Jane Contee Etching from: Side-lights on Maryland History: With Sketches of Early Maryland Families, Volume 2, by Hester Dorsey Richardson, Williams and Wilkins Company, 1913
Jane Contee Hanson, born on September 17, 1726, in Nottingham, Prince George's County, Maryland, was a member of a distinguished family with roots tracing back to French Huguenots. Her father, Alexander Contee, was a prominent landowner and descendant of French Protestant immigrants from La Rochelle, France. Her mother, Jane Brooke Contee, was the daughter of Colonel Thomas Brooke and Barbara Dent, making Jane part of an influential Maryland lineage that played a significant role in colonial and revolutionary America.
In 1743, Jane married John Hanson, a prominent Maryland statesman who would go on to become President of the United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of Confederation in 1781. Together, Jane and John Hanson raised a large family, having eight children who would contribute to the family’s legacy in their own ways. Among their sons, three went on to serve as officers in the Continental Army, illustrating the Hanson family's deep commitment to the American cause during the Revolutionary War. Their children included:
- Jane Contee Hanson Thomas (1747–1781), whose own life would reflect the family’s dedication to the new nation.
- Alexander Contee Hanson, Sr. (1749–1806), who became a prominent attorney and served as Chancellor of Maryland from 1789 until his death. His son, Alexander Contee Hanson, Jr. (1786–1819), would later gain recognition as a newspaper editor and U.S. Senator, continuing the family’s involvement in public service.
- John Hanson (1753–1818), who shared his father’s name and carried forward the family’s influence in Maryland.
- Samuel Hanson (1756–1781), who served as a Continental Army officer but tragically died during the Revolutionary War.
- Peter Contee Hanson (1758–1776), who was killed in the Battle of Fort Washington during the American Revolutionary War, making the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of independence.
Jane played a vital role in supporting her husband’s political career and managing the household, especially during John Hanson’s term as the President of the USCA. Her influence provided John with the stability and encouragement he needed during this crucial period, as he oversaw Congress and helped to guide the young nation through the early, tumultuous years of independence.
After her husband’s death in 1783, Jane chose not to remarry, instead dedicating herself to her family and community in Frederick, Maryland. Her life after John’s passing was marked by resilience and a steadfast adherence to the values she had upheld throughout her marriage. Jane continued to play a matriarchal role, overseeing her family’s affairs and maintaining her household in Frederick, a place deeply connected to the Hanson legacy.
Jane Contee Hanson lived until February 21, 1812, passing away at the age of 85. She outlived her husband by 29 years, and during those decades, she remained a figure of strength and continuity for her family and community. Her life, though less publicly known than her husband’s, was nonetheless instrumental in supporting the values of duty, loyalty, and service that defined the Hanson family’s contribution to American history. Her descendants carried forward her legacy of public service, with members of her family becoming significant figures in Maryland's legal and political landscape, contributing to the fabric of the early American Republic.
For students and teachers of U.S. history, this video features Stanley and Christopher Klos presenting America's Four United Republics Curriculum at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Filmed in December 2015, this video is an informal recording by an audience member capturing a presentation attended by approximately 200 students, professors, and guests. To explore the full curriculum, [download it here].
September 5, 1774 | October 22, 1774 | |
October 22, 1774 | October 26, 1774 | |
May 20, 1775 | May 24, 1775 | |
May 25, 1775 | July 1, 1776 |
July 2, 1776 to February 28, 1781
July 2, 1776 | October 29, 1777 | |
November 1, 1777 | December 9, 1778 | |
December 10, 1778 | September 28, 1779 | |
September 29, 1779 | February 28, 1781 |
March 1, 1781 to March 3, 1789
March 1, 1781 | July 6, 1781 | |
July 10, 1781 | Declined Office | |
July 10, 1781 | November 4, 1781 | |
November 5, 1781 | November 3, 1782 | |
November 4, 1782 | November 2, 1783 | |
November 3, 1783 | June 3, 1784 | |
November 30, 1784 | November 22, 1785 | |
November 23, 1785 | June 5, 1786 | |
June 6, 1786 | February 1, 1787 | |
February 2, 1787 | January 21, 1788 | |
January 22, 1788 | January 21, 1789 |
United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) Sessions
USCA | Session Dates | USCA Convene Date | President(s) |
First | 03-01-1781 to 11-04-1781* | 03-02-1781 | |
Second | 11-05-1781 to 11-03-1782 | 11-05-1781 | |
Third | 11-04-1782 to 11-02-1783 | 11-04-1782 | |
Fourth | 11-03-1783 to 10-31-1784 | 11-03-1783 | |
Fifth | 11-01-1784 to 11-06-1785 | 11-29-1784 | |
Sixth | 11-07-1785 to 11-05-1786 | 11-23-1785 | |
Seventh | 11-06-1786 to 11-04-1787 | 02-02-1787 | |
Eighth | 11-05-1787 to 11-02-1788 | 01-21-1788 | |
Ninth | 11-03-1788 to 03-03-1789** | None | None |
* The Articles of Confederation was ratified by the mandated 13th State on February 2, 1781, and the dated adopted by the Continental Congress to commence the new United States in Congress Assembled government was March 1, 1781. The USCA convened under the Articles of Confederation Constitution on March 2, 1781.** On September 14, 1788, the Eighth United States in Congress Assembled resolved that March 4th, 1789, would be commencement date of the Constitution of 1787's federal government thus dissolving the USCA on March 3rd, 1789.
Philadelphia | Sept. 5, 1774 to Oct. 24, 1774 | |
Philadelphia | May 10, 1775 to Dec. 12, 1776 | |
Baltimore | Dec. 20, 1776 to Feb. 27, 1777 | |
Philadelphia | March 4, 1777 to Sept. 18, 1777 | |
Lancaster | September 27, 1777 | |
York | Sept. 30, 1777 to June 27, 1778 | |
Philadelphia | July 2, 1778 to June 21, 1783 | |
Princeton | June 30, 1783 to Nov. 4, 1783 | |
Annapolis | Nov. 26, 1783 to Aug. 19, 1784 | |
Trenton | Nov. 1, 1784 to Dec. 24, 1784 | |
New York City | Jan. 11, 1785 to Nov. 13, 1788 | |
New York City | October 6, 1788 to March 3,1789 | |
New York City | March 3,1789 to August 12, 1790 | |
Philadelphia | Dec. 6,1790 to May 14, 1800 | |
Washington DC | November 17,1800 to Present |
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