John Mattocks (March 4, 1777 – August 14, 1847) was an American Whig politician, a

brigadier general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed t ...

in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 (18 June 1812 – 17 February 1815) was fought by the United States of America and its indigenous allies against the United Kingdom and its allies in British North America, with limited participation by Spain in Florida. It ...

, U.S. Representative, and 16th

governor of Vermont The governor of Vermont is the head of government of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of 2 years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every ...

Biography

Mattocks was born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 4, 1777, and moved with his parents to Tinmouth, Vermont in 1778. His father, Samuel Mattocks, was a veteran of the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolu ...

and served as Vermont State Treasurer from 1784 to 1800. John Mattocks pursued an academic course, studied law in

Middlebury, Vermont Middlebury is the County seat, shire town (county seat) of Addison County, Vermont, Addison County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 9,152. Middlebury is home to Middlebury College a ...

and

Fairfield, Connecticut Fairfield is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It borders the city of Bridgeport and towns of Trumbull, Easton, Weston, and Westport along the Gold Coast of Connecticut. Located within the New York metropolitan are ...

, and was admitted to the bar in 1797. He married Esther Newell and they had five children; three sons, George, John, and William; and two daughters named Esther who died in their first years.

Career

Mattocks commenced practice in Danville; moved to Peacham, Vermont. He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1807, 1815, 1816, 1823, and 1824. During the

, he served as a

of militia. Mattocks was elected to the Seventeenth Congress (March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823). He was elected to the Nineteenth Congress (March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827); and served as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Expenditures in the

Department of War War Department may refer to: * War Department (United Kingdom) * United States Department of War (1789–1947) See also * War Office, a former department of the British Government * Ministry of defence * Ministry of War * Ministry of Defence * D ...

(Nineteenth Congress). He was a judge of the

Vermont Supreme Court The Vermont Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority of the U.S. state of Vermont. Unlike most other states, the Vermont Supreme Court hears appeals directly from the trial courts, as Vermont has no intermediate appeals court. The Cou ...

in 1833 and 1834, and declined to be a candidate for renomination. Mattocks was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1836 He was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843). In 1843, the major candidates for

Governor of Vermont The governor of Vermont is the head of government of Vermont. The officeholder is elected in even-numbered years by direct voting for a term of 2 years. Vermont and bordering New Hampshire are the only states to hold gubernatorial elections every ...

were Mattocks (Whig), Daniel Kellogg (Democrat), and Charles K. Williams (

Liberty Liberty is the ability to do as one pleases, or a right or immunity enjoyed by prescription or by grant (i.e. privilege). It is a synonym for the word freedom. In modern politics, liberty is understood as the state of being free within society fr ...

). In the general election, they received 24,465 votes (48.7%), 21,982 (43.8%), and 3,766 (7.5%). Because no candidate had the majority required by the Vermont Constitution, the Vermont General Assembly made the selection, and chose Mattocks. During his term, his son, George, committed suicide and, grief-stricken, Mattocks declined to run for another term.

Death and legacy

Mattocks died in Peacham, Vermont, August 14, 1847; is interred at Peacham Village Cemetery,

Caledonia County, Vermont Caledonia County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,233. Its shire town (county seat) is the town of St. Johnsbury. The county was created in 1792 and organ ...

. His house, built in 1805 and purchased in 1807, stands in the center of town and is a local landmark. His son John was a minister, and his son, William became a lawyer and served as

Caledonia County Caledonia County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Vermont. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,233. Its shire town (county seat) is the town of St. Johnsbury. The county was created in 1792 and organ ...

's state's attorney.

References

Sources

Books

* * *

Internet

* * *

Magazines

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mattocks, John 1777 births 1847 deaths People from Tinmouth, Vermont People from Caledonia County, Vermont Governors of Vermont Members of the Vermont House of Representatives Vermont Whigs Vermont lawyers Justices of the Vermont Supreme Court American militiamen in the War of 1812 American militia generals Burials in Vermont Vermont National Republicans Democratic-Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Vermont National Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives Whig Party members of the United States House of Representatives 19th-century American politicians Whig Party state governors of the United States 19th-century American lawyers