John Witherspoon Book

John Witherspoon - 1906, - PREFATORY NOTE - WITHERSPOONS life is notable in connection with four important movements the struggle for popular rights in the Church of Scotland the administration of Princeton College the organization of the American Presbyterian Church and the American Revolution. I have tried to tell the story of his life simply and ac- curately. As I have avoided the use of foot- notes I shall indicate here the sources of my information. For the Scotch period these were Cunninghams History of Scotland, Auto- biography of Rev. Alexander Carlyle, and the Minutes of the General Assembly for the American period, Bancrofts History of the United States, Spragues Annals, Sander- sons Lives of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, Tylers Literary History of the American Revolution, McLean1s History of the College of New Jersey, John Adams Diary, the Writings of Washington. But in all cases I have also used the original docu- ments. These are the minutes of the Board of Trustees of Princeton College, the minutes of the Presbytery of New Brunswick, of the Synod 5 PREFATORY NOTE of New York and Pliladelphia, and the records of the Presbyterian Church the minutes of the Provincial Congress and Council of Safety of New Jersey the Secret Journals of Congress Thompsons JournaI Whartons edition of the Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution. For both periods I have used the American edition of Witherspoons Works, my own collectiol of his manuscripts, and letters found in various publications. I here express, also, my grateful appreciation of many courtesies extended to me 1 the librarians of Princeton University and Theological Seminary and Pennsylvania College bj- the historical societies of New Jersey and Perlslvania, and by the state librarians of these commonwealths. I am also indebted to the late Senator M. S. Quay for printed copies vf puvernment documents. CONTENTS TI-IE SCOTCH IEKIOL EARLY YEAKS ASI ESVIKOXIES-I . . 11 JEITII . 25 IAISLEY 47 THE AMERICAN IEKIOI IIKCETON COLLEGE . 77 IKUIDENT OF PKINCETOX . 97 111 PKUBYTEKIAS CHUKCII . . 138 IIIIEKSPOON, THE L MEKICAS . 135 I. The Ncw Jersey Co.erltion 2. Ihe Declaration of l ndependence, 3. Work in Congress 4. Steps Towards Peace . THE SCOTCH PERIODRead More