USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. III > Part 26
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15. The fifteenth anniversary of the Albany Tract Society, was held in the Congregational Church. It ap- peared by the report that the society had distributed nearly half a million pages of tracts during the year. It was stated that 20,000 of the population were in the habit of not attending any place of public worship. By the treas- urer's report it appeared that the receipts for the past year were $742.35 ; the expenditures $600. . . . . An affray took place in the evening in Hawk street, between two Irishmen and three colored men, in which knives were used, and severe wounds inflicted.
16. River navigation between Albany and New York again unobstructed. Four tow boats came up from Bris- tol, and the steam boat Buffalo arrived from New York. . . The principal mart for the sale of western products was held at the freight houses of the Albany and Schenec- tady railroad on Water street, where an extensive busi- ness was done in the morning in hogs ..... . The Perry Guards, so called in honor of Eli Perry, assemblyman, turned out numbering nearly 100 including music, for a target exercise. It began to snow and rain toward night, rendering the walking bad. There was at this time a perfect military furor. Besides the Burgesses Corps, Republican Artillery, Emmet Guards, Worth Guards, and Washington Riflemen, which were regularly organized companies, there were also, the Van Namee Guards, Painters' Guards, Eagle Guards, Corning Corps, School- craft Light Horse, Boardman & Gray Guards, and Perry Volunteers, organized for the purpose of target excursions and military exercisc. In addition to these, the Scotchmen were organizing a permanent company, and an effort was
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Annals of 1850.
being made to raise a company of Light Horse, both of which were finally consummated.
17. The coldness of the weather caused ice to make so rapidly that the river was closed again ...... The Hen- drik Hudson went down at two o'clock with the heaviest freight of the season, and made her way with great diffi- culty.
18. The steam boats did not venture above Hudson; their passengers being sent on by rail road. ..... The streets presented an appearance of unusual animation on account of the abundance of country sleighs ...... Washington Hunt, having been elected governor of the state, resigned his office of comptroller, and was succeeded by Philo C. Fuller, who had been appointed by Gov. Fish ...... At a meeting of delegates from the several rail road companies at Syracuse, the following rates were agreed upon :
Mail. Express.
From Albany to Schenectady,
$0.50
$0.50
Schenectady to Utica,
1.76
2.14
Utica to Syracuse, .
1.20
1.45
Syracuse to Rochester,
2.35
2.85
Rochester to Buffalo,
1.64
2.06
$7.50 $9.00
Arrangements were also made to carry emigrants through from New York to Buffalo, during the winter for $6.50.
19. House corner of Franklin and South Lansing streets entered by robbers in the night, who took nearly a hun- dred dollars and a gold watch out of the owner's sleeping room . . . Amanda, wife of Chauncey Humphrey, died, aged 71.
21. Shortest days of the year, 9h. 4m. from sunrise to sunset.
22. Maria, wife of John C. Hughson, died, aged 32. Julia A., wife of H. Foster, and daughter of the late Con- rad Turner of this city, died at Peoria, Ill.
23. A snow storm which began on the previous evening continued all day with great fury, extending from New York to Buffalo. The rail road tracks were all blockaded
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Annals of 1850-51.
with snow drifts, and there had not been such a tempest on the river during ten years. Several buildings were crushed by the weight of snow that lay upon them. The barometer was lower than had ever been noticed.
24. The atmosphere was intensely cold at sunrise, per- haps a little below zero, and continued cold during the day.
28. A colored woman named Betsey Staats was burned by her clothes taking fire, so that she died a few hours after the accident.
29. Another layer of snow was added to the previous stock; tending to render some of the roads impassable again ..... .. Elisabeth Wilson, wife of Orlando Meads, died at Elisabethtown, N. J.
30. Maria Louisa Rogers died, aged 17.
31. By the report of the Alms house physician it ap- peared that the number of cases requiring medical aid during the month was 150; of which 99 were cured, 16 died, and 35 remained under treatment ...... The New York State Bank, which was chartered in 1803, (vol. i, 32) closed on the expiration of its charter, paying back to its stockholders their capital with a handsome surplus. 'The same institution, under new articles of association, com- menced business under the same name on the first of Jan- uary ...... Cold day. An observation was made on the dock of a vessel in the Basin at 9 o'clock forenoon; baro- meter in open air, at tide level, 30.444. Fahrenheit thermometer, 12º below zero; centigrade thermometer, 24, below zero. Several thermometers in the city indi- cated 15° below zero at sunrise. At 2 o'clock the mer- cury rose three or four degrees above zero .. .. . Owen Riley died, aged 36.
JANUARY, 1851.
1, The hall of the Capitol was thronged with citizens and strangers, to witness the inauguration of WASHINGTON HUNT as governor of the state of New York ..... Hum- phrey Clark died, aged 56.
3. Mary Born died, aged 61.
4. Cathedral fair closed, yielding $7,600, exclusive of
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Annals of 1851.
expenses. . . .George F. Barker, ticket agent of the Mohawk and Hudson rail road at Albany, died in New York. Jane Ann, wife of Capt. John Johnson, died, aged 47.
5. The congregation of the First Baptist Church held its last service in the old edifice in Green street ; it having been sold to the People's Church, a new society under Rev. George Montgomery West. Rev. Mr. Jeffrey preached the farewell sermon. This venerable edifice had been the nucleus of all the Baptist churches in the city, and multitudes who had, from time to time, worshiped there, but who were now connected with other congregations, were present at the exercises for the sake of " auld lang syne." Until their new edifice ehould be completed, the congregation purposed to worship with the church in South Pearl street ...... Elisha Hale of Newark, N. J., died in this city, aged 72.
6. The grocery store of James McEntee, corner of Green and Arch streets, destroyed by fire, at night. ..... Richard Keating died, aged 55.
8. Thermometer 9º below zero.
9. A thaw began, accompanied by rain.
10. Mary, wife of Isaac White, died, aged 56.
12. Matthew O'Connor died, aged 66.
15. Margaret Stevenson died, aged 39. Mrs. Cornelia, wife of Martin Schoenmaker, died.
16. The directors of the Albany and Schenectady Rail Road Company declared a dividend of 33 per cent out of the earnings of the six months ending the 31st inst. After paying the above dividend, there was left a surplus of over $10,000 out of the net earnings of the last six months.
The gross earnings for six months, ending 31st $113,155.41 inst.,.
For same period of last year, 95,862.70
Increase over 18 per cent,. $17,292-71
The earnings for the year ending 31st of January, 1851, are . $214,786.52
337
Annals of 1851.
Expenses, interest, relaying and
regrading 3 miles of track, . . . $129,278.63 Carried to new fund by previous
vote of Board, 5,000.00 134,278.63
Making net earnings of the year, ...... $80,507.89 which is an eighth per cent on the capital stock, of which $70,000 has been applied to dividends-$10,000 of the re- mainder carried to the reserve fund, as also stated.
The hog traffic on the road in December, 18,356 hogs- weight, 3,913,267 .- Albany Evening Journal. . . Mrs. Jane Greer died, aged 73.
18. Philo Booth died, aged 60.
19. Elizabeth Beals, severely injured by a runaway horse, died of the wound.
20. The fourth annual meeting of the Alumni of the Albany Medical College was held in the lecture room of the College. The annual address was delivered by Dr. Freeman, and an essay was read on the anatomy of plants by Dr. J. H. Salisbury.
23. The mail-wagon broke through the ice in crossing the river; the papers were almost wholly destroyed by be- ing saturated with water Elizabeth, wife of Stephen Swasey, died, aged 51.
24. Francis Malburn died, aged 60.
25. Thomas Gilbert Lee, formerly of Albany, son of Noah Lee, died at Columbus, Georgia, aged 35.
26. Dr. John S. Cameron, aged 33, died at the Quaran- tine, on Staten Island, where he was engaged as assistant surgeon ...... David W. Ford died, aged 17.
27. Sarah A., wife of John S. Farnham, died, aged 24.
30. Sudden change of weather ; thermometer 2º below zero in the morning.
31. At half past ten in the evening, the dwelling house of Dr. James P. Boyd, corner of Hudson and Grand streets. took fire and was burnt, with nearly every thing it con- tained. Loss about $6000 ; two-thirds insured .... . .. Reuben A. Dunbar, aged 20, executed in the jail for. the murder of two children in Westerlo, by the name of Lester . Elizabeth Ann Cutler, wife of Frederick C.
29
338
Annals of 1851.
Gombel, died ...... Andrew Bartholomew died, aged 77. Capt. Bartholomew was engaged in the Hudson River navigation, as master of sloops and steam boats, from early youth until age and infirmities compelled his retire- ment. He was the cotemporary of Com. Wiswall and Capt. Roorabach, in the command of the first steam boats on the river. Our oldest citizens remember him well as the capable and popular commander, for many years, of the old steam boat Richmond. Capt. Bartholomew was a most upright and worthy man, enjoying, through his long life, the confidence and friendship of all who appreciate manly qualities.
FEBRUARY.
1. Stone & Henly issued the first number of a new paper, called the Albany Weekly Express ...... J. Baldwin, jr., formerly of Albany, died at Williamsburgh.
2. A burglary committed in the evening, at the shop of James Whitney, shoemaker, 39 South Pearl street Mary, wife of John Carey, died, aged 22.
4. Annual meeting of the New York State Medical Society, at the City Hall. . Jemima Veeder died, aged 18.
5. The trial of Geo. G. Bramhall, for being concerned in the robbery of the Albany post office, in July last, resulted in conviction, and sentence ...... At the annual exami- nation of the pupils of the Albany Academy, the Caldwell Medal was awarded to Richard M. Strong, and the Van Rensselaer Medal to Charles Boyd ..... St. Matthew's church, in Washington street, robbed of its crucifix, and an unsuccessful attempt was at the same time made to steal the chalice. The crucifix was only plated ....... Sylvia Wier, widow of the late Hugh Wier, died, aged 71.
6. Mrs. Sarah Gray died, aged 65.
7. Jane, widow of John Henry, died.
8. John Streeter, formerly of Albany, died at Milwau- kie, aged 21.
11. Nathaniel Dean died, aged 84.
12. The ice broke up in the river from Troy to Bath, and the water submerged the dock in this city, without impeding the crossing of the river upon the ice, at the rail
339
Annals of 1851.
road ferry. Two hundred feet of the embankment from the main. land to the island, above the city, built by the government, to throw the water into the channel, was torn away.
13. Nancy, wife of Peter Kennedy, died, aged 48.
14 George G. Bramhall and Hiram Gaylor, were sen- tenced to eight years imprisonment, and Rufus B. Pem- berton to two years, for post office robberies ; the latter having been inveigled by the two former, was subsequently pardoned.
15. The ice in the river gave way before the freshet, and moved down out of sight. Of three men employed in putting the machinery in the paper mill at Bath, and who attempted to cross as the ice started, two, Robert Elder and William H. Tysdell, were swept under, and lost. (see p. 328,) ...... Rodney Harris died, aged 24.
17. The United States Marshal conveyed Gaylor, Bramhall and Pemberton to the state prison at Auburn, whither they had been consigned for robbing the Albany post office ...... Mrs. Martha Lansing died, aged 73. William Cummings died, aged 19.
18. Lydia A., wife of Oliver D. May, died, aged 32.
20. A sloop laden with lumber which had been frozen in last fall near Castleton, came up in the evening and moored at the steam boat landing ...... The Albany and Northern Rail Road incorporated, for the purpose of con- structing a rail road from Albany to Eagle Bridge in Washington county, to connect with the Washington and Rutland Rail Road. The following were named as the first directors: Erastus Corning, Marcus T. Reynolds, James Edwards, Samuel Pruyn, James A. Wilson, Wi !- liam W. Forsyth, William V. Many, John B, James, John T. Cooper, Franklin Townsend, Visscher Ten Eyck, Robert H. Pruyn and Lansing Pruyn . ... James Carroll died, aged 25.
22. The birth day of Washington was celebrated by the military. An oration was delivered by Abram Van Vechten at the Capitol. The mud and rain would seem to have been sufficient to dampen the ardor of patriotism. In the evening Hon. A. K. Hadley of Troy, delivered an
340
Annals of 1851.
address before the Young Men's Association appropriate to the occasion, and the Harmonia Society assisted in the exercises of the evening ...... D. McCandree died.
23. Great rain storm continued all day ....... Jane Withers died, aged 94. William Allen died, a revolution- ary soldier.
24. The ice left the river clear for vessels. ..... Alida D. Lansing died, aged 21. Margaret, wife of Joseph Boyle, died.
25. The steam boat Oregon arrived at her dock at 7 0'- clock in the morning. The water was over the docks and pier, and continued rising during the day. Edward Kirkpatrick died, aged 65.
26. The Hendrik Hudson arrived. It is seldom that the large boats commence their trips in February.
27. Meeting of the New York State Temperance Soci- ety at the Capitol.
28. The monthly returns of the Albany and Schenec- tady Rail Road show the following results :
Passengers, Ist week 1,527₺
1850
1851
2,4782
2d
1,548
1,872
3d 1,629] 2,0021
4th “ 1,846 2,370
Total,. . 6,551 8,723 The freight returns showed an increase of 15 per cent over those of the same month of the previous year, and the passenger trains 33 per cent. ..... Mary E., wife of John Wilkes died, aged 25.
MARCH.
1. John C. Feltman died, aged 76. He was born in the town of Osnaburgh in the kingdom of Hanover, Oct. 8, 1775, and emigrated to America in 1806. After spending three years in the Black River country, as a part of the state of New York was then called, he came to this city in 1809, where he passed the remainder of his days. He was for many years a leading member of the Lutheran church. Abram Banker died, aged 54.
34f
Annals of 1851.
2. Sarah Ryan died. Elizabeth, wife of Henry Shields, died, aged 53.
3. The steam boat Shepherd Knapp, resumed her daily trips between this city and Catskill ...... The Common Council, increased the salary of the mayor to $1000, com- mencing with the next term. The salary of the present mayor, $400 ....... John S. Spencer of New York, died of apoplexy as he was walking in the street, aged 35.
4. Sally Martin died.
6. Four burglaries during the early hours; William Bates's grocery store, corner South Pearl and Herkimer streets; Aaron Hill's bookstore and A. McClure & Co's drug store in State street; and James Taylor's grocery store corner Green and Lansing streets ...... Meeting of the members of the Albany Institute for the purpose of reviving that institution, which had been closed since 1841 · . The district attorney gave public notice that he should present to the grand jury cases of violation of the statute in regard to lotteries. . . ... The house 119 Church street was entered by burglars in the evening, and robbed of money and valuables ...... Mrs. Johanna Barry found dead in bed; aged 32. Verdict of coroner's jury, died of intemperance.
7. William Slaven and William Mulligan were arrested for burglary, and fully committed.
8. Snow storm ...... Elizabeth Conley died.
11. Fire at 2 o'clock in the morning at the corner of Broadway and South Lansing streets, burnt a grocery and three small wooden dwellings, occupied by about fifteen families ..... Mary Barrett died, aged 23.
13. James Morrow, Jr. died, aged 27. Abraham M. Purdy died, aged 39.
15. Mary Crawford died, aged 84. Henry E. Mc Nelly died, aged 30.
17. Fire in Arch street early in the morning, burnt seve- ral sheds and a frame dwelling ; wind light, and snow falling at the time ...... Jeremiah Nolan died, aged 47, Alonzo S. Webster died, aged 46.
18. Sarah Elizabeth, wife of John Osmond, died.
19. The Anti-Renters held a convention at Beardsley's
342
Annals of 1851.
Hotel, for the purpose of reorganizing the party, with a view to carrying out their aims through the ballot box. . . . A riot among the laborers on the water works, about a hundred of whom refused to work any longer for 623 cts. a day, and attempted to drive off those who were contented with their pay. The pay they demanded was $1 a day. Several of the ring leaders were arrested and imprisoned.
20. Henry P. Holden died, aged 26.
21. Fire at the corner of State and Park streets, con- sumed several large wooden tenements, occupied by about twenty families, and several shops.
23. Maria, wife of John Hendrickson, died, aged 74. Ann, wife of Thomas Ryan, formerly of Albany, died at Philadelphia, aged 45.
24. Fire in the basement of Traver's saddlery shop in Washington street, which was extinguished with little damage.
25. Murty Kerin died, aged 65.
28. The Hendrik Hudson, on her upward trip, ran on a bank near Kinderhook and did not reach this city till three o'clock, P. M.
30. During the three months expiring on this day, 314 persons were arrested by the watch and detained in the lock up for examination by the magistrate. Of that num- ber 155 persons were committed for different outrages and offences, viz :- stealing, 12 ; vagrancy, 9 ; burglary, 1 ; drunkenness, 46; assault and battery and breach of the peace, 68; and 17 for minor offences-total, 155, com- mitted and recognized for trial. The balance 159, of the 314 arrested, were discharged from custody by the magis- trate ...... Mrs. Caroline Shell died, aged 65 Caroline, wife of Nathaniel Layton, died, aged 26.
APRIL.
1. By the new arrangement of the rail road trains, which went into operation this day, the Rochester papers were received at 7 o'clock on the morning of this date, and the Buffalo papers a few hours after they were delivered to their subscribers. . Eliza Dey Ermand died, aged 42.
343
Annals of 1850-51.
2. A meeting of citizens was held at Oneonta, Otsego county, to organize the Albany and Susquehanna Rail Road Company, for the purpose of constructing a road from Albany to intersect the New York and Erie road at Bing- hamton. Nearly one hundred thousand dollars were sub- scribed towards the construction of the road ...... James Kane, the last of six brothers, who were noted merchants, half a century ago, died at the American Hotel, aged 80. (See ante, p. 235.)
4. Mrs. Jane Bradford died, aged 65. Ashbel Cone died, aged 57.
5. Affray at Dunn's porter house, in State street; Rufus Rapp stabbed with a knife by Edward Ryan.
6. Fire at 1 o'clock in the morning at the corner of Knox and State streets, a small wooden building burnt. . Joseph Dunn died, aged 68. Jesse Vail, formerly of this city, died at Plainfield, N. J., aged 50.
7. The rains produced a freshet by which the docks were submerged and the cellars in Quay street filled. . James Abbott died. Edwin Scace died, aged 54.
8. Fire early in the morning, burnt Smith's Burr Mill- stone Factory, and a dwelling adjoining ...... Election, Eli Perry elected mayor by 371 majority over Franklin Townsend, who declined to serve another term, but was forced by his friends to run for the office. . . Bridget Magennis died, aged 64.
10. Fire at the house of William McAlpine, 766 Broad- way, damaged the house and furniture considerably . . Caleb C. Stockley died at Cherry Valley, aged 40; he was for a long period in the employ of the Mohawk and Hudson Rail road Company in this city. John Reid, died, aged 40.
11. Snow fell at about 8 o'clock in the evening. The store of Horace Hawkins was broken open and robbed of $5 in cents ...... Sarah S. Dix died, aged 15. Mrs. John Clark died, aged 55. Bridget, wife of Cornelius Bracken, died, aged 30.
12. Jacob Lansing died, aged 60. Samuel Van Dusen died. William Henry Duncan died, aged 18, Seth Ar- nold died, aged 62.
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Annals of 1851.
13. Mrs. Catherine Van Zandt died, aged 79. Daniel Peck died, aged 34.
14. Mrs. Alice Bradshaw died, aged 64 ... ... Arthur McCosker died, aged 55.
15. The Erie canal was opened for navigation. Eli Perry was sworn, and took his seat as mayor. Friend W. Humphrey died, aged 30. Margaret, wife of Jarvis Streeter, died, aged 71. William B. Stillwell died, aged 32.
16. Adam Armstrong died at Amsterdam, aged 80. He had been a resident of Albany during the last fifty years.
17. The legislature adjourned, in consequence of the resignation of twelve democratic senators, who refused to sanction the borrowing of nine millions for the enlarge- ment of the Erie Canal. . ... ... Mrs. Maria Stafford, widow of Hallenbake Stafford, died. Isaac T. Riley killed at Seneca by a collision of the rail road cars.
18. Great democratic meeting at the Capitol, at which speeches were delivered on the recent unprecedented dis- solution of the legislature, and in justification of the resigning senators ...... Rensselaer Westerlo died, aged 74. He was the son of the Rev. Dr. Eilardus Westerlo, and brother-in-law of the late patroon. He was educated for the law, and nearly half a century ago represented his district in congress. Though averse to the active pur- suits of business, he was amiable in his disposition and manners, and led a blameless life.
19. Alarm of fire at noon proceeding from a bakery in Green street, which was extinguished with small damage.
22. Jane. S., wife of William Orr, died, aged 32. John Croker died, aged 35.
23. A large meeting of whigs at the capitol to denounce the course taken by the democratic senators, and to de- fend the constitutionality of the bill to enlarge the canal.
24. The first canal boat from Buffalo arrived, nine days after the opening of navigation ...... A stable took fire in North Lansing street; damage slight ....... . Susannah Buckbee died, aged 72. Mary A. Lynch died, aged 22. Julia Ann, wife of Friend Humphrey died, aged 46. Sarah
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Annals of 1851.
A. Keeler, wife of A. W. Hackley, and formerly of Albany, died at Monterey, Wis.
25. Samuel Fleming died, aged 20. Thomas Buckley died, aged 23.
26. An unsuccessful attempt was made at an early hour to rob Maloy's store on Quay street .. .... Fire in the evening burnt a stable on Chestnut street.
27. Ellen, wife of James McGuire died, aged 39.
28. Adam Shields died, aged 86. Amelia Ward died, aged 68. Edward Baker died, aged 51.
29. Roland Adams died, aged 54. Harriet, wife of George F. Ilsley, died at Milwaukie, aged 23; formerly of Albany.
30. Mary E. Lynch died, aged 20. Mrs. Mary Charles died, aged 74.
MAY.
1. Mrs. Hannah Wendrem died, aged 49.
2. Frederick W. Ridgway died, aged 34. Patrick Conway accidentally shot; aged 52. Jeremiah Whalen died at Detroit, aged 16, late of Albany.
3. William Littlejohn died, aged 36. Thomas Hurst died by falling from the rail road bridge on the Patroon's creek ; aged 55.
6. The store of Shear & Packard in Green street, was opened with false keys, and $400 taken from the safe. ... .. A fire in Lydius street, about 12 o'clock at night, burnt a frame house ...... At a meeting of the Whig General Committee, the following were chosen officers for the ensuing year :- Joseph Davis, President; Hamilton Harris, Ist Vice President; David Russell, 2d Vice Presi- dent; Lewis Benedict, Jr., Treasurer; William G. Weed and James Doyle, Secretaries. ..... Richard Taylor died, aged 54. Patrick Kane died, aged 23. Cornelius Mc Loughlin died, aged 39.
8. An alarm of fire caused by the partial burning of a shed in Patroon street ...... William Cole died, aged 29.
9. A coroner's inquest was held on the body of an un- known man about 30 years of age. Verdict, died of ex- haustion ...... William Kerin died, aged 17. James An- derson, late of Albany, died in New York, aged 44.
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Annals of 1851 ..
10. The mail bags were robbed on the Empire in the night, on their way to Albany from New York ...... John Lay died, aged 21.
11. The body of Michael Clark, aged 30, found in the river. Mary A. Crawford died, aged 56. Thomas Bulger died, aged 57.
12. Hon. Greene C. Bronson, late judge of the Court of Appeals, left the city with his family to reside in New York ...... First meeting of the trustees of the Albany University.
13. Isaac Cornell died, aged 72.
15. Mary Elizabeth Rayns died. Isaac Hutchins died, aged 26.
17. Ransom Foster, a stranger, was knocked down, at the corner of Rensselaer and Franklin streets, and robbed of the money in his pockets.
18. Catharine E., wife of Baltus Prime, died, aged 39.
21. Sylvester Trowbridge died, aged 36. Daniel Mc Grath died, aged 34.
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