Massachusetts 1788 Electoral College, Barnstable and Plymouth District

Office:
Electoral College (Federal)
Title:
Elector
Jurisdiction:
Federal
Label:
Massachusetts 1788 Electoral College, Barnstable and Plymouth District
Date:
1788
State:
Massachusetts
Type:
General
Iteration:
First Ballot
Office/Role:
Electoral College/Elector
Electors:
Samuel Savage, William Seaver, Nathan Cushing, Joshua Thomas, Shearjashub Bourn, Solomon Freeman, William Cushing, Daniel Howard, Thomas Davis, James Warren, John Gray, Francis Shirtiff, Samuel Freeman, Joseph Cushing, Samuel Jackson, George Partridge, Joseph Smith, David Thacher
Electors: Samuel Savage[1]William Seaver[2]Nathan CushingJoshua ThomasShearjashub BournSolomon FreemanWilliam CushingDaniel HowardThomas DavisJames WarrenJohn GrayFrancis ShirtiffSamuel FreemanJoseph CushingSamuel JacksonGeorge PartridgeJoseph SmithDavid Thacher
Affiliation:FederalistFederalist
Presidential Candidate:George Washington / John AdamsGeorge Washington / John Adams
Final Result: [3][4][5][6][7]3733199261543217126433211111
District of Barnstable and Plymouth3733199261543217126433211111
Barnstable County13510633--------------1
Town of Barnstable2726---------------1
Town of Chatham[8]------------------
Town of Eastham[9]------------------
Town of Falmouth31333---------------
Town of Harwich[10]------------------
Town of Provincetown[11]------------------
Town of Sandwich4848----------------
Town of Truro[12]------------------
Town of Wellfleet[13]------------------
Town of Yarmouth2929----------------
Plymouth County238213596154321712643321111-
Town of Abington--37-343------------
Town of Bridgewater4444----------------
Town of Duxbury----13-13-----------
Town of Halifax-----17------------
Town of Hanover2524----1------1-1--
Town of Kingston2625----1-----------
Town of Marshfield-----12-12----------
Town of Middleborough30--30--------------
Town of Pembroke19191-------------1-
Town of Plymouth6161-1----11----1---
Town of Plympton53313----5333------
Town of Rochester2020----------------
Town of Scituate11117-7-2-----2-----
Town of Wareham761---------------

Notes:

[1]Elected.
[2]Elected.
[3]Massachusetts had a unique method for choosing its Presidential Electors. In each of the eight Congressional districts, voters voted for two electors. The Massachusetts General Court would then chose one Elector from among the top two candidates in each district to go along with two at-large Electors chosen solely by the General Court.
[4]"The Massachusetts Election Resolutions of 20 November 1788 provided that on 18 December, when the voters cast their votes for Representatives in each district, they should also vote for two men as presidential Electors. The votes were to be sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth by Monday, 5 January, and on 7 January the legislature in joint session would elect on eof the two men receiving the highest number of votes in each district. The legislature would then elect two Electors from the state at large from among men who had not received votes as Electors in any district. When the votes were returned to the Secretary, it was revealed that more than 220 men had received votes, including virtually every Federalist leader in the state. The Federalist-controlled legilature therefore hurriedly passed a resolution on 6 January declaring that anyone not disqualified by the Constitution 'shall be considered as eligible for an Elector at large, any resolve to the contrary notwithstanding' (see House and Seate Proceedings, 6 January)." DenBoer, Gordon and Lucy Trumbull Brown, ed. The Documentary History of the First Federal Elections: 1788-1790. Vol. II. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1976. 529.
[5]William Sever was chosen by the Massachusetts General Court as the Elector for the Essex District. Nathan Cushing was chosen by the Massachusetts General Court as the at-large Elector.
[6]Elections for Presidential Electors were held on December 18, 1788. The Massachusetts General Court then selected the 10 Electors on January 7, 1789. The Electors voted for President on February 4, 1789.
[7]"The elections in the country have, in general, been very thinly attended - owing in some measure to the late fall of snow, making the passing bad." The Massachusetts Centinel (Boston, MA). December 20, 1788.
[8]There were no votes recorded in Chatham.
[9]There were no votes recorded in Eastham.
[10]There were no votes recorded in Harwich.
[11]There were no votes recorded in Provincetown.
[12]There were no votes recorded in Truro.
[13]There were no votes recorded in Wellfleet.

References:

Original Election Returns. Massachusetts State Archives, Boston.
The Massachusetts Centinel (Boston, MA). December 20, 1788.
Jensen, Merrill and Robert A. Becker, ed. The Documentary History of the First Federal Elections: 1788-1790. Vol. I. Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Press, 1976. 441-511, 529-542.

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