Author: Lewis Gregory Lindsly
The Honorable Joseph Kitchell was born about 1710 in Newark, NJ into a family that first came to CT from Kent Co., England in 1639. In 1666, his ancestors moved, with a dozen or so other families, from the area around New Haven CT to establish the settlement of “New Ark” which became Newark, NJ. His father left Newark between 1710 and 1714 to form yet another new settlement and Church in what is now Morris County NJ. Joseph married Rachel Bates in 1734 in Hanover, NJ.

In his early-married life, he was a planter and a Deacon and later an Elder in his Church. His public service began with his appointment as a Justice of the Peace and as early as 1740 a County Judge. His SAR recognized service began with the new Constitution of NJ in 1776 when he received an appointment to a five-year term as County Judge for the area around Morris Co. Into his court came cases for the confiscation of property of British sympathizers and Tories during the War. He died in 1779 before completing his full term however. He is buried at the 1st Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Hanover NJ.
Shortly before his death, he moved in with his son Aaron providing the larger of their two homes to General Washington’s Officers and their families as well as injured and sick soldiers when Washington wintered his troops in Morristown.

Judge Kitchell’s recognized service was unquestionably very important, denying the use of Tory assets to the British soldiers, as was his willingness to provide living quarters for the General’s men. However, maybe his most significant contribution to the Revolution and the early years of the United States was his family. He and Rachel had ten children. SAR and DAR have recognized all five sons for their service. In addition, SAR or DAR has also recognized at least two sons-in-law and two grandsons.

His son Aaron Kitchell, was appointed as the chairman of the committee charged with the confiscation of assets of British sympathizers and in this position he became an advisor to George Washington and this roll continued when he was elected to the US House of Representatives and then to the US Senate, representing NJ. It has been reported that he was an honorary pallbearer at Pres. Washington’s funeral. Judge Kitchell and his daughter Grace Kitchell Ford are lineal ancestors of ex-First Lady Barbara Bush and her son, President George W. Bush. The Judge clearly made his mark on early American history thus validating the descriptions of him used by authors of several histories of NJ and Morris Co., which used phrases the likes of, he was a very strong willed patriot, of very high character, and a seeker of the truth.