New York General 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. It was the representative governing body in New York until April 3, 1775, when the Assembly disbanded after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

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 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 British 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.
The Assembly grew to twenty-seven members, elected viva voce by the people once every seven years and the districts they represented. The representatives terms was 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.
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 indeed withheld his compensation in an attempt to bring him closer to their desires. 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."
The General Assembly continued until May 1775. Among its last acts was the adoption of petitions to the King and British Parliament, 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."

General Assembly

Districts

The following were elected as members of the General Assembly.
DistrictRepresentativesYearsNotes
AlbanyCoenradt Ten Eyck1747/8-50Also served as mayor of Albany from 1748 to 1750.
AlbanyDirck Ten Broeck1728Also served as mayor of Albany from 1746 to 1748.
AlbanyDirck Wessels1691-98, 1701Also served as mayor of Albany from 1696 to 1698.
AlbanyEvert Bancker1702-5Also served as mayor of Albany from 1695 to 1696 and 1707 to 1709.
AlbanyHans Hansen1750-52Also served as mayor of Albany from 1731 to 1732 and 1754 to 1756.
AlbanyHendrick Hansen1699-1702, 1708-9, 1715-24Also served as mayor of Albany from 1698 to 1699.
AlbanyJacob H. Ten Eyck1759-77Albany merchant who served as assistant alderman in the second ward from 1739 to 1743 and 1746 to 1748.
AlbanyJan Jansen Bleecker1698-1701Also served as mayor of Albany from 1700 to 1701.
AlbanyJohannes Cuyler1705-13, 1715-26, 1727-28Also served as mayor of Albany from 1725 to 1726.
AlbanyJohannes Schuyler1710-13Also served as mayor of Albany from 1703–1706.
AlbanyJohn Abeel1695-98, 1701-5Also served as mayor of Albany from 1694 to 1695 and 1709 to 1710.
AlbanyJohn Bleecker1701-6Also served as recorder and mayor of Albany from 1701 to 1702. Son of Jan Jansen Bleecker.
AlbanyKarl Hansen1715-26
AlbanyLevinus Van Schaick1691-93A merchant who returned to Amsterdam and traded with Robert Livingston.
AlbanyMyndert Schuyler1701-10, 1713-15, 1724-37Also served as mayor of Albany from 1719 to 1720 and 1723 to 1725.
AlbanyPeter Douw1747/8-50, 1752-59
AlbanyPeter Van Brugh1713-15, 1727-28Also served as mayor of Albany from 1699 to 1700 and 1721 to 1723.
AlbanyPeter Van Bruggen1705-8
AlbanyPeter Winne1737-47, 1752-61Captain Winne ran a skipper along the Hudson River and was a partner in the Sacandaga Patent of 1741.
AlbanyPhilip Schuyler1728-47, 1750-52
AlbanyPhilip Schuyler1768-77A Revolutionary War General and, later, a U.S. Senator and father-in-law of Alexander Hamilton.
AlbanyRobert Livingston1709-15The 1st Lord of Livingston Manor.
AlbanyRyer Garretson1726-27
AlbanyRyer Jacobs1693-95
AlbanyRyer Jacobse Schermerhorn1698-1702The sole trustee of the Schenectady Patent.
AlbanyVolkert P. Douw1761-8?Later served in the New York State Senate from 1785 to 1793. Son of Peter Douw.
Cortlandt ManorPhilip Verplanck1737-64Verplanck married into the Van Cortlandt family.
Cortlandt ManorPierre Van Cortlandt1768-77Also served as Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1777 to 1795.
DutchessBaltus Van Kleeck1715-16
DutchessDirck Brinckerhoff1768-77Later served in the 2nd New York State Legislature.
DutchessHenry Beekman1725-59A grandson of acting New York City mayor Wilhelmus Beekman.
DutchessHenry Filkin1752-58
DutchessHenry Livingston1754-68Father of Henry Livingston Jr., Gilbert Livingston, and John Henry Livingston.
DutchessJacobus Tur Boss1737-43
DutchessJohannes Tappen1743-51
DutchessJohannes Turbosch1716-25
DutchessJohannes Van Kleeck1726-37
DutchessLeonard Van Kleeck1768-77
DutchessLeonard Lewis1713-16
DutchessRobert R. Livingston1759-68
KingsAbraham Lott1737-60
KingsAbraham Schenck1759-68
KingsCoert Stuyvesant1693-94Likely a descendant of the last Dutch Director of New Netherland, Peter Stuyvesant.
KingsCornelius Lott1750-52
KingsCornelius Sebring1695-98, 1698-1726
KingsCornelius Van Brunt1698-1716
KingsD. Vander Vier1750-59
KingsGerardus Beekman1698Also served as acting governor of the Province of New York in 1710.
KingsHenry Filkin1693/4-95One of the Great Nine Partners Patent.
KingsJohannes Lott1727-47, 1750-61
KingsJohannes Van Ecklen1693-98
KingsJohn Poland1691-93
KingsJohn Rapalje1768-77
KingsJoseph Hagenan1716
KingsMyndert Coerton1698
KingsNicholas Stillwell1691-93
KingsRichard Stillwell1725-27
KingsSamuel Garretson1716-37
KingsSimon Boerum1761-77He represented New York in the Continental Congress in 1774 and 1775.
Livingston Manor---
Livingston ManorRobert Livingston1716-26The 1st Lord of Livingston Manor.
Livingston ManorRobert Livingston Jr.1726-28Also known as "Robert of Clermont", second son of Robert Livingston the Elder and father of Robert Livingston.
Livingston ManorGilbert Livingston1728-37Third son of Robert Livingston the Elder who married Cornelia Beekman, granddaughter of Wilhelmus Beekman.
Livingston ManorRobert Livingston1737-59The 3rd Lord of Livingston Manor; Grandson of Robert Livingston the Elder and son of Philip Livingston, the 2nd Lord of Livingston Manor.
Livingston ManorWilliam Livingston1759-61Later served as the 1st Governor of New Jersey.
Livingston ManorPeter R. Livingston1761-69Son of Robert Livingston, 3rd Lord of Livingston Manor.
Livingston ManorPhilip Livingston1769-77A merchant who was a delegate to the Continental Congress, and signed the Declaration of Independence.
New York---
New YorkJohannes Hardenbroek1709-10A prominent merchant.
New YorkAbraham Gouverneur1701-2Speaker of the Assembly from May 15, 1699 to May 3, 1702.
New YorkAdolph Philipse1726-45The second son of Frederick Philipse, the 1st Lord of the Philipsburg Manor.
New YorkAnthony Rutgers1726-37Related to Henry Rutgers.
New YorkBrandt Schuyler1695-98Brother of Pieter Schuyler and Arent Schuyler
New YorkCapt. Wilson1709-10
New YorkCornelius Van Horne1743-59
New YorkDavid Clarkson1739, 1745-52
New YorkDavid Provost1699-1702, 1711-13, 1716-25Also served as 24th mayor of New York City from 1699 to 1700.
New YorkGarret Van Horne1716-37
New YorkHenry Cruger1745-59Eldest son of 38th mayor of New York City John Cruger and brother of Speaker John Cruger Jr.
New YorkIsaac De Rimier1668-77
New YorkJacobus Van Cortlandt1691-93, 1698-99, 1702-16Also served as 30th and 33rd mayor of New York City from 1710–1711 and 1719–1720.
New YorkJacob Walton1768-77
New YorkJacobus Kipp1716-26
New YorkJames Alexander1737-39Also served as 4th New Jersey Attorney General from 1723–1728. Father of William Alexander, Lord Stirling.
New YorkJames De Lancey1768-77Son of James De Lancey, Governor of the Province of New York from 1753–1755.
New YorkJames Graham1691-93, 1695-1701
New YorkJames Jauncey1768-77
New YorkJohannes Jansen1709-11, 1716-26Also served as 35th mayor of New York City from 1725 to 1726.
New YorkJohannes Kipp1691-93, 1698-99
New YorkJohn Cruger1759-73Also served as 41st mayor of New York City from 1757–1766. Son of 38th mayor of New York City John Cruger.
New YorkJohannes de Peyster1699-1702Also served as 23rd mayor of New York City from 1698 to 1699.
New YorkJohn Kerfbyl1699
New YorkJohn Moore1789-45
New YorkJohn Reade1715-16
New YorkJohn Spratt1693/4-95Glasgow, Scotland born merchant who was the father of Mary Alexander and son-in-law of Johannes de Peyster Sr.
New YorkJohn Van Home1709-10
New YorkJohn Walter1737-39
New YorkJohn Watts1752-59A Scottish immigrant. Father of U.S. Representative John Watts and son-in-law of Stephen Delancey.
New YorkLawrence Reade1695-98, 1708-9, 1711-15
New YorkLeonard Lewis1699-1701
New YorkLeonard Lispenard1759-68
New YorkOliver De Lancey1756-61Merchant and Loyalist.
New YorkPaul Richards1743-56
New YorkPeter De Lanoy1693/4-95Also served as 18th mayor of New York City from 1689–1691.
New YorkPhilip French1698-99, 1702-8Also served as the 27th mayor of New York City from 1702 to 1703.
New YorkPhilip Livingston1759-69
New YorkRobert Blackwell1693/4-95
New YorkSamuel Bayard1713-16Also served as a Judge.
New YorkSamuel Staats1693/4-95Son of Abraham Staats.
New YorkSimon Johnson1737-39
New YorkStephen De Lanoy1702-16, 1725-27
New YorkThomas Coddrington1702-9
New YorkThomas Wenham1698-99
New YorkTunis De Key1695-98
New YorkWilliam Bayard1761-68Father of William Bayard Jr.
New YorkWilliam Merrett1691-98
New YorkWilliam Roome1739-43
OrangeAbraham Gouverneur1699-1702Speaker of the Assembly from May 15, 1699 to May 3, 1702.
OrangeAbraham Haring1745-47Father of lawyer and Continental Congressman John Haring.
OrangeCornelius Cuyler1716-26
OrangeCornelius Haring1715-16, 1726-37
OrangeFloris Crum1702-8
OrangeGabriel Ludlow1739-45
OrangeHendrick Ten Eyck1710-15One of the Great Nine Partners Patent.
OrangeHenry Wisner1759-69
OrangeJohn De Noyellis1769-77
OrangeLancaster Symes1726-37
OrangeMichael Hawdin1708-9
OrangePeter Haring1701-2, 1709-10, 1716-26
OrangeSamuel Gale1750-59, 1769-77
OrangeSelah Strong1768-69
OrangeTheodorus Snediker1747/8-59
OrangeThomas Gale1739-50
OrangeVincent Matthews1787-89
OrangeCornelius Cuyper1787-89
QueensBenjamin Hicks1725-37Relation of Federalist Assemblyman Benjamin Hicks.
QueensDaniel Whitehead1691-1701, 1702-4
QueensDaniel Кissam1768?-77
QueensDavid Jones1737-59
QueensDavid Thomas1761
QueensIsaac Hicks1716-39
QueensJohn Bound1691
QueensJohn Jackson1693-1701, 1702-16
QueensJohn Robinson1691
QueensJohn Talman1701, 1709-10
QueensJohn Townsend1709-10
QueensJohn Treadwell1691
QueensJonathan Smith Sr.1701-2
QueensJonathan Whitehead1704-9
QueensNathaniel Pearsall1691
QueensThomas Cornell1739-59
QueensThomas Hicks1701-2
QueensThomas Hicks1759-61
QueensThomas Willet1701, 1710-25
QueensZebulon Seaman1759-61, 1763-77
Rensselaer ManorAbraham Ten Broeck1761-77
Rensselaer ManorAndries Coejemans1791
Rensselaer ManorAndries Coejemans1715-26
Rensselaer ManorAndries Douw1708-5Douw lived in Rensselaerswyck, where his family held extensive lands.
Rensselaer ManorHendrick van Rensselaer1705-15
Rensselaer ManorJeremias Van Rensselaer1726-43
Rensselaer ManorJ.B. Van Rensselaer1743-61
Rensselaer ManorKiliaen Van Rensselaer1691-1701, 1702-3
RichmondAbraham Lakerman1702-16
RichmondAdam Mott1737-39
RichmondBenjamin Seaman1759-77
RichmondChristopher Billop1769-77Later a United Empire Loyalists who served in the 1st New Brunswick Legislative Assembly.
RichmondElias Duksberry1691, 1695-98
RichmondGarret Veghte1699-1702
RichmondHenry Holland1761-69
RichmondJohn Dally1691
RichmondJohn La Count1726-59
RichmondJohn Shadwell1691-3/4
RichmondJohn Stillwell1702-16
RichmondJohn Tennisen1698
RichmondJohn Tennisen1763/4-95
RichmondJohn Woglem1698-99
RichmondLambert Dorland1691
RichmondPaul Micheaux1750-52
RichmondRichard Merril1725-37
RichmondRichard Stillwell1739-50
RichmondThomas Morgan1698-1702
RichmondThomas Stillwell1691-98
RichmondWilliam Walton1752-61A merchant who was one of the founders of the New York Society Library.
SuffolkDavid Pierson1737-45
SuffolkEleazer Miller1750-69
SuffolkEpenetus Platt1723-37
SuffolkHenry Pierson1691-95Speaker of the Assembly from March 2, 1694 to April 20, 1695.
SuffolkJohn Tuthill1693-3/4, 1695-98
SuffolkMatthew Howell1691-1705
SuffolkNathaniel Woodhull1769-77Also a brigadier general of the New York militia during the American Revolution.
SuffolkSamuel Hutchinson1721-23
SuffolkSamuel Mulford1705-20
SuffolkWilliam Nicoll1701-23A son of 6th New York City mayor Matthias Nicoll.
SuffolkWilliam Nicoll1739-77
SchenectadyAbraham Glen1743
SchenectadyArent Bradt1737-48, 1745-47
SchenectadyIsaac Vrooman1759-61
SchenectadyJacob Glen1726-37, 1747/8-50Namesake of Glen, New York.
SchenectadyJacob Van Slyck1750-52
SchenectadyJacobus Mynderse1752-59, 1768-79
SchenectadyNicholas Groot1761
SchenectadyNicholas Schuyler1727-28
SchenectadyRyer Schermerhorn1761Grandson and principal heir of Ryer Jacobse Schermerhorn.
UlsterAbraham G. Chambers1716-39
UlsterAbraham Hasbrouck1698-1701One of twelve patent holders to the 40,000 acre New Paltz Patent.
UlsterAbraham Hasbrouck1739-45, 1747/8-50, 1759-68Son of Abraham Hasbrouck.
UlsterAdrien Garretson1701-2
UlsterAlbert Pawlding1726-37, 1745
UlsterCharles DeWitt1668-77Also served as a delegate to the New York Provincial and Continental Congresses.
UlsterGaasbeck Chambers1745-48
UlsterGeorge Clinton1768-77He later served as the 1st Governor of the State of New York and the 4th Vice President of the United States.
UlsterHenry Beekman1691-93, 1695-98, 1702-16Represented Westchester & Dutchess from 1691-93.
A son of acting New York City mayor Wilhelmus Beekman.
UlsterJacob Rutsen1693/4-95, 1699-1702, 1713-26Represented Ulster & Dutchess from 1693/4-95.
UlsterJacobus Bruyn1759-68Father of New York Assemblymen Jacobus S. Bruyn, Severyn Tenhout Bruyn, Johannes Bruyn, and Cornelius Bruyn.
UlsterJohannes Hardenbergh1737-43Owner of the Hardenbergh patent of land in the Catskill Mountains.
UlsterJohannes Jansen1747/8-59
UlsterMoses De Pue Jr.1752-59
UlsterThomas Garton1691, 1693/4-95, 1698-99, 1702-18Represented Westchester & Dutchess in 1691 and 1693/4-95.
William Demire1691-93, 1695-98-
WestchesterAdolph Philipse1722-26The second son of Frederick Philipse, the 1st Lord of the Philipsburg Manor, uncle to Frederick Philipse II.
WestchesterCaleb Heathcote1701-2Also served as 31st mayor of New York City from 1711–1713.
WestchesterDaniel Purdy1739-43
WestchesterEdmund Ward1710-12
WestchesterFrederick Philipse II1726-50The 2nd Lord of Philipsburg Manor, part of the Philipse Patent.
WestchesterFrederick Philipse III1751-77The 3rd Lord of Philipsburg Manor.
WestchesterGilbert Willet1728-32
WestchesterHenry Fowler1701
WestchesterHumphrey Underhill1693/4-97
WestchesterJohn De Lancey1764?-77
WestchesterJohn Drake1698-1701, 1709-10, 1713-15
WestchesterJohn Haite1712-13
WestchesterJohn Hunt1699-1701
WestchesterJohn Pell1691-95The 2nd Lord of Pelham Manor.
WestchesterJohn Thomas1743-77
WestchesterJonathan Odall1715-16
WestchesterJoseph Budd1716-22
WestchesterJoseph Purdy1695-99, 1701-2, 1709-10
WestchesterJoseph Theall1691-95, 1697
WestchesterJosiah Hunt1702-10, 1715-16
WestchesterLewis Morris1710-28Uncle to Lewis Morris Sr.
WestchesterLewis Morris Sr.1733-38Governor of New Jersey
WestchesterLewis Morris Jr.1732-50Also served as Speaker of the Assembly
WestchesterLewis Morris III1769Also served as a delegate to the New York Provincial and Continental Congresses.
WestchesterPeter De Lancey1750-68Son of Stephen Delancey.
WestchesterWilliam Willet1701, 1702-9, 1710-15, 1716-33