1 - Robert Yates (NY)

#1 - Robert Yates (NY)
Birthplace: Schenectady, NY
Age at Convention: 49

Note: Delegate to the Congress, but did not sign the Constitution because he opposed it's ratification.

1) Religion
-- Unable to find documenation indicating an active religious life

2) Slavery
-- Opposed slavery
-- Made a conscious attempt to make slavery an issue at the Philadelphia Convention

3) Upbringing
-- Eldest of 12 children
-- Received a classical education
-- Admitted to New York bar in 1760

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/yates.html
2) http://books.google.com/books?id=1Ui-eB5C8zsC&pg=PA67&lpg=PA67&dq=robert+yates+slavery&source=web&ots=Gxanf7OLcy&sig=tHN2wjnrZ6o38um_xhNXdH1OtyM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA67,M1
3) http://www.nysm.nysed.gov/albany/bios/y/ryates.html
4) http://www.adherents.com/people/py/Robert_Yates.html

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (37) or Primarily Secular (18)
2) Abolitionist (19), Partial Abolitionist (26) or Non-Abolitionist (10)
3) Wealthy (22) or Middle-Class/Poor (33)

2 - George Wythe (VA)

#2 - George Wythe (VA)
Birthplace: Elizabeth City County, VA
Age at Convention: 61

Note: Delegate to the Congress, but did not sign the Constitution

1) Religion
-- Came from a Quaker background
-- Strong supporter of religious freedom & separation of church & state

2) Slavery
-- Held a lifelong aversion to slavery
-- Emancipated his slaves in his will

3) Upbringing
-- 2nd of 3 children
-- Parents died when he was young
-- Received very little formal education

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/wythe.html
2) http://www.geocities.com/peterroberts.geo/Relig-Politics/GWythe.html

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (37) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (18), Partial Abolitionist (26) or Non-Abolitionist (10)
3) Wealthy (22) or Middle-Class/Poor (32)

3 - James Wilson (PA)

#3 - James Wilson (PA)
Birthplace: St. Andrews, Scotland
Age at Convention: 45

1) Religion
-- Wilson Began as a Presbyterian, then became Episcopalian. However, most who have studied him assert that, in his final views on religion, Wilson was a deist.

2) Slavery
-- Early voice against slavery
-- "Slavery, or an absolute and unlimited power in the master over life and fortune of the slave, is unauthorized by the common law... The reasons which we sometimes see assigned for the origin and the continuance of slavery appear, when examined to the bottom, to be built upon a false foundation. In the enjoyment of their persons and of their property, the common law protects all."

3) Upbringing
-- Educated at universities of St. Andrews, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
-- Emigrated to America

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/wilson.html
2) http://www.johnadams.net/cases/samples/Winfrey-Wilson/index.html
3) http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g003.html
4) http://www.geocities.com/peterroberts.geo/Relig-Politics/JWilson.html

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (36) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (18), Partial Abolitionist (25) or Non-Abolitionist (10)
3) Wealthy (22) or Middle-Class/Poor (31)

4 - Hugh Williamson (NC)

#4 - Hugh Williamson (NC)
Birthplace: West Nottingham, Pennsylvania
Age at Convention: 51

1) Religion
-- Became a licensed Presbyterian preacher (was not ordained)

2) Slavery
-- Opposed slavery
-- Voted for compromise that allowed slave trade to continue for 20 years

3) Upbringing
-- Eldest son of a large family whose head was a clothier
-- Education was oriented towards Presbyterian ministry

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/williamson.html
2) http://www.archives.upenn.edu/people/1700s/williamson_hugh.html

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (35) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (25) or Non-Abolitionist (10)
3) Wealthy (22) or Middle-Class/Poor (30)

5 - George Washington (VA)

#5 - George Washington (VA)
Birthplace: Wakefield Plantation, VA
Age at Convention: 55

1) Religion
-- Prayed at Valley Forge
-- Had a prayer journal
-- Issued a proclamation for a national day of Solemn Humiliation, Fasting, and Prayer

2) Slavery
-- Owned slaves
-- Emancipated slaves in his will

3) Upbringing
-- Eldest of 6 children from his father's second marriage
-- Education was rudimentary

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/washington.html
2) http://www.ushistory.org/valleyforge/washington/prayer.html
3) http://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/PrayerAndCounseling/Intercession/washington_prayer.aspx
4) http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=44

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (34) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (24) or Non-Abolitionist (10)
3) Wealthy (22) or Middle-Class/Poor (29)

6 - Caleb Strong (MA)

#6 - Caleb Strong (MA)
Birthplace: Northampton, Massachusetts
Age at Convention: 42

Note: Delegate to the Congress, but did not sign the Constitution.

1) Religion
-- As governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, issued a proclamation for a day of public fasting, humiliation, and prayer.

2) Slavery
-- Did not support slavery

3) Upbringing
-- Educated at Harvard
-- studied law and was admitted to bar in 1972

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/strong.html
2) http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1209850
3) http://books.google.com/books?id=glwUAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA373&lpg=PA373&dq=caleb+strong+abolition&source=web&ots=WXAvKhfcqh&sig=M06mkVnOVUkeOpXj4CA0Pxw3tOM&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=6&ct=result#PPA373,M1
4) http://books.google.com/books?id=AyauEC_1cucC&pg=PA61&lpg=PA61&dq=caleb+strong+abolition&source=web&ots=BHBbuk1TSX&sig=CX196hhCwHnh1vcSF9zmhNdWPxg&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (33) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (23) or Non-Abolitionist (10)
3) Wealthy (22) or Middle-Class/Poor (28)

7 - Richard Dobbs Spaight (NC)

#7 - Richard Dobbs Spaight (NC)
Birthplace: New Bern, NC
Age at Convention: 29

1) Religion
-- "As to the subject of religion, I thought what had been said would fully satisfy that gentleman and every other. No power is given to the general government to interfere with it at all. Any act of Congress on this subject would be a usurpation"

2) Slavery
-- Slave holder

3) Upbringing
-- Born of distinguished English-Irish parentage.

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/spaight.html
2) http://www.geocities.com/peterroberts.geo/Relig-Politics/RDSpaight.html

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (32) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (22) or Non-Abolitionist (10)
3) Wealthy (22) or Middle-Class/Poor (27)

8 - Roger Sherman - CT

#8 - Roger Sherman (CT)
Birthplace: Newton, MA
Age at Convention: 66

1) Religion
-- Professor of religion
-- Had a very high reverence for the Bible
-- Wrote many large books on the major beliefs of the Christian faith

2) Slavery
-- Disapproved of the slave trade, but did not push for abolishing it for the sake of public good (because it was legal at the time)
-- Said "the abolition of slavery seemed to be going on in the U.S. and that the good sense of the several states would probably by degrees complete it"

3) Upbringing
-- Educated at a common school as a youth, though he had a strong desire to learn
-- Father was a farmer and a cobbler

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/sherman.html
2) http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/documents/documents_p2.cfm?doc=310
3) http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=120
4) http://colonialhall.com/sherman/sherman4.php
5) http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:GKcEoc7eQmoJ:www.asburyerie.org/files/sermon%2520written/Our%2520Country,%2520%27Tis%2520of%2520Thee%2520-%2520July%25206,%25202008.doc+roger+sherman+judge+christ+death+sentence&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (31) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (22) or Non-Abolitionist (9)
3) Wealthy (21) or Middle-Class/Poor (27)

9 - John Rutledge (SC)

#9 - John Rutledge (SC)
Birthplace: Charleston, SC
Age at Convention: 48

1) Religion
-- Elected on behalf of Christ Church Parish
-- Opposed motion to begin first session of COntintental Congress with prayer, expressing concern in having a chaplain offer a daily invocation on grounds that the religious diversity of the delegates would prevent any one prayer from being all-inclusive. Came to realize fears were displaced.

2) Slavery
-- Slave Holder
-- Rutledge was willing to support a stronger central government as long as slavery remained under the control of each State.

3) Upbringing
-- Born to a large family
-- Received early education from father and an Anglican minister
-- Studied law at London's Middle Temple

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/rutledge.html
2) http://www.christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-g003.html
3) http://fortsnellingmcf.org/aprodeo/Dec10.pdf

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (30) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (21) or Non-Abolitionist (9)
3) Wealthy (21) or Middle-Class/Poor (26)

10 - George Read (DE)

#10 - George Read (DE)
Birthplace: Cecil County, Maryland
Age at Convention: 53

1) Religion
-- Maternal grandfather was an esteemed clergyman
-- Married daughter for a Reverend

2) Slavery
-- Was an abolitionist
-- Slave Holder

3) Upbringing
-- Dublin-born father was a land-holder of means
-- Attended school at Chester, Pennsylvania and Rev. Francis Alison's academy in New London, PA

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/read.html
2) http://www.factasy.com/civil_war/2008/01/31/slavery_not_just_something_south_33
3) http://books.google.com/books?id=DiJCAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA503&lpg=PA503&dq=george+read+abolition&source=web&ots=dHh8xzTDal&sig=c9VEpM8WPMJ9vJ_y6mM4Iv5FyX0&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPA502,M1

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (29) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (21) or Non-Abolitionist (8)
3) Wealthy (20) or Middle-Class/Poor (26)

11 - Edmund J Randolph (VA)

#11 - Edmund J. Randolph (VA)
Birthplace: Williamsburg, VA
Age at Convention: 34

Note: Delegate to the Congress, but did not sign the Constitution.

1) Religion
-- Episcopalian
-- Quoted as saying "I am a friend to a variety of sects, because they keep one another in order" in a detailed comment about Freedom of Religion

2) Slavery
-- Denied that the Constitution posed any threat to slavery
-- Declared ""there was not a member of the Virginia delegation who had the smallest suspicion of the abolition of slavery"

3) Upbringing
-- Studied law under his father's tutelage

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/randolph.html
2) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2000/winter/garrisons-constitution-1.html
3) http://www.geocities.com/peterroberts.geo/Relig-Politics/ERandolph.html

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (28) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (20) or Non-Abolitionist (8)
3) Wealthy (19) or Middle-Class/Poor (26)

12 - Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (SC)

#12 - Charles Cotesworth Pinckney (SC)
Birthplace: Charleston, SC
Age at Convention: 41

1) Religion
-- Attended Christ Church College, Oxford and pursued legal training at London's Middle Temple
-- First president of the Charleston Bible Society

2) Slavery
-- Exerted influence in the abolotion of the international slave trade

3) Upbringing
-- Eldest son of a politically prominent planter and a remarkable mother who introduced and promoted indigo culture in South Carolina
-- At age 7, traveled to England with his father and received a European education

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/pinckney_cc.html

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (27) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (20) or Non-Abolitionist (7)
3) Wealthy (19) or Middle-Class/Poor (25)

13 - Charles Pinckney (SC)

#13 - Charles Pinckney (SC)
Birthplace: Charleston, SC
Age at Convention: 29

1) Religion
-- Submitted to the convention a draft constitution which included a religion clause: "The Legislature of the United States shall pass no law on the subject of religion"
-- Also sought to ascribe Congress power "to establish an University, in which no preferences or distinctions should be allowed on account of religion".

2) Slavery
-- Held slaves
-- Advocated universal white manhood suffrage
-- Vigorous defender of slavery

3) Upbringing
-- Father was a rich lawyer and planter

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/pinckney_c.html
2) http://books.google.com/books?id=oyFpDS8p33sC&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=charles+pinckney+prayer&source=web&ots=MRzYmCh_dA&sig=JrRH4OOs0BDYQ9tWnNtf6CcjAWg&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result
3) http://books.google.com/books?id=GmXC3SikME4C&pg=PA77&lpg=PA77&dq=charles+pinckney+prayer&source=web&ots=-fr1Dk71w9&sig=tu1AbamllIJ7ryTP9s2sY_Fkts8&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result
4) http://fas-history.rutgers.edu/clemens/constitutional1/pinckney.html

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (26) or Primarily Secular (17)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (19) or Non-Abolitionist (7)
3) Wealthy (18) or Middle-Class/Poor (

14 - William L Pierce (GA)

#14 - William L Pierce (GA)
Birthplace: Virginia
Age at Convention: 47

Note: Delegate to the Congress, but did not sign the Constitution.

1) Religion
-- Unable to find much documentation

2) Slavery
-- Spoke highly of a compatriot "Pierce Butler" who was a spokesman for slave-owning interests
-- Unable to find much documentation - assuming he was a non-abolitionist from the south

3) Upbringing
-- Very little is known, therefore assuming family was not affluent

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/pierce.html
2) http://books.google.com/books?id=8zcjYPZxPV0C&pg=PA46&lpg=PA46&dq=%22william+pierce%22+slave&source=web&ots=7-9A77wjp2&sig=zhsyTkKX8RCSTwbjFaNjqz8dXiA&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=7&ct=result

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (26) or Primarily Secular (16)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (19) or Non-Abolitionist (6)
3) Wealthy (17) or Middle-Class/Poor (25)

15 - William Paterson (NJ)

#15 - William Paterson (NJ)
Birthplace: County Antrim, Ireland
Age at Convention: 41

1) Religion
-- As governor of New Jersey, issued proclamation to observe December 8, 1791 as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.
-- In that proclamation, stated "Whereas it is, at all times, our duty to approach the throne of Almighty God with gratitude and praise, but more especially in seasons of national peace, plenty, and prosperity"

2) Slavery
-- Pointed out that the Congress under the Articles of Confederation "had been ashamed to use the term 'Slaves' & had substituted a description."
-- Argued that counting slaves for purposes of representation encouraged the slave trade
-- Sparked a four-day debate over slavery and representation when he complained about counting slaves for allocation representation.
-- Noted that slaves were not counted in allocating representation in southern state legislatures, and asked, "Why should they be represented in the Genl. Gov't.[?]"

3) Upbringing
-- Family emigrated to America at age 2
-- Father traveled for worked, apparently selling tinware
-- Father was also propserous as a merchant and manufacturer
-- Attended local private schools & Princeton

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/paterson.html
2) http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2000/winter/garrisons-constitution-1.html
3) http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=4108

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (26) or Primarily Secular (15)
2) Abolitionist (17), Partial Abolitionist (19) or Non-Abolitionist (5)
3) Wealthy (17) or Middle-Class/Poor (24)

16 - Robert Morris (PA)

#16 - Robert Morris (PA)
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Age at Convention: 53

1) Religion
-- Unable to find documentation that religion was a priority in his life.

2) Slavery
-- May have helped finance slave trading
-- Owned slaves that worked as house hold servants
-- Supported the non-importation agreements that marked the end of the slave trade into Philadelphia

3) Upbringing
-- At age 13, emigrated to Maryland to join his father, a tobacco exporter

References:
1) http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/delegates/morris_r.html
2) http://www.ushistory.org/presidentshouse/news/inq032007.htm
3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Morris_(financier)

Running tabulation:
1) Religiously Active (25) or Primarily Secular (15)
2) Abolitionist (16), Partial Abolitionist (19) or Non-Abolitionist (5)
3) Wealthy (16) or Middle-Class/Poor (24)