John Sackett was born 1632 in Newtown, MA. and , according to Weygant, was the first white child born in Newtown. His father, Simon Sackett, Sr. died in 1635 between August when he received a share in the division of land in Newtown and November when his estate was administered. In June 1636 John's mother Isabel and her two sons accompanied Rev. Hooker and his church in their move to Conneticut where Rev. Hooker and his church founded Hartford, CT..
The next record we have of John is 1653 when, at the age of 21, he and his brother Simon, became residents of Springfield, MA and the town commissioners granted him four pieces of land, agreeable to an ordinance passed to encourage the speedy settlement of that place.
"March 23rd 1655/56 being a Trayning day these underwritten
took the oath of fidelity
Thomas Bancroft: John Stewat: James Warrener:
Obadiah Miller: Symon Sackett: Nathaniel Burt: Hugh Dudley:
Samuell Bliss: William Morgan: Lawrence Bliss: Jeremy
Horton: James Taylor: Edward Foster: John Sackett:
Josiah Chapin: Abell Wright: Richard Maund: John Riley:
Anthony Dorchester: Francis Pepper: James Osbourne: John
Horton: John Earle:" - Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts,
1639-1702; The Pynchon Court Record Page 217
From Burt's History of Westfield; p. 250
"John Clarke, Wm Brooks & Jno Sackat have ye land
ye further side of woronoco wch is granted ym pvided they each of them
build & make impvment of the land by Aprill come 12 mo. & continue
so to doe 5 y. else to forfeit it. Granted Jan: 10th 1658."
We then have the following entry from: Selections
from the Account Books of John Pynchon; Volume I, 1651-1655; page 216
John Sackutt DR
Novembr 26, 1658
? & so the rest due to me this 14, feb 58 is
03, 16, 06
This he pmises will be pd by Edw Foster at the lead mines
But for my Security John Sackut doth firmly ingage to me his Two Sows &
3 pigs of 2 or 3 months old & 4 Pigs of a fortnight old: all
which Swine are to be mine if the debt be not pd at the lead mines or otherwise
set out by next michelstide at furthest bef John Stewart Hester & my
wife this 14 Feb (illegible)
John married Abigail Hannum (daughter of William
Hannum and Honor Capen) 23 Nov. 1659 in Springfield almost five months
after the death of his brother Simon Jr. in the same town. Sometime after
his marriage to Abigail, he sold his land at Springfield and removed to
property he had purchased some fifteen miles up the CT River at Northampton
(where his father-in-law William Hannum lived). The Pynchon Court
records indicate that the move could have been as late as 1662: Page 165:
"...; for John Sackett's 'not performing his bargayne
in thatching the Town barne' (an action by the selectmen of Springfield)..."
County Court (1660-1662) See Also: Page 240 "[*78] the
selectmen of Springfield complayne contra John Sackett of the same town
for not performing his bargayne in thatching the Town barne:" (c. 1658-59).
From this it would appear that John Sackett had made an agreement
to thatch the town's barn, but had not carried through with the agreement.
This situation was dealt with between 1660 and 1662.
From Burt's History of Westfield; p. 126-7
"SEATING THE PEOPLE IN THE MEETING-HOUSE.
The selectmen and the deacons, or a committee appointed
by the selectmen, determined the order in which the seats in the meeting-houses
in New England, in the early settlement, should be occupied. Ability and
general regard, as well as wealth, had much to do with the order of selection.
The women, as a rule, do not appear to have been assigned to particular
seats, but occupied, in another part of the house, such as suited their
own preferences. The lists still preserved, which give the order of seating
the men and boys in Springfield, do not indicate any great regard for those
having the largest possessions. At Northampton, "age and estate" determined
the order, and to some extent that might have prevailed here. The first
list, still of record, bears the date of December 23, 1659, and reads:-…….
9th Seate. – Abell Wright, Hugh Dudley, John Bagg, John
Sacket, David Ashley, Samuel Bliss, John Riley."
[Note: There were ten allocated seats, so John was fairly
low in the pecking order. - Chris Sackett]
From a record in the account books of John Pynchon
we have an indication that John Sackett had some problems while in Springfield.
Volume II, 1657-1666; page 376
"An acot of what I haue Reed in of fines & c which
were a County setled here would be due to the County"
There are three listings for February 1659 and then:
"(torn) 60 (1660?) Reed (read) John Sackuts fine for
striking Henry Curtis in wampam (Note: Henry Curtis died in Northampton
in 1661.)" [The administration of his estate is covered in Pynchon Court
Records. There is nthing in the records concerning the estate of
Henry Curtis to indicate whether or not Henry's death was related to the
incident for which John Sackett was fined. - T. King]
We then have the following case involving John Sackett:
"John Sackett had been presented to the court at Springfield, September,
24 1661 upon suspicion of dealing in strong liquor. In the proceedings
at Northampton in March 1661/62, he was fined 40s. for the offense, but
additional questions had been raised. How, the magistrates asked,
could a man of such small estate have in his house so large a quantity
of Indian trading goods, among them trays, kettles, bear pelts, and deerskins.
Sackett replied that he had bought them from the natives for corn and wampum,
implying the he sold no liquor to obtain them. The court adjudged,
however, that he had broken the law and stipulated full payment of the
penalty of 100 pounds. When Sackett pleaded that the skins were acquired
more than a year before, the fine was remitted, but he was sternly admonisshed
to behave himself in the future or the present proceedings would be used
against him."
footnote: Where Sackett obtained his trading goods is
a mystery, for his account with Pynchon shows no significant quantity (of
purchses by John Sackett. -T. King). Account Book, II, 44, 45.
The Pynchon Court Records give the following:
Page 255: "John Sackett being presented to this Corte
uppon suspision of Sellig Strong Liquors to Indians: there appearinge
some difficulty in it about the proofe of such offence, the matter was
referred to the Corte at Northampton next March: And he was bound
to this Corte in the summe of 10 pounds then and there to appeare to make
further answer when he shalbe called: and his bond for appearance at this
Corte is to be voyd:"
"At the March 1662 sitting of the commissioners at Northampton,
with the powers of the County Court:
Page 260: [11] "John Sacketts fyne."
"John Sackett beinge at the Corte at Springfield September
24, 1661 bound in a bond of 10 pounds to appeare at this Corte to answer
to suspicions of his selling of liquors to Indians: He appearinge
at this Corte and there beinge many grounds of suspicions that he had Sold
much liquors to the Indians: and it beinge proved that he had Sold
unto them 1 pinte he was fyned 40s to the County: And it beinge pleaded
aginst him considering his estate how he could have soe much goods in his
house of Indian trade as trayes kettles peltry of Beare and deere Skins
he said he bought them of the Indians for wampam and corne. The Corte
adjudged he had broken the law about trading peltry incurring the penalty
of 100 pounds which the Corte adjudges him to pay to the ounty: only
execution thereof shalbe respited till the first Sessions of the Generall
Corte be ended.
John Sackett the next day pleadinge that these skins
were traded above a yeere agoe and probability thereof appearinge: his
100 pounds fyne was remitted: Only he is to behave himselfe well
in those respects for future. And if he be found suspicious in such
matters hearafter: these things shall stand as witness against him which
he sonsented to:" It would appear from these records that John Sackett
was still living in Springfield in September 1661 and that he was probably
still a resident of Springfield in March 1662 when he appeared before
the court in Northampton.
Because of the uncertainty as to when John moved from Springfield to Northampton, there is disagreement as to where some of his children were born. Some sources have John Jr., b. 1660; William, b. 1662; Abigaile, b. 1663 as being born in Springfield while others have them born in Northampton. I believe that the above court records would indicate that Springfield was probably the place of their birth. Then we have Mary, 1665, listed as probably born in Northampton followed by : Hannah, b. 1668/69; Mary, b. 1672; Samuel, b. 1674; Elizabeth, b. 1677 and Abigail, b. 1683; who are all listed as born in Westfield.
After his move to Northampton he remained there until about 1665/6, when he sold that property and moved to a farm purchased of one (Samuel?) Chapin near Westfield, on what are now called Sackett's Meadows. His removal to Westfield was at the date of the first permanent settlement of that town, and was about ten years prior to the beginning of King Philip's Indian Wars in 1775.
"The first house in Westfield was built by John Sackett; John Sackett, with Walter Lee and John Sexton, were the earliest settlers. Sackett had a house here before February, 1667. The house was probably a pioneer cabin and cellar, dug into hill and bank, boarded up and thatched over. It was located just east of the site of the old Springdale Paper Mill." - From: "Western Massachusetts History: Woronoco, The Present Westfield"; pages 2 and 3.
The following record shows that John had a house
there prior to February 1667: "At certain points it was necessary to establish
gates to admit of passage into and across the large enclosed tract. At
a meeting at Worronoco alias Streamfield, February 11, 1667, it was "ordered
that a convenient Gate easy and handy shutting & opening shall by the
proprietors of that field be set up by the last of March next, which gate
is appointed to be set over the brook from Sackets house further into the
meadow about a rod and a half further than formerly, and the fence to be
made firm and good at both ends up to it." A little later it was ordered
that "the gate by Sackets be well hung for the security of the field by
the 25th of this inst. March and after yt time who ever shall leave open
or not shut the gate shall pay 5s to the use of the proprietors."
- From: Westfield and Its Historic Influences 1669 – 1919; The Life of
an Early Town With a Survey of Events in New England and Bordering
Regions to which it was related
in Colonial and Revolutionary Times; by Rev. John H.
Lockwood, D.D.; page 58.
p80
"March the 12th 1667
"The Inhabitants of Waranoco spetially those that
live at the Cellars judging it necessary that there should be a highway
across the wett meadow under the hill for their passage to the pyne plains.
"The Committee doe determine order & appoint
George Phelps & John Williams to lay out a high way where it is most
convenient for the end aforesaid. And it is determined that if John Sacketts
five acres over the brooke doe come within the common fence that then he
shall fence for it proportionally with other men in the common fence."
=========================
On 19 Nov 1667 John Sackett's daughter Mary Sackett
died. She was born in 1665 while John lived at Northampton.
=========================
From: "Western Massachusetts History: Woronoco, The Present
Westfield" ; pages 2 and 3. (Provided by: seeker@postnet.com (Linda Lewis))
.the first house in Westfield was built by John Sackett, a descendant of Simon Sackett who came to America in 1630 on the ship Lyon, ten years after the Mayflower. John Sackett, with Walter Lee and John Sexton, were the earliest settlers. Sackett had a house here before February, 1667. The house was probably a pioneer cabin and cellar, dug into hill and bank, boarded up and thatched over. It was located just east of the site of the old Springdale Paper Mill.
In October, 1675, the Indians burned Sackett's house,
as well as three others. Sackett and his wife had been blessed with three
children while living on this site; Mary, born in 1672; Samuel, born in
1674; and Elizabeth, born in 1676. Their other children were born
in Springfield and two in Northampton. Sackett rebuilt his house right
away after the burning, and it is not known whether Elizabeth was born
in the rebuilt house or in a log house her father built a short time later
on five acres of land at the end of what is now Western Avenue. The land
for the new house had been taken by Sackett in trade for an equal amount
of land at the site of his rebuilt home, which had been located in rather
boggy meadow land. The well Sackett dug for his log house could be seen
as late as 1961, when the area was graded and the well covered over. The
log house stood just west of the Sackett Tavern which property today is
owned by Mr. and Mrs. William A. Fuller.
====================
p62
"This Towne doth now therefore Order & appoynt
mr James Cornish John Roote Thomas Dewey & John Sackett or any three
of them to lay out the aforesaid graunt of land adjoyning to what is already
allowed them from this Towne, or shalbe most to ye advantage of ye Inhabitants
of Worronoco: only they are not to intrench uppon ye bounds fixt &
Sett, or to be Sett as aforesaid between them & Vs.
"That this is a true copy taken out of the Town
Records at Springfeild. Feb. 16, 1669
Attest. Elizur Holyoke, Recorder.""
p63
"Att a Town Meeting March 23d 1669-70 This Towne
having formerly appoynted mr James Cornish John Roote John Sackett &
Thomas Dewey or any three of them to lay out the quantity of Six mile square
graunted to Westfeild by the Genrll Corte, and finding that ye aforementioned
p'sons have hitherto soe neglected the said work that unless some speedy
course be taken or other appoynted thereunto that shall more readily attend
it, We shalbe altogether unable to render an account to ye next Genrll
Corte leaving ye worke to our Town & that there may be noe further
needless neglect on our part: This Town doth now order to appoynt Capt
Holyoke Quartrmr Colton Rowland Thomas & Samuell Marshfeild to ye said
work calling in & making voyd the power we conferred upon mr Cornish
& the rest above said forasmuch as they have not done their work in
their yeere."
=======================
On October 27, 1675, during the Indian uprising
known as King Philips War, John's house and barn near Westfield were burned
during an Indian raid. The normal proceedure for that time was for
a few houses to be fortified. During Indian raids, those living in
the unfortified houses would take refuge in the fortified houses. This
left the Indians free to raid and burn the unprotected buildings.
This incident is covered in the following account from Lockwood's Westfield:
"The Indian Menace, Philip's War; p. 217-8
The people of Springfield had to depend upon the
mills at Westfield for the grinding of their corn though the way there
was long, rough, and precarious owing to the menace of skulking enemies.
Rev. Mr. Taylor, writing of conditions during that frightful period (the
autumn of 1675), says, "but summer coming opened a door unto that, desolating
war began by Philip, Sachem of the Pakonoket Indians, by which this handful
was sorely pressed, yet sovereignty preserved, but yet not so as that we
should be wholly exempted from the fury of war, for our soil was moistened
by the blood of three Springfield men, young Goodman Dumbleton, who came
to our mill, and two sons of Goodman Brooks, who came here to look after
the iron ore on the land he had lately bought of Mr. John Pynchon, Esq.
who being persuaded by Springfield folk, went to accompany them, but fell
in the way by the first assault of the enemy upon us, at which time they
burnt Mr. Cornish's house to ashes and also John Sacket's with his barn
and what was in it, being the first snowy day of winter; they also at this
time lodged a bullet in George Granger's leg, which was the next morning
taken out by Mr. Bulkley, and the wound soon healed. It was judged that
the enemy did receive some loss at this time, because in the ashes of Mr.
Cornish's house were found pieces of the bones of a man lying about the
length of a man in the ashes."
p. 226-8
"The following pathetic and reasonable plea must
have been granted:
"Worshipful Sir – together with the Hond Council.
"The allwise Providence of God having brought these
desolating wars into our parts the summer past, & thereby calling us
not only to the expense of a great part of our estate on public occasions;
but also threatening ruin both unto the rest & to ourselves, it was
a question with some of us whether we were in our way or not to abide the
event. The which seems the harder to resolve when there came (from whence
we well know not) a report that there would be no allowance for such charges
as should be expended in quartering soldiers (the which should be a truth
would most certainly break up our plantation & now undo the most here)
but seeing neither equity in any such report or thing, and considering
what as our judgment it is for towns to be laid desolate and made ruinous
heaps, as also that our calling & livelihood lay in this place, the
hand of God seemed to point out unto us some special duty of self denial,
wherein we stood bound with respect to the public benefit and hereupon
we adventured (not troubling you for advice) in keeping our station to
draw out our estates in public uses & in the service of God & his
people, in quartering of soldiers in maintaining of a garrison here, sometimes
consisting of about 20, sometimes above 40 & near about 30 soldiers
as also in quartering Hartford soldiers in their passing to & from,
sometimes being more & sometimes less, sometimes leaving 40 or 50 or
60 Indian soldiers with them as also in sending posts &c from the latter
end of August until this instant.
"Therefore having now expended a great part of
our estate thus in obedience to the call of Providence we proceed to leave
unto your consideration an account thereof & proceeding upon the common
say, that things are with us, as for a man 4/ per week, for a horse 1/
at grass and 1/6 at hay, as for corn, wheat being at 3/6, Indian &
oats 2/ per bushel, as for flesh meat, pork being at 3d and beef at 2d½
per pound. Also allowing a post 3d per mile he bearing all the charges
(we say proceeding according to these rates of things) our public expenses
on Hartford soldiers amounts to £124.16.7 from the latter end of
August to the 19th of November and our public expenses from the 19th of
Nov. to March 3d 1675-6 (being just 15 weeks) the which have been disbursed
on the garrison soldiers left here by the Com. in Chief. Capt. Ap. amounts
to £87.13.0. To which we add troopers arrearages 25/ and for killing
2 wolves 20/ which being added to the summers charges is £127.1.7
out of which subtracting the County rates last summer demanded which come
to 36.0.8½ the remainder 90.13.6½ being that which we are
still out on public credit, the which 90.13.6½ of our charges on
Hartford soldiers being added to the 87.13.0 the total is 178.6.6½
that which we have still expended on public account which is believed to
be a faithful account as we are able with the best diligence we could use
to gather up. Only the last of the 3 county rates would not we judge have
come to so much as is set down, being that the list of our estates did
not arise to so much, as you may see; but not having at present to correct
aright we let it go at present. Thus having faithfully laid down our expenses
before you to your consideration & desiring the Almighty to give you
in all your consultations unto such events as he of his grace shall bless
to your good, & peace of his poor wilderness people, we remain your
humble servts.
John Sacket, Constable
John Root, Commissary
Westfield, 15.1.1675-6
[Mar. 15, 1676. Handwriting of Rev. E. Taylor]
(Judd Ms. Forbes Library.)
p231
"These operations [the Indian war] must have disturbed
greatly the people of Westfield, and kept them in a state of perpetual
alarm. This is pathetically evidenced by the following record in the town's
archives:
"March 26, 1676.
"The town considering that the hand of God is upon
us in having or letting loose the heathen upon us so that now wee cannot
carry on our occasion for lively hood as formerly & considering that
it is not a time now to advans our estates but to deny ourselves of our
former advantages that so wee may carry on something together for the good
of the whole, that so by God's blessing on our labours we may be in a way
of getting food for our familyes, therefore in case the honored counsel
did not cost * * * we agree to carry on as followeth –
We agree to fence only the northeast field and
* * * * * * * * * * *
and we agree to plow and sow and carry on the improvement
of this land in general, that is such as shall agree thereunto as it shall
be ordered by some men we shall appoint, who shall go out to work and who
shall tarry at
home from day to day, and if it shall please God to give
opertunity to rattfy the long fit of our labors each man shall receive
an equal proporson according to his family; necessary publick charges being
first cleared and the rest if any man sowes more seed than his proporson
he shall receive that again in the first place.
"The men chosen to order the whole matter for service
and fencing are goodman Ashly Senr & goodman Gun. We who agree here
unto do promise & engage to submit ourselves to the said propositions
thereof as
"Witness our hands
"George Phelps Josiah Dewey
Thomas Gun Nathaniel Weller
Samuel Loomis Thomas Dewey
Isaac Phelps John Sacket
David Ashley Edward Neal"
==========================
Pynchon Court Records: Page 291 [*169] July
5th 1679. At A Court By Major Pynchon :
John Sackut Plantiff against James Sexton for Beating
and wounding his son William Sackut: As also for Pound breach or
rescuing of swine goeing to Pound.
John Sackut appearing also his son William charges
James Sexton with Beating him at the Pound dore when some of the hogs were
in the Pound he gave him 3 blows with his fist and tooke him by the Throat
and hindered the putting the rest of the hogs into the Pound.
It being not so cleare yet very suspicious by Samuell
Loomis Oath I only Judge James Sexton to allow for the entry of action
and summons 3s 6d.
James Sexton fyned 20s I say: 20s [Marginal notation.]
For the rescuing of the swine It being evident
by Testymony on file: I find for the plantiff himself and sons attendance
4s
3 witness 6
Coming for Atachemnt 2s Atachment and for seerving it
3.6
2 sumons for witness 0.6
all is (total) 17s 6d
And likewise for Rescuing the swine I fine James
Sexton to the County 40s which I afterward abated to 20s And so he is to
pay the County: I say 20s.
I gave 6 Months tyme for the payment and John Minor
Ingaged with him and for the payment of [illegible] in 6 months.
===================================================================================
Sacketts and Indians
The records show that Elizabeth Sackett (b. 27
May 1777) died on June 15, 1682, but long research proves this was false.
Elizabeth was actually captured by Indians during a raid, other members
of the family managing to get safely into the log house. Rev. E. Davis,
in a history of this area, mentions the fact that the Indians captured
a daughter of John Sackett and took her to northern New York. Here she
was raised as an Indian. Later, around 1710, Elizabeth visited Westfield
with her Indian husband and son and daughter. As they were not used to
living in a log house, they built a teepee where they lived while in Westfield.
They eventually left and Elizabeth never returned, but her son grew up
to be an Indian Chief and took his mother's name of Sackett. In later years
Chief Sackett was well known around the area for his raids and he is mentioned
by J.G. Holland in his History of Western Massachusetts as having attacked
a detachment of soldiers near Heath, Massachuetts in 1748. - From: "Western
Massachusetts History: Woronoco, The Present Westfield"; pages 2 and 3
[Additional information From Lockwood's Westfield; p.
367: "King George's War
In June, 1748, Captain Humphry of Springfield was
ordered to go from Charlestown, through the woods, to Fort Shirley, with
a force of forty men. When they reached the present location of Marlborough
in Vermont, about twelve miles northwest of Fort Dummer, he halted to rest
his men. They were refreshing themselves on a piece of ground on which
grew alders and many large trees, through which a rivulet flowed, when
the guard posted by Hobbs on the trail was driven in by a large body of
Indians, commanded by a chief named Sackett, a half-breed descendant of
a captive taken at Westfield in an earlier war. Though startled by the
sudden onslaught, and totally ignorant of the strength of his opponents,
Hobbs and his company immediately prepared for action, each man selecting
a tree for cover. The English had learned much about frontier warfare since
the days of Bloody Brook in Philip's War. Hoyt's account says:
"Confident of victory from their superiority of
numbers, the enemy rushed up, and received Hobbs' well directed fire, which
cut down a number and checked their impetuosity. Covering themselves also
with trees and brush, the action became warm, and a severe conflict ensued
between sharpshooters. The two commanders had been known to each
other in time of peace, and both bore the character of intrepidity. Sackett,
who could speak English, in a stentorian voice frequently called upon Hobbs
to surrender, and threatened, in case of refusal, to rush in with the tomahawk.
Hobbs, in a voice which shook the forest, as often returned a defiance,
and urged his enemy to put his threats in execution. The action continued
with undaunted resolution and not unfrequently [sic] the enemy approached
Hobbs' line; but were driven back to their first position by the fatal
fire of his sharp-sighted marksmen; and thus about four hours elapsed,
with neither side given up an inch of their original ground. At length,
finding Hobbs determined on either death or victory, and that his own men
had suffered severely, Sackett ordered a retreat, carrying off his dead
and wounded, and allowing his antagonist to continue his march without
further molestation." (Indian Wars, p.250.)
The size of Sackett's force is estimated by Hoyt
at fully four times that of the English. Later in the same summer a part
of the same band killed and wounded several settlers in the region of Fort
Dummer and Northfield. This half-breed chief was probably familiar with
the region about Westfield. Doctor Davis, in his historical sketch
of Westfield, the only copy of which known to be extant is carefully preserved
in the Westfield Atheneum, says, referring to an earlier period, "A daughter
of the second wife of a Mr. Sackett (her name I do not know) was taken
captive by the Indians and carried captive to the northwest part of New
York, married an Indian and remained among them as long as she lived. Her
descendants have been here to see their mother's friends several times
since the French war. Previous to that they used some exertions to make
others of the Sackett family captives but did not succeed."]
=======================================
On 13 Sep 1682, John Sackett's daughter Abigail
(b. 01 Dec 1663 Northampton) was married to John Noble, son of Thomas Noble
and Hannah Warriner. On 30 Jun 1683 Abigail gave birth to a daughter
Abigail Noble and died three days later, on 3 Jul 1683.
===================================================================================
From: Selections from the Account Books of John Pynchon;
Volume V, Part I, 1672-1693, page 229
"John Sackcutt CR
[after 1683]
He talks of 10s I am to allow him his (?)pt for the Ketch
voyage to Boston whereas (I?) benefit of that voyage
(footnote: John Sackett was a deputy constable
of Springfield in 1696)"
===================================================================================
In 1684 John Sackett was called upon to serve on a jury
called to determine the cause of death for Eleezer Weller:
"Westfield 17 Aug. 1684. We whose Names are under
written being desired by the Constable as a Jury according to Law, to give
or Judgmt on the awful, amazing and untimely death of Eleezer Weller, after
due notice taken , we al unanimously agree, that through the strength of
temptation he became his own Executioner, by hanging himself, al signs
and circumstances freely concurring therein, and nothing appearing to the
contrary, to the best of or Judgmts, we suppose he might be dead twenty
four hourse before it was known.
John Maudesley John Root Samuel Root Samuel Loomis
Sr.
John Sacket Jacob Phelps Isaac Phelps John Ponder
John Williams Thomas Noble Josiah Dewey Thomas
Dewey."
From: Westfield and Its Historic Influences 1669 – 1919";
Rev. John H. Lockwood, D.D.; p. 179
=================
From pages 16-17 in Weygant's "Sacketts of America":
After John Sackett's house and barn were burned
by the Indians in 1775 "... He rebuilt his house and barn, and also erected
a saw mill on a creek which ran through his farm and emptied into the Waronoco
(now Westfield) River.
The building of a dam on this creek was the occasion
of a vexatious lawsuit, brought against him by Thomas, Jedediah and Jonah
Dewey, who claimed that by reason of Sacket's saw mill dam the water was
backed up on their grist mill. The case was tried at Springfield before
a jury, who found for plaintiff, but the court in giving judgment, recited
that it was a hard case for the defendant, and "therefore ordered that
the plaintiffs should, with a hired man and oxen, work with said Sacket
9 days in taking down and removing said dam."
From: Westfield and Its Historic Influences 1669 – 1919;
Rev. John H. Lockwood, D.D.; p. 183
"Several years later the two brothers, Thomas and
Josiah Dewey, had a suit at law against John Sackett, Samuel Taylor, Joseph
Pomeroy and Nathaniel Williams for infringing on their rights by setting
another mill in their neighborhood, higher up on the brook. The matter
was tried at Northampton, appealed to the General Court, and finally settled
at the Court in Springfield in the autumn of 1685. The Deweys helped to
move the rival mill to another location and were themselves renewedly established
in their rights as sole proprietors of that portion of the stream. After
much hard feeling the settlement finally reached seems to have been mutually
amicable."
[Note: There are different versions of what kind
of mill John Sackett erected on the stream. Weygant and others indicate
that it was a sawmill and that the pond behind his dam flooded the grist
mill of the Deweys. However Lockwood's account indicates that it
was a rival grist mill and that the competing mill was up stream from the
Dewey mill. Also, Weygant names three brothers who brought the law suit
against John Sackett while Lockwood names two and names three other defendants
in the suit. - T. E. King]
===================================================================================
John lived to see the death of five of his nine
children. The first, Mary b. 1665, died in 1667 at about two years
of
age. Elizabeth, b. 27 May 1667, died 16 Jun 1682 at age five. (*See:
Sacketts and Indians; above) The next year, 3 Jul 1683, Abigaile,
b. 1663, died three days after the birth of her first child . William
drowned 28 Mar 1700 in the Connecticut River near Deerfield, MA on his
return from a wedding that he attended with relatives and friends.
Samuel died 8 Nov 1709 during the French and Indian War.
John's wife Abigail died in 1690 and the following
year, 1691, he married Sarah (Stiles) Stewart, the widow of John Stewart.
-----------------
In 1692 there appears to have some sort of court action,
or an attempt at a court action, relating to a promise made by John Sacket
at the time of the marriage of William Sackett to Hannah Graves in 1689:
Hampshire Co.
Court Records
Vol. A, p. 20
At Spf'd Rec'ds
In regard to Hannah wife of W'm Sacket
Marriage Settlement
Court at Northampton Mar. 29, 1692
Two testimonys on oath refferring to
John Sacket's (?) promise of giffts to
his Son W'm Sacket & c.
The testimony of Mary Graves of Hatfield in ye County
of
Hampshire in New England aged 59 years or there
abouts is that my brother John Sacket of Westfield
w'n he came for my consent that my Daughter Hannah
might be his son W'm Sackets wife, we discussed
of what temporall enjoyments they should have if
my Daughter Hannah Graves & his Son W'm Sacket
of ye town & County above expressed should be
married to my Daughter, My Brother John Sacket
of ye town and County above expressed did ask me
what I would give my Daughter Hannah above
expressed. I then told him I would give my
Daughter Hannah thritie pounds of more & my
Brother Sacket above expressed sayd I might give
my Daughter Hannah above expressed w't I would
& w't I gave he would double it & further say
not.
Feb. 20, 1692/3 Mary Graves above named
personally appeared & made Oath to ye above
testimony of hers before
Sam'll Partredge, Justice of Peace.
The testimony of Jno Graves of Hatf'd in ye County of
Hampshire in New England being aged 27 y'rs or there
abouts in ye Jno Sacket Sen'r in Westfield &
in ye
County of Hampshire in New England he did comt to
my Mother Graves house in Hatf'd in ye County &
Country above expressed & then I heard my mother
Graves & John Sacket of Westfield discourse of w't
temopral Estate my Mother would bestow on her
daughter Hannah if she should be his sons
Wife My Mother then sayd she would give her
daughter Hannah above expressed thirty pounds or
more & John Sacket above expressed sayd my
Mother above expressed might give her daughter
above esperssed w't she would & w't she gave
John Sacket above expressed sayd he would
double it & further sayth not.
Feb. 20, 1692/3 ye above named Jno Graves
personally appeared & made Oath to
his above written testimony bafore
Sam'll Partrigg, Justice of Peace
-----------
From the Pynchon Court Record:
"July .2d 1694
John Sackut of Westfield Senior his complaint against
Benjamin Smith Junior on File with the Papers where (I waiving it what
I maight) see the Papaers how far that I proceeded."
"Dec. 23. 1695
John Sackut of Springfield Plantiff Contra Benjamin
Smith of Westfield, defendant in a Plea of
They appeared and agreed."
[It is interesting to note that in the first entry
John Sackut is referred to as "of Westfield" and in the second he is referred
to as "of Springfield". - T. King]
The last mention of John Sackutt in the Pynchon
Court Records is in a case before the Court in which there seems to be
a question as to whether Deputy Constable John Sackett had returned a summons
which resulted in the Plantiff John Gun not appearing in court:
"27 Feb 1895/6
Mathew Noble of Westfield Being Summoned to appeare
this day to answer John Gun of Westfield in a Plea of Trespass for Felling
and Taking away Pine Trees of said Guns Ground Granted him by the Towne
for turpentine to said Guns damage 40s.
John Gun absenting: The Defendant Mathew
Noble demands his Costs and charges which by Reson of the constabls not
returning the Summons: Three men (as on File) [which is on File viz
Thomas Myryk, John Myryk, Adiya Dewey oaths (marginal notation)] made oath
to the Constable Deputy John Sackutts serving the summons: Read it and
required Nobles appearing accordingly: Wheruppon I Grant the Defendant
Mathew Noble his Costs viz .2s and a witness to himselfe that was summoned
viz .2s Deacon Nathanel Dolbee appearing. For the plantiff to pay:
unless he should make appeare that the defect in in the constable for not
returning the summons and then said Noble is to pay it."
===============================================
John Sackett's son, William Sackett, drowned in
the Connecticut River near Deerfield, MA., in the winter of 1699-1700,
on his return from a wedding that he had attended with relatives and friends.
William was survived by his wife Hannah (Graves) Sackett and their children
1- Joseph, b. 25 July 1690; 2- Hannah, 15 Aug. 1692; 3- Rebecca, 16 Sept.
1694; 4- Jonathan, 20 Mar. 1696;
Another of John's sons Samuel Sackett (b. 16 Sep 1674) died in the French and Indian War, 8 Nov 1709.
At the age of 87 John died 8 Oct. 1719 at Westfield,
MA. [Weygant, p. 14]
----------
Weygant has the date of death for John as Oct 8, 1719
which appears to be a typo. John's will is dated May 10, 1718 and
on page 18 the probate record shows that the will was presented for probate
on May 20, 1719. This is well in advance of the October date given
by Weygant.
Savage, James; "Genealogical Dictionary of New England
Settlers"; gives the date of death as April 8, 1719
JOHN, Northampton, had John, b. 1660; William, 1662;
Abigail, 1663; Mary, wh. d. 1667; had Hannah, 1669; rem. to Westfield,
there had Mary, again, 8 June 1672; Samuel, 18 Oct. 1674; Eliz. 28 Aug.
1677, wh. d. at 5 yrs. His ho. was burn. by the Ind. 1675; his w.
d. 9 Oct. 1690; and he m. 1691, Sarah, the only d. of John Stiles, wid.
of John Stewart of Springfield; and d. 8 Apr. 1719.
The New England Historical & Genealogical Register,
Volume 6, July 1852, page 266, "Marriages, Births and Deaths in Westfield":
JOHN SACKET, wife Abigail; chn. Mary, b. June 8, 1672;
Samuel, b. Oct.
18, 1674; Elizabeth, b. Aug. 28, 1677, d. June 15, 1682.
Abigail, his
wife, d. Oct. 9, 1690. He married Sarah Steward,
1691. John Sacket, d.
Ap.8, 1719.
===================================================================================
SOURCES:
"The First Century of the History of Springfield. The Official Records from 1636 to 1736, with an Historical Review and Biographical Mention of the Founders" by Henry M. Burt. Springfield, Mass. Printed and published by Henry M Burt, 1898. [2 volumes].
Colonial Justice in Western Massachusetts, 1639-1702; The Pynchon Court Record, and Origianl Judges' Diary of the Administration of Justice in the Springfield Courts in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Edited by Joseph H. Smith; Cambridge, Mass.; harvard Univesity Press, 1961.
Westfield and Its Historic Influences 1669 – 1919 The Life of an Early Town With a Survey of Events in New England and Bordering Regions to which it was related in Colonial and Revolutionary Times by Rev. John H. Lockwood, D.D. Pastor Emeritus of the First Congregational Church of Westfield, Massachusetts Printed and Sold by the Author
THE SACKETTS OF AMERICA: Their Ancestors and Descendants
1630-1907; by Charles H. Weygant, Newburgh, N.Y. 1907