Samuel Betts

This article is about the 19th-century U.S. representative and federal judge from New York. For the 18th-century Connecticut state representative, see Samuel Betts.

Samuel Rossiter Betts
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
In office December 21, 1826 – April 30, 1867
Appointed by	John Quincy Adams
Preceded by	William P. Van Ness
Succeeded by	Samuel Blatchford
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 7th district
In office March 4, 1815 – March 3, 1817
Preceded by	Abraham J. Hasbrouck
Succeeded by	Josiah Hasbrouck
Judge of the Circuit Court for New York's 2nd District
In office May 1, 1823 – December 21, 1826
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	James Emott
District Attorney of Orange County, New York
In office February 5, 1818 – June 6, 1820
Preceded by	Position created
Succeeded by	Henry G. Wisner
In office February 15, 1821 – May 9, 1823
Preceded by	Henry G. Wisner
Succeeded by	Ogden Hoffman
Personal details
Born	(1786-06-08)June 8, 1786 Richmond, Massachusetts
Died	November 2, 1868(1868-11-02) (aged 82) New Haven, Connecticut
Resting place	Woodlawn Cemetery New York City, New York
Political party	Democratic-Republican
Spouse	Caroline Abigail Dewey
Relations	Daniel Dewey (father in law)
Children	5
Education	Williams College
Profession	Attorney

Samuel Rossiter Betts (June 8, 1786 – November 2, 1868) was a United States Representative from New York and a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Education and career

Born on June 8, 1786, in Richmond, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, Betts graduated from Lenox Academy in 1803, and was the first from that institution to attended college. He graduated from Williams College from 1806 and read law in 1807, in Hudson, New York. He was admitted to the bar and entered private practice in Monticello, Sullivan County, New York from 1809 to 1812. He served in the United States Army from 1812 to 1814 appointed as a judge advocate of volunteers during the War of 1812. He was a division judge advocate, General Court Martial, for the New York State Detached Militia starting in 1814.

Congressional service

Betts was elected as a Democratic-Republican from New York's 7th congressional district to the United States House of Representatives of the 14th United States Congress, serving from March 4, 1815, to March 3, 1817. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1816.

Later career

Following his departure from Congress, Betts resumed private practice in Newburgh, New York from 1817 to 1823. He was district attorney for Orange County, New York from 1818 to 1820 and again from 1821 to 1823. He was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Judicature of New York (now the New York Supreme Court), Circuit Court Branch, from 1823 to 1826.

Federal judicial service

Betts was nominated by President John Quincy Adams on December 19, 1826, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York vacated by Judge William P. Van Ness. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on December 21, 1826, and received his commission the same day. His service terminated on April 30, 1867, due to his resignation.

Death

Betts died on November 3, 1868, in New Haven, Connecticut. He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City, New York.

Family

Samuel Rossiter Betts married Caroline Abigail Dewey (1798–1882), daughter of Daniel Dewey (1766–1815) and Maria Noble (1770–1813). They had five children.

External links

• Samuel Betts at Find a Grave

• United States Congress. "Samuel Betts (id: B000427)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
• Samuel Rossiter Betts at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.