. Two important ones included the Committee on Secret Correspondence and the Board of War. He likely also would have been selected to the Constitutional Convention had he not been meeting simultaneously in Philadelphia to draw up a constitution for his own denomination, which paralleled the national document in a number of key respects. His 1776 sermon "The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men" was published in many editions and he was elected to the Continental Congress as part of the New Jersey delegation and, in July 1776, voted for the Resolution for Independence. 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. ", On July 3rd, Jefferson's draft of the Declaration was submitted to the delegates from the 13 Colonies, and he suffered the pain of all authors at the hands of editors - in this case, half a hundred of them. There were no defectors. An advocate of natural law within a Christian and republican cosmology, Witherspoon considered moral philosophy vital for ministers, lawyers, and those holding positions in government (magistrates). John Witherspoon was a prominent member of the Continental Congress for eight years and signed the Declaration of Independence and other important documents. When news of this reached the constituents, New Jersey elected Richard Stockton and Dr. Witherspoon to replace two of the five New Jersey delegates. Username and password are case sensitive. In November 1777, as British forces neared, Witherspoon closed and evacuated the College of New Jersey. The tyrannical actions of the Crown were quickly followed by measured and sometimes violent reactions from the colonists. John Witherspoon valuable signature in the world, outranked only by that of Martin Luther and Button Gwinnett, a Georgia signer of the Declaration of Independence. It took nearly two years to regain his health according to Dr. He is co-editor of the. Her mother, Dr. Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Witherspoon (ne Reese), is from Harriman, Tennessee. John Witherspoon, son of James Witherspoon and Anne Walker was baptised in the parish of Yester, East Lothian on 10 February 1723. But Philadelphia was 80 miles away and a torrential rainstorm was swamping the region between the two cities. Smith, Rodney K. "James Madison, John Witherspoon, and Oliver Cowerdy: The First Amendment and the 134th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants." John R. Vile. This article was originally published in 2009. A rest area on the southbound New Jersey Turnpike, south of Interstate 195, is named after Stockton. He turned it into a very successful institution, and was a very popular man as a result. The two remaining sons were bred to professions, and arose to distinction. During his two pastorates he wrote three well-known works on theology, notably the satire "Ecclesiastical Characteristics" (1753) opposing the philosophical influence of Francis Hutcheson. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.". John Knox Witherspoon was born at Gifford, a parish of Yester, at East Lothian, Scotland, as the eldest child of the Reverend James Alexander Witherspoon and Anne Walker, a descendant of John Welsh of Ayr and John Knox. Stockton acquired his personal coat of arms and motto: Omnia Deo Pendent all depends on God. He died October 24, 1821. She was a close friend and favorite correspondent of General George Washington. Scots Presbyterian minister and a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence as a representative of New Jersey. 2006Gruber, Ira D., The Howe Brothers and the American Revolution. 1953. John Witherspoon arrived in Philadelphia to take their place as new members of Congress meeting at the State House (now Independence Hall). After resting and preparing for battle the troops left on the 24th. Jimmy Witherspoon, born in Arkansas, was a master of the blues. That August, when elections were held for the state governments of the new nation, Stockton and William Livingston each received the same number of votes to be the Governor of New Jersey on the first ballot. Richard Stockton as a prisoner of war, and taken behind enemy lines was also required to take the oath. Christian Witherspoon (bap Beith, Ayrshire 14 August 1750), Barbra Witherspoons (bap Beith, Ayrshire 20 February 1756), John Witherspoon (bap Beith, Ayrshire 29 July 1757), George Witherspoon (31 Mar 1762-27 July 1762), WikiTree profile Witherspoon-160 created through the import of Maltby master 08282011.GED on Aug 30, 2011 by. At the age of four, he could read the Bible. Occupation President of the College of New Jersey, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/1156/john-witherspoon. But a declining health and constitution worn out with application and with service obliged him, shortly after, to retire from the line of public duty, and hath at length dismissed him from the world. He was buried at Stony Brook Quaker Cemetery in Princeton, New Jersey among his Quaker ancestors. At Princeton, he mentored constitutional architect James Madison; as a New Jersey delegate to the Continental Congress, he was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. Once persuaded otherwise, however, Morton signed the Declaration and stood by his decision, though he was ostracized by his family and friends, many of whom were Tories. John Stockton married his cousin Abigail and assumed his wifes Presbyterian faith. He was consulted on the state of American affairs by such notable men as the Marquis of Rockingham with whom he spent a week at his country estate. One of Reese ancestors, John Witherspoon, was one of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. The Stocktons had six children. The Witherspoon Institute is an independent research center that works to enhance public understanding of the moral foundations of free and democratic societies. Rev. Once he was satisfied, the New Jersey delegates voted for Independence. Miss Montgomery, at an early age, and at the time of his immigration had three sons and two daughters. They were pleased to take up the matter with that zeal which the nature of it required and determined to take every step that they might in this endeavor to more effectually and speedily execute the business. Have you taken a DNA test? 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. John Adams Signer of the Declaration of Independence 2nd President of the United States of America An 19th century biography of this signer of the Declaration of Independence, including a handwriting sample, illustration, and student publishing opportunities Stone was the engraver. No one changed his mind. John Witherspoon, the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence, was born in Yester, Scotland on 5 Feb 1722 or 1723. Despite this precaution, it is probable that the British government and their Tory allies knew the names of every signer long before they were released to the public. Representing New Jersey at the Continental Congress. Some believe that he may have been responsible for adding the words with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence to the Declaration of Independence. Dr. Witherspoon enjoyed great success at the College of New Jersey. Built in 1773 by John Witherspoon, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence and a close friend to Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, the lovingly restored and expanded Tusculum estate offers over 23 acres of beautiful grounds, modern amenities and gracious living - right in the middle of Princeton, NJ. Many men of influence were opposed to independence, preferring to return to the relationship of a dozen years earlier. References:Sanderson, Biography of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, page 195, 1831. ref>[1]Sanderson, Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1823, page 156, 195.Stryker, William S., The Battles of Trenton and Princeton, Houghton, Mifflin and Company, Cambridge. In point of fact, disaster and ruin was the lot for many of the signers. As president of Princeton, Witherspoon educated five delegates to the U.S. In 1768, John Witherspoon, Presbyterian leader of the evangelical Popular party faction in the Scottish Kirk, became the College of New Jersey's sixth president. He applied himself to the study of law under the honorable David Ogden of Newark, at that time the most eminent lawyer in the province. Doctor Samuel Finley at Nottingham Academy in Maryland, and then attended the College of New Jersey at Newark graduating in 1748 before the college relocated to Princeton. John Witherspoon (1723-1794)John Witherspoon was the only active clergyman among the signers of the Declaration of Independence. His own health began to deteriorate and he was dead by the third anniversary of the signing of the Declaration. Page 130Glynn, John C., His Sacred Honor Judge Richard Stockton A Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Eveready Press, 2006. Boudinot also served as Director of the Mint, and became the first president of the American Bible Society in 1816. As the college's primary occupation at the time was training ministers, Witherspoon became a major leader of the early Presbyterian Church in America. The President's House in Princeton, New Jersey, was his home from 1768 to 1779 and is a U.S. National Historic Landmark. They traveled to Albany, Saratoga, Ticonderoga, and every facility necessary to implement their mission, aided by General Schuler, who commanded the northern army. He was a moderate with regard to Colonial autonomy. President Washington later issued a proclamation designating a day of prayer and thanksgiving. Geni requires JavaScript! Anna was John's first teacher. Here were the elite of the 18th century America, but few were elitist. Most of the 4,836 colonists who took advantage of the proclamation had done so before Trenton while British troops were enjoying their greatest success; AT NO TIME, however, HAD A LEADING REBEL SOUGHT PARDON. There must be no pulling different ways; we must all hang together." At the urging of Benjamin Rush and Richard Stockton, whom he met in Paisley, Witherspoon finally accepted a second invitation to become president and head professor of the small Presbyterian College of New Jersey in Princeton. Illinois University LibrariesCorner, George W., The Autobiography of Benjamin Rush. Roger Sherman (April 19, 1721 - July 23, 1793) was an American statesman, lawyer, and a Founding Father of the United States.He is the only person to sign four of the great state papers of the United States related to the founding: the Continental Association, Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and U.S. Constitution. [19] In Congress, he was appointed congressional chaplain, and in July 1776, he voted to adopt the Virginia Resolution for Independence. Annis and her brothers attended Franklins Academy. 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. Philip Livingston lost two homes and much of his business property, but was able to sell some of his remaining holdings to help maintain the credit of the United States. There is absolutely no proof this occurred. The British offered freedom for the boys if he would abandon the cause, but Abraham Clark refused. Stockton was an active and influential member of Congress. Joseph Hewes died in 1779, literally from overwork, a lonely man separated by principle from his Quaker friends and family. A merchant ship, the SS John Witherspoon, saw service during World War II as part of convoy PQ-17, and was sunk by a German U-boat in the North Atlantic on 6 July 1942. Shortly after he signed the Declaration of Independence, he was taken prisoner by the British. They had a great deal to lose - life, liberty, and property - but they were convinced that the cause was worth the risk. She became a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt University. 1898, Page 18Corner, George W. The Autobiography of Benjamin Rush. 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. Meanwhile, the New York State Convention had finally voted to allow its delegates to approve the Declaration, and on July 15th New York became the 13th colony to affirm independence. In 1772, fifteen year old Alexander Hamilton arrived from the West Indies and lived with Elias and Hanna for two years. He first took a moderate stance in the troubles between the colonies and Great Britain. The British occupied the area and did much damage to the college, nearly destroyed it. Witherspoon owned slaves and lectured against the abolition of slavery.[28]. On July 1st the colonies, balloting according to a majority of each delegation, approved the Lee resolution by a vote of 9-2, with South Carolina and Pennsylvania opposed, Delaware deadlocked and New York abstaining. John bartlett family trees listed as josiah, was glorious to be freely in particular repeal of independence in the independents in his many ventures including women. Start page | At the College of New Jersey, Witherspoon revised the moral philosophy curriculum, strengthened the college's commitment to natural philosophy, and positioned Princeton in the larger transatlantic world of the republic of letters. When the Crown began to give additional authority to its appointed episcopacy over church affairs, British authorities hit a nerve in the Presbyterian Scot, who saw such events in the same lens as his Scottish Covenanters. He was the only active clergyman and the only college president to sign the Declaration. His estate, Morven, in Princeton was occupied by General Cornwallis during Stockton's imprisonment; his furniture, all household belongings, crops and livestock were taken or destroyed by the British. In Scotland, his personal efforts resulted in the acceptance of the presidency of the College by the Reverend John Witherspoon. As previously mentioned, he educated a great number of future American leaders, and his strong support for democracy and republicanism was transmitted to his students. 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. On March 25, 1777, General Howe and his brother Lord Howe wrote to Lord George Germain (Secretary of State for the Colonies)in England "My Lord, We have the honor to enclose to your Lordship a state of the Declarations subscribed in consequence of our Proclamation of the 30th of November. It was a storm which had been building for more than a decade as the British Parliament and King George III imposed one oppressive measure after another on the colonies, increasing their taxes and decreasing their freedoms. Witherspoon advocated for "gradual emancipation" of slaves. Witherspoon was born on March 22, 1976 at Southern Baptist Hospital, in New Orleans, Louisiana, while her father, Dr. John Draper Witherspoon, was a student at Tulane University medical school. [1], John married Elisabeth Montgomerie in the parish of Beith, Ayrshire on 14 August 1748.[2]. Adair, "James Madison", Fame and the Founding Fathers, ed. Witherspoon immediately declared "It is not only ripe for the measure, but in danger of rotting for the want of it." Witherspoon became the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. For this reason, Rev. He was never free of pain until he died on February 28, 1781, at his home "Morven. John Witherspoon. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. He managed to move his family to safety, but was captured and imprisoned by the British. Because of the storm they had arrived late, at the end of a speech John Adams was giving in favor of independence. Witherspoon cast his affirmative vote for independence on July 2, 1776. His work turned Princeton into the Ivy League school it is today. Signers | [16] From among his students came 37 judges (three of whom became justices of the U.S. Supreme Court); 10 Cabinet officers; 12 members of the Continental Congress, 28 U.S. When other members of Congress heard of the plight of the Clark sons, they ordered George Washington to take a British prisoner, preferably an officer, and starve him to death in a dark hole. Many of his students, including James Madison, Aaron Burr, Philip Freneau, and John Breckenridge, would play prominent roles in the development of the new nation. The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is named in his honor. After Stockton's death, Annis, one of America's first published female poets, became a favorite correspondent of General Washington. Following the war, Witherspoon devoted his life to rebuilding the College. Soon, Witherspoon came to support the American Revolution, joining the New Jersey Committee of Correspondence and Safety in early 1774. In 1746, he helped to raise troops to fight Scottish rebels who were rebelling against English domination in Scotland. To which the witty Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania replied: "Yes, we must all hang together, or most assuredly, we shall all hang separately. Daniel L. Dreisbach, Mark D. Hall, and Jeffry H. Morrison, 11672146. Biography by Rev. Not all of those who had voted for independence on July 2nd were present in August. (Clergyman, Author, Educator). Witherspoon Society, an organization of laypeople within the. Her parents are still legally married, although they separated in 1996. Charles A. Goodrich, 1856, Convening Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=John_Witherspoon&oldid=1132410668. They knew they were committing high treason against the Crown and that the penalty for doing so was death by hanging. Williamsburg, Virginia, Omohundro Institute of American History and Culture and Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2017. Dr. Benjamin Rush wrote: The whole of Mr. Stocktons furniture, apparel, and even valuable writings have been burnt. Stockton was sick and near death when he returned home. Witherspoon was responsible for its rebuilding after the war, which caused him great personal and financial difficulty. Only John Hancock signed the declaration that day, and a formal signing by all the delegates was scheduled for August 2nd. The passage of the Stamp Act of 1765 had infuriated many wealthy and influential colonists, and was responsible for beginning the storm that settled over that historic assembly in Philadelphia in July 1776. (19 February 1756 - 1763), John Knox Witherspoon, Jr. (29 July 1757 - 30 January 1796), Frances Witherspoon (16 August 1759 - 11 November 1784). During the siege of Yorktown in 1781, the British forces were under heavy attack from some 16,000 American troops, 3,000 Virginia militia, and the French fleet. They took Reese to acting classes and soon the girl appeared in her first commercials. in Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland , United Kingdom, Died on November 15, 1794 The Syng inkstand is a silver inkstand used during the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the United States Constitution in 1787. From "Witherspoon Family History" by Evelyn Potter Park: John migrated [from Scotland] to Ireland at an early age and from there came to America in 1790. See more ideas about john witherspoon, declaration of independence, stone barns. How far this subjection extends. Lately Stockton has been maligned by a few writers claiming that Stockton took a pardon from General Howe and swore allegiance to the king. The Document | Stocktons high character and distinguished abilities preceded him and he was received by the most eminent men of the kingdom. "My hand trembles," he said as he handed the quill to William Ellery, "but my heart does not." New Hampshire delegates voted first because they were from the northernmost colony. Traditionally, scholarly discussion of Josef Stalin's plans for post-war Eastern Europe has revolved around a sharp dichotomy: Stalin was either an ideologically-motivated Marxist-Leninist bent on Communist revolution (the orthodox interpretation), or he was a security-starved pragmatist motivated by Realpolitik rather than revolutionary fervor (the revisionist claim).The "new Cold War . 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. Rush. John Witherspoon participated in the American Revolution. In 1774, he drafted and sent to Lord Dartmouth "a plan of self-government for America, independent of Parliament, without renouncing allegiance to the Crown.". "His Majesty can now read my name without spectacles, and can now double his reward of 500 pounds for my head. "Morven the home of the Hon. In 1766 and 1767, he gave up his law practice for the purpose of visiting England, Scotland, and Ireland. "The remains of a man who hath been long among the foremost of his country, for power, for wisdom, and for fortune; and who, if what honors this young country can bestow, if many and great personal talents, could save man from the grave, would not thus have been lamented here by you. As a minister in the church he might have considered it beneficial to claim he was named after his ancestor.. Could you add the son James in the data and then include him in the 1776 project? He was hunted by soldiers and dogs and was forced to hide in the woods and caves of the Sourland Mountains during icy December weather. Besides paper documents, it is one of four still-existing objects that were present during the Constitutional Convention, along with the Liberty Bell, the chair that George Washington sat in as the Constitutional Convention's . General Washington ordered that the document be read to each Army brigade on July 9th, and he reported afterwards to Congress on "the expressions and behavior of officers and men testifying their warmest and approbation of it." At once he began fund-raising, added three hundred of his own books to the library, and began the purchase of scientific equipment, including the Rittenhouse orrery, many maps and a "terrestial" globe. The settled opinion among the American founding fathers, including Dr. Witherspoon, was that slavery would eventually disappear naturally within a generation. Frances, the youngest daughter, married Dr. David Ramsay, a delegate from South Carolina to the Continental Congress, on March 18, 1763. 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 studied law with David Ogden, of Newark, who was at that time the head of the legal profession in the province. Susannah later married Thomas Leonard and remained in Princeton after her husbands death. Witherspoon's wife had opposed her husband's taking the position but her objections were overcome with the aid of his future son-in-law Benjamin Rush, who was a medical student in Edinburgh. John Witherspoon (1723-1794) was a Scottish-born American Presbyterian divine and educator. He became a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and purchased 2000 acres of land in Burlington, New Jersey. John Knox was his ancestor. At this point he was twenty. When Parliament resolved to raise revenue in the colonies in 1775, Stockton declared the colonies "must each of them send one or two of their most ingenious fellows, and enable them to get into the House of Commons, maintain them there till they can maintain themselves, or else we shall be fleeced to some purpose." 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. The British invaded New Jersey and Stockton rushed home and moved his family to the home of a friend thirty miles from Princeton. John Witherspoon was always aware that many in England (even King George) saw the Revolution as more than a war for the independence of the American Colonies. He was a longtime friend of George Washington. A young English woman Esther DeBerdt, engaged to Stocktons former law student Joseph Reed remarked, I like Mr. Stockton exceedingly. Another statue stands near Dupont Circle in Washington, D.C., at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue, N Street and 18th Street. Rev. The eulogy was delivered by Rev. John Witherspoons American Revolution. Feb 5 1723 - East Lothian, Ecosse, Royaume-Uni, Nov 15 1794 - Princeton, Comt De Mercer, New Jersey, tats-Unis, Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, New Jersey, United States, Feb 5 1722 - Gifford, East, Lothian, Scotland, Nov 15 1794 - Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey, Scottish-American Presbyterian Minister And A Founding Father Of The United States, Manse Of Yester, Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland, United Kingdom, Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, New Jersey. Witherspoon had been a prominent evangelical Presbyterian minister in Scotland before accepting the Princeton position. Philip Stockton, Susanna Pintard, Oct 1 1730 - Morven, Princeton, New Jersey, Feb 28 1781 - Morven, Princeton, New Jersey, Annis Stockton (Signer Of Declaration Of Independence) (born Boudinot), Oct 1 1730 - Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey, United States, Feb 28 1781 - Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey, United States, dinot Rush (born Stockton), Mary Stockton, Susan Stockton, Lucius Horatio Stockton, Abigal Field, Abigail Stockton,
Zeta Phi Beta President Scandal,
Does Mary Marry Sir Richard In Downton Abbey,
Michael Hausman Producer,
Ursula Martin Actress,
Articles J
john witherspoon declaration of independence family tree