History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 42

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 648

USA > New York > Columbia County > History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 42

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That the city-hall lot was purchased and the building erected by subscription is shown by the following transcript from the record of the proceedings of a meeting of the voters of Hudson, held May 9, 1791, viz. :

" Whercas, The proprictors of the city hall of this city offer as a gratuity the amount of their subscriptions towards the said building and the lot on which it stands to this corporation forever, on condi- tion that the citizens will raise the sun of £400 by tax this present year for the purpose of discharging the arrcarages due to individuals for advances heretofore made, and towards completing said building,-

"Voted, by a plurality of votes, that the corporation do accept the said building and land as a gratuity, and that the sum of £400 be assessed on the citizens aod inhabitants of this city the prescot year towards accomplishing the above object."

But if the sum voted was raised by tax, the building was certainly not completed for several years thereafter, and not until it had been decided to convert it into a conrt- house for the county's use, the particulars of which con- version are given in the general history of the county.

HUDSON'S EARLY PROGRESS, AND VARIOUS CITY MATTERS.

The growth of Hudson in its early years was univer- sally mentioned by the writers of that day as something unheard-of and marvelous. In an issue of the New York Journal, printed in the year 1786, its increase in population and business importance is spoken of as having been un- paralleled, particularly during the two years succeeding its first settlement. It mentions that in the spring of 1786 the city contained several fine wharves, four large ware- houses, "a covered rope-walk, spermaceti-works, one hun- dred and fifty dwelling-houses, shops, barns, one of the best distilleriest in America, and fifteen hundred souls ;" to which it adds the statement that " upwards of twelve hun- dred sleighs entered the city daily for several days together, in February, 1786, loaded with grain of various kinds, boards, shingles, staves, hoops, iron-ware, stone for build- ing, fire-wood, and sundry articles of provisions for the market."

This is certainly a remarkable showing of growth in a place which only two and a half years before could boast no more than a score or so of agricultural inhabitants, and a sloop-landing. And this account makes no mention of the twenty-five sea-going vessels then hailing from Hudson, or of the ship-yards from which had been turned out at least one ship (the " Hudson," three hundred tons, Captain Robert Folger), then ready for sca, while others were on the stocks in process of construction.

The innkeepers licensed in 1786 were as follows : John Mckinstry,¿ Justus H. Van Hoesen, John Schermerhorn, Seth Tobey, Dirck Van De Ker, John Colvin, Dr. Joseph Hamilton, Cornelius Van Deusen, Nicholas Harder, William Hardyck, John Mandeville, Russell Kellogg, Ezra Reed, John Ronse, Nicholas Van Hoesen, Henry Lyon, Nathaniel Winslow, Justus Hardick.

This list of public-houses certainly seems large, but its size is perhaps in some measure accounted for by the very large country trade, indicated by the daily arrival of twelve

Marshall Jenkins, John Bay, Ezra Reed, Stephen Paddock, Benjamin Folger, Dirck Delamater, John Ten Brocck. and Peter Hogeboom, Jr .- 11s. 4d. cach. Total cost 6£ 4s. Sd .= $15.58.

It is said that at one time the lower portion was, in its unfinished state, degraded to the condition of a storage warehouse. It is cer- . tain the building, or a portion of it, was rented continuously from about 1795 to 1804. In 1803 the eonneil "Resolved, That John Bennett have the use of the city hall one year for four dollars ;" but there is nothing in the minutes showing what part of the building was thus rented, or for what purpose.

+ This distillery, built in 1785, stood on the site of the Hunt & Miller stove-works. It was, as this writer states, regarded as a model estab- lishment of its kind. Several other distilleries have existed in Hud- son at different times, and their business, particularly in the early days, was profitable. Brewing was also, and has continued to this day, a successful industry in Hudson. The first brewer here was Benjamin Faulkins, an Englishman, whose establishment was near Titus Morgan's ship-yard. Soon after, there came "David Coope, Brewer of Porter, Ale, and Beer, Brew-Ilouse near the Market." Another of the early brewers was - Auchmoody, whose establish- ment was on Cherry alley, between Fourth and Fifth streets.

Į The first innkeeper of Hudson. This house was on the site of Mrs. R. W. Evans' residence.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

hundred sleighs , the greater part of them probably coming from a considerable distance.

The individuals and firms licensed in 1786 " to retail all kinds of spiritnous liquors" were Gorton & Frothingham, Cotton Gelston, Joseph Barnard & Co., Thomas Jenkins & Co., Teunis A. Slingerlandt, Grecne & Mansfield, Alexander Coffin, John Thurston, Gano & Wall, William G. Hubbel, Seth Jenkins, Benjamin Følger, Reuben Folger, Worth & Dayton, Stephen Paddock & Son, Dayton & Chase, and David Lawrence.

It would seem that, at that time, the retail liquor trade must have been a highly respectable business, for we find here, in the list of those engaged in it, the names of the mayor, the recorder, and four of the councilmen of the city, and fifteen of the solid men known as the original proprie- tors of Hudson.

In the year 1790 (June 12) IIudson was made a port of entry ; a measure which seemed fully justified by the rapid growth of her commerce, and which was very largely the result of the influence and efforts of her distinguished citizen, Hon. Ezekiel Gilbert. The first appointment as collector of the port was given to Henry Malcolm, who was succeeded in the office by Isaac Dayton.

Three years later the Bank of Columbia was chartered, with a capital of $160,000; and in the same year the post- office was established. These events very materially en- hanced the importance of Hudson. She had been incor- perated the third city in the State; she was now the third port of entry, and held one of the only three banks which the State contained ; while the establishment of the post-office was a matter of much convenience, and of no little pride to merchants and citizens. It was not, however, like the creation of postal facilities where none had existed before, for the mails had reached them with more or less regularity since the beginning of the settlement. At first they had come by way of Claverack, for, although Claver- ack post-office was established less than eight months before that at Hudson, yet for several years before that time mails had been received and delivered at that village, probably by an arrangement made with the postmaster at Albany. Some such arrangement was soon after made for Hudson, for as early as 1787 we find the arrival and departure of mails announced in print as follows : "New York mails arrive at Hudson, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at six P.M. ; Albany mails arrive Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, at same hour." It does not seem likely, there- fore, that the creation of the Hudson post-office had any immediate effect on the frequency of the mail service to and from the city, for it is certain that only a tri-weekly mail reached here for some years afterwards.

About this time and during several succeeding years fractional bills were emitted by the city for circulation in place of small silver and copper coins, both of which seem to have been extremely scarce. One of these emissions was in 1796, when (June 17) it was ordained by the council " that the Clerk be authorized to issue a paper cur- rency in Small bills er notes not exceeding fourpence in any one bill, and to an amount not exceeding one hundred and twenty pounds ;" and on the 9th of February, 1797, the same officer was " directed to Issue One Hundred pounds

more of small bills on the same principles these were issued in June last, and to be allowed the same premium for Issuing and receiving the same." A year or two later it was ordered " that the Clerk have two hundred and fifty Dollars in Cents struck off and issued by him on the princi- ples of the former emissions," and " that Mr. Folger and Mr. Rand be a Committee to examine the damaged bills now in the hands of the Clerk, and Certify the Amount and destroy them." The clerk was also directed " to pay to Elisha Pitkin, Esq., £4 2s. 6d. out of the Monies arising from the passing of the Corporation Tickets for paper for said Tickets, and that he also pay to Ashbel Stoddard £3 4s. Od. for printing said Tickets." Nothing appears to show otherwise than that this fractional currency answered well the purpose for which it was intended.

For ten years prior to 1798 the safety of the city at night had been committed to the care of volunteer watch- men, taken in rotation from a body of citizens, who, to promote the well-being of themselves and their property, had mutually agreed to perform such service; and they received recognition from the council,* so far as to be in- vested with authority to arrest (while on duty) any persons whom they might consider as suspicious or dangerous to the public peace.

But in the year above mentioned, it having been thought advisable to form a regular night-watch, to be appointed by and wholly under control of the city government, it was ordained by the council, January 9,-

"That from and after the publication of this Ordinance, a Night- watch he kept by such persons as the Common Council shall, from time to time, appeint fer that purpose, whe, or at least two of them, shall constantly and Silently patrole the several Streets in the City from the hour of 10 O'Clock in the evening until daylight in the morn- ing, and Who are hereby empowered to stop and take up all and every person of Suspicious appearance or that do not give a satisfac- tery Account of themselves to the said Watchmen, and him or them Safely keep in a watch House or to commit him or them to the Bride- well or Gaol of the said City; and the keeper of the said Bridewell or Gaol is hereby authorized and required to take and keep all and every such Suspicious persons until they can have a further exami- nation before the legal authority of the said City.

" And in case any fire shall be discovered in the night season, the said watchmen shall give immediate alarm te the Firemen, Bell-man, and other citizens, and in all respects shall use their indeavors to preserve the City from fire, and also to Keep the peace thereof."

This was the first establishment of a police force in Hudson. The lighting of the streets was commenced during the same year. On the 6th of October, 1798, the council ordained,-

" That the City be lighted during the Dark Nights, and that the Recorder and Mr. Kellogg be a Committee to Direct the construction of, and the place for, the Lamps, not exceeding Twenty in number, and are to provide Oil, and agree with Suitable persons to light the same."

And for this purpose an appropriation of three hundred dollars was made by the same authority.

It is probable that the " Dark Nights" on which the lamps were directed to be lighted were determined on by reference to the almanac, and that this method did not

# This body, which was called the Citizens' night-watch, and was organized chiefly as a protection against incendiarism or accidental fire, first received recognition from the council Jan. 5, 1788.

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

prove wholly satisfactory, for a short time afterwards it was by the council

" Resolred, That the Mayor be a committee to direct the lighting of the Lamps the next dark Moon."

The " compact part" of the city-that is to say that por- tion on whose inhabitants and property taxes were levied for the support of the night-watch, the lighting of the streets, the fire apparatus,* highways and streets within its limits, and for certain other expenditures for purposes chiefly benefiting such said inhabitants-was established by the council, and described as follows : " Lying and being within a line extending from the South Bay, at the south corner of the Tan-Yard of Giles Frary, easterly to the house of Ezekiel Gilbert; from thence northerly through the Tan-Yard of James Nixon to a street known on the plot of the city by the name of Mill street; northwesterly along said Mill street to Hudson's River, and southerly along said River to the place of beginning."

From the tax-list of Hudson for the year 1787, certified by Jacob Davis, Jonathan Becraft, and Isaac Northrop, as- sessors, are taken the following names, being those of all the inhabitants of the city who at that time were taxed upon an assessment of two hundred pounds (five hundred dol- lars) and upwards, viz. :

Howard Allen .. £200

Marshall Jenkins .. 750 William Ashley 260

Estate of Joseph Barnard .. 210

Charles Jenkins. 270 Jacob Bunt. 250

M. Jenkins & Son .... 310

Robert Jenkins & Co. 200 200 Jonathan Becraft .... 230 Estate of Lemuel Jenkins ... David Coffin. 340 Alexander Coffin. 300 Russell Kellogg. 270 David Lawrence 325 William Coventry. 300 James M. Mooklar. 230 Claudius I. Delamater 470

Direk Delamater 550

George Decker. 225

James Elting 300 205

Hezekiah Dayton.

Stephen Paddock.

Thomas Power. 233

Ezra Reed. 900

Jeremiah Ten Broeck 550

John F. Hardick 280 Adam Haydorn. 225

Estate of Justus H. Van Huesen 700

Peter Van Huesen. 290

Henry I. Van Rensselaer. 600 William Van Rensselaer ..... 430

Tobias Van Deusen ... 300

Adam Van Alen. 265

Ephraim Whitaker 210 Estate of Caspar Huyck .... 300 Shubael Worth 225 Thomas Jenkins. 2660

Samuel Ward. 200 T. Jenkins & Sons. 1150

It is not probable, however, that this assessment repre- sented more than one-tenth the actual value of the estates ; it being then the custom (as it is now in many places) to assess at a very low figure, to gratify the tax-payers, who believed that this method had the effect to decrease the amount of their taxes.

In 1799 (Sept. 7), Elisha Pitkin was authorized by the council " to erect a suitable market-house on the Gaol Square on the north side of Warren street, and to occupy the same for ten years." A part of the necessary funds had already been subscribed. The remainder was to be furnished by Pitkin, who was thus to be reimbursed by a ten years' occupation .. The market-house, however, was

not completed until some two or three years later. It was known as the upper, or Fourth street market.

A curious ordinance "to prevent forestalling" was en- acted by the council about this time. It was to the effect " that no person residing within the corporation of this city shall purchase any turkeys, geese, fowls, ducks, or any kind of poultry in order to sell the same again," and " that if any person shall sell from his or her shop or store or any other place within this corporation any of the above articles, having previously purchased the same in order to forestall or sell, and shall be convicted of the same, shall forfeit and pay the sum of five dollars for each and every offence."

It was also the custom to publish weekly, by authority, an " assize of bread," establishing the number of ounces which the sixpenny and shilling loaves must weigh until the next publication ; and it was ordained that every baker .or other person baking bread for sale should stamp the initials of his or her name on each loaf " in a distinct manner, that it may be distinguished after the bread is baked ;" and it is made the duty of the inspector of bread to examine all bake-houses and bake-shops, " and on find- ing any Bread lighter than the assize then Published, shall immediately send such bread to the Poor-house for the use of the Poor of this city."

In April, 1801, Justus Van Hoesen, Cornelius Tobey, and Thomas Frothingham were appointed "a committee to superintend the execution of the law against Sabbath- breaking." On the 9th of May following the council resolved " that Mr. Hathaway be requested to inform Mr. James Van Deburgh that his bonds will be prosecuted unless he shall, within four days, remove the Billiard Table out of his possessions."

END OF THE PROPRIETORS' ASSOCIATION.

Thomas Jenkins, the most prominent man among the proprietors of Hudson, died in the year 1808, in New York ; from whence his remains were brought for inter- ment to the city which he might almost be said to have created. The organization of the proprietors continued less than two years after his death, their last meeting being held May 23, 1810, of which Stephen Paddock was moder- ator, and Erastus Pratt clerk. They had some years before deeded all the streets, highways, and lands intended for public use to the common council, to be by them opened when, and as, the public interest might require, and it was now arranged and understood that their existence as an association should cease, and that their records should be formally delivered to the city. This action was most ener- getically, fiercely, opposed by Cotton Gelston, although it was into his own hands, as city clerk, that the documents were to be surrendered. In his antagonism to the propo- sition he seized the books and declared his resolve to de- stroy them if he could not otherwise prevent their transfer, and so heated did he become, that it was necessary to as- sign to three of the wrongest men in the room (of whom Gilbert Jenkins was one) the task of his subjugation ; but in the scuffle which ensued Mr. Gelston succeeded in par- tially destroying the papers by fire, and thus almost made good his threat. But the surrender was made, and the proprietors' organization became a thing of the past.

# For introduction of fire apparatus in the city see " Fire Depart- ment."

Captain Reuben Macy. 450 200 James Nixon. Josiah Olcott. 225 John Plass 435 425

Reuben Folger ... 225

Nathaniel Greene 820 Giles Frary. 300 415

Cotton Gelston.

Jacob Harder, Jr. 250

Estate of John Ten Broeck 600 Seth Toby. 325

Peter Hogeboom 540

James Hyatt 230 William Hallenbeck 320

Robert llallenbeek 320

Matthias Hallenbeck 200 John Hathaway 500

Estate of Seth Jenkins .... £850 John Alsop. 400

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HISTORY OF COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.

It cannot be denied that the associated proprietors of Hudson were a remarkable body of men. There is not often to be found in the history of this or of any other State the instance of an equal number of persons of such intelligence, influence, wealth, social respectability, and worldly experience uniting themselves in a business enter- prise, and prosecuting that enterprise with such energy and success ; remaining associated for more than a quarter of a century, with never an instance of individual faithlessness to pledges given or to trusts reposed.

In an incredibly short space of time they built a city, whose bright prospects allured others from near and from far off; and to all worthy ones who came to share their prosperity they extended a friendly hand, and dealt with them justly and generously ; often giving assistance, and never taking advantage of misfortune.

Narrow-mindedness and bigotry had no home with them. Most of them were members of the Society of Friends, but they welcomed all, without regard to religious belief. To churches of whatever denomination they freely donated sites for houses of worship, and to schools and other enter- prises for the public good they observed a similar policy. So just and enlightened a course of action, steadily pursued from first to last, could hardly have failed to bring the measure of success which they here so fully realized.

Next to Thomas Jenkins, perhaps Seth Jenkins was the most prominent and influential among the proprietors. He was the first mayor of Hudson, and continued to hold that office until his death (July 22, 1793). Another, Mr. Wil- liam Minturn, early recognized the fact that the location at Hudson was too far inland for the successful prosecution of commercial pursuits, and, promptly acting on the convic- tion, removed in 1791 to New York, where he established the business which afterwards became so extended and profitable in the hands of the well-known firm of Grinnell, Minturn & Co. He died in 1799.

Much that would be of interest might be told of the others did our space permit. The last survivor of their number was Captain Alexander Coffin, who died in Hud- son, January 11, 1839, in the ninety-ninth year of his age, having been born in Nantucket, Mass., Sept. 21, 1740. He was for many years a shipmaster of skill and sterling in- tegrity, and finally discontinued the calling at about sixty years of age. In the winter of 1774 he had for passengers to London the consignees of the tea then recently destroyed in Boston harbor. On the opening of the Revolution he at once came out a firm supporter of the American cause and an unwavering patriot. He was twice a prisoner dur- ing that war. He had the honor to be a bearer of dis- patches from Dr. Franklin, in Paris, to the American gov- ernment. He was an intimate friend of John Hancock, John and Samuel Adams, and the leading Whigs of the Revolu- tion. Twice he was elected to the Legislature of Massa- chusetts, was a member of the convention for amending the constitution of New York, postmaster and mayor of Hud- son, and he discharged the duties of all these offices with satisfaction to his constituents and honor to himself. The author of " Random Recollections of Hudson" says of him that he was " one of Nature's noblemen, a man open and above-board in all things, frank, generous, warm-hearted,

and brave as Cæsar, but withal hot as pepper-pot and fierce as a northeaster, yet neither rude, aggressive, nor implaea- ble ; a man whose name 1 never hear, and of whom I never think, without feeling a deep respect for his many noble and manly qualities. He was in fact the noblest Roman of them all." There are many yet living in Hudson who recollect the brave old man, and know that the above is truc.

RISE AND DECLINE OF HUDSON'S COMMERCE-1786 TO 1825.

If the growth and prosperity of Hudson had been re- markable from the time of its settlement to 1786, it was scarcely less so for many years after that time. Ship-build- ing continued to be a leading industry. The hills in the interior and the forests of the upper Hudson furnished an abundance of cxeellent timber to the ship-yards of the Mor- gans (Titus and James), Jenkins, Gelston, Sears, Lacy, Abiel Cheney, Wm. Johnson, and others, who, during the latter years of the eighteenth and the first quarter of the present century were widely and favorably known for the good quality of their work.

There were no less than five yards here, and more than once it was the case that every yard had a heavy ship on the stocks all at the same time.

Of sca-going vessels owned in Hudson, the number did not largely increase after 1786, but the aggregate tonnage became greater by reason of old ships being replaced by new and heavier ones from the home dock-yards. The small craft hailing from IIudson also became numerous, making regular trips hence to New York, Albany, and the other towns along the river.

It has been quite generally believed that the ships of Hudson in those days were almost wholly engaged in the whale-fishery,-an idea which probably arose from the fact that many of the proprietors were from the whaling port of Nantucket,-but this is erroneous ; only a few were em- ployed as whalers and sealers, while the greater part were engaged in trade with southern ports in the United States (particularly Charleston), Havana, and other Cuban ports, Santo Domingo, Curaçoa, the Windward islands, Demerara, and Brazil, and occasionally with ports in the Mediterranean.

Lumber, hoops, staves, and heading were leading articles of export to the West Indies, and there were also shipped immense quantities of fish,* beef, pork, t and country pro- duce of all kinds. This explains the immense influx of sleighs into Hudson which has been before mentioned, and which a few years afterwards became much greater, so that in a single day, March 2, 1802, twenty-eight hundred of these vehicles entered the city from the interior. This is on the authority of the Hudson Balance, of a few days later

# The fish exported were principally herrings, which were cured both hy smoking and pickling. This was a source of very consid- erable revenue to Hudson at that time, the fish being much more plenty in the river then than at present. It is related that a single firma io Hadson sald and shipped one thousand barrels of the pickled fish in one day. Shad were also cured and shipped to some extent.

+ Slaughtering and packing were extensively carried oo in Hudson ; the establishments for these purposes heing located in the vicinity of North bay. The large quantities of hides produced by these were manufactured into leather by the numerous tanneries of the city.

PHOTO. BY F.FORSHEW. KUDSON N.Y.

JOHN VAN DUSEN ( DECEASED. )

LITH BY L H EVERTS & CO. PHILA, PA

RESIDENCE OF H. A . DUBOIS , HUDSON, COLUMBIA COUNTY, N. Y.

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History of Columbia County, New York. With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 42

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885 Publication date: 1878 Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign Number of Pages: 648

Author: Everts & Ensign; Ellis, Franklin, 1828-1885
Publication date: 1878
Publisher: Philadelphia, Everts & Ensign
Number of Pages: 648