10th New York State Legislature
Encyclopedia
The 10th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate
and the New York State Assembly
, met from January 12 to April 21, 1787, during the tenth year of George Clinton
's governorship
, at the Old Royal Exchange in New York City
.
In March 1786, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the first Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor. No general meeting place was determined, leaving it to each Legislature to name the place where to reconvene, and if no place could be agreed upon, the Legislature should meet again where it adjourned.
and Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt
were re-elected to a fourth term. Senators Lewis Morris
(Southern D.), John Williams (Eastern D.) and Abraham Yates Jr. (Western D.) were re-elected; and John Hathorn
(Middle D.), Peter Schuyler (Western D.) and Assemblyman John Vanderbilt (Southern D.), were elected to the Senate.
, but the Assembly first assembled a quorum on January 12, the Senate on January 13; both Houses adjourned on April 21, 1787.
Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York
. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.
Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York
. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
and the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
, met from January 12 to April 21, 1787, during the tenth year of George Clinton
George Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
's governorship
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, at the Old Royal Exchange in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Background
Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1777, the State Senators were elected on general tickets in the senatorial districts, and were then divided into four classes. Six senators each drew lots for a term of 1, 2, 3 or 4 years and, beginning at the election in April 1778, every year six Senate seats came up for election to a four-year term. Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole assembly being renewed annually.In March 1786, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the first Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor. No general meeting place was determined, leaving it to each Legislature to name the place where to reconvene, and if no place could be agreed upon, the Legislature should meet again where it adjourned.
Elections
The State election was held from April 25 to 27, 1786. Gov. George ClintonGeorge Clinton (vice president)
George Clinton was an American soldier and politician, considered one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was the first Governor of New York, and then the fourth Vice President of the United States , serving under Presidents Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and John C...
and Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt
Pierre Van Cortlandt
Pierre Van Cortlandt was the first Lieutenant Governor of the State of New York.He was born in New York, the son of Philip Van Cortlandt and Catherine DePeyster...
were re-elected to a fourth term. Senators Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris
Lewis Morris was an American landowner and developer from Morrisania, New York. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continental Congress for New York....
(Southern D.), John Williams (Eastern D.) and Abraham Yates Jr. (Western D.) were re-elected; and John Hathorn
John Hathorn
John Hathorn was an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.-Life:...
(Middle D.), Peter Schuyler (Western D.) and Assemblyman John Vanderbilt (Southern D.), were elected to the Senate.
Sessions
The State Legislature was to meet on January 2, 1787, at the Old Royal Exchange in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, but the Assembly first assembled a quorum on January 12, the Senate on January 13; both Houses adjourned on April 21, 1787.
Districts
- The Southern District (9 seats) consisted of KingsBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New YorkManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, QueensQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
, RichmondStaten IslandStaten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
, SuffolkSuffolk County, New YorkSuffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
and WestchesterWestchester County, New YorkWestchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
counties. - The Middle District (6 seats) consisted of DutchessDutchess County, New YorkDutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
, OrangeOrange County, New YorkOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
and UlsterUlster County, New YorkUlster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
counties. - The Eastern District (3 seats) consisted of WashingtonWashington County, New YorkWashington County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,216. It was named for the Revolutionary War general George Washington...
, CumberlandCumberland County, New YorkCumberland County, New York was a county in the Province of New York that became part of the state of Vermont. It was divided out of Albany County in New York in 1766, but eventually became part of Vermont in 1777...
and GloucesterGloucester County, New YorkGloucester County, New York is a former county in New York that became part of the state of Vermont. It was a part of Albany County in the Province of New York until 1770 and was lost to Vermont in 1777. At that time, Vermont was holding itself out as the Republic of Vermont and did not become a...
counties. - The Western District (6 seats) consisted of AlbanyAlbany County, New YorkAlbany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
and MontgomeryMontgomery County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
counties.
Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.
Members
The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. John Vanderbilt changed from the Assembly to the Senate.| District | Senators | Term left | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern | Isaac Stoutenburgh* | 1 year | |
| Samuel Townsend* | 1 year | ||
| Stephen Ward* | 1 year | ||
| William Floyd William Floyd William Floyd was a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence as a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:... * |
2 years | elected to the Council of Appointment Council of Appointment The Council of Appointment was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822.-History:... |
|
| Ezra L'Hommedieu Ezra L'Hommedieu Ezra L'Hommedieu was an American lawyer and statesman from Southold, New York. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress from 1779 to 1783 and again in 1788... * |
2 years | ||
| vacant | 2 years | Alexander McDougall Alexander McDougall Alexander McDougall was an American seaman, merchant, a Sons of Liberty leader from New York City before and during the American Revolution, and a military leader during the Revolutionary War. He served as a major general in the Continental Army, and as a delegate to the Continental Congress... died on June 9, 1786. |
|
| Thomas Tredwell Thomas Tredwell Thomas Tredwell was an American lawyer and politician from Plattsburg, New York. He served in the New York State Senate and represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1791 to 1795.... * |
3 years | ||
| Lewis Morris Lewis Morris Lewis Morris was an American landowner and developer from Morrisania, New York. He signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence as a delegate to the Continental Congress for New York.... * |
4 years | ||
| John Vanderbilt* | 4 years | ||
| Middle | Joseph Gasherie* | 1 year | |
| Jacobus Swartwout* | 1 year | ||
| Arthur Parks* | 2 years | ||
| John Haring John Haring John Haring was an American lawyer from New York City. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress.... * |
3 years | ||
| Cornelius Humfrey* | 3 years | ||
| John Hathorn John Hathorn John Hathorn was an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.-Life:... |
4 years | elected to the Council of Appointment Council of Appointment The Council of Appointment was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822.-History:... |
|
| Eastern | Ebenezer Russell* | 2 years | elected to the Council of Appointment Council of Appointment The Council of Appointment was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822.-History:... |
| David Hopkins* | 3 years | ||
| John Williams* | 4 years | ||
| Western | Andrew Finck* | 1 year | |
| Peter Van Ness* | 2 years | ||
| Volkert P. Douw* | 3 years | ||
| Philip Schuyler Philip Schuyler Philip John Schuyler was a general in the American Revolution and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler.-Early life:... * |
3 years | ||
| Peter Schuyler | 4 years | elected to the Council of Appointment Council of Appointment The Council of Appointment was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822.-History:... |
|
| Abraham Yates Jr.* | 4 years | ||
Districts
- The CityAlbany, New YorkAlbany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
and CountyAlbany County, New YorkAlbany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
of Albany (10 seats) - Cumberland CountyCumberland County, New YorkCumberland County, New York was a county in the Province of New York that became part of the state of Vermont. It was divided out of Albany County in New York in 1766, but eventually became part of Vermont in 1777...
(3 seats) - Dutchess CountyDutchess County, New YorkDutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488...
(7 seats) - Gloucester CountyGloucester County, New YorkGloucester County, New York is a former county in New York that became part of the state of Vermont. It was a part of Albany County in the Province of New York until 1770 and was lost to Vermont in 1777. At that time, Vermont was holding itself out as the Republic of Vermont and did not become a...
(2 seats) - Kings CountyBrooklynBrooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
(2 seats) - Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
) (6 seats) - The City and County of New YorkManhattanManhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
(9 seats) - Orange CountyOrange County, New YorkOrange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley...
(4 seats) - Queens CountyQueensQueens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
(4 seats) - Richmond CountyStaten IslandStaten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay...
(2 seats) - Suffolk CountySuffolk County, New YorkSuffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
(5 seats) - Ulster CountyUlster County, New YorkUlster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
(6 seats) - Washington CountyWashington County, New YorkWashington County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,216. It was named for the Revolutionary War general George Washington...
(4 seats) - Westchester CountyWestchester County, New YorkWestchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
(6 seats)
Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.
Assemblymen
The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.| County | Assemblymen | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albany Albany County, New York Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204... |
Leonard Bronck* | |
| Henry Glen Henry Glen Henry Glen was an American merchant, county clerk, and politician from Schenectady, New York. He served in the state Assembly and represented New York in the United States House of Representatives from 1793 until 1801.... * |
||
| James Gordon James Gordon (New York) James Gordon was an Irish-born American merchant, soldier, and politician.He was born in Killead, County Antrim, Ireland, and left in 1758, settling in Schenectady, New York. From that base and from Detroit, Michigan, he traded with various Native American tribes... * |
||
| John Lansing Jr.* | also Mayor of Albany | |
| John Livingston* | ||
| William Powers | ||
| Thomas Sickles | ||
| John Tayler John Tayler John Tayler was a merchant and politician. He served nine years as Lieutenant Governor of New York, four months as Acting Governor of New York, and also in both houses of the New York State Legislature.-Life:... * |
||
| Matthew Visscher | ||
| Peter Vrooman* | ||
| Cumberland Cumberland County, New York Cumberland County, New York was a county in the Province of New York that became part of the state of Vermont. It was divided out of Albany County in New York in 1766, but eventually became part of Vermont in 1777... |
none | No election returns from these counties |
| Gloucester Gloucester County, New York Gloucester County, New York is a former county in New York that became part of the state of Vermont. It was a part of Albany County in the Province of New York until 1770 and was lost to Vermont in 1777. At that time, Vermont was holding itself out as the Republic of Vermont and did not become a... |
||
| Dutchess Dutchess County, New York Dutchess County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. The 2010 census lists the population as 297,488... |
Dirck Brinckerhoff* | |
| John DeWitt Jr. | ||
| Lewis DuBois Lewis DuBois Lewis DuBois was an American Revolutionary War commander. A descendant of Louis Dubois, who founded the early Huguenot settlement of New Paltz, which is preserved today as Historic Huguenot Street . DuBois was a carpenter from Poughkeepsie, New York... * |
||
| Jacob Griffin* | ||
| Henry Ludington Henry Ludington Colonel Henry Ludington was the commander of the 7th Regiment of the Dutchess County Militia, a volunteer regiment of local men who fought in the Battle of Ridgefield in April, 1777, during the American Revolutionary War. His daughter, Sybil Ludington, is known as the female Paul Revere for her... * |
||
| Brinton Paine* | ||
| Matthew Patterson* | ||
| Kings Brooklyn Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated... |
Charles Doughty* | |
| Cornelius Wyckoff | ||
| Montgomery Montgomery County, New York As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile... |
Zephaniah Batchelor | |
| James Cannon | ||
| Josiah Crane | ||
| John Frey* | ||
| William Harper* | ||
| James Livingston James Livingston (American Revolution) Colonel James Livingston was born in the French province of Canada to New York-born parents. He was living in Quebec when the American Revolutionary War broke out... * |
||
| New York Manhattan Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York... |
Evert Bancker Evert Bancker (speaker) This article is about the Speaker of the NY Assembly. For the Mayor of Albany see Evert Bancker Evert Bancker was an American merchant and politician who was Speaker of the New York State Assembly from 1779 to 1783.... * |
|
| Nicholas Bayard | ||
| David Brooks David Brooks (politician) David Brooks was an officer in the Continental Army in the American Revolution and a United States representative from New York.... |
||
| William Denning William Denning William Denning was a United States Representative from New York. Born probably in St. John's, Newfoundland in April 1740, he moved to New York City in early youth and engaged in mercantile pursuits... * |
||
| Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury... |
||
| Robert C. Livingston | ||
| William Malcom* | ||
| John Ray | ||
| Richard Varick Richard Varick Richard Varick was an American lawyer and politician. He was born on 15 March 1753 at Hackensack in Bergen County, New Jersey, and he died on 30 July 1831 at Jersey City in Hudson County, New Jersey.... |
elected Speaker Speaker of the New York State Assembly The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party.... ; also Recorder of New York City Recorder of New York City The Recorder of New York City was a municipal officer of New York City from 1683 until the early 20th century. He was at times a judge of the Court of General Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, and the New York Court of Common Pleas; Vice-President of the Board of Supervisors of New York... |
|
| Orange Orange County, New York Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area and is located at the northern reaches of the New York metropolitan area. The county sits in the state's scenic Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley... |
Robert Armstrong | |
| Jeremiah Clark | ||
| Gilbert Cooper* | ||
| Peter Taulman | ||
| Queens Queens Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States.... |
Samuel Jones Samuel Jones (NY comptroller) Samuel Jones was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Jones and Phoebe Jones .... * |
|
| John Schenck | ||
| Richard Thorne | ||
| James Townsend James Townsend (New York) James Townsend was an American politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Jacob Townsend and Phebe Townsend... * |
||
| Richmond Staten Island Staten Island is a borough of New York City, New York, United States, located in the southwest part of the city. Staten Island is separated from New Jersey by the Arthur Kill and the Kill Van Kull, and from the rest of New York by New York Bay... |
John C. Dongan* | |
| Thomas Frost | ||
| Suffolk Suffolk County, New York Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came... |
Jonathan N. Havens | |
| David Hedges* | ||
| Daniel Osborn | ||
| Caleb Smith | ||
| John Smith John Smith (New York) John Smith was an American politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Rev. Caleb Smith, a minister at Orange, New Jersey... |
||
| Ulster Ulster County, New York Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at... |
John Cantine John Cantine John Cantine Born in Marbletown, New York, Cantine served in both houses of the New York Legislature. Cantine also served in the New York state convention concerning the ratification of the United States Constitution... |
|
| Ebenezer Clark | ||
| David Galatian* | ||
| Cornelius C. Schoonmaker Cornelius C. Schoonmaker Cornelius Corneliusen Schoonmaker was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Shawangunk , Ulster County, New York), he received a limited schooling, became a surveyor and was engaged in agricultural pursuits. During the American Revolutionary War, he was a member of the committees... * |
||
| Nathan Smith* | ||
| Johannis Snyder* | ||
| Washington Washington County, New York Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is part of the Glens Falls, New York, Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,216. It was named for the Revolutionary War general George Washington... |
Adam Martin | |
| Ichabod Parker* | ||
| Edward Savage | ||
| Peter B. Tierce* | ||
| Westchester Westchester County, New York Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities... |
Ebenezer Lockwood* | |
| Ebenezer Purdy | ||
| Nathan Rockwell | ||
| Joseph Strang | ||
| Thomas Thomas* | ||
| Jonathan G. Tompkins* | ||
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [see pg. 108 for Senate districts; pg. 113 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 163 for assemblymen]