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THE name of Hart seens to be Common to several nationalities ;-- England has its Harts, Scotland and Ireland. The origin of the name is not made known. Whether it obtained a place from David's beautiful animal that panted for the water brooks, does not fully appear. The variety in spelling is not as great as appears in many other names. The prevailing is simply Hart, -- occasionally Hartt, Harte, Heart, and Hearte. Maj. Jonathan Hart, of Kensington, Conn., (in some respects the most distinguished man of the race,) always spelt and signed Heart. Edmund Harte, (supposed to be a brother of Deacon Stephen Hart, who stands at the head of this "Hart Memorial" as progenitor,) has his name in a list of those who took the freeman's oath May 14th, 1634, as spelled above, -- Harte ; while his brother, Stephen, is in the same list of Winthrop's New England, -- Hart. So that a difference in spelling (as is the case with many other families,) does not determine the race or family to which they belong. The history of Dorchester; Mass., makes Edmund Hart, above, one of the first settlers of that town, and had his house lot 1632, but subsequently removed to Weymonth. Savage makes his children all daughters, and thus his name disappeared. Honest John Hart, (as he is called,) born at Hopewell, N. J., and who died there at an advanced age, in 1780, was the son of Edward, a farmer. He passed the early portion of his life on his estate, and being often elected to the colonial assembly, was prominent, especially in legislating for local improvements. In 1774, he was chosen to the General Congress, at Philadelphia, where he was noted for his sound judgment and inflexible determination; he was re-elected the two following years, and signed the declaration of Independence with peculiar zeal. New Jersey was soon invaded by the British army; the estate of Mr. Hart was devastated, and special exertions were made to take him prisoner. He fled from his family and wandered through the woods, from cottage to cottage, and from cave to cave, constantly hunted by his enemies, so that he never ventured to sleep twice in the same place. The capture of the Hessians, by Washington, allowed him to return to his estate, on which he passed the remainder of his life. His descendants are somewhat numerous |