USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. I > Part 9
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81
Albany Female Academy.
It appears from this paper that Mr. Ebenezer Foot was preëmi- nently active in commencing the Academy, and, so far as an individual can claim an honor in which, however, several probably to some extent, participated, he may be regarded as its founder. In a memoir of Mr. Foot, prepared and published, at the request of friends, by his brother Samuel A. Foot, of Geneva, we find the following statement, which evidently conveys no more than the truth on this matter. "One act of Mr. Foot's life should not be omitted or forgotten wherever his name is mentioned. The present Female Academy in Albany owes its ex- istence mainly, if not entirely, to him. It is now, and has been for some years, one of the most valuable and useful institutions in the coun- try. It was commenced in February, 1814, under the name of the Union School in Montgomery street. The original subscription paper is now before the writer. It bears date on the 24th day of that month. The subscriptions are payable to Mr. Foot, and it is within the know. ledge and recollection of the writer that he started the project and ob- tained most of the subscriptions. The principal motive of Mr. Foot, no doubt, was to establish a good female school in his neighborhood, to which he might send his daughter. If this was his sole motive, it was a good one. But whatever the motive, whether to qualify his own daughter, or those of his neighbors and friends, for the duties of American ladies, or, more expansive still, to elevate and adorn the female character, and store the female mind with useful knowledge, his name should be kindly remembered by every pupil who has enjoyed or may enjoy the benefits of the institution, and by every friend of female education."
During the first six years and upwards of the existence of Union School, no records were kept of its proceedings, or if kept, they have not been preserved ; but no doubt it continued to increase, throughout this period, in numbers and reputation; for, in 1821, an act of incorpo- ration was obtained from the legislature. The board of directors named in the charter, consisted of
James Kent, president, Gideon Hawley, Asa H. Center, John V. Henry, Teunis Van Vechten,
Peter Boyd, Rev. John Chester, Joseph Russell, William Fowler.
Five of these, it will be seen, were among the original subscribers, and thus had the satisfaction of seeing the enterprise which they began, consolidated and rising into fame.
In the same year, 1821, a more spacious building was reared, still in Montgomery street, the first stone of which was laid on the 26th June; and so rapidly did the school increase, that in 1827 an additional build- ing was required, and erected accordingly. These edifices continued to be occupied by the Academy till 1834, when its celebrity and numbers became so great as to justify and demand the erection of the splendid and commodious edifice where the classes now meet. On the 12th of May, in that year, the new building was opened, when an address was delivered by the president, Rev. John Ludlow. The following persons then constituted the board of trustees and the faculty :
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Albany Female Academy.
TRUSTEES.
Rev. John Ludlow, Gideon Hawley, James Clark, Israel Smith, Richard M. Meigs, Edwin Croswell, Jacob Sutherland,
John T. Norton, James Vanderpoel, Ph. S. Van Rensselaer, Richard V. De Witt, Thos. W. Olcott, Ira Harris,
FACULTY.
Alonzo Crittenton, principal.
Ann Hickcox,
teacher.
Henry Hart, professor.
Harriet E. Fassett,
Henri Picard, prof. of French.
Catharine Pierce,
Ann Charlotte Lynch, teacher.
Harriet N. Kirk,
Harriet B. Hopkins,
Emma Whitney,
At the present time the trustees and faculty are as follows :
TRUSTEES.
Greene C. Bronson, President.
John Q. Wilson,
Edwin Croswell,
Rev. W. B. Sprague,
Thomas W. Olcott,
Rev. Duncan Kennedy,
Ira Harris,
Jas. McNaughton,
Rev. I. N. Wyckoff,
Marcus T. Reynolds,
Harmon Pumpelly,
Amasa J. Parker.
FACULTY.
L. Sprague Parsons, Principal.
Chas. Murray Nairne, Professor. Julien Molinard, Prof. French. Harriet E. McDoual, teacher. Mary Pynchon,
Lucy Jane Fassett, teacher.
Jeannie Miller, .€
Emeline Harvey,
S. A. Bayeux,
R. Packard, Prof. voc. Music,
besides various professors of the ornamental branches of female educa- tion, who do not form part of the regular faculty.
Since the incorporation of the Academy there have been six presi- dents, as follows :
James Kent, Chancellor of New York, deceased.
Rev. John Chester, pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, de- ceased.
Rev. John Ludlow, now provost of the University of Pennsylvania. Rev. Isaac Ferris, now President Rutger's Institute, New York.
Rev. John N. Campbell, pastor First Presbyterian Church.
Hon. Greene C. Bronson, Judge Supreme Court.
The principals of the Academy since the foundation have been five, namely :
Horace Goodrich,
Alonzo Crittenton, L. Sprague Parsons.
Lebbeus Booth,
Frederick Matthews,
Of these, Messrs. Goodrich and Matthews are dead. Mr. Booth, son-in-law of the founder, is resident at Ballston; Mr. Crittenton is
Charlotte E. Andrews,
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Albany Female Academy.
principal of the Female Academy at Brooklyn; and Mr. Parsons is now in office.
It will be seen that some of the most distinguished men in the state and country have been, or are, connected with the Albany Female Academy; and if, as is contemplated, a fuller history of the institution than the present sketch, be given to the public, it will also be seen how many American ladies, occupying useful, honorable and high places in society, have received their education at this celebrated school.
This notice would be incomplete if it said nothing of the system and course of instruction pursued in the Academy.
The school consists of six departments, and one of French, which may all be gone through in the space of eight years. Less time, except in extraordinary cases, would be insufficient to do justice to the scheme. The studies of the firstor highest department require two years, and one year additional for ancient and modern languages is strongly recom- mended, and frequently taken. The course is in all respects complete ; the system thoroughgoing, judicious and substantial. The writer had no acquaintance with the Academy till within these last two years ; but now for upwards of twelve months, he has had the best opportunity daily of observing it, and comparing it with similar institutions, both in this country and in Europe, and it is but due to truth and justice to declare, that the Albany Female Academy is superior to most, and second to none of these, both in the cultivation of mind, and in the maintenance of that cheerfulness of heart, buoyancy of spirit, and unforced love of knowledge, which many have deemed, in the case of females, incompatible with such faithful and severe intellectual disci- pline as is hereį practiced. No young lady, unless in the rare instances of incorrigible incapacitv, can pass clearly and continuously through the present course of the school, without an accurate knowledge of the ordi- nary parts of an English education, and a highly respectable acquaintance with literature and science. In regard to those who have talent and diligence enough to graduate, much stronger terms may be employed. It is understood that until lately, the method-of which too many colle- ges set an example, and which perhaps could not, without difficulty, be departed from in a female Academy-was pursued of granting diplo- mas to all who had passed over the curriculum, without any very rigid examination as to the extent of their profiting by it. This, the usual plan, has, however, been abandoned in the Albany Female Academy, and a special examination of the strictest and most impartial kind has been instituted, so that now it is certain that no person can receive a diploma unless she fairly and fully proves herself to be all that the diploma affirms she is. Graduation implies not simply attendance dur- ing the usual time at school, but also an extensive and accurate know- ledge of literature, philosophy, mathematics and natural science, and a diploma from this institution of learning is one of the highest intellectual honors that a lady can obtain. Nor do strictness of discipline, and care in the distribution of honors appear to affect the Academy injuriously, but the reverse, for it never was more flourishing than at the present day. The number of scholars with which the school commenced in 1814, was about 33; at present, and notwithstanding the institution of many seminaries, upon the same model, it exceeds 300, drawn from all parte of the United States.
84
State Normal School.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
J.B.HOWARD Del.
PEASE
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
This institution was established in 1844, by an act of the legislature, for the instruction and practice of teachers of common schools in the science of education and the art of teaching. An annual appropriation of $10,000 was made for its support, to be paid out of the literature fund. Each county in the state is entitled to send to the school a number of pupils, of either sex, equal to twice the number of members it sends to the assembly, where they have the privilege of remaining until they graduate, defraying all their own expenses, except those of tuition and mileage. Females are not admitted under 16 years of age, nor males under 18. On entering the institution they are required to sign a pledge to devote themselves to the business of teaching district schools. The summer term commences on the first Monday in May, and the winter term on the first Monday in November. The number of graduates dur- ing the four years since its organization, is as follows: 1845, 34; 1846, 110; 1847, 110; 1843, 96; total, 350. The number of students during the last term was 146 females, and 147 males; total, 293. Attached to the institution is an experimental school, the object of which is to afford each normal pupil an opportunity of practicing the methods of instruc. tion and discipline inculcated at the school, as well as to ascertain his aptness to teach, and to discharge the various other duties pertaining to the teacher's responsible office. The experimental school has 70 pupils, between the ages of six and sixteen, 35 of whom are free pupils. The edifice now occupied by the school, No. 119 State street, was built by the Mohawk and Hudson Rail Road Company, and used by that corpora-
85
Houses in Albany in 1786.
tion several years as a depot for the passenger trains, until the termina- tion of the road was changed to Maiden lane. The common council contributes the rent of the building towards the encouragement of the enterprise. In return for which, the free seats in the experimental school are given exclusively to fatherless children residing in the city of Albany. At the last session of the legislature, an appropriation of $15,000 was made for the erection of a new edifice for the purposes of a school, and the city appropriated the lot occupied by Engine House No. 9, corner of Howard and Lodge streets. A spacious and convenient building is in progress of erection, which will be ready for occupation in the summer of 1849. The executive committee having charge of the institution con- sists of Christopher Morgan, superintendent of common schools, chair- man; Gideon Hawley, Samuel Young, Harmanus Bleecker, and William H. Campbell, the latter acting as secretary. The faculty consists of:
Geo. R. Perkins, A. M., Principal and Professor of Mathematics, Wm. F. Phelps, Permanent Teacher of Experimental School, Darwin G. Eaton, Teacher of Mathematics, etc.,
Sumner C. Webb, Teacher of Arithmetic, etc.,
Silas T. Bowen, Teacher of Grammar, Mathematics, etc.,
Wm. W. Clark, Teacher of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry,
Truman H. Bowen, Teacher of Vocal Music, etc.,
Elizabeth C. Hance, Teacher of Reading and Geography, Ann Maria Ostrom, Teacher of Drawing, etc.
The first principal of the institution, was David P. Page, who died in January, 1848, at the early age of 38. He was succeeded by Prof. Geo. R. Perkins, whose reputation as a mathematician is so well known. Un- der these, and a corps of excellent teachers, the school has attained a lasting reputation in the short space of four years.
HOUSES IN ALBANY IN 1786.
In 1786 the number of houses in Albany was found by actual enume- ration to be 550. A statement of the number of houses in the principal cities and towns at this time, will serve to show their relative propor- tions :
Philadelphia, 4600
New York, 3500
Boston, .. 2100
Baltimore, 1900
Charleston (S. C.), ... 1540
Albany, 550
New Haven, 400
Hartford, .. 300
It will be seen that Albany was the sixth in point of number. The census of Boston was found to be at that time 14,640, exclusive of stran- gers, which gives seven persons to a house. At this rate Albany would have had 3,850 inhabitants. To carry out the calculation, Philadelphia would have contained 32,200; New York, 24,500; Baltimore, 13,300; Charleston, 10,780. The number of strangers might have increased the estimate one eighth. The population of these places, however, is known to have differed considerably from the above estimates.
8
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Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH IN ALBANY.
The establishment of this church in Holland is said to have been con- summated immediately after the decision of the Synod of Dort, in 1619. The colonists of New Netherland brought with them a strong attachment to the doctrines, worship and government of the church at home, and how- ever deeply interested in sccular pursuits, it is known that in very good time they took measures to establish among them the regular ministrations of the gospel. There are no records preserved in the church, by which to ascertain the exact time when it was organized in this part of the colony, though it is claimed by some to have been eoeval with the first settlement. Dr. Livingston, a noted preacher in the carly part of the present century, says, there were documents in existence which rendered it certain that a considerable church was organized in New York, as early as 1619, and that records were extant, containing the names of members in full communion, dated 1622. At another time, speaking of the Albany settlement, he says, " It is very certain that they had ministers there as early, if not beforc, any were at New York." Dr. O'Callaghan, on the other hand, asserts that in 1640 no church or clergyman existed yet in Rens- selaerswyck, although the colony at New Amsterdam erected a church in 1633; but that in 1642 the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, "the pious and well learned minister of the congregation of Schoorel and Berge," came out under the patronage of the patroon, and arrived on the 11th of August. It is ascertained by documents preserved in the Van Rensselaer archives, that the conditions upon which the above named clergyman ac- cepted the call to Rensselaerswyck, were, a free passage, and board for himself and family ; an outfit of 300 guilders ($120), and an annual salary of 1100 guilders ($440), 30 schepels (22} bushels) of wheat, and 2 firkins of butter, for the first three years ; and if the patroon was satisfied with his services, he was to receive an additional sum of 200 guilders ($80) per annum, for another term of three years. The minister's family consisted of himself and wife, and four children. A house for the dominie had been cortraeted for, but was not erected when he arrived; the carpen-
87
Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
ter of the colony not being a reliable man, if Commissary Van Curler's account of him is correct; but a house eonstrueted entirely of oak was purchased on his arrival, for $120. We are led to infer that the church edifiee was, likewise, unprepared for the use of the minister ; for the commissary wrote to the patroon that he intended to have one built during the summer, "in the pine grove," 34 feet long by 19 wide; a building previously begun not proving satisfactory for the purpose. The church was clustered in among the other buildings around Fort Orange, which stood near the river between Denniston and Lydius streets, and the ehureh yard was in the rear, on what is now Church street. The furniture of this ehureh consisted of a pulpit ornamented with a canopy, pews for the magistrates and the deaeons, and nine benches for the con- gregation ; the expense of all which was $32. A new stoop was added to the building in the year 1651, and the church continued to accommodate the faithful till 1656, a period of 13 years from the time of its ereetion. Mr. Megapolensis retired from the colony in 1649, with the intention of returning to Holland ; but he was persuaded to remain at New Amster- dam, where he still resided when that place was surrendered to the Eng. lish, as did also his brother William, who lent the weight of his influenee to prevent the doughty governor, Stuyvesant, from firing upon the enemy. He died in 1670.
In 1652 the Rev. Gideon Sehaats (or Schaets) was sent over to supply the pulpit at Albany for three years, under a salary of 800 guilders per annum ($320), which was afterwards increased to 1000, and then to 1300 guilders per annum. He is said to have been 45 years of age when he arrived in the colony, and was aecompanied by his two sons and daughter. He is supposed to have died in 1683.
The Rev. Mr Niewenhuysen (or Niewenhuyt) was a colleague of Mr. Sehaats as early as 1675. In that year the Rev. Nicholas Van Rensselaer (or Nieholas Ranslaer) arrived here, and set up a elaim not only to the pulpit, but also to the manor itself; but failed to obtain either. The Duke of York recommended him to Sir Edmund Andross for a living in one of the churches at New York or Albany. Suspected of being a papist, Mr. Niewenhuysen disputed his right to administer the saeraments, on the ground that he was not approved by the Classis of Amsterdam, to which the Dutch churches here held themselves subordinate. In this controversy the governor took the part of Mr. Van Rensselaer, and summoned Niew- enhuysen before him to answer for his conduet ;* but he was so grossly maltreated, and so frequently harassed by fruitless and expensive attend- anees before the council, that the greater part of the people resented the usage he met with ; and the magistrates of Albany, in retaliation, impri- soned Mr. Van Rensselaer for " several dubious words " uttered in a ser- mon. The governor in turn ordered him to be released, and summoned the magistrates to attend him at New York, where warrants were issued to compel them to give security in £5,000 each, to make out good cause for confining the minister. Leisler, who was one of them, refused to comply, and was imprisoned. Sir Edmund, fearful that a great party would rise up against liim, was at last compelled to discontinue his eeele- siastieal jurisdiction, and refer the controversy to the decision of the eon- sistory of the Duteh church at Albany. It is said that Mr. Van Rensse. laer's popularity with the prince grew out of his having predieted, while
' New York Records, vol. iii, p. 54 et seq.
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Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
Charles II. was in exile, the day of his restoration ; and it is furthermore related that the people of Albany held his prophetie pretensions in high estimation, out of which proceeded many strange tales.
A stone church was erected in 1656, at the intersection of what was then or afterwards called Yonker's and Handelaer's streets, now known as State street and Broadway. The corner stone was laid by Rutger Jacobsen, and the pulpit and bell, promised to be sent over by the Dutch West India Company, arrived in due time, and served the congregation a century and a half.
In 1683, the Rev. Godfredius Dellius arrived, to assist Mr. Schaats in the ministry, who was now about 76 years of age. The Register of Bap- tisms commences this year, with the name of Mr. Dellius at the head of the page, and has been tolerably well kept ever since. At the time Mr. Dellius arrived in the colony, the church is said to have been very numerous, to which great additions were made by him, especially among the Mohawk Indians. Unhappily he was led into extravagant speculations in land, which involved him in difficulties, and led to his dismissal in 1699, when he returned to Holland. The history of the dominies in New Neth- erland exhibits a succession of active labors in an unpromising and rather uninviting field ; and a series of private woes and difficulties, which drove several of them back to the shores of Europe. The flock was widely ex- tended. Besides the colony of Rensselaerswyck, it embraced the Mohawk Indians, and the settlements on the river. There was a considerable in- gathering of neophytes from Kinderhook and more remote places, in all directions.
In 1700, the Rev. - Nucella was the officiating minister; and in 1703 the Rev. John Lydius commenced his labors, which terminated in 1709. The pulpit seems to have been vacant two years. The baptismal register has the name of Rev. Gualterus Du Bois, who resided in New York, in 1710; and that of Rev. Petrus Vas, in 1711; neither of whom ap- pear to have been settled pastors.
In 1712 the Rev. Petrus Van Driessen was called, and continued his ministerial labors until his death, which took place about the 1st of Febru. ary, 1738. In the meantime the church was rebuilt, namely, in 1715, upon the site of the old one, at the confluence of State with Court and Market streets, and a patent or charter procured in 1720. The Rev. Cornelis Van Schie began to officiate as his colleague in 1733; after whose de- cease, in August. 1744, the Rev. Theodorus Frelinghuysen occupied the pulpit till 1760, when he abruptly left the church and returned to Holland. The story of this ill-fated divine, as told by Mrs. Grant, excites our com- passion for a worthy, zealous, and high-minded man. The account of his tragical end is variously told, and may have had a legendary origin.
In the latter part of the year 1760, the Rev. Eilardus Westerlo arrived from Holland, and entered upon the pastoral charge. He became one of the most eminent ministers of the Dutch church in America, and died in 1790, at the early age of 53, in the thirty-first year of his ministry, greatly revered and lamented by his people.
During the occupation of New York by the British, the Rev. Dr. Living- ston occasionally assisted Dr. Westerlo, from 1776 to 1779; but when; a call was given him in 1780, he declined its acceptance. A disposition was manifested by some of the prominent members of the church, twenty years after, to give him a call to preach to them in the Dutch language; but
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Reformed Protestant Dutch Church.
the trustees reluctantly consented, after several refusals, to grant a salary for the purpose; and when they finally acceded to it, the sum was too small, and the doctor had become too infirm to leave his charge in New York, if he had entertained the wish to do so.
In 1787 the Rev John Bassctt was associated with Dr. Westerlo. The church had now become comparatively wealthy and numerous. In 1798, during his ministry, the congregation having become too large for the di- mensions of their ancient church, a new one was completed, in North Pearl street, and services were held weekly in both places. About this time. serious differences arose between Mr. Bassett and his consistory, which led to his withdrawal from the church in 1804. He removed to the Boght, and afterwards to Bushwick, Long Island, where he died in 1820.
The Rev. John B. Johnson became the eolleague of Dr. Bassett in 1796, and continued here until 1802, when he withdrew, and removed to Brook- lyn. He died at Newtown, Long Island, on the 29th August, 1803. In consequence of impaired health he had withdrawn from the cares of a large congregation, and acecpted a call where less exertion was re- quired ; but his disease was too deeply rooted, and the change proved ineffectual to his relief. After the death of his wife, who left him in April with three infant children, he rapidly declined. He was distinguished by abilities which marked him for extensive usefulness, and his mind was im- proved by a liberal education and indefatigable study. He enjoyed great popularity with his people, and during liis ministry very gratifying acces- sions were made to the church. The two ministers preached alternately in the old and new churches.
By the removal of Mr. Bassett in 1804, the church was left without a pastor. At this juncture, a meeting of the great consistory was called for the purpose of deliberating upon the concerns of the church, and to decide upon the call of a pastor. This body was composed of the acting board, and the surviving members of all former boards of consistory, and met on the 27th of May, 1805. The following members attended :
John Veeder, John N. Bleecker,
John B. Bradt, John H. Wendell, John D. P. Douw, - Pruyn, Henry Truax, Douw Fonda,
Gerrit Quackenbush, Killian J. Winne,
Sol'n Van Rensselaer, Harmanus P, Schuyler, Anthony Van Santvoort Jacob Ten Eyck, Leonard Gansevoort, Gerrit Groesbeek,
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