Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-01-14
Original gkett9es.
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
LIVES OF
Distinguished Jerseymen.
BY Henry ward.


haOHs bORM k&aHIs
In the various shades which chequor
the lives of individuals, who have attain
ed high rank and distinction among their
fellow men, we clearly discern the hand OF
Divine Providence. who, for wise pur-
posrs, meteth not out to all their destinies
alike. Some bask in the full tide of the
sunlight of prosperity, while others are
afflicted with gloom and sorrow, and go
murmuring all their days, until they find
that repose in the grave, which the world
cannot give.
JOHN HART was n of New Jerseys
most distinguished sons. In the breast of
no man in his day did there beat a heart
Of purer and loftier patriotism; and his
was the very soul of philanthropy, and
enlarged and liberal feeling. No sooner
had the tosin been sounded against the
unrighteous aggression of the mother coun-
try, than he warmly espoused the cause of
the Colonies, and exerted all his powers
Of mind and body, to aid in securing their
independence. He had a fine farm, in
one of the most fertile districts of his ma.
tive State, which he cultivated with great
success. His home was the abode of gen
erous hospitality; and peace and plenty
crowned his board; and with an amiable
wife, and arising family, his prospects for
a long life Of domestic happiness. were
bright and encouraging. Yet he was
Hing to sacrifice them all to the good
of his beloved country. Vile tories there
were, who sought to poison his mind with
the lures of royal gifts and %favors; but he
shrank from them, as from a basilisk,
and still maintained his integrity. This
provoked their unmitigated enmity; and
they continually sought to do him all the
injury that lay in their power.
In 1774, when the odious Stamp Act,
and Tea Tariff had excited great indigna
ton throughout the Colonies, Mr.. Hart
was chosen a member from New Jersey,
to the Continental Congress; in which
body, he advocated with great zeal and
eloq uence the rights of the people to lay
their own taxes, and to be exempted from
the unjust encroachments of the British
Crown.
In 1776, he was re elected a member of
the same Congress, who met now, not to
discuss the subject of British Taxation;
but one of infinitely greater Importance
Whether the Colonies of right ought to
be free, sovereign and independent States.
1t was decided in the affirmative; and
John Hart, was one of those bold and
fearless patriots, who signed the Declare
ton of american independence, even while
his native State was over-run with armed
foes, whose vengeance sought to make him
and his innocent family, the victims of its
savage cruelty.
On his return home, the storm that had
so long threatened him. began to pursue
him with remorseless fury. Providing
bands, like midnight wolves, constantly
surrounded his dwelling. His cattle
were carried off his farm pillaged, his
barns burnt, and his own life and the lives
OF the inmates of his house repeatedly
threatened. His wife, one Of the lowell.
est and most amiable Of women, vas sub
.ject to perpetual alarm and abuse; and
her. gentle nature could no longer bear
up, under such a weight of m%alevolent
persecution. She died, the innocent vic
tim of cruelty, such as would have dis
praeed the wild Arabs of the Desert, or
the savages Of the bowling Wilderness
Her little family were dispersed, and rem
dered houseless. Oh! who can describe
the agonizing grief, and the %unavaiiing
sorrow, that rent the hcart of the noble
patriot. as he saw all that he had cher
ished upon earth, thus ruthlessly swept
away from him? But the enemies of
Freedom had not long to exult over their
o4uoo.1,s ooto n tho coil 0f Now .Jareov
At every point of their rendezvous, the
argus.eye of the great Champion of Lib.
erty was upon them. Eyes of fire and
swords of flame were around and ever on
them: until, stricken with terror, and
covered with the infamy of their
dark deeds, they were driven forever
from New Jersey; and never dared again
to set a hostile foot there.
Once more, Mr.. Hart gatherpd his
scattered family around him; but one
was wanting. He could not bring back
the beloved partner Of his bosom from
her martyrdom-the grave was her last,
unbroken refuge; and her cruel enemies
could no longer persecute her there. Her
heart.broken husband mourned over her
death, as one who could not be comforted;
but even, under all the consultations of the
| Christian faith, he felt the wound that
could be soothed, but never entirely heal
ed. His health, ever after the death OF
his wife, continued to decline; aud he
died, greatly lamented, in 1880, before the
close of the War, and ere he had reached
his 50th year. Thus lived and thus died