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Thehistory ofAlbany,New York from 1664 to 1784 begins with theEnglish takeover ofNew Netherland and ends with the ratification of theTreaty of Paris by theCongress of the Confederation in 1784, ending theRevolutionary War.
When New Netherland was captured by the English in 1664, the name Beverwijck was changed to Albany, in honor of theDuke of Albany (laterJames II of England and James VII of Scotland).[1][Note 1] Duke of Albany was aScottish title given since 1398, generally to a younger son of theKing of Scots.[2] The name is ultimately derived fromAlba, theGaelic name forScotland.[3]
The Dutch briefly regained Albany in August 1673 and renamed the city Willemstadt; the English took permanent possession with theTreaty of Westminster (1674).[4] On November 1, 1683, theProvince of New York was split into counties, withAlbany County being the largest. At that time the county included all the present New York State north ofDutchess andUlster Counties in addition to present-dayBennington County,Vermont, theoretically stretching west to thePacific Ocean;[5][6] the city of Albany became thecounty seat.[7]
Albany was formally chartered as a municipality byprovincial GovernorThomas Dongan on July 22, 1686. TheDongan Charter was virtually identical in content to the charter awarded to the city of New York three months earlier.[8]Dongan created Albany as a strip of land 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and 16 miles (26 km) long.[9] Over the years Albany would lose much of the land to the west and annex land to the north and south. At this point, Albany had a population of about 500 people.[10]
In 1754, representatives of sevenBritish North American colonies met in theStadt Huys, Albany's city hall, for theAlbany Congress;Benjamin Franklin ofPennsylvania presented theAlbany Plan of Union there, which was the first formal proposal to unite the colonies.[11] Although it was never adopted byParliament, it was an important precursor to theUnited States Constitution.[Note 2] The same year, theFrench and Indian War, the fourth in aseries of wars dating back to 1689, began; it ended in 1763 withFrench defeat, resolving a situation that had been a constant threat to Albany and held back its growth.[13]
In 1775, with the colonies in the midst of theRevolutionary War, theStadt Huys became home to the AlbanyCommittee of Correspondence (the political arm of the local revolutionary movement), which took over operation of Albany's government and eventually expanded its power to control all ofAlbany County.Tories and prisoners of war were often jailed in theStadt Huys alongside common criminals.[14] In 1776, Albany nativePhilip Livingston signed theDeclaration of Independence atIndependence Hall inPhiladelphia.[15]
During and after the Revolutionary War, Albany County saw a great increase in real estate transactions. AfterHoratio Gates' win overJohn Burgoyne atSaratoga in 1777, the upperHudson Valley was generally at peace as the war raged on elsewhere. Prosperity was soon seen all overUpstate New York. Migrants from Vermont and Connecticut began flowing in, noting the advantages of living on the Hudson and trading at Albany, while being only a few days' sail from New York City.[16] Albany reported a population of 3,498 in thefirst national census in 1790, an increase of almost 700% since its chartering.[10] In 1797, thestate capital of New York was moved permanently to Albany. Fromstatehood to this date, theLegislature had frequently moved the state capital between Albany,Kingston,Poughkeepsie, and the city of New York.[17] Albany is the second oldest state capital in the United States.[18]
In the period leading up to theSecond Anglo-Dutch War,King Charles II of England granted the land from Maine to Delaware, which included all of New Netherland, to his brotherJames, Duke of York. In April 1664 four ships with a combined 450-men fighting force set sail for New Amsterdam. Fort Orange was surrendered to the English 16 days after New Amsterdam (the city of New York).[19] Surrender terms at New Amsterdam were quite generous. Fort Orange was renamed Fort Albany, and the village of Beverswyck was renamed Albany, in honor of theDuke of York and Albany,[20] who later becameKingJames II of England and James VII of Scotland. Captain John Manning was given command of Fort Albany.[19]
The Dutch briefly regained Albany in 1673, during which time the town was referred to as Willemstadt, but the Dutch again lost control in November 1674.[specify][20] Fort Albany was renamed Fort Nassau during this time. It was called Fort Nassau instead of Fort Orange to avoid confusion with New York City's renaming as New Orange.[4] After the English recapture of Willemstadt, all names were returned to their previous English names, but most Dutch political appointees from that period were retained. In 1676, GovernorEdmund Andros of theDominion of New England (of which the Province of New York was a part) hadFort Frederick built at the top of Yonkers Street, today the corner of State and Lodge streets, to replace Fort Albany, which was located by the Hudson River.[21]
Albany was formally chartered as a municipality by GovernorThomas Dongan on July 22, 1686. At this time Albany had a population of only 500. The "Dongan Charter" was virtually identical in content to the charter awarded to the city of New York three months earlier.[8]Pieter Schuyler was appointed first mayor of Albany the day the charter was signed.[22] As part of the Dongan Charter the city's boundaries were fixed with Patroon Street (today Clinton Avenue) as the northern limit and the "northern tip of Martin Gerritsen's Island" as the southern limit, both lines extending 16 miles (26 km) to the northwest. Albany was given the right to purchase 500 acres (2.0 km2) in "Schaahtecogue" (todaySchaghticoke),[23][24] and 1,000 acres (4.0 km2) at "Tionnondoroge" (todayFort Hunter).[23][25]
In 1689 Albany became a center of resistance toJacob Leisler who, during confusion over theGlorious Revolution, ledLeisler's Rebellion and tookde facto control over the colony. Leisler appointed a new mayor of Albany, but the replacement was not recognized by Schuyler or the other city fathers.[26] Threesloops sailed from the city of New York to Albany under the command of Jacob Milborne. Milborne attempted to enter Fort Albany and arrest Mayor Schuyler but was forced to return to New York after a group of Mohawks threatened to intervene on Schuyler's behalf.[27][clarification needed]
On February 8, 1690, the nearby settlement of Corlear (todaySchenectady) was attacked by the French and their native allies. Over 60 people were killed, with more taken prisoner. Simon Schermerhorn rode all night to Albany to warn of the French incursion.[28] This incident (referred to as theSchenectady Massacre) is commemorated each year with a horse-ride by the mayor of Schenectady to Albany'scity hall in addition to other local celebrations.[29]
In 1694Johannes Abeel succeeded Schuyler to become the second mayor of Albany.[30] His term lasted only one year and in 1695 Evert Bancker was appointed Albany's third mayor.[why?][31]
Due to increased pirate activity in the Hudson River, one of the City Fathers,Robert Livingston, partnered with New York GovernorRichard Coote to destroy the pirate's bases in theWest Indies.Captain William Kidd was hired to lead the expedition.[32]
In 1696, after only a year in office, MayorEvert Bancker was replaced withDirck Wesselse Ten Broeck who was then replaced two years later with Hendrick Hansen.[33] Hansen also served only one year and was replaced in 1699 byPieter Van Brugh. Van Brugh and the succeeding three mayors (Jan Jansen Bleecker, Johannes Bleecker Jr.,Albert Janse Ryckman) each served only one year. Johannes Schuyler was appointed mayor in 1703 and was succeeded byDavid Schuyler in 1706. David Schuyler served only one year before he too was replaced. Evert Bancker, Albany's third mayor, was returned to office by the governor of New York in 1707 but then replaced in 1709 by Albany's second mayor, Johannes Abeel.Robert Livingston Jr was appointed mayor in 1710 and became the first mayor since Pieter Schuyler to serve more than three years.[34] A census taken in 1710 showed the population had more than doubled since Albany became a city in 1686. The city had a population of 1,136; 113 of these were slaves.[35]
Queen Anne gave theAnglican community in Albany the right to build a church. After many years of conflict in which the city council was dominated by those of theDutch Reformed faith who attempted to stop construction of the church,Saint Peter's was eventually built in 1717. It was the first Anglican church in New York west of the Hudson River. It is located at the corner of State Street and Lodge Street.[Note 3][36]
Robert Livingston was replaced as mayor by Myndert Schuyler in 1719, but Schuyler was replaced with former mayor Pieter Van Brugh the next year. The first recorded instance of a person from Ireland living in Albany occurred in 1720; 100 years later the Irish would become one of the most important immigrant groups in Albany history. In 1722 Albany was home to negotiations between theIroquois and the provinces of New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia resulting in the Treaty of Albany which limited the Iroquois to west of theBlue Ridge Mountains.[37] Myndert Schuyler was returned to the office of mayor in 1723. In 1725 Schuyler was again replaced, this time withJohannes Cuyler, who was replaced a year later withRutger Bleecker. In 1729 Bleecker was replaced with Johannes De Peyster, the only mayor to serve three non-consecutive terms. Johannes Hansen served for one year during 1731 after which De Peyster was returned to office by the governor. Also in 1731 Albany received from England its first primitive fire engine "to spout water" upon fires from a safer distance than using buckets carried up ladders.[38]
In 1733 De Peyster again was replaced, this time by Edward Holland. Holland, despite his last name, is the first mayor of Albany to be of any religion other than that of Dutch Reformed. He was of Anglican faith.[39] John Schuyler Jr. was appointed mayor in 1740. He was of Dutch Reformed faith and served for one year before being replaced by De Peyster. De Peyster served his third and final time from 1741 to 1742.Cornelis Cuyler was appointed mayor in 1742.
France and Britain declared war in 1744 and almost immediately forces were assembled in Albany for an invasion north to French Canada. French Canadian and natives attacked settlements north of Albany in 1745 and forced refugees to flee to Albany.[40] In response,Colonel William Johnson assembled representatives from the Iroquois Confederacy in Albany in 1746 and successfully convinced them to declare war against the French.[40] Also in 1746Dirck Ten Broeck was appointed mayor by the governor. In 1748 peace came between France and Britain (and therefore between Canada and New York) through the signing of theTreaty of Aix-la-Chapelle and Jacob Ten Eyck was appointed mayor.[41]
In 1750 Robert Sanders took the oath of office as mayor of Albany and in 1751 an auction was held to sell the rights to operate two ferries, one from Greenbush (todayRensselaer) to Albany, and another from Albany to Greenbush.[42] Also, a conference was held in Albany consisting of representatives from the Iroquois Nation, New York GovernorGeorge Clinton, the Indian commissioners fromSouth Carolina,Massachusetts,Connecticut, and theCatawba tribe the same year.[why?][42]
Since Massachusetts claimed a boundary extending "from sea to sea", which would include the city and much of the surroundingAlbany County, disputes occurred between the sheriffs from Albany and the sheriffs fromSpringfield, Massachusetts. In 1751, after some Massachusetts officers were arrested and brought to Albany, the sheriff of Albany County was arrested and taken to Springfield.[specify][43]
Fear of imminent war with France led the BritishLords of Trade in 1753 to send letters to the colonies of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, suggesting they meet in Albany to discuss their common defense. The next year all except Virginia and New Jersey attend, butRhode Island and Connecticut attend in their stead.[43]Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania presented what is now known as theAlbany Plan of Union. The meeting, which took place at the corner of Broadway and Hudson Avenue, became known as theAlbany Congress. Although it was never adopted byParliament, it was an important precursor to theUnited States Constitution. One month later, fears of a war with France came true and new stockades are erected at Albany.[44] Johannes Hansen is appointed mayor.
During theFrench and Indian War, Albany was the target of several French plans to cut the British colonies in half. Albany was also the point in which British and colonial troops were assembled, and where several invasions of French Canada, and specificallyMontreal, were planned. By 1756, 10,000 soldiers were drilling in Albany in preparation of attacks on Canada or for defense of the route to Albany.[clarification needed][45] Sybrant Van Schaick was appointed mayor in 1756 and a smallpox epidemic occurred.[46] Refugees and soldiers continued to pour into the city as fighting along the routes to and from Canada escalated. Due to the large population of British soldiers, British tastes are introduced to Albany, and the first theatrical performance in the city occurred in the winter of 1757 by the British officers stationed there.[47]
General James Abercrombie's troops were stationed across the river from Albany in Greenbush, next toFort Crailo. Dr. Shackburg of the British army composes "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to mock the various colonial militias that came to Albany.[48] In 1758 General LordGeorge Augustus Howe was killed at theBattle of Ticonderoga and was subsequently buried in Albany, today under the front vestibule of Saint Peter's Church on State Street. He is the only British Lord buried in the United States.[49][50] TheSchuyler Mansion was built in 1761 by ColonelJohn Bradstreet for GeneralPhilip Schuyler, famous visitors in later years includeGeorge Washington,Benjamin Franklin, andAaron Burr.[51]
Volkert Douw was appointed mayor in 1761. In 1763 a second fire engine was purchased. Prior to 1766 Albany had no permanent docks, so in that year the Common Council had three stone docks built. Each were 80 feet (24 m) long and between 30 feet (9.1 m) and 40 feet (12 m) wide.[52] In 1770Abraham Cuyler was appointed mayor, being the last mayor to be appointed under a British Royal Commission.[53] Also in that year, a fourth dock was built along the river and the sloop Olive Branch became the first Albany ship to set sail for the West Indies.[54] Additionally, the city sold its remaining land in Schaghticoke. The Gazette became the first newspaper in Albany, first published in 1771 by Alexander and James Robertson.[55]
By 1774 events in other colonies regarding disputes with the British Parliament over taxation brought Albany into the wider issue of a colonial union for the first time since the Albany Congress. John Barclay became chairman of the newly formedCommittee of Superintendence and Correspondence.[56] The committee selected Colonel Philip Schuyler, Abraham Yates Jr, Colonel Abraham Ten Broeck, Colonel Peter Livingston, and Walter Livingston as delegates from Albany (city and county) to the provincial congress in New York[specify] that would select the colony's delegates for the Philadelphia meeting of theContinental Congress. Of them, only Schuyler was selected to represent the colony at Philadelphia.[57] In 1775 the Continental Congress sent a committee to Albany to make a treaty with the Iroquois ensuring either their cooperation or their neutrality. It ended with no decision, but ultimately was a failure.
The last Dutch-born minister of the Dutch Reformed Protestant Church in Albany,Eilardus Westerlo, began preaching in English in 1782.
Despite the war, the mayor and several others celebrated the King's birthday in 1776, but were disrupted by a mob. Later that month the sign from the King's Arms Tavern at the corner of Green and Beaver is carried to State Street and burned.[58]Philip Livingston, born in Albany, signed theDeclaration of Independence in July 1776 and on July 9 the New York Provincial Congress met atWhite Plains, officially changing the name from "Province of New York" to the "State of New York".[58] On July 19, the Declaration of Independence was read out loud in front of City Hall to a mass gathering. Due to the war, this was the first year city elections were not held.[59] City elections were not held in 1777 either.
The British copied French plans from the French and Indian War and sentGeneral Burgoyne toQuebec in order to march on Albany and meet up with forces coming east fromNiagara Falls and north from New York City, thereby cutting the New England states off from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Southern states.[60] The attacks from the west and south never actually got close to Albany, and Burgoyne's main thrust from the north was defeated at theBattle of Saratoga byGeneral Gates. On October 17, 1777, Burgoyne surrendered his army to Gates, ending the immediate threat to Albany for the remainder of the war. Burgoyne was then sent to Albany where he lived at the Schuyler Mansion as a prisoner under house arrest.[61] To help protect Albany from further encroachment by British forces based inManhattan,West Point was built along the Hudson between New York and Albany in 1778.
In 1778 the New York Legislature meeting inPoughkeepsie passed the "Act to remove all doubts concerning the corporation of the city of Albany", allowing the citizens to restructure the government. The legislature took over the job of appointing the mayor and subsequently appointed John Barclay. At that point, city elections resumed.[62] Barclay was Episcopalian and the first non-Dutch Reformed mayor since Edward Holland in 1733.[63] The next year General Abraham Ten Broeck was appointed to take over as mayor; he was of Dutch Reformed religion.
On January 27, 1780, theState Legislature met at Albany for the first time, meeting in City Hall on the corner of Broadway and Hudson Avenue.[64] The Legislature convenes again in Albany the next year.[citation needed]
In December of that year Alexander Hamilton married General Philip Schuyler's daughter Elizabeth at theSchuyler Mansion, which was Elizabeth's father's house and at the time called "The Pastures". Hamilton and his wife soon moved into a cottage on her father's land, where he studied law in the library of his father-in-law's house.Aaron Burr also studied law in that library, often getting into a tug-of-war over books with Hamilton.[65] In 1782 Burr also got married in Albany, at the Dutch Reformed Church the Schuylers attended.[66]
With Albany in relative calm after the Battle of Saratoga, not seriously threatened by native or British attacks, Albany could become more concentrated on commercial business, and in 1782 the first bank chartered in the city was created, the Bank of Albany. TheAmerican Revolutionary War came to an end in 1783 and Johannes Beekman was appointed mayor by the Governor.[why?] George Washington visited in this year and was presented with the "freedom of the city".[clarification needed][67]
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Albany, Dukes of".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 1 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 487.
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