Robert Lettis Hooper

Robert Lettis Hooper or Robert Lettice Hooper (died 1738/39) was a chief justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.

Robert Lettis Hooper
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the Somerset County district
In office
1721–1725
Serving with Thomas Leonard
Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court
In office
January 2, 1724 – 1728
Preceded byWilliam Trent
Succeeded byThomas Farmar
In office
1729–1738/39
Preceded byThomas Farmar
Succeeded byRobert Hunter Morris
Personal details
BornChrist Church, Barbados
Diedc February 1738/39
NationalityBarbadian
Spouse(s)Sarah Graham
ChildrenRobert Lettis, James, Isabella
OccupationMerchant

Biography

Robert Lettis Hooper was a son of Daniel Hooper, a native of Barbados.

A merchant in New York City, he subsequently relocated to New Jersey. He was Warden of St. Peter's Church, Perth Amboy in 1726, and Vestryman from 1734 to 1738.

Robert Lettis Hooper was elected to the eighth New Jersey General Assembly (1721-1725 Legislative Session), representing the Somerset County Constituency.[1] He was commissioned as Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court on January 1, 1724/5 (O. S.) and took the bench on March 30, 1725. Hooper would serve as Chief Justice until his death, with the exception of a brief interruption in 1728, when Gov. William Burnet had named Thomas Farmar to the post; Hooper was reinstated the following year.[2]

One of the more prominent cases heard by the Hooper Court was Lithgow v. Schuyler in 1734, in which the East New Jersey Proprietors attempt to oust a settler from land in Elizabethtown was defeated by a jury.[3]

On November 16, 1738 he was commissioned of the New Jersey Provincial Council, but would only serve briefly before his death.

Robert Lettis Hooper made his will on January 27, 1738; it was proved February 19, 1738/39.

Family

Hooper married Mrs. Sarah Graham in 1701 in New York. They had three children including Robert Lettis, James and Isabella. A grandson, Robert Lettis Hooper, Jr., would serve the Patriot cause in the American Revolutionary War, and would serve as Vice President of the New Jersey Legislative Council.

References
  1. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey, date: various (pre 1950)
  2. The Province of New Jersey 1664 - 1738; Edwin P. Tanner, Ph. D.; Columbia University; Longmans, Green & Co., Agents; New York, 1908; p. 479
  3. Conceived in Liberty, Vol. II, Murray N. Rothbard; Ludwig von Mises Institute; Auburn, AL; 1999; p. 47
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