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 72
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For the most part the slaves of the Dutch were employed as domestic servants, and their condition was not as hard as that of those who performed out- door work. The treatment of the negroes was gen- erally humane. Stories of cruelty among Albany County slaves were seldom heard. Laws, it is true, were passed for their punishment as well as for their protection. Among slave-owners, in many in- stances, an attachment was formed that lasted through life. The slaves were usually faithful and true to their masters and mistresses, and aside from their being bond slaves and chattels, their lot was comparatively happy. The blacks who were farm- ers or mechanics were allowed their own domestic animals.
Negro slavery existed in its mildest form in Al- bany County, not only in the Dutch, but in the English colonial days, and in its latter years, after the Revolution. Individual exceptions to this statement were very rare. It was so among the farmers and mechanics of Rensselaerwyck, as well as among the merchants and gentry in and near the City of Albany. The testimony of the excellent Mrs. Grant, in her "Memoirs of an American
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SLAVERY IN ALBANY COUNTY.
Lady," is appropriate here. She writes : "In the society I am describing, even the dark aspect of slavery was softened into a smile. And I must, in justice to the best possible masters, say that a great deal of that tranquillity and comfort, to call it by no higher name, which distinguished this so- ciety from all others, was owing to the relation be- tween master and servant being better understood here than in any other place. Let me not be de- tested as an advocate for slavery, when I say that I think I have never seen people so happy in servi- tude as the domestics of the Albanians. One rea- son was that each family had few of them, and that there were no field negroes. They would remind one of Abraham's servants, who were all born in the house, which was exactly their case. They were baptized too, and shared the same religious instruc- tion with the children of the family, and for the first years there was little or no difference with re- gard to food or clothing between their children and those of their masters. I have nowhere met with instances of friendship more tender and generous than that which here subsisted between the slaves and their masters and mistresses."
Affectionate and faithful as these home-bred servants were in general, there were some in- stances, but very few, of those who, through levity of mind, or a love of liquor or finery, betrayed their trust or habitually neglected their duty. In these cases, after every means had been used to reform them, no severe punishments were inflicted at home. But the terrible sentence, which they dreaded worse than death, was passed ;- they were sold to Jamaica.
One must have lived among those placid and humane people to be sensible that servitude-hope- less, endless servitude-could exist with so little servility and fear on the one side, and so little harshness or even sternness of authority on the other.
Amidst all this mild and really tender indulgence to their negroes, these colonists had not the small- est scruple of conscience with regard to the right by which they held them in subjection. Had that been the case, their singular humanity would have been incompatible with continued injustice. But the truth is, that of law, the generality of those people knew little; and of philosophy, nothing at all.
They sought their code of morality in the Bible, and there imagined they found this hap- less race condemned to. perpetual slavery; and
thought nothing remained for them but to lighten the chains of their fellow Christians, after having made them such.
Arguments for the right are of small account as weighed against interest. The irrepressible con- flict at last came, and involved the nation in a cruel, bloody and expensive civil war. It decided that the system of human slavery was a national evil, and could not be extended and protected as a national institution. Blood and iron in this great conflict severed the fetters of every black man in the land, and legalized slavery was blotted for- ever from the constitution and the laws of the United States. The people of Albany County did well their part in this great struggle.
Records and statistics relating to the number of slaves in this county are very incomplete, and not wholly reliable. Those given below are compiled from census returns and other sources. The same may be said of the enumeration of negroes or blacks, as the early record did not often distinguish the slaves. It may be presumed that most persons counted as negroes before 1800 were slaves.
The following lists exhibit all we are able to give at this writing:
I. Negroes in the State census, including slaves, in specified years: 1790, 25,978; 1800, 31,320; 1810, 40,350; 1820, 39, 367; 1830, 44,949: 1840, 50,031; 1850, 49,069; 1860, 49, 145; 1870, 52,549; 1880, 56, 121.
2. Negroes in Albany County, inclusive of slaves, in the years specified: 1698, 23; 1714, 213; 1723, 808; 1731, 1, 273; 1737, 1,630; 1749, 1,480; 1756, 2, 119; 1771, 3,877; 1795, 4,094; 1800, 2,094; 1810, 1,638; 1820, 1,271; 1830, 1,595; 1840, 1. 314; 1850, 1, 194; 1860, 939; 1870, 1,095; 1880, 1,367.
3. Colored persons in the towns of Albany County in 1880, were as follows:
Albany, 1,036; Berne, 1; Bethlehem, 91; Coey- mans, 59; Cohoes, 17; Guilderland, 2; Knox, 2; New Scotland, 25; Rensselaerville, o; Watervliet, 131; Westerlo, 3; total 1,367.
4. We gather the following census of slaves in this County by towns:
Albany, 1810, 256; 1820, 109. Berne, 1810, 35; 1820, 30. Bethlehem, 1810, 137; 1820, 73. Coeymans, 1810, 101; 1820, 36. Colonie, 1810, 30. Guilderland, 1810, 66; 1820, 47. Rensse- laerville, 1790, II; 1810, 21; 1820, 14. Water- vliet, 1790, 730; 1810, 128; 1820, 96. Westerlo, 1820, 8. Total 1790, 741; 1810, 772; 1820, 413.
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304
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.
HOMICIDES IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.
Collected and Arranged by ELISHA MACK.
1687 -JOHN CASPERS, indicted for caus- ing the death of his negro girl. No record of trial.
1767 .- Jack, the negro of James Starling, in- dicted for murder.
Two indictments against Sarah Seecles for child murder.
1780 .- Pomp, indicted for the murder of Pete, both negro slaves of George Sharp.
1782 .- Joseph Bettys, convicted of treason and murder. Conditionally pardoned by General Washington. Recaptured for murder and hanged.
1806 .- Daniel Chambers, Jr., indicted for kill- ing Peter Roff. Tried and convicted of man- slaughter. Sentenced to State Prison for thirteen calendar months.
George Van Derwerken and John C. Hemstraat were indicted for killing Peter Roff. Tried and acquitted.
John Pye, innkeeper, whose house was feloni- ously entered in the night-time, shot and fatally wounded the burglar-a case of justifiable homicide.
1807 .- Benjamin Gates, indicted for the murder of an Indian named Joe. Tried and acquitted.
1811 .- Isaac Killan, indicted for manslaughter in the first degree. Tried and acquitted.
1813 .- Thomas Burns and Joseph Mosher, in- dicted, tried and convicted for the murder of John E. Conklin and sentenced to be hanged. Burns was executed. Mosher was respited by Governor Tompkins until the meeting of the Legislature. He was subsequently pardoned.
1815 .- Anson Spooner was sentenced to State Prison for manslaughter for the term of five years.
David Allen, Jr., indicted for murder, was dis- charged by order of the court.
1816 .- James Walsh, convicted of manslaughter.
1818 .- James Hamilton, indicted, tried and convicted for the murder of Major Benjamin Bird- sall. He was sentenced to be hanged. Executed November 6, 1818.
1820 .- Jack Van Patten, indicted for murder and assault and battery. Tried. Verdict: "Not guilty of murder, but guilty of assault and battery only." Sentence: County Jail for thirty days.
1823 .- Robert Anderson-trial for murder-was acquitted.
1824 .- Barent Haner, indicted for killing a negro with a club. Tried, convicted and sen- tenced to State Prison for ten years.
1825 .- William Bell and Samuel Bromley, in- dicted for manslaughter. Tried. Bromley was convicted and sentenced to State Prison for ten years. Bell was acquitted.
1826 .- James Wilson, indicted for the murder of John Queen. Tried and acquitted.
Robert Carhart, indicted for murder, was tried and convicted of manslaughter. Sentence: State Prison for twelve years.
1827 .- Jesse Strang, indicted, tried and con- victed for the murder of John Whipple. He was sentenced to death, and executed August 24, 1827.
Elsie D. Whipple, indicted as accessory before the fact, for the murder of her husband, John Whipple. Tried and acquitted.
1829 .- George Thomas, indicted for murder. Tried and convicted of manslaughter in the second degree. Sentenced to State Prison for seven years.
1831 .- John Snyder, indicted for murder. Con- victed of manslaughter and sentenced to State Prison for two years.
William Wilson, for killing Thomas Platt, was indicted for manslaughter. Convicted of an assault and battery, and sentenced to the County Jail for three months.
William Lackey, indicted for the murder of Peter Turner. Tried and found guilty of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentenced to State Prison for three years.
1833 .-- Geerge Sims, convicted of manslaughter in the fourth degree. Sentence: State Prison for two years.
1835 .- Daniel Riley, tried for murder. Ac- quitted.
1836 .- John Hamilton, indicted for the murder of William Duffy. Tried and acquitted.
Sally Ann Harden, indicted for murder. Tried and acquitted.
305
HOMICIDES IN THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.
1837 .- Daniel Murray, convicted of manslaugh- ter in the fourth degree. Sentence: Jail for forty days.
1838 .- Thomas Rector, indicted for the murder of Robert Shepherd by striking him on the head with a wooden bar, fracturing his skull. He was tried and convicted. A new trial was granted, the venue fixed at Ballston, Saratoga County, where he was convicted of manslaughter in the second degree. Sentenced to State Prison for seven years.
George Thompson, indicted for the murder of John Johnson by striking him on the head with a cart-stake, fracturing his skull. Tried and con- victed. Sentenced to be executed; commuted to State Prison for life.
Jane Dupang, indicted for the murder of her in- fant by drowning. Tried. The jury did not agree. Prisoner discharged.
1839 .- Isaac Hallenbake, indicted for man- slaughter in the fourth degree, causing the death of Seth B. Barman, under twelve years of age, by ad- ministering to him spiritnous liquors. Acquitted.
1840 .- Jacob Leadings, indicted for murder- killing his wife, Harriet, by shooting her with a gun. Tried, convicted and sentenced. Was exe- cuted December 29, 1840.
Edward Snooks, indicted for the murder of Mary Jenks. Tried and acquitted.
1841 .- Henry P. Van Zandt, indicted for mur- der. Tried and acquitted.
Aaron Hughes, indicted for murder. Tried and convicted of manslaughter in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for seven years three months and eleven days.
Bridget Hughes, indicted for murder. Ar- raigned and discharged.
1842 .- Louis Bourgeois, indicted for manslaugh- ter in the third degree by stabbing James Kennedy. Tried and convicted. Sentence: State Prison for four years.
Christian Boork killed his wife by striking her on the head with an ax, crushing her skull. He ended his life by hanging himself.
1845 .- Robert Black and Patrick Markey, in- dicted for manslaughter in the fourth degree by running their sleigh into another sleigh in which was Miss Lydia Oliver, who was thereby instantly killed. Tried and convicted. Sentence: State Prison for two years.
Harman B. Campbell, indicted for manslaugh- ter. Tried and acquitted.
George Wilson, held to bail for manslaughter in the fourth degree, whereby Mrs. Anthony, of Co-
hoes, was instantly killed by a locomotive running over her. Wilson was not indicted.
1846 .- Charles Gouche, Joseph and Charles Malay, indicted for murder by shooting John Bar- man. On trial, Gouche was convicted of man- slaughter in the first degree and sentenced to State Prison for life. The Malays were acquitted.
1847 .- Jeremiah and Eugene Sullivan, indicted for the murder of James Smith. On trial, Jeremiah was convicted of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for four years. Eugene was acquitted.
Michael Teeven struck Michael Walls on the head with a stick of wood, causing death in a few hours. Teeven escaped.
1848 .- John McGuire, indicted for murder- killing, by kicks and blows, James Connolly. Tried and acquitted.
Thomas Kelly, a lunatic, killed, by shooting and stabbing, James C. Mull. Kelly died in the State Lunatic Asylum in Oneida County.
James Whalen, for the murder of Peter Turner, by beating and kicking and throwing him in the canal, causing death. Tried and convicted of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for seven years.
George Erwin, bailed for manslaughter in the second degree. Can find no record of trial or acquittal.
William Maxted killed Michael McGown by stabbing him with a knife. Tried. Convicted of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for four years.
1849 .- Barney Leddy, for the murder of his wife by kicks and blows. Convicted of man- slaughter in the first degree. Sentence: State Prison for life.
Three unknown assassins robbed and murdered Joseph N. Becker. No capture.
John Robinson, indicted for the murder of Chris- topher Jocelyn by striking him on the head with a heavy club. Tried and convicted of manslaughter in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for seven years.
Eseck Carr, indicted for the murder of his wife, Jane, by poison. Tried and acquitted.
1850 .- Reuben Dunbar, indicted for the mur- der of two small boys, Stephen V. and David L. Lester. Tried, convicted and sentenced to be hanged. Executed January 31, 1851.
John S. Jackson, indicted for the murder of his mother-in-law, Margaret Thompson. Tried and convicted. Sentenced to State Prison for four years.
39
306
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.
1851 .- In the night-time, one or more assassins killed, by kicks and blows, Harriet Smith. No capture.
John Osborn killed, by beating with a stone, Teunis S. Slingerland. Osborn escaped.
Susan Gaynor, for manslaughter in the fourth de- gree. Sentenced to the Penitentiary for six months.
John Moore killed his wife, Elizabeth, by shoot- ing her, tearing off the upper part of her skull. He then shot himself, causing instant death.
1852 .-- Patrick McEnroe killed, by kicking and beating, Thomas Cassidy. Tried. Convicted of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for two years.
James Moore, indicted for murder-killing his wife, Elizabeth. Tried and convicted of man- slaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for two years.
John Henderson, convicted of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for two years.
1853 .- John Hendrickson, Jr., indicted for the murder of his wife, Maria, by administering to her poison. Tried and convicted. Sentenced to be hanged. Executed May 4, 1854.
Richard Dyness, indicted for manslaughter in the fourth degree. Tried, convicted, and sen- tenced to the Penitentiary for four months.
1854 .- John H. Phelps, indicted for the mur- der of his wife, by stabbing her with a dirk. Tried, convicted and sentenced to be executed. Com- muted to State Prison for life.
John H. Hotaling stabbed William Gibson, causing his death. Tried. Convicted and sen- tenced for manslaughter in the third degree. Sent to State Prison for four years.
Catharine Slingerland, an imbecile, killed her infant. Indicted for murder. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the fourth degree. Sentenced to the Penitentiary for one year.
1855 .- John Dunnigan, indicted for murder- killing his wife, Catharine. Tried and convicted. Sentenced to be hanged. Commuted to State Prison for life.
William McCrossin, indicted for the murder of Michael Brennan, by shooting him with a pistol, causing instant death. Tried and acquitted.
1856 .- Patrick Lane, indicted for manslaughter in the second degree, by kicking and beating, causing the death of James Carlin. Tried and convicted. Sentence: State Prison for four years.
Francis McCann, indicted for the murder of his wife, Agnes, by striking her on the head with an ax. Arraigned. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter
in the first degree. Sentenced to State Prison for life.
John Cummings, indicted for murder, by shoot- ing with a gun Frederick Stumpf. Tried and con- victed. Sentenced to be executed. Commuted to State Prison for life by Governor King. Par- doned by Governor Fenton.
James Carney, indicted for the murder of Patrick Carroll by throwing stones and otherwise beating him, causing his death. Pleaded guilty of man- slaughter in the first degree. Sentenced to State Prison for life.
Assassins, unknown, killed Mrs. Anastatia Bul- ger.
1857 .- Robert Morrison, indicted for man- slaughter, by keeping bears on a public thorough- fare, whereby one John Hoey and an Indian named Joseph Harney were killed. Tried and acquitted.
Susan Anthony, indicted for murder-strangling her infant. Tried and convicted of manslaughter in the first degree. Sentenced to State Prison for life.
1858 .- Robert Morrison, Jr., held to bail for manslaughter in the third degree. No record of trial found.
Michael Naughton, a boy, indicted for murder- killing, by stabbing in the breast with a knife, Joseph O'Callaghan, Jr. Pleaded guilty of man- slaughter in the fourth degree. Sentenced to the House of Refuge.
Thomas N. Francis, indicted for the murder of Rachel Hilton, by beating her with a bar of wood. Tried. Verdict: guilty of manslaughter in the first degree. Sentence: State Prison for life.
John Wilson, indicted for the murder of Patrick McCarty, by striking him on the head with a hatchet. Tried and convicted. Sentenced to be executed. Commuted to State Prison for life.
1858 .- Mary Hartung, indicted for the murder of her husband, Emil Hartung, by administering poison to him. Tried, convicted and sentenced to be executed. Proceedings stayed. Discharged.
William Rheinmann, indicted as accessory for the murder of Emil Hartung. Tried and ac- quitted.
1859 .- Oscelia Mastin, indicted for causing the death of a young woman pregnant with child, by abortion. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for four years.
Catharine Messer, causing the death of an infant by giving it poison in porridge. Find no record of trial.
307
HOMICIDES IN. THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.
Jefferson W. Bennett, indicted for the murder of Robert Morrison. Tried and acquitted.
Michael O'Brien, indicted for the murder of his wife by beating her. Tried and convicted. Sentenced to be executed. Executed June 3, 1859.
John Osborn, indicted for murder. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the fourth degree. Sen- tenced to the Penitentiary for one year.
John Irvin, indicted for murder, by beating his wife with a club. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for four years.
Adam Murray, indicted for murder-killing John Cahill by stabbing him with a knife. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. Sen- tence: State Prison for four years.
1860 .- John McCotter, indicted for the murder of Thomas O'Halloran by stabbing him with a chisel. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentenced to State Prison for two years.
Terence Leavy, indicted for the murder of Michael Burk by stabbing him with a knife. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for three years.
1861 .- Walter Barrett, indicted for the murder of Terence Boyle by stabbing him with a knife. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for three years and eight months.
1862 .- Michael Hewson, indicted for the mur- der of Thomas Costello by stabbing him with a knife. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for two - years and eight months.
1863 .- William J. Church, indicted for the murder of his wife, Ann, by stabbing her with a knife. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the sec- ond degree. Sentence: State Prison for twenty years.
Patrick Flynn, indicted for the murder of John N. Colburn by striking him on the head with a heavy stave. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for seven years.
Matthew Brumaghim, indicted for the murder of Charles Phillips by shooting him with a pistol. Tried and acquited.
1864 .- Mackey Dunnigan, indicted for the murder of John Connors by shooting him with a pistol. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: State Prison for two years and two months.
Bridget and David McCarty, indicted for the murder of Michael Gilmartin by beating him with a stove cover and a stone or brick-bat. No record of trial.
George E. Gordon, indicted for murder in kill- ing Owen Thompson by beating him with a club. Arraigned and tried. Convicted of murder. Sen- tenced to be executed. Exceptions taken and carried to the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Final sentence: State Prison for life.
John P. Cordell, Philip Damp, and Frederick Damp, indicted for manslaughter in the first degree, by causing the death of the wife of Frederick Damp by inflicting upon her blows and otherwise brutal treatment. Acquitted.
David Crawley, indicted for murder. Tried. Verdict: guilty of manslaughter in the second de- gree. Sentence: State Prison for seven years.
1865 .- Some four or five persons were suspected of throwing the missile that struck John McInner- ney on the head, fracturing his skull and causing his death a few days after the fatal deed. The criminal was never captured.
1866. - Michael Chestnutt, without felonious intent, struck John Hanna a blow with his fist, causing him to fall, striking his head against some hard substance, fracturing his skull, of which injury he died. Chestnutt was indicted for man- slaughter in the first degree. Convicted of man- slaughter in the fourth degree. Sentenced to pay a penalty of fifty dollars.
Judson W. Palmer, indicted for murder. On trial the jury did not agree upon a verdict. Dis- charged.
1867 .- George W. Cole, indicted for the mur- der of Hon. L. Harris Hiscock by shooting him with a pistol. The jury did not agree. On the second trial the prisoner was acquitted.
1869 .- Henry Trainor, indicted for manslaugh- ter in the second degree, for killing John Donnelly. Tried and convicted. Sentence: Penitentiary for one year.
1870 .- Lorenzo Murphy, indicted for man- slaughter in the second degree. Sentence: Peni- tentiary for one year.
Robert Pickett, indicted for murder. On trial the jury was withdrawn and the prisoner dis- charged.
John O'Neil, indicted for murder. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree. Sen- tence: House of Refuge.
1871 .- Lemuel P. Van Hoesen, killed his wife, Harriet A., by beating her head with a stew-pan, fracturing her skull. The prisoner was declared
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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY.
insane. A few years since he committed suicide at Omaha, Neb.
1872 .- William Wilcox, indicted for murder of John Seib by shooting him with a pistol. Tried. Convicted of manslaughter in the fourth degree. Sentence: State Prison for four years.
Michael Hifford, convicted of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentence: House of Refuge.
1873 .- Emil Lowenstein, indicted for the mur- der of John D. Weston, by shooting him with a pistol. Tried and convicted. Sentence: death by hanging. Executed April 10, 1874.
Margaret Lyons, indicted for the murder of an infant by administering phosphorus. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the fourth degree. Sen- tenced to State Prison for one year.
1874 .- David Landers was tried for killing Thomas Van Aernam by hitting him on the head with a stone. Verdict: guilty. Sentenced to pay a penalty of one hundred dollars.
1875 .- Rachel Bartell, indicted for causing death by abortion. Tried and convicted. Sen- tenced to the Penitentiary for eighteen months.
John Barrett, indicted for killing Ira B. Mosely by stabbing him with a carving knife in the breast, penetrating a lung. Find no record of trial or acquittal. .
1876 .- Lewis Theus, indicted for murder in the first degree by throwing a butcher's knife, striking John Gresser, aged fourteen years, causing death. Pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the third degree. Sentenced to the Penitentiary for three years.
Mary A. McDonald, indicted for manslaughter in the third degree for shooting her husband, Rob- ert McDonald. Tried and acquitted.
1877 .- Edward Scully killed John Davis by stabbing him with a knife. Scully escaped cap- ture.
1878 .- Daniel Van Deusen, indicted for murder in the first degree by stabbing with a knife Philip Hyde. Pleaded guilty of murder in the second degree. Sentence: State Prison for life.
1879 .- John C. Hughes, indicted for murder in the first degree by stabbing William J. Hadley with a knife, causing death. Tried. Verdict: mur- der in the second degree. Sentenced to State Prison for life.
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