On this day 250 years ago in New York City, the Provincial Congress of New York adopted a Militia Bill for “well ordering and regulating the militia” that

Resolved, That every county, city, manor, town, precinct and district within this Colony, (where the same is not already done,) be divided into districts or beats, by their respective committees, in such manner that out of each may be formed one military company, ordinarily to consist of about eighty-three able bodied and effective men, officers included, between sixteen and sixty years of age, (the battalion commanded by Col. [John] Lasher, the companies of artillery, light-horse and hussars, in the city and county of NewYork, and the troops of horse, companies of grenadiers, and associated companies already formed in the several cities and counties within this Colony, excepted.)

Col. John Lasher (also spelled Lesjer /Lasher/ Löscher) was a New York merchant and political leader of German origin who commanded the First Battalion of Independent Companies of New York until 1776 when it became part of the Continental Army. Lasher would remain on duty with the Continental Army until the end of the War in 1783.

Sources: https://archive.org/details/journalsofprovin01newy/page/114/mode/2up; https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Lasher-826