John De Hart
Encyclopedia
John De Hart was an American
lawyer, jurist, and statesman from Elizabeth, New Jersey
. He represented New Jersey
as a delegate to the Continental Congress
in 1774 and 1775.
In 1774 he was named as a delegate to the First Continental Congress
. While he supported the non-importation agreement and the first petition to the King
, he was in favor of reconciliation. He was returned to the second Congress
in 1775, but as differences with Great Britain
became more pronounced, the Congress began to adopt a harder line. Finally, on November 13, 1775 he wrote his resignation to the New Jersey General Assembly
, and they accepted it on November 22.
In 1776, New Jersey began crafting an independent government. De Hart attended the convention, and served on the committee that drafted the New Jersey State Constitution
in June. He was appointed to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court
on September 4, 1776, but made a better living practicing law. Governor Livingston
replaced him in February, 1777 for failing to attend court sessions.
De Hart's last act of public service was as Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey
(then Elizabethtown). He was elected in November of 1789, and served until his death. He died at home in 1795 and is buried in St. John's Episcopal Churchyard
in Elizabeth. The home that he built in 1766, and lived in for twenty-nine years, is called the De Hart House and stands at Rahway Avenue and Cherry Street in Elizabeth.
His daughter Abigail married John Mayo, a prominent Virginia planter, and had a daughter, Maria D. Mayo, who was married to Winfield Scott
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer, jurist, and statesman from Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
. He represented New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
as a delegate 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....
in 1774 and 1775.
Biography
De Hart was born at Elizabethtown to Jacob De Hart (1699–1777) and Abigail (Crane) De Hart. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1770. He married Sarah Dagworthy, and they had eight children (John, Jacob, Matthias, Stephen, Sarah, Abigail, Jane, and Louisa).In 1774 he was named as a delegate to the First Continental Congress
First Continental Congress
The First Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from twelve of the thirteen North American colonies that met on September 5, 1774, at Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, early in the American Revolution. It was called in response to the passage of the Coercive Acts by the...
. While he supported the non-importation agreement and the first petition to the King
Petition to the King (1774)
The Petition to the King was a petition sent to George III of Great Britain by the First Continental Congress. The petition expressed loyalty to the king and hoped for redress of grievances relating to the Intolerable Acts and other issues that helped foment the American Revolution.-Further...
, he was in favor of reconciliation. He was returned to the second Congress
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met briefly during 1774,...
in 1775, but as differences with Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
became more pronounced, the Congress began to adopt a harder line. Finally, on November 13, 1775 he wrote his resignation to the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
, and they accepted it on November 22.
In 1776, New Jersey began crafting an independent government. De Hart attended the convention, and served on the committee that drafted the New Jersey State Constitution
New Jersey State Constitution
The Constitution of the State of New Jersey is the basic governing document of the State of New Jersey. In addition to three British Royal Charters issued for East Jersey, West Jersey and united New Jersey while they were still colonies, the state has been governed by three constitutions...
in June. He was appointed to serve on the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
on September 4, 1776, but made a better living practicing law. Governor Livingston
William Livingston
William Livingston served as the Governor of New Jersey during the American Revolutionary War and was a signer of the United States Constitution.-Early life:...
replaced him in February, 1777 for failing to attend court sessions.
De Hart's last act of public service was as Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey
Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey
Mayor of Elizabeth, New Jersey:*J. Christian Bollwage 1992 to present*Thomas Gerard Dunn 1964 to 1992. He was the nation's longest-serving mayor of a city of more than 100,000 people.*Steven J. Bercik 1956 to 1964....
(then Elizabethtown). He was elected in November of 1789, and served until his death. He died at home in 1795 and is buried in St. John's Episcopal Churchyard
St. John's Episcopal Churchyard
St. John's Episcopal Churchyard is a cemetery on the grounds of St. John's Episcopal Church in Elizabeth, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. -Notable interments:* Jonathan Dayton , youngest person to sign the United States Constitution....
in Elizabeth. The home that he built in 1766, and lived in for twenty-nine years, is called the De Hart House and stands at Rahway Avenue and Cherry Street in Elizabeth.
His daughter Abigail married John Mayo, a prominent Virginia planter, and had a daughter, Maria D. Mayo, who was married to Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
.
External links
- John De Hart at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...