Samuel Craig Cowart

(1854-1943)
New Jersey

Lawyer, Politician, & Poet

Samuel Craig Cowart, the son of Enoch L. Cowart and Anna Maria Bowne, was born on December 16, 1854 and died on April 23, 1943. Cowart was born in Freehold, New Jersey and attended the Freehold Institute (1867-1873). He attended Princeton University (1873-1876), and then took up the study of law with Judge William H. Vredenburgh (ca. 1876-1879). He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in 1879 and practiced law in Freehold. [Source: Cowart Family Papers, Monmouth County Historical Association, Freehold, New Jersey; Obituary, New York Times, Aprl 24, 1943][The obituary indicates that Cowart was a lifelong resident of Freehold, New Jersey and was "an authority on Revolutionary War days in Monmouth County . . . . " "Governor James Fielder appointed Mr. Cowart in 1914 to represent the State at the centennial celebration of Baltimore. On this occasion the lawye read his own poem, 'The Starry Banner of the Free,' at the unveiling of the Sir Fracis Scott Key monument."]

The John Craig House
[at one time owned by Samuel Craig Cowart]

Poetry

Samuel Craig Cowart, Address, The Battle of Monmouth: And Poems, Patriot Sires of Monmouth: Old Tennent Church, June 24th, 1914, welcoming Washington pilgrimage (Freehold, N.J.: Monmouth Democrat Print, 1914)

[Address: The Battle of Monmouth. And Poems: Patriot Sires of Monmouth, and Starry Banner of the Free ([Freehold, New Jersey]: Transcript Prtg. House, 1928)(Address, Battle of Monmouth, and Poem, Patriot Sires of Monmouth, Old Tennent Church, June 24th, 1914 (Hightstown, New Jersey: Longstreet House, 1998)]

_________________, The Starry Banner of the Free ([Freehold, New Jersey]: 1914)

__________________, The Battle of Princeton, fought Jan. 3, 1777 ([Freehold, New Jersey]: 1922)