Joseph was born at Lancaster (now Paxtang, Pennsylvania) on October 3, 1733. His parents, John and Martha Montgomery, had immigrated from Ireland. He attended the College of New Jersey (Princeton University) and graduated in 1755. After a brief time as a school master, he began the study of theology. In 1760 he earned an A.M. degree from the College of Philadelphia (now part of the University of Pennsylvania) and began a ministerial career, serving at several churches in Pennsylvania.
In 1769 he was made pastor of a congregation in New Castle, Delaware, and continued there until 1777, when he joined the 1st Maryland regiment of the Continental Army as a chaplain. He served with Colonel William Smallwood's unit for two years and was in major actions at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth, as well as the winter at Valley Forge.
During his service, his wife (Elizabeth Reed) and two young daughters made their home with his relatives back at Paxtang, and he returned there when discharged at the end of 1778. He was sent as one of the Pennsylvania delegates to the Continental Congress on November 23, 1780 and served there until 1782. In 1782 and 1783 he was elected to the State Assembly. In February of 1783 he also served on a commission to settle title disputes arising from Connecticut and Pennsylvania grants near Wyoming, Pennsylvania.
When Dauphin County was organized in 1785, he became a judge in its court of common pleas, as well as the recorder of deeds and wills. He held these positions until his death. In his later years he made his home with his daughter, Elizabeth Montgomery Laird, and her family in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When he died in Harrisburg on October 14, 1794 he was buried in their family plot in the Lutheran Church Cemetery.
External link