History of Lansingburgh, N.Y., from the year 1670 to 1877, Part 1

Author: Weise, Arthur James, 1838-1910 or 11. 1n
Publication date: 1877
Publisher: Troy, N.Y., W. H. Young
Number of Pages: 58


USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Lansingburgh > History of Lansingburgh, N.Y., from the year 1670 to 1877 > Part 1


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GENEALOGY 974.702 T75WEA


M. L.


GENEALOGY COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01177 8245


GENEALOGY 974.702 T75WEA


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015


https://archive.org/details/historyoflansing00weis


HISTORY


OF


LANSINGBURGH, N. Y


FROM THE YEAR 1670 TO 1877.


BY


A. J. WEISE, A. M.


TROY, N. Y. : WILLIAM H. YOUNG, 8 & 9 FIRST STREET, 1877.


Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by WEISE & BARDIN, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.


EDWARD GREEN, PRINTER, TROY, N. Y.


1507852


PREFACE.


More than a century ago, the present site of the village of Lan- singburgh was supposed to be the most eligible situation for a city that could be found along the Hudson, north of Albany. The cir- cumjacent country was fertile and cultivated; wheat and other staple productions needed a convenient market ; and the people of the northern territory required a congregating place for the tran- saction of business and the conveyance of property.


To favor its growth and prosperity, there was at this time, a tide of emigration setting westward from the older New England towns, which, with little effort, was directed to this newly laid out "City." The associated interests of the Dutch farmers and the New Eng- land merchants soon demanded the erection of commodious ware- houses and the possession of a large number of vessels for the trans- portation of home and foreign productions.


These favoring circumstances, however, were shortly after serious- ly affected by an insufficient depth of water in the river during a summer drought, at which time, vessels only of the smallest capacity could ascend as far as Lansingburgh. The few settlers who had established themselves, with but limited means, at Van der Heyden's ferry, a few miles to the southward, took advantage of this unfor- tunate occurrence, and with mercantile shrewdness, got great gain thereby.


When, at length, Troy grew to some importance as a village, at the head of ordinary navigation, the two places became closely related. For this reason, it is impossible to acquire a true and distinct knowledge of their early settlement and subsequent growth,


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PREFACE.


without being acquainted with the histories of both Lansingburgh and Troy.


Many of the earlier inhabitants of Troy were first residents of Lansingburgh ; and now, after a century of connected, and, some- times, conflicting interests, the two are rapidly growing into one large and extended city. Whatever may appear as omitted in the history of the one, will be found treated in its chronological order in the other.


To Cornelius L. Tracy, Esq., of Troy, whose valuable parchments were kindly placed to the use of the writer, thanks are returned.


The continued favors extended to the author by Charles J. Lan- sing, Esq., of Lansingburgh, have been of great service in the pre- paration of the present work; for which the author is under many obligations.


Also, to Hamlet Bontecou, and David Judson, of Lansingburgh, for privileges of their time and the benefit of their personal remin- iscence, the writer would also tender his acknowledgments.


TROY, May 31, 1877.


HISTORY OF LANSINGBURGH.


It was not long after the Hollanders began to settle upon the fer- tile meadows and fruitful hills on the east side of the Hudson river, north of Fort Orange, that the broad, level and more elevated area of ground, upon which, at present, Lansingburgh is situated, at- tracted the attention of Robert Saunders, a resident of Albany. This extensive plateau was called by the Indians, Tascamcatick, and south of it was an adjacent piece of woodland known to them as Passquassick.


The former tract was granted him on the first day of September, 1670, by Francis Lovelace, Governor of the province of New York, under James II. The woodland, together with a small island, known by the name of Whale-fishing Island,1 was conveyed to him on the 22d of March, 1679, by Sir Edmund Andros. As quit- rents for these several grants, three bushels of good winter wheat were to be paid annually unto the officers of the Crown, if ever such payment should be demanded.


Robert Saunders, on the 19th of September, 1681, sold a portion of the woodland, Passquassick, which lay south of the Piscawen Kill, to Peter Van Woggelum ; the creek being thereafter recognized as the dividing line of the lands of the two proprietors.


I Walvisch Eylant, Whale Island, now submerged by the accumulated water above the State Dam. The following tradition, related by Van der Donck in his New Netherland, gave name to the island. The winter of 1646-47 was extremely cold and the river closed November the 25th and remained so for four months thereafter. In the month of March a great freshet oc- curred, " by which the water of the river became nearly fresh to the bay, when at ordinary sea- sons the salt water flows up from twenty to twenty-four miles (Dutch miles) from the sea. At this season, two whales of common size swam up the river forty miles, from which place one of them returned and stranded about twelve miles from the sea, near which four others stranded the same year. The other ran further up the river and grounded near the great Chahoos falls, about forty-three miles from the sea. This fish was tolerably fat, for, although the citizens of Rensselaerwyck broiled out a great quantity of train oil, still the whole river, (the current being still rapid) was oily for three weeks, aud covered with grease. As the fish lay rotting, the air was infected with its stench to such a degree that the smell was offensive and perceptible for two miles leeward. For what purpose those whales ascended the river so far, it being at the time full forty miles from all salt or brackish water, it is difficult to say, unless their great desire for fish, which were plenty at this season, led them onward."


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HISTORY OF LANSINGBURGH.


The original patentee did not long retain possession of the re- maining property, Tascamcatick, but disposed of it to Joannes Wendell, on the 26th day of May, 1683. Joannes Wendell after- ward added to this purchase another piece of woodland which ex- tended along the river northward to a certain Kill called by the Indians, Paensick.


These lands of Joannes Wendell were confirmed to him by Governor Thomas Dongan in a patent, dated the 22d day of July, 1686, known as the Steene (Stony) Arabia Patent. In the third year of the reign of King George III, and on the twenty-first day of June, 1763, Robert Wendell, heir of Joannes Wendell, then in pos- session of this farm land, sold to Abraham Jacob Lansingh, for the sum of three hundred pounds, that part of his land, beginning op- posite the middle branch of the Mohawk river, and running thence eastward as far as the Stony Arabia patent extended,1 formerly called and known by the Indian name Tascamcatick, excepting that which had been sold unto Simon Van Antwerpe, but, at that time, in possession of William Rogers.2


Roughened by alluvial deposits of gravel and water-worn stones, this tract of land, Stony Arabia, it is likely, had but little agricul- tural value else than for pasturage. As an eligible and favorable site for a village or a city, it seemingly possessed advantages of situation, soil and scenery surpassing any other locality along the river, between it and Albany. Conjecturing the possibilities of further emigration, and of additional settlements along the upper


I By deed between Abraham Jacob Lansingh (dated July 13, 1769) and Stephen van Rensse- laer, the north bounds of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, and the south bounds of the Stony Arabia patent were agreed upon and settled as follows: "Beginning on the east bank of Hud- son river, by a stump about east from the south end of Whale-fishing Island, and over against the second spruyt, and runs from the said stump south sixty-nine degrees east along a line of marked trees one hundred and seventy-eight chains to a white oak tree in the land of Adam Shufellt, where there is a small heap of stones laid together ; the said tree is marked on the west and north sides with the letters A. J. L. 1769, and on the south and east sides S. V. R. 1769, and then north nineteen degrees and forty-five minutes east, one hundred and twenty-eight chains and seventy-five links to a marked black oak tree, standing one hundred and seventy-eight chains distant from the east bank of the Hudson river, opposite to the third spruyt,-on a course south sixty-nine degrees east, where a black oak tree is marked on the east side thereof with the letters S. V. R. 1769, and on the west side with the letters A. J. L. 1769, and then from the last mentioned black oak, the said course of north nineteen degrees, forty-five minutes east, one hundred and five chains and sixty links to a marked chestnut tree standing on a line of old marked trees running from the Cohoes or Great Fall of Waters, north eighty-eight degrees, for the north bounds of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, and thence from the said chestnut tree south eighty eight degrees west, along the said old marked trees to Hudson river, and thence southerly along said river to place of beginning."


2 See Map of Settlements in the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, 1767, opposite the title page of the History of the City of Troy.


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L


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HISTORY OF LANSINGBURGH.


Hudson, and of an increased productiveness of the surrounding territory, which was in part already under cultivation, it conse- quently assumed a relative importance and valuation to its owner, far beyond the mere returns of a tilled and pastured farm. In view of such local contingencies it was that Abraham Jacob Lansingh, early in the year 1771, had a portion of his farm surveyed by Joseph Blanchard, and named the newly laid out streets, alleys and lots, the City of Lansinghburgh. 1


The number of lots upon it are two hundred and eighty-eight. The plat is included between North, South and East streets and the Hudson river. King and Queen streets, which appear upon this map, were changed April 15, 1833, to State and Congress streets.


For the government of this embryo city, and town of Stone Arabia, a compact, called at the time " Proposals," was on the first day of January, 1771, agreed upon, and officers were chosen to regulate the civil affairs of the people.2 A Committee consisting of five persons, a Town-"Clark," a Path-Master, and three Fence- Viewers, were annually to be elected. In the agreement it was de- clared that Abraham Jacob Lansingh, or his heirs forever, should be one of the Committee, and equal to one of the other four select- ed. Over the first Town-Meeting, Ebenezer Marvin was elected Moderator, and Thomas S. Diamond, Clerk. The first Committee consisted of Abraham Jacob Lansigh, Isaac Bogart, John Barber, Ebenezer Marvin and Benjamin French. Abraham Wendell was


I The Map is filed in the Albany County Clerk's office, and is marked number 18. The following description is attached to it : "This Map describeth a tract of land lying on the east side of Hudson's river, about eight miles above the City of Albany, and is layed out in a regular square for the erecting a City by the name of Lansingburgh ; the lots are one hundred and twenty feet long and fifty wide. The streets are seventy feet wide, and the alleys are twenty feet wide ; the oblong square (the Green or Park) in the center is reserved for publick uses. Laid down by a scale of ninety feet to an inch. June 7, 1771. Joseph Blanchard, Surveyor. May II, 1771. A. Jacob Lansingh.


2 The following names of inhabitants appear upon the records of these town meetings : January 1, 1772-William Spotton, William Pemberton, Ralph Watson, Jacob A. Lansingh, Isaac Lansingh, John D. Fonda, Henrick Lansingh, Ishua Austain, Josiah Rose, Abraham Stephens. Nathaniel Oaks, John Walker, Archibald Cambell, Aldah Funda, Francis Lansingh, Levinus Lansingh, Anthony van Schaick, Justus Brown. 1773-Abraham K. van Vleck, Flores Bancker, John Tillman, Roger Noble, Henry Van Arnum, John Breesing, Stephen Marvin, William Carr, James Willson, James Boggs, Benjamin Evans, Joseph Joy, Obediah Benthouse. 1774-David Callender, Christopher Tillman, John D. Wynkoop, Cornelius Lansingh, Michael Housewirt, John Follet, Daniel Toneray, John Clark, Adonijah Starubourgh, Cornelius Noble, Robert Thompson, Frederick Weber. 1777-James Williams. 1784-Albert Pawling, Jeremiah Hoogland. 1785-John Van Rensselaer, Horace Seymour, Sidney Berry, Samuel Cogswell.


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HISTORY OF LANSINGBURGH.


chosen Path-Master, and Robert Wendell, Levinus Lansingh, and Isaac van Arnum, Fence-Viewers.


Whatever may have been the inducements offered, or the circum- stances of the period, the fact is evident in the records of the place, that the newly laid out City of Lansingburgh quickly attracted the attention of many New England emigrants, who, in a few years gave it a respectable population, actively engaged in various manu- facturing interests, and industriously absorbed in different mercan- tile and commercial pursuits.


The educational wants of this growing community, both secular and religious, were apparently supplied by an officiating school- master, who, besides instructing the children placed under his care during the week, on Sundays publicly read such selected sermons as were desired by his Dutch and English hearers. This appears in an agreement, dated the second day of May, 1774, in which Maus R. Van Vranka stipulated for the sum of fifty pounds lawful money of New York, "to teach such and only such a number of scholars, (not exceeding forty) reading, writing and arithmetic in the best manner," and "on every Sunday throughout the year, ex- cepting four Sundays reserved for himself, to read one English and one Dutch sermon."


The political position of the early inhabitants immediately pre- vious to the Revolutionary war, is fully set forth in the following remarkable utterances of patriotic fervor and loyal determination :


" LANSINGBURGH, May 22, 1775.


"A General Association agreed to and subscribed by the Freemen Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Lansingburgh and Patent of Stone Arabia :


"Persuaded that the salvation of the rights and liberties of America depends, under God, on the firm union of its inhabitants in a vigorous prosecution of the measures necessary for its safety,-con- vinced of the necessity of preventing the anarchy and confusion which attend a dissolution of the power of government, We, the Freemen, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town of Lansing- burgh and Patent of Stone Arabia, being greatly alarmed at the avowed design of the British Ministry to raise a revenue in America, and shocked by the bloody scenes now acting in Massachusetts Bay Government, in the most solemn manner,


" Resolve, never to become slaves, and do associate ourselves under all the ties of religion, honour and love to our country, to adopt


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HISTORY OF LANSINGBURGH.


and endeavor to carry into execution whatever measures may be recommended by the Continental Congress, or resolved by our Pro- vincial Convention, for the purpose of preserving our Constitution, and opposing the execution of the several arbitrary and oppressive acts of the British Parliament, until a reconciliation between Great Britain and America, on Constitutional principles can be obtained, than which we wish for nothing more ardently, and we do hereby covenant, promise and agree that we will in all things follow the ad- vice of our General Committee respecting the purpose aforesaid, the preservation of peace, good order and safety of the individuals and private property.


" Abraham Jacob Lansingh, Christopher Tillman, John D. Wyn- koop, Abraham Ten Eyck, Benjamin French, John Barber, James Selkirk, Daniel Toneray, Jonathan Severs, Henry Pollock, Michael Houseworth, John Fine, Stephen Marvin, James Boggs, Abraham Ouderkerk, Ephraim Griswould, Samuel Higgins, James Willson, Justus Brown, John Clark, David Layten, Francis Hogle, John Sloan, Gerry Lane, Samuel Burns, Isaac van Arnum, Robert Wen- dell, Pennell Brown, Frederick Weaver, Levinus Lansingh, William Thomkins, Joseph Bacon, John Dunbar, Peletiah Winchell, John Young, Levinus Leverse, Gershom French, Joseph Jones, John Skiffington, Thos. Cook, William Nicholls, Alexander Boyd, John Winn, Josiah Rose, Daniel Shaw, Aaron Ward, William Conklin, Edward Bruster, Samuel Bruster, Jacob A. Lansingh.


" A line copy of the original Association paper, drawed this 15th day of June, 1775. CHR. TILLMAN, Town Clerk."


Almost all of these men, whose names were subscribed to this memorable document, are found enrolled upon the lists of the local militia,1 many of whom during the long struggle for freedom and self-government, by brave conduct in the line of duty, had public mention made of their heroic services, and were promoted to honorable positions in the army.


During this disturbed condition of the country, the records con- tained little else than the commonplace transactions of the town- meetings. Several resolutions entered upon the books at this time betray an extreme cautiousness of the local administration regard- ing the appearance of strangers in the place :


" Resolved, (January 24, 1778,) That no person or persons shall I See pages 17 and 18 of the History of the City of Troy.


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HISTORY OF LANSINGBURGH.


settle in this town or district, without liberty from the majority of this Committee."


"Resolved, (March 1, 1787,) That whereas a number of persons are lurking about this town, apparently strangers, that each member of the Committee shall use their utmost exertions of informing themselves of every person that has lately come to town, and examine their recommendations, and every suspected character, to make report of the same to the authority."


In the year 1787, the New City1 of Lansingburgh had attained to such importance as a village as to warrant the establishment of a printing office, and the issue of a weekly newspaper. When on Monday morning, May 21, 1787, "Claxton & Babcock in King Street between Hoosack and South Streets," distributed to the people "The Northern Centinel and Lansinghborough Advertiser,"2 a printed sheet, seventeen by twenty inches, it was justly regarded as one of the latest evidences of the progress and enterprise of the place. This newspaper, the first one printed within the present limits of Rensselaer County, did not contain a paragraph of local news else than an address to the public by the publishers. Its contents were several columns of European news of three months earlier date than that of the paper, a few brief accounts of events occurring three weeks previously in the cities of New York, Phila- delphia and Boston, a quantity of miscellaneous matter, and five advertisements, one of which was that of the firm of Aaron and Derick Lane, merchants. The patronage which this journal received was obtained from an extensive territory, and the paper was carried thither by Samuel Brown, a Post-rider,3 and one of the advertisers found in the first issue :


"SAMUEL BROWN,


POST-RIDER,


Respectfully informs the public that he has undertaken to convey the Northern Centinel to the subscribers regularly every week. He leaves the Printing-office in Lansingborough every Monday morn- ing, and proceeds up the west side of the North-River as far as Fort-Edward, where he crosses the river, and extends his course eastward to Great White-Creek, and then returns to this town. He


I At this time, Lansingburgh was generally known by the name of "New City," (Nieuw Stadt) in contradistinction to the Old City, (Oude Stadt) Albany.


2 This title appeared at the head of each newspaper for several months, when the name Lansingborough was changed to Lansinghburgh, being an error of the publishers.


3 See pages 44 and 45, History of the City of Troy.


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HISTORY OF LANSINGBURGH.


has given good security, to the Printers, for the faithful performance of his duty, which he flatters himself will induce many to subscribe.


"The price of this paper, including postage, is but ten shillings per annum. Subscriptions are received at all the most public taverns on the above roads. Lansinghborough, May 21, 1787."


Elkanah Watson, a traveller, thus writes in his journal concerning New City, in the year 1788 : "This place is thronged with mer- chants, emigrants, principally, from New England, who have enjoy- ed a very extensive and lucrative trade, supplying Vermont and the region on both banks of the Hudson, as far as Lake George, with merchandise, and receiving in payment wheat, pot and pearl ashes, and lumber."


The prospects of Lansingburgh becoming a large city were never more favorable than at this time. Buildings of every description were in great demand, either for residence or storage. For the want of immediate accommodation, not a few of the daily arriving emi- grants were turned away to go elsewhere with their families and small fortunes. The river, after the opening of navigation in the spring, was flecked with the sails of a multitude of water-craft, going and returning upon voyages to home and foreign ports. Grain and other staple commodities formed the freights of these departing vessels, which returning, were generally laden with dry goods, groceries, hardware, and liquors. Prosperity smiled upon its mer- chants,1 while trade recompensed their tact and outlays with gener- ous pecuniary returns.


The rapid growth of the place, having exceeded the expectation of its founder and earlier settlers, it was found necessary to abandon the first form of government as set forth in the "Proposals," and to procure the passage of an act of incorporation in order "to regulate


I Men of business in the year 1787: Merchants-Aaron and Derick Lane, Ezra Hickok, Janes & Dole, Platt & Williams, Nathaniel Jacobs, Jr., Thomas Bassel, Wm. Bell & Co., Wm. Chaise, Cogswell & Selden, Selden & Jones, Hoogland & Seymour, John van Rensselaer, James Hickok, James Magee & Co., Flores Bancker, W. & S. Brayton, George Tibbits, William Davis, Robert White & Co., Wm. Spotten, Stephen & Shubael Gorham. William Willes, gun smith and brass founder ; John Stillwell, hotel keeper ; Matthew Lyne, land office ; Samuel Jones, joiner and tool-maker ; Smith & Whitney, Yates & Rockwell, watch makers ; Caleb Smith, Enos Westover, coopers ; Gideon Hinman, druggist. In 1788, merchants, of the firm of Ephraim Morgan & Co., Ephraim Morgan, Jonas Morgan and John Bordman ; Samuel Chace, John Tibbits, Goddard Spencer, John T. Arden, Joshua Burnham, Collins & Sherlock, Caleb & T. Street ; Annanias Platt, proprietor of the Bull's Head Tavern ; Thomas Dilks, boots and shoes ; Aaron Noble, hatter ; William Guest, leather ; Stephen Jackson, manufacturer of cut nails ; Wm. Carter, land office. In 1789-Merchants, George & Benjamin Tibbits, Christopher Tillman, Nathaniel Williams, Benjamin Winthrop, Redfield & Bradley, Jonathan Burr, John Harbeck ; William Disturnell, clock and watch maker ; Andrew Glass, furniture.


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HISTORY OF LANSINGBURGH.


their internal police and to secure the benefits of certain common- able lands' lying within the same."


An act appointing Trustees was passed by the Legislature on the fifth day of April, 1790,2 by which John Van Rensselaer, Christo- pher Tillman, Elijah Janes, Aaron Ward, Stephen Gorham, Ezra Hickok, and Levinus Lansingh were declared to be the "first Trustees for the freeholders and inhabitants of that part of the town of Rensselaerwyck commonly called Lansingburgh."


Among the duties of the aforesaid Trustees, they were empowered "to appoint a sufficient number of men willing to accept, not exceed- ing fifteen in number, out of the inhabitants residing in Lansing- burgh to have the care, management, working and use of the fire engine or engines, belonging to the said freeholders and inhabi- tants; and also the other tools and instruments for extinguishing fires." These firemen were "to be freed and exempted from serving in the office of constable and overseer of the highways, and of and from serving as jurors, and of and from serving in the militia, ex- cept in cases of invasion, or other imminent danger."


It is probable that a fire company was shortly afterwards organi- zed, and the ancient and quaint apparatus, known as old Number


I These commonable lands were certain tracts of woodland and pasture land circumjacent to various farms in the town of Lansingburgh, the several boundaries of which are shown upon a " Plan of the Town of Lansingburgh, in the Patent of Stone Arabia, laid down by a scale of ten chains to an inch, by Flores Bancker, Anno Domini, 1787." The names of the different owners and the number of acres possessed by them, as shown upon this map, are as follows: Jacob A. Lansingh's tract, 620 acres, the northernmost farm bordering upon the river; next south, Cor- nelius Lansingh's farm, 236 acres ; next south, Levines Lansingh's, 193 acres-this farm included the Flores Bancker block, bounded north by Bancker street, (Market street) east by East st., south by North st., and west by River or Water st. Next south, was the village of Lansing- burgh, from North to South streets, and Abraham Jacob Lansingh's tract, which included the village as far as North street, 395 acres. The farms which lay east of these were: Levines Lansingh's, 135 acres ; Dirck I. Van der Heyden's, 180; Adam Beam's, 50; E. Hudson's, 50 ; A. Beam's of Van Der Heyden, 50 ; John G. Yates, 150 ; Zachariah Garnrych's, in two parts, 47 and 50 acres ; Peter Gowey's, 12 and 143 acres ; Levines Lansingh, 14 ; C. Lansingh, 6; William Leversee, 105 ; Abraham Jacob Lansingh, 20 and 50 acres ; Platt Williams & Tibbits, 14 ; John V. Rensselaer, 573 ; Hoogland & Seymour, 4 acres ; Jno. Van Der Warken's farm, 105; David Brewster's, 130 ; Jno. Tibbits, II0; Flores Bancker, 150 ; L. Walkers, 40 ; Hendrick Van Arnum, 105; William Leversee, 108 acres. On the passage of the act, April 5, 1790, Abraham Jacob Lansingh transferred these commonable lands on the 13th of January, 1791, to the "Trustees for the Freeholders and inhabitants of that part of the town of Rensselaerwyck commonly called Lansingburgh." However, these lands becoming unproductive under the tenure by which they were held, they were sold under an act of Legislature, passed February 14, 1816, to Levinus Lan- sing, Cornelius Lansing, Derick Lane, Abraham C. Lansing, James Van Schoonhoven and Wm. I. Lansing, the heirs and representatives of Jacob A. Lansing. The consideration money became a fund for the benefit of the freeholders and inhabitants of the village, and was to be vested in some productive public or bank stock, or by loaning it to individuals, sufficiently secured by mortgage on real property.




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