John Doty

Spelled variously, the household of John Doty was configured on the census of the first ward in 1800. At the same time and also spelled variously, the household of one John Dougherty was enumerated on the census but in the second ward.

We seek information on his origins and path to Albany. Several same-named contemporaries are at risk in the region including a prominent Anglican/loyalist cleric sometime residing in Schenectady. Four households under John Doty were listed on the census of 1790 in New York State. This family probably is of New England origin. This sketch focuses on the first ward Albany resident known as John and/or John F. Doty.

In 1799, his personal property only was valued moderately on the first ward assessment roll.

In 1800, the census of his household noted two men born prior to 1774 and 1756, a boy (10-16), and two women in the same age brackets as the men. A decade later, two boys under 10, a male (16-25), and a man 26-45 in addition to a girl (10-16) and two women born prior to 1774 and 1756 were configured in "John F. Doty's" city household.

During the early 1800s, he was listed among the members and in 1806 as a trustee of the Albany Mechanics Society. Later, he was an officer in the "Grand Royal Arch" Masonic Lodge.

Beginning with the first edition in 1813, Albany city directories noted that John F. was a watchmaker with a home on Union and then South Pearl Streets and a shop on Court and then State Streets. Among his apprentices were young Joseph Henry, who stayed with Doty until his business failed, and also Charles Selkirk (1814-15). Perhaps, Henry was Doty's cousin.

We wonder about a possible kinship connection to Albany resident Jane Doty Bostwick.

With many unanswered basic questions on the life of this John Doty we move on for now.

Sources: The life of John Doty has no CAP biography number. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. Online resources begin with Doty-Doten family in America : descendants of Edward Doty, an emigrant by the Mayflower, 1620 .