USA > New York > Colonial records of the New York Chamber of Commerce, 1768-1784 : with historical and biographical sketches > Part 25
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NOTE 124, PAGE 207. PRICE OF BUTCHERS' MEAT .- During the whole war there was a great scarcity of fresh meats in the City, and the Chamber naturally advised the Commandant to place no restrictions upon its sale, "as the remedy may prove worse than the disease."-(See Page 209.)
NOTE 125, PAGE 208. OLD CORPORATION ORDINANCES .- By an old law of the City it was ordained that "all and every Citizen, Free- holders, House-keepers and Inhabitants living within the Six Wards on the South side of the Fresh Water, shall, on every Friday, Weekly, either by themselves or Servants, rake and sweep together all the Dirt, Filth and Soil lying in the Streets before their respective Dwelling Houses or Lots of Ground, upon Heaps ; and on the same Day, or on the Saturday following, shall cause the same to be carried away and thrown into the River or some other Convenient Place, under the Penalty of Six Shillings for each Neglect, Refusal, or Default." The Inhabitants were also required "to well and sufficiently pave, or cause to be well and sufficiently paved with Good and sufficient Pebble Stones suitable for Paving, all or so much of the Streets, Lanes, and Alleys within the (said) City as shall front the respective Build- ings and Lots of Ground that belong to them respectively."
The Chamber seems to have recommended a mixed plan. On the 27th July, eight days after the recommendation made by them, a notice was issued from the OFFICE OF POLICE inviting "any person or persons that may be inclined to contract for the cleaning the Streets of the City under the immunity of an exclusive right to take all the manure and rubbish for their own use, to give their proposals."-Gaine's New York Gazette, August 2, 1779.
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The next year General JAMES PATTISON, then Commandant, issued a Proclamation (6th April, 1780) essentially renewing the OLD CORPORATION ORDINANCES .- Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, April 10th, 1781.
NOTE 126, PAGE 208. POLICE OF THE CITY .- " Proclamation by Major-General JONES Commanding his Majesty's Forces on the Island of New York, Long Island, Staten Island, and the Posts depending- WHEREAS it is thought expedient, in order to give necessary assistance to the Commandant of the City, that a Superintendent-General of the Police should be appointed : I do hereby appoint ANDREW ELLIOT, Esq., Superintendent-General of the Police of the City of New York, and its Dependencies, with Powers and Authorities to issue such orders and Regulations from Time to Time as may most effectually tend to the Sup- pression of Vice and Licentiousness-the Support of the Poor-the Direc- tion of the Nightly Watch-the Regulation of Markets and Ferries and all other matters in which the ŒEconomy, Peace, and Good Order of the City of New York and its Environs are concerned. The Superintendent- General will be assisted in the Administration of the Police by DAVID MATTHEWS, Esq., Mayor of this City : and I do hereby enjoin and require all Persons whatever, to pay due Obedience to the Superintendent-General, the Mayor and all others acting in Authority under them in the Execution of their Duty; and all Military Officers Commanding Guard, to assist them when it shall be found necessary. Given under my Hand at Head Quarters in New York, this 4th day of May, 1778-DANIEL JONES. By order of the General, Nathaniel Philips, Sec'y .- Gaine's New York Ga- zette, May 4, 1778.
NOTE 127, PAGE 208. HOSPITALS .- The principal Hospital of the City was, at the close of the last century, and has since been, "the New York Hospital," situated on the west side of Broadway, opposite the upper end of Pearl Street. During the Revolutionary War some of the churches were used for this purpose by the military authorities, who had little regard for other than the Established Church.
The first of the New York Hospitals which has for near a hundred years been distinguished for the care and purity of its free management, has been thus described :
" In the year 1770, some of the most respected and public-spirited inhab- itants of the City of New York subscribed considerable sums of money for the purpose of erecting and establishing a public Hospital ; and a petition was presented by Peter Middleton, John Jones and Samuel Bard, three emi- nent physicians, to Lieutenant Governor Colden, then administering the government of the Colony of New York, for a charter of incorporation, which was, in consequence, granted the following year by the Earl of Dunmore, Governor and Commander-in-chief of the Province. By this charter, dated the 13th of June, 1771, the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Assistants, of the City of New York, the Rector of Trinity Church, one Minister from each of the other churches of different denominations then in the city, the Presi- dent of King's (now Columbia) College, and a number of the principal and most respectable inhabitants of the city, were named as members, and incor- porated under the name of the 'Society of the Hospital of the City of New York in America.' Twenty-six governors were also named for the manage- ment of the affairs and business of the Institution, who held their first meeting on the 25th July, 1771. Through the influence of Dr. John Fothergill and Sir William Duncan considerable contributions were made to the Society by many
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inhabitants of London and other places in Great Britain, and in 1772, the Le- gislature of the Province of New York granted an annual allowance of 800 pounds (2000 dollars) in aid of the institution for twenty years. In 1773 the go- vernor of the Hospital purchased of Mr. Barclay and Mr. Rutgers, five acres of ground for the erection of a suitable edifice. A plan of a building having been procured by Dr. Jones, the foundation was laid the 27th of July, 1773 ; but on the 28th of February, 1775, when it was almost completed, the building accidentally took fire and was nearly consumed. By this misfortune the Society suffered the loss of seven thousand pounds ($17,500), and the execution of their benevolent plan would have been wholly frustrated had not the Legisla- ture, in March, 1775, granted them the sum of 4,000 pounds towards rebuild- ing the house and repairing the loss they had sustained. But the War of Independence, which took place in the same year, prevented the completion of the edifice. During the war the building was occupied by British and Hessian soldiers as barracks, and occasionally as a hospital."-An Account of the New York Hospital.
NOTE 128, PAGE 209. PERSON IN POWER .- Efforts to discover the author of the sage remark quoted in the text have proved unavailing.
NOTE 129, PAGE 209. GREENWOMEN .- This word does not appear in any of the early Dictionaries of the language. It was applied to the wo- men who sold greens and vegetables.
NOTE 130, PAGE 209. THE ALMS HOUSE .- " Certain persons of humanity and opulence, in 1774, presented a well-written petition to Robert Lurting, Esq., the Mayor, and to the Corporation, on the utility of erecting a good and substantial building for the reception of various classes of poor, and as a house of correction. Whereupon Messrs. Roome, Bayard, Pell, and Burger, who were Aldermen, with three other gentlemen, were appointed a Committee to fix upon a suitable piece of ground, and to purchase materials for the purpose. They eventually chose a spot then called the Vineyard ; the very place on which now stands the City Hall. The house was erected ; was sixty-five feet by twenty-four, two stories high, with good cellar apart- ments. When the war commenced between England and America, in the year 1776, it became necessary to remove the poor, first to Westchester and afterwards to Poughkeepsie, under the charge of Mr. John Forbes. Dur- ing the war, however, the poor and refractory were received into the Alms House, then under the care of Mr. William Littlewood ; who was permitted to draw King's rations for nine months to support the poor. In consequence of the destructive fire which took place in the city on the 21st September, 1776, three hundred destitute persons were received into this in- stitution."-John Stanford's Sketch, in Valentine's Manual, 1862, p. 658.
NOTE 131, PAGE 209. PRICES OF CARTMEN .- " Cartmen's Rates. By order of the Commandant. The following Rates for Cartmen being re- commended by the Chamber of Commerce, are to take place from and after Monday, the 20th inst., viz. :
" For Loading, Carting, and unloading Fire-wood and every other com- mon Load, to any place within this city, Two Shillings. For a Load of Hay, Six Shillings. For every Hogshead of Rum, Sugar, Melasses, and for every Pipe of Wine or other Strong Liquors, Four Shillings. For a Hogs- head of Tobacco, Three Shillings. For a Load of Coal, containing one-third of a Chaldron, Three Shillings. For a Whole-Shot Cable, 12 inches cir- cumference, or upwards, Fifteen Shillings ; under 12 and above 7 inches,
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Ten Shillings ; seven inches and under, Seven Shillings and Sixpence ; Half-Shot one third of the Whole-Shot. The above Rates are to be paid for Carting to any Place within this City, not exceeding One Mile, and in the same Proportion for a greater Distance. Any Cartman demanding or receiving, on and after the 20th day of this Month, a greater Price for Cart- ing a load than the Prices settled by the above rates, or refusing to take up the first Load that is offered him on the Stand, shall, upon Proof being made before the Police, forfeit FORTY SHILLINGS for every such offence, one Half to the Informer, the other Half to the City Alms House. Any Person after that Day who shall be discovered acting as a City Cartman, without having obtained a License agreeable to former Orders, and the Number of his Li- cense marked in a conspicuous manner, with red Paint, upon each side of his Cart, will be confined and punished for a Breach of Orders. Office of Police, Sept. 16, 1779. ANDREW ELLIOT, Superintendant General. DAVID MATHEWS, Mayor. PETER DUBOIS, Magistrate of Police."-Gaine's New York Gazette or Weekly Mercury, September 20, 1779.
NOTE 132, PAGE 209. FORTY TO ONE HUNDRED SHILLINGS. -This amount in New York currency was the equivalent of twenty-four to sixty shillings sterling, i. e., from five to twelve dollars gold in modern com- putation. This is on the basis of the Tables of Reduction published in Gaine's Universal Register for 1779, p. 106.
NOTE 133, PAGE 209. OLD LAWS CONCERNING CARTMEN. -The first regulation on this subject was the PROCLAMATION of Major-Gen- eral JAMES ROBERTSON, Commandant in New York, issued 29th December, 1777, the Preamble of which reads : " Whereas, it has been represented to me that the Inhabitants of this City are daily suffering great Inconveniences, as well from the Irregularity of the public Cartmen thereof in declining, un- der various Pretences, carting for the Inhabitants, when required, as by the exorbitant and increasing demands which they insist on receiving for their services : For correcting all such Abuses for the future, I do hereby establish the following REGULATIONS : First-That no Cartman be allowed to cart without first obtaining a Licence from me for that Purpose, (which will be given out to him gratis), and having the number put upon his cart. Secondly -That no Cartman, upon the Request of any Person or Persons, shall re- fuse, decline, or neglect, upon any improper or false Pretence or Excuses whatsoever, to carry from or to any part of the City of New York, any Load or Loads of any kind whatever. Thirdly-That the Fare of the said Cart- men shall be as follows." (Here follow the regulations.)-Gaine's New York Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Jan. 5, 1778.
The Rates of which the Chamber complained were established later in the year by military authority.
" By order of the Commandant, the following rates are established for Carting, to take place from and after the Tenth day of this instant, Decem- ber, viz. : For loading, carting and unloading Firewood, and every other common load, to any place within this city, not exceeding one mile, Three Shillings. For carting Firewood, or any other common load to any further distance, after the same rate. For every load of Hay, Eight Shillings. For every Hogshead of Rum or Molasses, Six Shillings ; and in the same pro- portion for Tierces or Barrels. For every Hogshead of Sugar, Six Shillings ; for Tierces or Barrels in the same proportion. For every Hogshead of To- bacco, Four Shillings. For every Load of Coals, consisting of one-third of a chaldron, Three Shillings. For every Cable, whole shot, of five inches cir- cumference to seven inches, Ten Shillings. For every cable, half shot, of
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like dimensions, Six Shillings. For every cable, whole shot, upwards of seven inches circumference to ten inches, Twelve Shillings. For every cable, half shot, of like dimensions, Eight Shillings. For every cable, whole shot, upwards of ten inches circumference, Twenty Shillings. For every cable, half shot, of like dimensions, Twelve Shillings. Any Cartman demand- ing, or receiving, on or after the Tenth day of this Month, a greater price for carting a load than the price settled by the above rates, shall, upon proof being made before the Police, forfeit FORTY SHILLINGS for every such of- fence, one-half to the informer, the other half to the City Alms House. All persons that in future intend acting as City Cartmen, are desired, before the Twentieth day of this month, to give in their names at the Police Office, where they will receive Licences gratis. Any person after that day, who shall be discovered acting as City Cartman, without having obtained such a License, and the number of his Licence marked with red paint upon each side of his cart, will be taken into custody. Superintendant General's Office, New York, December 7, 1778. ANDREW ELLIOT, Superintendant General. DAVID MATHEWS, Mayor. PETER DUBOIS, Magistrate of Police."-Gaine's New York Gazette, Dec. 14, 1778.
NOTE 134, PAGE 210. THE OLD INSURANCE OFFICE .- The names of the Gentlemen of the Old Insurance Office who advised the Super- intendent in 1778 as to the proper rate for Cartmen's Wages are not recorded. This was of course a Marine Office. There was no Fire Office in New York until after the Revolutionary War.
As early as 1759 there was an Office of Insurance known by this name. An advertisement in that year, the first in the New York Journals, reads : "The OLD INSURANCE OFFICE is kept at the Coffee House as usual ; where all Risques whatsoever are underwrote at very moderate Premiums, and due attendance given from Twelve to one and from six to eight by KETELTAS & SHARPE, Clerks of the Office."-Gaine's New York Mercury, November 5th, 1759.
They had been directed to the advertising of their office perhaps by the appearance, a few months previous, of a new and rival office-" The New York Insurance Office is opened at the house of the Widow Smith, adjoining the Merchants' Coffee House, where all risks are underwrote at moderate premiums. Constant attendance will be given from the hours of eleven to one, and from six to eight in the evening, by ANTHONY VAN DAM, Clerk of the Office."-Gaine's New York Mercury, August 27th, 1759.
A third was announced during the war. "The New Insurance Office is opened at the Merchants' Coffee House, where attendance is given from twelve to two o'clock in the day, and from seven to nine o'clock in the evening, by WILLIAM BRANTHWAITE, Broker."-Gaine's New York Gazette, July 6th, 1778.
The New York Insurance Office, which appears to have been closed, again opened its doors.
" The New York Insurance Office is again opened at the Coffee House, where the Underwriters will attend from twelve to two o'clock at noon and from six to eight in the evening. It is requested that those who want in- surance will apply at office hours."-Gaine's New York Gazette, Sept. 8, I777.
A further advertisement shows that these offices were the resort of un- derwriters only, and not established companies, where all interested partici- pated in the risks, losses, and profits, as under the modern systems. Indeed, the application of the mutual or company systems in the city dates from a period subsequent to the War.
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" CUNNINGHAM & WARDROP, Having annexed to their Business that of Insurance Brokers, beg leave to inform their friends they have opened a PUBLIC INSURANCE OFFICE.
" Where Policies are received and offered to the merchants and under- writers of the City in general.
" The benefits which will in all probability result to the Commercial Interests of the place from such an Institution are obvious, and they flatter themselves with meeting with favour and encouragement from the Public in general. December 17, 1779."-Rivington's Royal Gazette, December 29, 1779.
NOTE 135, PAGE 211. STORING GUN-POWDER AFLOAT .- In the preamble to an ordinance passed "for the better securing of the City of New York from the Dangers of Gun-powder," it is recited that " the Cor- poration of this City of New York, in order to secure the said City and the inhabitants thereof from the Danger they were exposed to by large Quanti- ties of Gun-Powder being kept in Houses, Shops and Stores, did erect and build a suitable and convenient Magazine, or Powder House, on an Island in the Fresh Water of this City, for the Receipt of all the Gun-Powder which was or should be imported into the said City."-Holt's Corporation Ordi- nances, 1763, p. 39.
This island was in the Little Collect, a part of the Collect Pond about where Duane and Centre Streets now cross each other. On the breaking out of war and the large increase of Powder at this central point, a change became necessary, and it was removed to a Powder ship. For many years afterwards this plan was continued. The site of the Powder House was too near the line of city fortification for safety.
NOTE 136, PAGE 212. MRS. SMITH AT THE COFFEE HOUSE. -No notice of Mrs. Smith as keeper of the Merchants' Coffee House appears in the newspapers. That this was the Coffee House in question is evident from a reference to the resolution with regard to the new engagement of the Chamber with Mr. Strachan, who hired the Merchants' Coffee House, May I, 1781 (see Page 251 and Note 175). There was in 1759 a Widow Smith who kept a house "adjoining the Coffee House where the NEW YORK INSURANCE OFFICE was opened in August of that year" (see Note 134), as may be seen by the Advertisement of Anthony Van Dam, Secre- tary, in Gaine's N. Y. Mercury, Aug. 27, 1759.
NOTE 137, PAGE 214. PRICES OF ARTIFICERS .- In a letter from the journeymen to the master-printers of New York, asking for an increase of three dollars to their weekly wages, a statement is made as to the prices of the day. "There is scarcely a common laborer but gets a dollar per day and provisions, and the lowest mechanicks from 12 to 16s. per day."- Rivington's Royal Gazette, Nov. 14th, 1778.
NOTE 138, PAGE 217. ABSENCE OF MR. JOHN ALSOP .- Mr. Alsop, who was chosen First Vice-President of the Chamber, 2 May, 1775, (p. 202) was a member of the First and Second Continental Congress. On the passage of the Declaration of Independence he resigned his seat, and withdrew to Middletown, Connecticut. He did not return to New York until after the evacuation by the British in 1783.
NOTE 139, PAGE 223. VENDUE MASTER .- These officers were licensed in conformity with an order issued in 1779.
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" By order of the Commandant. From and after the 20th of this month, no person or persons will be allowed to act as Vendue-Masters for the sale of any kind of goods at Public Auction, but such as shall receive a licence from the Officers of the Police for that purpose, before whom the person applying for a licence must take an oath not to be concerned in any collusive sales, in order to raise the price of any article of trade or provisions ; and, at the same time, must give approved security in the sum of FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS, New York currency, for the faithful execution of their duty, as well as for the security of their employers. In all cases where it may be neces- sary to have proof by whose orders any parcel or piece of goods were sold at Vendue, the proof to lay with the Vendue-Master who sold such goods ; if he fails in this, to forfeit his licence. All damaged goods to be sold as such, otherwise the purchaser will not be obliged to take them. Shipping and other materials, naval stores, prize goods, provisions and liquors of all sorts, cabinet ware, and the effects of strangers deceased, may be sold on the wharf, or near the Coffee-House Bridge by the licensed Vendue-Masters. Dry-goods, and all other goods that do not come under the above denomina- tions, when intended for public Vendue, are only to be sold in Auction Rooms provided by the licensed Vendue-Masters for that purpose. Permission will be granted to any of the licensed Vendue-Masters when required for the disposing of household furniture at private houses. For the more ready discovery of any person or persons that may attempt acting contrary to this rule, all licenced Vendue-Masters are desired to fix over the door of their Auction Rooms, -'s LICENCED AUCTION ROOM, and to advertise in the newspapers their street and number of the house. New York, January 12, 1779. ANDREW ELLIOT, Superintendant General. DAVID MATHEWS, Mayor. PETER DUBOIS, Magistrate of Police."-Gaine's New York Gazette, Jan. 18, 1779.
NOTE 140, PAGE 224. LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR on the Powder Ship .- The cause of the alarm felt by the Chamber may be traced to the fearful explosion of a Powder-Ship two years previous. This explosion took place a few days after the Great Fire of 1778.
The following accounts were published in the papers of the day : " Yes- terday about one o'clock a flash of lightning struck a magazine of damaged powder on board the Ordnance Sloop Morning Star, lying in the East River, which occasioned the most awful explosion ever perceived in New York, where most of the houses received very great damage. It had an effect sim- ilar to that of an earthquake, and occasioned a tremendous alarm to every resident in the city."-Rivington's Royal Gazette, Wednesday, August 5, I778.
" Last Tuesday afternoon, about one o'Clock, during a heavy Rain, ac- companied with Thunder, the Lightning struck the Ordnance Sloop Morn- ing Star, lying off the Coffee House in the East River, with 248 Barrels of Gun-Powder on board ; it produced a most tremendous Explosion. A Num- ber of Houses were unroofed, many Windows broke, and some Furniture demolished by the Blast ; the Effects of which were similar to an Earthquake. Happily there was only one Man in the Vessel when the Accident happened. -Gaine's N. Y. Gazette and Weekly Mercury, Monday, August 10, 1778.
The invention of Lightning Rods was at this time comparatively recent. " It was in the Spring of 1752 that Franklin thought of trying the experi- ment with a kite ; and it was during one of the severe thunder-storms of that year that the immortal kite was flown. In Poor Richard's Almanac for 1753, appeared a notice of ' How to secure Houses, &c., from Lightning.'" -Parton's Franklin, I, 289-297.
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NOTE 141, PAGE 224. WALLOON BAY .- This is the well-known Wallabout, where the United States Navy Yard is now situated (Brooklyn, N. Y.). The name of Walloon is said to be derived from the early settle- ment of the Walloons at this point.
NOTE 142, PAGE 226. PRICE OF BREAD .- The first Regulation of the Military Authorities as to the price of Bread was made January Ioth, 1777, shortly after the capture of the City : "Whereas many complaints are made by the Inhabitants that BREAD is become extravagantly high, either from the Exactions of Bakers or Forestallers, it is become necessary to renew a mode that was formerly followed in this place, of fixing an Assize. The Price of the best Flour being now Thirty shillings the Hundred, and that of Fuel and Labour considerably increased, I find that it is the Opinion of the most respectable Inhabitants that a Loaf of Bread of the finest Flour, weighing Three Pounds Four Ounces, should be sold for Fourteen Coppers, and in the same Proportion for Loaves of a lesser Weight. Any Person who exacts more will be taken into Custody and the Bread in their Pos- session will be given to the Poor." JAMES ROBERTSON .- Gaine's New York Gazette, January 13, 1777.
During the war there were occasional Variations, and necessity arose for changes in the Regulations. On the 22d of January, 1779, a second rule was issued, on this occasion from the "Office of Police " :- " Assize of Bread. Two Pounds for Twenty-one Coppers. Public Notice is hereby given, that from and after the first day of February next, all the Bakers in this City are to make their Loaves of Two Pounds Weight, and that no Baker or Retailer of Bread shall, from and after that date ask, demand, or receive any more or greater sum than Twenty-one Coppers for each such Loaf weighing Two Pounds ; and that from and after the first day of Feb- ruary next, every Baker within this City shall put a mark with the initial letters of his Christian name and surname upon the Loaf-Bread he shall expose to sale, and shall make his Bread Good, and according to the afore- said Assize, under penalty of forfeiting all such Bread as shall be defective in Quality or deficient in Weight, to the Alms-house in this city ; and any person who shall ask, demand or receive any more or greater sum for a Loaf of Bread weighing Two Pounds, shall, for every such offence, forfeit the sum of Five Pounds to be applied to the use of the Poor of this City. The Weight of all Loaves being fixed at Two Pounds, it is intended for the con- venience of the Poor, and to avoid fractions in the Weight, which rendered detections of fraud in the assize more difficult .- ANDREW ELLIOT, Super- intendent-General. D. MATHEWS, Mayor. PETER DUBOIS, Magistrate of Police."-Gaine's New York Gazette, January 25, 1779.
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