USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VII > Part 10
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The amount of auction duties paid by the auctioneers in the city of Albany during the year ending September 30th, 1818, was as follows: Benjamin V. Clench, $81.10; Lewis Clark, $63.09; Asahel Hall, $75.54; Jesse G. Brush, $1,159.47; John M. Willard, $1,394.72.
A loaf of superfine inspected flour was required to weigh 2lbs. 8oz. for ls.
Feb. 24 .- A meeting of citizens was held at the inn of C. N. Bement, 55 state street, to express their dissent to the laws for the imprisonment of debtors. Gould Hoyt acted as chairman, and Peter Lansing as secretary. They resolved that the time had arrived for the abolition of the barbarous custom.
Albany and its Prospects. A series of articles in the Daily Advertiser commencing March 1st.
"A few short years only have passed since the whole of the unoccupied part of our city was up at auction. The daily cries of the auctioneers might be heard upon all its avenues. No price was too extravagant to be asked, and to be obtained for a lot of ground. Men who never before dreamed of wealth, found themselves, as if by magic, in possession of untold riches ; the philoso- pher's stone was at length discovered; the crucible which received an ounce turned out its pound of gold; the infectious madness became general, and pervaded all classes, all trades, all professions. A few individuals,
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Notes from the Newspapers.
more moderate and reflecting than the multitude, saw that all this was but an airy bubble in a summer's sun; and that the children who were gazing at golden colors, would find it vanish at the grasp. It has vanished, and we are left in disgrace, to wonder at our folly in supposing that a new city was instantly to appear upon our barren plains, and that we were immediately to be but into pos- session of what industry, time, and the gradual progress of the country only can produce."
The mayor, aldermen and commonalty of Troy applied to the legislature for liberty and money to erect a dam across the Hudson at the island about two miles above the city of Albany, for the purpose of improving the navigation. A bill was reported to the assembly, by Mr. Warren favorable to the prayer of the petition.
March. 11 .- Mr. J. V. N. Yates, from the committee appointed by the house of assembly to inquire into the subject of the improvement of the navigation of the Hudson river, made a report, which was published in the Daily Advertiser of March 13th. It appears that up to this time $80,000 had been expended by the legislature in improving the channel of the river between Troy and Waterford and nearly as much more had been expend- ed between Troy and Albany, and below the city of Albany. Various schemes were proposed for the pur- pose of removing the obstructions complained of; one, by the erection of piers and dams, another of projecting dykes or jetties, as adopted in deepening the river Clyde, and a third, which was urged with great persever- ance by Mr. Genet, was the construction of a lateral canal. Between the years 1797 and 1818, a period of twenty-one years, $148,707.94 was raised by lottery for improving the navigation of the river, which was divided as follows: between Albany and Troy $30,500; between Troy and Waterford, $82,641.78; below the city of Albany, $35,566.16.
An association styled the Albany Chamber of Com- merce and public improvements, was formed about this time, the objects of which were not made public; but a
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Notes from the Newspapers.
committee of five was appointed for the month of April, to settle any disputes that might arise between mer- chants of the city, who might choose to submit them for settlement. Isaiah Townsend, Joseph Alexander, Peter Van Loon, Walter Clark and John Spencer were the committee.
March 27 .- John Woodworth was appointed by the council a judge in the supreme court of the state of New York.
A sloop .of 137 tons, owned by Trotter & Douglass, and intended for the river trade, was launched at Ken- yon's ship-yard in Ferry street. It was pronounced by the papers one of the largest and finest ever built in this city.
Isaac Q. Leake resigned his office of cashier of the Niagara Bank.
April 1 .- William James gave notice that he had withdrawn himself fron the superintendence of his com- mercial concerns, having relinquished that part of his business to his son, who would conduct it in future, under the firm of Robert James & Co.
April 22 .- John Kane died in New York aged 58.
April 26 .- A Mr. Peloubet gave notice that he would ascend in a balloon from the Capitol. The expenses he would attempt to raise by collection from the audience before the ascension. He apologized two days after that in consequence of the high wind the balloon did not rise with sufficient rapidity to get out of the reach of the boys, one of whom threw a stone which penetrated the balloon and brought it to the earth. But he would send up a small and a large one on Wednesday the 28th.
April 30 .- Benjamin Whipple died, aged 64, for many years door keeper to the house of assembly of this state.
There appears to have been six candidates for state senator, as follows: Abraham Van Vechten (federal) re- ceived 329 votes in the city ; Solomon Southwick (demo- cratic), 106; Elisha Jenkins, 134, and Arunah Metcalfe (Clintonian), 56; Charles E. Dudley, 213, and John T. Moore (Tammany), 109.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
May 10 .- At a meeting of the Albany Sunday School Society, in the consistory room of the North Dutch Church, the following persons were elected officers for the ensuing year: George Upfold, Pres .; Theodore Sedg- wick, Ist Vice Pres .; John Boardman, 2d Vice Pres. ; William Stead, 3d Vice Pres .; Nahum Rice, 4th Vice Pres .; Thomas W. Ford, Treasurer, Absalom Towns- end,* Secretary; Roderick Sedgwick, John Taylor Jr .* Gilbert F. Lush, Galen Batcheldor,* William Mayell, Harmanus Wendell Jr. Henry T. Jones, Anthony Civill, William C. Miller,* Richard V. De Witt,* Tilly Allen, Stephen J. Rider, * and James Balentine, Directors.
- May 11 .- The following persons were elected direct- ors of the Bank of Albany : John Van Schaick, Nicholas Bleecker, John Robinson, Abraham Van Vechten, Jacob H. Ten Eyck,* Volkert P. Douw,* Matthew Trotter, Philip S. Van Rensselaer, John Brinckerhoff, Barent Bleecker, Stephen Lush, James Stevenson, Stephen Van Rensselaer, Jr .* John Van Schaick was reelected president. Mr. Jacob H. Ten Eyck, is now president of the bank.
May 24 .- Ramo Samee, the Indian juggler, appeared in Albany, and performed at Skinner's Mansion House.
A writer in the Daily Advertiser says that the Academy Park was excavated to the depth of three or four feet for the purpose of filling up Lydius street, and that after a shower it was a perfect pond.
The common council advertised for proposals for lathing, plastering and painting the Market situate on the ground purchased of the Lutheran congregation, and for digging, filling and paving an avenue from South Pearl street to said market. The earth for filling to be taken from such parts of Hudson street as should be directed by the superintendent.
H. Bamman advertised that he would open the Eagle Tavern on the first of June, under repairs and enlarge- ment, and new and fashionable furniture. Having pro- cured the choicest liquors, he promised to spare no
* Survivors, 1855.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
pains to afford comfort and satisfaction to his customers, which he was confident of a competency to do, from his acquaintance with the business of entertaining genteel company at the York House, Utica. [He made his fortune at the Eagle.]
June. 1 .- The following persons were elected directors of the New York State Bank for the ensuing year: John Tayler, William James, Elisha Jenkins, Thomas Gould, Isaiah Townsend, John D. P. Douw, Francis Bloodgood, John Woodworth,* Anthony Lamb, James Thorn, Nathan- iel Davis, * James Clarke. John Tayler was unanimously reelected president.
June. 7 .- The following persons were elected directors of the Mechanics and Farmers Bank ' for the ensuing year : Benjamin Knower, William Fowler, t Benjamin Van Benthuysen, Peter Boyd, Charles E. Dudley, Russell Forsyth.f John Marvin, William Boyd, Jesse Buel, Ezra Ames, Richard Dusenbery, James Gibbons, Thomas Herring.
June. 21 .- The Misses Lewis advertised that they had fitted up the house No. 76 State street, opposite the State Bank, formerly occupied by Mr. Stewart Lewis as the City Tavern, as a boarding house.
This was a time of great embarrassment among the banks. Jacob Barker's Bank stopped payment, and the citizens of Baltimore commenced a run upon their banks, which they sustained for a considerable time. The bank of Niagara, Bank of Hudson, Aqueduct, or Green county Bank, Jefferson county, Catskill, Bank of Columbia at Hudson, Ontario, Middle District, Washington and War- ren, Plattsburgh, were among the discredited concerns. The Albany banks, however, sustained themselves.
Elisha Jenkins, mayor of the city, having resolved to remove to Hudson, resigned his office.
J. Heermans, merchant tailor, 399 South Market street, believing that the state of the times required a reduction in the prices of labor. advertised the following prices, the cloth being furnished by the customer.
* Survivors, 1855.
+ Still directors, 1855.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
For making a plain dress coat or surtout $4.00 Or for the above including trimmings 6.00
For plain pantaloons, 1.50
do including trimmings, 2.00
For making plain vests, 1.25
do including trimmings, 1.75
do if trimmed with flannel or rattinet, 2'00
Aug. 16 .- A loaf of superfine inspected flour to weigh 3lbs. 2oz. for ls, ; common or mixed bread to weigh 31bs. 12oz. for ls. or Ilb. 14oz. for 6d.
Dr. James Low advertised that he would instruct ten or twelve medical students in elementary and practical pharmacy, chemistry and botany, at a moderate fee.
Sept. 28 .- The election for charter officers was held on Tuesday, September 28, when the following gentlemen were elected :
First Ward .- Theodore Sedgwick and Sebastian Viss- cher; John Russell and James Keeler, assistant aldermen,
Second Ward .- Charles E. Dudley and Chauncey Humphrey; John Cassidy and Herman Jenkins.
Third Ward .- Nicholas Bleecker and Richard S. Treat; Conrad Gansevoort and Herman G. Wynkoop.
Fourth Ward .- Mathew Trotter and Estes Howe; William McHarg* and Philip Hooker.
Fifth Ward .- John Gibbons and Richard Dusenberry ; Herman V. Hart and Henry W. Snyder.
The election was pretty sharply contested, it is re- marked; but no political question was agitated, except in the second ward, where the republicans carried their whole ticket. The new board consisted of 14 federalists and 8 republicans.
John Bogart was reappointed chamberlain and Paul Hochstrasser, city marshal.
Green Hall, of the late firm of Carson and Hall, gave notice that he had removed from the old stand corner of State and Market streets, to the shop lately occupied by Joseph T. Rice, No. 431 South Market street, nearly opposite A. Moody's Tavern. Mr. Carson removed out
* Only survivor of this board, 1855.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
of town and Mr. Rice removed into the store left by Carson & Hall.
Oct. 2 .- George Reelman, a German, died at Settle's Hill, in Guilderland, aged 1122. He was born in the city of Landau, March 8, 1707, and was in the great battle of Prague.
Oct. 12 .- John Stafford, of the firm of Stafford & Weed, died.
Oct. 25 .- John E. Lovett was appointed attorney to the board of common council in place of Teunis Van Vechten, resigned.
Nov .- Asa H. Center, Nathaniel Davis, William Du- rant, Alexander M. Muir, Noah Brown and John Mead, Albanians, gave notice that they intended to apply to the legislature, at their next session, for an act of incorpo- ration, in the name of the Lake Erie Steam Boat Company, with a capital of $76,000. -
Dec. 10 .- The president's message, which was deliv. ered in Washington on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 12 o'clock, arrived in New York on Wednesday morning at 6 o'clock, and was published on Friday in Albany, making four columns of the Daily Advertiser. The " unprecedented speed" to New York was accomplished through the united exertions of Stockton of Baltimore. Stockton & Howell of Philadelphia, and Gulick & Sons, New York.
A writer in the Daily Advertiser, under the signature of Verdicius, ascribes the scheme of uniting the Hudson river to Erie lake by a navigable canal, to Elkanah Watson, offering in proof the private-journal of Mr. Watson, during a tour from Schenectady to Geneva in 1791 when he carefully explored the ground, streams and small lakes lying on his route. This journey is said to have been made with a view of recommending to public notice the project of uniting the two waters.
Dec. 21 .- A meeting of citizens was held at the Capitol to take into consideration the subject of the prohibition of the further extension of slavery in the United States. Lieutenant Governor Tayler presided, and William A. Duer and Dr. Chester addressed the meeting. Teunis
[ Annals, vii.] 13
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Notes from the Newspapers.
Van Vechten secretary. A memorial was prepared by William A. Duer and adopted, and subsequently presented to congress.
One Russell is announced as having arrived in the city on Tuesday evening in the New York stage, ac- companied by one of his friends, and on Wednesday pro- ceeded in the Vermont stage to Manchester. All that was remarkable about the circumstance arose from the fact that he was believed to have been the first person on record who after having been supposed dead, was found and restored to his friends after the trial and conviction of his supposed murderers, before their execution.
1820.
Jan. 10 .- Died on Monday morning, Jan. 10, Mr. Abraham Eights, in the 75th year of his age, a respectable citizen, and more than thirty years an elder in the first Presbyterian church in this city.
Jan. 19 .- The flouring mills belonging to Philip S. Van Rensselaer, situate on the Norman's kill at the crossing of the Bethlehem road, were destroyed by fire in the night of Wednesday Jan. 19. Two days after, the plaster mill at the same place was burnt.
Jan. 21 .- The corporation having passed a law to go into operation on the 22d Jan., prohibiting the sale of wood in State street east of Middle lane (now James street) the dealers in grain gave notice that they would purchase only in State street, east of Middle lane. The object of this was to concentrate a market in that spot, for the mutual accommodation of buyers and sellers, and to do away with runners.
A company of comedians from the New York Theatre leased the Thespian Room in North Pearl street, which had been fitted up by a society of amateurs, and- on the 25th January opened with Othello and the Wag of Wind- sor. Maywood, Spiller and Woodhull were the principal stars of this galaxy. The Thespian stood near the corner of Quackenbush (now Patroon) street on the east side of North Pearl, opposite Clinton Park.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
Dr. Peter Wendell and Jonathan Eights were appointed by the common council physicians to the poor of the city.
A Mr. Plimpton announced to the citizens of Albany the completion of his musicial instrument called the Apollino, which seems to liave been brought out by sub- scription, and consisted of a combination of several instruments.
A loaf of superfine inspected flour to weigh 3 lbs. 5 oz. for one shilling and a loaf of like flour to weigh 1 1b. 11 oz. for sixpence; common or mixed bread, 3 lbs. 14 oz. for ls .; or 1 1b. 15 oz. for 6d.
The common council made a retrenchment in the sala- ries of the corporation officers, &c., to the amount of about two thousand dollars.
A stage company boasted of making the shortest trip to New York by land, namely 15 hours.
March. 1 .- John Van Schaick, president of the Bank of Albany died, aged 47.
Col. Stephen Lush, Jr., died at Simaboa on the coast of Africa, March 2.
The price of steam boat fare to and from New York appears to have been $8 at this time, and the number of passengers in 1819 was 16,000, the company paying a tax of $1 each to the state, for canal purposes. The new company, which applied for a charter proposed to pay the state $5000 a year, and reduce the fare to $6.
March. 24 .- A law entitled, "An act to incorporate the Albany Savings Bank," passed the legislature on the 24th March. The first managers were Stephen Van Rensselaer, president; William James Ist vice president; Joseph Alexander 2d vice president; John Townsend 3d vice president; Charles R. Webster, Jesse Buel, Thomas Russell, Volkert P. Douw, John W. Yates. William Durant, Douw Fonda, Simeon De Witt, Peter Boyd, John Spencer, John L. Winne. William McHarg, Matthew Gill, Harmanus Bleecker and Sylvanus P. Jermain, trustees.
March. 27 .- The steam boat Paragon, Capt. Roor- back, arrived at the dock at 5 o'clock in the morning,
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Notes from the Newspapers.
giving the first assurance to the citizens that the river was open. The fare was reduced to $6 at this time.
The steam boat and sloop captains began to complain of bars in the river below the city where they had been unknown before. A certificate was published by four teen captains, that previous to the execution of the dam at Winne's bar, the channel way at the upper end of Beekman's or Schodack creek was wide, and extended almost to the east shore; that there then existed no bar or shoal at that place; but that since the erection of the dam, a shoal had been gradually increasing at that point, and that the channel way there had become quite narrow and difficult of navigation. This paper was signed by Samuel Wiswall, Daniel Peck, Isaac Newton, Isaac Keeler, Jeremiah Austin, Jasper S. Keeler, James N. Cobb, George Monteath, Henry Green, Austin Matson, Roorback, Thomas S. Donnelly, David Attwood, Barnum Whipple.
John Randel, Jr., in confirmation of the above, also stated that the deep water in front of Castleton, although embodied in a descending mass of from sixteen to twenty- three feet in depth, at common high water, and confined on the east by the shore, and on the west by an extensive sand bar, bare at low water, to a breadth of only forty- eight rods, had not sufficient momentum to dislodge the shoal formed in the midst of the channel; but on the contrary had, at that very spot, deposited a bed of sand eight feet in depth, forming the Castleton shoal.
James Wynkoop certified that since the building of dams above Albany, islands and shoals had been formed below; and that to his perfect recollection, he had fished in deep water where the island above Bath, and below the first dam was then seated; and that since the erection of the dams, in general the fisheries had been very materially damaged.
An estimate of the expense of improving the navigation of the Hudson river, on the plan of Mr. Gouldbourn, by means of alternate piers, 2000 feet apart, and raised to the level of high water mark; and also by submarine
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Notes from the Newspapers.
excavations, the produce of which it was contemplated to deposit behind the piers; the work to reach from Troy to Coeymans overslaugh, was estimated at two millions, seventy-six thousand, one hundred and five dollars, eighty-nine cents.
D. K. Van Vechten, who had been a partner with William Seymour in the book-binding business, now advertised books at 38 State street. Mr. Seymour con- tinued book-binding at No. 73 State street.
April. 1,-William James gave notice that he had withdrawn himself from the superintendence of his com- mercial concerns, and had relinquished that part of his business to his son; who would conduct it in future under the firm name of Robert James & Co., holding himself accountable for the engagements of the firm.
April. 6 .- The firm of Pratt & Durant, consisting of Ralph Pratt and William Durant, was dissolved.
At the election for governor, Albany county gave Clinton 1720 votes, and Tompkins 1028.
The expense of transporting a barrel of flour from Cayuga lake to Albany was $2.50, before the opening of the canal.
April. 11 .- A loaf of superfine inspected flour to weigh 3 lbs. 11 oz. for Is. and 1 lb. 12 oz. for 6d .; of common or mixed flour, 4 lbs. 6 oz. for Is., or 2 lbs. 3 oz. for 6d.
April. 12 .- Cornelius W. and David W. Groesbeeck commenced the auction business. The other auctioneers at this time were Asahel Hall, Henry A. Williams, Wm. Clench, John Jauncey, Benjamin V. Clench and John M. Cuyler. (Samuel Morgan resigned.)
Mr. Trowbridge, who kept the Museum, advertised as an attraction, "one of the largest animals of the United States, a Buck Moose, from Jefferson county, six feet six inches high, with full grown horns complete.t.
April. 22 .- Thomas Gould was buried from his dwell- ing house No. 18 Montgomery street.
Theodore Ostrander, late of Albany, died at New York aged 30.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
At the election for state officers a larger number of votes was polled-than usual, De Witt Clinton received 883, D. D. Tompkins 239, Clinton's majority in the county was 692.
April. 27 .- William Durant advertised that he had taken his brother Clark Durant into partnership, and had commenced business under the firm of William Durant & Co., at the fire proof store on the dock, corner of Hamilton street, in front of the Eagle Tavern.
Barent Bleecker was elected president of the Bank of Albany, in the place of the late John Van Schaick.
May. 1 .- The firm of Mather & Thorne was dissolved. Elias Mather was for some years later a liquor merchant, doing business on the corner of State street and Middle lane now James street.
May. 2 .- The Rev. William Hogan designing to leave the city and accept a call to Philadelphia, the following citizens sent him their regrets: De Witt Clinton, John Tayler, John V. N. Yates, Archibald McIntyre, William B. Lacy, P. S. Van Rensselaer, William James, Francis Bloodgood, Charles R. Webster.
May. 6 .- George A. Hoyt commenced business as a watchmaker and jeweler, on the corner of South Market and Hudson streets. He announced that besides his regular apprenticeship he had served a considerable time in New York for information, and upwards of five years with Mr. Joseph T. Rice in this city, and felt confident of his ability to do his customers justice. Mr. Hoyt con- tinued in business on that corner during his life, and maintained a reputation for integrity, industry and fru- gality that always become the man of business.
Christopher Dunn, who had occupied the old stone house in Green street. opened the Albany Coffee House, corner of Green and Beaver streets, which he represented as being one of the most spacious, convenient and airy buildings in the city.
May. 8-The steam boats began to make four trips a week, instead of three. This change was made osten- sibly for the accommodation of way passengers. Those
.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
who have been accustomed to consider the fare rather extortionate at $2, for a passage to New York, will be relieved of an imaginary grievance on consulting the following table of fares :
To Kinderhook, 1.50
Hydepark, 2.75
Coxsackie, 1.50
Poughkeepsie, 3.00
Hudson,
2.00 Newburgh, 3.50
Catskill, 2.00 West Point, 3.75
Redhook,
2.50 Caldwell's Landing, 4.00
Kingston, 2.50 Verplank's Point, 4.00
Staatsburgh, 2-75
New York, 6,00
June. 2 .- Abraham J. Lansing died aged 44.
June. 5 .- Elias Mather advertised that he had formed a copartnership with Finlay McNaughten, at the store lately occupied by Thomas Gould deceased, at No. 63 State street.
June. 10 .- The Savings bank, the first in this city, was opened, and the sum of $527 was received from 21 depositors, as follows: a silversmith, $25; a gentleman for his daughter, $45; a seamstress, $40; two mechanics, $22; three apprentices, $1 each ; a laborer, $10; a clerk, $5; a lady, $50; a lady for her daughter, $25; another the same; a colored servant, $46; another, $3; a carman, $2 a single man, $3; a widow, $200; a merchant, $15. . On the 17th, $768 were received.
June. 11 .- Benjamin Ford, formerly deputy secretary of state, died, aged 40.
June. 20 .- At a meeting of the common council it was stated by one of the members that several of the magis- trates were willing to perform the duties of police justices without salary, and a resolution was offered to discon- tinue the payment of salary to that officer. The division on the question was as follows:
For the affirmative, Messrs, Visscher, Trotter, Rus- sell, Keeler, Cassidy, Hart; 6.
Negative: Messrs, Humphrey, Dudley, Bleecker, Treat, Gibbons, Dusenberry, Jenkins, Gansevoort, Wynkoop, Hooker, Snyder; 11.
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Notes from the Newspapers.
The board then elected Philip Phelps and Tunis Slin- gerland police magistrates, and John Meigs police con- stable.
The firemen and a number of citizens went up to Troy, which was visitd by a great conflagration which swept down the west side of River street, destroying by esti- mate a million of dollars worth of property.
July. 9 .- Henry Guest Jr., "one of the most respect- able merchants and a gentleman whose memory will long be cherished in the esteem and respect of a nu- merous acquaintance," died in the 61st year of his age. He had a leather store and factory on the corner of Church and Lydius streets, which he disposed of to Andrew Lightbody a few months before his death. Lightbody had been a partner.
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