USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol IX > Part 14
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It was noted as something new, that the ice in the Hud- son river was frozen so thickly that loaded sleighs came from Newburgh, forty miles above New York, to Albany on the ice, 120 miles. The stages that ran on the west side of the river came on the ice at Kingston, and ran through to Albany with perfect safety.
Feb. 20. The Massachusetts legislature resolved, 120 to 115, that it was expedient for the state to aid and en- courage by its funds the construction of a rail road from Boston to the Hudson, and that the period had arrived when both the dignity and interest of the state required that the people should be called upon to make up their opinions definitely, so that their representatives may at the June session finally dispose of the subject.
182
Notes from the Newspapers.
The congregation of the Second Presbyterian church gave a call to the Rev. Asa T. Hopkins to become their pastor.
Feb. 22. Mrs. Maher died, aged 80; mother of James Maher.
It was estimated that 42,000 barrels of beer were annually manufactured in Albany, of which 30,000 bar- rels were exported.
The following estimate was made of the tonnage of vessels employed in the trade between Albany and the eastern states :
1821 9,936 tons.
1824 16,802
1827 41,560 66
In 1821 only 41 vessels visited Albany from eastern ports. In 1824 the number was 59. In 1827 the num- ber had increased to 123.
These facts were obtained in the course of investiga- tions made by the projectors of the rail road between Boston and Albany.
Feb. 24. Barent P. Staats was elected without opposi- tion, an alderman of the first ward in the place of John Townsend, chosen mayor.
Feb. 25. The Mohawk and Hudson Rail Road Company advertised that they would receive proposals till the 10th of March for timber to be used in the construction of the road.
Feb. 26. Anna widow of Henry Staats, died, aged 82.
The temperature of the month averaged 19.98 deg .; highest 42 deg .; lowest 5 deg. below 0. Rain on 2 days; snow on 6 days. Rain guage 3.26 inches.
March 2. At a meeting of the common council, the chamberlain was directed to pay the Dutch churches their proportion of dockage for 45 feet of dock at the old Watering place, amounting to $66-60, conformably to an agreement entered into September 10, 1827.
March 3. Mrs. Hale, widow of Daniel Hale, died in New York.
The firm of Corning & Norton was dissolved.
183
Notes from the Newspapers.
March 6. John R. Tillman died in New York, aged 53; formerly of Albany.
March 9. At a meeting of the common council, Her- man V. Hart took his seat as alderman of the third ward in place of Isaac W. Staats, resigned; and Obadiah R. Van Benthuysen, alderman of the fourth ward, who had been elected to fill the place of Philip Phelps, resigned.
March 10. Fidler & Taylor's soap and candle factory, in Green street, between Hamilton and Lydius, was de- stroyed by fire about 9 o'clock at night, together with three vats containing about 1000 barrels of beer. The insurance was $6000, about one half the loss.
March 12. Martin Van Buren resigned the office of governor of the state.
March 14. John Skerritt died, aged 69.
March 19. John Tayler, formerly lieutenant governor of the state, died, aged nearly 87. He had filled a large space in the political history of the state during the last thirty years of his life, and was the first president of the State Bank, where his portrait is seen.
March 22. John Meadon died.
March 27. David Bromlee died, aged 30.
March 29. William C. Cottam, baker, died.
Jesse Randall died, aged 41.
March 30. James Maher was appointed state librarian in the place of Calvin Pepper.
Isaac Fondey announced that he had relinquished the earthen ware and glass business and commenced the lot- tery and exchange business.
March 31. John Pruyn, hardware merchant, gave no- tice that he had sold his stock in trade to Lansing Pruyn & Co. (Isaac W. Vosburgh and Abram F. Wilson.
The copartnership of John H. & H. L. Webb was dis- solved, and a new one formed consisting of Henry L. and Charles B. Webb and Alfred Douglass.
The mean temperature of the month was 32.57 deg .; highest 59 deg .; lowest 14 deg. Rain on 2 days; rain and snow on 1 day; snow on 3 days. Rain guage 2-78 inches.
April 1. The ice broke up gently before the city and
184
Notes from the Newspapers.
disappeared without damage. The water was over the docks. The first boat came up on the 4th, the Constel- lation, Capt. Cruttenden.
April 2. A meeting of citizens friendly to temperance was called to form a state temperance society. It was held at the Capitol, and Reuben H. Walworth chosen president.
April 3. Jonathan Brooks died, aged 91. He was born on the 13th May, 1738, in the first ward, where he lived during his whole life; was remarkable for honesty and industry, and preserved the simplicity of ancient times.
April 6. Malhiot, a Canadian weighing 619 pounds, arrived in the city. He measured 6 feet ten inches round the body, and 3 feet 4 inches round the calf of his leg.
April 9. Joseph Lancaster visited the city, and de- livered a lecture at the Capitol on the rise and progress of knowledge and civilization among mankind, and its tendency to exalt states and nations in point of intellect- ual greatness, national prosperity and moral character.
Ezra C. Gross, a distinguished member of the assembly at this time in session at the Capitol, died after a few days' illness. He was from Essex county.
April 13. Samuel Tibbals died, aged 77.
April 16. Stewart Lewis died, aged 54, and was buried from his residence 76 State street.
April 22. The water in the river was higher than had been known since 1818. There were at the same time 213 sail of vessels at the docks, many of which were from eastern ports, evincing a rapid increase of trade and commerce.
April 22. William Van Antwerp died, aged 31.
John Johnson died, aged 53.
Abram A. B. Quackenbush, formerly of Albany, died at Schoharie.
The mean temperature of the month was 48.05 deg .; highest 78 deg .; lowest 32 deg. Rain on 10 days; rain and snow on 1 day; rain guage 4.77 inches.
May 5. The legislature adjourned.
A town election (as it was then called) was held in which the first antimasonic candidates were voted for, as follows :
185
Notes from the Newspapers.
First Ward. ANTI-MASONIC.
Supervisor. Barent. P. Staats, .. 315
Ralph Pratt, .. 24
Assessor ... Greene Hall, ...... 217 John C. Fredenrich, 110
Second Ward.
Supervisor. Wm. Seymour, .... 507 Moses Depuy, 39
Assessors .. James D. Wasson, .. 318 Joseph S. Clark, 39
Ichabod L. Judson,. 193
Third Ward.
Supervisor. Nicholas Bleecker,. 187
Assessor ... Teunis Slingerland, 188
Fourth Ward.
Supervisor. Joseph Alexander, . 269 William Mayell 33
Daniel P. Marshall, 178
Assessor .. . Philip Hooker, .... 462 Salem Dutcher, 36
Fifth Ward.
Supervisor. J. N. Quackenbush, 126 Some persons had been put on
Assessor ... Benjamin Wilson, .. 127 the anti-masonic ticket with- out their consent.
The following law was passed by the legislature rela- tive to the Capitol:
There shall be paid to the corporation of the city of Albany the sum of $17,500, on condition that all right and interest in the Capitol, and the park in front of the Capitol, bounded by Washington and State streets, and the lots on which the Capitol is erected (such park to be occupied as a public Park, and for no other purpose), shall be released to the state by the said corporation, and the supervisors of the city and county of Albany, under the direction of the attorney-general, before the first day of June next.
Two remarkable children were exhibited at the Mu- seum, one 5 years 8 months old, weighing 203 lbs .; the other 2 years 10 months old, weighing 119 lbs. Their names were Susan and Deborah Tripp, and they were born in Freedom, Dutchess county.
May 21. Mrs. Mary Hawkins died, aged 80; well known as the proprietress of the Molly Scott tavern on the hill in Patroon street.
May 23. J. & A. McClure, No. 70 State street, adver- tised a new establishment dealing in dye stuffs and paints.
The corporation were engaged in building two Markets,
186
Notes from the Newspapers."
one in South Pearl street, and the other at what was called the Watering place, now the Steam boat landing, which was dignified with the name of Clinton market. The contract was awarded to Vanderlip & Huxley at $2,404.
May 26. Samuel Wendell died of yellow fever in New Orleans, aged 34.
May 28. The supervisors at a meeting called for the purpose of considering the law passed by the legislature in regard to the purchase of the Capitol Park, approved of the terms of the act, and agreed to appropriate $15,000 towards the erection of a county building. The common council also appointed a committee to purchase a site for a public building with a view to its being used for city and county purposes. The site of the present City Hall, between Maiden lane and Pine street was se- lected, belonging to St. Peter's church, for which $10,- 259.95 was paid.
Mrs. Mary Sickles died, aged 89.
Mean temperature of the month, 64.17 deg .; highest 90 deg .; lowest 40. Rain on 7 days; 2.68 inches fell.
June 3. Anna, widow of William Staats, died, aged 81, mother of Isaac W. Staats.
June 7. Peter C. Gansevoort, son of Conrad Ganse- voort, died at Bath, Steuben county, aged 35.
The debt of the city in 1828 was as follows;
To Commissioners of the Canal fund, $150,000
James Stevenson, 20,500
Trustees of Lutheran church, 15,000
New York State Bank, 37,500
223,000
On the Ist May, 1829, it was reduced to 155,500
$67,500
This reduction was made by money received from Yates & McIntyre on account of the lottery which they undertook the management of, and from the sale of city lots .: As the City Hall was about to be erected at an
187
Notes from the Newspapers.
expense of forty or fifty thousand dollars, it was thought - this was the last time the present generation would be gratified with a statement of a diminishing debt.
June 8. The common council passed a resolution per- mitting the owners of lots at the upper end of Columbia street, on the north side, to enclose an area in front of their property, in such a manner as to form a straight line with the range of the street below Chapel.
June 9. Catharine, widow of Abram Eights, died, aged 80.
June 14. Several stores and dwellings in Beaver street, near South Market street, were burnt, supposed to have been fired by an incendiary.
The Second Presbyterian church gave a call to the Rev. Dr. William B. Sprague to supply the pulpit lately occupied by Dr. John Chester, deceased.
June 21. The new steam boat Ohio made her first ap- pearance at the dock in this city, with upwards of 400 passengers. This boat was 157 feet in length, 30 feet beam, and 9} deep, with 150 berths. She was com- manded by Capt. Martin Bartholomew, late of the Con- stitution. It was said that "all her wood would - be housed out of sight, under the houses which cover the engines."
June 24. The subscription books for the stock of the Canal Bank were closed. There was found to be an ex- cess of 6488 shares subscribed for. The capital of the bank was $300,000, divided into 15,000 shares of $20 each. John T. Norton was elected president.
John K. McChestney died, aged 32.
The mean temperature of the month was 68.03 deg .; highest 86 deg .; lowest 54 deg. Rain on 11 days; rain guage 3.90 inches.
July 2. Numa Hempstead died, aged 35.
James Cooper died, aged 56.
July 4. The day was celebrated by the citizens and military as usual; the oration by Thomas W. Harman, Esq. The military companies consisted of the following :
Capt. McCabe's Horse Artillery.
latibr
188
Notes from the Newspapers.
Capt. Watson's Albany Republican Artillery.
Capt. Fry's Albany Independent Volunteers.
Capt. Wright's National Guards.
Capt. Fassett's Washington Guards.
Capt. Duesler's City Guards.
There was continued rain throughout the day, for the first time in the memory of man on a fourth of July.
July 8. Alida, wife of John Evertsen, died, aged 52.
July 12. Jacob Evertsen died, aged 62.
July 20. At the first election of directors of the Canal Bank, the following were chosen: John T. Norton, Jeremiah Clark, James Porter, Israel Smith, James Gould, Edwin Croswell, John I. Godfrey, David Wood, Lyman Root, Edward C. Delavan, Aaron Thorpe, R. V. DeWitt, Henry L. Webb, Alex. Marvin, Lyman Chapin.
The corporation directed High street to be extended from Lancaster to Hudson street.
July 21. Jeremiah V. R. Ten Eyck died at Detroit, aged 37.
July 25. Hannah, wife of Giles Spencer, died, aged 63.
July 27. Morgan James Hall, merchant, died at New Orleans; formerly of Albany.
July 28. A premium of $100 having been advertised for the best plan of a city hall, the committee on this day adopted parts of two plans; the cupola and attic windows from the design of Mr. Cutts of Boston, and the rest of the building from the design of Philip Hooker of Albany. The premium was divided between them.
July 29. Eliza, wife of John F. Porter, died, aged 23. July 30. Charles Gilfert, the original lessee of the Theatre in South Pearl street died in New York, aged 42. He was a native of Germany, had attained a high eminence as a musical composer, and was indefatigable in his profession as a manager, having the Bowery Theatre under his charge at the time of his death.
July 31. Joseph Lancaster appealed to his friends in Albany against injurious charges published in the New York Journal of Commerce affecting his character.
The mean temperature of the month was 67.28 deg .; highest 85 deg .; lowest 55 deg. Rain on 11 days; rain guage 3.22 inches.
1
189
Notes from the Newspapers.
August 1. The mansion house of Gen. Abraham Ten Broeck, deceased, on Arbor hill, was sold by auction. The plot on which it stood was 759 by 292 feet: the house 52 by 44 feet. It is now owned and occupied by Thomas W. Olcott. Esq.
Aug. 9. Conrad Gansevoort died at Bath, Steuben co., while on a visit there, aged 69.
Aug. 17. The common council resolved to lay out Clinton square in North Pearl street, the area being 200 by 60 feet.
A traveler by steam boat and stage performed the fol- lowing feat, which was pronounced the most extraor- dinary instance of rapid traveling that had been heard of, and it was questioned whether a similar distance could be performed in the same time on any other route in the Union.
From Newbern, N. C. to
Elizabeth City, 225
miles, in 28 hours.
Norfolk,
40
6
Baltimore,
210
60
18
Philadelphia,
100
15
New York,
95
12
Albany,
160
13
830
89
Aug. 20. Eliza, daughter of John Meadon, died, aged 20.
Aug. 24. St. Paul's church, corner of Ferry and Dallius streets, was consecrated by Bishop Hobart. The sale of pews took place on the following day, when 16 sold for $3482.50. Ten pews were leased at sums varying from $10.25 to $32.50.
The trustees of St. Mary's church petitioned the com- mon council for the abrogation of certain restrictions contained in the deeds from the corporation for their church ground.
At the same meeting it was resolved to open Jay street, from Eagle to Hawk. This ground had been purchased [ Annals, ix.] 17
190
Notes from the Newspapers.
of the city in 1807 by I. & J. Townsend, upon whose petition it was opened.
Aug. 26. The Rev. Wm. B. Sprague was installed pas- tor of the Second Presbyterian church.
Mary Ann, wife of Jacob Goeway, died, aged 31.
Aug. 27. Elizabeth Abel died, aged 45.
Aug. 31. The corner stone of the City Hall was laid by the mayor, John Townsend, with the customary cere- monies. The mayor, recorder, and members of the com- mon council having met at the Capitol, proceeded with the architect, builder and workmen, and a number of citizens, in procession to the site of the building. A large stone having been made hollow by the workmen and placed at the northeast corner, according to established usage, a heavy leaden box was let into the opening, in which was placed a number of articles, consisting of an inscription on a massive plate of copper, the City Direc- tory, city Charter, city Map, &c., &c. The leaden box containing the deposit was then closed and a heavy stone let down upon it. The mayor then, according to custom, applied the plumb, square and level, and declared the whole " well laid, true and trusty." He then addressed the assembly in a speech of considerable length upon the object of the occasion and the purposes of the edifice to be erected.
The common council having determined to allow the police justice an assistant, Daniel McGlashan, an assist- ant alderman, received the appointment. Both police justices were printers.
Mean temperature of the month, 69-71 deg .; highest 87 deg .; lowest 49 deg. Rain on 5 days; rain guage 1.46 inches.
Sept. 7. A gentleman left Newport, R. I., Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock and arrived in Albany on Sunday afternoon at 8 o'clock; distance 350 miles. There was no more speedy journeying than this at the time, although the same distance had been traveled before in two hours less time.
Sept. 14. The demolition of the Catholic church corner
191
Notes from the Newspapers.
of Chapel and Pine streets was begun. It was the first Catholic edifice erected in Albany, and had become in- adequate for the increasing number of worshipers. It was built of brick, and had stood more than thirty years. (See Annals iii, 191.) The Fourth Presbyterian church was being built at this time, and the Universalists had a church nearly completed in Herkimer street-a frame building 30 by 50 feet.
Sept. 14. The justices court convened for the first time in the new building in Pearl street, still used for that purpose. Present, Daniel L. Van Antwerp, Gerrit L. Dox, and Christian H. Shear, justices ; John G. Wasson, clerk. David Hosford, being the senior member of the bar in that court, delivered an address, a copy of which, on motion of Calvin Pepper, seconded by John I. Ever- son, was requested for publication. On motion of John B. Southwick, seconded by Seymour Tracy, the thanks of the court, bar and audience were presented to Mr. Hosford.
Richard Thomas and others petitioned the common council for permission to circulate a subscription paper to procure means with which to erect a Methodist church, north station, which was granted.
The chamberlain reported that on the 8th instant he had sold the cellars under the Centre market for a term of three years and seven months for $728.50; and those under the South market for $305.
A law passed to repeal so much of the law of May 26, 1828, as required the paving of Hudson street from South Pearl to Eagle street.
Kilian I. Winne died at Cazenovia, aged 64.
Sept. 21. Mary H., wife of John T. Norton, died, aged 27.
Sept. 23. The butcher stalls of the two markets re- cently erected were sold at auction for one year and seven months. The Centre market stalls were sold for $158.50, being 10 in number. The South market stalls, 8 in num- ber, brought $628.
Sept. 25. Benjamin Thayer died, aged 36.
192
Notes from the Newspapers.
Sept. 29. A charter election was held and the follow- ing persons elected :
DEMOCRATIC.
REPUBLICAN.
First Ward.
Aldermen ... B. P. Staats, 477
E. Corning. 349 Ralph Pratt,. 188
Assistants. . W. L. Osborn,
320
Wm. Barney,.
198
John O. Cole, 429 Angus McDuffie, 55
Second Ward.
Aldermen ... John Cassidy, . . 307 Wm. Newton, 216
D. McGlashan, ..
318 H. G. Wheaton, 209
Assistants. . Wm. Seymour, ....
317
Ich. L. Judson,
213
Jas. D. Wasson, ... 316 B. Lansing, Jr., 203
Third Ward.
Aldermen. .. H. V. Hart,. 89 T. Russell, 23
G. Gates,
87 . J. H. Ten Eyck,
27
Assistants. . E. Egberts,
90
T. Van Schaick,
20
G. W. Ryckman, .. 113 Scattering,
5
Fourth Ward.
Aldermen. .. James Maher, No opposition.
Lemuel Steele,. ..
Assitants. .. B. Whipple, . . 265 Clark Durant, 104
S. S. Fowler, . .. 185 J. C. Deming, . 82
Fifth Ward.
Aldermen. .. James Gibbons, Jr., 297 S. Van Rensselaer. Jr., .. 140 Wm. Stilwell, ..... 174 J. N. Quackenbush, ....
Assistants. J. Van Schoonhoven, 295 John Van Ness, Jr., 291
7
At a meeting of the common council in the evening of the same day. the certificates from the aldermen who presided at the election during the day were received and ordered to be filed. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :
Henry W. Snyder. chamberlain.
Wm. H. Schiffer. city marshal.
John Meigs and Abraham Sickles, high constables.
Sept. 30. The famous Sam Patch, who astonished the people by leaps from great heights into the water, arrived in the city on his way to Niagara.
Temperature of the month averaged 57 deg .; highest 84 deg .; lowest 38 deg. Rain on 9 days; 2.78 inches fell.
JOHN V. HENRY.
193
Notes from the Newspapers.
Oct. 1. Elizabeth, wife of Charles J. Taylor, died, aged 27.
Oct. 3. Isaac L. Staats died.
Oct. 5. Governor Throop removed John Becker, sheriff of Albany county, for numerous acts of misconduct.
The North Methodist church and the Fourth Presby- terian church, newly formed societies, applied to the common council for burial grounds.
Mr. Packard, superintendent of the almshouse, re- ported that there were 63 men, 63 women and 53 children in the institution.
The city surveyor presented a profile of Hallenbake street, from Hudson to Hamilton street, which was adopted. No vestige of a street had yet been made there.
Proposals were accepted for excavating Capitol street, at 10 cents a yard.
Oct. 11. The Universalist meeting house in Herkimer street, between Green and Franklin, was dedicated. It was announced that " this temporary building had been erected by the friends of the heart-cheering doctrine of universal salvation, to answer their purpose a few years, till they should have it in their power to build a large, substantial edifice.
Helena Lansing died, aged 69, mother of Peter and Jacob J. Lansing.
Oct. 13. The corner stone of the new Catholic church, corner of Chapel and Pine streets was laid, by Alderman Cassidy, president of the board of trustees.
Jeremiah P. Jones died, aged 37.
Oct. 14. Elihu Lewis died, aged 51.
Oct. 20. James Dunn, of the firm of Douglass & Dunn, died, aged 32.
Oct. 21. John B. Swan died, aged 52.
John V. Henry, a distinguished lawyer, fell in the street from apoplexy, and died on the following day, aged 64.
Oct. 22. Frances Wright delivered the first of a series of lectures at Atheneum Hall.
Oct. 25. Jeremiah Cutler died, aged 26.
194
Notes from the Newspapers.
Oct. 31. Chauncey Mills died, of the firm of Mills & Rider, aged 49.
The mean temperature of the month was 51.28 deg .; highest 74 deg .; lowest, 29 deg. Rain on 5 days; 2.41 inches fell.
The city chamberlain reported that the amount of money received into the treasury during the year ending the second Tuesday of October, was $320,878.53}. The amount of payments $317,126.15}. Two markets had been built, and the City Hall commenced during this year. The expenses of the city poor had been $9,804.43. The whole amount paid for salaries was $5,952.
Nov. 1. A vault was built near the Presbyterian ground for the purpose of depositing bodies for safety against the depredations of the resurrectionists, during decomposi- tion. The first body was deposited in the vault on this day. A few hours afterwards the person having charge of the vault returned for the purpose of getting some- thing which he had forgotten. While he was opening the outer door he heard a noise inside, and supposed it was caused by the person who had just been interred. Though his hair stood erect with affright, his humanity prompted him to save the unfortunate imprisoned being, and he unlocked the inner door which was of iron. He then ensconced himself behind the outer door, and called to the supposed ghost within, to push open the door and thus liberate himself. The confined person did so, and on making his appearance, proved to be, not the dead man, who had been buried, but a real living being, who from some cause had remained in the vault when it was closed, and who, had it not been for the fortunate cir- cumstance of the sexton's returning, would very likely have perished in his gloomy prison house.
Nov. 3. Townsend's furnace took fire and was con- siderably damaged before it could be extinguished.
Nov. 5. The annual election for members of assembly took place, and resulted as follows :
Peter Gansevoort, 3333 Democrat.
Samuel S. Lush, 3200 Republican.
Erastus Williams, 2973 do.
195
Notes from the Newspapers.
This was the vote of the whole county. The anti- masons also ran a ticket, which received 193 votes in the city.
Asa Colvard was elected sheriff of the county by 3709 votes; James Maher, his opponent, received 1963, and S. B. Pond, the antimasonic candidate, 443.
Nov. 10. Joseph Cummings, late of Boston, died, aged 35.
Nov. 15. Alonzo W. Kinsley died at Savannah, Ga., whither he had gone for the promotion of his health. " He was a man of amiable feelings and great goodness of heart; and was high in the love of his friends and the esteem of the public."
Nov. 16. At a meeting of the common council a me- morial to congress was presented and approved, with the object of obtaining aid from the general government to improve the navigation of the Hudson river.
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