John Tonnelé Explained

Office:	Member of the New Jersey Senate for Hudson County
Term Start:	January 11, 1848
Term End:	March 2, 1849
Predecessor:	Richard Outwater
Successor:	John Cassedy
Birth Date:	1807
Birth Place:	New York City, New York, U.S.
Parents:	John Tonnelé Sr. Rebecca Waterbury Tonnelé

John Tonnelé Jr. (1807 – November 26, 1852) was an American farmer and politician who was the first Roman Catholic member of the New Jersey Legislature.^[1]

Early life

Tonnelé was born in New York City in 1807. He was the son of Rebecca (née Waterbury) Tonnelé (d. 1858) and John Tonnelé Sr. (d. 1846),^[2] a French born merchant and senior partner with the New York wool firm of Tonnele & Hall, which was considered "the most extensive Wool dealers in the country" in 1842.^[3] His sister, Susan (née Tonnelé) Hall, was married to Valentine Gill Hall, an Irish immigrant, and they were the parents of Valentine Hall Jr. who married Mary Livingston Ludlow^[4] in a marriage that "... united a member of a prominent New York merchantile family with Hudson River gentry".^[5]

His maternal grandfather was Revolutionary War General David How Waterbury, Jr. of Stamford, Connecticut.^[6]

Career

In 1835, Tonnelé relocated to New Jersey and purchased a large tract of land near Hudson City.^[7]

He served three terms on the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1844, 1846 and 1847.^[8] Tonnele represented Hudson County in the New Jersey Senate for one term from 1848 to 1849.^[9]

Personal life

Tonnelé, who was married to Cecile, was the father of eight children, including:

• John Laurent Tonnelé (d. 1901), a Union Army officer in the Civil War with the 2nd New Jersey Militia.^[2]
• Julie Emelie Tonnelé (d. 1880), who married Francis G. Wetmore.^[2]
• Cecile Josephine Tonnelé (d. 1874), who also married a Wetmore.^[2]
• Laurencine Salles Tonnelé (d. 1881), who married a Deegan, a Gedney and a McDonald.^[2]
• Adelaide Jane Tonnelé (d. 1922), who married Francis William Mitchell.^{[2] [10]}
• Margaret Tonnelé (d. 1907), who married Joseph Longinotto in 1864.^[11] After his death, she remarried to a Ginocchio.^[2]
• Eloise Tonnelé (d. 1883), who married Albert Gedney.^[2]
• Isabella Zedina Tonnelé (d. 1874), who did not marry.^[2]

Tonnelé died on November 26, 1852, and his widow died in January 1868.^[12] His will stipulated that the children of his son should have the income from the property he left and that the grandchildren should have the property on their death, however, it was broken by his daughter, and her position was eventually upheld by the Court of Appeals. Through his only son, he was the grandfather of Laurent J. Tonnelé (d. 1933).^[13]

Legacy

He is recalled in the namesake Tonnele Avenue and Tonnele Circle.^[14]

Notes and References

1. Book: Shalhoub, Patrick . Images of America: Jersey City . 1995 . Arcadia Publishing . 77 . 978-0-7524-0255-0.
2. Book: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division-First Department: Rachel M. Erwin, Barbara Erwin, Rachel Erwin and Charles Ward, as Trustees Under the Last Will and Testament of Charles R. Erwin, Deceased, Plaintiffs-Respondents, Against George Matthew Adams, Defendant-Appellant. . 1930 . 38 . 6 February 2019 . en.
3. Book: Beach . Moses Yale . Wealth and Pedigree of the Wealthy Citizens of New York City: Comprising an Alphabetical Arrangement of Persons Estimated to be Worth $100,000 and Upwards, with the Sums Appended to Each Name : Being Useful to Banks, Merchants and Others . 1842 . Sun Office . 14 . 14 June 2018 . en.
4. News: Mrs. Valentine G. Hall. . 14 June 2018 . . August 16, 1919 . en.
5. Elliott, the Tragic Roosevelt . White . Mason . The Hudson Valley Regional Review . March 1988 . 5 . I . 17–29 . 22 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160910071956/http://www.hudsonrivervalley.org/review/pdfs/hvrr_5pt1_white.pdf . 10 September 2016 . dead .
6. Book: Owen . Samuel . The New-York Legal Observer . 1847 . Samuel Owen . 264 . 14 June 2018 . en.
7. News: . June 10, 1901 . Obituary Notes . 7 . November 26, 2009 .
8. Book: Winfield, Charles . 1874 . Kennard & Hay Stationery M'fg and Print. Co. . History of the County of Hudson, New Jersey: from its earliest settlement to the present time . 344–345.
9. Book: Journal of the Senate of the State of New Jersey . 1849 . . 248 . December 3, 2009.
10. Book: Leonard . John William . Mohr . William Frederick . Knox . Herman Warren . Holmes . Frank R. . Downs . Frank R. . Who's Who in New York (city and State) . 1918 . Who's Who publications, Incorporated . 764 . 6 February 2019 . en.
11. News: MARRIED . 6 February 2019 . . September 23, 1864.
12. Book: New Jersey Court of Chancery . New Jersey Superior Court . New Jersey Equity Reports . 1894 . E. Sanderson . 6 February 2019 . en.
13. News: LAURENT J. TONNELE, RADIO OFFICIAL, DIES; One-Time President of North Jersey District Water Board -- Figure in $2,000,000 Suit. . 6 February 2019 . . November 5, 1933 . en.
14. News: Miller . Jonathon . ROAD AND RAIL; Lipstick On a Pig . . July 18, 2004 . 2011-01-27 .