They had held a Stamp Act Congress in New York during September 1765, and that same year formed the Sons of Liberty, which one observer called, "a mob of gentlemen." The ink was hardly dry on the Declaration of Independence when General William Howe landed 25,000 British soldiers on Long Island and inflicted nearly 20 percent casualties on the Continental Army in a battle on August 27th. In 1774, he drafted and sent to Lord Dartmouth "a plan of self-government for America, independent of Parliament, without renouncing the Crown." Categories: Patriotic Service, New Jersey, American Revolution | American Founding Fathers | Signers of the Articles of Confederation | Signers of the United States Declaration of Independence | Presbyterian Ministers | Princeton University | NSDAR Patriot Ancestors, WIKITREE HOME | ABOUT | G2G FORUM | HELP | SEARCH. Although he remained in prison for only a month, his health was broken. Like his father, John Stockton a founder of the College and trustee, Richard served as a trustee of the College of New Jersey for 24 years, as would his eldest son Richard. He helped organize Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton, New Jersey. In his lectures on moral philosophy at Princeton, required of all juniors and seniors, Witherspoon argued for the revolutionary right of resistance and recommended checks and balances within government. His work turned Princeton into the Ivy League school it is today. He resigned his royal appointments and New Jersey elected him to the Continental Congress in June 1776. A statue of Richard Stockton by Henry Kirke Brown. Witherspoon embraced the concepts of Scottish common sense realism, and while president of the College of New Jersey became an influential figure in the development of the United States' national character . Ann, the eldest daughter, was married to the Rev. When he had backed away from the table, one delegate whispered, "There go a few millions!". The continental army had to depend on Congress and the states to provide for them, and help for the army was slow in coming if it came at all. As the College's primary occupation at the time was training ministers, Witherspoon became a leader of the early Presbyterian church in America. The Witherspoon Society is a body of laypeople within the Presbyterian Church (USA), in existence since 1979, that is activist in liberal and progressive causes. In the months before and after the Declaration of Independence, several states were working on their own constitutions, including New York. Have you taken a DNA test? He was educated in the early years by Rev. Witherspoon immediately declared "It is not only ripe for the measure, but in danger of rotting for the want of it." Stockton was six feet tall, with green eyes and a slender yet powerful build of an accomplished swordsman and horseman. A Reading | John Witherspoon stated: "Religion is the grand concern of us all the salvation of our souls is the one thing needful." After his wife died in 1789, John Witherspoon headed up a committee in the New Jersey legislature to abolish slavery. He is one of only six signers to be honored. An error has occured while loading the map. Witherspoon eschewed politics in America until 1774, but after that he steadily participated, directly and indirectly, in the leading events of the day. DAR Ancestor # A127172. [9] "Common report, moreover, may be attributed to Judge Stockton some of the exploits of a distant cousin, Major Richard Stockton an obnoxious Tory, who did take Howe's protection and went over to the British until he was captured in Feb. My heart melts with compassion for my brave countrymen who are thus venturing their lives in the public service and yet so distressed. He was the only active clergyman and the only college president to sign the Declaration. He made a profound impression on his student James Madison, whose suggestions for the United States Constitution followed both Witherspoon's and Hume's ideas. He is co-editor of the. A young English woman Esther DeBerdt, engaged to Stocktons former law student Joseph Reed remarked, I like Mr. Stockton exceedingly. Thus had the stage been set as Caesar Rodney galloped up Chestnut Street to the State House in Philadelphia on the morning of July 2nd. President of College of New Jersey, 1768-1792; Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1776-1782; Twice elected to State Legislature of New Jersey. Richard Stockton, was denuded of its library and furniture." Sold June 4, 2008, in Printed & Manuscript Americana for $132,000. ", Steven Hopkins of Rhode Island, the second-oldest signer, was afflicted with palsy. And Charles Carroll, a new delegate from Maryland and one of the wealthiest men in America, replied as he was asked by Hancock if he would sign: "Most willingly." Morven is now a State owned Museum, a magnificent home which stands today as a testimonial to the Stockton family. There were no negative votes among the five southernmost colonies (South Carolina went along for the sake of unity), and when the roll had been completed 12 colonies had voted in favor of separation from Britain, with only New York abstaining. Students who later played prominent roles in the new nation's development included James Madison, Aaron Burr, Philip Freneau, William Bradford, and Hugh Henry Brackenridge. John Witherspoon (1723-1794) was a Scottish-born American Presbyterian divine and educator. He signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776, being the only clergyman and college president to do so. Her father Elias Boudinot Sr, apprenticed as a silversmith and merchant, then traveled to the West Indies to run a plantation. Scots Presbyterian minister and a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Jersey, Born on February 05, 1723 When news of this reached the constituents, New Jersey elected Richard Stockton and Dr. Witherspoon to replace two of the five New Jersey delegates. Virtue, he argued, could be deduced through the development of the moral sense, an ethical compass instilled by God in all human beings and developed through religious education (Reid) or civil sociability (Hutcheson). Soon, Witherspoon came to support the American Revolution, joining the New Jersey Committee of Correspondence and Safety in early 1774. Therefore, public religion was a vital necessity in maintaining the public morals. Documents of the American Revolution. This painting by artist John Trumbull depicts the moment on June 28, 1776, when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress. J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. In November 1777, as British forces neared, Witherspoon closed and evacuated the College of New Jersey. When the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America met in 1789, 52 of the 188 delegates had studied under Witherspoon. The British considered his college to be a "seminary of sedition." (Painting by Charles Willson Peale, public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Biography by Rev. In 1768, Stockton was elevated to a seat in the royal executive council of New Jersey; in 1774, he was placed on the bench of the Supreme Court. He held to old concepts from the Roman Republic of virtuous leadership by civil magistrates, but he also regularly recommended that his students read such modern philosophers as Machiavelli, Montesquieu, and David Hume, even though he disapproved of Hume's "infidel" stance on religion. valuable signature in the world, outranked only by that of Martin Luther and Button Gwinnett, a Georgia signer of the Declaration of Independence. This Commonwealth approach was not acceptable to the King, had it been the British could have avoided the war that freed the colonies and deprived the King of the fairest jewel in his crown. Wrong username or password. Many referred to it as the "Presbyterian Rebellion" and a Hessian soldier wrote, "America-call this war dearest friend by whatever name you may, only call it not an American Rebellion. Congressmen. John Witherspoon arrived in Philadelphia to take their place as new members of Congress meeting at the State House (now Independence Hall). So terribly was he ravaged by the disease that he wore a green silk scarf over part of his face, and was described by one colleague as "an animated skeleton, with a bandaged head.". The main building, Nassau Hall, was badly damaged and his papers and personal notes were lost. It had been a long and muddy ride from Princeton, they had been caught in a violent thunderstorm, and their clothes were soaking wet. Lampo (1942) (CatZDech's Style) 44 Cats (2018) The Aristocats (1970) Lady and the Tramp (1955) Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure (2001) Pokemon (1997) Pokemon: The First Movie (1998) Pikachu's Vacation (1998) Pokemon: The Movie 2000 (1999) Pikachu & Pichu (2000) Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Team Go-Getters out of the Gate (2006) Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) Sport Goofy in Soccermania . "No business can be done, some say, because money is scarce", he wrote. The debate continued into the Fourth of July and, in Jefferson's own words, "seemed as though it would run on interminably. During the war he devoted a super-human effort to outfitting the Continental Navy, activity which alienated him from his fellow Quakers. When the General had seated himself, Boudinot proceeded to read an address of welcome. Encyclopedia Table of Contents | Case Collections | Academic Freedom | Recent News, John Witherspoon, an early convert to the Patriot cause, was president of the College of New Jersey (today's Princeton University) and the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. Rush secured the deal. Richard was a son of John Stockton (1701-1758) the wealthy Princeton landowner who donated land and helped bring what is now Princeton University (then known as the College of New Jersey located in Newark) to Princeton, New Jersey. President Washington later issued a proclamation designating a day of prayer and thanksgiving. Witherspoon is not quite the hick she makes herself out to be, at least offscreen. John Knox Witherspoon, Signer of the & Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey, United States, President of College of New Jersey [present Princeton], Presbyterian minister, Signer of Declaration Of Independance, Elizabeth Montgomery (29 May 1722 - 1 October 1789), Anne Witherspoon (23 July 1749 - 1 April 1817), Christian Witherspoon, d.s.p. Although many took the pardon, Stockton never did and was marched to Perth Amboy where he was put in irons, and brutally treated as a common criminal. He died February 28, 1781; his remains were conveyed to Nassau Hall and eulogized by the President of the College of New Jersey, Dr. Samuel Smith If what honors this young country can bestow, if many and great personal talents could save man from the graveBehold here the end of all perfectionto have been a son of this college and it was one the first honors of this college to have given birth to such a son a man who has long been foremost in his country, for power, for wisdom, and for fortune Another of the fathers of learning and eloquence is gone. Stockton was an active and influential member of Congress. He was born at Gifford which is the neighbouring parish to the one John Knox was born in. John Witherspoon brought some impressive credentials and a measure of public acclaim with him when he joined the colonies in 1768, as president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton). Father of Julia Rush; Mary Hunter; Susannah Cuhtburt; Sen. Richard Stockton; Lucius Horatio Stockton and 2 others; Abigail Field and Abigail Dunbar less He first took a moderate stance in the troubles between the colonies and England. In addition, part of the Battle of Princeton in 1777 was fought on the college campus the college was so badly damaged that it was closed for several years. Wrong username or password. On the day of the signing, the British fleet - an armada of dozens of ships with 42,000 sailors and soldiers - was waiting off the coast to crush these patriots and make an example of them. The parents tried their best to develop acting talent of their girl. [2] Later, he signed the Articles of Confederation and supported ratification of the Constitution of the United States. (14 August 1750 - 1756), James Witherspoon, Major (17 November 1751 - 4 October 1777), Barbara Witherspoon, d.s.p. Source: Independence Hall Association, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Richard Stockton, 1730-1781 - http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/signers/stockton.htm, In 1768, Stockton had his first taste of government service when he was appointed to the governing Council of New Jersey; he was later (1774) appointed to the New Jersey Supreme Court. Richard and his wife Abigail (nee unknown) were the parents of Richard "The Builder" Stockton, the grandfather of Rihcard "The Signer" Stockton. American actress, producer, and entrepreneur, Born on March 22, 1976 In 1776 he was elected to the Continental Congress in time to urge adoption of the Declaration of Independence and to be the only clergyman to sign it. Ramsay, the celebrated historian. As they had not been present for the entire speech Richard asked Adams to repeat what they had missed. John Witherspoon arrived in Philadelphia to take their place as new members of Congress meeting at the State House (now Independence Hall). To which the witty Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania replied: "Yes, we must all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately. Stocktons high character and distinguished abilities preceded him and he was received by the most eminent men of the kingdom. [11], On March 7, 1781, The New Jersey Gazette acknowledged his worth to his country: "The ability, dignity, and integrity, with which this gentleman discharged the duties of the several important offices to which he was called by the voice of this country are well known.". The New York signers - William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, and Lewis Morris - were particularly vulnerable to British retaliation. He served on over 100 committees, most notably the powerful standing committees, the board of war and the committee on secret correspondence or foreign affairs. Declaration of Independence, printed by John Dunlap, July 4, 1776, Records of the Continental and Confederation, Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, Record Group 360; National Archives. Woods, David Walker. The other New York signer, Lewis Morris, lost his magnificent estate, "Morrisania", which was sacked and burned. He married (1) 2 Sept. 1748, Elizabeth Montgomerie (1722-1789), daughter of Robert Montgomerie. : University of Notre Dame Press, 2005. He attended the Haddington Grammar School, and obtained a Master of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity from the University of St. Andrews. Signers | One of her poems about General Washington, on the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, shows how highly Washington esteemed these complimentary writings by the letter he wrote Annis. He also signed the 1774 Petition to the King. A week later Stocktons son-in-law and fellow signer Dr. Benjamin Rush wrote At Princeton I met my wifes father who had been plundered of all his household furniture and stock by the British army, and carried a prisoner to New York, from whence he was permitted to return to his family upon parole.. Born February 5, 1723 (Gifford, Scotland) Died November 15, 1794 (Princeton, New Jersey) Protestant theologian, educator. He studied law with David Ogden, of Newark, who was at that time the head of the legal profession in the province. I'm researching for a member of his family. Unlike some English advocates of religious freedom, Witherspoon was willing to extend such freedom to Roman Catholics, and he believed that the state could encourage good behavior and that religious virtue led to political strength. Brother of Sarah Stockton; John "The Elder" Stockton; Hannah Boudinot; Abigail Pintard; Susanna Pintard and 4 others; Reverend Philip Stockton; John Stockton; Rebecca Tennent and Samuel W. Stockton less. The British occupied the area and did much damage to the college, nearly destroyed it. Had you known the pleasure it would have communicated, I flatter myself, your diffidence would not have delayed it to this time. Located in Princeton, it promotes the application of fundamental principles of republican government and ordered liberty to contemporary problems through a variety of centers, research programs, seminars, consultations, and publications. Username and password are case sensitive. At age 13, he entered college . He first took a moderate stance in the troubles between the colonies and Great Britain. Conditions were horrific in prison where over 12,000 men died in prison ships and prisons in New York compared with 4,435 battle casualties during the entire war. The University's Committee on Naming is reviewing a proposal to remove or replace a campus statue of John Witherspoon, an influential figure in the American Revolution who owned slaves during his time as Princeton's president. Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, and Lewis Morris - were particularly vulnerable to British retaliation he signed the Petition... New York `` No business can be done, some say, because money is scarce '', which sacked! Tried their best to develop acting talent of their girl a day of prayer thanksgiving. Between the colonies and Great Britain he also signed the Declaration of Independence in,. Philadelphia to take their place as New members of Congress meeting at the time was training,. Papers and personal notes were lost would have communicated, I flatter myself, your diffidence not! Damaged and his papers and personal notes were lost ( 1723-1794 ) a... Rhode Island, the second-oldest signer, was married to the King one delegate whispered, `` Morrisania,. 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