Extracts from Weygant, Sacketts of America, 1907
[from Introductory Statement]
About the year 1870, my honored father-in-law, Samuel Bailey Sackett, related to me this family tradition, which I subsequently found to be in full accord with colonial records of undisputed authenticity:
"About ten years after the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth, Simon and John Sackett, brothers, came from England to Massachusetts, in company with Roger Williams. John Sackett followed Mr. Williams to Rhode Island and finally settled at New Haven, becoming the founder of the New Haven branch of the family. Simon Sackett remained in Massachusetts, was one of the founders of the City of Cambridge, and is the progenitor of the Massachusetts and Long Island, N.Y., branches."
[p14, the proposed elder John Sackett]
2. John Sackett, colonist, and founder of the New Haven branch of the Sackett family, came to New England, from Bristol, England, with his brother Simon, on the ship Lyon, in the winter of 1630-31. He brought with him his son, John Sackett, Jr., who at the time was about three years of age. No record of any other member of his immediate family has been found. Either before leaving England, or during his tedious mid-winter voyage hither, he became strongly attached to the brilliant and popular non-conformist minister, Roger Williams, whom he followed first to Plymouth settlement and afterwards to Rhode Island. Tiring of life in the wilderness he made his way to New Haven settlement, in the records of which he is mentioned as early as 1640 and as late as 1684. On October 6, of the year last mentioned, he filed an inventory of the estate of "John Sackett, Jr."
Child.
5. John Sackett, Jr., b. about 1628, d. Sept. 3, 1684; m. Agnes Tinkham.
[p19, John Sackett of New Haven]
5. John Sackett, Jr., 16__-1684, of New Haven, Conn., son of (2) John the colonist, was born in England and brought to New England by his father in 1631. He was at the time about three years of age. Very little is known of his boyhood days. In 1646 he was a member of the New Haven Train Band. The general court of that year first brought him to notice and gave him a place in the recorded history of Connecticut by fining him six cents "for wanting a rest at a training he attended." A rest was a stick crotched at one end which was used to steady the heavy musket then in use when taking aim.
On May 20, 1652, he was married to Agnes Tinkham, who probably was a younger sister of the colonist Ephraim Tinkham, of Plymouth settlement. He remained a resident of New Haven until his death in 1684.
The records there show that on October 6, 1684, "John Sackett" made and filed an inventory of the estate of "John Sackett, Junior." Agnes Tinkham Sackett died at New Haven in the early part of the year 1707. An inventory of her estate was filed on April 25th of that year by her grandson, Lieut. Joseph Sackett, who had previously been appointed administrator of her husband's estate. The records also show that on July 8, 1712, Lieut. Joseph Sackett made a final accounting of said estates and was discharged from his bonds.
Children of John Sackett and Agnes Tinkham.
17. John Sackett, b. Apr. 30, 1653; d. in year 1703; m. Mary Woodin.
18. Jonathan Sackett, b. June 6, 1655; d. ; m. Hannah.
19. Mary Sackett, b. Sept. 24, 1657.
20. Joseph Sackett, b. Mar. 2, 1660; m.
21. Martha Sackett, b. Sept. 19, 1662; d. Sept. 3, 1684.
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Additions & corrections (Chris Sackett 1999–2001)
1. The inventory reads “John Sackett, Senior”
2. Martha b. 29 Nov 1662 (NHVR)
3. Martha's death date not known but 3 Sep 1684 was the date of death of her father John
4. Additional dau. - Sarah b. 26 Dec 1665 (NHVR); m. Samuel Alling (Torrey)