self actively to his chosen profession. Be received
the appointment in 1876 of rice-chancellor of the

Btatl of New Jersey from Chancellor Kunyan, and

was duly commissioned by Governor Bedle, Hi-
term of office will expire in May, L882. Be is a bril-
liant lawyer, and in the administration of the rice-
chancellorship "he has confirmed his previous repu-
tation of being one of the finest Chancery lawyer- in



• Biogru|ilii.-;il BnoyclopndJa of Now Jonwy, p. 75.



t One of lit»»l»U>remarrie<l(ls43) John T. Leigh, a txuikcr,
N. .1 . -:



206



HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.



the State." The opinions, as delivered by him, will
be found in the New Jersey Chancery Reports, com-
mencing with 11th C. E. Green.

EARLY LAWYERS.

The name of Jeremiah Bass appears in the Hunter-
don County court records as an attorney, June 6,
1721, and the last time it is seen in that connection is
March 10, 1725. He was appointed attorney-gen-
eral March 28, 1719. Others were admitted to prac-
tice from the dates given below :

Daniel Grandin, June 6, 1721, practiced until about
1739 ; William Biles, Dec. 5, 1721 ; Edward Rodol-
phus Price," March 5, 1722; David McBride, Jan.
29, 1823 (his name last appears March 14, 1726) ; P.
Evans and James Alexander, Aug. 7, 1724 (the latter
appointed attorney-general June 6, 1723) ; Finnick
Lyell, March 10, 1825; J. Kinsey, July 26, 1725
(last appears August term, 1728) ; James Gould, Oct.
18, 1725 ; Robert Lawrence, March 14, 1726 ; Philip
Kearney, Oct. 16, 1726; Lawrence Smith, July 25,
1726 (appointed attorney-general in 1728) ; C. Mott,
July, 1727 ; Benjamin Price and Thomas Shird, Oct.
15, 1727 ; Henry Vernon, James Trent, and Par-
ker, August, 1728; Francis Costigan, E. Pierce, and
William Smith, May term, 1729 ; Jeremiah Forster,

August term, 1730; Brown and J. Hooper, May,

1731 ; Francis Bowes, August, 1731 ; Samuel Burtill

and Jamieson, August, 1731 ; M. Evers and

David Ogden, 1732; Joseph Warrell, May, 1733 (ap-
pointed attorney-general Aug. 28, 1733) ; John Vau-
ghan " produced a lycence to the court wherein His
Excellency Wm. Cosby, Esq., appointed him to prac-
tice as an attorney-at-law in all the courts of record
within the province of New Jersey : Ordered by the
Court to be read and published," Aug. 6, 1735 ; R.
Nicholls, Aug. 7, 1735 ; [John] Dagworthy, October
term, 1735 ; John Coxe, May term, 1736 ; Jacob An-
derson, October term, 1736 ; John Clark, Lyne, White,
Burnham, Hartshorn, and B. Lagrange, 1745 ; Abra-
ham Cotman, 1747; Robert Ashfield, 1748; Wm.

Pidgeon, â–  Scattergood, C. Skinner, 1750 (latter

appointed attorney-general July 10, 1754) ; R. Wil-
liams, 1753 ; Joseph Read ; Richard Stockton, May
term, 1755; John Smyth, Aaron Dowd, 1757; W.
Thompson, 1758; Elias Boudinot, 1761; G. Ross,
Jasper Smith, J. Anderson, Bard, Deare, 1763 ; J.
Debow, J. Aller, John Lcferty, B. Leferty, David
Brearley, J. D. Sergeant, B. Reed, 1767 ; William De
Hart, 1768 ; Abram Ogden, William Paterson,t 1769 ;
J. Taylor, Chambers, Hassert, Dongan, Pettit, Linn,
and Ebenezer Cowcll, 1771 ; J. B. Scott, 1775 ; Bloom-
field, 1779; William Wilcox and William C. Hous-
ton, J 1780.

The appendix to the " Rules of the Supreme Court,"



* Admitted to " practice in (ill the courts in this province" Juno 4, 1723.
f Appointed attorney-general Sept. 4, 1776 ; ufterward became Gov-



X Appointed clerk of tlie Supreme Court Sept. 28, 1781.



1868, gives the date of admission of W. C. Houston
as "April term, 1781," and records " Richard Stock-
ton, April term, 1784," — evidently the "junior" of
the Richard Stockton admitted in 1755, as above
given, who was an associate justice in 1774, and was
appointed chief justice in 1776, but declined the
honor.

From this point onward special mention will be
made of the more prominent of the members of the
Hunterdon County bar.

LATER LAWYERS.

Geokge C. Maxwell, son of John Maxwell, at
the close of the last and beginning of the present
century was practicing law in the Hunterdon courts
and resident in Flemington. He was admitted as an
attorney in 1797, as a counselor in 1800, and as a ser-
geant-at-law in 1816. He was a member of the Pres-
byterian Church of Flemington, of which he was a
deacon in 1806 and 1809. He was considered in his
day as one of the ablest lawyers of the county. He
died in Flemington.

William Maxavell practiced law in Flemington
from 1808, the date of his admission to the bar, until
his death. He became a counselor in 1817. He was
not only a prominent lawyer, but an influential citi-
zen and an active member of the Presbyterian Church
of Flemington,' holding the office of deacon in that
body from 1817-19. He died about 1828, and was
buried in the Presbyterian church-yard. Upon his
tombstone (which contains no record of his birth or
death) is the following mortuary legend :

" In memory of William Maxwell, Esq., Councillor-at-Law.

Acqualege, necessitus, Sortitur insignes et imos."

He married a daughter of Henry Dusenberry, of
New Hampton.

Joseph Bonnell was born in 1793, and died in
1823. He was a son of Alexander and Catharine
Bonnell, whose ashes, as well as his own, repose in
the Presbyterian burial-ground, the three graves
being side by side. His father died in 1819, while
his mother lived to the advanced age of eighty-four,
dying in 1854. Joseph was admitted to the bar in
1817, became a counselor in 1820, and practiced law
in Flemington until his decease. His sister Mary be-
came the wife of Alexander Wurts, Esq.

Lucius Hoeatio Stockton — known to his as-
sociates as Horace Stockton — was a younger brother
of Richard, and in early life was thought to he quite
equal if not superior to him in talent. He graduated
at Princeton in 1787, was licensed in 1791, and died
in 1835. He resided in Trenton. He early mani-
fested eccentricity, which so increased in later years
as in a great measure to destroy his usefulness. He
was a warm politician, under the elder Adams held
the office of United States attorney for this district,
and later was nominated as Secretary of War, but
was not confirmed.



THE BENCH AND 15A11 OF HUNTERDON COUNTY.



207



Thomas Potts Jmi\-"\ was the second son of
William Johnson, an early aettler of Hunterdon
< lounty, wlio came from Ireland, and all of whose de-
scendants have been noted for their Learning. Hi-
mother was Ruth, a sister of Stacy Potts, of Trenton.
In his youth he was apprenticed to tin- carpenter
trade, but was forced to relinquish it on account of
rupturing a blood-vessel. 1 1 « - also taught school in
this county in his early manhood. He married a
daughter of Robert Stockton, Esq., and studied law
with the Hon. Richard Stockton. In 1794 he was
admitted to the bar. Mr. Johnson was- a bold, out-
apoken, and fearless advocate, and our of the most
learned and eloquent men that ever adorned the Xw
Jersey bur. He was alike distinguished lor his won-
derful memory, his rare intellectual attainments, and
his piety. Alter a brilliant career at the bar he re-
tired on account of failing health, and spent lie- last

years of his life In the family of his son-in-law, Dr.
Richard Corson, of New Hope, Pa., at which place
he ended his days on earth. Mis portrait may be
seen in the court-room at Fleming ton

Sami i.i. K. Stewart was a son of Gen. Charles
Stewart, who after the Revolution moved to Fleming-
ton, where he died .IiirieL't. 1 .soi I. lie was a gradu-
ate of Princeton College in 1 7.S<> ; was admitted to
practice at the bar in 1790; became a counselor in
1794. He died in 1802.

Chaui.es Stkwakt, sou of the above, and grand-
son of Gen. Charles, was born in Flemington, in a
house his father occupied, near the present resilience
of John ('. Hopewell. He was a classmate at l'rin. ■< •-
ton of Alexander Wurts, F.sij. ; graduated in 1X].">;
Studied law, afterwards theology; went as a mission-
ary to the Sandwich Islands, and in 1828 was ap-
pointed chaplain in the United States navy. He
died at ( 'ooperstown, X. Y., in 1870, aged seventy-
five years. One of his sons, a gradual.' of West
Point, served through the war of the Rebellion, and

later was in command of the United States Engineers'

i lorps at San Francisco.

Peteb l>. Vkoom, subsequently Governor (born

171U, died 1874), had a law-ollicc in Flemington, and

practiced his profession there for several years prior
to 1820, when he removed to S irville.

A\hlti:w MILLER, one of the early lawyers of

Flemington, was a native of Somerset County, born

in 1799, and admitted to the bar in Isjj. After prac-
ticing a couplfl of years at Somerville he removed to
the county-seat of Hunterdon, taking the place of



• Tho following Brning llr Johnson is presorYed: At

oho uf tl i mmi courts ft dispute ansa between Johnson end M«

opponent rsspecUng n point of law, daring which ths latter remarked,

in ii tanntlng mannor, " tlial ho was not t-> bs nuighl law by s â– 

'â–  M;i\ it ploasc If our Honors, 11 replied fefr. - 1 ihni in, "the gentleman im*

been pleased to jii ] *i . i.. t-> mj baring i D e oar] i - r,- I am proud of

a i n was the reputed rather of our Lord and Sariour Jesus Christ,— and
I could yet, give mo b block "f wood, a mallet, and s i blsel, boa out
something that would tvry much rese m blo ttal gsntieniaift head. Tine,
I oould not pnt In brains, but ii would have m



Joseph Bonnell, then recently deceased. For
fifteen years Mr. Miller resided and practiced in

Flemington, but about the year ls:;'.i he removed to
the citj of Philadelphia. Residing at Beveral differ-
ent place- during the intervening years, he a few
years since returned to his native place, Somerville,

where he i- now iv-iding, at the age of eighty-one
years, retired from practice.

Nathaniel Saxtos was a native of Hopewell
township, then in Hunterdon County. He removed
to Flemington, as a young man. about the beginning

Of the present century, lie appears to have heeii all

indefatigable student and worker, for he not only

served for years as a deputy in the county clerk's

office of Hunterdon, hut at the sane- time studied and

practiced surveying, and as a student entered upon

the legal profession. Blackstone and Chitty seem,
however, to have hern most to his taste. He was ad-
mitted to the bar as an attorney at the May term of

1X1)4, and became a counselor in September, 1808.

In lXliX he was elevated to the rank of a sergeant-at-

law. Hewas for one term |s.;i g mberof the

State Senate. lie ranked a- one of the ablest lawyers
of his time, and in the Chancery line, as well as ill
real-estate matters, was without a peer in the Stale. t

Although not brilliant a- an advocate, he was noted
as a sound, reasoning counselor. He was far re

Mtccessful ill the legal arena than he was in hi> own

private affairs : itinually buying and accumulating

property, he seldom sold. Hewas in his later years
much embarrassed thereby, and died (in 1x47 com-
paratively | '. aged about eighty year-. He "as

buried in the Presbyterian churchyard, In Fleming-
ton. He is recollected by Charles Bartles (who

studied law with him) and other- a- a most eccentric,
man. He never married, and none of his father's
family are known to he living at this time. II n -
sided on Main Stnct, where l>r. I'arrish now lives.

William H. Sloan, a distinguished member of
the New Jersey bar, and for many year- a resident of
the county-seat of Hunterdon, was born in Warren
Co., X. .1.. April 25, 1799. lb- was the oldest child

ol the 1 v. \\ ilhaiii I Sloan (and Mar. 1 rrine. his

wife), pastor for man] years of the Presbyterian

Church, Greenwich, N. J. N if his children arc

living; a granddaughter, Mrs. Mary, wife of Henry
Field, resides in Philadelphia. William II. Sloan's

grandmother was Elizabeth Kirkpatriek, a si-tcr of

the celebrated Judge Kirkpatriek. of whom a sketch

may he found elsewhere in this work. William II.
received his early education at the Somerville acad-
emy, and later was graduated from Princeton College.
He then commenced the study of the law. entering

t in lusQ.0.1 nces "f On- Bench and Be

Jersey," n
called Rati leaden In the ton el the Utile soda] gather*

■• Iti-incsuii TnM'iii." In Trenton, where the Ameil
nowstands, where M songs were rang, old storisi reTlvad,and fliwliw of
»ii sparked, each one deeming U a dot] I iriimir h> well ..- I

ral amusement"



208



HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.



the office of the late Peter I. Clark, of Flemington.
He was admitted to the bar at the February term,
1821, and became a counselor in 1824. He com-
menced the practice of his profession in Flemington,
and occupied for some time "the office of the late
AVilliam Maxwell, Esq."

. He took an active part in politics, and was a warm
advocate and earnest supporter of the Democratic
party. He held many local positions of trust, also
served as surrogate of the county for five years (1835-
40), and represented his district in the General As-
sembly of the State in 1833-34. " His acquaintance
was extensive, and he was respected by all who knew
him for his gentlemanly bearing, frankness of man-
ner, and nobleness of character. As a lawyer he was
sound, discriminating, and judicious, courteous and
respectful to the court, obliging and kind to his
brethren of the bar, faithful and true to his clients,
honorable towards all."

He married, in August, 1835, Caroline Imlay,
daughter of Robert Imlay, a merchant of Philadel-
phia; she is still (1880) living. The children — six in
number, three sons and three daughters — are as fol-
lows : Robert I., William H., Charles W., Mary Eliz-
abeth (wife of Bennett Van Syckel, a judge of the
Supreme Court of New Jersey, and now residing at
Trenton), Annie B. (wife of Charles Brearley, of
Trenton), and Margaretta.

None of the brothers or sisters of W. H. Sloan are
living. Their names were John B., La Rue, Eliza-
beth, and Mary. The first named was a physician at
Easton, Pa. ; Elizabeth married H. Conover, son of
the late Dr. Conover, of Philadelphia.

Mr. Sloan died of typhus fever at his residence, in
Flemington, Jan. 21, 1850, aged fifty. His remains
repose in the Presbyterian cemetery, where a monu-
ment is erected to his memory. His memory, how-
ever, will not soon fade from the recollections of our
people, being enshrined in the hearts of very many.
At a meeting of the court and bar at the court-house
in Flemington, Feb. 12, 1850, of which Judge Ran-
dolph was chairman, after the announcement to the
court of his death, on motion of Mr. Hamilton, a
committee, consisting of A. Wurts, Judge Thompson,
and A. G. Richey, Esqs., was appointed to draft reso-
lutions expressive of the loss sustained by the court,
the bar, and the community in his death. At an ad-
journed meeting held February 14th at the same
place the committee reported resolutions — which were
adopted — bearing public testimony to the worth and
virtues of the deceased, and of respect to his memory.

A ijoxandek Wurts, the youngest of eight sons of
John Wurts, an extensive iron-manufacturer of Mor-
ris Co., N. J., was born in Flanders, N. J., in the
year 1 799. A member of the class of 1815 of Prince-
ton College, he began the study of law in Philadel-
phia, Pa. In the winter of 1819-20 he located in
Flemington, and was licensed as an attorney in May,
1820. In 1823 he was admitted as a counselor-at-



law. In 1824 he was elected a member of the Assem-
bly, which honorable station he again filled in the
years 1828-32, and during the last three years was
Speaker of the House. He served in the Legislative
Council in 1833. In 1838 he was the Democratic
candidate for Congress, but, with the entire ticket,
was defeated. He was in 1844 the member from
Hunterdon County of the convention to revise the
State constitution, of which body he was chosen vice-
president, and, before its close, its president. In the
fall of 1844 he was elected the first State senator
from Hunterdon County, and served in that body
for two years. Soon after (in 1848), he was appointed
by the Legislature one of the three commissioners to
investigate the charges preferred against the Camden
and Amboy Railroad and the Delaware and Raritan
Canal Companies. This laborious duty occupied
nearly a year, but resulted in fully exonerating the
companies and in allaying the excitement then ex-
isting in the public mind against them.

Governor Fort, in 1853, nominated Mr. Wurts as
chief justice of the Supreme Court of the State of
New Jersey, which nomination was promptly con-
firmed by the State Senate ; but he respectfully de-
clined the proffered honor. He was induced, how-
ever, in 1865, to become the candidate of the Demo-
cratic party for the State Senate, upon the assurance
that the party to which he was attached could thereby
be harmonized. He was elected and served for three
years. He has been for over twenty years one of the
managers of the State Lunatic Asylum, and since 1859
president of the board. Although now, in a great
measure, retired from public and professional life, he
is often consulted on important legal questions. His
unflinching integrity and thorough legal acquirements
give weight to his opinions. There is no man now
living in the State who has been in public life so long
as he, and yet retains the confidence of all parties
in so great a degree. He was often importuned to be-
come a candidate for Governor, but never would take
any steps himself to secure the nomination. He mar-
ried, May 26, 1831, Mary, daughter of Alexander and
Catharine Bonnell, of Flemington.*

Garret D. Wall, for many years a resident of
Hunterdon and a legal practitioner in its courts, was
born in Monmouth Co., N. J., in 1783. He was the
son of James Wall, an officer of the Continental
army, who at the battle of Monmouth captured an
English officer. On his father's death, Garret, then
nine years old, went to reside with his uncle, Dr.
John G. Wall, of Woodbridge. In 1798 he removed
to Trenton and became a student in the law-office of
Gen. Jonathan Rhea, then clerk of the Supreme
Court of the State. On attaining his majority (in
1804) he was licensed as an attorney ; in 1807 he was
advanced to the grade of counselor, and in 1820 to



* Since the compilation of this cbaptor Judge WurtB has deceased. Ho
died Tob. 10, 1881.



THE BENCH AND BAR OF HUNTERDON COUNTY.



209



that of scrgeant-at-law. Mr «-:n clerk of tin- Su-
preme Court fur five years (1812 17 1; member for
Hunterdon County of the lower branch of the State

Legislature, — in 1822 as a Federalist ami in 1*:!7 as a
Jackson Democrat; in 1X2'.I was elected by tlie Legis-
lature to the high position of Governor, which, how-
ever, lie declined ; was appointed in 182!) 1'nited
States district attorney lor New Jersey, and f
era] years ably discharged the duties of that ollice.
In 1834 he was elected to the United State- Senate,
sen iter until the close of Van Burcn's administration,

— 1840. lie was pronounced in his opposition to the

United States Hank, and one of the most effective

speeches be ever delivered was adverse to its continu-
ance. After 1828, Burlington was his place of abode ;

he returned to that place from Washington in I - |o,
and resumed his professional duties. In 1848 he was
made a member of the Court of Errors and Appeal-,
and held the position until his death, in November,

1850.

He was twice married, his first wile being a daugh-
ter of his preceptor, Gen. Jonathan Rhea ; his second

marriage occurred in 1828.

"lie was a counselor of the highest ability and
learning, while, a- a pleader, he entered into the case
a- if he were the client, not the attorney; and some
of his arguments before the jury or court were of the
highest eloquence." "His distinguishing character-
istics as an advocate were his quick sensibility, an in-
tuit ive insight into character and motives, and that
read] tacl which enabled him readirj to recover from

his own mistake- and promptly to take advantage of

those of his ad\ ersary."

lie was greatly interested in the cause of educat ion,

and was a trustee of Burlington College, He was
eminently hospitable and remarkabl] proud of his
native State, particularly of its Revolutionary record.
He inherited quite a martial taste, and was early con-
nected with a volunteer < pany. 1 luring the war of

1812, as captain of the " Pharaix Infantry ( tompany,"

he was detailed, with other troops, to aid in the pro-
tection of i he citj of New York.

Riohakd Howell, the lawyer, soldier, and Gov-
ernor, resided in Trenton from 1788 until his death,

it the earlv aire ol I rlv-uii: Ma- Is::; BlS mill
tary career and honors were brilliant, but will be
found noticed elsewhere. He was admitted to prac-
tice as an attorney in I77'.i; appointed clerk id' the

Supreme Court Sept. 4, 1788 ; was < lover â–  from 1792

until L801, and then resumed his legal practice at

Trenton. He was a member of the bar in the courts
Of Hunterdon ( 'ounty for over fifteen years. \..n. .it
bis opinions as a chancellor have been published.
lie was a man of free-and-ea-y address, very popular,
although somewhat affected by his army habit-.

.1 mi- \. |;i \i,in,, ^08 born at the homestead of

his maternal grandfather, Dr. John !•'. Orandin, at



' Juilgo Elinor's Ronilnlsccncce.



Haniden, where hi- -on, John Grandin, now re-id.-.
He was named after his grandmother Crandin'-
father, l>r. James Newell, whose wife was a Law-
rence and -i-br of the father of Commodore Law-
rence. James N. Beading i- the son and oldest child

of Joseph, who was the youngest child and only -..n

of .John (3), he being the oldest - f John (2), who

was the oldest son of Governor John Reading. He
commenced his academic course at Flemington, under
Charles Bartles, Esip, who then had charge of the
academy. He was prepared for college at the Prince-
ton Academy, then entered Nassau Hall in 1827, and
was graduated in ls.'.i, taking the tilth honor in a
Class of twenty-six ; studied law with Samuel L.
Southard in Trenton, and was admitted to the bar in
1832; I... anie a counsclor-at-law iii 1886. He mar-
ried (Feb. 10, 1835) Sarah C. A. Southard, a niece of
ih. Governor. From 1882 to 1850 he practiced law
in Flemington, fifteen of which years he was prose-
cuting attorney for Hunterdon County. During his
residence in Hunterdon County he took considerable
interest and quite an active part in it- military affairs.
His first appointment was to the office of brigade in-
spector; resigning that after two years' service, he was
appointed colonel of the Third Regiment of the Hun-
terdon brigade, which, with the ollice of State's attor-
ney . he held until he moved to the West.

In lSoil he removed to Jell'erson Co., Mo., and for
two years was president of a lead-mining company.
lie then returned to New Jersey, settled up bis pri-
vate business, and in the fall of 1S">3 moved to Morris,
Grundy Co., 111., which has since been his place of
residence, with exception of the year- 1859-61, when

he resided in Chicago and practiced law in copart-
nership with .Mr. (afterward Judge) Wallace. He
was elected a member of the state Legislature of Illi-
nois in the tall of 1856, and filled the position until

the fall of 1858, when he officiated as clerk of the Cir-
cuit Court, filling a vacancy. In June, 1861, his
partner having joined the Union army as a major of
the cavalry branch of the service, Mr. Reading closed

his law-Office in Chicago and returned to Morris.
During the war he was deputy United State- marshal
for Grundy County, and also United State- coinini -

sioner, at the same time continuing his legal busi-
ness. In 1865 he was elected county judge, which

position he held for three successive terms, twelve

years, — ami then declined a re-election. He is an in-
defatigable worker, having, in addition to In
practice and official duties, been largely engaged in
the real-estate business ever -ince hi- removal to Illi-
nois. He i- an able lawyer and juri-t.

Thomas I.. Sot rHARD studied lawintheoffi f

Ja s N. Reading, his brother-in-law ; was lit

to practice in November. 1888, and two years later

removed to Lambertville, N. J., where he practiced

hi- prot'e— ion. i |e made a promising commencement,

betokening an active and brilliant career, but died
suddenly in March. 1848



210



HUNTERDON COUNTY, NEW JEESEY.



Of Samuel Leake, Judge James N. Reading says,
" At an early day there was a lawyer Leake at Flem-
ington, of whom the records there or at Trenton must