Albany County, New York
The city of Albany was the first municipality within this large county, founded as the village (dorp in Dutch) of Beverwyck by the Director-General of New Amsterdam, Pieter Stuyvesant, who also established the first court in Albany. Albany was established as a city in 1686 by Governor Dongan through the Dongan Charter after the English took over the colony. Schenectady to the west was given a patent with some municipal rights in 1684 and became a borough in 1765.
Pieter Schuyler
In April 1685, he was appointed Judge of the Court of Oyer and Terminer. On July 22, 1686, Albany was incorporated as a city, and Pieter Schuyler was named its first mayor, serving for eight years. As mayor, Schuyler was also chairman of the Board of the Commissioners for Indian Affairs.