This Is My New Jersey

As we continue to celebrate America’s 250th, I started to think about who are the most influential individuals in America’s history. Of course, that started me down the path of something far more important – New Jersey’s most important and influential individuals.

The Ground Rules

Now, you can’t make a list like this without some basic, yet completely arbitrary rules. And since this is my list, these are my rules.

First, those on my list must be born in New Jersey or spent a substantial part of their life in our beloved state. I have very strong opinions about transplants that claim themselves as New Jerseyans without the proper provenance. Also, no politicians. I go to great lengths to avoid politics on my blogs.

As you will see, there will be a few individuals that break my rules. Trust me, I will validate my selections, but again, my list, my rules.

We are blessed to have a long list of notable individuals in a variety of areas. This will be a multi-part series and I hope this encourages you to learn more about the individuals listed as well as think about who are your favorite Jersey peeps!

New Jersey – The Early Years

Aaron Burr Jr.

I figure the best place to start is to go seriously old school. Born in Newark, Burr attended the College of New Jersey (known now as Princeton University), co-founded by his father, Aaron Burr Sr. He served as the third vice president, from 1801-1805, during President Thomas Jefferson’s first term. Unfortunately, he may also be remembered as the first Jersey gangster, for killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel in Weehawken on July 11, 1804. Ironically, Hamilton’s son, Philip, was killed in a duel three years earlier in the same location.

Molly Pitcher

I first learned about Molly Pitcher in my 4th grade history class with Mrs. Stackfleth. That was the year my love of New Jersey officially began, as that entire school year was dedicated to New Jersey history. As the story goes, Molly Pitcher was the nickname given to a woman that brought water to the men fighting at the Battle of Monmouth. When one of the artillery soldiers was wounded, she dropped her pitcher of water and took over for him, firing the canon against the British. Some believe the woman’s real identity is Mary Ludwig Hays, while others believe her identity is Margaret Corbin. Still others believe this was a general name used as an homage to the countless women who traveled with the Continental Army, providing essential support, including putting themselves in danger on the front lines of the war.

Stephen Crane

Fast forwarding a bit to 1871, author Stephen Crane was born in Newark, the 14th son of Jonathan and Mary Crane. The family’s descendant, Jaspar Crane, was a founder of New Haven Colony, which included parts of modern-day Long Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. His great-great-grandfather, Stephen Crane, was a Revolutionary War patriot who served as New Jersey delegate to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Most of us know Stephen Crane from the required reading of The Red Badge of Courage in elementary or middle school. An additional note for me personally, my uncle, Ettore Victor “Sonny” Fieramosca, worked as a maintenance man at Stephen Crane Village in Newark for decades.

William Livingston

The last of our Jersey OGs is the absolute original; William Livingston was the first governor of New Jersey. While he was born in Albany, he moved to Elizabethtown (modern day Elizabeth) in 1772 and even shared a home with Alexander Hamilton. He was selected to serve as one of New Jersey’s delegates to the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Livingston served as a brigadier general for the New Jersey Militia until he was elected governor in 1776. He joined the New Jersey Delegation to the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia and was one of the signers of the U.S. Constitution.

These are just a few of the multitude of colonial-era New Jerseyans that set our beloved state on a path of greatness. For further reading, I recommend The American Revolution in New Jersey, Winning the Ten Crucial Days, and for an amazing history, check out The History of the Colony of New Jersey by Samuel Smith.

Stay tuned for my next of NJ VIPs.