The 9th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 12 to May 5, 1786, during the ninth year of George Clinton's governorship, at the Old Royal Exchange in New York City.
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.
The 8th New York State Legislature adjourned on April 27, 1785. At this time, the Senate voted that the next Legislature meet at Kingston, New York on a day set by the governor. The Assembly voted to meet at a time and place to be determined by the governor, to which the Senate then agreed. On November 16, 1785, Governor Clinton called the Legislature to meet on January 6, 1786, at the Exchange in New York City.George Clinton: Yeoman Politician of the New Republic by John P. Kaminski (page 305; note 133)
Elections The State election was held from April 26 to 28, 1785. Senator John Haring (Middle D.) was re-elected; and Thomas Tredwell (Southern D.), Volkert P. Douw, Philip Schuyler (both Western D.), and Assemblymen David Hopkins (Eastern D.) and Cornelius Humfrey (Middle D.), were elected to the Senate.
Sessions The State Legislature met at the Old Royal Exchange in New York City, the Assembly on January 12, the Senate on January 16, 1786; and both Houses adjourned on May 5.
When the Legislature eventually had assembled a quorum, Governor Clinton told them that, following the principle of Separation of Powers, the Governor could call the Legislature only for special sessions, but the Legislature should henceforth decide for themselves where and when to meet for the next ordinary session, and suggested to pass a law for this purpose. On March 13, 1786, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the first Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor. However, no general meeting place was determined, leaving it for the time being 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.Laws of the State of New York (page 208f)
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 Washington, Cumberland and Gloucester counties. The Western District (6 seats) consisted of Albany and Montgomery 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.
Members The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Cornelius Humfrey and David Hopkins changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
District Senators Term left Notes SouthernLewis Morris*1 yearelected to the Council of AppointmentIsaac Roosevelt*1 yearIsaac Stoutenburgh*2 yearsSamuel Townsend*2 yearsStephen Ward*2 yearsWilliam Floyd*3 yearsEzra L'Hommedieu*3 yearsAlexander McDougall*3 yearsdied on June 9, 1786Thomas Tredwell4 years MiddleWilliam Allison*1 year Joseph Gasherie*2 yearsJacobus Swartwout*2 yearselected to the Council of AppointmentArthur Parks*3 yearsJohn Haring*4 years(Cornelius Humfrey)*4 yearsdid not attend EasternJohn Williams*1 yearEbenezer Russell*3 yearsDavid Hopkins* 4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment Western(Jacob G. Klock)*1 yeardid not attendAbraham Yates Jr.*1 yearAndrew Finck*2 yearsPeter Van Ness*3 yearsVolkert P. Douw4 yearsPhilip Schuyler4 yearselected to the Council of Appointment
Employees Clerk: Abraham B. Bancker
State Assembly Districts The City and County of Albany (10 seats) Cumberland County (3 seats) Dutchess County (7 seats) Gloucester County (2 seats) Kings County (2 seats) Montgomery County) (6 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) Ulster County (6 seats) Washington County (4 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.
Assemblymen The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.
County Assemblymen Notes AlbanyLeonard BronckHenry GlenJames GordonLawrence HogeboomJohn Lansing Jr.elected SpeakerJohn LivingstonJacobus Van SchoonhovenJohn TaylerAbraham J. Van AlstynePeter VroomanCumberland 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 1785.Gloucester Dutchess Dirck Brinckerhoff*John DeWittLewis DuBoisJacob GriffinHenry LudingtonBrinton Paine*Matthew Patterson* KingsCharles Doughty*John Vanderbilt* Montgomery Abraham Arndt John FreyWilliam Harper*James Livingston*Abraham Van HorneVolkert Veeder* New YorkEvert BanckerRobert BoydWilliam Denning*William DuerWilliam Goforth*William MalcomIsaac SearsJohn StaggRobert Troup Orange John BradnerGilbert Cooper*Nathaniel Satterly Henry Wisner III QueensDaniel DuryeeSamuel JonesDaniel Whitehead KissamJames Townsend* RichmondJohn C. DonganJoshua Mersereau* SuffolkNathaniel GardinerJohn Nicoll HavensDavid HedgesJeffrey Smith*Thomas Youngs* Ulster David GalatianJoseph HasbrouckThomas JansenCornelius C. Schoonmaker*Nathan Smith*Johannis Snyder WashingtonAlbert Baker* Joseph McCrackenIchabod ParkerPeter B. Tierce WestchesterSamuel DrakeAbijah Gilbert*Ebenezer Lockwood*Philip Pell Jr.*Thomas Thomas*Jonathan G. Tompkins
Employees Clerk: John McKesson
Notes
Sources The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858) [see pg. 108 for Senate districts; pg. 113 for senators; pg. 148f for Assembly districts; pg. 162f for assemblymen]