Anson County, NC - Winston Churchill Houston, 1746-1788

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The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans: 
Volume V
Houstoun, John

HOUSTON, William Churchill, delegate, was born in 1746; son of 
Archibald and Margaret Houston. His father was a planter of distinction 
and property, and was one of the earliest settlers of Anson County, 
N.C., having immigrated from Scotland or the north of Ireland, probably 
the former. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church, which 
fact probably influenced his son in his selection of a college after 
having received such education as the local school afforded. He entered 
the freshman class of the College of New Jersey, Princeton, serving as 
tutor in the grammar school connected with the college, to pay his way; 
was graduated, A.B., 1768; A.M., 1771, and was tutor there, 1767-71, 
and professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, 1771-83. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1781, and in 1783 resigned his professorship and 
practised law in Trenton, N.J. 

During his life at the college he took part in the war of the American 
Revolution, commanding a scouting-party in the defence of Princeton and 
the neighborhood, and was commissioned captain in the 2d battalion, 
Somerset guards, Feb. 28, 1776. When order was restored at the college 
he resumed his duties and with Dr. Witherspoon constituted the entire 
faculty of the college till 1779. 

He was a member of the general assembly of New Jersey from Somerset 
county in 1777; a member of the council of safety in 1778; a delegate 
from the county of Middlesex to the Continental congress, 1779-82, and 
1784-85, and receiver of Continental taxes, 1782-85. During his 
congressional career he took a prominent part in the debates and was 
associated with Monroe and King on the committee predating the well-
known report on foreign and domestic relations. He was elected a 
delegate from New Jersey to the convention of commissioners at 
Annapolis, Sept. 11, 1786, which paved the way for the convention at 
Philadelphia that framed the Federal constitution. He attended that 
convention, taking part in several debates, and it is related that at 
one time, being in very delicate health, he was carried into the hall 
in order to make a quorum. While he does not appear as a signer, there 
is every reason for stating that he heartily advocated its acceptance 
by the state of New Jersey, though his declining health prevented any 
very active participation. 

He was elected the first comptroller of the treasury, 1781, but 
declined to serve. He was clerk of the supreme court of New Jersey, 
1784-88. He was married to Jane, daughter of Caleb Smith, and 
granddaughter of President Jonathan Dickinson, of the College of New 
Jersey, Princeton. He died of consumption, while on his way south in 
search of health, in Frankfort, Pa., Aug. 12, 1788, and was buried in 
the Presbyterian churchyard at Fourth and Pine streets, Philadelphia, Pa.