Roger Sherman Chapter NSDAR, inc. New Milford, Connecticut
roger sherman
His Life
The Honorable Roger Sherman was an American statesman, lawyer, and a founding father of the United States. He was born in Newton, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1721. He moved to New Milford in 1743.
His first wife was Elizabeth Hartwell. He married a second time to Rebekah Prescott. He was the father to 15 children.
Roger Sherman died in New Haven, Connecticut, on July 23, 1793, from typhoid fever. He is now buried at the Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven.
His Career
New Milford was Roger Sherman's home for eighteen years from 1743 to 1761.
As a young man in Massachusetts, he apprenticed to become a cobbler. In 1743, he moved to Connecticut and went into partnership with his brother. They opened the first store in New Milford. The Roger Sherman Town Hall is the site of where this store was located.
Roger Sherman had a prosperous life. He was admitted to the bar in New Milford, Connecticut. While living there, he served as the New Milford Town Clerk.
Mr. Sherman served in the Connecticut House of Representatives. He was elected to represent New Milford from 1755 to 1758 and from 1760 to 1761.
He was appointed as a justice of the peace and later a superior court judge. Mr. Sherman also served as mayor of New Haven from 1774 until his death in 1793.
Roger Sherman represented Connecticut as an United States Representative in the first congress from 1789 to 1791. He then went on to serve as an United States Senator in the second and third congress from 1791 to 1793.
The Four Fundamental Documents
Roger Sherman is the only signer of all four of America's Documents of Freedom.
This includes:
- Articles of Association, October 20, 1774
- Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
- Articles of Confederation, November 11, 1777
- Constitution of the United States, September 17, 1787
His Impact
Roger Sherman's contribution to the the founding of the United States is remarkable.
The chapter is very proud to be named the Roger Sherman Chapter NSDAR, Inc., in honor of his great service and dedication to our country.