USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Gazetteer and business directory of Rensselaer County, N. Y., for 1870-71 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
Lansingburgh, (p. v.) formerly called New City, contains eight churches, viz : Baptist, Episcopal, two Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal, Free Methodist, Zion Methodist and Roman Catho- lic : a female seminary, two newspaper printing offices, two banks, several large manufactories of brushes, oil cloths, bricks, rope and cordage, and about 4000 inhabitants. The brush fac- tory of John Ames gives employment to 80 men and about 200 boys and girls, making about $500,000 worth annually.
Speigletown, in the north-east part, contains a Methodist church, a school house, a hotel, a blacksmith shop, a wagon shop, and about a dozen dwellings.
Lansingburgh is connected with Waterford by a covered bridge across the Hudson River, and with Troy by horse rail- road and the Troy and Boston R. R.
The village was founded by Abraham Jacob Lansing, about the year 1770. It was first organized under the name of Stone Arabia, in 1771. At the first town meeting, held Jan. 1, 1771, it was voted that A. J. Lansing and his heirs forever should be a committee of the village, with a power equal to each of the four chosen by the people. In May, 1775, fifty of the citizens, at the head of whom was A. J. Lansing, signed articles of asso- ciation, pledging themselves to sustain the measures recom- mended by the Continental or Provincial Congress. The first act of incorporation under the State Government was passed April 5, 1790, at which time the village was included in the
town of Rensselaerwyck. By this act, John Van Rensselaer, Charles Tillman, Elijah James, Aaron Ward, Stephen Goreham, Ezra Hickock and Levinus Lansing were appointed Trustees to take charge of the waste lands of the village, and to perform certain municipal duties, their successors to be chosen annually. In 1791, this was included in the town of Troy. The place rap- idly increased in population and became an important trading and commercial village.
In 1795, a traveler through this region says there are two new towns, five or six miles from Albany, which share in the trade. The greater distance from New York and the less depth of water are unfavorable. Ships of sixty tons take only half their cargo at these points, the remainder being received from lighters in the vicinity of Albany. The freight to Albany is two pence per barrel. The same writer says: "New City con- tains sixty or seventy stores or shops, and Troy fifty or sixty .- These new settled merchants all prosper, and their number is daily increasing. The merchants of Albany, it is reported, view this growing prosperity of their neighbors with an evil eye, and consider it an encroachment upon their native rights."
100
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
In 1790, Ananias Platt, an inn-keeper of Lansingburgh, ob- tained from the Legislature a grant to the exclusive right to run a stage between Lansingburgh and Albany. In 1794, it made two trips a day each way, in 1795 six trips, and in 1796 he run a stage to Schenectady four times a day. The same year, a Lan- singburgh newspaper says, twenty stages pass and re-pass daily between Lansingburgh, Troy, Waterford and Albany, carrying more than 150 passengers.
George and Benjamin Tibbits removed from Warwick, R. I., to Lansingburgh, soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. They opened a store and continued in the mercantile business at this place until 1797, when they removed to Troy.
The Lansingburgh Academy was chartered Feb. 8, 1796. By an act passed Feb. 20, 1816, the Trustees of the Academy were authorized to subscribe one thousand shares to the Bank of Lansingburgh.
A. Reed, from New Windsor, Conn., commenced a school here in 1793, in a gambrel roofed building used as the first meeting house. Rev. Dr. Lee taught the languages at the same time.
The first church was organized in 1784 as a Reformed Prot .. Dutch, and re-organized in 1792 as a Presbyterian church .- Rev. Jonas Coe officiated as pastor of this Church for several years, alternating between this village and Troy.
Trinity Church (Episcopal) was organized in the early part of January 1804. Rev. David Butler, one of the first class of dea- cons ordained by Bishop Seabury, was the first pastor. There have been six rectors of the parish since its organization. The present rector is Byron J. Hall. On the 23d of Dec., 1868, the church was burned, since which a chapel has been built at a cost of $400. A new stone church is in process of erection, which will cost when completed about $40,000. It is expected that the new church will be completed before the close of the present year.
The Methodist Church was organized at a very early day, New City being one of the first circuits formed. In 1803, Rev. Laban Clark and Martin Ruter preached there. Under the influence of Mr. Clark's first sermon, Chandley Lambert was awakened and converted, and afterwards became a preacher. The first church edifice was erected in 1810, chiefly through the instru- mentality of Revs. Joel Ketchum and Elijah Chichester. It stood on the bank of the river and was occupied about twenty years. A church was then erected on Congress Street and con- tinued to be occupied until the present house was erected in 1849, under the pastoral charge of Rev. S. Parks. The present membership is 365, and the value of the Church property about $25,000. Rev. W. R. Brown is the present pastor.
101
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
John Street Baptist Church was organized July 28, 1858, with twenty-eight members. Rev. A. B. Whipple was the first pas- tor. Revs. Sellick, Barlow and Merriman were successively pas- tors. The first church edifice was purchased of the Second Presbyterian Society, August 20, 1860. The present value of the church edifice is $5,000. The number of members is 102. Rev. A. B. Whipple is the present pastor.
St. Augustine's Church (Roman Catholic) was established in 1842. The first church edifice was a small frame building, cor- ner of John and North streets. A new church was erected in 1864 on the corner of John and Market streets. It is of the Gothic style of architecture, and cost $40,000. In 1869, school buildings were erected in connection with the church at a cost of $10,000. Rev. J. Shannehan was the first pastor. Rev. Thom- as Galberry, O. S. A., is the present pastor.
The population of the town in 1865 was 6,072, and its area 5,253 acres.
NASSAU was formed from Petersburgh, Stephentown and Schodack, March 31, 1806, as Philipstown. It received its pres- ent name April 6, 1808. It lies near the center of the south border of the County. The surface is very broken. Snake Hill, in the south-west, is about 800 feet above tide. The prin- cipal streams are Kinderhook and Tackawasick or Tsatsawassa Creeks, and Valatia Kil. There are several fine lakes among the hills, the principal of which are the Tsatsawassa and Pata- wassa. The Psanticoke Swamp, in the west part, covers several hundred acres. The soil is clay and gravel, underlaid by hard- pan. Manufacturing is carried on to a considerable extent in the town.
Nassau, (p. v.) situated in the south-west part, was incorpor- ated March 12, 1819, contains some manufacturing and about 300 inhabitants.
West Nassau contains about 50 houses.
East Nassau (p. v.) contains about 200 inhabitants.
Hoags Corners (p. v.) contains about 200 inhabitants.
Alps (p. v.) about 100.
North Nassau and
Millers Corners are hamlets.
Brainerd, (p. v.) formerly called Brainard's Bridge, is in the south-east part and contains the " Transylvania Institute," es- tablished in 1838, as a boarding school for ladies and gentlemen, and about 200 inhabitants.
102
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
There is a limited amount of manufacturing in most of these villages.
The first settler of this town was Hugh Wilson, who located on the site of Nassau village in 1760. At that time a few fam- ilies of the Stockbridge Indians were living in the vicinity. They called their village On-ti-ke-ho-mawck, and their chief Kesh-o-mawck. The Indians conveyed to Joseph Primmer a tract of land north of Hoag's Pond, and another tract south of it, to Hugh Wilson, May 16, 1760. Among the early settlers were Thomas Hicks, Henry Post, John McCagg, Daniel Litz, Titus Hemsted, Abraham Holmes, James Marks, John M. Schermerhorn, Maj. A. Brush, Reuben Bateman, Nathaniel Gil- let, David Waterbury and men named McNeil and Wiltsie.
William Primmer is said to have been the first child born in the town. The first grist mill was built on the outlet of Tsat- sawassa Pond, by Mr. Schermerhorn, previous to the Revolution. The first inn was kept a little before the Revolution, by a Mr. Hicks, and the first store, a short time after the Revolution, by Hoag & Vail.
Within the last thirty years a considerable quantity of land has been allowed to produce a second crop of timber.
The population in 1865 was 2,894, and its area 26,998 acres.
The number of school districts is sixteen, employing the same number of teachers. The number of children of school age is 953 ; the number attending school, 761; the average attendance,. 292, and the amount expended for school purposes for the year ending Sept. 30, 1866, $4,196.36.
NORTH GREENBUSH was formed from Greenbush, February 23, 1855. It lies upon the Hudson, directly west of the center of the County. The clay bluffs rise from the river to the hight of 100 to 200 feet, leaving little or no intervale. From the summits of these bluffs the surface spreads out into a roll- ing upland, broken 'by the deep gulleys of the streams. The principal stream is Wynants Kil, in the north-east. Aries Lake, on the east border, is a fine sheet of water. The soil is a sandy and gravelly loam, interspersed with patches of clay. The peo- ple are extensively engaged in supplying the markets of Troy and Albany with garden vegetables and milk.
Bath, situated on the Hudson River, about half a mile above the East Albany Depot, contains two churches, viz., Bap- tist and Methodist; a union school, a hotel, six groceries, a coal and wood yard, two confectionery stores, two meat and veget- able markets, two shoe shops, several other mechanic shops and about 2,000 inhabitants. . The village is connected with Albany by a steam ferry.
103
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
Defreestville, (p. v.) in the south part of the town, called also, Blooming Grove, contains a Reformed church, a hotel, a black- smith shop, a wagon shop, a shoe shop, two groceries and about a dozen dwellings.
Wynantskill (p. v.) contains two. churches, two hotels, a gro- cery, three blacksmith shops, two wagon shops and about a dozen dwellings.
The first settlement was made by tenants under Van Rens- selaer, and was one of the first upon the Manor. Among the early settlers were John Cranel, Juriah Sharpe, Rainier Van Alstyne, Marte, David and Philip Deforest, Philip Wendell, Rutger Van- denburgh, Cornelius M. Van Beuren, John Fonda, Ed. Hogg and Lawrence Rysdorp. Most of these names are found upon Bleeker's Map, made in 1767.
The population in 1865 was 2,575, and its area 12,868 acres. The number of school districts is . eight, employing eleven teachers. The number of children of school age is 1,300; the number attending school, 765 ; the average attendance, 351, and the amount expended for school purposes during the year end- ing Sept. 30, 1869, was $7,494.39.
Two private schools in the town have an attendance of sixty- six pupils.
PETERSBURGH, named in honor of Peter Simmons, was formed from Stephentown, March 18, 1791. Its boundary on the line of Berlin was changed January 4, 1793 ; parts of Berlin and Lansingburgh were taken off in 1806, and parts of Grafton and Nassau in 1807. It lies on the east border of the County, north of the center. The surface consists of two pre- cipitous mountain ridges, separated by the narrow valley of Lit- tle Hoosick River. The highest peaks rise from 1,000 to 2,000 feet above tide. The mountain regions are precipitous, barren and almost inaccessible. The Hoosick River breaks through the Taghkanick Mountains in the north-east part. The soil in the valley is a gravelly loam. The hills are well adapted to pas- turage, and large numbers of sheep are kept. The Troy and Boston R. R. extends through the north-east part, and the Leb- anon Springs R. R. through the central part, along the valley of Little Hoosick River. Upon a mountain, in the south-east part of the town, is a deep 'cavity, called " Snowhole," where snow and ice remain during the whole year.
Petersburgh (p. v.) contains three churches, two hotels, four stores, a saloon, three blacksmith shops, a grist mill, a saw mill, a flax mill, a carriage shop, a cabinet shop, a harness shop and about 250 inhabitants. This village was formerly called Rens- selaer Mills.
.
104
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
North Petersburgh, (p. v.) in the north part of the town, on the Troy and Boston Railroad, contains a Methodist church, two stores, two hotels, two blacksmith shops and about twenty dwellings.
This town was first settled about 1750, by Dutch tenants un- der Van Rensselaer. A few years later a number of families came in from Rhode Island. On a map of Rensselaerwyck, from a survey by John R. Bleeker, in 1767, we find the following names of settlers, most of whom were located on the north side of Hoosick River, viz : Peter and Hans Bachus, Johannes Ruy- ter, Henry Litcher, Hans Lautman, Barent Hogg, Jacob Best, Petrus Vosburgh, Bastian Deel, Frans Burn, Juria Kreiger, Henry Young, Scholemaster Watson, Long Andries, - - De-
voet and - - Primmer. The last name probably designates John George Brimmer, who with his family settled in 1754 in the north part of the town, where Henry J. Brimmer now lives. William W. Reynolds came from Rhode Island and settled in 1780. He had six children, viz : Howard, Thomas, Benjamin, Elijah, Parker and Amy, numerous descendants of whom still reside in the town. Ichabod Prosser, from Vermont, settled soon after the war, where A. Prosser now lives. He was at the Battle of Bennington. Joshua, Thomas and Benjamin Ran- dall, Abraham Lewis, Augustus Lewis, Oliver Spencer, Stephen Card and Sylvanus Stephens settled at Lewis's Hollow at an early day. Asa and David Maxon, from Rhode Island, settled in 1794, where Clark Maxon now lives. They purchased 150 acres at five shillings per acre. Sterry Hewett, from Conn., set- tled soon after the Revolution, where T. L. Nichols now lives. He was a soldier of the Revolution ; came to this town with an ox team. Stanton Bailey, from Conn., settled previous to the war, where W. B. Odell now lives. Gideon Clark settled where J. G. Clark now lives ; he was a soldier of the Revolution and drew a pension. Joseph Allen, from Rhode Island, settled about 1790, where Clark Peckham lives ; he was a soldier of the Revo- lution. William Hiscock, from Rhode Island, settled about 1788, where Livingston now lives. James Weaver, from Rhode Island, settled where Henry Weaver now lives; he was a Revo- lutionary soldier and at the Battle of Bennington. Thomas Phillips, from Rhode Island, settled soon after the Revolution, where J. G. Phillips now lives.
On the 15th of June, 1754, Mr. John G. Brimmer was at work in the field with his sons, George, Godfrey and John, when Indian blankets were discovered. Mr. B. immediately started for the house, telling his sons to unharness the horses and follow him. Before they could comply with their father's request, four Indians were discovered coming towards them
105
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
They immediately grasped their guns, and George and one of the Indians fired at each other, George falling dead. Godfrey, seeing his brother fall, ran and hid behind a brush fence. While concealed he saw two Indians looking for him. He drew up his gun to fire, but a leaf falling upon the sight, he changed his po- sition and was discovered by the Indians. He and one of the Indians immediately exchanged shots, but without effect. Per- ceiving the other Indian about to fire, he dropped the butt of his gun upon the ground, placed one hand over the muzzle and extended the other towards the Indian in token of surrender. The Indians came to him, one of them grasped him by the col- lar and passed around him three times with one finger within his shirt collar, then laid his hand upon his head, signifying " You are my prisoner." The Indians took John prisoner also, though he fled to an island in the river on their approach and threw stones at them. He was sixteen years old, and Godfrey was twenty-one. They immediately started for Canada and pro- ceeded to Lake Champlain, where they took the skiffs which they had previously left. The prisoners were taken to St. Johns, where they were met by about three hundred Indians, who formed a circle around them and ordered them to sing. They refused and were ordered the third time, but they still declared that they could not sing. The Indians being exasperated were about to strike, and had their clubs already raised for the pur- pose, when Godfrey discovered, in the crowd, an Indian who had partaken of the hospitalities of his father's house. He spoke to the Indian, who recognized him and interfered to save the pris- oners from torture. They remained at St. John's for six weeks, and were then sold to the French, by whom they were treated as slaves, suffering greatly from the tyranny of their masters. After a servitude of more than five years, they secured their free- dom on the surrender of Quebec to the English in 1759. They immediately started for Albany, and at Lake George were taken by the British and thrown into prison. They were soon re- leased through the influence of Mr. Van Rensselaer, and made their way to Albany. They there learned that their parents had removed to Rhinebeck and had heard nothing from them since their capture. The family afterwards removed back to the Hoosick Valley, where a numerous posterity now reside.
The early settlers were obliged to go to Albany to mill, and endure many other hardships incident to a new country.
About 1780, John, Nathaniel, Hannah and Elizabeth Church settled where Peter Church now lives. Peter Church was born in this town in 1787, is still living, and probably the oldest person in the town who was born there. He has raised a family of eleven children, all of whom are now living.
G
106
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
The first grist mill was erected by George Rosenburgh, about 1770, on the creek below Peter Church's. The first school was kept by - Hall; the first tavern by Cornelius Litcher, and the first store by Benjamin Hanks. A log grist mill was erect- ed at South Petersburgh by John Spencer, previous to the Rev- olution, and a carding mill was erected by Barber & Murray in 1800. The first church was erected by the Lutherans, at North Petersburgh, about 1798.
The Methodist Church was organized about 1798, under the la- bors of Rev. Joseph Sawyer. Ebenezer Washburn was convert- ed and made the leader of a class, consisting of his wife, John Prosser and wife, and John G. Croy and wife. Before the close of the year the number increased from half a dozen to over thirty. Rev. Lorenzo Dow also preached here about this time. Mr. Washburn afterwards became a preacher. Rev. Peter Van Nest and Daniel Bromley were among the other preachers at an early day. Rev. Elisha B. Hoff is the present pastor. A Meth- odist church was formed at South Petersburgh, by Joseph Mitchel, in 1800. Services were held at the house of George Springer. Their church edifice was erected in 1820.
A Christian Church was organized by Rev. John Spoon, about 1828. It consisted of fourteen members. The present edifice was erected in 1843, the number of members is 89, and the pres- ent pastor is Rev. W. B. Haight.
Dr. Hiram Moses was an early physician of this town, and, with his son, Hiram, is still practicing.
Mrs. Mary Wilcox, the wife of Nathan Wilcox, committed suicide in December 1869. She was partially insane and had not left her room for nearly a week previous to her death. She went to the garret and, with the sleeves of a Garibaldi waist about her neck, attached it to the bed post, and was found dead a few hours afterwards.
Mrs. Thomas Carr, a resident of the Prosser Settlement, left her house one day at 2 P. M., with three little children, aged three and a half, two years and five months. The house took fire, and before aid arrived, the children were burned to death. The two oldest were taken from the fire clasped in each others arms. Nothing but the bones of the youngest was found.
In July 1848, a most atrocious and cold blooded murder was perpetrated in the south part of the town, by Andrus Hall. The victims were Noah Smith and his wife, aged respectively 80 and 72 years. Hall had been in the employ of Smith, but left and went to Troy. He returned on Friday night and stopped at Hewitt's barn. Early in the evening he went to Smith's house with a handspike and found the door bolted. He told Smith there
-
107
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
were cattle in the meadow, back of the barn. Smith came out and Hall accompanied him to show him where the cattle were. As they were walking along quietly, Hall struck him upon the side of the head, killing him instantly. He then cut his throat and dragged him into the thick grass and left him. Hall then went to the house, told Mrs. Smith that her husband had sent him for an ax to fix the fence. She procured the ax, which he took, and with it struck her upon the side of the head. She fell to the floor, groaning mournfully. Hall lit the candle, which had become extinguished on falling from Mrs. Smith's hand, and struck her another blow ; she still continued groan- ing, and Hall then took a knife and stuck it in her neck. He then barred the door and began the search for money, first put- ting a sheet before the window. He searched various places in the house, finding a considerable amount of money, including bills and specie. Mrs. S. continued groaning, and Hall stuck the knife into her neck again. Perceiving the gold beads upon her neck, he cut the string and put the beads in his pocket .- Hearing a noise he left the house, and after going to Mr. Smith and covering his body with grass, started for Troy. Hall was executed at Troy, March 15, 1849, at the age of 24. Previous to his execution he made a full confession of this crime and others, showing that he was one of the most depraved of crimi- nals. He had previously murdered a boy named Franklin Brown, in Hoosick, for a few dollars in money and a silver watch. The bones of the boy were found where Hall had concealed the body. Mrs. Smith's gold beads led to his detection for his last crime.
The wife of Henry Laker was murdered a few years since by a man named Coon, who was afterwards executed for his crime.
The population of the town in 1865 was 1,670, and its area 25,238 acres.
PITTSTOWN was created as a township, by patent, July 23, 1761, and was formed as a town March 7, 1788. Its bound- ary was changed February 14, 1793. It lies in the center of the north part of the County. The surface is mountainous in the south and east, and declines into a moderately hilly region in the north. The highest summits in the south-east are 800 to 1000 feet above tide. The soil is chiefly a gravelly and slaty loam. Flax is extensively cultivated and manufacturing is car- ried on to some extent.
Johnsonville (p. v.) is a station on the Troy and Boston R. R. and contains a Presbyterian church, a school house, a hotel, the Johnsonville Ax and Tool Manufactory, a twine and linen fac-
108
GAZETTEER OF TOWNS.
tory, a flax mill, four stores, a grist mill, a planing mill, a car- riage and sleigh factory, two blacksmith shops and about 500 inhabitants. There are three temperance organizations, viz :- Eureka Lodge, No. 784, I. O. of G. T .; Morning Star Lodge, No. 31, Temple of Honor, and Sons of Temperance.
Valley Falls (p. v.) is a station on the Troy and Boston R. R., fourteen miles from Troy. It lies on both sides of the Hoosick River, in the towns of Pittstown and Schaghticoke. It contains a Methodist church, a school house, two hotels, three stores, a paper mill, the Eagle Mower Works, a grist mill, a plaster mill, a twine factory, a carriage factory, and about 650 inhabitants. The Valley Falls Lodge, No. 856, I. O. of G. T., is established here.
Tomhannock (p. v.) is situated in the north-west part of the town and contains two churches, viz : Presbyterian and Method- ist ; a hotel, three stores, a grist mill, two saw mills, three flax mills, a wagon shop, three blacksmith shops, a harness shop, a cooper shop and about 250 inhabitants.
Raymertown (p. v.) is situated in the south part of the town and contains a Lutheran church, a hotel, a store, two grist mills, two saw mills, two flax mills, three blacksmith shops, a wagon shop and about 150 inhabitants.
Pittstown, (p. v.) in the south part of the town, contains three churches, viz : Baptist, Methodist and Disciples; a store, two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, two cooper shops, a saw mill and about 200 inhabitants.
Boyntonville, in the south-east part, contains two churches, viz : Methodist and Christian ; a hotel, three stores, three black- smith shops, a harness shop, a cooper shop, a wagon shop and about 150 inhabitants.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.