USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol IX > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
-
225
Notes from the Newspapers.
An effort was made to have Pine street opened from Chapel street to North Market. The expense was estimated by one at $45,000, by another at $60,000. By some it was denounced as a useless project, "equaled only by the opening of Clinton square, which had had a tendency to reduce rents in that quarter, and had become a monument of the stupidity of its originators."
March 10. The common council resolved to widen Green street by taking a certain number of feet from the east side.
It was also resolved to raise money by tax for the support of schools.
March 11. Hannah, wife of Rev. Wm. B. Lacey, died, aged 38.
March 14. Mrs. Mary Wendell died, aged 78.
March 17. The Swiftsure and Constitution, the first boats of the season, arrived from New York.
Rutger Bleecker died.
March 24. The corporation passed a resolution to widen Green street from State to Division streets.
March 25. A fire destroyed the tin shop of Wm. Austin, near the corner of Hudson and South Market streets.
March 28. A meeting of citizens was held at the Capitol to discuss the project of a branch rail road from the main road down Washington street. Harmanus Bleecker introduced a resolution to that effect. John L. Wendell, in behalf of the turnpikes interested, also ad- dressed the meeting, and was voted down.
Paul Clark, owner of the well known tavern, still: called Paul Clark's corner, died after an illness of more. than 18 months, aged 67.
March 30. George Webster died, aged 55.
April 1. Jonah Scovel died, aged 81, a soldier of the. revolution. He joined the regiment of Col. Lattimore, who raised a company of patriotic yeomanry in the state of Con- necticut and marched them to Stillwater. In the battle of Saratoga he received two balls in his side, which he: carried to his grave.
[ Annals, ix.] 20
1
226
Notes from the Newspapers.
April 4. David E. Gregory retired from the firm of Gregory & Bain, and Peter Bain continued the business with the two sons of his late partner, William M. and Stephen B. Gregory.
April 4. The common council granted two acres of Washington square, on the north end, to the purposes of an orphan asylum, requiring that the directors should remove the Powder house.
April 5. A fire in Washington street destroyed several buildings above Hawk street.
The governor nominated Anthony Blanchard to the senate as surrogate of Albany in place of T. A. Bridgen, resigned.
April 7. The water was 2} feet deep on the pier and dock.
April 9. The military, officers, subalterns and privates, assembled at Crosby's hotel, corner of Beaver and South Pearl streets, in large numbers, to express their disap- probation of the use of any part of Washington square for any other purpose than a military parade ground, to which it was set apart. They passed a column of reso- lutions, and appointed a committee of thirty-seven to move the town to rise against the project. They suc- ceeded.
April 14. Elizabeth S., wife of Walter R. Morris, died. She was the youngest daughter of Dr. Elias Willard.
Jacob R. Griffen died, aged 72.
April 16. Patrick Hector, formerly of Albany, died in Troy, aged 60.
April 18. Myndert Winne died, aged 25.
April 26. A. M. Strong advertised fancy and staple dry goods at the old stand of James Clark, whom he suc- ceeded, corner of State and South Market streets.
The legislature adjourned after a session of sixteen weeks. They passed an act to abolish imprisonment for debt.
April 29. Patrick, son of Paul Clark, died, aged 33.
May 1. Elizabeth, widow of John McKenney, died, aged 80.
227
Notes from the Newspapers.
May 3. The election for town officers resulted as fol- lows : The National Republicans and Workingmen voted as one party, against the Democrats, who were styled the Regency.
DEMOCRATS. REPUBLICANS.
First Ward.
Supervisor. Barent P. Staats, ... 333 John Taylor, 19
Assessor ... No opposition. Green Hall, 527
Second Ward.
Supervisor. Wm. Seymour, .... 345 Josiah Winants, 162
Assessor ... James D. Wasson, .. 339 I. L. Judson. 166
Third Ward.
Supervisor. No opposition.
Nicholas Bleecker 231
Assessor ... do.
Herman V. Hart, 217
Fourth Ward.
Supervisor. Lemuel Steele ..... 323 Frederick Porter,. 184 Assessor .... B. Van Benthuisen, 295 Philip Hooker,. 200
The Antimasons supported a ticket of their own in this ward, and their candidates received about 50 votes.
Fifth Ward.
Supervisor. J. N. Quackenbush, . 89 Robert Shepard, . ... 132
Assessor ... No opposition.
Benjamin Wilson, . . 218
May 4. Margery, wife of Donald McLeod, died, aged 80.
May 9. Catharine Louisa, daughter of Isaac Hamilton, died, aged 22.
May 10. Isaac J. Fryer died, aged 64.
May 12. A fire destroyed the fur shop of Packer, Prentice & Co. on the Pier, occasioning a loss of over $12,000, of which $10,000 was insured.
May 16. James Radcliff died, aged 72.
May 19. At a sale of stocks by the comptroller, the stock of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank sold at $1413. At the same time United States Bank stock, the highest sold in the New York market, brought $128§.
May 23. Mary, wife of Gen. Anthony Lamb, died in New York, aged 56 ; formerly of Albany.
The board of directors of the Albany and Schenectady turnpike took all the incipient measures for the con- struction of a rail road from Albany to Schenectady on the site of their turnpike road.
228
Notes from the Newspapers.
May 29. John Teazey died, aged 77. He was a native of Hanover, and came to this country with the British army, in the time of the revolution. He remained in this city after the close of the war, following the trade of a tobacconist, and was for some time the sexton of the Lutheran church.
May 29. Gerrit G. Lansing died at Oriskany, aged 70. He was born in Albany, in 1761, and while a youth en- tered the revolutionary army at its commencement. At Yorktown, under Col. Hamilton, he led the forlorn hope as lieutenant. He went to Oriskany in 1802, then in- 'habited by the Indians. He was a brother of Chancellor Lansing; and in the various offices which he held, civil and military, distinguished himself by his ability and patriotism.
May 30. The steam boat Constellation, Capt. Robert 'G. Cruttenden, made her first appearance this season, enlarged, refitted and with a new engine. This boat had never lost a trip nor the life of a hand or passenger. during the seven years she had plied the river. The fol- Flowing statement was given of the number of her trips .and the passengers she had carried :
1825
92 trips
11,633 passengers
1826
230
31,919
1827
196
27,020
66
'1828
198
32,381
6€
1829
210
66
35,221
6 6
1830
236
33,736
1162 171,910-av'ge, 148
June 1. John W. Ryan, an old citizen, was drowned "in the Norman's kill.
June 6. Gerrit Van Schoonhoven died, aged 29.
June 7. A fire broke out in a house adjoining the fur- nace in Beaver street.
Augustine P. Beers, youngest son of William P. Beers, 'late of this city, died at Fairfield, Conn., aged 28. He was a young gentleman of great merit, acting as a sur- geon in the United States navy.
229
Notes from the Newspapers.
Wm. Landon announced that he had taken the estab- lishment formerly known as Park Place House, and kept for many years by L. Cruttenden. It had 40 rooms, and was called Congress Hall.
June 12. Gertrude, wife of O. Lovell, died, aged 27.
June 18. Ann, wife of Andrew Williams, died at Wor- cester, Otsego County, aged 27.
June 23. James Visscher died, aged 29.
June 24. A fire took in the carpenter's shop of Mr. Van Zandt, corner of South Pearl and Hudson streets.
The steam ferry boat which had been procured for the south ferry by the urgent advocacy of John Townsend, made 180 crossings on this day, ferrying 344 teams, 8 stages and 14 horses.
June 26. Margaret N. Quackenbush died.
June 27. The Reformed Presbyterian Church applied to the common council for permission to circulate a subscription paper to raise funds to build a new house of worship in Westerlo street, the sale of the old church not being sufficient for the purpose. Granted for 90 days.
John H. Wendell and William B. Winne petitioned that the name of North High street might be changed to Ten Broeck street, in memory of the late Gen. Abrahamn Ten Broeck.
A law passed to pitch Hallenbake street from Beaver to Lydius street.
June 28. John Robison Townsend died, aged 27.
June 29. Philip S. Parker died, aged 55; late city recorder.
July 2. Ann widow of Thomas Barry died, aged 93. She arrived in this country with her husband more than sixty years previous to her death. He became an eminent merchant, and resided here until his decease, except a few years during the revolutinary war when he removed his family to Philadelphia. Mrs. Barry is repre- sented to have been "fair and beautiful beyond the usual years of female personal charms, and extremely interest- ing and pleasing in conversation and manners until disease confined her to a sick bed."
230
Notes from the Newspapers.
July 4. The day was celebrated with unusual eclat. The trades turned out with cars on which the manipu- lations of each handicraft were exhibited.
A canister containing powder was placed on the steps of the residence of the mayor, Francis Bloodgood, with a slow match attached to it, which exploded and shattered the windows of the house. A reward of one hundred dollars was offered for the discovery of the perpetrators, and several persons were apprehended, tried and con· demned for the misdemeanor.
July 6. Daniel Stewart died, aged 39.
The dome of the new City Hall had been gilded by Joseph Davis, and was disclosed to the citizens on the 4th July, by the removal of the scaffolding.
July 10. A fire broke out in a carpenter's shop corner of Plain and Hallenbake streets, which destroyed several other buildings also.
July 11. William Barney and others applied to the common council to have Lydius street excavated from Eagle to Lark street.
Joseph Pierce died, aged 54.
The First Presbyterian church was enlarged and remodeled internally, when it became the most elegantly finished church in the city.
July 25. The common council, which had for a long time held its meetings in the Capitol, met for the first time in their chamber in the new City Hall.
The trustees of the Primitive Methodist church obtained permission to circulate a subscription for thirty days, to obtain funds with which to build a church.
The Third Presbyterian church applied for a donation in lands or otherwise to assist in building a church between State and Ferry streets.
The name of North High street was changed to Ten Broeck street. Clinton street was ordered to be exca- vated; also Lydius street from South Pearl street to Lark; also Hudson street from South Pearl to Eagle, and a part of Hamilton street.
231
Notes from the Newspapers.
July 27. The Mansion House (formerly Rockwell's) was reopened by J. P. Bradstreet, as a public house.
A fire destroyed the bakery of Daniel Carmichael in the north part of the city.
A bell was cast at the foundery of Mr. Aspinwall in Beaver street, for an Episcopal church in Rochester, weighing about 2600 pounds, which was pronounced the largest in the northern or western part of the state. It was 4 ft. 2 in. in diameter, and 3 ft. 3 in. in height.
July 29. The New Philadelphia having been repaired, made her reappearance at the landing place foot of Lydius street.
Aug. 1. Dolly, wife of Samuel Holmes, died.
Aug. 4. William Naylor died, aged 53.
Aug. 5. A row of wooden buildings in North Market street near Orange, were burnt.
Rev. Geo. Upfold resigned the rectorship of St. Thomas's church in New York, and accepted that of Trinity church, Pittsburgh. Pa.
Aug. 6. Eleanor, wife of James Radcliff died, aged 41. Epigram on the new buildings going up in North Pearl street, owned by two physicians:
These doctors who with death do wrestle, Perchance to make life shorter,
After years' labor with the pestle, Go largely in the mortar.
On a military election between A. V. Fryer and Wm. G. Fry, which was controverted:
THE COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE.
Our modern troops by name do try, To use themselves to fire ;
The 2, 4, 6 declares for Fry, The 89th for Fryer.
Aug. 15. Mrs. Benjamin Tullidge died, aged 47.
Aug. 19. Peter Skerritt died, aged 32. James Cassidy died, aged 25.
Aug. 22. Mary Willett died, aged 23.
Aug. 28. Miranda wife of Jabez D. Hammond died, aged 42.
232
Notes from the Newspapers.
Sept. 3. Heber Stone died at Esperance, aged 45.
Sep. 7. The Albany Literary Gazette was published by James D. Nicholson, and edited by John P. Jermain. Sept. 11. Eliza G., wife of Jason Paige, died. Charlotte Maria, wife of James G. Mather, died. Sept. 13. William Campbell died, aged 60.
Sept. 14. Huldah P., daughter of the late Daniel Hale, died, aged 31.
Sept. 15. Mrs. Martha Wilson, for many years a school mistress, died, aged 85.
Nicholas Van Schaack died, aged 29.
Sept. 19. Justus Wright and others, trustees of the Society of Friends in Albany, applied to the common council for the grant of a lot on which to build a house of worship.
Sept. 22. The stockholders of the Schenectady turn- pike began the survey of their road with a view of converting it to the purposes of a rail road. Wm. M. Cushman made the survey.
Sept. 27. The charter election was held, and resulted in the triumph of the democratic ticket in three of the five wards.
DEMOCRATS.
First Ward.
REPUBLICANS.
Aldermen, Barent P. Staats, ... 386 Ralph' Pratt, 235
Erastus Corning, ... 403 Aaron Thorp, .. 235
Assistants, Stephen Putnam, ... 384 Edward Kirkpatrick, 278
George M. Stevens,. 385 Angus McDuffie, 314
Constable, Abraham Sickles, 703
Second Ward.
Aldermen, William Seymour, .. 351 Dyer Lathrop, . 296
Seth Hastings, ..... 342 John Meads, . 273
Assistants, James D. Wasson, .. 347 George J. Loomis, 296
O. G. DeGroff, ..... 347 Matthews Brown, 273
Constable. Isaac O. Davis, . 338
Third Ward.
Aldermen, Peter Gansevoort, .. 119 Elisha W. Skinner, 159
Gerrit Gates, ...... 125 Isaac W. Staats, 158
Assistants, James Campbell, Jr. 108 Arnold Nelson, . 181
John F. Porter, .... 123 H. W. Wynkoop,. 155
233
Notes from the Newspapers.
DEMOCRATS.
REPUBLICANS.
Fourth Ward.
Aldermen, James Maher, ..... 394
Wm. Adams, 302
Lemuel Steele, ..... 407 Henry Rector,. 284
Assistants, Ebenezer Murdoch, . 391 James Robinson,. 307
B. Van Benthuisen, . 383 Frederick Porter, 297
Constable, Seth Green, . 238 Asaph Preston, 39'
Fifth Ward.
Aldermen, Isaac H. Bogert, .... 175 James Gibbons,. 247
Francis I. Bradt, ... 176 S. Van Rensselaer, . 246
Assistants, J. Van Schoonhoven, 202 Daniel Carmichael, 193
Daniel Shaw, ...... 220 John Van Ness, Jr. .. . 237
The common council appointed Peter V. Shankland, chamberlain.
Sept. 29. The annual military parade of the 89th regiment, Col. John Osborn, and the 246th regiment, Col. A. V. Fryer, took place, when a considerable number of privates appeared in the most ludicrous and fantastic costumes imaginable. The object of the persons engaged in this affair was to bring the militia system into contempt ; it gave the officers much annoyance.
The Mohawk and Hudson rail road was in operation at this time, a locomotive running from the junction of Lydius street to the brow of the hill east of Schenectady.
Sept. 30. James E. Thompson, a soldier of the revolu- tion, died, aged 71.
Oct. 4. Asa Colvard, sheriff of the county, died suddenly, aged 64.
The Mayor's court was held in the new City Hall for the first time, Recorder Mckown presiding. John Van Ness Yates, who was engaged as counsel in the first cause, made appropriate remarks on the occasion.
Oct. 6. Jacob Lansing died, aged 49.
Oct. 7. A movement was made by the merchants for closing stores at 8 o'clock in the evening, and a meeting was called at the City Coffee House, where the Delavan House now stands. The call was signed by the following firms, which have all passed away, or been changed.
Isaac W. Staats, J. & H. Meacham & Co.,
T. W. Ford & Son,
Humphrey & Co.,
Little & Cummings.,
W. S. Shepherd & Co., Gregory, Bain & Co., Friend Humphrey.
234
Notes from the Newspapers.
W. S. & E. C. Mc Intosh, J. Sherman & Co.,
C. & A. W. Johnson, Smith & Willard.
But three individuals of the above firms are now in active business here. Mr. W. C. Little, Mr. H. Meacham & Mr. Bachelder, of the firm of J. Sherman & Co.
Oct. 8. A meeting of citizens opposed to the militia system was held at the Capitol, Thomas Mc Mullen chair- man. A speech was made by S. W. Hutchinson, and an address to the people of the state of New York reported by a committee consisting of Giles D. Winne, S. Hutchin- son, Philo K. Cole, and Benj. R. Spelman.
Oct. 9. Mary, wife of Capt. Andrew Bartholomew, died.
Oct. 11. At a meeting of the common council a petition was presented for widening State street from Market street to the Quay, to the width of 70 feet. The width of the street at this time was 35 feet at Market street, and 43 feet at Quay street, and the buildings on each side were mostly of wood, and in a wretched condition.
Oct. 12. Rev. John De Witt, D. D., formerly pastor of the Dutch Church in Beaver street, died at Brunswick, N. J. aged about 42. He was born in Catskill.
Oct. 15. There was a grand parade of the Fusiliers, a burlesque regiment, accoutred in all sorts of fantastic costume, in ridicule of a militia muster, as required by the laws of the state. After going through the usual farce of a parade and review, they were dismissed before Bradstreet's Mansion House in a speech from the general, Thomas Mc Mullen, which was so well timed and apropos that it received the plaudits of the multitude gathered there on the occasion.
Oct. 18. James Trenor, a clerk in the office of the Secretary of state, and a man of some literary and musical pretensions, died suddenly at the Mansion House, aged about 50.
Oct. 24. A ship having been built in New York intended for a Havre packet, and named Albany by the owners, in honor of this city, at a meeting of the common council a committee was appointed to provide the vessel with colors at the expense of the city. The Albany was launched
235
Notes from the Newspapers.
on the 25th, on which occasion Gen. S. Van Rensselaer, Jr. performed the ceremony of breaking a bottle of wine over her bows and pronouncing her name.
Oct. 25. Maria Angelica, wife of Hiram Fanning, died, aged 26.
Almira, wife of Amos Gay, died.
The mayor, Francis Bloodgood, proposed to the common council the purchase of a quantity of wood for the benefit of the poor. He said it had long been the custom to distribute wood to the poor, and that the cost to the city the past winter was $600, in consequence of purchasing it to disadvantage. Mr. Corning offered a resolution which was passed, appropriating $500 to the purchase of wood to be stored for the coming winter.
Oct. 31. Martha, wife of Lewis Clark, died.
The chamberlain, H. W. Snyder, reported the city finances for the year ending Oct. 11, as follows : Receipts during the year. $242,761.59
Amount of payments, 239,866.18}
Among the expenses were, payments on city debt, $85, 500; opening streets $65,345; salaries, $4,946; lamps, $5,546; city watch, $5,514; schools $2,476; poor, $11, 312; erection City Hall, $27,810.
Nov. 1. Edward Blackall died, aged 25.
The grand jury visited the jail, and finding it very much out of repair, recommended to the board of super- visors the building of a new jail without the compact party of the city, inasmuch as this building, which had stood twenty-two years, was fast decaying. very illy constructed, too small in order to health, comfort and convenience, and situated in too thickly settled a locality. There were 56 persons in confinement.
Nov. 9. The election closed, giving large majorities to the democratic candidates. William Seymour was elected to the assemby, Albert Gallup sheriff and C. A. Ten Eyck county clerk. The city vote stood as follows :
For Assembly.
William Seymour, democratic, 1802
Samuel S. Lush, national republican, 785
Azor Taber, antimasonic 690
236
Notes from the Newspapers.
County Clerk.
C. A. Ten Eyck, union, . 2533
Sanford Cobb, antimasonic,. 562
The common council at its meeting on the 3d Novem- ber, resolved to open a street from North Market to Montgomery by taking 33 feet from the Arsenal lots, and 14 feet from the north side of Gilbert Davis's lot, the ground being offered by the owners without charge, and the new street was called De Witt street. Soon after the state offered the vacant arsenal lots for sale.
Nov. 12. Amy, wife of John N. Fisher, died, aged 41.
Nov. 14. Notwithstanding the remonstrances of nearly all the property owners on Little State street, as it was called, the common council resolved to widen it, which was done by a vote of 12 to 4. At the same meeting, on motion of Mr. Corning it was resolved to raise the following sums by tax for city expenses.
City lamps, $5,500
Night watch, 6,000
Contingencies 8,500
City debt, 8,000
$28,000
Nov. 16. Vincent King died. John Evertsen died.
At a meeting of the board of supervisors, on motion of Dr. B. P. Staats :
Whereas James Van Ingen, the present clerk of the board, was appointed to that office on the 6th day of October, 1807, in the room of Jacob Bleecker, Jr. deceased, and has been unanimously continued as clerk ever since his appointment, and has uniformily given satisfaction, therefore
Resolved, that the said James Van Ingen be continued as clerk of this board for the current year.
He was some time clerk of the assembly.
Nov. 17. The mayor, recorder and several aldermen presented the suit of colors ordered for the Havre packet Albany. The ceremony took place on board the packet, in presence of a distinguished company, after which they
237
Notes from the Newspapers.
all went below to partake of a collation prepared for the occasion.
Nov. 21. Hosford & Wait having purchased the Christ- ian Register and Telegraph of Lewis Hoffman, united with it the Journal of Utica, and published the first number of a religious paper under the title of Journal and Telegraph.
Nov. 25. Luther Plumb, formerly of Stockbridge, Mass., died, aged 53.
Nov. 26. Ann, wife of Thomas Boyd, died, aged 27.
Nov. 27. Snow fell to a depth sufficient for sleighs, which were brought out on the occasion.
Nov. 28. The common council ordered a cross walk to be laid across State street on the east side of Lodge street. The board had been importuned for this cross walk for a long time. The recorder, James McKown,. opposed it; said the one opposite St. Peter's church answered all necessary purposes. Dr. B. P. Staats hoped the walk would be made, although it had been so often. rejected by the old board. The new board perhaps was more regardful of the interests of the people than the old one. It was true that there was another cross walk near the one proposed, called the church and state walk,. because it had been placed there at the joint expense of. St. Peter's church and the state.
The committee which had been appointed to investigate- the subject of improving the Academy park, reported that $3200 had been subscribed by individuals for that: purpose, and recommended that on the payment of that sum into the city treasury, the superintendent of the. ' district be directed to proceed with the work. The. improvement contemplated grading the park and enclosing: it with an iron fence. The project was advocated with much zeal by Dr. B. P. Staats and James Maher, and. passed with but one dissenting voice.
At the same meeting apportionments were confirmed. for paving Lydius street from Pearl to Hallenbake (now Grand).
Nov. 28. Capt. Peter Dox died at Hopeton, Yates, [Annals, ix.] 21
238
Notes from the Newspapers.
county, aged 89. He was born in Albany in 1742, saw the struggle that was made in the old French and Indian war, and was actively engaged in the war of the revolution.
Dec. 1. A fall of 2 inches of snow.
Walter B. Roberts died, aged 40.
Mrs. Elizabeth Van Vechten died, aged 78, and was buried from her residence corner of. North Market street and Maiden lane.
Dec. 2. The severe weather closed the canal, and rendered the navigation of the river extremely difficult.
John Stilwell died, aged 52. He was for many years an alderman and in 1824 was a representative in the assembly. He was also major general of artillery, and by his energy did much to advance the discipline of the division under his command.
A meeting of citizens was held, Francis Bloodgood chairman and Gideon Hawley secretary, to consider the propriety of appointing delegates to represent them at a convention to be held at Leedsville to consider the project of a rail road on the east side of the river from New York to Albany.
Dec. 4. The Primitive Methodist church in State street, near Dove, was dedicated. It was announced that the Rev. Mr. Kirk would preach at 10 o'clock in the morning, Rev. Mr. Brindle in the afternoon, and that two sermons would be delivered in the evening, one of which by Miss Watkins.
Dec. 5. The frost was severe, snow fell, and the river was closed so that no boat arrived.
George Mc Elcheran died, aged 68. He was for many years a school teacher, and published a spelling book which was much used in the schools of this city.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.