USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. III > Part 14
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Feb. The stage fare to New York was $10. In the spring it was reduced to $6.
An act passed the legislature at its session for this year, to enable the corporation of the city of Albany to supply the city with water by means of conduits,
An act for the encouragement of the Albany Glass Fac- tory.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
An act authorizing the corporation to raise money to defray the expense of lighting the lamps and for the support of a night watch.
An act making alterations in the criminal law of this state, and for erecting state prisons, provided for the erec- tion of a state prison at Albany.
The proprietors of the Glass works at this time were Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, John Sanders, Abraham Ten Eyck, Elkanah Watson, Frederick A. De Zeng, K. K. Van Rensselaer, Thomas Mather, Douw Fonda, Walter Coch- ran, Samuel Mather. About this time they conceived the project of consolidating their establishment into a per- manent manufacturing town, under the name of Hamilton. Materials were collected for building an octagon church, and a school house; the ground was laid out into streets and house lots. The legislature exempted the company and their workmen from all taxation for five years, as a mode of encouragement.
. A resolution passed the common council for enforcing the laws for paving Court street (Broadway) from the north end of that street to the site of Fort Orange; Pearl street from State street north; Mark lane, now Exchange street; Washington street from Nail street (Howard) south to Bass lane (Bleecker), and Maiden lane from Market to Lodge street.
March 23. The Rev. John B. Johnson became the col- league of Rev. Dr. Bassett in the pastoral charge of the Dutch Reformed church, and so continued until 1802, when he resigned his call, and removed to Brooklyn, where he died. He is represented to have been unusually popu- lar, and enjoyed the uninterrupted affection and confidence of his people, and the whole community. During his mi- nistry very gratifying accessions were made to the church.
March 31. Ananias Platt began to run a line of stages four times a day between Albany and Schenectady.
May 3. The Bank of Albany declared a dividend of 43 per cent.
May 10. The consistory of the Dutch Reformed church appointed a committee consisting of Messrs. Beekman, Van Vechten, Van Rensselaer and Bleecker, to procure
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materials for the purpose of building a new church, the board making themselves responsible for their acts.
The streets in the city were still mostly unpaved, and the houses without numbers. The stores in State street were described as bearing a certain direction from the Dutch church.
May 31. A report was made at this time of the boats that passed the locks at Little falls, on the Mohawk dur- ing 13 days in May, viz: 17 boats to and from old Fort Schuyler, 22 Geneva, 8 Rotterdam and Oneida lake, 11 Fort Stanwix, 4 Cayuga lake, 4 Erie lake, 9 Niagara, 16 Upper Canada, 3 Fort Herkimer, 1 Bay Cauty, 2 Oneida lake, 6 Genesee, 3 Little falls, 6 Whitestown, 4 German flatts; total, 116; paying a toll of $219.
June 30. ABRAHAM YATES, junior, mayor of the city, died, aged 73.
The Rev. Drs. Belknap and Morse arrived at Albany, on their return from a tour to the west. Dr. Morse deli- vered a sermon in the Presbyterian church, on Sunday, July 3.
The Gazette says that furs and peltries to the amount of more than $40,000 were received at this time by a single house, from one of the north western companies. The editor adds that it has an agreeable appearance, and bright- ens up the faces of our old Indian traders, to see twenty or thirty wagon loads of fur at a time, coming into our city. and augurs favorably a return of the immensely rich Indian trade we once participated in.
July 8. Wheat had fallen to 12s a bushel, and it is said that 8s were taken at this time.
The commissioners appointed to superintend the erec- tion of the state prison at Albany, purchased a lot for the purpose in the north part of the city, adjoining the river, and advertised for proposals to furnish materials and build the same.
A Lansingburgh paper of Aug. 18, says. " A few years ago there was but one stage between this town and Albany. It was established and maintained at great expense by Mr. A. Platt, and for a considerable time had little encourage- ment. He however persevered, and at this day, this mode
2.
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of travelling has so increased that twenty stages pass and repass daily between the neighboring towns of Lansing- burgh, Troy, Waterford, and Albany, averaging more than 150 passengers per day-a proof of our growth and pros- perity."
"With great pleasure we have noticed the success of the subscription, opened a few days since for erecting a Roman Catholic chapel in this city. It bespeaks the tole- rant and liberal disposition of the country, to find our citizens of every persuasion emulous in assisting their Roman Catholic brethren with the means of building here a temple to the God of heaven, in which they can worship according to the dictates of their own consciences. The corporation unanimously resolved to present them with a piece of ground for the site of their church."-Gazette.
Sept. 30. " The Presbyterian congregation in this city have given a call to Mr. David S. Bogart, of the city of New York, to become the pastor of their church, with a salary of a thousand dollars per annum. Their new brick church will be finished in two or three weeks. It is a handsome building, 64 feet by 76, cligibly situated in Washington street corner of Beaver. The inside of the church is in modern style, and the workmanship very ele- gant."-Gazette.
The above edifice is still standing, having been enlarged about 16 fect on its northern end, and the name of the street changed from Washington to South Pearl. The old church, was a wooden building, standing on the north east corner of Grand and Beaver streets, and was the first Presbyterian church in the city, under the charge of Mr. McDonald.
The Gazette remarks that the city never enjoyed more excellent health; that there was scarcely a sick person in town.
The celerity with which the public mails are now trans- mitted throughout the United States, says the Gazette, merits our particular notice. From Philadelphia to Albany, a distance of 260 miles, it is but 3 days-from Boston, it is 4; but from Savannah in Georgia, almost the extreme southern point in the Union, it is but 12 days-
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and newspapers from the latter city are received by the editors of the Gazette with as much regularity as from New York.
Assize of bread, 1 1b. 3 oz. for 6d.
Stage fare from Albany to Fort Schuyler, $2.50. From Albany to Whitestown, $3.
Advertisements for the sale of negroes, and rewards for runaway slaves, were at this time of every day occur- rence. A sample is taken.
" For Sale, a healthy Negro Wench, about 30 years of age, accustomed to all kinds of kitchen work. She has been a servant in a respectable family in this city for many years, and can be recommended for her honesty and good conduct. Also, her two male children, both in good health, one nearly three years of age, until he arrives at the age of 25 years. The other about 4 weeks old will be sold for life. Apply to the printers of the Albany Gazette."
To be Sold-A healthy active Negro Wench, in her 19th year-can be recommended for honesty and sobriety, and sold for no fault."
" A Negro Wench, about 30 years of age, strong and hearty, for sale."
The names of the owners are never given, but reference is given to the printer.
Oct. 27. It was announced in the papers that there was " a balloon in the city of Albany, now nearly finished, of 54 feet in circumference, and with a machine for carry- ing a car, which after ascending an immense distance in the air, will disengage itself from the balloon, and descend in a flame of fire to the earth, without receiving any injury. The subscribers to the above balloon, are informed that it will be raised on Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 2 o'clock, from the hill above the jail."
Oct. 27. Gen. Cleveland of Connecticut, attended by a company of surveyors, arrived in the city from Ohio, where they had been employed during the summer in run- ning the outlines of the Connecticut lands on lake Erie, and dividing them into townships. They explored the Cuyahoga, and made many curious discoveries. They demonstrated to the citizens, among other things, that the
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transportation of West India goods into that country by the way of Albany, could be done fifty per cent cheaper, and dry goods seventy-five per cent cheaper than from Phil- adelphia by land to Fort Pitt and down the Ohio. "A hogshead of rum, for instance, will cost $187.50 delivered at Pittsburg on the Ohio from Philadelphia ; whereas four barrels, equal to a hogshead, can, even now, be transported from Albany to Detroit for $18.75 each, equal to $75 a hhd .* Detroit is upwards of a hundred miles from Cuya- hoga river, but allowing for ascending the river, the car- rying place of four miles, and descending the Muskingum into the Ohio at Marietta, it will more than justify the general's calculation." The editor of the Register here- upon breaks forth into the following rhapsody: "What a boundless field this new source of wealth and commerce opens to the city of Albany! Let any man contemplate a good map of our local position, and then extend his view northward to the 45th deg. of latitude, and westward to the Lake of the Woods, and the vast link of inland seas, which connect an immense fertile region from lake to lake by a happy intercourse quite into the Hudson-and the most pleasing scene of happiness and industry will unfold itself to his imagination, and which in a few years must unfold itself to the great benefit of posterity. In short, it is clear that millions of people are destined to give and receive from this place their daily wants,-probably from the greatest portion of the intermediate country which lies between that vast chain of water and the Ohio and Missi- sippi. Such, happy sons of future Albany ! is your prospect and such most undoubtedly will be the reality-once the western canals are completed and the western regions populated."
Nov. 1. The public sale of the state lands, commonly called the Cayuga and Onondaga Reservations, was com- menced by the surveyor-general at Wendell's hotel, in this city. The sale of the Cayuga tract was completed during the first week, at an average above six dollars per acre.
* Great calculations were made about this time on the prospective facilities for the transportation of rum.
16
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Notes from the Newspapers.
Nov. 2. The house of John McDonald, printer and bookseller in State street, took fire and was burnt to the ground, by which he lost a complete set of printing mate- rials, two presses, a large quantity of paper, and books, bound and in sheets.
A paper called the Chronicle is mentioned as being print- ed in Albany at this time.
The Presbyterian church, corner of Beaver and Pearl streets, was opened, when the Rev. Dr. Smith, president of Union College, delivered two discourses.
Volney, the celebrated traveler and philosopher, visited this city, on his way from the west to the southern states.
The judiciary bill, which passed the legislature at its session this year, abolished capital punishments, except in cases of murder and treason. Corporeal punishment at the whipping post was also abolished about this time, complaints having become common of its abuse in frequent instances. Much was said in favor of imprisonment at labor, and of the feasibility of the plans adopted by the state of Pennsylvania, after the prisons of France.
The land purchased by the commissioners for building a prison contained 6 acres. It was " situated in the colo- nie, about three-fourths of a mile from the City Hall. Its bounds are the main road on the west, and the Hudson river on the cast. The price paid was £5000 ($12,500). This law was annulled the next year, and did not go into operation.
A musical concert was given by Miss Broadhurst, Messrs. Hewitt and Muller, consisting of 6 songs and 4 instrument- al pieces, terminating with a ball, tickets $1. It was im- mediately followed by the advent of a " male camel from the deserts of Arabia," who was probably the first of his species that penetrated this distant land.
Nov. John Jacob Beeckman, elder, advertised by order of the consistory, for proposals from carpenters and masons for the erection of a new Dutch church.
Nov. 27. The cartridges and other ammunition belong- ing to the United States, which had for some years past been deposited in the public stores in Court street in this city, were on the 27th Nov., by order of the secretary of
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war, shipped on board vessels, and sent to West Point, by Capt. Hudong.
Dec. The following statement of the buildings in this city was made from actual enumeration :
701 dwelling houses,
131 stores,
68 store-houses,
193 stables fronting streets and alleys.
1093 buildings.
In the colonie of Watervliet, or Northern Liberties,
162 dwelling houses,
13 stores.
-
1268
Computing 7 persons to each dwelling house, the city would contain 4907, and the liberties 1134 inhabitants; total 6041.
Dec. 23 and 24. Friday and Saturday 23d and 24th Dec., were the coldest days remembered in this city for many years.
Friday, Dec. 23, 1796, 14° below 0.
Saturday Dec. 24, 1796, 18 €6
1797.
State of the thermometer at 7 o'clock in the morning in the city.
Sunday, Jan. 8, 1797, 17} "
Monday, " 9, 20
Jan. 3. The legislature convened at the City Hall. The editors of the Register complain of the difficulty of acquiring the minutes for publication, by which upwards of 2000 of their fellow citizens, who relied principally upon that paper for the news of the day were deprived of the timely knowledge of the proceedings of their repre- sentatives.
Jan. 10. The common council granted the sum of twenty shillings, ($2.50) to Barent De Rider, a carman, for being the first at a fire on the night previous, with a hogshead of water, and ten shillings ($1.25) to John Hyde,
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Notes from the Newspapers.
for his being the second. The sum of $250 was awarded to any one who should discover an incendiary in attempt- ing to fire any building in the city.
Feb. 14. A large number of the clergy and laity of the northern and western parts of the state, convened at Al- bany, and organized themselves into a society by the name of the Northern Missionary Society of the State of New York, the design of which was the propagation of the gos- pel in the frontier settlements and among the Indian tribes of this and the neighboring states.
The bill to erect a public building in the city of Albany with a view of rendering it the permanent seat of govern- ment passed both branches of the legislature, and became a law.
The house of assembly also passed a bill incorporating a company to open a canal round Niagara falls, with a grant of 6,000 acres of land in its immediate vicinity.
The legislature having fixed the seat of government at Albany, the corporation of the city made them an offer of any unappropriated ground that might be chosen for the purpose of erecting the public buildings. The present site of the Capitol was chosen, and was thus described at that time. "It extends along the west side of the public square, from Deer street on the south, to Lion street on the north, which last is the main street by which the western country enters the city. On this ground the buildings have a direct view of State street, and the rows of stately edifices which adorn the sides of it, from its upper to its lower extremity. The prospect from this place is extensive and beautiful. It goes to the north, the east . and the south till the summits of the distant mountains terminate it in the horizon. Hence the blue tops of the Catskill are seen mingling with the clouds, and the majestic Hudson winding between the islands below, till the lessen- ing sails on its surface vanish to the eye; and above till its curving margins hide the retreating waves in the neighbor- hood of Troy. The village of Bath, and the fields and ridges on the opposite side of the river, teeming with vege- tation in its fullest luxuriance, are parts of the picture here presented to charm the mind capable of relishing its
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Notes from the Newspapers.
beauties. The cemetery immediately to the south, over- spread with a sheet of verdure, and a wide, opening valley beyond it, through which a meandering rivulet runs to refresh the air, will forever afford free access to the cool- ing zephyrs in the sultry season. The large vacant area in front will in no small degree contribute to the same end. It will no doubt be hereafter so improved as to ans- wer, in the best possible manner, the purposes of health, pleasure, and other objects of public utility. It will be a little field for the taste and genius of artists in the science of elegance, to which a frec scope will here unquestionably be given before much length of time has elapsed. Springs of the best water also break out about it in several places ; and plentifully yield that inestimable luxury of life, the want of which is so much lamented through the city in general. Behind lies that part of the city which is laid out into regular shapes, extended over a plain gently sloping to the morning sun. This, though not thickly settled as yet, can not remain many years without rivaling in business those parts which are now most valucd on that account, and outshining them by the splendor of its im- provements. Nothing is wanting to make it capable of receiving the last finish of art, in addition to the finest beauties of nature.".
March 6. The assize of bread was "a loaf of good common tail flour to weigh 1 1b. 12 oz. for 6d.
May 30. The mayor laid the corner stone in the foun- dation of the state offices, which were begun to be erected on the corner of State and Lodge streets. They are now turned into a geological museum, in which are deposited the collections of the geologists who surveyed the state.
The post roads were extended by Congress, among which were some extensions on the roads diverging from Albany. Among others, a new route from Lansingburgh by Waterford, Stillwater, Fort Edward, Whitehall, Fair- haven, to Rutland, in Vermont. Another from Lansing- burgh, by Salem, Fairhaven, Vergennes, Bason-harbor Plattsburgh, to Champlain. From Schenectady, Ballston Springs and Glensbridge, to Sandy-hill.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
A report was published in the New York papers that the Albany Bank had failed on account of the great influx of counterfeits of its own bills. The bank at this time had been in operation five years, and to this day there had not been an instance of any of its bills having been counterfeited. It appears to have been managed with considerable ability, and in proportion to its capital pos- sessed more specie than any bank in the country. The current price of its stock was from 45 to 50 per cent above par.
The seat of government having been fixed at Albany, and the governor, John Jay, authorized to hire a house for his accommodation, he took "Mr. James Caldwell's elegant house in State street" (No. 60).
Among the acts of the Legislature, having relation to the city of Albany, were the following.
1. A law concerning the election of charter officers.
12. To suspend the power of the commissioners for erecting a state prison in the county of Albany.
31. An act for erecting a public building in the county of Albany, and for other purposes therein mentioned.
71. An act to amend an act entitled an act to incorpo- rate the stockholders of the Bank of Albany.
72. An act to regulate buildings within certain limits of the city of Albany.
73. An act to increase the number of firemen in the city of Albany.
87. An act for constructing a road and establishing and erecting turnpikes between the city of Albany and the town of Schenectady.
102. An act authorizing the mayor, aldermen and com- monalty of the city of Albany to raise a sum of money by tax for defraying the expense of lighting the lamps, and for the support of a night watch in the said city.
It is mentioned as an instance of remarkable dispatch, that Col. William Colbreath, sheriff of Herkimer, left this city on Sunday morning, (7th) on board a vessel for New York, and returned on Thursday (11th) afternoon; having in a little more than four days including a day and a half he was in New York, performed a journey of 330 miles.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
Aug. 4. The city was visited by an extensive confla- gration, which swept down several streets, consuming ninety-six dwellings, and rendering houseless one hundred and fifty families of about one thousand persons. The fire originated in an old storehouse on the Middle Dock, in the rear of Montgomery street, and in its progress ex- tended into and destroyed houses in Dock, Montgomery, Steuben, Market, Middle lane, Columbia, and Watervliet streets. It was the greatest calamity that had ever befallen the city.
Aug. 8. Wouter Knickerbakker, for many years a resi- dent of Albany, died at Saratoga, aged 84 years and 9 months.
At a court of oyer and terminer held in the city during the first two weeks in September fourteen criminals were convicted and sentenced. The penalties for offences at this time will be gathered from the following :
Isaac Robbins, convicted of passing a false receipt for money, imprisonment for life at hard labor.
Simon Brant, passing two counterfeit quarter dollars, imprisonment for life at hard labor.
Jacob, a negro slave, burglary, the same penalty.
John Garrit, do do
Isaac Van Doren, horse stealing, 7 years at hard labor. Sept. 13. The Roman Catholic chapel corner stone was laid by Mr. Thomas Barry, who was a merchant at this time. The foundation, it is stated, was to be laid this season, and the church to be completed the following year. It occupicd the site of the present church in Chapel street, then called Barrack street.
"Turnpikes. Notice is hereby given, that a book for receiving subscriptions for shares in the stock of the com- pany established by virtue of an act entitled " An act for constructing a road and establishing and erecting turn- pikes between the city of Albany and the town of Schenec- tady," will be opened on Tuesday the 23d inst., at 10 o'clock, in the forenoon, at the dwelling house of James Van Ingen, in Pearl street, in the city of Albany, and will continue open every day, Sundays excepted, between the
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Notes from the Newspapers.
hours of ten and twelve in the forenoon, until the 4th day of September next.
JOHN VANDERHEYDEN. KILLIAN K. VAN RENSSELAER. SANDERS LANSING. JAS. VAN INGEN,
Commissioners."
Two brass field pieces, an ammunition wagon, and other requisite apparatus in complete order, were received from New York, for the use of the Albany Independent Artillery. They were cast by James Byers, of Springfield, Mass.
Fourteen house lots in the Upper Pasture, belonging to the consistory of the Dutch Church, were sold at auction at an average sum of $285 each. Five years previous the same class of lots sold at 15 to 30 dollars.
The paving of Court street was commenced.
Aug. 17. A collection in aid of the sufferers by the great fire was taken in the Dutch church, which amounted to £119 14s. ($298.50.)
The following were the members of assembly elect for this year, in the city and county of Albany, with the num- ber of votes each received.
Dirck Ten Broeck, . .. 2345
John H. Wendell, ... 1404
John Prince, . 1589
Philip P. Schuyler, . 2010
Joel Thompson, . 1505
A. N. Heermance, 1736
Nathaniel Ogden, 2220
Johan Jost Deitz, 1423
Peter West, . 1489
Thomas E. Barker, ... 1573
The total number of votes was 2647.
The senators for the Eastern district, including Albany, Saratoga, Clinton, Washington and Rensselaer counties, were Abraham Van Vechten, Anthony Ten Eyck, Eben- ezer Clark, Zina Hitchcock, Jacobus Schermerhorn.
June 12. On Monday the corner stone of the Dutch church in North Pearl street was laid by Rev. John B. Johnson. At 5 o'clock P. M., a procession, composed of the consistory of the church, the clergy of the several con- gregations, the mayor and corporation, and the judges of the supreme court and common pleas moved from the consistory room to the site of the new church. After
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Notes from the Newspapers.
laying the corner stone, Mr. Johnson addressed the com- pany assembled, in a short speech, and concluded the cere- mony with prayer. The procession again formed, and returned to the consistory room, where they partook of a collation. The church was intended to be 116 feet by 70; the undertakers and architects, Messrs. Putnam and Hook- er; contract price, $25,000.
July 3. The celebrated Dr. Perkins, inventor of the metallic tractors, made his appearance in the city, with a sufficiency of testimonials from physicians and others, of the efficacy of his instruments in "removing rheumatic pains, head aches, agues in the face, cramps, convulsions, and inflammatory swellings of the throat." They had their day.
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