USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The annals of Albany, Vol. X > Part 13
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AGREEMENT WITH THE WHARF ASSOCIATION.
We the Trustees of the Associated Company of Pro- prietors of the Wharves and Quays in the City of Albany being fully impowered by the Articles of our Association to receive any additional Associates do hereby covenant and agree to and with the Mayor, Aldermen and Com- monalty of the City of Albany, to receive into our Asso- ciation, the Public Wharves belonging to the said City, for and during the term of our Association. Provided, that the rates of Wharfage shall be continued during the said term at one shilling and sixpence per Ton, and in the same proportion by the day ; and we do in behalf of ourselves and Associates further covenant and agree to and with the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the said City of Albany, that we will pay to the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty, or their order, the full proportion of all monies which shall be collected for Wharfage and other Duties arising from or upon the said Wharves and Quays aforesaid, estimated according to the number of feet of Wharf owned by each of the said Asso- ciated Proprietors, deducting only the Expense of Col- lection and the rents of the Wharves leased by the said Proprietors from other persons. And we do further covenant and agree to and with the said Mayor, Alder-
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men and Commonalty that the Books and Accounts of our Wharfinger shall be produced for Examination to the Mayor or Recorder at any time and as often as they shall think proper, or to the Chamberlain by their order. In witness whereof, we the Trustees of the Associated Company of Proprietors of Wharves and Quays in the City of Albany, have hereunto set our hands this twenty second day of April, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred.
G. W. V. SCHAICK, JOHN ROBISON, FRANCIS BLOODGOOD, Trustees of certain Proprietors of Wharfs. Witness,
ABRAHAM GROESBEECK.
WARRANTY DEED OF A NEGRO SWEEP.
This Indenture made the fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety- four, between the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany, of the first part, and Abraham Blood- good, of the City of Albany, Merchant, of the second part,
Witnesseth, that the said parties of the first part in consideration of the sum of eighty-five pounds of lawful money of the State of New York, to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part, at or before the en- sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have bargained and sold, and by these presents do bargain and sell unto the said party of the second part, his executors, administrators and assigns, a certain Negro Man Slave being a Chimney Sweep, called Cæsar, which Negro, the said parties of the first, shall and will at all times hereafter warrant and defend to the said party of the second part, his Executors, Administrat- ors and Assigns against the lawful claim of all persons whomsoever. And the said party of the second part, for
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himself, his Heirs, Executors and Administrators, doth covenant with the said parties of the first and their suc- cessors in manner following, that is to say, that the said party of the second part, his Executors and Administrat- ors, shall and will during the life of the said Negro or so long as he remains, his or their slave cause him to work in the City of Albany as a chimney sweep, subject to the ordinances and resolutions of the parties of the first part and their successors in common council convened, and that the said party of the second part, his executors or administrators shall not at any time hereafter sell the said Negro, before he or they shall by writing directed and delivered to the said parties of the first or their successors in common council convened, have given them the refusal of the said Negro at the sum of eighty-five pounds or such less sum as he shall bona fide be offered for sale at. In witness whereof, I Abraham Yates, Junior, Mayor of the said City, have hereto set my hand and caused the seal of the said city, to be affixed the day and year first above written. And the said party of the second part hath hereto also set his hand and seal the same day and year.
ABRAHAM YATES, Jun., Mayor.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
ELBERT WILLETT, ABR. BLOODGOOD.
JOHN CAMPBELL.
BILL OF SALE OF POMPEY, A SLAVE, TO THE CORPORATION.
Know all men by these presents, that I, Davis Hunt, of the town of Watervliet, in the County of Albany, for and in consideration of the sum of sixty-five pounds of lawful money of New York, to me in hand paid by the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany at the sealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt
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whereof, I the said Davis Hunt, do hereby acknowledge, have granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do grant, bargain and sell unto the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany, and their successors, a negro man slave named Pompey, of the age of forty- two years. To have and to hold the said negro man slave above bargained and sold or mentioned or intended so to be to the said Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany and their successors forever, and I the said Davis Hunt, for myself, my Heirs, Executors and Administrators, the said negro man slave, unto the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of Albany, and their successors against me the said Davis Hunt, my Executors and Administrators, and against all and every other person or persons whatsoever shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at the City of Albany this twenty-second day of June, in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five.
Sealed and delivered in the
presence of JOHN J. OSTRANDER.
DAVIS HUNT.
The word Aldermen wrote on erasure in the eleventh line of this instrument before execution hereof.
Sealed and delivered in the
presence of us
PETER BEEKMAN,
ISAAC SLINGERLANDT, Jun.
OPENING OF FERRY STREET.
The Committee appointed to confer with a Committee of the Consistory of the Dutch Church, report that the Committee of the Dutch Church propose as follows :
Ist. To lay out a Street of sixty feet wide in the Pas- ture from the house of Jacob Truax to the Ferry Lot on a straight line.
2d. To give up their ground as present occupied as a street, leading from the Ferry House to Washington street,
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and to relinguish their right to a compensation therefore, this Corporation consenting that the consistory stop up the road as it formerly run through their Pasture to the South Ward and of the Ferry House.
3d. The Corporation of the Church to give as much ground in the rear of the lot on which the Ferry House stands, as to replace the quantity of ground of the said lot, appropriated to the use of the said street, leading from the East corner of the Ferry House to Washington street.
The Corporation of the Church to be permitted to remove the Bridge across the Treols Kill so far West as to bring it in the aforesaid sixty feet street, they to be at the expense of removing it.
21 Sept., 1789. LEONARD GANSEVOORT, Jun. JOHN PRICE, HENRY TEN EYCK.
Resolved that the said Committee be authorised to accede to the above proposals on behalf of this Board, 21st Sept., 1789.
PROPOSALS FOR KEEPING THE WATCH, 1787.
Proposals from the Subscribers on which they will undertake and engage to perform in a Rotation their part of the Duty of Watchmen for the City of Albany.
That the said Watchmen be allowed and paid the sum of two shillings and six pence in cash for every night they may do duty as watchmen, which money or wages to be duly paid quarterly at the expiration of every three months.
That the Corporation make an allowance of six pence per night during the winter season for wood and candles, that is from the first of November to the last of April, and three pence a week during the rest of the year.
That the Corporation find a convenient room for a watch house in some convenient part of the City.
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That the Corporation allow three shillings per night to be paid as aforesaid, the watchmen finding every thing but a room to watch in on the above conditions, we are willing to undertake and perform our part as watchmen. ROBERT HEUSON, . JACOB BLOOMENDALL,
HENRY RADLIFF, JAMES RADLIFF,
JAMES THOMPSON,
MARTIN REISE.
COMMON COUNCIL ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC ON THE GREAT FIRE OF 1793.
The Corporation of the City of Albany viewing the conduct of those who were present at the calamitous disaster occasioned by the late destructive fire in this city, while with pain and regret they recollect the inac- tivity and seeming unconcern of some few, can not pass by expressing their hearty and unfeighed thanks to all those who in that time of general anxiety and distress, generously and freely steped forward and gave their aid to the relief of our fellow citizens, in subdueing the destructive flames then surrounding us, while we express the gratitude of the citizens whom we represent to the one class, a contemplation of the other fills us with feel- ings too painful and disagreeable to be uttered, would the exertions of individuals be noticed with propriety, the tribute would gratefully be paid, the thanks of the corporation, however, are hereby publicly given to all those and particularly to our neighbours from the country and adjacent towns who so generously and opportunely give their needed aid, exertions and assistance. The conduct of the citizens and country people at the last fire in the stable of General Gansevoort in Maidens Lane, and their strenuous efforts, particularly demand and have the warmest thanks and hearty approbations of this Board. We must at the same time remark, that if a strict silence was observed by all except those who are intrusted with the command, and who will be at such times distinguished by a white sash, it would be the means of preventing the confusion which is too frequent on those melancholy occasions.
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City Documents.
FAST DAY RECOMMENDED TO THE COMMON COUNCIL BY THE CLERGY, ON ACCOUNT OF THE FIRE OF 1797.
Gentlemen : Albany, August 9th, 1797.
Having taken into consideration the late dreadful ca- lamity which has. befallen our city, and convinced that the judgment of God and their procuring cause the sins of the community, call for deep humiliation and repent- ance, we have determined to observe next Wednesday as a day of fasting and humiliation and prayer. This pur- pose we thought fit to communicate to your worshipful body, in order that you might if it seemed good, recommend it to the citizens at large.
We remain, Gentlemen, with good consideration,
Your very humble servants,
ALEX. MILLER, DAVID S. BOGART, JOHN B. JOHNSON, JOHN BASSETT, ANTHONY T. BRAUN,
A CORPORATION BILL FOR PUNCH.
On the 3d of Sept. 1782, Hugh Denniston, who kept a noted tavern in Green street, furnished certain persons for the benefit of the city, with the following articles :
9 Boals of Punch £1. 16 0
1 Mug of Beer 0 0 9
1 Boal of Grog for Sager 0
2 0
The Mayor was requested to pay the bill out of the corporation money. The following is a facsimile of the signature of the person who drank the two shilling boal of grog.
thomas siger
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GEOLOGY OF ALBANY COUNTY.
Some Remarks respecting a point in the Geology of Alba- ny County, submitted to the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
BY HENRY R. SCHOOLCRAFT.
The attention of the writer was invited, at an early day, in the area of his nativity, to the mineralogical interest, revealed by the heavy dust deposits of the county. These led him to visit the deep cutting of its streams, which revealed agencies of a prominent kind, which must have had general power of action on the structure of plains and valleys ; but which action had long ceased, and exercised but little present influence. Such action came to be regarded, as soon as we got books, as geological.
In offering a few remarks on a feature in the strati- fication of a part of the country familiar to him from early days, embarrassment is felt in not having recently revisited the localities referred to. What is said therefore, is, to some extent, the reminiscence of past years. Some apology may, indeed, be due for calling attention to the facts at all, under the circumstances ; nor should he do so, at a time when there are so many eminent and zealous observers in the field, whose studies are directed to geo- logical phenomena, were the facts I am about to name of such a character, on the scenic surface of the country, as to be likely to attract general notice.
The most prominent feature of the county is the range of the Helderbergs, an off-shoot of the Catskill moun- tains. This highest range divides the county into two general levels of unequal width, characterized as being above or below that elevation. The lower level is distin- guished for nothing, on the surface, of so striking a char- acter as its diluvial and drift deposits of arable layers, clays, sands, analogic pebbles and boulders. The rock strata, as generally denoted by geologists, and more
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Geology of Albany County.
particularly described by Mr. Hall, are, beginning at the apex of the Helderberg, chertz limestone, neutral colored sandstones, fossilliferous limestone, graywacke, sedimen- tary, horizontal slate, or graywacke slate, and argillite. This stratification, first noticed, it is believed, by the late Dr. T. Romeyn Beck, is exposed to view wherever the streams of the county have worked their beds imme- diately into it.
The city of Albany rests on the edges and top of the terraceous blue clays and their associated sand strata. I do not know the height of the foundation of the Capitol, above the Hudson river. It can not be less than 140 feet, and the stiff escarpment of the clay beds cut down, at this point, preparatory to the building of the Capitol, were probably 18 or 20 feet. This terraceous clay is covered with a mantel or plateau of diluvial sand, which at the assumed elevation, extends northwestwardly from the Hudson to the valley of the Mohawk. It is sixteen miles from river to river, by about half the distance in breadth, where it is merged in the arable uplands. The area of this sand plain, sometimes called the Honicroisa tract, can not be less than one hundred and twenty square miles. It is not all equally arid, equally barren and unfit for every species of agriculture ; but it is, perhaps, to the impeachment of our agricultural acumen, a tract of remarkable dimensions, and that lying in the heart of the state, abstracted from the area of husbandry. Origi- nally covered with a magnificent forest of the pinus resi- nosa and shrubbery peculiar to arenaceous plains, the surface is now well nigh denuded: the winds have insinu- ated into the sides of hills, creating a species of dunes.
Across this plain, in their journeys from the West, laid the ancient path of the Iroquois, who, impressed by its peculiarities of soil and growth, whichever way they crossed it, called it, in their expressive language, the Skenektadea *, a term which has been applied, with
* The elements of this compound term are the word ske, meaning through or among ; Nek, a pine tree ; ta or dah, a formation of rock or hard soil, and dea, a plain or valley. The latter termination is heard in Tahopatatea, the Iroquois name of the Hudson in Canada, &c.
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Geology of Albany County.
modifications, at successive periods, to each of the cities situated on its eastern and western verge.
This mantle of sand rests, throughout its entire extent, upon the terraceous blue capitoline clay. Rains and atmospheric moisture speedily sink through it, till arrested by its impervious aluminous basis. The effect of this arrangement has been to convert the strata into a vast filtering apparatus, by which the surface waters are at the same time, purified and cooled, and find their outlet, on the surface of the clay beds, into the nearest streams. But this filtering process has had another strik- ing effect on the mineral physiognomy of the central and southeastern parts of the county. The trick'ing of springs on the line of the aluminous strata, has carried along the quartzose grains of sand, causing the superin- cumbent beds to cave in. The result of this action has been to cut up the surface of the plains into gulfs, gorges and minor valleys. By throwing the arenaceous on the clay beds, a new soil is produced very favorable to the growth of deciduous trees. These gorges and sub-valleys are therefore filled with hard wood species, while the arid and dry plains bear only pines. They furnish cool re- treats for every species of animated nature, during the heats of the day, and it is from the close and vigorous growth of the foliage, in these numerous gorges, that the wolf still maintains his position, and defies the farmer and his sheep-folds from these inaccessible positions.
It is by the union of several of the outlets of these spring gorges of the pine plains, that the Honger kill is formed. Small in its volume, it is of unsurpassed purity and unfailing supply and flows with a force sufficient to sink its channel through the deep clay stratum, and enter its recipient, the Tawasentha, or Norman's kill, through the boulder and pebble drift. Like other streams of pri- mary or secondary importance, the banks of this stream- the ample space left for its outflow, and the elevation of its bordering hills, force the mind, on one of two conclusions, either that fluviatile action was, at former periods of comparatively immense force, or, that the time consumed
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Geology of Albany County.
by the present feeble action on the earth's surface must have been very great. Feeble as the action of the stream is, it has been sufficient to reveal a formation of red sand- stone, which, apparently, underlies the under Helderberg series of graywacke and slates, and the upper series of fossiliferous limestone, and its superimposed porous and marly horizontal new sandstones.
This disclosure was made in a depressed part of the Honger kill valley, in the course of excavations made in the heavy embankment constructed by the Western turn- pike company, in crossing that valley. The rock, in colors and grain, resembles the Piermont or Haverstraw sandstones of the lower Hudson. It is perhaps, charac- teristically less quartzose and compact. It is also less apyrous, as was tested by placing a massive block, in the high heat of a glass burner. Another locality of the same rock, penetrates through the soil, in the same valley, at a higher point. * These localities are at the now decayed manufacturing village at Hamilton, within about a mile from the entrance of the stream into the Norman's kill, or Tawasentha. Geologically, but not topographically, the Honger kill sandstone underlies the state.
The deepest cutting into the geological column of the county, is made by the Tawasentha. This stream in its western fork, the Roga or Mad creek, originates on the Helderberg range. In passing through the series of newer sandstones and limestones and graywackes it lays bare the succession of rocks, and hurries with a rapid channel to its junction, with the Swarte, or Black, and the Tiergaea, or north-east branch. Reinforced by these tributaries, it sweeps its way through the alluvial cover- ings, for the Hudson. In its progress it sinks its level quite through the graywacke, and deeply into the Tawa- sentha slate, which is a sedimentary or graywacke slate.
* This latter locality was pointed out to me, as an anomaly, by the late John Schoolcraft, Jr., Esq., of Hamilton Village, or Guil- derland.
[ Annals, x.] 15
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Geology of Albany County.
At the rapids of the Globe mills, or French's and other parts of Guilderland, this rock stands in perpendicular facades, from eighty to, perhaps, a hundred and twenty feet high. They are least prominent opposite the Boulder banks at Mulberry hill, near the entrance of the Honger kill. At lower points of its course, the valley assumes a greater expansion ; and its precipices have suffered more from the degradations of elemental action. The river finally enters the Hudson, two miles south of the city, between the ancient Iroquois cemetery of Tawasentha and Kiddenhooghten.
* This curious natural mound, or hillock, is connected with the diluvial formation, by a narrow rock, or peninsula. It was a spot sacred to sepulture, from the earliest time; and furnished them a natural cognomen for the stream. There is no object of higher anti- quarian interest in the vicinity, and it is worthy of municipal care.
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THE CITY'S ANCIENT RAVINES.
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Three considerable streams of water, which anciently traversed the city, have within the memory of many in- habitants, been converted into sewers, namely, the Foxen kill, the Rutten kill and the Bever kill. The Foxen kill, when the city was first settled, and for a long time after, afforded abundance of fish. It ran outside of the stock- ades, which for a great many years formed the northern boundary of the city. It is but little more than a quarter of a century since it was crossed by a bridge in North Pearl street, near Orange.
The Rutten kill was a lesser stream, having its source above Lark street, but which sent down a formidable volume of water in times of freshet. The inhabitants of the upper end of Beaver street, have an inkling of what it may have been when they are refreshed by a heavy rain storm. This also was a never-failing brook, stored with fish, and was the only one that came within the old city walls. Passing down the Hudson street ravine, it crossed Pearl street where the Congregational church stands, and entered the river a few feet below State street. In the oldest map of the city 1676, (see Annals vol. iv, p. 200), a brug marks the spot where it crossed the street now called Broadway. The city records fre- quently allude to these bridges. In January, 1701, we find the following entry :
"It is further concluded since ye Bridges by Coll. Schuyler's doth decay, that Mr. Roseboom, Hendrik Oothout and Harpert Jacobse vizite ye same, and make returne ye next court what is required to be repaired."
A meeting was held on the next day, when the follow- ing report was made :
"Relating the bridge at Coll. Schuyler's, ye gentlemen yesterday appointed to vizite ye same do return that it requires to be repaired with one oak logg, of 17 foot, 12
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The City's Ancient Ravines.
inches square ; four posts, 10 foot, 10 inches square; two pine loggs of 10 foot, 1 foot square; three ditto 17 foot apiece ; three ditto of 20 foot; and one of 37 foot."
In 1706 the following entry was made in the common council minutes relating to another of these bridges:
"The petition of William Hogen relating ye bridge by ye Lutheran church being much out of repair desyreing that ye Common Councill will take ye same into there wise consideration yt ye Bridge be repaired. It is
"Resolved that in convenient time ye same shall be made sufficient to passe and repasse without danger."
The Lutheran church alluded to occupied the ground of the Market house in South Pearl street, and its bur- ial ground was the site of the vegetable market adjoin- ing. Pearl Street, for a century after this, was but a lane, many persons now living remembering when a gate swung across it at State street.
On the 13th April, 1706. the following record was made in the common council minutes :
"As to ye Bridge towards ye Lutheriaen church, Mr. Hansen is agreed to make a sufficient and strong new bridge, laid with good plank two inches thick, wherefore he is to receive ye £5: 10 due from Evert Janse."
Two years later we find the following entry :
"The Commonalty being informed yt ye Bridge over ye Rutten kill in ye street lately known by ye name of ye ffuddamart is very much out of repair & decade, doe therefore order yt ye sd Bridge shall be made anew and yt Mr. Robt. Livingston & Coenraet Ten Eyk are ap- pointed to see ye sd bridge made upon ye Citty charges." "September 28. This day Mr. Robt. Livingston, Jun. & Conraet ten Eyk brought in their acct of makeing of ye Bridge over ye Rutten kill in ye street calld ye fodde mart, amounting in all after £2: 9: is deducted, wh is payd to them £7: 14: 42 wh is approved of by ye Com- monalty & ordered yt those persons are to have credt in ye Citty book for what there is due to them."
Whether the name of this creek is derived from rats, as some suppose, it is infested with myriads of the lusti-
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The City's Ancient Ravines.
est specimens of that vermin to this day. The creek is now a sewer throughout its entire length. The grading of the ravine which it traversed was nearly completed in 1847, from Hawk to Lark street, and from Lydius to State. So late as 1827 it was an unbroken waste. Ea- gle street then extended no farther than the Lancaster School, now the Medical College. There were not a dozen buildings even on Lydius street from Pearl to Lark. When the unfortunate Strang was executed in its grassy valley in the above mentioned year, its green hills on either side were darkened by a multitude num- bering full thirty thousand. The clay banks on Lydius street furnished the city with bricks for a great number of years. During a period of about three years, two hundred and fifty men and sixty teams were employed upon the work of grading and filling this large area. The ravine, three hundred feet broad and fifty feet deep received the lofty banks upon its borders, and was raised to a convenient grade, whereby a large tract was reclaim- ed for habitation, that had been useless except for brick kilns, or basins where water gathered, furnishing reser- voirs for bathing and fishing to truant boys. Not less than six hundred thousand yards excavation was made in blue clay, and an equal amount of filling was done by one contractor. By this improvement Hudson street has become the most inviting avenue to the city, and comely blocks of dwellings already adorn most of the streets which intersect the area of the ancient Rutten kill.
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