USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. X > Part 10
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 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
1744, July 20. Resolved that if the persons of whom this corporation want ground for fortifications along the water side, refuse to give liberty to the corporation to erect fortifications and for round passage of twenty feet next the line dureing in the war, that then we will cause it to be appraized.
117
The City Records.
1744, July 31, This board agreed with Anthony Bratt to bring to this city at high water mark, 320 Stockadoes at ls. each, if squared then 13gd; to be 13 English feet long and 11 inches thick at the thin end, and also 40 Stockadoes of 26} feet long at 2s. each.
This board agreed with Guyleyn Verplank to bring the like quantity at the same rate.
1744, August 17. To the Honourable Representa- tives of the Colony of New York in Generall Assembly convened: The Humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonality of the city of Albany, humbly sheweth,
Whereas your Petitioners did last year petition your Honourable House to raise the sum of £300 upon this city and county in order to putt this city in a posture of defence, which petition was accordingly granted; and whereas that sum has been expended by your petitioners and considerably exceeded in fortifying the said city, so that your petitioners are now in arrear upon said account, and the fortifications of this city not being yet completed for want of more money, your petitioners do therefore humbly pray the Honourable to pass an Act to enable the supervisors to raise upon this city and county as soon as may be (in the same manner as the other county charges are raised) the sum of £300, to enable your pe- titioners to go on and finish the fortification of this city, which is necessary should be done with the utmost ex- pedition, and your petitioners shall ever pray.
The following Letter was this day wrote to the repre- sentatives sent out of this county, with the petition on the other side inclosed:
Gentlemen : We enclose you a Petition to the Honour- able Generall Assembly to raise the sum of £300 upon. this city and county for the fortifying this city, which we shall actually want for that purpose, and as we are con- vinced that you well know how very necessary this is, we desire you to deliver this petition to the House, and. we doubt not but you will do your endeavour to gett an. Act passed according to the same.
We hope you will remember to gett as much of the. [ Annals, x.] 11
118 .
The City Records.
powder your House bought at the provincial expence to be sent up to us as you can.
1744, Sept. 13. This board agreed with Anthony Bratt to build a block house at the water side on the south end of the town where the foundation is now laid, and to finish it compleatly with a good heerth and chim- ney, of hard bricks above the roof, and the roof to be of good boards, and port holes for cannon and small arms, and every thing that belongs to a block house to be made in the best manner and to be compleatly finished, for which he is to have £36 and two gallons rum.
Johannis Seger agreed with this board to lock the gates of the city, from the south side of the fort to the little gate neer Ryer Gerritse's including said gate, at eight of the clock every evening and to carry the keys to the mayor of the city or where he shall be ordered by the Common Councill for the time being, and to open the gates again every morning directly after Reveille, for which service he is to have £6 per annum, to commence the 25th instant.
Michael Basset agreed to do the same service, from the north side of the fort, round to the gate at the river side near Leend' Gansevoort, including said gate, for which he is to be paid at the same rate, and the time to commence the 25th instant.
1744, Sept. 29. Pursuant to the directions of the Charter of this city this being the day appointed for elect- ing aldermen. assistants and constables and for appoint- ing a chamberlain and marshal, the following persons were chosen and appointed.
First Ward-Jacob C. Ten Eyck, aldermen, John Mar- selis and Sybrant G. Van Schaick having an equal num- ber of voices; John Van Veghte and Phil. Livingston, Jun'r, assistants; Cornelius C. Vanden Bergh and John Price, constables.
Second Ward-Nicolaes Bleeker, Jun'r and David V. D. Heyden, aldermen; John H. Ten Eyck and Hend'k M. Roseboom, assistants; Marte Hogan and Schiboleth bogard's, Jun'r, constables.
119
The City Records.
Third Ward-Jacob Visher and Jacob Wendell, alder- men; Gerrit Ja. Lansing and Kiliaen Winne, assistants; Benj. Van Veghte and Will. V. D. Bergh, Jun'r, consta- bles.
Mr. Gerret C. Van den Bergh was appointed treasurer. Johannis Seger, marshal, and Marte Hogan, high con- stable.
1744, Oct. 2. Whereas on the 29th September last, Johannis Marselius and Sybrant G. Van Schaick had an equality of votes for aldermen of the first ward of this city, wherefore this board ordered that a new election be held on Saturday the seventh instant, at two of the clock in the afternoon of that day, for an alderman for the said ward, and that the aldermen of the said ward do give notice accordingly.
1744, Oct. 13. Pursuant to the order of this board of the 2d instant, last Saturday an election was held for an alderman for the first ward of this city, and by a ma- jority of voices John Livingston was elected, who was this day returned accordingly by the aldermen of the said ward.
1744, Nov. 16. The following persons were appointed fire masters:
First Ward-Evert Wendell, Jun'r, Jacob van Schaick. Second Ward-Jacob Lansing, Hendrick Ja. Beekman. Third Ward-John Dow, Isaac Hansen.
1744, Dec. 11. This board agreed with Peter Brower that he should pay the first day of february next 84 skiple good merchantable winter wheat for the use of his land at Tienonderoge in full to that day.
1745, July 9. This corporation ordered that three pounds be given out of the treasury to the man who brought the Express giving an accott of the taking of Cape Breton.
1745, August 24. This board agreed with John Bell to be comon hangman for this city and county and whip- per for this city, for which he is to have £14 per annum, the time to commence the first day of May last. The Comon Council ordered him a Hanger and Bell.
120
The City Records.
An order was drawn on Gerrit V. Denbergh for six pound in full for John Bell's salary as Whipper to the first of May last.
1745, Sept. 29. Pursuant to the directions of the Charter of this city, this being the day appointed to chuse city officers, the following persons were chosen:
First Ward-Jacob C. Ten Eyck, John Livingston, aldermen; Philip Livingston, Jun'r, Johannis Van Vegh- ten, assistants, and William Thayer and Joseph Van Sante, constables.
Second Ward-Nicholas Bleecker, Jun'r, David Van- derheyden, aldermen; Hendrick M. Roseboom, Frans. Pruyn, Jun'r, assistants, and Abraham Yates and Bastiaen D. Garmoy, constables.
Third Ward-Jacob Vischer, Gerrit Van Ness, alder- men; Gerrit Ja. Lansingh, Killiaen Winne, assistants, and Ant. A. Bratt, constables.
Gerrit C. Vandenbergh was unanimously chosen cham- berlain, and Johannis Seger, marshal for said city.
Anthony A. Bratt was chosen high constable.
1745, Nov. 19. This board agreed with Thomas Floyd for the House of Tobias Ryckman, on the dock near Gansevoort's Point, for the rent Zecharia Haas agreed for with Ryckman. The corporation to pay the rent from first of May and the cartidge of his things, and to keep the house in repair.
1745, Dec. 6. James Stevenson, Esq. produced a de- putation of Philip Livingston, Esq. appointing him his Deputy to exercise and execute the office of town clerk, and clerk of the peace and clerk of the common pleas for the city and county of Albany, and also to exercise the office of secretary and agent to the Indians, his majesties subjects at the city of Albany, and after taking the oaths by law appointed, he took an oath for the well and truly executing sd offices.
1745, Dec. 9. Resolved by this board that the three market houses of this city be made up with all speed for the lodging of the King's Troops expected from New York, each with double chimneys in the middle.
-
121
The City Records.
1745, Feb. 1. An ordinance was publish'd directing the inhabitants of this city to quarter the forces sent here to keep watch.
1746, Sept. 29. This being the day appointed by the Charter for electing and chusing corporation officers, the following persons were elected to serve for the year en- suing according to the directions of the Charter:
First Ward-Jacob C. Ten Eyck and Sybrant Van Schaick, aldermen; Egbert Bratt and Barnardus Bratt, assistants; William Fryar and Joseph Jos. Van Sante, constables.
Second Ward-Johan's G. Roseboom and Jacob H. Ten Eyck, aldermen; Jacob Jas. Lansingh and Barent Ten Eyck, assistants; Abraham Yates and Reynier v. Alstyn, constables.
Third Ward-Gerrit Van Ness and Ahasueris Rose- boom, aldermen; Cornelis Maase and Johannis V. Douwe, assistants; Jacob Evertse, Jun'r and Ab'm Boghaert, Jun'r, constables.
The Common Council appointed Gerrit C. Vanden- bergh for city treasurer, Johannes Seger for city marshal, William Fryar for high constable.
1746, Oct. 14. John R. Bleecker produced a commis- sion for sheriff of this city and county and took the oaths appointed by law and also the oath for the due execution of his office.
1746, March 24. Order'd a petition to be drawn in order to be laid before the Assembly, praying a sum of money may be raised to pay the debts contracted by the corporation since the commencement of the war.
Resolved that three great guns be placed on the Bat- tery behind the Court House, and that the Recorder, Barnardus Bratt and Egbert Bratt be managers to see the same well done. The corporation to pay the charge of doing it.
1747, April 7. This board on the request of the min- ister, elders and deacons of the Dutch church, Resolve to release a piece of ground to them lying behind the lott they already bought of Edward Holland. Ordered that
-
122
The City Records.
the mayor execute a deed for the same and cause the city seal to be thereunto affixed.
A petition was signed and ordered to be laid before the General Assembly as mentioned in the minutes of Common Council the 24th day of March last.
Resolved that John Depeyster and James Stevenson go down to New York and lay the same before the General Assembly.
1747, May 4. An order was drawn on Gerrit C. Van- denbergh, city treasurer, to pay John Depeyster and James Stevenson four pounds and four shillings. Also an order was drawn to pay to Jacob S. Bogardus four pounds to buy fire wood for the service of the corporation.
1747, May 12. The Comon Council order that ten loads of fire wood be carrd from Jacob Bogardus's sloop to each of the Market Houses where the King's Soldiers are quartered; to each of the Block Houses, N. 3 and 4, each 3 load to be carrd to Johannes Seger's yard.
To Johannes Seger himself 3 load; to the block house N. 8, 4 load; to the block house N. 7, 3 load.
1747, June 16. An order was drawn on Gerrit C. Vandenbergh, city treasurer, to pay John R. Bleecker, Esq. £1 for wine to entertain the Judge when he came here to hold Court of Oyer and Terminer.
1747, June 20. A warrant was drawn on the treasurer to pay Thomas Powel ten shillings.
Ordered that in case of any alarm in the night, all and every the inhabitant of this city sett candles in their windows to give light to every man to repair to their posts.
Ordered that a great gun be placed at the corner oppo- site to Gerrit Isaac Lansingh, one in the Rutten Kill, and another to be taken from the Grand Battery and placed in the foxes creek.
Ordered that the ordinance relating the Round Gangs be put in execution.
Ordered that the Recorder, Barnardus Bratt, Egbert Egbertse and Gerrit Van Ness be managers to see the above three great guns duly ordered and placed.
123
The City Records.
1747, July 27. The following Petition was drawn and sign'd in order to be sent to the Representatives of our city and county to be given in to the Assembly :
To the Honourable the Representatives of the Colony of New York convened in General Assembly, The Peti- tion of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of Albany humbly sheweth :
That the inhabitants of the corporation of the city of Albany are in cireims of great misery and distress by reason of the present war with Frence and with the In- dians in their alliance. That the inhabitants of the said city ever since the commencement of the war by their frequent watching have been very much taken off from themselves and families. That every man of our corpo- ration hive been oblidged to attend in person or pay a hired man in their stead upon watch and ward every third or fourth night during the whole time, excepting a small interval of time in the spring the duty was demanded only every fourth night, but now and for sometime past for the safety of this frontier and the poor inhabitants we are obliged again to come upon a fourth night. That our corporation by occasion of the present war are in- debted the sum of eight hundred and fifty pounds and upwards, for repairing our fortifications about this city, supplying fire wood and candles for the night watches, and for powder and ball for the poorest of the inhabitants without any fund provided for the payment thereof, be- sides what the inhabitants have done by a voluntary tax- ing themselves, for providing and setting up new Stocka- does where the old ones were gone to decay. And whereas this city is now the northern frontier of this Province, your petitioners humbly conceive that whatever charge or expence our corporation have been already at or here- after may be put to by reason of the present war ought in reason to be a general charge for the whole Province, and not to fall on the inhabitants of this corporation only, who are in no circumstance to support the growing ex- pence or have one penny rent to come in to discharge the debts already contracted, or can we expect any during
124
The City Records.
the war, nor probably for many years after the war is over, Your Hon's Petitioners have never heard that the corporation of the city of New York have been at the charge of building or repairing the fortifications made for the defence of their city, but that the same hath been a general charge to the whole Province, altho' they have had the happiness to injoy the blessings of peace during the whole war without any alarm, disturbance or molest- ation from the enemy.
Your petitioners therefore do most humbly beseech your Honourable House in tender consideration of the premises to raise by a general tax on the whole Province the said sum of eight hundred and fifty pounds to dis- charge the debts contracted by our corporation since the commencement of the war, which the deplorable circum- stances of this city is reduced to render us incapable to pay. And your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c.
ALBANY, July 27th, 1747.
Gentlemen: We inclose a Petition which we beg the favour of you to deliver in to the General Assembly, and beg also the favour of you to use your interest to gett our prayer granted, for unless some method be fallen upon to discharge the debts already contracted it is impossible the publick charge can be longer supported.
You will see by the inclosed what the articles of fire wood and candles for the block houses only amount to, and if you judge necessary we shall send you down a list of the several persons to whom, and the respective sums we are indebted. By order of Comon Council.
JAS. STEVENSON, D. CI'k.
1747, August 11. The following petition was signed by the present members, who order'd the Recorder and Alderman Van Schaick to go to New York and deliver the same to his Excellency the Governour, and that the corporation would pay their reasonable charges and ex- pences :
To his Excellency the Hon'ble George Clinton, Captain General and Governour in Chief in and over the province
125
The City Records.
of New York and the Territories thereon depending in America, Vice Admirall of the same and Admirall of the Red Squadron of his Majesties Fleet, The petition of the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city of Albany, Humbly sheweth:
That whereas the time allowed by Act of Assembly for the Wood Rangers to scout through the woods on the west side of Hudson's river near the city of Albany, is expired, and for want of Wood Rangers both the city and inhabitants that yet remain in the county are liable to be suddenly surprized, the inhabitants both of city and county are much decreas'd since the war begun, many barbarously murdered and schalped, and numbers taken prisoners by the enemy, and others removed from city and county to places of greater security, so that the few that are left, of whom the most part are oblidged to labour and expose themselves to great danger to earn a subsistance for themselves and families, are not sufficient to keep the night watches, much less to make a defence in case of a suden attack.
Your petitioners most humbly beseech your Excellency to lay our distressed condition before the General As- sembly and to use your Excellency's interest to prevail on their Honourable House to prolong the time allowed for the Wood Rangers or to raise a sum of money to pay a sufficient number of white men and Indians to go on the outschout; and your petitioners also farther pray that a number of men be raised out of the lower counties to be placed in the city of Albany to ease the inhabitants of the hard duty of watching, which now is to every man in town a fourth night, notwithstanding three block houses and one guard house remain still empty for want of men.
And your Excellency's petiti rers as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c.
Resolved that Major Collins, the Recorder and Alder- man Van Schaick go down to New York with the above petition and deliver it to his Excellency and to endeavour to gett what the petition setts forth, or any other thing may be for the good of the city, and that this corporation
126
The City Records.
bear their expenses and allow them at their return what the corporation think reasonable for their trouble, and that the clerk give them a copy of this resolve.
1747, Sept. 14. Resolved to send an Express to the representatives of the city and county of Albany, with a Letter and inclose to them the affidavits of Johannis Wendell, Benjamin Bratt, Johannis V. Douwe and Ger- rit C. Vandenbergh, and acquaint them that our corpo- ration petitioned his Excellency, our Governour, to re- commend to the General Assembly to make provision for a sufficient number of men to be posted in the city of Albany to ease the inhabitants of the hard duty of watch- ing. But as we are informed Collo. Roberts intends to send three companies of the new levies to be quartered in the block houses, which considering how ill they have all along behaved themselves and threatened often to burn the town before they went away, an Collo. Roberts' own behaviour, make the inhabitants unwilling to have them in town, wherefore we beg you will use your en- deavour to gett a sufficient number of men from the lower counties to be posted in the city according to the prayer of our petition, presented to his Excellency by Major Collins and Mr. Van Schaick.
1747, Sept. 28. Ordered that a Letter be writt to Collo. Schuyler, one of the members of Assembly for the city and county of Albany, desiring him to gett an Act of Assembly passed to lay a tax on the Province for pur- chasing and setting up new Stockadoes round the city of Albany where the old ones are daily going to decay, and if the Assembly will not pass an Act for the whole Pro- vince to contribute toward the charge thereof, that an Act be pass'd to oblige the inhabitants of the city and county (Schenectady excepted) to do yt.
Major Collins and Sybrant Van Schaick laid their acco" before this board amounting to the sum of £1:18:4, which the board allowed, and gave an order on the treas- urer to pay the same out of the first money that comes to his hands.
1747, Sept. 29. This being the day appointed by the
127
The City Records.
Charter for choosing and electing corporation officers, the following persons were chosen to serve for the year ensuing according to the directions of the charter :
First Ward-Jacob C. Ten Eyck and Sybrant G. Van Schaick, aldermen; Barnardus Bratt and Egbert Bratt, assistants; Luykas Yates and Johannis Vander Heyden, Jun'r, constables.
Second Ward-Jacob H. Ten Eyck and John Rose- boom, Jun'r, aldermen; Jacob I. Lansingh and Barent Ten Eyck, assistants; Isaac Verplanck and William Groesbeeck, constables.
Third Ward-Gerrit Van Ness and Coenraet Ten Eyck, aldermen; Cornelis Maase and John V. Douwe, assist- ants; Rutger Lansingh and Peter Boghaert, Jun'r, con- stables.
The Common Council appointed Gerrit Vandenbergh for city treasurer or chamberlain; Johannis Seger for marshall; Isaac Verplanck for high constable.
1747, Oct. 2. Collo. Roberts sent yesterday to the mayor a Letter from his Excell'y the Gov'r, dated the 26th day of September, 1747, acquainting the corporation he had directed Collo. Roberts to order three companies of the new levies to be quartered in the block houses in the city of Albany, or in such other places therein as they should provide. The Letter sett forth that his Excel- lency expected the corporation would provide for them fire wood and candles and assured them he would re- commend to the General Assembly to make sufficient provision to defray the expense they might be put to.
Resolved to try to gett fire wood and candles for said three companies as soon as possible, and then to acquaint Collo. Roberts therewith, and that Alderman Ten Eyck and Cornelis Maase, one of the assistants, acquaint him with this resolution.
1747, Nov. 14. This board appointed the following persons to look after the chimneys and other places where the inhabitants kept their fire, &c.
Peter Jones and Johannes Wendell, son of Johannes Wendell, for the first ward.
128
The City Records.
Gysbert Fonda and Obadiah Cooper, for the second ward.
Jan Maase, Jun'r, and Abraham Fonda, son of Isaac Fonda, for the third ward.
1747, Dec. 4. An order was drawn to pay Dirck Ten Broeck, Esq., mayor of the city of Albany, one pound nine shillings and five pence out of the money now in the treasurer's hands, he having paid so much to George Burnes.
Evert Sixberry agreed to supply the block house N. 1 to pmo. May next, from twesday next, at 3s. per load, to bring one load every day, and on Saturday two loads.
Isaac De Voe agreed for N. 6 at 3s. 6d. per double load.
Peter Benneway agreed for N. 7 at 3s. 6d. per double load.
Evert H. Wendell agreed for N. 5 at 3s. 6d. per double load.
1747, Dec. 7. Hendrick Van Buren agreed to supply the Market house in the third ward to pmo. May next at 3s. 6d. for a double load, two loads every day and four on Saturdays, to begin this week.
Rutger Vandenbergh agreed to supply the Market house in the first ward to pmo. May next, as above.
Volkert and Cornelis Vandenbergh agreed to supply the Block house No. 8 at 3s. 6d. for the double load, and 3s. for the double load till pmo. May next as the others agreed before.
1747, Dec. 12. This board agreed with Vander- heyden to supply Block house N. 4 on same terms and for same time as the others. He begun last Thursday, being the 10th instant.
Resolved that if anything happen to be wanting to the Sentry boxes or Batteries round the walls of this city, that the mayor or recorder or the aldermen of the ward where such defect happens to be, or any of them, take care that the same be made, mended or repair'd at the charge of the corporation.
Resolved that Johannis Hunn and Cornelis Boghaert make up the deficiencies in the city wall at the several
129
The City Records.
places as mentioned in a memorandum given to Johan's Hunn for that purpose.
Benjamin Bratt undertook to open and shutt the Gates and sweep the snow from off the Batteries in the north- ern division of this city at seven pound per annum from the first day of February next. N. B. He begun to open and shutt the Gates aforesd the 28th day of January last.
Johannes Seger undertook as above for the southern division at the same price.
Bastiaen Teymesse undertook to supply Block house No. 3 on the same terms and for the same time as the others agreed the 4th and 7th of this month.
1743, Feb. 10. This board agreed with John Fryer to supply the Block houses with candles at the rate of one shilling per pound, from the eleventh day of this month to the fifteenth day of October next, and to deliver every evening as many as will be sufficient for the night then ensuing to Joh's Seger; said Fryer agrees to have his first payment the first of September for the candles he supplies to that time.
1743, March 24. Resolved that Christiaen Lagransie be permitted to set up a Blacksmith's shop near to the shop of William Hogan, Jun'r, on the north side thereof, but to ready to take it down at any time when the cor- poration may have reason for it.
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.