In 1805 he moved to Oxford, where he served as deputy county clerk under his relative Uri Tracy.

He studied law with Stephen O. Runyan, was admitted to the bar in 1808, and practiced in Oxford.

In 1821 he was re-appointed surrogate, and in 1823 he became First Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and he served until resigning in 1833.

In 1846 he was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention, and was chosen its president.

For many years Tracy was president of the Oxford Academy board of trustees.