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Signer of the Decloration of Independence
Samuel HUNTINGTON

Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949
Biographies W page 2022

HUNTINGTON, Samuel, a Delegate from Connecticut; born in Windham, Conn., July 3, 1731; attended the common schools; learned the trade of cooper; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1758 and commenced practice in Norwich, Conn., in 1758; executive councilor in 1763; member of the colonial assembly in 1764; appointed Crown attorney in 1765; judge of the superior court from 1774 to 1784 and served as chief justice in the last-named year; Member of the Continental Congress 1776-1784 and served as President from September 28, 1779, to July 6, 1781, when he retired, receiving the thanks of the Congress, but was returned again for a short period in 1783; a signer of the Declaration of Independence; Lieutenant Governor of the State in 1785, and Governor from 1786 until his death in Norwich, Conn., January 5, 1796; interment in Norwichtown Cemetery.

The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans:
Volume V H
page 449

HUNTINGTON, Samuel, signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born in Windham, Scotland county, Conn., July 3, 1731; son of Nathaniel and Mehetabel (Thurston) Huntington; grandson of Deacon Joseph and Rebecca (Adgate) Huntington; great grandson of Deacon Simon and Sarah (Clark) Huntington, and great2 grandson of Simon and Margaret (Beret) Huntington, who left Norwich, England, for Massachusetts Bay in 1633 with their sons, William, Thomas, Christopher and Simon, and the father dying of smallpox at sea, the mother settled in Roxborough, Massachusetts Bay colony, and married Thomas Stoughton, of Dorchester, in 1735-36. Nathaniel Huntington was a farmer in moderate circumstances and Samuel had a limited education, worked on the farm, and learned the trade of a cooper. He did not begin serious study till he was twenty-two years old, when he learned to read the Latin language and studied law. He settled as a lawyer in Norwich, Conn., about 1758, and was married, April 17, 1761, to Martha, daughter of the Rev. Ebenezer Devotion, pastor of the church at Windham. They had no children. He represented the town of Norwich in the general assembly in 1764, where he opposed the stamp act. He was, however, appointed king's attorney in 1765, and held the office for several years. He was appointed associate judge of the superior court of Connecticut, and was a member of the upper house of the general assembly in 1775. He was a delegate to the Continental congress, 1776-82, signed the Declaration of Independence of July 4, 1776, and was president of the body from Sept. 28, 1779, to July 6, 1781. On retiring he received a vote of thanks "in testimony of appreciation of his conduct in the chair and in execution of public business." In August, 1781, [p.449] he resumed his seat as justice of the superior court of Connecticut and as a member of the council or upper house of the general assembly. He was re-elected a delegate to congress in May, 1782, but did not take his seat owing to the condition of his health. He was again elected in 1783 and took his seat while the congress was assembled at Princeton, N.J., serving from June 30 to November 4, and when the congress adjourned he gave formal notice of his resignation on account of continued illness. He was elected chief justice of the superior court of Connecticut in 1784; deputy-governor in 1785 and governor in 1786. He was continuously re-elected governor at the succeeding yearly elections up to the time of his death. He received the honorary degree of A.M. from Yale in 1779 and that of LL.D. from the College of New Jersey in 1780 and from Yale in 1787. He died in Norwich, Conn., Jan. 5, 1796.

HUNTINGTON, Samuel, governor of Ohio, was born in Coventry, Conn., Oct. 4, 1765; son of the Rev. Joseph and Hannah (Devotion) Huntington and grandson of Nathaniel and Mebetabel (Thurston) Huntington, and of the Rev. Ebenezer Devotion, of Windham, Conn. The Rev. Joseph Huntington, born May 5, 1735, was a brother of Samuel, the signer, was graduated at Yale, A.B,, 1762, A.M., 1765, was pastor at Coventry, 1763-94, received the degree of D.D. from Dartmouth, 1780, was a trustee of Dartmouth, 1780-88, and died, Dec. 25, 1794. Samuel was adopted and educated by his uncle Samuel and was graduated at Yale, A.B., 1785, A.M., 1788. He also received an honorary A.B. from Dartmouth in 1785. He was married, Dec. 20, 1791, to Hannah, daughter of Judge Andrew and Lucy (Coit) Huntington. He was admitted to the bar in 1793 and practised in Norwich, Conn., 1793-1801, in Cleveland, Ohio, 1801-05, and in Painesville, Ohio, 1805-17. He served as a delegate to the Ohio state constitutional convention of 1802; was judge of the court of common pleas, 1802-03; of the supreme court, 1803-09, and chief justice during the term; was a state senator in the first general assembly, 1803; the third governor of the state, 1809-10, and a representative and speaker in the 10th general assembly, 1811-12. In 1819 he was one of the original proprietors of Fairport, and in the war of 1812-13 was district paymaster with the rank of colonel. He died in Painesville, Ohio, June 8, 1817.

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