18th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2026 October 2019 18th Clinton house poughkeepsie 2007 03 18.jpg Clinton House, one of the buildings used by the State government during sessions at Poughkeepsie 2007 July 1, 1794 June 30, 1795 Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt William North (Fed.) 24 70 Federalist (14-10) Federalist 1st January 6, 1795 January 14, 1795 2nd January 20, 1795 April 9, 1795 17th 19th The 18th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6 to April 9, 1795, during the eighteenth year of George Clinton's governorship, first in Poughkeepsie, then 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. 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. On February 7, 1791, the legislature re-apportioned the Senate and Assembly districts, according to the figures of the 1790 United States census. At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.The Anti-Federalists called themselves "Republicans." However, at the same time, the Federalists called them "Democrats" which was meant to be pejorative. After some time both terms got more and more confused, and sometimes used together as "Democratic Republicans" which later historians have adopted (with a hyphen) to describe the party from the beginning, to avoid confusion with both the later established and still existing Democratic and Republican parties. Elections The State election was held from April 29 to May 1, 1794. Senators Matthew Clarkson (Southern D.), John Williams (Eastern D.), John Frey and Stephen Van Rensselaer (both Western D.) were re-elected. Assemblymen Richard Hatfield (Southern D.) and John D. Coe (Middle D.) were also elected to the Senate. Sessions right|thumb|The Old New York City Hall, where the Legislature met in 1784. From January 1785 to August 1790, the Congress of the Confederation and the 1st United States Congress met here, and the building was renamed Federal Hall. From 1791 to 1793, and from 1795 to 1796, the State Legislature met again here. The building was demolished in 1812. The legislature met first in Poughkeepsie on January 6; and adjourned on January 14, 1795. The legislature met again at Federal Hall in New York City on January 20; and adjourned on April 9. William North was elected Speaker with 33 votes to 28 for James Watson, the Speaker of the previous Assembly, both were Federalists. The average vote for the members of the Council of Appointment was 36 to 29, showing a Federalist majority of 7.The History of Political Parties in the State of New-York, from the Ratification of the Federal Constitution to December, 1840 by Jabez D. Hammond (4th ed., Vol. 1, H. & E. Phinney, Cooperstown, 1846; pages 87f) On January 27, the Legislature re-elected Federalist Rufus King to the U.S. Senate. State Senate Districts The Southern District (8 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 (5 seats) consisted of Washington, Clinton, Columbia and Rensselaer counties. The Western District (5 seats) consisted of Albany, Montgomery, Herkimer, Ontario, Otsego, Saratoga, Tioga and Onondaga 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. Members The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Richard Hatfield and John D. Coe changed from the Assembly to the Senate. District Senators Term left Party Notes SouthernSamuel Jones*1 year Federalistalso Recorder of New York CityJoshua Sands*1 year FederalistHenry Cruger*2 years FederalistJohn Schenck*2 years Dem.-Rep.Selah Strong*2 years FederalistEzra L'Hommedieu*3 years FederalistMatthew Clarkson*4 years FederalistRichard Hatfield*4 years Federalistelected to the Council of Appointment MiddleThomas Tillotson*1 year Dem.-Rep.Jacobus Swartwout*1 year Dem.-Rep.Joseph Hasbrouck*2 years Dem.-Rep.elected to the Council of AppointmentJohn Cantine*3 years Dem.-Rep.Reuben Hopkins*3 years Dem.-Rep.John D. Coe*4 years Dem.-Rep. EasternWilliam Powers*1 year Federalistelected to the Council of AppointmentJohn Livingston*John Livingston, fifth son of Robert Livingston (1708–1790), 3rd Lord of the Manor2 years Dem.-Rep.Robert Woodworth*2 years Dem.-Rep.Zina Hitchcock*3 years FederalistJohn Williams*4 years Dem.-Rep.elected in December 1794 to the 4th United States CongressJohn Williams was re-elected in April 1794 to the State Senate for a four-year term beginning on July 1, 1794; and elected to the 4th United States Congress in December 1794 for a two-year term beginning on March 4, 1795. Although the Legislature had pronounced the incompatibility of holding both seats concurrently, Williams could remain in the Senate until the end of this session of the State Legislature because it ended about eight months before Congress actually met on December 7, 1795. A special election was held in April 1795 to fill the remainder of Williams's term in the State Senate, and was won by Ambrose Spencer. WesternPhilip Schuyler*1 year FederalistMichael Myers*3 years FederalistJacobus Van Schoonhoven*3 years Federalistelected to the Council of AppointmentJohn Frey*4 years FederalistStephen Van Rensselaer*4 years Federalist Employees Clerk: Abraham B. Bancker State Assembly Districts The City and County of Albany (7 seats) Columbia County (6 seats) Dutchess County (7 seats) Herkimer and Onondaga counties (1 seat) Kings County (1 seat) Montgomery County (4 seats) The City and County of New York (7 seats) Ontario County (1 seat) Orange County (3 seats) Otsego County (1 seat) Queens County (3 seats) Rensselaer County (5 seats) Richmond County (1 seat) Saratoga County (4 seats) Suffolk County (4 seats) Tioga County (1 seat) Ulster County (5 seats) Washington and Clinton counties (4 seats) Westchester County (5 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. Assemblymen The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature. David Pye changed from the Senate to the Assembly. County Assemblymen Party Notes AlbanyJohannes Dietz* FederalistLeonard Gansevoort Jr.Jacob Hochstrasser*Thomas Hun*William North* Federalistelected SpeakerStephen Platt*Andries Van Patten ColumbiaMatthew Adgate* Dem.-Rep.John Bay* Dem.-Rep.James Brebner*Philip L. HoffmanElisha Jenkins Dem.-Rep.Matthew Scott* DutchessSamuel A. Barker* FederalistJacob Bockée*?David Brooks* FederalistJesse Oakley*Jacob Radclift*It is unclear why this person is named "Radcliff", the Civil List of 1858 lists "Radclift" and he signed himself as such, see signature at his article on Wikipedia.Jacob SmithIsaac Van Wyck*Herkimer and OnondagaJedediah Sanger*KingsPeter Vandervoort* Federalist Montgomery Douw FondaFrederick Gettman*David McMastersSimon Veeder* New YorkNicholas CrugerJohn DeLancey*Richard Furman* FederalistJosiah Ogden Hoffman* FederalistJames M. HughesJotham Post Jr.* FederalistJames Watson* FederalistOntarioThomas Morris* Federalist Orange William AllisonJohn Hathorn Dem.-Rep.David Pye* Dem.-Rep.OtsegoJacob Morris Federalist QueensStephen CarmanSamuel Clowes*Nathaniel Lawrence Dem.-Rep.also New York Attorney General RensselaerJonathan Brown* Dem.-Rep.Daniel Gray FederalistBenjamin Hicks* FederalistHosea Moffitt* FederalistJacob C. SchermerhornRichmondLewis Ryerss SaratogaAdam Comstock* Dem.-Rep.Jabez DavisBeriah Palmer* Dem.-Rep.John B. Schuyler SuffolkJohn Gelston*Jonathan N. Havens* Dem.-Rep.elected in April 1794 to the 4th United States CongressJonathan N. Havens was re-elected in April 1794 to the State Assembly for a one-year term beginning on July 1, 1794; and elected to the 4th United States Congress in December 1794 for a two-year term beginning on March 4, 1795. Although the Legislature had pronounced the incompatibility of holding both seats concurrently, Havens could remain in the Assembly until the end of this session of the State Legislature because it ended about eight months before Congress actually met on December 7, 1795.Joshua Smith Jr.Isaac ThompsonTiogaVincent Mathews* Federalist Ulster(Severyn T. Bruyn) Dem.-Rep.died September 1794, before the Legislature metJohn C. DeWitt Dem.-Rep.Andrew McCord Dem.-Rep.Cornelius C. Schoonmaker Dem.-Rep.(Jacob W. Tremper) Dem.-Rep.died October 8, 1794, before the Legislature met Washington and ClintonSamuel Beman Jr.Benjamin Colvin*David Hopkins Dem.-Rep.Edward Savage Dem.-Rep. WestchesterThomas BowneEbenezer PurdyAbel Smith*Pierre Van Cortlandt Jr.* Dem.-Rep.Ebenezer White* Employees Clerk: Oliver L. Ker Doorkeeper: Richard Ten Eyck Notes Sources The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [see pg. 108 for Senate districts; pg. 115 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 168f for assemblymen] Election result Assembly, Dutchess Co. at project "A New Nation Votes", compiled by Phil Lampi, hosted by Tufts University Digital Library Election result Assembly, Rensselaer Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Ulster Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Westchester Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Category:1794 in New York (state) Category:1795 in New York (state) 018