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F129 A3 M9 v. 3
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THE
ANNALS OF ALBANY.
BY J. MUNSELL.
VOL. III.
Real 4/15/8 C
ALBANY: JOEL MUNSELL 58 STATE STREET. 1852.
-
THIRD VOLUME
PREFACE.
This volume contains a considerable amount of matter that has not before seen the light by the aid of printers' ink, and which is believed to be not wholly without value to the historian and antiquary.
The records of the common council and the courts, are not merely interesting by reason of their quaintness, but are important, because they furnish nearly all we can know of the events of that period in the history of the city, which forms the close of the seventeenth century. Albany was at that time a garrisoned town, against which the French in Canada had a strong desire to carry their arms; but the principal blow aimed at her fell upon Schenectady, and her wooden walls were never actually beleaguered by any foe. This may be attributed to the fact that the authorities manifested more prudence than any of their neighbors with regard to their defences, and to their watchfulness over the Indians, who although at · peace, were not permitted to lodge in the city by night.
The records of baptisms, which occupy a large space in these pages, must present a barren aspect to the general reader; but they serve to repeople the old city, and make us familiar with the old people, the middle-aged, and the babies, all Dutch, and inhabiting small, sharp-roofed houses with their gables to the street. These, ladies and gentle- men, are the men, women and children who frequented our streets a century and a half ago, when the males
423754
-
iv
Preface.
above the age of sixteen numbered one hundred and eighty two, all told.
Among those who took the oath of allegiance to King William in 1699, we find the name of Gideon Schaats. From the best information that could be gathered of such as were most conversant with the history of the church, his death was placed in 1683 (voli, 91); but he appears again (vol. ii, 103), to present before the court, the will of his deceased wife, Barentje Hendriks, in De- cember, 1688. If this is the veritable domine who comes up again in 1699 (vol. iii, 277), we can only conjecture that he is not living yet from the fact that he began his ministry in 1652 ,and, in the ordinary course of events, should have gone to his reward in the last century. We hope to meet with him again.
The orthography of persons and places is so much un- settled, as to forbid the attempt to establish a standard; wherefore the original manuscript has been followed, usually, with all its variations. In copying articles, the author's text has been scrupulously followed, and having put his name to it, if any one should conceive that it contains errors, the compiler desires that the misfea- sance may be attributed to its right source, and not to any invention of his own.
CONTENTS.
City Records, 1695 to 1699, .. 7
Dutch Names of Persons, Places and Things, &c., ... 57 Baptisms in the Ref. Prot. Dutch church, from 1693 to 1707, 61 Table of Dutch Baptismal Names with the corresponding Names in English, . 114
Maude's Travels, 116
Albany County, 135
Notes from the Newspapers,. 145
Ancient Wills, 193
British Spy, 201 Congress at Albany, 1754,. 202 204
Epidemic in Albany, 1746,
Orphan Asyhun, .
207
Commission of a Viewer of Corn, 218 219
Forms of Oaths, 1689,
Ferry Rates, 1784,. 220
Lumber Trade in Albany, . 221
Arrivals at this Port, 1791, 223
Albany Lumber Market for the week ending July 30, 1851, 224 225
Meeting on the State of the Country,
- Commerce of Albany, ... 226 227
Statistics of Intemperance, .
Population at different Periods, 228
Inscriptions in the Presbyterian Burial Ground,. 229 Population, 1714, 243
Trinity Church,. 244
Taking the Oath of Allegiance, 1699,. 273
Life and Services of Stephen Van Rensselaer, 281
License to teach English, 1665,.
327
Sudden breaking up of the Ice, 1851, 328 Annals of the Year 1850-51, 331
Statistics of Crime, 1851, . 367
Salaries of State Offices, 1774, 368
Index,
369
ILLUSTRATIONS.
- -
Map of Albany, 1851,. frontispice.
Plan of Albany, 1695, 39
Map of Albany, 1794,. 156
Orphan Asylumn, ..
207
Kane Monuments,. 235
Charles R. Webster's Monument,. 242
Trinity Church, 265
Stephen Van Rensselaer, . 281
Commercial Bank Building, 365
ANNALS OF ALBANY.
THE CITY RECORDS.
1695 TO 1700.
Att a Common Councill held in the Citty of Albany ye 6th of August, 1695 :- Present, Joh: Abeel, mayor; Major D. Wessels, recorder; Evert Banker, Jacob Staets, Jan Jansse Bleeker, Jan Lansing, Albert Ryck- man, aldermen; Jan Becker, Ben. van Corlaer, Evert Wendell, Johannes Thomase, assistants.
Whereas an order has been given by ye mayor, alder- men and commonalty for a well to be made in ye citty of Albany on ye Jonker street, on ye hill, for ye convenience and safety of ye sd citty, for ye satisfaction of ye sd charges was ordered yt an general assessment shall be made through the whole citty, which is now given in to ye mayor, aldermen and commonalty, amounting to the somme of two hundred and seventy seven and 10d, doe therefore or- der that a warrant shall be issued upon ye high constable, and commanding his deputyes emmediately to collect ye sd somme of money, and after ye collecting sd money, to return the same to the treasurer Johannes Appel.
Whereas ye mayor gives in to ye aldermen and com- monalty yt he has received a letter with ye commission of ye Peace, from ye secretary of New York, David Jame- son with an account of ye charges for ye sd commission, also for ye act of assembly for ye 2 pt for ye defrauying of all ye necessary charges in ye citty of Albany, which ac- count amounts to the somme of ten pounds thirteen shil-
8
The City Records.
lings courrant money, for ye satisfaction of ye sd sommes of money it is resolved that care shall be taken that ye county shall procure Corn so much to brew 3 pypes of table Beer, and Benn. v. Corlaer and Albert Ryckman are to brew it, thinking it will amount to ye complement.
It is resolved by the mayor, aldermen and commonalty that ye justices of ye citty and county of Albany shall con- vene the first day of September next ensuing, and that ye sheriff Johannes Appel shall give them all warning against said time, that they may appear personally as aforcsaid.
Whereas Ab. Isaaks, ye Fort Sluyter*, having delivered in his account for his- duty, amounting to ye somme of eight and twenty pieces of eight,
To ye sheriffe Johannes Appel to order yt ye high con- stable shall order his deputyes to make an assessment for ye procureing ye aforesaid somme of money.
Oct. 14. Whereas the arricars of ye £2000 and £1500 tax having been derected to the constables of cach warde by an warrant from Dirk Wessells, justice, which consta- bles give in their report, that all who are indebted to ye said arriers gives them an answer that they have paid it, and setts them aft from time to time.
Albany, ye 14th day of October, 1695.
This day being appointed by ye charter of this citty for ye alderman of ye respective wards to bring their returns of ye aldermen chosen for ye ensuing year, which were
1st Ward .- Johannes Schuyler, Hendrik van Rensselaer. aldermen; Benoni van Corlcar, Johannes de Wandelaer, assistants.
2d Ward .- Jan Jansse Bleeker, Jan Lansing, aldermen ; Johannes Cuyler, Evert Wendell, assistants.
3d Ward .- Albert Rykman, Hendrik Hanse, aldermen; John Andriese. Egbert Teunise, assistants.
Assessors .- John Becker, Anthony van Skayk, Ist ward; Johannes Bleeker, Pieter Mingael, 2d ward: Harpert Ja- cobse, Elbert Gerritse, 3d ward.
Constables. - Myndert Schuyler, Ist ward; Anthony Bries, 2d ward; Warner Carstense, 3d ward.
High Constable .- Johannes Teller, chosen and sworn. * Keeper of the gates, or turnkey.
9
The City Records.
Albany, ye 15th November, 1695, in ye Citty Hall afore- said.
Resolution made between the mayor and aldermen with the common councill, who were ordered by the mayor to make a forfitt lyst for ye quartering of ye fusilleers of Ma- jor Schuyler, Capt. Weems and Capt. Kidd's compe, who accordingly have done and delivered the same for two months, till ye 15th day of Jan'y 95, next ensuing, with condition yt then the sd list may be allowed to the more ease of ye inhabitants upon whom the sd comps are quar- tered.
Mayor's Court, Nov. 19, 1695 .- Whereas Hend. Rose- boom Sen., voorlezer in ye church of ye citty of Albany doth appear here and desyred that consideration may be used that his sallary may be paid, being he stand in great need of ye same.
Jacob Lokermans vs. Harma Gansevoort, Default.
Robert Sanders vs. Jurry van Hoese, Deferred.
Barent Allester Bratt appears here and desyres satis- faction for removing of house according to appraisment of ye same.
Whereas in ye year of our Lord 1632 a warrant was directed to Pieter Winne, Pieter Bogardus, William Claese, Harma Gansevoort, Dirk Bensing, and Jan Janse Visselaer, who were ordered by ye mayor, aldermen and commonalty of ye citty of Albany. being there were severall houses standing hard by the stockadoes of ye citty aforesaid, and ye enemy were then daily expected, it was then desyred by the generalty of ye inhabitants that ye sd houses might be broke downe, whereupon ye mayor, aldermen and com- monalty appointed and authorized the aforesaid persons to agree with ye owners, otherwise to value the same, which was valued by the following persons, being William Claese, Jan Cornelise Viselaer, Harma Gansevoort, and Pieter Bogardus, who valued the house of Barent Allester Bratt at fifteen pound twelve shillings for ye removing of ye same. The mayor and aldermen refer ye same to further consideration for ye payment of ye same.
A committee was appointed to examine the treasurer's
10
The City Records.
accounts, and a warrant was directed to be issued "to fetch up all the lycenses." The justices were also directed to appear on the 9th Dec., "to correct all affairs between the citty and county."
Mayor's Court, Dec. 3, 1695 .- Sanders vs. Van Hoese came up for the third time, when it was " thought requisite that the partyes doe appear here next court day to dispute ye matter themselfs, and whoever then is absent judgment enter against him."
Cornelia Vanderheyden appears here at ye barr, and gives in ye oath of her suster Ariaantje who is brought to child bed, that Leift. Symon Young is ye father thereof, ye only father and none but he; and deseres that ye mayor and alderman would use some methodd or anoyr with ye sd Young for the maintenance of the child.
It is resolved by ye mayor and aldermen that each in- habitant in this eitty shall ride or cause to be ride at ye guard by ye constable appointed, a load of fyre wood; vizt : the first warde is to ride there proportion this week, and after ye 2d and 3d warde when they were 'warned.
Mayor's Court, Dec. 17, 1695 .- Whereas ye citty stock- adoes doe begin to fail and are out of repair towards the river side, it is therefore thought necessary by ye mayor and aldermen that four hundred and fifty new stockadoes should be ride this winter for the repairing of ye same, at 13 foot length, and a foot over, and that a warrant may be directed to ye assessors, to make an equal assessment. thereof upon ye inhabitants and then to deliver ye same to Mr. Mayor.
Att a meeting of mayor, aldermen and justices of the citty and county of Albany, ye 28th day of March, 1695 :- Present, Evert Banker, mayor; Dirk Wessels recorder; Hend. van Rensselaer, Jan Janse Bleeker, Jan Lansing, Albert Rykman, Hend. Hanse, alder- men ; K. van Rensselaer, Capt. Marte Gerritse, Ger- rit Teunise, Joh. Sanders, Pieter Vosburgh, justices ;
11
The City Records.
Evert Wendell Jun., Joh. D. Wandelaer, Eghbt Teu- nise, Jan Andries, common council.
It is resolved and agreed that four hundred load of good fyre wood with two horses shall be ride by ye county of Albany between this and ye 15th day of January next ensuing, none excepted but linde and ye sparegrene wood, vizt :
Coxhacky and Catskill, - 100
K. van Rensselaer, - 160
Kinderhook, 110
370
Also, that all ye accounts of ye county charges from ye 17th, '95 to the 14th of October 1695, are inspected, and doe finde that ye county is indebted the somme of one hundred thirty-five pounds one shilling and 1ª, whereof they deduct fifteen pounds twelve shillings which was due to Barent Bratt for removing his house in ye year of our Lord 1683, which ye justices of ye county doe apprehend yt ye county ought not to pay. As also sixty pounds as per account of assembly for ye ajancy, doth amount to one hundred seventy-nine pounds 9s. ld. To the levying of said somme, the Colony is to contribute £15 Kinderhook, 20
Katskill and Coxhacky,
- 20
Shinnechtady, 22
-
77
So that there just remains for the city to be
raised,
102 9s. 1d.
£179 9s. 1d.
It is also concluded generally by ye Justices yt of ye citty and county yt a gift of £5 5s. shall be raised for James Parker, vizt, ye Citty £2, ye Colony £1. Kinder- hook 15s., Katskill and Coxhacky 15s., Shennechtady 15s., is just £5 5.
*
12
The City Records.
Att a Mayor's Court, held at ye Citty Hall of Albany, the 25th day of February, 1695.
Ryer Jacobse Schermerhoorn complains of Joh. Sanders for false imprisonment, to ye dammage of two hundred pounds. The defendant appears and says y' he is of op- pinion yt he can not be tryd at ye mayor's court, by rea- son neither of them are inhabitants of ye citty, doth there- fore desyre of ye aldermen to know if they have power to try ye matter. The court is of ye opinion that they have no power to try the defendant, because the law gives no positive direction, neither have they any former prece- dence for it, being they fynd by the pl. declaration that the deft. is shewed as a justice of peace in the service of his office, upon which opinion ye deft. replyed that he was put in false imprisonment.
Albany ye 10th March, 1695.
There is three warrants signed by ye mayor, to ye three constables, to bring in a levie tax according to ye tax de- livered them, &c.
Whereas there is complaints made to ye mayor, alder- men and justices of ye peace, yt ye publick bakers of ye citty doe not make thare wheat bread according to weight established formerly, that is to say, every loff of bread is to be a pound nett, English weight, when baked, ye price at 7d wampum, wee doe therefore command and charge in his majes name, King William, yt all bakers make thare bread according to ye standers, under y" pain of for- fyting all such bread as shall be founde light, as also a fine of three shillings courant money, &c.
Whereas several persons of ye citty and county has given in a complaint to ye mayor, aldermen and justices of ye citty and county, yt there is severall persons doe goe with money in thare hands to buy wheat, and can not have it by reason ye marchants has engrossed in there hands being resolved to ship it for New York, the mayor aldermen and justices of ye peace have resolved and agreed upon yt no merchts or any other persons whatsoever shall ship any corn aboard any sloop, vessel, boat, whatsoever,
The City Records. 13
untill such time wee have his Excell. directions in it, as they will answer upon there uttmost perill.
John Anderson Cooper is this day sworn surveyor of all the wyehts and mesures within the citty and county and that he is to have his instructions from the mayor and aldermen, and a warrant for his place and what fees he is to receive.
March 14 .- At a meeting of the mayor, aldermen and justices, it was resolved that an address should be drawn up and delivered to the representatives, on the state and condition of the city and county, that they may present the same to the governor and council in the general assembly.
Op heydenden 14ª Maert, geaccordeert met de aldermans voort Court t hebben voort gebruijk van d Reders van d Twee Bergatijns die t somor sall getimmert worden, waar- voor zij betaelen moeten 8 ps van 8.
April 21 .- Whereas on ye 10th of March last a prohibi- tion was proclaimed by us, yt no mercht or any persons within this citty should transpt any corn or any sort of grains untill further order from his excel., we doe there- fore prohibite by order of his excel. B. Fletcher, Capt. Gen. & Gov. in cheiffe, &c., yt no mercht or other persons whatever within ye citty shall transpt any sort of grains downe Hudson's river, either in sloop, vessel or boat, till such time wee receive his excel. will & pleasure thereon.
May 19 .- Hend. Vandyk of ye citty of Albany appears before this court in behalfe of Allida Schuyler, widow of Pr. Davidsse Schuyler, deceased, with the following re- quest, that whereas her late husband Pr. Davidsse Schuy- ler, being suddenly taken out of this world without mak- ing any will or testament, doth therefore humbly desyre of the court that they may appoynte Abraham and David Schuyler as oversiers and tutors over her said husband's children, whilst they are in there minority, and your pet'r shall forever pray. Was signed, ALIDA SCHUYLER.
The court grants the aforesd request, and appointeth and authoriseth ye said Abraham and David Schuyler oversiers and tutors over said children of ye deceased.
June 16 .- Whereas complains are made by ye sheriffe of ye citty of Albany that severall inhabitants do not ob-
2
14
Albany City Records.
serve ye former orders, dated ye 13th day of August, 1689, but doc take ye freedom to fetch Indians with there packs into there houses, which is to ye great disturbance of his Maj's peace, Wee doe therefore in his Maj's King William's name, publish and declare yt no person or persons what- soever, within this citty, shall upon ye arrival of any In- dian or Indians, adresse themselfs to speake to them of and concerning trade, nor shall entice them either within or without ye gates of ye said citty by signs or otherwise, howsoever, to trade with themself's or any other persons, upon payı and penalty of paying for cach offence, if com- mitted without ye gates of ye sd citty, ye somme of thirty shillings ; if within ye same, ye somme of six shillings only, which fine is to be for ye behoofe of such persons as shall [sue] for ye same.
That no person or persons whatsoever within ye citty shall presume to fetch any Indian or Indians into thare houses with pack or packs of bever or peltry, and to trade them, upon penalty of paying as a fine for each offence, thirty shillings, and ye Indian or Indians with said packs immediately to depart out of ye house without trading directly or indirectly.
That no person or persons whatsoever within this citty shall send out or make use of any broakers, whether Christians or Indians, in ye management of ye ^ Indian trade, upon pain and penalty of paying as a fine for each offence, ye somme of thirty shillings, one moyety thereof for ye use of ye mayor, aldermen and commonalty of ye sd citty, and ye oyr moyety to such person as shall sue for ye same.
That no person or persons whatsoever within this citty doc presume to trade or traffique with or by any means whatsoever, directly or indirectly entice any Indians so to doe upon ye sabbath day, upon pain and penalty of for- feiting such goods so traded for as aforesaid, as also on payn and penalty of paying as a fine for each offence ye somme of forty shillings to ye use of such person as shall sue for ye same.
Aug. 25 .- It is ordered that Billetts should be sett up at ye church, yt all who have anything to pretend upon ye estate
15.
The City Records.
of John Provost, yt they may give in there accts to Symon Young, sheriffe, in ye space of 14 days ensuing this date.
Sept. 8 .- Harma Gansevoort vs. William Ketelleyn. The partys being called up in court, ye deft did not ap- pear; this being ye first time says to ye marchall yt he was not lawfully summoned.
The sheriffe has brought in his return concerning ye order of Johannes Provost deceased, given him last court day. The court order ye sheriffe to expose ye goods of ye deceased Provost upon Saturday next, at one of ye clocke in ye afternoon, to publick sale, and to pay his debts so far as it will goe.
Inventaris of ye goods of ye deceased Johannis Provost. Rooseboom is paid for his fees by Cornelis Steveson, yt there was a gunn left in pawn for fourteen shillings in rume for the army, which ye sheriffe has redeemed and taken in his custody, two old coats, a pr breeches, an old broken axe, a leathern strap, to be exposed to sale as above.
Att a Meeting of ye Mayor, Aldermen & Assistants of ye Citty and ye Justices of ye County of Albany, the 30th of Sept., 1696, who Representeth as follows:
To his Excell. Benj. Fletcher, Capt. Genl & Governor in Cheeffe of his Maj's Province of New Yorke & of all ye Territoryes & Tracts of Land depending thereon in America, and Vice Admirall of ye Same, &c.
The humble addresse of ye Mayor, Aldermen & Assist- ants of ye Citty and ye Justices of ye County of Albany, who Representeth ye State and Condition of ye Citty and County aforesaid, humbly sheweth :
Imprimis, That since ye beginning of ye present warr by ye dayly departing of ye inhabitants of ye Citty and County, we are weakened about 250 men, and that ye pre- sent garrison being 3 Comps. Red Coats doe weaken dayly as well by desertion as oyrwise, so yt ye same with all ye Recruits from ye Governmt, where severall of our Inhabit- ants have Listed themselfs under can hardly make up two hundred men, which is not sufficient for ye Defence of this fronteer against ye Enemy,
16
The City Records.
2d. That wee can not Expect ye assistance from ye five nations as formerly, since wee can Reckon that ye Prose- lites alone have lost about 60 men in several Renconters, besides ye Mohogs upper nations and River Indians, and since the Last Invasion by ye french and there Indians in onondage & oneyde, wee fear yt ye five nations will not be so zealous for ye crowne of England & this Governmt against ye french our enemy as formerly.
3dly. That our Plantations round about ye towne can not be farther improved without ye great danger of there Lives, as it doth appear by ye barbarous murder and skalping of severall People this summer in there Labour.
4thly. That by ye Examination of a french Prisoner from Canada this Summer, who Reports yt there was Pre- pared 500 pare of Snow Shoes for a Design this winter.
That by reason of ye above articles many families as well from Shinnechtady as Albany are departcd, and seve- rall more are Preparing to Depart, which can not be oyr wise but a fatal Consequence.
Wee doe therefore begg your Excell would be pleased to take this adresse in his Serious Consideration and humbly Pray yt wee may have ye favour of your Excell Presence here this winter with sufficient strength as your Excell shall think fitt, which will without Doubt be an occasion for many Inhabitants to Continue and will Extreamly oblidge your Excell most humble and obedt Petrs to Pray for Ever. [Was signed by the city and county officers.]
Att a Mayor's Court held at ye Citty Hall of Albany, ye 6th of October, 1696 :- Present the mayor, recorder and three aldermen.
Whereas Hend. Lansing, attorney for Bay Croesveelt, appcars at ye barr and demands ye somme of 24 ps. of 8 at 6s. for ye hyre of his house where Capt. Hyde lodges in, for a year from ye 25th June, 1695 to ye 25 do, 1696, being hyred by Major Schuyler, ye Court doth therefore appoint Jan Lansing and Hend. Hanse, aldermen, and Joh. D Wandelaer and Eghbt Tunise, who shall make Enquire upon what condition ye housen are hyred for ye officers, & upon how ye sd officers are quartered, & make there return ye 13th of October, 1696, to ye Mayor.
17
The City Records.
Whereas Symon Young, sheriffe of ye Citty of Albany, appears and saith that on ye 6th of February 1696, Mr. Dirk Wessels, Capt. Gerrit Teunise & Hend. van Ren- sclaer did inquire of him what Provisions he would Pro- vided for ye maintenance of ye Child of Aryaentie Van- derheyden, who Declares yt he is ye father thereof, & yt he had answered if it is his Child why was it not send home where it should never have wanted Bread. Doth therefore humbly desyre of ye mayor & aldermen that ye Child may be sent home to him.
Albany, 14th of October, 1696 .- Ordered by ye mayor to Record ye answer of Aryaentie Vanderheyden, who says yt she will never give her Child to Simon Young.
Robert Sanders of ye Citty of Albany, aged about 54 years, doth declare upon oath yt about 14 years agoe he ye said Deponent had bought for him and his neighbours dwelling in ye Parrell street, from Harma Bastianse of yt Citty Deceased, a Certain Priviledge for a Water Runn through ye sd Bastianses Lott of grounde for ever, situate lying and being in ye said street along ye side of his house to make a well in said street, for the quantity of six Bevers by condition yt ye said Harma Bastianse was not to build upon said grounde where ye Runne Lyes, and further saith lot.
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