Bi-centennial history of Albany. History of the county of Albany, N. Y., from 1609 to 1886. With portraits, biographies and illustrations, Part 235

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 235

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AUSTIN A. YATES was born in Schenectady, March 24, 1836 ; graduated from Union College

in 1854 ; admitted to the Bar in 1857. He imme- diately began the practice of his profession, and at the same time became editor of the Schenectady Daily Times. During the civil war he raised a company, of which he became captain, and for meritorious service in putting down a rebellion of miners in Pennsylvania he secured from President Lincoln the honorary rank of Brevet-Major. In 1864 he was elected District Attorney of Schenec- tady, but resigned the office in 1873, on his elec- tion as County Judge. In 1879 he was appointed Attorney to the Insurance Department by the State Superintendent of Insurance, which office he held during the Governorship of Alonzo B. Cornell.

HON. SAMUEL W. JACKSON was born in the town of Palatine, Montgomery County, N. Y., June 28, 1821. His father, Allen H. Jackson, was a grad- uate of West Point, and was a civil engineer of dis- tinction. His mother was the sister of Judge Paige, of Schenectady. He graduated from Union Col- lege in 1842, receiving in due time the degree of A. M. He completed his legal studies in the office of Paige & Potter, and was licensed as an attorney in 1843, and as counselor in 1846. He practiced law from 1843 to 1850 in Gilboa, Schoharie County, and for a time in New York, and came to Schenectady in 1858. He was appointed by Governor Hoffman, in 1867, to fill the unexpired term of Judge E. H. Rosencrans. In 1872 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Commission, and is now attorney for the New York Central Rail- road for his locality. Judge Jackson is a man of excellent legal attainments and strict attention in the performance of his duties, and has established a flourishing practice, and is highly honored by the community.

HON. JOHN SANDERS.

HON. JOHN SANDERS was born in Glenville, N. Y., in 1802. His father was Presiding Judge of Al- bany County when Schenectady County was a part of it. He graduated from Union College in 1822, and completed his legal studies in 1825, and practiced for a year in Albany, and afterward in Northampton, Catskill and Clermont, N. Y. In 1836 he settled in Schenectady, and in 1840 was appointed by Gov. Seward Surrogate, which office he held till 1844. He was County Judge from 1855 till 1860. He was identified with the interests of the Bar in various localities of the State, and is the author of a history of the County of Schenectady.

HON. WALTER T. L. SANDERS, son of the Hon. John Sanders, was born in Catskill, N. Y., September 7, 1831. He engaged in teaching and business for some years, and was admitted to the practice of law in Schenectady in 1858. Elected Clerk of the Board of Supervisors in 1860, elevated to office of County Judge in 1870, and member of Assembly in 1876. These various public positions he filled with ability.

EDWARD W. PAIGE was born in Schenectady, July 11, 1844, and graduated from Union College in 1864 ; from Harvard Law School in June, 1866;

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

and Albany Law School shortly afterward. He occupies a leading position in his profession, and has served as Assistant State Attorney-General.

HON. EDWARD D. CUTLER was born in Ballston, N. Y., December 18, 1849; was educated in the common schools and at the Classical Institute, Schenectady; was a clerk in the grocery store of Adam Dillen- beck nine years ; in 1877 entered the law office of Hon. A. A. Yates, and studied law two years, graduating from Albany Law School in 1880; be- came a law partner with Judge Yates ; in the fall of 1884 was nominated by acclamation by the Democratic party as Member of Assembly for Sche- nectady County, and gained the election, running 625 ahead of the electoral ticket.

HON. D. C. BEATTIE was born in Salem, N. Y., December 2, 1827, and graduated from Norwich University, Vt., in 1845. He practiced law in Chicago from June, 1850, to October, 1859, and at Albany, 1860-62, coming to Schenectady in February the latter year. He was District Attor- ney of Schenectady County from January 1, 1875, to January 1, 1878, and has been County Judge since January 1, 1880.

ALONZO P. STRONG, lawyer, whose office is in the Y. M. C. A. Building, is a prominent member of the city and county Bar. He has an extensive practice and stands among the leading members of the Schenectady Bar.

SAMUEL T. BENEDICT, lawyer, was born in Dan- bury, Conn., in 1837, and graduated from Union College in 1860 and from Harvard Law School in 1862. He practices his profession principally in New York, and has been a resident of Schenectady since 1865.

JOHN A. DE REMER was for a short time tutor of mathematics in Union College. As a lawyer he com- mands a lucrative practice. He has taken an active interest in politics, affiliating with the Republican party, and has held several important offices, the last being postmaster of Schenectady.

E. NOTT SCHERMERHORN, a descendant of one of the oldest families, though a lawyer of ability, has been principally connected with other pursuits. He was Collector of Internal Revenue from 1864 to 1882, and was appointed receiver of the Jones Car Works, February 4, 1884. Healso conducts an extensive real estate and insurance business.

HORATIO GATES GLENN, attorney, was born in Schenectady, December 26, 1859. and graduated from Union College in 1881 and from the Albany Law School in 1883. Since then he has practiced in his native city.

CHARLES HASTINGS began the practice of law in IS72 in Schenectady, and has secured an extensive practice.

J. TELLER SCHOOLCRAFT, attorney at law, began practice at Schenectady in 1876. He was elected District Attorney on the Democratic ticket in 1880 and re-elected in 1883.

OMIE F. VEDDER, law student and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors, is a graduate of Union Classi- cal Institute; was a school teacher from 1878 to

1882, and was managing editor of the Schenectady Daily Union from April, 1883, to October, 1884. He was Committee Clerk in the Assembly of 1884, and has also been Clerk of the Board of Super- visors.

EDWARD E. KRIEGSMAN was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1852, and became a lawyer in 1878, and added the insurance business three years later. He was City Clerk from February, 1881, to May, 1883, and since June, 1882, has been Secretary of Board of Health and Registrar of Vital Statistics.

JACOB W. CLUTE was born in Schenectady, Oc- tober 12, 1846, and was admitted to the bar of Schenectady County April 16, 1868, and has been located in the city since. He has represented the Second ward as Alderman two terms. He is also Secretary of the Schenectady County Bible Society.

JAMES A. GOODRICH, attorney at law, was born in Schenectady in 1856, and graduated from Union College in 1879, and from the Albany Law School in 1882.

SCHENECTADY COUNTY BAR .- Hon. Frothingham Fish, Justice; David C. Beattie, Louis C. Beattie, Samuel T. Benedict, Walter Briggs, Demetrius M. Chadsey, Jacob W. Clute, John F. Clute, Edward D. Cutler, Simon Calkins, David Daggett, John A. De Remer, Robert Furman, James Fuller, Horatio G. Glen, James A. Goodrich, Charles Hastings, Samuel W. Jackson, Edward E. Kriegsman, Rob- ert J. Landon, R. T. Lomasney, John E. Myers, John McShea, Platt Potter, Edward W. Paige, Charles E. Palmer, David Cady Smith, Everett Smith, Gerardus Smith, Walter T. L. Sanders, Charles P. Sanders, Jr., Alonzo P. Strong, J. Teller Schoolcraft, E. Nott Schermerhorn, Alex. J. Thom- son, Wm. J. Van Epps, George O. Van De Bogert, Austin A. Yates, James A. Van Voast, Alex. M. Vedder; Thomas Yelverton, Clerk of the Court; William J Stevens, Crier; Jacob De Forest, Sheriff.

ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

THE REFORMED NETHER DUTCH CHURCH, SCHENEC- TADY, N. Y.

At the first settlement of Schenectady in 1662, there were but five Dutch churches and ministers in the Province, viz. : those of

New Amsterdam (New York), whose ministers were Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius. Beverwyck (Albany), Gideon Schaets.

Breuckelyn (Brooklyn), Henricus Selyns.

Esopus (Kingston), Hermanus Bloom.

Midwout and Amersfort (Flatbush, L. I.), Johan- nes T. Polhemus.

Of these the church at Beverwyck, founded twenty years before, was the oldest in the colony, except that of New Amsterdam. * Her first dominie (1642 to 1647) was Johannes Megapolensis, who now ministered in New Amsterdam; the second,

* A church (Presbyterian so far as having ruling elders) composed of settlers who founded Southampton, L. I., in June, 1640, was organ- ized at Lynn in May of that year, and a similar church was organized at New Haven in October of the same year by the settlers of Southold, on the same island, the settlement of this latter town having also been effected in the month of October.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

Gideon Schaets (1652-1690). The latter probably assisted at the organization of the church at Schenec- tady, to which he occasionally ministered until his labors ceased in his own church in 1690.

The date and circumstances of this organization are involved in much obscurity, the early records of both churches being lost. But from occasional mention made in contemporaneous papers and rec- ords, it is safe to say that the church of Schenectady was in existence between the years 1670 and 1680, and probably earlier. Thus, on the occasion of the death of Hans Janse Eenkluys, in 1683, the dea- cons petition the court at Albany for letters of ad- ministration on his effects, and say * * *

"dat eenen Hans Janssen op den 7 meert 1674 heeft overgedragen aende aermen van Schaenhechtade zeecke syne plantage," etc., etc .; in other words, that Hans Janse, in 1675, made over to the poor of Schenectady his plantation, on condition he should be maintained in his old age and weakness, which they say they have done, and paid the expenses of his burial. Now this plantage was simply the " Poor Pasture," and was the property of the church from Eenkluys' time down to 1862, when it was sold.

These facts seem to point to the existence of the church as early as 1674, for it is a well-known fact that the Dutch churches were the guardians of the poor, the orphans, and the aged, who were without natural protectors, and received and dispensed large alms and property for this purpose.

The next incidental mention of this church is found in the records of the city of Albany. In February, 1679, "the court and consistory of Schenectady requested that Domine Schaets may be sent four Sundays in one year to administer the Lord's Supper to said place and community, which request is granted in so far that Domine Schaets is allowed to go four times in one year to administer the Holy Sacrament, but not on a Sunday, whereas it would be unjust to let the community [of Al- bany] be without preaching."

Thirdly, The prosperous condition of the poor fund of the church from 1680 to 1690 shows pretty clearly that it had been organized some years previous to the former date. At the close of the year 1689, Domine Thesschenmaecker audited the deacons' accounts, and found that the unexpended alms contributed for the poor amounted to about 4,000 guilders, of which about 3, 000 guilders had been loaned to individuals on bonds dating back in one case to 1681. Though the Dutch were a liberal people in matters appertaining to their church, it is not probable that such an accumulation of alms was made entirely within the ten years above mentioned, especially when their numbers are considered, and that in this time the parsonage house was con- structed and their first Dominie was called and maintained. It is fair, therefore, to conclude that the Dutch Church of Schenectady was certainly an organized body in 1674-probably much earlier.

The first twenty years of the village was a strug- gle with the hardships of frontier life; its energies were spent in removing the forest and subduing the soil. For religious privileges it was dependent upon Albany until 1683, when the little hamlet

having grown sufficiently strong in numbers and wealth, called its first minister. The earliest men- tion of Dominie Thesschenmaecker in the churchi records is found in a book of miscellaneous writ- ings, the first leaves of which unfortunately are wanting.

The following is a copy and translation of the first page in its present mutilated condition:

(Copy.)

Uytgyeve. [1683?]

aen Myndert Wemp, F. 48

aen een kan,

aen Jan Roelofsen voor. 24

aen 5 Witte broden, I

aen domine Tassemaker 24

aen emanual Consaul,

aen Lubbert gysbertse voor 2 dagen Wercke,

aen spyckers van Albanie,

aen den 12 duyzend harde steen,

aen 2 bevers aen Laseysers tot het huys te singelen, 48

aen 12 gulden aen .... door stacken en .... voor verb- ruyck aen de heyninge, 12

27 april voor wyn tot het naght mael aen domine tass- chenmaker betalt, 20

27 May domine Schats Verstelt, 36

Voor wyn van het naght mael, 20.0

aen Adam Vroom, 24.

nogh aen domine tasschemaker voort maken vande heyninge aen het erf, 45.

nogh voor 7 maal witte broot tot het avont mael a

fl. I. IO a maal, 10.10

Class permurent een dagen ryden, 18

23/4 dagen aen de heyninge, 22

Voor te singelen van 't huys, 12

aen 2 Vragsten posten gasacht, 6

2 glazz Raamen, 10

Somma, Al. 516-13

(Translation.)

Expenditures. [1683?]

To Myndert Wemp, guilders, F. 48

To [paid for] a pot,

To Jan Roelofsen, for.

To 5 white loaves, I

To domine Tassemaker, 24

To Lubbertse Gysbertse for two days' work,

To nails from Albany,

To the half thousand hard bricks, 18

To 12 guilders .... for stakes .... for use on the fence, 12

27 April, For wine for the Lord's Supper paid to Domine Tasschenmaker, 20

27 May, presented to Domine Schaets,

Cleaning the church, 13

1.IO

2.10

For wine for the Lord's supper,

20.0

To Adam Vrooman,

24.

Also to Domine Tasschemaker for making the fence to the lot, 45.

Also for white bread 7 times for the Lord's supper a Al. I. IO a time, 10.10

Class Purmerent [Van der Volgen] one day's carting, 18

234 days on the fence, 22

for the shingles of the house, 12

To two loads of posts sawed, 6

2 window glasses (or sashes), IO

Total, florins 516.13

From these accounts we learn that Dominie Thesschenmaecker came to Schenectady before the

Schoonmaken van der Kerche,

I.IO

2.10

To Emanual Consaul,

To two beavers to Laseysers shingling the house,

HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.

death of Dominie Schaets (1690), and that the first of the five houses of worship built by this society was then built. We know little about it except that it was small and inconvenient, and that it stood at the junction of Church, State and Water streets.

Dominie Pieter Thesschenmaecker, little known except by his tragical end, came to this coun- try from Guiana, whither he had gone from Utrecht a young theological student, and is first mentioned in a petition for his services, dated 1676.

It appears that at this time he had not been or- dained, for in 1679, on application from New- castle on the Delaware, the Governor directed Dominie Newenhuysen to examine and induct him into the ministry of the Protestant Reformed Church.

After his ordination, Dominie Thesschenmaecker departed immediately for his new field of labors. Here he remained three years until 1682, when he left and accepted a call from Schenectady, where he labored six years with reasonable success.

Until 1700 the church was without a pastor, and indeed it does not appear that the people had any religious privileges, except such as might be had by a visit to Albany, until 1694, when Dominie Dellius began to minister to them occasionally. His first recorded visits that year were on the 11th of April and 9th of October, on which occasions new members were added to the church and chil- dren baptized. In 1695 he came four times, viz. : on the 2d January, 27th March, 26th June and 9th October. In 1696 five times: January 8th, April 15th, July Ist, September 19th and December 30th. In 1697 three times: April 6th, June 30th and No- vember 10th. And in 1698 four times: 27th April, 20th July, 19th October and 28th December. In all eighteen visits in five years.

In 1699 Dominie Dellius returned to the Father- land, and Dominie Johannes Petrus Nucella, suc- ceeding to his place as minister of Albany, visited Schenectady once -- on the 31st of August. The following year he came twice, viz .: on the 9th Jan- uary and 25th May.

The number of members added to the church by these two ministers was twenty-five ; the number of children baptized seventy-six, seven of whom were Indians.

But no sooner was peace proclaimed in 1697 than both village and church began a new career of prosperity. Within five years a second minister was called, and a new house of worship was erected.

Dominie B. Freeman (or Freerman) succeeded Dominie Dellius in 1700. He was a man of ma- ture age. In 1698 he was a member of the church of Amsterdam, and on the 9th of March of that year was licensed to preach by the Classis of Wor- den and Overryaland, and ordained by the Classis of Lingen, March 16, 1760. He immediately de- parted for his distant charge, accompanied by Dominie Johannes Lydius. On the 20th of July they arrived in Albany, where the latter remained, while the former passed on to Schenectady, and on the 28th commenced his labors as pastor of the

church and missionary to the Mohawks. The latter office had been filled by Dominie Dellius for many years, and both for political as well as religious reasons, it was considered important to continue so powerful an agency among the native tribes.

Barnanous Freeman

In regard to this matter the Earl of Bellmont, Governor of the Provinces, said to the assembled Sachems of the Five Nations, on the 26th of Au- gust, 1700 : * *

* " I have sent to England for ministers to instruct you in the true Christian religion. I expect some very soon ; for the present I shall settle Mr. Vreeman, an able, good minister, at Schenectada, who I intend shall be one of those that shall be appointed to instruct you in the true faith. He will be near the Mohacks, and in your way as you come from [the] several castles to this town (Albany), and will take pains to teach you. He has promised me to apply himself with all dil- ligence to learn your language, and doubts not to be able to preach to you therein in a year's time." In a communication to the Board of Trade the Gov- ernor says : "I send your Lordships a copy of Mr. Freeman's letter. He is a Dutch minister at Sche- nectady, and a very good sort of a man."

As Albany was the headquarters of Indian trade as well as of the yearly Council held with the Five Nations, Dominie Lydius was also appointed to instruct the natives in the Christian faith, and "ye bettar to enable him to serve them in ye work of the Gospell, ye Interpretesse [ Hillitie] was ap- pointed to be his assistant in that affair as former- * * ly." *

In the five years spent at Schenectady, Dominie Freeman became well versed in the Indian tongue, so as not only to preach, but to write in it, and so attached were the natives to him, that five years after he left Schenectady they petitioned Gov. Hunter for his reappointment, "and that he live [with us] at our Castle and not at Schinnectady nor Albany.'

Probably his was the first attempt made to trans- late the church service or portions of the Holy Scriptures into the language of the Mohawks.

CITY OF SCHENECTADY .- ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES.

The salary of the early ministers of this church was one hundred pounds of New York currency ($250), house and garden rent free, pasturage for two cows and a horse, and sixty cords of wood de- livered at the parsonage. The salary commenced from the day the Dominie sailed from Holland, and the expenses of the voyage, until he arrived in Schenectady, were paid by the church. The fol- lowing is Do. Freeman's first bill, rendered August 25, 1700 :

"16 mar. 1700 to 25 aug. the Consistory is in- debted to Domine Freeman :

"For current salary from the 16 march to the 25th of august, - is five months and nine days and amounts to a sum of fifty pounds and something more,-is in sewant, gl. 2.000

"Also expenses incurred on the voyage, in fresh provisions, wine, brandy, vegetables and hens, be- sides about three weeks expenses on the Isle of Wight, -is the sum of gl. 374 (or $46.75)

gl. 2.374 (or $296.75)

"Schenectady. BARNHARDUS FREERMAN.

Trifling as this amount may seem, the little community were unable to raise it, and on the 3d of September, 1700, applied to the Common Council of Albany for permission to solicit contri- butions in Albany. In reply, the Commonalty ad- vise "that they first goe and Visite there own Con- gregation, and if they do not obtaine said Sallary by them, then to make their application to the Commonality at ye next Court day."

When Do. Freeman was appointed missionary to the Indians by Gov. Bellomont, he was prom- ised a salary of {60; for expenses, {15; and for the interpreter, Laurens Claese Van der Volgen, who was his assistant, £25.

The Governor expected to obtain this salary from the corporation for the propagation of the gospel at Boston, but in case he failed there, prom- ised to secure it for him out of the revenue of the Province.

It is presumed that said corporation declined to assume this burden, and, as a consequence, the General Assembly passed an act in his favor.

On the death of Do. Lupardus, of Kings Coun- ty, in 1702, the consistory of the churches there applied to Gov. Cornbury for permission to call Do. Freeman, who at the same time gave encour- agement of his acceptance.

Fearing their minister might be enticed away from them, the Consistory of the church in Sche- nectady, the next year, presented to Lord Cornbury a remonstrance against his leaving; notwithstand- ing which, and also that the Governor objected to his leaving, he accepted the call. It was not, however, until the summer of 1705 that he left for Flatbush, the license to change his pastoral rela- tions being finally granted by Gov. Cornbury on the 26th of December of the same year.

Soon after Do. Freeman came to Schenectady, the house of worship then used was found to be unfit for the accommodation of the inhabitants and Indian proselytes; but as the little community had not yet fully recovered from the effects of the

late incursion of the French and their savage allies, the funds necessary for a new house could not be raised without aid from abroad. A petition, there- fore, was presented to Gov. Nanfan in 1701, asking permission to circulate a subscription throughout the Province for this purpose.

This petition being favorably received by the Governor and Council, on the 27th October, 1701, he issued his license to the inhabitants of Schenec- tady to receive contributions from the people of the Province for the space of six months from that date, and directed all justices of the peace, schouts and other officers of his Majesty, as well as ministers of the gospel, to use their utmost en- deavors to aid this laudable object. This appeal to the liberality of their neighbors was successful, and the church was probably finished in 1703. The site was that of the first house of worship, at the junction of Church, Water and State streets, and the dimensions, fifty-six north and south by forty-six feet east and west, Amsterdam measure. The burying ground adjoined the church upon the west side, and was fifteen feet wide by fifty-six feet long. Speaking of Schenectady in 1710, the Rev. Thomas Barclay says: "There is a convenient and well-built church, which they freely give me the use of."

Probably it was substantially built of stone, for after its abandonment in 1734 as a place of wor- ship, it was used for some years as a fort. By the year 1754 it had been either removed or used as a barracks, watch-house and market ; by 1768 the site was clear and designated the Market Place.

The removal of Do. Freeman was a disheartening event to the church. He had gained the confi- dence of the people and considerable influence over the neighboring Indians. To obtain another minister from Holland, in their present circum- stances, was impossible. They were not only a small, but a poor people and, without aid, not in a condition to support a minister.

For the following ten years they were destitute of the stated ministry, being only occasionally visited by the ministers of Albany and other more distant settlements.

Between the years 1705 and 1715, Dominies Johannes Lydius and Petrus Van Driessen, of Al- bany, Petrus Vas, of Kingston, and Gualterus Du Bois, of New York, made 24 visits to Schenectady, baptizing 152 children, of whom 19 were Indians. In all this time the records show but one member added to the church.

Rev. Thomas Barclay, chaplain to the fort in Albany, preached occasionally in Schenectady.

As early as 1713, the church applied to Governor Hunter for permission to call a new minister, and received his license, dated July 27th that year. On the 17th day of May the following year, the con- sistory addressed a letter to Willem Bancker, mer- chant, of Amsterdam, and Rev. Matthias Winter- wyck, of Alphen (Dalphin ?), Holland, authorizing them to procure a minister for the church, and promising him a salary of £90, to commence on his arrival, a dwelling free of rent, firewood at the door, a large garden, and free pasture for two

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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 235

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