Author: Robert John Gang, III
Recompense Stansbury was born October 19, 1710 in New Jersey. He was the son of Recompence born 1672 in Southampton, Long Island. Recompense married twice, the name of his first wife is unknown. He married his second wife Margaret Wood about 1748 in Scotch Plains, New Jersey. Margaret birth date is unknown, she was the daughter of Jonas Wood and Mary Morse. Margaret died January 18, 1812 and was buried in the Scotch Plains Baptist Church Cemetery. Recompense and Mary had 9 children. Their names and birth dates are as follows: Phoebe, February 23, 1747; Rhoda, April 5, 1752; Samuel, June 26, 1754; Sarah, August 22, 1756; Recompense, September 23, 1758; Jonas, January 25, 1761; Margaret April 4, 1763 and twins Anna and Jacob, December 22, 1767.

Recompence was a farmer and merchant. An inventory of his estate, made shortly after his death, shows that he was a wealthy man. Recompence Stanbury was one of the early supporters of the plan to build the Meeting House at Scotch Plains, and was one of the first deacons and ruling elders, positions of great trust and responsibility. When attending to his own private affairs, Recompence Stanbury was busy; as a "shop keeper", farmer, a maritime trader (owning with his sons, a sloop), banker, and in other ways he was the village "Squire".
During the early days of the Revolutionary War Recompense was a member of the Essex County Committee of Correspondence. On December 6, 1774 in response to a call by the Continental congress, a large committee was formed to implement its measures to resist the oppressive measures of the British Ministry. The committee was not idle and renounced numerous newspapers that support crown policies. On February 13, 1775 the committee recommended that the citizens of Essex County break off trade with the people of Staten Island for their “unfriendly disposition towards the liberties of America”. Following the battle of Bunker Hill powder was in short supply in the American army. The Committee worked to procure and furnish the needed supply. On July 17, 1775 they forwarded a total of 52 quarter casks. On the same day the Committee resolved to pay 20 pounds New Jersey currency for every one hundred weight of saltpeter made and delivered. On August 13, 1775 when the Continental army in Boston was down to 9 round of ammunition per man the Committee sent 6 ½ tons of powder. On October 4, 1775 through the efforts of the Committee, the borough of Elizabeth Town provided sixteen companies of Foot and one of Horse to the defense of the country. On February 10, 1776 the Committee notified Congress of the recent January 22, 1776 capture of the British ship Blue-Mountain-Valley and its cargo by a party of Continentals and local men outfitted for the expedition by the Committee. On February 12th, the Committee took measures to remove potential spies from the town. On March 6, 1776 the Committee provided 6,000 cartridges to the Third New Jersey of the Continental Line. Later, on March 14th 150 men were resolved to be provided to aid in building defenses in New York harbor. However, the legality of sending the men out of the state was later questioned so the men were retained to build up the fortifications of Elizabeth Town Point instead. On July 4, 1776 the Committee adopted the June 7, 1776 resolution of the Continental Congress that “these colonies are and of right ought to be, Free and Independent States”. When the British fleet arrived off of New York harbor the Committee took measures to remove all of the livestock off of Staten Island. At some point in November 1776 the Committee ceased to function as the British army marched south and occupied Elizabeth, New Jersey on November 30, 1776.
Recompense Stansbury died May 20, 1777. Though his decease his service to his country was cut short. He was buried in the Buried Scotch Plains Baptist Church Cemetery.