New York 1814 U.S. House of Representatives, District 17

Office:
U.S. House of Representatives (Federal)
Title:
U.S. Congressman
Jurisdiction:
Federal
Label:
New York 1814 U.S. House of Representatives, District 17
Date:
1814
State:
New York
Type:
General
Iteration:
First Ballot
Office/Role:
U.S. House of Representatives/U.S. Congressman
Candidates:
Westel Willoughby, Jr., William S. Smith, William D. Ford, Thomas R. Gould, Henry Tillinghast, David Beecher, Winsor Coman, John D. Henry
Candidates: Westel Willoughby, Jr.[1]William S. SmithWilliam D. FordThomas R. GouldHenry TillinghastDavid BeecherWinsor ComanJohn D. Henry
Affiliation:RepublicanFederalistFederalist
Final Result: [2][3][4][5]27832510111111
District of Seventeen27832510111111
Herkimer County[6]14021106111---
Town of Columbia[7]15172------
Town of Fairfield145142------
Town of Frankfort7566------
Town of German Flatts[8]18475-1----
Town of Herkimer188149------
Town of Litchfield[9]115195------
Town of Newport80971-----
Town of Norway9994------
Town of Russia5882--1---
Town of Schuyler13723------
Town of Warren[10]166111------
Madison County13741404---111
Town of Brookfield212137------
Town of Cazenovia135193------
Town of De Ruyter8075------
Town of Eaton15695------
Town of Hamilton[11]71148---111
Town of Lebanon[12]35152------
Town of Lenox15651------
Town of Madison136165------
Town of Nelson[13]105158------
Town of Smithfield133156------
Town of Sullivan[14]15277------

Notes:

[1]Elected.
[2]Several votes cast for Westel Willoughby, Jr., were recorded as having been cast for Westel Willoughby. This split in the votes resulted in a majority for William S. Smith, who was declared the winner. Westel Willoughby, Jr., contested the election, since the combined total of votes for Westel Willoughby, Jr., and for Westel Willoughby would give him a clear majority. An investigation found that errors on the part of election inspectors had resulted in the omission of the word "Junior" in the vote transcriptions. Consequently, William S. Smith was made to vacate the Congressionial seat in favor of Westel Willoughby, Jr.
[3]"From a Correspondent in Hekimer [sic]. We are to have another Williams and Bowers contest, with the member of congress for this district. In Madison they had the tickets printed without the junior to Dr. Willoughby's name. We discovered this by sending previous to the election. Our friends had new tickets printed and promised to suppress all the former ones ; but I find that the town of Sullivan voted for Willoughby only. In two towns in this county, the inspectors have returned wrong by omitting the junior. The votes of Sullivan are lost, which reduces the majority to but little more than 100, including those returned wrong, will make Mr. Smith the apparent member elect. The mistakes in this county, however, will be rectified by affadavit, and Dr. Willoughby will eventually have the seat. The mistakes here were not discovered by us in season to have the returns amended." The Columbian (New York, NY). June 7, 1814.
[4]"Mr. Taylor of N.Y. from the committee of Elections, made a report on the petition of Westel Willoughby, Jun. contesting the Election of William S. Smith, a member returned to serve in this house from New York state. The report states it to be ascertained to the satisfaction of the committee, that the whole number of votes given in the district, which is composed of the counties of Madison and Herkimer, was 5292 ; of which 2510 were returned for William S. Smith, 2466 for Westel Willoughby, Jun. 309 for 'Westel Willoughby,' and seven scattering votes ; that it is proved, the error of the omission of the word 'Junior' to a part of the returns was committed by the returning officers, the votes having in fact been given for Westel Willoughby, Jun. The committee recommend that Mr. Smith's seat be vacated, and that Mr. Willoughby be declared entitled to his seat. The report was referred to a committee of the whole house." The American Beacon and Commercial Diary (Norfolk, VA) (Norfolk VA). December 16, 1815.
[5]The Columbian (New York, NY), June 10, and The Columbian. (For the Country) (New York, NY), June 11, report Westel Willoughby, Jr., as receiving 1098 votes in Herkimer County and 1367 votes in Madison County, for a total of 2466; however, the sum of these county figures is 2465. They report Westel Willoughby as receiving 310 votes in Herkimer County and 7 votes in Madison County, for a total of 317 votes.
[6]The Columbian (New York, NY), June 10, reports 1098 votes for Westel Willoughby, Jr., and 310 votes for Westel Willoughby in Herkimer County.
[7]Westel Willoughby, Jr. received 1 vote as Westel Willoughby.
[8]Westel Willoughby, Jr. received 184 votes as Westel Willoughby.
[9]Westel Willoughby, Jr. received 115 votes as Westel Willoughby.
[10]Westel Willoughby, Jr. received 2 votes as Westel Willoughby and 1 vote as Wester Willoughby, Jr.
[11]Westel Willoughby, Jr. received 1 vote as Westel Willoughby.
[12]Westel Willoughby, Jr. received 3 votes as Westel Willoughby.
[13]Westel Willoughby, Jr. received 3 votes as Westel Willoughby.
[14]The Pilot (Cazenovia, NY) reports 152 votes for Westel Willoughby in Sullivan.

References:

Original Election Returns.
Report on the Contested Election in the Seventeenth Congressional District, New York. National Archives, Washington, DC.
The Pilot (Cazenovia, NY). May 11, 1814.
The Columbian (New York, NY). June 7, 1814.
The Columbian (New York, NY). June 10, 1814.
The Columbian. (For the Country) (New York, NY). June 11, 1814.
The Columbian (New York, NY). June 28, 1814.
The American Beacon and Commercial Diary (Norfolk, VA) (Norfolk VA). December 16, 1815.
American Watchman (Wilmington DE). December 16, 1815.
Republican Star (Easton MD). December 19, 1815.
Dubin, Michael J. United States Congressional Elections, 1788-1997: The Official Results of the Elections of the 1st through 105th Congresses. Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Company, 1998. 57.

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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