Augustus Sacket: Founder of Sackets Harbor

Augustus Sacket was born on November 10, 1769 in New York City to Samuel Sacket and Mary Betts. Sacket grew up to be a lawyer and business man who reached fame when he came to own tracts of undeveloped land on the south-east shore of Lake Ontario. This shore overlooked a shelter harbor on Black River Bay, and in 1801, he traveled to the area.

He marveled at the promises the land and harbor offered. Overlooking the harbor he was quoted as saying "There a harbor is found which is sheltered form the winds and surges of the Lake. A peninsula of limestone rock perfectly protects a sheet of water covering about ten acres."

The water of the harbor was deep enough to accommodate boats of multiple sizes, and being close enough to the St. Lawrence River and Black River, made the harbor a port excellent for trade.

Sacket bought this land and surrounding areas and named the area Sackets Harbor (originally spelled Sackets Harbour but the spelling was later changed). He built a Palladian-style villa for his wife Minerva Camp and their several children to live in. This house served as a hospital during the War of 1812. Today it is know as the Sacket Mansion and as the Sackets Harbor Visitors Center.

Sacket became the first Collector in 1805 when a section of the state bordering Lake Ontario changed over to a US Revenue District. In 1806, Sackets status changed again when he was elected Supervisor of the town of Hounsfield; Hounsfield included the village and port of Sackets Harbor. Sacket later became the first county judge in 1807 for Jefferson County (the count in which Sackets Harbor is located).

Sacket would have no idea the importance his village would play in historical events until the War of 1812 when Sackets Harbor became the Headquarters of the Northern Army and Fleet. English fleets attacked Sackets Harbor twice but to no avail.

In 1809, Sacket moved from his home in Sackets Harbor to Jamaica, Long Island. He then moved in 1812 to Meadville, Pennsylvania. He later returned to his birth place in New York City before returning to Sackets Harbor shortly aft 1820 when the islands of the St. Lawrence River peaked his interest. His last home was in Newburgh, Orange County, New York. While traveling form Newburgh to Sackets Harbor, Sacket died on April 22, 1827. He was fifty-nine years-old.

RESOURCES:

"Augustus Sackett." 1 July 2009 http://www.sackettfamily.info/p6343.htm>.

1. [S467] Charles Weygant, The Sacketts of America, "307. Augustus Sackett, b. Nov. 10, 1769, d. Apr. 12 [sic: Apr 22], 1827; m. Minerva Camp."

2. [S1399] Website Death Notices from the New York Evening Post, 1801-1890 (New England Historic Genealogical Society) (http://www.NewEnglandAncestors.org), 4/26/1827. "Albany, Augustus Sackett, 59."

3. [S467] Charles Weygant, The Sacketts of America.

4. [S1462] Website 1790 US Federal Census (Ancestry.co.uk) (http://www.ancestry.co.uk/), Augustus Sackett. New York City Dock Ward, New York, NY. 2 white males (16+).