The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-03-03
Elias Boudnot,


Elias Boudnot, was born in Philadelphia on
the End of May, l74O. He was descended from
one of those pious refugees who fed from France
to America to escape the horrors of ecclesiastical
prosecution, and to enjoy religious freedom in
this favored land. He had the advantage of a
under the direction of the Hon. Richard Stock
ton, member of the first American congress,
whose eldest sister he afterwards married.
Shortly after his admission to the New Jer-
sew bar, Dr. Boudnot rose to the first grade in
his profession Early in tie Revolutionary
war he was appointed by Congress to the i'm
portant trust of Commissary General of prison
Iers In the year 1777, he was chosen men,
Der Of the National Congress, and in the year
1882, he was elected president of that august
body. In this capacity, he had the honor and
happiness of putting his signature to the treaty
of peace, which forever established his country's
independence On the return of peace he re-
sumed the practice of law. It was not long,
however before he was called to a more import
ant station On the adoption of the present
constitution of the United States, the confidence
of his fellow citizens allotted him seat III tie
House of Representatives of the United
States.
In this honorable place he was continued for
six successive years On quitting it to return
once more to the pursuits of private life, he was
appointed by that consumate judge of charac-
ter, George Washington, the President of the
United States, to fill the Office of director of the
celebrated Rittenhouse. This he executed, with
exemplary fidelity, during the administration of
Washington of Adams, and, in part of Jef1er-
sons. Resigning this Office, and seeking Sc
clusion from the perplexities of public life, and
from the hustle and ceremony of commercial
metropolis he fixed his residence in the city of
Burlington, New Jersey. Here, surrounded by
affectionate friends, and visited by strangers of
distinction engaged much in biblical literature
practicing the most liberal and unceremonious
hospitality filing up life in the exercise of
christian duties, and of the lovlest charities that
exalt our nature; meekly and quietly commune
eating and receiving happiness of the purest
kind he sustained, and left such a character as
will forever endear bis memory to his friends,
and do honor to his country. "a good man
the noblest work of God (" would have been a
sufficient epitaph for him.
Prior to the war he was elected member OF
the board of trustees of the college of New Jer-
sey. At the time of his disease, he was the
senior member of the corporation. The liberal
donation he made it during his life, and the more
ample one in his will, must be long remembered
with gratitude by the friends of science. But,
while anxious to promote the interests of science
he was not mindful of the superior claims of re-
ligion on his remembrance and his bounty. At
tached by principle and habit to the religious de-
nomination of which he was SO distinguished a
member, he has been most liberal in his tesla
mentary donations to the General Assembly oi
the Presbyterian Church, and to their Theolog-
zeal Seminary established at Princeton, N. j.
But as his mind unshackled by bgotry OF
sectarlan prejudice, was expanded by the noblest
principles of christian beneyolence he has also
very literally endowed various institutions whose
object is to diffuse more widely the light Of re.
vealed truth; to evangefze the heather: to in.
struct the deaf and dumb to educate youth fol
the sacred ministry to advance knowledge. an6
torelieve the wants and miseries Of the sick OF
suffering poor,