Individual Details
Judge John Hooker
(1664 - 1744)
From: Descendants of Thomas Hooker
30 John Hooker (Samuel,^ Thomas^), son of Rev. Samuel and Mary (Willet) Hooker of Farmington, Conn., born Feb. 20, 1664 or 1665; married Nov. 24, 1687, Abigail Standley, daughter of Capt. John and his second wife, Sarah (Fletcher) Standley, of Farmington, Conn., b. July 25, 1669, at Farmington. Hon. John Hooker, was one of the most noted men of his day. For many years he was the leading man of the town. Hewas the magistrate who did most of the business of the town and he was Judge of the Supreme Court of the Colony from 1724 to 1732. He was a member of the Lower House of the Assembly from 1699 to 1723. He then went into the Upper House. He served twenty-one sessions of which he was Clerk two ses- sions, and Speaker, six. He w^as chosen assistant in 1723, and rechosen annually for eleven years. He was on important committees and was frequently sent to settle difficulties in towns, churches, etc. ; he was charged with important public trusts, etc., and the papers in file in the office of the Secretary of State, attest the carefulness, as well as the confidence, reposed in him. When he married, his father purchased and gave him a site on the west side of the main street, some distance north of the Meeting House at Farmington, and here he built his house under the branches of a beautiful elm tree, where it soon became a center of generous hospitality, and a familiar gathering place for the sages of the town, who in the pleasant summerevenings seated under the leafy canopy of the Hooker Elm, discussed the passing events, while their long pipes gave forth clouds of fragrant incense, which curling upwards, dispensed itself among the leaves of the beautiful tree. The ''Hooker Elm" was a widely known feature of the pleasant street, famous through all the region round for its great beauty and the pleasant company which gathered under its canopy in the soft summer evenings. In the course of events the estate passed on to Roger Hooker, a thorough gentleman of the old school, who prized the wide spreading "Hooker Elm," as his father had done, while he continued the far famed hospitality of the house, and greeting his friends under the beautiful tree, sped the time away with tale and jest, and merry quip. And again, another Roger, a polished gentleman, a Patriotic soldier, a delightful Y 20 The Descendants of Rev. Thomas ll.)nkcrconversationalist, and a brilliant wit and a raconteur, did thehonors of the lionsc as his father and i;rand-fatluT had done,and ^athrrc(l his story lovinp. mirth api)rcciatinj; friendsbeneath the famous "Hooker I'"lm. " Major Roper Hc^^ker was tlie last Hooker occupant of theplace and dyinp without issue in IS.W. tlie hospitable mansionand its stately piiardian. the "Hooker IClm." passed into otherhands and eventually into the possession of Mr. William Gay.The old house was torn out. rebuilt and modernized until scarcely a feature of its Hooker character remained, and asif to obliterate all memories and liii£^erinjx Hooker associations,because the beautiful tree interfered with makinp^ a straii^ht path from the front door to the street, an axe was laid at theroots and the famous "Hooker I'Jm." like the ^generations thathad pothered under its leafy canopy, was laid low in the dust.Peace to its ashes—and the last vestipc of the Hooker dynasty,together with the far famed beauty of the place, passed away.A chronicler of those days left this account of Mr. Hooker."On Sunday the bell ranp for a while for service and thencommenced tolling. At the first stroke of the tolling Mr. Hookerissued from his house and proceeded to the Meeting House,anfl the minister in like manner started from his house, whichever arrived first at the Meeting House door awaited thearrival of the other; and together they entered the building,as they entered the door the bell stopped tolling, and all thecongregation arose to their feet and remained standing whilethe two walked the aisle together. Mr. Hooker stopped at his pew door—the first pew—and waited until the ministerascended the pulpit stairs, then entering his pew, they bothsat down at the same time and then the congregation seateditself. When the service was over, Mr. Hooker stepped outside his pew door, and this was a signal for the congregationto arise and remain standing, at the pew door Mr. Hookerremained until joined by the minister, when they walked downthe aisle together to the door, where they took their stand,outside in good weather and inside in bad weather. "When they were in place, this was a signal to the congregation, who until that time had remained standing in their pews.The pew doors were thrown open, and the people passed out, all bowing as they passed the minister and Mr. Hooker, manyspeaking and a few^ exchanging a hand shake. When thepeople w^ere all out the minister and Mr. Hooker, bowing to each other, shook hands and then proceeded to their homes."The chronicler also describes the ending of the Sundayrigidness. "The holiness of the day was supposed to end at sunset, but not a child in the town dared to stir, until thesignal came from Mr. Hooker that the day was ended. When the sun had sunk below the horizon, Mr. Hooker, coming to his door with his pipe in his hand, walked down the path to the gate and leaning over it rested his arms upon the top. The moment his arms touched the gate, open flew the doors and out came the children with a wild rush and shout—Mr. Hooker was at his gate, Sunday was over. The shout was taken up and spread to the furtherest ends of the town with a rapidity that would almost put the telegram of the present day to the blush. Mr. Hooker with his pipe was at the gate and Sunday was ended." Roger Hooker leaves this note of Mr. Hooker's appearance, "Mr. John Hooker had dark hair and dark eyes, and a dignity in his air and expression that procured profound respect." Another description of Mr. Hooker says: "He was a fine looking man, tall, very erect, and had a prominent large nose. Capt. John Standley, the father of Mrs. Hooker, was a man of wealth and high social position, who had won distinc- tion as a lieutenant and captain in the Indian wars. Standley. The early settlers at Hartford spelled the name with a "d," and as they were educated men of high standing, etc., it may properly be supposed that they were correct in so spelling. The history of the Stanley family however assumes that they were wrong and the spelling a mistake, etc., and endeavors to trace the family to the family of Stanley of England. It has since come to light that Sir John Standley was an officer in Cromwell's army, that the family was then an old one and was not known to have any connection with the famous Stanley family. Probably this Standley family was the one from which the Connecticut settler came and their spelling of the name was correct. The name in America has now become irrevocably changed to Stanley. Another daughter, Elizabeth Standley, married deacon John North, and was the grand-mother of Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth the famous Commissary General of the Revolutionary War. Col. Wadsworth married Mahitable Russell of Middletown, Conn., a descendant from Rev. Thomas Hooker, and thus while there was no cousinship between Col. Wadsworth and his wife there was a cousinship between each of them and the descendants from Hon. John Hooker and their children bore a double relationship to this branch of the Hooker family. Col. Wadsworth, son of Daniel Wadsworth, founded the Wadsworth Atheneum at Hartford and presented it to the city, thus erecting a noble monument to the Wadsworth family, and one in which the Hookers of that branch have a kinship interest. John Hooker died at Farmington, Feb. 21, 1745 or 1746. His wife died at Farmington, Feb. 21, 1742 or 1743. 22 The Descend
30 John Hooker (Samuel,^ Thomas^), son of Rev. Samuel and Mary (Willet) Hooker of Farmington, Conn., born Feb. 20, 1664 or 1665; married Nov. 24, 1687, Abigail Standley, daughter of Capt. John and his second wife, Sarah (Fletcher) Standley, of Farmington, Conn., b. July 25, 1669, at Farmington. Hon. John Hooker, was one of the most noted men of his day. For many years he was the leading man of the town. Hewas the magistrate who did most of the business of the town and he was Judge of the Supreme Court of the Colony from 1724 to 1732. He was a member of the Lower House of the Assembly from 1699 to 1723. He then went into the Upper House. He served twenty-one sessions of which he was Clerk two ses- sions, and Speaker, six. He w^as chosen assistant in 1723, and rechosen annually for eleven years. He was on important committees and was frequently sent to settle difficulties in towns, churches, etc. ; he was charged with important public trusts, etc., and the papers in file in the office of the Secretary of State, attest the carefulness, as well as the confidence, reposed in him. When he married, his father purchased and gave him a site on the west side of the main street, some distance north of the Meeting House at Farmington, and here he built his house under the branches of a beautiful elm tree, where it soon became a center of generous hospitality, and a familiar gathering place for the sages of the town, who in the pleasant summerevenings seated under the leafy canopy of the Hooker Elm, discussed the passing events, while their long pipes gave forth clouds of fragrant incense, which curling upwards, dispensed itself among the leaves of the beautiful tree. The ''Hooker Elm" was a widely known feature of the pleasant street, famous through all the region round for its great beauty and the pleasant company which gathered under its canopy in the soft summer evenings. In the course of events the estate passed on to Roger Hooker, a thorough gentleman of the old school, who prized the wide spreading "Hooker Elm," as his father had done, while he continued the far famed hospitality of the house, and greeting his friends under the beautiful tree, sped the time away with tale and jest, and merry quip. And again, another Roger, a polished gentleman, a Patriotic soldier, a delightful Y 20 The Descendants of Rev. Thomas ll.)nkcrconversationalist, and a brilliant wit and a raconteur, did thehonors of the lionsc as his father and i;rand-fatluT had done,and ^athrrc(l his story lovinp. mirth api)rcciatinj; friendsbeneath the famous "Hooker I'"lm. " Major Roper Hc^^ker was tlie last Hooker occupant of theplace and dyinp without issue in IS.W. tlie hospitable mansionand its stately piiardian. the "Hooker IClm." passed into otherhands and eventually into the possession of Mr. William Gay.The old house was torn out. rebuilt and modernized until scarcely a feature of its Hooker character remained, and asif to obliterate all memories and liii£^erinjx Hooker associations,because the beautiful tree interfered with makinp^ a straii^ht path from the front door to the street, an axe was laid at theroots and the famous "Hooker I'Jm." like the ^generations thathad pothered under its leafy canopy, was laid low in the dust.Peace to its ashes—and the last vestipc of the Hooker dynasty,together with the far famed beauty of the place, passed away.A chronicler of those days left this account of Mr. Hooker."On Sunday the bell ranp for a while for service and thencommenced tolling. At the first stroke of the tolling Mr. Hookerissued from his house and proceeded to the Meeting House,anfl the minister in like manner started from his house, whichever arrived first at the Meeting House door awaited thearrival of the other; and together they entered the building,as they entered the door the bell stopped tolling, and all thecongregation arose to their feet and remained standing whilethe two walked the aisle together. Mr. Hooker stopped at his pew door—the first pew—and waited until the ministerascended the pulpit stairs, then entering his pew, they bothsat down at the same time and then the congregation seateditself. When the service was over, Mr. Hooker stepped outside his pew door, and this was a signal for the congregationto arise and remain standing, at the pew door Mr. Hookerremained until joined by the minister, when they walked downthe aisle together to the door, where they took their stand,outside in good weather and inside in bad weather. "When they were in place, this was a signal to the congregation, who until that time had remained standing in their pews.The pew doors were thrown open, and the people passed out, all bowing as they passed the minister and Mr. Hooker, manyspeaking and a few^ exchanging a hand shake. When thepeople w^ere all out the minister and Mr. Hooker, bowing to each other, shook hands and then proceeded to their homes."The chronicler also describes the ending of the Sundayrigidness. "The holiness of the day was supposed to end at sunset, but not a child in the town dared to stir, until thesignal came from Mr. Hooker that the day was ended. When the sun had sunk below the horizon, Mr. Hooker, coming to his door with his pipe in his hand, walked down the path to the gate and leaning over it rested his arms upon the top. The moment his arms touched the gate, open flew the doors and out came the children with a wild rush and shout—Mr. Hooker was at his gate, Sunday was over. The shout was taken up and spread to the furtherest ends of the town with a rapidity that would almost put the telegram of the present day to the blush. Mr. Hooker with his pipe was at the gate and Sunday was ended." Roger Hooker leaves this note of Mr. Hooker's appearance, "Mr. John Hooker had dark hair and dark eyes, and a dignity in his air and expression that procured profound respect." Another description of Mr. Hooker says: "He was a fine looking man, tall, very erect, and had a prominent large nose. Capt. John Standley, the father of Mrs. Hooker, was a man of wealth and high social position, who had won distinc- tion as a lieutenant and captain in the Indian wars. Standley. The early settlers at Hartford spelled the name with a "d," and as they were educated men of high standing, etc., it may properly be supposed that they were correct in so spelling. The history of the Stanley family however assumes that they were wrong and the spelling a mistake, etc., and endeavors to trace the family to the family of Stanley of England. It has since come to light that Sir John Standley was an officer in Cromwell's army, that the family was then an old one and was not known to have any connection with the famous Stanley family. Probably this Standley family was the one from which the Connecticut settler came and their spelling of the name was correct. The name in America has now become irrevocably changed to Stanley. Another daughter, Elizabeth Standley, married deacon John North, and was the grand-mother of Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth the famous Commissary General of the Revolutionary War. Col. Wadsworth married Mahitable Russell of Middletown, Conn., a descendant from Rev. Thomas Hooker, and thus while there was no cousinship between Col. Wadsworth and his wife there was a cousinship between each of them and the descendants from Hon. John Hooker and their children bore a double relationship to this branch of the Hooker family. Col. Wadsworth, son of Daniel Wadsworth, founded the Wadsworth Atheneum at Hartford and presented it to the city, thus erecting a noble monument to the Wadsworth family, and one in which the Hookers of that branch have a kinship interest. John Hooker died at Farmington, Feb. 21, 1745 or 1746. His wife died at Farmington, Feb. 21, 1742 or 1743. 22 The Descend
Events
| Birth | 1664 | Farmington, Connecticut, United States | |||
| Marriage | 1687 | Farmington, Connecticut, United States - Abigail Stanley | |||
| Death | 1744 | Farmington, Connecticut, United States | |||
| Reference No | 30 |
Families
| Spouse | Abigail Stanley (1669 - 1764) |
| Child | Hezekiah Hooker (1688 - 1756) |
| Child | Abigail Hooker (1691 - 1692) |
| Child | John Hooker (1693 - 1693) |
| Child | John Hooker (1694 - 1766) |
| Child | Abigail Hooker (1697 - 1758) |
| Child | Mary Hooker (1700 - 1780) |
| Child | Sarah Hooker (1703 - 1775) |
| Child | Captain Joseph Hooker I (1704 - 1764) |
| Child | Ruth Hooker (1708 - 1777) |
| Child | Roger Hooker (1710 - 1774) |
| Father | Rev Samuel Hooker (1633 - 1697) |
| Mother | Mary Willett (1637 - 1712) |
| Sibling | Rev Thomas Hooker (1659 - 1720) |
| Sibling | Capt. Samuel Hooker Jr. (1661 - 1730) |
| Sibling | Rev William Joseph Hooker Sr. (1663 - 1689) |
| Sibling | James Hooker (1666 - 1742) |
| Sibling | Roger Hooker (1668 - 1698) |
| Sibling | Nathaniel Hooker (1671 - 1711) |
| Sibling | Mary Hooker (1673 - 1740) |
| Sibling | Hezekiah Hooker (1675 - 1686) |
| Sibling | Dr. Daniel Hooker (1679 - 1742) |
| Sibling | Sarah Hooker (1681 - 1746) |