Samuel Huntington

Born: 16 Oct 1723, Windham, CT
Died: 20 Mar 1797,  E. Haddam, CT

President of the Continental Congress, Governor of Connecticut, Signer of Articles of Confederation and Declaration of Independence
Common Ancestor:
Matthew Marvin
9th Gr Grandfather
of Merle G Ladd		 2nd Gr Grandfather
of Samuel Huntington
 
Abigail Marvin Rebecca Marvin
John Bouton Mary Clark
John Bouton Samuel Huntington
John Fancher Samuel Huntington
Squire Fancher  
Ira Fancher  
Lucilla Fancher  
Douglas C Ladd  
Irving L Ladd  
Allen D Ladd  
Merle G Ladd  
 
Relationship to Merle G Ladd:
3th Cousin, 7 Times Removed
After brief service as a selectman, Huntington began his political career in earnest in 1764 when Norwich sent him as one of their representatives to the Connecticut Assembly. He continued to be returned to that office each year until 1774. To his practice and role in the assembly, Governor Fitch named him the King's attorney in 1765. He also remained in the post until 1774. In 1774 Governor Jonathan Trumbull appointed him to the colony's Supreme Court, which was then superior court. This position carried with it a seat on the Governor's Council which served as an upper legislative house to the assembly. He held this office continually until 1778, and for that last year he was the Chief Justice.

Huntington was an outspoken critic of the Coercive Acts of the British Parliament. As a result, the assembly elected him in October, 1775 to become one of their delegates in the Continental Congress. In January of 1776 he took his place with Roger Sherman and Oliver Wolcott as the Connecticut delegation in Philadelphia. He voted for and signed the Declaration of Independence.

Samuel Huntington was the seventh president of the Continental Congress overall, and the second prior president to John Hanson. Huntington never used the title "President of the United States" (which was invented in 1787 and first used by George Washington). Samuel returned to the Congress each year through 1781. As a result, he was also one of the members who signed the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union when the congress adopted them in 1777. For several years in the Congress he quietly supported the revolution, having his greatest impact by urging the states and their legislatures to support the levies for men, supplies, and money needed to fight the Revolutionary War.  In 1785 he was elected as Lieutenant Governor for Connecticut, serving with Governor Matthew Griswold. In 1786 he followed Griswold as Governor of Connecticut, and was reelected annually until his death in 1796.