Thomas HENDERSON, Congress, NJ (1743-1824)

HENDERSON, Thomas, a Representative from New Jersey; born in Freehold, Monmouth County, N.J., August 15, 1743; attended the public schools and was graduated from Princeton College in 1761; studied medicine; practiced first in Freneau and afterwards in Freehold, N.J., about 1765; member of the committee of safety in 1774; served as a lieutenant in the New Jersey Militia in 1775; appointed second major in Col. Charles Stewart’s Battalion of Minutemen February 15, 1776; brigade major, Monmouth County Militia, April 19, 1776; major of Col. Nathaniel Heard’s battalion June 14, 1776, and later lieutenant colonel and brigadier major at Monmouth; surrogate of Monmouth County in 1776; member of the provincial council in 1777; elected as a Delegate to the Continental Congress, November 17, 1779, but declined December 25, 1779; served in the State general assembly 1780-1784; master in chancery in 1790; member of the State council in 1793 and 1794, serving as vice president of that body; Acting Governor of New Jersey in 1794; elected as a Federalist to the Fourth Congress (March 4, 1795-March 3, 1797); judge of the court of common pleas 1783-1799; one of the commissioners appointed to settle the boundary line between New Jersey and Pennsylvania; again a member of the State council in 1812 and 1813; died in Freehold, N.J., December 15, 1824; interment in Old Tennent Cemetery, Tennent, N.J.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present