Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 22

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 22

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ORGANIZATION AND DIVISION OF THE COUNTY.

On the 17th of October, 1683, the first "General Assembly " of the "Colony of New York," chosen by "the planters or inhabitants of every part of the government, met at Fort James, in the City of New York, with "free liberty to consult and debate among themselves all matters as shall be apprehended proper to be established for laws for the good government of the said Colony of New York and its dependencyes."

The warrants calling this assembly were issued by Lt. Gov. Thomas Dongan and council, on the 13th of September preceding. The Duke of York

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

and Albany had given his unwilling consent in obedience to the clamors of the people, the wise counsel of William Penn, and his own self interest. Coming to the throne of England as James II, in 1685, he withdrew his consent and dissolved the assembly the year after.

But the people had, after years of struggle, met in lawful assembly and put on record, in fitting words, the "Charter of Liberties and Privileges," such as they would have, and passed other laws. They had placed New York by the side of Virginia and Massachusetts in the claim for heaven-born rights.

Among other similar warrants, it was "ordered that the Sheriff of Albany and Rancelaers Colony cause the freeholders to meet and choose two per- sons to be their representatives in the General Assembly, to be holden at the City of New York, Octobr ye 17th, 1683.'

It would be interesting to know when, where, and how these "office holders voted at this, their first general election in this county ; but history is silent on this point, nor can the names of the "two representatives" be found. The journals of this assembly are lost. Richard Pretty, who served the warrant, an Englishman, was the Sheriff from Oct. 1680 to March 1691. He died in 1695.

Among the Acts passed, was one " To divide this province and dependencyes into shires and countyes,"-"for the better governing and setling the courts in the same." It was also enacted, "that there shall be yearly and every year, an High Sher- riffe constituted and commissionated for each county, and that each Sherriffe may have his under Sher- riffe Deputy or Deputyes. ' All laws had the con- currence of the Governor and Council, who were in session at the same time.

This Act, dated Nov. 1, 1683, divided the pro- vince into twelve counties, viz : New York, West Chester, Ulster, Albany, Dutchess, Orange, Rich- mond, Kings, Queens, Suffolk, Dukes, and Corn- wall, the two latter taking their territory in Massa- chusetts and Maine." "The County of Albany to containe the Towns of Albany, the Collony Rens- laerwyck, Schonecteda, and all the villages, neigh- borhoods, and Christian Plantaçons on the east side of Hudson River from Roelof Jansen's Creeke, and on the west side from Sawyer's Creeke to the Sarraghtoga."

It will be seen that the names of these counties are English. Subsequent divisions gave names very largely in honor of our own patriots and statesmen, while a few preserve the memory of our

native Indian tribes. The Scotch title of King James II. gave name to Albany County.

At a session of the Council, held at Fort William Henry, in New York City, Oct. 1, 1691, another "Bill for dividing this province and dependancyes into shires and countyes" was enacted, chiefly confirmatory of the above. In describing the County of Albany, there was the omission of "the Town of Albany ;" a substitution of "Mannor of Ranslaerswyck," for the "Collony of Renslaerwyck," and "to the uttermost end of Sarraghtoga," instead of "to the Sarraghtoga."

At a session of the Council, held at Fort George, in New York City, May 27, 1717, the county was further enlarged by "An Act for annexing that part of the Mannor of Livingston which now lyes in Dutchess County, unto the County of Albany.

The Counties of Dukes, consisting of Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Elisabeth Island and No Man's Land, now in Massachusetts, and Cornwall, con- sisting of Pemaquid and adjacent lands and islands, now in Maine, which were included in the patent to the Duke of York, were set off on the reorgani- zation of the colonial government about 1691, soon after the abdication of King James II, and the succession of William and Mary to the English throne.

From this time until 1770, the colonial govern- ment continued with these ten original counties, and with but slight territorial changes. They were not surveyed, and their boundaries were loosely defined. That of Albany, especially, was vastly larger than those early Governors and Legislators knew, embracing the whole territory lying north of Ulster and west of the Hudson River, and taking in nearly the whole State, even to Canada and the Lakes ; and north of Dutchess, on the east side of the Hudson, including the whole of what is now the State of Vermont. Indeed, the State of Vermont and the fifty counties of the State of New York, erected since this date, were all formed from the original territorial limits of the Albany County of 1683 and 1691, except Putnam, Sullivan, Rockland, and part of Green and Delaware.

The ten thus formed directly from Albany Co., are chronologically as follows, viz :

I. Gloucester, March 16, 1770, including what is now Orange, Washington, Caledonia, Orleans, and Essex, Vermont.

2. Tryon, March 12, 1772, changed to Mont- gomery, April 2, 1784, from which and the wilder- ness then known only as Indian land, the counties west of Green, Schoharie, Schenectady, Saratoga, and the Adirondacks, have since been formed.

ORGANIZATION AND DIVISION OF THE COUNTY.

3. Charlotte, March 12, 1772, changed to Wash- ington, April 2, 1784, from whose territory have since been erected Warren, Clinton, St. Lawrence, Essex, and Franklin.

4. Cumberland, April 4, 1786, covering the present Counties of Bennington, Windsor, Wind- ham, Rutland, Addison, and Chittenden, Vermont.

5. Columbia, April 4, 1786.

6. Rensselaer, Feb. 7, 1791.

7. Saratoga, Feb. 7, 1791.

8. Schoharie, April 6, 1795.

9. Greene, March 25, 1800.

10. Schenectady, March 7, 1809.

What a mother of counties is old Albany !

The boundaries of the county are defined by sundry statutes, and at different periods, in con- nection with the formation of other counties from its territory. This is done in Chap. 63, Laws of 1788, passed March 7, when it included what are now Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady and a part of Washington, Schoharie, and Greene Coun- ties ; in Chap. 4, Laws of 1791, passed Feb. 7, when Rensselaer and Saratoga, and a part of Wash- ington Counties, were set off. In this Act, Rens- selaer County, on Hudson River, is described as "on the east side of a line drawn through the middle of the main stream of Hudson's River, with such variations as to include the islands lying nearest the east bank thereof," being adjacent to Albany County on the west of such line. And the County of Saratoga, so far as it is adjacent to Albany County on the Mohawk River, is defined as bounded, "southerly by the middle of the most northerly branch of the Mohawk River and the middle of the said river." "And the bounds of the several towns in the said respective counties, adjacent to and limited by the Hudson's River and Mohawk River, are hereby extended to and limited by the bounds of the said respective counties herein described."

Chap. 163, Laws of 1801, passed April 7th, names the towns of Schenectady, Princetown and Duanesburgh, now in Schenectady County, and Berne, Bethlehem, Coeymans, Rensselaersville and Watervliet, describing their limits, as belonging to Albany County, besides the City of Albany.

Chap. 65, Laws of 1809, passed March 7th, sets off Schenectady County with minutely described bounds, and declares "that the remainder of the County of Albany shall be called and known by the name of County of Albany."

This was three-quarters of a century ago, and old Albany has given birth to no more children. Schenectady is its youngest. Physically it has re- tained its outward features, all the same, for 75

years. But time and toil have wrought changes in her internal constitution. The potent voice of the law has always been directing changes. But she is still "at home," and ever ready to welcome her numerous sisters, children, and grandchildren, as they come up to visit her, at their annual convoca- tions.

As the county now exists, its form and bounda- ries may be thus described : It is bounded on the north by the counties of Saratoga and Schenectady; on the west by the County of Schoharie; on the south by the County of Greene, and on the east by the County of Rensselaer. The Hudson River boundary, dividing Albany and Rensselaer coun- ties, is described by "a line drawn through the middle of the main stream " of said river, "with such variations as to include the islands lying near- est to the west banks thereof within the limits of Albany County. The boundary between Albany and Saratoga counties is made by a line beginning at a point in the middle of the main stream of Hudson River in the westerly boundary of Rens- selaer County, opposite to the middle of the most northerly branch of the Mohawk River, and running thence through the middle of said northerly branch and of the said Mohawk River westerly, to a point in said river where it is nearest the north line of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, at Niskayuna." Its northern and southern boundaries are supposed to be parallel ; as are, also, its eastern and western, each following the variations of the current of the Hudson. Its general form is rhomboidal. That so old a county has never had a complete and ac- curate survey is a matter of surprise and regret, which will remain, probably, until the present State survey is accomplished.

When this county was created in 1683, it had no towns with corporate limits. Albany received a charter from Gov. Dongan, dated July 22, 1686, declaring "that the said City of Albany, and the compass, precincts and limits thereof, and the juris- diction of the same, shall from henceforth extend and reach itself, and shall and may be able to reach forth and extend itself, as well in length and in breadth, as in circuit, on the east by Hudson's River, so far as low water mark; to the south, by a line to be drawn from the southernmost end of the pasture at the north end of the said island, called Martin Gerritsen's island, running back into the woods sixteen English miles due northwest to a certain kill or creek, called the Sandhill; on the north, to a line to be drawn from the post that was set by Gov. Stuyvesant, near Hudson's River, run- ning likewise northwest sixteen English miles; and

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

on the west, by a straight line to be drawn from the points of the said south and north lines."

In 1687, Gov. Dongan, in his report to the English Board of Trade, says: "The town of Albany lyes within the Ranslaers' Colony; and, to say the truth, the Ranslaers had the right to it, for it was they settled the place, and upon a petition of one of them to our present King, about Albany, the petitioner was referred to his Majesty's council at law, who, upon a perusal of the Ranslaers' papers, made their return that it was their opinion that it did belong to them. * * * The . town itself is upon a barren sandy spot of land, and the inhabitants live wholly upon trade with the Indians. I got the Ranslaers to release their pretence to the town and sixteen miles into the country for com- mons to the King, with liberty to cut firewood within the colony for one and twenty years. After I had obtained this release of the Ranslaers I passed the patent for Albany."

This "Ranslaers' Colony," otherwise the " Manor of Rensselaerwyck," was erected into a district, March 24, 1772, and subdivided soon after the war of the Revolution, March 5, 1779, into east and west districts. The west district included the whole of the territory now called Albany County, except the City of Albany as above de- scribed, and certain State lands, so called, located in the northeast part of the town of Watervliet. All the rights therein remaining to the Patroon, the late Hon. Stephen Van Rensselaer, of revered memory, upon his death, January 26, 1839, descended to his son Stephen, while those of the east district, formerly including most of Rensselaer and a part of Columbia counties, descended to his other son, William P.

It will thus be seen that the whole territory of this county was once included within the Colony of Rensselaerswyck, the history of which appears under its appropriate head.

With the exception of the City of Albany, the whole of the territory now called Albany County, and including most of that now constituting the town of Niskayuna, in Schenectady County, was incorporated March 7, 1788, into a town by the name of Watervliet. Niskayuna was set off March 7, 1809, making the county limits coincide with those of the west Manor of Rensselaer.

From this territory the following towns in Albany County have since been incorporated :

Names. Date. From what other town.

Rensselaerville. March 8, 1790. Watervliet.

Coeymans .... . March 18, 1791.

Bethlehem .. March 12, 1793.

Names. Date. From what other town.

Berne. March 17, 1795 Rensselaerville.

Guilderland . . .Feb. 26, 1803. Watervliet.

Colonie April 11, 1808.

Westerlo

. March 16, 1815. Coeymans & Rensselaerville

Knox .Feb. 28, 1822. Berne.

New Scotland. . April 25, 1832. Bethlehem.

Cohoes. May 19, 1869. Watervliet.

The local history of these towns, as fully as space will allow, will be written by others. We give a summary of some facts of general interest.

It will be seen that no town organization existed in Albany County until after the Revolutionary war and the adoption of the Federal Constitution, when Watervliet, as above stated, was organized March 7, 1788. Before this, except what jurisdiction in- hered in the Manor of Rensselaerwyck, all civil, judicial, and other matters of common interest, were managed at Albany, made a city more than 100 years prior to this date. The City of Albany was then, except in territory, the County -- the center of business, of military and civil power, and of social interest.

OUTLINE SKETCHES OF THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.

BERN .--- More recently and generally spelled Berne ; named from Berne, Switzerland, the native place of Jacob Weidman, one of the first settlers. It was formed from Rensselaerville, March 17, 1795, and embraced what is now the town of Knox, which was taken off from the north part February 28, 1822. It is the middle of the three western towns of the county ; about 20 miles from Albany ; has an area of 38,782 acres, and is bounded north by Knox, east by New Scotland, south by Westerlo and Rensselaerville, and west by Scho- harie County. The Helderbergs lie along its east- ern border, the western slope of which gives a broken surface, varied by hills, ravines and plateaus. The soil is a loam formed of sand, gravel and clay ; a fine calcareous, argillaceous loam abounds in the valleys ; and marsh, bog, clay and marl patches are found. Brooks are numerous, most of them find- ing their way to Schoharie creek. The lofty ledges of the hills on the eastern border are interesting natural features. Thompson's Lake, on the Hel- derbergs, and White Sulphur Springs, in Berneville, are places of much resort.

Good flagging stone is quarried near Reidsville, and mineral springs and limestone caverns are found in the town.

The first settlers were mostly Germans who came and occupied manorial lands about 1750. A

OUTLINE SKETCHES OF THE TOWNS OF THE COUNTY.

number of Scotch settlers came about the time of the Revolutionary war.

During the anti-rent troubles, this town had more leased lands than any other in the county. The number has been rapidly decreasing by settle- ment of claims, much to the advancement of in- telligence, independence and wealth. The anti- rent feeling arose to its highest pitch in this town, leading to deeds of violence and outrage.

There were many Tories in this territory during the Revolutionary war. Here, it is said, was a rendezvous for them, where plans were made, and from which went forth bands to co-operate with the Indians in their cruel barbarities against the patriot settlers. In 1777, out of a company of 85 militia raised here, 63 joined the British, and 22 were with the Americans against Burgoyne, at Saratoga. In 1779, Capt. Dietz and two boys, named John and Robert Brice, were taken captives from the western part of this town. Dietz died at Montreal, and the boys, after the war was over, were ex- changed and returned home.

Berneville, once called Beaver Dam, was stock- aded during the Revolutionary war.

The first church established was the Dutch Re- formed, in 1763, which received, as its first pastor, Rev. Johannes Schuyler, in 1767. A parsonage farm, given by the Patroon, is situated about mid- way between Peoria and Berneville, and is held in common by societies in both villages. This is the oldest church in the county, outside of Albany.

Among the prominent natives of the town are Hon. Joseph P. Bradley, of the United States Su- preme Court ; the widely known Capt. A. H. Bo- gardus, Albert Gallup, County Treasurer, and others.

BETHLEHEM. - It is stated that several farmers who came at an early date to Beverwyck began another settlement, south of Fort Orange, to which they gave the name of Bethlehem, with reverent regard for the city of Palestine, where our Saviour was born.

It is believed that the first trading house in this county was erected in 1614, upon Castle Island, in the Hudson, by Dutch traders under the lead of Skipper Corstiaensen. This island, containing about 160 acres of land, is in this town, opposite that part of Albany which was set off from Bethle- hem in 1870. It has been designated by various names, but is now called Van Rensselaer or Westerlo Island. In the original charter limits of the City of Albany in 1686, it is called Martin Gerritsen's island. The trading house was stockaded and garrisoned as a protection against predatory traders 10

and hostile Indians, and named Fort Nassau. Two or three years later it was moved by Elkins to the elevation near the mouth of the Tawasentha, on account of the spring floods. Here it probably remained until the erection of Fort Orange, in Beverwyck, in 1623.

As a township, Bethlehem was erected from Watervliet, March 12, 1793, including what is now New Scotland, which was taken off April 25, 1832, and the southeast part of Albany, which was taken off April 6, 1870. It has an area of 31, 549 acres, including Van Rensselaer and other islands in the Hudson, west of the middle of the stream. It is bounded, north by Albany, east by Hudson River, south by Coeymans, west by New Scotland.

Its surface consists chiefly of rolling upland, with high bluffs rising above the fertile alluvial flats on the Hudson. There are ridges of sand and rock near the center. The soil, under good tillage, pro- duces a great variety of fruits, vegetables and other farm and garden products for the near Albany market.

A few small caves and sulphur springs are found.

The exact date when the early Dutch farmers began to occupy the river lands of this town cannot now be known ; probably between 1630 and 1640. Albert Andriessen Bradt, de Norman, came over in 1630, and had a farm and mills on Norman's Kill, which was named for him. Adrien Van der Donk, Martin Gerritsen, and Cornelis Segers, early occu- pied Castle Island. Ryckert Rutgersen and Jan Ryersen were settlers about 1650. The territory now, or until recently, called Bethlehem, has been occupied by many distinguished persons. Philip S. Van Rensselaer, for more than twenty years subsequent to 1798 the Mayor of Albany, had his seat at Cherry Hill. He was succeeded by his son, Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer, and by his son-in- law, Dr. Peter E. Elmendorf. Here was born Mrs. Catharine V. R. Bonney, author of "Historical Gleanings." Here lived John Whipple, a worthy citizen, who was shot by Strang in 1827. Near Mount Hope, which now is the Academy of the Sacred Heart, lived Jared L. Rathbone, Mayor, 1838-41, who purchased "Rensselaer's Mills," and named the hamlet Kenwood, after a beautiful spot in Scotland which he had visited. Ezra P. Prentice for many years made Mount Hope a magnificent residence. The "Whitehall House," built in part by Gen. Bradstreet, which is said to have been a secret resort for Tories during the Revolution, was subsequently the home of Judge Leonard Ganse- voort. The mansion of the venerable Col. Francis Nichols was situated on Bethlehem flats, which has

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.

long been considered as furnishing some of the finest sites in the vicinity of Albany for homes and culti- vation. The greenhouses of Erastus Corning, just below Kenwood, are very rich in rare exotics, and his large farm in choice horses and stock. This farm of 560 acres, and the residences of Hon. Worthington Frothingham, Erastus D. Palmer, the sculptor, and Judge Elisha P. Hurlbut, lying near the river, are worthy of special mention. Many of the busy men of Albany are making their homes in this town. Among them are the artist, Asa W. Twitchell; the book-seller, Stephen R. Gray; Attor- ney Nathan P. Hinman, Sheriff Wm. H. Keeler, Surveyor Wm. H. Slingerland, and others.

It is claimed that an Indian castle and burial place occupied a spot near the mouth of the Ta- wasentha, a long time ago. Here Longfellow, in his Hiawatha, has the home of his Indian "Singer Nawadaha," who "sang the song of Hiawatha." On a hill near by this stream, as tradition has it, was held the first council of alliance and aid be- tween the Indians and the Dutch, about two and three-quarter centuries ago.

"In the vale of Tawasentha, In the green and silent valley, By the pleasant water-courses, Dwelt the Singer Nawadaha; Round about the Indian village, Spread the meadows and the cornfields, And beyond them stood the forest, Stood the groves of singing pine trees, Green in summer, white in winter, Ever sighing, ever singing.

And the pleasant water-courses :- You could trace them through the valley By the rushing in the spring-time, By the alders in the summer, By the white fog in the autumn, By the black line in the winter; And beside them dwelt the singer, In the vale of Tawasentha, In the green and silent valley, There he sang of Hiawatha, Sang the song of Hiawatha."

The first church in town was formed in early colonial times by the Reformed Dutch. The "Parsonage farm," a tract of 100 acres, was given to the society in 1794 by Gen. Stephen Van Rens- selaer.

Hon. Benjamin Nott resided here ; and his son, Hon. John C. Nott, Hon. John M. Bailey, Rev. William Bailey, Hon. Jurian Winne, were born in this town.

COEYMANS was named from Barent Pieterse Coey- mans, an emigrant from Utrecht, in 1636, who, having previously been a miller on Patroon's Creek and Normanskill, under lease from the Patroon, purchased land from the Katskill Indians, cover- ing this territory, in 1673, and secured a patent

from Gov. Lovelace on the 7th April in that year. A conflict of title with Van Rensselaer resulted in the purchase of the Patroon's claims, pay- ing a quit-rent of nine shillings annually, under date of October 22, 1706. August 6, 1714, he finally secured letters-patent from Queen Anne, confirming a perpetual title to him and his heirs. The patentee built the first mills at Coeyman's Falls, and settlements were made by the Dutch within the first years of the eighteenth century. Among the early settlers we find the names of Witbeck, Keefer, Traver, Verplank, Vanderveer, Ten Eyck, McCarley, Colvin and Shear.

The township was formed from Watervliet, March 18, 1791, including the eastern part of Westerlo, which was set off on the formation of that town, March 16, 1815. It has an area of 30,408 acres, including Beeren and other islands in the Hudson. It is the southeast town of the county, and is bounded, north by Bethlehem, west by Westerlo, south by Greene County, and east by the Hudson.

The surface rises from the river, with a bluff of from 200 to 400 feet, continuing, with broken ridges and hills, some 100 to 200 feet higher, to the Helder- bergs. The soil is sandy in the eastern part, and gravelly in the western. Limestone and marl are abundant. Blue flagging stone has been quarried at Mossy Hill, and shipped since 1828. Magne- sian springs and limestone caverns are found. The fossil remains of an animal like the elephant were found on the farm of Mr. Shear a few years since.

Hay is the leading farm product. There are many excellent farms in this town, especially upon the Haanakrois Creek, which have long been owned and cultivated by an industrious, frugal and intelligent class of citizens.

There has long been a landing at the mouth of Coeymans Creek, at the wharves of which is con- siderable trade carried on by the near farmers, manufacturers and merchants. John J. Colvin was for many years a successful shipper, now re- tired, and succeeded by Henry Slingerland. Ice- cutting is an important industry.

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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 22

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