9th New York State Legislature


The 9th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 12 to May 5, 1786, during the ninth 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.
The 8th New York State Legislature adjourned on April 27, 1785. At this time, the Senate voted that the next Legislature meet at Kingston, New York on a day set by the governor. The Assembly voted to meet at a time and place to be determined by the governor, to which the Senate then agreed. On November 16, 1785, Governor Clinton called the Legislature to meet on January 6, 1786, at the Exchange in New York City.

Elections

The State election was held from April 26 to 28, 1785. Senator John Haring was re-elected; and Thomas Tredwell, Volkert P. Douw, Philip Schuyler, and Assemblymen David Hopkins and Cornelius Humfrey, were elected to the Senate.

Sessions

The State Legislature met at the Old Royal Exchange in New York City, the Assembly on January 12, the Senate on January 16, 1786; and both Houses adjourned on May 5.
When the Legislature eventually had assembled a quorum, Governor Clinton told them that, following the principle of Separation of Powers, the Governor could call the Legislature only for special sessions, but the Legislature should henceforth decide for themselves where and when to meet for the next ordinary session, and suggested to pass a law for this purpose. On March 13, 1786, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the first Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor. However, no general meeting place was determined, leaving it for the time being 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.

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. Cornelius Humfrey and David Hopkins changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
DistrictSenatorsTerm leftNotes
SouthernLewis Morris*1 yearelected to the Council of Appointment
SouthernIsaac Roosevelt*1 year
SouthernIsaac Stoutenburgh*2 years
SouthernSamuel Townsend*2 years
SouthernStephen Ward*2 years
SouthernWilliam Floyd*3 years
SouthernEzra L'Hommedieu*3 years
SouthernAlexander McDougall*3 yearsdied on June 9, 1786
SouthernThomas Tredwell4 years
MiddleWilliam Allison*1 year
MiddleJoseph Gasherie*2 years
MiddleJacobus Swartwout*2 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
MiddleArthur Parks*3 years
MiddleJohn Haring*4 years
Middle*4 yearsdid not attend
EasternJohn Williams*1 year
EasternEbenezer Russell*3 years
EasternDavid Hopkins*4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
Western*1 yeardid not attend
WesternAbraham Yates Jr.*1 year
WesternAndrew Finck*2 years
WesternPeter Van Ness*3 years
WesternVolkert P. Douw4 years
WesternPhilip Schuyler4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment

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
AlbanyLeonard Bronck
AlbanyHenry Glen
AlbanyJames Gordon
AlbanyLawrence Hogeboom
AlbanyJohn Lansing Jr.elected Speaker
AlbanyJohn Livingston
AlbanyJacobus Van Schoonhoven
AlbanyJohn Tayler
AlbanyAbraham J. Van Alstyne
AlbanyPeter Vrooman
CumberlandnoneNo election returns from these counties
GloucesternoneNo election returns from these counties
DutchessDirck Brinckerhoff*
DutchessJohn DeWitt
DutchessLewis DuBois
DutchessJacob Griffin
DutchessHenry Ludington
DutchessBrinton Paine*
DutchessMatthew Patterson*
KingsCharles Doughty*
KingsJohn Vanderbilt*
MontgomeryAbraham Arndt
MontgomeryJohn Frey
MontgomeryWilliam Harper*
MontgomeryJames Livingston*
MontgomeryAbraham Van Horne
MontgomeryVolkert Veeder*
New YorkEvert Bancker
New YorkRobert Boyd
New YorkWilliam Denning*
New YorkWilliam Duer
New YorkWilliam Goforth*
New YorkWilliam Malcom
New YorkIsaac Sears
New YorkJohn Stagg
New YorkRobert Troup
OrangeJohn Bradner
OrangeGilbert Cooper*
OrangeNathaniel Satterly
OrangeHenry Wisner III
QueensDaniel Duryee
QueensSamuel Jones
QueensDaniel Whitehead Kissam
QueensJames Townsend*
RichmondJohn C. Dongan
RichmondJoshua Mersereau*
SuffolkNathaniel Gardiner
SuffolkJohn Nicoll Havens
SuffolkDavid Hedges
SuffolkJeffrey Smith*
SuffolkThomas Youngs*
UlsterDavid Galatian
UlsterJoseph Hasbrouck
UlsterThomas Jansen
UlsterCornelius C. Schoonmaker*
UlsterNathan Smith*
UlsterJohannis Snyder
WashingtonAlbert Baker*
WashingtonJoseph McCracken
WashingtonIchabod Parker
WashingtonPeter B. Tierce
WestchesterSamuel Drake
WestchesterAbijah Gilbert*
WestchesterEbenezer Lockwood*
WestchesterPhilip Pell Jr.*
WestchesterThomas Thomas*
WestchesterJonathan G. Tompkins

Employees