Vincent Gookin (surveyor-general) facts for kids

Vincent Gookin (born around 1616, died 1659) was an important English official in Ireland. He worked as a chief surveyor and was also a politician. He served in the parliaments of the Protectorate, which was the government in England after the English Civil War. In 1655, Gookin wrote two important pamphlets. These pamphlets argued against a plan to move many Irish people to a different part of Ireland called Connaught. He was known for his strong religious beliefs and for being a passionate republican, meaning he supported a government without a king or queen.

Vincent Gookin's Life Story

Vincent Gookin was the oldest son of Sir Vincent Gookin (who lived from about 1594 to 1638). His mother was Mary Wood. After his father passed away in 1648, Vincent Gookin sold his family's land in Gloucestershire, England. He then moved to Ireland, where he lived for the rest of his life.

Even though he believed in the "plantation policy," which aimed to bring Ireland under English control, Gookin cared deeply about the people of Ireland. He is most famous for writing a powerful pamphlet in 1655. This pamphlet was called The Great Case of Transplantation discussed. In it, he explained the many problems with moving Irish people from three provinces—Leinster, Ulster, and Munster—into Connaught. He shared his thoughts with every Member of Parliament, hoping to help England.

Why Gookin Opposed Forced Moves

In his pamphlet, Gookin tried to show that moving all Irish people to Connaught was not only very difficult but also wrong. He argued it went against "religion, profit, and safety." This plan was based on a law from 1653 that aimed to give land to English soldiers and investors.

At the time, Gookin's pamphlet was very rare. It was not even mentioned in a famous book about Irish writers. However, a historian named John Patrick Prendergast brought attention to it. He provided a good summary of Gookin's arguments in his book, Cromwellian Settlement.

Gookin's Public Debate

Even though Gookin's pamphlet was written in a calm way, it quickly got a strong response. Colonel Richard Lawrence, a key member of the committee in charge of the forced moves, wrote a sharp reply. Gookin then wrote another pamphlet to defend himself. It was called The Author and Case of Transplanting the Irish into Connaught vindicated.

People had accused Gookin of not being a true Englishman and of being influenced by the Irish. He denied these claims. He pointed out that the English people of Kinsale and Bandon had elected him to the Barebones Parliament. His voters even offered to pay for his trip to England, showing how much they respected him.

This debate was part of a bigger struggle in Ireland. It led to Henry Cromwell becoming the chief governor of Ireland in 1655. Gookin greatly admired both Henry Cromwell and Oliver Cromwell. He is thought to have written the Ancient Protestants' Petition. This petition defended Henry Cromwell against attacks from a group of military officers. Gookin wrote a letter to Henry Cromwell on October 21, 1656, describing how this petition was presented.

Gookin's Political Views

Gookin's ideas on important historical topics were always interesting and smart. In 1657, he spoke about the Decimating Bill, a law being discussed in parliament. He said that those who opposed the bill had strong arguments based on fairness and good sense. However, he feared the bill would pass. He believed it would make the government rely more on force and less on the support of the people in parliament.

On July 7, 1656, Gookin was appointed to the Down Survey. This was a project to map and divide land in Ireland. He worked with Sir William Petty and Miles Symner. Their goal was to give soldiers the land they were owed for their service. Gookin wrote a letter to Henry Cromwell on April 14, 1657. In it, he asked for a lower rent on land he had received in 1650. This shows that he did not use his official positions to gain personal wealth.

Gookin represented Kinsale and Bandon in parliament during the Commonwealth period. However, in 1659, he gave up his seat to Sir William Petty for political reasons. He then successfully ran for election in Cork and Youghal, winning against Lord Broghill. Vincent Gookin died in the same year, 1659.

Gookin's Family Life

Vincent Gookin married Mary Salmon from Dublin. They had two sons and one daughter. His younger brother, Robert Gookin (who died in 1667), was a captain in the English Parliamentary army in Ireland. He also received land grants in Ireland.