“The price on my head has been doubled.” John Hancock, just after signing the Declaration of Independence
I was born Nancy Jo Hancock. For years, there were vague comments that we were related to THE John Hancock, one of the founding fathers of America. At the time, related meant a descendant of. However, in later years, I learned that both of his children died at a young age; therefore, his line stopped with him.
Are we related indirectly? Obviously, with the surname Hancock, we are probably related – somehow. I have yet to discover that relationship. In the United States, the name Hancock is the 546th most popular surname with an estimated 52,227 people with that name, according to the House of Names. That’s a lot of folks to sort through. Maybe someday….
Early Origins
According to the same website, the name can be traced back to 1273 in Yorkshire, the year Edward I took the throne. Before that, the name had roots in the Flemish name Hann. Flemish is now one of the three official languages of the Kingdom of Belgium.
Hancock Abroad
When we lived in France and Belgium, my Carte d’Identité had my maiden name on it. For legal and medical purposes, European countries use unmarried names. There were occasions when the name Hancock came up as to my Old World roots. My British colleagues said that Hancock was almost as common as Smith.
When we visited Salisbury, I had a strange sense of Deja Vu while there. It felt familiar. My father later said that our line of Hancocks had their roots near there—another clue to check out. In any case, we had a lovely stay in Salisbury.
The John Hancock
Even though I am not a direct descendant of John Hancock, I am deeply grateful to him for his bravery and the extreme personal sacrifices he made in founding this country. It is clear from the opening quote that he was very aware of the peril he and his fellow patriots were in by signing the Declaration of Independence.
In this year leading up to our nation’s 250th anniversary, I am reading and rereading the Declaration and our Constitution with some regularity. Neither is long, but the wisdom and depth they contain are stunning.
Do you have a branch of your family tree that is still a mystery? What clues do you have to begin?