Matthias Ogden
Encyclopedia
Matthias Ogden was born at Elizabeth, New Jersey
(formerly known as Elizabethtown) on October 22, 1754, Fought in the American revolutionary war and served various political positions afterwards.
and public official, and Phebe (Hatfield) Ogden. Robert was politically prominent, serving as the speaker of the New Jersey Assembly on the eve of the American Revolution. The family had deep roots in New Jersey: John Ogden had built a house in Elizabeth in 1664 after having moved from Long Island, where he had settled in 1640 from Hampshire, England. Matthias attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
) as did his younger brother, Aaron Ogden
.
's march to Quebec
, joined by his friend Aaron Burr
, and was wounded in the assault on that city on December 31, 1775. John Trumbull
depicted Ogden in his painting commemorating the Battle of Quebec (1775)
and the death of General Richard Montgomery
. Ogden's journal account of the expedition is in the collection of the New Jersey Historical Society.
Ogden was named lieutenant colonel of the First New Jersey Battalion in March 1776, serving under Colonel William Winds. At the age of 22, he became colonel of the newly-reorganized 1st New Jersey Regiment
on January 1, 1777 after Silas Newcomb resigned the position. Ogden was captured by the British at Elizabethtown in November 1780. He was released by exchange. In September 1781, he conceived of a plan to capture Prince William Henry (later King William IV). The plan received Washington's approval and was to be effected in March 1782 but had to be abandoned. Ogden was granted a leave by Congress in April 1783 to visit Europe in order to secure business relations with the French. While there, he was awarded the honor le droit du tabouret by King Louis XVI. Ogden brought back news of the Treaty of Paris upon his return to America. He was breveted brigadier general by Congress in September 1783 and was described by one historian as a "brave and gallant soldier".
, on one side, and a "Union" shield taken from the Great Seal of the United States
, on the reverse, were produced in a number of locations. Ogden operated his mint in Elizabethtown. In the 1789 presidential election, Ogden served as an elector for New Jersey.
Ogden was married to Hannah Dayton, a daughter of Elias Dayton
. They had a son, Francis Barber Ogden (1783-1857), who was named after fellow Jersey Continental officer and in-law, Francis Barber, who was married to Matthias' sister, Mary.
Ogden died of yellow fever
in Elizabethtown on March 31, 1791 at the age of 36.
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Elizabeth is a city in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 124,969, retaining its ranking as New Jersey's fourth largest city with an increase of 4,401 residents from its 2000 Census population of 120,568...
(formerly known as Elizabethtown) on October 22, 1754, Fought in the American revolutionary war and served various political positions afterwards.
Family
He was the son of Robert Ogden, a lawyerLawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and public official, and Phebe (Hatfield) Ogden. Robert was politically prominent, serving as the speaker of the New Jersey Assembly on the eve of the American Revolution. The family had deep roots in New Jersey: John Ogden had built a house in Elizabeth in 1664 after having moved from Long Island, where he had settled in 1640 from Hampshire, England. Matthias attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
) as did his younger brother, Aaron Ogden
Aaron Ogden
Aaron Ogden was a United States Senator and the 5th Governor of New Jersey.-Early life:Ogden was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey...
.
Revolutionary war
After the outbreak of hostilities between the American colonists and the British authorities in 1775, Odgen went along as a gentleman-volunteer on Benedict ArnoldBenedict Arnold
Benedict Arnold V was a general during the American Revolutionary War. He began the war in the Continental Army but later defected to the British Army. While a general on the American side, he obtained command of the fort at West Point, New York, and plotted to surrender it to the British forces...
's march to Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, joined by his friend Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
, and was wounded in the assault on that city on December 31, 1775. John Trumbull
John Trumbull
John Trumbull was an American artist during the period of the American Revolutionary War and was notable for his historical paintings...
depicted Ogden in his painting commemorating the Battle of Quebec (1775)
Battle of Quebec (1775)
The Battle of Quebec was fought on December 31, 1775 between American Continental Army forces and the British defenders of the city of Quebec, early in the American Revolutionary War. The battle was the first major defeat of the war for the Americans, and it came at a high price...
and the death of General Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery
Richard Montgomery was an Irish-born soldier who first served in the British Army. He later became a brigadier-general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and he is most famous for leading the failed 1775 invasion of Canada.Montgomery was born and raised in Ireland...
. Ogden's journal account of the expedition is in the collection of the New Jersey Historical Society.
Ogden was named lieutenant colonel of the First New Jersey Battalion in March 1776, serving under Colonel William Winds. At the age of 22, he became colonel of the newly-reorganized 1st New Jersey Regiment
1st New Jersey Regiment
The 1st New Jersey Regiment was the first organized militia regiment in New Jersey, formed in 1673 in Piscataway "to repel foreign Indians who come down from upper Pennsylvania and western New York to our shores and fill with fishes and clams and on the way back make a general nuisance of...
on January 1, 1777 after Silas Newcomb resigned the position. Ogden was captured by the British at Elizabethtown in November 1780. He was released by exchange. In September 1781, he conceived of a plan to capture Prince William Henry (later King William IV). The plan received Washington's approval and was to be effected in March 1782 but had to be abandoned. Ogden was granted a leave by Congress in April 1783 to visit Europe in order to secure business relations with the French. While there, he was awarded the honor le droit du tabouret by King Louis XVI. Ogden brought back news of the Treaty of Paris upon his return to America. He was breveted brigadier general by Congress in September 1783 and was described by one historian as a "brave and gallant soldier".
After War
After the war, Ogden served as member of the state's legislative council (1785). He was one of the agents entrusted with the minting of new state coinage for New Jersey, the famed "Jersey horsehead" pennies. The coins, which depicted a horse's head and plow, symbols taken from the coat of arms/Seal of New JerseySeal of New Jersey
The Great Seal of the State of New Jersey includes:*A shield with three plows emblazoned, representative of New Jersey's agricultural tradition.*A forward-facing knight's helmet.*A horse's head as the crest of the helmet....
, on one side, and a "Union" shield taken from the Great Seal of the United States
Great Seal of the United States
The Great Seal of the United States is used to authenticate certain documents issued by the United States federal government. The phrase is used both for the physical seal itself , and more generally for the design impressed upon it...
, on the reverse, were produced in a number of locations. Ogden operated his mint in Elizabethtown. In the 1789 presidential election, Ogden served as an elector for New Jersey.
Ogden was married to Hannah Dayton, a daughter of Elias Dayton
Elias Dayton
Elias Dayton was the Mayor of Elizabethtown, New Jersey-Biography:He was born in Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey....
. They had a son, Francis Barber Ogden (1783-1857), who was named after fellow Jersey Continental officer and in-law, Francis Barber, who was married to Matthias' sister, Mary.
Ogden died of yellow fever
Yellow fever
Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. The virus is a 40 to 50 nm enveloped RNA virus with positive sense of the Flaviviridae family....
in Elizabethtown on March 31, 1791 at the age of 36.
Sources
- Malone, Dumas, editor. Dictionary of American Biography.
- Wheeler, William Ogden. The Ogden Family in America.
- Virtual American Biographies: Robert Ogden