William Sanford Pennington

William Sanford Pennington (1757 – September 17, 1826) was a United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, an associate justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, the sixth governor of New Jersey and a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Early life and military service Born in 1757, in Newark, Province of New Jersey, British America, His parents were Samuel Pennington (c. 1726-1791) and Mary Sandford (c. 1726-1805). He was the namesake of his grandfather William Sandford (III) and great-great-grandson of William Sandford. Pennington likely was trained as a hatter and likely engaged in that profession during his early years. He joined the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. In 1777, he was promoted to sergeant in the Second Regiment of Artillery. He was promoted to second lieutenant in 1780. At the end of the war he was brevetted a captain by an Act of Congress. Pennington served in the New Jersey General Assembly in 1797, 1798, and 1799, was elected to the New Jersey State Council (now the New Jersey Legislative Council) in 1801, and 1802. Education and career