Pierpont Edwards was a delegate to the American Continental Congress, and later a United States federal judge.
Background
He was the eleventh and youngest child of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards and Sarah (Pierpont) Edwards. He was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, but spent most of his childhood in Stockbridge, where his father served as missionary after dismissal from his Northampton pastorate.
Education
He graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1768, studied law, and began practise at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1771.
Career
He spent the greater part of his life in New Haven, although he removed, later on, to Bridgeport.
He was elected to the lower house of the legislature in 1777, 1784-85, and 1787-90.
He served as speaker for three sessions during the last period.
In 1787-88 he was a delegate to the Continental Congress.
He supported the Federal Constitution and wras a member of the Connecticut ratifying convention.
During his political career his character was savagely attacked.
In 1806 he was appointed judge of the district court of Connecticut by President Jefferson.
In this court he served throughout the remainder of his life.
Shortly after his appointment, while presiding in the circuit court, he charged the grand jury that it was their duty to consider the authors and publishers of libels against the government, and “diligently enquire after all breaches of law, ” inasmuch as “such publications, if the authors of them may not be restrained will more effectually undermine and sap the foundations of our Constitution and Government, than any kind of treason that can be named” (Litchfield Witness, Apr. 30, 1806).
For a Republican, with recollections of the Sedition Law fresh in mind, this was astonishing doctrine.
Furthermore it involved, in effect, the principle that the United States courts had jurisdiction at common law, no statutory authority for libel prosecutions having been conferred.
In response to Judge Edwards’s charge, the grand jury indicted several clergymen and editors, although there was manifest reluctance to push the cases.
The Connecticut libel prosecutions received wide-spread publicity in connection with the newspaper warfare then in progress throughout New England, but can hardly be held to redound to the credit of Judge Edwards.
In 1818 he was a member of the famous Connecticut constitutional convention, serving as chairman of the committee which drafted and presented the new instrument of government. This constitution established most of the reforms which Republicans had demanded for almost twenty years.
The calling of the convention was preceded by involved political maneuvers, and Edwards took an important part in developing the strategy by which the various elements opposing Federalist rule were consolidated into a powerful and victorious majority.
Achievements
Religion
Whether he was an ordinary example of the alleged delinquent “minister’s sons, ” a pathological result of too much Calvinism in early youth, or merely the victim of Federalist propaganda, is of no great importance in view of his willingness to assume the defense of minority causes, champion liberalism and religious freedom, and conduct a long and discouraging contest with the dominant elements in Connecticut affairs.
He was especially interested in securing the disestablishment of the Congregational Church and was the object of considerable clerical abuse as a result.
Politics
He had liberal views in both politics and religion, and if he is not belied, in morals as well.
Views
He supported the Revolutionary movement and performed military service during the campaigns in Connecticut.
Quotations:
Shortly after his appointment, while presiding in the circuit court, he charged the grand jury that it was their duty to consider the authors and publishers of libels against the government, and “diligently enquire after all breaches of law, ” inasmuch as “such publications, if the authors of them may not be restrained will more effectually undermine and sap the foundations of our Constitution and Government, than any kind of treason that can be named” (Litchfield Witness, Apr. 30, 1806).
When, however, the publishers of the Connecticut Courant were prosecuted for a libel on President Jefferson and Congress, the federal Supreme Court demolished the doctrine of common-law jurisdiction by declaring that "the legislative authority of the Union must first make an act a crime, affix a punishment to it, and declare the Court that shall have jurisdiction of the offence” (United States vs. Hudson & Goodwin, 7 Crunch, 34, February term, 1812)
Membership
member of the lower house of the legislature
delegate to the Continental Congress
Jeffersonian Republicans
Personality
As a lawyer he was successful and prosperous.
Connections
In May 1769 he married Frances, daughter of Moses Ogden of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, and after her death, which occurred on July 7, 1800, he married Mary Tucker of Bridgeport, Connecticut.