removed to this property, then called Littleworth, but was afterward known as Trent's Town, and subsequently changed to Trenton. It was, however, nothing but a hamlet, there being only two or three houses there at the death of Trent, which occurred in 1724, and only nine months after he became Chief-Justice. His re tention of office was so short that very little can be said of his performance of its duties. He was stricken down with apo plexy, and died on Christmas Day. His death was thought to be a public calamity, and was universally lamented. The courts of Hunterdon County, in which Trenton was then situate, had been held at that place. Trent before his death donated to that county the lot on which the first Court House was built. Trent was succeeded by Robert Lettice Hooper, who was an appointee of Governor Burnet, and who took the oath of office pn the thirtieth day of March, 1725. He was a member of the Assembly when he was appointed. There is a very great scarcity of material about this man's history, either » private or official. He held the office about three years, and seems to have been univer sally respected. Thomas Farmar, in 1728, succeeded Hooper. He came to New Jersey in 1711. He soon began to take a great interest in public affairs, was for many years a mem ber of the Assembly from Middlesex, and while such member was appointed second judge of the Supreme Court. He continued to hold his seat in the Legislature even after he ascended the bench. This did not seem to be incompatible with propriety in those days, as there is more than one instance where the same person held those two offices at the same time. Farmar was one of these persons. But his continuance in the office of Chief-Justice was very short, as he held it only from March, 1728, until November term, 1729, when Hooper resumed the posi tion. Farmar became insane, and was at times so violent that his friends were obliged
to confine him closely. He continued in this condition of mind for several years. Lewis Morris was one of the most noted characters in the colonial history of New Jersey. He was at one time appointed second judge of the Supreme Court; but no record can be found that he ever took his seat on the bench. It is believed that he never did, as very soon after his appoint ment he was made Chief-Justice of New York, and removed to that colony. He seems to have been a restless man, of great ability, and always assumed the popular side in the quarrels between Lord Cornbury and his antagonists in New Jersey. He was a member of the Council which was appointed by Queen Anne for her cousin when he was made governor. But Cornbury could not consent that so refractory a spirit should be a member of the board which had in a measure a sort of control over his move ments. So Morris was expelled, and Roger Mompesson took his place. In the subse quent quarrels between the royal governor and the Assembly, Morris took a very promi nent part. He was the author of the remon strance to Queen Anne against Cornbury, and it can be well imagined that the ex pelled member of the Council did not spare the Governor. After his expulsion he was returned a member of the Assembly, and had ample opportunity of revenging himself. The indictment against Cornbury which he presented to the Queen was a document of tremendous power, and did not spare the Governor, nor did it fail to expose his mean ness and his entire unfitness for the position of governor. When an infant, Lewis Morris had the misfortune to lose both of his parents, and was adopted by an uncle, who was unable to curb his wild spirit. He left home in early youth, strayed away to Virginia, and led a sort of vagabond life; but tiring of this, he returned to his home, and soon after ward became a judge of the Court of Com mon Right under the Proprietors After his appointment as Chief-Justice of New York,
