Hewes, Joseph, 1730-1779

Joseph Hewes was born in Princeton, New Jersey and attended Princeton College. He established a shipping business in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1760 and, by the time of the revolution, had amassed a fortune. He elected to the Provincial Assembly in 1766 and served there until it was dissolved by the royal governor in 1775. He was appointed to the Committee of Correspondence, elected to the Provincial Legislature, and sent along to the Continental Congress in 1775. Hewes was known as a tireless worker in committee and the leading expert on maritime concerns. In 1776 he signed the Declaration of Independence and placed his ships at the service of the Continental Armed Forces. He served the Congress as the Secretary of the Naval Affairs Committee until 1779, when he fell ill. He died at age 50.

<p>Joseph Hewes (July 9, 1730 – November 10, 1779) was an American Founding Father, a signer of the Continental Association and U.S. Declaration of Independence, and a native of Princeton, New Jersey, where he was born in 1730. Hewes's parents were members of the Society of Friends, commonly known as Quakers. On his mother's side, Joseph Hewes was a 3rd generation resident of New Jersey. He was the 4th generation of the Hewes family to live in New Jersey. Hewes attended Princeton but there is no evidence that he actually graduated. What is known is that he became an apprentice of a merchant and in fact became a very successful merchant.</p>

<p>After finishing his apprenticeship he earned himself a good name and a strong reputation, which would serve him well in becoming one of the most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence for North Carolina, along with William Hooper and John Penn. Hewes moved to Edenton, North Carolina at the age of 30 and won over the people of the colony with his charm and honorable businesslike character. Hewes was elected to the North Carolina legislature in 1763, only three years after he moved to the colony. After being re-elected numerous times in the legislature, Hewes was now focused on a new and more ambitious job as a continental congressman.</p>

<p>By 1773, the majority of North Carolina was in favor of independence. North Carolina elected Hewes to become a representative of the Continental Congress in 1774. The people of North Carolina thought that he would best represent them because of his activism for the American cause of independence, which appealed to people in other states as well. However initially, Joseph Hewes was not in favor of independence but came to accept the idea due to the urging of his constituents in North Carolina. He was a representative in the last Province of North Carolina House of Burgesses in 1775.</p>

<b>Joseph Hewes</b><br>
<b>BIRTH</b> 9 Jul 1730<br>
Kingston, Somerset County, New Jersey, USA<br>
<b>DEATH</b> 10 Nov 1779 (aged 49)<br>
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA<br>
<b>BURIAL</b><br>
Christ Church Burial Ground<br>
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1778 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>03/01/1778 NC House - Edenton Town Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1776 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1775 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>09/03/1775 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>04/05/1775 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>08/25/1774 NC Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>