USA > New York > New York City > Old New York : a journal relating to the history and antiquities of New York City, Vol. I > Part 38
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About the year 100 the ground on which stood the Lutheran church. being a space at the corner of Broadway and Rector street since occupied by old Grace Church, was purchased by the corporation of Trinity Church for the sum of $5.000 or $12,500.
In Park place, though but few improvements have been made. vet its former inhabitants and princely establishments are not now to be seen, nor can they ever be again revived so long as the magnificence of up-towneries doth dazzle and infatuate the upper irresistibles, whose wealth seems concentrated in more modern domains.
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The Olden Time.
Within the recollection of many citizens were the mansions of the Ilon. Philip Hone, in Broadway, adjoining the American Hotel, and of Robert Lenox, in the same street, nearly opposite the Globe Ilotel; likewise a range of spacious dwellings in Greenwich, between Rector street and Battery Place. This part of the city has gradually become wasted and decaved, since the rage for palaces and nabob abodes became fashionably prevalent. In Amity lane, now in the Fifteenth ward of the city, is an old country seat, with its picket fence and verdant lawns. Many, no doubt. will remember this spot. Its inhabitants. like ourselves, must. however, soon look forward for the day when our American metrop- olis will stand arraved with splendid structures. even to the heights of Harlem-fabrics of strength and beauty must there be located.
Processions in the olden time were very popular among the people. New York was always first on the list for such like di-play. There appears to have been but one public procession recorded in the oiden time which lacked that joviality and glee heretofore observant in such like arrays: that of the celebration of the Louisiana cession. On this occasion, a stupendous pro- gramme was announced : great doings were promised : a general ringing of the church bells was ordered; the corporation were
assigned a conspicnous place in the line : and a revival or imita- tion of a Fourth of July was advertised as fortheoming. Nothing of the kind. however, happened-that is to say, a series of dis- appointments. a want of cheerful shouts. and a lack of public spirit rendered dull and abortive that which was intended to have been great and glorious.
In 1-05. the polls on elvetion days were held at the following places : City Hotel : Matthieu's tavern. in John street : St. Paul's Claireh : Pierson's tavern, in William street ; Mooney's tavern, in Thomas street: at the Mott Street Church; and at Osborne's tavern in Broadway. called the Washington Inn.
At the corner of Reade street and Broadway was the Italian theatre. The company was composed of rope-dancers: the boxes of the establishment were provided with keys, and the doors were opened at five o'clock, P. M.
On the 11th of October, 1805. the Sons of Hermann met at their hall in George's street. AAfter being duly organized. they
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arched to a sanctuary, preceded by Baron Steuben, their presi- dent ; they were then addressed by Domine Cross, an honorable brother of their association. These gatherings of the sons of other soils were always productive of mirth, enjoyment, socia- bility, and great good to their countrymen laboring in our land. The inhabitants of New York have always aided and encouraged the establishment of literary and benevolent societies, and especially have they contributed their influence in behalf of re- spectable and worthy associations, established and conducted by foreign residents.
On the 24th of November, one hundred and nineteen vessels were in port ; of these, twenty-two were ships, two snows ; thirty- six brigs, seventeen schooners, and forty-two sloops. Lotteries were very common, not being prohibited, as now, by any State or city law. Curtis and Crane kept a lottery and exchange office at the corner of Peek slip and Water street. Oratorios were fre- quently given at the French Church in Pine street. The musical publie was indebted to a Doctor Jackson for these vocal enter- taiments. At that time. Niblo's garden lots -- so called by ns of the present day-were some twenty or thirty feet lower than Broadway. The old Washington Hall was first designed for a political building. It was built by the Federalists of 1600. Humbert's bakery was located in Ann street, next door to Christ Church. Humbert's bread and Aunt Roach's pies and cookies were among the never-to-be-dispensed-with edibles of the town. The public taste for refinement, information, and learning was greatly encouraged by the delivery of classical and historical lectures. Mrs. Edmund Burke Hamilton recited occasionally at the Mechanic Hall a selection of pieces sentimental and sublime. The appearance of a female in those days in the character of a publie instructor was a novel occurrence. Now we have religions speakers and fanatical orators: but their station and labors are of an entirely different nature from those of the lady of olden time.
In the month of October, 1500, the United States frigate Now York, Captain Morris, sailed from the city with a crew entirely American -- a remarkable incident at that time. American-born seamen were unwilling. previous to this date, to serve on board of government vessels bound for foreign shores.
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The Olden Time.
On the 24th of the same month Alexander Hamilton pub- lished a letter concerning the character and conduct of President Adams. The letter was sold at the bookstores, and was generally read by the friends and admirers of both these great men.
The London press often made extracts from the New York papers relating to the times, aspect, and condition of our country, and they as often misstated the whereabouts of many places with- in our city's vicinity. At one time. they placed the Battery on the borders of the Delaware river.
On the 2d of December, 1800, the body of Charles Adams, a son of the President, was interred with military honors in the old Presbyterian burying ground.
At that period. also, the expenses of the city were but little more in reality. than those of a modern western town. The credit of the metropolis was good ; so much so. that the Bank of New York loaned its rulers. to pay the expenses of the poor and for other items. the sum of 26,000. The city realized fifty pounds, five shillings and four pence. from materials of the Ex- change, sold at auction. by order of the authorities. The Treas- urer's accounts were examined by a committee composed of Robert Lenox. an old merchant, who was also during the war of 1512 the agent of the British in this dominion : John B. Coles. Jacob De La Montaigne and Philip Brashier-all of whom performed their duties agrecably to the directions and wishes of the Com- mon Conneil and the people.
On parade days the City Rangers and other citizen troops assembled at their different places. The Sixth regiment met at Lovett's Hotel. The Columbian Anaeroon Society likewise held their meetings at the tea-rooms of the old City Hotel.
On the west side of the town was Wilkins' wharf. It no doubt now forms a part of the foundations of the West and Washington streets stores, located near the Battery.
In 1801 mock turtle soup was served up every day at Knott's porterhouse. No. 42 Gold street. The weight of bread made by the city bakers was then regulated by a corporation ordinance.
Franklin street was called Provost, and a little above the present Barelay building's was the summer theatre of Mount Vernon.
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The Olden Time.
James Tillary was the resident physician of the city. and J. Bayley medical adviser.
The revolt of the inmates of the State prison, which occurred in those days, originated among the shoemakers-the last men one would suppose were imbibed with bold and traitorous de- signs. Those who fled crossed the Hoboken ferries ; and mes- sengers were immediately dispatched to Newark. Elizabethtown. and other places in New Jersey. easy of access to troubled and frightened runaways. The prison was then located at Green- wich. At that period, also. the members of the society organized for the relief of the distressed prisoners confined for debt in the city jail made strong efforts to release them from their afflictions by soliciting contributions from the wealthy and liberal. Peter A. Jay. now deceased. was secretary of that humane body. The present Prison Association has been formed for similar acts of benevolence, and among its members may be found many learned and distinguished citizens.
In the olden time. the highly respectable house of Wadding- ton. Rowlett and Corp was in existence. and imported English dry goods. Their warehouse was in Pearl street. Douglass and Shaw were in the same trade, and transacted business in the same thoroughfare. It was a custom in those days for the shopkeepers to call in a body and select from the different importations such articles as they were in want of, or deemed most salable. The Hon. Philip Hone once stated that at that period French dry goods were unknown in New York. He distinctly recollects when the first package of French kid gloves arrived in the city. English hitestring> were the only silks in use. A silk gown was counted a prize, and its appearance in a family was an event of sufficient importance to be chronicled with the birth of a child, or the setting out of a husband on a voyage to Albany.
Mr. Houe was then a clerk in the retail dry goods store of his brother in William street. The merchant -. he informs us, gave out but few notes, offering specie in most cases in payment for goods purchased. The majority of note- issued were collected through the Bank of New York. and old Michael Boyle, who was the runner of that establishment. gave notice to the drawers three days before the notes were dne. When due Michael called with a
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canvas bag, counted the money, in half dollars, shillings and six- penees, and then returned to the bank. Michael Boyle was an honest and faithful servant of the bank, obliging to the mer- chants, of a happy disposition, and had sufficient strength of body to bear the glistening coins entrusted to his care. The business limits of the city did not extend beyond Fulton street. Maiden Lane, Broadway and William street were the depots for traders.
One of the relies of the olden time was Christ Church, the original locality of which was in Ann street. It was then sold to the Roman Catholics, and a new edifice was built in Anthony street, on the site of the old cireus and theatre. The late Doctor Lyell, for many years pastor of Christ's Church, once preached as a Methodist in the open Park, at a time before the City Hall was erected, and also when the plot of ground was adorned with a wooden railing. He became soon after a clergyman of the Epi- copal persuasion, and at the time of his death was the oldest divine of this city. Ile was a man of spotless character, univer- sally respected by every old New Yorker. His earthly career was marked with meekne-s, charity and wisdom.
A BOY'S REMINISCENCES.
II.
On the corner of Anu street and Broadway, directly opposite St. Paul's Church, was once located the famous Museum of P. T. Barnum-since destroyed by fire-containing his extensive col- lection of curiosities, including the club which killed Captain Cook. the miniature Niagara Falls, " with real water." the two seals, and the " Monarch of the Ocean." I visited the Musemn a short time previous to its destruction. The whale was confined in a large circular tank about twenty feet in diameter filled with water, and seen through plate glass eight feet high. He must have been very young or must have belonged to a small species, for the oil from his entire carease certainly would not have filled one Inmdred barrels, as some species are said to do.
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The City Hall is above the Museum. Building was begun in 1803 and not completed until 1813. The basement was finished the first year, and I well remember running around the walls and counting the various rooms and cells which the present structure covers. Just at the right was the Bridewell Prison, used for the same purpose as the Tombs of to-day, while on the left was the jail in which were confined condemned criminals. and insolvent debtors, who remained as long as the creditors would pay their board. These three buildings were situated at the head of a park, facing the South. This park, like the Battery, has been little frequented as a promenade since the Central Park became the fashionable promenade and drive.
In the rear of the City Hall, on Chambers street, was the Alms House, where the poor, during the Winter, were supplied with sonp in quantities according to the size of the family, the number in which being ascertained from the applicant. To the usual question, " How many ?" one applicant made answer : " There's meself and me wife, two small childers and three bourthers." Perhaps it is needless to say that he went away with his pail up- side down. Directly opposite the Alinshouse were the Manhattan Water Works.
The Astor property included the block enclosed by Broadway. Vesey, Church and Barclay streets, with the exception of St. Peter's Church, which is on the corner of Barclay and Church streets, and which probably gave the latter street its name in the early days of New York. St. Peter's is the oldest Catholic church in the city. It covers nearly the entire lot, there being but a small space outside the building. and that is occupied by some five or six graves, probably of some of their priests. The whole, of course, was consecrated ground, and John Jacob Astor with his millions was not rich enough to buy a foot of it. It was on Barely street that my only sister lived, and there she died in December, 1828.
" Two miles from the Battery." as a milestone then told us, was the stone bridge. The bridge was over the creek, before men tioned, which conveyed the surplus water from the Collect to the IIndson. What is now Canal street was then but a country road. unpaved. There were many sand hills, especially as we proceed
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northward, and even below the bridge a high hill had to be cut down in order to make a straight level road, and the houses. though few and far between, could seldom be erected until a site was prepared by the removal of some sand hills. Continuing Northward, there were no houses for quite a distance ; on the left were the Lispenard meadows extending to Greenwich Road. and on the right the Collect. The Collect was a large stagnant pool nearly surrounded by high ground and hills. The water was not deep, but, nevertheless, in Winter made an excellent skating park. We would sometimes eut a hole in the ice and with our longest pole try to find the bottom of the soft black mud.
The Merchants' Exchange, before its destruction by fire in 1835, was a large. beautiful building. Its front hall was adorned with a fine marble statue of Alexander Hamilton, procured by the voluntary contributions of the merchants of the city as a trib- ute to the man who had done so much for the commerce of the country, in effecting several advantageous treaties with foreign nations and the adoption of convenient decimal currency while he was Secretary of State.
On, Cedar street -tood the old sugar house used by the British as a prison while they were in possession of the city. Here were confined not only military prisoners but private citizens. from New York. Newark and Brooklyn, who manifested any sympa- thy for the rebels. or who assisted them by word or act. I had the pleasure, some thirty years ago, of conversing with an old man of more than eighty years, who had been one of the innocent victims of British cruelty incarcerated in this prison. Hle re- marked that he had "six months" sweetening " in the sugar house. but being young and healthy, had somehow survived ; but many died from the confinement. impure air and prison fever. and were buried by their fellow prisoners, attended by a guard. These graves were, of necessity, rather shallow. as they had no implements for digging save their hands and what sticks they could pick up. Consequently the rains soon displaced the slight covering, expo-ing the bones. These were collected by the resi- dents living near and carefully preserved in boxes and barrels. which finally accumulated in such numbers that the City Council. being notified. resolved to give them a public and honorable bur-
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ial. They accordingly ordered a substantial brick vault con- structed in the side of a hill in Brooklyn, near what is now the United States Navy Yard. When the vault was completed the barrels, boxes, and even hogsheads containing the bones were de- posited therein, nearly filling it, though the vault was by no means small. The Council then appointed a day* when public obsequies should be observed throughont the city. When the day arrived New York produced the most numerous and dignified assemblage of citizens that I ever witnessed in the city. An or- dinance was passed by the Council that all the stores and shops should be closed from 10 A. M. to 4 P. M., which was strictly ob- served. The procession consisted of the uniformed militia, artil- lery and infantry bearing their arms: the firemen in their uni- forms : all the different societies with their badges and insignia ; the Masons, with their jewels and aprons ; the cartmen in their clean white frocks, and the whole followed by citizens and visitors. Following the officer of the day, who was on horseback, were thirteen hearses. drawn by fifty-two horses, all the best which the city afforded. In each hearse was a richly ornamented coffin. and on the lid of each coffin a large silver plate, on which was en- graved the following epitaph :
" Sacred to the Memory of 11.500 Citizens. Sailors and Soldiers who Perished on Board ihc Jersey and other Prisons during the Revolution.
I should have stated that many prisoners were confined in sev eral oldt unseaworthy hulks anchored in both rivers.)
The pall bearers were the Mayor and Common Council: the mourners were the remaining officers and privates of the Revo- Intionary war. The procession moved to muffled music : the militia marched with arms reversed: the society emblems were
# Wednesday, May 25th, 1807. These remains were not alone of those who died in the prisons, but of those also on the prison ships anchored in the Last River.
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draped in mourning, and all wore crape npon the right arm. Among those habited in deep mourning was the venerable patriot and soldier, David Williams, the only one remaining of that fam- ons trio who captured that young and unfortunate soldier, Major John Andre, the British spy, who was the victim of the treachery of the infamous Arnold. Mr. Williams was then an old man of about sixty years. His stature, his rotund form and his florid com- plexion plainly evinced his Dutch ancestry. With slow and solemn step to the music of the Portuguese Hymn and various funeral dirges and marches, the procession wended its way through the principal streets of the city. Upon passing Trinity Church the bands ceased playing and the chimes in the steeple pealed forth that most beautiful of dead marches-Roslyn Castle. As the day was drawing to a close they proceeded to the ferry at the foot of Maiden lane. where boats were in waiting to transport them to Brooklyn, where they soon arrived. They went directly to the vault ; the coffins were placed side by side upon the ground, and after a brief recital of the sufferings and death of the brave men, the last honor- were paid them by the militia discharging their guns over them in conformity with martial rules. The cof- fins were then placed in the vault, which was then closed for all time to come.
In 1825 occurred another grand procession. It moved by water and also by land. I refer to what was the proudest day# in the life of De Witt Clinton, when he united in wedlock the blue, briny waters of Old Ocean and the pure, sparkling waters of Lake Erie. The Erie Canal being finished. its projector and the dignitarie- of the State resolved to have a celebration in honor of its completion by a double procession by sea and land for the purpose of commingling the salt and fresh waters. Early in the morning a discharge of cannon announced the departure of the miniature fleet from Buffalo with the excursionist -. Cannon were placed along the canal and Hudson at intervals and fired as the boat- passed, by which arrangement the people in New York were apprised of the approach of the fleet. In New York the day was ushered in with the usual military salute and the merry pealing of church bells. Flags were displayed from all publie * On the 20th of October. 1825.
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buildings. The vessels, large and small, of steam and sail, decor- ated from stem to stern. from hull to maintop, with the flags of all nations, assembled in the bay, opposite the city, and as soon as they heard the first signal gun, proceeded to meet the descending fleet. Returning with the fleet they made a splendid sight as they passed the city together. They passed on through the Nar- rows out into the ocean and there duly celebrated the customary nuptial rites and ceremonies. Then they returned to the city. which was waiting to receive them. There again were the militia with their bands of music ; the firemen and the various societies. When the boat containing Clinton arrived at the pier the band which accompanied the reception committee struck up with " Hail to the Chief," which was accompanied by one grand spon- taneous " Hurrah " from the assembled multitude. The hero of the day accepted a seat in the Mayor's carriage and thus joined in the procession, which paraded through the principal streets of the city. In the evening there was a grand display of fireworks, and the night was enlivened by military and civic balls and dane- ing parties. Thus ended a day long to be remembered by the citizens of the State of New York.
Between Cedar and Liberty streets stood the New Dutch Re- formed Church. I say the Voir. although Mr. Talmage refers to it as " the Old." I suppose he is right, but in my school days it was always known as the New to distinguish it from the one on the corner of Fulton and William streets.
Directly opposite this church, in Nassau street, was the Pre -- bytorian free school where my sister and myself were pupils for about two vous. There were but three free school- in the city at that time. and they were denominational. the other two being Episcopalian and Methodist, only the children of the church members attending.
In the Winter of 120 the rivers and bay surrounding the city were entirely frozen overand heavy loads were driven across on the ice in perfect safety. This had been the case during the cold Winter of 17-0, and it was confidently asserted that the same phenomenon would occur every fortieth year, but it did not happen so in 1860.
Near the lower end of Beekman street was St. George's Chapel. an old church which must have been built in colonial days. On
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the extreme of the spire was a crown, which was found in the debris after the burning of the church and placed in Barmum's Museum as a curiosity. It was made of tin and was abont the size of a bushel basket, but when two hundred feet above the ground it looked abont the size of an ordinary bird's nest.
On the corner of Nassau. Beekman and Chatham was a brick chmureb. Its pastor in 1807 was the venerable Dr. John Rodgers ; not the one, however, who was burned at the stake in Smithfield as the first martyr in the reign of Queen Mary, but nevertheless he was quite aged and very infirm. When a young man he had held the lantern on the steps of the State House in Philadelphia to enable the eloquent Whitefield to see to read when he preached to the thousands of citizens assembled before him. The doctor was assisted in his clerical labors by Dr. Samuel Miller, who after- ward succeeded him until called to a professorship in Princeton Seminary. Then Dr. Gardiner Spring became pastor and con- tinued such for many years.
Of this church my mother was at one time a member and by its venerable pastor my sister and myself were christened. When the old Park Theatre was burned a blazing brand was carried by the wind to the steeple of this church.# where it adhered far above the reach of the longest ladder or the water from the engine. The destruction of the whole structure seemed inevitable when a connon sailor was seen to enter the church and soon to emerge from the small window into the small balcony which sur- rounds the steeple. Grasping the lightning rod. he ascended hand over hand until he reached the already blazing portion. Holding on to the rod with one hand. with the other he tore away the blazing board, and shingles, scattering them to the right
# An account of this fire is thus given by Goodrich. under the date of May 19, 1911 : " A great fire in Chatham street, which broke out about nine o'clock on Sunday morning, near the northwest corner of Duane and Chathim street, and raged with great fury for several hours, before a brisk wind from the northeast, which for a time seemed to battle all the exertions of the firemen and citizens, and sweeping the buildings on both sides of the street, until eighty to one hundred dwelling houses were consumed. The steeple of the Brick Church and the cupola of the jail caught fire, but by the intrepidity of a sailor and a prisoner on the limits the fire was extinguished and the buildings saved; they were liberally rewarded by the corporation and the trustees of the church."
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