10th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2026 October 2019 10th The-Old-Royal-Exchange-building.jpg The Old Royal Exchange, in New York City, where the Legislature met from 1785 to 1787. undated July 1, 1786 June 30, 1787 Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt Richard Varick 24 70 (de facto 65) 1st January 12, 1787 April 21, 1787 9th 11th The 10th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 12 to April 21, 1787, during the tenth 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. 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. Elections The State election was held from April 25 to 27, 1786. Gov. George Clinton and Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt were re-elected to a fourth term. Senators Lewis Morris (Southern D.), John Williams (Eastern D.) and Abraham Yates Jr. (Western D.) were re-elected; and John Hathorn (Middle D.), Peter Schuyler (Western D.) and Assemblyman John Vanderbilt (Southern D.), were elected to the Senate. Sessions The State Legislature was to meet on January 2, 1787, at the Old Royal Exchange in New York City, but the Assembly first assembled a quorum on January 12, the Senate on January 13; both Houses adjourned on April 21, 1787. 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 Washington, Cumberland and Gloucester counties. The Western District (6 seats) consisted of Albany and Montgomery 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. John Vanderbilt changed from the Assembly to the Senate. District Senators Term left Notes SouthernIsaac Stoutenburgh*1 yearSamuel Townsend*1 yearStephen Ward*1 yearWilliam Floyd*2 yearselected to the Council of AppointmentEzra L'Hommedieu*2 yearsvacant2 yearsAlexander McDougall died on June 9, 1786.Thomas Tredwell*3 yearsLewis Morris*4 yearsJohn Vanderbilt*4 years MiddleJoseph Gasherie*1 yearJacobus Swartwout*1 yearArthur Parks*2 yearsJohn Haring*3 yearsCornelius Humfrey*3 yearsJohn Hathorn4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment EasternEbenezer Russell*2 yearselected to the Council of AppointmentDavid Hopkins* 3 yearsJohn Williams*4 years WesternAndrew Finck*1 yearPeter Van Ness*2 yearsVolkert P. Douw*3 yearsPhilip Schuyler*3 yearsPeter Schuyler4 yearselected to the Council of AppointmentAbraham Yates Jr.*4 years Employees Clerk: Abraham B. Bancker State Assembly Districts The City and County of Albany (10 seats) Cumberland County (3 seats) Dutchess County (7 seats) Gloucester County (2 seats) Kings County (2 seats) Montgomery County) (6 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) Ulster County (6 seats) Washington County (4 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. Assemblymen The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature. County Assemblymen Notes AlbanyLeonard Bronck*Henry Glen*James Gordon*John Lansing Jr.*also Mayor of AlbanyJohn Livingston*William PowersThomas SicklesJohn Tayler*Matthew VisscherPeter Vrooman*Cumberland 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 Secretary of State of New York in 1786.Gloucester Dutchess Dirck Brinckerhoff*John DeWitt Jr.Lewis DuBois*Jacob Griffin*Henry Ludington*Brinton Paine*Matthew Patterson* KingsCharles Doughty*Cornelius Wyckoff Montgomery Zephaniah Batchelor James CannonJosiah CraneJohn Frey*William Harper*James Livingston* New YorkEvert Bancker*Nicholas BayardDavid BrooksWilliam Denning*Alexander HamiltonRobert C. LivingstonWilliam Malcom*John RayRichard Varickelected Speaker; also Recorder of New York City Orange Robert ArmstrongJeremiah ClarkGilbert Cooper* Peter Taulman QueensSamuel Jones*John SchenckRichard ThorneJames Townsend* RichmondJohn C. Dongan*Thomas Frost SuffolkJonathan N. HavensDavid Hedges*Daniel OsbornCaleb SmithJohn Smith Ulster John CantineEbenezer ClarkDavid Galatian*Cornelius C. Schoonmaker*Nathan Smith*Johannis Snyder* WashingtonAdam Martin Ichabod Parker*Edward SavagePeter B. Tierce* WestchesterEbenezer Lockwood*Ebenezer PurdyNathan RockwellJoseph StrangThomas Thomas*Jonathan G. Tompkins* Employees Clerk: John McKesson Notes Sources The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [see pg. 108 for Senate districts; pg. 113 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 163 for assemblymen] Category:1786 in New York (state) Category:1787 in New York (state) 010