It is of interest to note that the oldest Chapter in New York State is Ancient No.1, whose date of origin is lost, its records up to 1804 having been destroyed by fire, but tradition fixes the year 1763." In 1806, Old Chapter enrolled enrolled itself as "Ancient" under the State Grand Body, accepted number one and was further honored by having its H.P. James Woods, elected Deputy Grand High Priest [C.T. McClenachan]
From Albert G. Mackey's Encyclopedia of Freemasonry 1917.