Pennsylvania 1805 State Senate, District 12

Office:
State Senate (State)
Title:
State Senator
Jurisdiction:
State
Label:
Pennsylvania 1805 State Senate, District 12
Date:
1805
State:
Pennsylvania
Type:
General
Iteration:
First Ballot
Office/Role:
State Senate/State Senator
Candidates:
Henry Wertz, Jr., Abraham Morrison, Benjamin Burd
Candidates: Henry Wertz, Jr.[1]Abraham MorrisonBenjamin Burd
Affiliation:RepublicanConstitutionalistConstitutionalist
Final Result: [2][3][4][5]192613801311
District of Twelve192613801311
Bedford County[6]566544433
Bedford2452996
Crossings308511
Cumberland Valley2729-
Hopewell251131
McConnelstown4677193
Morrison's Cove79548
Tonoloway992244
Wills Creek2818-
Huntingdon County[7]93226677
Somerset County[8]208810201

Notes:

[1]Elected.
[2]Numerous sources report only three candidates in this election and that Henry Wertz had the highest vote total. However, the United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA) from October 26, 1805 explains that: "Two of the judges gave it as their opinion, that the votes given for Henry Wertz, junior, and those for Henry Wertz, were all intended for Henry Wertz, junior; and therefore, in making out the return, they did not declare who was chosen, but left the determination to the senate. As there are actually two persons of that name in the district, a father and a son, there can be no doubt the senate must decide that both were voted for. Consequently, Mr. Morrison, a constitutionalist of high respectability, may be considered as elected, and will doubtless be declared entitled to the seat."
[3]"In casting up the votes, it appeared that Abraham Morrison had 1380; Benjamin Burd 1311; Henry Wertz, junior 1309; Henry Wertz 556. It was the opinion of two of the judges, that the votes given to Henry Wertz, jun. and those for Henry Wertz, were intended to be for the same person, and therefore, in making out the return, did not declare which was chosen, but left it to the Senate to determine. (Beford Gazette)." The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). October 26, 1805.
[4]"PENNSYLVANIA ELECTION. Official Return. A List of the Senate...12th. District, Bedford, Huntingdon, and Somerset--contested between Abraham Morrison and Henry Wertz." United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). November 4, 1805.
[5]"District of Bedford, Huntingdon and Somerset: Abraham Morrison 1380; Henry Wertz, jun. 1369; Henry Wertz 556; Benjamin Burd 1311. The Senate voted 16 to 8 in favor of a report ~ "That Henry Wertz, Jun. is duly elected Senator for the District, composed of the Counties of Bedford, Huntingdon, and Somerset."" The Intelligencer, and Weekly Advertiser (Lancaster, PA). December 31, 1805.
[6]The results in Bedford County for Henry Wertz Jr., Abraham Morrison, and Benjamin Burd differ in each source. These county totals are taken from The Freeman's Journal, and Philadelphia Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA) which were published later than some others sources on October 26, 1805 and contain the most accurate results (which also match the totals for the district listed in the Original Election Returns). Early township totals were published in The Bedford Gazette (Bedford, PA) from October 19 and list Henry Wertz, Jr. with 579 votes, Abraham Morrison with 536 votes, and Benjamin Burd with 433 votes. The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA) from October 19 lists Abraham Morrison with 555 votes.
[7]The Freeman's Journal, and Philadelphia Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA) list Henry Wertz, Jr. with 952 votes and Benjamin Burd with 776 votes. The Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA) from October 28 also lists Benjamin Burd with 776 votes.
[8]The Freeman's Journal, and Philadelphia Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA) lists Benjamin Burd with 102 votes.

References:

Original Election Returns. Pennsylvania State Archives, Harrisburg.
The Crawford Weekly Messenger (Meadville, PA). October 16, 1805.
Poulson's American Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). October 16, 1805.
Kline's Carlisle Weekly Gazette (Carlisle, PA). October 18, 1805.
American Eagle (Easton, PA). October 19, 1805.
The Bedford Gazette (Bedford, PA). October 19, 1805.
The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). October 19, 1805.
Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). October 21, 1805.
Aurora, for the Country (Philadelphia, PA). October 23, 1805.
The Freeman's Journal, and Philadelphia Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). October 26, 1805.
The True American and Commercial Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). October 26, 1805.
United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). October 26, 1805.
Aurora. General Advertiser (Philadelphia, PA). October 28, 1805.
Aurora, for the Country (Philadelphia, PA). October 28, 1805.
Kline's Carlisle Weekly Gazette (Carlisle, PA). November 1, 1805.
United States' Gazette (Philadelphia, PA). November 4, 1805.
The Intelligencer, and Weekly Advertiser (Lancaster, PA). December 31, 1805.

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).
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).
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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