USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. I > Part 17
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142
County of Albany.
COUNTY OF ALBANY.
Albany county was organized under Gov. Dongan, in 1683, when it comprised the whole of the state north and west of Dutchess and Ulster counties, and part of Vermont. In 1757, the number of taxable inhabitants was 3,800 ; in 1767, 5,014; and in 1786, after several counties had been set off, 72,360. In 1772 a very large tract was severed and took the name of Montgomery county, out of which a good many counties have sinee been formed. In the same year Washington county was also set off on the east side of the Hudson. On the 4th of April, 1786, an aet passed the legislature, erecting the southeast part of the county of Albany into a new county, by the name of Columbia. In 1788, Clinton county was formed from the northern extremity whose census in 1790 was 1222 ! and that of Columbia county 27,552, of which 1630 were slaves. The following is a table of the towns which comprised the county of Albany in 1790, and the census of each ; the orthography is also preserved.
Towns.
Males.
Females.
Slaves.
Total.
Albany , .. . .
1,467
1,467
572
3,506
Water- Vliet, ....
3,456
3,481
730
7,667
Rensselaerwyck,.
3,972
3,504
572
8.048
Stephentown,
3,652
3,362
23
7,042
Schohary,
979
936
154
2,069
Duansburgh,
787
704
4
1,495
Schenectady ,
1,979
1,871
467
4,317
Hosack, .
1,542
1,455
36
3,033
Halfmoon,
1,818
1.663
121
3,607
Coxsakie,
1.626
1,488
302
3,416
Saratoga, .
1,625
1,394
62
3,081
Cattskill, .
836
844
303
1,988
Ballston , . .
3,640
3,117
66
6,823
Schatieook,
786
6,94
137
1,617
Cambridge,
2,515
2,404
48
4,967
Stillwater,.
1,559
1,428
65
3,052
Easton,
1,266
1,179
57
2,502
Pittstown,
1,260
1.134
31
2,425
Freehold,
873
869
6
1,748
Rensselaer-Ville,.
1,450
1.316
11
2,777
3/ 0 <
34,315
3 777
75,180
It was aseertained that the county of Ontario at the same time exceeded three thousand ! In 1791, the legislature divided Albany into three eoun- ties, Albany, Rensselaer and Saratoga. By this arrangement, the popula- tion of Albany was 28,192, Rensselaer 29,634, and Saratoga 17,463. The rapidly increasing population of the state required the division of the other large counties which had been formed by the dismemberment of Albany ; the counties of Tioga, Otsego and Herkimer were eut off from Montgomery, in portions that afterwards admitted of subdivisions. In 1794
SCULNECTAD
Was
et
es
N
leo
ofmans
underta
Kno c
Hamuvon
orm
Saltem New Scotland
Foxes
P
A
e
r n
Scomand Bethlehem
Coeymans
Castle
Rensselaer Ff
Chesta
Coeymanas
Prestolamm
Hawna
Fraus
Stevensville
Coeyma
Swesterlo
CREEN C
HODSONDRIVER
Be me
A B
New
ASK
Jackets
westerlo
Rensselederville Potterserille
Provost CS
County of Albany. 145
the legislature had in contemplation a design to take another corner from Albany county ; but at the adjournment of that body, it remained in the senate, which passed a resolution at its close, that the further considera- tion of the bill entitled " An act to erect certain lands into a separate county by the name of Delaware," be postponed until the next session. The boundaries of the proposed county described in the bill are curious: " All that part of the counties of Albany, Ulster and Otsego, beginning at the Susquehanna river, at the mouth of the Unadilla, and running from thence along the division line, between the counties of Otsego and Tioga southerly, to the mouth of a brook called Aughquago, which runs into Delaware river ncar a place called the Cook house ; and thencc down the said river to a place ten miles below Shohakin, measured along the said river as it runs, and thence northeasterly to the mouth of a creek called the East kill, which runs into the Schoharie kill; and up the middle of the Stony kill to the head thereof, to a hemlock tree marked with the letters W. I. I. W., and thence northwest to the Adiquataygie or Charlotte river ; and thence down the middle thereof to the Susquehanna river; and thence down the middle of the same to the place of beginning, shall be and hereby is crccted into a separate county by the name of Delaware." This county was not formed until 1797, when it was taken wholly from Otsego and Tioga. The county of Albany then comprised the following towns: Albany, Schenectady, Catskill, Coxsackie, Schoharie, Berne, Cocymans, Bethlehem, Rensselaerville, Watervliet, Duanesburgh, Free- hold. The number of electors in the city was 765; in the county, 6087. The following is a list of the taxable inhabitants of the towns in the county of Albany, in July, 1795.
Albany,. 806
Bethlehem, 350
Watervlict, 573
Rensselaerville, 495
Coxsackie,. 600
Schohary, 507
Catskill, 354
Duanesburgh,.
400
Freehold,.
524
Berne, . 386
Coeymans, . 354
Schenectady, 747
In 1809, the corporation of the city of Schenectady applied to the logis- lature for another division of Albany county, taking the city of Schenec- tady, the towns of Duanesburgh, and Princetown, and so much of the town of Watervliet as lay beyond the manor line. On a division of the house there were 8 in favor of the new county. This was the final subdivision, leaving the county as it now stands, when it consisted of Albany, Coey- mans, Watervliet, Rensselaerville, Bernc, Colonie, Bethlehem, and Guil- derland. Some of these have been subdivided, and otherwise altered, but the territory is believed to be the same. Its boundaries will be seen on the accompanying map. It consists of the following towns, with the date of their incorporation:
1686 Albany
1795 Berne
1688 Watervliet
1803 Guilderland
1790 Rensselaerville 1815 Westerlo
1791 Coeymans
1822 Knox
1793 Bethlehem
1832 New Scotland.
The greatest length of the county is 28 miles; breadth 21; containing
13
146
County of Albany.
an area of about 515 square miles ; or 329,110 acres according to the last census. The far greater portion of it belongs to the manor of Rensselaer. The surface is uneven, and in the southwest part liilly and mountainous. The soil in the vicinity of the Hudson is good, and much of it highly cultivat- ed ; but in the interior sandy plains occur, most of which were formerly con- sidered mere barrens; they are susceptible of cultivation, however, and under good husbandry are made to yield abundantly. These plains are from ten to eleven miles broad, and stretch from north to south nearly through the whole county. On the Mohawk the land is rugged and ste- rile. The agricultural productions of the county are oats, corn, rye, buckwheat and barley, principally. Wheat is again becoming more gene- rally cultivated. Potatoes are raised in considerable quantitics. The western part is favorable to grazing, and butter is there largely produced. Sheep husbandry is also large and increasing. The Helderberg hills cx- tend through the western part of the county, uniting with the Catskill range on the south. They are from 400 to 500 feet in height and preeipi- tous, but quite uniform, displaying no isolated peaks. They furnish an abundance of fuel consisting principally of hemlock, beeeh, sugar maple, black birch, bass-wood, and white ash. The swamps afford black ash, and soft maple, with a portion of elm. The eastern sides of the hills abound with sugar-maple, beech, bass-wood and white ash, while the ridges and western aspects, abound with a greater proportion of hemloek. In the eastern part of the county yellow and white pine; black, white and chestnut oak ; chestnut, walnut, in thic wet lands elm, and hemlock is often found near the streams. The rocks are principally composed of lime and sandstone, abounding in organic remains. The most important mineral productions are bog iron ore, which is found in various places ; marl and water limestone is found in Bethlehem, and in the city of Albany is a mi- neral spring, which evolves carbonic acid, and contains ingredients similar to those found in the celebrated springs at Ballston and Saratoga. There are also several sulphur springs in the county, but none of them have acquired much celebrity. Epsom salts are found at Coeymans Landing, and petroleum in Guilderland. Extensive explorations have been made for coal on both sides of the river, in this region ; and although large sums have been expended in the search during a period of full half a century, without any success, and the state geologists have determined that coal can not exist in this locality, there are still found persons anxious to con- tinue the effort to find it. In the limestone of the Helderberg hills are several extensive caverns, in which are found crystals and stalacites of various degrees of beauty and perfection. Calcareous spar and alum also occur in the county .. .. . The county is well watercd. The principal rivers and creeks are the Mohawk on the northeast, the Hudson on the east, tlie Norman's kill, Vlamans kill, Haivnakraus kill, Coeymans creek, Provost creek, Cats kill, and Patroon's creek, &c., running into the Hudson on the east and south, the Foxes' creek and others flowing west; together with several rivulets emanating from durable springs and lakes. Most of these have valuable waterfalls, affording great facilities for manufacturing, and are now made available to a great extent. The Foxen kill and Rutten kill, formerly considerable runs of water flowing through the city of Al- bany, are now obliterated, and their ancient beds turned into sewers. The Beaver kill, or Buttermilk creek, once a mill stream, affording con-
147
County of Albany.
siderable water power, is also nearly extinguished. The principal water- fall is the Cohoes, having a perpendicular descent of nearly 70 feet, pos- sessing great picturesque beauty, and much resorted to during the summer months by visitors from all parts of the county. The total fall of the Mo- hawk here is 140 feet, affording power sufficient to propel at least one million of spindles, with all the necessary apparatus.
The statistics of the county, as presented by the last census returns, are as follows:
ACRES.
Towns.
Improved
Land.
Total
Area.
Males.
Females.
Total.
No. of Electors.
Number of
Number of
Children taught.
City of Albany,
2,387
11,520 20, 043|21, 096|41, 139
7,977
12|
6,606
Bethlehem, ...
27,647
36,750
1,750
1,565
3,315
705
14
775
Bern, ...
..
29,293
43,460
1,868
1,799
3,667
783
22
1,587
Coeymans, ...
22,179
29,890
1,505
1,473
2,978
681
14
767
Guilderland, ..
19,581
34,630
1,501
1,494
2,995
682
10
694
Knox, ..
20,042
26,570
1,079
1,082
2,161
500
12
612
New Scotland, .
20,281
36,000|
1,687
1,601
3,288|
754
15
1,233
Rensselaerville
30,448
41,200
1,821
1,768
3,589
865
16
1,093
Westerlo, . ..
28,303
39,420
1,460
1,467
2,927
667
17 1,107
Watervliet,
23,181
29,670
5, 672
5,537
11,209
2,264
23
1,935
223,342|329,110 38, 386 38, 882 77, 268 15,878 |155 16, 410
Towns.
Bap't Churches
Episcopalian.
Presbyterian.
Congregational.
| Methodist.
Roman Cath'c.
Dutch Reform'd
Universalist.
Unitarian.
Jews.
Friends.
Grist Mills.
Saw Mills.
Į Tanneries.
| Fulling Mills.
| Carding Mills.
| Cotton Factor's
| Woolen Fac's.
City of Albany, ...
5
3
5
1
6
4
3
1
1
1
1
Bethlehem,.
-
2
2
2
1
3
23
1 3
3
3
2
3
9 7
2
2
2 1
2
Knox, ..
New Scotland,
1
1
4|. .
2
9
Rensselaerville, ...
2
1
1
2
.
,
2
2 14
5 4
1 3
1 2
..
2
2
2
5
1
4
. .
.
1
2
1
1 5
13
6.11
1|25
5'23) 3
2
1
5 26 95 23 13 12
1
9
.
2
2
1
3
.
. .
2 1
2
2
21
3 3
Westerlo,
2
1
2!
1
1
3
10
7
8
Watervliet, .
..
.
. .
1
Coeymans,
Guilderland,
1
2
2|12|
Bern, . . . .
3
. .
School Houses.
148
Assembly Districts-A Remarkable Winter.
1 Medical College
40 lunatics
3 Academies
26,840 neat cattle
2 Female Seminaries
13,939 milch cows
1 Normal School
10,780 horses
160 Inns
172 Wholesale stores
642 retail do
478 groceries
624,033 bush. do harvested
2 oil mills
15,705 acres rye
15 iron works
1 distillery
2 asheries
208,254 bush. do harvested
7 breweries
5,341 acres wheat
46 manufactories
1 paper mill
1 clover mill
34,984 lbs. raised
3 oil cloth factories
5,762 acres potatoes
9 rope factories
4558 farmers
858 merchants
12,219 bush. raised
203 manufactories
10,973 acres buckwheat
4729 mechanics
183,274 bush. raised 491 acres beans
187 attorneys 88 clergymen
4,487 bush. raised
142 physicians
3,522 acres peas
9 Indians
51.252 bush. raised
26 blind
7,603 acres barley
15 deaf and dumb
120,978 bush. raised
ASSEMBLY DISTRICTS.
The city and county of Albany is divided into four districts, as follows: 1st Dist .- First and second wards of Albany, towns of Bethlehem, Coeymans, Westerlo and Rensselaerville.
2d Dist .- Tenth ward of Albany, towns of Guilderland, New Scot- land, Knox and Berne,
3d Dist .- Third, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth wards of Albany.
4th Dist .- Seventh and ninth wards of Albany, and town of Water- vliet.
A REMARKABLE WINTER.
A meteorological table was kept for the month of January, 1802, and published in the Gazette, by which it appears that the lowest range of the thermometer was 10 deg., and the highest 552 deg. above zero. The winter was so remarkably mild as to have more the appearance of April; the river was navigable 17 days, so that vessels passed from Albany to New York, and at no time was the ice strong enough for any team to pass on it, and not more than 14 inches of snow fell within two miles of the city during the months of December and January,
66,536 sheep 32,870 hogs 28,921 acres oats
163,894 bush. harvested 10,250 acres corn
44.149 bush. do harvested 421 acres flax
404,594 bush. raised 173 acres turnips
149
Albany County Penitentiary.
ALBANY COUNTY PENITENTIARY.
This establishment is located near the junction of Lydius street with the Delaware turnpike, about half a mile distant in a westerly direction from the Capitol. The lands belonging to it include four entire squares, as laid down upon the city map, and contain between ten and twelve acres. The buildings occupy a beautiful and commanding elevation, facing eastward, and present an imposing appearance. As will be seen by the engraving, they comprise a centre building, three stories high besides the basement, 50 feet front and 75 in depth; and two wings, each 100 feet long and 50 feet wide, exclusive of the octagonal towers which flank them. The interior of the south wing forms a spacious hall, 98 feet long. 46 feet wide, and 32 feet high, in the centre of which is a massive block of 96 cells, four tiers in height, with stair cases and surrounding galleries. These cells are each. in the inside, 7 feet by 4, and 7 feet high, supplied with iron bed steads and other necessary fur- niture. Each cell has a separate and distinct ventilator. The doors are made of round iron bars, which when closed admit nearly as much air and light as when open. The hall is also well ventilated, spacious, light and airy. Besides these, there are 10 larger cells in the octagon towers; making in all 106 cells. This wing is appropriated exclusively to male convicts. In the north wing, occupied by the females, is a block of 40 cells, similar to those just described, with 8 larger ones in the towers, corresponding with those in the southern octagons, making a total of 48 cells. The remainder of this wing is divided into work rooms for the women, and for various other uses. The whole prison contains 154 cells, or dormitories, of which about 144 are used for ordinary purposes. The number, however, can be increased from time to time as occasion may require. The front portion of the central building is appropriated to the residence of the superintendent, his family and the subordinate officers. On the first story, in rear, are the guard chamber, matron's room, &c., &c. In the rear of the second story is the male hospital, a fine apartment 28 by 32 feet ; also a female hospital, and a dispensatory
150
Albany County Penitentiary.
connected with both. The third story is handsomely fitted up as a chapel, 36 by 48 feet, furnished with pulpit, seats, &c., in which divine service is regularly held on each sabbath day. A sabbath school has likewise been instituted. The rear part of the basement is devoted to the culinary operations of the prison, most of which are performed by steam ; adjoining this is the laundry and bake house. The whole estab- lishment is warmed by hot air furnaces, and furnished with a copious supply of good water; and hot and cold water are distributed wherever necessary.
A brick wall. 14 feet high, extending 105 feet beyond the wings, paral- lel with the front, and running thence 200 feet to the rear, on each side, has been erected. This wall, surmounted by towers, or guard- houses, at the angles, and a sentry walk at top, surrounds the whole prison yard, in the centre of which is a range of work-shops for male convicts, 150 feet long by 28 wide, with cellars of the same size beneath, for the prison stores.
The dimensions of the prison, including the walls and yard, are 460 feet front and rear, and 250 feet deep, covering an area of nearly three acres. All the buildings are constructed of brick and stone, and are fire- proof. The bricks were mostly made on the ground, and all the work, usually denominated laborer's work, in and about the premises, from the com- mencement of the establishment, has been performed by the prisoners. The ground was purchased at the very low price of $3000. The cost of the buildings, exclusive of convict labor, was $35,000. Including in- terest on that part of the money borrowed for the purpose, and all other contingencies, the total cost is somewhat upwards of $40,000, which by law is directed to be raised in eight equal annual instalments. Three of these instalments have been already added to the county taxes and paid, without enhancing the previous rate of taxation, for the reason, that the former average annual amount of criminal expenses were, by this change of system, sufficiently lessened to defray them ; and it is believed that this effect will continue until the whole is paid. The un- dertaking therefore adds nothing to the public burden ; on the contrary it must result in pecuniary gain, for the county acquires this valuable property, (which will always be worth its cost), entirely from the savings made on the former system.
The Penitentiary is principally designed for the confinement, employ- ment and reformation of vagrants and petty criminals, for whom no adequate provision had previously existed. Before its erection, it had been customary to punish these delinquents by simple incarceration in the county jail, where, in utter idleness, corrupted and corrupting each other by indiscriminate intercourse, they remained until the expiration of their sentences, and in most cases, when discharged it was only to return thither in a few days, or weeks at most, to go through the same routine. This course of treatment, so far from having any ter- rors, or constituting any punishment, had an opposite effect. The jail became a fruitful source of demoralization and vice, while the cost of its maintenance, coupled with the attendant expenses of trials, courts and juries, was annually increasing at an alarming rate. In 1843 the supervisors took the subject into serious consideration. They deter- mined that some measures should be adopted whereby this class of persons might if possible be reclaimed, and at the same time be com.
151
Albany County Penitentiary.
pelled to earn, if not all, at least a part of their subsistence. The neces. sary legislative authority was obtained in 1844. Messrs. Samuel Pruyn and Barent P. Staats of the city of Albany, and Lewis M. Dayton of the town of Rensselaerville, were appointed commissioners to devise a system of punishment, and a plan for the construction, management and discipline of a penitentiary. In due time the commissioners made their report, which being approved, the ground was purchased, and the buildings commenced in the summer of 1845. The south wing was first erected, and became ready for the reception of male prisoners in April, 1846. During the remainder of that year, and the beginning of the next, the central edifice and north wing were built, and in June, 1847, females were first admitted. The whole number of convicts which have entered the Penitentiary up to the first of November, 1848, is 831, of which number 143 then remained, namely, 101 males, and 42 females.
The county authorities were extremely fortunate in their arrange- ments. In 1846 Amos Pilsbury, for many years previously the warden of the Connecticut state prison, accepted the office of superintendent or principal keeper of the Penitentiary, for which he was eminently fitted by his long experience and great success in the management of prisons and prisoners. The discipline established is that known by the name of the silent system. It contemplates united labor, perfect order, silence and obedience. The physical and mental necessities of the convicts are carefully and fully supplied, and they are constantly, by night as well as by day, under the personal surveillance of the officers. The limits of this article will not admit of a lengthened detail of the precise mode pursued; it is sufficient to say that it has been attended with beneficial effects ; several cases of complete and radical reformation have occurred, in which the subjects have returned to a moral and virtuous course of life. Under the experienced government of Mr . Pilsbury, it is said that in the Albany Penitentiary the silent, or as it is sometimes called the Auburn system, is more perfectly and efficiently administered than in any other prison. Besides the superintendent, there are also a deputy- keeper, 4 assistants, 2 guards, or watchmen, a matron, and assistant. The institution is also provided with a chaplain and physician. The whole is under the joint control of the supervisors of the county and the mayor and recorder of the city ; who, through a board of three in- spectors by them appointed, direct its concerns.
One feature in the management of the Penitentiary should be favor- ably noticed, as creditable to the good sense of the county government. The institution being purely benevolent and philanthropic in its objects, the supervisors early and wisely determined that no political or partizan considerations should enter into or influence its affairs. On this prin- ciple they have acted, and to it in a great measure may the success of the enterprise be attributed. Without enquiring into the particular creed of individuals on political subjects, it is quite sufficient that the persons to whom its direction is confided, are honest, capable, and dis- charge their duties with fidelity.
The commissioners deserve commendation for the ability with which they have discharged an important trust. Especially to Samuel Pruyn, now and for many years one of our city supervisors, belongs the credit of originating and accomplishing this great philanthropic design. His in- defatigable zeal and perseverance, aided by the good counsel of his col-
152
Commission of John Abeel.
leagues, Dr. B. P. Staats and Lewis M. Dayton, has overcome every diffi- culty and discouragement. The Albany Penitentiary is destined to be the pioneer of a new system of criminal punishment. Already has the county of Erie imitated it, and in the county of Onondaga preparations are making for a similar establishment. If it be a desideratum that the county prisons in the state of New York shall become self-supporting institutions, and at the same time reformatory in morals, there is no hazard in predicting that the example will be extensively followed. The county of Albany has aided materially in hastening a great and im- portant result in political economy. The larger counties will sooner or later adopt the plan, while the smaller ones may unite together and erect district penitentiaries.
COMMISSION OF JOHN ABEEL 1694.
I am indebted to A. Heyer Brown for the following copy of an ancient commission in his possession. John Abeel was the first mayor of Albany who was commissioned in this way, Peter Schuyler, who preceded him, having been named in the charter. In digging for the purpose of laying the foundation of the iron railing which was placed in front of the Mid- dle Dutch Church a few years ago, the workmen exhumed the bones of many persons who had been interred there, among them doubtless those of Mr. Abeel, as his tombstone was thrown out with the others, and was afterwards placed in the pavement of the side walk. This docu- ment is written in a very bold old English character, and has the original seal attached, which is a cake of wax about three inches in diame- ter, and three-fourths of an inch in thickness, stamped with the British arms. In copying it the original orthography has been preserved.
WILLIAM & MARY by the Grace of God of England Scotland France & Ireland King & Queen defenders of the Faith &c To our loving subject John Abeel Esqr Greeting Reposing special trust and confidence in your Loyalty prudence and circumspection We do hereby nominate constitute and appoint you to be Mayor of the city of Albany for one year next ensuing ye fourteenth of October instant wth full power and authority to execute and perform all things whatsoever belonging to said office in as full and ample manner as any former Mayor of the said city hath done or might have lawfully done executed and performed To Hold Exercisse and enjoy the said office of Mayor of the said city with all things thereunto belonging and to have and receive all fees Salarys profitts perquisites benefits advantages priviledges immunities pre- hemmencys and , appurtenances Whatsoever to the said office belong- ing or in any way appurtaining during the term aforesaid In Testimony whereof we have caused the seal of our province of New York in America to be hereunto affixed Witness Benjamin Fletcher our Capt General and Governor in Chiefe of our Province of New York Province of Pensilvania County of New Castle and the Territorys and Tracts of Land depending thercon in America and Vice Admiral of the same Our Lieut and Commander in chief of the Militia & of all the forces by Sea & Land within our Colony of Connecticut and of all the forts and places of Strength within the same on this fourth day of October in the sixth year of our Reign Anno Dom 1694 DAVID JAMISON P Secry
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