John Mattocks was an American congressman and governor.
Background
John Mattocks was born on March 4, 1777 in Hartford, Connecticut. He was the youngest son of Samuel Mattocks. Originally a farmer, the father moved in 1778 to Tinmouth, Vt. , where he served in the state legislature, became a judge and chief justice of the Rutland county court, and was long state treasurer (1786 - 1801). At the age of fifteen, his son went to live with a married sister, Rebecca Miller, in Middlebury.
Education
Largely self-educated, he studied law first with Samuel Miller and later at Fairfield, with Judge Bates Turner, and was admitted to the bar in February 1797.
Career
In 1797, he opened an office at Danville, Caledonia County, Vt. , but moved three years later to Peacham, in the same county, where he was soon engrossed in politics. In 1807 he was sent to the legislature, where, in all, he sat five terms 1807, 1815, 1816, 1823, and 1824. In 1820, he was elected to the national House of Representatives, and later served for two other terms in 1825-27 and 1841-43. He was chosen in 1832 as judge of the supreme court of Vermont, but resigned within a year. In 1843, running as a Whig, he was elected governor of Vermont, but declined a reelection. He was proud of the fact that he was never defeated for any office for which he was a candidate. In 1806 he was made a director of the Vermont State Bank. During the War of 1812 he was a brigadier-general in the Vermont militia.
Achievements
Religion
He was an orthodox Congregationalist, of firm religious principles.
Views
He was a vigorous opponent of negro slavery, and his most noteworthy appearance in debate was in a speech on the presentation of a petition for abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia.
Membership
Member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th district, Member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 5th district, Member of the U. S. House of Representatives from Vermont's 6th district, Member of the Vermont House of Representatives
Personality
While governor, he made an unsuccessful effort to establish Thanksgiving on December 25. The people at large objected to having New England Thanksgiving "disgraced by . Popish nonsense, " and Churchmen objected to Christmas being merged into a "Pumpkin pie Holiday". He was a large and robust man, somewhat inclined to corpulency, and of a sanguine temperament. To his younger colleagues at the bar he was exceedingly kind and helpful. In his own time he was notorious, like Rufus Choate, for his crabbed and illegible handwriting. His witty stories and clever repartee were frequently quoted.
Connections
He married, September 4, 1810, Esther Newell, of Peacham, who died, July 21, 1844, leaving three sons and one daughter. Of the sons, one became a clergyman, one an attorney, and one a physician.