John Mattocks

John Mattocks (March 4, 1777 – August 14, 1847) was an American Whig politician, a brigadier general in the War of 1812, U.S. Congressman, and sixteenth Governor of Vermont.

John Mattocks
16th Governor of Vermont
In office October 13, 1843 – October 11, 1844
Lieutenant	Horace Eaton
Preceded by	Charles Paine
Succeeded by	William Slade
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th district
In office March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843
Preceded by	Isaac Fletcher
Succeeded by	District eliminated
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th district
In office March 4, 1825 – March 3, 1827
Preceded by	Samuel C. Crafts
Succeeded by	Daniel Azro Ashley Buck
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 6th district
In office March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	None
Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
In office 1807 1815–1816 1823–1824
Personal details
Born	(1777-03-04)March 4, 1777 Hartford, Connecticut
Died	August 14, 1847(1847-08-14) (aged 70) Peacham, Vermont
Political party	Whig
Spouse(s)	Esther Newell
Profession	Lawyer Judge Politician

Biography

Mattocks was born in Hartford, Connecticut on March 4, 1777, and moved with his parents to Tinmouth, Vermont in 1778.[1] His father, Samuel Mattocks, was a veteran of the American Revolution and served as Vermont State Treasurer from 1784 to 1800.[1] John Mattocks pursued an academic course, studied law in Middlebury, Vermont and Fairfield, Connecticut, and was admitted to the bar in 1797.[2] 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.[3] He was a member of the Vermont House of Representatives in 1807, 1815, 1816, 1823, and 1824.[3] During the War of 1812, he served as a brigadier general of militia.[4]

Mattocks was elected to the Seventeenth Congress (March 4, 1821 – March 3, 1823).[2] 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).[2] He was a judge of the Vermont Supreme Court in 1833 and 1834, and declined to be a candidate for renomination.[2] Mattocks was a delegate to the State constitutional convention in 1836[2] He was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1841 – March 3, 1843).[3]

In 1843, the major candidates for Governor of Vermont were Mattocks (Whig), Daniel Kellogg (Democrat), and Charles K. Williams (Liberty).[5] In the general election, they received 24,465 votes (48.7%), 21,982 (43.8%), and 3,766 (7.5%).[5] Because no candidate had the majority required by the Vermont Constitution, the Vermont General Assembly made the selection, and chose Mattocks.[5] During his term, his son, George, committed suicide and, grief-stricken, Mattocks declined to run for another term.[4]

Death and legacy

Mattocks died in Peacham, Vermont, August 14, 1847;[3] is interred at Peacham Village Cemetery, Caledonia County, Vermont.[6] His house, built in 1805 and purchased in 1807, stands in the center of town and is a local landmark.[7] His son John was a minister, and his son, William became a lawyer and served as Caledonia County's state's attorney.

References

1. Biography of the Bar of Orleans County, Vermont, p. 9.
2. "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress".
3. Catalogue of Officers and Students of Middlebury College, p. 470.
4. "National Governors Association".
5. "The Political World: Vermont", p. 490.
6. Where They're Buried, p. 309.
7. "Peacham Corner Historic District", p. 10.

Sources

Books

• Wiley, Edgar J. (1917). Catalogue of Officers and Students of Middlebury College. Middlebury, VT: Middlebury College.
• Redfield, Isaac (1886). Baldwin, Frederick W. (ed.). Biography of the Bar of Orleans County, Vermont: John Mattocks. Montpelier, VT: Vermont Watchman and State Journal Press.
• Spencer, Thomas E. (1998). Where They're Buried. Baltimore, MD: Clearfield Company. p. 309. ISBN 978-0-8063-4823-0.

Internet

• "John Mattocks". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
• "John Mattocks". National Governors Association. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
• National Park Service (2003). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Peacham Corner Historic District" (PDF). NPS.gov/. Washington, DC: US Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 21, 2017.

Magazines

• Benjamin, Park, ed. (October 21, 1843). "The Political World: Vermont". The New World. New York, NY: J. Winchester.

External links

• John Mattocks at Find a Grave

Party political offices
Preceded by Charles Paine	Whig nominee for Governor of Vermont 1843	Succeeded by William Slade
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by None	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 6th congressional district 1821–1823	Succeeded by None
Preceded by Samuel C. Crafts	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th congressional district 1825–1827	Succeeded by Daniel Azro Ashley Buck
Preceded by Isaac Fletcher	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th congressional district 1841–1843	Succeeded by District eliminated
Political offices
Preceded by Charles Paine	Governor of Vermont 1843–1844	Succeeded by William Slade