USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. IV > Part 9
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but that they must make application to ye Governor and Councill.
It is resolved by ye Commonality, that ye following persons be admitted Citty Carters, vizt. Robert Barret, Joseph Yeates, Edward Corbett, and Thomas Millington, Provided they obtain a license from Mr. Mayor, and thought that there requires six Carts for ye use of ye Citty so that there is two places open for such persons as ye Mayor shall think meett and fitt for ye service, and that no other cart shall Ride for ye publick but those who have Lycense, upon forfeit of six shillings after ye first warning.
Feb. 11 .- Upon ye Report of ye Gentlemen who were appointed to calculate what quantity of Stockadoes are wanting to repair ye Citty Walls. It is Concluded that a warrant be issued to ye assessors of this Citty, to make an assessment upon ye Inhabitants of this Citty for two hundred and fifty Stockadoes, and make their return to Mr. Mayor, in ye space of three times four and twenty hours ensueing this date.
Att a Mayor's Court held in ye Citty Hall of Albany, ye 5th of March, 1998.
Upon ye Request of Mr. Joh. Cuyler and Evert Banker, Deakens of ye Reformed Church of Albany, who produce an account to ye charge of Gert & Ryseck Swart deceased, with the severals which they have given in pand to ye Deakens of sd Church, desyreing that they may be ap- praised with ye other Moveables founde after their decease, and allowed to discharge said account, which amounts to f 2229:10 wampum; which ye Court have taken into con- sideration, and doe appoint Mr. Killiaen Van Rensselaer and Jacobus Turke to make an appraisement of sd Estate and return report thereof ye next Court Day.
March 19 .- The petition of Jan Casperse, ad'r over ye estate of Wm. Hoffmeyer, being read, who sheweth yt an order was signed by ye Mayor and Aldermen of ye Citty of Albany aforesaid, dated ye 18th of Feb. 1688, to move and break downe four several houses then close by sd Citty, whereof ye house of sd Hoffmayer was one, and to that end six persons were appointed, Pr. Winne
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deceased, Pr. Bogardus, Wm. Clase Groesbeek, Harma Gansevoort, and Jan Cornelise Viselaer and D. Bensing, first to agree with ye owners, otherwise to appraise ye same. Desyreing if ye persons appointed as aforesaid hath not already performed their duty, that they may be ordered forthwith to agree with ye petitioners to calculate ye same. The Court having taken ye matter into consi- deration, and examined William Claese Groesbeek, Har- me Gansefort and Jan Cornelise Viselaer, as afore ap- pointed, who declare they know nothing of such an order, neither have they ever seen it. It is therefore referred till next Court day, and that the two persons wanting who were appointed as aforesaid, in ye mean time may be heard.
In pursuant to ye order of Court dated ye 5th of ye in- stant, wee underwritten have appraised ye pand effects which Ryseck Swart widow of Gerrit Swart deceased, in her life time hath delivered and left to ye dyakens of ye Church of Albany, ye Garden Lott upon ye Plain, accord- ing to transport from ye Mayor, dated ye 16 November, 1686, included for ye sum of f 644 : 10 wampum. And ye remaining moveables for ye summe of f 724. Was signed
H. VAN RENSSELAER, JACOB TURKE.
The Court have taken ye same into consideration and doe confirm ye. Pand effects with ye Garden Lott, as by Transport dated as aforesaid, to ye deakens for ye behooffe of ye Church of Albany, and yt credit shall be given for ye same; and doe appoint Mr. Johannes Cuyler & Evert Banker administrators over ye remaining f 724 gelders wampum, to administer ye same according to law with administration.
April 2, 1700 .- In answer to ye petition of Jan Casperse administrator of ye Estate of Wm. Hoffmayer deceased, which was given in ye last Court day, by Mr. Joh. Cuyler his attorney, desyreing allowance for ye house of said Hoffmayer, broak down by order of Court in the year 168g, which was referred by ye Court till further inform- ation, who have now examined the persons then appointed to agree and appraise ye same, who declare they never saw said order. neither have they made any appraisement
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and agreement thereof, and are further informed by Mr. Hend. Hanse yt sd Hoffmayer in his life time lent him some quantity of the Timber of sd house, and afterwards satisfyed sd Jan Casperse for ye same. Are therefore of opinion yt 4 of ye persones formerly appointed, Peter Bo- gardus, Harma Gansevoort, Wm Claese Groesbeek & J. Cornelis Viselaer, be appointed and are hereby authorised only to appraise what ye costs and charges ye building or setting up of such a house as that was will amount to, when ye materials and timber lay ready, and that the Court will be assistant to ye owner if possible to procure sd assessment from the Governour and Councill, but as they are informed ye timber &c. are disposed off by ye owner.
April 16, 1700 .- This day being the 16th of April, 1700, Jan Verbeek deceased, the year and six weeks being ex- pired, and no creditor appears but Cornelise Swart, by his attorney Johannis Cuyler, the Court are of the opin- ion that the fyftie shillings demanded the 17th of October last shall be allowed to the foresd Cornelis Swart, as also the remaining nine shillings of the moveable Estate be allowed to Robt Livingston Jr., deputy clarke.
There is a Complaint come to us by several creditable persons that Barent Albertsen Bratt is about the inclose- ing the King's highway lying at the bake side of the maine guard, wee doe order the Sheriffe to goe to him and prohibit him from any further proceedings.
April 30, 1700 .- About 6 a clock this morning the corps of Abraham Nikels Allgas the Pooll was found dead in his Canoe at the first sprout above the Mill. Pr. Vanbrugh Mayor and Corner of the Citty and County of Albany did call a jury of 12 men as the law directs.
Lukas Gerretsen, foreman, Joha. Thomase,
David Ketlem,
Anthony. Bratt,
Johannis Beekman,
Walter V. Zea,
Rynier Mynderse,
Jona. Broodhost,
Warner Kartsen, Pr. Waldrum, Evert Janse.
Thomas Harmen,
Who brings in thar verdict, that they found the Corpse of Abra. the Poole stark dead, and having vizited his naked
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bodie have found no hurt or bruise upon his body, and give thar judgment that hee died a natural death.
By the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the Citty of Albany.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas Complaint is made by the Sheriff of the Citty of Albany that several Inhabitants doe not observe the former orders dated the 13th day of August, 1689, and the 16 June 1696, and the 17th June 1699, but do take the freedom to fetch the Indians with their packs into their houses, which is to the great disadvantage of his Majesties peace.
Ist. Wee doe therefore here in his majesty King Wil- liam's name publish and declare that no person or persons whatsoever within this Citty shall upon the arrival of any Indian or Indians address themselves nor speak to them of or concerning trade, nor shall entice them within or without the gates of the said Citty, by signs or other wayes howsoever, to trade with themselves or any other persons, upon paine and penalty of paying for each such offence, if committed without the gates of the sd Citty, the sume of thirty shillings; if without the same the sum of six shillings only, which fine is to be for the behoof of such persons as shall sue for the same.
2dly. That no person or persons within the Citty shall presume to take any Indian or Indians, sachems excepted. when by the Mayor's license, or in his absence by one of the Aldermen, into their houses with pack or packs of beavers or peltry, and so trade them, upon paine of pay- ing as fine for each offence thirty shillings, and the Indian or Indians with said pack immediately to depart out of the house, without trading directly or indirectly : provided also that the Indians commonly called the River and Mo- haque Indians are free to be receaved into any person's house within this Citty, with their packs, any law of the Citty to the contrary notwithstanding,
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3dly. That no person or persons whatsoever within this Citty shall send out or make use of any Brokers, whether Christian or Indian, in the management of the Indian trade, upon paine and penalty of paying as a fine for each offence the sume of thirty shillings, one moyety thereof for the use of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the said Citty, and the other moytie for such persons as shall sue for the same.
4thly. That no person or persons whatsoever within this Citty doe presume to trade or traffique with or by any means whatsoever, directly or indirectly, or intice any Indians soe to doe, or give any gifts upon the Sabbath day. upon painc and penalty of forfeiting such goods as soe traded for as aforesd, as also upon paine and penalty of paying as a fine for such offence the sum of forty shillings to the use of such persons as shall sue for the same, and that this order may be the more punctually observed, it is ordered that the Constaples by turns on the Sabbath day walk the streets with their staffs, to prevent the breach of the Lord's day, and to hinder all manner of irregularities whatsoever, upon the paine and penalty of six shillings.
5thly. Likeways ordered that all Indians the Sachems and River Indians and Mohaque Indians excepted as afore- said, are to lye in the Indian houses without the Towne from the first of April to the first of December, and are permitted to be received in people's houses in Toune from the first of December to the first of April.
Given in Albany the 30th day of April, in the twelft year of his Majesties reigne, anno do. 1700.
God save the King.
Att a Mayor's Court held in ye Citty Hall of Albany, ye 14th day of May, 1700.
It is concluded by ye Court and thought that the fol- lowing Persones are convenient and fitt to be fyre masters for ye Citty, and have therefore authorised Bastian Har- inense, William Hogen, Warner Carstense, Gysbert Mar- selis, Tierk Harmense, and Jonathan Bradstreet, and that they forthwith shall make it there business to vizite all chimmeleyes within this Citty, and whenever they fynde
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any unconvenient fyre places held, to break downe ye same, and such chimneys as shall be found unclean, ye owner to be fined in ye summe of three shillings.
Dowe Aukas, of Schenechtady, appears at ye barr, re- questing yt in ye late warr, when Schennechtady by ye Enemy was destroyed, he lost his writtings touching and concerning his house and lott lyeing and being here in Albany, between ye house and lott of Jacob Staets and William Hogen, and now having sold ye same to Jaen Rosie, humbly desyres yt Jacob Staets being his neighbour with William Hogen, may be ordered to produce their writtings touching these lotts whereby said Dow Aukas may fynde out ye quantity of his lott, which being put to ye vote, and unanimously of opinion yt said Jacob Staets and William Hogen to that end must produce their writ- tings to Dow Aukas.
The Court adjourned till this day 14 night.
Att a Common Councill held in ye Citty of Albany ye 14th of May, 1700.
It is concluded and thought requisite that ye streets within this Citty be cleared, each Inhabitant before his door, and to remove ye fyre wood thereof, and whoever shall be founde driveing a wagon or cart through ye streets, and ye drivers not walking afoot, shall forfeit for each such offence ye sum of 3s, as likewise for such as are neglecting to clean the street, and remove the wood before their doors.
It is further considered and ordered that ye Constables shall take their turns on ye sabbath day to prevent draw- ing of strong drink in tipling houses, and breaking the sabbath day, and whosoever shall be founde drawing of any strong liquor in said houses to any person, shall forfeit ye summe of twenty shillings for each offence.
Hendrik Oothout appointed surveyor for ye Citty and sworne.
Jacob Turke is appointed to sue the Kinderhook Jus- tices to ye next inferior Court, for ye arrears due to ye Citty.
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May 16, 1700 .- Whereas Pr. Jedon and John Pettitt and family, both French, from Sopus, appear desyring liberty to passe to Canada, and that a man or two may be allowed to carry them thither, which is permitted, and thought convenient yt ye Persones yt carry them thither shall enter into bonde that they shall transport noe horses or mares to Canida as ye late proclamation requires, whereupon David Ketelheyn and Elbert Harmense, who are their guides, have given bond for £100.
Itt is concluded yt ye three Constables, each in his warde, shall goe rounde by each Inhabitant yt have rid Stockadoes for ye Citty, and order him to show ye same, and whoever as have not ride their quota shall pay for each Stockade 18d. which is to be done in the space of twice four and twenty hours.
It is further concluded that after the Citty walls are closed, yt ye Constables shall take care to see that no Stockadoes be broak downe and wherever they fynde or can hear of any person yt breaks downe said Stockadoes shall forfeit for Stockadoe so broak downe ye summe of 6s. according to former custom, and then said Constable shall order Stockadoes to be sett up againe upon ye Citties costs.
May 21 .- It is concluded yt a warrant be given to ye Constables to strain all Inhabitants as have been neglect- ing in Riding their quota of Stockadoes for ye Citty walls, and yt 4 men shall be employed to sett up ye Stockadoes already Ride upon ye Cittys costs.
May 24 .- It is concluded by ye authority aforesaid, that a Tax of one hundred pounds be laid and assessed upon yª Inhabitants of this Citty, and yt a warrant be is- sued to ye assessors of ye Citty, to make their assessment for ye same, which shall be collected and received, one half at or before ye 15th of July next ensueing, and ye other halfe at or before ye 15th of September then follow- ing; ye assessors are to make their returns to Mr. Mayor in ye space of eight days ensueing ye 25th of this instant.
June 7 .- Whereas on ye 24th of May last a warrant was directed to the assessors of this Citty, to make their assessment for £100 upon the Inhabitants therein, and
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to make their return in ye space of eight days to Mr. Mayor, under hand and scale, which assessment being made and produced to ye meeting, desyring approbation. but being founde not to be scaled according to order, is given over again to ye assessors and referred till Harpert Jacobse, Ben. van Corlaer, assessors, come home from New York, to the sealing thereof.
David Schuyler and Jacobus Turke are appointed to inquire if there is any debts still due to Abraham Poel deceased, by Hend. Hanse and others, and make report thereof next Tuesday,
At a Mayor's Court held in the Citty Hall of Albany ye 25th June, 1700.
John Carr Plaintiff, William Ketelheyn Deft, in ye 2d fault.
William Teller Pl., Hend. Lansing Deft. The Plentive demands of ye Defendant for two years house hyre in his house here in Albany, the summe of nine pounds twelve. The Defendant denys ye Debt.
The Petty Jury being called and sworne-Johannes d. Wandelaer, Fredrik Harmense, John Fyne, Casper van Hoese. William Hogen, Abraham Prevost, John Rosie. Joh. Beekman, Abraham Kip, Cornelius Schermerhorn. Warner Carstense, Claes Ripse van Dam.
The partyes have Composed ye matter, and agrced as follows, which is, that ye Defendant doth oblidge himselfe to pay the Plentive the summe of Three pounds Twelve shillings with Costs of sute &c., and thereby Dischargeing said Plentive from all Publick Charges, as he doth pre- tend to have disbursed for ye Plentive's house while in hyre.
The Court adjourned till this day fourthnight.
July 9th. John Carr Plentive, William Ketelheyn Defend. The Plentive demands of ye Defendant by De- claration ye summe of seven pounds four shillings and four pence, as per bond bearing date ye 27th of November 1699. The Defendant ownes ye debt, but Pleads that he was neither summoned nor arrested. The partyes have com- posed ye matter, and agreed in ye presence of ye honorable
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Court that ye Defendant shall pay unto ye Plentive at or before ye 9th of Septem'r next ensueing the just summe of three pounds twelve shillings and two pence, without delay, that then ye bond given unto Plentive ye 27th of November '99 shall be void and of no effect, otherwise to stand and remain in full force and virtue.
P. Livingston Col'r, Plentive, Johannis Luykasse Deft. The Plentive demands of the Defendant by a Request ye summe of 44s. for 44 gallons Rom, which they had of Hendrik Hanse and Retailed in ye Sinneka's Country, with costs of sute, &c.
The Defendant pleads not guilty, but desyres it may be referred to ye judgment of a Jury, and since ye Plentive have submitted ye matter to ye Judgment of this Court.
The Court are therefore of opinion that ye Case be Re- ferred till such times ye said Plentive comes from New Yorke, who may Plaid for himselfe, being Col'r, and that the Costs of Sute lays wholly at the Charge of ye Plentive.
The Court adjourned till this day fourthnight.
July 23 .- Whereas on the 2d day of Aprill last an order was given to Peter Bogardus, Harme Gansevoort, William Claese Groesbeek, and Jan Cornelise Visselaer, to agree what Costs or Charges ye building or setting up of such a house as that of William Hoffmayer deceased was (be- fore broak downe) with amount, and who have returned there Report of aprizement amounting to f 336 for build- ing, masons, labour, loss of nails, and boards.
The Court adjourned till this day 14th night.
Aug. 20 .- Tho. Williams, Sheriffe, did make an appli- cation to ye Mayor and Aldermen yt there ware no Com- mon Geall or Prissen in Albany, so yt he desyred yt they might macke a Common Geall or Pressen, and ye Mayor- resolved to call a Common Councell upon it.
Att a meeting of the Mayor. Recorder, Aldermen and Com- monalty of ye Citty of Albany ye 22d August 1700.
This day came before us Bay Croesvelt by his atturney Johannis Cuyler and demonstrates that Geertruy Jerone- mus formerly widow of Jochim Wessels Backer sold to ye sd Bay a certain house and lott of ground here in Al- [Annals iv.] 11
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bany, about ye Church, as by Coopbrieffe or Contract dated ye 26th of March, Aº 1683, being payd to five gelders in Beavers, which he is ready to pay, and since Jan Ver- beck and Pieter Adriaense in their lifetime securitys and administrators over ye Estate of sd Jochim and Geertruy deceased, made no conveyance thereof, it is now desyrd that Jan Casperse administrator of his father-in-law, Wm. Hoffmayer deceased, only sone and heir of said Geertruy, shall make performance of said house and lott.
Jan Casperse answered that he was not concerned with ye Estate of sd Jochim and Geertruy aforesaid. But in case he should become no damage, is willing to transport ye premises. Says further that ye wriettings concerning sd house and lott lays in his hand. The Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Common Councill are of opinion yt ye afore- said John Casperse is ye nearest heir to transport ye afore- said house and lott for ye abovenamed Jochim Wessels and Geertruy Jeronemus his wife, both deceased.
The Commonalty are of opinion (except ye Mayor and Recorder) that an addresse be given to Excellency Richard Earle of Bellomont, Captain Generall and Governor in Cheeffe of his Majesties Province of New Yorke, setting forth ye State and Condition of this Citty and County, humbly praying his Excellency to lay ye same at his Ma- jesties feet, which is as follows :
To His Excellency Richard Earle of Bellomont, Capt Gen !! & Govr in Cheeffe of his Majes Province of New Yorke, Mas- sakhusetts Bay, New Hampshire, and Territories depending thereon in America, and Vice Admirall of ye same, his Majes Levt & Commander in Cheeffe of ye Militia and of all ye forces by Sea & Land within ye Colonies of Con- necticut, East and West Jersey, &c., and of all ye Forts and Places of Strength within ye same, &c.
May it Please your Lordship :
We have again ye happiness to see your Lordship in this place, and can not but thankfully congratulate your Excel's great kindness in visiting ye frontiers, the which with ye greatest Concern imaginable we acquaint your Lordship are in a most deplorable and languishing condi- tion. The Citty and County of Albany has laboured un-
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der ye greatest of hardships during the late long war with ye French, when they were exposed to unexpressible dan- ger, being barbarously murdered, skalped, and carryed captives by ye French and there mercilesse Indians which terrifyed many of ye Inhabitants, forced them to Desert their Habitations, and to Remove to other parts of ye Province, seeing ye fronteers not so well secured as to Defend them from ye inroads of ye French and there skulking partyes of Indians, but were in hopes that since his Majesty had so graciously obtained a peace for all Europe by his valuor and conduct, that wee who had so large a share of ye miseries attending a bloody warr, would also Participate of ye Blessings of joyfull Peace, but to our greatest grieffe wee fynde our trade more Decayed than formerly, by reason of ye French and there Mission- aries dayly Deluding and debauching of our Indians of ye Five Nations from us, sometimes causing them to be kild by ye Farr Indians, and at other times seducing them to come and Live at Canida to be instructed in ye Christian faith; and where these two prevail not, they raise fac- tions in their Castles to take off by Poison those yt can not be so seduced & Deluded, by which artifices they have Increased ye Castle of praying Indians at Montreyall, which consisted of fourscoure fighting men (Indians that had deserted ye five nations) before ye last warr, but are now since ye Conclusion of ye peace by ye means aforesd increased to above 350, and dayly growing more & more, so that if a warr should break out between his Majesty and ye French king, they would totally overrun these fron- teers and thereby facilitate their passsge to destroy Vir- ginia, Maryland, and the Rest of his Majesties Planta- tions, there method of fighting being in skulking partyes (as your Lordship is sufficiently informed ) so yt therewith they may easily Enfest this whole Continent, ye Planta- tions and houses generally lying stragling, and more par- ticularly in Virginia and Maryland, in such manner y' it will be absolutely impossible for ye Inhabitants thereof to manure or cultivate their land. This will be no hard matter for them to doe, Considering how well the ffrench have fortifyed themselves ever since ye peace with more
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viguor and diligence yn in any time of ye warr, having Continually had Supplyes of men & money from France to doe ye same, and what number of Indians
[The remainder of this document was not engrossed.]
Att a Meeting of Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen and Com- mon Councill, held in Albany this 3d day of Septem- ber, 1700.
The Churchwardens of Shinnechtady doe make applica- tion to ye Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen & Common Councill, desyreing two persones to be allowed & appoynted to goe Rounde by ye Inhabitants of ye Citty, to see if they can obtain any Contribution to make up ye Sellary due to there Minister, Do. Freman, whilst on his voyage from Amsterdam to this place, they complayning not to be ca- pable to make out said Sellary by there own Congregation doe therefore desyre assistance.
The Commonality are unanimously of opinion that since they are censible that sd Church wardens have not informed themselves what there Congregations will Com- ply to said Sellary, that they first goe and Visite there owne Congregation, and if they doe not obtain said Sellary by them, then to make there application to the Common- ality at ye next Court day.
Sept. 21 .- Whereas ye Church wardens of Shennechta- dy doe again make application that two persons may be appointed to goe Round by ye Inhabitants of this Citty to see if they can obtain any contributions for Do. freemans Sellary as there Desyre on ye 3d of this Instant doth now at large appear. Whereupon ye Commonality have con- cluded and doe allow and admitt two or more of sd Church wardens of Shinnechtady to goe once Round for Contri- bution to use as aforesaid from ye Inhabitants of this Citty and no more in ye time of the Sessions, which will be first and second of October next Ensuing.
Albany ye 14th of October, Aº 1700 .- This day being appointed by ye Charter of ye Citty for ye Aldermen in there respective Wards to make return of ye aldermen, as- sistants, assessors & constables for ye ensueing year, who are as follows :
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First Warde .- Johannis Schuyler, David Schuyler, al- dermen; Jacobus Turke, Hendrik Oothout, assistants ; Dirk Vanderheyden, William Hogen, assessors ; Johannes Lansingh, constable.
Second Warde .- Johannes Roseboom, Johannes Cuyler, aldermen; Luykas Gerritse, Johannes Harmense, assist- ants; Isaak Verplank, Pieter Mingael, assessors; Mathias Nack, constable.
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