John Webster (Governor of the Colony of Connecticut)
Encyclopedia
John Webster was an early colonial settler of New England
, serving one term as governor of the Colony of Connecticut
in 1656.
, Leicestershire
, England
, the son of Matthew Webster (1548–1623) and his wife, Elizabeth Ashton. He traveled to the Massachusetts Bay Colony
with his wife and five children in the early 1630s, settling in the area of Newtowne (now Cambridge, Massachusetts
). He left in 1636, in all probability with Thomas Hooker
and his adherents, to settle Hartford, Connecticut
. His first public office was as a member of a committee that joined with the Court of Magistrates in determining the course of war
with the Pequot
Indians. He was chosen from 1639 to 1655 to be magistrate, and in 1655 he was chosen as Deputy Governor of the Colony of Connecticut
. In 1656 he was elected governor, and he served as first magistrate from 1657 to 1659.
A split amongst the church members in Hartford grew when the current minister at the First Church in Hartford, Samuel Stone
, declared that the requirement that stated only parents that had both taken communion should be allowed to have a child baptized would be removed, and non-communicants would be allowed to vote. John Webster, among others, were a part of a council that agreed that this was not acceptable. Reverend Stone chose to ignore this sentiment, and the issue was taken up with the General Court in Massachusetts. The Court ruled that although Reverend Stone had been too strict in ignoring the majority of his parishioners, he was right in liberalizing the baptism ritual. It was also found that those who disagreed with Stone could remove themselves to a location in Massachusetts to practice how they saw fit. This eventual location chosen was Hadley, Massachusetts
, and in 1659, a new community was built there. Webster lived there for less than two years, for in 1661 he contracted a fever and died.
, Massachusetts
in 1667. They had nine children (five of whom were born in England, and four in the Colony):
His descendants are numerous, and include lexicographer Noah Webster
.
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, serving one term as governor of the Colony of Connecticut
Connecticut Colony
The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut was an English colony located in British America that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. Originally known as the River Colony, it was organized on March 3, 1636 as a haven for Puritan noblemen. After early struggles with the Dutch, the English...
in 1656.
Life
Webster was born in CossingtonCossington
Cossington is the name of several settlements in England:* Cossington, Kent is a small settlement in Kent, home of a possible megalithic site* Cossington, Leicestershire is a village in the Soar Valley in Leicestershire...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of Matthew Webster (1548–1623) and his wife, Elizabeth Ashton. He traveled to the 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...
with his wife and five children in the early 1630s, settling in the area of Newtowne (now Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
). He left in 1636, in all probability with Thomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker
Thomas Hooker was a prominent Puritan colonial leader, who founded the Colony of Connecticut after dissenting with Puritan leaders in Massachusetts...
and his adherents, to settle Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford is the capital of the U.S. state of Connecticut. The seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960, it is the second most populous city on New England's largest river, the Connecticut River. As of the 2010 Census, Hartford's population was 124,775, making...
. His first public office was as a member of a committee that joined with the Court of Magistrates in determining the course of war
Pequot War
The Pequot War was an armed conflict between 1634–1638 between the Pequot tribe against an alliance of the Massachusetts Bay, Plymouth, and Saybrook colonies who were aided by their Native American allies . Hundreds were killed; hundreds more were captured and sold into slavery to the West Indies. ...
with the Pequot
Pequot
Pequot people are a tribe of Native Americans who, in the 17th century, inhabited much of what is now Connecticut. They were of the Algonquian language family. The Pequot War and Mystic massacre reduced the Pequot's sociopolitical influence in southern New England...
Indians. He was chosen from 1639 to 1655 to be magistrate, and in 1655 he was chosen as Deputy Governor of the Colony of Connecticut
Connecticut Colony
The Connecticut Colony or Colony of Connecticut was an English colony located in British America that became the U.S. state of Connecticut. Originally known as the River Colony, it was organized on March 3, 1636 as a haven for Puritan noblemen. After early struggles with the Dutch, the English...
. In 1656 he was elected governor, and he served as first magistrate from 1657 to 1659.
A split amongst the church members in Hartford grew when the current minister at the First Church in Hartford, Samuel Stone
Samuel Stone
Samuel Stone was a Puritan Minister.Stone was born in Hertford, England. In 1620, he left Hertford to study at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, from where he graduated in 1624. He was ordained on July 8, 1626 at Peterborough and a year later became curate at Stisted, Essex...
, declared that the requirement that stated only parents that had both taken communion should be allowed to have a child baptized would be removed, and non-communicants would be allowed to vote. John Webster, among others, were a part of a council that agreed that this was not acceptable. Reverend Stone chose to ignore this sentiment, and the issue was taken up with the General Court in Massachusetts. The Court ruled that although Reverend Stone had been too strict in ignoring the majority of his parishioners, he was right in liberalizing the baptism ritual. It was also found that those who disagreed with Stone could remove themselves to a location in Massachusetts to practice how they saw fit. This eventual location chosen was Hadley, Massachusetts
Hadley, Massachusetts
Hadley is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The population was 4,793 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Springfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area around Hampshire Mall and Mountain Farms Mall along Route 9 is a major shopping destination for the surrounding...
, and in 1659, a new community was built there. Webster lived there for less than two years, for in 1661 he contracted a fever and died.
Family
Webster married Agnes Smith (born 29 August 1585 in Cossington, Leicestershire, England) on 7 November 1609 at Cossington. She died in HadleyHadley
- People :Surname* Arthur Twining Hadley , American economist* George Hadley, meteorologist, hence also:** Hadley cell** Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
in 1667. They had nine children (five of whom were born in England, and four in the Colony):
- Matthew (born about 11 February 1608/1609), married Sarah Waterbury and Mary Reeve
- Margaret (born about 21 February 1609/1610 married William Bolton and Thomas Hunt
- William (born 26 December 1614) married Mary Reeve
- Thomas (born 24 November 1616) married Abigail Alexander
- Robert (born 17 November 1619) married Susanna Treat
- Anne (born 29 July 1621) married John Marsh
- Elizabeth (born 16 March 1622/1623) married William Markham
- Mary (born 30 March 1623) married Jonathan Hunt
- Faith (born 8 April 1627, died 10 days later).
His descendants are numerous, and include lexicographer Noah Webster
Noah Webster
Noah Webster was an American educator, lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author...
.