Solomon Hancock was born 14 August 1793 at Springfield,
Hampden County, Massachusetts. He was the son of Thomas Hancock and Amy Ward. He died 2 December 1847 in Pottawattamie County, Iowa. According to records, Solomon married Alta Adams, the daughter of Asael Adams and Sarah Herrick, on 12 March 1815. Ten children were born to this union, six of whom died shortly after birth.
In February of 1834 the Prophet Joseph Smith called volunteers to go to Missouri to buy up land and settle in and around Jackson County and relieve the suffering saints in Missouri. This group of saints was known as Zion's Camp. Solomon was a member of the High Council of Zion's Camp which was organized in Clay County, Missouri on 3 July 1834. Solomon evidently left on a mission shortly after settling his family in Missouri. His wife, Alta Adams, died 18 January 1835 in Clay County, Missouri.
Charles Brent Hancock, a son of Solomon and Alta wrote the following:
"Alta Adams died in Clay County, Missouri 18 January 1835 leaving four children: Eliza, Joseph, Charles B. and George, to mourn the loss of a beloved mother and seek shelter and friends as the Lord provided for us, the country being new and friends scarce (while father Solomon was East preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ according to revelation and commandment). This made a lasting impression upon my mind."
In Doctrine and Covenants, Section 52, Verse 27 it says:
"Let my servants Solomon Hancock and Simean Carter also take their journey into this same land, and preach by the way."
When Solomon was returning from his mission, he met and married his second wife, Phoebe Adams. She was the eldest child of Isaac and Betsy Adams (cousins). Phoebe was born in Ontario County, New York 7 June 1811. She was 25 years old when they married.
While spinning for a family, there came a report that two Mormon Elders were coming to preach. On Saturday morning Phoebe awoke very early and felt so happy; she arose and went to spinning. Just as the clock struck eleven, she was reeling off her fourth skein and she thought, "Now my day's work is done. I will go to this Mormon meeting." She went home and got her mother to go with her. Her father said, "Now these Mormon Elders are traveling without purse or script; if none ask them home, you ask them and I will have supper ready." Nobody invited them, so Mrs. Adams asked
them home with her and found that one was her sister's husband. This was Solomon Hancock who was returning from a two-year mission. His wife, who was a sister to Phoebe's mother, had died since he had left, through the persecutions in Missouri. Their home had been destroyed, goods and all. They had, with others, fled to some brush and rocks for shelter. Two children died and were buried in one grave, and Alta, the mother, died in Clay County, Missouri January 1835. Solomon had four children left. They were living one in a place as anyone could take them. Their ages were from 7 to 15 years. Solomon and Phoebe were married 28 June 1836.
Solomon and Phoebe, together with Solomon's four children by
his first wife, moved to Far West, Caldwell County, Missouri. It was the principal settlement of the saints in upper Missouri. In 1836 it was a wilderness. By the spring of 1838 the population was more than 5,000, of which more than 4,900 were Latter-day Saints.
Solomon and Phoebe's first child Isaac was born here 14 August 1837. On 7 November 1837 an important conference was held at Far West with Joseph Smith, Jr. presiding. David Whitmer, John Whitmer and William W. Phelps were sustained as the presidency at Far West, and a High Council was organized consisting of John Murdock, Solomon Hancock, Elias Higbee, Calvin Bebee, John M. Hinkle, Thomas Grover, Simeon Carter, Lyman Wight, Newell Knight, George M. Hinkle, Levi Jackman and Elisha H. Groves. Far West is 25 miles south of Spring Hill, which was named by revelation Adam-Ondi-Ammon
because it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet. (Daniel 7:9-14; Doc. & Cov. Sec. 116). From Pioneers and Prominent Men of Utah.
Dissention continued among the saints and the Far West High
Council was charged with the responsibility of settling various disputes and charges. After a series of meetings and councils, Oliver Cowdrey, David Whitmer, Lyman E. Johnson and William W. Phelps were excommunicated. W. H. Phelps and Lyman E. Johnson were later rebaptized into the church. Mob violence and persecutions of the saints grew greater, and by 20 April 1839 the last of the saints left Far West. Thus, a whole community was expelled from its homes on account of their religion.
Solomon and Phoebe and their family moved with the saints to
Quincy, Illinois where their second child, Alta, was born 18 June 1840. Then they moved to Hancock, Illinois and bought land, made a good home, cleared and fenced a nice farm. The place was called "The White Oak Ridge" or Hancock Branch. Solomon was president over the branch and on 2 June 1842 Solomon Jr. was born. Elijah was born 2 April 1844 and Jacob was born 28 December 1846. The mob spirit grew so high - they wanted to drive the people out of the country. They set fire to Solomon's place and killed one man. They thought it was Solomon, so President Young told Solomon to move to Nauvoo. In the winter of 1846 they moved to Nauvoo, only to be driven from there. Solomon and Phoebe next went to Pisgah, Iowa, with the main body of saints; thence to Puncap, and then to Pottawattamie County, Iowa near Kanesville, where Solomon died 2 December 1847.
He was buried by his mother and brother Thomas and daughter Eliza H. Rudd and one of his brother Joseph's children.
The following is taken from "Memories that Live", a centennial history of Utah County: "Phoebe Hancock owned a weaving loom and wove the first cloth in Payson. 1851"
NOTE: from "Our Pioneer Heritage", Carter, Kate. 1858 Volume 12 Page 222:
"Phoebe Hancock's husband Solomon, took part in a miracle
that converted a man and his wife in 1831. The man was healed of a burning fever by the hand of Solomon Hancock and his wife was converted because of this special healing,"
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