History of Marlboro, (Cumberland County) New Jersey United States of America

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Thomas Henderson, statesman, was born in Freehold, N.J., in 1743; a son of John Henderson, who was clerk of the Old Scotch Presbyterian church in 1730, elder of the Freehold Presbyterian church as early as 1744, and died Jan. 1, 1771; grandson of Michael, who died at Marlboro, N.J., Aug. 23, 1722; and probably a descendant of John Henderson, a Scotchman, who came to America in the Henry and Francis in 1685. Thomas Henderson was graduated from the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1761, A.M., 1764, and studied medicine under Dr. Nathaniel Scudder of Freehold, beginning practice in Monmouth county about 1765. He was elected a member of the New Jersey Medical society in 1766. On Dec. 10, 1774, he was appointed to the Freehold "committee of observation" for the preservation and support of American freedom, and his name appears in the records as an energetic member. His military service in the American Revolution commenced Feb. 15, 1776, as 2d major in Colonel Stewart's battalion of minutemen. He was made major of Colonel Heard's battalion June 14, 1776, and subsequently lieutenant-colonel of Forman's battalion of Heard's brigade. He was brigade-major at Monmouth, and at Freehold Court House be was the "solitary horseman" who informed Washington of the cowardice of Gen. Charles Lee, who had thrown away his advantage and deprived his commander of the assistance of 6000 men by ordering a retreat without striking a blow. When the town was laid waste Dr. Henderson's was the house destroyed. He was a member of the provincial council in 1777; delegate to the Continental congress, 1779-80; vice-president of the council of New Jersey, 1794, and acting governor during the absence of Governor Howell at the head of New Jersey troops to quell Shays's rebellion in Pennsylvania. He was a representative in the 4th U.S. congress, 1795-97, and subsequently surrogate of Monmouth county, state representative, judge of the common pleas and boundary commissioner. He was married to Mary Hendricks, granddaughter of William Wikoff. She died soon after their marriage, and in January, 1778, he was married to Rachel, daughter of John Burrowes, of Middletown Point, N.J. (born September, 1751, died Aug. 22, 1840). By his second marriage he had seven daughters. He was ruling elder of the Tennent (Presbyterian) church at Freehold for more than forty years. He is the author of Memoir of the Life of the Rev. William Tennent, Jr. (1807). He died in Freehold. N.J., Dec. 15, 1824.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Marlboro, (Cumberland County) New Jersey

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