The 3rd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from August 18, 1779, to July 2, 1780, during the third year of George Clinton's governorship, first at Kingston, then at Albany, and finally at Kingston again.
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.
On May 8, 1777, the Constitutional Convention had appointed the senators from the Southern District, and the assemblymen from Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk counties—the area which was under British control—and determined that these appointees serve in the Legislature until elections could be held in those areas, presumably after the end of the American Revolutionary War. Vacancies among the appointed members in the Senate should be filled by the Assembly, and vacancies in the Assembly by the Senate.
Elections The State elections were held from April 27 to 29, 1779. Under the determination by the Constitutional Convention, the senators Jonathan Lawrence, Lewis Morris and Richard Morris, whose seats were up for election, continued in office, as well as the assemblymen from Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk counties. Zephaniah Platt (Middle D.) was re-elected. Ephraim Paine (Middle D.) and Abraham Ten Broeck (Western D.) were also elected to the Senate. In the Eastern District, a special election was held to fill the vacancy caused by the expulsion of John Williams, and Assemblyman Elishama Tozer was elected to a one-year term.
Sessions
The State Legislature met first in Kingston, the seat of Ulster County. The Assembly met on August 18, the Senate on August 24, 1779; and both adjourned on October 25. The Legislature reconvened at the Old City Hall in Albany, the seat of Albany County, on January 27, 1780; and the Senate adjourned on March 14, the Assembly on March 17. The Legislature reconvened again in Kingston on April 22, and adjourned finally on July 2. Senator Richard Morris (Southern D.) was appointed Chief Judge of the New York Supreme Court, and thus vacated his seat to which Ex-Assemblyman Stephen Ward was appointed.
State Senate Districts The Southern District (9 seats) consisted of Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Suffolk and Westchester counties. The Middle District (6 seats) consisted of Dutchess, Orange and Ulster counties. The Eastern District (3 seats) consisted of Charlotte, Cumberland and Gloucester counties.All three senators from the Eastern District in this Legislature came from Charlotte County; see note for Assembly. The Western District (6 seats) consisted of Albany and Tryon counties.
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. In 1784, Charlotte Co. was renamed Washington Co., and Tryon Co. was renamed Montgomery Co.
Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Elishama Tozer changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
District Senators Term left Notes SouthernWilliam Floyd*1 yearappointed by Constitutional ConventionWilliam Smith*1 yearappointed by Constitutional ConventionIsaac Stoutenburgh*1 yearappointed by State AssemblySir James Jay*2 yearsappointed by State AssemblyIsaac Roosevelt*3 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention; elected to the Council of AppointmentJohn Morin Scott*3 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention; also Secretary of State of New YorkJonathan Lawrence*4 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionLewis Morris*4 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionRichard Morris* 4 yearsholding over on appointment by State Assembly; appointed Chief Justice of the New York Supreme Court on October 23, 1779Stephen Wardappointed by the State Assembly on February 15, 1780, in place of Richard Morris MiddleArthur Parks*1 yearLevi Pawling*2 yearselected to the Council of AppointmentJesse Woodhull*2 yearsHenry Wisner*3 years Ephraim Paine4 yearsZephaniah Platt*4 years EasternElishama Tozer*1 yearelected to fill vacancy, in place of John Williams; attended only the 3rd sessionAlexander Webster* 2 yearselected to the Council of Appointment(Ebenezer Russell)*3 yearsdid not attend WesternAnthony Van Schaick*1 yearJellis Fonda*2 yearsRinier Mynderse*2 yearselected to the Council of AppointmentJacob G. Klock*3 years Abraham Yates Jr.*3 yearsAbraham Ten Broeck4 yearsalso Mayor of Albany
Employees Clerk: Robert Benson
State Assembly Districts
The City and County of Albany (10 seats) Charlotte County (4 seats) Cumberland County (3 seats) Dutchess County (7 seats) Gloucester County (2 seats) Kings County (2 seats) The City and County of New York (9 seats) Orange County (4 seats) Queens County (4 seats) Richmond County (2 seats) Suffolk County (5 seats) Tryon County (6 seats) Ulster County (6 seats) Westchester County (6 seats)
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. In 1784, Charlotte Co. was renamed Washington Co., and Tryon Co. was renamed Montgomery Co.
Assemblymen The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.
County Assemblymen Notes AlbanyFlores BanckerJohn BayJames Gordon*Cornelius HumfreyHugh MitchellHenry OothoudtHenry QuackenbosIsaac VroomanWilliam B. Whiting*Phinehas Whiteside CharlotteAlbert Baker* John GroverDavid Hopkins*Noah Payn CumberlandThese three members from Cumberland Co. were "Yorkers", a faction who opposed the Vermont government and advocated the seceded counties' remaining in the State of New York. See History of Eastern Vermont by Benjamin Homer Hall (Chapter XIII: Conflict of Jurisdictions; pages 332ff)Elkanah Dayattended "only a few days at the beginning of the session"History of Eastern Vermont by Benjamin Homer Hall (Chapter XIV: pages 367f)John SessionsMicah Townsenddid not attend the 3rd session Dutchess Egbert Benson*also New York State Attorney GeneralDirck Brinckerhoff*Ananias CooperAnanias Cooper, physician, father of Charles D. CooperSamuel Dodge*Henry LudingtonBrinton PaineNathaniel SacketGloucesternoneNo election returns from this countyCumberland and Gloucester counties seceded from the Province of New York in January 1777, and became part of the Vermont Republic, while the Constitutional Convention was still debating the new Constitution. The New York Constitution was approved in April 1777, not recognizing the secession. Gloucester Co. did not file any election returns with the Secretary of State of New York in 1779. KingsWilliam Boerum*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionHenry Williams*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention New YorkEvert Bancker*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention; elected SpeakerJohn Berrien*holding over on appointment by the State SenateAbraham Brasher*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionDaniel Dunscomb*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionRobert Harpur*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionFrederick Jay*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionAbraham P. Lott*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionJacobus Van Zandt*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionPeter P. Van Zandt*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention Orange John CoeJohn Hathorn Thomas MoffatBezaleel Seely Jr. QueensBenjamin Birdsall*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionBenjamin Coe*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionPhilip Edsall*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionDaniel Lawrence*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention RichmondJoshua Mersereau*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Conventionvacant Suffolk David Gelston*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionEzra L'Hommedieu*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionBurnet Miller*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionThomas Tredwell*holding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionThomas Wickes*holding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention Tryon Abraham Copeman Peter S. DeygartFrederick FoxJacob GardenierMelkert Van DeuzenPeter Waggoner Jr. Ulster Robert Boyd Jr.John CantineJohannes G. HardenberghThomas PalmerCornelius C. Schoonmaker*Nathan Smith* WestchesterSamuel DrakeAbijah GilbertZebediah Mills*William PauldingPhilip Pell Jr.Ebenezer Purdy
Employees Clerk: John McKesson Sergeant-at-Arms: John Tillman Jr. Doorkeeper: Richard Ten Eyck
Notes
Sources The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [see pg. 108 for Senate districts; pg. 111 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 158f for assemblymen]