USA > New York > New York City > Historic tales of olden time; concerning the early settlement and advancement of New York city and state. For the use of families and schools > Part 6
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An act is passed concerning the revels of " Indian and negro slaves" at inns. At the mention of Indian slaves the generous mind revolts. What ! the virtual
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masters of the soil to become "hewers of wood and drawers of water" to their cherished guests ? Sad lot !
" Forc'd from the land that gave them birth, They dwindle from the face of earth."
In 1683 twelve pence a ton is assessed on every ves- sel for their use of the city dock, "as usually given," and for " the use of the bridge ;" understood by me to have been as a connecting appendage to the same dock.
Luke Lancton, in 1683, is made " collector of cus- toms" at the custom house near the bridge, and none shall unload " but at the bridge." The house called " Stuyvesant Huys," at the north-west corner of present Front and Moore streets was in ancient days called " the custom house."
The Indians are allowed to sell fire wood, then called ' " stick wood," and to vend "gutters for houses ;" by which I suppose was meant long strips of bark, so curved at the sides as to lead off water : else it meant for the roof of sheds, even as we now see dwelling- houses roofed along the road side to Niagara.
An act of reward, of the year 1653, is promulged for those who destroy wolves.
A record of 1683, speaking of the former Dutch dynasty, says the mayor's court was used to be held in the City Hall, where they, the mayor and aldermen, de- termined " without appeal." It alleges also, that " they had their own clerk, and kept the records of the city distinctly." Thus giving us the desirable fact, that " records " in amplitude, have once existed of all the olden days of Lang Syne ! They spell the name of the island " Manhatans."
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HISTORIC TALES
Then none might exercise a trade or calling unless - as an admitted ." freeman." Then they might say with the centurion, " with a great price bought I that privi- lege."
If a freeman, to use "handy craft," they paid 31. 12s., and for " being made free," they paid severally 1l. 4s. None could then trade up the Hudson river unless a freeman, who had had at least three years' residence ; and if any one by any cause remained abroad beyond twelve months, he lost his franchise, unless indeed he " kept candle" and paid " Scott and Lott". . . terms to imply his residence was occupied by some of his family. Have we moderns bettered the cautious policy of our ancestors in opening our arms to every "new comer?" * We tariff goods, but put no restraint on men, even if competitors. Do any think of this ?
In 1683 it was decreed that all flour should be bolt- ed, packed, and inspected in New- York city. This was necessary then for the reputation of the port in its foreign shipments. Besides, the practice of bolting as now done at mills, by water power, was unknown. In primitive days the " bolting business" was a great con- cern by horse power, both in New-York and Philadel- phia.
The governor and his council grant to the city the dock and bridge, provided it be well kept and cleaned ; if not, it shall forfeit it : but no duty shall be paid upon the bridge as " bridge money."
In 1683 the city bounds and wards are prescribed along certain named streets. The third or east ward was bounded "along the wall," and " againe with all the houses in the Smith Fly, and without the gate on the south side of the fresh water." Meaning in the above,
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" the wall" of palisades along Wall street ; and by the "fresh water," the Kolch or Collect fresh water.
In 1683 a committee, which had been appointed to collect ancient records respecting the city privileges of former times, made their report thereon, and therein name the " City Hall and yards," "Market house" and " Ferry house." It says, Wm. Merritt had offered " for the ferry to Long Island" the sum of 20/. per annum for 20 years ; to erect sheds, to keep two boats for cattle and horses, and also two boats for passengers. The ferri- age for the former to be 6d. a-head, and for the latter 1d. Think of this ye present four cent " labour-saving" steam- boats. Ye shun the Dutchman's penny toil, but raise the price.
A committee, in 1683, report the use of 6,000 stocha- does of 12 feet long, at a cost of 24l., used for the re- pair of the wharf ; i. e. at the dock.
They ascertain the vessels and boats of the port, en- roled by their names, to be as follows :- 3 barques, 3 brigantines, 26 sloops, and 46 open boats. Some of their names are rare enough.
An ordinance of 1683 orders that "no youthes, maydes, or other persons may meete together on the Lord's Day for sporte or play," under a fine of Is. No public houses may keep open door or give entertain- ment then. except to strangers, under a fine of 10s. Not more than four Indian or negro slaves may assem- ble together ; and at no time may they be allowed to bear any fire arms-this under a fine of 6s. to their owners.
A city surveyor " shall regulate the manner of each building on each street, (even crooked and “ up and down" as it then was), so that uniformity (mark this) may be preserved. Are we then to presume they had
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no scheme or system, who now complain of " winding narrow streets," and " cow paths" in the mazy and tri- angular city ?
In 1683 markets were appointed to be held three times a-week, and to be opened and shut by ringing ^ the bells. Cord wood, under the name of " stick wood," is regulated at the length of four feet.
A haven master is appointed to regulate the vessels in the mole, (the same before called the dock,) and is to .collect the dock and bridge money.
A part of the slaughter-house (before appointed) by the Fly, is appointed in 1683 to be a powder house, and its owner, Garrett Johnson, is made the first keeper at Is. 6d. a barrel. Of course, then locating it at the Vly, as far enough beyond the verge of population to allow of " a blow up."
In 1683 several streets therein named, are ordered to · be paved by the owners concerned, and directs they shall plank up and barricade before their doors where needful to keep up the earth.
In 1684 the city requests from the king's govern- ment, the cession of all vacant land, the ferry, City Hall, dock, and bridge.
An order of king James is recognized and recorded in 1685, prohibiting all trade from New-York colony " with the East Indies," that being even then a claim- ed " privilege of the company of merchants of Lon- don." This proscribed East India commerce had more import than meets the eye, for it virtually meant to pro- hibit trade (unless by special grant) with the West Indies.
In 1655 the Jews of New-York petition to be allow- ed the public exercise of their religion, and are refused
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on the ground that " none are allowed by act of assem. bly so to worship, but such as profess a faith in Christ." Experience has since proved that we are nowhere in- jured by a more liberal and free toleration. Laws " may bind the body down, but cannot restrain the flights the the spirit takes."
In 1686 a committee is appointed to inspect what vacant land .they find belonging to Arien Cornelissen ; and this entry is rendered curious by a recorded grant of 1687, preserved in the records of the office of the city comptroller, to this effect, saying-sixteen acres of the Basse Bowery (by which I understand low or meadow farm) is hereby granted unto Arien Cornelis- sen for the consideration of one fat capon a year. Who now can tell the value of that land for that small and peculiar compensation ?
In 1691 it is ordered that there shall be but one butcher's shambles kept, and that to be on the green before the fort. The next year another (place for sham- bles I presume) is allowed under the trees by the Slip. At the same time it is ordered that fish (as at a market) be sold at the dock over against the City Hall. Thus re- ferring to the Hall as then known on Pearl street, at the head of Coentie's Slip, under which was also a prison.
The clerk of the mayor's court in 1691, is charged to inquire after, and to collect and preserve the books and. papers of the city, and to keep them safely with an inventory thereof. May not this record present an in- dex hand to guide to some discovery of such historical rarities ?
The mayor rents a shop or shops in the Market
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house. One John Ellison is named as paying 3l. for such a shop.
In 1691 it is ordered that the inhabitants by the water side, " from the City Hall to the Slip," are to help build the wharf to run out before their lots ; and every male negro in the city is to help thereat with one day's work.
The hucksters of that day, even as now, were very troublesome in forestalling the market, and laws were made to restrain them.
The bakers, too, had there ordeal to pass, and the regulation and limit of bread-loaves is often under the notice of the council.
Such are the amusing as well as instructive incidents of the ancient days in New-York, from which "the thinking bard" may " cull his pictur'd stores." Through such mazes, down " hoar antiquity,"
"The eye explores the feats of elder days."
It may well encourage to further research to know the fact, that I considered myself as gleaning from that first volume, all, in the few preceding pages, which I deemed the proper material for the amusements of his- tory. If we would make the incidents of the olden time familiar and popular, by seizing on the affections and stirring the feelings of modern generations, we must first delight them with the comic and strange of his- tory, and afterwards win them to graver researches. They who cater for such appetites, should always con- sider that there is a natural passion for the marvellous in every breast ; and that every writer may be sure of his reader who limits his selections to facts which mark the extremes of our relative existence, or to objects " on
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which imagination can delight to be detained." But there are means of inquiry exclusive of memorials and records ; such as the recollections and observations of living witnesses, respecting "men and manners" of other days, and of things gone down to oblivion. These they retain with a lively impression, because of their original interest to themselves ; and for that reason they . are generally of such cast of character as to afford the most gratifying contemplations to those who seek them.
From a lively sense of this fact, I have been most sedulous to make my researches among the living chronicles, just waning to their final exit. These can only be consulted now, or never. From such materials we may hope to make some provision for future works of poetry, painting, and romance. It is the raw mate- rial to be elaborated into fancy tales and fancy characters by the Irvings, Coopers, and Pauldings of our coun- try. By such means we generate the ideal presence, and raise an imagery to entertain and aid the mind. We raise stories, wherein " sweet fiction and sweet truth alike prevail."
4
LOCAL CHANGES AND LOCAL FACTS ..
" To observe and preserve."
A GENTLEMAN of SO years of age, told me of his dig- ging out the trunk of a walnut tree, at nine feet deptil, at his house at the Coenties slip, near Pearl-street.
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He well remembered, in early life, to have seen a natural spring of fine fresh water at the fort, at a posi- tion a little north-west of Hone's house. There was also a fresh water well once at N. Prime's house near the Battery.
He saw the old fort cut down about the year 1688-9, when they found beneath the vault of the ancient Dutch church, once there, the leaden coffins of Lord Beller- mont and lady. Vansant and Janeway were charged to remove them to St. Paul's church.
He saw a linseed oil factory worked with wind sails, on a high hill of woods, about a quarter of a mile . north-east of the Kolch. This was about the year 1790.
About the same time he saw a beautiful meadow, and flourishing grass cut on the declining hill back of the City Hall towards the Kolch. .
The " tea water fountain," out by Stuyvesant's field, is now very good, and was in great repute formerly The region of country near the prison, on the East river, has now excellent water. There "Knapp " gets his " spring water " for the city supply.
A lady of about eighty-six years of age said she well remembered when the locality of the present St. Paul's church was a wheat field.
. She also spoke of her remembrance of a "ferry house " in Broad-street, up above " Exchange place," (then garden alley) to which place the Indians used to come and set down in the street near there, and make and sell baskets.
The place called "Canvas Town," was made after the. great fire in 1776. It lay towards the East River, and from Broad street to Whitehall street. It was so called.
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from the temporary construction of the houses, and their being generally covered with canvass instead of roofs. Very lewd and dissolute persons generally were their tenants, and gave them their notoriety and fame.
While the old fort existed, before the revolution, it contained within its bounds the mansion of the gover- nors (military chieftains) and their gardens. There governors Dunmore, Tryon, &c. dwelt. New-York was a military station, and as such it had always a regi- ment of foot and a company of artillery ; also a guard ship in the bay.
Mr. Abram Brower, aged seventy-five, informed me that the lots fronting the Vly market were originally sold out by the city corporation, at only one dollar the foot.
He said the market in Broadway (the Oswego I presume) was once leased to a Mr. Crosby for only 20s. for seven years.
He remembered when only horse boats ferried from Brooklyn, with only two men to row it, in which service they sometimes drove towards Governor's Island, and employed a whole hour. Only one ferry was used on the North River side, and then not to go across'to Jersey city as now, but down to Blazing Star. Those who then came from Bergen, &c. used the country boats.
He said the Dutch' yachts (then so called) were from one to two weeks in a voyage to Hudson and Albany. "They came to, usually every night, "slow and sure." Then all on board spoke the Dutch language. [The mayor, Thomas Willet, in 1665, informs the corporation " he intends for Albania with the first opportunity, and .prays its leave of absence."]
The last Dutch schoolmaster was Vanbombeler ; he
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/ kept his school till after the revolution. Mr. Brower himself went to a Dutch school, to his grand-father's, Abram Delanoye, (a French Hugonot, via Holland), who kept his school in Courtlant-street.
The first Methodist preaching in New-York was at a house in William-street, then a rigging loft. There Embury first preached ; and being a carpenter, he made his own pulpit,-a true puritan characteristic.
Mr. Brower, when a boy, never heard of "Green- wich," the name was not even known ; but the Dutch, when they spoke of the place, called it Shawbackanicka, an Indian name as he supposed. "Greenwich-street" was of course unknown.
Ke knew of no daily papers until after the revolution. Weyman and Gaine had each a weekly one, corres- ponding to their limited wants and knowledge. The first. daily paper was by F. Child & Co., called the New-York Daily Advertiser, began in 17S5.
He saw Andrews hanging in gibbets for piracy ; he was hung long in irons, just above the Washington market, and was then taken to Gibbet Island and sus- pended there ;- year 1769.
I notice such changes as the following :-
Maiden-lane is greatly altered for the better ; former. ly that street was much lower near its junction with Pearl-street ; it was much narrower, and had no sepa- rate foot pavement ; its gutter ran down the middle of the street. Where the lofty triangular store of Watson is seen up said street, was once a low sooty blacksmith shop, Olstein's, (a rarity now in the sight of passing citi- zens,) and near it a cluster of low wooden buildings.
In Pearl-street, below Maiden-lane, I have seen proof positive of the primitive river margin there ; several of
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the cellars, and shallow ones too, had water in them from that original cause.
I perceive that Duane-street, from Broadway, is greatly filled up ; from one and a half to two stories there is made ground ; the south corner of Duane-street, at Broad vay, is sixteen feet filled up, and the same I am told in Broadway. South of this was originally a hill descending northward.
Where Leonard-street traverses the Broadway and descends a hill to the Collect, was well remembered an orchard but a few years ago. Some of the Collect was still open fourteen or fifteen years ago (it is said), and was skated upon.
The original Collect main spring still exists on Leo- nard-street, having a house now over it, lettered "sup- ply engine."
The Kolch waters still ooze through the new made filled in ground, into the cellars, especially in wet sea- sons.
When they dug out some of the Kolch ground, some used the earth as turf, thinking it had that quality.
The Collect street runs through the leading line or centre of the old Kolch channel, and has under its pave- · ment a sewer to lead off the water. This street is the thoroughfare of so much water, as to make it necessary to incline this street deeply to the middle as a deep gut- ter-way. Indeed, so much water, "deep and broad," flows along it like a sullied brook, that it might be well called Brook-street ; helped, as the idea is, by the nu- merous foot planks, as miniature bridges, laid across it at intervals for the convenience of foot passengers.
About the year 1784-5, property near New-York
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went down greatly ; few or none had money to buy with. About the year 17S5-6, alderman Wm. Bayard wished to raise cash by selling his farm, of one hundred and fifty acres, on the western side of Broadway and near the city. He devised the scheme of offering them in lots of twenty-five by one hundred feet ; only twenty- five dollars was bid, and but few of them were sold. It was well for him, for very soon after feelings and opi- nions changed; and they who had bought for twenty-five dollars, sold out for one hundred dollars ; and then, the impulse being given, the progressive rise has had no end.
A kinsman, G. T., told me, in 1S28, that the out lots of the city " went up" about twenty-one years before, when from the circumstances of trade, &c. they began to fall much, and soon after to rise again more than ever. He bought lots four years before at the rate of $850, which would now bring him $1,S00. 'I'wenty-one years ago he bought lots for $2,000 reluctantly, which he in six months after sold for $1,000. That purchaser kept it till four years ago at its minimum price, and sold it for $2,000 ! Some of his property, which five years ago he would have freely sold for $2,000, would now be valued at $12,000. The lot at the corner of Broad- way and Maiden-lane was sold for $27,600, equal to $22 per square foot. This is, however, a rare circum- stance, having had the accident of attaining to much front along the newly extended Broadway.
The Stuyvesants, Rutgers, Delancys, and others, have attained to great riches by the rapid and unex- pected growth of New- York, voraciously calling on such "out town" landlords for their farms at any price ! Old Mr. Janeway, who died lately, at fourscore,
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saw his few acres near the Chatham-street and Collect, grow in his iong life and possession from almost nothing to a great estate. " While they slumbered and slept," their fortunes advanced without their effort or skil !. Much the fact impresses the recollection of " Ecclesias- ticus ;" he saith, "There is one that laboureth and taketh pains and maketh haste, and is so much the more behind, (as many poor bankrupts know), and there is another that is slow and hath need of help, wanting ability, yet he is set up from his low estate !"
The head of Chatham-street, where it joins the Bowery road, although now a hill, has been cut down in modern times twelve feet. From this point, follow- ing the line of Division-street and thence down to the river, on the line of Catherine-street, was formerly Col. Rutger's farm ; it was opened as city lots about thirty- five to thirty-eight years ago.
I found the once celebrated " tea water pump," long covered up and disused, again in use, but unknown, in the liquor store of a Mr. Fagan, 126 Chatham-street ; I drank of it to revive recollections.
I have been surprised to find, in so magnificent a city, such a mean collection of hovels, of feeble wooden fabric, as I see in the rear of the great City Hall and the state- ly houses along Chamber-street ; they lay on the line of Cross-street, descending a present hill, formerly much higher and more rugged, having only footpaths for clambering boys. The mean houses at the foot of the hill or street are now half buried in earth by the rais- ing of the street ten feet ; up to to this neighbourhood came once the little Collect ; it forms the site generally of what was formerly Janeway's little farm.
The Magazine street here (because of the powder
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house once close by) now named Pearl street, in con- tinuation, as it runs towards the Hospital on Broadway, shows, I think, strong marks of having been at the pe- riod of the revolution, the utmost verge of city hopes. The range of Beekman and Vesey street had once bounded their expectations ; and lastly, they extended to the natural lines of Pearl street as it crosses the city, and was there formed at the foot of the hills on its southern side. Before the Magazine street was formed, it was so essentially the imaginary line which bounded the Police of Justice, &c., that it was usual to designate the limits by the vague name of " the fresh water" side of the city. Thus referring to the great Kolch and its course of marshes, as separating al beyond in a terra incognita.
The houses No. 13 and 15 on Elm street, near the corner of Duane street, are singular evidences of modern innovation. They were originally good two story houses, and are now filled up in Elm street, nearly to their roof :.
In the rear of No. 48 Frankford street. is now a very : ancient tar yard. This street, downto Ferry street, and from William street over to Jacob's street, is the re- gion of what was formerly tan paris and originally Beekman's swamp. An old man zwar here, said he remembered to have shot ducks Les irmerly. The father of another had told him he ofen gathered huckle- berries ; and fifty to sixty years ag: = vas common to exercise here in skating.
Mr. Lydigg told me that when the anneries about here accumulated great hills of tar Jungs the materia! for the fortifications of the boys. (preparing for the revolution by sham fights). Here grindtar redoubts,
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piked with cow horns, were defended bravely by the Pearl street and Fly boys against the invading urchins from Broadway. Sometimes the open field was resort- ed to on the present Park, where missiles of thwacking force were dealt with vigorous arm.
Mr. Jacob Tabele, aged eighty-seven, said that in his early days he heard much speaking of Dutch. among the people and along the streets. He saw no lamps in the streets when a boy.
The powder house he remembered. A powder house, called the Magazine, on a rising ground (a kind of is- land) at the Collect.
In Nicholas Bayard's woods he often shot numerous pigeons.
He remembered they used to burn lime from oyster shells on the Park commons. This agrees with what Mr. Brower said, who imputed the name of Collect to the low Dutch for burnt lime ; but it is more probable Kolch was the true name, from its meaning "fresh water" there.
He remembered ship yards between Beekman's and Burling's Slips.
There was once some small houses of wood, where is now St. Paul's Church.
He has seen river water flow through the sewer up the Maiden lane as high as Olstein's blacksmith shop on the triangular square.
There was a very high hill, once called " Bayard's Mount," on which the Americans built a fort, and called it Bunker Hill, in the time of the revolution, now cut down. It stood on present Grand street, a little east of Centre market.
He remembered the " ferry house" so called, high up
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Broad street ; had heard that the creek once run up there. The sign was a boat with iron oars. It was an inn with such a sign in his time.
He remembered seeing the block houses in a line of palisades, quite across the island ; they went in a line from the back of Chambers street. They were of logs of about one story high. They being empty, were often used by Indians who made and sold baskets, &c. there. So said Ebbets also.
He remembered when boats could freely pass along the space now occupied by large trees on the Battery ground.
He well remembered the ancient City Hall (Stadt Huys) at the head of Coenties Slip; said he often heard it had been used as a fort in Leister's civil war against the real fort at the Battery. He had often seen a ball then shot at it, and which was left in the side wall of the house, (pulled down by Tunis Quick in 1827), on the south-west corner of Pearl street and Coenties Slip. That ball is now in the possession of Dr. Mitchell, as a relic.
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