John Pettes

John Pettes (March 17, 1793 - March 24, 1868) was a businessman and public official who was active in Windsor, Vermont. Among the offices in which he served were Sheriff of Windsor County (1837-1839) and United States Marshal for the District of Vermont (1849-1853).

John Pettes
United States Marshal for the District of Vermont
In office
1849–1853
Preceded byJacob Kent Jr.
Succeeded byCharles Chapin
Sheriff of Windsor County, Vermont
In office
1837–1839
Preceded byDaniel Bowen
Succeeded byJoel Lull
Personal details
Born(1793-03-17)March 17, 1793
Amherst, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedMarch 24, 1868(1868-03-24) (aged 75)
Windsor, Vermont, U.S.
Resting placeOld South Cemetery,
Windsor, Vermont
Political partyWhig
Spouse(s)Lucy Richards (m. 1820-1849, her death)
Children7
OccupationFarmer
Businessman
Government official

Early life

John Pettes was born in Amherst, Massachusetts[1] on March 17, 1793,[2] a son of Joseph Pettes (1757-1811) and Charlotte (Wales) Pettes (1761-1849).[3] Joseph Pettes moved his family to Windsor, Vermont in 1800,[1] where he operated a coffee house and hotel.[4] After his death, Charlotte Pettes took over management of the business, which she operated until the early 1840s.[3]

Business career

After the Pettes family's move to Vermont, John Pettes was educated in the schools of Windsor, then became the operator of a general store in Windsor, which he owned in partnership with his brother Frederick.[4] Pettes also became active in the Vermont Militia; in 1820, he was first lieutenant of the Jefferson Artillery, a Windsor battery commanded by Allen Wardner with the rank of captain.[5] Pettes advanced through the militia's officer grades to become a major in a Windsor-area unit, and afterwards was frequently addressed by his rank.[1]

Among the other ventures Pettes pursued in addition to the store were an ownership stake in the Cornish–Windsor Covered Bridge,[6] a wool brokerage partnership,[7] real estate sales,[8] serving on the board of directors of the Bank of Woodstock,[9] importing and reselling foreign goods transported to Vermont via steamboat on the Connecticut River,[10] an interest in a fire insurance company,[11] and owning and managing a family farm.[12] In 1833, he was one of the incorporators of the Ascutney Mill Dam Company.[13] In 1845, he was an original incorporator of the Vermont Railroad Iron Company, which manufactured rails and other railroad train and track components.[14]

Murder of Homer Cooper

In June 1842, the family of John Pettes was reported on in newspapers throughout the United States in connection with a murder that took place on the Pettes farm.[15][16][17][18] According to contemporary newspaper accounts, a crew of laborers including several of Pettes's sons and a man named Peter McCue were working on the farm.[15] The group included Pettes's son Frederick Dudley Pettes, who was about 11 years old, and a local African American boy, Homer Cooper, who was four.[15] As the adults left the field where they had been working, McCue told the group he was going to return and provide additional assistance to the boys.[15] Instead, he attacked them with two hoes.[15] Both boys were severely injured, but Frederick Pettes was able to run for help.[15] McCue fled by attempting to swim to the New Hampshire side of the Connecticut River,[15] but drowned before he reached the shore.[19] Cooper later died as the result of his injuries.[15] Frederick Pettes recovered, served as Deputy U.S. Marshal for Vermont during his father's term as Marshal, and later owned and operated the family farm.[20]

Public official

A Whig, Pettes was active in Vermont's politics and government.[21][22] He served as Sheriff of Windsor County from 1837 to 1839.[23] In 1849, he was appointed United States Marshal for the District of Vermont, succeeding Jacob Kent Jr.[24] He served until 1853, and was succeeded by Charles Chapin.[25]

Later life

For many years, Pettes suffered from a tumor which started near a place on his neck where he had been injured after he was thrown from a horse and impaled on a fence.[1] The tumor negatively affected his breathing and disfigured his face, and in his later life Pettes became a near-recluse as a result.[1] In 1867, his hip and leg were broken when the horse he was attempting to bridle knocked him down, after which he was confined to his bedroom.[1][26]

Death and burial

Pettes died in Windsor on March 24, 1868.[1] He was buried at Old South Cemetery in Windsor.[2]

Family

In 1820, Pettes married Lucy Richards (1799-1849) of Dorchester, Massachusetts.[2][27][28] They were the parents of seven children who lived to adulthood:[1]

  • William R. (1821-1881)[29][30]
  • Mary E. (1823-1841)[31]
  • John Jr. (1825-1866)[32]
  • Edward C. (1829-1877)[33][34]
  • Frederick D. (1831-1907)[35]
  • Robert T. (1833-1867)[36]
  • Lucy E. (1834-1911)[37]
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References
  1. "The Late Maj. John Pettes", p. 4.
  2. "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908, Death Record for John Pettes".
  3. "Deaths: Charlotte Wales Pettes", p. 3.
  4. Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, p. 270.
  5. Vermont Register and Yearbook, p. 99.
  6. "Meeting Notice, the Proprietors of Cornish Bridge", p. 3.
  7. "Wool Purchase Notice", p. 4.
  8. "Notice: Farm for Sale", p. 4.
  9. "Directors of the Bank of Woodstock", p. 3.
  10. "Notice: Fresh Goods", p. 3.
  11. "Ascutney Fire Insurance Company", p. 3.
  12. "Windsor Co. Agricultural Society", p. 1.
  13. Acts and Laws Passed by the Legislature of the State of Vermont (1832), p. 76.
  14. Acts and Laws Passed by the Legislature of the State of Vermont (1845), p. 63.
  15. "Shocking Murder", p. 2.
  16. "Murder in Windsor", p. 3.
  17. Mord, p. 3.
  18. "Attempted Murder", p. 3.
  19. "Murder -- Quick Retribution", p. 3.
  20. "Obituary, Frederick Dudley Pettes", p. 8.
  21. "Whig State Convention (1839)", p. 2.
  22. "Whig State Convention (1856)", p. 3.
  23. Gazetteer and Business Directory of Windsor County, Vt., for 1883-84, p. 35.
  24. "Appointments by the President, p. 2.
  25. "Vermont Appointments", p. 2.
  26. "Maj. John Pettis (sic) of Windsor", p. 1.
  27. "Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, Marriage Entry for John Pettes and Lucy Richards".
  28. "Death Notice, Mrs. Lucy Richards", p. 7.
  29. "Death Notice: Helen H. Pettes", p. 3.
  30. "Gravestone Photo, William Richards Pettes".
  31. "Death Notice, Mary Elizabeth Pettes", p. 3.
  32. "Death Notice, John Pettes, Jr.", p. 8.
  33. "1850 United States Federal Census, Entry for Edward C. Pettes".
  34. "Miscellaneous: Capt. Edward C. Pettes", p. 5.
  35. "Death Notice, Frederick Dudley Pettes", p. 6.
  36. "Death Notice, Robert Thaxter Pettes", p. 6.
  37. "Death Notice, Lucy Ellen Sabin", p. 8.

Sources

Newspapers

Internet

Books
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