9th New York State Legislature

9th New York State Legislature

The Old Royal Exchange, in New York City, where the Legislature met from 1785 to 1787. (undated)
Duration: July 1, 1785 – June 30, 1786
President of the State Senate: Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt
Temporary President of the State Senate:
Speaker of the State Assembly: John Lansing Jr.
Members: 24 Senators
70 (de facto 65) Assemblymen
Senate Majority:
Assembly Majority:
Sessions
1st: January 12, 1786 – May 5, 1786
<8th 10th>

The 9th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 12 to May 5, 1786, during the ninth year of George Clinton's governorship, at the Old Royal Exchange in New York City.

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.

The 8th New York State Legislature adjourned on April 27, 1785. At this time, the Senate voted that the next Legislature meet at Kingston, New York on a day set by the governor. The Assembly voted to meet at a time and place to be determined by the governor, to which the Senate then agreed. On November 16, 1785, Governor Clinton called the Legislature to meet on January 6, 1786, at the Exchange in New York City.[1]

Elections

The State election was held from April 26 to 28, 1785. Senator John Haring (Middle D.) was re-elected; and Thomas Tredwell (Southern D.), Volkert P. Douw, Philip Schuyler (both Western D.), and Assemblymen David Hopkins (Eastern D.) and Cornelius Humfrey (Middle D.), were elected to the Senate.

Sessions

The State Legislature met at the Old Royal Exchange in New York City, the Assembly on January 12, the Senate on January 16, 1786; and both Houses adjourned on May 5.

When the Legislature eventually had assembled a quorum, Governor Clinton told them that, following the principle of Separation of Powers, the Governor could call the Legislature only for special sessions, but the Legislature should henceforth decide for themselves where and when to meet for the next ordinary session, and suggested to pass a law for this purpose. On March 13, 1786, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the first Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor. However, no general meeting place was determined, leaving it for the time being 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.[2]

State Senate

Districts

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.

Members

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Cornelius Humfrey and David Hopkins changed from the Assembly to the Senate.

District Senators Term left Notes
Southern Lewis Morris* 1 year elected to the Council of Appointment
Isaac Roosevelt* 1 year
Isaac Stoutenburgh* 2 years
Samuel Townsend* 2 years
Stephen Ward* 2 years
William Floyd* 3 years
Ezra L'Hommedieu* 3 years
Alexander McDougall* 3 years died on June 9, 1786
Thomas Tredwell 4 years
Middle William Allison* 1 year
Joseph Gasherie* 2 years
Jacobus Swartwout* 2 years elected to the Council of Appointment
Arthur Parks* 3 years
John Haring* 4 years
(Cornelius Humfrey)* 4 years did not attend
Eastern John Williams* 1 year
Ebenezer Russell* 3 years
David Hopkins* 4 years elected to the Council of Appointment
Western (Jacob G. Klock)* 1 year did not attend
Abraham Yates Jr.* 1 year
Andrew Finck* 2 years
Peter Van Ness* 3 years
Volkert P. Douw 4 years
Philip Schuyler 4 years elected to the Council of Appointment

Employees

State Assembly

Districts

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.

Assemblymen

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.

County Assemblymen Notes
Albany Leonard Bronck
Henry Glen
James Gordon
Lawrence Hogeboom
John Lansing Jr. elected Speaker
John Livingston
Jacobus Van Schoonhoven
John Tayler
Abraham J. Van Alstyne
Peter Vrooman
Cumberland none No election returns from these counties[3]
Gloucester
Dutchess Dirck Brinckerhoff*
John DeWitt
Lewis DuBois
Jacob Griffin
Henry Ludington
Brinton Paine*
Matthew Patterson*
Kings Charles Doughty*
John Vanderbilt*
Montgomery Abraham Arndt
John Frey
William Harper*
James Livingston*
Abraham Van Horne
Volkert Veeder*
New York Evert Bancker
Robert Boyd
William Denning*
William Duer
William Goforth*
William Malcom
Isaac Sears
John Stagg
Robert Troup
Orange John Bradner
Gilbert Cooper*
Nathaniel Satterly
Henry Wisner III
Queens Daniel Duryee
Samuel Jones
Daniel Whitehead Kissam
James Townsend*
Richmond John C. Dongan
Joshua Mersereau*
Suffolk Nathaniel Gardiner
John Nicoll Havens
David Hedges
Jeffrey Smith*
Thomas Youngs*
Ulster David Galatian
Joseph Hasbrouck
Thomas Jansen
Cornelius C. Schoonmaker*
Nathan Smith*
Johannis Snyder
Washington Albert Baker*
Joseph McCracken
Ichabod Parker
Peter B. Tierce
Westchester Samuel Drake
Abijah Gilbert*
Ebenezer Lockwood*
Philip Pell Jr.*
Thomas Thomas*
Jonathan G. Tompkins

Employees

Notes

  1. ↑ George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic by John P. Kaminski (page 305; note 133)
  2. ↑ Laws of the State of New York (page 208f)
  3. ↑ Cumberland and Gloucester counties seceded from the Province of New York in January 1777, and became part of the Vermont Republic, while the Constitutional Convention was still debating the new Constitution. The New York Constitution was approved in April 1777, not recognizing the secession. Neither county did file any election returns with the Secretary of State of New York in 1785.

Sources