed her husband and two sons in this cruel war."

He married a daughter of old General Ward, her name was Amy Ward on May 25, 1786 in Longmeadow, MA.
Thomas was a miller by trade and was so strong he could stand with both feet in a bushel measure and shoulder 4 bushels or wheat - 240 lbs. He became very poor through the ravages of war, but was blessed with a large family: Thomas Jr., Alvin, Solomon, Joseph and Levi W. were the boys and Clarissa and Sally the girls.

They moved from Mass to Sharon, Vermont and from there to New York. They were just as poor as the Prophet Joseph Smith's family which they had become acquainted with--and joined the Church the first year.

Thomas Jr. joined the army of 1812 against Great Britain, was wounded and taken prisoner and at the end of the war, a poor wreck of a man.

Alvin died at Kirtland, Ohio through hardship and persecution.

Sally,Joseph and Levi W. are all that lived of that family to get to Utah.*

Solomon started with the Pioneers, was at Winter Quarters when the call came for 500 volunteers to go into the Mexican Army. His brother, Levi W. Hancock and his two oldest sons, Charles B. and Geo. W. Hancock (my father) enlisted. Solomon, being deprived of his main help was obliged to remain at Far West where he died, beloved by all who knew him.

Joseph Hancock, the third brother was asked by the Prophet to take him and his brother Hyrum, to Salt Lake to get away from their enemies. They were at Grandfather's home, were to start early the next morning. My mother, Amy Hancock, daughter of Joseph Hancock says Joseph Smith did not sleep, he walked the floor all night. In the morning asked Hyrum to go on with Grandfather as they had planned, said he was going back and give himself up like a lamb to the slaughter. Hyrum said then the "I will go with you." The Governor had promised them protection from the mob, but withdrew the guards and allowed them to be murdered in cold blood.

Grandfather Joseph Hancock then came on to Salt Lake with the first company of Pioneers. He was a hunter and kept them supplied with food across the plains. (I will just state here, this same Joseph Hancock was a member of Zions Camp where so many died with the Cholera. He was also stricken with it was almost dead. When Joseph Smith arrived, called him from death, blessed him and said "I will name you Nimrod after the mighty hunter of old. You too will be a mighty hunter before the Lord.") This came true to the letter. One incident I will state here:

While out hunting for game with another hunter, (for the pioneers) (Lewis
Barney) they both shot at a deer. The deer fell dead. They could only see one bullet hole. So the question was, Who killed the deer?. On opening the body, they found that both bullets had entered the same spot back of the shoulder. Grandfather's bullet which was the larger caliber, had gone straight through the small bullet, had struck a rib and remained in the body. So Grandfather was awarded the honor of the kill. 

Birth Date and Place: Nov. 21, 1763 Longmeadow, Hampden Co., MA
Father: Thomas Hancock Sr., 10 May, 1727, Longmeadow, Hampden Co., MA
Mother: Jemima Wright Hancock, 1726, Chicopee, MA
Spouse: Amy Ward Hancock, 1769
Death Date and Burial: 02 Oct, 1844 Morley Settlement, Hancock Co., Nauvoo, IL

Children:
Elijah Hancock, born Sept. 21, 1786, Longmeadow, Massachusetts
Thomas Hancock, Jr., Jan. 25, 1788, Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts
Clarissa Hancock, born Sept. 3, 1790, Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts
Solomon Hancock, Aug. 14, 1793, Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts
Alva Hancock, born April 19, 1796, Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts
Joseph Hancock, born Mar 18, 1800, Springfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts
Levi Ward Hancock, born April 7, 1803, Springfield, Hampden Co., MA
Sarah Abbott Hancock, born June 18, 1805, Bristol, Ontario Co., New York
Amy Hancock, born Sept. 18, 1807, Bristol, Ontario Co., New York

This information gathered at the Daughters of the Utah Pioneer Museum in Salt Lake City. Information originally submitted by:
This sketch was written by Asael Hancock, copied from his own handwritten
account.

Compiled by Kari R. Kirk 2007