january august merchant businessman politician american colonial period served simultaneously decade colonial governor british colonies new_hampshire massachusetts later years governor new_jersey born wealthy massachusetts merchant family attended entered family business local politics instrumental promoting governor massachusetts sat colony council time eventually joined populist faction sudden death governor successfully acquired massachusetts new_hampshire tenure politically perceived opposition powerful enemies provinces long running border dispute massachusetts new_hampshire sided massachusetts interests despite openly proclaiming neutrality matter later discovered allowed illegal logging crown lands political allies opponents led eventually convinced replace massachusetts new_hampshire border dispute resolved new_hampshire favor appointed governor new_jersey support community unsuccessfully attempted partisan conflicts new_jersey large landowners promoted establishment princeton_university tenure royal governor ill progressive nervous disorder died office massachusetts named early life youth education born cambridge province massachusetts bay january fifth seven children father andrew businessman mother daughter politically connected connecticut merchant indian trader mother died seven father sent live relatives country expanded trading business highly successful trade violation supposedly conducted pirates money wealthiest men massachusetts promote family status sent son listed second order listing rough indication family importance went political careers province allies opponents sisters married politically economically prominent families important connections career january married daughter new_hampshire lieutenant governor occasional business partner father couple children andrew sarah died brother law marriage painter agent father commercial empire graduated harvard age entered father business trading empire father built encompassed trade west_indies europe included shares outright ownership ships spring father sent london business contacts secure military supply contracts relations based father letters introduction london traveled netherlands dutch merchants begin tour western europe seeing sights amsterdam traveled received met future king great_britain george duke calling prussian court berlin returned new_england travels exposed variety religious practices found regular comfort christian services similar leaning eventually came defender faith practice political life years war spanish succession north american theater known war father retained major supplier provincial militia served province general involved management family trading activities traveled london secured major contract admiralty returning massachusetts traveled received court war effort caused economic massachusetts grain supplies military use focus popular discontent food shortages arose late war family warehouses targets mob action beaten mob occasion investments merchant interests included occasional trafficking slaves known owned slaves ordering friend presented enslaved indian second visit despite expressed slavery writing parts wish addition trade family extensive land holdings new_england errors early surveys line massachusetts neighboring connecticut massachusetts early gave lands central portion province connecticut compensation survey errors favor connecticut auctioned equivalent lands buyers lands allocated eventually incorporated inherited property father located connecticut spent significant money unsuccessful attempt property metal particularly copper expanded mining interests acquiring stake connecticut reported having invested ventures failed british law time illegal copper colonies necessitating costly shipment england eventually established technically illegal operation site later state prison accession king george sent london seeking capitalize existing connection new king trip engaged recruiting properties connecticut addition hiring experienced metal england recruited german miners area near known consequence presence previously toured mines mountains visit agent colonel commissioned governor massachusetts new_hampshire new king representing opponents land bank proposal promised support resign left england instrumental promoting alternative believing things likely received new_england prominent family coached political situation province won appointment arrived boston october began difficult contentious tenure office signaled taking residence son appointed governor land bank opponent acting governor elected massachusetts governor council tenure seen political faction generally supported governor consequently council times blocked efforts populist leader struggle continued left province end prosecute differences assembly london increasingly unhappy influence administration brother law followed arrived governor unexpectedly elected boston town meeting election apparently engineered dispute assembly salary exceeded occupied brief tenure common cause issue elected assembly agent london explain colonial position governor salary helped raise funds needed trip governor massachusetts new_hampshire london news arrived governor died suddenly lobbied awarded job governor massachusetts new_hampshire accomplished bypassing appealing directly higher level ministers government earning powerful board secretary opposed nomination accepting appointment effectively promising argue colony favor position sent london argue long tenure served longer massachusetts provincial governor argue colonial politicians acting interest working convince london colonial administrators implementing policies writes consequence trying good terms province administration lost respect massachusetts london arranged lieutenant governor replaced appointment post ironically managed lobbying appointment recommended relations seriously strained dismissed colonial agent received massachusetts arrival immediately began purge opponents supporters positions control immediately notice freely use patronage power political weapon early issue took defending established church ardent establishment massachusetts perceived dangerous attempts adherents church_of_england particular gain church taxes willing exemption relatively modest number refused support numerous politically connected apparent instructed support exemption brought potent support base community london presided meeting indians agreed accept missionaries authorized erection mission house built agreement stands sought improve business conditions boston tours europe opportunity witness comparatively orderly markets dutch cities learned experiences significantly reform previously chaotic markets boston positive feelings prompted boston street honor new_hampshire administration new_hampshire started friendly rapidly turned sour learned lieutenant governor offered support governorship available consequently turned entire clan retaliation took ally bitter opponent relative marriage long tenure lieutenant governor established large power base province land owners merchants powerful enemies biographer influence drove strip allies patronage positions power base generally unhappy new_hampshire tied massachusetts shared governorship resented fact massachusetts man occupied post influence new_hampshire assembly hostile opponents able convince appoint number provincial council objections repeated unsuccessful attempts sympathetic assemblies calling elections times tenure refused enact legislative proposals appointed lieutenant governor new_hampshire died december friendly king surveyor responsible identifying trees suitable use ship masts ensuring illegal logging taking place lands northern new_england work opposition significant number supporters engaged illegal logging lands behavior explicitly governor took steps possible ensure exercise significant powers refusing seat council making frequent trips boston portsmouth exercise authority personally men disliked began moving supporters london lobby replacement long appointment illegal logging activity allies eventually came attention crown advocate provincial admiralty court patron powerful duke newcastle boundary dispute unwilling resolve longstanding boundary disputes new_hampshire massachusetts disputed territory included areas west great bend near present day massachusetts present day concord new_hampshire competing provinces engaging increasingly tense legal action petty violence despite claims neutral matter orchestrated affairs prefer settlement lands north west massachusetts residents dispute eventually reached highest levels government court england new_hampshire advocates separation massachusetts found able spokesman london merchant logging interests convinced establish commission boundary issue despite attempts legislative proceedings advantage massachusetts example allowing new_hampshire assembly day prepare case dispute massachusetts months final ruling boundary issued went significantly new_hampshire favor united opposition representatives political enemies began unified opposition london sought lucrative position sent wife london lobby behalf making common cause wealthy lumber baron supply contracts royal_navy harmed support illegal logging resigned lieutenant governor went london provided documentation logging practices forces united effort replacement massachusetts new_hampshire matters complicated london politics currency crisis massachusetts ordered effect retirement large massachusetts paper currency legislation accomplish rejected leading introduction competing banking proposals province faction dominated landowners proposed land bank merchants proposed bank issue silver backed paper proposals massachusetts political establishment unable sides fear supporters instead sought success assembly passing currency retirement scheme acceptable london elections land bank supporters swept office bank began issuing notes merchant interests opposed land bank began widespread lobbying london parliamentary relief came passed legislation extending bubble act companies colonies likely crisis massachusetts duke newcastle successfully pressured prime minister declare war spain war strategy involved raising provincial forces assist operations spanish holdings west_indies expected raise men promised raise able raise massachusetts promised new_hampshire reluctance extra companies travel caribbean assurances pay supply pursuit financial agenda vetoed bills issue currency fund militia raised exact reasons dismissal recurring subject scholarly interest colonial imperial political factors play principal themes analyses acquisition local enemies idea good imperial governance london eventually required replacement issues efforts failed noted year carrying manner years past historian notes powerful newcastle time generally issues deal colonial politics instance imperial colonial considerations coincided need massachusetts provide significant number troops newcastle proposed west_indies expedition april newcastle effect offered opportunity prove light political difficulties effectively raise troops governor consequently engaged recruiting principally outside massachusetts refused offers assistance understanding going newcastle documentation successes preoccupied banking crisis newcastle handed issue secretary known opponent apparently decided based weight evidence needed replaced april approved commission governor massachusetts commission governor new_hampshire issued following june governor new_jersey fact supplanted came surprise expected lose new_hampshire governorship shocked news commissioning arrived following inauguration retired estate seemingly restless financial need expressed weak interest possibility holding colonial appointment traveled england stopping dublin visit son arrived london joined social circles communities including influential members brother law called colonial administrators hopes acquiring new posting remained years word arrived governor new_jersey died new_jersey strong political establishment immediately began supporters community assist securing post able posting agents morris son time organize effort served governor new_jersey death year arrival provincial capital married second time widow met london september political situation arrive highly riots previous year widespread disagreements land titles land owners controlled provincial council farmers tenants controlled assembly legislation stalled inability assembly council governor resolve differences issues governor morris high handed actions support united previously divided populist factions council province rural different cultures religions unlike predominantly english new england near new_york heavily populated evangelical christians reverend found welcome regularly attended services particularly influenced including leaders great awakening corresponded arrival prompted goodwill resulting passage bills fund government deal ongoing colonial paper currency divisions soon lines believed land issues resolved negotiation parties sought maintain position neutral dispute propelled office interests refused support council moves advance interests received little support assembly assembly council divided issue tax undeveloped lands owned large amounts government short funds controversial matter able establishment known princeton_university college proposed new_jersey evangelical found religious agreement leaders expressed great reservations drive gain charter school grounds vehicle converting children governor morris refused grant death council president acting prior appointment granted charter college opponents pressured withdraw charter instead adopted college cause support expanded board include diversity religious views building constructed college board wanted preferring named honor hailed result building stands known nassau hall supported establishment college library bequeathed personal library legislature remained divided french indian war broke demands support military action brought unity assembly objected increased funding militia refused authorize additional paper currency later demands increased security reluctant support militia action outside province boundaries legislators complained meetings frequently held primarily poor health new_jersey administration ill suffering type progressive disorder summer moved hopes health improve eventually hands paralyzed wife employed write died home august body transported massachusetts buried cambridge personal youngest son appointed chief justice lieutenant governor nova scotia son andrew continued family business father standards served massachusetts governor council children second wife prevail son andrew marry daughter marriage uncle future massachusetts lieutenant governor chief justice great grandfather british admiral reputation exhibiting personality said contemporaries divisions new_jersey wrote caricature arrogant despite belief rational action calculated maneuver acquired governorship took potential assaults power personally reacted attempts destroy enemies personal correspondence friends family supporters names refer opponents applied pressure press boston ensure reasonably favorable coverage legacy massachusetts named home survives listed national_register_of_historic_places contributing property summer home massachusetts destroyed fire portions survived replacement built widow known listed house massachusetts named recognition different time lineage family burial death left instructions buried ardent friend cousin judge father law declaration independence body judge placed monument governor directed raised resting place erected tomb family vault granddaughter married site grave forgotten long search late 1800s local historians found judge buried grave old burying ground cambridge tomb judge judge rest remains chief justice poet 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Jonathan Belcher