Life and times in Hopkinton, . was a Hopkinton man, who was deter-mined to enter the colonial army and resist the encroach-ments of the enemy. Seeking an opportunity to enlist, hewas pronounced to be of too short a stature for militaryservice. Resolute in his purpose, Stocker was determinednot to be debarred from the ranks by his stature. Placedin a line of recruits for military inspection, he managed tostand upon a hillock of earth, in the hope of deceiving theinspecting official. The ruse did nt succeed in deceivingthe official, but it secured Stocker his place in the exhibitio
Life and times in Hopkinton, . was a Hopkinton man, who was deter-mined to enter the colonial army and resist the encroach-ments of the enemy. Seeking an opportunity to enlist, hewas pronounced to be of too short a stature for militaryservice. Resolute in his purpose, Stocker was determinednot to be debarred from the ranks by his stature. Placedin a line of recruits for military inspection, he managed tostand upon a hillock of earth, in the hope of deceiving theinspecting official. The ruse did nt succeed in deceivingthe official, but it secured Stocker his place in the exhibition of so much patriotic zeal caused a suspen-sion of the rules in his behalf, and he went forth a fullyempowered soldier of the American army. A spirit of rivalry is inherent in the human every age, society has observed superior demonstrationsof personal force or skill with both admiration and community has its athletes who boast their merephysical prowess. The spirit of physical rivalry early man- 1MB. Supt. John C. Ray. ITEMS AND INCIDENTS. 275 ifested itself in Hopkinton. There is a story told of a foot-race between an Indian and David Story, a Hopkintonwhite man. The contest grew out of a dispute between agroup of Indians and a circle of whites. Each party selectedits best man. The race was duly contested, and Storyproved himself the winner. This contest is said to havetaken place in very early times in Hopkinton village. On the 4th of July, 1826, a memorable race was run byHamlet Perkins, of Hopkinton, and Kilburn Hoyt, of Dun-barton. This contest was undertaken upon peculiar con-ditions. The distance was between Dr. Starks and thehay-scales, the same being now between Charles J. Connersand the guide-post. Hoyt, who was of gigantic strengthas well as fleetness, was to carry Capt. Samuel Burbank, ofHopkinton, who weighed no less than 225 pounds, uponhis shoulders, and have a start of one half the preliminaries having been duly arrang
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