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Historical records matching Gov. Samuel Huntington, signer of the "Declaration of Independence"
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About Gov. Samuel Huntington, signer of the "Declaration of Independence"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Huntington_(statesman)_
Samuel Huntington (July 16, 1731– January 5, 1796) was a jurist, statesman, and Patriot in the American Revolution from Connecticut. As a delegate to the Continental Congress, he signed the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation. He also served as President of the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1781, chief justice of the Connecticut Supreme Court from 1784 to 1785, and the 3rd Governor of Connecticut from 1786 until his death.
From humble beginnings, this honorable man emerged from plowing the fields to a very popular Governor of Connecticutt. Self taught and an avid reader, Samuel studied law from an attorney's law books.
A lawyer and two term president of the Continental Congress, ten term Governor of Connecticut, signer of the Declaration of Independence and a true revolutionist searching for freedom of religeon, limited taxation and independence for a new nation.
Samuel and his wife had no children of their own but adopted two of his brother Joseph's Children, Samuel and Francis. Samuel became governor of Ohio and Francis married the Reverend Doctor Griffin, president of Williams College in Massachusetts.
Samuel Huntington Birthplace:
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Huntington_Birthplace
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Samuel_Huntington_Birthplace,_Sco...
- http://huntingtonhomestead.org/
http://www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/samuel-huntington-electe...
signer of American Declaration of Independence
Samuel was born to Nathaniel and Mehetabel Huntington on July 16,[1][2] 1731 in Windham, Connecticut (his birthplace is now in Scotland, Connecticut, which broke off from Windham in 1857). His house is now currently accessible off of Route 14. He was the fourth of ten children, but the oldest son. He had a limited education in the common schools, then was self-educated. When Samuel was 16 he was apprenticed to a cooper, but also continued to help his father on the farm. His education came from the library of Rev. Ebenezer Devotion and books borrowed from local lawyers.
In 1754 Samuel was admitted to the bar, and moved to Norwich, Connecticut to begin practicing law. He married Martha Devotion (Ebenezer's daughter) in 1761. They remained together until her death in 1794. While the couple would not have children, when his brother (Rev. Joseph Huntington) died they adopted their nephew and niece. They raised Samuel H. Huntington and Frances as their own.
Because Huntington was the President of the Continental Congress when the Articles of Confederation were ratified, some unconventional biographers and civic groups in Connecticut claim that Huntington was actually the first President of the United States.
Signer of the Declaration of Independence from Connecticut. Some historians also consider him the first President of the United States. Born in Windham, Connecticut, he was apprenticed to a cooper (a barrel maker – a valuable colonial trade). Samuel studied law books in his spare time, and at age 22, he passed the test to practice law in Connecticut. A few years later, he moved to Norwich, Connecticut, where he set up a law practice, and married Martha Devotion, a minister’s daughter. Shy and quiet, and not much of a speaker or writer, Huntington won the respect of his neighbors for his fairness and hard work. He was elected to the Connecticut Legislature in 1764, and eight years later, was made a judge. He was elected to the Second Continental Congress in late 1775, and took his seat early the next year. He represented Connecticut in the Second Continental Congress from 1776 to 1781, serving as President of the Congress from September 1779 to July 1781. Because he was President of Congress when the nation’s first framework of government, the Articles of Confederation, took effect on March 1, 1781, Huntington has been called the first real President of the United States. In 1784, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Superior Court of Connecticut. Between 1786 and 1796, he served as Governor of Connecticut. He was still Governor when he died at the age of 64. Although he and his wife had no children of their own, he raised their nephew and niece, Samuel and Frances Huntington. Samuel Huntington would later become the Governor of Ohio, from 1808 to 1810.
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Gov. Samuel Huntington, signer of the "Declaration of Independence"'s Timeline
| 1731 |
July 3, 1731
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Windham, New London, Connecticut
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| 1765 |
February 25, 1765
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Norwich, CT, United States
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| 1796 |
January 5, 1796
Age 64
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Norwich, New London County, Connecticut, United States
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Old Norwich Cemetery, Norwich, New London, CT
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