Recorder of New York City


The Recorder of New York City was a municipal officer of New York City from 1683 until 1907. He was at times a judge of the Court of General Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, and the New York Court of Common Pleas; Vice-President of the Board of Supervisors of New York County; Vice-President of the Board of Aldermen of New York City; Deputy Mayor of New York City; a director of the Bank of the Manhattan Company; a commissioner of the city's Sinking fund; a commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Board; and sat on the boards of many charitable organizations. The Recorder was not a recorder of deeds, these were kept by the Register of New York City.

History

The first recorders were appointed by the colonial governor, and held the office "during the Governor's pleasure", meaning that there was no defined term of office.
Under the State Constitution of 1777, the recorder was appointed by the Council of Appointment, and held the office "during the Council's pleasure", there being still no defined term of office.
From 1787 to 1875, the recorder was also a member of the Board of Supervisors of the County of New York, which consisted of the mayor, the recorder and the aldermen of New York City. In the absence of the mayor, the recorder presided over the Board.
Under the State Constitution of 1821, the recorder was appointed by the Governor of New York, and confirmed by the New York State Senate, and held the office until the appointment of a successor.
On December 15, 1847, the City Charter was amended, providing for the election of the recorder by popular ballot at the same time of the general elections, to take office on January 1 next for a term of three years.
In 1857, when the New York Metropolitan Police was created, the recorder became one of the commissioners of the Police Board.
The recorder's term was extended to six years during John K. Hackett's first term. After the adoption of the "Judicial Article" in 1869, the Recorder was not considered a municipal officer any more, but a judicial officer. He ceased to be a member of the Board of Supervisors, and his term was extended to 14 years, to match the term length of the other judges and justices of the New York courts.
The recorder remained one of the judges of the Court of General Sessions until the office was abolished in 1907.

List of Recorders

RecorderTook officeLeft officePartyNotes
James Graham16831689?Attorney General of Province of New York, 1685
1689?1691?
William Pinhorne16911693New York Supreme Court judge, 1691. New Jersey Supreme Court judge, c.1698. C-in-C New Jersey, 1709.
James Graham16931701Attorney General of Province of New York, 1685
Abraham Gouverneur17011703
Sampson Shelton Broughton17031705Attorney General of Province of New York, 1701
John Tudor17051709
May Bickley17091712also acting Attorney General of Province of New York, 1708–12
David Jamison17121725acting Attorney General of Province of New York, 1712
Francis Harison17251735
Daniel Horsmanden17361747also Supreme Court judge, 1737-1747. Chief Justice, 1763.
Simon Johnson17471769
Thomas JonesNovember 19, 1769October 13, 1773
Robert R. LivingstonOctober 13, 17731774Supreme Court judge, 1763
John Watts1774February 20, 1784last recorder appointed by the colonial governor, remained in office until the capture of New York City by the revolutionary forces
Richard VarickFebruary 20, 1784September 29, 1789in 1787 and 1788 also Speaker of the New York State Assembly, and from April 1788 to September 1789 also New York State Attorney General; left both offices upon appointment as Mayor of New York City
Samuel JonesSeptember 29, 1789March 28, 1797Federalistappointed New York State Comptroller
James KentMarch 28, 1797February 15, 1798Federalistappointed to the New York Supreme Court
Richard HarisonFebruary 15, 1798August 25, 1801Federalistalso United States Attorney for the District of New York from 1789 to 1801
John B. PrevostAugust 25, 1801November 10, 1804Dem.-Rep.appointed to the Superior Court of the Territory of Orleans
Maturin LivingstonNovember 10, 1804March 26, 1806Dem.-Rep./Lewisite
Pierre C. Van WyckMarch 26, 1806February 16, 1807Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
Maturin LivingstonFebruary 16, 1807February 8, 1808Dem.-Rep./Lewisitesecond tenure
Pierre C. Van WyckFebruary 8, 1808February 13, 1810Dem.-Rep./Clintoniansecond tenure
Josiah Ogden HoffmanFebruary 13, 1810February 19, 1811Federalist
Pierre C. Van WyckFebruary 19, 1811February 8, 1813Dem.-Rep./Clintonianthird tenure
Josiah Ogden HoffmanFebruary 8, 1813March 6, 1815Federalistsecond tenure
Richard RikerMarch 6, 1815April 6, 1819Dem.-Rep./Clintonian;
Dem.-Rep./Bucktail
Peter A. JayApril 6, 1819March 6, 1821Federalist
Richard RikerMarch 6, 18211823Dem.-Rep./Bucktailsecond tenure
Samuel Jones18231824son of the previous Recorder of the same name
Richard Riker18241838Dem.-Rep./Bucktail;
Democrat		third tenure
Robert H. Morris18381841Democratremoved from office by Gov. William H. Seward, but elected Mayor of New York City
Frederick Augustus Tallmadge18411846Whig
John B. Scott1846December 31, 1848Democrat
Frederick Augustus TallmadgeJanuary 1, 1849December 31, 1851Whigsecond tenure; first recorder elected by popular ballot
Francis R. TillouJanuary 1, 1852December 31, 1854Democrat
James M. Smith, Jr.January 1, 1855December 31, 1857Democrat
George G. BarnardJanuary 1, 1858December 31, 1860Democrat
John T. HoffmanJanuary 1, 1861December 31, 1865Democratelected Mayor of New York City during his second term
John K. HackettMarch 6, 1866December 26, 1879Democratelected by the Board of Supervisors to fill vacancy; then elected as a Democrat to two terms ; in 1875 elected on Republican and Anti-Tammany tickets; died in office
Frederick SmythDecember 31, 18791894Democratelected by the Board of Supervisors to fill vacancy; in 1880 elected to full 14-year term
John W. GoffJanuary 1, 1895December 31, 1906Goff was an Anti-Tammany Democrat, elected on a fusion ticket nominated by numerous organizations, including the Republicanselected to the New York Supreme Court
Francis S. McAvoyJanuary 22, 1907December 31, 1907Democratelected by the Board of Aldermen, to fill vacancy; office abolished