# 1790–1792 United States House of Representatives elections in Massachusetts

Elections for the United States House of Representatives for the 2nd Congress were held in Massachusetts beginning October 4, 1790, with subsequent elections held in four districts due to a majority not being achieved on the first ballot.

## Background

In the previous election, 6 Pro-Administration and 2 Anti-Administration Representatives had been elected. One representative, George Partridge (P) of the 5th district resigned August 14, 1790. His seat was vacant at the time of the 1790 elections, so that there were 5 Pro-Administration and 2 Anti-Administration incumbents, all of whom ran for re-election.
Three candidates ran in districts with different numbers from the previous election. It is not clear from the source used whether there was redistricting or if the districts had simply been renumbered.
Massachusetts law at the time required a majority for election. This occurred on the first ballot in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th districts. In the remaining four districts additional elections were required. In the 5th and 7th districts, a majority was achieved on the 2nd ballot. In the 8th district, a majority was achieved on the 4th ballot, while in the 6th district, 9 ballots were required.

## First Ballot

The first ballot was held on October 4, 1790. Four representatives, from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th districts won on the first ballot.
1790 United States House election results :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation |
| 1st | Fisher Ames (I) | 1,850 | 75.1% | | | | Benjamin Austin | 397 | 16.1% |
| 1st | | | | | | | Thomas Dawes | 218 | 8.8% |
| 2nd | Benjamin Goodhue (I) | 1,027 | 88.8% | | | | Samuel Holten | 129 | 11.2% |
| 3rd | | | | Elbridge Gerry (I) | 1,067 | 60.4% | Nathaniel Gorham | 699 | 39.6% |
| 4th | Theodore Sedgwick (I) | 2,241 | 75.0% | | | | Scattering | 259 | 8.7% |
| 4th | Samuel Lyman | 487 | 16.3% | | | | | | |
| 5th | Shearjashub Bourne | 298 | 41.8% | | | | Thomas Davis | 266 | 37.3% |
| 5th | | | | | | | Joshua Thomas | 149 | 20.9% |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 327 | 22.3% | Phanuel Bishop | 331 | 22.6% | Walter Spooner | 374 | 25.5% |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 245 | 16.7% | | | | | | |
| 6th | David Cobb | 189 | 12.9% | | | | | | |
| 7th | Artemas Ward | 798 | 39.0% | Jonathan Grout (I) | 800 | 39.1% | John Sprague | 297 | 14.5% |
| 7th | | | | | | | Nathan Tyler | 151 | 7.4% |
| 8th | George Thatcher (I) | 609 | 37.2% | | | | Josiah Thatcher | 450 | 9.2% |
| 8th | Peleg Wadsworth | 25 | 1.5% | | | | William Lithgow | 364 | 22.3% |
| 8th | | | | | | | Nathaniel Wells | 263 | 16.1% |
| 8th | | | | | | | William Martin | 80 | 4.9% |
| 8th | | | | | | | Arthur Noble | 59 | 3.6% |
| 8th | | | | | | | Daniel Davis | 29 | 1.8% |
| 8th | | | | | | | Scattering | 57 | 3.5% |

## Second ballot

The second ballot was held in the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th districts on November 26, 1790. A majority was achieved in the 5th and 7th districts on the second ballot
1790 United States House election results (2nd ballot) :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation |
| 5th | Shearjashub Bourne | 667 | 65.3% | | | | Joshua Thomas | 278 | 27.2% |
| 5th | | | | | | | Thomas Davis | 77 | 7.5% |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 402 | 25.7%% | Phanuel Bishop | 444 | 28.4% | Walter Spooner | 387 | 24.8% |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 196 | 12.5% | | | | | | |
| 6th | David Cobb | 134 | 8.6% | | | | | | |
| 7th | Artemas Ward | 1,248 | 56.6% | Jonathan Grout (I) | 1,081 | 43.4% | | | |
| 8th | George Thatcher (I) | 421 | 49.8% | | | | Nathaniel Wells | 262 | 31.0% |
| 8th | | | | | | | William Lithgow | 125 | 14.8% |
| 8th | | | | | | | Scattering | 37 | 4.4% |

## Third ballot

The third ballot was held in the 6th and 8th districts on January 25, 1791. Neither district achieved a majority on this ballot.
1791 United States House election results (3rd ballot) :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 603 | 24.0% | Phanuel Bishop | 852 | 33.9% | Walter Spooner | 711 | 28.3% |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 213 | 8.5% | | | | | | |
| 6th | David Cobb | 134 | 5.3% | | | | | | |
| 8th | George Thatcher (I) | 1,137 | 49.1% | | | | William Lithgow | 919 | 39.7% |
| 8th | | | | | | | Nathaniel Wells | 259 | 11.2% |

## Fourth ballot

The fourth ballot was held in the 6th and 8th districts on April 4, 1791. A majority was achieved in the 8th district.
1791 United States House election results (4th ballot) :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 420 | 15.7% | Phanuel Bishop | 1,039 | 38.8% | Walter Spooner | 1,038 | 38.8% |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 143 | 5.3% | | | | | | |
| 6th | David Cobb | 39 | 1.5% | | | | | | |
| 8th | George Thatcher (I) | 2,738 | 52.3% | | | | William Lithgow | 2,155 | 41.1% |
| 8th | | | | | | | Nathaniel Wells | 347 | 6.6% |

## Fifth ballot

The fifth ballot was held in the 6th district on September 8, 1791. A majority was not achieved. This was the last ballot before the first session of the 2nd Congress began on October 24, 1791. The 6th district was still vacant at the start of the 1st session.
1791 United States House election results (5th ballot) :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation | Unknown Party Affiliation |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 555 | 29.3% | Phanuel Bishop | 801 | 42.3% | Walter Spooner | 124 | 6.6% |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 412 | 21.8% |

## Sixth ballot

The sixth ballot was held in the 6th district on November 11, 1791. A majority was not achieved.
1791 United States House election results (6th ballot) :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 795 | 41.6% | Phanuel Bishop | 806 | 42.2% |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 310 | 16.2% | | | |

## Seventh ballot

The seventh ballot was held in the 6th district on December 26, 1791. A majority was not achieved.
1791 United States House election results (7th ballot) :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 983 | 45.6% | Phanuel Bishop | 689 | 32.0% |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 484 | 22.5% | | | |

## Eighth ballot

The eighth ballot was held in the 6th district on December 26, 1791, during the 1st session of the 2nd Congress.
1791 United States House election results (8th ballot) :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 983 | 45.0% | Phanuel Bishop | 690 | 31.6% |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 484 | 22.2% |

## Ninth ballot

The ninth and final ballot was held in the 6th district on April 2, 1792, near the end of the 1st session of the 2nd Congress.
1792 United States House election results (8th ballot) :
| District | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Pro-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration | Anti-Administration |
| 6th | George Leonard (I) | 1,161 | 55.6% | Phanuel Bishop | 578 | 27.7% |
| 6th | Peleg Coffin, Jr. | 348 | 16.7% |