John Hancock is the wealthiest man in Boston; a merchant and landowner, he owns Hancock’s wharf and even the Laphams’ home. An ardent Whig and a member of the Boston Observers, he’s also one of the ringleaders of Boston’s resistance of the British occupation. He initially engages Mr. Lapham to complete a sugar basin for him, a project that ultimately causes Johnny to burn his hand to the point that he can no longer continue his apprenticeship. Later, Johnny asks Mr. Hancock for work in his counting house, but Mr. Hancock won’t employ a boy who can’t write well (Johnny injured his dominant hand.) However, because Hancock feels so bad for Johnny, he generously gives Johnny a bag of money to try to help. The two later connect again at Observers’ meetings. Johnny notices that John Hancock, though he’s not always the loudest member, always seems to be pulling strings elsewhere. Ultimately, John Hancock leaves Boston to avoid prosecution by the British.
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John Hancock Character Timeline in Johnny Tremain
The timeline below shows where the character John Hancock appears in Johnny Tremain. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1
...in dreams of being a master silversmith. Madge and Dorcas interrupt his reverie with news: Mr. Hancock is ordering a sugar basin, and Mr. Lapham will get it wrong if Johnny doesn’t...
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Mr. Hancock is the richest man in New England; he owns Hancock’s wharf and even the Laphams’...
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The men reminisce about Mr. Lapham making the original set 40 years ago, and then Mr. Hancock asks if Mr. Lapham can have the sugar basin done by Monday. Mr. Lapham starts...
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...of the pitcher handle. He goes to dinner late; everyone knows Mr. Lapham’s success on Mr. Hancock ’s order depends on Johnny, so Johnny can be late if he wants. Cilla serves...
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Chapter 2
...the Sabbath beginning at sundown on Saturday. Mr. Lapham insists that God won’t care if Mr. Hancock doesn’t get his silver on time. Shaking, Johnny goes into the kitchen where Mrs. Lapham,...
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Johnny strolls along the wharf and notices John Hancock . He never did get his sugar basin; when Mr. Lapham found out that Johnny...
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Chapter 3
...find work with the merchants yet and waits for them to arrive. When he sees John Hancock arrive, Johnny decides to start with him, as he’s the most affluent merchant. But he...
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...skinny, bad-tempered, and hopefully she’ll kill herself overeating rich food. With this, Johnny returns to Mr. Hancock ’s counting house. A clerk first asks Johnny whether he can read, and then Mr....
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Chapter 6
...the meeting, Johnny will go around and tell members that they owe eight shillings. At Mr. Hancock ’s house, the enslaved housekeeper won’t let Johnny see Mr. Hancock, but she lets him...
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Next, Johnny goes to the Lytes’, who are Mr. Hancock ’s neighbors, just to see what they do on Sundays. Miss Lavinia gallops into the...
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Mr. Hancock is sitting with his head in his hands, but Sam Adams stands and announces that...
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...the Dartmouth, fears a mob will burn his ship—but civilians guard the ship, including sometimes John Hancock and Paul Revere. By the 15th, all three of the tea ships are in the...
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Chapter 7
...mind. The crown orders Governor Hutchinson to England and General Gage is now in charge. Mr. Hancock , Mr. Adams, and Dr. Warren would all be the first to hang if their...
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Chapter 9
...and most of the men are Masons. Any intel is reported directly to Sam Adams, John Hancock , Dr. Warren, or Dr. Church. Johnny has his own assignment: to spy on Colonel...
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Chapter 10
...from a dream and learns that Mr. Revere is planning to row to Lexington, where Mr. Hancock and Mr. Adams are hiding, to warn them—and to warn men in Concord to hide...
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