19th New York State Legislature


The 19th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6 to April 11, 1796, during the first year of John Jay's governorship, 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.
On February 7, 1791, the Legislature had re-apportioned the Senate and Assembly districts, according to the figures of the 1790 United States Census.
Matthew Clarkson resigned, leaving a vacancy in the Southern District; and John Williams was elected to Congress, leaving a vacancy in the Eastern District.
At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.

Elections

The State election was held from April 28 to 30, 1795. U.S. Chief Justice John Jay was elected Governor; and State Senator Stephen Van Rensselaer was elected Lieutenant Governor; both were Federalists.
Senators Samuel Jones, Joshua Sands, Thomas Tillotson and Philip Schuyler were re-elected. Abraham Schenck and Ebenezer Russell were also elected to full terms in the Senate. Philip Livingston and Ambrose Spencer were elected to fill the vacancies.

Sessions

The Legislature was to meet at Federal Hall in New York City on January 5, 1796, but assembled a quorum only the next day. Both Houses adjourned on April 11.
William North was re-elected Speaker with a vote of 29 against 18 for James Watson; both were Federalists.
On February 12, 1796, the Legislature divided the State into seven districts, in each of which an Assistant Attorney General was to be the principal prosecuting officer, instead of the Attorney General and his deputy who had prosecuted statewide. The Attorney General continued to prosecute personally in New York City; the original Assistant Attorneys General appointed were: Nathaniel Lawrence, Jacob Radcliff, Ambrose Spencer, Anthony I. Blanchard, Abraham Van Vechten, William Stuart and Thomas R. Gold.
On March 4, 1796, the Legislature re-apportioned the Senate and Assembly districts, based on the figures of the New York State Census of 1795. The number of State Senators was increased from 24 to 43; the number of assemblymen was increased from 70 to 108; the two-county Assembly districts were dismembered, and several new counties were created.

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.

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature.
DistrictSenatorsTerm leftPartyNotes
SouthernHenry Cruger*1 yearFederalist
SouthernJohn Schenck*1 yearDem.-Rep.
SouthernSelah Strong*1 yearFederalist
SouthernEzra L'Hommedieu*2 yearsFederalist
SouthernPhilip Livingston3 yearsFederalistelected to fill vacancy, in place of Matthew Clarkson
SouthernRichard Hatfield*3 yearsFederalist
SouthernSamuel Jones*4 yearsFederalistalso Recorder of New York City
SouthernJoshua Sands*4 yearsFederalistelected to the Council of Appointment
MiddleJoseph Hasbrouck*1 yearDem.-Rep.
MiddleJohn Cantine*2 yearsDem.-Rep.
MiddleReuben Hopkins*2 yearsDem.-Rep.
MiddleJohn D. Coe*3 yearsDem.-Rep.
MiddleAbraham Schenck4 yearsDem.-Rep.elected to the Council of Appointment
MiddleThomas Tillotson*4 yearsDem.-Rep.
EasternJohn Livingston*1 yearDem.-Rep.
EasternRobert Woodworth*1 yearDem.-Rep.
EasternZina Hitchcock*2 yearsFederalist
EasternAmbrose Spencer3 yearsFederalistelected to fill vacancy, in place of John Williams;
from February 23, 1796, also Assistant Attorney General
EasternEbenezer Russell4 yearsFederalistelected to the Council of Appointment
WesternMichael Myers*2 yearsFederalistelected to the Council of Appointment
WesternJacobus Van Schoonhoven*2 yearsFederalist
WesternJohn Frey*3 yearsFederalist
Westernvacant3 yearsStephen Van Rensselaer was elected Lt. Gov.
WesternPhilip Schuyler*4 yearsFederalist

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.
CountyAssemblymenPartyNotes
Albany and
Schoharie		Gerrit Abeel
Albany and
Schoharie		Leonard BronckFederalist
Albany and
Schoharie		Johannes Dietz*Federalist
Albany and
Schoharie		Jacob Hochstrasser*
Albany and
Schoharie		Francis NicollFederalist
Albany and
Schoharie		William North*Federalistre-elected Speaker
Albany and
Schoharie		Dirck Ten BroeckFederalist
ColumbiaBenjamin Birdsall
ColumbiaJames Brebner*
ColumbiaPatrick Hamilton
ColumbiaStephen Hogeboom
ColumbiaPhilip L. HoffmanDem.-Rep.
ColumbiaSamuel Ten Broeck
DutchessDavid Brooks*Federalist
DutchessRichard Davis
DutchessJesse Oakley*Federalist
DutchessJacob Smith*
DutchessSolomon Sutherland
DutchessJesse ThompsonFederalist
DutchessIsaac Van Wyck*
Herkimer and
Onondaga		Jonas PlattFederalist
KingsPeter Vandervoort*Federalist
MontgomeryDavid Cady
MontgomeryLewis Dubois
MontgomeryFrederick Gettman*Federalist
MontgomeryDaniel Mills
New YorkGabriel FurmanFederalist
New YorkRichard Furman*Federalist
New YorkAlexander LambDem.-Rep.
New YorkJacob MortonFederalist
New YorkJotham Post Jr.*Federalist
New YorkWilliam P. SmithFederalist
New YorkJames Watson*Federalist
OntarioThomas Morris*Federalist
OrangeSeth Marvin
OrangeDavid Pye*Dem.-Rep.
OrangeJames W. WilkinDem.-Rep.
OtsegoJacob Morris*Federalist
QueensStephen Carman*Federalist
QueensSamuel Clowes*
QueensNathaniel Lawrence*Dem.-Rep.from February 16, 1796, also Assistant Attorney General
RensselaerJohn BirdFederalist
RensselaerDaniel Gray*Federalist
RensselaerRowland HallFederalist
RensselaerBenjamin Hicks*Federalist
RensselaerJohn Knickerbacker Jr.Federalist
RichmondLewis Ryerss*
SaratogaJohn Bleecker
SaratogaAdam Comstock*Dem.-Rep.
SaratogaJohn McClelland
SaratogaElias Palmer
SuffolkJared Landon
SuffolkAbraham Miller
SuffolkJoshua Smith Jr.*
SuffolkSilas WoodFederalist
TiogaEmanuel CoryellFederalist
UlsterJohn AddisonDem.-Rep.
UlsterPhilip D. BevierDem.-Rep.
UlsterEbenezer FooteFederalist
UlsterAndrew McCordDem.-Rep.
UlsterJames OliverFederalist
Washington
and Clinton		David Hopkins*Dem.-Rep.
Washington
and Clinton		Timothy Leonard
Washington
and Clinton		Edward Savage*Dem.-Rep.
Washington
and Clinton		Thomas Smith
WestchesterJoseph CarpenterFederalist
WestchesterMordecai HaleFederalist
WestchesterElias Newman
WestchesterAbel Smith*
WestchesterCharles TeedFederalist

Employees