John Hancock

Children's Literature

As Candice Ransom notes in the opening of her book, other than John Hancock's signature, we do not usually hear much about him and his role during the years that lead to the American Revolution and its aftermath. He did live an interesting life. Rescued from a life of poverty by a rich uncle who had no heirs, John Hancock worked hard to learn his uncle's business and to be a model citizen. He was wealthy, admired and appeared to be leading a happy life. He was well acquainted with John Adams and the Quincy brothers and through them he became more involved in the issues that the colonist found onerous such as the tax laws imposed by King George III. John Hancock became an enemy of the British government and if caught could be hanged. He was undeterred and continued to speak out for independence from Britain. He was not cut out to be a soldier, which he longed to be, but he found other important ways to help the cause of freedom by entertaining French officers, by raising funds for the army and by serving as governor of Massachusetts and finding ways to help pay off the war debt. His health failed and at the age of fifty-six John Hancock was dead. A well-written and interesting introduction to one of the lesser know heroes of the American Revolution. 2005, Lerner Publications, Ages 6 to 8.
—Marilyn Courtot