USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol IX > Part 18
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A new religious society termed the Fifth Presbyterian church was organized, and the Rev. Alfred Welton of Poughkeepsie was elected pastor. They held their meet- ings in the old City Hall, corner of South Market street and Hudson, and proposed to erect a church on the corner of Green and Hamilton streets.
239
Notes from the Newspapers.
There was a bitter controversy at this time between the supervisors from the country towns and those of the city in relation to the county poor. The city had estab- lished a poor house which was alleged to have cost $20, 000. The revised statutes required that the distinction between town and country poor should be abolished, and in arranging the union, the country supervisors would allow the city property to be worth only $1500. The city members proposed to divide the county, and thus get rid of the country. They finally adjourned to Feb- ruary.
The Watervliet supervisor made a motion to borrow $80,000 to purchase the Watervliet turnpike, which was also laid over.
Dec. 6. Hannah, widow of Christopher Dunn, died at Fishkill.
Dec. 11. Thomas Kendall died, noted as the first manufacturer of thermometers in this country, which he constructed with so much accuracy that the regents of the university gave him an order to supply all the acade- mies in the state.
Dec. 16. The dry goods store of Parsons & Baker in North Market street near Steuben, was destroyed by fire. The dwelling part of the building was occupied by Earl P. Pease as a boarding house.
Dec. 19. John W. Hyde, clerk of the common council, died, aged 33.
Dec. 24. Margaret, widow of Richard Dunn, died, aged 95.
Dec. 26. Ann, wife of Thos. L. Pemberton, died.
John Kent died, aged 47.
Dec. 27. Robert Babcock died, aged 78. His widow died on the 4th January following, aged 72. They were on a visit to this city from Cobleskill.
Dec. 27. Helen Law died, aged 78, and was buried from her residence 75 State street.
Dec. 29. The common council met for the annual election of officers.
John Townsend, mayor.
Gerrit Gates, clerk.
240
Notes from the Newspapers.
John O. Cole, police justice.
Thomas L. Pemberton, high constable.
John E. Lovett, city attorney. Wm. Mascraft, supt. southern department.
Harman V. Hart, supt. northern department. Nathaniel R. Packard, supt. alms house.
Gerrit T. Bradt, supt. Ferry. Peter P. Staats, city physician.
Dec. 29. Charles D. Bulkley died at Matanzas, Cuba, aged, 22; son of Chester Bulkley.
Dec. 30. Sarah Willet died, aged 80, and was buried from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Catharine Visscher, corner of Columbia street and Middle lane.
The following is a statement of the arrivals at this port lby canal during the year 1831.
427,021 barrels of flour.
19,342 ashes.
16,805 provisions.
25,306 bushels of salt.
18,681 barrels whiskey.
1,875 hhds
2,924 boxes of glass. 254 barrels lime.
134,321 bushels of wheat.
127,533 corn, rye and oats.
177,62 4
barley.
15,193 cords of wood.
18,087 feet timber.
12,290 M of shingles.
40,569,719 feet of lumber.
The quantity of merchandise that was conveyed from the city during that year was 47,968 tons, which paid $269,431.33 tolls.
The whole number of canal boats that arrived at and departed from the city of Albany during 1831 was 14,960.
The whole number of paupers which had received assistance at the alms house during this year was 795, of whom 460 were American and 335 foreigners; of this
241
Notes from the Newspapers.
number 547 were admitted during the year, showing an increase of 107 over the year 1830. The expenditures of the year, including salary of superintendent, were $8006.18, averaging $37.23 per head.
1832.
Jan. 4. A carpenter's shop and three dwellings were burnt at the upper end of Orange street.
Ann, wife of Capt. John B. Fanning, died, aged 32.
Jan. 5. The first number of the Daily Craftsman was published, Roberts & Janes editors.
Jan. 7. Garrit Hogan, jailer, gave notice that Francis Bloodgood, late mayor, had liberated all the debtors confined in the jail by paying the amounts of the debts for which they were confined.
Jan. 8. G. H. Belden died; a lieutenant in the United States army during the war of 1812.
Jan. 11. Norman Hart died; a teacher of sacred music from Berlin, Conn.
Jan. 12. Alexander H. Glen died, aged 27.
Jan. 14. John Boom died, aged 84.
Peter H. Becker died, aged 22.
John Walker, member of assembly from Clinton county, died, aged 56.
Jan. 16. A number of persons were brought before the police justice and fined for rioting and threatening the sexton at the Fourth Presbyterian church on the Sunday evening previous.
Jan. 20. Mrs. Lydia Parmele, died, aged 49.
John McWilliams, for a long time a resident of this city, died at Schoharie, aged 78.
Jan. 23. At a meeting of the common council, Philip Hooker tendered his resignation as city surveyor. Dr. B. P. Staats offered an amendment to the law, by.which thereafter there should be two surveyors, one for the southern and one for the northern district. The law was passed, and George W. Carpenter and William M. Cush- man were elected to the offices.
Ebenezer Wright and others petitioned for the filling
242
Notes from the Newspapers.
and paving of Hudson street from Eagle to Hawk street. Very few who now pass over this street can have a just conception of its appearance thirty years ago.
Abraham Van Vechten, Wm. James and others peti- tioned that the corporation would unite with them in applying to the legislature for a law that no property should be taken for opening a street unless two thirds of the persons interested therein should consent thereto. This had its origin in the widening of State street below Market, a very great improvement.
About 400 firemen petitioned that the ringing of bells for weck day evening meetings at churches might be pro- hibited, or some peculiar mode of ringing be prescribed. They were subjected to numerous fines by mistaking these alarms. A law was introduced, prescribing the mode of ringing bells at all times, and providing that no bell should be rung after twilight, but tolled, except for fires and the 8 o'clock bell.
Jan. 24. Cuyler Staats died, aged 25.
John B. Young died, aged 22.
Jan. 28. The boarding house of Mr. Gourlay was damaged by fire.
Allan Mellville died, aged 49.
The Rev. James R. Willson, of the Associate Presby- terian church, was expelled from the house of Assembly as one of the chaplains, for contempt. He published a pamphlet on the occasion.
The Mohawk and Hudson rail road company reported to the legislature that the amount actually paid and dis- bursed in the construction of the road was $483,215; that by estimates it would require $156,693 to complete it.
Jan. 30. Gessen G. Holt died, aged 45.
Margaret, wife of Timothy Gladding, died.
Jan. 31. Mrs. Maria Groesbeck died, aged 52.
Robert S. Van Rensselaer died.
The subscription books for the stock of the Firemen's Insurance Company were opened, and in six hours $112,000 were subscribed.
Feb. 1. John Duffau, a native of Bordeaux in France, died, aged 54.
243
Notes from the Newspapers.
Feb. 2. The firm of Campbell, Storrs & Co., consisting of James Campbell, jr. and Dwight Storrs, was dissolved. Feb. 7. Margaret, wife of Rufus Brown, died.
Feb. 11. The copartnership of Godfrey & Walsh, con- sisting of John I. Godfrey and John S. Walsh, was dis- solved.
A new partnership consisting of John S. Walsh, Her- man Leonard and William Jackson was formed, under the name of Walsh, Leonard & Jackson, dealing in hard- ware at No. 62 State Street.
Feb. 12. Guy C. Webster died, aged 27.
The copartnership under the name of Little & Cum- mings was dissolved, James M. Cummings retiring. The book and stationery business was continued by Weare C. Little.
Feb. 22. The military celebrated the centennial anni- versary of the birthday of Washington. The 89th and 246th regiments sat down to dinner at Crosby's Long Room, and the Albany Republican Artillery at Foot's Fort Orange Hotel.
Col. Peter Gansevoort on this occasion presented to the Artillery a large brass drum, a trophy of the revolu- tion, taken from the British on the 22d August, 1777, at Fort Stanwix, by his father, Gen. Peter Gansevoort.
Feb. 29. Dr. Samuel S. Treat died, aged 33.
March 6. William Johnson died, aged 41, a lieutenant in the war of 1812.
March 11. Erastus Youngs, died, aged 48 ; for a long time one of the most extensive stage proprietors in the city, at a time when stages were the vehicles of travel to every point of the compass.
March 12. Hugh Robison and others petitioned the common council to open Dean street to Maiden lane.
James L'Amoreux and Joseph Alexander petitioned to have Hamilton street opened from Eagle to Hawk street.
The heavy rains of the previous two days produced a flood which not only carried away the ice, but did a great amount of damage, particularly by destroying buildings on the Pier, and the bridges across the basin.
244
Notes from the Newspapers.
March 15. The first boat that arrived was the Fame of Hudson, the river being blocked up above Redhook.
March 17. Robert Bell died, aged 58.
March 18. Jared Weed, formerly of this city, died at Tully, Onondaga county, aged 29.
March 21. Leonard Westcott died, aged 40.
March 23. The managers of the Washington centen- nial ball presented John Meads with a silver pitcher or- namented with an appropriate inscription, and a silver salver having an engraved head of Washington in the centre, as a testimonial of their approbation of the refined taste and architectural skill which he evinced in deco- rating the City Hall on the 22d of February. The ball of that evening far surpassed any thing of that kind which had ever been witnessed in the city.
March 25. The ice gave way at Kinderhook, and lett an open current from Albany to New York.
March 26. The Constitution steam boat arrived from New York, the first boat of the season.
Nathaniel S. Foster, formerly of Boston, died, aged 25. March 28. James Howell died, aged 22. Mrs. Susan Williams died, aged 62.
March 29. Conrad Moore died, aged 44; formerly a merchant at Redhook.
March 31. Margaret, wife of Joseph Roby, Jr., died, aged 28.
April 1. The firm of Rice & Baker was dissolved, Silas T. Rice retiring and Ellis Baker continuing the business of staging on all the routes which they had run with so muclı success.
April 2. Robert Cameron died, aged 57.
April 3. The jury empanneled for assessing and ap- portioning the damages sustained by the owners of pro- perty required for the opening of Little State street, re- ported as follows:
Bank of Albany, $47,000
Barent Sanders, 17,000
Misses Garrison, 16,000
Leasehold interest 200
245
Notes from the Newspapers.
Alley, 900
Forsyth and Benedict,. 5,000
Estate of Thomas Gould,
10,000
Russel Forsyth,
1,450
$98,250
Expenses, .
458.55
$98,708.55
The sum was apportioned upon State, North and South Market and Dean streets, and upon the Pier between Columbia and Hamilton streets.
April 4. John Holt died, aged 36.
John Van Zandt, who had held the office of cashier of the Bank of Albany fifteen years, resigned, and was suc- ceeded by Jellis Winne, Jr.
An effort was made at this time to induce the common council to restrain the running at large of hogs. They had been allowed the freedom of the streets, as will be found by the city records, from the time of the organiza- tion of the city government, and they formed one of the city institutions which Mr. N. P. Willis pronounced more Dutch than decent, in his memorable observation, made from the eligible stand-point of the Troy House. The following discussion took place in the council chamber, April 9 :
The recorder called up the law, which was laid on the table last autumn.
Mr. Maher was opposed to the law. Hogs were the best scavengers for removing the garbage, which if left in the streets or yards would produce sickness. Besides the passage of this law would be an injury to many poor people who kept swine.
Mr. Wasson said that if two or three hogs were shut up together. in the hot season, they would be a much greater nuisance than if they ran at large. There were many poor persons whose whole winter's food consisted of the swine which they kept, and he was not disposed to de- prive them of this means of sustenance. He offered an
1
246
Notes from the Newspapers.
amendment requiring that hogs running at large should be well ringed.
Dr. B. P. Staats remarked that the pork fatted by the garbage in the streets, was not wholesome, and it would be beneficial to the public if they were restrained for no other reason. He knew that their running at large had a demoralizing effect, as it was the cause of much per- jury by people who claimed hogs. If this law were to pass, there would be people to go to all the houses to take away the garbage.
Mr. Stevens observed that it was strange how doctors disagreed. The New York physicians in 1823, gave the opinion that hogs were the best scavengers, and stated that their running at large was eminently beneficial to the health of the city. If they were of advantage in other cities, they must be so here. Their free running was an old Dutch privilege, and we must be careful how we in- fringe it.
Mr. Steele was for postponing this subject till we could get proposals for removing the garbage without much expense. He would sincerely deprecate the leaving of vegetable matter in the streets.
Mr. Wasson moved that the bill be laid on the table.
The Recorder opposed this motion. The question ought to be decided. It had been delayed long enough, and he should continue to bore the board with this mat- ter until it was decided.
Mr. Skinner also opposed the motion. and it was lost.
The question was then taken on Mr. Wasson's amend- ment to have hogs ringed, and it was lost by the follow- ing vote :
Ayes-DeGraff, Maher, Murdock, Seymour, Stevens, Van Benthuysen, Van Ness and Wasson-8.
Nays-Corning, Hastings, Nelson, Recorder, Shaw, B. P. Staats, I. W. Staats, Skinner, Steele, Van Rensse- laer, Wynkoop-11.
The law then passed, to take effect on the first of June. The fine for a hog running at large was to be $2. If the ownerwas not known they were to be taken, by persons
247
Notes from the Newspapers.
employed for that purpose, to the pound at the Alms- house, and were subject to redemption within sixty days.
The law, however, is believed to have been a dead letter, or if enforced for a while, soon became a nullity.
April 14. The cabinet warehouse of Teunis Morrell, corner af North Market street and Maiden lane was de- stroyed by fire, and the adjoining buildings south, includ- ing the postoffice, considerably damaged.
Evert Van Alen proposed to publish his improved map of the city.
April 16. Visscher Ten Eyck and Solomon M. Parke formed a copartnership in the dry goods business at No. 60 State street, lately occupied by Young & Ehle, who retired first March.
The committee for building the Orphan Asylum adver- tised for proposals for erecting a house 96 by 50 feet.
April 20. Lorenzo H. Kinsley died.
The common council presented the Methodist church in Division street a lot on which to build a church, at the corner of Plain and Hallenbake streets. They now applied for a quit claim deed of it, for the purpose of sell- ing it, which was granted.
April 26. Mrs. Lydia Van Deusen died.
April 29. John B. Van Steenbergh died, aged 41.
May 1. The annual town election was held with the following result : DEMOCRAT.
REPUBLICAN.
First Ward.
Supervisor, B. P. Staats, 366 J. V. N. Yates, 181
Assessor, .. G. M. Stevens, 371 Green Hall, 182
Second Ward.
Supervisor, J. I. Burton, 287 Josiah Winants, 241
Assessor, . . J. D. Wasson, 276 I. L. Judson, . 256
Third Ward.
Supervisor, (No opposition). Nicholas Bleecker, 241
Assessor, .. Gerrit Gates,. 122 Elihu Russell, .. 117
Fourth Ward.
Supervisor, S. S. Fowler, .. . 250 Friend Humphrey, 274
Assessor, .. (No opposition). Philip Hooker,. 558
Fifth Ward.
Supervisor, J. N. Quackenbush,. 127 Robert Shepherd, 125 Assessor, .. (No opposition). Benjamin Wilson, 234
-
248
Notes from the Newspapers.
May 2. Fitch Lamphire died, aged 30.
May 3. The subject of widening Little State street, which was opposed by the owners of the property pro- posed to be taken, came before the Mayor's court, and the assessment was confirmed by that tribunal.
May 5. The workmen engaged in tearing down the old Stone House tavern in Beaver street, discovered a quan- tity of bones in the basement wall, masoned in with new Holland bricks. Considerable curiosity was caused by the discovery, as the work was supposed to have been done a century before, at least, no Holland brick having been imported within a century. The bones on examina- tion were pronounced to be those of a quadruped.
May 7. The common council, by resolution offered by Mr. Nelson, voted themselves 25 copies of Williams's Annual Register.
May 8. Mrs. McNab, widow of Peter, died, aged 50.
May 12. Mrs. Mary Andrews died, aged 64.
May 14. The first train of the Mohawk and Hudson rail road made a trip over the whole line. A train ar- rived from Schenectady at the termination in . the south part of the city, and was received by a large assemblage of citizens and the firing of cannon.
A house between Beaver and Howard streets, on a range with Lodge street was entirely demolished by a number of persons living in the vicinity, who had long been annoyed by the noises of the occupants thereof. It was tenanted by several families, black and white, and it was found that no other effectual measures could be taken to abate the nuisance, but to demolish the house. The mayor and high constable, and a number of watch- men attended the scene, but were unable to quell the disturbance until the building was razed to the ground. Several persons were arrested and held to answer for the offence.
James McIlvaine died, aged 50.
May 16. Catharine M., wife of Henry D. Hunter, and daughter of the late John C. Cuyler, died at Congress Hall.
249
Notes from the Newspapers.
Dr. Sprague published his Lectures on Revivals.
A cenotaph was placed in the 2d Dutch church to the memory of the Rev. John De Witt, who was the first sole pastor of the church, as which he had officiated nearly eight years. The inscription was furnished by Simeon De Witt, and the monument was conceived and executed by J. Dickson of this city. It consists of a plinth or base of white marble, surmounted by an obelisk of a darker hue; against which is an urn, also in white marble, in alto relievo ; the base having on either side pilasters, sup- ported by carved brackets, and the whole finished in the simple style of the Grecian models.
May 21. Mrs. Eveline, widow of Dr. Benjamin De Witt, died at the residence of her brother, Francis Blood- good.
May 25. Barnet C. Humphrey died, aged 50.
May 27. Maj. Jacob - Fredenrich died suddenly at Be- ment's tavern in State street, aged 38.
May 31. The steam boat Novelty made the trip to. New York in 9h. 47m., which was the quickest of the day boat trips, although it is believed some of the night. boats had done better. This was a creation of Dr. Nott, and soon after made the trip in 9h. 11m.
John Thomas announced that he had taken the Ameri- can Hotel, being recently from Orange Springs, N. J.
Joseph Alexander resigned the office of president of the Commercial Bank, and John Townsend succeeded him.
A New Methodist Protestant Church worshiped at Ma- sonic Hall, corner of State and Lodge streets, Rev. Mr. Gibson, officiating.
June 12. The new steam boat Champlain, made her first trip from New York in 9h. 54m., making but one. landing.
June 13. A rumor having reached the city that the Asiatic cholera had made its appearance at Quebec and Montreal, the common council was convened and resolu- tions passed, the board taking active measures to prevent [ Annals, ix.] 22
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Notes from the Newspapers.
its lodgment here. All canal boats from the north were to be overhauled and made to perform quarantine. A committee was appointed to investigate the condition of the city as to cleanliness, &c., the physicians reported on the subject, and the utmost anxiety and consternation prevailed. Mr. James D. Wasson was sent to Whitehall and to various points on the canal and lake to.observe closely the condition of the emigrants which were ap- proaching from that quarter. The papers were filled with the subject to the exclusion of almost every thing else. An effort was made to liberate the hogs again, as public scavengers, and on the plea that confinement was the worst nuisance. Guards were placed to preven emigrants from approaching the city from the north until they had performed quarantine.
June 21. The legislature met in extra session.
June 29. Ann, wife of Thomas Gough, died, aged 40.
July 2. The legislature adjourned after a session of two weeks.
July 3. It having been reported that the cholera had made its appearance in New York, the mayor of Albany issued a proclamation forbidding any vessel or steam boat, having any sick persons on board, from approaching the city at any place nearer than one mile from the south ferry.
The board of health reported that two persons of very irregular habits had died of symptoms resembling malig- nant or spasmodic cholera.
John Bradford died, aged 22; the first undisputed death by cholera.
July 5. The firm of Fidler & Taylor was dissolved, and the business continued by John Taylor.
July 6. The house of William Stilwell in Colonie street was destroyed by fire.
July 8. Levy Solomons died, aged 22.
July 10. The Theatre, which had been opened for a new season on the evening of the 4th, closed this evening on account of the excitement about the cholera.
July. 10. A great quantity of tar was burnt in the
25 1
Notes from the Newspapers.
streets with a view to abate the cholera. It served to render the deserted streets most dismal and gloomy.
Gen. John H. Wendell died, aged 80, of an apoplectic attack which occurred at church on the previous Sunday. In 1776, at 24 years of age, he abandoned the profession of the law, and became an ensign in the Ist New York regiment, but soon entitled himself to promotion, and was made captain under Col. Van Schaick, and commanded a company at the battle of Monmouth. He was with the army during the whole period of the war, and was sub- sequently raised to the rank of major-general of the militia, and also filled various civic offices with talent and ability. He continued to wear the costume of the era of the revolution to the time of his death.
July 10. David Tinker died of cholera, aged 30; the first victim of good habits and character.
July 13. The citizens were invited to join South Market street and the Dock in burning tar and rosin, at 9 o'clock in the morning.
Great complaints were made of the filthy condition of the Foxen kill, much of which was still an open creek, and the receptacle of all the filth of the district which it traversed. It was docked by the owners of the adjoin- ing lots, and an estimate was made that a dock cost $40, and that it might be converted into a drain of mason work at an expense of $75 to each owner.
Harmanus Henderer died, aged 68. He was a native of Columbia county, but had resided in this city more than forty years; was one of the trustees of the Lutheran church, and maintained a high character for honesty and worth. He was a victim of the cholera.
July 13. The board of health reported 28 new cases of cholera this day, deaths 7.
July 14. New cases cholera, 27, deaths 6.
15. do do 17, 6.
Some of the churches abandoned Sunday evening meet- ings, and the common council met in the afternoon, under the impression that there was unwholesome influence from night assemblages.
252
Notes from the Newspapers.
July 16. 29 new cases of cholera, 7 deaths; among which was that of Ira W. Scott, publisher of the Direct- ory, aged 38.
July 17. 23 new cases of cholera, 8 deaths; among which was that of Robert Rusk, a clerk in the comptrol- ler's office, aged 45.
Josiah Sherman, aged 63, died of a lingering illness. He was one of the most respected merchants of the city, and a man of amiable demeanor.
Harriet, wife of Wm. Ostrander, died, aged 42.
July 18. 23 new cases of cholera, 5 deaths.
July 19. 20 new cases of cholera, 6 deaths; among which was that of Henry Abel, aged 55.
July 20. 22 new cases of cholera, deaths 7; among which was that of Brockholst Livingston, and Mrs. Keyes, an estimable woman, wife of Julius Keyes, who kept the tavern, corner of Daniel and Eagle streets.
John R. Bleecker, Jr. died, aged 28.
July 21. 40 new cases of cholera, 11 deaths; among which were Daniel Lloyd, aged 24; and on Sunday, the :22d, his mother, widow of James Lloyd; also Mrs. Scott, widow of Ira W., who died on the previous Sunday; Mrs. Wm. H. Shiffer, aged 27; Mary, wife of John Wil- liamson, aged 72, who in her youth was made prisoner by the Indians (her family being murdered), and taken to Detroit, where she obtained her liberty through the interference of a French officer. She had resided in Albany 60 years, and was very highly respected and esteemed. Deaths on the 22d, 14; new cases, 19.
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