American Psephology

The 1788-89 House Elections in Massachusetts

On December 18, 1788, Massachusetts elected eight representatives from single-member districts to serve in the House of Representatives. A majority of the vote was required to be elected; if not, further ballots were held until one candidate won a majority. These further ballots were held on January 29, March 2, March 30, and May 11, 1789.

First Trial

The results for the first district are as follows:

  • Fisher Ames (federalist) - 818 votes (50.71%)
  • Samuel Adams (antifederalist) - 521 votes (32.30%)
  • 13 others - 274 votes (16.99%)

Fisher Ames was thus elected.

The results for the second district are as follows:

  • Benjamin Goodhue (federalist) - 567 votes (38.60%)
  • Jonathan Jackson (federalist) - 392 votes (26.68%)
  • Nathan Dane (antifederalist) - 295 votes (20.08%)
  • Samuel Holton (antifederalist) - 202 votes (13.75%)
  • 3 others - 13 votes (0.88%)

A second trial was thus called.

The results for the third district are as follows:

  • Nathaniel Gorham (federalist) - 536 votes (36.39%)
  • Elbridge Gerry (antifederalist) - 384 votes (26.07%)
  • Joseph B. Varnum (federalist) - 254 votes (17.24%)
  • John Brooks (federalist) - 106 votes (7.20%)
  • 11 others - 193 votes (13.10%)

A second trial was thus called.

The results for the fourth district are as follows:

  • Theodore Sedgwick (federalist) - 835 votes (35.50%)
  • Samuel Lyman (federalist) - 330 votes (14.03%)
  • William Whiting (antifederalist) - 302 votes (12.84%)
  • Thompson J. Skinner (federalist) - 256 votes (10.88%)
  • William Williams (federalist) - 181 votes (7.70%)
  • John Worthington (federalist) - 178 votes (7.57%)
  • 17 others - 270 votes (11.48%)

A second trial was thus called.

The results for the fifth district are as follows:

  • George Partridge (federalist) - 501 votes (90.43%)
  • 8 others - 53 votes (9.57%)

Partridge was thus elected.

The results for the sixth district are as follows:

  • George Thatcher (federalist) - 588 votes (62.03%)
  • Josiah Thatcher (federalist) - 182 votes (19.20%)
  • Nathaniel Wilson - 73 votes (7.70%)
  • 9 others - 105 votes (11.08%)

Thatcher was thus elected.

The results for the seventh district are as follows:

  • George Leonard (federalist) - 710 votes (53.95%)
  • Phanuel Bishop (antifederalist) - 342 votes (25.99%)
  • David Cobb (federalist) - 241 votes (18.31%)
  • 2 others - 23 votes (1.75%)

Leonard was thus elected.

The results for the eighth district are as follows:

  • Jonathan Grout (antifederalist) - 665 votes (35.26%)
  • Timothy Paine - 561 votes (29.75%)
  • Artemas Ward (federalist) - 284 votes (15.06%)
  • 16 others - 376 votes (19.94%)

A second trial was thus called.

Second Trial

The results for the second district are as follows:

  • Benjamin Goodhue (federalist) - 1941 votes (72.64%)
  • Jonathan Jackson (federalist) - 724 votes (27.10%)
  • 3 others - 7 votes (0.26%)

Goodhue was thus elected.

The results for the third district are as follows:

  • Elbridge Gerry (antifederalist) - 1140 votes (61.06%)
  • Joseph B. Varnum (federalist) - 366 votes (19.60%)
  • William Hul (federalist) - 205 votes (10.98%)
  • 8 others - 156 votes (8.36%)

Gerry was thus elected.

The results for the fourth district are as follows:

  • Theodore Sedgwick (federalist) - 736 votes (28.35%)
  • Samuel Lyman (federalist) - 718 votes (27.66%)
  • William Whiting (antifederalist) - 578 votes (22.27%)
  • William Williams(federalist) - 268 votes (10.32%)
  • Thompson J. Skinner (federalist) - 248 votes (9.55%)
  • 5 others - 48 votes (1.85%)

A third trial was thus called.

The results for the eighth district are as follows:

  • Timothy Paine - 1040 votes (44.92%)
  • Jonathan Grout (antifederalist) - 990 votes (42.76%)
  • Artemas Ward (federalist) - 258 votes (11.14%)
  • 8 others - 27 votes (1.17%)

A third trial was thus called.

Third Trial

The results for the fourth district are as follows:

  • Samuel Lyman (federalist) - 1847 votes (35.50%)
  • Theodore Sedgwick (federalist) - 1523 votes (29.27%)
  • William Whiting (antifederalist) - 1109 votes (21.31%)
  • Thompson J. Skinner (federalist) - 648 votes (12.45%)
  • 7 others - 76 votes (1.46%)

A fourth trial was thus called.

The results for the eighth district are as follows:

  • Jonathan Grout (antifederalist) - 1968 votes (55.37%)
  • Timothy Paine - 1312 votes (36.92%)
  • Artemas Ward (federalist) - 256 votes (7.20%)
  • 13 others - 18 votes (0.51%)

Grout was thus elected.

Fourth Trial

The results for the fourth district are as follows:

A fifth trial was thus called.

Fifth Trial

The results for the fourth district are as follows:

Sedgwick was thus elected.

Overview

Six federalists and two antifederalists were elected. A number of districts were contested regardless of this ideology, however, and as such the parties are not shown on the map.