New York Provincial Congress
Encyclopedia
The New York Provincial Congress (1775-1777) was an organization formed by rebels in 1775, during the American Revolution
, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York
Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred
.
A Provincial Convention assembled in New York City
on April 20, 1775 with Philip Livingston
as its chairman. All counties other than Tryon
, Gloucester
, and Cumberland
were represented. Delegates were elected to the Second Continental Congress
, which included the delegates to the first congress and also five new members. The scope of the Provincial Convention did not extend beyond electing delegates, and they dispersed on April 22.
On April 23, news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord
arrived.
.
.
on July 9, 1776. On the same day the Declaration of Independence
was read by George Washington on the commons of New York City to the Continental Army and local citizens, who celebrated by tearing down the statue of George III in Bowling Green
. On July 10, 1776, the Fourth Provincial Congress changed its name to the Convention of Representatives of the State of New York, and "acts as legislature without an executive." While adjourned it left a Committee of Safety
in charge.
The Constitution of the State of New York was adopted on April 20, 1777. The governor would be elected not appointed, voting qualifications were reduced, secret ballots were introduced, and civil rights were guaranteed. On July 9, 1778 the State of New York signed the Articles of Confederation
and officially became part of the government of the United States of America, though it had been a part of the nation since it was declared in 1776.
2nd Provincial Congress
3rd Provincial Congress
4th Provincial Congress and Representative Convention
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, as a pro-rebellion alternative to the more conservative Province of New York
Province of New York
The Province of New York was an English and later British crown territory that originally included all of the present U.S. states of New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Vermont, along with inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine, as well as eastern Pennsylvania...
Assembly, and as a replacement for the Committee of One Hundred
Committee of Sixty
The Committee of Sixty was an extra-legal group formed in New York City, in 1775, by rebels to enforce the Continental Association, a boycott of British goods enacted by the First Continental Congress...
.
A Provincial Convention assembled 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...
on April 20, 1775 with Philip Livingston
Philip Livingston
Philip Livingston was an American merchant and statesman from New York City. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1778, and signed the Declaration of Independence.-Family history:...
as its chairman. All counties other than Tryon
Tryon County, New York
Tryon County, New York was a county in the colonial Province of New York in the British American colonies. It was created from Albany County on March 24, 1772. It was named for William Tryon, the last provincial governor of New York. Its boundaries extended far further than any current county...
, 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...
, and 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...
were represented. Delegates were elected to the Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met briefly during 1774,...
, which included the delegates to the first congress and also five new members. The scope of the Provincial Convention did not extend beyond electing delegates, and they dispersed on April 22.
On April 23, news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington and Concord
The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. They were fought on April 19, 1775, in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy , and Cambridge, near Boston...
arrived.
Second Provincial Congress
The Second Provincial Congress was organized on December 6, 1775 and sat in New York City, and continued until adjournment on May 13, 1776. In January, 1776, George Washington ordered Major General Charles Lee to prepare New York City for the coming British attack. In February, the provincial congress initially refused Lee's entry, but then agreed and also decided to stop provisioning the British ships in New York harborNew York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
.
Third Provincial Congress
The Third Provincial Congress was organized on May 22, 1776. It continued in session until June 30, 1776. It instructed its delegates to the 2nd Continental Congress to oppose independence. On May 31, 1776, the Continental Congress recommended that each of the provinces establish themselves as states. On June 17, the provincial congress called a new election with the delegates vested with the power to declare independence. In June, Howe's forces appeared in New York HarborNew York Harbor
New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...
.
First Constitutional Convention
The Fourth Provincial Congress convened in White Plains on July 9, 1776 and became known as the First Constitutional Convention. It declared the independent state of New YorkNew 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...
on July 9, 1776. On the same day the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
was read by George Washington on the commons of New York City to the Continental Army and local citizens, who celebrated by tearing down the statue of George III in Bowling Green
Bowling Green (New York City)
Bowling Green is a small public park in Lower Manhattan at the foot of Broadway next to the site of the original Dutch fort of New Amsterdam. Built in 1733, originally including a bowling green, it is the oldest public park in New York City and is surrounded by its original 18th century fence. At...
. On July 10, 1776, the Fourth Provincial Congress changed its name to the Convention of Representatives of the State of New York, and "acts as legislature without an executive." While adjourned it left a Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety
Committee of Safety may refer to:*English Committee of Safety, the parliamentary body in England that oversaw the English Civil War*Committee of Safety , established throughout the Thirteen Colonies at the start of the American Revolution...
in charge.
The Constitution of the State of New York was adopted on April 20, 1777. The governor would be elected not appointed, voting qualifications were reduced, secret ballots were introduced, and civil rights were guaranteed. On July 9, 1778 the State of New York signed the Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation, formally the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, was an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states and served as its first constitution...
and officially became part of the government of the United States of America, though it had been a part of the nation since it was declared in 1776.
President of Provincial Congress
1st Provincial Congress- Peter Van Brugh LivingstonPeter Van Brugh LivingstonPeter Van Brugh Livingston was a Patriot during the American Revolution.-Life:...
May 23, 1775 - Nathaniel WoodhullNathaniel WoodhullGeneral Nathaniel Woodhull was a leader of the New York Provincial Congress and a brigadier-general of the New York Militia during the American Revolution. He was born on December 30, 1722 in Mastic, Long Island, Province of New York, the son of Nathaniel Woodhull and Sarah Smith...
Aug 23, 1775 pro tem - Abraham YatesAbraham YatesAbraham Yates was an American lawyer and civil servant from Albany, New York.-Biography:He was baptised August 23, 1724 in Albany, New York, the son of Christoffel Yates and Catelyntje Winne....
Nov 2, 1775 pro tem
2nd Provincial Congress
- Nathaniel WoodhullNathaniel WoodhullGeneral Nathaniel Woodhull was a leader of the New York Provincial Congress and a brigadier-general of the New York Militia during the American Revolution. He was born on December 30, 1722 in Mastic, Long Island, Province of New York, the son of Nathaniel Woodhull and Sarah Smith...
Dec 6, 1775 - John HaringJohn HaringJohn Haring was an American lawyer from New York City. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress....
Dec 16, 1775 pro tem - Nathaniel WoodhullNathaniel WoodhullGeneral Nathaniel Woodhull was a leader of the New York Provincial Congress and a brigadier-general of the New York Militia during the American Revolution. He was born on December 30, 1722 in Mastic, Long Island, Province of New York, the son of Nathaniel Woodhull and Sarah Smith...
Feb 12, 1776 pro tem
3rd Provincial Congress
- Nathaniel WoodhullNathaniel WoodhullGeneral Nathaniel Woodhull was a leader of the New York Provincial Congress and a brigadier-general of the New York Militia during the American Revolution. He was born on December 30, 1722 in Mastic, Long Island, Province of New York, the son of Nathaniel Woodhull and Sarah Smith...
May 18, 1776 - John HaringJohn HaringJohn Haring was an American lawyer from New York City. He was a delegate for New York to the Continental Congress....
Jun 19, 1776
4th Provincial Congress and Representative Convention
- Nathaniel WoodhullNathaniel WoodhullGeneral Nathaniel Woodhull was a leader of the New York Provincial Congress and a brigadier-general of the New York Militia during the American Revolution. He was born on December 30, 1722 in Mastic, Long Island, Province of New York, the son of Nathaniel Woodhull and Sarah Smith...
Jul 9, 1776 - Abraham YatesAbraham YatesAbraham Yates was an American lawyer and civil servant from Albany, New York.-Biography:He was baptised August 23, 1724 in Albany, New York, the son of Christoffel Yates and Catelyntje Winne....
Aug 10, 1776 pro tem - Abraham YatesAbraham YatesAbraham Yates was an American lawyer and civil servant from Albany, New York.-Biography:He was baptised August 23, 1724 in Albany, New York, the son of Christoffel Yates and Catelyntje Winne....
Aug 28, 1776 - Peter Van Brugh LivingstonPeter Van Brugh LivingstonPeter Van Brugh Livingston was a Patriot during the American Revolution.-Life:...
Sep 26, 1776 - Abraham Ten BroeckAbraham Ten BroeckAbraham Ten Broeck was a New York politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area that still stands more than 200 years later.-Early life:Ten Broeck was the son of Dirck Ten Broeck...
Mar 6, 1777 - Leonard GansevoortLeonard GansevoortLeonard Gansevoort was an American political leader from New York who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1788....
Apr 18, 1777
Chairmen of the Committee of Safety
- Nathaniel WoodhullNathaniel WoodhullGeneral Nathaniel Woodhull was a leader of the New York Provincial Congress and a brigadier-general of the New York Militia during the American Revolution. He was born on December 30, 1722 in Mastic, Long Island, Province of New York, the son of Nathaniel Woodhull and Sarah Smith...
July 10, 1776 to August 10, 1776 - Abraham YatesAbraham YatesAbraham Yates was an American lawyer and civil servant from Albany, New York.-Biography:He was baptised August 23, 1724 in Albany, New York, the son of Christoffel Yates and Catelyntje Winne....
August 10, 1776 to September 26, 1776 - Peter Van Brugh LivingstonPeter Van Brugh LivingstonPeter Van Brugh Livingston was a Patriot during the American Revolution.-Life:...
September 26, 1776 to March 6, 1777 - Abraham Ten BroeckAbraham Ten BroeckAbraham Ten Broeck was a New York politician, businessman, and militia Brigadier General of Dutch descent. He was twice Mayor of Albany, New York and built one of the largest mansions in the area that still stands more than 200 years later.-Early life:Ten Broeck was the son of Dirck Ten Broeck...
March 6, 1777 to April 9, 1777 - William Smith April 9, 1777 to April 11, 1777
- Pierre Van CortlandtPierre Van CortlandtPierre 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...
April 11, 1777 to April 18, 1777 - Leonard GansevoortLeonard GansevoortLeonard Gansevoort was an American political leader from New York who served as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1788....
April 18, 1777 to May 14, 1777
President of the Council of Safety
- Pierre Van CortlandtPierre Van CortlandtPierre 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...
May 14, 1777 to July 30, 1777