Dorothy Quincy

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Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott

Born May 10, 1747(1747-05-10)
Boston, Massachusetts
Died February 3, 1830 (aged 82)
Boston, Massachusetts
Occupation 1st and 3rd First Lady of Massachusetts
Successor Elizabeth Adams
Spouse John Hancock (1737-1793) m 1775
James Scott (1746-1809) m 1796
Children Lydia Henchman Hancock, John George Washington Hancock
Relatives Judge Edmund Quincy, Elizabeth Wendell

Dorothy Quincy Hancock Scott was the daughter of Justice Edmund Quincy (1703-1788) of Braintree and Boston. [1] She should not be confused with her aunt "Dorothy Q.". Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes wrote verses about his grandmother, Dorothy Quincy (1709 – 1762).

She married first, John Hancock in 1775 in Fairfield CT. He was the first and third Governor of Massachusetts, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. They had two children together, neither of whom lived to see their teenage years: Lydia Henchman Hancock, who died at about ten months and John George Washington Hancock died at age 9. He was ice skating at a pond in Milton when he fell through the ice and died in 1787.

She married second, Captain James Scott (1742-1809) in 1796. Scott had been employed by John Hancock as a Captain in his trading ventures with England. They had no children.

Dorothy was a well known hostess and a great deal was written about her. Many chroniclers of the time, note she was not only beautiful, but well spoken and intelligent. She witnessed Battle of Lexington[2] while staying her with future husband's aunt, Lydia Hancock at the home of Rev. Jonas Clark. When Hancock told her after the battle that she could not go back to her father in Boston, she retorted "Recollect Mr. Hancock, that I am not under your control yet. I shall go to my father tomorrow."[3]

One of Dorothy's houses she grew up in is the Quincy Homestead (cira 1686) is located in Quincy, MA . This house is on the National Historic Landmark list.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cutter, William [1908]. Genealogical & Personal Memoirs's Vol II. Lincoln: Nebraska: Lewis Historical Publish Co, 594. 
  2. ^ Wives of the Signers: The Women Behind the Declaration of Independence (1997), Harry Clinton Green, Mary Wolcott Green, and David Barton, pp. 18-32
  3. ^ Brown, R: "Incidents in the Life of John Hancock: as related by Dorthy Quincy Hancock Scott", Magazine of American History, Vol XIX:1888:506, Barnes, NY

[edit] Further reading

  • Ellen C. D. Q Woodbury: "Dorothy Quincy, wife of John Hancock: With events of her time"; Neale Pub. Co (1905).