Series II: Papers of Mortimer F. Delano and associates, 1815-1850

Mortimer Frederick Delano was born on 25 February 1800, in Amenia, Dutchess County, New York to Dr. Frederick Delano, age 34, and Joanna Doty, age 35. The details of his early life have been hard to find; clearly, he undertook the study of law and passed the bar by his mid-20s. By 1827, he was practicing law in Pittsford, New York. At the incorporation of the village of Pittsford in 1827, he was elected village clerk; in 1829, he was elected Justice of the Peace and then appointed village postmaster in 1831. He married Sarah Elizabeth Guernsey (daughter of James K. Guernsey, Esq.) on 30 January 1831 in Pittsford, New York. They were the parents of 2 sons and 3 daughters.

Delano operated a highly successful law practice and appears to have been highly regarded in the profession, as shown by his certifications to practice before the Supreme Court of the State of New York, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Northern District of New York, and the Supreme Court of the United States. He also served as Surrogate for Monroe County for two terms, 1835-1840 and 1844-1845. Delano was also involved in politics, serving as a delegate to the state Republican convention in 1832; later, he become involved with Loco-Foco movement of the late 1830s and early 1840s. He also served for many years as a Director of the Bank of Monroe. Delano died on 30 September 1845, in Rochester, New York, at the age of 45, and was buried in Mount Hope Cemetery.