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 ...

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 bega ...

, 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 Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...

on March 4, 1777, and moved with his parents to

Tinmouth, Vermont Tinmouth is a town in Rutland County, Vermont, United States. The population was 553 at the 2020 census. History Tinmouth was established in 1761 in a region that came to be known as the New Hampshire Grants. At the first U.S. census, the t ...

in 1778. His father,

Samuel Mattocks Samuel Mattocks (December 30, 1739 – January 18, 1804) was a Connecticut and Vermont Continental Army officer and political figure who served as Vermont State Treasurer during the state's early years. Early life Samuel Mattocks was born in M ...

, 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 Revolut ...

and served as

Vermont State Treasurer The State Treasurer's Office is responsible for several administrative and service duties, in accordance with Vermont Statutes. These include: investing state funds; issuing state bonds; serving as the central bank for state agencies; managing the ...

from 1784 to 1800. John Mattocks pursued an academic course, studied law in

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

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 area ...

, 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 Peacham is a town in Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. The population was 715 at the 2020 census. History In 1763, Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire gave a charter for the region to a group of proprietors, and the town was gi ...

. He was a member of the

Vermont House of Representatives The Vermont House of Representatives is the lower house of the Vermont General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Vermont. The House comprises 150 members, with each member representing around 4,100 citizens. Representatives ar ...

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 (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 Court ...

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 Charles Kilbourne Williams (January 24, 1782March 9, 1853) was an American lawyer and politician. He served as Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court from 1834 to 1846 and as 20th governor of Vermont from 1850 to 1852. Biography Williams wa ...

(

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 The Vermont General Assembly is the legislative body of the state of Vermont, in the United States. The Legislature is formally known as the "General Assembly," but the style of "Legislature" is commonly used, including by the body itself. The G ...

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

, August 14, 1847; is interred at Peacham Village Cemetery, Caledonia County, Vermont. 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's state's attorney.

References

Sources

Books

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Internet

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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