Matthew WEBSTER

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He came to Hartford in 1636, but from what part of Massachusetts is not known. He was an original proprietor at Hartford and his home lot in 1639 was on the east side of the present Governor Street. He was appointed one of the committee which, for the first time, sat with the Court of Magistrates May 1st, 1637, and served also the following year; was one of the committee which framed the code of criminal laws for the Colony, 1642; Magistrate, 1639 to 1655; Commissioner for the United Colonies 1654; Deputy Governor, 1655; and Governor in 1656. In the great contest about church government, he took sides with the Rev. Mr. Russell of Wethersfield, which caused his removal up the river in 1659 to found the town of Hadley, where he died two years later. He was admitted Freeman by the General Court of Mass., and 31 May, 1660, "Mr. John Webster, Senior, of the new towne at Norwottock is by this Court commissionated with Magistrattical power for the yeare ensuing, to ast in all civill & criminall cases, as any one magistrate ma doe and that he youne with the commissioners in keeping the Courts at Springfield." (Rec. of Mass. Bay 4, p. 420.) He was an influential member of the church in Hartford and a leader of the Hadley Company. By family tradition, he was from Warwickshire, England. He was the fifth Governor of Connecticut.

John married Agnes ?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]