The Sacketts of America

Item.  I give unto my well beloved son Erastus Sacket, five shillings, also one half of my joiners tools, and all my team tackling.
Item.  I give unto my well beloved daughter Beulah Dewey, Eight Pounds to be paid by my executors and also one half of my movables in the house, and also one half of my live stock.
Item.  I give unto my well beloved daughter Abigail Smith, Eight Pounds to be paid by my executors, and also one half of my movables in the house, and also one half of my live stock.
I do appoint ordain and constitute Erastus Sacket to be my executor of this my last Will and Testament.

Record of Children.

196. Beulah Sacket, b. Jan. 30, 1714, d. Oct. 27, 1769; m. Joseph Dewey.
197. Jesse Sacket, b. Nov. 9, 1716; m. Sarah Dewey.
198. Erastus Sacket, b. Elizabeth Leonard.
199. Hannah Sacket, b. Oct. 10, 1726, d. Oct. 13, 1799; m. Jacob Noble.
200. Abigail Sacket, m. _______ Smith.

47.  Jonathan Sacket, 1696-1773, of Westfield, Mass., and of the towns of Hebron and Kent (now Warren) in Conn., son of (9) William and Hannah Graves Sacket, was married in February, 1722, to Abigail Ashley, who died before the end of that year.  On Jan. 28, 1725, he was married to Ann Filer, daughter of Zebulun Filer [other sources have his name as Zerubbabel] and his wife Experience Strong*.  Jonathan Sacket was born and grew to manhood in the town of Westfield.  Immediately after his marriage to Abigail Ashley he took possession of a small farm at Hebron, Conn., which he had purchased the previous year.  There is some uncertainty as to just when he removed from Hebron to Kent.  The records of Kent show that in the year 1745, "Jonathan Sacket, of Hebron," purchased from one Joseph Fuller, certain lands in that town, and that  in 1749 he purchased from one Joseph Phillips another tract in same town.  These records also show that in 1749 he conveyed certain lands in the town of Kent to his son, Jonathan Sacket, Jr.

Wills of Jonathan and Anne Sacket.

In the name of God AMEN.  I Jonathan Sacket, of Kent in Litchfield County, Colony of Connecticut, in New England. ... give unto Anne my beloved wife the use of the half of my dwelling house and the

half of my barn and the use of the half of my lot that I now live on during her widowhood,
and I also give unto my beloved wife to be at her disposal as she please, two cows and ten sheep and my riding mare and side saddle and bridle, and all my household goods and beds and bedding, pots, kettles and co.  Also my looms and loom tackling belonging thereto.
Item, I give to my wel beloved son Justus one half of my house and barn to be at his disposal at my decease, and my home lot that I now live on at the decease or marriage of my wife.  And I also give unto my son Justus my oxen and all my team tackling, and all my stock excepting the above mentioned cows, mare and sheep that I have given to my beloved wife, and my said son Justus is to find his mother a team cart and plow & co to do her team work with so long as she remains my widow.  And also I give unto my son Justus that piece of land I bought of James Phelps, that is joining to my lot I now live on, and he to pay unto my son Jonathan three pounds six shillings and eight pence.
Item.  I give unto my beloved son Jonathan the above named three pounds six shilling and eight pence that my son Justus is ordered to pay to him, and also four pounds three shillings that my son Reuben is to pay to him in money or spetia.  And as to my wearing clothes I give them to my beloved sons Jonathan, Justus and Reuben, to be divided equally between them.  And I do appoint my well beloved wife and my son Justus to be my lawful executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of June A. D. 1772.  And in presence of three witnesses I do publish and pronounce and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
  Jonathan Sacket (ss)
  John Bliss, Jr.
  Samuel Bliss
  Ephraim Tanner

In the name of God Amen I Anne Sacket of Kent in Litchfield County in the State of Connecticut being well and in perfect memory . . . . do make this my last Will and Testament . . . .  I give & demise and dispose . . . . in manor following viz

After my debts and funeral charges are paid I give to my grand children, sons of my oldest son Jonathan Sackett deceased viz: to William Sacket, Jese Sacket and Almon Sackett the one third part of the whole of my estate that is to say one half of the aforsaid one third part I give unto Willyam, Filer and Jese and the other half I give to Almon always provided that it is to understand that William hath received two pounds lawful money which is to be accounted towards his part -- the money he received November 1773
Item.  I give unto my son Justus Sacket one third part of the whole of my estate
Item.  I give unto my son Rubin Sacket one third part of the whole of my estate

Page 52

Furthermore I ordane and appoint my son Justus Sacket executor of this my last Will and Testament signed sealed and pronounced in the presents of my witnesses ____ day of June 1783
 Anne Sacket  (s)
Signed sealed and pronounced in presence of us
Nathaniel Spooner
 Augustus Curtis
 Rebekah Spooner

[Warren June 18th A D 1787
Personally appeared Nathaniel Spooner Augustin Curtiss and Rebekah Spooner now Rebekah Peck and made oath that witnessed the within will in the presents of each other & heard the Testor declar this to be her last Will & Testament & suposed her to be of sound mind & memory
 Before me
 Eleazer Curtiss
 Justis Peas

Know all men those presents that we Justus Sackett and Reuben Sackett both of Warren in the Probate District of Litchfield are hereby holden and bound to Oliver Wolion Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield in the sum of one hundred pounds of lawful money for payment whereof we bind all above jointly to the said Judge or his court ---- or an officer be witness our hand in Litchfield the 19th Nov. 1787.]  - (Added from: http://www.familytreemaker.com/users/s/a/c/Daniel-Floyd-Sackett/GENE1-0011.html where a more complete text of her will can be found)

201. Anne Sacket, b. June 12, 1726, d. in infancy.
202. Jonathan Sacket, b. Dec. 26, 1727, d. in year 1777; m. Hannah Phelps.
203. Justus Sacket, b. Mar. 9, 1730, d. Mar. 16, 1815; m. Lydia Newcomb.
204. Reuben Sacket, b. June 17, 1732, d. June 5, 1803; m. Mercy Finney.
205. Aaron Sacket, b. Aug. 1735, probably died in childhood. [believed to have died in 1758]
206. Anne Sacket, b. Aug. 23, 1738, probably died in childhood.
207. Hannah Sacket, b. Aug. 13, 1740; probably died in childhood.
208. Rebecca Sacket, b. Apr. 14, 1743; probably died in childhood.

57.  William Sacket, 1700-1755, of Westfield, Mass., son of (14) Samuel and Elisabeth Bissell Sacket, was married in April, 1724, to Hannah Bagg.

Will.

In the name of God Amen, this ninth day of Nov'r 1752.  I William Sacket of Westfield in the County of Hampshire & Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England, being in comfortable health. * * *
Imprimus.  I give and bequeath unto Hannah my beloved wife the improvements of one third of  my real estate so long as she remains my widow, and one third of all my personal estate for her disposal forever, and also my riding horse and mare over and above what has been given.
Item.  I give unto my daughter Hannah Noble my farm at Munhard River, by David and Solomon Root farm, containing about fifty or sixty acres, and also fifteen pounds lawful money.
Item.  I give unto my son William Sacket. all the remainder of my estate real and personal.
Item.  I now constitute and appoint my son William Sacket, sole executor of this my last Will and Testament.

225. Hannah Sacket, b. July 6, 1725; m. _________ Noble.
226. Moses Sacket, b. Dec. 15, 1727. d. Oct. 10, 1743, unmarried.
227. William Sacket, b. Sept. 1730, d. in year 1802; m. Lydia Weller.

58.  Elizabeth Sacket, 1702-1755, daughter of (14) Samuel and Elisabeth Bissell Sacket, was married, Jan 16, 1724, to Luke Noble, 1700-1778, son of Sergeant Luke Noble.  They resided at Westfield and removed in 1743 to Great Barrington, Mass.

Children.
228. Hannah Noble, b. Nov. 12, 1724; m. James Root.
229. Simeon Noble, b, Mar. 3, 1729.
230. Elizabeth Noble, b. Feb. 9, 1742.
231. Naomi Noble. b. May 19, 1745; m. Samuel Judd.
Six children died in infancy.

59.  Samuel Sacket, 1704-1760, of Westfield and Sheffield in Mass., son of (14) Samuel and Elisabeth Bissell Sacket, was married in Nov. 1738, to Ruth Trumble.

Will.

In the name of God Amen, the twenty third day of April 1760, I Samuel Sacket of Sheffield, husbandman, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God  . . .  .
Imprimus.  I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ruth the improvement of one third part of my estate both Real and Personal, during her natural life, and then go to the children, my son Samuel to have a double part.  I will that my wife have the improvement of one third of my house barn and orchard in her third part.  I also give to my wife Five pounds beside her thirds.
Item.  I give to my well beloved son Samuel two fifth parts of the remainder of my estate Real and  Personal.  And he to have my house barn and orchard in his part after my wife has done with them.
Item.  I give to my beloved daughter Thankful one fifth part of  my estate Real and Personal, in such manner as is consistent with that what I have given my son, and also Thankful to have a feather bed above what her sisters have.
Item.  I give to my well beloved daughter Abigail one fifth part of my estate Real and Personal in such manner as is consistent with what I have given my wife and son & co.
Item.  I five to my well beloved daughter Rachel one fifth part of my estate Real and Personal in such manner as is consistent with what I have given my wife and son &co.
N.B. - My debts to be paid out of my estate first of all, by my executors and then each to have their part.  Likewise I constitute make and ordain my well beloved wife Ruth the sole executrix of this my last Will and Testament.

The above will is signed by Samuel Sacket and witnessed by John Callondrer, Ebenezer Trumble and Zenas Higgins.

Record of Children.

232. Ruth Sacket, b. Aug. 26, 1740, d. Oct. 10, 1741.
233. Thankful Sacket, b. Jan. 29, 1742.
234. Abigail Sacket, b. Apr. 27, 1745.
235. Rachel Sacket, b. Dec. 23, 1747.
236. Samuel Sacket, b. Oct. 29, 1750.

60.  Benoni Sacket, 1710-1785, of Westfield, Mass., son of (14) Samuel and Elisabeth Bissell Sacket, was married in March, 1731, to Mindwell Smith, of Hadley.

Children.

237. Mindwell Sacket, b. Feb. 15, 1732; m. John Shepard.
238. Elizabeth Sacket, b. Sept. 13, 1734; m. John Shepard.
239. Diana Sacket, b. Mar. 18, 1736; m. Seth Case.
240. Lucretia Sacket, b. June 28, 1739.
241. Ruth Sacket, b. Sept. 28, 1741; m. Jacob Gleason.

71. Sarah Sackett, 1691-17_?, of New Haven, daughter of (17) Lieut. John and Mary Woodin Sackett, was married to Capt. Jonathan Alling.

Children.

245. John Alling
246. Jonathan Alling
247. James Alling
248. Joseph Alling, b. in year 1728, d. in year 1803.

73. Capt. Samuel Sackett, of New Haven, Conn., son of (17) Lieut. John and Mary Woodin Sackett, was married, Dec. 11, 1728, to Elizabeth Todd, 17_?-1737, daughter of Samuel Todd and his wife Susana Tuthill.  Prior to 1741 Capt. Sackett was married to his second wife, ________ ________, who died prior to 1751.  On Aug. 6, 1752 he was married to his third wife, Mrs. Hannah Russell Pierpont, daughter of Rev. Noadiah Russell, and widow of Lieut. Joseph Pierpont.  Capt. Sackett is frequently referred to in

colonial records of New Haven as "Deacon Samuel Sackett."  These early records show also that he was prominent in business and and social circles as well as in military and religious affairs.  In 1736 he was appointed a Lieutenant and in 1754 commissioned Captain of the "5th Company or Train Band" in the town of New Haven.  He was a Justice of the Peace in 1748 and 1749, and again from 1758 to 1776.  In 1759 the Governor and General Council of Connecticut authorized Samuel Sackett and several other prominent citizens to organize a company and build and maintain a bridge across the "New Haven East River."

Children.

251. Sarah Sackett, b. Apr. 9, 1730; m. Samuel Moulthrop.
252. Mahitable Sackett, b. Feb. 23, 1732; m. in 1755, Asa Goodyear of Meridian, Conn.
253. Elisabeth Sackett, m. _______ Decker.
254. Samuel Sackett, b. Mar. 20, 1741, d. 1826; m. Abigail Blakeley.
255. Elias Sackett, b. Mar. 27, 1743.
256. Solomon Sackett, b. in year 1748, d. Aug. 8, 1823.

74. Jonathan Sackett, of New Haven, Conn., son of (18) Jonathan and Hannah ______ Sackett, was married, March 12, 1717, to Ruth Hotchkiss.  Of their ten children we have been able to record but one, a

Daughter.

259. Sarah Sackett, b. Aug. 9, 1721, d. Dec. 5, 1780; m. Elisha Booth.

75.  Capt. Richard Sackett, 16__-1746, of New Haven, New York City, and Dover, Dutchess County, N.Y., son of (18) Jonathan and Hannah ______ Sackett, appears to have been employed in early life, for considerable period, in the forests of New England to have there learned how tar was extracted from pine trees.  In 1699 he was a resident of New York City and the proprietor of a malt house or brewery.  This malt house was located on the north side of Cherry Street, which at that time  was known as Sackett Street, having been named for said Richard Sackett.

On May 11, 1699, a marriage license was issued in New York City authorizing the marriage of Richard Sackett and Margery L. Sleade.

 At about the same date Richard Sackett was commissioned Captain of the 7th Company of the New York City regiment commanded by Colonel William Peartree.  This company was composed in the main of prominent young business men and Capt. Sackett commanded it for several years.

On March 11, 1703, Capt. Sackett petitioned the Lord Cornbury Government for permission to purchase from the Indian proprietors a certain tract of land in Dutchess County, called Wassaic.  The license petitioned for was duly granted, the purchase from the Indian proprietors was made, and a patent for same, covering 7,500 acres, was issued to Richard Sackett and Company (Richard Sackett, Josiah Crego, Joseph Sackett, William Huddleson and John Mitchell), bearing date Nov. 2, 1704.

At the time of which we are writing Capt. Sackett was enjoying marked prominence and popularity in both government and social circles, and his name appears frequently in official records of both New York and Connecticut.

In April, 1703, Lord Cornbury appointed him Chief Revenue Officer for the South Eastern Section of the Province of New York.  In April, 1704, he filed a minute of expenses incurred in seizing the sloop Betsey of Oyster Bay, for trading contrary to law, and bringing her up to New York.  This proceeding shows that he had jurisdiction over the harbor and seacoasts as well as over the  city and surrounding country.  On June 16, of the same year, he was granted license to dispose by lottery, of several lots and tracts of land in New York City and Dutchess County, N. Y.

The date of birth of Mr. Sackett has not been ascertained.  It is claimed by some of his descendants that at one period before his marriage he was a sea captain.  It is also stated on supposedly reliable authority that "having perfected his title to the Wassaick tract, he, in connection with several wealthy residents of New York City, purchased the Indian titles to several other extensive tracts in same vicinity, and the colony line between New York and Connecticut not having at the time been established, he probably availed himself of his knowledge of astronomy, acquired in the study of navigation, and made experiments and observations, based upon the treaty of partition made in 1683, but which had never been carried out by actual survey, and persuaded himself that the boundary line when surveyed would run within about two miles of the Ouastonic

River.  And that in this belief he purchased of Metoxan, the Great Chief of all the Indian tribes in that region, 22,000 acres of land -- more than 7,000 acres of which the survey of the  boundary line showed to be in Connecticut."  The foregoing probably refers to the Little Nine Pardners tract for which a patent was issued on April 10, 1606 (hand written note: "1706?"), to Richard Sackett and associates, the larger section of which is to-day the most productive portion of Dutchess County, and contains some of the most valuable farms to be found in the State of New York.

The records of Connecticut General Assembly, under date of May, 1705, contain the following minute:  "Mr. Richard Sackett, of the Province of New York, petitions this Assembly for full liberty for himself and associates to get and transport all such timber of pine and spruce and whatever growing in this colony, that might be of use in furnishing his Majesty's navy, and that he might have a patent for the same.  Referred to the next General Assembly to be holden at New Haven in October next."

At said October session the above petition, having been modified by the insertion of certain limitations and conditions, was favorably considered, and a resolution ordering the issue of a patent accordingly was duly passed.

In the Census of the City of New York, taken about 1708, Richard Sackett is shown to have resided in the East Ward, and to have a household consisting of himself, his wife, four children (two sons and two daughters), and four negro slaves (three male and one female).

In 1711 Mr. Sackett settled his family permanently in Dutchess County, building his residence about one mile south of the present village of Wassiac.  French, in his "Gazetteer of New York." says that Richard Sackett purchased several large tracts of land of the Indians in Dutchess County and in Sharon, Connecticut.  P. H. Smith, in his "History of Dutchess County." says that "at the time Richard Sackett established his family in Amenia there was not another white family nearer than Paughkeepsie.  Woodbury and New Milford."  In other words within a radius of fifteen miles.

In same year, 1711, Governor Hunter, somewhat in opposition to the Lords of Trade, who favored another person, appointed  Mr. Sackett superintendent of the manufacture of naval stores in the Province of New York, and subsequently of New Jersey also.

This important position he filled acceptably throughout the term of office of Governor Hunter, who mentions him favorably in no less than twelve of his official reports to the Lords of Trade.
In the first one of above mentioned reports Governor Hunter says:  "I have provided another here by the name of Sackett, who hath lived three years in the Easterne Countries among the manufacturers of tar, and gives me a very rational account of the method of preparing the trees; I have also wrote to Connecticut for two more, who, as I am informed, understand ye matter very well."

Mr. Sackett was also one of the presiding officers of the "Court over Palatines," appointed by "His Excellency, Brigadier Hunter, Captain-General and Governor-in-Chief," to manage the affairs of the several Palatine villages within his jurisdiction.  The extraordinary powers conferred on this court are shown in the warrant creating it, which is recorded on page 669, Vol. III, Documentary History of New York, and reads as follows:

To Robert Livingston, Richard Sackett, John Cast, Godfrey Wilson, Andrew Bagg and Herman Schumeman, Esqrs. and the officers commanding the detachment of soldiers at Manor Livingston for the time being:
By virtue of powers to me granted by her Majesty's Patent, and her particular instructions with relation to the Palatines within the Province of New York, who by her Majesty's orders and their own contract are obliged to follow the manufacture of naval stores within the said Province, I do appoint you or any three of you (of which number Robert Livingston or Richard Sackett is always to be one), to be a court for regulating and forwarding the said work, with full power to take cognisance of all misdemeanors, disobedience, or other wilful transgressions in the said people to confinement or corporal punishment, not extending to life or mutilation.  You are also hereby impowered to nominate to each village or settlement of the said Palatines a fit person for the head of the said village or settlement to whom all your orders are to be directed, and who is to see them put in execution, and in case of tumult, disobedience of any other mutinous proceeding as have already fallen out, the officer commanding the detachment now at Manor Livingston is to assist you, if need be, toward the suppressing the same, preserving the public peace and securing the delinquents, in order to their being brought to Royal and condign punishment, for all which this is your sufficient warrant.
Given at Manor Livingston this present 12th June 1711.
       R. Hunter

On Nov. 29, 1722, it is recorded that Richard Sackett petitioned the New York Assembly for "a warrant of survey, to run the north line of Madam Brett's patent, his land lying adjacent thereto (in Dutchess County)."

In 1732 the General Assembly of Connecticut granted a charter to "The New London Society, United for Trade and Commerce," in which Richard Sackett is named as one of the incorporators.

Among the acts passed by the New York Colonial Assembly at session of 1734-5, was one "For the partition and division of a certain tract of land in Dutchess County, granted to Rip Van Dam, Richard Sackett, and others."  A full account of proceedings taken under this act, together with copies of official maps, showing the specific allotments in this thirty-five mile trace, may be found in the "History of Little Nine Partners," by Isaac Hunting, of Pine Plains, N.Y., issued from the press of Charles Walsh & Co., Amelia, N.Y., in 1897.

Capt. Richard Sackett died at Wassaick in 1746, and is buried in a private plot on a small rise of ground on the original Sackett Homestead farm at that place.  Van Alstine in his "Burying Grounds of Sharon & Vicinity," referring to this particular plot, says: "This is a small enclosure on the hillside above the steel works, on the old road, half way between South Amenia and Wassiack.  Here was buried in 1746, Mr. Richard Sackett, the earliest settler of Anemia.  The stone that marked the spot has long since disappeared.  The whole place is shamefully neglected."

The will of Capt. Sackett was probated April 28, 1746, and was recorded both at Albany and New York City.  It reads as follows:

In the name of God Amen.  Dec. 14, 1744.  I Richard Sackett, of Dover in Dutchess, County, yoeman, being sick ...... leave to my wife Margery all Household goods, and the use of my lot, house and Orchards, during her widowhood, and then to my son John Sackett.  I leave to my oldest son Richard Sackett 200 acres of land above his equal share as oldest son.  I leave to my wife 50 acres to be at her disposal.  I leave to my son John after my wife's decease my house, homestead, orchards and meadows and all my books.  I leave to my sone Josiah Crego, and to the heirs of my daughter Mary Dean deceased, and to my daughter Catherine during her widowhood, and to my sons Richard and John the whole of my remaining estate, each an equal part, and they are to pay equally in defending the  title.  I make my wife Margery and my sons Richard and John executors.