8th New York State Legislature


The 8th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from October 12, 1784, to April 27, 1785, during the eighth year of George Clinton's governorship, at 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.

Elections

The State election was held from April 27 to 29, 1784. Senators William Floyd, Ezra L'Hommedieu, Alexander McDougall, and Arthur Parks were re-elected; and Assemblyman Peter Van Ness was elected to the Senate.

Sessions

The State Legislature first met at the Old City Hall in New York City, the Assembly on October 12, the Senate on October 18, 1784; and both Houses adjourned on November 29. In January 1785, the Congress of the Confederation met at the Old City Hall, New York City thus becoming the federal capital of the United States. When the Legislature met again, it moved to the Exchange on the corner of Broad and Water streets in New York City; the Senate met on January 24, the Assembly on January 27, 1785; and both Houses adjourned on April 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.

Senators

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Ebenezer Russell and Peter Van Ness changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
DistrictSenatorsTerm leftNotes
SouthernJames Duane*1 yearalso Mayor of New York City
SouthernLewis Morris*2 years
SouthernIsaac Roosevelt*2 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
SouthernIsaac Stoutenburgh*3 years
SouthernSamuel Townsend*3 years
SouthernStephen Ward*3 years
SouthernWilliam Floyd*4 years
SouthernEzra L'Hommedieu*4 years
SouthernAlexander McDougall*4 years
MiddleJohn Haring*1 year
MiddleEphraim Paine*1 year
MiddleWilliam Allison*2 years
MiddleJoseph Gasherie*3 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
MiddleJacobus Swartwout*3 years
MiddleArthur Parks*4 years
EasternAlexander Webster*1 year
EasternJohn Williams*2 years
EasternEbenezer Russell*4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
WesternHenry Oothoudt*1 year
WesternWilliam B. Whiting*1 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
WesternJacob G. Klock*2 years
WesternAbraham Yates Jr.*2 years
WesternAndrew Finck*3 years
WesternPeter Van Ness*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.

Assemblymen

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.
CountyAssemblymenNotes
AlbanyMatthew Adgate*
AlbanyAbraham Becker*
AlbanyJacob Ford*
AlbanyWalter Livingston
AlbanyDirck Swart*
AlbanyIsrael Thompson
AlbanyMatthew Visscher
AlbanyChristopher Yates*
AlbanyPeter W. Yates
AlbanyJohn Younglove
CumberlandnoneNo election returns from these counties
GloucesternoneNo election returns from these counties
DutchessAbraham Brinckerhoff
DutchessDirck Brinckerhoff*
DutchessEbenezer Cary
DutchessCornelius Humfrey*
DutchessBrinton Paine
DutchessMatthew Patterson*
DutchessJames Tallmadge
KingsCharles Doughty
KingsJohn Vanderbilt
MontgomeryFrederick C. Fox
MontgomeryWilliam Harper*
MontgomeryJames Livingston*
MontgomeryIsaac Paris*
MontgomeryVolkert Veeder*
MontgomeryChristopher P. Yates*
New YorkAaron Burr
New YorkWilliam Denning
New YorkDaniel Dunscomb
New YorkWilliam Goforth
New YorkJohn Laurancepreviously a member from Westchester Co.
New YorkPeter Van Brugh Livingston
New YorkThomas Randall
New YorkHenry Remsen
New YorkComfort Sands
OrangeJeremiah Clark*
OrangeGilbert Cooper*
OrangeJohn Hathorn*
OrangeWilliam Sickles*
QueensJoseph Lawrence
QueensJohn Sands
QueensAbraham Skinner
QueensJames Townsend*
RichmondCornelius Corsen
RichmondJoshua Mersereau
SuffolkDavid Gelston*elected Speaker
SuffolkEbenezer Platt*
SuffolkJeffrey Smith*
SuffolkJohn Smith
SuffolkThomas Youngs*
UlsterJohn Cantine*
UlsterCharles DeWitt*
UlsterJohannes G. Hardenbergh
UlsterJohn Nicholson*
UlsterCornelius C. Schoonmaker*
UlsterNathan Smith*
WashingtonAlbert Baker
WashingtonDavid Hopkins*
WashingtonEdward Savage*
WashingtonAbiel Sherwood
WestchesterEbenezer S. Burling
WestchesterAbijah Gilbert*
WestchesterEbenezer Lockwood
WestchesterPhilip Pell Jr.*
WestchesterEbenezer Purdy*
WestchesterThomas Thomas*

Employees