USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. IV > Part 28
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16. Joshua G. Dix died, aged 48. Thomas Hall died, aged 42.
17. St. Patrick's day celebrated with unusual cere- monies by the Catholics. . Helen, wife of Patrick Nally died, aged 65.
18. George G. Brown died, aged 48.
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19. St. Joseph's Day celebrated by the St. Joseph's Friends Society, a German association instituted for benevolent purposes, who marched in procession, with a band of music, to the church of the Holy Cross, and took part in the religious services of the day ...... Amelia, wife of John Meigs, jr., late of Albany, died at Milwaukie.
About this time the governors of the hospital purchased the Jail for $9000. The old Green street Baptist Church was purchased by a theatrical company for $6000, after having been a church forty years. It was built in 1811, and used as a theatre during the war with Great Britain.
22. William P. Bailey died, aged 42.
23. Sarah, wife of Peter Van Loon died, aged 76. John Donaghey died, aged 24. ..... The store of Michael Dowd took fire about 4 o'clock in the morning, but was extinguished with slight damage ...... Martha, wife of William McMillen died, aged 41. Jane Eliza, wife of Henry D. Smethurst died, aged 29.
26. The confectionery establishment of J. R. Vernam in North Pearl street entered by burglars and the safe robbed.
27. Mrs. Richard Bulger died, aged 28. John Bulger died, aged 35.
28. Steam boat Nimrod arrived; thirteen days after the clearing away of the ice before the city ...... Samuel Chandler died, aged 53. Mrs. Maria Shaw, widow of the late Jonathan Shaw, died, aged 65. Mrs. Harriette M. Johnson died at Utica, daughter of the late John D. P. Douw.
29. Francis Leonard died, aged 32 ..... A meeting of the Common Council to consider the project of loaning the bonds of the city to the amount of one million, to aid the construction of the Albany and Susquehanna Rail Road. The subject, after an animated discussion, was laid on the table indefinitely, 11 to 10 ...... Ann George died, aged 33. Phillis Topp died, aged 64.
30. Hugh Denniston, aged 57.
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APRIL.
1. Caleb Benjamin died, aged 84. William Brownlow died, aged 24.
2. William Leggat died, aged 52. Joseph Henry Peck- ham died, aged 17.
4. Mrs. Margaret Higgins, formerly of Albany, died at Utica.
5. John D. Hewson died, aged 63. He held the offices of alderman, supervisor and loan commissioner at the time of his death, and was a man of irreproachable charac- ter. Mrs. Jubal T. Russell died. Mrs. Catharine Mc- Gee died, aged 37.
6. Benjamin L. Wallace died, aged 55.
7. Catharine, wife of John Steelman died, aged 26. Charles Gilchrist died ...... The ceremony of the pre- sentation of a new scroll (sepher torah) was held at the synagogue Bethel in Herkimer street. The scroll consisted of the five books of Moses, written in Hebrew.
10. John Griffin died, aged 27.
13. The Legislature adjourned at half past 9 in the morning, having sat 24 hours without any recess, an un- precedented feat in legislation.
14. Mrs. Nancy Van Emburgh died, aged 64. Mar- garet, wife of Anthony McGuire died, aged 32.
15. Snow storm.
16. Flood submerged the docks ...... Margaret wife of William Sands died, aged 35. Mrs. Helen Thompson died, aged 62. Loren P. Fairman died in California.
17. The Legislature adjourned at half past five in the morning, having continued in session 102 days, and two whole nights.
18. Elizabeth Hale died, aged 53. Mary Kane died, aged 18.
19. John Murray died. Elizabeth, wife of John Ne- ville, died. John Frazer died.
20. Erie Canal opened for navigation. Less business than usual on account of the heavy rain storms and high water ...... The new board of Common Council took their seats and elected officers for the ensuing year .... .. The workmen commenced laying the foundations of the
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First Baptist Church on the corners of Hudson, Philip and Plain streets.
21. The docks and pier submerged again ...... Mrs. Jane, widow of the late James Carmichael, died, aged 77. Margaret Gunn died, aged 19.
22. A meeting of citizens at the Capitol, in relation to the Susquehanna Rail Road; G. Y. Lansing, pres., E. Corning and 34 others, vice presidents, J. I. Werner and 13 others, secretaries ..... Allen Brown, formerly and for a long time a merchant in Albany, died at Roxbury. Peter Van Loon died, aged 78.
23. Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer, of Cherry Hill, died, aged 78.
Gen. SOLOMON VAN RENSSELAER, long known in the history of the city and state, by his civil and military position and ser- vices, died yesterday afternoon at his residence at Cherry Hill, a short distance below the city. He was in the 78th year of his age. His death was sudden, he having maintained the vigor of his constitution through a long life of hard service and some suffering. In the sketch below, which we take from the State Register, the reader will find an ample record of the main inci- dents of his eventful life. One passage is omitted (perhaps rightly so) that might have illustrated the degree of animosity which once prevailed in politics -- a drama of partizan violence and virulence in which the first men in the state figured. We do not allude to it now, except because it was so much in con- trast with the relations which his political adversaries bore to him in after life. Though a federalist, he was appointed to office under Monroe, and retained by his successors, Jackson and Van Buren, till the removal of the Democratic state officers by the Whig legislature, and the sweeping change made in the De- partments of the State, induced Mr. Van Buren to appoint Mr. Flagg to the post office. Restored by Harrison, with whom he was in relations of intimacy, he was removed, at the instance of his Whig associates, by Tyler. His claims on Gen. Taylor were regarded as of great force, but the fact did not secure his appointment; and he fared no better under his National Whig successor, the present incumbent of the chief Executive chair. He was unswerving in his political views and attachments, and the demeanor of his political adversaries towards him was an acknowledgment of the value and extent of his public services .- Atlas.
Gen. SOLOMON VAN RENSSELAER was born in the town of Greenbush, and in the old Genet Mansion, at the foot of the
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hill, half a mile back from the river, and about three miles from this city. His father was Gen. Henry K. Van Rensselaer, who fought with great ardor and distinction in the Revolutionary war, and was desperately wounded at the battle of Fort Ann, Washington county, in this state.' This action has never occu- pied the place in the history of that war which its importance entitles it to. It occurred several days before the great battle which resulted in the defeat and surrender of Burgoyne, en Bemis Heights, and was swallowed up and forgotten in the su- perior brilliance and importance of that decisive conflict. It was maintained for an entire day by a force of about 1,000 men, against an advanced brigade of Burgoyne's army, and was a series of desperate and bloody skirmishes. It was fought by order of Gen. Schuyler, who felt the importance of checking the enemy's advance at that point. Gen., then Col. Henry K. Van Rensselaer, commanded a regiment of 500 men, which was en- tirely mustered on the Van Rensselaer Manor. The stand taken by them held Burgoyne in check an entire day, and enabled Schuyler to remove artillery and stores from Fort George, strengthen his position on Bemis Heights, and gain invaluable
time. But it nearly cost the brave Van Rennselaer his life. As he was rising from a kneeling position, after firing a fuzee, he received a musket ball in his thigh, which passed down to his knee. The ball was afterwards removed by a surgeon, by a most frightful operation, and he never entirely recovered from the frightful wound. So close and desperate was the encounter, that he lay many hours after he fell within hearing of the groans of Col. Armstrong, of the British army, who was also badly wounded.
Gen. H. K. Van Rensselaer afterwards lived for many years in this city, and died here some 28 years since, at the age of about 76 years. Gen. Solomon Van Rennselaer inherited the military disposition and dauntless heroism of his father. At the early age of 18 he was appointed a cornet in a company of dragoons, mustered in Greenbush, and joined the army under the command of Gen. Anthony Wayne. Before he was 20 he was promoted to the command of a troop. In the battle of Miami, August, 1794, under " Mad Anthony," he received a terrible wound through the lungs, which was supposed to be mortal, but which his youth and vigorous constitution enabled him to surmount. How he acquitted himself, the despatches of Gen. Wayne bear ample and conclusive testimony. He suffered greatly from the effects of this wound until 1797, when he was commissioned by Gen. Wilkinson, at Philadelphia, to perform a delicate and dangerous military duty, which he promptly and satisfactorily discharged. He was also particularly noticed by
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Gen. Washington, and raised by him to the command of a squadron of cavalry, after a personal interview with that great man.
After the disbanding of portions of the army took place, Gen. Van Rensselaer was appointed adjutant-general of this state, under Governor John Jay. This appointment he held during the respective administrations of his successors, Governors George Clinton and Morgan Lewis, for nine years during Gov. Tompkins' administration, and for nearly the whole period of Gov. De Witt Clinton's, which latter period was subsequent to the time he rendered such important and brilliant service in his country's behalf, in the capacity of aid to Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer (the late Patroon), who was appointed by Governor Tompkins to take command of the forces raised for the defence of the northern and western frontiers of this state, in 1812. The history of that campaign is well known to every reader familiar with the events of the last war, as it is still called.
The brilliant, but unfortunate battle of Queenstown, was fought on the 13th of October. The plan of it was simple and soldier-like, and, if it had been carried out in full, would have resulted in a brilliant and decisive victory. As it was, the force under Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer, contending with greatly superior numbers, stormed and carried the fort. The gallant Colonel fell, riddled with wounds, and bleeding profusely, but cheered with the shouts of victory. But the reinforcements neglecting to cross the river at the proper time, the enemy canie up in superior force, and the fort was retaken, and Van Rens- selaer's troops were obliged to retreat.
Ensign Morris was killed, and Capts. Malcolm, Armstrong and Wool, were wounded in this action. Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer received a ball in his hip, which passed out at his spine, two in his thigh, one of which lodged-and which he car- ried to the day of his death-two in his leg, and a sixth contused his heel. With all these he kept his feet until the enemy fled towards the town, and Capt. Wool, by his orders, ascended the mountain and carried the battery. During this time he had concealed his wounds under a great coat borrowed from Maj. Lush ; and when the party filed off before him, unable any long- er to stand, he fell to the ground, about daylight, among the dying and the dead, and was only prevented from fainting by a crust of bread and a cup of water, furnished by one of the form- er. While in this situation, the shouts of victory reached him from the hill, and remunerated him for all his sufferings.
This closed his active military life; and we have only room to just glance at his subsequent career.
He was elected to Congress from this district-the year we do
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not recollect-and served his term faithfully and ably. At its close he received-we believe, under Monroe's administration- the commission of post master of this city, which he held under the successive administrations of Adams and Jackson. He was removed by Van Buren. In 1839, he was the Albany District Delegate to the Whig National Convention at Harrisburgh, Pa., and was one of the delegates from this state who cast his vote for his old companion in arms, Gen. Harrison. He had the satisfaction to see that gallant soldier and pure statesman nomi- nated for and elected to the presidency, and from him received again the appointment of post master of this city, which he held until removed by Tyler. Since that time, he has not been in public life, and has resided with his family at Cherry Hill.
James Duncan died, aged 49. Elijah Hubbard, for many years a merchant tailor in South Market street, died at Ft. Edward, where he was stationed as a Method- ist preacher, a profession he had followed twelve years.
24. Mrs. Rosanna Murray died, aged 52. Samuel Crane died, aged 78.
25. Mary Ann Boom died, aged 38.
26. The funeral of Gen. Solomon Van Rensselaer at- tended from Cherry Hill by the military and a large con- course of people ...... By the spring arrangements of the Hudson River Rail Road, the New York papers were re- ceived at half past ten in the forenoon, instead of coming up by the afternoon steam boat, at three or four o'clock. . Margaret Catharine Veeder died, aged 26.
27. James Dey Ermand, jr. died, aged 27 ...... The office of Clement Warren in Water street robbed of its most valuable effects at mid-day.
28. Mrs. Ann Fitzgerald died, aged 47. Ellen McGuire died, aged 48. Daniel S. Newton, formerly of Albany, died at Kilback, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y.
29. Margaret Horn, died aged 32. Owen Ward died, aged 30. Mrs. Betsey Drohan died.
30. By the report of the chief of police, John Morgan, it appeared that during the three months past, 734 arrests were made by the police; 698 destitute accommodated with lodgings; $2500 counterfeit money seized; arrests by police constables 312, making 1,046 arrests. But 3 fires occurred .. ... The whole amount of money raised by tax for the city and county expenses, was $191,769.
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MAY.
1. John Johnson died, aged 54.
2. John H. Nichols died, aged 26.
3. Mrs. Elizabeth Williamson died, aged 77. William Scorsby died, aged 37.
4. Mrs. Harriet M., wife of Thomas J. Dobbs died, aged 21 ...... A fire occurred in Norton street, which destroyed several wooden buildings, including the dwell- ing and bathing establishment of Dr. Dean. .. . The office of Coffee, Bruce & Turner, Van Rensselaer's dock, was entered by burglars and robbed of valuable articles.
5. The hair dressing establishment of J. W. Blanchard in Broadway, was entered by burglars, about three o'clock in the morning, and several articles taken away .. .. Margaret L. Bleecker, wife of Henry A. Allen, died, aged 33. Mrs. Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Leonard, died, aged 79.
6. James O'Donnell died, aged 40 ...... An unknown man, supposed to be a German, threw himself into the river at the foot of Westerlo street, and was drowned. . Bridget Lane died, aged 40. Charity Pangburn died, aged 73.
8. Samuel S. Peck died, aged 48. Mrs. A. B. Hutchin- son, daughter of the late George Wilcox of Albany, died at Jersey City.
9. A thunder shower, during which a house in Lydius street was struck by lightning ...... A burglary in William street ...... Ann, wife of Abram E. Jackson, formerly of Albany, died in New York.
10. There was a rise in the river occasioned by the melting of snow at the upper sources at this late season. The docks were nearly submerged .. .... William McElroy died, aged 34.
11. Betsey, widow of John Buckman died, aged 55.
12. Edward Murry died, aged 41.
13. Mrs. Mary Kane, aged 29, widow of the late John Innes Kane, and daughter of the late Leonard Kip of New York, was buried from St. Paul's Church.
14. Catharine, wife of Martin Stalker, died, aged 31.
15. A man fell from the steam boat Hendrik Hudson and was drowned.
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16. Lemuel Sherwood died, aged 68. ..... A mad bull was killed in Arch street, and a mad dog shot in Dove street.
17. There were upwards of 80 sail of vessels in port.
18. Kossuth, the Hungarian exile, arrived by the eastern train in the afternoon, and was received by the military and citizens, and escorted through the city to Congress Hall, where he was addressed by Gov. Hunt.
19. Joel J. Kibbe died, aged 38.
20. Louis Kossuth made a brief address at the Third Presbyterian Church, to an audience of about 800 ...... A meeting was held at the Capitol, of the opponents of the loan of the city credit to the Albany and Susquehanna Rail Road, the mayor in the chair ...... A meeting of German citizens was held and a society organized for the protection of emigrants against frauds on their arrival in the city. .
21. James Hannah died, aged 55. Elizabeth, wife of James Jackson died, aged 36. Mrs. Kerin died. Mrs. Mary Ann Ward died, aged 43 ...... Kossuth left the city by rail road to Niagara, having received material aid to the amount of about $2000 in Albany. . Mrs. Lydia C. Pickering died, aged 35.
22. The river had subsided to its ordinary level for the first time since the 25th March, a period of 57 days ..... A meeting of the friends of the loan of the city credit to the Albany and Susquehanna Rail Road was held at the Capitol. John Townsend in the chair. ..... Christopher Streeter, formerly of Albany, died at Delavan, Wisconsin, aged 48.
24. Mary Farrell died, aged 40. Mrs. Margaret Ash- ton died.
26. John Donovan died, aged 52. Abram P. Johnson died, aged 21.
27. William H. Rawson died, aged 20. Mary McEntee died, aged 75.
28. Elizabeth Hiney died, aged 75. Rebecca Beebe died, aged 80. ..... At a meeting of the trustees of the Dudley Observatory the following officers were elected: Stephen Van Rensselaer, president; Thomas W. Olcott,
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vice president, O. M. Mitchell, cor. secretary; J. H. Armsby, rec. sec .; Isaac W. Vosburg, treasurer. Plans of the observatory building were presented by Mr. Down- ing, and the following appointed building committee : John N. Wilder, E. Wickes and John B. Tibbets of Troy ..... Elizabeth Judson died, aged 69.
30. Bridget, wife of John Gaffney died, aged 68.
JUNE.
1. A meeting of citizens was held at the City Hall to consider the matter of tendering to Thomas Francis Meagher, the Irish exile, a public welcome to the capital of the state. Speeches were made, and a committee ap- pointed to make arrangements for the reception ...... James Donovan died, aged 19.
2. Sarah Hoffman, wife of John M. B. Davidson, died, aged 22. Harman W. Elmendorf died, aged 35. Eliza- beth Linacre died, aged 65.
5. Kossuth addressed the Young Men's Hungarian Association at Association Hall, which was well filled with people, and beautifully decorated. He stated that this was probably the conclusion of his wanderings in America. The amount of material aid which he had re- ceived in Albany was about $2200. The exercises were opened by prayer by Rabbi Wise, the first occasion, per- haps, at which a Jew officiated in a similar capacity in Albany ...... Ebenezer J. Don died, aged 20. Sarah Murphy died, aged 61.
6. A wooden building in Wilson street, probably fired by an incendiary, was burned to the ground about 2 o'clock in the morning ...... It has been unusual of late years to mention quick trips of sloops, so much greater is the speed of steam boats. The sloop Capitol, Captain Hawkins arrived at the dock, at 11 o'clock at night, having made a trip to Providence and back in 7 days and 9 hours, including two days detention at Providence, un- loading her cargo of corn and flour, and taking in return cargo.
7. The Common Council revised the law requiring dogs to be muzzled. ..... Kossuth left the city for New York in the morning steam boat Alida.
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9. Mrs. Anna Lansing died, aged 88.
10. A large building in progress of erection on North Ferry street for a steam planing mill, was blown down, killing one of the workmen and wounding four others. . Britton B. Tallman died, aged 54. Mrs. Catharine Hewitt died, aged 38.
11. The grand jury presented the pond on the west side of Lark street, corner of Lancaster, as a public nuisance, arising from its stagnation, and from being the receptacle of dead animals and garbage. This was for- merly the head of Rutten kill, and its condition a good many years ago, before the ravine was filled up, gave rise to an article in the Temperance Recorder, which led to a libel suit between Mr. E. C. Delavan and the brewers. The water had long been used for malting ...... Mrs. Christina Laramer died, aged 80. Lewis Aspinwall, for- merly of Albany, died in New York, aged 60. ..... The south wall of White's malt house, a building six stories high, on North Ferry street, fell in, and several men who were at work in taking it down, were severely injured. . William Irwin, formerly of Albany, died at New Orleans of cholera, aged 29. Mrs. Emily White died, aged 40.
14. A new express train commenced running from New York to Buffalo in 14 hours. The train which left New York at 6 A. M. arrived at the depot on this side at 10 minutes past 10, and arrived at Buffalo at 8 P. M. Isaac L. Weaver died, aged 41.
15. Thermometer 95 on the shady side of State street. Mrs. Jane Radley died, aged 53. Mrs. Caroline Hutchinson died, aged 27.
16. Thermometer 96 on south side State street. .... Magdalena Wynkoop died, aged 63 ...... Five burglaries were found to have been committed during the night.
17. Mrs. Mary E. Grimes died, aged 21.
20. Sophia wife of John S. Hughes, died at Buffalo, aged 40; late of Albany.
21. The new steam boat Francis Skiddy arrived from New York ...... John Gallien .died, aged 30.
24. Jeannie wife of Joseph Warren died, aged 23.
27. An accidental fire destroyed the Albany Nail
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Works, on the opposite side of the river, near Troy. owned by Messrs. Corning & Winslow. The loss of property was about $50,000, which was insured; and more than 200 workmen were deprived of their customary oc- cupation.
29. Depeyster D. Austin, late of Albany, drowned at Memphis, Tenn., aged 19.
30. The new steam boat Francis Skiddy made the passage up from New York in 7h. 25m .; or 6h. 551m., deducting time lost at landings.
JULY.
1. Richard Finn died, aged 22. Mrs. Ellen Early died, aged 37 ...... Store No. 700 Broadway opened by burg- lars at night ... .. Mrs. Catharine Rubey died.
3. James Stevenson, an estimable citizen, died, aged 65. He held the office of Mayor, and other trusts, with credit to himself, and to the satisfaction of his constitu- ents.
Mr. STEVENSON was born in this city, and after completing his education, which was thorough and liberal, pursued the study of the law with the late John V. Henry, of this city, and was subsequently admitted to the bar. Being early possessed of a competency, he paid but little attention to his profession, and soon became deeply interested in the welfare of his native city. After having repeatedly served as a member of the Common Conncil, he was in 1826 appointed Mayor, and held that office till 1828-succeeding the late Ambrose Spencer, and being in turn succeeded by Hon. Charles E. Dudley. And from that period down to within a few weeks of his death, he has ever been found practically and usefully interested in every local enterprise. The last capacity in which he served the city was as President of the Board of Water Commissioners for Albany, and his resignation was caused by his declining health. In this, as in every other station held by him, he rendered prompt and valuable services.
He was for many years an officer of St. Peter's Church, a trustee of the Albany Academy for more than thirty years, and a member of the Albany Institute.
The death of Mr. Stevenson will not be less generally mourn- ed, than long and widely felt in our city. . Though his manners were so unobtrusive as to render him less prominent than many whose usefulness and activity could not compare with his, yet
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his departure will be realized in a thousand ways, for his life was a busy one, and of practical usefulness.
The remarks of Ald. Dexter in the Common Council on Saturday, and the resolutions submitted by him in reference to the death of Mr. Stevenson, so eloquently and truthfully sum up the virtues that adorned the character of the deceased, that we have nothing to add, save that his loss is truly an irreparable one, creating a void that may not be filled; for he was one of the few surviving members of that once large class of polished, high toned, old fashioned gentlemen who, in years gone by, lent such a lustre, and shed such a delightful and genial influence upon social life in Albany. With integrity above reproach, a character of spotless purity, and perfect suavity of manners, com- bined with true dignity, James Stevenson nobly represented the gentlemen of the old school, passed through a long life with un- interrupted honor, and has gone down to his grave universally admired and lamented .- Register.
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