Joseph Darlington
Encyclopedia
Joseph Darlington was a representative in the Legislature of the Northwest Territory
, and a delegate to the Convention that wrote the first Constitution of the State of Ohio
.
Joseph Darlington was born July 19, 1765 near Winchester, Virginia
, on the 400 acre plantation of his father, Meredith Darlington. As a young man, he traveled extensively, and spent extravagantly. On March 18, 1790, he married the rich heiress Sarah Wilson of Romney, Virginia (now West Virginia)
, who had also been courted by Albert Gallatin
. They lived in Romney for a few months, until moving to a farm she owned in Fayette County, Pennsylvania
. There, two sons were born, the couple joined the Presbyterian Church, and Darlington was elected County Commissioner.
Life in Pennsylvania depressed them, so they took a boat down the Ohio River
to Limestone (now Maysville), Kentucky
, landing there November 14, 1794. He became a ferryman, but tired of that, and brought land across the river in the Northwest Territory
, and moved there Spring of 1797. When Adams County
was formed by Governor St. Clair
, July 10, 1797, St. Clair named Darlington Judge of Probate. In 1798, he was appointed one of the first County Commissioners. That year he was also made an elder of the Presbyterian Church, which he remained for the rest of his life.
Darlington was elected an Adams County Representative to the Northwest Territory House of Representatives, which met off and on in three sessions between September 1799 and January 1802. In 1802, Darlington was elected as one of three Adams County delegates, along with Israel Donalson
and Thomas Kirker
, to the first Constitutional Convention
of Ohio which met November 1-29, 1802. He voted 'no' on allowing the unpopular Governor of the Territory, Arthur St. Clair
, to address the Convention, which passed 19-14, 'no' on submitting the Constitution to popular referendum, which failed 27-7, 'no' on allowing slavery, which failed 2-31, 'no' on allowing a poll tax or religious test for office, and 'yes' on allowing Blacks to vote.
In 1803, he relocated to West Union, Ohio
, where he lived the remainder of his years. He was a Trustee of Ohio University
from 1804 to 1815. In 1804 he was commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the Ohio Militia
, and became General Darlington March 17, 1806, when he was named a brigadier general. He was appointed clerk of the court of common pleas in Adams County August 3, 1802, and was re-appointed up till August, 1847. He served as recorder of Adams County 1803-1810 and 1813-1834. On February 20, 1810, he was appointed a member of the commission to locate the capital of the state. In later years he was a Whig
.
He owned the land, and laid out the town of Winchester, Ohio
. He named it for Winchester, Virginia, where he grew up, but never re-visited.
He eventually had eight children.
Joseph Darlington died August 2, 1851 in an epidemic of Cholera
, which he had dreaded all his life.
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
, and a delegate to the Convention that wrote the first Constitution of the State of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Joseph Darlington was born July 19, 1765 near Winchester, Virginia
Winchester, Virginia
Winchester is an independent city located in the northwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the USA. The city's population was 26,203 according to the 2010 Census...
, on the 400 acre plantation of his father, Meredith Darlington. As a young man, he traveled extensively, and spent extravagantly. On March 18, 1790, he married the rich heiress Sarah Wilson of Romney, Virginia (now West Virginia)
Romney, West Virginia
Romney is a city in and the county seat of Hampshire County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,940 at the 2000 census, while the area covered by the city's ZIP code had a population of 5,873. It is a city with a very historic background dating back to the 18th century...
, who had also been courted by Albert Gallatin
Albert Gallatin
Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin was a Swiss-American ethnologist, linguist, politician, diplomat, congressman, and the longest-serving United States Secretary of the Treasury. In 1831, he founded the University of the City of New York...
. They lived in Romney for a few months, until moving to a farm she owned in Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. There, two sons were born, the couple joined the Presbyterian Church, and Darlington was elected County Commissioner.
Life in Pennsylvania depressed them, so they took a boat down the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
to Limestone (now Maysville), Kentucky
Maysville, Kentucky
Maysville is a city in and the county seat of Mason County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 8,993 at the 2000 census, making it the fiftieth largest city in Kentucky by population. Maysville is on the Ohio River, northeast of Lexington. It is the principal city of the Maysville...
, landing there November 14, 1794. He became a ferryman, but tired of that, and brought land across the river in the Northwest Territory
Northwest Territory
The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio, more commonly known as the Northwest Territory, was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 13, 1787, until March 1, 1803, when the southeastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Ohio...
, and moved there Spring of 1797. When Adams County
Adams County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,330 people, 10,501 households, and 7,613 families residing in the county. The population density was 47 people per square mile . There were 11,822 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
was formed by Governor St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
, July 10, 1797, St. Clair named Darlington Judge of Probate. In 1798, he was appointed one of the first County Commissioners. That year he was also made an elder of the Presbyterian Church, which he remained for the rest of his life.
Darlington was elected an Adams County Representative to the Northwest Territory House of Representatives, which met off and on in three sessions between September 1799 and January 1802. In 1802, Darlington was elected as one of three Adams County delegates, along with Israel Donalson
Israel Donalson
Israel Donalson was an early settler in the Northwest Territory, and helped write the first Ohio Constitution.right|350px|thumb|Seen at age 91...
and Thomas Kirker
Thomas Kirker
Thomas Kirker was a Democratic-Republican politician from Ohio. He served as the second Governor of Ohio.Kirker was born in County Tyrone, Ireland. He moved with his father to Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1779. He moved with his new wife to Kentucky in 1790 and then Liberty Township, Adams County,...
, to the first Constitutional Convention
Ohio Constitutional Convention (1802)
The Enabling Act of 1802 was passed on April 30, 1802 by the Seventh Congress of the United States. This act authorized the residents of the eastern portion of the Northwest Territory to form the state of Ohio and join the U.S. on an equal footing with the other states...
of Ohio which met November 1-29, 1802. He voted 'no' on allowing the unpopular Governor of the Territory, Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair
Arthur St. Clair was an American soldier and politician. Born in Scotland, he served in the British Army during the French and Indian War before settling in Pennsylvania, where he held local office...
, to address the Convention, which passed 19-14, 'no' on submitting the Constitution to popular referendum, which failed 27-7, 'no' on allowing slavery, which failed 2-31, 'no' on allowing a poll tax or religious test for office, and 'yes' on allowing Blacks to vote.
In 1803, he relocated to West Union, Ohio
West Union, Ohio
West Union is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,903 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adams County....
, where he lived the remainder of his years. He was a Trustee of Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
from 1804 to 1815. In 1804 he was commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the Ohio Militia
Ohio Military Reserve
The Ohio Military Reserve is a military force which supports the State of Ohio along with the Ohio Army National Guard and Ohio Air National Guard in times of natural disaster and state and national emergencies....
, and became General Darlington March 17, 1806, when he was named a brigadier general. He was appointed clerk of the court of common pleas in Adams County August 3, 1802, and was re-appointed up till August, 1847. He served as recorder of Adams County 1803-1810 and 1813-1834. On February 20, 1810, he was appointed a member of the commission to locate the capital of the state. In later years he was a Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
.
He owned the land, and laid out the town of Winchester, Ohio
Winchester, Ohio
Winchester is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,025 at the 2000 census. The name of the surrounding township is also Winchester.-Geography:Winchester is located at ....
. He named it for Winchester, Virginia, where he grew up, but never re-visited.
He eventually had eight children.
Joseph Darlington died August 2, 1851 in an epidemic of Cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
, which he had dreaded all his life.