discoveries. They knew they were committing high treason against the Crown and that the penalty for doing so was death by hanging. Witherspoon was a staunch Protestant, nationalist, and supporter of republicanism. My heart melts with compassion for my brave countrymen who are thus venturing their lives in the public service and yet so distressed. He also firmed up entrance requirements. 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. When he had backed away from the table, one delegate whispered, "There go a few millions!". Behind that fleet were all the wealth and power of the British Empire. Despite personal setbacks Witherspoon never lost his belief that America would prevail in the struggle for independence. Richard Stockton (October 1, 1730 February 28, 1781) was an American lawyer, jurist, legislator, and a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Her mother, Dr. Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Witherspoon (ne Reese), is from Harriman, Tennessee. Parades and demonstrations, patriotic observances and celebrations, were held across the states. 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. Stockton was an active and influential member of Congress. John Penn - John Penn was a self-taught lawyer whose main duty during the Revolutionary War was to keep the North Carolina militia supported with supplies. Witherspoon was at first unable to accept the offer, due to his wife's great fear of crossing the sea. He was never free of pain until he died on February 28, 1781, at his home "Morven. Tonight there was to be no rest for this weary patriot. Died: November 15, 1794 at 71. John Witherspoon, signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey, was born at Yester, Scotland, 5 Feb. 1722. He was not much concerned with politics, but applied his talents and person to the revolutionary cause when the day came. In Princeton today, a University dormitory built in 1877, the street running north from the University's main gate, and the local public middle school all bear his name. [19] In Congress, he was appointed congressional chaplain, and in July 1776, he voted to adopt the Virginia Resolution for Independence. Great hardships and suffering were also inflicted upon three signers from neighboring New Jersey. 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. Family. In point of fact, disaster and ruin was the lot for many of the signers. 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. Stocktons high character and distinguished abilities preceded him and he was received by the most eminent men of the kingdom. His philosophy was relatively pragmatic and blended well with the classical liberal strains of political thought advocated in his day. Rev. His most prominent students were Aaron Burr and James Madison. Stockton and his wife had six children, four daughters and two sons: Julia Stockton (married to Benjamin Rush, also a signer of the Declaration), Mary, Susan, Richard, Lucius and Abigail. . Dr. Betty Witherspoon earned three degrees in total, including a Ph.D in education. Her health broke during captivity and Mrs. Lewis died shortly after being released in a 1778 prisoner exchange. Morrison, Jeffry H. John Witherspoon and the Founding of the American Republic. The rebels captured him, imprisoned him in a castle, and threatened to kill him. Jimmy Witherspoon, born in Arkansas, was a master of the blues. Username and password are case sensitive. Although Witherspoon can be heavily credited in the expansion and progression of the University, his ownership ties to the enslavement of Black people in America have caused for an internal Princeton petition to the CPUC Committee on Naming at Princeton University and President Eisgruber for the removal of his statue that currently stands in Firestone Plaza on campus. WIKITREE PROTECTS MOST SENSITIVE INFORMATION BUT ONLY TO THE EXTENT STATED IN THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Jan l8, 21, 22, 29, Feb 7, 1777, Tatum, ed., Jour. Born in Scotland to a family of clergymen, he was trained to become a Presbyterian minister. There is absolutely no proof this occurred. When Stockton was questioned about America by the secretary of state, he rejoiced that he had nothing to ask of the government and therefore dare speak my sentiments without cringing. 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. All three were captured, refused a British offer of amnesty if they would repudiate the American cause, and were shipped to the Crown stockade at St. Augustine, Florida. On July 2, 1776, the day of the vote on independence, another delegate claimed that America wasn't yet ripe enough for independence. He transformed the College of New Jersey (later Princeton) from a poor theological seminary into a vigorous academic community. Witherspoon was responsible for its rebuilding after the war, which caused him great personal and financial difficulty. He managed to move his family to safety, but was captured and imprisoned by the British. His fame preceded him and he was received by the most eminent men of the kingdom. 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. Civil government owed more to the latter than the former in Witherspoon's Presbyterian doctrine. Annis was descended from French Huguenots; her grandfather fled France at the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685 and settled in New York. Twelve thousand men camped on his fields-during the growing season. The Presbyterian Constitution of 1787 to which Witherspoon contributed removed provisions from the earlier Westminster Confession that allowed magistrates to suppress blasphemies and heresies, and the U.S. Constitution denied the power of the state to intervene in matters of religious faith (Morrison, 2005: 108). An outspoken advocate of American independence, Rodney was exhausted from many months of battling Delaware's Tories while building up and drilling the colony's militia. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. Page 130Glynn, John C., His Sacred Honor Judge Richard Stockton A Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Eveready Press, 2006. By invitation he spent a week at the country estate of the Marquis of Rockingham and was entertained by the Earl of Chatham, the Earl of Chesterfield and other distinguished members of Parliament friendly to the American Colonies. Between 1776 and 1782, Witherspoon would serve on more than 100 committees, wearing his minister's robes in Congress to remind the delegates that God was on their side. From Antigua they moved to Darby, Pennsylvania where Annis was born in 1736, then moved to Philadelphia where her father established a shop and home next door to Benjamin Franklin. The former John Witherspoon Middle School, Princeton, New Jersey. Trevor Colbourn (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1974) 181. But even as late as January 6, 1776, the Congress adopted a resolution stating that the colonies, "had no design to set up as an independent nation." I'm researching for a member of his family. John Witherspoon, son of James Witherspoon and Anne Walker was baptised in the parish of Yester, East Lothian on 10 February 1723. In 1757, he wed Annis Boudinot, built their home Morven, and later had two sons and four daughters. . "These are the times that try men's souls," Thomas Paine wrote in COMMON SENSE. Address: 11-15 Wiggins St Princeton, NJ 08542. : Rowman and Littlefield, 200&a. Rev. Rodney knew very well that, now unable to go to England for treatment of his terrible cancer, he would die an early and horrible death. Princeton's current contretemps, however, fascinatingly illustrates how wokeness, which lacks limiting principles, limits opposition to itself. 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. [John Witherspoon, Lectures on Moral Philosophy (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton Univ. 1898, Page 18Corner, George W. The Autobiography of Benjamin Rush. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle . He read it, and the simple ceremony was over. [11] During his two pastorates he wrote three well-known works on theology, notably the satire "Ecclesiastical Characteristics" (1753),[12] which opposed the philosophical influence of Francis Hutcheson.[13]. Witherspoon had declined the appointment as president of the college because his wife was reluctant to emigrate. For this reason, Rev. 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.". He is certainly the cleverest man I have yet seen from America. In London he attended the Queens birthday ball and was presented to King George III, later he had the honor of giving a speech to the King acknowledging the repeal of the Stamp Act and the King was impressed by Stockton. Frances, the youngest daughter, married Dr. David Ramsay, a delegate from South Carolina to the Continental Congress, on March 18, 1763. In the months before and after the Declaration of Independence, several states were working on their own constitutions, including New York. In 1764, Stockton became the Grand Master of the first chartered Masonic lodge (St. Johns No 1) in Princeton, New Jersey. As he raced through the stormy darkness, it must have occurred to Caesar Rodney that a political storm was rising out of Philadelphia that would change the course of history. I call to God to witness that if any British troops are landed in the County of York, of which I am Lieutenant, I will wait no orders, but will summon the militia and drive the invaders into the sea!". Previously known as "Stockton State College" and "Richard Stockton State College", it is now known as "Richard Stockton College of New Jersey". When the General had seated himself, Boudinot proceeded to read an address of welcome. The mere communication of that congressional order to General Howe was enough to end the persecution of the Clark brothers and they survived their imprisonment. Witherspoon Street, in: Princeton, New Jersey; Pomfret, John E.. '"Witherspoon, John" in. 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,