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, 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 a member of the board 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 (the Tuesday after the first Monday in November), 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 (the New York City court of general jurisdiction in criminal cases) until the office was abolished in 1907.

List of Recorders

Recorder Took office Left office Party NotesJames Graham16831689?Attorney General of Province of New York, 1685(vacant)1689?1691?William PinhorneDunlap, William, History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York, to the adoption of the federal Constitution, New York : Carter & Thorp, 1839. Cf, p. 215.16911693New 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, 1685Abraham Gouverneur 17011703Sampson Shelton Broughton 17031705Attorney General of Province of New York, 1701John Tudor17051709May Bickley 17091712also acting Attorney General of Province of New York, 1708–12David Jamison17121725acting Attorney General of Province of New York, 1712Francis Harison17251735Daniel Horsmanden 17361747also Supreme Court judge, 1737–1747. Chief Justice, 1763.Simon Johnson 17471769Thomas JonesNovember 19, 1769October 13, 1773Robert R. LivingstonOctober 13, 17731774Supreme Court judge, 1763John Watts 1774February 20, 1784last recorder appointed by the colonial governor, remained in office until the capture of New York City by the revolutionary forcesRichard 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 CitySamuel Jones September 29, 1789March 28, 1797Federalistappointed New York State ComptrollerJames Kent March 28, 1797February 15, 1798Federalistappointed to the New York Supreme CourtRichard HarisonFebruary 15, 1798August 25, 1801Federalistalso United States Attorney for the District of New York from 1789 to 1801John B. Prevost August 25, 1801November 10, 1804Dem.-Rep.appointed to the Superior Court of the Territory of OrleansMaturin Livingston November 10, 1804March 26, 1806Dem.-Rep./Lewisite Pierre C. Van Wyck March 26, 1806February 16, 1807Dem.-Rep./ClintonianMaturin Livingston February 16, 1807February 8, 1808Dem.-Rep./Lewisitesecond tenurePierre C. Van Wyck February 8, 1808February 13, 1810Dem.-Rep./Clintoniansecond tenureJosiah Ogden HoffmanFebruary 13, 1810February 19, 1811FederalistPierre C. Van Wyck February 19, 1811February 8, 1813Dem.-Rep./Clintonianthird tenureJosiah Ogden HoffmanFebruary 8, 1813March 6, 1815Federalistsecond tenureRichard Riker March 6, 1815April 6, 1819Dem.-Rep./Clintonian; Dem.-Rep./BucktailRiker hoped to be appointed to the New York Supreme Court in 1814, but was angry when he was passed over by a Clintonian Council of Appointment in favor of Federalist Jonas Platt, and later changed sides.Peter A. Jay April 6, 1819March 6, 1821FederalistRichard Riker March 6, 18211823Dem.-Rep./Bucktailsecond tenureSamuel Jones 18231824son of the previous Recorder of the same nameRichard Riker 18241838Dem.-Rep./Bucktail; Democratthird tenureRobert H. Morris18381841Democratremoved from office by Gov. William H. Seward, but elected Mayor of New York CityFrederick Augustus Tallmadge18411846WhigJohn B. Scott1846December 31, 1848DemocratFrederick Augustus TallmadgeJanuary 1, 1849December 31, 1851Whigsecond tenure; first recorder elected by popular ballotFrancis R. TillouJanuary 1, 1852December 31, 1854Democrat James M. Smith, Jr.January 1, 1855December 31, 1857DemocratGeorge G. BarnardJanuary 1, 1858December 31, 1860DemocratJohn T. HoffmanJanuary 1, 1861December 31, 1865Democratelected Mayor of New York City during his second termJohn K. HackettMarch 6, 1866December 26, 1879Democratelected by the Board of Supervisors to fill vacancy; then elected as a Democrat to two terms (1867–69 and 1870–75); in 1875 elected on Republican and Anti-Tammany tickets; died in officeFrederick SmythDecember 31, 18791894Democratelected by the Board of Supervisors to fill vacancy; in 1880 elected to full 14-year termJohn 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 CourtFrancis S. McAvoyJanuary 22, 1907December 31, 1907Democratelected by the Board of Aldermen, to fill vacancy; office abolished

References

Sources The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (page 428; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) Courts and Lawyers of New York: A History, 1609-1925 by Alden Chester & E. Melvin Williams (Vol. II, page 896) Historical Ssketch of the Board of Supervisors of the County of New York (pages 11ff) THE RECORDERSHIP in NYT on January 12, 1866