Benjamin Rumsey
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Rumsey was an American
jurist from Joppa, Maryland
. He served as a delegate for Maryland
in the Continental Congress
in 1776 and 1777. For over twenty-five years, beginning in 1778, he was the chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals
.
Benjamin was born at Bohemia Manor in Cecil County, Maryland
. After attending Princeton
, he read law and was admitted to the bar. He settled in Joppa before 1768 and lived there the rest of his life.
Rumsey was first elected to Maryland's lower house in 1771 as a member for Cecil County. After Harford County
was formed in 1773, he represented it. He also represented it in the revolutionary conventions held between 1774 and 1776. Maryland sent him to the Continental Congress
for three sessions in 1776 and 1777.
When a new state superior court (the Maryland Court of Appeals) was created in 1778, Rumsey was appointed as its first chief justice. He held that post until his retirement in 1806. He died at home in Joppa in 1808 and is buried in the Old St. John's Church Cemetery there.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist from Joppa, Maryland
Joppatowne, Maryland
Joppatowne is an unincorporated "bedroom community" in southwestern Harford County, Maryland, United States. It was established in 1961 as a Planned Unit Development . Joppatowne is a census-designated place - the population was 11,391 at the 2000 census.Joppatowne is only a small part of what is...
. He served as a delegate for Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
in 1776 and 1777. For over twenty-five years, beginning in 1778, he was the chief judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals
Maryland Court of Appeals
The Court of Appeals of Maryland is the supreme court of the U.S. state of Maryland. The court, which is composed of one chief judge and six associate judges, meets in the Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building in the state capital, Annapolis...
.
Benjamin was born at Bohemia Manor in Cecil County, Maryland
Cecil County, Maryland
Cecil County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maryland. It is part of the Delaware Valley. It was named for Cæcilius Calvert, 2nd Baron Baltimore , who was the first Proprietary Governor of the colony of Maryland from 1632 until his death in 1675. The county seat is Elkton. The newspaper...
. After attending Princeton
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, he read law and was admitted to the bar. He settled in Joppa before 1768 and lived there the rest of his life.
Rumsey was first elected to Maryland's lower house in 1771 as a member for Cecil County. After Harford County
Harford County, Maryland
Harford County is a county in the U.S. state of Maryland. In 2010, its population was 244,826. Its county seat is Bel Air. Harford County forms part of the Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.-History:...
was formed in 1773, he represented it. He also represented it in the revolutionary conventions held between 1774 and 1776. Maryland sent him to the Continental Congress
Continental Congress
The Continental Congress was a convention of delegates called together from the Thirteen Colonies that became the governing body of the United States during the American Revolution....
for three sessions in 1776 and 1777.
When a new state superior court (the Maryland Court of Appeals) was created in 1778, Rumsey was appointed as its first chief justice. He held that post until his retirement in 1806. He died at home in Joppa in 1808 and is buried in the Old St. John's Church Cemetery there.