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 Middletown, Connecticut on December 30, 1739.^[1][2][3] He was living in Hartford and owned a wig-making shop when he joined the Army for the American Revolution.^[4][5]

American Revolution

He was a member of the 8th Connecticut Regiment, commanding a company with the rank of Captain. The regiment took part in action throughout New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and Mattocks served until resigning in 1780, when he moved to Tinmouth, Vermont.^[6][7][8]

Life in Vermont

Mattocks farmed and also became active in politics and government. He served in the Vermont House of Representatives from 1781 to 1785, and was a member of the Governor's Council in 1785. He was Assistant Judge of Rutland County from 1783 to 1788, Chief Judge from 1788 to 1793, and Assistant Judge again in 1794. From 1786 to 1800 Mattocks was Vermont's State Treasurer, and in 1792 he was a member of the Council of Censors. His term as Treasurer bridged the period from the founding of the Vermont Republic until Vermont achieved statehood in 1791.^[9]

Death and burial

Mattocks moved to Middlebury in 1797, and resided there until his death.^[10] He died on January 18, 1804, and was buried in Middlebury's Washington Street Cemetery.^[11]

Family

Samuel Mattocks married Sarah Birdwell (or Burdell) on March 14, 1763.^[12] Their children included: Samuel Mattocks Jr. (1764-1823), who was an innkeeper in Middlebury and served in local office;^[13][14] Sarah (1767–1778); Rebecca (1768–1841), the wife of Samuel Miller of Middlebury; Mary (1770–1777); and John (1777–1847).^[15]

John Mattocks served in the United States House of Representatives and was Governor of Vermont from 1843 to 1844.^[16]

References

1. Lucius Barnes Barbour, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, page 389
2. Henry Perry Smith, William S. Rann, History of Rutland County, Vermont, Volume 2, 1886, pages 824-825
3. Connecticut Town Birth records, entry for Samuel Mattocks, 1854, page 14
4. Kathleen A. Staples, Madelyn C. Shaw, Clothing Through American History: The British Colonial Era, 2013, page 197
5. William DeLoss Love, The Colonial History of Hartford: Gathered from the Original Records, 1914, page 318
6. Connecticut Historical Society, The Record of Connecticut Men in the Military and Naval Service During the American Revolution, 1889, page 230
7. Mildred E. Allen, Reflections of Tinmouth, 1989, page 118
8. Daughters of the American Revolution, Lineage Book, Volume 27, 1909, page 168
9. Vermont General Assembly, Records of the Governor and Council of the State of Vermont, Volume III, 1875, pages 77-78
10. Samuel Swift, History of the Town of Middlebury: In the County of Addison, Vermont, 1859, pages 250, 258
11. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Vermont newspaper abstracts, 1783-1816, 2001, page 259
12. Lucius Barnes Barbour, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, page 389
13. Connecticut, Church Record Abstracts, 1630-1920, entry for Samuel Mattocks, Jr., 1920, page 296
14. Samuel Swift, History of the Town of Middlebury: In the County of Addison, Vermont, 1859, page 259
15. Lucius Barnes Barbour, Families of Early Hartford, Connecticut, page 389
16. Prentiss Cutler Dodge, Encyclopedia of Vermont Biography, 1912, page 35

Political offices
Preceded by Ira Allen	Vermont State Treasurer 1786–1800	Succeeded by Benjamin Swan