USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rensselaer County, N. Y., for 1870-71 > Part 10
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43
The State Journal was issued in 1836 by Richard J. Mastin.
The New York State Journal was published in 1837 by T. Haxtun.
The Troy Daily Mail was started in 1837 by Wellington & Nafew, and was continued until 1841.
The Troy Daily Bulletin was started in Dec. 1841, by R. Thompson.
The Troy Daily Herald was published by Isaac D. Ayers in 1843.
The Troy Temperance Mirror was published in 1843 by Bard- well & Kneeland.
The Family Journal was started in 1844 by Fisk & Co. In 1848 it appeared as
The New York Family Journal, and was continued until 1861, when it was discontinued.
The Troy Daily Post was started by Alexander McCall. It was subsequently published by Enoch Davis, and in 1850 by Davis & Johnson. In 1852 A. G. Johnson became the sole pro- prietor and changed the name to
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RENSSELAER COUNTY.
The Troy Daily Traveler. It was subsequently published by Fisk, Fisk & Avery, and again by Fisk, Avery & Thompson, until 1856, when its publication was discontinued.
The Trojan was started in 1845 and continued for several years.
The Rensselaer County Temperance Advocate was started in 1846 by S. Spicer.
The Daily Telegraph was published at Troy in 1846.
The Journal of Temperance was started in 1847 by William Hager.
The National Watchman was commenced in 1847 by. Allen & Garnet. Its publication was continued for several years.
THE TROY DAILY TIMES was started in June 1851 by J. M. Francis and R. D. Thompson. In 1854 Mr. Francis be- came sole proprietor. After a few months Mr. H. O. Tucker purchased an interest in the paper, which he has continued to hold. Its present publishers are J. M .. Francis & Tucker. A weekly edition is issued.
La Ruche Canadienne. was started in Troy in 1851 by Dorian & Mathiot.
The Nassau Gazette was started in December 1850 by J. M. Geer.
The Lutheran Herald was published semi-monthly, at West Sand Lake, in 1844, by H. L. Dox.
The Greenbush Guardian was started in August 1856 by A. J. Goodrich. It was afterwards published by J. D. Comstock.
The Troy Daily News was started in 1860 by Mr. Loveridge, but was issued only a few months.
The Troy News, a Sunday paper, was started in September 1864, by C. L. MacArthur, who continued its publication until Jan. 1866, when he sold out to Mr. Hawley, who published it until May 1867, when it was discontinued:
TROY WEEKLY. PRESS was started August 8, 1863, by A. S. Pease, the present publisher.
THE POLYTECHNIC is published semi-monthly by Mon- tague L. Marks.
The Troy Daily Arena was started in the winter of 1859 by MacArthur & Fonda. It was published only a short time.
THE TROY DAILY PRESS .*
THE WEEKLY NEWS PRESS .*
The County Seat is located at Troy. By an act of the Legis- lature of Jan. 11, 1793, the sum of £600 was appropriated for the
*See Errata.
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erection of a Court House and Jail, to be built under the direc- tion of Cornelius Lansing, Jacob C. Schermerhorn, Abraham Ten Eyck, Mahlon Taylor and Jacob Vanderheyden, who, with others, had pledged £1,000 for that purpose. In 1794. an ad- ditional sum of £800 was granted. In 1797, $5,500 were granted, and in 1798 a further sum of $500. The present Court House stands at the corner of Congress and Second streets. It was built at the joint expense of the city and Coun- ty, and contains the court room and county and city offices. This building was commenced in 1828 and completed in 1831. It is in the Grecian style of architecture with massive pillars in front. The material is Sing Sing marble. It occupies the same site as the first one, which was of brick. The Jail is lo- cated at the corner of Fifth and Ferry streets.
The first County officers were Anthony Ten Eyck, Judge; Moss Kent, Surrogate ; Nicholas Schuyler, Clerk ; and Albert Pawling, Sheriff.
The County Poor House is located on a farm of 146 acres, about two miles from the central part of the city and is val- ued at $83,000. The main building is of brick, two stories high and 150 by 40 feet on the ground, and is occupied by the Keeper and the better class of female paupers. A wing of the same hight and similar material, 30 by 40 feet, extending to the rear, is used as a school room and hospital. A wood structure, one story in hight and 100 by 28 feet on the ground, is occupied exclusively by the men. Religious services are held in the house on the Sabbath, and a Sunday School is maintained un- der the direction of the Sisters of Charity of Troy.
The Lunatic Asylum is situated at the rear of the main building ; it is constructed of brick, three stories high, and 60 by 30 feet on the ground.
The greater part of the County was included in Rensselaer- wyck, a territory granted in 1629 to Killian Van Rensselaer, a pearl merchant of Amsterdam. The charter was granted by the Dutch West India Company, and conferred upon him privileges similar to those enjoyed by the feudal barons of Europe. The territory included lands on both sides of the river, extending about twenty-four miles north and south, and forty-eight east and west. By the terms of the charter the Colony must con- tain at least fifty persons over fifteen years of age, within four years, one-fourth of whom must be located within the first year. A ship load of emigrants was forwarded in 1630, and others in each of several succeeding years. The first settlers were supplied with stock, seeds and farming utensils, and the land was leased at an annual rent, payable in grain, beeves and wampum, or a share of the products of the land. The proprie-
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RENSSELAER COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
WINNE
CLARK,
TROY, N. Y.,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALERS IN
Staple and
Fancy
DRY GOODS!
-0-
Particular attention is called to our large and attractive assortment of
AMERICAN AND FOREIGN
DRESS GOODSI
CONSISTING OF French and Irish Poplins, Silks, Velvetines, and the latest styles of Fancy Plaids, Mohairs, Alapacas, Etc., Etc.
DOMESTICS,
We offer in great variety, and in price as
LOW AS THE LOWEST! Our facilities for buying these Goods being unequaled.
WINNE & CLARK, 306, 308 River, and 322 Fulton Streets, TROY, N. Y.
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RENSSELAER COUNTY BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
FARMERS' ATTENTION
If you contemplate purchasing a SEWING MACHINE, buy the Best, and the only one calculated for all kinds of FAMILY SEWING,
THE GROVER & BAKER ELASTIC AND LOCK,
O Shuttle S itch,
Making the Stitch alike on each Side.
FAC SIMILE OF THE
Imperial Cross! Of the Legion of Honor, RECEIVED AT THE Exposition Universelle, Paris,
1867.
POINTS OF EXCELLENCE.
Beauty and Elasticity of Stitch.
Perfection and Simplicity of Machinery.
Using both threads directly from the Spools.
No fastening of Seams by hand and no waste of Thread.
Besides doing all kinds of work done by other Sewing Machines, these Machines execute the most beautiful and permanent Embroidery and Ornamental work.
" It affords me great pleasure to bear witness to the excellence of the Grover & Baker Sewing Machine. I have had one in my family for some two years ; and from what I know of its workings, and from the testimony of many of my friends who use the same, I can hardly see how anything could be more complete or give better satisfac- tion."-Mrs. General Grant.
OFFICE AND SALESROOMS, 404 Fulton Street, - TROY, N. Y.
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tor was styled Patroon, and in him was vested authority in civil and military affairs, subordinate only to the Dutch West India Company and the States General of Holland. He had his forts, soldiers, cannon and courts of justice, and had power to try all causes and inflict punishment even to death, though in case a gallows broke down during an execution he was not allowed to erect another for the same criminal. The laws allowed an ap- peal from the decisions of the local courts, but the Patroon re- quired every person who settled within his jurisdiction to pledge himself never to exercise this right. At the close of harvest the farmers were required to hand to the Patroon an ac- count of the amount of grain, stock and other articles which they might have for sale. If the Patroon did not wish to pur- chase they could seek a market elsewhere. The settlers were required to go to the Patroon's mill for their grinding, and he in turn was required to keep the mill in repair. If any real estate was for sale, the Patroon must have the first offer to purchase ; and if any person died intestate he claimed all property of the deceased. No person was allowed to hunt or fish without the permission of the Patroon.
In 1642 Rev. Johannes Megapolensis was sent out " to dis- seminate the light of the gospel among Christians and heathen in the Colonie, to preach God's word there, to administer the holy sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper, to set an example in a christian like manner by public precept, to ordain elders and deacons, to keep and govern by and with the advice and assistance of the same, God's Congregation in good disci- pline and order, according to God's Holy Word and in confor- mity with the government, confession and catechism of the Netherland Church and Synod acts of Dordrecht." He was to receive a free passage to this country, and board for his family, consisting of a wife and four children ; an outfit of 300 guilders, and an annual salary for the first three years of 1,100 guilders, thirty schepels of wheat and two firkins of butter, or sixty guild- ers in cash. The salary was to be increased 200 guilders per year, for the next three years, and a pension of 100 guilders to his wife in case of his decease.
A ferry was established across the river in 1642, near the mouth of Beaver's Kill.
The winter of 1646-7 was unusually severe ; the river was closed Nov. 25, and remained so for four months. In the spring a great freshet occurred, and "A certain fish of considerable size, snow white in color, round in the body and blowing water out of his head," made his appearance in the river. What the omen was "God, the Lord only knew." Soon after, another
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monster, forty feet long, with fins on his back, and ejecting water like the other, appeared, and was pronounced by those competent to decide, to be a whale. It grounded on an island near the mouth of the Mohawk. The people turned out in great numbers to secure the prize. Large quantities of blubber were obtained, but the river was covered with oil for three weeks, and the stench of the decaying animal extended for miles around. Such is in substance the account given of the affair by the early settlers.
In 1652 the authorities of the Colony purchased an addi- tional tract of land, embracing the north part of the County and the present site of Troy.
In 1652 Gerrit Swart was commissioned as a Schout of Rens- selaerwyck, and sent over to perform the duties of his office. His commission says "He shall use for his dwelling the house formerly used by the former preacher, situated in Greenbush and there reside with his family, and exercise and discharge his aforesaid office with all diligence and fidelity according to the laws, edicts and ordinances already or to be enacted there." The following instructions were received by him on his depar- ture : " Having arrived with God's help at the island of Man- hattan, he shall proceed by the first opportunity to the Colonie and report himself to Jan Baptist Van Rensselaer and make known unto him his quality by exhibition of his commission and instructions. He shall above all things take care that Di- vine worship shall be maintained in said Colonie, conformably to the Reformed Religion of this Country, as the same is pub- licly taught in these United Provinces. He shall in like man- ner pay attention that the Lord's Day, the Sabbath of the New Testament be properly respected both by the observance of hearing the Holy Word as well as the preventing all unneces- sary and daily labor on said day. And whereas it is a scandal that the Christians should mingle themselves unlawfully with the wives or daughters of the heathen, the officer shall labor to put in execution the placards and ordinances enacted or to be enacted against the same and strictly exact the fines imposed hereby without any dissimulation."
By the surrender of the Colony to the English in 1664, the personal rights of the colonists were secured, and a new char- ter was granted to the Patroon, restricting his civil power but confirming the relations existing between landlord and tenant. By laws enacted a few years subsequent to the close of the Rev- olution, the feudal tenure was abolished, but the proprietors of manor grants were unwilling to give up their feudal claims, and continued a form of deed by which the grantees agreed to per- form certain duties and make certain payments, precisely simi-
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lar to those abolished by the laws. The people who had settled upon these manors had long been dissatisfied and restive under the feudal exactions. The Patroon had by his indulgence se- cured their regard, and at his death, in 1839, there was great solicitude as to the course that would be pursued by his suc- cessors. By his will he gave the western part of his manor to his son Stephen, and the eastern part to his son William P. Van Rensselaer. The " Quarter Sales," by virtue of which the land- lord claimed a part of the purchase money on the transfer of every lease, were particulary obnoxious. The tenants about this time began to consult together to devise some plan to throw off the burden. Associations were formed and delegates ap- pointed to meet and deliberate for the general welfare. These local societies soon became known as Anti-rent Associations, and the feeling became so strong as to manifest itself in open resistance to the legal processes for collecting the rents. A se- cret organization was formed extending through several coun- ties. This organization was composed of men who were pledged to appear in disguise, armed and ready to protect the tenants from arrest and guard their property from execution. When- ever the Sheriff appeared in one of the disaffected towns, a troop of men in fantastic calico dresses with faces masked or painted to resemble Indians, armed with guns, pistols, swords, tomahawks, &c., and generally on horseback, would gather around him or hover near and warn him by threats to desist from the service of any process. In 1844-5, in Rensselaer and other counties, large numbers of men were accustomed to meet thus disguised to listen to speeches and pass resolutions. The leaders assumed the names of distinguished Indian warriors, and the highways became familiar with their antics and whoops. Under such circumstances a conflict between them and the authorities be- came inevitable. In some instances the military were called out to aid in enforcing the law. Citizens who disapproved of their conduct were subjected to insult in the streets and at their homes. Bad men, under cover of the disguise, took occasion to gratify their passions and to seek redress for private grievances. A conflict which occurred in the town of Grafton awakened general attention. A troop of these men, disguised as Indians and riding along the highway, met a man named Smith, driv- ing a team with a load of wood. He had been outspoken in his condemnation of the course of the Anti-renters; a conflict ensued, and Smith raised his ax to strike one of the assailants, when a pistol shot from an unknown hand prostrated him upon the ground, where he died in a few minutes. The men soon dispersed. A legal investigation, at which more than two hun- dred persons were examined, failed to disclose the perpetrator of
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the murder. In the town of Nassau, the Sheriff had been openly resisted and the military had been called out to aid in the exe- cution of the law. A rude system of telegraphing existed in the towns, and gave warning of the approach of an officer, when from all parts disguised men came flocking in. The Leg- islature of 1844 passed a law against men appearing in disguise, armed, and imposed severe penalties upon the violators. The intense feeling at length manifested itself in political action in 1846, when Governor Young was elected over Silas Wright, on account of his being the candidate of the Anti-renters. The. Constitution of 1846 abolished all feudal tenures and incidents, and provided that no lease or grant of agricultural lands for a longer period than twelve years, in which shall be reserved any rent or service of any kind, shall be valid. Since that time a considerable portion of the leased land has been conveyed in fee.
During the French War the north border of the County was repeatedly ravaged by the enemy and the settlements broken up. A long and spirited controversy between the authorities of New York and New Hampshire was carried on, respecting the territory embraced in the present State of Vermont. This territory was claimed by New Hampshire by virtue of a royal charter, and settlements were made under authority of the Gov- ernor of that Colony previous to the Revolutionary War. These settlers had purchased their land in good faith and commenced the usual improvements, the territory being designated as the New Hampshire Grants. The Governor of New York subse- quently set up a claim to this territory, and issued grants and authorized a re-survey, thereby dispossessing the first settlers. The sturdy pioneers were not disposed to submit to such treat- ment and organized for the defense of their homes and their rights. The leaders of these pioneers were Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, Remember Baker and others, who were usually spo- ken of by the New York authorities as the " Bennington Mob." The Walloomsac Patent of 12,000 acres, lying partly in Rensse- laer, partly in Washington County and partly in Vermont, was the theater of much contention between the New York authori- ties and the New Hampshire Grants. The following procla- mation from "Documentary History of New York," explains itself.
" By the Honorable Cadwallader Colden, Esquire, his Majes- ty's Lieutenant Governor, and Commander in Chief of the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America."
"A PROCLAMATION.
" Whereas, in pursuance of an act of the Legislature of this Province, entitled, 'An act for the more effectual collecting his
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Majesty's Quit-Rents in the Colony of New York, and for the partition of lands in order therefor ; Commissioners and a Sur- veyor were lately appointed to make partition of certain lots, parcel of a larger tract of land situate on the east side of Hud- son's River, in the County of Albany, called Wallumschack, granted to James DeLancey, Gerardus Stuyvesandt, Esquires, and others by Letters Patent under the great Seal of said Province, bearing date, the 15th day of July, one thousand seven hundred and thirty-nine; and the said Commissioners, in the execution of their duty, being employed in surveying the said lots of land, were, on the nineteenth day of October last past, interrupted and opposed by a number of armed men, tumultuously and riotously assembled, for the declared purpose of preventing the said partition, who by open force, compelled the Commissioners' Surveyor to desist from the said survey, and by insults and menaces, so intimidated the said Commission- ers, that, apprehensive for the safety of their persons, they found it necessary to relinquish any further attempt to perform the trust so reposed in them, by which violent and disorderly proceedings, the said rioters in contempt of the law and in de- fiance of the authority of this Government, have not only broken the King's peace and set a dangerous example to others, but have defeated the operation of the said act in the division of the land aforesaid. And it appearing by sufficient evidence that James Breackenridge, Jedediah Due, Samuel Robinson, Na- thaniel Homer, Henry Walbridge and Moses Robinson, all of the said County of Albany, yeomen, were among the principal authors of and actors in the said riot and breach of the peace. In order therefore to bring the said offenders to condign pun- ishment, and that others warned by their example may be de- terred from the commission of such dangerous practices for the future, I have thought fit, by and with the advice of his Maj- esty's Council to issue this Proclamation, hereby strictly com- manding and requiring the Sheriff of the City and County of Albany to apprehend and take all, and every, the before-named rioters and offenders, and them to commit to safe and secure custody to answer for their several offences, and to be dealt with according to law. And for that purpose if it shall be necessary to raise and take to his assistance the posse comitatus or whole power of the County ; and all magistrates' officers and minis- ters of justice are hereby enjoined and required to give their aid and assistance not only in apprehending the said several of- fenders and committing them to safe custody, but in preventing and suppressing all future riots and disorders of the like danger- ous tendency. Given under my hand and seal at arms, at Fort George, in the City of New York, the twelfth day of December
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1769, and in the tenth year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith and so forth. CADWALLADER COLDEN." "By his Honor's Command,
GEO. BANGER, D. Sec'y. GOD SAVE THE KING."
James Breakenridge owned a farm on the Walloomsac Pat- ent, which was situated in the town of Bennington, near the line of Hoosick. In July 1771, Henry Ten Eyck, the Sheriff of Albany County, summoned a posse, numbering 200 or 300 of the principal citizens of the city and started to take posses- sion of Breakenridge's farm, held under a grant from New Hampshire. The first day they proceeded to Sancoik, near North Hoosick, where they remained over night. The citizens had received warning of their approach and had assembled, re- solved to defend the rights of their neighbor. When the Sher- iff's posse arrived at what is now known as the Henry Bridge, they were stopped by a small guard placed there for that pur- pose, while a larger number were concealed a little · distance, awaiting further developments. After a short parley, the May- or of Albany and a few of the most distinguished of the com- pany, were allowed to proceed to the house of Breakenridge, which they found barricaded, loop-holed and guarded by about twenty armed men. The Sheriff on being refused admittance caused the writ of possession to be read, but no attention was paid to it. A large part of the Sheriff's posse, seeing that they had a resolute band of men to contend with and that peaceable possession could not be gained, thought discretion the better part of valor, and all finally retreated without any shedding of blood. Affidavits of several of the party are found in " Docu- mentary History of New York," Vol. 4, among which is that of John R. Bleecker, who says he had "great reason to think that if the Sheriff had attempted to break open the said house he would have been in the utmost danger of losing his life, and all those that would have assisted him in the attempt."
Among the outrages committed by the Bennington Mob, it was alleged that they had " seized, insulted and terrified Mag- istrates and other civil officers, so that they dare not execute their respective functions ; rescued prisoners for debt, assumed to themselves military commands and judicial powers; burned and demolished the houses and property and beat and abused the persons of many of his Majesty's subjects, expelled them from their possessions, and put a period to the administration of
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justice, and spread terror and destruction throughout that part of the country which is exposed to their oppression." In consid- eration of these outrages and the recommendation of the As- sembly of the State of New York, the Governor says: "I have therefore thought fit with the advice of his Majesty's Council to issue this Proclamation hereby strictly enjoining and com- manding all Magistrates, Justices of the Peace, Sheriffs and other civil officers of the Counties of Albany and Charlotte to apprehend and take the before named Ethan Allen, late of Bennington in the County of Albany, yeoman, Seth Warner late of the same place, yeoman, Remember Baker, late of Ar- lington in said County, yeoman, Robert Cochran, late of Rupert in the County of Charlotte, yeoman, Peter Sunderland, late of Socialborough in the said County, yeoman. Sylvanus Brown, late of the same place, yeoman, James Breakenridge, late of Wallumschaick in the County of Albany, yeoman, and John Smith, late of Socialborough in the said County of Charlotte, yeoman, and them to commit to safe and secure custody in the Gaol of the City and County of Albany to answer for the sev- eral offenses and to be dealt with according to law." The Gov- ernor, in this Proclamation, offers a reward of " one hundred pounds for apprehending each of them the said Ethan Allen and Remember Baker, and the sum of fifty pounds for appre- hending each and every one of them the said Seth Warner, Robert Cochran, Peleg Sunderland, Sylvanus Brown, James Breakenridge and John Smith to be paid to the person or per- sons who shall take and secure the said offenders that they may be proceeded against as the law directs." The Proclamation was dated March 9, 1774. After a long and exciting contest, the difficulties were settled by the organization of Vermont as an independent State, with the boundaries as they now exist.
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