The Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution

by L. Carroll Judson

At the age of twenty-eight he married Elizabeth Hartwell of Staughton, Mass. who died in 1780 leaving seven children. He subsequently married Rebecca Prescott who had eight children. His fifteen children were carefully trained in the paths of wisdom and virtue. He also supported his mother and a maiden sister until death relieved them from the toils of life.

In the prosecution of his literary pursuits he turned his attention to the study of law in which he made astonishing proficiency. In 1754 he was admitted to the bar, better prepared to enter into this arduous profession and do justice to his clients than many who are ushered into notice with great eclat under the high floating banner of a collegiate diploma.

The following year he was elected a member of the colonial Assembly and remained in that body during the remainder of his residence at New Milford. He had the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens which enabled him to exercise a salutary influence upon those around him. His reputation as a lawyer and statesman stood high. For industry, prudence, discretion and sound logic—he was unrivalled in the Colony. Strong common sense, the safety valve of human action, marked his whole career. He was a philanthropist of the highest order—a patriot of the first water—rendering himself substantially useful to his fellow men and common country.

In 1759 he was appointed a judge of the county court of Litchfield, discharging his duties with great faithfulness and impartiality—correcting vice and promoting virtue.

In 1761 he removed to New Haven where he was appointed justice of the peace—elected to the Assembly and in 1765 was placed upon the judicial bench of the county court. He received the degree of Master of Arts from Yale College, of which he was treasurer for many years, fulfilling the trust with scrupulous honesty and fidelity.

In 1766 he was elected to the Executive Council which was hailed as an auspicious event by the friends of liberal principles. The mother country had manifested a disposition to impose unjust taxation upon the Colonies. It required discretion, experience, nerve and decision to comprehend and expose the corrupt plans of an avaricious and reckless ministry. The Colonies had borne the great burden of the French war in which they had sacrificed large sums of money and fountains of their richest blood. After years of incessant toil the foe had been conquered—an honorable peace obtained for England—the frontier settlements measurably relieved from danger and the soldier had again become the citizen. Whilst their rejoicings on that occasion were yet on the lips of echo, oppression from the crown threatened to blast their fond anticipations of happiness and repose and bind them in chains more to be dreaded than the tomahawk and scalping knife.

His Colony had furnished more money and men and lost more of her brave sons in the French war than any other with the same population. Mr. Sherman had been an active member of the Assembly during the period of its prosecution and remembered well the sacrifices that had been made to oblige the king. He understood well the rights of his own country and those of the crown. He was eminently prepared to discover approaching danger and sound a timely alarm. He was fully competent to probe the intrigues and venality of designing men although the broad Atlantic rolled between him and them.

Mr. Grenville was the master spirit of the British ministry. He determined to put in practice his long cherished theory of taxing the American Colonies. The alarm was soon spread from the north to the south. Appeals for redress, petitions and remonstrances, numerously signed, were forwarded to Parliament. These were passed by like the idle wind. Reason, justice, mercy—all were banished from the bosoms of the ruling power. The rack of oppression was put in motion—screw after screw was turned—the sinews of affection for the mother country began to snap—the purple current rushed from its fountain with increased velocity—indignation was roused in millions of bosoms. In humble imitation of the ancient inquisitors, the screws of the infernal machine were relaxed to give the subjects a confessing respite. The tax upon glass, paper, &c. was repealed. But the main screw was not turned back. The tax on tea was still enforced. This exception was death to the colonial power of England—to America—freedom. The indignation of woman was roused. Her high toned chords were touched—the reverberation electrified the mass as with vivid lightning. Tea was banished by every female patriot and with it all British luxuries and taxed articles.

Mr. Sherman remained undaunted at his post calmly watching the moving elements. Although elevated to the bench of the Superior Court he remained in the Executive Council, a firm and consistent advocate of his country's rights—a bold expounder of Britain's wrongs. He viewed the gathering clouds as they rolled up from the horizon—he saw the streams of lurid fire with which they were charged and calmly waited the crash of thunder that should usher on the terrific storm. The British lion prowled in anger—the Albion Goliah buckled on his armor—the shining steel dazzled in the sun—American blood flowed—popular fury was roused—the sword of vengeance was drawn—allegiance was dissolved—the Colonies were free.

Judge Sherman was a member of the first Continental Congress and remained firm and unwavering at his post during the heart rending scenes of the Revolution, the formation of the new government and the adoption of the Federal Constitution. With a mind of iron strength enlarged and improved by close study—inured to the toils and intricacies of legislation—the history of his country and of nations stamped upon his memory—the ingratitude and insults of a foreign ministry preying upon his soul—all these combined to press him onward to deeds of noble daring. His capacity was equal to every emergency. He omitted no duty, moving, with the mathematical precision of a planet, within the orbit of sound discretion. He was familiar with all the avenues of men and things—scanned the deep recesses of human nature—traced causes and results to their source and probed to the bottom the springs of human action. The arcana of economies was open before him—solving problems, demonstrating principles and placing them in the full blaze of illustration—clear as light, intelligible as Euclid—irresistible as truth. Youth and young mechanics of our country such was the self-taught self-made Roger Sherman. Read the history of his life closely. Ponder it well and firmly resolve to make him your model.