1st New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2026 October 2019 1st Kingston-senate-house.jpg Senate House, Kingston, the place of the first session of the State Senate 2007 September 9, 1777 June 30, 1778 vacant Pierre Van Cortlandt Walter Livingston 24 70 (de facto 65) 1st September 1, 1777 October 7, 1778 2nd January 5, 1778 April 4, 1778 3rd June 22, 1778 June 30, 1778 State Constitutional Convention 2nd The 1st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from September 9, 1777, to June 30, 1778, during the first year of George Clinton's governorship, first at Kingston and later at Poughkeepsie. Background The 4th Provincial Congress of the Colony of New York convened at White Plains on July 9, 1776, and declared the independence of the State of New York. The next day the delegates re-convened as the "Convention of Representatives of the State of New-York" and on August 1 a committee was appointed to prepare a State Constitution. The New York Constitution was adopted by the Convention on April 20, 1777, and went into force immediately, without ratification by popular vote. Apportionment and election 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 following election in April 1778, every year one fourth of the State Senate seats came up for election to a four-year term.The same system of rotative renewal, though with three classes and 6-year terms, was adopted by the United States Constitution in 1789 for the United States Senate, and has been in use there ever since. Rotative renewal of the New York State Senate was abolished by the State Constitution of 1846, and State Senators have served two-year terms since 1848-49, except 1896-98 (a three-year term, to move the elections to even-numbered years), 1965 and 1966 (two one-year terms due to redistricting). Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole assembly being renewed annually. On May 8, 1777, the Constitutional Convention appointed the senators from the Southern District, and the assemblymen from Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk counties—the area which was under British control—and determined that these appointees serve in the Legislature until elections could be held in those areas, presumably after the end of the American Revolutionary War. Vacancies among the appointed members in the Senate should be filled by the Assembly, and vacancies in the Assembly by the Senate. right|thumb|Clinton House, one of the buildings used by the State government during sessions at Poughkeepsie Sessions The State Legislature met in Kingston, the seat of Ulster County. The State Senate met first on September 9, 1777, at the home of Abraham Van Gaasbeck, now known as Senate House, the Assembly met first on the next day at the Bogardus Tavern.Photo of the historical marker of the site at Flickr At the approach of the British army, the State Legislature dispersed on October 7, and reconvened in Poughkeepsie on January 5, 1778, possibly at a house now known as Clinton House.Clinton House https://web.archive.org/web/20101229163508/http://nysparks.state.ny.us/historic-sites/1/details.aspx December 29, 2010 at NY State Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation State Senate Districts The Southern District (9 seats) consisted of Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties. The Middle District (6 seats) consisted of Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties. The Eastern District (3 seats) consisted of Charlotte, Cumberland and Gloucester counties.All three senators from the Eastern District in this Legislature came from Charlotte County; see note for Assembly. The Western District (6 seats) consisted of Albany and Tryon 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. In 1784, Charlotte Co. was renamed Washington Co., and Tryon Co. was renamed Montgomery Co. Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the Constitutional Convention who continued as members of the Legislature. District image State Senators Term drawn Notes Southern 75px Isaac Roosevelt*1 yearappointed by Constitutional Convention 75pxJohn Morin Scott*1 yearappointed by Constitutional Convention; elected to the Council of Appointment; from March 13, 1778, also Secretary of State of New York 75pxJohn Jones 2 yearsappointed by Constitutional Convention; resigned on February 26, 1778, due to ill health 75pxRichard Morrison March 4, 1778, appointed by the State Assembly, in place of JonesJonathan Lawrence*2 yearsappointed by Constitutional Convention 75pxLewis Morris*2 yearsappointed by Constitutional Convention 75pxWilliam Floyd3 yearsappointed by Constitutional ConventionWilliam Smith*3 yearsappointed by Constitutional Convention 75pxPierre Van Cortlandt*3 yearsappointed by Constitutional Convention; elected Temporary President of the State Senate; then elected Lt. Gov. to fill vacancy,At the New York gubernatorial election, 1777, George Clinton was elected at the same time Governor and Lieutenant Governor. On June 30, 1777, he took office as Governor, and at the same time formally resigned the lieutenant governorship, leaving a vacancy. Van Cortlandt was elected Temporary President in this Legislature, and took office as Lt. Gov. at the beginning of the next legislative year. and took office on June 30, 1778 75pxPhilip Livingston*4 yearsappointed by Constitutional Convention; died June 12, 1778 MiddleHenry Wisner*1 year Jonathan Landon*2 yearsZephaniah Platt*2 yearsArthur Parks*3 yearsLevi Pawling4 yearsJesse Woodhull4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment Eastern 75pxWilliam Duer*1 year 75pxJohn Williams*3 yearsAlexander Webster* 4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment WesternIsaac Paris*1 year 75pxAbraham Yates Jr.*1 yearelected to the Council of AppointmentDirck W. Ten Broeck2 yearsAnthony Van Schaick3 yearsJellis Fonda4 yearsRinier Mynderse4 years Employees Clerk: Robert Benson Sergeant-at-Arms: Stephen Hendrickson, elected March 11, 1778 Doorkeeper and Messenger: Victor Bicker State Assembly Districts 32em The City and County of Albany (10 seats) Charlotte County (4 seats) Cumberland County (3 seats) Dutchess County (7 seats) Gloucester County (2 seats) Kings County (2 seats) The City and County of New York (9 seats) Orange County (4 seats) Queens County (4 seats) Richmond County (2 seats) Suffolk County (5 seats) Tryon County (6 seats) Ulster County (6 seats) Westchester County (6 seats) 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. In 1784, Charlotte Co. was renamed Washington Co., and Tryon Co. was renamed Montgomery Co. Assemblymen The asterisk (*) denotes members of the Constitutional Convention who continued as members of the Legislature. District Assemblymen Notes AlbanyJacob Cuyler*resigned September 30, 1777John Cuyler Jr.James GordonWalter Livingstonelected SpeakerStephen J. SchuylerJohn Tayler*Killian Van RensselaerRobert Van Rensselaer*Peter VroomanWilliam B. Whiting CharlotteJohn Barns Ebenezer ClarkeJohn RowanEbenezer RussellCumberland none No election returns from these countiesCumberland 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 Committee of Safety (the governing body of the State of New York between the adjournment of the Constitutional Convention and the inauguration of Gov. George Clinton) in 1777, and nobody claimed the seats.Gloucester Dutchess Egbert Bensonalso New York State Attorney GeneralDirck BrinckerhoffAnthony Hoffman*Gilbert Livingston*Andrew MoorhouseJohn Schenck*Jacobus Swartwout KingsWilliam Boerumappointed by Constitutional ConventionHenry Williamsappointed by Constitutional Convention New YorkEvert Bancker*appointed by Constitutional ConventionAbraham Brasher*appointed by Constitutional ConventionDaniel Dunscomb*appointed by Constitutional ConventionRobert Harpur*appointed by Constitutional ConventionFrederick Jayappointed by Constitutional ConventionAbraham P. Lott*appointed by Constitutional ConventionHenry Rutgersappointed by Constitutional Convention; resigned on February 16, 1778John Berrienappointed by the State Senate, in place of RutgersJacobus Van Zandt*appointed by Constitutional ConventionPeter P. Van Zandt*appointed by Constitutional Convention Orange Jeremiah Clark* John HathornTheunis CuyperRoeluf Van Houten QueensBenjamin Birdsallappointed by Constitutional ConventionBenjamin Coeappointed by Constitutional ConventionPhilip Edsallappointed by Constitutional ConventionDaniel Lawrenceappointed by Constitutional Convention RichmondAbraham Jonesappointed by Constitutional Convention; seat declared vacant on June 8, 1778, for "being with the enemy" Joshua Mersereauappointed by Constitutional Convention Suffolk David Gelston*appointed by Constitutional ConventionEzra L'Hommedieu*appointed by Constitutional ConventionBurnet Miller*appointed by Constitutional ConventionThomas Tredwell*appointed by Constitutional ConventionThomas Wickesappointed by Constitutional Convention Tryon Samuel Clyde Michael EdieJacob G. KlockJacob SnellAbraham Van HorneJohannes Veeder Ulster John Cantine Johannes G. Hardenbergh*Matthew Rea*Cornelius C. SchoonmakerJohannis SnyderHenry Wisner Jr.* Westchester Thaddeus Crane Samuel DrakeRobert GrahamIsrael Honeywell Jr.Zebediah Mills*Gouverneur Morris* Employees Clerk: John McKesson Sergeant-at-Arms: Thomas Pettit Doorkeeper: Richard Ten Eyck Notes Sources The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [see pg. 48-52 for Constitutional Convention; pg. 108 for Senate districts; pg. 110 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 157 for assemblymen] Category:1777 in New York (state) Category:1778 in New York (state) 001