john witherspoon declaration of independence family tree
Witherspoon, in accordance with the Scottish moral sense philosophy, taught that all human beings, Christian or otherwise, could be virtuous, but he was nonetheless committed to Christianity as the only route to personal salvation. He was educated in the early years by Rev. John Witherspoon. They took Reese to acting classes and soon the girl appeared in her first commercials. [2] Later, he signed the Articles of Confederation and supported ratification of the Constitution of the United States. Paisley, Scotland, honored Witherspoon's memory by naming a new street in the town center after him, in honor of his having lived in Paisley for a portion of his adult life. 1972Sanderson, John, Biography of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Following the war, Witherspoon devoted his life to rebuilding the College. 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. 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. 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. When he was finally freed, in a prisoner exchange, he was an invalid who died a short time later at the age of 51. Rush. I hope therefore that already a considerable quantity of shoes and stockings at least may be provided and that you will take immediate order for the sending of the parcels. 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. In 1764, Stockton became the Grand Master of the first chartered Masonic lodge (St. Johns No 1) in Princeton, New Jersey. Witherspoon became prominent within the church as an Evangelical opponent of the Moderate Party. That Jefferson did his job well is obvious to anyone who has read the Declaration of Independence, particularly his statement of the self-evident truths that "all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. The time had come to vote again on Richard Henry Lee's resolution. Some are superior to others in mental powers and intellectual improvementsome by the great increase of their property through their own, or their predecessors industry, and some make it their choice, finding they cannot live otherwise better, to let out their labor to others for hire. He lost all of his extensive library, writings, and all of his property during the British invasion. And like Pictet, Witherspoon was eager to show that the truths of supernatural revelation could be squared with reason. On July 1, 1776, Richard Stockton and his good friend Rev. Princeton University Press, 1948. The other New York signer, Lewis Morris, lost his magnificent estate, "Morrisania", which was sacked and burned. He spoke often in concurrence; helped draft the Articles of Confederation; helped organize the executive departments; played a major role in shaping public policy; and drew up the instructions for the peace commissioners. in Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland , United Kingdom, Died on November 15, 1794 At the age of four, he could read the Bible. Susannah later married Thomas Leonard and remained in Princeton after her husbands death. The petitions suggests replacing the statue with "an informational plaque which details both the positive and negative aspects of Witherspoon's legacy. After Stockton's death, Annis, one of America's first published female poets, became a favorite correspondent of General Washington. But Philadelphia was 80 miles away and a torrential rainstorm was swamping the region between the two cities. Witherspoon has claimed descent from Scottish-born John Witherspoon, who signed the United States Declaration of Independence; however, this claim has not been verified by the Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence genealogists. Witherspoon Street, in: Princeton, New Jersey; Pomfret, John E.. '"Witherspoon, John" in. The gallery was crowded; the floor was reserved for members of Congress; and on the wall hung the empty frame of the portrait of George II, which Alexander Hamiltons cannon ball had destroyed in the fighting of January 3rd at the battle of Princeton six years before. 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 . 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. Witherspoon served in Congress from June 1776 until November 1782 and became one of its most influential members and a workhorse of prodigious energy. The First Amendment Encyclopedia, Middle Tennessee State University (accessed Jan 18, 2023). John Witherspoon was the only clergyman and the only college president to sign the Declaration of Independence. The wife of William Floyd escaped with her children by boat across Long Island Sound into Connecticut and died in 1781 without ever again seeing her home. 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. Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, Witherspoon Street School for Colored Children, Memorial to the 56 Signers of the Declaration of Independence, "Petition regarding the statue of John Witherspoon on Firestone Plaza", "LibGuides: African American Studies: Slavery at Princeton", Science and Religion in America, 18001860, "Statue / Monument of John Witherspoon in Washington DC by Sculptor William Couper", "National Historic Landmarks & National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania", "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form: Witherspoon Building", "Princeton School Board changes name of John Witherspoon Middle School", "Welcome witherspoonsociety.org - BlueHost.com", "Presbyterian Voices for Justice celebrates its history as it donates to three social justice causes", Biography on Princeton University's website, Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Then, on June 7th, Richard Henry Lee put this resolution before the Congress: "RESOLVED, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved.". Collection Overview . Representing New Jersey at the Continental Congress. Witherspoon owned slaves and lectured against the abolition of slavery.[28]. 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. Richard Stockton the signer of the Declaration of Independence was born October 1, 1730, the eldest of eight children born to John and Abigail Stockton. Thus, public morality owed more to the natural moral laws of the Enlightenment than to revealed Christianity. John C. Witherspoon was the Calvinist preacher, President of Princeton College, and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Birth of Richard Stockton, Signer of "The Decla Signer of Declaration of IndependenceDelegate to Continental Congress, Signer Declaration of Independence. 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. Presidents of Princeton University. When he had backed away from the table, one delegate whispered, "There go a few millions!". Husband of Elizabeth Witherspoon and Anne Witherspoon Once he was satisfied, the New Jersey delegates voted for Independence. His handsome features and highly polished manners made him very popular. Stockton was appointed to committees supporting the war effort. Family. Born: February 15, 1723. Their son Richard Stockton became an eminent lawyer and prominent Federalist leader. If so, login to add it. Boudinot again served in Congress from 1789-1795. He immediately began fund-raisinglocally and back home in Scotlandadded three hundred of his own books to the library, and began purchasing scientific equipment including the Rittenhouse orrery, many maps, and a terrestrial globe. In 1757, he wed Annis Boudinot, built their home Morven, and later had two sons and four daughters. At the age of 45, he became the sixth president of the college, later known as Princeton University. [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.". Witherspoon Names. Washington ordered his forces to withdraw and the Redcoats laid waste to most of the countryside, destroying in the process homes and lands of the four who signed for New York. They had ten children, only five surviving to adulthood. Reese father earned his living as a surgeon and her mother was a college professor. 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). Philip Stockton, Rebecca Te kton, Susannah Cuthbert (born Stockton), Mary Stockton, Molly Rush (born Simpson), Richard Arthur Stockton, Lucius Horatio Stockton, Abig Oct 1 1730 - Princeton, Somerset, Province Of New Jersey, Feb 28 1781 - Princeton, Somerset, New Jersey, Usa, Susan STOCKTON, Julia STOCKTON, Richard Arthur STOCKTON, Abigail STOCKTON, Lucius STOCKTON, Susanna STOCKTON, Hannah STOCKTON, Rev. 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." Nothing was ever written about doubts of Stockton's loyalty in any of the papers of members of Congress, or in any newspapers or books of the time. John Witherspoon (February 5, 1723 November 15, 1794) was a Scottish-American Presbyterian minister, educator, farmer, slaveholder, and a Founding Father of the United States. 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. 03.12('53) DVD He married Mary Witherspoon about 1754, in Ireland. In 1969, the New Jersey Legislature passed legislation establishing a state college which was named after Stockton, to honor the memory of New Jersey's signer of the Declaration of Independence. As to the first it seems to be only that the master has a right to the labors and ingenuity of the servant for a limited time, or at most for life. Some had left Congress; others were away and had to sign later; and several new delegates had since been elected. This article was originally published in 2009. At the age of 13, he entered college and at age 20, he was licensed to preach. He fought against the flood of paper money and opposed the issuance of bonds without provision for their amortization. For the next 26 years, he would serve as Princeton's President, helping to make it a great institution for higher learning. In 1774, he was appointed Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey. In council he was wise and firm, but always prudent and moderateThe office of Judge of the province was never filled with more integrity and learning that it was by him for several years before the revolution. The 47 year-old son of a plantation owner, he was first elected to the colonial legislature in 1761, and sent to the first and second Continental Congresses. He is co-editor of the Encyclopedia of the First Amendment. Stockton was an active and influential member of Congress. 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). Biography by Rev. Stockton was the first person from New Jersey to sign the Declaration of Independence. "No business can be done, some say, because money is scarce," he wrote. Few with a knowledge of history would have predicted anything but disaster and ruin for those gathered in Philadelphia during the first week of August in 1776. He emigrated to New Jersey in 1768. Joseph Hewes of North Carolina was a Quaker with a long pacifist heritage, and for many months he sided with those in Congress who were opposed to independence. His wife was poet Annis Boudinot Stockton, sister of New Jersey statesman Elias Boudinot. He met with Edmund Burke, the Earl of Chatham, and many other distinguished members of Parliament who were friendly to the American Colonies. A statue of Richard Stockton by Henry Kirke Brown was dedicated by congressional proceedings in 1888 and placed in Statuary Hall in the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Stockton is one of only six signers to be so honored. At age 68, he married a 24-year-old widow, with whom he had two more children. CONTENT MAY BE COPYRIGHTED BY WIKITREE COMMUNITY MEMBERS. One of Reese ancestors, John Witherspoon, was one of those who signed the Declaration of Independence. Please try again. John Witherspoon He fought against the flood of paper money, and opposed the issuance of bonds without provision for their amortization. He attended grammar school at the neighboring town of Haddington. If something of the kind was not done, he warned Lord Dartmouth, the result would be an obstinate, awful, and tremendous 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. 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 revisions were completed on the evening of July 4th, the document was adopted without dissent, and the Declaration of Independence was ordered proclaimed throughout the United States. Accounts indicate that, despite clear instruction, Justice Stockton wished to hear the arguments on either side of the issue. Her health broke during captivity and Mrs. Lewis died shortly after being released in a 1778 prisoner exchange. He spoke often in debate; helped draft the Articles of Confederation; helped organize the executive departments; played a major role in shaping foreign policy; and drew up the instructions for the peace commissioners. His fame preceded him and he was received by the most eminent men of the kingdom. "Let my trade perish. Reason third, you can write ten times better than I can.". He died October 24, 1821. Great hardships and suffering were also inflicted upon three signers from neighboring New Jersey. 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. : Rowman and Littlefield, 200&a. "My hand trembles," he said as he handed the quill to William Ellery, "but my heart does not." 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