Judge Samuel Holten (1738-1816) was a practicing doctor for many years, but he also served the community through various government positions. For instance, Holten served as a judge for over thirty years. He took more of an active role in the Revolutionary War by serving as a member of the Second Continental Congress. In 1785 he was elected President of the Congress.

The Continental Congress was the early government of the United States. Each state sent delegates to represent their interests in the war with Britain. Initially, the Congress met to form a strong, unified resistance to the British. After the colonies declared their independence, the Congress became more of a national government. They acted on behalf of the United States, no longer the American colonies.

While serving in the Continental Congress, Judge Holten had the honor of signing the Articles of Confederation. This document was the first constitution of the young United States. One of the main problems the national government had with the document was that it gave more power to the states. It left a weak national government to make decisions that had implications for all the states. In order to have a unified country, the national government needed to be stronger. The United States Constitution shifted the power of the governments to create a stronger national government.

An ancestor of Judge Holten built the Judge Samuel Holten House in 1670. Originally it was only one room, but over time it had six additions built on. Numerous generations of Holten’s lived in this house. The Holten family no longer owns the home, the General Israel Putnam Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution has owned the property since 1921.

By: Jessica McKenzie 

Credits and Sources:

Essex National Heritage Area. “Judge Samuel Holten House.” Essex National Heritage Area. Accessed September 15, 2016. http://www.essexheritage.org/attractions/judge-samuel-holten-house

Jacoby, Lee. “Samuel Holten (1738-1816).” Peabody Essex Museum. Last modified November 2012. Accessed September 15, 2016. http://www.pem.org/library/finding_aids/MSS26_SamuelHoltenPapers.pdf

Office of the Historian. “Continental Congress, 1774-1781.” United States Department of State. Accessed September 15, 2016. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1776-1783/continental-congress