Elisha Lawrence

Elisha Lawrence
Acting Governor of New Jersey
In office July 25, 1790 – October 29, 1790
Preceded by	William Livingston as Governor
Succeeded by	William Paterson as Governor
Vice President of the New Jersey Legislative Council
In office 1789–1792
Governor	William Livingston Himself William Paterson
Preceded by	Robert Lettis Hooper
Succeeded by	Thomas Henderson
In office 1795–1796
Governor	Richard Howell
Preceded by	Thomas Henderson
Succeeded by	James Linn
Personal details
Born	1746
Died	July 23, 1799
Political party	Federalist

Elisha Lawrence (1746 – July 23, 1799) was an American Federalist Party^[1] politician, who represented Monmouth County in the New Jersey Legislative Council, the precursor to the New Jersey State Senate, from 1780 through 1783, from 1789 through 1792 and in 1795. He served as Vice-President of Council from 1789 through 1792, and again in 1795.^[2]

As Vice President, he was the acting governor of New Jersey from July 25, 1790, when governor William Livingston died, to October 30, 1790. He was succeeded as governor by William Paterson.

A resident of Upper Freehold Township, Lawrence was serving as a Justice of the Peace as early as 1788, and sat with the County Board of Justices and Freeholders, the precursor to the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the governing body of the county. He was Chairman of the Board from May 1795 to May 1796.^[3]

Lawrence is buried at Ye Olde Yellow Meeting House in Imlaystown, New Jersey. The tombstone reads, “A stranger to all ambition but that of being useful, he was twice vice president of New Jersey for several years presiding judge of the pleas, and after a series of faithful and gallant services in the Revolutionary War he was appointed by his county brigadier general of the Monmouth militia of the surveyed blazing line when wars loud conflict racked the brain. Now sheltered in the realms divine he treads heavens ever-peaceful plan lead on by softer, mercy’s mildest ray while fellow warriors hail him on his way.” The bottom of the stone reads, “By indulgence of the general’s family, his companions in arms erect this tribute of affection the first day of January 1800.”^[4]

See also

• List of Monmouth County Freeholder Directors
• List of Governors of New Jersey

Notes and references

1. "Governor of New Jersey". NNDB. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
2. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, 1914; Thomas F. Fitzgerald
3. Minutes, Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders
4. "History exhumed from Old Yellow Meeting House Cemetery". gmnews. Retrieved June 12, 2012.