Vermont 1820 U.S. House of Representatives, District 2

Office:
U.S. House of Representatives (Federal)
Title:
U.S. Congressman
Jurisdiction:
Federal
Label:
Vermont 1820 U.S. House of Representatives, District 2
Date:
1820
State:
Vermont
Type:
General
Iteration:
First Ballot
Office/Role:
U.S. House of Representatives/U.S. Congressman
Candidates:
Phinehas White, Mark Richards, James Elliot, William Hall, Jr., Samuel Elliot, Aaron Leland, William C. Bradley, Martin Field, Jonathan Hunt, Jr., Alexander Campbell, Samuel Arnold, Aaron Barney, Joel Black, Joseph Boyden, Abner W. Field, Aaron Heald, William Jarvis, Henry Lake, Jr., Edward Simons, Joseph Wilson, Thomas Boyden, William Cahoon, Edward R. Campbell, Ebenezer Goodall, Sherburne Hale, Abner Holbrook, Amos Hulet, Jonas Mann, Ephraim Park, John Roberts, Nathan Robinson, Peter W. Taft, Luther Verny
Candidates: Phinehas WhiteMark RichardsJames ElliotWilliam Hall, Jr.Samuel ElliotAaron LelandWilliam C. BradleyMartin FieldJonathan Hunt, Jr.Alexander CampbellSamuel ArnoldAaron BarneyJoel BlackJoseph BoydenAbner W. FieldAaron HealdWilliam JarvisHenry Lake, Jr.Edward SimonsJoseph WilsonThomas BoydenWilliam CahoonEdward R. CampbellEbenezer GoodallSherburne HaleAbner HolbrookAmos HuletJonas MannEphraim ParkJohn RobertsNathan RobinsonPeter W. TaftLuther Verny
Affiliation:FederalistRepublicanFederalistFederalistFederalistRepublicanRepublicanRepublican
Final Result: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]1030948434115786919129742222222221111111111111
District of Two1030948434115786919129742222222221111111111111
Windham County[18]832662429115782216109742-2---2-21-1111-111111
Town of Athens323611-21---------------------------
Town of Brattleboro[19]5229315----------------------1-----
Town of Dover1139--22----------------------------
Town of Dummerston40-47728---------------1------------
Town of Grafton[20]278444--2-1---------------1--------
Town of Guilford[21]7289-2---6--2-2-------------------
Town of Halifax[22]5-77------------------------------
Town of Jamaica5110----------------------------1--
Town of Londonderry4842--------4----------------------
Town of Marlboro441217-2---------------------------1
Town of Newfane12738-10--10--------------------1----
Town of Putney[23]1035222---------------2-------------
Town of Rockingham52101-97-----7-------2---------------
Town of Somerset10-3------------------------------
Town of Stratton274-------------------------------
Town of Townshend10423-----------------------------1-
Town of Vernon2383-7----------------------------
Town of Wardsboro73322-1--------------------1-------
Town of Westminster5713333-1--2-------------11---------
Town of Whitingham[24]25113-1------------------------1---
Town of Wilmington50-35------------------------------
Town of Windham[25]2242---14--------------------------
Windsor County1982865--4732----2-222-2--1----1------
Town of Andover[26]10107----------2-----2--------------
Town of Baltimore11---6---------------------------
Town of Chester6285---41-------222----------------
Town of Springfield[27]50705--37-2-------------------------
Town of Weathersfield7523----2--------------1----1------
Town of Weston[28]---------------------------------

Notes:

[1]The Rutland Vermont Herald (Rutland, VT), August 1: "From the Vermont Republican. Vermont Congressional election. By an act of the legislature, of November 2, 1818, this state is divided into six districts, each of which chooses one representative to congress. The first election under this act takes place on the first Tuesday of September next; and the time having already arrived, when the attention of our fellow-citizens must be turned to the important subject, we subjoin for the information of those of our readers who may not have access to the law in question, a compendium of its provisions. ... The Second Congressional District [is composed] of The county of Windham, and the towns of Weston, Andover, Chester, Springfield, Wethersfield and Baltimore, in the county of Windsor ."
[2]Vermont law required a majority for election to the U.S. House of Representatives. A second ballot would be held on December 11, 1820.
[3]The Original Election Returns contains the following statement: "The Committee appointed by the General Assembly for the 2nd Congressional District to sort and count the votes for a representative to Congress from said District, having performed said service, do report and Declare that no one candidate has a majority of votes over all the other candidates voted for in said District, as may be seen by the within schedule and would respectively give notice to His Excellency Richard Skinner Esq. Governor of the state of Vermont. [signed] Bezaliel Wood for said Committee."
[4]The Vermont Gazette (Bennington, VT): "Our correspondent at the seat of government has furnished the editor with the official canvass of the votes for members of congress, from which it appears that in four districts the freemen have effected a choice ... In the 2d and 3d districts there are no choices."
[5]The Original Election Returns tally sheet lists 975 votes for Phinehas White, 880 votes for Mark Richards, 429 votes for James Elliot, 111 votes for William Hall Jr., 73 votes for Samuel Elliot, 32 votes for Aaron Leland and 10 votes for Martin Field.
[6]The Vermont Gazette (Bennington, VT), The Woodstock Observer (Woodstock, VT) (VT) and The Vermont Intelligencer, and Bellows Falls Advertiser (Bellows Falls, VT) report 975 votes for Phinehas White, 880 votes for Mark Richards and 429 votes for James Elliot.
[7]The Woodstock Observer (Woodstock, VT) (VT) and The Vermont Intelligencer, and Bellows Falls Advertiser (Bellows Falls, VT) and The Vermont Republican and American Yeoman (Windsor, VT) report 111 votes for William Hall Jr., 73 votes for Samuel Elliot and 32 votes for Aaron Leland.
[8]The Vermont Republican and American Yeoman (Windsor, VT) report 973 votes for Phinehas White, 880 votes for Mark Richards and 429 votes for James Elliot.
[9]The National Standard (Middlebury, VT) reports 1026 votes for Phinehas White and 950 votes for Mark Richards.
[10]The Original Election Returns uses the name Nathaniel Robbins for Nathan Robinson.
[11]The Original Election Returns uses the name Ebenezer Goodell for Ebenezer Goodall.
[12]The Original Election Returns uses the name Joel Balch for Joel Black.
[13]The Original Election Returns uses the name Edward Simonds for Edward Simons.
[14]The Original Election Returns uses the name Amos Heald for Aaron Heald.
[15]The Putney Town Records uses the name Joseph Window for Joseph Wilson.
[16]The Rockingham Town Records uses the name Kenny Lake Jr. for Henry Lake Jr.
[17]Letter "To the first Constable of the town of ... said town being in the second Congressional District of this State" from Governor Richard Skinner dated October 24, 1820: "Whereas, The Committee elected by the General Assembly at their October session 1820, to sort and count the votes given in said district, on the first Tuesday of September, 1820, for a Representative to represent this State in the Congress of the United States, have given notice to the Chief Magistrate, that no person has a majority of all the votes of said District, given in as aforesaid; together with a statement of the number of votes given for each candidate: and you are hereby notified, that the number of votes for each candidate in said meeting are as follows ... Therefore, you, and in your absence, the town clerk, and in the absence of both, the select men of said town, are hereby directed to warn the freemen of said town, according to law, to meet at the usual place in said town for holding freemen's meeting, on the second Monday of December next, at one o'clock in the afternoon, to elect a person to represent this state in the Congress of the United States."
[18]The Official Results list Mark Richards with 664 votes but the town totals add up to 666.
[19]The Original Election Returns tally sheet does not list any votes for Samuel Elliot.
[20]Two votes for William Hall in Grafton have been added to the total for William Hall, Jr.
[21]The Original Election Returns tally sheet lists 3 votes for Joseph Boyden in Guilford.
[22]Due to a clerical error, five votes in Halifax meant for Phinehas White were given to gubernatorial candidate Richard Skinner on the Original Election Returns tally sheet. These votes have been restored to the total for Phinehas White.
[23]Two votes for William Hall in Putney have been added to the total for William Hall, Jr.
[24]The Original Election Returns tally sheet lists 57 votes for Mark Richards in Whitingham.
[25]The Original Election Returns tally sheet lists 22 votes for Mark Richards in Windham.
[26]The vote count for Andover includes votes from Weston.
[27]The votes from Springfield were rejected.
[28]The votes for Weston are included in the vote count for Andover.

References:

Original Election Returns. Vermont State Archives, Middlesex.
Andover Town Records.
Baltimore Town Records.
Brattleboro Town Records.
Chester Town Records.
Dummerston Town Records.
Grafton Town Records.
Guilford Town Records.
Halifax Town Records.
Jamaica Town Records.
Newfane Town Records.
Putney Town Records.
Rockingham Town Records.
Springfield Town Records.
Stratton Town Records.
Townshend Town Records.
Vernon Town Records.
Wardsboro Town Records.
Westminster Town Records.
Whitingham Town Records.
Wilmington Town Records.
Windham Town Records.
Vermont State Papers. Vol. 78. 41-46, 72a.
The Rutland Vermont Herald (Rutland, VT). August 1, 1820.
Vermont Intelligencer, and Bellows Falls Advertiser (Bellows Falls, VT). September 11, 1820.
Rutland Vermont Herald (Rutland, VT). September 19, 1820.
Vermont Gazette (Bennington, VT). September 19, 1820.
The National Standard (Middlebury, VT). October 24, 1820.
Woodstock Observer (Woodstock, VT). October 24, 1820.
Vermont Intelligencer, and Bellows Falls Advertiser (Bellows Falls, VT). October 30, 1820.
Vermont Republican and American Yeoman (Windsor, VT). October 30, 1820.
Vermont Gazette (Bennington, VT). October 31, 1820.
Vermont Intelligencer, and Bellows Falls Advertiser (Bellows Falls, VT). October 31, 1820.

Page Images

handwritten notes
Phil's original notebook pages that were used to compile this election. These notes are considered a draft of the electronic version. Therefore, the numbers may not match. To verify numbers you will need to check the original sources cited. Some original source material is available at the American Antiquarian Society).
handwritten notes
Phil's original notebook pages that were used to compile this election. These notes are considered a draft of the electronic version. Therefore, the numbers may not match. To verify numbers you will need to check the original sources cited. Some original source material is available at the American Antiquarian Society).

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