The Due Family in Hancock

On a cool morning in Hancock, New Hampshire, the Sankofa-style walking tour "The Due Family in Hancock" traces 1.5 miles of farm lanes, field edges, and wooded trails to the Welch Family Farm and the former Due family homestead. Led by JerriAnne Boggis and Hancock writer Eric Aldrich, with commentary from the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and the Harris Center for Conservation Education, the 90-minute tour combines local history with light hiking across undulating pasture and mixed hardwood forest. The route begins at Hancock Town Offices, where a short bus ride drops the group at Welch Farm.

From there the path threads along old stone walls, across sustainably managed fields, and into forest stands dominated by oak, maple, and hemlock—trees that sheltered 18th- and 19th-century farmers. Key features include the Welch Family Farmstead; the marked site of the Due family homestead; and a small forest parcel illustrating patterns of farm abandonment and renewal in New Hampshire. You'll stand where Betsey Due lived until the 1840s and hear stories of her resistance to Hancock church authorities, and learn about Jack Ware, who was brought to New England enslaved as a child and later gained his freedom.

The terrain is uneven in places with limited elevation gain, making the walk accessible to most visitors who wear sturdy shoes. Alongside human history, the landscape offers a clear example of northern New England agricultural transition: pasture reverting to woods, stone walls bisecting fields, and managed forest plots that speak to 20th-century conservation practices. Guides pause to point out subtle geological features—glacially deposited stones and ledge outcrops—as well as seasonal flora like lady's slipper and fern colonies.

Practical details are straightforward: the tour runs rain or shine, departs at 10:00 AM from Hancock Town Offices, is limited to 30 people, and costs $35. Bring water, sturdy footwear, and a readiness to walk across uneven ground. The tour’s partnership with the Forest Society and Harris Center means it doubles as a conservation primer: you’ll learn why protecting farm and forest parcels in this region matters and how local stewardship kept Welch Farm working into the twentieth century.

This experience is more than a history walk; it connects landscape, lives, and resistance. It’s ideal for families, history buffs, conservation-minded walkers, and anyone curious about how small New England communities navigated the pressures of change. For travelers staying in nearby Peterborough or Keene, it’s an accessible half-day outing that reorients you to the layered stories held in Hancock’s fields and woods.

Reserve your spot early; tours are limited and often fill, especially during leaf-peeping season—arrive 15 minutes early at Hancock Town Offices to board the shuttle and have your questions ready for guides today.