USA > New York > Schenectady County > History of the County of Schenectady, N. Y., from 1662 to 1886... > Part 14
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Total tax levied, $149,056.57.
1874 .- Supervisors - Jonas H. Crane, First ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward; Hugh Reynolds, Third ward; Martin Swart, Fourth ward; Garrett S. Veeder, Fifth ward; Emmett O'Neill, Duanesburgh; Charles P. San- ders, Glenville; Christopher O. Hamlin, Niskay- una; Walter Bradshaw, Princetown; Seeley Pat- terson, Rotterdam. Chairman, Seely Patterson; Clerk, Josiah Van Vranken; Marshal, John G. Van Patten.
Total tax levied, $177,744.78.
1875 .- Supervisors - Jonas H. Crane, First ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward; Hugh Reynolds, Third ward; Martin Swart, Fourth ward; Garrett S. Veeder, Fifth ward; Arthur D. Mead, Duanesburgh; Philip R. Toll,
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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
Glenville; Christopher O. Hamlin, Niskayuna; Alexander Gifford, Princetown; Jacob D. Wemple, Rotterdam. Chairman, Jonas H. Crane; remain- ing officers same as preceding year. Total tax levied, $184,441.72.
1876 .- Supervisors-A. W. Hunter, First ward; William H. Anthony, Second ward; Hugh Reynolds, Third ward; Lewis Vrooman, Fourth ward; William G. Van Patten, Fifth ward; George Lasher, Duanesburgh; Reuben Groot, Glenville; Christopher O. Hamlin, Niskayuna; Alexander Gifford, Princetown; Isaac Wemple, Rotterdam. Chairman. William H. Anthony; Clerk, Josiah Van Vranken; Marshal, John T. Van Patten. For a number of years heretofore the aggregate valua- tions of real and personal estate in the county had been returned by the assessors at about five and one-half million dollars. This year the aggregate valuation was increased to $6, 500,690.03. Total tax levied, $158,002.52.
1877 .- Supervisors-A. W. Hunter, First ward; Robert Cornell, Second ward; James McDermott, Third ward; Lewis Vrooman, Fourth ward; William G. Van Patten, Fifth ward; Arthur D. Mead, Duanesburgh; Reuben Groot, Glenville; Christopher O. Hamlin, Niskayuna; Alexander Gifford, Princetown; Isaac Wemple, Rotterdam. Chairman, Arthur D. Mead; Clerk, Josiah Van Vranken; Marshal, John G. Van Patten. Total tax about as preceding year.
1878 .- Supervisors - A. W. Hunter, First ward; Robert Cornell, Second ward; James Mc- Dermott, Third ward; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward; F. T. Van Patten, Fifth ward; George Lasher, Duanesburgh; John A. Taws, Princetown; James Turnbull, Rotterdam; Christopher O. Ham- lin, Niskayuna; Reuben Groot, Glenville. Chair- man, George Lasher; Clerk, Gilbert De Graff; Marshal, John T. Van Patten. Total tax levied, $142,308.31.
1879 .- Supervisors-A. W. Hunter, First ward; Hiram J. Ingersoll, Second ward ; James Flinn, Third ward ; Lewis Clement, Fourth ward ; F. T. Van Patten, Fifth ward ; John W. Head, Duanes- burgh ; Reuben Groot, Glenville ; Christopher O. Hamlin, Niskayuna ; John A. Taws, Princetown ; James Turnbull, Rotterdam. Chairman, John W. Head ; Clerk, Gilbert De Graff ; Marshal, John T. Van Patten.
At this session a special act of the Legislature was passed abolishing the office of Keeper at the Almshouse, the duties of which office were united with those devolving upon the Superintendent of Poor.
Total tax levied this year, $143, 073. 59.
1880 .- Supervisors-A. W. Hunter, First ward; Henry Bradt, Second ward ; Francis Cain, Third ward ; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward ; F. T. Van Patten, Fifth ward ; George Lasher, Duanesburgh; Alexander Donnan, Princetown ; Thomas W. Winne, Niskayuna ; Reuben Groot, Glenville ; James Turnbull, Rotterdam. Chairman, Reuben Groot ; Clerk, Patrick H. Cain ; Marshal, John T. Van Patten.
Total tax levied this year, $142, 753.07.
1881 .- Supervisors-A. W. Hunter, First ward; Charles W. Sanders, Second ward ; Francis Cain, Third ward ; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward ; George M. Bostwick, Fifth ward ; James W. Wad- dell, Duanesburgh ; Reuben Groot, Glenville ; Samuel A. Weast, Rotterdam ; Alexander Donnan, Princetown ; Thomas W. Winne, Niskayuna. Chairman, Reuben Groot; Clerk, P. H. Cain ; Marshal, John T. Van Patten.
Total tax abont the same as preceding year.
1882 .- Supervisors-A. W. Hunter, First ward ; Levi A. Young, Second ward ; Francis Cain and Patrick H. Cain (the latter appointed to fill vacancy caused by death of Francis Cain), Third ward ; Peter Van Dyck, Fourth ward ; Jerome B. Dow, Fifth ward ; James T. Wyatt, Glenville ; James T. Waddell, Duanesburgh ; Thomas W. Winne, Niskayuna ; Samuel A. Weast, Rotter- dam ; James Weast, Princetown. Chairman, A. W. Hunter ; Clerk, George M. Bostwick ; Mar- shal, John T. Van Patten. Total tax levied, $151,817.23.
1883 .- Supervisors-A. W. Hunter, First ward ; N. J. Swart, Second ward ; P. H. Cain, Third ward ; Seth L. Clute, Fourth ward ; Ephraim Clow, Fifth ward ; James W. Waddell, Duanes- burgh ; Thomas W. Winne, Niskayuna ; James Weast, Princetown ; S. J. Schermerhorn, Rotter- dam. Chairman, A. W. Hunter ; Clerk, John E. Myers ; Marshal, John T. Van Patten.
At this session of the Board the aggregate valua- tions of the personal and real estate was increased from $5, 542, 448 for preceding year, to $13, 281,- 490.05 for this year. Total tax levied, $164,- 364.78.
Four of the city members of this Board made an appeal to the State Assessors, claiming that the equalization of assessment, as made by. a majority of the Board, resulted in great injustice to the tax- payers of the city. A hearing was had before the State Assessors in this city in June of the follow- ing year, when the appeal of the city members was sustained, and the various towns of the county were ordered and did pay back to the city the several amounts wrongfully, as was claimed by the State Assessors, assessed upon the city.
1884 .-- Supervisors-A. W. Hunter, First ward; Jacob Barringer, Second ward ; Patrick H. Cain, Third ward; Lewis Vrooman, Fourth ward ; George Susholz, Fifth ward ; John A. McClure, Duanesburgh ; James T. Wyatt, Glenville ; John C. Myers, Rotterdam ; James Weast, Princetown ; Thomas W. Winne, Niskayuna. Chairman, James T. Wyatt ; Clerk, Omie F. Vedder ; Mar- shal, John T. Van Patten.
Total tax levied this year was $183, 664.65 ; State tax, $29,880.64 ; county tax, $33, 898.13 ; city charges, $95, 346.73 ; town charges, $24,- 538.85.
Included in the city charges were the following items : Poor, $5,000.00 ; schools, $17,000.00 ; for deficiency, 1883 (by special act of Legislature), $13,500.00 ; extinguishment of fires, $12,000.00 ; lighting streets, $10,000.00 ; police, $9,500.00.
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SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR.
SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR.
Previous to 1824, each town in all the counties of the State supported its own poor, under statutes passed by the Legislature, but which, however humane and liberal, were imperfect compared with our existing laws. November 27, 1824, a law was passed for the establishment of a poor-house in several counties of the State. April 11, 1826, a law was passed authorizing the establishment of a poor-house in the county of Schenectady. This act was in the main similar to the law passed November 27, 1824. The number of superin- tendents was limited to three and not more than five. It was also provided in this act that the poor sent to the county poor-house from the city and several towns should be a charge upon the city or towns from which they were sent.
The present county poor-house and the adjoin- ing farm, before the passage of this act, were used as an almshouse by the city and the present towns of Rotterdam and Glenville. On the 9th day of December, 1825, a committee was appointed by the board for the purpose of purchasing this prop- erty. The price agreed upon was $2,000. The act of April 11, 1826, permitted this sale, which was consummated July 15, 1826.
The first Superintendents of Poor were : David Boyd, Cornelius Z. Van Santvoord, John Wood, Jacob I. Schermerhorn and David Smith. They were appointed for a term of one year. The first poor-house keeper was Henry Clute.
August 1, 1826, the poor-house was first opened for the reception of county poor.
The first year the Superintendents made a con- tract with the keeper for the support, maintenance and clothing of the county paupers for sixty cents each per week, the keeper being allowed the prod- ucts of the farm and the use of the buildings, and whatever labor he could obtain from the able- bodied paupers.
The first report was sent by the Superintendents to the Board of Supervisors, November 14, 1826, from which we find that from August Ist to October 30th, the entire expense of the county poor-house was $321.00; the whole number of paupers, 38, divided as follows : City, 16; County 11 ; Rot- terdam, 3 ; Glenville, 6; Princetown, 2. The Superintendents reported that they had engaged Dr. John La Tonelier as almshouse physician, at an annual salary of $75.
The Board of Supervisors prescribed the laws and regulations governing the poor-house, and the rules to be observed by the inmates. The Super- intendents reported as follows : "That the poor- house and paupers have been visited every week by one of the Superintendents ; the paupers always found clean and cheerful; and the house clean, and everything in good order. The by-laws, rules and regulations laid down by the Board of Super- visors have been strictly adhered to."
The following year the Superintendents made a contract with Henry Clute to keep the paupers at fifty cents per week, under the same conditions as last year.
This year the offices of poor-house and jail physician were united into one office, and an an- nual salary of $120 allowed. David Low was elected as such physician. The total expense of the poor-house for the year was $481. 14.
In 1829, the sum of $150 was appropriated for the purpose of building a lunatic asylum on the poor-house property. The Superintendent reported that $900 would be necessary to defray the expenses of the poor for the following year.
In 1830, the number of Superintendents was re- duced by the Board of Supervisors from five to three.
The reports of the Superintendents for this and the following years are so limited that few facts of interest can be obtained.
In 1831, J. I. S. Van Epps, Henry Peek and William Carpenter were Superintendents of Poor. From the report of these officers it ap- pears the expenses of the poor-house were $1, 316.63 for the preceding year, $500 of which sum was used to pay an indebtedness of previous year; $800 was raised this year for poor-house purposes.
The Superintendents for 1833 were: Henry Peek, Henry Lovett and William A. S. North. $1, 200 was raised this year for support of the poor- house.
Henry Peek, William A. S. North and Abner H. Smith were appointed Superintendents for 1834. $1,400 was raised for County poor-house this year.
For 1835, Abner Smith, Simon Schermerhorn and John Van Voast were Superintendents. $2, 127 was raised for county poor this year.
For 1836, the same Superintendents were ap- pointed as in the preceding year.
From this year to 1840 the amounts raised for county poor ranged from $1,600 to $2, 200. The reports for these years were not recorded in the minutes of the Board of Supervisors, and could not be found.
It had been the custom of the Board of Super- visors to visit the poor-house annually for inspec- tion. After inspecting the premises in 1840, it was determined that insufficient room was provided for the paupers, and, in consequence, the brick build- ing on the east side of the poor-house was con- structed this year. A barn was also built at the same time.
The following sums were raised this year : $2,000 for support of poor, $500 for furniture for new building, and $602 to pay indebtedness for poor purposes for preceding year.
The Superintendents for 1841 and 1842 were : John Van Voast, Wm. A. S. North and John Clark. The sum of $1,800 was raised each year for county poor purposes.
Wm. A. S. North, John Van Voast and Daniel Smith were chosen Superintendents for 1843, and Daniel Smith, David M. Moore and John Van Voast for 1844. $1,600 was raised in 1843, and $1, 250 in 1844 for county poor.
In 1844 the Board of Supervisors, deeming the ap- pointment of three Superintendents of Poor to be unnecessary and too expensive, petitioned the Legis-
.
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HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
lature for the passage of an act permitting the Board to appoint but one Superintendent of Poor. The passage of such a law was not effected until a number of years after.
The Superintendents from 1845 to 1848 were : Benjamin F. Wood, Abraham A. Van Voast and Abijah Freeman ; $15,000 was raised in 1845 and $1,600 in 1846 for the maintenance of the county poor ; $853.45 was expended in 1846 on an addition and repairs at the poor-house.
In 1848, the Superintendents of Poor were re- quired to give bonds in the sum of $3,000 each. The Superintendents for this year were : John F. Clute, Philip H. Dederick and William S. Kelly.
The Superintendents for 1849 were : Joshua Parker, Abraham Vrooman and Philip H. Dederick. From 1848 to 1854, the cost of maintaining the poor-house ranged from $1,500 to $2,000. In 1854 a difficulty arose between the Board of Super- visors and the Superintendents of Poor as to which body was delegated the power of appointing a keeper at the poor-house. The Board appointed Henry Marcellus and the Superintendents selected William Chism. After legal investigation it was settled by allowing the Superintendents to make their own appointment; but that it was not an ac- knowledgment of their legal rights, is evinced by the fact that the following year the Board appointed a keeper, and continued to do so until this office was abolished in 1879.
An act was passed by the Legislature, in 1854, reducing the number of Superintendents of Poor to one, and providing that such officer should be elected by the people for a term of three years. The first Superintendent elected to this office, under this law, was Nicholas I. Schermerhorn in 1856. His term began January 1, 1857.
From the report made by the Superintendent in 1860, we find that there were 73 paupers at the poor-house November 1 of that year, and that the entire expense of the county poor for the year end- ing November I was $9, 280. 67.
In 1861, the brick building on the west side of the poor-house was erected for the purpose of accommodating the insane of the county, at a cost of $3, 000.
For the year ending November 1, 1862, the whole expense of the county poor was $9, 270. 59.
From 1862 to the present time, the yearly ex- pense of the county poor-house has averaged be- tween eleven and twelve thousand dollars. In 1866 it was $15,453.12. The maximum amount was reached in 1878, when it was $16, 199, and the lowest in 1880, when it was $8, 283. The average number of paupers has been between seventy and eighty.
In 1873, a portion of the poor-house farm was sold at auction in small lots to private individuals. 187 lots were disposed of.
In 1879, a special act of the Legislature was passed abolishing the office of poor-house keeper ; the duties of this office were united with those devolving upon the Superintendent of the Poor. Since the passage of this law, the Superintendent has resided at the poor-house.
For a number of years after the erection of the Asylum building in 1861, the county took care of its insane, but in 1875 most of the incurable cases were removed to the State Asylum at Ovid, and a few years after, all incurable patients were removed to this institution. At the present time the county supports none of its insane at the county house.
LIST OF SUPERINTENDENTS OF POOR AND KEEPERS.
Superintendents .- 1856-1866, W. I. Schermer- horn ; 1866-1869, John F. Clute ; 1869-1872, W. J. McIntosh ; 1872-1879, Harrison Clute ; 1879-1885, William G. Van Patten; 1885, An- thony Walton.
Keepers .- 1857-1866, William Chism ; 1866- 1871, Francis Veeder ; 1872-1876, John I. Vroo- man ; 1876-1879, Philip Eygner ; 1879-1880, William E. Dederick.
COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
Following will be found as complete a list of the officials, both County and State, from Schenectady County, as could be obtained. Those not given in the following pages will be found in separate articles in different portions of this work.
Robert Yates was a Member of the First, Second, Third and Fourth Provincial Congresses of New York; was a Member of the First Convention of New York, in 1777, to form a constitution, and a member of the committee to draft it; was an As- sociate Justice of the Supreme Court of New York, and finally its Chief Justice. He was a member of the Convention of 1788 to ratify the Federal Con- stitution.
Rineis Schermerhorn was Senator under the first Constitution, 1777 to 1781.
John Sanders was Senator under the first Con- stitution, 1799-1802, and member of the Council of Appointment in 1800. His associates were De Witt Clinton, Ambrose and John Roseboom.
Simon Veeder was Senator under the first Con- stitution from 1804 to 1806.
Henry Yates, Jr., was Senator under the first Constitution from 1810 to 1814, and from 1818 to 1822. He was also a member of the Council of Appointment in 1812 and 1818.
Gerret S. Veeder was the first Judge of the Schenectady Court of Common Pleas, appointed soon after the organization of the county in 1809.
Among those who represented Schenectady in the General Assembly from 1615 to 1768 were the following: Karl Hansen Toll, Jacob Glen, Arent -- Bradt, Abraham Glen, Nicholas Schuyler, Jacob Van Slyck, Isaac Vrooman, Ryer Schermerhorn, Jacobus Mynderse and Nicholas Groot.
Henry Glen was member of Assembly in 1786, 1787 and 1810. He was also member of the Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Congresses of the United States, from 1793 to 1802, and also member of the First, Second and Third Provincial Congresses, 1775-1776.
Harmanus Peek was member of the Sixteenth Congress from 1819 to 1821.
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COUNTY AND STATE OFFICERS.
William North was member of the Assembly 1792, 1794, 1795, 1796 and 1710, and several times Speaker of that body. In 1798, during a recess of the Legislature, he was appointed a Senator of the United States by Governor John Jay, to fill a vacancy occasioned by the resigna- tion of John Gloss Hoburt.
MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY.
1798-1800, 1802, 1804-1807, 1813, Joseph Shurtliff; 1811-1812, James Boyd and John Young; 1813, Alexander Combs; 1814, Abraham Van Ingen and Lawrence Vrooman; 1815, Abra- ham Van Ingen and John Victory; 1816, Harma- nus Peek and Harry Fryer; 1817, Harmanus Van Slyck and John Victory; 1818, Daniel L. Van Antwerp and Simon A. Veeder; 1819, James Frost and Simon A. Groot; 1820, Christian Hav- erly and Marinus Willett; 1821, Richard Mc- Michael and Garrit Veeder; 1822, James Walker and John F. D. Veeder; 1823, Peter M. Bronck; 1824, Isaac Riggs; 1825, John S. Vrooman; 1826, Robert Sanders; 1827-1830, Alonzo C. Paige; 1831, Aaron Carroll; 1832, Abram Dorn; 1833, Cornelius C. Van Vranken; 1834, Simon Scher- merhorn; 1835, David Ostrom; 1836, John B. Duane; 1837, Thomas Knight; 1838, Silas H. Marsh; 1839, Silas H. Marsh; 1840, Theodore W. Sanders; 1841, Abraham Pearse; 1842, Jona- than C. Burnham; 1843, Edward H. Walton; 1844, Archibald L. Linn; 1845, William Gifford; 1846, David M. Moore; 1847, David Caw; 1848, Abraham W. Toll; 1849, Israel A. Green; 1850, James Allen; 1851, Reuben Ellwood; 1852, James Donnan; 1853, Wm. Van Vranken; 1854, Mat- thew Winne, Jr .; 1855, James Donnan; 1856, James Rodgers; 1857, Nicholas Barhydt; 1858, Angus McIntosh; 1859, Charles Thomas; 1860, Peter Dorsch; 1861, Alonzo Macomber; 1862, Simon J. Schermerhorn; 1863, John McShea, Jr .; 1864, Charles Stanford; 1865, Charles Stanford; 1866, John C. Ellis; 1867. Chas. G. Ellis; 1868, Robert Furman; 1869, Henry M. Crane; 1870, Gershom Banker; 1871, Gershom Banker; 1872, William Greenhalgh; 1873, Daniel P. McQueen; 1874, Daniel P. McQueen; 1875, Samuel T. Ben- edict; 1876, Emmett O'Neill; 1877, Walter T. L. Sanders; 1878, Arthur D. Mead; 1879, Daniel P. McQueen; 1880, Arthur D. Mead; 1881, George Lasher; 1882, John D. Campbell; 1883, Christo- pher O. Hamlin; 1884, John W. Veeder; 1885, Edward D. Cotter.
STATE SENATORS.
John Veeder, 1806, 1808-9 ; Joseph C. Yates, 1807, 1808 ; Henry Yates, Jr., 1811-1814, 1818- 1821 ; Alonzo C. Paige, 1837, 1839-1840; Stephen H. Johnson, 1850-1 ; Charles Stanford, 1866-9.
COUNTY JUDGES.
1809, Gerrit S. Veeder; 1812, Gardner Cleve- land ; 1823, David Boyd ; 1835, Samuel W. Jones ; 1840, Archibald L. Linn ; 1845, Samuel W. Jones ; 1851, Stephen H. Johnson ; 1855, John Sanders ; 1859, Stephen H. Johnson ; 1865,
Judson S. Landon ; 1869, Walter T. L. Sanders ; 1873, Austin A. Yates ; 1879, David C. Beattie.
COUNTY SURROGATES.
1809, William J. Teller ; 1813, Robert Hudson ; 1815, William J. Teller ; 1816, John Yates; 1821, Giles F. Yates; 1840, John Saunders; 1844 -1847, David Cady Smith. Since the latter date the County Judges have acted as Surrogates.
DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.
1818, John K. Paige; 1823, Alonzo C. Paige; 1839, Platt Potter; 1847, Benjamin F. Potter; 1850, Samuel L. Baker; 1851, James Fuller; 1851, John Van Santvoord; 1853, Samuel T. Freeman; 1856, Simon Calkins; 1856, Judson S. Landon; 1862, John G. McChesney; 1865, John L. Hill; 1868, Austin A. Yates; 1873, Alonzo P. Strong; 1874, David C. Beattie; 1877, Charles F. Palmer; 1880, J. Teller Schoolcraft.
SHERIFFS.
1809, James V. S. Riley; 1810, John V. Van Ingen; 1811, James V. S. Riley; 1813, John Brown; 1815, Gideon Holliday; 1818, Isaac Riggs; 1821, Lewis Eaton; 1822, A. Van Slyck; 1825, John F. D. Vedder; 1828, Gershom Van Voast; 1831, Isaac I. Yates; 1834, Matthew Putman; 1837, Myndert M. R. Wemple; 1840, David F. Reese; 1843, Anthony H. Van Slyck; 1846, John G. Van Voast; 1849, John F. Clute; 1852, Nicholas Brooks; 1855, Obadiah L. De Forest; 1856, Philip Dederick; 1858, Norman M. F. Clute; 1861, Abra- ham Gillispie; 1864, Samuel Wingate; 1867, Peter Miller; 1868, Clark V. Worden; 1869, Jacob Ved- der; 1872, James McMillan; 1875, Hiram J. In- gersoll; 1878, Charles H. Van Vranken; 1881, Jacob De Forest; 1884, Seth L. Clute.
COUNTY CLERKS.
1769, Henry Glen (Town Clerk) ; 1809, Peter F. Veeder ; 1810, Joseph Shurtliff ; 1811, Peter F. Veeder ; 1812, Jellis A. Fonda ; 1813, Joseph Shurtliff ; 1815, Jellis A. Fonda ; 1822, Jellis A. Fonda ; 1834, John S. Vrooman ; 1834, Jonathan Burnham ; 1837, Archibald Campbell ; 1843, Silas H. Marsh ; 1849, David P. Forrest ; 1852, Marvin Strong ; 1858, John W. Veeder ; 1861, John N. Banker ; 1864, John McShea, Jr. ; 1864, James G. Caw ; 1876, J. Fonda Veile; 1882, Thomas Yelverton.
THOMAS YELVERTON, the present County Clerk, was born in Chester, Orange County, N. Y., in 1842, and graduated from Union College in 1866. He came to Schenectady in 1872.
COUNTY TREASURERS.
(Previous to 1848, County Treasurers were chosen by the Board of Supervisors, and for list of these officers previous to this date see article on Supervisors. ) 1848, Stephen Y. Vedder ; 1851, Charles H. Matthews ; 1854, John H. Vander- veer; 1857, William M. Colborne ; 1860, Nicholas Barhydt ; 1863, Nichols V. Swits ; 1866, N. J. Schermerhorn ; 1881, Ira Brownell.
66
HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF SCHENECTADY.
COUNTY SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. (Previous to 1857, School Commissioners were appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The first election was held in November, 1859.) Daniel J.
Darrow, David H. Hamlin, Samuel H. Weart, Nicholas T. Van Natta, Solyman G. Hamlin, Simon J. Schermerhorn, David Elder, H. Maynard Akin, C. W. Van Santvoord.
HISTORY OF THE CITY OF SCHENECTADY.
Edited and Compiled by Rev. J. H. MUNSELL.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY-1798-1885.
T `HE municipal history of Schenectady properly begins with the passage of its charter, March 26, 1798, being the third incorporated city in the State.
For ten years preceding the date of incorpora- tion, Schenectady was controlled by a Board of Trustees, who in 1798 signed a petition to the Legislature declaring they deemed the incorpora- tion of Schenectady as a city, beneficial and neces- sary to its growth and welfare. The names of the trustees appended to this petition were: Abra- ham Wemple, Nicholas Veeder, Abraham Switz, Abraham Oothout, John Glen, John Sanders, Jel- lis I. Fonda, Andrew Van Patten, Adam S. Vroo- man, Garret S. Veeder, Jr., and Richard Scher- merhorn. Among other citizens at this period who were influential in securing the passage of this act, were Joseph Shurtliff, member of Assembly from Schenectady at this date, and for a number of years after, Simon Veeder, Joseph C. Yates, Maus Schermerhorn, John Yates, William North and Harmanus Peek.
The area embraced within the corporate limits of Schenectady by the charter of 1798 was exten- sive, being twelve miles in length and eight in breadth. It was divided into four wards. The First ward included all the compact part of the city lying between Union street and the Mohawk River; the Second ward, that part lying south of Union street and extending a short distance upon the Bouwlandt; the Third ward, what is now the town of Rotterdam; and the .Fourth ward, what is now the town of Glenville.
The corporate title was known by the name of " The Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Schenectady." The legislative power of the city was vested in a Mayor and a Board of Alder- men, who together formed the Common Council, a majority of the whole constituting a quorum for the transaction of business.
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