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Reuben T. Sackett (1778-1823)

REUBEN T. SACKETT, born January 16, 1778 at Kent, East Greenwich, Litchfield, CT.; the oldest son of Dr. Samuel Sackett and Sarah Manning; died December 24, 1823 in Alepalousia (Cotile?) La. . He married (1) MARIE ANN POIRET Abt. 1810 in La.. He married (2) MARTHA ANN NUGENT July 26, 1821 in Rapides Parish,La..

 In 1780, at the age of two, Reuben T. was moved, by his parents, from Connecticut  to Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in the area that later became Fayette County.  By 1788 the family was living on Georges Creek about a mile south of Smithfield, Fayette Co., PA.

 He was in  Pittsburg learning the printer's trade in the 1790s and in 1912 the members of Dr. Samuel's family still had "...in their possession many souvenirs of the good doctor, dating back into the eighteenth century.  There are ninteen copies of the Pittsburg Gazette to which paper he was a subscriber, and on which his son was a compositor, dates 1794, 1795, and 1796".  It is not clear when Reuben started learning his trade at the Pittsburg Gaxette.  But one of the Sackett letters from his Uncle Aaron to his father Dr. Samuel written in 1797 Mill Creek in Ohio is addressed:  "From Aaron Sackett; 6 August 1797; To:  Dr Samuel Sackett; On Georges Creek.  to the Care of Reubin Sackett;  Pitsburg".   By 1800 Reuben T. had moved into Kentucky where he appeared on the tax list for Mason Co. in 1800 (Mason Co. was formed from Bourbon Co. in 1788).  It is interesting to note that Reuben T.'s Uncle Cyrus Sackett had lived in Bourbon Co., KY from before 1791 until 1799 when Cyrus moved to Greene Co., OH.
 The next location for Reuben T. is Natchez in the Mississippi Territory on May 8th 1801 when he wrote a letter to his father from there.  In this letter he indicates he had sent a letter to his father from Kentucky before he left there.  And he states his intention of going on to New Orleans and from there, back to Uniontown, and home:

"...I cant say certainty I'll establish
in this country ____ Stokes has refunded what money
I let him have together the interest  amounting to 234
dollars in ce, I got 48 dollars from Simstone ________
plan;  I have got 8 dollars per week and found sinc I arri-
ved in these parts, I am now with Mr Greene
Printer ------ But am daily _________ by Stokes to form
a Coalation with him; but I as yet decline the invi-
tation.  his treatement to formerly words (Had) that
I denied him, but his being a lone and Printer for
the Territory has profered me half the prophets arrising
with out any advance to him except the expenses in
paper.  So from tin___ I engage but I think I shall
not acept his proffer --- If I do not remain here
  I shall in the course of a

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Month or six weeks leave this place for New Orleans
and from there for New York or Philadelphia
and then to Union Town to home. ..."

"... Before I leave this place I shall
write to you.  I, a day or two before I left Kentucky
wrote to you by ________ ______ ..."

 We have no information to tell whether or not Reuben T. made the journey back home.  John W. Jordan says that "in 1803 he [Reuben T.] went to Alexandria, on Red River, Louisiana..."

 We know that Reuben was a member of the Louisiana Militia as a Pvt in 1806.  Then on August 19th 1807, Reuben T. wrote his father from "Opelousas, Territory of Orleans".  He mentions that he had received a letter from his brother Alexander and had answered it.  In the letter he indicates that he was involved in doing surveying in the Territory:

"I have just returned from a surveying excurtion of ten weeks on the River Koleashaes and its waters and expect in (? ?) to return there again;"

And he extoles the virtues of the Louisiana country and its climate, comments on the political situation in the United States and its relations with England and tells his father; "I think if you would visit the Country, you would (be?) induced to remain here.  I should be happy to see David & A(...) here  -  they are young  might obtain land here, and settle to (?) here ..."

 Reuben filed on land in Louisiana and there are records showing that his brother David F. Sackett filed on some land there in 1810 and that the claim was approved in 1816.  In the interval, David had settled in Wayne County, Indiana and never apparently never returned to Louisiana.

 Some time before 1811 married Marie Ann Poiret the year his dau. Ann Lucie Sackett was born.

 Reuben T. Sackett served in in DeCloutet's Regiment of the La. Volunteer Militia as an Lt. in the war of 1812.  His service is mentioned in a letter from his brother David to their father dated:

"Salisbury  I. T. [Indiana Territory] Jan 8th, 1815

Dear Father

I once more take it upon myself to thus
trouble you again and am looking every Mail to
here from you. I had a letter from Reuben by last
evenings Mail. (unreadable due to water stain) Army stationed at a
place which he calls English Turn South
of New Orleans, holding the commission of Captain.
Says that his health has been some what impaired
Since he has been in camp but was then recruiting
Perhaps you have heard from him since his letter was dated
----Dec. last and said he should write to you by the
---- next mail ------- ..."  D F S

And in the Post Script to the letter he says:

"Reuben says he shall expect-------------
from me in about 2 months from the date of his to be sent
to New Orleans  Which I (intend?) --------"

In a return letter from Dr. Samuel to David on 7 June 1815 he says:

"... the last that I heard from Reuben was when you wrote last ab
-ut him that he was in the Armey at Orleans."

 Following the War of 1812, Reuben returned to his home where he served as surveyor, sherriff's deputy, and notary.   The next records of importance concerning him relate to the death of his first wife Marie Ann Poiret, who died 13 Jan 1821, apparently in the birth of their son Reuben T. Jr.; and his remarriage  on 11 Aug 1821 to Martha Ann Nugent.  These records are found in Notices from the Louisiana Herald, a newspaper published at Alexandria La.
between 1818 and 1825. These are from that newspaper for the year 1821:

"Died-- on the 11th inst. Mrs Anna Sackett, Consort of R.T. Sackett, Esq.- - Jan.13,1821."  [Note by C. M. "Butch" Lawson:  The newspaper account of her death . Louisiana Herald . January 13, 1821, states that ; Mrs Anna Sackett died on the 11th Inst.[ meaning the 11th of Jan 1821.] consort of R.T. Sackett Esq. Consort used in this terminology means, wife, partner, spouse. This was the original meaning of the word, and an accepted use of the word in this time period, it is found on many gravestones in this area dated late 1700's to early 1800's]

And:
"Married- - on Tuesday the 7th inst. R.t. Sackett Esq. to Miss Martha Nugent, both of this Parish- - Aug. 11 1821"

 The record of his death is found in a handwritten copy of his obituary found in the documents which accompany the Sackett letters in the Yuma Territorial Prison Museum which reads:

"Alepalousia  Wednesday December 31 - 1823

Casualty

On Thursday morning the body of R. T. Sackett, Esq. was found on the sand
bar a little below the falls of red river. The deceased was on his return home
the evening before and had probably been thrown from his hors and so much
injured as not to have been able to call fore relief or seek it himself
a jury of inquest was impaneled and after examining the body and such
witnesses as saw the deceased on his return home and those who found him
dead delivered a verdict of accidental death.

Died on the night of the 24th inst in this Parish Reuben T. Sackett,
Esq. who had been for many years a justice of the peace in and for the same - he
leaves a widow and a large family of children to deplore his loss - his
remains were interred with Masonic honors on the 25th."

Although there is the mention of "a large family of children to deplore his loss"; we have only found records of two of his children:

Child of REUBEN SACKETT and MARIE POIRET is:
i. ANN LUCIE SACKETT, b. November 1811; d. Unknown

Notes for ANN LUCIE SACKETT:
St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church; Avoyelles Parish
Sacket, Anne Lucie; age 13 months
Natural Daughter of R. Sackett and Marie Ann Poiret
Bapt. 14 Dec. 1812, Rapides, Barriere
Godparents: Joesph Poiret and Emelie Lacour

Notes for REUBEN T. SACKETT:
# 3258 Monument National Cemetery, Chalmette La.:
Sackett Reuben T. Pvt., Company L., 2nd La. Scouts Died August 13, 1864:  U.S. Forces

The above information From Roll of Honor Vol. XX-XXI, page 384

R T Sackett is buried in section 67 grave number 5387, the section and grave are on the right hand side of the Cemetery while looking towards the River. The section is next to the brick wall on the Battlefield side,approximately 3/4th of the length form the entrance.While the headstone shows it's age it is still in acceptable condition. The inscription simply states, " R.T. SACKETT LA" - C.M. Lawson

The Park Service graves roster, lists date of death as Aug 13, 1864. PVT. CO.L Regt: LA1, State La
Branch of services: Inf.
Reuben Sackett's family is listed in The 1860 Census for WINN parish;  1860 Census Winn Parish
Montgomery Post Office

Note, birth date based on age in the 1860 Census

Pg.915 Sackett, Reuben 39?M b.CA1821
Rody 41?F b.ca1819
Martha S. (A) 10?F b.ca1850
Mary 8 F b.ca1852
Elizabeth 6?F b.ca1854
Julia Ann 2 F b.ca 1858
(This very poor quality film, almost impossible to read with any degree of accuracy. - C.M. Lawson)

More About REUBEN T. SACKETT:  Cause of Death: Chronic Diaherra
Medical Information: Death Certificate, US Army, Marine Hospital New Orleans La. Aug., 1864

Notes for ALOIDY LEMOINE:
Name appears on Louisiana Tax List of 1864 in Winn Parish as Rhoda Sackett
This name is found in several documents spelled in various ways; i.e.:  Aloidy, Alloidy, Alody,
The correct spelling could be any of these.
The source for the names and birth dates, death dates is the Minor Pension file of Reuben T. Sackett
Min C. 260,503 National Archives.

2)  Sackett Letters and other Sackett Material from The Yuma Territorial Prison Museum; Yuma, Arizona
3)  John W. Jordan; Genealogical and Personal History of Fayette County Pennsylvania;Volume II.; Lewis
     Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1912.