This notation refers to the unique identification number we have assigned to each person who lived in the city of Albany before the Industrial Revolution. Only a few Albany women have not been assigned identification numbers because we have not yet been able to determine their family names.

Without regard to gender and across cultural groups, all early Albany families followed similar naming practices, causing widespread repetition of names. Each of these 16,000 historical characters has been the subject of intensive historical research conducted by the Colonial Albany Project over the past two decades. Using data base numbers has helped distinguish individuals who seem to have used the same name. For example, more than fifty early Albany people were named John Lansing. And, Abraham Yates, Jr. – lawyer and politician, Abraham J. Yates – a baker, and Abraham Eights – the sail maker all lived in Albany at the same time.