Platt, Zephaniah, 1735-1807

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Zephaniah Platt (May 27, 1735 – September 12, 1807) was an American politician and lawyer, and founder of the U.S. town of Plattsburgh, New York.

Born in Huntington in the Province of New York, Platt received an English education. After studying law and being admitted to the bar, he practiced law in Poughkeepsie, New York. He became involved in politics, serving as a a member of the New York Provincial Congress from 1775 to 1777, on the Committee of Safety in 1777, in the New York State Senate from 1777 to 1783, in the Congress of the Confederation in 1785 and 1786, and on the Council of Appointment in 1778 and 1781. He was a Dutchess County judge from 1781 to 1795 and delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention in 1788.

In 1788, Platt founded the town of Plattsburgh in New York, and moved there in 1798 to continue practicing law. He was an originator of the Erie Canal, and was a regent of the University of the State of New York from 1791 until his death, in Plattsburgh, in 1807. He was interred in Plattsburgh's Riverside Cemetery.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
referencedIn Continental, Confederation, and United States Congress collection, 1751-1902. University of Michigan. Special Collections Library
referencedIn Thurman, John, Jr. Papers, 1741-1835. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Platt, Zephaniah, 1735-1807. Papers, 1745-1846. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Lawrence, Jonathan,. [Map of the Township of Plattsburgh, Clinton County, New York]. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn New York (State). Commission for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies (1777-1778). Minutes, 1776 Dec. 11-1778 Sept. 23. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Bixby family. Papers, 1784-1930. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Kent-Delord maps, 1784-1856. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Letters of Washington, Franklin, and Lafayette 1744-1830 (bulk 1777-1799) Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
referencedIn Miscellaneous correspondence collection, 1765-1935. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Papers, 1776-1894, 1776-1830 (bulk) New York State Historical Documents Inventory
referencedIn Survey map of Platt's Great Location, Clinton County, New York. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Survey map of Sadaqueda Patent, Montgomery and Oneida Counties, New York, 1784. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Miscellaneous manuscripts, 1882-1981. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Platt, Zephaniah, 1735-1807. Appointment in New York State Militia, 1779 November 20. American Periodical Series I
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Angell, Sarah E. person
correspondedWith Benson, Egbert, 1746-1833 person
associatedWith Bixby family. family
associatedWith Clinton, George, 1739-1812. person
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
correspondedWith De Witt, Simeon, 1756-1834 person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Ganoe, Bethiah W. person
correspondedWith Gelston, David person
associatedWith Halsey, Frederick, 1731-1838. person
associatedWith Livingston family. family
memberOf New York (Colony). Provincial Congress corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Commission for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies (1777-1778) corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Governor. corporateBody
memberOf New York (State). Legislature. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith New York (State). Militia. corporateBody
memberOf Platt family. family
ancestorOf Platt, John. person
parentOf Platt, Jonas, 1769-1834 person
associatedWith Plattsburgh Public Library. corporateBody
grandparentOf Platt, Zephaniah, 1797-1872 person
correspondedWith Smith, Melancton, 1744-1798 person
associatedWith Thurman, John, Jr. person
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith White, Hugh, fl. 1785. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Poughkeepsie NY US
Plattsburgh NY US
Huntington NY US
Subject
Decedents' estates
Families
Justices of the peace
Land records
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Jurists
Lawyers
Slaveholders
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1735-05-27

Death 1807-09-12

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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