USA > New York > Colonial records of the New York Chamber of Commerce, 1768-1784 : with historical and biographical sketches > Part 22
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NOTE 32, PAGE 63. LIGHT HOUSE ON SANDY HOOK .- The origin of the Sandy Hook Light House was a memorial of the Merchants of the City to the Lt. Governor of the Province. The reference to this paper may be found in the Message of the Governor to the General Assembly, 3d April, 1761.
GENTLEMEN : The erecting a convenient Building for a Light House near Sandy Hook is an object so worthy your consideration and a provision for it so essential to the welfare of our commercial Interests and the Preser- vation of a very useful Part of the Community, that I cannot avoid recom- mending the MEMORIAL I received on this subject to your closest attention. The Example of other Trading Places is a proof how necessary these Land Marks have been tho't for the safety of Navigation, and the late severe losses by Shipwreck on our own Coasts, will, I persuade myself, lead you to a measure so well calculated to guard against the like Accidents for the future.
The spot best adapted and the only one proper for its Situation for this end lying within the Province of New Jersey, it may prevent any delay or obstruction to the Design, in case you determine to carry it into Execution, that I have it in my power to communicate your Resolves to that Govern- ment while the Branches of the Legislature are convened.
CADWALLADER COLDEN.
The Message and Memorial were referred to the Members of the City of New York, Richmond, and Westchester County.
On the 4th April, Alderman [Philip] Livingston from the Committee reported, That it appeared to them that a Light House on Sandy Hook is necessary for the security of the Trade of this Colony.
That His Honour, the President, be humbly requested to make Appli- cation to the Governor of New Jersey to desire him to apply to the General Assembly of that Colony for their assistance in this useful Design which will be of great service to the Trade of that Colony though not to so great a degree as to that of this.
That as they have been credibly informed that the Proprietor of Sandy Hook is very unreasonable in his Demand for a small quantity of Land necessary for the Purpose of building a Light House, they also conceive it necessary that his Honour be desired to apply to the said Governor of New Jersey, to desire that he will be pleased to recommend it to the other Branches of the Legislature there, to interfere in such a Manner as that the Proprietor of the said Land do convey or dispose of the same at a reasonable Price.
That they conceive it would be proper for the House to make Provision for the purchasing of the said Land, and building the Light House in such Proportion as shall be agreed on with the Colony of New Jersey.
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And that the Expence of maintaining and supporting of the said Light House be supported by a small duty of Tonnage on Vessels.
Which report he read in his Place and afterwards delivered it at the Table : where the same were again read and agreed to by the House.
[Whereupon it was] Resolved that an humble Address be presented to his Honor the President, that he will be pleased to acquaint the Governor of New Jersey that this House, from the Representation of several Mer- chants of this Province, is convinced of the necessity and utility of a Light House being built on Sandy Hook; that the House hath been credibly in- formed that the Proprietor of the Land which would be proper for the Building the said Light House on is so very extravagant in his Demand that it is out of the Power of private Persons to come to any agreement with him ; that as the Land lays within the Colony of New Jersey, and is of but little value to the Proprietor, yet as the Erecting of the said Light House is of the utmost Importance to this and the Colony of New Jersey, this House is willing to give the said Proprietor a very valuable consider- ation for the same ; and that therefore his Honor would be pleased to desire his Excellency Governor Boone to recommend it to the Assembly of his Government to prevail with the Proprietor of the said Land in such a Man- ner as to oblige him to convey or dispose of the same at a reasonable rate, that the Trade of these Colonies may not be any longer subject to the In- conveniences they have so long laboured under for want of the said Light House.
Ordered-That Alderman Livingston and Mr. Bayard wait on his Honor the President with the same Address.
Alderman Livingston moved for leave to bring in a Bill for enabling cer- tain Persons to raise by Way of Lottery a certain sum of Money towards erecting and building a Light House.
Ordered that leave be given accordingly.
Alderman Livingston then (according to leave) presented to the House a Bill entitled, "An Act to enable the Persons therein named to raise a sum not exceeding Pounds by way of Lottery, for building a Light House," which was read the first Time and ordered a second Reading .- Journal of the Votes and Proceedings of the General Assembly, vol. ii., p. 655.
May 8, 1761. The Engrossed Bill entitled, " An Act for raising a Sum not exceeding Three Thousand Pounds by way of Lottery for building a Light House," was read the third time. Resolved that the Bill do pass .- Journal of the Assembly, vol. ii., p. 659.
By this Act, John Cruger, Philip Livingston, Leonard Lispenard, and William Bayard, Esquires (the City Members), were authorized to establish the Lottery ; and raised the sum of £2,664 15s. 6d., May 2, 1762. The As- sembly vested the Title to the land purchased in the aforenamed gentlemen as Trustees, and, 22d May, 1762, passed an "Act to make Trespasses committed on Sandy Hook, in the colony of New Jersey, actionable in the colony of New York." In December they authorized the raising of a further sum of Three Thousand Pounds. The scheme was as follows : " The Lot- tery is to consist of 10,000 Tickets, at Forty. Shillings each, whereof 1,684 are to be fortunate, subject to Fifteen per cent. Deductions."-Weyman's New York Gazette, Jan. 17, 1763. This Lottery was drawn at Mr. Burns' Long Room at the Province Arms, Monday, the 13th June, 1763.
26th Feb. 1772. An Act was passed "to lay a Duty of Tonnage on Vessels for defraying the expense of the Light House at Sandy Hook." The Tonnage duty so levied, was of one Penny half Penny for every Ton of measurement, exempting all vessels engaged in whaling while so engaged,
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and all coasting vessels not over 50 Tons' burthen, wholly owned by per- sons residing between Cape Henry and New Hampshire.
The New York Magazine for August, 1790, gives an engraving of the Light House at that time, and adds these particulars : "The land was pur- chased for the purpose from Robert and Easick Hartshorn, containing about four acres of barren land for the moderate price of £750. The Light House is built of stone, and measures, from the surface of the earth to the top of the lanthorn, 106 feet. The base is 32 feet in diameter, and tapers off at the foot of the lanthorn to 16 feet. The light may be seen at the distance of Io leagues. It stands in 40° 25' N. Lat., and 73° 30' W. Long. from London."
This Light House was refitted by the United States Government in 1857. Its reflector gave place to a Fresnel lens of the third order. It is officially described as "a fixed white light," and as standing in 40° 27' 39" North Latitude, and 73º 59' 49" West Longitude.
NOTE 33, PAGE 63. PUBLIC PACKERS OF THE CITY .- From the earliest period of English Government these were public officers. On the 3d November, 1740, the General Assembly passed " an Act to prevent Abuses in the Repacking of Beef and Pork," which, in its preamble, recites the abuses committed and the complaints of "putting the Brand mark of the City of New York on Barrels containing Beef and Pork imported from other places, particularly North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland, to the Disreputation and Undervaluing of the Beef and Pork of this Colony exported from hence," and provides an oath to be taken by the " Repackers of Meat," and other stringent measures.
NOTE 34, PAGE 64. MERCHANTS ONLY TO BE ADMITTED. -The immediate cause of this resolution cannot now be ascertained. It was probably an expression of the strong feeling of rivalry which had long existed between these classes, and had shown itself in the Assembly elections of the previous year, when the lawyers were defeated by the mer- chants at the city polls.
NOTE 35, PAGE 65. NUTTEN ISLAND. - Governor's Island, originally called Nutting Island, because of the quantity of hazel and other nuts growing there, and furnishing the winter's supply to the citizens. In later times, says Knickerbocker, it was cultivated in gardens for the use of the Colonial Governors-" once a smiling garden of the Sovereigns of the Province."-Watson's Annals, p. 189.
This island was known to the Indians by the name of Pugganck, and by the Dutch was called Nutten or Nut Island. Governor Wouter Van. Twiller bought this island in his own name from the Indian owners. It does not seem to have been sold to any individual proprietor after the sale to Van Twiller. It was ceded to the United States by an Act of the Legis- lature, Feb. 15, 1800, and is now occupied solely as a military station of the United States army .- Valentine's Manual for 1855, p. 497.
NOTE 36, PAGE 67. CLIPPING OF COINS .- With the depreciation of the currency in the Colony, caused by the new issues at the period of the French war and the general stagnation of commerce, the debasement of coin by clipping and washing had become a general and annoying evil. As the coins were foreign (the Lyon dollar introduced by the Dutch being the only legal tender of coin in the Colony), the Assembly was powerless to remedy the evil. The Chamber, therefore, established a rate which soon
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became the custom in trade. The value of the Lyon dollar was fixed as early as 1720 ; "seventeen pennyweight for fifteen pennyweight of Sevil Pillar or Mexican Plate." It soon after became a scarce coin.
NOTE 37, PAGE 69. CUSTOM OF MERCHANTS IN A NEIGH- BOURING COLONY .- This reference is probably to New Jersey. The prints of the day make no allusion to the subject.
NOTE 38, PAGE 70. SUTTLE POUNDS .- This word, which does not appear in any of the modern dictionaries, in Johnson of 1790, or Bailey's Etymological Dictionary of 1760, is given in " The New World of Words or Universal English Dictionary " of Edward Phillips, London, of 1720, thus-"SUTTLE WEIGHT " (among merchants), the pure Weight of com- modities after the Allowance for Tare is deducted."
NOTE 39, PAGE 71. REGULATIONS AS TO INSPECTION OF BEEF AND PORK .- The Report of the Committee of the Chamber was laid before the Common Council by the Mayor, 21st March, 1770 .- Common Council Minutes, vol. vii. p. 35. (For the action taken by the Board, see Note 44.)
NOTE 40, PAGE 74. BUOYS IN THE HARBOR .- "For the Safety of Vessels coming into and going to Sea from the Port of New York, the Masters and Wardens of the said Port did last week place a large Can Buoy on the South West Spit of the East Bank, in eighteen feet Water at low water, bearing from the Light House on Sandy Hook N. W. and by W. half W., and from the Bluff at Staten Island making the Narrows, S. half East. Vessels going down must keep in five Fathom Water till they open the Buoy with the Point of Sandy Hook, which will clear them of the Spit. They find that the first of the Flood sets about S. W. and by W. for two Hours, and is apt to draw vessels over upon the West Bank.
"The day after placing the Buoy, a Boat going down was seen to run directly upon it, supposed intentionally to destroy it. If any Person will discover the Boatman to the Master and Wardens that was so wickedly bent on injuring the mark set to prevent Vessels running into Danger, so that he may be punished, he will receive the Thanks of the said Master and War- dens."-Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, June 17, 1771.
NOTE 41, PAGE 74. WARDENS OF THE PORT .- Among the Colonial MSS at Albany there is a warrant dated June 10, 1758, appointing a Master and eight Wardens for the Port of New York. A definition of their duties appears at a later period. The General Assembly, on the 13th December, 1763, passed an Act empowering the Governor or Commander- in-Chief of the Colony for the time being, " to appoint one fit and proper Person to be Master, and three or more fit and proper Persons to be War- dens of the said Port of New York. Their duty-To examine and commis- sion all Branch Pilots ; to survey all damaged Goods or Vessels brought into Port (Gaine's Laws of New York, p. 433) ; to maintain the Light House and collect the Tonnage dues ; to place and keep in Repair such Buoys as they shall think necessary (26th February, 1772)."-Ibid. 636.
A notice issued from the Wardens' office, Feb. 18, 1772, offering a reward for the recovery of a lost Buoy, gives the names of John Griffiths, Daniel Stiles, and Anthony Van Dam, as acting Wardens .- Holt's New York Fournal, Feb. 20, 1772.
NOTE 42, PAGE 74. WHALE FISHERY OF NEW YORK .- "An
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Act for the Encouragement of Whaling," passed by the General Assembly, 18 September, 1708, enacted "That hereafter any Indian that is bound to go to Sea a Whale-fishing, shall not at any Time or Times, between the first day of November and the fifteenth day of April following, Yearly, be sued, arrested, molested, detained, or kept out of that Employment."-Gaine's Laws of New York, p. 71.
A notice of this enterprise appears in 1768 : " A very beneficial Branch of Trade has been long neglected in this Province-that is Whaling, but we now have some Hopes of seeing it revived, as Mr. Robert Murray and Messrs. Franklins have, at their own Expence, fitted out a Sloop for that Purpose, which sailed Last Sunday. In Holland a merchant that is not con- cerned in the Whale Fishery is dispised by all the trading Part of the Coun- try ; and we are told that the Island of Nantucket alone, last season, got oil, &c., to the amount of £70,000."-Holt's New York Journal, April 21, 1768.
The Law of 1772, levying Tonnage dues, exempted "all vessels engaged in Whaling."
No action seems to have been taken by the Chamber on the proposal of Mr. Remsen ; but a few years later a Society was formed. Their first notice appears in Rivington's New York Gazetteer, June 2, 1774: "WHALE FISHERY .- Notice is hereby given that the subscription roll of the United Whaling Company, established in this City, will be kept open until the sailing of the first vessel. Application to be made to J. Allicocke, Secre- tary." On the 30th June of same year, the public are advertised that "it is expected the first whaling vessel will sail next week."
" On Tuesday last, May 30, being the first Anniversary of the New York United Whaling Company, the following members were elected by Ballot for the ensuing year : PHILIP LIVINGSTON, Esq., President : CHARLES McEVERS, Esq., Treasurer : Captains, William Heyer, Patrick Dennis, John Barton ; and Messrs. Isaac Stoutenburgh, Anthony Van Dam, and Joseph Allicocke (Secretary), Committee for purchase of Vessels and Sale of Oils."-Gaine's N. Y. Gazette, June 5, 1775.
On the 24th July, 1776, in Gaine's New York Gazette or Weekly Mercury : " The members of the United Whaling Company in the City of New York are desired to meet at the Merchants' Coffee House, the 6th of August next. This is published at the earnest request of all the members now in Town. Those who cannot give their attendance personally are desired to appoint some Persons to act for them, otherwise they must abide by the Trans- actions of that Evening. All Persons having any accounts against the Com- pany are requested to get them ready at that time." This was evidently the closing notice of the Company.
NOTE 43, PAGE 76. HIS MAJESTY'S COUNCIL FOR THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK .- A Body of twelve who received their appointments directly from the Home Government. The Council was in 1770 composed of Hon. Cadwallader Colden (Lieut. Gov.), appointed in 1722 ; Hon. Daniel Horsmanden, Esq., 1733; Hon. Sir William Johnson Bart, 1751 ; Hon. John Watts, Esq., 1757; Hon. Oliver De Lancey, Esq., 1760 ; Hon. Joseph Reade, Esq., 1764; Hon. Roger Morris, Esq., 1764; Hon. Charles Ward Apthorp, Esq., 1765 ; Hon. Henry Cruger, 1767 ; Hon. Hugh Wallace, 1769; Hon. Henry White, 1769.
The following changes occurred in the composition of the Council during the remainder of the Provincial rule :
Hon. William Axtell, Esq., appointed 1771, in place of Hon. Joseph Reade, Esq. ; Hon John Harris Cruger, Esq., 1773, in place of Henry Cruger, Esq. ; Hon. James Jauncey, Esq., 1775.
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NOTE 44, PAGE 79. LAW AS TO CURING BEEF AND PORK .- The subject was laid before the Common Council 21st March, 1770. "Mr. Mayor produced to the Board a paper proposing Regulations for the pack- age of Beef and Pork within this city as drawn up by a Committee of the Chamber of Commerce appointed for that purpose, which, being read it was thereupon ordered by this Board that Daniel Dunscomb, one of the Public Packers of this city, be served with a copy of said Regulations in order that he may communicate the same to those in the like Office that their senti- ments may be had at the next Common Council."-Common Council Min- utes, vol. vii. p. 35.
As no further action appears, it is to be inferred that the Regulations proposed were adopted by the Packers without the formality of a law.
NOTE 45, PAGE 82. THE GREAT SEAL OF THE PROVINCE, granted by King George III .- Engraved on the one side with the Effigy of the King in his royal robes, and two Indians kneeling and offering presents- with the following inscription around the circumference : "Sijillum Provin- ciae Nostrae Novi Eboraci In America." The reverse contained the Royal Arms and Titles.
The first notice of a new seal is found in a letter of Lieut. Gov. Colden to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, dated Jan. 10, 1761 : "What gives me most concern is that the General Assembly of this Province dissolves by the King's death, as there is no provision made in this case, either by Act of Parliament, or by Act of this Province. The Council is of opinion that I cannot make use of the old seals without the King's warrant for that purpose. If so I cannot call a New Assembly, and if I should take upon me to do it from the necessity of affairs, the legality of the suits may be called in question."-N. Y. Col. Doc., vol. vii. p. 453.
In the great fire of the 29th December, 1773, which totally consumed the Government House in Fort George, this seal was one of the few things saved. Gov. Tryon, in a letter of the 31st December, 1773, to Earl Dart- mouth, relating the disaster, says : "The Great Seal, which was found this evening, notwithstanding the intenseness of the heat, has suffered no in- jury."-N. Y. Colonial Documents, vol. viii. p. 407.
Richard Jackson, the King's Attorney, in a letter to the Lords of Trade, 20th April, 1779, on the power of the King to appoint a seal to be used for the Great Seal of the Province, speaks of being informed "that it was surmised that said seal is at this time in the power of the rebels." -- N. Y. Colonial Documents, vol. viii. p. 762.
NOTE 46, PAGE 82. FIRE-INSURANCE .- This motion of Mr. John Thurman (3d April, 1770), seems to have been the first proposal for in- surance against fire in New York. Its consideration was postponed by the Chamber, 2d May, 1770 (page 99), and again, 25th June, 1770 (page 101), and never taken up in the Colonial period.
The first Fire-Insurance Company in New York was organized by John Pintard. The first notice appeared in 1787.
" Mutual Assurance Company for insuring houses from loss by Fire in New York .- Whereas the insuring of houses and buildings from loss by fire has been found of great and public utility wherever it has been prac- ticed ; and although societies have been instituted in different places, yet none have hitherto been formed in this city for that laudable and beneficent purpose.
"A number of respectable citizens, as well for their own mutual security as for the common security and advantage of their neighbors and fellow-
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citizens, with the view of promoting the insurance of houses and other build- ings from loss by fire upon the most equal terms, and without any views of private or separate gain or interest, have established a company by the name of The Mutual Assurance Company, for insuring houses from loss by Fire in New York.
" The utility of an institution in its purpose so laudable cannot fail to attract the notice of every citizen, being of so great importance to the security of property and the happiness of families, that it is presumed that no person of prudence will be found to neglect it.
" The office is now opened at No. 57 King Street, where such persons as incline to insure their houses and other buildings, may, on application, receive every necessary information. JOHN PINTARD, Secretary, June 15, 1787."-New York Packet, July 24, 1787.
This Company was incorporated under the name of the " Mutual Insur- ance Company of the City of New York," March 28, 1809 .- Private Laws of New York, 32d Session, p. 154.
NOTE 47, PAGE 83. INSPECTOR OF MEAL .- The consideration of this proposal to apply to the Common Council for the appointment of an Inspector of Meal, was postponed in May, but was not again brought up. No such application appears in the Common Council Minutes.
NOTE 48, PAGE 83. CORNEL .- In grinding the seed of either Wheat or Rye, before Flour-bolting was so perfect as now, much of the grain which was crushed or coarsely ground could not be bolted. This part, after the bran was taken from it, was known as Wheat Cornel or Rye Cornel .- MSS. Note of Thomas F. Devoe.
NOTE 49, PAGE 87 .- COLONY OF NEW YORK AND TERRI- TORIES DEPENDING THEREON .- " In the Duke of York's com- mission to his several Lieutenant Governors, Major Edmund Andross, on the first day of July, 1664, and Col. Thomas Dongan, on the 3d day of September 1682, among other descriptions of the boundaries of this prov- ince are expressly comprehended all the land from the West side of Con- necticut River to the East side of Delaware Bay.
" King William and Queen Mary, by their Commission dated the 4th day of January in the first year of their reign, appointed Henry Slaughter to be Governor of the province of New York and the territories depending thereon ; the boundaries whereof to Connecticut river on the east, by the above and many other grants, commissions, and public acts, were notorious.
" In all subsequent acts and commissions this colony is described by the same general words the province of New York and the territories depending thereon; and its boundaries have never been altered by the government here or at home."-A Statement of the Right of New York to its eastern boundary on Connecticut River. Journal of the Assembly, 8th March, 1773.
NOTE 50, PAGE 89. CHARTER OF THE CHAMBER .- This instrument is on record in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany, as well as in the minutes of the Chamber, and may be found printed in Jones & Varick's edition of the Laws of New York, vol. i. p. 113, and in Ist Greenleaf, 78, and in King's Sketch of the History of the Chamber. The original has been many years lost. Mr. Prosper M. Wetmore, when Secre- tary of the Chamber, made some interesting statements concerning the old document :
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"In my search for objects of interest connected with the past history of the Chamber, my attention was naturally directed to the original charter, granted by Lieut. Gov. Colden, in the name of His Majesty George III., and which I knew had been in existence some few years previously. Every effort in my power was made at the time, and has been continued since, but as yet without success, for the recovery of this interesting link in our his- torical chain.
"There is a bit of history, also, connected with this old charter. Some five-and-twenty years ago, Admiral Walton, of the British Navy, succeeded by inheritance to the property of his family in this city ; and on taking pos- session, among a vast accumulation of miscellaneous lumber, boxes, baskets, and chests, articles of domestic economy, dragoon saddles and Hessian muskets, in the spacious attic of 'Walton House,' in Pearl street, was found the original charter of the Chamber of Commerce. It was very large, about three feet in width, with the massive waxen seal of the crown, six inches in diameter, attached, and the whole carefully encased in tin and en- closed in mahogany. The Admiral immediately made known the discovery to Mr. Pintard, who took possession of the document.
" Secretary Van Dam was known to have been an intimate friend, prob- ably a relative, of the Walton family. William Walton had once been President of the Chamber. These facts may account for the situation in which the charter had been found, and we must therefore believe that this instrument had lain undisturbed in the recesses of Walton House for the period of nearly half a century.
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