Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793

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Roger Sherman (April 19, 1721 – July 23, 1793) was an early American statesman and lawyer, as well as a Founding Father of the United States. He is the only person to have signed all four great state papers of the United States: the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitution, and also signed the 1774 Petition to the King.

Born in Newton, Massachusetts, Sherman established a legal career in Litchfield County, Connecticut despite a lack of formal education. After a period in the Connecticut House of Representatives, he served as a Justice of the Superior Court of Connecticut from 1766 to 1789. He represented Connecticut at the Continental Congress and signed the Continental Association, which provided for a boycott against Britain following the imposition of the Intolerable Acts. He was also a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence. He later signed both the Articles of Confederation and the United States Constitution.

Sherman served as a delegate to the 1787 Philadelphia Convention, which produced the United States Constitution. After Benjamin Franklin, he was the oldest delegate present at the convention. He favored granting the federal government power to raise revenue and regulate commerce, but initially opposed efforts to supplant the Articles of Confederation with a new constitution. He ultimately came to support the establishment of a new constitution, and proposed the Connecticut Compromise, which won the approval of both the larger states and the smaller states.

After the ratification of the Constitution, Sherman represented Connecticut in the United States House of Representatives from 1789 to 1791. He served in the United States Senate from 1791 to his death from typhoid in 1793. Initially buried in New Haven Green, his remains were moved to the Grove Street Cemetery when that cemetery was relocated.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Paltsits, Victor Hugo, 1867-1952. Bibliographical papers, 1903-1944. New York State Historical Documents (Albany, N.Y.)
creatorOf Litchfield County (Conn.). County Court. Attachment, 1758 Aug. 26, New Milford, Conn., against Ephraim Seely. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Letters and documents of signers of the Declaration of Independence, 1750-1933. Houghton Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Roger Sherman papers, 1781-1782. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. Papers, 1638-1834. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Henry A. Willard II Collection, 1743-1888, (bulk 1770-1840) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Yale University. Treasurer. Records of the treasurer, Yale University, 1700-1973 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Judd, William. William Judd letter, 1776 September 3. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. DS, 1771 November 4 : House of Assistants, October Sessions, [Connecticut]. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800. Family papers, 1768-1877 Houghton Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. ALS, 1791 November 25 : Philadelphia, to unknown. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Rabinowitz, Louis Mayer, 1887-1957,. Louis Mayer Rabinowitz collection, 1676-1957 (inclusive), 1765-1915 (bulk). Yale University Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Papers of Roger Sherman, 1777-1789. Library of Congress
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Autograph letter signed : to Governor Huntington, 1789 Jan. 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Robinson, Elmer E., 1894-1982,. Americana, 1765-1969. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn United States. Constitutional Convention (1787). United States Constitutional Convention microfilm collection, 1787-1791 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn United States. Continental Congress. United States Continental Congress microfilm collection, 1777-1784 (inclusive), [microform]. Yale University Library
referencedIn Evarts family papers, 1753-1960 (bulk 1798-1901) Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Houghton Library printed book provenance file, R-Z and unidentified Houghton Library
creatorOf This Century Art Gallery Records, 1959-2001 North Carolina State University. Special Collections Research Center
creatorOf Whittelsey, Chauncey, 1746-1812. Chauncey Whittelsey papers, 1707-1852, bulk 1731-1811. Newberry Library
referencedIn Washburne, E. B. (Elihu Benjamin), 1816-1887. Autograph collection, 1766-1888. Houghton Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Clipped signature : [n.p., n.d.]. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. [Document] 1784 Aug. 25, New Haven / Roger Sherman. Smith College, Neilson Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Document signed by Roger Sherman, 1764 August to 1766 November. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Kirby, Ephraim, 1757-1804. Ephraim Kirby legal notes, 1785-1787. Litchfield Historical Society
creatorOf Gwathmey collection, 1708-1852 University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Document signed, 1785 Dec. 23. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn News and Information Services (University of Michigan) photograph series D (faculty and staff portraits), 1946-2006, 1950-1990 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Greene, Samuel, 1835-1921. Samuel Green autobiography, ca. 1916-1921. Washington State Historical Society
referencedIn Signers collection, 1770-1826. Johns Hopkins University, Sheridan Libraries and the Milton S. Eisenhower Library
creatorOf Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952,. Signers of the Declaration of Independence autograph collection, 1756-1818. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Waterbury family. Waterbury family papers, 1750-1897 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Adams family. Adams-Hull collection, 1775-1856. Massachusetts Historical Society
creatorOf Hall, Lyman, 1724-1790. Autograph letter signed : Savannah, to Roger Sherman, Esq., 1777 May 16. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Pitkin, George. Accounts of payments made by George Pitkin, 1783-1789. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume V, Miscellany, 1764-1792 Cornell University Library
referencedIn Gibbs family. Gibbs family papers, 1718-1893 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Jacob Eliot family papers, 1716-1945 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Eliot, Jacob, 1700-1766. Jacob Eliot family papers, 1716-1945 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Roger Sherman diary, 1779. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. ALS, 1789 April 20 : New York, to Pierpoint Edwards, New Haven. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Ives, Chauncey Bradley, 1810-1894. Chauncey Ives papers, 1865-1871. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Roger Sherman (1721-1793) collection, 1749-1904 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Autograph letter signed : to Lyman Hull, 1784 Jan. 20. Pierpont Morgan Library.
Judd, William. William Judd letter, 1776 September 3. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Caldwell, Charles, 1731-1801. Account book, 1757-1769. Connecticut Historical Society
referencedIn Wyllys family. Wyllys family papers, 1633-1829. Connecticut Historical Society
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Autograph letter signed : New Haven, to John Lawrence, 1786 Mar. 6. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Report, 1791. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Yale University. Treasurer. Records of the treasurer, Yale University, 1700-1971 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn [Newton citizens : noteworthy biographies]. Minuteman Library Network
creatorOf Hurlbut, David. Deed, 1756 Dec. 16, New Milford, Conn. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Papers of John and Hannah Winthrop, 1728-1789 Harvard University Archives.
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. ALS, [1784 Oct., no day], New Haven, Conn., to John Lawrence. Rosenbach Museum & Library
referencedIn Hoar, George Frisbie, 1826-1904. George Frisbie Hoar papers, 1784-1933, bulk: 1860-1905. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Washington Irving collection, 1683-1839, (bulk 1753-1839) Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. Pierce Butler papers, 1779-1787. Library of Congress
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume VII, Miscellany, 1764-1792 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. The Resolve of the General Consociation of Connecticut, 1741-1746. Massachusetts Historical Society
referencedIn Southern Economic Journal Records, 1937-2003 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection
referencedIn Autograph File, S, 1556-1996. Houghton Library
referencedIn Williams, William, 1731-1811. Letter to Jabez Huntington and portrait, 1776 September 30. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Washington Irving's Life of George Washington Volume IV, Miscellany, 1756-1807 Cornell University Library
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Document with autograph superscription, 1788 Oct. 27. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Louis Mayer Rabinowitz collection, 1676-1957 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Roger Sherman statement concerning the new meeting house, 1756 Apr. 27. Buffalo History Museum, Research Library
creatorOf Roger Sherman (1721-1793) collection, 1749-1904 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Receipt signed, 1780 Nov.-1780 Dec. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Sherman, Roger, 1721-1793. Certificate, 1754. Connecticut Historical Society
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associatedWith Austin, David, 1759-1831. person
parent-in-law of Baldwin, Simeon, 1761-1851. person
associatedWith Butler, Pierce, 1744-1822. person
associatedWith Butler, Zebulon, 1731-1795. person
associatedWith Caldwell, Charles, 1731-1801. person
associatedWith Channing, Henry, 1760-1840 person
associatedWith Channing, Henry, 1760-1840. person
associatedWith Chappel, Alonzo, 1828-1887. person
associatedWith Davis, John, fl. 1764-1766. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Denison, Nathan. person
associatedWith Edwards, Pierpoint, 1750-1826. person
associatedWith Eliot, Jacob, 1700-1766. person
associatedWith Eliot, Jacob, 1734-1785 person
associatedWith Ellsworth, Oliver, 1745-1807. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
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associatedWith Galpin, Samuel, fl. 1764-1766. person
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associatedWith Goodhue, Benjamin, 1748-1814. person
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grandparentOf Hoar, E. R. (Ebenezer Rockwood), 1816-1895 person
grandparentOf Hoar, George Frisbie, 1826-1904. person
associatedWith Holmes, Temperance. person
associatedWith Hopkins, Samuel, 1721-1803. person
associatedWith Hopkins, Timothy, 1859-1937 person
associatedWith Hosmer, Titus, 1737-1780. person
associatedWith Houghton Library. person
associatedWith Howell, Joseph, 1857-1918. person
associatedWith Hubbard, John, collector. person
associatedWith Hull, Lyman, person
associatedWith Humphreys, David, 1752-1818. person
associatedWith Huntington, Samuel, 1731-1796, person
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associatedWith Imlay, William, 1743-1807. person
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associatedWith Lawrence, John, fl. 1784. person
associatedWith Litchfield County (Conn.). County Court. corporateBody
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associatedWith Mitchell, Justus, 1754-1806. person
associatedWith Mitchell, Stephen Mix, 1743-1835. person
associatedWith Morris, Gouverneur, 1752-1816. person
associatedWith Morris, Robert, 1734-1806. person
associatedWith Ogden, Robert, 1746-1826. person
associatedWith Otis, Samuel Alleyne, 1740-1814. person
associatedWith Paltsits, Victor Hugo, 1867-1952. person
associatedWith Pierpont Morgan Library. Glazier Collection. corporateBody
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associatedWith Prescott, Henry, 1874-1943. person
associatedWith Rabinowitz, Louis Mayer, 1887-1957, person
associatedWith Robinson, Elmer E., 1894-1982, person
associatedWith Rosenbach, A. S. W. (Abraham Simon Wolf), 1876-1952, person
associatedWith Safford, Samuel. person
parentOf Sherman, Elizabeth, 1765-1850. person
grandparentOf Sherman, Elizabeth, 1778-1834. person
memberOf Sherman family. family
grandparentOf Sherman, Harriet, 1776-1795. person
parentOf Sherman, Isaac, 1753-1819. person
grandparentOf Sherman, Maria, 1774-1857. person
grandparentOf Sherman, Nathaniel, 1724-1797. person
spouseOf Sherman, Rebecca Prescott, 1742-1813. person
parentOf Sherman, William, 1751-1789. person
associatedWith Shiflett, Glenna Graves person
associatedWith Silkin, George. person
associatedWith Smith, Howard, Mrs, person
correspondedWith Southern economic journal. corporateBody
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Spencer, Joseph, 1714-1789. person
correspondedWith Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800 person
associatedWith Strong, Joseph, 1753-1834. person
associatedWith Swift, Heman, 1733-1814. person
associatedWith This Century Art Gallery corporateBody
associatedWith This Century Art Gallery (Williamsburg, Va.) corporateBody
associatedWith Trumbull, Joseph, 1737-1778. person
associatedWith Twentieth Century Gallery (Williamsburg, Va.) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
memberOf United States. Congress. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Constitution. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Constitutional Convention (1787) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Army. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress. corporateBody
associatedWith University of Michigan. News and Information Services corporateBody
associatedWith Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. corporateBody
associatedWith Washburne, E. B. (Elihu Benjamin), 1816-1887 person
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Waterbury family. family
associatedWith Whitman, Mary. person
associatedWith Whitman, Mary. person
associatedWith Whittelsey, Chauncey, 1746-1812. person
associatedWith Willard, Henry A. (Henry Augustus), 1902- person
associatedWith Williamsburg Arts Council (Williamsburg, Va.) corporateBody
associatedWith Williamsburg Historic Records Association (Williamsburg, Va.) corporateBody
associatedWith Williams, Nathan, 1735-1829. person
associatedWith Williams, William, 1731-1811. person
associatedWith Willis, Roswell. person
associatedWith Willis, Roswell. person
associatedWith Winthrop, John, 1714-1779 person
associatedWith Wolcott, Oliver, 1726-1797. person
associatedWith Wooster, David, 1711-1777. person
associatedWith Wyllys family. family
associatedWith Wyllys, George, 1710-1796. person
associatedWith Yale University. Treasurer. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Newton MA US
Stoughton MA US
New Haven CT US
New Milford CT US
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Birth 1721-04-19

Death 1793-07-23

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