Member Biography

Biography

Dr. Robert Willett (D9) Columbia, Luzerne, Northumberland, Susquehanna and Union Counties 1819-1822

Early Life

Dr. Robert Willett, born June 4, 1772, Montgomery County, Maryland, Ninian and Ann Fleming Willett; physician; unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1813, 1815, 1816, 1819; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1814-1815; justice of the peace, Union County, 1817; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1819-1822; married, unknown Fitzsimons, about 1797; children, Fleming, Anna, Hiram, Harriet, Rebecca, married, Matilda Holloway, 1828; residence, Canton, Stark County, Ohio, 1830; died, June 1, 1853, Canton, Stark County, Ohio; interment, West Lawn Cemetery, Canton, Stark Ohio. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Columbia, Northumberland, and Union Counties, 1813.

Elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Columbia, Northumberland, and Union Counties, 1814-1815; unsuccessful reelection, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Union County, 1815. 

Unsuccessful campaign, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Union County, 1816, 1819. 

Justice of the Peace, Union County, 1817.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district, Special Election, Columbia, Luzerne, Northumberland, Susquehanna and Union Counties, 1819-1820, elected State Senator in the room of Simon Snyder, deceased. Republican Compiler (Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) · January 19, 1820 · Senate1790-1869

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State Senate, 9th district, Columbia, Luzerne, Northumberland, Susquehanna and Union Counties, 1820-1822. 

** The Franklin Gazette, quoted in Niles’ Register, 20 October 1821, claimed 17 Democrats and 14 Federalists, a difference of three from the Oracle list. While there was no breakdown by name in the Register, the three individuals in question appear to have been Robert Willett (District 9), William Davidson (District 17), and Rees Hill (District 18), all of whom voted frequently as a group with the country Federalists. Senate1790-1869

Declined to be a candidate for Senator at the ensuing election to be held on the last day of the month. Lancaster Intelligencer (Lancaster, Pennsylvania) · Saturday, December 21, 1822 · page 3

Pennsylvania House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website

Cited:

Cox, Harold. Senate Members "W" (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Dr Robert White Willet (1772-1853) - Find a Grave Memorial