John Frelinghuysen (1776-1833)

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This article is about the War of 1812 veteran born in 1776. For his grandfather, a colonial-era minister, see John Frelinghuysen (1727-1754).

John Frelinghuysen's tombstone at the Old Somerville Cemetery

John Frelinghuysen (March 21, 1776 – April 10, 1833) was an American general and lawyer.

[edit] Biography

John Frelinghuysen was born in Millstone, New Jersey on March 21, 1776 to Frederick Theodore Frelinghuysen and Gertrude Schenck. He had four siblings: Catharine, Maria, Theodore, and Frederick. John graduated from Queen's College (now Rutgers University) in 1792 after studying law, and he was admitted to the bar in the state of New Jersey in 1797. He was a member of the State Council (now the New Jersey Senate), and served three consecutive five-year terms on the Surrogate Court for Somerset County, New Jersey. During the War of 1812, he joined the military, and commanded the New Jersey State Militia at Sandy Hook, where his assignment was to prevent ships from attacking New York City. At the close of the war he was promoted to brigadier general.

John Frelinghuysen married Louisa Mercer in 1797, and they had two daughters: Gertrude and Mary Ann. After Louisa's death, John married Elizabeth Mercereau Van Vechten, and they had eight children: Louisa, Theodore, Frederick J., Catharine, Sallie, Sophia, and Elizabeth LaGrange Frelinghuysen.

John Frelinghuysen died in Millstone, New Jersey on April 10, 1833, and was buried in the Old Somerville Cemetery in Somerville, New Jersey.