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Gc 974.701 R29a pt.1 1835962
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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Gc
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01178 3625
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
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https://archive.org/details/landmarksofrenss01ande
LANDMARKS
OF
RENSSELAER COUNTY
NEW YORK
BY GEORGE BAKER ANDERSON
PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF TIH: TROY PRESS
Williamgeringen-
SYRACUSE, N. Y. D. MASON & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS 1897
1835962
PREFACE.
It is manifestly impossible to record, in a volume even so large as this, all of the interesting occurrences in a political division so rich in history as the county of Rensselaer. Realizing the vast expenditure of labor and time involved in making a trustworthy compilation of the most important facts connected with the his- tory of the county, and the utter impotency of man when an endeavor is made to collate all of the data necessary to make a local historical work complete and correct in all its various departments, the author of " Landmarks of Rensselaer County" and his assistants have confined themselves principally to chronieling the most im portant events, with separate historical sketches of leading industries and institutions in each locality.
When the first white men-Henry Hudson and his little band of navigators-visited, in the fall of 1609, what is now known as Rens selger county, the latter was the abode of a tribe of friendly Indians, the Mohicans, or Mohegans, since made famous by the writings of the novelist, James Fenimore Cooper. About two decades later, as near as can be determined, the first settlements were made by the Dutch within the limits of what is now Rensselaer county, on or near the site of the village of Greenbush. For a century and a half there- after the territory now embraced in the county formed the "east dis- triet" of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, granted originally by the Dutch West India Company to Killiaen Van Rensselaer, who became the first patroon of the colony. November 1, 1683, the province of New York was divided by the English into ten counties-Albany,
Mondania _ 20.00
iv
PREFACE.
Dutchess, Orange, Ulster, Westchester, New York, Richmond, Kings, Qucens and Suffolk. From that time until 1791 Rensselaer county re- mained a part of Albany county. The limits of the former county have since remained as originally fixed, though there have been many changes in the boundaries of the various town's.
It is difficult to divide the history of Rensselaer county, aside from its civil history, into distinct epochs. Its geographical location made it, in most respects, neutral ground during the period of Indian oceu- paney of which we have definite knowledge. During the long series of French and Indian wars its early inhabitants suffered occasionally from the depredations of the contending forces; and the capture of innocent and neutral families, sometimes their wanton massaere, is chronieled.
During the War of the Revolution one of the most important and de- eisive battles was fought entirely within the limits of the town of Toosiek, in Rensselaer county, yet historians have given to it . the name of the Battle of Bennington. In the long struggle between landlords and tenants, known as the Anti-Rent War, many exciting events occurred in the county. When the Rebellion of the Southern States compelled the President to ask for volunteers for its suppres- sion, Rensselaer county was the first to respond to the call. With these exceptions the inhabitants have been left to take part in the peaceful development of the community. The history of the county for the past century and a quarter, for the most part, is a history of this development. The facts illustrating this growth have been gleaned by personal inquiry throughout the county and by reference to the most reliable historical works heretofore published. Material for the sketches in the biographical department of the work has been gleaned by agents of the publishers, and the matter as pre- pared has been reviewed by those persons best able to guarantee its accuracy.
The author is indebted to many persons in all parts of the county for valuable assistance. It is impossible to enumerate all these, but
V
PREFACE.
it is desired to acknowledge practical help and suggestions received from Hon. Martin I. Townsend, Reed B. Bontecou, M. D., Jesse B. Anthony, Ilon. Gilbert Robertson, jr., De Witt Clinton, William Bayard Van Rensselaer, Prof. J. H. Willets, Nelson Gillespie, Hon. Lewis E. Griffith, E. Ogden Ross, Frank W. Thomas, Jonathan Denison, Jeffrey P. Thomas, Richard F. Hall, Gilbert Geer, jr., Capt. James II. Lloyd, Capt. Wait H1. Stillman, Capt. John P. Treanor, Major Isaac F. Handey, Milford H. Fancher, the pastors of the various churches, the principals of schools and academies, the officers of Masonic bodies and other societies, the officers of banking and other corporations, public officials, the custodians of city, village, town and county records, and many others. Frequent reference has also been made to and valuable assistance received from numerous earlier volumes, including "Troy's One Hundred Years," by A. J. Weise; "History of Rensselaer County," by N. B. Sylvester; " Rem- iniscences of Troy," by Hon. John Woodworth; "The Iroquois . Trail," by William H. Beauchamp: " Documentary Colonial History of New York ;" Professor Pearson's " Albany County Records;" Joel Munsell's "Annals of Albany:" " llistory of Lansingburgh and Troy," by A. J. Weise, and many other books of record.
There doubtless are some mistakes in " Landmarks of Rensselaer County ;" but as all statements of more than ordinary importance, and those regarding which serious questions have arisen, have been re- ferred to the best authorities accessible, the work is submitted in the belief that it will be found to be, on the whole, a trustworthy record of the origin and development of the county and the doings of its inhabitants.
GEORGE BAKER ANDERSON. Troy, N. Y., October 1, 1896.
CONTENTS.
PART I.
CHAPTER L.
Early Settlements in the Valley of the Indson-Explorations of Henry Hudson -- Records of His Journey -- The First White Man to Set Foot on the Soil of Rensselaer County-Privileges Extended to Traders in the Newly Discov- ered Territory. 1-6
CHAPTER H.
Early Indian Occupancy-The Mohicans the Aboriginal Inhabitants of Rensse- laer County-The Five Nations: Their Organization and Development- - Warfare Between the Mohicans and Mohawks-Uncas and Miantonomoh --- Origin of the Schaghticoke Indians 6-14
CHAPTER IL.
Killiaen Van Rensselaer, Founder of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck-The Fa- mous Charter of Freedom and Exemptions-Jealousy Over the Patroon's Lige Grant-Early Administration of the Colony-Collision Between the Colony and the Province-The Early Trade in Furs-First White Settlers in Rensselaer County 14-32
CHAPTER IV.
The French and Indian War-Cause of the Hostilities-Expeditions Against Canada-Origin of Yankee Doodle-English Control of the Colony-The Strife Over the Government of the Hampshire Grants-Outrages Committed by the Bennington Mob-Temporary Government Organized by the Insur- gents. 32-46
-
vini C
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
The War of the Revolution and the Participation Therein of the Colonists of Rensselaerwyck-General Schuyler Deposed -- Baum's Proclamation-The Famous Battle of Bennington and the Events Leading up to It-Fought Entirely Within the Town of Hoosick-The Accounts of General Stark and Lieutenant Glick-Losses on Both Sides-Direct Result of the Battle-The Decisive Action at Saratoga 46-65
CHAPTER VI.
Division of New York into Counties and Organization of Rensselaer County- Work of Developing the Resources of the County Renewed-Aet Erecting Rensselaer County-The First Judges and other Civil Officers-Description of the County, its Geography and Geology . 65-75
CHAPTER VIL.
The Erection of the First County Buildings-Rivalry Between Troy and Lan- singburgh as to Which Should Secure the Court House-Formation of New Towns-Rapid Development of the County and Its Increasing Needs-(1- ganization of the State Militia-Appointments for the Rensselaer County Brigade-Its Evolution in the Early Days of the Nineteenth Century. -___. 76-90
CHAPTER VIII.
The Famous Anti-Rent Troubles in Rensselaer County and Vicinity- The Cen- tres of the Scenes of Disturbance-Anti-Rent Associations-Refusals of the Occupants of Farms to Pay Rent-The Murder of Griggs-Arrest, Trial and Acquittal of Witbeck, the Alleged Murderer 91-91
CHAPTER IN.
Rensselaer County in the War of the Rebellion-Organization in Troy of the First Regiment of Volunteer Soldiers Who Served in the War-History of the Second Regiment-Operations of the Thirtieth, One Hundred and Sixty- ninth, and One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiments-The Twenty-first New York, or the Griswold Cavalry 95-130
CHAPTER X.
Closing Days of the Nineteenth Century-New County Buildings-History of the Railroads-Rensselaer County Citizens Who Have Held High Public Office-The Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument-Statistics of the Development of the County 130-153
CONTENTS. ix
CHAPTER XL
BENCH AND BAR OF RENSSELAER COUNTY 154-167
CHAPTER XIL.
THIE MEDICAL PROFESSION 167-185
CHAPTER XIII.
MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY 185-199
CHAPTER XIV.
RENSSELAER COUNTY'S NATIONAL GUARD 200-216
CHAPTER AV.
TROY AS A VILLAGE 217-245
CHAPTER XVI.
TROY AS A CITY 246-304
CHAPTER XVII
Industries and Institutions of Troy- The Leading Manufactures and Mercantile Establishments-Troy Famous for Collar and Cuff Industries -- The Manufacture of Iron and Steel, Stoves. Ranges and Valves-Other Big Industries-Troy's Celebrated Educational Institutions History of its Churches. Municipal Departments-Statis- ties Showing Development .Along Various Lines. .304 374
CHAPTER XVIII.
TOWN OF LANSINGBURGHI .874 402
CHAPTER XIX.
TOWN OF GREENBUSH
402-416
CHAPTER XX.
TOWN OF HOOSICK 416-137
x
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXL
TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE 188-156
CHAPTER XXH.
TOWN OF SCHODACK 156 468
CHAPTER XXIII.
TOWN OF PITTSTOWN 468-481
CHAPTER XXIV.
TOWN OF BERLIN 482 489
CHAPTER XXV.
TOWN OF STEPHENTOWN 490 501
CHAPTER XAVI.
TOWN OF PETERSBURGH 501-509
CHAPTER XXVIL
TOWN OF SAND LAKE 510-520
CHAPTER XXVTIL.
TOWN OF BRUNSWICK .521-530
CHAPTER XXIX.
TOWN OF NORTH GREENBUSH 580-587
CHAPTER XXX.
TOWN OF EAST GREENBUSH 537-543
CHAPTER XXXL 1
TOWN OF NASSAU 543-555
1
:
CONTENTS. xi
CHAPTER XXXH.
TOWN OF POESTENKILL 555-561
CHAPTER XXXIII.
TOWN OF GRAFTON 561 570
PART II.
BIOGRAPHICAL 571-785
PART III.
FAMILY SKETCHES 1 407
INDEXES . 409- 460
Landmarks of Rensselaer County.
CHAPTER 1.
Early Settlements in the Valley of the Hudson-Explorations of Henry Hudson- Record of His Journey -- The First White Man to Set Foot on the Soil of Rensselaer County-Privileges Extended to Traders in the Newly Discovered Territory.
The history of the county of Rensselaer up to the year 1791 is iden- tical with that of the county of Albany, of which it formed a part up to that year. The foundation of the colony was the result of an at- tempt to establish in the New World the European feudal system of land tennre and local government which was then beginning to be un- popular in the Old World. The main peculiarity of this system was that the bulk of the land was divided into feuds or fiefs, held by their owners on condition of the performance of certain duties to a superior lord who, in default of sneh performance, could reclaim the land. The lord was entitled to the fealty of his tenants, but not to that of their subtenants, every man being responsible only to his immediate lord. In a new and comparatively free country it was but natural that this system should fail, as it did. The system prevailed in New York, however, until the Warof the Revolution, but the changes then wrought were not of a radical nature, else we should never have been called upon to chronicle the Anti-rent War, as it became known.
The settlement at Fort Orange, now Albany, was made in 1614, five years after the exploration of the Hudson by Sir Henry Hudson and six years before the foundation of Plymouth by the Pilgrim Fathers. Hudson was followed by a number of Dutch adventurers, he having taken possession of the country in the name of Holland, prominent among whom were Cornelis Jacobsen Mey, Adrian Block and Hendrick Corstiarnsen, Gerrit Jacob Witsen, a former burgomaster of the city
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LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.
of Amsterdam, and twelve associates received, Oct. 11, 1614, a grant giving them the exclusive right to navigate and explore for three years the lands then called New Netherlands. The company sailed up the Hudson, which they called "De Riviere van den Vorst Man- ritius," and in the spring of 1615 they built two posts -- one at the southern end of the island of Manhattan, and the other on Castle island, in the southern part of the city of Albany, The latter, called Fort Nassau, was begun in the spring of 1614 by some of the members of the company. It was in command of Jacob Jacoby Elkinz and a gar- rison of less than a dozen men, all in the employ of the company. In the spring of 1618, at which time the special grant of the company ex- pired, the fort was injured by a freshet and the company abandoned it, building one on the mainland a short distance further down the river, at the month of the creek now known as the Norman's Kill. Soon after the completion of the fort the Dutch settlers made their first treaty with the Mohawks, representing the Iroquois nation, gain- ing for the former a friendship with the red men which was never broken. July 1, 1621, the powerful Dutch West India company took possession of the lands granted it by the States-General June 3, 1620, the province of the company including New Netherlands. The year afterward permission was granted several families of Walloons, then settled at Amsterdam, to establish in the New Netherlands a colony to be governed by magistrates which they themselves were to select. The Walloons were descended from the ancient Belgae, mixed with Germanie and Roman elements, They were one of the divisions of the Huguenots and spoke the French language. They were very conscientious, industrious and persevering; cleanly in their habits and lived on an nnusually high moral and spiritual plane. The ship "New Netherland," which was sent out from Texel in the spring of 1623 by the West India company, carried about thirty families, mostly Walloons, and in May, after a voyage of about two months, arrived in New York harbor, Fort Orange, which had been started the year before, was the destination of these immigrants, over half of whom, under the leadership of Adriaen Joris, immediately settled there and began the work of completing the fort. This was carly in the summer of 1623. Joris at once renewed the original treaty with the Iroquois. In the following year Cornelis Jacobsen Mey was made first director of New Netherlands.
The name of Henry Hudson is ineffably associated with Rensselaer
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SIR HENRY HUDSON'S VOYAGE.
county. Under the grant of King James I of England, dated April 10, 1606, the territory embraced within the limits of the present county of Rensselaer became a part of the grant to the Plymouth company, which embraced all the land on the continent between the forty-first and forty-fifth degrees of latitude. When the Council of Plymouth succeeded the original Plymouth company, Rensselaer county still re- mained in the same grant, which was inereased, however, by the addi- tion of the territory lying between the fortieth and forty-first degrees on the south and the forty-fifth and forty-eighth degrees on the north. The English at once began the settlement of New England. But the voyages and explorations of the illustrious Sir Henry Hudson resulted in the settlement of a portion of the Plymouth grant by the Dutch.
Hudson was employed by a company of London merchants to en- deavor to discover a new route to the Indies. His two voyages while in the employ of the Englishmen, his fellow countrymen, resulted in failure and he offered his services to the Dutch East India company. This company furnished him with a small ship-the Half Moon-hardly more than a yacht, and in April, 1609, he set out on his third voyage for the Indies. Baffled, but not discouraged, at his inability to pass through the ice fields of the north, he turned toward America once more. He touched at Newfoundland, the coast of Maine, Cape Cod, Chesapeake bay, Delaware bay, and finally the harbor of New York. September 10, 1609, he entered the pieturesque river which now bears his name and sailed northward. "On the evening of the fifteenth he arrived opposite the mountains which lie from the river side, where he found 'a very loving people and very old men,' and the day following reached the spot hereafter to be honored by his own illustrious name. One day more wafts him up between Schodac and Castleton ; and here he landed and passed a day with the natives, greeted with all sorts of barbarous hospitality; the land 'the finest for cultivation he ever set foot on;' the natives so kind and gentle that when they found he would not remain with them over night, and feared that he left them- poor children of nature !--- because he was afraid of their weapons, -he, whose quarterdeck was heavy with ordnance !- they 'broke their ar- rows in pieces and threw them in the fire!'"
Hudson, then, undoubtedly set foot on the soil of the present town of Schodaek before his erew sailed up the river to Albany. There is little doubt, by reason of the long stops he made and the slowness with which he proceeded up the stream, that he spent considerable time on
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LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.
the shores on both sides of the river. On the 19th he anchored again a short distance further up the river. From here a small exploring party rowed up the river to a point not far from the present city of Troy. Two voyages in row boats were made-the first on the 20th of the month and the second on the 22d. At noon of the 23d the Half Moon weighed anchor, Hudson finding that navigation was impossible be- yond the islands at the mouth of the Mohawk, and started on the journey homeward. In the journal in which he recorded his daily doing's we find the following records for the period from Sept. 15 to 23 inclusive :
The fifteenth, in the morning, was misty until the sunne arose; then it cleered. So we weighed with the wind at South, and ran up the river twentie leagues, passing by high mountains. Wee had a very good depth, as six, seven, eight, nine, twelve and thirteen fathoms, and great store of salmous in the river. This morning our two savages got out of a port and swam away. After we were under sayle they called to us in seorne. At night we came to other mountains which lie from the river's side. There wee found very loving people and very old men; where we were well used. Our boat went to fish, and caught great store of very good fish.
"The sixteenth faire and very hot weather. In the morning our boat went againe to fishing, but could catch but few by reason their canoes had beene there all night. This morning the people came aboard and brought us eares of Indian corne and pompions and tobacco, which wee bought for trifles. Wee rode still all day and filled fresh water; at night wee weighted and went two leagues higher and had shoaled water; so we anchored till day.
The seventeenth, faire sunshining weather and very hot. In the morning as soon as the sun was up we set sayle and run up six leagues higher and found shoales in the middle of the channel and small islands but seven fathoms water on both sides. Toward night we borrowed so neere the shoare that wee grounded, so wee layed out our small anchor and heaved off agame. Then we borrowed on the banke in the channel and came aground againe. While the doud ran we hoved off againe and anchored all night.
The eighteenth, in the morning was faire weather and we rode still. In the afternoone our master's mate went on land with an old savage, a governoer of the countrey, who carried him to his house and made lum goode cheere.
The nineteenth was faire and hot weather. At the floode, being neere eleven of the clocke, wee weighed and ran higher up two leagues above the shoals and had no lesse water than five. We anchored and rode in eight fathoms. The people of the conutrie came flocking aboord and brought us grapes and pompions which wee bought for trifles. And many brought us bevers' skinnes and otters' skinnes, which wee bought for beades, knives and hatchets. So we rode there all night.
The twentieth in the morning was faire weather. Our master's mate with four men more went up with our boat to sound the river, and found two leagues above us but two fathoms water and the channell very narrow, and above that place be- tween seven or eight fathoms. Toward night they returned and we rode still all night.
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JOURNAL OF HUDSON'S VOYAGE.
The one-and-twentieth was faire weather, and the wind all southerly. We de- termined yet once more to goe farther up into the river, to trie what depth and breadth it did beare; but much people resorted aboord, so we went not this day. Our carpenter went on land and made a foreyard, and our master and mate deter- mined to trie some of the chief men of the countrie whether they had any treacherie in them. So they took them down into the cabin and gave them as much wine and aqua-vitae that they were all merrie; and one of them had his wife with him, who sat as modestly as any of our countrie-women would do in a strange place. In the end one of them was drunke which had been aboord of our ship all the time we had been there; and that was strange to them, for they could not tell how to take it. The eanoes and folke went all on shore, but some of them caime again and brought stropes of beades -- some had six, seven, eight, nine, ten-and gave him. So he slept all night quietly.
The two-and-twentieth was faire weather. In the morning our master's mate and fonre more of the companie went up with our boat to sound the river higher up. The people of the country eame not aboord till noone; but when they came and saw the savages well, they were glad. So, at three of the clocke in the afternoone, they came aboord and brought tobacco and more beades, and gave them to our master, and an oration, and showed him the countrey all around about. Then they sent one of their companie on land, who presently returned and brought a great platter full of venison, dressed by themselves, and they caused him to eat with them. Then they made . him reverence and departed, -all save the old man that lay aboord. This night, at ten of the clocke, our boat returned in a shower of raine from sounding of the river, and found it to be at an end for shipping to goe in. For they had been up eight or nine leagues, and found but seven-foot water and unconstant soundings.
The three-and-twentieth, faire weather, at twelve of the clocke, wee weighed and went downe two leagues, to a shoald that had two cannells, one on one side and an- other on the other, and had little wind, whereby the tide layed ns upon it. So there wee sate on the ground the space of an houre, till the flond came. Then we had a little gale of wind at the west. So wee got our ship into deepe water, and rode all night very well.
Hudson gave the river which he had explored the name of " River of the Mountains." Not until his countrymen had captured New Netherland was it honored with his name. In 1524 John Verrazzano, a Florentine, had entered the river; about the same time Stephen Gomez had sailed a short distance up the stream and had called it Rio de San Antonio. Hudson himself learned that the French had ascended the river in boats to trade with the Indians, and it is hardly to be doubted that he saw the ruins of the fort on Castle island which the French had built. But as Hudson was the first man to navigate the waters of the river as far to the north as he could sail and leave a de- tailed record of his exploration it is but just to accord to him the honor which the world has bestowed, just as Columbus, though by no means the actual discoverer of America, was the first navigator to carry on his
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LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.
explorations to that point where his successors were given material on which to operate. Verrazzano discovered the Hudson just as Leif Erickson discovered America; but of what value were his explorations at this point?
On the year following the explorations of Hudson under the employ of the East India company several Dutch traders left Holland, visited the Indians on the banks of the Hudson, secured a quantity of valuable furs and sold them in Holland at a handsome profit. This was the signal for a general awakening of interest in the new country among the Dutch. Other traders followed their example, and Oct. 11, 1614, a three years' license to trade exclusively with the native inhabitants of the New World was granted these traders, who called the country Nieu Nederlandt, meaning in English New Netherland. The map of the territory which they prepared is still preserved. Upon the termi- nation of their three years' license, in 1618, the Dutch government ex- tended a similar privilege to several other traders who were anxious to take advantage of the opportunities presented. The number of traders was multiplied year by year, trading posts were established, Duteh names were substituted for those given the various streams, hills and posts by the French, and within a few years almost every trace of the previons attempt at colonization by the French was obliterated.
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