Representative Silas Betton

Silas Betton (August 26, 1768 – January 22, 1822) was an American lawyer, sheriff, and Federalist politician from the U.S. state of New Hampshire. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives, the New Hampshire Senate, and the New Hampshire House of Representatives during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, contributing to the legislative process during two terms in Congress at a formative period in the nation’s history.

Betton was born on August 26, 1768, in Londonderry in the Province of New Hampshire, the son of James Betton and Elizabeth (Dickey) Betton. Raised in colonial New England in the years immediately preceding the American Revolution, he received his early education under a private tutor, reflecting the family’s commitment to formal learning at a time when structured schooling was not yet widespread. His upbringing in Londonderry, a community with strong Scotch-Irish roots, placed him within a milieu that valued civic engagement and public service.

Pursuing higher education, Betton attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and graduated in 1787. He then studied law, preparing for a professional career in the legal field during the early years of the new republic. After completing his legal studies, he was admitted to the bar and, in 1790, commenced the practice of law in Salem, New Hampshire. His legal practice in Salem established him as a figure of local prominence and provided the foundation for his subsequent entry into public office.

Betton’s political career began at the state level. He was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives and served from 1797 to 1799, participating in the legislative affairs of the state as it adjusted to its role within the federal Union. He advanced to the upper chamber of the state legislature as a member of the New Hampshire Senate, where he served from 1801 to 1803. These early legislative roles helped to establish his reputation as a capable Federalist statesman and prepared him for service in the national legislature.

Elected as a Federalist candidate to the Eighth and Ninth Congresses, Betton represented New Hampshire in the United States House of Representatives from March 4, 1803, to March 3, 1807. His service in Congress occurred during a significant period in American history, encompassing the administration of President Thomas Jefferson and major national issues such as the implications of the Louisiana Purchase and evolving debates over federal power and foreign policy. As a member of the Federalist Party, he participated in the democratic process at the national level, representing the interests of his New Hampshire constituents and contributing to the legislative deliberations of the early republic. At the conclusion of his two terms in Congress, he returned to New Hampshire and resumed the practice of law.

Betton continued to be active in state and local public life after his congressional service. He again served as a member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 1810 and 1811, returning to the state legislature at a time of growing political tension leading up to the War of 1812. When Josiah Butler left the office of sheriff of Rockingham County, Betton was appointed high sheriff, a position he held from 1813 to 1818. In this capacity he oversaw law enforcement and the execution of court orders in one of New Hampshire’s most important counties, combining his legal background with executive responsibilities in local government.

In his personal life, Betton married Mary Thornton, the daughter of Matthew Thornton, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and a prominent figure in New Hampshire’s revolutionary history. Through this marriage, Betton was connected to one of the state’s leading patriot families. Silas and Mary Thornton Betton had seven children: Caroline Betton, George O. Betton, Harriet Betton, Mary J. Betton, Wealthy J. Betton, Thornton Betton, and Charles Cotesworth Betton, thereby extending both the Betton and Thornton family lines in New Hampshire.

Silas Betton died in Salem, New Hampshire, on January 22, 1822. He was interred at the Old Parish Cemetery in Salem, where his burial marked the close of a career that had spanned law, state legislation, national representation, and county law enforcement during the formative decades of the United States.