3rd New York State Legislature


The 3rd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from August 18, 1779, to July 2, 1780, during the third year of George Clinton's governorship, first at Kingston, then at Albany, and finally at Kingston again.

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.
On May 8, 1777, the Constitutional Convention had 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.

Elections

The State elections were held from April 27 to 29, 1779. Under the determination by the Constitutional Convention, the senators Jonathan Lawrence, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, whose seats were up for election, continued in office, as well as the assemblymen from Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk counties. Zephaniah Platt was re-elected. Ephraim Paine and Abraham Ten Broeck were also elected to the Senate. In the Eastern District, a special election was held to fill the vacancy caused by the expulsion of John Williams, and Assemblyman Elishama Tozer was elected to a one-year term.

Sessions

The State Legislature met first in Kingston, the seat of Ulster County. The Assembly met on August 18, the Senate on August 24, 1779; and both adjourned on October 25. The Legislature reconvened at the Old City Hall in Albany, the seat of Albany County, on January 27, 1780; and the Senate adjourned on March 14, the Assembly on March 17. The Legislature reconvened again in Kingston on April 22, and adjourned finally on July 2. Senator Richard Morris was appointed Chief Judge of the New York Supreme Court, and thus vacated his seat to which Ex-Assemblyman Stephen Ward was appointed.

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. In 1784, Charlotte Co. was renamed Washington Co., and Tryon Co. was renamed Montgomery Co.

Senators

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Elishama Tozer changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
DistrictSenatorsTerm leftNotes
SouthernWilliam Floyd*1 yearappointed by Constitutional Convention
SouthernWilliam Smith*1 yearappointed by Constitutional Convention
SouthernIsaac Stoutenburgh*1 yearappointed by State Assembly
SouthernSir James Jay*2 yearsappointed by State Assembly
SouthernIsaac Roosevelt*3 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention;
elected to the Council of Appointment
SouthernJohn Morin Scott*3 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention;
also Secretary of State of New York
SouthernJonathan Lawrence*4 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
SouthernLewis Morris*4 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
SouthernRichard Morris*4 yearsholding over on appointment by State Assembly;
appointed Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court on October 23, 1779
SouthernStephen Ward4 yearsappointed by the State Assembly on February 15, 1780, in place of Richard Morris
MiddleArthur Parks*1 year
MiddleLevi Pawling*2 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
MiddleJesse Woodhull*2 years
MiddleHenry Wisner*3 years
MiddleEphraim Paine4 years
MiddleZephaniah Platt*4 years
EasternElishama Tozer*1 yearelected to fill vacancy, in place of John Williams;
attended only the 3rd session
EasternAlexander Webster*2 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
Eastern*3 yearsdid not attend
WesternAnthony Van Schaick*1 year
WesternJellis Fonda*2 years
WesternRinier Mynderse*2 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
WesternJacob G. Klock*3 years
WesternAbraham Yates Jr.*3 years
WesternAbraham Ten Broeck4 yearsalso Mayor of Albany

Employees

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. In 1784, Charlotte Co. was renamed Washington Co., and Tryon Co. was renamed Montgomery Co.

Assemblymen

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.
CountyAssemblymenNotes
AlbanyFlores Bancker
AlbanyJohn Bay
AlbanyJames Gordon*
AlbanyCornelius Humfrey
AlbanyHugh Mitchell
AlbanyHenry Oothoudt
AlbanyHenry Quackenbos
AlbanyIsaac Vrooman
AlbanyWilliam B. Whiting*
AlbanyPhinehas Whiteside
CharlotteAlbert Baker*
CharlotteJohn Grover
CharlotteDavid Hopkins*
CharlotteNoah Payn
CumberlandElkanah Dayattended "only a few days at the beginning of the session"
CumberlandJohn Sessions
CumberlandMicah Townsenddid not attend the 3rd session
DutchessEgbert Benson*also New York State Attorney General
DutchessDirck Brinckerhoff*
DutchessAnanias Cooper
DutchessSamuel Dodge*
DutchessHenry Ludington
DutchessBrinton Paine
DutchessNathaniel Sacket
GloucesternoneNo election returns from this county
KingsWilliam Boerum*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
KingsHenry Williams*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
New YorkEvert Bancker*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention;
elected Speaker
New YorkJohn Berrien*holding over on appointment by the State Senate
New YorkAbraham Brasher*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
New YorkDaniel Dunscomb*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
New YorkRobert Harpur*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
New YorkFrederick Jay*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
New YorkAbraham P. Lott*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
New YorkJacobus Van Zandt*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
New YorkPeter P. Van Zandt*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
OrangeJohn Coe
OrangeJohn Hathorn
OrangeThomas Moffat
OrangeBezaleel Seely Jr.
QueensBenjamin Birdsall*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
QueensBenjamin Coe*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
QueensPhilip Edsall*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
QueensDaniel Lawrence*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
RichmondJoshua Mersereau*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
Richmondvacant
SuffolkDavid Gelston*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
SuffolkEzra L'Hommedieu*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
SuffolkBurnet Miller*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
SuffolkThomas Tredwell*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
SuffolkThomas Wickes*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
TryonAbraham Copeman
TryonPeter S. Deygart
TryonFrederick Fox
TryonJacob Gardenier
TryonMelkert Van Deuzen
TryonPeter Waggoner Jr.
UlsterRobert Boyd Jr.
UlsterJohn Cantine
UlsterJohannes G. Hardenbergh
UlsterThomas Palmer
UlsterCornelius C. Schoonmaker*
UlsterNathan Smith*
WestchesterSamuel Drake
WestchesterAbijah Gilbert
WestchesterZebediah Mills*
WestchesterWilliam Paulding
WestchesterPhilip Pell Jr.
WestchesterEbenezer Purdy

Employees