USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. VIII > Part 12
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May 17 .- The Albany Prison Discipline Society, which had been formed in September previous, held a meeting to receive the report of a committee appointed to visit the jail. (See Daily Adv. May 25.)
May 18 .-- James Lloyd died, " a highly valued citizen." The steam boats plying the Hudson between Albany and New York, were as follows:
Union Line :
Olive Branch, Capt. H. Moore.
Niagara, Capt. H. Fountain.
William Penn, Capt. C. Benton. North River Line:
Chancellor Livingston, Capt: Cochrane.
James Kent, Capt. T. Wiswall.
Richmond, Capt. S. Wiswall.
Saratoga, Capt. Benton.
North River Association Line:
Constellation, Capt. Cruttenden.
Constitution, Capt. W. Wiswall.
-
151
Notes from the Newspapers.
Steam Navigation Company :
Swiftsure, Capt. D. Peck.
Commerce, Capt. Seymour.
Or. & D. Co., Tr. Co .: Henry Eckford, Capt: Peck.
Sun, Capt. Drake.
atibe
Troy Line:
Chief Justice Marshall, Capt. Sherman.
New London, Capt. Fitch.
Conn. Line :
Hudson, Capt. Bartholomew.
May 23 .- Isaiah Shaw died, aged 53.
May 27 .- Rain fell after an interval of twenty days, the greatest length of time without rain since observa- tions began to be taken at the Academy, in January, 1820.
May 29 .- A petition was sent to the common council to continue Lodge street through to Steuben.
Welcome Esleeck, at the same meeting offered a reso- lution directing the attorney of the board to prosecute Charles R. Webster, for an infringement of the law in building stoops of an illegal width before his houses in Beaver street.
William S. Van Tassell, formerly of Albany, died in the hospital at Carthagena, S. A.
May 29 .- The common council ordained that every baker carrying on business within the city should file his name and place of residence with the city clerk, under penalty of five dollars. Also that bread should be made into loaves weighing three pounds or one and a half pounds, and marked with the initials of the baker; and bread made of unwholesome materials or unmarked, should subject the baker thereof to a fine of twenty-five cents per loaf; and for light weight a penalty of 10 cts. an ounce, was imposed.
The mean temperature of the month was 66.49 deg .; highest, 92 deg .; lowest, 45 deg. Rain on four days, in which 0-75 inches fell.
June 4 .- A severe gale passed over the city, unroof- ing buildings and doing other damage. A torrent of rain
152
Notes from the Newspapers.
fell at the same time. One inch of rain fell in 15 min- utes.
June 6 .- The following persons were elected directors of the New York State Bank. John Tayler, William James, Francis Bloodgood, Isaiah Townsend, John D. P. Douw, John H. Webb, *Erastus Corning, Thomas Rus- sell, *Silvanus P. Jermain, Allen Brown, *Nathaniel Davis, *Robert Boyd.
June 6 .- Burr Lewis died, aged 35.
The steam boat Sun, Capt. Drake, arrived from New York in 12 hours 13 minutes, having made 13 landings. A passenger inflated with the sublimity of the fete, broke forth in the following strain :
" Who can out'clipse the Sun, When she from port to port hath run, In hours twelve and minutes few?
The time is short, the fact is true."
June 11 .- Mrs. Phebe Bell died, aged 80.
June 12 .- Paul Hochstrasser resigned the office of marshal and was elected city clerk, the term of office of Lawrence L. Van Kleeck having expired.
June 12 .- The common council gave the First Presby- terian church liberty to erect chains across South Pearl street and Store lane during the Sabbath.
The present steam boat landing was formerly called the watering place, where teams and cattle had access to the river. The common council at this time directed a Navigation Company, who had leased the premises, to have the north side filled up, reserving a space of 45 feet in width from South Market street to the river, as a watering place, and that they be authorized to have the wharves made and repaired in a substantial manner, and cause a bridge for foot passengers to be made over the east side of the watering place in a range with the docks ; and that they also be directed to cause such parts of the watering place and the streets about the same, to be paved as they think proper.
They also appropriated two hundred dollars towards defraying the expenses of celebrating the fourth of July.
* Survivors in January, 1857.
153
Notes from the Newspapers.
June 22 .- Peter Deitz died, aged 50.
June 23 .- Robert McGill died, aged 33.
June 26 .- Books were opened for subscriptions to the stock of the Mohawk and Hudson Rail Road Company, which was eagerly taken by capitalists.
Louis Lemet, a French copperplate engraver, opened the State Street House on the south side of State street, three doors below Pearl street. He fitted it up quite tastily for the time, and added to its other attractions the novelty of a French and English library.
June 26 .- The trustees of the African Baptist church applied to the common council for permission to circulate a subscription paper in aid of the funds of the church. The recorder moved that the petition lay on the table until some inquiry could be made. He said that some years ago donations were made to build this church, when the trustees spent a considerable part of the funds in treating themselves with hot suppers.
At the same meeting of the common council the mayor laid before the board the draft of a law creating a new officer, to be called the street inspector.
June 26 .- Mrs. Cornelia Dunbar, wife of James Chest- ney, died, aged 64.
June 27 .- A severe hail storm passed over the city, at half past I o'clock in the afternoon.
The mean temperature of the month was 65.73 deg .; highest, 86; lowest, 56 deg.
July 3 .- Thomas Lockrow died, aged 31.
July 4 .- The fiftieth anniversary of American inde- pendence was celebrated by the citizens and military. Thé procession moved to the Capitol, where the Declara- tion of Independence was read by Richard V. De Witt, Esq., and an oration was delivered by T. Atwood Bridgen. After the exercises were closed, the citizens and military partook of corporation punch. The military dined at different hotels. They consisted of the following: Capt. Hendrikson's Artillery. Capt. Van Cott's Artillery. Capt. Shankland's Albany Volunteers. Capt. Johnson's
154
Notes from the Newspapers.
Governor's Guards. Capt. Barker's City Guards. Capt. Wright's National Guards.
July. 9 .- The steam boats James Kent and Sun, arrived from New York in 14 hours, and brought the news of the deaths of Adams and Jefferson, which occurred on the 4th inst. The Daily Advertiser of the following day was shrouded in black lines.
The treasurer of the Schenectady Turnpike, Barent Bleecker, announced a dividend of one per cent on its capital stock. The treasurer of the first company of the Great Western Turnpike, Christian Miller, announced a dividend of fifty per cent upon the capital stock of that company.
July 14 .- John Shaw died, aged 66. He entered the revolutionary army at a very early age, and was a lieu- tenant in an artillery corps. He sustained a very reput- able character throughout his life.
July 16 .- William Mitchell died, aged 32.
July 21 .- A novel craft passed through the canal lock into the basin, being the sloop St. Clair, 50 tons, laden with peltry and ashes from Mackinac, bound to New York. The St. Clair unshipped her masts at Buffalo, was towed down the Erie canal, and proceeded to New York in tow of a steam boat. This was a novelty, which soon became common enough.
July 23 .- Another novelty at this time was the arrival of a party of Swiss emigrants, by the tow boat, on their way to Ohio, by the Erie canal. The costume; and sin- gular appearance of these children of the country of Wil- liam Tell, excited universal attention. They were accompanied by their wagons, plows and other farming utensils, rude enough in their construction. This phe- nomenon became common also, for it was some years after this before the Swiss emigrants ceased to bring over such cumbrous articles.
July 25 .- Solomon Southwick issued the first number of the National Observer.
July 25 .- Arthur Hotchkiss died, aged 53.
Some people about these days thought others were
155
Notes from the Newspapers.
very extravagant. One set wanted Liberty street paved from Division to Hamilton, which another thought to be wholly useless. Several restless persons who had gone out of the pale of civilization were clamorous for " a road from Patroon street at the foot, of Chancellor Lansing's garden, northwardly to the old burying ground near the residence of Geo. Merchant, thence west- wardly through Grand street to the yellow house, the property of Judge Woodworth." It was thought that this would enable people to get up and down the hill without a tackle ! A law was got through the common council for pitching and leveling Chapel street from State to Steuben street, and the same for Sturgeon lane. They also began to think of attempting to cut Eagle street through from the Lancaster school house to Lydius street. Others still more bold, began to think of im- proving the upper end of Hudson street. The upper end of Hudson street at this time, which was so unsightly to these fastidious citizens, lay between South Pearl and Grand streets, and was almost inaccessible at times by any vehicle.
July 27 .- Elizabeth, wife of Hezekiah Scovel died, aged 34.
July 30 .- The steam boat Sandusky made her first appearance here, being intended to run with the Olive Branch.
July 31 .- The citizens of Albany offered a tribute of respect to the deceased patriots, Adams and Jefferson. A procession was made by the citizens, military and masonic societies. The procession formed at the Capi- tol and marched through the streets to the Second Pres- byterian Church, where an eulogy was pronounced by Judge Duer. It was represented to be the greatest pa- geant the city had ever witnessed.
The mean temperature of the month was 73.11 deg .; highest 90 deg .; lowest 56 deg. Rain on seven days; 52 inches fell.
Aug. 2 .- A fire destroyed a grocery store in Lark street, occupied by Benj. Woodbury & Son.
156
Notes from the Newspapers.
Aug. 2 .- The Daily Chronicle made its appearance," published by Charles Galpin and M. M. Cole.
Aug. 3 .- Burial of Mrs. Matthew Gregory.
Aug. 5 .- A fire destroyed the dwelling house of a Mr. Patterson on Arbor hill. The inmates, sixteen in number, barely escaped alive, saving none of their effects.
Aug. 8 .- Hester, wife of George Hanford, died, aged 20.
Aug. 8 .- George Blake, carpenter, fell from the roof of a house while at work, and was so badly injured that he died two days afterwards.
Aug. 11 .- George Creswell died, aged 49.
Dwyer, the elocutionist, made his appearance here, and gave recitations from Shakspeare. He was famous on the stage at a later day as Falstaff.
Aug. 16 .- Audley Clarke Peckham died at Utica, aged 36. He came to this city from Newport, R. I., when 15 years old, and had ever since been engaged in merchantile business. His death was very sincerely re- gretted, so much had he endeared himself to com- munity.
"John G. Gebhard, who died at Claverack, Aug. 16, aged 77, was born at Waldorf in Germany, 1750; re- ceived a classical education at Heidelberg, completed his theological education and was licensed at Utrecht in Holland. In 1771 he immigrated to this country, and first officiated in the ministry in Pennsylvania. In 1774 he was called to New York, where he continued till it was invested by the British fleet, when he fled to Kings- ton. Of three calls received while at New York, he selected Claverack, where he remained until his de- cease, having officiated in the ministry there fifty-one years. He was a proficient linguist, having been accus- tomed to converse in the learned languages, according to the custom of the university where he was educated. As a divine he was solid, preaching the doctrines of the Reformation. His style was didactic; addressed to the understanding with a view to enlighten and convince."
Aug. 21 .- The first notice of William Morgan in the
157
Notes from the Newspapers.
Daily Advertiser appeared in an obscure paragraph, in these words :
" The Masonic fraternity and others are cautioned in the Ontario Messenger, against a man calling himself Capt. William Morgan, as he is a swindler and a dan- gerous man."
Aug. 21 .- An attempt was made in the common coun- cil to get an appropriation of $250 towards procuring a clock for the South Dutch Church, as the church on Beaver street was then called. But it was determined that the city finances would not admit of the expense.
The newspapers of this time daily acknowledged the receipt of news by the steam boats in advance of the mail. The boats made the passage in about fourteen hours.
Aug. 21 .- The dwelling house and stable belonging to Mr. Whiteside, on Arbor Hill, was destroyed by fire. Aug. 24 .- William Kirk died, aged 29.
Aug. 28 .- Thomas Bridgen died.
Aug. 29 .- The chancellor decided in the case of John Meads and others vs. the Commercial Bank, that the bank might go into operation so far as to issue bills and discount notes, but prohibited any transfer of stock, or making any loans on pledges of stock. H. Bartow of Utica was appointed cashier, and Lambert Norton book-keeper.
The mean temperature of the month was 71.79 deg .; highest 86 deg .; lowest 56 deg. Rain on eight days; 2} inches fell.
Sept. 8 .- Edward C., son of Dr. Elias Willard, died, aged 34.
Sept. 11 .- Joseph Henry entered upon one of the pro- fessorships of the Albany Academy, on which occasion he delivered a public address.
The Water Works Company were engaged at this time in boring for water at the junction of the Sche- nectady and Cherry Valley turnpikes.
Sept. 16 .- The firm of Van Alstyne and Brinckerhoof [ Annals viii.] 15
158
Notes from the Newspapers.
was dissolved. It consisted of Martin Van Alstyne and Richard J. Brinckerhoof.
Sept. 20 .- The Alms House, which is still occupied as such, was completed at this time, and was visited by three or four hundred people. The expense of its erec- tion was about $14,000. The following statement was given of the number of persons then occupying the pre- mises :
44 white females between the ages of 19 and 80, of whom 13 were sick and lame, and 3 insane.
38 children between 4 months and 8 years, all healthy.
3 black males between the ages of 45 and 80.
8 black females between 35 and 80.
30 white males.
123
The architect of the Alms House was Henry W. Snyder, city chamberlain.
Sept. 23 .- Maria C. Hewson died, aged 25.
Sept. 26 .- The common council reappointed Henry W. Snyder city chamberlain.
Sept. 26 .- The charter election resulted in the elec- tion of all the Republican candidates for aldermen but two.
First Ward.
Aldermen.
Assistants.
John Townsend,
255
John D. Hewson, 317
Isaac Denniston,
231
Jonah Scovel, ..
264
Friend Humphrey,
229
John Herman,.
176
*William Gould,.
193
*Robert Davis, 146
Second Ward.
John Cassidy,
316
James Humphrey, 296
Daniel McGlashan,
405
*William Seymour,.
224
Jonathan Eights,
91
Arnold Nelson, .
115
Jacob F. Sternbergh, ..
184
Third Ward.
R. S. Treat,
124
Isaac W. Staats, 124
Andrew Kirk, .
169
Richard J. Knowlson, ... 179
Tunis Slingerland, · * Democrats.
70
Andrew E. Brown, . ..
56
159
Notes from the Newspapers.
Fourth Ward.
Welcome Esleeck,
179
James Goold, .
168
* Moses Kenyon,
166
Benj. Thayer,
129
Wm. Mayell,
166
*Lemuel Steele,
174
Wm. Fowler,
14L
James Maher, 156
Fifth Ward.
John N. Quackenbush, ..
210 Francis J. Bradt, 210
John L. Winne,
164 James Gibbons, . 153
Benj. Wilson, ..
42
- John A. Wilson, . 52
Sept. 28 .- Aaron A. Vedder, a chorister in the Dutch church during the Revolutionary war, died at 50 South Pearl street, aged 80.
Messrs. Boyd & McCulloch, brewers, who were boring for water at their brewery in Ferry street, had reached the depth of 294 feet, without obtaining sufficient head. At the depth of 250 feet they struck a vein of sul- phureted hydrogen gas, which emitted a brilliant flame on being ignited.
Sept. 30 .- Elizabeth Henry died, aged 29."
The mean temperature of the month was 64 deg .; highest, 82 deg .; lowest, 44 deg. Rain on 9 days; 3§ inches fell.
Oct. 1. - Alexander Hamilton Bogert died, aged 22.
Oct. 3 .- Jacob, Henry & Co. gave notice that they had commenced the manufacture of earthien ware, in Washington steet.
Paul Hochstrasser, clerk of the Albany library, re- ported that there were 242 shares in that institution, producing a revenue of $1.25 per annum, and that the whole income of the year was $433. The expenditures were $241, leaving a balance of $192 for the books and for binding. The trustees resolved, in answer to a pro- position that the library should be opened every day, that as soon as sufficient funds were placed at their dis- posal they would comply.
Oct. 17 .- Moses Kenyon having been elected alder- Democrats.
160
Notes from the Newspapers.
man of the fifth ward to fill a vacancy, took his seat in the common council.
Oct. 24 .- Mrs. Sarah Trowbridge died, aged 80.
Oct. 26 .- John Cleves Symmes delivered a lecture at Knickerbacker Hall, on the subject of his theory of the earth being open at the poles.
Oct. 30 .- Hugh Robison and others petitioned the common council to change-the name of Dock street to Dean street, in honor of Capt. Stewart Dean, late of Albany. Passed Nov. 6.
At the same meeting the board authorized the boring for water in a well in Plain street, provided the expense did not exceed ten dollars !
The mean temperature of the month of October was 51.92 deg; highest 72 deg .; lowest 31 deg. Rain on 7 days; 2-37 inches fell.
Nov. 3 .- Mrs. Hester Roseboom died, aged 84.
Nov. 3 .- George Upfold died In New York, aged 64; formerly a school-teacher in Albany.
Nov. 6 .- Thomas Barker died, aged 55.
Nov. 9 .- The three days' election for state officers terminated. The majority in the city was largely for Clinton-over Rochester, for governor.
Nov. 11 .- Martin Dorset died, aged 39, formerly of Ware, Mass.
The common council began to entertain the project of filling in the ground below the south ferry, and docking to the lower end of the city. This ground was much of the time overflowed, and occasionally in high freshets the water sat back to South Pearl street.
Dec. 2 .- Theophilus Carter died, aged 73.
Dec. 3 .- Mylo Guernsey died, aged 49.
Dec. 4 .- There was so much ice in the river that the steam boats Richmond and Sun left in the morning for Hudson to await the arrival of passengers by the stages, on the next morning. the navigation being com- pletely closed here; but it seems to have opened again.
161
Notes from the Newspapers.
Dec. 4. - Elizabeth, widow of Maxwell Strange, died.
The clerk of the market reported that from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1, there had been exposed for sale in the markets of this city, 1382 quarters of beef, 232 calves, 168 sheep, 2941 lambs; the fees for which amounted to $127.10.
Dec. 8 .- Samuel Sloan died, aged 51.
Dec. 11 .- It was determined by the common council to pitch and pave Howard street from Lodge to Eagle. The aspect of that avenue was rather uninviting at that time.
Dec. 12 .- Christina, wife of Isaac Van Wie, died, aged 43.
Dec. 13 .- The Theatre was opened by the company of the Lafayette Theatre in New York, under the man- agement of Burroughs, with Pizarro.
Dec. 13 .- John W. Rockwell, proprietor of the Man- sion House, died, aged 61.
Dec. 14 .- Two boats cleared and one arrived by canal ; but the navigation seems to have closed immediately after.
Dec. 18 .- The common council passed a resolution declaring that the piece of ground known as the Delaware Square, should, after the term of the occupant then in possession expired, for ever remain a public square.
At the same meeting the trespass committee reported in favor of appointing a forester; accordingly Jeremiah Cutler was elected forester for three months at a salary of $25 a month.
Dec. 18 .- Catharine, wife of Peter Van Tassel, died, aged 42.
Dec. 20 .- The river, which had closed and opened again, was now frozen over, so that the boats landed their passengers at Castleton, whence they reached the - city in wagons.
The amount of canal tolls received at the collector's office in this city during the year, amounted to $120,- 354.12. The whole number of boats that arrived and departed was 12,856.
162
Notes from the Newspapers.
Dec. 26 .- Maria Wendell died, aged 26.
The following is the chamberlain's report of the busi- ness of his office for the year ending in October.
Receipts.
For land sold previous to 1818, $469.12
Excise,
4709 88
fines received,. 386.75
proceeds of stolen goods sold, 53.25
dividends on water works stock, 1530.00
tax for night watch and lamps, 8000.00
tax for support of the poor,
18000.00
market fees, 416.00
sale of vegetable stalls,
188.47
ferry receipts, 5900.00
Expenditures refunded :
for advances on improvements of streets, ... opening Market street, 5th ward,
1224.38
Water, do.,
1001.50
Centre, do.,
160.00
Montgomery, do.,
50.00
Spencer, do.,
17.00
work done and vegetables sold at Alms house,
437.78
county of Albany for board of transient poor, . .
2555.51
costs of suits refunded,
39.86
219.57
board of paupers at lunatic asylum, . . lighting six lamps for S. Van Renselaer, For accounts of the commissioners :
60.00
city tax,
8000.00
rents, .
4024.50
lands sold,
2212.50
interest on lands sold,.
156 44
interest on quit rents 46.24
dividend on turnpike stock,
411.46
$60,060.19
140.00
163
Notes from the Newspapers.
Expenditures.
For streets, $4791.02
opening Centre street, 655.00
Montgomery street,. 1000.00
Marsh street,
275.00
Spencer street,
54.66
Water street,
652.76
removing street dirt,
1057.32
drains, .
207.86
wells and pumps,
1518.56
engines, hook and ladder company, &c., ..
1193.06
lamps, ..
2547.96
salaries,
3261.95
alms house,
13,132.50
city poor,
2,940.61
city physicians,
538.73
16,611.84
payments on city debt,
2000.00
interest,.
2642.50
taxes on city property, .
341.53
forest, .
103.50
police office,
20.38
ferry expenses,
292.01
fourth of July,
240:00
Capitol,
51.85
support of Lancaster school, 500.00
inspection of chimneys, 90.00
payment to commissioners of city stock, . 10,667.94 printing and advertising, 390.44
markets,
15.00
payments on loans,
5000.00
repairing docks,
37.18
charter elections. 16.50
mayor's court room, 37:33
common council room,
85.29
removing nuisances,
10.00
repairing Park fence, 3.77
making index to minutes,
13.34
city watch,
3811.14
164
Notes from the Newspapers.
celebrating completion of canals, $100.00
raising scow sunk in the river, 51.31
attorney's fees, . 319.25
chamberlain's office, 10.68
purchasing lands sold for taxes,
920.70
sabbath schools,
15.00
clerk's office, ...
7.25
engrossing state law,.
9.00
forty copies City Directory,
20.00
revising state law relative to city of Al- bany and city ordinances,. 200.00
noticing death of Adams and Jefferson, ... 154.80
$62004.98
( 165)
SUNDAY SCHOOLS.
The committee appointed to prepare a statement of the Sunday Schools under the care of the society for the year 1826, reported as follows:
That there are now under the care of this society 18 schools, containing by the best estimates about 1,762 children, and taught by about 193 teachers exclusive of officers, making an increase since the last year of about 6 schools, 63 teachers and 742 scholars; but about 250 of these scholars are from places without the city of Albany. The following will present the condition of these schools in more detail :
School No. 1, attached to the South Dutch Church, insti- tuted June, 1816 .- This school has 1 principal, 5 male and 10 female teachers and 120 scholars on the register, average attendance 70. Verses recited, 14,434. In one of his reports, the principal observes that his school is in a far more flourishing condition than at any time since he has officiated.
School No. 2, attached to the First Presbyterian Church, instituted July, 1816 .- This school has 1 principal, 1 superintendent, 1 secretary, 4 male and 25 female teach- ers, of whom 26 are professors of religion. 94 boys and 167 girls on the register, average attendance 100. Les- sons recited, 21,988. This school has a library of 228 volumes.
School No. 3, attached to the Second Presbyterian Church .- This school has 1 male and 1 female superin- tendent, 1 secretary, 7 male, 7 female teachers, of whom 7 are professors of religion, and of whom 1 has joined the church since the last report. 143 scholars on the register; verses recited, 17,865. Since the last report they have been enabled to collect a library for the scho-
166
Sunday Schools.
lars, an object for which they are much indebted to the pastor of the church.
School No. 4, attached to the Episcopal Church, insti- tuted January, 1818 .- This school has 1 principal, 2 su- perintendents, 3 male and 5 female teachers, of whom 9 are professors of religion, and of whom 1 has joined the church since the last report. 112 scholars on the re- gister.
School No, 5, attached to the Baptist Church, instituted November, 1819 .- 1 superintendent and 20 teachers, of whom 16 are professors of religion. 228 scholars on the register; average attendance 83. Verses recited, 15,021. There is a library attached to this school of upwards of 200 volumes, to which the children freely resort.
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