USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. III > Part 9
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Theodore.
Jakomyntje,
Derrik, Dirk,Į
Richard.
Jannetje, Janne, Jane.
Dirkje,
Dorothy.
Japik, Jaap, Jelle, Jeltje,
Gellius.
Doris,
Theodore.
Gellia.
Dries,
Andrew.
Johanna. Į
Joan,
Elsje,
Alice.
Janneken, S
Emmetje,
Emma.
Johannes, Jan, John.
Giles.
Annetje, S
Bartje,
Bertha.
Grietje,
Hendrik, Henrik, Henry.
Huldah.
Betje,
Betty.
Deborah.
Jacob.
Diewertje,
Isabella.
Gillis, Jellis,
Floris,
115
Table of Dutch Names.
Jochem,
Joiachim. Justus.
Maria, Mariken.)
Joost,
Marritje, Marytje. Mary.
Joris, Jurian, !
Maartje, Maaike)
Jurge,
Natje, Annaatje, Anna.
Josyntje, Josina, Justina.
Neeltje,
Cornelia, Nelly.
Karel,
Charles.
Niesje, Agnes.
Kasper,
Jasper.
Obadja,
Obadiah.
Katryne, Kaatje { Catharine.
Otte,
Otho.
Katryntje,
Paulus, Pauwel, Paul.
Kersten,
Christian.
Phlip,
Philip.
Klaartje,
Clara.
Roelof,
Ralph.
Klaas,
Nicholas,
Roosje,
Rose.
Klaasje, Klasyne, Nicola.
Rutgert,
Roger.
Krelis, Kees, l
Cornelius.
Saal.
Solomon.
Kobus,
James.
Saartje,
Sarah.
Kyrn,
Quirine.
Sander,
Alexander.
Laurens, Louris, Lawrence.
Staats,
Eustace.
Leendert,
Leonard.
Stoffel,
Christopher.
Lieven, Liewe, Leo.
Styntje,
Christiana.
Leentje, Lena, Helena, Madalene. Tanneken,
Leonora, Lenoor, Ellenor.
Teewes,
Matthew.
Lodewyk,{
Ludovicus.
Tibout,
Theobald.
Louis,
Lewis.
Toontje,
Antonia.
Lotje,
Charlotte.
Truytje,
Gertrude.
Lukas, Luytje,
Luke.
Tryntje,
Catharine.
Lysbet, Lysje,
Elizabeth.
Timothy.
Matthys,
Matthias.
Tymen, Tys,
Matthias.
Meewes,
Bartholomew.
Wouter,
Walter.
Machtelde,
Matilda.
Ydtje,
Ida.
Margrietje,
Margaret.
Zanneke,
Susanna.
Martyntje,
Martina.
Ann.
Letje,
Letitia.
Teunis,
Anthony.
Rykaard,
Richard.
Kors, Krelis, S
Paulyntje,
Paulina.
Kristiaan,S
George.
( 116 )
MAUDE'S TRAVELS.
In the year 1800 Mr. JOHN MAUDE, an Englishman, visited the United States, and published an account of his travels in 1826. He speaks of his sojourn in this country as the happiest period of his life. His obser- vations upon Albany and its vicinity are as follow. The author's errors in dates and names will be detected by the reader ; we have followed his text.
NEW YORK, Saturday, June 21st, 1800, 53 P. M. Em- barked on board the sloop Sally, Captain Peter Donelly, seventy tons, four hands, viz: the captain, his brother Andrew, John, who was on board Admiral De Winter's ship on the memorable 11th October, 1797, and Nicholas, a free black acting as steward, cook, cabin-boy, &c., had purchased his own freedom and that of his wife, hoping soon to effect that of his children; performs well on the violin, and is very smart. Twenty-four passengers, not births for more than half. Passage two dollars each. Board and liquors, as may happen. Principal passengers, General Alleser, of New York, violent democrat; Caul, of Saratoga, ditto; Mr. Mousley, warm aristocrat and fede- ralist; Mr. Putnam, Mr. Williams, Lieutenant Kipp, all three federalists; the youth Octavius, son of Timothy Pickering, Esq., late Secretary of State, under the care of Messrs. Williams and Putnam, both relations of Mr. Pick- ering; Jonas, of Montreal, grocer; - of Michillimack- inac; a drunken, Scotch Presbyterian minister; Mr. Sanger, &c., &c., four raftmen, and a man and his wife from Staten Island.
7 P. M. Unmoored; fine S. E. breeze; ten knots.
Tuesday, 52 p. M. Got under weigh, in doing which; fished up an excellent and large anchor, a valuable prize for the captain. The gust, as expected, killed the wind; in summer I never knew an instance to the contrary.
117
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
Had the gust kept off, we should have been in Albany by seven o'clock.
9 P. M. The wind having entirely failed us, took the sloop in tow, and at 7 P. M. had her moored alongside a wharf in Baltimore, one hundred and forty-five miles. Went on shore; took with us Nicholas and his violin, the fiddle soon got the girls together; we kicked up a dance and kept it up till midnight. Treated with spruce-beer and gingerbread. Baltimore is a shabby place, every other house a tavern; in number about a dozen.
Wednesday, June 25th. 3 A. M. Not a breath of air; took sloop in tow ; not possible to see from stem to stern, yet passed a dangerous and difficult passage and a bar, which require, it is said, your having all your eyes about you.
6 A. M. Made land; the fog beginning to disperse; put the Presbyterian minister on shore ; he is engaged by a Mr. Nichols as a tutor to his children! Boat returned with milk for breakfast.
73 A. M. Dropped anchor; took boat and landed on High hill island, four miles in length; two farms; got a few sour cherries ; one hundred and fifty-four miles from New York. Crossed to the opposite or west shore, and landed at a farm house, called Bethlehem, six miles from Albany ;* numerous and handsome family.
9 A. M. Having hired a waggon, seven of our passengers
*Albany: settled in 1760; forty-five sloops (vessels) owned in Al- bany and forty-five in New York, &c.,-total ninety sloops in the Albany trade, about seventy tons each-ten voyages (twenty trips) per annum on an average; navigated by a captain at twenty dollars per month; a pilot at fifteen dollars; a seaman and a cook at nine dol- lars-total four hands. Freight twelve cents and a half per cwt., gain one hundred dollars per voyage, or one thousand dollars per annum. Passage, one dollar and 25 cents, average eight passengers, ten dollars a trip, or two hundred dollars per annum.
Sloop building at Albany twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents per ton, if green wood last only ten years, seasoned wood would last thirty. Four thousand white inhabitants, and two thousand black slaves. Re- venue, 35,000 dollars. Corporation sell the quays (wharfs) at two dollars and fifty cents per foot of frontage, and an annual rent of eight dollars and twelve and a half cents. Lands near the town from sixty- three to seventy-five dollars per acre. Labor, fifty-six and a half cents per day ; in harvest eighty-seven and a half cents. Butcher's meat ten to twelve and a half cents per lb. Le Duc de Liancourt in 1795.
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Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
took their departure. The day being remarkably sultry I determined to stay by the sloop. Returned on board with potatoes and salad.
Noon. Got under weigh; light south air.
2 P. M. Passed safely the Overslough.
3 P. M. Albany,* one hundred and sixty miles from New York. Took up my quarters at Lewis's tavern, where I found Mr. Williams, Mr. Putnam, young Octavius and Lieutenant Kipp at dinner. Paid the captain two dollars for passage-money, and four dollars and fifty cents, for board and liquors; the same sum of six dollars and fifty cents was charged for my servant, though neither his bed nor board were so good as mine. Our passage of four days may be considered a long one, at this season of the year, yet it was a pleasant one and no way tedious. The Hudson is one of the finest rivers in America, and supe- rior to them all in romantic and sublime scenery, more especially in its progress through the Highlands, a distance of sixteen miles. What further added to the pleasantness
*Albany, one hundred and sixty miles north of New York, and three hundred and forty south of Quebec, north lat. 42, 39, West lon. 73, 30. Contained, in 1797, one thousand two hundred and sixty-three build- ings, of which, eight hundred and sixty-three were dwelling-houses : and six thousand and twenty-one inhabitants. In 1609, Henry Hud- son ascended in his boat to Aurania, the spot on which Albany now stands. The improvements in this city, within five or six years, have been very great in almost all respects. Wharfs built, streets paved, bank instituted. A new and handsome style of building introduced, and now excellent water, (an article in which this city has hitherto been extremely deficient, having been obliged to use the dirty water of the river) is about to be conducted into the various parts of the city, from a fine spring five miles from the west of the city. Albany is un- rivaled for situation, being nearly at the head of sloop navigation, on one of the noblest rivers in the world. It enjoys a salubrious air, and is the natural emporium of the increasing trade of a large extent of country, west and north. A country of excellent soil, abounding in every article for a West India market; plentifully watered with navi- gable lakes, creeks and rivers, settling with almost unexampled ra- pidity, and capable of affording subsistence to millions of inhabitants ; and when the contemplated locks and canals are completed, and con- venient roads opened into every part of the country, all which will, it is expected, be accomplished in the course of a few years, Albany will probably increase and flourish beyond any other city or town in the United States. Morse.
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800. 119
of this trip, were our frequent expeditions on shore. We landed seven times, and each time employed two or three hours in exploring the country. We saw, too, the whole of the river; as we progressed but a very few miles during the time we occupied our births. We usually retired at eleven, and rose at four or five o'clock. The shortest passage ever made on this river was by this same sloop and captain ; he made it in sixteen hours and six minutes, from which should be deducted one hour for time occupied in landing passengers by the way. The passage often takes a fortnight to perform it, and sometimes twenty-five or thirty days. The passage is always the shortest, the winds being equally favorable, up the river, as you carry the flood with you ; in the other case, you out-run the ebb. Captain Donnelly has taken 1,675 dollars passage money in one year.
Thursday, June 26th. Dined with the Reverend Thomas Ellison, fifteen years minister of the Episcopal church in this city; was born at Newcastle, Great Britain. Mrs. Ellison and Mr. Ramsay from North-Britain, were of the party.
Evening. Visit snuff manufactory, stadthouse, and a fine spring of water about a quarter of a mile out of town .*
Heavy thunder gust in the morning; very sultry till noon; pleasant evening.
Friday, June 27th. Mr. Williams, Mr. Putnam and Oc- tavius set out for Boston. Lieutenant Kipp left us yester- day for Utica.
* One mile north of this city near the manor-house of Lieutenant Governor Van Rensselaer, are very ingeniously constructed, extensive and useful works for the manufacture of Scotch and rappee snuffs, roll and cut tobacco of different kinds, chocolate, mustard, starch, hair- powder, split-peas and hulled-barley. These valuable works are the property of Mr. James Caldwell, who unfortunately lost a complete set of similar works by fire, in July, 1794, with the stock valued at 37,500 dollars. The present buildings and machinery were begun and completed in eleven months. These works are decidedly superior to any of the kind in America. The whole of the machinery is worked by water. For the invention of this machinery the proprietor has ob- tained a patent. Morse.
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120
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
Yesterday enclosed Mr. Isaacs' letter to the Mayor of Albany.
In the afternoon of the same day Mr. P. S. Van Rensse- laer left his card.
This morning left card at Mr. Van Rensselaer's who was gone to Schenactaday.
Dined at Lewis's table-d'hôte; present, General Camp- bell, Mr. Morgan, &c.
Inspection of the militia ; no order ; not sized ; ill-drilled. Muskets and rifles ; duck guns, pop guns and bludgeons.
Tea at Mr. Ellison's.
Showers in the morning; sultry ; heavy thunder gust.
Saturday, June 28th. Walked south of the town, passed the slaughter-house, the largest that I had ever seen; ten or twelve butchers at work, had already flayed thirty carcasses of sheep, lambs and calves, many others were in the condemned hole; excellent situation out of town, open to every wind, over a creek near the Hudson; blood and entrails thrown into the creek, where they afforded a fine feast to a drove of hogs. Proceeded to General Schuyler's (father-in-law to Mr. P. S. Van Rensselaer, the lieutenant governor, here better known by the title of the patron;) pleasant situation near the town; climbed the heights in the rear of his house; fine view of the Hudson and sur- rounding country to the N. N. E. The prospect was shut in by the mountain opposite Saratoga, to the east of the river. Followed a small stream to a deserted mill, and from thence to a small but highly picturesque cascade. This is one of the most broken countries that I ever was in; deep though narrow gullies, cut it up in every direction ; few of them can be passed even on foot, without much difficulty; on horseback, the passage is impracticable without artificial aid. These gullies are evidently formed by the heavy rains of this country, whose torrents soon work a channel in a soil, apparently of sand and soft loam ; this part of the country may be termed the Barrens, prin- cipally producing the scrub pitch-pine (Scotch-fir); these pines were much wounded by a small grub, or caterpillar; some I found actively employed in eating their way into the young wood, and others in their nymph state. The
121
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
grass was not cut, except in one field, and that was in cock; the maize was not so forward as I had seen it a fortnight ago on York Island; the potatoes were about four inches out of the ground. Carrots we had this day to dinner for the first time. Young potatoes and cherries have not yet appeared in Albany.
Sunday, June 29th. Saint Peter's; Reverend T. Ellison. Dined at home with General Campbell, Mr. Morgan, Mr. Carpentier, Mr. Cockrane, Mr. Hayward, Mr. Ledgard, Mr. Bowers and from Charlestown. Walked to the cascade at Rensselaer's Mills, two miles opposite side of the river, superior to the cascade visited yesterday; it is of a very different character to Lowdore-Falls near Keswick-Lake, but I think would be generally more ad- mired. A saw-mill erected on the verge of the fall greatly improves its effect. In winter and spring this cascade is visible from Albany ; and from thence, Albany is seen in its best point of view, being little more than a mile from it in a straight line.
Cold north west wind; a fire this day would not have been unpleasant.
Monday, June 30th. Crossed the river to Bath, a town lately laid out by the Patron; it at present consists of about thirty houses, but it is very doubtful if its further progress will be so rapid. The medicinal spring, and the baths, at one time so much wanted, are now shut up and neglected; yet, as a watering place, it was to have rivaled Ballstown, and as a trading place, Lansingburg and Troy. A country girl, returning from market, (who crossed the ferry at the same time,) spoke Dutch and English with equal fluency, and I may add with equal pertness. Climbed the heights east of Bath; fine view up the river, and of Troy. Returned by the lower or Greenbush-ferry. Never saw the wild grape and wild strawberry vines in greater profusion; in the coppice near the river, scarcely a tree that did not support one of the former; or a field that was not over-run by the latter. This ramble was a very wild and a very pleasant one; the air bracing and refresh- ing, and highly perfumed with the fragrance of wild roses and red clover. White clover is a native of this country ;
11
122
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
the red is, I believe, an exotic, though it is now to be found in a wild state all over this part of the country, even in the woods. The birds I noticed were boblincolns, brown thrashers, and robins.
Afternoon. Long walk to the west of the town; fell in with the stream, Buttermilk Falls, visited on Saturday; being scanty of water, followed its romantic course by taking advantage of the most elevated parts of its rocky channel; the cliffs on each hand nearly approached the perpendicular, and were generally from about seventy to one hundred and twenty feet, or perhaps more, in height. My progress was at length stopped by the cascade already . described. The water being very clear and cool, I took advantage of where the rock was formed by the waters into a natural bason, to bathe. The neighborhood very busy hay making.
Tuesday, July Ist. Market; beef six and a quarter cents to nine cents per lb., average price about five to six cents ; in the fall of the year four cents. No fish, save sturgeon, vulgarly called Albany beef, and that soon bought up; it is sold by the junk, and skinned on the spot, which skin is a fine feast for the hogs which regularly attend the fish market. The Americans brag much of their happy rid- dance from British tyranny and taxation. A word on this subject. The highest tax paid by any individual in this city, whilst under the British Government, was eight dollars per annum ; this same gentleman now pays, to the peace establishment of his country, one hundred and sixty dollars per annum, just twenty times as much! In 1787, the first year of the adoption of the present federal consti- tution, a house which then let in Albany for fifteen pounds per annum, now rents for seventy pounds New York cur- rency, which is as thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents, to one hundred and seventy-five dollars. Beef then sold for three cents, now six to nine cents; butter nine cents, now twenty cents the year round; eggs twenty for twelve cents and a half, now twelve for twelve cents and a half; stur- geon for one-third less; wheat seventy-five cents, now one hundred and fifty cents per bushel; wine one dollar per gallon, now two and three dollars. Accompanied Mr.
123
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
Howard and - to Wendell's Falls (Mills) the same which I yesterday visited; this morning we also explored the part below the cascade so as to arrive at the foot of the fall ; the pool, or bason, formed in this place, appears well adapted for bathing.
Evening. Caldwell's manufactory; followed the stream on which the same is erected; climbed heights west of the Patroon's villa. Had I the kind devil-upon-two-sticks to befriend me, (for I know not how otherwise a stranger can get acquainted with the routine of their domestic economy, so saered from profanation do they keep their household lares)! I would, ere I bid adieu to this plaec, offer some observations on the manners of the Albanians, especially of the old Dutch inhabitants. However, let us hear what says the Duke de Liancourt. "L'Hospitalité pour les étrangers ne paraît pas être la qualité dominante des citoyens d'Albany ; le peu que nous en avons vu est triste, lourd, vit chez lui avec une femme quelquefois belle, souvent gauche, à laquelle il ne dit pas trente pa- roles par jour, quoiqu'il l'appelle, my dear!"
If these "Lourds," when living, have not the heart to entertain their friends, they are at least generous to pro- fusion, when dead; when their eye ean not see, when their tongue ean not ehide, and when their heart ean not grieve for the waste and extravaganee of the " merry mourners," who, to supply the loss of their friend, liberate and adopt his wine ; who, as they eonsign the one to darkness, draw forth the other to light; and who, as good and honest executors wishing to do justice to the parties, take care that when the vault receives the one, it resigns the other ; thus, no man gets drunk with his own wine; thus, the saddest are the most joyful ; thus, though the host is not drunk, he is dead; though the guests are not dead, they are drunk; and thus no scandal to say the host and guests are dead drunk. If I have any thing more to say of Albany, 'tis that it is beyond the latitude of cherries, and- that the citizens of the country drive waggons only; despising carts, their two horses harnessed chariot fashion.
Morse, in 1797, speaks of the extreme deficiency of good water in Albany, and that the inhabitants were about
124
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
to introduce water from a fine spring five miles west of the city. This fine spring water is yet without the gates of the city, where, on the 1st of July, 1800, I saw it playing like a fountain before the door of the manor house of the Patroon, his excellency the Lieutenant Governor. As for being obliged to use the dirty water of the river, I will beg leave to observe to Mr. Morse, that a very great pro- portion of the city do not use the river water, which said river water is far from being dirty; rather remarkable for its purity, being a pleasant, wholesome beverage. Great part of the city is supplied with water from a well in the main street; but the best water is from a pump to the westward of the Episcopal Church; it is a water that my palate can not find any fault with, nor my eyes perceive in it those animalcules Kalm speaks of; neither could I discover them in the well water.
Wednesday, July 2d. 4] A. M. Started in the stage for Utica; passed Miss Jay, the Governor's daughter, in the public stage waggon ; passed General Oothout driving his own waggon.
(7} A M. Schenectady,* Indian name, signifying End- of-the-Woods) sixteen miles; Brownall's and Beal's Inn ; breakfast-loin of veal, ham, strawberries, cheese, coffee, tea, tarts, preserved apples, &c. &c. Drove some miles through rich and fertile flats on the banks of the Mohawk, worth one hundred and twenty-five dollars and upwards per acre; nineteen miles. Boats poling up the rapids. some difficulty in getting over them; water low; boats draw about two feet.
Noon. Dine at Warren Bush, or Tripe Hill, thirty- three miles.
* Schenectady; one hundred and fifty to two hundred houses, on the decline. Union College incorporated in 1797; thirty-seven stu- dents; four classes; first, Languages, eight students; second, History and Belles Lettres, twenty students; third, Mathematics, six students ; fourth, Philosophy, three students; funds and stock, 42,422 dollars and 60 cents, and 1604 acres of land : Library 1,000 volumes. Expense of education, including board &c., less than 100 dollars.
There were eight hundred Indian warriors in Schenectady when Albany was first settled; three hundred of whom lived in a space now occupied by a single farm .- Morse,
125
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
5 P. M. Canajoharie, (Indian name, signifying the Boil- ing Pot), fifty-five miles. Mr. Elias Kane, fellow passenger, introduced me here to his brother Archibald, who has a well furnished store, and carries on a very extensive business. Archibald has been nearly five years in part- nership with his brother James, settled in Albany, who have in that time made a clear profit of fifty thousand dollars each; two other brothers are settled in New York, and one at Fort Anne, near Lake George.
A. and J. Kane took, in the course of last fall and winter, thirty-four thousand bushels of wheat, which were bought on an average at one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, fifty-one thousand dollars, and sold at New York for one dollar and ninety-three and three-quarters cents, sixty-five thousand eight hundred and seventy-five dollars. They took, also, in potash, two thousand five hundred barrels, worth on an average, twenty-five dollars per barrel, sixty-two thousand five hundred dollars. So that in these two ready money articles alone, they turned over upwards of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars.
A large family is no burthen in America; the prosperity of the K-'s is owing, in a great measure, to their number ; it affords them an opportunity of playing into each others hands.
Mr. Archibald Kane kindly insisted on my passing the evening and taking a bed at his house, to which invitation I readily yielded. While we were engaged with a bottle of claret, my servant was jockeying for a horse; the bar- gain was soon made, and I paid down the money first demanded, sixty-two dollars and fifty cents.
Scrub pine and oak barrens from Albany to Schenectady ; then rich flats on the Mohawk; red and ground squirrels; yellow and black birds, robins, crows, a sea gull and wild ducks. Very cold morning; pleasant day. Walked a few miles, by getting start whilst the horses were changing.
[Mr. Maude continued his journey to the Falls of Nia- gara, and down the St. Lawrence to Montreal. On the 24th September, 1800, he left that city to return to New
126
Maude's Visit to Albany in 1800.
York by the way of Lake Champlain and the Hudson River. On the 30th September he arrived at Sandy Hill, on his approach to Albany; we quote again from his book :]
Here I first got sight of the Hudson river, and fell in with the road from Lake George, which lake is ten miles to the N. W .; and Glens Falls on the Hudson, about two miles to the W. These falls were highly worth a visit, but I did not know of their existence till I arrived at Albany.
94 P. M. Reached Fort Edward, one hundred and ninety- six miles.
113 A. M. Dined on my own provisions at Glusher's, two hundred and two miles. Noon; proceed.
& P. M. Cross the Hudson at two hundred and seven miles. My road from Fort Edward to this place has been along the E. side of the river; but from this ferry it keeps the right bank all the way to Albany. Here is a remarkable feature in the river; it is still, deep, and spreads out into two bays, that to the west running far inland; the whole length of the one to the east we tra- versed in the ferry, landing at the very extremity of a sheltered cove.
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