USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. III > Part 12
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May 22. A load of hemp arrived in the city from the south end of Cayuga lake, near the Pennsylvania line, and is said to have been the first produce brought to this city from that region. It does not appear whether there was any design in this enterprise to give an impulse to the subscriptions to the internal improvement stock; but it came at a time when efforts were making to raise the means to connect the Hudson River with Lake Ontario by means of canals and rivers, and thus open a commerce with a rich country rapidly filling up with an enterprising population.
.
152
Notes from the Newspapers.
The taxes assessed by the supervisors of the county were as follows:
Towns.
County Tax.
Town Tax.
Poor Tax.
Albany,
£525
£24 3s 5d
£300*
Watervliet, .
487 10s
166 10 10
Schenectady,
284 18
4d
38 14
Duanesburgh,
45
15
2
4
Schoharie,
285
22
0
S
Coxsackie,
157
7 11
29
4
4
25
Cattskill,.
150
68
4
Freehold,
45
28
7
5
Rensselaerville,
105
31
10
Coeymans, .
75
21
5
30
2159 16
415
1 2
££515
At the annual election for governor and lieutenant- governor; Albany county gave Geo. Clinton 444, and John Jay 1178 for governor; and Pierre Van Cortland 413 and Stephen Van Rensselaer 1208 for lieut. governor.
Joseph Brant, the celebrated Indian warrior, passed through the city on his way to Philadelphia, it was sup- posed on public business for his nation.
June 12. The first election of directors of the Bank of Albany, was held at the City Tavern, when the following were chosen : Abraham Ten Broek, Cornelius Glen, Jere- miah Van Rensselaer, Stephen Van Rensselaer, John Maley, Abraham Van Vechten, Henry Cuyler, James Caldwell, John Stevenson, Jacob Van der Heyden, Golds- brow Banyar, Daniel Hale, Elkanah Watson. Abraham Ten Broek was elected president.
July 16. The Bank of Albany was opened for deposits, and began to discount on the following day- The bank- ing house was in North Pearl street, the building now numbered 11. The rate of discount was six per cent. The capital stock was $260,000; shares, 400 Spanish milled dollars, or their equivalent.
The inhabitants of State street were in a state of excite- ment about the paving of the street, which the city authori-
153
Notes from the Newspapers.
ties had determined on. Some of the merchants wanted narrow sidewalks for the convenience of unloading grain ; while others contended for wide walks, because the view from their cellar windows would be less obstructed ! A good many, undoubtedly were more concerned at the expense.
A post was established from Albany to Whitestown in Herkimer county as a private enterprise, which performed the route once a fortnight. Several gentlemen in the Genesee country established one also to connect with the one at Whitestown, thereby keeping up a semi-monthly communication with this city. It passed through Geneva and Canandaigua. Towns were then of ample dimensions. There were but seven in Saratoga county, three in Herki- mer and four in Montgomery.
A mineral spring was discovered on the east side of the river whose waters were deemed of sufficient medicinal vir- tue to warrant the erection of a bathing house, and the esta blishment of a ferry for the accommodation of such as had need of being healed. The boat, it was advertised, "would start in ten minutes after the blowing of a horn."
A meeting of citizens was held for the purpose of organ- izing a company for the purpose of erecting a commodious public house. The plan of a constitution was drawn up, under which the company was to take the name of the Albany Hotel-Tontine Company, the capital of which was fixed at $15,000, divided into 1000 shares. The price of the lot was fixed at $3000; the cost of the building, at $10,000; outhouses, $1000; furniture, $1000. The plan was thought to be "a happy invention to secure an advantageous property to children who may arrive to years of discretion." Individuals were entreated by the Gazette not to monopolize more than ten shares! This scheme seems to have failed at this time, but was resumed a few years later, and resulted in the erection of the building, now numbered 51 and 53 State street.
Postmaster-General Pickering's advertisements for pro- posals to carry the mail, extended the post road west from Albany, "from Connojorharrie to Whitestown, and thence to Kanandarqua."
154
Notes from the Newspapers.
July 27. The directors of the Northern Inland Lock Navigation company held a meeting, Philip Schuyler, pre- sident. Surveys of the Hudson river were directed to be made, and the country between the river and the head waters of streams leading to lake Champlain were ordered to be examined. A gentleman of the name of Nesbit ar- rived at this time from Scotland, with high credentials, "as a master of the science of canalling," and assisted the committee at their first visit to. examine the river above Troy.
August 11. The western company met subsequently and chose Philip Schuyler president, and Barent Bleecker treasurer. They determined to improve the Mohawk as far as practicable during the present season, and to exa- mine the ground in the vicinity of Little Falls, and those between the Mohawk and Wood Creek. The companies were incorporated in December following, with one dis- senting vote in the senate, and nine in the house of assem- bly. In the meantime, the committee of the company prosecuted their work vigorously to be ready for opera- tions early in the coming year.
Oct. 17. A company of seventy-four German immi- grants arrived from Philadelphia on their route to the Genesee country, where they purposed to begin a settle- ment on the lands owned by Robert Morris.
Dec. It was first proposed to establish a line of stages from this city to Whitestown. "Such an idea a few years ago," says the editor of the Gazette, "would have been ridiculed; but from the great intercourse with the west through this city, we have every reason to suppose it will answer a valuable purpose, both to the public and the proprietors; especially if the proprietors should succeed in contracting for the mail, of which there can be little doubt.
About this time a post was established from Niagara to Genesee river, where it met the post from the office of the Gazette every fortniglit. The Messrs. Webster re- ceived and forwarded letters gratuitously to every part of the country where there were no mails.
155
Notes from the Newspapers.
1793.
Jan. 10. A meeting of upwards of one hundred and fifty mechanics, convened for the purpose of forming a city and county society. They organized an association under the name of the Albany Mechanic Society, which contin- ued in existence for a long time, and was noted for its usefulness. Its first officers were: John W. Wendell, president; Charles R. Webster and Bernardus Evertsen, vice-presidents ; Isaac Hutton, treasurer; John Barber, secretary.
There had been a great surplus of provisions during the preceding year, particularly of grain, and the prices were reduced very low. But about the middle of January wheat began to be sought for at a dollar a bushel, much to the wonderment of some of the dealers, to whom the farm- ers had been accustomed to bring their wheat for storage until spring, when the former shipped it to New York, and shared the profits with the producer. The wars in Europe growing out of the French revolution created such a demand for American produce, that wheat rose finally to $3 a bushel, and runners first made their appearance in Albany at this time, to the great annoyance of the merchants, having been sent up from New York to fore- stall the market.
Feb. Specimens of maple sugar were brought before the legislature by the association in Albany for promoting its manufacture; and a bill was introduced by some mem- bers of that body, for granting premiums on sugar the product of the maple, of from two to four pence a pound.
Feb 9. The assize of bread, which had stood for a long time at 2lbs 8oz., for 6d, was reduced to 2lbs 4oz for 6d.
Feb. 25. The common council directed the chamber- lain to procure information of the persons who had com- mitted trespass and waste of the timber and wood on the lands of the board at Schaghticoke.
Feb. 28. The society of coopers held a meeting and raised the prices of articles of their manufacture one shil- ling a barrel over the prices which they had established the previous year.
156
Notes from the Newspapers.
The election held in Albany county for member of con- gress resulted in a majority for Henry Glen, who received 927 votes; Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, his opponent, re- ceived 526.
March 8. The river clear of ice, although there was a considerable fall of snow.
The price of wheat was 9s.
Jan 21. "Hat manufactory in Maiden Lane, a few doors west of the Market House, Albany. May be had Hats of all kinds-the newest fashions and best quality. Made and sold by the public's very humble servant,
ELISHA DORR.
Who has 200 brls of the best cyder for sale cheap for cash ?"
Every one's business at this time seems to have been multifarious.
An act was passed by the legislature for " paving Water- vliet street in the county of Albany." Watervliet street began at Columbia street where Montgomery street now is, and ran diagonally to where Broadway and Patroon street intersect Broadway, then called Market street, be- cause the market house stood in it near where it is inter- sected by Maiden lane, and extended no farther north than Columbia street. At the head of Market street stood the house of Dirk Ten Broek, on the north line of Colum- bia street. The fifth ward was then in the town of Wa- tervliet.
May. A law of the common council went into effect which ordained that no gutter or spout should project into the street; but that the water should be conducted down the sides of the houses through pipes, within three feet of the ground, under penalty of forty shillings.
The legislature, at its late session, granted a loan of £3000 for eight years to the proprietors of the glass manu- factory, three years without interest, and five years at five per cent. The establishment was owned by McClallen, McGregor & Co., the Co being James Caldwell and Chris- topher Batterman. They offered a reward of fifty dollars for the discovery of a bank of sand suitable for their use,
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157
Notes from the Newspapers.
within ten miles of their glass house, which was eight miles west of the city at the place still familiarly known as the Glass House, although the buildings have disap- peared within a few years.
MOSES BEAL "erected a stage," to use his own words, for the accommodation of passengers from Albany to Sche- nectady, Johnstown, and Canajoharie, once a week. It left Albany at 6 o'clock on Friday morning, and arrived at Canajoharie the next day. The fare was three cents a mile. It returned on Tuesday. He proposed to go as far as Little Falls if desired !
May 14. The Bank of Albany having been in operation one year, declared a dividend of $4.25 on each share.
June 3. The sale of lots in the Church pasture, by auction, was commenced, by order of the consistory.
The following were elected members of assembly for the ensuing year, at the annual election for the county of Albany :
Thomas Hun, Johannes Deitz, Jacob Hochstrasser,
Theodorus V. W. Graham,
William North, Stephen Platt.
Jellis A. Fonda,
June 20, 21. The very sudden changes of our atmo- sphere from heat to cold for this month past have been no less extraordinary than uncommon. Among the many differences we shall only recur to the instances of Thurs- day and Friday last; on the former of which days the mercury stood at 94° and the latter at 70º .- Register.
WEBSTERS, SEYMOUR and ENSIGN erected a paper mill at Troy which went into operation at this time, and was the first establishment of the kind in this quarter.
July. JOHN HUDSON of Schenectady and John Rogers of Ballston established a line of stages by which a regular communication was first begun between Albany and Balls- ton, for the convenience of those who visited the springs. The fare was 3d a mile.
Aug. 1. The following advertisement is the first pub- lic notice of Mr. EZRA AMES :
In Mark Lane, just below Bloodgood & Follet's store.
14
·
158
Notes from the Newspapers.
Painting .- Portrait and Sign Painting, Gilding and Limn- ing. The subscriber solicits the patronage of the ad- mirers of the Fine Arts of Painting, Portraits, Miniatures, and Hair Devices. From the encouragement he has al- ready received, he flatters himself of giving general satis- faction. Those who are not satisfied with his performances will not be compelled to have the work when it is finished. Gentlemen and ladies will be waited upon in any part of the city. Signs, Coaches, Chaises, Sleighs, Standards, &c., painted in the best manner. Orders from the coun- try will be received and attended to-and all favors grate- fully acknowledged by their humble servant,
EZRA AMES.
Aug. 8. MATTHEW VISSCHER, counsellor at law, died aged 42. He was called into public life at an early age, and took an active part in the revolution. He was clerk of the city and county many years, and was highly respect- ed for his fidelity and patriotism in the public service.
Sept. 6. The Hon. Beverdy Randolph and Timothy Pickering, two of the commissioners sent to treat with the hostile Indians in relation to boundaries, arrived in the city on their return. The Indians insisted on the Ohio river as the northern boundary of the United States; but as the government had made large purchases of land north of that river, extensive settlements of whites had already begun to be made there, no terms were agreed upon, and it was expected that hostilities would be renewed. The hostile tribes were the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanese, and Miamis.
Sept. 9. JACOB C. TEN EYCK died, aged 88, and was interred in the cemetery of the Dutch Church. Among the many offices he is represented to have filled with dignity and efficiency, were those of mayor, and judge of the common pleas court.
Sept. 12. The citizens began to agitate the subject of lighting the streets by night with lamps. A correspond- ent of the Gazette thought the project needed only to be understood to be adopted !
Sept. 21. The citizens were alarmed by a letter from
159
Notes from the Newspapers.
Judge Lansing, informing them that a vessel had passed New York having two persons on board infected with the yellow fever, which was then raging at Philadelphia. Meetings of the citizens and of the common council were held and measures adopted to prevent the passing of any vessel above the Overslaugh without an examination, and the ferrymen were directed how to proceed on occasions when any suspicion attached to travellers presenting them- selves to be ferried over. The common council recom- mended the observance of the first day of October, as a day of fasting and prayer, for the aversion of the dreaded contagion.
Sept. 23. "On Monday evening last arrived at Green- Bush, opposite to this city, from the seat of government, Hon. Alexander Hamilton, secretary of the treasury of the United States, and his lady. As Colonel Hamilton and lady were supposed to have been afflicted with the yellow fever, then prevalent in Philadelphia, the physicians of this city, by request, immediately visited them, and on their return, published the following certificate :
Albany, Sept. 23, 1793.
This is to certify that we have visited Col. Hamilton and his lady, at Greenbush, this evening, and that they are apparently in perfect health; and from every circum- stance we do not conceive there can be the least danger of their conveying the infection of the pestilential fever, at present prevalent in Philadelphia, to any of their fellow citizens. Samuel Stringer, W. Mancius, H. Woodruff, Wm. McClallen, Cornelius Roosa.
In consequence of which, on Tuesday morning, an order was granted by the mayor, that Col. Hamilton and lady be allowed to cross the ferry."
Sept. 24. At the charter election, the following were elected officers for the ensuing year :
Aldermen .- Abram Ten Eyck, Philip S. Van Rensse- laer, John N. Bleecker, Jacob J. Lansing, Jeremiah Lan- sing, Dirck Ten Broek.
Assistants .- John D. P. Douw, John V. Henry, John F. Pruyn, Barent G. Staats, John Jauncey, John C. Cuyler.
160
Notes from the Newspapers.
On the same day, the common council re-elected Elbert Willett chamberlain, and James Elliott city marshal, John Tayler was appointed recorder, vice Peter W. Yates, re- signed.
Nov. 17. An extensive fire occurred at half past 10 on Sunday evening, in an out house belonging to Leonard Gan- sevoort, in the centre of the square formed by State and Market streets, and Maiden and Middle lanes, which was swept down by the flames. Twenty-six dwelling houses, several extensive stores, and the Gazette printing office, were consumed. The loss of property was estimated at $250,000. The principal sufferer in real estate was John Maley. Leonard Gansevoort's house was on the lot now numbered 53 State street.
Several attempts were subsequently made to fire the city, by slaves, and some of them were arrested and con- fessed their guilt. A law was passed by the common council on the 25th Nov., to prevent the appearance of slaves abroad after nine o'clock at night, under the penalty of confinement in the jail.
Nov. 25. It was ordained by the common council, "that no butcher or other person shall sell or dispose of any lamb, mutton, veal, pork or other dead victual for more than four pence per pound, under a penalty of eight shillings for every such offence besides costs."
By a subsequent law, butchers were allowed to receive sixpence per pound for beef and pork, other meats remain- ing at fourpence.
Nov. 27. The common council passed a law establishing a night watch, consisting of 24 persons each night, to be drawn from the male inhabitants from the age of sixteen years and upwards. They were to assemble on notice given by the marshal, at 8 o'clock, and to remain under the direction of the officer for the night until daybreak under a penalty of six shillings for any breach of the regu- lations. Inhabitants over sixty years of age, were allowed to send substitutes.
A line of stages was established between Albany and Northampton. A stage started from each of these points on Tuesdays and Fridays in the morning, and met at
161
Notes from the Newspapers.
Pittsfield in the evening, making the entire route in two days. " The proprietors of this new line beg leave to ob- serve that the difficulty of extending a line of stages from Northampton to Albany (across the mountains), has heretofore been supposed insurmountable-but consider- ing this establishment forms an expeditious and sure com- munication from Portland in the province of Maine through a rich and flourishing country to Whitestown, in the west- ern part of the state of New York !* a distance of upwards of four hundred miles, they have determined to make the experiment." The fare was 4d a mile.
1794.
Jan. 6. Pomp, a negro slave, charged with having set fire to the stable of Leonard Gansevoort, by which the late disastrous conflagration was caused, was tried before the supreme court, and found guilty. Bet and Dean, two female slaves, were also tried and convicted of the same offence, and the whole sentenced to be hung on the 24th January. When the day arrived, there was a large con- course of people to witness the execution ; but the culprits were respited and allowed six weeks grace, to the great injustice of so large an audience.
Feb. 4. The senate's amendment to the bill authoriz- ing the corporation of Albany to raise money to support a night watch, was concurred in by the house.
Feb. 8. This was a notable day for trade, the Gazette says. "On a moderate estimate it is presumed the pur- chases and sales of produce and merchandise exceeded $50,000. Of the article of wheat, between 25 and 30,000 bushels were brought to this market; a quantity far ex- ceeding the receipts of any one day since the settlement of this country. The price of wheat rose during the day from 7s. 7d. to 8s., or the highest price between this and the first of March. This last mode of purchase is truly novel, and must be convincing to the farmer that the mer- chants of this city are too independent to form combina- tions."
A fat cow brought to this market by Mr. Holt of Cherry
* The compiler has taken the liberty to put this sentence in italics.
162
Notes from the Newspapers.
Valley, was killed and found to exceed 1,100 pounds in weight. It is stated that upwards of 500 head of fat cattle were driven to market from Otsego county the past season.
The prisoners confined in the jail for debt, petitioned the legislature for a law compelling their creditors to sup- port them during their incarceration; the committee to whom their petition was referred, reported that the act of 1789 was sufficient for the relief prayed for.
The sufferers by the fires in Albany and Lansingburgh petitioned the legislature for permission to raise a sum by lottery to indemnify a part of their losses. The commit- tee, considering the deranged state of the affairs of the suf- ferers in consequence of the fire, and that the commercial interests of the northern and western parts of the state would be considerably affected thereby, were of the opin- ion that their extreme case merited the attention of the legislature, and brought in a bill accordingly.
Feb. 10. The legislature requested the governor to confer with the Cayuga, Onondaga and Oneida Indians, who were in the city in large numbers, and to ascertain whether they were disposed to sell the whole of their reserved lands. The sum of $650 was distributed among them in presents. The place for distributing presents to the Indians, we are told by Mr. John Van Zandt, was on the north side of State street, east of James street, where the Indians were ranged in a line on the verge of the side- walk, and the articles were distributed with great exact- ness, men, women and children sharing alike.
The committee of the house of assembly to whom was referred the petition of the Reformed Dutch Church in Greenbush for a lottery to raise money to complete their church, reported against granting the petition.
The Inland Navigation companies applied to the legis- lature for assistance in carrying on their enterprise. It was proposed to render a water communication from Albany to Seneca lake, a distance of more than two hun- dred and seventy-five miles; in the progress of which the following obstacles were to be surmounted :
1. It was necessary to construct a canal with locks, to
163
Notes from the Newspapers.
connect the Mohawk with the Hudson, in the nearest di- rection from river to river, or a canal with locks round the Cohoes falls, estimated to cost, $37,500
2. The Mohawk to be cleared of rocks, and the riffs deepened to the Little falls, 17,500
3. The Little falls to be completely locked,
37,500
4. From the Little falls to Fort Stanwix, the river being generally bold-the natural ob- structions being few, .. 6,250
5. Canal &c., at Fort Stanwix, 6,250
6. To complete Wood creek, 3,125
7. To improve the riffs in the Onondaga and Seneca rivers to the Cayuga lake,. 6,250
8. Improving the communication between the Cayuga and Seneca lakes, and locking at the Seneca falls,
12,500
$126,925
It was contemplated that these improvements would bring into communication 1000 miles of inland coast, within the state of New York, exclusive of the great lakes, and would accommodate boats carrying from five to ten tons; while boats then carrying from eight to ten barrels, approached the Hudson with an expense and delay barely equivalent to any proposed advantage.
Jan 28. The citizens of Albany transmitted to Phil- adelphia for the relief of the sufferers by the memorable conflagation of 1793, the sum of $866.40, collected soon after a formidable scourge of fire in their own city.
March 14. The two negro girls convicted of setting fire to the city on the 17th Nov. last, were hung. The other felon was respited until April.
The legislature had it in contemplation to take another corner from Albany county, for the erection of a new county ; but at the adjournment of that body the bill re- mained in the senate, which passed a resolution at its close, that the further consideration of the bill entitled " an act to erect certain lands into a separate county by the name of Delaware," be postponed until the next session.
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