USA > New York > Albany County > Albany > The history of the city of Albany, New York : from the discovery of the great river in 1524, by Verrazzano, to the present time > Part 15
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 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40
1 A Spanish dollar called a "piece of eight," having the value of eight reals.
2 The following burghers of the congregation contributed the respective sums opposite their names for the salary of Domine Dellius for one year : " Peter Schuyler 6, [pieces of eight, ] Cornelis van Dyck 6, Dirck Wessels 6, David Schuyler 6, Marte Gerritse, Ands. Teller 6, Gert. Swart 2, Jan J. Bleker 6, Hend. van Ness 4, Pr. Winne 3, Johannes Provoost 3, Richd. Pretty 4, Joh. Wendell 6, Jan Lansingh 4, Gabriel Thompson 4, Johannes Wandelaer 2, Albt. Rykman 4, Lawrence van Ale 2, Evert Wendell, junr 4, Harme Basteanse 2, Pr. Davitse Skuyler 2, Melgert Wynantse 2, Jan Becker, senr 2, Wynant Gerritse 2, Turck Harmense 1, Hendk. Bries 2, Jacob Abrahamse 2, Jan And. Cuyper 2, Myndt. Harmense 6, Gert Harden- bergh 4, Cornel van Skelluyne 1, Jacob Sanderse 4, Wm. Kettelheyn 2, Jan Byvank 3, Jan Nack 2, Johannes Ross 2, Cobus Turk. 1, Wouter Al- bertse 2, Takel Dirkse 1, Jan Salomonse 1, Hend. Martense 1, Johannes V. Sante 1, Pieter Lookermans 1, Cobus Gerritse 1, Evert Wendell, senr 2, Wm. Gerritse 1, Johannes Martense Smitt 2, Jan Cornelise Vanderhoef 1, Jacob Voss 1, Jacob Meesen 2, Paulus Martense 11/2, Pr. Bogardus 3, Gert Lansingh 3, Hendn. Lansingh 2, Jan van Haegen 3, Joseph Yetts 1/2, Jacob Ten Eyck 2, Claes Ripse 2, Claes Jacobse 2, Johannes Cuyler 3, Robt. Livingston 5, Adriaen Gert V. Papendorp 6, Marte Cregier 4, Lambt. van Valkenburgh 1, Jurean Teunise 112, Jacob Staets 2, Barent Myndertse 2, Arnout Cornelise [Viele] 2, Annetje van Schayk 6, Jochim Staets 3, Gert Banken 3, Philip Schuyler's widow 8, Hend. Cuyler 6, Johannes Thomase 2, Teunis Slingerlunt 2, Harme d'Brower 2, Hend. Abelse 1, Jean Rosie 1, Wm. Claese 2, Gysbt. Marcelis 2, Bastiaen Harmense 1, Hend Hausen 1, Matthys Meesen 2, Robt. Sanderse 6, Joh. Roseboom 3, Joh. Abeel & sister 3, Eghbert Teunise 5, Jan Gow 2, Jan Gilbert 11/2, Gert van Ness 2, Joh. Oothout, junr. 1, Pr. Meuse 1, John White 2.
"These reside beyond the north gate and were spoken to by D. Wessels & J. Bleker : Antho Barentse 2, Wonter Aretse 2, Jan d'Noorman 1, Gerrit Ryerse 1, Claes van Bockhoven 172, Pr. Quackenboss 2, Wouter Pieterse 1, Jan Pieterse 1, Reynier Pieterse 1, Dowe Funda 1, Marte Janse 1, Adam
179
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
take his turn with Dom. Schaets to edify [the] said con- gregation, without being paid additional for it." 1
In September, 1682, Colonel Thomas Dongan was commissioned by James, the duke of York and Albany, to be the governor of the province and its dependencies. Governor Dongan, reached New York, on the twenty- fifth of August, 1683.
Early in the fall of 1683, the agents of William Penn made overtures to the sachems of the Indian tribes of New York for the purchase of the land lying along the headwaters of the Susquehanna River belonging to the savages. The magistrates of Albany as well as the burghers were greatly disturbed when they learned that the Indians were inclined to part with the desired terri- tory. When Governor Dongan visited Albany at the beginning of September, the magistrates informed him of what they had heard. He ordered them to obtain at once trustworthy information concerning the proposals of Penn's agents and the disposition of the Indians respecting them.
On the twenty-fourth of September, 1683, the magis- trates wrote as follows to Governor Dongan : "Last night Arnout [Cornelissen Viele] ye Interpreter arrived here from ye Indians Westward and brings us news
Winne 1, Jacob Solomonse 2, Teunis van der Poel 6, Luykes Pieterse 1, Antho. van Schayk 4, Ands. d'Backer 2, Meus Hoogeboom 112, Roelof Ger- ritse 1, Harme Lievese 3, Jan Grutterse 2, Jan van Ness 2, Bart Alb. Bratt 4, Gert Hendrix [and] Ands. Carstense 212, Gert Lubbertse 2.
"Farmers below: Jacob Janse Gardinier 4, Jeronemus Hausen 1, Wm. van Slyk 2, Gert Gysbertse 4, Frederick d'Drent 2, Hend. Maesen 2 Hen. van Wie 1, Ryk. Machielse 1, Onnocre, the Frenchman 1, Jan Hen- dricxe 2, Mart Cornelise 3, Jurian Callier 1, Claes van Petten 2, Cornelise Teunise 2, Abraham van Bremen 1, Melgert Abrahamse 2, Jan Thomase-, Cobus Janse 1, Johannes Janse 1, Albert Cato 2, Manus Borgerse 1, Geer- truy Vosburgh 2, Jacob Vorsburgh 11/2, Jacob Claese 1. 350 pieces of 8."- Albany records. Vide Annals of Albany. Munsell. vol. vi. pp. 78, 79, 80.
1 Albany records. Vide Annals of Albany. Munsell. vol. vi. pp. 78 83 Doc. hist. N. Y. vol. iii. pp. 535, 537.
180
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
yt ye four nations vizt Cajouges, Onondages, Oneydes & Maquase are upon there way hither and may be expected here to-morrow. Wee are credibly Inform'd of there willingness to dispose of ye Susquehanne River, being verry glad to hear off Christians intending to come and live there, it being much nearer them then this place and much easier to get thither with there bever. The River being navigable wt Canoes till hard by there Castles, soe yt if Wm Penn buys said River, it will tend to ye utter Ruine off ye Bevr [Beaver] Trade, as ye Indians themselfs doe acknowlege and Conse- quently to ye great Prejudice off his Royall highnesse Revenues and his whole Territoryes in general, all which we doe humbly offer to your honrs serious Consideracon. Wee presume that there hath not any thing Ever been mooved or agitated from ye first settleing of these Parts, more Prejudiciall to his Royal highnesse Interest, and ye Inhabitants of this his governt then this businesse of ye Susquehanne River. The french its true have endevoured to take away our trade by Peace mealls but this will cutt it all off at once. The day after your honr departed, wee sent a draught of ye River and how near there Castles lie to it, drawne by our Secrr [Robert Livingston] as near as ye Indians could deskribe."
Two days after a delegation of Cayuga and Onnon- daga sachems held a conference with the magistrates in the court-house. One of the Indian orators said : "I have slept but little through the night though I con- stantly tried, and think that the land cannot be sold without Corlaer's [the governor's] order, for we trans- ferred it to this government four years ago. Therefore we shall do nothing in the sale without Corlaer [Gov- ernor Dongan] or his order or those who represent him. "That land belongs to us Cayugas and Onnondagas
181
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
alone ; the other three nations namely, the Sinnekes, Oneydes, and Maquaas have nothing to do with it. * *
* We now convey and transport it again and give it to the governor-general or those who now repre- sent him."
As tokens of the ratification of this agreement the magistrates presented to the Indian sachems a piece of duffel-cloth, two blankets, two guns, three kettles, four coats, fifty pounds of lead, and twenty-five of powder. 1
The notable change in the form of the government of the province, whereby the voice of the freeholders was to be substituted for the will of the lord-proprietor, had its consummation on the seventeenth of October, 1683, when the first General Assembly of New York, began its sessions in Fort James, in the city of New York. Eighteen representatives were elected as ordered by Governor Dongan on the thirteenth of September, each of the three ridings of Long Island selecting two, Staten Island one, Pamaquid one, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket one, New York and Haerlem four, Eso- pus two, Albany and Rensselaerswyck two, and Sche- nectady one.
On the thirtieth of October, the General Assembly passed "The charter of libertys and priviledges, granted by his royal highness to the inhabitants of New York and its dependencies." By it "the supreme legislative authority under his majesty and royal highness, James the duke of Albany and York," was intrusted to the governor, the council, and the people of the province. The governor was to exercise "the chief magistracy and administration of the government," assisted by a coun- cil. The sessions of the General Assembly were to be held once in three years at least, "according to the usage,
1 Dutch records. Vide Doc. history of N. Y. vol. i. pp. 260, 261.
182
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
custom, and practice of the realm of England." The freeholders and freemen of the province were to have votes in electing representatives, and all elections were to be made by "the majority of voices."
On the first of November the law was passed to divide the province and its dependencies into shires and counties. By the act, the province was divided into twelve counties : New York, Westchester, Ulster, Albany, Duchess's, Orange, Richmond, King's, Queen's, Suffolk, Duke's, and Cornwall.
As enacted, "The county of Albany [was] to con- teyne the towne of Albany, the colony of Renslaers- wyck, Schonechteda, and all the villages, neighbour- hoods, and Christian plantacons on the east side of Hud- son's River, from Roelef Jansen's Creeke, [about twelve miles south of the city of Hudson, ] and on the west side [of the Hudson River], from Sawyer's Creeke [Sauger- ties] to the Saraaghtoga [Saratoga]" 1
The companies of militia organized in Albany were put under the commands of Jan Janse Bleecker and Johannes Wendell, who were appointed captains of in- fantry on the fifteenth of December, 1684. Pieter Schuy- ler, on the same day, was made a lieutenant of "a troop of horse."
By the death of Charles II. on the sixth of February, 1684, and the succession of James the duke of York and Albany to the throne, the province of New York devolved upon his royal majesty and was annexed to the other dominions of the British crown.
An event of no little importance to the people of the village, was the arrival of several commissioners from Virginia, in August, 1685, with a number of the sachems
1 Passed November 1, 1683. l'ide Annals of Albany. Munsell. vol. 4, pp. 39.
183
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
of the Pamunkey, Chickahominy, Matapony, and Pow- hatan Indians to renew a treaty of peace with the Mo- hawks, Senecas, Oneidas, Onondagas, and Cayugas. One of the Mohawk orators, speaking of Albany as the place where they made their covenant-chains, called it the "House of Peace."
CHAPTER IX.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
1685.
The appearance of the village of Albany in 1685 was peculiar. Surrounded as it was by a fence of thick planks and heavy posts, thirteen feet long and planted upright in the ground, there was not much to be seen inside the stockade from the north and south roads that ran to the narrow gate-ways. The most conspicuous object that fell in the field of view from these points was Fort Albany with its gun-mounted bastions fenced with palisades. East of the fort, the roof and belfry of the Reformed church were in high relief.
The houses in the village, about one hundred in num- ber, were mostly structures of logs, or of framed timber, weather-boarded. There were some that were built of brick. The few stone-buildings were of very rough masonry. Many of the houses were thatched with reeds, some were covered with shingles, and others were roofed with glazed tiles. Very few of the steep gable- roofs had eave-troughs, hence the occasional use of the descriptive phraseology "free drip" in the early con- veyances. Frequently small square dormer-windows were set in the roofs to admit light to the garrets, which were commonly used as sleeping-rooms. The chimneys were mostly built on the outside of the houses, at their
184
185
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
gable ends, and were made wide and deep at the bottom for large fire-places. For warmth in winter long and thick pieces of wood were burned on these ample hearths, particularly in the kitchens, which in cold weather were usually the only rooms that had fire in them. Wide arched brick bake-ovens were often built at the back sides of these spacious kitchen fire-places, and the part projecting into the house-yard was generally covered with a shed-roof.
The house-doors were mounted with long iron hinges set on strong iron staples. Frequently they were made in two horizontal sections, the upper one being opened in summer to admit light and air. The windows con- tained one or more sashes filled with small panes of glass set in grooves of lead. A door and one or two windows were the chief architectural features of the fronts of the plain buildings. Stoops, low wooden platforms with backed benches, were generally placed before the front doors. These porches on fair summer evenings were the favorite out-door sitting places of the villagers.
In the best rooms of the wealthiest burghers' homes were bedsteads with high posts that almost touched the ceiling. They supported a cloth-canopy, from the frame of which long curtains hung down that nearly reached to the floor. The lower part of the bedstead, below the bedding, was draped with a short curtain called a val- ance. The quality and quantity of the furnishing of these best beds were matters of grave concern to the Dutch housewives. The feather-bed was enormously large. To get properly on it required considerable effort. Another feather-bed of less size was often used in winter for covering, a custom which originated the expression, "sleeping between feathers." In winter to give the lower bedding an agreeable warmth, a covered pan, made
186
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
of copper or of brass, having a long wooden handle and containing live coals, was sometimes, just before bed- time, carefully passed over it.
Bare floors and unadorned walls were common in all the houses of the new settlement. By the side of the beds pieces of cloth lay commonly on the floor. Not infrequently clean sand was evenly spread over the uncarpeted floors, and the sand marked with fanciful designs. Besides the great bedstead, the furniture of the best room generally included a number of chairs and a small table. If the room had a fire-place, the small mantle above it sometimes gave shelf-room to a framed calendar, a pair of copper or brass candlesticks, and an hour-glass.
The kitchen was the living-room of the family, especially in winter. In the spacious fire-place was a horizontal iron bar from which, by means of iron-hooks, the various kettles used in cooking were suspended. A large plate of iron, called the fire-plate, was frequently incased in the wall of the kitchen-chimney to protect the brick or stone-work from the crumbling effects of the large masses of burning coals. The heating of the bake- oven, the withdrawal of the coals, the swabbing of its ashy floor, the deft use of the peel or shovel on which the hemispherical masses of dough were deposited in the oven, the steaming kettles, the coal-covered "Dutch ovens " in which meats were baked, the fowls hung up to roast, the dexterous basting, the delivery of the browned cakes from the long-handled waffle-tongs, the various skillets, the tall spiders, the covered pans, and other serviceable utensils, would be a strange sight to the accomplished cooks and housekeepers of the nine- teenth century. The dresser with its display of porce- lain, pewter, and wooden ware, the loom in the corner
187
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
upon which the wife and daughters wove the linen and woolen fabrics for the use of the household, the small and the large spinning wheels, the baby's crib, the rows of flat-irons on the mantle-piece ; the hams, the flitches of bacon, the cases of puddings and sausages, the pieces of jerked meat, the strings of red pepper pods, the bunches of dried herbs, the yellow ears of corn, all hanging from the heavy beams overhead ; the wooden trays and trenches, the high-backed settle, the long table, these and many other things gave a very unique and comfortable appearance to the kitchens of the first fami- lies of Albany.
Here also were kept the curved piece of steel, the fire-stones (viersteenen) or flints, the box of scorched linen, and the splinters of pine with sulphurous points to kindle fire. Occasionally in these kitchens, the friendly Mohawks, with their squaws and papooses found shelter from the weather of a winter's night, and saw the hospit- able Dutchmen dandling their little children on their knees while their busy wives sat at their looms casting the thread-bearing shuttles through the warps of some de- sired cloths. And while the whistling wind drew great tongues of flame from the crackling wood on the kitchen hearths, the silent Wilden often heard the Dutch fathers sing this old nursery-song of the Fatherland to their wakeful babies :
"Trip a troup a tronjes, De varkens in de boonjes, De koejen in de klaver, De paarden in de haver, De kalven in de lang gras
De eenden in de water plas Zo groot mijn klein poppetje was." 1
1 See note on page 188.
188
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
When the bell of the Reformed church rang the cur- few, at eight o'clock at night, the people of the village carefully covered the coals on the kitchen-hearths with ashes and went to bed. About sunrise, tall columns of smoke began to ascend from the chimneys, and shortly afterward the risen families were eating their morning meals of plain but substantial food. In lieu of coffee beer was the common table-beverage. In winter many of the men of the village went into the hill-side forest to fell trees that were afterward sawed into plank, hewed into shape for house-timbers, split into fence- rails, cut into proper lengths for palisades, or chop- ped into fire-wood. From the hill-side came the sounds of the vigorously wielded axes, from the grain-strewed barn-floors the cadenced beat of flying flails, and from blacksmiths' anvils the musical verberation of ringing hammers.
In the early part of the morning, in other seasons of the year, here and there along the streets of the village, cows with tinkling bells were waiting to be driven to pasture by the public herder. 2
1 " Trip a troup a tronjes " The pigs in the beans, The cows in the clover, The horses in the oats, The calves in the long grass,
The ducks in the water-place, So great (happy) was my little poppet.
2 "Conditions and proposals according to which certain burghers of Albany are minded to employ a herder for their cattle. First, the herder shall be holden to guard the cattle at his own expense, also to keep a proper youngster with him to watch the cattle, and shall begin to go out with them on the twentieth of April, 1667, (new style), and not leave off before the sixteenth of November. Second, the herder, every morning before or with the rising of the sun, shall three times blow with his horn, and then with the youngster and cattle go out where they can best get feed for the cattle, or where the masters (the undersigned) shall order, and about a quarter of an hour before the sun goes down, he shall deliver the cattle at the church. Third, if the animal or animals shall receive injuries through the neglect of
189
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
The interiors of the shops were unattractive. Few of the goods in them were exposed to view. The shelves were filled with cases, packages, and jars. Barrels and boxes inconveniently occupied the floors. The merchants vended silks, Haarlem damasks, bombazines, serges, red, white, and blue kersey, duffel-cloth, calico; Osnabruck and Flemish linens, thread, buttons, hooks and eyes, boots, shoes, Iceland and Friesland stockings, sugar, molasses, (strop,) spices, drugs, hardware, crockery, brandy, wine, rum, tobacco, guns, ammunition, and general produce.
Outside the inns hung square sign-boards, on which were the names of the landlords and of the houses, and the painted representations of some such objects as a sickle and a barley-sheaf, a beaver and a lodge, or a green tree with wide-spreading branches. These pictures often became the common designations for the taverns. The beer, wine, and strong water sold in them were care- fully measured by the farmer of the liquor-excise, who derived considerable profits from his exclusive privilege to collect certain fixed rates on the quantity of liquor sold by each tapster and innkeeper. The patroon's brewery supplied the tap-rooms of the village with most of the beer drank in them. 1 The local ordinances regu- the herder, then the herder shall be held to make full recompense for the animal or animals (according to value). Fourth, if the herder shall be found sitting and drinking in any tavern, he shall each time forfeit ten guilders zeewan. If an animal or any animals happen to die or run away within the [first] half of the aforesaid time, then not more than half of the herder's recompense shall be paid, and that punctually at that time. In like manner also, shall all those who have their cattle herded be held. * * *
"On the aforesaid condition Uldrick Kleyn accepted the contract and for his pains is to receive twenty guilders in zeewan for every large animal, or for two heifers in place of a large animal, and shall acknowledge and obey Juriaen Theunisse and Arnout Cornelisse [Viele] as his superiors for his masters. * * * For the confirmation of the same, they have subscribed with their own hands this paper, without craft or guile, this 2,
1's of April, 1667." Vide Albany county records. Collections on the history of Albany. Munsell. vol. iv. p. 430.
1 In 1649, three hundred and thirty tuns of beer were made in the patroon's brewery.
190
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
lating the frequenting of the village tap-rooms were strictly enforced. Fines were imposed on persons found in them after the ringing of the curfew-bell, and the proprietors were mulcted for permitting men to be in them during sermon-time on Sundays. For the diver- sion of their customers some of the tapsters had trock- tables in their bar-rooms. The shape of these tables was somewhat similar to that of pool-tables. From the sur- face of the table, near one end of it, projected a small arch of wire, under which an ivory ball was placed be- fore it was struck with a cue to roll into one of the pockets at the corners of the table.
The most noticeable structure in the village was Fort Albany surrounded with pine-palisades fifteen feet high. Another one was the Reformed church standing at the opposite end of Broad (State) street, at its intersec- tion with Handelaar street. Its block-house architecture gave it a very unique appearance. The interior of the building was plainly furnished with benches. The small pedestal-pulpit with its flight of narrow steps and curved balustrade, purchased in Holland in 1657, occu- pied a small space at the end of the centre aisle.1 From the vaulted ceiling hung a chandelier on the branches of which were oil lamps. Sconces containing candles pro- jected from the walls near the lines of seats. The gal- leries contained sittings for a considerable number of persons. 2
The Sunday services in the church in early summer were attended by a large number of the people of the
1 The pulpit is about four feet in height and about three in diameter. It has eight sides, one of which is hinged, being the pulpit-door. Its small panels, mouldings, and other wood-work are of oak.
2 In 1682, when a new gallery was made on the north side of the church, twenty-four persons were given seats on it for their contributions for its erection. Robert Livingston, who obtained the contributions, was rewarded with a seat on it for himself and his posterity.
191
THE HISTORY OF ALBANY.
manor. In the village, the mornings of the holy days began with a restful and enjoyable quietude. Save the tinkle of the copper-bells upon the cows going to pas- ture, the crowing of the cocks, and the barking of the dogs, but few other week-day noises disturbed the Sab- batic repose of the place. About nine o'clock the bell was rung to announce to the villagers the dressing-time for church. Before the ringing of the second bell, an hour later, the church-going country-people were on the roads leading to the village-gates. Many of the farmers who rode horses seated their wives behind them on pillions or cushions attached to the saddles, and in like manner the farmers' sons rode with their sisters.
Near the church were long sheds in which the horses of the country people attending church were stalled. About them and the church, the early-arrived farm- ers gathered in groups to talk and detail the news of the manor. When the second bell began to ring the people of the village left their homes and decorously bent their steps toward the church. At the church-door the assembling villagers met their relations and friends liv- ing in the manor with brief greetings and interrogations.
Whatever consideration was bestowed upon dress by the people of Albany and Rensselaerswyck, little pride was expressed by diversities of style and material. Durability but not fineness, simplicity but not pretti- ness, propriety but not oddness were the manifest dis- tinctions in the clothing of the settlers. The men com- monly wore peaked, broad-brimmed felt-hats or small circular woolen caps, jackets extending over the hips, waistcoats, short breeches, long stockings, buckled shoes, cravats or wide-spreading linen collars. Ruffs. frilled shirt-bosoms and cuffs, embroidered waistcoats, velvet coats, and top-boots were the exceptional habil-
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.