20th New York State Legislature
# 20th New York State Legislature

The 20th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from November 1, 1796, to April 3, 1797, during the second year of John Jay's governorship, first in New York City, then in Albany.

## 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 July 1, 1795, Stephen Van Rensselaer took office as Lieutenant Governor of New York, leaving a vacancy in the Western District.

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, adding 1 to the Southern D.; and 6 each to the other three districts. The number of assemblymen was increased from 70 to 108, double-county districts were separated, and several new counties were created.

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 26 to 28, 1796. Senator Selah Strong (Southern D.) was re-elected. Assemblymen James Watson (Southern D.), Thomas Morris, Johannes Dietz, Jacob Morris, Leonard Bronck and Francis Nicoll (all five Western D.) were elected to the Senate. Samuel Haight, Andrew Onderdonk (both Southern D.), Robert Sands, Christopher Tappen, William Thompson (all three Middle D.), Ebenezer Clark, Moses Vail, James Savage, Peter Silvester, Anthony Ten Eyck (all five Eastern D.), Jedediah Sanger, James Gordon, Leonard Gansevoort, Thomas R. Gold, John Richardson, Vincent Mathews, Joseph White and Abraham Arndt (all eight Western D.) were also elected to the Senate. All, except Christopher Tappen, were Federalists.

Upon taking their seats, the new senators were classified: Ebenezer Clark, Anthony Ten Eyck, Thomas Morris and John Richardson drew 1-year terms; James Watson, Leonard Gansevoort, Francis Nicoll, Abraham Arndt, Johannes Dietz and Thomas R. Gold drew 2-year terms; Christopher Tappen, Moses Vail, Vincent Mathews and Joseph White drew 3-year terms; and Samuel Haight, Andrew Onderdonk, Selah Strong, Robert Sands, James Savage, Peter Silvester, William Thompson, Leonard Bronck, Jacob Morris, James Gordon and Jedediah Sanger drew 4-year terms.

## Sessions

The Legislature met at Federal Hall in New York City on November 1, 1796, to elect presidential electors, and both Houses adjourned on November 11. This was the last session not held in Albany.

Federalist Gulian Verplanck was elected Speaker.

To balance the representation of the senatorial districts, the re-apportionment was amended, transferring Columbia Co. from the Eastern to the Middle District; and Albany and Saratoga counties from the Western to the Eastern D. Thus senators Spencer, Savage and Silvester moved from the Eastern to the Middle; and Bronck, Gansevoort, Gordon, Nicoll, Schuyler and Van Schoonhoven from the Western to the Eastern District.

On November 7, 1796, the Legislature elected 12 presidential electors, all Federalists: Lewis Morris, Abijah Hammond, Richard Thorne, Peter Cantine Jr., Robert Van Rensselaer, Johannes Miller, Abraham Ten Broeck, Abraham Van Vechten, St. John Honeywood, William Root, Peter Smith and Charles Newkirk. They cast their votes for John Adams and Thomas Pinckney.

On November 9, 1796, the Legislature elected U.S. District Judge John Laurance to the U.S. Senate, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Rufus King.

The Legislature met for the regular session on January 3, 1797, at the Old City Hall in Albany, New York; and both Houses adjourned on April 3.

On January 24, 1797, the Legislature elected Senator Philip Schuyler to the U.S. Senate, to succeed Aaron Burr, for a 6-year term beginning on March 4, 1797.

Among the legislative acts of this session were: the declaration of Albany as the State capital, and plans to build a State capitol; the creation of the office of New York State Comptroller; and the creation of Delaware County, with 2 seats in the Assembly.

## State Senate

### Districts

* The Southern District (9 seats) consisted of Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties.
* The Middle District (12 seats) consisted of Dutchess, Orange, Ulster and Columbia counties.
* The Eastern District (11 seats) consisted of Washington, Clinton, Rensselaer, Albany and Saratoga counties.
* The Western District (11 seats) consisted of Montgomery, Herkimer, Ontario, Otsego, Tioga, Onondaga and Schoharie counties.

### Members

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. James Watson, Leonard Bronck, Francis Nicoll, Johannes Dietz, Jacob Morris and Thomas Morris changed from the Assembly to the Senate.

| District | Senators | Term left | Party | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Southern | Ezra L'Hommedieu* | 1 year | Federalist | |
| Southern | Richard Hatfield* | 2 years | Federalist | |
| Southern | Philip Livingston* | 2 years | Federalist | |
| Southern | James Watson* | 2 years | Federalist | |
| Southern | Samuel Jones* | 3 years | Federalist | until March 15, 1797, also Recorder of New York City, from March 15, 1797, also New York State Comptroller |
| Southern | Joshua Sands* | 3 years | Federalist | vacated his seat on April 26, 1797, upon appointment as Collector of the Port of New York |
| Southern | Samuel Haight | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Southern | Andrew Onderdonk | 4 years | Federalist | elected to the Council of Appointment |
| Southern | Selah Strong* | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Middle | John Cantine* | 1 year | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Middle | Reuben Hopkins* | 1 year | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Middle | vacant | 1 year | | |
| Middle | John D. Coe* | 2 years | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Middle | Ambrose Spencer* | 2 years | Federalist | also Assistant Attorney General (3rd D.); Spencer lived in Columbia Co., and had been elected in the old Eastern D. in 1795; elected to the Council of Appointment |
| Middle | Abraham Schenck* | 3 years | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Middle | Christopher Tappen | 3 years | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Middle | Thomas Tillotson* | 3 years | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Middle | Robert Sands | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Middle | James Savage | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Middle | Peter Silvester | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Middle | William Thompson | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Eastern | Ebenezer Clark | 1 year | Federalist | |
| Eastern | Zina Hitchcock* | 1 year | Federalist | |
| Eastern | Anthony Ten Eyck | 1 year | Federalist | |
| Eastern | Jacobus Van Schoonhoven* | 1 year | Federalist | Van Schoonhoven lived in Saratoga Co., and had been elected in the old Western D. in 1793 |
| Eastern | Leonard Gansevoort | 2 years | Federalist | elected to the Council of Appointment |
| Eastern | Francis Nicoll* | 2 years | Federalist | |
| Eastern | Ebenezer Russell* | 3 years | Federalist | |
| Eastern | Philip Schuyler* | 3 years | Federalist | Schuyler lived in Albany Co., and had been elected in the old Western D. in 1795; elected on January 24, 1797, to the U.S. Senate |
| Eastern | Moses Vail | 3 years | Federalist | |
| Eastern | Leonard Bronck* | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Eastern | James Gordon | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Western | Thomas Morris* | 1 year | Federalist | elected to the Council of Appointment |
| Western | Michael Myers* | 1 year | Federalist | |
| Western | John Richardson | 1 year | Federalist | |
| Western | Abraham Arndt | 2 years | Federalist | |
| Western | Johannes Dietz* | 2 years | Federalist | |
| Western | John Frey* | 2 years | Federalist | |
| Western | Thomas R. Gold | 2 years | Federalist | also Assistant Attorney General (7th D.) |
| Western | Vincent Mathews | 3 years | Federalist | |
| Western | Joseph White | 3 years | Federalist | |
| Western | Jacob Morris* | 4 years | Federalist | |
| Western | Jedediah Sanger | 4 years | Federalist | |

### Employees

* Clerk: Abraham B. Bancker

## State Assembly

### Districts

* Albany County (10 seats)
* Clinton County (1 seat)
* Columbia County (6 seats)
* Dutchess County (10 seats)
* Herkimer County (7 seats)
* Kings County (1 seat)
* Montgomery County (6 seats)
* The City and County of New York (13 seats)
* Onondaga County (2 seats)
* Ontario County (2 seats)
* Orange County (3 seats)
* Otsego County (5 seats)
* Queens County (4 seats)
* Rensselaer County (6 seats)
* Richmond County (1 seat)
* Saratoga County (5 seats)
* Schoharie County (1 seat)
* Suffolk County (4 seats)
* Tioga County (2 seats)
* Ulster County (8 seats)
* Washington County (6 seats)
* Westchester County (5 seats)

### Assemblymen

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.

| County | Assemblymen | Party | Notes |
| - | - | - | - |
| Albany | James Bill | | |
| Albany | Philip Conine Jr. | | |
| Albany | James C. Duane | | |
| Albany | Jacob Hochstrasser* | | |
| Albany | James Holcomb | | |
| Albany | Nathaniel Ogden | | |
| Albany | John Prince | | |
| Albany | Philip P. Schuyler | | |
| Albany | Dirck Ten Broeck* | Federalist | |
| Albany | John H. Wendell | | |
| Clinton | Charles Platt | | |
| Columbia | Caleb Benton | | |
| Columbia | Palmer Cady | | |
| Columbia | John C. Hogeboom | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Columbia | John McKinstry | | |
| Columbia | Peter I. Vosburgh | | |
| Columbia | Jonathan Warner | | |
| Dutchess | Samuel A. Barker | Federalist | |
| Dutchess | Jacob Bockée | Federalist | |
| Dutchess | Joseph Crane Jr. | | |
| Dutchess | Richard Davis* | | |
| Dutchess | Jesse Oakley* | Federalist | |
| Dutchess | William Pearce | | |
| Dutchess | Jacob Smith* | | |
| Dutchess | Jesse Thompson* | Federalist | |
| Dutchess | William B. Verplanck | Federalist | |
| Dutchess | William Wheeler | | |
| Herkimer | Isaac Brayton | | |
| Herkimer | Arthur Breese | | |
| Herkimer | Matthew Brown Jr. | | |
| Herkimer | Ludwick Campbell | | |
| Herkimer | Gaylord Griswold | Federalist | |
| Herkimer | Joshua Leland | | |
| Herkimer | Henry McNeil | Federalist | |
| Kings | Peter Vandervoort* | Federalist | |
| Montgomery | Jacob Eaker | | |
| Montgomery | Frederick Gettman* | Federalist | |
| Montgomery | George Metcalfe | | from February 16, 1797, also Assistant Attorney General (5th D.) |
| Montgomery | John C. Van Eps | | |
| Montgomery | Peter V. Veeder | | |
| Montgomery | Simon Veeder | | |
| New York | Leonard Bleecker | | |
| New York | Richard Furman* | Federalist | |
| New York | Josiah Ogden Hoffman | Federalist | also New York State Attorney General |
| New York | James Kent | Federalist | previously a member from Dutchess Co.; from March 28, 1797, also Recorder of New York City |
| New York | Alexander Lamb* | Dem.-Rep. | |
| New York | Herman LeRoy | | |
| New York | Jonathan Little | | |
| New York | Jacob Morton* | Federalist | |
| New York | Jotham Post Jr.* | Federalist | |
| New York | James Roosevelt | Federalist | |
| New York | James Tylee | | |
| New York | Gulian Verplanck | Federalist | elected Speaker |
| New York | Henry Will | | |
| Onondaga | Silas Halsey | | |
| Onondaga | Comfort Tyler | | |
| Ontario | Lemuel Chipman | | |
| Ontario | Charles Williamson | | |
| Orange | Isaac Blanch | | |
| Orange | Jonathan Cooley | | |
| Orange | Seth Marvin* | | |
| Otsego | Joshua H. Brett | | |
| Otsego | Francis Henry | Federalist | |
| Otsego | Timothy Morse | | |
| Otsego | Isaac Nash | | |
| Otsego | Abraham C. Ten Broeck | | |
| Queens | Lewis Cornwall | | |
| Queens | David Kissam | Federalist | |
| Queens | William Pearsall | Federalist | |
| Queens | John M. Smith | Federalist | |
| Rensselaer | John Bird* | Federalist | |
| Rensselaer | John Carpenter | Federalist | |
| Rensselaer | Jacob A. Fort | Federalist | |
| Rensselaer | Daniel Gray* | Federalist | |
| Rensselaer | James McKown | Federalist | |
| Rensselaer | Hosea Moffitt | Federalist | |
| Richmond | Lewis Ryerss* | | |
| Saratoga | Seth C. Baldwin | | |
| Saratoga | Samuel Clark | | |
| Saratoga | Adam Comstock* | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Saratoga | John McClelland* | | |
| Saratoga | John Taylor | | |
| Schoharie | John Rice | Federalist | |
| Suffolk | Jared Landon* | | |
| Suffolk | Abraham Miller* | | |
| Suffolk | Joshua Smith Jr.* | | |
| Suffolk | Silas Wood* | Federalist | |
| Tioga | Emanuel Coryell* | Federalist | |
| Tioga | vacant | | |
| Ulster | Johannes Bruyn | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Ulster | John Burr | | |
| Ulster | Francis Crawford | | |
| Ulster | John C. DeWitt | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Ulster | Ebenezer Foote* | Federalist | from March 20, 1797, also Delaware County Clerk |
| Ulster | Josiah Hasbrouck | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Ulster | James Oliver* | Federalist | |
| Ulster | Benjamin Sears | | |
| Washington | Anthony I. Blanchard* | | also Assistant Attorney General (4th D.) |
| Washington | Gerrit G. Lansing | | |
| Washington | Timothy Leonard* | | |
| Washington | Daniel Mason | | |
| Washington | Edward Savage* | Dem.-Rep. | |
| Washington | Andrew White | | |
| Westchester | John Barker | Federalist | |
| Westchester | Joseph Carpenter* | Federalist | |
| Westchester | Mordecai Hale* | Federalist | |
| Westchester | Charles Teed* | Federalist | |
| Westchester | Samuel Youngs | Federalist | |

### Employees

* Clerk: James Van Ingen
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Robert Hunter
* Doorkeeper: Richard Ten Eyck
