De Hart, John, 1727-1795

DE HART, John, a Delegate from New Jersey; born in Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), N.J., in 1728; completed preparatory studies; studied law; was admitted to the bar and practiced; was made a sergeant-at-law on September 11, 1770; was one of the signers of the Articles of Association in 1774; Member of the Continental Congress 1774-1776; member of the committee who prepared the draft for the New Jersey State constitution in June 1776; elected chief justice of the State supreme court September 4, 1776, and served until February 5, 1777; mayor of Elizabethtown under the revised charter and served from November 1789 until his death; died in Elizabethtown, N.J., June 1, 1795; interment in St. John's Churchyard.

<p>John De Hart (July 25, 1727 – June 1, 1795) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, jurist, and statesman from Elizabeth, New Jersey. He represented New Jersey as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1774 and 1775 and signed the Continental Association.</p>

<p>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).</p>

<p>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.</p>

<ul><b>RACES</b>
<li>12/31/1775 NJ Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>12/31/1774 NJ Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
<li>09/01/1774 NJ Continental Congress Won 100.00% (+100.00%)</li>
</ul>