Thomas J. Yorke
Encyclopedia
Thomas Jones Yorke was a U.S.
Whig Party
politician
.
(now part of Lower Alloways Creek Township
) in Salem County, New Jersey
. During the War of 1812
, he served as a scout for the United States forces. He studied law, but did not practice, and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Salem. He was county collector of Salem County in 1830. Yorke served as judge of the Salem County Court of Common Pleas in 1833, 1834, and 1845–1854 and for a portion of the latter term was presiding judge. He served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
in 1835.
He was elected as a Whig to the United States House of Representatives
from New Jersey
in 1836 and served from March 4, 1837 to March 3, 1839. He was re-elected to the House in 1838 but the House declined to seat him. He was elected to the House in 1840 and served from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843. He served as chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Twenty-seventh Congress).
After leaving Congress, Yorke served as a director of the West Jersey Railroad Co., serving as secretary and treasurer in 1853 and as president 1866-1875; also president of the Cape May & Millville Railroad Co.; served as director at various times of the Swedesborough Railroad Co., Salem Railroad Co., Camden & Philadelphia Ferry Co., and West Jersey Marl & Transportation Co. He died in Salem, New Jersey
on April 4, 1882, and was there interred in St. John's Episcopal Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Whig Party
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Biography
He was born at Hancock's Bridge, New JerseyHancock's Bridge, New Jersey
Hancock's Bridge is an unincorporated area located within Lower Alloways Creek Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. The area is served as United States Postal Service ZIP code 08038....
(now part of Lower Alloways Creek Township
Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey
Lower Alloways Creek Township is a Township in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township population was 1,851....
) in Salem County, New Jersey
Salem County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 64,285 people, 24,295 households, and 17,370 families residing in the county. The population density was 190 people per square mile . There were 26,158 housing units at an average density of 77 per square mile...
. During the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, he served as a scout for the United States forces. He studied law, but did not practice, and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Salem. He was county collector of Salem County in 1830. Yorke served as judge of the Salem County Court of Common Pleas in 1833, 1834, and 1845–1854 and for a portion of the latter term was presiding judge. He served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
in 1835.
He was elected as a Whig to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1836 and served from March 4, 1837 to March 3, 1839. He was re-elected to the House in 1838 but the House declined to seat him. He was elected to the House in 1840 and served from March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843. He served as chairman, Committee on Expenditures in the Department of the Navy (Twenty-seventh Congress).
After leaving Congress, Yorke served as a director of the West Jersey Railroad Co., serving as secretary and treasurer in 1853 and as president 1866-1875; also president of the Cape May & Millville Railroad Co.; served as director at various times of the Swedesborough Railroad Co., Salem Railroad Co., Camden & Philadelphia Ferry Co., and West Jersey Marl & Transportation Co. He died in Salem, New Jersey
Salem, New Jersey
Salem is a city in Salem County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the city population was 5,146. It is the county seat of Salem County, the most rural county in the state of New Jersey. The name Salem is related to the Hebrew word shalom, meaning "peace".The town and...
on April 4, 1882, and was there interred in St. John's Episcopal Cemetery
St. John's Episcopal Cemetery, Salem
St. John's Episcopal Cemetery is a cemetery in Salem, the historic county seat of Salem County.-Noted interments:* Samuel Dick Delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey, 1784-85....
.
Sources
- Thomas Jones Yorke at The Political GraveyardThe Political GraveyardThe Political Graveyard is a website and database that catalogues information on more than 224,000 American political figures and political families, along with other information.-History:...