New Jersey Delegates at the First Meeting
The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on Monday, September 5, 1774. The colonial delegations were introduced in geographical order, from North to South. The New Jersey delegates were the sixth group to introduce themselves and have their letter of introduction read. The delegates who attended the first meeting were:
- James Kinsey
- William Livingston
- John De Hart
- Stephen Crane
- Richard Smith
The New Jersey Letter of Introduction
To James Kinsey, William Livingston, John D’hart, Stephen Crane, & Richard Smith, Esqrs. each and every of you:
The Committees, appointed by the several Counties of the Colony of New Jersey, to nominate Deputies, to represent the same in the general congress of deputies from the other Colonies in America, convened at the City of New Brunswick, have nominated and appointed, and do hereby nominate and appoint you, and each of you, deputies, to represent the Colony of New Jersey in the said general congress.
In testimony whereof, the Chairmen of the several Committees here met, have hereunto set their hands, this twenty third day of July, in the fourteenth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third, and in the year of our Lord 1774.
(Signed)
William P. Smith [Essex County], Jacob Ford [Morris County], John Moores [Middlesex County], Robert Johnson, Robert Field, Robert Friend Price, Peter Zabriskie [Bergen County], Samuel Tucker [Hunterdon County], Edward Taylor [Monmouth County], Hendrick Fisher, Archibald Stewart, Thomas Anderson, Abra Brown, Mark Thompson
Biographies
Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane was a judge and politician who served in the First Continental Congress and signed the Continental Association. Crane continued to support the Patriot Cause and was mortally wounded by British troops during the Battle of Springfield (June 23, 1780). Crane died from his wounds on July 1, 1780.
John De Hart
John De Hart was a lawyer, judge, and politician. He served in the First Continental Congress and signed the Continental Association. De Hart returned for the Second Continental Congress but resigned over the issue of independence. Later, he helped draft the New Jersey Constitution and served on the New Jersey Supreme Court.
James Kinsey
James Kinsey was a judge who served in the First Continental Congress and signed the Continental Association. Kinsey was a delegate to the Second Continental Congress but resigned in November 1775.
William Livingston
William Livingston is a Founding Father. He participated in the First Continental Congress and signed the Continental Association. He participated in the Second Continental Congress but did not support independence, although his brother, Philip Livingston did. In 1787, Livingston was appointed as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and signed the United States Constitution.
Richard Smith
Richard Smith was a lawyer and politician who participated in the First Continental Congress and signed the Continental Association.
Notes
- James Kinsey and Stephen Crane were also members of the New Jersey Committee of Correspondence.
