78th Delaware General Assembly

American legislative session
78th Delaware General Assembly
77th 79th
Overview
Legislative bodyDelaware General Assembly
TermJanuary 1, 1875 (1875-01-01) – January 7, 1877 (1877-01-07)

The 78th Delaware General Assembly was a meeting of the legislative branch of the state government, consisting of the Delaware Senate and the Delaware House of Representatives. Elections were held the first Tuesday after November 1 and terms began in Dover on the first Tuesday in January. This date was January 1, 1875, which was two weeks before the beginning of the first administrative year of Governor John P. Cochran.

Currently the distribution of the Senate Assembly seats was made to three senators for each of the three counties. Likewise the current distribution of the House Assembly seats was made to seven representatives for each of the three counties. The actual population changes of the county did not directly affect the number of senators or representatives at this time.

In the 78th Delaware General Assembly session both chambers had a Democratic majority.

Leadership

Senate

  • Charles C. Stockley, Sussex County, Democratic

House of Representatives

  • Thomas Holcomb Sr., New Castle County, Democratic

Members

Senate

Senators were normally elected by the public for a four-year term; although many were selected to fill the remainder of a vacant position.

New Castle County
  • Henry Davis
  • James H. Ray
  • Leander F. Riddle
Kent County
  • Henry B. Fiddeman
  • William Sapp
  • William M. Shakespeare
Sussex County
  • John W. Causey
  • John T. Moore
  • Charles C. Stockley

House of Representatives

Representatives were elected by the public for a two-year term.

New Castle County
  • Thomas L. J. Baldwin Jr.
  • William P. Biggs
  • Thomas Bird
  • Samuel Hanby
  • Thomas Holcomb Sr.
  • Henry A. Nowland
  • Isaac C. Pyle
Kent County
  • William Broadaway
  • William B. Collins
  • Thomas C. Green
  • Webster D. Learned
  • James H. Todd
  • John M. Voshell
  • J. Frank Wilds
Sussex County
  • Asa F. Conwell
  • Paynter Frame
  • Shephard P. Houston
  • Robert Lambdin
  • Joseph G. McNeal
  • George H. Phillips
  • John W. Phillips

References

  • Hoffecker, Carol E. (2004). Democracy in Delaware. Wilmington, Delaware: Cedar Tree Books. ISBN 1-892142-23-6.
  • Martin, Roger A. (1995). Memoirs of the Senate. Newark, Delaware: Roger A. Martin.

Places with more information

  • Delaware Historical Society; website; 505 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801; (302) 655-7161.
  • University of Delaware; Library website; 181 South College Avenue, Newark, Delaware 19717; (302) 831-2965.
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Delaware General Assemblies (list)
Delaware Constitution of 1776Delaware Constitution of 1792Delaware Constitution of 1831Delaware Constitution of 1897Amended Constitution of 1897