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ROOT, Jesse Patriot, Jurist Jesse Rot was born in Coventry, Connecticut,
December 28, 1737 (or January) , (1737), son of Ebenezer and Sarah
(Strong) Root, and grandson of Thomas Root, of Northampton. He was graduated
from the College of New Jersey, A. B., in 1756, and received the A. M. degree
in 1759. He studied theology under Rev. Dr. Samuel Lockwood, of Andover,
and preached for two or three years, then leaving the ministry
for financial reasons. He then studied law, and was admitted to the Connecticut
bar in 1763, and established himself in practice at Hartford, Connecticut.
He was an ardent patriot, and by his individual notes, aided to secure
funds for the expedition against Ticonderoga. In 1776 he organized a company
of volunteers at Hartford, receiving commission as captain dated December
31; was made lieutenant-colonel, shortly after joined General Washington's
army at Peekskill, New York, and was subsequently made adjutant-general.
He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, 1778-83; a representative
in the State Legislature; State Attorney, 1785-89; judge of the Superior
Court in 1789; and was Chief Justice of Connecticut from 1796 until his
resignation in 1807. While occupying this position he received the degree
of LL. D. from Yale College. He delivered the address of welcome when General
Washington visited Hartford in 1790. For many years he was a member of the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences and of the Connecticut Academy of
Arts and Sciences. The honorary degree of A. M. was conferred upon him
by Yale College in 1766. He was the author of: Reports of Cases, Adjudged
in the Courts of Errors of Connecticut (2 vols., 1798-1802). Encyclopedia Bio Listing |
