Jediah Prendergast (May 13, 1766 – March 1, 1848) was an American physician and politician. He served in both the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate.[1]
Jediah Prendergast | |
|---|---|
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| New York State Senate | |
| In office July 1, 1817 – June 30, 1818 | |
| Preceded by | Chauncey Loomis |
| New York State Assembly | |
| In office June 30, 1820 – June 30, 1821 | |
| Preceded by | Elial T. Foote Oliver Forward |
| Succeeded by | Thomas B. Campbell David Eason |
| New York State Assembly | |
| In office July 1, 1816 – June 30, 1817 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel McCleary Elias Osborn |
| Succeeded by | Richard Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 13, 1766 Pawling, New York |
| Died | March 1, 1848 (aged 81) |
| Resting place | Prendergast Cemetery |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Politician |
Biography
editEarly life and career
editPrendergast was born on May 13, 1766, in Pawling, New York, a son of William Prendergast, Sr. (1727-1811) and Mehetabel Wing (1738-1812). Among his siblings included John J. Prendergast, a New York State Senator, and James Prendergast, the founder and namesake of Jamestown, New York.[1] After the American Revolution, the Prendergast family, consisting of the children, grandchildren, and servants, traveled to Wheeling, West Virginia and then to Louisville, Kentucky, before they arrived in Memphis, Tennessee. Unsatisfied, the family moved to Upper Canada in what is now Ontario. Jedediah Prendergast was a practicing physician in Canada. His nephew William studied medicine under his practice until 1811.[2]
The Prendergast family moved to Chautauqua County, New York, and Jediah settled in Mayville in 1811. Here, he went into business as a merchant with his brother Martin, but remained as a practicing physician. He also purchased 350 acres of land south of Mayville. Prendergast was married to Penelope Chase, a native of Rhode Island. They had a daughter, Catherine Rodman Prendergast.[1]
Politics
editPrendergast entered politics and was elected to the New York State Assembly and served in the 40th New York State Legislature from July 1, 1816, to June 30, 1817.
In April 1817, Prendergast ran for New York State Senate. He, along There were two vacancies, in which Isaac Wilson was also a candidate. There was a four-year and one-year term, in which the candidate with the highest number of votes would be elected to the four-year term. When Wilson claimed to have won the 4-year-year term by a vote of 15,009—14,985, Prendergast challenged this as 91 votes were cast for "Jedediah" Prendergast and 10 votes were cast for "Jed" Prendergast. The committee on elections ruled in favor of Prendergast, but this was overturned by the committee of the whole, and as a result, Wilson was elected to a four-year term and Prendergast was elected to a one-year term, serving until June 30, 1818.[3][1]
In 1819, he was elected President of the Chautauqua County Medical Society to serve for a year.[1] Prendergast was once again elected to the New York State Assembly and served in the 44th New York State Legislature and served from July 1, 1820, to June 30, 1821.[1]
Later life
editJediah Prendergast's wife Penelope died on February 1, 1845, while visiting family in Canada. She was buried in Canada. Jediah Prendergast died on March 1, 1848. He was buried in Prendergast Cemetery in Chautauqua County.[1][2]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-Republican | Jediah Prendergast | 1,384 | ||
| Democratic-Republican | Richard Smith | 1,481 | ||
| Federalist | John Bleach | 844 | ||
| Federalist | Samuel Sinclair | 758 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic-Republican | Jediah Prendergast | 15,009 | ||
| Democratic-Republican | Isaac Wilson | 14,985 | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clintonian | William Hotchkiss | 2,444 | ||
| Clintonian | Jediah Prendergast | 2,442 | ||
| Samuel Russell | 2,055 | |||
| Timothy H. Porter | 2,047 | |||
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g Young, Andrew White (1875). History of Chautauqua County, New York From Its First Settlement to the Present Time; with Numerous Biographical and Family Sketches. Printing house of Matthews & Warren. ISBN 9780608393667. Retrieved April 17, 2023.
- ^ a b "Annals of the Wing Family of America Incorporated". Wing Family of America, Incorporated. 1954. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ a b Hammond, Jabez Delano (1875). "The History of Political Parties in the State of New-York". C. Van Benthuysen. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ "New York 1816 Assembly, Cattaraugus, Chautauque and Niagara Counties". A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787 - 1825. Tufts Archival Research Center. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "New York 1820 Assembly, Cattaraugus, Chautauque and Niagara Counties". A New Nation Votes: American Election Returns 1787 - 1825. Tufts Archival Research Center. Retrieved May 1, 2023.