Thomas Willett: Difference between revisions
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'''Thomas Willett''' (1605-1674) was a [[United Kingdom|British]]-born American [[merchant]], [[Plymouth Colony]] trader and sea-captain, Commissioner of [[New Netherland]], magistrate of Plymouth Colony, and [[Captain (nautical)|Captain]] of Plymouth Colony. |
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'''Thomas Willett''' (1611-1674) was a [[United Kingdom|British]]-born American [[merchant]], [[Plymouth Colony]] trader and sea-captain, Commissioner of [[New Netherland]], magistrate of Plymouth Colony, and [[Captain (nautical)|Captain]] of Plymouth Colony. He was appointed as the first [[Mayor of New York]] on [[June 12]], [[1665]], by Governor [[Richard Nicolls]]<ref>Edwin Burrows and Mike Wallace. (1999) [[Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898]]. New York: Oxford. p. 78.</ref>, and as a commissioner of admiralty on [[August 23]]. He was a member of the [[New York]] governor's executive council from 1665 to 1672 under [[Richard Lovelace]]. He [[retire]]d in 1673. |
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==Life== |
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The fourth son of [[Andrew Willet]], he was born in August 1605, in the rectory-house of [[Barley, Hertfordshire]], and was baptised on the 29th of the same month. His father dying when he was only sixteen years of age, he appears to have continued to reside with his widowed mother and maternal grandmother till he came of age. Shortly after he went to [[Leyden]], and then to the new Plymouth plantation, wher he was known to Governor [[John Bradford]] as trustworthy. |
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In 1633, after he had become a successful trader with the Native Americans, he was admitted to the freedom of the colony, and married a daughter of Major John Brown, a leading citizen. He shortly afterwards became a large shipowner, trading with [[New Amsterdam]]. He was elected one of the assistant governors of the Plymouth colony, and acted as arbitrator in disputes between the English and Dutch colonies; he also became captain of a military company. Early in 1660 he left Plymouth, and, establishing himself in [[Rhode Island]], became the founder of the town of [[Swansey]]. |
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Accompanying the English commander [[Richard Nicholls]], he contributed to the peaceable surrender of New Amsterdam to the English on 7 September 1664; and when the colony received the name of New York, Willett was appointed the first mayor (12 June 1665) and a commissioner of admiralty on August 23,<ref>Edwin Burrows and Mike Wallace. (1999) [[Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898]]. New York: Oxford. p. 78.</ref> with the approval of English and Dutch alike. The next year he was elected alderman, and became mayor a second time in 1667. Shortly after he withdrew to Swansey, and here, after having lost his first wife, he married the widow of a clergyman named John Pruden. He was a member of the New York governor's executive council from 1665 to 1672 under [[Richard Lovelace]]. He retired in 1673, and died in 1674, at the age of sixty-nine. He was buried in the Little Neck burial-ground at Bullock's Cove, Swansey, Rhode Island. In his religious views Willet was an [[Independent (religion)|independent]]. |
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==Family== |
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His son [[Thomas Willett (son)|Thomas Willett]] was a major in the militia of [[Queens County, New York|Queens County]] and a councillor under Governors [[Sir Edmund Andros]] and [[Henry Sloughter]]. |
His son [[Thomas Willett (son)|Thomas Willett]] was a major in the militia of [[Queens County, New York|Queens County]] and a councillor under Governors [[Sir Edmund Andros]] and [[Henry Sloughter]]. |
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His great-grandson was [[Marinus Willett]], who served as Mayor of [[New York City|New York]] from 1807-1808. |
His great-grandson was [[Marinus Willett]], who served as Mayor of [[New York City|New York]] from 1807-1808. His descendants were numerous. The 'Dorothy Q.' of the poem of [[Oliver Wendell Holmes]] was Thomas Willett's great-granddaughter, and the great-grandmother of Holmes. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*[http://www.scribd.com/doc/300853/Willett-Family-History Willett Family History] |
*[http://www.scribd.com/doc/300853/Willett-Family-History Willett Family History] |
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{{DNB|Willet, Thomas}} |
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[[Category:1674 deaths]] |
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[[Category:Mayors of New York City]] |
[[Category:Mayors of New York City]] |
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Revision as of 10:54, 15 September 2009
Thomas Willett (1605-1674) was a British-born American merchant, Plymouth Colony trader and sea-captain, Commissioner of New Netherland, magistrate of Plymouth Colony, and Captain of Plymouth Colony.
Leben
The fourth son of Andrew Willet, he was born in August 1605, in the rectory-house of Barley, Hertfordshire, and was baptised on the 29th of the same month. His father dying when he was only sixteen years of age, he appears to have continued to reside with his widowed mother and maternal grandmother till he came of age. Shortly after he went to Leyden, and then to the new Plymouth plantation, wher he was known to Governor John Bradford as trustworthy.
In 1633, after he had become a successful trader with the Native Americans, he was admitted to the freedom of the colony, and married a daughter of Major John Brown, a leading citizen. He shortly afterwards became a large shipowner, trading with New Amsterdam. He was elected one of the assistant governors of the Plymouth colony, and acted as arbitrator in disputes between the English and Dutch colonies; he also became captain of a military company. Early in 1660 he left Plymouth, and, establishing himself in Rhode Island, became the founder of the town of Swansey.
Accompanying the English commander Richard Nicholls, he contributed to the peaceable surrender of New Amsterdam to the English on 7 September 1664; and when the colony received the name of New York, Willett was appointed the first mayor (12 June 1665) and a commissioner of admiralty on August 23,[1] with the approval of English and Dutch alike. The next year he was elected alderman, and became mayor a second time in 1667. Shortly after he withdrew to Swansey, and here, after having lost his first wife, he married the widow of a clergyman named John Pruden. He was a member of the New York governor's executive council from 1665 to 1672 under Richard Lovelace. He retired in 1673, and died in 1674, at the age of sixty-nine. He was buried in the Little Neck burial-ground at Bullock's Cove, Swansey, Rhode Island. In his religious views Willet was an independent.
Family
His son Thomas Willett was a major in the militia of Queens County and a councillor under Governors Sir Edmund Andros and Henry Sloughter.
His great-grandson was Marinus Willett, who served as Mayor of New York from 1807-1808. His descendants were numerous. The 'Dorothy Q.' of the poem of Oliver Wendell Holmes was Thomas Willett's great-granddaughter, and the great-grandmother of Holmes.
References
- ^ Edwin Burrows and Mike Wallace. (1999) Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898. New York: Oxford. p. 78.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
