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The NEW YORK DIRECTORY
FOR 1786
Illuftrated with a Plan of the City
Alfo Changes in the Names of Streets
PREFACED by a General Description by NOAH WEBSTER
Published by THE WINTHROP PRESS 32 LAFAYETTE PLACE NEW YORK
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*****
PREFACE.
T & great expenditure of time and labor, we have reprinted this most interefting little volume-the, A "New York Directory for 1786," -che firft one of its kind in our city. ". It was iffued at a time when this great Metropolis of ours was ftill in its infancy, and the reader will note with intereft the various items of information given herein-giving the book a provincial tone and making it appear almoft child-like, when compared to the ponderous volume ot today that attempts to give modern readers fimilar in- formation.
An accurate and truffworthy defcription of New York by Noah Webiter is prefixed, and the reader will doubtlefs glean from it more real knowledge of " Every-day New York " of that period, than can be gotten from any other brief treatife on the topic. Telling as it does, of a period so interefting to Americans-the time between the recognition of the Colonies' independence and Wufhington's Prefidency -this cannot fail to charm thofe who read its pages, and the thorough diffimilarity between the quaint old Dutch town of 120 years ago and the New York of our day, will always intereit refidents who have watched its growth and expanfion even in their own time.
It is the hope of the publifhers that this work will be prized for the intrinfic value of its contents, and for its old style of typography, and that it may prove an addition to any library.
THE WINTHROP PRESS.
June 17, 1905.
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-
CITY OF NEW YORK
Road to Bustonl
an
Mr Jours
0
V. Byrank
M!' Rutger's
crown Point De Cortar Book
Potivar's Stip
atherine Sup
RIVER
T
-
----..
2 - Part of Nassau or Long It 5
Ci py published 1789 J
-
h Ward
PLAN OF THE CIT
REFERENCES
Fig.1 Federal. Hanl
21 New Quaker Meeting
2 5.Pauls Church
3 Trinity Do .- not 22 Seteder Day #:
23 Moravian Do.
4 Old Presbyterian Da . 24. The Government
5 Exchange
6 North Church
A 25 Fly Market
7 New Presbyterian Do. - 26 Oswego, Da 8 ST Georges Chapel 27 Bear Do.
9 St Peters Church .28 Peck Ship Da
10 College 4.29 NewF Do.
Il Scots Pres" Church " 30 Bride Will
12 Old Dutch Church
"31 Chy don's House
13 New Dutch Do.
'32 Prison
14 Jews Synagogue 33 Hospital
15 Old Quaker Meeting 34 Theou
16 Methodist Do. 3 7. 35 Jews Burying Ground
17 Baptist De: 3.6 Lower Barracks
18 German Call Church 37 Upper Do Ba
19 Lutheran Do. ERJ.8 New Methodist
20 French.
Church"
osanH
33
Fresh
Warer
Fond
10
Faules Book
Ferry toC.
NORTH
wall Street.
.
Beaver St
Harting Ship
angie.Easy
ward
ord Stip
E A Thir & Ward
White Hall Ship
Exchange
Coentier Ship
Second Ward
Scale of goon Feet.
1000
4000
"Road to Greenwich
LispinarRs
Sixth Ward
t:
5
RIVER
a mute; and its circumferen. may be far S.ils.
Its bredtl., on an average, is nearly three- darters ot
Ward
Fourth
brent George St.
Llingham
. 4.
Brod
queen
Beekman Sup
sup.
FifthWat
S
--
From the Original Co by p
is lagi Get with reference to the@ tuation of st. The plan of the city is not perfectly gular, but
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6 TA W
HADZOTA? KINEK
02.8. 1 89
14 NIO SH
***** 28
DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK By NOAH WEBSTER
SHIS city ftands on the South-welt point of an ifland, at the con- fluence of the Hudfon and Eaft- River. The principal part of the City lies on the Eaft fide of the ifland; altho the buildings extend from one river to the other. The length of the City, on the Eaft River is about two miles; but falls much fhort T of that diftance on' the banks of the Hudfon. Its breadth, on an average, is nearly three-quarters of a mile; and its circumference may be four miles.
The plan of the city is not perfectly regular, but is laid out with reference to the fituation of the ground. The principal ftreets run nearly parallel with the rivers. Thefe are interfected, tho not at right angles, by ftreets running from river to river. In the width of the ftreets, there is a great diverfity. Water-ftreet and Queen-ftreet, which occupy the banks of the Eaft-River, are very conveniently fitu- ated for bufinefs, but they are low and too narrow; not admitting, in some places, of walks on the fides for foot-paffengers. Broad-ftreet, extending from the Exchange to City-hall, is fufficiently wide. This was originally built on each fide of a creek, which
7
6 DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
. penetrated almoft to the City-hall. This ftreet is low, . but pleafant; and that part which did not fuffer by the fire during the war, is generally well built; the other is recovering from its ruins.
. But the moft convenient and agreeable part of the city is Broadway. This ftreet runs upon the height of land between the two rivers, beginning at the fort, near the South end of the city, and extending to the Hofpital, in front of which it opens into an extenfive plain or common. This ftreet is wide, and elevated fo as to command a delightful profpect of the town, and the Hudfon.
".Wall-ftreet is generally wide and elevated, and the buildings elegant. Hanover-fquare and Dock-ftreet, are conveniently fituated for bufinefs, and the houfes well built. William-ftreet is alfo elevated and con- venient, and is the principal market for the retailing of dry goods. Many of the other ftreets are pleafant, but moft of them are irregular and narrow.
The houfes are generally built of brick, and the 'roofs tiled. There are remaining a few houfes built after the old Dutch manner; but the Englifh tafte has prevailed, almoft a century.
Upon the South-weft point of the ifland ftands the fort, which is a fquare with four baftions; within the walls of which the Governors ufed formerly to refide. Below the fort, near the water, there is a line of fortifications of confiderable extent, defigned to command the entrance into both rivers. But it is queftionable whether any number of cannon would prevent fhips from paffing with a favorable wind and tide; and indeed whether New York is capable of de- fence by land againft a powerful marine force. The battery however, in the fummer feafon, furnifhes the
DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
citizens with an agreeable walk, which is open to refreshing breezes from the bay. . ..
4.The City-hall is a brick building, more ftrong than elegant .. It is three ftories in height, with wings at each end, and fronts Broad-ftreet, which affords an- extenfive profpect. The first floor is an open walk, "except two fmall apartments for the door-keeper and city watch. In the fecond ftory of the Eaftern wing, is the Affembly-chamber, now occupied by Congrefs, and adorned with the following paintings: The por- trait of the great Columbus, belonging to the Affem- bly of this State; a painting valuable only for its antiquity and the character of the man-the likeneffes of the King and Queen of France, as large as the life, executed in a mafterly manner, and prefented .to Congrefs by his Moft Chriftian Majefty; equally valuable for the richnefs of the paintings, the dignity of the perfonages whom they reprefent, and as pledges of royal friendfhip. The likenefs of General Wafhington, prefented by a gentleman in England; a likenefs dear to every American, and deftined to grace the walls of every Council chamber in the new world.
The Weftern wing contains a room for the Council or Senate, now occupied by the Secretary of Con- grefs, and another for the Mayor's Court. In the body of the houfe 'is a fpacious hall for the Su- preme Judicial Court.
There are three houfes of public worfhip belonging to the Reformed Proteftant Dutch Church, one is called the Old Dutch Church, which was built in the year 1693, and rebuilt in the year 1766; and another is called the North Church, which was founded in the year 1767, and dedicated to the fervice of God, in
9
8 DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
the year 1769. This laft church being ruined by the Britifh during the late war, was repaired in the year 1784, and has been ufed with the old church for the performance of divine fervice. The middle church generally called the New Dutch Church, was built in the year 1729: it is the moft fpacious of the three, but was alfo ruined in the war, and is not yet fully repaired:
The people of this, denomination were the firft fettlers of this State,"and make a refpectable part of the citizens. .. The church in the city is confidered as one church or congregation, though worfhipping in different places. The charter, or act of incorpo- ration, was granted by William the Third, in the year 1696, when Benjamin Fletcher, Efq., was Gov- ernor of the Province. The Minifters, Elders, and Deacons, are the body corporate, and hold confid- erable property. Many years before the war, they found it neceffary, by reafon of the decline of the Dutch language, to have fervice performed in Eng- lifh, and had then two Dutch and two Englifh Min- ifters. Since the war, it has been performed chiefly in Englifh, and they have at prefent only two Min- ifters.
. .
There are four Prefbyterian Churches in the city of New York. The firft was erected in the year 1619. It was built of ftone, and rebuilt and en- larged in the year 1748. It is eighty feet long and fixty wide, with a cupola and bell; and ftands in the upper end of Wall-ftreet, the North fide of the ftreet, near the Broduway. The fecond was erected in the year 1767, is a genteel brick building, thirty-three feet long, and fixty-five feet wide, with a fteeple not
DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
finithed; it ftands on the Eaft fide of the green, at the head of Beekman and Naffau-ftreets.
The congregations worthipping in thefe churches are connected with each other, under the care of the fame Minifters, who preach alternately in them, and ,having the fame Elders and Deacons'; their tem- poralities also are managed by the fame Truftees, incorporated under the law of the State paffed in April 1784, capacitating religious focieties of every denomination to incorporate themfelves, for the pur- pofes therein mentioned. :
The third Prefbyterian Church was erected in the ` year 1768, is a genteel ftone building, fixty-five and- a-half feet long, and fifty-five and-a-half feet wide; and ftands in Little Queen-ftreet, not far from the Broadway. This church is alfo incorporated agree- ably to the fame law.
Thefe three churches were occupied by the British during the late war, as hofpitals and barracks, and were left by them in a moft ruinous fituation, and have been repaired with great neatnefs, and at a very great expenfe, by their refpective congregations, fince the peace.
The fourth Prefbyterian church was erected in the year 1787, is a neat frame building, fifty feet long and twenty-four feet wide, and ftands in Naffau- ftreet.
The Clergy of the Prefbyterian Churches of this city are maintained by the revenues arifing from the rents of their pews.
There are three Epifcopal Churches in New York, under one charter, which was granted the fixth of May, 1697. Trinity Church was built in the year 1696, and at feveral times afterward, improved and
10
DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
. enlarged. . It was fituated on the Weft fide of Broadway, in view of the Hudfon, with a fpacious cemetery on each fide; including the tower and chancel, it was about one hundred and forty-eight feet in length and seventy-two in breadth; and the fteeple one hundred and seventy-three feet in height. This was fuppofed to be the moft ftately building .of the kind in America, but it was deftroyed in the fire which happened juft, after the British troops ' entered the city, in 1776. [ It is now in contemplation to rebuild it; and several thoufand pounds are already fubfcribed for the purpofe.
: St. George's Chapel, in Beekman-ftreet, was fin- "ifhed in 1750. . This is a neat building, formed with hewn-ftone, and the roof tiled.
St. Paul's Chapel, in Broadway, was completed in 1766. . This building, which is in itfelf elegant, is embellifhed with a superb monument, erected by order of Congrefs and at the expenfe of the United States, to the memory of the brave General Mont- gomery, who fell in the attack of Quebec, December, 31, 1775.
To the foregoing may be added the following Churches:
German Lutheran
2
Roman Catholic.
I
Friends' Meeting .
Anabaptifts I
Moravians I
Jews Synagogue
I
Hudfon River was firft difcovered in 1608, by Henry Hudfon, an Englifhman, who fold his claim
II
DESCRIPSION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
to the Dutch. In 1614, the States General granted a Patent to feveral merchants for an exclufive trade on the river Hudfon: >> The fame year this Company built a fort on the Weft fide of the river, near Albany, and named it Fort Orange ... The next year a fort was built on the South-weft point of Manhattan's, now York ifland; but the firft fettlers planted them- Selves about two miles from this fort and built a church, there, the ruins of which, it is faid, are ftill 'vifible, near the two mile ftone on the public road. In this fituation, finding themfelves infecure during the Wars between the Englifh and Dutch, they left this place and planted their habitations under the guns of the fort; which laid the foundation of the prefent city.
New York remained in poffeffion of the Dutch · until 1664, when it was surrendered by Colonel Nicolls, who was commiffioned by James, Duke of York, to whom his brother, Charles II, of England had made a grant of it, the fame year. In 1667, at the peace of. Breda, New York was conferred to the English, who, in exchange, ceded Surinam to the Dutch. In the war of 1673, the Dutch again pof- feffed themfelves of New York; but at the treaty of peace, figned at Weftminfter, the following year, New York was reftored to the Englifh, in whofe hands it remained till the late Revolution.
While New York remained in poffeffion of the Dutch, it was called New Netherlands and governed by a Schout, Burgomafters, and Schepens. From its furrender to the Englifh, in 1664, to 1683, the province was ruled by Governors, appointed and commifioned by the Duke of York, and their council, whofe rules and orders had the force of laws. From
12
DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
the laft-named period, the people was admitted to z fhare of the legiflative authority. The government of the city (which was firft incorporated in 1696), is now in the hands of a Mayor, Aldermen, and Com- mon Council. The city is divided into feven wards, in each of which there is chofen, annually, by the people, an Alderman and an Affiftant, who, together with the Mayor and Recorder, form the Common Council. The Mayor"and. Recorder are appointed annually by the Council of Appointment.
! The Mayor's Court, which is held from time to time by. adjournment, is in high reputation as a Court of Law. . A Court of Seffions is likewife held for criminal caufes.
.
The fituation of the city is both healthy and pleafant. Surrounded on all fides by water, it is refrefhed with cool breezes in fummer, and the air in winter is more temperate than in other places under the fame parallel.
York ifland is fifteen miles in length, and hardly one in breadth. It is joined to the main by a bridge called King's-bridge. The channels between Long and Staten iflands, and between Long and York- iflands, are so narrow as to occafion an unufual rapidity of the tides, which is increafed by the confluence of the waters of the Hudfon and Eaft river. This rapidity, in general, prevents the ob- struction of the channel by ice; fo that the naviga- tion is clear, except for a few days in feafons when the weather is uncommonly fevere. There is no bafin or bay for the reception of fhips; but the road where they lie, in Eaft-river, is defended from the violence of the fea by the iflands which interlock with each other; fo that, except that of Rhode-
13
DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
Ifland, the harbor of New York, which admits fhips of any burthen, is the beft in the United States.
The city is efteemed the moft eligible fituation for commerce in the United States. It almoft necef- farily commands the trade of one-half of New Jerfey, moft of that of Connecticut, and part of that of Mafachufetts, befides the whole fertile interior country, which is penetrated by one of the largeft rivers in America, navigable one hundred and feventy miles.' This city imports moft of the goods con- fumed between a line thirty miles Eaft of Connecti- cut river, and twenty miles Weft of the Hudfon, which is one hundred and thirty miles; and between the ocean and the confines of Canada, about two hundred and fifty miles; a confiderable portion of which is the beft-peopled of any part of the United States; and the whole territory contains at leaft half a million of people, or one-fixth of the inhabi- tants in the Union. Befides, fome of the other States are partially fupplied with goods from New York. But in the ftaple commodity, flour, Penn- fylvania and Maryland have rivalled it-the fuper- fine flour of thofe States commanding a higher price than that of New York.
In the manufacture, likewife, of iron, paper, cabi- net-works, &c., Pennfylvania exceeds not only New York, but all her fifter States. In times of peace, however, New York will command more commercial bufinefs than any town in the United States. In time of war, it will be infecure, without a marine force ; but a fmall number of fhips will be able to defend it from the moft formidable attacks by fea.
Eight miles northward of the city, is a ftrait be- tween Long and York iflands, which is, with great
.
14 DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
propriety, called Hell-gate. The paffage is narrow, and the middle of it is obstructed with rocks, fo as to occafion a moft violent rapidity of the tides. Except at high and low water, this ferait is impaff- able, without a ftrong breeze fufficient to counteract the current, and even then the navigation is extremely hazardous. The tides which flow from the Eaft and Weft, meet at Frog's Point, feveral miles to the caftward of Hell-gate ; for which reafon the ebbing and flowing are remarkably, fudden at this place. The channel at Hell-gate is deep enough for frigates, but veffels, ufually wait for high or low water, when the fea is generally fmooth, and the ftrait is naviga- ble on each fide of the rocks.
. A want of good water is a great inconvenience to the citizens, there being few wells in the city. Moft of the people are fupplied, every day, with frefh water, conveyed to their doors in cafks, from a pump near the head of Queen-ftreet, which re- ceives it from a pond, almoft a mile from the city. Several propofals have been made by individuals, to fupply the citizens by pipes ; but none have yet been accepted.
The following is the character of the inhabitants of this city, drawn by a faithful hand in 1756:
"New York is one of the moft focial Places on the Continent. The Men collect themfelves into weekly Evening Clubs. The Ladies, in Winter, are frequently entertained either at Concerts of Mufick or Affemblies, and make a very good appearance. They are comely and drefs well, and fearce any of them have diftorted Shapes. Tinctured with a Dutch Education, they manage their Families with becom- ing Parfimony, good Providence, and fingular Neat-
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DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
nefs. The Practice of extravagant Gaming, com- mon to the fashionable Part of the fair Sex, in fome Places, is a Vice with which my Countrywomen can- not juftly be charged. There is nothing they fo generally neglect as Reading, and indeed all the Arts for the Improvement of the Mind, in which, I confefs, we have set them the Example. They are modeft, temperate and charitable; naturally fpright- ly, fenfible, and good-humoured ; and, by the Helps of a more elevated Education, could poffefs all the Accomplishments defirable in the Sex. Our Schools are in the loweft Order ; the inftructors want In- ftruction; and through a long fhameful Neglect of the Arts and Sciences, our common Speech is ex- tremely corrupt, and the Evidences of a bad Tafte, both as to Thought and Language, are vifible in all `our Proceedings, publick and private.
"The People, both in Town and Country, are fober, induftrious, and hofpitable, though intent on Gain. The richer Sort keep very plentiful Tables, abounding with great Varieties of Flefh, Fifh, Fowl, and all kinds of Vegetables.
"The Inhabitants of this Colony are in general healthy and robuft ; taller, but fhorter lived, than Europeans ; and, both with Refpect to their Minds and Bodies, arrive fooner to an Age of Maturity. Breathing a ferene, dry Air, they are more fprightly in their natural Tempers than the People of Eng- land ; and hence Inftances of Suicide are here very uncommon. Few Physicians amongft us are emi- nent for their Skill. Quacks abound like Locufts in Egypt ; and too many have recommended themfelves to a full Practice and profitable Subfiftence. This is lefs to be wondered at, as the Profeffion is under
1>
16
DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
no kind of Regulation."-Smith's History of New .York, page 211.
Admitting this be a candid reprefentation of facts, at the time it was drawn, yet many material changes have taken place which ought to be noticed.
The change of the inhabitants, by the Revolution, was confiderable, and had fome effect upon the general character of the citizens. Notwithftanding, in point of fociability and hofpitality, New York is hardly exceeded by any town in the United States. The principal families, by affociating, in their public amufements, with the middling clafs of well-bred citizens, render their rank fubfervient to the happi- nefs of fociety, and prevent that party-fpirit, which an affectation of fuperiority in certain families in Philadelphia, has produced in that city-a fpirit which difturbs or deftroys their public amufements, and which has given the citizens, too generally, per- haps, the reputation of being inhofpitable .*
Several caufes, however, have operated to dimin- ifh the fociability of the citizens of New York, par- ticularly the change of inhabitants and the lofs of property, during the ravages of war, and the un- favorable ftate of businefs fince the eftablifhment of peace. Thefe caufes have had their influences in all parts of America; and perhaps as little in New York as in any other town.
" It is presumed that the general character of the citizens in all our large towns, is, in some measure, formed by the manners of the prevailing sect or nation. The reserve of the Quakers in Phila- delphia has been communicated to all classes of citizens, and assists im forming their general character. The neatness, industry and parsimony of the Dutch, were the characteristics of the citizens of New York,, before the revolution ; and will probably be visible in their manners a long time after national distinctions are lost.
17
DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
The charge of neglecting reading and the im- provements of the mind, might be juft in Smith's time, but, if juft, it did not lie folely againft the inhabitants of this city. That the Americans were formerly, and may beft ill, behind the citizens of London, in their attention to literature and the arts, will be acknowledged, nor is it furprizing. Yet, no perfon acquainted with the well-bred American la- dies, can charge them, generally, with ignorance; and there are great numbers in New York whofe minds are highly improved, and whofe converfation is as inviting as their perfonal charms.
Nor are the fchools in this city in fuch a deplo- rable fituation as they were formerly. There are many which are kept by reputable and able men; and Columbia College affords a very favorable prof- pećt.
It muft not, however, be concealed, that Smith's defcription of the ftate of education is now but too juft, with refpect to the country at large. There are feveral good academies in the country; but many parts are either unfurnished with fchools, or the fchools which they have are kept by low igno- rant men, and are confequently worfe than none. This remark may be extended to a large proportion of the United States.
.An enquirer, who would with to acquaint himfelf with the true ftate of the people of New York, their manners and government, would naturally afk the citizens for their focieties for the encouragement of fciences, arts, manufactures, &c .? For their public libraries? For the patrons of literature? For their well-regulated academies? For their female acade- mies for inftructing young ladies in geography, hif-
18 DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK IN 1786.
tory, belles-lettres, &c .? Such enquiries might be made with propriety.
The practice of phyfic, it is prefumed, is on a better footing than when Smith wrote his History. That it is capable of many improvements, in all parts of America, will hardly be denied by the fac- ulty themfelves. ; There are, however, many eminent · phyficians and furgeons in New York ; and it is only to be regretted that there exifts a neceffity of going abroad for knowledge which ought to be obtained at home.
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