William Gill

Perhaps a number of individuals named William Gill (maybe Giles) lived in Albany during the second half of the eighteenth century. This note attempts to organize the community-based information encountered so far.

In 1756, a census of Albany homes made by the British army noted the "good house" of "Mr. Gill," a merchant, and listed it with the same entry number as that of "J. Cuyler." However, it appears that two separate holdings were enumerated. That listing showed that Gill's four-room home was suitable for four soldiers and that Gill's family occupied two of those rooms. We seek additional information on that individual. He is not the same person as the city resident who follows.

In March 1779, the second ward assessment valued the personal property (no real property valued) of "William Gill" along with twenty-two others at the end of the ward list. The next available tax list is from 1788 but his name is absent from it.

In November 1787, "William Gyles" was one of those who were qualified as constables for the third ward by the city council. He also was named high constable.

In 1790, the census of the second ward showed a man and woman in the house of "William Giles." A decade later, the census again configured the household of William Giles. It showed a man born between 1756 and 1774 (eliminating the Gill listed in 1756), a boy and a girl under 10, and a female between 10 and 16 years of age.

A membership list for the Albany Mechanics Society includes the name of William Giles.

Beyond the above, the name of William Gill/Giles is mostly absent from the community-based record encountered so far.

Sources: Without much conviction, we have assigned the life of William Gill is CAP biography number 8184. This sketch is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources. We understand that more than one person under that general name lived in Albany during the second half of the eighteenth century.