Anthony Brockholls

Anthony Brockholls (* around 1656 in Claughton , Lancashire ; † 1723 ) was acting English governor of the province of New York from 1681 to 1683 .

Life

Not much is known about the life of Anthony Brockholls, or Brockholst as his name is sometimes written in some ancient documents. He was born into a Catholic family around 1656 . He later became a soldier and served first in Barbados and then in a guard of the Duke of York, who later became King James II. He was enfeoffed with the English colony of New York by his brother Charles II and thus de facto owner of the colony. In 1673 the so-called test act was passed in England . This law excluded Catholics from all public offices in state administration. However, it did not apply in the colonies. Therefore, in 1674, the Catholic Brockholls was sent to the province of New York along with Edmund Andros . Andros became governor and lieutenant Brockholls there in 1674 on the express orders of King Karl, his deputy, also as the commander of the English troops there. In 1675 he was promoted to captain . Between 1681 and 1683 he served as acting governor. He then continued to hold official positions in the colony until the so-called Leisler Rebellion . He was temporarily again deputy governor and military commander of the colony. His abilities in colonial administration are judged differently in the sources. At one point he is praised for his work and at another point it is noted that he was absolutely incapable. However, in the biography of his successor Thomas Dongan it is mentioned that the colony was bankrupt when he took office and was in open rebellion.

During the Leisler Rebellion, a bounty was placed on him and he had to flee to what is now New Jersey . In 1696 he bought larger lands there together with Arent Schuyler and a few other people. The city of Pompton, which was later given the name Wayne , was built on part of this land . Brockholls spent the rest of his life on his then acquired land. He died in 1723. His exact place of death is not known.

Web links

• Brockholls on Rootsweb