Josiah Masters Explained

Josiah Masters
State:New York
Term Start:March 4, 1805
Term End:March 3, 1809
Predecessor:George Tibbits
Successor:John Nicholson
Office2:Justice of the Peace of Schaghticoke, New York
Term Start2:1801
Term End2:1805
Office3:Supervisor of Schaghticoke, New York
Term3:1796
Office4:Member of the New York State Assembly
Term4:1792, 1800, 1801
Birth Date:22 November 1763
Birth Place:Woodbury, Connecticut Colony, British America
Death Place:Fairfield, Connecticut, U.S.
Resting Place:Masters Cemetery
Party:Democratic-Republican
Alma Mater:Yale College
Profession:Politician, lawyer

Josiah Masters (November 22, 1763 – June 30, 1822) was a United States representative from New York. Born in Woodbury, Litchfield County, Connecticut, he graduated from Yale College in 1783. He studied law, was admitted to the bar and commenced practice in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County, New York. He was a member of the New York State Assembly in 1792, 1800, and 1801, and served as supervisor of Schaghticoke in 1796. He was a justice of the peace in Rensselaer County from 1801 to 1805, was a trustee of Lansingburgh Academy, and was school commissioner of Schaghticoke.

Masters was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Ninth and Tenth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1805 to March 3, 1809. He was founder of the Schaghticoke Powder Co. and judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Rensselaer County from 1808 to 1822. He died in Fairfield, Connecticut in 1822; interment was in the Masters Cemetery, near Schaghticoke, New York.