New Jersey Signers of Declaration of Independence

Abraham Clark

Abraham Clark to Elias Dayton (July 14, 1776) IV, 453.
“Our Declaration of Independence I dare say you have seen. A few weeks will probably determine our fate. Perfect freedom, or Absolute slavery. To some of us freedom or a halter. Our fates are in the hands of an Almighty God, to whom I can with pleasure confide my own; he can save us, or destroy us; his Councils are fixed and fixed and cannot be disappointed, and all his designs will be Accomplished.”

Abraham Clark to James Caldwell (August 2, 1776) IV, 605.
“...I not only fear for New Jersey, but the Army at N. York. If the British Army should Land above them they could neither retreat or get Supplies. We have only to rely upon the Almighty, but that reliance is scarcely to be seen. At my coming to Congress, I moved for a Chaplain to Attend Prayers every morning which was carried- and some of my Starch brethren will scarcely forgive me for Naming Mr. Duche. This I did knowing without such a one many would not Attend. He hath Composed a form of Prayer Unexceptionable to all parties.”

Abraham Clark to James Caldwell (February 4, 1777) VI, 209.
“...Our General cause will I think Nevertheless Obtain a Support, he that setteth up states doth not, usually put them down in a Year, and I doubt not but by the Providence of God we shall be enabled to withstand our Foes.”

Abraham Clark to Elias Dayton (March 7, 1777) VI, 414.
“...Our Friend Mr. Caldwells Services I am particularly Attentive to, but the wheels drag heavy, a Presbyterian Clergyman is not with some a Popular Name, and tho’ I have the assurance of Congress in his favour I can promise Nothing but my best endeavours.”

Abraham Clark to the New Jersey Assembly (Feb. 17, 1780) XVI, 427.
“...Congress have now under consideration the Appointment of Supplies for the Army to be required of each state the present year. One[Our] Quota at present stands at 18000 hundred weight of Beef or pork, 110,000 barrels of flour, 3,758 bushels of Salt, 3,500 Tons of hay, 30,000 bushels of Corn, Oats or buckwheat. The Estimate of Prices, as follows. Flour 41/2 Dollars per hundred, Summer fatted Beef 5 1/2 dollr per neat hundred, fall fatted Do. 6 1/2 dollars, Stall fed killed after Janry, 7 1/2 Dollars, fresh pork 7 dollars per neat hundred; Salted pork 22 dollars per barrl. containing 240 lb. Indian Corn, 3/4 dollar per bushel, Oats 1/2, Rie 1, Buckwheat 2/3 dollar per bushel, best first crop hay 15 dollars per Ton, Rum 1 1/2 dollars per Gall, Salt 3 dollars per bushl.”

Francis Hopkinson

Francis Hopkinson’s Diary
“I have the greatest Pleasure in hearing of your Wellfare & of the happy Increase of your Family. I sincerely pray God to continue & enlarge your Satisfaction without Alloy.”

John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon to David Witherspoon (July 27, 1776) IV, .
“...As the Distance between us is so great I must not omit my dearChild to put you in Mind to walk with fear of God. Give your self much to the Exercise of Prayer & if you desire to improve & perservere in that Duty You must be punctual as to the times of it. Irregular people do nothing to purpose either in that or any other Respect.”

John Witherspoon’s Speech in Congress (July 30, 1776) IV, 586.
“...There is one thing that has been thrown out, by which some seem to persuade themselves of, and others to be more indifferent about the success of a confederacy- that from the nature of men, it is to be expected, that a time must come when it will be dissolved and broken in pieces. I am none of

John Witherspoon to David Witherspoon (August 27, 1776) V, 69.
“...Remember, my dear boy, to fear God, and serve him in sincerity and truth. Let this be your first care, and accomplish yourself as much as possible for usefullness in life.”

John Witherspoon to Horatio Gates (October 28, 1776) V,420.
“I heartily pray that God almighty may Crown you with Success in your present critical Situation & most important Charge.”

John Witherspoon to David Witherspoon (February 12, 1777) VI, 269.
“My first concern is that you should fear God: and as about the new year, had we been at Princeton, I should have taken an opportunity to deal particularly and seriously with you and Fanny, as you know; so now that you are at a distance, I pray you to remember that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom; and that it is high time for you both, personally to renew your baptismal engagements, and solemnly give yourselves to God- I pray earnestly that he may renew you in the spirit of your minds.”

John Witherspoon to David Wtherspoon (February 2, 1777) VI, 269 footnote.
“... I have been making inquiry into the conduct of the enemy, which has been dreadful. At Trenton they killed Mr. Roxburgh, Presbyterian minister at the Forks of Delaware. Though he fell down on his knees and begged his life, yet they pierced him through and through with their bayonets, and mangled him in a most shocking manner. Some of the people at Princeton say they thought they were killing me, and boasted that they had done it when they came back. But this is uncertain- the fact of his death and the manner of it is beyond all doubt.”

John Witherspoon to David Witherspoon (March 17, 1777) VI, 454.
“...I hope it will please God to recover him [your Brother John who has been sick 4 weeks with Rheumatism] wholly in a little time but till then it is uncertain what plan will be followed for his Employment.”

John Witherspoon to David Witherspoon (August 7, 1777) VII, 438.
“...I am glad to see that you are thinking of determining your profession for life. I have not time to write upon this subject, but shall do it fully in a few days. You know what my desire and ambition is upon that subject; but I am of all things most concerned that you should fear God. I want much to hear that you have renewed your baptismal engagements in the Lord’s Supper.”


Richard Stockton

Richard Stockton to Benjamin Rush (October 13, 1776) V, 342.
“I am, thank God, in good health.”

Richard Stockton to Abraham Clark (October 28, 1776) V, 416.
“For God’s sake, my dear sir, upon the receipt of this, collect all the shoes and stockings you can, and send them off for Albany in light wagons...Therefore, I trust, with the blessing of the Almighty God, that we shall disappoint their wicked and sanguinary purposes.


John Hart’s Will
“…Thanks be given unto Almighty God therefore, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die and after that the judgement.. principally, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner..
to receive the same again at the general resurrection by the mighty power of God.”

John Hart’s Address on Oct. 5, 1776 in the Papers of William Livingston
“…We will look for the permanency and stability of our new government to Him who bringeth princes to nothing and teacheth senators wisdom.”