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V.I
ANNALS OF ALBANY.
BY JOEL MUNSELL.
VOL. I.
Phi 4/16/8
ALBANY : J. MUNSELL, 58 STATE STREET. 1850.
FIRST VOLUME
-
PREFACE.
-
This work was begun as an annual publication, in the year 1849, and the contents of this volume were principally comprised in the Albany Annual Register of the years 1849 and 1850. In this edition a part of the ephemeral articles of the first have been omitted, and historical and antiquarian matter substituted. The principal aim of the work was to preserve the memory of the time-honored institutions of the city. The form of a periodical was adopted for the convenience of continuing the publication from time to time as facts should be collected, and in the hope of enlisting others to collect materials. The coopera- tion of all who may take an interest in such matters is still solicited, in collecting whatever may tend to throw light upon the past, as well as to preserve authentic memo- rials of the present. Ancestral papers, of an historical, genealogical or statistical character ; memoirs of eminent citizens deceased ; historical accounts of religious, literary, charitable and benevolent institutions ; also of public and private corporations ; maps and charts of the city at dif- ferent periods, or of portions of it ; descriptions of antiqui- ties, and rare and curious relics ; in short, whatever, con- nected with the ancient or modern history of Albany, shall tend to illumine the path or lighten the labors of the future historian, will be duly appreciated. These are the main
1
6
Preface.
objects of the work, although other departments have been introduced, in keeping with the original plan, which will be omitted in the future volumes. A synopsis of the events of each year is given, descending sometimes to particulars which may, perhaps, be considered trivial by some readers.
Undoubtedly many omissions will be observed of matters necessary to give completeness to the articles introduced ; we shall be glad to receive from those who may notice errors or omissions, the sum of their knowledge, for future use. Above all, we crave a liberal share of patience at the public offices, and of the oldest inhabitant, to whom we are already indebted for many favors, and much valuable information. We hope to be instrumental in arresting much that is perishable from entire oblivion, and out of the abundance of material at hand propose to compile a volume annually.
CONTENTS.
Discovery and first voyage up Hudson's River, 1609, . . 9
Names of settlers in Rensselaerswyck, from 1630 to 1646, 15 Sentence of Willem Juriansen Bakker, . 24
Mayors of Albany from 1684 to 1849, 25
Streets, lanes, alleys, &c., 1849, .
26
An act for the division and equalization of the wards,
28
Banks, with historical reminiscences,
31
Insurance companies, .
Clergy; 1848, ...
Practicing attorneys, 1848, .
37
Albany charter officers, 1686,
Officers of the city of Albany, 1848-9,.
Officers of companies and societies, 1848-9, 39
Custom House, .
Mohawk and Hudson Rail Road,.
46
County officers, 1848, 49
Alphabetical list of counties, towns and post-offices, 50
Stage and mail routes in olden time,
56
Principal routes of travel diverging from Albany, .
61
Public offices, buildings, &c., 71 226
75
Albany Female Academy, . State Normal School, .. 84 297
80
Houses in Albany, 1786,
85
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Albany, . 86
Evangelical Lutheran Ebenezer Church,
122
German Evangelical Lutheran Church, 129 293 First Presbyterian Church, . 130
Bethel for Watermen, 133
Jewish Synagogues, 134
135
.. Ancient Albany, .
137
138
County of Albany, . .
Albany County Penitentiary, 149
Commission of John Abeel, 152
Lights and shadows of travelling in New York fifty years ago, 153
34 35 36
Practicing Physicians, 1848,
37 38 45 46
Income and expenditures of the city, 1842 to 1848,
48
Albany Academy,
Universalist Church,
City of Albany, . . 142
8
Contents.
Chronicle of events in Albany, 1817-8, .
Colony of Rensselaerswyck, from 1614 to 1646, 183
Kiliaen van Rensselaer, . .. 203
Executors of Jeremias van Rensselaer. 204
205
Codirectors of Rensselaerswyck, 1630,
209
Business directory, 1840, .
229
List of freeholders of the city and county of Albany, 1720,
231
Dutch church burials, 1722 to 1757,.
235
Family record from Groesbeck Bible,
Biographical sketch of Gen. Philip Schuyler,
Ancient commerce of Albany, .
Voyage of an Albany sloop to China,
Visit of Peter Kalm to Albany, 1749,
Harmanus Bleecker,
278 280
The Wendell House,
283
The Stevenson House,
285
A Canadian invasion,
288 289
A scene of the Revolution in Albany,
Births, marriages and deaths, 1848. .
295 302 303
Operation of the cheap postage system in Albany, 1845, .
301
Description of Albany in 1823, .
305
Distances of county towns from Albany, .
313
Dr. Morse's description of Albany, 1789,
314
Albany in 1796,
316
Corporations and associations, 1849, . 317
322
Hudson River,
324
Books in 1772, 325
Closing and opening of the river since 1785,
326
Incidents of a northern winter, .. 328
Opening and closing of canal, 1824 to 1849,
329
Celebration of the adoption of the constitution, 1788, . 330
329
Centennial anniversary,
335
Memoranda of 1784-5, .
336
Conditions and prospects of the city in 1789,
338
A Tobacco establishment of 1790,
339
Annals of Albany for 1849, .
341
Schedule of real and personal estate, 1847,. 367
Bond of the aldermen of Schenectady, 1766, 368
Index 369
1.59
Arent van Curler, . 206
Albany County Bible Society,
249 250 258 261 262 276
Vanderheyden Palace,
State Street in 1792,
Civil officers of the city of Albany, 1693, .
Barlow's prediction of the Erie Canal, 1787, .
An Albany merchant's stock in 1790, .
Cold days sixty years ago,
ANNALS OF ALBANY.
DISCOVERY AND FIRST VOYAGE UP HUDSON RIVER.
The third Voyage of Master HENRY HUDSON toward Noua Zembla, and at his returne, his passing from Farre Ilands, to New-found Land, and along to fortie four degrees and ten minutes, and thence to Cape Cod, and so to thirtie three degrees; and along the Coast to the North- ward, to fortie two degrees and an halfe, and vp the Rivere neere to fortie three degrees. Written by ROBERT IVET, of Lime-house.
Henry Hudson sailed from Amsterdam on the 20th March, 1609, o. s., in the yacht Half-Moon, with a crew of about twenty Dutch and English sailors, on a voyage for the discovery of a north-west passage to India. He encountered ice and storms, which disabled his vessel, and about the middle of July ran into Penobscot bay, on the coast of Maine. From thence he proceeded along the coast southerly till he arrived at Chesapeake bay about the middle of August, when he tacked about and coasted north- ward until, on the third of September, at three o'clock in the afternoon, he came to three great rivers, and stood for the northernmost. Proceeding leisurely, on the sixth he passed through the Narrows, and was attacked by the Indians, who killed John Coleman, one of his men, who was buried at Coleman's point, at Sandy hook. On the ninth the vessel arrived in New York harbor, which they perceived to be a very good one for all winds, and rode all night.
On the twelfth of September, at two o'clock in the afternoon, Hudson weighed anchor, and began the memorable ascent of the great river which perpetuates his name. He proceeded two leagues against the wind, and came to anchor. Twenty-eight canoes full of men, women and children came out from the shore, of whom the mariners were wary. They brought oysters and beans, and had "great tabacco pipes of yellow copper, and pots of earth to dresse their meate in." The remainder of the narrative is copied verbatim from the edition published by the New York Historical Society, Transactions, i, 138, et seq.
The thirteenth, faire weather, the wind northerly. At seuen of the clocke in the morning, as the floud came we weighed, and turned foure miles into the Riuer. The tide being done wee anchored. Then there came foure canoes aboord: but we suffered none of them to come into our ship. They brought great store of very good oysters aboord, which wee bought for trifles. In the night I set the variation of the compasse, and found it to be 13 degrees. In the afternoone we weighed, and turned in with the floud two leagues and a halfe further, and anchored all night, and had fiue fathoms soft ozie ground, and had an high point of land, which shewed out to us bearing north by east fiue leagues off vs.
10
Voyage of Henry Hudson, 1609.
The fourteenth, in the morning being very faire weather, the wind south-east, we sayled vp the Riuer twelue leagues, and had fine fathoms and fiue fathoms and a quarter lesse; and came to a streight between two points, and had eight, nine, and ten fathoms: and it trended north-east by north, one league, and we had twelue, thirteene and fourteene fa- thomes. The Riuer is a mile broad: there is very high land on both sides. Then wee went vp north-west, a leagne and an halfe deepe water. Then north-east by north fiue miles, then north-west by north two leagues, and anchored. The land grew very high and mountainons. The river is full of fish.
The fifteenth, in the morning was misty vntil the Sunne arose: then it cleered. So wee weighed with the wind at south, and ran vp into the Riuer twentie leagues, passing by high Mountaines. Wee had a very good depth, as six, seuen, eight, nine, ten, twelve and thirteen fathoms, and great store of Salmons in the Riuer. This morning our two Sauages got out of a port and swam away. After we were vnder sayle they called to vs in scorne. At night we came to other Mountaines, which lie from the Rivers side. There we found very louing people, and very old men : where wee were well vsed. 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 aboord, and brought vs eares of Indian Corne, and Pompions, and Tabacco: which wee bought for trifles. Wee rode still all day, and filled fresh water; at night wee weighed and went two leagues higher, and had shoald water: so wee anchored till day.
The seuenteenth, faire Sun-shining weather, and very hot. In the morning as soon as the Sun was vp, we set sayle, and ran vp six leagues higher, and found shoalds in the middle of the channell, and small Ilands, but seuen fathoms water on both sides. Toward night we borrowed so neere the shoare, that we grounded: so we layed out our small anchor, and heaued off againe. Then we borrowed on the banke in the channell, and came aground againe; while the floud ran we heaued off againe, and anchored all night.
The eighteenth, in the morning was faire weather, and we rode still. In the after-noone our Master's Mate went on land with an old Sauage, a Gouernor of the Countrey; who carried him to his house and made him good cheere.
The nineteenth, was faire and hot weather: at the floud, being neere eleuen of the clocke, wee weighed, and ran higher vp two leagues aboue the shoalds, and had no lesse water than fiue fathoms: wee anchored, and rode in eight fathomes. The people of the countrie came flocking aboord, and brought vs Grapes, and Pompions, which we bought for trifles. And many brought vs Beuers skinnes, and Otters skinnes, which wee bought for Beades, Kniues, and Hatchets. So we rode there all night.
The twentieth, in the morning was faire weather. Our Masters Mate with foure men more went vp with our Boat to sound the River, and found two leagues aboue vs but two fathoms water, and the channell very narrow; and aboue that place seuen or eight fathomes. Toward night they returned; and we rode still all night.
11
Voyage of Henry Hudson, 1609.
The one and twentieth was faire weather, and the wind all southerly: we determined yet once more to goe farther up into the Riuer, 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 fore-yard. And our Master and his Mate determined to trie some of the chiefe men of the countrey, whether they had any treacherie in them. So they took them down into the cabbin, and gave them so much wine and aqua vitæ, that they were all merrie; and one of them had his wife with him, which sat so modestly, as any of our countrey 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 that we had been there: and that was strange to them; for they could not tell how to take it. The canoes and folke went all on shoare; but some of them came againe, and brought stropes of Beades: some had six, seven, eight, nine, ten; and gaue him. So he slept all night quietly.
The two and twentieth was faire weather: in the morning our Masters Mate and foure more of the companie went vp with our Boat to sound the River higher vp. The people of the country came not aboord till noone: but when they came, and saw the Sauages well, they were glad. So at three of the clocke in the after-noone they came aboord, and brought Tabacco, and more Beades, and gaue them to our Master, and made an Oration, and shewed him all the countrey round about. Then they sent one of their companie on land, who presently returned, and brought a great Platter full of Venison, dressed by themselues; and they caused him to eate with them: then they made him reuerence, and de- parted all saue the old man that lay aboord. This night at ten of the clocke, our Boate returned in a showre of raine from sounding of the Riuer; and found it to bee at an end for shipping to goe in. For they had beene vp eight or nine leagues, and found but seuen foot water, and vnconstant soundings.
The three and twentieth faire weather. At twelue of the clocke wee weighed, and went downe two leagues to a shoald that had two channels, one on the one side, and another on the other, and had little wind, whereby the tide layed vs upon it. So, there wee sate on the ground the space of an houre till the floud 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.
The foure and twentieth was faire weather: the winde at the north- west, wee weighed and went downe the Riuer seuen or eight leagues; and at halfe ebbe wee came on ground on a bank of oze in the middle of the Riuer, and sate there till the floud. Then wee went on land, and ga- thered good store of chestnuts. At ten of the clocke wee came off into deepe water, and anchored.
The five and twentieth was faire weather, and the wind at south a stiffe gale. We rode still, and went on land to walke on the west side of the Riuer, and found good ground for Corne, and other garden herbs, with great store of goodly oakes, and walnut trees, and chestnut trees, ewe trees, and trees of sweet wood in great abundance, and great store of slate for houses, and other good stones.
The sixe and twentieth was faire weather, and the wind at south a stiffe gale, we rode still. In the morning our carpenter went on land with our Masters Mate, and foure more of our companie to cut wood. This morn-
12
Voyage of Henry Hudson, 1609.
ing, two canoes came vp the Riuer from the place where we first found louing people, and in one of them was the old man that had lyen aboord of vs at the other place. He brought another old man with him, which brought more stropes of beades, and gave them to our Master, and shewed him all the countrey there about, as though it were at his command. So he made the two old men dine with him, and the old mans wife; for they brought two old women, and two young maidens of the age of sixteene or seuenteene yeeres with them, who behaued themselues very modestly. Our Master gaue one of the old men a Knife, and they gaue him and vs Tabacco. And at one of the clocke they departed down the Riuer, making signes that wee should come down to them; for wee were within two leagues of the place where they dwelt.
The seuen and twentieth, in the morning was faire weather, but much wind at the north, we weighed and set our fore top-sayle, and our ship would not flat, but ran on the ozie bank at halfe ebbe. Wee layed out anchor to heaue her off, but could not. So we sate from halfe ebbe to halfe floud: then wee set our fore-sayle and mayne top-sayle, and got downe sixe leagues. The old man came aboord and would have had vs anchor, and goe on land to eate with him: but the wind being faire, wee would not yeeld to his request. So hee left vs, being very sorrowful for our de- parture. At fiue of the clocke in the afternoone, the wind came to the south-south-west. So wee made a boord or two, and anchored in fourteene fathomes water. Then our Boat went on shoare to fish, right against the ship. Our Masters Mate and Boat-swaine, and three more of the com- panie went on land to fish, but could not finde a good place. They tooke foure or five and twenty Mullets, Breames, Bases, and Barbils; and re- turned in an houre. We rode still all night.
The eight and twentieth, being faire weather, as soon as the day was light, we weighed at halfe ebbe, and turned downe two leagues belowe water; for the streame doth runne the last quarter ebbe : then we anchored till high water. At three of the clocke in the afternoone we weighed, and turned downe three leagues, vntill it was darke; then wee anchored.
The nine and twentieth was drie close weather: the wind at south, and south by west, wee weighed early in the morning, and turned downe three leagues by a lowe water, and anchored at the lower end of the long Reach; for it is sixe leagues long. Then there came certaine Indians in a canoe to vs, but would not come aboord. After dinner there came the canoe with other men, whereof three came aboord vs. They brought Indian wheat, which we bought for trifles. At three of the clocke in the after- noone we weighed, as soone as the ebbe came, and turned downe to the edge of the Mountaines, or the northermost of the Mountaines, and an- chored: because the high land hath many points, and a narrow channell, and hath many eddie winds. So we rode quietly all night in seuen fathoms water.
The thirtieth was faire weather, and the wind at south-east a stiffe gale between the Mountaynes. We rode still the afternoone. The people of the countrey came aboord vs, and brought some small skinnes with them, which we bought for kniues and trifles. This a very pleasant place to build a towne on. The road is very neere, and very good for all winds, saue an east-north-east wind. The Mountaynes look as if some metall or minerall were in them, For the trees that grow on them were all
13
Voyage of Henry Hudson, 1609.
blasted, and some of them barren, with few or no trees on them. The people brought a stone aboord like to emery (a stone vsed by glasiers to cut glasse), it would cut iron or steele. Yet being bruised small, and water put to it, it made a colour like blacke lead glistering; it is also good for painters colours. At three of the clocke they departed, and we rode still all night.
The first of October, faire weather, the winde variable betweene the west and the north. In the morning we weighed at seuen of the clocke with the ebbe, and got downe below the Mounitaynes, which was seuen leagues. Then it fell calme and the flood was come, and wee anchored at twelue of the clocke. The people of the Mountaynes came aboord vs, wondering at our ship and weapons. We bought some small skinnes of them for trifles. This afternoone, one canoe kept hanging vnder our sterne with one man in it, which we could not keepe from thence, who got vp by our rudder to the cabin window, and stole out my pillow and two shirts, and two bandeleeres. Our Masters Mate shot at him, and strooke him on the brest, and killed him." Whereupon all the rest fled away, some in their canoes, and some leapt out of them into the water. We manned our boat, and got our things againe. Then one of them that swamme got hold of our boat, thinking to ouerthrow it. But our cooke took a sword, and cut off one of his hands, and he was drowned. By this time the ebbe was come, and we weighed and got downe two leagues, by that time it was darke. So we anchored in foure fathomes water, and rode well.
The seconde, faire weather. At break of day wee weighed, the wind being at north-west, and got downe seuen leagues; then the floud was come strong, so we anchored. Then came one of the Sauages that swamme away from vs at our going vp the Riuer with many other, think- ing to betray vs. But we perceived their intent, and svffered none of them to enter our ship. Whereupon two canoes full of men, with their bowes and arrowes shot at vs after our sterne: in recompence whereof we discharged sixe muskets, and killed two or three of them. Then aboue an hundred of them came to a point of land to shoot at vs. There I shot a falcon at them, and killed two of them: whereupon the rest fled into the woods. Yet they manned off another canoe with nine or ten men, which came to meet vs. So I shot at it also a falcon, and shot it through and killed one of them. Then our men with their muskets killed three or four more of them. So they went their way; , within a while after, wee got downe two leagues beyond that place, and anchored in a bay, cleere from all danger of them on the other side of the Riuer, where we saw a very good piece of ground: and hard by it there was a cliffe, that looked of the colour of a white greene, as though it were either copper, or siluer myne: and I think it to be one of them by the trees that grow vpon it. For they be all burned, and the other places are greene as grasse, it is on that side of the Riuer that is called Manna-hatta. There we saw no people to trouble vs: and rode quietly all night; but had much wind and raine,
The third, was very stormie; the wind at east-north-east. In the morning, in a gust of wind and raine, our anchor came home, and we droue on ground, but it was ozie. Then as we were about to haue out an anchor, the wind came to the north-north-west, and droue vs off againe.
·
14
Voyage of Henry Hudson, 1609.
Then we shot an anchor, and let it fall in foure fathomes water, and weighed the other. Wee had much wind and raine, with thicke weather, so we rode still all night.
The fourth, was faire weather, and the wind at north-north-west, wee weighed and came out of the Riuer, into which we had runne so farre. Within a while after, wee came out also of The great mouth of the great River, that runneth vp to the north-west, borrowing vpon the norther side of the same, thinking to haue deepe water; for wee had sounded a great way with our boat at our first going in, and found seuen, six, and fiue fathomes. So we came out that way, but we were deceived, for we had but eight foot and an halfe water: and so to three, fiue, three, and two fathomes and an halfe. And then three, foure, fiue, sixe, seven, eight, nine and ten fathomes. And by twelue of the clocke we were cleere of all the inlet. Then we took in our boat, and set our mayne-sayle and sprit-sayle, and our top-sayles, and steered away east-south-east, and south- east by east, off into the mayne sea : and the land on the souther side of the bay or inlet, did beare at noone west and by south foure leagues from vs.
The fift, was faire weather, and the wind variable between the north and the east. Wee held on our course south-east by east. At noone I obserued and found our height to bee 39 degrees 30 minutes. Our com- passe varied sixe degrees to the west.
We continued our course toward England, without seeing any land by the way, all the rest of this moneth of October. And on the seventh day of Nouember, stilo nouo, being Saturday, by the Grace of God, we safely arriued in the Range of Dartmouth, in Deuonshire, in the yeere 1609.
15
Settlers of Rensselaerswyck from 1630 to 1646.
NAMES OF SETTLERS IN RENSSELAERSWYCK.
1630 To 1646.
Compiled from the books of Monthly Wages and other MSS. See O'Callaghan's Hist. of N. Netherland, i, 433.
1630.
Wolfert Gerritsen, superintendent of farms.
Rutger Hendricksen van Soest, superintendent of the brewery.
Seger Hendricksen van Soest, shepherd and ploughman.
Brandt Peelen van Nieukerke, schepen; had two daughters, Lisbet and Gerritje. The latter married Goosen Gerritsen van Schaick. The father died in 1644. He is mentioned by the Rev. Mr. Megapolensis in his tract on the Maquaa Indians, and by Van der Donck in his Beschryvinge van N. N., as having raised wheat off one field in Rensselaerswyck eleven years in succession. The land was ploughed twelve times in that period; twice the first and once every succeed- ing |year, when the stubble was ploughed and the wheat sown and harrowed under. Van der Donck adds :- "There are many thous- and morgens of as good land there as that of which we have spoken." Several descendants of this individual reside in Albany county, where they go by the name of Brandt.
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