USA > New York > A gazetteer of the state of New York: comprising its topography, geology, mineral resources, civil divisions, canals, railroads and public institutions; together with general statistics; the whole alphabetically arranged. Also statistical tables of distances with a new township map of the state > Part 35
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NEW LEBANON, V. and p. o. is situated 13 miles south-west of the Springs, on the turnpike road running from Albany to Pittsfield, Mass. It contains I Presbyterian church, an academy; 1 tavern, 1 store and 12 or 15 dwelling houses.
NEW LEBANON SHAKER SETTLEMENT, New Lebanon, Columbia county, is situated 2 miles south of New Lebanon Springs. This settlement contains about 600 inhabitants, 1 church, 10 large dwelling houses occupied
265
NEW LEBANON SPRINGS-NEW PALTZ
in common by the United Society of Believers, or Shakers. The so- ciety also own 1 woollen factory, 1 grist mill, 5 saw mills, 1 iron foundery, 3 machine shops, 1 ex- tensive tannery and some 20 or 30 work shops, where are manufac- tured brooms, sieves, tubs, pails, &c. Also, 3 extensive dairies. The grounds belonging to this so- ciety are highly cultivated; the gardens yield large quantities of seed, herbs, and other products, which are sent to different parts of the Union for sale, and are in high reputation.
NEW LEBANON SPRINGS, V. and p. o. New-Lebanon, Columbia co. is delightfully situated near the Massachusetts state line, 25 miles from Albany. Here are located 5 hotels and boarding houses, 1 Bap- tist church, 4 stores, 2 woollen factories, some 20 or 25 dwellings and about 200 inhabitants. Leba- non Springs has long been celebra- ted as a fashionable watering place of great resort. The spring is 10 feet in diameter, and discharges a large quantity of water sufficient to propel several mills in the vici- nity; it is highly esteemed for its medicinal qualities, particularly in the cure of rheumatic complaints and the scrofula. This place and vicinity is justly celebrated for its beautiful scenery and the salubrity of its climate. The Albany and West Stockbridge and the Hudson and Berkshire railroads, both run to within a few miles of the Springs ; being connected by a line of stages during the summer months.
The following is the late Dr. Meade's analysis of the waters of Lebanon Spring.
Two qts. water contain, gr. Muriate of lime, 1 Muriate of soda,
Sulphate of lime,
Carbonate of lime,
5
Of gases. cub. in.
Nitrogen gas,. 13
Atmospheric air, . 8
21
NEW LISBON, t. Otsego co. situated 13 miles south-west of the village of Cooperstown, and distant 82 miles from Albany; contained in 1840, 1,909 inhabitants. The surface is hilly, with broad valleys on the east and west ; soil, sandy loam; drained south by Butternut and Otego creeks. New Lisbon, Garretsville and Noblesville are names of post offices.
NEW LONDON, V. and p. o. Verona, Oneida co. is situated on the Erie canal; it contains about 200 inhabitants, 25 dwelling hou- ses, 2 taverns, 6 stores and gro- ceries, and an extensive boat yard for building and repairing canal boats.
NEW MILFORD, p. o. War- wick, Orange co.
NEW OHIO, p. o. Colesville, Broome co.
NEW PALTZ, t. Ulster co. si- tuated 14 miles south of the village of Kingston, and distant 75 miles from Albany ; contained in 1840, 5,408 inhabitants. The surface is somewhat hilly, and on the west covered in part by the Shawangunk mountain ; soil, various, mostly loam on slate, lime and gray- wacke, and generally productive ; it is watered by the Wallkill, and bounded by the Hudson on the east. The inhabitants are mostly descendants of the primitive Dutch settlers. New Paltz, New Paltz Landing, Libertyville and Tuttle- town are post offices. Dashville is the name of a settlement.
NEW PALTZ, V. and p. o. New Paltz, Ulster county, is situated on the Wallkill, 9 miles west of the landing on the Hudson river ; this is a scattered agricultural settle- ment, surrounded by a rich farm- ing country ; it contains 250 inha-
266
NEW PALTZ LANDING-NEW SCOTLAND.
bitants, 40 dwelling houses, 2 company, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Epis- churches, 2 taverns, 4 stores, and an incorporated academy in a flourishing condition.
NEW PALTZ LANDING, p. o. New Paltz, Ulster co. is situated on the west bank of the Hudson river, opposite the village of Poughkeep- sie ; here is a scattered settlement containing 1 church, 3 taverns, 4 stores, 1 grist mill, 1 tannery and about 40 dwelling houses.
NEWPORT, t. Herkimer co. situated 10 miles north of the vil- lage of Herkimer, and distant 88 miles from Albany; contained in 1840, 2,020 inhabitants. The sur- face is hilly with fertile valleys ; soil, sandy and calcareous loam, well adapted to grass; drained south by West Canada creek.
NEWPORT, V. and p. o. New- port, Herkimer co. is situated on the West Canada creek; it con- tains about 450 inhabitants, 60 dwelling houses, 1 Episcopal and 1 Baptist church, 2 taverns, 3 stores, 1 flouring mill, 1 saw mill and 1 distillery. This is a hand- some and flourishing place of busi- ness,
NEW ROADS, p. o. Sidney, Delaware co.
NEW ROCHELLE, t. West- chester co. situated 8 miles south of the village of White Plains, and distant 140 miles from Albany ; contained in 1840, 1,816 inhabi- tants. The surface is undulating or level ; soil, clay loam, adapted to grass and mostly well cultiva- ted; it is watered on the south by Long Island Sound.
NEW ROCHELLE, V. and p. o. New Rochelle, Westchester co. is handsomely situated on the Byram turnpike, extending to Long Island Sound on the south, where there is a convenient steamboat landing, distant 18 miles from the city of New-York. It contains about 800 inhabitants, 125 dwelling houses, a town house, a mutual fire insurance
copal and 1 Methodist church; 3 hotels and several extensive board- ing houses ; 1 boarding school for males and 2 for females; 9 stores, 1 grist mill, 1 extensive bone but- ton factory, 1 manufactory of printers' ink, and a carriage facto- ry. Here are owned two sloops trading with the New-York mar- ket, in addition to a steamboat that plies daily between this place and the city of New-York ; stages also run twice daily. No place in the vicinity of the city of New-York, exceeds the village of New-Ro- chelle, as a fashionable place of resort during the summer months, being situated a convenient dis- tance from and overlooking Long Island Sound. The hotels and boarding houses are also large and d well kept ; it has long been a favo-) rite residence for families of wealth and taste, and was early settled by y the Huguenots, who gave it the name it now bears in remembrance e of their native residence, Rochelle le in France; many of their descend-1. ants now reside in this place and d vicinity.
NEW SALEM, p. o. New Scot-I land, Albany co .; here are situated 1 Dutch Reformed church, 2 ta-r verns, 2 stores, 1 tannery and about 1 15 dwellings.
NEW SCOTLAND, t. Albany co. situated 8 miles west of the if city of Albany; contained in 1840, ) 2,912 inhabitants. The surface is ! hilly; soil, sand, loam and clay, underlaid with slate and limestone; ! drained by Coeyman's creek and a : branch of Normanskill. New-1. Scotland, New Salem, Clarksville and Union Church are names of post offices.
NEW SCOTLAND, V. and p. o. New Scotland, Albany co. is an agricultural settlement, situated 8 miles west of the city of Albany; it contains about 125 inhabitants, 20 dwelling houses, 1 Presby-
267
NEWSTEAD-NEW WINDSOR.
terian church, 2 taverns and 2 | and empties into the Chemung ri- stores.
NEWSTEAD, t. Erie co. situa- ted 20 miles north-east of the city of Buffalo, and distant 264 miles from Albany; contained in 1840, 2,653 inhabitants. The surface is undulating ; soil, clay, gravelly and calcareous loam; drained by Ellicott's creek and some tributa- ries of the Tonawanda creek. Newstead and Akron are names of post offices.
NEW SWEDEN, V. and p. o. Au Sable, Clinton co. is situated on the north side of the Au Sable river, it contains about 250 inhabi- tants, 40 dwelling houses, 2 stores,1 forge with two fires and 5 saw mills. NEWTON'S CORNERS, P. O. Northampton, Fulton co.
NEWTOWN, t. Queens co. situat- ed 12 miles west of the Hempstead court house, and distant 153 miles from Albany; contained in 1840, 5,054 inhabitants. The surface is various, being in some places hilly and stony ; soil, sand and clay loam, mostly productive and well cultivated, adapted to fruit; it is drained west by Newtown creek, and watered on the north by the East river, or Long Island Sound, where are two or three islands at- tached to this town. Newtown and Astoria are names of post offices; Maspeth and Ravens- wood are names of settlements.
NEWTOWN, V. and p. o. New- town, Queens co. is situated on the turnpike leading from Flushing to Williamsburgh and Brooklyn; it contains about 500 inhabitants, 80 dwelling houses, 1 Dutch Reform- ed, 1 Episcopal and 2 Methodist churches ; a large hotel and town house, and 4 stores.
NEWTOWN CREEK, rises in Newtown, Queens co. and flows west into the East river, opposite the city of New-York.
NEWTOWN CREEK, rises in the town of Erin, Chenango co.
ver at the village of Elmira ; this is a rapid stream affording nume- rous fine mill sites.
NEW UTRECHT, t. Kings co. situated 6 miles south of Brooklyn and distant 152 miles from Alba- ny ; contained in 1840, 1,283 in- habitants. The surface on the north is somewhat hilly, and the in- terior and south level ; soil, light sand or loam. The town is loca- ted on the extreme west end of Long Island, being separated from Staten Island by the " Narrows." New Utrecht and Fort Hamilton are names of post offices.
NEW UTRECHT, V. and p. o. New Utrecht, Kings co. is plea- santly situated about 1 mile east of the beach, where is situated the Bath House, a fashionable resort during the summer months, for those fond of sea bathing ; it con- tains about 175 inhabitants, 30 dwelling houses, 1 Dutch Reform- ed church, 2 taverns and 3 stores. This place is mostly inhabited by farmers, and in this vicinity are a number of beautiful country resi- dences.
NEW VERNON, p. o. Mount Hope, Orange co.
NEW VILLAGE, p. o. Brook- haven, Suffolk co.
NEWVILLE, V. and p. o. Dan- ube, Herkimer co. contains about 200 inhabitants, 30 dwelling hous- es, 1 church, 1 tavern, 1 store, 1 grist mill, 1 tannery and 1 cloth- ier's works.
NEW WINDSOR, t. Orange co. situated 3 miles south of the vil- lage of Newburgh, and distant 89 miles from Albany ; contained in 1840, 2,482 inhabitants. The sur- face is uneven and hilly, but most- ly arable and well cultivated ; soil, loam, underlaid by slate, limestone and grass ; drained by Murderer's creek flowing into the Hudson ri- ver which bounds it on the east.
NEW WINDSOR, V. and p. o.
268
NEW WOODSTOCK-NEW-YORK.
Orange co. is situated on the west side of the Hudson river, 2 miles below Newburgh; it contains about 250 inhabitants, 40 dwelling houses, 1 Presbyterian and 1 Epis- copal church, 2 taverns, 1 store and 2 storehouses ; and 1 ship yard and railway. Here is owned 1 freight barge and 2 sloops, trading with the New-York market. This
was the birth place of De Witt Clinton, and the house is still stand- ing in good repair in which his fa- ther resided.
NEW WOODSTOCK, V. Caze- novia, Madison co. contains about 300 inhabitants, 50 dwelling hous- es, 2 churches, 1 tavern, 2 stores, 1 woollen factory, 1 grist mill and 1 saw mill.
NEW-YORK CITY AND COUNTY, embraces the Island of New-York, formerly called Manhattan Island; Governor's Island, Bed- low's Island and Ellis' Island, situated in the bay or harbor of New- York, at the mouth of the Hudson river, and Blackwell's Island, Great Barn Island and Little Barn Island or Randel's Island, together with some smaller islands, situated in the East river. The three first are at- tached to the 1st ward of the city, and the latter to the 12th ward. The county may be said to be bounded on the north by Westchester county, east by Westchester county and Long Island, south by Long Island and d the waters of the bay of New-York, and on the west by New-Jersey, as the city authorities claim jurisdiction to low water mark on the op- posite shore of the waters which surround them. It was originally or- ganized in 1683, and is centrally distant 140 miles south of the city of f Albany. The surface and soil are much diversified. The northern i part of New-York Island is hilly and broken ; the soil is principally y sandy or gravelly alluvion, based on rock granite or gneiss, most of it far from being fertile. The minerals found in this county are nume- rous, although but few specimens belong to the class usually denomi- nated useful ;- of dolomite or carbonate of lime, generally called mar- ble, there is an abundance ; bog iron ore and the oxide of manganese also occur, but in quantities too small to answer any valuable purpose. The New- York and Harlem Railroad extends for a distance of 8 miles on the island of New-York, commencing near the City Hall and runs north, crossing the Harlem river at the village of Harlem, where it en- ters Westchester co. The line of the Croton Aqueduct, one of the most magnificent and costly works of its kind ever attempted in this or any other country, enters this county on the north, and extends south through the island, being calculated, when completed, to supply the city of New-York with pure and wholesome water. Other railroads and canals diverge from Brooklyn and Piermont, Rockland co .; Jersey City, Elizabethport, South Amboy and New Brunswick, New Jersey, all concentrating their accumulating trade into the lap of this highly favored city and county. The navigable waters which surround New- York, stand unrivalled as to the facilities they afford for commercial" operations ; the Hudson river, the East River and the bay of New- York, the two latter communicating with the Atlantic ocean, afford natural advantages, which few, if any other place on the globe posses . ses. The area of the county is about 22 square miles, or 14,080 acres. The following are the wards in the city and county of New York, with the population in 1840.
269
NEW-YORK CITY.
First Ward,.
10,629 | Eleventh Ward, 17,052
Second Ward,
6,394
Third Ward,
11,581
Fourth Ward, 15,770
Fifth Ward,. 19,159
Sixth Ward, 17,198
Seventh Ward, 22,982
Eighth Ward, 29,073
Ninth Ward,
24,795
Tenth Ward,.
29,026
NEW-YORK CITY, the com- mercial emporium and most popu- lous city in the United States, is situated on New-York or Manhat- tan Island, at the junction of the Hudson and East rivers, sixteen miles from the Atlantic ocean on the south, with which it communi- cates by two spacious bays, con- nected by a strait called "the Nar- rows." In latitude, (City Hall,) 40° 42' 43" north ; longitude west from Greenwich, England, 73º 59' 46". East from Washington City, 3º 1' 13"; being distant from the latter place 220 miles, by one con- tinuous line of railroads. The Is- land is 13} miles long from north to south, with an average breadth of 1} miles; its greatest breadth is 2} miles. The city and county are co-extensive, embracing the whole island, including the post village of Harlem, Yorkville, Bloomingdale and Manhattanville, together with sundry islands in the East and Hudson rivers. The Island of New-York, is sepa- rated from the main on the north- east by Harlem river and Spyten- Duyvel creek, which unite their waters and form a continuous stream about 8 miles in length be- tween East river and the Hudson river. East river separates it from Long Island on the east, and the Hudson from New-Jersey on the west. The island terminates in a point on the south, formerly the site of fortified works, whence it is still called the Battery, although converted into a delightful prome-
Twelfth Ward, 11,652
Thirteenth Ward, 18,517
Fourteenth Ward, 20,235
Fifteenth Ward, 17,755
Sixteenth Ward, 22,273
Seventeenth Ward,. 18,619
Total inhabitants, 312,710
nade. East river, sixteen miles in length, flows from Long Island Sound into the harbor of New- York ; about midway of its course, near the mouth of Harlem river, is the rocky shoal and whirlpool cal- led by the Dutch Helle-gat. The width of East river opposite the city varies from one-third to half a mile. The tide flows through it from the Sound with great force and rapidity, and reaches the har- bor in advance of the tide from the south. Hudson river on the west side of the city is from one mile to one and a half miles in breadth; on the opposite shore are Jersey City, (formerly Paulus Hook, ) and the village of Hoboken. The har- bor or upper bay extends eight miles south of the city to Staten Island and the south-western ex- tremity of Long Island ; it is from 1} to 5} miles in width, and has great depth of water, sufficient for the largest ships of war. Being land-locked, it affords entire secu- rity from winds and storms, as well as ample space for any num- ber of vessels. It is very rarely . frozen over in winter, being kept open by the strong and rapid cur- rents that sweep into it. The low- er bay, extending from the Nar- rows to Sandy Hook, is obstructed with shoals, but the channels are deep enough even at low water for vessels of the largest class.
Manhattan Island derives its name from the savages who inhabi- ted it when discovered by Hudson, in 1609. De Laet, a distinguished
270
NEW-YORK CITY.
Dutch author, whose description of | lic purposes till 1699, when its New Netherlands, (New-York, ) is supposed to be the earliest extant, says, " On the right or eastern bank of the river from its mouth dwell the Manatthans, a fierce na- tion and hostile to our people, from whom, nevertheless, they purchas- ed the island or point of land which is separated from the main by Helle-gat, and where they laid the foundation of a city called New Amsterdam."* In 1610, the year after the discovery, a Dutch ship was sent out to open a traffic with the natives; and in 1613, Capt. Samuel Argall, of the Vir- ginia Colony, (afterwards Sir Sam- uel,) on his return from an expe- dition against the French of Aca- dia, landed on Manhattan Island, where he unexpectedly found four houses and a resident Dutch super- intendent of trade. This is the earliest notice, it is believed, on record, of any European settle- ment within the present limits of this state. Having exacted sub- mission to the English crown, which his armed equipments en- abled him to enforce for the time, Argall pursued his course to Vir- ginia. Forts were soon after erec- ted on Manhattan Island and at Al- bany, and provided with ordnance for the protection of trade, and of the Dutch title to the country. A new and more substantial fort was built on the southern extremity of the island in 1623, called Fort Am- sterdam, which stood, with various alterations, until 1790. A house for the governor or director gene- ral and a stone church were built within the fort at an early date. A stadt house or city hall, erected about the year 1640, on Pearl- street, at the head of Coenties' slip, continued to be used for pub-
place was supplied by a new build- ing on Wall at the head of Broad- street, in which Congress after- wards held its sessions. Some of the oldest streets now bear names corresponding to those given them by the Dutch; as Pearl-street, ori- ginally written Paerl-straat ; Bridge, formerly Brug ; Market- field, Marcvelt; Beaver, Bever; Broadway, Breede-weg, &c. The first wharf was situated where Whitehall-street now is; and a market house stood near the pre- sent corner of Pearl and Broad- streets. The trade was chiefly in peltries, which was monopolized by the Dutch West India Compa- ny, to whom the country was grant- ed by the States General of Hol- land. Tabular statements of the amount of exports and imports in the Company's ships from 1624 to 1635, are given by De Laet .* The city retained the name of New- Amsterdam till the conquest by the English in 1664, when it was first called New-York. On the re- conquest by the Dutch in 1673, it was named New-Orange ; but pos- session being again given to the English in 1674, by virtue of a treaty between the two govern- ments, the city at once resumed its present name. The municipal au- thority of New Amsterdam was vested in two Burgomasters or Al- dermen, five Schepens or Assist- ants, and a Schout or Sheriff. The English changed the original form of government to that now in use, a charter having been granted in 1665 by Governor Nicholls. A new city charter was granted by Governor Dongan, in 1686, confer- ring additional privileges ; and an- other in 1730, by Governor Mont- gomerie, with further powers, to meet the wants of a growing com- munity. By these charters the
* Collections N. Y. Historical Soc. New Series, i. 308. Helle-gat here means the East river.
* Ibid. 315.
271
NEW YORK CITY.
mayor was to be appointed by the | about three miles from the Battery governor, and the aldermen and assistants were elective. The charter of 1730, as amended by acts of the legislature, is still in force.
The city was originally built in an irregular manner, with narrow and crooked streets, running from the fort, (now the Battery, ) along upon East river, and west to Broad- way. In 1728 it had reached as far north as Fair (now Fulton) street, with a few scattered hous- es beyond, on the east side of Broadway; three or four streets had been opened on the west side, but the King's farm covered most of that part of the island north of Crown (now Liberty) street. As late as 17S2, Chambers-street was the limit of the city on the west, and Catharine street on the east. The farm of Alderman Bayard, lying along the centre of the is- land, half a mile north of Cham- bers-street, had been disposed into city lots a few years before, and vested in a lottery for the purpose of being sold. Numerous streets were regularly laid out on the plan of this estate, situated between Broadway and the Bowery, which remain unaltered. But at that period few inhabitants were found
so far out of town. The anticipa- ted growth of the city, however, soon led to public improvements, which were conducted in a syste- matic manner, and were greatly facilitated by the extraordinary powers lodged in the corporate au- thorities for the assessment of pri- vate property. Wide and commo- dious avenues and streets have thus taken the place of the narrow and irregular thoroughfares of the olden times. Hills have been levelled, rough inequalities in the surface of the ground removed, and bogs and marshes filled up, until the city now presents a uniform grade throughout. It extends
towards the north, and across the island from river to river. The style of building has improved from time to time, and within the last ten years has reached a high degree of elegance and conven- ience. The upper or north part of the city has been laid out into spa- cious streets, with wide and con- venient trottoirs or sidewalks, form- ed of large flag-stones; and the houses, built of brick in uniform blocks, with marble steps, (here called stoops from the Dutch, ) and highly ornamented balustrades of cast-iron in front, present an im- posing and agreeable appearance to the eye. This is now the fash- ionable quarter, the lower part of the city being comparatively de- serted even by old residents, whose former mansions are converted into boarding houses, or have given place to shops or stores.
The principal street is Broad- way, extending in a northerly di- rection from the Battery a distance of 2} miles along the centre of the city, and intersected at right an- gles by streets that slope gradually to each river. It is 80 feet wide, with spacious side-walks that af- ford a favorite promenade in fine weather for the gay and fashiona- ble. Here are to be found the most extensive hotels, dry goods stores, fancy shops, confectiona- ries, jewellers, booksellers, gro- cers, tailors, milliners, and in gene- ral all the various establishments that furnish the elegancies and luxu- ries of life in the greatest perfection. The Bowery is about two-thirds the length of Broadway, but is a much wider street. The name is derived from the Dutch bouwery, signifying a farm, and the street was originally called Bowery lane, from its leading through the public farms. It runs nearly parallel with Broadway on the east, and being chiefly a business street, has
272
NEW-YORK CITY.
a lively and animated appearance It is the great thoroughfare for country wagons and market people from Westchester county, with which it communicates by the Harlem railroad and Third Ave- nue. Chatham-street, (named from the Earl of Chatham, ) con- nects the Bowery with Broadway and Nassau-street; an immense population pours through it at all times from the eastern part of the city, and Broadway below its junc- tion with this street is often so thronged as to render it hazardous, if not impracticable for foot pas- sengers to cross it. East Broad- way is a spacious and elegant street on the east side of the town, and parallel with it are Henry, Madi- son and Monroe-streets, all hand- somely built up with private resi- dences, in the neighborhood of East river. The principal streets crossing Broadway and termina- ting at East river, are Grand, Broome, Houstoun, Fourth and Eighth-streets. On the west side, Greenwich and Hudson-streets are the most spacious and fashionable; they run parallel to the Hudson, and are about two miles and a half in length. Washington and West streets are of the same length, and have a parallel course, nearer to the river. Between the lower part of Broadway and East river are Nassau, William, Pearl, Water, Front and South-streets, intersec- ted by Fulton-street, Maiden Lane, Liberty, Cedar, Pine, Wall and Broad-streets, all of which are occupied with the great commer- cial interests of the city. A con- siderable part of this quarter of the city was destroyed by the great fire of 1835, but it has since been entirely rebuilt in a much superior style. Wall-street contains the Merchants' Exchange, Custom- house, and numerous splendid edi- fices, recently built, occupied by insurance and banking companies.
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