History of Albany, New York (prehistory–1664)
History of Albany, New York |
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![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Hudson_Arrives_in_New_York_Harbor.jpg/220px-Hudson_Arrives_in_New_York_Harbor.jpg)
The history of
Permanent European claims began when Englishman
New Netherland was captured by the English in 1664 and the name Beverwijck was changed to Albany, in honor of the Duke of Albany (later James II of England and James VII of Scotland).[11][Note 2] Duke of Albany was a Scottish title given since 1398, generally to a younger son of the King of Scots.[12] The name is ultimately derived from Alba, the Gaelic name for Scotland.[13]
Pre-history and geography
Prior to European settlement Albany was a forested location along the Hudson River with five kills (kill being early Dutch for creek, a name still used by Albanians today). These kills carved out steep ravines that separated the hills of Albany from each other. Further inland was the Pine Bush, an inland pine barrens that stretched from Albany to Schenectady. As settlement grew the Pine Bush was gradually cut down further and further inland. The kills, such as the Rutten, Vosen (Foxes), and Beaver kills, were diverted into pipes and covered over. Patroon Creek and the Normans Kill are the two that remain. Some of the ravines were filled in over time. Sheridan Hollow, carved by the now covered Foxen Kill, and Tivoli Hollow, carved by Patroon Creek, are two ravines that are still extant. The Empire State Plaza would in the 1970s fill the hollow created by the already-covered Rutten Kill.[14] Lincoln Park is located in the hollow formed by the now covered Beaver Kill. Washington Park Lake is the result of damming up the only remaining part of the Rutten Kill that is above ground.[14]
The native inhabitants of Albany at the time of the arrival of the Dutch called the Normans Kill the Tawawsantha.[15] The area of Albany had been given different names by the various native tribes of the area. The Mohegans called it Pem-po-tu-wuth-ut, which means "place of the council fire", and the Iroquois called it Sche-negh-ta-da, meaning "through the pine woods".[16] The five kills were initially called First Kill, Second Kill, and so on. Normans Kill received its name from Albert Bradt, a Norwegian (Dutch: Noorman) and one of the earliest settlers, and the Rutten Kill was named for Rutgers Bleecker, an early land owner along its banks.[15]
Initial European settlement
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Castle_Island_and_Fort_Orange_Albany%2C_New_York_1629.jpg)
Albany is the oldest surviving European settlement from the original
Commencement of the fur trade provoked hostility from the French colony in Canada and amongst the native tribes, who vied for control. The fort was again abandoned due to the freshet and a replacement was built in 1624 as Fort Orange, slightly to the north.[19] Both forts were named in honor of the Dutch House of Orange-Nassau.[20]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Albany_Historical_Marker.jpg/200px-Albany_Historical_Marker.jpg)
In 1626 the
The
Notes
- Schenectady, to the west.[3]
- ^ James Stuart (1633–1701), brother and successor of Charles II, was both the Duke of York and Duke of Albany before being crowned James II of England and James VII of Scotland in 1685. His title of Duke of York is the source of the name of the province of New York.[11]
References
- ^ McEneny (2006), p. 6
- ^ Howell and Tenney (1886, Vol. II), p. 460
- ISBN 9780608402543.
- ^ Reynolds (1906), p. xxvii
- ^ Henry Hudson. (2010). Britannica,com. Retrieved June 27, 2010, from Britannica.com Online.
- ^ Reynolds (1906), p. 17
- ^ Howell and Tenney (1886, Vol. II), p. 775
- ^ Venema (2003), p. 13
- ^ Rittner (2002), p. 7
- ^ Venema (2003), p. 12
- ^ a b Brodhead (1874), p. 744
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 01 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 487–489.
- OCLC 3217086.
- ^ a b "Ruttenkill". Colonial Albany Social History Project. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ a b William Barnes (1851). The Settlement and Early History of Albany. Gould, Banks and Gould. p. 7. Retrieved 2009-02-28.
- ^ George Howell and Jonathan Tenney (1886). Bi-centennial History of Albany. W.W. Munsell & Co. p. 460. Retrieved 2009-08-09.
- ^ John D. Whish (1917). Albany Guide Book. J.B. Lyon Company. p. 5. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ Cuyler Reynolds (1906). Albany Chronicles. p. 17. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ "Castle Island". Colonial Albany Social History Project. Archived from the original on 2015-06-01. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ "A Virtual Tour of New Netherland". New Netherland Institute. Archived from the original on 2012-03-01. Retrieved 2009-01-19.
- ^ Cuyler Reynolds (1906). Albany Chronicles. p. 22. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ William Barnes (1851). The Settlement and Early History of Albany. Gould, Banks, & Gould. p. 14.
- ^ William Barnes (1851). The Settlement and Early History of Albany. Gould, Banks, & Gould. p. 17.
- ^ Cuyler Reynolds (1906). Albany Chronicles. p. 46. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
- ^ "Beverwyck". Colonial Albany Social History Project. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
Bibliography
- Brodhead, John Romeyn (1874). History of the State of New York. New York City: Harper & Brothers, Publishers. OCLC 458890237– via Google Books.
- Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 01 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 489–491.
- Howell, George Rogers; Jonathan Tenney (1886). Bi-centennial History of Albany: History of the County of Albany, N.Y. from 1609 to 1886 (Volume II). New York City: W. W. Munsell & Co. OCLC 11543538– via Google Books.
- ISBN 1-892724-53-7.
- Reynolds, Cuyler (1906). Albany Chronicles: A History of the City Arranged Chronologically, From the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time. Albany: J. B. Lyon Company. OCLC 457804870– via Google Books.
- ISBN 0-7385-1142-0.
- Venema, Janny (2003). Beverwijck: A Dutch Village on the American Frontier, 1652–1664. Hilversum: Verloren. ISBN 0-7914-6079-7.