Elisha Lawrence

Who was Elisha Lawrence?

Elisha Lawrence was an American Federalist Party politician, who represented Monmouth County in the New Jersey Legislative Council, the precursor to the New Jersey State Senate, from 1780 through 1783, from 1789 through 1792 and in 1795. He served as Vice-President of Council from 1789 through 1792, and again in 1795.

As Vice President, he was the acting governor of New Jersey from July 25, 1790, when governor William Livingston died, to October 30, 1790. He was succeeded as governor by William Paterson.

A resident of Upper Freehold Township, Lawrence was serving as a Justice of the Peace as early as 1788, and sat with the County Board of Justices and Freeholders, the precursor to the Board of Chosen Freeholders, the governing body of the county. He was Chairman of the Board from May 1795 to May 1796.

Lawrence is buried at Ye Olde Yellow Meeting House in Imlaystown, New Jersey.