John Price
by
Stefan Bielinski


John Price was an Albany mainstay for most of the second half of the eighteenth century. He was born about 1723 and may have been the son of Lieutenant John and Mary Price. His sister, Mary, married Benjamin Hilton.

He first appeared on the Albany community landscape in 1744 when he was appointed constable for the first ward. By 1752, he had begun to witness Dutch church baptisms with Cornelia Price - presumably his wife. Their long marriage appears to have been childless. He was a member of St. Peter's Anglican church.

John Price lived in the first ward. In 1756, the census identified him as a sawmaker. From that time on, he was a first ward fixture with his home prominently configured on city assessment rolls. In 1763, his name appeared on a list of Albany freeholders. The census of 1790 revealed that his household included five slaves - an indicator of his wealth.

At the outbreak of hostilities, he was appointed lieutenant in a city militia company. Subsequent commissions called him "Captain" and "Major." At one time, he was a captain in the Eighth Regiment of the Albany militia. He was active in the work of the Albany Committee of Correspondence - serving as a member for the first ward beginning in 1776. He signed the General Association in 1776. He also supported a number of community-based petitions during the war years.

On a number of occasions, he was paid from the city treasury for services performed.

In 1788, he joined a number of local men in signing a statement issued by the Albany Antifederal Committee.

John Price filed a will in December 1791. It named his wife, Cornelia and several nieces and nephews as heirs. It mentioned no children. He died a few days later on December 6, 1791. The will passed probate the following January.

PAGE IN PROGRESS


notes

the people of colonial Albany

Sources: The life of John Price is CAP biography number 6447. This profile is derived chiefly from family and community-based resources.




Home | Site Index | Navigation | Email | New York State Museum


first posted: 5/30/03; updated 3/14/11