By: Stephanie Prokop
BORDENTOWN CITY Continuing the city’s 325 anniversary celebration, a talk on Francis Hopkinson will be held tonight, Thursday, at the Friends Meetinghouse on Farnsworth Avenue.
Sponsored by the Bordentown Historical Society, the presentation, titled "A Visit With Francis Hopkinson" is set to start at 7:30 p.m. and will feature Christian Johnson from the American Historical Theatre in Philadelphia portraying the Revolutionary War-era historical figure, who represented New Jersey in the Continental Congress and was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
According to BHS President Diane Flanigan, Francis Hopkinson had an impact on the Revolutionary War while he resided in Bordentown City.
"When the British came through on their third tour of Bordentown, the story goes that they wanted to burn the entire town, but they stopped when they hit Francis Hopkinson’s house because they were so impressed with his library," she said.
Not only was he a scholar, but Ms. Flanigan said that he is America’s first born composer, and was an avid player of the harpsichord, a popular Colonial instrument. His compositions were a big hit at society gatherings in both Philadelphia and Princeton.
Songs he wrote include "The Battle of the Kegs," while his other writings included "The Political Catechism." He also claimed to have designed the first U.S. flag.
Ms. Flanigan said that Mr. Johnson is going to come in full Colonial costume and take on Hopkinson’s personality.
Ms. Flanigan said that the historical society found the impersonator from the American Historical Theatre in Philadelphia, which provides character portrayals all over the area.
The Bordentown Historical Society encourages anyone who owns an 18th-century period costume to come to the presentation wearing it.
Admission is free through the Bordentown Historical Society’s Educational Program.

