Roger Sherman: Shoemaker, Scholar, Statesman

Roger Sherman was born on 19, 1721 in Newton Massachusetts. He was the second child to be born to his Dad William Sherman and his mother Mehetabel Sherman. Roger’s father supported the family by farming and the work of shoemaking. Roger’s mother was known to have strong moral values, and instill those values into her children. At the age of three, his father had moved the family to Soughton which used to be a frontier town, and was located seventeen miles South of Boston. His father worked as Cordwainer and a farmer and taught Roger about his trade. Roger had a very limited education, and only had his dad’s library. However, Roger craved to read and learn to during his free time to help benefit his education and knowledge. But Roger did

not have the time to learn, instead he spent most of his time with his dad doing working on his dad's farm. But when Roger turned thirteen, he attended a grammar school which had been built by the town. Roger also received education from a parish minister named Rev. Samuel Dunbar. Danbar helped to further Roger’s knowledge by teaching him on his mathematics, sciences, Philosophy, and literature. When Roger turned 19, Roger had died and Roger felt the need to take responsibility for the estate in which his father had owned. In June of 1743, Roger relocated the family to New Milford with his oldest brother, William. Both Roger and his brother, opened up the town’s first store. Roger had soon involved himself in religious and civil affairs, and was fastly becoming one of the town's leading citizens. Eventually, Roger became the town clerk of Milford. Roger was very mathematically skilled, which allowed for him to become the county surveyor of New Haven County in 1745. In 148, he also began to provide astronomical calculations almanacs. He also published a popular Almanac from 1750 to 1761.
Sherman got married to Elizabeth Hartwell in 1749, and together, they had a family of seven. Sherman had showed interest in land surveying. He was involved in surveyor training which sooner or later paid off. His interest in surveying led to Sherman being appointed the surveyor of New Haven by the Connecticut General Assembly, then later, Litchfield County. Sherman began to actively participate in town meetings and assemblies, and was motivated by his growing interest in land surveying. Sherman had a distinguished judicial and political career also. He studied law and then was admitted to the bar in 1754. Between the time period of 1755 and 1761, he had served as a representative in the colonial legislature, as well as holding the offices of justice of the peace along with the county judge. Sherman was a early supporter of American Independence from Britain. After the death of his first wife in October of 1760, he will remarry Rebecca Prescott having eight children together. After all this has taken place, Sherman will move the family to New Haven. At this point in time, Sherman was growing tired and bored with the practice of law. Once Sherman moved to New Haven, he gave up practicing law along with surveying. But he did not give up his career as a retailer, and opened a store across from Yale College selling books and general merchandise. In 1764, Sherman was once again elected to the General Assembly, in 1765 he was appointed justice of the peace for New Haven County. Sherman had a strong leadership in his community and served as a treasurer, friend, and benefactor of Yale college.

Sherman represented at the Constitutional Convention in 1781 in Philadelphia, attending mostly all of the sessions.

Sherman remained very vocal at the Constitutional Convention, and is credited for delivering 138 speeches. Sherman was assigned to many committees dealing with problems such as foreign affairs and finances. Sherman also served an important role there too. Sherman had signed the United States Constitution also helping to ensure that connecticut ratified it by writing newspaper articles. Sherman was a long time member and had a great influence on the Constitutional Convention. Being that Sherman was a long time member, he served through 1774 to 1781 and 1783 to 1784. Sherman serving 1.543 days. On May 30th, Sherman admitted that the Confederation did not give him a certain power to Congs. Along with saying that additional powers were needed, and that raising money would have many other powers involved. Sherman admitted that the General and particular jurisdiction should not be concurrent. Whenever the delegates were stuck on how to divide legislative representation among large and small states, Sherman and his colleague Oliver Ellsworth, introduced the Connecticut Compromise.Sherman encouraged the Connecticut Compromise, which would provide a bicameral legislature with the use of a dual system of representation. The Connecticut Compromise people would be able to be represented in the house, by even representation in one branch of the legislature, this would be the House of Representatives. The Senate would be another house that the states would be represented by. In each state, there would be a representative for every 30,000 people. However in the upper house, each state would be guaranteed two senators, didn’t matter the size either. This plan brought and grab the attention of small and large states, and ensured for those favoring an weak or strong federal government. Sherman was a federalist and supported Alexander Hamilton's wanting for a

National bank and protective tariffs. Sherman also had debated with James Madison about the representation issue. Sherman was described as “one of the most sensible men in the world” by John Adams, while Sherman was described as “a man who never said a foolish thing in his life” said by Thomas Jefferson. Sherman was the only member found to sign the Articles of Association, the Declaration of Independence, along with the Federal Constitution.
Later on in his life, Sherman became interested in teachings of Theology. Sherman was later elected as to the U.S. House of Representatives. There he served from 1789 to 1791. Sherman became the a United States Senator, due to the death of a Connecticut colleague in the Senate. Sherman held the position until he died in 1793. Sherman died from Typhoid at the age of 72, on July 23, 1793, in New Haven, Connecticut. Sherman was buried at Grove Street Cemetery in New Haven, Connecticut Roger. Sherman could be summarized as humble, to himself, quiet, good on the farm and well with his hands. Sherman was also work well with his mind doing thing such as writing poetry, making shoes, making astronomical and economic calculations and making justice and law.