Representative Joel Frost

Joel Frost (September 28, 1765 – September 11, 1827) was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was born in Carmel, New York, on September 28, 1765, the son of John Frost and Huldah (Munson) Frost. His birthplace later became the county seat of Putnam County, a community with which he would remain closely associated throughout his public career.

Frost spent much of his early adult life in Yorktown, New York. In 1789 he married Martha Wright (1771–1860), with whom he had several children. Among their children were John Wright Frost (1792–1882), Elizabeth Frost (1794–1890), and Horace Frost (born 1806). During these years he established himself as a lawyer and local public figure, laying the groundwork for his subsequent roles in county and state government.

By the early nineteenth century, Frost had entered public service in Westchester County. He was a member of the Westchester County Board of Supervisors in 1803, participating in the administration of county affairs at a time when local government played a central role in managing roads, taxation, and public order. He advanced to state office as a member of the New York State Assembly, serving in 1806 and again in 1808. His legislative service in Albany placed him among the ranks of early New York lawmakers who were shaping the state’s legal and political institutions in the post-Revolutionary era.

Frost’s career continued to develop with the reorganization of New York’s counties. When Putnam County was established in 1812, he returned to his native area and was appointed Surrogate of Putnam County, an office responsible for probate matters and the administration of estates. He served as Surrogate from 1812 to 1813, again from 1815 to 1819, and once more from 1821 to 1822. His repeated appointments reflected the confidence placed in his legal judgment and administrative ability. In 1821 he was chosen as a delegate from Putnam County to the New York State Constitutional Convention, where he took part in the revision of the state constitution during a period of expanding democratic participation and institutional reform.

At the national level, Frost was elected as a Crawford Democratic-Republican, also known as a Crawford Republican, to the 18th United States Congress. Representing New York, he served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives from March 4, 1823, to March 3, 1825. As a member of the Crawford Republican Party, aligned with the supporters of William H. Crawford during the fracturing of the Democratic-Republican coalition, Frost contributed to the legislative process during a significant period in American history. His term coincided with the presidency of James Monroe and the emerging sectional and political realignments that would soon reshape national politics. In Congress he participated in the democratic process and represented the interests of his New York constituents during this transitional era.

Frost did not run for reelection to Congress after the expiration of his term in 1825. Following his congressional service, he relocated to Schenectady, New York. He was residing there when he died on September 11, 1827. Although he died away from his native county, he was returned to Carmel for burial and interred at Gilead Cemetery, underscoring his enduring connection to the community where he had been born, practiced law, and long served in public office.