It was perhaps divine intervention. Martin Van Buren had counseled New York representatives, including Stephen Van Renesselar, to not vote for Adams. Van Buren had even obtained an assurance from Van Renesselar on this regard. As it came his time to vote, Van Renesselar, a deeply religious man, prayed for divine inspiration. Just as he was praying, he spotted a ballot with John Quincy Adams’s name on it. Van Renesselar thought this was a divine message and cast the deciding vote for Adams.