An Account of the Great Election of 1733 Held on the Village Green At St. Paul's Church in Eastchester

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Recently I posted an item summarizing the early history of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester. In that posting I included links to a number of earlier postings regarding the history of the church which, in the 18th and early 19th centuries, was one of the two principal churches available to Pelham residents for worship. See Thursday, November 8, 2007: Brief History of St. Paul's Church in Eastchester Published in 1886.

One of the most notable events ever to occur on the Village Green in front of St. Paul's Church was the "Great Election of 1733" where the people's candidate, Lewis Morris, was elected to the provincial Assembly. A newspaper account of the election published by John Peter Zenger led to a trial in which he was acquitted of printing and publishing seditious libels. The trial is considered one of the most important early victories for freedom of speech in America and an important precursor to inclusion of the First Amendment among those of the Bill of Rights accepted during the early years of the United States of America. Below is an account of the election. Last April 9 I provided a transcription of an October 29, 1733 newspaper article containing Zenger's account of the election. See Monday, April 9, 2007: An Account of the Election Victory of Lewis Morris in the So-Called "Great Election".

"Driven from office by his foes, [Lewis] Morris was now [in 1733] the favorite champion of the people. He had retired to his estate at Morrisania. But here he was not permitted to rest; perhaps he was incapable of it. He threw himself at once into the politics of the time, and, although old (for he was now over sixty), became a candidate for the assembly. The story of his election, despite all the efforts of De Lancey and the court party, is preserved for us in Zenger's journal, almost with the minuteness of a modern reporter. I shall abridge if for the reader, since it tells us much of the manners of our ancestors. When Lewis Morris, in the autumn of 1733, appeared as the candidate of the people for Westchester, a very remarkable election took place. Few modern politicians would care to undergo the fatigues and the dangers that awaited the patriotic voters in 1733. There was fear that the court party might practise some fraud; fifty electors kept watch all night at East Chester, where the polling was to take place, until the morning of the election day. The other electors of Morris's party began to move on Sunday afternoon so as to be at New Rochelle by midnight; on their way they were entertained at plentifully covered tables in each house as they passed; at midnight they met at the home of an active partizan whose house could not contain them all. A large fire was made in the street, and here they sat till daylight came, in the damp air of a Westchester morning. At daylight they were joined by seventy mounted voters from the lower part of the county, and then the whole body moved to the polling place at East Chester in the following order: first rode 'two trumpeters and two violins,' the representatives of a modern band; then came four freeholders, one of whom carried a banner, on one side of which was inscribed, in golden capitals, 'King George,' on the other, 'Liberty and Law.' Next came the candidate, Lewis Morris, Esq., late chief justice, then two colors, and at sunrise they entered the common of East Chester. Three hundred of the principal freeholders of the county followed Morris on horseback, the largest number ever known to be assembled since the settlement of the town. Three times they rode around the green, and then went to the houses of their friends. About eleven o'clock, perhaps with still more state and show, appeared the candidate of the opposing party. It was William Forster, Esq., once a schoolmaster sent over by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, but now clerk of the peace and justice of the Common Pleas by the appointment of Governor Cosby. It is suggested that he paid a hundred [Page 233 / Page 234] pistoles for his office. Next him in the procession were two ensigns borne by two freeholders, and then came James De Lancey, chief justice, and Frederick Philipse, second judge, baron, etc. They were followed by one hundred and seventy mounted freeholders, the magnates of Westchester County. They entered the green on the east side, rode around it, and as he passed it was notice that De Lancey bowed to Morris and that the civility was returned. But now one of the Morris party called out, 'No Pretender,' and "Forster said angrily, 'I will take notice of you.' It was reported that he was no friend to the Hanoverian family. An hour after came the high sheriff, finely mounted, with housings and trappings of scarlet richly laced with silver. The electors gathered on the green; the great majority was evidently for Morris, but the other side demaned a poll, and the voting began. It was rudely interrupted when the high sheriff refused to receive the vote of a Friend or Quaker of large estate who would not take the usual oath. A fierce wrangle began. Morris and his friends insisted that an affirmation was sufficient; the sheriff, a stranger in the county, one of Cosby's instruments, persisted in his refusal. De Lancey and his friends sustained him, and thirty-seven Quakers, who were ready to vote for Morris, were excluded by this unjust decision. Even in England they would have been allowed to vote. Fierce, no doubt, was the rage of the popular party. One of them called out that Forster was a Jacobite; Forster denied it. At last the 'late Chief Justice' was returned by a large majority. He rebuked Forster and the sheriff for their attempt upon the liberties of the people, and threatened them with deserved punishment; but when all his followers answered with loud cheers, he restrained them from violence. De Lancey and his faction, we may fancy, rode sullenly away. But soon after Morris entered New-York in triumph, amidst salutes from all the vessels in the harbor. He was met by a party of the chief merchants and gentlemen of the town. The people followed him with 'loud acclamations.' He was conducted to the Black Horse Tavern, where a fine entertainment had been prepared, and where, [Page 234 / Page 235] amidst the flow of fiery Madeira and steaming punch, it is not likely that the governor and his followers were spared in the usual speeches."

Source: Wilson, James Grant, ed., The Memorial History of the City of New-York From its First Settlement to the Year 1892, Vol. II, pp. 233-35 (NY, NY: New-York History Co., 1892).

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1733 Account of the Election Victory of Lewis Morris in the So-Called "Great Election"

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Pelham is said to have played a minor role in the so-called "Great Election" of 1733 which raised issues of Freedom of Religion and Press in colonial America. One of the many accounts of the election of Lewis Morris as a Representative of Westchester County points out Pelham's supposed role as follows:

"The High Sheriff was suspected of undue partiality for the opposite candidate, and his announcement of the election did not state the hour of opening the polls; so about 50 of the voters passed the night on the green, to be ready for emergencies, and to notify their party if the polls were suddenly opened. In those times people traveled but little, and generally went on horseback, and lodged with their friends. Many of the electors from beyond New-Rochelle rode a part of the night, and then, not finding room in the crowded village, slept about a fire in the street. They resumed their way before day, to be at the polls as early as possible. They were joined on the hill near East Chester - Prospect Hill [Pelham] - by about 70 horsemen from the lower part of the county; here they formed in the following order, and marched down the hill toward the church: First rode two trumpeters and three violinists; next, four of the chief freeholders, one of whom carried a banner with 'King George' on one sid, and 'Liberty and Law' on the other, in gold capitals; then followed the candidate, Lewis Morris, Esq., ex Chief-Justice of the Province; next two colors, and finally about 300 horsement, the chief freeholders of the county. At sunrise they entered the village green, and found themselves the first on the ground, and after riding about the place three times they took their position in front of the houses of Fowler and Child. At about 11 o'clock the opposite candidate appeared with a similar cavalcade. They rode twice around the green and exchanged formal bows with their rivals. But the elements thus parading were soon stirred up by closer contact, and the shouts of 'No land tax!' and 'No excise!' led on the turmoil to still more excitement. About noon the High Sheriff came to town, finely mounted and decked in the trappings of the old official splendor, with housings and holster-caps of scarlet richly laced with silver. Then the canvass began, and soon grew to an uproarious scene lik the hustings contests in England. The result of the voting was at last demanded; the Sheriff would not announce it; more demands and more evasions finally brought a clamor for polling. Seats were erected under the trees, and the electors proceeded to cast their votes. The Sheriff illegally refused the ballots of a large number of wealthy Quakers unless they would swear on the Bible to their possession of property well-known to the whole company. The Quakers would solemnly affirm, but they would not swear. Sore complaints and even threats failed to correct the Sheriff's dishonesty; but, for all that, Morris was elected. Then the Sheriff expressed the hope that his mistake would be overlooked by mr. Morris, who assured him his conduct had made him liable to prosecution for £10,000 damages. When all was done the whole body of electors escorted their new representative to his lodgings, with the sounding of trumpets, the playing of violins, and the general rejoicing of everybody."

Source: On the Shore of the Sound A Walk from Pelham Neck to New-Rochelle, N.Y. Times, Apr. 28, 1878, p. 4, col. 6.

According to the above account and local tradition, those who planned to vote for Lewis Morris gathered on Prospect Hill before riding and marching to the nearby Eastchester green in a grand and boisterous procession. That tradition, it seems, is likely erroneous.

It seems clear from an account published in 1733 that the majority of the voters who favored Lewis Morris gathered the night before in New Rochelle and, later, proceeded to the Eastchester green (a portion of which remains next to today's Saintg Paul's Church National Historic Site located at 897 South Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon, NY). At the time, the roadway from New Rochelle to Eastchester was the Old Boston Post Road that follows the path of today's Colonial Avenue through Pelham. It seems virtually certain that the grand procession marched and rode through Pelham on this roadway on its way to the Eastchester green.

This roadway, however, does not pass near Prospect Hill. Moreover, no roadway crossed Prospect Hill at that time. Yet, it is clear from one important account of the procession published in 1733, that the Morris supporters gathered on "the Hill at the East end of the Town" before marching to the green.

The principal hill "at the East end of the Town" of Eastchester in 1733 would have been the hill not far from where the Old Boston Post Road crossed the Hutchinson River near the "Best Buy" store on today's Sanford Boulevard in Mount Vernon. It seems likely that it was from that hill -- not Prospect Hill in Pelham -- that the procession marked.

Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting transcribes below what is said to be a first-hand account of the events leading up to -- and during -- the Great Election. The account appeared in the October 5, 1733 issue of The New-York Weekly Journal. The account appears immediately below, followed by a citation to its source.

"Westchester, October 29th, 1733.

ON this Day, Lewis Morris Esq., late Chief Justice of this Province, was by a great Majority of Voices, elected a Representative for the County of Westchester.

This being an Election of great Expectation, and where in the Court and Country's Interest [Page 2 / Page 3] Interest was exerted (as is said) to the Utmost: I shall give my Readers, a particular account of it, as I had it from a Person that was present at it.

Nicholas Cooper, Esq., High Sheriff of the said County, having by Papers affixed to the Church of East-Chester [today's Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site], and other Publick Places, given Notice of the Day and Place of Election, without mentioning any Time of the Day, when it was to be done; which made the Electors on the Side of the late Judge [ex-Chief Justice Lewis Morris], verry suspitious that some Fraud was intended. To prevent which about 50 of them kept Watch upon and about, the Green at Eastchester, ( the Place of Election,) from 12 o'Clock the Night before, 'til the Morning of that Day. The other Electors begining to move on Sunday Afternoon and Evening, so as to be at New-Rochell, by Midnight, their Way lay through Harrison's Purchase, the Inhabitants of which provided for their Entertainment, as they pass'd each House in their Way, having a Table plentifully covered for that Purpose, about Midnight they all met at the House of William Lecount, at New-Rochell, whose House not being large enough to entertain so great a Number, a large Fire was made in the Street, by which they sat 'til Day-Light, at which Time they began to move; they were joynd on the Hill at the East end of the Town by about 70 Horse of the Electors of the lower Part of the County, and then proceeded towards the Place of Election in the following Order, viz. First rode two Trumpeters and 3 Violines; next 4 of the principal Freeholders, one of which carried a Banner, on one Side of which was affixed in gold Capitals, KING GEORGE, and on the Other, in like golden Capitals LIBERTY & LAW; next followed the Candidate Lewis Morris Esq., late Chief Justice of this Province; then two Colours; and at Sun rising they entred upon the Green of Eastchester the Place of Election, followed by above 300 Horse of the principal Freeholders of the County, (a greater Number than had ever appear'd for one Man since the Settlement of that County:) After having rode three Times round the Green, they went to the Houses of Joseph Fowler and -- Child, who were well prepared for their Reception, and the late Chief Justice, on his allighting by several Gentleman, who came there to give their Votes for him.

About Eleven of the Clock appeared the Candidate of the other Side, William Forster Esq., School Master, appointed by the Society for Propagation of the Gospel and lately made by Commission from his Excellency (the present Governour,) Clerk of the Peace and common Pleas, in that County; which Commission it is said, he purchased fro the valuable Consideration of One Hundred Pistoles given the Governor; next him, came two Ensignes, born by two of the Freeholders; then followed the Honourable James Delancy, Esq., Chief Justice of the Province of New-York, and the Honourable Frederick Philipse, Esq., second Judge of the said Province, and Baron of the EXCHEQUER, attended by about 170 Horse of the Freeholders and Friends of the said Forster; and the two Judges they entred the Green on the East side, and riding twice round it, their Word was No Land-Tax, as they passed, the second Judge very civilly saluted the late Chief Justice by taking off his Hat, which the late Judge returned in the same Manner: Some of the late Judges Party crying out no Excise, and one of them was heard to say(tho not by the Judge) no Pretender, upon which, Forster, the Candidate, reply'd, I will take Notice of you, they after that, retired to the House of -- Baker, which was prepared to receive and entertain them. About an Hour after, the High Sheriff came to Town finely mounted, the Housings and Holster Caps being Scarlet, richly laced with Silver belonging to --------: Upon his approach the Electors on both Sides went into the Green, where they were to Elect, and after having read his Majesty's Writ, bid the Electors proceed to the Choice which they did; and a great Majority appeard for Mr. Morris, the late Judge: Upon which a Poll was demanded, but by whom is not known to the Relator, tho' it was said by many, to be done by the Sheriff himself. Morris, the Candidate several Times asked the Sheriff upon the whole Side the Majority appeard, but could get no other reply, but that a Poll must be had, and accordingly after about two Hours delay, in geting Benches, Chairs, and Tables they began to Poll: Soon after one of those called Quakers, a Man of known Worth and Estate, came to give his Vote for the late-Judge, upon this Forster and the two Fowlers, Moses and William, chosen by him to be Inspectors, questioned his having an Estate, and required of the Sheriff to tender him the Book to Swear, in due Form of Law, which he refused to do, but offered [Page 3 / Page 4] offered to take his solemn Affirmation; which both by the Laws of England and the Laws of this Province was indulged to the People called Quakers, and had always been practiced from the first Election of Representatives, in this Province to this Time, and never refused, but the Sheriff was deaf to all that could be alledged on that Side; and notwithstanding, that he was told both by the late Chief Justice, and James Alexander, Esq., One of His Majesty's Council, and Councellor at Law, and a violent Attempt of the Liberties of the People: He still presisted in refusing the said Quaker to Vote; and in like Manner did refuse Seven and Thirty Quakers more, Men of known and visible Estates.

This Cooper, now High-Sheriff of the said County, is said, not only to be a Stranger in that County, not having a Foot of Land, or other visible Estate in it, unless very lately granted; and it is believ'd, he has not where with all to purchase any.

The Polling had not been long continued, before Mr. Edward Stephens, a Man of a very considerable Estate in the said County, did openly in the Hearing of all the Freeholders there assembled, charge William Forster, Esq., the Candidate on the other Side, with being a Jacobite, and in the Interest of the Pretender, and that he should say to Mr. William Willet, (a Person of good Estate and known Integrity, who was at that Time present, and ready to make Oath to the Truth of what was said) that true it was, he had taken the Oaths to his Majesty King GEORGE and enjoy'd a Place in the Government under Him, which gave him Bread. Yet notwithstanding That, should ---- James come into England, he should think himself oblig'd to go there and Fight for him. This was loudly and strongly urged to Forster's Face, who denied it to be true, and no more was said of it at that Time.

About Eleven o'Clock that Night the Poll was clos'd. And it stood thus:

For the late Chief Justice, 231
Quakers 38
______
In all 269
______

For William Forster, Esq. 151
The Difference. 118
______
269

So that the late Chief Justice carried it by a great Majority, without the Quakers. Upon closing the Poll, the other Candidate, Forster, and the Sheriff, wish'd the late Chief Justice much Joy, Forster, said, he hop'd the late Judge would not think the worse of him for setting up against him, to which the Judge reply'd, he believed that he was put upon it against his Inclination, but that he was highly blamable, and who did or should have known better for putting the Sheriff, who was a Stranger and ignorant in such Matters, upon making so violent an Attempt upon the Liberty of the People, which, would expose him to Ruin, if he were worth 10,000 l. if the People agriev'd should commence Suit against him. The People made a loud Huzza, which the late Chief Judge blam'd very much, as what he tho't not right: Forster reply'd, He took no Notice of what the coimmon People did, since Mr. Morris did not put them upon the doing of it.

The Indentures being seal'd, the whole Body of Electors, waited on their new Representative to his Lodings with Trumpets sounding, and Violins playing; and in a little Time took their Leave of him. And thus ended the Westchester Election, to the general Satisfaction.

Source: Westchester, October 29th, 1733, The New-York Weekly Journal, Oct. 5, 1733, pp. 2-4.

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