The Albany Mechanics Society. was founded in 1793 - one of the first crafts unions in the United States.

About 150 tradesmen and mechanics from Albany and vicinity met in January and appointed a committee consisting of one person from each trade to draft a constitution. The constitution was adopted in February 1794.

The Society was dedicated to "protecting and supporting such of their brethern as, by sickness or accident, may stand in need of assistance, and of relieving the widows and orphans of those who may die in indigent circumstances, and also of providing the means of instruction for their children."

Hat manufacturer John W. Wendell was elected president; Charles R. Webster and Bernardus Evertsen, vice-presidents, Isaac Hutton, treasurer; John Barber, secretary. Printer Charles R. Webster was elected president as early as 1799 and served until the dissolution of the organization in 1824.

The Society received a charter from New York State for the purposes described above on March 6, 1801. It was particularly notable for promoting and elevating the level of education in the city. Apparently running its course, the Albany Mechanics Society was dissolved by the legislature on November 25, 1824. Dividends on its assets were paid to its contributors.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS, WHOSE NAMES ARE SIGNED TO THE GENERAL REGISTER

Henry Abel, Gilbert Akerman, Richard Allanson
John Barber, James Barclay, Thomas Barker, N. B. Bassett, Jacob Best, Ebenezer Belts, Isaac Betticher, John Boardman, Robert Boyd, William Boyd, Charles Boynton, Elijah Brainard, Timothy Brigden, Anthony Brooks, John Bryan, Nathaniel Bunnel, Samuel T Burrows, John Buckbee
Thomas Campbell, Robert Carlisle, Henry Carpenter, Thomas Carson, James Chesney, James Clark
James Davis, William M. Diamond, Elisha Dorr, John Doty, James Dunlap, John Durs, Richard Duncan, Waller Easlon, William Easton, John Epes
William Fowler, John C. Fredenrich, John W. Fryer, William Fryer, John Fryer Peter Furlong
Garrit De Garmo, William Giles, James Gibbons, John Goodrich, James Gourlay, David I. Groesbeek, John I. Groesbeck, John Grant, John Guest, jun.
Green Hall, Thomas Harman, jr., John Heennans, Casparus Hewson, Charles Hill, Andrew Hoffman, Ephraim Howard, Elisha Husford, Elijah Hosford, James Hodge, Arthur Hotchkiss, Lucas I. Hooghkirk, Philip Hooker, Ephm Howard, Silas W. Howell, Isaac & George Hutton, Robert Hurst, James Hunter, John Hinckley
Nathaniel Judson, Moses Kenyon, George Klinck, Benjamin Knower
Myndert Lansing, Abm. K. Lansing, Edward Le Breton, James Linacre, James Lloyd, Isaac Lucas
D. M'Donald, William M'Harg, John M'Chesney, John Mascraft, John Meads, Jacob Miers, Daniel Morrel, David Mulholland
David Osborn, Gowin Patterson, Isaac Packard, Benj. D. Packard, Robert Packard, David Peck, Ebenezer Platt, Giles W. Porter, Ira Porter, Jesse Potts, David Pruyn, Elisha Putnam
William Randall, John Randall, James Rodgers, Robert Rottery, Caleb Russell, David Russell, jr , Thomas Russell, Joseph Russell, Joseph Russel (Market §t.), John Russel, Wilhs. G. Ryckrnan
John Scoville, Thomas Scott, James Scryrnser, James Selle, Thomas Shepherd, Elisha W. Skmner, Tunis Slingerland, Ebenezer Smith, John Smith, Daniel Steele, Levi Steele, John Stilwell, Wm. Stilwell, Spencer Stafford, Thomas W. Stanton, Ziba Swan
John Todd, Thomas Thompson, Amos Thayer, John Turner
Jacob Van Ness, Jer. Van Rensselaer, Henry B. Van Benthuisen, Benj. Van Benthuisen, James P. Van Benthuisen, Jacob Van Duersen
Austin Warner, Joseph Warford, Charles R Webster, George Webster, William W Williams, William B. Winne, Daniel I. Winne, James Young, William Young

first posted: 7/31/01; updated 11/16/08