|
|signature = Signature of Thomas Willett.png
}}
'''Thomas Willett''' (~{{circa|1607 – }}{{snd}}August 29, 1674) was a [[Plymouth Colony]] fur trader, [[merchant]], land purchaser and developer, [[Captain (land)|Captain]] of the Plymouth Colony militia, [[Magistrate]] of the colony, and was the 1st and 3rd [[Mayor of New York City|Mayor of New York]], prior to the consolidation of the five boroughs into the [[City of New York]] in 1898.
==Career==
Willett's initial beginning as a merchant in addition to the continuing involvement in the fur trade may have come in 1641/2 when he furnished a sixteenth portion of the construction cost to build a 40-50 ton [[Barque|bark]]<ref>[https://archive.org/details/recordsofcolonyo0102newp/page/31/mode/1up Shurtleff, '''II''' (January 23, 1641/2): 31.]</ref> (ship). In time he became the major merchant in the lucrative trade with the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam<ref>Philbrick, p. 199-200.</ref> (later New York) where his early knowledge of the Dutch language and customs was of great advantage. His later merchant activities included at least some trade with Virginia and across the Atlantic.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/historyofstateof01brod_0/page/n552/mode/1up?q=willett Brodhead, John Romeyn (1853). ''History of the state of New York.'' New York: Harper & Brothers. '''I''': 525 (footnote).]</ref>
Willett's abilities in the native languages led to his becoming a trusted translator and to establishing friendships among the native Americans, particularly with the principal leaders of the [[Pokanoket|Pokanokets]]s,<ref>Philbrick, pp. 197.</ref> who were led successively by [[Massasoit]], and his sons [[Wamsutta]] (or Alexander) and [[Metacom]] (known as Prince Phillip). (The Pokanokets today are usually referred to as members of a larger group of native Americans, the [[Wampanoag]].) The colony's desire for more land to accommodate its growing population and the desire for more economic activity, combined with the Pokanokets' desire for English goods, led to a series of land purchases from them, notably in the western part of the colony. Willett's father-in-law, John Browne, was among the founders of Taunton<ref>[https://archive.org/details/historicalmemoir01bayl/page/289/mode/1up Baylies, '''I''': 289.]</ref> in 1640, and Browne's and Willett's involvement continued in further purchases along and near the eastern coast and northern reaches of [[Narragansett Bay]]. Willett had moved to this western area of the colony and became involved in the affairs of [[Rehoboth, Massachusetts|Rehoboth]] by the early 1650s, serving in numerous capacities,<ref>[https://archive.org/details/recordsofcolonyo0304newp/page/3/mode/1up Shurtleff, '''III''' and '''IV'''.]</ref> particularly after the death of Browne in 1662. Willett was authorized to purchase further land from the native Americans in 1662<ref>[https://archive.org/details/recordsofcolonyo0304newp/page/18/mode/1up Shurtleff, '''IV''' (June 3, 1662): 18.]</ref> and again in 1668 and 1669;<ref>[https://archive.org/details/recordsofcolonyo0304newp/page/175/mode/1up Shurtleff, '''IV''' (March 5, 1667/8): 175] and [https://archive.org/details/recordsofcolonyo05newp/page/24/mode/1up '''V''' (July 5, 1669): 24.]</ref> these purchases led enlargement of Rehoboth and Swansey ([[Swansea, Massachusetts|Swansea]], originally Wannamoisett<ref>[https://archive.org/details/recordsofcolonyo0304newp/page/175/mode/1up Shurtleff, '''IV''' (March 5, 1667/8): 175]</ref>). An example of a deed between the native Americans and a group of purchasers involving Browne and Willett can be found in a history of the town of Swansea.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/historyofswansea00wrig/page/41/mode/1up Wright, pp. 41-2.]</ref> An extensive history of the early land purchases in Pokanoket area, including those involving Willett, has been compiled by Bicknell<ref>[https://archive.org/details/sowamswithancien00bick/page/n8/mode/1up Bicknell]</ref> including a map showing historical names.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/sowamswithancien00bick/page/n162/mode/1up Pokanoket area, Bicknell, p. 124.]</ref>
Willett became a part owner with other prominent men, including his father-in-law and a son-in-law, John Saffin, of a large development consortium, the Atherton Company, leading to interests in properties in a number of the early New England towns.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/profitsinwildern00mart/mode/2up?q=willett Martin, pp. 70 and 80.] (restricted access available online)</ref> Willett was appointed with others to settle a dispute between the colonies of Plymouth and Rhode Island over ownership of [[Hog Island (Rhode Island)|Hog Island]] in Narragansett Bay in 1658/9.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/recordsofcolonyo0304newp/page/n170/mode/1up?q=hog Shurleff (March 1, 1658/9): '''III''': 157.]</ref>
| date = July 1954
| access-date = 2020-01-25
| url-status = live
}}
</ref>
|
