New York General Assembly

For the modern legislature, see New York State Assembly.

The General Assembly of New York, commonly known internationally as the New York General Assembly, and domestically simply as General Assembly, was the supreme legislative body of the Province of New York during its period of proprietal colonialship and the legislative body of the Province during its period as a crown colony. It was the representative governing body in New York until April 3, 1775, when the Assembly disbanded after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.^[1]

New York General Assembly
Type
Type	Lower house
Term limits	None
History
Founded	October 17, 1683
Disbanded	April 3, 1775
Succeeded by	New York Provincial Congress
Leadership
Speaker	Speaker of the New York General Assembly
Structure
Seats	39
Length of term	Varied
Authority	Charter of Liberties and Privileges

Background

The New York General Assembly was first convened on October 17, 1683, during the governorship of Thomas Dongan, 2nd Earl of Limerick, which passed an act entitled "A Charter of Liberties" that decreed that the supreme legislative power under the Duke of York (later King James II) shall reside in a governor, council, and the people convened in general assembly; conferred upon the members of the assembly rights and privileges making them a body coequal to and independent of the English Parliament; established town, county, and general courts of justice; solemnly proclaimed the right of religious liberty; and passed acts enunciating certain constitutional liberties, e.g. taxes could be levied only by the people met in general assembly; right of suffrage; and no martial law or quartering of the soldiers without the consent of the inhabitants.^[2]

The Assembly grew to twenty-seven members,^[a] elected by voice vote by the people once every seven years and the districts they represented. The representatives terms were originally at the will of the governor and new elections were ordered as it suited his interests. A law was passed that limited member's terms to three years, but it was annulled by King George III. The Septennial Act was passed in 1743, and remained in force till the revolution.^[4]

The General Assembly elected a speaker from their own ranks, chose their own clerk, and published their own journal. The Assembly had the sole right of originating all laws granting appropriations of money, and, during Governor William Cosby's administration, which was defined by political struggles and is known as one of the most oppressive royal placeholders, they withheld his compensation in an attempt to bring him closer to their desires.^[4] Reportedly, "these quarrels had considerably subsided before the revolution; but they doubtless had an influence beneficial to liberty, by introducing political discussions, and imparting a knowledge of the tendencies of irresponsible power."^[4]

The General Assembly continued until May 1775. Among its last acts was the adoption of petitions to the king and Parliament of Great Britain, in which, while they "professed a warm attachment to the royal person and government, they solemnly protested against the aggressions that had for years been gaining upon the rights of the people, and expressed, quite as strongly as was then avowed by the patriots of the day, the sentiments advocated in the revolution."^[4]

General Assembly

Districts

• Albany County: all of the region that is now northern and western New York.
• Cortlandt Manor^[b]
• Dutchess County: now Dutchess and Putnam counties.
• Kings County: the current Kings County; Brooklyn.
• Livingston Manor^[c]
• New York County: the current New York County; Manhattan.
• Orange County: now Orange and Rockland counties.
• Queens County: now Queens and Nassau counties.
• Rensselaer Manor^[d]
• Richmond County: the current Richmond County; Staten Island.
• Town of Schenectady
• Suffolk County: the current Suffolk County.
• Ulster County: now Ulster and Sullivan counties and part of what is now Delaware and Greene counties.
• Westchester County: now Westchester and Bronx counties.

Representatives

The following were elected as members of the General Assembly.^[e][4][9]

District	Representatives	Years	Notes
Albany	Jacob Coenraedt Ten Eyck	1747/8-50	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1748 to 1750.[10]
	Dirck Ten Broeck	1728	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1746 to 1748.[11]
	Dirck Wessels	1691–98, 1701	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1696 to 1698.[12]
	Evert Bancker	1702-5	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1695 to 1696 and 1707 to 1709.[13]
	Hans Hansen	1750-52	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1731 to 1732 and 1754 to 1756.[14]
	Hendrick Hansen	1699–1702, 1708–9, 1715–24	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1698 to 1699.[15]
	Jacob H. Ten Eyck	1759-77	Albany merchant who served as assistant alderman in the second ward from 1739 to 1743 and 1746 to 1748.[16]
	Jan Jansen Bleecker	1698-1701	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1700 to 1701.[17]
	Johannes Cuyler	1705–13, 1715–26, 1727–28	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1725 to 1726.[13]
	Johannes Schuyler	1710-13	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1703 to 1706.[18]
	John Abeel	1695–98, 1701-5	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1694 to 1695 and 1709 to 1710.[19]
	Johannes Bleecker Jr.	1701-6	Also served as recorder and mayor of Albany from 1701 to 1702. Son of Jan Jansen Bleecker.[20]
	Karl Hansen	1715-26
	Levinus Van Schaick	1691-93	A merchant who returned to Amsterdam and traded with Robert Livingston.[21]
	Myndert Schuyler	1701–10, 1713–15, 1724–37	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1719 to 1720 and 1723 to 1725.[22]
	Peter Douw	1747/8-50, 1752–59
	Peter Van Brugh	1713–15, 1727–28	Also served as mayor of Albany from 1699 to 1700 and 1721 to 1723.[23]
	Peter Van Bruggen	1705-8
	Peter Winne	1737–47, 1752–61	Winne ran a skipper along the Hudson River and was a partner in the Sacandaga Patent of 1741.[24]
	Philip Schuyler	1728–47, 1750–52
	Philip Schuyler	1768-77	A Revolutionary War general and, later, a U.S. senator and father-in-law of Alexander Hamilton.[25]
	Robert Livingston the Elder	1709-15	The 1st Lord of Livingston Manor.[6]
	Ryer Garretson	1726-27
	Ryer Jacobse Schermerhorn	1683-1702	The sole trustee of the Schenectady Patent.[26]
	Volkert P. Douw	1761-8?	Later served in the New York State Senate from 1785 to 1793. Son of Peter Douw.[27]
Cortlandt Manor	Philip Verplanck	1737-64	Verplanck married into the Van Cortlandt family.[28]
	Pierre Van Cortlandt	1768-77	Also served as lieutenant governor of New York from 1777 to 1795.[29]
Dutchess	Baltus Van Kleeck	1715-16
	Dirck Brinckerhoff	1768-77	Later served in the 2nd New York State Legislature.
	Henry Beekman	1725-59	A grandson of acting New York City mayor Wilhelmus Beekman.
	Henry Filkin	1752-58
	Henry Gilbert Livingston	1754-68	Father of Henry Livingston Jr., Gilbert Livingston, and John Henry Livingston.[30]
	Jacobus Tur Boss	1737-43
	Johannes Tappen	1743-51
	Johannes Turbosch	1716-25
	Johannes Van Kleeck	1726-37
	Leonard Van Kleeck	1768-77
	Leonard Lewis	1713-16
	Robert R. Livingston	1759-68	Known as "The Judge", only child of Robert Livingston of Clermont
Kings	Abraham Lott	1737-60
	Abraham Schenck	1759-68
	Coert Stuyvesant	1693-94	Likely a descendant of the last Dutch director of New Netherland, Peter Stuyvesant.[31]
	Cornelius Lott	1750-52
	Cornelius Sebring	1695–98, 1698-1726
	Cornelius Van Brunt	1698-1716
	D. Vander Vier	1750-59
	Gerardus Beekman	1698	Also served as acting governor of the Province of New York in 1710.[32]
	Henry Filkin	1693/4-95	One of the Great Nine Partners Patent.[33]
	Johannes Lott	1727–47, 1750–61
	Johannes Van Ecklen	1693-98
	John Poland	1691-93
	John Rapalje	1768-77
	Joseph Hagenan	1716
	Myndert Coerton	1698
	Nicholas Stillwell	1691-93
	Richard Stillwell	1725-27
	Samuel Garretson	1716-37
	Simon Boerum	1761-77	He represented New York in the Continental Congress in 1774 and 1775.[34]
Livingston Manor
	Robert Livingston the Elder	1716-26	The 1st Lord of Livingston Manor (he previously represented Albany from 1709 to 1715).[6]
	Robert Livingston	1726-28	Also known as "Robert of Clermont", second son of Robert Livingston the Elder and father of Robert Livingston.[6]
	Gilbert Livingston	1728-37	Fourth son of Robert Livingston the Elder who married Cornelia Beekman, granddaughter of Wilhelmus Beekman.
	Robert Livingston	1737-59	The 3rd Lord of Livingston Manor; grandson of Robert Livingston the Elder and son of Philip Livingston.[6]
	William Livingston	1759-61	Later served as the 1st governor of New Jersey.
	Peter R. Livingston	1761-69	Son of Robert Livingston, 3rd Lord of Livingston Manor.
	Philip Livingston	1769-77	A merchant who was a delegate to the Continental Congress, and signed the Declaration of Independence.[35]
New York
	Johannes Hardenbroek	1709-10	A merchant.[36]
	Abraham Gouverneur	1701-2	Speaker of the Assembly from 1699 to 1702.[9]
	Adolph Philipse	1726-45	The second son of Frederick Philipse, the 1st Lord of the Philipsburg Manor.[37]
	Anthony Rutgers	1726-37	Related to Henry Rutgers.
	Brandt Schuyler	1695-98	Brother of Pieter Schuyler and Arent Schuyler
	Capt. Wilson	1709-10
	Cornelius Van Horne	1743-59
	David Clarkson	1739, 1745–52
	David Provost	1699–1702, 1711–13, 1716–25	Also served as 24th mayor of New York City from 1699 to 1700.
	Garret Van Horne	1716-37
	Henry Cruger	1745-59	Eldest son of 38th mayor of New York City John Cruger and brother of Speaker John Cruger Jr.[38]
	Isaac De Rimier	1668-77
	Jacobus Van Cortlandt	1691–93, 1698–99, 1702–16	Also served as 30th and 33rd mayor of New York City from 1710 to 1711 and 1719–1720.[27]
	Jacob Walton	1768-77
	Jacobus Kipp	1716-26
	James Alexander	1737-39	Also served as 4th New Jersey attorney general from 1723 to 1728. Father of William Alexander, Lord Stirling.[39]
	James De Lancey	1768-77	Son of James De Lancey, governor of the Province of New York from 1753 to 1755.
	James Graham	1691–93, 1695-1701
	James Jauncey	1768-77
	Johannes Jansen	1709–11, 1716–26	Also served as 35th mayor of New York City from 1725 to 1726.[40]
	Johannes Kipp	1691–93, 1698–99
	John Cruger	1759-73	Also served as 41st mayor of New York City from 1757 to 1766. Son of 38th mayor of New York City John Cruger.[38]
	Johannes de Peyster	1699-1702	Also served as 23rd mayor of New York City from 1698 to 1699.[41]
	John Kerfbyl	1699
	John Moore	1789-45
	John Reade	1715-16
	John Spratt	1693/4-95	Glasgow, Scotland born merchant who was the father of Mary Alexander and son-in-law of Johannes de Peyster Sr.[42]
	John Van Home	1709-10
	John Walter	1737-39
	John Watts	1752-59	A Scottish immigrant. Father of U.S. Representative John Watts and son-in-law of Stephen Delancey.[43]
	Lawrence Reade	1695–98, 1708–9, 1711–15
	Leonard Lewis	1699-1701
	Leonard Lispenard	1759-68
	Oliver De Lancey	1756-61	Merchant and Loyalist.[44]
	Paul Richards	1743-56
	Peter De Lanoy	1693/4-95	Also served as 18th mayor of New York City from 1689 to 1691.[45]
	Philip French	1698–99, 1702-8	Also served as the 27th mayor of New York City from 1702 to 1703.[46][self-published source]
	Philip Livingston	1759-69
	Robert Blackwell	1693/4-95
	Samuel Bayard	1713-16	Also served as a judge.
	Samuel Staats	1693/4-95	Son of Abraham Staats.
	Simon Johnson	1737-39
	Stephen De Lanoy	1702–16, 1725–27
	Thomas Coddrington	1702-9
	Thomas Wenham	1698-99
	Tunis De Key	1695-98
	William Bayard	1761-68	Father of William Bayard Jr.
	William Merrett	1691-98
	William Roome	1739-43
Orange	Abraham Gouverneur	1699-1702	Speaker of the Assembly from 1699 to 1702.[9]
	Abraham Haring	1745-47	Father of lawyer and Continental Congressman John Haring.[47]
	Cornelius Cuyler	1716-26
	Cornelius Haring	1715–16, 1726–37
	Floris Crum	1702-8
	Gabriel Ludlow	1739-45
	Hendrick Ten Eyck	1710-15	One of the Great Nine Partners Patent.[33]
	Henry Wisner	1759-69
	John De Noyellis	1769-77
	Lancaster Symes	1726-37
	Michael Hawdin	1708-9
	Peter Haring	1701–2, 1709–10, 1716–26
	Samuel Gale	1750–59, 1769–77
	Selah Strong	1768-69
	Theodorus Snediker	1747/8-59
	Thomas Gale	1739-50
	Vincent Matthews	1787-89
	Cornelius Cuyper	1787-89
Queens	Benjamin Hicks	1725-37	Relation of Federalist Assemblyman Benjamin Hicks.
	Daniel Whitehead	1691–1701, 1702-4
	Daniel Кissam	1768?-77
	David Jones	1737-59
	David Thomas	1761
	Isaac Hicks	1716-39
	John Bound	1691
	John Jackson	1693–1701, 1702–16
	John Robinson	1691
	John Talman	1701, 1709–10
	John Townsend	1709-10
	John Treadwell	1691
	Jonathan Smith Sr.	1701-2
	Jonathan Whitehead	1704-9
	Nathaniel Pearsall	1691
	Thomas Cornell	1739-59
	Thomas Hicks	1701-2
	Thomas Hicks	1759-61
	Thomas Willet	1701, 1710–25
	Zebulon Seaman	1759–61, 1763–77	[48]
Rensselaer Manor	Abraham Ten Broeck	1761-77
	Andries Coejemans	1791
	Andries Coejemans	1715-26
	Andries Douw	1708-5	Douw lived in Rensselaerswyck, where his family held extensive lands.[49]
	Hendrick van Rensselaer	1705-15
	Jeremias van Rensselaer	1726-43
	J.B. Van Rensselaer	1743-61
	Kiliaen van Rensselaer	1691–1701, 1702-3
Richmond	Abraham Lakerman	1702-16
	Adam Mott	1737-39
	Benjamin Seaman	1759-77
	Christopher Billop	1769-77	Later a United Empire Loyalist who served in the 1st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly.[50]
	Elias Duksberry	1691, 1695–98
	Garret Veghte	1699-1702
	Henry Holland	1761-69
	John Dally	1691
	John La Count	1726-59
	John Shadwell	1691-3/4
	John Stillwell	1702-16
	John Tennisen	1698
	John Tennisen	1763/4-95
	John Woglem	1698-99
	Lambert Dorland	1691
	Paul Micheaux	1750-52
	Richard Merril	1725-37
	Richard Stillwell	1739-50
	Thomas Morgan	1698-1702
	Thomas Stillwell	1691-98
	William Walton	1752-61	A merchant who was one of the founders of the New York Society Library.[51]
Suffolk	David Pierson	1737-45
	Eleazer Miller	1750-69
	Epenetus Platt	1723-37
	Henry Pierson	1691-95	Speaker of the Assembly from 1694 to 1695.[9]
	John Tuthill	1693-3/4, 1695–98
	Matthew Howell	1691-1705
	Nathaniel Woodhull	1769-77	Also a brigadier general of the New York Militia during the American Revolution.[52]
	Samuel Hutchinson	1721-23
	Samuel Mulford	1705-20
	William Nicoll	1701-23	A son of 6th New York City mayor Matthias Nicoll.
	William Nicoll	1739-77
Schenectady	Abraham Glen	1743
	Arent Bradt	1737–48, 1745–47
	Isaac Vrooman	1759-61
	Jacob Glen	1726–37, 1747/8-50	Namesake of Glen, New York.
	Jacob Van Slyck	1750-52
	Jacobus Mynderse	1752–59, 1768–79
	Nicholas Groot	1761
	Nicholas Schuyler	1727-28
	Ryer Schermerhorn	1761	Grandson and principal heir of Ryer Jacobse Schermerhorn.[53]
Ulster	Abraham G. Chambers	1716-39
	Abraham Hasbrouck	1698-1701	One of twelve patent holders to the 40,000 acre New Paltz Patent.[54]
	Abraham Hasbrouck	1739–45, 1747/8-50, 1759–68	Son of Abraham Hasbrouck.[54]
	Adrien Garretson	1701-2
	Albert Pawlding	1726–37, 1745
	Charles DeWitt	1668-77	Also served as a delegate to the New York Provincial and Continental Congresses.[55]
	Gaasbeck Chambers	1745-48
	George Clinton	1768-77	He later served as the 1st governor of the State of New York and the 4th vice president of the United States.[56]
	Hendrick Beekman	1691–93, 1695–98, 1702–16	Represented Westchester and Dutchess from 1691 to 1693. A son of acting New York City mayor Wilhelmus Beekman.
	Jacob Rutsen	1693/4-95, 1699–1702, 1713–26	Represented Ulster and Dutchess from 1693/4-95.
	Jacobus Bruyn	1759-68	Father of New York Assemblymen Jacobus S. Bruyn, Severyn Tenhout Bruyn, Johannes Bruyn, and Cornelius Bruyn.[57]
	Johannes Hardenbergh	1737-43	Owner of the Hardenbergh patent of land in the Catskill Mountains.[58]
	Johannes Jansen	1747/8-59
	Moses De Pue Jr.	1752-59
	Thomas Garton	1691, 1693/4-95, 1698–99, 1702-18	Represented Westchester and Dutchess in 1691 and 1693/4-95.
William Demire	1691–93, 1695–98
Westchester	Adolph Philipse	1722-26	The second son of Frederick Philipse, the 1st Lord of the Philipsburg Manor, uncle to Frederick Philipse II.[37]
	Caleb Heathcote	1701-2	Also served as 31st mayor of New York City from 1711 to 1713.[59]
	Daniel Purdy	1739-43
	Edmund Ward	1710-12
	Frederick Philipse II	1726-50	The 2nd Lord of Philipsburg Manor, part of the Philipse Patent (today's Putnam County).[60]
	Frederick Philipse III	1751-77	The 3rd (and last) Lord of Philipsburg Manor.[60]
	Gilbert Willet	1728-32
	Henry Fowler	1701
	Humphrey Underhill	1693/4-97
	John De Lancey	1764?-77
	John Drake	1698–1701, 1709–10, 1713–15
	John Haite	1712-13
	John Hunt	1699-1701
	John Pell	1691-95	The 2nd Lord of Pelham Manor.
	John Thomas	1743-77
	Jonathan Odall	1715-16
	Joseph Budd	1716-22
	Joseph Purdy	1695–99, 1701–2, 1709–10
	Joseph Theall	1691–95, 1697
	Josiah Hunt	1702–10, 1715–16
	Lewis Morris	1710-28	Uncle to Lewis Morris.
	Lewis Morris	1733-38	Governor of New Jersey
	Lewis Morris Jr.	1732-50	Also served as speaker of the Assembly
	Lewis Morris	1769	Also served as a delegate to the New York Provincial and Continental Congresses.
	Peter De Lancey	1750-68	Son of Stephen Delancey.[61]
	William Willet	1701, 1702–9, 1710–15, 1716-33