Graham's Magazine, Vol. XXI, No. 4, October 1842

Richard Somers stands as a figure shrouded in both honor and uncertainty. Born into a prominent New Jersey family that traced its roots back to an English immigrant, his lineage combines sturdy Anglo‑Saxon habits with whispers of French‑Acadian ancestry. The Somers estate at the tip of Great Egg Harbor, known for its bustling port and summer sea‑bathing, frames his early years. Yet despite countless local testimonies, the precise details of his youth and the circumstances of his death remain elusive.

When the Revolutionary conflict erupted, Somers emerged as a colonel of the militia, a county judge, and a vocal Whig, even earning a seat in the 1775 Provincial Congress. His outspoken patriotism made him a target for Loyalist forces, prompting a hurried relocation with his family to Philadelphia for safety after the British evacuated his hometown. In the bustling city, he continued to serve the fledgling nation, navigating both civic duties and the perilous politics of war. Listeners will find a vivid portrait of a man caught between public service and personal mystery.