The Sacketts of America

teen years of age he left home without the consent of his parents and became a sailor. After following the sea for several years, during which he visited many foreign lands, he married - presumably in Ireland - a comely young Irish girl, whose surname was McGaw. His marriage was not approved by his parents, and his cultured sisters treated his bride with great coolness, if not actual rudeness, when after his return to his native land, he took her to the Sackett mansion at Newtown. This action on the part of his parents and sisters he promptly, indignantly and emphatically resented, using language more suggestive of heat than ice is suggestive of cold. And when after a few hours sojourn he left his father's house never to return, he took with him a title deed to property in Hopewell, New Jersey, in consideration of which he agreed to forgo forever all claim to any other portion of his father's estate." His Irish wife proved to be a true helpmate and model mother. Their family life at Hopewell was all that could be desired, and when he died there in 1718, he left his wife and three children in comfortable circumstances. Capt. Joseph Sackett's will, which was executed a few month later, and probated the following year, contains no mention of his deceased son Simon's children. The reason for this omission has already been given.

Children.

82. Thomas Sackett, m. Sarah Haywood.
83. ________ Sackett, a daughter.
84. ________ Sackett, a daughter.

23.  Judge Joseph Sackett, 1680-1755, of English Kills, Newtown, Long Island, N. Y., son of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elisabeth Betts Sackett, was married, May 23, 1706, to Hannah Alsop, 1690-1773, daughter of Capt. Richard Alsop and his wife Hannah.  Judge Sackett was, says Riker in his "Annals of Newtown," "a man of probity, a Justice of the Peace and a Judge from 1749 to his death, Sept. 26, 1755," and it may be added that he was an office holder in the Presbyterian Church, took an active part in public affairs, and was ever held in high esteem by his townsmen.  In 1724 he and his brother-in-law, John Alsop, purchased jointly the central portion of the "Chambers-Southerland Patent," located on the west shore of the Hudson River, in the town of New Windsor, Orange County,

N. Y.  There they built a substantial wharf, erected a commodious storehouse and established a sloop freight and passenger line, which ran at stated intervals to and from New York City.  They also started and maintained for a number of years a flat-boat ferry at that place, which carried horses and cattle, as well as human beings to and from a point near what afterwards became Fishkill Landing, on the opposite shore.  This ferry, which was the first of its kind established on the central Hudson, was extensively patronized previous to the Revolution.  It is a matter of history that in July, 1775, Morgan and his famous body of riflemen crossed the river on this New Windsor ferry when hastening to join Washington's army at Boston.  Not long after that date it was discontinued.

John Alsop, who was by profession a lawyer, located at New Windsor at the time of the before mentioned purchase, but after remaining there a few years sold out his interest to Joseph Sackett, Jr., his partner's oldest son, and took up the practice of his profession in New York City, where he acquired marked prominence.

The Sacketts, it would seem, did not long remain entirely content with their holdings in New Windsor.  Colonial land papers show that on Jan. 11, 1727, a patent was duly issued to Nathaniel Hazzard and Joseph Sackett for 4, 000 acres in adjoining town of Blooming Grove; that on July 7, 1736, a patent for additional plots containing 2,000 acres located near that last mentioned,  was issued to Joseph Sackett, Jr., and that on Sept. 1, 1737, a third patent for another 2,000 acres in same vicinity was issued to Joseph Sackett.  The extensive grants covered a considerable portion of what is now one of the most populous and productive farming districts in Orange County, N. Y.

In 1749 a land company, composed of Joseph Sackett, Jr., his brother John Sackett, and eight other men of local prominence, was organized under the title of "The Proprietors of New Windsor."  To this company the Sacketts transferred all of their New Windsor real estate except the wharf and storehouse property.  The "Proprietors" laid out the entire unimproved portion of their purchase in village lots and township plots, and a considerable number of new dwellings were added to the settlement; but already the importance of the village as a commercial centre had begun to decline, and to-day (1907), what was then the business portion of New Windsor is a veritable "Deserted Village," with a church in which

no service has been held for years, dilapidated dwellings, and no signs of commercial life save the unsightly sheds of several brick yards at the river's edge.  But the township plots on the western bounds of the tract have become the country seats of families of wealth, and constitute one of Newburgh's aristocratic suburbs.

The original records, consisting of rude maps and transfer data of "The Proprietors of New Windsor," is in possession of the "Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands," at Newburgh, N. Y.

Judge Sackett was never an actual resident of New Windsor.  He died at English Kills, Sept. 27, 1755.  His wife, Hannah Alsop Sackett, outlived him nearly eighteen years, her death occurring June 17, 1773, in the 83rd year of her age.  Judge Sackett's will is recorded in the New York City records of probate and reads in part as follows:

WILL OF JUDGE JOSEPH SACKETT.

In the name of God Amen, Mar. 31, in the year of our Beloved Lord Christ 1755, I Joseph Sackett of Newtown, in Queens County, being in perfect health . . . My executors to pay all debts and clear my land that is mortgaged to the Loan Office at Jamaica in Queens County.  My executors are to sell all  my lands lying in the Patent of Goshen in Orange County, except the land that is to be laid out at Wawayanda, or the other lands belonging to the patent or a Round Hill, so called, and what land belongs to me joining the same.  It lyeth between the land of Hezekiah Howell and Thomas Coleman.  And what land I have lying between a brook called Perry's and a hill called Caar Matthews on said hill.  Reserving in all the lands they sell three quarters of all mines and minerals with privilege to dig and carry off same, and to erect buildings for that use.  They are also to sell all my lands in New Jersey, reserving the same privileges.  And they are also to sell all my lands and Meadows in Newtown, except what I shall give to my wife and my son William.

I leave my wife Hannah one half of the lands and buildings hereinafter named, during her widowhood, and the other half to my son William, viz - My Mansion house and all the buildings and lot of ground they stand on, and all my lands on the east and south sides of the road that leadeth from Newtown to New York ferry except a lot I bought of John Culver, and all my lands and meadows lying on the west side of said road as far as the lower end of Smiths Island.  And also my land swamp at a place called Juniper swamp, and a piece of upland and fresh meadow bounded east by Francis Morel, north by the middle ditch, west by a ditch that runs through my meadow joining to John Ketcham and Rapalye and the creek above Cars Mill.  And after my wife's death my son William to have the whole, and to pay his brother Thomas and his sister Elizabeth Fish each £100.

I leave to my sons Thomas and William all my wearing clothing.  To

my son Joseph a silver headed cane.  To my daughter Elizabeth Fish the choice of my Negro girls.  To my son William, a Negro boy.  I leave to my wife Hannah one half of the rest of my movables and the remainder to be sold to pay my debts.

I leave to my six sons Joseph, John, James, Samuel, Thomas and William a hill called Round Hill, lying between the lands of Hezekiah Howell and Thomas Coleman (in Orange County) also a piece of land lying between the brook called Perry's brook on a hill called Car Matthews, but on condition that if there be any mines or minerals on said land or lands I have sold in New York and West Jersey, they shall pay to my daughter Hannah on thirteenth of the clear profit, and also to Elizabeth Fish and the children of my deceased daughter Frances Blackwell, and the children of my deceased daughter Deborah Stringham, and to my wife, two thirteenths.

If my son William dies without issue then his lands go to the rest of my children.  My executors are to sell so much cleared land joining the lot I bought of Jonathan Culver as will make it 40 acres with that lot, and they are to sell all my upland and fresh meadows, joining to Thomas Monell on the main ditch and the road.

Children of Judge Joseph and Hannah Alsop Sackett.

85. Joseph Sackett, b. Mar. 5, 1707, d. in year 17__; m. Milicant Clowes.
86. Richard Sackett, b. June 30, 1709, d. Feb. 11, 1726.
[87 was skipped]
88. Hannah Sackett, b. Aug. 7, 1711, d. July 26, 1762; m. Thomas Whitehead.
89. Elizabeth Sackett, b. Aug. 15, 1713. d. Dec. 17, 1721.
90. John Sackett, b. May 15, 1716, d. Mar. 2, 1783; m. Phoebe Burling.
91. Deborah Sackett, b. Nov. 18, 1718, d. Jan. 10, 1754; m. James Stringham.
92. Frances Sackett, b. Dec. 4, 1720, d. Feb. 4, 1754; m. Joseph Blackwell.
93. James Sackett, b. Sept. 12, 1722, d. Sept. 12, 1784; m. Frances Dekay.
94. Samuel Sackett, b. June 23, 1724, d. Sept. 29, 1780; m. Mary Betts.
95. Thomas Sackett, b. Dec. 27, 1726, d. June 27, 1769; m. Phebe Alburtis.
96. Elizabeth Sackett, b. June 25, 1729, d. Apr. 10, 1778; m. Jonathan Fish.
97. William Sackett, b. Aug. 27, 1731; d. May 1, 1776; m. Deborah Fish.

24.  Anne Sackett, 1681-1757, oldest daughter of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elizabeth Betts Sackett, was married Dec. 27, 1710, to Benjamin Moore, of Newtown, Long Island, N. Y., son of Capt. Samuel

Moore and grandson of Rev. John Moore, both of whom were men of prominence, whose records are closely interwoven in the early history of Long Island.

Rev. John Moore Came to Massachusetts from England about the year 1636.  He was at the time unmarried and a comparatively young man.  He had evidently studied for the ministry in England.  On Dec. 8, 1636, he was sworn a freeman and recorded as a resident of Cambridge, Mass., "where in the following year he purchased from Humphrey Vincent a house and garden on the southerly side of Winthrop Street, between Dunster and Brighton Streets, together with sundry lots of land."  This property he did not dispose of until during or after the year 1642.  The records of Cambridge show that at one period during these years he was a magistrate.  He was also associated with and deeply interested in the founding of the school at Cambridge which became Harvard College and is now America's most renowned university.  Early in the year 1641 he removed to Long Island, N. Y., and in April of that year was recognized as a resident of Southampton.  Previous to changing his place of abode from New England to Long Island, he became engaged in the securing of subscriptions to a fund for the education of divinity students at the Cambridge school, and continued his efforts in that direction after his removal to Long Island.  Riker says "he was an independent * * * having been permitted in New England to preach but not allowed to administer the sacrament.  After this mode he officiated for many years. * * * He was reputed to be a good preacher."  The early colonial records of New York and Connecticut show that on reaching Long Island he took an active and influential part in secular as well as religious affairs.  At a convention held in Hartford, May 30, 1644, looking to a union of Long Island with the New England Colonies, his name appears as that of a delegate from the "Third Ward of Southampton."  A little later in the same year he was in attendance at a meeting of the General Court of Massachusetts, evidently on the same business.  About the same period he began preaching regularly to the congregation to Hempstead.  About the year 1646 he was married to Margaret Howell, daughter of Edward Howell, colonist, who came to America from Buckingham, England, in 1637.  In 1652 Mr. Moore removed to Newtown, L. I., and there became the first regular minister of that settlement, and continued preach-

ing there until his death in 1657.  Some 20 years later the town, in recognition of his valuable services, in negotiations with the Indian owners for the purchase of Newtown plot and in the building of the settlement, awarded 80 acres of land to his surviving children.

Capt. Samuel Moore, son of Rev. John Moore and his wife Margaret Howell, was married to Mary Reed, 1651-1738, daughter of Capt. Thomas Reed.  Capt. Moore served his town as Constable, Assessor, Commissioner of Town Court, Supervisor, and on several important commissions.  He served also in the ranks, as Lieutenant, and as Captain of the Newtown militia.

Benjamin Moore, son of above and husband of Anne Sackett, was a man of marked influence in Newtown, but unlike his father and grandfather, took but little interest in public affairs and did not acquire official prominence.

Children of Benjamin Moore and Anne Sackett Moore.

98. Samuel Moore, b. Dec. 5, 1711; m. Sarah Fish.
99. Mary Moore, b. Jan. 10, 1714; m. James Renne.
100. Anne Moore, b. Nov. 5, 1715; m. Thomas Hollett.
101. Sarah Moore, b. May 17, 1718; m. Samuel Moore.
102. Benjamin More, b. Nov. 23, 1720, d. in year 1745, unmarried.
103. John Moore, b. Jan. 28, 1723, d. in childhood.
104. Elizabeth Moore, b. Jan. 10, 1725; m. William Hazard.
105. Patience Moore, b. Oct. 18, 1727; m. [136] Joseph Lawrence.
106. John Moore, b. July 5, 1730; m. Hannah Whitehead.

25.  Elisabeth Sackett, 1683-1716, daughter of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elisabeth Betts Sackett, was married, about April, 1705, to Joseph Moore, of Newtown, N. Y., son of Capt. Samuel Moore and his wife Mary Reed (see No. 24).

Children.

107. Sarah Moore, b. Sept. 24, 1706; m. Benjamin Fish.
108. Joseph Moore, b. Sept. 28, 1708, d. in November, 1757.
109. Nathaniel Moore, b. Jan. 1, 1710, d. in childhood.
110. Mary Moore, b. Nov. 19, 1712; m. John Davis.
111. Abigail Moore, b. Apr. 10, 1715; m. Samuel Washburn.
112. Sackett Moore, b. Sept. 3, 1716, d. in year 1752.
113. Benjamin Moore, b. Sept 3, 1716, d. in year 1792; m. Mary Hart.

26.  Rev. Richard Sackett, about 1686-1727, of Greenwich, Conn., son of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elizabeth Betts Sackett, was married

before reaching his majority.  His wife died shortly after the birth of their only child, who was named for his father.  Mr. Sackett then entered Yale College and studied for the ministry.  He graduated with honor in 1709, and the following year was married to Elizabeth Kirkland, daughter of Lieut. John Kirtland and his wife Lydia Platt.  The "Yale Graduate," in issue of 1860, contains the following:

"Richard Sackett, son of Joseph Sackett of Newtown, L. I., was born about 1688.  He studied theology and married before Nov., 1711, Elizabeth, daughter of Lieut. John Kirtland of Saybrook, Conn.  In 1711 he was preaching to the congregation of Maidenhead and Hopewell, NJ.  In 1712 his residence was Saybrook.  Early in 1714, he succeeded Mr. John Jones in preaching to the first church in Greenwich, but in 1716 changed to the supply of the pulpit at what was then called Horse Neck in western part of the town.  His ministrations there were so acceptable that the General Assembly in October 1717, granted an application for a church, and accordingly a church was quickly formed (perhaps in the following months) and Mr. Sackett was ordained pastor.  He remained in this office until his sudden death in Greenwich May 9, 1747.  A notice of his death in the New England Weekly Journal says that he was so well the day before that he preached both parts of the day.  He is reported to have been of a mild temper and pleasant manner and much beloved by his people.  His children remained in Greenwich.  the inventory of his estate dated Aug. 15, 1729, amounted to about two thousand pounds -- fifty pounds being in books."

Mr. Mead doubtless drew his conclusion that Mr. Sackett was in "middle life" when he graduated from Yale, from the fact that he was a widower when he entered.  Riker, in his "Annals of Newtown," giving a record of children of Capt. Joseph Sackett, simply states that "Richard married and died at Greenwich, Conn. "An old book which was probably included in the before mentioned inventory, is entitled, "The First Epistle of St. John the Apostle."  It was written, as shown by the title page, by Nathaniel Hardy, minister of the gospel and preacher to the parish of St. Dionecius, and printed in London in 1659.  This ancient volume was, in 1905, in possession of the heirs of Daniel Gott, Esq., of Syracuse, N. Y.

Written in it, unquestionably by the hand of Rev. Richard Sackett, is this note:

"My honored father, Joseph Sackett, left this world September 23, Anno Que Domini 1719."

On another page, in the same hand, the following names appear: "Elisabeth, Nathaniel, Richard, Joseph, Mary, Abigail."

The Greenwich Town Records contain the following:  "Richard Sackett, of Greenwich, and his wife Elizabeth had: John, b. Nov. 14, 1713; Elizabeth, b. evening next after Dec. 28, 1717; Nathaniel, b. June 8, 1720; Abigail, b. Aug. 29, 1722; Joseph, b. Feb. 11, 1724-5."

Nathaniel Kirtland, 1616-1678, the grandfather of Elizabeth Kirtland Sackett, came from Count Bucks, England, to Massachusetts Bay, in the ship Hopewell in the year 1635.  For several years he resided at Lynn, after which he removed to Southold, L. I., where he was married.  Previous to the year 1658 he returned to Lynn, of which town he was for several years a Selectman.

Lieut. John Kirtland, 1659-1716, son of Nathaniel Kirtland, and father of Elizabeth Kirtland Sackett, was married, May 16, 1679, to Lydia Pratt, daughter of Lieut. William Pratt.  Lieut. John Kirtland was a man of prominence in Saybrook, and during the years 1702 and 1703 was the commandant of the Government fort there.

The following is as nearly complete a list as we are able to give of Rev. Richard Sackett's.

Children.

114. Richard Sackett, b. about 1706, d. about 1767.
115. John Sackett, b. March 14, 1713, d. March 15, 1713.
116. Elizabeth Sackett, b. Mar. 28, 1715.
117. Mary Sackett, b. Dec. 28, 1717; m. _______ Lockwood.
118. Nathaniel Sackett, b. June 8, 1720, d. before 1768; m. 1st, Ann Bush.
119. Abigail Sackett, b. Aug. 29, 1722; m. Jehial Hubbell.
120. Joseph Sackett, b. Feb. 11, 1724; m. Hannah Budson.

27.  John Sackett, 16__-1728, of Newtown, L. I., son of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elizabeth Betts Sackett, was married, Jan. 11, 1719, to Elisabeth Field, after whose death he was married to her sister,

Susanna Field.  They were daughters of Elnathan Field, son of Robert Field, of Newtown, who was the son of Robert Field, a patentee of Flushing, L. I.

Children.

121. Elizabeth Sackett, b. in year 1720, d. Sept. 6, 1809; m. John Leverish.
122. William Sackett, b. Dec. 29, 1727, d. Apr. 28, 1802; m. (141) Anne Lawrence.

28.  Sarah Sackett, 1689-1766, daughter of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elizabeth Betts Sackett, was married in 1777[sic] [1717] to her brother-in-law, Joseph Moore, who died suddenly July 10, 1756, aged 77 years. (See No. 25)

Children.

123. Anne Moore, b. Mar. 21, 1718, d. in year 1769, unmarried.
124. Elizabeth Moore, b. Mar. 28, 1720; m. Joseph Baldwin.
125. Patience Moore, b. Feb. 5, 1722; m. John Moore.
126. Samuel Moore, b. Jan. 15, 1724, d. in year 1781; m. Abigail Field.
127. Martha Moore, b. Mar. 30, 1726; m. Joseph Titus.
128. Nathaniel Moore, b. Jan. 15, 1728, d. in year 1781; m. Joana Hall.
129. Phoebe Moore, b. Mar. 28, 1730; m. _______ Burroughs.
130. Jemima Moore, b. Oct. 18, 1732, d. in year 1758, unmarried.

29.  Abigail Sackett, 1695-1752, daughter of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elisabeth Betts Sackett, was married in December, 1718, to John Alsop, son of Capt. Richard Alsop, who it is claimed is a lineal descendant of the Richard Alsop who was Lord Mayor of London in 1579.  John Alsop was by profession a lawyer, and a short time after his marriage to Abigail Sackett, whose brother (23) Joseph had married his sister Hannah, located at New Windsor, Orange County, N. Y., where he was largely interested in real estate.  A few years later he removed to New York City and there practiced his profession for many years.

Children.

131. Ephemia Alsop, m. Thomas Stephenson.
132. Frances Alsop, d. unmarried.
133. John Alsop, b. ____, d. Nov. 22, 1794; m. Mary Fragot.
134. Richard Alsop, b. in year 1726, d. Apr. 10, 1776; m. Mary Wright.

30.  William Sackett, 1691-1761, of Newtown, L. I., son of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elisabeth Betts Sackett, was married, in 1727, to Mrs Mary Janes.  He died without issue.  Much of his time and attention was given to agricultural pursuits.  He, however, served several years in the magistracy.  By his will he conveyed his homestead at Newtown to Dr. Jacob Ogden, and the residue of his estate, including several slaves, to his nephews, Samuel and John Moore, sons of his sister Anna and to Joseph Lawrence, the husband of his niece, Patience, the sister of said nephews.  Dr. Ogden deeded to the church at Newtown the property willed to him by William Sackett.  It had evidently, says Riker, been left to him in trust for that purpose.  These premises now (1907) contain, with other buildings, the Episcopal parsonage house and a new church.

31.  Patience Sackett, 1700-1772, daughter of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elisabeth Betts Sackett, was married, December 8, 1720, to John Lawrence, 1695-1765, son of Captain John Lawrence and his wife Deborah Woodward.

Major Thomas Lawrence, the grandfather of above mentioned John Lawrence, was born in Great St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England.  He came to America about 1645.  According to Riker, "he lived awhile at Flushing, L. I., but in 1656 bought a house and lot in Newtown, to which place he removed and took part in buying the town lands from the Indians that same year.  Afterwards, by purchase from the Dutch settlers, he became proprietor of a number of cultivated farms extending along the East River from Hellgate to Bowery Bay.  On receiving the news of the Revolution in England in 1688, and the removal of Sir Edward Andres as Governor of Massachusetts, the family of Thomas Lawrence became decided in asserting the principles which had prompted his departure from England.  Though advanced in years, Capt. Lawrence accepted the command of the forces of Queens County, to which he was commissioned by Governor Leisler, with the rank of Major, on Dec. 30, 1689.  In February following he was intrusted with the raising of troops in Queens County to aid in defending Albany against the French: and again in the same year he was commissioned to proceed