USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. III > Part 13
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164
Notes from the Newspapers.
March 28. Proposals were issued for building a brick Presbyterian church,for which the materials were procured.
To encourage the raising of barley, the subscriber will pay six shillings a bushel for any quantity of good mer- chantable barley, delivered at his brewery, at the corner of the market house, Albany, at any time before the 1st of March, 1795.
PETER GANSEVOORT.
Mr. SOLOMON VAN RENSSELAER, son of Gen. Henry K. Van Rensselaer, of Rensselaerwyck, was promoted to a captaincy in the cavalry of the United States.
April 11. Pomp, the negro convicted of arson, and several times respited, was hung; and his dying confes- sions were sold at No. 2 Pearl street.
ANANIAS PLATT, grateful for public custom, undertook to run his stage twice a day from Lansingburgh to Albany and back.
June 21. JACOB J. LANSING one of the aldermen of the city, died after a short illness, aged 40. "He was an affectionate relation, a valuable friend, a firm magistrate, and above all a man who feared God."
SPENCER STAFFORD gave notice that he had again com- menced business in this city, and that at his shop, on the east side of Market street, a few doors north of the Dutch Church, he carried on a tin plate, sheet iron, copper and brass manufactory. Mr. Stafford became subsequently an extensive hardware merchant, and retired wealthy. In 1843, he made a map of his city property, and offered it for sale. His lots lay principally on the south side of Lydius street, above Hawk.
May 24. The assize of bread was one pound and twelve ounces for sixpence.
The number of votes given for members of assembly at the May election, by the different towns in the county was as follows :
Albany, 278
Bethlehem, 153
Watervliet,
228
Coeyman's, 36
Schenectady,
362
Coxsackie, . 36
Duanesburgh,
68
Catskill, 79
Schoharie,
170
Freehold, 92
Rensselaerville, . 359
Total,
1890
-
165
Notes from the Newspapers.
The names of the members clected, were,
Thomas Hun, Johannes Deitz,
Leonard Gansevoort, jr., Andries Van Petten,
William North,
Stephen Platt.
Jacob Hochstrasser,
May 19. STEPHEN VAN RENSSELAER was elected a member of the corporation of Williams College, in the state of Massachusetts.
May. The treasurer of the state of Vermont, Samuel Mattocks, passed through the city with twenty thousand dollars in specic, on his way to New York. The money was part of the thirty thousand dollars stipulated to be paid to the state of New York, when the latter acceded to the independence and sovereignty of the other.
The Western Inland Lock Navigation company adver- tised to contract for four companies of laborers, each com- pany to consist of an overseer, twenty-five able-bodied men and a cook, to be employed from the 20th June to the 15th November. The wages offered were one dollar a day to the overseer, and fifty cents to the laborers and cook, and "to find their own provision and liquor, and bedding." The directors would provide kettles, wooden bowls and trenchers. They were to work from sunrise till eight o'clock; then to be allowed one hour for break- fast; then to work until twelve o'clock, and be allowed two hours for dinner, until the 15th August, and after that only one hour for dinner until the 15th November; after dinner to work until sunset. They were to be allowed four days' wages " for traveling to the falls in Herkimer county," where they were to be chiefly employed.
July 12. " The extensive and beautiful works belong- ing to Mr. JAMES CALDWELL, situated about one mile north of this city were entirely consumed by fire, together with between five and six thousand pounds worth of stock. The whole loss is estimated at upwards of £13,000. The fire broke out between the hours of one and two in the morning of Saturday, in the Chocolate mill, but by what means it caught no one is able to determine. Nothing was saved of all that range, but one small kitchen."
166
Notes from the Newspapers.
Post roads centering at Albany, all of which had been established but recently, were now 6 in number, as follows :
1. From New York by Pickskill, Fishkill, Poughkeepsie, Rhinebeck, Redhook, Clermont, Hudson and Kinderhook to Albany.
2. From Albany, by Lansingburgh, Bennington, and Manchester to Rutland in Vermont. From Rutland, by Middlebury and Vergennes, to Burlington on Lake Cham- plain.
3. From Lansingburgh to Albany.
4. From Albany, by Schenectady, Johnstown, and Can- najoharrie to Whitestown.
5. From Cannajoharrie through Cherry Valley to the court house in Cooperstown in the county of Otsego.
6. From Whitestown to Canandarqua one in two weeks.
The above is from the proposals for carrying the mail, issued by Timothy Pickering the postmaster-general, and the orthography of the original is preserved.
Aug. 1. The assize of bread was one pound twelve ounces for sixpence. In New York, 1 1b. 14 oz. of inspect- ed flour. The price of wheat in New York at the same time, was 10s. 8d. ($1.33), and $1.25 at Albany in October.
Sept. 1. The corporation sold by public auction, the water lots "between the middle and upper docks," north of Maiden lane, which brought upwards of $4000.
Oct. Peter Gansevoort junior advertised to pay seven shillings a bushel for barley delivered at his brewery, at the corner of the Market House, in any quantity, until the first of March, 1795.
Oct. RICHARD CARTWRIGHT, formerly an esteemed mer- chant in Albany, died in Canada, aged 73.
Oct. Jacob Waldron and his wife, who had been cap- tured with a part of Gen. Wayne's army and retained among the Shawnee Indians, made their escape in March, and arrived in Albany by the way of Detroit and Niagara. They were furnished with money by the Albany Humane Society to enable them to prosecute their journey.
The fare to New York by stage was $7.25; the trip occupied two days. In the winter it was $8; way passen- gers 5d a mile.
167
Notes from the Newspapers.
Oct. 16. TEUNIS VISSCHER died.
A sixpenny loaf of bread weighed one pound 10 ounces.
"For sale, a likely Negro Wench, 18 years of age, with her child, 8 months old.
Oct. 28. AARON PENNEL died, aged 25; had resided in the city five years, and "sustained the character of an amiable and honest man;" was buried in the cemetery of the Presbyterian church.
Nov. 2. Twenty recruits for a corps of artillery and engineers, which had been raised in this city by Lieut. J. McClallen, sailed for Governor's Island.
Nov. 10. The corporation advertised for proposals for supplying the city with water by aqueduet, from the spring at the Five Mile House, on the road to Schenectady. About this time also, the common council resolved that no person should frame the materials for any building in any of the streets or lanes of the city, east of Eagle street, under a penalty of six shillings a day for every day he should persist in the work, after having been forbidden.
Nov. 11. The treaty with the Six Nations was "done at Kon-an-daigua," and signed by Timothy Pickering and 58 sachems, among whom were Hendrik, Fish Carrier, Half Town, Little Billy, Farmer's Brother, Red Jacket, Cornplanter and Handsome Lake.
Nov. 14. The Bank of Albany paid a dividend of 42 per cent, on the last half ycar's business.
Dee. 11. The editors of the Gazette, "as friends to the progress of American manufactures, congratulate the proprietors and the publie, that the extensive glass factory in the neighborhood of this city, is now in full operation, both at the old and new works. This valuable establish- ment has met with obstacles for this two months, partly owing to some bad materials. But at length, we are told, they are happily surmounted with a fair prospect of in- creasing prosperity.
It is mentioned that Capt. WILLIAM VAN INGEN of the sloop Cincinnati, had made the trip to and from New York in 12 days-that is, he sailed from hence on the 5th Dec. and arrived at New York on the 9th; disposed of his car-
168
Notes from the Newspapers.
go, took in a valuable freight, and returned to this port on the 16th. This was a triumph of sloop navigation.
It is remarked at the same time, that the navigation of the river had been open 9 months, and had still no impedi- ment.
Dec. 15. Stephen Van Rensselaer prohibited all per- sons excepting those who had permission by deed, from cutting down or carrying away any timber or firewood upon the manor of Rensselaerwyck. The citizens of Al bany had been accustomed to the right of commons for nearly two centuries, and it is probable that some persons began to abuse the privilege. An anonymous writer in the Gazette animadverted upon this prohibition, which required those who wished to cut wood to apply at the office of the proprietor for permission, and asserted that the prohibition was an encroachment upon the rights of the citizens, acquired not only by long usage, but by ori- ginal purchase or grant from the Indians.
Dec. 22. It was contemplated to establish a college here, and a petition which had been circulated for signa- tures was presented to the corporation for the purpose of moving that body to some action in the matter. Consider- able effort was made to have it located here, instead of Schenectady, and £6000 subscribed towards it; but the regents of the university, by a vote of 11 to 3, fixed upon the latter place.
We learn from the Register of Sept. 29, 1794, that the paving system had been prosecuted with so much vigor, that only Pearl street and a few cross streets remained to complete the enterprise. "The contrast in so short a period, from one of the filthiest to one of the cleanest cities in America, is truly astonishing, and must be pleasing to every citizen, especially when we take into contemplation that noble extent of pavement now nearly completed through the whole extent of Watervliet street to the bridge -the very idea of which a few years ago would have been thought the height of madness." It is said that property had risen in consequence. It was found that they had made a mistake in paving some of the sidewalks with small stones.
169
Notes from the Newspapers.
1795.
Jan. 1. RICHARD HILTON, "a worthy citizen," died in the 97th year of his age. He was the oldest man in the city, and had for many years been afflicted by an enormous wen on his left check, about 15 inches in circumference.
Jan. 10 .- The proprietors of the Western Mail Stages advertise that they have provided good and convenient stage sleighs which will accommodate ten passengers, and have reduced the fare during good sleighing to 2 pence ¿ penny per mile.
At the same time John Hudson ran two stages, one of 4 horses and the other of 2, daily, to Albany and back to Schenectady, Sundays excepted.
The post master at this time was George W. Mancius. Feb. 28. The emigration through the city to the west was so great at this time, that a citizen was induced from a motive of curiosity to take an account of a single day's travel; the number taken was 500 sleighs, from sun-rise to sun-set: those passing in the night not being enume- rated. It was estimated that 1200 sleighs, freighted with men, women, children and furniture, had passed through the city in three days, from the east, to settle the Gene- see Valley. This was not the only avenue to the west, at that time, though probably the principal one. The increase of emigration was attributable to the comple- tion of the treaty of Mr. Jay with Great Britain, and that of Mr. Pickering with the Six Nations, which dis- pelled every apprehension of danger. Among the mova- bles was observed a printing press, " destined to shed its light abroad over the western wilds."
March. The legislature passed the bill directing the treasurer to subscribe 200 shares to each of the canal companies, to enable them to prosecute their works the com- ing season.
Also an act to divide the town of Rensselaerville, and erect a part of it into a new town by the name of Berne, in honor of the first settler there. The town of Rensse- laerwyck was also divided and a part of it called Green- bush. The county of Schoharie was erected from part of the counties of Albany and Otsego.
15
170
Notes from the Newspapers.
March. The city lamps were announced as being nearly ready for use.
March 1. BARENT TEN EYCK died, aged 81. ALBERTUS YATES died on the same day, at an advanced age.
ARENT VAN CURLAER died at Mapletown, Rensselaer county, aged 107. We do not learn whether he was a descendant of the ancient commissary.
March 4. ISAAC PACKARD died, "respected and esteemed as an ingenious mechanic and an honest man."
March 30. DAVID GROESBEECK died aged 67, " a pious and exemplary man."
Mr. JOHN HUDSON died; the stage proprietor, whose vehicles plied between Albany and Schenectady. His widow continued the business.
Stages commenced running six times a day between Lansingburgh and Albany, by A. Platt.
April 7. An act passed the legislature, at its last ses- sion, appropriating £20,000 annually for the term of five years, for the purpose of encouraging and maintaining schools in the state. The proportion allotted to Albany county was £1,500, or $3750; the law to go into operation on the 7th April. It was the foundation of the free school system.
The following list of taxable inhabitants of the towns in the county of Albany, is given in the Gazette :
Albany, . 806
Bethlehem, 350
Watervliet,
573
Rensselaerville, 495
Coxsackie,
600
Schoharie, 507
Catskill,
354
Duanesburgh, . 400
Freehold,
524
Berne, 386
Coeymans, 354
Schenectady, 747
April 15. Upwards of fifty sail of vessels arrived at this port, and a number went past to Troy.
April 17. The firm of MacGregor & Co., in carrying on the Glass Works, consisting of Jeremiah Van Rensse- laer, Elkanah Watson, Robert MacGregor, and Thomas and Samuel Mather, was dissolved, and a new company formed under the name of Thomas Mather & Co.
April 28. The election for governor, lieutenant-go- vernor and legislators, took place on the last Tuesday in
171
Notes from the Newspapers.
April, and the vote for the city and county of Albany was as follows:
Towns.
Jay.
V. Rens
Yates.
Floyd.
Albany, first ward, .
61
86
72
51
second ward,
46
38
17
5
third ward,
42
47
25
20
Schenectady,
35
75
227
234
Bethlehem, .
128
201
75
4
Rensselaerville,
314
317
13
7
Coxsackie,
37
39
59
57
Duanesburgh,
151
143
27
35
Watervliet, .
207
248
56
14
Catskill,
32
31
102
102
Berne, . .
188
190
3
3
Schoharie,
124
122
45
44
Coeymans,
11
15
38
31
Freehold,.
45
13
41
71
1401
1560
850
678
The total number of votes given for the above candi- dates in the whole state, was, for Jay, 13,481; for Yates, 11,892 ; for Van Rensselaer, 12,854; Floyd, 12,199. Jay's majority, 1589; Van Rensselaer's majority, 655.
At the same election Philip Schuyler of Albany was chosen senator for the western district; composed of the counties of Albany, Montgomery, Herkimer, Onondaga, Otsego, Ontario and Tioga. The whole vote was, for Schuyler, 4,431; for John Patterson, 2,895. Majority for Schuyler, 1,536.
For members of Assembly of the county of Albany, the vote was as follows:
Dirck Ten Broeck, .... 1787
William North, 1814
Francis Nicoll, 1778
Jacob Hochstrasser, . 1623
Johannes Deitz, 1787
Joseph Shurtliff, 1254
Gerrit Abeel, 1683
Philip Van Rensselaer, 891
Abraham G. Lansing, .. 840
Jellis A. Fonda, . 871
Jacobus Bogardus, 812
Leonard Bronck, 1272
Stephen Platt, 75
Marcus Bellinger, 765
Uzal Cory, 747
Dirck Ten Broeck of Albany, William North of Duanes - burgh, Francis Nicoll of Bethlehem, Jacob Hochstrasser
172
Notes from the Newspapers.
of Berne, Johannes Deitz of Schoharry, Gerrit Abeel of Catskill, and Leonard Bronk of Coxsackie, were elected.
April 30. At sunrise the mercury in Fahrenheit's ther- mometer stood at 0; and an hour later, although the morning was fair, it had fallen to 14 deg. below 0. This was 6° colder than any day of the previous winter, and the coldest day that had occurred in six years.
May. JACOBUS WYNKOOP, a merchant of this city, died aged 75. " He took a decided and active part in the revo- lution, and was esteemed a brave and worthy officer."
May 7. FRANCIS CARBINE, formerly a merchant in Alba- ny, dicd, aged 62.
May 11. WILLIAM MCFARLANE died, aged 34. " To the character of an honest man he added the qualifications of a pious christian."
May 12. At an election held at the banking house in Market street, the following were elected directors of the Bank of Albany, the only institution of the kind north of New York, it is believed: Abraham Ten Broek, president ; Stephen Van Rensselaer, Stephen Lush, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, Goldsbrow Banyar, Jas. Caldwell, Philip S. Van Rensselaer, Barent Bleecker, Dudley Walsh, Daniel Hale, Robert McClallen , Jacob Vanderheyden, Elisha Kane.
The stages from Albany to New York performed their trips in two days at the " reduced price of £3 4s." a pas- senger ($8). "The passengers will lodge the first night, at Poughkeepsie, where those that prefer a water passage may be accommodated on board the Poughkeepsie packets, remarkable for their quick passages."
Official information having been received of the election of Mr. Van Rensselaer to the office of lieut. governor, the citizens formed a procession, and marched to his man- sion to congratulate him on the event. Some of the most conspicuous of his opponents joined in the procession with much enthusiasm.
June 2. JOHN M. WATSON died, aged 29, and was buried in the Presbyterian cemetery.
June 15. It was announced that " William Mayell, hat- ter, from London, had just opened, for sale, at the store of T. Fradgley, No. 8 Market street, a general assortment of
.
173
Notes from the Newspapers,
men's, women's and children's fashionable hats, various colors."
June 22. The assize of bread was a loaf of common tail flour to weigh 1lb. 2 oz. for sixpence. Wheat sold for $2.18 a bushel in New York, and flour $10 a barrel. The following is a price current of some of the most com- mon articles of consumption in New York at this time ; Wheat, 17s 6d. Pork prime, £6, 5s. $6 cargo, £5, 16s,
Com. Northern, 7s 2d. Southern, 6s 6d. Butter, 1s 6d.
Flour Superfine, £4, 16s.
Lard, 1s 2d.
66 Common, £4, 4s.
Cheese, 1s 4d.
Beef mess, £5, 4s.
Ham, 1s.
prime, £4, 16s.
Beeswax, 2s 6d,
66 cargo, £4, 8s.
Pork mess, £7, 4s.
Molasses, 4s Sd, Rum, 7s 6d.
A pound was $2.50, a shilling 12} cts.
American flour was selling in France at from $15 to $20 per barrel.
June 30. WILLIAM MCCLEMENT died, aged 28.
July 20, The Bank of Albany commenced business in its new banking house in Market street, in the house ad- joining the Mansion House on the south. The directors had made a call of forty dollars a share upon the stock- holders, and the stock was quoted at 30 per cent.
July 24. The Cohoes Bridge was opened for passengers with horses and carriages.
Aug. 19. JACOB KIDNEY died, many years high constable of the city.
Aug. 20. JOHN BRADSTREET SCHUYLER died at Saratoga on the 19th Aug,, and was brought to Albany same day; and on the following day was interred in the vault of his brother-in-law, the Hon. S. Van Rensselaer.
Sept. 14. HENRY TEN EYCK died. "He was a citizen much respected and esteemed, and in his death the public have sustained an irreparable loss."
Sept. 15. CAPT. JOHN, one of the Oneida sachems, and the principal orator and public speaker of the nation, died and was interred in the Presbyterian cemetery. The de- putation of chiefs and sachems of the Oneidas, then in this city, attended the funeral, and performed the solemnities thereof, according to the custom of their nation,
174
Notes from the Newspapers.
Oct 1. HENRY WENDELL died, aged 63. He was formerly sheriff of the county of Albany, and many years a respectable inhabitant of the city.
Oct. 2. The state council appointed Abraham Yates jr., mayor of the city of Albany, and John Ostrander, sheriff of the city and county.
Oct. 11. JONATHAN SHEPHERD died, and was buried in the Episcopalian burial ground.
Oct 12. ABRAM POWERS, baker, died.
Nov. 2. It is noted that wheat, which had been 18s in New York and 16s 6d in Albany, is now 14s and its tend- ency downwards, owing to the abundance of the crops. and the agents of foreign countries having received orders to discontinue purchases for exportation; that potatoes were sold at 2s per bushel, and good mutton at 4gd and beef at 6d a pound.
The Bank of Albany declared a dividend of 42 per cent on its capital stock, for the past 6 months.
In the fall of 1795 a singular craft arrived at Albany on its way from Lake Erie to Philadelphia. It was a small schooner, called the White Fish, built at Presqu'Isle on Lake Erie by a couple of young men, and was 172 feet keel, 5 feet 7 inches beam. They proceeded along Lake Erie to Niagara falls, 110 miles; passed the falls by land 10 miles, and sailed down Lake Ontario and up Oswego river, passing the falls in the latter by land, 1 mile ; through the Oneida lake, and up Wood creek; from the latter to the Mohawk 1 mile by land; and down the Mohawk to Little falls, which were passed by land 1 mile; and the distance between Schenectady and Albany was also made by land. They proceeded down the Hudson, and by sea to the capes of Delaware; and up the Delaware to Phila- delphia The voyage occupied seven weeks, owing to the lateness of the season, it being the 10th Nov. when they reached Philadelphia, having made 947 miles, without chart or compass. The canals were in progress at this time for rendering the whole distance between Oneida lake and Albany navigable. The design of this voyage was a disinterested experiment to prove some of the great advan- tages which might in future be derived from the speedy settlement about the new town of Erie.
175
Notes from the Newspapers.
Nov. 7. The supreme court adjourned. The following convictions took place. Anthony Crane, petit larceny ; Elisabeth Crane, his wife, grand larceny; Joseph Brown, petit larceny; Flora, a negro girl, grand larceny; Sam and Jack, negroes, for receiving stolen goods, knowing them to be such. They each, except Elisabeth 'Crane, received 39 lashes on the same day, and were discharged.
Nov. 16. The lighting of the city, says the Gazette, begins to assume a regular and pleasing appearance, and if the common council would permit to be lighted at the public expense, the lamps which our private citizens shall erect, (on their paying into the treasury money sufficient for the oil) our city, in this respect, would soon vie with the other principal cities and towns in the United States.
Dec. 14. Wheat in New York, 20s 6d ($2.56), in Al- bany, 17s 6d ($2.18).
The census of 1795 gives the following statement of the number of electors in the city and county of Albany.
No. of electors in the city of Albany, 765. 66 county 6,087.
The electors consisted of those who possessed freeholds of the value of $250; those who possessed freeholds of the value of $50 and under $250; those not possessed of free- holds but who rented tenements of the yearly value of $5; and those who were freemen on the 14th day of October, 1775, and on the 20th day of April, 1777.
1796.
The following is a list of the towns and the number of electors in each at this time in this county.
Berne, . . 457
Watervliet, . 600
Coeymans,
359
Duanesburgh, 307
Bethlehem, 388 :
Schoharie, 436
Catskill, 363
Schenectady,
683
Rensselaerville, 548
Freehold, 562
Coxsackie, . 619
Albany, 765
The No of electors in Troy was 550. (This probably included Lansingburgh, as the latter place is not men- tioned.)
176
Notes from the Newspapers.
The whole No. of freeholders in the state in 1790 was 19,395; in 1795 they had increased to 36,338, having nearly doubled in the short space of five years. 817 free- holders gave a senator. The tide of immigration had increased the western district so as to entitle it to 17 sena- tors, while the southern district had 10, the middle 9, the eastern 8. The new census increased the number of sena- tors from 24 to 44; and of assemblymen from 70 to 115.
A writer in the Gazette of Feb. 5, 1796, writes from personal knowledge that at the election of 1738, which was hotly contested, 636 voted for assemblymen, and that at that time there were not 50 more electors in the whole district, then county of Albany (the manor excepted which held a separate poll of about 100 votes) comprising in '96 the counties of Albany, Columbia, Rensselaer, Washing- ton, Clinton, Saratoga, Scholiary, Montgomery, Herkimer, Tioga, Otsego, Onondaga and Ontario. So that in 1738, the whole number of electors did not exceed 786, which had now increased to 37,026; being an increase in 60 years of more than 47 to 1.
It was announced that a new line of stages was esta- blished between Albany and New York, which would start daily from each place.
Jan, John Clark and Reuben King advertise that they have contracted with the post office department to convey the mail and maintain a line of stages to run twice a week each way between Boston and Albany: that their stages will start from Boston every Monday and Tuesday, and arrive at Albany every fourth day, and will start from James McGourk's in Albany every Wednesday and Satur- day morning and arrive at Boston in the same period of time; except the months of March and November, "and then the mail will go on horseback."
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