17th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2026 October 2019 17th Old Albany City Hall.png The Old Albany City Hall, where the Legislature met again in 1794 undated July 1, 1793 June 30, 1794 Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt James Watson (Fed.) 24 70 Federalist (13-11) Federalist 1st January 7, 1794 March 27, 1794 16th 18th The 17th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to March 27, 1794, during the seventeenth year of George Clinton's governorship, in Albany. 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. State Senator Philip Van Cortlandt was elected in January 1793 to the 3rd United States Congress, leaving a vacancy in the Southern District. 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 30 to May 2, 1793. Senator John Cantine (Middle D.) was re-elected. Ezra L'Hommedieu (Southern D.), Jacobus Van Schoonhoven (Western D.), and Assemblymen Reuben Hopkins (Middle D.), Zina Hitchcock (Eastern D.) and Michael Myers (Western D.) were elected to full terms in the Senate. Matthew Clarkson was elected to fill the vacancy in the Southern District. Sessions The Legislature met at the Old City Hall in Albany on January 7; and adjourned on March 27, 1794. On January 7, 1794, John McKesson, Clerk of the Assembly since 1777, was voted out of office. Oliver L. Ker, of New York City, was elected with 37 votes against 21 for McKesson.Election for Clerk of the Assembly 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 and Tioga 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. Reuben Hopkins, Zina Hitchcock, Michael Myers changed from the Assembly to the Senate. District Senators Term left Party Notes SouthernDavid Gelston*1 year Dem.-Rep.also Surrogate of New York CountyMatthew Clarkson1 year Federalistelected to fill vacancy, in place of Philip Van CortlandtSamuel Jones*2 years Federalistalso Recorder of New York CityJoshua Sands*2 years FederalistHenry Cruger*3 years FederalistJohn Schenck*3 years Dem.-Rep.Selah Strong*3 years Federalistelected to the Council of AppointmentEzra L'Hommedieu4 years Federalist MiddleDavid Pye*1 year Dem.-Rep.Thomas Tillotson*2 years Dem.-Rep.Jacobus Swartwout*2 years Dem.-Rep.Joseph Hasbrouck*3 years Dem.-Rep.John Cantine*4 years Dem.-Rep.Reuben Hopkins*4 years Dem.-Rep.elected to the Council of Appointment EasternJohn Williams*1 year Dem.-Rep.elected in April 1794 to the 4th United States CongressWilliam Powers*2 years FederalistJohn Livingston*John Livingston, fifth son of Robert Livingston (1708–1790), 3rd Lord of the Manor3 years Dem.-Rep.Robert Woodworth*3 years Dem.-Rep.Zina Hitchcock*4 years Federalistelected to the Council of Appointment WesternJohn Frey*1 year FederalistStephen Van Rensselaer*1 year FederalistPhilip Schuyler*2 years Federalistelected to the Council of AppointmentMichael Myers*4 years FederalistJacobus Van Schoonhoven4 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 County (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. County Assemblymen Party Notes AlbanyJohannes Dietz* FederalistJellis A. Fonda* FederalistTheodorus V. W. GrahamJacob HochstrasserThomas HunWilliam North FederalistStephen Platt ColumbiaMatthew Adgate* Dem.-Rep.John Bay Dem.-Rep.James BrebnerDirck GardinerMatthew ScottAmbrose Spencer Federalist DutchessSamuel A. Barker FederalistJames Bockéeor Jacob BockéeDavid Brooks FederalistJohn DeWittJesse OakleyJacob RadcliftIt 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.Isaac Van WyckHerkimerJedediah Sanger FederalistKingsPeter Vandervoort Federalist Montgomery Jacob Eaker*Frederick GettmanJohn McArthurSimon Veeder* New YorkRobert BoydJohn DeLancey*Richard Furman FederalistJosiah Ogden Hoffman* FederalistJotham Post Jr. FederalistJames Watson Federalistelected SpeakerWilliam WillcocksOntarioThomas Morris Federalist Orange John D. Coe Dem.-Rep.Seth MarvinJohn WheelerOtsegoBenjamin Gilbert Federalist QueensSamuel Clowes*Harry Peters FederalistSamuel Youngs RensselaerJonathan BrownBenjamin Hicks* FederalistHosea Moffitt FederalistJonas OdelThomas Sickles Dem.-Rep.RichmondGozen Ryerss* Federalist SaratogaJohn BallAdam Comstock* Dem.-Rep.John McClellandBeriah Palmer* Dem.-Rep. SuffolkJohn Gelston*Jonathan N. Havens* Dem.-Rep.elected in April 1794 to the 4th United States CongressJohn Smith* Dem.-Rep.Joshua Smith Jr.TiogaVincent Mathews Federalist UlsterCornelius Bruyn FederalistConrad E. Elmendorf FederalistEbenezer Foote FederalistJohannes Miller FederalistJames Oliver Federalist Washington and ClintonBenjamin ColvinPhilip SmithDavid Thomas Dem.-Rep.William Whiteside WestchesterRichard Hatfield* FederalistElias Newman*Abel SmithPierre Van Cortlandt Jr. Dem.-Rep.Ebenezer White Employees Clerk: Oliver L. Ker Sergeant-at-Arms: Robert Hunter Doorkeeper: Jacob Kidney 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. 167f for assemblymen] Election result Assembly, Albany Co. at project "A New Nation Votes", compiled by Phil Lampi, hosted by Tufts University Digital Library Election result Assembly, Dutchess Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Kings Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Montgomery Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Orange Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Otsego Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Rensselaer Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Richmond Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Saratoga Co. at project "A New Nation Votes" Election result Assembly, Suffolk 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:1793 in New York (state) Category:1794 in New York (state) 018