John Hanson

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ChartsAncestors of Harriet Hanson Robinson
John Hanson, son of Thomas Hanson and Mary Kitchin, was born about 1680.1 He died, 16 June 1727, on his return trip to Canada to rescue the remainder of his family.2

John married Elizabeth Meader, daughter of John Meader and Sarah Follett, at Dover, Strafford Co., New Hampshire, 23 July 1703.3

John Hanson lived in an "exposed place" at Nock's Marsh, Dover. When the Indian troubles of 1724 began, he refused to leave due to his Quaker beliefs. His home was marked for attack by 13 Indians and French Mohawks, who lay near it for several days in ambush, waiting until Hanson and his men would be away. When he had gone to the weekday meeting of his church, the Indians made their move. The two older sons were working at some distance. Mrs. Hanson, a servant, and four children were at the house. One child was killed outright to terrify the others. However, another child made such a commotion, he was also killed. The Indians then took Mrs. Hanson, the servant girl, the baby Mercy, Daniel aged 6, Elizabeth aged 10, and Sarah aged 16, on separate journeys to Canada.

Hanson placed the remainder of his family in the care of his brother. Though he was also a Quaker, he kept firearms for the purpose of shooting game. Hanson went to Canada to ransom his family. A newspaper of the day reported the recovery:

Newport, August 27 (1725). On Tuesday last (Aug. 24) arrived here Mr. John Hanson, of Dover, Piscataqua, and about a months time from Canada but last from New York, with his wife and three children and a servant woman . . . who were all taken captives about twelve months since, by the enemy Indians, and carried to Canada, except the above-said Hanson; who at the same time lost two of his sons by the Indians; and now it hath cost him about 700 pounds for their ransom, including his other necessary charges. He likewise informs, that another of his children, a young woman of about seventeen years of age, was carried captive at the same time with the rest of the family, with whom he conversed for several hours, but could not obtain her ransom for the Indians would not consent to part with her on any terms, so he was obliged to leave her.

He reached home 1 Sep 1725 but was not content while Sarah was still in Canada. About 18 Apr 1727 he started out with a kinsman on a similar mission however, he became ill on the journey and died about halfway between Albany and Canada, possibly at Crown Point.4,5

Family

Elizabeth Meader b. 1683, d. aft. 1741
Children
  • Hannah Hanson6 b. 11 Jun 1705
  • Sarah Hanson6 b. 13 Nov 1707
  • Elizabeth Hanson6 b. 13 Nov 1709
  • John Hanson+6 b. 17 Mar 1712/13, d. 9 Jan 1784
  • Isaac Hanson6 b. 25 Feb 1714
  • Daniel Hanson6 b. 16 Mar 1718
  • Ebenezer Hanson6 b. 27 Feb 1720, d. 27 Aug 1724
  • Caleb Hanson6 b. 8 Feb 1721, d. 27 Aug 1724
  • Mercy Hanson4,5 b. 13 Aug 1724
  • Abigail Hanson5 b. say 1726
This person was last edited on28 Oct 2014

Citations

  1. [S1330] Estimated from date of marriage (1703).
  2. [S692] Ann Theopold Chaplin, "Some Descendants of Thomas Hanson of Dover, New Hampshire," New Hampshire Genealogical Record 17 (July-Oct 2000): 97-119, 151-167, at 97-119, further cited as Chaplin, "Descendants of Thomas Hanson of Dover."
  3. [S445] Robert S. Canney, compiler, Early Marriages of Strafford County, New Hampshire 1630-1850 (Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1991), 231, further cited as Strafford Co. Marriages.
  4. [S450] Samuel Bownas, An Account of the Captivity of Elizabeth Hanson, Late of Kachecky in New-England: Who, with Four of her Children and Servant-Maid, was taken captive by the Indians, and carried into Canada. Setting Forth The various remarkable Occurrences, fore Trials, and wonderful Deliverances which befel them after their Departure, to the Time of their Redemption: A New Edition (1787; reprint, London: James Phillips, 1760), 2, further cited as Bownas, The Captivity of Elizabeth Hanson. Also reprinted in: Kathryn Zabelle Derounian-Stodola, Editor. Women's Indian Captivity Narratives. New York: Penguin Group, 1998.
  5. [S922] Sybil Noyes, Charles T. Libby and Walter G. Davis, Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire. Portland, Maine: The Southworth Press, 1928-1939, 307. CD-ROM reprint, Compendium of New England Pioneers: A Collection of 14 Classic Genealogical Dictionaries of Early New England Settlers (Columbia, Maryland: Archive CD Books USA, 2006), further cited as Noyes, Libby, and Davis, Gen. Dict. of Maine & N. H.
  6. [S444] Dover Historical Society, Vital Records of Dover, New Hampshire: 1686-1850 (1894; reprint, Bowie, Maryland: Heritage Books, 1977), 13, further cited as Dover Historical Society, Dover Vital Records.