USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. II > Part 16
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A noted merchant of the day, THOMAS BARRY, " near the Dutch Church," also enumerates his stock, occupy- ing nearly a column of the paper with a catalogue of goods, with names which sound quite odd at this day ; for instance, "none-so-pretty of various colors, and black breeches patterns."
July 20. The governor of the province, Gen. Tryon, visited the city, on which occasion the corporation gave a public dinner at Cartwright's Tavern (vol. i, 290).
A meteorological table appeared in the Gazette occa- sionally.
A book store was kept by STUART WILSON, an Irishman. at the elm trec corner of State and Pearl streets, in a Dutch house, which was afterwards converted into the Blue Belle tavern, the last keeper of which was the late Spencer Stafford's father.
1779.
Captain Machin was engaged in taking a water level between Albany and Schenectady, with a view to the supply of this city with water by means of an aqueduct. He submitted a plan to the common council, with draw-
193
Notes from the Newspapers.
ings to show the manner in which an aqueduct and re- servoir should be constructed, as we learn by a notice of the same at a later day.
1782.
May. Messrs. SOLOMON BALENTINE and CHARLES R. WEBSTER published the first number of the New York Gazetteer or Northern Intelligencer. The office file of this paper was destroyed by the great fire of 1793, and the only copies of it which are known to exist, are in the Albany Institute.
Sept. 30. A meeting of the creditors of the United States in the state of New York, was held at the City Hall in Albany, PHILIP SCHUYLER chairman ; the object of which was to lay their claims before the public, in an ad- dress, and to suggest a general convention of deputies from the public creditors of the states composing the union, to devise ways and means of payment. (See vol. i, p. 282.)
1783.
The Gazette was enlarged, and Mr. Webster withdrew from it, and removed to New York. The paper was con- tinued by Mr. Balentine alone. Its publication is sup- posed to have ceased in May, 1784.
Mr. Balentine published a Pocket Almanac, for the year 1784, which is the first work of the kind that is known to have been issued in this city. A copy of it is preserved in the State Library.
1784.
May 28. Charles R. Webster, of the late firm of Ba- lentine & Webster, published the first number of a new paper, entitled The Albany Gazette, of which the State Library contains the office file down to the time of its dis- continuance in 1845, when it was the oldest paper in the state, being in its seventy-second year.
At this time the post office not only served for the city and adjoining towns, but the lists of letters advertised contain the names of persons in Orange and Dutchess counties, Cherry Valley, and Vermont.
16
194
Notes from the Newspapers.
ROBISON & HALE, dealers in European and East India goods, occupied the " north corner opposite the Dutch Church," now the site of the Museum Building, which was long known as Robison's corner. Maj. Hale is be- lieved to have been an officer of the revolution, and a much respected citizen; but did not, like his partner, acquire wealth.
JACOB VAN SCHAICK, "in Water street near the Middle dock," publishes a long catalogue of articles under exceed- ingly quaint titles.
HENRY, MCCLALLEN & HENRY, "next door north of the City Hall," which was the site of Commercial Building, present the most formidable array of goods, "adapted to all seasons, in payment for which they will take cash, Morris's and Hillegas's notes, wheat, corn, pease, flax seed, boards and plank, and also all sorts of furs."
Dr. SAMUEL STRINGER, " a little to the north of Market House," gave notice that he had just imported from Eu- rope a general assortment of medicines, which he would " dispose of at the New York advance," by wholesale or retail at his Medicinal Store. The Market House was opposite Stanwix Hall in the centre of the street, and Dr. Stringer's store was opposite Bleecker Hall.
JOHN MCCLINTOCK advertised that he would open a school on the 14th June " in a lower apartment of that house in which the printing office is at present held." This is believed to have been on the south-west corner of Maiden lane and James street.
At the annual election for members of legislature, the following candidates were returned by a majority of votes in the county.
Dirk Swart,
Abraham Becker,
Peter W. Yates,
Matthew Adgate,
Walter Livingston, Jacob Ford,
Matthew Visscher, John Younglove,
Christopher Yates, Israel Thompson.
Peter Van Ness was chosen senator.
JOHN BLAKE advertised the usual variety of goods for sale at Archibald Campbell's store opposite Hugh Den-
195
Notes from the Newspapers.
niston's. He soon after took a store "opposite the east end of the Dutch Church." 1
BALCH & FRYER opened a shop near the north gate, for the purpose of carrying on the gold and silversmith's business. The north gate at this time is believed to have been a little above Columbia street in Broadway.
June. GEN. SCHUYLER Was appointed by congress one of the commissioners for treating with the Indians.
ROSEBOOM & Co. sold all kinds of nails near the English Church.
July 4. The anniversary of our independence was cele- brated; in the morning thirteen guns "were fired from Fort Orange," and in the evening the city was illuminated.
GERARDUS BEEKMAN advertises a store nearly opposite Wheeler Douglass's.
July 14. MONS. DULONPRES, from Paris, proposed to open a school for dancing, "on the most moderate terms of one guinea entrance and one guinea a quarter."
July 22. The governor of the state, and the Dutch am- bassador, Hacre P. J. VAN BERCKEL, arrived in the city, and were received by the magistrates and citizens, and conducted to the City Hall, under discharge of cannon On the following day the corporation gave their guests an elegant entertainment at Lewis's Tavern.
July 23. Capt. JOHN FRYER, " a worthy citizen," died, aged 64, and was interred in the Dutch Church-yard on the following day.
EDWARD CUMPSTON, "at the north-east corner of the Dutch Church," proposed to receive "new emission mo- ney of this state equal to gold or silver," for goods.
HENRY HART had " a neat assortment of Dry and West India Goods at his store between the Low Dutch Church and Market House."
Aug. The firm of JAMES & VAIL was dissolved, and THOMAS V. JAMES assumed the business "at the store in the street opposite the City Hall dock," or leading from the dock, which is now Hudson street.
Aug. Gov. CLINTON left Albany to attend the Indian treaty to be held at Fort Schuyler, where the chiefs had already begun to assemble.
196
.Notes from the Newspapers.
Sept. 8. Nicholas Barrington opened a school at the house opposite to Mr. Burgess's, "money being very scarce, at the low prices of 10, 12 and 14s. per quarter, for spell- ers, writers and scypherers, and three pounds for book- keeping and navigation."
I. HUTTON, "minister of the gospel in Albany," pro- posed to print by subscription at Is. each, a sermon en- titled Weak Faith Strengthened. Those who subscribed for twelve were to "have a thirteenth gratis." The work was issued in January, 1785.
Sept. 9. "Departed this life, at Nisqueunia, Sept. 7, MRS. LEE, known by the appellation of the Elect Lady, or Mother of Zion, and head of that people called Shakers. Her funeral is to be attended this day."
JOHN W. WENDELL, a few doors south of the City Hall, manufactured all kinds of beveret, castor and felt hats, on better terms than the importers can admit of." He was a Bostonian.
THOMAS SICKELS sold European and India goods, on the south side of the street that leads from the Dutch to the English Church (State street).
Oct. 21. The executors of Mrs. Margaret Schuyler, de- ceased, offered " a likely negro wench" for sale by auction at Lewis's Tavern.
Sept. 13. The governor, and the commissioners of Indian affairs for the state, with a number of the citizens of Albany, returned from Fort Schuyler, where a treaty had been concluded with the Six Nations and other In- dians residing in this state.
JOHN CAREY, offered at the store of Cornelius K. Van- denberg, "at the elm tree in the street leading from the Dutch to the English Church," a quantity of goods which are represented as just imported from Ireland.
Sept. 18. On this evening and the following (Sunday) morning, OLIVER WOLCOTT, ARTHUR LEE, and RICHARD BUTLER, United States commissioners for Indian affairs, arrived in the city, on their way to Fort Stanwix, to meet the Six Nations. They gave notice that in order to avoid the ill consequences and hindrance to public business which would naturally arise from the sale of spirituous
197
Notes from the Newspapers.
liquors, they would be wholly prohibited until the treaty closed. The Marquis LAFAYETTE was daily expected, to accompany them.
GEORGE REAB, at his store in the house of Abraham Douw, near the south-west corner of the Market, offered an assortment of Dry and West India Goods, adapted to the season, in exchange for which he would take cash, R. Morris and M. Hillegas's notes, new emission money, all sorts of public securities ; also flax-seed, wheat, and all kinds of country produce.
Saturday, Sept. 25, the United States commissioners to treat with the Indians, having remained one week in Al- bany, sat out for Fort Schuyler. The goods intended for the treaty left on Tuesday following, and Gen. Lafayette followed about the first of October.
Sept. 29. At the close of the polls, the following citi- zens were found to have been elected aldermen and as- sistants for the ensuing year.
Ist ward. Peter W. Yates and Robert McClallen alder- men ; Matthew Visscher and John W. Wendell, assistants.
2d ward. Philip Van Rensselaer, Peter W. Douw, alder- men ; Richard Lush, Abraham Cuyler, assistants.
3d ward. Thomas Hun, John Ten Broeck, aldermen ; Leonard Gansevoort Jun., Jellis Winne, assistants.
Oct. 1. Alexander Smith was committed to the city prison for the "wilful murther of his brother, Isaac Smith," on the 29th Sept., at Saratoga lake.
Oct. 7. The Marquis LAFAYETTE returned from Fort Stanwix, and on the following morning, Friday, sat out for Boston by the way of Hartford, to embark for France. He arrived at Hartford on Monday. There was at this time no other mode of crossing the mountain but on horseback.
JOSEPH KELLY, currier, lately arrived from Ireland, " opened a shop at Capt. John Roff's, near the north gate, and will have ready in a few days, good leather, boot legs, and Irish Ben, of the best quality."
Oct. 18. Isaac Arnold and James Stewart returned from a trading expedition to Detroit, having lost three of their companions, Jacobus Taller, Daniel Barclay and
198
Notes from the Newspapers.
Isaac Van Alstyne, who were murdered by four Delaware Indians at a landing place on Lake Erie.
Oct. 27. SAMUEL THOMPSON died.
Nov. 19. An annual fair for vending all kinds of cattle was held in the city.
Nov. 8. The first copy of Webster's Calendar, or the Albany Almanac for the year 1785, was ready for sale ; " containing, besides the usual calculations, many very ingenious and entertaining pieces, both in prose and verse." This Almanac has been published annually to the present time, a period of sixty-six years.
Died, at Port Roseway, Nova Scotia, ALEXANDER RO- BERTSON, one of the proprietors of the first paper printed in Albany.
Nov. 5. Mrs. LYDIA BLOODGOOD died, aged 22; wife of William Bloodgood.
Nov. 10. Two of the principal hostages of the Six Na- tions arrived from Fort Schuyler, under passport from the commander there; to remain in custody until certain American prisoners were delivered up.
CORNELIUS & JOHN H. WENDELL, opposite the post of- fice, near the Market house, imported goods "from Lon- don." The post office was a few doors above Maiden lane, on the east side of Market street, now Broadway. The post office at this time is believed to have been kept by Abraham Yates, afterwards mayor.
CUYLER, GANSEVOORT & Co., " received by the last ves- sels from London," an assortment of dry goods suitable for the season ; and presented besides a catalogue of other goods, which, like most of the advertisements of the day, began with rum and ended with brass kettles. The stock of an Albany merchant was truly multifarious.
PETER D. VAN DYCK dealt in a general assortment of goods opposite the south-east corner of the Dutch Church.
BENJAMIN WALLACE had "a neat assortment of West India and dry goods at his shop a little north of the Eng- lish Church."
JAMES DOIG, from Montreal, proposed to open a day and evening school, at Mr. John Hooghkerk's corner house, opposite to Thomas Barrett, cooper, near the
4
Notes from the Newspapers. 199
Presbyterian Meeting House. This is supposed to have been at the corner of Hudson and Grand streets.
WENDELL & TROTTER carried on business principally in dry goods, opposite the south-east corner of the City Hall. .
WILLIAM GRAY dealt in dry goods and a general as- sortment, between the Dutch Church and the Market House, near the City Hotel.
ELBERT WILLETT occupied the house now standing next south of the Mansion House, which he sold to Mr. David Newland, the present owner, for $11,000.
Dec. 21. A detachment of troops from Fort Stanwix, under Capt. Lane, arrived in the city to remain during the winter, bringing with them a number of captives which had been liberated according to the terms of the treaty recently concluded with the Indians.
Dec. 30. Dr. ALEXANDER EDGAR, a surgeon's mate in the army, died and was buried in the Presbyterian burial placc.
Mr. PAFFANE, lately arrived from France, carried on "the muff and tippett making business, in the neatest manner," at the house of Hanse Horne, near the north gate.
TEUNIS TS. VAN VECHTEN advertises Turks Island and rock salt, " living near the south-west corner of the Mar- ket House." His house was the southwest corner of Broad- way and Maiden lane, now owned by William Thorburn.
JOHN HINDE offered a large invoice of cloths, at the house of Mr. Hewson, adjoining the Low Dutch burying ground.
DAVID . FONDA, " next door to Gen. Ten Broek," kept dry goods, groceries and liquors for sale.
JOHN BOGART, next door south of the City Hall, sold mill stones. He is still living.
ABRAHAM EIGHTS, next door to Capt. Stewart Dean, in Water street, sold Muscovado sugar by the barrel, and had "a few excellent English wind-mills, for cleaning wheat."
ANTHONY HELMER, at his store in the house of Harma- nus Wendell, opposite to Gen. Ten Broek's, sold groceries,
200
Notes from the Newspapers.
German steel, "and a variety of other articles too tedious to be mentioned."
JACOB VANDER HEYDEN, in Pearl street, kept on sale, Dutch mill saws, groceries, and dry goods.
ABRAHAM BLOODGOOD did business next to Denniston's tavern, probably in the Stone House.
1785.
The health of the city was very remarkable during the winter, insomuch that but one burial took place in the Dutch Church-yard, from the 9th December to the 10th March, and that was of a small child accidentally run over by a sleigh.
March 21. A person was arrested for passing counter- feit state treasury notes, and lodged in the City Hall pri- son, to await a trial.
April 20. ABRAHAM ROSEBOOM, a very respectable citi- zen, died.
April 26. The annual election of two senators and ten representatives to the state legislature, for the county of Albany, resulted in the following vote.
For the House of Assembly.
John Lansing junior, . 284
Leonard Bronck, . . . 245
John Taylor,
302
Matthew Visscher, . 146
Henry Glen, 281
Peter W. Yates, 97
John Livingston, 243
Jacob Ford, . 23
Peter Vrooman, 257
Matthew Adgate, ... 24
Abraham I Van Alstyne, 213
Jacob C. Schermerhorn, 26
Lawrence Hogeboom, ... 216
Israel Thompson, 14
James Gordon, 305
Abram Backer,
4
James Van Schoonhoven, 228
Edmund Wells,
14
Isaac Vrooman, . 24
Peter Swart.
1
Robert McClallen, 32
William Powers,
1
Elbert Willett,
5
Henry I. Van Rensselaer,
1
Abraham Schuyler,
1
Thomas Hun, 2
John Price,
2
Henry Quackenboss, ..
2
Richard Lush,
1
Stephen I Schuyler, .... 2
Jacob G. Lansing, .
1
Lucas Van Veghten, ... 1
For the Senate.
Philip Schuyler, .. 170
Henry Oothout, .. .... 16
Volkert P. Douw, . 165
William B. Whitney, .. 12
201
Notes from the Newspapers.
IVIE CHAMBERS, "at his store near the Low Dutch Church, on the west side of the main street," sold the usual articles of a general store, principally liquors.
The session of the supreme court closed, when Petrus and Christian Cooper being convicted of a robbery, and Christian Loucks of horse stealing, received sentence of death respectively. Two others, convicted of felony, were admitted to benefit of clergy. One was whipped for petit larceny, and two discharged by proclamation.
May 3. An election of city officers took place, which resulted in the choice of the following :
First Ward.
Robert McClallen, supervisor.
Peter Van Bergen, Bethuel Washburn, Edward Cump- ton, assessors.
Marte Minderse, overseer of the poor.
Abraham T. Yates, Thomas Barrett, road masters.
Second Ward.
Jacob Cuyler, supervisor.
Jacob Vander Heyden, Casparus Pruyn, Richard Lush, assessors.
John N. Bleecker, overseer of the poor.
Jacob Bleecker, John Marselis, road masters.
Third Ward.
Cornelius Wendell, supervisor.
Peter Gansevoort, Jun., Abraham A. Lansing, David Fonda, assessors.
Isaac Van Arnum, overseer of the poor.
Sanders Lansing, Volkert A. Douw, road masters.
Baltus Van Benthuysen, collector for the city.
ELIHU GOODRICH and JOHN ELY opened a school "in the house occupied by Michael Hollenbake," who had "left keeping tavern." They taught Greek and Latin for 40s. a quarter : grammar, arithmetic and writing for 30s. ; reading and spelling for 20s. The hours of study were from 6 to 8, and 8 to 12, in the forenoon ; and from 2 to
202
Notes from the Newspapers.
5, and 6 to 8, in the afternoon. This to the magisters of our day, may appear to have been a pretty thorough drilling of "the young idea."
ALEXANDER LAVERTY, " tayler from London," took the house lately occupied by Henry Hart, in the back apart- ment, where he carried on the " tayler's business as cheap as any in town," and made payments easy to those who employed him. His prices were : for a coat 14s. ; lap- pelled do, 16s. ; lappelled do, with slashed sleeves, 18s. ; vest and breeches, 6s. 9d.
ELISHA CRANE, opposite the City Hall, sold cyder at 18s. a barrel, and took boards, plank, staves, pease, and any sort of grain in payment. In a nota bene the publie is informed that money would not be refused.
June. A company of stage wagon proprietors undertook to make the land passage between New York and Albany " the most easy and agreeable as well as the most expe- ditious," by performing the journey in two days, at 3d. a mile ; but in the fall, "for the ease of the passengers," the time of performing the route was changed to three days, and the price raised to 4d. a mile, "agreeably to aet of assembly."
July 12. An ordinanee was passed by the common council for the extermination of dogs, all of whom were to be killed in two days, under penalty of £8, which was to be recovered for the benefit of any person prosecuting.
Nov. 8. The presbytery of New York ordained John McDonald a minister of the gospel, and he was at the same time installed pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Albany. He was the third pastor of that church, and it was during his ministry that the edifice was erected for that congregation on the corner of South Pearl and Beaver streets, now occupied by a society of Congregationalists.
Dec. 13. A company of comedians having leased the old Hospital, which stood near the present site of the Lutheran Church, and having fitted it up as a theatre, opened with Cross Purposes, and Catharine and Petruchio, between which was a dance, La Polonaise, and a Eulogy on Freemasonry. Tickets sold at Lewis's Tavern, and no money taken at the door. Boxes 8s. ; gallery 4s.
203
Notes from the Newspapers.
A vigorous effort was made to discontinue these per- formances, by a large and respectable part of community, but the common council determined by a vote of 9 to 4, that they had no legal right to prohibit theatrical exhibi- tions in the city. A whole number of the Gazette is ta- ken up with the controversy, to the exclusion of every other subject.
1785.
January. By the post office arrangements of this year, the New York mail arrived twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays, at 8 o'clock P. M .; and two hours after its receipt, the down mail was made up and forwarded.
July 13. The Gazette was enlarged to a sheet 19 inches by 23, which we learn was the largest size then printed in America. In the same paper is announced the First Part of the Grammatical Institute, abridged, by Noah Webster, price 6 coppers, this day printed.
1786.
April 4. An act passed the legislature of the state of New York, for erecting the southeast part of the county of Albany into a new county, by the name of Columbia.
July 5. The supreme court closed its July session, when Caleb Gardner, convicted of passing counterfeit Spanish dollars, received sentence of death. Two weeks after- wards, the sheriff advertised that the person then under sentence of death in the City Hall would be hanged on Friday the fifteenth of September ; and that any person willing to undertake the execution, was desired to apply to the said sheriff.
July 22. The corporation and citizens of Albany cele- brated the centennial anniversary of the charter of the city (See vol. i, 335).
The number of houses in Albany at this time was found, by actual enumeration, 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 proportions :
204
Notes from the Newspapers.
Philadelphia, 4600
Wilmington, . 400
New York,
3500
Annapolis, 260
Boston, . 2100
Fredericktown, 400
Baltimore, 1900
Alexandria (Va.), 300
Charleston (S. C.),
1540
Richmond, 280
Albany,
550
Petersburgh, 290
New Haven,
400
Williamsburgh,
230
Hartford, .
300
It will be seen that Albany was the sixth in point of numbers. The census of Boston was found to be at that time 14,640, exclusive of strangers, which gives seven persons to a house. At this rate Albany would have had 3850 inhabitants. To carry out the calculation, Phila- delphia 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.
1787.
Jan. 1. The city authorities fixed the price of flour at 18s. per hundred weight, and the assize of bread at the rate of llb. 12oz. for 4 coppers. In February, the assize of bread was Ilb. 802. of superfine flour for 4 coppers, and 1lb. 10oz. common ; flour, 20s. per cwt.
The population of the state at this time was 220,000 whites, 18,889 slaves, and 12 Indians who paid taxes. In 1756, the whole population was 83,233; in 1771, 148,124.
A nail manufactory was established "in Orange street, near the High Dutch Church," by GARRET WITBECK, who manufactured 8s and 10s at ls. per lb., and 20s and 24s at lld. per lb. He claimed that they were fully equal in goodness to any imported, and hinted at the great impor- tance of encouraging such an establishment in this coun- try. The forging of nails, notwithstanding their prodigious consumption in this country, was, until 1810, a handicraft trade : the machinery by which they are now produced is an American invention. In the same year, STEVENSON, DOUW & TEN EYCK erected a similar establishment.
June 28. A regiment of militia was organized in the eastern part of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, under the command of Lieut. Col. JOHN VAN RENSSELAER. The officers took the oath of allegiance and office before Mat- thew Visscher, clerk of the county of Albany : after which
205
Notes from the Newspapers.
the regiment was formed, and the militia law and the officers' commissions were read by Adjutant HENRY. At the same time two companies of light infantry were formed, the volunteers being so numerous as nearly to fill them in a short time. The uniform of these companies is thus described : The commissioned officers, dark blue coats, faced with white, and white under-clothes ; non-commis- sioned officers and privates, a white linen hunting-shirt and overalls, a round hat three inches in the brim, bound with white tape, and covered with a piece of bearskin four inches wide over the crown ; a good musket, bayonet and cartouch box, twenty-four cartridges suitable to the bore of the musket, two spare flints, one knapsack and blanket.
Rev. JOHN BASSETT was ordained pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church, collegiate with the Rev. Dr. Eilardus Westerlo.
August. The trustees of the Lutheran Church, recently erected, acknowledged the receipt of donations to the amount of £552 12s. 2d , more than £214 of which was obtained in Albany and its vicinity. The total cost of the building was £640. (See vol. i, p. 125.)
1788.
January. LEONARD DE NEUFVILLE, JAN HEEFKE and FREDINAND WALFAHRT, proprietors of the Dowesbourgh Glass Manufactory, ten miles from Albany, appeal to the patriotism of the state of New York to sustain their establishment. They say the state is annually drained of £30,000 for this necessary article, which they can manu- facture of any size, superior to the English glass.
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