US Senator, Congressman. Samuel Maclay was the son of Charles and Eleanor Maclay. In 1769 he and his brother, William Maclay were appointed commissioners to survey the tracts on the headwaters of the Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers that were awarded the to the officers of the First Battalion in Bouquet's expedition. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the First Battalion of Northumberland County Militia September 12 1775. In 1787 he was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly and served until 1791 when he became Associate Justice of Northumberland County. In 1794 He was elected to Congress. He was then elected to Pennsylvania Senate in 1797 where he served for six years. He was elected Speaker of the Senate in December 1801 and re-elected in 1802. On December 14 1802, being Speaker, he had to sign his own certificate. He resigned his Senate seat on January 4th 1809 due to poor health. He married Elizabeth Plunkett on November 10 1773 in Dauphin County Pennsylvania and they raised a family of six sons and three daughters including William Plunkett Maclay who was a member of the State House of Representatives, Charles, John, Samuel, David, Judge Robert Plunkett, who was also a Senator, Eleanor (Mrs. David Maclay), Hester and Jane (Mrs Joseph Henderson). Samuel Maclay died October 5th 1811 at his residence in Union County and was buried in a private family burial ground on his farmstead. A cenotaph was erected in the nearby Dreisbach church in his honor on October 16 1908.
US Senator, Congressman. Samuel Maclay was the son of Charles and Eleanor Maclay. In 1769 he and his brother, William Maclay were appointed commissioners to survey the tracts on the headwaters of the Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Allegheny Rivers that were awarded the to the officers of the First Battalion in Bouquet's expedition. He was appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the First Battalion of Northumberland County Militia September 12 1775. In 1787 he was elected to the Pennsylvania Assembly and served until 1791 when he became Associate Justice of Northumberland County. In 1794 He was elected to Congress. He was then elected to Pennsylvania Senate in 1797 where he served for six years. He was elected Speaker of the Senate in December 1801 and re-elected in 1802. On December 14 1802, being Speaker, he had to sign his own certificate. He resigned his Senate seat on January 4th 1809 due to poor health. He married Elizabeth Plunkett on November 10 1773 in Dauphin County Pennsylvania and they raised a family of six sons and three daughters including William Plunkett Maclay who was a member of the State House of Representatives, Charles, John, Samuel, David, Judge Robert Plunkett, who was also a Senator, Eleanor (Mrs. David Maclay), Hester and Jane (Mrs Joseph Henderson). Samuel Maclay died October 5th 1811 at his residence in Union County and was buried in a private family burial ground on his farmstead. A cenotaph was erected in the nearby Dreisbach church in his honor on October 16 1908.
Bio by: Leanne Keefer
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