USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. III > Part 11
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Over this extensive tract, he possessed all the authority of a sovereign, and, anxious to improve it to the best advantage, he sent a colony here, in 1631, well provided with whatever was necessary, to commence a new settle- ment. To his estate he gave the name of Rensselaerwyck.
It is believed that he never visited his colony. The administration of justice, and the management of its finan-
* Stone pieces, they are called in the original Dutch reports; mean- ing, according to Judge Vanderkemp, that they were loaded with stone, instead of iron balls. They were of very large caliber.
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Albany County.
cial affairs, he committed to a commissary general. For- tunate in the selection of these, his colony prospered much more than that at New Amsterdam, and it was to the good offices of Van Curler, or Corlaer, the first com- missary, that the colonists at New Amsterdam were indebted, more than once, for their preservation from destruction, at the hands of the savages. This excellent man cultivated the most friendly relations with the Indi- ans, and so strong was their affeetion for him, that ever after, they applied the name of Corlaer to the governors of New York, as the highest title of respeet.
In 1642, Mr. Van Rensselaer sent over the Rev. Jo- hannes Megapolensis, as minister of Rensselaerwyck, supporting him at his own expense. The first church was erected the succeeding year, and furnished with a bell and pulpit, by the Dutch West India Company. In 1646, the venerable patroon died, at Amsterdam. His son Jo- hannes, then a minor, succeeded him.
During the administration of Governor Stuyvesant, serious difficulties occurred between him and the agent of the patroon, which were finally referred to the states general of Holland, for decision. After New York eamc into the possession of the English, the name of Beaver- wyek, which had been bestowed upon the settlement, was changed to Albany, that being one of the titles of the Duke of York. The right of soil was confirmed to the patroon, by a new patent, but the government was retained in the hands of the governor of the colony.
In 1686, Governor Dongan granted a charter to the city of Albany, and Peter Schuyler, the friend of the Indians, was elected the first mayor.
In 1689-90, the citizens of this county refused to submit to the administration of Leisler and Milborne, but were at length compelled, by the fears of an Indian invasion, to yield allegiance. No sooner, however, did Colonel Sloughter arrive, than he was weleomed by the people of this county, whose attachment to Leisler had never been ardent or sincere.
In all the treaties with the Indian tribes, the citizens of Albany bore a conspicuous part, and so entirely had
140
Albany County.
they won the confidence of the savages, that from the date of its settlement, the county was never invaded by these sons of the forest. The Schuyler family, for several generations, exerted a powerful influence over the Indians.
During the revolution, the Albany committee nobly sustained their countrymen, in their opposition to British sway, and afforded aid, in troops and money, to the suffer- ing inhabitants of Tyron county, to assist them in repel- ling the frequent attacks of the merciless hordes of tories and Indians, who ravaged their settlements. Burgoyne had boasted, at the commencement of his campaign, that his army should revel upon the spoils of Albany ; but he only visited the city as a captive. Sir Henry Clinton twice attempted to invade it, but met with sufficient obsta- cles to prevent his success.
It became the capital of the state in 1807. Since the introduction of steamboats, and the completion of the canals, the growth of the city and county has been rapid, and the lines of railroads, which connect it with Boston and Buffalo, are giving it a still greater impulse.
The extensive manor of Rensselaerwyck, occupying a territory twenty-four by forty-eight miles in extent, de- scended, by entailment, to the eldest male descendant of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer. The last proprietor was the late patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer, a man whose munificent patronage of every object which could benefit his fellow citizens, or aid in diffusing happiness among men, has embalmed his memory. At his death, the manor was divided between his two sons, Stephen and William P. Van Rensselaer, the former receiving the portion west of the Hudson, and the latter that lying east of the river. The lands had usually been granted on permanent leases, the rental being payable in produce. Some personal ser- vices were usually required, by the terms of the lease, but seldom exacted by the patroon. The effort, on the part of the present proprietors, to enforce the collection of the rents, was met by strenuous opposition, on the part of the tenants, who formed themselves into armed organizations, and in their conflict with the officers of the law, several individuals were killed. These organizations have, of
141
Albany County.
late, assumed a political character. Both the proprietors and the tenants have sought redress from the legislature, but as yet no decisive action has been taken by that body. The inconsistency of the feudal tenure, with the spirit of our institutions, will be admitted by all; but there is great difficulty in legislating justly upon the subject.
CITIES AND VILLAGES .-- Albany city is situated on the west bank of the Hudson, 145 miles above New York. It appears to great advantage, from the river, rising rapidly from the bank, and exhibiting its public buildings in bold relief. The alluvial valley of the Hudson extends about a quarter of a mile from the river bank. From this val- ley, a bluff rises abruptly, 140 feet, and, in the distance of a mile, about eighty feet more. Upon this bluff, are situated most of the public buildings.
In 1845, the city had 116 streets and lanes. It is divided into ten wards, each of which elect annually, an alderman and assistant alderman, who together form the common council of the city.
The public buildings are, many of them, elegant and costly. The Capitol, erected at an expense of $120,000, is a fine freestone edifice. The State Hall, built of white marble, and fireproof, is an elegant building, of the Ionic order, surmounted by a dome. It cost $350,000. The City Hall stands near it, and is also a fine Grecian struc- ture, of white marble, surmounted by a gilded dome. The Albany Academy, an elegant building of Nyack freestone, opposite the state hall, cost, including the grounds, more than $100,000. This building and the capitol have large parks in front, surrounded by substantial iron fences, and planted with ornamental trees and shrubbery.
The Albany Female Academy is a chaste, marble build- ing, erected at a cost of about $30,000. The Albany Exchange, of massive granite ; the Museum, of marble ; the Medical College, of brick, and well adapted to the purposes to which it is applied ; the State Normal School; and the State Geological Rooms, occupying the old state hall, are the other principal buildings.
Several of the churches, also, are deserving of notice, for their architectural beauty. Among these, we may
142
Albany County.
mention the Middle Dutch Church, on Beaver strect; the Pearl Street Baptist Church, a finely proportioned struc- ture, in the Ionic style, and surmounted by a splendid dome; the Hudson Street Methodist Church, one of the most chaste and beautiful models for a church in the United States; the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic Churches, in Chapel street, &c., &c.
Among the hotels, the Delavan House stands prcemi- nent for simple grandeur and chasteness of architecture. . It was completed in 1845, and cost about $200,000. Thc Eagle, Congress Hall, Mansion, Townsend, American, City, Carlton, Stanwix Hall, and the Franklin House, are also well conducted hotels.
The State Library, founded by the munificence of the state, has an excellent collection of works on history, geography, and general literature. An extensive law library is connected with it. The entire collection num- bers over 15,000 volumes, and is accessible to all, without charge.
The Albany Library, founded in 1792, and now num- bering about 9,000 volumes, occupies apartments in the Albany Female Academy. The Albany Institute is a scientific institution, designed to encourage attention to history, and general science, in the city and state. It has a valuable library, of nearly 2000 volumes, in the building of the Albany Academy.
The Young Men's Association occupies a fine suite of rooms in the Exchange. It has a well conducted reading room, a library of 3200 volumes, and sustains a course of lectures each winter. The number of its members is over 1500. It was the first institution of the kind in the state.
The Alms House has connected with it, a fine farm of 150 acres, cultivated by the inmates. There arc in the city, two Orphan Asylums, supported by private charity, which provide for the support and education of about 150 children; and a number of other benevolent societies.
The Albany Academy, founded in 1813, has eight teachers, and about 200 pupils. The Albany Female Academy, founded in 1814, has twelve teachers, and about 275 pupils. The Albany Female Seminary lias six
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teachers. There are numerous other schools, of con- sidcrabie reputation. The public schools have nine school houses, costing between $30,000 and $40,000.
The Albany Medical College is a flourishing medical school, having an able faculty, and one of the best ana- tomical museums in the United States. It has seven professors.
The State Geological Rooms, in the old state hall, contain the splendid collection of the state geologists, arranged, in the lower rooms, in the order of the succes- sive strata, and in the upper, in the order of the counties. Here, too, are specimens of the mincral and vegetable treasures of the state, appropriately arranged, and a large collection of the quadrupeds, birds, fishes and reptiles of the state. They are open, free of expense, to all.
At the junction of the Erie canal with the Hudson, the citizens have constructed an extensive basin, to protect the boats from the winds, and give them greater facilities for discharging their cargoes.
The city is largely engaged in manufactures. Its iron foundries are among the largest in the country. More stoves are manufactured here, than in any other city, or town, in the Union. Coaches, sleighs, hats, caps, and bonnets, are also largely manufactured; the three latter articles, to the amount of nearly one million of dollars, annually.' It has extensive manufactories of piano fortes. Leather is produced to the amount of more than $400,000 per annum. Population in 1845, 41,139.
West Troy, in the town of Watervliet, is a thriving village, possessing excellent hydraulic privileges, which it derives from the surplus waters of the Erie canal. It is a convenient depot for merchandise, from its facilities for transportation, and is largely engaged in manufactures, having twenty-five or thirty manufacturing establishments. The United States Arsenal, established here in 1813, is the largest arsenal of construction in the United States. Attached to the establishment, are about 100 acres of land, containing thirty-eight buildings, for workshops and storchouses. It constantly employs about 200 officers, soldiers,and workmen, and manufactures annually muni-
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tions of war, to the amount of about $100,000. The grounds are enclosed by an iron fence in front, and a wall of stone on the sides and rear.
The Erie and Champlain canals form a junction, a short distance above the village, and a bridge and two ferries connect it with Troy. Population in 1845, about 6000.
At Neskayuna, in the same township, is a community of shaking quakers, established in 1776, by Ann Lee, the founder of the sect. This was the first Shaker establish- ment in the United States.
Cohoes village, also in this town, possesses one of the finest water privileges in the state, and its advantages for manufacturing, are hardly surpassed. It is estimated, that at the lowest stage of the water, there is sufficient to run 1,000,000 spindles. Population in 1845, over 2000.
Rensselaerville, in the town of the same name, is situ- ated on Foxes creek. It has some manufactures, and about 1000 inhabitants .*
Coeymans is a small manufacturing village, having a good landing, and some trade with New York. It has also some manufactures. Population, 1000.
* From this town, in 1779, Captain Deitz, and two lads named John and Robert Brice, were taken as captives, by the Indians, and suffered all the barbarities which the malice of the savages could inflict. Captain Deitz died at Montreal, from the effect of their cruelties, but the boys were exchanged at the close of the war, and returned home. This is believed to have been the nearest approach made to Albany, by the Indians, during the Revolution.
( 145 )
NOTES FROM THE NEWSPAPERS.
Continued from p. 211, vol. 2.
1790.
The following table gives the population and names of the towns of the county of Albany, in the orthography of that day.
Towns.
Males.
Females.
Slaves.
Total.
Albany, .
1467
1467
572
3506
Water-Vliet, .
3456
3481
730
7667
Rensselaerwyck,
3972
3504
572
8048
Stephentown,.
3652
3362
28
7042
Schohary, .
979
936
154
2069
Duanesburgh,
787
704
4
1495
Schenectady,.
1979
1871
467
4317
Hosack,.
1542
1455
36
3033
Halfmoon,
1818
1668
121
3607
Coxsakie,
1626
1488
302
3416
Saratoga,
1625
1394
62
3081
Cattskill,
836
844
308
1988
Ballston, .
3640
3117
66
6823
Schaticook,
786
694
137
1617
Cambridge,
2515
2404
48
4967
Stillwater,
1559
1428
65
3052
Easton, .
1266
1179
57
2502
Pittstown,
1260
1134
31
2425
Freehold,
873
869
6
1748
Rensselaer-ville,
1450
1316
11
2777
37,088
34,315
3,777
75,180
Dec. 26. Rev. Eilardus Westerlo, senior pastor of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, died aged 53, in the thirty-first year of his ministry. He was greatly respected for his piety and learning, and his funeral was attended by a large concourse of the people of the city and neigh- boring towns, who followed his remains to the vault of the Van Rensselaer family, where he was interred.
13
146
Notes from the Newspapers.
Of the 65 members composing the assembly of the state, Albany sent 10, and New York, 9. This was an unfair representation, by which Aaron Burr was elected United States Senator over Philip Schuyler, and the southern part of the state had both of the senators, giving great dissatisfaction to the north. The following table shows the population of the counties at this time, according to the new census returns.
Albany,. .
75,180
Richmond, .
3,928
Columbia,.
27,545
Suffolk, .
16,094
Clinton and Ontario, . .
4,500
Ulster,
26,390
Dutchess, 42,235
Washington, 13,388
Kings,
4,423
Westchester, 22,741
Montgomery,.
26,606
New York,.
30,032
Orange,. .
16,677
Queens,.
14,385
15 counties.
324,127
It will be seen that Albany county outnumbered the next two highest, New York and Dutchess. It was also found by this census, that the number of electors in the state, (exclusive of Ontario and Clinton counties, which made no returns) entitled to vote for senators, was 19,369. and that the number entitled to vote for members of assem- bly, was 38,237. It was supposed that those two counties would add 166 to the former and 411 to the latter; which would give Albany 17 members instead of 10, and New York 7 instead of 9, at the rate of 1 member to 544 elec- tors; 70 members in all.
1791.
An act of the Legislature divided the county of Albany into three counties ; all that portion lying east of the Hud- son was called Rensselaer county; and that lying west of the Hudson, and north of the Mohawk river was called Saratoga, By this arrangement what was left of the old county contained 28,192; that of Rensselaer 29,634, and that of Saratoga 17,463. The town of Rensselaerwyck was also divided into two towns.
March 17. The assize of bread was a loaf of " common or tail flour" to weigh 2 lbs. 8 oz., for 6d.
147
Notes from the Newspapers.
March 25. The first mail from Albany reached Ben- nington, on the 30th anniversary of the settlement of that town. The mail between Albany and New York was required to be carried but once a week by the government contract, but the contractors usually exceeded their bonds by carrying it twice a week. The Gazette complained that there was so much carelessness and loss in its trans- mission by the stage drivers that business men resorted principally to private conveyances.
The legislature passed a law authorizing the city author- ities to raise £350 by tax for the support of a night watch; and by another act, £ 2000 were to be raised for completing the court house and jail.
April 12. It is mentioned as a congratulatory event, that 40 vessels arrived at this port in one day, or passed it for Troy and Lansingburgh. That 18 vessels, of which 16 were of from 40 to 80 tons, lay at the port of Lansing- burgh, and the sloop Nancy had performed the trip to New York and back in 7 days.
April 18. On account of the prevalence of small pox in the city, the printers declined purchasing rags for six weeks from this date.
The receipts into the treasury of the city for the half year ending April 18, were £1500 3s. 33d., and the dis- bursements, £1193, 19s. 92d, leaving a balance in the treasury of £346, 3s. 62d.
May 16. A slight shock of an earthquake gave the citizens of Albany a few oscillations about twenty minutes past 10 o'clock in the morning.
Complaints are frequently made of the perils of a jour- ney to Schenectady by the common road. A person who had with some difficulty reached that place in June, gives the following "advice to wagoners, or such persons as follow riding loads to and from Schenectady and Albany." "First," he says, " collect all the axletrees that are now in use, and put them in one general pile, and burn them on the evening of the fourth of July, and proclaim your- selves free from the traditions of your fathers. Then cause new ones to be made out so as to let the track of the wagon be five feet from centre to centre of the felloes ;
148
Notes from the Newspapers.
and let that day forever after be called the day for laying aside folly and adopting wisdom in its stead." The bene- fits to be derived from this revolution in axletrees, were numerous; but an important one among them, and one which will appear a little singular on so plain a road as this, was a remedy against the "liability to upset," or overset. The dawn of the era of rail roads was yet half a century distant, and unimagined.
The following table shows the price current for the principal articles of commerce at this time, and the differ- ence in the market at Albany and New York.
Albany Prices.
New York Prices.
Wheat, 6s 4d,
Wheat, 7s 6d,
Rye, 4s,
Corn, 3s 6d,
Rye, 4s 4d, Corn, 3s 3d,
Oats, 2s,
Oats,
Flour, 16s to 18s,
Pipe Staves, 7/ 10s per M.,
Boards, 6d to 7d,
Plank, 9d to 10d,
Madeira wine, 18s,
Port, 12s, Sherry, 11s,
Teneriffe, 5s 6d,
High-proof Brandy, 10s,
Brandy, Ss,
Gin, 30 per case,
Jamaica spirits, 6s,
Windward Islands rum, 5s 3d,
New Rum, 4s,
Molasses, 3s 3d,
Molasses, 2s 10d,
Muscovado sugar, 90s to 100s per cwt.
Muscovado sugar, 50s to 80s per cwt.,
Loaf do, 1s 10d per lb.,
Coffee, 1s 8d,
Coffee, 14d,
Chocolate, 14d,
Hyson tea, 10s 6d,
Hyson tea, 9s to 11s,
Bohea, 3s 3d,
Bohea, 2s Sd,
Snuff in bladders, 2s 4d,
Pork, 47 to 5l,
Tobacco in rolls, 10d,
Beef, 42s to 52s per brl.
June. The corporation were engaged in paving the streets, and there was a complaint of difficulty in procuring stones to pave Market street, as North Broadway was then called. It swallowed up thousands of cart loads. It is
Gin, 40s per case,
Spirits, 7s 6d per gal,
W. I. Rum, 5s 6d,
New Rum, 3s 4d,
Notes from the Newspapers. 149
amusing to read the speculations of the newspaper writers on the subject.
The consistory of the Dutch church laid out into lots a part of the tract commonly termed the church pasture. These lots lay on the west side of Court street now Broad- way, below Lydius, described as being on the road "lead- ing from the ferry to the town." They were sold at auc- tion. It is believed that the difficulty between the Rev. Mr. Bassett and his church grew out of or was aggravated by some transactions in these lots.
Motley processions of eastern emigrants were daily passing through the city, which was the grand thorough- fare to the western country. The far west of these New Englanders, as they mostly were, was the Genesee Valley ; and they were accompanied by their families, their flocks and their implements.
The punishment of forgery was death. One SAMUEL Cook, at the venerable age of 84, was executed in Mont- gomery county for that offence.
July 28. JOHN STEWART, the famous English pedestrian, arrived in the city from New York, and proceeded the same evening on his way to Canada. Having perambu- lated Europe, Asia and Africa, he came to complete his travels by making the tour of America. He is represented as a middle aged man, about six feet high, all whose expedi- tions were made on foot.
September. The Rev. Mr. BASSETT published a collec- tion of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, for the use of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in North America.
Oct. 11. The chamberlain, ELBERT WILLETT, reported that the receipts into the treasury for the year, were £2618 18s 7d, and the expenditures £2073 13s 2d. Of the money on hand, counted as cash, was £494 of one, two and three penny notes. The rent of the city wharves was £131; first payment of the lease of Verrebergh £44; for lands at Tiononderoga £480 10d; city ferry, £158. A new market house was built this year at an expense of £222, and " a hand fire engine,' purchased at £30. The expenses of the ferry, were £232 10d. For watchmen, £211 13d.
150
Notes from the Newspapers.
There were but eight persons in confinement belonging to the counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Washing- ton and Clinton, which were in the jail in this city, five of whom were debtors, one insane, and two on criminal prosecutions.
Dec. 20. A number of citizens associated for the pur- pose of forming a library, and established the Albany Library, by subscriptions of £5 each. This was undoubt- edly the first society library in the city.
1792.
Jan 4. The corporation resolved to convey to trustees thereafter to be appointed, a part of the public square in the city for the purposes of a college, and a subscription was opened by the citizens with a view of carrying the project into immediate effect. This movement resulted in the establishment of Union College at Schenectady.
Jan 31. The coopers held a meeting at Denniston's tavern and adopted the following scale of prices :
Flax seed tierces, 5s.
Tight potash barrels, 6s.
Common do 5s 6d.
Rum barrels, 5s. Four 2s 6d.
Beef and Pork barrels, 4s 6d.
White oak fish 4s 6d.
Red oak 4s.
Half barrels, 4s.
Ten gallon kegs, 3s 6d.
Five and six gallon kegs, 3s.
All kegs less than 4 galls, 2s.
Flour barrels, 2s.
Feb. 1. By an act of congress extending post roads and fixing the prices of postage, the route from Albany to Bennington was extended to the northern part of the state, and a post road established from Albany through Schenec- tady to Canajoharie. The rates of postage fixed at this time continued for more than half a century.
The legislature passed an act to prevent obstructions of the docks and wharves of the city, and to increase the number of firemen.
Feb 3. A meeting was held at Lewis's Tavern to dis- cuss the project of a bank. The outlines of a plan for its establishment were afterwards submitted, and the move- ment resulted in the procurement of the charter of the present Bank of Albany. (See vol. i, p. 31 )
151
Notes from the Newspapers.
Another project had been some time agitated, and began to be urged with much earnestness; that of supplying the city with water. The supply at this time was from the wells and the river.
March 3. The destruction of the sugar plantations in the island of Hispaniola, by the insurrectionary blacks, caused a scarcity and rise in the price of sugar. A society was organized in this city having for its object the pro- motion ofthe manufacture of maple sugar. A premium of seventy-five silver dollars was offered for the largest quan- tity made by a single family, of not less than 600 pounds ; and smaller premiums for less quantities. More than 2000 sugar kettles were sold in the city during the winter, and it was supposed that upwards of 8000 kettles were em- ployed within eighty miles of Albany. It was estimated that each kettle would produce 100 lbs; and that the whole product at 123 cts. a pound would amount to $90,- 000. It was also computed that the western part of the state of New York contained trees enough to supply five times the quantity of sugar consumed in the whole coun- try, and that an export of five millions of dollars could be saved.
May 17. The trustees of the Presbyterian church, worshiping in a wooden building on the corner of Grand and Hudson streets, purchased the "lot on the plains," for £110, and soon after erected the brick church on the corner of South Pearl and Beaver streets, now occupied by the Congregationalists.
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