James Linn, whose single vote made Thomas Jefferson President of the United States. The contest, transferred to the House of Representatives, was long and bitter; for thirty-five times the ballots were taken, and neither candidate had the necessary majority. New Jersey had five members in the House, two of whom were for Burr and two for Jefferson. James Linn, the Somerset County man, was the fifth, and consequently held the balance of power. On the thirty-sixth ballot he voted for Jefferson, threw New Jersey in his favor, and gave him the requisite number of States to elect him. In a speech made in 1802 by Senator Bayard, ancestor of the present senator, occur these utterances: "I know how great, and greatly felt, was the importance of the vote of Mr. Linn, of New Jersey. The delegation of the State consists of five members. Both parties looked up to him for the vote of New Jersey. He gave it to Mr. Jefferson, and Mr. Linn has since had the profitable office of supervisor of his district conferred upon him." The Linns were a noted Somerset family of the early day, lived on what is now known as the Mine Brook road, and owned large tracts extending back towards Peapack. It is said they were staunch Whigs during the Revolution, and often had conflicts with their neighbors on account of their affiliation with the patriot cause. James Linn was a member of the State Legislature (1793-97), a member of Congress, 1799-1801, Secretary of State in 1809, and died in Trenton, N.J., in 1821. He lived on State Street, Trenton, just beyond the Chancery house.