His grandfather, Frederick Frelinghuysen, was a senator during the first term of Jackson and ran for Vice-President on the ticket with Mr.Clay in 1844.

The family came with the early emigration from Holland and soon acquired a hold upon the confidence of the people of New Jersey which has been long and steadily maintained .-- Mr.Frelinghuysen soon attained prominence in the Senate, and grew in strength and usefulness throughout his service in that body..