USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VI > Part 22
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
Att a Comon Councill held in ye Citty hall of Albany,. ye 20th July 1713
The Petition of Johan's harmense visher Relating five- foot of Ground Sold to him by ye Commonalty being: Read
Resolved, yt ye Same be taken in Consideration till ye- next meeting in Comon Councill
August 5 .- It is Resolved that Advertisements be fixt on the Publick Places of the City giving notice to the Creditors of the Said City that they Deliver in their accounts to the Citty Treasurer at any time on or before the 12th Instant: and that the following Gentlemen Vizt David Schuyler Wessell Ten Brook John Visker Evert Wendell Guisbert Marselis Johannis Hanse are appointed a Commitee to State the Said accounts and likewise of the Creditors in the Citty Book and to make Report thereoff to the Commonalty on the 14th Instant and it is further Resolvd that A Warrant be Issued to the assessors of the City to make an Estimate thereoff and Deliver in the Same under their hands and Seals to the Clerks Office on or before the Eight Instant
The Petition of Johannis harmense visher being taken . into Consideration, and his conveyance from former Comonalty Covenanted and agreed to & with the Sd Petitioner that he Should Peaceably & quietly have hold & Enjoy ye five foot of Ground & premises therein men- tioned without ye Lawful Let Suit hinderance interrup- tion & disturbance of ye sd mayor Record'r aldermen & Comonalty and their Successors or any other person or persons whatsoever Lawfully Claiming any Right title or Intrest in or to ye sd five foot of ground with ye appur- tenances or any part thereof which the Comonalty are Resolv'd to maintain
288
The City Records.
Aug. 18 .- Pursuant to ye Resolution of ye Comonalty on ye 5 Instant the Comittee then appointed to view & Examine the accounts due to Sundry persons from this City who have brought in their Report this day whereby It appears that ye City is Indebted ye sume of £81: 9:1} of w'h is already Credited £47: 18 It is orderd that ye rest be Credited in ye City book by the Treasurer
The assessors of this City have according to the war- rant directed unto them delivered their Estimates in the Clarks office of this City amounting in all to £2821 whereon it is Resolved to be Lay'd Six pence on ye £ w'h is 70: 10 : 6 It is therefore orderd that ye D Clarke " draw over yº Estimates & a warrant directed to ye Col- lector of this City that he Collect & pay ye sd Sume of money unto Teunis Brat City Treasurer on or before ye first of Septemb: deducting nine pence pr pound for Collecting the Same.
October 3. - It is resolved & orderd that from & after the fourth day of this Instant october no baker within this City do presume to Sell any white Loaves of Bread under the weight of one pound Such baker Receiving no more for the Same then two pence and the tenth part of a penny which is ye Seaven Stivers it is likewise orderd yt Loaves made of Cornell Shall weigh two pound & a half and be Sould for four pence half penny and no more and In proportion for a loave of five pound nine pence by order of Comon Councill
albany ye: 14th : october 1713
This day being appointed by the Charter of ye City of albany for the aldermen of ye sd City to make a Returne of the aldermen assistants & Constables who are Choisen to Serve for ye Ensueing year and find by the written votes taken in each Respective ward that the following persons are Choisen vizt
First Ward.
Aldermen. David Schuyler harmanus wendell
Assistants. Daniel Brat
Evert wendell.
Tho. Mc bath Constable
289
The City Records.
Second Ward.
Aldermen. Abraham Cuyler
Assistants.
Hend'k Roseboom
Johannis Roseboom
Gysbert marcelis
Tilman van Schelluyne Constable
Third Ward.
hend. hansen
Johannis hansen
wessel Ten Broek
Peter Ryckman
Teunis Eghbertse Constable
Teunis Brat Chamberlain william Rodgers high Constable
At a meeting of the Recorder aldermen & ass'ts of the City of albany the 31th day of octob'r 1713
Whereas it is thought very necessary and Convenient for the Safety & preventing of takeing fire & other unhappy accidents w'h may arrive & attend in this City (w'h God forbid) that a bellman be nominated appointed & hired at the Charge of the said City, to go Round in the Streets of the sd City Every hour of the night after nine a Clock, This meeting have tharefore thought fitt & Convenient to agree with Robert Barret to be the bell man of this City for one whole year Commencing p'mo nov'r next and perform the duty following that is to Say to go Round in the Said City Every hour of the night from Ten a Clock at night till four in the morning and tell the hour of the night and what wheather it is at the places following vizt first at the main Guard as he goes out thereof, then in the midle of the Street, at the bridge of Joh's Dwandlaers, then at the Great bridge by Coll'o Schuylers, then at ye Cross Street at the house of Mr. holland, then on the midle of the Street before the Street that comes out by Joseph Yetts, then at Robert Livingston Jun'r Esq'r mayor of this City, then in the midle of the Cross Street w'h fronts the paril Street then in the midle of the Street, over against the houses of Abraham Cuyler Esq'r & Stephanis Groes-
290
The City Records. .
beek then in the midle of the Street between Capt Jan Janse Bleeker & Jan Lansing then at the Corner of Mr. Joh's Roseboom, then in the Street between the houses of Joh's Cuyler Esq'r Rec'r & the house of Joh's visher, then in the midle of the Street between gysbert marcelis & william Jacobse, then in the midle of the Street at Capt Joh's mingalls w'h fronts the Lane, for w'h Service it is Concluded & agree that the sd Robert Barret Shall have & Receive the Sume of twenty one pound Currant money of this Colony payable in august next, Sixty load of wood & two Candles Every night
Albany the 10th day of november 1713 This day Robert Livingston Jun'r Esq'r may'r of this City was Sworn for the due Execution of his office & toke ye oath's appointed by act of parlament
Hend. hansen David Schuyler Joh's Roseboom Wessel Ten Broek Abraham Cuyler harmanus wendell Esq'rs ald'n toke the oaths appointed by act of parlament .
Att a Comon Councill held in the City hall of albany the 10th day nov'r 1713
It is Resolved by the Comonalty that an ordinance be publish'd prohibiting all persons within this City & County to Sell or Expose to Sale any Liquor by Retaile under the quantity of five gallons without being first duely Licenced on penalty as the act of gen'l assembly doth direct
By the mayor aldermen and Comonalty of the City of albany
An Ordinance.
Forasmuch as divers persons within this City & County do presume to Sell Strong Liquor by Retaile without being lycenced for; preventing the Same, it is hereby publish'd ordaind & declard yt from & after ye publica-
291
The City Records.
tion hereof no person or persons whatsoever within ye sd City & County Shall by themselvs or any oy'rs Sell or Expose to Sale any Strong liquor by retaile under ye quantity of five gallons without being duely Licenced on pain & penalty of forfieting for each Such offence what is mentioned & Expressed in an act of gen'l assem- bly of ye Colony of new york in yt Case made & pro- vided given in albany ye 11th day of n'br in ye 12th year of her maj's Reign annoq'o Do. 1713
By order of Com. Councill P LIVINGSTON
292 )
FORM OF JUDGMENT RECORD,
1798.
[At pages 45, 46, of vol. iii, may be seen how disas- trously this judgment fell upon the household of the unfortunate Ahasuerus. His pewter plate, tongs, snaffle and gun were sold by the sheriff, producing £2 : 14:7, which was eleven pence short of satisfying the judgment and expenses !]
Pleas held before Hend'k hansen Esq'r Mayor Jan Janse Bleeker Record'r Johannes Schuyler Hend: Van Renselaer Jan Vinghgen Albert Rykman Wes- sell ten Brook Esq'rs Aldermen at ye Court of May. and Aldermen held for ye Citty of Albany ye 13th day of December 1698 in ye Tenth Year of ye Reign of our Souveraign Lord William ye 3 by ye grace of god of England Scotland France and Irland king Defender of ye Faith &a
BEE IT REMEMBRED yt on ye s1 day came before us ye sd mayor Recorder and Aldermen John fine and brought here into Court against Aasueras Marselis his certain bill with pledges to prosecute Vizt John Doe and Rich1 Roe wh: bill follows in these words Viz' Anno : Regm : Reg'es Will'm 3 Engd &a: 10' John fine of ye Citty of Albany Cooper Complains against Ahasroerus marselis of ye sd Citty shoemaker of a Plea of tresspasse upon ye Case, and thereupon ye sd John fyne saith yt whereas ye 18th day of Novembr: 1698 there being a Parcell of firewood belonging to him John fyne Lyeing at ye River
.
293
Ancient Judgment Record.
Side at Albany aforesaid which said Parsell he did Per- ceive dayly to decrease & diminish and yt Part thereof must be stole in Reguard he did not burn nor Consume ye same and haveing Suspicion yt ye said Ahasuerus Marselus was ye Person yt did take ye Same away he ye said John fine did on ye day of this Instant Novembr: together with Serg' kinard Enter into ye house of ye s11 Ahasuerus where he founde a good fire made of his ye sd John fines wood which he then and there did Challenge and Carry away and to ye mayor of this Citty did Show and Compare with his wood, by which it did Manifestly appear to be taken from his said Pile as if one tally were struck from anoy'r & where as ye s' ahasuerus his wife did call him ye sd John fine a Rogue & Severall other opprobrious words when he went with ye sd Kinard to see if his wood had not been purloind & Embazld by her husband as aforesaid whereupon he says yt he is worse and hath dammage to ye value of Tenn pounds and there of Bringeth Sute & ye sd ahasuerus marseles in his owne Proper person cometh and defendeth ye force and Injurij when & for his Plea Saith yt he is not guiltij in manner & form as ye Pl: declares against him neither did he ever take anij of ye Pl: woods for he was from home when ye thing should have happend & further says y y Pl: hath with force & violence taken wood from his fire & thereof putts himself upon ye Countreij & ye Pl: in like manner whereupon Command is [given] to ye Sherriffe yt he cause to come &a : Twelve good men &a: by whom &a: and who as well &a: to Recognize &a: and afterwards come as well ye sd John fine as ye sd ahasuerus marselles and ye Sherriffe Returned ye P'cept to him directed in all things served together w'th a Pannell of ye names of ye Jurors ye same daij in which Pennell are named Luykas gerritse Elbert gerritse Joh's Luykase Daniel Bratt fredrick harmese Peter mingael william hogen Phillip Schuyler warner Carstence will: gysbertse will : van Ale & John Carr who being Elected Tryed and Sworne to Speake ye truth in ye premises & haveing given ye Case in Charge to ye Jurij & after they had
294
Ancient Judgment Record.
heard ye Evidences of Sergt kinnar Dirk vandheyde &a: they y^ sd Jurors after Somme Consideration thereof had came to ye Barr and Deliverd in there V'dict and doe find for ye Plaintiefe Cost of Court & Six pence damage It is therefore Considerd by ye Court yt ye Deft Ahusu- erres Marsellis doe Paij unto John fine ye Plaintiffe ye Somme of six pence & yt he paij ye Somme of Two & twenty s & 6 pence Curant moneij to ye Pl for his Costs & Charges of Proscution at y" Discretion of ye sd Court adjudged It is further Considerd yt ye sd John fine have Execution against ye sd Ahasuerus Marselles for his damage & costs aforesaid & ye s1. ahesueris is in mercij
( 295 )
THE AUNT SCHUYLER HOUSE.
[The following paper was communicated to the New York Courier and Enquirer by J. H. BOGART, Esq., in the early part of the year 1855.]
Whoever has not read that exceedingly agreeable book, written by Mrs. Grant, which, under the title of the Memoirs of an American Lady, is in truth the best sketch of the society of New York, and its local history for the stirring period between the French and the Revolutionary War; whoever has not read this delightful book will be ever grateful to your correspondent, if through his sug- gestion that pleasure become theirs; and whoever has, and is familiar with its narrative, its true record so pleasantly told that the grave history becomes a winning story, will not deem the narrative of a visit to the locali- ties uninteresting.
There are groups of houses, villas, manufactories, country seats, cottages, and mansions, canal, road, and railway, so thronged into contiguity near the scenes which Mrs. Grant delineates, that it is difficult to declare them in city or country. Between the two cities, the villages and hamlets of Watervliet, and West Troy, and Washing- ton, and Gibbonsville, and Port Schuyler, have at last all combined into the energetic and prosperous West Troy, numbering beyond its ten thousand, and feeling already all proper independency of the larger cities, its. neighbors. River, canal, road, and railway, furnish the means of transit, and by all, a crowd are traversing the few miles of distance that separate Troy and Albany. The old coach rolls along the hard McAdam highway, its. driver wondering that the world has deserted him; the train dashes on in its twelve minute time, its conductor wondering "who in the world" would seek other convey -. ance than his.
I was indebted to the courtesy of the Hon. Mr. Crosby, [ Annals, vi.] 26
296
The Aunt Schuyler House.
of the Senate, for the opportunity of visiting the scenes which so many of the, most impressive occurrences of the times before the Revolution had made memorable. The alliance of Mr. Crosby with the family of General John Schuyler, made his companionship the means of seeing these localities with the best means of accuracy.
Aunt Schuyler was the wife and widow of Philip Schuyler, a gentleman of distinction and high respecta- bility in the colony, who resided at a house immediately on the western side of the road which ran directly on the bank of the Hudson. His home during his life, and in equal elegance during much of the remaining years of Madame Schuyler's life, was the centre of the best society that Albany could furnish. The best people that England placed in her army were found there. It was the abode of a taste and refinement not universal in that day, and the British officer found, in the parlor of Madame, the same grace of manner, and dignity, and appreciation of cultivation, which reminded him of the polished society he had left beyond the sea. She possessed the great good sense and thorough manner which gave to her home, and the hospitality ever found there, a character which regulated the society of which it was the centre. That splendid army which made its fatal campaign under Lord Howe, furnished many guests to her table, and the young nobleman whose death was the great disaster of the war, had his journey northward rendered agreeable by the good offices of Madame. In this life of useful and elegant courtesies, Madame Schuyler found the years of her resi- dence on the river bank pass away.
The father of Mr. Philip Schuyler was a man of com- . manding influence. Possessing great control over the Indians in his vicinity and winning their confidence, he visited the home government-as England then was- taking with him a delegation of the chiefs-rare visitors then to the streets of London. The court of Queen Anne received the group of red men with great favor, and as a testimonial of the royal approbation of the embassy, the queen directed Mr. Schuyler's portrait to be painted.
297
The Aunt Schuyler House.
Our first visit was to the residence of one of his de- scendants, where with a good taste and care unusual in this country, this historic picture is faithfully preserved. A noble painting it is. Mr. Schuyler was of command- ing presence-tall, and with features that indicate the man of resolution and purpose. The dress is a gay ornamental full costume-in a strength of coloring that is yet unbroken. It has all the appointments of the elegant man of those days-is correct in drawing, and justifies the belief that it was the work of one of eminence. The approbation of the queen was well bestowed. It has enabled us to know the lineaments of one of that class of men so worthily distinguished in the colonial days and whose vigor of character prepared the way for the bolder act of a subsequent period. In this house I saw also an old oak arm chair, adorned with profusion of moulding and carving, and cherished as a relic of Madame Schuyler's furniture, and in itself, by its style, a truthful evidence of the elegance by which-in solid and sub- stantial arrangement - her house must have been fur- nished.
From this house (whose owner, I take pleasure to say in parting from him, is honored and cherished by all who know him) I visited the residence of Aunt Schuyler. This is situate immediately on the river-a small area only between it and the bank of the stream-in the last cen- tury the great north road, the highway of the pioneer, the settler, the trader, of brave armies, of. troop and com- mander, the path over which the brilliant and gallant young Howe led his force to the fight of Lake George, and over which, the captive Burgoyne rode by the side of his conqueror. The house which was the scene of the best hospitalities that the colony gave, out of the city of New York, was burnt in 1763, but not so thoroughly but that a part of the old wall is left, and it was curious to-day to trace the disordered line where the later masonry had been joined to the more ancient structure, whose unyield- ing mortar seemed to have acquired the tenacity of stone itself. The present edifice is old-for America. It has
I
298
The Aunt Schuyler House.
. a hall of fine width, rooms of good dimensions, windows of admirable magnitude. How curious it seemed to find, in this day, the quaint old front door, divided into an upper and lower door; the singularly shaped iron knocker, fulfilling its own duty and that of the handle of the door. To lean over this lower half seemed like being brought back to the days when Albany contained many of its men, as of its customs, of other days.
The kitchen part of the house had been at the period when Mrs. Grant knew it, for a time, the residence of her father.
She was Miss McVickar, the daughter of an officer in the British service, and when she was a bright, romantic, enthusiastic little creature, idolizing Aunt Schuyler, and creating all bright fancies for herself, around the old house on the island, and by her side, little dreaming that her literary reputation should be such, and her caste of society such, that Sir Walter declared "the circle at Mrs. Grant's is positively cerulean."
I found at the house a lady, whom Heaven has so blessed as to give extreme old age, in possession of un- dimmed good sense, intelligence, and courtesy; and though ninety-one years have passed over her, of memory so correct and unbroken as to make participation in her society a most agreeable experience. I would be glad to say more, if it were not infringing on a just rule. This lady, who has dwelt here for almost all of a life so long, retains a recollection of having once seen Aunt Schuyler, while in Albany, and her description of her coincides fully with that given by Mrs. Grant. She was of immense size, so much so that it became wearisome to herself to
move about. When her house (the predecessor of this one) was burned, she was carried in her arm chair to the river's edge, and could only sit patiently and see her house in destruction. After this she lived for a number of years in Albany, occupying a house on the south side of State street a little above Pearl street; but before her death she again removed to the house-the scene of to-day's visit. It was of intense interest to be allowed to con-
299
The Aunt Schuyler House.
verse with one, in the enjoyment of life and intellect, who could bear witness to the accuracy of Mrs. Grant's delightful narrative.
When Burgoyne and Gates were in the conflict of Saratoga, the gentleman who resided at this house, heard, for it was a quiet summer afternoon, the far-off war of the cannonade, and became so intensely excited for the safety of his two sons who were with the American troops, that he expressed (as we should call it) his negro man to gather tidings. Off dashed the faithful man, and by hard riding reached the scene. Tying his horse to a rail he sought his master's boys; but a shot crashed among the rail, and off ran his pacific animal, not being of the war-horse race. Knowing that he could not face Mr. Schuyler, without bringing the information desired, he chased away after his scared steed, and securing him, after his young master. He found him well and un- harmed among his fellow soldiers, and young Schuyler gave him his jack-knife to bear home to his father, as an evidence that his mission had been faithfully accomplished.
Of such legends, this old house is replete. They tell, with pleasure, of the rare delight that Mrs. Grant's father manifested when, under the specific directions, even to the actual load of the gun, of Mr. Schuyler, he secured a splendid deer as the trophy of his first wood- craft, and how proud he felt as the animal was brought in, his great size making his weight a heavy burden for the horse.
From the conversation about the incidents of the war, of the alarms by the threatened attack of Indians, moved to unrelenting warfare against the frontier by the John- sons and by Brandt, from legends of the past, told not as of history, but as of personal participation, I turned reluctantly, to finish this interesting visit by an ex- amination of the old grave-yard, the family burial place of this ancient name.
The husband of Aunt Schuyler has the most conspicuous grave. There is a tablet raised on pillars of carved free- stone, and on it this inscription :
300
The Aunt Schuyler House.
In memory of Col. Philip Schuyler. A gentleman who was improved In several public employments In which he acted with integrity. He was singularly honored. A sincere friend and kind master, A most tender husband, He lived respected, and died greatly lamented. Feb. 16, 1758.
And where rests Madame Schuyler, to whom one of the most agreeable of all the feminine writers of the Old World gave the high honor of selecting her life and por- traiture as that of the American Lady? By her husband's side, in a namelesss grave, without tablet or monument, the very earth not even giving its swelling token of a burial beneath, rests this lady without the record of whose generous and elegant hospitality, one of the most interest- ing of the pages of New York history could not be written.
Aunt Schuyler died amidst the opening struggles of the Revolution. From a thousand old associations, the in- fluence of which it was most natural she should feel, her sympathies were with the royals, though her wise guidance of her conduct kept her old age from partizan- ship. Yet those were bitter days-when family ties snapped suddenly before the conflict of opinion, and it may well be, that even her memory waned amidst the wild and earnest struggles which convulsed society-and thus, kindred and friend thought it enough that her last home was made, where her heart most desired it, by her husband's side. There are those left of her lineage who will not long allow this unmarked grave.
The river has changed since the days of Mrs. Grant's delineation. Then it was a free and beautiful stream- the channel close by the west shore, so that the white sail reflected the sun's gleams upon Aunt Schuyler's house, There are now useful but ugly dykes, and the beautiful island, in the description of which the historian revels, is grown larger-I fear not more beautiful. The glen of Wynant's kill, so romantic and so lovely in her
301
The Aunt Schuyler House.
day, is a busy manufactory, where the glare of the furnace light is cast upon the foliage, or illuminates the winter night. The ice breaks up in no great fields as her vivid description pictures, but in less grandeur, but more safety, of smaller fragments-yet there is the old wall of the old house, as it was when Howe was there-and as it was when the cousin Philip-the conqueror of Burgoyne was visitor there-as it was when royal soldier met loyal welcome. All is not changed: there is something of the past to speak to the present.
The superb diamond ring that Queen Anne gave to the Schuyler that brought to her court the painted and proud Indian, has disappeared-gone away with the roving fortunes of a branch of the family. The estate is held yet, as it was in the last century, by those who bear the name of the family-and if I might speak of the circum- stances of the hospitality of my entertainer, I might associate with the interesting legends of other days, the - gentler loveliness of the life before us. Not much in America is historic. We remove, as if posterity would not visit our recklessness with bitter censure, the monu- ment of the past in our story. It is intensely gratifying to find, as the present visit enabled me, these memories of an honorable and useful career still cherished by those whose kindred were the actors in the scene. The old Schuyler House must, while it remains, be one of the most interesting of our localities, and if this sketch win de- lineation of it, from better limners of the scene, I shall be repaid.
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.