John Brockett (American colonist)
| John Brockett | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hertfordshire, England |
| Died | July 29, 1690 (aged 79) Wallingford, Connecticut |
| Occupation | Soldier, Surgeon, Surveyor |
John Brockett (died March 12, 1690) was born in England. He was Gen Assembly Representative, Indian and government dispute settler.
He emigrated on June 26, 1637, to Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. John Brockett was the first Brockett in America when he arrived at Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. He came on the ship "Hector" with Reverend John Davenport (Puritan). The passengers on board that ship were "gentlemen in wealth and character, with their servants and household effects." Most were from London and engaged as merchants and commercial businesses. Their arrival was joyously hailed at Boston for they were the wealthiest of immigrants to New England at that time. Shortly arriving, however, a small group led by Theophilus Eaton decided not to join Massachusetts Bay Colony, but to form a new colony. They explored the coast along Long Island Sound and chose a site that became New Haven Colony. Seven individuals wintered there to hold the site. Others arrived on 13 April 1638, including Davenport and John Brockett. They purchased land from the Quinnipiac Indians and formed a government based upon strict religious principles. He moved on 13 Apr 1638 to New Haven Colony. Brockett was a signer of the first covenant of New Haven and became a leader among the founders of New Haven. His name appears more often on early town records than anyone but Eaton. In 1639, Brockett surveyed an area that is now the center of New Haven and laid out the borders with such accuracy that the same borders are used to this day.
By 1640 a complete government had been established and the settlement, originally called Quinnipiac, was renamed New Haven. The town plan was based on a grid of nine squares. In accordance with old English custom, the central square, now the Green, was designated a public common. A copy of the 1641 Brockett map as shown in "Three Centuries of New Haven, 1638-1938" by Rollin G. Osterweis, published in 1953 by Yale Univ. Press.
By 1641 New Haven had grown into a community of approximately 800. The survey map of 1641 was laid out by John Brockett. These prosperous immigrants formed a new government of a town they called New Haven. The residents must have had confidence in Brockett's judgment as he was often appointed by the Planters to a committee to resolve cases of differing opinion regarding settlers and Indians.
John Brockett was involved in the military over quite a long period. In 1643, he was fined a shilling for coming late to military training.
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