Abraham Clark is one of 5 NJ Patriots representing New Jersey at
the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of
Independence.
Abraham Clark was born into the life of a farmer at what is now
Elizabeth, New Jersey. His father saw an aptitude for mathematics
and felt that he was too frail for the farm life and so young
Abraham was tutored in mathematics and surveying. He continued his
own study of the Law while working as a surveyor.
He later practiced as an attorney and in this role is said to
have been quite popular because of his habit of serving poor
farmers in the community in cases dealing with title disputes. In
succeeding years he served as the clerk of the Provincial Assembly,
High Sheriff of Essex (now divided into Essex and Union)
County.
Elected to the Provincial Congress in 1775, he then represented
New Jersey at the Second Continental Congress in 1776, where he
signed the Declaration of Independence. He served in the congress
through the Revolutionary War as a member of the committee of
Public Safety.
He retired and was unable to attend the Federal Constitutional
Convention in 1787, however he is said to have been active in
community politics until his death in 1794. Clark Township, New
Jersey, is named in his honor.
The 5 signers of the Declaration of Independence from NJ are;
Abraham Clark, John Hart, Francis Hopkinson, Richard Stockton, and
John Witherspoon. There were a total of 56 Patriots from the 13
Colonies who signed the Declaration of Independence.
