Albany County Timeline

1700–1799

1701	Lord Cornbury orders the rebuilding of Fort Frederick with stone.
1702-1713	Start of Queen Anne's War in America (called the war of Spanish Succession in Europe). The Tuscarora join the Iroquois Confederacy.
1710	Pieter Schuyler brings Mohawk chiefs to England.
1713	The start of three decades of peace on the New York frontier. Palatine Germans begin to arrive in New York, many eventually settle in Schoharie and Mohawk Valleys.
1717-1808	Albany County gains and loses territory during this time, finally reaching its present size with the creation of Schenectady County in 1808.
1745	Garrison in fort is increased and all male citizens are placed under arms on outbreak of war between England and France, the War of Austrian Succession, a.k.a. King George's War in America.
1754	First Colonial Congress is held at Albany, where Benjamin Franklin introduces the Albany Plan of Union for all the colonies. Treaty is made with the Iroquois Five Nations.
1754	The French and Indian War begins. It is a part of the Seven Years War, a world war also fought in Europe, Asia, Africa and at sea. It will end in 1763.
1755	Colonel William Johnson, commander of the Albany County militia, captures Baron Dieskau at Battle of Lake George. King Hendrick, Mohawk leader, is killed there.
1758	Dr. Richard Shuckburgh composes "Yankee Doodle" at Fort Crailo as British Army assembles under General Abercrombie for attack on Ticonderoga. Abercrombie's army is defeated by the French with great losses.
1759	Lord Jeffrey Amherst completes conquest of Canada and moves troops from Albany to Montreal, alienating the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy.
1761-1762	British troops build Schuyler Mansion.
1763	Treaty of Paris ends the French and Indian War. France loses Canada to Britain.
1765	The British Parliament passes the Stamp Act, to the colonists' outcry of:  “No taxation without representation!”
1766	Sons of Liberty orchestrate opposition to the Stamp Act.
1773	The publication of Laws and Ordinances of Albany.
1774	Mother Ann Lee establishes the Shaker community in Watervliet.
1775	The American Revolution begins
1775	First public meeting of the Albany Committee of Correspondence. Mass meeting of citizens declares sympathy for people of Lexington and Concord. Companies enroll for service in the Revolutionary War. Major General Philip Schuyler commands the Northern Department of the Continental Army.
1776	The Declaration of Independence is read at City Hall. Mayor Abraham Cuyler, a royalist, is deposed. Tories are arrested for drinking to the King's health. The Committee of Safety takes over city government. Many local Tories leave for Canada. The Battle of Valcour Island is fought on Lake Champlain and Benedict Arnold stalls a British invasion.
1777	Refugees (from Saratoga and Ticonderoga) pour into Albany as Burgoyne advances. City celebrates victory at Saratoga. Burgoyne passes through Albany as a prisoner of war. Albany County Militia played a key role in Burgoyne's defeat. New York State adopts its first constitution.
1778	General Lafayette takes up headquarters in city of Albany. Commissioners for Detecting and Defeating Conspiracies prosecutes Tories.
1780	New York State Legislature first meets in Albany; passes an act restoring Albany's municipal government.
1781	British are foiled in an attempt to kidnap General Schuyler. American victory over British at Yorktown, VA. Battle of Johnstown, last battle of the America Revolution.
1783	General Washington visits city of Albany with several of his officers.
1783	The Peace of Paris is signed and the Revolutionary War ends with American independence. Eighty thousand Tories begin exodus from the United States.
1785	Captain Stewart Dean's sloop, Experiment, sails from Albany to Canton, China and back.
1786	The City of Albany celebrates its centennial.
1788	Township of Watervliet is established, encompassing all of present day Albany County with the exception of the city of Albany.
1790	The City of Albany's population reaches 3,498; Albany County's population reaches 75, 980. Town of Rensselaerville is established. Albany becomes the center of New York State's major turnpikes. The beginning of the Industrial Revolution in the Hudson Valley.
1791	Town of Coeymans is established.
1793	Great fire destroys buildings in lower State Street–Maiden Lane area. Three slaves are subsequently hanged for arson. Town of Bethlehem is established.
1795	Town of Berne is established. Five hundred sleigh loads of emigrants pass through city of Albany to settle western New York.
1797	The city of Albany becomes New York State's capital and the seat of Albany County.
1799	Beginning of gradual manumission of slaves in New York State.

Sources:

• Kimball, Francis P. Knickerbocker News, September 18, 1959
• Internet Time Line for Albany, NY
• Hislop, Codman Albany: Dutch, English, and American, The Argus Press, Publishers, Albany, New York, 1936.
• McEneny, John J. Albany, Capital City on the Hudson, An Illustrated History, c. 2006 (with special material, “Albany Time Line,” by Robert W. Arnold III)
• Roseberry, C. R. Albany: Three Centuries A County, The Argus Press, Publishers, Albany, New York, 1983.