31st New York State Legislature


The 31st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 26 to April 11, 1808, during the first year of Daniel D. Tompkins's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1777, amended by the Constitutional Convention of 1801, 32 Senators were elected on general tickets in the four senatorial districts for four-year terms. They were divided into four classes, and every year eight Senate seats came up for election. Assemblymen were elected countywide on general tickets to a one-year term, the whole Assembly being renewed annually.
In 1797, Albany was declared the State capital, and all subsequent Legislatures have been meeting there ever since. In 1799, the Legislature enacted that future Legislatures meet on the last Tuesday of January of each year unless called earlier by the governor.
State Senator Henry Huntington resigned in 1807, leaving a vacancy in the Western District.
At this time the politicians were divided into two opposing political parties: the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans.
In 1805, the 28th Legislature had chartered the Merchant's Bank of New York which had been founded by Federalists in competition to the Democratic-Republican Bank of the Manhattan Company. The Democratic-Republican majority of the 27th Legislature had not only refused to grant a charter, but actually ordered the Merchant's Bank to shut down by May 1805. During the next session, the bank bribed enough legislators to have the charter approved, although the Democratic-Republican leaders advocated strongly against it. Gov. Morgan Lewis spoke out in favor of granting the charter what was resented by the party leaders DeWitt Clinton and Ambrose Spencer, and soon led to the split of the party into "Lewisites" and "Clintonians". The 30th Legislature had a Lewisite-Federalist majority and elected a Council of Appointment which removed most Clintonian office-holders. The Lewisites and the Federalists nominated Gov. Morgan Lewis for re-election and Thomas Storm as his running mate. The Clintonians nominated Supreme Court Justice Daniel D. Tompkins for governor, and the incumbent Lt. Gov. John Broome for re-election.

Elections

The State election was held from April 28 to 30, 1807. Tompkins and Broome were elected. For the first time in State history an incumbent governor ran for re-election and was defeated.
Senators DeWitt Clinton, Joshua H. Brett and John Tayler were re-elected. Robert Williams, Isaac Kellogg, John McLean, Charles Selden ; and Assemblyman Alexander Rea were also elected to full terms in the Senate. William Floyd was elected to fill the vacancy. Brett and Williams were Lewisites, the other seven were Clintonians.

Sessions

The Legislature met at the Old City Hall in Albany on January 26, 1808; and adjourned on April 11.
Alexander Sheldon was again elected Speaker. Daniel Rodman was elected Clerk of the Assembly with 60 votes against 21 for the incumbent Gerrit Y. Lansing.
On February 1, the Clintonian majority elected a new Council of Appointment which removed most Lewisite office-holders.
On February 5, the Legislature elected David Thomas to succeed Abraham G. Lansing as New York State Treasurer.
On February 8, 1808, State Senator Joseph C. Yates was appointed to the New York Supreme Court, leaving a vacancy in the Eastern District. The Legislature re-apportioned the Senate seats, and transferred one seat each from the Southern, the Middle and the Eastern districts to the Western District.
On February 12, Sebastian Visscher was elected Clerk of the Senate to succeed Solomon Southwick.
On April 1, 1808, the Legislature also re-apportioned the Assembly districts. The total number of assemblymen was increased from 100 to 112. Broome and Tioga were separated with 1 seat each. Allegany, Genesee and Ontario were separated with 1 seat for Genesee, 5 for Ontario and Allegany was joined with Steuben. Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence were separated with 2 seats for Jefferson and 1 each for Lewis and St. Lawrence. Cayuga, Chenango, Madison and Onondaga gained 1 seat each; New York City and Oneida gained 2 each. Dutchess, Rensselaer, Washington and Westchester lost 1 seat each. Franklin County was split from Clinton County but remained in the same Assembly district. Niagara County was split from Genesee County, and had 1 seat in the Assembly.

State Senate

Districts

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. Alexander Rea changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
DistrictSenatorsTerm leftPartyNotes
SouthernWilliam Denning*1 yearDem.-Rep./Lewisitein April 1808, elected to the 11th United States Congress
SouthernBenjamin Coe*1 yearDem.-Rep./Clintonianelected to the Council of Appointment
SouthernThomas Thomas*1 yearDem.-Rep./Lewisite
SouthernEzra L'Hommedieu*2 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
SouthernJonathan Ward*3 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
SouthernDeWitt Clinton*4 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonianfrom February 1808, also Mayor of New York City
MiddleSamuel Brewster*1 yearDem.-Rep.
MiddleStephen Hogeboom*1 yearDem.-Rep.
MiddlePeter C. Adams*2 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonianelected to the Council of Appointment
MiddleJames G. Graham*2 yearsDem.-Rep./Lewisite
MiddleElisha Barlow3 yearsDem.-Rep./Lewisite
MiddleJames Burt*3 yearsDem.-Rep./Lewisite
MiddleJoshua H. Brett*4 yearsDem.-Rep./Lewisite
MiddleRobert Williams4 yearsDem.-Rep./Lewisite
EasternStephen Thorn*1 yearDem.-Rep./Clintonian
EasternAdam Comstock*2 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
EasternJohn Veeder*2 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonianelected to the Council of Appointment;
EasternJoseph C. Yates*2 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonianvacated his seat on February 8, 1808, upon
appointment to the New York Supreme Court
EasternJacob Snell*3 yearsDem.-Rep./Lewisite
EasternIsaac Kellogg4 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
EasternJohn McLean4 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
EasternCharles Selden4 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
EasternJohn Tayler*4 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
WesternWilliam Floyd1 yearDem.-Rep./Clintonianelected to fill vacancy, in place of Henry Huntington
WesternJedediah Peck*1 yearDem.-Rep.
WesternNathaniel Locke*2 yearsDem.-Rep.
WesternJohn Nicholas*2 yearsDem.-Rep./Lewisite
WesternJohn Ballard*3 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
WesternSalmon Buell*3 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
WesternJacob Gebhard*3 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian
WesternNathan Smith*3 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonianelected to the Council of Appointment
WesternAlexander Rea*4 yearsDem.-Rep./Clintonian

Employees

Districts

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.
DistrictAssemblymenPartyNotes
AlbanyJohn BrownFederalist
AlbanyJohann Jost Dietz*Federalist
AlbanyJonathan Jenkins
AlbanyStephen Van RensselaerFederalist
AlbanyAbraham Van VechtenFederalistuntil April 12, 1808, also Recorder of the City of Albany
AlbanyJacob Veeder*Federalist
Allegany,
Genesee
and Ontario		Amos Hallcontested; seat vacated
Allegany,
Genesee
and Ontario		William RamseyDem.-Rep.seated on January 29, 1808, in place of Amos Hall
Allegany,
Genesee
and Ontario		Philetus Swift*Dem.-Rep.
Allegany,
Genesee
and Ontario		Asahel Warner Jr.
Broome
and Tioga		Emanuel CoryellFederalist
CayugaElijah Price
CayugaRichard TownleyDem.-Rep.
ChenangoPeter Betts
ChenangoObadiah German*Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
ClintonElisha ArnoldDem.-Rep.
ColumbiaThomas Brodhead
ColumbiaJacob R. Van RensselaerFederalist
ColumbiaJason WarnerFederalist
ColumbiaElisha WilliamsFederalist
DelawareJohn T. MoreFederalist
DelawareGabriel NorthDem.-Rep.
DutchessAlbro AkinDem.-Rep./Lewisite
DutchessDevoue BaileyDem.-Rep./Lewisite
DutchessGeorge CaseyDem.-Rep./Lewisite
DutchessCyrenus CrosbyDem.-Rep./Lewisite
DutchessJohn Haight*Dem.-Rep./Lewisite
DutchessTobias L. Stoutenburgh*Dem.-Rep./Lewisite
DutchessMartin E. Winchell*Dem.-Rep./Lewisite
EssexBenjamin PondDem.-Rep.
GreeneCoenradt T. Houghtaling
GreenePerez SteeleFederalist
HerkimerAaron BudlongDem.-Rep./Clintonian
HerkimerJohn M. PetrieDem.-Rep./Clintonian
HerkimerWestel Willoughby, Jr.Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
Jefferson,
Lewis and
St. Lawrence		Lewis Graves
KingsJohn Hicks*Dem.-Rep.
MadisonJohn W. BulkleyFederalist
MadisonSylvanus Smalley*Dem.-Rep.
MontgomeryHenry FondaDem.-Rep.
MontgomeryPeter C. Fox
MontgomeryLawrence Gros*Dem.-Rep.
MontgomeryAlexander Sheldon*Dem.-Rep./Clintonianelected Speaker
MontgomeryHarmanus A. Vedder*
New YorkFrancis Cooper*Dem.-Rep.
New YorkThomas Farmar
New YorkBenjamin Ferris*Dem.-Rep.
New YorkWilliam W. Gilbert*Dem.-Rep.
New YorkSilvanus Miller
New YorkHenry Rutgers*Dem.-Rep.
New YorkSolomon Townsend
New YorkJames Warner*Dem.-Rep.
New YorkAugustus WrightDem.-Rep.
OneidaThomas R. GoldFederalistin April 1808, elected to the 11th United States Congress
OneidaHenry McNeilFederalist
OneidaBenjamin Wright
OnondagaJoshua FormanFederalistunsuccessfully contested by Jonathan Stanley Jr.
OnondagaJohn McWhorterDem.-Rep.
OrangeWilliam RossDem.-Rep.
OrangeSelah StrongDem.-Rep.
OrangeHenry Tucker
OrangeJames W. WilkinDem.-Rep.
OtsegoLemuel FitchDem.-Rep.
OtsegoGurdon Huntington*Dem.-Rep.
OtsegoRobert Roseboom*Dem.-Rep.
OtsegoHenry Scott*Dem.-Rep.
QueensJacobus MonfoortDem.-Rep.
QueensHenry O. SeamanDem.-Rep.
QueensJohn W. Seaman*Dem.-Rep.
RensselaerJames L. HogeboomDem.-Rep./Lewisiteuntil March 10, 1808, also
First Judge of the Rensselaer County Court
RensselaerEbenezer Jones
RensselaerAdam Yates*Dem.-Rep.
RensselaerJacob YatesDem.-Rep.
Rensselaervacant
RichmondDavid Mersereau*Dem.-Rep.
RocklandSamuel G. Verbryck*Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
SaratogaChauncey Belding*Dem.-Rep.
SaratogaSalmon ChildDem.-Rep.
SaratogaJohn McClelland
SaratogaJesse Mott*Dem.-Rep.
SchoharieHenry Shafer*Dem.-Rep.
SchohariePeter Swart Jr.*Dem.-Rep.
SenecaJohn SayreDem.-Rep./Lewisite
SteubenGeorge HornellFederalist
SuffolkIsrael Carll*Dem.-Rep.
SuffolkJonathan DaytonDem.-Rep.
SuffolkThomas S. LesterDem.-Rep.
UlsterAbraham Ten Eyck DeWittFederalist
UlsterConrad Edmund Elmendorf
UlsterIsaac LeFever
UlsterCornelius Low
WashingtonKitchel Bishop*Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
WashingtonThomas CornellDem.-Rep./Clintonian
WashingtonLyman HallDem.-Rep./Clintonian
WashingtonJames Hill*Dem.-Rep./Clintonian
WashingtonHenry MattisonDem.-Rep./Clintonian
WashingtonGideon TaftDem.-Rep./Clintonian
WestchesterBenjamin Ferris
WestchesterJoel FrostDem.-Rep.
WestchesterAbraham MillerDem.-Rep.
WestchesterOzias Osborn

Employees