Jan 11
Provisions for security in New York City are made and trade regulations
are drawn up.
February
New York's Governor Edmund Andros convenes a Board of Indian Commissioners
at Albany. Robert Livingston serves as secretary.
June
Andros appears at Saybrook, Connecticut, claiming the land west
of the Connecticut River for the Duke of York.
City
A Court of Sessions is established, passes legislation forbidding
the sale of liquor to the Indians, regulating weights and measures,
and limiting the number of breeding mares allowed to landowners
on Long Island. A system for condemning property is set up and
a slaughterhouse outside the city is ordered. ** William
Dervall is appointed mayor for the year.
March
Work begins on a new fort in Albany.
City
The Heeren Gracht (Broad Street) is the first street to be paved.
Wheat prices are regulated. ** Nicholas De Meyer is appointed
mayor for the year.
May 19
New York City's council begins taxing the construction of docks
and bridges, and bars attorneys from pleading in the courts.
Jun 17
Close to 50 Indian prisoners are brought by the Seneca to the
region around Lima from the south and four of them are killed.
The Seneca dance and make noises to frighten their spirits away.
June
Trader Wentworth Greenhalgh visits the Seneca village of Totiakton.
Jun 18
Greenhalgh and his party continue on to Gannagaro where they find
the remaining prisoners. Nine more are murdered.
Sep 29
Royal governor Edmund Andros confirms the 1667 grant of Oyster
Bay.
Nov 1
The Suffolk County town of Southampton is incorporated by patent
by Governor Andros.
City
Stephanus Van Cortlandt is appointed mayor for the year.
State
Greenhalgh and party, scouting Iroquois strength in the area,
travel by horseback from Albany as far as Lima. The horses would
be the first seen by the Seneca. ** The war with the Andastes
(Susquehannas) ends.
Nov 18
René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle's expedition leaves
Fort Frontenac, Canada, sailing west on Lake Ontario.
December
La Salle, visits the mouth of Irondequoit Bay, doesn't attempt
to bring his 20-ton brig over the sand bar. He sails on and sets
up a trading post at the mouth of the Niagara River, the future
site of Fort Niagara.
City
Thomas Delavall is appointed mayor for the year.** The bolting
of flour begins. Three ships, seven boats and eight sloops are
engaged in the trade. ** The city contains 384 houses.
** Edward Waters of the Bronx charges John Jennings with
stealing his dugout canoe. Jennings, who used the canoe to transport
hay, is fined by the Court of Sessions and ordered him to return
the craft. He refuses to pay the fine and threatens violence to
anyone attempting to collect.
State
Father Louis Hennepin is the first white man to see Niagara Falls.
He establishes the first shipyard on the Great Lakes, on the banks
of Cayuga Creek, in the future Buffalo area. ** The Frenchman
De la Motte passes through Totiakton and obtains corn for his
journey down the Genesee. ** Franciscan fathers establish
a bark mission where Rochester's Mercy High School stands today.
Jan 20
The first boat of La Salle's expedition lands at the lower end
of the Niagara River. He will lays the keel for the Griffin
on the Niagara River by the end of the month.
May
The Griffin is sailed upriver to Squaw Island.
August
La Salle returns to his expedition, after conferring with the
authorities back in Québec.
Aug 7
The Griffin is sailed onto Lake Erie, the first European-built
craft to do so. On the return voyage the vessel disappears.
Dec 7
Edward Randolph arrives in New York City to take up his duties
as customs collector for New England.
City
Francis Rombolt is appointed mayor for the year. ** A black
slave is valued at £42, ten shillings. ** Thirteen
people are licensed to sell wine.
State
Fort Conti is erected at the future site of Fort Niagara. It soon
burns and is abandoned.
© 2000 David Minor / Eagles Byte