The Note-Maker Noted: Colonial Political Discourse

The Note-maker noted and the observer observed upon, or, A full answer to some notes and observations upon the votes of the House of Assembly of the colony of New-Jersey; Being a vindication of the present, and some former governors, councils and assemblies of the said colony, against the unreasonable cavils of the said observer or note-maker, or as it’s commonly shortened to, The Note-maker noted, is an anonymous response to notes and observations recorded on the votes cast at a meeting of the New Jersey House of Assembly at Burlington, New Jersey, on the 16th of October, 1742.

Background

The Province of New Jersey was one of Great Britain’s Middle Colonies. The province came under English rule in 1664 before becoming a royal colony in 1702. After the Declaration of Independence was issued to Great Britain in 1776, the province became the state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Legislature was established after the province became a colony in 1702 consisting of the appointed upper house Council and the elected lower house General Assembly. On October 16th, 1742, the General Assembly met in Burlington, New Jersey, under speaker of the Assembly, Andrew Johnston. Following the meeting and legislative votes that occurred, a book was published in 1743 called, Extracts from the minutes and votes of the House of Assembly of the colony of New-Jersey To which are added some notes and observations upon the said votes, which contained minutes from the meeting, opinionated notes on these excerpts against the voting results, and former Governor William Burnet’s letter from 20 years prior when he dissolved the assembly. In response to the claims and arguments in this book by the anonymous “Note-maker,” The Note-maker noted was published that same year.