USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. II > Part 48
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1727 At this time, large quantities of counterfeit bills were
" Thomas's history of printing.
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manufactured in Dublin, in imitation of the New York and New Jersey money, and they were brought over sea by emissaries employed for the purpose. Some of these were apprehended while passing these bills, and the plot confessed by them.
In this year C. Colden wrote the first part of his history of the Five Nations, " on occasion of a dispute between the government of New York and some merchants." This was Governour Bur- net's project of bringing the fur trade to Oswego, which opposed the views of English merchants, and their correspondents in Al- bany, who supplied the French with goods for the Indian trade from Montreal. Burnet's views were correct : he interdicted this trade with the French, and partly succeeded in drawing the Indians to Oswego from the West. Burnet communicated to Colden the " Register of Indian affairs," and Colden, then one of the king's council, wrote and sent this first part to England, where it was published.
1728 May 7th-" The ship Happy Return is lately arrived at the city of New York from Dublin, with men and women ser- vants ; many of the men are tradesmen, as blacksmiths, carpenters, weavers, taylors, cordwainers, and other trades, which servants are to be seen on board said vessel, lying over against Mr. Read's wharf, " observe, not at the wharf; and to be disposed of by John and Joseph Read, on reasonable terms."*
Another cargo of the same, in the ship George and John, is likewise advertised to be sold, and wheat or flour taken in pay- ment, by " Mr. John Dunks, at the sign of the Jamaica Pilot on the Dock."
August 9th .- The general assembly of New York, among other grants to the king's government, give " For every negro, and other slave of four years old and upwards, imported directly from Africa, the sum of forty shillings current money of this colony. The salary of the governour to be £1,560 a year. For the governour's voy- age to Albany, £150 a year. Salary of the chief-justice, £250 a year. The secretary, £30. Clerk of council, £30. To a searcher of the colony duties, £40. Land tyde waiter, £30. A guager, €30. Door-keeper of the council, £20. Clerk of the general assembly, 12s. a day. Door-keeper, 5s.
14th .- Josiah Millikin, of Musketo Cove, perriwig maker, de- nies the report that he was the informer who caused the seizure of certain wines and brandies in the cellar of Captain Walton, and swears to it.
October 16th .- The common council compliment Captain Covel Mayno, of his majesty's ship Biddeford, with the freedom of the
* Bradford's N. Y. Gazette.
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city in a silver box, for his service in chasing from the coast a Spanish privateer that had landed men on Gardner's Island, and committed great depredations on the inhabitants. Cost to Mr. Le- roux for the box, £1 23. 9d.
1729 June 27th .- The mayor notifies the common council that the speaker of the house of assembly, at the request of the governour, informed the house that Mr. David Humphreys, secretary to the society for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, by letter dated in London the 23d of September last, informned the governour that a large and valuable library of books, consisting of about one thousand volumes, had been bequeathed to them by the Rev. Dr. Milligen ; and it was desired to deposit them in New York, with liberty for the gentlemen of Pennsylvania and Connec- ticut to borrow them. Ordered, to consider of a proper place for such a library. Resolved, to provide a large room for the recep- tion of these books.
1730
March 3d .- Hooks and ladders ordered, for the preven- tion of fires.
23d .- The corporation resolved to make application to his ma- jesty for confirmation of their charter.
In the petition for renewal of the charter, the council likewise ask the bounds of the city to be extended to four hundred feet below low water mark on Hudson's River; the sole right of appointing ferrys round the island ; the grant of all docks and slips. That the mayor and council appoint all the officers of the city, as ser- geants-at-mace, marshals, gaolers, surveyors, measurers, porters, etc. ; the power to hold a court of common pleas every Tuesday; to have power to build a house of correction and other publick buildings ; to have a patent (in confirmation) of the ferry and grounds on Nassau Island.
April 6th .- The governour says he will refer the petition to the council.
22d .- The library from the society for propagating the gospel, etc. arrives, being 1,642 volumes, to be placed in the City Hall until a place be made to receive them.
June 2d .- The books are put in the " assembly room, of which Alderman Phillipse has the key."
About this period, the anniversary sermon on swearing in the new mayor and council, for which Mr. Vesey used to receive £5, appears to be discontinued.
An act passed the assembly " to prevent poor and impotent per- sons being imported into this province."
Bradford's paper was one half sheet (or two pages,) and printed once a week. Afterwards during this year, Bradford increased his paper to four pages. The news is all European, except custom- house entries.
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In October, the assembly of New York passes an act " for the more effectual preventing and punishing the conspiracy and insur- rection of negro and other slaves."
December 6th .- Notice is given that the Boston and Philadel- phia posts will set out to-morrow to perform the stages once a fortnight during the three winter months.
" Whoever inclines to perform the foot-post to Albany this win- ter, may apply to Richard Nichols, post-master in New York, and agree for the same."
1731 April 22d .- A law for regulating negroes and slaves in the night time. No negro, mulatto, or Indian slave, above the age of fourteen, shall presume to appear in any of the streets, or in any other place of this city on the south side of the Fresh Water, in the night time, above an hour after sun-set, without a lanthorn and candie in it (unless in company with his owner or some white belonging to the family.) Penalty, the watch-house that night ; next day prison, until the owner pay 4s., and before discharge, the slave to be whipped not exceeding forty lashes.
A law to prevent strangers becoming a charge. Constables to inquire after inmates of all houses; and fined for not doing so; and housekeepers fined for not reporting strangers.
May 6th .- Two compleat fire-engines ordered. These are the first noticed, and I presume the first ordered for New York. Some merchant to be employed to send to London for them.
June 12th .- Stephen Delancey and John Moore, merchants, undertake to purchase the fire-engines, and deliver them to the council, at the rate of 120 per cent. advance on the foot of the in- voice (exclusive of commissions and insurance,) the money to be paid within nine months from delivery.
A report prevailing in the country that the small-pox prevails in New York, the common council say there are but two persons in the city having the disease.
November 1Sth .- If more than three negro, mulatto, or Indian slaves assemble on Sunday and play or make noise, (or at any other time at any place from their master's service,) they are to be pub- lickly whipped fifteen lashes at the publick whipping-post.
November 29th .- " Buried in this city last week, viz : Church of England, 2 ; Dutch church, 1 ; French church, 1; and blacks, 1. In all this week, 5."
In the month of August, the small-pox began to spread, and from the 23d of August to the 15th of November, 478 whites and 71 blacks died. On the 15th of November, the burials were 10. Thus, in two months and three weeks the burials were 549, viz : Church of England, 229; Dutch church, 212 ; French church, 16; Lutheran church, 1; Presbyterian, 16; Quakers, 2; Bap- tists, 1; Jews, 2. This may show the relative number of cach
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sect in some measure. During this prevalence of small-pox, there died in one week of October, 70 whites, 60 of them of small-pox, and 9 blacks, eight of them of small-pox.
December 1st .- A room ordered to be fitted up in the City Hall to secure the fire-engines.
Mr. Silas Wood states the population of the province in this year to be 50,291, and that of Long Island alone as 17,S20, being Que third. The city of New York contained S,623. Of the above population, 7,231 were slaves.
An alderman and assistant were appointed to have the fire- engines cleaned " and the leathers oyled" and put into boxes to be ready for immediate use.
1734 Zenger's Weekly Journal was published for 3s. per quarter (373 cents)-Advertisements 3s. the first week, and 1s. every week after.
The advertisement of Gerardus Duykinck runs thus : "Lookin- glasses new silvered, and the frames plaine japaned ; also, all sorts of picktures made and sold, and all manner of painting work done. Also, lookin-glasses, and all sorts of painters' coulers and oyl, sold at reasonable rates, by Gerardus Duykinck, at the sign of the two Cupids, near the Old Slip Market; where you may have ready mony for old lookin-glasses."
The fortifications that the French were erecting at Louisburg, excited the attention and jealousy of the people of New York, and two French vessels coming to New York for provision, alarmed them by sounding the channel as they approached the city. 1735 July 16th .- " The first stone of the platform of the new battery on White-hall Rocks, was laid by his excellency our governour, and it was called George Agustus's Royal Bat- tery." As they fired a salute on the occasion, a gun (an old can- non) burst, and the pieces killed John Syms, high sheriff, Miss Courtlandt, daughter of Colonel Courtlandt member of the king's council, and a son-in law of Alderman Reimer.
As this battery was on the White-hall Rocks, of course on the east side of the extreme point, I presume the Copsey Battery on the Copsey Rock, was on the point and a little west. Copsey is the corruption of the Indian name, for the point of the Island of Manhadoes or Manhattan. They called it Capse, which pro- nounced by the Dutch, would in sound, to an English ear, be Copsey.
March .- The committee of the corporation on the house of 1736
correction and poor house, report, they have chosen a keeper -and as provision is made for the poor, they recommend that all beggars in the streets, be put to hard labour. That parish children be religiously educated and taught to read, write, and cast accounts, and employed in spinning, knitting, and sewing, to qualify them for
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being put out apprentices. That fetters, gyves, shackles, and a con- venient place, or whipping-post, be provided for the incorrigible. That a garden be fenced in around the house for the raising of roots and herbs for the poor in the house. That the inhabitants of the city have free licence to send to the said house all servants and slaves, there to be kept to hard labour, and punished according to the di- rections of any one justice, with the consent of the master or mis- tress. That the master or mistress pay Is. entrance, and 1s. 6d. for whipping, and for discharge 1s., and 7d. per day, during con- finement. Agreed to.
The multiplicity of gaming houses is complained of.
A certificate is granted, that James Alexander, has for about twenty years practiced as attorney and counsel in New York and New Jersey ; and has been for fourteen or fifteen years, one of his majesty's council, with good reputation. That he was appointed attorney-general and advocate-general. And that lie was appoint- ed naval-officer by Governour Burnet. That he is of good life, and fair character, etc. And that he is a true friend to his ma- jesty's succession, (the protestant succession.) This gentleman had sought refuge in the country, having been connected with the Scotch rebellion, and when his relative, the Earl of Sterling, died without male issue, was supposed to be heir to the title and estate, but did not apply in consequence of said connexion-Now, did he not seek and obtain this certificate when intending so to apply ? His son applied and assumed the title, and was General Lord Sterling, in 1775.
July 22d .- Captain Garratt Fanliorn is thanked by the common council for serving as a representative in the assembly, without re- ward or wages.
1738 June 2Sth .- The mayor acquaints the lieutenant-gover- nour that the small-pox is feared, as it is rife in South Carolina, and that a purple or spotted fever began to spread there. Ordered, that one of the pilots be constantly in waiting at or near Sandy Hook, and board all vessels, and acquaint the masters, (if coming from Barbadoes, Antigua, or South Carolina,) " that it is the order of this board, before they come into harbour, that they anchor as near as may be to Bedlow's Island ; and there wait until they are visited by some of the physicians of the city-and not land goods or persons, or suffer persons to come on board, until report be made." 1739
The American colonies raised and sent 3,000 men to assist the English at Carthagena ; of these, many High- landers made part.
George Whitfield produced at this time a salutary effect upon the manners of the colonists by his preaching. The house still remains [1837] in William street, New York, in which he instruct-
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ed his hearers. Its peaked front and roof marks its antiquity, although it has been modernized. The street was then called " Horse and Cart street," from a sign of a horse and cart at a tavern door, opposite the house in which Whitfield discoursed, he occupying the upper story, which was then a sail loft. 1740 The winter of 1740 -- 1 was emphatically called " the hard winter," and perhaps was entitled to that distinction until that of 1779 -- SO. The severity of '40 -- 1 continued "from the middle of November to the latter end of March." Snow, six feet on a level. The Hudson frozen at the city of New York.
August 26th .- A law to prohibit negroes and other slaves vend- ing Indian corn, peaches, or any other fruit within this city. " Whereas, of late years, great numbers of negroes, Indians, and mulatto slaves have made it a common practice of buying, selling, and exposing to sale, not only in houses and yards but likewise in the publick streets, great quantities of boiled Indian corn, pears, peaches, apples, and other kinds of fruit, which pernicious practice is not only detrimental to the masters, mistresses, and owners, as the slaves absent themselves from service, but productive of fevers and other disorders among the inhabitants ; therefore ordained, that any negro," etc., (those coming to market from the country or the Out ward of the city only excepted) after the 23d of August that shall be convicted before the mayor or aldermen of the above prac- tice, shall be publickly whipped at the whipping-post, at the dis- cretion of said mayor, aldermen, etc., unless the master pay six shillings."
In this year Colden says, J. A., which I presume to be James Alexander, wrote to a M. P., in London, from New York, that Governour Burnet's measures respecting the Indian (or fur) trade were successful. That he "chiefly with his money, credit, and risque, erected a trading house and fortification at the mouth of the Onondagues river, called Oswego, where the province of New York supports a garrison of soldiers, consisting of a lieutenant and twenty men, yearly relieved." He says, the Indian trade is now divided into one hundred hands, whereas before Burnet's scheme it was monopolized by a very few merchants trading to Montreal from New York and Albany, rich, and at their ease ; the others, young men who carried the goods to Oswego, or further ; and our settle- ments are extending even to the branches of the Susquehannah- from whence to the Alleghany, a branch of the Mississippi.
1741 Even as early as this year, as if conscious that their mode of ruling the colonies was unjust and onerous, the governours of Great Britain intimated, through Clarke, their jealousies of an intention to become independent. Clarke, in a message to the assembly, says that " a jealousy for some years has obtained in England, that the plantations are not without thoughts
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of throwing off their dependance on the crown of England." The assembly assured the governour that they could vouch that no such wish was entertained ; but this jealousy no doubt caused the wish to spring up, and like many prophetick sayings, tended to bring about the accomplishment of the predicting fear. England was ever jealous of the settlers of the American continent. They were called his majesty's plantations for a long time-then our colonies ; ever considered as a kind of property belonging to England; but being live stock, it was property that might escape.
October 7th .- Common council at the house of Charles Leis- hare. The general assembly request the common council to con- sider of a bill for the due regulation and government of negroes, and the orderly keeping of a sufficient night-watch. They resolve, to raise £500 on the inhabitants, to pay for twelve able watchmen : to oblige masters of vessels to give security for strangers and ser- vants brought by thein, that they shall not become chargeable : for the punishment of mothers and reputed fathers of bastard children, by fine of £10 or corporal punishment.
1742
March 6th .- Ordered, that the indentures of Mary Bur- ton be delivered up to her, and that she be discharged from the remainder of her sevitude, and £3 paid her, to provide ne- cessary clothing. The common council had purchased her indentures from her master, and had kept her and them, until this time .* ,
22d .- A law to restrain negroes from going to fetch water on a Sunday, other than to the next well or pump to the place of their abode, and from riding horses through the streets or out of town on a Sunday. The offender to be whipt at the publick whipping- post, at the discretion of one justice of the peace, unless the owner pay 3s.
April Sth .- The mayor acquainted the common council, that Mary Burton applied to him in the presence of two witnesses for the payment of £100 ; as being the person that made the first dis- covery of the persons formerly concerned in setting fire to some houses : to which sum, she pretended to be entitled, by virtue of the request of this board, to the lieutenant-governour, and his pro- clamation of the 17th of April, 1741. Whereupon, ordered, that if any person will appear before this board, and make it appear to the satisfaction thereof, that such person is entitled to either of the rewards mentioned in the request and proclamation, that they will pay.
August 26th .- Ordered, that every Sunday morning, from day- light to the setting of the military guard, and froin five o'clock in
· See Vol. 1, Ch. 21.
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the afternoon, or at the discharge of the military guard to the evening of the same day, the following method be pursued, to prevent the scandalous and unchristian irregularities, lately so much prac- tised by negroes, children, and others, on the sabbath-day, viz. : that one alderman, one petty constable, and four fire-men, do walk the streets, lanes, wharves, and alleys, during the time aforesaid. 'The officers taking turns, beginning with the senior alderman.
September 2d. George Joseph Moore, deputy secretary of the province, shows the board, that he is appointed by the court of chancery, guardian to Mary Burton. Whereupon are paid for her use £S1, making with £19 paid for her freedom and necessaries, the whole £100, the reward offered to any white person, that should discover any person or persons, concerned in setting fire, etc.
October 14th .- A committee is appointed to wait on the chief justice, and desire his opinion, whether any law exempts the peo- ple called Quakers, from serving as constables in this city.
22d .- The common council petition the general assembly, pray- ing, that the negroes executed for the late conspiracy, be paid for out of the revenue.
1743 February 25th .- Robert Browne having been elected as constable for Montgomerie ward, objected to his Qua- kerism : whereupon, agreed, that he desire the opinion of the chief justice, whether or not, he was, or is compellable. The com- mittee, who had been appointed on this question, report, that the chief justice declared his opinion, that no Quaker is compellable, it being an office of trust.
July 25th .- " Saturday last, the men belonging to the Castor and Pollux privateer, having found that a person who had entered on board their vessel two or three days before, in order to go the cruise, was a woman ; they seized upon the unhappy wretch, and ducked her three times from the yard arm ; afterwards, they made their negroes tar her all over from head to foot, by which cruel treatment, and the rope that let her into the water having been indis- creetly fastened, the poor woman was very much hurt, and con- tinues now ill." I read of no punishment inflicted on these naval heroes.
September .--- An address to Governour George Clinton, and the freedom of the city in a gold box. The box to cost £20 and Le Roux to make it.
This Admiral George Clinton is described by the historian Smith, as easy in his temper, but incapable of business. He im- mured himself in the fort when in town, and when at his house in Flushing, amused himself with his bottle and a circle of dependants, who flattered him and played billiards with his lady, who governed him and prompted the schemes for making money out of the people. If he was not one of those described in after times by Col. Barre,
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when he said publickly in parliamentary debate, 'that to his cer- tain knowledge some were promoted to the highest seats of honour in America, who were glad to fly to a foreign country to escape be- ing brought to the bar of justice in their own,' he was at least one who, among many others, embittered the minds of Americans to- wards their fellow-subjects in Great Britain, and prepared them, as good sometimes springs from evil, to first appreciate duly, and then resolve to attain, the blessings of self-government. He ruled ten years, and departed amidst the hootings of the people.
In this year, Cadwallader Colden sent to Linnaeus a catalogue of the plants growing in Ulster county, New York.
1744 January 2d .- It is announced that there is just published " The American Magazine and Historical Chronicle, for October, 1743 :- to be continued ; price, 3s. 6d. per quarter .-- N. B. Those gentlemen who have subscribed for this Magazine, are desired to send for it." It was published by James Parker, who printed and issued the Postboy ; the first year of which jour- nal was completed January 16th.
The mode of cleaning the streets of New York at this time, as ordered by law, was, that all householders, etc. residing " within the six wards, south of the Fresh water, should every Friday rake and sweep together all the dirt, filth, and soil, lying in the streets before their respective dwelling-houses, upon heaps, and before Saturday evening cause the same to be carried away, and thrown into the river, or some convenient place," under penalty of Gs. for each offence or neglect.
April 16th .- Appears an advertisement, saying " A Journal of the proceedings against the conspirators at New York" would be published shortly. This was the book of the Negro Plot of 1741 and '2, by Horsemanden.
Advertisements of this date are mostly of privateers fitted out and preparing for a cruize, and the news is of captures and arrivals.
Murders and accidents form materials for the editors of news- papers then, as now, and bear a just proportion to the population. We are told that a man is found murdered at his own door; but on examination there is sufficient reason to believe that he made himself drunk and fell out of the window. This is, as it might be, now; but when we are told that " a lame woman having some words with a soldier, he drew his sword and cut her miserably down the back," we are reconciled to our fortune in not living in the " good old times." 1745 Cuffee, a negro, belonging to James Alexander, sen- tenced to death for breaking open his mistress's shop, was to be executed on a certain day, but the hangman dying the eve- ning before, he is respited until the next Friday. Thus death
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saved Cuffee from dying, and he was finally reprieved and ordered for transportation or exportation ; i. e. to be a slave elsewhere and rob another master.
The steeple of the new Dutch Church was set on fire by light- ning, but extinguished by persons breaking through the cupola.
£5,000 were given by New York to the Cape Breton expedi- tion, and £2,000 by New Jersey.
1746 March 3d .- The governour and council went to the assembly-chamber, at Greenwich, and met the members of that body; when, among several other acts passed, was one for raising money to fortify "Schenegtada," and one offering rewards for such scalps and prisoners of the enemy as shall be taken by the inhabitants of (or Indians in alliance with) This colony. The small-pox prevailing at Greenwich, the assembly adjourned to West Chester, and then to Brooklyn.
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