6th New York State Legislature


The 6th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from July 8, 1782, to March 27, 1783, during the sixth year of George Clinton's governorship, first at Poughkeepsie, then at Kingston.

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 30 to May 2, 1782. Under the determination by the Constitutional Convention, senators Isaac Roosevelt and John Morin Scott, whose seats were up for election, continued in office, as well as the assemblymen from Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk counties. Jacob G. Klock and Abraham Yates Jr. were re-elected. William Allison was also elected to the Senate. Two members who had been expelled previously were elected again to the Senate: Ephraim Paine and Assemblyman John Williams

Sessions

The State Legislature met in Poughkeepsie, the seat of Dutchess County. The Senate met first on July 8, 1782, the Assembly on July 11; and they adjourned on July 25. On July 22, James Duane was appointed by the Assembly to fill the vacancy caused by the absence of Sir James Jay. The Legislature reconvened in Kingston, the seat of Ulster County, on January 27, 1783; and the Assembly adjourned on March 23, the Senate on March 27.

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. John Williams changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
DistrictSenatorsTerm leftNotes
SouthernJonathan Lawrence*1 yearholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention;
elected to the Council of Appointment
Southern*1 yearholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention;
did not attend
SouthernStephen Ward*1 yearappointed by State Assembly
SouthernWilliam Floyd*2 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
SouthernWilliam Smith*2 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
SouthernIsaac Stoutenburgh*2 yearsholding over on appointment by State Assembly
SouthernJames Duane3 yearsappointed by the State Assembly on July 22, 1782, to fill vacancy,
in place of Sir James Jay
SouthernIsaac Roosevelt*4 yearholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
Southern*4 yearholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention;
also Secretary of State of New York;
did not attend
MiddleThomas Palmer*1 year
MiddleZephaniah Platt*1 year
MiddleArthur Parks*2 years
MiddleJohn Haring*3 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
MiddleEphraim Paine3 yearselected to fill vacancy, in place of Levi Pawling
MiddleWilliam Allison4 years
Eastern*2 yearselected to the Council of Appointment;
did not attend
EasternAlexander Webster*3 years
EasternJohn Williams*4 years
WesternAbraham Ten Broeck*1 yearalso Mayor of Albany
WesternPhilip Schuyler*2 yearsalso New York State Surveyor General
WesternHenry Oothoudt*3 years
WesternWilliam B. Whiting*3 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
WesternJacob G. Klock*4 years
WesternAbraham Yates Jr.*4 years

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
AlbanyMatthew Adgate*
AlbanyJohn H. Beekman
AlbanyJohn Ja. Beekman
AlbanyJacob Ford*
AlbanyJohn Lansing Jr.*
AlbanyDirck Swart*
AlbanySamuel Ten Broeck*
AlbanyPeter Van Ness
AlbanyChristopher Yates
AlbanyJohn Younglove
CharlotteBenjamin Baker
CharlotteDavid Hopkins*
CharlotteHamilton McCollister*
CharlotteJoseph McCracken
CumberlandnoneNo election returns from these counties
GloucesternoneNo election returns from these counties
DutchessBenjamin Birdsall
DutchessJonathan Dennis*
DutchessCornelius Humfrey*
DutchessEbenezer Husted*
DutchessMatthew Patterson
DutchessThomas Storm*
DutchessJacobus Swartwout*
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;
re-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
OrangeJeremiah Clark*
OrangeGilbert Cooper
OrangeJohn Hathorn*
OrangeJohn Stagg*
QueensBenjamin Birdsall*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
QueensBenjamin Coe*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
QueensDaniel Lawrence*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention
QueensNathaniel Tom*holding over on appointment by State Senate
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
TryonZephaniah Batchelor*
TryonFrederick Fisher
TryonJohn Frey
TryonAndrew Finck Jr.
TryonChristian Nellis
TryonWilliam Petrie*
UlsterJohannes Bruyn*
UlsterCharles DeWitt*
UlsterJames Hunter*
UlsterWilliam Malcom
UlsterJohn Nicholson
UlsterCornelius C. Schoonmaker
WestchesterAbijah Gilbert*
WestchesterSamuel Haight
WestchesterJohn Laurance
WestchesterZebediah Mills*
WestchesterEbenezer Purdy
WestchesterThomas Thomas*

Employees