The 2nd New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from October 13, 1778, to March 17, 1779, during the second year of George Clinton's governorship, at Poughkeepsie.
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 28 to 30, 1778. Under the determination by the Constitutional Convention, the senators Isaac Roosevelt and John Morin Scott, whose seats were up for election, continued in office, as well as the assemblymen from Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond and Suffolk counties. Two vacancies in the Senate—caused by the death of Philip Livingston and the election of Pierre Van Cortlandt as Lieutenant Governor—were filled by the State Assembly. Henry Wisner (Middle D.) and Abraham Yates Jr. (Western D.) were re-elected. Assemblymen Ebenezer Russell (Eastern D.) and Jacob G. Klock (Western D.) were elected to the Senate.
The State Legislature met in Poughkeepsie, the seat of Dutchess County, on October 13, 1778, and adjourned on November 6. The Senate reconvened from January 27 to March 17, the Assembly from January 28 to March 16, 1779. Due to the difficult situation during the American Revolutionary War, four senators and several assemblymen could not attend the meeting.
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. Ebenezer Russell and Jacob G. Klock changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
District Senators Term left Notes SouthernJonathan Lawrence*1 yearappointed by Constitutional Convention; elected to the Council of AppointmentLewis Morris*1 yearappointed by Constitutional ConventionRichard Morris*1 yearappointed by State AssemblyWilliam Floyd*2 yearsappointed by Constitutional ConventionWilliam Smith*2 yearsappointed by Constitutional ConventionIsaac Stoutenburgh2 yearsappointed by State Assembly on October 18, 1778, to fill vacancy, in place of Pierre Van CortlandtSir James Jay3 yearsappointed by State Assembly on October 7, 1778, to fill vacancy, in place of Philip LivingstonIsaac Roosevelt*4 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional ConventionJohn Morin Scott*4 yearsholding over on appointment by Constitutional Convention; also Secretary of State of New York MiddleJonathan Landon*1 yearZephaniah Platt*1 yearelected to the Council of AppointmentArthur Parks*2 yearsLevi Pawling*3 yearsJesse Woodhull*3 yearsHenry Wisner*4 years EasternJohn Williams*2 yearsexpelled on February 8, 1779The Suppressed History of the Administration of John Adams by John Wood & John Henry Sherburne (page 144)Alexander Webster* 3 yearsEbenezer Russell*4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment WesternDirck W. Ten Broeck*1 yearelected to the Council of AppointmentAnthony Van Schaick*2 yearsJellis Fonda*3 yearsRinier Mynderse*3 yearsJacob G. Klock*4 years Abraham Yates Jr.*4 years
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 AlbanyLeonard GansevoortJames Gordon*Walter Livingston*re-elected SpeakerStephen J. Schuyler*John Tayler*Jacobus TellerKillian Van Rensselaer*Robert Van Rensselaer*Peter Vrooman*William B. Whiting* CharlotteAlbert Baker Ebenezer Clarke*David HopkinsElishama Tozerunsuccessfully contested by John Rowansee A Compilation of Cases of Contested Elections to Seats in the Assembly of the State of New York (1871; pg. 5–8)Cumberland none No election returns from these countiesCumberland 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. Neither county did file any election returns with the Secretary of State of New York in 1778.Gloucester Dutchess Egbert Benson*also New York State Attorney GeneralDirck Brinckerhoff*Joseph Crane Jr.Samuel DodgeAnthony Hoffman*Andrew Moorhouse*Jacobus Swartwout* 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 ConventionJohn 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 Jeremiah Clark* Benjamin CoePeter OgilvieRoeluf Van Houten* 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 George Henry Bell John NewkirkAbraham Van Horne*Peter WaggonerMoses Younglovevacant Ulster Andries Bevierunsuccessfully contested by Thomas Palmersee A Compilation of Cases of Contested Elections to Seats in the Assembly of the State of New York (1871; pg. 8-10)Matthew Rea*Cornelius C. Schoonmaker*Nathan SmithJohannis Snyder*vacant WestchesterJoseph BenedictThaddeus Crane* Israel Honeywell Jr.*Ebenezer LockwoodZebediah Mills*Stephen Ward
Employees Clerk: John McKesson Sergeant-at-Arms: Stephen Hendrickson 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. 110 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 157f for assemblymen]