USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. II. Second Edition > Part 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35
Att a Meeting of Mayor &c., Dec. 28, 1694.
It is agreed by ye mayor and aldermen, with the justices of ye county of Albany, that ye justices of ye county shall pay ye sum of four and forty pounds with ye two pounds to James Parker, makes in whole six and forty pounds courant money for all charges done for ye citty and county aforesaid till ve 14th day of Oct. 1694, except ye pretence and accts of Barent Bradt, William Hoffmayer, Adriaen Appel, and Maritie wedw of Cornelis van de Hoeve, concerning ye re- moveing of there houses, following the orders of ye magis-
260
The City Records.
trates of ye citty aforesaid on ye 18th of Feb. 168,9%, which sume, forty six pounds, they doe promise to pay in ye pmo of Aprill ensueing, 1695. Of which sume of forty six pounds K. V. Renselaer is to pay £4, and Schaenhech- tady £11 : 10, Kinderhook £16: 15, and Castkill and Cox- hachky £13:15-is just £46.
It is further ordered yt ye aforesd justices of ye county of Albany shall ride for ye three Blockhouses, on ye south side of this citty, three hundred load of wood, with two horses, vizt : the collony Renselaerswyck with Claverak, one hundred and fifty lood of good oak, ippere, bill, stell or dry pine and ashy; and for Catskill, Coxhackie and Kinderhoek, two hundred good load of wood, as aforementioned, which three hundred and fifty load of wood is to be visited 1 by Paulis Mar- tense, for which visitation it is ordred yt Paulus Martense shall two ps of & which three hundred and fifty load of wood, ye aforesaid justices doe promise to deliver in four weeks time from this day. Agreed with Dirk and Gerritt Teunise that they shall deliver twenty blocks of 21 inches long, and Peter and Isaac Vosburgh 3 balks of 15 foot long.
January 8, 169% .- Jan Casperse gives in a peticon yt ye court will be pleased to appoint two sufficient men to vallow ye estate of William Hoffmayer, deceased, which ye court after vizited graunts unto him-two sufficient men being Mr. Pr. van Brugh and Joh. Dewandlaer upon oath yt they only vallow the moveables according to ye invantary.
February 27th, 1694 .- Whereas complaint is made yt Marte Cregier is intended to build a house next to his dwell- ing house contrary to his excellency's order, it is therefore ordered by ye mayor, aldermen and common councill, yt Albert Ryckman, Jacob Staats and Capt John Janse Bleeker shall observe and take information of what ye sd Marte Cregier is intended to build, and on what manner ; and after when they have observed it, they are to warn sd Marte Cregier thereof, and then give in there report to ye mayor.
Whereas the mayor, aldermen and common councill, be- ing convened concerning ye containing 2pr. ct. who doth
1 Inspected.
261
The City Records.
agree and conclude yt the sd 2pr. ct., shall continue for ye ensuing year, and yt our representatives, Majr Wessels, K. V. Rensselaer and Ryer Schermerhoorn shall propose it in ye assembly.
March 12th, 1694 .- Whereas complaints are made yt ye streets of Albany are found so unfitt yt is most unable for any person to use them, it is therefore found very requisite by ye mayor, aldermen and common councill, yt every house- holder shall make or cause to be made, eight foot ground before his own house fronting to ye streets, paved with stones as formerly ; and it is also ordred yt Claes Ripse van Dam and J. Gow yt they shall be overseers, yt ye sd streets may be orderly laid, and yt between this and ye first of June, upon pain and penalty for every week after yt time six shil- ling from each person.
March 29th, 1695 .- Whereas Coll. Richd Ingoldesby has ordered Mr. Mayor to quarter Leift Shanks in town, whereto Mr. Mayor could not resolve, being he was an offi- cer belonging to her majs garison in ye fort, whereupon Mr. Mayor calls ye common councill for there advice, and replyes to them yt ye Coll. will not releve ye town before ye Leift Shanks is quartered in town. Whereupon ye common councill think it is a hardship to keep sd granadeers in town, but will rather quaerter sd Shanks till they make there adress to his excellency for releve.
April 30th, 1695 .- Whereas John Cuyler and Johs Roseboom, deakons of ye Doutch congregation of Albany, makes there adresse to ye mayor and aldermen that it might be granted them, that Majr Pr. Schuyler and Domini, might convine together concerning a certain transport given by ye sd Majr Schuyler late mayor, unto ye late deakons of ye said Doutch congregation, upon a water run commonly known by ye Bevr creek; whereupon ye mayor and aldermen grants yt sd Majr Schuyler and Domini Dellius shall meet in ye afternoon to give a right information concerning sd transport.
Whereas there is new stockadoes ride this last winter for ye reparation of this citty of Albany, but ye weather haveing been so uncertain and still so continues, and also ye high
262
The City Records.
.
water yt it is almost unpossible for ym to be sett along ye river side, doe therefore think very requisite and convenient yt all inhabitants yt have ride there stockadoes at ye south side of ye citty, and Lutheran church, and middle-most block house, shall sett there stockadoes in ye space of three times four and twenty hours, upon pain and penalty of three shil- lings for every person and immediately to strain upon there goods and chattels, and do thereunto authorize Johs Appel sherrif, to take observation yt it may be equally done.
Whereas the gates and high wayes of the citty of Albany are so unconvenient for any use, being therefore thought very requisite by ye mayor, aldermen and commonalty, yt a small tax of fifty pounds shall be raised out of the citty of Albany yt ye sd gates and highways may be repared and made in good order, and also yt ye assessors are to make the assessmt between this and ye first of June, and to deliver it to the collecters wh collectors are immediately to raise sd sume of money before ye first of July next ensuing, and give it in ye hands of ye treasurer, Johannis Appell.
Upon the report made of D. Wessels, who had deliverd in Nov. a petition to ye Govr and councill, whereby he desyred of the Governor and councill to have a warrant on the addi- tionell duty to satisfy the sume of £1105:2:3, that hath been disbursed by severall inhabitants of the citty and county of Albany and Ulster, in ye late revolution, whose accts hath been produced by ye assembly in ye time when Collo R. In- goldesby was commander in chief; but it seemed his excel- lency and councill was not pleased with the inspecting of ye sd account by the committee yt there was appointed to yt purpose, but was pleased to order a committee of ye councill yt they should inspect ye aforesaid accts. Whereupon the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of Albany, conveined together and have considered ye necessity for ye want of ye aforesd money, because some runns still upon intrest, to ye great damage of ye inhabitants, is therefore resolved yt Mayr Abeel, D Wessels, K. V. Rensselaer and Johs Cuyler, shall doe all there best endeavors for ye procureing of ye said money, wherefore they are allowed ye half of ye four posts mentioned in ye list for ye citty, being ye summe of £303:2, for ye quaertering ye soldiers of Capt Bulls company in the yere 1683%.
263
The City Records.
Whereas Marte Cregier of ye citty of Albany, having made an adresse to the mayor, aldermen and commonalty, to be admitted to build a house of 15 foot on ye north side of his house, standing in ye Parrell street next ye stockadoes or behinde sd house, wh addresse ye sd mayor, aldermen and commonalty doth reject, and saith yt if the sd Marte Cregier thinks his house too little, they will allow him to enlarge ye gd house seven or eight feet, but for building a new att this present time can not be allowed.
Att a Mayor's Court, May 14th, 1695.
Proclamation .- Being thought very requisite by the re- corder and aldermen for ye repairing of ye citty of Albany ; every particular person that hath not sett there proportion of stockadoes belonging to the citty, shall in ye space of five days sett there sd stockadoes in a good and equall way, and upon pain and penalty of ye sume of six shillings for each per- son yt doth not perform ye same; and also yt no person or persons shall in ye least meddle or make with any of the old stockadoes to take them away for any use, but yt they shall be reserved for ye use of ye guards; likewise yt every in- habitant within this city shall clain ye streets before there door from all filth and fyre wood, and also yt no inhabitant shall lay any timber to his neighbors prejudice, but to remove it to such places where they intend to build.
Whereas it is resolved by ye recorder, aldermen and com- monalty, that the assessors of the city of Albany shall pre- pare billes or tickets for ye quartering of ye quantity of one hundred men, yt within ye limitts of the city aforesd in the space of three days without fail, and give in there return at Majr Wessells.
It is thought also very convenient yt ye sheriffe shall order a constable to presse all ye carters belonging to ye citty of Albany against tomorrow, to goe for Melgerts mill and fetch each a load of slabbs fore ye repareing of ye bridges and oyr necessaryes of ye aforsd citty.
May 21th, 1695 .- Whereas we dayly expect men from New York for ye sacurity of these, her Majestys fronteers of Albany, we doe therefore appoint John Lansing, Jacob
264
The City Records.
Staats, Gerrit van Ness, aldermen, and Banony van Corlaer, . Johs Thomase and Hend. Hansen, to prepare for the quar- tering of the souldiers yt shall come.
June 4th, 1695 .- Whereas the assessors having now delivered in there assessment of ye. last tax, amounting to ye summe of fifty pounds and odd money, which is not signed by all the assessors ; wee doe therefore hereby command you Hend. van Dyk, to order yt all ye assessors, with your self, to convein together at one aclock, upon penalty of forty shil- lings, and make a true assessment under hand and seale of each particular assessor, and thereupon make your return to morrow morning to ye mayor and justices of ye citty of Albany.
June 11th, 1695 .- Whereas there are several warrants and orders directed to the sherrif, Johs Appel, which he has not punctially persued following his directions; doe there- fore now strictly order, and command the said sherriffe, what- soever orders or warrants are to him directed in absence of our mayor, he shall forthwith persue the same.
Whereas on the 11th of March 1694, and order being directed by the mayor of ye citty of Albany, unto Mr. Jacob Turk and Pr. van Brugh, to have the uppermost waell standing on the hill prepared, and to have the water from the fort drawn thereunto with an ruyoull as formerly. The sd Mr. Jacob Turk and Pr. van Brugh appears now here per- sonally, with there acct and charges made to the sd waell, amounting to the sume of five hundred seventy three gilders 11 stuyvers in wampum, for which summe of money aforesd, well and truly to be paid, the mayor, aldermen and common- alty have taken unto consideration and doe therefore appoint and authorize Bennony van Corlaer, Johs Cuyler and Johs Thomase, who shall bate all and every particular inhabitant of this citty what they shall pay for the aforesd sume disbursed for the reparation of the sd waell, and whereas ye mayor, aldermen and commonalty doe find an unconvenience yt the streets at last will come to damage by the water running out of ye sd wall ; it is therefore resolved by the sd mayor, aldermen and commonalty that another wall shall be made in the sd street · upon a convenient place, and forthwith drawne into the creek behynde Majr Schuyler's.
1
265
The City Records.
Whereas the streets and bridges of the citty of Albany are so unconvenient for want of being repaired, especially the great bridge by Majr Schuyler, doe therefore appoint and authorize Johs Appel, high sheriffe of the citty of Albany, to gett the aforesd bridges and streets well repaired and in good order that in the time of eight days ensueing this date, especially the bridge by Maj Schuyler, and this you are in no ways to ommitt, upon penalty as the fact deserves. Dated in Albany the 11th day of June, in ye seventh year of his majestys reign, anno do. 1695.
Whereas there is a considerable summe of money due to the two taxes of £2000, and £1550, by the citty and county of Albany in the year of our lord 1691, as pr the list of each particular ward doth appear, whereunto the justices doe appoint and command that ye constables of the citty and county aforesd, emmediately to goe round and collect the said summe of money, as is still standing out, belonging to the said taxes.
Whereas several proclamations hath been formerly directed to the sheriff, Johs Appell, who are not well observed as it ought to be, doe hereby renue all the proclamations unto him derected vizt : against people who doe trade and keep conversation with the Indians upon the hill or elsewhere, that such orders shall still continue and remain in full force and vertue as ever did.
Whereas the aldermen and commonalty doth recommend Major Dirk Wessels and Mayor John Abeel representatives for ye citty and county of Albany, to propose in the general assembly yt the containing of the two pr. cts. at and 3d. upon ye gallon might be granted as formerly, to continue for the ensueing year.
June 23, 1695 .- Whereas the retailers of the citty of Albany doe retaile to the Indians in this dangerous time of alarm, doe hereby order Johs Appel, high sherriffe, emmedi- ately to goe round to all the retailers of this citty aforesaid to prohibite them to draw any strong drink to any Indians in this dangerous times, untill further order from the mayor - and aldermen of ye citty aforesaid. Dated in Albany this 24th day of June 1695.
Annals, ii.
23
266
The City Records.
Att a Common Councill &c., July 12, 1695.
Whereas there has been an act entituled an act for ye defray- ing ye necessary charges of the city and county of Albany of 2 per cent upon all Indian goods, likewise 3d. upon each gallon rom yt shall be imported in ye citty and county of Albany, which was expired ye 18th of May last and now being confirmed by ye general assembly, to remain in full force and virtue for ye space of two years ensuing the 4th of July 1695, be- ing then published, doe hereby strictly charge and command all masters of vessels, merchants, or other persons whatso- ever, that should have any such Indian goods or rom brought or received from New York in this citty and county afore- said, shall enter such goods at ye treasurer, Johs. Appell, or his deputy, within the space of 12 hours after their arrive- ment, and to land the said goods at the gate by the court house of this citty, as formerly, and whoever neglects to enter such goods as aforesaid, or any thing to the contrary hereof, shall forfeit all the same.
Whereas there is one Lievt Riede now lately come from England under Capt. Wm. Kidd's company, to lay here in ye fronteers of Albany, having no bedding, doe hereby order and appoint John Lansing and John Cuyler to provide bed- ding for the said Liev't upon ye citty charge in the time of three days ensuing this date of ye 12th July, 1695, upon penalty as ye fact deserves.
July 25, 1695. - Whereas Mr. J. Lansing, G. V. Ness, and H. Hansen who are appointed to goe and agree with Robert Sanders concerning the hyre of his chamber for the leift of Captain Weems, have brought in their report that they are agreed with ye said Robert 'Sanders for the space of one year for the sum of 17 ps. of 8, commencing the 23d of June 1695, and determining the 23d June, 1696, which sume of 17 ps. of 8 is laid at ye charge of ye citty of Albany to satisfy ye sd Robert Sanders.
Whereas Marte Cregier appears here personally, who since the 30th of April last makes his addresse again to be ad- mitted to build a house of fifteen foot square on the north of his corner house on ye east of ye Parrel street, near the fortification of the citty of Albany, bynding and obliging him - self in no further building to the north during this warr,
267
The City Records.
* and if in time of peace he shall be admitted to further build- ing, but in case of further war it should be ordered to remove his buildings, the said Cregier doth fully ingage to remove such buildings upon his owne charges.
:
The mayor, aldermen and commonalty of this citty doe graunt the request as aforesaid provided first approbation of his excy the Capt Genl.
Att a Councill held att Fort Wm. Henry, the 15th day of Augt, 1695 : Present his ex'cy Benjn Fletcher, &c.
Marte Cregier having represented to his ex'cy in councill that he hath obtained liberty from ye mayor and aldermen of Albany to build his house in the sd citty near a block- house provided he have his ex'cys approbation, the order of the mayor and aldermen of Albany was read in councill, and his ex'cy was pleased to give his approbation thereunto.
Att a Common Councill held in the Citty Hall of Albany, the 6th of Augt, 1695.
Whereas Maj. D. Wessels, J. J. Bleeker, aldermen, Joh. . Cuyler and H. Hansen, assistants, were appointed the 25th of July last to vizite the accounts of ye last year's revenue and the tax of £50 now lately collected, who give in there report that ye treasurer Joh. Appell is out over and above ye summe of 15gl. and 6st. and Johs. Becker ye summe of 26gl. 42st. in wampum. The 31st July, 1695, vizited.
GLOSSARY.
The change of sovereignty which the colony of New Netherland underwent in 1664, necessarily interfered with the language, as well as the customs and manners of the people. The records con- tinued for twenty years after that event, to be written mostly in Dutch ; but in 1686 they were required to be kept in English. The Dutch, however, was the oral language of the city for many years after, and the records themselves bear evidence of the transition the language was undergoing, by the mixture of English and Dutch words and phraseology. The following glossary may be useful, so far as it goes, to such as are not conversant with the literature of Albany nearly two centuries ago.
·
Beverskill, now known as the Buttermilk creek, and long since ob- literated below Grand street, being conducted into the river by a sewer.
268
The City Records.
Blockhuijse, for the locations of the blockhouses as they existed at - this time, see diagram, vol. I, 136.
Brant hout, fire-wood.
Brant leere, fire-ladders.
Brant haeken, fire-hooks.
City Hall, occupied the present site of Commercial Building, corner of Broadway and Hudson street.
Gilder, gl., f, a Dutch coin, value nearly forty cents.
Luijtersekerk, Lutheran Church, which occupied the site of the City Building cor. Howard and Pearl streets. (See vol. 1, 124). Leijsler's time, Jacob Leisler, an elderly and respected merchant, who raised the standard of William and protestantism, in 1689, and governed the province by the choice of the freeholders of New York and the authority of the English ministry for nearly two years, was very unjustly exe- cuted as a traitor, March 16,1691. The mayor and com- mon council of Albany were opposed to his administra- tion.
Maquaas river, the Mohawk river.
Maijs, maize, Indian corn.
Oyrs, others.
Parrelt, Pearl street.
Pleijn, the Plain was the flat ground between Broadway and South- Pearl street below Beaver. At the beginning of the pre- sent century even, there were but few buildings erected upon it. The lot of the Presbyterian Church, corner of Beaver and South Pearl streets now Beaver Block (1869), is described in the deed, dated 1792 (see vol, I, 132), as being " on the plains."
Piece of 8, ps. of 8, one dollar, consisting of 8 pieces of 12} cents. Pl. Plentive, plaintiff.
Ratel Watch, night watch, furnished with a peculiar instrument for giving alarm.
Revolutions, the ten years which these minutes embrace was a pe- riod of frequent changes in the government, which pro- duced constant trouble and excitement in the province. Rideing, drawing, or transporting by land.
Rom, rum.
Ruttenkill, had its head springs above Lark street, and passed down what was since called the Hudson street ravine (see vol. 1, 146, 158). Its ancient bed, since the ravine was filled up, passes down Hudson and Beaver streets, crossing Pearl street at the centre of the Beaver Block, and enters the Basin near the State street bridge.
Skepel, (schepel, bushel) three pecks English measure. Somme, sum.
Sopus, (Esopus) Kingston.
Sout, salt. Speck, pork.
Stadt Huijse, City Hall.
269
The City Records.
Stuyver, st., a Dutch coin, value nearly two cents.
Stockadoes, a style of fortification, consisting of upright posts, by which the city was protected against the attacks of the Indians.
Taptoo, (tattoo) beat of drum at night for soldiers to retire to their quarters in garrison.
Toties quoties, as often as one, so often the other .- Webster. Wendell's Mills, Buttermilk falls.
Wampum, small beads made of different colored shells, used by the North American Indians as money, and also wrought into belts, etc., as an ornament .- Trumbull.
Ye, the. Yt, that.
Ym, them.
Yr, their.
Zewant, see Wampum.
1693. Before the new style was adopted in 1752, there was much confusion respecting dates, particularly in regard to the months of January and February. Some writers began the year in January, and others in March. The difficulty was to determine whether January and February closed an old year, or began a new one. It became necessary to have some mode, by which it might be known to what year January and February belonged, whenever these months were mentioned. For this purpose the following method was adopted : during January and February, and to the 22d of March, the year was thus marked, 1716-17, or 1716, meaning, that by the ancient mode of calculating, the month mentioned belonged to the year 1716; but, by the new calculation, to the year 1717. After the 22d of March there was no difficulty ; for by. both calcu- lations, the succeeding months were included in the new year.
270
Convention on the State of the Province.
CONVENTION ON THE STATE OF THE PROVINCE.
1664.
One after another the Dutch had now abandoned every point their enemies had assailed. The Connecticut river was gone, Westchester was relinquished, and, now, New- town, Flushing, Gemeco, Heemstede and Gravesend were surrendered. It was at this gloomy conjuncture, when it became evident that the country was held only on suffer- ance, and authority felt itself utterly powerless, that the principle of popular representation was, for the first time, fully recognized in this province. At the request of the burgomasters and schepens, a general assembly of delegates from the several towns was convoked, to take into considera- tion the state of the province. This important meeting was held in the city hall of New Amsterdam, and the members then in attendance were:
Cornelius Steenwyk, Jacob Bakker, New Amsterdam; Jeremias van Rensselaer, Dirck van Schelluyne, Rensselaers- wyk; Jan Verbeek, Gerrit Slechtenhorst, Fort Orange; Thomas Chambers, Gysbert van Imbroeck, Wiltwyck ; Dan- iel Terneur, Johannis Verveeler, New Haerlem ; David de . Marest, Pierre Billou, Staten Island; Wm. Bredenbent, Albert Corn. Wantenaar, Breukelen; Jan Strycker, Wm. Guilliams, Midwout; Elbert Elbertsen, Coert Stevensen, Amersfoort ; David Jochemsen, Cornelis Beekman, New Utrecht; Jan van Cleef, Gysbert Teunissen, Boswyck ; Engelbert Steenhuysen, Herman Smeeman, Bergen.
The first question which engaged the attention of this assembly was that of the presidency. New Amsterdam claimed the honor as the capital; Rensselaerswyck as the oldest colonie. The right of the latter was admitted, and the Honorable Jeremias van Rensselaer took the chair un- der protest. The convention then demanded of the govern- ment, protection against the Indians and "the malignant English." If it were not able to afford such protection, they wished to be informed to whom they were to address
271
Convention on the State of the Province.
themselves. The inhabitants of New Netherland, the di- rector-general insisted, had never contributed to the sup- port or defense of the province. On the contrary, the West India Company had expended the sum of twelve hundred thousand guilders over and above the customs, excise, revenue of the weigh-scale and tithes. Danger impended now over the country from two points-the Indians and the English. He wished the convention to de- cide if the war should be continued, or peace made with the former. If war were decided on, should the allies of the Indians also be included ? Should the English summon the country to surrender, were they to be resisted ? If so, by what force ? Was every sixth man to be enrolled ? Over two hundred men besides the soldiers were required. He proposed a tax on mills and cattle. Were supplies refused, the military force now under pay would be reduced.
The political system which commercial monopoly had so long been endeavoring to construct, collapsed at the moment when its powers were tested. The convention refused sup- plies, and adjourned for a week to consider the propriety of again appealing to the home authorities.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.