Biography

07/29/1776 - 02/03/1849

James McSherry (Federalist11) Adams and York Counties 1813-1817

Early Life:

James McSherry, born July 29, 1776 Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania; son of Patrick and Catherine Gartland McSherry; Lancaster Academy; engaged, mercantile pursuits; founder, Littlestown Railroad; founding director, Gettysburg National Bank; elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1807-1813; military service, defended Baltimore, War of 1812; elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State Senator, 1813-1817; unsuccessful candidate, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1819; elected, Federalist, United States House of Representatives, 1821-1823, unsuccessful candidate for reelection, 1822; elected, unsuccessful candidate for reelection, 1822; elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1824-1827; elected, Adams (National Republican), Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1828-1829; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1829-1830; elected, Anti-Masonic, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1830-1831; elected, Anti-Masonic, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1834-1835; elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1835-1836; delegate, Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention, 1837-1838; married, Ann Ridgely Sappington McSherry, children, James McSherry, Jr., William M. McSherry; died, February 3, 1849, Littlestown, Adams County, Pennsylvania; interment Saint Aloysius’ Catholic Cemetery, Germany Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania.  

Early Career:

Engaged, mercantile pursuits; founder, Littlestown Railroad; founding director, Gettysburg National Bank; military service, defended Baltimore, War of 1812. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1807-1813.

Elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State Senate, 11th district, Adams and York Counties, 1813-1817. 

Unsuccessful candidate, Pennsylvania State Senate, 11th district, Adams and York Counties, 1819.

Elected, Federalist, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1824-1827.

Elected, Adams (National Republican), Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1828-1829.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1829-1830.

Elected, Anti-Masonic, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1830-1831.

Elected, Anti-Masonic, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1834-1835.

Elected, Democrat, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1835-1836.

Delegate, Pennsylvania State Constitutional Convention, 1837-1838.

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Federalist, United States House of Representatives, Seventeenth Congress, 1821-1823; unsuccessful candidate for reelection, 1822, Eighteenth Congress.

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Biography:

Not currently available. 

Legacy: 

Pennsylvania’s first Roman Catholic State Senator. 

Son, William McSherry, Pennsylvania State Senate, 18th district, Adams, Franklin and Fulton Counties 1863-1864; 19th district, Adams and Franklin Counties 1865; 20th district, Adams and York Counties 1872-1874.   William McSherry  - Pennsylvania Senate Library (pasen.gov)

McSherrystown, Adams County, Pennsylvania is named in the family’s honor.

Cited: 

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members M". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

William McSherry (III), History of the Bank of Gettysburg, 1814-1864 (Gettysburg: Gettysburg National Bank, 1914)

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

James McSherry (1776-1849) - Find a Grave Memorial