John Witherspoon (1723 - 1794)

Born 5 Feb 1723 in Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth (Montgomery) Witherspoon — married 14 Aug 1748 in Beith, Ayrshire, Scotland

Descendants

Died 15 Nov 1794 at age 71 in Middlesex, New Jersey

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John Witherspoon participated in the American Revolution. Join: 1776 Project Discuss: 1776

Biography

John Witherspoon is Notable.

John Witherspoon served with American Founding Fathers during the American Revolution.

John Witherspoon is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A127172.

John Witherspoon, Parson and Patriot

"He was one of the "Signers of the Declaration of Independence"

John Witherspoon, son of James Witherspoon and Anne Walker was baptised in the parish of Yester, East Lothian on 10 February 1723.^[1]

John married Elisabeth Montgomerie in the parish of Beith, Ayrshire on 14 August 1748.^[2]

John and Elizabeth had at least nine children:

1. Ann Witherspoon (bap Beith, Ayrshire 24 July 1749)^[3]
2. Christian Witherspoon (bap Beith, Ayrshire 14 August 1750)^[4]
3. James Witherspoon (1751-1777)^[5]
4. Robert Witherspoon (1753-1754)^[5]
5. Barbra Witherspoons (bap Beith, Ayrshire 20 February 1756)^[6]
6. John Witherspoon (bap Beith, Ayrshire 29 July 1757)^[7]
7. Francis Witherspoon (bap Paisley, Renfrewshire 26 August 1759)^[8]
8. David Witherspoon (bap Paisley, Renfrewshire 25 September 1760)^[9]
9. George Witherspoon (31 Mar 1762-27 July 1762)^[5]

Family

Dr. Witherspoon was married to his first wife. Miss Montgomery, at an early age, and at the time of his immigration had three sons and two daughters. The oldest, James, was a major in the Revolutionary army, and fell at the battle of Germantown. The two remaining sons were bred to professions, and arose to distinction. Ann, the eldest daughter, was married to the Rev. Dr. Samuel S. Smith, who succeeded Dr. W. as president of the college, and Frances, the second daughter, married Dr. David Ramsay, the celebrated historian. After the death of Mrs. Witherspoon, the Doctor, at the age of seventy, married a young woman of twenty-three, an alliance which occasioned much gossip and noise in the neighborhood and family circle. He was an affectionate husband, a tender parent and a cordial friend.

Biographical sketches of distinguished Jerseymen (1845)

Burial

Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey.

Find A Grave Memorial# 1156

Tombstone

His dust reposes in the grave yard at Princeton, and over it is a stone, bearing in latin the following chronicle of his usefulness, virtues and public services:

Beneath this marble lie interred the mortal remains of

JOHN WITHERSPOON, D.D. LL.D.

a venerable and beloved President of the College of New-Jersey.

He was born in the parish of Yester, in Scotland,

on the 5th of February, 1722, O. S.

And was liberally educated in the University of Edinburgh;

invested with holy orders in the year 1743,

he faithfully performed the duties of his pastoral charge,

during five and twenty years,

first at Beith, and then at Paisley.

Elected president of Nassau Hall,

he assumed the duties of that office on the 13th of August, 1768,

with the elevated expectations of the public.

Excelling in every mental gift,

he was a man of pre-eminent piety and virtue

and deeply versed in the various branches

of literature and the liberal arts.

A grave and solemn preacher,

his sermons abounded in the most excellent doctrines and precepts,

and in lucid expositions of the Holy Scriptures.

Affable, pleasant, and courteous in familiar conversation,

he was eminently distinguished

in concerns and deliberations of the church,

and endowed with the greatest prudence

in the management and instruction of youth.

He exalted

the reputation of the college amongst foreigners,

and greatly promoted the advancement

of its literary character and taste.

He was, for a long time, conspicuous

Among the most brilliant luminaries of learning and of the Church.

At length,

universally venerated, beloved, and lamented,

he departed this life on the fifteenth of November, 1794 aged 73 years.

^[10]

The Presidents of Princeton University

Colonial Times:Jonathan Dickinson, 1747

Aaron Burr, Sr., 1748–57

Jonathan Edwards, 1758

Samuel Davies, 1759–61

Samuel Finley, 1761–66

Revolutionary War

John Witherspoon, 1768–94

Princeton University History

Chartered in 1746 as the College of New Jersey — the name by which it was known for 150 years — Princeton University was British North America's fourth college. Located in Elizabeth for one year and then in Newark for nine, the College of New Jersey moved to Princeton in 1756. It was housed in Nassau Hall, which was newly built on land donated by Nathaniel FitzRandolph. Nassau Hall contained the entire College for nearly half a century.

Sources

1. ↑ OPR Baptism indexes; WITHERSPOON, JOHN; JAMES WITHERSPOON/ANNE WALKER FR161 (FR161); M; 10/02/1723; 725/ 10 308; Yester; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
2. ↑ OPR Marriage indexes; WITHERSPOON, JOHN; ELISABETH MONTGOMERIE/FR163 (FR163); 14/08/1748; 581/ 10 287; Beith; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
3. ↑ OPR Baptism indexes; WITHERSPOON, ANN; JOHN WITHERSPOON/ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY FR366 (FR366); F; 24/07/1749; 581/ 20 241; Beith; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
4. ↑ OPR Baptism indexes; WITHERSPOON, CHRISTIAN; JOHN WITHERSPOON/ELIZABETH MONTGOMERY FR369 (FR369); F; 14/08/1750; 581/ 20 246; Beith; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1 5.2} Fasti Ecclesiae Scoticanae; Hew Scott; Vol 3; Edinburgh; 1920; pages 174-176
6. ↑ OPR Baptism indexes; WITHERSPOONS, BARBRA; JOHN WITHERSPOONS/ELIZEBETH MUNGOMRIE FR 376 (FR376); F; 20/02/1756; 581/ 20 259; Beith; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
7. ↑ OPR Baptism indexes; WITHERSPOON, JOHN; JOHN WITHERSPOON/ELIZEBETH MUNGOMRIE FR 378 (FR378); M; 29/07/1757; 581/ 20 265; Beith; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
8. ↑ OPR Baptism indexes; WITHERSPOON, FRANCIS; JOHN WITHERSPOON/ MONTGOMRAY FR235 (FR235); F; 26/08/1759; 573/3 10 226; Paisley Burgh or Low; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
9. ↑ OPR Baptism indexes; WITHERSPOON, DAVID; JOHN WITHERSPOON/ELIZABETH MONTGOMREY FR253 (FR253); M; 25/09/1760; 573/3 10 244; Paisley Burgh or Low; from www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk
10. ↑ Entered by Laura Lee Scott, June 22, 2014

• Wikipedia - John Witherspoon
• President Witherspoon in the American Revolution (July 1, 1896)
• The Works of the Rev. John Witherspoon...: A Sermon Occasioned by His Death (1802)
• The History and Genealogy of the Witherspoon Family by Joseph Bailey Witherspoon

Acknowledgements

• Melissa Kitano, firsthand knowledge.
• WikiTree profile Witherspoon-160 created through the import of Maltby master 08282011.GED on Aug 30, 2011 by Harry Maltby.