Aaron Hankinson
Aaron Hankinson | |
---|---|
Born | 7 February 1735 |
Died | 9 October 1806 (age 71) |
Nationality | American |
Occupation(s) | farmer, military officer, legislator |
Aaron Hankinson (7 February 1735 – 9 October 1806) was a military officer during the American Revolution and politician who served in the New Jersey state legislature.
Hankinson was born on 7 February 1735 in Matawan in Monmouth County, New Jersey, to Rachel Mattison (1707–1784) and Joseph Hankinson (1706–1783).[1]: p.125–127 During his youth, the family moved to Rowland Mills in Readington Township in the northern Highlands region of Hunterdon County.[1]: p.125–127 On 9 February 1764, he married Mary Snyder (1740–1806), and relocated to Sussex County north of the present-day village of Stillwater, then in Upper Hardwick. His father purchased 363 acres which he divided between Aaron and his brother William (1737–1796).[1]: p.125–127
On 26 July 1775, Hankinson was commissioned a captain in the Sussex County Militia, commanded by Colonel Ephraim Martin.[1]: p.125–127 He was raised to Colonel the following year and stationed at Sandy Hook to defend the New Jersey coast along New York Harbor.[1]: p.125–127 In 1777, the Sussex County Militia fought at the Battle of Brandywine Creek and arrived late at the Battle of Germantown near Philadelphia.[1]: p.125–127 Later in the war, Hankinson and the militia were stationed in the Minisink, a region encompassing the area north of the Delaware Water Gap surrounding the Delaware River's valley in northwestern New Jersey and northeastern Pennsylvania, and the Neversink River in Orange County, New York.[1]: p.125–127 Here, after the burning of Machackameck (now Port Jervis, New York, the militia was ordered to prevent incursions by British loyalists, tories, and their allied Indian tribes (Munsee, Lenape, Iroquois) under Captain Joseph Brant. This region was formerly defended by Pulaski's Legion before their deployment to operations in South Carolina. At the close of the war, Hankinson was promoted to Brigadier General.[1]: p.125–127
After the conclusion of the Revolution, Hankinson was elected to serve in the New Jersey General Assembly, and served several terms from 1782 to 1786 and 1788 to 1792.[1]: p.125–127 In Memoirs and Reminiscences, Schaeffer describes Hankinson as "a farmer by occupation, an elder and leading member of the Hardwick church, and at one time chorister of the same. The old gentleman was a good kind of man."[1]: p.105
Hankinson died on 9 October 1806 and was buried in the churchyard of the Yellow Frame Presbyterian Church (known then as Upper Hardwick) presently located on the border between Fredon Township and Frelinghuysen Township, New Jersey.[2] The inscription on his tombstone reads:
Hankinson and his wife Mary (née Snyder) had 13 children,[1]: p.127–128 and among his descendants include William A. Newell, former Governor of New Jersey.[1]: p.129
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Schaeffer, Casper (Rev., M.D.) and Johnson, William M. (1907) Memoirs and Reminiscences: Together with Sketches of the Early History of Sussex County, New Jersey. Hackensack, New Jersey: privately printed.
- ^ a b Grave of Aaron Hankinson on findagrave.com. Retrieved 8 March 2013.
- Use dmy dates from March 2013
- 1735 births
- 1806 deaths
- People from Stillwater Township, New Jersey
- History of Sussex County, New Jersey
- Continental Army generals
- Continental Army officers from New Jersey
- Members of the New Jersey General Assembly
- People of New Jersey in the American Revolution
- United States Army generals
- American Presbyterians