Captain Joseph Sackett

(1655/56-1719)
FatherSimon Sackett (c 1630-1659)
MotherSarah Bloomfield (c 1633-)
Captain Joseph Sackett, son of Simon Sackett and Sarah Bloomfield, was born in Springfield, MassachusettsG, on 23 February 1655/56.1,2,3,4,5,6 He died aged 63 in Long Island, New York StateG, on 23 September 1719.1 He married first before 1678, Elizabeth Betts, daughter of Capt Richard Betts and Joanna ___.1,7,8,9 He married second between 1700 and 1710, Anna ___.2 He married third at Newtown, Long IslandG, in 1711, Mercy (Whitehead) Betts, daughter of Daniel Whitehead and Abigail Stephenson.1,10 Mercy was the widow of Capt Thomas Betts, a brother of Joseph's first wife Elizabeth.1
     Joseph was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Newtown in 1708. The Mercy Sackett listed as a member sometime between 1708 and 1724 was presumably his wife.11,12
     On 23 April 1711, Captain Joseph "for the love, goodwill, and affection for my beloved son" gave to his son Simon 288 acres of land in Hopewell, bordering on the Delaware River.13
     Joseph made his will in Newtown, Queens CountyG, on 20 September 1719, naming as beneficiaries his wife Mercy, his sons Samuel, Joseph, Richard, John and William, his daughters Sarah, Patience, Abigail and Anne, and the children of his late daughter Elizabeth. The will was proved on 22 December 1719. He left specified lands in Newtown to each of his children, and land in Hopewell and Maidenhead, New Jersey, to his children jointly, his eldest son Joseph to have a double share. He left his mansion, with its adjoining garden, orchards, and lands, to his youngest son Samuel.
Abstract of will of Capt. Joseph Sackett of Newtown, Queens County.
Date: 20 Sep 1719.
Proved: 22 December 1719.
Source: Weygant, The Sacketts of America.
Beneficiaries:
Wife Mercy, use of lands left to son Samuel until he is 21, + £30, 2 cows, and some young cattle.
Son Joseph, specified land, paying daughter Sarah Moore £20 and daughter Patience Sackett £10.
Children, Joseph, Richard, John, William, Samuel, Sarah Moore, Abigail Alsop and Patience Sackett and the children of daughter Elizabeth deceased, all my land and meadows at Hopewell and Maidenhead in Huntingdon County, New Jersey, my son Joseph to have a double share.
Son John, specified land.
Son William, specified land with house and buildings + 3 lots of land.
Son Samuel, mansion where I now dwell, with neighbouring land, and other specified land.
Sons William and Samuel, specified land.
Son William and daughter Patience, each a bed.
Children, William, Patience, Richard, Sarah, Joseph, Anne Moore and Abigail Alsop, rest of personal property.
Executors: Sons Joseph and William.

Children of Captain Joseph Sackett and Elizabeth Betts

Child of Captain Joseph Sackett and Mercy (Whitehead) Betts


7. Capt. Joseph Sackett, 1656–1719, son of (3) Simon and Sarah Bloomfield Sackett, was born at Springfield, Mass. After the death of his father in 1659 his childhood home appears to have been with the family of his grandfather Bloomfield. From early manhood to old age he was a resident of Newtown, Long Island, N. Y., where for many years he was a member "in full communion" and office bearer in the Presbyterian Church. His name appears frequently in lists of Road Commissioners, Assessors, Collectors and Supervisors of his town. The Colonial and Documentary Histories of New York show that he was commissioned by successive Governors of the Colony as Ensign, Lieutenant and Captain of Long Island troops. His name is also to be found in lists of recipients of Royal Patents or land grants, and of commissioners selected and appointed to adjust town and county boundary disputes, so prevalent and troublesome in the early history of New York and Connecticut.
     Capt. Joseph Sackett was thrice married. His first wife, who was the mother of all but one of his children, was Elizabeth Betts, daughter of Capt. Richard Betts. The name of his second wife, who lived but a short time after the date of her marriage, is unknown. His third wife, to whom he was married in 1711, was Mercy Whitehead, widow of Capt. Thomas Betts, a brother of his first wife.
     Capt. Richard Betts, the father of Elizabeth, the first wife of Capt. Joseph Sackett, was born in Hertferdshire, England, in the year 1613. He came to New England about the year 1635, and in 1636 settled in Newtown, Mass., from which place, prior to 1642, he removed to Ipswich, where he remained until about 1654, when he removed to and became a permanent resident of Newtown, Long Island, N. Y. There he soon acquired prominence and influence, and for upwards of half a century participated largely in public affairs. In the revolution of 1663 he bore a zealous part, and after the conquest of New Netherlands by the English was a member from Newtown of the Provisional Assembly held at Hempstead in 1665. He was "High Sheriff of Yorkshire, upon Long Island." from 1678 to 1681. For a long series of years he was a magistrate, and several times a member of the "High Court of Assise." then the supreme power of the colony. His name is honorably mentioned in upwards of thirty distance paragraphs on the pages of "Rikers Annals of Newtown," the last of which reads as follows:
"The last survivor of the original purchasers Capt. Richard Betts, died on November 18, of this year" (1713) "at the patriarchal age of a hundred years. None in the township has been so eminent as he for commanding influence and valuable public service. His remains were interred on his own estate at the English Kills, on the 20th, with a funeral service by Mr. Poyer, rector of Jamaica Parish."
     Daniel Whitehead, 1603-1668, the grandfather of Mercy Whitehead, the third wife of Capt. Joseph Sackett, was the founder of the Long Island branch of the Whitehead family. He came to New England with the early colonists and migrated to Long Island, N. Y., during, or previous to the year 1647, under which date his name appears amount the proprietors of Hempstead. In 1650 he purchased land in Smithtown, and later, in Oyster Bay, in Huntington, and on Lloyds Neck. Riker says that "he located at Mespot Kills, was a reputable citizen and one of the seven persons to whom the first Newtown Patent was granted." He was chosen a town surveyor in 1668 and died on his farm at Mespot Kills in November of that year. He was at the time of his death one of the two Overseers, or Chief Magistrates of the town.
     Major Daniel Whitehead, son of above and father of Mercy Whitehead (Betts) Sackett, was married to Abigail Stephenson, daughter of Thomas Stephenson, and settled in Jamaica, of which town he was one of the patentees. According to local historians he was a man of enterprise and wealth. Politically he was a Jacobite. The ancient records show that he was a magistrate, a member of the committee of safety, a representative in the Colonial Assembly and a trustee of the parish church. His will, dated November 13, 1703, and proved October 30, 1704, disposes of land in Jamaica, Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Flushing, Orange County and Suffolk County, all in the Colony of New York.
     In the list of grievances enumerated in the historic anonymous pamphlet published in New York and republished in London in 1700, attacking Leysler's administration, the following appears:
"On the 13th of January this usurper Leysler, sends under the command of Lieut. Churchill twenty soldiers over to Long Island, the next day they come to Jamaica, where they in a violent manner by force of arms broke open the house of Mr. Daniel Whitehead, one of his Majesties Justices of the Peace appointed by our Governor Sir Edward Andros, and being entered into the house they in like manner aforesaid broke open several chests and boxes, but found not what they looked for and so returned the next day without doing any more mischief as we yet hear of."
     On May 19th following, Stephen Van Cortlandt, Mayor of New York, in writing to Sir Edward Andres an account of the progress of the Leysler revolution mentions the fact that he, with Captain Jackson, Daniel Whitehead and several others had been obliged to "flye from their homes to escape imprisonment at the hands of Leisler."
     When in 1711 Capt. Joseph Sackett and Mercy Whitehead (Betts) were married, the former was 55 years of age and had 10 children, while the latter was about 48 years of age and had 9 children. These, with their son Samuel, born to them in 1712, made an even score. Sixteen of the number married and had children, and nearly all the sons as well as the husbands of the daughters became men of prominence in their day and generation; while among their descendants have been Governors of States, Cabinet Officers, Bishops, Authors of note, Judges, Generals and Ministers of the United States to the principal Courts of Europe.
     Capt. Joseph Sackett's will, dated September 20, 1719, and admitted to probate December 22 following, is witnessed by Nathaniel Woodward and Peter Berrian. It reads as follows:
"In the name of God Amen. I Joseph Sackett of Newtown, in Queens County, being sick and weak. * * * I leave to my wife Mercy the use of all lands and meadows which I leave to my son Samuel, until he comes of age, and all the wearables she brought with her when married, and £30, and 2 cows and some young cattle.
I leave to my son Joseph a certain lot of land and meadow bounded west by the land of Thomas Betts, north by the middle ditch, east by the land of Joshua Hunt, and north by the road. And he shall pay to my daughter Sarah, alias Moore £20, and to my daughter Patience Sackett £10.
I leave to my children Joseph, Richard, John, William, Samuel, Sarah Moore, Abigail Alsop and Patience Sackett and the children of my daughter Elizabeth deceased, all my land and meadows at Hopwwell and Maidenhead in Huntingdon County, New Jersey, my son Joseph to have a double share.
I leave to my son John a certain lot of land and meadow adjoining the narrow passage running eastward, adjoining the land of Joseph Hollett and Joseph Moore and running due eastward to a ditch and piece of meadow that was formerly Samuel Moore's, and south easterly 'till it meets a small ditch that joins a fence running southerly to the road that leads to Hellgate Neck. Also another lot lying on the south side of said road that leads along by Newtown Spring to the Kills and the land of John Sanders.
I leave my son William a lot of land with the house and buildings lying on the south side of the road, bounded east by the land of John Wright and Thomas Hunt, south by the meadow ditch, west by the land of Widow Moore and the piece hereinafter devised to Samuel Sackett. Also 3 lots of land. The first bounded west and north by land of Job Wright, east by land of Nathaniel Woodward, and south by the road. The second being the lot called the Old lot, bounded west by the land of William Moore, north by land of Peter Barren * * * and south by the highway. The third lot being upland and meadow, bounded northwesterly by the middle ditch, north by Thomas Stephenson, southeast by the highway and lying near the house of Benjamin Cornish. Also another lot of land and meadow, beginning at a certain road that leads by the side of the house of John Sackett going down the east side of cleared land as the fence now stands to a certain ditch, and all the land and meadow that lies east of it, belonging to me.
I leave to my son Samuel all my manshon where I now dwell, with all the buildings, and the lot of land and garden and orchards, and all that land that I had of my uncle Daniel Bloomfield joining my said land near the * * * and westward to the land of Nathaniel Woodward. Also a lot of land over against my said land being ten rods wide and running down to a small ditch in the meadows bounded west by land of said Woodward and the Widow Moore. Also another lot of land and meadow lying at the end of said town, bounded on two sides by a highway, and on the other two sides by the land of Benjamin Moore and George Reynolds.
I leave to my sons William and Samuel a certain lot of land lying at a certain swamp called Juniper Swamp, bounded east by the highway, north by land that was Edward Hunt's and George Brinkerhoff's, west by land that was Edward Hunt's. I leave to my sons John, William and Samuel all my upland and meadow lying between the land of ___ Field and Flushing Creek, near the head thereof.
I leave to my son John the time Hugh McCarty has to live with me by his indenture.
I leave to my son William and my daughter Patience each a bed. I leave the rest of my personal property to my children William, Patience, Richard, Sarah, Joseph, Anne Moore and Abigail Alsop. I make my sons Joseph and William executors.
Joseph Sackett (s)
Children of Capt. Joseph Sackett and Elizabeth Betts.
     22. Simon Sackett, b. in 1678, d. in 1718; m. a Miss McGaw.
     23. Joseph Sackett, b. in 1680, d. Sept. 27, 1755; m. Hannah Alsop.
     24. Anne Sackett, b. in 1681, d. Sept. 30, 1757; m. Benjamin Moore.
     25. Elizabeth Sackett, b. in 1683, d. Sept. 1716; m. Joseph Moore.
     26. Richard Sackett, b. in 1686, d. May 8, 1737 [sic: 1727]; m. Elizabeth Kirtland.
     27. John Sacket, b. in 1688, d. Dec. 31, 1728; m. Elizabeth Field.
     28. Sarah Sackett, b. in 1689, d. in 1766; m. Joseph Moore.
     29. Abigail Sackett, b. in 1695, d. Dec. 8, 1751; m. John Alsop.
     30. William Sackett, b. in 1696, d. Aug. 29, 1761; m. Mary Jones.
     31. Patience Sackett, b. in 1700, d. in 1772; m. John Lawrence.
Child of Capt. Joseph Sackett and Mercy Whitehead (Betts).
     32. Samuel Sackett, b. Mar. 2, 1712, d. June 5, 1784; m. Hannah Hazard.

 Notes & Citations

  1. Charles Weygant, The Sacketts of America, "7. Joseph Sackett, b. Feb. 23, 1656, d. Sept. 23, 1719; m. 1st, Elizabeth Betts."
  2. James Riker, The Annals of Newtown, in Queens County, New-York: containing Its History from its first Settlement (New York: D Fanshaw, 1852), 345, "1. Joseph Sackett, son of Simon 2d, was b. at Springfield, Feb. 23, 1656. Left fatherless at a tender age, it is probable he was taken into the family of his grandfather Bloomfield, and accompanied the latter on his removal to Newtown in 1662. However, Sackett was here in 1674, and for many years enjoyed a prominent standing in the town.
    By his own exertions and favor shown him by his bachelor uncle, Daniel Bloomfield, he accumulated a large estate in Newtown and elsewhere. He m. thrice; first, Elizabeth dau. of Capt. Rich. Betts; secondly, Anna ---, and lastly to Mercy, widow of Thos. Betts, Esq., who survived him. Capt. Sackett d. near the close of 1719, in his 64th yr. His ch. were Simon, Joseph, Richard, John, William, Samuel, Elizabeth and Sarah, who, in succession, m. Jos. Moore; Anna, m. Benjamin Moore; Abigail, m. John Alsop; and Patience, who m. John Lawrence."
  3. The New England Historical and Genealogical Register (Boston: NEHGS), vol. 18 (1864): 143, Springfield Records, "Joseph Sackett s. of Lyman [sic] Sackett borne the 23 of ye 12 mon. 1655. [Lyman is corrected to Symon in Register 87 (1933): 302.]
  4. Vital Records, Springfield, Massachusetts, to 1850, Book 1, Births, Marriages, Deaths, 1638–1728, "Joseph Sackett Sonne of Symon Sackett Borne the 23 of the .12. mon 1655."
  5. Vital Records, Springfield, Massachusetts, to 1850, Hampshire Records, Springfield Birthes, "Joseph Sackett Son of Symon Sackett born the 23th of 12th mon: 1655."
  6. James Savage, A Genealogical Dictionary of the First Settlers of New England (Boston: Little, Brown & Company, 1860-62).
  7. Marriage date assumed from date of birth of first child.
  8. NEHG Register, vol. 55 (1901): 300.
  9. "Torrey’s New England Marriages Prior to 1700" (American Ancestors transcript), "Joseph [Sackett] (1656–1719) & 1/wf Elizabeth (___) ; Newtown, LI. "
  10. "New York, Marriages, 1686–1980" (FamilySearch transcript), "1711, Prebyterian Church, Newtown, Queens, New York, Joseph Sackett & Massah Betts."
  11. Records of the Presbyterian Church, Newtown (now Elmhurst), Queens County, Long Island, N.Y., received into membership, "1708, Joseph Sackett, Sr."
  12. Records of the Presbyterian Church, Newtown (now Elmhurst), Queens County, Long Island, N.Y., received into membership, "1708–1724, Mercy Sackett."
  13. Hunterdon [NJ] County Records 1701-1838 (), "Indenture dated 23 April 1711...Joseph Sacket of Newtown on Long Island in the province of New York for the love, good will and affection....for my beloved son, Simon Sacket of Hopewell, Burlington County deeds to him 288 acres in Hopewell bounded by the Delaware River, Richard Scudder, and Zebulon Heston. Signed. Witnesses: Ralph Hunt, Elizabeth Laning (with her mark) and Hanah Laning (with her mark). Recorded: 5 June 1718." [Page 18, No. 462].
Sackett line2nd great-grandson of Thomas Sackett the elder of St Peter in Thanet
ChartsLine 3a (American)
Noel Armstrong & Annie Corbin Harper relationship chart
William Sackett & Anne Lawrence relationship chart
Generation.Tree3K.3
Last Edited7 May 2023
See also Thurmon King's New Sackett Family Database
5555 Captain Joseph Sackett
 

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