The annals of Albany, Vol. V, Part 3

Author: Munsell, Joel, 1808-1880
Publication date: 1850-1859
Publisher: Albany : J. Munsell
Number of Pages: 374


USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. V > Part 3


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).


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319


Notes from the Newspapers.


Reimbursement of principal and int. of loans, .. 8,155.60


Alms house and support of poor, 5,599.52


Public wells and pumps, . 435.35


Paving public square, .


1,000.00


Salaries of officers, .. 66 Police constables, 247.50


Lancaster school, .


810.00


143.76


Celebration anniversary of independence, . Streets and bridges, & compensation for damages, New jail, .


5,278.23


6,658.72


Reimbursements for lots erroneously sold, 457.00


Contingencies,


7,760.33


$53,320.24


Sept. 24. Elbert Willett, who had occupied the office of City Chamberlain for a great number of years, with uncommon fidelity, and who was more than 70 years of age, was dismissed from office by his own political friends. For sale :- An honest, faithful negro woman. Enquire of William Fowler, Court street. Oct. 19, 1811.


Dec. 13. It is a curious fact for naturalists, that on the 13th December, a spaniel dog, belonging to James Barclay, was taken out of a room in an uninhabited house in this city, where he had been confined by accident from the first day of November, 42 days, without food or drink. The dog was alive though too weak to stand; he was re- covered. The only furniture in the room was a bed and bedding, which he had nearly destroyed.


1812.


Died, on the 29th Jan., Dr. William McClelland, an old and respected city physician. Dr. McClelland was 43 years of age. He was a native of Galloway, Scotland; obtained a medical education in Edinburgh, came to this country at an early age, and commenced the practice of his profession in Albany. From this period until sickness had impaired his faculties, his standing was deservedly eminent. He held, at different times, the respected offices of president of the Albany County and State Medical So- cieties, and of the St. Andrew's Society of the city of Albany.


4


2,618.89₫


30


52


Notes from the Newspapers.


Feb. 2. A sermon was preached in St. Peter's church on Sunday evening, by Rev. Mr. Clowes, and $275.29 collected for the benefit of the Society for the Relief of Indigent Women and Children, although the weather was inclement and unfavorable.


Feb. 3. Thomas Brown, of Cornwall, Orange County, afterwards known as Dr. Brown of Albany, obtained a copyright for his history of the shakers, " exemplified in the Life, Conversations, and Experience of the Author during the time he belonged to the society."


Feb. 9. The second anniversary sermon, before the Albany Bible Society, was preached in the Presbyterian church by Dr. Nott, and a collection taken for the be- nefit of the society, amounting to $450.18.


March 27. The city was thrown into commotion by the prorogation of the legislature by Gov. Tompkins, on the eve of the passage of the charter of the Bank of America, with a capital of six millions.


March 28. The boats advertised for this season were the Paragon, Car of Neptune, and North River; the first commanded by Capt. Wiswall, the second by Capt. Roorback, the last by Capt. Bartholomew.


The following is the time made by the steam boat North River. She left New York at 5 in the afternoon; passed West Point at 2 in the morning, Newberg at 4, Pough- keepsie at 9, Catskill at 5 in the afternoon, Hudson at 7, and arrived at Albany about 12 at night.


It appears by the following communication in the New York Mercantile Advertiser, that this speed was occa- sionly exceeded.


"Rapid Travelling .- The steam boat, Car of Neptune, which left this city on Saturday evening at 5 o'clock, ar- rived in Albany in 20 hours; she returned this morning in 22 hours passage; equal to 380 miles in 42 hours. Let foreigners, who say we have no talent for improve- ment, point out where there is any mode of conveyance equal to this. In what country is there so many enjoy- ments in one great polytechnic machine, and mounted with wings as this, which wafts passengers as by enchant- ment between the cities of New York and Albany? To


25:3


33


Notes from the Newspapers. (i) .. 1


our countrymen, then, let justice be liberally and honestly measured out.


Died, May 27, Abraham Schuyler, aged 76; an old and respectable inhabitant of this city.


Ames's Picture of Gov. Clinton .- The Academy of Fine Arts at Philadelphia, acknowledged the receipt of an ele- gant portrait of the late Vice President, George Clinton, painted by Mr. Ezra Ames, of Albany. "In reviewing this picture," says the Philadelphia Gazette, " the friends of the deceased will be gratified with the correctness of the likeness, and will be no less delighted with the beauty of the painting."


May 31. ROBERT BARBER, founder of the Albany Register, died, aged 42. [He was an apprentice of Charles R. Webster, but bought his time before he became of age, and it having been determined to establish another paper, by a number of influential republicans, they employed him to print it; it accordingly appeared in 1788, under the firm name of Robert Barber & Co. He became dissi- pated, and went into the country, it is believed to Johns- town, his brother, John Barber, taking the charge of the paper, although he was not a printer. The two were born at Longford, in Ireland; and their graves, marked by a simple stone, are to be seen in the Episcopal burial ground.]


June 1. The first election for directors of the Albany Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank was held on Monday, June 1. It had been generally understood among the stockhold- ers for some time previous, that two federalists should be admitted into the board (the directors named in the law being all democrats), but whose seats should be vacated for their admission, was not so readily agreed on. The elec- tion opened at ten o'clock at the Columbian hotel in Court street, and was continued to a late hour in the afternoon. It was a very warm and animated contest, and at the close of the poll it appeared that the following gentlemen were elected: Solomon Southwick, Benj. Knower, Elisha Dorr, Isaac Denniston, Benj. Van Benthuysen, William Fowler,* George Merchant, Thomas Lennington, *Giles


* Still living.


34


Notes from the Newspapers.


W. Porter, Willard Walker, Walter Weed, Peter Boyd and Isaac Hutton. The two latter in the place of Spen- cer Stafford and John Bryan.


Rail Road Proposed .- A pamphlet was published entitled " Documents tending to prove the superior ad- vantage of Rail Ways and Steam Carriages over Canal Navigation, particularly from Lake Erie to Hudson's River."


An act passed the legislature incorporating the Albany Lancastrian School Society.


July 2. Died, on Thursday morning, July 2, Brigadier Gen. Peter Gansevoort, of the United States army, aged 63.


July. The managers of the Society for the Relief of Indigent Women and Children, acknowledge a donation from Robert R. Livingston, of Clermont, of one share in the Albany and Troy Steam Boat, valued at $500.


Miraculous draft of Fishes .- On Monday afternoon July 27, 225 fine bass were caught at a single draft, in the Hudson river, below the dam, at the village of Wash- ington [between Troy aud Lansingburgh.] They weighed from five to thirty pounds each, and the whole amount was near 3,000 pounds. What renders this circumstance the more remarkable is, that none of the fisheries on the Hudson have ever been noted for large quantities of bass. The taking a single one of thirty pounds in the course of the season, has at all times been considered as very rare and uncommon. Small bass, however, are occasionally caught in considerable quantities; but they are by no means plenty, nor is our market at any time tolerably well supplied, except in the spring season, with fish caught in the Hudson.


Died, on Wednesday, July 29 (or August 5) the Rev. John Watkins, aged 66, a pious and sincere Christian, and an honest and upright man, He was a patriot of the Revolution, and present and an actor in many of its most important and trying scenes.


Sept. 25. The steam boat Fire Fly commenced run- ning between Albany and Troy twice a day.


35


' Notes from the Newspapers.


Oct. 13. Col. Solomon Van Rensselaer, of Albany, led on the Americans to the attack of Queenstown Heights, which were carried; but owing to the refusal of a portion of the militia to cross to his support, the British reinforce- ments drove him from his position, when he received four bullet wounds. He carried one of the balls in his flesh to the day of his death.


Oct. A military line of expresses was established from Greenbush to Niagara, which was to perform the journey in 44 hours, at such times as the public service should require.


Recruiting. R. C. Skinner, captain of artillery in the Albany volunteer regiment, advertised for recruits to complete five companies of infantry, two of riflemen and one of artillery, which he represented as filling up with unexampled success in the city and county of Albany. All able-bodied, effective men, desirous of demonstrating their attachment to the only free country on earth, were invited to join this regiment. The city of Albany had established a fund of many thousand dollars for the pur- pose of remuncrating the patriotic soldier, and they were invited to come forward in time to secure the opportunity, which might never again occur. Applications to join this regiment were to be made at Ladd's Coffee House, corner of Green and Beaver streets.


Oct. 31. A large concourse of the dignitaries and pri- vate citizens turned out to escort Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer into the city, who had resigned his commission of major-general in the army on the western frontiers, immediately after the battle of Queenstown.


Com. Perry's Reception .- On Monday, Nov. 8, the citi- zens proceeded towards the city of Schenectady to meet Com. Perry, on his way from the seat of war to the place of his nativity in Rhode Island. He was met at Douw's Tavern, where, after partaking of some refreshments, the procession was formed, and marched to the Capitol. Here the Hero of Lake Erie was presented with an elegant sword and the freedom of the city in a gold box. After which, the procession formed and proceeded through the principal streets to the Eagle Tavern, where, amid the


36


Notes from the Newspapers.


acclamations of the people, the Commodore alighted from his carriage, and was conducted by the mayor and recorder and several other gentlemen, as well military as civil, into an apartment prepared for the purpose. The testi- mony of respect was closed in the evening by an elegant ball, at which more than one hundred ladies attended, " whose attractive charms and joyous smiles, spoke a language truly animating to those who nobly fight the battles of their country." The Eagle Tavern was bril- liantly illuminated, and a transparency over an eagle, with the words We have met the enemy and they are ours, gave great effect to this interesting scene. On the fol- lowing day an elegant entertainment was given to the Commodore at the Eagle Tavern. He left the city on Thursday for his family residence in Newport, R. I.


Nov. 24. A tremendous gale swept over the city, doing great damage in blowing down and unroofing buildings, particularly in Lion street [now Washington]. At Green- bush two new barracks, each 250 feet in length, were blown down, and other damage done.


Nov. 28. Captain Bulkley's company of Albany vol- unteers, and Captain Walker's company of artillery, returned to the city, after an absence of three months on Staten Island. It is said, "they marched into the city in the same regular and martial order in which they left it, and paraded through the principal streets."


1813.


On the 11th of April, Samuel R. Brown commenced the publication of The Albany Republican, on a medium sheet, once a week. There was a division of the Repub- lican party on the banking question. . The Register advocated the project of a six million bank, which was obnoxious to a portion of its constituency; Mr. Brown was therefore called from Ballston Spa, where he printed the Saratoga Republican.


In his address to the public he says: "It may be con- sidered a bold and hazardous experiment to establish a third newspaper in this city, after the failure of several


37


Notes from the Newspapers.


similar attempts. But it does appear to me that a new journal is, at this critical juncture, indispensably neces- sary; and despite of the fate which has attended former essays of this kind, I have determined to commence."


Of his motives, he says : "I have observed with pain the silence of editors whom I had been in the habit of re- garding as faithful sentinels of republicanism, virtue, and public morals, upon questions involving, in my opinion, the vital principles of the republican cause; and what is still more distressing, I have perceived an extraordinary mutation of sentiment on their part, upon some cardinal points of republican policy. False and sophistical reason- - ings have been addressed to the people by men whose opinions the people till lately respected; facts have been distorted, and the most abominable political heresies, cal- culated to mislead the public mind, have appeared in the state paper. In fine, the former professed friends of the people have deserted fundamental principles, and pursued a course at once erratic and mazy."


In the first paper is a vindication of Gen. Root, who opposed the six million bank, and " looked upon the pro- gressive scene of corruption with horror."


Jan. 5. A detachment of the volunteer militia of Troy came into the city with the British colors which they had taken at St. Regis. They bore two superb eagles in the centre and the colors in the rear, and passed through Market and State streets to the Capitol. The governor being unable to attend, Cols. Lamb and Lush, his aids, advanced to receive the trophies, which were presented in military style, to the people of the State of New York, by Maj. Young, and the reply was made by Col. Lush. The standard was deposited in the council room, amid the loud huzzas of the people, and military salutes.


A rare concurrence of incidents and emblems, says the Gazette, likened the scene to a Roman triumph, and ren- dered it peculiarly impressive. The troops were formed in the Capitol, on the Capitoline hill; the pavement on which they stood was of beautiful Italian marble; the colors of the volunteers bore the eagle, the ensign of the Roman legions; and the heroes who presented the British


38


Notes from the Newspapers.


standard were Trojans, and so were the ancestors of the Romans. The standard was British, and Britain was van- quished by the Romans.


Jan. 17. Thomas Barry, for a long period a respectable merchant and worthy citizen, died, aged 75. His funeral sermon was preached at the Catholic church, by the Rev. Mr. McQuade.


Jan. 18. Notice was given that the corporation having made a large appropriation for the establishment of a city academy, a meeting of the citizens to confer upon the important subject was requested to be held at the Capitol on the 28th inst.


At that meeting, Archibald McIntyre was appointed chairman, and a committee of fourteen chosen to devise a plan for the future institution.


The following persons were appointed counsellors at the late term of the Supreme court in this city: John C. Spencer, John A. Collier, and Solomon Southwick.


Jan. 26. Died, Mr. Casparus Hewson, aged 53.


A fever, which had for some months prevailed to an alarming degree in many places, visited this city in the latter part of this month, and created considerable alarm. On the last day of Jan. 12 new cases occurred, and one died; Feb. 1, 20 cases, 1 death. The board of physicians and the board of health quieted the fears of the people by assuring them that it was not infectious, and was entirely under the control of medicine. The physicians whose names accompany this manifesto were, Samuel Stringer, Chas. D. Townsend, E. Willard, Jona. Eights, William Bay, Jas. Low, John Stearns, Peter Wendell, J. L. V. Deusen, and Platt Williams. It prevailed throughout the adjoining counties.


Feb. 17. The Society for the Relief of Indigent Women and Children stated that from February, 1812, to February, 1813, 83 women and 197 children had been assisted by the managers, and 31 children schooled and clothed. This society was organized in 1803; from which time to the present period, 650 women and 1295 children were relieved, and 260 children schooled and clothed. The children are daily instructed in reading, plain work, &c.


39


Notes from the Newspapers.


A collection was taken up for the benefit of the society about this time, and the treasurer acknowledged the re- ceipt of $10.87 collected in the Baptist church; and $115 collected in the Presbyterian church.


March 11. It was announced that a Sunday free school would be opened on Sunday, March 21, at the school room of George Upfold, in Van Tromp street, where several branches of English education would be taught from the hours of 6 to 8 in the morning, and 12 to 2 in the after- noon, free of all expense.


April. It was announced that the corporation was about to open Spring street, running back from the Capi- tol half a mile, at an expense of nearly $10,000.


Academy .- The citizens began to agitate the project of a boys' academy in very good earnest. The corpora- tion had offered a lot along the public square, and the sum that might be raised from the sale of the lot and ma- terials of the old Jail, which was estimated at $12,000. In addition to this it was thought necessary to raise $30,000 by private subscription to complete the requisite sum for erecting a suitable building, and establishing a permanent income.


Paving .- The common council ordered the following streets to be pitched, leveled and paved : Namely, Sand street, Plain street, from Washington (South Pearl) to Hallenbeck (Grand), and the side walks of Plain street to be laid with flat stone or hard brick; Deer street, and the remaining part of Washington street to the southern bounds of the city.


Died, Friday April 16, Cornelius Van Schelluyne, aged 76.


Aug. 15. Gen. Wilkinson arrived here in the steam boat on Sunday, and proceeded to the frontiers.


About 200 British prisoners passed through this city on Sunday morning, to the encampment in Greenbush.


It was stated that 100 soldiers belonging to the 100th and 103d regiments deserted the British at Swanton, and a number more left them at Plattsburg, some of whom have arrived in this city.


( 40 )


ALBANY DIRECTORIES.


The city of Albany, in the year 1813, is supposed to have contained about 11,000 inhabitants, when Mr. JOSEPH FRY, who had been a printer, but now held the office of city guager, was pursuaded to attempt the publication of a Directory. The number of names contained in his first edition is about 1638, which does not seem to have included the Colonie. The work comprised a 12mo pamphlet of 60 pages. The following table shows the names of the publishers of the Directory from the begin- ning by Mr. Fry, the number of pages contained in each, and the names of the printers.


Year of Compilers.


No. of Printers.


publication.


1813, Joseph Fry,


60 Websters & Skinners .*


1814,


62 H. C. Southwick, and Pack- ard & Van Benthuysen.


1815,


· 88 H. C. Southwick, Packard & Van Benthuysen, and Churchill & Abbey.t


70 Packard & Van Benthuysen.


1817, [Name not given.]


78


1818, B. Pearce,


70


1819,


68 E. & E. Hosford.


1820,


71


1821, 66


80


1822, Graham Klinck,


80


1823,


80


1824, Tobias V. Cuyler,


92


1825,


108


* The long primer type on which this work was printed, was the first fount which came into the office without the long s.


t The printing was given to three houses, in order to get it out on the 10th of June.


1816, 66


pages.


41


Albany Directories.


Year of Compilers.


No of Printer s.


publication.


pages.


1826, Ira W. Scott,


112 Webster & Wood.


1827, T. V. Cuyler,


100 E. & E. Hosford .*


1828, Ira W. Scott, 132 Webster & Wood.


1829, Wm. Cammeyer,t 120 H. D. Stone.


1830, Cammeyer & Gaw, 148 E. B. Child. 1831, E. B. Child & W. H. Shiffer (opposition),208


1831, Ira W. Scott, 204 J. B. Van Steenberg.


1832, Edmund B. Child, 225 E. B. Child.


1833, 1834,


218


252


1834, G. J. Loomis & T.


G. Wait, (opposition) 380 G. J. Loomis.


1835, Edmund B. Child, 264 E. B. Child (6337 names).


1836, No Directory published.


1837, L. G. Hoffman,


224 L. G. Hoffman.


1838, 266


1838, E. B. Child (oppo- sition), 284 A. Southwick (7185 names).


1839, L. G. Hoffman,


276 L. G. Hoffman.


1840,


303


1841,


322


1842,


323


1843,


301


1844,


356


1845,


369


1846,


330 Andrew Hoffman.


1847,


345 C. Van Benthuysen.


1848,


402


1849,


458


1850,


465


1851, J. Munsell, 460 J. Munsell.


1852,


492


(11,795 names)


1853,


504


* This was about the last business done by this house, which went into bankruptcy this year.


t Mr. C. was a copperplate engraver, and his Directory contains a map of the city, believed to have been the first one so published.


42


Albany Directories.


The Directory has been published forty-one years, by ten different persons, of whom only the first and last two are living. There have been three opposition Directories during the above time, of the publishers of which, Messrs. Wait and Loomis survive. One year, 1836, none was published.


The first Directory of Mr. Fry is here republished. A few names of persons who have since become citizens of some note, and who were residents at the time of pub- lication, do not appear. Such omissions are not of rare occurrence in such works. The lapse of forty-one years has made havoc of most of the 1,600 inhabitants then in active life, but we still observe some of them yet hale and engaged in the bustle of business. The names of such as are known to be still living are inserted in small capitals, and in some cases of recent death, note is made of it within brackets.


The names of several streets have been changed since that Directory was printed, among which are the following : What was then Washington street is now South Pearl; Market street is now Broadway above State; Court street is now Broadway below State :


Lion street is now Washington ;* Lutheran street is now Howard; Capitol street is now Park; Mark lane is now Exchange street;


Middle lane is now James street ; Fox street is now Canal; Tyger street is now Lancaster;t Deer street is now State; . Frelinghuysen street is now Franklin ; Dock street is now Dean; Bass lane is now Bleecker street ;


Store lane now Norton;


Fly Market is now Centre Market.


* Lion (now Washington) street was previously called King street ; Elk street was Queen street, and Swan street was Boscawen street.


t One of the inhabitants of that street, was Daniel Snyder, trum- peter and watchman, who had a remarkably loud voice, and was employed to cry the hour of the night from the cupola of the jail, and could be heard in every part of the city. His house was on the site of Austin's carpenter shop.


LOSSING=BARRITI


JOSEPH FRY,


ÆTAT 80.


THE


ALBANY DIRECTORY,


CONTAINING ABOUT TWO THOUSAND NAMES,


ARRANGED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER:


BEING


A TOLERABLY CORRECT ACCOUNT OF THE


TAXABLE INHABITANTS WITHIN


THE CITY.


Collected and arranged,


AT THE REQUEST OF THE COMMON COUNCIL,


BY J. FRY.


-


ALBANY:


--


PRINTED BY WEBSTERS AND SKINNERS.


June 1, 1813.


(46)


NOTICE.


-


The following work will be found to contain an alphabetical list of actual residents of the city of Albany, as correct as the circumstances under which it is undertaken will afford, and as works of this kind are generally found to exhibit. Such as it is, the publisher offers it to the public, with a hope (though feeble) of a competent reward for his labor in a liberal purchase of the books.


Should any omissions, or important inaccuracies be found in the work, he hopes to receive notice thereof, to enable him to correct them in the next publication.


The numbers of streets running in a westerly direction from the river, commence at the east end, on the north side, with No. 1, and on the opposite side with No. 2, and so throughout; the odd numbers on the north side, and the even numbers on the south side of the street. The same system is adopted with streets running northerly and southerly-the numbers commencing, in all cases, at the northerly end of the street, and on the westerly side.


Several streets are not numbered. The inhabitants in such may easily be found, there being but few houses in such streets.


It is proper to remark that no street is known on record by the name of Capitol street; but as the new street running in a south . erly direction from the Capitol is generally known by that name, it is so here inserted.


It is also proper to remark that the word street is, in all cases, omitted, to be added by the reader, as, for State, is meant State street; for Capitol, Capitol street, &c.


Should this publication meet its hoped for encouragement, in the sale of the books, the next may be accompanied with a list of inhabitants in the Colonie, and a map of the city.


47


Albany Directory, 1813.


OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF ALBANY.


Hon. Phillip S. Van Rensselaer, Esq., Mayor. John Van Ness Yates, Esq., Recorder. Jacob Mancius, Esq., Sheriff. John Lovett, Esq., Clerk. FIRST WARD.


Aldermen. George Shepherd, George Pearson.


Assistants. Stanton Brown, James Warren.




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