The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-05-31
HISTORY GP THE SEAL
What We Know and What We Don't
Know Abont the States Stamp.


Francis B. Lee, Clerk OF the Supreme
Court Of New Jersey. has been investigaS-
ing the history of States great seal, and
has written an interesting letter about {,
from which the following are extracts -
1t seems that when the Legislature of
the State met in Princeton in accordance
with the provisions of the Constitution Of
July 2. the first thing that the Senate did
by the way, called council in those days
was to provide for a great seal,
whence we derive our cOaf-of-nrnas I'M
der date of September 9, 1776, in the musty
old journals. we find that Mr.. Smith and
Mr.. Cooper were presented to the Assem-
bly, as Committee .sin order to form
Great Seal for the State Whereupon the
Assembly selected Messrs. Samuel Dick
of Salem, Ephraim Harris of Cumberland,
John Coyenhoven of Monmouth, and
Charles Coke OF Hunterdon to meet the
other committee.
In the meantime it was necessary to
issue official documents, and for this pur-
pose the Senate decreed that the s.seal-at-
arms Of His Excellency William Living
stone shall be deemed. taken and used as
the great seal.
Tue committee reported, octObers, 17s6.
as follows;
"The Joint Committee, appointed BY
both houses to prepare a great seal, beg
leave to report:
THAT they have considered the subject
and taken the sentiments OF several gen.
tlemen thereon, aud are OF opinion that
Francis H0pk1ns0n, ESQ. should be
Immediately engaged TO employ proper
persons at Philadelphia to prepare a
silver seal, which is TO be round,
of two and a half inches diameter,
and three-eighths Of an inch thick;
and that the Arms shall be three Ploughs
in an Escutcheon, the Supporters Liberty
Il (sr~ sx., a al 4.
these Words to be engraved IN large let
tiers round the Arms, viz: The Great
Seal of the State OF New Jersey By
order Of the COMMITTEES.
RICHARD SMITH Chairman.
"Whereupen Francis Hopkinson was ac-
cordingly authorized to draw upon the
State Treasurer for the expense incurred
In making the seal Messrs. Peter Tail
man Of Burlington and William Wood
hull Of Morris communicated to Council
the fore going resolution to which a ready
concurrence was given the same day.
$50 New Jersey had at last seal and q
coat of arms. From the committee report
one might think that the result would be
extremely plain and free from all artistic
suggestions Of English aristocracy. From
an impress which lies before me | am
compelled to say such is scarcely the case
The relief taken from the fdent teal silver
die ordered By the Legislature is highly
artistic. The two supporting figures are
well einblazoned, the shield itself is ornate
the lettering on the edge alone being of
simple design. Under the horses head
is the helmet of an earl or baron, aIfroate,
as the heraldry books say, or rather
turned full face. Moreover, the date
'1776' IN Roman numerals is below the
shield. So Francis Hopkinson or his
Philadelphia engraver added the helmet
and the date and overstepped the bounds
laid out by the Legislature. Since then
someone has gone further and put down
motto, Liberty and Prosperity but
where that comes from IS more than I
have ever been able to ascertain. Now IL
some student or State history can eluci-
date the mystery OF the helmet. can tell
whence came the motto and can give the
price that Patriot Hopkinson paid for the
dies. che story of New Jerseys great seal