William Pinhorne facts for kids

William Pinhorne (who died around 1720) was an important person in early American history. He was a politician and a judge in the colonies of New York and New Jersey.

William Pinhorne's Early Career

Working in New York

William Pinhorne likely came to New York City from England in the 1670s. In May 1683, he bought a house on Broadway. That same year, he became an Alderman for the East Ward of New York City. An Alderman was like a city council member today. In 1685, he was chosen as the Speaker of the New York General Assembly, which was a group that made laws.

In 1691, when Governor Henry Sloughter took office, Pinhorne was chosen to be part of the New York Provincial Council. This council helped the governor run the colony. He also served as a judge in a special court. This court was set up to try Jacob Leisler for serious charges. Leisler was found guilty and faced serious consequences.

On May 15, 1691, William Pinhorne became the Fourth Justice on the New York Supreme Court. In 1692, he moved to a large farm of over 1,000 acres (400 hectares) in East Jersey. Because he moved, he was temporarily removed from his jobs in New York on September 1. He returned to New York the next year. On March 22, 1693, he was appointed Second Justice of the New York Supreme Court. He was also put back on the Council on June 10.

On June 7, 1698, Lord Bellomont became the new governor. Pinhorne lost all his jobs in New York. This happened because of something he had said almost ten years earlier. Governor Bellomont thought it showed support for a group called the Jacobites. He also accused Pinhorne of "harbouring and entertaining one Smith a Jesuit in his house."

Moving to New Jersey

In 1698, William Pinhorne was appointed to the East New Jersey Provincial Council. He served in this role while Jeremiah Basse was governor. He kept this position until the government was given back to the King and Queen of England.

In the late 1690s, the governments of East and West Jersey were not working well. Because of this, the people who owned these colonies, called the Proprietors, gave their right to govern to Queen Anne. Queen Anne's government then joined the two colonies together. They became the Province of New Jersey, which was a royal colony directly controlled by the Crown. This created a new way of governing.

On July 29, 1703, William Pinhorne was appointed to the New Jersey Provincial Council. He served on this council under several different governors.

In 1704, Governor Viscount Cornbury named him the Second Justice of the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice, Roger Mompesson, was actually Pinhorne's son-in-law.

Lord Lovelace, who became governor after Cornbury, died on May 6, 1709. Lieutenant Governor Richard Ingoldesby then became the acting governor. On June 16, Ingoldesby removed Lewis Morris, who was the President of the Council. William Pinhorne was next in line, so he became the new president.

Ingoldesby did not know that his own job as lieutenant governor had been taken away in October 1709. The news only reached him in April 1710. Because Pinhorne was the President of the Council, he became the acting governor. He served in this role until June 10, 1710, when Governor Robert Hunter took office.

Pinhorne and Hunter soon disagreed with each other. In 1711, Hunter asked London to remove Pinhorne from all his jobs in New Jersey. Hunter kept pushing for Pinhorne and other council members to be replaced. On April 23, 1713, the Lords of Trade wrote to Hunter. They told him that the King had approved new council members.

William Pinhorne passed away in early 1720.

Pinhorne's Family Life

William Pinhorne married Mary, who was the daughter of Lieutenant Governor Richard Ingoldesby. One of their daughters, Martha, married Chief Justice Roger Mompesson of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Pinhorne also had another daughter named Mary and a son named John.