Scope and Content: The House of Representatives of the Massachusetts General Court, primarily through its Committee on (Contested) Elections, reviewed credentials of those representatives whose elections were contested to determine the right of a representative to his seat.  Cases before the committee were those where the validity of the election process or the eligibility of members in regard to conduct, character, or property ownership were questioned.  The committee’s reports were filed with House records and referred to as precedents when further decisions were required.
Arrangement:  In four subseries: (1) Journal of the Committee on Contested Elections, 1780-1834 (bulk 1780-1811)  (2) Draft of book on contested elections, 1834  (3) Papers on contested elections, 1783-1843  (4) Papers for individual town cases, 1777-1843; Within each subseries, arranged chronologically
Notes: Series removed from: Massachusetts. Office of the secretary of State.  House unpassed legislation ((M-Ar) 230), dockets 1134 and 4512-4521 (drawers 82-84).  Additional materials from that series (and from: Senate unpassed legislation ((M-Ar)231)) removed for filming only, as part of subseries (3), 1816-1849, and subseries (4), 1816-1825, then refiled. Box 1: Subseries (1-3), subseries (4), 1777-1809. Box 2: Subseries (4), 1809/1810-1812/1813. Box 3: Subseries (4), 1813-1843
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