Hon William Augustus Sackett

1452. Hon. William Augustus Sackett, 1811–1895, of Aurelius, Seneca Falls and Saratoga Springs, all in the State of New York, son of (645) William Sackett and his wife Parthenia Patterson, was married, first, about 1834, to Zade Thorn, who died several years previous to 1847, in which year he was married to his second wife, Charlotte Buttrrick, daughter of Horatio G. Buttrick and his wife Mary Barnard. On May 30, 1876, he was married at Auburn, N. Y., to his third wife, Mrs. Mary Louise Marvin Marion, daughter of Judge Thomas Marvin, of Saratoga Springs. He read law with Judge Luther F. Stephens, of Seneca Falls, and with Sanford & Kellogg, of Skaneateles, N. Y. In 1831 he was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his profession at Seneca Falls, where he remained until 1848, when he was elected to Congress to represent the Seneca and Wayne district. During his congressional career, which was of four years' duration, he advocated the admission of California as a state, persistently opposed the extension of African slavery into the territories, and took an active part in deliberations of the then important committee on revolutionary pensions, of which he was a member. In 1857 he removed from Seneca Falls to Saratoga Springs, which became henceforth his permanent place of residence. Among the more important law contests in which he was retained was that between the Berden Company of Troy, and Corning & Co., of Albany, known as the "spike" case. The amount involved was upwards of a million dollars, which the former sought to recover from the latter for alleged infringement of certain patents. It was in the courts for several years and resulted in the recovery of but a nominal amount for the plaintiff, which was regarded as a decided victory for the defendants, won by Mr. Sackett. For a number of years he served as U. S. Registrar in Bankruptcy, a judicial office, which by courtesy carried with it the title of Judge.
     From 1876 to 1878 he traveled in Europe, Egypt and the Holy Land, and wrote a series of letters descriptive of his travels, many of which were published and widely read. Mr. Sackett was, when a young man, an old line Whig, but later in life became a pronounced Republican. By religious faith he was an Episcopalian, and during his residence at Saratoga was a member and for a considerable portion of the time a vestryman, of the Bethesda Episcopal Church there. He died quite suddenly of apoplexy.

William Augustus Sackett, a Representative from New York; born in Aurelius, near Auburn, N.Y., November 18, 1811; attended private schools and Aurora Academy; moved to Seneca Falls, Seneca County, N.Y., in 1831; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1834 and commenced practice at Seneca Falls; elected as a Whig to the Thirty-first and Thirty-second Congresses (March 4, 1849–March 3, 1853); resumed the practice of law at Seneca Falls, N.Y; moved to Saratoga Springs in 1857; register in bankruptcy during the term of the 1867 bankruptcy law; died at Saratoga Springs, N.Y., September 6, 1895; interment in Greenridge Cemetery.

Sackett, William Augustus, congressman, b. in Aurelius, Cayuga co., N.Y., 18 Nov., 1812. His ancestors came from England in 1632, settled in Massachusetts, and continued to live in New England until 1804, when his father moved to Cayuga county, N.Y. He received an academic education, studied law in Seneca Falls and Skaneateles, was admitted to the bar in 1834, and soon secured a lucrative practice. Elected to congress as a Whig, he served from 3 Dec., 1849, till 3 March, 1853. He took part in the controversy in relation to the admission of California as a free state, and both spoke and voted for admission. He earnestly opposed the fugitive-slave law, and was uncompromisingly in opposition to slavery and the admission of any more slave states. From the committee on claims he made a report on the power of consuls, which had an influence in the final modification of those powers. He removed to Saratoga Springs in 1857, where he still resides. In 1876–'8 he travelled extensively in Europe, Egypt, and the Holy Land, and wrote letters describing his journeys that were published. He has been a Republican since the organization of the party, and has been active as a public speaker. —His son, William, was colonel of the 9th New York cavalry, and was killed while leading a charge under Gen. Sheridan at Trevillian Station, Va.

Abstract of will of William A Sackett of Saratoga Springs, NY.
Date: 11 Apr 1889.
Proved: Surrogate's Court, Saratoga Springs, 4 Oct 1895.
Source: "New York, Wills and Probate Records, 1659–1999," digital image, Ancestry.com.
Testator: William A Sackett.
Beneficiaries:
Wife Marie Louise, one-fifth of estate.
Children of deceased daughter Zayde, one-fifth of estate.
Daughter Zilla, one-fifth of estate.
Daughter Hattie, one-fifth of estate.
Son Edward S, one-fifth of estate less $3,000 advanced, to be held in trust for five years by sons-in-law Charles Stone and Charles Duell.
Executors: sons-in-law Charles Stone and Charles Duell.
Witnesses: R C McEwen, Lucy Carty.

Transcript of probate and will:

The last Will and Testament of William A Sackett, late of the town of Saratoga Springs, in the County of Saratoga, deceased, relating to both real and personal estate. Admitted to probate October 4, 1895.
     At a Surrogate's Court, held in and for the County of Saratoga, at the Surrogate's Office in the village of Saratoga Springs on the 4th day of October 1895.
Present: Hon. Elias H Peters, Surrogate.
     Be it remembered that at a Surrogate's Court held in and for the County of Saratoga at the village of Saratoga Springs on the 4th day of October 1895, Charles L Stone and Charles H Duell both of Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, the persons names as Executors in a certain instrument in writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of William A Sackett dated April 11, 1889, duly appeared and presented said Will for probate and at the same time made satisfactory proof that the said William A Sackett died September 6, 1895, being at the time an inhabitant of said County of Saratoga, and that he left him surviving the following, his only heirs-at-law and next of kin, viz:
Mary L Sackett, his widow, and Edward S Sackett, Zilla S Stone, Harriet S Duell, John A Lighthall Jr, William S Lighthall, Zayde E Lighthall, and Frederick A Lighthall, all of whom waived in writing the issuing and service of any citation and consented that said Will be admitted to probate forthwith.
     Thereupon said Will was shown to the attesting witnesses thereto and proof was taken as follows:
Saratoga County, SS:
     Lucy Carty of the town of Saratoga Springs in the County of Saratoga being duly sworn in open court on her oath does depose and say that she and Robert C McEwen are subscribing witnesses to the last Will and Testament of William A Sackett late of the town of Saratoga Springs in the County of Saratoga aforesaid, deceased. And this deponent further says, that the said deceased did, in the presence of this deponent and said Robert C McEwen, subscribe his name at the end of the instrument which is now shown to this deponent, and which purports to be the last Will and Testament of the said deceased, and which bears date on the 11th day of April in the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Eighty nine; that the said deceased did, at the time of subscribing his name to said instrument as aforesaid, declare the same to be his last Will and Testament; that deponent and said Robert C McEwen did thereupon subscribe their own names at the end of said instrument as attesting witnesses to the execution thereof, at the request of said deceased, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other. That the said deceased, at the time of subscribing his name to said instrument as aforesaid was upwards of twenty one years of age; that he appeared to be of sound mind and memory and was not under restraint to the knowledge and belief of this deponent. That said Robert C McEwen is dead.
Subscribed and sworn this 4th day of October 1895 before me, E H Peters, Surrogate.
Lucy Carty.
     And it appearing from the proof so taken that the said instrument was duly executed and that the testator at the time of executing the same was in all respects competent to devise real estate and was not under restraint and our said Surrogate having inquired into the facts and circumstances and being satisfied of the genuineness and validity of said instrument and no objections being made thereto, It is Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed That the said instrument be and is hereby admitted to probate as and for the last Will and Testament of the said deceased, valid to pass both real and personal estate. And it is further Ordered, That said Will be recorded with the proof thereof, which proof is hereinbefore recorded and said Will is as follows, to wit:I, William A Sackett, of Saratoga Springs, do make, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.
     I direct my just debts to be paid. I will and declare that I have advanced and paid to my son Edward S Sackett, Three Thousand Dollars more than I have to either of my daughters now living or to my daughter Zayde, deceased, or to her children, and I will and direct that amount shall be deducted from the share of my said son's part of my property. And I further will and direct that the balance of my property shall be divided into four parts to be equal and one part Three Thousand dollars less than either of the four parts. And that one of the four parts shall be given to my wife Mary Louise, and one thereof to the children of my daughter Zayde, and one thereof to my daughter Zilla, and one thereof to my daughter Hattie, and the other part to my sons-in-law Charles L Stone and Charles A Duell in trust for my son Edward S, the Trust to continue for five years and during that time the net income of the Trust property to be paid for the support of my said son, the Trust property to be held safely invested on interest. At the end of that time, the Trust property to be paid to my said son unless a proper court shall order a Trust continued. I give only the part named to my wife on account of her having an ample estate of her own and my children having but limited means.
     I appoint my saiid sons-in-law, Charles L Stone and Charles A Duell, Executors of this my will, and I hereby revoke all former wills. And I give to my executors power to sell, lease and convey away all real estate of which I may die seized.
     Witness my hand and seal this 11th day of April 1889. W. A. Sackett, LS.
Witness.
R C McEwen, Lucy Carty.
     The foregoing instrument was at the date thereof subscribed by the said William A Sackett in our presence and he at the same time declared the same to be his last Will and Testament, and we then, at his request, and in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribed our names as witnesses therto.
     R C McEwen of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
     Lucy Carty of Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Saratoga County, SS: I, Elias H Peters, Surrogate of the said County, do hereby certify the foregoing to be a correct record of the last Will and Testament of William A Sackett aforesaid deceased, relating to both real and personal estate, together with proof thereof. Recorded October 4, 1895.
     Surrogate.

William A. Sackett.
Ex-congressman William A. Sackett died suddenly yesterday noon at his residence on Franklin Square, Saratoga. Despite his age he has enjoyed robust health. He was a member of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses, and his ability as a lawyer and public speaker was recognized throughout the State of New-York. He was born near Auburn, Cayuga County, Nov. 18, 1811, and was a son of William and Parthena Sackett, who were natives of Connecticut. William A. Sackett was reared near Auburn, receiving his education in select schools and Aurora Academy, and then he read law with Judge Luther F. Stephens of Seneca Falls. In 1831 he was admitted to the bar at Utica. He practiced his profession at Seneca Falls until 1848. In this year Mr. Sackett was elected to Congress to represent the Seneca and Wayne district. At the close of his Congressional term, Mr. Sackett moved to Saratoga Springs, which place had been his residence up to the time of his death. Since living in Saratoga he had never engaged in general practice, although he continued for several years to act as counsel in the celebrated Spike suit, which was brought by the Burdens of Troy, and which occupied the attention of the courts for a great many years. He was Register in Bankruptcy several years. He had been married three times, and has three living children. His third marriage was in 1876, when he wedded Mary Louise Marvin, the daughter of the late Judge Thomas J. Marvin of this village, who survives.

—New York Times, 7 Sep 1895

Ex-Congressman Sackett Dead.
Saratoga (N.Y.) Sept. 6,—Ex-Congressman William A. Sackett dropped dead this noon. He was a member of the Thirtieth and Thirty-first Congresses, and was the father of Col. Sackett, who was killed at the head of his command in the late war.

—Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep 1895