Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 104

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452

USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations > Part 104

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March 30, 1883, Governor Cleveland appointed Mr. Perry, Commissioner of the Construction of the New Capitol, under the then recently enacted law creating a single Commissioner to have entire charge of the interests which had theretofore been confided to a Board of Commissioners, and his appointment was confirmed on the 5th of April following. The appointment was entirely unsolicited by Mr. Perry, who was chosen as an architect, not as a partisan. He had been a life-long adherent to Democratic principles, but had never thought that his vocation as an architect and a builder had anything to do with his political convictions as a citizen, and he' had not made himself known to the country or to the State by any prominence in politics. In an editorial notice of Mr. Perry's appointment, the Albany Argus said:

"He has carried to completion many edifices which are attestations of good work, and the history of them shows promptness, harmony and honesty in every stage. He has large numbers of men in his employment, and his record shows that he can command their regard and respect while requiring of them the utmost fidelity and energy. Great en- terprises have confided to him enormous tasks, in-

volving the use of large capital, the development of complicated plans, and the necessity of combining thoroughness of work with rapidity of execution. He has in every instance shown marked ability, ab- solute integrity, exceptional diligence and an intel- ligent purpose to regard every undertaking as a trust to be discharged with scrupulous observance of economy, impartiality and every other sound business principle."

His appointment was favorably commented up- on by the Press of the State, irrespective of party, and his administration of the duties of his office has been such as to more than justify the enthusi- astic predictions of his friends. The sterling integ- rity, good business sense and untiring energy which gained him his previous enviable reputation, have been brought to bear upon the Herculean task which he has undertaken, and in which his mind and his energies are almost wholly asserted; for, as it has been remarked by the Albany Journal, "his heart is wrapped up in the Capitol. He * *

* appears not to take much interest in politics, and is ready to spend his days and evenings walking about the Capitol, superintending the work, look- ing over designs and planning improvements."

While the Capitol stands as a monument to the liberality of the people and the enterprise and fore- thought of the public men of the State of New York, and the artistic and architectural skill of its own designers and builders, the memory of the name of Mr. Perry can never pass away, and he will be known as one of America's greatest archi- tects and builders.

458

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

HISTORY

OF THE

CITY OF ALBANY.

EDITED BY PROF. JONATHAN TENNEY, M. A, PH. D.

T THAT the boats of Henry Hudson passed up as far as Albany in September, 1609, is con- ceded; probably a few miles further; enough fur- ther, at least, to satisfy the bold navigator that this was not a feasible route to the Pacific Ocean and Eastern Asia. To make settlements and found colonies was not the purpose of Hudson. It is quite likely some of those "very loving people and very old men where we were well used," who "came aboard and brought us ears of Indian Corne, and Pompions and Tabacco," and " Bevers Skinnes and Otters Skinnes, which wee bought for Beades, Knives and Hatchets," were primitive Al- banians of the Iroquois tribes, who dwelt in castles, pursued their game, and caught their fish along the Hudson.

Traders came later, and carried on, for many years, a lucrative commerce with the native Indians. Still later came settlers and colonists. Of these we have already spoken in the history of Albany County.

We cannot admit the usual claim that Albany was settled by Walloons and Dutch in 1623. There is no settlement without settlers. There are no settlers unless they come to stay. The early traders who came and went with no other purpose than as adventurers or speculators, were not set- tlers. When colonists came and occupied farms, settlements began. There were none of these be- fore 1630; but very few before about 1638 or 1640. Albany can make no claim to settlement before 1630.

Nor do we admit that Albany has the oldest City Charter of any State in the Union. Truth gives history its real value. Albany was first chartered July 22, 1686. As a city it is nearly two hundred

years old-an age very respectable for this country. But New York was not only settled earlier, as it naturally would be, lying nearly one hundred and fifty miles nearer the ocean; but its city charter is older. Under Stuyvesant, it received a Dutch charter dated February 2, 1657; under Governor Nicolls it received an English charter dated June 12, 1665; and because it had been again a Dutch city in 1673-74, it received another English charter, under Dongan, April 22, 1686. After this, for special reasons, new Royal charters were given New York by Cornbury in 1708, and by Mont- gomerie in 1730.

The surface of the city as seen by the early set- tlers, was a narrow alluvial tract along the Hudson, from which the ascent was gradual for nearly a mile, until a plateau about two hundred feet above tide level was reached, extending westwardly in a sandy plain. The slope from the river was divided into four well defined ridges, separated by deep and wide valleys or ravines, which have been so much improved by grading that they add much to the varied beauty of the city, as well as to the facil- ities for drainage. When the plateau is reached, they now nearly disappear in the densely settled part of the city. Streams formerly coursed through these valleys.

Albany is underlaid by clay, resting on Hudson river shales, and covered by an argillaceous sandy loam, which, on the plains further west, is covered with deep sand. The clay is worked into bricks and pottery, and the sand is used in large quantities for molding and other purposes.

The islands that belong to Albany are two only -the old Kasteel, or Castle Island, which has been called many different names, but is now placed on the maps as Van Rensselaer Island. It is believed to be the place where Corstiaensen landed and where Elkins had charge of a trader's post abont 1614; which, on account of freshets, was removed later to a hill further south, near where Kenwood now is.

Jacob Elkins was an aggressive and energetic skipper and trade adventurer. He kept up an active traffic with the wild men of the forest for several years, under the protection of the New Netherlands Company. His scouting parties were

NOTE .- What the writer said in the early pages of this work in re- lation to the alleged discovery of the Hudson hy Verrazzano in 1524, is in accord with his firm convictions. Indeed, if it had been the preper place for discussing a matter so little relevant to the History of Albany County, he would have said more. He, as a historian, has given study and thought to the whole matter, and is convinced that the Verrazzano letter is not genuine, and that the maps and geographical statements printed to confirm the alleged discoveries of this brigand, are absurd in detail, and absolute attempts at historic fraud. To any one who wishes to satisfy a mind unprejudiced, the reading of " The Voyage of Verraz- zano," by the late Hon. H. C. Murphy, is commended as the work of a high-minded, impartial and learned historian, who studied the whole matter with unusual opportunities for getting at the truth.

Nor have we any more faith in the tradition of an early French fort upon Castle Island, which has hardly the shadow of probability to sup- port it.

459

THE CITY OF ALBANY.

constantly engaged in exploring all the neighbor- ing country, and in becoming better acquainted with the savage tribes around them, with all of whom it was the constant policy of the Dutch to cultivate the most friendly relations. His trouble with the traders at Fort Orange, in 1623, put an end to his trade in New Netherlands.

The other island, nearly opposite the Manor Mansion, is called Patroon's Island. The island now occupied by the Boston and Albany Railroad, between this city and Greenbush, belongs to Rens- selaer County.

There have been five Kills, or creeks, which have a name in history, whose waters are wholly or in part in the City of Albany. All discharge their waters into the Hudson. Some are now converted into sewers for the city. They were once spoken of numeric- ally, commencing with the most southerly, and called First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Kill. Later they were named Normanskill, Beaverkill, Ruttenkill, Foxenkill, and Patroon's or Mill Creek.

The first named is one of the largest creeks in the county. It empties into the Hudson at Kenwood, just below the city, and is represented in the city only by the head waters of the Krum- kill, one of its branches. Capital and enterprise would make it much more useful than it is.

Beaverkill, sometimes called Buttermilk Creek, was once a mill-stream, affording considerable water-power, which was utilized by mills for saw- ing logs and grinding grain. A portion of it is now covered for sewerage purposes. It rises in the westerly part of the city and runs near Park Lake, across the Penitentiary grounds and by Martinville, into the Hudson a little below the steamboat landing.

Ruttenkill had its source above Lark street, and was a large stream only when it was swollen by great rains or the melting of winter's snows. It had a never-failing supply of fish for many years, and was the only creek flowing inside the old city walls. Leaving the deep ravine in which now lies Hudson avenue, it crossed South Pearl street where Beaver block stands, and entered the Hudson a little below State street. It was bridged in South Pearl and Broadway. Along the sloping banks of the old ravine the bricks which form the walls of the older houses of the city were made. Rats (ratten) infested the banks of the stream, and, as some suppose, gave name to it. Along its whole length it now forms the bed of a sewer.

The Ruttenkill ravine extended from Lark street to the plain along the Hudson River, and was originally about three hundred feet broad and fifty feet deep, throughout nearly its entire length.

It was a filthy place, almost a dismal waste, from the first settlement of the city. Boys who had nothing else to do, in summer bathed in its dirty pools and caught small fish there. From some of these pools tbe Albany brewers were said to take the water for their ale and beer. Out of a public charge of this kind came the libel suit of John Taylor vs. Edward C. Delavan, mentioned in our article on Temperance. In this ravine gallows were erected and malefactors were hung. The last

case of this kind was the execution of Strang for the murder of Whipple, in 1827, which was wit- nessed by thousands from the lofty banks and slopes on its borders. The ravine was filled and hills lowered about 1845 to 1848, by turning the latter into the former. About 600,000 yards of blue clay and an equal amount of other filling was excavated to accomplish this work. The contractor for this great work was Charles Stanford, a native of Watervliet, and brother of Governor Leland Stanford. He pushed it forward with wonderful energy and completed it to public acceptance. From fifty to two hundred and fifty persons were employed. Hudson avenue, with its nicely graded street and pleasant buildings, now lies above the ravine.

Foxenkill, before the city was enlarged, ran outside the stockades, which, for many years, formed the northern limits of the city proper. It furnished an abundance of excellent fish at that time. Sixty years ago it was crossed by a bridge in North Pearl street, near Canal. This last named street lies above the bed of the old creek.

Patroon's Creek once furnished the power for the Patroons' mills, and discharges into the Hudson near the Old Manor House. It now contributes to the water supply and sewerage of the city.

We speak of the Hudson elsewhere.

The only lakes of the city are Tivoli, which really forms a part of Patroon's Creek and thus makes a reservoir, and Park Lake, an artificial body of water which adds much to the beauty and pleasure of Washington Park.

The history of Albany County involves, to a very large extent, the history of the City of Albany until after the revolution. Indeed there was little done outside of the limits of the present city, in the territory of Albany County. There were no other towns incorporated until Watervliet was made into a township March 7, 1788, including the whole of the West District of Rensselaerwyck, as made by the division of March 5, 1779. All this territory was sparsely settled at that time by farmers work- ing leaseholds under the Patroons. We may ex- cept a few millers and other mechanics scattered among the tillers of the soil. Some settlers en- gaged in small trade, some were artisans in a small way, and some were laborers in the service of the Patroon, near his manorial residence, just north of the city. This latter territory made a little village, and held a separate corporate existence for several years, under the name of Colonie.

Whatever we have given in regard to the early history of Albany County need not be repeated here, as it belongs as well to the city, which, for many years, contained nearly all the population and did nearly all the business of what is now Al- bany County; and, indeed, was the center of nearly all the important events that transpired on the up- per Hudson for all the years up to the close of the revolutionary period. To the pages then, that record this early history under each topic, we refer for everything except what is almost exclusively local in occurrence and influence,

460

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

Our plan of arrangement considers our wider field, the County, made up, only when it came to be fully settled, of separate townships of special in- terests and events. Whatever facts existed in topography, geography, natural history, aboriginal occupation, early settlements, industries, warlike contests, government, religion, education, and such like, we have arranged under these topics. When the events took root before the present century be- gan, and grew out so as to have branches all over the county, we have placed them under county history. When the foundations were laid by the fathers of the county in the early days, and the work of building has been going on ever since, so as to interest all the people who dwell in our present territory of two cities, two incorporated villages, and nine towns-we have placed the topic under county history.

The City of Albany is situated in latitude 42º 39' II" north, and longitude 3º 18' east from Washington; 73º 45' west from London; and 15" west from New York City.

The site was probably selected because of its situa- tion on the Hudson near the head of tide-water, with a convenient place for building a fort and for trade; it was well watered by small creeks and well shel- tered from the winds. The Mohawk Indians whom the early traders met, seemed very friendly and ready for business. Their castles were along the Mohawk; and, at a very early date, along the Hudson also.

The names given to this city have been: Pem- po-tu-wuth-ut (place of the council-fire), by the Mohegans; Sche-negh-ta-da (through the pine woods), by the Iroquois; Ga-ish-tin-ic, by the Minci; Fuyck (fouk), a hoop-net, otherwise Be- versfuyck, supposed to refer to a bend in the river where fish were caught, probably first Dutch name; Beverwyck, a place for beavers, retained from about 1634 to 1664 (sometimes written Beverswyck); Fort Orange, in honor of William, Prince of Orange and Nassau; Rensselaerwyck, in honor of the Patroons, the Van Rensselaers; Aurania, another name for Orange; Williamstadt, in honor of Will- iam, the Stadtholder; New Orange, in honor of the Duke of Orange probably (a designation seldom used); Oranjeburgh, city or fortress of Orange (a name spoken of by Mrs. Grant); Albany, in honor of James, Duke of York, Albany and Ulster, brother of King Charles II, who made him proprietor of the New Netherlands. He afterward ascended the English throne, which he soon after descended, or abdicated, because of his odious character.

The Dongan Charter boundaries in 1686 were- east, by the Hudson at low-water mark; south, by a line drawn from the southernmost end of the pasture at the north end of Martin Gerritsen's Island, and running back due northwest sixteen miles into the woods, to a certain creek called Sandkill; north, by a line parallel to the former, about a mile distant; and west, by a straight line drawn from the western extremities of the north and south line. This Charter embraced rights to certain fields and public buildings, the ferry, all waste land, the right of fishing in the vicinity

of the Hudson within the limits of the county, and of purchasing from the Indians 500 acres of meadow land at Schaahtecogue on the north, and 1,000 acres at Tiononderoga (Fort Hunter) on the west, in the Mohawk country, on which to plant colonies as barriers against hostile incursions.

After the counties were organized and towns formed from old Watervliet, or west division of Rensselaerwyck, its boundaries may be described as-westerly by Rotterdam and Niskayuna in Sche- nectady County; easterly by a line running through the center of the Hudson River channel; south- erly by Bethlehem and Guilderland; northerly by Colonie and Watervliet.

The first territorial change was made February 25, 1815, by annexing a part of old Colonie, whose line, adjoining Albany, extended from the river westerly along where now are Quackenbush street and Clinton avenue, formerly Patroon street. This formed for many years the old Fifth Ward. The other part of Colonie, embracing the residence of the Patroon, was set off to Watervliet at the same time.

The next and last territorial changes in the City cf Albany were made by State laws, passed April 6, 1870, Chapter 139, and April 26, 1871, Chapter 727, and are described as follows:

'. All that part of the town of Bethlehem, in the County of Albany, embraced within the following limits, is hereby annexed to and made part of the City of Albany, to wit: Beginning at the northwest- erly corner of the east abutment of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad Bridge, over the Albany and Bethlehem Turnpike, and running thence north- westerly parallel with the present south bounds of the City of Albany to a point ten chains west of the west line of the Delaware Turnpike; thence northeasterly at right angles with the last named line to a point three-fourths of one mile from the present south bounds of the City of Albany, meas- ured at right angles with the city line; thence northwesterly and parallel with the present south bounds of the city to a point two chains west of the west range of Allen street produced; thence north- easterly three-fourths of one mile to a point in the south bounds in the City of Albany two chains west of the west line of Allen street; thence south- easterly along the present south bounds of the City of Albany to the Rensselaer County line; thence southerly along said line two hundred and sixty- four feet; thence northwesterly to the face of the dock on the south side of the island creek; thence northwesterly along the face of said dock to a point opposite the west range of Green street; thence westerly and southerly along the east low-water line of the island creek to a point in range of the first boundary line produced; southeasterly to the island creek; thence northwesterly along said line to the northwesterly corner of the east abutment of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad Bridge, the place of beginning.

"Also all that part of the town of Watervliet, in the County of Albany, embraced within the following described limits, is hereby annexed to the city of Albany, to wit: Beginning at a point in the present

461

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

north boundary line of the City of Albany, three- fourths of one mile west of the west range of Allen street, as laid down in the city map; running thence northeasterly on a line at right angles with the present north line of the City of Albany one chain north of low-water line of the main channel of Patroon's Creek; thence running easterly and par- allel with the general course of said creek, and one chain northerly therefrom to a point six thousand seven hundred and twenty feet from the center of the "Russell Road " measured along the center line of the New York Central Railroad; thence northeasterly on a line drawn at right angles with the present north bounds of the city to a point one and one-fourth miles from the said city line; thence southeasterly and on a line parallel with the present north bounds of the city, and at the distance of one and one-fourth miles therefrom, to a point three thousand three hundred and twenty feet westerly of the west line of the Watervliet Turnpike and Rail- road; thence northeasterly on a line parallel with said Watervliet Turnpike and Railroad one thou- sand six hundred feet; thence southeasterly on a line drawn at right angles with the said Watervliet Turnpike and Railroad to the Rensselaer County line; thence southerly along the Rensselaer County line to the northerly line of the present bounds of the City of Albany, and thence along the same westerly to the place of beginning.

" All that part of the City of Albany lying north- west of a line drawn from a point in the south line of the City of Albany, where the northerly line of the Great Western Turnpike crosses the said city line, and running northeasterly at right angles with the said city line, to the north bounds of said city shall be and the same is set off from the City of

Albany and annexed to and made part of the town of Watervliet, in Albany County; and all laws now in force applicable to the said town of Watervliet, are hereby made applicable to that portion of said city hereby annexed to said town."

The town of Watervliet being unwilling to ac- cept this addition to its territory, Chapter 727, Laws of 1871, passed April 26th, provided that the said territory described in the preceding section should be set off from Watervliet and annexed to the town of Guilderland, in Albany County.

To R. H. Bingham, Esq,. for many years the City Engineer and Surveyor of Albany, our ac- knowledgments are due for the statements con- tained in the paragraphs following:

The exterior lines of our city are somewhat ir- regular. It is bounded N. by Watervliet; W. by Watervliet and Guilderland; S. by Bethlehem; and E. by the center of Hudson River. Its river front extends 4 miles; and measured through the State Capitol, its extent N. and S. and E. and W. is 4 miles, containing an area of 11} square miles, or 7,360 acres.

The elevation of the base floor line of the New Capitol is 161.09 feet above the sea, estimated from mean low water at Governor's Island, in New York Harbor, and 158.48 feet above mean low water in the Hudson at Albany. The slope of the Hudson from Albany to New York is 2.61 feet, which makes the mean tide at Albany 2.61 feet above that at Governor's Island. The highest tide at Albany is 3.60 feet, and the mean rise and fall, 2. 32 feet. The mid-stream ebb current flows about 2 feet per second, or . 75 feet on the whole river. Boats carry 9 feet at mean low water.

MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.

A' LBANY received its charter as a city on the 22d day of July, 1686, from Thomas Don- gan, Governor of the Province of New York. The original document is on file in the City Chamber- lain's office, as is also a copy of it, printed by Hugh Gaines in 1771. It is introduced as follows:

" Thomas Dongan, Lieutenant and Governor of the Province of New York and dependencies in America, under his most sacred Majesty, James the Second, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, King, defender of the faith, etc., and Supreme Lord and proprietor of the said province of New York and its depend- encies, to all persons to whom these presents shall or may come, or in any wise concerned, sendeth greeting:'

Then follows the charter, a voluminous docu- ment, drawn with all the care and nice legal dic- tion of the age, with numerous repetitions, protect- ing the interests not only of the Crown, but of the citizens of Albany with the most scrupulous care.

It begins by saying that "the town of Albany is an ancient town within the said Province, and the inhabitants of the said town have held, used and enjoyed, as well within the same as elsewhere within the said province, divers and sundry rights, liberties, privileges, franchises, free customs, pre- eminences, advantages, jurisdictions, emoluments and immunities, as well by prescription as by grants, confirmations and proclamations, not only by divers governors and commanders in-chief in the said province under his said Majesty, but also of several Governois, generals and commanders- in-chief of the Nether-Dutch-Nation, whilst the same was or has been under their power and sub- jection. And whereas divers lands, tenements and hereditaments, jurisdictions, liberties, immuni- ties and privileges have heretofore been given and granted to the inhabitants of the said town, some- times by the name of commissaries of the town of Beverwyck; sometimes by the name of commissaries of the town of Albany; sometimes by the name of

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Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 104

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1452

Author: Howell, George Rogers, 1833-1899; Tenney, Jonathan, 1817-1888
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: New York, W. W. Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1452