Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

chosen pastor of the church at Cambridge.
After two and one half years of very suc-
cessful labor there, he joined the
company which settled at Hartford, Con-
necticut, in 1636. From that time on he
was identified with nearly all the im-
portant public movements of the colony.
He was one of the moderators of the first
New England Synod, held at Cambridge,
to pass on the case of the celebrated Anne
Hutchinson. He published many books
and sermons during the last ten years of
his life. He died in Hartford, July 7,
1647. He married, according to tradi-
tion, a sister of John Pyn, an intimate
friend.
(II) Rev. Samuel Hooker, youngest
child of Rev. Thomas Hooker, was born
in 1633. He early made his father's life
work his own choice, and was educated
at Harvard College, being graduated in
1663. He succeeded Rev. Roger Newton,
his brother-in-law, and was second pastor
of the church at Farmington, Connecticut,
where he was ordained in July, 1661. He
served on a committee of four, in 1662, to
treat with the New Haven Colony with
reference to the proposed union with Connecticut
under one Colonial government.
All of the descendants of Rev. Thomas
Hooker, bearing the same surname, are
also his descendants. He was a fellow
of Harvard, and on account of his earnest-
ness and piety was called the "fervent
Hooker." He made a habit of committing
his sermons to memory, and was a power-
ful and effective preacher. He died in
Farmington, November 6, 1697. He mar-
ried, September 22, 1658, Mary Willett,
born May 4, 1643, in Plymouth, daughter
of Captain Thomas and Mary
(Brown) Willett, of that part of Swanzey,
Massachusetts, which was afterwards
Seekonk, Rhode Island. After his death,
she married (second) August 10, 1703,
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
157
Rev. Thomas Buckingham, of Saybrook,
Connecticut.
(III) John Hooker, fourth son of Rev.
Samuel and Mary (Willett) Hooker, was
born February 20, 1665, in Farmington,
where he remained throughout his life-
time. He was an eminent and useful citi-
zen, and a man loved and honored by his
household and among his neighbors and
friends. From 1699 to 1723 he repre-
sented Farmington in the General Court,
serving three sessions as clerk of the
House, and six as speaker. For the suc-
ceeding eleven years he was assistant of
the Province, and during eight years of
that time judge of the Superior Court.
He died February 1, 1747. He married,
November 24, 1687, Abigail Stanley, born
July 25, 1669, died February 21, 1743,
daughter of Captain John and Anna
(Scott) Stanley.
(IV) John (2) Hooker, second son of
John (1) and Abigail (Stanley) Hooker,
was born March 6, 1696, in Farmington.
He was an active business man of that
town, where he served long as justice of
the peace, throwing his influence on the
side of right and progress in every ques-
tion involving the public good. He died
at Kensington, Connecticut, August 3,
1766. He married, July 4, 1728, Mercy
(Mary) Hart, born September 29, 1703,
in Kensington, where she died, in 1782.
She was a daughter of Deacon Thomas
and Mary (Thompson) Hart.
(V) Elijah Hooker, son of John (2)
and Mercy (Mary) (Hart) Hooker, was
born April 12, 1746, and died September
27, 1823. He married, August 26, 1767,
Susanna (Judd) Seymour, widow of Sam-
uel Seymour, born October 21, 1748, died
December 20, 1832.
(VI) Saxa Hooker, son of Elijah and
Susanna (Judd-Seymour) Hooker, was
born in Kensington, February 10, 1774,
and died February 19, 1857, spending the