Background
Joseph was born near Harrisburg (now Paxtang, Pennsylvania) on October 3, 1733. Montgomery was on his mother"s side related to 1761-1766 Princeton President, Samuel Finley (1715-1766).
Joseph was born near Harrisburg (now Paxtang, Pennsylvania) on October 3, 1733. Montgomery was on his mother"s side related to 1761-1766 Princeton President, Samuel Finley (1715-1766).
Joseph Montgomery attended the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) and graduated in 1755.
The area at that time was part of Lancaster County. After a brief time as a school master, he began the study of theology. In 1760 he earned an Master of Arts degree from the College of Philadelphia (now part of the University of Pennsylvania) and began a ministerial career, serving at several churches in Pennsylvania.
In 1769 he was made pastor of a congregation in New Castle, Delaware, and continued there until 1777, when he joined the 1st Maryland Regiment of the Continental Army as a chaplain.
He served with Colonel William Smallwood"s unit for two years and was in major actions at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth, as well as the winter at Valley Forge. He was sent as one of the Pennsylvania delegates to the Continental Congress on November 23, 1780, and served there until 1782.
In 1782 and 1783 he was elected to the State Assembly. In February 1783 he also served on a commission to settle title disputes arising from Connecticut and Pennsylvania grants near Wyoming, Pennsylvania.
When Dauphin County was organized in 1785, he became a judge in its court of common pleas, as well as the recorder of deeds and register of wills.
He held these positions until his death. Rachel Rush (widow of Angus Boyce) Montgomery was born 18 October 1741 and died 28 July 1798 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. John Montgomery was born in 1771 to Rachel Rush and Joseph Montgomery.
Member Continental Congress from Pennsylvania