Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 49

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

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The first permanent occupation of land in this town by white men took place more than 125 years before its civil organization in 1791. Among the Dutch immigrants who came over to secure the advantages offered by the Patroon, was Barent Pieterse Coeymans, who arrived in 1636 and immediately entered the service of Mr Van Rensselaer at a yearly salary of thirty guilders. Coeymans was accompanied by his three brothers, David, Jacob, and Arent. Barent Coeymans worked in the Patroon's grist mill until 1645. when he took charge of the saw mills belonging to Mr. Van Rensselaer, which were in the northern part of the present city on Patroon's Creek. In this work he was assisted by Jan Gerritsen, and each received a yearly salary of 150 guilders and in addition three stivers for every plank sawed by them. Coeymans re- mained thus employed until 1647. Previous to 1650 Coeymans lived

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south of Patroon's Creek, but in 1655 he took a ninteen year lease of a farm of "maize land " at twenty four guilders a year. In 1657 he secured a lease of the Patroon's mills for nineteen years, at the expira- tion of which he leased the mills on the Norman's Kill for thirteen years.

With the expiration of this lease in 1673 Mr. Coeymans purchased from the Indians a large tract of land, extending eight to ten miles on the river and twelve miles back into the country. For this tract, which embraced what became the town of Coeymans, he obtained a patent from Governor Lovelace. It was a valuable purchase at that time, especially as it carried with it excellent water power, and on the creek north of Coeyman's Cryn Cornelissen and Hans Jansen had already, as early as 1651 built a saw mill. Of course this tract fell within the boundaries of the Van Rensselaer Manor and the Patroon sought to establish his title at law. After protracted litigation the matter was finally arranged in 1706, by an agreement on the part of Coeymans to receive title from the Patroon and pay a small annual quit rent. This title was confirmed by patent from Queen Anne August 6, 1714.

The following extracts from the Patent and from a conveyance of one of the islands in the river, possess peculiar interest in this con- nection, the cession of the patent being defined in part as follows :

From "a certain creek or kill lying and being on the west side of Hudson's river to the north of a place of the Indians called Kax-hax-ki, stretching in length to the highest place where Jacob Flodden did used to roll down timber, named by the na- tives Scen-tha tin, to the island belonging to John Byers, and into the woods as far as the Indian Sachem's right goes."

Yielding and paying therefor, yearly and every year, unto the same Kilian Van Rensselaer, his heirs and assigns, the yearly rent or sum of nine shillings, current money of New York, at upon the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel, in lieu of all other rents, dues, duties and services, for or in respect of all premises or any part or parcel therefore, as by the said indenture relation to them being had more fully and at large appear.

Following is the conveyance alluded to :

On the 16th of April, 1672, Volkert Janes conveys all his rights and ownership to Barent Pieterse (Coeymans) in the island named Schutters, lying below Beeren Island, and included in Coeymans' patent, dated August 14, 1671.

Barent Pieterse Coeymans married a daughter of Andries De Vos and was the father of five children-Andries, Samuel, Peter, Arriantje

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and Jannetje. The first named was born in Albany and married a daughter of Dr. Samuel Staats, and later became a resident of New Jersey, where descendants of the family are still found. Samuel, also born in Albany, August 3, 1670, married Katrina Van Schaack, and resided many years in the great Coeymans stone house which still stands at the Landing; he had no children. Arriantje was born in Albany October 19, 1672, and remained single until she was fifty-one years old, living with her brother Samuel. She finally married David Verplank, who was then only twenty-eight years old; they had no children, and the mother died April 4, 1743. Verplank inherited a portion of her estate, and was twice married after her death and became the father of David, Johannes, Arriantje, and Isaac D. Peter Coey- mans was born in Albany and married Elizabeth Graveret (or Greve- raad), by whom he had two children-Menjae, who became the wife of Andreas Whitbeck, and Elizabeth, who married Jacobus Van Allen. Peter's first wife died and he married, second, Charlotta Amelia Daw- yer, who was mother of three children-Garritje (married John Bar- clay) ; Ann Margaret (married Andries Ten Eyck), and Charlotte Amelia (married John Jonas Bronk). Peter Coeymans resided in the old stone house until his death on April 30, 1736, when he was buried on Baeren Island. Many descendants of Peter through his five daugh- ters, lived in this vicinity, but none of the name of Coeymans are left. Barent, the patentee, is believed to have been buried on land now owned by Peter Whitbeck, the belief being chiefly founded on the fact that in a partition deed a part of this land is reserved for burial purposes. The old Coeymans stone house is now owned by Dr. Johnson.

The Coeymans Creek, before mentioned, is the same stream that bears the Indian name, Onisquethau, described in the history of New Scotland, both names attaching to it in these later years. The creek has the two falls mentioned, before it empties into a small bay leading to the Hudson. At the bottom of the lower fall is an old mill, long idle, and a building known as the old stone house, which is constructed of field stones, with brick gables. Two other buildings similarly con- structed still stand at the Landing, all three being probably more than a hundred years old.

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The level lands west of the village were in early years called Achquetuck, and here the early settlers were Andreas and Lendert Witbeck, whose families have been prominent in the town and county for many years. Daniel Traver and Balthus Keefer settled to the north of Indian Fields near what became known as Keefer's Corners, and nearby A. Searls and John and T. Witbeck built homesteads at an early date. The names of many other pioneers will appear as we pro- ceed, and the list of prominent families and their biographies is greatly extended in Part III of this volume. The town records go back only to 1811, which leaves the proceedings for twenty years unaccounted for. John T. Van Dalston was the first supervisor of whom there is record and Archibald Stevens the next, being chosen in 1818. His successors to the present time have been as follows :

1819-21, John N. Huyck; 1822-25, Israel Shear; 1826-28, Abraham Verplanck ; 1829-31, Andrew Witbeck; 1832-34, Henry Niles; 1835-37, Cornelius Vanderzee ; 1838-40, Jonas Shear; 1841-43, Garret Whitbeck; 1844-45, John Mead; 1846-47. Elwell Blodget; 1848-49, John Vanderzee; 1850-51, Nathaniel Niles; 1852-53, Willet Serls; 1854-57, Garrit Whitbeck; 1858-59, John B. Shear; 1860-61, David A. Whit- beck ; 1862-63, Jonas Shear; 1864-65, Peter Keefer; 1866-71, John B. Shear; 1872- 73, Cornelius Vanderzee; 1874-75, Nelson Schermerhorn; 1876-77, John H. Powell; 1878-80, John A. Hunt; 1881-82, Estes H. Strevell; 1883, Lansing Shear; 1884, Horace Blodgett; 1885-86, Richard S. Blodgett; 1887-88, Alton Van Derzee; 1889- 90, Estes H. Strevell; 1891, Richard S. Blodgett; 1892-93, Alton Van Derzee; 1894- 95, Noble H. Bronk.

The first Coeymans dwelling, the so-called Castle, was torn down about 1833. It stood on the corner of Westerlo and First streets, hav- ing walls of great thickness which were pierced with loop holes. The building faced the Hudson River and was erected very soon after Coey- mans made his purchase from the Indians. Down to the time of its removal it contained many relics and keepsakes of the old family, among them being an old picture of the property, made probably 150 years ago or more. It shows the present stone house, a small mill back of the site of the late grist mill, a plaster mill to the northward over an artificial rock-cut which served as a water-way, another saw mill on the crown of the rocks, and another grist mill on the opposite side of the creek. The last named mill stood until 1830. The old stone house and the other property passed to the Ten Eyck family through Peter Coeymans.

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The history of this town is a simple record of gradual progress and improvement in agriculture, the advancement of educational interests, the promotion of religious institutions, and the establishment of such mercantile stores as were needed for the community. In common with all communities dwelling on or near a great river, the inhabitants were intensely interested in the progress and final determination of the war of 1812, but there is no record of how many of them fought in its bat- tles. Many of the roads through this town were opened and consider- ably improved previous to the beginning of the present century. As population increased the number of road districts was augmented, turn- pike companies were organized, and stage and post routes were estab- lished. The Hudson River has, of course, always been a much-traveled highway northward and southward, supplying an easy and economical means of reaching the principal local market at Albany. It was about 1820 when the stage routes were established the stage companies having contracts for carrying the mails. Previous to that time the mails had been commonly carried by post riders. A turnpike company was early incorporated in this town for the construction and maintenance of a highway from Coeymans through Coeymans Hollow, Indian Fields, and thence through Dormansville and Chesterville in the town of Westerlo, and on to the old Delaware turnpike, a distance of about eighteen miles. The first division, about eight miles, was incorporated in 1850 as the Coeymans and Westerlo Plank Road Company, the charter extending thirty years. In 1860 the roadway of plank was taken up and broken stone substituted, since which time the stone road bed has been farther extended and it is now one of the best highways in the county. The charter of the company was renewed in 1880 for thirty years.

The school districts of Coeymans at the present time are fourteen in number with a school house in each, the whole together with Bethle- hem and New Scotland constituting the first school commissioner's dis- trict of Albany county. There is no graded school, high school or academy in existence at the present time. The Coeymans Academy, established in 1858 by Fletcher Blaisdell, Theophilus Civil and Peter Seabridge, and having for its first teachers Misses C. B. and Emma Brace, was not successful and like many other similar institutions was abandoned with the great improvement of recent years in the district

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schools. Previous to 1880 Acton Civill made an effort to found an academy at Coeymans village. In the western part of the place, on the high ground he erected a massive brick and stone structure in ample grounds, and in 1882 added a building which was to be used as a board- ing house. His own ill health and other causes led to the abandon- ment of all his plans before a school was opened. The buildings are still standing and unoccupied.

In the war of the rebellion Coeymans furnished her various quotas of volunteers for the armies of the Union, but the law providing for the preservation of a complete list of those who went out from the town has been unheeded.

The town of Coeymans was without a railroad until 1883, when the New York, West Shore and Buffalo line was completed, and though the mercantile interests of smail villages and hamlets are generally much affected by the building of railroads, and are frequently totally or in part destroyed ; it cannot be said that those of this town have suffered very much in this respect. The trade of Coeymans Landing is retained partly on account of its water front and its connection with Albany by the river, while at Ravena Junction, which is one mile from the Landing, an enterprising village has sprung into existence almost wholly on account of the railroad and furnishes an excellent point for marketing the surplus products of the country. The necessity for a rail connection with Albany by the West Shore road led to the building of the line from this point, direct to the city, while the main line passes a little to the northwest of the city through Bethlehem, New Scotland, and Guilderland.

The Coeymans Mutual Insurance Company was incorporated August 16, 1859, and has done a large local business, to the great advantage of its members and policy holders.

The Grove Cemetery Association at Coeymans was incorporated in 1848, through the efforts of Acton Civill.

The Indian Fields Cemetery was incorporated in January, 1872. The following were the first officers : President, William S Cole; vice-presi- dent, Andrew H. Witbeck; treasurer, Joslin Nodine; secretary, John N. Verplank; Judson Lamoreaux, Abram Witbeck, William J. Lamo- reaux, and George C. Lamoreaux. The cemetery contains about five acres.

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Among the physicians who have practiced in this town are Drs. Ely, Smith, Spaulding, Hand, Van Alstyne, Van Allen, Herrick, Holmes, Blodgett, and Clement; Dr. Benjamin B. Fredenburg settled here in 1826 and passed a long and active life in the town ; Dr. Andrew Huyck, settled at the Hollow in 1838; Wesley Blaisdell, and Andrew Van Ant- werp also practiced medicine here; Dr. F. C. Mosher, located at the Landing about 1848, and Dr. H. N. Johnson, settled at the same place about 1881, practiced his profession and also conducted a drug busi- ness ; Dr. C. C. Willis, is well known locally as a dentist; Dr. G. E. El- mendorf settled at Stephensville in 1876, while Dr. F. A. Rivets, located at Indian Fields in 1880.

The village of Coeymans Landing (Coeymans post-office) retains perhaps more of its ancient appearance and spirit than any other vil- lage in Albany county. There is an air of antiquity and quaintness about some of its streets and buildings that lends a charm to the place and makes it a much sought resort. These are in strong contrast with the modern business establishments of J. N. Briggs and other enter- prising men. Many of the streets are crooked, and along and among them are placed dwellings and shops with little regard to the order fol- lowed in villages founded in recent years. The western part of the place, situated upon the higher ground, is more modern in its charac- teristics and here are many beautiful residences, surrounded by at- tractive grounds. Among the first settlers at the Landing were Andreas and Lendert Witbeck, and the Ten Eyck, Van Allen, Verplank, Bronk, Barclay, Hotaling. and Van Daalston families. A little later came the Waldron and the Huyck families; one McMichael, a very early mer- chant ; James Teft, who kept a public house; Oliver Lawton, John Fanning, Palmer Utter, Joseph Hazelton, Levi Blaisdell, and others, whose descendants have been foremost in promoting the best interests of the village. Some of the early mills built at this point to utilize the valuable water power have been mentioned. They have all passed away and given place to other and later industries. What were known as the Cedar Point Mills were built by Conrad Ten Eyck many years ago, and connected with them was a plaster mill and carding factory which long ago disappeared. A flouring mill owned or operated at different periods by Israel Lawton, Briggs & Colvin, A. Willis, is now

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the property of Henry Johnson. It has been idle a number of years. A large mill is operated at the present time by John N. Briggs, as part of the large business interests controlled by him on the river. No man has done more in recent years for the up building of this place than he. He is a heavy dealer in coal and ice and is the lessee of Barren Island, to which he has given the name Baerman Park. Here he has made an ideal pleasure ground which is visited by hundreds of excursion parties every season from Albany and elsewhere.

Among past and present business men of the village are William B. Hull & Co., general merchants, a business now conducted by Andrew Van Derzee & Son ; Baumes & Brother, former dealers in groceries, crockery, etc .; W. W. Snyder, former boot and shoe dealer ; W. H. Keller, former grocer ; Powell & Johnson, present dealers in drugs and medicines ; Alfred A. Sherman, fancy goods and stationery ; J. B. Holmes, tin shop and hardware; A. Vandyck, harnessmaker ; L. E. Gould and Charles Zeigler, meat dealers ; Henry Slingerland, forward . ing and commission business ; H. Long & Son, grocers; C. B. Clow, furnishing goods. Among the attorneys who have practiced here in the past were S. Springsted and J. M. Harris, and Charles Thompson. C. M. Tompkins is in practice at the present time.

The Hotaling Hotel has long been owned and conducted by Richard S. Hotaling The Gedney House, formerly the Union, has been kept for many years by Samuel Gedney. The Tobin House, formerly the Whitbeck House, kept by Verplank Whitbeck, is now run by George Tobin. The American House is kept by Gilbert Cronk.

The first newspaper in Coeymans was established in 1863 by Gilbert C. Vincent under the name of the Coeymans Gazette, who sold out in the fall of 1864 to Willard Pond. It soon after passed into the hands of Henry Bronk, and subsequently to McKee & Springsted. In De- cember, 1869, Mr. Springsted sold his interest to his partner, Thomas McKee, who continued the publication until 1871. In that year Mil- ler & Sherman established the Coeymans Herald. Mr. Miller soon sold his interest to his partner, who a little later sold out entirely to S. H. & E. J. Sherman, who have continued the publication ever since.

Ravena, (formerly Coeymans Junction) .- The junction of the two branches of the West Shore railroad was made about a mile west of

JOHN N. BRIGGS.

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Coeymans Landing, on the stone road before described. The place of- fered a beautiful site for a village and prompted energetic men who foresaw the importance of the point, to invest money liberally in im - provements. Of these men one of the first and most active was Peter Pulver. As soon as the railroad station and necessary build- ings were erected in 1883, he built a hotel and restaurant and three dwellings. This was the nucleus of the village. Other dwellings soon followed and in 1884 he erected the large three story brick block for stores and hotel, which is now called the Pulver House, the present pro- prietor of which is C. E. Gage, who took it in December, 1895. Mr. Pulver also built another brick block near the hotel, for a store, with a public hall above. The village grew very rapidly within the succeed- ing five years. Stephen Vincent built what was the Temperance Hotel but which is now called the Vincent House, kept by E. Slater since May, 1895. General stores have been established by Willis Bentley, Elias Sweet, and Almeron Roberts. Truman Carhart deals in boots and shoes; A. M. Strevell, also Mr. Allen, in hardware, and William Melton in fancy goods. A large amount of cider and vinegar are made here by the Albany County Produce Company. An excellent school is conducted in the village, which is included in district No. 3, and three teachers are employed. The postmaster of the village is Elias Sweet.

The name of Coeymans Junction was never satisfactory to the inhab- itants of the village, and in 1893, through the efforts of C. M. Barlow and the Rev. R. G. Fenton, the name was changed by the post-office department to Ravena. The village now contains about one thousand inhabitants and is fast growing in population and improvements. A franchise is about to be granted for a better supply of water for fire and sanitary purposes.

Ache- que-tuck is a hamlet locally known as Peacock's Corners, hav- ing a post office, situated about two miles west of the railroad station of Ravena. Here is located the old stone house of the Ten Eyck family, built long before the Revolutionary war, and the old brick residences of the Verplancks and the Witbecks, all of which families settled at an early date in this immediate vicinity. Other pioneers here were the Van Derzee, Shear, Wiltsie and Schoonmaker families. In past years there were grist and saw mills, a tannery and a flax mill, on the Haana- 61

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krois Creek, which were the property of Isaac D. Verplanck. An ex- cellent farming district extends from this point to the eastern extremity of Coeymans Hollow described in old deeds as Hagh-a-tuck, which is the Indian name, and far to the northward. A general store is now kept here by Charles Corts, and a hotel by David Baumes.

Coeymans Hollow is a hamlet about in the center of the town, with a post-office of the same name opened in 1840 with John B. Shear as postmaster. The Hollow extends a distance of about two miles along the Haanakrois Creek, and was settled almost contemporaneously with Coeymans settlement farther east. The Verplanck and Witbeck fam- ilies, John Blodgett, Josiah Hinckley, Gerrit Witbeck, Jonas Shear, Jedediah Davis, and John Colvin were among the pioneers in the Hollow. There was in early years considerable manufacturing done here, the power supplied by the creek being utilized. Francis DeLong, Gerrit Witbeck and a Mr. Oberman manufactured hats here many years ago. A grist mill and saw mill, and a cloth works were owned and operated by John Blodgett and a Mr. Leslie. At the upper end of the village Verplanck had a grist mill and saw mill, which were destroyed by a freshet, after which the dam and raceway were utilized in recent years by Andrew Carey to drive machinery for turning hubs and spokes, but this industry has also dissapeared. About 1860-62 several flax mills were established on the creek, but were soon abandoned. All manu- facturing operations have disappeared, and little business of any kind is carried on.

Alcove (formerly called Stephensville) is a hamlet next to the west- ward of Coeymans Hollow and practically a continuation of it though having a post-office with the name of Alcove, and takes its name from Archibald Stephens, a former owner of mills here. One of the pioneers at this place was Casparus Ackerman who came in 1790 and soon afterward erected the first mills, which in course of time passed into possession of Mr. Stephens. The present mill is a large stone structure and is owned by Bennett T. Briggs. The Valley Paper Mills and the saw mill of Amos D. Briggs are situated here near the stone road. These were burned about 1890 and not rebuilt. About 1844 Ephraim Andrews erected a carding and cloth mill here which was enlarged a few years later by John E. Andrews and converted

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into a wrapping paper mill. In 1854 Mr. Andrews and W. S. Briggs introduced steam and other modern improvements and machinery. In 1871 the firm of W. S. Briggs & Sons (Newton S., Ralph B., and Amos D).) was formed and existed three years, when the property was trans- ferred to Amos D. Briggs, who in 1883 made extensive improvements and enlargements. Three-fourths of a mile south of these mills is the post-office and the residence of W. S. Briggs, owner of the stone mill before mentioned. Just above the Valley Mills, over eighty years ago, was a saw mill and near by was the tannery of Daniel Tompkins. The only mercantile business is a general store conducted by Green Brothers.

Indian Fields is a hamlet with a post-office of the same name in the western part of the town. Among the early settlers here were John and Thomas Witbeck, W. Searles, George Lamoreaux, Jedediah Davis, Daniel Green, Daniel Wickham, Gideon Schofiel, Josiah Hinckley, and the Huyck, Tompkins, and Robins families. In early years Isaac Ver- planck built a saw mill and afterward carding mills were started. At a later date Houck & Trenchard operated a cloth works and a saw mill. These were converted into a foundry by Huyck & Norris, who sold out to Caleb Snyder. A foundry and wood working shop is now con- ducted by Norris Brothers. Stores are kept by Odelon Adriance and Vincent Snyder, and a hotel by Frank Ingalls.

Keefer's Corners is a small cluster of dwellings in the northwest cor- ner of the town, which received its name from Balthus Keefer, who set- tled here in 1791, but two other families having preceded him to this point. Other early settlers were Daniel Traver, Jacob Schermerhorn, Dampa Mead, Stephen Hanes, George Lamoreaux, and the Lanson and Hogan families. The post-office was established in 1842, with Peter Keefer postmaster. The office was abandoned some years ago. There is no business of any account here at the present time.

The early Dutch and Huguenot immigrants who constituted so large a portion of the early settlers, not alone of this town, but of the whole of Albany county, were eminently religious in their character and habits. Indeed, this fact was one of the incentives that prompted them to seek new homes in a far-off country ; they longed for a land where religious intolerance and opposition could not reach them. It is clear that these people worshipped their creator both in private and in public

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 49

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374