In the 1630s, Aaron Hewes’ ancestors emigrated from England to Pennsylvania. In 1728, he married Providence Worth. In Connecticut, they became successful agriculturists, but the environment was not tolerant of Quakers and the attacks by Indians pushed them to move to New Jersey. It was here, on the outskirts of Princeton, the two of them made a home at Maybury Hill estate. On January 23, 1730, Joseph Hewes was born. 

In light of his family’s Quaker roots, young Hewes received a strict, religious training as a child. He graduated from Princeton College, apprenticed with an established merchant, and entered the mercantile business upon completion of the apprenticeship.    

Joseph Hewes found great success early in his career as a merchant. He lived in New York and Philadelphia for a time. At 30 years of age, he moved to Wilmington, North Carolina in 1760 and experienced more success in the shipping and mercantile business. He relocated to Edenton in 1763 and partnered with Robert Smith, a local lawyer. Together, they soon acquired a wharf and a fleet of ships. Mr. Hewes named his ship, Providence, in honor of his mother. 

In North Carolina, Joseph Hewes met a young woman with whom he fell in love with, Isabella Johnston. She was a sister of Governor Samuel Johnston. Tragically, she died a few days before their wedding. He would not seek another woman to be his wife for the remainder of his life.

Joseph Hewes garnered a reputable standing with the community. After living in Edenton for only three years, he was elected to the colonial assembly to a service of nine years. As the tension rose between the colonies and the crown, Mr. Hewes found himself in a complex situation. Due to his business dealings, he had many relationships in England. He did not hesitate to suffer lost business in order to take a stand to protect the colonists’ constitutional rights. He helped create the policy which suspended commercial dealings with England.

In 1774, Joseph Hewes was selected to serve as a delegate for North Carolina to the First Continental Congress. Early on in 1775, the Quakers, his religious heritage, formally denounced the Congress for the group eschewed any form of physical violence including armed conflict. Mr. Hewes could not bring himself to align with the group. He was most supportive of war against Great Britain, if this was the path in order to achieve independence and establish self-governance. Therefore he cut ties with them. 

On October 5, the Naval Committee was created to meet the challenge of Britain’s naval strength. Joseph Hewes chaired the committee and offered his fleet for use by the colonial military. Under Hewes’ leadership, eight ships were outfitted for armed conflict. He also sponsored the naval career of John Paul Jones, the most famous naval officer of the Continental Navy.

With all the support and effort he gave to the revolutionary cause, Joseph Hewes was hesitant to break fully with England. Initially, he opposed Richard Henry Lee’s resolution for independence. But in the midst of debate about the resolution, John Adams recalled a peculiar incident during his address favoring independence. “[Joseph Hewes] started suddenly upright,” Mr. Adams said. “and lifting both his hands to Heaven, as if he had been in a trance, cried out, ‘It is done! And I will abide by it.’” On August 2nd, he signed the Declaration of Independence. He also helped prepare the Articles of Confederation.

In 1777, due to state constitutional constraints, Joseph Hewes did not serve in Congress as the size of the delegation for North Carolina was capped at three people. In 1779, the state legislature increased the number of delegates to five. Mr. Hewes returned to Congress, but unfortunately, he did not stay long. He complained of a continual headache accompanied with a stupor. This condition prevented him from exercising the proper amount of attention required for the work. He resigned and intended to return to Edenton. He failed to make the journey home and died in Philadelphia on November 10, 1779. 

In honor of his service to the Navy, two vessels were named in his honor. The first ship was used in World War II, the USS Joseph Hewes-AP 50. It was sunk in battle. The second ship participated in the Vietnam War, USS Joseph Hewes – FFT-1078.

Joseph Hewes lived to be 49 years of age.