Simon Sackett

(1678-1718)
FatherCaptain Joseph Sackett (1655/56-1719)
MotherElizabeth Betts (c 1660-between 1700 & 1710)
Simon Sackett, son of Captain Joseph Sackett and Elizabeth Betts, was born in Newtown, Long Island, New York StateG, in 1678.1 He died aged about 40 in Hopewell, New JerseyG, in 1718.1,2 He married Mary McGaw.1
     On 23 April 1711 Simon's father gave him, "for the love, goodwill, and affection for my beloved son," 288 acres of land in Hopewell, bordering on the Delaware River.3
     Simon made his will in HopewellG on 24 January 1717/18, naming as beneficiaries his wife Mary, and his son Joseph. Simon also mentioned in his will a "child my wife now goeth withal" and made provision for the child, if a son, to share in the estate equally with Joseph, or, if a daughter, to receive a sum of £50 from Joseph upon reaching 21. Records of the Bucks County Orphan's Court reveal that the unborn child was also named Simon. (The records refer to the children of the younger Simon, who also died young, but they identify him as the brother of Joseph Sackett who was appointed guardian of Simon's orphaned children.)4
     In The Sacketts of America it is recorded that Simon Sackett and Mary McGaw had a son Thomas and two (unnamed) daughters. The terms of Simon's will (which had not been seen by Weygant) indicate that at the date of his death Simon had only one child, Joseph. His posthumous child is identified by orphan records as a son, also Simon. It is concluded therefore that Thomas Sackett of Hopewell of Hopewell was not a child of this family.
Abstract of will of Simon Sackett of Hopewell, New Jersey.
Date: Jan 1717.
Proved: 17 Mar 1717.
Source: Woodward & Hageman: History of Burlington and Mercer Counties, New Jersey, pub. 1883.
"Will dated January 1717 at Hopewell, New Jersey proved March 17, 1717 names wife Mary, son Joseph, "child my wife now goeth withal" if it be a son to share evenly with Joseph, if a daughter, Joseph to pay her £50 when 21. If either die before coming of age, the survivor to possess all that the other is to get, if both die before coming of age, "my brothers and sisters" to have all, equally divided except that the "children of my sister Elizabeth" shall have between them one portion."

Abstract of will of Simon Sackett of Hopewell, New Jersey.
Date: 24 Jan 1717/18.
Proved: 5 Apr 1718.
Source: Calendar of New Jersey Wills, 1670-1760, New Jersey Historical Society, 1901.
"Name: Simon Sacket. Date: 24 Jan 1717-8. Location: Hopewell, Hunterdon Co. yeoman; will of.
Wife Mary. Son Joseph; an expected child. Home farm of 306 acres. Personal property. The wife executrix with John Borroughs of Hopewell as overseer. Witnesses - Richard Scudder, Samuel Davis, Jonathan Davis. Proved April 5, 1718."

Children of Simon Sackett and Mary McGaw


22. Simon Sackett, 1678–1718, oldest son of (7) Capt. Joseph and Elizabeth Betts Sackett, was born at Newtown, Long Island, N. Y., and died at Hopewell, New Jersey. He seems to have been a wayward youth whose love of adventure was stronger than his love of home and kindred. The following record is based on tradition, which supported by recorded facts: "When about seventeen years of age he left home without the consent of his parents and became a sailor. After following the sea for several years, during which he visited many foreign lands, he married - presumably in Ireland - a comely young Irish girl, whose surname was McGaw. His marriage was not approved by his parents, and his cultured sisters treated his bride with great coolness, if not actual rudeness, when after his return to his native land, he took her to the Sackett mansion at Newtown. This action on the part of his parents and sisters he promptly, indignantly and emphatically resented, using language more suggestive of heat than ice is suggestive of cold. And when after a few hours sojourn he left his father's house never to return, he took with him a title deed to property in Hopewell, New Jersey, in consideration of which he agreed to forgo forever all claim to any other portion of his father's estate." His Irish wife proved to be a true helpmate and model mother. Their family life at Hopewell was all that could be desired, and when he died there in 1718, he left his wife and three children in comfortable circumstances. Capt. Joseph Sackett's will, which was executed a few months later, and probated the following year, contains no mention of his deceased son Simon's children. The reason for this omission has already been given.
Children.
     82. Thomas Sackett, m. Sarah Haywood.
     83. ___ Sackett, a daughter.
     84. ___ Sackett, a daughter.

 Notes & Citations

  1. Charles Weygant, The Sacketts of America, "22. Simon Sackett, b. in 1678, d. in 1718; m. a Miss McGaw."
  2. James Riker, The Annals of Newtown, in Queens County, New-York: containing Its History from its first Settlement (New York: D Fanshaw, 1852), p345.
  3. 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].
  4. Orphan's Court records of Bucks County, PA, file #228 (abstract by Lynn Tinsley).
    Simon Sackett, taylor, of Bristol Borough: brother Joseph & John Wilkinson of Wrightstown appointed guardians of Simon's daughter's, all under age 14. Wm. Buckley, Bristol Boro., and Thos. Dowdney, of Bristol Twp., exrs. (same as will) but adds that Thos. Dowdney died soon after Simon & that Wm. Buckley was also the administrator for the widow Mary Sackett, deceased. Daughter Mary, about 6 years of age at the time, was placed with her aunt, the wife of William Wetherill (Rebecca Haines Wetherill). She remained with them for 7 years & 8 months i.e. until Aug 1756. Mary left to live with her uncle, Joseph Sackett. 16 Mar 1757: Mary, now aged 14, petitions for Joseph Sackett to act as guardian – granted. 13 Jun 1759: Mary, Rebecca & Sarah, all over age 14, petition for guardians; Joseph Sackett appointed.
Sackett line3rd great-grandson of Thomas Sackett the elder of St Peter in Thanet
ChartsLine 3a (American)
Generation.Tree4L.3
Last Edited6 Sep 2021
See also Thurmon King's New Sackett Family Database
5552 Simon Sackett
 

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