Nathaniel Pitcher

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Nathaniel Pitcher

|image =

|order1 = 8th

|office1 = Governor of New York

|term_start1 = February 11, 1828

|term_end1 = December 31, 1828

|lieutenant1 = Peter R. Livingston
Charles Dayan

|predecessor1 = DeWitt Clinton

|successor1 = Martin Van Buren

|office2 = Lieutenant Governor of New York

|term_start2 = January 11, 1827

|term_end2 = February 10, 1828

|predecessor2 = James Tallmadge Jr.

|successor2 = Peter R. Livingston (acting)

|governor2 = DeWitt Clinton

|state3 = New York

|constituency3 = 18th district

|term_start3 = March 4, 1831

|term_end3 = March 3, 1833

|preceded3 = Henry C. Martindale

|succeeded3 = Daniel Wardwell

|constituency4 = 12th district

|term_start4 = March 4, 1819

|term_end4 = March 3, 1823

|preceded4 = John Savage

|succeeded4 = Lewis Eaton

|office5 = Member of the New York State Assembly from Washington and Warren Counties

|term_start5 = 1816

|term_end5 = 1818

|alongside5 = William Cook, John Gale, Isaac Sargent, David Woods

|preceded5 = Michael Harris, John Reid, David Abel Russell, James Stevenson, Roswell Weston

|succeeded5 = Duncan Cameron, Jason Kellogg, Alexander Livingston, John McLean Jr., Isaac Sargent

|alongside6 = John Gale, Henry Mattison, John Richards, Isaac Sargent

|term_start6 = 1815

|term_end6 = 1816

|preceded6 = Paul Dennis, Samuel Gordon, John Richards, John Savage, Charles Starbuck, John White

|succeeded6 = Michael Harris, John Reid, David Abel Russell, James Stevenson, Roswell Weston

|term_start7 = 1806

|term_end7 = 1807

|alongside7 = Kitchel Bishop, William Livingston, John McLean, Daniel Shepherd, one vacancy

|preceded7 = Isaac Harlow, Jason Kellogg, William Livingston, John McLean, Solomon Smith, James Starbuck

|succeeded7 = Kitchel Bishop, Peleg Bragg, John Gray, James Hill, Jason Kellogg, William Robards

|office8 = Town Supervisor of Kingsbury, New York

|term_start8 = 1804

|term_end8 = 1810

|predecessor8 = Thomas Bradshaw

|successor8 = Felix Alden

|birth_date = {{birth date|1777|11|30|mf=y}}

|birth_place = Litchfield, Connecticut, US

|death_date = {{death date and age|1836|05|25|1777|11|30|mf=y}}

|death_place = Sandy Hill, New York, US

|party = Democratic-Republican

|spouse = Margaret Scott (1782–1815)
Anna B. Merritt (1791–1824)

|children = 4

|relations = Zina Pitcher (half-brother)

|profession = Attorney

| allegiance = United States
New York

| branch = {{flagicon|New York|1778}} New York State Militia

| rank = Brigadier General

| commands = 17th Brigade

| serviceyears = 1802–

| battles = War of 1812

| restingplace = Baker Cemetery in Hudson Falls

}}

Nathaniel Pitcher (November 30, 1777 – May 25, 1836) was an American lawyer and politician who served in Congress and as the eighth governor of New York from February 11 to December 31, 1828.

Pitcher was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, and raised in Sandy Hill, New York (Hudson Falls). He was educated in Sandy Hill, studied law, was admitted to the bar, and became an attorney. He became active in politics as a Democratic-Republican, and served in local offices including town supervisor and justice of the peace. He served in the New York State Assembly, as probate court judge of Washington County, and as a federal tax assessor during the War of 1812. He was also a longtime veteran of the New York Militia; he served during the War of 1812, and after the war he commanded a brigade with the rank of brigadier general.

Pitcher served in the United States House of Representatives from 1819 to 1823. He became lieutenant governor in 1827, and he succeeded to the governorship in 1828, following the death of DeWitt Clinton. He was succeeded as governor by Martin Van Buren. Pitcher served another term in the U.S. House from 1831 to 1833. He died in Sandy Hill on May 25, 1836 and was buried at Baker Cemetery in Hudson Falls.

Early life

Pitcher was born in Litchfield on November 30, 1777.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}} He was the son of Nathaniel Pitcher Sr. (1750–1802), a veteran of the American Revolution who led the detachment that captured Lake George's Fort George from the British in 1775.{{sfn|"The Ticonderoga Expedition of 1775"|page=382-385}} The younger Pitcher was raised and educated in Sandy Hill, New York (now Hudson Falls).{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}} He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced in Sandy Hill.{{sfn|History of Washington Co., New York|page=431}}

Early career

Pitcher entered politics as a member of the Democratic-Republican Party, and he served as Kingsbury's town supervisor from 1804 to 1810.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}} He was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1806 to 1807, 1815 to 1816, and 1816 to 1818.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}}

From 1812 to 1813, Pitcher served as surrogate judge of Washington County.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}} He was Kingsbury's town clerk in 1813 and 1814, and also served as a justice of the peace, with appointments in 1804, 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1811.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}}{{sfn|History of Washington Co., New York|page=117}} During the War of 1812, Pitcher was appointed the federal revenue assessor for the 10th District of New York, which included Washington County, and was responsible for collecting taxes imposed to support the war effort.{{sfn|A Register of Officers and Agents|page=32}}

Military career

Pitcher's father had been active in the militia,{{sfn|Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment|page=795}} and the younger Nathaniel Pitcher followed him into military service, receiving his commission as an ensign in 1802.{{sfn|Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment|page=582}} In 1808 he was appointed as adjutant of the regiment commanded by Micajah Pettit.{{sfn|Documents of the Senate of the State of New York|page=996}} Later in 1808 he was promoted to major, and appointed as inspector of the brigade commanded by Warren Ferris.{{sfn|Documents of the Senate of the State of New York|page=1026}} In 1814, Pitcher was included in a militia detail of 13,500 soldiers that was activated for federal service during military operations on the Canada-western New York border during the War of 1812.{{sfn|New York City and Vicinity During the War of 1812–15|pages=162–164}}

In 1815, Pitcher was appointed lieutenant colonel and second in command of the militia's 121st Regiment.{{sfn|Documents of the Senate of the State of New York|page=1561}} Later in 1815, he succeeded Pettit as commander of the 17th Brigade, and was promoted to brigadier general.{{sfn|Documents of the Senate of the State of New York|page=1641}} As a result of his military service, Pitcher was frequently referred to in public records and newspaper stories as "General Pitcher"{{sfn|The Decline of Aristocracy in the Politics of New York|pages=274, 313, 422}} or "Gen. Pitcher".{{sfn|Proceedings of the Workingmen's State Convention|page=4}}

Later career

He was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the 16th and 17th Congresses (March 4, 1819 – March 3, 1823).{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}} He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention in 1821.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}}

Pitcher was Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1827 and 1828 and became Governor of New York upon the death of Governor DeWitt Clinton.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}} He completed Clinton's term, February 11, 1828, to December 31, 1828, and was succeeded by Martin Van Buren.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}}{{sfn|"On the first instant the oaths were administered to Martin Van Buren, Governor, and Enos T. Throop, Lieut. Governor"|page=5}}

He was again elected as a Jacksonian to the 22nd Congress (March 4, 1831 – March 3, 1833).{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}}

Death and burial

Pitcher died in Hudson Falls on May 25, 1836,{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}} and was buried at Baker Cemetery in Hudson Falls.{{sfn|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005|page=1742}}

Family

Pitcher's first wife was Margaret Scott (1782–1815).{{sfn|The Stebbins Genealogy|pages=295–296}} Their children included sons Augustus (1808–1876),{{sfn|"Death Notice, Augustus Pitcher"|page=7}} Matthew Scott (1810–1858),{{sfn|"Cemetery Records Kingsbury, New York: Baker Cemetery"}} and Montgomery Pike (1813–1841).{{sfn|"Cemetery Records Kingsbury, New York: Baker Cemetery"}}

On March 15, 1823, Pitcher was married to Anna B. Merritt (1791–1824) of Freedom Plains, New York.{{sfn|"Marriage Notice: Nathaniel Pitcher and Anna B. Merritt"|page=3}} She became ill and died soon after giving birth to their son Edward Merritt (1824–1860).{{sfn|"Death Notice, Anna B. Pitcher"|page=3}}{{sfn|"California Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790–1950"}} Edward Merritt Pitcher moved to California in the 1840s, where he was an early settler of Sacramento, and a member of Sacramento County's first board of supervisors.{{sfn|"California Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790–1950"}}{{sfn|"Roseville’s first Postmistress was a trail blazer"}}{{sfn|"Death Notice, Edward M. Pitcher"|page=3}}

Pitcher's siblings included Zina Pitcher, a prominent physician and mayor of Detroit.{{sfn|National Cyclopedia of American Biography|pages=214–215}}

Legacy

The town of Pitcher in Chenango County is named for Pitcher.{{sfn|The Origins of Unusual Place-Names|page=103}}

Attempts to locate portrait

Pitcher is the only Governor of New York for whom no likeness is known to exist, and attempts to locate one have proved unsuccessful.{{sfn|"Fail to Uncover Likeness of Hudson Falls Man Who Served As Governor"|page=5}}{{sfn|"Pataki Portrait Easy, Artist Says"|pages=1-2B}} One image that is sometimes identified as a portrait of Pitcher{{sfn|Images of America: Kingsbury and Hudson Falls|page=12}} is not his likeness, as the clothing worn by the subject and the facial hair clearly date it to the 1850s–1860s era, at least 20 years after Pitcher died.{{sfn|"Fail to Uncover Likeness of Hudson Falls Man Who Served As Governor"|page=5}}

References

Sources

=Books=

{{cite book |last=Auburn Free Press |date=1830 |title=Proceedings of the Workingmen's State Convention in the Town of Salina |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sFIsAAAAYAAJ&pg=PP8 |location=Auburn, NY |publisher=Henry Oliphant |ref={{sfnRef|Proceedings of the Workingmen's State Convention}}}}
{{cite book |last=Fox |first=Dixon Ryan |date=1919 |title=The Decline of Aristocracy in the Politics of New York |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KwcOAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA422 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Columbia University |isbn=9780231932905 |ref={{sfnRef|The Decline of Aristocracy in the Politics of New York}}}}
{{cite book |last1=Greenlee |first1=Ralph Stebbins |last2=Greenlee |first2=Robert Lemuel |date=1904 |title=The Stebbins Genealogy |volume=I |url=https://archive.org/stream/stebbinsgenealog01ingree#page/296/mode/2up |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=M. A. Donohue and Company |ref={{sfnRef|The Stebbins Genealogy}}}}
{{cite book |last=Guernsey |first=Rocellus Sheridan |date=1895 |title=New York City and Vicinity During the War of 1812–15 |volume=II |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mjmAAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA164 |location=New York, NY |publisher=Charles R. Woodward |ref={{sfnRef|New York City and Vicinity During the War of 1812–15}}}}
{{cite book |last1=Hastings |first1=Hugh |last2=Noble |first2=Henry Harmon |date=1901 |title=Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment of the State of New York |volume=I |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SUDw8-CC3DYC&pg=PA582 |location=Albany, NY |publisher=James B. Lyon |ref={{sfnRef|Military Minutes of the Council of Appointment}}}}
{{cite book |last=Loding |first=Paul R. |date=2001 |title=Images of America: Kingsbury and Hudson Falls |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9AU-gllqVIEC&pg=PA12 |location=Charleston, SC |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-0534-3 |ref={{sfnRef|Images of America: Kingsbury and Hudson Falls}}}}
{{cite book |last=Johnson |first=Crisfield |date=1878 |title=History of Washington Co., New York |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rt9EAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA431 |location=Philadelphia, PA |publisher=J. B. Lippincott & Co.|ref={{sfnRef|History of Washington Co., New York}}}}
{{cite book|last1=Moyer|first1=Armond|last2=Moyer|first2=Winifred|title=The Origins of Unusual Place-Names|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89058322223;view=1up;seq=107|year=1958|publisher=Keystone Pub. Associates |ref={{sfnRef|The Origins of Unusual Place-Names}}}}
{{cite book |last=New York State Senate |date=1902 |title=Documents of the Senate of the State of New York |volume=X |number=32, Part 2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tutBAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA1561 |location=Albany, NY |publisher=J. B. Lyon Company |ref={{sfnRef|Documents of the Senate of the State of New York}}}}
{{cite book |last=United States Congress |date=2005 |title=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9MBIctdjjkC&pg=PA1742 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn=978-0-16-073176-1 |ref={{sfnRef|Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774–2005}}}}
{{cite book |last=United States Department of State |date=1816 |title=A Register of Officers and Agents, Civil, Military, and Naval in the Service of the United States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1A9AAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA32 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Jonathan Elliot |ref={{sfnRef|A Register of Officers and Agents}}}}
{{cite book |last=White |first=James T. |date=1904 |title=National Cyclopedia of American Biography |volume=XII |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ieA-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA214 |location=New York, NY |publisher=James T. White & Company |ref={{sfnRef|National Cyclopedia of American Biography}}}}

=Newspapers=

{{cite news |date=April 1, 1823 |title=Marriage Notice: Nathaniel Pitcher and Anna B. Merritt |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/ |work=Albany Argus |location=Albany, NY |via=GenealogyBank.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Marriage Notice: Nathaniel Pitcher and Anna B. Merritt"}}}}
{{cite news |date=May 7, 1824 |title=Death Notice, Anna B. Pitcher |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/ |work=Albany Argus |location=Albany, NY |via=GenealogyBank.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Death Notice, Anna B. Pitcher"}}}}
{{cite news |date=January 7, 1829 |title=On the first instant the oaths were administered to Martin Van Buren, Governor, and Enos T. Throop, Lieut. Governor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/114732655/ |work=Poughkeepsie Journal |location=Poughkeepsie, NY |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"On the first instant the oaths were administered to Martin Van Buren, Governor, and Enos T. Throop, Lieut. Governor"}}}}
{{cite news |date=April 24, 1860 |title=Death Notice, Edward M. Pitcher |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/ |work=San Francisco Bulletin |location=San Francisco, CA |via=GenealogyBank.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Death Notice, Edward M. Pitcher"}}}}
{{cite news |date=February 18, 1876 |title=Death Notice, Augustus Pitcher |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/ |work=Galveston Daily News |location=Galveston, TX |via=NewspaperARCHIVE.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Death Notice, Augustus Pitcher"}}}}
{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |date=November 30, 1968 |title=Fail to Uncover Likeness of Hudson Falls Man Who Served As Governor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/348399348/ |work=Glens Falls Times |location=Glens Falls, NY |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Fail to Uncover Likeness of Hudson Falls Man Who Served As Governor"}}}}
{{cite news |last=Howard |first=Brian J. |date=January 5, 2009 |title=Pataki Portrait Easy, Artist Says |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/164446771/ |work=The Journal News |location=White Plains, NY |via=Newspapers.com |ref={{sfnRef|"Pataki Portrait Easy, Artist Says"}}}}
{{cite news |last=Rubio |first=J’aime |date=August 10, 2015 |title=Looking Back: Roseville's first Postmistress was a trail blazer: Charlotte 'Lottie' Pitcher did it all during Roseville's Victorian era |url=http://www.thepresstribune.com/article/8/09/15/looking-back-roseville%E2%80%99s-first-postmistress-was-trail-blazer |work=Roseville & Granite Bay Press Tribune |location=Roseville, CA |ref={{sfnRef|"Roseville’s first Postmistress was a trail blazer"}}}}

=Magazines=

{{cite magazine |last1=Bascom |first1=Robert O. |last2=Holden |first2=James Austin |date=1910 |title=The Ticonderoga Expedition of 1775: Capture of Fort George by Col. Romans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rtsTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA385 |magazine=Proceedings of the New York State Historical Association |volume=9 |location=Albany, NY |publisher=New York State Historical Association |ref={{sfnRef|"The Ticonderoga Expedition of 1775"}}}}

=Internet=

{{cite web |url=http://www.genealogy.com/forum/surnames/topics/pitcher/791/ |title=Cemetery Records Kingsbury, New York: Baker Cemetery |last=Pfeffer |first=Vicki |date=August 27, 2006 |website=Genealogy.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=February 25, 2018 |ref={{sfnRef|"Cemetery Records Kingsbury, New York: Baker Cemetery"}}}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/ |title=California Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790–1950, Entry for Edward Merritt Pitcher |last=California State Library |author-link=California State Library |date=April 1, 1972 |website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Ancestry.com, LLC |location=Provo, UT |access-date=February 25, 2018 |ref={{sfnRef|"California Pioneer and Immigrant Files, 1790–1950"}}}}

External links

{{Find a Grave|6846699}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_new_york/col2-content/main-content-list/title_pitcher_nathaniel.default.html |title=Biography, Governor Nathaniel Pitcher |date=2015 |website=NGA.org |publisher=National Governors Association |location=Washgington, DC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225064912/https://www.nga.org/cms/home/governors/past-governors-bios/page_new_york/col2-content/main-content-list/title_pitcher_nathaniel.default.html |archive-date=February 25, 2018 |ref={{sfnRef|Biography, Governor Nathaniel Pitcher}}}}

{{US House succession box | state = New York | district = 12 | before = John Savage,
John Palmer | after = Lewis Eaton | years = 1819–1823
with Ezra C. Gross 1819–21 and Reuben H. Walworth 1821–23}}

{{US House succession box | state = New York | district = 18 | before = Henry C. Martindale | after = Daniel Wardwell | years = 1831–1833}}

{{succession box | title = Lieutenant Governor of New York | |before = James Tallmadge, Jr. | | after = Peter R. Livingston
Acting | years = 1827–1828}}

{{succession box | title = Governor of New York | before = DeWitt Clinton | after = Martin Van Buren | years = 1828}}

{{Governors of New York|selected=|state1=expanded|state2=expanded}}

Category:1777 births

Category:1836 deaths

Category:Governors of New York (state)

Category:Lieutenant governors of New York (state)

Category:Members of the New York State Assembly

Category:Democratic-Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)

Category:Jacksonian members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)

Category:Democratic-Republican Party state governors of the United States