Charles Kinsey (1773 – June 25, 1849) was an American businessman and politician who served two terms as a U.S. Representative from New Jersey from 1817 to 1819, then again from 1820 to 1821.

Early life and career

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Kinsey was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1773. He attended the common schools, and in early life engaged in the manufacture of paper. He moved to Bloomfield Township, Essex County, New Jersey and later to Paterson, New Jersey and New Prospect (now Waldwick), Bergen County, continuing in the paper industry.

In 1807 he invented a machine which allowed paper to be produced in one continuous roll.[1] His correspondence with James Madison is in the Library of Congress.[2]

Political career

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Kinsey was a member of New Jersey General Assembly in 1812, 1813, 1819, and 1826 and served in the New Jersey Legislative Council (now the New Jersey Senate) in 1814. He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 15th Congress (March 4, 1817 - March 3, 1819), then elected to the 16th Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Condit and served from February 2, 1820[3] to March 3, 1821.

Later career and death

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After serving in the Congress, Kinsey continued to work in the paper industry. He then became a judge, serving as judge of the New Jersey Court of Common Pleas and of the orphans’ court of Bergen County, New Jersey from 1830[4] to 1845.

He died in New Prospect, New Jersey on June 25, 1849 and is buried in Union Cemetery, near New Prospect.

References

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  1. ^ Cunningham, John T. (December 1, 1976). New Jersey, America's main road. Doubleday – via Internet Archive. charles kinsey new jersey.
  2. ^ "Charles Kinsey to James Madison, October 19, 1815. From the Manufacturing Association of New Jersey". Library of Congress.
  3. ^ House, United States Congress (February 4, 2019). "Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Valen, James M. Van (February 4, 2019). History of Bergen County, New Jersey. New Jersey pub. and engraving Company. p. 45 – via Internet Archive. charles kinsey new jersey.
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U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's at-large congressional district

March 4, 1817 – March 3, 1819
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's at-large congressional district

February 2, 1820 – March 3, 1821
Succeeded by