USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. I > Part 34
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It was in the adjoining building, on the left, that Mr. James Stevenson commenced the practice of the law, and that Mr. John Lovett had his office. It was in that building also that Mr. Jacob Green, afterwards professor of chemistry in Jefferson College, Philadelphia, for some time kept a bookstore ; and it was in this bookstore that Mr. John T. Norton, now a retired merchant, made his debut in Albany, as a clerk.
PLAN OF A Survey of State Street, ALBANY, MADE IN 179 2 BY JOHN BOGERT.
Lodge
John Green.
35.6
John Saunders.
30.6
Rev. T. Ellison.
Robt Yates Esq.&
John Easton. 22
Jacob Van Ingen. =
Bloomendall.
H. Wendell.
Roseboom.
Abm. Wendell.
123.10 24. 11 24.10 25.1
John Stevenson.
73.10
Shephard.
30.9
Street.
11.6
Lewis.
33. 8
5000 5000
FORT.
Street.
158 feet wide.
Tower.
Engine house.
141.9
William Muir.
48 .6
Barrack Street.
84 ft.
Philip S. Van Rensselaer.
19.9 |20.4
Webster.
S. Pruyn.
45 .4
Livingston.
Elm Tree
84 feet wide.
Pearl Street.
149 feet wide.
Balt. Lydius.
152 feet wide.
State Street.
Episc. Church
285
State Street in 1792.
STATE STREET IN 1792.
In connection with the foregoing, a diagram of the section of State street lying between Pearl and Lodge streets, is introduced. The original map appears to have been made from actual survey by John Bogert, in 1792. The dimensions of the lots upon State street, and the name of the owners at that time, are given; together with the location of the Episcopal Church and the Fort, edifices which disappeared half a cen- tury ago.
The old English Church, which stood in the centre of State street opposite Barrack, now Chapel street, was erected in 1715. It was al. luded to by Kalm thirty-four years afterwards as being built of stone, without a steeple, and standing directly under the Fort. The tower on the west end was a distinct structure, erected after 1750. The bell was cast in England, and is still used in St Peter's Church, bearing this in- scription : " St. Peter's Church in Albany, 1751; J. Ogilvie, minister ; J. Stevenson, E. Collins, wardens." The Rev. Thomas Ellison was the last rector who officiated in the old church. We hope to have it in our power to present a history of this church in the next volume.
On the northwest corner of the church, and directly in contact with it, stood the City Fire Engine House. The engine kept within it was the only one which the authorities provided for the protection of the city against fire. It is represented to have been a very superior machine, and was one of the only two manufactured by the elder John Mason, a celebrated machinist of Philadelphia -its counterpart was for a long time in possession of the Diligent Fire Company of that city.
As we contemplate the map, and reflect upon the changes which have been wrought upon the owners and occupants of these lots during the last half century. a melancholy yet agreeable interest is awakened. A multitude of thoughts will present themselves to the octogenarian, skilled in antique lore and the traditions of early times, of scenes that will remain unwritten. Beginning at the foot of the map on the south side, the name of Mr. Lewis marks the site of the City Tavern, then, and until the Tontine was opened by Matthew Gregory, the great house of the day. It was removed to open the street, which was a narrow arched passage way at this time, having a gate to protect the entrance into the street below, known as Washington street, now South Pearl. A part or the whole of the Shepard lot was subsequently taken in extending the breadth of the street.
The street in the rear of the lots above Pearl street, is described in a Dutch deed of 1680, given by Dr Abram Staats to the Lutheran Church, as " the old road belonging to Mr. Pretty, Jacob Sanders, Johannes Wendell, Myndert Harmense, and Hendrick Cuyler. Mr. Pretty was the first sheriff under the English charter, and occupied the whole or a part of the large lot afterwards owned by Mr. John Stevenson.
. Of the Wendell house we have already spoken. In the rear of it was the printing office of Solomon South wick, where the Albany Register was issued, and the state printing performed, by him, and is still standing.
286
State Street in 1792.
The house and lot designated as the premises of Mr. Roseboom, were for a time the residence of Thomas Shipboy, another eminent merchant, who died in the year 1798. The old edifice is concealed behind a mo- dern front, but its zuydelyk aspect indicates its origin unmistakeably. Mr. Shipboy afterwards occupied the house No. 56 State street. sub sequently the store of the late Christian Miller - the strong walls of which have also been carried up so as to present the appearance of a modern structure.
The two next are the site of the American Hotel, belonging to the descendants of the late William James. They were occupied by the great printing and publishing house of the Hosfords, which went down in 1825.
The Van Ingen property is now the residence of Erastus Corning, Esq. The next belongs to the estate of the late William Gould, who ere ted a graceful modern edifice, and acquired a handsome fortune upon the premises as a law bookseller.
The house of Judge Yates is still standing, and was occupied by his son, John Van Ness Yates, of distinguished memory, until his death, which occurred a few years ago.
The house occupied by Mr. Ellison is also still standing, looking a little the worse for its age, although it never had much pretension to elegance. It is now the property of Philip Wendell, Esq .; the upper part occupied by him as a dwelling. and the lower part has long been the well known chair factory of L. McChesney.
The late Killian K. Van Rensselaer married a descendant of Mr. John Sanders, of Schenectady, and inherited the lot which bears the name of the latter on the map. Mr. Van Rensselaer erected a large dwelling. house upon the premises, in which he resided till his death a few years ago, since which it has been occupied by Mrs. Brinckerhoff as a ladies' boarding school.
A large wooden building, which was built before the revolution, and we believe for a time used as a tavern, occupied the corn r of John Green. In this building the Albany Academy was opened in 1815. It was burnt in 1847; when a substantial brick edifice was erected upon its site, by the heirs of the late Killian K. Van Rensselaer, to whom the property belongs.
The position of the Fort is believed to be very accurately given. The northeast bastion occupied the ground where the Episcopal Church now stands. Its foundations were as high as the top of that church. It was the fourth place selected for a fort, and was first, it appears, enclosed by stockades merely. The diagram here given was made by the Rev. John Miller, a chaplain of the English army, in 1695, when it was sur- rounded by a ditch. It is purposed at a future day to give a view of the Fort taken at a subsequent period, when it had undergone important improvements, and to prepare as full a history of it as it may be possible to gather at this day.
-
0
Chil Livingston
One of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.
. Vive York . Bagvil by E. Prud'homme from a Penal Shortch .
287
State Street in 1792.
West.
5
....
70
74
8
6
15
East.
1. Governor of Albany's house.
2. Officers' lodgings.
3. Soldiers' lodgings.
4. Flag-staff mount.
5. Magazine.
6. Dial mount.
7. Town mount.
8 Well.
9. Sentry boxes.
11. Sally port.
12. Ditch fortified with stakes.
13. Gardens.
14. Stockade.
15. Fort gate.
The square in the occupation of William Muir was long since divided up for residences and shops.
The house of the worthy old mayor, Philip S. Van Rensselaer, younger brother of the patroon, is still occupied by his widow.
The next three lots form the well-known Webster Corner. After the memorable fire of 1793, in which the printing office of Mr. Webster was consumed, he took the white house on the Livingston lot, which stands there at this day. The two lots above it were purchased and built upon by himself and brother George, where they resided during their lives. The corner property also came into their hands, and became the theatre of a very extensive printing and publishing business. In the palmy days of the establishment, it was customary twice a week to load with school and other books for the western country, one of those old-fashioned two- story freight· wagons, so common before the opening of the canal. There were no heresies in those days against Webster's Spelling Book.
Intimately associated with the reminiscences of this corner, is the elm tree which throws its rugged arms across the street, and enjoys so ex- traordinary a degree of popular favor, as to defy the plodding traffickers below, whose signs are obscured by its foliage, to lop a limb or touch a twig. This corner was the property of Philip Livingston, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who was born in Albany in 1716 ; and the earliest reminiscence we have of the tree, is the circum- stance of his having, when a young man, rebuked a sailor, whom he observed preparing his knife to cut it down, then a mere switch. From this datum we may infer that the elm is more than a hundred years old.
The Lydius Corner, opposite, was occupied at the time of the survey
288
A Canadian Invasion.
by a very eccentric old gentleman, Balthazar Lydius. He died on the 17th November, 1815, aged 78, and was the last male descendant of his family, which was ancient and respectable. The house in which he lived was imported from Holland : bricks, woodwork, tiles, and ornamental irons, with which it was profusely adorned, expressly for the use of the Rev. Gideon Schaets, who arrived in 1652. The materials for the house arrived simultaneously with the old bell and pulpit, 1657. It was sup- posed to be the oldest brick building in North America at the time of its removal in 1832. The modern Apothecaries Hall was erected by Mr George Dexter upon its site.
A CANADIAN INVASION.
In the year 1687 the French in Canada made preparations to invade the Five Nations under the protection of New York. Information was received at Albany in the fall, of the movements of the enemy, where- upon the following proceedings were had in council. (See Doc. Hist. N. Y., p. 272.)
Council Held at ffort James ; ffriday the Ninth of September 1687. Present His Excy the Governr &c.
Informacon being given to his Excy and some of the Members of ye Board that ye ffrench at Canada are providing fifteen hundred pair of Snowshews.
Ordered that ye Mayor and Magistrates of Albany send ordrs to the five Nations to bring Down their Wives Children and old men least ye ffrench come uppon them in the Winter and none to stay in the Cas- tles but ye yong men. That they who come be setled some at Cats Kill Levingstons land and along ye River where they can find Conveniency to be neer us to assist them if they should want and that they send Downe with them all ye Indyan Corne that can be spared by ve Young Men who are to stay in ye Castles.
Councill Held at ffort James ; Sonday the 11th of Septembr 1687. Present His Excy the Governr &c.
Letters from Albany giveing account that the people there are in great Consternation thro apprehension that ye ffrench will come down uppon them this Winter.
Resolved that Every tenth man of all ye Militia troupes & Companys within the Province Except those who were out ye last yeare a whaling be Drawn out to go up thither.
Accordingly, forces were sent to Albany, and Gov. Dongan came np himself to assist in sustaining the Indians against their enemies. By the report of Robert Livingston, made to the Council, April 30, 1688, of his disbursements at Albany, for the maintenance of the forces, gifts and presents to the Indians; and relief of French prisoners, from August 11, 1687, to June 1, 1688, amounted to £2067 6s. 4d. It ap- pears that these expenses required a new levy of £2556 4s. to be made upon all the inhabitants and free holders of the province, of which sum the proportion allotted to the city and county of Albany was £240
289
A Scene of the Revolution in Albany.
($570.) The pay of officers and soldiers employed in the service, was as follows :
The Major ten Shillings Curtt Money of this Province.
per diem.
per diem.
The Captn of horse
£0.10.0 | The Capt off ffoott
£0.8.0
The Lievt do
0. 7.0
The Lieyt
0.4.0
The Cornett -
0. 6.0
The Ensigne
0.3.0
The Quartermaster
0. 5.0
The Sergeant
0.1.6
The Corporall
0. 2.0
The Corporall -
0.1.0
The Trumpiter
0. 2.0
The Drumbeater - 0.1.0
The Troopers
0. 1.6 |The rest of the private men
0.0.8
A SCENE OF THE REVOLUTION IN ALBANY.
In the spring of 1778; we went down to Bethlehem and brought home our cattle that had wintered there. As we were driving them slowly back, and as we entered Albany on our return, we met in State street a procession of novel character moving slowly up the hill. We percei. ved seven persons dressed in white, and soon learned they were of that unfortunate class of disaffected men, who to bad political principles had added crimes against society, which even a state of war would not justify. At Schodack they had distinguished themselves by a series of desperate acts not to be patiently endured by the community, and when they were taken prisoners their fate seemed inevitable. These men had been confined for some time in the city prison, now known as the Old Museum, and had once made their escape, but only to enjoy their liberty for a few hours. Indeed the whole city was under arms when we saw them moving to the fatal spot where they were to suffer. The public indignation was also much excited by their conduct in prison, and the circumstances attending their being brought to suffer the sen- tence of the law. They were confined in the right hand room of the lower story of the prison. The door of their apartment swung in a place cut out lower than the level of the floor. When the sheriff came to take them out he found the door barricaded. He procured a heavy piece of timber, with which he in vain endeavored to batter down the door, although he was assisted in the operation by some very athletic and willing individuals. During the attempt the voice of the prisoners was heard threatening death to those who persevered in the attempt, with the assertion that they had laid a train of powder to blow up themselves and their assailants. Indeed it was well ascertained that a quantity of powder had passed into their possession, but how, could not be known.
It was afterwards found placed under the floor and arranged to pro- duce the threatened result. The sheriff could not effect his entrance, while a crowd of gazers looked on to see the end of this singular con- test. Some one suggested the idea of getting to them through the ceil- ing, and immediately went to work to effect a passage by cutting a hole through. While this was going on the the prisoners renewed their threats, with vows of vengeance, speedy, awful and certain. The as.
290
Tory Execution Place-Gov. Tryon in Albany.
sailants however persevered, and as I was informed, and never heard contradicted, procured a fire-engine, and placed it so as to introduce the hose suddenly to the hole in the ceiling, and at a signal inundated the room beneath. This was dexterously performed. The powder and its train were in an instant rendered useless. Still, however to descend was the difficulty, as but one person could do so at a time. The dis- proportion of physical strength that apparently awaited the first intruder, prevented for some time any further attempt. At last an Irishman, by the name of McDole, who was a merchant, exclaimed, "Give me an Irishman's gun, and I will go first." He was provided instantly with a formidable cudgel, and with this in his hand he de- scended, and at the same moment in which he struck the floor, he levelled the prisoner near him, and continued to lay about him valiantly until the room was filled with a strong party of citizens who came to his assistance through the hole in the ceiling. After a hard struggle they were secured, and the door which had been barricaded by brick taken from the fire-place was opened.
They were almost immediately taken out for execution, and the mob was sufficiently exasperated to have instantly taken their punish- ment into their own hands. The prisoners seemed to me when moving up the hill to wear an air of great gloom and ill nature. No one ap- peared to pity them, and their own hopes of being released by some fortunate circumstance, as by the intervention of the enemy, had now vanished for ever.
They arrived in a few minutes at the summit of the hill, near or at the very place now covered with new and elegant edifices, north and east of the Academy, and there upon one gallows of rude construction ended they their miserable lives together .- Sexagenary.
TORY EXECUTION PLACE.
From a citizen who witnessed these scenes, we learn that the powder house in the time of the revolution was at a little distance west of the Academy Park. In front of it was a ravine, where the tories were hung and buried. The ravine ran north and south. They were stripped of their coats, hats and shoes, a bandage put over their eyes, in which condition they were executed, and buried in the ravine.
GOVERNOR TRYON IN ALBANY.
The city was honored by a visit from General Tryon, July 20th, 1772, on which occasion a public dinner was given him by the mayor and corporation at Cartwright's tavern; and on the following day he gave an elegant entertainment to the mayor and corporation, the clergy, seve- ral gentlemen of the law, and the officers of the militia. On the 24th (Friday) he set out for Schenectady, accompanied by Sir John Johnston, and several gentlemen and ladies, escorted by the Albany troop of cavalry. He was received there by his majesty's justices of the peace, and upwards of 800 of the militia of that township under arms.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, Corner of Hudson and Philip streets
293
First Presbyterian Church.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The new edifice, for the accommodation of this large and increasing congregation now worshipping in the church corner of Beaver and South Pearl streets, under the pastoral charge of the Rev. Dr. J. N. Campbell, has been in the course of construction about two years. It is the third house built for the use of this society, the first two having been alluded to at pp. 130 - 132. The engraving opposite, by Mr. R. H. Pease, is a faithful representation of the edifice, which is the noblest specimen of church architecture in the city, as yet completed.
The following are the names of its principal artificers:
H. RECTOR, Architect.
JOSHUA R. HAYES, Mason.
ALEXANDER GRAY, Stonecutter.
JAMES DENNISON & Co., Carpenters.
BOYD & McDONALD executed the mastic on the exterior, the plaster, stucco and fresco work of the interior.
The workmanship, throughout, could scarcely be surpassed in ele- gance and stability.
The entire building occupies an area of about one hundred and twenty by seventy- five feet ; and for the convenience of this brief description, the building may be arranged under three general divisions : the tower, occupying the east end ; the centre, or mnain body of the building ; and the projection at the west end.
The tower is twenty-six feet square, and one hundred and fifty-six high : its external ornaments consisting of four octagonal turrets - one at each corner, terminating in pinnacles ; two belt mouldings ; three clock faces ; panelled belt ; five windows ; the entrance doors, and the parapet.
The body of the building is ninety-seven by seventy five feet, and forty-four feet to the top of the parapets; and relieved externally with eighteen buttresses, four turrets, and perforated for twelve windows.
The projection at the west end is about thirty by seven feet, and con- tains two angle buttresses, cornice and parapet.
The turrets and buttreises present their usual display of corbels, pe- diment mouldings, crocketed angles, and terminating finials to their re- spective pinnacles ; the belt and eave cornices are well formed and ju- diciously arranged ; the paneled course is filled with tracery ; the clock faces furnished with architrave mouldings, crocketed bands, and ter- minating finials; the tower windows furnished with corbels, crocketed heads, and finials ; and the principal entrance door has recessed jambs, colunins, head moulding, tracery, cornice, tudor leaf parapet, side but- tresses, and side and center pinnacles. The parapets to the main body of the building, and to the projection at the west end, are plain ; that to the tower, open, and somewhat ornamented. The windows have double mullions, transoms, tracery heads, and are glazed with colored and figured glass manufactured for the express purpose. The facing to foundations, the steps, window heads, dressings, and all external orna- ments are of cut stone ; the other portions masticated to imitate stone.
The principal entrance is into the east side of the tower. The tower
26
294
First Presbyterian Church.
contains the inner porch, the screen doors, and the organ and bell lofts ; also the apartment designed for the clock. The entrance to the organ, and to the choir gallery, is also through a portion of the tower ; and the west side of the tower is perforated and arched, in order to present a full view of the organ. The screen wall, dividing the hall and lobbies from the nave and aisles, is perforated for three doors corresponding with the inner passages along the several ranges of pews, and also for two doors leading to the galleries. Between the front and screen walls is a transverse hall which contains the staircases, all conveniently ar- ranged to give easy access to the different portions of the building. The area west of the screen wall, about seventy-seven by sixty-four feet, is divided by two ranges of columns into nave and side aisles : the columns form the support of the two ranges of galleries, and of the spandrels of the groined ceiling ; the centre portion, or nave, terminating at its west end in the recess containing the pulpit, steps, and private entrance ; and at the east end, in the organ loft and gallery for the choir.
The main ceiling is formed into three general divisions, corresponding with the nave and side aisles, by groined arches ornamented with ribs, bosses, and the usual display of ornament, and laid off to represent blocks of cut stone masonry, and frescoed : the ribs descend along the different curves of the arches, and rest in a cluster of mouldings upon the or- namented caps of the columns, and upon ornamented corbels along the walls. The ceilings of the galleries, and also those of the porch and hall, are ornamented with spandrels, resting upon corbels, and the angles filled with tracery. In each panel of the galleries, between the columns, are presented five arches resting upon corbels ; and from each corbel rises a pinnacle, the arches and pinnacles ornamented with crockets and finials, and terminate below the gallery cornice : the unoccupied spaces are filled with tracery paneling. The gallery for the choir is finished similar to the others, except that the main divisions and angles are formed by projecting octagonal paneling, in form of turrets, and the tracery within the arches perforated quite through.
Within the projection at the west end is formed the recess which terminates the west end of the nave, the floor of the recess forming the area occupied by the pulpit and steps. The recess is ornamented with columns, panels and tracery, and a blank window finishes its center ; the window presenting all the variety of mullions, tracery, transom crowned with tudor leaf, usual in ornamental windows. In one side of the recess is a private entrance, with a corresponding blank door at the opposite side, the arches of both finished with crockets and finials. The pulpit is not in a sufficient state of forwardness to admit of a particular descrip- tion, but will doubtless be in character with the other portions of the building.
The main floor is intended to contain one hundred and fifty-eight pews, and the gallery forty-two. The choir will be of sufficient size to ac- commodate thirty persons. About twelve hundred persons can be ac- commodated in pews, gallery and choir, if required. The building is in- tended to be warmed by means of two furnaces located in the baesment. .
This church edifice, though entirely divested of the transepts, clere- story, high ceiling, and lofty spires which characterize the cathedral form of church edifices, will be found nevertheless, upon careful inspec- tion, to present, in both general design and in detail, objects worthy the attention of the amateur and lover of the mechanic arts.
295
Births, Marriages and Deaths in 1848.
The lot on which this edifice is erected is on Hudson street, 150 feet in length, and on Philip street, on which it fronts, about 148 feet in breadth, enclosed by an iron fence of gothic structure. The organ, which is already put up, and is a full organ with three banks of keys, was made by Messrs. Appleton and Warren of Boston. The supposed cost of the whole structure will be nearly seventy thousand dollars.
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