Recorder of New York City
Encyclopedia
The Recorder of New York City was a municipal officer of New York City
from 1683 until the early 20th century. He was at times a judge of the Court of General Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, and the New York Court of Common Pleas
; Vice-President of the Board of Supervisors of New York County; Vice-President of the Board of Aldermen of New York City
; Deputy Mayor of New York City
; a director of the Bank of the Manhattan Company
; a commissioner of the city's Sinking fund
; a commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Board; and sat on the boards of a large number of charitable organizations. The Recorder was not a recorder of deeds
, these were kept by the Register of New York City.
Under the State Constitution of 1777, the recorder was appointed by the Council of Appointment
, and held the office "during the Council's pleasure", there being still no defined term of office.
From 1787 to 1875, the recorder was also a member of the Board of Supervisors of the County of New York, which consisted of the mayor, the recorder and the aldermen of New York City. In the absence of the mayor, the recorder presided over the Board.
Under the State Constitution of 1821, the recorder was appointed by the Governor of New York
, and confirmed by the New York State Senate
, and held the office until the appointment of a successor.
On December 15, 1847, the City Charter was amended, providing for the election of the recorder by popular ballot at the same time of the general elections (the Tuesday after the first Monday in November), to take office on January 1 next for a term of three years.
In 1857, when the New York Metropolitan Police was created, the recorder became one of the commissioners of the Police Board.
The recorder's term was extended to six years during John K. Hackett's first term. After the adoption of the "Judicial Article" in 1869
, the Recorder was not considered a municipal officer any more, but a judicial officer. He ceased to be a member of the Board of Supervisors, and his term was extended to 14 years, to match the term length of the other judges and justices of the New York courts.
The recorder remained one of the judges of the Court of General Sessions (the New York City court of general jurisdiction in criminal cases) until the office was abolished in 1907.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
from 1683 until the early 20th century. He was at times a judge of the Court of General Sessions, of the Court of Special Sessions, and the New York Court of Common Pleas
New York Court of Common Pleas
The New York Court of Common Pleas was a state court in New York. Established in New Netherland in 1686, the Court remained in existence in the Province of New York and, after the American Revolution, in the U.S...
; Vice-President of the Board of Supervisors of New York County; Vice-President of the Board of Aldermen of New York City
New York City Council
The New York City Council is the lawmaking body of the City of New York. It has 51 members from 51 council districts throughout the five boroughs. The Council serves as a check against the mayor in a "strong" mayor-council government model. The council monitors performance of city agencies and...
; Deputy Mayor of New York City
Mayor of New York City
The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the...
; a director of the Bank of the Manhattan Company
Bank of the Manhattan Company
The Bank of the Manhattan Company is the earliest of the predecessor institutions that eventually formed the current JPMorgan Chase & Co.-History:...
; a commissioner of the city's Sinking fund
Sinking fund
A sinking fund is a fund established by a government agency or business for the purpose of reducing debt by repaying or purchasing outstanding loans and securities held against the entity. It helps keep the borrower liquid so it can repay the bondholder....
; a commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Board; and sat on the boards of a large number of charitable organizations. The Recorder was not a recorder of deeds
Recorder of deeds
Recorder of deeds is a government office tasked with maintaining public records and documents, especially records relating to real estate ownership that provide persons other than the owner of a property with real rights over that property.-Background:...
, these were kept by the Register of New York City.
History
The first recorders were appointed by the colonial governor, and held the office "during the Governor's pleasure", meaning that there was no defined term of office.Under the State Constitution of 1777, the recorder was appointed by the Council of Appointment
Council of Appointment
The Council of Appointment was a body of the Government of New York that existed from 1777 to 1822.-History:...
, and held the office "during the Council's pleasure", there being still no defined term of office.
From 1787 to 1875, the recorder was also a member of the Board of Supervisors of the County of New York, which consisted of the mayor, the recorder and the aldermen of New York City. In the absence of the mayor, the recorder presided over the Board.
Under the State Constitution of 1821, the recorder was appointed by the Governor of New York
Governor of New York
The Governor of the State of New York is the chief executive of the State of New York. The governor is the head of the executive branch of New York's state government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military and naval forces. The officeholder is afforded the courtesy title of His/Her...
, and confirmed by the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
, and held the office until the appointment of a successor.
On December 15, 1847, the City Charter was amended, providing for the election of the recorder by popular ballot at the same time of the general elections (the Tuesday after the first Monday in November), to take office on January 1 next for a term of three years.
In 1857, when the New York Metropolitan Police was created, the recorder became one of the commissioners of the Police Board.
The recorder's term was extended to six years during John K. Hackett's first term. After the adoption of the "Judicial Article" in 1869
New York state election, 1869
The 1869 New York state election was held on November 2, 1869, to elect the Secretary of State, the State Comptroller, the Attorney General, the State Treasurer, the State Engineer, two Judges of the New York Court of Appeals, a Canal Commissioners and an Inspector of State Prisons, as well as all...
, the Recorder was not considered a municipal officer any more, but a judicial officer. He ceased to be a member of the Board of Supervisors, and his term was extended to 14 years, to match the term length of the other judges and justices of the New York courts.
The recorder remained one of the judges of the Court of General Sessions (the New York City court of general jurisdiction in criminal cases) until the office was abolished in 1907.
List of Recorders
| Recorder | Took office | Left office | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Graham | 1683 | 1688? | ||
| (vacant) | 1689? | 1691? | ||
| William Pinhorne | 1691 | 1693 | ||
| James Graham | 1693 | 1701 | ||
| Abraham Gouverneur | 1701 | 1703 | ||
| Sampson Shelton Broughton | 1703 | 1705 | ||
| John Tudor | 1705 | 1709 | ||
| May Bickley | 1709 | 1712 | ||
| David Jamieson | 1712 | 1725 | ||
| Francis Harison Francis Harison -Life:He was the son of Rev. William Harison, Rector of Cheriton, England. He came to New York about 1710.On October 5, 1721, Harison was appointed Judge of Admiralty for New York, Connecticut and the Jerseys, in place of Caleb Heathcote, deceased. Harison was Recorder of New York City from 1725 to... |
1725 | 1735 | ||
| Daniel Horsmanden Daniel Horsmanden Daniel Horsmanden was a chief justice of the supreme court in the Province of New York and member of the governor's executive council.... |
1736 | 1747 | also 3rd Justice of the Supreme Court of the Province of New York 1737-1747 | |
| Simon Johnson | 1747 | 1769 | ||
| Thomas Jones Thomas Jones (historian) Thomas Jones was a lawyer and politician of colonial New York.-Life:... |
November 19, 1769 | October 13, 1773 | ||
| Robert R. Livingston | October 13, 1773 | 1774 | ||
| John Watts | 1774 | February 20, 1784 | last recorder appointed by the colonial governor, remained in office until the capture of New York City by the revolutionary forces | |
| Richard Varick Richard Varick Richard Varick was an American lawyer and politician. He was born on 15 March 1753 at Hackensack in Bergen County, New Jersey, and he died on 30 July 1831 at Jersey City in Hudson County, New Jersey.... |
February 20, 1784 | September 29, 1789 | in 1787 and 1788 also Speaker of the New York State Assembly Speaker of the New York State Assembly The Speaker of the New York State Assembly is the highest official in the New York State Assembly, customarily elected from the ranks of the majority party.... , and from April 1788 to September 1789 also New York State Attorney General New York State Attorney General The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman... ; left both offices upon appointment as Mayor of New York City Mayor of New York City The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the... |
|
| Samuel Jones Samuel Jones (NY comptroller) Samuel Jones was an American lawyer and politician.-Life:He was the son of William Jones and Phoebe Jones .... |
September 29, 1789 | March 28, 1797 | Federalist | appointed New York State Comptroller New York State Comptroller The New York State Comptroller is a state cabinet officer of the U.S. state of New York. The duties of the comptroller include auditing government operations and operating the state's retirement system.-History:... |
| James Kent James Kent James Kent was an American jurist and legal scholar.-Life:... |
March 28, 1797 | February 15, 1798 | Federalist | appointed to the New York Supreme Court New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties... |
| Richard Harison Richard Harison Richard Harison was an American lawyer and Federalist politician from New York.-Life:... |
February 15, 1798 | August 25, 1801 | Federalist | also United States Attorney for the District of New York United States Attorney for the District of New York The U.S. Attorney for the District of New York was from 1789 to 1815 the chief federal law enforcement officer in the federal judicial District of New York, which at that time was coterminous with the whole State of New York. In 1814, the District of New York was split into the Northern and the... from 1789 to 1801 |
| John B. Prevost John Bartow Prevost John Bartow Prevost was the first judge of the Superior Court of the Territory of Orleans from 1804-1808.-Early life and family:Prevost was born on March 6, 1766 in Paramus, New Jersey... |
August 25, 1801 | November 10, 1804 | Dem.-Rep. | appointed to the Superior Court of the Territory of Orleans |
| Maturin Livingston Maturin Livingston Maturin Livingston was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Robert James Livingston and Susanna Livingston... |
November 10, 1804 | March 26, 1806 | Dem.-Rep./Lewisite | |
| Pierre C. Van Wyck Pierre C. Van Wyck Pierre Van Cortlandt Van Wyck was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Abraham Van Wyck and Catherine Van Wyck... |
March 26, 1806 | February 16, 1807 | Dem.-Rep./Clintonian | |
| Maturin Livingston Maturin Livingston Maturin Livingston was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Robert James Livingston and Susanna Livingston... |
February 16, 1807 | February 8, 1808 | Dem.-Rep./Lewisite | second tenure |
| Pierre C. Van Wyck Pierre C. Van Wyck Pierre Van Cortlandt Van Wyck was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Abraham Van Wyck and Catherine Van Wyck... |
February 8, 1808 | February 13, 1810 | Dem.-Rep./Clintonian | second tenure |
| Josiah Ogden Hoffman Josiah Ogden Hoffman Ogden Hoffman was an American lawyer and politician.Hoffman was the son of New York State Attorney General Josiah Ogden Hoffman and Mary Hoffman. He pursued classical studies and graduated from Columbia College in 1812... |
February 13, 1810 | February 19, 1811 | Federalist Federalist The term federalist describes several political beliefs around the world. Also, it may refer to the concept of federalism or the type of government called a federation... |
|
| Pierre C. Van Wyck Pierre C. Van Wyck Pierre Van Cortlandt Van Wyck was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Abraham Van Wyck and Catherine Van Wyck... |
February 19, 1811 | February 8, 1813 | Dem.-Rep./Clintonian | third tenure |
| Josiah Ogden Hoffman Josiah Ogden Hoffman Ogden Hoffman was an American lawyer and politician.Hoffman was the son of New York State Attorney General Josiah Ogden Hoffman and Mary Hoffman. He pursued classical studies and graduated from Columbia College in 1812... |
February 8, 1813 | March 6, 1815 | Federalist | second tenure |
| Richard Riker Richard Riker Richard Riker was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Congressman Samuel Riker and Anna Riker... |
March 6, 1815 | April 6, 1819 | Dem.-Rep./Clintonian; Dem.-Rep./Bucktail |
|
| Peter A. Jay | April 6, 1819 | March 6, 1821 | Federalist | |
| Richard Riker Richard Riker Richard Riker was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Congressman Samuel Riker and Anna Riker... |
March 6, 1821 | 1823 | Dem.-Rep./Bucktail | second tenure |
| Samuel Jones Samuel Jones (chancellor) Samuel Jones Samuel Jones Samuel Jones (May 26, 1769 New York City - August 9, 1853 Cold Spring Harbor, New York was an American lawyer and politician.-Biography:He was the son of Samuel Jones (1734–1819). He graduated from Columbia University in 1790. He then studied law in his father's office and... |
1823 | 1824 | son of the previous Recorder of the same name | |
| Richard Riker Richard Riker Richard Riker was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Congressman Samuel Riker and Anna Riker... |
1824 | 1838 | Dem.-Rep./Bucktail; Democrat |
third tenure |
| Robert H. Morris Robert Morris (mayor) Robert Hunter Morris was an attorney and Mayor of New York.- Early political career :... |
1838 | 1841 | Democrat | removed from office by Gov. William H. Seward William H. Seward William Henry Seward, Sr. was the 12th Governor of New York, United States Senator and the United States Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Johnson... , but elected Mayor of New York City Mayor of New York City The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the... |
| Frederick A. Tallmadge Frederick A. Tallmadge Frederick Augustus Tallmadge was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom New York's 5th congressional district from 1847 to 1849.-Biography:... |
1841 | 1846 | Whig | |
| John B. Scott John B. Scott John B. Scott was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was for more than twenty years a justice of the New York City Marine Court... |
1846 | December 31, 1848 | Democrat | |
| Frederick A. Tallmadge Frederick A. Tallmadge Frederick Augustus Tallmadge was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was a Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom New York's 5th congressional district from 1847 to 1849.-Biography:... |
January 1, 1849 | December 31, 1851 | Whig | second tenure; first recorder elected by popular ballot |
| Francis R. Tillou Francis R. Tillou Francis Redding Tillou was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:On February 15, 1822, he married Caroline M. Drake , a sister of the poet Joseph Rodman Drake , and their son was Charles Graham TillouFrancis Redding Tillou (ca. 1795 – July 10, 1865) was an American lawyer and... |
January 1, 1852 | December 31, 1854 | Democrat | |
| James M. Smith, Jr. | January 1, 1855 | December 31, 1857 | Democrat | |
| George G. Barnard George G. Barnard George Gardner Barnard was an American lawyer and politician from New York. He was one of only four people tried by the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments.-Life:... |
January 1, 1858 | December 31, 1860 | Democrat | |
| John T. Hoffman John T. Hoffman John Thompson Hoffman was the 23rd Governor of New York . He was also Recorder of New York City and Mayor of New York City... |
January 1, 1861 | December 31, 1865 | Democrat | elected Mayor of New York City Mayor of New York City The Mayor of the City of New York is head of the executive branch of New York City's government. The mayor's office administers all city services, public property, police and fire protection, most public agencies, and enforces all city and state laws within New York City.The budget overseen by the... during his second term |
| John K. Hackett John K. Hackett John Keteltas Hackett was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:... |
March 6, 1866 | December 26, 1879 | Democrat | elected by the Board of Supervisors to fill vacancy; then elected as a Democrat to two terms (1867-69 and 1870-75); in 1875 elected on Republican and Anti-Tammany tickets; died in office |
| Frederick Smyth Frederick Smyth (New York) Frederick Smyth was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He was the son of Matthew Thomas Smyth who was one of the two sheriffs of the City of Galway from 1817 to 1822. After the death of his father, Frederick emigrated to New York City in 1849... |
December 31, 1879 | 1894 | Democrat | elected by the Board of Supervisors to fill vacancy; in 1880 elected to full 14-year term |
| John W. Goff | January 1, 1895 | December 31, 1906 | Goff was an Anti-Tammany Democrat, elected on a fusion ticket nominated by a large number of organizations, including the Republicans | elected to the New York Supreme Court New York Supreme Court The Supreme Court of the State of New York is the trial-level court of general jurisdiction in thestate court system of New York, United States. There is a supreme court in each of New York State's 62 counties, although some smaller counties share judges with neighboring counties... |
| Francis S. McAvoy Francis S. McAvoy Francis S. McAvoy was an American lawyer and politician from New York.-Life:He graduated from Columbia Law School. In May 1905, he was appointed by Mayor George B. McClellan as a Police Magistrate, and in July a judge of the Court of Special Sessions... |
January 22, 1907 | December 31, 1907 | Democrat | elected by the Board of Aldermen, to fill vacancy; office abolished |
Sources
- The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough (page 428; Weed, Parsons and Co., 1858)
- Courts and Lawyers of New York: A History, 1609-1925 by Alden Chester & E. Melvin Williams (Vol. 1, page 896)
- Historical Ssketch of the Board of Supervisors of the County of New York (pages 11ff)
- THE RECORDERSHIP in NYT on January 12, 1866