USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. IV > Part 16
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It is also resolved that ye streets be paved before each Inhabitant's door within this Citty, eight foot breadth from their houses and lotts, before ye 25th of October next ensucing, upon penalty of forfeiting the summe of 15s for ye Behooffe of ye sheriffe, who is to sue for ye same.
Albany, this 14th day of October, 1704. - This day being appointed by ye Charter of ye Citty of Albany for ye Aldermen, Commonality, Assessors, Constables and Cham- berlain of y" sd Citty to be sworne, who are as followeth:
The First Warde.
Aldermen.
Evert Banker,
David Schuyler.
Assistants. Hend. Oothout, Dirk van der Heyden.
Assessors.
William Hogen,
Coenraet ten Eyk.
Constable. Coenrat ten Eyk, Stephanus Groesbeek, Collector.
The Second Warde.
Aldermen. Johannis Roseboom, Johannis Cuyler,
Assistants. Gerrit Roseboom, " Abraham Cuyler.
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Assessors. Gysbert Marselis,
Elbert Gerritsc.
Constable. Barent Sanders. Johannis Luykasse,
Collector .
The Third Wurde.
Aldermen. Hend. Hanse,
Assistants.
Frans Winne,
Johannis Mingael. .
Ruth Melgertse.
Assessors.
Constable.
Harpt Jacobse,
David Ketelheyn,
Gerrit Ryckse.
Dirk. Bratt, collector.
Jacob Lansing, high constable. Anthony Bratt, treasurer.
Att a Common. Councill held in ye Citty of Albany ye 21st November, 1704 :- Present, Johannis Abeel, re- corder, six aldermen and five assistants.
Whereas Coll. P. Schuyler and ye rest of ye Court Marschal by their addresse of ye 20th Instant. sett forth that y^ Burger Blockhouse is very much out of Repair, so far that it is uncapable to keep guard in, and therefore desyre y" same may be Repared in order, and ye great guns therein mounted, which being taken into considera- tion, the Commonality doe Resolve, that ye same be forth- with Repared, vizt., ye Blockhouse in good order, to which end Mr. Frans Winne is appointed to see it done, as also that ye Citty Walls be closed at ye Citty's Charge, he de- livering an account of his own charge and others thereto expended, and in case any person should prove unwilling to be assisting in Repairing and make ye work aforemen- tioned, that then and in such case any alderman is hereby impoured to issue out his warrant for ye maintaining thereof.
Whereas information is given that Candles for ye Citty Guards will henceforth be wanting, so it is that Mr. Hend. Hansen doth engage to supply candles for ye same at ye price of 9d per lb, to be paid by ye Citty Treasurer.
Whereas, Capt. Higby appears in Common Councill de- syreing that care may be taken to provide quarters or some convenient place for lodgeing to his company, whereupon
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ye Commonality have Resolved, that tickets be drawne on ye Inhabitants of this Citty for there quarters vizt, nine men in ye first ward, and nine men in ye second ward, and six men in ye third ward, which tickets are to be given by ye Mayor, Recorder or Aldermen, for their said respective wards.
John Rateliffe doth humbly request that satisfaction may be given him for his service in making fyre for ye Burger Guard and locking ye Cittys Gates &c. for ye last half year, expired ye 2d of this Instant. The Common Coun- cill considering ye matter, doe expect he shall give an ac- count of the summe what's due to him, and that then fur- ther consideration shall be taken in that matter.
The Petition of John Gilbert whereby he requesteth that ye one-third of ye forfeitures relateing ye Indian trade due to ye Citty may be remitted unto him, is read, which ye Commonality have referred until such time Mr. Mayor is present in Common Councill, in ye meantime is ordered that ye sheriffe doe deliver at ye next meeting an exact account of ye sd forfeitures so due.
Resolved that a warrant be issued to ye assessors of this Citty, to lay an assessment of two hundred load of wood for fyreing to ye Blockhouses, and to make returne thereof unto Mr. Mayor, in ye space fourteen days ensuing ye date hereof.
It is further Resolved, and appointed for surveyors and fyremasters within this Citty, vizt., in ye first warde Joan . Rosie and Johan. van Ale, ye 2d warde Hend. Roseboom and Abraham Kip, and in ye 3d warde Jacob Lansing and Fredrek Harmense, and that for that purpose a warrant be directed to them or ye major part of them, to visit all voeder houses and fyreings within this Citty, once in each three weeks, and wherever ye same be held in unconven- ient places to fyne ye owner thereof in ye summe of 6s.
Resolved that ye Cryer goe round ye Citty and give no- tice to such person who have undertake without leave to use ye leather and hooks belonging to this Citty, that they forthwith or at longest in ye space of twice twenty four hours, return ye same to its place on ye west side of ye Church, upon penalty of forfeiting ye summe of 6s for such neglect.
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November 27 .- The Common Councill fyndeing that ye sheriffe according to ye late Resolution on ye 21st Instant, hath not observed the same, so far as to deliver to this meeting an exact account of one-third of the forfeitures relateing ye Indian trade, as then was required, it is there- fore ordered that the said sheriffe, together with his late deputy Jo. Gilbert, doe deliver an exact account of ye said forfeitures at our next mayor's court, without fail.
Ordered, that a Proclamation be issued out against re- tailing without lycence; forfeit £5 for ye Behooffe of such as sues for ye same.
Att a Mayor's Court held in ye Citty Hall of Albany, ye 5th of December, 1704 :- Present, Johannis Schuy-
ler, mayor, Joh. Abeel, recorder, and four aldermen. James Parker by his Petition desyres that care may be taken for quarters against ye 1st of May 1705 for Lievt Mat- thew Shanks, being ye said Parker hath necessary occasion then to use the house where ye sd Lievt now dwells; ye Mayor, Recorder and Aldermen, considering how often ye said Parker hath requested for the use of his said house, doe Resolve to acquaint his Excellency my Lord Cornbury hereof, so that a new order may be sent up to provide other Lodgeing for ye sd Lievt.
Att a Common Councill held in ye Citty Hall of Albany the 19th of December, 1704.
It is concluded by ye Mayor, Aldermen and Common- ality, that a Proclamation be published that no person or persones shall within ye walls or stockadoes of this Citty drive horse or horses before either slee, wagon or cart, or on horseback, on the streets of the said Citty, faster than a stap or moderate trott, upon penalty of forfeiting for each such offence as a fyne the summe of 6s, and wherever any dung is turned out on ye streets of sd Citty, or found on ye same upon Saturday in the week, then and in such case, the person or persones who are guilty thereof shall forfeit ye summe of 15s for ye behooffe of the sheriffe who is to sue for ye same,
Jan 25, 1703 -Mr. Frans Winne gives in an account
The City Records. 199
for sundreys layd out of ye fixing up of ye Citty great gunns, Repaireing the Burger Blockhouse, &c. : it is Re- solved that a Committee be appointed to audit ye same, and make Return thereof ye 30th Instant, and accordingly Evert Banker, Johs. Cuyler, aldermen, Dirk van der Hey- den and Abraham Cuyler, assistance.
GLOSSARY.
Rounds passage, the narrow space inside of the wall left for the guard to patrol,
Pand, pawn.
Coop brieffe, (koop brief,) bill of sale,
Grounde brieffe, deed or conveyance.
Leathers and hooks, Ladders and hooks.
Boedel, personal effects.
Somer tarwe, summer wheat.
Slees, sleighs. Stap, walk, or pace.
Canastageone, Niskayuna.
See also vol. ii, p. 143; vol. iii, p. 57.
A difficulty in tracing names with certainty in these records arises from the practice with the Dutch of giving only the first name. For instance Rip van Dam having a son Claas, the latter would be fre- quently called Claas Ripse, (Rip zoon) that is, Claas the son of Rip, to distinguish him from some other Claas, instead of using the sur- name. These instances occur on almost every page, and it requires a great deal of familiarity with the names of the citizens at this period to know who is intended by Gerrit Gerritse, Jan Janse, Jacob Jacobse, Melgert Melgertse, &c. §c. On page 180, Joachim Volken- burgh is called Jochim Lambertse, being the son of Lambert Volken- burgh. The surnames beginning with van come from the same practice of using christian names. Thus Abraham van der Poel, is Abraham from (or of ) the Pond, to distinguish him from, perhaps, Abraham van der Heyden, that is from the heathen. The Scotch who have a great many words in common with the Dutch, have also John Johnson, (Jan Jansen and Hanse Hansen in Dutch,) Richard Dickson (Dirk Dirksen,) &c., &c. The subject can only be glanced at here.
[ Annals iv.]
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PLAN OF ALBANY, 1676.
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The diagram on the opposite page is a fac simile of the oldest plan of the city that has yet been discovered. It is reduced from the original manuscript in the office of the Secretary of State, preserved by Dr. O'Callaghan, in the series marked Land Papers, I, 58. It seems to em- brace that part of the city now bounded by the river on the east, Beaver street on the south, Pearl street on the west, and Steuben street on the north. But two streets are denominated on the map, Joncaer straet, now State; and Rom straet, now Maiden lane. Broadway is repre- sented by parallel lines. The earliest title that we know for it, was Handelaer straet, as seen on a map made twenty years later. (See Annals iii, 39.) The walls, it will be seen, are pierced for six gates (poerts). The guard house seems to have occupied the old elm tree corner, and Pearl street was eighty feet wide, now eighty- four. The bridge (brug) crossed the Rutten kill just north of the foot of Beaver street. The dwellings (huysen) were thus confined within a narrow compass, and sur- rounded by a line of upright posts, of which pine seems to have been the customary material, thirteen feet long and one foot in diameter. The preservation of this wooden wall was expensive and vexatious to an extraor- dinary degree, as the records bear witness, Mandates wenth forth periodically to compel delinquent burghers to produce and " sett their quotaes ; " and even forlorn widows were sternly commanded by the burgomasters and schepens, in grim conclave at the Citty hall, to "ride their stock- adoes ; " in default whereof the schout fiscaal was diected to strain 18d for each deficient stockadoe!
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Joncaer Straet
Rom Straet
Huysen
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Huysen
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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SYNOPSIS OF THE PRINCIPAL ACTS RELATING TO ALBANY,
PASSED BY THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THEIR MAJESTIES' PROVINCE OF NEW YORK.
FROM 1691 TO 1713 .*
It was directed that a court of sessions of the peace should be held for the city and county of Albany, at the City Hall of the said city on the first Tuesday in June, the first Tuesday in October, and the first Tuesday in February, for "the increase of virtue and discouraging of evil doers," " to hold and continue for the space and time of two dayes and no longer." And for the more regular and beneficial distribution of justice to the in- habitants, a court of common pleas was ordered to be held at the same place, to begin the next day after the sessions terminates, and to be held for two days only, by one judge and three justices, to hear, try and determine all things triable at the common law.
In order to supply the troop of horse, it was required that " whenever the said troop shall not compleat the number of fifty, to present double the number instead of such as are dead, removed or wanting, out of the prin- cipal inhabitants and gentlemen of the city, unto the governor for the time being, who from time to time may list and order so many of them to be of the said troop as may compleat the number of fifty for their majesties service, and the security of this province," who were obliged to serve under a penalty of five pounds fine.
It was enacted that for the good government and rule of their majesties subjects, a session of a general assem- bly should be held in the province once in every year.
* These laws serve better than any thing else we have met with to show the great expense and anxiety of the citizens and the govern- ment, in defending the frontiers at Albany.
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Public Acts relating to Albany.
To this assembly Albany was allotted two representa- tives, and the colony of Rensselaerswyck one. Every freeholder, by which was understood every person who had forty shillings per annum in freehold, had a free choice and vote in the electing of representatives. Re- presentatives were paid ten shillings currant money of the province per day, from the time of their going out till their return home; which was a city charge.
An Act to enable the city of Albany to defray their necessary charge.
Forasmuch as the inhabitants of the city and county of Albany have been during the time of the late dis- orders, very much aggrieved, wasted, destroyed, and impoverished by the incursions of the French, their majesties declared enemies, and that it is absolutely necessary that some suitable and convenient way should be found out for their relief and more easy defraying of the necessary charge of that city and county, be it therefore enacted by the governor and council, and representatives convened in general assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that the imposition or rate of two per cent shall be raised and levied upon all Indian goods that are brought up to that city and county of Albany, and there sold or consumed. And also that the impost of three pence be raised and levied upon each gallon of rum, that is sold and con- sumed within that city and county. And for the due and orderly collecting of the said respective imposts and rates, the treasurer of the said city for the time being, or any appointed by him, and the mayor of the said city, under the public seal of the said city, are hereby empowered and authorized to appoint, constitute and establish a collector or receiver of the rates and im- posts aforesaid, who shall have power to receive the same, and to enter in a fair book, kept for that pur- pose, all such sum and sums of money as shall be so entered and received for the respective duties aforesaid ; the said collector or receiver appointing certain con- venient times and places for the keeping of the office, as
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Public Acts relating to Albany.
shall be directed by the court of mayor and aldermen and assistants of the said city. And all persons that trade and bring up to the said city and county the afore- mentioned Indian goods and rum, are hereby required to make a report of the quantity and value of such goods and rum they so bring up and sell in the city and county aforesaid, and pay the duties and impost hereby estab- lished, without being at any further charge than the said duty. And in default hereof it shall be lawful for the mayor, treasurer, or any other officer hereby authorized, to issue out his or their warrant, under his or their hand and seal, for the seizing of all such goods and rum as shall be imbezzled, and not pay the duties aforesaid, one third to the informer, one third to the said city and county of Albany, and one third to his excellency the governor commander in chief for the time being. Pro- vided that all the sum or sums of money that are hereby received, shall be only appropriated and applied to the defraying of the necessary charges of the city and county aforesaid. And that the treasurer, collector or receiver for the time being, shall not pay any of the money received as aforesaid, but by a warrant from the mayor of the said city, and approved by the court of aldermen and assistants. Provided, that this act shall only remain in force for the space of three years, and no longer, any thing contained herein to the contrary in any wise not withstanding.
An act for the raising of two thousand pounds for pay- ing and defraying the incidental charges, according to establishment of one hundred fuzileers, with their proper officers.
"For the securing the frontiers of this province in the county of Albany, it is thought convenient that his ex- cellency, the captain general, do raise one company to consist of one hundred fuzileers, with their proper officers, which shall remain in the said county, for the defence thereof, one whole year, to commence on the 28th day of March now last past." Of the sum of £2000 ordered to be raised by this act, the city and county of Albany was rated £180. This was followed by another
206
Public Acts relating to Albany.
act for raising and paying one hundred and fifty men, forthwith, for the reinforcement and defence of Albany for six months. This act set forth that the frontiers of Albany were in imminent danger of being lost, being daily threatened with invasion by the French, and that forasmuch as all their majesties neighboring plantations depended on having this place well secured; and for the effectual doing of which, application had been made to the neighboring plantations without effect, therefore it was determined to raise one hundred and fifty men to reinforce Albany, who should serve six months, from the first day of Novem- ber 1691. Fifteen hundred pounds was ordered to be raised for their support, of which sum the city of Albany was assessed one hundred and thirty pounds.
At the third session of the General Assembly, begun in the city of New York on the 19th April, 1692, an act was passed "for raising two hundred men with their proper officers for the securing and reinforcing of Albany in the frontiers of this province." It recited that, "whereas the forces lately raised for the reinforcing and securing the frontiers at Albany, are not to continue in the service longer than the first of May next ensuing ; and forasmuch as it is absolutely necessary for the safety of all their majesties neighboring colonies and plantations, as well as for the security of this province, that there be and remain at that place sufficient force for the defence thereof; and whereas the present state and condition of this province is such, that they are not able at this time to make sufficient provision of men and money for the reinforcing of that place, as is truly necessary for the maintaining such a considerable post, which is the only Bull-work of defence for all their majesties neighboring colonies and plantations in this main of America : yet that the said place may not be deserted nor the Indians, who have been so constant to us, discouraged; Be it therefore enacted by the commander- in-chief and council, and representatives convened in general assembly, and by the authority of the same, that the commander-in-chief do issue out his warrants to the chief military officers in the respective cities and counties undernamed, for the raising of 200 men, armed as the law directs, with their proper officers, in such proportions
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Public Acts relating to Albany.
hereafter mentioned, to consist and make two distinct companies of fuziliers, for the reinforcement and security of the frontiers of this province in the county of Albany aforesaid, which shall continue and remain in the county of Albany, for the defence and security thereof, for the term and space of five months, to commence on the first day of May next; and to end and terminate on the first day of October then following."
For the payment and maintenance of these soldiers, an assessment of £1500 currant money of the province was ordered. New York was to furnish £345 for 46 men; the county of Westchester £127: 10s, for 17 men; the county of Richmond £67: 10s. for 9 men; the counties of Ulster and Dutchess £210 for 28 men ; the county of Suffolk £300, for 40 men; the county of Kings £210 for 28 men ; the county of Queens £225 for 30 men; the county of Orange £15 for 2 men. The soldiers and money were to be ready by the first of May under severe penalties. The comman- der-in-chief was authorized to borrow £700 at ten per cent, to prevent delay or embarrassment.
At the fourth session of the General Assembly begun in the city of New York on the 14th August, 1692, another act was passed, similar to the preceding, for raising 220 men, to be peremptorily at Albany on the first day of October, and there to continue seven calendar months. For their payment and maintenance £2860 was ordered to be raised. The respective counties were allowed to pay the sums allotted to them in current silver money at New York, or in good merchantable provisions at the following rates. Pork, 50s. a barrel; Beef, 32s. 6d. a barrel ; Winter wheat, 4s. a bushel ; Tallow 41d. a pound.
At the fifth session of the General Assembly begun in city of New York on the 24th of October, 1692, some of the general laws of the previous sessions were revised. It was ordained that there should be held in the city and county of Albany two fairs yearly; the first at Albany, commencing on the first Tuesday of July and continue four days; the second to be held at Crawlier in Rensse- laerswyk, on the third Tuesday in October, to continue four days and no longer.
,
208
Public Acts relating to Albany.
In September 1693, an act was passed for raising £6000 for the paying of 300 volunteers and their officers, to be employed in the reinforcement of the frontiers of the province at Albany.
In October, 1694, an act was passed for raising £500 to pay 100 men for the same purpose.
In March, July and October, 1695, the following acts were passed :
An act for raising £2660 to pay 170 men for securing the frontiers at Albany.
An act to enable the city of Albany to defray their necessary charge.
An act for raising £800 for paying the soldiers em- ployed in defending the frontiers.
An act for raising £864:15s. for paying a company of fuzileers on the frontiers.
An act for raising £700 to enable his excellency to keep the men that are now in the companies appointed by his majesty, and to encourage others to list themselves.
An act for raising £500 to pay 100 men to be raised for reinforcing the frontiers.
In March and April, 1696, were passed :
An act for raising 120 effective men, to be employed for the reinforcement of the frontiers in the county of Albany, and for raising the sum of £2593:6s. 8d., to be distributed by his excellency among the said men, and the rest of the four companies sent over by his majesty.
In October, 1696, being the 4th session of the fifth As- sembly, an act was passed "for raising 100 men to be listed in his majesties three companies posted at Albany, for the security of the frontiers and for the raising of £1200 for the encouraging such as shall list themselves in the said companies, and for the defraying of other con- tingent charges at the said frontiers."
This act recites that " whereas the provision that was lately made for the reinforcing and strengthening the frontiers of this province at Albany, hath not had that effect that was designed, many of the soldiers that were listed in his majesty's companies, and posted there having
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Public Acts relating to Albany.
deserted the service, whereby the said frontiers are much weakened," it was enacted that £1200 should be raised by a levy upon all the "inhabitants, residents, sojourners and freeholders " in the province to be employed in rais- ing 100 effective men to be added to the 221 men already posted there. A bounty of five pounds was given to such as voluntarily enlisted, and one pound to any person who should procure any one to enlist. A further sum of £200 was to be raised in the same way, to be expended by Pe- ter Schuyler, Derick Wessels and Killian Van Rensselaer, in procuring corn and other necessary provisions for the Oneida and Onondaga Indians, whose castles had been de- stroyed by the French. A further sum of £200 was to be raised in the same manner and entrusted to the same persons, for the purpose of employing " scouts of Christ- ians and Indians " to watch the motions of the enemy, to prevent false alarms, which had occasioned great charge, and discontent.
By the act of 1696, for raising $864:15s. the following pay was fixed upon.
An establishment for the pay of a company of Fuzeleers imployed on the Frontiers, at present under the com- mand of Major Schuyler, for the security of the Fron- tiers of this Province in Albany, from the first day of August last until the first day of March next following :
£ S.
The Captain a 212 days, at &s per diem, 84 16
One 'Lieutenant at 4s. per diem, 42 08
One ditto at 3s. per diem, - 31 16
4 Sergeants at 1s. 6d. each per diem, 63 12
50 private Centinels at 12d. each per diem, 530 00 One Town Major at 4s. per diem, 42 08
One Chyrurgion at 2s. 6d. 26 10
For Incidentals, 27 08
One Muster Master from 1st August to 10th October, at 2s. 6d. per diem, 8 15
For do from 10th Oct. to 1st March, 142 days at ls. 7 02
£864 15s.
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Public Acts relating to Albany.
By an act passed the same year, the city of Albany was assessed £60 as its proportion of £1000 ordered to be raised for the purpose of sending an agent to London, to represent to the king "how far the security of the fronteers at Albany hath been a barrier and place of de- fence for the preservation of all his majesty's adjacent colonies, and withal to represent unto his majesty the heavy burdens that hath lain upon the inhabitants of this province since the beginning of this war," and to request that means might be devised to ease them of these burdens in future.
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