Gelston, David, 1744-1828

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David Gelston (July 4, 1744 – August 21, 1828) was an American merchant and politician.

Born in Bridgehampton in Suffolk County on Long Island in what was then the Province of New York, as the American Revolution approached, Gelston became politically active. He signed the articles of association in 1774, agreeing to avoid British imports, even though this hurt his own business. Gelston represented Suffolk County in the New York Provincial Congress of 1775 to 1777, as well as the 1777 New York State Constitutional Convention that debated and enacted the first constitution of the State of New York. He was a member from Suffolk County of the New York State Assembly from 1777 to 1785. During his last term, Gelston was Speaker. As speaker, he took a leading role in reconciling the differences between Tory and Whig factions. He oversaw the repeal of all the laws that had imposed civil and legal penalties on Tories. In 1787, Gelston moved to New York City, serving as Surrogate of New York County from 1787 to 1801. In 1789, the State Assembly appointed him a delegate to the last session of the Continental Congress. Gelston was a member of the New York State Senate from 1791 to 1794 and from 1798 to 1802.

In 1801, Gelston was appointed Collector of the Port of New York by President Thomas Jefferson, and held that post until 1821 when he retired. Gelston died on August 21, 1828, in New York City. He was buried in New York City's First Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Sylvester Manor Archive, 1649-1996 Fales Library & Special Collections
referencedIn Gelston and Saltonstall ledger, 1790-1793 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849. Papers, 1258-1947 (bulk 1780-1849). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Papers, 1876-1925. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Gelston, David. Letter book, 1793 Mar.-1800 Sept. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Gelston & Saltonstall. Letter book, 1791 May-1793 May. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Harvard University. Autograph File, G. 1641-2009. Houghton Library
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
creatorOf Papers, 1777-1826. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Monroe, James, 1758-1831. Correspondence : concerning Alexander Hamilton, 1792- 1797. James Monroe Museum & Memorial Library
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to David Gelston [manuscript], 1816 August 3. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Clearance papers of American ships: New York, 1802-1831 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to David Gelston [manuscript], 1810 December 7. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Sage, Gardner A. [Map of the area later bounded by Christopher Street, Bleecker Street, Grove Street and Bedford Street, Manhattan, New York (N.Y.)] / surveyed by Geo. B. Smith ; copied by Gardner A. Sage. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Gelston, David. David Gelston Papers, 1800-1843 (bulk 1801-1820) G. W. Blunt White Library
referencedIn Papers, 1736-1888. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to David Gelston, 1816 August 3. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. ALS, 1820 August 27 : Monticello, to [David] Gelston. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn War of 1812 mss., 1776-1879 Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
referencedIn Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849. Letters, 1802-1812. New-York Historical Society Library
referencedIn Clearance papers of American ships: New York, 1802-1831 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Gelston, David, 1744-1828. Autograph letter signed : New York, to John Smith, 1789 Aug. 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf Smith, Melancton, 1744-1798. Report of canvassing committees, 1792 June 12. American Periodical Series I
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Papers of Thomas Jefferson [manuscript], 1803-1819. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. ALS, 1816 September 18 : Monticello, to David Gelston. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Platt, Zephaniah, 1735-1807. Papers, 1745-1846. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Noah Scovell collection 1789-1804 Scovell, Noah collection William L. Clements Library
creatorOf Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. Letter to David Gelston [manuscript], 1816 September 19. University of Virginia. Library
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848. person
associatedWith Alexander Hamilton United States Custom House (New York, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith Astor, John Jacob, 1763-1848. person
associatedWith Bayard, Samuel, 1767-1840. person
associatedWith Bloodgood, Abraham. person
associatedWith Buckley, William, fl. 1796-1799. person
associatedWith Clinton, DeWitt, 1769-1828. person
associatedWith Daniel Crommelin & Sons. corporateBody
associatedWith Dearborn, Frederick M. (Frederick Myers), b. 1876 person
associatedWith Decatur, Stephen, 1779-1820. person
associatedWith Emmet, Thomas Addis person
associatedWith Fiske, Andrew, 1912-1992 person
associatedWith Floyd family. family
associatedWith Gallatin, Albert, 1761-1849. person
associatedWith Gardiner, Samuel Smith, 1789-1859 person
associatedWith Gelston family. family
associatedWith Gelston & Saltonstall. corporateBody
associatedWith Greene, David, of Boston, Massachusetts. person
associatedWith Horsford, Eben Norton, 1818-1893 person
associatedWith Howell, Stephen. person
associatedWith Huntting, Benjamin. person
associatedWith Ingraham, Nathaniel G. person
associatedWith Jay, John, 1745-1829. person
associatedWith Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826. person
associatedWith King, Rufus, 1755-1827. person
associatedWith Kinney, Abraham. person
associatedWith Kinney, John. person
associatedWith L'Hommedieu, Ezra, 1734-1811 person
associatedWith L'Hommedieu family. family
associatedWith Lord, Samuel P. person
associatedWith Lyman, David. person
associatedWith Madison, James, 1751-1836. person
associatedWith Mather, Samuel. person
associatedWith Mather, Thomas. person
associatedWith Monroe, James, 1758-1831. person
memberOf New York (State). Legislature. Assembly corporateBody
memberOf New York (State). Legislature. Senate corporateBody
associatedWith Nichols, John Slocum, 1920- , person
associatedWith Pellerin, Joseph, of New London, Connecticut. person
correspondedWith Platt, Zephaniah, 1735-1807. person
associatedWith Rogers, Uriah. person
associatedWith Sage, Gardner A. person
associatedWith Sage, Nathan. person
associatedWith Sands, Comfort, 1748-1834 person
associatedWith Scovell, Noah, 1781-1833 person
associatedWith Scovell, Noah, approximately 1759-1821 person
associatedWith Shaler, William, 1778?-1833. person
associatedWith Shute, William. person
associatedWith Smith, John, 1725?-1824?, person
associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Spencer, Whiting & Co. corporateBody
associatedWith Sylvester, Nathaniel, 1610-1680 person
associatedWith Tallmadge, Benjamin, 1754-1835. person
associatedWith Thomas Mullett & Co. corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of State. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Dept. of the Treasury. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. District Court (New York) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. District Court (New York : Southern District) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Revenue-Cutter Service. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Bridgehampton NY US
New York City NY US
Subject
Ships
Beef industry
Custom houses
Customs administration
Customs administration
Embargo
Embargo, 1807-1809
Families
Finance, Personal
Iron industry and trade
Ports of entry
Privateering
Real property
Seizure of vessels and cargoes
Shipping
Smuggling
Sugar trade
Whale oil
Occupation
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Merchants
State Representative
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1744-07-04

Death 1828-08-21

Male

Britons,

Americans

English

Information

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