Henry Josselyn facts for kids

Henry Josselyn (sometimes spelled Jocelyn) was an important early settler in what is now northern New England. He helped manage large areas of land in the 1600s. He arrived in America around 1634 and played a role in the early governments of the colonies.

Early Life and New Hampshire

Henry Josselyn came to America from the Kingdom of England. He arrived in 1634 near the Piscataqua River. This area is now part of New Hampshire.

He was hired by John Mason. Mason was like the owner of a huge piece of land. This land later became the state of New Hampshire. Josselyn's job was to manage Mason's settlements. These included areas like present-day Portsmouth. He worked for Mason until Mason passed away in 1635. Some old records even called him the "governor" of Mason's lands. This shows how important his role was.

Moving to Maine

After John Mason's death, Henry Josselyn moved further north. He settled in a place that is now Scarborough, Maine. Here, he continued to be involved in colonial leadership.

A Leader in Maine

For a short time, Josselyn served as a deputy governor. He worked under Thomas Gorges. Gorges was the main leader of the Province of Maine at that time. Josselyn helped run the colony's government.

However, the Massachusetts Bay Colony soon took control of Maine. Henry Josselyn did not agree with Massachusetts's new rules. He showed his disagreement, and because of this, he was arrested once.

Later Years and New York

In 1664, the area where Josselyn lived changed hands again. It was given to James, Duke of York. This made the area part of the Province of New York. With this change, Henry Josselyn was given a new important job. He was appointed as a magistrate. A magistrate is like a judge or an official who helps keep order and apply laws.

When Did Henry Josselyn Die?

We don't have an exact record of when Henry Josselyn died. However, a letter written on May 10, 1683, mentions that he had passed away. This suggests he died around that time.