USA > New York > New York City > Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. I > Part 32
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Witnesses: WM. DE PEYSTER, ABR. W. DE PEYSTER, HENRY RUTGERS, JR.
A codicil made and published by me, Jacobus Roosevelt, of the City of New York, merchant, the twenty-ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy- six, and by me annexed to my last will and testament, and made part thereof. Whereas, I the said Jacobus Roosevelt have given and devised to my grandchild Thomas Barclay, the eldest son of my late danghter Helena Barclay, deceased. part of iny estate so as to make him equal with his brothers and sisters, and whereas, for sundry reasons I have thought proper to revoke and make void, and I do hereby revoke and make void the part and share of my said estate so given and devised to him, and in lieu thereof give and bequeath unto him one shilling only. The part and share which by iny will I have given to my said grandson, Thomas Barclay. I give and bequeath to his brother. James Barclay. merchant. upon this special trust and confidence that the aforesaid James Barclay shall place the same at interest. and out of the moneys arising therefrom pay the said Thoma- Barclay yearly during his natural life. and after his decease then pay such part of my estate to his lawful issue. and for want of such issue. pay the same to his brothers and sisters and to the child of my granddaughter. Helena Moncrief, lately deceased, or to their legal representatives share and share alike.
JAMES ROOSEVELT. [L. s.]
Witnesses : DIEDERICK HEYER, HENRY BEEKMAN. JOSIAH SHIPPEY.
The will and codicil were probated June 5, 1776, before Cary Ludlow. Surrogate : R. Harpur. D. Seet'y, certifiving to the in-
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terlineations. It appears that Isaac Roosevelt was the only executor who qualified.
By a singular mistake in the beginning of the recital of the probate proceedings the date of their being had is stated as of the 5th day of June, 1774, though as will be seen the will was not executed until June 29th, 1775, nor the codicil until April 29th, 1776.
OBSEQUIES OF LA FAYETTE.
Thursday last was the day appointed to render funeral honors to La Fayette. New York and Brooklyn united their societies, inilitary and civic. on this occasion.
The procession commenced marching about three o'clock; the stores, balconies and tops of the houses were all covered with spectators. The number has been stated at one hundred thousand.
The societies were in line along the eastern side of Broadway. The military line was formed in Chambers street. The military took up their line of march in front of the City Hall, and passed through the Park. from Broadway to Chatham street, and then up the Bowery, when the various societies and citizens joined and the march commenced up to Broome street, thence into Broadway and down to the Battery.
The latter end of the procession had not all passed into the Park when its head had reached the Park again. the place of starting. although the distance is between two and three miles.
The numerous societies bore banners and emblems shrouded in crape. A beautiful white horse, caparisoned in mourning, was led by a groom. The urn was conveyed in an open carriage. drawn by four white horse-, guarded by the La Fayette Guards. . and followed by the Revolutionary pall bearers, members of the Cincinnati Society, in open barouches.
Shortly after six o'clock the procession began to arrive at Castle Garden. The garden was in various places, indeed wherever circumstances admitted it, hung with black cloth. In the gallery, opposite the rostrum. in front of the great saloon, a
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Obsequies of La Fayette.
temporary orchestra was erected, which was shrouded in mourn- ing and was occupied by the band and choir of the New York Sacred Music Society. The rostrum was covered with the Ameri- can ensign and with folds of black crape.
Abont an hour having elapsed. the funeral service commenced with the following hymn, arranged to the music of Handel's March in Saul :
Unveil thy bosom, faithful tomb, Nor pain nor grief, nor anxious fear
And give these saered relics room
Take this new treasure to thy trust, Invade thy bounds. No mortal woes Can reach the peaceful sleeper here, To slumber in the silent dust. While angels watch the soft repose.
Break from his throne, illustrious morn! Attend, O Earth! his sov'reign word ! Restore thy trust-a glorious form Shall then arise to meet his Lord.
The Right Reverend Bishop Onderdonk, of the Protestant Episcopal Church, then read from the 15th chapter of the First Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, commencing at the 20th verse to the end. He also read part of the Episcopal service for the burial of the dead. during which and at the close the fol- lowing pieces of music were performed and sung :
MARCH-PLEYEL'S HYMN. RECITATIVE.
I heard a voice from Heaven, saying unto ine, write. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.
CHORUS. Even so, saith the Spirit. for they Rest from their labor.
LUTHER'S HYMN.
Great God, what do I see and hear! The end of things created- The Judge of Mankind doth appear, On clouds of glory seated ;
The trumpet sounds-the graves restore The dead which they contained before -- Prepare my soul to meet him. WHEN THE EAR HEARD ILIMI.
When the car heard him then it blessed him, and when the eye saw him it gave witness of him.
CHORUS. Why should we start and fear to die ? What timorous worms we mortals are ! Death is the gate of endless joy, And yet we dread to enter there. Jesuis can make a dying bed Feel soft as downy pillows are. While on his breast I lean'my head. And breathe my life out sweetly there.
The funeral eulogy was then pronounced by the Hon. James Tallmadge, who had been selected for that service, an orator in all respects fitly chosen .- Long Island Star, July 3d. 1834.
THE OLDEN TIME. EXTRACTS FROM NEWSPAPERS FIFTY YEARS AGO.
On the 16th of November, 1788, a charity sermon was preached in St. Paul's Chapel. and a collection made for the benefit of the city charity school. The number of its scholars was eighty-six, and they were all orphans. This institution was originally created by Trinity Church, endowed by it, and also by several wealthy citizens. It is yet in existence, and is known by the name of Trinity seliool. One of the legacies left by a charity scholar comprises many lots of ground situated in the vicinity of Yorkville, and, on the death of some two or three individuals it becomes the sole property of the school. These lots were accumulated after a life- time's service on the high seas. and the donor sacredly remem- bered the noble institution which had granted him a good educa- tion in the days when he was left without parents and without a home. The property i. likewise becoming, each year, more and more valuable, and by the time it falls into the hands of the in- stitution it will form an estate immense in value and extent.
Lots of ground located on the east side of Broadway, and bounded on the south by Verlattenberg street ; also, on Bavard's farm, fronting Broadway, were advertised for sale. A handful of bank bills, or. in other words. a few hundred dollars, would then have been quite sufficient to purchase a lot of ground in the above portions of the city. In those days the Bowling Green. Battery and Park were the only plots used or occupied as publie grounds. The aristocracy thought uot of up-towneries, except in the way of country houses ; for their town residences were comfortable enough. even if situated in -ach narrow passages as Stone and Whitehall streets.
Quarterly examinations of Columbia College grammar school were held, and premiums allowed the best scholars of the same. This academy is another of the institutions which originated in olden time. One Picken- gave public dances at the City Assem- bly Room, the price of tickets to which was six shillings. Van lorne and Clarkson were largely concerned iu the wholesale gro-
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cery trade, Nicholas Cruger in the West India trade. Robert Bowne dealt in China goods ; Gulian Verplanck in tea ; and James Renwick in calico. The grandchildren of most, if not all, of the above old New York merchants are yet living, and many of them are in the enjoyment of the wealth they have inherited from those models of industry and integrity, and by whose saving and economy they have reaped great benefits, and been enabled to maintain the character and dignity of true New Yorkers.
The places for holding elections were the Exchange, Abraham Brinckerhoff's house, the Coffee House, Oswego Market, City Hall, Peck Slip Market, and Bull's Head Tavern. The politicians of that period were relieved of an immense deal of labor. having but few inspectors to appoint, and but few committees to depend upon, or to nominate men suitable for offices connected with the govermental affairs of the city. The Exchange. now-a-days, would be rather a strange depot for ballotboxes, and the market- houses rather too odd. if not too public, for the transaction of business of so much importance as an election.
The statue of Gen. Montgomery was paid for out of a fund appropriated by the Legislature of New York, and which fund was made in 1789. A statue to Washington might have adorned the city ere this had similar measures been taken by the people and rulers of the Empire State.
The amount of excise money collected in New York was £100. The water lot rents produced £1.080. and there was then due the city 22,841. and to the Poor House the sum of £12 13s. The office of Chamberlain would not have been needed had such puny items continued to appear in the Treasurer's report of the resources of the city.
At that period the number of vessels in port was 119, which was a proof of the healthy state of trade in these dominions: the foreign vessels outnumbered our own. and the time once was when Dutch and English merchantmen composed the only crafts that visited our shores. The times have since changed : for we have often, in these days, at our wharves, vessels from all parts of the world.
In the day- of old. personal quarrels and encounters were not of frequent occurrence. We find but one having the appearance
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of an attack, or an assault, and that originated between Dr. Wright Post and one P. Micheau, both prominent citizens of that period ; the latter was well known and much esteemed in the political ranks of the city. Dr. Post was challenged by him, but declined to meet his opponent ; the consequence was a long and violent controversy ensned between the aggrieved, Doctors McKnight, Bayley, and others. the friends of both parties. The affairs ended on the departure of Mr. Michean for England ; previous, how- ever, to his exit, a number of affidavits relating to it appeared in the public prints of the city.
Hoboken, by the Dutch, was called Hoboock; the customs of old have been banished from it. as they long since were in the city of our birth.
Thirty pounds was the value of a good, sound horse. in the olden time. A great many horses were imported from the Eastern States, particularly Rhode Island. Virginia horses were also occa- sionally seen in the streets of the city, attached to the vehicles of the wealthy residents of lower Broadway.
In the neighborhood of Chamber, street was Potbaker's hill. an eminence quite as famous as the Bunker hill in Grand and Broome . streets; but not so mmich frequented as the young folks' favorite, " Flattenbarrack hill."
Col. Ilamilton. Jolm Jav. and Baron Steuben were each wounded 'in the celebrated riot, better known as the doctors' inob.
At the corner of Rector and Lumber streets was a mount. It existed during the Revolution, and tradition says that many a suffering soul found a last resting place in that identical region.
In the winter of 1756 the ice was so hard that persons traveled upon it from Amboy to Staten Island. On the 29th of Decem- ber Jacobus Van Zandt. a merchant of New York, died. He was a great friend to his country's rights and privileges, Like a good old Knickerbocker, he lived to contribute to the happiness of his fellow men. and died amid their regrets and lamentations.
On the 26th of October. 1757. Alexander Clinton, a nephew of Gov. George Clinton, was drowned in the North river. This melancholy event deprived the community at large of a young man of great promise. for he had accepted and occupied many
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high and responsible stations, and was, moreover, connected with one of the first families of that period. During the Revolution he held the rank of lieutenant in the artillery ; he was afterwards appointed private secretary to his unele, the Governor, and Seere- tary to the Council of Revision ; he also held the rank of lien- tenant of artillery in the city militia. after the war. These honors were conferred upon him at an early age. At the time the boat which contained young Clinton was upset his unele was reviewing Gen. Malcolm's and Col. Bamman's brigade on the Bat- tery. Adjutant-General Fish accompanied the Governor.
In 1790, Governor Jay (like all other great men) found that he had many enemies as well as friends. For his public acts he was frequently censured by the party opposed to him ; and for expressing his views first in favor, and afterwards against, the new government he was called the gilded trop.
The city then derived the following income from dock rents. £875: ferry rents, $541; water lots, $1,103; market fees, $191; and from lots in the North Ward, which had been sold to the Dutch Church. 21.000.
The city magistrates, besides their powers and duties as con- servators of the peace, were vested with the cognizance of civil actions to a certain amount. A militia act was passed in 1792. A few of the restrictions contained therein are subjoined :
Resident, were subjected to the act at the age of eighteen, and under the age of forty-five years. The militia were to execute. when called upon. the laws of the Union, to suppress insurrec- tions and repel invasions. The Indians were inneh dreaded at that period. Every citizen of New York. enrolled and notified. had. within six months thereafter, to provide himself with a good musket or fireloek : a sufficient bayonet and belt ; two spare flints and a knapsack : and a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty-four cartridges, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball. This was quite an expensive outfit. but the original one of the olden time. The commissioned off- cers were armed with a sword or hanger. and espontoon : they were generally men of accomplishments and great respectability. The arms, ammunition and accoutrements of the militia were exempt from executions or sales for debts, or for the payment of
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taxes. The Vice President of the United States, the officers, judicial and executive, of the government, the members of both Houses of Congress, and their respective officers, were free of militia duty. All custom house officers, with their clerks, post officers and mail stage drivers, as well as ferrymen employed on the post roads, enjoyed the same privilege. For each battalion one company of grenadiers, light infantry, or riflemen, was formed. Each dragoon was obliged to furnish himself with a good horse, fourteen hands high ; a mail pillion, breastplate, and sundry other articles necessary for the service. The color and fashion of the regimentals was determined by the brigadiers. In consequence of the poverty of the soldiery, and the law requiring them to furnish their own habiliments, they were naturally very cheap and plain.
The first or original Trinity Church was founded in 1696. and the steeple of the edifice was finished in 1697. It was afterwards struck by lightning in the Summer of 1762, and in 1776 the church was totally destroyed by fire, and it lay in ruins during the remainder of the Revolutionary war. On the 21st of August. 1758. at 12 o'clock. the foundation stone of the new Trinity Church was laid by the Right Rev. Samuel Provoost. On the stone was the following inscription :
To the Honor of Almighty God, And the advancement of the Christian religion. The first stone of this building was laid (On the site of the old church, destroyed by fire in 1:76) On the 21st of August, 1789, In the thirteenth year of the Independence Of the United States of America. The Right Reverend Samuel Provoost, D. D , Bishop of New York, being Reetor. The Honorable James Duane, { Churchwardens. John Jay,
The history of this church has already been published to the world. It has stood for many years as the first or mother church of the Episcopal per-na-ion: and. in olden time, the popularity of it, varion, rectors added much to the satisfaction of those who first worshipped there. Among the tokens of several of its Christian members we find two communion plates, presented on
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The Olden Time.
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Christmas day, 1718, and several articles presented by William and Mary, and Queen Anne : others also from one of the Georges, with the initials " G. R." inscribed thereon.
On the 2d of October, 1780, Major Andre was executed at Tappan, New Jersey. Andre conducted a large correspondence. in his early days, with Washington and Sir Henry Clinton, and also with a Miss Seward, when the above-named resided in New York City. Previous to his misfortunes, which were occasioned by his turning traitor to his country, he enjoyed the friendship and esteem of the first people of our land ; he was noted for being kind and gentlemanly in his manners, and, as a musician, few could equal him. Being a dabster at flute playing, he occasion- ally indulged himself on moonlight evenings in serenading his lady acquaintances.
In 1787. for want of public buildings, the tax, with other offices, was located in the Oswego Market. Lots of ground in New street were taxed £5 2%., in some parts of Broadway $40 16s. Sd., in Cortlandt street £7 13s., and in Dey street £6 6s. 7d. Property of any description. if located in Broadway, was always salable, and that favorite avenue has maintained its reputation for beauty and variety ever since the above-named period.
Doctor Charlton. a highly respectable citizen of New York. resided in Lumber street. Francis Childs published a price eur- rent. and Peter and George Lorillard kept a snuff and tobacco factory at No. 4 Chatham street. above the new jail. The latter named accumulated immense estates, and the pig-tail and kite- foot tobaccos they then manufactured were much consumed by the multitude.
In dress. the men of old were very particular ; they were passionately fond of buckles and breeches, and buff cloth vests were highly fashionable. The rich were liberal in their outlay -. and the poor classes alway- managed to appear tidy and respect- able. If a mechanie was only honest and well behaved. he re- ceived the attentions and hospitalities of the wealthy classes. The peculiarities of the old Knickerbocker-, their eccentric no- tions and original ideas. were occasionally made public by some one of their mumber, especially when they were permitted to ex- press their sentiments through the medium of the press. On one
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The Olden Time.
occasion we find an honest American praying to be delivered from the terror of an inundation of refugees from the island of Nova Scotia, and fear of arbitrary power; he also prayed that men of opulence might be inspired with true understanding, and that humility might be bestowed upon ladies of fortune. This eccentrie man seemed to be constantly in fear that the emigrants from the English colonies would pour in too rapidly, and, as a mat- ter of course, interfere with the prospects and progress of the original settlers.
On the 11th of June. 1788, the Synod of the Reformed Dutch Church, of this city, appointed a day of humiliation and prayer ; they set, thereby, an example for the remaining churches of the city. Nothing can be more beautiful or Christian-like than offer- ings or appointments of this kind, especially in a country so much blessed with wealth. resources and the means of obtaining com- forts, happiness and religion : the latter, too. without molestation or hindrance of any kind or description.
The ladies of those days were like the men in many particulars. They maintained a certain dignity, asked but few favors, and were capable of administering advice to giddy, thoughtless and inex- perienced urchins. With fineries and fashionable attire they were well supplied. and in the days of federal notions federal bon- nets were imported from London, and were worn by the amiable and accomplished daughters of the Dutch and English families.
The officers and crew- of the frigates Alliance and Bon Homme Richard. which composed the squadron under the command of Jolm Paul Jones, received a large amount of prize money from the hands of a commissioner then residing in New York city. John Paul Jones alone received no less a sum than twelve thousand silver dollars, and the others, in like proportion, obtained their share of the spoils. Opportunities of this kind are not now very frequent, and though they have occurred to the great relief of gallant men. yet the less frequent we have to record them the less we will have to speak of the losses and distress of others.
The corner of Greenwich and Murray street was the northern boundary of the city, as only a few huts were to be seen beyond that section ; and. even between Murray street and the present Washington Market, straggling habitations were visible. In the
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The Olden Time.
rear of the City Hospital there stood a frame building, which had a garden and large orchard attached to it. On this spot a duel was fonght in 1787. In the fields and meadows which extended far and wide, from the present Hospital grounds to the North river, hundreds of horses and cows were often scen grazing. Be- tween Pearl and Anthony, and Elm and Cross streets, there was a large pond. in which several persons were drowned. Sportsmen visited this place. and returned from thence to their homes, gen- erally, with as large a quantity of fly-abouts, as if they had traveled to the heights of Harlem.
At the evacuation, but few of the streets were paved. The workmanship displayed in these few was performed in such a manner as would now be deemed very awkward-one gutter run- ning through the centre, which was the lowest part of the street, and the elevation on both sides being towards the houses. At the corner of Broadway and Reade street was a burying-ground for people of color : and when it was first dedicated for burial pur- poses there was scarcely a house to be found in this neighborhood.
In the lower part of the city, after the Revolution, there was little to be seen but a mass of ruins. The few buildings then in existence were constructed of wood. At that same period. there were but nine places of public worship, while at the connence- ment of the Revolution there were nineteen. Trinity and the old Lutheran churches were consumed by the fire of 1776, and the others. as well as the College, used as barracks, jails, hospitals and riding-schools. The College, which was suspended in 1776, was completely re-established in 1784. Education had been almost totally neglected during the preceding seven years. The temporary residence of Congress in our city lasted for about six years, during which time an activity in business and great suc- cess among her merchants was universally apparent.
At the time that the first. or Hate Market was built. a creek extended through Pearl street, from Maiden lane to the East river. The term Fly Market is a corruption of the one origin- ally adopted. Ilie, meaning to imply the valley or meadow market.
On the banks of the Hudson. near where the old Greenwich State Prison building now stands, was the Indian King tavern ; at
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this place, in 1790, twenty-eight of the chiefs and warriors of the Creek nation took lodgings, when visiting the city. A string of beads and a paper of tobacco were tokens of perpetual peace among this very peculiar people.
The Jews of the city worshipped for many years in what is now a very obseure locality ; the building they occupied was in Mill, below Marketfield street. The congregation was called Shearith Israel, i. e., the remnant of Israel, and was incorporated by law.
On the 21st of December, 1788, the New York Society Library was formed. The Hon. Robert Livingston, Walter Rutherford, Matthew Clarkson, Samuel Jones, and others were appointed trustees. Messrs. Robert Watts, Edward Griswold, Hugh Gaine and Dr. Samuel Bard were authorized to receive subscriptions during the absence of Mr. Jones, the treasurer. This was the first society of its kind that was established in New York city. The number of learned and literary men at that period was quite large, and the citizens generally were in favor of the institution, having been heretofore destitute of any public library, or the means of acquiring much knowledge or amusement other than that which they derived from social intercoarse and mercan- tile connexions. In these days. the library of an inhabitant was rather small, and those of the professionals were but seldom seen by the curious and uneducated portion of the community.
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