Poughkeepsie, Capital of New York State, 1778

CONFLICT AND TRANSITION: POUGHKEEPSIE, CAPITAL OF NEW YORK STATE, 1778 By Melodye Andros and Radford Curdy

This year marked the 200th anniversary of Poughkeepsie's becoming the Capital of the State of New York and this occasion was marked by an exhibition sponsored by the Dutchess County Historical Society at Mid-Hudson Arts and Science Center, Old City Hall, Poughkeepsie. The exhibit opened August 5th and closed October 29th, and included an audiovisual presentation depicting the complexion of the City and the County at that time. Manuscripts and prints relating to various Dutchess County legislators, a pair of pistols owned by Assemblyman Derick Brinckerhoff, John Jay's copy of "The Votes of the Continental Congress," Walter Livingston's silver snuff box, and one of the lintel stones from the Van Kleeck house were among the items on display. Three scenes were created; one depicting the life-style of a tradesman, another a well-todo family's parlor, and the third a simulated legislative chamber of the period. Poughkeepsie became Capital of New York by proclamation of December 15, 1777. The first official body to meet in the Village was the Assembly which was ordered to convene on January 5, 1778. The Assembly probably met in the Court House, with Walter Livingston presiding as Speaker. The Senate convened, also undoubtedly in the Court House, on January 15, 1778. Lt. Gov. Pierre Van Cortlandt was its President. Both the Assembly and Senate continued sessions until April 4 when they adjourned until June 22nd. They continued to meet until June 30th. The second session of the Legislature convened October 13, 1778 and lasted until November 6, 1778. The second part of the session was held from January 27 to March 17, 1779. Gov. George Clinton had already established his residence here when the legislative sessions opened. The State's first Attorney General, Egbert Benson, took office at Poughkeepsie January 15, 1778. The first Secretary of State, John Morin Scott, took office March 13, 1778. The State Treasurer, Gerard Bancker, was appointed April 1, 1778. All exercised their duties from offices at Poughkeepsie. The State Auditor, Comfort Sands, had an office at Poughkeepsie, and State Commissary Agents operated from the Village. The second Council of Safety, with Evert Bancker as President, held their sessions here. The Supreme Court, John Jay and Richard Morris, Chief Justices, met at Poughkeepsie. Robert Yates and John Sloss Hobart were Puisne Justices. The Chancellor of the State at the time was Robert R. Livingston. Other official state bodies which met at Poughkeepsie included the Commissioners of Conspiracies, the Commissioners of Sequestration, the Commissioners of Forfeitures, and the Council of Appointments. Little has been previously known about some of the legislators from Dutchess County who served in this session. One of the achievements of the Society's exhibit was to amass concise biographies of these eleven men. Jonathan Landon, 1743-1815, of Northeast Precinct, married Isabella Graham. Member of the New York Provincal Congresses and Convention, 1775-1777. Member of the Commit-

tee on Lead, Salt and Gun Flints, 1775. Major, Sixth Regiment, Dutchess County Militia, 1775 and Lieut. Colonel in 1778. Member second New York Council of Safety, 1777-1778. State Senator, 1778. In charge of lead ore and lead mines in Nine Partners. Andrew Morehouse, 1726-1801, of Pawling Precinct, married 1, Phoebe Hurd; married 2, Sarah Sherrell. Born in Saybrook, Connecticut, but moved in early life to Pawling Precinct. Tavern keeper. Member of the Pawling Minute Company, 1775. Colonel Third Regiment Dutchess County Militia. Assemblyman, 1778-1779. Justice of the Peace. Dr. Joseph Crane, Jr., 1722-1800, of Southeast Precinct, married Esther Belden. Born in Windham, Connecticut, but moved to Long Island and just prior to the Revolution to Southeast, now Putnam County, N.Y. Delegate to the Fourth New York Provincial Convention. Surgeon of Colonel Andrew Morehouse's Third Regiment, Dutchess County Militia. Assemblyman, 17781779. Jacobus Swartwout, 1734-1827, of Rombout Precinct, married Aaltje Brinckerhoff. Captain in the French and Indian War. Coroner of Dutchess County, 1769. Deputy chairman Rombout Committee of Safety. Colonel of the Rombout Minutemen, 1775. Colonel of the First Regiment, Dutchess County Militia. Assemblyman, 1777. Senator, 1784. Member of the Committee for Detecting Conspiracies, 1777. Brig. General of Militia, 1779-1794. Delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention, 1788. Zephaniah Platt, 1735-1807, of Poughkeepsie Precinct, married 1 Hannah Davis; married 2 Mary Van Wyck. Member New York Provincial Congress. Member New York Council of Safety. State Senator 1777-1783. Member New York Constitutional Convention, 1788. Colonel Dutchess County Militia, 1779. Judge of the County Court, 1781-1795. Removed to Plattsburgh, N.Y., of which he was one of the founders, in 1798. Samuel Dodge, 1730-1807, of Poughkeepsie Precinct, married Helena Amerman in 1753. Chairman of the Dutchess County Committee of Safety, Lieutenant of the 2nd New York Line and the 5th New York Line in the Revolution. Taken prisoner at Fort Montgomery in 1777. Author, scholar, astronomer. Commissioner of Forfeiture for the Middle District of New York. Assemblyman 1778-1779. Justice of the Peace, Dutchess County, 1781. Gilbert Livingston, 1742-1806, of Poughkeepsie Precinct, married Catherine Crannell. Member Dutchess County Military Committee and the Dutchess County Committee of Safety, 1775. Member of all the Provincial Congresses and Convention, 17751777. Member Committee of Correspondence. Assemblyman, 17771778, 1788-1789. Surrogate of Dutchess County, 1778-1787. Delegate to the New York Constitutional Convention, 1788. County Clerk, 1804. Member second New York State Board of Regents. Presidential elector in 1800 for Thomas Jefferson. Poughkeepsie lawyer and partner of Bartholomew Crannell and later the jurist James Kent. Egbert Benson, 1746-1833, of Rhinebeck Precinct. Lawyer of considerable distinction. Member of the New York Committee of Safety. First Attorney-General of New York, 1777. Assemblyman, 1777-1778. Member of the Continental Congress, 17841788. Member of the New York Constitutional Convention, 1788. Congressman, 1789-1793, 1813-1815. State Supreme Court Justice, 1794, 1802. U.S. Circuit Court Judge, 1802. Regent of the

University of the State of New York, 1789-1802. Author. First president of the New-York Historical Society, 1817. Anthony Hoffman, 1739-1790, of Rhinebeck Precinct, married Mary Rutgers. Provincial loan officer for Dutchess County before the Revolution. Member of several military committees at the start of the war. Colonel in the Revolution. Member of the first, third and fourth Provincial Congresses. Assemblyman 1777-1778. Regent of New York University, 1784-1787. Supervisor of Rhinebeck, 1781-1785. Merchant, mill and ferry owner in Rhinebeck Precinct. Derick Brinckerhoff, 1721-1789, of Rombout Precinct, married Geertje Wyckoff. Member of the Provincial Assembly, 1768-1775. Delegate to the first Provincial Congress, Colonel of the Second Regiment, Dutchess County Militia. Assemblyman, 1777 and served until 1787 with the exception of two sessions. Chairman of the Rombout Committee of Safety, 1775. Host to George Washington, John Adams, Lafayette and a host of the leaders of the Revolution. Farmer and mill owner. John Schenck, Jr., 1748-1784, of Poughkeepsie Precinct, married Ann Vanderspiegel. Member of the Third Provincial Congress and the Fourth Provincial Convention. Secretary of the Poughkeepsie Committee of Safety, 1776. Major, Second Regiment, Dutchess County Minutemen, 1776. Assemblyman, 17771778. Merchant at Poughkeepsie, 1772-1778. Continental Army commissary agent at Poughkeepsie.