New York State Library
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Melancton Smith
Papers, 1767-1795
SC14382

Quantity: 2 boxes (0.50 cubic ft.)
Access: Open for research.
Alternate Format: Also available on microfilm: MB/FM,342.73029,S655,206-7293. Microfilm does not include single accessions added in July 2007.
Acquisition: Manuscript accession - April 1959;  collation with manuscript single accessions 955, 2091-2113, 3377, 14541, 15027 and 10856 - July 2007
Processed by: Manuscripts and Special Collections, 1964; revised July 2007

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Biographical Note:

Melancton Smith was born in Jamaica, Long Island, New York, May 7, 1744. The family later moved to Poughkeepsie where he became engaged in the mercantile business. He also became involved in politics, particularly the cause of liberty and independence for the colonies. Smith served as a delegate to the First Provincial Congress in New York, May 22, 1775, and shortly thereafter, on June 30, 1775, joined the Continental Line Regiment. Later he organized and became captain of the Dutchess County Minutemen. In 1777 and 1778 he served as secret service commissioner and sheriff of Dutchess County, New York. After the Revolutionary War, he moved to New York City to further his interests in the mercantile business. His interest in politics and government continued too. He served in the Continental Congress, 1785-1787, as a member of the state ratification convention at Poughkeepsie in 1788 and in the state assembly in 1791. He died in New York City, July 29, 1798, and was interred in Jamaica Cemetery, Jamaica, Queens County, New York.

Scope and Content Note:

These papers are organized into two series: I. Constitutional Convention Papers, 1787-1792; II. Letters, 1767-1795.  The documents are arranged chronologically within each series.

The first series consists of minutes of proceedings, notes, memoranda, speeches, revisions, and other papers relating to the ratification and adoption of the Federal Constitution at the New York State Constitutional Convention, Poughkeepsie, New York, 1788, to which Smith was an anti-Federalist delegate. Speeches and statements by James Duane, Alexander Hamilton, Robert R. Livingston and William Morris are recorded, along with notes and commentary by Smith during the debate over various provisions considered for the constitution. Also includes papers related to the disputed New York State gubernatorial election in 1792 between George Clinton and John Jay

The second series consist chiefly of letters from Melancton Smith to James Cooper concerning business and financial matters. Also includes three letters addressed to Gilbert Livingston that discuss issues relative to politics and government. In particular, Smith's letter of May 15, 1789, details his thoughts about the federal constitution. The earliest letter, in which the recipient is not identified, reveals Smith's zeal for the cause of liberty. The letters were originally accessioned and catalogued separately.

Container List

Constitutional Convention papers, 1786-1792

Box Folder Description
1 1 Pinckney's answers to Jay's report (Jay-Gardoqui negotiations), 1786.  (4 p.) SEE Journal of the Continental Congress 1786
1 2 Defense of New York State against Congressional resolution on impost, [1786]. (6 p.) SEE Journal of Continental Congress 1786
1 3 "On the Constitution reported by the Convention" indorsed "Minutes of Debates on the new Constitution" [September 20-28, 1787]. (8 p.) SEE Documentary History of the Constitution of the United States of America, 1786-1870, vol. 4, pp. 293, 297
1 4 "Amendments" - Article 2 of Federal Constitution, [1787].  (2 leaves)
1 5 "Amendments" - Articles 1-3 (incomplete – 1 leaf, numbered 3, 4)
1 6 "Amendments proposed to the new Constitution of Government" -- Work of Committee to prepare a Bill of Rights; varies in some respects from Lansing amendments of July 7, 1788 as they appear in McKesson Papers, New-York Historical Society. (8 p.)
1 7 Preliminary draft (1st) of proposed mode of adoption of Constitution (4 p.)
1 8 Preliminary draft (2nd) of proposed mode of adoption of Constitution. With some deletions, very similar to copy of Smith's mode of adoption of Constitution enclosed by John Jay in a letter to George Washington, July 17, 1788. (4 p.)  SEE Documentary History of the Constitution of the United States of America, 1786-1870, vol. 4, p. 796
1 9 Convention of the State of New York. Reasons for objections to the Constitution as proposed September 17, 1787. Poughkeepsie, July 1788.  (4 p.)
1 10 Convention of the State of New York. Draft of appeal to other states; differs from circular letter, [1788?]. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, Jonathon.  Debates on the Federal Constitution, vol. 2, p. 413-4
    Poughkeepsie Convention notes, June 19-July [21?], 1788: Items 11-35
1 11 June 19, 1788: Chancellor Livingston's opening speech. (2 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 208-216
1 12 June 20, 1788: Hamilton's arguments. (1 leaf) SEE Elliot, p. 230ff
1 13 [June 20-21, 1788]: "The Arguments to prove the Sufficiency of Representation considered" (2 p.) SEE Elliot, vol.2, p. 228-9, 245
1 14 June 21, 1788: Smith, on representation. (8 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 243-8
1 15 June 21, 1788: Smith's "Answer to the Argument that so small a number are not safely to be trusted, considered" (4 p.)
1 16 June 21, 1788: Hamilton, on representation. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 251ff, 256-7
1 17 June 23, 1788: Harrison. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, p. 269ff; Jay. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 282ff
1 18 June 24, 1788: Chancellor Livingston. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 291-3
1 19 June 24, 1788: Morris, Harrison, Chancellor Livingston, Hamilton. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 296-307
1 20 [June 25, 1788]: Smith "On the Senate"; ideas expressed, June 25. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 309
1 21 June 25, 1788: Smith, on the Senate. (2 p.), variation of previous document)
1 22 [June 26, 1788]: Elections - time and place debated; arguments of Mr. Harrison and Mr. Duane. (4 p.)
1 23 [June 26, 1788]: Smith, on time and place of elections. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 327
1 24 June 27, 1788: Smith, on the powers of government - to be defined and limited. (8 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 332-7
1 25 June 27, 1788: Chancellor Livingston, on Powers of government. (4 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 341-7
1 26 June 27 and 28, 1788: Hamilton, on powers of government. (12 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 347-56, 360-71
1 27 June 30, 1788: Smith, on Powers of government and on representation. (8 p.--Section numbered 5-7 may not belong here) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 376-7
[McKesson notes in New-York Historical Society, 3½ pp. - wording differs considerably]
1 28 July 1, 1788: Smith, on Powers of government. (8 p.) SEE Elliot, vol. 2, p. 377-8 (Not located in Gilbert Livingston's or in Hamilton's notes)
1 29 July 2, 1788: Jay, Hamilton, Morris, on actions, loans, wars, etc. (4 p.) (Not located in Elliot; varies considerably from McKesson)
1 30 July 12. 1788: Jay, Hamilton, on power of Congress to accept or reject, etc.
1 31 July 14, 1788: Jay, Harrison, and Hamilton on adoption of proposed constitution (4 p.) [Identified from Gilbert Livingston's notes; not in Elliot or McKesson]
1 32 July 14 or 15, 1788: Jay on ratification of proposed constitution [Gilbert Livingston mentions speeches by Jay on both days]
1 33 July 15 and 16, 1788: Chancellor Livingston, Morris, Jay, on conditional mode of adoption and powers of congress. (8 p.) [Gilbert Livingston notes refer to speeches of these dates]
1 34 July 17, 1788: Smith, on ratification; presents resolution for conditional adoption.(2 items – 8 p.) [Gilbert Livingston notes mention only; not in Elliot or McKesson]
1 35 July [21?], 1788: Jay, on standing troops in time of war; Duane, on excise and direct taxes. (8 p.) [Gilbert Livingston notes say he was ill on July 21 when excise and direct taxes were considered]
1 36 [1788] Smith - Revisions of Articles 1 and 2 of Constitution. (4 p.)
1 37 [1788?] Smith - draft of letter to [?] on choosing electors. 2 p.
1 38 [1792] Smith - draft of opinion on disputed Clinton-Jay gubernatorial election of 1792 (6 p. – numbered 5-12)

Letters and documents transferred from the single accession collection.

Box Folder Description Date Year Accession Number
2 1 Letter from Smith to [?] December 2 1767 10856
2 2 Letter to George Clinton April 3 1783 15027
2 3 Receipt from Smith to Thomas Steward December 6 1785 2096
2 4 Letter from Smith to James Cooper January 11 1787 2097
2 5 Letter from Smith to James Cooper April 30 1787 2098
2 6 Letter from Smith to James Cooper May 4 1787 2099
2 7 Letter from Smith to [James Cooper?] January 23 1788 2100
2 8 Letter from Smith to James Cooper August 16 1788 2101
2 9 Letter from Smith to [James Cooper] September 12 1788 2102
2 10 Letter from Smith to Gilbert Livingston January 1 1789 955
2 11 Statement of interest on bond February 14 1789 2103
2 12 Letter from Smith and Peter Ketaltas to Messrs. Livingston & Kent. May 15 1789 14541
2 13 Letter from Smith to James Cooper June 13 1789 2104
2 14 Letter from Smith to James Cooper September 4 1789 2105
2 15 Letter from Smith to James Cooper September 11 1789 2106
2 16 Letter from Smith to Gilbert Livingston April 24 1790 2107
2 17 Letter from Smith to James Cooper September 24 1790 2108
2 18 Letter from Smith to James Cooper July 15 1791 2109
2 19 Letter from Smith to James Cooper August 19 1791 2091
2 20 Letter from Smith to James Cooper August 26 1791 2092
2 21 Letter from Smith to James Cooper November 5 1791 2093
2 22 Letter from Smith to James Cooper December 17 1791 2094
2 23 Letter from Smith to Gilbert Livingston May 24 1792 2110
2 24 Letter from Smith to James Cooper October 10 1792 2095
2 25 Receipt from Smith to James Cooper January 29 1793 2111
2 26 Letter from Smith to James Cooper March 28 1795 3377
2 27 Letter from Smith to James Cooper April 18 1795 2112
2 28 Evaluation of land and grist mill holdings [no date]   2113

Selected documents related to Melancton Smith found in other collections.

Description Date Year Call Number
Letter from Smith to Henry Livingston, Jr. (oversize single accession) February 2 1771 X7089
Letter from Smith to John Tayler (in John Tayler Collection) December 17 1783 SC20183
Box 1, Fol. 5
Report of the 1792 election canvassing committee (re:  New York /State election of governor, lieutenant governor, and senators) June 12 1792 1210
Letter from Smith to Pierpont Edwards (in Abbot Collection) August 20 1792 SC9691-651
Last Updated: January 18, 2022