Abraham Rencher

Abraham Rencher, New Mexico Territory Governor.

Abraham Rencher (August 12, 1798 – July 6, 1883) was a politician from the state of North Carolina. His career included: Congressman; Minister to Portugal; and Governor of New Mexico Territory.

Biography

Rencher was born near Raleigh, North Carolina on August 12, 1798. He was tutored at home, and attended the common schools and Pittsboro Academy. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1822, studied law with Frederick Nash, was admitted to the bar in 1825, and commenced practice in Pittsboro.

He was elected as a Jacksonian to the Twenty-first and Twenty-second Congresses, as an Anti-Jacksonian to the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Congresses, and as a Whig to the Twenty-fifth Congress, serving from March 4, 1829 to March 3, 1839. He declined to be a candidate for renomination in 1838.

In 1840 Rencher was again elected to Congress as a Whig, and he served one term, March 4, 1841 to March 3, 1843 (the Twenty-seventh Congress). He declined to be candidate for renomination in 1842 on the grounds of ill health.

Rencher served as U.S. Minister to Portugal from 1843 to 1847, appointed by President John Tyler.

From 1857 to 1861 Rencher served as Governor of New Mexico Territory, appointed by President Buchanan.

After leaving New Mexico Rencher returned to his home in Pittsboro, where he lived in retirement. He was a supporter of the Union, and took no active part in the Civil War.

He died died in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on July 6, 1883 and was interred at St. Bartholomew’s Protestant Episcopal Churchyard in Pittsboro.

Family

In 1836 Rencher married Louisa Mary Jones, daughter of Colonel Edward and Elizabeth Mallett Jones. They were the parents of children: John Grant, William Conway, Sarah, and Charlotte Genevieve.

References

• Abraham Rencher at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Abraham Rencher at Find a Grave