1736, and became a farmer. At his death his son David bought the farm from his elder brother, and remained upon it until his own decease, in his ninety-first year. He was a strong-minded man, of sterling integrity, and a stanch Presbyterian. He purposed to educate the future Chief-Justice for the ministry, and the young man's early educa tion was directed with a view to the sacred calling. In fact, he spent six months after his graduation from Princeton College in the study of divinity with the Rev. Dr. Kennedy, a clergyman of the Reformed Dutch Church. But at the end of that time Andrew became convinced that he was not fitted for a minis ter's life, and determined to become a lawyer. He announced his determination to his father, who was bitterly disappointed, forbade him his home, and withdrew his support. The young man was thus thrust upon the world, to win his way upon his own resources. But nothing daunted, he assumed the respon sibility, and worked upward to his profes sion. His mother sent him from the home his father denied him with her blessing and a single gold-piece, — a half " Joe," the savings of many years. The young man never forgot the incident; for years after ward, when he married, he presented li is bride with a gold coin of the same kind and value, with the remark that his own father had been hard-hearted to him, but that his mother had removed the sting by her un selfish gift; that perhaps he too might prove cruel, and then she would need the gold. Mrs. Kirkpatrick never parted with the coin, placed it in a wrapper, and indorsed on the paper with her own hand, " a pocket piece presented to me by my husband, Jane K." The half "Joe" has been piously preserved in the family, and is now in the possession of his grandson, who bears the same name, in the original covering in which it was placed. After thus leaving his father's house he became a tutor in a family in Virginia, then assumed the same position at Esopus, in the State of New York, and finally went to New Brunswick in New Jersey, and there prepared
boys for college. In this way he obtained the necessary funds, was finally enabled to enter the office of William Paterson, — at one time Governor of New Jersey, afterward one of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United States, and then one of the leading lawyers in the State. Andrew Kirk patrick was admitted to the bar in 1785, and began the practice of his profession at Morristown, where he had some relatives re siding. He undoubtedly would have obtained a lucrative practice there; but, soon losing his library and office furniture by fire, he re moved to New Brunswick, and opened an office there, where his commanding talents were soon appreciated. He added to his native ability, which was uncommonly great, a most untiring industry; and the combina tion of these characteristics with his stern in tegrity soon won for him a leading position at the bar, not only in his own county, but all over the State. In 1797 he was elected to the Assembly from Middlesex County, but was very soon obliged to resign, so as to assume the position of Associate Justice, to which he was elected in January, 1798. He held that office for six years, and then, when the term of Chief-Justice Kinsey expired, was chosen to succeed that gentleman. He was twice re-elected, so that he held the position, in all, for twenty-one years. During his term he became much inter ested in the creating of the office of Re porter of the Decisions of the Supreme Court, and it was mainly due to his exertions that the court was invested with the power of appointing the person to fill this position. Chief-Justice Kirkpatrick was instrumental in selecting William S. Pennington as the first reporter. He was an Associate Justice, and thus had the amplest opportunity to make the fullest reports of the decisions. His re ports were published in two volumes. Then came Southard, also an Associate Justice, in two volumes; and he was succeeded by William Halsted with eight volumes. The decisions of Chief-Justice Kirkpatrick are found scattered through Pennington, South
