Author: Alan Holden

The Williams family was originally from Wales. They arrived in America in 1630 and settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts. William Williams was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, on April 8, 1731. He entered Harvard College when he was sixteen. After graduation, he returned home and studied theology. Colonial Citizen Williams fought in the French-Indian War in 1755…

William Whipple was born in 1730 at Kittery, Maine. His father was a native of Ipswich and worked as a maltster. His grandfather, Robert Cutts, was a wealthy shipbuilder. William Whipple: From Cabin Boy to Brigadier General Firstly, he worked as a cabin boy on a merchant vessel. He often sailed to the West Indies…

The birth of William Ellery occurred on December 22d, 1727 in Newport, Rhode Island. His father, a graduate of Harvard University, tutored his own son. When Ellery was sixteen, he attended Harvard University. After his graduation, Ellery studied law and practiced law for twenty years. Pre-revolution Incidents Rhode Island was a strong proponent of the…

Samuel Huntington was born in Windham, Connecticut on July 2, 1732. His family were farmers in Windham. His ancestors were respectable; they came to America at an early period of the country and settled in Connecticut. Samuel Huntington did not receive a public education. He was the eldest son, and his father needed his help…

Samuel Adams was born at Quincy, Massachusetts on September 22, 1722, in the same neighborhood as John Hancock. His family emigrated to America with the first settlers. In 1736, he attended Harvard University, where he earned a master’s degree in 1743. To please his father, he studied law but soon realized that law was not…

Roger Sherman was a native of Newton, Massachusetts. He was born on April 19th, 1721. His father, William Sherman, was a respectable farmer. As a farmer of small means, he could not give his son an education beyond a parochial school. Early Adulthood After school, he became a shoemaker apprentice. Because of his thirst for…

Robert Treat Paine was a native of Boston. His parents were faithful Christians. For some years, his father was the pastor of a church in Weymouth. When his health began to fail, his father entered into the mercantile business. His mother was the granddaughter of Governor Treat of Connecticut. Robert Paine attended Harvard College at…

Philip Livingston was born at Albany in January 1716. His ancestors were well-known in New York. Early Years Philip Livingston lived in New York City. He became a prosperous businessman in the mercantile industry. In 1754, New York City elected him as an alderman for nine consecutive terms. Before the revolution, Livingston served on the…

Oliver Wolcott | His Early Career Oliver Wolcott was born in the year 1726. He graduated at Yale College in 1747. Upon graduation, he received a commission as a captain in the army and served during the French-Indian War. He defended the northern frontier until the end of the war. Wolcott returned to Connecticut. He…

Matthew Thornton was born in 1714 to James Thornton, a native of Ireland. When Matthew was two years old, his father emigrated to America. After a few years, he moved to Worchester, Massachusetts. He received an excellent secondary education. Then he pursued medical studies. After completing his courses, he moved to Londonderry, New Hampshire, where…