John Pettes | |
---|---|
United States Marshal for the District of Vermont | |
In office 1849–1853 | |
Preceded by | Jacob Kent Jr. |
Succeeded by | Charles Chapin |
Sheriff of Windsor County,Vermont | |
In office 1837–1839 | |
Preceded by | Daniel Bowen |
Succeeded by | Joel Lull |
Personal details | |
Born | Amherst,Massachusetts,U.S. | March 17,1793
Died | March 24,1868 75) Windsor,Vermont,U.S. | (aged
Resting place | Old South Cemetery, Windsor,Vermont |
Political party | Whig |
Spouse | Lucy Richards (m. 1820-1849,her death) |
Children | 7 |
Occupation | Farmer Businessman Government official |
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 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]
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]
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]
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]
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]
Pettes died in Windsor on March 24,1868. [1] He was buried at Old South Cemetery in Windsor. [2]
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]
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