Who Were the Hancock Family and Why Is the Farm Named After Them?

Updated

Hancock's Resolution takes its name from the Hancock family, whose long association with this Maryland property gave the site its identity. The farm is presented as one of the few surviving examples of the small family farms where, for hundreds of years, more than 80% of the American population lived in semi-isolation. Because of its authenticity and simplicity, the site is described as a "National Treasure." The website devotes a dedicated section to the Hancock Family, which is the best place to trace the specific individuals, dates, and generations behind the name.

The Family Behind the Name

The property is named for the Hancocks because of the family's historical association with the site. That association is significant enough that the farm is not simply an anonymous historic house; it carries the family's name as part of its public identity.

The site itself is described as a small house with a huge story to tell, organized around five historic themes. The Hancock family connection is one thread within that larger story, which also spans the farm's wider history.

A Survivor of a Vanished Way of Life

To understand why the name matters, it helps to see what kind of place Hancock's Resolution represents:

  • For hundreds of years, over 80% of the American population lived in semi-isolation on small family farms scattered throughout the countryside.
  • Hancock's Resolution is one of the very few of those farms still remaining.
  • Its authenticity and simplicity are the reasons it is considered a "National Treasure."

The farm is therefore not just a family landmark but a rare physical record of a way of life that has almost entirely disappeared.

Where to Learn More About the Family

The website includes a dedicated Hancock Family section, alongside other areas such as About the Farm, Photo Gallery, History, and Events Calendar. If your question is specifically about who the Hancocks were, that section is the most direct source.

For broader context on the property, the site also offers:

  • An Interactive Map of the historical Hancock's property
  • A Historical Timeline covering the farm year by year
  • Visit The Farm information with seasonal hours and directions

Visiting

Public hours run April through October on Sundays from 1–4 PM, except Easter, with extended hours depending on events. The listed contact number is 410-952-2798.

If you want to connect the family name to the physical site, plan a visit during those Sunday hours and use the Hancock Family section and historical timeline beforehand to give the tour context.