Albert Haller Tracy

Albert Haller Tracy

• Father: Dr. Philemon Tracy b. 30 May 1757, d. 30 April 1837
• Mother: Abigail Trott b. circa 1758, d. 20 August 1838

• Albert Haller Tracy was born on 17 June 1793 in Norwich, New London County, Connecticut.
• He married Harriet Foote Norton, daughter of Ebenezer Foote Norton, say 1825.
• Albert Haller Tracy and Harriet Foote Norton appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1850 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York. Other members of the household included Albert H. Tracy and Francis Walsingham Tracy.
• His wife Harriet Foote Norton became a widow at his death.
• Albert Haller Tracy died on 19 September 1859 at age 66 in Buffalo, Erie County, New York.
• The following appeared on 23 September 1859 in The New York Herald: The Hon. Albert H. Tracy expired at his residence, in Buffalo, on the 19th inst., at about half past twelve o'clock. Mr. Tracy, says the Buffalo Courier, removed from Norwich, Conn., to this city in 1815, and was one of its oldest residents. He was a graduate of Yale College, and subsequently read law. He at once took a high rank in his profession, and gave evidence of the rare powers which have since made their mark in the history of the State and nation. Before he was twenty-five years of age he was elected member of Congress from the district which then comprised the territory which now forms the counties of Niagara and Erie. He was an active participant in the Twenty-sixth, Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth Congresses, having been twice re-elected by the democracy, with which party he has almost uniformly acted. His reports are marked features in the annals of the House of Representatives from 1819 to 1825 inclusive. On the 26th March, 1826, he was appointed Circuit Judge for the Eighth Judician Circuit, which was composed of the counties of Erie, Chautauque, Genesee and Allegany. He filled this position with credit to himself, and commanded the respect of the bar, which then boasted many eminent names. He was elected a member of the New York Senate in 1829, and was a member of that body from 1830 to 1837 inclusive. At this time the Senate was a dignified and talented body, and in addition to its legislative duties, was then the Court of Errors. Mr. Tracy was one of the leading members, and his written opinions are remarkable for their logical clearness and precision, as well as for their beauty of diction. Nothing that he touched was left incomplete. Since the close of his Senatorial term he has refused all political positions, though many have been placed at his disposal. He was urged to accept a seat in President Polk's Cabinet, but public life had not sufficient charm to induce him to leave his business and his family.

• Last Edited: 27 Aug 2009