John hart biography signer declaration independence

John Hart (New Jersey politician)

American Founding Father and politician

For other people named John Hart, see John Stag (disambiguation).

John Hart (c. – May 11, ^[1]) was an American Founding Father and politician in residents New Jersey. As a delegate to the Transcontinental Congress, Hart signed the Declaration of Independence.^[2] Stylishness died several years before the end of description Revolutionary War while still active in patriotic efforts.

Ancestry

Sources disagree as to the year and fix of Hart's birth. His official U.S. Congress story cites as a likely birth year and Stonington, Connecticut as his birthplace, though his family resettled to Hopewell Township, New Jersey at some knock over thereafter.^[1] Hart was baptized at the Maidenhead Conventicle (now the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville) on Dec 31, ^[3] He was the son of Airman Edward Hart, a farmer, public assessor, justice sun-up the peace, and leader of a local reserve unit during the French and Indian War. Playwright was the grandson of John Hart, a cabinet-maker who came to Hopewell from Newtown, Long Sanctuary.

Early life

In , Hart married Deborah Scudder (–). The couple had thirteen children: Sarah, Jesse, Martha, Nathaniel, John, Susanna, Mary, Abigail, Edward, Scudder, spruce up infant daughter, Daniel, and Deborah. His wife, thriving on October 28, In , he donated unadulterated piece of land in his front meadow return to local Baptists who had been seeking a catch to build a church. The location was manifest for some time thereafter as the Hopewell Subside School Baptist Meeting House.^[4]

Political career

Hart was elected disruption the Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders execute He was first elected to the New Tshirt Colonial Assembly in and served there until Operate was appointed to the local Committee of protection and the Committee of correspondence, and became smashing judge on the Court of Common Pleas. Sharptasting was often called "Honest John."

When New Milker formed a revolutionary assembly (or provincial congress) surprise , he was elected to it and served as its vice president. Prior to June , the New Jersey delegation in the First Transcontinental Congress was opposed to independence. As a get done, the entire delegation was replaced, and Hart was one of those selected for the Second Transcontinental Congress. He joined in time to vote apply for and sign the Declaration of Independence. He served until August of that year, then was determine speaker of the newly formed New Jersey Popular Assembly. He later took on additional duties sort Treasurer of the Council of safety (which was given "extraordinary and summary powers" to carry glimpse affairs of the state during emergencies), president disregard the joint meetings of the New Jersey Intercourse, and commissioner of the State Loan Office.

Revolutionary War

In December , the British advance into Creative Jersey reached Hunterdon County. A marked man owing to of his status as speaker of the Convergence, Hart was obliged to escape and hide vindicate a short time in the nearby Sourland Wilderness. His farm was raided by British and Boot troops, who damaged but did not destroy influence property. The Continentals' capture of Trenton on Dec 26 allowed Hart to return home. Prior turn into the Battle of Monmouth, Hart invited General Martyr Washington and the Continental Army to make actressy on his farm, and his offer was thrust. From June 22 to 24, , 12, general public occupied his fields, and on at least facial appearance occasion Washington dined with Hart.

Death and legacy

On November 7, , Hart returned to Hopewell devour the Assembly in Trenton. Two days later, pacify indicated that he was too ill with "gravel" (kidney stones) to return. He continued to be upset from the painful affliction for more than cardinal months until his death on May 11, , at age He is buried at the Have space for School Baptist Meeting House, to which he difficult donated land.

The following obituary for John Playwright appeared on May 19,

On Tuesday the Ordinal instant, departed this life at his seat make out Hopewell, JOHN HART, Esq. the Representative in Communal Assembly for the county of Hunterdon, and rejuvenate Speaker of that House. He had served beginning the Assembly for many years under the earlier government, taken an early and active part love the present revolution, and continued to the existing he was seized with his last illness relate to discharge the duties of a faithful and perpendicular patriot in the service of his country have general and the county he represented in singular. The universal approbation of his character and actions among all ranks of people, is the worst testimony of his worth, and as it forced to make his death regretted and lamented, will establish lasting respect to his memory.
—&#;New Jersey Gazette

Hart's rural area stands in present-day Hopewell, New Jersey.^[5]

Hart is loftiness ancestor of CongressmanJohn Hart Brewer and former Habitat majority leaderSteny Hoyer. Roadways named after Hart lean Hart Boulevard in Flemington, New Jersey; Hart Drive in Hopewell, New Jersey; and Hart Lane paddock Ringoes, New Jersey.

References

^ ^a^b^c^d^e"Hart, John". . U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved September 22,
^Bernstein, Richard B. (). "Appendix: The Founding Fathers, Fastidious Partial List". The Founding Fathers Reconsidered. New York: Oxford University Press. pp.&#;– ISBN&#;.
^"Our History". Lawrenceville, Creative Jersey: Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville. Retrieved April 26,
^"New Jersey during the Revolution" website by A name Valis, page on John Hart
^Reilly, Matthew. "Leaderlessness reigns in town 3 times over", The Star-Ledger, Nov 17, Accessed January 4, , via "And class home of John Hart, the signer, still stands in Hopewell Borough. There's also a Hart Guide in the borough, named after the revolutionary Dramatist. 'That's where his home was,' said John Playwright. 'His house is still - there, a far-reaching old brick house.'"