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From: "Evan R. Thompson" <>
Subject: [NJSUSSEX-L] Vernon Twp. 1824 Election
Date: Sun, 23 Jun 2002 14:07:22 -0500

Greetings,

This might interest those of you with Vernon Twp ancestors in the 1820s who don't mind a diversion from born-married-died. In looking over the estate proceedings for Zenas Riggs (died 14 August 1847 age 87), I noticed that the legal work was done by Gov. Daniel Haines, who was idling between his two terms as Governor of NJ. I decided to read more about Haines and found his official state biography. It reads, in part:

"During the election of 1824, Sussex County was strongly pro-Jackson. A Federalist who became an ardent supporter of Andrew Jackson, Haines began his political life by securing Jackson all the votes cast in the small township of Vernon, in which he resided."

Of course, I'm not quite sure how Haines was able to accomplish this -- with a secret ballot I suppose the statement above merely implies that Vernon was unanimous (at least the over 21-male crowd) for Jackson. Perhaps he employed some of the same tactics George Washington used to get himself elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses -- supplying the local electorate with an endless supply of whiskey and hard cider on Election Day.

Incidentally a newly discovered Riggs in-law born in the Jacksonian era was named Jackson Cole, and upon further inquiry we can conclude that his full name was Andrew Jackson Cole (thanks Leigh). I don't imagine there are too many parents today who are quite so eager to name their children after the current crop of politicians.

Evan

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• [NJSUSSEX-L] Vernon Twp. 1824 Election by "Evan R. Thompson" <>