USA > New Jersey > Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 2
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William Livingston graduated from Yale College in 1741, at the head of his class. As illustrative of the educational conditions in his day, it may be said that, besides him- self and three elder brothers, there were in all New York only six other persons, excepting those in holy orders, who had received a collegiate education. William Livingston studied law under James Alex- ander, a distinguished lawyer of New York City. He was admitted to the bar in 1748, and soon attained to the front rank of his profession, being retained in most of the important litigation not only in New York but in New Jersey. Among other notable engagements, he was in 1752 of counsel for the defendants in the great suit in chancery between the Proprietors of East Jersey and some of the settlers, which case, while never brought to a final decision, has been much referred to in respect of the title to a con-
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siderable portion of East Jersey. He was an ardent patriot, and during that pericd wrote articles for the "Weekly Post Boy" in strong denunciation of the Stamp Act. Brought up in the Dutch Reformed Church, he earnestly engaged in the con- troversies with the Episcopalians with refer- ence to an established religion, and in large measure it was due to these discussions that resistance was afterward made to the attempted imposition of taxes on the co !- onies by the British ministry, with the re- sult that such resistance received the at- most unanimous support of the colonies.
Livingston removed to Elizabethtown, New Jersey, in 1772, where he bought a handsome estate and erected a beautiful residence. He gave little attention to his profession, being soon drawn into public life. In 1774 he was made a delegate to the Continental Congress by the committee which met in New Brunswick, and in the former body became a member of the com- mittee appointed to prepare an address to the people of Great Britain. He signed the non-consumption and non-importation pledges. In January, 1775, he was re-elect- ed to Congress, and served on some of its most important committees : and the fol- lowing year labored in the same commit- tees with Adams, Jefferson and Lee. In June, 1776, he left his seat to accept a com- mission as brigadier-general of New Jersey militia. While among the foremost in ad- vancing the cause of the colonists, he at this time doubted the expediency of adopt- ing a declaration of independence. Almost immediately after receiving his military commission, at the desire of Congress he took command of militia destined for New York, and established his headquarters at Elizabethtown Point. There is good reason to believe that he would have preferred re- taining his seat in Congress, in which event there is no doubt, from his change of opin- ion as to expediency, he would have signed the Declaration of Independence. However, he was soon recalled to civil life. In Au-
gust, 1776, only two months after he had taken a military command, a new constitu- tion having been adopted and a legislature chosen, which convened at Princeton, he was called to a position where his abilities were to prove of far greater value to the country. Proposed for governor, a secret vote resulted in a tie between himself and Richard Stockton. Next day, by arrange- ment. Livingston was chosen, Stockton be- ing named as chief justice. For a time, Governor Livingston, under the authority of the legislature, used his own seal as the Great Seai of the State. This was soon supplanted by a seal of silver, engraved in Philadelphia, and bearing the devices yet in use.
Governor Livingston's first address to the legislature was a masterly paper. After set- ting forth the political purposes to be ef- fected, he made a strong plea for "a spirit of economy, industry and patriotism, and that public integrity and righteousness that cannot fail to exalt a nation, setting our faces like a flint against that dissoluteness of manner and political corruptness that will ever be a reproach to any people." The italicized words in the last sentence at- tached to him the name of "Doctor Flint," which clung to him for some time. He was re-elected from year to year while he lived, occupying the combined offices of governor and chancellor nearly fourteen years. Dur- ing his first two years his task was onerous. and not without personal danger. The State suffered more from military opera- tions than all others; until the victories at Trenton and Princeton everything was in jeopardy, and many who were sanguine be- fore, despaired and sought British protec- tion. The legislature was a wandering body, meeting at Trenton, Princeton, Pittstown and Haddonfield. The courage of the gov- ernor was unconquerable. He labored un- remittingly for the firm establishment of the new government and for efficient mi- litia laws. Among the salutary measures which he favored and which were adopted
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were: Providing for the taking of an oath renouncing allegiance to the British crown, and of allegiance to the new government ; for punishing traitors and the disaffected, and those who sought in any way to uphold British authority; and appointing a com- mittee of safety with almost unlimited pow- ers. So determined and able an official as Governor Livingston was in imminent and continual danger. His family residence was despoiled. He was bitterly denounced by "Riverton's Gazette," the British organ in New York. As an offset to this, a patriotic paper was started, the "New Jersey Ga- zette," printed by Isaac Collins, at times in Trenton and then in Burlington, and to which the governor was a frequent con- tributor, many of his articles having a broad influence. However, this journal, on the eve of his re-election in 1779, contained a virulent attack upon him, over a fictitious signature. The following day a resolution was adopted in council, reciting that the article was an undue reflection upon the governor, "the seminary of learning in this State," and the legislature, and requiring the printer (Isaac Collins) to disclose the name of the author. This resolution was rejected by the assembly, whereupon the council passed a resolution requiring Col- lins to furnish the information. Collins de- clined to make any answer, and the matter was dropped; the governor, however, for some time ceased his communications to the paper. Livingston was re-elected by a vote of twenty-nine, to nine for Philemon Dickinson. Throughout his various adminis- trations his conduct was patriotic, wise and strictly just. An instance of his strict ad- herence to what he conceived to be right is seen in his attitude with regard to the Con- tinental currency, always of uncertain value, and ultimately of none whatever. Whenever appealed to in regard to the en- forcement of the State laws making it a legal tender, he always sustained such legis-
lation, notwithstanding he always opposed such enactments, and studiously refused to take advantage of thein himself.
After the restoration of peace, Governor Livingston left Trenton, returning to his home in Elizabethtown. In June, 1785, Congress appointed him Minister to the Court of Holland : at first he was disposed to accept, but eventually he declined. The next year he became a member of a society for promoting the emancipation of slaves, and he manumitted the two he owned. In May, 1787, the legislature appointed him a delegate to the convention that framed the national constitution, and in a subsequent message to the legislature he expressed his gratitude to God that he had lived to wit- ness its approval and adoption by the States. Yale College the next year con- ferred upon him the honorary degree of LL. D. He was a man of strong literary inclinations and excellent taste ; throughout his life he wrote frequently on political topics, and also indulged in poetical effu- sions at times. He published, in conjunc- tion with William Smith, Jr., "A Digest of the Laws of New York," 1691-1792 (2 vols.). He was author of: "Philosophic Solitude, or the Choice of a Rural Life," (1747) ; "A Review of Military Operations in North America," ( 1757) ; "Observations on Government." ( 1787). He was a mem- ber of the American Philosophical Society, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
He married, in 1745, Susannah French, whose father had been a large land proprie- tor in New Jersey: she died in 1789, and he on June 25th of the following year. Of his thirteen children, six died before him. One son, Brockholst Livingston, became a distinquished lawyer in New York, sat for several years on the supreme bench of the State, and in 1807 was elevated to that of the United States, occupying his seat there- on until his death, in 1823.
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STOCKTON, Richard,
Distinguished Statesman.
Richard Stockton, first of the New Jer- sey signers of the Declaration of Inde- pendence, was born at "Morven," near Princeton, in that State, October 1, 1730, son of John Stockton, and descended from Richard Stockton, who came to America before 1670, settled on Long Island. and was one of the founders of the settlement near Princeton, New Jersey, and which be- came the family home. His father was for several years Chief Judge of the Somer- set County Court of Common Pleas.
Richard Stockton was a pupil of the noted Rev. Dr. Samuel Finley, afterward attended the West Nottingham Academy, and then entered the College of New Jer- sey, from which he graduated with the first class, taking the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1748, and that of Master of Arts in 1751. He studied law under the pre- ceptorship of Judge David Ogden, of New- ark, was admitted to the bar in 1754, be- came counsellor in 1758, and entered upon practice in Princeton. He visited Eng- land and Scotland in 1766-1777. and was instrumental in persuading Dr. John Witherspoon to withdraw his declination of the presidency of the College of New Jer- sey, and for which service he was officially thanked by the trustees of that institution.
He entered upon his public career in 1768, when he was chosen to the Provincial Council of New Jersey, serving until 1784, in which year he was made judge of the Supreme Court of the province. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, 1776-1777, and gave his sig- nature to the Declaration of Independence. In 1776 he was a candidate for Governor, and was defeated by William Livingston. He was subsequently elected Chief Justice, but declined the position. Meantime he had been serving as inspector of the Northern army, and was taken prisoner by the loyal- ist' on November 30, 1776, and confined in
the common prison in New York. Shortly afterward he was exchanged. but never entirely recovered from the effects of his imprisonment. During the same period his estate, including his valuable library, had been destroyed by the British, and this loss, with the great depreciation of the currency of the day. improverished him to such a de- gree that he was for a time dependent upon the assistance of friends. He was a trus- tee of the College of New Jersey, 1757- 1781, and serving as secretary of the board. 1757-1763. He published "An Expedient for the Settlement of American Disputes," addressed to Lord Dartmouth, December 12, 1774. He died at the family estate, February 28, 1781.
He married Annis, daughter of Elias and Catharine (Williams) Boudinot, and sister of Dr. Elias Boudinot. She was a woman of talent, author of a poem addressed to Washington after the surrender of York- town; of "Welcome mighty chief, once more," and various contributions to period- icals.
WITHERSPOON, Rev. John,
Clergyman, Educator, Patriot.
This distinguished man was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, February 5, 1722, the son of a minister, and on the maternal side a lineal descendant of the great reformer John Knox.
At the age of fourteen he entered the University of Edinburgh, remaining there until nearly twenty-one, when he was li- censed to preach. At the age of twenty- three he was settled as minister at Beith, Scotland. He witnessed the battle of Fal- kirk, was seized as a prisoner, and im- prisoned for two weeks, and during this short time he endured such discomforts as to permanently impair his health. After re- gaining his liberty he published various pamphlets bearing on religious and kindred topics, and which attracted wide attention and involved him in some controversy.
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1757 he became minister of the Low Church at Paisley, were he labored usefully, yet not without drawing upon himself the ire of the presbytery for his liberality of views. In 1764 he went to London, where he published three volumes of "Essays on Important Subjects." Growing in fame, he was invited to churches in Dundee, Dub- lin and Rotterdam, and in 1766 was called to the presidency of the Princeton (New Jersey ) College, rendered vacant by the death of President Finley ; at first he de- clined, but afterward accepted.
Dr. Witherspoon reached Princeton, with his family, in August, 1768, His fame had preceded him, and his name brought a great accession of students to the college, and greatly enhanced the reputation of the in- stitution. He largely increased the funds of the college by subscriptions, served both as president and as professor of divinity, and also acted as pastor of the Princeton church during his entire career as presi- dent. The Revolution compelled the clos- ing of the college, and Dr. Witherspoon found a new field for his great talents. Sent to the Provincial Congress of New Jersey, he showed himself to be as great a leader of men as he had been profound as a di- vine and philosopher. He aided in formu- lating the constitution, served on the vari- ous committees and in the various conven- tions, gaining in influence, and in 1776 was made a representative to the Continental Congress. May 17th of that year being designated by Congress as a fast day, he preached a sermon on "The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men." __ an elaborate discussion of the great political questions of the day. During his seven years service in Congress he was entrusted with the drafting of many important state papers, and in far reaching insight and sagacity in planning for the future, it may be truthfully said that he had not his su- perior in that famous body. Of the fifty- six delegates who signed the Declaration of
Independence, he was the only clergyman. His signature is also affixed to the Articles of Confederation adopted at the close of the war. During all these years he preached almost constantly, and in scores of churches.
After the restoration of peace, the college was reopened under the temporary charge of Vice-President Smith, while Dr. Wither- spoon, at the urgent solicitation of the trus- tees, went to Great Britain to endeavor to secure aid for the enfeebled institution. It was too soon after the war, and he not only utterly failed in his mission, but was sub- jected to most humiliating embarrassments. Returning home, he devoted himself to the duties of the college presidency and to preaching. His last years were embittered by financial want and impaired eyesight, and his last two years he was totally blind. During this latter period he was frequently led to the pulpit, and for a time he preached with his accustomed clearness and energy. However, he became more and more feeble, and died on his farm, near Princeton, Sep- tember 15, 1794, in his seventy-third year.
Dr. Witherspoon left a permanent im- press not only upon his college. but upon the character of his State. As college presi- dent he rendered literary inquiries more liberal, extensive and profound, and was the means of introducing an important revo- lution in educational methods. He ex- tended the study of mathematical science, and it is believed that he was first in Amer- ica to teach the substance of those doctrines of the philosophy of the mind which after- ward were developed with great success by Dr. Reid. He possessed a fund of refined humor and delicate satire, and his wit was at times directed against certain corruptions in principle and practice in the Church of Scotland. His influence upon the literature of the young nation was highly beneficial.
In the centennial year of the nation which he was instrumental in founding, a fitting memorial of the distinguished patriot, di- vine and scholar was unveiled in Fairmount
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Park, Philadelphia-a bronze statue, of heroic size, erected by the Presbyterians of the United States.
HOPKINSON, Francis,
Patriot, Statesman, Author.
A great emergency is prolific of great men. At the time of our struggle for liberty, many came to the fore and did their share and more towards the founding of this great republic. Among the great al- though perhaps not the most famous is Francis Hopkinson. deserving of honor from the state of his adoption. Lawyer, poet, musician, scientist, statesman, artist and author, few men have proved so suc- cessful in so many pursuits.
Francis Hopkinson was born in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, September 21, 1737, the son of Thomas Hopkinson, a lawyer who emigrated from England in 1731. His mother was a Miss Johnson, niece of the Bishop of Worcester. The atmosphere of his home was conducive to the highest order of intellect. Mr. Thomas Hopkinson was a man of brilliant attainments, a friend of Benjamin Franklin, whose interest in scientific experiments he shared. Mrs. Hop- kinson, unusually cultivated for a woman of that age, helped to guide her son's fine mind to the opening of a successful career.
Francis Hopkinson received his educa- tion at the College of Philadelphia, and en- tered the law office of Benjamin Chew to complete his studies, being admitted to the bar in 1761. His first public office was secretary of a commission to negotiate a treaty with the Indians in 1761-the in- spiration for a poem called "The Treaty," afterwards published. From February, 1764, to May, 1765, he acted as librarian and secretary of the Philadelphia Library.
Not the least of Hopkinson's attainments was his proficiency in music. At the time when he was attaining maturity, interest in music was acquiring a firm footing among the cultivated people of Philadel-
phia. Francis Hopkinson shared this taste with his parents. While receiving his educa- tion in other branches he learned to play the harpsichord with proficiency and early be- gan to compose airs for the psalms and for his own verses.
He was the first native poet composer of the United States, although James Lyon, of Newark, was a close second. While secretary of the vestry of Christ church and Saint Peter's in Philadelphia, he wrote and composed hymns. His "Ode to M11- sic" was written at seventeen.
In May, 1766, Hopkinson sailed for Europe-a tour usually taken by the young men of that time as a finish to their educa- tion. The money for this trip was the result of the translation of the Psalms of David to be used by the Reformed Dutch Church of New York. After a few weeks in Ireland and a visit to his uncle, the Bishop, at Hartlebury Castle, Hopkinson spent the remainder of his year in London, where he formed friendships with such men as John Penn, Benjamin West and Lord North, and brought influence to bear on the English government for an appoint- ment as collector of customs in North America, which he finally received in March, 1772, for Newcastle.
Returning to Philadelphia, he resumed the practice of law and kept a store. From 1771 to 1773. he was a member of the American Philosophic Society of Philadel- phia, and a director of the Library. In 1768 he married Ann Borden, of Borden- town, and in 1774 made his home there thus becoming identified with New Jersey. He became a member of the Provincial Council of New Jersey but resigned all of fice under the crown in 1776 to sit as dele gate in the first Continental Congress. He was a member of the committee to draft articles of federation, voted for independ- ence, and was one of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence for New Jer- sey. During these times of stress and dan- ger. Hopkinson wrote clever satires very
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helpful to the cause of freedom. His "Bat- of writing," "The Hermitage," a poem, tle of the Kegs," written in 1778. was a "Verses on the Capture of Quebec," pro- logues and epilogues for various plays, "Ode on the Accession of George III.," "Science," a poem, "A Toast to Washington," and "Prologue in Praise of Music." humorous account of an attempt to injure British shipping at Philadelphia by float- ing down the Delaware river kegs filled with gun powder with lighted fuses. This creat- ed great consternation among the British Hopkinson's Imnowledge and skill as a musician would have been enough to raise him above the multitude. Longacre says he was a "musician of high grade in his per- formances on the harpsichord." His li- brary contained collected manuscript books of songs and instrumental music represent- ing a fair musical library for the day. Dur- ing his residence in Philadelphia, Hopkin- son was active in arranging subscription concerts, vocal and instrumental, at which he himself played the harpsichord. Some of his songs printed for the public were "My days have been so wondrous free," 1759, "The Garland," "Oh come to Mason- borough's Grove," "With pleasure I have passed my days," "The Twenty-third Psalm," "An Anthem from the 114th Psalm," 1760, "Washington's March in G. Major" in ascribed to him by some au- thorities. who in excitement fired at anything float- ing past the wharves. He took an active interest in naval affairs as head of the Navy Department and was treasurer of the Conti- nental Loan Office. His published writ- ings contained many exquisite poems, clev- er, satiric and amusing prose-a sketch of an imaginary trip from Philadelphia to New York speaks of "passing unhurt over the imminent dangers of Passayack and Hack- ensack rivers and the yet more tremendous horror of Pawlus Hook Ferry." The idea of kindergarten and nature study is pre- sented in an essay on "A Scheme to blend the Utile with the Dulce in Education" en- titled "An Improved Plan of Education" in which knowledge practical and impractical is imparted by games; for example teach- ing logic by a large boy representing the major proposition, a small boy the minor proposition and a middle-sized boy the con- Francis Hopkinson died May 9, 1791, of a stroke of apoplexy. "He shone in virtue, science, taste and wit." ( From the poem in the "Columbian Parnassiad" published at the time of his death.) clusion, and letting them play "hide and seek." In his essays on the "Old Bache- lor," which might easily have been the in- spiration of Ike Marvel, he disserts on the happy care-free life of an oyster, wishing "he were an oyster that he should have HART, John, propagated his species without the plagues and expenses of a female assistant." An- Signer of Declaration of Independence. other clever and ingenious sketch is a sup- positious college examination where the student is examined in metaphysics, logic, natural philosophy, mathematics, anatomy, surgery and the practice of physic and chemistry, the subject of all being a salt- box.
Other published writings were, "The Ambiguity of the English Language," "A Political Catechism on the Subject of War," written in 1777, "Some Account of a New- ly Discovered and most commodius method
John Hart was born in Hopewell, Mercer county, New Jersey, in 1708, son of Cap- tain Edward Hart, who organized a com- pany and joined the "Jersey Blues," served at Quebec in 1759, and in the French War.
Reared upon a farm, John Hart was a plain man, with moderate education, of peaceable temper, progressive views, and admirable character, and was known by his neighbors as "honest John Hart." During a long and useful legislative service he pro- moted laws for the founding of schools, the
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improvement of roads, the administration of justice, and in 1765 he aided in selecting delegates to the Colonial Congress held in New York. He was a signer of the Decla- ration of Independence, and member of the Council of Safety of New Jersey, 1777- 1778, and his activities brought upon him many hardships at the hands of the Brit- ish. For some time the section in which he resided was the camping ground of the enemy's troops, and he was souglit af- ter day and night. His farm was ravaged, his timber burned off, his cattle butchered, and he himself was driven fromn one refuge to another, often in want of food, until the successes at Trenton and Princeton clear- ed New Jersey of the invaders. Meanwhile his wife (said to have been a Scudder). died. Collecting his children, who had also been refugees, and now well advanced in years, he returned to his ruined farm, but the privations he had undergone had made such inroads upon his health that he never recovered, and he died at Hopewell, New Jersey, May 11,. 1779. A monument in his honor, erected by the State, was unveiled July 4, 1865, and Governor Joel Parker, who delivered the oration on that occasion, said : "I am of opinion, after a careful examination of the history of New Jersey, during and immediately after the Revolu- tionary War, that John Hart had greater experience in the colonial and State legisla- tion of that day than any of his contem- poraries, and that no man exercised greater influence in giving direction to the public opinion which culminated in independence." Mr. Hart is said to have been tall and well proportioned, with black hair and blue eyes, affectionate in his disposition, and wise in his judgments.
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