[78] The town-clerk during all the years of the war was Charles B. Wells. The town-treasurer during the years 1861, 1862, and 1863, was Thomas E. Hadsell; in 1864, M. L. White; in 1865, Silas G. Danley. 1862. The first legal town-meeting, to consider matters relating to the war, was held on the 25th of July; at which, on motion of Calvin P. Lapham, seconded by Rufus L. Mason, it was—
Resolved, That the selectmen be authorized to borrow, on the credit of the town, nine hundred dollars, to pay nine volunteer soldiers one hundred dollars each, as a bounty; that being the number of volunteers called for by the State authorities.This bounty was to be paid when the men were mustered in and credited. The town also authorized the selectmen to draw from the treasury money to pay State aid to the soldiers' families, as provided by law. September 3d, The selectmen were authorized to pay a bounty of two hundred dollars to each volunteer for nine months service, and to borrow money for that purpose. 1863. March 2d, The acts of the selectmen, in borrowing money to pay aid to the soldiers' families, were approved. 1864. August 16th, Voted, to pay a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dollars to each volunteer for three years military service, when mustered in and credited to the quota of the town; and the same amount ‘to any person who shall, before a draft takes place, procure a substitute, and who shall be credited to the town.’ The selectmen were also authorized to employ an agent to recruit volunteers. This system was continued until the end of the war. Hancock furnished seventy men for the war, which was a surplus of five over and above all demands. One was a commissioned officer. The whole amount of money appropriated and expended by the town on account of the war, exclusive of State aid, was nine thousand four hundred and fifty-five dollars ($9,455). The amount of money raised and expended by the town during the four years of the war for State aid to the families of
