Background
Paynter was born at Drawbridge in Broadkill Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, son of Samuel and Meritta Hazzard Paynter.
Paynter was born at Drawbridge in Broadkill Hundred, Sussex County, Delaware, son of Samuel and Meritta Hazzard Paynter.
Samuel, our subject, married Elizabeth Rowland in 1796 and they had six children, Mary, Elizabeth, Sally, Samuel Rowland, John Parker, and Alfred Shockley. Drawbridge, as its name suggests, was the point at which land traffic crossed the Broadkill River, about halfway from Milton to the Delaware Bay. lieutenant is where State Route 1 crosses the Broadkill River today.
Paynter"s father, another Samuel, established a general store there.
The business was quite successful, and made the family wealthy enough for Samuel Junior. to be a director of the Farmer"s Bank at Georgetown for 25 years. Paynter was, therefore, in the majority in his long years of experience in the Delaware General Assembly.
Elected first in 1796, he served in the State House for four sessions from 1797 through 1800. He was then elected to the State Senate in 1806 and served in seven sessions from 1807 through 1813.
Finally, he served in the State Senate again in the 1823 session.
Defeating his neighbor from Milton, David Hazzard, the Democratic-Republican candidate, Paynter was elected Governor of Delaware in 1823 and served from January 20, 1824 until January 16, 1827. During his tenure as Governor construction finally began on the new Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. After his term ended he returned to his home and mercantile business at Drawbridge.
Paynter died at Drawbridge in Broadkill Hundred, Sussex County, and is buried in the Saint Peter"s Episcopal Churchyard at Lewes.
Elections were held the first Tuesday of October. State Senators had a three-year term and State Representatives had a one-year term.
The Governor takes office the third Tuesday of January and had a three-year term. Hall of Governors Portrait Gallery Portrait courtesy of Historical and Cultural Affairs, Dover.
He was a member of the Federalist Party, who served in the Delaware General Assembly and as Governor of Delaware. Paynter was a member of the Federalist Party like the majority in Sussex County. Members of the Delaware General Assembly took office the first Tuesday of January.