The Sacketts of America

to Southold with a militia force to protect his Majesty's subjects against the apprehended attacks of French cruisers."

Capt. John Lawrence, son of Major Thomas Lawrence, and father-in-law of Patience Sackett Lawrence, commanded the Newtown troop of horse in Leisler's time, with his brother Daniel Lawrence as Cornet: and was soon after appointed High Sheriff of the county, to which place he was also chosen in 1698.  He was married to Deborah Woodhull, daughter of Richard Woodhull, one of the patentees of Brookhaven.

John Lawrence, son of above mentioned Capt. John Lawrence and his wife Deborah Woodhull, and husband of Patience Sackett, was a wealthy farmer and for many years a magistrate of Queens County, N. Y.

Children.

135. John Lawrence, 1721-1764; m. Catherine Livingston.
136. Joseph Lawrence, 1723-1793; m. Benjamin Moore.[sic] [(105) Patience Moore]
137. Richard Lawrence, 1725-1781; m. Amy Berrien.
139. Nathaniel Lawrence, 1727-1761, d. unmarried. [Weygant skipped No. 138]
140. William Lawrence, 1729-1794; Ann Brinkherhoff.
141. Anne Lawrence, 1731-1798; m. (122) William Sackett.
142. Thomas Lawrence, 1733-1817; m. Elisabeth Fish.
143. Samuel Lawrence, 1735-1810; m. Elizabeth Hazard.
144. Jonathan Lawrence, 1737-1812, m. Judith Fish.
145. Daniel Lawrence, 1739-1807; m. Eva Van Horne.

32.   Rev. Samuel Sackett, 1712-1784, son of (7) Capt. Joseph and Mercy Whitehead (Betts) Sackett, was married in 1734 to Hannah Hazard, daughter of Nathaniel Hazard and his wife Deborah Alsop.  In 1735 Mr. and Mrs. Sackett took up their residence in Orange County, N. Y., where the Sacketts and Hazards were largely interested in unimproved lands, owing many thousands of acres in what are now the towns of New Windsor, Cornwall, Woodbury, Blooming Grove and Montgomery.  The young couple resided during the greater part of the first eight years of their wedded life at the foot of Storm King Mountain, near the village of Cornwall.  During these, to them, not uneventful years, Mr. Sackett labored as a missionary, mainly in the towns mentioned.  One of his principal preaching stations was Little Britain, where he lay the foundation of a society which is still in existence.

The minutes of the Presbytery of New Brunswick show that in 1742 he was sent to preach in Westchester County - the special field assigned him being Cortland Manor, embracing North Salem, Cortland town Crompond and Somers.  In 1743 he was installed pastor of the Presbyterian Society at Bedford.  In 1747 to 1749 Crompond (now Yorktown ) secured his services for half the time.  From 1749 to April 11 1753, he labored at Bedford.  He was then settled over the church at Hanover, Conn., where he remained until 1760, when he returned to the church Crompond.  In 1765 he was again at Hanover, which became the scene of his labors until after the commencement of the Revolution.  A letter written by him to is son Nathaniel, at Fishkill, N. Y., dated "Hanover, Oct. 29, 1776," contains the following request: "Send us two wagons immediately to help us away with some small things before the enemy are upon us."  During the long struggle for independence Mr. Sackett's position as minister at Crompond was most trying.  His daughter Hannah was the wife of Stephen De Lancey, son Hon. James De Lancey: and the De Lanceys were bitter Tories.  His sons were serving in the Patriot Army.  His pastoral flock was divided, some were Whigs and others were Loyalists.  Crompond was about midway of the distance between the outposts of the opposing armies.  But he preached whenever occasion offered, not concealing the fact that his sympathies were with those of his countrymen who had determined to throw off the galling yoke of oppression.  In July, 1779, the meeting house at Crompond, in which his flock assembled for worship, was destroyed by fire kindled by a body of British cavalry sent out for that especial purpose.  A short time after the close of the war a new edifice was erected on the site of the burned building.  And for over a century a plain tombstone has stood in the graveyard adjoining it, bearing this inscription:

Thomas Hazard, the grandfather of Hannah, wife of Rev. Samuel Sackett, came to Boston from Wales in 1635.  In 1636 the General Court of Massachusetts Bay admitted him to Freemanship.  In 1652 he sought and obtained from Director Stuyvesant, of New Amsterdam, in behalf of himself and a goodly company of English men from New England, permission to plant a town within

his jurisdiction.  "The fertile lands of Mespot, L. I., being yet, for the most part unoccupied, afforded a bright field for the enterprise, and soon a group of cottages, fashioned after those of New England, arose to adorn the settlement."  The most of these were located upon the street whereon the Presbyterian Church of Newtown now stands.

Among the privileges granted by Director Stuyvesant to the villagers, was the free exercise of the Protestant religion and the choice of their own Scheppens or magistrates: making annually a double nomination of the best qualified persons in the town, from whom the Director General and Council should select and confirm one-half in office whose authority extended to the collection and disbursement of town revenues and most other matters affecting the peace and security of their municipality."  Under the above arrangement Thomas Hazard was the first person nominated and confirmed as a magistrate, and he was retained in office by renomination and by reappointment for a long consecutive term of years.

In 1653, the year after Thomas Hazard and his associates from New England came to Long Island, Indians and freebooters became very troublesome and committed many serious depredations.  The English towns, aroused by their losses and a sense of personal insecurity, first called a meeting at Flushing and then sent delegates to meet the Burgermasters at New Amsterdam in joint session, at the City Hall, on the 25th day of November of that year, to devise some plan for their common safety.  Thomas Hazard was a delegate from his town to this and subsequent councils held at New Amsterdam for the same and similar objects.

Jonathan Hazard, son of Thomas and grandfather of Hannah, wife of Rev. Samuel Sackett, married Hannah Laurenson, daughter of James Laurenson, and resided permanently at Newtown, becoming even more prominent and influential in civil affairs than his father had been.  He served acceptably under various English Governors of the Province, thirteen years as a magistrate in the various courts, four years as Supervisor, one year as an Assessor, and throughout the greater part of his adult life as Town Surveyor.  He died in 1711, survived by three sons and two daughters, who inherited a substantial estate.

Nathaniel Hazard, son of Jonathan, married Deborah Alsop Simpkins, daughter of Richard Alsop, and wife of Capt. John

Simpkins.  They were the parents of Hannah Hazard, wife of Rev. Samuel Sackett.  Nathaniel Hazard began his business career as a merchant at Newtown, but soon removed to New York and from there to Philadelphia, where he acquired unusual prominence.  His son Ebenezer became Postmaster General of the United States, and edited several valuable contributions to American History.

Hannah Hazard, the wife of Rev. Samuel Sackett, was in several respects a remarkable woman.  The following letter, written by her to her daughter Hannah, gives an interesting insight of her character, and presents a graphic picture of domestic life "in the days that tried men's souls."  The original is in possession of Mrs. Anne C. Gott, of Irondequoit, N. Y., one of her descendants.

Dear Child:

When I tell you that I have but Hannah to call upon and have had to nurse the sick for a week during which Mr. Bernit has lodged here, and that Frank has had the smallpox and been useless to me these three weeks, you will not wonder that I have not been able to find time to acknowledge the receipt of your friendly epistle before.  I have been harrassed to death and so afflicted with pain in my breast and stomach that I have scarce been able to sit up.  I am getting the better of it I hope, for I trust I have no reason to fear death, yet pain is and ever will be a disagreeable companion to live with.

Do you think you can be contented with your new abode and acquaintances?  If I can leave my mother I shall endeavor to make you a visit this spring.  Her disorder will not permit me to be long absent.  When you are weary of your present retreat you must make an excursion hither, my house and half a bed, more I cannot offer because I have not more than one, though, if you insist upon it I think, upon due deliberation, I will return to my old method of lodging on the floor and resign the whole bedstead with the necessary furniture to you.  I had thought of sending for you some days ago to bid you a final adieu for this world but my live seems to be reanimated.  How long the dying lamp will continue its fainting beams I am not much concerned to know, but only am I anxious what remains of it shall be spent usefully.  The seeds you wish I will send, but have not so many as I wish I could supply you with, some have been destroyed, some lost, some the rats have eat, for moving so often and the confusion which is the almost unavoidable consequence of it, has prevented me from taking that care of them I used to do.  Of what I have you shall be a sharer.

I had a visit yesterday from Mr. Evans.  I wished for you to make one of the party.  You may perceive by this no design to monopolize the man.  He dined with me and sang for me but did not make a long visit, being under the necessity of returning to Peekskill to visit a condemned malefactor.  I like him very well on better acquaintance.  He has recovered his health and is in good spirits.  I believe he would have been very glad to

Page 44 see you.  I am more than half sorry you have sold your farm and if your family settles there shall, as soon as I can, quit this place and return to my friends at New York.  But this place and return to my friends at New York.  But this I can not do until the commotion in the land subsides, and that is an event which to human sagacity must appear remote.  Were not my mother with me I could easily follow you, but unless necessity induces me to a removal I shall not do a thing to which she is so averse.  I flatter myself sometimes that I shall yet execute my favorite plan of operations, that is to build at the hill near my sister at the Bowery and to have you spend the winters with me.  I hope your father will be able to return to his congregation after a while, and then the distance between this and New York will not prevent you from making us a winter visit.  And I can repay in summer.  However we can not tell where Providence will cast our future lot.  Yet we may, innocently enough I believe, please ourselves with such agreeable prospects, what ever in a world of vicissitudes may be our portion.  May the bosom of God be our final abode and place of rest.  Tell me how you employ yourself, whether in harmless plain work, or

By murmuring brooke
Observe the gliding streams or croaking rooks
Or with dull rural sports, dull scenes or duller books?

I am ready to chide myself for this little sally of humor.  The fire of vivacity is not quite extinguished in my soul, though almost suffocated under heaps of cares, sorrows and disorders.  Should these be removed I imagine I should be, as once, the life of society.  I sigh when I look back on the time when I sparkled in the gay circles of my acquaintance: frank, easy, lively, brilliant, and innocent as gay - the darling and delight of all my numerous associates who were ready to divide me in pieces to share me among them, each contending who should have me.  How often it has raised my vanity to observe the preference and peculiar distinction now buried in the deep obscurity of the remotest solitude, unknowing and noknown of the Beau Monde.

But why should I regret that homage since I have exchanged to such advantage.  Why should my fond ungrateful heart complain.  Yet 'tis as a certain author observes, like an Isaac trial, and one had need have Abraham's faith to have God instead of the world.  Who would not?  But alas sorrows, exersized with a variety of cares and anxieties, oppressed with the languor of sickness and almost expiring under temptations, constrained to labor though scarcely able to sit up, without one kind friend or relative to lift the homely latch of my cottage and assist in cheering and soothing such variety of wretchedness.  I might add other calamities but is a dismal group of the most awful and gloomy images already drawn together.  And who that should be told, this is your lot, could without shuddering hear the dreadful doom announced.  Yet all this and more than this I have suffered, and in the midst of much suffering smiled - have forgot my own woes often while I have endeavored to alleviate those of others and cheered the drooping hearts of my fellow sufferers.  I am sensible that infinite goodness

Page 45 ordains, directs and superintends all human events, and that all things are ordered in mercy.  Some things I have undergone have not been properly through my own default but my want of fortitude has given energy to the evil of adverse circumstances and rendered them more afflicting.  When I hope in God it appeases the fury of the storm, but when this delightful and supporting thought vanishes I sink, and who can wonder I do so under my burdens.  I sometimes please myself with thinking that like Job it shall be better with me at the latter end than in the beginning.  This injures no one, and should it be no more than an airy fancy it will not harm me as it buoies up my disponding soul and seems like a friendly gale to assist in wafting me over the waters of the troubled ocean of mortality.  And when I reach the haven of Eternity I shall but smile to reflect that the prospect and flattering expectations of the sunshine of prosperity had cheered me when tossed on the boisterous surges of life.  May you be preserved from such painful exegencies.  Your own lot you think deplorable, yet at present it is not so.  Secure in the bosom of parents who, if in their conduct there is a fault, it is in too great tenderness for you.  And why should you anticipate misfortunes you may never live to experience and which you are apt to suppose would be consequent upon their death.  Oh.  Hannah, one needful care is to gain the favor of God and then leave the events of your life with him who will choose wisely and can but choose most kindly for you, tho' perhaps not as your own wild desires would be ready to demand.

I have exceeded the intended bounds of this letter.  Excuse me, if you are tired of reading let me know it and the next shall by its brevity compensate for the tediousness of this.

I am dear Hannah affectionately yours.
April 23, 1777

146. Deborah Sackett, 1st, b. Jan. 15, 1733, d. Dec. 17, 1745.
147. Joseph Sackett, b. Apr. 18, 1735, d. Dec. 1, 1757; Eliza Strang.
148. Nathaniel Sackett, b. Apr. 10, 1737, d. July 28, 1805; m. Mary Rogers.
149. Mercy Sackett, b. Mar. 3, 1739; d. Sept. 15, 1741.
150. Samuel Sackett, 1st, b. June 18, 1741, d. in August 1741.
151. Samuel Sackett, 2nd, b. May 24, 1743, d. Sept. 16, 1745.
152. William Sackett, b. July 8, 1744, d. Sept. 16, 1745.
153. Deborah Sackett, 2nd, b. Oct. 25, 1746, d. July 14, 1769; m. Benjamin Peck.
154. Samuel Sackett, 3rd, b. July 10, 1749, d. Apr. 15, 1780, unmarried.
155. Hannah Sackett, 1751-1830; m. Stephen De Lancey and Isaac Baldwin.
156. Ebenezer Sackett, b. Oct 16, 1753, d. Oct. 21, 1761.
157. James Sackett, b. Oct. 3, 1756, d. Aug. 28, 1791, unmarried.

33.  John Sacket, 1688-___?, of Westfield, Mass., son of (8) John and Deborah Filley Sacket, was married, July 14, 1722, to Sarah Mackerany.

Children.

158. John Sacket, b. Aug. 2, 1723; m. Rachel Church.
159. Seth Sacket, b. Feb. 17, 1725; m. Elizabeth Winchell.
160. Sarah Sacket, b. Oct. 14, 1720, d. Jan. 20, 1745, unmarried.
161. Aaron Sacket, b. July 13, 1735, d. Aug. 15, 1750, unmarried.
162. Lucy Sacket, b. Nov. 15, 1730; m. Gad Kellogg.

34.  Abigail Sacket, 1690-____, daughter of (8) John and Deborah Filley Sacket, was married, Sept. 5, 1728, to Capt. Thomas Griswold.

Only Child.

163. Abigail Griswold.

35.  Daniel Sacket, 1693-1776, of Westfield, Mass., son of (8) John and Deborah Filley Sacket, was married, Feb. 1, 1732, to Mary Weller, daughter of Eleazer Weller, Jr.  Mr. Sackett was an active participant in Colonial wars.  In 1723 he served as a sentinel in Capt. Adgat Dewey.s troop of horse.  He was also a member of the company of troops commanded by Capt. Hezekiah Noble, and was on duty guarding Westfield under Capt. John Ashley. (See Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 91, pages 94 and 164.)
[Westfield Record for Daniel's family]

Children.

164. Margaret Sacket, b. Dec. 4, 1732.
165. Daniel Sacket, b. Mar. 6, 1734, d. in year 1824.
166. Ozem Sacket, b. Jan. 24, 1736, d. in year 1801; m. Mercy Weller.
167. Mary Sacket, b. Nov. 21, 1738.
168. Ann Sacket, b. Feb. 28, 1740, d. Sept. 21, 1750.
169. Moses Sacket, b. Nov. 29, 1743; m. Eunice Cadwell.
170. Israel Sacket, b. Feb. 10, 1746, d. in year 1786; m. (193) Eunice Sacket.
171. Gad Sacket, b. Apr. 13, 1748; m. Lucy Williams.
185 Asher Sacket, b. Apr. 13, 1748, m. Sarah Kellogg [See note below]
172. Abner Sacket, b. Oct. 11, 1751; m. Rhoda Kellogg.
173. ______ Sacket.

[NOTE: According to the Westfield Town Records; 173. ______ Sacket. should be Asher Sacket, b. Apr. 13, 1748; twin brother of (171) Gad Sacket.  However, in what appears to be an error on Weygant's part, Asher was placed as the son of (41) Israel Sacket.]

37.  Benjamin Sacket, 1698-1753, of Westfield and Sheffield in Mass., son of (8) John and Deborah Filley Sacket, was married, Dec. 4, 1729, to (62) Thankful King, daughter of David King and his wife (16) Abigail Sacket.

Copy of Will.

In the name of God Amen, the twenty & seventh day of August, 1746.  I Benjamin Sacket, of Sheffield in the County of Hampshire, on the Province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New England, being in perfect health * * * I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Thankful the improvements of the whole of my estate both real and personal until my children com to be of age - my sons twenty one years and daughters eighteen years old, and each child to their portion as they come of age, and the improvement of one third of my estate real and personal during her natural life as the law provides for her.

Item - I give to my well beloved oldest son Benjamin five pounds money, over and above what I give to his brethren.
Item - I give to my well beloved sons Benjamin Sacket, King Sacket, & Zebulon Sacket the whole of my estate real and personal to have possession each of their portion as they come of age except their mothers thirds, and all at her decease, they paying their sisters portion, and in case either of the sons should die before he is of age his portion shall return to his or their brother or brethren.  And in case that I should have another son it is my will that he should be equal to his brethren.
Item - I give to my well beloved daughter Deborah twenty pounds money to be paid to her equally by my sons.  And in case that I should have a daughter born after this time I giver her twenty pounds money to be paid out of my estate by my sons equally.

Likewise I constitute, make and ordain my trusty and well beloved brother Daniel Sacket of Westfield & my beloved wife Thankful executors of this my last Will and Testament.

174. Benjamin Sacket, m. Miss Buel.
175. King Sacket, m. (179) Lydia Sacket.
176. Zebulon Sacket.
177. Abigail Sacket.
178. Deborah Sacket.

39.  Isaac Sackett, 1703-1773, of Westfield, Mass., son of (8) John and Mahitable Danks (Harris) Sacket, was married, Dec. 18, 1735, to Elizabeth Shepard. [Additional information]

Children.

179. Lydia Sacket, b. Dec. 18, 1736; m. (175) King Sacket.
180. Ezekiel Sacket, b. Sept. 12, 1738; m. Anne Granger.
181. Mahitabel Sacket, b. May 7, 1741.
182. David Sacket, b. Aug. 19, 1743, d. 1838; m. Lucretia Shepard.
183. Adnah Sacket, b. Dec. 5, 1745, d. Apr. 8, 1813; m. Jerusha Pumeroy.
184. Zaven Sacket, b. Apr. 28, 1751; m. Abigail Bills.

41.  Israel Sacket, 1706-1786, of Westfield, Mass., son of (8) John and Mahitable Danks (Harris) Sacket. [Westfield Record of Israel's birth]

Child.

185. Asher Sacket, b. in year 1748; m. Leah Kellogg. [Sarah Kellogg]
[Asher being placed as a child of Israel Sacket appears to have been an error on Weygant's part.  According to the Westfield Town Records, Asher was a son of (35) Daniel Sacket and twin brother of Gad Sacket, b. Apr 13, 1748.  We know of no records for (41) Israel Sacket beyond the record of his birth.]

42.  Eliakim Sacket, 1712-1764, of Westfield, Mass., son of (8) John and Mahitable Danks (Harris) Sacket, was married July 5, 1738, to Bethesda Fowler, 1717- ?, daughter of Samuel Fowler and his wife Maria Root.  The following is a copy of his will:

In the name of God Amen, this fifth day of July Anaque Domine, 1764.  I Eliakim Sacket of Westfield in the County of Hampshire and Provence of Massachusetts Bay in New England being infirm and weak of body but in perfect mind and memory * * * touching such worldly estate both real and personal, as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form, viz.:
Imprimus, I give to my beloved wife Bethesda Sacket Four Hundred and Fifty Pounds.
Item , I give to my beloved son Stephen Sacket Four Hundred and Fifty Pounds.
Item , I give to my beloved son Ezra Sacket Four Hundred and Fifty Pounds.
Item , I give to my beloved son Pliney Sacket Four Hundred and Fifty Pounds.
Item, I give to my beloved daughter Rhoda Ashley, with what she has already had, One Hundred Pounds, that is to say with what she has had to make the hundred pounds.
Item, I give to my beloved daughter Mercy Sacket One Hundred Pounds, which hundred pounds is to rise and fall with her brothers and sisters as my estate may be after my debts are paid, also ten sheep.

Item, I give to my beloved daughter Eunice Sacket One Hundred Pounds.
Item, I give to my beloved daughter Sarah Sacket One Hundred Pounds.
Item, I give to my beloved daughter Molly Sacket One Hundred Pounds.

And in proportion my will is that my several children shall have more or less according as my estate shall inventory after my just debts are paid, excepting the ten sheep which I give to my daughter Mercy, and also Ten pounds which I give as an addition to my son Justice's portion of four hundred pounds.

I now constitute and appoint my beloved wife Bethesda Sacket, and my son Justice Sacket my executors of this my last Will and Testament * * * hereby utterly disallowing all and ever former Will and Testament.

186. Eliakim Sacket, Jr., b. Nov. 23, 1739, d. Aug. 26, 1758; unmarried.
187. Rhoda Sacket, b. Dec. 21, 1740; m. Josiah Ashley.
188. Mercy Sacket, b. Nov. 25, 1742; m. Oliver Weller.
189. Justice Sacket, b. Oct. 14, 1745, d. in year 1778; m. Naomi Weller.
190. Stephen Sacket, b. May 23, 1748, d. in year 1830; m. Emma Ross.
191. Ezra Sacket, b. Nov. 15, 1750, d. in year 1834; m. Lydia Lovering.
192. Pliny Sacket, b. May 24, 1753; m. Elisabeth Kellogg.
193. Eunice Sacket, b. Feb. 19, 1756; m. (170) Israel Sacket.
194. Sarah Sacket, b. Aug. 29, 1758; m. Elna Hoyt.
195. Molly Sacket, b. Nov. 23, 1761.

44.  Joseph Sacket, 1690-1750, of Westfield, Mass., son of [9] William and Hannah Graves [Sacket], was married ________, to Abigail _______ who died in 1776.

Will of Joseph Sacket.

In the name of God Amen. the eighth day of March 1756.  I Joseph Sacket of Westfield, . . . husbandman.
Imprimus, I give and bequeath . . . to Abigail my beloved wife the use of one half of my house, barn, and home lot so long as she remains my widow, and also the use of my lot over the little river by the bridge the same term of her widowhood.  Also I give her one bed and furniture such as she may choose to her disposal forever.  Also I give her five pounds in movables out of the household furniture, such a she may choose to her disposal forever.

Item.  I give unto my well beloved son Jesse Sacket, five shillings to be paid by my executors, also one half of my joiners tools.