John Brockett
Encyclopedia
John Brockett born in Brockett Hall, Hertfordshire, England. John Brockett was almost certainly the disinherited first son of Sir John Brockett of Brockett Hall in Hertfordshire, England. John fell in love with a maiden, Mary Blackwell (1609–1662), who was also a Puritan
. He was Gen Assembly Representative, Indian and government dispute settler.
. John Brockett was the first Brockett in America when he arrived at Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony
. He came on the ship "Hector" with Reverend John Davenport (Puritan). The passengers on board that ship were "gentlemen in wealth and character, with their servants and household effects." Most were from London and engaged as merchants and commercial businesses. Their arrival was joyously hailed at Boston for they were the wealthiest of immigrants to New England at that time. Shortly arriving, however, a small group led by Theophilus Eaton
decided not to join Massachusetts Bay Colony
, but to form a new colony. They explored the coast along Long Island Sound and chose a site that became New Haven Colony. Seven individuals wintered there to hold the site. Others arrived on 13 April 1638, including Davenport and John Brockett. They purchased land from the Quinipiac Indians and formed a government based upon strict religious principles. He moved on 13 Apr 1638 to New Haven Colony. Brockett was a signer of the first covenant of New Haven and became a leader among the founders of New Haven. His name appears more often on early town records than anyone but Eaton. In 1639, Brockett surveyed an area that is now the center of New Haven and laid out the borders with such accuracy that the same borders are used to this day.
By 1641 New Haven had grown into a community of approximately 800. The survey map of 1641 was laid out by John Brockett. These prosperous immigrants formed a new government of a town they called New Haven. The residents must have had confidence in Brockett's judgment as he was often appointed by the Planters to a committee to resolve cases of differing opinion regarding settlers and Indians.
John Brockett was involved in the military over quite a long period. In 1643, he was fined a shilling for coming late to military training.
In 1667, 28 years later, Brockett was commissioned by the Governor of New Jersey to survey the bounds of Elizabethtown, which has since become the City of Elizabeth, NJ. This effort required him to temporary reside in that city. Brockett received an allotment of land for his efforts that he sold when he left Elizabethtown in 1670. While living in Elizabethtown, the townspeople chose him and John Ogden were chosen to represent Elizabethtown in its House of Burgess.
In 1669, the Colony of New Haven began planning Wallingford village. The area was infested with thousands of wolves that killed cattle and sheep. John Brockett and his son Samuel were among the first 100 persons to settle there. Each of the 38 settlers were allotted land. Brockett received lot #1 of 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) and his son John received 8 acres (32,374.9 m²).John was elected to public offices and became one of the leading men of the town. He eventually represented Wallingford in the General Assembly.
(1675–1676). In Jun 1675 an 1676, Brockett was again surgeon during the King Philip's war in which 600 colonialists were killed at a cost of over $1,000,000.
. He was a surveyor, civil engineer, surgeon.
Parents: Father, Sir John Brockett, Knight (1581–1649); Mother, Mary BANNISTER.
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
. He was Gen Assembly Representative, Indian and government dispute settler.
1630s
He came to America in 1637 and when he was well established there, returned to England to marry her and bring her back with him. Because of this choice, however, his father not only denied him his entire inheritance, but also had his name removed from all family records. The evidence connecting father and son is not concrete, but, according to genealogist Edward Brockett, "there can be little doubt that he was the son of Sir John Brockett." He emigrated on 26 Jun 1637 to Boston, Massachusetts Bay ColonyMassachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
. John Brockett was the first Brockett in America when he arrived at Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
. He came on the ship "Hector" with Reverend John Davenport (Puritan). The passengers on board that ship were "gentlemen in wealth and character, with their servants and household effects." Most were from London and engaged as merchants and commercial businesses. Their arrival was joyously hailed at Boston for they were the wealthiest of immigrants to New England at that time. Shortly arriving, however, a small group led by Theophilus Eaton
Theophilus Eaton
Theophilus Eaton was a merchant, farmer, and Puritan colonial leader who was the co-founder and first governor of New Haven Colony, Connecticut.-Early life and first marriage:...
decided not to join Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
, but to form a new colony. They explored the coast along Long Island Sound and chose a site that became New Haven Colony. Seven individuals wintered there to hold the site. Others arrived on 13 April 1638, including Davenport and John Brockett. They purchased land from the Quinipiac Indians and formed a government based upon strict religious principles. He moved on 13 Apr 1638 to New Haven Colony. Brockett was a signer of the first covenant of New Haven and became a leader among the founders of New Haven. His name appears more often on early town records than anyone but Eaton. In 1639, Brockett surveyed an area that is now the center of New Haven and laid out the borders with such accuracy that the same borders are used to this day.
1640s
By 1640 a complete government had been established and the settlement, originally called Quinnipiac, was renamed New Haven. The town plan was based on a grid of nine squares. In accordance with old English custom, the central square, now the Green, was designated a public common. A copy of the 1641 Brockett map as shown in "Three Centuries of New Haven, 1638-1938" by Rollin G. Osterweis, published in 1953 by Yale Univ. Press.By 1641 New Haven had grown into a community of approximately 800. The survey map of 1641 was laid out by John Brockett. These prosperous immigrants formed a new government of a town they called New Haven. The residents must have had confidence in Brockett's judgment as he was often appointed by the Planters to a committee to resolve cases of differing opinion regarding settlers and Indians.
John Brockett was involved in the military over quite a long period. In 1643, he was fined a shilling for coming late to military training.
1650s
In 1654, John Brockett is appointed surgeon among a group of soldiers who have aligned themselves against the Dutch who have settled along the Hudson River.1660s
In 1660, he led an effort to resolve a border dispute between Connecticut Colony (in Hartford) and New Haven Colony. He moved in 1667 to Elizabethtown, Union, NJ. He moved in 1669 to Wallingford, New Haven Colony.In 1667, 28 years later, Brockett was commissioned by the Governor of New Jersey to survey the bounds of Elizabethtown, which has since become the City of Elizabeth, NJ. This effort required him to temporary reside in that city. Brockett received an allotment of land for his efforts that he sold when he left Elizabethtown in 1670. While living in Elizabethtown, the townspeople chose him and John Ogden were chosen to represent Elizabethtown in its House of Burgess.
In 1669, the Colony of New Haven began planning Wallingford village. The area was infested with thousands of wolves that killed cattle and sheep. John Brockett and his son Samuel were among the first 100 persons to settle there. Each of the 38 settlers were allotted land. Brockett received lot #1 of 12 acres (48,562.3 m²) and his son John received 8 acres (32,374.9 m²).John was elected to public offices and became one of the leading men of the town. He eventually represented Wallingford in the General Assembly.
1670s
He was Deputy to the General Court between 1671 and 1685 in Wallingford, New Haven Colony. He served several nonconsecutive terms during this period. He served as a surgeon between 1675 and 1676 in King Philip's WarKing Philip's War
King Philip's War, sometimes called Metacom's War, Metacomet's War, or Metacom's Rebellion, was an armed conflict between Native American inhabitants of present-day southern New England and English colonists and their Native American allies in 1675–76. The war is named after the main leader of the...
(1675–1676). In Jun 1675 an 1676, Brockett was again surgeon during the King Philip's war in which 600 colonialists were killed at a cost of over $1,000,000.
1690s
He signed a will on 3 Mar 1690 in Wallingford, New Haven, CT. He died on 12 Mar 1690 in Windsor, Hartford, CT. and is buried in the Center Street Cemetery, WallingfordCenter Street Cemetery, Wallingford
The Center Street Cemetery in Wallingford, Connecticut is a cemetery dating from 1670.Lyman Hall, a native of Connecticut who moved to Georgia and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, is memorialized here, as is Moses Yale Beach, newspaper publisher and founder of the...
. He was a surveyor, civil engineer, surgeon.
Parents: Father, Sir John Brockett, Knight (1581–1649); Mother, Mary BANNISTER.
Additional reading
- Portrait of John Brockett's father; Brockett, Sir John of Brockett Hall, Hatfield: portrait engraved by G Barrett from an original portrait by Sir A More dating from 1568, 1, nd [19th cent]; Reference Volume D/ECu 4, Page 139
- http://www.hertsdirect.org
- John Edwin Cussans, Antiquary: Hertfortshire working Papers and Collections; Reference GB 0046 D/ECu
- http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/nra/onlinelists/GB0046%20D-ECU.pdf
- The Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire, by Sir Henry Chauncy, Kt.
- http://www.archive.org/details/sirhenrychauncyk00geriuoft
External links
- Brockett Family Origin
- Brockett Family of England
- The History of the Brockett Name
- The Historical Antiquities of Hertfordshire by Sir Henry Chauncy, Knight
- The Descendants of John Brockett: One of the original founders of New Haven, Connecticut
- Mormon Records John Brockett Gender: M Death/Burial: 12 Mar 1690 Windsor, Hartford, Conn.