Lord Cornbury arrived in New York on 3 May 1702, to begin his governorship and was graciously welcomed by the local aristocracy.
Hyde assumed the governorship amidst Queen Anne's War, which threatened the colonies.
When Lord Cornbury was appointed governor, he was also made "captain-general of all forces by sea and land" for all colonies north of Virginia.
Upon arrival, the new governor inspected the colony's ring of defensive forts and found them in total disrepair, with the key defensive fort at Albany essentially unusable.

In August 1703, the newly formed Province of New Jersey was added to Cornbury's responsibilities by Queen Anne.

The governor immediately dismissed Colonel Wolfgang William Römer, the imperial engineer who had responsibility for maintaining the forts.
He then assumed direct oversight over a vast project to construct a large fortress ringed with stone ramparts (later named Fort Frederick).
In August 1702, Governor Cornbury toured the site with representatives of the Iroquois Five Nations.
In a report to the Lords of Trade dated 18 June 1703, Imperial Inspector Colonel Robert Quary reported on the construction of the forts:
My Lord Cornbury hath laid the foundation of a stone fort at Albany, and hath carried it on a great way.
It will be very regular and answer the end. … [
The fortifications give] great satisfaction to our Indians, who lay the great stress of their security on the defence of those forts.

Invasion by sea was the other threat to New York.
The approaches to New York harbour were fortified by a rebuilt Fort William Henry on the tip of Manhattan Island, in addition to a line of forts and stockades on both banks of the Hudson River as far as the East River.
A breastwork with cannon lined the island's riverbanks.
Some of the cannon had been commandeered from ships in the harbuor.
Fears of attack from the sea were realised on 26 July 1706, when the French 16-gun brig Queen Anne suddenly appeared off Sandy Hook at the harbour entrance.
Rumours quickly spread that 10 more ships were on the way from the Virginia Capes.

The resulting panic was magnified by the fact that fortifications at the Verrazano narrows were as yet incomplete.
The local populace rushed to the site and quickly dug defensive embankments.
The French ship sailed away without attacking, and the approaching fleet turned out to be 10 ships that had been captured from the French.
In 1703, the New York Assembly had assigned Mayor William Peartree to raise £1500 to complete the project.
However, blame was quickly shifted to Governor Cornbury, with accusations of embezzlement.
The charge prompted the New York Assembly to cut off funding to the governor and manage the colonial budget directly.
No French or native incursions into New York Colony occurred throughout the 11-year war.
Lord Cornbury arrived in New York on 3 May 1702, to begin his governorship and was graciously welcomed by the local aristocracy. Hyde assumed the governorship amidst Queen Anne's War, which threatened the colonies. When Lord Cornbury was appointed governor, he was also made "captain-general of all forces by sea and land" for all colonies north of Virginia. Upon arrival, the new governor inspected the colony's ring of defensive forts and found them in total disrepair, with the key defensive fort at Albany essentially unusable.
In August 1703, the newly formed Province of New Jersey was added to Cornbury's responsibilities by Queen Anne. 
The governor immediately dismissed Colonel Wolfgang William Römer, the imperial engineer who had responsibility for maintaining the forts. He then assumed direct oversight over a vast project to construct a large fortress ringed with stone ramparts (later named Fort Frederick). In August 1702, Governor Cornbury toured the site with representatives of the Iroquois Five Nations. In a report to the Lords of Trade dated 18 June 1703, Imperial Inspector Colonel Robert Quary reported on the construction of the forts:
My Lord Cornbury hath laid the foundation of a stone fort at Albany, and hath carried it on a great way. It will be very regular and answer the end. … [The fortifications give] great satisfaction to our Indians, who lay the great stress of their security on the defence of those forts.
Invasion by sea was the other threat to New York. The approaches to New York harbour were fortified by a rebuilt Fort William Henry on the tip of Manhattan Island, in addition to a line of forts and stockades on both banks of the Hudson River as far as the East River. A breastwork with cannon lined the island's riverbanks. Some of the cannon had been commandeered from ships in the harbuor. Fears of attack from the sea were realised on 26 July 1706, when the French 16-gun brig Queen Anne suddenly appeared off Sandy Hook at the harbour entrance. Rumours quickly spread that 10 more ships were on the way from the Virginia Capes.
The resulting panic was magnified by the fact that fortifications at the Verrazano narrows were as yet incomplete. The local populace rushed to the site and quickly dug defensive embankments. The French ship sailed away without attacking, and the approaching fleet turned out to be 10 ships that had been captured from the French. In 1703, the New York Assembly had assigned Mayor William Peartree to raise £1500 to complete the project. However, blame was quickly shifted to Governor Cornbury, with accusations of embezzlement. The charge prompted the New York Assembly to cut off funding to the governor and manage the colonial budget directly. No French or native incursions into New York Colony occurred throughout the 11-year war.
Edward Hyde, 3rd Earl of Clarendon