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Presented  to  the 

LIBRARY  of  the 

UNIVERSITY  OF  TORONTO 

by 

O:TTA.IIO  LEGISLATIVE  LIB?JUY 


•- 


HE 


ANNALS   OF  ALBANY.  <Uxj 


BY  JOEL   MUNSELL. 


VOL  II. 


ND    EDITION 


BY 

PRESEiWATION 
SERVICES 


ALBANY : 


DATE 


JOEL  MUNSELL,  82  STATE  STREET. 

1870. 


PREFACE. 


A  second  edition  of  this  volume  of  the  Annals  of  Albany 
having  been  called  for,  opportunity  has  been  taken  to  in- 
troduce a  large  portion  of  the  citytrecords  belonging  to  this 
period,  that  are  missing  in  the  volumes  at  the  chamberlain's 
office,  but  which  exist  in  the  state  archives  at  Hartford, 
Conn.,  where  they  were  probably  conveyed  by  Robert  Liv- 
ingston, in  the  time  of  the  troubles  with  Leisler.  They 
were  found  and  translated  by  Dr.  E.  B.  O'Callaghan,  and 
published  ia  the  Documentary  History  of  New  York. 
There  are  still  other  important  documents  at  Hartford,  that 
belong  to  our  city  records,  which  remain  unpublished.  An 
omission  has  been  made  of  the  portion  of  Dutch  church 
baptisms  which  was  in  the  first  edition,  because  they  will  be 
more  perfectly  printed,  entire,  either  in  a  separate  volume, 
or  in  a  future  volume  of  the  Historical  Collections  of 
Albany,  which  is  published'in  continuation  of  this  series  of 
annals.  A  more  complete  index  than  the  one  in  the  first 
edition  has  been  made.  Otherwise  than  in  these  particulars, 
the  contents  of  the  volume  have  been  very  little  changed. 

April,  1870. 


CONTENTS. 


Page. 
Wampum, .1 

Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck, 8 

Description  of  Albany,  and  manners  of  the  inhabitants,          .      48 

Return  of  Abercrombie's  army, 55 

Charter  of  the  city  of  Albany,  .        ...        .        .        .56 

The  city  records, 82 

Glossary, .        .270 

Philip  Pietersen  Schuyler, 272 

Commission  of  Gerrit  Swart  of  Rensselaerswyck,  ;        .        .    273 
A  governor's  marriage  license,  1732,   .        .        .        .        .        277 

Indian  disturbances, 278 

TheFuyck, 279 

Form  of  oath  to  the  patroon, 280 

Game,    .        .        .    ' 281 

List  of  freeholders  in  the  city  of  Albany  and  manor  of  Rensse- 
laerswyck,             .        .        .        .        .    282 

Notes  from  the  newspapers,  1771-1790,       ....        284 

Lancasterian  school, .        .    304 

Ancient  funeral  custom, * .        .        307 

The  Dutch  language, .308 

Dutch  names  for  Albany  and  vicinity,          .        .        .        .        311 

Origin  of  Yankee  Doodle, .312 

Salmon  in  the  Hudson  river, 314 

Castle  island, 316 

Indian  names  of  Albany  and  vicinity,  .        .        .        .        317 

Dutch  names  for  the  fish  in  our  river, 319 

Albany  Academy  medals, 320 

Annals  for  the  year  1849-50, '.324 

Statistics:  city  finances, 355 

assessor's  valuation,  . 360 


vi  Illustrations. 

Page. 
The  mayor's  statement  on  the  financial  condition  of  the  city,    362 

Taxes  for  city  government, 364 

Pauperism  in  Albany, 365 

Comparison  of  taxes  for  1849  and  1860, 366 

Albany  and  Schenectady  rail  road, 367 

Albany  and  West  Stockbridge  rail  road,        .        .        .        .368 

Basin  excavation,  ........        368 

Barley  trade  of  Albany,  .        .        ...       \        .    369 

Hills  and  Creeks, 370 

Index,  .    371 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


View  of  Albany, frontispiece. 

Wampum, 1 

Peter  Stuyvesant, .        .        .13 

Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer, 47 

St.  Peter's  church  (Episcopal),. .......      48 

Pieter  Schuyler,    .        . 64 

View  of  portion  of  North  Market  Street,          .        .        .        .287 
Title  page  first  Albany  almanac,  .         .        .         .  290 

Lancasterian  school, 304 

Salmon  of  the  Hudson,          .        .        .        .        .        .:•«.'..        314 

Caldwell  mathematical  medal,         ........    321 

Van  Rensselaer  classical  medal,  .....        322 

James  H.  Armsby,  president  County  Medical  Society,     .        .    351 


ANNALS    OF    ALBANY. 


WAMPUM. 

This  article,  more  frequently  called  sewant  in  the  pages 
which  follow,  particularly  in  the  old  city  records,  is  said 
to  be  derived  from  wampi,1  signifying  in  the  Massachusetts 
Indian  language,  white,  the  color  of  the  shells  most  frequent 
in  wampum  belts.  It  was  strung,  and  sometimes  formed 
into  a  broad  belt,  to  be  worn  as  an  ornament.  One  of  the 
sea  coast  terms  of  the  Algonquins  for  this  article  was  peag* 
and  it  is  frequently  called  wampumpeage.  It  was  the  first 
money  in  use  in  New  Netherland  and  in  New  England.3 
Seawant  was  the  generic  name  of  this  Indian  money,  of 
which  there  were  two  kinds  ;  wompam,  commonly  written 
wampum,  which  signifies  white,  and  suckhanock,  sucki  sig- 
nifying black.  Wampum  or  white  money,  was  originally 
made  from  the  stem  or  stock  of  the  meteanhock  or  periwin- 
kle ;  suckhannock,  or  black  money,  was  made  from  the  in- 
side of  the  shell  of  the  quahaug,  commonly  called  the  hard 
clam.  Specimens  of  a  similar  article  are  numerous  in  the 
Indian  cemeteries  of  this  state,  formed  of  bone  and  mineral. 
The  material  from  which  the  figure  here  given  is  copied, 
is  the  red  pipe-  NII_  stone  of  the  west, 

so  much  valued;  it  ^^^p^^^g^S^  is  perforated  long- 
itudinally, and  was  evidently  worn 
about  the  neek  and  breast,  like  the  modern  article  of  wam- 
pum. The  Indians  had  various  kinds  of  ornaments  strung 


1  Encyclopedia  Americana,  article  Wampum. 

John  Josselyn  says :  "  Their  beads  are  their  money ;  of  these  there 
are  two  sorts,  blue  and  white ;  the  first  is  their  gold,  the  last  their 
silver.  These  they  work  out  of  shells  so  cunningly,  that  neither 
Jew  nor  devil  can  counterfeit  them." —  Old  Indian  Chronicle,  58. 

3 'Schooler off 's  Notes  on  the  Iroquois,  p.  244. 

3  Gabriel  Furman,  in  Gowans's  Bfoliotheca  Americana,  I,  42. 

Annals,  ii.  1 


2  Wampum. 

in  a  like  manner,  some  of  which  were  worn  for  a  defense 
against  witchcraft.  This,  also,  was  formed  of  the  red  pipe- 
stone  of  the  Coteau  du  Prairie,  west,  of  the  Mississippi,  and 
its  disinterment  from  Indian  graves  in  the  state  of  New 
York,  denotes  an  early  traffic  or  exchange  of  the  article,  Mr. 
Schoolcraft  thinks.  Other  species,  assuming  a  great  variety 
of  shapes,  and  formed  of  as  many  kinds  of  material,  including 
native  copper,  seem  to  have  been  worn  with  the  object  of 
producing  a  jingling  sound,  or  to  inspire  fear  by  the  tread. 

The  manufacture  of  wampum  by  the  Indians,  before  the 
appearance  of  Europeans,  was  necessarily  laborious,  with 
the  rude  implements  which  they  employed.  They  broke  off 
about  half  an  inch  of  the  purple  color  of  the  inside  of  the 
shell,  and  converted  it  into  beads.1  These  before  the  intro- 
duction of  awls  and  thread,  were  bored  with  sharp  stones, 
and  strung  upon  the  sinews  of  animals,  and  when  inter- 
woven to  the  breadth  of  the  hand-,  more  or  less,  were  called 
a  belt  of  sea  want,  or  wampum.  A  black  bead,  of  the  size  of 
a  large  straw,  about  one-third  of  an  inch  long,  bored  longi- 
tudinally and  well  polished,  was  the  gold  of  the  Indians, 
and  always  esteemed  of  twice  the  value  of  the  white ;  but 
either  species  was  considered  by  them,  of  much  more  value 
than  European  coin.  An  Indian  chief,  to  whom  the  value 
of  a  rix  dollar  was  explained  by  the  first  clergyman  of  Rens- 
selaerswyck,  laughed  exceedingly  to  think  the  Dutch  should 
set  so  high  a  value  upon  a  piece  of  iron,  as  he  termed  the 
dollar.  Three  beads  of  black,  and  six  of  white,  were  equi- 
valent, among  the  English,  to  a  penny,  and  among  the  Dutch 
to  a  stuyver.  But  with  the  latter  the  equivalent  sometimes 
varied,  depending  upon  the  finishing  of  the  seawant.  Sea- 
want  was  also  sometimes  made  from  the  common  oyster 
shell,  and  both  kinds  made  from  the  hard  clam  shell. 

The  us.e  of  wampum  was  not  known  in  New  England  un- 
til it  was  introduced  there  in  1627,  by  Isaac  De  Razier,  se- 
cretary of  New  Netherland,  while  on  an  embassy  there  to 
settle  a  treaty  of  amity  and  commerce  between  the  two  colo- 
nies. He  carried  with  him  wampum  and  goods,  and  with 
them  purchased  corn.  To  this  introduction  of  wampum  into 
New  England,  Hubbard  attributes  all  their  wars  with  the 


1  Q-owans's  BiUiotheca  Americana,  i,  42. 


Wampum. 

Indians  which  afterwards  ensued.  "Whatever  were  the 
honey  in  the  mouth  of  that  beast  of  trade,  there  was  a  deadly 
sting  in  the  tail.  For  it  is  said  they  (the  Dutch)  first  brought 
our  people  to  the  knowledge  of  wampum-peag ;  and  the  ac- 
quaintance therewith  occasioned  the  Indians  of  these  parts 
to  learn  the  skill  to  make  it,  by  which,  as  by  the  exchange 
of  money,  they  purchased  store  of  artillery,  both  from  the 
English,  Dutch  and  French,  which  proved  a  fatal  business 
to  those  that  were  concerned  in  it."  1 

Although  the  general  distinction  of  this  seawant  was 
black  and  white,  yet  that  in  use  in  New  England  was  black, 
blue  and  white  ;  and  that  of  the  Iroquois  of  a  purple  color.2 


^HuHbarcCs  History  of  New  England.  - 

2  Wampum  is  a  sort  of  a  shell  found  on  the  New  Iprk  coast : 
they  are  burgos  or  periwinkles,  some  of  which  are  white,  others 
violet,  verging  towards  black.  The  white  are  of  little  value  ;  the 
violet  more  in  demand,  and  the  more  they  incline  to  black  the 
higher  are  they  esteemed.  Wampum,  for  state  affairs,  is  shaped 
into  small  cylinders,  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long,  and  proportionably 
thick.  They  are  worked  into  two  forms,  strings  and  belts.  The 
strings  consist  of  cylinders  strung,  without  any  order,  one  after  an- 
other, like  the  beads  of  a  rosary.  The  belts  are  wide  sashes,  in 
which  the  white  and  purple  beads  are  arranged  in  rows  and  tied  by 
little  leathern  strings,  whereof  a  very  pretty  tissue  is  formed.  Their 
length,  width  and  color  are  in  proportion  to  the  importance  of  the 
affair  to  be  negotiated.  Ordinary  belts  consist  of  twelve  rows  of  180 
beads  each. 

These  belts  and  strings  of  wampum  are  the  universal  agent 
among  the  Indians,  serving  as  money,  jewelry,  ornaments,  annals, 
and  for  registers  ;  'tis  the  bond  of  nations  and  individuals ;  an  in- 
violable and  sacred  pledge  which  guaranties  messages,  promises  and 
treaties.  As  writing  is  not  in  use  among  them,  they  make  a  local 
memoir  by  means  of  these  belts,  each  of  which  signifies  a  particular 
affair,  or  a  circumstance  of  affairs.  The  chiefs  of  the  villages  are 
the  depositaries  of  them,  and  communicate  them  to  the  young  peo- 
ple, who  thus  learn  the  history  and  engagements  of  their  nation. 

In  addition  to  the  name  gaionne,  which  is  most  used  to  signify 
these  belts,  the  Indians  gave  them,  also,  that  of  garifioua,  which 
means,  an  affair ;  that  of  guauenda,  as  a  speech  or  message,  and 
gaianderensera,  which  implies  greatness  or  nobility,  because  chiefs 
only  are  competent  for  the  great  affairs  treated  by  belts ;  they  it  is 
who  furnish  the  belts  and  strings,  and  it  is  among  them  that  they 
are  divided,  whenever  presents  are  made  to  the  villages  and  an- 
swers are  given  to  the  speeches  of  ambassadors.—  Doc.  Col.  Hist., 
x,  556,  note. 


4  Wampum. 

A  string  of  this  shell  money,  one  fathom  long,  varied  in 
price  from  five  shillings,  among  the  New  Englanders, 
to  four  guilders  among  the  Dutch,  or  one  dollar  and  sixty-six 
and  a  half  cents  of  our  present  currency.  The  process  of 
trade  was  This  ;  the  Dutch  and  English  sold  for  seawant  to 
the  Indians  of  the  interior,  their  awls,  knives,  combs,  scis- 
sors, needles,  looking-glasses,  hatchets,  guns,  black  cloth, 
and  other  articles  of  aboriginal  traffic,  and  with  the  seawant 
bought  the  furs,  corn  and  venison  from  the  Indians  on  the 
seaboard,  who  also  with  their  shell  money  bought  such  arti- 
cles from  the  aborigines  residing  farther  inland ;  and  by  this 
course  the  white  men  saved  the  trouble  of  transporting  their 
furs  and  grain  through  the  country.  Thus,  by  this  circu- 
lating medium  a  brisk  commerce  was  carried  on,  not  only  be- 
tween the  white  people  and  the  Indians,  but  also  between 
different  tribes  among  the  latter.  So  much  was  this  the 
circulating  medium,  that  the  colonial  governments  found  it 
necessary  to  make  regulations  on  the  subject.  In  1641  Gov. 
Kieft  and  his  council,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  a  vast,  deal  of 
bad  seawant,  "  nasty  rough  things  imported  from  other 
places, "  was  in  circulation,  while  the  "  good,  splendid  sea- 
want,  usually  called  Manhattan's  seawant,  was  out. of  sight, 
or  exported,  which  must  cause  the  ruin  of  the  country!" 
therefore,  in  order  to  remedy  the  evil,  it  was  ordained  that 
all  coarse  seawant,  well  stringed,  should  pass  at  six  for  one 
stuyver  only,  but  the  well  polished  at  four  for  a  stuy ver,  and 
whoever  offered  or  received  the  same,  at  a  different  price, 
should  forfeit  the  same,  and  also  ten  guilders  to  the  poor. 

The  Connecticut  Code  of  1650  ordained  "  That  nopeage, 
white  or  black,  bee  paid  or  received,  but  what  is  strunge 
and  in  some  measure  strunge  sutably,  and  not  small  and 
great,  uncomely  and  disorderly  mixt,  as  formerly  it  hath 
beene." 

Massachusetts  colony  passed  a  law  in  1648,  declaring  that 
wampumpeag  should  pass  current  in  the  payment  of  debts 
to  the  amount  of  forty  shillings ;  the  white  at  eight  for  a 
penny,  and  the  black  at  four  fora  penny,  "if  entire,  without 
breaches  or  spots ;  except  in  payment  of  county  rates  to  the 
treasurer."  This  law  was  repealed  in  1661,  yet  seawant 
continued  to  form  a  part  of  the  circulating  medium  of  the 
colony  for  a  long  period  afterward. 


Wampum.  5 

The  wampum  currency  appears  sometimes  to  have  been 
measured  by  the  fathom,  in  New  England.  The  Pequot 
Indians,  in  the  year  1656,  paid  as  a  tribute  to  the  united 
colonies  of  New  England  215  fathoms  of  wampum ;  of  which 
amount  Thomas  Stanton,  the  agent  among  the  Indians,  was 
paid  120  fathoms  for  his  salary,  and  the  remaining  95  fa- 
thoms, together  with  51  fathoms  at  New  Haven,  in  all  146 
fathoms,  was  divided  among  the  united  colonies,  according 
to  the  number  of  males  enumerated  in  the  year  1655,  in  the 
following  manner,  being  the  first  distribution  of  public  mo- 
neys in  the  good  old  time  of  our  history. 

To  Massachusetts, 94  fathoms. 

Plymouth, 18  fathoms. 

Connecticut, 20  fathoms. 

New  Haven, 13  fathoms. 

The  governor  and  council  in  the  city  of  New  York,  in 
1673,  made  an  order,  declaring  that  by  reason  of  the  scarcity 
of  wampum,  that  which  had  hitherto  passed  at  the  rate  of 
eight  white  and  four  black  pairs,  for  a  stuyver  or  penny, 
should  then  pass  at  six  white  and  three  black  pairs  for  a 
stuyver,  "and  three  times  so  much  the  value  of  silver." 
At  this  period  there  was  little  "  certain  coin  in  the  govern- 
ment "  of  N.  York,  and  wampum  readily  passed  as  change 
for  current  payment  in  all  cases.  This  seawant,  or  wam- 
pum, was  the  only  Indian  money  ever  known  in  North 
America ;  it  was  not  only  the  money  of  the  Indians,  but 
also  the  ornament  of  their  persons.  It  distinguished  the 
rich  from  the  poor,  the  proud  from  the  humble.  It  was  the 
tribute  paid  by  the  vanquished  to  those,  the  Five  Nations 
for  instance,  who  had  exacted  contribution.  In  the  form 
of  a  belt  it  was  sent  with  all  public  messages  between  the 
Indian  tribes,  and  preserved  as  a  record  of  all  public  trans- 
actions among  the  aboriginal  people.  If  a  message  was  sent 
without  the  belt,  it  was  considered  an  empty  word,  unworthy 
of  remembrance.  If  the  belt  was  returned  it  was  a  rejec- 
tion of  the  offer  or  proffer  accompanying  it.  If  accepted  it 
was  a  confirmation,  and  strengthened  friendship,  or  effaced 
injuries.  These  shells,  indeed,  had  more  virtue  among  the 
Indians,  than  pearls,  gold  and  silver  had  among  Europeans. 
Seawant  was  the  seal  of  a  contract,  the  oath  of  fidelity.  It 
satisfied  murders,  and  all  other  injuries,  purchased  peace, 


6  Wampum. 

and  entered  into  the  religious  as  well  as  the  civil  ceremonies 
of  the  aborigines.  A  string  of  seawant  was  delivered  by 
the  orator  in  public  council,  at  the  close  of  every  distinct 
proposition  made  to  others,  as  a  ratification  of  the  truth  and 
sincerity  of  what  he  said,  and  the  white  and  black  strings 
of  seawant  were  tied  by  the  pagan  priest,  around  the  neck, 
of  the  white  dog  suspended  to  a  pole,  and  offered  as  a  sacri- 
fice to  Thaloughyawaagon,  the  upholder  of  the  skies,  the 
god  of  the  Five  Nations.1 

The  article  continued  to  be  manufactured  in  different 
parts  of  the  state  of  New  York  until  a  comparatively  recent 
period.  Smith2  mentions,  that  a  short  time  previous  to 
writing  his  work,  several  poor  families  at  Albany  made  their 
living  by  its  manufacture.  Burn aby3  mentions  that  in  jour- 
neying from  Philadelphia  to  New  York,  he  passed  through 
Staten  Island,  and  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  the  method 
of  making  wampum,  the  process  of  which  he  thus  describes; 
"  It  is  first  chipped  to  a  proper  size,  which  is  that  of  a  small 
oblong  parallelepiped,  then  drilled,  and  afterwards  ground 
to  a  round  smooth  surface  and  polished.  The  purple  wam- 
pum is  much  more  valuable  than  the  white ;  a  very  small 
part  of  the  shell  being  of  that  color."  In  the  summer  of 
1831,  several  bushels  of  wampum  were  brought  from  Baby- 
lon, on  Long  Island,  and  the  person  who  had  them,  stated 
that  he  had  procured  them  for  an  Indian  trader,  and  was 
in  the  habit  of  supplying  those  traders  with  wampum.  The 
best  wampum  is  at  this  day  manufactured  on  Long  Island,  to 
be  sent  to  the  western  states  and  territories,  for  the  purpose 
both  of  a  circulating  medium,  and  of  conventions  andtreaties.4 

Wampum  is  also  manufactured  at  the  present  day  in  Ber- 
gen county,  New  Jersey,  for  the  Indian  traders  of  the  far 
west.5  It  has  been  manufactured  by  the  females  of  that  re- 
gion from  very  early  times,  of  the  thick  and  blue  part  of  the 
sea-clam  shell.  The  process  is  simple,  but  requires  a  skill  at- 
tained only  by  long  practice.  The  intense  hardness  and 
brittleness  of  the  material  render  it  impossible  to  produce 

1  See  Yates  and  Moulton's  History  of  New  York. 
3  History  of  the  Province  of  New  York. 

3  Travels  through  the  Middle  Colonies  in  North  America,  1760. 

4  Gowans's  Bibliotheca  Americana,  i,  41. 

6  Barber  and  Howe's  Historical  Collections  of  New  Jersey,  p.  72. 


Wampum.  7 

the  article  by  machinery  alone.     It  is  done  by  wearing  or 
grinding  the  shell.     The  first  process  is  to  split  off  the  thin 
part  with  a  light  sharp  hammer.     Then  it  is  clamped  in  the 
sawed  crevice  of  a  slender  stick,  held  in  both  hands,  and 
ground  smooth  on  a  grindstone,  until  formed  into  an  eight- 
sided  figure,  of  about  an  inch  in  length,  and  nearly  half  an 
inch  in  diameter,  when  it  is  ready  for  boring.     The  shell  then 
is  inserted  into  another  piece  of  wood,  sawed  similarly  to  the 
above,  but  fastened  firmly  to  a  bench  of  the  size  of  a  common 
stand.     One  part  of  the  wood  projects  over  the  bench,  at  the 
end  of  which  hangs  a  weight,  causing  the  sawed  orifice  to 
close  firmly  upon  the  shell  inserted  on  its  under  side,  and  to 
hold  it  firmly,  as  in  a  vice,  ready  for  drilling.     The  drill 
is   made    from    an    untempered    handsaw.     The    operator 
grinds  the  drill  to  a  proper  shape,  and  tempers  it  in  the 
flame  of  a  candle.     A  rude  ring,  with  a  groove  on  its  circum- 
ference, is  put  on  it;  around  which  the  operator,  who  is 
seated  in  front  of  the  fastened  shell,  curls  the  string  of  a 
common  hand-bow.     The  boring  commences,  by  nicely  ad- 
justing the  point  of  the  drill  to  the  centre  of  the  shell;  while 
the  other  end  is  braced  against  a  steel  plate,  on  the  breast  of 
the  operator.     About  every  other  sweep  of  the  bow,  the  drill 
is  dexterously   drawn  out,  cleaned  of  the  shelly  particle  by 
the  thumb  and  finger,  above  which  drops  of  water  from  a 
vessel  fall  down  and  cool  the  drill;  which  is  still  kept  revolv- 
ing, by  the  use  of  the  bow  with  the  other  hand,  the  same  as 
though  it  were  in  the  shell.     This  operation  of  boring  is  the 
most  difficult  of  all,  the  peculiar  motion  of  the  drill  rendering 
it  hard  for  the  breast;  yet  it  is  performed  with  a  rapidity 
and  grace  interesting  to  witness.     Peculiar  care  is  observed, 
lest  the  shell  burst  from  heat  caused  by  friction.     When 
bored  halfway,  the  wampum  is  reversed,  and  the  same  opera- 
tion repeated.     The  next  process  is  the  finishing.     A  wire 
about  twelve  inches  long  is  fastened  at  one  end  to  a  bench. 
Under  and  parallel  to  the  wire  is  a  grindstone,  fluted  on  its 
circumference,  hung  a  little  out  of  the  centre,  so  as  to  be 
turned  by  a  treadle  moved  with  the  foot.    The  left  hand  grasps 
the  end  of  the  wire,  on  which  is  strung  the  wampum,  and  as 
it  were,  wraps  the  beads  around  the  fluted  or  hollow  circum- 
ference of  the  grindstone.     While  the  grindstone  is  revoling, 
the  beads  are  held  down  on  to  it,  and  turned  round  by  a  flat 


8  Wampum. 

piece  of  wood  held  in  the  right  hand,  and  by  the  grinding 
soon  become  round  and  smooth.  They  are  then  strung  on 
hempen  strings,  about  a  foot  in  length.  From  five  to  ten 
strings  are  a  day's  work  for  a  female.  They  are  sold  to  the 
country  merchants  for  twelve  and  a  half  cents  a  string,  always 
command  cash,  and  constitute  the  support  of  many  poor  and 
worthy  families. 

The  value  of  sewant  about  1660,  in  Rensselaerswyck,  in 
payment  of  taxes,  was  twelve  white  and  six  black  to  the 
stuyver,  which  is  a  little  less  than  two  cents. 

The  collections  in  the  church  were  mostly  in  sewant,  of 
which  they  had  in  the  treasury  at  one  time  about  13,000 
guilders  in  amount.  It  was  a  depreciated  currency,  however; 
a  guilder  in  sewant  being  but  about  twelve  and  one-half 
cents  in  gold,  or  about  one-third  of  a  guilder,  which  was 
nearly  forty  cents. 


Colony  of  Renssdaerswyck. 


COLONY  OF  RENSSELAERSWYCK. 

[From  O'CaUagUaris  History  of  New  Netherlands  Vol.  2.] 

1646  to  1664. 

Johannes  Van  Rensselaer,  heir  to  the  patroonship  of  Rens- 
selaerswyck,  being  a  minor  at  his  father's  decease,  the  care 
of  his  interests  devolved  on  his  uncle  Johannes  Van  Wely, 
and  Wouter  Van  Twiller,1  executors  to  the  last  will  and 
testament  of  the  first  patroon,  who  immediately  rendered 
fealty  and  homage  for  the  colonie  to  their  high  mightinesses, 
in  the  name  and  on  the  behalf  of  their  ward. 

The  immediate  management  of  this  estate  was  entrusted  to 
Brant  Arent  Van  Slechtenhorst  of  Nieukerke  in  Gruilderland, 
who  was  appointed  director  of  the  colonie,  president  of  the 
court  of  justice,  and  superintendent  of  all  the  bouweries, 
farms,  mills,  and  other  property  belonging  to  the  patroon, 
at  a  salary  of  seven  hundred  and  fifty  florins  ($300)  per  an- 
num, to  reckon  from  the  date  of  his  arrival  out,  together 
with  a  house,  four  milch  cows,  two  horses,  four  morgens  of 
tillage  and  four  morgens  of  pasture  land.  He  was  specially 
charged  to  uphold,  maintain  and  defend  the  freedoms  and 
privileges  with  which  the  colonie  was  invested,  to  promote 
the  interests  and  advance  the  settlement  of  Beverwyck  and 
its  immediate  neighborhood,  and  to  acquire  by  purchase  the 
lands  around  Katskill,  for  the  greater  security  of  the  colonie, 
inasmuch  as  the  colonists,  through  a  notion  of  acquiring  pro- 
perty In  that  quarter,  were  forming  companies  or  associations 
to  remove  thither  and  abandon  Rensselaerswyck.  He  was 
further  ordered  to  explore  the  country  for  minerals,  and  to 
report  to  his  superiors  in  Holland  whatever  success  might 
crown  these  labors.  Thus  commissioned  and  instructed,  the 
newly  appointed  director  sailed  with  his  family  and  servants 
for  Virginia.  He  proceeded  thence  in  another  vessel  to  the 
Manhattans,  where  he  landed  after  a  passage  of  four  months 
and  finally  arrived  in  the  colonie  in  the  latter  part  of  March. 


1  Van  Twiller  died  in  Holland  in  1656,  or  1657.    Van  Wely  died 
19th  March,  1679,  aged  83  or  83  years. 


10  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

His  son,  Grerrit  Van  Slechtenhorst,  was  to  act  as  officier  or 
schout-fiscaal,  at  a  salary  of  six  hundred  florins;  but  he  filled 
the  office  only  two  months,  when  it  was  merged  in  that  of 
the  director.1 

From  the  moment  that  colonies  began  to  be  planted  by 
patroons  in  New  Netherland,  the  directors  of  the  Amsterdam 
Chamber  became  jealous  of  their  existence  and  opposed  to 
their  continuance.  They  considered  them  injurious  to  the 
settlement  of  the  country  and  the  increase  of  its  population.2 
By  the  repurchase  of  Pavonia  and  Zwanendaal  in  1634,  they 
took  the  earliest  means  to  check  the  evil.  In  the  prosecution 
of  their  policy,  they  endeavored  to  induce  the  patroon  of 
Rensselaerswyck  to  cede  to  them  his  rights,  privileges  and 
possessions  also;  but  having  failed  in  effecting  this,  they  now 
changed  front,  and  determined  to  circumscribe  a  jurisdiction 
and  weaken  a  power  which  they  could  not  buy  off,  and 
which  they  wished  to  destroy.  Gen.  Stuyvesant  and  Brant 
Van  Slechtenhorst  were  the  champions  of  these  hostile  inte- 
rests and  opposing  views.  The  former  claimed  to  be  supreme 
ruler  of  the  whole  country,  irrespective  of  the  special  rights 
and  feudal  privileges  granted,  as  well  by  the  charter  of  1629, 
as  by  the  civil  law,  to  the  local  authorities  of  independent 
fiefs.  The  latter,  thoroughly  conversant  with  the  immuni- 
ties claimed  for  manors  and  municipalities  in  continental  Eu- 
rope, recognized  the  exercise  of  no  authority  within  his 
limits  save  that  of  his  patroon,  or  such  as  was  approved  and 
sanctioned  by  his  legal  representatives.  Whatever  orders  or 
placards  the  director-general  might  issue  were,  he  maintained, 
null  and  powerless,  unless  so  endorsed  and  countersigned  by 
his  commander  and  executed  by  the  officers  of  his  court. 
It  was  easy  to  foresee  that  pretensions  so  opposite  could  not 

1Gerrit  Van  Slechtenhorst  married  Aeltje  Lansing,  by  whom  he 
had  four  children,  viz:  Hellegonda,  Gerrit,  Rachel,  and  Gouda, 
He'  was  one  of  the  commissaries  of  Schenectady  in  1672,  after  which 
he  removed  to  Kingston,  Ulster  Co.,  where  he  died  9th  January,  1684, 
N.  S.  The  other  children  of  Brant  Van  Slechtenhorst,  were  Mar- 
garet and  Alida.  The  latter  was  born  in  Beverwyck,  and  married 
Gerrit,  son  of  Goosen  Gerritsen  Van  Schayck,  by  whom  she  had  no 
issue.  She  lost  her  husband  llth  November,  1679,  after  which  she 
married  Pieter  Davitse  Schuyler,  son  of  David  Schuyler. 

3  Alb.  Rec.,  iv,  199. 


Colony  of  EensselaerswycL  11 

fail  to  lead  to  collision,  and  Slechtenhorst  had  not  been  much 
more  than  a  month  at  his  post  when  an  explosion  took  place. 

A  copy  of  a  proclamation  ordering  the  first  Wednesday  in 
May  to  be  observed  by  a  general  fast  and  the  performance  of 
public  worship  in  the  several  churches  of  New  Netherland 
was  duly  forwarded  to  Rensselaerswyck.  It  was  received  by 
the  authorities  of  that  place,  not  in  that  spirit  of  submissive 
obedience  which  the  director-general  demanded  for  all  his 
orders,  but  as  an  invasion  of  the  rights  and  authority  of  the 
lord  of  the  manor,  against  which  Van  Slechtenhorst  forth- 
with protested.1 

This  proceeding  did  not  comport  with  Stuyvesant's  ideas 
either  of  law  or  propriety.  To  correct  the  abuse  he  resolved 
to  visit  the  colonie,  where,  accompanied  by  a  military  escort, 
he  soon  after  landed,  his  arrival  being  most  loyally  greeted 
by  salvos  from  the  patroon's  artillery.2  Summoning  Van 
Slechtenhorst,  he  called  in  question  his  pretensions,  and 
charged  him  with  infringing  the  company's  sovereignty.  But 
the  sturdy  commander  retorted:  "Your  complaints  are  un- 
just, I  have  more  reason  to  complain,  on  behalf  of  my  patroon 
against  you."  The  director-general  fulminated,  thereupon, 
a  lengthy  protest,  in  which  Van  Slechtenhorst  was  accused 
with  having  conveyed  lots,  and  authorized  the  erection  of 
buildings,  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Fort  Orange,  in  disre- 
gard not  only  of  the  sovereign  authority,  but  in  contempt  of 


'This  26th  April,  1648,  hath  the  director  Slechtenhorst  pro- 
tested against  a  certain  writing  of  the  Right  Hon.  P.  Stuyvesant,  con- 
cerning the  publication  of  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  whereby  it 
is  understood,  that  the  right  and  authority  of  the  Lord  Patroon  are 
invaded.  This  document  was  handed  in  only  before  the  sermon, 
so  that  there  was  no  time  to  have  it  read. —  Rensselaerswyck  M88. 

2  July,  1648.  Whereas,  the  council  of  the  colony  directed  the 
Heer  General  Peter  Stuyvesant  should  be  greeted  on  his  arrival  and 
departure,  with  several  salutes  from  the  Heer  Patroon's  three  pieces 
of  cannon,  so  hath  the  director  employed  Jan  Dircksen  Van  Bremen, 
and  Hans  Encluys,  to  clean  the  same,  as  they  were  filled  with  earth 
and  stones,  and  to  load  them,  in  which  they  were  employed  three 
days,  to  wit :  one  day  in  cleaning  them ;  the  second  in  firing  for  the 
arrival,  and  the  third,  for  Stuyvesant's  departure  —  for  which  Slech- 
tenhorst purchased  201bs.  of  "powder,  and  expended  ten  guilders, 
for  beer  and  victuals,  besides  having  provided  the  Heer  General,  at 
his  departure,  with  divers  young  fowls  and  pork. — Ib. 


12  Colony  of  EenssdaerswycL 

the  director-general's  commission,  thus  infringing  the  pri- 
vileges granted  by  their  high  mightinesses  and  destroying  the 
security  of  the  fort.     Such  proceeding  was  totally  repugnant 
to  "military  discipline  and  tactics."     He  therefore  ordered, 
"  in  a  friendly  manner,"  a  stop  to  be  put  to  all  building, 
within  range  of  cannon  shot,  unless  specially  ordered  by  the 
lords  majors.     He  further  commanded, that  no  new  ordinances 
affecting.the  sovereign  authority,  or  relating  to  commerce  or 
the  public  welfare,  be  issued  without  the  previous  consent  of 
their  high  mightinesses  or  their  representative  in  New  Nether- 
land  ;  and  that  no  exclusive  right  to  any  branch  of  trade  be 
rented,  nor  any  grain,  masts,    or  other  property  belonging 
to  the  company's  servants  be  seized,  unless  the  prosecutions 
on   such   suits    were    disposed    of    without    delay.      The 
practice  of  compelling  the  inhabitants  of  the  colonie  to  sign 
a  pledge  that,  as  defendants,  they  should  not  appeal  to  the 
supreme  court  of  New  Netherland  from  judgments  rendered 
by  the  court  of  Rensselaerswyck,  was  pronounced  "  a  crime," 
an  infraction  of  the  law  of  the  land,  and  a  subversion  of  the 
twentieth  article  of  the  charter.     To  prevent  the  recurrence  of 
this  illegal  practice,  an  annual  return  to  the  director  and  coun- 
cil of  all  the  affairs  transacted  in  the  colonie  and  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  court  was  insisted  on,  conformably  to  the 
twenty-eighth  article  of  the  said  charter.     And  as  Van  Slech- 
tenhorst  claimed,  in  direct  contradiction  to  the  charter  and 
the  director-general's  commission,  to  the  vilification  of  the 
latter's  office  and  in  disrespect  of  the  lords  majors,   not  to  be 
responsible  to  the  government  at  Fort  Amsterdam,  he  was 
called  on  to  produce  his  authority,  either  from  the  states- 
general  or  the  directors  of  the  chamber  at  Amsterdam,  for 
such  pretension.     Failing  this,  the  director-general  protested 
against  him  for  disobedience  of  orders. 

Commander  Slechtenhorst,  was,  in  the  estimation  of  his  op- 
ponents, "  a  person  of  stubborn  and  headstrong  temper." 
He  was,  besides,  fully  confident  that  he  had  law  and  custom 
on  his  side  ;  he  was  sure  that  he  had  the  instructions  of  his 
superiors  in  his  pocket,  and  was  therefore  determined  not  to 
abandon  the  rights  of  "his  orphan  patroon."  He  answered 
protest  by  protest.  He  charged,  in  his  turn,  the  director- 
general  with  having  proclaimed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer 
in  Rensselarswyck,  "  contrary  to  antient  order  and  usage, 
as  if  he  were  the  lord  of  the  patroon's  colonie." 


Colony  of  Eensselaerswyck.  13 

He  accused  the  company's  servants  at  the  fort  with  hav- 
ing cut,  without  permission,  the  best  timber  and  firewood  in 
the  patroon's  forests,  "  as  if  these  were  their  own  •"  and 
with  having  ranged  through  the  whole  colonie,  along  with 
people  from  Manhattans,  "with  savages  by  their  side  to 
serve  as  brokers,"  trading  publicly  with  the  aborigines,  as 
if  the  place  were  their  property ;  all  this  without  license  from 
the  patroon  or  his  authorized  agents,  and  without  paying 
either  duties  or  recognitions.  As  for  the  order  not  to  build 
within  a  prescribed  distance  of  Fort  Orange,  it  was  an  ag- 
gression which  could  not  be  justified.  The  patroon's  trading 
house  stood,  "  a  few  years  ago,"  on  the  border  of  the  moat 
which  surrounded  that  fort.  That  soil,  with  all  around,  be- 
longs still  to  the  patroon ;  he  was  never  disturbed  in  its  pos- 
session until  Director  Stuyvesant  sought  now  "by  unbecom- 
ing means,"  to  oust  "  his  orphan  heir,"  to  deprive  him  of 
the  benefit  thereof,  and  to  appropriate  the  soil  to  himself; 
threatening  to  destroy  the  patroon's  buildings  by  cannon  shot. 
Van  Slechtenhorst  is  hereby  prevented  erecting  "  even  a  hog 
pen"  on  the  patroon's  own  land,  and  Stuyvesant  has  become 
a  judge  in  his  own  case.  The  assertion  that  the  objection- 
able buildings  endangered  the  security  of  the  fort,  was  a 
mere  pretext.  They  were  more  than  five  hundred  rods  from 
the  fort,  or  trading  house;  and,  it  was  added,  eight  houses 
already  intervened  between  them  and  Fort  Orange. 

In  keeping  with  the  spirit  here  displayed,  did  Van  Slech- 
tenhorst continue  his  improvements  in  Beverwyck.  An- 
other protest  from  the  Manhattans  followed,  warning  him 
that  force  should  be  used  if  he  did  not  desist.  But  this  had 
the  effect  only  of  calling  forth  "  a  counter  blast."  No  suit, 
he  insisted,  could  be  instituted,  nor  execution  issued  in  an- 
other district,  without  previous  consent  of  the  schout  fiscaal 
or  court  of  that  jurisdiction,  on  the  pain  of  non-suit  and  ar- 
bitrary correction,  and  therefore  the  present  proceeding  was 
informal.  The  pretensions  now  put  forth  were,  moreover,  at 
variance  with  those  which  had  already  been  promulgated, 
and  in  contradiction  with  practice  even  at  New  Amsterdam. 
The  director-general  claimed,  in  July,  that  all  the  territory 
within  range  of  cannon  shot  belonged  to  Fort  Orange  ;  now 
he  reduces  the  circle  to  the  range  of  a  musket  ball,  within 
which  he  will  not  allow  a  house  to  be  built,  "notwithstanding 

Annals,  ii.  2 


14  Colony  of  EensselaerswycL 

he  permits  whole  streets  to  be  filled  with  houses,  in  view  of 
Fort  Amsterdam."  It  was  a  matter  of  surprise,  that  he 
should  use  the  power  with  which  he  was  invested,  to  oppress 
"  our  infant  patroon."  It  was  his  duty,  as  a  Christian  neigh- 
bor, to  preach  other  doctrines ;  to  turn  his  arms,  not  against 
friends,  but  enemies.  It  was  besides,  highly  unbecoming  in 
him  to  use  force  whilst  their  high  mightinesses  had  not  yet 
decided  the  case,  especially  as  the  house  in  dispute  was  not 
within  musket  shot  of  the  fort. 

This  continued  contumacy  served  but  to  irritate  the  exe- 
cutive. The  freshets  of  the  past  winter  had  nearly  destroyed 
Fort  Orange,  and  the  company's  commissary  had  received 
orders  to  surround  that  post  with  a  solid  stone  wall  in  lieu 
of  the  wooden  fence  by  which  it  had  hitherto  been  encom- 
passed. But  scarcely  had  a  rod  of  the  work  been  finished, 
when  Van  Slechtenhorst  forbade  Carl  Van  Brugge,  "  in  an 
imperious  manner/'  to  quarry  stone  within  the  colonie,  or 
to  fell  a  tree  either  for  the  repair  of  the  fortification  or  for 
firewood.  The  farmers  and  inhabitants  were  also  ordered, 
contrary  to  the  practice  of  former  magistrates,  and  contrary, 
it  might  be  added,  to  the  fifth  article  of  the  charter  of  1629, 
not  to  convey  any  such  materials  thither.1  The  company 
was  thus  deprived  of  articles  necessary  to  build  forts,  or 
other  edifices,  and  compelled  either  to  beg  them  from  their 
vassals ;  or  "  what  is  worse/'  to  purchase  them  at  enormous 
prices.  Whilst  thus  opposing  repair  of  the  public  works, 
Van  Slechtenhorst  actively  continued  his  own  buildings, 
"  even  within  pistol  shot  of  Fort  Orange." 

On  receipt  of  this  intelligence,  General  Stuyvesant  resolved 
to  maintain  his  authority  by  force.  Six  soldiers-  were  dis- 


1  This  prohibition  arose  rather  in  consequence  of  the  claim  to  ju- 
risdiction, than  on  account  of  the  value  of  the  timber.    For  "about 
midsummer  of  1649,  the  Heer  General  being  here,  asked  Jan  Bae- 
rentsen  to  wheel  out  some  masts,  which  he  refused  to  do,  saying 
that  the  horses  and  the  land  which  he  made  use  of  belonged  to  the 
patroon,  whose  consent  he  must  first  have.     Whereupon  the  Heer 
General  came  to  the  director,  and  requested  him,  after  relating  the 
above  circumstances,  to  consent  thereto.     The  director  accordingly 
consented.     Rensselaerswyck  Gerechtsrolle,  1648-1652,  71. 

2  A  manuscript  protest  among  the  Rensselaerswyck  papers,  re- 
presents this  force  as  "  seven  soldiers  and  five  sailors,"  who  remained 
fourteen  days  in  the  colonie. 


Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck.  15 

patched  to  Van  Brugge's  assistance,  with  orders  to  demolish 
the  offending  house,  to  arrest  Van  Slechtenhorst  "  in  the 
most  civil  manner  possible,"  should  he  offer  any  opposition, 
and  to  detain  him  in  custody  until  he  delivered  a  copy  of  his 
commission  and  his  instructions,  and  had  declared  that  he 
had  no  other.  He  was  finally  summoned  to  appear  at  Fort 
Amsterdam  to  answer  for  his  conduct.  Orders  were  at  the 
same  time  issued,  prohibiting  the  importation  of  guns  into 
the  colonie  without  license  from  the  lords  majors.  Such 
arms,  when  imported,  were  to  be  sold  only  to  the  company 
at  a  fixed  price  of  two  beavers  each. 

The  excitement  produced  in  the  hitherto  peaceful  hamlets 
of  Beverwyck,  on  the  appearance  of  this  armed  posse,  may  be 
easily  conceived.  The  oldest  inhabitant  had  not  seen  a  sol- 
dier nor  heard  the  sound  of  a  drum  in  that  place  until  the  di- 
rector-general's visit  in  the  course  of  the  last  summer.  And 
how  when  another  armed  band  arrived,  with  the  hostile  design 
of  razing  the  houses  of  quiet  and  inoffensive  settlers,  they 
were  sorely  amazed  and  much  alarmed. 

Those  whom  the  director-general  had  dispatched  to  en-f 
force  his  orders,  were  not,  in  truth,  the  best  qualified  for 
the  perforrnan  ce  of  this  delicate  mission .  They  were  very  zeal- 
ous "  when  the  patroon's  timber  was  to  be  cut,  or  his  deer 
killed,"  and  were  not  slow  to  exhibit  their  insolence  by 
grossly  insulting  the  commander,  "when  walking  the  public 
street "  in  company  with  his  deputy,  Andries  de  Vos,  cursing 
them  and  "  abusing  God's  holy  name,"  because  "  they  had 
not  bade  them  good  evening." 

This  rude  conduct,  and  the  unconcealed  avowal  of  their 
mission,  aroused  the  indignation  not  only  of  the  settlers  but 
even  of  the  Indians.  These  assembled  in  a  tumultuous  and 
angry  manner,  and  demanded  if  <:  Wooden  Leg,1  in  whom 
they  had  confided  as  their  protector,  intended  to  tear  down 
the  houses  which  were  to  shelter  them  in  stormy  and  wintry 
weathar?"  When  they  learned  that  all  the  trouble  was 
about  a  few  roods  of  land,  they  told  the  commander  to  accom- 


1  Ebeling,  in  his  Erdbeschreibung  and  Geschichte  von  Amerika, 
Hamburg,  8vo,  1796,  in  34,  represents  Stuyvesant  as  having, "  a 
silver  leg."  Slechtenhorst  and  the  Indians  are  better  authority  on 
this  point. 


16  Colony  of  Rensselaersivyck* 

pany  them  home,  and  they  would  give  him  plenty  of  land 
"in  the  Maquaas  country;"  so  that  " more  kindness  was 
evinced  by  the  unbelieving  savages  than  by  our  Christian 
neighbors,  subjects  of  the  same  sovereign,  bound  by  their 
oaths  to  protect  us  against  insult  and  outrage." 

The  soldiery  now  flushed  with  triumph,  were  disposed  to 
celebrate  whatever  victory  they  obtained  by  firing  a  feu-de- 
joie.  They  accordingly  discharged  three  or  four  volleys. 
This  brought  the  Indians  again  together.  Slechtenhorst 
succeeded,  however,  in  soothing  their  irritation,  and  per- 
suaded them  to  depart.  They  returned,  shortly,  in  increased 
numbers,  and  inquired  in  angry  terms,  "  If  Wooden  Leg's 
dogs  were  gone  ?"  They  were  assured  that  all  would  yet 
be  well ;  that  they  had  been  misinformed,  that  the  houses 
should  not  be  pulled  down.  A  threatening  storm  was  thus 
happily  averted,  for  the  director-general's  rash  conduct  had 
well  nigh  produced  bloodshed,  "  and  the  ruin  not  only  of  the 
colonie,  but  of  the  Manhattans  and  of  the  Christians  within 
this  land,  who  are  all  at  the  mercy  of  the  savages  " — espe- 
cially had  these  been  joined  by  some  Christians,  "  as  might 
have  been  the  case/' 

Yan  Slechtenhorst's  indignation  at  this  encroachment  on 
the  patroon's  privileges  was  n  ot  so  easily  removed.  He  gave 
vent  to  his  feelings  in  a  long  and  angry  protest.  The  demand 
for  a  copy  of  his  commission,  and  the  summons  to  appear  at  Fort 
Amsterdam,  he  answered  by  calling  for  a  copy  in  writing  of 
the  director-general's  claims  and  complaints.  "The  noble 
patroon  had  obtained  his  possessions  and  immunities  ;  was  in- 
vested by  the  States  General  with  high  and  low  jurisdiction 
and  the  police  of  the  most  priviledged  manors ;  and  were  he, 
as  his  agent,  now  so  base  as  to  crouch  before  the  present  un- 
warrantable proceedings,  and  to  produce  his  commission, 
before  he  had  received  orders  to  that  effect,  from  his  lords 
and  masters,  not  only  would  they  be  injured,  but  he  be  guilty 
of  a  violation  of  his  oath  and  honor,  a  betrayal  of  his  trust, 
and  a  childish  surrender  of  the  rights  of  his  patroon."  He 
could  not,  therefore,  obey  such  demands,  the  illegality  of 
which  was  only  rendered  more  flagrant  by  the  unusual  and 
insolent  manner  in  which  they  were  made.  If  a  sworn  mes- 
senger in  Holland  had  to  serve  a  summons,  or  to  execute  a 
warrant,  in  one  of  the  small  cities,  in  the  name  of  the  supreme 


Colony  of  Rensselaersioyck.  17 

court,  or  of  any  of  the  states,  he  was  previously  required  to 
solicit  admittance,  consent  and  aid  from  the  local  magistrates, 
who  should  give  permission  in  writing,  by  endorsing  the  words 
"  Fiat  insinuatio  "  on  the  paper,  before  the  summons  could  be 
made.  This  written  authority  was  then  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  messenger  of  the  city  in  which  the  order  was  to  be 
served,  who  thereupon  made  his  first  service  both  verbally 
and  in  writing  on  the  party  complained  against,  and  reported 
the  result  to  the  messenger  of  the  court  or  state.  This,  and 
no  other,  constituted  a  legal  service.  Such  was  the  practice 
in  Fatherland,  even  in  the  same  province,  though  subject  to 
a  high  court  of  appeal.  But  none  of  these  prerequisites  were 
observed  by  the  director-general's  commissary.  Accompa- 
nied by  an  armed  soldiery,  he  not  only  entered  the  patroon's 
jurisdiction,  but  violated,  on  the  28th  September,  the  sanc- 
tity of  his  house.  Such  illegal  conduct  betrayed  a  deep  con- 
tempt of  the  patroon  and  his  court,  as  well  as  of  the  sovereign 
whom  they  represent.  Those  who  have  been  guilty  of  simi- 
lar violations  of  law  in  Fatherland  "  had  often  been  appre- 
hended, and  condemned  to  bread  and  water  for  the  space  of 
five  or  six  weeks ;  yea,  were  sometimes  brought  to  the  block/' 
so  jealous  was  every  local  jurisdiction  of  the  least  encroach- 
ment on  its  privileges. 

As  for  preventing  timber  being  cut  within  the  colonie,  is 
the  patroon,  he  demanded,  not  master  on  his  own  land  ?  Is 
he  not  free  to  cut  his  timber  at  well  as  his  corn  ?  And  can 
he  not  arrest  these,  when  cut  by  others  without  his  permis- 
sion ?  Jacob  Janscn  had  cut  two  fir  trees  in  the  course  of 
the  summer  without  leave;  the  patroon's  officer  seized  them 
eight  days  afterwards,  on  the  river,  and  can  he  not  now 
exercise  a  like  authority  ?  The  objection,  that  the  houses 
he  was  building  militated  against  the  defense  of  the  "  famous 
fortress,"  was,  he  again  maintained,  a  mere  pretense.  "  The 
ten  houses  which  stood  betwixt  them  and  the  fort  on  the 
north,  besides  those  tothe  west,  and  the  patroon's  woods,  not 
a  stone's  throw  to  the  west,  south-west  and  north-west," 
were  left  unmolested,  though  they  were  a  greater  obstruc- 
tion than  the  new  buildings  to  the  fort,  "  which  you  can  enter 
or  quit  at  pleasure,  by  night  or  by  day,"  without  let  or 
hindrance.  "  Wherefore  it  is  notorious  that  all  the  present 
proceedings  emanated  from  party  spirit ;  had  no  foundation 


18  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

in  reason,  and  were  as  justifiable  as  the  complaint  in 
fable,  of  Cousin  Gysbert,  who,  whilst  drinking  on  a  hill  from  a 
waterfall,  quarrelled  with  a  lamb,  who  stood  below,  for  dis- 
turbing the  water  and  making  it  muddy." 

This  protest  produced  a  long  replication  from  the  director 
and  council,  whose  power,  it  was  maintained,  "  extended  to  the 
colonie  of  Rensselaerswyck,  as  well  as  to  the  other  colonies, 
such  as  Heemstede,  Vlissingen  and  Grravenzande."  Strin- 
gent orders  were  issued  to  Van  Brugge  and  Labadie  to  prose- 
cute and  complete  the  repairs  of  the  fort ;  to  procure,  for  that 
purpose,  timber  everywhere  within  the  limits  of  NewNether- 
land ;  to  quarry  stones  "  from  the  mountains,  rocks  and  plains, 
and  have  them  conveyed  from  any  place,  and  in  the  most 
convenient  manner,  except  from  farms  and  plantations  which 
are  fenced  and  cultivated,  or  about  being  so."  In  case  the 
people  were  forbid  to  assist  with  their  horses  and  wagons, 
the  commissaries  were  to  have  a  wagon  made,  and  to  use  the 
horses  belonging  to  Jonas  Bronck,  on  Van  Curler's  farm,  as 
he  was  indebted  to  the  company.  The  jurisdiction  of  the 
company,  and  "  the  antient  and  uninterrupted  use  of  the 
gardens  and  fields  near  the  fort,"  were  to  be  rigidly  main- 
tained, and  the  destruction  of  the  buildings  within  musket 
or  cannon  shot  proceeded  with  forthwith. 

The  schout-fiscaal  of  New  Netherland  followed.  He  aver- 
red that  it  was  long  since  notorious  that  the  director  and 
council  had  been  treated  with  disrespect  by  Van  Slechten- 
horst.  No  court  of  justice  in  the  colonie  could  pronounce 
on  the  present  case,  even  if  the  director  general  should  con- 
descend to  appear  before  such  a  tribunal.  The  only  question 
to  decide  now  was,  whether  Van  Slechtenhorst  had  been 
summoned  three  times  by  the  company's  commissary  in  the 
presence  of  two  credible  witnesses;  for  it  was,  by  no  means, 
the  custom  in  Holland  to  serve  written  summons.  It  was  a 
base  misrepresentation  to  assert  that  three  armed  soldiers 
insolently  intruded  themselves  into  the  patroon's  house. 
Van  Brugge  had  knocked  at  the  door  "  in  a  civil  manner," 
and  had  been  admitted  by  the  back  way  when  he  "courteously" 
demanded  the  commander  to  exhibit  his  commission  and  to 
furnish  him  with  a  copy  thereof.  This  having  been  re- 
fused, a  protest  was  served,  according  to  order,  and  Van  Slech- 
tenhorst summoned  to  appear  at  Fort  Amsterdam.  He  could 


Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck.  19 

have  obeyed  without  inconvenience,  as  "the  river  remained 
open,  the  winter  pleasant,  and  several  vessels  sailed  up  and 
down,  during  the  whole  month  of  November."  Now,  how- 
ever, to  remove  all  doubt,  the  citation  was  again  renewed, 
and  the  commander  was  peremptorily  ordered  to  appear  at 
Fort  Amsterdam,  on  the  fourth  of  April  next  ensuing,  by 
the  first  sailing  vessel,  "  where  he  will  be  informed  of  the 
complaint  against  him."  The  director-general  immediately 
forwarded  a  report  of  the  whole  of  this  affair  to  his  superiors. 
The  prospect  from  Fort  Orange  ought,  in  his  opinion,  to  be 
unobstructed,  at  least  within  circle  of  cannon  shot :  there  were 
plenty  of  vacant  lots  along  the  river,  on  which  the  inhabitants 
could  construct  their  dwellings,  yet  they  persist,  "through 
pride,"  in  building  near  the  walls.  But  the  truth  was,  it 
was  neither  through  pride  nor  obstinacy  that  the  colonists, 
at  this  early  day,  persisted  in  clinging  to  Fort  Orange.  This 
post  supplied  them  in  their  feebleness,  with  security  against 
the  Indians,  and  they  were  loth  to  forego  its  protection. 

Removed  from  the  contentions  which  were  distracting  the 
capital  of  New  Netherland,  Commander  Van  Slechtenhorst 
was  actively  extending  the  limits  of  Rensselaerswyck,  by  the 
purchase  of  the  Muhegan  lands  to  the  south  of  that  colonie. 
On  the  4th  of  September,  1648,  he  had  acquired  for  the  pa- 
troon  the  tract  called  Paponicuck,  in  exchange  for  some 
thirty  ells  of  duifels  and  a  few  handfuls  of  powder1  and  this 
spring  purchased  Katskill  -  and  Claverack.  On  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  Wouter  Van  Twiller  was  boldly  laying 
claim  to  the  control  and  monopoly  of  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Hudson  river,  and  publicly  announcing  his  determina- 

1  The  names  of  the  proprietors  of  Paponicuck,  were  Waneman- 
keebe,  Askanga  his  brother,  Skiwias  (alias  Aepje),  and  Wainpumit, 
"chiefs  of  the  Mahecanders." 

2  "In  manner,  under  restriction,  stipulation,  and  condition  as 
herein  before  particularly  mentioned,  [in  the  deed  of  Paponicuck,] 
hath  the  honorable  the  director  sent  deputies  in  the  presence  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Megapolensis,  in  the  name  and  for  the  account  of  the  ho- 
norable the  patroon  of  this  colonie  Rensselaerswyck,  and  bought  of 
Pewasck,  being  a  squaw,  and  chief  of  Katskill,  therein  included, 
and  her  son  Supahoof,  through  the  medium  and  interpretation  of 
Skiwias,  or  Aepje,  chief  of  the  Mahecanders,  a  kil  named  Katskill, 
accounted  to  be  nine  miles  from  Fort  Orange,  and  six  miles  from 
Beeren  island,  together  with  the  land  on  both  sides  that  is  to  say, 


20  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

tion  not  to  permit  any  merchant  vessel  to  pass  Beeren  Island, 
or  to  trade  in  the  vicinity  of  Rensselaerswyck.  For  he 
maintained  that  Fort  Orange  had  been  built  on  the  patroon's 
territory,  and  that  none — "not  even  the  company" —  had  a 
right  to  permit  others  to  erect  houses  or  to  pursue  any 
branch  of  business  thereabout.  Feudal  law  and  feudal  pri- 
vileges thus  brought  along  with  them,  into  these  parts,  the 
old  feudal  quarrels  of  Europe  for  the  free  navigation  of  na- 
ture's highways  to  the  ocean,  and  the  question  was  whether 
the  North  river  should  be  open  to  all  their  high  mighti- 
nesses' subjects,  or  whether  these  should  be  debarred  from  its 
use  of  the  garrison  on  Beeren  island,  now  named  "  in  such  a 
lofty  way,  '  The  place  by  right  of  arms/  "  The  absurdity 
of  the  claim  to  the  soil  on  which  Fort  Orange  stood,  was 
clearly  established,  by  the  fact  that  that  fort  was  built  and 
garrisoned  by  the  company  full  fifteen  years  before  the  exist- 
ence of  Rensselaerswyck;  that  up  to  the  year  1644,  the  com- 
pany had  the  exclusive  enjoyment  of  the  fur  trade,  which 
the  company  intended  to  reclaim  "whenever  it  shall  be  able 
to  provide  its  magazines  with  a  sufficient  store  of  goods." 
In  view,  therefore,  of  all  these  circumstances,  and  in  order 
to  correct  a  state  of  things,  of  which  the  merchants  gene- 
rally complained,  the  directors  determined  to  use  their  sove- 
reign right  to  the  confusion  of  Van  Twiller — "that  ungrateful 
individual,  who  had  sucked  his  wealth  from  the  breasts  of 
the  company  whom  he  now  abuses."  They  accordingly  dis- 
patched orders  to  remove  all  obstructions  to  the  free  naviga- 
tion of  the  North  river  and  commercial  intercourse  with  Fort 


the  kil  with  the  falls,  also  along  the  north  side  of  the  kil  three  flat 
parcels  of  land,  and  on  the  south  side  two  flats,  extending  on  both 
sides,  from  the  mouth  of  the  kil  unto  the  aforesaid  fall,  together 
with  the  wood  and  pasture  of  the  woods  on  both  sides,  to  hold  all 
in  peaceable  possession.  Whereof  cession  and  conveyance  are  from 
this  day  made  to  the  aforesaid  patroon.  For  the  purchase  thereof 
is  this  day  handed  to  them,  by  the  honorable  director  of  this  colonie, 
seventeen  and  one-half  ells  of  duffels,  a  coat  of  beaver,  and  a  knife, 
and  that  in  full  without  any  further  demand,  all  without  fraud  or 
deceit.  In  witness  whereof  the  aforesaid  squaw  as  cedant,  and  her 
son,  with  witnesses,  have  signed  this  instrument  with  their  own 
hands.  Actum  in  the  colonie  Rensselaerswyck,  this  19th  day  of 
April,  Anno  1649.  Skiwias  for  his*  services  hath  received  5J  ells 
of  duffels."  [All  these  goods  were  valued  at  gl.  108, 16.] 


Colony  of  Renssdaerswyck.  21 

Orange.  If  Van  Twiller  should  again  plant  guns  near  that 
river,  they  were  to  be  seized  ;  and  if  any  person  dared  to  ex- 
act tolls,  or  salt  duty,  on  any  rivers,  islands,  or  harbors 
within  the  company's  limits,  to  the  injury  of  the  inhabitants 
or  traders  generally,  such  were  to  be  prevented  by  all  means 
possible — e?en  by  force  if  necessary — as  it  was  the  firm  de- 
termination of  the  directors  never  to  part  with  these  preemi- 
nences or  jurisdictions  to  any  colonists  whatsoever.1 

Previous  to  this  date  Van  Slechtenhorst  had  granted  seve- 
ral leases  for  land  in  Katskill.  But  the  directors  refused  to 
admit  the  patroon's  pretensions  to  that  section  of  country,  as 
it  had  already  been  granted  to  another.  In  conformity  with 
his  instructions,  -Stuyvesant  now  protested  against  those 
leases,  and  announced  his  resolution  to  oppose  these  encroach- 
ments. The  authorities  of  Rensselaerswyck  were,  conse- 
quently much  embarrassed,  and  therefore  remonstrated  :  they 
had  only  obeyed  the  orders  of  their  superiors  in  Holland : 
"  as  two  opposite  things  can  not  be  made  to  approximate  un- 
less one  give  way,"  it  is  easy  to  see  how  impossible  it  had 
become  for  them  to  perform  their  duty  according  to  their 
oaths.  "  It  is  unbecoming  natives  of  the  United  Nether- 
lands," they  added,  "  to  loosen  the  bond  of  union  by  which 
they  are  joined ;  on  the  contrary,  they  ou<.'ht  to  use  all  pos- 
sible means  to  tighten  it."  They  therefore  requested  the 
director-general  to  defer  further  proceedings  in  the  matter, 
until  they  should  communicate  with  their  superiors,  and 
promised  in  the  meanwhile  neither  to  send  nor  allow  to  be 
sent  any  settlers  or  cattle  to  the  land  in  dispute.  Thus  was 
impeded  the  early  settlement  of  the  present  county  of  Greene. 

The  local  authorities  were  now  earnestly  besought  to  pro- 
vide the  inhabitants  with  a'proper  schoolmaster,  "Perceiv- 
ing how  necessary  such  a  person  was  to  the  establishment  of 
a  well-constituted  republic,"  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
build  a  school-house  and  to  collect  funds  for  defraying  what- 
ever expenses  might  be  incurred.  Andries  Jansz  was 
appointed  to  take  charge  of  this  institution  in  the  course  of 
the  following  year,  and  received  a  present,  on  entering  on 
the  discharge  of  his  duties,  of  twenty  dollars. 

lAlb.Rec.,  IY,  44,  46,  49,  50. 


22  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

Whilst  engaged  in  this  praiseworthy  undertaking,  the  set- 
tlers were  thrown  into  great  consternation  by  a  report  that 
the  Mohawks  were  meditating  an  attack  upon  them.  An 
Indian  from  Tappaan  had  arrived  "unasked  and  unexpected, " 
and  said,  "  Ye  Dutchman  have  now  been  selling  guns  long 
enough  to  the  Maquaas.  They  have  been  among  us,  and  by 
presents,  engaged  us  to  assist  them  to  kill  you  when  the  river 
takes.  They  have  been  likewise  among  the  southern  Indians, 
who  have  promised  also  to  lend  them  a  hand."  When  closely 
questioned  he  persisted  in  his  statement.  "  Come  and  take 
me,  and  bind  me  fast;  and  if  it  do  not  happen  at  the  stated 
time,  as  I  have  said,  then  strike  me  dead  !  "  Asseverations 
so  strong  could  not  fail  to  convince.  The  settlers  were  called 
together,  and  the  whole  matter  was  laid  before  them.  Opi- 
nions, however,  differed.  Some  were  for  repelling  force  by 
force  :  others  recommended  negotiation.  The  latter  and 
wiser  policy  prevailed  and  the  authorities  passed,  accordingly, 
the  following  resolutions : 

"  The  insecurity  of  our  lives  and  property  forces  itself 
continually  upon  us,  living,  as  we  do,  under  the  licentious 
constraint  of  inhuman  men  and  cruel  heathens.  Of  this  we 
had,  last  year,  a  suspicion,  but  now  it  has  really  manifested 
itself  by  evident  demonstration  and  truthlike  predictions  and 
advices  communicated  to  us,  not  by  the  parties  implicated, 
but  by  warnings  and  premonitions  from  far  distant  Indians. 
Though  some  have  ad  vised  a  recourse  to  arms  and  resistance, 
and  to  measure  our  weakness  with  their  strength,  the  director, . 
commissaries  and  council,  weighing  the  necessity  of  the  case 
have  concluded  and  resolved  to  commission  and  empower 
Mons.  Arendt  Van  Curler,  Gerrit  Van  Wencom,  Cornelis 
Teunisz.  van  Breuckelen,  Thomas  Chambers,  and  Volckert 
Hanz  (being  thereunto  requested),  to  repair,  with  a  suitable 
present  to  the  Mohawk  country,  and  to  renew  former  friend- 
ship and  alliance,  for  the  welfare  of  the  Patroon's  colonie, 
the  safety  of  the  common  weal,  and  the  protection  of  our 
wives  and  children,  all  which  they  willingly  undertake." 

Labadie,  the  French  commissary  at  Fort  Orange,  who  was 
well  acquainted  with  the  Mohawk  tongue,  was  invited  to 
accompany  this  embassy;  but  he  refused.  Would  it  not  be 
better,  he  was  asked,  to  embrace  peace  than  war  ?  "It 
matters  little  to  those  in  the  fort,"  he  selfishly  replied,  "  how 


Colony  of  Hensselaerswyck.  23 

it  goes  —  whether  it  be  war  or  peace  ;"  and  truly  they  could 
not  but  feel  secure.  In  addition  to  whatever  arms  they  might 
have  belonging  to  the  company,  the  commissary,  to  render 
his  position  stronger,  had  borrowed  three  pieces — one  a  six, 
another  a  five,  and  the  third  a  three  pounder,  belonging  to 
the  Fatroon.  With  these,  therefore,  it  mattered  little  with 
him  what  the  relations  with  the  Indians  were.  But  it  was 
far  different  with  the  mass  of  the  unprotected  colonists. 

The  ambassadors  departed  in  the  beginning  of  October, 
solemnly  assuring  the  authorities  of  Rensselaerswyck  that 
they  should  do  all  in  their  power  to  promote  peace.  To  re- 
move all  cause  of  future  misunderstanding  with  the  Indians, 
a  placard  was  issued  abolishing  licenses  to  trade  in  the 
interior,  as  well  as  "  bosloopers  "  or  runners,  called  by  the 
French  "  coureurs  de  bois,"  a  "  fountain  of  mischief,  trouble 
and  animosity •"  "  but  as  this  could  not  be  properly  or 
effectually  accomplished  without  the  consent  of  the  people, 
the  latter,  in  confirmation  of  their  good  inclination,  have,  as 
far  as  they  were  concerned,  assented  thereto,  in  Fort  Orange, 
under  their  own  hands." 

The  embassy  to  the  Mohawk  was  successful.  Presents 
were  distributed  among  them  to  the  amount  of  five  hundred 
and  seventy-five  guilders  ;  the  expenses  of  the  delegation 
amounted  to  eighty-one  and  a  half  guilders,  or  about  thirty 
dollars,  the  whole  of  which  sums  were  paid  by  the  authorities 
of  Rensselaerswyck.1 

In  1651,  the  call  for  a  subsidy  from  Rensselaerswyck 
brought  on  a  collision  between  the  authorities  of  that  colonie 
and  the  provincial  government.  The  latter  had,  already, 
peremptorily  demanded  the  excise  on  wines  and  strong  liquors 
consumed  in  the  Patroon's  district,  which  was  refused.  It 
was  considered  an  invasion  of  the  freedoms,  and  in  direct 
opposition  to  the  custom  of  fatherland.  The  Patroon  had  de- 
frayed, from  his  own  resources,  the  salaries  of  the  minister 
and  other  public  servants,  as  well  as  the  general  expenses 
attendant  on  the  settlement  of  the  country.  These  had 
amounted,  on  the  30th  of  June,  1650,  to  the  sum  of  twenty- 
five  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-three  guilders,  or 

1  Gerechtsrolle  der  Colonie.  The  items  of  expenses  are  stated 
in  Slechtenkorst's  accounts. 


24  Colony  of  RensselaerswycL 

more  than  ten  thousand  dollars ;  no  part  of  which  had  been 
paid  either  by  the  company,  or  the  codirectors  of  the  colonie.1 
It  would  be,  therefore,  submitting  to  a  wrong  to  consent  to 
the  demand  now  put  forth.  As  it  was  a  matter,  however, 
that  concerned  the  common  interests  of  the  country  and  the 
privileges  of  the  colonie,  commander  Van  Slechtenhorst  was 
commissioned  to  proceed  to  New  Amsterdam,  to  remonstrate 
with  the  director  and  council  against  it. 

He  arrived  at  the  Manhattans  towards  the  close  of  the 
month  of  April,  and  took  the  earliest  opportunity  to  repre- 
sent how  contrary  to  reason,  law  and  usage  were  the  proposed 
exactions.  But  Stuyvesant  was  inexorable,  and  Slechten- 
horst, on  his  side,  was  equally  unyielding ;  "  for  it  was  a 
matter  of  great  importance,  which  may  cause  not  only  tumult 
but  bloodshed  in  the  country."  The  parties  separated,  but 
Slechtenhorst  had  not  yet  finished  his  dinner,  when  a  mes- 
senger summoned  him  before  the  director-general  and  coun- 
cil. Immediately  on  his  appearance  the  authorities  pro- 
ceeded to  pronounce  sentence  against  him,  animadverting  in 
strong  terms  on  his  conduct,  especially  in  reference  to  the 
settlement  of  Katskill.  Slechtenhorst,  no  ways  daunted, 
demanded  if  a  man  could  be  condemned  unheard  ?  The 
only  answer  he  received  was  an  order  for  his  arrest.  He 
was  detained  four  months  at  the  Manhattans,  notwithstand- 
ing he  repeatedly  protested  against  his  detention,  and  the 
authorities  of  Rensselaerswyck  made  several  applications  for 
his  release.  Finally,  seeing  no  prospect  of  obtaining  per- 
mission to  depart,  he  embarked  in  a  sloop,  and  returned  to 
Fort  Orange,  having  given  a  guaranty  to  the  skipper  to  see 
him  harmless,  should  he  be  prosecuted  for  having  received 
him  on  board.  It  was  well  for  the  skipper  that  he  had  taken 
this  precaution ;  for,  on  his  return  to  the  Manhattans,  his  vessel 
was  arrested,  and  he  was  fined  two  hundred  and  fifty  guild- 
ers and  costs.  Van  Slechtenhorst  estimated  his  expenses 
in  consequence  of  these  proceedings  at  about  four  hundred 
dollars. 


1  This  expenditure  is  stated  in  a  letter,  signed  by  Johan  Van 
Wely  and  John  B.  Van  Rensselaer,  and  dated  7th  April,  1671. 
Rensselaerswyck  Manuscripts. 


Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck.  25 

Three  years  had  now  elapsed  since  director  Stuyvesant 
set  up  a  claim  for  a  separate  jurisdiction  for  Fort  Orange, 
distinct  and  independent  of  that  of  Rensselaerswyck.  Yet 
the  question  remained  still  unsettled.  Lines  were  not  drawn 
in  those  days  with  as  much  precision  as  in  our  times.  The 
Indians  measured  by  the  day's  journey;  Stuyvesant  by  the 
cannon  ball.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  fort,  as  claimed  by  him, 
extended  over  a  circumference  within  the  range  of  gun  shot, 
which  he  estimated  at  six  hundred  paces  of  five  feet  to  a 
pace; l  a  distance  subsequently  estimated  at  one  hundred  and 
fifty  rods.  As  the  hamlet  of  Beverwyck,  now  becoming  every 
day  more  populous  and  valuable,  would,  by  this  operation,  be 
severed  from  the  colonie;  and  as  the  company  could  not  fail, 
in  consequence,  to  secure  the  greater  part  of  the  fur  trade, 
to  the  serious  injury  of  the  Patroon,  considerable  opposition 
was  manifested  to  Stuyvesant's  pretension.  The  authorities 
of  Rensselaerswyck  maintained  that  the  fort  stood  on  the 
Patroon's  soil;  that  the  whole  territory  from  Beeren  island 
to  the  Cohoes  was  his ;  and  that,  consequently,  the  fort  could 
have  no  jurisdiction  beyond  its  walls.  As  for  trading  in 
furs,  or  cutting  timber,  it  was,  they  insisted,  a  flagrant  spolia- 
tion of  the  Patroon's  property. 

Jean  Baptiste  Van  Rensselaer,  the  first  of  that  family  who 
visited  this  country,  was  elected  one  of  its  magistrates,  whilst 
this  controversy  was  at  its  height.  Shortly  afterwards,  an 
order  was  issued  that  all  the  freemen  and  inhabitants  should 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Patroon  and  his  represent- 
atives. 

These  conflicting  pretensions  were  necessarily  productive 
of  a  bad  state  of  feeling  between  the  opposing  parties.  On 
New  Year's  night,  some  soldiers,  armed  with  matchlocks,  sal- 
lied from  the  fort,  and  fired  a  number  of  shots  at  the  Pa- 
troon's house.  Several  pieces  of  ignited  wadding  settled  on 
the  roof  (which  was  of  reed),  and  had  caused  the  destruction 
of  the  building  had  not  the  inmates  been  on  the  alert.  On 
the  following  day,  the  soldiers  assaulted  young  Slechtenhorst 

1  De  forts  gerechticheyt  synde,  naer  gemeene  ordre  ende  gebruyck, 
ontrent  de  doel  van  een  gotelings  schoot,  gereckent  op  ses  hondert 
geometressche  passen. 

Annals,  ii.  3 


26  Colony  of  EensselaersioycL 

in  the  street,  "and  not  only  beat  him  black  and  blue,  but 
dragged  him  through  the  mud  and  mire  in  the  presence  of 
Joannes  Dyckman,  the  company's  commissary,1  who  cried 
out  all  the  time,  "Let  him  have  it  now,  and  the  d — 1  take 
him ! "  Philip  Pietersen  Schuyler  endeavored  to  save  his 
brother-in-law.  Dyckman,  hereupon,  drew  his  sword  and 
threatened  to  run  Schuyler  through,  if  he  interfered.  The 
soldiers  struck  others  of  the  commander's  children,  and 
threatened  to  shoot  them,  but  were  prevented.  The  friends 
of  the  family  were  justly  incensed  at  this  outrage,  and  me- 
naced revenge.  This  coming  to  Dyckman's  ears,  he,  it  is 
represented,  ordered  the  guns  of  the  fort  to  be  loaded  with 

frape,  with  the  intention  of  blowing  down  the   patroon's 
ouse. 

Things  were  in  this  unpleasant  state  when  Stuyvesant 
sent  up  some  placards  relating  to  the  limits  of  Fort  Orange, 
which  he  ordered  to  have  published  in  the  colonie.  Dyck- 
man, accompanied  by  six  followers  and  three  soldiers  "  armed 
with  carbines  and  pistols,"  proceeded  to  the  house  where  the 
magistrates  were  in  session,  and  demanded  of  Slechtenhorst 
to  make  a  minute  of  what  he  was  about  to  require.  As  it 
was  contrary  to  law  for  any  man  to  enter  another's  jurisdic- 
tion with  an  armed  posse,  without  the  previous  consent  of 
the  local  authorities,  Dyckman's  conduct  was  looked  upon  as 
an  additional  insult,  against  which  Slechtenhorst  protested, 
ordering  the  commissary  at  the  same  time  to  quit  the  room. 
Dyckman  retired  ;  but  "  as  force  hath  more  to  say  here  than 
justice/'  he  returned  with  increased  numbers,  and  demanded 
that  the  placards  should  be  published  throughout  the  co- 
lonie by  the  sound  of  the  bell.  "  It  shall  not  be  done  so  long 
as  we  have  a  drop  of  blood  in  our  veins,"  replied  the  court, 
"  nor  until  we  receive  orders  from  their  high  mightinesses 
and  our  honored  masters."  But  Dyckman,  nevertheless, 
persisted,  and  ordered  the  porter  to  ring  the  bell.  This  was 
opposed  also.  Dyckman  now  proceeded  to  the  fort;  ordered 

1  Dyckman  had  been  first  clerk  to  the  Amsterdam  Chamber  of  the 
West  India  Company,  and  sailed  in  the  Waterhound,  in  the  spring 
of  1651,  for  New  Netherland,  having  been  appointed  bookkeeper,  at 
a  salary  of  30  fl.  per  month  and  board.  On  his  arrival  he  was  sent 
as  commissary  and  vice  director  to  Fort  Orange,  which  offices  he 
filled  until  1655,  when,  having  become  deranged,  he  was  superseded. 


Colony  of  Renssdaerswyck.  27 

the  bell  there  to  be  rung  three  times ;  then  returned  to  the 
Patroon's  court-house;  ascended  the  front  stoop,  or  steps, 
with  his  armed  followers,  whilst  the  wondering  burghers 
stood  round,  and  directed  his  deputy  to  make  proclamation 
of  the  placards.  The  latter  was  about  to  obey,  when  Van 
Slechtenhorst,  rushing  forward,  tore  the  placards  from  his 
hands,  "  so  that  the  seals  fell  on  the  ground."  Another  long 
protest  followed  from  the  authorities  of  the  colonie,  whilst 
young  Van  Rensselaer  said  to  the  crowd,  "Go  home,  good 
friends!  'tis  only  the  wind  of  a  cannon  ball  fired  six  hundred 
paces  off." 

On  receiving  the  report  of  these  accurrences,  the  director- 
general  immediately  dispatched  another. placard  to  Dyckman, 
again  declaring  the  jurisdiction  of  Fort  Orange  to  extend 
within  a  circumference  of  six  hundred  paces  of  said  fort, 
"and  in  order  that  no  man  shall  plead  ignorance,  we  further 
charge  our  commissary,  after  publication  hereof,  to  erect  on 
the  aforesaid  limits,  north,  south  and  west  of  the  aforesaid 
fortress,  a  post,  marked  with  the  company's  mark,  and 
to  affix  on  a  board  nailed  thereto,  a  copy  hereof/'  Within 
these  bounds,  no  house  was,  for  the  future,  to  be  built,  ex- 
cept by  consent  of  the  director  and  council,  or  those  autho- 
rized to  act  for  them.1  This  violent  and  illegal  act,  violat- 
ing at  once  the  rights  of  property  and  the  sixth  article  of 
the  charter  of  1629,  severed,  now  and  forever,  the  town  of 
Beverwyck  from  Van  Rensselaer's  colonie.2  It  was  not, 


1  Rensselaerswyck  Manuscripts. 

2  The  Patroon  and  codirectors  of  Rensselaerswyck  never  ceased 
to  protest  against  this  high  handed  proceeding,  and  to  demand  the 
restitution  of  the  property  thus  unlawfully  taken  from  them. 
They  succeeded  at  length  in  1673  (when  the  country  fell  a  second 
time  into  the  hands  of  the  Dutch),  in  obtaining  tardy  justice.     On 
the  3d  of  April  of  that  year,  the  directors  of  the  West  India  Com- 
pany acknowledged,  by  a  notorial  act,  after  having  examined  the 
original  Indian  deeds,  that  the  proprietors  of  the  colonie  were  also 
right  owners  of  the  town,  then  called  Willemstadt ;  that  the  aggres- 
sion committed  against  them  by  director  Stuy  vesant,  was  in  special 
violation  of  the  6th  Art.  of  the  charter  of  1629,  and  could  neither 
take  away  nor  diminish  the  proprietorship  claimed  by  the  parties. 
The  company  at  the  same  time  declared  that  they  had  no  right  or 
claim  to  any  part  of  the  said  colonie.     This  view  of  the  case  was  ad- 
mitted also  by  Gov.  Dongan,  in  1686,  who  considered  it  necessary 
to  obtain  a  release  from  the  Patroon  of  all  his  claims,  before  he  could 
legally  incorporate  the  city  of  Albany. 


28  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

however,  quietly  submitted  to  by  the  authorities  of  the  lat- 
ter, for  they  immediately  ordered  their  constable  to  remove 
the  posts  forthwith,  "  protesting  before  Almighty  G-od  and 
the  states-general,  against  all  open  force  and  violence,  and 
insisting  on  reparation  for  all  losses  and  damages  which 
might  accrue,  or  be  caused  thereby."  On  the  same  day,  the 
court  drew  up  a  long  remonstrance  u  against  the  unbecoming 
pretensions  and  attacks  of  the  director  and  council  of  New 
Netherland,"  in  which  they  denied  that  the  latter  had  any 
authority  over  the  colony ;  they  had  never  sworn  allegiance 
to  the  company,  much  less  to  Monsieur  Stuyvesant,  and 
owned  no  masters  but  the  states-general,  and  their  own  imme- 
diate superiors,  whose  lands  have  been  erected  into  a  perpe- 
tual fief,  with  high,  middle,  and  low  jurisdiction ;  and  he 
who  would  now  destroy  this,  must  be  more  powerful  than 
the  company,  "  yea,  than  their  high  mightinesses."  The 
late  director  Kieft,  understood  the  law  better  than  those 
who  administer  it  now-a-days ;  and  this  will  be  made  mani- 
fest when  the  matter  shall  be  subjected  to  that  touchstone.1 

This  paper  was  declared,  by  the  director  and  council,  "  a 
libellous  calumny."  Secretary  de  Hooges  was  called  on  to 
furnish  the  names  of  the  magistrates  who  had  voted  in  favor 
of  it,  and  threatened,  in  case  of  disobedience,  to  prosecute 
him  for  contumacy. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  question  of  jurisdiction  presented 
itself  in  a  new  shape  to  agitate  and  disturb  still  further  this 
infant  hamlet.  A  negress  belonging  to  Sander  Leendert- 
fien  Glen,  charged  with  theft,  caused  several  u  decent  per- 
sons "  to  be  prosecuted  as  receivers  of  stolen  goods.  She  was 
ordered  to  be  arrested  for  defamation,  and  Dyckrnan  pro- 
ceeded to  take  up  the  wench.  Her  master  refused  to  surren- 
der her  that  evening.  Dyckman,  offended  at  this,  told  the 
burgher  that  he  had  power  to  send  him  and  all  his  family  to 
jail ;  to  pull  his  house  down  about  his  ears,  and  trample  it 


1  On  the  13th  of  this  month,  the  authorities  of  the  colonie  pur- 
chased from  the  Indians  two  tracts  of  land  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Hudson,  and  situate  north-east  of  the  flats.  One  of  these  was 
called  Paanpaack  (on  which  the  city  of  Troy  now  stands),  the  other 
Panhoosick,  or  Hoosick,  as  it  is  now  called,  which  adjoined  the  first 
mentioned  on  the  north.  It  is  described  as  running  landward  in 
"  unto  the  Wappenakicks,  or  otherwise  to  the  Fresh  river." 


Colony  of  Benssefaerswyck.  29 

underneath  his  feet,  "  as  it  was  erected  on  the  company's  soil/ 
"  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  you/'  replied  Glen ;  u  I  can  not 
serve  a  new  master  until  I  am  discharged  from  the  one  I 
live  under."  The  commissary  threatened  him  with  Stuy- 
vesant, but  the  other  thought  he  should  fare  as  well  at  the 
director-general's  hands  as  he.  This  retort  overthrew  Dyck- 
man's  temper.  He  drew  his  rapier  and  threatened  to  run  his 
adversary  through.  But  Glen  was  not  afraid.  He  seized  a 
stick  to  repel  his  assailant,  who  then  retired.  Next  morning 
he  was  summoned  to  the  fort,  and  placed  under  arrest.  Ru- 
mors now  became  rife  that  Stuyvesant  was  about  to  visit  the 
place,  and  the  commissary  went  so  far  as  to  give  out  that  a 
new  gallows  was  building  for  Slechtenhorst  and  his  son,  and 
for  young  Van  Rensselaer,  who  were  put  down  as  the  foment- 
ers  of  this  rebellion."1 

The  director  was  at  this  time  occupied  in  ridding  himself 
of  all  that  remained  of  his  opponents  at  New  Amsterdam. 
Melyn  was  in  a  manner  outlawed ;  Van  Dinclage  had  retired 
to  Staten  Island  to  brood  over  his  contumelies ;  Van  Schel- 
luyne  durst  not  exercise  his  profession,  and  the  nine  men 
were  under  ban.  The  only  one  undisposed  of  was  attorney- 
general  Van  Dyck,  and  his  hour  had  now  arrived. 

From  the  moment  that  he  had  been  commissioned,  he  was 
treated  by  Stuyvesant  with  marked  contumely,  and  excluded 
from  the  council  for  over  two  years  after  his  arrival  in  the 
colony.  In  the  exercise  of  his  office  he  was  most  commonly 
employed  as  a  scrivener,  to  copy  legal  papero,  the  drafts  of 
which  the  director-general  usually  prepared  ;  at  other  times 
he  was  "charged  to  look  after  the  pigs  and  keep  them  out 
of  the  fort,  a  duty  which  a  negro  could  very  well  perform." 
When  Van  Dyck  happened  to  object,  the  director  "  got  as 
angry  as  if  he  would  swallow  him  up ;  "  or  if  he  presumed 
to  disobey,  "  put  him  in  confinement,  or  bastinadoed  him 
with  his  rattan  !  "  A  series  of  ill-usage  such  as  this  natu- 
rally drove  the  fiscaal  into  the  ranks  of  the  opposition. 
Charges  of  drunkenness  and  of  having  received  bribes  were 
brought  against  him  as  early  as  1647,  and  periodically  re- 
newed, but  did  not  accomplish  as  yet  his  dismissal  or  disgrace. 

1  Rensselaerswyck  Manuscripts, 


30  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

But  in  the  spring  of  this  year  *  a  silly  lampoon  against 
the  director-general  made  its  appearance,  and  Van  Dyck  was 
put  down  as  its  author.'2  The  council  was  convoked  to  con- 
sider this  weighty  affair  of  state,  and  a  resolution  followed, 
dismissing  the  schout-fiscaal  from  office,  "  on  account  of  the 
multitude  of  his  misdemeanors  and  connivances. "  This 
resolution  purported  to  be  "  by  and  with  the  advice  of  the 
nine  men,"  but  these  repudiated  the  assertion,  and  declared, 
"  that  they  never  had  any  knowledge  of  the  commonalty, 
having  complained  of  Van  Dyck ;  that  they  never  had  agreed 
to  the  resolution  ordering  his  dismissal ;  that  Stuy  vesant  had 
passed  it  on  his  own  authority,  and  that  the  secretary 
had  falsely  appended  to  it  their  names." 

To  fill  this  vacancy,  Cornelius  Van  Tienhoven,  the  puta- 
tive author  of  the  above  intrigue,  received  the  appointment 
of  attorney-general;  Carel  Van  Brugge,  "  an  Englishman," 
provisionally  succeeded  him  as  provincial  secretary ;  and 
Adriaen  Van  Tienhoven  became  receiver-general  in  place  of 
his  brother. 

"  Were  an  honorable  person  appointed  in  my  stead,"  says 
Van  Dyck,  commenting  on  these  proceedings,  "  the  false 


1  The  directors,  writing  this  year  to  Stuy  vesant,  say  :  "  We  have 
observed  that  your  climate  does  not  reform  much  the  manners  of  in- 
dividuals. Of  this  there  is  yet  much  less  hope  if  the  chiefs  of  the 
administrations  set  a  bad  example  to  others.  In  this  respect,  we  re- 
ceive many  complaints  from  those  who  return  from  New  Netherland, 
against  the  attorney-general,  for  drunkenness  and  other  vices.  If  he 
continue  such  a  disorderly  life,  we  shall  be  compelled  to  employ 
such  means  of  restraint  as  we  deem  expedient." — Alb.  Rec.,  iv,  74. 

a  This  pasquinade  was  in  these  terms :  "  Myn  Heer  General ! 
It  is  impossible  for  me  to  conceal  from  your  excellency,  that  I  heard 
you  scolded  and  cursed  on  the  evening  of  the  llth  of  March,  at  Mr. 
Fyn's  house,  as  a  rogue  and  a  tyrant,  with  many  other  calumnious 
defamations,  which  cut  me  to  the  heart.  Thou  art  a  God  appointed 
of  God !  I  pray  you  for  Christ's  sake  to  prevent  it,  or  I  shall  feel 
very  unhappy,  for  I  can  no  longer  listen  to  it,  and  durst  not  acquaint 
you  with  it  by  word  of  mouth.  Christman,  Fyn,  and  two  other 
women  heard  it  also.  I  wish  that  the  fiscaal  would  bestir  himself. 
No  other  man  is  better.  Was  neither  signed  nor  subscribed,  nor 
compared  with  the  discovered  scrap,  this  28th  March,  1652,  in  New 
Amsterdam,  (signed),  Cor.  Van  Thienh.,  secretary,"  Van  Dyck  ac- 
cused Van  Tienhoven,  Christman  (V.  T.'s  clerk),  and  others  of  hav- 
ing got  up  this  plot,  and  circulated  this  lampoon  to  have  him  dis- 
missed.— Hoi.  Doc.,  vi,  263-265. 


Colony  of  Renssdaerswyck.  31 

accusations  against  me,  which  have  been  so  long  resolved 
upon  and  written,  might  have  some  semblance  of  truth;  but 
the  person  whom  the  director-general  hath,  on  his  own  mere 
motion,  made  fiscaal,  is  his  perjured  secretary,  who  returned 
here  contrary  to  their  high  mightinesses'  prohibition ;  a 
public,  notorious,  and  convicted  whore-monger  and  oath- 
breaker  ;  a  reproach  to  this  country,  and  the  main  scourge 
of  both  Christians  and  heathens,  with  whose  sensualities  the 
director  himself  has  been  always  acquainted."  "The -fault 
of  drunkenness  could  easily  be  noticed  in  me,  but  not  in 
Van  Tienhoven,  who  has  frequently  come  out  of  the  tavern 
so  full  that  he  could  go  no  further,  and  was  forced  to  lie 
down  in  the  gutter."  1 

Having  thus  disposed  of  Van  Dyck,  Stuyvesant  turned 
his  attention  to  Van  Slechtenhorst,  and  to  conclude  all  diffi- 
culties with  him,  repaired  to  Fort  Orange  and  called  on  the 
authorities  of  Rensselaerswyck  to  state  where  their  bounds 
commenced.  It  was  indifferent  to  him  from  what  point, 
north  or  south,  they  should  start.  The  exemptions  allowed 
them  four  miles  on  one,  or  two  miles  on  both  banks  of  the 
river,  and  he  was  prepared  to  concede  to  that  extent ;  but 
he  warned  them,  if  they  should  refuse  this  "  reasonable 
offer,"  he  would  proceed  ex  parte.  They  replied  that  they 
had  no  instruction  to  act  in  the  premises ;  and  requested 
delay,  until  they  advised  with  the  interested  parties  in  Hol- 
land. The  delay  was  granted,  but  the  question  of  supremacy 
over  Beverwyck  was  not  so  easily  settled.  Sergeant  Litchoe 
presented  himself  with  a  party  of  soldiers  before  the  patroon's 
house,  and  having  stationed  his  followers  at  the  door,  or- 
dered Van  Slechtenhorst  to  strike  the  patroon's  flag.  The 
latter  peremptorily  refused  to  obey,  whereupon  "  fourteen  sol- 
diers armed  with  loaded  muskets,  entered  the  enclosure,  and 
after  firing  a  volley,  hauled  down  the  lord's  colors."  Stuy- 
vesant followed  up  this  act,  by  issuing  a  proclamation  erect- 
ing in  Fort  Orange  a  court  of  justice  for  the  village  of 
Beverwyck  and  its  dependencies,  apart  from,  and  independent 
of,  that  of  Rensselaerswyck.  This  placard  having  been  affixed 
to  the  court  house  of  the  eolonie,  was  torn  down  by  Van 
Steehtenhorst,  who  in  return  posted  a  proclamation  vindicat- 

lAlb.  Bee.,  in,  264-268 ;  Hoi  Doc.,  yi,  194-276. 


32  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

ing  the  patroon's  rights,  and  denouncing  the  pretensions 
of  those  who  infringed  them.  This  was  removed  by  those 
of  the  fort.1 

From  the  date  of  general  Stuyvesant's  proclamation  above 
mentioned,  reckons  the  establishment  of  a  legal  tribunal  in 
Beverwyck,  and  consequently,  in  the  present  city  of  Albany. 
It  was  an  exercise  of  the  prerogative  which  followed  naturally 
the  high-handed  proclamation  of  the  fifth  of  March  pre- 
cedipg. 

Van  Slechtenhorst's  reign  was  now  evidently  drawing  to 
a  close.  For  four  years  he  had  manfully  defended  the  rights 
of  his  "  orphan  patroon,"  and  unflinchingly  contended  against 
the  invasions  of  superior  force.  But  what,  in  those  days, 
could  avail  in  New  Netherland  the  opposition  of  one  man 
against  the  attacks  of  the  executive  ?  Nine  armed  soldiers 
burst  into  his  house,  and,  without  exhibiting  any  authority 
for  the  act,  dragged  him,  a  prisoner,  "  against  all  his  pro- 
tests/' to  Fort  Orange,  "  where  neither  his  children,  his 
master,  nor  his  friends,  were  allowed  to  speak  to  him,"  whilst 
"his  furs,  his  clothes,  and  his  meat  were  left  hanging  to  the 
door-posts,"  and  his  house  and  papers  were  abandoned  to  the 
mercy  of  his  enemies.  He  was  next  conveyed  on  board  a 
sloop  lying  in  the  river,  and  removed,  in  charge  of  a  guard, 
to  New  Amsterdam,  "  to  be  tormented,  in  his  sickness  and 
old  age,  with  unheard  of  and  insufferable  prosecutions,  by 
those  serving  a  Christian  government,  professing  the  same 
religion,  and  living  under  the  same  authority."  2 

Jan  Baptist  Van  Rensselaer  succeeded  Van  Slechtenhorst 
as  director,  and  Gerrit  Swart  was  appointed  sheriff  or  schout- 
fiscaal  of  Rensselaerswyck  in  his  place.  Provision  was  made 


1  Gerechtsrolle  der  Colonie  Rensselaerswyck,  103-114 ;  Alb.  Rec., 
ix,   123 ;  Rensselaersvyyck  Manuscripts.  -   Gerechtsroll   evan  den 
Banck  van  Justitie  der  Fortresse  Orange,  Dorpe  Beverswyck  ende 
appendentie  van  dien,  door  den  Eerentfesten  ende  Achtbaeren  Heer, 
Myn  Heeren  de  Heer  Directeur  Generaal  en  Raaden  van  Nieuw 
Nederlandt,  den  10  Aprilis  AO  1652,  in  loco  synde  gestelt.    Mort- 
gage Book  A,  in  County  Clerk's  Office,  Albany. 

2  Slechtenhorst's  Memorial,  Manuscript.    It  has  been  stated  that 
the  commander  was  lodged  in  the  keep  at  New  Amsterdam.     This 
was  not  so.     He  was  placed  under  what  was  called  civil  arrest. 
Some  of  his  time  was  passed  at  Staten  Island,  some  at  Breukelen. 


Colony  of  Rensselaersivyck.  33 

at  the  same  time  for  the  regular  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and 
the  conversion  of  the  heathen,  by  the  appointment  of  the 
Rev.  G-ideon  Schaets  as  minister  of  the  colonie,  at  a  salary 
of  eight  hundred  guilders,  or  $320  per  annum.  This 
stipend  was  afterwards  raised  to  one  thousand,  and  then  to 
thirteen  hundred  guilders.1 

Information  was  received  by  the  patroon  and  codirectors 
of  Rensselaerswyck  of  the  high-handed  measures  which  Stuy- 
vesant  had  exercised  in  the  early  part  of  this  year  in  regard 
of  their  colonie.  They  thereupon  sent  in  to  the  Amsterdam 
chamber  a  remonstrance,  complaining,  1st.  That  the  di- 
rector-general had  dared  to  intrude  in  their  colonie,  and  had 
commanded  the  patroon's  flag  to  be  hauled  down;  2d.  That 
he  had  caused  timber  to  be  cut  on  the  complainant's  lands, 
without  either  their  knowledge  or  permission;  3d.  That  he 
had  claimed  for  the  company  the  right  of  jurisdiction  and 
property  over  all  the  land  within  a  circumference  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  rods  of  Fort  Orange,  where  he  had  erected  a  court 
of  justice,  notwithstanding  the  soil  had  been  purchased  from 
the  right  owners  by  the  patroon,  with  the  jurisdictions  there- 
unto belonging ;  whereby  the  colonists  were  reduced  to  a 
state  of  dependency,  absolved  from  their  oaths,  "  transformed 
from  freemen  to  vassals,  and  incited  to  disregard  their  former 
solemn  compacts  and  their  lord  and  master;"  4th.  He 
had,  moreover,  discharged  sheriff  Swart  from  his  oath  of  office 
and  obliged  him  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  company;  5th. 
Demanded  copies  of  all  the  rolls,  protocols,  judgments,  reso- 
lutions and  papers  relative  to  the  colonie  and  its  affairs;  6th. 
Ordered  his  commissary  to  force  Van  Slechtenhorst's  house, 
and  to  toll  the  bell  at  the  publication  of  his  illegal  placards ; 
7th.  Arrested  by  force  and  arms  the  director  of  the  colonie; 
had  him  conveyed  to  the  Manhattans,  where  he  illegally 
detained  him  in  custody ;  8th.  Taxed  the  colonie  to  swell 
the  company's  revenues;  licensed  those  who  quit  the  patroon's 
service  to  sell  articles  of  contraband  to  the  savages;  and  in 


1  The  power  of  attorney  to  J.  B.  Van  Rensselaer  is  dated  8th  May, 
1652.  Gerrit  Swart  was  born  in  1607,  and  was,  consequently,  45 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  New  Netherland.  He  filled  the 
office  of  sheriff  in  Albany,  to  1670,  when  Capt.  Salisbury  was  elected 
his  successor,  by  a  majority  of  the  burghers  of  that  city. 


34  Colony  of  JRensselaerswyck. 

addition  to  the  exaction  of  the  tithes,  had  raised  a  tax  by  farm- 
ing out  the  excise  on  wines  and  beers — "  thus  in  every  respect 
and  everywhere  using  violence  and  infringing  rights,  juris- 
dictions and  preeminences,  apparently  determined  to  take 
our  goods  and  blood,  contrary  to  all  laws,  human  and  divine ; 
declaring,  over  and  above  all  this,  that  he  is  continued  in 
his  administration  solely  in  the  hope  and  consideration  that 
before  his  departure  he  should  ruin  this  colonie."1  The 
patroon  and  codirectors  solemnly  avowed  their  intention 
"  to  employ  all  lawful  remedies  to  preserve  and  maintain 
their  rights  and  privileges,  and  to  protect  their  colonists 
against  such  lawless  aggressions,"  and  insisted  that  the 
West  India  Company  should  forthwith  order  their  director 
to  abandon  these  attempts,  repeal  his  placards,  and  compen- 
sate for  the  injuries  which  he  had  inflicted.  But  if  the 
directors  were  of  opinion  that  they  had  any  just  cause  of 
complaint,  they  were  then  called  on  to  appear  in  any  court 
of  justice  to  make  good  their  pretensions  before  "  our  com- 
mon judges."  Failing  to  answer  categorically  the  above 
accusations  within  fourand-twenty  hours,  the  interested  par- 
ties threatened  "  to  complain  where  they  expect  they  shall 
be  heard." 

The  director  answered  in  vague  terms,  that  they  were  un- 
willing to  commit  an  infraction  on  any  person's  privileges ; 
but  this  not  being  deemed  satisfactory,  the  patroon  and  his 
friends  addressed  a  memorial  to  their  high  mightinesses  the 
states- general,  of  whom  they  demanded  justice  and  redress. 
This  paper  was  immediately  sent  to  the  department  of  Am- 
sterdam, who,  after  considerable  delay,  returned  a  reply  to 
some  of  the  charges  brought  against  their  agent  in  New 
Netherland.  They  denied  all  knowledge  of  the  patroon's 


aWe,  the  undersigned,  certify  that  it  happened  in  December, 
Anno  1651,  when  M.  Joannes  Dyckman  was  in  conversation  with 
us  concerning  the  Heer  General  Petrus  Stuyvesant,  and  the  differ- 
ence between  his  honour  and  the  colonie,  that  he  answered  there- 
upon, that  the  Heer  General  was  continued  in  his  office  for  no  other 
purpose  than  to  plague  the  colonie.  This  we  declare  to  have  oc- 
curred, and  are  ready  to  confirm  the  same  by  a  solemn  oath.  Done 
in  the  Colonie  Rensselaerswyck,  the  16th  March,  AO  1652.  B.  V. 
Slechtenhorst,  Director;  A.  van  Curler.  Rensselaerswyck  Manu- 
scripts. 


Colony  of  JRensselaerswyck.  35 

flag  having  been  hauled  down;  of  his  colonists  having  been 
released  from  their  oaths ;  of  any  of  his  lots  having  been  taken 
away;  and  of  the  establishment  of  a  court  of  justice  in  Fort 
Orange.  The  timber  was  removed  from  a  place  so  defined  as 
to  injure  no  one,  and  all  complaints  against  the  extension 
of  the  jurisdiction  of  Fort  Orange  were  without  foundation. 
That  jurisdiction  was  determined  "  before  the  colonie  of 
Kensselaerswyck  was  granted."  "  The  limits  of  the  colonie 
were,  therefore,  fixed  above  and  below  the  fort,  under  whose 
walls  the  petitioners  were  afterwards  permitted  to  shelter 
themselves  from  the  savages;  but  from  this  concession 
no  right  or  title  can  be  imagined  or  acquired."  G-errit  Swart 
was  not  discharged  from  his  oath  to  the  patroon.  He  was 
only  obliged  to  take  a  second  one  to  the  company,  "  remain- 
ing subject  to  both  masters."  The  demand  of  the  rolls 
and  papers  belonging  to  the  colonie,  as  well  as  the  levy- 
ing tithes  and  excise  therein,  was  authorized  by  the  charter. 
As  Van  Slechtenhorst  would  not  "  toll  the  bell "  on  the 
publication  of  the  placards,  it  was  unavoidably  necessary 
that  it  should  be  executed  by  others ;  and  his  arrest  was 
imperatively  demanded  in  order  to  curb  the  insufferable 
insolence,  effrontery  and  abuse  of  power,"  of  which  he  was 
guilty.  The  authorizing  the  sale  of  arms  and  ammunition 
to  the  savages  was  acknowledged.  "  It  was  deemed  prudent 
that  it  should  be  now  and  then  permitted." 

Having  thus  disposed  in  one  way  or  another,  and  as  best 
they  could,  of  the  charges  which  were  brought  against  them, 
the  directors  now  assumed  the  offensive,  and  presented 
against  the  patroon  and  codirectors  of  Rensselaerswyck  a 
number  of  counter-charges,  in  justification  of  the  measures 
they  had  adopted,  or  as  an  offset  to  those  accusations  made 
against  themselves. 

They  had,  it  was  averred,  exceeded  their  lawful  limits,  and 
were  now  called  on  to  record  their  boundary  lines  in  the  land 
office  of  the  company,  otherwise  the  latter  would  have  the 
survey  made  by  its  own  orders.  They  had  attempted, 
against  all  law,  to  extend  their  lines  along  the  North  river, 
to  monopolize  the  trade,  to  the  ruin  of  private  persons. 
They  refused  to  permit  any  vessel  to  pass  by  a  certain  house 
called  Rensselaers-stein,  and  claimed  without  any  founda- 
tion the  privilege  of  staple  right.  They  exacted  seven  per 


36  Colony  of  Renssdaerswyck. 

cent  duty  on  each  beaver  and  five  per  cent  on  other  goods, 
enforcing  these  pretensions  with  cannon  shot,  which  they 
discharged  into  yachts  that  refused  to  come  to.  They  have 
endeavored,  "  by  perverse  machinations  ; "  to  possess  them- 
selves of  Fort  Orange,  and  when  frustrated  herein,  they 
undertook  to  lease  lots  in  its  vicinity  and  erect  buildings 
thereupon.  "  They  had  dared  to  grant  commissions  to  indi- 
viduals to  sail  to  the  coast  of  Florida ; "  and  forbade  colo- 
nists to  move  within  the  company's  limits  on  pain  of  corporal 
punishment,  confiscation  of  property  and  banishment;  to 
cut  or  cart  wood  for  the  inhabitants  of  Fort  Orange  ;  to  pay 
to  the  latter  what  they  owed  them ;  or  to  appeal  from  any 
judgments  over  fifty  guilders,  as  they  were  privileged  to  do. 
They  declined  to  furnish  any  extracts  of  their  proceedings 
or  judgments  ;  to  make  returns  to  writs  of  appeal  ;  to  publish 
placards  or  permit  such  publication  by  others,  but  tear  them 
by  force  from  the  hands  of  court  messengers  and  destroy 
their  seals;  and  if  any  writ  be  served  by  the  company's 
officers,  then  they  incite  the  parties  summoned  not  to  appear. 
Over  and  above  all  this,  the  oath  which  the  colonists  are 
compelled  to  take  is  "  seditious  and  mutinous,"  for  no  notice 
is  taken  therein,  either  of  their  high  mightinesses  or  of 
the  company.  No  report  has  been  made  of  the  state  of  the 
colonie,  as  should  have  been  annually  done,  nor  have  the 
instructions  issued  for  the  administration  of  the  colonie  been 
ever  communicated,  as  the  charter  required.  "  From  all 
which  flow,  as  a  natural  consequence,  an  insolent  and  over- 
bearing demeanor  on  the  part  of  their  commanders  to  their 
inhabitants;  insufferable  protests,  injuries,  menaces,  dis- 
putes and  provocations  against  the  company's  ministers; 
and,  lastly,  a  general  disobedience  of  all  the  company's  com- 
mands and  ordinances,  to  such  a  degree  that  they  would  not 
permit  the  director  and  council  to  proclaim  even  a  day  of 
prayer  in  the  colonie  in  the  same  manner  as  in  all  other 
parts  of  New  Netherlands' l 

The  limits  between  Fort  Orange  and  the  colonie  were  in 
1654  still  undetermined.  Some  confusion  as  to  jurisdiction 
necessarily  ensued,  to  remove  which  the  director-general 
called  again  on  the  patroon's  agents  to  fix  on  their  point  of 


Alb.  Rec.,  vm,  59-63, 215-221 ;  Hoi.  Doc.,  vi,  303-306 ;  vn,  1-24. 


Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck.  37 

departure,  as  he  was  willing  to  allow  them,  agreeably  to  the 
charter,  four  miles  on  one  side,  or  two  on  each  bank  of  the 
river,  "  without  the  limits  of  Fort  Orange."  The  magistrates 
of  the  colonie  being  unprovided  with  instructions  from  their 
superiors  requested  delay,  and  Stuyvesant  seized  an  opportu- 
nity which  offered,  shortly  after,  to  enlarge  his  juris- 
diction. The  court  of  Rensselaerswyck  was  about  to  farm 
the  excise,  and  demanded  how  far  they  could  collect  this  im- 
post. The  answer  was  an  order  to  the  court  of  Fort  Orange 
to  collect  the  duties  on  all  wines,  beers  and  spirituous  liquors 
sold  by  retail "  within  a  circuit  of  one  thousand  rods  of  the 
fort."  The  colonie  was  hereby  deprived  of  a  very  important 
source  of  revenue,  and  fresh  fuel  was  heaped  on  the  old  fires 
of  litigation  and  trouble.  As  if  the  elements  of  strife  were 
not  sufficiently  numerous,  a  claim  for  tenths  was  also  put 
in.  Counter  orders  were  given  by  the  patroon's  officers  to 
their  vintners,  to  refuse  the  payment  of  the  excise,  on  the 
ground  that  the  general  government  defrayed  none  of  the 
local  charges;  and  as  for  the  tenths,  "  neither  the  inhabitants 
of  the  colonie  nor  those  of  Beverwyck  could  be  induced 
either  by  monitions  or  persuasions  to  pay  them."1 

Commissary  Dyckman,  whose  violent  demeanor  might, 
long  ere  this,  justified  doubts  of  the  soundness  of  his  mind, 
became  now  so  unquestionably  insane  that  the  magistrates 
were  forced  to  represent  his  condition  to  the  supreme  coun- 
cil, who  thereupon  appointed  Johannes  de  Decker  vice- 
director,  "to  preside  in  Fort  Orange  and  the  village  of 
Beverwyck,  in  the  court  of  justice  of  the  commissaries 
aforesaid  to  administer  all  the  affairs  of  police  and  justice, 
as  circumstances  may  require,  in  conformity  to  the  instruc- 
tions given  by  the  director  general  and  council,  and  to  pro- 
mote these  for  the  best  service  of  the  country  and  the 
prosperity  of  the  inhabitants." 

Shortly  after  the  installation  of  the  new  vice  director, 
Father  Le  Moyne  took  occasion  to  pay  his  respects  to  the 
Dutch  at  Beverwyck.  He  was  received  with  much  respect 
by  the  Hollanders;  and  the  Mohawks  whom  he  visited  for 
the  purpose  of  concluding  a  treaty  on  the  part  of  the 
French  evinced  more  than  ordinary  gratification  at  seeing 

1Alb.  Rec.,  iv,  213 ;  ix,  121-125, 126, 129. 
Annals,  ii.  4 


38  Colony  of  EensselaerswycL 

him.1  But  the  Father  had  not  well  left  the  country  when  a 
body  of  one  hundred  of  these  Indians  presented  themselves 
at  Fort  Orange.  They  were  on  the  eve  of  setting  forth  on 
a  war  excursion  against  the  Canada  Indians,  and  fearing 
"  that  the  French  had  poisoned  the  ears  of  their  Dutch 
brothers  against  them,"  now  asked  the  latter  to  remain  neu- 
ter. They  complained,  at  the  same  time,  that  when  they 
visited  the  fort,  they  did  not  experience  as  much  hospitality 
and  feasting  as  the  Dutch  did  when  they  came  to  their  cas- 
tles ;  they  could  not  have  the  smallest  repairs  done  to  their 
guns  unless  they  had  wampum  to  pay  in  return,  which 
treatment  was  not  such  as  a  brother  should  receive  from  a 
brother.  The  authorities  assured  them  that  they  should 
observe  a  perfect  neutrality,  as  they  had  no  concern  with 
their  quarrels  with  other  Indians.  When  they  visited  the 
Mohawk  country  they  went  few  in  number,  and  should  their 
brothers  observe  the  same  rule,  they  should  be  lodged  and 
entertained  in  a  manner  becoming  their  rank.  In  regard  to 
the  other  subject  of  complaint,  they  could  not  interfere. 
Every  Dutchman  was  obliged  to  earn  his  bread,  and  no  man 
could  be  obliged  to  serve  another  for  nothing.  This  being 
the  rule  among  Christians,  their  brothers  could  not  justly 
complain  if  they  were  treated  as  their  other  brethren.  Pre- 
sents were  duly  exchanged.  The  Indians  laid  their  wam- 
pum belts  at  the  feet  of  the  white  men,  and  the  latter 
furnished  powder  and  lead  in  return;  "all  which  they 
accepted  with  their  customary  barbarous  applaudings,"  and 
departed.'2 

The  church  erected  in  1643  had  long  since  become  inad- 
equate to  the  accommodation  of  the  community,  and  it  had 
been  determined  in  the  course  of  the  preceding  year  to  erect 
a  new  building.  To  assist  this  good  work,  the  patroon  and 
codirectors  subscribed  one  thousand  guilders  or  four  hundred 
dollars,3  and  fifteen  hundred  guilders  were  appropriated 

1  Relation,  1655, 1656,  7-16. 

2  Present  on  this  occasion,  Commissary  De  Decker  and  the  ma- 
gistrates of  both  the  courts,  viz ;  Rutger  Jacobsen,  Andries  Herperts, 
Volckert  Jansen,  J.  B.  Van  Rensselaer,  A.  van  Curler,  J.  van 
Twiller,  J.  Hap,  H.  Jochemsen,  and  Philip  Pietersen  Schuyler,  &c. 
Fort  Orange  Rec. 

8  Rensselaerswyck  Manuscripts. 


Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck.  39 

from  the  fines  imposed  by  the  court  at  Fort  Orange.  A 
site,  at  the  junction  of  what  is  now  State  street  and  Broad- 
way, was  selected,  and  in  the  early  part  of  the  summer,  Rut- 
ger  Jacobsen,  one  of  the  magistrates,  laid  the  corner-stone 
of  the  sacred  edifice,  in  the  presence  of  the  authorities, 
both  of  the  town  and  colonie,  and  of  the  assembled  inhabit- 
ants. A  temporary  pulpit  was,  at  first,  erected  for  the  use 
of  the  minister,  but  the  settlers  subscribed  twenty-five  bea- 
vers to  purchase  a  more  splendid  one  in  Holland.  The 
Chamber  at  Amsterdam  added  seventy-five  guilders  to  this 
sum,  for"  the  beavers  were  greatly  damaged;"  and  "with 
a  view  to  inspire  the  congregation  with  more  ardent  zeal," 
presented  them  in  the  course  of  the  next  year  with  a  bell 
"to  adorn  their  newly  constructed  little  church."1 

The  difficulties  about  the  excise  in  the  colonie  remaining 
still  unsettled,  orders  were  sent  up  by  the  director  and  coun- 
cil to  arrest  and  convey  the  contumacious  tapsters  to  New 
Amsterdam.     De  Decker  accordingly  invited  one  of  them  to 
his  house,  where,  on  his    arrival,  he    made  him  prisoner. 
The  sloop  in  which  he  was  to  be  conveyd  down  the  river 
not  being  ready   to  sail  until  the  next  day,  De  Decker,  for 
greater  security,  lodged  his  prisoner  through  the  night  in 
the  same  bed  with  himself.     Through  the  connivance  of  the 
soldiers  on  guard,  the  tapster  contrived  to  escape  from  the 
fort  on  the  morrow,  and  repaired  forthwith  to  the  patroon's 
house.     Hither  De  Decker  followed   and  ordered  him  to  re- 
turn to  the  fort,  but  he  refused.     The  other  tapsters  now 
made  common   cause  with  the  fugitive,  and  arming  them- 
selves, remained  together  to   protect  each  other  from   the 
emissaries  of  the  law.     The  vice  director,  esteeming  it  an 
absurdity  to  suffer  an  asylum  for  fugitives  from  justice  to 
exist  in  the  very  centre  of  his  jurisdiction  was  preparing  to 
execute  his  orders  by  force,  whan  John  B.  Van  Rensselaer 
pledged  himself  to  repair  to  the  Manhattans  and  arrange  the 
matter  with  the  supreme  authorities.     To  avoid  bloodshed, 
De  Decker  acquiesced  in  this  proposal;  but  another  order 
arrived  a  few  days  afterwards,  directing  him  to  send  down 


1  Alb.  JRec.,  iv,  233.  A  fragment  of  this  little  bell  is  still  in  pos- 
session of  one  of  the  Dutch  reformed  churches  at  Albany.  It  bears 
the  inscription"  Anno  1601." 


40  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

the  tavern-keepers  forthwith.  In  obedience  to  these  instruc- 
tions, he  proceeded  with  an  armed  posse  to  the  houses  of  the 
parties,  where  he  again  met  Van  Kensselaer  and "  his 
associates."  He  summoned  them,  in  the  name  of  the  di- 
rector and  council  to  surrender  and  accompany  him  to  the 
fort.  "  Whereupon  they  each  answered.  *  There  sits  the  Lord 
he  will  answer  for  me/  "  Van  Rensselaer  acquiesced  herein, 
and  again  bound  himself  to  produce  the  tapsters  when 
required.  De  Decker ;  finding  it  useless  to  continue,  the 
discussion,  protested,  and  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  proceeded  to 
New  Amsterdam.  Here,  on  his  arrival,  he  presented  a 
strong  remonstrance  against  the  course  which  the  govern- 
ment was  pursuing.  Their  exactions,  he  insisted,  were  con- 
trary to  the  sixth  article  of  the  charter.  Instead  of  the 
directors  having  any  claim  on  the  patroon,  the  contrary  was 
the  fact.  The  company  had  guarantied  to  defend  the  colo- 
nists against  all  violence,  yet  the  latter  had  thrice  come 
forward,  at  great  expense,  to  assist  Fort  Orange ;  first,  during 
the  war  with  the  French  savages  •  secondly,  in  the  trouble 
with  the  English  ;  and  lately  during  the  unhappy  misunder- 
standing with  the  Indians  around  the  Manhattans.  When- 
ever there  was  any  prospect  of  trouble,  they  were  the 
first  to  appease  the  savages  by  presents.  The  losses  which 
the  latter  inflicted  on  the  colonie,  by  the  killing  of  cows, 
horses,  and  other  cattle,  amounted  annually  to  several  thou- 
sand guilders;  and,  in  addition,  the  patroon  and  codirectors 
maintained,  at  their  own  expense,  all  the  ministers  and 
officers  of  the  colonie.  In  the  face  of  these  facts,  it  was 
manifestly  unjust  to  seize  now  on  the  excise,  and  to  insist 
on  the  payment,  also,  of  tenths.  However,  to  prevent  all 
further  disturbance,  he  was  willing  to  permit  the  payment 
of  the  former,  under  protest,  if  the  director  and  council 
pledged  themselves  to  refund  the  money,  should  a  final 
decision  be  given  against  them  by  impartial  judges,  either 
here  or  in  Holland. 

This  remonstrance  was,  at  onceT  pronounced  "  frivolous" 
by  the  director- general  and  council, -whose  "  high  office  and 
quality  permit  them  not  to  stoop  so  low  as  to  enter  the  lists 
with  their  subjects  and  vassals,  much  less  to  answer  their 
frivolous  and  unfounded  protests  with  a  pusillanimous  diffi- 
dence." Their  duty  was  rather  "  to  correct  such  absurd 


Colony  of  Eensselaerswyck.  41 

assertions,  and  to  punish  the  offenders."     "Wherefore,  as  a 
public  example,  the  protestor  was  fined  twenty  guilders. 

Having  thus,  as  they  considered,  vindicated  their  dignity, 
Van  Rensselaer  was  informed  that  his  colonists  were  bound 
equally  with  other  settlers  in  the  province  to  contribute  to 
the  public  burthens,  not  only  by  the  very  nature  of  civilized 
government,  but  by  Art.  xvm,  of  the  charter  of  1629 ;  and 
this  they  ought  to  do,  without  suspecting  any  infraction  on. 
their  privileges  or  jurisdiction.  The  excise  due  from  this 
colonie  which  amounted  by  estimate,  to  fifteen  hundred  guil- 
ders, must  therefore  be  paid,  together  with  all  damages  which 
may  have  accrued  by  the  delay.  The  tavern-keepers  must, 
moreover,  submit  to  the  guaging  of  their  stock  as  often  as 
the  same  may  be  required }  and  as  John  Baptist  Van  Rens- 
selaer was,  himself,  the  original  cause  that  the  excise  is  re- 
sisted, he  was  called  on  to  give  a  bond  of  three  thousand 
guilders,  for  the  personal  appearance  of  the  "  contumacious 
tavern-keepers;"  otherwise  he  was  to  remain  at  the  Man- 
hattans under  civil  arrest. 

The  director  and  council  also  insisted  that  the  colonie 
was  obliged  to  pay  the  tithes.  If  Mr.  Van  Rensselaer 
would  agree  with  some  of  his  colonists  on  a  round  sum,  in 
lieu  of  these,  it  would  be  accepted  until  instructions  should 
be  received  from  Holland ;  if  the  directors  or  arbitrators 
should  decide  afterwards  that  the  colonie  was  not  subject  to 
tenths,  the  amount  paid  should  be  reimbursed.  The 
assertions  that  the  colonists  assisted  the  company  in  its  diffi- 
culties ','  were  made,  but  not  proved."  It  is  true  they 
promised  to  assist  in  putting  Fort  Orange  in  a  state  of 
repair,  at  the  time  of  the  troubles  with  the  English ;  but  it 
was  not  less  true,  that  after  having  given  three  or  four  days7 
labor,  "  they  left  us  to  shift  for  ourselves."  The  director 
and  council  were  entirely  ignorant  of  being  under  any 
obligations  to  them  "  during  the  late  troubles."  This  rejoin- 
der was  followed  by  a  proclamation,  ordering  .all  the  towns 
and  colonies  in  the  province  not  to  remove  their  crops  before 
they  settled  with  the  company's  commissaries  for  the  tenths. 
A  copy  of  this  placard  was  sent  for  publication  to  the 
authorities  of  Rensselaerswyck,  but  they  refused  to  publish  it. 

It  was  during  this  misunderstanding  that  the  "  contuma- 
cious tapsters,"  having  been  guarantied  by  the  director  and 


42  Colony  of  Jtensselaerswyck. 

court  of  the  colonie  against  damage,  arrived  at  the  Manhat- 
tans to  answer  for  their  conduct.  The  plea  of  residence  in 
the  colonie  and  of  acting  according  to  superior  orders 
availed  them  nothing.  One  was  fined  two  hundred  pounds, 
failing  payment  of  which  he  was  to  be  banished;  the 
other  was  mulcted  eight  hundred  guilders.  The  pa- 
troon  subsequently  made  good  both  these  fines.  The  dif- 
ficulties about  the  tenths  were  not  settled  until  July,  1658, 
when  the  colonie  compounded  for  them  by  the  yearly  pay- 
ment of  three  hundred  schepels  of  wheat.  Commissary  De 
Decker  being  now  about  to  return  to  Holland,  resigned  his 
office,  and  Johannes  La  Montague,  hitherto  one  of  the  coun- 
cil, was  commissioned  vice  director  of  Fort  Orange,  Johan- 
nes Provoost  became  secretary  and  Ludovicus  Cobbes  court 
messenger.1  The  vice-director's  house  at  this  period  was 
an  old  building  within  the  fort,  twenty-six  feet  nine  inches 
long,  Rhineland  measure;  two  stories  high,  constructed  of 
boards  one  inch  thick,  with  a  roof  in  the  form  of  a  pa- 
vilion," covered  with  old  shingles.  Under  this  house  was 
a  cellar  "  as  long  as  the  house  was  broad."  The  first  floor 
was  divided  into  two  compartments.  At  the  north  end  was  a 
chamber,  sixteen  or  seventeen  feet  broad ;  at  the  south  end 
an  entry  ten  feet  wide.  The  space  on  the  second  floor  was 
one  undivided  room,  directly  under  the  roof,  without  a  chim- 
ney, to  which  access  was  had  by  a  straight  ladder,  through 
a  trap-door.  Here  the  magistrates  administered  justice  :  this 
was  the  first  court-house  of  the  present  city  of  Albany. 

Fort  Orange  was,  until  the  year  1661,  the  frontier  town 
on  the  northern  and  western  borders  of  the  province.  Beyond 
that  all  was  "  the  far  west/'  little  known  and  less  explored, 
wholly  abandoned  to  the  wild  savage  or  wilder  beasts  of 
prey.  But  civilization,  that  giant  before  whom  beasts  and 
savages  were  alike  fated  to  disappear,  and  who  was  never  to 
pause  until  he  bathed  his  feet  in  the  waters  of  the  Pacific, 
was  now  about  to  take  another  step  westward.  The  proxi- 
mity of  the  whites  had  exhausted  the  resources  of  the  Indians 


*ji»,  Rec.,  x,  68;  xi,  409,  410,  415-430,  445-447,  466,  470,  488- 
499;xiii,  72 ;  221-233  ;  xviii,  83;  Rensselaerswyck  Manuscripts; 
Fort  Orange  Rec.  The  number  of  furs  exported  this  year  from  Fort 
Orange  and  vicinity,  amounted  to  34,840  beaver  and  300  otter  skins 


Colony  of  Eensselaerswyck.  43 

in  the  neighbourhood  of  Beverwyck.  Furs  were  becoming 
scarce,  and  the  soil  was  no  longer  an  object  of  value.  The 
natives  were,  therefore,  inclined  to  sell  for  a  trifle  the  Great 
Flatt,  west  of  the  fort,  "  towards  the  interior  of  the  country." 
Six  or  eight  families  were  desirous  to  move  thither,  and 
the  prospect  of  obtaining  additional  settlers  was  favorable,  for 
at  Beverwyck  the  common  people  were  much  impoverished 
and  unable  to  meet  their  wants,  "  from  one  loaf  to  another." L 
Under  these  circumstances,  Arent  van  Curler  applied,  on  be- 
half of  himself  and  others,  to  the  director-general  for  per- 
mission to  purchase  the  land  in  question.  The  requisite 
authority  was  duly  granted,-  but  had  not  been  yet  received 
at  Fort  Orange  when  a  freshet  laid  the  country  for  miles 
around  under  water.  This  was  followed,  a  few  days  after, 
by  an  inundation,  much  greater  than  the  first,  which  forced 
the  inhabitants  to  quit  their  dwellings  and  fly  with  their 
cattle  for  safety  to  the  woods  on  the  adjoining  hills.  Incal- 
culable damage  was  caused  by  these  irruptions.  The  wheat 
and  other  grain  were  all  prostrated,  and  had  to  be  cut  mostly 
for  fodder,  affording  scarcely  seed  sufficient  for  the  next 
spring.3  This  visitation  necessarily  caused  the  postpone- 
ment of  the  purchase  of  the  great  Flatt  until  the  ensuing 
month,  when  the  following  deed  was  obtained  from  the 
Indian  owners : 


1  Arent  van  Curler's  letter  to  Director  Stuyvesant,  dated  Rensse- 
laerswyck,  18th  June,  1661,  in  Fort  Orange  Rec.,  also  in  Alb.  Rec., 
xix,  179.    Van  der  Kemp's  translation,  in  the  latter,  is  in  many 
essential  parts  incorrect. 

2  Alb.  Rec.,  xix,  180.    Arent  van  Curler's  letter  having  been  read, 
together  with  the  authority  to  purchase  the  same,  and  to  make  a 
concentration  thereupon,  the  director  and  council  assented  there- 
unto, "  provided  that  the  said  lands,  on  being  purchased  from  the 
native  proprietors,  be,  as  usual,  transferred  to  the  director-general 
and  council  aforesaid  as  representatives  of  the  Lords  Directors  of  the 
Privileged  West  India  Company  ;  that,  what  ever  the  petitioners 
shall  pay  for  the  aforesaid  lands  to  the  original  proprietors,  shall, 
in  due  time,  be  returned  to  them,  or  be  discounted  to  them  against 
the  tenths. 

3  Petition  in  Rensselaerswyck  Manuscripts  of  the  colonists  of  Rens- 
selaerswyck  to  the   director  and  commissaries  of   that  colonie, 
for  a  remission  of  rent  and  tenths  for  this  year,  dated  September 
15th,  1661.    Jeremias  van  Rensselaer's  letter  to  his  mother,  8th 
October,  1661,  in  Rensselaerswyck  Manuscripts,  Alb.  Rec.,  vi,  345, 


44  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

"  Appeared  before  me,  Johannes  La  Montagne,  appointed 
by  the  Director  general  and  council  of  New  Netherland 
Vice  Director  and  Commissary  in  the  service  of  the  privi- 
leged West  India  Company,  at  Fort  Orange  and  the  town 
of  Beverwyck,  certain  chiefs  of  the  Mohawk  country,  by 
name  Cantuquo,  Sonareetsie,  Aiadane,  Sodrachdrasse,  pro- 
prietors of  a  certain  parcel  of  land,  called  in  Dutch  the 
Groote  Vlacht  (Great  Flatte),  lying  behind  Fort  Orange 
between  the  same  and  the  Mohawk  country,  which  they 
declare  to  have  ceded  and  transported,  as  they  hereby  cede 
and  transport,  in  real  and  actual  possession  and  property, 
unto  Sieur  Arent  van  Corlear,  the  said  parcel  of  land  or 
Great  Flatt,  called,  in  Indian,  Schonowe,  as  it  is  bounded 
in  its  contents  and  circumference,  with  its  trees  and  streams, 
for  a  certain  number  of  cargoes,  wherein  the  cedants  ac- 
knowledge to  have  received  satisfaction ;  renouncing,  now 
and  for  ever,  all  property  and  claim  which  they  hitherto 
have  had  in  the  aforesaid  parcel  of  land,  promising  to  free 
the  same  from  all  claims  which  other  Indians  might  have 
thereon.  Done  in  Fort  Orange  the  27th  July,  anno  1661, 
in  presence  of  Martin  Morris  and  William  Montagne, 
thereunto  requested,  in  presence  of  me  La  Montugne,  Vice 
Director  and  Commissary  over  the  Fortress  Orange. "l 

A  grant  under  the  provincial  seal  was  issued  in  the 
following  year,  but  the  land  was  not  surveyed  or  di- 
vided until  1664. '2  The  inhabitants  of  Fort  Orange  and 
its  neighborhood  were  most  anxious  to  retain  the  fur  mono- 
poly, and  had  sufficient  influence  with  the  director  and 
council  to  induce  them  to  order  that  the  settlers  of  Schaen- 
hechstede  (as  the  new  village  came  to  be  called)  should 
confine  themselves  exclusively  to  agriculture,  and  abstain 
from  all  trade  with  the  Indians.  This,  in  fact,  was  the  con- 
dition on  which  they  were  allowed  to  remove  thither;  "  for 
it  would  never  have  been  permitted  to  settle  this  plain 
except  on  the  assurance  that  no  object  was  in  view  but 
agriculture,  because  of  the  dangers  which  would  accrue  if, 


Orange  Bee.,  1654-1680.     The  mark  of  Cantuquo  to  the 
above  instrument  was  a  bear ;  of  Aiadane,  a  turtle  ;  of  Sonareetsie 
a  wolf ;  denoting  the  tribe  or  family  to  which  each  belonged. 
9  Alb.  Rec.,  xxi,  137. 


Colony  of  Renssdaerswyck.  45 

at  such  a  distant  place,  any  trade  with  the  savages  was 
allowed/'  1  Such  a  restriction  was  easily  evaded  at  this 
"  distant"  outpost,  and  it  soon -came  to  be  known  that  some 
of  the  settlers  sold  intoxicating  liquors  to  the  natives. 
When  the  application  for  the  survey  came  before  the  coun- 
cil, Jacques  Cortelyou  was  sent  thither,  but  with  instruc- 
tions not  to  survey  any  man's  land  who  might  refuse  to  sign 
the  following  obligation : 

"We  the  undersigned  inhabitants  on  the  Flatt  named 

,  hereby  promise  that  we  shall  not  carry  on,  or  allow 

to  be  carried  on,  at  the  aforesaid  Flatt,  or  thereabout,  any 
the  least  handeling  (traffic),  however  it  may  be  called,  with 
any  Indians,  under  what  pretext  the  same  may  be,  directly 
or  indirectly,  on  pain  of  paying,  if  we,  or  any  of  us,  happen 
to  violate  this  our  promise,  a  fine,  without  any  opposition, 
for  the  first  offence,  of  fifty  beavers:  for  the  second,  one 
hundred;  and  for  the  third,  forfeiture  of  our  acquired  and 
obtained  lands  on  the  aforesaid  Flatt."'2 

When  this  resolution  was  communicated  to  the  parties 
interested,  it  excited  much  discontent.  They  avowed  their 
loyalty,  and  willingness  to  pay  the  duties  rightfully  belong- 
ing to  the  company,  and  not  to  do  anything  in  violation  of 
the  laws  and  placards  of  the  province.  They  hoped  that 
they  should  not  be  treated  less  liberally  than  others.  They 
had  purchased  their  lands  with  their  own  moneys,  erected 
buildings,  stocked  their  farms;  now  should  all  this  be  in 
vain,  they  would  be  ruined.  They  therefore  requested  that 
the  surveyor  might  be  allowed  to  proceed,  "otherwise  they 
should  be  necessitated  to  help  themselves  as  best  they 
could."  3 

Accompanying  this  remonstrance  was  a  private  letter  from 
Van  Curler  to  the  director-general.  On  his  recommenda- 


1Alb.  Rec.,  XXT,  139. 

2Pampieren  raekende  Schaenhechtady  in  Albany  County 
Clerk's  office,  1680-1685  ;  297-301. 

8  Signed,  A.  van  Curler,  Fillip  Hendricksen,  Sander  Leendertsen 
Glen,  Symon  Volcertsen,  Pieter  Soghmaekelyk,  Teunis  Cornelissen, 
Marte  Cornelise,  William  Teller,  Bastiaen  De  Winter,  attorney  for 
Catalyn  widow  of  Arent  Andries  de  Voss,  Pieter  Jacobse  Borsboom, 
Pieter  Danielse  van  Olinda,  Jan  Barentse  Wemp,  Jacques  Cornelise, 
These  were  the  first  settlers  of  the  locality  in  question. 


46  Colony  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

tion  the  settlers  had  consented  to  proceed  with  their  plough- 
ing and  planting,  though,  at  first,  they  seemed  unwilling  to 
do  so.  He  trusted  that  the  place  would  he  surveyed,  though 
it  was  his  impression  that  the  director  and  council  were 
acting  on  the  suggestion  of  some  envious  persons  who  sought 
their  own  profit  at  the  expense  of  the  cultivation  of  the 
puhlic  lands,  and  that  under  a  pretended  fear  that"  a  little 
heaver  "  should  be  bought  there,  and  they  have  thereby  so 
much  less.  It  seemed  to  him  that  they  who  followed 
agriculture  ought  not  to  be  worse  treated  than  those  who 
pursue  commerce.  It  would  be  lamentable  were  the  settlers 
and  their  posterity  to  remain  forever  under  this  ban  of 
slavery,  and  be  excluded  from  bartering  either  bread,  milk, 
or  the  produce  of  their  farms  for  a  beaver,  so  as  to  be  able 
to  purchase  some  covering  for  their  bodies  and  dwellings. 
No  person  would  imagine  that  trade  could  be  carried  on  with 
the  Indians  at  Schaenhechtady  as  favorably  as  at  Fort 
Orange  Goods  must  be  brought  from  the  latter  place  thither, 
and  therefore  must  needs  sell  higher.  To  obviate  all  diffi- 
culty, the  settlers  were  willing  to  pledge  themselves  not  to 
sell  any  brandy  to  the  Indians,  on  pain  of  confiscation  of 
their  property. l 

This  appeal  in  favor  of  unshackled  commerce  was  of  no 
avail.  Nothing  but  danger  would  accrue  if  the  inhabitants 
were  to  continue  conveying  merchandise,  as  they  had  al- 
ready begun  to  do,  on  wagons  and  horses,  to  the  savages. 
"  Already  the  Indians  had  attacked  wagons,  fired  on  those 
who  conducted  them,  and  attempted  to  violate  females 
journeying  thither,  as  well  in  the  concentration  as  on  the 
road."  To  prevent  a  repetition  of  these  insolences,  no 
goods  were  to  be  carried  to  Schaenhechtady  for  the  future, 
and  the  schout  of  Fort  Orange  was  ordered  to  proceed  forth- 
with to  the  new  settlement,  take  an  inventory  of  all  the 
goods  introduced  there  in  violation  of  the  act  of  concession, 
and  have  the  same  removed,  "  as  it  was  not  the  intention  to 
build  up  one  place  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  ruin  on 
another — yea,  on  the  whole  country/''2  Thus  things  re- 
mained for  nearly  another  year.  It  was  not  until  May, 


1  Pampieren  raekende  Schaenhechtady. 


Colony  of  Rensselaer  swyck.  47 

1664,  that  the  surveyor  was  allowed  "  to  lay  out  the  lands  of 
Schaenhechtede."1  In  legal  and  municipal  affairs  it  re- 
mained dependent  on  the  court  at  Fort  Orange. 

Jeremias  Van  Rensselaer  succeeded  his  brother  Jan  Bap- 
tist, as  director  of  the  colonie  in  1658,  and  administered  its 
affairs  for  sixteen  years  with  great  prudence  and  discretion. 
He  was  much  respected  by  the  French,  and  exercised  an 
influence  over  the  Indians  surpassed  only  by  that  of  Van 
Curler.  On  the  change  of  government  and  the  breaking 
out  of  the  war,  considerable  difficulty  was  experienced  in 
obtaining  a  patent  for  the  manor  from  the  Duke  of  York. 
To  obviate  this,  some  persons  of  influence  advised  him  to 
take  out  one  in  his  own  name,  he  being  qualified,  as  a  Bri- 
tish subject,  to  hold  real  estate.  To  his  great  honor,  it  is 
recorded  that  he  rejected  the  offer,  for  he  was.  only  coheir, 
and  could  not  thus  .defraud  his  brothers  and  sisters.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  industry,  and  communicated  to  Holland 
an  account  of  various  occurrences  in  this  country,  under 
the  name  of  the  New  Netherland  Mercury.  His  corre- 
spondence, from  1656  to  his  death,  still  in  good  preserva- 
tion, affords  a  valuable  and  interesting  commentary  on 
private  and  public  affairs,  and  contains  a  relation  of  facts 
and  incidents  which  otherwise  would  be  irreparably  lost. 
He  died  on  the  12th  October,  1684,  and  was  followed  to  the 
grave  by  a  large  concourse  of  mourners.2 


1  Alb.  Rec.,  xxii,  169,  234. 

2  His  wife  died  29th  January,  1689,  N.  S.,  in  the  44th  year  of  her 
age,  leaving  five  children,  the  eldest  of  whom,  Kiliaen,  was  the 
first  lord  of  the  manor  of  Rensselaerswyck,  which  he  represented 
in  the  Provincial  Assembly  from  1691  to  1703,  when  he  was  called 
to  the  Council.     In  the  following  year  he  conveyed  Claverack,  or 
"the  lower  manor,"  as  is  was  called,  with  the  Cralo    estate  at 
Greenbush,  to  his  younger  brother  Hendrik.     From  these  two  pro- 
ceed the  numerous  members  of  this  wide-spread  family  in  this 
country.    Jan  Baptist  Van  Rensselaer  survived  his  brother  four 
years,  having  deceased  18th  October,  1678 ;  Dom.  Nicolaus  Van 
Rensselaer  died  the  month  following. 


48         Description  of  Albany,  and  its  Manners. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  ALBANY  AND  MANNERS  OF 
THE  INHABITANTS. 

[From  Mrs.  Grant's  Memoirs  of  an  American  Lady.] 

1764. 

The  city  of  Albany  stretched  along  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson ;  one  very  wide  and  long  street  lay  parallel  to  the 
river,  the  intermediate  space  between  it  and  the  shore  being 
occupied  by  gardens.  A  small  but  steep  hill  arose  above 
the  centre  of  the  town,  on  which  stood  a  fort,  intended  (but 
very  ill  adapted)  for  the  defence  of  the  place,  and  of  the 
neighboring  country.  From  the  foot  of  this  hill,  another 
street  was  built,  sloping  pretty  rapidly  down  till  it  joined 
the  one  before  mentioned  that  ran  along  the  river.  This 
street  was  still  wider  than  the  other;  it  was  only  paved  on 
each  side,  the  middle  being  occupied  by  public  edifices. 
These  consisted  of  a  market-place,  or  guard-house,  a  town 
hall,  and  the  English  and  Dutch  churches.  The  English 
church,  belonging  to  the  Episcopal  persuasion,  and  in  the 
diocese  of  the  bishop  of  London,  stood  at  the  foot  of  the 
the  hill,  at  the  upper  end  of  the  street.  The  Dutch  church 
was  situated  at  the  bottom  of  the  descent  where  the  street 
terminated ;  two  irregular  streets,  not  so  broad,  but  equally 
long,  ran  parallel  to  those,  and  a  few  even  ones  opened 
between  them.  The  town,  in  proportion  to  its  population, 
occupied  a  great  space  of  ground.  This  city,  in  short,  was 
a  kind  of  semi-rural  establishment;  every  house  had  its 
garden,  well,  and  a  little  green  behind;  before  every  door  a 
tree  was  planted,  rendered  interesting  by  being  coeval  with 
some  beloved  member  of  the  family ;  many  of  their  trees 
were  of  a  prodigious  size  and  extraordinary  beauty,  but 
without  regularity,  every  one  planting  the  kind  that  best 
pleased  him,  or  which  he  thought  would  afford  the  most 
agreeable  shade  to  the  open  portico  at  his  door,  which  was  sur- 
rounded by  seats,  and  ascended  by  a  few  steps.  It  was  in 
these  that  each  domestic  group  was  seated  in  summer  evenings 
to  enjoy  the  balmy  twilight,  or  the  serenely  clear  moonlight. 


Q 

iP 

3     O 

^j       HH 

II 

§  5 
i  § 


Description  of  Albany,  and  its  Manners.         49 

Each  family  bad  a  cow,  fed  in  the  common  pasture  at  the  end 
of  the  town.  In  the  evening  the  herd  returned  all  together, 
of  their  own  accord,  with  their  tinkling  bells  hung  at  their 
necks,  along  the  wide  and  grassy  street,  to  their  wonted 
sheltering  trees,  to  be  milked  at  their  masters'  doors.  No- 
thing could  be  more  pleasing  to  a  simple  and  benevolent 
mind  than  to  see  thus  at  one  view,  all  the  inhabitants  of  a 
town,  which  contains  not  one  very  rich  or  very  poor,  very- 
knowing  or  very  ignorant,  very  rude  or  very  polished,  indi- 
vidual; to  see  all  these  children  of  nature  enjoying  in  easy 
indolence,  or  social  intercourse, 

"  The  cool,  fragrant,  and  the  dusky  hour," 

clothed  in  the  plainest  habits  and  with  minds  as  undisguised 
and  artless.  These  primitive  beings  were  dispersed  in 
porches,  grouped  according  to  similarity  of  years  and  inclina- 
tions. At  one  door  were  young  matrons,  at  another  the 
elders  of  the  people,  at  a  third  the  youths  and  maidens, 
gayly  chatting  or  singing  together,  while  the  children  played 
round  the  trees,  or  waited  by  the  cows,  for  the  chief  ingre- 
dient of  their  frugal  supper,  which  they  generally  ate  sitting 
on  the  steps  in  the  open  air.  This  picture,  so  familiar  to 
my  imagination,  has  led  me  away  from  my  purpose,  which 
was  to  describe  the  rural  economy,  and  modes  of  living  in 
this  patriarchal  city. 

At  one  end  of  the  town,  as  I  observed  before,  was  a  common 
pasture  where  all  the  cattle  belonging  to  the  inhabitants 
grazed  together.  A  never-failing  instinct  guided  each  home 
to  her  master's  door  in  the  evening,  where,  being  treated 
with  a  few  vegetables  and  a  little  fat,  which  is  indispensably 
necessary  for  cattle  in  this  country,  they  patiently  waited  the 
night;  and  after  being  milked  in  the  morning,  they  went 
off  in  slow  and  regular  procession  to  the  pasture.  At  the 
other  end  of  the  town  was  a  fertile  plain  along  the  river, 
three  miles  in  length,  and  near  a  mile  broad.  This  was  all 
divided  into  lots,  where  every  inhabitant  raised  Indian  corn 
sufficient  for  the  food  of  two  or  three  slaves  (the  greatest 
number  that  each  family  ever  possessed),  and  for  his  horses, 
pigs,  and  poultry }  their  flour  and  other  grain  they  purchased 
from  farmers  in  the  vicinity.  Above  the  town,  a  long  stretch 

Annals,  ii.  5 


50         Description  of  Albany,  and  its  Manners. 

to  the  westward  was  occupied  first  by  sandy  hills,  on  which 
grew  bilberries  of  uncommon  size  and  flavor,  in  prodigious 
quantities ;  beyond,  rise  heights  of  a  poor  hungry  soil,  thinly 
covered  with  stunted  pines,  or  dwarf  oak.  Yet  in  this  com- 
paratively barren  tract  there  were  several  wild  and  pictur- 
esque spots,  where  small  brooks,  running  in  deep  and  rich  bot- 
toms, nourished  on  their  banks  every  vegetable  beauty; 
there  some,of  the  most  industrious  early  settlers  had  cleared 
the  luxuriant  wood  from  these  charming  glens,  and  built  neat 
cottages  for  their  slaves,  surrounded  with  little  gardens  and 
orchards,  sheltered  from  every  blast,  wildly  picturesque, 
and  richly  productive.  Those  small  sequestered  vales  had 
an  attraction  that  I  know  not  how  to  describe,  and  which 
probably  resulted  from  the  air  of  deep  repose  that  reigned 
there,  and  the  strong  contrast  which  they  exhibited  to  the 
surrounding  sterility.  One  of  these  was  in  my  time  inha- 
bited by  a  hermit.  He  was  a  Frenchman,  and  did  not  seem 
to  inspire  much  veneration  among  the  Albanians.  They 
imagined,  or  had  heard,  that  he  retired  to  that  solitude  in 
remorse  for  some  fatal  duel  in  which  he  had  been  engaged ; 
and  considered  him  as  an  idolater  because  he  had  an  image 
of  the  virgin  in  his  hut.  I  think  he  retired  to  Canada  at 
last ;  but  I  remember  being  ready  to  worship  him  for  the 
sanctity  with  which  my  imagination  invested  him,  and  being 
cruelly  disappointed  because  I  was  not  permitted  to  visit  him. 
These  cottages  were  in  summer  occupied  by  some  of  the 
negroes,  who  cultivated  the  grounds  about  them,  and  served 
as  a  place  of  joyful  liberty  to  the  children  of  the  family  on 
holidays,  and  as  a  nursery  for  the  young  negroes,  whom  it 
was  the  custom  to  rear  very  tenderly,  and  instruct  very 
carefully. 

In  the  society  I  am  describing,  even  the  dark  aspect  of 
slavery  was  softened  into  a  smile.  And  I  must,  injustice 
to  the  best  possible  masters,  say  that  a  great  deal  of  that 
tranquillity  and  comfort,  to  call  it  by  no  higher  name,  which 
distinguished  this  society  from  all  others,  was  owing  to  the 
relation  between  master  and  servant  being  better  understood 
here  than  in  any  other  place-  Let  me  not  be  detested  as  au 
advocate  for  slavery,  when  I  say  that  I  think  I  have  never 
seen  people  so  happy  in  servitude  as  the  domestics  of  the 
Albanians.  One  reason  was,  (for  I  do  not  now  speak  of  the 


Description  of  Albany,  and  its  Manners.         51 

virtues  of  their  masters,)  that  each  family  had  few  of  them, 
and  that  there  were  no  field  negroes.  They  would  remind 
one  of  Abraham's  servants,  who  were  all  born  in  the 
house ;  this  was  exactly  their  case.  They  were  baptized 
too,  and  shared  the  same  religious  instruction  with  the  child- 
ren of  the  family ;  and,  for  the  first  years,  there  was  little 
or  no  difference  with  regard  to  food  or  clothing  between 
their  children  and  those  of  their  masters. 

When  a  negro  woman's  child  attained  the  age  of  three 
years,  it  was  solemnly  presented,  the  first  New  Year's  day 
following,  to  a  son  or  daughter,  or  other  young  relative  of 
the  family  who  was  of  the  same  sex  with  the  child  so  pre- 
sented. The  child  to  whom  the  young  negro  was  given, 
immediately  presented  it  with  some  piece  of  money  and  a 
pair  of  shoes  ;  and  from  that  day  the  strongest  attachment 
grew  between  the  domestic  and  the  destined  owner.  I  have 
nowhere  met  with  instances  of  friendship  more  tender  and 
generous  than  that  which  here  subsisted  between  the  slaves 
and  their  masters  and  mistresses.  Extraordinary  proofs 
of  them  have  been  often  given  in  the  course  of  hunting  or 
of  Indian  trading  ;  when  a  young  man  and  his  slave  have 
gone  to  the  trackless  woods  together,  in  the  case  of  fits  of 
the  ague,  loss  of  a  canoe,  and  other  casualties  happening 
near  hostile  Indians.  The  slave  has  been  known,  at  the 
imminent  risk  of  his  life,  to  carry  his  disabled  master  through 
unfrequented  wilds,  with  labor  and  fidelity  scarce  credible ; 
and  the  master  has  been  equally  tender  on  similar  occasions 
of  the  humble  friend  who  stuck  closer  than  a  brother  ;  who 
was  baptized  with  the  same  baptism,  nurtured  under  the  same 
roof,  and  often  rocked  in  the  same  cradle  with  himself. 
These  gifts  of  domestics  to  the  younger  members  of  the 
family  were  not  irrevocable;  yet  they  were  very  rarely  with- 
drawn. If  the  kitchen  family  did  not  increase  in  propor- 
tion to  that  of  the  master,  young  children  were  purchased 
from  some  family  where  they  abounded,  to  furnish  those  at- 
tached servants  to  the  rising  progeny.  They  were  never  sold 
without  consulting  their  mother,  who,  if  expert  and  saga- 
cious, had  a  great  deal  to  say  in  the  family,  and  would  not 
allow  her  child  to  go  into  any  family  with  whose  domestics 
she  was  not  acquainted.  These  negro-women  piqued 
themselves  on  teaching  their  children  to  be  excellent  ser- 


52         Description  of  Albany,  and  its  Manners. 

vants,  well  knowing  servitude  to  be  their  lot  for  life,  and 
that  it  could  only  be  sweetened  by  making  themselves  par- 
ticularly useful,  and  excelling  in  their  department.  If  they 
did  their  work  well,  it  is  astonishing,  when  I  recollect  it, 
what  liberty  of  speech  was  allowed  to  those  active  and  pru- 
dent mothers.  They  would  chide,  reprove,  and  expostulate 
in  a  manner  that  we  would  not  endure  from  our  hired  ser- 
vants ;  and  sometimes  exert  fully  as  much  authority  over 
the  children  of  the  family  as  the  parents,  conscious  that 
they  were  entirely  in  their  power.  They  did  not  crush  free- 
dom of  speech  and  opinion  in  those  by  whom  they  knew 
they  were  beloved,  and  who  watched  with  incessant  care  over 
their  interest  and  comfort.  Affectionate  and  faithful  as  these 
home-bred  servants  were  in  general,  there  were  some  in- 
stances (but  very  few )  of  those  who,  through  levity  of 
mind,  or  a  love  of  liquor  or  finery,  betrayed  their  trust,  or 
habitually  neglected  their  duty.  In  these  cases,  after  every 
means  had  been  used  to  reform  them,  no  severe  punish- 
ments were  inflicted  at  home.  But  the  terrible  sentence 
which  they  dreaded  worse  than  death,  was  past — they 
were  sold  to  Jamaica.  The  necessity  of  doing  this  was  be- 
wailed by  the  whole  family  as  a  most  dreadful  calamity,  and 
the  culprit  was  carefully  watched  on  his  way  to  New  York, 
lest  he  should  evade  the  sentence  by  self-destruction. 

One  must  have  lived  among  those  placid  and  humane 
people  to  be  sensible  that  servitude,  hopeless,  endless  ser- 
vitude, could  exist  with  so  little  servility  and  fear  on  the 
one  side,  and  so  little  harshness  or  even  sternness  of  autho- 
rity in  the  other.  In  Europe,  the  footing  on  which  service 
is  placed  in  consequence  of  the  corruptions  of  society, 
hardens  the  heart,  destroys  confidence,  and  embitters  life. 
The  deceit  and  venality  of  servants  not  absolutely  dishonest, 
puts  it  out  of  one's  power  to  love  or  trust  them.  And  if  in 
hopes  of  having  people  attached  to  us,  who  will  neither 
betray  our  confidence,  nor  corrupt  our  children,  we  are 
at  pains  to  rear  them  from  childhood,  and  give  them  a  reli- 
gious and  moral  education  ;  after  all  our  labor,  others  of 
their  own  class  seduce  them  away  to  those  who  can  afford  to 
pay  higher  for  their  services.  This  is  not  the  case  in  a 
few  remote  districts,  where  surrounding  mountains  seem  to 
exclude  the  contagion  of  the  world,  some  traces  of  fidelity 


Description  of  Albany,  and  its  Manners.        53 

and  affection  among  domestics  still  remain.  But  it  must  be 
remarked  that,  in  those  very  districts,  it  is  usual  to  treat 
inferiors  with  courtesy  and  kindness,  and  to  consider  those 
domestics  who  marry  out  of  the  family  as  holding  a  kind  of 
relation  to  it,  and  still  claiming  protection.  In  short,  the 
corruption  of  that  class  of  people  is,  doubtless,  to  be  attri- 
buted to  the  example  of  their  superiors.  But  how  severely 
are  those  superiors  punished  ?  Why  this  general  indiffer- 
ence about  home ;  why  are  the  household  gods,  why  is  the 
sacred  hearth  so  wantonly  abandoned  ?  Alas  !  the  charm 
of  home  is  destroyed,  since  our  children,  educated  in  distant 
seminaries,  are  strangers  in  the  paternal  mansion ;  and  our 
servants,  like  mere  machines,  move  on  their  mercenary 
track  without  feeling  or  exciting  one  kind  or  generous  sen- 
timent. Home,  thus  despoiled  of  all  its  charms,  is  no  longer 
the  scene  of  any  enjoyments  but  such  as  wealth  can  purchase. 
At  the  same  time  we  feel  there  a  nameless  cold  privation, 
and  conscious  that  money  can  coin  the  same  enjoyments 
with  more  variety  elsewhere.  We  substitute  these  futile 
and  evanescent  pleasures  for  that  perennial  spring  of  calm 
satisfaction,  "  without  overflowing  full,"  which  is  fed  by 
the  exercise  of  the  kindly  affections,  and  soon  indeed  must 
those  stagnate  where  there  are  not  proper  objects  to  excite 
them.  I  have  been  forced  into  this  painful  digression  by 
unavoidable  comparisons.  To  return  : 

Amidst  all  this  mild  and  really  tender  indulgence  to  their 
negroes,  these  colonists  had  not  the  smallest  scruple  of 
conscience  with  regard  to  the  right  by  which  they  held  them 
in  subjection.  Had  that  been  the  case,  their  singular  hu- 
manity would  have  been  incompatible  with  continued  injustice. 
But  the  truth  is,  that  of  law  the  generality  of  those  people 
knew  little;  and  of  philosophy,  nothing  at  all.  They  sought 
their  code  of  morality  in  the  Bible,  and  there  imagined  they 
found  this  hapless  race  condemned  to  perpetual  slavery ;  and 
thought  nothing  remained  for  them  but  to  lighten  the  chains 
of  their  fellow  Christians,  after  having  made  them  such.  This 
I  neither  "extenuate," nor  "  set  down  in  malice,"  but  merely 
record  the  fact.  At  the  same  time  it  is  but  justice  to  record, 
also,  a  singular  instance  of  moral  delicacy  distinguishing 
this  settlement  from  every  other  in  the  like  circumstances; 
though,  from  their  simple  an-d  kindly  mode  of  life,  they 


54         Description  of  Albany,  and  its  Manners. 

were  from  infancy  in  habits  of  familiarity  with  these 
humble  friends,  yet  being  early  taught  that  nature  had 
placed  between  them  a  barrier,  which  it  was  in  a  high  de- 
gree criminal  and  disgraceful  to  pass,  they  considered  a 
mixture  of  such  distinct  races  with  abhorrence,  as  a  violation 
of  her  laws.  This  greatly  conduced  to  the  preservation  of 
family  happiness  and  concord.  An  ambiguous  race,  which 
the  law  does  not  acknowledge,  and  who  (if  they  have  any 
moral  sense,  must  be  as  much  ashamed  of  their  parents  as 
these  last  are  of  them)  are  certainly  a  dangerous,  because 
degraded  part  of  the  community.  How  much  more  so  must 
be  those  unfortunate  beings  who  stand  in  the  predicament  of 
the  bat  in  the  fable,  whom  both  birds  and  beasts  disowned? 

I  am  sorry  to  say  that  the  progress  of  the  British  army, 
when  it  arrived,  might  be  traced  by  a  spurious  and  ambigu- 
ous race  of  this  kind.     But  of  a  mulatto  born  before  their 
arrival,  I  only  remember  a^  single  instance;  and  from  the 
regret  and  wonder  it  occasioned,  considered  it  as  singular. 
Colonel   Schuyler,   of  whom   I   speak,   had   a   relation  so 
weak  and  defective  in  capacity,  that  he  never  was  intrusted 
with  any  thing  of  his  own,    and   lived   an  idle  batchelor 
about  the  family.      In  process  of  time,  a   favorite   negro- 
woman,  to  the  great  offence  and  scandal  of  the  family,  bore 
a  child  to  him,  whose  color  gave  testimony  to  the  relation. 
The  boy  was  carefully  educated;  and  when  he  grew  up, 
a  farm  was  allotted  to  him  well  stocked  and  fertile,  but 

II  in  depth  of  woods  embraced,"  about  two  miles  back  from 
the  family  seat.     A  destitute  white  woman,  who  had  some- 
how wandered  from  the  older.colonies,  was  induced  to  marry 
him ;  and  all  the  branches  of  the  family  thought  it  incum- 
bent on  them,  now  and  then,  to  pay  a  quiet  visit  to  Chalk, 
(for  so,  for  some  unknown  reason,  they  always  called  him.) 
I  have  been  in  Chalk's  house  myself,  and  a  most  comfortable 
abode  it  was ;    but  I  considered  him  as  a  mysterious  and 
anomalous  being. 

I  have  dwelt  the  longer  on  this  singular  instance  of  slavery , 
existing  devoid  of  its  attendant  horrors,  because  the  fidelity 
and  affection  resulting  from  a  bond  of  union  so  early  formed 
between  master  and  servant  contributed  so  very  much  to 
the  safety  of  individuals,  as  well  as  to  the  general  comfort 
of  society. 


Return  of  Abercrombie's  Army.  55 


RETURN  OF  ABERCROMBIE'S  ARMY. 

After  the  defeat  of  the  British  under  Abercrombie  before 
Ticonderoga,  in  1758,  the  corpse  of  the  gallant  and  lamented 
Lord  Howe  was  escorted  to  Albany  by  Philip  Schuyler.1 
In  a  few  days  the  wounded  of  this  proud  but  humbled  army, 
were  brought  down,  and  received  by  the  Schuylers  at  their 
farm  residence,  the  Flats,  as  men  and  brethren.  The  barn 
was  fitted  up  as  a  hospital,  and  a  part  of  the  house  allotted 
to  the  surgeon,  among  whose  patients  was  the  afterward 
notorious  Charles  Lee,  who  was  a  captain  in  the  forty-fourth 
regiment.  On  the  advance  of  the  army  from  Albany  by 
the  way  of  the  Flats,  Lee  commanded  one  of  the  first  de- 
tachments in  the  line  of  march ;  and  although  he  neglected 
to  bring  the  customary  warrants  for  impressing  cattle  and 
other  necessaries,  he,  however,  says  Mrs.  Grant,  seized 
every  thing  he  wanted  wherever  he  could  most  readily  find 
it,  as  if  he  were  in  a  conquered  country ;  and  not  content 
with  this  violence,  poured  forth  a  volley  of  execrations  on 
those  who  presumed  to  question  his  right  of  appropriation. 
Even  Mrs.  Schuyler  was  not  spared.  On  his  return  he 
shared  the  hospitalities  of  the  mansion,-  and  in  the  language 
of  Mrs.  Grant,  "  was  received  and  treated  as  a  child."  Lee 
felt  and  acknowledged  the  resistless  force  of  such  generous 
humanity.  He  swore,  in  his  vehement  manner,  he  was 
sure  there  was  a  place  reserved  in  heaven  for  Madam 
Schuyler,  though  no  other  woman  should  be  there. 


1  For  an  authenticated  account  of  the  final  destiny  of  the  remains 
of  Lord  Howe,  see  Historical  Collections  of  Albany,  I,  390,  391. 

2  The  house  of  Madame   Schuyler  was  soon  after  this  event 
burned,  but  was  rebuilt  after  her  death,  and  a  portion  of  the  old 
wall  is  still  seen  in  the  present  edifice. 


56  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 


CHARTER  OF  THE  CITY  OF  ALBANY. 

This  instrument  was  executed  by  Governor  Thomas  Don- 
gan,  in  1686.  In  the  Governor's  report  on  the  province, 
made  in  the  following  year  to  the  committee  of  trade,  he 


"  The  town  of  Albany  lyes  within  the  Ranslaers  colony, 
and  to  say  truth  the  Ranslaers  had  the  right  to  it  for  it  was 
they  settled  the  place,  and  upon  a  petition  of  one  of  them 
to  our  present  King,  about  Albany,  the  petitioner  was  re- 
ferred to  his  Majesty's  council  at  law,  who  upon  a  perusal 
of  the  Ranslaers  papers,  made  their  return  that  it  was  their 
opinion  that  it  did  belong  to  them ;  upon  which  there  was 
an  order  sent  over  to  Sir  Edmond  Andros,  that  the  Rans- 
laers should  be  put  in  possession  of  Albany,  and  that 
every  house  should  pay  some  two  beavers,  some  more  some 
less,  according  to  their  dimensions,  per  annum,  for  thirty 
years,  and  afterwards  the  Ranslaers  to  put  what  rent  upon 
them  they  could  agree  for.  What  reason  Sir  Edmund 
Andros  has  given  for  not  putting  these  orders  in  execution 
I  know  not.  The  Ranslaers  came  and  brought  me  the  same 
orders  which  I  thought  not  convenient  to  execute,  judgeing 
it  not  for  his  Majesty's  interest  that  the  second  town  of  the 
Goverment  and  which  brings  his  Majesty  soe  great  a  reve- 
nue should  bee  in  the  hands  of  any  particular  men.  The 
town  of  itself  is  upon  a  barren  saody  spot  of  land,  and 
the  inhabitants  live  wholly  upon  trade  with  the  Indians. 
By  the  meanes  of  Mr.  James  Graham,  Judge  Palmer  and 
Mr.  Cortlandt,  that  have  great  influence  on  that  people,  I 
got  the  Ranslaers  to  release  their  pretence  to  the  town  and 
sixteen  miles  into  the  country  for  commons  to  the  King, 
with  liberty  to  cut  firewood  within  the  colony  for  one  and 
twenty  years.  After  I  had  obtained  this  release  of  the 
Ranslaers  I  passed  the  patent  for  Albany." 

The  citizens  commissioned  Peter  Schuyler  and  Roberr 
Livingston  to  go  to  New  York  and  receive  the  Charter 
from  the  hands  of  the  Governor.  The  original  document 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  57 

is  on  file  in  the  Chamberlain's  office,  dated  July  22,  1686,  as 
is  also  a  copy  of  it  printed  by  Hugh  Gaine,  in  1771,  from  the 
latter  of  which  we  have  copied.1 

Thomas  Dongan,  lieutenant  and  governor  of  the  province  of  New 
York,  and  dependencies  in  America,  under  his  most  sacred 
majesty  James  the  Second,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  England, 
Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland,  King,  defender  of  the  faith,  etc., 
and  supreme  lord  and  proprietor  of  the  said  province  of  New 
York  and  its  dependencies,  to  all  persons  to  whom  these  presents 
shall  or  may  come,  or  in  any  wise  concern,  sendeth  greeting : 

Whereas  the  town  of  Albany  is  an  ancient  town  within 
the  said  province,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  have 
held,  used  and  enjoyed,  as  well  within  the  same  as  elsewhere 
within  the  said  province,  divers  and  sundry  rights,  liberties, 
privileges,  franchises,  free  customs,  preeminences,  advantages, 
jurisdictions,  emoluments,  and  immunities  as  well  by  pre- 
scription, as  by  grants,  confirmations  and  proclamations,  not 
only  by  divers  governors  and  commanders-in-chief  in  the  said 
province,  under  his  said  majesty,  but  also  of  several  governors, 
generals  and  commanders-in-chief  of  the  Nether-Dutch  Na- 
tion, whilst  the  same  was  or  has  been  under  their  power  and 
subjection.  And  whereas  divers  lands  tenements  and  heredi- 
taments, jurisdictions,  liberties,  immunities  'and  privileges 
have  heretofore  been  given  and  granted  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  said  town,  sometimes  by  the  name  of  commissaries 
of  the  town  of  Beverwyck ;  sometimes  by  the  name  of  the 
commissaries  of  the  town  of  Albany;  sometimes  by  the  name 
of  schepenen  of  Williamstadt;  and  sometimes  by  the  name  of 
justices  of  the  peace  fer  the  town  of  Albany;  and  by  divers 
other  names,  as  by  their  several  grants,  writings,  records 
and  minutes  amongst  other  things  may  more  fully  appear. 
And  whereas  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  have  erected- 
built,  and  appropriated  at  their  own  proper  cost  and  charges, 
several  public  buildings,  accommodations,  and  conveniencies 
for  the  said  town,  as  also  certain  pieces  or  parcels  of  ground 
for  the  use  of  the  same,  that  is  to  say,  the  town-hall,  or  stadt- 


1  The  Council  Minutes  of  July  29, 1723,  speak  of  a  printed  Charter 
(see  vol.  YIII,  288).  It  seems  to  have  been  first  printed  in  1706. 
(Annals,  v,  134,  139). 


58  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

house,  with  the  ground  thereunto  belonging ;  the  church  or 
meeting  place,  with  the  ground  about  the  same ;  the  burial 
place,  adjoining  to  the  palisades  at  the  south  east  end  of 
the  town ;  the  watch  house  and  ground  thereunto  belonging ; 
a  certain  piece  or  parcel  of  land,  commonly  called  or  kno\*n 
by  the  name  of  the  Pasture,  situate,  lying  and  being  to  the 
southward  of  the  said  town,  near  the  place  where  the  old  fort 
stood,  and  extending  along  Hudson  river,  till  it  comes  over 
againstthe  most  northerly  point  of  the  island,  commonly  called 
Martin  Geritsen's  island,  having  to  the  east  Hudson's  river, 
to  the  south  the  manor  of  Rensselaerwyck,  to  the  west  the 
highway  leading  to  the  town,  the  Pasture  late  in  the  tenure 
and  occupation  of  Martin  Gerritsen,  and  the  Pasture  late  in 
the  tenure  and  occupation  of  Casper  Jacobse,  to  the  north 
the  several   pastures  late  in  the  tenure  and  occupation  of 
Robert  Sanders,  Myndert  Harmense,  and  Evert  Wendel,  and 
the  several  gardens  late  in  the  tenures  and  occupation  of 
Dirk  Wessels,  Killian  Van  Rensselaer  and  Abraham  Staats, 
with  their  and  every  of  their  appurtenances ;  and  also  have 
established  and  settled  one  Ferry   from  the  said    town  to 
Greenbush,  situate  on  the  other  side  of  Hudson's  river,  for 
the  accommodation  and  conveniency  of  passengers,  the  said 
citizens  and  travellers.     And  whereas  several  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  town,  do  hold  from  and  under  his  most  sacred 
majesty   respectively,  as  well  by  several  respective  patents, 
grants  and  conveyances,  made  and  granted  by  the  late  gover- 
nors and  commanders-in-chief  of  the  said  province,  as  other- 
wise,   several  and  respective  messuages,  lands,    tenements, 
and  hereditaments,    in  the  town  of  Albany  aforesaid,  and 
that  the  said  inhabitants  of  the  said  town  of  Albany   and 
their  heirs  and  assigns  respectively,  may  hold,  exercise,  and 
enjoy,  not  only  such   and  the   same   liberties,   privileges, 
franchises,  rights,  royalties,  free  customs,  jurisdictions  and 
immunities,   as  they  anciently  have  had,   held,  used  and 
enjoyed,   but  also   such  public  buildings,    accommodations 
conveniencies,  messuages,    lands,    tenements   and  heredita- 
ments in  the  said  town  of  Albany,  which  as  aforesaid,  have 
been  by  the  inhabitants  erected  and  built,  or  which  have  as 
aforesaid  been  held,  enjoyed,  granted,  and  conveyed  unto 
them,  or  any  of  them  respectively. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  59 

Know  ye  therefore,  that  I  the  said  Thomas  Dongan,  by 
virtue  of  the  commission  and  authority  unto  me  given,  and 
power  in  me  presiding,  at  the  humble  petition  of  the  justices 
of  the  peace  of  the  said  town  of  Albany,  and  for  divers  other 
good  causes  and  considerations  me  thereunto  moving,  have 
given,  granted,  ratified  and  confirmed,  and  by  these  presents, 
for  and  on  behalf  of  his  most  sacred  majesty  aforesaid,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  do  give,  grant,  ratify,  and  confirm 
unto  the  said  inhabitants  of  the  said  town,  hereinafter 
agreed  to  be  called  by  the  name  or  names  of  the  Mayor, 
Alderman,  and  Commonalty  of  the  City  of  Albany,  all  and 
every  such  and  the  same  liberties,  privileges,  franchises, 
rights,  royalties,  free  customs,  jurisdictions,  and  immunities, 
which  they  have  anciently  had,  held  and  enjoyed,  provided 
always,  that  none  of  the  said  liberties,  privileges,  franchises, 
rights,  free  customs,  jurisdictions,  or  immunities,  be  inconsis- 
tent with,  or  repugnant  to,  the  laws  of  His  Majesty's  King- 
dom of  England,  or  other  the  laws  of  the  general  assembly 
of  this  province ;  and  the  aforesaid  public  buildings,  accom- 
modations and  conveniences,  pieces  or  parcels  of  ground 
in  the  said  town,  that  is  to  say,  the  said  town  hall  or  stadt 
house,  with  the  ground  thereunto  belonging ;  the  said  church 
or  meeting  place,  with  the  ground  about  the  same ;  the  said 
burying  place,  the  watch  house,  and  ground  thereto  belong- 
ing; the  said  pasture  and  the  aforementioned  ferry,  with 
their  and  every  of  their  rights,  members,  and  appurtenances, 
together  with  all  the  profits,  benefits  and  advantages  that 
shall  or  may  accrue  or  arise  at  all  times  hereafter,  for  anchor- 
age or  wharfage  in  the  harbor,  port  or  wharf  of  the  said 
city,  with  all  and  singular  the  rents,  issues,  profits,  gains 
and  advantages  which  shall  or  may  arise,  grow  or  accrue  by 
the  said  town-hall  or  stadt-house,  and  the  ground  thereunto 
belonging ;  church  or  meeting-place,  with  the  ground  about 
the  same ;  buryirig-place,  watch-house,  pasture,  ferry,  and 
other  the  above  mentioned  premises,  or  any  of  them,  and 
also  all  and  every  the  streets,  lanes,  highways  and  alleys, 
within  the  said  city,  for  the  public  use  and  service  of  the 
said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city,  and 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  places  adjacent,  and  travellers 
there ;  together  with  full  power,  licence  and  authority  to 
the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty,  and  their  sue- 


60  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

cessors  for  ever,  to  establish,  appoint,  order,  and  direct  the 
establishing,  making,  la'ying-out,  ordering,  amending,  and  re- 
pairing of  all  streets,  lanes,  alleys,  highways  and  bridges, 
water  courses  and  ferries  in  and  throughout  the  said  city, 
or  leading  to  the  same,  necessary,  needful  and  convenient 
for  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  city,  and  the  parts  adjacent, 
and  for  travellers  there :  Provided  always,  that  the  said 
license,  so  as  above  granted  for  the  establishing,  making, 
and  laying  out  streets,  lanes,  alleys,  highways,  ferries  and 
bridges,  be  not  extended  or  construed  to  extend,  to  the 
taking  away  of  any  person  or  persons  right  or  property, 
without  his  or  their  consent,  or  by  some  known  law  of  the 
said  province.  And  for  the  consideration  aforesaid,  I  do 
likewise  give,  grant,  ratify,  and  confirm  unto  all  and  every 
the  respective  inhabitants  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and 
their  several  and  respective  heirs  and  assigns,  all  and  every 
the  several  respective  messuages,  lands,  tenements,  and 
hereditaments  situate,  lying  and  being  in  the  said  city,  to 
severally  and  respectively  granted,  conveyed,  and  confirmed 
by  any  the  late  governors,  lieutenants,  or  commanders  in 
chief  of  the  said  province,  or  by  the  commissaries  or  justices 
of  the  peace,  or  other  magistrates  of  Albany  aforesaid,  or 
otherwise  howsoever ;  to  hold  to  their  several  and  respective 
heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

.  And  I  do  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant  to  the  said 
mayor,  aldermen,  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany, 
all  the  waste,  vacant,  unpatented  and  unappropriated  land, 
lying  and  being  within  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  the 
precincts  and  liberties  thereof,  extending  and  reaching  to  the 
low  water  mark,  in,  by,  and  through  all  parts  of  the  said 
city ;  together  with  all  rivers,  rivulets,  coves,  creeks,  ponds, 
water  courses,  in  the  said  city,  not  heretofore  given  or 
granted,  by  any  of  the  former  governors,  lieutenants,  or 
commanders-in-chief,  under  their,  or  some  of  their  respective 
hands  and  seals,  or  the  seal  of  the  province,  to  some  re- 
spective person  or  persons,  late  inhabitants  of  the  said  city, 
or  of  other  parts  of  the  said  province;  and  also  the  royalties 
of  fishing,  fowling,  hunting,  hawking,  mines,  minerals,  and 
other  royalties  and  privileges,  belonging  or  appertaining  to 
the  city  of  Albany  (gold  and  silver  mines  only  excepted.) 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  61 

And  I  do  by  these  presents  give,  grant,  and  confirm  unto 
the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city 
of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  forever,  full  and  free 
licence  and  liberty  of  fishing  in  Hudson's  river,  not  only 
within  the  limits  of  the  said  city,  but  without,  even  so  far 
northward  and  southward,  as  the  river  does  extend  itself, 
within  the  said  county  of  Albany,  together  with  free  liberty, 
licence,  and  authority  to  and  for  the  said  mayor,  aldermen, 
and  commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany  aforesaid,  and  their 
successors,  at  all  time  and  times  hereafter,  for  and  during 
the  space  of  one  and  twenty  years,  from  and  after  the  fourth 
day  of  November  last  past,  to  be  accomplished  and  fully  to 
be  compleat  and  ended,  to  cut  down  and  carry  away,  out  of 
any  part  of  the  manor  of  Rensselaerwyck  (provided  it  be  not 
within  any  fenced  or  enclosed  land)  such  firewood  and 
timber,  for  building  and  fencing,  as  to  them  shall  seem  meet 
and  convenient. 

And  I  do  by  these  presents,  grant  unto  the  said  mayor, 
aldermen,  and  commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany,  and  their 
successors  for  ever  hereafter ;  all  such  strays  as  shall  be 
taken  within  the  limits,  precincts,  and  bounds  of  the  said 
city,  a 

And  I  do  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant  unto  the 
said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany, 
and  their  successors,  full  liberty  and  license  at  their  plea- 
sure, to  purchase  from  the  Indians,  the  quantity  of  five 
hundred  acres  of  low  or  meadow  land,  lying  at  a  certain 
place,  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  Schaahtecogue, 
which  quantity  of  five  hundred  acres,  shall,  and  maylJl,  in 
what  part  of  Schaahtecogue,  or  the  land  adjacent,  as  they 
the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty,  of  the  city  of 
Albany,  shall  think  most  convenient. 

And  I  do  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant  unto  the  said 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty,  full  power  and  license  at 
their  pleasure,  likewise  to  purchase  from  the  Indians,  the 
quantity  of  one  thousand  acres  of  low  or  meadow  land, 
lying  at  a  certain  place,  called  or  known  by  the  name  of 
Tionnondoroge,  which  quantity  of  one  thousand  acres  of  low 
or  meadow  land,  shall  and  may  be  in  what  part  of  Tionondo- 
roge,  or  the  land  adjacent  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  as  they 

Annals  ii.  6 


62  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city 
of  Albany,  shall  think  most  convenient ;  which  said  several 
parcels  of  low  or  meadow  land,  I  do  hereby  in  behalf  of 
his  said  majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors  give,  grant  and 
confirm  unto  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of 
the  city  of  Albany  aforesaid,  to  be  and  remain  to  the  use 
and  behoof  of  them,  and  their  successors  forever.  To  have 
and  to  hold,  all  and  singular  the  premises,  to  the  said  mayor, 
aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and 
their  successors  forever,  rendering  and  paying  therefor  unto 
his  most  sacred  majesty,  his  heirs,  successors  and  assigns, 
or  to  such  officer  or  receiver,  as  shall  be  appointed  to  receive 
the  same,  yearly,  forever  hereafter,  the  annual  quit  rent  or 
acknowledgement  of  one  beaver  skin,  in  Albany,  on  the 
five  and  twentieth  day  of  March,  yearly  forever. 

And  moreover,  I  will,  and  by  these  presents  for  his  said 
majesty,  his  heirs,  and  successors,  grant,  appoint,  and  de- 
clare, that  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  the  compass,  pre- 
cincts, and  limits  thereof,  and  the  jurisdiction  of  the  same, 
shall  from  henceforth  extend  and  reach  itself,  and  shall 
and  may  be  able  to  reach  forth  and  extend  itself,  as  well  in 
length  and  in  breadth,  as  in  circuit,  on  the  east  by  Hudson's 
river,  so  far  as  low  water  mark ;  to  the  south,  by  a  line  to 
be  drawn  from  the  southermost  end  of  the  Pasture,  at  the 
north  end  of  the  said  island,  called  Martin  Gerritsen's  is- 
land, running  back  into  the  woods,  sixteen  English  miles 
due.  northwest,  to  a  certain  kill  or  creek,  called  the  Sandkill, 
on  the  north,  to  a  line  to  be  drawn  from  the  post  that  was 
set  ^f  Governor  Stuyvesant,  near  Hudson's  river,  running 
likewise  northwest,  sixteen  English  miles ;  and  on  the  west 
by  a  straight  line,  to  be  drawn  from  the  points  of  the  said 
south  and  north  lines;  wherefore  by  these  presents,  I  do 
firmly  enjoin  and  command,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said 
majesty,  his  heirs,  and  successors  that  the  aforesaid  mayor, 
aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  city  aforesaid,  and  their 
successors,  shall,  and  may  freely  and  quietly  have,  hold, 
use,  and  enjoy  the  aforesaid  liberties,  authorities,  jurisdic- 
tions, franchises,  rights,  royalties,  privileges,  advantages, 
exemptions,  lands,  tenements,  hereditaments,  and  premises 
aforesaid,  in  manner  and  form  aforesaid,  according  to  the 
tenure  and  effect  of  the  aforesaid  grants,  patents,  customs 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  63 

and  these  letters  patent  of  grant  and  confirmation,  without 
the  let,  hindrance,  or  impediment,  of  any  of  his  majesty's 
governors,  lieutenants,  or  other  officers  whatsoever;  and 
that  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  city 
aforesaid,  and  their  successors,  or  any  of  them,  in  the  free 
use  and  enjoyment  of  the  premises,  or  any  of  them,  by  the 
lieutenants  or  governors  of  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs,  and 
successors,  or  by  any  of  them,  shall  not  be  hindred,  molested, 
or  in  any  wise  disturbed. 

And  also  I  do  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  most  sacred 
majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  ordain  and  grant  to  the 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany, 
and  their  successors,  by  these  presents,  that  for  the  better 
government  of  the  said  city,  liberties  and  precincts  thereof, 
there  shall  be  forever  hereafter,  within  the  said  city,  a 
mayor,  recorder,  town  clerk,  and  six  aldermen,  and  six 
assistants,  to  be  appointed,  nominated,  elected,  chosen  and 
sworn,  as  herein  after  is  particularly  and  respectively  men- 
tioned, who  shall  be  forever  hereafter,  called,  the  mayor, 
aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany,  and  that 
there  shall  be  forever,  one  chamberlain  or  treasurer,  one 
sheriff,  one  coroner,  one  clerk  of  the  market,  one  high 
constable,  three  sub-constables,  and  one  marshal  or  sergeant 
at  mace,  to  be  appointed,  chosen,  and  sworn  in  manner 
hereinafter  mentioned. 

And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  and  on  the  behalf  of 
his  most  sacred  majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  ordain, 
declare,  constitute,  grant  and  appoint,  that  the  mayor, 
recorder,  aldermen  and  assistants  of  the  said  city  of  Albany, 
for  the  time  being,  and  their  successors,  forever  hereafter, 
be,  and  shall  be,  by  force  of  these  presents,  one  body  cor- 
porate and  politic,  in  deed,  fact,  and  name,  by  the  name  of, 
the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty,  of  the  city  of  Albany ; 
and  them  by  the  name  of,  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  common- 
alty of  the  city  of  Albany,  one  body  corporate  and  politic,  in 
deed,  fact,  and  name ;  and  I  do  really  and  fully  create,  ordain, 
make,  constitute,  and  confirm  by  these  presents,  and  that 
by  the  name  of,  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of 
the  city  of  Albany,  they  may  have  perpetual  succession, 
and  that  they,  and  their  successors,  forever,  by  the  name 
of,  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  city  of 


64  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

Albany,  be,  and  shall  be,  forever  hereafter,  persons  able, 
and  in  law  capable,  to  have,  get,  receive,  and  possess  lands, 
tenements,  rents,  liberties,  jurisdictions,  franchises,  and 
hereditaments,  to  them  and  their  successors,  in  fee  simple, 
or  for  term  of  life,  lives  or  years,  or  otherwise;  and  also 
goods,  chattels,  and  also  other  things  of  what  nature, 
quality,  or  kind  soever;  and  also  to  give,  grant,  let,  set, 
and  assign  the  said  lands,  tenements,  hereditaments,  goods, 
and  chattels,  and  to  do  and  execute  all  other  things  in  and 
about  the  same,  by  the  name  aforesaid ;  and  also,  that  they 
be,  and  forever  shall  ber  persons  able  in  law,  capable  to 
plead,  and  be  impleaded,  answer,  and  be  answered  unto, 
defend,  and  be  defended,  in  all  or  any  of  the  courts  of  his 
said  majesty,  and  other  places  whatsoever,  and  before  any 
judges,  justices,  and  other  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  in 
all  and  all  manner  of  actions,  suits,  complaints,  demands, 
pleas,  causes  and  matters  whatsoever,  of  what  nature,  kind 
or  quality  soever,  in  the  same  and  the  like  manner  and  form 
as  other  people  of  this  province,  being  persons  able  and  in 
law  capable,  may  plead  and  be  impleaded,  answer  and  be 
answered  unto,  defend  and  be  defended,  by  any  lawful 
ways  or  means  whatsoever;  and  that  the  said  mayor, 
aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and 
their  successors  shall  and  may  forever  hereafter,  have  one 
common  seal  to  serve  for  the  sealing  of  all  and  singular 
their  affairs  and  businesses,  touching  or  concerning  the 
said  corporation.  And  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and 
for  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said 
city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  as  they  shall  see  cause, 
to  break,  change,  alter  and  new  make  their  said  common 
seal,  and  as  often  as  to  them  it  shall  seem  convenient. 

And  further  know  ye,  that  I  have  assigned,  named,  or- 
dained and  constituted,  and  by  these  presents,  do  assign, 
name,  ordain  and  constitute  Peter  Schuyler,  to  be  the  pre- 
sent mayor  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  that  the  said 
Peter  Schuyler,  shall  remain  and  continue  in  the  office  of 
mayor  there,  until  another  fit  person  shall  be  appointed 
and  sworn  in  the  said  office,  as  in  and  by  these  presents,  is 
hereafter  mentioned  and  directed.  And  I  have  assigned, 
named,  ordained  and  constituted,  and  by  these  presents  do 
assign,  name,  ordain  and  constitute,  Isaac  Swinton,  to  be 


PIETEK  SCHUYLER,  FIRST  MATOR  OF  ALBANY, 

painting  done  in  England  in  1712,  and  now  in  the  posse  ssion  of  John  Schiiyler 


He  is  said  to  have  been  hurried  near  the  site  of  the  old  Eagle  Tavern,  in 
Broadway,  below  Hamilton  street,  west  side. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  65 

the  present  recorder  of  the  said  city,  to  do  and  execute  all 
things,  which  unto  the  office  of  recorder  of  the  said  city 
doth,  or  may  any  way  appertain  or  belong.  And  I  have 
assigned,  named,  ordained  and  constitute,  and  by  these 
presents  do  ordain,  constitute,  create  and  declare,  Robert 
Livingston,  town  clerk  of  the  said  city  ;  to  do  and  execute 
all  things  which  unto  the  office  of  town  clerk,  doth  or  may 
belong.  And  also  I  have  named,  assigned,  constituted  and 
made,  and  by  these  presents  do  assign,  constitute  and  make 
Dirk  Wessels,  Jan  Jans  Bleecker,  David  Schuyler,  Jo- 
hannis  Wendel,  Lavinus  Van  Schaick,  and  Adrian  Garritse, 
citizens  and  inhabitants  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  to  be 
the  present  aldermen  of  said  city.  And  also  I  have  made, 
assigned,  named  and  constituted,  and  by  these  presents  do 
make,  assign,  name  and  constitute  Joachim  Staats,  John 
Lansing,  Isaac Yerplank,  Lawrence  Van  Ale,  Albert  Ryck- 
man,  and  Melgert  Winantse,  citizens  and  inhabitants  of  the 
said  city,  to  be  the  present  assistants  of  the  said  city. 
Also  I  have  assigned,  chosen,  named  and  constituted,  Jan 
Bleecker,  citizen  and  inhabitant  of  the  said  city,  to  be  the 
present  chamberlain  or  treasurer,  of  the  city  aforesaid. 
And  I  have  assigned,  named,  constituted  and  appointed, 
and  by  these  presents  do  assign,  name,  constitute  and  ap- 
point, Richard  Pretty,  one  of  the  said  citizens  there,  to 
be  the  present  sheriff  of  the  said  city.  And  I  have  as- 
signed, named,  constituted  and  appointed,  and  by  these 
presents  do  assign,  name,  constitute  and  appoint,  James 
Parker,  one  other  of  the  said  citizens,  to  be  the  present 
marshal  of  the  said  city. 

And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  grant  to  the  said  mayor, 
aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and 
their  successors,  that  the  mayor,  recorder,  aldermen,  and 
assistants  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  or  the  mayor 
and  any  three  or  more  of  the  aldermen,  and  three  or 
more  of  the  assistants  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being, 
be,  and  shall  be  called  the  common  council  of  the  said 
city;  and  that  they,  or  the  greater  part  of  them,  shall 
or  may  have  full  power  and  authority,  by  virtue  of  these 
presents,  from  time  to  time,  to  call  and  hold  common 
council,  within  the  common  council  house,  or  city  hall 
of  the  said  city ;  and  there,  as  occasion  shall  be,  to  make 


66  Charter  of  the  City  p/  Albany. 

laws,  orders,  ordinances  and  constitution  in  writing ; 
and  to  add,  alter,  diminish  and  reform  them,  from 
time  to  time,  as  to  them  shall  seem  necessary  and  conveni- 
ent, (not  repugnant  to  the  prerogative  of  the  King's  ma- 
jesty, his  heirs  or  successors,  or  to  any  the  laws  of  the 
kingdom  of  England,  or  other  the  laws  of  the  general 
assembly  of  the  province  of  New  York  aforesaid)  for  the 
good  rule,  oversight,  correction  and  government  of  the 
said  city,  and  liberties  of  the  same,  and  of  all  the  officers 
thereof,  and  of  the  several  tradesmen,  victuallers,  artificers, 
and  of  all  other  people  and  inhabitants  of  the  city,  liberties 
and  precincts  aforesaid,  and  for  the  preservation  of  govern- 
ment, the  Indian  trade,  and  all  other  commerce  and  dealing, 
and  for  disposal  of  all  the  lands,  tenements  and  heredita- 
ments, goods  and  chattels  of  the  said  corporation :  which 
said  laws,  ordinances  and  constitutions,  shall  be  binding 
to  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  city,  liberties  and  precincts 
aforesaid ;  and  which  laws,  orders,  ordinances  and  constitu- 
tions, so  by  them  to  be  made  as  aforesaid ;  shall  be  and 
remain  in  force,  for  the  space  of  one  year,  and  no  longer, 
unless  they  shall  be  allowed  and  confirmed  by  the  governor 
and  council,  for  the  time  being. 

And  further,  I  will  and  grant  to  the  said  common  council 
.of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  as  often  as  they  make, 
ordain  and  establish  such  laws,  orders,  ordinances,  and 
constitutions  aforesaid,  shall  or  may  make,  ordain,  limit, 
provide,  set,  impose,  and  tax  reasonable  fines  and  amercia- 
ments,  against  and  upon  all  persons  offending  against  such 
laws,  orders,  ordinances  and  constitutions  as  aforesaid, 
or  any  of  them,  to  be  made,  ordained  and  established  as 
aforesaid,  and  the  same  fines  and  amerciaments  shall  and 
may  require,  demand,  levy,  take  and  receive,  by  warrants, 
under  the  common  seal,  to  and  for  the  use  and  behoof  of 
the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city,  and 
their  successors,  either  by  distress  and  sale  of  the  goods 
and  chattels  of  the  offenders  therein,  if  such  goods  and 
chattels  may  be  found  within  the  said  city,  liberties  and 
precincts  thereof,  rendering  to  such  offender  and  offenders 
the  overplus,  or  by  any  other  lawful  ways  or  means  whatso- 
ever. 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  67 

And  I  do  by  these  presents,  for  the  King's  majesty,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  approve  and  Ordain  the  assigning, 
naming  and  appointment  of  the  mayor  and  sheriff  of  the 
said  city,  that  it  shall  be  as  follows,  viz  :  upon  the  feast 
day  of  St.  Michael,  the  arch  angel,  yearly,  the  lieutenant 
governor  or  commander  in  chief,  for  the  time  being,  by 
and  with  the  advice  of  his  council,  shall  nominate  and 
appoint  such  a  person  as  he  shall  think  fit,  to  be  mayor  of 
the  said  city,  for  .the  year  next  ensuing;  and  one  other 
person  of  sufficient  ability  in  estate,  and  capacity  in  un- 
derstanding, to  be  sheriff  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  for  the 
year  next  ensuing;  and  that  such  person  as  shall  be 
assigned,  named  and  appointed  mayor,  and  such  person  as 
shall  be  assigned,  named  and  appointed  sheriff  of  the  said 
city  as  aforesaid,  shall  on  the  14th  day  of  October,  then 
next  following,  in  the  city-hall  or  stadt-house  aforesaid, 
take  the  several  and  respective  corporal  oaths  before 
the  recorder,  aldermen  and  assistants  or  any  three  of  the 
aldermen  and  four  of  the  assistants  of  the  said  city,  for  the 
time  being,  for  the  due  execution  of  their  respective  offices 
as  aforesaid  ;  and  that  the  said  mayor  and  sheriff,  so  to  be 
nominated  and  appointed  as  aforesaid,  shall  remain  and 
continue  in  their  respective  offices,  until  another  fit  person 
shall  be  nominated,  appointed  and  sworn  in  the  place  of 
mayor,  and  one  other  person  shall  be  nominated,  'appointed 
and  sworn  in  the  place  of  sheriff  of  the  said  city,  in  manner 
aforesaid  :  which  oaths  the  said  recorder,  aldermen  and 
assistants,  or  any  three  or  more  of  the  aldermen,  .shall  and 
may  lawfully  administer,  and  have  hereby  power  to  adminis- 
ter to  the  said  Mayor  and  the  said  sheriff,  so  nominated 
and  appointed,  from  time  to  time,  accordingly. 

And  further,  that  according  to  usage  and  ffcfitom,  the 
recorder  and  town  clerk  of  the  said  city,  shall  be  persons 
of  good  capacity  and  understanding,  such  as  his  most  sacred 
majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  shall  in  the  said  respective 
offices  of  recorder  and  town  clerk  respectively  appoint  and 
commissionate;  and  for  defect  of  such  appointment,  and 
commissionating,  by  his  most  sacred  majesty  as  aforesaid, 
his  heirs  and  successors,  to  be  such  persons  as  the  said 
governor,  l^utenant  'or  commander  in  chief  of  the  said 
province,  for  the  time  being  shall  appoint  or  commissionate ; 


68  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

which  persons  so  commissionated  to  the  said  office  of  re- 
corder and  office  of*  town  clerk  respectively,  shall  have, 
hold  and  enjoy  the  said  offices  respectively,  according  to 
the  tenor  and  effect  of  the  said  respective  commissions,  and 
not  otherwise. 

And  further,  I  will,  that  the  recorder,  town  clerk,  alder- 
men, assistants,  chamberlain,  high  constables,  petty-6on- 
stables,  and  all  other  officers  of  the  said  city,  before  they, 
or  any  of  them  shall  be  admitted  to  enter  upon  and  exe- 
cute their  respective  offices,  shall  be  sworn  faithfully  to 
execute  the  same,  before  the  mayor,  or  any  three  or  more 
of  the  aldermen,  for  the  time  being.  And  I  do,  by  these 
presents,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs  and 
successors,  grant,  and  give  power  and  authority  to  the  mayor 
and  recorder  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being  to  ad- 
minister the  same  respective  oaths  to  them  accordingly. 

And  further,  I  will,  and  by  these  presents,  do  grant  for  and 
on  behalf  of  his  most  sacred  majesty,  his  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors, that  the  mayor  aldermen  and  recorder  of  the  said 
city,  for  the  time  being,  shall  be  justices  and  keepers  of 
the  peace  of  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors, 
and  justices  to  hear  and  determine  matters  and  causes 
within  the  said  city,  liberties  and  precincts  thereof; 
and  that  they  or  any  three  or  more  of  them,  shall  and  may 
forever  hereafter  have  power  and  authority,  by  virtue  of 
these  presents,  to  hear  and  determine  all  and  all  manner 
of  petty  larcenies,  riots,  routs,  oppressions,  extortions,  and 
all  other  trespasses  and  offences  whatsoever  within  the  said 
city  of  Albany,  and  the  limits,  precincts,  and  liberties 
thereof,  from  time  to  time,  arising  and  happening,  and 
which  shall  arise  or  happen,  and  any  ways  belong  to  the 
office  of  jj^tices  of  the  peace,  and  correction  and  punish- 
ment of  the  offences  aforesaid,  and  every  of  them,  according 
to  the  laws  of  England,  and  the  laws  of  the  said  province ; 
and  to  do  and  execute  all  other  -things  in  the  said  city, 
liberties  and  precincts  aforesaid,  so  fully  and  in  as  ample 
manner  as  to  the  commissioners  assigned,  and  to  be  assigned 
for  the  keeping  of  the  peace  in  the  said  city  and  county  of* 
Albany,  doth  or  may  belong. 

And  moreover,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  fot  his  majesty 
his  heirs  and  successors,  will  and  appoint  that  the  alder- 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  69 

men  and  assistants,  within  the  said  city,  be  yearly  chosen 
on  the  feast  day  of  St.  Michael  the  arch  angel,  for  ever, 
viz  :  Two  aldermen  and  two  assistants  for  each  respective 
ward,  in  such  public  place  in  the  said  respective  wards, 
as  the  aldermen  for  the  time  being,  for  each  ward, 
shall  direct  and  appoint,  and  that  by  the  majority  of  voices 
of  the  inhabitants  of  each  ward  ;  and  that  the  chamberlain 
shall  be  yearly  chosen,  on  the  said  feast  day,  in  the  city 
hall  of  the  said  city,  by  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and 
assistants  of  the  said  city,  or  by  the  mayor  or  three  or 
more  of  the  aldermen,  and  three  or  more  of  the  assistants 
of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being.  And  I  do,  by  these 
presents,  constitute  and  appoint  Robert  Livingston  to  be  the 
present  town  clerk,  clerk  of  the  peace,  and  clerk  of  the  court 
of  pleas,  to  be  holden  before  the  mayor,  recorder  and  alder- 
men within  the  said  city,  and  the  liberties  and  precincts 
thereof. 

And  further,  I  do  by  these  presents,  for  his  said  majesty, 
his  heirs  »and  successors,  require  and  straitly  charge  and 
command,  that  the  sheriff,  town  clerk,  clerk  of  the  peace, 
high  constable,  petty  constables,  and  all  other '  subordinate 
officers  in  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  and  every  of 
them  respectively,  jointly  and  severally,  as  causes  shall 
require,  shall  attend  upon  the  said  mayor,  recorder,  and 
a}dermen  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  and  every  or 
any  of  them,  according  to  the  duty  of  their  respective  place, 
in  and  about  the  executing  of  such  the  commands,  precepts, 
warrants  and  process  of  them,  and  every  of  them,  as  be- 
longeth  and  appertaineth  to  be  done  or  executed. 

And  that  the  aforesaid  mayor,  recorder,  and  aldermen, 
and  every  of  them,  as  justices  of  the  peace,  for  the  time 
being,  by  their  or  any  of  their  warrants,  all  and  every 
person  or  persons  for  high  treason  or  petty  treason,  or  for 
suspicion  thereof,  and  for  other  felonies  whatsoever,  and 
all  malefactors  and  disturbers  of  the  peace,  and  other  offend- 
ers for  any  other  misdemeanors,  who  shall  be  apprehended 
within  the  said  city  or  liberties  thereof,  or  without  the 
same  in  any  part  within  the  said  county,  shall  and  may 
send  and  commit,  or  cause  to  be  sent  and  committed  to  the 
common  gaol  of  the  said  city,  there  to  remain  and  be  kept 
in  safe  custody  by  the  keeper  of  the  said  gaol,  or  his  deputy 


70  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

for  the  tine  being,  until  such  offender  and  offenders  shall 
be  lawfully  delivered  thence. 

And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his  said  majesty,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  charge  and  require  the  keeper  and 
keepers  of  the  said  gaol  for  the  time  being,  and  his  and 
their  deputy  and  deputies,  to  receive  and  take  into  safe 
custody,  to  keep  all  and  singular  such  person  and  persons 
so  apprehended,  or  to  be  apprehended,  sent  and  com- 
mitted unto  the  said  gaol,  by  warrant  of  the  said  justices 
or  any  of  them  as  aforesaid,  until  he  or  they  so  sent  and 
committed  to  the  said  gaol,  shall  from  thence  be  delivered 
by  due  course  of  law. 

And  further,  I  grant  and  confirm,  for  his  said  majesty, 
his  heirs  and  successors,  that  the  said  mayor  of  the  said 
city  for  the  time  being,  and  no  other,  shall  have  power 
and  authority  to  give  and  grant  licenses  annually,  under 
the  public  seal  of  the  said  city,  to  all  tavern  keepers,  inn 
keepers,  ordinary  keepers,  victuallers  and  all  public  sellers 
of  wine,  strong  waters,  cider,  beer,  or  any  sort  of  liquors 
by  retail  within  the  city  aforesaid,  or  the  liberties  and 
precincts  thereof,  or  without  the  same  in  any  part  of  said 
county ;  and  that  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  the 
said  mayor  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  to  ask,  de- 
mand, receive  for  each  license  by  him  to  be  given  and  granted 
aforesaid,  such  sum  or  sums  of  money,  as  he  and  the  person 
to  whom  such  license  shall  be  given  or  granted,  shall  agree 
for,  not  exceeding  the  sum  of  thirty  shillings,  current 
money  of  this  country,  for  each  license ;  all  which  money, 
as  by  the  said  mayor,  shall  be  so  received,  shall  be  used 
and  applied  to  the  public  use  of  the  said  mayor,  aldermen 
and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  without  any 
account  thereof  to  be  rendered,  made  or  done  to  his  said 
majesty,  his  heirs,  successors  or  assigns,  or  any  of  his 
lieutenants,  or  governors  of  the  said  province,  for  the  time 
being,  or  any  of  their  deputies. 

And  further,  I  do  grant  for  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs 
and  successors,  that  the  said  mayor  of  the  said  city,  for  the 
said  city,  for  the  time  being,  and  no  other,  be,  and  forever 
shall  be  clerk  of  the  market  within  the  city  aforesaid,  and 
the  liberties  and  precincts,  thereof;  and  that  he  and  no 
other,  shall  and  may  forever  do,  execute  and  perform  all 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  71 

and  singular  acts,  deeds  and  things  whatsoever,  belonging 
to  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  market  within  the  city  aforesaid, 
and  the  liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  to  be  done,  ex- 
ecuted, and  performed.  And  that  the  said  mayor  of  the 
said  city  for  the  time  being,  and  no  other  person  or  persons, 
shall  or  may  have  assize  or  assay  of  bread,  wine,  beer  and 
wood,  and  other  things  to  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  market 
belonging  or  concerning,  as  well  in  the  presence  as  in  the 
absence  of  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs,  and  successors,  or  his 
or  their  lieutenants  or  governors  here.  Also,  I  will  and 
grant  for  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  unto 
the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  for 
the  time  being,  and  their  successors  forever,  that  the  mayor 
of  the  city  aforesaid,  for  the  time  being,  during  the  time 
that  he  shall  remain  in  the  said  office  of  mayor,  and  no 
other,  be,  or  shall  be  coroner  of  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs 
and  successors,  as  well  within  the  city  aforesaid,  and  the 
liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  as  without  the  same,  within- 
the  limits  or  bounds  of  the  said  county :  and  that  he,  and 
no  other,  shall  do  or  cause  to  be  done  and  executed,  within 
the  said  city,  limits  and  precincts  thereof,  or  without  the 
same,  within  the  limits  and  bounds  of  the  county,  all  and 
singular  matters  and  things  to  the  said  office  of  coroner 
belonging,  there  to  be  done.  And  that  the  said  mayor  of 
the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  shall  take  his  corporal 
oath  before  the  recorder,  or  any  three  or  more  of  the  alder- 
men of  the  said  city,  well  and  duly  to  execute  the  said  office 
of  clerk  of  the  market  and  coroner  of  the  said  city  and 
county,  before  he  take  upon  him  the  execution  of  either  of 
the  said  offices. 

And  also,  I  do  by  these  presents,  grant  unto  the  mayor, 
aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  that 
if  any  of  the  citizens  of  the  said  city,  or  inhabitants  within 
the  liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  that  shall  after  be  elected, 
nominated,  and  chosen  to  the  office  of  mayor,  aldermen, 
assistants,  sheriff  or  chamberlain  of  the  said  city  as  afore- 
said, and  have  notice  of  his  or  their  election,  shall  refuse 
or  deny  to  take  upon  him  or  them  to  execute  that  office, 
to  which  they  shall  be  so  chosen  or  nominated ;  that  then, 
and  so  often  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  mayor, 
recorder,  aldermen  and  assistants  of  the  said  city,  for  the 


72  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

time  being,  or  the  mayor,  or  any  three  of  the  aldermen, 
and  three  or  more  of  the  assistants  of  the  said  city  for  the 
time  being,  to  tax,  assess,  and  impose  upon  such  person  or 
persons  so  refusing  or  denying,  such  reasonable  or  moderate 
fines  and  sum  of  money  as  to  their  discretion  shall  be 
thought  most  fit  so  as  the  said  fine,  penalty,  or  sum,  for 
refusing  or  denying  to  hold  and  execute  the  office  of  mayor 
of  the  said  city,  do  not  exceed  the  sum  of  twenty  pounds, 
current  money  of  this  country ;  and  the  fine  for  refusing 
or  denying  to  hold  and  execute  the  place  of  an  aldermen 
do  not  exceed  the  sum  of  ten  pounds,  like  current  money ; 
and  the  fine  for  denying  or  refusing  to  hold  and  execute 
the  place  of  chamberlain,  assistant  or  sheriff,  the  sum  of 
five  pounds,  like  current  money. 

And  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his  said  majesty,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  authorize  the  mayor,  recorder,  alder- 
men and  assistants  of  the  .said  city  for  the  time  being,  and 
the  mayor,  and  three  or  more'of  the  aldermen,  and  three  or 
more  of  the  assistants  there  for  the  time  being,  to  frustrate 
and  make  void  the  election  of  such  person  or  persons  so 
refusing  or  denying  as  aforesaid;  and  then,  and  in  such 
cases,  any  other  fit  and  able  person  and  persons,  citizen 
and  citizens,  of  the  said  city,  or  inhabiting  within  the  liberties 
and  precincts  thereof,  in  convenient  times,  to  elect  anew  in 
manner  aforesaid,  directed  and  prescribed  to  execute  such 
office  and  offices  so  denied  or  refused  to  be  executed  as 
aforesaid;  and  that  if  it  shall  happen  that  such  person  or 
persons  so  to  be  elected  anew,  shall  refuse  or  deny  to  take 
upon  him  or  them  any  of  the  said  office  or  offices  unto 
which  he  or  they  shall  be  chosen  and  elected  as  aforesaid ; 
then  and  in  such  case,  the  mayor,  recorder,  aldermen  and 
assistants  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  or  the  said 
mayor,  or  three  or  more  of  the  said  aldermen,  and  three  or 
more  of  the  assistants  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being, 
shall  or  may  set,  and  impose  upon  them  so  denying  or 
refusing,  such  and  the  like  moderate  fines  as  is  before  set 
down  in  the  like  cases  to  the  respective  offices,  with  such 
limitations  as  aforesaid ;  and  also  in  such  and  the  like 
manner  as  aforesaid;  to  continue  and  make  void  such 
election  and  elections,  and  make  new  elections  as  often  as 
need  shall  be  and  required ;  all  which  said  fines  so  set  and 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  73 

imposed,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his 
said  majesty,  his  heirs,  successors  and  assigns,  grant  to  be, 
and  shall  be  and  remain,  and  belong  unto,  and  shall  be 
put  into  the  possession  and  seizen  of  the  mayor,  aldermen 
and  commonalty  for  the  time  being,  and  their  successors, 
to  be  levied  and  taken  by  warrant  under  the  common  seal, 
and  by  distress  and  sale  of  the  goods  and  chattels  of  the 
several  persons  so  refusing  or  denying  as  aforesaid,  if  such 
goods  and  chattels  may  be  found  within  the  said  city, 
liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  rendering  to  the  parties  the 
overplus,  or  by  any  other  ways  or  lawful  means  whatsoever, 
to  the  only  use  of  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  common- 
alty of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  with- 
out any  account  to  be  rendered,  made  or  done  to  the  said 
king's  majesty,  his  heirs,  successors  or  assigns  for  the  same. 

And  know  ye,  that  for  the  better  government  of*  the 
said  city,  and  for  the  welfare  of  the  citizens,  tradesmen  and 
inhabitants  thereof,  I  do  by  these  presents,  for  his  said 
majesty  his  heirs  and  successors,  give  and  grant  to  the 
said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city, 
and  their  successors,  that  the  mayor,  recorder  and  alder- 
men, or  the  mayor  or  any  three  or  more  of  the  aldermen, 
for  the  time  being,  shall,  from  time  to  time  and  all  times 
hereafter,  have  full  power  and  authority,  under  the  common 
seal,  to  make  free  citizens  of  the  said  city  and  liberties 
thereof;  and  no  person  or  persons  'whatsoever,  other  than 
such  free  citizens,  shall  hereafter  use  any  art,  trade,  mystery 
or  manual  occupation  within  the  said  city,  liberties,  and 
precincts  thereof,  saving  in  the  times  of  fairs  there  to  be 
kept,  and  during  the  continuance  of  such  fairs  only.  And 
in  case  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  not  being  free 
citizens,  shall  hereafter  use  or  exercise  any  art,  trade 
mystery  or  manual  occupation  or  shall  by  himself  themselves 
or  others,  sell  or  expose  to  sale  any  manner  of  merchandize 
or  wares  whatsoever  by  retail,  in  any  house,  shop  or  place, 
or  standing  within  the  said  city,  or  the  liberties  or  precincts 
thereof,  no  fair  being  then  kept  in  the  said  city,  and  shall 
persist  therein,  after  warning  to  him  or  them  given  or  left, 
by  the  appointment  of  the  mayor  of  the  said  city,  for  the 
time  being,  at  the  place  or  places  where  such  person  or 

Annals,  ii.  7 


74  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

persons  shall  so  use 'and  exercise  any  art,  trade,  mystery  or 
manual  occupation  or  shall  sell  or  expose  to  sale  any  wares 
or  merchandize,  as  aforesaid,  by  retail ;  then,  it  shall  be 
lawful  for  the  mayor  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  to 
-cause  such  shop  windows  to  be  shut,  and  also  to  impose 
such  reasonable  fine  for  such  offence,  not  exceeding  twenty 
shillings,  for  every  respective  offence ;  and  the  same  fines 
so  imposed,  to  levy  and  take,  by  warrant  under  the  common 
seal  of  the  said  city,  for  the  time  being,  by  distress  and 
sale  of  the  goods  and  chattels,  of  the  person  or  persons  so 
offending  in  the  premises,  found  within  the  liberties  and 
precincts  of  the  said  city,  rendering  to  the  parties  the  over- 
plus, or  by  any  other  lawful  ways  or  means  whatsoever,  to 
the  only  use  of  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty 
of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  without 
any  account  to  be  rendered,  made  or  done  to  his  majesty, 
his  heirs  and  successors  or  to  his  or  their  lieutenants,  go- 
vernors, or  commanders  in  chief,  for  the  same.  Provided 
always,  that  no  person  or  persons,  shall  be  made  free  as  afore- 
said, but  such  as  are  his  majesty's  natural  born  subjects,  or 
such  as  shall  be  first  naturalized  by  act  of  general  assembly, 
or  have  obtained  letters  of  denization,  under  the  hand  of 
the  lieutenant,  or  governor,  or  commander-in-chief  for  the 
time  being,  and  the  seal  of  the  said  province;  and  that  all 
persons  to  be  made  free  as  aforesaid,  shall  and  do  pay  for 
the  public  use  of  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty 
of  the  said  city,  such  sums  of  money,  as  such  person  or 
persons,  so  to  be  made  free,  shall  respectively  agree  for,  not 
exceeding  the  sum  of  three  pounds  twelve  shillings,  for 
the  admission  of  each  merchant  or  trader;  and  the  sum 
of  six  and  thirty  shillings,  for  the  admission  of  each  hand- 
icraft or  tradesmen. 

And  whereas,  amongst  other  the  rights,  privileges,  pre- 
heminences  and  advantages,  which  the  citizens  and  freemen 
of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  and  their  predecessors,  have  for 
many  years  last  past  held,  used  and  enjoyed,  the  privileges, 
preheminences,  and  advantages  of  having  within  their  own 
wall,  the  sole  management  of  the  trade  with  all  the  Indians 
living  within  and  to  the  eastward,  northward  and  westward 
of  the  said  county  of  Albany,  within  the  compass  of  his 
said  majesty's  dominion  here,  which  hath  been  from  time 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  75 

to  time,  confirmed  to  them,  and  their  said  predecessors,  as 
well  by  prescription,  as  by  divers  and  sundry  grants,  orders, 
confirmations  and  proclamations,  granted,  ordered,  con- 
firmed, and  issued  forth,  not  only  by  and  from  divers  go- 
vernors, and  commanders  in  chief  in  the  said  province,  since 
the  same  hath  been  under  his  said  majesty's  dominion,  but 
also  of  several  governors,  generals,  and  commanders-  in 
chief  of  the  Nether-Dutch  nation,  whilst,  the  same  was,  or 
has  been  under  their  power  and  subjection,  which  has 
always  been  found  by  experience,  to  be  of  great  advantage, 
not  only  to  the  said  city  in  particular,  but  to  the  whole 
province  in  general;  and  that  by  the  care,  caution  and  in- 
spection of  the  magistrates,  of  the  said  city,  to  the  well  and 
orderly  management  and  keeping  the  trade  with  the  Indians 
within  their  walls,  it  hath  returned  vastly  to  the  advancement 
of  trade  and  the  increase  of  his  majesty's  revenue,  and  been 
the  sole  means,  not  only  of  preserving  this  province  in 
peace  and  quiet,  whilst  the  neighbouring  colonies  were 
imbrued  in  blood  and  war;  but  also  of  putting  an  end  to 
the  miseries  those  colonies  labored  under  from  the  insulting 
cruelty  of  the  Northern  Indians.  Whereas  on  the  other 
hand,  it  has  been  no  less  evident,  that  whenever  there  has 
been  any  slackness  or  remissness  in  the  regulation  and  keep- 
ing the  Indian  trade  within  the  walls  of  the  said  city, 
occasioned  by  the  incroachment  pf  some  persons  trading 
with  the  Indians,  in  places  remote,  some  clandestinely, 
others  upon  pretence  of  hunting  passes,  and  the  like,  the 
trade  not  only  of  the  said  city,  but  of  the  whole  province 
has  apparently  decreased,  the  king's  revenue  has  been 
much  impaired,  and  not  only  so,  but  this  government  has 
lost  much  of  the  reputation  and  management  amongst  the 
Indians,  which  it  otherwise  had  and  enjoyed;  wherefore, 
for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors, I  have  given,  granted,  ratified  and  confirmed,  and 
by  these  presents,  do  give,  grant,  ratify  and  confirm  unto 
the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of 
Albany,  and  their  successors  forever,  the  right,  privileges, 
preheminence  and  advantage  of  the  sole  and  only  manage- 
ment of  the  trade  with  the  Indians,  as  well  within  this 
whole  county,  as  without  the  same,  to  the  eastward,  north- 
ward and  westward  thereof,  as  far  as  his  majesty's  dominion 


76  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

here  does  or  may  extend,  to  be  managed  and  transacted 
only  by  the  freemen,  being  actual  inhabitants  within  the 
said  city  and  within  the  now  walls  or  stockadoes  thereof, 
and  not  elsewhere.  And  I  do  hereby,  for  his  said  majesty, 
his  heirs  and  successors,  absolutely  forbid  and  prohibit  all 
and  every  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  province  of  New  York, 
(the  inhabitants  of  the  said  city  of  Albany,  only  excepted) 
to  trade  or  traffic  with  any  of  the  five  nations  of  Indians, 
called  the  Senekas,  Cayouges,  Onnondages,  Oneydes,  and 
Maqueas,  who  live  to  the  westward,  or  with  any  other  Indian 
or  Indians  whatsoever,  within  the  county  of  Albany,  or  to 
the  eastward,  northward  or  westward  thereof,  so  far  as 
his  said  majesty's  dominions  here,  do  or  may  extend,  or  to 
have  or  keep  in  their  houses  or  elsewhere,  any  Indian 
goods  or  merchandize,  upon  the  pain  and  penalty  of  the 
forfeiture  and  confiscation  of  such  Indian  commodities, 
whether  the  same  be  beavers,  peltry  or  other  Indian  com- 
modities, whatsoever,  except  Indian  corn,  venison,  and 
dressed  deer  skins,  to  trade  for,  and  upon  pain  and  penalty 
of  the  forfeiture  and  confiscation  of  all  such  Indian  goods 
and  merchandizes,  as  guns,  powder,  lead,  duffels,  rum  and  all 
other  Indian  goods  and  merchandize,  which  shall  at  any 
time  hereafter  be  found,  concealed,  or  kept  in  any  house  or 
place  without  the  walls  of  the  said  city,  and  within  the  said 
county  of  Albany,  and  the  other  limits  and  boundaries  herein 
before  set  forth  and  prescribed ;  and  in  case  any  person  or 
persons  whatsoever  shall  at  any  time  hereafter,  out  of  the 
walls  of  the  said  city,  and  within  the  said  county,  or  the 
other  limits  and  boundaries  herein  before  set  fofth  and 
prescribed,  trade  or  traffic  with  any  Indian  or  Indians,  for 
any  beavers,  peltry,  or  other  Indian  commodities,  (except 
before  excepted)  or  there  shall  conceal  and  keep  any  Indian 
goods,  wares  or  merchandizes  in  any  house  or  place  as  afore- 
said; then  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful  for  the  mayor,  recorder, 
or  any  of  the  aldermen  for  the  time  being,  by  warrant  under 
their  or  any  of  their  hands,  to  cause  such  Indian  commodities 
so  traded  for,  and  such  goods  or  merchandizes  so  kept  and  con- 
cealed without  the  walls  of  the  said  city,  wheresoever  they  shall 
be  found  within  the  said  city  or  county,  or  without  the  same, 
within  the  limits  and  boundaries  before  expressed,  to  be 
seized,  and  the  same  to  be  condemned  and  confiscate,  in  the 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  77 

court  of  pleas,  or  common  pleas  in  the  said  city,  or  any 
other  court  of  record  within  the  said  city  or  province,  one 
third  part  to  the  mayor  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being, 
one  third  part  to  such  person  or  persons  as  shall  inform  or 
sue  for  the  same,  and  the  other  third  part  to  the  use  of  the 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Al- 
bany, and  their  successors  forever.  And  also,  that  it  shall 
and  may  be  lawful  to  and  for  the  mayor,  recorder  and 
aldermen  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  Being,  by  a  warrant 
under  their  or  any  of  their  hands  and  seals,  to  cause  such 
person  or  persons,  as  shall  presume  to  trade  or  traffic  with 
the  Indians  contrary  to  the  form  and  effect  of  these  pre- 
sents, to  be  apprehended  wherever  they  shall  be  found 
within  the  limits  and  boundaries  herein  before  prescribed, 
to  answer  the  same  at  the  court  of  pleas  and  common  pleas 
in  the  said  city,  or  any  other  court  of  record  within  the  said 
city  or  province,  where  being  legally  convicted  thereof,  such 
person  or  persons,  over  and  besides  the  forfeiture  and  con- 
fiscation of  such  goods,  merchandizes  and  commodities  as 
aforesaid,  shall  be  fineable,  and  fined  in  such  sum  or  sums 
of  money,  (not  exceeding  twenty  pounds,  current  money 
of  this  country)  at  the  discretion  of  such  court,  before 
whom  he  or  they  shall  be  prosecuted,  shall  be  thought 
reasonable  and  convenient;  which  said  fines  shall  be  one- 
third  part  to  the  person  who  shall  inform  and  prosecute  for 
the  same,  and  the  other  two-thirds  to  the  use  of  mayor, 
aldermen  and  commonalty,  and  their  successors  forever. 

And  further,  I  do  by  these  presents,  for  and  on  behalf  of 
his  said  majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  grant  and  declare 
to  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  Albany, 
and  their  successors,  that  his  majesty,  his  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors, or  any  of  his  or  their  governors,  lieutenants, 
commanders  in  chief,  or  other  officers,  shall  not,  or  will  not, 
from  henceforth,  forever,  hereafter,  grant  unto  any  person 
or  persons  whatsoever,  any  license  or  licenses,  to.  hunt 
within  the  said  county  of  Albany,  or  to  the  eastward,  north- 
ward or  westward,  so  far  as  his  said  majesty's  dominions 
here,  doth,  or  may  extend,  without  the  consent  and  ap- 
probation of  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the 
said  city  of  Albany,  for  the  time  being,  by  the  said  person 
or  persons  first  to  be  had  and  obtained. 


78  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

And  further,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  for  his  said  majesty, 
and  his  successors,  grant  to  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and 
commonalty  of  the  said  city,  that  they  and  their  successors 
be  forever,  persons  able  and  capable,  and  shall  have  power 
to  purchase,  have,  take,  and  possess  in  fee  simple,  lands, 
tenements,  rents,  and  other  possessions,  •within  or  without 
the  same  city  to  them  and  their  successors  forever,  so  as 
the  same  exceed  not  the  yearly  value  of  one  thousand 
pounds  per  annum,  the  statute  of  mortmain,  or  any  other  law 
to  the  contrary  notwithstanding ;  and  the  same  lands,  ten- 
ements, hereditaments,  and  premises  or  any  part  thereof  to  de- 
mise, grant,  lease,  set  over,  assign  and  dispose  at  their  own  will 
and  pleasure,  and  to  make,  seal,  and  accomplish  any  deed  or 
deeds,  lease  or  leases,  evidences  or  writings  for  or  concerning 
the  same  or  any  part  thereof,  which  shall  happen  to  be  made 
and  granted  by  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of 
the  said  city  for  the  time  being. 

And  further,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  majesty,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  grant  to  the 
said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty,  that  they  and  their 
successors  shall  and  may  forever  hereafter,  hold  and  keep 
within  the  said  city,  in  every  week  in  the  year,  two  market 
days,  the  one  upon  Wednesday,  and  the  other  upon  Satur- 
day, weekly  forever. 

And  also,  I  do  by  these  presents,  for  and  on  behalf  of 
his  said  majesty,  his  heirs  and  successors,  grant  to  the  said 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city,  that  they 
and  their  successors  and  assigns  shall  and  may  at  any  time 
or  times  hereafter,  build  a  public  weigh-house  in  such  part 
of  the  said  city,  as  to  them  shall  seem  convenient ;  and  that 
they  the  said  mayor,  aldermen,  and  commonalty  shall  and 
may  receive,  perceive,  and  take  to  their  own  proper  use  and 
behoof  all  and  singular  the  issues  and  profits  therefrom  or 
thereby  arising  or  accruing;  as  also,  that  they  the  said 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city  of  Al- 
bany, their  heirs  and  successors,  shall  and  may  at  any  time 
or  times  hereafter,  when  it  to  them  shall  seem  fit  and  con- 
venient, to  take  in,  fill  and  make  up,  and  lay  out  all  and 
singular  the  ground  and  lands  within  the  limits  and  precinct 
of  the  said  city,  and  the  same  to  build  upon  and  make  use 
of  in  other  manner  or  way  as  to  them  shall  seem  fit,  as  far 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  79 

into  the  river  that  passeth  by  the  same  as  low  water  mark 
aforesaid. 

And  further,  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  majesty,  his  heirs 
and  successors,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant  unto 
the  aforesaid  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said 
city  of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  that  they  and  their 
successors,  shall  and  may  have,  hold  and  keep  within  the 
said  city,  liberties  and  precincts  thereof,  once  every  fort- 
night in  every  year  forever,  upon  Tuesday,  one  court  of 
common  pleas  for  all  actions  of  debt,  trespass  upon  the  case, 
detinue,  ejectment,  and  other  personal  actions,  and  the 
same  to  be  held,  before  the  mayor,  recorder  and  aldermen, 
or  any  three  of  them,  (whereof  the  mayor  or  recorder  to  be 
one,)  who  shall  have  power  to  hear  and  determine  the  same 
pleas  and  actions,  according  to  the  rules  of  common  law, 
acts  of  the  general  assembly  of  the  said  province,  and  the 
course  of  other  corporations  in  the  like  nature. 

And  further,  for  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  said  majesty,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  I  do,  by  these  presents,  give  and  grant 
to  the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city 
of  Albany,  and  their  successors  forever,  that  the  mayor  of 
the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  shall  and  may  determine 
all  and  all  manner  of  actions,  or  causes  whatsoever,  to  be 
had,  moved  or  depending  between  party  and  party,  so  always 
as  the  same  exceed  not  the  value  of  forty  shillings,  current 
money  of  this  province. 

And  further,  for  and  on  behalf  of  his  said  majesty,  his 
heirs  and  successors,  I  do  grant  to  the  said  mayor,  aldermen 
and  commonalty  of  the  said  city,  and  their  successors  for- 
ever, that  the  mayor,  recorder  and  aldermen  of  the  said  city 
shall  always  be,  so  long  as  they  shall  continue  in  their 
said  respective  offices,  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  said 
county,  and  as  such  shall  and  may  sit  in  the  courts  of 
sessions,  or  county  courts,  and  courts  of  oyer  and  terminer 
that  shall  from  time  to  time  be  held  and  kept  within  the 
said  county ;  and  that  the  mayor,  recorder,  or  some  one  of 
the  aldermen  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  shall  and 
may  always  preside  in  or  be  president  of  such  county  courts 
or  courts  of  sessions,  to  be  held  within  the  said  county,  as 
aforesaid,  and  that  the  sheriff  of  the  said  city  for  the  time 
being,  shall  always  be  sheriff  of  the  said  county ;  also  that 


80  Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.- 

the  town  clerk  of  the  said  city  for  the  time  being,  shall  al- 
ways be  the  clerk  of  the  peace,  and  clerk  of  the  court  of 
sessions,  or  county  courts  for  the  said  county. 

And  further,  I  do,  for  and  on  the  behalf  of  his  said  ma- 
jesty, his  heirs  and  successors,  by  these  presents  grant  to 
the  said  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  said  city 
of  Albany,  and  their  successors,  that  the  said  mayor,  alder- 
men and  commonalty  of  the  said  city,  and  their  successors, 
shall  have  and  enjoy  all  the  privileges,  franchises,  and  pow- 
ers that  they  have  and  use,  or  that  any  of  their  predecessors, 
at  any  time  within  the  space  of  twenty  years  last  past,  had, 
took,  or  enjoyed,  or  ought  to  have  had,  by  reason,  or  under 
pretence  of  any  further  charter,  grant,  prescription,  or  any 
other  right,  custom  or  usage,  although  the  same  have  been 
forfeit  or  lost,  or  hath  been  ill  used  or  not  used,  or  abused, 
or  discontinued,  albeit  they  be  not  particularly  mentioned 
herein;  and  no  officer  shall  disturb  them  therein,  under 
any  pretence  whatsoever,  not  only  for  their  future,  but 
their  present  enjoyment  thereof,  provided  always,  that  the 
said  privileges,  franchises  and  powers  be  not  inconsistent 
with,  or  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  his  majesty's  kingdom  of 
England,  or  other  the  laws  of  the  General  Assembly  as  afore- 
said, and  saving  to  his  majesty,  his  heirs,  successors  and  as- 
signs, and  his  commanders  in  chief,  lieutenants,  governors 
and  other  officers  under  him  or  them  in  his  Fort  Albany,  in  or 
by  the  city  of  Albany,  and  in  all  the  liberties,  boundaries, 
extents  and  privileges  thereof,  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
said  fort  and  garrison  there,  all  the  right,  use,  title  and 
authority,  which  his  said  majesty,  or  any  of  his  said  com- 
manders-in-chief,  lieutenants,  and  other  officers  have  had 
used  or  exercised  there,  (excepting  the  said  pasture  herein 
before  granted,  or  mentioned  to  be  granted,  to  the  said 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  the  city  of  Albany, 
aforesaid,)  and  saving  to  all  other  persons,  bodies  politic  and 
corporate,  their  heirs,  successors  and  assigns,  all  such  right, 
title  and  claim,  possessions,  rents,  services,  commons,  emolu- 
ments and  interest,  of,  in  and  to  any  thing  that  is  theirs 
save  only  the  franchises  aforesaid,  in  as  ample  manner  as  if 
this  charter  had  not  been  made. 

And  further,  I  do  appoint  and  declare,  that  the  incorpora- 
tion to  be  founded  by  this  charter  shall  not  at  any  time 


Charter  of  the  City  of  Albany.  81 

hereafter  do  or  suffer  to  be  done,  anything  by  which  the 
lands,  tenements  or  hereditaments,  stock,  goods,  or  chattels 
thereof,  or  in  the  hands,  custody  or  possession  of  any  of  the 
citizens  of  the  said  city,  such  as  have  been  set,  let,  given, 
granted,  or  collected,  to  and  for  pious  and  charitable  uses, 
shall  be  wasted  or  misemployed,  contrary  to  the  trust  or 
intent  of  the  founder  or  giver  thereof.  And  that  such,  and 
no  other  construction  shall  be  made  hereof,  than  that 
which  may  tend  most  to  advance  religion,  justice  and  the 
public  good,  and  to  suppress  all  acts  and  contrivances  to  be 
invented  or  put  in  use  contrary  hereunto.  In  witness  whereof 
I  have  to  these  presents  set  my  hand,  and  thereto  have 
affixed  the  seal  of  the  said  province,  and  caused  the  same 
to  be  enrolled  in  the  secretary's  office  of  the  said  province 
this  two  and  twentieth  day  of  July,  in  the  second  year  of 
his  said  majesty's  reign,  and  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand  six  hundred  eighty  and  six. 

THOMAS  DONGAN. 


The  City  Records. 


THE  CITY  RECORDS. 

The  early  records  of  the  colony,  and  of  the  city  also, 
were  written  in  the  Dutch  language,  until  about  1686, 
There  is  a  mass  of  books  and  papers  relating  to  Albany  in 
the  office  of  the  secretary  of  state,  and  in  the  county  clerk's 
office;  the  latter  in  an  imperfect  state,  and  written  in  a 
very  obscure  manner.  The  records  in  the  office  of  the 
clerk  of  the  common  council  begin  in  1668.  The  first 
volume  consists  of  minutes  of  the  court  from  1668  to  1673, 
written  in  Dutch.  The  second  volume  consists  of  the  pro* 
ceedings  of  the  commissarissen,  or  magistrates,  of  the  city  of 
Albany  from  1676  to  1680.  The  third  volume  contains 
the  proceedings  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  from  1680 
to  1685.  These  are  bound  in  vellum,  and  are  mostly  in 
Nederduytsche,  generally  very*  well  written.  The  common 
council  ordered  them  to  be  translated  several  years  ago, 
but  the  person  employed  for  that  purpose  has  merely  given 
a  synopsis  of  the  two  last  volumes,  in  such  a  way  that  they 
are  of  no  use  to  any  body.  The  minutes  of  the  common 
council  are  very  well  preserved,  as  far  as  we  have  observed, 
from  the  time  the  charter  was  received,  in  1686.  The 
following  transactions  of  the  common  council  under  the 
charter  are  extracts  from  the  records  referred  to,  taken 
from  the  volume  marked  No.  3,  which,  by  the  way,  is  a 
part  of  the  contents  of  No.  4,  transcribed  in  a  fairer  cha- 
acter. 


1686  to  1695. 

IN  NOMINE  DOMINO  JESU  CHRISTI  AMEN. 

Att  a  meeting  of  ye  Justices  of  ye  peace  for  ye  county  of 

Albany,  ye  26th  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1686. 
Pieter  Schuyler,  gent,  and  Rob*  Livingston,  gent.,  who 
were  commissionated  by  ye  towne  of  Albanie,  to  goe  to  New 
Yorke  and  procure  ye  Charter  for  this  citty  wh  was  agreed 


The  City  Records.  83 

upon  between  ye  magistrates  and  ye  right  hoft1,  -.CjpV  Tho. 
Dongan,  Gov.  Gen11,  who  accordingly  have  brought  the  same 
along  with  them,  and  was  published  with  all  ye  joy  and 
acclamations  imaginable;  and  ye  said  two  gentm  received 
ye  thanks  of  ye  magistrates  and  burgesses  for  their  dili- 
gence and  care  in  obtaining  ye  same ;  and  whereas  Pieter 
Schuyler  is  nominated  and  appointed  to  be  mayor  of  ye 
citty  of  Albany  by  ye  said  charter,  till  such  time  that  anoyr. 
fitt  person  be  chosen  in  his  room.  Was  sworn  as  follows  : 

Whereas  you  Pieter  Schuyler  are  appointed  and  commis- 
sionated  to  be  mayor  and  clerk  of  ye  market  and  coroner  of 
ye  citty  of  Albany,  as  also  coroner  for  ye  sd  county,  by  ye 
charter  granted  toy6  said  citty 'by  ye  Right  Honle  Coll.  Tho. 
Dongan,  Gov.  Gen11,  of  this  province,  you  doe  swear  by  ye 
ever  living  God,  yl  yu  will  truly  endevor,  to  ye  best  of  yr  skill, 
with  a  good  conshience  and  according  to  ye  laws  of  this  Go- 
vernment dispence  iustice  equally  in  all  cases  and  to  all  p'sons 
whereunto  by  vertue  of  yr  office  you  are  impowered,  and 
further  officiat  and  perform  ye  duty  and  office  of  mayor, 
clerk  of  ye  market,  and  coroner,  in  every  respect  to  ye  best 
of  yr  knowledge  and  capacity,  so  help  yu  God. 

These  following  persons  were  ordained  aldermen  by  -ye 
charter  ye  ensuing  year. 

DIRK  WESSELS,  JOHANNES  WENDEL, 

JAN  JANSZ  BLEEKER,         LEVINUS  VAN  SCHAIK, 
DAVID   SCHUYLER,  ADRIAN  GERRITSE. 

The  oath  administred  to  them  was : 

Whereas,  you  Dirk  Wessels,  Jan  Jans2  Bleeker,  David 
Schuyler,  Johannes  Wendell,  Levinus  van  Schaik  and 
Adrian  Gerritse,  by  ye  charter  of  privileges  of  ye  city  of 
Albany,  graunted  by  ye  Right  Honb!e  Col.  Tho.  Dongan,  Go- 
vern1" Gen'1  dated  ye  22d  of  this  instant  July,  and  assigned, 
constituted  and  made  to  be  ye  present  aldermen  for  ye  city 
afor3cl  you  doe  swear  by  ye  etternall  and  almighty  God,  that 
according  to  ye  best  of  yr  skill  and  capacity,  you  truly  endevor 
with  a  good  conshience  and  according  to  ye  laws  of  this  go- 
vernment, dispence  justice  equally  and  impartially  in  all  cases 
and  to  all  persons  whereunto  by  virtue  of  your  office  you 
are  impowered,  and  endeavor  and  further  ye  welfare  and 
prosperity  of  this  city  as  farr  as  it  in  yu  lyes  so  help  you 
God. 


84  The  City  Records. 

These  following  persons  were  ordained  assistants  by  ye 
charter  for  ye  ensuing  year. 

JAN  LANSING,  ALBT.   RYCKMAN, 

ISAAK  VERPLANK,  JOCHIM  STAETS, 

LAWRENCE  YAN  ALE,         MELGERT  WYNANTSE. 

Whereas,  you  Jan  Lansing,  Isak  Verplank,  Lawrence  Van 
Ale,  Alb1  Ryckman,  Jochim  Staets  and  Melgert  Wynantse 
are  assigned,  constituted  and  made  ye  present  assistants  of 
ye  city  of  Albany,  by  charter  graunted  by  ye  Right  Honble 
Col.  Thomas  Dongan,  dated  ye  22d  of  this  instant,  July 
1686,  you  doe  swear  by  ye  ever  living  G-od,  yl  you  will 
according  to  yr  best  skill  arid  understanding  att  all  times 
freely  give  yr  advice  to  ye  mayor  and  aldermen  for  ye  good 
mannagement  of  ye  public  affares  of  this  citty  and  be  aideing 
and  assisting  in  ye  makeing  and  constituteing  of  orders  for 
ye  advancem1  of  trade  and  traffique  of  ye  citty  aforesd  and 
further  to  doe  and  act  for  ye  common  weill  of  this  citty,  so 
help  yu  Grod. 

Robt.  Livingston  was  by  charter  appointed  towne  clerke 
&a  and  was  sworn  accordingly. 

Richard  Pretty  being  assigned  and  constituted  high 
sheriff  of  ye  citty  and  county  of  Albany,  by  ye  charter,  and 
James  Parker  Marshall,  were  sworn  accordingly. 


Att  a  court  of   Mayor  and  Aldermen  held  for  ye  citty  of 

Albany    y«  17th    day  of  August,  1686 : — Present,    Pr. 

Schuyler,  mayor,  Jan  Jansz  Bleeker,  J.  Wendel,  Dirk 

Wessels,  Adr.  Gerritse,  Lev.  Van  Shaike. 

Hercules  ye  negro  of  Myndert  Frederikse  being  brought 
before  ye  court  by  ye  warrant  of  ye  Mayor,  to  answer  ye  fel- 
onious takeing  out  of  his  masters  house  a  small  chest 
wherein  some  baggs  of  wampum  was  contained  belonging  to 
ye  poor  of  ye  Lutheran  church,  and  being  examined  doth 
confess  ye  fact  yl  upon  Thursday  night  last  he  came  to 
his  masters  house  and  finding  ye  window  of  ye  chamber 
open  went  in  and  stole  away  ye  small  chest  wherein 
ye  money  of  ye  poor  of  ye  Lutheran  church  was  kept,  and 
broke  ye  chest  open  without  ye  gate  at  ye  water  side  with 
an  ax. 


The  City  Eecords.  85 

Ordered  y1  ye  said  negroe  be  committed  and  secured  in  ye 
common  goale  till  ye  next  court  of  sessions,  when  he  is  to 
be  brought  to  his  tryall. 

The  court  of  mayor  and  aldermen  doe  hereby  publish  and 
declare  y1  according  to  ye  act  of  assembly  they  have  appointed 
ye  freeholders  of  ye  city  and  county  Albany  to  meet  to- 
gether on  Monday  next,  being  ye  21  of  this  instant  month 
August,  at  ye  citty  hall,  and  there  elect  a  certain -number  of 
persons  by  yc  majority  of  ye  freeholders  to  be  assessors  for 
this  ensuing  year,  who  shall  have  full  power  and  authority 
to  make  an  assessment  or  certain  rate  for  ye  defraying  ye  pub- 
like  charge  of  ye  county. 

Actum  in  Albany  ye  17th  day  of  August,  1686. 

Att  a  Court  of  Mayor  &c.,  Aug.  31,  1686. 

Whereas  Myndert  Frederickse  hath  made  his  request  to 
ye  court  that  his  negroe  Hercules  now  in  custody,  may  be 
punished  for  ye  theft  yt  he  committed,  in  stealing  ye  chest 
of  wampum  out  of  his  masters  house  belonging  to  ye  church 
wardens  of  ye  Lutheran  church,  and  yl  ye  court  order  may 
be  remitted  of  having  his  tryall  at  ye  sessions.  Whereupon 
ye  court  have  considered  ye  matter  and  granted  his  request, 
and  ordered  ye  negroe  to  be  brought  to  his  further  exami- 
nation [who  again  confessed  the  deed]. 

The  coiltt  of  mayor  and  aldermen  having  considered  ye 
case  of  ye  negroe  of  Myndert  Frederikse  called  Hercules, 
who  hath  stole  a  chest  of  wampum  be-longing  to  ye  poor  of 
ye  Lutheran  parich  out  of  ye  house  of  his  master,  where  he 
went  in  a  night  throw  ye  window,  all  which  he  confesseth, 
and  considering  how  evil  consequence  it  is  and  how  bad 
example  it  is  for  ye  negers,  the  court  have  ordered  ye  sd 
neger  Hercules  to  be  whipt  throw  ye  towne  att  ye  cart  tale 
by  ye  hands  of  ye  hangman  forthwith,  for  an  example  to 
oyrs,  and  his  master  to  pay  ye  costts. 

Sept.  10.-=-Kegulations  were  passed  for  the  observance  of 
the  Sabbath. 

*  Sept.  11 — Ordered  that  whoever  of  ye  members  of  the  com- 
mon councill  shall  be  absent  at  ye  second  ringing  of  ye  bell, 
being  in  town,  at  any  common  council  day,  shall  forfeit  six 
shillings,  toties  quoties. 

Annals,  ii.  8 


86  The  City  Records. 

Sept.  14. — Orders  were  passed  for  the  regulation  of  the  In- 
dian trade,  which  are  very  lengthy.  At  this  meeting  the 
salary  of  Robert  Livingston,  "  in  consideration  of  the  diverse 
services"  which  he  performed  as  clerk,  were  advanced  five 
pounds,  so  that  he  was  to  have  £20  per  ann. 

Whereas  it  hath  been  found  by  experience  that  ye  bringing 
in  of  ye  fountain  fromye  hill,  into  ye  citty  hath  not  only  been 
of  great  use  to  ye  inhabitants  for  water  butt  the  only  means, 
under  God,  of  ye  quenching  of  ye  late  fyre,  whh  oyr  wise 
by  all  probability  had  consumed  ye  whole  towne ;  and  where- 
as ye  spouts  y1  convey  ye  water  to  the  wells  in  some  places 
are  gone  to  decay  or  at  least  so  leaky  that  ye  wells  are  quite 
useless,  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  ye  citty 
have  therefore  thought  convenient  to  appoint  and  order  ye 
high  constable,  Isaak  Verplank,  forthwith  to  cause  ye  said 
spouts  and  wells  to  be  repaired,  that  they  may  be  of  like  use 
as  formerly,  and  to  keep  an  exact  account  of  what  ye  charge 
is  which  shall  be  forthwith  ordered  to  be  paid;  and  all  labor- 
ing persons  are  hereby  strictly  charged  to  assist  towards  ye 
sd  work  as  they  will  answer  ye  contrary  att  yr  perills ;  and  if 
the  said  high  constable  be  found  negligent  yl  he  doth  not 
hys  duty  herein,  and  yl  ye  work  be  not  and  all  ye  wells  and 
spouts  compleated  in  ye  space  of  a  fortnight,  he  shall  for- 
feit forty  shillings. 

Sept.  23. — The  assessors  were  directed  to  proceed  to  rate 
the  county  the  sum  of  1600  guilders  beaver,  or  £160;  and  for 
defraying  the  city  expenses  £30,  or  400  gl.  beaver. 


Att  a  Common  Councill  held  in  Albany,  at  ye  Citty  Hall  of 
ye  said  Citty  on  ye  26th  day  of  October  in  ye  2d  year  of 
ye  Reign  of  our  Souveraign  Lord  James  ye  Second,  by 
ye  Grace  of  God  of  England,  Scotland,  France  and 
Ireland  king,  Defender  of  ye  Faith,  Supream  and  only 
Lord  of  ye  Province  of  New  Yorke,  &c.,  and  in  ye  year  of 
our  Lord  1686 : — Present,  Dirk  Wessels,  recorder ;  Adrian 
Gerritse,  Hend.  Cuyler,  Albert  Ryckman,  aldermen; 
Abraham  Van  Tricht,  Luykas  Gerritse,  William  Groes- 
beck,  Jan  Andrese  Cuyper,  Gerrit  Ryerse. 

The  common  council  having  taken  into  consideration  ye 
charges  and  expenses  ye  city  have  been  at  in  obtaining  ye 


The  City  Eecords.  87 

charter,  and  yl  it  is  requisite  some  means  should  be  used 
to  raise  some  money  towards  ye  defraying  of  ye  same  have 
therefore  concluded  and  unanimously  resolved  to  dispose  off 
and  sell  some  lotts  of  grounde  upon  ye  Plain  lying  on  ye 
south  side  of  ye  citty  for  gardens,  as  also  ye  land  lying  on 
both  sides  of  Rutten  kil  for  two  pastures,  and  to  that  end 
these  following  persons  are  appointed  to  lay  out  ye  same  in 
lotts,  and  to  number  them,  to  wit:  G-errit  Ryerse  and 
Luykas  Gerritse,  assistants,  and  Claes  Riper  and  Jacob 
Meese,  carpenters,  which  said- lotts  of  grounde  ye  common 
councill  will  dispose  of  at  a  publike  vendu  or  out  cry  in  ye 
city  hall  on  Wednesday  ye  first  day  of  December  next 
ensuing.  It  is  also  ordered  yt  ye  towne  clerk  put  up  bills 
at  ye  citty  hall  door  and  ye  church  to  give  notice  to  all 
persones  that  they  may  come  at  ye  day  appointed. 

Whereas  his  Excell.  Tho.  Dongan,  Capt.  General  and 
Governour  in  cheeffe  under  his  Majesty  of  ye  Province  of 
New  York  and  Dependencies,  by  virtue  of  ye  power  and 
authority  in  him  being,  from  and  under  his  said  Majesty, 
in  and  by  a  charter  bearing  date  ye  22d  day  of  July  last 
past,  given  under  ye  scales  ofye  said  province  for  yc  •considera- 
tions therein  expressed,  amongst  diverse  oyr  things  did 
graunt  to  ye  city  a  certain  tract  of  land"  above  Schinnech- 
tady,  upon  ye  Maquaas  river,  of  a  thousand  acres,  called 
Tiononderoga,  and  ye  other  land  thereunto  adjoining,  and 
whereas  ye  season  will  now  admitt  that  a  view  may  be  taken 
thereof,  in  order  to  purchase  ye  same  of  ye  Indians,  these 
following  persons  are  nominated  and  appointed  by  ye  com- 
mon councill  by  ye  first  conveniency  to  goe  thither  and  view 
ye  said  land,  and  make  a  report  thereof  to  ye  common 
councill,  to  witt,  Dirk  Wessells,  recorder,  and  Robt.  Living- 
ston, gentleman,  with  two  other  fitt  persons  whom  they  shall 
think  fit  to  goe  along  with  them  and  assist  them  in  the  pro- 
secution of  said  business. 

John  Carter  and  Cobus  Van  Vorst  porters  are  convened 
before  ye  common  councill  to  take  ye  oaths  as  porters  for 
the  city. 

Ordered  that  ye  fyremasters  goe  about  and  visite  each 
respective  house  in  ye  citty,  to  see  if  there  chimneys  and 
fyrehearths  be  sufficient  ,,  and  also  that  care  be  taken  that 
ye  ladders  and  fyre  hooks  be  upon  there  places  and  in  re- 


88  The  City  Records. 

pare,  all  which  is  recommended  to  ye  high  constable,  Isak 
Verplank,  forthwith  to  be  put  in  execution. 

John  Gow  is  appointed  and  sworn  for  fyer  master  in  ye 
roome  of  Hend.  Beekman.  ' 

Att  a  Common  Councill  &c.  6th  Nov.,  1686. 

Whereas  there  hath  been  diverse  orders  published  from 
time  to  time  concerning  ye  wells  and  fountains  of  this  city 
where  sundry  people  rense  there  cloathes,  throw  down 
water  and  all  sorts  of  filth  neer  to  ye  sd  wells,  and  water 
there  horses  out  of  ye  pale  y1  hangs  at  ye  same,  and  draw 
water  with  foule  pales ;  It  is  therefore  ordered  by  ye 
mayor,  recorder,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  this  citty, 
y*  no  person  whatsoever  shall  for  ye  future  rense  cloathes 
or  throw  water  or  any  sort  of  filth  in  or  near  any  of  the 
wells  or  fountains  within  this  city,  nor  water  any  -horses 
out  of  ye  pale  yl  ha*g  at  ye  same  or  draw  water  with  any 
fowle  or  dirty  pale,  upon  pain  of  forfeiture  of  ye  somme  of  12s 
for  each  offence,  one  moyety  thereof  to  ye  mayor,  aldermen 
and  commonality  of  ye  sd  citty,  and  ye  oyr  moyety  to  ye  use  of 
ye  sheriffe,  constables,  or  any  oyr  person  as  shall  inform  or 
sue  for  ye  same. 

Whereas  we  have  received  information  y*  sundrey  carmen 
and  oyr  persons  fetch  sand  from  a  topp  of  ye  hill  where  ye 
old  burying  place  has  been,  insomuch  yl  ye  verry  coffins 
are  exposed  to  publke  view;  ordered  yl  no  carman  or  other 
person  shall  henceforth  fetch  or  digg  any  sand  on  ye  north 
side  of  ye  Shennechtady  path,  upon  pain  of  forfeiting  ye 
some  of  twelfe  shillings  for  each  offence,  one  moyety  [&c. 
as  above]. 

Nov.  19. — It  being  "found  inconvenient  and  that  daily 
disorders  and  abuses  doe  increase  within  this  city  by  people's 
taking  the  freedom  to  sell  all  sorts  of  liquor  by  retaile 
both  to  Christians  and  Indians,"  without  license,  it  -was 
prohibited  to  sell  by  retail  in  less  quantities  than  five 
gallons,  without  license,  under  penalty  of  £5  for  each 
offence. 

The  Lycence  for  one  y*  sells  ~by  retaile. 
Peter  Schuyler,   Esqr   Mayr  of  ye  city  of  Albany,  to  ye 
sheriffe,  constables,  and  ye   King's  Majes  officers,   greet- 


The  City  Records.  89 

ing,  know  yee  y*  wee,  ye  sd  mayor,  have  lycenced  and  by 
these  presents  doe  lycence  Volkie  Pieters  to  sell  wine,  rum, 
and  oyr  strong  drink  by  retaile  in  ye  house  where  she  now 
liveth  in  this  citty,  both  to  Christians  and  Indians,  for  one 
whole  year  next  ensuing  ye  date  hereof;  provided  always 
shee  pay  such  dutyes  and  excyse,  as  by  ye  laws  and  statutes 
of  this  province  are  established,  and  behave  herself  accord- 
ing to  ye  rules  and  orders  of  this  city,  in  that  behalfe  made 
and  provided,  in  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  ye 
scale  of  this  city  to  be  hereunto  affixed,  dated  ye  22th  day 
of  Novembr  in  ye  Reign  of  our  Souvraign  Lord  James  ye 
second  by  ye  grace  of  God,  of  Engld  Scotland,  France,  and 
Ireland,  king,  defender  of  ye  faith. 

PB.  SHUYLER,  Mayor. 


Att  a  Court  of  Mayor  &c.,  Dec.  28,  1686. 

Be  it  remembred  yl  ye  sd  day  came  before  ye  mayor's  court, 
John  Doe  who  gave  this  court  to  understand  and  be  informed 
y*  Lafleur  alias  Rene  Poupar,  of  ye  county  of  Albany,  yeoman, 
on  ye  23d  day  of  Decemr  in  ye  second  year  of  his  majse  reign, 
att  his  house  at  ye  Stille  water  in  ye  county  of  Albany,  did 
trade  and  traffique  with  ye  indians,  and  then  and  there  did  bar- 
ter with  sd  indians,  certain  goods  and  merchandizes,  viz1  strung 
wampum,  stockings  and  oyr  indian  commodities  for  dear 
skins  and  peltry,  and  did  also  in  his  house  keep  and  con- 
ceale  two  hundred  and  thirty-four  gilders  in  strung  wam- 
pum, nine  pare  of  indian  stockings,  and  eight  dear  skins, 
contrare  and  against  ye  form  and  effect  of  severall  laws, 
orders  and  proclamations  in  yl  case  made  and  provided, 
whereupon  ye  said  John  Doe  demands  judgment  of  con- 
demnation of  ye  sd  234  gilders,  strung  wampum,  accDrding 
to  ye  papers  upon  sd  bunches  writt,  and  nine  pare  of  indian 
stockings  and  eight  dear  skinns,  one-third  part  for  ye  mayor, 
aldermen  and  commonalty,  one-third  part  for  ye  mayor,  and 
one-third  part  for  ye  sd  John  Doe,  and  ye  sd  John  Doe  doth 
also  demand  jugem1  of  this  court  against  ye  sd  Lefleur  for  ye 
somme  of  twenty  pounds  courant  money  of  this  province, 
as  a  fine  for  his  so  trading  as  aforesaid.  Two-thirds  thereof 
for  ye  behoof  of  ye  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of 
this  city,  and  one-third  part  for  ye  said  John  Doe. 


90  The  City  Records. 

Before  Dirk  "Wessels  Eecorder  and  Aldermen,  Jan.  25. 
1686-7. 

John  Doe's  information  against  Renne  Poupar  being  read, 
and  ye  sd  Renne  Poupar  did  engage  to  bring  prooffs  yl  ye 
wampum  was  at  his  house  in  order  to  pay  the  carpenter 
for  ye  making  of  his  house,  of  which  he  is  wanting ;  where- 
upon ye  case  is  put  into  ye  hands  of  ye  jury ,  viz1 :  Jan 
Bleeker,  Jan  Lansing,  Johannes  de  Wandelaer,  David 
Schuyler,  Lawrence  Van  Ale,  Johannes  Cuyler,  Jacob 
Lokermans,  Melg1  Wynantse,  Wessel  ten  Broek,  Jan 
Vinnagen,  Arent  Schuyler,  Anth°  Lespinard,  who  being 
gone  out  brings  in  their  verdict  and  fynde  it  for  ye  Col. 
and  yt  ye  def1  hath  trangressed  ye  law  in  having  zewant 
and  stockings  in  his  house. 

The  court  haveing  considered  ye  case  doe  approve  of  ye 
verdict  of  ye  jury,  and  give  judgem1  against  ye  234  gl.  in 
zew1  and  9  pare  of  stockings  founde  in  his  house,  one-third 
for  ye  mayor,  one  third  for  ye  mayor,  aldermen  and  com- 
monalty, and  one-third  for  ye  informer ;  and  moreover  as  an 
fine  ye  somme  of  forty  shillings  courant  money  of  this  province, 
two-thirds  thereof  for  behooff  of  ye  mayor,  aldermen  and  com- 
monality of  this  citty,  and  one-third  for  ye  informer  with 
costs  of  sute. 

Rene  Poupar  gives  in  a  petition,  and  setts  forth  yt  he 
being  a  stranger,  did  not  know  yl  it  was  prohibited  to  have 
strung  wampum  in  his  house,  doth  therefore  pray  y1  ye  wam- 
pum seized  by  the  sheriff  may  be  restored,  and  ye  fine  of 
forty  shillings  remitted. 

The  court  deferrs  ye  bussinesse  till  ye  mayor  comes  home. 

Same  day  (see  above)  Richard  Pretty,  sheriff  of  ye  said 
citty  giveth  this  court  to  understand  and  be  informed,  Arent 
Schulyer  of  this  citty,  trader,  sometime  in  Decemr.  last,  at 
his  dwelling  house  in  this  citty,  did  affront  and  abuse  ye 
fyre-masters  and  constables  who  were  sent  by  speciall  order 
and  commission  from  ye  court  of  mayor  and  aldermen,  to 
view  ye  chimneys  and  fyre-hearths,  and  notwithstanding  his 
being  warned  that  his  chimney  was  fowle  and  was  desyred 
to  clean  it  against  next  day  yl  they  came  again,  affronted  them 
and  threatened  to  beat  them,  with  divers  oyr  base  words  and 
actions.  It  is  therefore  considered  by  ye  court  y'ye  sd  Arent 
Schuyler  doe  pay  as  a  fine,  ye  somme  of  forty  shillings  cou- 


The  City  Records.  91 

rant  money  of  this  province,  and  yl  he  pay  for  his  costs  and 
charges  £204  like  courant  money  for  his  costs  and  charges 
of  prosecution  at  ye  discretion  of  ye  sd  court. 

Since  it  is  very  requisite  yl  there  be  fyre-wood  rid  to  ye  in 
dian  houses  for  ye  indians'  accomodation  and  ye  traders  be- 
ing founde  negligent  in  rideing  ye  same  according  to  former 
custome,  you  are  hereby  required  in  his  majst  name  to  charge 
and  command  all  ye  indian  traders  of  this  citty,  that  in  ye 
space  of  14  days  they  ride  wood  according  to  ye  list  wh  shall 
be  made  by  John  Johnse  Keeker,  Jan  Lansing,  Robt.  San- 
ders and  Arent  Schuyler,  to  ye  sd  indian  houses,  and  give 
an  ace1  to  you  of  each  load  they  so  shall  ride  to  ye  indian 
houses  aforesd  upon  ye  penalty  of  each  person,  if  they  shall 
be  negligent,  to  pay  as  a  fine  one  ps.  of  I,  and  yt  yu  are  in 
no  ways  to  ommitt  in  doeing  whereof  this  shall  be  yre  suffi- 
cient warrant,  dated  in  Albany  ye  24th  day  of  February, 
1686-7. 

To  Isaak  Verplank,  high  constable  of  this  city. 

Att  a  Court  of  Mayor,  &c.,  April  11,  1686-7. 
Ordered  that  there  be  a  pounde  made  upon  ye  plain  for  ye 
use  of  this  citty  and  precincts  thereof,  to  put  all  horses,  cattle, 
hoggs  and  sheep  therein,  that  any  ways  are  founde  trans- 
gressing in  any  corn,  pastures,  orchards,  gardins  and  oyr 
lotts,  according  to  law,  and  ye  constables  to  have  ye  keeping 
thereof.  

Jacobus  Van  Yorst,  Wm  G-ysbertse  and  Joseph  Yetts, 
were  admitted  carmen,  and  had  the  following  Lycences 
granted  them:  Pr  Schuyler,  mayr  of  ye  city  of  Albany,  sends 
greeting  in  our  Lord  God  everlasting ;  know  yee  y*  wee  ye 
sd  mayor,  of  good  and  credible  report,  to  us  made  by  diverse 
credible  and  honest  persones,  yl  Jacobus  Yan  Yorst  one  of  ye 
porters  of  this  citty,  is  a  man  meet  to  keep  a  cart  and  be  one 
of  ye  carters  of  this  city  j  have  licenced,  allowed  and  admitted, 
and  by  these  presents  doe  licence,  allow,  and  admitt  ye  said 
Jacobus  Yan  Yorst  to  be  one  of  ye  carters  of  this  city,  so  y* 
ye  said  Jacobus  Yan  Yorst  doe  not  deny  any  body  to  ride 
or  cart  for  them  when  he  is  not  employed  about  ye  porter's 
employment,  and  to  behave  himself  according  to  ye  rules 


92  The  City  Becords. 

and  orders  of  this  citty,  in  that  behalf,  made  and  provided, 
in  testimony  whereof  we  have  caused  ye  scale  of  ye  said  citty 
to  be  hereunto  affixed,  dated  ye  19th  day  of  April,  1687,  in 
ye  3d  year  of  his  majst  reign. 

Whereas  some  of  ye  inhabitants  of  this  city  have  been 
wanting  in  ye  makeing  up  their  proportion  of  ye  stockadoes 
about  ye  fort  upon  the  hill,  by  wh  means  ye  fort  can  not  be 
repaired,  you  are  hereby  required  in  his  majts  name  to  cause 
them  of  your  compe  y1  have  not  wrought  and  performed 
there  part  at  ye  setting  up  of  ye  stockadoes,  forthwith  to 
sett  them  up  yt  ye  fort  may  be  finished,  in  doeing  whereof 
this  shall  be  to  yu  a  sufficient  warrant,  Actum  in  Albany, 
ye  25th  day  of  May,  1687. 

Att  a  Court  of  Mayor  &c.,  June  14, 1687. 

Ordered  by  ye  court  y*  ye  captns  of  ye  respective  com- 
panies doe  warn  ye  people  under  there  command  to  keep  a 
watch  every  night  in  ye  city  till  further  order. 

Orderd  also  yl  ye  sergeants  of  ye  respective  companies  goe 
about  to  raise  a  half  years  sellary  for  ye  ratel  watch. 

[Mrs  Elizabeth  Van  Dyck,  relict  of  Cornelis  Van  Dyck, 
applied  for  an  appraisement  of  the  estate.] 


At  a  Common  Council,  &c.,  Aug.  27,  1687. 
The  business  concerning  ye  tax  or  rate  being  taken  into 
consideration,  is  put  to  ye  vote  whether  ye  publike  charge 
of  ye  citty  should  be  defrayed  by  an  assessment  or  rate  upon 
ye  inhabitants  or  not,  and  they  that  voted  for  a  tax  or 
assessment  are, 

Pr.  Schuyler,  mayor,  Albert  Kyckman, 

Dirk  Wessels,  recorder,  Hend.  Cuyler, 

Johannes  Wendell,  Ger1  Ryerse, 

Adrian  Gerritse,  Mynd*  Harmense. 
Levinus  Van  Schaik, 

And  they  yt  voted  to  sell  of  ye  lands  belonging  to  ye  city 
at  Tionondoroga  &c..  are, 

Wm.  Claese,          Luykas  Gerritse,          Jan  Andriese. 


The  City  Records.  93 

Att  a  Court  of  Mayor  &c.,  Oct.  14,  1687. 
The  returns  of  ye  aldermen  for  ye  3  respective  wards,  for 
choosing  of  new  ones  being  made,  and  for  ye  first  ward  are 
chosen  Hend.  Cuyler,  Johannes  Wendel ;  for  ye  2d  ward 
Levinus  Van  Schaick,  Jan  Jans  Bleeker ;  for  ye  3d  ward 
David  Schuyler,  Alb1  Ryckman.  And  for  ye  common 
councill  men  are  choose  for  ye  first  ward  Reynier  Barents, 
Jacob  Staas,  for  ye  2d  warde  Johannes  Cuyler,  Wra  Claese, 
for  ye  3d  warde  Garrit  Van  Nesse,  Ger*  Ryerse  j  and  were 
sworne  in  there  respective  offices  accordingly,  except  Capt. 
Wendel  and  Capt.  Bleeker. 

By  the  court  of  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  ye  citty  of  Albany 
Whereas  ye  selling  of  drink  at  unreasonable  hours  at  night 
is  founde  inconvenient  especialy  at  this  juncture  of  time,  ye 
court  doe  therefore  hereby  strictly  charge  and  command  yl 
none  of  ye  inhabitants  of  this  city  or  county  thereof  doe 
presume  to  sell  any  strong  drink,  beer,  syder  or  other  liquor 
to  any  person  whatever  after  ye  Taptoo  upon  ye  penalty  of 
forfeiting  ye  somme  of  tenn  shillings  every  person  y1  shall 
be  found  drinkeing  in  ye  house,  and  if  any  citizen  or  in- 
habitant of  this  citty  doe  presume  to  suffer  people  to 
drink  in  their  houses  any  drink  fetched  from  ye  tavern  or 
any  other  places,  ye  master  of  yl  house  shall  pay  for  every 
person  yt  he  shall  so  adrnitt  to  drinke  in  his  house  after 
ye  Taptoo  aforesaid,  ye  somme  of  six  shillings  courant 
money  of  this  province. 

And  whereas  divers  persons  were  warned  last  year  to 
ride  a  load  of  fyrewood  to  ye  watch  house,  have  been 
negligent  in  doing  ye  same ;  all  persons  are  hereby  warned 
yl  have  not  brought  ye  load  of  wood  accordingly,  y*  they 
bring  or  cause  to  bring  ye  same  to  ye  guardhouse  in  y6 
space  of  8  days,  else  it  shall  be  brought  from  there  yards 
upon  there  cost  and  charge  and  moreover  pay  a  fine  of  2s, 
and  if  there  be  no  wood  in  there  yards  a  load  of  wood  shall 
be  brought  upon  there  charge  and  brought  to  ye  garde. 
Dated  in  Albany  ye  17th  day  of  Oct.  1687. 

ROBERT  LIVINGSTON. 


94  The  City  Records. 

May  23,  1688.— Isak  Yerplank,  high  constable,  and 
Benony  van  Colaer,  Evert  Wendel  Junr.,  and  Johannes 
de  Wandelaer,  constables,  were  dismissed,  and  thanked  for 
their  good  service. 

And  Benony  van  Corlaer  was  sworn  high  constable  for 
ye  ensuing  year,  and  Pr.  Davidse  Schuyler  and  Johannes 
van  Sante  sworne  as  constables,  and  Evert  Banker. 

Oct.  14, 1688. — The  returns  for  ye  aldermen  of  ye  citty 
of  Albany  for  ye  ensuing  year,  were,  for  aldermen, 

Johannes  Wendell,  Levinus  van  Schaik,  for  ye  first  ward. 

Jan  Jansz  Bleeker,  Jan  Lansing,  second  ward. 

Albert  Ryckman,  David  Schuyler,  thirde  ward. 
And  for  ye  common  councill  or  assistants, 

Reynier  Barrentse,  Evert  Banker,  1st  warde. 

Johannes  Beekman,  Isaak  Verplanke,  2d  warde. 

Johannes  Abeel,  Johannes  Mingael,  3d  warde. 
Who  were  sworn   in   their  respective   offices   accordingly. 
For   constables   this   ensuing  year :  Johannes  van   Sante, 
high  constables,  Phill.   Foreest,  1st  warde ;  John  Nack,  2d 
do  ;  Wessels  ten  Broek,  3d  do. 

November  27,  1688. — Anthony  Lispenard  peticons  ye 
court  yl  order  might  be  taken  to  pay  ye  funerall  charges 
of  Mons.  Salvay,  a  Frenchman  of  Canada,  who  dyed  at 
his  house  in  June  last,  since  he  is  daily  troubled  with 
people  who  demand  ye  money  of  him  .  [The  effects  of 
deceased  ordered  to  be  sold  to  pay  charges.] 

Ordered  yl  John  Van  Loon,  late  coroner  of  this  citty; 
deliver  ye  papers  of  Adrain  van  Ilpendam,  notary  publike, 
deceased,  to  Robert  Livingston,  towne  clerk,  in  order  if 
any  persons  are  minded  to  have  copies  of  those  instruments 
they  may  have  them. 

The  last  will  and  testament  of  Adrian  Grerritse  Papen- 
dorp,  in  his  life  time  burger  and  inhabitant  of  this  city,  is 
brought  into  court  by  Johannes  Abeel,  and  proved  by  ye 
oaths  of  Jan  Janse  Bleeker  and  Johannes  Lansing,  wit- 
nesses thereto,  and  his  wife  Jannetie  Croon,  therein  named, 
was  approved  to  be  heir  and  executrix  to  ye  sd  will. 
Ordered  yt  ye  will  aforesd  be  translated  and  recorded,  and 
she  referred  to  his  excellency  Sir  Edm.  Andross,  Cap1. 
Gen.  and  Gov.  in  Cheeffe  of  his  Majs.  territory  and  domi- 
nion of  N.  England,  for  further  confirmation  of  ye  probate 
thereof. 


The  City  Records.  95 

June  5,  1688. — Adam  Vrooman  doth  petition  ye  com- 
mon council  yl  whereas  Rode  ye  Maquase  sachem,  for  di- 
verse considerations  hath  about  three  years  agoe  granted 
him  two  flatts  or  plains  upon  both  sides  of  ye  Maquase 
river  above  Hend.  Cuyler's  land,  containing  about  eleven 
morgen,  wh  said  land  he  doth  presume  is  included  in  ye 
grant  given  to  this  citty  and  inserted  in  their  charter 
and  therefore  prays  yl  ye  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonality 
would  be  pleased  to  grant  him  a  conveyance  for  ye  sd  two 
parcells  of  land  lying  neer  ye  stone  house,  so  called  by 
ye  Indians,  as  you  goe  to  ye  Maquase  country,  and  40  acres 
of  wood  land  adjoining  them,  which  would  be  a  convenient 
settlement  for  ye  sd  Adam  Yrooman,  and  is  willing  to  pay 
a  small  acknowledgement  for  ye  same  yearly.  [The  lands 
were  granted,  consisting  of  sixty-two  acres,  for  a  yearly  rent 
of  two  bushels  of  winter  wheat,  conditioned  that  he  should 
build  a  small  house  on  it  and  plow  a  part  of  the  land  the 
next  spring.] 

Whereas  Pr  Schuyler  and  Rob1  Livingston  did  stand 
engaged  to  Capt.  Andrew  Bowne  for  ye  somme  of  eighty- 
three  pounds  fifteen  shillings  with  ye  interest  a  ten  per 
cent  from  ye  22d  of  July,  1686,  which  they  now  necessi- 
tate to  borrow,  towards  ye  payment  of  ye  charter,  we 
whose  names  are  underwritten  doe  hereby  engage  to  in- 
demnify and  bear  harmless  ye  sd  Rob1  Livingston  his  heirs, 
executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  from  any  damage 
yl  he  might  incur  by  paying  of  ye  s(1  somme  or  any  part 
thereof;  and  whereas  Pr  Schuyler  mayor  and  Johannes 
Cuyler  one  of  ye  assistants  doe  engage  to  satisfy  and  pay 
Capt.  Andrew  Bowne  ye  scl  somme  of  £83  15s.  with  two 
years  interest,  at  ten  per  cent,  we  whose  names  are  here- 
unto subscribed  doe  for  our  selfs,  our  heirs,  executors,  ad- 
ministrators and  assigns,  oblige  our  selfs  to  pay  or  cause  to 
be  paid  unto  Mr.  Pieter  Schuyler,  mayor,  and  Johannes 
Cuyler,  in  ye  space  of  a  year  after  ye  date  hereof  each  of 
us  severally  ye  somme  of  seven  pounds  three  shillings  and 
six  pence,  with  our  proportion  of  a  year's  interest,  if  ye  sd 
mayor  shall  have  occasion  to  take  up  ye  money  to  pay  sd 
Capt.  Bowne,  that  is  each  a  fourteenth  part ;  for  ye  pay- 
ment of  which,  well  and  truly  to  be  made,  we  bynde  our 
selfs  our  heirs,  executors,  administrators  and  assigns,  and 


96  The  City  Records. 

every  of  them,  firmly  by  these  presents,   as  witness   our 
hands  in  Albany,  ye  23d   day  of  July,  1688. 

Signed  by  ye  mayor,  recorder,  ye  6  aldermen,  and  6 
assistants. 


December  4,  1688.  Upon  application  of  Dom  Gode- 
vridus  Van  Dell  who  gives  ye  court  to  understand  yl  by  ye 
testimony  of  divers  antient  inhabitants  ye  kings  high  way 
went  formerly  to  ye  westward  of  ye  great  pasture  by  ye 
Beverskill  along  Shermerhorns  pasture  and  not  over  ye 
same  as  ye  open  way  between  Shermerhorns  pasture  doth 
sufficiently  evidence  doth  therefore  desyre  yl  ye  high  way 
may  be  orderd  to  be  as  it  was  formerly  where  it  may  be 
laid  out  very  conveniently :  or  if  yr  worsps  juge  more 
convenient  yl  the  high  way  be  kept  throw  ye  pasture  as 
it  has  been  admitted  this  last  summer,  then  ye  sd  Dom 
Dellius  requests  yl  ye  old  highway  which  lyes  without  ye 
pasture  to  witt  from  ye  Beverskill  or  creek  to  ye  end  of 
Shermerhorns  pasture  may  be  added  to  ye  great  pasture. 

The  mayor,  recorder  and  aldermen  doe  juge  it  com- 
modious and  requisite,  yea  absolute  necessary  y*  ye  highway 
be  forever  throw  ye  great  pasture,  and  not  where  Dom  Del- 
lius alledges  ye  old  path  went  formerly,  and  doe  therefore 
after  mature  consideration  grant  yl  ye  old  highway  from  ye 
Beverskill  to  ye  end  of  Shermerhorns  pasture  be  joyned  to 
ye  great  pasture,  and  y*  whoever  hereafter  shall  posess  or 
enjoy  ye  sd  great  pasture  may  freely  inclose,  keep  and  enjoy 
ye  sd  old  highway  for  ever,  and  Mr.  Marte  Gerritse  one  of 
his  majestys  justices  of  ye  peace,  who  joyns  with  sd  pasture 
declares  yl  he  doth  relinquish  all  claim  and  pretence  which 
he  might  or  could  pretend  to  ys  sd  highway  for  him  and  his 
heirs  for  ever. 


Att  a  Mayors  Court  &c.,  Dec.  llth,  1688. 
Dome  Gideon  Schaets  doth  by  Bennony  Van  Corlaer 
produce  into  court  ye  last  will  and  testament  of  his  decased 
wife,  Barentie  Hendricks,  dated  ye  26th  Oct.  1688,  whereun- 
to  were  wittnesses  Paulus  Martense  and  John  Harris,  who 
being  called,  declared  upon  oath  that  they  see  ye  sd  Barentie 


The  City  Records.  97 

Hendrickse  in  good  and  perfect  memory  and  in  sound  under- 
standing when  she  signd  and  sealed  sd  will.  Ordered  yl  ye 
sd  will  be  translated  and  recorded  accordingly. 

Whereas  divers  complaints  have  been  made  concerning  ye 
bakers  who  sell  there  wheat  bread  at  such  dear  rates,  not 
withstanding  ye  cheapness  of  ye  corn.  Ordered  yl  ye  bakers 
and  whatever  .persons  who  expose  bread  to  sale  in  this  city 
doe  take  no  more  than  one  penny,  half-penny  or  five  stuyvers 
zewant  for  a  loaf  of  fine  wheat  bread,  which  must  weigh  one 
pound  English  weight  and  ye  same  finenesse  as  hitherto  they 
have  made,  which  order  to  continue  for  ye  space  of  one  whole 
year  after  ye  date  hereof  or  further  order. 

It  is  further  orderd  yl  no  persone  whatever  presume  to 
cutt  down  any  of  ye  townes  old  stockadoes  till  ye  spring, 
when  new  ones  is  to  be  putt  in  ye  room,  upon  pain  and 
penalty  often  shillings. 

Whereas  great  inconveniences  and  confusion  doth  arise 
by  divers  persones  assumeing  to  themselfs  ye  liberty  to  make 
use  of  ye  towne  ladders  for  there  owne  occasion  which  were 
made  for  ye  citys  use  in  time  of  need,  in  so  much  that  verry 
few  are  to  be  found  in  there  places  where  they  were  first 
ordained  :  It  is  therefore  ordered  by  ye  mayor  and-aldermen 
yl  ye  fyre  masters  doe  inspect  into  ye  condition  of  sd  ladders 
and  fyrehooks  yl  they  be  in  good  condition  and  repare,  and 
yl  in  some  convenient 'place  of  each  ward  there  be  at  least 
2  good  ladders  of  25  foot,  and  2  of  15  foot  with  iron  hooks, 
fast  to  ye  ladder  and  2  fyrehooks  which  will  make  12  ladders 
and  6  hooks  for  ye  3  respective  wards,  and  whatever  ladders 
or  hooks  shall  be  founde  over  and  above  ye  sd  number  ye 
fy remasters  are  to  take  care  they  be  hung  at  ye  church. 
It  is  further  orderd  yl  no  person  or  persons  whatever  pre- 
sume to  take  or  use  any  of  ye  sd  ladders  without  leave  of 
some  one  of*ye  fyremasters  for  ye  time  being,  upon  ye  for- 
feiture of  one  shilling  courant  money  of  this  provence,  but 
if  he  ask  leave  of  any  of  ye  fyremasters  ye  person  using  ye  sd 
ladder  shall  pay  2d.  per  diem. 

It  is  ordered  likewise  yl  ye  constables,  together  .  with 
John  Gow,  Anthony  Lespinard,  Melgert  Wynantse  and 
Hend.  Bries  fyremasters  for  ye  ensuing  year,  joyntly  see  ye 
above  sd  orders  put  in  execution  and  frequently  visit  the 

Annals,  ii.  9 


98  The  City  Records. 

houses  and  hearths  of  this  city,  if  that  they  be  without  dan- 
ger and  sufficient  and  if  any  be  founde  deficient  or  there 
chimneys  fowle  they  shall  pay  as  a  fine  ye  somme  of  three 
shillings  courant  money  of  this  province. 


At  a  Common  Council,  &c,  Dec.  11,  1688. 

The  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonality  of  ye  city  of  Albany 
having  taken  into  consideration  ye  burger  or  small  pakt 
hath  been  paid  by  ye  inhabitants  of  this  towne  time  out  of 
mind  towards  ye  defraying  of  ye  publike  charge  thereof, 
which  sd  packt  or  excise  is  continued  by  his  excellency  ye 
govr  for  ye  space  of  two  years,  upon  ye  mayors  and  aldermen's 
request;  and  whereas  many  frauds  are  committed  by  ye 
merchants  and  inhabitants  of  this  citty  by  selling  their  rom 
and  oyr  liquor  without  acquainting  ye  towne  treasurer  there- 
with, or  using  ye  sworn  porters  to  house  ye  same,  it  is  there- 
fore hereby  ordered  that  no  inhabitant  of  this  city  do  pre- 
sume to  take  or  receive  into  their  houses  any  rom,  wyne, 
beer,  or  other  excysable  liquor,  above  ye  quantity  of  five 
gallons,  or  that  hath  by  ye  antient  custome  of  this  citty  lies 
been  liable  to  pay  ye  sd  burger  packt,  without  ye  sworn  por- 
ters, and  before  they  fetched  a  note  of  ye  treasurer  of  this 
city,  of  the  quantity  which  they  so  have  purchased,  in  order 
yt  ye  excyse  may  be  collected  accordingly.  And  if  any  mer- 
chant who  shall  receive  rom  in  order  to  dispose  of  ye  same, 
shall  refuse  or  deny  to  give  an  account  to  ye  towne  treasurer 
how  he  hes  disposed  of  his  sd  liquor,  or  who  can  not  give  a 
just  ace1  thereof  ye  sc1  merch1  or  merchts  shall  be  lyable  to 
pay  ye  excyse  for  ye  liquor  whereof  he  can  give  no  such  ac- 
compt.  And  in  case  any  person  is  found  to  take  or  receive 
any  rom,  wine  or  beer,  or  other  excysable  liquor  into  his 
house  without  ye  sworne  porters  or  a  note  of  ye  tresurer, 
they  shall  be  lyable  to  pay  ~as  a  fine  to  ye  citty  ye  somme  of 
six  shillings  for  each  anker  or  tenn  gallons  which  they  so 
shall  take  or  receive  into  their  houses  or  sellers  as  aforesaid. 

It  was  also  determined   at  this   sitting   to  demand   18d 
"  courant  money  of  this  province"  for  the  acknowledgement 
of  conveyances  before  the  mayor,   recorder   or   aldermen. 
James  Parker   was   allowed    50s.    per   annum  as   marshal. 
The  will  of  Carsten  Frederikse  was  produced  by  his  widow 


The' City  Records.  99 

Tryntie  Warners,   and  proved  by   Evert  Janse,  the   other 
witness,  Stoffell  Janse,  being  dead. 

Att  a  mayors  Court  &c.,  Jan.  15,  1689. 
Anthony  Lespiaard  was  appointed  by  ye  mayor  and 
aldermen  to  be  viewer  of  corn  in  this  citty,  and  took  his 
oath  accordingly,  and  is  to  have  for  each  time  he  is  desyred 
to  view  ye  same  9d  if  ye  corn  be  good  of  his  yl  receives, 
and  if  bad  or  not  merchandable  by  yl  delivers. 


Forasmuch  as  it  is  thoug'  convenient  y<  ye  stockadoes  be 
removed  from  ye  place  where  they  now  lye  and  planted 
rounde  this  city  where  ye  old  stood,  and  since  it  can  not 
well  be  effected  without  due  order  be  taken  y1  an  equal 
division  be  made  of  ye  proportion,  and  every  person  ac- 
quainted where  there  stockadoes  ought  to  be  putt  up  and 
from  whence  they  are  to  fetch  them.  It  is  therefore  orderd 
by  ye  mayor  and  aldermen  of  this  city  yt  ye  assistants  doe 
make  a  dividend  of  ye  new  stockadoes  :  how  many  rodd 
every  person  according  to  there  ability  should  putt  up  and 
from  whence  they  are  to  bring  them  where  it  is  nearest 
and  most  convenient,  beginning  at  ye  place  yl  is  open 
between  Dirk  Dragoons  and  ye  point,  and  so  round  north- 
ward as  far  as  ye  said  new  stockadoes  will  reach  ;  all  which 
are  to  be  putt  up  in  ye  space  of  a  month  after  ye  date 
hereof. 

Acturn  in  Albany  ye  6th  day  of  March  1689. 


By  the  Mayor,  Aldermen   and    Commonalty  of  ye    City 
of  Albanie,  and   ye  justices  of  ye    peace  of  ye  County 
aforesd,  the  21st  day  of  May,  1689. 
Present  the   mayor,  recorder,  all    the  aldermen  and   as- 
sistants, justices,  Rob1  Sanders  and  Abr.  Schuyler. 

Whereas  the  selling  and  giving  of  strong  drinke  to  ye 
Indians  at,  this  present  juncture  is  founde  by  experience 
not  only  inconvenient  but  extream  dangerous  insomuch 
yt  ye  greatest  part  of  ye  traders  and  inhabitants  of  this 


100  The  City  Records. 

city  have  made  their  application  to  us,  yl  it  may  strikly 
forbidd,  since  ye  Indians  by  their  excessive  drinking  are 
so  insolent  and  troublesome  y1  nothing  but  ye  greatest 
mischeeffs  and  calamities  can  be  expected  if  not  prevented 
we  doe  therefore  hereby  strickly  prohibite  and  discharge 
all  y*  inhabitants  of  ye  citty  and  county  of  Albany  to  sell 
or  give  any  rom,  brandy,  or  strong  liquor,  beer  or  cyder, 
to  any  Indian  or  Indians,  upon  any  pretence  whatsoever, 
upon  ye  penalty  of  five  pounds,  toties  quoties,  and  because 
it  has  been  founde  by  experience  yl  it  will  almost  be  im- 
possible to  make  discovery  of  ye  breach  of  this  order  by 
ye  ordinary  method  of  probation  in  regard  ye  same  will 
be  managed  with  so  much  secrecy  as  none  will  be  privy 
thereto  but  ye  delinquents  themselves,  or  Indians  whose 
testimonys  are  not  held  valid  of  law,  for  ye  discovery 
therefore  of  such  secret  and  dangerous  practices  we  doe 
hereby  order  and  declare  yl  upon  information  made  to  ye 
mayor,  recorder,  aldermen,  or  justices  of  ye  peace,  by  any 
Christian  Indian  or  Indians  against  any  person  or  persons 
whatsoever,  of  ye  breach  of  this  order,  the  said  magistrate 
or  justice  of  ye  peace  shall  issue  out  his  warrant,  requir- 
ing him  forthwith  to  come  before  him ;  then  and  there 
if  he  can  upon  his  oath  so  purge  himselfe  of  such  accusation 
as  aforesaid,  which  if  such  person  shall  refuse  to  doe, 
ye  matter  of  fact  in  ye  accusation  contained  shall  be  taken 
for  granted,  and  ye  sd  magistrate  or  justice  of  ye  peace 
shall  forthwith  issue  out  execution  to  ye  sheriff  or  any 
constable  to  levy  ye  fine  and  charges  by  distress  upon  ye 
offenders  goods  and  chatties  without  any  further  procese 
or  tryall,  always  provided  y1  it  shall  be  in  ye  power  of  ye 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  ye  sd  city,  if  they  see 
cause  to  give  or  dispose  of  any  small  quantity  of  rom  to 
some  particular  Sachims,  who  come  here  upon  publike 
bussinsse  any  prohibition  abovesd  in  any  manner  notwith- 
standing. The  said  fyne  to  be  disposed  of  as  follows  vizt : 
ye  one  half  or  moyety  for  ye  high  sherriffe  of  ye  .  county 
for  ye  time  being  if  he  informs,  and  ye  other  half  for  ye 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  aforsd,  and* if  ye  sd 
sheriffe  doth  not  inform,  he  is  to  have  ye  quarter  part  and 
ye  informer  ye  half  and  ye  citty  ye  other  quarter  part. 


The  City  Records.  101 

Whereas  we  are  informed  y*  one  Dubison  is  intended  to 
transport  himself  and  family  to  Canida,  being  suspected  to 
have  kept  a  secret  correspondence  with  ye  French  there, 
and  it  being  juged  dangerous  to  suffer  such  a  percon  to  live 
at  Sarachtoge  or  any  place  of  this  county  at  this  juncture 
of  time  where  he  may  have  conveniency  to  keep  such  a 
correspondence.  You  are  therefore  hereby  required  in  his 
majestys  name  to  bring  ye  sd  Dubison  and  family  forth- 
with here,  in  order  that  they  may  be  secured  from  any 
such  dangerous  designs,  in  doing  whereof  this  shall  be  your 
sufficient  warrant.  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  in 
Albany  ye  14th  of  June,  1689. 

To  Anthony  Van  Shaik,  Constable  of  ye  Halfmoon. 


Albany  ye  first  day  of  July,  1689. 

The  proclamation  for  proclaimeing  there  majesty,  king 
William  and  queen  Mary  king  and  queen  of  England, 
France  and  Ireland,  &a  being  brought  hither  from  N. 
York  immediately  upon  ye  receit  thereof,  ye  mayor  and 
recorder  caused  ye  court  of  aldermen  and  common  councile 
to  assemble,  who  attended  accordingly  and  hayeing  con- 
sidered of  ye  greatest  solemnity  yl  could  be  used  in  so 
short  a  time  appointed  ye  cittizens  to  be  in  arms  abut  12 
o'clock,  which  haveing  done  they  went  in  order  from  ye 
city  hall  up  to  where  there  majestys  were  proclaimed  in 
solemn  manner  in  English  and  Dutch  ;  ye  guns  fyreing 
from  ye  fort  and  volley  of  small  arms;  ye  people  with 
loud  acllamations  crying  God  save  king  Wm.  and  queen 
Mary.  Afterwards  they  marched  down  to  ye  city  hall 
where  there  majestys  .were  again  proclaimed.  Ye  night 
concluded  with  ye  ringing  of  ye  bell,  bone  fyres,  fyre 
works  and  all  other  demonstrations  of  joy. 


Aug.  13,  1689. — The  peticons  of  Adam  Vrooman  and 
Pr.  Van  Olinda,  Robert  Sanders  and  Claes  Lawrence  Van 
Purmurent  being  read  in  court,  who  request  for  parcells  of 
land  in  Tionondoroge,  belonging  to  ye  city,  which  the  court 
will  consider  of. 


102  The  City  Records. 

A  Proclamation  ly  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  and  Commonalty 
of  the  City  of  Albany. 

Whereas  by  these  late  revolutions  diverse  persons  have 
taken  the  freedom  to  fetch  Indians  with  their  packs  into 
their  houses,  and  to  be  so  troublesome  and  importune  to 
ye  heathens,  that  they  have  complained  they  could  not  eate 
their  vietualls  quietly,  which  is  contrare  to  the  wholesome 
laws  and  orders  made  by  this  city  for  ye  regulation  of  ye 
Indian  trade ;  we  doe  therefore  hereby,  in  ye  name  of 
there  majes,  King  William  and  Qaeen  Mary,  publish  and 
declare  that  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever,  within  this 
city,  shall  upon  ye  arrivall  of  any  Indian  or  Indians  address 
themselfs  to  speake  to  them  of  and  concerning  trade,  nor 
shall  entice  them  either  within  or  without  ye  gates  of  ye  sd 
citty,  by  signs  or  otherwise,  howsoever,  to  trade  with 
themselfs  or  any  other  persones,  upon  payne  and  penalty 
of  paying  for  each  offence,  if  committed  without  ye  gates 
of  ye  sd  citty;  ye  somme  of  three  pounds,  if  within  ye 
same  ye  somme  of  six  shillings  only ;  which  fine  is  to  be 
for  ye  behooffe  of  such  person  as  shall  sue  for  the  same. 
That  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever  -within  this  citty 
shall  presume  to  take  any  Indian  or  Indians  into  there 
houses  with  pack  or  packs  of  beaver  or  peltry,  and  so 
trade  them,  upon  penalty  of  paying  as  a  fine  for  such  offence 
30  shillings,  and  ye  Indian  or  Indians  with  said  packs  im- 
mediately to  depart  out  of  ye  house  without  trading,  di- 
rectly or  indirectly.  That  no  person  or  persons  whatever 
within  this  city  shall  send  out  or  make  use  of  any  breakers 
whether  Christians  or  Indians,  in  ye  management  of  ye  Indian 
trade  upon  payn  and  penalty  of  paying  as  a  fine  for  each 
offence  ye  somme  of  five  pounds,  onernoyety  thereof  for  ye  use 
of  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonality  of  ye  sd  city,  and  ye 
other  moyety  to  such  person  as  shall  sue  for  ye  same. 
That  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever  within  this  city 
shall  trade  for  or  receive  any  beavers,  peltry,  or  other 
Indian  commodities  from  any  Indian  or  Indians,  after  ye 
ringing  of  ye  bell  at  eight  of  ye  clock  on  ye  night,  upon 
payn  and  penalty  of  forfeiting  such  commodities  so  traded 
for  and  received  as  aforesd,  two  third  parts  to  ye  use  of 
ye  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  ye  sd  citty,  and 


The  City  Records.  103 

ye  other  third  part  to  ye  use  of  such  person  as  shall  sue 
for  ye  same.  That  no  person  or  persons  whatsoever 
within  this  city  doe  presume  to  trade  or  traffique  with,  or 
by  any  means  whatsoever,  directly  or  indirectly,  entice 
any  Indians  so  to  doe  upon  ye  sabbath  day,  upon  pain 
and  penalty  of  forfeiting  such  goods  so  traded  for  as 
aforesd,  as  also  on  payne  and  penalty  of  paying  as  a  fine 
for  such  offence,  ye  somme  of  forty  shillings  to  ye  use  of 
such  person  as  shall  sue  for  ye  same.  Actum  in  Albany 
ye  13th  day  of  August,  in  ye  first  year  of  ye  reign  of 
William  and  Mary,  king  and  queen  of  England,  France 
and  Ireland,  defender  of  ye  faith,  A°  1689. 

Resolved,  yl  ye  fall  waters  on  ye  Bevers  kill  or  creek, 
where  Melgert  Wynants  intends  to  erect  a  saw  mill,  be 
sold  to  ye  deakons  of  ye  Netherdutch  church  for  ye  somme 
of  £25,  to  pay  for  ye  maintenance  of  Dicke  Jan  Cornelise, 
one  of  ye  poor  belonging  to  this  county. 

Sept.  29,  1689. — The  common  council  being  convened 
to  give  their  votes  for  a  treasurer  for  this  citty  for  ye  en- 
suing year,  doe  by  plurality  of  voyces  choose  Mr.  Jan 
Becker. 


Albany  ye  14th  day  of  Oct.,  1689. 

This  day  being  appointed  by  ye  charter  of  this  city  for 
ye  aldermen  of  ye  respective  wards  to  bring  there  returns 
of  ye  aldermen  chosen  for  ye  ensuing  year,  which  were 

Johannes  Wendel,  Levinus  van  Schack,  for  ye  1st  ward. 

Claes  Ripse  van  Dam,  Jan  Jansz  Bleeker,  for  ye  2d 
ward. 

David  Schuyler,  Albert  Ryekman,  for  ye  3d  ward. 
The  assistants  chosen  for  this  year  were 

Reynier  Barents,  Evert  Banker,  for  ye  1st  ward. 

Johannes  Cuyler,  Jan  Nack,  for  ye  2d  ward. 

Ger1  Ryerse,  Eghbert  Teunise,  3d  ward. 

Ye  constables  were  Pr.  Boss,  for  ye  1st  ward ;  Joh.  Appel, 
for  ye  2d ;  Gert.  van  Ness,  for  ye  3d.  Phill.  Foreest  was 
sworne  high  constable. 

This  day  being  the  14th  of  Oct.,  1689,  Cap1  Thomas, 
commander  of  there  majjestys  fort  of  Albany,  took  ye  oath 
of  fidelity  to  there  majestys  king  Wra>  and  Q.  Mary. 


104  The  City  Records.  0 

Albany,  29£h  of  Oct.,  1689. 

Zacharias  Sickells,  ratel  man  desyres  he  may  have  payment 
of  123  g1  wampum,  which  is  due  to  him  for  his  service  as 
ratel  watch.  Ordered  yl  ye  sergents  make  ye  division  of  ye 
inhabitants,  and  ye  constables  to  collect  sd  money. 

Whereas  wee  are  informed  yl  ye  watch  of  this  citty  is 
so  irregularly  kept  that  few  or  none  of  ye  inhabitants  of 
this  city  doe  appear  upon  ye  guard  when  it  is  there  turn, 
which  of  necessity  must  be  occasioned  by  ye  remisseness,  con-  • 
nivance  and  neglience  of  ye  commission"  officers,  whose  duty 
it  is  to  see  ye  orders  concerning  ye  setleing  of  ye  guarde 
of  this  city  putt  into  execution,  particularly  ye  order  made 
by  ye  court  martial  ye  28th  of  November  last,  by  which 
mean&  the  city  is  in  eminent  danger  and  many  dissasters, 
calamities,  mischeefs  and  confusion  might  ensue. 

And  since  it  is  a  duty  incumbent  upon  us  to  see  yl  good 
watch  and  orders  be  kept  in  this  city,  and  to  use  all  possible 
means  yr  ye  same  may  be  effected,  we  doe  therefore  in  there 
majestys  name,  king  Wmt  and  queen  Mary,  require  y1  ye 
commission  officers  of  this  city  doe  take  especial  care  that 
ye  sd  order  of  ye  court  marshall  here  unto  annexed,  be  putt 
into  execution,  which  is  so  easy  for  ye  people  yl  none  but 
enemies  to  ye  peace,  wellfare  and  tranquillity  of  this,  jbhere 
majestys  city,  can  refuse }  and  therefore  you  are  hereby  en- 
joyned  to  cause  ye  sd  four  men  of  each  comp.  to  be  warned 
to  attend  ye  watch  ;  which  if  they  shall  refuse,  neglect  and 
not  appear  according  to  order,  yl  then  you  see  they  pay  ye 
fine  or  be  punished  for  ye  said  offence  according  to  ye  rules 
and  methods  usual  in  this  city.  And  if  we  shall  hereafter 
fynde  y*  ye  guarde  be  not  kept  according  to  ye  sd  orders,  we 
declare  we  shall  be  necessitate  to  take  other  measures  yl  so 
such  a  great  neglect  may  not  be  imputed  to  us  or»lye  at  our 
door  since  the  preservation  and  peace  of  there  majestys  city 
as  it  hath  hitherto  been,  so  it  is  still  our  principall  aim  and 
desyre. 

And  whereas  there  hes  been  severall  orders  given  from 
time  to  time,  to  Cap1  Wendel  and  Capt  Bleeker  to  compleat 
ye  works  about  ye  city  which  fell  to  there  share,  which 
still  is  left  undone,  and  not  knowing  how  soon  wee  may 
have  occasion  for  ye  same,  we  doe  in  an  especiall  manner 


The  City  Eecords.  105 

desyre  and  require  that  they  may  withall  speed  call  there 
people  together  and  perfect,  and  coinpleat  said  works  accord- 
ing to  there  proportion,  yt  so  we  may  be  in  a  capacity  to  resist 
an  enemy  if  they  should  make  any  attaque,  which  God  forbid. 
Given  under  our  hand  and  seal.  Albany  ye  28th  day  of 

Dec.,  1689.  -^     0  ,, 

PR.  SCHUYLER,  Mayor. 


In  the  year  1690  ye  14th  of  Oct.,  when  Jacob  Lysler  had 
usurped  ye  gov1  the  following  persons  were  chosen  aldermen : 
John  Becker,  Evret  Banker,  John  Bleeker,  Claes  Ripse, 
Ger1  Eyerse,  Eghbert  Teunise. 

Assistants,  Johannes  de  Wandelaer,  Hendd  van  Dyck, 
Luykas  Gerritse,  Pr  Davidtse,  Joh.  Abeell,  Ger*  van  Ness. 


Att  a  Common  Councill  &c.  7th  Nov.,  1689. 
The  common  council  of  this  city  being  called  by  ye  mayor 
to  consult  of  business  relating  to  ye  welfare  of  this  citty, 
Jan.  Nack,  trader  and  gunstokmaker,  one  of  ye  assistants  of 
this  citty,  being  sent  for  by  ye  mayor,  ye  sd  Jan  Nack  ans- 
wers to  ye  marshall  yl  went  for  him  as  follows  :  "  Neen  wat 
meenje  ick  ben  voor  een  gatt  niet  gevangen,  sail  ick  gaan 
teykenen  voor  dat  volk  dat  Leijslers  volk  te  gemoet  sail gaen." 
Waerop  d  marshall  seyde,  "  Wilt  gy  d  mayor  nied  ghehoor- 
saeme  wanneer  "hy  u  ontbiedt  f  "  *  Hy  antw.,  "  Wat  pratje 
nu  van  de  mayor ;  isser  eens  na  court  well  gehouden,  weet 
gy  weel  wateer  to  doen  is :  myn  heele  wyck  seggen  al  te  mael 
behalve  4  dat  zy  cost  genoegh  hebben  voor  Leyslers  volk  dat 
boven  comt."  Waerop  d  marshall  seyde  vorders,  "  Ben  gy 
geen  common  councill  man?"  "  Jae"  seyde  hy,  "  als  volk 
hier  was"  meenend  sd  JV.  Yorkse  compe  dan  soude  hy  comen.1 
Jan  Nack*  by  ye  perswasion  of  Joh.  Cuyler  and  Reynier 
Barents,  assistants,  being  came  to  ye  common  council  who 


1  The  English  of  this  is  as  follows :  No !  What  do  you  mean  ?  I 
am  not  to  be  caught  in  a  trap.  Shall  I  go  and  sign  for  those  peo- 
ple who  are  going  out  to  meet  Leysler's  men?  Whereupon  the 
marshal  said.  Will  you  not  obey  the  summons  of  the  mayor  ? 
He  answered,  what  do  you  prate  about  the  mayor!  Has  there 
been  any  court  holden?  Do  you  know  what  is  going  on?  My 
whole  ward  except  four  insist  that  they  have  provisions  enough 


106  The  City  Records. 

acknowledges  to  have  give  ye  answer  as  ye  marshall  did 
relate,  and  moreover  says  yl  he  acknowledges  one  Capt. 
Jacob  Leysler  to  be  his  head,  who  is  chosen  by  N.  York  to 
be  ye  commander  in  cheefe.  Jan  Nack  was  forgiven  this 
fault,  promising  to  comporte  himself  better  for  ye  future. 


[Information  of  the  accession  of  William  and  Mary  to  the  throne 
of  England,  reached  Albany  July  1, 1689,  when  they  were  imme- 
diately proclaimed  by  the  magistrates  and  people,  with  the  custom- 
ary ceremonies  (see  p.  101)  Jacob  Leisler,  a  New  York  merchant, 
had  previously  assumed  the  government  of  the  colony ;  but  his 
authority  was  decidedly  opposed  by  the  magistrates  of  Albany, 
and  his  efforts  to  extend  his  rule  over  this  city  were  so  vigorously 
and  judiciously  resisted,  that  he  only  partially  succeeded.  During 
these  distractions  the  French  made  their  memorable  descent  upon 
Schenectady.  There  is  a  gap  in  the  minutes  of  common  council 
of  nearly  two  years,  the  period  of  the  troubles  that  grew  out  of 
this  usurpation.  The  records  are  partially  lost,  no  doubt,  for 
besides  the  general  confusion,  Mr.  Livingston,  the  clerk,  was  a 
fugitive.  What  remain  of  them  are  bound  up  in  a  book  of  mort-' 
gages  in  the  county  clerk's  office,  where  they  were  found  by  Dr. 
O'Callaghan,  and  such  as  were  written  in  Dutch  translated,  and  the 
whole  printed  in  the  Documentary  History,  n,  80-178,  from  whence 
they  are  copied  into  this  work.] 

At  a  Convention  of  ye  Mayr  Aldermen  Commonalty  Justices 
of  ye  Peace  and  Military  officers  of  ye  Citty  and  County 
of  Albany  on  ye  first  day  of  August  and  ye  first  year  of 
y6  Reign  of  our  Souveraign  Lord  &  Lady  William  & 
Mary  King  &  queen  of  Engl :  France  &  Ireland  &c  1689  : 
Present,  Pr  Schuyler  Mayr,  Dirk  Wessels  Recr,  J. 
Wendel,  Lievs  Van  Schaick,  J.  Bleeker,  Jan  Lansing, 
Albt  Ryckman,  David  Schuyler,  Reynier  Barentse,  Ev. 
Banker,  J.  Beekman,  Jochim  Staets,  Jan  Abel,  Capt. 
Marte  Gerritse,  Kil :  v  :  Renselaer. 
Resolved  that  all  public  affares  for  the  Preservation  of 

there  Majesties  Intrest  in    this    Citty   be  managed  by  ye 

for  Leisler's  party  that  are  coming  up.  The  marshal  demanded 
again,  Are  you  not  a  common  councilman  ?  Yes,  said  he,  when 
the  people  (meaning  the  New  York  Company)  are  here,  then  he 
would  come. 

At  this  time  fifty  soldiers  under  Milborne  were  on  the  way  from 
New  York  to  take  possession  in  Leisler's  name,  and  Jan  Nack  seems 
to  have  been  the  only  member  of  the  council  in  Leisler's  interest. 


The  City  Records.  107 

Mayor  aldermen  Justices  of  ye  Peace  Commission  officers 
and  assistants  of  this  Citty  and  County,  untill  such  time  as 
orders  shall  come  from  there  most  Sacred  Majesties  William 
&  Mary  king  &  queen  of  England  fr  :  &  Irland  &  Defenders 
of  ye  faith 

Resolved  since  there  is  news  of  warr  between  England  & 
France  yl  ye  gentlemen  now  mett  at  this  Convention  doe 
each  bring  a  gunn  with  J  Ib  of  Pouder  and  Bale  equivalent 
to  be  hung  up  in  ye  church  in  ye  space  of  three  days  &  y* 
ye  Traders  and  oyr  Inhabitants  be  Perswaded  to  doe  ye  same 
to  make  up  ye  number  of  50  to  be  made  use  off  upon  occasion 

That  ye  Troopers  bring  200  Slabbs  from  y6  mill  of  Wynant 
Grerritse  to  make  a  Point  behinde  David  Schuylers 


.Warrant  to  fetch  Lafleur  &c  from  Sarachtoge.  Present: 
P'  Schuyler,  J.  Wendel,  D.  Schuyler,  Alb'  Ryckman, 
J.  Abeel,  D.  Wessells,  Lev.  V  Schaick,  J.  Bleeker,  Evert 
Banker,  Capt  Sharpe. 

Whereas  itt  is  thought  Convenient  yl  at  this  Juncture  of 
time  the  french  yl  live  towards  Sarachtoge  shall  be  Removed . 
from  thence  to  Remoove  all  suspicion  which  People  now 
have,  It  is  therefore  ye  opinion  of  ye  Justices  of  ye  Peace  of 
this  County  yl  Lafleur  and  Villeroy  &  De  la  Fortune  three 
frenchmen  that  live  to  ye  northward  of  this  Citty  towards  ye 
Stilwater  &  Sarachtoge  be  forthwith  brought  hither  and 
Examined,  anent  such  Transactions  of  Keeping  Correspond- 
ence and  Conveying  letters  to  ye  french  at  Canida.  Yow 
are  therefore  hereby  Required  in  his  Majisties  Name  forth- 
with to  Repare  to  Sarachtoge  and  bring  ye  said  Lafleur, 
Villeroy  and  Delafortune  here  to  Albany  before  his  Majisties 
Justices  of  ye  Peace  to  be  Examined  &  treated  as  ye  Exigency 
of  ye  Case  Shall  Require  in  doeing  whereof  this  shall  be  ye 
Sufficient  Warrant  and  all  persons  are  hereby  Required  to 
be  aiding  and  assisting  to  yow,  Actum  in  Albany  the  first 
day  of  August  1689.  

10  Aug.  1689.  Lafleur,  Villeroy,  &  Francois  three  french 
men  from  Sarachtoge  being  sent  for  to  be  examined  concern- 
ing keeping  a  Correspondence  with  them  of  Canida  upon 
which  was  Resolved  To  Confine  La  Fleur  to  ye  Chamber  of 


108  The  City  Records. 

Arnout  Cornelise  till  ye  witnesses  come  from  Sarachtoge  to  be 
further  examind 

And  y1  Villeroy  stay  in  Toune  till  further  order 
At  a   convention   &c.,  Albany   5th  day   of  August  1689, 
Present  as  before. 

Upon  a  Rumor  brougt  to  day  by  four  Skachkook  Indians 
that  an  army  of  French  &  Indians  were  Seen  on  this  Side 
of  ye  Lake,  Lief1  Rob1  Sanders  was  sent  thither  with  17  men 
to  make  Discovery,  which  was  found  to  be  false 

Whereas  we  are  Informed  upon  oath  thatt  Anthony  Les- 
pinard,  Jdhn  Van  Loon,  Renne  Poupor,  alias  Lafleur,  and 
Villeroy,  foure  frenchmen  have  last  winter  endevored  to 
entice  some  souldiers  of  his  Majesties  garrison  of  Albany  to 
Runn  away  to  Canida  &  Desert  his  Majesties  service  by 
Professing  to  furnish  them  with  Provisions  Ammunition, 
make  them  sleds  shoos,  &  all  oyr  necessaries  for  their  journey, 
by  all  which  means  they  wholly  Designed  to  weaken  ye  force 
of  this  Place,  &  undoubtedly  by  yl  means  of  such  souldiers 
goeing  to  Canida  Convey  letters  &  keep  some  private  Cor- 
respondence with  the  french  there  which  hath  long  been 
.suspected  It  is  therefore  thought  fitt  by  ye  magistrates  of 
ye  Citty  of  Albany  Justices  of  ye  Peace  &  militia  officers  of 
ye  sd  County  who  considering  how  dangerous  such  suspected 
persohes  are  in  this  juncture  of  time  y1  ye  sd  Anthony  Les- 
pinard  John  Van  Loon  Renne  Poupard  and  Villeroy  be 
secured  in  his  Majesties  fort  at  albany  till  further  order 
and  till  such  time  the  Bussinesse  can  be  further  Inspected 
and  Examined,  actum  in  albany  ye  5th  of  aug.  1689 

By  ord  of  ye  Magestr :  of  albany  Justices 
of  ye  Peace  &  Military  officers  &c 
ROBERT  LIVINGSTON  Clerk 


Anth°  Lespinard  haveing  heard  ye  Depositions  read  in 
open  court  Confesses  yl  ye  sd  John  Sage  &  William  Boyen 
came  to  him  for  bread  and  for  french  money  to  goe  to  Canida 
advised  them  to  ye  Contrary  yl  they  should  not  goe  to  Canida 
but  for  it  was  a  very  Poor  Place  &  shortly  after  he  went  to 
Boston 

John  Van  Loon  Confesses  y1  he  knew  somewhat  of  there 
Design  but  advised  them  not  to  goe,  for  when  he  made  an 


The  City  Records.  109 


ax  for  John  Sage  and  when  he  saw  Wm  Boyen  come  back 
again  from  Sarachtoge  &  asked  for  John  Sage  at  his  house , 
then  he  see  some  Rogguerey  in  there  mind  and  yt  they  had 
concluded  to  Runn  away  &  further  yl  he  told  Maj.  Baxter 
yl  John  Sage  designed  to  run  away 

Villeroy  haveing  heard  ye  Depositions  of  Wm  Boyen  and 
and  Cornelia  Vroman  read  in  open  Court  said  yl  John  Sage 
desired  him  to  make  a  paire  of  snow  shoes  last  winter  but 
he  Replyed  «had  no  leather,  who  told  him  to  take  barke 
of  Trees  yet  he  Promised  to  make  ye  scl  John  Sage  a  pare 
but  knew  not  of  any  design  he  had  of  running  away.  Item 
yt  Will :  Boyen  asked  him  at  Sarachtoge  for  ye  snow  shoos 
who  replyed  he  had  no  time  to  make  them,  but  when  he 
was  removed  to  his  little  house  he  would  may  be  make  them. 
Whereupon  Mathys  said  doe  not  make  them,  who  knows 
what  ill  Design  they  may  have  may  be  they  will  Run  away 
&  then  ye  will  come  into  a  Prirnmenary 

Lafleur  haveing  heard  ye  sd  Depositions  Read  in  open  Court 
sd  yl  a  Souldier  called  John  Sage  spoke  to  him  for  a  canoe  to 
goe  to  Canida  withall  last  fall,  and  whether  he  could  procure 
such  a  one  upon  which-Lafleur  replyed  upon  what  Condition 
he  went  and  whether  he  would  get  a  passe  ye  sd  Sage  an- 
swered he  would  get  a  Passe  of  Maj.  Baxter  then  Lafleur 
replyed  there  may  be  probably  a  Canoe  to  be  had,  and  fur- 
ther ye  sd  Sage  met  ye  scl  Lafleur  a  Pretty  while  after  here 
in  ye  street  in  Albany  who  asked  Lafleur  if  he  had  been 
mindefull  of  what  he  had  spoke  to  him,  &  whether  he  could 
not  procure  or  make  him  a  slee  since  it  was  to  late  for  a  Canoe, 
&  also  whether  he  had  Bread  for  him,  whereupon  Lafleur 
said  no,  and  whether  La  Sage  had  gott  a  Passe  he  spoke  of, 
for  without  yl  he  would  neither  help  him  to  slee  Bread  nor 
nothing  else  nor  not  see  him  Passe  by  his  house. 

Item  yt  ye  scl  Wm  Boyen  had  discourse  with  De  Chene 
at  his  house  att  ye  Stillwater  &  yl  La  Sage  had  sent  a  kitte 
to  Dechene. 

By  the  Justices  ofy*  Peace  of  ye  Citty  &  County  of  Albany 

A   PROCLAMATION 

Whereas  we  are  credibly  informed  yl  diverse  persones  upon 
ye  late  news  of  ye  approach  of  ye  french  and  there  Indians 
Annals  ii.  10 


110  The  City  Eecords. 

are  makeing  Preparation  to  Transport  themselfs  out  of  this 
County  by  which  means  and  bad  Example  of  such  Timerous 
and  Cowardly  People  others  will  be  Discouraged  to  stay  and 
Defend  there  Majesties  Intrest  in  this  Frontier  part  of  ye 
Province,  and  Forasmuch  there  is  no  setled  government  for 
ye  p'sent  in  this  Province,  and  that  thereby  it  is  a  duty 
Incumbent  upon  us  to  Prevent  any  Danger  and  Inconven- 
ience yt  might  happen  ye  Inhabitants  of  our  County  which 
may  arise  by  suffering  men  to  Depart  y1  are  able  to  do  there 
Majesties  service  if  any  attempt  should  be  made  wee  There- 
fore doe  hereby  Declare  That  no  Person  or  Persones  (except 
masters  of  sloops  &  Boats)  being  fit  &  able  to  bear  arms  who 
have  been  setled  or  liveing  in  this  County  for  these  six 
monthes  last  past  shall  in  ye  space  of  three  monthes  Presume 
to  Depart  or  absent  themsels  out  of  this  County  of  albany 
whither  they  are  under  ye  Roll  or  List  of  ye  Respective 
Capt113  or  not  without  a  Passe  from  one  Justice  of  ye  Peace 
of  this  County  upon  ye  Penalty  to  be  Esteemed  Pursued  & 
followed  after  as  fugitives  Cowards  Runnaways  &  Vagabonds, 
&  as  such  to  be  Prosecuted  by  ye  utmost  Severity  of  ye  Law, 
&  yl  all  People  take  notice  thereof  accordingly.  Given  at  ye 
Citty  hall  of  Albany  ye  7th  day  of  august  1689  in  ye  first 
year  of  there  Majesties  Reign — 

10th  August,  1689.  A  Peticon  of  ye  wife  of  Villeray  De- 
livered to  ye  Court  whereby  she  Prays  yl  her  husband  may 
be  released  from  his  Confinem1  or  at  least  to  be  sett  free  upon 
security  to  answer  when  he  shall  be  called  for  who 

being  brougt  before  ye  Court  Insists  much  for  his  Release- 
ment  &  Tenders  P.  Van  Wriaglum  &  Dirk  Vanderheyden 
for  his  security 

The  Court  doe  acccept  of  ye  sd  Securities  and  that  they 
give  Bonde  of  one  hundred  Pounds  yl  Villeray  shall  be 
forthcomeing  when  Demanded 

13th  August,  1689.  A  Peticon  of  Anth°  Lespinard  Jan 
Van  Loon  and  Lafleur  being  read  whereby  they  request  that 
there  Bussiness  may  be  inspected  into  &  examind  that  they 
may  make  there  Defence  &  so  be  cleared  if  Innocent  else  Pun- 
ished if  guilty. 


The  City  Records.  Ill 

Upon  which  it  was  considered  by  ye  Magistrates  Justices 
of  the  Peace  Commission  officers  &  Common  Council  yl  ye  sd 
three  Prisoners  be  bayled  out  of  ye  fort  giving  security  each 
one  hundred  Pounds  to  answer  when  they  shall  be  called. 
Provided  they  doe  not  goe  above  ye  Citty  of  Albany  til  such 
time  ye  Case  be  Decided 


At  a  Convention  &c  albany  ye  21  of  august  1689.   Present : 
P.  Schuyler  Mayr,  D.  Wessells  Record1",  J  Wendel,  J 
Bleeker,  J   Lansing,  Dav.    Schuyler,    Albt   Ryckman, 
Reynier  Barentse,  Ev.  Banker,  Is  :  Verplank,  Joh.  Beek- 
man,  J  Mingael,  Capt.  Jochim  Staets,  Robt.  Sanders. 
Resolved  to  acquaint  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  County  ye  news 
yt  we  received  of  Col.  Pynchen. 

That  Pemmaquid  was  taken  by  ye  Indians  and  french  45 
People  kild  &  taken — also  that  there  should  be  a  ship  be 
come  to  Quebek  of  ye  french  with  news  of  wars  Between 
Engld  &  france  &  therefore  nothing  can  be  Expected  but  y* 
ye  french  will  doe  all  ye  mischieffe  they  can  to  this  governm* 
&  therefore  every  one  to  be  upon  there  guarde  &  take  care 
they  be  not  surprized. 

Mr.  Wessells  and  Reynier  Barentse  were  Desyned  to 
Communicate  this  to  the  farmers  of  Kinderhook  &  Clave- 
rack — Capt  Wendel  &  John  Lansing  the  People  above  — 
Rich'3  Pretty  &  Evert  Banker  at  Skenechtady  &  Canastagione. 


24  August,  1689.  Resolved  that  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye 
County  be  Informed  of  ye  alarm  which  was  last  night  at  ye 
Green  Bush  occasioned  by  some  Malitious  Persones  fyreing 
of  severall  gunns  wth  Baale  throw  ye  Door  and  house  of 
John  Witment  which  was  done  by  letters  accordingly 


28  August,  1689.  Resolved  yt  Barent  Geritse  of  Beth- 
lehem who  is  suspected  to  have  a  hand  in  ye  late  disturbance 
yl  was  at  Green  Bush,  or  least  Privy  to  it  y1  he  give  50£ 
security  to  answer  when  he  shall  be  called  for  to  be  Ex- 
amined about  yt  Bussinesse 


112  The  City  Records. 

» 

[Translation.]    ' 

Answer  of  the  Magistrates  and  Justices  of  the  Peace  to  the 
Onnondage  ambassador  who  is  sent  from  the  Onnondages 
with  the  news  from  Canada.  Albany,  ye  28  Augusti 
1689. 

1.  We  heartily   thank  the  Brethren  for  the  news  they 
send  us  from  Canada,  though  we  have  received  the  news  by 
the  Islands  of  the  great  victory  the  English  obtained  over 
the  French  in  burning  and  sinking  sixteen  big  ships  and  cap- 
turing 12  others,  each  ship  being  of  60  guns  and  400  men ; 
which  captured  ships  the  English  convey  home  as  you  do  your 
prisoners;  and  therefore  our  vessels  are  so   long   delayed 
coming  because  they  meet  french  men  of  war  and  fight  with 
them. 

2.  We  lament  the  death  of  the  brave  warriors  who  were 
slain  in  the  last  battle  with  the  french  above  mont  Royall 
but  rejoice  at  the  great  victory  gained  by  you  over  them, 
which  we  recommend  you  to  follow  up  and  not  be  imposed 
on  by  the  idle  and  nonsensical  speeches  of  the  Governor  of 
Canada  and  not  to  trust  any  of  his  ambassadors,  for  you 
have  experienced  his  falsehood  when  he  kidnapped  so  many 
of  your  warriors,  and  promised  last  harvest  to  Canadgegai 
that  they  should  return  in  summer ;  but  we  hear  that  5  ships 
have  come  but  do  not  hear  of  one  Indian  in  them. 

3.  We  hope  the   Brothers  will   follow  up  their  victory 
without  delay  as  we  perceive  the  Governor  of  Canada  is  now 
in  distress,  and  would  be  very  glad  that  you  should  now 
make  some  delay,  that  he  may  ship  his  bait  again  to  cheat 
the  Brothers.      Have   therefore  a  keen  open  eye  on    the 
motions  of  the  French  and  warn  us,  as  we  shall  warn  you ; 
and  we  hope  to  see  within  30  or  40  days  some  of  the  Sa- 
chems and  Chief  Warriors  here  whose  feet  shall  be  well 

greased'  Pr  order 

ROBT  LIVINGSTON. 

1st  September,  1689.  Harme  Janse  Van  Bommel  brings 
news  yl  our  Indians  have  taken  5  Praying  Canida  Indians 
upon  ye  Lake  who  were  bound  hither  to  doe  mischeeffe,  & 
y1  severall  french  were  seen  upon  ye  Lake 


The  City  Records.  113 

Upon  which  Capt  Wendel  &  6  men  were  ordered  to  goe 
to  Sarachtoge  to  examine  sd  5  Indians  &  to  make  enquiry  of 
affares  there  

Att  a  Meeting  of  the  May  Aldermen  and  Justices  of  ye 
Peace  of  ye  Citty  and  County  of  Albany  ye  2d  Day  of 
Sept  A°  1689.  Present :  P.  Schuyler  May,  Dirk. Wessels 
Recdr,  John  Wendel,  Jan  Janse  Bleeker,  AlbtRyckman, 
David  Schuyler,  Kilian  Van  Rensselaer,  Capt.  Marte 
Gerritse. 

The  Maquase  Desyre  by  Arnouts  Letter  that  the  Magis- 
trates of  Albany  and  Shinnechtady  would  be  pleased  to  assist 
them  with  two  or  three  pare  of  horses  &  5  or  6  men  to  Ride 
the  heaviest  Stockadoes  for  there  new  Castle  of  Tionondage 
which  they  remove  an  English  mile  higher  up  &  they  will 
pay  for  it  in  due  time 

Which  Request  ye  Court  are  willing  to  Comply  withall  to 
shew  there  good  Inclination  and  true  friendship  they  bear  to 
ye  sd  nation  have  Consented  that  three  pare  of  horses  &  six 
men  goe  thither 

Vizt  of  ye  Troopers  Jacob  Lockermans  of  Capt  Bleekers 
Company  Dirk  Albertse  Bradt  &  Wu  Hendricks6  who  did 
voluntarily  p'sent  there  service.  The  Patroon  a  horse. 
Cap1  Gerritse  a  horse.  Off  Capt  Wendells  Company  Hen- 
drick  Gerritse  &  Cornelis  Slingerlant;  &  Hans  Cross  wth  2 
horses.  

3d  Sept.  1689.  Resolved  by  ye  Civill  &  Military  officers  of 
ye  Citty  &  County  yl  ye  Bastions  &  Curtain es  about  the 
Citty  be  made  &  Repaired  with  al  speed  by  ye  Several  Di- 
visions of  ye  Companies  &  yl  ye  gates  be  Repaired;  And  yl 
To  morrow  there  be  a  full  Convention 


Att  a  Convention  &c  at  ye  Citty  Hall  ye  4th  day  of  Septembr 
in  ye  First  year  of  ye  Reign  of  our  souveraign  Lord  and 
Lady  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  of  Eng1  France  & 
Ireland  &a  Defenders  of  ye  Faith  A°  1689.  Present :  P. 
Schuyler  May,  Dirk  Wessels  Recdr,  Capt  John  Wendel, 
Capt  Jan  Janse  Bleeker,  Jan  Lansing,  David  Schuyler, 
Albt  Ryckman,  [aldermen ;  ]  Joh.  Abeel,  Evert  Banker, 
Isak  Verplank,  Joh  :  Beekman,  Assistents  :  Dirk  Teu- 


114  The  City  Records. 


nise,  Capt  Mar.  Gerritse,  Capt  Sander  glen,  Justices; 
Capt  Gerrit  Teunise,  Lieut  Evert  d  Bidder,  Lieu1  Jan 
van  Eps,  Ens.  Job :  Sanders. 

Eesolved  Since  there  is  such  Eminent  Danger  threatened 
by  ye  French  of  Canida  and  there  Praying  Indians  to  come 
into  this  County  to  kill  and  Destroy  there  Majesties  Subjects 
that  there  be  immediately  an  Express  sent  doune  to  Capt. 
Leysler  and  ye  Rest  of  ye  Militia  officers  of  ye  Citty  and 
County  of  New  Yorke  for  assistance  of  one  hundred  men  or 
more  for  ye  secureing  of  there  Majesties  Fort  and  ye  out 
Plantations  of  this  County  as  also  a  Recruite  of  six  hundred 
weight  of  Pouder  and  foure  hundred  Bale  Viz :  200  Two 
Pounders  and  200  four  Pounders  with  some  match  &  one 
hundred  hand  granadoes  out  of  there  Majesties  Stores  and 
Two  hundred  Pounds  out  of  there  Majesties  Revenue  which 
we  understand  is  dayly  collected  by  them  for  to  employ  ye 
Maquase  and  other  Indians  in  there  Majesties  service  for  ye 
Securing  ye  frontier  Parts  of  this  County  from  any  Incur- 
sions of  sd  Indians  or  French. 

Resolved  yl  ye  floor  of  ye  Stone  Point  in  ye  fort  be  Raised 
with  new  Planks  and  Timber  and  ye  Portholes  altered  & 
made  fitt  for  Defence. 

Upon  ye  news  y*  three  people  should  be  kild  at  Bartel 
Vromans  at  Sarachtoge  by  ye  Indians. 

Resolved  by  ye  Convention  yl  Leift  Jochim  Staets  forwith 
goe  with  ten  men  to  Sarachtoge  to  see  how  ye  matter  is,  & 
bring  us  an  accompt  with  ye  first,  &  yl  he  send  a  post  hither 
with  ye  tideings. 

Resolved  by  ye  Convention  yl  Rob1  Sanders  &  Eghbert 
Teunise  forthwith  goe  to  Sarachtoge  to  lye  there  till  further 
order,  whither  any  mischeefe  be  done  there  or  nott,  &  y* 
they  goe  themselfs  with  sd  Indians  to  Sarachtoge  where 
Lieft  Jochim  Staets  will  stay  there  Comeing  &  if  Eghbert 
be  not  at  ye  farm  yl  he  take  anoyr  whom  he  shall  think  Con- 
venient. 

Resolved  that  there  be  400  Stockadoes  Rid  for  the  Citty, 
to  be  set  up  in  ye  Room  of  ye  old  Stockadoes  &  yl  ye  Troopers 
bring  100,  Capt  Blekers  Come  160,  Capt  Wendels  160,  and 
sett  them  up  according  to  ye  Division. 

Major  Savage  Capt  Belsher  &  Capt  Jonathan  Bull  agents 
for  ye  3  Collonies  of  n :  England  Desyre  yl  this  Convention 


The  City  Eecords.  115 

would  Depute  three  or  foure  Gentn  to  have  a  Conference 
with  them  what  will  be  Requisite  to  Propose  to  ye  Indians 

Resolved  y*  ye  Mayor  Recorder  Capt  Wen  del  Capt  Bleeker 
Capt  Gerritse  &  Mr.  Livingston  doe  meet  ye  gentlemen  this 
afternoon  &  advise  them  in  y*  matter 

Resolved  that  there  be  a  fort  made  about  ye  house  of 
Bartel  Vroman  at  Sarachtoge  &  Twelve  men  Raised  out  of 
ye  Two  Companies  of  ye  Citty  &  2  Companies  of  ye  County 
to  Lye  there  upon  pay  who  are  to  have  12d  a  day  besides 
Provisions  and  some  Indians  of  Skachkook  to  be  there  with 
them  to  goe  out  as  skouts  in  yl  Part  of  ye  County. 

Resolved  that  ye  fort  at  ye  Halfmoon  about  ye  house  & 
barne  of  harme  Lievese  be  Removed  to  a  more  Convenient 
Place  &  ye  Mayor  &  Mr  Evert  Banker  to  goe  thither  &  see 
it  effected. 

Resolved  that  there  be  a  fort  made  at  Paepsknee  in  ye 
most  Convenient  Place,  &  yl  Melgert  abrah :  Claes  van 
Patten,  Marte  Cornells,  Gerrit  Gysbertsen  &  y-6  Inhabitants 
of  Paepsknee  make  ye  same  for  there  security  to  retreat 
into  upon  occasion  &  that  Albt  Ryckman  and  John  Beekman 
see  it  effected. 

Resolved  that  there  be  a  fort  made  at  Betlehem  in  the 
most  Convenient  Place,  and  y*  the  inhabitans  of  Betlehem 
make  ye  same  for  there  oune  security  to  Retreat  unto  upon 
occasion,  &  Albert  Ryckman  Justice  of  ye  Peace  &  Johannes 
Beekman  to  see  it  done. 

Resolved  that  Capt.  Gerrit  Teunise  and  ye  Commission 
officers  of  his  Company  doe  order  a  fort  to  be  made  att  ye 
Groot  Stuk  and  one  at  Pompoenik  where  it  shall  be  thought 
most  convenient  since  ye  fort  about  ye  Barn  of  Lawrence 
Van  Ale  is  judged  Dangerous  except  ye  Bergh  with  Corn 
be  removed  all  which  is  for  ye  Peoples  most  security,  &  that 
ye  People  of  Patcook  doe  make  there  Retreat  to  Johannes 
Bensings  upon  occasion  &  what  ye  sd  Capt  and  officers  shall 
doe  herein  ye  Inhabitants  there  are  to  submitt  too  upon  there 
Perrills 

Understanding  by  ye  Commission  officers  of  Schennectady 
that  there  is  no  settlement  there  how  or  what  way  they  are 
to  Behave  themselfs  if  ye  enemy  should  come,  since  they 
cannot  agree  amongst  themselves  in  yl  particular. 

Resolved  that  Mr  Dirk  Wessells  and  Cap1  Johannes 
Wetidel  Justices  of  ye  Peace  goe  thither  &  Conveen  ye  Com- 


lib  The  City  Records. 

pany  togeather  &  consult  what  measures  they  are  to  take 
upon  occasion  if  an  enemy  should  come,  to  ye  end  there  may 
be  unity  in  such  extremityes,  &  ye  Inhabitants  there  are 
ordered  to  submitt  to  what  ye  sd  gentlemen  &  ye  head  officers 
of  there  Toune  shall  Conclude  upon,  upon  there  oun  Perrill 
Resolved  since  we  have  Received  Certain  Information  of 
some  Praying  Canida  Indians  lately  taken  by  our  Maquase 
that  ye  french  Design  to  send  out  there  Indians  and  french 
to  kill  and  Destroy  there  Majts  Subjects  of  this  County  that 
Dirk  Teunise  Esqr  one  of  there  Majts  Justices  of  the  Peace 
goe  to  ye  County  of  Ulster  for  ye  assistance  of  25  or  30  men 
to  be  Ready  upon  occasion  if  any  attaque  or  Incursion  should 
be  made  on  ye  frontiers  of  this  County  for  to  secure  &  de- 
fend there  Majts  Interest  here  who  is  Impowered  to  dis- 
course with  ye  Civill  and  Military  officers  of  y*  County  about 
ye  p'mises.  _ 


Att  a  Convention  &c.,  llth  gept.  1689  ;  Present,  P.  Schuyler 
May',  D.  Wessells  RecoV,  Capt  Wendel,  Capt  Bleeker, 
Levinus  Van  Shaik,  Killian  van  Renselaer,  Leift  Jochem 
Staets,  Leift  Robt  Sanders,  Capt  gerrit  Teunise. 
List  of  men  who  have  taken  service  to  serve  there  Majte 
&  ye  Countrey  upon  the  frontiers  of  there  majts  County  of 
Albany  who  are  to  have  12d  pr  diem  and  Provisions  except 
Claes  Rust  who  is  to  have  ye  Command  &  is  to  have  18d  pr 
diem  who  had  Instructions  given  him  accordingly. 

of  Capt  Wendels  Compe    Claes  Rust 

gerrit  Luy  kasse 
Jellis  funda 

of  Capt  Bleekers  Compe    Johannes  Rutjers 
Rutjer  Teunise 

of  ye  Troop  —     Frank  Salisbury 

of  Capt  g:  Teunise  Compe  Joh:  gerritse  Yan  Yechten 
Teunise  dirkse  Yan  Yechten 
Lamb1  Jochimes 
Manuel  .Cansalis 

off  Capt  gerritse  Compe     Johannes  Janse  ouderkirk 

Joseph  Janse 

By  ye  Mayor  aldermen  and  Commonality  of 
ye  Citty  of  Albany  and  ye  Justices  of  ye 
Peace  of  ye  County  aforesaid 


The  City  Records.  117 

Whereas  the  selling  and  giving  of  strong  Drink  toy6  Indians 
at  this  present  juncture  is  founde  by  experience  Extream 
Dangerous  insomuch  yl  diverse  Inhbitaants  at  Shennectady 
and  Elsewhere  have  made  there  Complaint  that  there  is 
no  living  if  ye  Indians  be  not  kept  from  Drinke.  Wee 
doe  therefore  hereby  strikly  Prohibite  &  forbid  in  the 
name  of  King  William  &  queen  Mary  yl  no  Inhabitants 
of  the  Citty  and  county  of  Albany  doe  sell  or  give  any 
Rom  Brandy  Strong  Liquor  or  Beer  to  any  Indian  or 
Indians  upon  any  pretence  whatsoever  upon  ye  Penalty  of 
Two  monthes  Imprisonement  without  Baile  or  main  prise  & 
moreover  a  fine  of  five  Pound  toties  quoties,  ye  Prooffe  hereof 
to  be  made  as  is  Incerted  in  ye  Proclamation  Prohibiting  ye 
Selling  of  Strong  Drink  dated  ye  21<h  day  of  May  1689 
which  is  by  Proof  or  Purgation  by  oath,  always  Provided  yl 
it  shall  and  may  be  in  ye  power  of  ye  Mayor  aldermen  & 
Commonality  of  ye  sd  Citty  if  they  see  cause  to  give  any  srnal 
quality  of  Rom  to  any  Sachims  who  come  here  about  Publick 
Bussinesse  any  Prohibiton  abovesd  in  any  manner  notwith- 
standing, given  att  ye  Citty  hall  of  Albany  ye  12  day  of 
Septernb--  1689 

pr  Ordr  ROBT  LIVINGSTON  Clk 


Att  a  Convention  &c.  Sept  17lh  1689 
Present,  all  the  members  heretofore  mentioned. 
The  Messenger  Johannes  Becker  who  was  sent  Expresse  to 
N.  Yorke  with  a  letter  to  Capt  Leysler  and  ye  Rest  of  ye 
Military  officers  of  ye  Citty  &  County  of  N :  York  according 
to  ye  Resolution  of  this  Convention  ye  4th  of  this  Instant 
being  Returned  was  sent  for  and  asked  whither  he  had  De- 
livered ye  Letter  as  it  was  Directed  and  if  he  had  Received 
any  answer  from  sd  Leysler  to  ye  gent'-1  that  had  sent  him 
who  answered  that  he  had  delivered  ye  Letter  to  Capt. 
Leysler  but  had  no  letter  in  answer  but  thatt  Directed  to 
Capt  Wendel  and  Capt  Bleeker  and  y*  he  further  heard 
Capt.  Leysler  say,  yt  he  had  nothing  to  doe  wth  ye  Civill 
Power  he  was  a  Souldier  and  would  write  to  a  Souldier. 

Resolved  since  Capt  Leysler  and  ye  Military  officers  of  ye 
Citty  and  county  of  N :  Yorke  have  not  been  Pleased  to 
Return  ye  Least  answer  to  ye  Convention  upon  there  Letter 


118  The  City  Records. 

and  Resolve  of  ye  4th  Instant  but  sent  a  Letter  to  Cap1 
wendel  &  Capt  Bleeker  signed  by  Leysler  alone  which  is 
openly  Read,  ye  Purport  of  which  Cheeffly  tends  to  Desyre 
them  to  Induce  the  Common  People  to  send  Two  men  to  assist 
them  in  there  Conimite,  and  advise  them  further  yl  he 
sends  them  40  Ib  match  out  of  there  Majts  Stores  and  Two 
hundred  Ib  of  Pouder  belonging  to  ye  merchants  of  albany 
Item  4  small  Gunns,  but  as  for  money  they  Receive  none, 
neither  is  itt  in  there  Power  to  Command  any  of  there  Militia 
for  our  assistance  alledgeing  yl  ye  great  slight  there  People 
Rec'd  when  here  Deprives  them  to  oblige  Volunteers  In- 
sisting again  for  ye  Sending  doune  of  Committes  to  consult 
wth  them  and  shall  then  according  to  there  Capacities  Re- 
solve for  ye  Publick  good. 

That  some  oyr  methods  may  be  used  for  ye  Procureing  of 
men  if  possible  from  N :  England  or  Elsewhere  for  ye  De- 
fence of  there  Majts  Intrest  in  this  County,  and  if  Christians 
cannot  be  procured  yt  some  Indians  may  be  gott  wth  al  speed 

Ordered  yt  Rob1  Sanders  use  his  Endeavor  to  procure  the 
Indians  of  ye  Long  Reach  Wawyaehtenok  and  Sopus  to  come 
here  to  lye  out  as  skouts  upon  ye  borders  of  this  County  & 
yt  he  have  Letters  of  Recommendation  to  ye  Justices  of  ye 
Peace  of  ye  County  of  Ulster  to  assist  him  in  Perswading 
of  sd  Indians 

Ordered  yt  ye  assistants  of  ye  Respective  wardes  &  ye  Mili- 
tary officers  of  ye  County  goe  about  &  see  what  ye  Inhabitants 
will  be  willing  to  advance  for  ye  Raiseing  of  some  men  for 
ye  Defence  of  this  County  against  ye  french,  and  are  sent 
with  this  following  Proposall, 

PROPOSALL  TO  YE  COMMONALITY  for  ye  maintaining  and 
paying  of  men  in  this  juncture  of  time  for  our  Defence 
against  ye  french,  since  by  the  Present  Revolutions  we  can 
expect  no  releef  for  or  assistance  from  our  neighbours  accord- 
ing to  there  letters  sent  hither,  which  Charge  will  be  Re- 
presented by  this  Convention  to  ye  govr'whom  there  Majes- 
ties will  i>e  Pleased  to  send  that  sd  men  may  be  pd  out  of 
ye  Public  Revenues  of  ye  Countrey  being  for  ye  Preservation 
of  there  Majesties  Intrest  in  these  parts,  otherwise  that  it 
will  be  paid  by  a  generall  Tax  out  of  ye  whole  County  To  ye 
maintaining  which  men  these  following  persons  subcribe  viz1 


The  City  Eecords. 


119 


P.  Schuyler  Mayr  ....  £15 

Kil :  van  Renselaer  ...  15 

gabriel  Thompson  ....  10 

Marte  gerritse ..  10 

Dirk  wesseUs  '.  6 

Jan  Lansing 12 

Job :  wendel 12 

L.  v  Schaick  10 

Albt.Ryckman 6 

Robt  Sanders 6 

Robt  Livingston   50 

Johannes  abeel   6 

Gert  Teunise   5 

David  Schuyler  6 

Jochim  Staets 5 

Evert  Banker 5 

Isak  Verplank  3 

Johannes  Beekman  ...  4 

Johannes  Thomase  ...  2 


o 

Reynier  Barents  .    ... 

6 

0 

0 
0 

Jan  Jaifse  Bleeker  .  .  . 
abraham  Cuyler  ..... 

.      6 
3 

0 

0 

3 

0 

antho  Bratt      

0 

0 

.     15 

0 

Margt  Schuyler      .   . 

20 

0 

Catharina  Glen   

4 

0 
0 
0 
0 

Myndt  harmense 
Elisabeth  Van  Tricht 
Jannetje  Gerritse 
Jan  Rosie    ...... 

.       6 
.      3 
.     10 

o 

0 

Jan  Becker  

2 

0 

5 

0 

Gerrit  Banker  

.    18 

o 

0 
0 

£292 

SECOND   WARD 


Johannes  Cuyler £3  :  12 

Johannes  appel 3  : 

Jeronimus  wendel  ....  4  : 

P.  Davidtse 2  :    0 

Hend :  Bries  3  : 

Jacob  abrahamse 2  : 

Evert  wendel 3  : 


Phil:  wendel £1: 

arent  Schuyler 6  : 

Jacobus  Turk , .  1  : 10 

Johannes  Rooseboom  . .  2:6 

£31:    8 


Dirk  Sensing £1:10 


Bennony  van  Corlaer 
Jacob  Meese 
Jacob  Voss   . 


THIRD  WARD 

Myndt  Frederickse  . 
Johannes  van  Sante 


10 


The  farmers  belonging  to 

Melgert  abrahamse  . . . 

Claes  van  Petten 

gerrit  gysbertse 1 

Dorite  Janse 

geertruy  Janse    1 

Cornelis  Teunise 

Cobus  Janse  

Catharina  van  dr  Poel 

antho  van  Shaik  . . 

Hend  :  van  Ness    ..... 

P.  Lockermans 

Teunise  d  metselaer  . . 


Capt  Marting  Grerritse  Compe 


8 

And.  hanse  
Jan  Ouderkerk  

£1: 
:12 

Hanne  Lieverse 

1  : 

4 

Jan  van  ness      .       ... 

1  : 

4 

Barent  Bratt  

0  : 

12 

Geurt  hendrickse  
Roeloff  gerritse  

:12 
:    6 

14 

William  Ketelhevn  .  .  . 
gert  Lansing  as^vell    . 
as  his  brothers  

2  : 
0: 
£26  :  18 

120  The  City  Records. 

The  farmers  belonging  to  Capt  ger  Teunisens  Compe 


Lievo  winne 

1 
1 
1 
1 

8 
31 

18 
8 

Jacob  van  hoesen 

1 

Volkert  van  hoesen  .  .  . 

Luykas  Janse  

1 

£9 
1st  ward  &  Convention  £292 
£367 

1 

C  :  gerritsens  Compe  .  . 

2dward  .. 

Att  a  Convention  &c.,  23d  day  September  1689.  Present, 
P.  Schuyler  May,  Dirk  Wessels  Rec^,  J.  Wendel,  J. 
Bleeker,  Jan  Lansing,  Liv :  van  Schaik,  albt  Ryckman, 
Job:  Abeel,  Ev.  Banker,  Capt  Marten  gerritsen,  C.  gert 
Teunise,  Leift  Job :  Benseni,  Leift  Rob :  Sanders,  Leift. 
Ev.d  Ridder,  V  :  gabr :  Thomson. 

The  Schedule  or  List  of  ye  Burgers  &  farmers  names  who 
subscribed  for  ye  Contribution  of  money  for  ye  Raiseing  of 
men  for  our  assistance  being  summd  up  amounts  to  ye 
somme  of  £367 : 6  and  therefore  not  half  Enough  for  ye  Pro- 
cureing  of  one  hundred  men  which  is  judged  Requisite  to 
acquaint  ye  Commonality  withall :  So  yl  other  means  must 
be  used  to  procure  men,  doe  therefore  Mortify  e  &  make  null 
&  void  ye  aforesaid  subscriptions  thanking  ye  People  who 
had  signed  for  there  good  Inclination.  It  is  therefore 

Resolved  since  no  assistance  can  be  expected  from  N: 
Yorke  nor  money  raised  here  to  Procure  men  to  write  to  ye 
governor  and  Convention  of  Boston  for  ye  assistance  of  one 
hundred  men  and  also  to  governor  and  generall  assembly  off 
Connetticut  for  ye  assistance  of  ye  like  number  of  men  to 
lye  in  garrison  here  this  winter  to  secure  there  Majesties  Fort 
and  ye  frontiers  of  this  county  against  ye  french  or  there 
Praying  Indians  which  Letters  are  written  accordingly 

Whereas  it  is  thougt  Convenient  by  ye  Convention  of 
Civill  and  Military  officers  of  ye  Citty  and  County  of  Albany 
y*  all  Possible  endeavors  be  used  to  Procure  ye  Indians  of 
ye  Long  Reaqji  Wawijachtenock  &  Sopus  to  come  here  & 
Lye  out  as  skouts  upon  ye  borders  of  this  County  to  prevent 
any  Incursions  yl  might  be  made  by  ye  Indians  of  Canida 
and  Robert  Sanders  Lieftennant  of  one  of  ye  Train  bande 


The  City  Records.  121 

Companies  of  this  Citty  being  thought  a  fitt  p'son  to  Procure 
ye  same,  he  is  therefore  hereby  Impowered  &  authorized  to 
use  his  Endevors  in  effecting  ye  same,  &  ye  gentlemen  of  our 
neighbouring  County  of  Ulster  are  earnestly  desyred  &  In- 
treated  to  be  aideing  &  assisting  to  him  in  sd  bussinesse  itt 
being  for  ye  Preservation  of  there  Majesties  king  William 
&  queen  Maryes  Interest  in  these  parts  Actum  in  albany 
ye  27th  of  September  1689 

Att  a  Convention  &o.  Albany  Oct.  24th  1689  Present,  P. 
Schuyler  Mayor,  Joh  :  Wendel,  albert  Ryckman,  David 
Schuyler,  Eghbert  Teunise,  Claes  Ripse,  Ev.  Banker, 
Captain  Marten  gerritsen,  C  :  Sanders  glenn,  L  :  Jan  van 
Eps,  En  :  Joh :  Sanders,  Lieft  Jochim  Staets,  Capt 
Sharpe,  gert  Ryerse. 

The  Convention  being  mett  to  consider  ye  Contents  of  a 
Letter  sent  by  ye  governor  of  Boston  in  ye  name  and  by 
Consent  of  ye  Councill  and  Representatives  wherein  they 
signify  there  sence  of  ye  feares  and  Dangers  we  Lye  in  of 
Incursions  by  ye  french  and  French  Indians  &  ye  need  we 
stand  in  of  some  forces  to  be  sent  for  ye  enforcing  of  our 
garrison  which  they  would  be  willing  to  afford  from  thence, 
but  there  p'sent  Circumstances  of  things  haveing  so  many 
men  out  against  ye  Common  Enemy  to  ye  Eastward,  besides 
ye  great  Distance  from  hence,  yl  they  cannot  doe  what  they 
would  in  that  Regard,  but  have  written  to  ye  governor  and 
Councill  of  Connetticutt  Earnestly  Pressing  them  to  Provide 
one  hundred  men  (if  they  can  so  many)  or  what  they  can 
for  our  present  Relieffe,  &  y1  Capt  Bull  be  desyred  to  take 
the  Command  of  them ;  and  that  they  had  writt  to  ye  Go- 
vernor and  Councill  of  Plymouth  that  they  would  enforce  the 
same  motion — by  there  Letter  to  Connetticut,  y1  it  may  be 
sent  by  ye  joynt  Concurrence  of  all  ye  Collonies. 

Robert  Treat  Esquire  Governor  of  Conetticut  doth  ans- 
wer our  Letter  sent  him  by  Captain  Bull  which  he  had 
Communicated  to  ye  general  assembly  that  there  Court  had 
taken  our  condition  into  there  serious  Consideration,  and 
have  Resolved  to  send  us  about  eighty  souldiers  with  there 
officers  as  soon  as  they  can  effect  it,  and  are  endeavoring  to 
Annals,  ii.  11 


122  The  City  Records. 

Procure  Captain  Bull  to  be  there  Captain  but  hope  and 
Expect  yl  we  will  pay  ye  Commission  officers  there  wages, 
They  being  at  so  great  a  charge  about  ye  warrs  with  ye 
Eastern  Indians  and  otherwise  by  Losses  throug  great  sick- 
nesse  and  mortality  in  there  harvest  season — yet  they  think 
strange  thatt  none  of  our  oun  neighbouring  Counties  should 
Releave  us  which  lye  so  farr  before  them  with  lesse  charge 
&  difficulty  then  they  can  Reach,  &  therefore  think  it  so 
Reasonable  a  Request  on  there  Parts  unto  us  to  take  off 
some  Part  of  there  wages,  there  expenses  being  so  great 
among  themselfs,  &  Cannot  raise  men  for  such  service  at 
p'sent  with  great  Difficulty  &  waite  our  Complyance  herewith, 
Vpon  which  this  following  was  resolved  Captain  Sander 
Grlenn  Lieft  Jan  van  Eps  Ens :  Johannes  Sanders  glen,  and 
Sweer  Teunise  doe  vote  in  ye  behalfe  of  ye  Toune  of  Shin- 
nechtady  yl  ye  men  may  be  sent  for  from  Canetticut  and 
that  they  will  bear  there  Proportiones  of  ye  Cherge  of  ye 
officers  there  wages  and  maintain  them  accordingly,  Provided 
they  be  under  Command  and  obey  such  orders  and  Instruc- 
tions as  they  shall  Receive  from  time  to  time  from  ye  Con- 
vention of  this  Citty  and  County  and  in  ye  time  of  there  not 
sitting  to  ye  Mayor  &  aldermen  of  this  citty.  It  is  ye  opin- 
ion of  ye  Convention  yl  ye  8  men  still  at  Sarachtoge  doe 
Remain  ther  til  further  order. 


At  a  Convention  &c.  Oct.  25.  1689.   Present  as  before. 

It  is  Thougt  Convenient  that  all  there  Majesties  Justices 
of  ye  Peace  &  Commission  officers  doe  take  ye  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  there  Majesties  William  &  Mary  king  and  Queen 
of  England  France  &  Ireland  &a  Defenders  of  ye  faith  and 
accordingly 

Peter  Schuyler  mayor  &  Justice  of  ye  Peace  did  take  ye 
oath  of  fidelity  before  Dirk  wessells  Recorder  &  Justice  of 
the  Peace 

And  these  following  Persons  took  ye  oath  of  fidelity  to 
there  Majesties  before  Peter  Schuyler  mayor  viz1 

Dirk  wessells  Recorder  Capt  Gerrit  Teunise  Capt :  Marte 
G-erritse  Lieft :  Robt :  Sanders  Ens  :  Gabriel  Thompson  kilian 
van  Renselaer  Claes  Ripse  Van  Dam  David  Schuyler  Robt: 


The  City  Records.  123 

Livingston  Lieft :  Jochim  Staets :  Johannes  appel  Constable 
&  Peter  Boss  Constable 

Dirk  Wessells  Jan  Janse  Bleeker  and  Dirk  Teunise 
Justices  of  the  Peace  haveing  been  at  Sopus  for  ye  behalfe 
of  this  County  to  Desyre  assistance,  and  accordingly  made 
there  application  to  Major  Chambers  ye  third  time,  who  gave 
his  warrant  to  ye  Commission  officers  to  collect  the  votes  of 
ye  Inhabitants  concerning  y-  sending  up  of  men  upon  acca- 
sioo  for  ye  assistance  of  ye  People  of  alb.  upon  which  ye 
return  was  by  Capt  Beekman  of  yc  horse,  That  all  his  men 
were  willing  •  but  Two  Capt  Matthys  that  all  his  Company 
was  willing,  Capt  Garten  that  he  himself  and  all  his  Comp : 
were  Ready  but  Capt  Paling  had  not  brought  in  his  return 

The  sd  Justices  did  Insist  with  ye  Major  of  yl  County 
that  ye  men  might  be  Prikt  yet  were  to  come  upon  occasion 
of  allarm,  that  they  might  ye  more  Depend  thereupon,  who 
ordered  yet  ye  Court  marshall  should  meet  ye  25  of  October 
to  effect  that  Bussinesse 

Resolved  that  the  men  that  are  at  Sarachtoge  be  sent  for 
doune  and  that  seven  souldiers  out  of  there  majesties  fort 
with  Claes  Rust  and  Dick  albertse  Bradt  be  sent  thither  to 
lye  there  as  skouts  on  yl  part  of  ye  County. 

Resolved  yl  Capt  killian  van  Ranselaer  &  Capt  gert  Teunise 
be  deputed  to  goe  to  ye  Governor  and  Council  of  Connetticut 
and  to  Return  our  hearty  Thanks  for  there  kinde  Letter  of 
ye  15th  Instant  wherein  they  signify  y*  they  will  send  about 
80  men  besides  officers  for  our  Releefe  Expecting  y*  we  will 
pay  ye  Commission  officers  there  wages  who  are  to  be  com- 
missionated  to  treat  wth  ye  sd  governor  and  Council  about 
ye  officers  wages  since  this  county  hath  had  such  excessive 
Charges  without  ye  least  assistance  &  to  accept  of  ye  men 
by  them  Proferd  &  to  Dispatch  them  hither  with  all  speed 
who  are  to  lye  in  garrison  here  this  winter. 

Whereas  we  are  informed  that  diverse  persons  envying  ye 
Peace  wellfare  and  tranquility  of  ye  Inabitants  of  this  City 
&  County  have  Endeavored  to  Raise  diverse  false  aspersions 
and  jealousies  as  if  some  Inhabitants  here  should  have 
greater  affection  to  ye  late  Popish  king  James  Stuart  then 
to  our  endeared  Souvraign  Lord  &  Lady  king  William  & 
Queen  Mary  whom  God  almighty  through  his  great  mercy 
hath  been  pleased  to  call  to  ye  Throne  &  to  rule  over  us j 


124  The  City  Eecords. 

but  to  avoid  all  such  Jealousies  thogh  we  are  very  well  as- 
sured that  few  or  none  in  our  Posts  but  doe  abhor  and  De- 
test all  Popery  and  what  tends  thereunto  but  on  ye  Contrarie 
will  with  all  Cheerfullnesse  &  readinesse  abide  ye  oath  of 
allegiance  to  there  sd  Majesties  as  -all  ye  members  of  ye  sd 
Convention  have  already  done 

It  is  therefore  thought  Convenient  by  ye  sd  Convention 
thogh  for  ye  present  there  be  no  Commission  from  there 
Majesties  to  administer  ye  sd  oath  that  ye  Inhabitants  of  ye 
Citty  &  County  of  Albany  &  souldiers  of  there  Majesties 
fort  doe  all  take  ye  oath  of  Allegiance  to  there  Majesties 
king  William  &  queen  Mary  on  or  before  the  last  day  of 
October  next  ensuing,  and  ye  Aldermen  in  there  wards  are 
ordered  to  administer  sd  oath  who  will  be  founde  at  there 
respective  houses  on  ye  —  forenoon  &  ye  justices  in  ye  out 
plantations  to  administer  the  same  to  them  that  live  there, 
all  who  are  to  make  Return  thereof  to  ye  office  of  ye  Citty 
&  County  who  names  are  to  be  recorded  accordingly. 
By  order  of  ye  Convention 

ROBT  LIVINGSTON 


The  26^  of  October  168ft  Resolved  yt  Dirk  Wessells  John 
Wendell  Jan  Janse  Bleeker  David  Shuyler  &  albert  Ryck- 
man,  Justices  of  ye  Peace  doe  repare  to  there  Majestys  fort 
and  administer  to  ye  Souldiers  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  there 
Majesties  William  &  Mary  king  &  queen  of  England  &c.  who 
accordingly  with  all  Cherfulnesso  &  Readinesse  took  ye  same 
(as  they  were  drawn  up  in  ye  fort  in  arms  by  Lev1  Sharpe 
who  took  his  oath  ye  19th  of  October  last  in  ye  full  Conven- 
tion) a  list  whereof  follows 

Charles  Rogers  )     H      t  Wm  Ellis 

Christoph:  Barnsford  f      >erg  Robt  Farrington 

John  holman        "1  Ralph  Graunt 

John  gilbert  V  Corprs  Wm  Haaton 

John  Thompson   J  Wm  hather 

Wm  Shaw  meatros  [gunner]  Stephen  hooper 

Tho.  Rodgers  Drummer  Wm  Rogers 

gert  arentse  John  Radecliffe 

Robt  Barnet  Richd  Tunnell 

John  Carter  Elias  Van  Ravesteyn 

John  Douglas  Ricd  white 

John  Denny  Ricd  wilson 


The  City  Eecords.  125 

Jos  Tetts  James  willet 
Tho :  wakefield 

Tho.  Shaver  Refuses  [to] 

These  were  not  present  take  ye  oath 
being  at  ye  halfmoon 

Tobyas  henderson  Memorandum  ye  10  of  Nov. 

James  Larmond  ye  abovesd  men  Took  all  ye 

Wm  Powel  oath  of  allegiance 

It  is  unanimously  Resolved  yl  Leift  Thog.  Sharpe  who  to- 
gether with  ye  Souldiers  of  there  Majesties  garrison  have 
taken  ye  oath  of  fidelity  to  there  Majesties  William  &  Mary 
king  &  queen  yl  ye  sd  Leift  Sharpe  shall  Continue  in  ye  Com- 
mand of  there  Majesties  fort  of  Albany  who  is  to  obey  such 
orders  &  Instuctions  as  he  shall  from  time  to  time  Receive 
from  ye  Convention  of  ye  Citty  and  County  of  Albany,  & 
yl  no  other  person  shall  have  ye  Command  of  sd  fort  till 
orders  Came  from  there  Majesties  king  William  &  queen 
Mary  which  we  with  Patience  will  waite  for  Since  ye  sd  fort 
is  kept  for  there  Majesties  use 

Signed         P  SCHUYLER 

JOHANNES  WENDEL 
JAN  JANSE  BLEEKEB 
K  V  RENSELAEB 
Ev  BANKER 
JOH:  CUTLER 
DIRK  TEUNISE 

This  Protest  was  sent  aboard  of  Jochim  Staets  by  ye  Mar- 
shall inclosed  in  a  letter  to  him  &  alderman  Skaik 

Resolved  to  write  and  give  our  hearty  thanks  to  ye  Hon- 
orable Governor  &  Councill  and  Representives  of  Boston  for 
there  kinde  letter  of  ye  10th  of  October  in  writeing  to  ye 
governor  &  Councill  of  Conetticut  Pressing  them  to  Provide 
one  hundred  men  for  our  assistance  who  accordingly  have 
granted  to  furnish  us  with  eighty  men  with  there  officers 
hopeing  &  expecting  Payment  for  ye  Commission  officers  & 
yl  Kilian  Van  Renselaer  &  Capt  gerrit  Teunise  be  sent  to 
Conetticut  to  return  them  thanks  for  there  assistance  and  to 
accept  of  ye  men  and  withal  to  "Inform  them  of  ye  mean 
Condition  of  this  place  and  how  willing  we  would  be  to  pay 
sd  officers  &  Souldiers  too  if  we  were  in  condition  to  bear  it. 


126  The  City  Eecords. 

Resolved  to  write  to  ye  governor  &  Councill  of  Conetticut 
to  thank  them  for  there  kinde  letter  of  ye  15th  of  October 
wherein  they  graunt  to  send  us  eighty  souldiers  with  there 
officers,  hopeing  and  expecting  we  will  Pay  ye  Commission 
officers,  &  yt  Capt.  Renselaer  and  Capt.  gert  Teunise  be 
Commissionated  to  goe  thither  and  Return  our  Thanks  and 
accept  of  ye  80  men  &  Endeuor  to  have  them  hither  with 
all  speed,  who  are  to  submit  themselfs  to  ye  orders  &  direc- 
tions of  ye  Convention,  &  withal  to  consult  with  ye  Governor 
&  Councill  Concerning  ye  Payment  of  ye  Commission  Officers. 


By  ye  Convention  of  ye  Civill  and  Military  officers  of  ye 

Citty  and  County  of  Albany. 

Whereas  it  is  thought  Convenient  that  some  p'sons  be 
Commissionate  to  goe  to  ye  honorable  governor  &  Councill 
of  Conetticut  and  ye  assembly  if  sitting  to  give  our  Cordiall 
thanks  for  there  great  kindnesse  in  Resolueing  to  send 
eighty  men  with  there  officers  for  ye  security  of  there  Majes- 
ties Interest  in  these  parts,  and  we  confideing  in  ye  Integrity 
and  fidelity  of  Capt.  Kilian  van  Renselaer  &  Capt.  Gert 
Teunise  members  of  our  Convention  have  Desyred  and 
authorized  them  with  all  Convenient  Speed  to  goe  to  ye  Col- 
lony  of  Conetticut  and  Signify  to  ye  honorable  governor  & 
Councill  of  yl  Colony  &  to  ye  assembly  if  sitting  ye  Real 
sence  we  have  of  there  kindnesse  in  Sendeing  these  men,  & 
to  hasten  there  Comeing  with  all  convenient  Speed,  as  also 
to  Discourse  with  ye  sd  Governor  Concerning  ye  wages  of  ye 
Commission  officers  earnestly  Desyreing  yl  ye  sd  Two  gentle- 
men may  be  Reputed  and  Esteemed  as  our  agents  in  yv  Be- 
halfe  Ratifyeing  and  Confirming  whatever  they  shall  act  or 
doe  about  ye  p'mises,  given  under  our  hands  &  sealls  in 
Albany  ye  28th  day  of  October  in  ye  first  year  of  ye  Reign 
of  our  Souveraign  Lord  &  Lady  William  &  Mary  king  & 
queen  of  England:  &c.  1689. 

Signed         PIETER  SCHUYLEE 

JOHANNES  WENDELL 
DIRK  WESSELLS 
Ev.  BANKER 


The  City  Records. 


127 


Att  a  Convention  &c.  Albany  28th  Sept.  [October]  1689 

Present  as  before. 

Resolved  y1  Capt.  wendel  &  Capt.  Bleeker  Cause  ye  gates 
&  Courtains  of  ye  Citty  to  be  made  &  Repared  according  to 
ye  Division  made  and  there  engagement  who  are  to  warn 
there  People  to  doe  it  upon » Pain  of  answering  whatsoever 
Inconveniencies  that  may  happen  by  such  neglect  and  each 
of  ye  sd  Captains  had  an  order  given  them  accordingly. 

Resolved  yl  Since  Sundrey  members  of  ye  Convention 
have  Signed  a  Bonde  for  ye  Reimburseing  of  Robt  Livings- 
ton such  disbursements  as  he  shall  make  for  there  Majesties 
account  upon  our  Request  y1  ye  said  Bonde  be  Recorded 
which  is  as  follows. 

Whereas  there  is  at  this  Present  juncture  litle  or  no  Rev- 
enue accrueing  to  there  Majesties  in  this  Citty  and  County 
and  nevertheless  diverse  Charges  to  be  paid  as  ye  Reparations 
of  there  Majesties  fort  Paying  of  ye  People  that  have  been 
at  Sarachtoge  upon  ye  kings  &  queens  account  and  Diverse 
other  Public  Charges  and  altho  Robert  Livingston  is  already 
Considerable  in  advance  yett  ye  Convention  doe  Desyre  y1 
he  further  may  advance  upon  there  Majesties  accompt,  such 
necessary  Charges  as  shall  from  time  to  time  happen  and 
*  because  ye  sd  Livingston  may  be  ye  more  Incouraged  to 
Proceed,  we  whose  names  are  underwritten  doe  Promise  & 
Engage  yl  if  ye  sd  Livingston  be  not  Reimbursed  such  Dis- 
bursements as  he  shall  make  by  ye  Mayors  order  one  aider- 
men  and  assistant  for  ye  Publick  account  in  Six  monthes 
after  ye  arrivall  of  a  governor  or  orders  from  there  now 
Majesties  king  William  &  queen  Mary  yl  wee  will  yointly 
&  severally  see  him  pd  &  Satisfyed  and  that  he  shall  not 
sustain  any  Losse  or  Damage  by  Such  Disbursements  being 
by  our  Particular  orders  as  witnesse  our  hands  in  albany  ye 
26  of  October  1689. 

PETER  SCHUYLER 
DIRK  WESSELLS 
CLAES  RIPSE  VAN  DAM 
GABRIEL  THOMPSON 
DIRK  TEUNISE 
ALBT  RYCKMAN 
DAVID  SCHUYLER 


128  The  City  Records. 

Johannes  van  der  heyden  hend :  Janse  &  William  Hollie 
took  ye  oath  of  allegiance  to  there  Majesties. 

The  Convention  writt  a  letter  to  alderman  Schayk  and 
Lieftenant  Staets  putting  them  in  minde  of  what  they  had 
writt  yesterday  Concerning  ye  Keports  of  Leyslers  Inten- 
tions to  send  up  armed  men  to  overthrow  ye  government  of 
this  Citty,  and  that  they  would  endevor  to  prevent  it  as 
they  loved  ye  Peace  of  this  Citty,  and  withall  Informed 
them  that  we  hear  by  a  Prisoner  come  from  Canida  yl  ye 
Indian  Prisoners  were  come  from  france  with  ye  governor 
of  Mont  Koyall  and  yl  ye  governor  of  Canida  and  diverse 
officers  went  to  france,  &  therefore  consider  in  what  a  Con- 
dition we  would  he  with  ye  Indians  if  a  Change  of  Magis- 
trates and  a  Subversion  of  ye  government  should  at  p'sent 
be  made. 


Albany  ye  29th  of  October  1689.  Present,  Peter  Schuyler 
Mayor,  Dirk  wessells,  Jan  Bleeker,  Claes  Ripse,  David 
Schuyler,  albert  Ryckman,  Joh :  Cuyler,  Eghbert  Teu- 
nise,  Jan  nack 

"Whereas  there  was  an  order  made  by  ye  Convention  ye 
25th  Instant  that  ye  men  Lyeing  at  Sarachtoge  be  sent  for 
and  yt  seven  Souldiers  of  there  Majesties  fort  with  Two  other4 
men  be  Sent  there  yl  can  speak  ye  Indian  Language,  and 
being  informed  by  Leift  Sharpe  y*  ye  Souldiers  were  un- 
willing to  go,  they  were  Sent  for  who  told  the  Gentlemen 
that  if  ye  Convention  would  engage  for  their  Pay  they 
would  willingly  serve  there  Majesties  to  whom  they  have 
Sworne  fidelity  in  their  Majesties  fort;  But  they  would  all 
willingly  goe  with  there  officer  for  their  Majesties  account 
whereever  he  would  lead  them,  &  if  ye  Convention  were 
not  satisfied  with  that  they  would  all  grounde  there  arms 
alleadgeing  yl  none  but  a  governor  or  he  yl  had  Iminediat 
Commission  from  there  Majesties  William  &  Mary  could 
Command  them  out  in  Such  Small  Partyes  Except  they  en- 
gage for  their  pay 

Upon  which  it  was  Resolved  yl  Dirk  albertse  Bratt  and 
anothSr  be  sent  thither  to  stay  there  with  Some  Indians  till 
further  order. 


The  City  Records.  129 

Att  a  Convention  &c.  albany  ye  4th  of  november  1689 
Present,  Peter  Sehuyler  mayor,  Dirk  wessels  Recorder, 
Joh  :  wendel,  Liv  Van  Schaik,  Jan  Bleeker,  Claes 
Ripse,  David  Sehuyler,  albert  Ryckman,  Reynier  Bar- 
entse,  Evert  Banker,  Jan  nack,  Joh :  Cuyler,  Eghbert 
Teunise,  Captain  Marten  gerritse  Justice,  Leif.  Robert 
Sanders,  • 

Whereas  ye  members  of  ye  Convention  have  given  to 
Robt.  Livingston  a  Bonde  whereby  they  oblige  themselfs 
to  bear  ye  sd  Livingston  harmlesse  for  such  Disbursements 
as  he  hath  now  or  shall  make  for  ye  Publike  account  by  our 
Particular  order.  That  if  he  be  not  paid  within  Six  months 
after  ye  arrivall  of  a  governor  or  orders  from  there  now  Majes- 
ties King  William  &  queen  Mary,  that  wee  will  see  him 
paid,  &  if  it  should  happen  that  care  should  not  be  taken 
for  ye  Reimburseing  of  sd  Livingston,  that  he  should  be 
necessitated  to  Demand  ye  sd  Disbursements  of  ye  members 
of  sd  Convention.  It  is  ordered  yt  such  p'son  or  p'sons  so 
Paying  Such  Publike  Charge  be  Reimbursed  outofy6  Pub- 
like  Rates  of  ye  County,  always  Provided  ye  sd  Charge  be 
for  ye  Reparations  of  there  Majesties  fort  of  Albany  &  ye 
Charge  of  ye  People  yl  Lay  at  Sarachtoge. 

Livinus  Van  Schaik  alderman  and  one  of  ye  Justices  of 
ye  Peace  of  this  County  arrived  this  day  from  N :  Yorke  to 
whom  the  Resolution  of  this  Convention  of  ye  26th  of 
October  Last  was  Sent,  inclosed  in  a  letter  to  him  and  Leift 
Jochim  Staas  who  were  Desyred  after  they  had  Received 
Information  yl  Capt  Leysler  was  intended  to  send  up  a 
Company  of  armed  men  to  make  themselfs  master  of  there 
Majesties  Fort  .of  Albany  and  of  ye  Citty  turn  ye  govern- 
ment of  this  Citty  upside  doune  &  Disturbe  ye  Peace  and 
Tranquility  of  there  Majesties  King  William  &  queen  Marys 
Liege  People,  and  carry  Some  of  ye  Principle  Burghers  and 
Inhabitants  of  this  Citty  Prisoners  to  N  :  Yorke. 

That  they  should  Deliver  ye  Protestation  sent  them  by 
this  Convention  against  Such  Proceedings. 

Alderman  Schaik  haveing  Received  diverse  Informations 
from  Credible  Persones  that  they  had  such  and  such  Designs 
Discoursed  Jochim  Staets  telling  him  h»  thought  himself 
obliged  to  Deliver  ye  Protest  to  Leysler  and  ye  Committee, 


130  The  City  Records. 

which  was  sent  by  ye  Convention  of  Albany  upon  which 
Jochim  Staets  Replyed  he  knew  not  what  to  doe.  They 
would  have  him  Capt  of  yl  Company  that  went  up  to  Albany 
which  was  to  Lye  in  ye  fort. 

Alderman  Shaik  answered  Mr.  Staets  you  know  that 
would  Be  against  ye  Resolution  of  ye  Convention  of  Albany 
who  hes  Put  Captain  Sharpe  to  be  Commander  there,  where- 
upon Jochim  Staets  Replyed  they  would  have  Sharpe  out, 
&  if  I  will  not  accept  of  itt  they  will  putt  in  Churchill,  me- 
thinks  that  it  is  better  that  I  accept  of  itt  then  that  such  a 
Vagabond  as  Churchill  should  have  ye  Command. 

Upon  which  ye  sd  alderman  went  in  with  Jochim  Staets 
to  ye  Committee  being  ye  29th  day  of  October  &  Delivered  ye 
Protest  to  Capt.  Leysler  &  ye  Resolution  of  ye  Convention 
of  Albany  for  Capt  Sharpe  to  Continue  till  further  orders. 

The  Said  alderman  Skaik  askd,  what  answer  they  would 
give  him  upon  ye  Protest,  upon  which  Jacob  Milborne 
Replyed  with  Consent  of  ye  other  Persons  Conveined  yl 
time  that  he  would  goe  up  to  Albany,  &  see  the  fort  there 
better  Secured. 

The  Said  Schaik  Considering  y«  Contents  of  ye  Conventions 
Letter  whereby  they  earnestly  Desyred  advice  by  an  Expresse 
if  occasion  Required,  thought  Convenient  to  come  up  him- 
self to  give  ye  Convention  an  acct  off  affares  not  Doubting 
but  that  they  were  fully  Resolved  to  Send  up  men  hither 
to  Oisturbe  the  People  of  Albany  Since  ye  day  before  ye  Pro- 
test came  to  his  hands  he  himself  being  in  there  Committee 
(about  some  Discourse  thatt  should  have  Passed  on  Long 
Island)  heard  Capt.  Leysler  Say  amongst  other  Discourse 
that  they  of  albany  should  bring  there  Charter  here  if  they 
had  one,  &  yl  Leift  Sharpe  &  Rodgers  were  Papists  all  which 
with  severall  other  Informations  he  heard:  while  he  was  at 
N :  Yorke. 

The  Convention  did  Returne  there  hearty  thanks  to  alder- 
man Schaik  for  his  Care  &  fidelity  in  acting  so  Prudently  in 
yl  affaire  &  for  Delivering  ye  Protest  which  they  understand 
would  not  have  been  Delivered  by  Jochim  Staets;  &  Espe- 
cially for  his  trouble  that  He  hes  been  Pleased  to  take  to 
come  up  himself  Expresse  &  give  an  acct  of  affares. 

Upon  which  itt*  was  Enquired  by  ye  Mayor  of  ye  Con- 
vention ^whither  there  were  any  Person  or  member  of  ye 


The  City  Records.  131 

Convention  from  ye  greatest  officer  to  ye  Least  yt  any  Per- 
son had  any  objection  against  or  ye  Least  mistrust  that  they 
should  now  declare  itt. 

Whereupon  ye  Convention  unanimously  answered  that 
they  had  nothing  to  object  against  any  of  ye  members  of  ye 
Convention,  but  that  they  should  be  and  Remaine  in  there 
Respective  offices  and  Stations  till  orders  from  there  most 
Sacred  Majesties  William  &  Mary  king  &  queen  of  England 
&c.  and  that  they  would  not  Suffer  that  any  member  Should 
be  Disturbed  Displaced  or  Removed  from  this  Citty  upon 
any  Pretence  whatsoever  and  if  such  a  thing  happened  to 
be  done  by  force  Contrare  to  ye  Priviledge  of  this  Citty 
(which  God  forbid)  that  ye  whole  Convention  would  Resent 
it  as  done  to  them  all  in  generall  &  make  Record  of  it  ac- 
cordingly— 

Itt  is  Resolved  by  this  Convention  to  acquaint  the  Burgers 
and  Inhabitants  of  this  Citty  by  the  assistants  of  there  Re- 
spective wards  how  jl  we  have  Received  Information  from 
N  :  Yorke  that  there  is  a  Company  of  men  comeing  up  from 
thence,  who  Intend  to  Turn  ye  government  of  this  Citty 
upside  doune,  make  themselfs  master  of  ye  Fort  and  Citty, 
and  in  no  manner  to  be  obedient  to  any  orders  and  Com- 
mands as  they  should  Receive  from  time  to  Time  from  ye 
Persons  now  in  authority  in  this  Citty  and  County,  whereby 
great  Confusion  will  Ensue,  Especially,  if  ye  Indians  Per- 
ceive Such  Divisions  amongst  our  Self's,  will  be  in  Danger 
to  be  led  away  to  ye  french,  &  so  break  ye  frindship  which 
with  so  much  Trouble  and  Paynes  and  charge  hath  hitherto 
been  Preserved  by  this  government  which  might  tend  to  ye 
great  Ruine  and  Destruction  of  there  Majesties  Interest  in 
these  Parts  which  sd  men  so  comeing  up  we  hear  are  to  be 
paid  by  ye  Burgers  and  Inhabitants  of  this  Citty  and  County, 
which  charge  would  be  untollerable  to  be  born  by  ye  In- 
habitants att  this  Juncture  of  time,  &  not  only  that  charge 
butt  by  such  means  cause  us  to  Contribute  to  what  Charge 
they  of  N  :  Yorke  have  been  att  Since  these  Revolutions, 
and  therefore  itt  is  thought  Convenient  to  Convein  the  Bur- 
gers in  the  Citty  hall  &  there  to  Demand  there  opinion,  and 
to  answer  to  Some  articles  which  will  be  given  them  in  write- 
ing  to  morrow. 


132  The  City  Records. 

Att  a  Convention  &c.  Albany  the  5th  day  of  november  1689 

Present  as  before 

According  to  ye  Resolution  taken  by  ye  Convention  yes- 
terday ye  Burgers  and  Inhabitants  of  ye  Citty  and  Part  ofye 
County  were  Conveined  in  ye  Citty  hall  by  Bell  Ringing 
and  these  following  Proposalls  were  made  &  given  them  in 
writeing  &  Desyred  to  give  there  answer. 

PROPOSEALLS  made  by  the  Convention  to  ye  People.  In 
Albany  ye  5th  day  of  november  1689.  Upon  ye  Report 
of  men  comeing  from  N  :  Yorke. 

1  If  they  be  not  Resolved  to  stand  for  ye  Privileges  of 
there  Citty  and  County,  and  to  Resist  all  p'sons  who  shall 
endeavor  to  Brake  ye  Same. 

2  If  they  had  any  objection  or  any  thing  against  the 
Magistrates  or  members  of  ye   Convention  from  ye  Least 
member  to  ye  greatest,  That  they  now  would  Reveale  ye 
Same. 

3  If  they  were  Inclined  to  pay  ye  Souldiers  wages  come- 
ing from  N :  Yorke  which  we  here  ye  military  officers  of 
N :  Yorke  have  Engaged  must  be  paid  by  ye  Inhabitants  of 
albany 

4  If  they  had  any  mistrust  of  Lieft  Tho.  Sharpe  whom 
ye  Convention  have  Continued  in  ye  fort  to  be  under  them, 
and  if  they  would  have  one  besides  him  to  have  ye  Com- 
mand of  ye  fort. 

5  Since  we  have  heard  Such  Strange  Rumours,  if  it^would 
not  be  Very  Dangerous  to  Suffer  ye  men  comeing  from  New 
Yorke  to  come  intoye  Citty,  before  we  have  Sufficient  assur- 
ance  that  they   come  with  a  good  Intent  to  assist  us   as 
neighbours,  and  to  obey  the  Convention,  and  not  to  turn  ye 
government  of  ye  Citty  upside  doune,  to  make  themselfs 
master  of  the  fort  and  Citty,  and  to  fetch  ye  meanest  Burger 
from  hence ;  and  if  they  Burgers  would  not  oppose  Such 
hostility  and  force. 

6  If  it  is  not  Extream  Dangerous  at  this  Juncture  to 
make  any  Confusion  Division  or  change  least  ye  Indians 
who  are  in  Covenant  with  us  and  depend  thereupon  should 
mistrust  our  Integrity  and  so  be  brought  to  Side  with  ye 
french. 


The  City  Eecords.  133 

7  If  they  will  not  secure  ye  fort  and  Citty  for  there  Ma- 
jesties till  Such  time  there  Majesties  king  william  &  queen 
mary  Send  orders  or  a  governour,  and  that  of  N :   yorke 
nor  none  else  be  admitted  to  be  master  of  ye  same 

8  That  they  ought  to  Consider  yl  ye  Souldiers  that  lye  in 
ye  fort  are  no  Burthen  to  ye  Citty  nor  County  but  kept  main- 
tained &  paid  upon  there  Majesties  accompt  who  are  not 
only  naturall  born  subjects  of  England  but  have  all  (Except 
one)  taken  ye  oath  of  allegeance  to  ye  Present  king  &  Queen 

9  If  they  doe  not  owne  and  acknowledge  ye  Convention 
of  ye  Citty  and  County  for  there  Lawfull  Authority  till  a 
Settlement  comes,  and  if  they  them  will  obey  as  such 

Upon  which  ye  People  agreed  and  Consented  to  ye  sd 
Articles,  acknowledgeing  ye  members  of  ye  Convention  for 
there  Lawfull  Magistracy  in  there  Respective  offices  and 
Places  and  made  this  following  answer  Signed  by  forty  of  ye 
Inhabitants  Principall  men  of  ye  Toune 

Whereas  ye  Convention  of  albany  have  Propounded  Some 
articles  to  ye  Commonality  for  ye  wellfare  of  ye  Place  wee 
underwritten  Burgers  and  Inhabitants  of  ye  Citty  and  County 
of  albanie  do  Promise  and  Declare  faithfully  and  Sincerely  yl 
wee  will  uphold  and  Maintain  to  ye  utmost  ye  Previleges  of 
albany,  &  oppose  all  Persones  who  shall  Seeke  to  infringe 
ye  Same. 

2  That  we  have  not  ye  least  objection  or  Evill  opinion  of 
ye  Magistrates  or  members  of  ye  Convention,  butt  Promise 
to  Obey  them  and  assist  them  as  faithfull   Subjects  are 
bounde  to  doe  there  lawfull  authority. 

3  That  we  are  no  ways  Inclined  to  pay  ye  People  comeing 
from:  N:  Yorke,  neither  can  bear  such  Excessive  Charge, 
but  if  they  come  as  good  neighbours  &  friendes  shall  en- 
deavor to  Treat  them  Civilly  with   meat   and   Drink  and 
Lodgeing  according  to  our  ability. 

4  That  ye  Bussinesse  Concerning  ye  fort  is  Referred  to 
ye  Convention. 

oly  That  we  unanimously  judge  it  Dangerous  to  lett  ye 
men  comeing  from  N :  Yorke  come  into  ye  Citty  till  Such 
time  ye  Convention  have  Sufficient  assurance  of  there  sincere 
meaning  and  Intention,  Since  by  no  means  we  can  Suffer 
them  to  Turn  ye  government  of  this  Citty  upside  doune, 

Annals  ii.  12 


134  The  City  Becords. 

nor  that  they  be  masters  of  City  or  fort  nor  suffer  ye  Least 
Burger  to  be  carried  away  from  hence,  or  molest  them.  But 
if  anything  to  object  against  any  of  ye  Burgers  of  this  Citty, 
that  they  may  enter  there  action  before  ye  Courts  of  this 
Citty  &  County  according  to  law 

6  That  we  juge  a  Change  or  Subversion  of  government 
att  this  jucture  to  be  Exceeding  Dangerous  in  Reference  to 
ye  Treating  with  ye  Indians,  and  therefore  doe  not  under- 
stand that  there  now  be  a  Change  upon  any  Pretence  what- 
soever, before  yl  orders  co'mes  from  there  Majesties 

7  That  wee  are  fully  Resolved  with  ye  help  of  god  al- 
mighty to  keep  &  Secure  ye  fort  and  Citty  for  the  behoofe 
of  our  Souveraign  Lord  &  Lady  King  William  &  Queen 
Mary;  and  not  suffer  them  of  N  :  Yorke  or  any  Person  else 
to  Rule  over  ye  Same,  Since  it  will  be  Required  att  our 
hands  when  a  governor  comes  &  not  of  theres. 

8  That  we  verry  well  approve  of  ye  Souldiers  that  have 
taken  ye  oath  of  fidelity  doe  Remain  in  ye  fort,  &  if  there 
be  occasion  for  more  men  in  ye  fort  to  Secure  ye  Same  yl 
then  Some  of  ye  Burgers  or  whom  ye  Convention  shall  ap- 
point doe  goe  thither  and  no  others 

9  :  &  Lastly:  That  we  doe  Esteem  owne  and  acknowlege 
ye  Convention  to  be  our  only  Lawfull  authority  in    this 
Country  till  such  time  orders  comes  from  there  Majesties 
whom   we  doe  Relye  upon  for  ye  good  government  of  ye 
Same,  Praying  God  to  Blesse  them  in  their  undertakeings 
for  ye  wellfare  of  our  Country,  Promiseing  to  assist  them 
wherein  they  shall  have  occasion  for   the  Preservation  of 
Peace  and  Tranquility  in  our  Toune  &  to  lett  and  hinder 
all  p'sones   who  shall   Stirr   up   Mutinie   and  Sedition    to 
Disturbe  our  Peace.     In  Testimony  whereof  that  this  is  our 
Reall  Intent  &  y*  we  faithfully  will  p'form  ye  Same  have 
hereunto  Sett  our  hands  in  Albany  ye  5th  day  of  november : 
1689 

was  signed  by  forty  Inhabitants  vizt 

Jan  Becker  the  mark  of  Jan 

H:  v:  Dyck  Cornelise  Vyselaer 
Myndert  Frederikse  &  W  V  P 

Pieter  D  :  Schuyler  Wm  gysbertse 

Arent  Schuyler  Abram  Isaakse 

Wm  Teller  Hend:  Beekman 


The  City  Records. 


135 


Caspr  Teller 
John  liarris 
A :  Teller 
Jacob  Lockermans 
Johannes  Schuyler 
Hend :  Rensselaer 
John  Gilbert 
William  hendriksen 
Isaak  Vr  planken 
Anthony  Bratt 
Wessel  Ten  Broek 
Takel  heimstraet 
Warner  Carstense 
Myndert  Schuyler 


Bennony  Yan  Corlaer 

Johannes  Thomase 

JKok 

Andrews  Teller  junior 

Francis  Salesbury 

Johannes  appel 

Abraham  Cuyler 

Jan  Bleeker  Junior 
Johannnes  Becker  the  younger 

Jacpb  meese  vroman 

Jacob  Vanden  Bogaert 

Gert  vanness 

Willem  

Hans  Cross  H-K  mark 
Dirk  Bratt 


Att  a  Convention  &c.  Albany  7th  &  8th  days  of  november 
1689.  Present  as  before,  Except  C  :  Jan  Bleeker  absent, 
and  C.  Marte  gerritse  &  Gert  Ryerse  present 

The  matter  concerning  ye  Better  Secureing  of  there  Ma- 
jesties fort  of  albany  being  taken  into  Consideration  this  fol- 
lowing order  was  made  thereabouts. 

Whereas  there  is  a  Resolution  made  by  ye  Convention  ye 
26th  day  of  October  Last  whereby  Leift.  Thomas  Sharpe 
should  Continue  in  ye  Command  of  there  Majesties  fort  of 
albany  till  orders  comes  from  there  Majesties  William  and 
Mary  king  &  queen  of  England  &c.  who  was  to  obey  such 
orders  and  Instructions  as  he  should  from  time  to  time 
Receive  from  ye  Said  Convention,  and  whereas  we  are  In- 
formed that  Diverse  Persones  are  jealous  that  there  Majes- 
ties Fort  is  thereby  not  Sufficiently  Secured  but  are 
Desyreous  that  another  Sufficient  Person  shall  be  authorized 
along  with  said  Leif  Thomas  Sharpe  to  have  ye  Command 
thereof 

It  is  therefore  thought  Convenient  by  this  Convention 
Since  ye  winter  approaches  and  ye  Long  Expected  orders 
from  there  Most  Sacred  Majesties  not  yet  being  come  and 
to'Prevent  all  jealousies  and  Annimosities  Concerning  that 
.  affaire  at  this  juncture  of  time,  That  Pieter  Schuyler 
Esquire  Mayor  of  this  Citty  and  one  of  there  Majesties  Jus- 


136  The  City  Records. 

tices  of  ye  Peace  of  this  County  and  Leiftenant  of  ye  Troop 
be  authorized  and  is  hereby  authorized  to  have  ye  Command 
of  there  Majesties  fort  and  ye  same  to  keep  and  maintain 
and  Defend  for  ye  Behooffe  of  there  Majesties  William  & 
Mary  king  and  queen  of  England  france  &  Irland  &a 
Defenders  of  ye  faith,  and  Lieftenant  Sharpe  be  Lieft  under 
him  who  are  both  to  obey  and  Perform  Such  orders  & 
Instructions  as  they  shall  from  time  to  time  Receive  from 
ye  Convention  of  ye  Citty  &  County  of  albany  that  have  the 
greatest  Intrest  in  ye  Preservation  &  Securing  of  sd  fort  for 
there  Majesties  behalfe,  and  yl  till  such  time  and  while 
there  Majesties  William  &  Mary  shall  be  pleased  to  send  a 
governor  or  orders  for  ye  government  of  this  Province  &  the 
sd  Pr  Schuyler  Mayor  to  take  Possession  of  ye  Same 
accordingly 

N.  B  :  Joh  wendel  Suspends  his  vote  for  ye  p'sent  as  also 
Joh  :  Cuyler  &  J  :  nack. 

This  being  Published  by  Bell-Ringing  ye  members  of  ye 
Convention  went  to  ye  Mayers  house,  and  told  him  they 
were  come  to  waite  upon  him  and  Conduct  him  up  to  ye  fort 
who  being  accompanied  with  some  of  ye  Principle  Burgers 
went  up  and  Possession  of  sd  fort  after  ye  usuall  Ceremonies 
was  Delivered,  &  ye  sd  Mayor  with  all  cheerfulness  Received 
by  ye  officers  and  souldiers  of  there  Majesties  garrison. 


Att  a  Convention  &c.     Albany  9th  day  of  November  1689. 

Present  as  before,  Except,  Mayor  &  Leif.  van  Schaik 

absent. 

The  Members  of  ye  Convention  that  were  in  Toune  did 
meet  Together  att  ye  Citty  hall  upon  the  news  that  there 
were  three  Sloops  in  Sight  whereof  one  had  ye  king  Jack 
aboard,  and  hereing  that  there  were  a  Compe  of  Souldiers 
come  by  there  beating  of  ye  Drum,  foure  of  ye  Convention 
to  witt  Captain  wendel  Captain  Bleeker  Johannes  Cuyler 
and  Reynier  Barents  were  sent  aboard  to  know  on  what 
accompt  they  came,  Jacob  Milborne  who  was  on  board  of 
Jochim  Staets  Sloop  Replyed.  If  the  fort  was  open  for  his 
men  to  march  in  that  night  he  was  answered  no,  That  ye 
Mayor  of  ye  Citty  had  Possession  of  ye  fort  who  was  Com- 


The  City  Records.  137 

mander  of  ye  Same  and  was  Desyred  to  goe  a  shore  where 
they  would  Discourse  further,  who  with  ye  sd  four  Persones 
came  to  ye  Citty  hall  and  was  bid  welcome  by  ys  members 
of  ye  Convention  then  Present. 

No  sooner  was  ye  sd  Milborne  come  into  ye  Citty  hall 
which  was  very  full  of  People,  but  addressed  his  Discourse 
to  ye  Common  People  in  a  long  oration  with  a  high  Stile  & 
Language  telling  them  That  now  it  was  in  there  powr  to  free 
themselfs  from  yl  Yoke  of  arbitrary  Power  and  G-overnnient 
under  which  they  had  Lyen  so  long  in  ye  Reign  of  y* 
Illegal  king  James,  who  was  a  Papist,  Declareing  all  Illegal! 
whatever  was  done  &  past  in  his  time,  yea  the  Charter  of 
this  Citty  was  null  &  void  Since  it  was  granted  by  a  Popish 
kings  governour  &  that  now  ye  Power  was  in  the  People  to 
choose  both  new  Civill  and  Military  officers  as  they  Pleased, 
challenging  all  them  that  had.  bore  office  in  king  James 
Time  to  be  Illegall,  and  therefore  they  must  have  a  free 
Election  and  much  Such  like  Discourse. 

After  Jacob  Milborne  had  ended  his  long  Discourse 
Jochim  Staets  &  Pr  Bogardus  who  came  up  with  him  from 
N :  Yorke  asked  why  ye  magistrates  did  not  speak  now, 
now  was  ye  time  for  to  Speake  upon  which  Dirk  wessells 
Recorder  Replyed,  that  there  was  time  Enough  yet,  he  was 
nott  Authorized  at  that  Juncture  to  make  him  answer  to 
such  Discourse,  they  had  seen  no  Commission  he  had  yett 
and  that  they  were  met  together  to  make  Billets  for  the 
quartering  of  ye  men  If  they  were  come  with  a  good  Intent, 
which  lay  Ready  upon  ye  Table,  &  jl  Milborne  addressed 
his  Discourse  to  ye  wrong  People  Since  there  were  no  arbi- 
trary Power  here ;  Grod  had  Delivered  them  from  that  yoke 
by  there  Majesties  now  upon  ye  throne,  to  whom  we  had 
taken  ye  oath  of  allegiance,  for  we  acted  not  in  king  James's 
name  but  in  king  William  &  queen  Marys  &  were  there 
Subjects. 

Jacob  Milborne  Desyred  that  ye  Mayor  Might  be  Present 
in  ye  Convention  who  was  Twice  Sent  for,  but  answered  yV 
he  could  not  leave  his  Post  which  was  to  keep  good  watch 
in  there  Majesties  fort,  Referring  ye  sd  Milborne  to  ye 
Gentlemen  that  were  Conveined  together  and  yl  he  would 
call  ye  Convention  together  to  morrow  after  ye  2d  Sermon 
when  they  would  Discourse  the  Case  further  with  him,  this 


138  The  City  Records. 

was  Communicated  to  Jacob  Milborne  who  answered  that  ye 
Kecorder  Represented  ye  Mayor  in  his  absence,  and  Delivered 
ye  Convention  a  letter  Signed  by  25  Persones  which  was 
Read  ye  Contents  whereof  is  as  follows 

Fort  William  In  N  :  York  y«  28  October  1689 

GENTLEMEN — The  unspeakeable  goodnesse  of  god  and  ye 
unimagineable  benefit  which  all  Protestants  Relating  to  ye 
Crowne  of  England  do  Receive  by  the  Ilustrious  armes  of 
the  Prince  of  Orange  now  our  Benigne  Leige  Lord  and 
king  as  they  are  unexpressible  So  likewise  they  cannot  but 
call  for  ye  most  humble  &  unfeigned  thanks  to  heaven  and 
all  Expressible  Returns  of  obedience  to  his  Majestic 

Therefore  to  Evince  ye  Same  according  to  our  Capacities 
wee  ye  Committee  or  members  chosen  by  ye  free  and  open 
Elections  of  ye  freemen  in  ye  Respective  Counties  of  this 
Province  and  Councill  of  warr 

Humbly-  traceing  ye  Stepps  and  Laying  hold  of  ye  En- 
couragement given  by  So  Royall  an  Example  have  as  farr 
as  in  us  Lyed  Prevented  ye  Rageing  Intrest  of  ye  Roman 
Catholic  Party  and  there  adherents  in  this  Province  and 
not  only  asserted  the  Right  of  our  new  Soveraigne  but  Re- 
duced most  of  ye  Dissafected  to  their  obedience  and  Esta- 
blisht  his  Majesties  Interest  upon  So  Sure  a  foundation  y* 
from  thence  already  we  fynde  the  fruits  of  Tranquility  and 
Peace,  So  we  doubt  not,  but  all  yl  are  willing  to  be  Es- 
teemed of  ye  Reformation  will  Comply  with  the  same — ; 
and  to  ye  Intent  that  none  of  his  Majesties  forts  or  Subjects 
should  be  Exposed  where  apparent  fears  and  Dangers  of  his 
Professed  enemies  doth  Threaten  them  as  wee  are  made 
Sencible  by  yours  of  ye  County  of  albany,  we  have  sent  50 
men  with  arms  suteable,  which  doubt  not  but  will  bee  of 
Seasonable  use  for  Defence  of  ye  Same,  and  have  given  full 
Power  to  our  Trusty  and  Beloved  friende  Jacob  Milborne 
gentleman  to  treat  with  Consult,  order  doe  and  Performe  all 
things  that  shall  be  Requisite  for  his  Majesties  Service  & 
your  Safety  to  whom  we  Desyre  you  will  give  Credence  and 
treat  amicably  that  so  we  may  not  occasion  ye  Enemy  to 
Scandalize  us  with  or  take  any  advantage  of  Disputes  and 
Differences  amongst  uSj  Especially  when  we  are  upon  Such 


The  City  Records. 


139 


good  Terms  of  breaking  of  Papist  and  arbitrary  Yokes  from 
our  necks  forever.  This  all  at  p'sent  from  your  Loveing 
friendes. 

Samuel  Edsall 
Pieter  de  Lanoy 
Gerardus  Beekman 
"Myndert  Corten 
Mathew  harvey 
Johannes  Vr  melie 
Jacob  Leysler 
Henry  Cuyler 
Richard  Pan  ton 
Adriaen  van  Schaik 
Gerrit  Duyking 


Jacob  Leysler  junior 
Pieter  demilt 
Joh :  Beekman 
John  Slott 
hendrick  ten  Eyck 
Jh :  Bruyns 
Is :  d  Biemer 
Jean  Desmareest 
David  Clerk 


Teunise  XR  Roelofse  his 
marke 


Joh :  de  Peyster 
William  Churchill 
Sjort  cipher  se 


After  ye  abovesaid  Letter  was  Read  ye  Becorder  asked 
Jacob  Milborne  if  he  Pleased  to  have  ye  People  quartered 
which  lay  aboard  since  ye  Billets  were  Beady  who  answered 
no,  But  desyred  Some  Provision  which  was  graunted  &  so 
Parted  yl  night. 

Memorandum  that  on  ye  10th  day  of  November  being 
Sunday 

The  following  letter  was  Sent  by  Adam  Vroman  of  Shin- 
nectady  to  ye  Mayor  which  Milborne  had  sent  to  him  to 
warne  all  ye  People  there  forthwith  to  come  to  albany  and 
Receive  there  Rights  Priviledges  and.  Liberties  in  such 
manner  as  if  the  government  of  king  James  ye  2d  never  had 
been,  or  any  of  his  arbitrary  Commissions  or  what  is  Illegally 
done  by  his  governours  never  had  been  done  or  Past,  which 
Letter  follows  in  Terminis : — 

[Translation.] 

Whereas  I  am  authorized  by  the  Honorable  Delegates  or 
Members  elected  at  a  Free  and  Publick  Election  of  the 
Freemen  and  Respective  counties  of  the  Province  of  N. 
York  and  Military  Council  thereof,  to  arrange  and  settle 
the  affairs  of  the  City  &  County  of  Albany  according  to  the 


140  The  City  Records. 

Constitution  of  the  other  Counties  of  the  Province  aforesaid 
pursuant  to  the  interest  of  His  Majesty  our  Souveraign 
Lord  &  King  and  the  Welfare  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said 
Counties. 

These  are  to  advise  and  require  all  the  Inhabitants  of 
Shinnectady  and  adjoining  places  to  repair  forthwith  to  the 
aforesaid  City  of  Albany  to  receive  their  Rights  and  Privi- 
ledges  &  Liberties  in  such  manner  as  if  the  Government  of 
King  James  the  2d  had  never  existed  or  any  of  his  arbitrary 
Commissions  or  any  of  his  Governors  illegal  acts  had  never 
been  executed  or  done. 

Signed  JACOB  MILBOURNE. 

Upon  which  Adam  Yroman  sent  him  this  answer : — 
[Translation.] 

MR  JACOB  MILBORNE. 

Worthy  Friend — I  have  just  now  received  your 
letter.  Firstly,  I  am  not  a  person  of  quality;  Secondly,  the 
Indians  lie  in  divers  squads  in  and  around  this  place  and 
should  we  all  repair  to  Albany  great  disquiet  would  arise 
among  the  Savages  to  the  general  ruin  of  this  Country; 
therefore  please  excuse  me  as  I  am  a  person  of  no  power 
nor  authority. 

Your  affectionate  friend 

ADAM  VROOMAN. 

By  which  letter  it  is  Plainly  Evident  ye  sd  Milborne 
Designs  ye  Subversion  of  ye  government  Confirmed  by  there 
Majesties  Proclamation  of  ye  14th  feb.  last,  and  thereby  to 
Disturbe  ye  Peace  and  Tranquility  of  there  Majesties  Leige 
People  Especially  in  this  Juncture  when  the  Indians  are 
Round  about  us,  who  much  Depend  on  the  Present  Magis- 
tracy that  have  with  so  much  trouble  Pains  and  Cost  Secured 
them  to  this  government  which  if  they  should  see  yl  ye 
authority  here  should  be  troden  under  foot  would  undoubt- 
edly undertake  Some  Dangerous  Design 

And  that  it  may  be  apparent  to  ye  world  yl  ye  Design 
was  Laid  at  N  :  Yorke,  ye  following  Letter  writt  by  hend  : 
Cuyler  one  of  there  Councill  of  warr  as  they  Term  them- 


The  City  Records.  141 

selfs,  to  ye  People  of  Schinnectady  Desyreing  there  assist- 
ance, and  that  they  would  come  to  albany,  Telling  them  itt 
was  Resolved  upon  that  they  should  have  no  lesser  Privi- 
ledges  then  they  of  albany,  both  in  Tradeing  and  boalting 
which  Jacob  Milborne.  would  Disclose  unto  them  and  Such 
like  false  notions  doth  Sufficiently  Demonstrate — 

[Translation.] 

N.  Yorke  2  Novembr  1689 
Copia  vera  of  a  Letter  from  London 
All  Lands  Plantations  houses  and  Lots  which  were 
escheated  [prys  gemaekt]  since  the  year  1660  are  again 
restored  by  Act  of  Parliament.  It  was  communicated  to 
his  Majesty  who  approved  of  it.  It  will  be  passed  in  a  few 
days.  Parliament  is  resolved  to  make  a  public  example 
of  Sir  Edmund  Andros  to  the  next  Generation  on  account 
of  his  Arbitrary  illegal  proceedings.  I  break  off  herewith 
as  it  is  too  long  to  enlarge  upon.  Hearty  respects  to  all 
Noble  friends  of  Shinnechtady.  This  goes  per  Mr  Vedders 
hand.  I  remain 

Your  friend  &  Servant 

Hend:  Cuyler 

P.  S.  We  earnestly  request  the  aid  and  diligence  of  the 
Noble  gentlemen  there  for  the  promotion  of  the  Public  Good 
in  assisting  those  whom  we  now  Send  up  at  Albany's  re- 
quest being  to  the  number  of  50  men,  of  whom  Jochim 
Staets  is  Commander :  not  doubting  but  the  gentlemen  of 
Shennechtady  will  be  preferred  to  those  of  Albany  in  the 
approaching  New  Government  as  we  pledge  ourselves  to 
speak  in  favor  of  your  Diligence.  I  promise  to  send  up  to 
you  the  first  Order  which  we  expect  from  England. 

We  expect  a  short  answer  from  You  by  the  next  oppor- 
tunity. 

Sir,  We  have  this  day  resolved  that  you  shall  have  no 
less  Privileges  than  those  of  Albany  in  Trading  and  Bolt- 
ing, which  Mr  Milborne  will  explain  to  you.  We  therefore 
request  that  you  will  exhibit  all  Dilligence  in  repairing  to- 
gether to  Albany  to  welcome  said  Milborne. 


142 


The  City  Records. 


STORES  out  of  his  Majesties  Garrison  of  New  Yorke  for 
his  scl  Majesties  Service  in  an  Expedicdn  to  Albany 
November  2  1689. 

100  Bullets  divers  Calibre 
16  hand  Grenadoes 

2  quires  Cartouch  paper 

8  half  &  2  whole  barrells  powder 

3  half  barrels         do 

lOlb  loose  powder  1  bunch  Match  &  Lintstock 
A  Krygs  Jack  (a  flag). 

100  flints    47  ffire  lockes  &  Bandelier — with 
1  halbert  1  Pike  heading    1  Drum 

Kilaen  van  Renselaer  Esquire  Justice  of  ye  Peace  and 
Capt  gerrit  Teunise  who  were  sent  by  ye  Convention  to  ye 
Collony  of  Conetticut  concerning  ye  men  which  thatt  Collony 
by  ye  joynt  Concurrence  of  ye  Collony  of  Massachusetts  had 
Promised  to  send  hither  for  our  assistance  being  Returned 
brings  a  letter  from  ye  governor  &  Councill  there,  how  that 
they  are  Resolved  to  Raise  80  men  with  there  officers  forth- 
with, that  they  may  be  upon  there  march  hither  upon 
munday  ye  13th  of  november.  . 

The  Agreement  Concluded  upon  between  ye  governor 
and  Councill  of  Conetticut  and  our  agents  are  as  follows. 

That  we  are  to  afford  there  Souldiers  and  officers  ammo- 
nition  meet  Drink  and  Lodgeing  sufficient 

That  we  are  to  pay  to  ye  officers  8  shil.  a  day  vizt 


To  ye  Capt. 
To  ye  Leift. 
To  e  Ens : 


4  sh.  6d 
2sh 
Ish  6d 


to  be  paid  weekly. 


If  any  of  sd  officers  or  Souldiers  should  be  visited  with 
Sicknesse  or  wounde,  ye  Charge  of  Attendance  Phisick  and 
Doctors  should  be  borne  by  us. 

That  we  are  to  Provide  a  Canoe  to  carry  ye  Company  over 
Westenhook  River 

That  ye  Souldiers  arms  be  Repaired  at  our  Charge  if 
occasion 

Which  agreement  was  approven  off  by  ye  Convention. 

The  Said  Mr.  Renselaer  &  Capt  Teunise  Report  that 
when  they  come  by  kinderhook  founde  ye  People  Yery 


The  City  Records.  143 

much  Inclined  to  mutiny  who  were  Prepareing  themselfs  to 
come  hither  by  Reason  of  a  Letter  which  they  had  Received 
of  Jacob  Milborne  to  come  up  to  albany  in  all  Speed  to 
Receive  Priviledges  and  Libertyes,  So  y1  they  had  much 
adoe  to  stop  them  however  some  Came. 

Att  a  Convention  &c.  Albany  in  ye  Citty  hall  Die  Sabbathi 
10th  november.  Post  merid  :  Anno  Dom :  1689.  -Pre- 
sent.— Dirk  wessels  Recorder,  Livinus  van  Shaik,  Claes 
Rysse,  albt  Ryckman,  C.  gert  Teunise,  Capt  Sanderglen, 
Ev.  Banker,  Jan  nack,  gerrit  Ryerse,  L :  van  Eps, 
L :  Robert  Sanders,  C.  John  wendel,  C.  Jan  Janse 
Bleeker,  David  Schuyler,  C.  Marte  gerritse,  kill :  v. 
Renselaer,  Reynier  Barentse,  Johannes  Cuyler,  Eghbert 
Teunise.  Sweer  Teunise,  Ens :  Joh :  Sanders,  Ens : 
gabriel  Thompson. 

The  Convention  being  met  together  at  the  Citty  hall 
Jacob  Milborne  was  Sent  for,  the  Recorder  Dirk  wessells 
assumed  ye  Discourse  and  told  that  he  had  Received  a  Letter 
yesterday  of  ye  sd  Milborne  directed  to  ye  Military  and  Civill 
officers  and  inhabitants  of  ye  Citty  and  County  of  albany, 
but  ye  Convention  not  being  full  ye  Bussinesse  was  Delayed 
till  to  day  which  was  Read  being  Signed  by  25  Persones 
wherein  was  Inserted  that  there  were  51  men  Sent  hither 
for  our  assistance,  the  Said  Milborne  was  asked  upon  whose 
Cost  and  charge  ye  men  were  come,  and  who  were  to  pay 
them  there  pay.  Jacob  Milborne  answered,  that  we  of  albany 
must  pay  them,  and  that  they  were  hyred  at  25  shil  per 
month,  the  Recorder  Replyed  that  that  was  Repugnant  to 
there  Resolution  and  letter  sent  to  N :  Yorke,  ye~  4th  of 
September  Last  which  ye  sd  Milborne  Perruseing  founde  to 
be  soe,  &  askd  all  ye  People  Standing  by  if  they  thougt  ye 
County  of  albany  would  be  able  to  pay  yl  Charge,  who  all 
unanimously  answered  no ;  upon  which  ye  sd  Milborne  said 
Then  we  shall  fynde  a  way  for  it,  and  showed  ye  Convention 
his  Commission  Signed  and  Sealed  by  6  or  27  Persoues  ye 
Same  that  Signed  ye  letter  which  was  Read :  The  Recorder 
told  him  that  Such  a  Commission  graunted  by  a  Company 
of  Private  men  was  of  no  force  here,  and  that  he  had  no 
Power  to  doe  or  order  any  affaires  in  albany,  but  if  he  could 


144  The  City  Records. 

shew  a  Commission  from  his  Majesty  king  william  our  Liege 
Lord  then  were  willing  to  obey  it. 

The  Sd  Milborne  went  on  and  made  a  long  oration  to  ye 
Common  People  which  were  got  together  in  ye  Citty  hall  of 
Popish  government  and  arbitrary  Power  Condemning  all 
things  which  had  been  done  and  Passed  in  ye  late  King 
James  Stuarts  time  Particularly  y8  Charter  of  this  Citty  and 
that  there  ought  to  be  a  new  Election  of  Magistrates  &c  and 
many  other  things  to  Stirr  up  ye  Common  People,  upon 
which  he  was  told  that  if  all  things  were  null  &  void  which 
were  passed  in  King  James  time  then  ye  Inhabitants  were 
in  a  Desolate  Condition,  Since  many  Patents  of  houses  and 
lands  were  obtained  in  ye  Late  King  James  time,  which 
undoubtedly  will  be  approved  and  confirmed  by  there 
Majesties  now  upon  ye  Throne,  and  that  there  had  been  a 
free  Election  according  to  ye  Charter  and  further  that  they 
Plainly  did  Discern  yt  ye  sd  Milborne  by  his  Smooth  tongue 
&  Pretended  Commissions  did  aim  nothing  else  but  to  Raise 
mutiny  and  Sedition  amongst  ye  People  which  ye  Conven- 
tion had  with  So  much  trouble  these  Six  monthes  Last  Past 
kept  in  Peace  and  quietnesse  Expecting  dayly  order  from 
there  Majesties  King  William  and  Queen  Mary  and  that 
they  had  not  Spared  cost  or  charge  to  Secure  ye  Indians  to 
this  government,  of  which  there  neighbors  could  give  a 
Sufficient  Testimony,  and  therefore,  if  things  were  Carried 
on  as  Milborne  would  have  it,  all  would  Runn  into  Confusion 
with  ye  Indians  all  authority  turned  Upside  Doune  as  in 
many  Parts  of  ye  government  was  done,  to  which  ye  Con- 
vention by  no  means  could  Condeshend,  but  were  Resolved 
to  be  quiet  &  in  Peace  if  Possible  till  ye  Long  expected 
orders  from  there  Majesties  should  come  to  hand  under 
whom  they  acted,  and  therefore  desyred  ye  sd  Milborne  to 
desist  from  Such  Discourse,  for  that  they  would  Dispute  no 
more  with  him  about  it,  leaveing  all  till  a  Lawful  Power 
came,  nott  acknowlegeing  him  to  have  any,  and  that  they 
should  Proceed  to  discourse  of  quartering  ye  men  who 
endured  so  much  hardship  by  Lyeing  aboard,  upon  which 
it  was  Concluded  to  meet  again  in  ye  morning  about  9  a 
Clock  to  aggree  about  ye  quartering  of  ye  51  men  Sent  for 
our  assistance. 


The  City  Records.  145 

Memorandum  —  That  Kiliaen  van  Renselaer  Capt  gerrit 
Teunise  Capt  Sander  Grlenn  Leift.  Jan  van  Eps  Ens : 
Johannes  Sanders  &  Sweer  Teunise  members  of  ye  Con- 
vention did  approve  of  ye  order  made  ye  7th  &  8th  In- 
stant that  Peter  Schuyler  Mayor  should  have  ye  command 
of  there  Majesties  fort  till  orders  from  there  Majesties 
king  William  &  Queen  Mary 

Die  Lunse  11  november  1689 

The  Convention  were  Intended  to  goe  to  ye  Citty  hall 
but  understanding  that  there  was  so  greafa  multitude  of  peo- 
ple assembled  together  there  in  an  Illegal  manner  to  choose 
one  Jochim  Staas  Leift  off  one  of  ye  Train  bande  Companies 
of  this  Citty  under  Capt.  Wendel  to  be  Capt.  of  yl  Company 
of  Souldiers  come  from  N  :  Yorke,  They  stayd  attye  Record- 
ers house  Endeavouring  to  agree  with  Jacob  Milborne  about 
ye  quartering  of  ye  men,  the  sd  Milborne  Proposeing  Some 
articles  which  were  answered  by  ye  Convention  and  sent 
him  by  Capt  Marte  Gerritse  Livinus  Van  Schaik  &  Johan- 
nes Cuyler,  but  ye  sd  Milborne  Insisting  to  have  ye  sd  men 
to  be  under  a  Superior  officer  who  was  to  be  Commander  of 
ye  fort,  Distinct  from  the  Civill  function,  and  that  then  he 
should  fynde  a  way  to  pay  ye  men,  which  ye  Convention  by 
no  means  would  Condeshend,  but  yl  sd  men  should  be  under 
ye  command  of  ye  convention  till  orders  came  from  there 
Majesties  otherwise  could  expect  no  assistance  from  them, 
which  answer  was  sent  him  by  ye  sd  Capt  gerritse  alderman 
Schaik  &  Johannes  Cuyler  assistant. 

In  ye  meantime  the  Convention  sent  messengers  thrice  to 
ye  People  Convened  att  ye  Citty  hall  to  Disperse  themselfs 
and  goe  home,  they  nevertheless  went  on  and  choose  ye  sa 
Jochim  Staets  to  be  Capt  of  yl  Company  come  from  N: 
Yorke  by  syncing  there  names  to  near  a  hundred  Persones, 
most  youthes,  and  them  that  were  no  freeholders  which  sd 
Place  ye  sd  Jochim  Staets  did  accept  contrare  to  ye  order 
of  ye  Convention  of  which  he  was  a  member 

Yea  ye  People  were  so  Rageing  and  mutinous  that  some 
of  ye  Convention  being  in  ye  Citty  hall,  were  forced  to  with- 
draw themselfs  being  threatened  and  menaced  that  they 
were  in  danger  of  there  life,  all  which  was  occasioned  by  ye 

Annals^  ii.  13 


146  The  City  Eecords. 

Instigation  of  Jacob  Milborne  who  is  come  hither  with  no 
other  Design  then  to  overthrow  all,  as  Plainly  appears  by  all 
his  actions  Deludeing  ye  Common  Pec  pie  by  Promiseing 
them  Priviledges  and  liber tyes  and  such  like  false  notions 
and  Suggestions  endeavouring  to  draw  ye  People  off  from 
there  obedience  due  to  there  Lawfull  authority  Confirmed 
by  there  now  Majesties  William  &  Mary  and  to  fill  this 
Citty  and  County  with  Divisions  factions  and  Sedition  to  ye 
utter  Ruine  of  ye  same  Especially  in  this  juncture  while  we 
are  Surrounded  with  ye  heathen  who  Seing  such  Divisions 
may  undertake  some  Desperate  Design  and  breake  there 
Covenant  with  us  kept  so  many  Years  Inviolable — 

The  Convention  being  met  together  in  ye  fort  Sent  Jo- 
hannes Cuyler  Ens  :  Jon  :  Sanders  &  Ens:  abr  Schuyler  to 
Leift  Jochim  Staets  to  know  ye  Certainty,  if  he  had  accepted 
of  ye  Capt.  place  by  virtue  of  such  Illegal  assembly  or  meet- 
ing of  ye  People  chooseing  him  so  who  made  answer 
m  [Record  is  blank  here] 

This  afternoon  hend  :  ten  Eyck  was  Sent  by  Jacob  Mil- 
borne  with  this  following  Paper  to  ye  Convention  Vizt. 
Albany  november  ye  llth  1689 

Whereas  I  am  authorized  by  ye  Committee  for  the  Pro- 
vince of  N:  Yorke  and  ye  Councill  of  warr  for  ye  sd  Citty 
of  N :  Yorke  aforesaid  to  order  ye  affaires  att  albany,  and 
in  Pursuance  thereof  have  made  knowne  there  Demands 
unto  ye  Convention  (or  as  many  as  would  appear)  in  ye 
Toune  house  and  ye  Rest  of  ye  Inhabitants  according  to 
Direction  of  a  letter  there  Delivered  and  fynde  no  Satisfac- 
tion to  my  Proposealls,  likewise  haveing  Discoursed  some 
Points  more  Particularly  with  them,  whereupon  it  was 
apointed  yl  I  should  Present  ye  Same  in  writeing  this  after- 
noon accordingly  I  offer  Vizt 

That  there  should  be  a  free  and  open  Election  for  all 
officers  both  Civill  and  Millitary  for  ye  Citty  and  County  of 
Albany  if  it  hath  not  been  already  done 

That  a  Person  should  be  chosen  to  Command  ye  Kings 
fort  Distinct  from  ye  Civill  function, 

Th'at  the  articles  for  ye  men  brought  hither  may  be 
signed 


The  City  Records.  147 

That  they  would  Consider  of  some  Particulars  Relateing 
Mr  Thomas  Sharpes  Letter 

That  they  would  Produce  there  Evidence  for  grounding 
there  Resolution  which  Mss  Livinus  Van  Schaick  &  Jochim 
Staas  were  to  Enform  themselfs  off,  and  act  as  thereby  was 
ordered 

That  they  would  Return  me  all  ye  old  armes  in  the  fort 
which  are  unfixed  in  lieu  off  (or  so  many)  as  ye  arms  fur- 
nished ye  men  withall  at  N  :  Yorke 

That  they  would  Please  lett  me  know  what  Stores  they 
have  for  his  Majesties  service  in  his  fort  or  can  command 
upon  an  attaque  of  ye  french  which  god  forbid 

Signed        JACOB  MILBORNE 


Die  Martis  12  of  November  1689 
The  Convention  met  together  at  ye  house  of  Capt  Jan 
Janse  Bleeker  where  it  was  unanimously  Resolved  to  accept 
of  ye  50  men  come  from  N :  Yorke  on  no  other  terms  Then 
that  they  should  be  under  ye  Command  of  the  Convention, 
and  Since  ye  members  of  ye  Convention  were  So  many  it 
was  Resolved  yl  Eight  should  be  nominate  who  should  Repre- 
sent ye  Convention  and  Sign  the  articles  with  Jacob  Mil- 
borne,  as  by  y^  articles  can  be  showne  with  which  Resolution 
Capt  Marte  gerritse  Livinus  van  Schaick  &  Johannes  Cuyler 
were  sent  to  Jacob  Milborne  who  Returning  to  ye  Con- 
vention Reported  they  had  agreed  upon  ye  articles  which 
were  ordered  to  be  drawn  over  fair 

The  Convention  considering  ye  many  Inconveniences 
that  would  Ensue  by  Jochim  Staets  takeing  upon  himself 
the  office  of  Capt  of  that  Company  that  came  from  N  :  Yorke 
by  such  an  Irregular  way  as  was  Practised  yesterday  by  the 
Common  People  in  ye  Citty  hall  proposed  to  him  ye  said 
Captains  Place  till  orders  from  there  Majesties  Provided  he 
would  be  obedient  to  ye  Convention  or  authority  of  this 

t  Place,  y1  so  by  that  means  all  jealousies  and  animosities 
may  be  laide  aside  and  Peace  &  Unity  Established,  &  all  to 
goe  hand  in  hand  to  defend  their  Majesties  Interest,  butty6 
3d  Jochim  Staas  did  flattly  Refuse  itt. 


148  The  City  Records. 

Post  Meridiem 

The  eight  men  appointed  by  ye  Convention  to  Sign  the 
articles  with  mr.  Milborne  to  witt,  Pieter  Schuyler  Mayor 
Capt  Johannes  Wendel  Capt.  Jan  Bleeker  kiliaen  van  Ren- 
selaer  Capt  Sanders  glenn,  albert  Ryckman,  gerrit  Ryerse  & 
Evert  Banker  went  to  ye  house  of  Richard  Pretty  where  sd 
Milborne  was  (Except  the  Mayor  who  had  Signed  already) 
and  asked  if  he  would  sign  ye  articles,  who  denyed  to  have 
made  any  such  articles  which  caused  many  Debates,  and  y1  ye 
sd  Milborne  agreed  upon  ye  Point  in  ye  Presence  of  sd  Gentle- 
men ;  Milborne  correcting  the  Paper  himself,  &  was  aggreed 
to  make  no  more  Alterations,  but  to  be  writ  over  fair  & 
Signed  in  ye  morning  making  his  excuse  that  he  could  not 
attend  it  tthat  night. 

While  ye  sd  Wendel  and  Bleeker  were  att  Mr  Prettyes 
they  were  sent  'for  to  come  to  gabriel  Thomsones  where  a 
great  Company  of  People  were  met  together  they  sent  ye 
sd  2  Captains  Wendell  &  Bleeker  up  with  a  Message  to 
ye  fort  to  ye  Mayor  yl  ye  People  were  Resolved  if  he  came 
not  into  Toune  to  choose  new  military  officers. 


Die  Mercury  13  November  1689 

Johannes  Cuyler  and  abraham  Schuyler  were  Sent  to 
Jacob  Milborne  with  ye  following  articles  which  were  Con- 
cluded the  day  before,  to  Enquire  if  he  was  ready  to  sign 
them  ye  other  Gentlemen  being  Ready,  Vizt 

ARTICLES  made  concerning  ye  Receiving  of men 

officers  and  Centinells  Sent  by  ye  Military  officers  of  ye  Citty 
&  County  of  N :  Yorke  upon  yc  Desyre  of  ye  Mayor  alder- 
man Commonality  and  Military  officers  of  ye  sd  County  for 
ye  Security  of  there  Majesties  fort  and  ye  out  Plantations 
and  Inhabitants  of  ye  Citty  &  County  of  albany  against  any 
forreign  or  Domestick  Enemies  that  shall  Invade  oppose  or 
•resist  there  Majesties  king  William  &  queen  Maryes  Intrest, 
which  ye  Subscribers  as  Representatives  for  ye  Mayor  alder- 
men Commonality  and  Military  officers  of  ye  Citty  of  albany 
and  the  Justices  and  Military  officers  of  sd  County  doe 
hereby  oblige  to  Performe  these  undermentioned  articles 


The  City  Records.  149 

1  That  ye  officers  and  Souldiers  shall  obey  and  Performe 
Such  Commands  and  Directions  as  they  shall  Receive  from 
time  to  time  from  ye  Eight  underwritten  Persones 

2  That  ye  sd  Eight  Subscribers  shall  quarter  ye  sd  officers 
and  Souldiers  as  they  shall  see  Convenient  in  the  Citty  & 
County  of  albany  who  shall  be  well  fedd  Decently  Lodged 
according  to  there  quality,  Becomeing   Persones   in  such 
Services  att  ye  Proper  cost  and  charge  of  ye  Citty  &  County 
of  albany 

3  That  they  shall  not  be  Exposed  to  any  harder  Service 
or  any  wise  more  Irregularly  treated  then  ye  Rest  of  ye  men 
raised  for  ye  same  Purpose 

4  That  they  shall  Remain  in  sd  Service  from  ye  9th  of 
november  1689  untill  the  25th    day  of  March  as  aforesaid 
next  ensueing  or  orders  from  there  Majesty  for  longer  Con- 
tinuance, dureing  which  time  from  there  Reception  to  ye 
25th  day  .of  March  as  aforesaid  they  shall  and  must  Expect 
there  Pay  or  wages  from  them  who  sent  them 

5  That  they  shall  be  Particularly  reguarded  if  any  hap- 
pen to  be  sick  or  Lame,  or  any  ways  Distempered  according 
to  Christian  Care  of  Phisicks  and  Requisite  attendance 

6  That  ye  sd  men  are  not  to  choose  any  officers  over  them- 
selfs  but  such  officers  as  arg  already  come  up  with  them 

7  That  ye   sd   Eight  Underwriters  shall  be  obliged  to 
pay  ye  Passage  of  ye  sd  men  to  N  :  Yorke     thus  Concluded 
in  albany  ye  13th  day  of  november  1689 

The  said  Jacob  Milborne  said  he  had  forgott  some  words 
which  must  be  Inserted,  Particularly  ye  word  Committee, 
and  also  would  first  have  an  answer  upon  his  Proposealls 
which  he  Delivered  on  Munday  Last  before  he  would  Sign 
ye  articles,  yl  sd  Cuyler  and  Schuyler  told  him  they  could 
make  no  alteration  without  ye  Convention,  but  y'  ye  answer 
to  his  Proposealls  was  Ready  and  Signd  and  would  be  De- 
livered as  soon  as  he  signed  the  articles  but  not  before 

The  Convention  of  Albanye's  answer  to  Jacob  Milbornes 
Proposalls  which  was  to  be  Deliverd  as  soon  as  he 
Signd  ye  articles  about  ye  men  — ,  else  not 

That  they  being  ye  Lawfull  Civill  and  Military  officers 
of  ye  Citty  &  County  of  albany,  and  accordingly  Since  ye 


150  The  City  Records. 

Proclamation  of  there  Majesties  William  &  Mary  king  & 
queen  of  England  &c.  in  this  Citty,  have  acted  in  there  Re- 
spective Stations  without  ye  Least  hinderance  or  obstruction 
from  any  Person,  who  are  Resolved  with  ye  assistance  of  god 
so  to  continue  till  orders  comes  from  there  most  Sacred  Ma- 
jesties when  they  will  be  ready  &  willing  to  give  an  account 
of  all  there  actions  during  these  Revolutions  to  such  Person 
or  Persons  as  there  Majesties  shall  be  Pleased  to  Send  hither 
for  yl  purpose,  thinking  themselfs  no  ways  obliged  to  article 
with  or  Render  any  account  of  there  Proceedings  to  any 
Person  Except  they  have  Commission  from  there  Majes- 
ties now  upon  ye  Throne,  which  we  long  have  Expected  and 
waited  for,  &  still  with  Patience  shall  waite  till  god  shall 
please  to  send  it  from  England  from  there  Majesties  king 
William  &  queen  Mary  whom  god  Long  Preserve 

And  if  y«  sd  Milborne  hath  any  Ammunition  belonging 
to  there  Majestic  Stores.  ye  Convention  Desyres  he  would 
Land  it,  and  let  them  have  it  for  there  Majesties  fort  they 
are  willing  to  give  a  Receit  for  ye  same 

Signd         PR  SCHUYLER     Mayor 

CLAES  RIPSE  VAN  DAM    alderm. 
K  :  V :  RENSELAER  Justice 
REYNIER  BARENTS     assistant 
alb :  13  novembr  1689    SANDER  GLENN    Justice 

The  Convention  haveing  heard  ye  Report  brougt  them  by 
Johannes  Cuyler  &  abraham  Schuyler,  were  willing  to  come 
to  an  accommodation  if  Possible  &  Resolved  to  graunt  yt  ye 
word  Committee  might  be  Inserted  &  was  also  Resolved  if 
ye  sd  Milborne  then  Denyed  to  Sign  ye  articles  to  Deliver 
him  over  this  following  Paper 

Mr.  JACOB  MILBORNE 

Wee  are  sorry  you  should  give  yourself  and  us  so  much 
trouble  concerning  ye  Receiving  and  Quartering  of  the  fifty 
men  Sent  up  hither  by  ye  gent :  of  N :  Yorke,  if  therefore 
there  and  ye  Intentions  be  good  &  Reall  for  ye  Security  of 
there  Majesties  king  William  &  queen  Marys  Intrest  and 
the  Safety  of  there  Subjects  here  wherefore  they  were  sent, 
Then  ye  Convention  Expect  yu  will  Comply  with  ye  an- 
nexed articles  which  we  declare  was  after  many  debates 


The  City  Records.  151 

fully  Concluded  and  agreed  upon  Yesterday,  &  this  is  ye 
Last  Resolution  which  ye  Convention  can  take  in  yl  Subject, 
neither  will  they  Proceed  to  any  further  answers  till  this 
Bussinesse  be  Ended  Signd 

Fort  albany  ye  13  of  nov  Pr  SCHUYLER  Mayor 

1689  inye  name  of  ye 

Convention  of  albany 

The  Sd  Johannes  Cuyler  and  abraham  Schuyler  were 
sent  ye  2d  time  with  ye  articles  to  Jacob  Milborne  who  told 
him  yt  ye  word  Committee  as  they  called  themselfs  was  graunt- 
ed,  &  if  he*  was  Ready  to  Sign,  but  answered  he  would 
not  Sign  ye  articles  with  many  absurde  words  as  ye  sd  2 
persones  doe  Relate  upon  which  they  delivered  him  ye  above - 
sd  Paper. 

This  day  Jacob  Milborne  caused  ye  Company  of  Souldiers 
Come  from  N:  Yorke,  which  for  2  nights  Past  had  Lyen 
at  Marte  gerritse's  Island  to  march  into  Towne&ye  Burgers 
of  y1  faction  Received  them  in  there  houses  without  billet- 
ing or  lawfull  authority. 

Die  Jovis  ye  14th  of  november  1689 
The  Mayor  came  doune  to  Towne  and  went  with  ye  Con- 
vention to  ye  Citty  hall,  were  ye  Burgers  forthwith  appeared 
and  there  did  Declare  ye  Rasons  why  he  had  Secured 
there  Majesties  fort  (since  he  had  heard  that  diverse  were 
Dissatisfyed  at  his  so  doing)  vizt  that  he  had  Received  Suffi- 
cient and  Credible  Information  from  N :  Yorke,  Especially 
from  alderman  Schaick  who  was  in  there  Meeting  of  there 
Committe  as  they  call  it  at  N :  Y :  where  he  heard  Jacob 
Milborne  say  he  would  goe  to  Albany  and  see  ye  fort  better 
Secured,  Shewing  them  further  three  Testimonyes  Sworne 
to,  by  which  it  did  Evidently  appear  it  was  Concluded  upon 
to  make  an  absolute  change  of  government,  to  carry  some 
Persones  Prisoners  to  N :  Yorke,  and  so  to  make  a  generall 
disturbance  among  ye  People,  and  force  us  to  Comply  with 
there  new  fashioned  government  Declareing  further  that  he 
he  had  Sent  ye  Recorder  from*  time  to  time  with  ye  other 
members  of  ye  Convention  to  Discourse  with  Milborne  Con- 
cerning ye  Receiving  of  50  Souldiers,  &  to  enquire  with 


152  The  City  Records. 

what  Power  and  authority  he  came  here  Upon  which  ye 
Recorder  Put  them  in  minde  of  ye  Discourse  Past  between 
him  and  Milborne  on  Sunday's  night  concerning  his  autho- 
rity, when  it  was  Concluded  upon  to  Consult  next  day  about 
ye  Receiving  and  quartering  of  Sd  Company  of  men  where- 
abouts they  had  been  in  agitation  till  now  j  but  See  yl  ye 
Said  Milborne  is  no  ways  Inclined  to  come  to  any  agreement 
Since  it  was  Positively  Concluded  upon,  but  when  it  came 
to  Signing  founde  always  Exceptions  three  Severall  times 
which  was  ye  Reason  ye  Convention  did  not  meet  Sooner  at 
ye  Citty  hall,  upon  which  ye  articles  was  read  concerning 
ye  quartering  of  ye  50  Souldiers  which  Pleased  ye  Burgers 
very  well  and  wished  they  might  be  Signed ;  and  Milborne 
being  fetched  was  asked  if  Such  articles  were  not  Concluded 
upon  who  Confessed  Yess  but  that  he  had  given  some  Pro- 
posealls to  ye  Convention,  which  he  first  would  have  an- 
swered and  then  Sign  to  ye  articles. 

But  ye  Convention  Replyed  yl  he  had  Delivered  ye  articles 
concerning  ye  quartering  ye  men  on  munda^r  morning  &  ye 
Proposealls  on  Munday  afternoon,  and  was  therefore  fitting 
that  first  an  Issue  should  be  made  of  ye  articles  before  an 
answer  be  given  to  ye  Proposealls,  and  yl  ye  answer  to  ye 
Proposealls  was  Ready  to  be  delivered  assoon  as  he  had 
Signd  to  ye  articles,  But  Refused  in  ye  p'sence  of  Twelve 
men  whom  ye  People  had  chosen  to  be  Present  to  hear  ye 
Debates  between  ye  Convention  and  ye  sd  Milborne ;  where- 
upon a  Certain  Paper  was  Read  which  had  been  Delivered  to 
ye  sd  Milborne  ye  day  before,  ye  Purport  of  which  was  that 
they  were  not  Designed  to  give  him  any  answer  to  his  Pro- 
posealls before  he  had  Signd  to  ye  articles  which  was  ap- 
proved off  by  sd  12  men  Since  it  was  Plainly  Demonstrate 
how  ye  sd  milborne  had  from  time  to  time  intended  to  Delay 
and  Deceive  them  as  by  ye  Testimoneys  can  appear 

The  Convention  Said  to  ye  sd  12  men  that  they  had  used 
there  uttmost  Endeavors,  &  asked  if  they  could  Propose  or 
think  of  any  better  means  or  method  they  would  doe  well 
to  tell  them,,  and  Desyred  them  to  Consult  about  ye  matter 
upon  which  after  Consultation  they  Deputed  three  of  ye  12 
men  to  witt  Harnie  gansevoort  Peter  van  waggelum  and  Je- 
ronimus  wendell  who  made  Report  to  ye  Convention  then 
all  together  at  ye  Mayors  house  at  Least  Eighteen  in  number 


The  City  Records.  153 

Harme  gansevoort  being  there  Speaker,  That  they  Concurrd 
with  ye  Convention  and  yl  ye  sd  Milborne  ought  to  Sign  ye 
articles,  and  that  ye  Convention  could  doe  no  more  then  they 
had  done  Referring  further  the  mannagement  of  that  affaire 
to  ye  general  1  Convention  Since  they  were  Resolved  to  trou- 
ble themselfs  no  more  about  it. 


Die  Vpneris  15th  of  november  1689 

Itt  is  orderd  to  be  Entred  how  yl  Jacob  Milborne  came 
to  there  Majesties  fort  of  albany  on  ye  15th  day  of  november 
1689  with  a  Company  of  armed  men,  who  upon  his  approach 
was  charged  by  a  messenger  sent  a  Purpose  not  to  come 
without  ye  gates  of  ye  Citty  nevertheless  Marchd  up  and 
made  Demand  of  there  Majesties  fort  who  was  answered  by 
ye  Mayor  Pieter  Schuyler  Esqr  Commander  of  ye  sd  fort, 
Thatt  he  kept  ye  Same  for  there  Majesties  king  william 
&  queen  niary,  &  Commanded  them  away  in  there  Majesties 
name  with  his  Seditious  Company  j^vho  after  he  had  at- 
tempted to  gett  into  ye  gate  haveing  one  foot  in  was  thrust 
out  withdrew  himself  &  Company  to  within  ye  gates  of  ye 
Citty,  and  there  Putt. up  ye  Kings  Jack  facing  to  ye  fort, 
and  Jacob  Milborne  after  he  had  charged  them  to  Load 
there -guns  with  Bullets  came  to  ye  Citty  gate  &  Read  a 
Paper. 

A  Company  of  Maquase  who  were  come  here  for  ye  assist- 
ance of  there  Majesties  Subjects  Standing  upon  ye  hill  neer 
ye  fort  and  being  Spectators  to  all  these  tumolts  Sent  word 
by  hille  Pieterse  ye  Interpreters  Sister  to  ye  fort  to  acquaint 
ye  Mayor  -and  ye  other  gentlemen  that  Since  they  were  in 
a  firm  Convenant  chain  with  us,  and  Seeing  yt  ye  People 
of  N :  Yorke  came  in  a  hostile  manner  to  Disturbe  their 
Brethren  in  ye  fort  which  was  for  our  and  there  Defence, 
Desyred  yl  ye  said  hille  should  tell  them  if  any  of  those 
men  came  without  ye  gates  to  approach  ye  fort  they  would 
fyre  upon  them  and  charged  there  gunns, 

Upon  which  the  members  of  ye  Convention  then  p'sent  in 
ye  fort  caused  this  following  Protest  to  be  Read  off  one  of 
ye  Mounts 


154  The  City  Records. 

Fort  albany  ye  15th  day  of  november  1689 

Whereas  one  Jacob  Milborne  hath  with  a  Company  of 
armed  men,  come  up  to  there  Majesties  fort  in  a  hostile 
manner  with  full  arms  and  Demanded  Possession  thereof 
from  ye  Mayor  of  ye  Citty  who  has  ye  Command  of  ye  same' 
who  Declared  to  keep  said  fort  for  there  Majesties  William 
&  Mary  untill  there  orders  comes  but  ye  said  Jacob  Milborne 
as  a  Tumultuous  &  Mutinous  Person  doth  Proceed  to  occa- 
sion great  Disturbance  to  there  Majesties  Liege  People,  by 
again  faceing  to  ye  fort  with  Loaden  arms,  Especially  so 
many  heathens  to  witt  Maquase  being  ye  Spectators  thereof 
who  seems  to  be  upon  ye  Point  to  undertake  some  Danger- 
ous Design,  The  Convention  of  ye  Civil  &  Military  officers 
of  ye  Citty  &  County  of  albany  now  at  p'sent  in  ye  fort  doe 
therefore  Protest  hereby  in  their  Majesties  King  William 
&  Queen  Maryes  name  before  god  and  ye  world  against  ye 
sd  Milborne  and  his  Seditious  Troops,  for  all  Dammages 
Murthers  Bloodsheds  ^Plunderings  and  other  mischieffs  which 
may  Ensue  by  his  Rebellious  actions  and  charge  him  &  them 
fort 

Pr  SCHUYLER  Mayor 
and  commander  of  there  Majesties  fort 

The  Protest  being  Read  hille  akus  Sister  told  ylye  In- 
dians were  very  much  Dissatisfyed  &  if  Milborne  did  not 
withdraw  with  his  Company  they  would  fyre  upon  him, 
whereupon  ye  Mayor  Desyred  Doctor  Dellius  &  ye  Recorder 
to  goe  to  ye  Indians  tb  Pacify  and  quiet  them  for  ye  Bussi- 
ness  was  yl  a  Person  without  Power  or  authority  would  be 
Master  over  ye  gentlemen  here  which  they  would  nott  ad- 
mitt  ;  the  Indians  answered  goe  and  tell  him  that  if  he  come 
out  of  ye  gates  we  will  fyre  upon  him,  which  Doctor  Dellius 
forthwith  Communicated  to  ye  sd  Milborne  at  ye  head  of 
his  Company  in  ye  Presence  of  a  great  many  Burgers  who 
made  no  further  attempt  to  goe  to  ye  fort,  but  Marched  doune 
ye  towne  and  Dismissed  his  men 

Die  Saturni  y«  16th  of  november  A°  1689 
Notwithstanding^*  ye  Burgers  according  to  their  Duty 
had  Referred  ye  Bussinesse  concerning  ye  quartering  of  ye 


The  City  Records.  155 

Souldiers  to  ye  Convention  on  ye  14  instant  nevertheless  by 
ye  Perswasion  of  Jacob  Milborne  some  of  ye  Inhabitants 
gathered  together  att  ye  house  of  Gabriel  Thompson,  where 
Sundrey  of  ye  Very  same  Persones  appeard  who  were  De- 
puted by  the  People  Two  days  agoe  to  acquaint  ye  Conven- 
tion that  they  Referred  ye  management  of  yl  affaire  wholly 
to  them 

And  these  following  Persones  to  witt  Harme  Gansevoort 
Pieter  Bogardus  Myndert  harmense  Dirk  Bensing  an  Peter 
Van  Waggelum  Private  but  Extream  active  men  in  these 
Revolutions  have  taken  upon  them  to  sign  a  Contract 
with  ye  sd  Milborne  concerning  ye  sd  Company  of  Souldiers, 
not  only  without  ye  least  knowledge  or  Intimation  of  ye  Con- 
vention but  after  they  were  warned  to  ye  contrary  who  took 
upon  them  ye  Charge  as  overseers  of  sd  Company  together 
with  Jochim  Staets  who  was  made  there  Captain,  who  with 
much  Perswasion  of  sd  Milborne  at  last  was  accepted  by  ye 
men  to  be  there  Captain  ye  sd  Milborne  went  away  leaving 
said  Company  here  in  such  Confusion. 

Die  Lun.  25  novembris  1689 

Capt  Bull  arrived  at  ye  Green  Bush  with  87  men  from 
N  :  England  on  Teusday  following  marched  with  flying  Col- 
lors  into  Citty  where  he  was  Reed  by  ye  mayor  &  aldermen 
att  ye  gate  &  bid  welcom,  he  Drew  up  his  men  in  ye  midle 
of  ye  Broad  Street  gave  three  volleys  &  was  answered  by  3 
gunns  from  ye  fort  ye  men  were  orderly  quartered  in  ye 
Citty  and  extreamly  well  accepted. 

The  29  day  of  november  1689 

Leift  Enos  Talmadge  of  Captain  Buls  Company  marched 
with  24  men  to  Shinnectady  to  keep  yl  Post  as  it  was  agreed 
upon  by  ye  5  gentlemen  appointed  by  ye  Convention  &  ye 
Capt  Bull  &  Jochim  Staets. 

Whereas  Ensign  abraham  Janse  is  ordered  to  convey  three 
men  with  thirty  horses  to  woodberry  who  came  here  with 
ye  Souldiers  sent  hither  for  there  Majesties  Service  These 
are  in  there  Majesties  name  King  William  &  Queen  Mary 
to  will  and  Require  all  there  Majesties  Subjects  of  this 
County  of  albany  and  to  Desyre  all  there- .Majesties  Subjects 
in  ye  neighbouring  Counties  and  Collony  to  be  aideing  and 


156  The  City  Records. 

assisting  to  ye  sd  Ensign  and  three  men  in  ye  Prosecution  of 
there  journey  and  to  furnish  them  with  such  necessaries  as 
they  and  there  horses  shall  have  occasion  upon  sd  Journey 
being  for  there  Majesties  Service  given  att  ye  Citty  hall  of 
albany  ye  26th  day  of  november  in  ye  first  year  of  there 
Majesties  Reign  A°  1689 

PETER  SCHUYLYR   Justice  of  ye  Peace 


By  the  Mayor  aldermen  and  Commonality  and  Military 
officers  of  ye  Citty  of  albany  and  Justices  of  ye  Peace 
and  Military  officers  of  ye  sa  County 

Wee  haveing  taken  into  Consideration  ye  Lamentable 
Condition  of  this  Citty  and  County,  occasioned  by  a  dread- 
full  warr  threatened  from  without,  of  which  our  neighbours 
and  allyes  have  already  felt  ye  smart,  as  also  ye  manifold 
Divisions  and  factions  which  are  amongst  ye  Inhabitants 
within*  which  are  fatall  Tokens  for  Land  &  Church,  It  is 
therefore  thought  Convenient  to  keep  a  Day  Extraordinary 
for  fasting  &  Prayer  upon  Weddensday  ye  4th  of  December 
1689  to  Pray  to  almighty  god  (whose  wrath  and  anger  for 
our  manifold  Sinns  and  transgressions  is  Righteously  kin- 
dled against  us)  for  Pardon  and  Remission  of  Sinns  and  to 
free  us  from  ye  bloody  Sworde  of  our  Enemies  without  and 
Especially  from  ye  Inhuman  Barbarity  of  ye  heathen,  and 
on  ye  other  side  to  bynde  ye  hearts  and  mindes  of  ye  People 
within,  with  Love  and  unity  to  ye  Praise  of  almighty  God 
and  ye  welfare  of  ye  Church  and  Country,  Prohibiting  there- 
fore upon  sd  day  all  manner  of  servile  worke  all  Rideing 
Playing  or  other  sorts  of  Recreation  which  may  hinder  or 
obstruct  ye  worship  of  God  that  day  Chargeing  and  Com- 
manding Expressly  all  ye  Inhabitants  of  this  Citty  &  County 
to  keep  ye  said  fast  day  most  Solemnly,  Thus  given  att  ye 
Citty  hall  of  albany  at  a  meeting  of  ye  Convention  ye  27th 
day  of  november  1689  in  ye  first  year  of  there  Majesties 
Reign 

God  Save  King  William  &  queen  Mary 

Capt.  Sander  glenn  Leift  John  van  Eps  &  Ens :  Joh  : 
Sanders  took  ye  oath  of  fidelity  to  there  Majesties  before 
Peter  "Schuyler  Mayor  Justice  of  ye  Peace 


The  City  Records.  157 

Att  a  Convention  &c. 

albany  y«  28th  day  of  November  1689 

It  was  thought  Convenient  by  ye  Convention  yl  5  of  there 
members  should  be  appointed  to  have  a  Conference  with 
Capt  Jonathan  Bull  &  Mr  Jochim  Staets  concerning  ye  Soul- 
diers  they  have  under  there  Command  here  in  Toune. 

And  for  that  Purpose  were  nominated  Dirk  Wessells  Capt 
Marte  gerritse  Levinus  Van  Schaick  Capt  Sander  glenn  & 
Johannes  Cuyler  who  in  ye  behalfe  of  ye  Convention  told 
them  they  had  Two  Companies  Lyeing  in  ye  Toune  and  y* 
ye  out  Plantations  were  not  secured  where  ye  Enemy  first 
must  be  expected  as  Shinnectady  half  moon  and  Canasta- 
gioene,  Desyred  them  to  consider  yl  some  men  might  be 
sent  thither  with  all  Expedition,  upon  which  Capt  Bull 
Proposed  to  Mr.  Jochim  Staets  to  take  tenn  men  out  of  his 
Company  &  ye  said  Capt  Bull  would  take  Twenty  men  of  his 
Company  make  in  all  30  men  &  send  to  Shinnectady,  upon 
which  Mr.  Staets  answered  he  was  but  weake  had  but  46  or 
47  men,  &  he  would  not  breake  his  files  he  must  at  least 
keep  10  files,  upon  which  Capt  Bull  Replyed  y1  he  could 
not  Expect  that  they  would  always  be  compleat  for  sicknesse 
and  diverse  other  accidents  might  happen,  Mr.  Staets  Pro- 
posed y1  Capt  Bull  should  send  24  men  to  Shinnectady  & 
yl  he  Staets  would  join  six  of  his  Company  with  six  of  Capt 
Bulls  men  to  goe  and  lye  at  ye  half  moon  &  yl  by  Turns  one 
should  have  ye  Command  14  days  &  then  the  other  where- 
upon Dirk  Wessells  answered  that  there  was  no  quarters  for 
12  men  at  ye  half  moon  but  that  some  men  might  goe  to 
Canastagioene  where  6  could  be  conveniently  quarterd  and 
y1  was  a  Dangerous  Passe  also  But  Capt  Bull  said  he  did 
not  care  to  have  his  men  so  Scattered  about. 

The  sd  Gent:  told  Mr  Staes  that  ye  Convention  were  De- 
syreous  to  know  upon  what  account  that  N  :  Yorke  Com- 
pany lay  there  &  if  he  would  submitt  himself  to  them  Since 
they  had  not  seen  his  Commission,  he  answerd  he  could  not 
doe  that  since  there  were  other  overseers  or  weesfaders  as 
he  termed  them  appointed  over  his  men,  but  he  Promised 
&  would  Swear  y1  nothing  should  be  acted  or  done  by  him 
against  ye  Convention  althogh  new  orders  did  come,  &  de- 
syred  y1  ye  Convention  would  advise  and  Consult  with  these 

Annals,  ii.  14 


158  The  City  Records. 

overseers  upon  which  they  answerd  that  there  was  many 
Dissections  in  ye  Place  already  &  by  such  Confusion  and  so 
many  masters  ye  Contention  would  augment  and  Increase, 
Mr  Staets  Replied  it  is  now  so  we  must  doe  as  well  as  we 
can  Joh  :  Cuyler  asked  to  see  his  Commission  but  Refused 
to  show  it  and  so  broke  off  from  yl  discourse  and  Returned 
to  ye  former  Proposealls  concerning  ye  Sending  out  men  to 
garrison  y«  out  Plantations,  &  it  was  finally  Concluded  that 
24  men  of  Capt  Bulls  Company  should  goe  to  Shinnectady 
and  6  of  his  men  to  Paepsknee  &  of  Mr.  Jochim  Staets  men  6 
to  ye  half  moon 

And  as  Justices  of  ye  Peace  they  desyred  ye  Commission 
officers  to  call  a  Court  Marshall  in  ye  afternoon  to  setle  ye 
watch  in  ye  Toune  yx  all  Things  may  goe  Regularly  as  was 
done 

But  that  which  was  concluded  upon  on  ye  forenoon  was 
alterd  by  some  of  ye  Military  officers  in  there  meeting  un- 
known to  ye  5  gentlemen  Viz1  y'  Mr  Staets  should  send  of 
his  men  ten  to  Shinnectady  &  Capt  Bull  20,  butt  took  no 
care  for  ye  half  moon  as  was  concluded  upon  by  ye  Commis- 
sioners of  ye  general  Convention  Nevertheless  yl  which  was 
Concluded  upon  by  ye  Deputies  of  ye  Convention  &  Capt 
Bull  and  Mr  Staets  was  thougt  fitt  by  ye  Convention  to  be 
Performed  &  Capt  Bull  accordingly  sent  his  Lieft  with  24 
men  to  Shinnectady  to  keep  that  post  but  Mr  Staets  would 
send  out  no  men  as  was  agreed  upon,  but  went  to  Shinnec- 
tady with  some  others  of  yl  faction,  Insomuch  yl  ye  Mayor 
himself  &  some  other  gent :  were  necessitated  to  goe  thither 
to  see  ye  men  of  Capt  Bulls  Company  quartered 


Att  a  Convention  &c.  Albany  14th  December  1689  Present 
Peter  Schuyler  Mayor  David  Schuyler 

D.  Wessells  Recorder  Evert  Banker 

Joh:  Wendell  Reynier  Barentse 

Liv  V  Schaik  Joh :  Cuyler 

Jan  Bleeker  Gert  Ryerse 

Claes  Ripse  Kiliaen  V.  Renselaer 

Albert  Ryckman  C.  Marte  gerritse 

Resolved  yl  some  money  be  Raised  by  way  of  Loan  for  ye 

Paying  of  Capt  Bull  &  ye  other  2  Commission  officers  come 


The  City  Becords.  159 

from  Canetticut  according  to  Contract  who  are  to  have  8 
shil  per  diem  upon  which  ye  Recorder  &  Mr  Van  Renselaer 
were  sent  to  Mrs.  Schuyler  who  is  willing  to  advance  £18 :  for 
a  month  without  Intrest  but  if  it  be  not  Repaid  in  sd  Time 
to  have  moderate  intrest  &  yl  shee  may  have  a  Bonde  for 
ye  Payment  of  ye  Same  upon  which  this  following:  Bill  was 
orderd  to  be  writt 

KNOW  all  men  by  these  Presents  yl  we  whose  names  are 
underwritten  members  of  ye  Convention  of  albany  doe  ac- 
knowlege  to  have  Reed  of  Mrs.  Margret  Schuyler  ye  Somme 
of  Eighteen  Pounds  Courant  money  of  this  Province  which 
is  toward  ye  payment  of  Capt  Bull  and  ye  other  Commission 
officers  come  from  Canetticut  according:  to  Contract  which 
sd  Somme  if  it  be  paid  in  ye  Space  of  a  month  after  ye  date 
hereof  then  no  intrest  has  to  be  paid  but  if  it  be  not  justly  & 
honestly  Paid  &  satisfyed  to  ye  sd  Mrs.  Margret  Schuyler 
her  heirs  Executors  administrators  or  assigns  in  ye  Space 
of  a  month  after  ye  date  hereof  then  we  whose  names  are 
hereunto  Subscribed  doe  Promise  Engage  and  oblige  our- 
selfs  joyntly  and  severally  our  heirs  Executors  and  ad- 
ministrators and  every  of  them  firmly  by  these  p'sents  to 
pay  or  cause  to  be  paid  unto  ye  sd  Mrs.  Margret  Schuyler 
her  heirs  Executors  administrators  &  assigns  ye  sd  Somme 
of  £18: — with  ye  Interest  of  ye  same  at  Per  cento  to  be 
Reckond  from  ye  18  of  January  next.  In  witnesse  whereof 
cember  1689 

we  have  hereunto  sett  our  hands  in  albany  ye     day  of  De- 
Resolved  yl  Dirk  albertse  Bratt  and  hendrik  gerritse  be 
sent  for  from  Sarachtoge. 


[Translation.] 

Albany  16th  December  1689 

The  Albany  Convention  having  received  the  following 
news  it  is  sent  from  the  Mohawk  Sachems  by  post  to  Akus 
to  be  forwarded  to  us. 

1.  That  10  Nations  of  Twigh  Twighs  are  coming  to  the 
5  Nations  to  destroy  them. 

2.  That  two  of  the   Indian    prisoners  who  were  sent  to 
France  have  returned  back  home,  who  say  that  Ambas^ac^r^ 
must  come  to  Canida.  \|&* 


160  The  City  Records. 

3.  That  the  Oonondages  have  sent  for  the  Mohawk  war- 
riors and  Sachems  and  that  they  must  bring  belts  with  them. 

4.  That  the  Mohawk  prisoners  were  to  France  with  the 
Cowherd  who  was  taken  prisoner  at  Onnondage. 

5.  That  Cadarachqui  is  abandoned  by  the  French. 
Whereupon  the  gentlemen  resolved  to  send  Lawrence  alias 

Jannetje  the  Indian  to  Onnondage  to  learn  the  truth  hereof, 
and  to  forbid  them  in  our  name  to  send  Ambassadors  to 
Canida  or  to  receive  any  according  to  our  Treaty — not  to 
trust  the  French,  and  if  they  let  them  cheat  them  not  to 
blame  us :  and  to  communicate  the  following  news  to  them. 
That  2  ships  have  come  direct  from  England  to  N.  Eng- 
land, which  give  for  news — 

1.  That  almost  all  the  large  Ships  of  War  are  sailed  full 
of  people  towards  France,  to  seize  it;  full  300,000  men. 

2.  That  150  ships  are  ready  to  come  westward  to  convoy 
our  ships. 

3.  That  we  have  here  a  brave  Troop  of  Souldiers  and  if 
we  want  more,  there  are  full  200  in  the  Sopus,  and  3  or  400 
in  N.  England. 

This  is  sent  in  a  letter  to  Sweer  Teunise  who  shall  go  to 
Akus  to  interpret  it  correctly  to  him. 


Mr.  MAYOR  Worthy  and  beloved  friend  Sr  pieter  Schuyler. 

Ambassadors  from  Onondage  and  Oneyda  arrive  here  just 
now  who  report  to  us  that  I  must  accompany  them  to  Albany 
to  interpret  their  propositions  to  you.  As  it  is  inconvenient 
for  me  at  present  I  have  taken  the  liberty  to  put  their 
meaning  on  paper. 

They  let  your  Honour  thus  Know  that  the  news  received 
from  Canada  shall  not  be  communicated  before  all  the  Sa- 
chems have  assembled.  Your  Honour  &  Johannes  Wendel 
and  I  are  sent  for  Express  to  be  present  there  as  they  will  not 
discuss  the.  matter  until  you  are  there,  and  then  your 
Honour  shall  also  deliberate  on  it  in  order  to  consult  with 
them  as  to  what  may  occur  to  You. 

They  have  again  seen  three  of  their  Indians  who  were 
prisoners,  but  they  do  not  expect  to  have  them  back  again 
as  they  must  return  quickly  to  Canada.  They  also  assure 
you  that  they  are  not  going  to  lie  on  there  backs  in  conse- 


The  City  Records.  161 

quence  of  these  tidings  of  peace,  and  learn  to  fight  only  by 
looking  Sideways  at  it — but  they  shall  again  grapple  with  it 
because  Many  of  their  War  chiefs  ( Veltoversten)  have  re- 
mained in  that  Country. 

They  also  say  that  had  the  Governor  of  Canada  sent  the 
prisoners  back  home  to  us  as  soon  as  they  had  come  from 
France,  they  had  in  no  wise  determined  on  peace,  inasmuch 
as  only  thirteen  survived  :  all  the  remainder  died  of  Sickness. 

They  hear  two  letters  have  come  to  the  Jesuit — one  from 
the  Governor,  the  other  from  Pere  Lamberville.  They 
had  consulted — to  wit,  those  of  the  Domine's  side — to  burn 
them,  but  the  more  cunning  Sachems  advised  that  they 
should  be  opened  before  the  full  Council ;  your  Honour  will 
then  be  able  to  see  whether  they  will  contain  any  deception 
If,  on  the  other  hand  there  be  ruone,  they  shall  then  be 
handed  to  the  owners. 

They  also  acquaint  your  Honour  that  it  is  a  lie  that  10 
nations  of  Savages  came  to  destroy  them,  but  Ambassadors 
of  7  different  Nations  have  come  in  Zinnodo  Wan  ha  and 
restored  2  Seneca  prisoners  and  promised  to  give  up  4  more 
of  them  as  soon  as  they  shall  have  returned  home  ;  also  to 
treat  for  peace,  and  say  there  are  3  Nations  which  would 
continue  the  War,  namely — the  KigJitages  and  the  Twight- 
wighs  and  the  Sawenochques  and  give  2  Strings  of  Zewant 
with  this  letter. 

The  3  prisoners  from  Canada  had  reported  that  Cuada- 
roghque  is  abandoned  and  they  found  30  barrels  of  powder 
there  ;  among  the  rest  was  a  barrel  of  Match  in  a  hole  which 
they  intended  to  set  fire  to  and  thus  to  burn  up  the  others. 
But  it  went  out  of  itself,  after  burning  an  ell  in  length. 
There  found  considerable  booty  both  in  beaver  and  peltries 
in  the  fort.  Six  of  the  principal  officers  were  drowned 
after  they  left  the  fort  and  fled  to  Canada,  with  divers  sol- 
diers but  they  know  not  how  many. 

They  further  say  that  they  had  proposed  this  to  Duinan- 
dougha,  whereupon  the  Cajadorus  answers — If  my  brothers 
do  not  find  it  convenient  for  them  to  journey  so  far,  they 
would  come  to  Duinandoughe,  and  should  your  Honour  in- 
form him  of  your  wish  it  shall  be  faithfully  attended  to 
provided  your  honour  send  along  one,  two  or  three  Strings. 


162  The  City  Records. 

£Jo  more  than  commending  you  to  the  Lord  with  the  hearty 
Salutations  of  your  Servant—by  my  order. 

JACQUES  CORNELISEN 
This  25th  December  A°  1689 
Addressed — Aen  d'E.  Achtbare  Mr 

Major  Pieter  Schuyler  Residerende  tot  Albany. 

At  a  Convention  of  the  Mayor  Aldermen  and  Commonality 
and  Military  officers  of  ye  Citty  and  County  of  Albanie 
ye  27th  day  of  December  1689 

Five  messengers  called  Desagochquaetha  Arachkoenichta 
Dehashedis  Rashiedeagoe  and  Adochtirasse  being  sent  by 
the  Sachims  of  onnondage  and  Oneyde  to  acquaint  us  and 
them  of  New  England  that  there  are  three  of  ye  Indians 
come  back  into  ye  Country  which  were  sent  Prisoners  to 
France,  who  are  Sent  by  them  of  Canida  to  Propose  a  Peace 
or  Truce,  but  that  they  have  Resolved  not  to  hear  them  till 
Some  Gentlemen  goe  from  hence  to  be  Present  at  there 
general  meeting  at  Onnondage,  and  there  Consult  what 
shall  be  necessary  for  ye  Publike  good  Doe  Say  further  that 
there  are  13  Indians  come  back  from  France  the  Rest  being 
23  all  dead  of  Sicknesse  and  that  there  are  Two  Letters  In- 
tercepted which  ye  Governor  of  Canida  and  father  Lamber- 
ville  had  Sent  to  ye  Jesuit  in  Oneyde,  which  they  keep  till 
ye  gentlemen  from  hence  arrive  there,  when  they  will  be 
opend  to  see  what  Treachery  the  french  Design 

That  there  are  messengers  from  Seven  of  ye  farr  nations 
come  to  ye  Sinnekes  who  Speake  of  Peace  haveing  Deliverd 
Two  Sinn  eke  Prisoners  and  Promisd  to  Deliver  foure  more 
as  soon  as  they  come  home,  and  y'  three  of  ye  farr  nations 
will  Continue  ye  warr. 

They  bring  further  news  y*  Cadarachqui  is  Deserted  by  ye 

french  and  that  ye  Indians  have  founde  thirty  Barrells  of 

Pouder  and   abundance  of  Beverand    Peltry  there   and  y* 

Six  of  ye  Principle  officers  were  Drownd  in  goeing  home  to 

Canida  from  Cadarachqui  and  Sundry  Souldiers. 

Vpon  which  it  was  Resolved  unanimously  to  Send  Caristasie 

Tosoquatho and  Jurian  three  ofye  most  Prudent  Maquasse 

Thither   to   onnondage  with  this  answer   it  not  being 

thought  Convenient  at  this  juncture  to  Send  Christians 

from  ye  Convention. 


The  City  Records.  163 

1  Wee  are  glad  to  hear  yl  ye  Report  of  ye  10  nations  of 
Indians  Westward  comeing   Doune  to  Destroy  yw  is  false 
and  on  ye  other  Side  much  Rejoyced  that  Seven  of  sd  nations 
are  Inclined  for  Peace,  which  we  ye  more  must  Recommend 
to  ye  Brethren  yl  yowmay  have  ye  Larger  Scope  to  Revenge 
your  Selfs  of  ye   French  for  ye    Blood  shed  by  that  false 
nation,   who  are   now  in  a  mean  Condition,  and  think  to 
Ensnare  yow  with  ye  13  Prisoners  they  have  sent  for  from 
france,  and  haveing  obtained  Such  a  Peace,  will  have  ye 
better  opportunity  to  Catch  a  great  number  of  ye  people  as 
they  did  in  ye  Last  Peace,  Therefore    we  doe   Recommend 
you  (as  we  are  in    a  fast  Covenant  chain  together)   not  to 
hearken    to  ye  french  nor  Speak  to  them  of  Peace  Since  our 
great  king  is  in  actual  warr  with  sd  nation 

2  We  would  come  in  Person  to  be  Present  at  your  meet- 
ing according  to  your  Desyre,  but  we  have  Reed  a  Ship  from 
England   which   brings   us    Certain  news,   that  there  is  a 
governor    for  us  upon  ye    way  with  many  Souldiers  &  is 
Expected  every  houre,  when  we  shall  Send  you  an  Expresse 
to  Onnondage  a  horseback  hopeing  to  have  orders  by  our 
Governor  that  ye  English  may  unanimously  goe  and  Root 
out  Canida 

3  Concerning  ye  13  Prisoners  come  from  france  being  all 
that  is  to  be  founde  of  39  our  advise  is  y*  yow  make  Demand 
of  them  Positively  of  ye  French,  being  Stole  from  yow  and 
Deceitfully  taken  in  time  of  Peace,  in  ye  2d  Place  if  ye 
french  there  hearts  were  good,  they  would  have  sent  yow  ye 
Prisoners  assoon  as  they  came  from  france.     Therefore  doe 
not  heare  them  Speake  of  any  thing  before  they  have  Sent 
you  back  your  Thirteen  Prisoners,  But  yow  need  not  be 
affraid  of  your  Prisoners  So  Long  as  yow  have  ye  Jesuit  and 
So  many  french  in  your  Countrey  whom  yow  must  keep 
verry  well  to  be  Exchanged  as  was  done  in  Col  Dongans 
time ;  It  is  certain  they  are  in  no  hazard  that  yow  should  be 
so  hasty  to  release  them,  they  will  nott  kill  them  it  not 
being  ye  Christians  fashion. 

4  And  for  ye  Brethrens  more  Incouragement  we  can  assure 
yw  yt  the  French  king  hath  his  hands  so  full  that  he  can- 
not assist  Canida  much,  Yow  may  See  this  Plainly  by  there 
Leaving  Cadarachqui. 

5  That  they  send  ye  Two  Letters  writt  by  ye  governor  of 
Canida  and  Lamberville  ye  Priest,  to  ye  Jesuit  at  Oneyde 


164  The  City  Eecords. 

hither  if  not  already  done,  and  shall  Inform  them  with  ye 
Contents  thereof,  and  take  Especiall  care  that  the  messengers 
that  Return  to  Canida  Carry  no  Letters  from  ye  Jesuit  or 
any  body  Else  thither. 

A  true  Copy  Examind  per 
ROBERT  LIVINGSTON  Clk 


Att  a  Convention  &c.  Albany,  Die  Sabbathi  ye  5th  of  Janu- 
ary 16  |f  Present  Peter  Schuyler  Mayor  D  Wessells 
Recorder  Captain  John  wendel  Liv  :  van  Schaik  C.  J. 
Bleeker  Claes  Ripse  David  Schuyler  albert  Ryckman 
C.  Marte  gerritse  Kilian  van  Renselaer  Reynier  Barents 
Evert  Banker  gert  Ryerse. 

It  was  again  put  to  ye  vote  whether  any  members  of  ye 
Convention  should  goe  to  Onondage  to  be  Present  at  ye 
general  meeting  of  ye  Indians. 

But  was  unanimously  Resolved  upon  ye  negative  Confirm- 
ing there  Resolution  of  ye  27  of  december  last  since  it  is 
judged  dangerous  to  be  there  if  ye  Indians  should  Conclude 
of 'any  Peace  or  truce  which  they  some  times  have  done 
notwithstanding  all  Perswasions  to  ye  Contrare,  and  since 
Tahaiadoris  cheeffe  sachim  of  ye  JVLaquase  is  bounde  thither 
It  is  thougt  Convenient  yl  he  Repeat  ye  5  articles  sent  by 
Caristasie  and  Tosoquawo  thither  and  withall  put  them  in 
mind  that  this  is  the  Prefixed  house  to  speake  of  Peace  and 
all  Publike  affaires  and  not  Onondage,  and  yl  ye  Sachim 
sent  for  by  ye  governor  of  Canida  by  no  means  goe  thither 
to  Treat  or  act  with  our  great  Kings  Enemies,  and  y*  we 
hope  yl  ye  5  nations  will  not  be  so  mad  as  to  hearken  to 
any  Peace  with  the  treacherous  french  at  such  a  juncture 
when  ye  greatest  hopes  is  of  Totally  Rooting  there  name 
out  in  America  but  on  ye  Contrare  take  ye  wholesome  advice 
ofthere  Brethren  ye  Christians,  who  knows  what  is  for  there 
Security  better  then  they  doe  themselfs  Lastly  to  Charge  & 
Command  them  to  make  no  Peace  truce  or  any  sort  of  ami- 
cable treaty  with  ye  french  Since  his  Majesties  Declaration 
of  warr  against  them  which  hes  been  so  much  longed  for  by 
ye  English  nation  is  now  come  over  and  as  they  are  subjects 
of  our  great  King  of  England  Soe  they  can  not  expect  to 
keep  ye  Covenant  chain  Inviolable  with  this  government 


The  City  Records.  165 

and  make  Peace  with  Canida  while  we  are  in  actual  warr 
with  said  nation.  Therefore  Remember  we  have  warned  ye 
•y*  if  any  evill  be  fall  yu  you  must  always  acknowledge  we 
gave  you  fair  advertisement. 

It  was  also  Resolved  y'  Tahaiadoris  should  have  a  faddem 
of  Duffels  a  shirt  and  a  Pare  of  Stockings. 

And  y*  a  Belt  of  wampum  should  be  sent  to  ye  4  Sachims 
of  Dowaganhaes  or  farr  nations  to  Congratulate  ye  Peace 
made  between  them  &  ye  Sinnekes. 


Att  a  Meeting  &c. 

Albany  January  6th  16  f$ 

Present  as  before  except  Kiliaen  van  Renselaer  &gertRyerse 
absent. 

The  Convention  being  mett  again  to  consult  about  ye 
affaires  of  ye  Indians  ye  members  continue  in  there  opinion 
yl  none  of  ye  Convention  goe  thither  to  ye  Indians  general 
meeting,  but  Considering  that  it  is  of  great  Import,  and  that 
they  may  be  ye  more  Certain  and  Satisfied  y1  ye  Proposealls 
sent  to  said  Indians  by  Tosoquatho  Caristasie  and  Jurian 
may  be  Exactly  and  Peremptorily  told  them ;  according  as 
it  is  mentioned  in  ye  5  articles  Concluded  upon  ye  27  decem- 
ber  last. 

It  is  Resolved  yl  arnout  Cornelise  sworne  Interpreter  goe 
thither  toOnnondage  withall  Convenient  speed  who  Desyres 
yl  one  may  be  appointed  to  goe  along  with  him  y1  tinder- 
stands  ye  Language,  upon  which  Robert  Sanders  was  pitched 
upon  to  goe  for  his  assistance  who  upon  his  arrival!  there 
shall  take  Especiall  Care  yl  ye  5  articles  be  Plainly  told  to 
ye  Sachims  in  there  general  meeting  which  are  herewith 
given  you,  &  further  in  our  name  to  acquaint 

PROPOSITIONS  to  be  made  by  Arnout  Cornelise  Interpeter 
to  whom  Robert  Sanders  is  joyned  for  assistance  in  ye 
Indians  Generall  meeting  at  onnondage  in  ye  name  and 
behalfe  of  ye  Convention  of  albanie  over  and  above  ye 
5  articles  sent  them  by  Caristasie  Tosoquatho  and  Jurian 
albany  ye  6th  day  of  January  16f$ 
1  That  albanie  is  ye  Prefixed  house  to  Treat  and  Speak 

of  peace  with  all  Sorts  of  people  and  y1  they  who  Strive  to 


166  The  City  Records. 

make  a  Peace  or  Cessation  with  ye  french  must  be  lookt  up- 
on as  persones  who  are  Designd  to  make  a  breach  in  y.e  great 
Silver  Covenant  chain  which  hath  been  So  many  years  kept 
Inviolable  by  this  government 

2  That  they  must  look  upon  themselfs  as  they  are,  to  witt 
Subjects  of  y«  great  king  of  England  who  cann  make  no 
peace  with  them    who  are  his  Publik  enemies     You  have 
felt  ye  smart  of  makeing  peace  with  the  french  nation  al- 
ready, when  they  were  allijes  of  our  Great  king,  then  you 
did  it  without  our  Consent 

3  That  ye  Sachim  Degannesore  who  is  sent  for  by  the 
governour  of  Canida  by  no  means  goe  thither  since  they  are 
absolute  Enemies  of  our  great  king  whose  Declaration  of 
warr  is  now  come  to  hand  which  hath  so  long  been  Desyred 
by  ye  English  nation  in  which  Declaration  his  majestic  for- 
bids all  his  subjects  to  keep  the  least  Correspondence  with 
yl  false  nation 

4  Never  could  there  be  greater  Disobedience  and  madnesse 
Committed  by  people  then  for  ye  5  nation  to  hudle  up  a  sort 
of  peace  or  Cessation  of  arms  with  ye  french  at  this  Juncture 
when  ye  greatest  hopes  are  of  rooting  out  of  ye  Very  name 
of  ye  French  in  america  by  the  English  who  are  Twenty  to 
one  of  ye  french  in  Canida 

5  We   have  sent  Arnout  Cornelise  ye  Interpreter  accom- 
panied with  Robert  Sanders  to  be  present  at  your  Generall 
meeting  not  only  to  Poure  understanding  into  yow,  but  in 
our  name  to  Charge  and  Command  yow  as  you  love  ye  pro- 
texion  of  our  great  king  and  ye  friendeship  of  this  Govern- 
ment by  no  means  to  hearken  to  nor  make  any  peace  or 
Cessation  or  truce  with  ye  french  Directly  or  indirectly. 

6  Thatt  y«  Sachims  Endevor  to  perswade  3  or  400  Indians 
to  come  towards  our  Confines  ahunting  to  be  as  skouts  to 
watch  ye  french  Designs  for  when  they  most  Speak  of  peace 
then  warr  is  in   there  hearts  and  therefore  are   not  to    be 
trusted  since  they  have  called  all  there  Garrisons  together  to 
mont  Roy  all 

Was  Signed  PR  SHUYLER  mayor 

DIRK  WESSELLS  Justice 

JOH  :   WENDEL  Justice 

JAN  JANSE  BLEEKER  Justice 
A  True  Copy  Examind  per 

ROBT  LIVINGSTON  Ck 


The  City  Becords.  167 

At  a  Convention  of  the  Mayor  Aldermen  Commonality  and 
Military  Officers  of  ye  Citty  of  Albanie  and  Justices  and 
Military  Officers  of  the  Said  County,  held  in  Albanie 
Die  Saturni  den  llth  Januarie  A°  16|$  Present  Peter 
Schuyler  mayor,  Captain  John  wendel,  Captain  Jan 
Bleeker,  David  Schuyler,  Reynier  Barents,  Gert  Ryerse, 
-Captain  Marte  Gerritse,  Dirk  Wessels  Recorder,  Livinus 
Van  Shaik,  Claes  Ripse,  Albert  Ryckman  Evert 
Banker,  Kilian  van  Renselaer,  Joh  :  Cuyler 

A  Certain  Letter  was  brougt  into  ye  Convention  by 
Captain  Johannes  Wendell  Signd  by  Jacob  Leysler  the  Con- 
tents whereof  are  as  follows 

New  Yorke  y«  28th  December  1689 

GENTLEMEN — I  having  Receivd  orders  from  his  Ma- 
jestie  KING  WILLIAM  for  takeing  care  of  this  Government 
have  Commissionated  Captain  Jochim  Staas  To  take  into  his 
Possession  Fort  Orange  and  keep  ye  Souldiers  in  good  order 
and  Discipline,  and  yl  ye  Magistracy  may  be  in  a  good 
Decorum  have  Ordered  and  doe  hereby  Order  that  free 
Elections  be  forthwith  made  for  a  Mayor  and  Aldermen 
whom  I  have  Signified  to  Captain  Staas  with  whom  Pray 
Correspond  and  give  all  due  assistance  for  his  Majesties 
Intrest  and  ye  Safety  of  yl  Citty  and  County  yt  so  Peace 
and  Tranquillity  may  be  Preserved  amongst  you,  untill  wee 
shall  Receive  further  orders  from  ye  King,  which  is  ye  need- 
full  matter  'at  present  from 

Your  Loveing  Frinde 

JACOB  LEYSLER 
The  Superscription  was 

To  ye  Military  and  Civill  officers  and  ye  Protestant  freemen 
Inhabitants  of  ye  Citty  and  County  of  Albanie 

Vpon  which  it  was  Resolved  by  ye  Convention  to  send 
the  high  Sherriffe  of  ye  Citty  and  County  to  ye  said  Jochim 
Staas  with  this  message 

WHEREAS  a  Certain  Letter  of  Jacob  Leysler  dated  y«  28th 
day  of  December  Last  at  N  :  Yorke  hath  been  Read  in  the 
Convention,  wherein  he  writes  jl  he  Jacob  Leysler  hath  Re- 
ceived orders  from  KING  WILLIAM  for  ye  takeing  care  of 


168  The  City  Records. 

this  Government  and  accordingly  Commissionated  Jochim 
Staasto  take  into  his  Possession  fort  Orange  and  Orders  free 
for  a  mayor  and  Aldermen  whom  he  hath  Signified  Elections 
now  met  together  .that  Richard  Pretty  Esquire  high  SherrifFe 
toy6  sdStaas,  It  is  therefore  thougt  Convenient  by ye  conven- 
tion of  ye  Citty  and  County  of  Albanie  doe  Repare  to  Jochim 
Staas,  and  Demand  if  any  such  orders  from  our  Souveraign 
Leidge  Lord  KING  WILLIAM  be  sent  to  him  as  Jacob  Leysler 
mentions  in  his  Letter,  Being  Desyreous  to  see  them  that  we 
may  Conform  and  Behave  our  Selfs  accordingly  :  Since  ye 
Preservation  of  ye  Peace  of  our  Souveraign  Lord  KINO 
WILLIAM  as  it  is  a  duty  Incumbent  upon  us,  So  it  is  our  only 
aim  to  have  ye  same  kept  Inviolable  in  these  Dangerous 
times — 

Sign.d  DIRK  WESSELS  Justice 

PB  SCHUYLER  Mayor 
MARTE  GERRITSE  Justice 
Liv :  VAN  SCHAIK  Justice 
of  ye  Peace 
EVERT  BANKER  assistant 

The  high  SherifFeR :  Pretty  Esquire  Returns  from  Jochim 
Staas  and  says  that  he  hath  Deliverd  him  ye  message  &  yl 
said  Jochim  Staas  comes  Presently 

Jochim  Staas  appears  in  ye  Convention  and  says  he  doth 
not  Intend  to  answer  ye  Convention  and  says  he  doth  not 
Intend  to  answer  ye  Convention  by  writeing  but  by  Dis- 
course, alledgeing  that  he  might  be  Ensnared  by  writeing 
upon  which  the  Gentlemen  did  Insist,  that  if  he  had  any 
Lawfull  Authority  Devolved  from  our  Souveraign  Lord 
KING  WILLIAM  upon  Jacob  Leysler,  that  he  would  be  pleased 
to  show  itt,  they  were  willing  to  Obey,  and  notwithstanding 
ye  orders  were  not  Directed  to  Mr  Leysler  yet  they  were 
willing  with  all  cheerfullnesse  to  Obey  such  orders  as-were 
Comprehended  in  said  Letters,  but  cannot  obey  Captain 
Leysler  as  Leift  governor  Except  his  Majestic  hath  made 
him  soe,  upon  which  Jochim  Staas  Replyed  y1  we  knew  well 
eneugh  ye  KING'S  Letters  were  Directed  to  Captain  Nichol- 
son and  in  his  absence  to  such  as  for  ye  time  being  take  care 
for  ye  Preserveing  ye  Peace  and  administring  the  Laws  in 
their  Majesties  Province  of  New  Yorke,  and  further  said 


The  City  Records.  169 

Lett  ye  Bell  be  Rung  and  Lett  all  ye  People  come  Together 
and  then  he  would  show  what  he  had  to  show,  Whereupon 
ye  gentlemen  of  ye  Convention  Replyed  that  they  were  not 
willing  to  Runn  into  Confusion  to  Convein  ye  People  beforo 
they  knew  what  to  Publish  or  Declare  to  them;  and  withall 
Desyred  Since  he  acknowledged  to  have  a  Proclamation  for 
ye  Proclaimeing  of  there  Majesties  King  and  Queen  of 
England  Scotland  France  and  Irland  &a  which  of  Scotland 
hath  not  hitherto  been  done  here,  that  they  might  have 
there  Majesties  Proclamation  to  Proclaim  there  sd  Majesties 
accordinly,  and  they  would  cause  the  Companies  come  in 
arms,  &  doe  it  with  what  Solemnity  the  Place  could  afford, 
but  ye  sd  Jochim  Staas  answered  yl  ye  Proclamation  was 
sent  to  him,  &  he  would  Obey  Orders 

Post  Meridiem. 

Jochim  Staas  accompanied  with  Peter  Bogardus  came  to 
ye  Convention  and  there  showd  an  Order  from  Jacob  Leysler 
authorizeing  Jochim  Staas  assisted  with  ye  Freeholders  and 
Inhabitants  of  Albanie  to  Proclaim  William  and  Mary 
Prince  and  Princesse  of  Orange  to  be  king  and  Queen  of 
England  Scotland  France  and  Irland  &a  Since  he  ye  sd 
Leysler  had  Received  Letters  from  ye  Lords  of  his  Majesties 
most  honorable  Privy  Councill  dated  ye  29th  day  of  July 
1689  to  Proclaim  there  Majesties  if  not  already  done,  to 
which  Intent  he  had  sent  a  Proclamation  for  ye  Same  Pur- 
pose which  Proclamacon  is  made  by  ye  sd  Leysler  and  not 
a  Proclamation  sent  hither  by  there  Majesties  as  ye  Gentle- 
men of  the  Convention  did  Conclude  and  Expect  it  was. 

VPON  which  many  Debates  were  made,  But  Jochim  Staes 
Insisted  Principally  if  the  Gentlemen  did  not  acknowledge 
Captain  Leysler  to  be  Lieutenant  Governor  and  Commander 
in  Cheeffe  of  this  Province,  and  whither  they  would  obey 
him  as  Such. 

The  Gentlemen  of  ye  Convention  asked  if  he  had  nothing 
else  to  show  which  Impoured  Captain  Leysler  to  be  Lieu- 
tenant Governor  then  those  Papers  now  Produced  and  if  he 
had  ye  Copies  of  ye  Letters  Sent  by  his  Majestic  for  ye 
Province  of  N  :  Yorke,  who  Replyed,  If  he  did  show  the 
Copies  thereof  then  yow  would  say  it  was  Milborn's  writeing, 

Annals  ii.  15 


170  The  City  Records. 

he  Staas  shewd  a  Commission  from  Leysler  to  take  Posses- 
sion of  fort  Orange  and  an  order  for  a  day  of  Thanksgiveing. 
The  Convention  told  Jochim  Staas  that  if  be  could  Produce 
but  ye  Least  orders  from  his  Majesty  King  William  directed 
to  Jacob  Leysler  then  they  would  obey  him  and  Submitt, 
Else  thougt  itt  not  answerable  to  Obey  his  Commands  in  ye 
Least,  but  desyred  Copies  of  those  Papers  which  he  shewed, 
&  they  would  Consider  ye  Bussinesse  when  Some  members 
of  ye  Convention  who  were  not  in  Toune  were  made  ac- 
quainted with  itt  and  give  him  there  answer  in  writeing 
telling  him  withall  they  were  Intended  to  write  to  Captain 
Leysler  about  it,  but  ye  sd  Jochim  Staas  did  not  think  it 
Convenient  to  give  Copies  of  ye  sd  Papers  and  so  went  away 
he  and  Peter  Bogardus  together. 


Att  a  Meeting  of  there  Majesties  Justices  of  ye  Peace  of  ye 
Citty  and  County  of  Albany  Die  Sabbathi  L2'n()  Janu- 
ary A°  16f§  Post  Meridiem  Present  P'  Schuyler  May' 
Dirk  Wessells  Record1"  Cap1  Job :  Wendel  Cap1  Jan 
Bleeker  Livinus  van  Schaik  David  Schuyler  Alb1  Ryck- 
man  Cap1  Marte  Gerritse  Kiliaen  van  Renselaer  Claes 
Ripse  Justices  ofye  Peace. 

ALL  the  Justices  of  ye  Peace  of  ye  Citty  and  County  of 
Albanie  except  Major  Abraham  Staas  Dirk  Teunise  and 
Captain  Sander  Glen  were  Conveined  together  to  give 
their  opinions  whether  Captain  Jacob  Leysler  ought  to 
be  Esteemed  and  acknowledged  to  be  ye  Lieutenant  Go- 
vernor and  Commander  in  Cheefe  of  the  Province  Since 
nothing  hitherto  hath  been  Produced  to  there  view  from  his 
most  Sacred  Majesty  KING  WILLIAM  our  Souveraign  Leige 
Lord  whereby  they  can  acknowlege  him  soe,  only  takes  upon 
him  ye  Title  in  Severall  Papers  which  have  been  showne 
by  Jochim  Staas  yesterday. 

Peter  Schuyler  Mayor  his  vote  is  that  he  cannot  acknow- 
lege ye  sd  Captain  Leysler  to  be  Lieutenant  Governor  and 
Commander  in  Cheeffe  of  this  Province  nor  Obey  his  orders 
till  he  hath  showne  that  he  hath  Lawfull  Authority  from 
his  most  Sacred  Majesty  KING  WILLIAM  so  to  be. 
Dirk  Wessells  votes  ye  same  with  ye  Mayor 


The  City  Records.  171 

Captain  Wendel  is  van  opinie  ora  dat  hy  sich  Sodanigh 
Shryft  als  Luytenant  Governeur  en  Commandeur  an  Chef, 
dat  zyn  verstant  niet  &  can  beseffen  off  het  sodanigh  is  of 
niet  &  is ; 

Captain  Jan  Jansz  Bleeker  is  of  y«  same  opinion  with 
Captain  Wendell  which  being  translated  is  as  follows  that 
because  he  writes  himself  soe  as  Lieutenant  Governor  and 
Commander  in  Cheeffe,  That  his  understanding  cannot  Com- 
prehend whither  it  be  soe  or  not  soe 

Livinus  van  Schaik  is  of  ye  Same  opinion  with  ye  Mayor 
David  Schuyler  is  of  ye  same  opoinion  with  ye  Mayor 
Albert  Ryckman  of  ye  Same  opinion  with  ye  Mayor 
Captain  Marte  Gerritse  is  off  opinion  y!  he  cannot  see  yl 
he  is    Lieutenant  Governor    and    Commander   in    Cheeffe, 
before  he  shows   it, 'that  he  hes   it  from  his  most  Sacred 
Majestic  KING  WILLIAM 

Kiliaen  van  Renselaer  is  of  ye  same  opinion  with  ye  Mayor 
Claes  Ripse  is  of  ye  same  opinion  with  ye  Mayor 
The  opinion  of  Captain  Jonathan  Bull  who  Commands 
the  men  sent  hither  from  N :  England  for  our  assistance 
being  asked  says,  That  for  any  thing  he  hath  either  seen  or 
heard  yet,  hath  no  Reason  to  Conclude  yl  Captain  Jacob 
Leysl.er   is  either  Lieutenant  Governor   or  Commander  in 
Cheeffe  of  y«  Province  of  N  :  Yorke 

The  opinion  of  James  Bennet  Ensign  to  Captain  Jonathan 
Bull  being  asked  says,  yl  for  anything  that  hes  appeared  to 
him,  he  cannot  judge  that  Captain  Leysler  is  Lieutenant 
Governor  &  Commander  in  Cheeffe  of  ye  Province  of  N : 
Yorke 

While  ye  sd  Justices  of  ye  Peace  were  together  a  Letter 
comes  from  Captain  Sander  Glenn  there  Majesties  Justice 
of  ye  Peace  at  Shinnechtady  Informing  them  how  that  there 
are  five  Commissions  come  to  Shinnectady  from  Captain 
Leysler  for  five  Justices  of  ye  Peace  brougt  thither  by 
Jeronimus  Wendell  and  Gerrit  Luykasse,  ye  Persones  are 
Myndert  Wemp  Dowe  Aukus  Ryer  Jacobse  David  Christ- 
offelse  &  Johannes  Pootman,  and  a  Commission  to  call  the 
People  together  to  choose  new  Captain  Lieutenant  &  Ensign 
and  a  Toune  Courte,  and  yl  ye  s-1  5  justices  come  here  to- 
morrow to  assist  Mr  Jochim  Staas  and  to  Enter  upon  there 
office. 


172  The  City  Records. 

The  said  Captain  Sanders  together  with  ye  Lieutenant  & 
Ensign  and  Sweer  Teunise  members  of  ye  Convention  doe 
write  to  the  gentlemen  that  there  vote  is  not  to  Obey  Cap- 
tain Leyslers  orders,  But  to  Protest  against  his  Illegal  Pro- 
ceedings. 

And  since  we  are  Informed  by  Captain  Bleeker  of  one  of 
ye  Train  band  Companies  of  this  Citty  that  Jochim  Staas 
did  ask  him  to  beat  ye  Drum  and  call  his  Companie  together 
tomorrow  to  Publish  a  Proclamation  sent  hither  by  Captain 
Leysler  of  there  Majesties  to  be  King  and  Queen  of  Eng- 
land Scotland  France  and  Irland,  which  Proclamation  ye  sd 
Justices  Declare  they  are  Ready  to  Proclaim,  if  there  is  ye 
Least  Title  of  orders  for  ye  same  from  there  Majesties  but 
since  this  is  used  merely  as  a  means  to  Establish  Captain 
Leyslers  authority  who  makes  ye  sd  Proclamation 

It  is  ye  opinion  of  ye  Mayor  and  Aldermen  and  the  Jus- 
tices to  Discharge  Captain  Bleeker  and  Captain  Wendel 
not  to  Convein  their  Companies  together  nor  beat  any  Drums, 
to  Disturbe  ye  Peace  of  there  Majesties  Leige  People  of  this 
Citty,  Since  ye  sd  Magistrates  are  Resolved  to  use  all  means 
and  methods  to  Preserve  ye  Peace  of  our  Souveraigne  Lord 
king  WILLIAM  &  Queen  MARY  and  not  to  suffer  ye  Least 
Innovation  or  Alteration  in  ye  government  of  this  Citty  and 
County  till  orders  comes  from  his  Majesty  King  William 
for  ye  same,  which  never  hath  been  hitherto  showne 

RESOLVED  that  for  ye  Preservation  of  ye  Peace  of  our 
Souveraign  Lord"&  Lady  King  William  &  Queen  Mary  and 
ye  wellfare  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Citty  and  County  of 
Albanie  the  following  Protest  be  Published  in  a  most 
Solemn  manner  tomorrow,  only  Captain  Wendel  &  Captain 
Bleeker  say  they  will  have  nothing  to  doe  with  ye  Protest 
when  they  heard  it  Read 

WHEREAS  Jacob  Leysler  of  yeCitty  of  N  :  Yorke  Mer- 
chant hath  for  some  monthes  past  assumed  to  himself  a 
Power  to  Command  there  Majesties  Fort  at  N  :  Yorke,  and 
brougt  to  his  Devotion  severall  of  ye  adjacent  Tounes  and 
Villages  without  ye  Least  Commission  or  Authority  derived 
to  him  from  ye  Croune  of  England;  whose  Ambitious  and 
Restlesse  Spiritt,  together  with  Diverse  of  his. associates  have 
Indefaticably  strove  and  Endevord  to  bring  there  Majesties 
KING  WILLIAM  and  QUEEN  MARYS  Loveing  subjects  in  ye 


•  The  City  Eecords.  173 

Citty  and  County  of  albany  unto  ye  same  Confusion  and  , 
Slavery,  upon  Pretence  to  Redeem  them  from  Arbitrary 
Power,  and  to  free  them  from  ye  Yoke  of  Popery,  which  his 
Creatures  when  Last  here  did  Endevor  to  Infuse  into  ye 
heads  of  ye  People  and  to  stirr  them  up  to  Sedition  and 
Dissobedience  to  ye  Lawfull  Authority  Confirmed  by  there 
Majesties  most  Gracious  Proclamation;  But  he  the  said 
Leysler  not  attaining  his  aim,  which  was  ye  Subversion  of 
ye  Government  of  this  Citty  and  County  (so  Extream  Dan- 
gerous at  this  Juncture  by  Reason  of  ye  Indians)  Continues 
Still  his  Malice,  and  Endevors  to  Disquiet  there  Majesties 
Leige  People,  by  assumeing  to  himself  the  Titell  of  Lieuten- 
ant Governourand  Commander  in  Cheeffe  of  there  Majesties 
Province  of  N  :  Yorke,  without  ye  Least  Shadow  of  orders 
or  authority  so  to  doe  from  his  most  Sacred  Majestic  KING 
WILLIAM,  Deludeingthe  Common  People  and  makeing  them 
Believe,  yl  ye  letters  which  were  sent  by  his  Majestic  to 
Francis  Nicholson  Esquire  his  Majesties  Lieutenant  governor 
and  Commander  in  Cheeffe  of  New  Yorke  and  in  his  absence 
to  such  as  for  y«  time  being  take  Care  of  ye  Preserveing  of 
Peace  and  administering  ye  Laws  in  said  Province  of  N : 
Yorke,  Belonged  to  him,  which  he  can  no  ways  Pretend  to, 
but  on  ye  Contrary  we  must  Conclude  are  Directed  to  us  so 
farr  as  ye  County  of  albany  is  a  Part  of  ye  Province  of  New 
Yorke  and  althogh  ye  sd  Leysler  is  sufficiently  senceible  of 
ye  Dangerous  Condition  ye  Citty  and  County  of  Albany  are 
in,  by  Reason  of  ye  French  of  Canida  and  there  Indians 
which  we  may  dayly  Expect,  haveing  Intelligence  that  they 
have  Drawne  all  there  forces  together  to  Mont  Royall,  ye 
season  of  ye  year  being  now  most  favourable,  if  they  Design 
to  make  any  Attaque  upon  us,  who  besides  are  useing  all 
Possible  means  to  Delude  and  Draw  off  ye  five  nations  of 
Indians  westward  from  there  Obedience  and  Subjection  to 
ye  Croune  of  England  by  there  Indians  Lately  come  from 
france,  By  which  means  there  Majesties  Intrest  will  not  only 
in  ye  Citty  and  County  of  albany  but  also  in  ye  Northern 
Parts  of  america  suffer  Extreamly,To  Prevent  which  we  have 
spared  neither  cost  nor  Trouble  to  secure  them  to  this  Go- 
vernment. Yet  he  ye.  said  Lteysler  doth  Continue  to  make 
new  Confusions  when  Peace  and  Unity  is  moat  Requisite 
by  sending  orders  and  Commissions  to  Jochim  Staes,  Par- 


174  The  City  Records. 

ticularly  a  Commission  to  take  into  his  Possession  fort 
Orange  and  Diverse  oyr  Commissions  to  sundrey  Persones 
of  this  Citty  and  County,  intending  thereby  to  subvert  ye 
government  here  and  Turn  all  upside  Downe,  writing  Sedi- 
tious.Letters  which  are  come  to  our  hands  wherein  he  orders 
new  Elections  for  Mayor  and  Aldermen  forthwith  to  be  made 
whom  he  hath  signified  to  ye  &  Staas  Contrare  to  the  Pre- 
viledges  of  this  Citty  G-raunted  by  Charter,  soe  y1  Great 
Part  of  ye  Time  must  be  spent  to  Defeat  the  s(1  Leyslers 
Pernicious  and  Malitious  Designs  which  otherwise  Could  be 
Employd  to  Resist  upon  all  occasions  ye  Common  Enemy 
and  for  ye  Publike  good,  and  althogh  ye  Bussinesse  hath 
been  -sufficiently  Debated  with  ye  sd  Jochim  Staas  and  so 
many  Arguments  used  as  ought  to  , Convince  any  Rationall 
man,  That  if  he  could  show  but  the  Least  Title  of  an  order 
from  our  Souveraign  Leige  Lord  KING  WILLIAM  to  ye  sd 
Leysler  or  authentique  Copies  thereof,  wee  were  willing  and 
Ready  to  Obey  him  or  if  he  could  not  Produce  Such  that 
if  he  could  but  Deliver  us  authentique  Copies  of  his  Majes- 
ties Letters  or  orders  sent  to  Captain  Nicholson,  wee  were 
most  willing  to  Obey  and  Perform  -whatever  was  Compre- 
hended in  the  Same,  wee  have  by  the  assistance  of  God 
durein^  these  Revolutions  taken  care  for  ye  Preserveing  ye 
Peace  &  and  adrninistring  y  =  Laws  in  our  said  Citty  and 
County  notwithstanding  all  Combinations  and  Contrivances 
to  yc  Contrare,  and  forasmuch  as  we  have  seen  among  ye 
Papers  sent  by  ye  sd  Leysler  to  Jochim  Staas  a  Proclama- 
tion made  by  ye  sd  Leysler  Pretended  Lieutenant  Governor 
and  Commander  in  Cheeffe  for  ye  Proclaiming  WILLIAM 
and  MARY  Prince  and  Princesse  off  Orange  KING  and  QUEEN 
of  England  Scotland  france  &  Irland  &a  together  with  a 
warrant  Signd  by  ye  sd  Leysler  authorizeing  Jochim  Staas 
to  Publish  ye  same,  mentioning  yl  he  Leysler  had  Received 
Orders  dated  ye  29th  day  of  July  1689  (never  yet  showne 
to  us)  to  Proclam  there  Majesties  if  not  already  done,  which 
Titles  of  Prince  and  Princesse  off  Orange  since  they  have 
above  six  months  agoe  been  Proclaimed  here  KING  and 
QUEEN  of  England  France  and  Irland  &a  and  we  in  there 
names  so  acted  would  be  a  Dimunition  of  there  Majesties 
Titles,  but  if  they  were  to  be  again  Proclaimd  wee  Conceive 
would  be  of  Scotland  alone,  since  it  is  mentiond  in  sd  Order 


The  City  Eecords.  175 

to  Proclaim  there  Majesties  if  not  already  done ;  And  altho 
ye  sd  Staas  knows  yl  there  Majesties  were  Proclaimed  here 
in  albany  on  ye  first  day  of  July  Last  KING  &  QUEEN  of 
England  France  and  Irland  &a  in  ye  Self  same  manner  as 
our  neighbours  of  Boston  had  done  to  whom  his  Majesties 
is  Pleased  to  signify  his  Royall  approbation  of  ye  same  and 
gracious  acceptance,  and  having  Desyred  ye  sd  Jochim  Staas, 
that  if  there  was  any  Orders  from  there  Majesties  for  a 
second  Proclamation  because  .Scotland  was  not  Inserted  in 
ye  first  that  we  were  most  willing  and  Ready  to  doe  itt  with 
what  solemnity  ye  Place  could  afford  But  could  get  no  oy"r 
answer  of  him,  then  whether  we  would  not  acknowlege 
Leyslers  authority,"  and  yt  he  had  no  other  Proclamation 
then  yl  made  by  ye  sd  Leysler  which  sd  Proclamation  we  are 
Credibly  Informed  ye  sd  Jochim  Staes  doth  Design  to  Pro- 
claim by  which  means  he  Intends  to  Erect  and  Establish 
Leyslers  authority  here,  and  so  overthrow  ye  whole  p'sent 
Magistracy,  whereby  many  Mischeiffs  and  Calamities  must 
of  necessity  Ensue  to  his  Majesties  good  subjects  since  ye 
Indians  have  much  Depended  upon  them  during  these 
Revolutions 

And  that  it  may  be  Apparent  to  ye  world  that  we  under- 
written Mayor  and  aldermen  of  ye  City  of  albany  and  Justices 
of  ye  Peace  of  ye  said  County  have  done  and  still  Continue 
to  doe  what  lyes  in  our  Power  for  ye  Preservation  of  Peace 
and  Tranquillity  among  ye  Inhabitants  of  this  City  and  County 
till  ye  arrivall  of  a  governor  or  Orders  from  his  most  Sacred 
Majestic  KING  WILLIAM  which  is  daily  Expected,  and  to 
Prevent  Such  Confusion  Innovation  and  Alteration  Since 
it  is  an  Indispenceible  duty  upon  us  at  this  juncture,  and 
fearing  to  Incurr  there  Majesties  Displeasure  for  our  too  much 
Lenity,  Wee  doe  in  his  Majesty's  KING  WILLIAM'S  name, 
forewarn  Discharge  forbid  and  Prohibite  ye  s(1  Jochim  Staas 
and  his  associates  upon  Pain  of  Rebellion  to  Con  vein  or  cause 
any  meeting  or  assembly  of  People  to  come  together,  within 
this  Citty  and  County  of  Albany  upon  any  Pretence  what- 
soever whereby  there  Majesties  Peace  any  wise  may  be  Dis- 
turbed ;  and  therefore  in  ye  Behalfe  of  ther  Majesties  Leidge 
People  of  ye  said  Citty  and  County  we  do  PROTEST  against  ye 
sd  Jochim  Staets  and  his  associates  for  all  Bloodshedds, 
Plunderings  Robberies,  mischeeffs  Dammages,  Losses 


1T6  The  City  Records. 

Detriments  that  may  henceforth  Ensue  by  his  or  there  Ir- 
regular and  Illegal  Proceedings,  Since  such  meetings  can 
be  looked  upon  no  other  ways  then  as  Contrare  to  ye  Peace 
of  our  Souveraign  Lord  and  Lady  King  William  &  Queen 
Mary  there  Cronne  and  Dignity  In  Testimony  whereof  we 
have  hereunto  Sett  our  hands  and  Sealls  in  albany  ye  13th 
day  of  January  in  ye  first  year  of  there  Majesties  Reign  a° 
16ff  and  caused  ye  same  to  be  Entered  in  the  Publike 
Register  of  ye  Citty  and  County  Signed  &  Seald  pr 

P*  SCHUYLER  mayor 

GOD  SAVE  KING  WILLM    D  :  WESSELS  Recorder 
.  AND  QUEEN  MARY        L  v  SHAIK  alderman. 

K  v :  RENSSELAER  Justice 
DAV  :  SCHUYLER  alderman  : 
MARTE  GERRITSE  Justice 
ALB'RYCKMAN  alderman 
CLAES  RIPSE  v :  DAM  alderman 

The  Manner  how  ye  sd  Protest  was  Publishd  on  ye  13th 
day  of  January  16-|f  was  orderd  to  be  Entred  being  as  fol- 
lows. 

The  Mayor  with  ye.  Recorder  and  Aldermen  and  ye  Justices 
and  ye  Common  Councill  marchdfrom  there  Majesties  Fort 
(The  marshall  going  before  with  a  white  Rod)  accompanied 
with  diverse  of  ye  Antient  Citizens,  with  a  guarde  of  fifty 
Inhabitants  in  arms  The  Mayor  as  ye  Kings  Leif1  together 
with  ye  Recorder  alderman  Shaik  and  Captain  Marte 
Gerritse  Justice  of  ye  Peace  as  soon  as  they  came  with- 
in ye  Citty  Gates,  went  with  there  Swords  Pointed ;  Then 
followdy6  other  aldermen  and  justices  and  Common  Councill 
and  Sundrey  Citizens  and  then  the  guards  and  in  this  Posture 
with  Drumms  Beateing  came  to  ye  Plain  Before  ye  Church 
where  ye  Bell  Rung  thrice.  Then  ye  Mayor  made  a  speech 
to  ye  Citizens  which  flokd  together,  shewing  the  Reasons  why 
he  came  there  in  Such  manner  Then  ye  PROTEST  was 
Read  in  English  and  Dutch,  this  being  done  they  all  went 
in  ye  Same  Posture  through  ye  Principle  Streets  of  ye  Citty 
and  So  up  to  ye  fort,  where  ye  guardes  were  Dismissd  and 
thankd  by  ye  Mayor  ye  Present  Commander  of  ye  fort  for 
ye  Service  they  had  done  there  Majesties  KING  WILLIAM 
and  QUEEN  MARY  that  day,  and  ye  Protest  sent  by  ye  Mar- 
shall to  be  affixed  at  ye  Porch  of  ye  Church. 


The  City  Records.  177 

Evert  Banker  Gerrit  Ryerse  and  Eghbert  Teunise  assist- 
ants Concurr  with  ye  Mayor  aldermen  and  Justices  in  ye 
Protest  and  think  it  Extream  needful  that  it  be  most  So- 
lemnly Published  who  went  themselfs  in  Person  and  see  it 
done  and  desyred  that  this  there  Opinion  and  advice  as 
assistants  of  ye  Citty  might  be  Entred. 

Captain  Sander  Glenn  one  of  there  Majesties  Justices  of 
ye  Peace  came  to  ye  office  and  Perrused  Proceedings  of  ye 
Justices  Enterd  yesterday  Concerning  ye  not  acknowledg- 
ing Jacob  LeyslerofN:  Yorke  Merchant  to  be  governor 
and  Commander  in  Cheeffe  of  this  Province  who  Concurrs 
with  ye  Re?t  of  ye  Justices  y1  he  cannot  be  Esteemed  So 
nor  his  orders  be  Obeyd  till  ye  sd  Leysler  hath  Showne  that 
he  hath  Lawfull  authority  from  his  Majestic  King  William 
so  to  be  and  desyred  that  his  vote  might  be  Entred,  and  also 
yl  he  Concurrs  with  ye  Rest  of  the  Justices  in  ye  Protest 
and  approoves  of  ye  same. 

A  true  Copy  Examind     By  me 

ROB?  LIVINGSTON  Clk 

Albany  ye  20th  of  January  16J£  Present  P*  Schuyler 
mayor  D.  Wessells  C  :  Wendel  C  :  Bleeker  L.  V.  Shaik 
albt  Ryckman 

The  mayor  and  Aldermen  haveing  Consulted  to  day  how 
to  Procure  some  Christians  and  Indians  to  goe  towards  ye 
Great  Lake  to  Lye  as  skouts  for  ye  space  of  three  weeks  to 
give  notice  if  ye  ffrench  should  come  with  an  army  to  Invade 
there  Majesties  Territory,  but  could  fynde  none  y*  would 
goe  under  2  shil  6d  to  3  shil  pr  day,  for  Capt  Bull  would  suffer 
none  of  his  men  to  goe  alledgeing  it  Contrare  to  his  In- 
structions, and  while  they  were  bussy  discourse  sd  affare  ye 
following  Indians  came  and  sd  as  follows  vizt. 

Proposeal  made  by  Captain  Blew  Stocking  and  anoy 
maquase  called  Deganochkeeri  to  ye  mayor  &  alderman 
in  albany  ye  20  January  16f£  Present  Pr  Schuyler  mayor 
J  :  Bleeker  Dirk  wessells  Recorder  alb1  Ryckman  Livinus 
van  Shaik 

BRETHREN  — We  have  sent  by  ye  40  maquase  Souldiers 
now  at  Shennechtady  to  acquaint  yw  that  they  are  come  to 


178  The  City  Records. 

goe  out  as  Skouts  towards  ye  lake  and  otter  creek  to  wath 
ye  Desiirne  of  y'  Deceiver  ye  governor  of  Canida  to  see  if  he 
will  come  and  Invade  our  Country  again  &  if'we  Discern  any 
Progresse  of  his  we  have  4  Indians  yl  we  send  forthwith 
Post  to  give  yu  &  our  people  advertisement  Such  we  in- 
tend to  spend  our  time  So  till  ye  Ice  be  out  ofye  water  & 
there  design  to  make  Canoes  &  goe  to  Caaida  a  fighting  But 
we  being  Poor  doe  want  amunition  as  Pouder  lead  &  axes 
for  ye  journey,  &  gave  7  hand  of  wampum  as  a  token  desy  re- 
ing  Jl  Je  governor  may  Provide  them  with  Such  ammunition 

Answer  to  ye  sd  Messengers  ye  21th  d°  Present  Pr 
Schuyler  Liv  :  V.  Shaik  D  :  wessels  J  Bleeke  J.  wendel 

We  are  glad  thatyw  take  our  Recommendations  so  well 
and  haste  to  be  vigilant  at  this  Juncture  when  ye  false  french 
might  come  &  fall  upon  your  Country  ;  Proceed  &  look  out 
well  &  give  us  an  account  from  time  to  time  how  all  affares 
is  with  y  w  &  according  to  your  Request  we  have  sent  to  ye 
sd  Companie  three  Baggs  of  Pouder  &  20  Barrs  of  lead  to 
make  use  of  in  sd  Expedition,  Desyreing  yw  to  make  all 
speed  thither  imaginable;  &  yw  need  not  fear  but  we  shall 
be  Ready  upon  all  occasions  if  the  french  should  come  ; 

The  sd  Indians  were  very  thankfull  and  sd  they  would 
withal  speed  goe  to  Shinnechtady  &  forward  ye  Companie  & 
hasten  them  upon  there  march,  A  true  Copy 

Examind  pr 
ROBT  LIVINGSTON  Clk 


[For  entries  which  follow  in    these  Records,  relating  to  the 
burning  of  Schenectady,  see  Doc.  Hist.,  vol.  I,  pp.  302-306.] 


Feb  10th 

Resolved  yt  25  volunteers  goe  under  ye  Command  of  Leift 
Evert  de  Ridder  together  with  those  men  gone  to  Shinnec- 
tady  this  morning  and  Pursue  and  follow  after  ye  french  & 
Indian  Enemy  who  have  carried  Sundrey  of  there  Majesties 
Subjects  Captives  from  Shinnectady  who  had  this  following 
Commission 

Whereas  the  french  and  Indians  of  Canida  have  come  in 
a  hostile  manner  massacred  and  murtherd  Sundry  of  there 
Majesties  Subjects  at  Shinnectady  burning  ye  Towne  and 


The  City  Records.  179 

caried  divers  Captives  along  with  them  ;  yow  are  hereby  re- 
quired in  there  Majesties  name  king  William  and  Queen 
Mary  to  PursuS  and  follow  after  ye  scl  french  and  Indians 
with  so  many  volunteers  as  shall  be  sent  with  y w  and  ye  sd 
french  and  Indians  to  kill  and  Destroy  and  ye  Captives  to 
Rescue  and  Redeem  out  of  ye  sd  Enemies  hands  if  Possible, 
always  Provided  yow  meet  with  a  sufficient  number  of  friend 
Indians  at  Shinnectady  to  assist  yow  in  said  Expedition 

You  are  to  take  Especiall  care  to  have  always  Spyes  and 
Skouts  out  to  Prevent  all  ambushes  in  ye  march  and  to  keep 
ye  said  men  in  good  order  and  Discipline  &  ye  men  are  to  be 
obedient  to  yr  orders  as  Souldiers  are  obliged  to  obey  there 
officers  by  ye  Law  marshall  given  in  albany  ye  10th  day  of 
february  16-f£ 

To  Leift  Evert  de  Ridder 

It  was  Resolved  to  Detach  30  men  more  out  of  ye  Com- 
panie  to  go  to  Shinnectady  ye  Mayor  Peter  Schuyler  Joc- 
him  Staets  &  Robert  Livingston  were  to  goe  out  along  with 
them  but  after  that  ye  Respective  Posts  and  watches  were 
reduced  by  Mr  Wessells  Captain  Jochim  Staets  &  Captain 
Bleeker  they  were  found  so  weake  that  they  could  not  spare 
there  men  &  ye  People  generally  unwilling  to  consent  that 
any  more  men  should  go  out  of  Towne  not  being  much  above 
150  men  in  ye  Citty. 

Die  Martis  Albany  ye  llth  day  of  Febuary  16f| 
Haveing  Received  Information  from  Shinnectady  last 
night  yl  no  messenger  was  yet  gone  to  ye  Maquase  Castle  to 
warn  them  to  come  doune  it  was  resolved  that  Mr  Wessells 
should  goe  in  all  haste  thither  to  bring  doune  ye  Maquase 
and  Captain  Gerrit  Teunise  to  goe  with  a  Party  of  men  now 
att  Shinnectady  to  follow  ye  Enemies  Tract  to  see  if  they 
have  a  stronger  army  or  any  party  bounde  hither  to  this 
Toune  and  comeing  to  Shinnectady  were  assured  that  a 
messenger  was  gone  to  ye  Maquase  Castles,  and  Lawrence 
ye  Indian  haveing  been  out  in  pursuit  of  ye  Enemy  with  9 
men  which  Lay  here  in  Toune  got  an  Indian  Prisoner  by  ye 
way  who  was  examind  and  told  yl  the  Enemy  were  not 
many  above  a  hundred  french  and  100  Indians  ye  sd  Lawrence 
ye  Maquase  Proposed  y1  he  now  had  49  .men  of  ye  Maquase 
&  River  Indians  sent  from  Albany,  y*  he  was  Intended  to 


180  The  City  Records. 

pursue  ye  Enemy  to  morrow,  for  his  heart  was  Broke  to  see 
so  much  of  his  Brethrens  blood  shed  and  would  Procure 
some  of  ye  Prisoners  back  again  either  by  force  or  by  strate- 
gern,  upon  which  Mr  Wessells  proposed  to  ye  young  men 
come  there  with  Leift  Evert  de  Bidder }  now  yow  see  what 
that  Lawrence  ye  Indian  Intends,  how  many  of  yow  are 
willing  to  goe  along  with  him  &  serve  there  Majesties  king 
William  &  Queen  Mary  &  Pursue  there  Enemies  that  have 
Destroyed  so  many  Christians,  out  of  which  Companie  &  of 
some  oyrs  yl  came  from  Albany  only  21  went  out  with  Law- 
rence ye  Maquase  on  ye  12  of  february  being  Weddensday, 
and  just  as  they  were  furnish d  and  Beady  to  goe  ye  Indians 
of  ye  first  &  2d  Castle  came  to  Captain  Sanders  but  yc 
weather  being  so  badd  &  such  a  Bain  they  could  not  Proceed 
y!  day  Expecting  ye  Indians  of  ye  3d  Castle  would  be  there 
that  night. 

The  12th  dito  Die  Mercury. 

Last  night  was  Besolved  upon  to  make  Beady  one  hundred 
men,  to  joyn  with  ye  50  men  yl  were  at  Shinnectady  & 
with  ye  Maquase  &  Biver  Indians  &  so  pursue  ye  Enemy, 
but  this  day  ye  great  Thaw  and  Bain  Prevented  there  march 
and  quite  Discouraged  ye  People  of  haveing  any  Successe, 
we  writt  therefore  to  Shinnectady  to  Mr  Wessells  yl  we 
hoped  he  had  sent  ye  men  forward  that  was  there  and  them 
were  sent  him  last  night,  Since  we  see  no  Probability  of 
Sending  any  more  from  hence  ye  weather  being  so  badd 
which  accordingly  was  done  haveing  advice  yl  Mr.  Wessells 
had  Dispatchd  about  90  or  100  Christians  &  Indians  &  ye 
Skachkooc  Indians  wch  were  gone  by  the  way  of  Sarach- 
toge  were  to  meet  them  together  with  ye  40  maquase  yl 
were  out  as  skouts  Lawrence  sending  forthwith  2  messengers 
before  to  warn  ye  sd  40  Indians  to  meet  them. 

The  13th  dito.     Die  Jovis. 

About  10  a  Clock  ye  Indians  of  Tionondage  ye  3d  Castle 
of  ye  Mohoggs  came  to  Shinnectady  who  Bested  there  that 
day,  alderman  Shaik  Captain  Staets  &  Ensighn  Shuyler 
were  Commanded  out  with  a  Party  of  men  to  joyn  ye  Tion- 
ondages  and  so  Pursue  ye  Enemy  but  comeing  to  Shinnectady 
ye  Indian  Prisoner  taken  by  Lawrence  being  given  to  ye 


The  City  Records.  181 

Sachims  of  Tionondage  after  they  had  Tormented  him  he 
was  given  to  an  Indian  wooman  according  to  there  custome 
who  gave  him  his  life,  who  then  Confessed  yl  when  he  came 
out  of  Canida  there  were  600  men  making  Ready  to  come 
out  towards  albany  or  N:  England,  which  Discouraged 
alderman  Shaik  Captain  Jochim  Staets  to  Proceed ;  The 
more  because  a  negro  woman  of  Shinnectady  was  told  ye- 
Same  by  a  Spanyard  yl  was  among  ye  french  yl  a  Design 
was  Laid  against  albany,  So  yl  ye  Tionondages  went  out  & 
followed  Lawrence,  &  after  they  had  been  out  a  day  came 
back  again  till  Lawrence  sent  a  messenger  that  he  was 
within  a  days  journey  of  ye  Enemy  and  Praid  them  to  come 
up  with  all  speed  then  they  went  &  9  of  our  Christians 
with  Ens  :  abr  :  Schuyler,  but  could  not  overtake  ye  Enemy 
ye  Christians  came  back  &  ye  Indians  went  on  The  maquase 
upon  our  Dsyre  granted  the  Indian  Prisoner  to  be  sent  to 
ye  fort  to  be  Secured  for  fear  of  his  Running  away  to  Canida 
Captain  Garten  Captain  Paling  Captain  Beekman  & 
Captain  Matthys  with  30  men  came  from  Sopus  for  our  as- 
sistance. 


Atta  meeting  of  ye  Convention  of  albany  ye  15th  day  of 
february  16f^  Present  Pr  Schuyler  Mayor  Lev.  van  Shaik 
Claes  Ripse,  Joh  :  Cuyler, .  Capt  Marte  gerritse  Capt 
Garten  D.  wessells  Recorder  J.  Bleeker  albt.  Ryckman 
Evert  Banker  Capt  gerrit  Teunise  Capt  Paling  Capt 
Beekman 

Resolved  to  write  to  ye  governor  &  Councill  of  Boston 
Connetticut  &  Virginia  &  to  ye  Civill  &  Military  officers  of 
N  :  Yorke  &  desyred  them  to  joyn  together  that  Quebeck 
may  be  taken  by  water  in  ye  Spring  as  pr  said  letters  appears 
Stephen  Lee  &  Mr  Davenport  were  sent  Post  to  Boston 
and  Connetticut  &  Cornelise  Viele  to  N  :  Yorke 

The  18th  of  february  16|f 

Whereas  there  are  severall  houses  near  ye  Citty  which 
stand  Extream  Dangerous  &  ye  Enemy  being  dayly  Ex- 
pected ye  generality  of  ye  Citizens  desyre  that  they  may  be 
pulled  doune  It  is  ordered  by  ye  mayor  aldermen  and  com- 
monality of  ye  Citty  of  Albany  yl  ye  same  be  forthwith  re- 
Annals,  ii,  16 


182  The  City  Records. 

moved  to  wift  ye  house  of  Barent  albertse  Bratt  ye  house  of 
William  hoffmayer  ye  house  of  adriaen  appel,  ye  house  of  ye 
widow  of  Cornelise  vanderholve,  and  to  ye  end  that  ye  same 
may  be  effected  with  ye  Least  Dammage  to  ye  owners  these 
following  p'sones  to  witt  Peter  Winne  Peter  Bogardus 
William  Claese  Groesbeek  harme  Gansevoort  Dirk  Bensing 
&  Jan  Cornelise  Vyselaer  are  appointed  and  authorized  to 
agree  with  ye  owners  Else  to  apprise  the  same,  which  sd  ap- 
prizement  is  to  be  paid  by  the  Publike  &  to  order  yt  ye 
same  may  be  broke  off  in  the  most  orderly  way  with  all 
speed  ;ye  s(1  6  Persones  are  also  authorized  to  Cause  all  ye 
fences  &  trees  standing  neer  the  Toune  to  be  Removed  & 
to  warn  ye  owners  to  doe  it  with  all  Expedition  else  to  order 
it  to  be  done,  in  doeing  whereof  this  shall  be  ye  sufficient 
warrant ;  yc  sd  men  are  authorized  to  give  there  Report 
whether  any  oyr  houses  ought  to  be  Removed  in  this  danger- 
ous time  that  order  may  be  taken  therein  actum  in  albany 
ye  18th  day  of  february  16f-§-  Signd  Peter  Schuyler  mayor 
J.  Bleeker  Job:  wendel  albert  Ryckman  Claes  Ripse  van 
dam  Liv  :  van  Shaik  Jochim  Staets  Gerrit  Ryerse  Reynier 
Barentse. 


Albany  ye  21th  february  16f£  Present  Pr  Schuyler  D 
Wessells  Claes  Ripse  albert  Ryckman  Eghbert  Teunise 
Joh  Cuyler  gert  Ryerse  Capt  gert  Teunise  Capt  Marte 
gerritse 

Peter  Winne  Peter  Bogardus  Harme  gansevoort  Dirk 
Bensing  &  Jan  Cornelise  Vyslaer  who  were  authorized  to 
give  there  Report  whether  any  oyr  houses  ought  to  be  Re- 
moved from  ye  Toune  walls,  doe  say  yl  ye  4  houses  of  Barent 
albertse  Brat  Adrien  appel  Wm  hoffmayer  &  ye  widow  of 
Cornelise  vanderholve  be  Removed  ye  oyr  houses  may  stand 
till  further  order,  but  yl  all  fences  Trees  and  oy  timber  must 
be  Removed  60  paces  without  ye  City  stockadoes,  &  all  oyr 
things  with  might  hinder  ye  view  of  ye  enemy 

Item  yl  ye  Curtain  must  be  Repaired  by  Bennony  van 
Korlaers  &  by  ye  Mayor  Pr  Schuylers. 

Ordered  yl  ye  houses  of  Barent  albertse  Bradt  Wm  hoff- 
mayer adriaen  appel  &  ye  widow  of  Cornelise  vanderholve 
be  pulled  doune  by  ye  Companies  of  Capt  Bleeker  &  Capt 


The  City  Records.  183 

Wendel  &  sett  up  again  within  y«  Citty  on  such  lotts  as  shall 
be  appointed  for  y3  same  &yl  ye  quarter  of  a  Companie  doe 
work  at  a  time  &  so  by  Turns 

The  Mayor  aldermen  &  Commonality  have  granted  to 
Adrien  appel  ye  Lott  between  Jurian  van  hoese  &  Reynier 
Schaets  for  his  house  to  be  erected  there,  that  is  to  say  so 
much  grounde  as  his  house  can  stand  on  in  front  to  be  on  ye 
Side  of  Jurian  van  hoese  &  for  Win  hoofmayer  yc  Lott  Be- 
hinde  between  ye  Brew  house  of  Bennony  van  Corlaer  &  ye 
Lott  of  Reynier  Shaets  deceased  that  in  so  much  as  ye  sd 
house  can  stand  upon  in  front  next  to  ye  Brew  house  Pro- 
vided ye  Lotts  of  ye  sd  Wm  Hoffmayer  &  adriaen  appel  with- 
out ye  gate  shall  for  ye  future  belong  to  ye  Mayor  aldermen 
&  Commonality  of  ye  Citty  of  albany  &  there  successors 
forever 

Ordered  yl  ye  house  of  Barent  alberts  Bradt  be  erected 
on  a  lot  of  Johannes  den  wandelaer  next  to  hans  hendriks 
&  if  yl  s!l  Johannes  de  wandelaer  and  Barent  albertse  Bradt 
cannot  agree  about  ye  Price  4  persones  shall  be  appointed 
to  apprize  ye  same  w11  ys  sd  Barent  is  to  pay,  &  then  ye 
Lott  without  ye  gate  Remains  his  but  not  to  be  built  upon 
without  order 

Ordered  yl  all  persones  yl  have  fences  neer  ye  Toune  be 
warned  to  Remove  ye  same  60  paces  from  ye  Toune  Stocka- 
does  in  3  day's  time 

Ordered  y-  first  divison  of  Captain  Bleekers  Companie 
goe  to  worke  &  Pull  doune  ye  sd  4  houses  on  Munday  morning 
standing  neerest  ye  gates,  beginning  at  the  house  of  Barent 
albertse  Bradt  which  house  together  with  ye  house  of  William 
hoffmayer  and  adriaen  appel  is  to  be  sett  up  again  by  ye 
Inhabitants  in  some  Convenient  Place  within  ye  Citty  & 
yr  by  every  division  both  in  Pulling  doune  ye  houses  & 
setting  them  up  there  be  at  least  one  Carpenter  or  Two.  The 
house  of  ye  widw  of  Cornelise  vanderholve  being  old  and 
Decayed  is  only  to  be  pulled  doune 

Ordered  yl  ye  gate  by  harme  ganseforts  be  forthwith 
Repaired. 


184  The  City  Records. 

At  a  meeting  &c.  Albany  ye  22th  day  of  February  16|f 
Present  Pr  Schuyler  Mayor  D.  Wessells  Recorder  L  : 
v  :  Shaik  J  :  Bleeker  Albt  Ryckman  Joh  :  Cuyler  Rey- 
nier  Barents  Kiliaen  van  Renselaer  Ev :  Banker  Capt 
Bull  Capt  Jocbim  Staets  Ens :  Bennitt  Capt  Paling 
Capt  Beekman  Ens  :  Joh  :  Sanders  Pr  Winne  William 
de  Mayer  C  :  Marte  gerritse  Claes  Ripse  Capt  garten 
Capt  gerrit  Teunise  Lt  Robt  Sanders 

Resolved  that  for  ye  p'servation  of  there  Majesties  Intrest 
in  these  parts  &  ye  Secureing  of  there  Subjects  in  this  time 
of  war  with  ye  french,  yl  all  means  be  used  to  Perswade  all 
ye  Maquase  to  come  &  live  &  Plant  at  Shinnectady  lately 
Destroyed  by  ye  french  and  there  Indians  which  will  be  a 
means  yl  ye  winter  Corn  sowed  there  may  be  Reaped  &  ye 
Indians  in  Readinesse  to  joyn  with  our  forces  upon  any 
occasion  if  ye  enemy  should  come 

Resolved  y*  all  Endevors  be  used  to  Perswade  ye  Indians 
of  Skachkook  to  come  &  live  &  Plant  upon  Marte  gerritse 
Island  neer  ye  toune  whereby  ye  fidelity  of  ye  Indians  will 
he  knowen  &  they  Ready  upon  all  occasions  to  goe  as  Skouts 
to  discover  ye  Enemy  &  to  assist  upon  any  attempt  of  ye 
Enemy — 

Resolved  yt  ye  River  Indians  liveing  at  Beere  Island  and 
Catskill  be  Perswaded  to  goe  all  &  live  &  Plant  at  Catskill 
who  will  be  Ready  on  all  occasions  to  be  employed  as  skouts 
or  oyrwise  which  will  much  Conduce  for  ye  Security  of  our 
neighbours  of  ye  County  of  ulster  by  there  Continuall  hunt- 
ing and  Rangeing  ye  woods 

And  Captain  garrit  Teunise  doth  Promise  upon  all  occa- 
sions to  send  up  such  number  of  sd  Indians  as  shall  be  Re- 
quisite to  be  Employd  as  aforesaid 

Symon  van  Ness  and  Andries  Barents  who  went  out  ye 
first  with  ye  maquase  Returning  told;  they  had  Pursued  ye 
Enemy  to  ye  great  Lake  &  would  have  overtaken  them  had 
they  not  been  Spyed  by  some  of  ye  Enemy  Indians  that 
went  out  to  looke  for  2  negroe  boys  jl  were  Runn  away 
from  them,  &  yl  ye  Indians  &  Christians  were  all  Tyred 
when  they  came  to  ye  Croune  Point  neer  ye  Lake ;  some 
went  farther  till  they  came  to  where  ye  Ise  was  smooth 
where  the  french  had  with  horses  that  they  carried  from 


The  City  Records.  185 

Shinuectady  &  skeets  &  Yse  spurrs,  made  all  the  way  they 
could  over  ye  Lake  in  So  much  that  our  People  could  gain 
nothing  upon  them ;  whereas  at  first  they  went  2  of  there 
days  journeys  in  one;  neverthelesse  Lawrence  ye  maquase 
&  about  140  Mohoggs  &  River  Indians  are  gone  in  Pursute 
of  them,  &  will  follow  them  quite  to  Canida. 


Att  a  Meeting  &c.  Albany  February  23<*  16f  £ 

Itt  was  Proposed  to  ye  gentlemen  of  Sopus  to  levy  50 
men  out  of  there  County  for  our  assistance  to  lye  in  Garri- 
son here,  who  Replyed  that  they  would  use  all  Endevors  to 
Perswade  there  People  for  a  Supply,  but  by  there  unhappy 
Revolutions  and  Distractions  Some  adhereing  to  ye  first 
magistracy  oyrs  to  there  new  leaders,  They  cannot  Execute 
yl  Power  &  Command  as  is  Requisite  on  such  occasions 
People  being  under  no  Regulation. 

Resolved  to  write  to  ye  Civill  &  Military  officers  of  Sopus 
for  ye  assistance  of  50  men  to  lye  in  Garrison  here  to  Defend 
there  Majesties  King  William  &  queen  Marys  Intrest  in 
these  Parts — 

It  was  also  proposed  to  Raise  some  Goods  by  way  of  loan 
upon  there  Majesties  acct.  of  them  that  were  willing  to 
advance,  to  be  Employed  for  ye  Publike — 

It  is  Concluded  to  fortify  ye  Toune  with  all  speed  &  yl  ye 
4  houses  standing  neer  ye  gates  be  pulled  doune  to  morrow 


Att  a  Meeting  &c  Albany  February  25th  16|^-  Present  Pr 
Schuyler  mayor  D  :  Wessels  Recorder  John  Bleeker  Joh  : 
Cuyler  Reynier  Barents  Jocbim  Staets  albt  Ryckman 
Resolved  yl  no  merchandize  either  Christian  or  Indian 
fitt  for  cloathing  be  Transported  out  of  ye  Citty  upon  pain 
of  Confiscation — Bevers  or  Peltry  money  or  oyr  Treasure  & 
goods  not  necessare  for  apparel  may  be  sent  doune — 


186  The  City  Records. 


PROPOSITIONS  made  by  the  Sachims  of  ye  Maquase  Castles 
to  ye  Mayor  Alderman  and  Commonality  of  ye  Citty  of 
albany  and  Military  officers  of  ye  sd  Citty  and  County  in 
ye  Citty  hall  y«  25th  day  of  february  16ff  Present  Pr 
Schuyler  Mayor  D  wessels  Recorder  L :  v :  Shaik  Jan 
Janse  bleeker  alb1  Ryckman  Reynier  Barents  Joh :  Cuyler 
C.  marte  Gerritse  C.  Jochim  Staets  Ll  abr  :  Schuyler  En  : 
gabr  Thompson  Interpreted  pr  arnout  and  hille  Names  of 
ye  Sachims  Sinerongnirese  Speker  Rode  Saggoddiochqui- 
sax  oquedagoa  Tosoquatho  odagerasse  aridarenda  Jagog- 
thare 

BRETHREN — Wee  are  sory  and  Extreamly  greeved  for  ye 
rnurther  Lately  Committed  by  ye  french  upon  our  Brethren 
of  Schinnectady  wee  Esteem  this  evill  as  if  done  to  ourselfs 
being  all  in  one  Covenant  chain  But  what  they  have  done 
is  by  way  of  Stelth  by  way  of  Robbery  unawars  our  brethren 
of  New  England  will  be  sorry  to  hear  of  this  sad  dissaster, 
but  we  must  not  be  discouraged  give  a  belt  of  wampam 
according  to  there  custonie  to  wipe  of  the  tears 

2  Brethren  Wee  Lament  and  Condole  the  death  of  so 
many  of  our  brethren  so  basely  murtherd  at  Shinnectady, 
we  cannot  accompt  it  a  great  victory  for  itt  is  done  by  way 
of  Deceit     He  (meaning  ye  governor  of  Canida)  conies  to 
our  Country  by  his  messengers  at  onondage  and  speaks  of 
Peace  with  ye  whole  house  quite  hither.     But  warr  is  in 
his  heart  as  vow  fynde  by  woful  Experience  but  what  shall 
we  say  it  is  ye  same  as  he  did  at  Cadarachqui  and  ye  Sin- 
nekes  Country  this  ye  third  time  that  he  hes  done  so ;  he 
hes  this  is  ye  third  time  Broke  open  ye  gevell  of  our  house 
on  both  ends  ye  one  end  at  Sinnondowanne  and  ye  oyr  here 
but  we  hope  to  be  revenged     there  is  one  hundred  of  our 
young  men  out  still  who  will  Pursue  them  to  there  doors  at 
Canida  nay  ye  french  shall  not  be  able  Cutt  a  Stick  of  wood 
we  will  lay  soe  Close  seige  to  them  we  doe  now  gather  ye 
Dead  together  in  order  to  There  Interrment  a  manner  of 
speaking  amongst  them     doe  give  a  belt  of  wampum 

3  Wee  are  come  here  from  our  Castles  with  tears  in  our 
Eys    to  bemoan   ye  murther    Committed  by   ye  Perfidious 
frencb  at  Schinnectady  our  young  Indians  are  gone  out  in 
Pursute  of  them  and  while  we  are  now  Bussy  in  Burying 


The  City  Records.  187 

the  dead  y*  were  murtherd  there  we  may  have  bad  news  y* 
our  people  are  gone  out  may  be  killed  also  ye  same  yl  is 
befallen  yu  may  befall  us ;  we  doe  therefore  come  and  bury 
our  Brethren  at  Schennectady  doe  give  a  belt  of  wampum 
according  to  there  custome 

4  Great  is  ye  Mischaffe  y1  is  befallen  us  it  is  come  from 
ye  heavens  upon  us  were  taught  by  our  fore  fathers  when 
any  Sad  accident  or  Dissaster  doth  befall  any  of  ye  Covenant 
to  goe  with  all  Convenient  speed  to  Bemoan  there  deatlT, 
doe  give  a  Belt  of  wampum  which  they  call  a  belt  of  Vige- 
lance  that  is  not  to  have  too  much  thought  on  what  is  done 
yl  Cannot  be  Remedied  but  to  be  watchful  for  ye  future  and 
give  Eye  water  to  make  ye  Brethren  Sherpe  Sighted 

5  Wee  come  to  ye  house  where  we  usually  doe  Renew  ve 
Covenant  which  house  we  fynde  Defiled  with  blood  this  is 
knowne  to  all  ye  5  nations  and  we  are  come  to  wipe  off  ye 
blood  and  Sweep  ye  house  clean  and  therefore  pray  yl  Cor- 
laer  and  all  they  yl  are  in  office  here  in  albany  nameing  ye 
mayor  whom  they  call  pieter  mr  wessells  and  mr  Living- 
ston may   use  all   means  and    derect   all  affairs   to  be   re- 
venged of  ye  Enemy  that   have   done  us  this    Evill     doe 
give  a  belt  of  wampum 

6  Brethr  :  Doe  not  be  discouraged     this  is  butt  a  begin- 
ning of  ye  warr  we  are  strong  eneugh  the  whole  house  have 
there  Eyes  fixed  upon  yrs  and  they  only  stay  your  motion 
and  will  be  ready  to  doe  what  ever  shall  be  resolved  upon 
by  our  Brethren,  our  Covenant  is  a  firm  Covenant  it  is  a 
Silver  Chain  and  cannot  be  broke  we  are  resolute  and  will 
Continue  ye  warr  we  will  not  leave  off  if  there  were  but  30 
men  of  us  left  we  will  Proceed     Therefore  pray  take  good 
heart  Doe  not  Pack  and  goe  away  if  ye  Enemy  should  hear 
yl  it  would  much  Encourage  them  wee  are  of  ye  Race  of 
ye  Bear  and  a  bear  doth  not  yeald  as  long  as  there  is  a  droop 
of  blood  in  its  body  we  must  all  be  soe     doe  give  a  belt  of 
wampum 

7  Brethren  Be  Content  Look  up  to  ye  heavens  from  thence 
ye  Judgement  is  come  now  upon  us  be  not  discouraged  ye 
some  hand  y1  hath  chastised  us  can  heal  us  ;  the  sunn  which 
now  hath  been  Cloudy  and  sent  us  this  dissaster  will  shinne 
again  and  with  its  Pleasant  Beams  Comfort  us     Be  Incou- 
raged     with  many  Repetitions  doe  give  a  bevir  skin 


188  The  City  Records. 

8  Wee   are  Engaged  in  a  bloody  warr   with  ye  French 
about  3  years  agoe  and  were  Incouraged  to  proceed  and  no 
sooner  were  well  Entred  and  gott  prisoners  but  a  Cessation 
Came  and  Corlaer  meaning  Col :  dongan  hindred  us  to  pro- 
ceed and  demanded  ye  prisoners  from  us  we  were  obedient 
and  deliver  them  and  layed  doune  ye  hatchet  which  if  we 
might  have  gone  foreward  then  the  french  would  not  have 
been  in  yl  Capacity  to  doe  so  much  mischeeffe  as  they  doe 
but  now  we  must  dye  Such  obstructions  will  Ruine  us;  if 
we  might  have  had  our  wills  we  would  have  prevented  there 
planting  Sowing  and  Reaping  and  brought  them  low  and 
mean  Neverthelesse  lett  us  be  stedfast  and  not  take  such 
measures  again  lett  us  goe  one  briskly  with  ye  warr     doe 
give  a  Bever  Skinn 

9  Wee  Recommend  ye  brethren  to  keep  good  watch  and 
if  any  Enemies   come  take   care  y1   messengers   be   more 
speedily  sent  to  us  then  lately  was  done  we  would  not  ad- 
vise ye  brethren  quite  to  desert  Shinnectady  but  to  make  a 
fort  there  The  enemy  would  be  too  glorious  to  See  it  quite 
desolate  and  yr  Toune  is  not  well  fortifyed  ye  Stockadoes 
are  so  short  ye  Indians  can  jump  over  them  like  a  dogg     doe 
give  a  bever  skinn 

10  This  mischeeffe  is  done  at  Shinnectady  and  it  Cannot 
bee  helped  but  asoon  as  any  Enemy  Comes  let  nothing  hin- 
der yr  speedy  sending  to  us  ye  news  by  Posts  and  fyreing 
great  gunnes  yl  all  may  be  alarmd  and  our  advise  is  yx  yr 
gett  all  ye  Rivrr  Indians  who  are  under  yr  subjection  to 
come  and  Live  neer  unto  yr  to  be  ready  on  all  occasions  and 
send  word  to  n :  England  of  all  and  lend  us  there  helping 
hand  ;  lett  us  not  be  discouraged  ye  french  are  not  so  many 
as  people  talk  off  if  we  but  minde  our  buissinesse  they  can  be 
subdued  with  ye  assistance  of  our  neighbours  of  N  :  England 
whose  Intrest  it  is  to  drive  on  this  warr  as  much  as  ours 
yl  it  may  be  speedily  ended 

Wee  Desyre  yl  ye  brethren  may  Recommend  ye  Smiths 
not  to  be  dear  in  repareing  our  arms  since  money  is  so  scarce 
and  we  only  goe  to  warring  and  not  to  hunting  we  shall  take 
care  to  warn  ye  Sinnekes  and  ye  nations  living  above  us  to 
be  in  Readinesse  for  we  being  one  they  hearken  to  us  and 
tell  of  N  :  England  yl  we  shall  take  care  yl  ye  upper  nations 
be  Ready  for  our  security  and  assistance  and  lett  them  be 


The  City  Eecords.  189 

ready  also  with  Ships  and  great  gunns  by  water  and  we  will 
plague  him  by  land  we  are  resolved  not  to  goe  out  a  hunting 
but  to  minde  ye  warr  for  ye  sooner  ye  french  be  fallen  upon 
ye  better  before  they  gett  men  and  provisions  from  france  as 
there  usual  custome  is  doe  give  a  Sever  Skinn 


ANSWER  upon  ye  maquase  Sachims  Propositions  by  ye 
mayor  aldermen  and  Commonality  of  ye  Citty  of  albany 
and  Military  officers  of  ye  sd  Citty  and  County  att  the 
Citty  hally  26  february  16f£ 

BRETHREN  —  Your  Coming  heir  according  to  the  Custom 
of  your  ancestors  to  Condole  ye  death  of  the  brethren  mur- 
thred  at  Shinnectady  is  very  acceptable,  whereby  your 
Inclination  to  wards  us  is  demonstrate,  wee  must  acknowledge 
that  they  did  not  keep  so  good  watch  as  they  ought  Consi- 
dereing  what  a  false  and  deceitfull  Enemy  they  had  to  deal 
with  all  but  that  which  made  them  secure  was  ye  great  trust 
they  repossed  in  the  45  maquase  who  came  heire  and  tendred 
there  service  to  goe  and  be  ye  out  watch  and  to  spy  ye 
Enemy,  which  end  powder  and  lead  was  given  them  as 
they  understood  wee  wer  about  hyreing  of  Christians  to  send 
thither  but  wer  un  happily  Deverted  by  the  sd  Companie 
off  maquase  who  promised  to  have  four  posts  ready  two  to 
goe  to  there  own  Country  and  two  to  runn  hither  if  any 
Enemy  should  appear  for  the  Brethren  did  assur  us  that  no 
french  Could  Comeheir  without  beeingDiscouered  and  then 
would  all  fall  Into  our  hands  wee  are  likewise  mindfull  how 
y1  ye  5  nations  last  fall  when  the  gentlmen  of  new  England 
were  heir  did  declare  how  they  would  Encompasse  the 
french  of  Canida  that  they  should  not  break  out  this  winter 
without  being  Discoverd  and  fallen  upon  and  die  —  likewise 
propose  by  our  messeinggers  arnout  and  Rob'  Sanders  at 
the  generall  meeting  of  onnondage  to  have  307  :  400  men 
sent  hither  to  be  Readie  on  all  occasions  but  see  non 

Now  Brethren  this  Evill  is  done  and  Cannot  bee  Called 
back  again,  and  ye  only  meanes  the  prevent  ye  Like  for  the 
futur  is  to  keep  good  watch  and  to  have  good  Courage  to 
oppose  and  resist  ye  Enemy  wee  are  no  wayes  Discomfitted 
for  this  misfortune  It  is  ye  fortun  of  warr  wee  doe  not  feare 
to  be  Even  with  the  french  in  a  short  time  wee  have  alredy 


190  The  City  Records. 

sent  Letters  to  all  our  nighbours  of  n  :  England  Virginia 
and  maryland  the  subjects  of  ye  great  king  of  England  and 
acquainted  them  of  the  Evill  done  heir  by  the  french  and 
how  requisite  it  is  yr  ships  be  fitted  out  with  all  Convenient 
speed  to  toe  to  quebek  and  to  presse  the  bussinese  there 
more  wee  doe  now  send  prisoners  to  N  :  Yorke  and  n  : 
England  on  purpose  to  lay  open  the  Case  before  them  &a 
to  move  them  to  Rigg  out  vessels  not  only  to  hinder  succor 
comeing  from  france  but  to  take  Quebek  itt  Self  as  also  to 
send  more  men  hither  y  we  may  then  send  men  along  with 
yw  to  annoy  y8  Enemy  in  there  Country  :  In  ye  mean  time 
we  recommend  y«  brethren  to  Send  for  200  men  from  ye 
upper  nations  to  joyn  with  yw  to  keep  ye  french  inContinu- 
all  allarm  and  doe  them  what  mischeeffe  imagineable  and  the 
onnondage  and  Sinnekes  must  goe  doune  ye  river  of  Cadar- 
achqui  and  meet  on  onoy  about  Mont  Royall  and  annoy  ye 
Enemy  there  ;  we  shall  in  ye  mean  while  fortify  ye  toune 
and  put  our  Selfs  in  a  good  posture  of  defence  y1  we  may  not 
be  surprized  as  they  of  Shinnechtady  were  and  make  all 
preparations  to  oppose  ye  Enemy 

The  Brethren  see  y1  we  are  in  warr  with  france  how  there 
is  no  time  to  speak  of  peace  the  french  as  you  will  observe 
have  fallen  on  both  end  of  ye  Chain  Butt  not  broke  it  lett 
us  keep  ye  Covenant  so  much  yc  faster  which  never  hes  had 
ye  crak  since  ye  verry  first  ye  Christians  came  here  They 
ptrove  to  lull  us  all  asleep  by  there  Messengers  at  onnon- 
dage Speaking  of  peace  and  then  they  were  upon  ye  way 
hither  to  Commit  this  murther  The  brethren  need  not  fear 
for  a  Cessation  to  hinder  us  to  Pursue  ye  Enemy  for  as  we 
told  yw  before  ye  king  y1  ordered  that  was  a  papist  and  a 
great  frinde  of  ye  french  but  our  psent  Great  king  will 
pursue  ye  warr  to  ye  uttmost  therefore  we  must  all  prepare 
for  warr.  It  well  there  fore  be  verry  requisite  that  ye 
brethern  for  there  better  Security  come  and  plant  this  sum- 
mer att  Shinnechtady  upon  ye  Land  y1  kannot  be  Cultivate 
this  year  that  we  may  be  near  to  on  onoy  upon  any  occasion 
Concerning  yr  Proposition  of  ye  Skachkook  Indians  tis 
Concluded  on  some  days  agoe  to  propose  to  ye  Skachkook 
Indians  y«  Planting  on  Marte  gerritse  Island  hard  by  ye 
toune  and  ye  River  Indians  y1  lived  below  shall  also  come 
together  to  be  ready  on  all  occasions 


The  City  Records.  191 

Wee  must  Insist  and  recommend  yw  to  perswade  there 
of  oneyde  to  Send  ye  Priest  hither  for  yw  have  Seen  how 
dangerous  it  is  to  have  such  persoues  among  y  w  who  Informs 
ye  Enemy  of  all  yr  doings  and  discovers  all  our  desyns  we 
shall  secure  him  yl  he  runn  not  away  and  when  ye  ouner 
demands  him  and  ye  troubles  are  over  shall  be  deliverd 
for  he  can  doe  more  harm  in  oneyde  then  100  men 

We  think  it  Convenient  y1  one  or  two  of  yr  Sachims  stay 
here  and  yl  a  Sachim  of  each  nation  be  here  to  assist  in  ye 
management  of  y^  affaires  of  ye  warr 

was  give  them  6  belt  of  wampum  Some  Duffells  Tobaccy 
and  some  baggs  with  Provision 

After  y«  proposition  was  answerd  they  gave  a  shout 
according  to  ye  Custome  which  Signified  amen  they  would 
Continue  ye  warr  to  the  uttmost 

After  y^  sd  answer 

The  Maquase  Sachims  s(1  you  [have  heard]  repeated  our 
answer  we  are  [going  to  pursue  the  Enemy  and]  are  not 
discouraged  A  mistake  can  [be  committed]  by  yL  best  and 
wisest  of  men  and  we  [are  resolved]  now  to  persue  yu  warr 
with  all  Vigour,  We  have  a  hundred  men  out  in  persute 
of  yt:  Enemy  still  who  are  good  skouts  in  y^  mean  time,  we 
Expect  all  ye  Sachims  of  yc  upper  nations  to  Consult  with 
us,  who  will  come  to  Condole  ye  death  of  our  brethren 
murtherd  at  Schinnectady  you  need  not  fear  our  being  ready 
wee  are  soon  fitted  out  our  ax  is  in  OUT  hands  butt  take 
care  of  yr  selfs  to  be  in  Readinesse  the  Shipps  y  must  doe 
prin  cipall  worke  ar  long  a  fitteing  out  and  Rigging  we  doe  not 
design  to  goe  out  with  a  small  troop  as  skouts  but  as  soon  as  ye 
nations  come  together  we  well  goe  with  a  whole  army  to  Ruine 
ye  french  Country  ;  y  bussinesse  must  be  soone  brought  to  a 
Pereod  therefore  send  in  all  haste  to  N  :  England  for  we 
nor  yw  cannot  live  long  in  this  Condition  we  must  order  it 
soe  y!  y"  trench  be  in  a  Continuall  fear  and  alarm  and  y  ye 
way  to  be  in  Peace  here  Concerning  y<  Skachkook  Indians 
in  our  opinion  they  lye  well  where  they  are  as  a  good  watch 
they  are  our  Childeren  we  will  take  good  care  y  they  doe 
there  duty  but  as  for  y;-  Indians  y1  Live  below  yc  toune 
them  we  mean  must  be  sent  for  up  and  gott  to  plant  and 
live  together  to  be  alwayes  in  Readinesse  upon  occasion 
This  is  a  true  Copy  Examind 

pr  ROBT  LIVINGSTON 


192  The  City  Records. 

Att  a  meeting  &c.  albany  February  26th  16-f-g  Present  as 
before,  also,  L :  v.  Shaik  Ev.  Banker  M.  gerritse  L1  abr 
Schuyler  R.  Sanders  gabriel  Thompson  &  Capt  Bull. 

WHEREAS  it  is  thougt  Convenient  yt  all  fences  &  Timber 
be  Removed  60  Paces  from  ye  City  Stockadoes,  you  are 
therefore  hereby  Required  in  there  Majesties  name  to  warn 
all  people  yr  have  there  fences  &  Timber  or  oyr  materials 
so  neer  ye  outside  of  ye  fence  whereby  ye  Sight  Rounde  ye 
Toune  walls  is  hindred  to  Remove  ye  same  in  24  hours 
time,  else  must  be  Removed  at  there  Cost  actum  in  albany 
ye  26th  day  of  feb  16f$ 

Pr  order  of  ye  Civill  &  Military  officers 

R*Liv:  01 
To  R :  Pretty  Esqr  high  Sherriffe  of  ye 

Citty  &  County  of  Alb  : 


Att  a  meeting  &c.  albany  Feb  27th  16££ 

The  Bussinesse  being  taken  into  Consideration  concern- 
ing Sending  agents  to  N  :  Yorke  &  New  England  to  acquaint 
them  off  affares  here,  and  to  Desyre  assistance  for  ye  Pre- 
servation of  there  Majesties  Intrest  in  these  parts  it  was 
putt  to  ye  vote 

And  these  following  vote  for  a  Person  to  be  sent  to  N : 
Yorke  &  one  to  N  :  England  Pr  Schuyler  Mayor  C.  Jan 
Janse  Bleeker  Reynier  Barents  D.  Wessells  C.  Jochim 
Staets  albt.  Ryckman  C.  Sanders  Glenn  Claes  Ripse  gabriel 
Thomson  Johannes  Cuyler  Liv  van  Shaik  Evert  Banker, 
abr  :  Shuyler  Kiliaen  van  Renselaer  Rob1  Sanders 

It  is  voted  by  7  votes  yl  Joh :  Cuyler  goe  to  N :  Yorke  5 
votes  yl  Reynier  Barents  goe  &  2  y1  Livinus  van  Shaik  goe 

It  was  Resolved  nenaine  Contradicente  y'  Robt  Livingston 
goe  with  all  Convenient  Speed  to  Canetticut  and  Boston,  & 
declare  ye  Condition  of  this  County,  &  desyre  y1  all  En- 
devors  may  be  used  to  Rigg  out  vessells  towards  Quebek,  & 
Prevent  all  succor  comeing  from  france  &  and  to  Request  ye 
assistance  of  fifty  men  and  one  hundred  Barrells  of  Porke 
and  Beefe,  &  if  no  men  can  be  obtained  then  £400  in 
money  &  y'  Commission  &  Instructions  be  given  him  accord- 
ingly 


The  City  Records.  193 

It  is  thougt  Convenient  to  write  to  ye  gent  of  ye  County 
of  Ulster  yl  one  of  ye  gent  yl  was  lately  here  be  desyred  to 
goe  to  N  .  England  with  Rob1  Livingston  our  agent  to  moove 
ye  gentlemen  there  in  ye  behalfe  of  yl  County  for  all  Possible 
aid  as  above 

And  yl  by  no  means  ye  Companie  of  Capt  Bull  be  draune 
off  but  stay  here  till  a  governor  Comes  or  further  order  from 
there  Majesties  for  our  Releeffe 

Rob1  Livingston  desyred  to  be  Excused  from  goeing  to  N : 
England  not  judgeing  himself  cappable  of  mannageing  a 
Bussinesse  of  y*  moment :  but  if  ye  gent  would  not  excuse  him 
y*  he  might  take  Capt  gerrit  Teunise  along  with  him,  who 
knew  most  of  ye  gent  of  ye  neighbouring  Collony  which  was 
graunted 

Resolved  Since  Johannes  Cuyler  Refuses  yt  Reynier 
Barents  with  all  Convenient  Speed  goe  to  Sopus  &  there  in 
our  name  Request  Capt  Garten  or  one  of  ye  gentlemen  yl 
were  Last  here  to  goe  to  Boston  along  with  Cap1  Livingston 
&  Capt  gerrit  Teunise  agents  to  Procure  ye  assistance  of  50 
men  and  Provisions,  and  if  no  men  can  be  Procured,  to  Pro- 
cure some  money,  and  use  all  Pressures  Imaginable  y1  Ship- 
ping may  be  Equipd  to  goe  to  invade  Canida,  &  yl  ye  sd 
Person  may  be  at  Catskill  on  Munday  night  in  order  to  proceed 
on  ye  journey,  ye  sd  Mr  Barents  is  to  us  all  Endeavors 
with  ye  gent  of  Sopus  to  Procure  50  men  with  Provisions 
for  our  assistance  as  also  500  skepels  of  Indian  Corn  for 
there  Majesties  account  for  ye  Indians  yl  goe  out  to  warr 
against  ye  french,  &  Comeing  to  N  :  Yorke  ye  sd  Barents  is 
to  inform  them  of  affares  there  &  Insist  with  ye  authority 
there  forye  assistance  of  men  provisions  &  money,  according 
to  instructions  which  shall  be  given  him. 

Resolved  that  for  ye  easier  management  of  ye  Present 
affares  in  this  juncture  y!  6  persones  out  of  ye  Convention 
be  appointed  to  order  matters  who  are  Dirk  Wessells  Re- 
corder L :  van  Shaik  Capt  Jan  Bleeker  Capt  Marte  gerritse 
Reynier  Barents  Evert  Banker  which  sd  Persones  are  for  ye 
future  to  take  ye  Charge  of  doeing  all  Publike  Bissinesse  in  . 
this  County 

Orderd  yl  ye  following  Instructions  be  given  to  Mr. 
Reynier  Barents  bounde  to  N :  Yorke  who  not  understand- 
ing English  desyre  y*  they  might  be  in  Dutch. 

Annals,  ii.  17 


194  The  City  Records. 

[Translation.] 

INSTRUCTIONS  given  by  the  Civil  &  Military  officers  of  the 
City  and  County  of  Albany  to  Reynier  Barents  one  of  the 
Common  Council  of  this  city,  who  is  sent  to  N  :  York  as 
their  Agent. 

1.  You  shall  go  with  all  Convenient  Speed  to  the  Sopus 
and  there  in  our  name  instantly  require  Capt.  Garten  or  one 
of  the  gentlemen  who  were  recently   here,  to  accompany 
Rob*  Livingston  our  Agent  to  N.  England,  and  there  pro- 
cure if  possible  the  assistance  of  50  men  with   Provisions, 
and  if  no  people  can  be  spared,  to  request  money  to  aid  in 
assisting  the  King  and  Queens   cause  in   this  County   and 
that  all  means  be  used  to  persuade  them  to  equip  ships  to 
invade  Canada,  and  to  the  End  that  the  said  journey  may  be 
most  speedily  prosecuted  he  will  please   notify  said    agent 
from  the  Esopus  to  be  next  Monday  at  Catskill  with  Capt 
Ger1   Teunise   where  our   Agent   shall    be  to  proceed   to- 
gether by  Tachkauick   to    Harford,  Conveying  the  horses 
over  from  Cattskill. 

2.  You  are  to  use  all  means  to  perswade  the  gentlemen 
of  the  Sopus  to  send  50  men  to  our  assistance  with  provision, 
and  if  50  cannot  be  obtained,  then  30. 

3.  You  will  acquaint  the  gentlemen  in  the  Sopus  with 
all  the  circumstances  here  and  how  necessary  it  is  that  we 
have  500  Skepels  of  Maize  for  Supplying  the  Indians,  re- 
questing that  they  be  pleased  to  send  hither  together  a  like 
quantity  for  their  Majesties  ace1     There  shall  be  no  doubt 
but  such  shall  be  thankfully  paid  for  at  the  first  settling. 

4  When  arrived  at  N.  York  you  will  have  to  Wait  on  the 
Governor  if  he  be  arrived,  otherwise  on  the  authority  there, 
and  inform  them  pertinently  of  all  the  circumstances  that 
have  occurred  especially  here  since  our  last  letters  of  the 
15th  inst  that  the  Indians  and  Christians  who  pursued  the 
French,  could  not  bring  them  back. 

5.  That  they  bring  all  their  sea  force  together  to  unite 
with  our  neighbours  of  Boston  to  attack  Canada. 

6.  That  we  require  people  here  to  defend  this  place;  also 
some  young   Frieslanders  (frissemaets)   to   accompany  the 
Indians  as  these  Complain  that  no  Christians  go  with  them  & 
that  they  shall  act  in  like  manner  by  our  young  men. 


The  City  Records.  195 

7  That  we  here  cannot  subsist  without  supplies  to  wit  of 
Meat  &  Pork  with  Corn  if  things  are  to  prosper  here — that 
provision  be  therefore  sent  up  with  the  people. 

8.  That  you  do  also  inform  them  how  badly  off  this  city 
is  for  money  to  defray  the  publick  expenses  which  are  daily 

so  onerous  that  they  cannot  be  met,  and  that  £ be 

sent  us  for  the  King's  Service 

9  That  you  do  Set  all  this  fully  before  them  according  to 
the  merits  of  the  case,  and  beseech  them  to  lay  aside  all 
animosities  and  divisions  and  that  every  one  exert  his  power 
to  crush  the  Common  Enemy. 

10.  That  you  keep  an  exact  account  of  your  expenses 
during  this  journey  which  will  be  allowed  you  by  the  public. 


By  the  Convention  of  the  Civill  &  military  officers  of  ye 
Citty  &  County  of  Albany 

WHEREAS  it  is  thougt  convenient  yl  a  fit  Person  be  Com- 
missionated  to  goe  to  N :  Yorke  to  Communicate  to  ye  autho- 
rity there  ye  State  &  Condition  of  this  Place  and  Confideing 
in  ye  Integrity  and  fidelity  of  Reynier  Barents  one  of  ye 
assistants  of  this  Citty  &  a  member  of  our  Convention,  have 
Desyred  and  authorized  him  with  all  Convenient  Speed  to 
goe  to  N  :  Yorke  &  to  hasten  there  aid  of  men  provisions  & 
money  for  ye  Preservation  of  there  Majesties'  Intrest  in 
these  parts  &  to  use  all  Pressing  Endevors  that  they  may 
joyn  with  our  neighbours  of  N  :  England  to  fitt  out  vessells 
to  annoy  ye  french  at  Canida  Earnestly  Desyreing  y1  ye  sd 
Reynier  Barents  may  be  Reputed  and  Esteemed  as  our  agent 
in  that  Behalfe,  Ratefyeing  &  Confirming  whatever  he  shall 
act  or  doe  about  yc  p'mises,  given  under  our  hands  &  Sealls 
in  albany  ye  20th  day  of  february  16|-§-  and  in  ye  first  year 
of  ye  Reign  of  our  Souvraign  Lord  &  Lady  William  &  Mary 
king  and  Queen  of  England  &;l — 16f£ 

Ordered  y'  ye  following  Instructions  be  Delivered  to  Rob1 
Livingston  &  he  Desyred  to  Proceed  in  his  journey  for  N  : 
England  with  all  Expedition 


196  The  City  Records. 

INSTRUCTIONS  for  Robert  Livingston  Gentleman  Sent  by 
ye  Convention  of  ye  Civill  &  Military  officers  of  ye  Citty 
&  County  of  albany  to  be  there  agent  in  n  :  England 

1  Yow  are  to  goe  with  ye  first  Conveniency  to  Canetticut 
along  with  Captain  Gerrit  Teunise  and  such  Person  as  ye 
Gent :  of  ye  County  of  Ulster  shall  appoint  to  joyn  with  yu 
in  this  bussinesse,  &  if  no  such  Person  come  to  Catskill  as 
is  appointed  then  with  yc  sc]  Captain  Gerrit  Teunise  &  Com- 
municate to  ye  Governor  &  Councill  of  Canetticut  the  state 
of  affares  here,  &  in  what  Danger  this  Part  of  there  Majes- 
ties Territory  is  in,  if  not  speedily  assisted  by  our  neigh- 
bours, 

2  Yow  are  to  acquaint  them  how  Requisite  it  is  yl  some 
sudden  means  be  used  to  fitt  out  vessells  to  goe  to  Canida 
and  Invade  Quebek  which  is  ye  Easier  and  surer  way  then 
by  Land,  since  Quebek  is  but  meanly  fortified,  &  few  men 
there,  ye  strentch  of  Canida  being  Drawn  up  to  mont  Royall 
which  ye  french  have  fortified. 

3  Yow  are  to  make  ye  addresse  to  ye  sd  Governor  &  Coun- 
cill of  Canetticut  for  ye  assistance  of  fifty  Brisk  young  men 
or  more  fitt  for  traveling  in  ye  woods  to  goe  out  upon  occa- 
sion with  our  People  and  ye  Indians  to  annoy  ye  Enemy 

4  After  yu  have  discoursed  of  ye  mean  Condition  of  this 
Place  &  how  Scarce  Provisions  are  like  to  be  the  farmers 
leaveing  there  habitations,  since  ye  murther  Committed  at 
Shinnectady ;  where  great  store  of  all  sorts  of  Provisions 
was  Destroyed,  then  yu  are  to  Desyre  ye  quantity  of  one 
hundred  Barrells  of  Porke  or  Beefe  Equivalent  for  there 
Majesties  use  to  be   Employed   as  occasion  shall    Require 
for  there  Majesties  Troops  that  lye  in  garrison  here  for  ye 
Defence  of  this  part  of  ye  Country 

5  If  ye  governor  &  Councill  of  Canetticut  doe  Decline  to 
send  any  more  men  or  no  Provisions  hither  then  yu  are  to 
Insist  y*  ye  Companie  of  Captain  Bull  stay  here  till  further 
order  from  there  Majesties  since  it  would  be  of  Dangerous 
Consequence  to  draw  off  sd  Companie  at  this  juncture   & 
Raise  jealousies  among  ye  Indians,  while  they  are  so  Eager 
for  more  men  to  Pursue  ye  warr  against  ye  french. 

6  Yow  are  to  goe  from  Canetticut  to  Boston  and  apply 
yr  Self  to  ye  governor  and  Councill  there,  &  Inform  them 


The  City  Records.  197 

of  all  affares  here,  what  dammage  ye  french  have  done  & 
what  Subtle  Practices  they  use  to  draw  of  ye  5  nations  of 
Indians  from  there  Dependance  on  ye  Imperiall  Croune  of 
England  to  side  with  ye  french  &  how  dangerous  it  would 
be  to  there  Majesties  Intrest  if  sd  nations  should  hearken 
to  ye  Enemy. 

7  That  ye  only  means  to  Secure  there  Countryes  from  ye 
Incursions  of  ye  french  and  there  Indians  would  be  to  Equipp 
&  Rigg  out  some  vessells  with  men  to  Invade  Quebek,  & 
to   p'vent  all    Supplyes  comeing   from  france  whereby  ye 
french  will  be  Discomfited  and  our  Indians  Incouraged  to 
Pursue  ye  warr  by  Land 

8  That  we  of  this  government  are  not  able  to  Resist  ye 
Power  of  Ganida  without  ye  assistance  of  our  neighbors,  & 
therefore  Desyre  y'  fifty  men  or  more  may  be  Speedily  sent 
hither  for  ye  Defence  of  ye  Place  and  to  Pursue  ye  Enemy 
upon  occasion  and  one  hundred  Barrells  of  Porke  &  Beefe 
for  there  subsistence,  which  with  that  dayly  Expected  from 
N  :  Yorke  will  much  Contribute  for  ye  Safety  of  ye  Place, 
since  ye  People  here  are  so  much  Impoverished  &  Provisions 
so  Scarce  by  ye  out  plantations  Being  Deserted  y'  ye  forces 
cannot  be  maintained  without  a  Supply 

9  Yow  are  to  acquaint  ye  sd  Governor  &  Gouncill  what 
cost  &  Charge  we  have  been  att,  with  y-  Indians,  since  these 
Revolutions  to  secure  them  to  this  government,  &  y1  it  is 

Impossible  to  Proceed  without  ye  assistance  of  £ to 

be  Employed  y1  way  which  shall  be  Exactly  accompted  for, 
what  way  Disposed  &  undoubtedly  allowed  by  there  Majes- 
ties 

10  Yow  are  to  strive  to  make  them  senceible  how  usefull 
ye  5  nations  will  be  during  ye  warr  with  ye  french  of  Canida 
&  how  Dangerous  it  would  be  to  loose  them  at  such  a  junc- 
ture &  ye  only  means  to  induce  them  to  be  vigorous  in  ye 
Prosecution  of  ye  warr  will  be  by  giving  them  a  good  ex- 
ample since  they  verry  well  know  y1  ye  English  here  farr 
exceed  them  of  Canida 

11  Yow  are  to  keep  an  Exact  account  of  whatever  Charges 
yw  &  ye  Persones  goeing  witk  y w  from  this  County  are  att  in 
ye  Prosecution  ofyr  Journey  out  &  home  &  whatever  yw 
Disburse  over   and   above  ye    money   now  given    shall   be 


198  The  City  Records. 

allowed  yw  on  acct  Of  ye  Publik  which  if  not  be  allowed  by 
there  Majesties  then  shall  be  paid  by  ye  County 

12  Since  it  is  unknowne  to  us  what  occurrences  yw  may 
meet  withall  in  this  Employ.  Yow  are  to  act  &  doe  in  our 
Behalfe  with  our  sd  neighbours  whatever  yw  shall  juge  ex- 
pedient &  needful  for  ye  secureing  of  there  Majesties  Intrest 
here  in  these  parts  and  Safety  of  there  Subjects,  Ratefying 
&  Confirming  whatever  yw  shall  act  or  Perform  Concerning 
ye  Premises 

N.  B.    ye  alteration  of  Chargeing  ye  Expenses  to  ye  Pub- 
like  which  if  not  be  allowed  by  there  Majesties  then  shall 
be  pd  by  ye  County  was  made  before  Signing 
Signd  PB  SCHUYLER  Mayor 

DIRK  WESSELLS  Recorder 
JAN  JANSE  BLEEKER  alderman 
JOHANNES  WENDEL  alderman 
K.  V.  RENSSELAER 
Albany  4th  of  March  16fJ 


By  the  Convention  of  ye  Civill  and  Military  officers  of  ye 
Citty  and  County  of  albany 

WHEREAS  ye  Exigency  of  affares  here  doth  Require  that 
some  fitt  Persones  be  sent  from  hence  to  our  neighbors  of 
N :  England  to  Inform  ye  authority  there,  in  what  condition 
we  are  in,  &  what  apprehensions  we  have  of  ye  french  doeing 
more  mischeffe*in  these  Parts  Especially  iff  they  should  gett 
ye  5  nations  of  Indians  westward  to  there  devotion  which 
they  Indefaticably  strive  to  accomplish,  &  Confideing  and 
being  sufficiently  assured  of  ye  Integrity  &  fidelity  of  our  well 
beloved  friendes  Robert  Livingston  gentleman  &  Capt  G-errit 
Teunise,  we  have  Desyred  &  authorized  Impowered  &  Com- 
missionated  them  to  be  our  agents  in  yl  affare  to  treat  with  & 
consult  ye  honorable  Governor  &  Councill  of  there  Majesties 
Respective  Collonyes  of  Massachusetts  and  Canetticut  such 
things  as  shall  be  Requisite  for  there  Majesties  King  William 
&  Queen  Maryes  Service  &  ye  Safety  of  there  subjects  in  these 
Parts  laying  before  them  ye  necessity  of  joyning  all  forces  that 
can  be  procured  to  Invade  the  french  of  Canida  by  Sea  & 
Land  &  Put  a  Stopp  to  there  wicked  &  cruell  Designs  &  also 
to  desyre  such  assistance  &  supply  from  them  as  this  place 


The  City  Records.  199 

doth  stand  in  need  off,  Earnestly  Desyreing  they  would  give 
Credence  to  ye  sd  Rob1  Livingston  &  Capt  Gert  Teunise,  & 
yt  they  may  be  Reputed  &  Esteemed  as  our  agents  in  yl 
Behalfe,  given  under  our  hands  &  sealls  in  albany  ye  3d 
day  of  March  in  ye  2d  year  of  there  Majesties  Reign  anoq. 
Dom.  1690 

Signd  PB  SCHUYLER  Mayor 

D  WESSELLS  Recorder. 

JOH  :  WENDEL  )  alderman. 

JAN   BLEEKER  } 

K.  V.  RENSELAER 

The  meaner  sort  of  People  of  ye  Toune  were  Extream 
Importune  with  ye  Magistrates  to  Prohibite  ye  Exportation 
of  goods  who  being  verry  Refractory  &  unruly  ye  Magis- 
trates to  satisfye  them  Published  this  following 

[Translation.] 

By  the  Convention  of  the  Civill  &  Military  Officers  of  the 
Citty  and  County  of  Albany 

WHEREAS  there  are  great  Complaints  &  murmurings  a- 
mong  the  Commonalty  because  the  Traders  export  their 
goods,  whereby  many  persons  are  so  discouraged  that  they 
will  quit  the  place  leaving  their  Majesties  interest  here  and 
their  subjects  a  prey  to  the  Enemy. 

The  Civil  &  Military  Officers  so  as  to  prevent  such  mis- 
chiefs, hereby  expressly  forbid  all  persons  whomsoever  to 
export  any  Merchandize  such  as  Indian  Cargoes,  shirts, 
linen,  cloths,  Kerseys,  Sarges  and  other  goods  requisite  for 
the  clothing  as  well  of  Christians  as  Indians,  on  pain  of  Con- 
fiscation of  said  goods  for  their  Majesties  use. 

But  they  are  permitted  to  take  away  all  Beavers,  peltries, 
money,  furniture  &  household  articles,  fine  Silk  stuffs,  lace 
and  such  like  fine  articles  and  goods  unnecessary  for  Cloth- 
ing which  cannot  be  used  here  —  In  order  that  all  such 
may  be  regularly  done,  Johannes  Beekman  Jan  Vinnagen 
&  Jacobus  Turke  are  ordered  to  inspect  the  goods  in  the 
houses  before  they  are  embarked,  and  permit  such  to  be  put 
on  board 


200  The  City  Records. 

And  all  men  are  forbidden  to  depart  this  County  pursuant 
to  previous  Proclamation  dated  7th  August  1689  which  is 
now  Confirmed.  Done  4th  March  1690. 


Albany.  In  the  year  1690  ye  14  of  October 
When  Jacob  Leysler  had  usurped  ye  government  the 
following  Persones  were  chosen  John  Becker  Evert  Banker 
John  Bleecker  Claes  Ripse  Gert  Ryerse  Eghbert  Teunise 
Aldermen.  Johannes  de  Wandelaer  Hend  van  Dyck  Luykas 
Gerritse  Pr  Davidtse  Joh  :  Abeel  Ger<  van  Ness  Assistants. 

By  the  Lieutenant   Governor  &c 

[From  Papers,  &c.,  in  Leisler's  time.] 

WHEREAS  One  Robert  Livingston  by  the  Instigac6n  of 
the  Devill  did  utter  ye  Malice  of  his  heart  in  Saying  that 
he  was  Enformed  that  a  par  cell  of  rebel  Is  were  gone  out  of 
holland  to  England  &  that  ye  prince  of  Orange  headed 
them  Saying  that  they  might  See  how  they  got  of  againe  or 
words  to  this  purpose  &  that  they  should  Come  to  ye  Same 
End  that  Monmouth  did  &  hath  Cdmitted  other  high 
Crimes. 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  Name  to  will  and  require  all 
psons  within  this  Province  to  apprehend  ye  sd  Livingston  & 
bring  him  before  me  to  answer  for  ye  Same  &  all  governors 
&  Magistrates  of  ye  Neighbouring  Colonies  are  hereby  ad- 
vertized &  desired  In  his  Majesties  King  Williams  behalfe 
to  assist  In  apprehending  ye  sd  Livingston  if  within  their 
Jurisdiction  as  they  do  tender  ye  King's  Interest,  ye  Wel- 
fare of  ye  Protestant  Cause  &  their  Allegiance.  Given  &c 
March  the  1st  1689. 

JACOB  LEISLER 
To  Captain  Benjamin  Blagge  &  all  others 

whom  this  shall  or  may  Concerne. 


By  the  Lieutenant  Governor  &  Councill  &ca 

WHEREAS  a  Certaine  number  of  People  terming  them 
selves  a  Convention  with  In  the  Citty  &  County  of  Alban 
have  vindicated  ye  authority  of  Colonel  Thomas  Dongan 
Countenanced  his  &  Sir  Edmund  Andros  their  Illegall  & 


The  City  Records.  201 

Arbitrary  Comissions  &  proceedings  acting  thereby  Like- 
wise having  assumed  to  themselves  the  Ruling  power  by 
keeping  his  Majesties  fort  &ca  Contrary  to  ye  Authority  of 
this  province  to  ye  great  disturbance  of  his  Majesties  subjects 
and  other  ye  good  &  peaceable  Inhabitants  thereof  as  also 
Contemning  his  Majesties  Orders  &  directions  not  only  by 
not  proclaiming  ther  Majesties  according  to  an  Order  from 
ye  Rl  Honorable  ye  Lords  of  his  Majesties  Most  honorable 
Privy  Councill  dated  ye  29th  July  1689  but  opposing  &  in  an 
hostile  &  rebellious  manner  forbidding  and  hindring  ye 
Same  besides  many  others  Seditious  practises  all  which  are 
pernicious  &  destructive  to  his  Majesties  Interest  ye  peace 
tranquillity  &  welfare  of  his  Province  &  ye  Government 
thereof;  &  hath  been  ye  dcasion  of  Encouraging  ye  French 
&  Indians  Ennemies  to  attack  and  destroy  the  Inhabitants 
of  Skannectady,  toye  great  weakning  of  his  Majesties  forces 
in  ye  sd  County. 

These  are  to  authorise  Empower  &  Constitute  you  Mrs 
Joannes  de  Bruyn  Joannes  Provoost  &  Jacob  Melbourne  to 
take  into  your  care  and  under  your  directions  &  Comand  all 
ye  forces  now  raised  in  N:  York  and  adjacent  Countyes 
with  all  ammunicon  &  provisions  thereunto  apointed  &  forth- 
with proceed  from  hence  to  Albany  aforesd  where  you  are 
to  Super  Intend  direct  Order  and  Controull  all  matters  & 
things  relating  his  Majesties  Interest  &  revenue  in  that 
County  &  ye  Security  &  Safety  of  his  people  &  subjects 
therein  by  treating  with  ye  Confederate  Indians  and  other 
Such  Methods  &  Meanes  as  to  you  shall  seem  meet  that  may 
Conduce  to  ye  End  before  menconed  likewise  to  proclaime 
their  l  publishing  their  gracious  Orders  &  denounce  war 
against  ye  french  King  &ca  Subduing  Reducing  and  bring- 
ing to  their  obedience  all  such  who  oppose  y«  same  &  to 
settle  &  establish  ye  s '  County  in  ye  Same  Method  &  Con- 
stitution as  this  his  Majesties  City  and  County  of  N.  York 
&  others  thereunto  apertaining  &  further  you  are  to  obtaine 
ye  fort  ORANGE  at  Albany  from  those  of  ye  Convencon  & 
there  adherents  by  due  sumons  offering  them  such  Condi- 
c6ns  as  may  be  Agreable  to  ye  End  abovesd,  but  in  case  of 


1  "  Maties  King  William  &  Queen  Mary, "    These  words  are 
omitted  in  the  original. 


202  The  City  Records. 

resistance  then  you  are  to  treat  them  as  Ennemies  to  or 
Sovereigne  Lord  ye  King  his  Crowne  &  dignity  y«  same 
to  Subdue  &  over  Come  by  force  of  Arms  &  all  manner  of 
Hostility  whatsoever  willing  and  Comanding  all  psons  with- 
in the  County  aforescl  to  Be  aiding  and  assisting  therein  as 
they  will  Answer  ye  Contrary  at  their  utmost  perills  hereby 
giving  &  granting  unto  you  full  power  &  authority  to  Con- 
sult Act  do  &  conclude  all  matters  &  things  for  or  concern- 
ing his  Majesties  Interest  &  ye  Welfare  of  and  Security  of 
that  county  as  ye  case  shall  require  &  to  your  judgement 
shall  seem  requisite,  conforming  ratifieng  &  establishing 
whatsoever  you  shall  so  act  or  do  in  ye  prmisses  to  Be  good 
Valid  &  of  full  force  &  virtue  to  all  Intents  Construccons 
&  purposes  whatsoever  GIVEN  under  or  hands  &  Seals  &c 
New  York  this  4th  of  March  1689 

HENRY  COYLER  BENJAMIN  BLAGGE 

SAMUEL  STAETS  JACOB  LEISLER 

HENRY  VAN  FEURDEN    P  D'LANOY 
JOANNES  VERMILJE        SAMUEL  EDSALL 


Extracts  from  Letters. 

ffort  william  March  4th  1689 
HONORABLE  SIR  GOVERNOR  or  BOSTON 

Yours  of  the  8th  instant  by  Mr  pembrock  I  received  &  I 
returne  you  many  thanks  for  the  care  I  perceive  you  have 
had  for  our  packet,  since  your  last  wee  have  received  the 
sad  &  miserable  newes  from  Skenectedy  neere  Albany  where- 
of wee  understand  is  laid  to  your  woefull  account  it  is  such 
newes  as  we  feared  long  since.  Alase  what  could  there  be 
expected  of  a  certane  number  of  rebellious  people  that  re- 
mained rulling  under  that  arbitrary  Commissione  of  sir  Ed- 
mund at  Albany  within  this  province,  and  encouraged  & 
supported  by  Cpnnecticoatt  by  ordering  their  forces  sent 
thither  to  obserue  the  directions  of  the  sd  rebells  named  a 
Conventione,  being  well  assured  the  same  is  supported  more 
specially  by  that  trayterous  John  Allan  the  Secretary  of 
that  Collony  immediately  upon  the  newes  wee  sent  a  mes- 
singer  to  advise  the  Governor  that  he  may  expect  three 
messingers  from  hence  with  full  power  to  propose  to  them 
what  may  be  necessary  for  his  Majesties  intrest&  the  safety 


The  City  Records.  203 

of  these  provinces  which  was  answered  with  great  disdaine 
imaginable,  soe  that  wee  are  denied  the  assistance  wee  ex- 
pected from  that  part  to  day  I  hope  our  forces  will  depart 
being  already  einbarqued  wee  send  also  three  members  of 
our  counsell  with  presents  to  the  nationes  of  the  confederate 
Indianes  and  to  endeavour  to  strengthen  &  corroborate  their 
enmity  to  the  french,  and  if  they  see  meet  to  send  any  of 
our  forces  to  joine  with  them  agt  the  french  att  the  first 
hearing  of  the  sd  newes  I  immediately  made  an  allarum  and 
in  the  morning  disarmed  &  Imprisoned  about  40  commis- 
sioned officers  by  sir  Edmond  who  in  the  afternoon  delivered 
up  the  same  which  was  effected  in  the  night  by  sixteen 
troopers,  so  that  I  gott  in  about  150  Commissiones  &  our 
militia  well  setled  soe  that  wee  are  now  in  a  very  good  pos- 
ture of  union  &  better  able  to  resist  an  enemy  as  ever,  I 
have  seaven  in  confinement,  &  a  great  many  have  abscond 
themselves  with  dongan,  I  shall  be  glad  to  understand 
from  your  Honor  what  measures  you  are  like  to  take  to  at- 
tack the  french  and  what  assistance  you  are  willing  to  afford 
us,  for  one  exploit  agt  Canada  by  land  or  sea  (Connecticott 
having  refused  to  advise  with  us)  etc. 

ffort  william  March  the  5th  1689  : 

To  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  BOSTONE 

Honored  sir — yesterday  was  my  last  to  your  Honor 
This  morning  I  received  newes  that  one  Robert  Livingstone 
who  by  his  rebellione  hath  caused  great  disorder  in  the 
County  of  Albany  and  also  in  the  wholl  province  by  main- 
taining the  late  comissiones  granted  unto  them  by  sir  Ed- 
mund Andross  &  Coll :  dongan  &  other  directiones  which 
were  given  by  the  magistrates  which  were  appoynted  per 
Coll :  dongan  &  sir  Edmond  Andross  whereby  they  have 
caused  a  divisione  &  a  rebellione,  so  that  they  been  careless 
of  watching,  denying  52  souldiers  which  were  sent  up  under 
the  command  of  Captain  States  Inhabitant  at  Albany 
chosen  by  most  of  the  Inhabitants  there  &  commissionated 
by  the  Governor  &  Councill  in  hindering  one  Captain  Ruster 
who  was  commissionated  with  25  men  to  joine  himselfe 
with  our  confederate  Indianes  to  proceed  agt  the  french, 
This  rebell  Livingstone  being  conscious  of  his  crymes  & 


204  The  City  Records. 

understanding  our  forces  were  coming  up,  he  upon  pretence 
of  going  to  raise  forces  at  Connecticutt  &  Boston  for  to  de- 
fend Albany  is  departed  yesterday  for  that  intent,  as  is  sd, 
to  obtaine  such  if  possible  as  may  side  with  them  &  be  obe- 
dient to  their  rebellious  conventione,  I  beleeve  they  may 
expect  him  againe  if  the  rogue  does  not  rune  further  which 
I  doubt  he  will  if  not  prevented,  by  apprehending  of  him  he 
being  also  considerably  indebted  to  his  Majestic,  therefore 
have  sent  the  bearer  Captain  Benjamin  Blagg  or  Lievtdaniell 
Teneur  to  persue  him  with  a  warrant  to  that  purpose  desire- 
ing  your  Honor  to  assist  him  or  either  of  them  in  the  secur- 
ing the  sd  rebell  it  will  be  a  great  service,  I  will  further 
recommend  your  Honor  not  to  faill  to  assist  us,  so  well  by 
sea  as  by  land  not  doubting  if  you  are  brisk  &  doe  what  you 
can  but  what  we  shall  conquer  Cannada  pray  give  us  speedy 
advice  to  what  we  may  trust  that  we  may  encourage  the 
Indianes  &  tell  them  the  truth,  This  is  all  for  the  present 
after  my  service  I  remaine  sir  &c  : 

[A  duplicate  of  the  above  was  addressed  also  to  Connecticut.] 

[March    1689—90 


SB 

Your  warr1  for  seizing  Mr  Levingston  wee  have  received 
&  the  answer  to  it  which  the  Governor  Gave  L'  terneur  wee 
have  seen  &  appoved  of  it  which  is  our  Answer  to  what 
you  propownded  in  that  warr1  but  as  to  what  you  mention 
concerning  the  managment  of  ye  designe  against  ye  french, 
at  Canada  wee  are  willing  &  free  to  Joyn  with  all  ye  rest  of 
ye  Collonys,  &  provinces  in  this  Wilderness  to  do  what  wee 
shall  Judge  nessery  to  manage  the  designe  against  ye  french 
the  Common  Enemy  of  his  Majesties  subjects  in  these 
parts,  according  to  our  ability,  we  heare  you  have  also  de- 
signed a  Considerable  force  for  Canada  out  of  those  you  have 
sent  and  are  sending  now  to  Albany  wee  would  encourage 
that  notion  but  it  is  not  Land  forces  will  effect  it  but  force 
by  seas  is  necessary  and  wee  have  now  writt  to  ye  Gentleman 
of  Boston  &  must  wayt  for  their  resolves  till  wee  hear  further 
from  them  Sr  wee  cannot  ad  to  what  wee  have  formerly 
writt  to  you  but  must  advice  you  to  moderation  &  to  make  as 
Little  Alterac6n  amonge  ye  Officers  of  Albany  as  may  be  & 


The  City  Records.  205 

also  that  nothing  be  done  to  discourage  the  five  nations  In 
Amety  with  us  for  if  any  thing  be  Done  that  may  have 
such  an  aspect  the  damages  that  may  come  thereby  to  be 
answered  for  by  those  that  are  active  therein  you  whare  so 
charged  with  aiding  and  abetting  those  rebbells  of  ye  Con- 
vention at  Albany  by  Capt  Bull  &  our  souldiers  there  to 
prevent  any  thing  that  may  looke  Like  an  Incouragement 
to  them  wee  have  sent  for  our  Souldiers  wbome  Imediately 
upon  ye  arrivall  of  yours  which  we  hope  will  be  to  your 
satisfaction  I  have  not  to  add  saue  onely  or  respects  &  to 
desire  that  you  should  studdy  ways  of  peace  that  nothing 
may  be  moued  that  may  administer  prouocation  to  yours  or 
us  who  are  Your  friends  &  servants  the  Gouernr  &  Councill 
of  Connecticut  pr 

their  order  Signed 
JOHN  ALLYN  Secy 


Albany  ye  17th  day  of  March  1689  Present  J :  H  :  Bruyn 
Joh  :  Provoost  Jac  :  Milborne  Comrs     Pr  Schuyler  Mayor 
d  :  wessells  Joh  :  wendel  Levinus  v  :  Shayk.Jan  J:  Bleeker 
Alb'  Ryckman  aldm  Kiliaen  v :  Rens :  Marte  gerritse 
Wee  the  Commissioners  of  the  Leift  governeur  of  ye  Pro- 
vince of  N :  York,  and  his  Councill  find  it  verry  nessesery 
that  ye  Companie  of  Souldiers  sent  by  The  Colonie  of  Conet- 
tekot  under  Comand  of  Captain  Jonathan  Bull  ought  to  Re- 
maine  here.     In  Reguard  of  our  Curcumstances  Concerning 
the  french  and  there  Confedereths,  and  the  alliwed  Indians 
being  Ingaged  with  us  haveing  taken  notis  what  forces  wee 
are  able  to  Continue  for  their  Incouragement,  after  debatting 
&  Consulting  with  advys  of  the  gentlemen  Present  doe  Con- 
clude that  ye  sc1  Captain  Bull  with  his  sd  Companie  of  Soul- 
diers shall  Remaine  in  this  Citty  &  County  of  alb :  so  Long 
as  his  Majesties  Intrest  &  the  Preserving  of  this  Post  Re- 
quires 

By  order  of  ye  Commissioners 

JOHANNIS    CUYLER  Cl, 


Annals,  ii.  18 


206  The  City  Records. 

Albany  March  20th  1689 

GrENTS — According  to  your  Expectacon  yesterday  having 
discoursed  with  you  :  Wee  returne  for  answer. 

That  its  or  opinion  your  pay  being  promised  by  the  4 
psons  you  named  they  ought  to  performe  the  said  promise, 
and  the  Law  will  compell  them  at  least  to  give  you  Suffi- 
cient Security  upon  the  arrivall  of  a  governor  from  England, 
or  within  Gweekestime  tohaueyour  payment,  in  which  wee 
will  give  you  our  Assistance  and  constitute  a  Court  which 
wee  haue  no  reason  to  doubt  but  will  answer  this  end. 

That  those  who  will  remaine  in  the  Garrison  are  at  their 
liberty  to  continue  and  reasonable  that  Wee  should  Subscribe 
for  their  Pay,  advancing  somewhat  for  their  present  accom- 
modation, and  Such  who  are  disposed  to  quit  the  Garrison 
are  at  their  Liberty. 

That  Provisions  shall  be  weekly  allowed  them  according 
to  the  former  Custome :  The  Kings  pay  to  continue 

[Endorsed,  Capitulacon  with  the  Garrison  in  Fort  Orange  March 
20th  1689.] 


By  the  Commissioners  for  ye  Citty  &  County  of  alb :  ye 
Mayor  aldermen  &  Justices  of  ye  sd  County.  Present  as 
before,  also  Claes  Ripse 

WHEREAS  There  hath  unhappely  arose  differences  which 
hath  created  animosities  and  great  distinctions  amongst  his 
Majesties  Subjects  in  the  Citty  &  County  of  alb : 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  strictly  to  forbid  all  Per- 
sons whatsoever  that  they  doe  no  wise  asperse  Reproach, 
each  other  by  words  or  actions  to  ye  Disquietude  or  discourge- 
ment  of  any  the  good  People  in  this  Citty  &  County,  of  what 
rank  or  quality  soever,  under  penalty  of  being  Prosecuted 
as  disturbers  of  his  Majesties  Peace  and  the  quiet  and  Tran- 
quility  of  the  Inhabitants  thereof,  (upon  Conviction  of  twoo 
witnesse  before  any  of  his  Majesties  Justices  of  ye  Peace) 
so  far  as  ye  Rigour  of  ye  Law  will  inflict  upon  them,  dated 
In  alb :  This  22th  day  of  March  1689. 

By  order  of  ye  Comm  :  &c. 


The  City  Records.  207 

By  the  Commissioners  for  ye    Citty  &  County  of  alb :  &c. 

WHEREAS  great  Complaint  is  made  of  ye  Severall  Burgers 
under  y°  Comand  of  their  officers  in  this  Citty  &  County 
of  alb :  that  they  doe  not  obey  ye  Lawfull  Commands  of 
their  Captains  and  other  officers  appointed  over  them 

These  are  to  will  &  Require  all  Persons  whatsoever  under 
such  Commanders  that  they  in  no  wise  neglect,  dispute, 
denye  or  Resist  the  Lawfull  Commands  of  their  sd  officers 
upon  Penalty  of  being  Proceeded  against  by  the  Court 
marshall  (in  this  time  of  warr)  constituted  for  ye  sd  Citty 
and  County  whose  insures  shall  be  Executed  in  the  most 
Stricted  Rigour,  dated  In  alb  :  This  22th  day  of  March 

1689 

By  order  of  ye  Commissioners  &c. 

By  the  Commissioners  &c. 

Forasmuch  as  many  Persons  have  given,  forth  that  they 
will  depart  this  County  for  ye  Preservation  of  their  persons 
&c.  and  the  warr  with  ye  french  &  their  alleyes  call  for  ye 
Strengthning  his  Majestic  forces  therein  as  much  as  Possible 
may  be, 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  Prohibite  and  forbid 
all  mankind  of  what  ranke  or  quality  they  may  bee,  from 
fourteen  years  of  age  unto  sixty  years  if  ould,  or  under, 
that  they  do  not  Transport  their  Persons  out  of  this  County 
upon  any  Pretence  whatsoever  under  ye  Penalty  of  forfeit- 
ing one  hundred  Pounds  Currant  monney  of  this  Province 
which  shall  be  for  d'fraying  the  Charge  for  Support  and 
Carrying  on  of  this  Immediate  war,  against  the  french  and 
the  allyes  aforesaid  Except  masters  of  vessels  and  Seafare- 
ing  Persons  whose  Livelyhoods  depend  upon  the  water, 
dated  In  alb  :  This  22th  day  of  March  1689. 

By  order  of  ye  Commissioners  &c 


These  are  to  give  notice  to  all  Persons  within  this  Citty 
&  County  of  alb  :  That  Peter  Schuyler  Esqr  is  Establisht 
Mayor  of  ye  sd  Citty  and  Joh  :  wendel,  Levinus  v  :  schayk, 
Jan  Janse  Bleeker,  Albert  Ryckman,  Claes  Ripse,  aldermen, 


208  The  City  Records. 

and  dirck  weasel's,  Guiliam  van  Renslaer,  Marten  gerritsen, 
Sander  glen,  abrah  :  States,  &  dirck  Teunisse  Justices  of 
ye  Peace  for  ye  sd  Citty  &  county,  and  to  Remaine  &  be 
untill  further  order  from  his  Majestic  &  all  Persons  within 
this  sd  Citty  &  County  are  hereby  strictly  charged  that  they 
acknowledge  Reverence  and  obey  the  same  in  their  Severall 
Stations  upon  Penalty  of  being  prosecuted  as  Enimies  to 
this  Province  and  disturbers  of  his  Majesties  Peace  and  the 
welfare  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  this  Citty  &  County  dated  In 
alb  :  This  22th  day  of  March  and  in  ye  Second  year  of  his 
Majesties  Reign  annoq.  dom  :  1689 

By  order  of  ye  Commissioners  &c. 

By  the  Commissioners  &c. 

These  are  to  Authorise  &  appoint  you  Mess  :  Luycas  ger- 
ritse  &  wessel  ten  Broek  to  provide,  and  direct  all  such  Pro- 
visions of  bread  as  shall  be  Requisite  for  supplying  those 
forces  which  shall  be  at  all  times  sent  from  hence  in  the 
Seruice  of  his  Majestic  against  the  french  and  their  con- 
federates according  to  or  orders  as  shall  be  directed  to 
Johannis  Cuyler  as  occasion  offers,  dated  in  aft) :  March 
the  22th  1689 

Pr  order 

By  the  Commissioners  &c. 

WHEREAS  the  Records,  Bookes  and  Papers  &c.  Relating 
to  ye  Citty  &  County  of  alb :  are  in  the  Possession  of  Mr. 
Robert  Livingston  and  Mr.  Johannis  Cuyler  being  consti- 
tuted Clerk  &  Register  of  ye  sd  Citty  &  County, 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  will  &  Require  you  to 
deliver  the  sd  Records  Bookes  and  Papers  &c.  unto  ye  sd 
Cuyler  And  his  Receipt  shall  be  a  sufficient  discharge, 
dated  In  alb  :  This  22th  day  of  March  1689 

To  Mr.  Robert.  Livingston  or  any  in  whose  Costody  The 
same  are — 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Commisioners  &c.     Albany  This  22th 
day  of  March  1689 

After  Consultaceon  Relating  the  present  State  of  this 
Citty  &  County  of  alb  :  in  Reguard  of  ye  war  withye  french 


City  Records.  209 

and  Their  Confederates,  It  is  Concluded  that  N  :  Yorke 
doth  fornish  these.  following  p'ticulars  Viz1  :  200  Men;  600 
Schiple  of  Indian  Corne  ;  100  Barrills  of  Pork  ;  14000 
Ib  of  bread;  100  Schiple  of  Pease;  200  gall,  of  Rum; 
2100  ells  Brown  osenburg;  100  drest  dear  skins;  3000  Ib  of 
Lead;  400  Ib  of  Powder;  180  Kartrit  Boxes;  200  Ib  of 
Swan  Shot. 

And  that  ye  Citty  &  County,  of  alb  :  Doe  Provide  and 
furnish  the  following  Percells  viz1  :  6000  Ib  of  Bread  ;  150 
Shiple  of  Pease  ;  100  drest  dear  Skins  ;  400  Ib  Pouder  ;  4000 
flints;  30  bark  Conoos;  60  gunns;  DO  Hatchets. 


Albany  ye  24th  of  March  1689. 

At  A  meeting  were  Present  ye  Commissioners  for  ye  Citty 

&  County  of  alb.  advysing  with   Sundrey  officers  of  ye 

Militia  There,     where  upon  It  is  Resolved  That  ye  fol- 

lowing persones  be  Commissionated,  vizt. 

Capt  Jochim  Staets  Com-lr  of  Fort  Orange  always  to  keep 

under  Command  in  sci  fort  60  men,     Lievt  Jonathan   wrigt, 

Ens  :  John  Hater.     For  the   city   of  albany,   Pieter  winne 

Toune  Major,  Capt  Johannis  wendel,  Melgert  Wynants,  Ens  : 

Reynier   Barentse,  Capt  Pieter  van   waggelen,   Leift  Robf 

Sanders,   Ens:   Joh:   Bleeker  Junr,  Capt   Barnet   Luwis, 

Leiv1    Marte  Klock,  Ens  :   -----  For  the  County    of 

albany,  Capt  Marten  gerritse,   Liev1  Evert  d'Ridder,   Ens  : 

Zymon  van  ness,  Capt  Alexander  glen,  Leift  Johannis  glen, 

Ens  :  douwe  Aukus,  Cap1  Johannis  Bensing,  Lieft  Andries 

Barentse,  Ens  :  Johannis  Janse. 

Ordered  That  ye  aforesaid  Commissionated  officers  Now 
are  Establiseth  &  shall  from  this  time  forth  Remaine,  and 
be  in  full  Power  &  ye  Authority,  &  ye  Authority  for  ye  Militia 
of  this  &  County  To  act  &  doe  in  all  matters  and  things  relat- 
ing Militarie  affaires  according  toy6  Rules  &  decipline  of  war, 
untill  further  order  from  his  Majestic  king  William  of 
England  Scotland  french  &  Irland  &c.  &  That  seaven  of 
ye  s-1  Commission1"8  shall  be  and  are  hereby  Constituted  & 
aPointed  a  Court  Marshall  To  Consult,  apoint,  Judge,  order, 
Censure  &  determing  whatsoever  shall  aroise  under  marchall 
notice  within  this  Citty  &  County  whereof  Three  Captains 
&  Toune  Major  are  always  to  be  members,  onles  in  ye 


210  The  City  Records. 

Majors  absence,  Then  ye  Eldert  Capt  of  ye  Fort  orange  is 
ever  to  Preside,  To  whom  all  Souldiers  &  others  that  are 
able  to  bear  armes  from  16  years  old  and  upwards  are  to 
give  due  Reverence  &  obedience  as  they  will  Answer  ye 
Contrary  at  their  utmost  Perrill,  dated  in  alb  :  The  day  & 
year  first  written  &  in  ye  Second  year  of  his  Majesties 
Reign 

By  order  of  ye  Commissioners 

[Translation.] 

By  the  Commissioners,  Mayor  Aldermen  and  Justices  &a  of 
the  City  and  County  of  Albany. 

You  are  hereby  ordered  in  his  Majestys  King  William's 
name  to  take  hence  forthwith  17  Soldiers  under  your  com- 
mand, and  march  with  them  towards  Schagtkook,  and  take 
thence  (according  to  the  Indians'  promise)  20  savages  with 
you  and  proceed  -thence  to  Crown  Point,  where  you  shall  re- 
main and  keep  good  watch  by  day  &  by  night — especially 
detach  each  day  good  outscouts  and  spies  about  half  a  dutch 
mile  beyond  said  Crown  Point  until  Sundown,  and  when- 
ever you  perceive  or  meet  any  French  or  their  Indians  from 
Canada  you  shall  endeavour  to  despoil,  plunder  and  do  them 
all  injury  as  enemies,  according  to  the  usage  of  War;  and 
the  aforesaid  Soldiers  are  hereby  strictly  charged  to  obey 
their  officers  in  all  things. 

In  like  manner  Dirk  albertse  Brad  is  sent  with  that  view 
with  the  aforesaid  Company  of  Soldiers  as  guide  and  Indian 
Interpreter,  who  shall  advise  and  consult  with  the  aforesaid 
officers  in  all  things  that  relate  to  the  advantage  of  his  Ma- 
jesties interest  and  this  undertaken  expedition  :  and  further 
you  shall  remain  until  further  order  at  the  aforesaid  Crown 
point,  unless  you  are  assured  that  a  large  army  of  the  Enemy 
is  really  and  truly  approaching  which  it  is  impossible  to  re- 
sist ;  then  you  must  send  a  messenger  hither  cito  cito  and 
endeavour  to  do  your  best  as  far  as  in  your  power.  Mean- 
while you  shall  occasionally  try  to  make  some  Bark  Canoes 
to  be  used  should  necessity  require. 

We  conclude  then  that  you  shall  remain  at  Crown  point 
aforesaid  until  further  order;  that  is  if  you  be  not  necessitated 
as  abovestated.  Thus  given  under  our  hands  in  Albany 


The  City  Eeeords.  211 

this  26th  March  and  in  the  Second  Year  of  his   Majesty's 
reign  annoq  :  dom.  1690.  Was  Signed 

J.  BRUYN, 

To  Capt  Jacobus  d'Warm  JOHANNIS  PROVOOST 

over  the  17  Soldiers  aforesaid.  PB  SCHUYLER, 

DIRCK  WESSELS. 

LEV.  VAN  SCHAYK. 


Albany,  27  March  Ao  1690. 

CAPT  JACOB  MILBORNE,  We  expect  that  you  have  arrived 
safely  to  day  at  N.  Yorck.  We  are  obliged  to  notify  you 
to  procure  these  indispensable  necessaries  viz.  3  @  400 
unmanufactured  horns  which  can  be  easily  had  at  Nicolaas 
Blanks  and  can  be  quickly  put  in  order  here ;  further  as 
much  duffels  as  you  can  get,  bleu  baize  for  shirts,  provision 
400  Ibs  Swan  shot,  50  Kettles. 

Yesterday  evening  the  Soldiers  tormented  us  considerably 
for  blankets,  as  it  is  was  very  cold.  We  went  every  where 
and  could  not  find  any  The  Soldiers  from  the  outposts,  also 
whom  we  provided  with  duffels  for  coverlets,  namely  from 
our  own  duffels — so  that  our  stock  which  was  intended  for 
the  Indians  is  diminished.  The  Soldiers  in  the  fort  must 
also  have  duffels  as  blankets  are  not  to  be  had  here. 

The  picquet  proceed  immediately  to  their  post.     I  forgot 
to  send  to  you  for   8  @  10  hour  glasses  which  are  very 
necessary  for  the    watches.     WTherewith    doubting   not   of 
your  diligence  and  speedy  return,  We  remain 
Your  affectionate  friends 

JOHANNES  PROVOOST  &  in 
the  name  of  J.  H.  BRUYN. 


Albany  38.  March  1690. 

List  of  the  Goods  s^nt  from  York  and  received  from 
Monsieur  Jan  Hendricksen  Brujn  and  Johannes  Proofoost 
to  be  distributed  among  the  Refugees  of  Schoonectede,  to 
wit—  2348J  Dutch  ells  of  Osenb  :  Linen,  3  p*  Serge,  13 
pairs  Stockings,  72  ells  pennestout,  and  delivered  to  the 
Deacons  of  Schoonectede  and  the  Deacons  of  Albany,  to 
wit : —  Barent  Wimp,  Jan  Byvanck,  Johannes  de  Wandelaer, 


212  The  City  Records. 

Jacob  Loockermans.  First,  distributed  to  the  following  6| 
ells  each  of  Sarge  :  Barent  Wimp,  Harmen  Vedder,  Symen 
Schemenhoorn,  Symen  Groot,  Arent  Vedder,  Aniie  Widow 
of  Frans,  Willein  Appel,  Goosen  Van  Oort,  Samuel  Bradt, 
An  dries  Bradt,  Johannes  Dyckman,  Geertruy  Groot,  3  ps 
Sarge  distributed  of  79  &  f . 

List  of  the  Pennestout :  to  Aces  Cornelise,  7  ells ;  Dirck 
Bradt,  7;  Isack  de  .Teurcx,  8;  Nieces  Volckers,  3£  ; 
Johannes  Dyckman,  3;  Jan  Eps,  7;  Loowies  Ooopeele,  3£; 
Pieter  Van  Olinda,  7;  Gerret  Jansen,  5  ;  Willem  Van  Eerde, 
3£;  Arent  Vedder,  3±;  Elias  Swart,  7;  Jan  Buys,  4; 
Geertruy  Groot,  3 

List  of  the  Stockings,  to  each  one :  1  pair  Marius  Vedder : 
one  pair  of  Stockings,  Symen  Groot  one  pair,  Jan  Buys, 
Willem  Apel,  Symen  Schemenhooren,  Gyspert  Gerrets, 
Harmen  Vedder,  Hendrick  Gardeniers,  Samuel  Bradt,  Dirck 
Heffelingh,  Adam  Frooman,  Tuenis  Carstensen,  Gerret 
Gysbersen,  The  no.  of  the  Stockings  13  pairs 

List  of  the  Osenburg  Linen  :  Harmen  Vedder,  80  ells ; 
Jan  Eps,  70 ;  Catlyn  Barensen,  70;  Dirck  Bradt,  65  ;  Barent 
Wemp,  70;  Dirck  Hesselinger,  58;  Willem  Appel,  80; 
Goosen  van  Oort,  50 ;  Gyspert  Gerrets,  80 ;  Nieces  Volc- 
kertsen,  20 ;  Jacob  van  Laer,  20 ;  Willem  van  Eerde,  75 ; 
Cornelis  Viele,  40;  Marius  Haegedoorn,  40;  Jannetie 
Sche'rmenhooren,  40 ;  Cornelis  Schermenhooren,  20;  Citte 
Bradt,  60,  Henderick  Gardeniers,  40  ;  Cornelis  Claesen, 
20;  Geertruy  Groot,  31;  Susanne  Tellers,  50;  Aces  Cor- 
nelis,  50  ;  Dieuer  Wimp,  55  ;  Anne  Harmensen,  65  ;  Tryntie 
Bosboom,  20;  Symon  Volcker,  30;  Samuel  Bradt,  50; 
Tryntie  Schaets,  80;  David  Cristofelsen's  children,  50; 
Johannes  Pootmans  children,  70;  Adam  Frooman,  70; 
Symon  Schermenhooren,  50;  Purmerent,  40;  Symen  Groot, 
80 ;  Fytie  Pietersen  Rosboom,  20  :  total  Distributed  to 
Schoonechtede.  1809  ells. 

List  of  the  Linen  distributed  in  the  Bush  ( Woestine)  : 
Elias  Swart,  .36  ells;  Lauries  •Coopesen,  20;  Isack  Teuerx, 
40  ;  Jan  Buys,  23  ;  Tuenis  Carstensen,  35  ;  Binnonie  Arent- 
sen,  [Corlaer]  25;  Dauit  Marienissen,  30£;  Elias  Gyseling, 
30  ;  Arent  Vedder,  30 ;  Pitter  Van  Olinda,  35  ;  Jan  Frooman 
30;  Manis  Vedder,  24;  Tuenis  Viele,  20;  Tryntie  Verwy, 


The  City  Eecords.  213 

15;  Claes  Graef,  35;  Jan  Hilt,  25;  Cornells  Groot,  20; 
Jan    Luycessen,  18  ;   Johannes  Dyckman,  30  ;  Lysbet  Cor- 
nelissen,  15  :  total  2349 
By  me 

JOHANNES  DE  WANDELAER 

Deacon  of  Albany. 

At  a  meeting  of  Mayor  Aldermen  &  Common  Council 
holden  in  Albany  this  28  March  1690  Present,  P' 
Schuyler  Dirck  Wesselse  L.  V.  Schayck,  J  J  Biecker 
Claes  Ripsen  Alb1  Ryckman,  Reynier  Barentz,  Evert 
Bancker,  Eghbert  Teunissen  Ger1  Reyersen. 

Having  taken  into  Consideration  how  we  shall  obtain  for 
King  William's  ace1  the  ammunition  and  provision  which 
we  are  obliged  to  deliver  from  this  County  pursuant  to  our 
preceding  Resolution  adopted  with  the  Honorable  Commis- 
sioners from  N.  York  on  the  22nd  March  last  and  prepare 
forthwith  for  the  Equipment  of  an  Army  both  of  Christians 
and  Indians  against  our  Enemies  of  Canada,  and  Resolve  as 
followeth — 

Pieter  Schuyler  &  Dirck  Wesselse  are  appointed  to  get 
ready  6000  Ibs  hard  bread  for  the  King's  ace1 

Johannis  Wendel  100  prepared  deer  skins 

Levinus  Van  Schayk  150  skepels  peas 

Jan  Janse  Bleeker  &  Reynier  Barentse  60  guns  &  100 
axes 

Claes  Ripsen  &  Albert  Ryckman  the  materials  &  expence 
for  repairing  the  following  —  30  B.  Canoes. 

Evert  Bancker  Eghbert  Teunissen  &  Ger1  Ryersen  for  30 
Bark  Canoes 

Job  :  Cuyler  the  400  Ibs  Powder 

Gabriel  Thomson  the  100  gall  Rom 

By  the  Commissioners,  the  Mayor  Aldermen  &  Justice  &ca  of 

the  City  and  County  of  Albany. 

You  are  hereby  ordered  in  his  Majesties  name  to  take 
hence  forthwith  under  your  command  9  men  and  march 
with  Jannetie  or  Laurence  the  Mohawk  Indian  and  his  party 


214     -  The  City  Records. 

« 

of  savages  with  some  Sehagtkooks  Indians  upward  about 
seven  miles  beyond  the  Crown-point  unto  the  Otter-creek, 
or  some  other  better  place  or  Rendesvous  which  you  may 
consider  more  suitable  safer  and  more  advantageous —  where 
you  shall  remain  and  keep  good  watch  day  and  night,  and 
send  out  especially  good  scouts  and  spies  every  day  till  Sun- 
down, and  you  shall  correspond  daily  with  Capt  Jacobus  de 
Warm  &  his  soldiers  who  are  sent  to  the  aforesaid  Crown 
point,  and  mutally  communicate  to  each  other  all  remarka- 
ble occurences,  and  should  you  perceive  or  meet  any  French 
or  Canada  Indians,  you  must  endeavor  to  despoil,  plunder 
and  do  them  all  injury  as  Enemies  conformably  to  the 
Custom  of  War :  And  the  aforesaid  9  men  are  hereby 
strictly  charged  to  obey  their  officers  in  all  things. 

And  the  Officers  shall  in  all  things  advise  with  the  afore- 
said Indian,  Jannetie,  as  to  what  concerns  his  Majisty's 
Interest  and  this  undertaken.Expedition.  You  shall,  like- 
wise, remain  at  the  aforesaid  Otter  Creek,  or  at  the  place 
you  may  think  fit  as  above,  for  the  time  of  one  month  except 
you  really  and  truly  perceive  the  approach  of  a  powerful 
enemy's  force,  which  you  cannot  resist,  then  you  must  Cito 
cito  send  a  Messenger  hither,  and  the  remainder  of  Your 
Company  must  return  immediately  here  to  the  City. 

But  if  there  be  any  Volunteers,  either  Christians  or 
Indians  who  will  proceed  from  the  aforesaid  Otterkill  to 
Canada  as  Spies,  to  reconnoitre  or  to  take  prisoners  they  have 
permission  so  to  do,  provided  the  post  at  the  aforesaid 
Otterkill  or  your  sojourn,  shall  always  remain  fully  esta- 
blished. Meanwhile  you  shall  manufacture  some  Bark 
Canoes  which  you  can  use  according  to  Circumstances. 
Thus  Given  under  our  hands  In  alby.  this  31st  March,  and 
in  the  2nd  year  of  his  Majesty's  Reign  Annoq  :  Dom.  1690 

J  BRUYN 

To  Capt  Abraham  JOH  :  PROVOOST 

Schuyler  Pr  SCHUYLER 

DIRCK  WESSELSE 
JOH  :  WENDEL 

N :  B.  the  aforesaid  9  men  are  Arent  Schuyler  Casper 
Teller  But  Teunissen  David  Kettelhuyn  Daniel  Brad  Hendk 
Jansen  van  Saragtoge  Tho  Sjeer  Willem  the  Indian 


The  City  Records.  -    215 

By   the   Commissioners,  the  Mayor,  Aldermen  &  Justices 

of  the  Peace  of  the  City  &  County  of  Albany. 
WHEREAS  you  were  ordered  in  your  preceding  Commission 
dated  26th  March  last  to  remain  at  Crown  point  till  further 
orders  as  more  fully  appears  in  said  Commission,  and  we 
are  now  asked  if  any  other  better  sojourn  or  place  of  Ren- 
dezvous can  be  found — 

These  are,  therefore,  if  you  can  find  out  any  fitter  place 
than  the  aforesaid  Crown  Point  which  you  Know  will  be  more 
secure,  to  empower  you  to  do  so  with  advice  and  consultation 
of  Dirk  Albertsen  Brad  and  the  Schagtkook  Indians,  on 
condition  that  you  Send  out  Spies  dayly  towards  the  said 
Crown  point :  you  shall  also  daily  correspond  with  Capt 
Abraham  Schuyler  and  his  people  and  mutually  com- 
municate all  notable  occurrences.  And  further  you  shall 
follow  and  obey  your  previous  commission  in  all  things. 
Thus  given  under  our  hands  In  Albany  this  1st  April  in  the 
2nd  Year  of  his  Majestys  Reign  A°  Dom1.  1690. 
Was  Signed,  J  BRUYN 

JOH  :  PROVOOST 
PETER  SCHUYLER 
DIRCK  WESSELSE 
JOH  :  WENDELL 
To  Capt  Jacobus  de  Warm 

[Translation.] 
The   Commissaries  at  Albany  to  Leisler. 

Alby.  the  3d  Aprill  1690. 

MYNHEER  —  Mynheer,  We  again  yesterday  sent  up  a 
Scouting  Party  of  9  @  10  Christians  with  about  as  many 
Indians  who  will  cooperate  as  far  as  possible  with  the  party 
previously  sent  up,  against  our  enemies  the  french  and  their 
Indians  from  Canada,  for  his  Majesties  Interest. 

The  Sheriff  and  County  Clerk  forwarded  also  yesterday 
the  Minutes  and  other  Books  &  papers  &c.  belonging  to  this 
City  and  the  County  of  Albany,  but  found  the  Registers 
only  to  1st  December  1685.  And  Robbert  Livingstons  wife 
said,  she  has  no  Knowledge  of  the  others.  Item,  were  in 
like  manner,  Since,  all  the  Excise  Books  and  acs  concerning 


216  The  City  Records. 

his  Majestys  Revenue  because  there  were  reasons  numerous 
enough  to  secure  said  Livingston,  so  that  he  may  give  ex- 
planations of  all  the  accounts. 

N :  B.  We  also  Send  your  Honour  enclosed,  six  sworn 
affidavits  against  the  aforesaid  Livingston  in  behalf  of  his 
Majesty.  Item,  herewith  goes,  besides,  a  packet  of  papers 
which  we  found  in  an  old  box  in  which  were  also  discovered 
Some  articles  of  value  (Klynodie goederen)  which  heretofore 
belonged  to  the  Canadian  Jesuit  Yaliand.  These  we  have 
inventoried  here  for  his  Majestys  use  until  further  Order. 

We  also  pursuant  to  your  Honor's  order  allowed  the  free- 
holders of  this  Citty  &  County  to  Choose  &  elect  2  proper 
persons  to  consult  &  conclude  at  New  York  concerning  his 
Majesty's  interest  in  this  conjuncture,  and  the  majority  of 
votes  have  accordingly  fallen  on  Capt  Jan  Janse  Bleeker 
&  Reyer  Schermerhoren,  and  inasmuch  as  there  is  no  sloop 
at  present  here  in  which  the  aforesaid  can  depart,  they  shall 
be  forwarded  by  the  first  opportunity  were  it  only  a  canoe. 
At  present  no  more  from 

Your  Honour's  faithful  Friends 

Endorsed  Alb.  2  apll  1690  Copy  van  Een  brief  Aen  d'Luyt  govr 
,.     Jacob  Leysler  in  het  fort  William  tot-N.  Yorke. 

Depositions  Against  Livingston. 

Present  J  Bruyn  Johannes  Prov1  Jan  J  Bleeker  Joh  Cuyler 
Akes  Cornellissen  Van  Slyck  of  the  County  of  Albany, 
aged  about  50  years  being  sworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelists 
before  Mr  Jan  Jansen  Bleeker  Justus  of  the  Peace  declares 
that  about  the  middle  of  Feb  A°  168|  he  was  with  his  wife 
Grrietje  and  George  Aersen  at  Robert  Livingston's  house 
and  that  he  deponent  stated  and  said  to  said  Livingston 
Thou  hast  read  the  King's  Declaration  in  English  but  I 
cannot  understand  it — therefore  repeat  it  to  me  in  Dutch. 
Whereupon  the  aforesaid  Livingston  answered  &  said — 
That  the  King  stated  that  many  of  his  Subjects  had  run 
away  from  England  to  Holland,  of  whom  the  Prince  is  the 
Chief  Rebel  —  and  said  further,  Let  him  come  to  England  ; 
he  shall  find  there  as  good  Soldiers  to  oppose  him  as  he  shall 
bring  with  him.  And  further  he  saith  not.  Thus  in  Albany 


The  City  Records.  217 

this  1st  April  and  in  the  2nd  Year  of  his  Majesty's  Reign 
A°  Dom :  1690. 

Sworn  before  Me. 

Grietje  wife  of  Akes  Cornelissen,  aged  about  45  years 
being  sworn  before  Jan  Janse  Bleeker  Justus  of  the  Peace 
de'clares  that  she  was  with  her  husband  Akes  &  Joris  Aersen 
about  the  Middle  of  February  168f  at  Robert  Livingston's 
house,  and  that  she  Deponent  heard  said  Livingston  state 
that  the  King  said  that  the  Prince  is  the  head  of  the  rebels. 
And  further  she  knoweth  not  well  whether  she  heard  from 
Livingston  or  her  husband  or  from  Jor :  Aersen — she,  how- 
ever, heard  one  of  the  three  say  that  Livingston  had  also 
said  that  divers  English  subjects  had  run  away  from  England 
to  Holland;  also,  let  him  but  come  to  England  he  shall  there 
find  as  good  soldiers  as  he  shall  bring  with  him,  and  she 
further  saith  not.  Thus,  in  Alby  1  April  1690 


Present.  J  Bruyn  Joh  Provoost  Joh  Wendel 
Reyer  Schermerhooren  of  the  county  of  Albany,  aged 
about  38  years  being  sworn  before  Mr  Johannis  Wendel, 
Justus  of  the  Peace,  declares  that  he  was  last  harvest  at 
Sweer  Teunissens  van  Velsen's  house  at  Schanhegtade, 
where  Joris  Aersen,  Capt  Sander  Glen,  Joh  Glen  &  Myndert 
Wemp  were  present,  and  that  then  Joris  Aersen  was  asked 
if  he  had  heard  Robert  Livingston  Say  that  the  Prince  of 
Orange  (who  is  our  King  of  England  &ca)  was  the  head  of 
the  Rebels  who  invaded  England  with  the  Prince  A°  1688 
Whereupon  the  aforesaid  Jor  :  Aersen  answered,  No — I  did 
not  hear  Livingston  say  so;  but  he  said  this — that  in  the 
declaration  which  the  Late  King  James  issued  against  the 
Hollanders  he  had  read  that  the  Prince  was  declared  to  be 
the  Head  of  the  Rebels — Whereupon  Meyndert  Wemp  again 
said  in  the  presence  of  the  aforesaid  Company —  Remem- 
ber this  well ;  for  Joris  Aersen  shall  yet  make  these  words 
good  ;  and  said,  further,  that  he  will  note  down  in  his  book 
the  words  which  Joris  aforesaid  has  there  stated.  And 
further  he  saith  not.  Thus  in  Alby  this  1st  April  1690 
Annals,  ii.  19 


218  The  City  Records. 

Simon  Schermerhooren  of  the  County  of  Albany  aged 
about  32  years  being  sworn  in  presence  of  Mr  Johannis 
Wendel  Justus  of  the  Peace  declares,  that  he  was  last  har- 
vest in  his  house  at  Schanegtady  where  Joris  Aersen  came 
and  related  to  him  Deponent  how  Robert  Livingston  had 
told  him  that  the  Declaration  issued  against  the  Hollanders 
by  the  late  King  James  denounced  the  Prince  of  Orange 
as  the  head  of  the  Rebels ;  and  that  he  Joris  had  shewn 
this  declaration  to  Dom  :  Tassemaker  at  the  time  minister 
of  Schanhegtady,  to  learn  if  there  were  any  such  thing  in  it, 
but  Dom  :  Tassemaker  could  see  nothing  of  the  sort  there  ; 
and  as  the  Deponent  afterwards  heard  that  Joris  tried  to 
alter  the  aforesaid  Livingston's  words,  he  asked  Joris  if  he 
now  denied  that  he  had  spoken  to  Deponent  against  Living- 
ston? Whereupon  Joris  answered,  I  deny  nothing  of  what 
I  told  you  herein,  for  I  stated  the  same  to  the  Domine  and 
the  whole  consistory  of  Schanegtady, 'and  I  shall  not  deny 
it  even  should  I  die  the  death,  for  Aces  Corn5  &  his  wife 
were  likewise  present  when  Livingston  spoke  so  of  our 
Prince,  notwithstanding  that  Akes  now  says  he  is  sick,  and 
his  wife  says  she  is  only  a  woman.  But,  said  Joris,  when 
they  are  put  on  their  oaths  they  will  speak  the  truth,  and 
should  they  not,  yet  will  I  do  it.  Item,  Joris  said,  it  vexes 
me  much  that  such  slanders  should  be  stated  of  our  Prince 
as  he  is  my  countryman,  for  I  too  am  an  Amsterdam  boy. 
And  further  saith  not  Thus  in  Albany,  1st  April  1690. 

Myndert  Harmensen  of  the  County  of  Albany,  aged  about 
47  years,  being  sworn  before  Johannis  Wendel  Justus  of  the 
Peace,  declares  that  last  harvest  in  his  house,  he  asked  Joris 
Aersen  if  it  were  true  that  he  heard  Robert  Livingston  say 
that  our  Prince  of  Orange  was  at  the  head  of  the  Rebels? 
Whereupon  the  aforesaid  Joris  Aerson  answered  No;  I 
did  not  hear  Livingston  say  that ;  but  he  said  this,  that  the 
Late  King  James  hath  in  his  Declaration  against  the  Hol- 
landers pronounced  the  Prince  to  be  the  head  of  the  Rebels, 
and  further  saith  not.  Thus  in  Albany  this  1st  April  1690. 

Present  J  Bruyn,  Joh  Provoost,  J  J  Bleeker 
Capt  Sander  Grlen  Justus  of  the  Peace  of  the  County  of 
Alby,  aged  about  43  years  being  sworn  before  Mr  Jan  Jansen 


The  City  Records.  219 

Bleeker,  Justus  of  the  Peace,  declares  that  he  heard  Joris 
Aersen  say  several  times  last  summer  or  last  harvest,  that 
it  was  too  much  reported  of  him  Joris  that  he  should  have 
spoken  against  Robert  Livingston  ;  and  that  Joris  also  said 
what  I  heard  Livingston  say  of  the  Prince,  Akes  Cornelissen 
and  his  wife  were  there  then  present  when  he  read  the 
declaration  ;  they  well  know  what  he  said1  and  further  saith 
not.  Thus  in  Albany  this  1st  April  1690. 

Present :  —  J  Bruyn,  Johannis  Provoost,  Richard  Pretty, 
Joh  Cuyler. 

INVENTORY  of  some  goods  heretofore  the  Property  of 
the  Father,  or  Jesuit  Valiand  of  Canida.  They  are,  on 
information  of  Jan  Gow  and  Willena  Hollie,  transferred  to 
us  for  his  Majesty's  interest,  still  remaining  at  present,  & 
until  further  order,  at  the  house  of  Jan  Gow  aforesaid. 
Thus  in  Alby  this  1st  April  1690, 

Found  in  one  old  chest  as  follows.  :  —  22  Bunches  of 
black  Beads,  also  some  loose  d°  2  doz  :  little  looking  glasses 
for  Indians,  12  little  Patrenoster  Chains  (Rosaries),  1  priest's 
white  surplice  ;  also  2  @  3  little  shirts  &c.  3  small  bunches  of 
Copper  finger-rings,  4  doz  tinder  boxes  with  steel  &  flints,  5 
small  papers  of  Needles,  2  papers  of  Awls  1  Compass  2  Belts 

1  Red  matting  table  cover  (strootwisch  t-afelkleecT)  1  do  Chim- 
ney little  Valance   (shoorsteen  valletje)  3  parcels  of  garden 
Stuff  1  old  ditto  2  little  paintings  5  burning  glasses  1  hand- 
some pair  of  womens  hose  27  little  books  11  paper  pictures  3 
blank  books  1  pr  shoes  &  1  pr.  slippers  &  nothing  else  of  Im- 
portance.    Item  found  in  a  Small  Basket:  —  1   little  ben, 
weight  about  16  Ibs.  7  old  axes  4  old  adzes  2  planeing  chisels 

2  old   chisels  1    little  copper  shears  1  small  hatchet  1  small 
square  in  a  joiners  bench  1  small  anvil  with  a  horn  1  hand 
vice  1  large  Auger  1  set  of  bits  2  files  3    old  dishes  3   prs 
of  ice  spurs,  (creepers)  1  crooked  nippers  1  old  plane  3  Rings 


1  The  following  was  added  here  in  the  original  but  afterwards 
expunged :  —  "  And  deponent  further  saith  that  he  repeatedly 
heard  several  persons,  in  the  course  of  conversation  say  that  the 
Prince  is  the  head  of  the  Rebels  ;  But,  knows  not  from  whom  he 
heard  it." 


220  The  City  Records. 

for   2  small  hammers  1  iron  pick  hook     Item,  some  other 
pieces  of  old  Iron  of  little  or  no  importance ;  of  no  value. 

Johannis  Sand.  Glen  of  the  county  of  Albany  about  42 
years  old  being  Sworn  before  Jan  Wendel,  Justus  of  the 
Peace,  declares  that  Rob;  Livingston  came  last  harvest  to 
Schannegtade  and  enquired  expressly  for  Joris  Aersen,  and 
said  he  would  give  a  quart  or  two  to  whomsoever  would 
bring  Joris,  as  he  was  in  the  Bush,  for  he  must  speak  with 
him.  Whereupon  Deponent  asked  what  had  Joris  done. 
To  which  Livingston  Answered,  You  know  well  what  I 
heard,  since  I  heard  Joris  hath  thus  spoken  against  you  — 
Deponent  replied,  I  know  it  not  And  when  he  Deponent 
afterwards  saw  Joris  Aersen,  he  asked  him,  how  the.  matter 
stood  about  which  Livingston  had  come  to  him  ?  to  which 
Joris  answered  —  If  the  people  to  whom  I  spoke  about  Liv- 
ingston have  not  changed  my  words,  Livingston  is  in  no  dan- 
ger neither  have  I.  Otherwise  I  shall  have  difficulty  ;  And 
further  saith  not.  Thus  in  Albany  this  2d  April  1690. 


Newyork  Aprill  3d  1690. 

To  the  Honorable  the  Governor  &  Gent  in  authority  for  his 

Majesties  Collony  of  Connecticutt. 
HONBLE  SIRS, —  Whereas  Captn  Jonathan  Bull  hath  by 
order  from  the  authority  of  your  collony,  withdrawen  the 
forces  sent  for  Albany  contrary  to  the  order  of  those  com- 
missionated  for  that  post  and  the  expectation  both  of  the 
Christians  &  Indian  Confederates,  to  the  great  discourage- 
ment of  the  remaining  forces  for  his  Majesties  service  in  that 
frontier,  In  some  parts  to  supply  that  defect,  It  is  desired 
that  Mr  Samuel  Edsall  &  Mr  pembroke  the  bearer  hereof, 
may  have  license  &  free  leave  to  beat  the  drum  for  raising 
such  volunteers  as  shall  list  themselves  in  his  Majesties 
service  for  Albany  aforesaid,  &  transport  the  same  into  this 
place,  or  directly  thither  without  any  lett  hindrance  or  mo- 
lestatione  whatsoever,  Morover  desireing  your  aide  & 
assistance  therein,  which  request  of  ours  we  hope  not  to  faill 
of,  Subscribing  your  loving  friends  &  neighbours  &c. 


The  City  Records.  221 


A  List  of  ye  Souldjers  for  ye  Expedition  of  Albany  @  25s. 
pr  Mont  and  their  provision — A.  1689  the  13  March 
in  Fort  William,  &  are  departed  on  2d  april  with  Capt 
Jacob  Milborne 

Gerrit  woutersen  Serjeant  two  pisses  of  8,  Thomis  Chambers 
9s  in  inony  &  12s  Qd.  in  duffels  Henry  pyper  12s  Qd  in  duffels 
9s  in  mony  Syrnon  Williams  of  Ranak  1  pc  of  8  &  9s  in 
mony  &  10s  in  duffels  Jean  Marlett  of  Staten  Island  1  lock 
&  4s  in  mony  &10s  in  duffels  Jacob  Paers  of  Rye  9s  in  mony 
Richard  Marten  9s  in  mony  &  10s  in  duffels  Richard  Walters 
of  Rye  9s  in  mony  &  10s  in  duffels  Mattheuw  Barends  of 
Westchester  1  pc  of  8.  &  9s  in  mony  &  12s  6d.  in  duffels 
Francis  Mauriss  of  Staten  Island  9s  in  mony  Daniell 
Magdaniell  9s  in  mony  1  pr  of  shoes  Jonas  Stevense  of  Rye 
1  pr  shoes  &  1  pc  of  8  &  9s  in  mony  &  12s  Qd  in  duffels 
Hendrick  Hendricksen  Staten  Island  9s.  in  mony  Robert 
Raley  9s  in  mony  William  Nobell  9s  in  mony  Gerrit  arentse 
of  N  York  9s  in  mony  &  10  in  duffels  Jean  faefre  Staten 
Islaud  1  lock  &  4s  in  mony  &  10s  in  duffels  Pieter  Berry  9s 
in  mony  1  pr  shoes  George  Sharp  9s  in  mony  1  pr  shoes . 
John  floid  of  N  York  9s  in  mony  &  10s  in  duffels  Philiph 
Coome  1  pc  of  8.  &  9s  in  mony  &  12s  Qd  in  duffels  John 
Mannin  9s  in  mony  John  Poeu  9s  in  mony  &  1  pr.  shoes 
Frans  Thomasse  of  N.  York  9s  in  mony  John  Clark  12s  6d. 
in  duffels  9s  in  mony  Charles  Twist  of  Suffolk  Bounds  1  £  ps 
of  8  &  9s  in  mony  &  1  sword  &  1  pc  of  8,  William  Ingell  9s 
in  mony  &  12s  Qd.  in  duffels  Johannes  Langestraet  of  N  York 
1£  pc  of  8.  Johannes  fyne  of  N  York  1£  pc.  of  8.  John 
Barsett  of  Rye  1  pr  of  shoes  &  9s.  in  mony  Charles  Olivatt 
12s  Qd.  in  duffels  9s.  in  mony  William  Cornes  12s  Qd.  in 
duffels  9s  in  mony  John  Rob  from  Staten  Island  9s  in  mouy 
William  haukisson  1  pr  shoes  &  9s  in  mony  Jean  doulier 
from  Staten  Island  9s  in  mony  &  12s  Qd  in  duffels  &  2  pc. 
of  8  for  dyet  &  bringing  over  of  people,  Thomas  hunt  Sur- 
geon 9s  in  mony  &  1  pc  of  8  for  dyet  Robert  Folther  9s  in . 
mony  gerrit  Tappen  9s  in  mony  &  9s  for  to  bring  a  man 
Thomas  Knight  9s  in  mony  Ebenesar  Lyon  9s.  in  mony 
Thomas  Cromwell  9s  in  mony  William  Locker  9s.  in  mony 
Patrick  Magrigerie  9s  in  mony  Thomas  Johnson  9s  in  mony 
Nathaniel  Pietersen  9s  in  mony  John  Boyd  9s  in  mony  Silley 


222  The  City.  Records. 

3s.  in  mony  Robert  Cam  9s  in  mony  Jan  Cornelise  Johannes 
Van  Tilburgh  hendrick  martensen  Edward  ford  from  the 
Man  of  War  9s  in  mony  Jan  Chalender  9s  in  mony 

Expedicon  to  Albany  26  May.  John  Care  9s.  in  mony  28 
ditto  John  Robinson  1  pr  shoes  .Richard  Hill  1  pr  ditto 
each  3s  for  board  4  leaves  &  16  Ibs  pork 

[From  another  List.]    April  4.  1690 

Peter  Henkesson  from  Staten  Island  Jost  Pow.  Andrew 
Smith  9s  in  mony  3s  for  dyett  Willem  Weaver  9s  in  mony  18s 
for  dyet  John  Prescott9sin  mony  Moses  Manase  Hard  9s  in 
monyCharles  Masshell  Henry  low  9s  in  mony  John  Damelse 
6s  in  mony  Peter  Parsone"  9s  in  mony  each  2 £  yd  duffels 
Daniel  Mellon  9s  in  mony  Andrew  Miller  9s  in  mony 
Johannes  Liekeris,  Thomas  Stevensen. 

A  list  of  the  Souldjers  yl  went  with  Captain  gabriell 
Thompson;  [Supposed  to  be  from  Piscataway,  Maryland] 
Capt.  Gabriel  Tomson,  Lefteuant  Rodgar  Barton,  Ensine 
"Ebennazar  Wakeman,  Sargant  Joseph  Rumsey,  Sargant 
Thomis  Sturgis,  Thomas  Hunt,  Samuel  uail,  Mathu  Randall 
Abraim  broun,  Josoph  boils,  Sammuel  Couch,  danniel 
Gou,  John  Ogdin,  John  Cable,  Josiah  Hunt,  Samuel 
Shered,  Philip  trauis,  Loeling  philips,  Thomas  Brodgat, 
Robord  Graims,  Jorge  Scot,  James  Camioll,  John  Owen, 
Nathaniel  furbush,  Sargant  Jonathan  Horton,  John  forge- 
son,  Richard  feloo,  William  Danford,  John  Knap,  Richard 
Cozens,  Thomas  Poor,  Philip  galpin,  Philip  prise,  Joseph 
Cable,  John  Green,  Isaac  Rumsey,  Thomas  Mathus. 

A  part  of.a  list  of  the  People  yl  went  up  to  Albany. 
Jeronimes  van  Bommell,  Hend'k  Aernoutts,  Coenradus 
Vander  Beck,  Jan  Keteltas,  Isac  Jansen  Van  Tilburgh, 
Abram  Matysse,  Jacobus  de  Waim,  Samuel  Yardin,  Harmen 
Jansen,  Denys  A  denoan,  Jacobus  Colve,  Ephraim  Carpenter, 
Cornelis  Loosie  Boswyck,  Gilliam  gerlet  Boswyck,  Martin 
Beeckman,  Arien  Santwoort,  Jacobus  vander  Spiegel,  Isaac 
Franck,  Daniel  Robotham.  Abram  Uytersael,  Alexander 
Wilson,  Gerret  Burger,  Johannes  Provoost  Junior,  Isaac 
Bos,  John  Thomas,  Matthys  de  Hart,  Charles  fonteyn 


The  City  Records.  223 

Boswyck,  Caste  Laerse  Junior,  Jams  Woodert,  John  Span- 
iard, Johannes  Hartman,  Jurian  Andiesse,  Pieter  Pangborne 
Toinas  foot,  Mathys  Loftus,  James  Weith,  Lowrens  hoist 
Junior. 

from  Kings  County,  Peter  Brouwer,  Jacobus  Monseu 
Casaue,  Rein  Jansen,  Theunis  Dircksen,  Jan  Tysse,  Jan 
Wertze, 

A  1690  19  8ber  in  Fort  William. 

A  List  of  ye  Souldjers  yl  are  a  going  up  to  Albany  Robert 
Crafft,  8  shill.  David  Mandre  Shotlander,  5s.  or  8  s.  Alex- 
ander farle,  2s.  3d.  Brian  Rome,  2s.  John  Jackmonsse,  2s. 
3d.  George  Casselltowne,  2.  3d.  Samuel  Kickham,  in  plas 
of  John  Baker  Discharged  Toby  Indian,  2s.  3d.  Thomas 
Barber,  8  shill,  William  Trip  2s.  Nicholaes  Porter,  2s.  John 
Wolleston,  5s.  Roburte  Pate,  2s.  3d  prest,  Isaakfran  2s  3d. 


Copies  of  Divers  other   Orders  Issued  by  Leislers   Commis- 
sioners at  Albany  April  &  May  1690. 

By  the  Commissioners  for  Albany  &ca. 

WHEREAS  diverse  persons  within  this  Citty  and  County 
have  presumed  to  retayle  Rum  unto  the  Souldiers  Belonging 
to  ffort  Orange,  and  the  respective  Captains  commanding 
such  who  came  from  New  yorke  and  are  since  listed  under 
them,  which  hath  proved  very  pernicious  to  the  Kings  In- 
terests, the  safety  of  this  Citty  and  County,  and  the  said 
Souldiers  welfare 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  strictly  to  prohibite  and 
forbid  any  person  whatsoeuer  to  draw  for,  sell,  or  retayle 
any  parcel!  or  quantity  of  rum  upon  any  pretence  whatsoeuer 
under  the  penalty  of  {forfeiting  Ten  pounds  Currant  money 
of  this  Province  for  doeing  such  trespasse,  and  the  said  Rum 
to  forfeited,  One  third  to  be  for  the  Enforuier  and  the  rest 
to  be  improved  for  the  support  of  this  present  Warr  :  Dated 
in  Albany  Aprill  the  12th  and  in  ye  2d  yeare  of  his  Majesties 
Reigne  Annoq  Dom.  1690. 

WHEREAS  his  Majesties  Revenue  hath  been  much  em- 
paired  by  neglect  of  Due  collecting  the  Grand  Accizes  &ca 


224  The  City  Eecords. 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  command  you  Mr 
Richard  Pretty  forthwith  to  Gauge  all  Vessells  containing 
Rum  or  strong  liquors  wheresoeuer  you  shall  finde  the  same 
within  this  Citty  and  County,  and  take  Acco1  thereof  accord- 
ing to  an  Act  of  Assembly  and  your  Power  substituting  you 
Collector  &ca  for  the  same ;  All  persons  being  hereby 
required  to  conform  thereunto  as  they  will  answer  the  con- 
trary att  their  Perrills  Given  under  o1  hands  ye  date  afore- 
said : 

To  Mr  Richard  Pretty  Sherriffe  of  the  Citty  and  County 
of  Albany 

A  List  of  Persons  Departed  from  Albany  without  any 
leaue  or  giving  notice  Laurens  (alais)  Koehaerder,  Jan  Lau- 
rens,  Cornelis  Laurens,  N  B  Cornelis  Viele,  Surgeon  to  send 
up  Jan  Jacobse,  Evert  Wendel  Junior,  Symon  Schermer- 
hoorne,  for  or  want  of  him  is  great 

MYNDERT  HARMENSE 
ARRAHAM  KIP 

WHEREAS- there  was  an  Order  issued  forth  to  Mr  Robert 
Livingston  Receiver  of  the  Kings  Revenue  for  ye  Citty 
and  County  of  Albany  to  deliuer  unto  Mr  Richard  Pretty 
all  such  bookes  and  Acco1s  as  were  in  his  Custody  (or  that 
haue  been  under  his  Charge  or  in  his  Possession)  relating 
any  part  of  Kings  Revenue  as  aforesaid  &ca  and  the  said 
Livingston  hath  absconded  without  giving  any  order  or 
direction  concerning  the  same  by  which  his  Majesties  In- 
terest is  much  abated. 

These  are  to  giue  notice  unto  the  sd  Livingston  or  in 
whose  possession  the  sd  bookes  or  Acco's  are  or  do  know 
where  they  are  placed,  that  they  Forthwith  do  give  notice 
thereof  unto  Mr  Richard  Pretty  &ca  and  in  case  any  do 
conceale,  or  connive  at  covering  the  same,  that  then  such 
shall  be  proceeded  against  as  those  who  abett  &  contrive  to 
defraud  his  Majesties  dues  and  dutyes  —  Moreover  it  is  here- 
by ordered  &  declared  that  if  the  said  Livingston  doth  not 
appeare  in  person  in  Albany  City  afores'1  or  make  returne 
of  the  same  here,  at  or  before  the  26th  day  of  this  Instant 
Aprill  according  to  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  this  pre- 
cept :  That  then  the  Said  Livingston  shall  be  proceeded 


The  City  Records.  225 

against  as  one  that  hath  defrauded  his  Majesty  of  his  dues 
and  rights  and  broken  the  trast  reposed  in  him,  according 
to  the  severity  of  Law  in  such  Cases :  Dated  in  Albany  this 
14th  day  of  Aprill  1690,  and  in  ye  Second  Yeare  of  his 
Majesties  Reigne  : 

Albany  Aprill  the  22th  1690 

ORDERED  that  the  Mill  belonging  to  the  Patroon  Renselaer 
be  immediately  fortified  against  any  attack  or  invasion  that 
may  be  made  by  the  Enemy,  for  which  purpose  it  is  recom- 
mended to  the  care  &  direction  of  Mr  Levinus  Van  Schayck 
&  Peter  Schuyler  Esqr  for  his  Assistance,  and  what  by 
them  shall  be  appointed  for  accomplishing  the  same,  all 
persons  are  hereby  strictly  required  to  be  aiding  therein 
with  their  Persons  or  what  else  unto  them  is  belonging  for 
that  Service,  as  they  well  answer  the  contrary  at  their  utmost 
Perill  Giuen  under  or  hands  the  day  &  yeare  above  written. 

Albany  Aprill  the22d  1690 

WHEREAS  there  is  a  necessity  of  breast  works  to  be  forth- 
with made  within  the  Stockadoes  round  this  City,  and  that 
it  may  be  more  effectually  accomplished :  Ordered  that 
Cap1  Johannes  Wendel,  and  Cap'  Peter  Van  Wogolom  doe 
take  upon  them  the  care  &  direction  thereof,  and  what  by 
them  shall  be  found  requisite  for  compleating  the  same  all 
persons  are  hereby  required  to  assist  therein  with  their  Per- 
sons and  whatsoeuer  is  unto  them  belonging  fit  for  that 
service  as  they  will  answer  the  contrary  at  their  utmost 
Perill,  Given  under  our  hands  the  day  and  yeare  above 
written  : 

WHEREAS  there  was  an  Order  issued  forth  bearing  date 
the  14th  this  Instant  Aprill  for  Mr  Rob'  Livingston  to 
render  up  the  Bookes  and  Accounts  relating  the  Kings 
Revenue,  and  a  certaine  day  set  and  time  limited  for  the 
same  or  his  appearance  in  this  City  the  which  hath  notbeene 
observed  to  the  great  prejudice  of  his  Majesties  Interest  &ca 
These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  will  and  require  you 
forthwith  to  Attach  all  such  houses,  lands,  Goods,  and 
Chattells  as  doe  belong  or  appertaine  unto  the  sfl  Livingston 
for  and  in  behalfe  of  our  Sovereigne  Lord  King  William  & 
to  his  Majesties  use&  behoofe  whereof  you  are  to  make  re- 


226  The  City  Records. 

turne  according  to  this  Precept  •  Given  under  our  hands  in 
Albany  April  30th  and  in  the  second  yeare  of  his  Majesties 
Reigne  Annoq  Dom  1690. 

To  M<  Richard  Pretty  Sherriffe  for  the  City  and  County 
of  Albany 

WHEREAS  diverse  persons  haue  pretended  right  and  title 
to  a  parcell  of  meadow  ground  pasture  belonging  unto  their 
most  excellent  Majesties  King  William  and  Queene  Mary 
Supream  Lord  and  Lady  of  this  Province  of  N  :  Yorke  lying 
neare  this  City  and  have  sold  ye  same  for  the  use  of  the 
Poore  to  emprove  by  letting  it  or  entertaining  sundry  beasts 
to  grasse  therin 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  King  Williams  name  strictly  to 
forbid  ail  persons  whatsoever  to  trespasse  thereon  by  enter- 
taining or  driving  into  the  sd  Pasture  any  horses  beasts,  or 
other  Cattell  whatsoeuer  without  Speciall  Licence  from  us 
Commissionated  by  his  Majesties  L'  Governor  of  the  Pro- 
vince of  New  Yorke  aforesaid  as  they  will  answer  the  contrary 
at  their  utmost  Perrill  Given  under  our  hands  this  30th 
day  of  Aprill  in  ye  second  yeare  of  his  Majesties  reigne 
Annoq  dom.  1690  And  whosoeuer  shall  attempt  to  pull 
or  deface,  or  any  wayes  Scandalize  any  Order  affixed  by  this 
Authority  shall  be  punished  severely  according  to  the  nature 
of  the  Offence  with  its  circumstances 

To  all  whom  this  doth  or  may  Concerne 

COMPLAINT  being  made  unto  us  by  the  Gentlemen  ap- 
pointed for  quartering  of  his  Majesties  Soldiers  in  this  city 
&  County  that  Mr  William  Teller  hath  obstinately  refused  to 
entertaine  a  certaine  Souldier  by  their  Qrder  sent  for  that 
purpose  and  hath  shut  his  door  against  the  officer 

Insomuch  that  they  desire  our  Authority  to  compell  him 
the  s*  Teller  to  performe  his  duty 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  will  and  require  you 
forthwith  to  make  a  forcible  entry  into  the  sd  Tellers  house, 
and  quarter  the  said  souldr  accordingly,  and  take  with  you 
such  psons  for  Assistance  as  are  under  your  Command,  in  so 
doing  this  shall  be  your  Sufficient  Warrant  Giuen  under 
our  hands  in  Albany  this  first  day  of  May  in  the  second 
yeare  of  his  Majesties  Reigne  Annoq  Dom.  1690 


The  City  Records.  227 

To  Lieu1  Twist  Commanding  a  Cornp6  of  his  Majesties 
Souldiers  in  this  City  : 

WHEREAS  strict  Orders  haue  beene  made  prohibiting  all 
psons  within  this  City  and  County  to  sell  Rum  unto  the 
Indians,  and  the  same  haue  not  had  due  effect,  neither 
beene  regarded  as  they  ought : 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  strictly  to  forbid  all 
psons  whatsoeuer  that  they  sell  noe  Rum  or  strong  drinke, 
directly  or  indirectly  unto  any  sort  of  Indian,  or  Indians 
of  what  Nacon  soever,  and  that  none  do  presume  to  deliuer, 
or  give  any  Rum  or  other  strong  Beere  or  drinke  unto  any 
of  them  upon  what  pretence  soever  (unlesse  such  who  haue 
an  especiall  Licence  from  us  so  to  doe)  under  the  penalty 
of  forfeiting  Twenty  pounds  Currant  money  of  this  Province 
the  One  halfe  to  the  Enformer  the  rest  to  be  employed  in 
ye  Publiq  service  of  the  immediate  War  and  in  case  the 
persons  so  offending  shall  not  be  capable  of  paying  the  said 
ffine,  then  to  receiue  open  Corporall  punishment  by  whipping 
at  discretion  and  forthwith  to  be  expelled  this  County  : 
Given  under  or  hands  this  2J  day  of  May  in  the  second 
Yeare  of  his  Majesties  Reigne  Annoq  Dom  1690  : 

And  that  no  pson  shall  go  without  y^  Stockadoes  of  this 
City  to  discourse  or  deale  with  any  Indian  whatsoeuer  on 
penalty  of  forfeiting  ten  pounds  like  Current  money  and 
in  Case  they  are  not  capable  to  pay  the  same,  to  be  punished 
as  aboves :1 : 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  require  you  Mr  Richard 
Pretty  Sheriffe  of  this  City  &  County  to  distraine  Twelve 
Kettles  now  in  the  possession  of  Captain  Johan  Bleecker, 
weighing  the  same  &  promise  payment  (for  the  Kings  ser- 
vice) in  or  behalfe  Griuen  under  or  hands  May  the  llth 
1690 

THESE  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  will  &  require  you 
forthwith  to  make  diligent  search  within  this  City  for  all 
Kettles  that  may  be  fit  for  the  Expedition  against  the  French, 
and  wherever  you  finde  the  same  (as  Merchandize)  to  secure 
for  his  Majesties  Service  that  they  may  not  be  transported 
from  this  Towne  but  forth  comming  when  occasion  requires, 
as  you  shall  haue  farther  order  from  us  &  for  sodoing  this 


228  The  City  Records. 

shall  be  your  sufficient  Warrant  given  under  our  hands  in 
Alba  May  12th  &  in  ye  2d  year  of  his  Majesties  Reigne 
Annoq  dona  1690  : — 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  order,  &  appoint  you 
Mr  Dirck  Wessells  forthwith  to  provide  Indian  Shoes, 
Canoes  and  Axes  which  are  immediately  requisite  for  his 
Majesties  Service  against  ye  ffrench  and  their  adhering 
Enemyes  commanding  all  persons  proper  to  assist  you  herein 
&  for  sodoing  this  shall  be  your  sufficient  Warrant  given 
under  our  hands  in  Alba  May  12th  &  in  ye  2d  yeare  of  his 
Majesties  Reigne  Annoq  dom  1690 — 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  prohibite  and  forbid 
all  manner  of  persons  within  this  City  and  County  that  they' 
dare  not  presume  to  receuie  into  any  howse,  or  Cellar,  any 
Wine,  rum  or  Strong  Liquors  except  it  be  first  gaged  by 
the  Grager  Adrian  Appel  then  to  be  committed  to  the  Porters, 
for  howsing  the  same,  and  that  no  Beere  be  carried  from 
any  Brewer,  but  by  the  said  Porters  appointed  by  us  and 
that  they  giue  a  true  account  of  the  same  to  the  Collector 
of  his  Majesties  Revenue  for  this  City  and  County,  euery 
weeke,  and  that  no  strong  beere  be  brought  to  any  Retailer 
or  Tapper  with  out  a  ticket  from  ye  said  Collector  upon  ye 
penalty  ffiue  Pounds  for  euery  offence  committed  by  each 
Porter  '  And  that  no  Carman  shall  ride  Wine,  Rum,  or  other 
Strong  Liquors  from -any  Vessell  house,  or  Cellar  without 
handling  by  said  Porters  All  vessels  being  hereby  ordered 
to  land  &  load  at  ye  Landing  place  behinde  ye  Court  house 
to  be  rid  through  the  Grate  by  said  Court  house  &  not  other- 
wayes  upon  penalty  of  paying  ffive  Pounds  for  every  Carman 
that  shall  soe  offend  Given  under  our  hands  May  the  12th 
1690  &  in  ye  Second  Yeare  of  his  Majesties  Reigne. 

WHEREAS  diverse  persons  dayly  wast  powder  which  is  of 
such  necessary  use  for  defence  of  this  City  and  County  of 
Albany,  and  although  many  haue  beene  advertised  thereof 
yet  psist  in  the  same  :  These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to 
prohibite  all  persons  whatsoeuer  with  in  the  said  City  and 
County  to  burne  any  powder  unlesse  to  kill  provision,  or 
for  his  Majesties  service  &  benefit  of  the  places  aforesaid, 


The  City  Records.  229 

upon  paine  of  paying  for  every  shot,  or  discharging  of  Gun 
or  Pistoll  (contrary  to  ye  intent  of  this  order)  six  shillings 
Currant  money  of  this  province  of  New  Yorke,  or  Corporall 
punishment  at  discretion  :  Dated  in  Albany  May  12th  1690 : 
These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  Order  &  appoint  you 
Mrs  ClaasRipse,  en  Jacob  Meesen  diligently  to  visit,  and 
narrowly  inspect  the  Stockadoes  &  platformes  round  &  about 
this  City,  (with  such  officers  of  the  Militia  as  ye  Towne 
Major  shall  appoint)  and  that  what  shall  be  found  requisite 
&  necessary  to  be  done  for  ye  better  fortifying  thereof,  you 
doe  by  yourselves  or  such  as  you  shall  employ  forthwith 
performe  &  accomplish  :  Giuen  under  our  hands  May  12th 
&  in  the  second  yeare  of  his  Majesties  Reigne  Annoq  Dom 
1690: 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  order  you  to  examine 
all  houses  within  this  City  &  County  and  take  an  exact  Ac- 
count of  what  powder  is  in  eur'y  psons  possession  therein,  of 
which  all  the  Inhabitants  thereof  are  hereby  ordered  & 
Commanded  that  they  do  giue  you  a  true  account  of  what 
quantity  they  haue,  &  if  they  or  any  of  them  shall  conceale 
any  part  thereof  to  be  proceeded  against  as  contemnors  of 
his  Majesties  Authority,  and  disaffected  to  the  peace  and 
Security  of  this  City  and  County  aforesaid.  Dated  in 
Albany  the  12th  day  of  May  and  in  the  second  yeare  of  his 
Majesties  Reigne  Annoq  Dom.  1690  : 

FORASMUCH  as  it  is  of  high  Concern  to  preserue  his  Ma- 
jesties City  and  County  of  Albany  from  the  rage  and  mis- 
chief of  the  French  &  their  adherents,  who  to  our  sad 
experience  haue  made  divers  attempts  upon  the  skirts  of  the 
same  :  Wee  doe  therefore  Order,  and  hereby  it  is  ordered 
that  the  Posts  of  Schanechtede,  Connestigioene,  and  the 
halfe  Moone  be  forthwith  supplyed  with  proper  numbers  of 
men  to  defend  the  same,  and  that  none  do  presume  to  post 
any  other  forces  saving  at  the  three  places  aforesaid  at  their 
utmost  perill  Given  under  our  hands  this  12th  day  of  May 
in  the  second  yeare  of  his  Majesties  Raigne  Annoq  Dom 
1690: 

To  all  whome  this  doth  or  may  concerne 

Annals,  ii.  20 


230  The  City  Records. 

WHEREAS  it  is  judged  necessary  for  to  defend  Schanech- 
tede  and  to  that  purpose  it  is  likewise  found  requisite  tliat  a 
Fort  shall  be  erected  to  defend  ye  Inhabitants  and  oppugne 
the  Enemy  if  should  attack  the  same. 

These  are  in  his  Majesties  name  to  require  you  Captain 
Sander  Glen  &  all  Officers  &  Inhabitants  belonging  to  ye 
said  Schanechtede  and  adjacent  Parts,  with  the  Souldiers 
therein  Garrison,  to  build  a  substantial  Fort  of  due  mag- 
nitude and  strength  upon  that  part  or  parcell  of  ground 
(called  by  the  name  of  Cleyn  Isaacs)  and  that  all  are 
aiding  and  assisting  therein  according  to  their  abilitye  to 
dispatch  and  compleat  the  same,  as  they  will  answer  the 
contrary  at  their  utmost  perills  Given  under  our  hands 
this  13th  day  of  May  in  the  second  yeare  of  his  Majesties 
Reigne  Annoq  Doni  1690  : 

Albany  the  30th  May  1690 

You  are  from  hence  to  set  forth  immediately  to  Sarrach- 
toge  and  so  forward  to  the  Carrying  Place  where  you  are  to 
make  your  diligent  inspection  if  any  Tracks  of  people  are 
made,  or  other  notices  can  be  taken  either  of  the  French 
or  their  Indians,  and  between  the  sd  draegh  Plaets  &.Sar- 
raghtoge  you  are  to  keep  constant  passing  and  repassing 
for  the  space  of  8  days,  and  if  you  meet  with  any  remark- 
able thing  that  is  worth  our  notice,  forthwith  to  dispatch  an 
Indian  Messenger,  except  the  ffrench  Troops  should  appeare 
then  to  withdraw  all  your  men  &  obserue  so  long  as  with 
safety  you  can  how  they  march  &  what  numbers  of  them 
may  be  guest  and  all  psons  with  you  are  hereby  strictly  re- 
quired to  obey  your  Commands  as  they  will  answer  the 
Contrary  at  their  utmost  Perill  Given  under  our  hands  the 
date  abovesaid. 

To  Ensigue  Symon  Van  Nes. 

1689  The  Heer  Luyt  Gouvernor  Jacob  Leysler  debet 

Aug  9.        For  15  green  planks  for  Fort  William £00.11. 

16ff                 i  barrel  of  Strong  Albany  Beer 00.15  :— 

Feb.  25.  8  skepel  white  peas  for  fort  William.  1.— :— 

Mch    1.  2  ps  bl.  duffels  long  50  :  46£  both  96| 

yard  a  5  st.  per  yard 24.  2  :    6 

169026.             501bsleada4i 00.18:9 

Carried  forward,. .  .  £27.  7:    3 


The  City  Records.  231 

Brought  forward, £27.    7 :  3 

1  Red  Cloth  Cloak  trimmed  with  gold 
Lace  &  its  accompaniments  for  an 

Indian 3.    5  :— 

Item  one  hundred  ps  of  eight  in  Spe- 

tie  loaned  for  3  days, 30.  — : — 

Total '...*...  £60.12:  6 

N  York  the  2d  May  1690  p*  Anna  Cuyler  Widow 
•of  deed  HEND  CUYLEB. 


N  Torke  Primo  May  1690 

At  a  meeting  of  ye  Commissioners  of  ye  Province  of  New 
York  &  yc  Collonies  of  ye  Massachusetts,  Plymouth  & 
Connecticut. 

It  is  Concluded  as  their  unanimous  Result  that  In  y<* 
Psent  Expedicon  for  the  Strengthning  of  Albany  ye  Pur- 
suing &  by  ye  help  of  Almighty  God  Subduing  ye  french  & 
Indian  Ennemies  Continrruing  in  hostility  agst  their  Ma- 
jesties that  each  of  ye  Collonies  aforesaid  shall  Provide  & 
furnish  ye  undermenc6ned  proporcons  of  Souldiers  with 
Answerable  Provisions  at  their  own  Charges  to  Be  sent 
with  all  Speed  : — 

.  viz1 

By  New  Yorke  four  hundred 400 

By  Massachusetts  Colony  one  hundred  &  Sixty...  160 
By  Conecticut  Colony  one  hundred  &  thirty  five..  135 

By  Plymouth  Colony  sixty 60 

By  Maryland  by  Promise  one  hundred 100 

In  all  Eight  hundred  fifety  five 855 


To  Major  Jacob  Milborne 

GREETING  By  virtue  of  ye  Authority  derived  unto  mee  I 
do  hereby  constitute  &  apoint  You  to  be  Major  of  all  ye 
forces  now  raised  or  to  be  raised  for  ye  expedicon  of  Albany 
out  of  this  Province  &  ye  New  England  Collonies  &  Mary- 
land according  to  ye  unanimous  result  made  with  said  Col- 
lonies agst  ye  french  at  Canada  you  are  therefore  Carefully 


232  The  City  Becords. 

&  diligently  to  discharge  ye  duty  of  a  major  by  Exercising 
ye  Same  In  Armes  &  Keeping  them  In  good  order  &  dis- 
cipline both  Officers  &  Souldiers  observing  Strictly  all  ye 
Articles  In  ye  Said  Result  Expressed  hereby  willing  &  Com- 
manding them  to  observe  &  follow  Such  orders  &  direcc6ns 
as  you  Shall  .from  time  to  time  receive  from  mee  or  any 
apointed  by  my  Selfe  &  Councell  Ac6rding  to  ye  Rules  & 
discipline  of  war  Pursuant  to  ye  trust  reposed  In  You  &  to 
Execute  all  acts  of  hostility  against  ye  french  King  his 
Subiects  &  their  adherents  &  this  Commission  to  Continue 
during  my  will  &  Pleasure  only  :  GIVEN  &c.  this  25th  of 
May  1690. 

JACOB  LEISLER. 


Leisler  to  Tiis  Agents  at  Albany. 

Fort  William  may  19th  1690 

GENTLEMEN —  Yours  of  ye  8th  Instant  I  received  ye  10th 
Instant  expecting  according  your  Promise  ye  next  day  ye 
Particulars  of  ye  whole  Proposition  with  ye  Indians  after 
which  we  Lang  with  ye  greatest  Impatiens  Imaginable  I 
have  sent  Imediately  to  major  Gold  and  your  governor  desyr- 
ing  them  to  desist  to  address  there  Letters  so  unadvisedly 
and  also  that  I  had  newes  of  Sutch  a  Satisfactory  answer  to 
what  was  proposed  to  ye  five  n aeons  who  were  to  assist  us 
with  1800  of  there  Indians  for  Canada  and  that  I  expected 
to  morrow  the  particulars  &  ye  time  appointed  for  ye  march 
which  also  I  should  speedily  advice  &  so  resolved  to  send 
Captain  Blagg  to  boston  with  ye  same  to  Spur  them  for  dis- 
patch Mr  Pembroke  is  departed  before  your  advise  to  Mary- 
land &  Virginia  but  have  sent  ye  aforesaid  advice  after  him. 
Since  I  received  your  Letter  of  ye  8th  instant  is  arrived  here 
severall  sloops  from  albany  but  none  of  yours  which  puts 
us  in  the  greatest  consternacon  as  ever  we  where  ye  more 
because  our  adversaries  have  not  only  in  ye  towne  but  all 
ye  Country  over  to  our  great  grief  spread  abroad  that  no- 
thing was  done  but  drinking  and  that  thereby  wheny*  Indians 
where  there  was  caused  Sutch  disturbance  that  ye  widdou 
Scuyler  beat  Captain  Milborne  &  that  you  where  all  three 
forced  to  fly  out  of  ye  towne  &  where  gone  to  Esopes  & 
Peter  Scuyler  was  in  ye  fort  with  great  many  Incredible 


The  City  Records.  233 

reflecions  which  daily  are  reproached  to  our  People  to  our 
great  grief  and  Sorrow  we  Know  that  it  is  there  daily 
practise  to  throw  Scandal  and  Lyes  upon  us  to  render  us 
odious  they  have  formerly  endeavored  to  posses  ye  whole 
Countrey  I  was  become  a  dronkerd  we  doubt  not  but  when 
we  shall  have  Letters  from  you  we  shall  be  put  of  ye  dark 
we  are  now  In  we  durst  not  be  inquisitive  after  newes 
therefore  we  have  sent  to  Esopes,  where  we  expected  you 
would  go  so  Soone  ye  business  was  settled  at  Albany  &  you 
could  Spare  time  hoope  you  are  gone  again  to  Albany 
where  this  may  find  you  all  in  good  health  &  have  given 
order  if  you  were  departed  to  Sent  it  with  one  a  purpose 
that  you  might  know  the  malice  of  our  adversaries  &  to  take 
away  all  what  may  give  umbrage  to  refleckt  so  wickedly  as 
they  do  heer  now  It  is  nor  kan  not  be  believed  by  us  but 
Impossible  to  stop  there  Lying  mouths  I  desire  a  speedy 
answer  of  all  transacions  when  ye  generall  march  Is  In- 
tended who  jou  propose  for  major  also  forme  of  commission 
for  him  what  for  Instrucions  is  need  to  be  given  what 
People  Is  like  to  be  had  at  Sopes  &  albany  to  compleat  our 
nomber  of  four  hundred  what  quantity  of  People  of  ours  are 
dead  with  there  names  &  pray  send  me  downe  again  all  y« 
Letters  with  ye  answers  I  haue  send  you  by  Mr.  Cuyler  &  be- 
fore the  proclamation  of  war  our  three  vessells  will  depart 
ye  —  of  this  instant  we  expect  daily  newes  from  Maryland 
which  we  shall  send  so  soone  we  have  it  ye  Sarge  and 
Linning  &  Bread  you  have  desired  shall  be  sent  by  ye  first  I 
have  secured  in  the  fort  180  barrells  of  Pork  which  was  all 
what  was  in  ye  towne  we  have  an  Imbargo  Mr  Edsall  Is 
gone  to  Suffolk  County  to  Settle  all  things  they  having  sub- 
mitted this  is  all  for  ye  present.  I  salute  you  &  Kemaine 


Major  Milborn  and  the  rest  of  the  Gentlemen  at  Schanhech- 
tade. 

This  afternoon  Three  of  our  folks  arrived  here  from  Canida 
who  escaped  from  there ;  namely,  Klyn  Isack,  the  Son  of 
Ryck  Claessen,  and  one  of  Capt  Boll's  Soldiers.  ^  They  re- 
port having  been  24  days  on  the  road,  and  the  Soldier  twenty 
six  days  from  Monrojael. 


234  The  City  Records. 

They  say  that  Monrojael  is  not  very  strongly  garrisoned, 
though  they  fear  nothing  and  think  little  of  us.  Neverthe- 
less the  Soldier  or  Englishman  would  very  gladly  attack  it 
and  is  inclined  to  accompany  our  people  and  gives  us  great 
encouragement,  that  the  opportunity  is  favorable. 

The  French  abstain  from  talking  before  prisoners  &  say 
they  have  heard  little  or  nothing  from  the  Port  rojael  Ex- 
pedition or  of  the  Indian  fight  on  the  Lake 

We  further  refer  to  the  Enclosed  to  Arnout  Cornelissen. 
We  think  it  right  if  your  Honors  consider  that  Arnout 
Cornelissen  is  gone,  that  it  should  be  sent  after  him  by  an 
Indian  in  order  to  communicate  this  news  to  the  Indians. 
Wherewith,  after  salutation  we  remain, 
Your  friends 

JOHANNES  PROVOOST 
J.  BRUYN 

This  9  July  A°  1690.     In  Albany. 

Laurents  or  Jannetie  the  Indian  with  his  party  urge  us 
very  hard  not  to  omit  reminding  the  Gentlemen  again  to 
admonish  the  Indians  at  Schanhechtade  not  to  let  the  French 
prisoners  go  out  with  them  to  fight,  for  we  have  an  example 
now  in  our  own  people  who  have  run  away  from  Canada, 
and  that  they  should  be  disarmed. 

JOURNAL  of  Captain  John  Schuyler  who  voluntarily  em- 
barked at  Wood  Creek  on  the  13th  August  1690,  with 
29  Christians  and  120  Savages,  whom  he  recruited  at 
Wood  Creek  as  volunteers  under  his  command  to  go  to 
Canida  to  fight  the  enemy. 

Nearly  about  the  swamps  I  met  Captain  Sander  Glen  on 
his  way  back  to  Albany,  because  the  greatest  number  returned. 
The  aforesaid  Sanders  had  in  his  company  28  whites  and 
5  savages  and  came  from  Tsinondrosie  where  Captain  Sanders 
had  been  waiting  8  days  for  the  whole  corps.  —  From 
these  Captain  John  Schuyler  enlisted  13  whites  and  5 
savages  to  continue  with  Captain  Schuyler  the  voyage  to 
Canida  and  their  to  fight  their  mutual  enemy.  When  the 
rest  of  the  company  had  left  us,  and  we  had  advanced  nearly 
two  hours  on  our  voyage,  we  found  2  canoes  which  had  been 
sent  out  to  spy  and  which  had  shot  an  elk. — After  we  had 


The  City  Records.  235 

done  eating  and  had  supplied  bur  canoes  we  proceeded  on 
our  way  as  far  as  Canaghsionie. — 

The  15th  day  of  August  we  came  one  Dutch  mile  above 
Crown  Point. — 

The  16th  ditto  we  had  advanced  as  far  as  Kanondoro, 
and  resolved  at  that  place  to  travel  by  night  and  have  that 
night  gone  onward  to  near  the  spot  where  Ambropio  (?) 
Corlaer  is  drowned,  and  there  one  of  our  savages  fell  in  con- 
vulsions, charmed  and  conjured  by  the  devil,  and  said  that 
a  great  battle  had  taken  place  at  Quebeck  (Cubeck)  and 
that  much  heavy  cannon  must  have  been  fired  there,  and  that 
one  hundred  canoes  with  savages  had  come  down  the  river 
from  Cadaraqui.  (Coederoqua.)  And  about  one  hour  after 
sunrise  we  have  gone  to  Oghraro,  where  I  placed  the  first 
guard  and  nominated  Barent  Wemp  as  officer  of  the  guard. 

Tke  17  ditto  in  the  evening  we  proceeded  to  Ogharonde.  A 
Tsenondoga  savage  of  our  Company  died  there ;  he  died  of 
sickness;  the  Oneida  savages  gave  a  wampum  belt  for  the 
atonement  of  the  dead.  That  day  Capt.  Schuyler  with  his 
subaltern  officers  and  the  Chief  of  the  savages  resolved  where 
they  should  make  their  attack  upon  the  enemy,  and  they 
determined  by  the  majorities  to  fall  upon  fort  La  Prairie 
(Lapplarie)  ;  whereupon  the  Mohawks  gave  a  wampum  belt 
to  the  Schaghkock  savages  as  a  token  to  stand  by  each  other 
faithfully,  and  what  they  do  call  "  onroghquasa  In  a  Goera." 
The  Oneida  savages  did  the  same  to  the  Mohawk  savages  by 
some  handful  of  wampum,  and  in  this  manner  this  resolu- 
tion  was  decidedly  agreed  upon  and  confirmed  with  shaking 
of  hands  (kinsekaje)  as  well  by  the  Christians  as  by  the  sa- 
vages and,  moreover,  approved  by  the  savages  as  to  whom 
should  be  their  chiefs  or  headmen,  —  Carristasio  and  Tehoe- 
sequatho  and  Juriaen  the  ferocious. 

The  18  ditto,  set  out  in  the  evening,  and  about  midnight 
we  saw  a  light  fall  down  from  out  the  sky  to  the  South,  of 
which  we'all  were  perplexed  what  token  this  might  be. 

The  19  ditto  on  account  of  the  strong  wind  we  laid  still 
because  we  could  not  proceed  and  we  were  laying  about  3 
miles  above  the  Sandbank  of  Chambly.- 

The  20  ditto  we  sent  out  spies  along  the  west  side  of  the 
river  Chambly  and  found  there  a  drawing  of  a  party  from 


236  The  City  Records, 

Canada  and  14  palisades  to  which  they  had  bound  their 
prisoners  whom  they  had  fetched  from  New  England. 

The  21  ditto  we  proceeded  to  about  .one  mile  below  the 
above  mentioned  sandbank  of  Chambly,  when  we  again  sent 
out  spies,  who  discovered  some  places  where  french  and  savage 
spies  had  been  keeping  double  night  watch,  and  that  the 
same  had  embarked  for  Chambly.  Then,  after  having  first 
placed  our  canoes  and  provisions  in  safety, 

The  22  ditto  we  pursued  our  journey  by  land  and  travelled 
that  day  close  under  La  Prairie  —  the  road  being  very  diffi- 
cult on  account  of  the  softness  of  the  clay,  over  which  we 
had  to  travel,  so  that  two  of  our  Christians  returned  to  our 
canoes.  Coming  through  the  clay  we  heard  much  firing  of 
musketry,  of  which  we  were  astonished  what  it  might  be. 

The  23  ditto  in  the  morning  I  sent  spies  towards  the  fort 
to  see  how  it  was ;  returning  said  all  the  folks  were  leaving 
the  fort  of  La  Prairie  to  cut  corn. —  Then  we  resolved  in 
what  manner  we  should  hinder  them  to  obtain  the  fort  again, 
and  agreed  to  do  so  by  intercepting  them  on  their  way  to 
the  fort,  but  by  the  eagerness  of  the  young  savages  such 
was  prevented,  because  Christians  as  well  as  savages  fell  on 
with  a  war  cry  which  displeased  the  officer  that  they  fell  on 
without  orders  having  been  given,  but  they  made  19  pri- 
soners and  6  scalps,  among  which  were  4  womenfolk.  The 
first  prisoner  was  examined,  asking  him,  what  the  firing  of 
yesterday  at  La  Prairie  signified  ?  said,  the  Governor  is 
yesterday  gone  away  with  800  men  and  the  people  discharged 
their  muskets  at  their  departure  because  their  scouts  had 
not  heard  from  us.  Then  we  fell  upon  their  cattle,  we 
pierced  and  shot  to  death  nearly  150  head  of  oxen  and  cows, 
and  then  we  set  fire  to  all  their  houses  and  barns  which  we 
found  in  the  fields,  their  hay,  and  everything  else  which 
would  take  fire. —  Then  we  Christians  resolved  to  fall  upon 
the  fort,  but  could  not  move  the  savages  io  give  their  con- 
sent to  help  us  to  attack  the  fort ;  the  fort  fired  alarms  when 
Montroyal  and  Chamble  answered,  so  that  we  resolved  to 
depart  with  the  prisoners  to  Albany.  A  savage  of  ours  was 
stabbed  to  death,  whom  we  burned  in  a  barn,  and  we  went 
that  day  7  Dutch  miles1  on  our  way  back.  Then  the  savages 


JA  Dutch  mile  is  equal  to  about  three  English  miles. — Sewett's 
Dictionary. 


The  City  Records.  237 

killed  2  french  prisoners  because  they  could  not  travel  on 
account  of  their  wounds. —  A  little  while  after  this  we  sat 
down  to  eat  and  thanked  the  Governor  of  Canada  for  his 
salute  of  heavy  cannon  during  our  meal — they  fired  from 
the  morning  till  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  from  all  three  of 
the  forts  —  That  day  we  travelled  to  the  river  Chambly 
where  our  canoes  were  laying. 

The  24  ditto  we  went  as  far  as  fort  Lamotte. 

The  25  ditto  we  reached  the  Sand  point,  where  we  shot  2 
elks. 

The  26  ditto  we  came  to  the  little  stone  fort,  and  from 
there  sent  a  canoe  with  men  to  Albany  to  bring  the  news  of 
what  had  happened  to  us. 

The  27  ditto  we  proceeded  to  Canaghsione  and  there  shot 
9  elks. 

The  28  ditto  we  reached  Wood  Creek. 

The  29  ditto  we  have  travelled  to  the  little  Rapid  above 
Saraghtoge. 

The  30  ditto  of  August  we  have  arrived  at  Albany,  under 
the  command  of  Captain  John  Schuyler. 

A  true  copy  from  the  translation  in  the  collection  of  Manuscripts 
of  the  New  Jersey  Historical  Society,  at  Newark. 

S.  ALOPSEN, 
Member  H.  Soc.  N.  J. 


List  of  Albany  Commissions  by  Lieutenant  Governor 
Leisler : 

December  1689,  Justice  &  Dedimus  Potest.,  Roelof 
Swartwout.  Dec.  28,  1689,  Collector  &  Sheriff,  Richard 
Pretty;  Clerk,  Johannes  Cuyler.  Oct.  8,  1690,  Mayor, 
Johannes  Wendel ;  Justices,  Laurens  Van  Aelen,  Reyer 
Jacobse  Schermerhoorn,  Barent  Pietersen  Koeymans,  John 
Thyssen,  Claes  Van  Potter,  Myndert  Harmensen,  Harnien 
Gansevoort,  Jacob  Staas,  John  Naill,  Jan  Finagel,  Jan  Janse 
Bleeker ;  Captains,  Barent  Wemp,'  Pieter  Wogolem,  Hans 
Hendricx ;  Lieutenant,  Isaac  Cornells  Switz ;  Ensigne,  Douwe 
Aukus;  Towne  Major,  James  Campbell.  Nov.  11,  1690, 
Captain,  John  Lansing ;  Lieutenant,  Reynier  Barents ;  En- 
sign, Abraham  Coyler. 


238  The  City  Records. 


Att  a  Court  of  Mayor  &c.,  July  14,  1691. 

Gerrit  van  Ness  pi  Jochim  Staets,  Barent  Lewys  clefts. 

The  pi  demands  of  the  defts  ye  summe  of  £3  lls,  for  71 
inch  and  half  thick  plancks  delivered  to  them  the  8th  of 
december  1690,  as  appears  by  there  note  under  there  hands. 

The  defts  confesse  to  have  received  said  quantity  of  planks, 
but  that  they  were  for  the  use  of  there  majesys  fort  and 
therefore  no  ways  obliged  to  pay  the  same.  Umphrey  Se- 
ward  and  John  Carter  being  sworn  in  court,  declares  that 
Grerrit  Van  Ness  delivered  the  said  planks  in  the  fort,  and 
that  they  were  used  in  said  fort,  yl  is  to  say  part  for  the 
gallerys,  the  remainder  was  pyled  under  the  gallerys  till 
ye  mayor  Pr  Schuyler  recd  the  fort,  and  then  the  remainder 
was  used  for  the  galleryes  yl  goes  to  the  house  off  office  and 
for  the  prisone  house  and  for  the  floor  of  the  garde  room. 

The  business  deferred  till  ye  next  court  day. 

Att  a  Court  of  Mayor  &c.,  July  14,  1691. 

Johannes  Cuyler  atturney  for  Mrs  Anna  Cuyler  pi  Arnout 
Cornelise  defts. 

The  pi  demands  of  ye  def1  by  bill  under  his  hand  and 
seal,  dated  the  first  of  Aprill  1687,  ye  somme  of  two  hundred, 
ninety  and  seven  gilders,  seventeen  and  $  styvers  in  bevers, 
to  be  paid  in  bevers,  which  is  at  6gl.  per  Ib.  is  nine  and 
forty  Ib.  and  |  with  cost.  Damage  50sh. 

The  plf*  confesses  ye  deb1  and  that  it  is  his  hand  and  seal, 
neither  is  he  unwilling  to  pay  the  same  if  he  were  able,  and 
with  all  prays  y*  the  court  would  take  the  case  in  considera- 
tion, since  the  goods  were  carried  to  Ottowawa,  for  to  bring 
those  farr  nations  -here  to  advance  the  trade  of  this  place — 
part  whereof  was  given  to  the  Sinnekes  toward  the  redemp- 
tion of  9  Ottawawa  Indians,  and  since  they  were  taken  by 
the  French  and  robbed  of  all  they  had  and  made  slaves  in  a 
manner,  desyred  time  to  pay  the  same. 

The  court  have  taken  the  case  into  consideration  and 
order  the  deft1  Arnout  Cornelise,  to  pay  to  ye  pi  the  somme 
of  two  hundred  ninety  seven  gilders,  seventeen  and  £  stuy- 
vers  in  bevers  according  to  obligation,  and  that  in  merchan- 


The  City  Records.  239 

dable  bevers  of  li  Ib.  Duytch  weight  for  8gl.  with  costs  of 
sute. 

The  Indian  boy  of  Pr.  Van  Wuggelum  was  examined 
concerning  his  having  been  taken  at  Klinkenbergh  by 
two  French  and  three  Indians. 


Att  a  Court  of  Mayor  &c.,  August  25,  1691. 

The  assistants  of  the  citty  of  Albany,  PL,  Johannes  Wen- 
del  def1  in  an  action  for  tradeing  with  ye  Indians  atOnnon- 
dgo,  by  Arnout  Cornelise  viele,  his  corrspondent  contrarie 
to  Law  and  the  charter  of  priviledges  of  this  citty.  The 
def1  pleads  not  guilty.  The  pl  produces  two  wittnesses, 
swore  before  Gerrit  Ryerse,  justice  of  the  peace,  as  there 
testimony  will  make  appear,  and  yt  he  did  send  severall 
Indian  goods  to  Armout  to  trade  with,  as  letter  to  Mr. 
Wendell  doth  prove,  and  return  of  peltry  for  pay1  of  the  said 
goods. 

The  jury  brings  in  there  verdict  and  find  ye  defen1  guilty, 
ye  court  approves  of  ye  verdict  and  orderd  the  defd1  to  pay 
a  fine  of  eight  pounds,  courant  money  of  ye  province,  cum 
expences. 

Sept.  22,  1691. —  A  petion  of  Jo.  van  Loon  being  read, 
setting  forth  how  that  &  chest  with  sundrey  goods,  a  bas- 
ket of  yron  worke,  and  a  bell  being  left  with  him  by  Mr. 
Harrison  the  priest,  which  goods  were  taken  away  by  force 
and  arms  by  John  Cornelise  Vyselaer  in  ye  time  of  ye  late 
revolution,  prays  that  he  may  be  ordered  to  restour  me  ye 
goods  according  to  the  inventory  taken  by  John  Cuyler,  or 
else  to  pay  all  ye  damages  that  ye  said  van  Loon  may  be 
freed  about  it. 

Jan  Cornelise  Vysselaer  confesses  y1  he  took  the  chest, 
basket  and  bell,  out  of  John  van  Loons  house,  where  Will. 
Hollie  livd,  and  that  he  did  it  by  order  of  Jan  Bruyn,  Jo- 
hannes Provost  and  Eichd  Pretty,  sheriffe,  which  sheriffe 
putt  ye  broad  arrow  upon  it. 

The  court  orders  that  Jan  van  Loon  shall  produce  ye  in- 
ventory next  court  day,  in  order  yl  ye  bussiness  may  be 
further  inspected  into. 


240  The  City  Records. 

Albany,  Oct.  14th,  1691. 

This  day  being  appointed  by  the  charter  of  this  citty  for 
ye  aldermen  of  the  respective  wards  to  bring  there  returns  of 
the  aldermen  chosen,  for  the  ensuing  year,  are  as  follows : 

Livinus  van  Skaik,  Evert  Banker,  for  ye  first  ward. 

Jan  Janse  Bleeker,  Jan  Lansing,  second  ward. 

G-errit  Reyerse,  Joh.  Abeel,  the  3d  ward. 
Assistants,  Reynier  Barents,  Hend.  van  Dyk,   1st  ward. 

Joh.  Cuyler,  Jan.  Yinnagell,  2d  ward. 

Wessell  Ten  Brook,  Bennony  van  Corlaer,  3d  ward. 

Jacob  Staets,  Joh.  de  Wandelaer,  assessors  ;  Joh.  Becker, 
constable,  1st  ward. 

Joh.  Beekman,  Will.  Claese,  assessors;  Gysb.  Marceles, 
constable,  2d  ward. 

Gerrit  v.  Ness,  Alb1  Ryckman,  assessors ;  Hend.  Hanse, 
constable,  3d  ward. 

Mayors  Court  &c.,  Nov.  3d  1691. 

Johannes  Bratt  p1  Jurian  van  Hoese  def1.  The  pi  de- 
clares yl  ye  def1  accused  him .  for  stealing  £  canoe  load  of 
water  millions.  The  deft  denyes  it,  where  with  ye  pl  was 
satisfyed  and  so  ye  bussinesse  was  determined. 

John  Gilbert,  Wessell  Ten  Brook,  bakers,  prays  yl  the 
prise  of  wheat  bread  may  be  rasedj  since  corn  is  dearer. 
The  court  will  consider  of  it. 

The  representatives  for  this  city,  informing  ye  common 
council  y1  ye  assembly  made  an  act  for  the  raising  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  men  for  ye  security  of  ye  fronteers  of  there 
majestys  province  in  this  country,  who  may  be  expected 
here  speedily;  it  is  concluded  to  quarter  them  in  this  city 
and  at  ye  Greenbush,  and  ye  Island,  and  at  the  mill,  and 
these  following  persons  are  appointed  to  quarter  said  men,  to 
make  there  tickets  ready  for  the  constable  against  they 
come :  Reynier  Barents,  Joh.  Cuyler,  Wessell  Ten  Brook, 
Hend.  van  Dyk,  Jan  Vinnagell,  Bennony  van  Corlaer. 

But  in  regarde  ye  inhabitants  are  so  extreamely  impover- 
ished by  this  war,  in  so  much  yt  they  are  not  able  to  pro- 
vide and  furnish  ye  souldiers  with  bedding  for  the  winter; 
it  is  thought  convenient  to  write  to  ye  honorable  commander 


The  City  Records.  241 

in  cheiff  and  councill  to  desyre  them  to  send  up  bedding 
with  there  men,  and  if  they  should  not  send  duffells  or 
blanketts  and  for  yl  purpose  to  request  that  so  much 

money  of  ye  proportion  of  this  city  and  county  tax  towards 
ye  2000£  act  may  be  appropriated  for  that  use,  to  buy  bed- 
ding for  ye  souldiers  both  of  the  fuzilleers  in  toune  already, 
and  them  that  are  dayly  expected. 

Nov.  17,  1691. — Ordered  that  the  six  assistants  doe,  ac- 
cording to  the  resolution  of  -the  common  councill  ye  3d 
instant  quarter  the  souldiers  in  towne  in  their  respective 
wards,  and  prepare  billets  for  them  yl  are  expected  dayly. 

The  assistants  propose  yl  order  may  be  taken  concerning 
ye  burger  excyse  in  the  time  of  the  revolution,  that  it  may 
be  collected  for  the  cittyes  use.  Ordered  that  this  day  fort- 
night a  common  council  be  convened  in  the  afternoon  at  2 
o'clock  to  consult  about  this  affair. 


December  1,  1691. — Robert  Livingston  vs.  Jan  Bronk. 
The  plaintiff  demands  180  Ib.  speck,1  and  418gl.  14st  zewant, 
to  be  paid  in  wheat,  at  5  skepels  per  beaver.  The  def1  says 
yl  seven  and  forty  Ib.  bakon  was  delivered  on  ye  sade  ace1, 
and  ought  to  be  deducted  off  ye  188  Ib  porke  but  referrs 
yc  businesse  to  the  bench,  and  also  of  ye  wheat.  The  court 
graunts  judgement  against  ye  def1  to  pay  188  Ib.  porke  and 
ye/418  :  15  zwl.  in  money  or  wheat,  yl  is  tenn  pound  nine 
shillings  &  4£d,  with  cost,  and  the  sheriffe  to  take  ye  def1 
in  custody  till  he  hath  given  sufficient  security  to  pay  ye 
same  in  three  weeks  time. 

Feb.  9,  169i— The  will  of  Capt.  Joh.  Wendell  proved, 
by  the  oaths  of  Barent  Lewis  and  Gerrit  Lansing,  and  "ye 
goedvrouw  Elizabeth  nominated  sole  executrix." 

Robert  Livingston  vs.  Elizabeth  van  Tricht.  The  plff. 
by  his  declaration  demands,  of  ye  def1  ye  somme  of  £13  19s. 
for  excyse  of  3  hhds  of  rom  brought  up  in  July  1689,  in 
Dirk  Bensing's  boate,  and  by  her  received  and  sellered. 
The  def1  confesses  yl  ye  received  ye  3  hhds  of  rom  in  dispute 


1  Pork. 

Annals,  ii.  21 


242   '  The  City  Records. 

into  her  house  and  seller,  but  that  shee  disposed  only  of  one 
hhd  of  90  gallons,  which  she  will  pay,  but  y1  ye  other  2  hhd 
rom  belonged  to  her  suster,  Lena  Rombouts,  who  hes  pro- 
mised payment  for  ye  same  and  given  it  under  her  hand, 
which  ye  plaintive  hes  to  show,  and  moreover  that  her 
suster  had  sent  the  pi.  a  note  whereby  she  promised  to  pay 
the  money  in  the  spring. 

Whereas  there  is  3hhds  rom  landed  at  Albany  out  of  the 
boate  Unity,  Dirk  Bensing  master,  the  3d  July,  1689, 
sellered  at  widow  Van  Tricht's  house,  and  being  a  dispute 
about  the  guaging  of  it,  Mr.  Jacob  Teller  owned  the  rom, 
the  contents  of  it  90,  90,  91,  is  gallons  271  and  I  doe  de- 
clare I  know  not  better  but  he  undertook  the  payment  of  it. 
[Was  signed]  WM.  SHAW,  gager. 

The  case  being  given  in  charge  of  the  following  jury,  viz1' 
Reynier  Barentse,  Hend.  Van  Dyk,  Gerrit  Lansing,  Evert 
Wendell,  Joh.  Bleeker,  Isaak  Verplank,  Jean  Rosie, 
Luykas  Gerritse,  Pr.  l)avidtse  Schuyler,  Abraham  Staets, 
Bay.  Croesveld,  William  Claese  Groosbeek.  They  the  said 
jury  after  some  consideration  thereof,  came  to  the  barr,  de- 
livered in  there  verdict,  and  doe  find  for  the  plaintiff.  It 
is  therefore  considered  by  ye  court  that  the  def1  pay  to  the 
pi.  ye  somme  of  four  pounds  tenn  shillings  in  currant  money 
of  this  province  for  ye  excyse  of  one  hhd  of  90  gall,  accord, 
to  confession  and  for  ye  2  hhds  ye  pi.  may  take  his  remedy 
against  the  widow  Rombouts.  remaining  nine  pounds  nine 
shill.  for  ye  2hhd  who  ouns  ye  same  by  her  hand  writing. 


Att  a  Mayor's  Court,  June  28,  1692. 
Joh.  Cuyler,  atturney  of  Isaak  &  Volkquijn  Kip  & 
Toussain  Domis  merchts.  at  Amsterdam,  vs.  Wm.  Teller.  De- 
mands by  his  declaration  ye  somme  of  i  hundred  and  eighty- 
two  gilders  five  stuyers  bever,  as.  also  an  yron  ballance  with 
2  skales  and  about  300  Ibs.  yron  weights  delivered  him  by 
Jacob  Sanders  factor  of  ye  said  gent :  The  def1  desyres  time 
for  to  answer  because  his  books  and  papers  and  other  evi- 
dences are  at  N.  Yorke.  The  court  graunt  ye  def1  time  till 
ye  next  court  day  to  answer ;  except  he  produce  som  mate- 
riall  reason  why  he  should  not  be  ready. 


The  City  Eecords.  243 

Job.  Rooseboom  vs.  Gerrit  Luykasse.  The  PI.  complains 
against  Gerr'  Luykasse  in  an  action  of  defamation  yl  he  ye 
Def'  did  say  to  ye  PI.  you,  meaning  the  said  Joh.  are  a 
rogue  and  dogg,  and  diverse  other  base  scandalous  and  ma- 
litious  words  against  ya  s1  Joh.  did  expresse  and  him  did 
threaten  to  strike,  challingeing  him  ye  said  Joh.  to  fight, 
whereby  he  y-  s'1  Joh.  hath  lost  his  good  name,  credit  and 
reputation,  to  y°  dammage  of  him  ye  s1  Johannes  150<£. 
The  PI.  [def.]  in  his  oune  proper  person  comes  into  the  court 
and  defends  and  says  he  is  not  guilty  in  manner  and  form 
as  ye  PI.  declares  against  him,  and  thereof  puts  himself  upon 
ye  countrey.  Jury — Hend.  Van  Dyk,  Eghb.  Teunise, 
Bennony  Van  Corlear,  Johannes  Beekman,  Johannes  Apeell, 
Hend.  Bries,  Mynd1  Harmense,  David  Schuyler,  Hans. 
Hendrikse,  Hend.  Hanse,  Joh.  Van  Sante,  Jonas  Volkertse. 
The  jury  bring  in  there  verdict  and  fynde  the  Def.  not 
guilty.  It  is  therefore  considered  J>y  yc  court  yf  the  Deft 
be  freed  of  ye  PL  sute,  and  ye  PI.  orde'rd  to  pay  costs  of  court. 

Bata  Cloet  wife  ofJ.  Cloet  prisoner  at  Canida  PI.  vs. 
Sander  Glen  &  Barent  Wemp  executors  of  Sweer  Teunise 
Def1.  The  PI.  demands  nine  pounds  six  shillings  and  six- 
pence for  ye  remaining  pay1  of  a  negroe  called  Jacob,  sold 
by  old  Joh.  Cloet  to  Sweer  Teunise,  and  produces  ye  book 
of  sd  John  Cloet  sen.  kept  by  her  husband  John  Cloet  Jun. 
[The  defts.  ask  time.] 

Att  a  Common  Councill  &c.,  July  23,  1692. 

The  assistants  of  this  citty  doe  complain  agains  Johannes, 
Bratt,  Pietre  Villeroy,  David  Keteleyn,  Willem  Hendrikse 
Hend.  Janse  and  Daniel  Bratt,  for  trading  with  the  five 
nations,  against  the  charter  priviledges  of  this  city,  pray  yt 
they  may  be  apprehended  and  presented  according  to  law. 

The  cous'l  will  consider  of  it  till  to  morrow  morning  at  7 
o'clock  ;  in  ye  meantime  order  Mr.  Livingston  to  inquire 
where  they  are,  and  what  there  intentions  is  for  such  a 
breach. 

July  24,  1692. —  The  common  councill  being  again  con- 
veined  to  consider  about  these  persons  tradeing  with  ye  five 
nations,  contrary  to  law,  mentioned  in  the  record  yesterday  : 
and  doe  order  y*  Johannes  Bratt,  David  Ketelheyn,  Pr 


244  The  City  Records. 

Villeroy,  WillemHendrikse,  Hend.  Janse  and  Daniel  Bratt, 
doe  each  pay  ye  somme  of  five  pounds  fine.  Mr.  Wessels 
and  Mr.  Grow  who  are  to  account  with  the  city  treasurer 
for  y«  same  in  ye  space  of  3  days  time,  and  gave  a  bond  of 
fifty  pounds  each,  not  to  doe  the  like  offence  in  ye  space  of  a 
year  and  a  day;  and  they  that  are  in  the  county  doe  not 
comply  with  this  order,  then  'a  warrant  to  issue  out  to  appre- 
hend ym  and  to  try  them  before  any  court  of  record  in  this 
county  or  province,  according  as  ye  law  directs. 

And  in  regard  y1  Johannes  -Claese  and  Johannes  Luykasse 
are  also  gone  to  trade  to  the  5  nations,  against  ye  Laws  of 
this  place  after  they  were  fetched  bak  in  contempt  of  the 
authority;  they  are  also  to  pay  each  seven  pounds  tenn 
shillings  courant  money  upon  there  arrival,  and  give  bonde 
of  £50  a  ps  not  to  trade  soe  in  a  year  and  a  day,  and  they 
not  complying  with  this  favorable  order,  then  to  be  prose- 
cuted according  to  law. 

July  27,  1692. — The  common  council  are  convened  upon 
ye  request  of  Johannes  Barentse  Bradtand  David  Ketelheijn 
and  there  friends  in  behalfe  of  themselfs  and  the  other  4  who 
have  transgressed  ye  court  and  orders  of  this  citty  in  trade- 
ing  with  ye  5  nations;  contrare  to  law,  who  were  ordered  to 
pay  a  fine  ye  24th  instant  of  five  pounds  a  piece,  and  declare 
that  they  have  lost  by  there  journey;  and  moreover  that 
they  were  willing  to  give  all  yl  they  had  in  ye  world  for 
liberty  to  depart  from  this  place  to'  gett  a  livelihood,  since 
there  parents  is  not  able  longer  to  maintain  them.  Where- 
upon the  common  council  have  considered  there  request, 
and  order  yt  they  severally  shall  give  bonds  of  fifty  pounds 
not  to  doe  the  like  offence  in  a  year  and  a  day,  and  have 
remitted  ye  fine  of  five  pounds  a  piece,  to  forty  shillings  a 
piece  for  ye  six,  to  witt.  Johannes  Bradt,  David  Ketelheyn, 
Pr.  Villeroy,  William  Hendricks,  Hendrick  Janse  and 
Daniel  Bradt,  which  fine  of  forty  shillings  a  piece  is  to  be 
paid  in  eight  days  by  ye  said  Job.  Bradt  and  David  Ketel- 
heyn and  by  ye  other  foure  as  soon  as  they  return ;  that  sd 
persones  to  pay  for  this  charges  3s  a  piece,  and  a  piece  of 
eight  for  the  bonds. 

July,  1692. — The  justices  have  concluded  to  prohibite  ye 
selling  of  strong  drink,  good  bier  and  syder  to  the  Indians 
for  ye  space  of  a  month,  upon  penalty  of  being  secured  and 


The  City  Records.  245 

imprisoned  till  such  time  y«  commander  in  cheiff  and  coun- 
cil! be  acquainted  with  it  and  yn  to  incurr  such  penalty  as 
ye  council!  shall  think  fitt. 

Oct.  14th,  1692. — This  day  being  appointed  by  the  char- 
ter of  this  citty  for  the  aldermen  of  the  respective  wards  to 
bring  there  returns  of  the  aldermen  chosen  for  the  ensuing 
year. 

Livinus  van  Schaik,  Evert  Banker  (aldermen) ;  Reynier 
Barentse,  Hend.  van  Dyk  (assistants) ;  Jan  Becker,  Doude 
Johannes  Dwanelaer  (assessors) }  and  Pr.  Verbrugh  (con- 
stable), first  warde. 

Jan  Janse  Bleeker,  Jan  Lansing  (aldermen)  ;  Joh.  Roose- 
bom,  Abraham  Cuyler  (assistants)  ;  Joh.  Appell,  Joh.  Beek- 
man  (assessors)  ;  Hend.  Bries  (constable),  second  warde. 

Joh.  Abeell,  Alb1  Ryckman,  (aldermen);  Wessell  Ten 
Brook,  Eghb1  Teunise,  (assistants) ;  Garr1  Reyers,  Jacob 
Staets,  (assessors);  Gerr*  Vanness,  (constable),  sworne.  High 
constable  Hend.  Hanse,  sworne.  John  Becker,  (treasurer), 
sworne. 

By  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  of  the  City  of  Albany. 

•Whereas  divers  persons,  inhabitants  of  this  city  doe  pre- 
sume to  sell  drink  by  retaile  without  lycence,  to  ye  great 
dammage  of  ye  revenue  of  this  place  and  the  increase  of 
debauchery  and  wickedness ;  we  doe  therefore  hereby  pub- 
lish and  declare  y*  no  person  inhabiting  or  sojourning  with- 
in ye  citty  and  county  of  Albany,  doe  directly  or  indirectly 
sell  any  drink  to  Indian  or  Christian,  without  a  lycence, 
under  ye  hand  of  ye  mayor  and  ye  seal  of  this  citty,  upon 
ye  penalty  of  five  pounds,  to  be  applyed  one  half  to  the  citty 
and  one  half  to  the  informer,  which  said  lycences  for  the 
future  always  are  to  terminate  yearly  upon  ye  14th  day  of 
Oct.  And  whereas  the  bakers  doe  bake  and  sell  the  wheat 
bread  which  offtimes  wants  above  a  quarter  of  a  pound ;  it 
is  hereby  ordered  that  no  baker  shall  expose  to  sale  any 
wheat  bread  that  shall  weigh  lesse  than  a  Ib.  English  weight, 
upon  ye  penalty  of  five  pounds  and  the  forfeiture  of  the 
bread  to  be  applyed  to  ye  use  aforesaid. 

Given  at  ye  citty  hall  this  29  day  of  Nov.  1692. 

Ordered  that  the  sheriffe  have  a  warrant  to  levy  the 
lycence  money  from  the  14th  Oct.  1691,  to  14th  Oct.  1692, 


246  The  City  Eecords. 

and  a  list  to  be  given  him  accordingly ;  and  in  regarde  that 
ye  retaileing  of  liquor  this  summer  was  prohibited  for  ye 
Indians,  ye  common  councill  doe  abate  one  moeyty  or  half 
of  ye  lycence  money  from  ye  14th  Oct.  1691,  to  the  14th 
of  Oct.  1692. 

Whereas  ye  Indian  house  upon  the  hill  goes  to  dekay  of 
want  of  being  lookt  after,  ye  sherriffe  Joh.  Appell  is  re- 
quired to  see  each  trader  ride  a  load  of  wood  to  the  said 
house,  and  if  they  refuse  he  is  to  cause  it  to  be  ridd  for 
them,  and  to  levy  so  much  money  of  the  goods  and  chattels 
of  ye  delinquents  as  shall  satisfy  ye  same. 

Nov.  29th.  1692. —  William  Shaw,  searcher  and  waiter  of 
this  port  doth  exhibite  an  information  to  this  court  giving  to 
understand  that  he  seized  211  barrs  of  lead  at  ye  landing 
place,  upon  ye  cart  of  Hans  Cross,  on  Sept.  last  which  was 
come  from  New  Yorke  and  had  not  payd  ye  duty  according 
to  law,  and  haveing  affixed  bills  at  the  church  door,  for  ye 
owner  to  appear  and  answer,  and  none  appearing  craves 
judgem1  of  condemnation  according  to  law.  It  is  therefore 
considered  by  ys  court  yl  the  said  211  barrs  of  lead  be  con- 
demned and  is  hereby  condemned  as  prize  and  forfeit  one 
third  for  there  majesty,  one  third  to  yc  governor  and  one 
third  for  ye  said  Mr.  William  Shaw,  ye  former. 

Whereas  the  citty's  stockadoes  are  much  gone  to  decaye 
and  nothing  more  requisite  than  ylin  these  dangerous  times 
ofwarry6  cittyes  should  be  well  fortyfyed,  it  is  resolved  ne- 
mine  contradicente,  yl  the  inhabitants  of  this  citty  to  ride 
this  winter  so  many  stockadoes  as  can  be  placed  from  ye 
north  point  of  ye  fort  to  ye  point  at  ye  riverside,  behinde  ye 
wedw  of  David  Schuylers,  and  from  ye  southside  of  ye  fort 
to  ye  kill  or  creek,  commonly  called  Rattes  kill,  and  to  ye 
end  yl  each  inhabitant  according  to  there  capacity  doe  de- 
liver an  equall  proportion  of  stockadoes.  Cap1  Bank  and 
Mr.  Abeeland  Mr.  Blecker  are  appointed  to  measure  ye  ground 
and  calculate  how  many  stockadoes  of  a  foot  over  and  13  foot 
long  will  be  needfull  to  be  placed,  and  alderman  Banker,  Lans- 
ing and  Ryckman,  with  the  common  council  are  to  make  a  divi- 
dend how  much  each  person  is  to  ride  out,  and  to  acquaint 
them  of  it  before  ye  15  of  December  next  in  order  y1  ye 
stockadoes  may  be  ride  out,  and  if  any  bring  stockadoes  y* 


The  City  Eecords.  247 

are  not  a  foot  over  and  13  foot  long   they  shall  be  forfeit, 
and  ye  person  is  to  ride  oyrs  in  there  room. 

Whereas  several  persons  have  neglected  to  fetch  fyrewood 
for  ye  citty  guards  with  the  sloops  this  fall,  they  commission 
officers  are  required  to  warn  these  people  to  fetch  there  pro- 
portion of  fyrewood  now  with  canoes  before  yb  river  shut  up, 
and  the  citty  will  provide  canoes  accordingly. 

February  7th,  169f. —  Orderd  y*  a  warrant  be  issued  im- 
pouring  ye  sheriffe,  Johannes  Appel,  to  levy  ye  money 
standing  out  upon  lycence,  by  distresse  of  there  goods  and 
chattels  jl  have  neglected  to  pay  ye  same. 

Orderd  also  jl  a  warrant  be  directed  to  ye  constables  of 
each  ward,  to  distrain  those  yl  have  neglected  to  bring  there 
proportion  of  fyrewood  to  the  town  gards,  for  each  load  of 
wood  y<  they  are  obliged  to  bring,  Gg1  z.  or  two  load  of  wood 
and  yl  forthwith  with  out  delay. 

Memorandum  dat  de  Maijor,  Aldermans&  Common  Councill 
van  dese  stadfc  Albanij  ter  eenre  en  d  justices  van  d 
countij  ter  andere  sijde,  zijn  geaccordeert  te  weeten. 
Present,  Pieter  Schuyler,  mayor,  Jan  Janse  Bleeker, 
John  Lansing,  Joh.  Abeel,  aldermen  :  Hend.  Van  Dyk, 
"Wessell  ten  Brook,  assistants;  Cap  Marte  Gerritse,  Cap, 
Sand.  G-lenn,  Dirk  Teunissen,  Cap1  Gerrit  Teunise, 
Pieter  Vosburgh,  justices. 

Hebbende  eerst  woll  nagesien  &  opgenomen  alle  de 
schulden  die  dese  stad  en  eountij  ten  agteren  zijn  als  meede 
gerekent  en  geincludeert  dese  reijs  van  d  assemblij  mannen 
Mr.  Wessels  &  Mr.  Schaijk  sijnde  tegen  wordigh  tot  N. 
Yorke  idem  d  salaris  van  d  clerck  Mr.  Livingston  &  mar- 
chall  James  Parker,  neffons  d  voorleser  Hendrik  Rooseboom, 
haer  lieden  lopende  jaer  gagie  eijndight  alle  in  d  herfst 
naest  komende.  Bedragende  in  't  geheel  d  somma  van 
drie  hondT  en  sestigh  pond  currant  gelt.  Waervan  d  stadt 
moet  betalen  drie  hond1  pond  mits  houdende  aen  zijn  selven 
haer  excijs  op  de  rom  stadts  cost  nijm  op  d  wilde  goederen 
en  lycencen.  In  de  stadt,  &c.  En  d  county  Schinnechtady 
geexqueert  raoet  betalen  sestigh  pond  en  vier  pond  aen 
James  Parker  voorgedane  A°  1690.  En  verder  blijven  d 


248  %     The  City  Records. 

colonie  Renselaerswijk  gehouden  haer  assemblijman  d  pa- 
troon  Kiliaen  van  Renselaer  apart  te  betalen  aldus  geconclu- 
deert  ten  huijse  van  Mr.  Jan  Becker  treasurer.  In  Alb. 
desen  30  mae.rt,  1693. 


Att  a  Common  Councill,  July  21,  1693. 

Ordered  y1  the  citty  treasurer  doe  pay  no  money  of  the 
cittyes  debts  without  a  bill  signed  by  the  mayor,  recorder 
one  aldermen  and  assistant,  and  that  all  persons  concernd 
with  ye  citty  be  advertised  to  procure  bills  for  there  just 
debts  accordingly.  That  John  Becker  treasurer  doe  forth- 
with collect  what  debts  are  due  to  the  citty. 

It  is  thought  convenient,  since  the  citty  is  considerable 
in  debt,  that  a  tax  or  rate  be  layed  upon  ye  inhabitants  of 
this  citty,  viz1,  the  sum  of  £80,  to  be  assessed  by  ye  citty 
assessors,  before  ye  28  of  July,  and  collected  by  ye  consta- 
bles of  each  ward,  and  paid  to  the  citty  treasurer  before  the 
first  day  of  September,  1693. 

Ordered  that  ye  £64  concluded  ye  30  March  last  by  ye 
justices  of  the  citty  and  county  to  be  paid  by  ye  county  in 
Jan.  next,  be  paid  £60  to  Robert  Livingston,  clerk  and  £4 
to  James  Parker,  and  an  order  given  and  signed  accordingly. 

Ordered  yl  ye  respective  justices  of  ye  county  of  Albany 
be  sent  for  to  meet  hear  ye  5  of  August  next,  to  consult 
about  ye  act  of  the  penny  of  ye  pound  of  the  governr.,  and 
other  things  relating  to  the  publike. 

Ordered  that  since  there  hes  been  some  discourse  with 
his  excell.,  concerning  the  penny  of  ye  pounde,  and  the 
rideing  new  stockadoes  for  ye  fort,  which  that  Coll.  Cortlant 
bewritt  to  agree  with  his  excell.  that  were  willing  to  ride  ye 
stockadoes  for  the  fort  next  winter  for  the  penny  of  ye  pound, 
and  £15  in  money  over  and  to  gett  an  answer  speedily  that 
the  tax  oyr  wise  may  goe  forward. 


Att  a  Common  Councill,  Aug.  1,  1693. 
The  house  of  Anthony  Lespinard  is  hyred  for  the  officers 
to  quarter  in,  of  Hend.  van  Dyk,  atturney,  for  the  somme 
of  eighteen  ps.  of  8,  upon  which  the  court  deducts  4  ps.  of 
8  for  the  quartering  of  a  souldier,  remaining  fourteen  ps.  of 
8  for  ye  rent  a  year. 


The  City  Eecords.  249 

Ordered  by  ye  court  that  Richard  Pretty  shall  be  allowed 
for  the  lodgeing  of  Captain  Benj.  Phipps,  and  other  needfull 
necessaries  which  he  had  of  him  to  the  somme  of  one  pound 
two  shillings,  for  which  note  is  given  upon  ye  treasurer, 
John  Becker. 


Att  a  Meeting  &c.,  Sept.  12,  1693. 

Coll.  Richard  Ingoldesby,  commander  of  this  place,  and 
Maj.  Peter  Schuyler,  one  of  ye  councill,  doth  produce  an 
order  of  councill,  dated  the  first  instant,  whereby  they  are 
directed  to  cause  all  speedy  preparations  be  made  for  the 
fitting  of  ye  fort  of  Albany  with  new  stockadoes,  for  which 
an  agreement  is  made  by  Robert  Livingston  in  behalfe  of 
this  citty  and  county  and  ye  councill,  for  the  charge  thereof, 
viz1  £105,  and  desyres  the  work  may  be  done  with  all  ex- 
pedition imaginable. 

Ordered  that  letters  be  writt  to  the  justices  of  ye  county 
to  appear  next  Saturday,  being  ye  16th  instant,  about  8 
o'clock,  to  consult  about  ye  said  matter,  and  to  have  it 
effected  before  winter  if  possible. 

Sept.  20. — The  justices  being  convened  together  to  con- 
sult what  proportion  of  new  stockadoes  to  ride  for  the  fitting 
of  the  fort  of  Albany,  for  which  the  governor  and  councill 
allows  the  citty  and  county  ye  somme  of  £105,  which  somme 
is  to  be  disposed  as  follows,  viz1.  £90  to  his  excell.  for  ye 
penny  of  the  pound  to  be  levyed  by  this  citty  and  county 
for  a  free  and  voluntary  gift  according  to  the  act  of  assembly  : 
the  other  £15  to  be  divided  among  those  that  ride  the  stocka- 
does, which  is  for  ye  560  to  be  employed  for  said  use,  6^d. 
a  piece.  There  is  wanting  to  fill  the  fort  with  new  stock- 
does  560,  viz'.,  250  of  20  foot,  and  310  of  19  foot.  It  is 
concluded  that  the  city  doe  ride  for  there  proportion  ye 
quantity  of 

200  vizt.  90  of  20ft.  and  110  of  19  ft. 

Rensselaers  colony, 100  45  55 

Schennechtady,   90  40  50 

Kinderhook, 85  38  47 

Catskill  &  Coxhachy, 55  24  31 

Caverack, 30  14  16 

560         251  309 


250  The  City  Records. 

The  said  stockadoes  are  to  be  12  inches  thick  at  ye  smallest 
end,  and  to  be  of  good  smooth-barked  pyne,  not  of  your 
bkck-bark  pyne,  and  be  sett  up  against  the  old  stockadoes 
in  a  months  time. 

Tis  mede  geconcludeert  dat  d  colonij  Renselyerswijk  sail 
brant  hout  &  caersen  vourneren  voort  blockhuijse  achter  t 
Stadt  Huijse  voort  aenstaende  jaer  en  daeren  boven  30  voor 
hout  met  2  paerden  leveren  luyt  blockhuijs  achter  d  Luijter- 
sekerk.  Dat  Kinderhook  t  blockhuijse  achter  de  Luyterse 
kerk  sail  fourneeren  met  brant  hout  &  kaersen  voor  't  aen- 
staende jaer.  Dat  Catskill,  Coxhachy,  and  Patkook  sail 
brant  hout  and  caersen  fourneeren  voor  t  blockhuijs  op  t 
pleijn  voor  't  aenstaende  jaer.1 

Rob1  Livingston,  clerk  deser  stadt  &  county  vertoon  't  d 
assignatie  von  de  mayor,  aldermaus  &  commonality  op  d 
justices  van  d  county  ter  somme  van  £60  voor  hem,  &  £4 
voor  James  Parker,  en  versoekt  acceptatie. 

D  asgignatie  woort  van  de  county  justices  geaccepteert  te 
betalen  volgens  de  tydt  daerin  gespecificeert  &  wort  goetge- 
vonden  dat  Schinnechtady  daer  toe  sail  contribuceerd  £7  : 10. 

D  andere  sullen*  haer  proportion  determineeren  so  drae 
als  d  patroon  't  huijs  comt. 

Den  23  Sept.  a  warrant  was  directed  to  ye  burger  com- 
mission officers  to  cause  ye  burgers  meet  and  gett  ye  stocka- 
does rid  out  for  ye  fort  but  by  them  denyed. 

,The  26th  Sept.  a  warrant  was  directed  to  the  assessors  to 
make  an  equal  computation  how  many  stockadoes  each  was 
to  ride  for  the  fort. 

Oct.  14,  1693. — 'This  day  being  appointed  by  ye  charter 
of  this  city  for  the  aldermen  of  the  Tespective  wards  to 
bring  there  returns  of  ye  aldermen,  assistants,  assessors  and 
constables  of  each  warde,  the  following  returns  were  made  ', 

For  aldermen. —  Evert  Banker,  Peter  Bogardus,  Albert 
Ryckman,  Jan  Abeel,  John  Bleeker,  Jan  Lansing. 


1  These  relate  to  furnishing  wood  and  candles  to  the  three  block 
houses  on  the  south  side  of  the  city,  by  the  country  towns.  The 
one  behind  the  City  Hall  (Stadt  Huijse)  was  at  the  gate  where  Hud- 
son street  now  intersects  Broadway ;  the  one  behind  the  Lutheran 
church  was  at  Pearl  and  Beaver  streets,  and  the  one  on  the  plain, 
was  at  the  outlet  of  Green  street. 


The  City  Records.  251 

For  assistants. —  Hend.  Van  Dyk,  Jacob  Staets,  Job. 
Thomese,  Hend.  Hanse,  Abraham  Cuyler. 

For  assessors. —  John  Becker,  Ben.  Van  Corlaer,  Gerrit 
Van  Ness,  Egbert  Teunisse,  Luykas  Gerritse,  Jacob  ten  Eyck. 

For  constables. —  Elbert  Gerritse,  Jan  Vandehoev,  Gerrit 
Rooseboom. 

Pr.  Vanbrugge  is  chosen  for  high  constable  for  the  ensue- 
ingyear,  and  sworne  ye  2 1st  of  November,  1693.  The  mayor 
and  aldermen  took  there  seats  and  voted  for  the  treasurer 
or  chamberlain  of  this  citty,  for  ye  next -year,  and  it  fell 
upon  Johannes  Appell,  who  was  sworn  accordingly. 

Whereas  you,  Johannes  Appell,  are  chosen  to  be  cham- 
berlain or  treasurer  of  this  citty,  you  shall  swear  by  the 
everliving  God,  yl  you  shall  faithfully  and  diligently  perform 
ye  said  office,  by  keeping  an  exact  account  of  the  revenue  of 
this  citty  in  fare  books  to  be  kept  for  that  purpose,  and  ren- 
der an  account  thereof  to  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  common- 
ality when  thereunto  required,  and  endeavor  as  much  as  in 
you  lyes  to  promote  ye  intrest  of  ye  citty  relateing  the  reve- 
nue or  taxes  -of  this  citty,  and  in  all  things  behave  yourself  as 
becomes  ye  office  of  a  treasuer  and  the  duty,  so  help  you  God. 

Ordered  that  Majr  Wesseles,  Mr.  Banker,  Mr.  Bleeker 
and  Mr.  Ryckman,  Mr.  van  Dyk,  Abraham  Cuyler  and  Joh. 
Mingael,  doe  call  Mr.  Jan  Becker,  late  treasurer,  to  ace1  of 
the  cittyes  revenue  and  give  a  report  thereof  next  court  day. 

Oct.  24th  1693. —  Alderman  Joh.  Abeel  comeing  from 
New  Yorke,  his  excellency  writes  to  Pieter  Schuyler,  mayor, 
that  he  had  commissionated  ye  said  Abeel  to  be  mayor  of 
this  citty,  who  appearing  in  the  court  took  the  following 
oath  : 

Whereas  you  are  commissionate  to  be  mayor  of  this  citty, 
you  doe  swear  by  ye  ever  living  .God  y1  you  will  with  all  your 
power  and  understanding  maintain  and  preserve  the  liberties 
and  privileges  of  this  city  and  doe  justice  impartially  to  rich 
and  poor,  without  favor  or  affection,  and  officiate  in  all 
things  that  belongs  to  the  office  of  a  mayor  of  this  citty  to 
the  best  of  your  skill  and  understanding,  so  help  you  God. 
[The  commission  of  Johannes  Abeel,  which  he  brought  home 
on  this  occasion,  is  still  in  existence,  and  is  published  in  vol. 
I,  p.  152,  or  p.  213  of  last  edition.] 


252  The  City  Records. 

Nov.  7th,  1693.— John  Fisker,  Comp1.,  Jochim  Staets, 
Deft  —  The  PL  demands  by  his  declar.  upon  assumption 
five  pounds  eight  shillings,  for  3  hatts  deliverd  to  3  persons 
as  per.  a  note  under  his  hand  appears.  The  Deft  desyres  a 
nonsute,  because  it  is  a  debt  due  in  Leyslers  time,  and  ought 
to  be  determined  by  ye  commissioners.  The  court  refers  the 
business  till  Jochim  Staets  comes  in  the  spring  ye  middle  of 
April,  since  ye  PI.  says  it  is  Jochim  Staets  particular  debt. 

Ordered  yl  Jan  Cornelse  Vysselaer,  Jan  Vinnagen,  Melg. 

Wynantse  and  Gerr'  van  Ness  be for  the  ensuing  year, 

and  a  warrant  be  given  them  to  search  all  dangerous  place 
for  fear  of  fyre. 

Dec.  19th,  1693. —  William  Hollie,  requests  the  mayor 
and  aldermen  yl  he  may  be  admitted,  since  Zacharias*  Sick- 
ells  is  gone  to  N.  Yorke,  to  be  the  towns  cryer  and  porter 
and  to  shutt  and  open  ye  gates  of  this  citty,  promising  to  be 
diligent  in  said  employ,  provided  he  hes  yu  sellary  as  Zacha- 
rias had.  The  court  will  take  into  consideration. 

January  2d,  169f. —  William  Hollie  is  upon  his  request, 
appointed  to  be  porter  and  towne  cryer,  and  ordered  to  take 
his  oath  accordingly,  which  was  done  in  ye  presence  of  Evert 
Banker,  alderman,  ye  17th  of  March,  169|. 

Joh.  Cuyler  vs.  Corn  Teunise. —  The  PL  demands  delivery 
of  100  skepl.  wheat  which  he  bought  of  him  at  5gl.  5s.  to 
be  delivered  the  12  of  October  last,  else  at  5  skepl.  per  2 
ps.  of  8,  and  prays  judgment. 

Feb.  8th,  169f. —  At  the  sessions  it  was  ordered  by  ye 
mayor  and  alderman  yl  Gerrit  van  Ness  and  William  G-ys- 
bert  should  be  overseers  of  ye  kings  high  ways,  in  this  citty 
and  precincts  thereof. 


Att  a  Mayor's  Court,  Feb.  6,  169f . 

Johannes  Appell  sheriffe  esqr.  vs.  David  Keteleyn,  Dan- 
iel Bratt  defts.  The  sheriffe  demands  of  ye  defendants  ye 
somme  of  tenn  pounds,  of  a  fine  for  selling  drink  to  ye  In- 
dians at  Kinderhook  on  a  sabbath  day,  about  a  month  agoe. 
Pr.  Martense,  constable,  being  sworn  says  yl  a  month  agoe 
on  a  sabbath  day,  he  was  sent  by  ye  justices  of  ye  peace  and 


The  City  Eecords.  253 

found  ye  2  defts  in  an  Indian  house  at  Kinderhook  selling 
drink  to  ye  Indians,  and  y»  ye  Indians  were  drunk  —  found 
a  kegg  of  rom  by  ye  skinns,  and  ye  deft*  took  away  the 
skinns  and  the  kegg. 

The  deft5  deny  ye  fact  and  putts  them  upon  the  country. 
The  case  defferred  till  next  court  day  for  ye  evidences. 

Feb.  24,  169f. —  The  common  council  were  convened 
to  consult  what  should  be  proper  to  remonstrate  to  ye 
general  assembly  y1  is  to  sitt  ye  first  of  March  next  ensuing, 
and  to  that  end  doe  desyre  that  Dirk  Wessels  and  Ryer 
Shermerhoorn  the  representatives  of  ye  citty  and  county  of 
Albany  may  propose  that  these  fronteers  of  Albany  may  be 
better  secured  with  a  greater  garrison,  and  the  out  posts  well 
mand  and  yl  there  may  be  a  company  of  buss  Loopers  raised 
to  scour  ye  cost  for  schulking  partyes  of  ye  enemy,  else  the 
farmers  can  not  be  securd  but  will  be  necessitate  to  desert 
ye  country. 

That  ye  act  of  ye  2psr  formerley  granted  to  the  citty  of 
Albany  for  the  defraying  ye  publike  charges  thereof  may  be 
revyved  for  two  years  longer. 

March  6th,  169f. —  Johannes  Appell,  sheriffe  vs.  David 
Keteleyn  and  Daniel  Bratt.  The  p1  was  ordered  to  summonce 
ye  evidences  for  this  court  which  he  says  he  has  done,  and 
the  wittnesses  are  at  Green  Bush,  but  can  not  come  over,  ye 
yse  being  so  rotten,  prays  that  the  bussinesse  may  be  deferred 
till  next  court  day.  The  deft3  appear  and  desyre  tnat  the 
tryall  may  proceed,  being  designd  to  gae  out  of  ye  county. 
The  court  grants  time  till  next  court  day  by  reason  of  the  yse 
being  unfitt  to  bear,  and  that  the  wittnesses  can  not  come  over. 

Att  a  meeting,  &c.,  March  10,  169f . 

Also  der  Claghte  aen  haer  E  zijn  geprefereert  wegens  't 
soontje  van  Hend.  Rooseboom  met  naem  Wouter  de  welke 
niet  by  zijn  perfecte  sinne  is  en  doet  over  last  aen  d  kinders 
van  d  buyrt  hebbende  een  soontje  van  Mr.  Livingston 
met  een  byltie  boven  zijn  oogh  gehakt  waer  door  grooter  on 
heylen  konde  renondeeren  so  ist  dat  haer  E  den  gemelde 
Rooseboom  hebben  ontboode  en  sulkz  hem  voor  geleijt  dat 
indie  n  hij  gemelde  soontje  niet  will  ophoude  of 't  verplaetse 

Annals,  ii.  22 


254  The  City  Records. 

uyt  de  stadt  dat  zy  het  niet  en  soude  kennen.  Verantworden 
waerop  de  Rooseboom  belooft  sodanige  sorgh  te  draegen  in 
't  aenstaende  met  het  kindt  in  huijs  te  houden  voor  een 
maent  en  dan  met  hem  personelijk  te  nemen  &  daer  op 
passen  dat  hy  geen  voider  quaet  en  sail  doen.  Haer  E 
van  d  gerechte  ordeneeren  well  exprysselijk  dat  Hendrik 
Rooseboom  syn  gemelde  soontje  genaemt  Wouter  so  lang  als 
hy  neit  by  zijn  kenisse  is  op  te  houden  &  so  danig  op  te 
passen  als  hy  uijt  gaet  datter  gaen  vordere  Claghte  en  comt 
of  t  anders  da'  zy  genoodt  saekt  sullen  zyn  andere  mesures 
te  nemen  om  alle  vordere  en  heijlen  voer  te  comen. 

[Relates  to  the  little  son  of  Roseboom,  who  being  of  unsound 
mind,  was  unfit  to  go  at  large  among  the  children  of  the  place, 
having  committed  acts  of  violence.  He  was  therefore  sentenced  to 
be  restrained  by  his  father  from  appearing  in  the  streets.] 

Att  a  Mayors  Court,  March  20th,  169f . 

Johannes  Appell,  sheriff,  versus  David  Ketelheyn  and 
Daniel  Bradt,  defts. — Jury :  John  Fisher,  Abraham  Cuyler, 
Luykas  Gerritse,  Jacob  Ten  Eyk,  John  de  Wandelaer, 
Anthony  van  Shack,  Johannes  Rooseboome,  John  Finnagell, 
Isaak  Verplank,  Johannes  Bleeker  junr.,  Johannes  Beekman 
Phillip  Freest:  The  pl  declares  y'  ye  defts  have  traded  with 
the  Indians  at  Kinderhook,  contrarie  to  the  laws  and  ye 
priveledges  of  this  city,  and  that  upon  ye  Lord's  day  make- 
ing  ye  Indians  drunk  in  so  much  yl  the  constable  was  in 
danger  of  his  life.  Pieter  Martense,  constable  and  Nath. 
Wheeler,  sworne.  The  jury  gives  in  there  verdict  yl  they 
finde  ye  deft3  David  Ketelheyn  and  Daniel  Bratt,  guilty 
in  being  so  found  by  ye  constable  with  the  Indians  on  the 
sabbath  day  at  Kinderhook,  contrary  to  the  laws  and  prive- 
ledges of  this  city.  It  is  therefore  considered  by  the  court 
that  the  said  David  Ketelheyn  and  Daniel  Bratt  doe  pay  a 
a  fine  of  2  ps  of  8  a  ps  courant  money  of  this  province  with 
cost  of  sute. 

Att  a  Common  Council,  May  15th,  1694. 
Orderd  that  the  assistants  of  this  citty  doe  make  billetts 
for  ye  quartering  of  ye  200  Fuzilleers,  that  are  raised  for 
ye  securing  ye  fronteers  from  May  till  October,  1695. 


The  City  Records.  255 

By    the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  and  Commonality  of  the 
citty  of  Albany. 

Whereas  sevrall  inhabitants  of  ye  citty  doth  hyre  house 
for  ye  lodegeing  of  ye  souldiers  y*  are  quarterd  upon  them 
and  at  ye  same  time  neglect  to  furnish  ym  with  fyrewood 
whereby  they  are  necessitate  to  steel  from  ye  neighbourhood 
to  ye  great  dammage  of  ye  burgers  and  inhabitants  ;  wee  doe 
therefore  hereby  order  yl  all  persons  who  putts  there  soul- 
diers out  to  quarter  and  doe  not  k(  ep  them  in  there  houses.  yl 
they  doe  furnish  them  sufficiently  with  fyrewood,  and  for  want 
thereof  all  wood  which  ye  said  souldiers  shall  steel  or  embezell 
there  land  lords,  shall  be  forthcoming  or  lyable  to  pay  trible 
dammages  for  there  neglect,  and  moreover  a  fine  as  ye  meritt 
of  ye  case  shall  require.  Actum  in  Albany  15  May,  1694. 

God  bless  king  William  and  queen  Mary. 

Ordered  yl  the  house  of  Anthony  Lespinard  be  hyred 
another  year  till  May  1694,  for  ace1  of  ye  citty  to  quarter 
three  Leifts.  in  ye  same,  y1  is  for  Leif1  Abra.  Bickford,  Lieft 
Symon  Young  and  Leif1  Robert  Macilby. 

Alsoo  dat  het  bevonden  wort  dat  d  wegen  &  straten  van  d 
stadt  van  Albany  so  on  reddelijck  leggen  so  wort  tot  dien 
eijnde  geauthorizeert  Jan  Gow,  Gerrit  Lansing,  en  Willem 
Gysbertse  om  toe  seght  daer  op  't  nemen  en  te  ordineeren 
aen  yder  particulier  burger  en  inwoonder  van  dese  stadt  om 
d  straten  voor  haer  deur  in  goede  reparatie  ;t  brengen  als 
mede  d  hooge  wegen  in  d  lemijte  van  Albany.  Actuin  in 
Albany  de  26  Junij,  1694. 

[Requires  each  citizen  to  put  the  street  in  front  of  his  premises 
in  good  order.] 

Alsoo  daer  bevonde  wort  dafc  daer  dangerous  gestookt 
wort  lot  groote  Perijkell  voord  inwoonders  van  Albany,  so 
wort  lot  dien  eijnde  om  all  ongelucke  daer  van  voort  't  komen 
geordineert  Rob1  Sanderse,  Jan  Gow  en  Melgert  Wynantse 
nevens  d  constable  aenstonts  om  't  gaen  visseteeren  alle 
huijse  in  dese  stadt  daer  zy  vinde  dangerous  gestookt  wort 
dat  zijn  sodanige  plaetse  verbeeteren  of  te  vernieteghen  als 
mede  to  gaen  visseteere  of  te  noch  eenige  brant  leeren  en 
brant  haeken  moghte  bevonde  worden  dat  zij  wederem  niogen 
gerepereert  worde  en  op  bequaem  plaetse  mochte  gehangen 
worden  dat  zij  in  tijdt  van  noodt  gebruijckt  worden. 

[Requires  the  houses  to  be  visited  to  see  if  the  chimneys  were 


256  The  City  Records. 

safe,  and  when  found  dangerous  to  require  them  to  be  put  in  order ; 
also  to  see  that  the  fire  ladders  and  hooks  were  kept  in  order  and 
in  their  proper  places.] 

Sept.  4th,  1694. —  Catelyntie  ye  wedw  of  Jacob  Abrahamse 
doe  peticon  ye  court  for  letters  of  administration  upon  ye 
estate  of  John  Cok,  who  lodged  at  her  house  and  was  acci- 
dentally killed  by  a  cannon  y1  splitt  in  there  majesties  fort 
on  February  16  |f.  Yu  court  grants  her  requestt,  giving 
security  according  to  law. 

Hester  Tierks  executrix  of  Volkie  Pieterse  vs.  Takel 
Dirkse.  The  PL  demands  of  ye  deft  by  oft  rekening  with 
Volkje  Piterse  15  vaten  teer,1/122,  and  9  sk,  maijes  and  6gl. 
aeg.,  1  sk.  sout.2  The  deft  wife  says  that  there  is  12  barrels 
teer  paid  upon  this.  The  PI.  shows  ye  book  of  ye  deceased 
where  ye  oft  reckoning  is  writt  doune  by  Adriaen  Appell. 
The  court  orderd  yl  the  deft  appear  next  court  day,  else 
judgm1  shall  passe  against  him. 

Sept.  18th,  1694. —  The  jury  sworne  are  John  Fisher, 
Joh.  Rooseboom,  Myn*  Schuyler,  Isaak  Verplank,  Pieter 
Davidse,  Marte  Cregier,  John  Becker  junr.,  Joh.  Bleeker 
jun.,  Wouter  van  der  tltthoft,  Gysb1  Marcelise,  Anthony 
Bries,  Evert  'Wendell.  The  PI.  persists  to  demand  of  ye 
Deft  by  an  oft  rekoning  with  Volkie  Pieterse  15  barrells 
tarr,  and  twelfve  gilders  15  stuyvers  zewant,  en  9  skeppell 
Indian  corn,  and  6  gl.  of  1  sk.  sout.  The  Deft  Takel  Dirkse 
appears  in  his  own  proper  person  in  the  court,  and  says  that 
he  hes  paid  12  barrells  of  tarr  upon  ye  above  ace1  but  after- 
wards the  partyes  referred  it  to  undefferent  men  who  com- 
posed the  matter,  the  defendant  acknowledging  ye  debt  and 
promises  to  pay  it  provided  he  hes  time,  and  tenders  to  give 
an  obligation  to  ye  Deft  for  ye  same,  which  ye  said  2  men 
viz1  Gabr.  Thomson  and  Joh.  Rooseboom  delivers  for  there 
report  to  the  court. 

Rob1  Livingston  vs.  Harma  Gansevoort.     The  PI.  demands 

of  ye  Deft  six  pounds,  for  a  years  excyse,  from  pmo.  May 

1689  to  pmo  May  1690.     The  Deft  says  that  he  did  not  tape 

that  time  nor  was  not  agreed.     Witnesses  sworne  are,  Barent 

Pieterse,  John  Knox,  William  Carnes,  John  Vinnagen,  John 

-^Garter,  Jan   Cornelise  Vysselaer,  Gabriel   Thomson,  Hend. 

^  Jjansrng,  Luykas  Gerritse,  Lawrence  van  Ale,  William  Shaw. 

*Tar.  "  'Salt. 


The  City  Records.  257 

The  jury  sworne  in  this,  G-ysbert  Marcelise  Mynd'  Schuyler, 
Pr,  Davidtse  Schuyler,  Marte  Cregier,  Joh.  Becker  jun., 
Joh.  Bleeker  jun.,  Wouter  van  der  Uthoft,  Anth.  Bries, 
Evert  Wendell  jun.,  Jonas  Volkertse,  Johannes  Mingael, 
Dirk  van  der  Hey  den.  The  jury  bring  in  there  verdict  and 
fynde  ye  Deft  hath  tapped  in  that  year  from  ye  pmo.  May 
1689,  to  ye  pmo.  May  1690.  The  court  having  considered  ye 
case,  doe  order  the  Deft  to  pay  ye  PI.  ye  somme  of  six 
pounds  courrant  money  of  this  province  for  ye  excyse  of  a 
year  from  ye  pmo.  May  1689  to  pmo.  May  1690,  for  ye 
behooffe  of  there  Majes  with  costs  of  sute. 

Omy  Lagrange  vs.  Gerrit  Luykasse.  The  plentive  demands 
of  y  -  Deft  for  sundrey  goods  delivered  to  him  upon  his  jour- 
ney to  the  Minnesink  this  last  spring  to  trade  with  the  In- 
dians ye  quantity  of  seven  and  twenty  pounds  bever  and  three 
hondert  and  forty-two  gilders  5  st.  zewant.  The  Deft  comes  . 
in  his  oune  proper  person  and  says  he  is  not  so  much  indebted ; 
for  it  was  agreed  that  he  should  have  ye  goods  as  cheap  as 
of  Abraham  Schuyler,  who  came  then  from  N.  Yorke.  The 
plentive  replyes  and  says  yl  he  was  to  have  the  same  rate  yl 
Maj.  Schuyler  was  to  have  for  his.  The  case  is  deferred 
till  Maj.  Pr.  Schuyler  and  Abraham  Schuyler  come  to  toune, 
in  ye  meantime  ye  3 6.  heavy  pieces  of  8  in  the  hands  of  Joh. 
Appell  sheriff  are  to  be  delivered  to  the  plentive  upon  ace*. 

Oct.  16.. —  The  jury  bring  in  their  verdict  and  fynde  yl 
ye  Deft  must  pay  the  plentive  her  goods  according  as  ye 
price  was  then  in  Albany,  at  that  time  for  ready  money. 
And  that  the  plentive  pay  the  costs  of  sute. 

Same  vs.  Same.  The  PI.  says  yl  ye  Deft,  agreed  with  him 
at  Sopus  to  take  in  forty-three  of  ye  farr  Indians  for  Albany, 
with  their  bevers,  promising  him  at  ye  rate  of  three  shillings 
a  piece.  The  Deft,  denys  that  he  made  such  an  agreement. 
The  PI.  desyres  that  ye  case  may  be  deferred  till  he  brings 
evidence,  which  ye  court  graunts. 

[This  case  was  called  for  the  third  time  Oct.  16,  and  the 
plaintiff  not  appearing  a  non-suit  was  granted.] 

Oct.  14,  1694. —  The  election  returns  this  day  were  for 
the  first  ward  and  sworne, 

Evert  Banker,  Jacob  Staats,  aldermen;  Joh. 
Benony  Corlaer,  assistants;  Joh.  Dewandelaer, 
Dyk,  assessors  ;  Johs  Teller,  constable,  f^    J^"  *m 

**  3 


258  The  City  Records. 

For  the  second  ward  and  sworne,  J.  Janse  Bleeker,  John 
Lansing,  aldermen  ;  Evert  Wendell,  Johs  Cuyler,  assistants ; 
Jan.  Bleker,  Pr.  Mingael,  assessors ;  Stephanis  Groesbeek, 
constable. 

For  the  third  warde  and  sworne,  Albert  Ryckman,  Geritt 
van  Ness,  aldermen ;  Hend.  Hansen,  Johs  Thomase,  assist- 
ants; Eghbert  Teunise,  Anthony  Bradt,  assessors;  Joh. 
Bradt,  constable. 

Gerrit  Roseboom,  sworne  high  constable. 

Johanns  Appell,  chosen  treasurer  and  sworne. 

November  15,  1694. — Is  ordered  that  Johs  Appel,  sher- 
rif,  goe  and  warn  the  Brant  masters,  Rl  Sanders,  Jan.  Gow 
and  Melgt  Wynantse  to  perform  there  derections,  directed 
to  them  ye  26th  Juny,  1694,  concerning  the  brant  haeken 
and  fyreing  dangerously.  It  is  ordered  and  found  very 
requisite  yl  ye  aldermen  of  each  respective  ward  shall  cause 
to  be  made  again  two  brantleere,1  a  great  one  and  a  little  one, 
with  yron  hooks,  and  yl  in  time  of  one  month,  and  cause  to 
be  brought  to  a  ready  place  in  case  of  any  occasion  what- 
somever,  and  then  to  bring  in  their  accounts. 

Dec.  llth,  1694. — It  is  ordered  by  ye  mayor  and  alder- 
men of  the  citty  of  Albany,  that  John  Lansing,  Jacob  Staats, 
Gerrit  van  Ness,  Joh.  Thomase,  Banony  van  Corlaer  and 
Hend.  Hansen  shall  goe  and  viziet  round  the  towne  to  see 
what  stoekadoes  there  will  be  wanting  for  ye  ensueing  year, 
divided  and  conclude  ym  every  perticulaer  according  to  his 
estate,  and  to  measure  how  many  rodd  there  wants,  and 
where  abouts  yl  reperation  may  be  made,  upon  ye  penalty  as 
ye  matter  deserves.  Dated  in  Albany  ye  llth  day  of  Dec. 
1694. 

It  is  ordered  by  warrant  y*  the  justices  shall  appear  in 
Albany  the  20th  of  this  instant. 

A  Proclamation. 

Whereas  diverse  persons,  inhabitants  of  this  citty,  doe 
presume  to  sell  drink  by  retaile  without  licence  to  ye  great 
damage  of  ye  revenue  of  this  place  and  ye'increase  of  de- 
bauchery and  wickedness,  wee  doe  therefore  hereby  publish 
and  declare  that  no  person  inhabiting,  sojourning  within  ye 

1  Fire  ladders. 


The  City  Eecords.  259 

citty  and  county  of  Albany,  doe  directly  or  indirectly  sell 
any  drink  to  Christians  or  Indians,  without  a  new  licence 
under  ye  hand  of  ye  mayor  and  the  seale  of  this  citty, 
they  paying  a  reasonable  acknowlegement  for  ye  same,  and 
shall  likewise  pay  all  such  excyce  and  dutys  as  by  the  law 
is  enjoyned  under  ye  penalty  therein  specified  on  pain 
and  penalty  of  paying  as  a  fine  for  each  offence  ye  somme  of 
five  pounds,  one  half  for  ye  citty  and  ye  other  half  to  such 
person  as  shall  sue  for  ye  same,  which  said  licences  always 
are  to  terminate  yearly  upon  ye  14th  of  October.  Given 
under  Hand  ye  llth  Dec.,  1694. 

Signed,  J.  ABEEL,  Mayor. 

Pr  Robt.  Livingston,  C. 

Dec.  27,  1694. — Visited  the  reckoning  of  ye  coll.  Chida 
Brooke,  made  up  by  Rob1  Livingston,  whereby  wee  find  ye 
citty  and  county  of  Albany  doe  stand  indebted  ye  summe  of 
£315,  in  two  severall  taxes,  upon  wh  there  is  paid  ye  summe 
of  £213  : 9  : 3  so  y1  they  remain  indebted  ye  summe  of 
£101 : 10  :  9.  It  is  ordred  y*  each  justice  of  ye  peace  of  his 
respective  warde  shall  call  in  ye  collectors  yl  time  to  bring 
,in  there  list  of  there  tax  and  yl  in  time  of  fourteen  days. 

Whereas  Mr.  Rob1  Livingston  having  made  up  his  acct 
before  his  departure  to  England,  with  ye  mayor  and  alder- 
men, and  it  being  vizited  and  we  doe  find  it  agreeable  to  the 
treasurers  book  and  have  cleered  all  aects  viz1,  of  excyce  of 
rom  and  oyr  merchandize,  and  also  agreed  and  cleered  with  ye 
years  sallary  from  Aug.  1689  to  Aug.  1690.  and  all  others 
till  the  14th  of  Oct.  1694,  only  excepted  ye  following  years 
sallary  from  ye  14th  Oct.  1694. 

Att  a  Meeting  of  Mayor  &c.,  Dec.  28,  1694. 
It  is  agreed  by  ye  mayor  and  aldermen,  with  the  justices 
of  ye  county  of  Albany,  that  ye  justices  of  ye  county  shall 
pay  ye  sum  of  four  and  forty  pounds  with  ye  two  pounds  to 
James  Parker,  makes  in  whole  six  and  forty  pounds  courant 
money  for  all  charges  done  for  ye  citty  and  county  aforesaid 
till  ye  14th  day  of  Oct.  1694,  except  ye  pretence  and  accts 
of  Barent  Bradt,  William  Hoffmayer,  Adriaen  Appel,  and 
Maritie  wedw  of  Cornells  van  de  Hoeve,  concerning  ye  re- 
moveing  of  there  houses,  following  the  orders  of  ye  magis- 


260  The  City  Records. 

trates  of  ye  citty  aforesaid  on  ye  18th  of  Feb.  168¥9Q-,  which 
sume,  forty  six  pounds,  they  doe  promise  to  pay  in  ye 
pmo  Of  Aprill  ensueing,  1695.  Of  which  sume  of  forty 
six  pounds  K.  V.  Renselaer  is  to  pay  £4,  and  Schaenhech- 
tady  £11  :  10,  Kinderhook  £16:15,  and  Castkill  and  Cox- 
hachky  £13  : 15— is  just  £46.  .. 

It  is  further  ordered  yl  ye  afores'3  justices  of  ye  county  of 
Albany  shall  ride  for  ye  three  Blockhouses,  on  ye  south  side 
of  this  citty,  three  hundred  load  of  wood,  with  two  horses, 
viz1 :  the  collony  Renselaerswyck  with  Olaverak,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  lood  of  good  oak,  ippere,  bill,  stell  or  dry  pine  and 
ashy;  and  for  Catskill,  Coxhackie  and  Kinderhoek,  two 
hundred  good  load  of  wood,  as  aforementioned,  which  three 
hundred  and  fifty  load  of  wood  is  to  be  visited1  by  Paulis  Mar- 
tense,  for  which  visitation  it  is  ordred  yl  Paulus  Martense 
shall  two  ps  of  f  which  three  hundred  and  fifty  load  of  wood, 
ye  aforesaid  justices  doe  promise  to  deliver  in  four  weeks  time 
from  this  day.  Agreed  with  Dirk  and  Gerritt  Teunise  that 
they  shall  deliver  twenty  blocks  of  21  inches  long,  and 
Peter  and  Isaac  Vosburgh  3  balks  of  15  foot  long. 

January  8,  169f. —  Jan  Casperse  gives  in  a  peticon  yl  ye 
court  will  be  pleased  to  appoint  two  sufficient  men  to  vallow 
ye  estate  of  William  Hoffmayer,  deceased,  which  ye  court 
after  vizited  graunts  unto  him — two  sufficient  men  being 
Mr.  Pr.  van  Brugh  and  Joh.  Dewandlaer  upon  oath  yl  they 
only  vallow  the  moveables  according  to  ye  invantary. 

February  27th,  169^|. — Whereas  complaint  is  made  y1 
Marte  Cregier  is  intended  to  build  a  house  next  to  his  dwell- 
ing house  contrary  to  his  excellency's  order,  it  is  therefore 
ordered  by  ye  mayor,  aldermen  and  common  councill,  yl 
Albert  Ryckman,  Jacob  Staats  and  Cap1  John  Janse  Bleeker 
shall  observe  and  take  information  of  what  ye  sd  Marte 
Cregier  is  intended  to  build,  and  on  what  manner  ;  and 
after  when  they  have  observed  it,  they  are  to  warn  sd 
Marte  Cregier  thereof,  and  then  give  in  there  report  to  ye 
mayor. 

Whereas  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  common  councill,  be- 
ing convened  concerning  ye  containing  2pr.  ct.  who  doth 

1  Inspected. 


The  City  Records.  261 

agree  and  conclude  yl  the  sd  2pr.  ct.,  shall  continue  for  ye 
ensuing  year,  and  yl  our  representatives,  Majr  Wessels, 
K.  V.  Rensselaer  and  Ryer  Schermerhoorn  shall  propose  it 
in  ye  assembly. 

March  12th,  169^. — Whereas  complaints  are  made  yl  ye 
streets  of  Albany  are  found  so  unfitt  y1  is  most  unable  for 
any  person  to  use  them,  it  is  therefore  found  very  requisite 
by  ye  mayor,  aldermen  and  common  councill,  yt  every  house- 
holder shall  make  or  cause  to  be  made,  eight  foot  ground 
before  his  own  house  fronting  to  ye  streets,  paved  with  stones 
as  formerly ;  and  it  is  also  ordred  yl  Claes  Ripse  van  Dam 
and  J.  Grow  yl  they  shall  be  overseers,  yl  ye  sd  streets  may 
be  orderly  laid,  and  yl  between  this  and  ye  first  of  June, 
upon  pain  and  penalty  for  every  week  after  yl  time  six  shil- 
ling from  each  person. 

March  29th,  1695. — Whereas  Coll.  Richd  Ingoldesby 
has  ordered  Mr.  Mayor  to  quarter  Leift  Shanks  in  town, 
whereto  Mr.  Mayor  could  not  resolve,  being  he  was  an  offi- 
cer belonging  to  her  majs  garison  in  ye  fort,  whereupon 
Mr.  Mayor  calls  ye  common  councill  for  there  advice,  and 
replyes  to  them  y1  ye  Coll.  will  not  releve  ye  town  before  ye 
Leift  Shanks  is  quartered  in  town.  Whereupon  yc  common 
councill  think  it  is  a  hardship  to  keep  sd  granadeers  in  town, 
but  will  rather  quaerter  s(1  Shanks  till  they  make  there  adress 
to  his  excellency  for  releve. 

April  30th,  1695. —  Whereas  John  Cuyler  and  Joh« 
Roseboom,  deakons  of  ye  Doutch  congregation  of  Albany, 
makes  there  adresse  to  ye  mayor  and  aldermen  that  it  might 
be  granted  them,  that  Maj '  Pr.  Schuyler  and  Domini,  might 
convine  together  concerning  a  certain  transport  given  by  ye 
sd  Maj r  Schuyler  late  mayor,  unto  ye  late  deakons  of  ye  said 
Doutch  congregation,  upon  a  water  run  commonly  known  by 
ye  Bevr  creek;  whereupon  ye  mayor  and  aldermen  grants 
yt  sd  Majr  Schuyler  and  Domini  Dellius  shall  meet  in  ye 
afternoon  to  give  a  right  information  concerning  sd  transport. 

Whereas  there  is  new  stockadoes  ride  this  last  winter  for 
ye  reparation  of  this  citty  of  Albany,  but  ye  weather  haveing 
been  so  uncertain  and  still  so  continues,  and  also  ye  high 


262  The  City  Records. 

water  yl  it  is  almost  impossible  for  ym  to  be  sett  along  ye  river 
side,  doe  therefore  think  very  requisite  and  convenient  y* 
all  inhabitants  yl  have  ride  there  stockadoes  at  ye  south  side 
of  ye  citty,  and  Lutheran  church,  and  middle-most  block 
house,  shall  sett  there  stockadoes  in  ye  space  of  three  times 
four  and  twenty  hours,  upon  pain  and  penalty  of  three  shil- 
lings for  every  person  and  immediately  to  strain  upon  there 
goods  and  chattels,  and  do  thereunto  authorize  Joh*  Appel 
sherrif,  to  take  observation  yl  it  may  be  equally  done. 

Whereas  the  gates  and  high  wayes  of  the  citty  of  Albany 
are  so  unconvenient  for  any  use,  being  therefore  thought 
very  requisite  by  ye  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty,  y* 
a  small  tax  of  fifty  pounds  shall  be  raised  out  of  the  citty  of 
Albany  yl  ye  sd  gates  and  highways  may  be  repared  and 
made  in  good  order,  and  also  yT  ye  assessors  are  to  make  the 
assessm1  between  this  and  ye  first  of  June,  and  to  deliver  it 
to  the  collectors  wh  collectors  are  immediately  to  raise  sd 
sume  of  money  before  ye  first  of  July  next  ensuing,  and  give 
it  in  ye  hands  of  ye  treasurer,  Johannis  Appell. 

Upon  the  report  made  of  D.  Wessels,  who  had  deliverd  in 
Nov.  a  petition  to  ye  Grov  and  councill,  whereby  he  desyred 
of  the  Governor  and  councill  to  have  a  warrant  on  the  addi- 
tionell  duty  to  satisfy  the  sume  of  £1105:2:3,  that  hath  been 
disbursed  by  several!  inhabitants  of  the  citty  and  county  of 
Albany  and  Ulster,  in  ye  late  revolution,  whose  accts  hath 
been  produced  by  ye  assembly  in  ye  time  when  Coll0  R.  In- 
goldesby  was  commander  in  chief;  but  it  seemed  his  excel- 
lency and  councill  was  not  pleased  with  the  inspecting  of  ye 
sd  account  by  the  committee  yl  there  was  appointed  to  yl 
purpose,  but  was  pleased  to  order  a  committee  of  ye  councill 
yl  they  should  inspect  ye  aforesaid  acct8.  Whereupon  the 
mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  Albany,  conveined 
together  and  have  considered  ye  necessity  for  ye  want  of  ye 
aforesd  money,  because  some  runns  still  upon  intrest,  to  ye 
great  damage  of  ye  inhabitants,  is  therefore  resolved  y1  May 
Abeel,  D  Wessels,  K.  V.  Rensselaer  and  Johs  Cuyler,  shall 
doe  all  there  best  endeavors  for  ye  procureing  of  ye  said 
money,  wherefore  they  are  allowed  ye  half  of  ye  four  posts 
mentioned  in  ye  list  for  ye  citty,  being  ye  sumrne  of  £303:2, 
for  ye  quaertering  ye  soldiers  of  Cap1  Bulls  company  in  the 
yere 


The  City  Records.  263 

Whereas  Marte  Cregier  of  ye  citty  of  Albany,  having 
made  an  adresse  to  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty,  to 
be  admitted  to  build  a  house  of  15  foot  on  ye  north  side  of 
his  house,  standing  in  ye  Parrell  street  next  ye  stockadoes 
or  behinde  sd  house,  wh  addresse  ye  sd  mayor,  aldermen  and 
commonalty  doth  reject,  and  saith  y1  if  the  sd  Marte  Cregier 
thinks  his  house  too  little,  they  will  allow  him  to  enlarge  ye 
sd  house  seven  or  eight  feet,  but  for  building  a  new  att  this 
present  time  can  not  be  allowed. 


Att  a  Mayor's  Court,  May  14th,  1695. 

Proclamation. —  Being  thought  very  requisite  by  the  re- 
corder and  aldermen  for  ye  repairing  of  ye  citty  of  Albany ; 
every  particular  person  that  hath  not  sett  there  proportion 
of  stockadoes  belonging  to  the  citty,  shall  in  ye  space  of  five 
days  sett  there  sd  stockadoes  in  a  good  and  equall  way,  and 
upon  pain  and  penalty  of  y-  sume  of  six  shillings  for  each  per- 
son yl  doth  not  perform  ye  same ;  and  also  yl  no  person  or 
persons  shall  in  ye  least  meddle  or  make  with  any  of  the  old 
stockadoes  to  take  them  away  for  any  use,  but  yl  they  shall 
be  reserved  for  ye  use  of  ye  guards ;-  likewise  yl  every  in- 
habitant within  this  city  shall  clain  ye  streets  before  there 
door  from  all  filth  and  fyre  wood,  and  also  yl  no  inhabitant 
shall  lay  any  timber  to  his  neighbors  prejudice,  but  to  remove 
it  to  such  places  where  they  intend  to  build. 

Whereas  it  is  resolved  by  ye  recorder,  aldermen  and  com- 
monalty, that  the  assessors  of  the  city  of  Albany  shall  pre- 
pare billes  or  tickets  for  ye  quartering  of  ye  quantity  of  one 
hundred  men,  y!  within  ye  limitts  of  the  city  afores'1  in  the 
space  of  three  days  without  fail,  and  give  in  there  return  at 
Majr  Wessells. 

It  is  thought  also  very  convenient  yl  ye  sheriffe  shall 
order  a  constable  to  presse  all  ye  carters  belonging  to  ye 
citty  of  Albany  against  tomorrow,  to  goe  for  Melgerts  mill 
and  fetch  each  a  load  of  slabbs  fore  ye  repareing  of  ye  bridges 
and  oyr  necessaryes  of  ye  aforsd  citty. 

May  21th,  1695. —  Whereas  we  dayly  expect  men  from 
New  York  for  ye  sacurity  of  these,  her  Majestys  fronteers  of 
Albany,  we  doe  therefore  appoint  John  Lansing,  Jacob 


264  The  City  Eecords. 

Stoats,  Gerrit  van  Ness,  aldermen,  and  Banony  van  Corlaer, 
Job*  Thomase  and  Hend.  Hansen,  to  prepare  for  the  quar- 
tering of  the  souldiers  jl  shall  come. 

June  4th,  1695. —  Whereas  the  assessors  having  now 
delivered  in  there  assessment  of  ye  last  tax,  amounting  to 
ye  summe  of  fifty  pounds  and  odd  money,  which  is  not  signed 
by  all  the  assessors ;  wee  doe  therefore  hereby  command  you 
Hend.  van  Dyk,  to  order  yl  all  ye  assessors,  with  your  self, 
to  convein  together  at  one  aclock,  upon  penalty  of  forty  shil- 
lings, and  make  a  true  assessment  under  hand  and  scale  of 
each  particular  assessor,  and  thereupon  make  your  return  to 
morrow  morning  to  ye  mayor  and  justices  of  ye  citty  of 
Albany. 

June  llth,  1695. —  Whereas  there  are  several  warrants 
and  orders  directed  to  the  sherrif,  Joh3  Appel,  which  he  has 
not  punctially  persued  following  his  directions;  doe  there- 
fore now  strictly  order,  and  command  the  said  sherriffe,  what- 
soever orders  or  warrants  are  to  him  directed  in  absence  of 
our  mayor,  he  shall  forthwith  persue  the  same. 

Whereas  on  the  llth  of  March  169f,  and  order  being 
directed  by  the  mayor  of  ye  citty  of  Albany,  unto  Mr.  Jacob 
Turk  and  Pr.  van  Brugh,  to  have  the  uppermost  waell 
standing  on  the  hill  prepared,  and  to  have  the  water  from 
the  fort  drawn  thereunto  with  an  ruyoull  as  formerly.  The 
scl  Mr.  Jacob  Turk  and  Pr.  van  Brugh  appears  now  here  per- 
sonally, with  there  ace'  and  charges  made  to  the  sd  waell, 
amounting  to  the  sume  of  five  hundred  seventy  three  gilders 
11  stuyvers  in  wampum,  for  which  summe  of  money  aforesd, 
well  and  truly  to  be  paid,  the  mayor,  aldermen  and  common- 
alty have  taken  unto  consideration  and  doe  therefore  appoint 
and  authorize  Bennony  van  Corlaer,  Johs  Cuyler  and  Joh3 
Thomase,  who  shall  bate  all  and  every  particular  inhabitant  of 
this  citty  what  they  shall  pay  for  the  afores '  sume  disbursed  for 
the  reparation  of  the  sd  waell,  and  whereas  yt:  mayor,  aldermen 
and  commonalty  doe  find  an  unconvenience  yl  the  streets  at 
last  will  come  to  damage  by  the  water  running  out  of  ye  sd 
wall ;  it  is  therefore  resolved  by  the  si1  mayor,  aldermen  and 
commonalty  that  another  wall  shall  be  made  in  the  s '  street 
upon  a  convenient  place,  and  forthwith  drawne  into  the 
creek  behynde  Maj r  Schuyler's. 


The  City  Becords.  265 

Whereas  the  streets  and  bridges  of  the  citty  of  Albany 
are  so  uncqnvenient  for  want  of  being  repaired,  especially 
the  great  bridge  by  Majr  Schuyler,  doe  therefore  appoint 
and  authorize  Johs  Appel,  high  sheriffe  of  the  citty  of 
Albany,  to  gett  the  aforesd  bridges  and  streets  well  repaired 
and  in  good  order  that  in  the  time  of  eight  days  ensueing  this 
date,  especially  the  bridge  by  Maj  Schuyler,  and  this  you  are 
in  no  ways  to  ommitt,  upon  penalty  as  the  fact  deserves. 
Dated  in  Albany  the  llth  day  of  June,  in  ye  seventh  year 
of  his  majestys  reign,  anno  do.  1695. 

"Whereas  there  is  a  considerable  summe  of  money  due  to 
the  two  taxes  of  £2000,  and  £1550,  by  the  citty  and  county 
of  Albany  in  the  year  of  our  lord  1691,  as  pr  the  list  of  each 
particular  ward  doth  appear,  whereunto  the  justices  doe 
appoint  and  command  that  ye  constables  of  the  citty  and 
county  aforesd,  emmediately  to  goe  round  and  collect  the 
said  summe  of  money,  as  is  still  standing  out,  belonging  to 
the  said  taxes. 

Whereas  several  proclamations  hath  been  formerly  directed 
to  the  sheriff,  Johs  Appell,  who  are  not  well  observed  as  it 
ought  to  be,  doe  hereby  renue  all  the  proclamations  unto 
him  derected  viz1 :  against  people  who  doe  trade  and  keep 
conversation  with  the  Indians  upon  the  hill  or  elsewhere, 
that  such  orders  shall  still  continue  and  remain  in  full  force 
and  vertue  as  ever  did. 

Whereas  the  aldermen  and  commonalty  doth  recommend 
Major  Dirk  Wessels  and  Mayor  John  Abeel  representatives 
for  ye  citty  and  county  of  Albany,  to  propose  in  the  general 
assembly  yl  the  containing  of  the  two  pr.  cts.  at  and  3d. 
upon  ye  gallon  might  be  granted  as  formerly,  to  continue 
for  the  ensueing  year. 

June  23,  1695. — Whereas  the  retailers  of  the  citty  of 
Albany  doe  retaile  to  the  Indians  in  this  dangerous  time  of 
alarm,  doe  hereby  order  Johs  Appel,  high  sherriffe,  emmedi- 
ately to  goe  round  to  all  the  retailers  of  this  citty  aforesaid 
to  prohibite  them  to  draw  any  strong  drink  to  any  Indians 
in  this  dangerous  times,  untill  further  order  from  the  mayor 
and  aldermen  of  ye  citty  aforesaid.  Dated  in  Albany  this 
24th  day  of  June  1695. 

Annals,  ii.  23 


266  The  City  Records. 


Att  a  Common  Councill  &c.,  July  12,  1695. 

Whereas  there  has  been  an  actentituled  an  act  for  ye  defray- 
ing ye  necessary  charges  of  the  city  and  county  of  Albany  of 
2  per  cent  upon  all  Indian  goods,  likewise  3d.  upon  each  gallon 
rom  yl  shall  be  imported  in  ye  citty  and  county  of  Albany, 
which  was  expired  y e  18th  of  May  last  and  now  being  confirmed 
by  ye  general  assembly,  to  remain  in  full  force  and  virtue 
for  ye  space  of  two  years  ensuing  the  4th  of  July  1695,  be-' 
ing  then  published,  doe  hereby  strictly  charge  and  command 
all  masters  "of  vessels,  merchants,  or  other  persons  whatso- 
ever, that  should  have  any  such  Indian  goods  or  rorn  brought 
or  received  from  New  York  in  this  citty  and  county  afore- 
said, shall  enter  such  goods  at  ye  treasurer,  Johs.  Appell,  or 
his  deputy,  within  the  space  of  12  hours  after  their  arrive- 
ment,  and  to  land  the  said  goods  at  the  gate  by  the  court  house 
of  this  citty,  as  formerly,  and  whoever  neglects  to  enter  such 
goods  as  aforesaid,  or  any  thing  to  the  contrary  hereof,  shall 
forfeit  all  the  same. 

Whereas  there  is  one  Liev1  Riede  now  lately  come  from 
England  under  Capt.  Wm.  Kidd's  company,  to  lay  here  in 
ye  fronteers  of  Albany,  having  no  bedding,  doe  hereby  order 
and  appoint  John  Lansing  and  John  Cuyler  to  provide  bed- 
ding for  the  said  Liev't  upon  ye  citty  charge  in  the  time  of 
three  days  ensuing  this  date  of  ye  12th  July,  1695,  upon 
penalty  as  ye  fact  deserves. 

July  25,  1695.-— Whereas  Mr.  J.  Lansing,  O.  V.  Ness, 
and  H.  Hansen  who  are  appointed  to  goe  and  agree  with 
Robert  Sanders  concerning  the  hyre  of  his  chamber  for  the 
leif1  of  Captain  Weems,  have  brought  in  their  report  that 
they  are  agreed  with  ye  said  Robert  Sanders  for  the  space 
of  one  year  for  the  sum  of  17  ps.  of  8,  commencing  the  23d 
of  June  1695,  and  determining  the  23d  June,  1696,  which 
sume  of  17  ps.  of  8  is  laid  at  ye  charge  of  ye  citty  of  Albany 
to  satisfy  ye  sd  Robert  Sanders. 

Whereas  Marte  Cregier  appears  here  personally,  who  since 
the  30th  of  April  last  makes  his  addresse  again  to  be  ad- 
mitted to  build  a  house  of  fifteen  foot  square  on  the  north 
of  his  corner  house  on  ye  east  of  ye  Parrel  street,  near  the 
fortification  of  the  citty  of  Albany,  bynding  and  obliging  him- 
self in  no  further  building  to  the  north  during  this  warr, 


The  City  Records.  267 

and  if  in  time  of  peace  he  shall  be  admitted  to  further  build- 
ing, but  in  case  of  further  war  it  should  be  ordered  to  remove 
his  buildings,  the  said  Cregier  doth  fully  ingage  to  remove 
such  buildings  upon  his  owne  charges. 

The  mayor,  aldermen  and  commonalty  of  this  citty  doe 
graunt  the  request  as  aforesaid  provided  first  approbation 
of  his  excy  the  Cap1  Genl. 

Att  a  Councill  held  att  Fort  Wm.   Henry,  the  15th  day  of 

Aug{,  1695  :  Present  his  ex'cy  Benj11  Fletcher,  &c. 
Marte  Cregier  having  represented  to  his  ex'cy  in  councill 
that  he  hath  obtained  liberty  from  ye  mayor  and  aldermen 
of  Albany  to  build  his  house  in  the  scl  citty  near  a  block- 
house provided  he  have  his  ex'cys  approbation,  the  order  of 
the  mayor  and  aldermen  of  Albany  was  read  in  councill,  and 
his  ex'cy  was  pleased  to  give  his  approbation  thereunto. 


Att  a  Common  Councill  held  in  the  Citty  Hall  of  Albany, 

the  6th  of  AugS  1695. 

Whereas  Maj.  D.  Wessels,  J.  J.  Bleeker,  aldermen,  Joh. 
Cuyler  and  H.  Hansen,  assistants,  were  appointed  the  25th 
of  July  last  to  vizite  the  accounts  of  ye  last  year's  revenue 
and  the  tax  of  £50  now  lately  collected,  who  give  in  there 
report  that  ye  treasurer  Joh.  Appell  is  out  over  and  above 
ye  summe  of  15gl.  and  6st.  and  Johs.  Becker  ye  summe  of 
26gl.  4Jst.  in  wampum.  The  31st  July,  1695,  vizited. 

GLOSSARY. 

The  change  of  sovereignty  which  the  colony  of  New  Netherland 
underwent  in  1664,  necessarily  interfered  with  the  language,  as 
well  as  the  customs  and  manners  of  the  people.  The  records  con- 
tinued for  twenty  years  after  that  event,  to  be  written  mostly  in 
Dutch  ;  but  in  1686  they  were  required  to  be  kept  in  English.  The 
Dutch,  however,  was  the  oral  language  of  the  city  for  many  years 
after,  and  the  records  themselves  bear  evidence  of  the  transition 
the  language  was  undergoing,  by  the  mixture  of  English  and  Dutch 
words  and  phraseology.  The  following  glossary  may  be  useful,  so 
far  as  it  goes,  to  such  as  are  not  conversant  with  the  literature  of 
Albany  nearly  two  centuries  ago. 

Beverskill,  now  known  as  the  Buttermilk  creek,  and  long  since  ob- 
literated below  Grand  street,  being  conducted  into  the 
river  by  a  sewer. 


268  The  City  Records. 

Blockhuijse,  for  the  locations  of  the  blockhouses  as  they  existed  at 
this  time,  see  diagram,  vol.  1, 136. 

Brant  hout,  fire-wood. 

Brant  leere,  fire-ladders. 

Brant  haeken,  fire-hooks. 

City  Hall,  occupied  the  present  site  of  Commercial  Building,  corner 
of  Broadway  and  Hudson  street. 

Gilder,  gl.,f,  a  Dutch  coin,  value  nearly  forty  cents. 

Luijtersekerk,  Lutheran  Church,  which  occupied  the  site  of  the  City 
Building  cor.  Howard  and  Pearl  streets.  (See  vol.  i,  124). 

Leijsler's  time,  Jacob  Leisler,  an  elderly  and  respected  merchant, 
who  raised  the  standard  of  William  and  protestantism, 
in  1689,  and  governed  the  province  by  the  choice  of  the 
freeholders  of  New  York  and  the  authority  of  the- English 
ministry  for  nearly  two  years,  was  very  unjustly  exe- 
cuted as  a  traitor,  March  16, 1691.  The  mayor  and  com- 
mon council  of  Albany  were  opposed  to  his  administra- 
tion. 

Maquaas  river,  the  Mohawk  river. 

Maijs,  maize,  Indian  corn. 

Oyr8,  others. 

Parrett,  Pearl  street. 

Pleijn,  the  Plain  was  the  flat  ground  between  Broadway  and  South- 
Pearl  street  below  Beaver.  At  the  beginning  of  the  pre- 
sent century  even,  there  were  but  few  buildings  erected 
upon  it.  The  lot  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  corner  of 
Beaver  and  South  Pearl  streets  now  Beaver  Block  (1869), 
is  described  in  the  deed,  dated  1792  (see  vol.  i,  132),  as 
being  "  on  the  plains." 

Piece  0/8,  ps.  0/8,  one  dollar,  consisting  of  8  pieces  of  12|  cents. 

PL  Plentive,  plaintiff. 

Ratel  Watch,  night  watch,  furnished  with  a  peculiar  instrument 
for  giving  alarm. 

Revolutions,  the  ten  years  which  these  minutes  embrace  was  a  pe- 
riod of  frequent  changes  in  the  government,  which  pro- 
duced constant  trouble  and  excitement  in  the  province. 

Rideing,  drawing,  or  transporting  by  land. 

Rom,  rum. 

RuttenJdll,  had  its  head  springs  above  Lark  street,   and  passed 
down  what  was  since  called  the  Hudson  street  ravine 
(see  vol.  i,  146,  158).    Its  ancient  bed,  since  the  ravine 
was  filled  up,  passes  down  Hudson  and  Beaver  streets, 
crossing  Pearl  street  at  the  centre  of  the  Beaver  Block, 
and  enters  the  Basin  near  the  State  street  bridge. 
Skepel,  (schepel,  bushel)  three  pecks  English  measure. 
Somme,  sum. 

Sopus,  (Esopus)  Kingston. 
Sout,  salt. 
Speck,  pork. 
Stadt  Huijse,  City  Hall. 


The  City  Records.  269 

Stuyver,  St.,  a  Dutch  coin,  value  nearly  two  cents. 

Stockadoes,  a  style  of  fortification,  consisting  of  upright  posts,  by 
wfcich  the  city  was  protected  against  the  attacks  of  the 
Indians. 

Taptoo,  (tattoo)  beat  of  drum  at  night  for  soldiers  to  retire  to  their 
quarters  in  garrison. 

Toties  quoties,  as  often  as  one,  so  often  the  other. —  Webster. 

Wendell's  Mills,  Buttermilk  falls. 

Wampum,  small  beads  made  of  different  colored  shells,  used  by  the 
North  American  Indians  as  money,  and  also  wrought  into 
belts,  etc.,  as  an  ornament. —  Trwribull. 

Ye,  the. 

Yt,  that. 

Tm,  them. 

Tr,  their. 

Zewant,  see  Wampum. 

169£.  Before  the  new  style  was  adopted  in  1752,  there  was  much 
confusion  respecting  dates,  particularly  in  regard  to  the  months  of 
January  and  February.  Some  writers  began  the  year  in  January , 
and  others  in  March.  The  difficulty  was  to  determine  whether 
January  and  February  closed  an  old  year,  or  began  a  new  one.  It 
became  necessary  to  have  some  mode,  by  which  it  might  be  known 
to  what  year  January  and  February  belonged,  whenever  these 
months  were  mentioned.  For  this  purpose  the  following  method 
was  adopted :  during  January  and  February,  and  to  the  22d  of 
March,  the  year  was  thus  marked,  1716-17,  or  17^f,  meaning,  that 
by  the  ancient  mode  of  calculating,  the  month  mentioned  belonged 
to  the  year  1716  ;  but,  by  the  new  calculation,  to  the  year  1717. 
After  the  22d  of  March  there  was  no  difficulty ;  for  by  both  calcu- 
lations, the  succeeding  months  were  included  in  the  new  year. 


270        Convention  on  the  State  of  the  Province. 


CONVENTION  ON  THE  STATE  OF  THE  PROVINCE. 

1664. 

One  after  another  the  Dutch  had  now  abandoned  every 
point  their  enemies  had  assailed.  The  Connecticut  river 
was  gone,  Westchester  was  relinquished,  and,  now,  New- 
town,  Flushing,  Gemeco,  Heemstede  and  Gravesend  were 
surrendered.  It  was  at  this  gloomy  conjuncture,  when  it 
became  evident  that  the  country  was  held  only  on  suffer- 
ance, and  authority  felt  itself  utterly  powerless,  that  the 
principle  of  popular  representation  was,  for  the  first  time, 
fully  recognized  in  this  province.  At  the  request  of  the 
burgomasters  and  schepens,  a  general  assembly  of  delegates 
from  the  several  towns  was  convoked,  to  take  into  considera- 
tion the  state  of  the  province.  This  important  meeting  was 
held  in  the  city  hall  of  New  Amsterdam,  and  the  members 
then  in  attendance  were : 

Cornelius  Steenwyk,  Jacob  Bakker,  New  Amsterdam; 
Jeremias  van  Rensselaer,  Dirck  van  Schelluyne,  Rensselaers- 
wyk;  Jan  Verbeek,  Gerrit  Slechtenhorst,  Fort  Orange; 
Thomas  Chambers,  Gysbert  van  Imbroeck,  Wiltwyck ;  Dan- 
iel Terneur,  Johannis  Verveeler,  New  Haerlem ;  David  de 
Marest,  Pierre  Billou,  Staten  Island;  Wm.  Bredenbent, 
Albert  Corn.  Wantenaar,  Breukelen;  Jan  Strycker,  Wm. 
Guilliams,  Midwout;  Elbert  Elbertsen,  Coert  Stevensen, 
Amersfoort;  David  Jochemsen,  Cornells  Beekman,  New 
Utrecht;  Jan  van  Cleef,  Gysbert  Teunissen,  Boswyck; 
Engelbert  Steenhuysen,  Herman  Smeeman,  Bergen. 

The  first  question  which  engaged  the  attention  of  this 
assembly  was  that  of  the  presidency.  New  Amsterdam 
claimed  the  honor  as  the  capital;  Rensselaerswyck  as  the 
oldest  colonie.  The  right  of  the  latter  was  admitted,  and 
the  Honorable  Jeremias  van  Rensselaer  took  the  chair  un- 
der protest.  The  convention  then  demanded  of  the  govern- 
ment, protection  against  the  Indians  and  "  the  malignant 
English."  If  it  were  not  able  to  afford  such  protection, 
they  wished  to  be  informed  to  whom  they  were  to  address 


Convention  on  the  State  of  the  Province.       271 

themselves.  The  inhabitants  of  New  Netherland,  the  di- 
rector-general insisted,  had  never  contributed  to  the  sup- 
port or  defense  of  the  province.  On  the  contrary,  the 
West  India  Company  had  expended  the  sum  of  twelve 
hundred  thousand  guilders  over  and  above  the  customs, 
excise,  revenue  of  the  weigh-scale  and  tithes.  Danger 
impended  now  over  the  country  from  two  points — the 
Indians  and  the  English.  He  wished  the  convention  to  de- 
cide if  the  war  should  be  continued,  or  peace  made  with  the 
former.  If  war  were  decided  on,  should  the  allies  of  the 
Indians  also  be  included  ?  Should  the  English  summon  the 
country  to  surrender,  were  they  to  be  resisted  ?  If  so,  by 
what  force?  Was  every  sixth  man  to  be  enrolled?  Over 
two  hundred  men  besides  the  soldiers  were  required.  He 
proposed  a  tax  on  mills  and  cattle.  Were  supplies  refused, 
the  military  force  now  under  pay  would  be  reduced. 

The  political  system  which  commercial  monopoly  had  so 
long  been  endeavoring  to  construct,  collapsed  at  the  moment 
when  its  powers  were  tested.  The  convention  refused  sup- 
plies, and  adjourned  for  a  weak  to  consider  the  propriety  of 
again  appealing  to  the  home  authorities. 

When  the  convention  reassembled,  the  director  and 
council  immediately  laid  the  above  information  before  it. 
All  further  remonstrance  to  the  West  India  Company  was 
now  considered  unnecessary,  and  the  assembly  proceeded  to 
deliberate  on  the  measures  proper  to  be  adopted  towards 
the  Indians  and  the  English  towns.  It  was  found  useless 
to  attempt  to  execute  the  orders  of  the  Directors  in  regard 
to  the  latter.  "The  English  rebels  were  as  six  to  one; 
and  with  aid  from  Hartford  would  easily  overcome  and 
massacre  the  few  Dutch  soldiers  that  could  be  brought 
against  them."  It  would  be  impossible  to  subdue  them. 
The  province  would  be  thrown  at  once  into  their  hands,  or 
delivered  up  a  prey  to  the  savages.  These  were  disposed 
for  peace,  and  the  situation  of  the  province  rendered  it 
desirable  that  a  treaty  be  concluded,  for  it  was  discovered 
that  the  English  of  Connecticut  were  tampering  with 
them.—  0'  Callaghan's  Hist.  N.  Neth.}  n,  p.  505. 


272  Philip  Pietersen  Schuyler. 


PHILIP  PIETERSEN  SCHUYLER. 

This  was  the  first  of  the  Schuyler  family  who  settled  in 
this  country.  He  came  from  Amsterdam  to  America  in 
1650,  and  was  married  on  the  22d  December  of  that  year,  to 
Margritta  van  Slechtenhorst,  aged  22,  daughter  of  the  Di- 
rector of  Rensselaerswyck,  by  Anthonie  de  Hooges  the  secre- 
tary of  the  colonie,  "  in  presence  of  the  officers  both  of  Fort 
Orange  and  Rensselaerwyck,  and  of  some  of  the  principal 
inhabitants  thereof."  By  this  lady  he  had  ten  children,  viz : 
Gruysbert,  G-ertrude,  (who  married  Stephanus  van  Cortland;) 
Alida,  (who  married,  first,  Rev.  Nicholas  van  Rensselaer, 
second  Robert  Livingston  ;  )  Pieter,  Brant,  Arent,  Sybilla, 
(died  aged  four  weeks,)  Philip,  Johannes  and  Margritta. 
Peter  Schuyler  was  the  first  mayor  of  Albany,  John,  the 
youngest  son,  held  a  captain's  commission  in  1690,  when  he 
led  an  expedition  into  Canada,  and  penetrated  as  far  as  La 
Prairie,  being  then  only  twenty-two  years  of  age.  He 
possessed  great  influence  among  the  Indians,  and  is  referred 
to  frequently  in  La  Potherie's  History  of  North  America. 
His  grandson,  G-eneral  Philip  Schuyler,  occupies  too  high  a 
place  in  the  history  of  this  state,  to  need  further  remark 
here.  Philip  Pietersen  Schuyler  died  at  Albany,  on  the 
9th  March,  1683-4,  and  was  buried  on  the  llth  of  the  same 
month  in  the  church  of  that  place,  then  situated  at  the 
junction  of  State  street  on  Broadway.  His  will  bears  date 
Tuesday  evening,  1st  May,  1683,  0.  S. —  0'  Cattaghan's 
Hist.  M.  Neth.,  ii,  177. 


Commission  of  Gerrit  Swart.  273 


COMMISSION  OF  GERRIT  SWART,  OF  RENSSELAERS- 
WYCK. 

From  the  Kensselaerswyck  Manuscripts.1 

Jan  van  Rensselaer,  hereditary  Patroon,  and  the  Codirec- 
tors  of  the  Colonie  named  Rensselaerswyck,  on  the  North 
River  in  New  Netherland,  have  accepted  as  their  officer  or 
Schout,  in  the  aforesaid  Colonie,  Gerrit  Swart,  who  also 
engages  himself  in  that  capacity  to  them,  on  the^following 
conditions : 

That  he  shall  now  proceed,  with  his  wife,  maid  and  ser- 
vant, passage  and  board  free,  in  the  ship  which  shall  be 
provided  for  him,  to  the  aforesaid  Colonie,  and  exercise  there 
and  fill  the  aforesaid  office,  and  follow  and  punctually  observe 
the  commission  and  instructions  which  shall  now  be  given 
herewith,  together  with  those  which  shall  from  time  to  time 
be  sent,  and  conveyed  to  him  by  authority  of  the  Patroon 
and  Codirectors. 

He  shall  use  for  his  dwelling,  the  house  formerly  used  by 
the  former  preacher,  situate  in  Green  Bush,  and  there  reside 
with  his  family;  and  exercise  and  discharge  his  aforesaid 
office  with  all  diligence  and  fidelity,  according  to  the  laws, 
.  edicts  and  ordinances  already,  or  hereafter  to  be  enacted 
there.. 

He  shall  also,  as  is  the  duty  of  an  obedient  officer,  be  and 
remain  subject  to  all  laws,  ordinances,  and  edicts  already 
made,  or  hereafter  to  be  made  by  the  "Patroon  and  Codirectors. 

Likewise,  on  condition  that  the  officer  there  shall  not 
trade  nor  barter,  directly  nor  indirectly,  by  himself  or  others 
under  any  pretext. 

And  the  aforesaid  Gerrit  Swart  shall  receive  yearly  for 
his  wages,  to  be  paid  there  by  the  Commissioners,  the  sum 
of  four  hundred  guilders,  for  which  he  shall  support  himself 
in  all  things.  He  shall,  moreover,  receive  all  fines  and 
penalties  amounting  to  ten  guilders  or  under,  but  on  all 
exceeding  that  sum,  he  shall  retain  a  just  third  part. 


O'Callaghan's  History  of  New  Netherland,  u,  564. 


274  Commission  of  Gerrit  Swart. 

And  all  this  for  the  term  of  three  years  certain,  commenc- 
ing when  he  shall  have  arrived  in  that  country ;  provided 
that  the  Patroon  and  Codirectors  reserve  to  themselves  to 
abridge  the  aforesaid  term,  and  discontinue  the  service 
whenever  it  shall  so  please  them,  without  being  obliged  to 
give  any  reasons,  nor  to  convey  back  either  him  or  his  family. 

On  which  condition  was  here  furnished  him  the  said  officer 
Schout,  in  cash,  the  sum  of  three  hundred  Carolus  guilders, 
which  shall  be  deducted  frpm  his  first  earned  wages.  [Note 
in  original :  "  This  article  was  altered  by  the  Patroon  and 
Godirectors" ;] 

Finally,  when  circumstances  demand,  the  Commissioners 
there  shall  accord  to  him  a  servant. 

All  which  points  are  agreed  to,  the  aforesaid  Grerrit  Swart 
promising  to  acquit  himself  in  his  office  honorably,  faithfully 
and  honestly,  and  perform  his  trust  so  4hat  neither  the  Pa- 
troon nor  Codirectors  nor  their  Commissioners  in  that  quarter, 
shall  have  any  reason  to  complain,  pledging  thereunto  his 
person  and  goods  having  and  to  have ;  submitting  all  them 
and  the  choice  thereof  to  the  judgment  of  all  courts  and 
magistrates,  and  specially  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Court  of 
the  Colonie  of  Rensselaerswyck. 

In  testimony  of  all  which,  is  this,  by  the  parties,  under- 
signed. In  Amsterdam,  the  24  April,  1652.  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  subscribing  Notary  Public,  residing  within  the 
aforesaid  city,  duly  admitted  by  the  Court  of  Holland.  Was 
by  their  respective  hands  signed  —  Johan  van  Rensselaer, 
Griacomo  Bissel,  for  the  Codirectors  :  G-  Swart. 

J.  YAN  DE  VEN,  NOTARY. 

Instructions  drawn  up  by  Johan  van  Rensselaer,  Patroon 
and  Codirector  of  the   Colonie  called  Rensselaer  s-wyck, 
for  Gerrit  Swart  as  officer  of  the  said  Colonie,  according 
to  which  he  shall,  in  all  good  faith,  regulate  himself. 
Having  arrived  with  God's  help  at  the  island  of  Manhat- 
tans, he  shall  proceed  by  the  first  opportunity  to  the  Colonie, 
and  report  himself  to  Jan  Baptist  van  Rensselaer,  and  make 
known  unto  him  his  quality,  by  exhibition  of  his  Commis- 
sion and  Instructions. 

He  shall,  above  all  things,  take  care  that  divine  worship 
shall  be  maintained  in  said  Colonie,  conformably  to  the  re- 


Commission  of  Gerrit  Swart.  275 

formed  religion  of  this  country,  as  the  same  is   publicly 
taught  in  these  United  Provinces. 

He  shall,  in  like  manner,  pay  attention  that  the  Lord's 
day,  the  Sabbath  of  the  New  Testament,  be  properly  respect- 
ed both  by  the  observance  of  hearing  the  Holy  Word, .  as 
well  as  the  preventing  all  unnecessary  and  daily  labor  on 
said  day. 

And  whereas,  it  -is  a  scandal,  that  the  Christians  should 
mingle  themselves  unlawfully  with  the  wives  or  daughters 
of  heathens,  the  officer  shall  labor  to  put  in  execution  the 
placards  and  ordinances  enacted  or  to  be  enacted  against  the 
same,  and  strictly  exact  the  fines  imposed  thereby,  without 
any  dissimulation. 

He  shall  consequently  be  ex  officio  a  party  or  attorney  in 
all  matters  thereunto  necessary,  .before  our  court  of  justice 
resident  in  the  aforesaid  Colonie,  in  which  he  shall  have 
free  access  and  seat,  but  no  vote. 

The  conducting  of  all  criminal  suits,  their  institution,  exe- 
cution, description  and  final  prosecution,'  as  he  shall  deem 
consistent  with  his  recorded  oath,  shall  therefore  be  in  his 
name ;  it  being  well  understood  that  he  shall  commence  no 
suit  relating  to  our  jurisdiction,  domain,  or  finance,  except 
by  order  of  our  Commissaries. 

And  he  shall  prosecute  no  man  criminally,  or  cause  him 
to  be  apprehended  unless  on  previous  information,  and  this 
he  shall  not  himself  take  except  by  order  aforesaid,  or  un- 
less he  be  on  the  spot  when  the  offence  is  committed,  and 
the  delinquent  be  arrested  in  the  act. 

He  shall  in  taking  information,  conduct  himself  honor- 
ably and  uprighteously,  and  describe  the  affair  with  all 
circumstances  most  fully,  in  order  to  record  in  writing  the 
clearest  and  purest  truth  concerning  the  same,  as  well  the 
grounds  of  defence  on  the  part  of  the  prisoners  and  accused 
persons,  as  of  their  accusation,  provided  that  what  most  par- 
ticularly relates  to  the  service  of  the  Patroonship  be  first  of 
all  inquired  into. 

He  shall  sedulously  cause  the  placards,  ordinances,  reso- 
lutions, contracts  and  commands  of  the  Patrodn  and  Codi- 
rectors  to  be  observed,  and  atte'nd  that  nothing  be  done 
contrary  thereto. 

And  in  order  that  he  may  be  more  free  in  every  regard, 
he  shall  not  be  allowed  to  accept  any  presents,  pensions  or 


276  Commission  of  Gerrit  Swart. 

gifts  from  any  person  whatsoever,  nor  compound  or  agree  in 
any  criminal  matter,  but  prosecute  all  according  to  law,  and 
content  himself  with  the  fines  and  penalties  which  shall  be 
adjudicated  to  him. 

He  shall  likewise  take  care  that  in  matters  entailing 
confiscation  of  life  or  property,  the  judges  shall  be  qualified 
to  the  number  of  at  least  five,  and  also  see  that  the  same 
rule  be  followed  whenever  courts  of  criminal  jurisdiction 
shall  be  held. 

Copies  of  the  judgments  with  the  information  either 
sent  to,  or  taken  and  obtained  by  him,  shall  be  forwarded 
hither  in  the  first  sailing  ship,  and  all  judicial  acts  shall  be 
so  recorded,  that  whoever  need,  may  be  able  to  be  vindi- 
cated here. 

Care  shall  also  be  taken  that  no  prisoners  confined  with 
the  knowledge  of  our  Court  aforesaid,  shall  remain  long  in 
jail  at  the  expense  of  the  colonie,  without  special  cause,  but 
they  shall  be  prosecuted  so  expeditiously  that  their  business 
shall  be  dispatched,  and  with  that  view,  shall  the  Court 
aforesaid  be  advised  as  frequently  as  possible  what  prisoners 
are  in  custody  at  his  instance  or  otherwise,  and  on  what 
charge. 

In  fine,  he  shall  be  holden  to  conduct  himself  always 
diligently  and  faithfully  as  a  good  officer  is  bound  to  do,  on 
such  stipend  as  is  allowed  by  contract  to  him. 

And  for  the  better  dispatch  and  discharge  of  this  his 
office  and  duty,  the  Secretary  of  our  Court  shall  draft  the 
preparatory  or  introductory  acts  of  information,  and  all 
other  preceding  matters  and  minutes  in  judicio,  and  more- 
over whatever  shall  be  necessary  for  the  performance  of 
his  office  which  we  hereby  order. 

The  sworn  marshal  appointed  by  the  Commissaries,  he 
shall  also  'employ  to  serve  all  citations  and  summonses,  in 
which  he  is  not  a  party. 

He  shall  further  be  bound  to  have  these  Instructions  and 
Commission  enregistered  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Commis- 
saries. 

Finally,  in  all  matters  relating  to  his  office  not  specified 
herein,  and  which  cannot  admit  of  delay,  or  await  the  Pa- 
troon's  and  Codirector's  advice,  he  shall  act  on  the  resolve 
of  the  Commissaries  and  Court,  and  advise  the  patroon  and 


A  Governor's  Marriage  License,  1732.        277 

Co-directors  thereof,  by  the  first  opportunity,  so  that  suit- 
able order  may  be  taken  thereupon. 

And  all  this  provisionally,  the  Patroon  and  Co-directors 
reserving   unto  themselves,  to  augment,  diminish,  correct 
this    Instruction    according   to   circumstances,   or   therein 
otherwise  order  as  shall  be  found  proper.     Thus  done  and 
concluded  in  Amsterdam,  this  8th  May,  1652. 
Johan  van  Rensselaer, 
Johan  de  Laet,  for  the  Co-directors. 
—  0'  Callaghan's  Hist.  N.  Netherland. 


A  GOVERNOR'S  MARRIAGE  LICENSE,  1733. 

By  his  Excellency  William  Cosby  Esq.,  captain  general  and 
governor  in  chief  of  the  provinces  of  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  and  territories  thereon  depending,  in  America, 
vice-admiral  of  the  same,  and  colonel  in  his  majesty's 
army,  &c. 

To  any  Protestant  Minister: 

Whereas  there  is  a  mutual  purpose  of  marriage  between 
Jacob  Glenn  of  the  City  of  Albany,  merchant,  of  the  one 
party,  and  Elizabeth  Cuyler  of  the  same  city,  spinster  of 
the  other  party,  for  which  they  have  desired  my  licence, 
and  have  given  bond  upon  conditions,  that  neither  of  them 
have  any  lawful  let  or  impediment  or  pre-contract  affinity, 
or  consanguinity  to  hinder  their  being  joined  in  the  holy 
bands  of  matrimony;  these  are  therefore  to  authorize  and 
empower  you  to  join  the  said  Jacob  Glenn  and  Elizabeth 
Cuyler  in  the  holy  bands  of  matrimony,  and  them  to  pro- 
nounce man  and  wife. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  prerogative  seal  at  Ft.  George 
in  New  York,  the  16th  day  of  October,  in  the  sixth 
year  of  the  reign  of  our  sovereign  lord,   GEORGE  the 
Second,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Great  Britain,  France 
and  Ireland,   King,  defender  of  the  faith.     Anno  Do- 
mini 1732.  W.  COSBY. 
HENDK.  MORRIS,  D.  Sec. 
Annals,  ii.                        24 


278  Indian  Disturbances. 


INDIAN  DISTURBANCES. 

On  the  7th  June,  1663,  the  Indians  made  an  attack  upon 
the  unsuspecting  village  of  Esopus  (Kingston),  and  de- 
stroyed the  place,  committing  their  accustomed  barbarities- 
upon  the  inhabitants.  The  director  and  council,  on  receiv- 
ing intelligence  of  this  catastrophe,  dispatched  forthwith 
Councillor  de  Decker  to  Fort  Orange  to  raise  volunteers, 
call  out  the  Mohawks  and  Senecas,  and  finally  obtain,  if 
possible,  a  loan  to  aid  the  necessities  of  the  government. 
A  proclamation  was  next  issued  inviting  the  colonists  in  and 
around  the  Manhattans  to  enlist,  who  were  further  encouraged 
to  come  forward  by  the  usual  promise  of  plunder,  as  well  as 
by  the  assurance  that  every  Indian,  taken  in  the  war,  should 
be  the  prize  of  his  captor.  In  addition  to  these,  each  volun- 
teer was  to  receive  soldier's  pay,  a  gratuity  ranging  from 
four  hundred  to  one  thousand  guilders  if  maimed,  and  be 
entitled  to  exemption  from  chimney  tax  and  tithes  for  the 
term  of  six  years.  But,  though  General  Stuyvesant  visited 
Heemstede  in  person,  and  sent  agents  through  the  other 
villages,  no  more  than  half  a  dozen  Englishmen  enrolled 
themselves,  the  leaders  of  their  towns  having  discountenanced 
the  project.  Treaties  were  again  renewed  with  the  River 
tribes,  and  forty-six  Marespink  savages  were  engaged  to 
accompany  the  troops  to  the  Esopus.  Captain  Martin  Kry- 
gier,  an  old  and  experienced  officer,  was  placed  in  command 
of  the  expedition,  under  whom  Lieutenants  Pieter  W.  van 
Couwenhoven,  Nicolas  Stillwell,  and  Ensign  Samuel  Edsal 
also  received  commissions. 

The  news  of  the  massacre  caused  no  less  a  sensation  at 
Beverwyck  than  at  New  Amsterdam  ;  for  the  inhabitants 
in  that  quarter  were  more  exposed,  by  their  frontier  position, 
and  the  Senecas  and  Minquaas  were  now  waging  a  bloody 
war.  Efforts  were,  therefore,  made  to  put  Fort  Orange  in 
a  thorough  state  of  defence,1  and  ancient  treaties  were  re- 


1  Fort  Orange,  at  this  period,  had  four  points,  on  each  of  which 
there  were  two  pieces  of  cannon.    It  had  besides  a  twelve  pounder 


The  FiiycL  279 

newed  with  the  neighboring  tribes ;  but  so  great  was  the 
alarm  that  the  out-settlers  fled  for  protection  to  the  fort  called 
Cralo,  erected  on  the  Patroon's  farm  at  Greenbush,  where 
they  held,  night  and  day,  regular  watch  and  ward.  In  this 
panic  the  country  was  abandoned  or  miles  around.  "  No- 
thing, "  says  Jeremias  van  Rensselaer  in  one  of  his  letters,"  is 
talked  of  but  war,  for  no  one  can  distinguish  friend  from 
foe."—0'Cattayhan's  Hist.  New  Netherland. 


THE  FUYCK  — The  earliest  name  of  the  hamlet  which  was 
gathered  on  the  site  of  the  city  of  Albany,  is  called  in  the 
Rensselaerswyck  manuscripts,  The  Fuyck,  or  Beversfuyck, 
which  signifies  a  hoop-net,  and  takes  its  name  from  the 
formation  of  the  shore  of  the  river.  The  earliest  mention  I 
have  met,  says  Dr.  O'Callaghan,  of  Beverswyck  or  Bever- 
wyck,  as  the  name  is  indifferently  written,  was  in  a  minute, 
dated  1634,  the  original  of  which  was  on  a  small,  almost 
illegible  scrap  of  paper  which  I  found  accidentally  among 
the  above  manuscripts.  That  the  Dutch  continued  to  call 
Albany  the  Fuyck,  long  after  the  surrender  of  the  country 
to  the  English,  is  evident  from  letters  among  the  Rensselaers- 
wyck  manuscripts.  "  De  huysen  in  de  Fuyck  "  is  an  ex- 
pression in  one  of  S.  van  Cortlandt's  letters,  dated  N.  Yorck, 
20th  April,  1681,  as  well  as  in  several  others  of  an  anterior 
date. 

In  Danker s  and  Sluyter's  Journal,  published  by 'the  Long 
Island  Historical  Society,  it  is  said  that  Albany  "  was  for- 
merly named  the  Fuyck  on  account  of  two  rows  of  houses 
standing  there  opposite  to  each  other;  which  being  wide 
enough  apart  at  the  beginning  finally  ran  quite  together  like 
a  fuyck."  J  There  is  now  no  conformation  of  any  street 
that  would  answer  to  this  description  but  Broadway  between 
State  and  Steuben  streets. 


on  a  carriage.     The  village  of  Beverwyck  was  enclosed  by  a  board 
fence,  which  was  defended  by  three  pieces  of  artillery  loaned  by 
Mr.  Van  Rensselaer  in  1656,  and  placed  on  the  church.    Alb.  Rec. 
VI,  388,  415,  416. 
1  Pronounced  fowk,  that  is,  a  hoop  net. 


280  Form  of  Oath  to  the  Patroon. 


FORM  OF  OATH  TO  THE  PATROON. 

The  following  is  the  form  of  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
patroon  and  co-directors,  taken  by  the  colonists.  It  is 
from  a  manuscript  found  by  Dr.  O'Callaghan  among  the 
papers  in  the  patroon's  office,  and  translated  by  him  for 
his  History  of  New  Netherlands. 

"  I,  N.  N.,  promise  and  swear  that  I  shall  be  true  and 
faithful  to  the  noble  Patroon  and  Co-directors,  or  those  who 
represent  them  here,  and  to  the  Hon'ble  Director,  Commis- 
sioners and  Council,  subjecting  myself  to  the  Court  of  the 
Colonie ;  and  I  promise  to  demean  myself  as  a  good  and  faith- 
ful inhabitant  or  Burgher,  without  exciting  any  opposition, 
tumult  or  noise ;  but  on  the  contrary,  as  a  loyal  Inhabitant, 
to  maintain  and  support  offensively  and  defensively,  against 
every  one,  the  Right  and  Jurisdiction  of  the  Colonie.  And 
with  reverence  and  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  uplifting  of  both 
the  first  fingers  of  the  right  hand,  I  say — So  Truly  help  me 
God  almighty." 

This  date,  15th  July,  1649,  hath  Steven  Jansen  carpenter 
taken  the  Oath  of  allegiance  from  the  hands  of  the  Honor- 
able Director  before  the  commissioners  of  the  colonie.  Wit- 
ness, A.  de  Hooges,  Secretary. 

23d  Nov.,  1651.  Resolved,  that  all  Householders  and 
Freemen  of  this  Colonie  shall  appear  on  the  28th  day  of 
November  of  this  year,  being  Tuesday,  at  the  house  of  the 
Honorable  Director,  and  there  take  the  Burgerlyke  oath  of 
Allegiance. 

The  following  persons  have  taken  the  oath  at  the  ap- 
pointed time,  according  to  the  foregoing  formulary  :  —  Mon'r 
Arendt  van  Curler,  Mons'r  Johan  Baptist  van  Rensselaer, 
Pieter  Hartgers,  Jan  Verbeeck,  Sander  Leendertsz,  (Glen,) 
Oysbert  Cornelisz.  van  Weesp,  Willem  Fredericksz,  Jan 
Michelz,  Rutger  Jacobszen,  Goosen  Gerritz,  Andries  Her- 
bertsz,  Cornelis  Cornelisz.  Vos,  Jan  van  Hoesem,  Jan  Tho- 
niasz,  Pieter  Bronck,  Jacob  Jansz.  van  Nostrandt,  Harmen 
Bastiaensz,  Teunis  Cornelisz,  Jacob  Adriaensz.  Raedmacker, 
Teunis  Jacobsz,  Rutger  Adriaensz,  Casper  Jacobsz,  Abra- 


Game.  281 

ham  Pietersz.  Vosburg,  Thomas  Jansz,  Everardus  Sansz, 
Adriaen  Pietersz  van  Alkmaer,  Jochim  Wessels  Backer, 

Jacob  Luyersz,  Thomas   Sandersz  Smith,  Evert  Pels, 

Hendricksz.  Verbeeck,  [One  name  defaced  here,] Yan 

Es,  Hendrick  Westercamp,  Thomas  Keuningh,  Cornelia 
Segersz,  Cornelis  Cornelisz.  van  Voorhout,  Jan  Kyersz, 
Jan  Helms,  Aert  Jacobsz,  G-uysbert  Cornelisz.  aende  Berg, 
Evert  Jansen  Kleermaker,  Dirck  Jansen  Croon,  Jacob  Sim- 
mons Klomp,  Volcker  Jansz.  21st  May,  1653.—  0'  Call. 
Hist.  N.  Neih.,  n,  176. 


GAME. — The  creeks  running  through  the  settlements,  as 
well  as  the  river  in  front,  abounded  with  fish ;  the  woods 
with  deer  and  other  game.  Pike  and  sturgeon  were  caught 
in  the  Fourth,  or  Fox  creek,  and  one  of  the  latter  could  be 
bought  for  a  knife.  "  The  year  before  I  came  here,"  (1641), 
writes  the  Rev.  Mr.  Megapolensis,  "  there  were  so  many 
turkeys  and  deer  that  they  came  to  the  house  and  hogpens 
to  feed,  and  were  taken  by  the  Indians  with  so  little  trouble, 
that  a  deer  was  sold  to  the  Dutch  for  a  loaf  of  bread,  or  a 
knife,  or  even  a  tobacco  pipe." — Hist.  N.  Netherland. 


282 


List  of  Freeholders. 


LIST  OF  FREEHOLDERS  IN  THE  CITY  OF  ALBANY 
AND  MANOR  OF  RENSSELAERSWYCK. 

From  a  Manuscript  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State. 

1742. 
FIRST  WARD. 


Evert  Wendell, 

Johannes  D.  Foreest, 

Nicholas  Vandenbergh, 

Luykas    Gerritse  Wyn- 

Volkert  Douw,  Jun., 

Joseph  Van  Sante, 

gaert, 

John  Beasley, 

David  Van  Sante, 

Isaac  Wendell, 
Johannes  Schuyler, 

Robert  Lansing, 
Edward  Holland, 

Abraham  Van  Derpool, 
Johannes  Kidney, 

Anthony  S.  Van  Schaick, 

Edward  Collins, 

Isaac  Lansing, 

John  DePeyster, 
Myndert  Schuyler, 

Luykas  Hoogkerck, 
Lambert  Ratliff, 

William  Helling, 
Henderick  Hallenbeeck, 

Isaac  Staats, 

Garrit  Van  Sante, 

Johannes  Radlif, 

Jacob  C.  Ten  Eyck, 

Nicholas  Van  Woort, 

Manas  Garlan, 

Thomas  Williams, 

Benja.  Bogart, 

John  Savage, 

Joseph  Gates, 
Jacob  Roseboom, 

Egbert  Brat, 
William  Hilton, 

Isaac  Fryer, 
Bernardus  Brat, 

William  Hogan, 
Johannes  Van  Alen, 

Peter  Ryckman, 
Tobias  Ryckman, 

Roelif  Kidney, 
Jacobus  Ratlif, 

Cornelius  Van  Dyck, 

Harman  Ryckman, 

Jonathan  Brooks, 

Johannes  Lansing, 
Luykas  Wyngaert, 
Ryer  Gerritse, 

Garrit  Van  Benthusen, 
Johannes  Myndertse, 
Isaac  Bogert, 

Johannes  Wyngaert, 
Andries  Brat, 
Robert  Barret,  Jun., 

Johannes  Van  der  Hey- 

Petrus  van  den  Bergh, 

William  Hilton,  Jun., 

den, 

Johannes   Gerr'se  Lan- 

Johannes Seager, 

Sybrant  Van  Schaick,  Jr 
Sybrant      Goose      Van 

sing, 
Egbert  Egbertse, 

Evert  Saxbury, 
Richard  Hilton, 

Schaick, 

William  Hogan,  Jun., 

Jacobus  Hilton, 

Gerrit  Brat, 

Jillis  D.  Garius, 

John  Heatoii, 

Antlesius  Bogardus, 
Stephen  Rensselaer, 

Dirk  Hun, 
Johannes  Flensburgh, 

Jacobus  Kidney, 
William  Waldron, 

Ulderick  Van  Vranken, 

Nicholas  Van  Schaick, 

Obadiah  Cooper, 

Johannes  Ten  Broeck, 

Johannes  Marselis, 

Johannes  Van  Sante, 

Anthony  Koster, 

Johannes  Van  Vechten, 

Volkert  Douw, 

Thomas  Sharpe, 

Jr., 

Thomas  Wilkinson. 

Philip  Livingstone, 

SECOND  WARD. 

Harmanus  Wendell, 

Abraham  Cnyler, 

Gulian  Verplanck, 

Christopher  Yates, 

Nicholas  Bleeker, 

Rutger  Bleecker, 

Luykas  Job's  Wyngaert, 
Hendrick  Bleeker, 

Johannes  Cuyler, 
Schebolet  Bogardus, 

Ephraim  Wendell, 
David  van  der  Heyden, 

Hendrick  Roseboom, 

Johannes  Garius, 

Johannes  Roseboom,  Jr. 

Isaac  Kip, 

David  Groesbeeck, 

Nicholas  Bleeker,  Jr., 

Gerrit  Lansing, 
John  Beekman, 

Anthony  Van  Schaick, 
Cornelius  Cuyler, 

Benja.  Egbertse, 
Bernardus  Harsen, 

James  Stevenson. 

Hans  Hansen, 

Nicholas  Fonda, 

Jacob  Ten  Evck, 

Douwe   Fonda,    son   of 

Hendrick  M.  Roseboom, 

Michael  Bass'et, 

John  Fonda, 

Johannes  Lansing,  Jun., 

Jacob  Cornelius  Scher- 

Christian  Schaus, 

Teleman  Van  Schelluyne, 

merhorn, 

James  Stenhouse, 

William  Van  Schelluyne, 

Johannes  Vinhagen, 
Harpert  Van  Deusen, 

Abraham  Lansing, 
Abraham  Lansing,  Jr., 

Johannes     Van     Schel- 
luyne, 

Garrit  Marselis, 

Garrit  Roseboom, 

Harmanus   Van    Schel- 

Dirk Van  Schelluyne, 
Barent  Sanders, 
Myndert  Van  leveren, 

Johannes  Hogan, 
Johannes  Bleecker, 
Jacob  Glen,  Jun., 

luyne, 
Johannes  Roseboom, 
Cornelius  Ten  Broeck. 

Stephanas  Groesbeck, 

Hendrick  Ten  Eyck, 

List  of  Freeholders. 


283 


THIRD  WARD. 

Henry  Holland, 

Johannes  W.  Quacken- 

Teunis Visscher, 

Hendrick  D.  Ridder, 

boss, 

Abraham  E.  Wendell, 

Garrit  Van  Ness, 
Cornelius  Bogert, 

Anthony  Brat, 
Ahasuerus  Roseboom, 

Gysbert  van  den  Bergh, 
John  Maase, 

Abraham  Bogert, 

Gerrit  Lansing, 

Cornelius  Maase, 

Johannes  Hun, 

Peter  Bogert, 

Barent  Brat, 

Leendert  Gansevoort, 

John  Waters, 

Johannes  Visscher, 

Simon  Veeder, 
Jacob  Evertse, 
Johannes  Goewyck, 

Thomas  Floyd, 
Coenraet  Ten  Eyck, 
Gysbert  Roseboom, 

Jacob  Bogert, 
Jacob  Vischer, 
Jacob  Lansing, 

Richard  Hansen, 

William  Winne, 

Peter  Winne, 

Jacobus  Schuyler, 

Jesse  DeForeest, 

Abraham  Douw, 

Abraham  Schuyler, 
David  A.  Schuyler, 

Solomon  Goewyck, 
Wilhelmus      van      den 

Johannes  Pruyn, 
Jacob  Muller, 

Johannes  A.  Cuyler, 

Bergh, 

Samuel  Pruyn, 

William  Rogers, 

Isaac  Greveraet, 

Martin  Beekman, 

Robert  Roseboom, 

Dirk  Ten  Broeck, 

Garrit  C.  van  den  Bergh, 

Wynant  Vandenbergh, 
Tennise  Evertse, 

Adam  Yates, 
Elbert  Gerritse, 

Johannes  Hansen, 
Isaac  Swits, 

Johannes  Evertse, 

Abraham  Witbeck, 

Christopher  Abeel, 

Harmanus  Vischer, 

Harpert  Van  Deusen.  Jr. 

MANOR   OF  RENSSELAERWYCK. 

Hendrick  Lansing, 

John  Van  Wie, 

David  D.  Foreest, 

Jonas  Oothout, 

Gerrit  Van  Wie, 

Regnier  Van  leveren, 

Jacob  Lansing, 

Daniel  Winne, 

Barent  Van  leveren, 

Philip  Schuyler, 
Peter  Schuyler, 
Jeremiah  Schuyler, 

Rensselaer  Nicoll, 
Hendrick  Van  Wie, 
David  Verplanck, 

Aerje  Oothout, 
John  Ren  sselaer, 
William  Rensselaer, 

Jeremiah  Van    Rensse- 

Samuel  Coeyman, 

Solomon  Van  Vechten, 

laer, 

Peter  Coeyman, 

Douwe  Van  Vechten, 

Teunis  Viele, 
Volkert  van  den  Bergh, 

Coenraet  Hoogteling, 
William  Hoogteling, 

Peter»Douw, 
John  Witbeeck, 

Peter  Van  Woort, 

William  Van  Alen, 

Luykas  Witbeeck, 

Lodewick  Cridel, 

Johannes  Slingerland, 

Volkert  Van  Vechten, 

Gerrit  Willemse  van  den 

Cornelius  Slingerland, 

Johannes  Van  Vechten, 

Bergh, 

Philip  Luke, 

Johannes  Van  Buren, 

Sybraut  Van  Schaick, 
Andries  Gardenier, 
Abraham  Van  Arnham, 

Abraham  Wyngaert, 
Benjamin  Winne, 
Peter  Fonda, 

Hendrick  Beekman, 
Andries  Huyck, 
Abraham   Van  Valken- 

Rutger  Van  Woort, 
Myndert  Marselis, 

John  Van  Arnham, 
A  rent  Corlaer, 

burgh, 
Jacob  Schermerhorn, 

Jacob  Van  Woort, 

John  Milton, 

Johannes  Schermerhorn, 

Johannes  Oothout, 

Jacob  Lansing,  Jun., 

Wouter  Barheydt, 

Abraham  Ouderkerck, 

Isaac  Viele, 

Hendrick  Bries, 

Peter  Quackenboss, 
Cornelius  van  den  Bergh, 

Anthony  Vanderzee, 
John  Van  Ness, 

Barent  Martese  Van  Bu- 
ren, 

Jr., 

Cornelius  Ouderkerck, 

Evert  Lansing, 

Johannes  Symense  Vee- 

Simon D.  Ridder, 

Barent  Staats, 

der, 

Johannes  Ouderkerck, 

Johannes  Van  Valken- 

Isaac  Lagrange, 
Jacobu  s  Lagrange, 
John  Miln, 

Abraham  Fonda, 
Sybrant  Quackenboss, 
Johannes  Lagrange, 

burgh,  > 
Roelif  Janse, 
Hendrick  Van  Buren, 

Kitchen  Holland, 

Barent  Brat,  Jun., 

Casper  Plank, 

Jacobus  Holland, 

Jacob  van  der  Heyden, 

Stephen  Rensselaer, 

Teunis  Slingerland, 
Hendrick  Douw, 

Matthiasvan  derfleyden, 
Matthias  van  den  Bergh, 

Rutger  Van  Woort, 
Jacobus  Rensselaer. 

Gerrit  van  den  Bergh, 

284  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  [1772. 


NOTES  FROM  THE  NEWSPAPERS. 

1771  to  1790. 

The  events  given  below  are  gathered  almost  entirely  from 
the  newspapers.  The  locations  of  some  of  the  principal 
business  men  are  given,  who  were  in  active  life  at  the  close 
of  the  revolutionary  war. 

1771.  The  first  printing  office  in  Albany,  respecting  which 
any  information  can  now  be  gathered,  was  established  in  the 
latter  part  of  this  year,  by    Alexander   &  James  Robert- 
son, who  came  up  from  New  York  for  that  purpose.    Hence 
Albany  was  the  second  place  in  the  state  of  New  York,  into 
which  the  art  of  printing  was  introduced. 

The  charter  of  the  city  was  printed  this  year  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  by  Hugh  Gaine,  on  a  demy  sheet,  in  quarto 
form,  of  which  a  copy  is  preserved  in  the  chamberlain's 
office. 

The  Albany  Gazette,  the  first  newspaper  printed  in  this 
city,  was  commenced  in  November,  by  the  Robertsons.  It 
was  printed  on  a  sheet  less  than  a  quarter  the  size  of  the 
largest  daily  papers  now  printed  here.  It  is  not  known  when 
this  paper  was  discontinued,  but  its  publication  is  supposed 
to  have  ended  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  revolutionary  war, 
as  the  publishers  are  known  to  have  joined  the  royalists  in 
New  York  in  1776.  A  few  copies  of  the  paper  are  preserved 
in  the  Albany  Institute,  which  were  presented  to  that  insti- 
tion  by  Rensselaer  Westerlo,  Esq.  The  volume  containing 
the  charter  just  alluded  to,  contains  also  a  collection  of  the 
city  ordinances,  printed  to  match,  by  the  Robertsons,  in 
1773. 

1772.  Jan.    13.    The   printers   of    the    Gazette,    "from 
motives  of  gratitude  and  duty,  are  obliged  to  apologize  to  the 
public  for  the  omission  of  one  week's  publication  ;  and  hope 
that  the  irregularity  of  the  mail  from  New  York  since  the 
first  great  fall  of  snow,  and  the  severe  cold  preceding  Christ- 
mas, which  froze  the  paper  prepared  for  the  press,  so  as  to 
put  a  stop  to  its  operation,  will  sufficiently  account  for  it." 


1782.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  285 

March.  A  lottery  was  advertised  to  be  drawn  for  the 
benefit  of  the  Reformed  German  Church  in  Albany.  (See 
Annals,  vol.  I,  p.  128.) 

Among  the  advertisers  in  the  Gazette  is  the  firm  of  James 
Gourlay  &  Co.,  "  in  Cheapside  street,  next  door  to  the 
King's  Arms."  Cheapside  street  is  now  Green  street,  and 
the  Kings  Arms  tavern  was  on  the  north-west  corner 
of  Green  and  Beaver  streets,  adjoining  what  was  well  known 
in  the  first  quarter  of  this  century  as  the  Old  Stone  House. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  revolution,  the  sign, 
which  bore  the  device  of  the  king's  arms,  was  forced  off  by  a 
party,  one  night,  and  burnt  in  State  street. 

A  noted  merchant  of  the  day,  Thomas  Barry,  "  near 
the  Dutch  Church,"  also  enumerates  his  stock,  occupying 
nearly  a  column  of  the  paper  with  a  catalogue  of  goods  with 
names  which  sound  quite  odd  at  this  day ;  for  instance, 
"  none-so-pretty  of  various  colors,  and  black  breeches 
patterns." 

July  20.  The  governor  of  the  .province,  Gen.  Tryon. 
visited  the  city,  on  which  occasion  the  corporation  gave  a 
public  dinner  at  Cartwright's  Tavern  (vol.  i.  290). 

A  meteorological  table  appeared  in  the  Gazette  occasion- 
ally. 

A  book  store  was  kept  by  Stuart  "Wilson,  an  Irishman, 
at  the  elm  tree  corner  of  State  and  Pearl  streets,  in  a  Dutch 
house  which  was  afterwards  converted  into  the  Blue  Belle 
tavern,  the  last  keeper  of  which  was  the  late  Spencer 
Stafford's  father. 

1779.  Captain  Machin  was  engaged  in  taking  a  water 
level  between  Albany  and  Schcnectady,  with  a  view  to  the 
supply  of  this  city  with  water  by  means  of  an  aqueduct.  He 
submitted  a  plan  to  the  common  council,  with  drawings  to 
show  the  manner  in  which  an  aqueduct  and  reservoir  should 
be  constructed,  as  we  learn  by  a  notice  of  the  same  at  a  later 
day. 

1782.  May.  Messrs.  Solomon  Balentine  and  Charles 
R.  Webster  published  the  first  number  of  the  New  York 
Gazetteer  or  Northern  Intelligencer.  The  office  file  of  this 
paper  was  destroyed  by  the  great  fire  of  1793,  and  the  only 
copies  of  it  which  are  known  to  exist,  are  in  the  Albany  In- 
stitute. 


Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  [1784. 

Sept.  30.  A  meeting  of  the  creditors  of  the  United 
States  in  the  state  of  New  York,  was  held  at  the  City  Hall 
in  Albany,  Philip  Schuyler  chairman;  the  object  of  which 
was  to  lay  their  claims  before  the  public,  in  an  address,  and 
to  suggest  a  general  convention  of  deputies  from  the  public 
creditors  of  the  states  composing  the  union,  to  devise  ways 
and  means  of  payment.  (See  vol.  I,  p.  282.) 

1783.  The  Gazette  was  enlarged  and  Mr.  Webster  with-  { 
drew  from  it,  and  removed  to  New  York.     The  paper  was 
continued  by  Mr.  Balentine  alone.     Its  publication  is  sup- 
posed to  have  ceased  in  May,  1784. 

Mr.  Balentine  published  a  Pocket  Almanac,  for  the  year 
1784,  which  is  the  first  work  of  the  kind  that  is  known  to 
have  been  issued  in  this  city.  A  copy  of  it  is  preserved  in 
the  State  Library. 

Lord  Sterling  died  in  Albany  and  was  buried  under  the 
Dutch  church  (?).  An  eulogium  was  written  by  John  Lovett 
upon  his  character,  and  published.1 

1784.  May  28.  Charles  R.  Webster,  of  the  late  firm  of 
Balentine  &  Webster,  published  the  first  number  of  a  new 
paper,  entitled    The  Albany    Gazette,  of  which  the  State 
Library  contains  the  office  file  down  to  the  time  of  its  dis- 
continuance in  1845,  when  it  was  the  oldest  paper  in  the 
state,  heing  in  its  seventy-second  year, 

At  this  time  the  post  office  not  only  served  for  the  city 
and  adjoining  towns,  but  the  lists  of  letters  advertised  con- 
tain the  names  of  persons  in  Orange  and  Dutchess  counties, 
Cherry  Valley,  and  Vermont. 

Robison  &  Hale,  dealers  in  European  and  East  India 
goods,  occupied  the  "  north  corner  opposite  the  Dutch 
Church,"  now  the  site  of  the  Museum  Building,  which  was 
long  kaown  as  Robison's  corner.  Maj.  Hale  is  believed  to 
have  been  an  officer  of  the  revolution,  and  a  much  respected 
citizen  j  but  did  not,  like  his  partner,  accquire  wealth. 

Jacob  Van  Schaick,  "  in  Water  street  near  the  Middle 
dock,"  publishes  a  long  catalogue  of  articles  under  exceed- 
ingly quaint  titles. 

Henry,  McClallen  &  Henry,  "  next  door  north  of  the 
City  Hall,"  which  was  the  site  of  Commercial  Building, 


1  Woodworth's  Reminiscences  of  Troy. 


23.  Chancellor  Lansing. 

22.  Sanders  Lansing. 

21.  Dudley  Walsh. 

20.  Andrew  Brown. 

19.  Dr.  Samuel  Stringer. 

18.  Gen.  John  H.  Wendell. 

17.  Barent  Bleecker. 

16.  John  Jacob  Lansing. 

15.  Martin  Beekman. 

14.  John  Meads. 


John  Brinckerhoff, 
Richard  Lush. 


1784.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  287 

present  the  most  formidable  array  of  goods,  "  adapted  to  all 
seasons,  in  payment  for  which  they  will  take  cash,  Morris's 
and  Hillegas's  notes,  wheat,  corn,  pease,  flax  seed,  boards 
and  plank,  and  also  all  sorts  of  furs." 

Dr.  Samuel  Stringer,  "  a  little  to  the  north  of  the  Market 
House/'  gave  notice  that  he  had  just  imported  from  Europe 
a  general  assortment  of  medicines,  which  he  would  "  dis- 
pose of  at  the  New  York  advance/'  by  wholesale  or  retail 
at  his  Medicinal  Store.  The  Market  House  was  opposite 
Stanwix  Hall  in  the  centre  of  the  street,  and  Dr.  Stringer's 
store  was  opposite  Bleecker  Hall. 

John  McClintock  advertised  that  he  would  open  a  school 
on  the  14th  June  "in  a  lower  apartment  of  that  house 
in  which  the  printing  office  is  at  present  held."  This  is 
believed  to  have  been  on  the  south-west  corner  of  Maiden 
lane  and  James  street. 

At  the  annual  election  for  members  of  legislature,  the 
following  candidates  were  returned  by  a  majority  of  votes 
in  the  county  :  Dirk  Swart,  Peter  W.  Yates,  Walter  Living- 
ston, Matthew  Visscher,  Christopher  Yates,  Abraham  Beeker, 
Matthew  Adgate,  Jacob  Ford,  John  Younglove,  Israel 
Thompson. 

Peter  Van  Ness  was  chosen  senator. 

John  Blake  advertised  the  usual  variety  of  goods  for 
sale  at  Archibald  Campbell's  store  opposite  Hugh  Dennis- 
ton's.  He  soon  after  took  a  store  u  opposite  the  east  end 
of  the  Dutch  Church." 

Balch  &  Fryer  opened  a  shop  near  the  north  gate,  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  on  the  gold  and  silversmith's  business. 
The  north  gate  at  this  time  is  believed  to  have  been  a  little 
above  Columbia  street  in  Broadway. 

June.  Gen.  Schuyler  was  appointed  by  congress  one  of 
the  commissioners  for  treating  with  the  Indians. 

Roseboom  &  Co.  sold  all  kinds  of  nails  near  the  English 
Church . 

July  4.  The  anniversary  of  our  independence  was  cele- 
brated ;  in  the  morning  thirteen  guns  "  were  fired  from 
Fort  Orange,"  and  in  the  evening  the  city  was  illuminated. 

Gerardus  Beekman  advertises  a  store  nearly  opposite 
Wheeler  Douglass's. 


288  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  [1784. 

July  14.  Mons.  Dulonpres  from  Paris,  proposed  to 
open  a  school  for  dancing,  "  on  the  most  moderate  terms  of 
one  guinea  entrance  and  one  guinea  a  quarter." 

July  22.  The  governor  of  the  state,  and  the  Dutch  am- 
bassador, Haere  P.  J.  Yan  Berckel,  arrived  in  the  city, 
and  were  received  by  the  magistrates  and  citizens,  and  con- 
ducted to  the  City  Hall,  under  discharge  of  cannon.  On 
the  following  day  the  corporation  gave  their  guests  an 
elegant  entertainment  at  Lewis's  Tavern. 

July  23.  Capt.  John  Fryer,  "a  worthy  citizen,"  died, 
aged  64,  and  was  interred  in  the  Dutch  Church  yard  on  the 
following  day. 

Edward  Cumpston,  "at  the  north-east  corner  of  the  Dutch 
Church,"  proposed  to  receive  "  new  emission  money  of  this 
state  equal  to  gold  or  silver,"  for  goods. 

Henry  Hart  had  "a  neat  assortment  of  Dry  and  West 
India  G-oods  at  his  store  between  the  Low  Dutch  Church 
and  Market  House." 

Aug.  The  firm  of  James  &  Yail  was  dissolved,  and 
Thomas  V.  James  assumed  the  business  "  at  the  store  in  the 
street  opposite  the  City  Hall  dock,"  or  leading  from  the 
dock,  which  is  now  Hudson  street. 

Aug.  Grov.  Clinton  left  Albany  to  attend  the  Indian  treaty 
to  be  held  at  Fort  Schuyler,  where  the  chiefs  had  already 
begun  to  assemble. 

Sept.  8.  Nicholas  Barrington  opened  a  school  at  the  house 
opposite  to  Mr.  Burgess's,  "  money  being  very  scarce,  at  the 
low  prices  of  10,  12  and  14s.  per  quarter,  for  spellers,  writers 
and  Scypherers,  and  three  pounds  for  bookkeeping  and 
navigation." 

I.  Button,  "  minister  of  the  gospel  in  Albany,"  proposed 
to  print  by  subscription  at  Is.  each,  a  sermon  entitled  Weak 
Faith  Strengthened.  Those  who  subscribed  for  twelve  were 
to  "  have  a  thirteenth  gratis."  The  work  was  issued  in  Janu- 
ary, 1785. 

Sept.  9.  "  Departed  this  life,  at  Nisqueunia,  Sept.  1,  Mrs. 
Lee,  known  by  the  appellation  of  the  Elect  Lady,  or  Mother 
of  Zion,  and  head  of  that  people  called  Shakers.  Her 
funeral  is  to  be  attended  this  day." 

John  W.  Wendell,  a  few  doors  south  of  the  City  Hall, 
manufactured  all  kinds  of  beveret,  castor  and  felt  hats,  on 


1784.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  289 

better  terms  than  the  importers  can  admit  of.  He  was  a 
Bostonian. 

Thomas  Sickels  sold  European  and  India  goods  on  the 
south  side  of  the  street  that  leads  from  the  Dutch  to  the 
English  Church  (State  street). 

Oct.  21.  The  executors  of  Mrs.  Margaret  Schuyler,  de- 
ceased, offered  "  a  likely  negro  wench"  for  sale  by  auction 
at  Lewis's  Tavern. 

Sept.  13.  The  governor  and  the  commissioners  of  Indian 
affairs  for  the  state  with  a  number  of  the  citizens  of  Albany, 
returned  from  Fort  Schuyler,  where  a  treaty  bad  been  con- 
cluded with  the  Six  Nations  and  other  Indians  residing  in 
this  state. 

John  Carey,  offered  at  the  store  of  Cornelise  K.  Van- 
denberg,  "  at  the  elm  tree  in  the  street  leading  from  the 
Dutch  to  the" English  Church,"  a  quantity  of  goods  which 
are  represented  as  just  imported  from  Ireland. 

Sept.  18.  On  this  evening  and  the    following  (Sunday) 

morning,  Oliver  Wolcott,  Arthur  Lee,  and  Richard  Butler, 

•United  States  commissioners  for  Indian   affairs,   arrived    in 

the  city,  on  their  way   to   Fort   Stanwix,  to  meet  the   Six 

Nations.     They  gave  notice  that  in  order  to  avoid  the  ill 

consequences  and  hindrance  to  public  business  which  would 

.naturally   arise  from    the  sale  of  spirituous    liquors  they 

'would  be  wholly    prohibited  until  the  treaty  closed.     The 

Marquis  Lafayette  was  daily  expected  to  accompany  them. 

George  Reab,  at  his  store  in  the  house  of  Abraham  Douw, 
near  the  south-west  corner  of  the  Market,  offered  an  assort- 
ment of  Dry  and  West  India  Goods,  adapted  to  the  season , 
in  exchange  for  which  he  would  take  cash,  R.  Morris  and 
M.  Hillegas's  notes,  new  emission  money,  all  sorts  of  public 
securities;  also  flax  seed,  wheat,  and  all  kinds  of  country 
produce. 

Saturday,  Sept.  25,  the  United  States  commissioners  to 
treat  with  the  Indians,  having  remained  one  week  in  Albany, 
set  out  for  Fort  Schuyler.  The  goods  intended  for  the 
treaty  left  on  Tuesday  following,  and  Gren.  Lafayette  followed 
about  the  1st  of  October. 

Sept.  29.  At  the  close  of  the  polls,  the  following  citizens 
were  found  to  have  been  elected  aldermen  and  assistants  for 
the  ensuing  year. 

Annals,  ii.  25 


290  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  [1784. 

1st  ward.  Peter  W.  Yates  and  Robert  McClallen  alder- 
men ;  Matthew  Visscher  and  John  W.  Wendell,  assistants. 

2d  ward.  Philip  Van  Rensselaer,  Peter  W.  Douw,  alder- 
men ;  Richard  Lush,  Abraham  Cuyler,  assistants. 

3d  ward.  Thomas  Hun,  John  Ten  Broeck,  aldermen; 
Leonard  Gansevoort,  Jun.,  Jellis  Winne,  assistants. 

Oct.  1.  Alexander  Smith  was  committed  to  the  city  prison 
for  the  "  wilful  murther  of  his  brother,  Isaac  Smith,"  on 
the  29th  Sept.,  at  Saratoga  lake. 

Oct.  7.  The  Marquis  Lafayette  returned  from  Fort  Stan- 
wix,  and  on  the  following  morning,  Friday,  sat  out  for 
Boston  by  the  way  of  Hartford,  to  embark  for  France.  He 
arrived  at  Hartford  on  Monday.  There  was  at  this  time 
no  other  mode  of  crossing  the  mountain  but  on  horseback. 

Joseph  Kelly,  currier,  lately  arrived  from  Ireland,  "  opened 
a  shop  at  Capt.  John  RofFs,  near  the  north  gate,  and  will 
have  ready  in  a  few  days,  good  leather,  boot  legs,  and  Irish 
Ben,  of  the  best  quality." 

Oct.  18.  Isaac  Arnold  and  James  Stewart  returned  from 
a  trading  expedition  to  Detroit,  having  lost  three  of  their 
companions,  Jacobus  Taller,  Daniel  Barclay  and  Isaac  Van 
Alstyne,  who  were  murdered  by  four  Delaware  Indians  at  a 
landing  place  on  Lake  Erie. 

Oct.  27.  Samuel  Thompson  died. 

Nov.  19.  An  annual  fair  for  vending  all  kinds  of  cattle 
was  held  in  the  city. 

Nov.  8.  The  first  copy  of  Webster's  Calendar,  or  the 
Albany  Almanac  for  the  year  1785,  was  ready  for  sale; 
"containing,  besides  the  usual  calculations,  many  very  in- 
genious and  entertaining  pieces,  both  in  prose  and  verse." 
This  Almanac  has  been  published  annually  to  the  present 
time. 

Died,  at  Port  Roseway,  Nova  Scotia,  Alexander  Robert- 
son, one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  first  paper  printed  in 
Albany. 

Nov.  5.  Mrs.  Lydia  Bloodgood  died,  aged  22;  wife  of 
William  Bloodgood. 

Nov.  10.  Two  of  the  principal  hostages  of  the  Six  Nations 
arrived  from  Fort  Schuyler,  under,  passport  from  the  com- 
mander there ;  to  remain  in  custody  until  certain  American 
prisoners  were  delivered  up. 


Fac-ftmile  of  the  Title  Page  of  the  Firfl  Albany  Almanac. 


Poor    NED's 

ALBANY 
ALMANACK, 

FOR  THE  YEAR  OF  OUR  LORD 

1783; 

Being  the  THIRD  after  LEAP-YEAR, 

AND    THE    EIGHTH    OF 
AMERICAN   INDEPENDENCE. 

IN     WHICH     ARE     CONTAINED, 

The  Motions  of  the  SUN  and  MOON;  the  Rifing  and  Setting  of  the 
Sun;  the  Rifmg  and  Setting  of  the  Moon;  the  Eclipfes;  Judgment 
of  the  Weather;  Time  of  High  Water,  &c. 

ALSO, 

The  ARTICLES  of  the  TREATY  of  ALLIANCE  between  FRANCE  and 
thefe  UNITED  STATES;  an  HISTORICAL  ACCOUNT  of  the  various 
TRANSLATIONS  of  the  HOLY  B  I  BL  E,  into  the  ENGLISH 
LANGUAGE;  a  SKETCH  of  the  LIFE  and  CHARACTER  of  His 
EXCELLENCY  GENERAL  WASHINGTON  ;  a  LIST  of  the 
NAMES  of  the  CIVIL  OFFICERS  in  the  City  and  County  of  AL- 
BANY; with  many  ANECDOTS,  odd  SAYINGS,  &c.  &c.  &c. 


BY    NED    FORESIGHT,  Gmt. 


"  See,  fee  HeavVs  wide  Expanfe  from  Pole  to  Pole  ! 
"  Each  Land  with  Verdure  cloths  !  all  Seas  that  rowl 
"  See  this  vaft  Orb  of  Things  with  convex  weight 
"  Thee  beck'ning  to  adorn  the  fov'reign  Seat !  " 


ALBANY: 

Printed  and  Sold  by  BALENTINE  £5"  WEBSTER. 


1784.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  291 

Cornelius  &  John  H.  Wendell,  opposite  the  post  office, 
near  the  Market  house,  imported  goods  "  from  London." 
The  post  office  was  a  few  doors  above  Maiden  lane,  on  the 
east  side  of  Market  street,  now  Broadway.  The  post  office 
at  this  time  is  believed  to  have  been  kept  by  Abraham 
Yates,  afterwards  mayor. 

Cuyler,  G-ansevoort  &  Co.  "received  by  the  last  vessels 
from  London"  an  assortment  of  dry  goods  suitable  for  the 
season ;  and  presented  besides  a  catalogue  of  other  goods, 
which,  like  most  of  the  advertisements  of  the  day,  began 
with  rum  and  ended  with  brass  kettles.  The  stock  of  an 
Albany  merchant  was  truly  multifarious. 

Peter  D.  Van  Dyck  dealt  in  a  general  assortment  of 
goods  opposite  the  south-east  corner  of  the  Butch  Church. 

Benjamin  Wallace  had  "  a  neat  assortment  of  West  India 
and  dry  goods  at  his  shop  a  little  north  of  the  English 
Church/' 

James  Doig,  from  Montreal,  proposed  to  open  a  day  and 
evening  school,  at  Mr.  John  Hooghkerk's  corner  house, 
opposite  to  Thomas  Barrett,  cooper,  near  the  Presbyterian 
Meeting  House.  This  is  supposed  to  have  been  at  the  corner 
of  Hudson  and  G-rand  streets. 

Wendell  &  Trotter  carried  on  business  principally  in  tlry 
goods,  opposite  the  south-east  corner  of  the  City  Hall. 

William  Gray  dealt  in  dry  goods  and  a  general  assortment, 
between  the  Dutch  Church  and  the  Market  House,  near  the 
City  Hotel. 

Elbert  Willett  occupied  the  house  now  standing  next 
south  of  the  Mansion  House,  which  he  sold  to  Mr  David 
Newland,  for  $11,000. 

Dec.  21.  A  detachment  of  troops  from  Fort  Stanwix,  under 
Capt.  Lane,  arrived  in  the  city  to  remain  during  the  winter, 
bringing  with  them  a  number  of  captives  which  had  been 
liberated  according  to  the  terms  of  the  treaty  recently  con- 
cluded with  the  Indians. 

Dec.  30.  Dr.  Alexander  Edgar,  a  surgeon's  mate  in  the 
army,  died  and  was  buried  in  the  Presbyterian  burial- 
place. 

Mr.  Paffane,  lately  arrived  from  France,  carried  on  "  the 
muff  and  tippett  making  business,  in  the  neatest  manner," 
at  the  house  of  Hanse  Home,  near  the  north  gate. 


292  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  [1785. 

Teunis  Ts.  Van  Vechten  advertises  Turks  Island  and 
rock  salt,  "  living  near  the  south-west  corner  of  the  Market* 
House."  His  house  was  the  south-west  corner  of  Broadway 
and  Maiden  lane. 

John  Hinde  offered  a  large  invoice  of  cloths,  at  the  house 
of  Mr.  Hewson,  adjoining  the  Low  Dutch  burying  ground. 

David  Fonda,  "  next  door  to  Gen.  Ten  Broek,"  kept  dry 
goods,  groceries  and  liquors  for  sale. 

John  Bogart,  next  door  south  of  the  City  Hall,  sold  mill 
stones. 

Abraham  Eights,  next  door  to  Capt.  Stewart  Dean,  in 
Water  street,  sold  Muscovado  sugar  by  the  barrel,  and  had 
"  a  few  excellent  English  wind-mills,  for  cleaning  wheat/* 

Anthony  Helmer,  at  his  store  in  the  house  of  Harmanus 
Wendell,  opposite  to  Gen.  Ten  Broek' s,  sold  groceries, 
German  steel,  "  and  a  variety  of  other  articles  too  tedious 
to  be  mentioned." 

Jacob  Vander  Heyden,  in  Pearl  street,  kept  on  sale, 
Dutch  mill  sawa,  groceries,  and  dry  goods. 

Abraham  Bloodgood  did  business  next  to  Denniston's 
tavern,  probably  in  the  Stone  House. 

1785.  The  health  of  the  city  was  very  remarkable  during 
the  winter,  insomuch  that  but  one  burial  took  place  in  the 
Dutch  Church-yard,  from  the  9th  December  to  the  10th 
March,  and  that  was  of  a  small  child  accidentally  run  over 
by  a  sleigh. 

March  21.  A  person  was  arrested  for  passing  counterfeit 
state  treasury  notes,  and  lodged  in  the  City  Hall  prison,  to 
await  a  trial. 

April  20.  Abraham  Roseboom,  a  very  respectable  citizen, 
died. 

April  26.  The  annual  election  of  two  senators  and  ten 
representatives  to  the  state  legislature,  for  the  county  of 
Albany,  resulted  in  the  following  vote. 

For  the  House  of  Assembly. 


John  Lansing  junior,  ..  284 

John  Tayler, 302 

Henry  Glen, 281 

John  Livingston, 243 

Peter  Vrooman,  . . '. 257 

Abraham  I.Van  Alstyne,  213 


Lawrence  Hogeboom,. .,  216 

James  Gordon, 305 

JamesVanSchoonhoven,  228 

Isaac  Vrooman, 24 

Robert  McClallen, 32 

Elbert  Willett, 5 


1785.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  293 


Abraham  Schuyler,....  1 

John  Price,  ..." 2 

Richard  Lush, 1 

Jacob  G.  Lansing, 1 

Leonard  Bronck, 245 

Matthew  Visscher, 146 

Peter  W.  Yates, 97 

Jacob  Ford, 23 

Matthew  Adgate, 24 

Jacob  C.  Schermerhorn,  26 


Israel  Thompson, ......  14 

Abram  Backer, 4 

Edmund  Wells, 14 

Peter  Swart, 1 

William  Powers, 1 

Henry  I. Van  Rensselaer,  1 

Thomas  Hun, 2 

Henry  Quackenboss,  ...  2 

Stephen  I.  Schuyler, ....  2 

Lucas  Van  Veghten, ...  1 


For  the  Senate. 

Philip  Schuyler, 170     ,    Henry  Oothout, 16 

Volkert  P.  Douw, 165     |    William  B.  Whitney, ..     12 

Ivie  Chambers,  "  at  his  store  near  the  Low  Dutch  church, 
on  the  west  side  of  the  main  street,"  sold  the  usual  articles 
of  a  general  store,  principally  liquors. 

The  session  of  the  supreme  court  closed,  when  Petrus  and 
Christian  Cooper  being  convicted  of  a  robbery,  and  Christian 
Loucks  of  horse  stealing,  received  sentence  of  death  respect- 
ively. Two  others,  convicted  of  felony,  were  admitted  to 
benefit  of  clergy.  One  was  whipped  for  petit  larceny,  and 
two  discharged  by  proclamation. 

May  3.  An  election  of  city  officers  took  place,  which  re- 
sulted in  the  choice  of  the  following : 

First  Ward. — Robert  McClallen,  supervisor  ;  Peter  Yan 
Bergen,  Bethuel  Washburn,  Edward  Cumpton,  assessors; 
Marte  Minderse,  overseer  of  the  poor;  Abraham  T.  Yates, 
Thomas  Barrett,  road  masters. 

.  Second  Ward. — Jacob  Cuyler,  supervisor;  Jacob  Yan- 
der  Heyden,  Casparus  Pruyn,  Richard  Lush,  assessors ; 
John  N.  Bleecker,  overseer  of  the  poor ;  Jacob  Bleecker, 
John  Marselis,  road  masters. 

Third  Ward.—  Cornelius  Wendell,  supervisor;  Peter 
Gansevoort,  Jun.,  Abraham  A.  Lansing,  David  Fonda,  as- 
sessors ;  Isaac  Yan  Arnum,  overseer  of  the  poor ;  Sanders 
Lansing,  Yolkert  A.  Douw,  road  masters ;  Baltus  Yan  Ben- 
thuysen,  collector  for  the  city. 

Elihu  Goodrich  and  John  Ely  opened  a  school  "in 
the  house  occupied  by  Michael  Hollenbake,"  who  had  "  left 
keeping  tavern."  They  taught  Greek  and  Latin  for  40s. 
a  quarter ;  grammar,  arithmetic  and  writing  for  30s. ;  read- 
ing and  spelling  for  20s.  The  hours  of  study  were  from  6 


294  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  [1785. 

to  8,  and  9  to  12,  in  the  forenoon;  and  from  2  to  5,  and  6 
to  8,  in  the  afternoon.  This  to  the  magisters  of  our  day, 
may  appear  to  have  been  a  pretty  thorough  drilling  of  "  the 
young  idea." 

Alexander  Laverty,  "tayler  from  London,"  took  the 
house  lately  occupied  by  Henry  Hart,  in  the  back  apart- 
ment, where  he  carried  on  the  "  tayler's  business  as  cheap 
as  any  in  town,"  and  made  payments  easy  to  those  who  em- 
ployed him.  His  prices  were  :  for  a  coat  14s. ;  lappelled 
do,  16s. ;  lappelled  do,  with  slashed  sleeves,  18s. ;  vest  and 
breeches,  6s.  9d. 

Elisha  Crane,  opposite  the  City  Hall,  sold  cyder  at  18s. 
a  barrel,  and  took  boards,  plank,  staves,  pease  and  any  sort 
of  grain  in  payment.  In  a  nota  bene  the  public  is  informed 
that  money  would  not  be  refused. 

June.  A  company  of  stage  wagon  proprietors  undertook 
to  make  the  land  passage  between  New  York  and  Albany 
"  the  most  easy  and  agreeable  as  well  as  the  most  expedi- 
tious," by  performing  the  journey  in  two  days,  at  3d.  a  mile; 
but  in  the  fall,  "  for  the  ease  of  the  passengers,"  the  time 
of  performing  the  route  was  changed  to  three  days,  and  the 
price  raised  to  4d.  a  mile,  "  agreeably  to  act  of  assembly." 

July  12.  An  ordinance  was  passed  by  the  common  coun- 
cil for  the  extermination  of  dogs,  all  of  whom  were  to  be 
killed  in  two  days,  under  penalty  of  £8,  which  was  to  be 
recovered  for  the  benefit  of  any  person  prosecuting. 

Nov.  8.  The  presbytery  of  New  York  ordained  John 
McDonald  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  he  was  at  the  same 
time  installed  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Albany. 
He  was  the  third  pastor  of  that  church,  and  it  was  during 
his  ministry  that  the  edifice  was  erected  for  that  congrega- 
tion on  the  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Beaver  streets,  the 
site  of  Beaver  Block. 

Dee.  13.  A  company  of  comedians  having  leased  the 
old  hospital,  which  stood  near  tne  present  site  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church,  and  having  fitted  it  up  as  a  theatre,  opened 
with  Gross  Purposes  and  Catharine  and  Petrucliio,  between 
which  was  a  dance,  La  Polonaise,  and  a  Eulogy  on  Free- 
masonry. Tickets  sold  at  Lewis's  tavern,  and  no  money 
taken  at  the  door.  Boxes  8s. ;  gallery  4s. 

A  vigorous  effort  was  made  to  discontinue  these  perform- 
ances, by  a  large  and  respectable  part  of  community,  but 


1786.] 


Notes  from  the  Newspapers. 


295 


the  common  council  determined  by  a  vote  of  9  to  4,  that 
they  had  no  legal  right  to  prohibit  theatrical  exhibitions  in 
the  city.  A  whole  number  of  the  Gazette  is  taken  up  with 
the  controversy,  to  the  exclusion  of  every  other  subject. 

1785.  January.     By  the  post  office  arrangements  of  this 
year,  the  New  York  mail  arrived  twice  a  week,  Wednesdays 
and  Saturdays,  at  8  o'clock  P.M.  ;  and  two  hours  after  its 
receipt,  the  down  mail  was  made  up  and  forwarded. 

July  13.  The  Gazette  was  enlarged  to  a  sheet  19  inches 
by  23,  which  we  learn  was  the  largest  size  then  printed  in 
America.  In  the  same  paper 'is  announced  the  first  part  of 
the  Grammatical  Institute,  abridged,  by  Noah  Webster,  price 
6  coppers,  this  day  printed. 

The  sloop  Experiment,  80  tons  burden,  was  fitted  out 
at  this  port  by  Oapt.  Stewart  Dean,  and  sailed  for  China. 
(See  Annals,  i). 

1786.  April  4.     An  act  passed  the  legislature  of  the  state 
of  New  York,  for  erecting  the  south-east  part  of  the  county 
of  Albany  into  a  new  county,  by  the  name  of  Columbia. 

July  5.  The  supreme  court  closed  its  July  session,  when 
Caleb  Gardner,  convicted  of  passing  counterfeit  Spanish 
dollars,  received  sentence  of  death.  Two  weeks  afterwards, 
the  sheriff  advertised  that  the  person  then  under  sentence 
of  death  in  the  City  Hall  would  be  hanged  on  Friday  the 
fifteenth  of  September ;  and  that  any  person  willing  to 
undertake  the  execution,  was  desired  to  apply  to  the  said 
sheriff. 

July  22.  The  corporation  and  citizens  of  Albany  cele- 
brated the  centennial  anniversary  of  the  charter  of  the  city 
(See  vol.  i,  335). 

The  number  of  houses  in  Albany  at  this  time  was  found, 
by  actual  enumeration,  to  be  550.  A  statement  of  the  num- 
ber of  houses  in  the  principal  cities  and  towns  at  this  time, 
will  serve  to  show  their  relative  proportions  : 

Philadelphia, 4,600  Wilmington, 400 

New  York, 3,500  Annapolis, 260 

Boston, 2,100  Fredericktown, 400 

Baltimore, 1,900  Alexandria  (Va)., 300 

Charleston  (S.  C.), 1,540  Richmond, 280 

Albany, 550  Petersburg!!, 290 

New  Haven, 400  Williamsburgh, 230 

Hartford, 300 


296  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  1787.] 

It  will  be  seen  that  Albany  was  the  sixth  in  point  of 
numbers.  The  census  of  Boston  was  found  to  •  be  at  that 
time  14,640,  exclusive  of  strangers,  which  gives  seven  per- 
sons to  a  house.  At  this  rate  Albany  would  have  had  3,850 
inhabitants.  To  carry  out  the  calculation,  Philadelphia 
would  have  contained  32,200,  New  York  24,500,  Baltimore 
13,300,  Charleston  10,780.  The  number  of  stranger?  might 
have  increased  the  estimate  one-eighth. 

1787.  Jan.  1.  The  city  authorities  fixed  the  price  of 
flour  at  18s.  per  hundred  weight  and  the  assize  of  bread  at 
the  rate  of  lib.  12oz.  for  4  coppers.  In  February,  the 
assize  of  bread  was  lib.  8oz.  of  superfine  flour  for  4  coppers, 
and  lib.  lOoz.  common ;  flour,  20s.  per  cwt. 

The  population  of  the  state  at  this  time  was  220,000 
whites,  18,889  slaves,  and  12  Indians  who  paid  taxes.  In 
1756,  the  whole  population  was  83,233  ;  in  1771,  148,124. 

A  nail  manufactory  was  established  in  "  Orange  street, 
near  the  High  Dutch  Church,"  by  Garret  Witbeck,  who 
manufactured  8s.  and  10s.  at  Is.  per  lb.,  and  20s.  and  24s.  at 
llrf.  per  lb.  He  claimed  that  they  were  fully  equal  in  good- 
ness to  any  imported,  and  hinted  at  the  great  importance  of 
encouraging  such  an  establishment  in  this  country.  The 
forging  of  nails,  notwithstanding  their  prodigious  consump- 
tion in  this  country,  wae,  until  1810,  a  handicraft  trade  : 
the  machinery  by  which  they  are  now  produced  is  an  Ame- 
rican invention.  In  the  same  year,  Stevenson,  Douw  &  Ten 
Eyck  erected  a  similar  establishment. 

A  correspondent  of  a  New  York  paper,  Dec.,  1785,  observed 
that  the  infatuation  which  possessed  many  of  the  people 
of  this  state  for  theatrical  exhibitions  was  truly  alarming. 
That,  strange  to  tell,  the  honest,  sober  Dutchmen  of  Albany, 
who  were  once  distinguished  by  industry  and  a  laudable 
parsimony,  were  now  plunging  into  that  very  species  of 
luxury  and  folly,  which  stamps  upon  the  metropolis  an 
indelible  stigma.  That  it  was  still  more  observable  and 
wonderful  to  relate  that  even  the  fathers  of  that  ancient 
city  had  sanctioned  the  establishment  of  a  public  theatre, 
by  granting  their  permission  to  players.  That  in  justice  to 
the  magistrates  of  New  York,  it  was  necessary  to  say,  that 
though  it  was  not  in  their  power  to  prohibit,  they  had  never 
extended  their  authority  so  far. as  to  license  the  opening  of 


1788.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  297 

the  theatre ;  and  if  common  fame  could  be  credited,  none 
of  them  had  countenanced  the  comedians  by  attending  their 
exhibition^. 

April  22.  The  sloop  Experiment,  Capt.  Dean,  returned 
from  a -voyage  to  China,  without  the  loss  of  a  man  during 
the  voyage.  (See  Annals,  I,  261,  2d  edition). 

June  28.  A  regiment  of  militia  was  organized  in  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  manor  of  Rensselaerswyck,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieut.  Col.  John  Van  Rensselaer.  The  officers 
took  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  office  before  Matthew  Viss- 
cher.  clerk  of  the  county  of  Albany  :  after  which  the  regi- 
ment was  formed,  and  the  militia  law  and  the  officers' 
commissions  were  read  by  Adjutant  Henry.  At  the  same 
time  two  companies  of  light  infantry  were  formed,  the 
volunteers  being  so  numerous  as  nearly  to  fill  them  in  a 
short  time.  The  uniform  of  these  companies  is  thus 
described  :  The  commissioned  officers,  dark  blue  coats,  faced 
with  white,  and  white  under  clothes ;  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates,  a  white  linen  hunting-shirt  and  overalls, 
a  round  hat  three  inches  in  the  brim,  bound  with  white 
tape,  and  covered  with  a  piece  of  bearskin  four  inches  wide 
over  the  crown ;  a  good  musket,  bayonet  and  cartouch  box, 
twenty-four  cartridges  suitable  to  the  bore  of  the  musket, 
two  spare  flints,  one  knapsack  and  blanket.  . 

Rev.  John  Bassett  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Dutch  Re- 
formed Church,  collegiate  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eilardus  West- 
erlo. 

August.  The  trustees  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  recently 
erected,  acknowledged  the  receipt  of  donations  to  the  amount 
of  £552  12s.  2d.  more  than  £214  of  which  was  obtained  in 
Albany  and  its  vicinity.  The  total  cost  of  the  building  was 
£640.  (See  vol.  i,  p.  154,  2d  ed.). 

1788.  January,  Leonard  de  Neufville  l  Jan  Heefke  and 
Ferdinand  Walf'ahrt,  proprietors  of  the  Dowesbourgh  Glass 
manufactory,  ten  miles  from  Albany,  appeal  to  the  patriot- 
ism of  the  state  of  New  York  to  sustain  their  establishment. 
They  say  the  state  is  annually  drained  of  £30,000  for  this 
necessary  article  which  they  can  manufacture  of  any  size 
superior  to  the  English  glass. 


3  See  Annals,  x,  219. 


298  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  [1788. 

The  delegates  nominated  by  the  two  parties  for  the  con- 
vention to  decide  on  the  federal  constitution,  were  the  fol- 
lowing :  Abraham  Ten  Broeck,  Jacob  Cuyler,  Francis  Nicoll, 
Jeronemus  Hoogland,  Peter  Gansevoort  junior,  James  Gor- 
don, John  W.  Schermerhoorn,  Federal;  Robert  Yates.  John 
Lansing  junior,  Henry  Oothoudt,  Peter  Vrooman,  Israel 
Thompson,  Anthony  Ten  Eyck,  Dirk  Swart,  Anti-federal. 

Jan.  26.  Charles  R.  and  George  Webster  and  Co.,  pub- 
lished a  quarto  paper,  called  the  Albany  Journal,  or  Mont- 
gomery, Washington,  and  Columbia  Intelligencer,  which  was 
published  twice  a  week  during  the  session  of  the  legisla- 
ture. 

Feb.  11.  Claxton  and  Babcock,  lately  from  Lansingburgh, 
published  The  Federal  Herald.  They  returned  to  Lansing- 
burgh  the  same  year. 

March  11.  A  law  was  passed  by  the  legislature,  authoriz- 
ing the  corporation  to  raise  £2000  for  the  construction  of  a 
new  jail  (the  old  one  being  found  inadequate  to  the  safe 
custody  of  prisoners),  and  repairing  the  court-house.  Clin- 
ton county  was  taken  from  Albany  county  at  this  session  of 
the  legislature. 

May  27.  The  election  of  members  of  assembly  terminated 
in  the  success  of  the  anti-federal  party,  and  seem?  to  have 
been  the  first  party  struggle  growing  out  of  the  dissension 
on  the  question  of  the  constitution.  The  vote  of  the  two 
parties  in  the  county  of  Albany,  as  canvassed  on  this  day  by 
the  supervisors,  stood  as  follows.  John  Younglove  seems 
to  have  had  the  votes  of  both  parties. 

ANTI  FEDERAL.  FEDERAL. 


Stephen  VanRenselaer, .  1953 

Leonard  Gansevoort, 1888 

Richard  Sill 1877 

HezekialiVanOrden, 1871 

John  Knickerbacker,...  1868 
Isaac  Vrooman, 1851 


John  Lansing, 3048 

Jeremiah VanRensselaer,  3042 

JohnDuncan, 2990 

Cornells  Vandyck. 3033 

John  Thompson, 3006 

Henry  K.VanRensselaer,  2911 
John  Younglove, 4807 

The  Albany  Register  was  begun  this  year,  by  Robert 
Barber. 

The  impolicy  of  imprisonment  for  debt  is  aptly  illustrated 
in  the  following  case,  where  a  rich  and  popular  citizen 
incarcerates  a  humble  artisan  for  his  inability  to  liquidate 


1788.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers. 

his  rent,  who  thereby  becomes  a  charge  upon  the  county, 
and  a  defaulter  to  all  the  rest  of  his  creditors. 

"  Whereas  the  subscriber  (a  master  of  shoemaking)  is  now 
confined  in  the  City  Hall,  upper  loft,  for  twenty  pounds 
back  rent  which  he  is  owing  Gen.  Schuyler ;  and  as  he  is 
desirous  of  working  for  his  living,  and  not  to  be  chargeable 
to  the  good  people  of  this  city,  he  therefore  humbly  requests 
such  of  the  citizens  and  others  as  are  desirous  of  having 
well  made  shoes  on  the  most  reasonable  terms,  to  favor  him 
with  their  custom,  and  they  may  depend  on  being  served  on 
the  shortest  notice,  and  every  favor  shall  be  thankfully  ac- 
knowledged by  the  public's  humble  hervant,  THADDEUS 
LAWRENCE." 

Aug.  8.  The  city  of  Albany,  not  to  be  behind  her  sister 
cities,  set  apart  a  day  for  public  rejoicings,  to  celebrate  the 
ratification  of  the  constitution  of  the  United  States  by  the 
convention  of  the  state  of  New  York.  Every  trade  and 
profession  seems  to  have  united  in  the  jubilee,  with  appro- 
priate emblems,  and  formed  a  truly  imposing  procession 
under  the  conduct  of  Gen.  Schuyler.  (See  vol.  I,  380). 

November.  The  citizens  were  entertained  with  the  extra- 
ordinary sight  of  an  ''uncommon  bird,"  killed  at  Saratoga, 
and  sent  down  as  a  rarity.  "  The  distance  from  the  tip  of 
one  wing  to  the  other,  when  both  were  extended,  was  nine 
feet  two  inches ;  the  mouth  was  large  enough  to  contain  the 
head  of  a  boy  ten  years  of  age,  and  the  throat  so  capacious 
as  to  admit  the  foot  and  leg  of  a  man,  boot  and  all."  No 
one  could  decide  what  species  the  stranger  belonged  to,  till 
the  counsel  of  Dr.  Mitchell  of  New  York  being  called  in,  it 
was  decided  to  be  a  pelican  ;  perhaps  the  only  one  that  ever 
extended  his  discoveries  to  this  region. 

Peter  Van  Deusen  and  Jacob  Van  de  Bilt  established 
for  the  convenience  of  the  citizens,  a  soap  and  candle  fac- 
tory, which  useful  branch  of  business,  they  say  in  their 
advertisement,  had  been  long  wanted  in  the  city.  To  induce 
the  citizens  to  encourage  these  domestic  manufactures,  they 
offer  their  articles  at  New  York  prices,  thus  making  a 
saving  of  freight  and  cartage;  and  further  to  promote 
economy,  manufactured  for  those  who  provided  their  own 
tallow,  at  2£  pence  per  pound,  and  furnish  the  cotton  wick 
themselves. 


300 


Notes  from  the  Newspapers. 


[1789. 


1789.  Jan.  1.  The  thermometer  at  noon  indicated  18° 
above  zero ;  and  on  the  following  morning,  at  six  o'clock, 
it  was  24°  below,  being  six  degrees  colder  than  it  had  ever 
been  known  in  the  city. 

Jan.  5.  The  freeholders  of  Vanderliey den's  or  Ashley's 
Ferry,  situate  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson  river,  about 
seven  miles  above  Albany,  met  for  the  purpose  of  establish- 
•  ing  a  name  for  the  place;  when,  by  a  majority  of  voices,  it 
was  confirmed  that  in  future  it  should  be  called  and  known 
by  the  name  of  Troy.  From  its  important  state,  and  na- 
tural advantages,  it  was  anticipated  "at  no  very  distant 
period  to  see  Troy  as  famous  for  her  trade  and  navigation 
as  many  of  our  first  towns." The  journals  of  the  legis- 
lature for  the  session  of  1789  were  printed  by  S.  and  J. 
Loudon,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Thomas  McMurry,  in  Barrack 
(now  Chapel)  street,  they  being  printers  to  the  state. 

May.  The  Albany  Gazette,  on  entering  upon  its  sixth 
volume,  began  to  be  published  twice  a  week The  fol- 
lowing is  given  in  the  Register,  as  a  particular  statement  of 
the  votes  of  the  several  towns  in  Albany  county  for  go- 
vernor. The  election  was  opened  on  the  28th  April,  for 
governor,  lieutenant  governor,  senators  and  assemblymen. 


Towns. 


G.  Clinton.    Yates. 


Hoosick, 34  33 

Saratoga, 14  67 

Steventown, 21  173 

Ballstown, 168  76 

Katskill, 39  33 

Watervliet, 50  294 

Schenectady, 71  132 

Schoharie, 129  30 

Duanesburgh, ...     14  9 


Towns. 

Stillwater, 76 

Cambridge, 100 

Albany  (3  wards),  55 

Rensselaerwyck, .  23 

Schaghticoke,  ...  7 

Halfmoon, 73 

Cexsackie, 40 

Pittstown, 56 

Eastown, 30 


G.  Clinton.    Yates. 
59 
118 
153 
188 
54 
47 
53 
31 
27 


1000          1577 

The  returns  were  very  imperfectly  given  by  the  papers,  the 
adjoining  counties  being  seldom  reported,  and  never  accu- 
rately. The  polls  were  closed  in  the  city,  we  are  told  in 
the  middle  of  the  week ;  but  in  the  east  and  west  districts 
of  the  manor  of  Rensselaerwyck,  ballots  continued  to  be 
received  until  Saturday  afternoon.  The  election  of  Go- 
vernor Clinton  was  carried  by  the  heavy  majority  from 
Ulster  county,  which  gave  him  1039  out  of  1145. 


1789.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  301 

July  6.  The  legislature  met  at  Albany.  The  message 
of  Gov.  Clinton,  at  the  opening  of  the  session,  occupied 
thirty-two  lines  in  the  newspapers. 

On  the  first  of  June,  the  thermometer  stood  at  40° ;  on 
the  30th,  at  80 ;  on  the  14th  July,  at  56 ;  on  the  24th,  at 
84 ;  on  the  12th  August,  at  80 ;  on  the  30th,  at  47 ;  these 
being  the  highest  and  lowest  ranges  for  those  months. 

At  the  July  term  of  the  supreme  court,  held  in  Albany, 
Elihu  Smeeds  of  Pittstown  in  the  county  of  Albany,  in- 
dicted for  the  murder  of  Ezekiel  Mitchell,  and  convicted  of 
manslaughter,  was  adjudged  to  receive  thirty-nine  lashes, 
at  the  public  whipping  post,  and  be  imprisoned  three  ca- 
lendar months.  Six  ethers,  convicted  of  stealing,  were 
condemned  to  receive  thirty-nine  lashes  each ;  while  about 
the  same  time,  Francis  Uss,  convicted  of  breaking  open  and 
robbing  a  store  in  Poughkeepsie,  was  publicly  hanged. 

There  was  a  scarcity  of  breadstuffs  this  year,  through- 
out the  country,  and  complaints  were  made  of  monopo- 
lizers. Flour  sold  at  New  Orleans  for  twelve  dollars  a 
barrel.  Complaints  were  frequent  of  the  scarcity  of  pro- 
visions in  the  western  part  of  the  state,  on  account  of  the 
flood  of  immigrants.  In  the  vicinity  of  Niagara,  it  was 
difficult  to  subsist'the  new  comers.  A  letter  from  "Cooper's 
Town,  Otsego  Lake,"  May  7,  says:  "The  vast  multitude  of 
people  that  come  daily  to  this  country  have  caused  a  scarcity 
of  provisions  almost  to  a  famine.  In  the  Genesee  it  is  quite 
so.  Corn  will  bring  ten.  shillings  in  cash,  and  six  shillings 
at  Albany;  and  it  is  said  potatoes  at  Niagara  are  twenty 
shillings.  However  alarming  this  may  be,  it  proceeds  from 
no  other  cause  than  that  of  an  innumerable  quantity  of 
people  flocking  in.  I  have  had  thirty  in  a  day  seeking  land 
of  me." 

Nov.  3.  A  snowstorm  commenced  at  ten  in  the  morning, 
and  continued  during  the  day;  and  the  weather  was  re- 
markably cold,  having  every  appearance  of  winter :  a  cir- 
cumstance not  before  recollected  by  any  of  the  inhabitants 
at  so  early  a  period. 

The  amount  of  receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  city  of 
Albany  for  the  first  six  years  succeeding  the  revolution, 
was  as  follows : 

Annals,  ii.  26 


302  Notes  from  the  Newspapers.  [1790. 

Received.  Disbursed. 

1783-4  £625    7s.  5c? £589  11s.  3d. 

1784-5  277     6    1      334  13    9 

1785-6  476  17    8      482  6    2 

1786-7  2392  10  10      2465  10    2 

1787-8  1421     5  11      1348  14    4 

1788-9  547    7    9      443  10  11 

1790.  January.  It  was  deemed  "  indispensably  necessary  " 
by  Mr.  Cornelius  J.  Wynkoop,  that  there  should  be  in  the 
city  "an  auctioneer  and  vendue  master  for  dry  goods, 
household  furniture,  &c."  Whereupon  he  opened  at  No.  8 

Market  street,  "a  licensed  auction  office." De  Hart  & 

Kinney  received  the  postage  for  carrying  the  mail  between 
New  York  and  Albany. 

Feb.  1.  The  legislature  granted  Ananias  Platt  the  exclu- 
sive right  of  running  a  stage  between  Albany  and  Lansing- 
burgh. 

April  2.  The  legislature  passed  an  act  for  the  improve- 
ment of  the  navigation  of  the  overslaugh,  by  allowing  the 
proprietors  of  Mills  and  Papskni  islands  to  erect  a  dam  to 
prevent  the  passage  of  the  water  between  them,  and  throw 
it  into  the  main  channel.  This,  it  was  thought,  would  more 
effectually  benefit  the  navigation,  than  the  employment  of 
"  an  unwieldy  machine,  which  at  best  only  affords  a  tempo- 
rary relief." 

The  prisoners  confined  for  debt  in  the  city  hall,  which 
was  the  jail,  celebrated  the  5th  July  (the  4th  being  Sun- 
day). There  was  an  allusion  to  the  fifteenth  year  of  Ame- 
rican independence,  and  their  confinement  for  debt.  Their 
fifth  toast  was :  May  the  time  come  when  no  honest  man 
shall  be  confined  for  debt."  The  time  did  arrive,  in  less 
than  half  a  century,- when  dishonest  men  even  were  seldom 
confined  for  debt. 

October.  The  mail  stage  between  Albany  and  New  York, 
which  seems  to  have  been  suspended,  was  announced  to 

commence  running  twice  a  week  as  formerly The  synod 

of  New  York  and  New  Jersey  erected  a  new  presbytery  in 
the  northern  part  of  this  state,  under  the  name  of  The  Pres- 
bytery of  Albany  ;  to  which  they  committed  the  care  of  all 
the  congregations  in  this  state  in  connection  with  them, 


1790.]  Notes  from  the  Newspapers*.  803 

wliicli  lie  north  of  the  Catskill  mountains  on  the  west  side, 
and  of  the  southern  boundary  of  Columbia  county  on  the 
east  side  of  Hudson's  river.  It  was  appointed  to  meet  for 
the  first  time  on  the  ninth  November,  in  the  city  of  Albany ; 
and  to  be  opened  with  a  sermon  by  Rev.  William  Schenck, 
the  senior  pastor.  In  the  absence  of  Mr.  Schenck,  Rev.  John 
Warford  of  Salem  preached  from  Luke  xiv,  23.  Rev.  John 

McDonald  of  Albany  was  appointed  stated  clerk There 

were  but  two  mails  which  reached  the  city  of  Albany  at  this 
time ;  one  from  New  York,  and  the  other  from  Springfield, 

Mass.  (See  vol.  i,  p.  56)  The  revenue  of  the  city  for  six 

months  preceding  the  twelfth  October,  was  £918  16s.  10^.; 
the  expenditures,  £728  9s.  7c?.  Among  the  expenditures  is 
an  item  of  £3  10s.  paid  constables  for  patrolling  the  streets 
on  Sundays.  £24  2s.  4(7.  was  received  of  P.  S.  Van  Rens- 
selaer,  for  ground  in  Barrack  (Berg,1  now  Chapel)  street. 

December.  The  state  of  the  weather  is  thus  given  for  a 
part  of  this  month  : 

8th.  Thermometer  indicated  4  degrees  below  0.  9th.  10 
deg.  below  0 ;  the  barometer  higher  than  had  been  observed 
in  four  years,  and  the  weather  colder  for  the  season  than 
had  ever  been  known  in  the  city.  17th.  2°  below  0.  18th. 
8°  below  0.  19.  16°  below  0.  20th.  20°  above  0.  22d. 
0.  28th.  4°  below  0.  30th.  3°  below  0.  31st.  8°  below 
0.  Jan.  2d.  10°  below  0. 


1  This  being  the  most  westerly  and  highest  street,  was  called 
Berg  street,  that  is  hill  street,  which  in  time  came  to  be  written 
by  the  English,  Barrack  street,  from  the  Dutch  pronunciation  bar- 
rg,  as  though  it  were  two  syllables.  Thus  the  Helderberg,  was 
pronounced  Helder-bar~rag,  and  is  often  written  by  unlettered  Ame- 
ricans, Hattebarrack. 


304 


Lancasterian  School. 


LANCASTERIAN  SCHOOL. 


In  the  year  1810,  the  common  council  had  under  con- 
sideration the  project  of  establishing  a  free  school,  on  the 
plan  of  Joseph  Lancaster.  As  yet  there  were  no  public 
schools  in  the  city.  The  Mechanics'  Society  had,  a  number 
of  years  previous,  erected  a  building  on  the  corner  of  Chapel 
and  Columbia  streets,  and  maintained  a  school,  which  was 
not  altogether  confined  in  its  privileges  to  the  children  of 
its  own  members.  On  the  26th  May,  1812,  the  legislature 
passed  a  law  incorporating  the  Albany  Lancasterian  School 
Society,  which  had  then  been  some  time  in  operation.  The 
petition  stated  that  Philip  S.  Van  Rensselaer,  John  Lansing 
junior,  Simeon  De  Witt,  and  others,  had  associated  them- 
selves for  the  laudable  purpose  of  establishing  a  school  in 
the  city  of  Albany,  for  the  diffusion  of  common  education } 
and  presented  a  petition  to  the  legislature,  setting  forth  the 
benefits  that  would  result  to  society  from  such  an  institution, 
by  implanting  in  the  minds  of  children  the  principles  of 


Lancasterian  School.  305 

religion  and  morality,  and  by  assisting  their  parents  in  pro- 
viding suitable  situations  for  them,  where  habits  of  industry 
and  virtue  may  be  acquired ;  and  that  it  would  enable  them 
more  effectually  to  accomplish  the  benevolent  objects  of 
their  institution,  if  their  association  was  incorporated.  The 
trustees  named  in  the  law  to  serve  the  first  year,  were  Philip 
S.  Van  Rensselaer,  Simeon  De  Witt,  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer, 
Elisha  Jenkins,  Archibald  M'Intyre,  John  M.  Bradford, 
William  Neill,  Timothy  Clowes,  John  Mac  Jimpsey,  John 
Lansing  junior,  James  Kent,  John  V.  Henry  and  Charles 
R.  Webster.  The  members  of  the  common  council  were 
made  members  of  the  society  by  virtue  of  their  office ;  and 
any  person  contributing  twenty-five  dollars  to  its  benefit,  was 
entitled  to  send  one  child  to  be  educated  gratuitously.  The 
school  was  conducted  in  the  upper  part  of  the  building  of 
the  Mechanics'  Society,  until  the  completion  of  the  school- 
house  on  Eagle  street  in  1817.  Mr.  William  A.  Tweed 
Dale  was  appointed  preceptor.  His  report  of  the  business 
of  the  year  1814,  was  as  follows  : 

Salary  of  the  teacher, $700.00 

Rent  of  school  room, 82 . 50 

Fitting  up  Pettibone  stoves,  and  ventilating, . .       91 . 00 
Incidental  expenses, 331 .03 

$1204.53 
The  income  of  the  society  arose  from  the  following  sources  : 

Allowance  by  the  corporation  out  of  the  excise  receipts,  $500 . 00 

School  fund  appropriation, 487.66 

Tuition  fees  from  scholars, 400 . 00 


$1387.66 

The  number  of  scholars  instructed  during  the  year  was 
400,  half  of  whom  were  new  pupils,  or  such  as  had  not  pre- 
viously attended  the  school. 

On  Monday,  April  5,  1817,  the  ceremony  took  place  of 
opening  the  new  school  house,  the  building  now  occupied 
by  the  Medical  College  and  Law  School,  of  which  the 
woodcut  on  the  preceding  page  is  a  correct  representation, 
the  wing  having  been  added  since  the  school  was  abandoned. 
The  house  was  built  by  order  of  the  common  council,  at  an 


306  Lancasteritm  School. 

expense  of  $23,918.93.  It  was  capable  of  accommodating 
450  children,  and  a  large  infant  school ;  and  afforded  a  resi- 
dence for  the  principal.  A  procession,  consisting  of  the 
trustees,  principal,  and  four  hundred  scholars,  formed  at 
the  house  of  the  president  of  the  society,  Philip  S.  Van 
Rensselaer,  corner  of  State  and  Chapel  streets,  and  moved 
to  the  Capitol,  where  it  was  met  by  the  governor  of  the 
state,  mayor  and  recorder  of  the  city,  and  the  clergy  and 
citizens ;  whence  it  moved  to  the  school  house.  There  the 
exercises  consisted  of  a  prayer  by  Rev.  Mr.  Bradford,  an 
address  by  Dr.  T.  R.  Beck,  and  prayer  and  benediction  by 
Rev.  Mr.  De  Witt.  From  the  address  we  learn  that  during 
the  six  years  the  school  had  been  in  operation,  1149  scho- 
lars had  been  educated  in  it.  The  institution  was  designed 
to  gather  in  the  poor  and  neglected  children  of  the  city, 
who  were  growing  up  in  idleness  and  ignorance.  Of  the 
thousands  who  were  educated  within  its  walls,  many  doubt- 
less owe  a  life  of  happiness  and  prosperity,  in  some  instances 
of  eminence,  to  the  teachings  there  imparted.  It  continued 
in  operation  until  about  1834,  when  it  was  abandoned.  Mr. 
Tweed  Dale,  who  superintended  the  school  from  its  founda- 
tion till  that  time,  a  period  of  about  twenty-three  years,  was 
now  advanced  in  life.  He  was,  before  his  arrival  in  this 
country,  a  pupil  of  both  Dr.  Bell  and  Mr.  Lancaster,  the 
rival  claimants  of  the  honor  of  having  established  the  system. 
Incalculable  benefits  were  rendered  to  the  children  of  the 
poor  in  England  and  America,  by  the  establishment  of  simi- 
lar institutions,  at  a  time  when  education  was  mostly  con- 
fined to  the  higher  classes. 

This  institution  was  superseded  by  the  schools  which 
went  into  operation  in  every  part  of  the  city,  under  the 
common  school  system  of  the  state.  The  edifice  was  vacant 
for  several  years,  when  it  was  appropriated  to  the  use  of  a 
medical  college,  of  which  an  account  is  given  in  Collections 
Hist.  Albany,  n,  219. 

In  1818,  Mr.  Lancaster  visited  Albany  on  his  tour  in  the 
United  States ;  the  trustees  of  the  Lancaster  school  pre- 
sented him  with  the  following  address : 

"  Sir :  The  trustees  of  the  Albany  Lancaster  school  so- 
ciety, avail  themselves  of  your  unexpected  appearance  in 
this  quarter  of  the  world,  to  show  you  a  young  scion  from 


Ancient  Funeral  Custom.  307 

that  tree  which  you  have  planted,  which  is  rapidly  spreading 
its  branches  over  every  region,  and  imparting  its  blessed 
fruit  to  every  nation.  You,  sir,  have  devised,  matured,  and 
brought  into  universal  practice,  a  system  of  education,  by 
which  the  knowledge  of  letters,  science,  morality  and  reli- 
gion, can  with  comparatively  little  effort  and  expense  be 
communicated  to  millions  of  juvenile  minds,  who  by  the 
ordinary  established  means  of  education  would  not  have 
become  partakers  of  its  invaluable  benefits.  Accept,  sir, 
this  tribute  of  our  respect,  which  we  tender  to  you  as  one 
of  those  rare  benefactors  of  mankind,  whose  services  merit 
such  peculiar  public  acknowledgments  as  cannot  be  with- 
held without  incurring  the  justly  deserved  imputation  of 
public  ingratitude. 

"  SIMEON  I>E  WITT, 

"  President." 


ANCIENT  FUNEKAL  CUSTOM. 

The  following  is  copied  from  a  memoir  read  by  Judge 
Benson  before  the  New  York  Historical  Society  in  1816 : 

A  family  in  Albany,  and  from  the  earliest  time,  of  the 
name  of  Wyngaard.  The  last  in  the  male  line,  Lucas 
Wyngaard,  died  about  sixty  years  ago,  never  married,  and 
leaving  estate  :  the  invitation  to  his  funeral  very  general. 
Those  who  attended,  returned  after  the  interment,  as  was 
the  usage,  to  the  house  of  the  deceased  at  the  close  of  the 
one  day,  and  a  number  never  left  it  until  the  dawn  of  the 
next.  In  the  course  of  the  night  a  pipe  of  wine,  stored  in 
the  cellar  for  some  years  before  for  the  occasion,  drank; 
dozens  of  pampers  of  tobacco  consumed;  grosses  of  pipes 
broken;  scarce  a  whole  decanter  or  glass  left;  and,  to 
crown  it  all,  the  pall-bearers  made  a  bonfire  of  their  scarves 
on  the  hearth  —  bordering  on  barbarism  !  not  to  be  denied. 
We  are  more  temperate,  wholly  free  from  excess  and  riot  — 
admitted. 


308  The  Dutch  Language. 


THE  DUTCH  LANGUAGE. 

Since  the  memorable  era  of  Col.  Dongan's  administration, 
the  descendants  of  the  ancient  families  which  peopled  the 
manor  of  Rensselaerwyck  and  the  city  of  Albany  have  not 
only  suffered  the  decadence  of  the  institutions  and  language 
of  their  fathers,  but  have,  generally,  sought  to  unlearn  and 
forget  every  thing  that  was  Dutch ;  and  thus  virtually  con- 
tributed, in  no  small  degree,  to  render  their  paternity  a  bye- 
word.  The  ancient  language  of  the  city  has  been  so  wholly 
neglected,  that,  although  spoken  in  some  families,  we  know 
of  no  scion  of  the  ancient  stock  who  thinks  it  worth  his 
while  to  cultivate  it  for  literary  purposes.  Hence  an  im- 
pression prevails  of  the  general  stupidity  of  the  people  and 
the  meagreness  of  the  language.  Nor  is  this  impression  in 
regard  to  the  Dutch,  notwithstanding  the  respectable  figure 
they  have  made  in  the  world  for  several  centuries,  confined 
to  this  country.  It  is  not  a  little  remarkable,  says  a  British 
writer,  that  of  a  people  whose  national  character  runs  in 
many  respects  parallel  with  ours ;  who  have  been  animated 
by  a  similar  spirit  of  industry,  commercial  enterprise  and 
maritime  ardor,  even  the  language  should  be  hardly  at  all 
known  in  this  country,  notwithstanding  the  study  of  it  is 
calculated  to  throw  so  much  light  upon  our  own,  which  has 
not  only  the  same  common  origin,  but  has  immediately 
borrowed  a  great  number  of  words  and  expressions  from  it. 
So  far  from  meriting  that  contempt  with  which  the  insolence 
of  ignorance  has  branded  them,  there  are  few  nations  which 
have  contributed  more  towards  the  civilization  of  Europe, 
and  to  learning  and  science,  than  the  people  of  the  Nether- 
lands. The  country  that  has  produced  an  Erasmus  and  a 
Grrotius,  a  Swammerdam,  a  Leeuwenhoek,  and  a  Boerhaave; 
that  has  done  so  much  for  the  physical  sciences,  for  medi- 
cine, jurisprudence,  philology,  classical  and  oriental  litera- 
ture ;  that  can  boast  of  such  writers  as  a  Yondel  and  a 
Bilderdijk ;  that  has  done  so  much  for  the  cultivation  of  its 
language ;  that  possesses  so  many  literary  societies  and  in- 
stitutes, together  with  others  for  the  encouragement  of  the 


The  Dutch  language.  309 

fine  arts,  ought  not  to  be  stigmatized  as  one  inhabited  by  a 
dull,  plodding  race  of  merchants. 

One  circumstance,  which,  if  it  has  served  to  diffuse  over 
Europe  the  labors  of  its  learned  men,  has  also  merged  their 
celebrity  in  that  of  continental  literature  generally,  has  been 
the  practice  of  employing  Latin ;  a  circumstance  which  has 
rendered  an  acquaintance  with  the  Dutch  language  unneces- 
sary for  the  purpose  of  profitting  by  their  studies  or  disco- 
veries. Most  probably,  too,  the  universal  celebrity  of  the 
Dutch  scholars  throughout  the  learned  world  has  in  no 
small  degree  tended  to  divert  attention  from,  and  excite  a 
prejudice  against  the  vernacular  language  and  literature,  as 
being  rude  and  uncultivated,  and  unfitted  for  any  nobler 
purpose  than  that  of  carrying  on  the  intercourse  of  daily 
life.  Yet  so  very  far  is  this  from  being  the  case,  that  there 
is  scarcely  any  modern  tongue  which  either  contains  within 
itself  more  plastic  elements,  or  which  has  been  more  care- 
fully wrought  up  and  polished ;  nor  have  any  people  paid 
greater  attention  to  purity  of  style  and  elegance  of  diction, 
than  the  writers  of  Holland  of  late  years.  It  can  not  be 
said  that  the  difficulty  of  acquiring  it  has  deterred  us  from 
attempting  to  form  any  acquaintance  -with  the  literature  of 
this  country  ;  because,  of  all  foreign  idioms,  it  is  that  which 
bears  the  strongest  family  resemblance  to  our  own  ;  so  much 
so,  that  flippant  and  ignorant  travelers  have  sometimes 
described  it  as  a  sort  of  bastard  English ;  which  is  just  as 
correct  as  it  would  be  for  a  Hollander  to  call  English  a  bas- 
tard jargon  of  Dutch.  Those  who  decide  that  the  language 
in  which  Yondel  wrote  is  a  barbarous  one,  would  be  capable 
of  pronouncing  with  equal  effrontery  that  the  language  em- 
ployed by  Milton  is  altogether  rude  and  unpolished.  It 
certainly  has  its  defects,  but  they  are  those  of  our  own  lan- 
guage, which  sounds  equally  harsh  to  European  ears,  and  is 
condemned  as  being  clogged  with  consonants  and  abounding 
with  monosyllables.  At  the  same  time  it  possesses  far 
greater  homogeneousness,  and,  like  the  German,  the  power 
of  combining  out  of  its  own  elements  and  roots,  that  class  of 
words  which  we  borrow  immediately  from  the  Latin  and  the 
Greek ;  for  instance,  onnavolgbare,  inimitable  ',  vereeningen, 
to  unite;  veelomvattende,  comprehensive,  &c. :  whereas  we 


310  The  Dutch  Language. 

have  only  a  very  few  of  the  kind,  such  as  unchangeable, 
wherein  the  Saxon  root  is  employed. 

It  is  not  pretended  that  the  literature  of  the  Dutch  lan- 
guage contains  so  much  to  reward  the  student  as  that  of 
Germany,  but  it  certainly  contains  a  very  great  deal,  and 
much  too  that  is  equally  or  even  more  worthy  of  finding 
translators  in  this  country  than  many  of  the  productions 
which  have  come  from  Germany.  There  is  a  current  of 
sound  and  healthy  feeling  in  the  literature  of  Holland ;  a 
devotional  fervor,  and  a  regard  for  the  hallowing  influences 
of  domestic  life;  a  beautiful  simplicity;  together  with  a 
nobleness  and  independence,  pervading  many  of  the  poetical 
productions  of  that  country. 

But  lest  we  should  be  thought  to  depart  from  our  pro- 
vince in  extending  this  subject  here,  we  will  conclude  by 
referring  to  the  Encyclopedia  Americana,  its  article  on  the 
language,  literature  and  poetry  of  the  Netherlands,  in  the 
hope  that  it  may  have  the  effect  to  inspire  more  favorable 
opinions  on  this  subject  even  among  those  who  ought  more 
highly  to  reverence  the  language  and  literature  of  their 
fatherland. 


Dutch  Names  for  Albany  and  Vicinity.       311 


DUTCH  NAMES  FOR  ALBANY  AND  VICINITY. 

Albany  was  known  by  the  several  Dutch  names  of  Bever- 
wyck,  Wittemstadt,  and  Fort  Orange,  chiefly  by  the  last.1 
It  was  also  known  as  the  Fuyck,  or  hoop-net;  and  a  kil  is 
mentioned  as  there,  and  known  as  the  Fuyck  kil,  changed 
to  Rutten  kil,  an  abbreviation  of  Rutgert's  kil;  Rutgert 
Bleecker,2  a  proprietor  of  the  ground  adjacent  to  it,  the 
third  creek  from  the  Norman's  kil  inclusive.  The  creek 
known  as  Vyde  kil,  the  fifth  creek,  the  creek  at  Water  vliet, 
literally  at  the  time  water  flood,  the  word  vliet  since  rarely 
in  use ;  the  seat  of  the  family  of  Van  Rensselaer.  The 
lands  immediately  opposite  to  Albany,  and  for  a  distance 
along  and  from  the  river,  the  Dutch  denoted  as  Het  Greene 
Bosch,  the  pine  woods,  corrupted  to  Greenbush.  The  mouths 
of  the  Mohock  they  distinguished  as  the  Spruytes,  corrupted 
to,  and  which  may  also  possibly  pass  for  a  translation,  the 
Sprouts.  The  larger  island  formed  by  the  Sprouts,  they 
called  Walvisch  island,  whale  island.  "I  cannot  forbear/' 
says  Van  Der  Donck,  "  to  mention,  that  in  the  year  1647,  in 
the  month  of  March,  when,  by  a  great  freshet,  the  water 
was  .fresh  almost  to  the  great  bay,  there  were  two  whales,  of 
tolerable  size,  up  the  river;  the  one  turned  back,  but  the 
other  stranded,  and  stuck  nor  far  from  the  great  fall  of  the 
Cohoes."  The  arable  land  immediately  above,  they  denoted 
as  the  Halve  Maan,  the  half  moon,  from  its  crescent-like 
form  along  the  hills  on  the  western  side. —  Judge  Benson. 


1  .Fort  Orange  having  been  taken  possession  of  by  the  govern- 
ment, and  being  often  inundated,  the  settlement  was  removed  far- 
ther north,  to  State  street  and  vicinity,  and  called  Beverwyk. — 'M. 

2  This  must  be  erroneous.    In  the  records  it  is  called  Rattes  kil, 
which  shows  that  rutten  is  synonymous  with  ratten.    No  part  of 
the  city  is  so  infested  with  rats  to  this  day.     This  creek  was  called^ 
Kutten  kil  long  before  Rutgert  Bleecker's  day. —  M. 


312  Origin  of  Yankee  Doodle. 


ORIGIN  OF  YANKEE  BOODLE. 

It  is  known  as  a  matter  of  history,  that  in  the  early  part 
of  1755,  great  exertions  were  made  by  the  British  ministry, 
at  the  head  of  which  was  the  illustrious  Earl  of  Chatham, 
for  the  reduction  of  the  French  power  in  the  provinces  of 
the  Canadas.  To  carry  the  object  into  effect,  General  Am- 
herst,  referred  to  in  the  letters  of  Junius,  was  appointed  to 
the  command  of  the  British  army  in  north-western  America  : 
and  the  British  colonies  in  America  were  called  upon  for 
assistance,  who  contributed  with  alacrity  their  several 
quotas  of  men,  to  effect  the  grand  object  of  the  enterprise. 
It  was  still  fresh  in  the  memory  of  some  of  our  oldest  in- 
habitants sixty  years  ago,  that  the  British  army  lay  en- 
camped, in  the  summer  of  1755,  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the 
Hudson,  a  little  south  of  the  city  of  Albany,  on  the  ground 
now  belonging  to  Jeremiah  Van  Rensselaer.  Vestiges  of 
their  encampment  remained  for  a  long  time ;  and  after  a 
lapse  of  sixty  years,  when  a  great  proportion  of  the  actors  of 
those  days  had  passed  away  from  the  earth,  the  inquisitive 
traveler  could  observe  the  remains  of  the  ashes,  the  places 
where  they  boiled  their  camp  kettles.  It  was  this  army 
that,  under  the  command  of  Abercrombie,  was  foiled  with  a 
severe  loss  in  the  attack  on  Ticonderoga,  where  the  distin- 
guished Howe  fell  at  the  head  of  his  troops,  in  an  hour  that 
history  has  consecrated  to  fame.  In  the  early  part  of  June, 
the  eastern  troops  began  to  pour  in  company  after  company ; 
and  such  a  motley  assemblage  of  men  never  before  thronged 
together  on  such  an  occasion,  unless  an  example  may  be 
found  in  the  ragged  regiment  of  Sir  John  Falstaff,  of  right 
merry  and  facetious  memory.  It  would  have  relaxed  the 
gravity  of  an  anchorite,  to  have  seen  the  descendants  of  the 
puritans  marching  through  the  streets  of  our  ancient  city, 
to  take  their  station  on  the  left  of  the  British  army :  some 
with  long  coats,  some  with  short  coats,  and  others  with  no 
coats  at  all,  in  colors  as  varied  as  the  rainbow ;  some  with 
their  hair  cropped  like  the  army  of  Cromwell,  and  others  with 
wigs  whose  curls  flowed  around  their  shoulders.  Their  march, 


Origin  of  Yankee  Doodle.  313 

their  accoutrements,  and  the  whole  arrangement  of  the  troops 
furnished  matter  of  amusement  to  the  wits  of  the  British 
army.  The  music  played  the  airs  of  two  centuries  ago,  and 
the  tout  ensemble  exhibited  a  sight  to  the  wondering  strang- 
ers that  they  had  been  unaccustomed  to  in  their  own  land.1 
Among  the  club  of  wits  that  belonged  to  the  British  army, 
there  was  a  physician  attached  to  the  staff  by  the  name  of 
Doctor  Shackburg,  who  combined  with  the  science  of  a  sur- 
geon, the  skill  and  talents  of  a  musician.  To  tease  brother 
Jonathan,  he  composed  a  tune,  and  with  much  gravity  re- 
commended it  to  the  officers  as  one  of  the  most  celebrated 
airs  of  martial  music.  The  joke  took,  to  the  no  small 
amusement  of  the  British  corps.  Brother  Jonathan  ex- 
claimed it  was  nation  fine  ;  and  in  a  few  days,  nothing  was 
heard  in  the  provincial  camp  but  the  air  of  Yankee  Doodle. 
Little  did  the  author  or  his  coadjutors  then  suppose,  that  an 
air  made  for  the  purpose  of  levity  and  ridicule,  should  ever 
be  marked  for  such  high  destinies :  in  twenty  years  from 
that  time,  our  national  march  inspired  the  hearts  of  the 
heroes  of  Bunker  Hill ;  and  in  less  than  thirty,  Lord  Corn- 
wallis  and  his  army  marched  into  the  American  lines  to  the 
tune  of  Yankee  Doodle. 


1  The  appearance  of  the  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  troops 
that  marched  through  this  city  on  their  way  to  Saratoga,  in  the 
year  1777,  was  long  a  source  of  merriment  among  the  Dutch  burg- 
ers of  Albany.  Not  only  were  many  of  them  mere  boys,  but  their 
dress  and  accoutrements  were  of  the  most  heterogeneous  descrip- 
tion. On  being  asked  where  they  were  going,  the  universal 
response  was :  "  Going  to  take  Burgoyne."  But  their  arms  and 
habiliments  answered  to  the  British  description  of  the  forces  that, 
notwithstanding  their  uncouth  and  undisciplined  appearance,  made 
an  indelible  mark  at  Bunker  hill. 

See  the  Yankees  leave  the  hill 

With  baggernets  declining, 
With  lop-down  hats  and  rusty  guns, 

And  leather  aprons  shining. 


Annals,  ii.  27 


314  Salmon  in  the  Hudson  Ewer. 


SALMON  IN  THE  HUDSON  RIVER. 


The  historian  of  the  first  voyage  of  Europeans  upon  our 
river,  speaks  of  the  abundance  of  fish  they  met  with,  among 
which  were  "great  store  of  salmons."  There  are  also  tradi- 
tions, if  nothing  more  reliable,  that  the  creeks  of  Albany 
abounded  with  these  fishes,  particularly  the  Foxes  creek, 
now  become  a  mere  sewer.  Dr.  Mitchell,  nevertheless, 
wrote  a  learned  paper  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  and 
a  letter  of  his  is  contained  in  the  Collections  of  the  New 
York  Historical  Society,  (vol.  I,  41),  in  which  he  labors  to 
show  that  the  Hudson  river  has  never  been  a  favorite  resort 
for  salmon.  His  letter  is  as  follows : 

Concerning  the  frequency  of  salmon  in  the  river  Caho- 
hatatea  or  Mahaganeghtuc,  when  first  visited  by  the  naviga- 
tor Hudson,  I  have  my  doubts  as  to  its  correctness.  That 
fish  has,  indeed,  been  taken  in  this  river,  and  even  in  the 
vicinity  of  Albany.  But  this  is  a  rare  occurrence ;  and  the 
individuals  of  this  kind  that  have  been  caught  are  solitary, 
and  not  the  gregarious  salmons  swimming  in  shoals.  I  have 
conversed  with  several  persons  here,  who  have  seen  a  few 
of  these  lonesome  and  straggling  fishes,  from  time  to  time, 
as  they  have  been  brought  to  market. 

I  can  not  learn  that  there  is  any  record  or  tradition  of 
their  having  ever  frequented  our  river,  after  the  manner  of 
the  Connecticut,  the  Kennebeck,and  the  other  streams  on  this 
continent.  Salmon  love  clear  and  limpid  water,  as  do  all 
the  species  of  the  trout  family,  to  which  they  belong ;  and 
I  should  question  much  whether  the  ooze  and  mud  of  the 
Cahohatatea  was  so  agreeable  to  them,  as  the  sandy  bottoms 
of  the  more  precipitous  and  rapid  rivers.  Besides,  you  well 


Salmon  in  the  Hudson  River.  315 

know,  that  our  river  is  but  an  estuary  as  far  as  the  outlet 
of  the  Mohock;  and  the  strata  of  schistic  rocks  which 
cross  it  above  the  junction  of  that  river,  are  generally  more 
shallow,  than,  perhaps,  the  salmon  would  like.  And,  fur- 
ther, the  Dutch  word  salm  or  salmpie,  commonly  in  use  to 
signify  salmon,  means  also,  in  ordinary  and  loose  conversa- 
tion and  composition,  trout. 

There  are,  still,  other  considerations  unfavorable  to  the 
abundance  of  salmon  in  our"  river.  They  are  those  which 
relate  to  the  herring,  the  shad,  and  the  sturgeon,  the 
annual  visitants  of  this  stream,  at  Albany  and  higher. 
Whatever  may  be  the  opinion  of  speculative  men,  as  to  the 
governing  principle  of  these  creatures,  whether  it  be  instinct 
or  reason,  the  fact  nevertheless  is,  that  they  select  very  pro- 
per places  to  deposit  their  spawn,  and  perpetuate  their  race. 
In  our  river,  these  three  species  of  fish  had  each  an  appro- 
priate place  for  the  great  work  of  multiplication. 

The  grand  rendezvous  of  the  herrings,  was  the  Saratoga 
lake ;  into  which  they  entered  by  its  outlet,  yet  called  Fish 
creek.  The  obstruction  of  this  passage  by  dams  and  artifi- 
cial impediments,  has  turned  the  herrings  from  their  favorite 
haunt.  The  inhabitants  of  the  neighboring  region  have 
thereby  been  deprived  of  their  yearly  treat  of  herrings. 
But,  more  than  this,  the  herrings  thus  dispossessed  and  dis- 
couraged, have  become  more  rare  in  the  river,  and  are 
deserting  it  in  proportion  to  the  want  of  accommodation  it 
affords  them.  It  is  reported,  that  the  course  of  the  herrings 
was  more  especially  on  the  west  side  of  the  river. 

The  shad  traveled  along  the  eastern  shore.  Their  chief 
place  of  resort  was  the  basin  at  the  foot  of  Fort  Edward 
falls. 

No  particular  path  in  the  river  was  selected  by  the  stur- 
geons. They  seem  to  have  swam  at  large,  as  they  do  at  pre- 
sent. But  they  assembled  for  the  propagation  of  their  kind 
at  the  bottom  of  the  Cahoes,  or  great  falls  of  the  Mohock. 
The  roes  or  eggs  of  the  sturgeon,  are  exceedingly  numerous, 
amounting  to  a  large  mass  of  spawn.  You  recollect  that 
the  Russian  cavear  is  made  of  them.  Other  fishes  are  fond 
of  feeding  on  them :  they  eat  it  with  remarkable  voracity. 
It  is  one  of  the  most  alluring  baits  that  anglers  can  use. 
The  abundance  of  this  requisite  food  at  the  breeding  season, 


316  Castle  Island. 

is  supposed  to  be  a  principal  inducement  for  the  basse  or 
rockjish,  to  follow  the  sturgeons  to  their  place  of  deposit. 
The  disturbance  the  sturgeons  have  experienced  in  the  pro- 
gress of  settlement,  has  diminished  their  numbers  exceed- 
ingly; and  the  basse  has  become  proportionally  rare. 

Now,  with  all  this  information  relative  to  the  several  sorts 
of  fish,  that  have  frequented  the  Hudson,  since  the  posses- 
sion of  its  banks  by  European  emigrants,  there  are  no  regular 
notices  of  salmon.  Neither  a  swimming-course,  nor  a  breed- 
ing-place has  been  detected.  It  is  therefore  a  fair  presump- 
tion, that  these  fishes  never  found  within  its  waters  sufficient 
inducement  to  visit  them  in  great  numbers,  or  at  regular 
times,  and  that  those  which  have  been  taken  are  merely 
strays  and  wanderers. — Dr.  Mitchell,  in  Coll.  N.  Y.  Hist. 
Soc.,  I,  41. 


CASTLE  ISLAND. 

A  few  were  selected  from  the  crews  of  the  Dutch  ships 
which  sailed  up  the  river  the  following  year  after  the  dis- 
covery of  it,  to  remain  here  a  winter  over.  They  erected 
an  habitation  on  the  point  of  the  island,  the  southern  limit 
of  the  city  of  Albany,  and  enclosed  it  with  palisadoes  as  a 
defence  against  the  Indians,  and  it  was  known  as  the  Kasteel, 
the  castle.  Stuyvesant,  in  his  correspondence  with  the  go- 
vernment of  the  Massachusetts  Bay,  mentions  the  island  as 
still  known  by  the  name  of  Kasteel  island. 
*  Beeren  island  l  and  the  Overslagh  still  retain  their  Dutch 
names.  The  Dutch  navigators  speak  of  the  river  Gambia, 
on  the  east  of  Africa,  as  having  an  *  overslagh,  a  bar,  at  its 
mouth. — Judge  Bensen. 


1  Now  often  erroneously  written  Barren  island,  because  so  pro- 
nounced. It  signifies  Bear's  island.  Overslagh  (overgeslagen)  so 
called  as  the  place  struck  upon  by  vessels  going  on  the  river. — M. 


Indian  Names 'of  Albany  and  Vicinity.      317 


INDIAN  NAMES  OF  ALBANY  AND  VICINITY. 

Hudson  did  not  give  his  own  name  to  the  river  which  he 
discovered.  The  Iroquois  Indians  called  it  Cahohdtatta, 
The  Mahiccans,  Mahakaneghtuc,  and  sometimes  Shatemucfc. 
Hudson  styled  it,  emphatically,  the  Great  River  or  the 
Great  River  of  the  Mountains,*  no  doubt  from  the  extraor- 
dinary circumstance  of  such  a  body  of  water  flowing  through 
the  mountains  without  a  cataract.  The  name  of  its  discoverer, 
however,  was  early  attached  to  it.  I  find  it  familiarly  called 
Hudson's**  river  in  some  of  the  public  documents  of  the 
Dutch  colonial  government ;  but  more  frequently  the  North 
river,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  Delaware,  which  was  dis- 
covered by  the  same  navigator,  and  which,  being  within 
the  territory  claimed  by  the  Dutch,  was  called  by  them  the 
South  River*— Dr.  Miller,  in  Coll  N.  T.  Hist.  Soc.,  i,  37. 

The  names  of  the  rivers  Mohock  and  Hudson,  as  they 
are  extant  among  the  Iroquois,  have  engaged  my  attention 
to  make  inquiry  concerning  them.  My  opportunities  have 
been  favorable.  Mr.  John  Bleecker,  the  ancient  Indian 
interpreter,  now  in  the  seventy-ninth  year  of  his  age,  was 
well  enough  to  receive  a  visit  from  me  this  morning,  and  in 
possession  of  his  full  recollection  as  to  what  I  asked  of  him. 
On  seeing  me,  he  instantly,  and  without  hesitation,  pro- 
nounced my  name,  with  a  remembrance  that  he  had  been 
acquainted  with  me  at  Fort  Schuyler,  in  1788,  when  the 
Five  Nations  sold  their  lands  to -the  state  of  New  York.  I 
have  also  seen  Colonel  Louis,  the  distinguished  Indian  war- 
rior, who  is  now  in  Albany,  and  have  sought  information 
from  him.  Jacob  Dochstetter,  the  present  Oneida  interpre- 
ter, likewise  gave  me  all  the  opportunity  I  wished  of  con- 
versing with  him,  while  he  was  attending  with  his  country- 
men, a  treaty  with  the  commissioners  appointed  on  the  part 
of  the  state. 

1  This  name  is  said  by  some  to  have  been  of  Spanish  origin. 

2  There  is  reason  to  believe,  that  this  name,  though  soon  adopted 
by  the  Dutch,  was  first  applied  by  the  English ;  probably  as  a  part 
of  their  system  for  assuming  the  discovery  and  the  property  of  the 
country  to  themselves.  • 


318        Indian  Names  of  Albany  and  Vicinity. 

From  these  several  persons  I  have  obtained  the  following 
words,  which  I  immediately  committed  to  writing,  and 
corrected  as  well  as  I  could,  by  many  repetitions  from  the 
mouths  of  the  speakers.  Though  I  ought  to  observe,  that 
there  are  a  few  sounds  which  the  letters  of  our  alphabet  are 
incapable  of  expressing. 
.  Canneogahakalononitade — the  Mohock  river. 

Skenectadea  —  the  city  of  Albany. 

Ohnowalagantle — the  town  of  Schenectady. 

Cahoha*tatea  —  the  North  or  Hudson  river. 

Skenectadea,  Cahohatatea  —  the  North  river,  spoken  of 
in  relation  to  Albany  or  Albany  river. 

Tioghsahronde —  the  place  or  places  at  which  streams 
empty  themselves. 

Tioghsahronde,  Cahohatatea  —  the  North  river  spoken 
of  in  relation  to  the  Mohock,  the  Watervleit  kil,  the 
Norman's  kil,  and  the  other  streams  which  discharge 
into  it. 

The  name  of  our  North  river,  in  the  tongue  of  the  Iro- 
quois,  strikes  my  ear  very  agreeably :  Cahohatatea. 

You  may  contrast  this  with  the  Mohegan  name  for  the 
same  river,  given  me  this  day  by  John  Tayler,  Esq.,  a  gen- 
tleman long  conversant  in  the  Indian  affairs  of  New  York ; 
Mahalcaribghtnc. 

What  their  etymologies  are,  I  have  not  been  able  to  as- 
certain, except  as  to  Skenectadea,  Albany ;  which  signifies 
the  place  the  natives  of  the  Iroquois  arrived  at,  by  traveling 
through  the  pine  trees. —  Dr.  Mitchell,  ibid.,  I,  43. 

The  information  that  Shatemuck  was  one  of  the  Mahiccan 
names  of  the  River  Hudson,  was  received  from  the  Hon. 
Egbert  Bensen. 


Dutch  Names  for  the  Fish  in  our  Ewer.      319 


DUTCH  NAMES  FOR  THE  FISH  IN  OUR  RIYER. 

A. few  only  will  be  noticed  —  some  denoted  by  numbers 
as  their  names  —  the  Twaalf,  the  twelve,  the  Streaked  Bass, 
and  the  Elf,  the  Shad —  the  name  of  the  Shad  in  Dutch 
is  Elfet,  in  German  Aloft,  and  in  French  Alose,  all  perhaps 
from  the  same  root ;  but  being  pronounced  here  Elf,  the 
number  eleven,  the  number  itself  possibly  came  to  be  con- 
sidered as  its  name,  and  so  led  to  denote  others  in  the  same 
manner  —  the  Drum  is  said  to  have  been  the  Dertien,  the 
thirteen.  Van  Der  Donck,  speaking  of  the  North  river,  ex- 
presses himself,  it  is  seer  visryck,  literally  very  fish-rich  — 
here  the  Dutch  language  would  seem  to  have  the  advantage 
over  the  English,  its  capability  of  composition  —  het  gelt- 
zucht,  the  money -lust;  het  mersch-zucht,  the  sway-lust ;  for 
a  word  for  the  first  the  English  are  indebted  to  the  French, 
covetousness ;  for  a  word  for  the  other  to  the  Latin,  ambition; 
Myn  Eer-naam,  my  honor-name,  the  name  or  rather  appella- 
tion, by  which  it  is  peculiarly  my  honor  to  be  called  —  no 
word  for  it  in  either  of  the  three  languages  —  an  instance 
illustrating  it  —  "The  disciples  were  called  Christians" 
Speaking  of  the  fish  in  New  Netherland  at  large,  and  conse- 
quently comprehending  the  Connecticut,  he  expresses  him- 
self, "  there  is  also  in  some  places  salmon."  Extract  from 
the  voyage  of  Hudson,  as  found  in  Purchas ;  "  They  saw 
many  salmons,  and  mullets,  and  rays,  very  great" — the 
third  of  September,  not  the  salmon  season.  De  Laet,  ex- 
presses himself,  "  Hudson  also  testifies,  that  with  their  seines 
they  took  every  kind  of  river  fish  in  the  river,  also  young 
salmon  and  sturgeon."  The  Dutch,  whatever  may  be  the 
true  name  of  the  fish  in  their  language,  always  at  least  in 
this  country,  call  the  trout,  Salmties,  little  salmon  ;  and  they 
were  doubtless  in  abundance  at  the  mouths  of  the  large 
streams  issuing  into  the  river.  Belknap,  and  as  &fact  ap- 
pertaining to  the  life  of  Hudson,  mentions,  "  that,  in  sailing 
up  the  river,  he  found  it  abounding  with  fish,  and  among 
which  were  great  store  of  salmon.  "—Judge  £ensen}  JV.  Y. 
Hist.  Soc.  Coll.,  ii,  2d  Series,  p.  130, 


320 


Albany  Academy  Medals. 


ALBANY  ACADEMY  MEDALS. 

The  Caldwetl  Mathematical  Medal. 

The  institution  of  the  Caldwell  Medal  took  place  in  1831. 
In  that  year  William  Caldwell,  a  retired  merchant  of  the 
city  of  Albany,  presented  one  hundred  dollars  to  the  trustees 
of  the  Academy,  to  be  invested  in  stock,  the  income  of 
which  should  be  devoted  to  the  purchase  of  a  gold  medal,  to 
be.  given  at  each  annual  examination  to  the  student  who 
shall  have  made  the  greatest  proficiency  in  mathematics  and 
natural  philosophy;  the  student  to  be  of  at  least  three 
years  standing  in  the  academy,  and  the  medal  to  be  given 
but  once  to  the  same  individual.  The  donation  was  in- 
vested, and  the  interest  is  annually  appropriated  to  the 
purchase  of  a  medal,  which  is  awarded  to  the  successful 
competitor.  These  medals  have  no  device,  but  simply  the 
words  "  Caldwell  Premium,  Mathematics,"  upon  the  obverse, 
and  the  name  of  the  recipient  and  the  date  upon  the  reverse 
side,  as  seen  in  the  fac  simile  of  one  of  them  which  is  here 
given.  The  names  of  the  students  who  have  obtained  this 
medal,  are  as  follows : 


1831,  William  Austin.  1841, 

1832,  no   examination   on  1842, 

account  of  cholera.  1843, 

1833,  Henry  Waldron.  1844, 

1834,  Aurelian  Conkling.  1845, 

1835,  John  Newland.  1846, 

1836,  Henry  K.  Viele.  1847, 

1837,  George  B.  Hoyt.  1848, 

1838,  Charles  N.  Waldron.  1849, 

1839,  Joseph  B.  Brown.  1850, 

1840,  William  J.  Gibson.  1851, 


John  J.  Olcott. 
Philip  Phelps. 
William  Wrightson. 
Andrew  McElroy. 
John  R.  Croswell. 
Francis  B.  Hall. 
Frank  Jones. 
Jacob  £J.  Koonz. 
George  Wrightson. 
William  Alvord. 
Richard  M.  Strong. 


r 


Albany  Academy  Medals*  323 


The  Van  Rensselaer  Classical  Medal. 

In  1837,  General  Stephen  Van  Rensselaer  presented 
one  hundred  dollars  in.  trust,  to  be  appropriated  in  the  same 
manner  as  the  preceding,  as  a  reward  for  the  greatest  profi- 
ciency in  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages;  subject  to  the 
same  reservations,  except  that  the  student  must  be  of  at 
least  four  years  standing  in  the  Academy.  This  medal,  it 
will  be  seen,  is  in  the  same  style  as  the  Caldwell  medal. 
The  names  of  those  who  have  received  it  are  as  follows  : 

1837,  Isaac  L.  K.  Miller.  1845,  Wm.  T.  Wrightson. 

1838,  Henry  F.  Greene.  1846,  John  K.  Croswell. 

1839,  Charles  K.  McHarg.  1847,  Jacob  L.  Pearse. 

1840,  Gilbert  L.  Wilson.  1848,  Henry  L.  Bullions. 

1841,  Philip  Phelps.  1849,  William  A.  Gott. 

1842,  John  C.  Bullions.  1850,  Ernest  J.  Miller. 

1843,  Oliver  Bronson.  1851,  Charles  Boyd. 

1844,  Samuel  G.  Courtney. 


324  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1849. 


ANNALS  OF  THE  YEAR  1849-50. 

1849.  December  1.  Albany  and  Mohawk  Plank  Koad 
company  organized:  Wm.  McElroy,  president;  Jacob  Henry, 
vice  president;  Henry  A.  Allen,  secretary;  John  M.  New- 
ton, treasurer.  Six  thousand  dollars  were  subscribed  on  the 
occasion.  The  capital  stock  of  the  road  $25,000. 

2.  Thomas   Turner,   U.  S.   Consul   for   Brazil,   died   at 
Bahai,  aged  30 ;  formerly  of  Albany. 

3.  Snow  commenced  falling  at  an  early  hour,  but  turned 

to   sleet   and   rain   during  the  day Thermometer  at  7 

A,  M.  29°;  12  M.  34°;  3  p.  M.  35°;  6  p.  M.  37°. 

4.  Thermometer,  7  A.  M.  34°;  12  M.  38  J°;  3  P.  M.  39°  ; 

6  P.  M.  40° Elizabeth,   wijjow  of  John  Luther,  died, 

aged  89.'    David  A.  Leighton  died,  aged  53. 

5.  Last  day  of  canal  navigation ;  the  locks  being  closed 
by  order  of  the  canal  board,  instead  of  Jack  Erost,  to  whom 

the  business  had  always  been  left  by  common  consent 

Mrs.  Phoebe  Hilton  died,  aged  78. 

6.  Thermometer,    7  A.  M.  41£°;  12    M.  45£°;  3   p.  M. 

44;  6  P.  M.  35° John   Millington,  Jr.,   died,  aged  26. 

Wm.  H.  Chapman  died,  aged  22.    John  Roach  died,  aged  52. 

7.  Meeting  of  citizens  at  the  Mansion  house,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  prices  charged  by  the  company  for  gas. 
A  committee  was  appointed  .to  confer  with  the  company  and 

report  to  a  future  meeting Thermometer,  7  A.  M.  29°; 

12  M.  30°;  3  P.  M.  29° ;  6  p.  M.  30°. 

8.  The  river  so  low  that  the  morning  boats  grounded  on 
the  bars,  and  the  Boston  ferry  boat  also  grounded  in  her 

slip  on  the  East  Albany  side Daniel  Poinier  died,  aged 

50 Richard   Starr,  type  founder,  formerly  of  Albany, 

died  at  Brooklyn Catharine  M.,  wife  of  David  Seaman, 

died,  aged  29. 

9.  Much  floating  ice  in  the  river,  and  hail  and  rain  fell 
during  the  day Hendrik  Hudson  reached  her  dock  be- 
fore 2  o'clock  in  the  morning Ann  Visscher,  relict  of 

Levinus  L.  Winne,   formerly  of  Albany,    died,   aged    67. 
Cornelia  .Ann,  wife  of  Chas.  Richardson,  died. 


DEC.]  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  325 

10.  Cloudy  and  thawing Mr.  Archibald  Campbell  re- 
moved from  the  office -of  deputy  secretary  of  state,  which  he 

had  filled  with  great  industry  and  capacity  since  1812 

A  force  organized  and  sent  down  to  Coeymans  to  make  fur- 
ther efforts  to  obtain  coal,  at  a  locality  which  had  been 

previously  examined,  about  six  miles  west  of  the  river 

Catharine,  wife  of  Owen  McManus,  died. 

11.  Janet  Andrew,  wife  of  Robert  Dunlop,   died,  aged 

65 J.  E.    Dudley,   formerly  of  Albany,    was   drowned 

during  the  passage  from  Buffalo  to  Detroit,  on  the  steam 
boat  Atlantic. 

12.  Such  was  the  severity  of  the  weather,  that  the  steamer 
Santa  Glaus  left  at  1  P.  M.  and  the  Hendrik  Hudson  and 
Columbia  at  3 ;  and  the  Rip  Van  Winkle  went  into  winter 
quarters  in  the  Basin.     The  weather  moderated  in  the  even- 
ing  Horace  Knowles  died,  aged  50.     Wm.  F.  Gombell 

died A  convention  of  iron  masters  met  at  the  city  hall, 

to  take  into  consideration  the  tariff  on  iron,  and  organized 
an  association,  Erastus  Corning,  president.  « 

13.  The  First  Presbyterian  Church,  the  oldest  church 
edifice  in  the  city,   corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Beaver  sts., 
was  sold  by  auction,  and  purchased  by  James  Kidd  for 
$17,550.     It  was  built  in  1792,  and  when  completed  was 

the  best  church  in  the   city Andrew  Fitzpatrick  died, 

aged  60 Meeting  of  gas  consumers  to  hear  report  of 

committee ;  the  directors  of  the  company  declined  to  reduce 
the  price. 

14.  The  board  of  managers  of  the  Albany  City  Tract  So- 
ciety for  the  ensuing  year,  were  chosen  and  consist  of  the 
following:  president,  Friend   Humphrey;  vice  presidents, 
Ralph  Humphrey,  Robert  Boyd,  Lemuel  Jenkins,  Richard 
V.  Dewitt,  Wm.  McElroy,  Wm.  C.  Miller,   Alden   March ; 
secretary,  Erastus  H.  Pease ;  treasurer,  Philip  Phelps ;  direc- 
tors,   Rufus   K.  Viele,  James   B.  Sanders,  James   Taylor, 
James  A.  Wilson,  Walter  R.  Bush,  S.  T.  Bowen,   Wm.  H. 
Ross,    G.  W.  Benjamin,  N.  A.  Fish,  Eli  Perry,  Thos.  Mc- 
Mullen,    Silas    B.  Howe,  A.  H.    Wells,    James    Edwards, 
John  Yosburgh,  Robt.  Coburn,  T.  R.  Rawson,  William  Gib- 
son,  together  with  the  pastors  of  the   churches  represented 
in  the  board Mrs.  Margaret  Gray  died,  aged  62. 

Annals,  ii.  28 


326          Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.      [DEC.  1849. 

15.  A  large  pulley  wheel,  weighing  about  five  thousand 
pounds,  thirteen  feet  six  inches  diameter,  with  twenty-eight 
inches  face  was   cast  at  F.   S.  Low's  Machine   Works  on 
Saturday  night,  for  the  Nail  Works 

16.  Trinity  Church  having  been  repaired,  after  the  late 

fire,  was  again  opened  for  service Annual  meeting  of  the 

Albany  City  Tract   Society,    at  the   Pearl    Street  Baptist 
Church,  Rev.  Dr.  Kennedy  presiding.     From  the  report  of 
the  superintendent,  Solomon  Cone,  it  appeared  that  the  So- 
ciety had  been  in  existence  fourteen  years ;  that  there  were 
100  visitors,  who  called  at  500  houses  once  a  month,  distri- 
buting 7,000  tracts,  or  an  aggregate  of  28,000  pages.     They 
had  distributed  a  number  of  Bibles  and  Testaments,  and 
other  religious  books,  gathered  during  the  year  150  children 
into  sabbath  schools,    clothed   most  of  them,    nursed    and 
counseled  the  sick,  aided  and  comforted  the  poor,  and   ob- 
tained fifty  names  to  the  temperance  pledge.     The  treasurer 
(Philip  Phelps)  reported  the   receipt  of  $588.66  into   the 
treasury  dfiring  the  past  year,  and  expenditure  of  $877.41. 
There  is,  nevertheless,  $130.25  still  in  the  treasury.     It  was 
proposed  to  expend  $1,000  during  the  ensuing  year,  to  ac- 
complish which  it  would  be  necessary  to  raise  about  $900. 

17.  John  Peebles  died,  aged  59. 

18.  The  steam  tow  boats  Commerce  and  Belle  left  with 
the  last  run  of  barges  for  the  season Isaac  W  in  ire,  .form- 
erly of  Albany,  died  at  Sing-Sing. 

20.  Jonas  Wickes  died,  aged  63.     He  had  been  employed 
eighteen  years  as  deputy  clerk  of  the  county  of  Albany,  and 
previously  in  the  county  clerk's  office  of  Rensselaer.     He 
was  a  philanthropic  citizen,  and  ever   prominent  in  all  be- 
nevolent and  religious  movements. 

21.  First  sleighing  of  the  season. 

22.  Mary,  wife  of  Daniel  Betts,  died,  aged  75. 

23.  Ralph  H.  Meech  died. 

24.  John  N.  Cutler  died,  aged  71. 

25.  The  board  of  supervisors  visited  the  Penitentiary 

David  A.  Bedell  died,  aged  29. 

26.  The  first  mail  from  New  York  by  land  left  New  York 
at  4  o'clock  on  Tuesday  afternoon  by   the   Hudson   River 
Rail  Road,  took  the  stage  at  10  miles  below  Poughkeepsie, 
and  arrived  at  Albany  about  5  o'clock  this  morning No 


JAN.  1850.]      Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.         327 

boat  arrived  from  New  York  to-day,  owing  to  the  sale  of  the 
boats  composing  the  People's  Line,  in  New  York.  Three- 
quarters  of  the  Hendrik  Hudson,1  bought  by  Daniel  Drew, 
for  848,000.  The  Columbia  was  bought  by  D.  Drew  for 
816,000.  The  Oregon  was  bought»by  D.  Drew  for  836,000. 
One-half  of  the  steam  boats  Empire.  Troy  and  John  Mason 
of  the  Troy  and  New  York  line,  was  bought  by  him  for 
$40,000.  The  South  America  was  bought  by  Capt.  Dodge  for 
829,000.  The  North  America  was  bought  by  A.  Van  Sant- 
vord  for  815,000.  The  Rochester  was  bought  by  Capt. 

Dodge for$ll,500 Robert Southey died, aged  38.  Robert 

Hewson  died,  aged  38. 

27.  Persons  crossed  the  river  on  the  ice  near  Bath,  for 
the  first  time  this  season,  navigation  being  fairly  closed. 

29.  The  governors  of  the  Albany  Hospital  appointed  by 
the  last  legislature  consisting  of  Marcus  T.  Reynolds,  Greene 
C.  Bronson,  William  James,  Ezra  P.  Prentice,  Barent  P. 
Staats,  Dyer  Lathrop,  Friend  Humphrey,  Samuel  Pruyn, 
James  G-oold,  James  D.  Wasson,  James  P.  Boyd,  T.  Romeyn 
Beck,  Ralph  Pratt,  John  C.  Spencer,  and  Clark  Durant, 
met  and  adopted  regulations  for  the  government  of  the  in- 
stitution, and  entered  upon  the  business  of  procuring  a  sub- 
scription of  820,000,  the  sum  requisite  to  secure  state  aid. 

31.  Dr.  Fay,  the  Alms  house  physician,  reported  that 
during 'the  month  of  December  there  were  132  persons  in 
that  institution  requiring  medical  attendance,  of  which  79 
were  cured,  20  died,  and  33  remained  under  treatment. 

1850. 

JANUARY  1.  Weather  mild  and  sleighin'g  good 

Meeting  of  the  legislature.  Mr.  Elderkin,  democrat,  elected 
speaker,  by  three  majority  over  Robert  H.  Pruyn,  whig. 

James  R.  Rose,  of  Albany,  elected  clerk Rensse- 

laer  Van  Rensselaer,  formerly  of  Albany,  and  commander- 
in-chief  of  the  forces  stationed  on  Navy  Island  in  the  late 
Canadian  rebellion,  died  at  Syracuse,  from  inhaling  the  fumes 
of  charcoal. 

2.  The  Commercial  Bank  paid  a  dividend  of  five  per  cent 


1  It  was  the  intention  of  the  owners  to  name  their  boat  after  the 
old  navigator,  but  his  name  was  Henry,  and  not  Hendrik. 


328  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

on  its  capital  stock.  The  State  Bank  had  long  been  accus- 
tomed to  make  a  semi-annual  dividend  of  five  per  cent,  and 
the  Mechanics  and  Farmers'  Bank  began  to  do  the  same  last 
year James  Muir,  Jr.,  died,  aged  31. 

3.  Mr.  Pruyn  offered  In  the  house  of  assembly  a  petition 
from  the  board  of  supervisors,  praying  a  law  to  change  the 
bounds  of  the  city  of  Albany. 

4.  A  dense  fog  enveloped  the  city,  after  the  fall  of  a  few 
inches  of  snow,  so  that  at  sunrise,  objects  could  not  be  dis- 
cerned at  a  Distance  equal  to  the.  width  of  State  street.     The 

day  was  one  of  uncommon  mildness  and  beauty Jane 

Frances,  wife  of  John  Cummings,  died. 

V         7.  The  Housatonic  train   arrived  from  New  York    at  a 

quarter   before    5  p.  M.  making  the  trip  in  8f  hours 

The  common  council  appointed  C.  L.  Cutler  to  take  charge 
of  the  clock  of  the  Middle  Dutch  Church,  as  the  town 
clock,  which  his  father,  recently  deceased,  had  so  long  had 

the  care  of Organization  of  the  Society  for  the  Relief  of 

the  Poor,  and  the  following  persons  appointed  officers  for 
the  ensuing  year :  Rev.  Win.  James,  president;  Greene  C. 
Bronson,  Robert  E.  Temple,  Thomas  McElroy,  vice-presi- 
dents; Rev.  Thomas  R.  Rawson,  secretary;  William  Mc- 
Elroy, treasurer ;  Marcus  T.  Reynolds,  W.  W.  Frothingham, 
Thurlow  Weed,  Chauncey  P.  Williams,  P.  M.  Lovett,  Elihu 
Russell,  Jefferson  Mayell,  John  Tracy,  Lemuel  Jenkins, 
Anthony  Gould,  Wm.  G-.  Deyermand,  Nathaniel  Davis,  G-eo. 

C.    Treadwell,    Azor   Taber The   following    gentlemen 

were  elected  Directors  of  the  Albany  Insurance  Company 
for  the  ensuing  year  :  Teunis  Van  Vechten,  Gerrit  Y.  Lan- 
sing, Rufus  H.  King,  Augustus  James,  Marcus  T.  Reynolds, 
Archibald  Mclntyre,  John  Townsend,  William  C.  Miller, 
Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Herman .  Pumpelly,  John  T.  Cooper, 
Henry  Bleecker,  Peter  McNaugh ton At  the  annual  elec- 
tion of  the  Tivoli  Hose  Company,  the  following  named  persons 
were  elected  as  officers  for  the  ensuing  year ;  John  C.  Felt- 
man,  jr.,  foreman ;  Jacob  C.  Cuyler,  1st  asst. ;  Robert  W. 
Harvey,  2d  asst. ;  Samuel  T.  Thorburn,  secretary ;  Henry 
J.  Wells,  treasurer. 

8.  A  fall  of  snow  during  the  early  morning,  and  another  in 
the  afternoon One  hundred  guns  fired  in  honor  of  the  an- 
niversary of  the  Battle  of  New  Orleans,  in  1815 The 


JAN.]          Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  329 

Albany  Emmet  Guards  gave  their  annual  ball  in  the  even- 
ing, at  Van  Veehten  Hall,  No.  119  State  street,  which  was 
opened  for  the  first  time  on  this  occasion  since  its  evacuation 
by  the  Normal  School At  a  meeting  of  the  Fire  Depart- 
ment, the  following  persons  were  elected  officers  for  the  en- 
suing year:  John  B.  Stonehouse,  president;  John  McBride, 
vice  president;  L.  D.  Holstein,  secretary;  V.  Ten  Eyck, 
treasurer ;  Archibald  Young,  collector ;  John  A.  Sickles, 

George  Cuyler,  trustees Ephraim  Howard  died,   aged 

75. 

9.  From  the  long  prevalence  of  southerly  winds  the  ice 
in  the  river  became  so  unsafe,  that  crossing  with  teams  was 
discontinued Lawrence  Murray  died,  aged  48. 

10.  The  wind  having  veered  to  the  north,  the  sun  shone 
out   in  the  morning  giving  everything  the  appearance    of 

early  spring Ralph  Waldo  Emerson  lectured  before  the 

Young  Men's  Association  at  the  North  Methodist  Church ; 
and  Frances  Ann  Kemble  read  Shakespeare  at  the  Female 
Academy  "  as  no  other  woman  could  read  it,  and  very  few 
men." 

11.  A  north-east  rain  spread  a  crust  of  ice  on  the  walks, 

which  rendered  pedestrianism  difficult  and  dangerous 

Mrs.    Elizabeth  Gansevoort,  *relict  of  Conradt  Gansevoort, 
formerly  of  Albany,  died  at  Holmdell,  N.  J.,  aged  82. 

12.  The  weather  quite  cold  and  the  ice  strong The 

rail  road  ferry  boat  discontinued  her  trips ;  a  bridge  being 
made  from  the  dock  to  the  ice  to  accommodate  the  business 

of  the  road Edward  T.  Winslow  died  in  Geneva  aged 

41. 

14.  Thermometer  6°  below  0 News  received  of  the 

death  of  J.  K.  Wing  and  Charles  Thomas  in  California, 
late  of  Albany.     Thomas  Scott  died,  aged  27. 

15.  The  41st  anniversary  ball  of  the  Albany  Republican 

Artillery,  at  Bleecker  Hall James  Sainmons  died,  aged 

55. 

17.  Damp  day,  with  snow  and  rain Mr.  Ruel  Clapp, 

died.     His  death  supposed  to  have  been  caused  by  an  affec- 
tion of  the  heart.     Mr.  C.  was  attending  to  his  business  as 
usual  in  the  morning,  and  to  all  appearance,  in  good  health. 

18.  Rain  and  snow Southern  mail  delayed Daniel 

Bratt  died. 


330  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

19.  A  span  of  horses  with  a  sleigh  containing  a  farmer 
and  three  females  broke  through  the  ice ;  one  horse  lost. 

20.  John  Phillips  died,  aged  24.     Cornelia  Dunbar  Ben- 
sen  died,  aged  18. 

21.  At  a  meeting  of  the  common  council,  Alderman  Sat- 
terlee  offered  a  resolution  that  Lydius  street  be  opened  from 
Allen  to   Magazine   street.     Aid.  Satterlee  stated  that  in 
looking  over  the  files  of  Albany  Gazette,  he  found  that  in 
1817  these  lands  were  sold  by  the  common  cofincil.     They 
were    designated  as   being   bounded   on    Washington    and 
Lydius  streets,  and  were  four  miles  from  the  Capitol.     On 
the  29th  May,  1817,  4,284  acres  were  sold  for  $71,750,  the 
interest  on  the  same  from  that  day  up  to  the  present  time, 
about  28  years,  is  $140,630,  making  a  total  of  $212,380. 
Henry  Yates  now  owns  1127  acres  of  this  property  on  both 
sides  of  Lydius  street.     On  the  entire  line  "persons  owning 
3000  acres  have  petitioned  for  the  opening  of  the  street,  and 

those  owning  182  are  against  it A  farmer's  horses  broke 

through  the  ice  below  the  ferry  and  were  drowned. 

22.  The.  walks  were  covered  three  or  four  inches  in  depth 
with  snow  and  water. 

23.  A  mild   and  clear  morning  resembling   spring 

Mrs.  Mary  Van  Bergen  died,  aged  79. 

26.  The  weather  mild,  and  spring  like. 

27.  Warm  and  pleasant;  the  gutters  filled  with  the  melted 
snow  finding  its  way  to  the  river. 

28.  Snow  began  to  fall  at  2  p.  M.,  with  an  easterly  wind. 
......Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Lucien  B.  Laney,  died,  aged  32. 

29.  Sleighs  were  put  in  motion  again Esther  Maria, 

wife  of  Kev.  P.  M.  Way,  died.     Hannah  C.  Priest  died, 
aged  21.     Anna  E.   Schuyler  died,  daughter  of  the  late 
Stephen  P.  Schuyler. 

30.  Thermometer  indicated  4°.     A  pleasant  sun  essayed 

to  counteract  the  rigors  of  a  northern  breeze John  L. 

Winne  died,  aged  77. 

FEBRUARY  2.  A  fall  of  snow  and  sleet  before  daylight 
covered  the  walks  with  splosh  and  supplied  the  gutters  with 
running  water  during  the  day. 

3.  Pleasant  but  cool,  and  the  walks  icy;  inclement  at 

night Exercises  in  Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents  for 

the  first  time. 


FEB."]  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  331 

4.  A  cold  morning  but  sunny Janet  Vanderheyden, 

daughter  of  Jacob  Vanderheyden  deceased,  late  of  Albany, 
died  at  Bemis's  Heights.     Cornelia  S.,  wife  of  A.  A.  Lan- 
sing, died,  aged  26. 

5.  Thermometer  indicated  2°  below  0  in  the  morning 

John  Robinson  convicted  of  manslaughter  in  the  second  de- 
gree in  killing  Christopher  Jocelyn  in  October  last,  and 
sentenced  to  seven  years  imprisonment  at  Sing-Sing. 

6.  Coldest  morning  of  the  season :  thermometer  indicat- 
ing from  4°  to  12°  below  0. 

7.  Weather   moderated Election   of  officers   of  the 

Young  Men's    Association   in   the   Exchange.     Rufus    Gr. 
Beardsley   elected  president;  R.  H.  Northrop,  vice  presi- 
dent; John  N.  Cutler,  2d  do;  Gr.  C.  Lee,  3d  do.;  James 
I.  Johnson,   treasurer;  J.  B.  Brinsmade,   cor.    sec.;  Wm. 
Barnes,  rec.  sec Mrs.  Bridget  McAnnespie  died. 

8.  Angelica   La  Grange,  wife  of  Solomon    S.  Leonard, 
died,  aged   35.     James  B.  Williams,  formerly  of  Albany, 
died  at  Houston,  Texas,  aged  26. 

10.  The  ice  in  the  river  took  a  start  from  the  city   of 
Troy,  in  the  morning,  and  at  eight  in  the  evening  after  two 
or  three  moves,  finally  cleared  away  to  a  short  distance  be- 
low, this  city, Mrs.  Sally  Schuyler  died,  aged  41. 

11.  The  ice  which  broke  up  in  front  of  the  city,  became 
obstructed  a  few  miles  below,  causing  a  rise  in  the  river, 
which   submerged  the    docks,  and   damaged  goods  in   the 
storehouses. 

12.  Catharine    Farrall    died,   aged   42.     Mrs.    Hannah 
Blake  died,  aged  81. 

13.  Weather  pleasant  and  spring-like. 

14.  A  slight  fall  of  snow  in  the  afternoon ;  the  water  still 
several  inches  deep  on  the  floors  of  the  stores  on  the  dock 
and  pier. 

15.  The  dam  of  ice  which  had  formed  just  below  the  city 
was  strengthening  daily,  and  the  only  outlet  was  through  the 
island  creek.     The  old  tree  which  stood  at  the  point  of  the 
island,  under  whose  shade  we  have  many  a  day  sat  and 
passed  the  fleeting  hours  in  angling,  and  which  is    dear  to 
the  memory  of  all,  has  been  uprooted  and  torn  into  a  thou- 
sand pieces  by  the  ice  and  the  flood. —  Express. 


332  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

16.  The  Albany  Daily   Times  first  published  by  Heron, 
Furman  and  Thornton,  edited  by  Jacob  T.  Hazen. 

18.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Jenkins  died,  aged  88.     Mrs.   Maria 
Hookey  died,  aged  41.     Mrs.  Anna  Staats,  widow  of  the 

late  Col.  Philip  Staats,  died,  aged  84 The  river  closed 

in  front  of  the  city,  so  as  to  obstruct  the  regular  trips  of  the 
rail  road  ferry  boat. 

1 9.  ArJ)or  Hill  is  rapidly  improving.     Its  elevated  posi- 
tion renders  it  one  of  the  most  .delightful  localities  in  the 
city.     A  great  many  fine  residences  have  been  built  within 
a  few  months,  and  now  that  the  park  is  enclosed,  and  men 
of  taste  are  attracted  thitherward,  we  shall  expect  it  soon  to 
become  the  most  fashionable  part  of  the  town. —  Knicker- 
bocker. 

20.  Charles  Edward  Judd  died,  aged  22. 

21.  William  Marchael  died,  aged  31 Meeting  of  capi- 
talists to  consider  the  subject  of  a  rail  road  through  Water- 
ford  to  Bennington,  and  thence  to  Rutland  to  intersect  the 

Boston  and  Burlington  road A  committee  consisting  of 

Erastus  Corning,  Thomas  W.  Olcott,  James  Kidd,  James 
Edwards  and  Robert  E.  Temple,  was  appointed  to  memori- 
alize the  legislature  for  an  extension  of  the  Cohoes  rail  road 
to  the  Vermont  line  near  Bennington. 

22.  Anniversary  of  Washington's  birthday,  celebrated  by 
the  military  companies,  and  by  the  Young  Men's  Associa- 
tion. 

23.  Mrs.  Rebecca  Baker  died,  aged  70. 

25.  A  light  stratum  of  snow  lay  upon  the  pavements  in 

the  morning,  which  disappeared  before  noon A  young 

man  by  the  name  of  Griffin  killed  by  the  falling  of  a  clay 
bank  which  was  being   excavated    on    Patroon   and    Swan 
streets William  Austin  died,  aged  74 Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  John  Van  Valkenburg,  late  of  Albany,  died  at  Cin- 
cinnati, aged  20. 

26.  Mrs.  Abby  Babcock,  died,  aged  84;  late  of  Alleghany 
county. 

27.  Jane  Molloch  died,  aged  86. 

28.  Patrick  Grout,  engaged  in  excavating  at  the  corner  of 
Colonie  and  North  Pearl  streets,  was  killed  by  the  falling  of 
a  clay  bank. 


MARCH.]      Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  333 

MARCH  1.  A  few  inches  of  snow  during  the  night  hours. 

2.  Coroner  held  an  inquest  on  the  body  of  a  man  found 
in  the  river  near  the  foot  of  Maiden  lane. 

3.  Dr.  J.  N.  Campbell  delivered  a  farewell  discourse  in 
the  old  First  Presbyterian   Church,  corner  of  Beaver  and 
South  Pearl  streets,  selecting  as  his  text  the  17th  verse  of 
the  4th  chapter  of  James,  in  these  words,   "  Therefore  to 
him  that  knoweth  to  do  good,  and  doeth  it  not,  it  is  sin." 
Twenty  years  ago,  when  the  reverend  divine  assumed  the 
charge  of  the  congregation,  he  preached  from  the  same  text. 
He  stated  that  the  society  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
had  been  in  existence  seventy-eight  years.     The  church  was 
crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and  the  discourse  was  one  of 
great  interest  throughout.     On  Sunday  next  the  new  edifice 
on  Hudson  street  is  to  be  opened  for  public  service  for  the 
first  time. —  Express. 

4.  Messrs.  Tweddle  &  Darlington  loaded  the  boat  Gene- 
ral Taylor,  of  Albany,  Capt.  McAllister,  with  180  tons  of 
ice,   destined  for  the  Philedelphia  market.     It  was  taken 
out  of  the  canal  between  the  two  freight  depots  of  the  Boston 

Rail  Road  Company,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river 

The  river  which  had  been  open  for  some  time,  above  and 
below  the  city,  was  last  night  closed  again,  with  strong 

ice The  southern  mail  did  not  reach  here  until  half-past 

two  o'clock  this  afternoon. 

5.  A  state  convention  of  the  friends  of  peace  met  at  the 
North  Pearl  Street  Baptist  Church,  and  were  addressed  in 

the  evening  by  Elihu  Burritt Jane,  wife  of  Theophilus 

Roessle,  died,  aged  43 The  Hibernian  Provident  Society 

held  its  annual  meeting,  and  elected  officers,  as  follows  ;  Pa- 
trick Grady,  president ;  John  Higgins,  1st  vice  president  ; 
Patrick  Cullen,   2d  vice  president;   John  Daly  recording 
secretary ;    Daniel   Boyle,    corresponding   secretary ;    John 
Seery,   treasurer;  Christopher  Wallace,   John  Mulholland, 
and  Michael  Berry,  finance  committee ;  Edward  Donahoe, 
John   Purcell,    Patrick    Flynn,   Lawrence    Dowd,    Michael 
Murtaugh,  Hugh  Coyle  and  Cornelius  Ryan,  executive  com- 
mittee. 

7.  Mrs.  Nancy  Alvord,  daughter  of  Gen.  Chauncey  Hum- 
phrey of  Albany,  died  at  Waltham,  Yt. 


334  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

9.  The    steam   boat    Buffalo    arrived    at   9  -o'clock    in 

the  morning,  and  the  Hudson  arrived  soon  after Mrs. 

Maria  B.  Miller,  relict  of  Morris  S.  Miller,  died  at  Utica. 
aged    69   years.     In    1804  the   decased    accompanied   her 
husband  the  late  Judge  Miller,  from  Albany  to  Lowville, 
performing  most  of  the  journey  on  horseback.     Some  three 
years  afterwards  she  removed  to  Utica,   and  there  resided 
for  more  than  forty  years.     The  father  of. the  deceased,  Rut- 
ger  Bleecker,  of  Albany,  Gen.  Schuyler,  John  Morin  Scott, 
and  Gren.  Bradstreet,  were  the  original  purchasers  of  Cosby's 
Manor,  and  thus  by  inheritance  she  became  one  of  the  original 
proprietors  of  the  valuable  site  of  Utica.     Her  first  residence 
was  at  the  foot  of  Main  street,  near  old  Fort  Schuyler. 

10.  The  new  edifice  of  the  First  Presbyterian  church, 
corner  of  Hudson  and  Philip  streets,  opened  for  public  wor- 
ship, the  pastor  officiating  alone  in  its  dedication.     The 
discourse  of  Rev.  Dr.  Campbell  was  truly  eloquent  and  im- 
pressive,  and  was  listened  to  with  intense  interest  by  an 
immense  auditory.     The  learned  divine  took  for  his  text  the 
2d  chapter  and  9th  verse  of  Haggai,  "  The  glory  of  this 
latter  house  shall  be  greater  than  the  former,  saith  the  Lord 
of  Hosts,  and  in  this  place  will  I  give  peace,  saith  the  Lord 
of  Hosts."     The  house  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity,  and 
large  numbers  were  compelled  to  leave,  being  unable  to  gain 

admittance.     (See  vol.  I,  p.  293) Eunice,  wife  of  Philo 

Booth,  died,  aged  54. 

12.  Juliette,  wife  of  Hiram  Wheeler,  died. 

13.  Mrs.  Hannah  Gribson  died,  aged  88. 

14.  Since   the   opening   of    navigation   there   has   been 
a  steady  increase  of  business.     The  steam  boats  have  brought 
up  large  loads  of  merchandise.      These,  together  with  the 
tows,  have  kept  the  draymen  employed.     The  recent  rain 
has  caused  the  river  to  rise  rapidly  and  there  is  sufficient 
water  on  the  bar  to  enable  laden  vessels  to  pass  over  with- 
out difficulty.     Owing  to  the  rain  the  market  was  inanimate 
early  in  the  day,  but  towards  noon  it  cleared  off  and   busi- 
ness was  resumed.     The  market  is  firm  for  flour,  with  sales 
500  brls.  at  $4.87  a  $5  for  common  to  good  state,  $5.19  a $5.31 
for  Michigan,  $5.37  a  $5.50  for  pure  Genesee.    Some  90  brls. 
beef  hams  sold  within  a  few  days  at  17  ;  holders  now  ask  18. 
A  steady  market  for  whiskey,  with  sales  72  brls.  prison  at 


MARCH.]      Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  335 


24  Jets.  ;  demand  fully  equal  to  the   receipts.  —  Journal  ...... 

Great  improvements  were  in  progress  at  the  southern  point 
of  the  city,  which  was  reclaimed  from  the  water  a  few  years 
ago.  North  of  the  factory  of  Mr.  Deyermand,  Messrs. 
Tracy  &  Edson  had  purchased  a  frontage  on  the  river  of  116 
feet,  upon  which  they  intended  erecting  a  distillery. 
Mesrs.  Yose  &  Co.  were  putting  up  a  large  brick  building 
to  be  used  as  a  store  house  for  their  extensive  stove  esta- 
blishment. There  were  also  five  or  six  large  brick  buildings 
going  up  in  the  same  neighborhood  ;  and  the  whole  aspect 
of  the  old  pasture  was  being  rapidly  transformed.  The  lo- 
cality bounded  by  Rensselaer  and  Pearl  streets,  and  the 
river  and  creek,  were  thus  contemplated  to  be  compactly 
filled  with  factories  and  dwellings. 

15.  The  Mohawk  ice  passed  down  the  river  this  morn- 
ing ......  The  rains  and  warm  weather  caused  the  snow  in 

the  surrounding  country  to  melt  so  rapidly,  that  the  river, 
which  had  been  very  low,  was  again  over  the  docks  in  cer- 
tain places. 

16.  The  snow  which  fell  through  the  whole  of  the  pre- 
ceding day,  melting  as  it  reached  the  earth,  congealed  dur- 
ing the  night,  producing  just  ice  and  snow  enough  on  the 
sidewalks  to  enable  the  boys  who  were  out  early  to  have 
their   last   ride    down   hill  ......  The   steam   boats    Hendrik 

Hudson  and  Manhattan  reduced  the  fare  to  New  York  to 
50cts.,  and  the  Buffalo  to  25cts.,  in  opposition  to  the  rail 
road  line  ......  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Hubbard,  wife  of  H.  L.  Hub- 

bard,  died......  Richard  Barhydt  died,  aged  61  ......  The  rear 

wall  of  Messrs.  Durant  &  Lathrop's  grain  store,  corner  of 
Steuben  street  and  the  dock,  fell  during  the  night,  casting 
1000  bushels  of  oats  into  the  yard. 

20.  Considerable   ice   formed   in   the   river   during   the 
night,  which  was  a  very  cold  one,  and  large  quantities  of 
ice  floated  past  the  city  during  the  day  ......  A  meeting  of 

the  city  capitalists  to  receive  a  delegation  from  Yermont  at 
the  Capitol  to  .deliberate  upon  measures  for  the  construction 
of  a  rail  road  communication  from  Albany  to  Bennington  ...... 

Foot  race    at  the  Bull's  Head  between  Steeprock,  Sharp 
Shooter  and  Doctor.     Steeprock  won  the  race  :  one  mile  in 
5m.  31Js. 

21.  Horace  Randall  died,  aged  56. 


336  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.         [1850. 

22.  Ann  Eliza  Fitzpatrick  died,  aged  17 A  new  bell, 

weighing  2058  pounds,  was  hoisted  into  the  steeple  of  the 
old  brick  church,  corner  of  South  Pearl  and  Beaver  streets, 
recently  vacated  by   the    First   Presbyterian   society,   and 
now  undergoing  repairs  for  a  society  of  Congregationalists. 

23.  Snowed  all  day. 

24.  Sophia,  wife  of  George  C.  Gaynor,  died. 

25.  Calvin  Pepper  died,  aged  67. 

26.  Selleck  Whitney,  formerly  of  Albany,  died  in   New 
York,  ajied  70. 

30.  Patrick  Grady  died,  aged  35.  " 

31.  Helen,  wife  of  Amos  Dodge,  died,  aged  45.     John  C. 

Wait  died,  aged  32 During  this  month  126  persons  had 

required  medical  aid  at  the  almshouse,  of  whom  13  had  died 
and  20  remained  under  treatment. 

APRIL  2.  The  convention   of  democrats  nominated  Eli 
Perry  for  mayor. 

3.  Eliza  Osborn  died,  aged  21. 

4.  Convention  of  whigs  nominated    Franklin  Townsend 
for  mayor. 

5.  Great  freshet ;  the  water  overflowed  the  dock  and  pier. 

8.  Snow  upon  all  the  surrounding  hills,  rendering  the  at- 
mosphere cold  and  piercing Charter  election:  Franklin 

Townsend  elected  mayor Mrs.   Catherine,  widow  of  the 

late  Isaac  A.  Quackenboss,  and  daughter  of  the  late  Gerrit 
Bancker,  of  Normanskill,  died  at  Erie,  Pa.,  aged  96. 

9.  Hester,  widow  of  Benjamin  Van  Zandt,  died,  aged  73. 
Rebecca  Jane,  wife  of  Jacob  Messenger,  died. 

11.  Mrs.  Ann  Patton  died,   aged   69.     Mrs.    Prudence 
Halsted  died,  aged  70.     Sidney  Wells  died  in  California. 

12.  Caroline,  wife  of  Wm.  H.  Rice,  died,  aged  33.     D. 
E.  Hawley  died,  aged  40. 

13.  Snow  during  great  part  of  the   day...... An  attempt 

was  made  to  fire  the  old  Payn  tavern  in  Broadway David 

Redden  died,  aged  60. 

14.  William   S.  Relay  died,  aged  49.     Lydia  Ann,  wife 
of  L.  D.  Ayery,  and  daughter  of  the  late  Jacob  I.  Cuyler,  of 
Albany,  died  at  Aurora,  N.Y.,  aged  48. 

16.  Sarah  Matilda  Carson,  daughter  of  the  late  Isaac  Mo- 
Murdy,  died  in  New  York,  aged  25. 


MAY.]          Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  337 

19.  Mary,  wife  of  Oscar  C.  Betson,  died,  aged  32. 

21.  Jubal  T.  Russell  died,  aged  40. 

22.  The  O'Reilly  telegraph  posts  were  erected  throughout 

the  city,  surmounted  by  gilded  eagles Opening  of  the 

canal. 

23.  Mrs.  M.  Catherine,  wife  of  H.  E.  McAllister,  died, 
aged  23. 

24.  John  Humphrey  died,  aged  62. 

25.  The  Albany,    Benniugton    and    Rutland  RsOil    Road 
Company  was  organized   under   the  general  rail  road  law, 
and  the  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders  held.     The  follow- 
ing were  elected  directors  ;  Erastus  Corning,  James  Edwards, 
William    W.    Forsyth,    John    Tayler  Cooper,    Marcus    T. 
Reynolds,  Samuel  Pruyn,  James  A.  Wilson,  John  B.  James, 
Franklin    Townsend,  Charles    Van    Benthuysen,   Wm   V. 

Many,  John  L.  Schoolcraft,    James  Kidd Barent  van 

Everen  died,  aged  80. 

26.  Michael  Keaty  engaged  with  two  others  in  digging  a 
drain  in  Lumber  street,    was  killed   by   the  caving  of  the 

earth Mrs.  Sarah    Peters   Munn,  wife   of  Stephen  B. 

Munn,  died,  aged  72. 

28.  Rev.  M.  Van  Waggoner  preached  his  valedictory  at 
the  Universalist  church Lydia,  wife  of  Eli  Perry,  died. 

29.  The  water  over  the  pier  and  still  rising ;  day  rainy, 

with  lightning ;  cleared  off  cool  in  the  evening Fire  in 

Blunt's  Building ;  damage  small. 

30.  Water  still  rising  in  the  river;  a  great  quantity  of 

logs  and  lumber  floated  past  the  city Meeting  of  the 

directors  of  the  Albany  and  Rutland  Rail  Road  Company; 
Marcus  T.  Reynolds,  president ;  James  Edwards,  treasurer ; 

Albert   D.  Robinson,  secretary Mrs.  Maria   Miller, 

widow  of  the  late  Christian  Miller,  died,  aged  87. 

31.  Ann  Schuyler,  relict  of  the   late    Matthew   Goslee, 
formerly  of  Albany,  died,  aged  86. 

MAY  1.  Meeting  of  water  commissioners,  who  appointed 
William  J.  McAlpine  to  examine  the  various  projects  for  sup- 
plying the  city  with  water  and  to  superintend  the  con- 
struction of  the  work ...Jane  M.  Keogh  died,  aged  19. 

3.  Mrs.  Catherine  Fryer,  widow  of  the  late  Isaac  Fryer, 
died,  aged  85. 

Annals,  ii.  29 


338  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

6.  Meeting  at  the  Capitol  to  discuss  the  practice  of  flogging 

in  the  navy  at  which  Dr.  B.  P.  Staats  presided A  line 

of  omnibusses  commenced  running  from  the  north  to  the 
south    ferry,  through  Broadway — an  experiment  that  had 
been  made  before  and  abandoned The  following  per- 
sons were  elected  managers  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  for  the 
ensuing  year;  William  James,  John  Q.  Wilson,  Marcus  T. 
Reynolds,  James  D.  Wasson,  Lawson  Annesley,  James  Dex- 
ter,   Eli  Perry,  Ichabod   L.    Judson,    William    Thorburn, 
John  F.  Rathbone,  Daniel  Campbell. 

7.  John  Lawyer,  a  cab  driver,  drowned  in  attempting  to 

board    the  South  America   on  her  arrival The   first 

boat  through  from  Buffalo  arrived  with  660  barrels  of  flour. 
The  docks  submerged  by  another  freshet. 

8.  Annual  election  of  the  Schoharie  and  Albany  Plank 
Road  Association;  the  following  persons  were  chosen  direc- 
tors for  the  ensuing  year  :  James  Kidd,  S.  S.  Peck,  Rich- 
ard  J.  Grant,    Albany;  Jacob  Vrooman,  Samuel  B.   Ste- 
phens, Ralph  Brewster,  Schoharie ;  Benjamin  Lee,  Knox  ; 
Jonathan  D.  Wood  Wright;  George   C.  Batterman,  Guil- 
derland.     James  A.  Tremere,  Albany;  Henry  Slack,  Guil- 
derland ;  and  H.  Warner,    Wright,  inspectors  of  election. 
James   Kidd   was    reelected    president,    Ralph    Brewster, 
secretary,  and  John  G.  Gebhard,  jr.,  treasurer. 

10.  Barent  W.  Esmay  died. 

11.  William  Radley  died,  aged  50. 

12.  At  5  o'clock,  p.  M.,  the    ceremonies  of  laying  the 
corner-stone  of  the  new  German  Catholic  Church,  to    be 
erected  on  the  corner  of  Hamilton  and  Philip  streets,  were 
performed  in  the  presence  of  a  crowd  of  upwards  of  3,000 
persons.     The  stone   was   laid   by   the    Rt.    Rev.    Bishop 
M.cClosky,  of    the  Roman    Catholic   diocese   of    Western 
New  York,  and  the  usual  ceremonies  of  the  church  per- 
formed by  him,  aided  by  six  priests,  and  the  same  number 
of  attendant  pages,  clothed  in  white  surtouts.     The  bishop 
wore  a  magnificent  dress,  his  splendid  mitre,  and  a  gold 
cross  set  in  diamonds,  and  delivered  a  short  discourse.     He 
was  followed  by  the  pastor  of  the  German  Catholics  in  this 
city,  in  a  brief  address  or  sermon.     That  portion  of  the  com- 
munity is  fast  increasing  in  Albany,  and  the  old  church  in 
which  they  worshiped,  was  ill  adapted  to  their  wants.     The 


MAY.]  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  339 

new  one  is  to  be  a  handsome,  substantial  edifice  and  an  or- 
nament to  the  city. — Knickerbocker Sarah  McDonald  of 

Albany,  died  at  Aiken,  S.  C. 

14.  Samuel  S.  Fowler  died,  aged  51.     Mr.  Fowler  was 
long  a  resident  of  this  city,  where  in  early  life,  by  his  in- 
dustry and  integrity,  he  acquired  a  competent  estate  ;  and- 
although  his  residence  for  several  years  past  has  been  on 
the  other  side  of  the  river,  his  business  relations  with  the 
city  have    been  unchanged,    and  he    remained  up    to  the 
time  of  his  decease  an  active  director  and  the  vice  presi- 
dent of  the  Mechanics  and  Farmers'  Bank. 

15.  Peter  J.  Martin  died,  aged  19. 

17.  Cyrus  S.  McCammon  died,  aged  27. 

19.  Sarah  K.,  wife  of  William  Wendell,  died. 

20.  The  weather  continued  cold  and  ivet ;  fires  being  still 
necessary,"  and  snow,  upon  the  hills  north  and  east. 

21.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Whig  General  Committee,  the 
folio  wing  officers  were  chosen  for  the  ensuing  year  :  S.  H.  H. 
Parsons,  chairman  j  Joseph  Davis,   1st  vice,  and  Geo.    M. 
Sayles,  2d  vice  chairman ;  James   Kidd,   treasurer ;  L.  D. 

Holstein    and   George    C.    Lee,   secretaries Mary  Ann 

Walker  died  in  Brooklyn. 

22.  The  Albany  City  Savings  Institution,  chartered  by 
the  last  legislature,  was  open  daily  to  receive  deposits,  and 
on  Wednesday  evenings  for  females ;  the  following  are  the 
officers  of  the  institution  :  Erastus  Corning,  president ;  John 
Taylor,  1st  vice  president;  James  Maher,  2d  vice  president; 
Watts  Sherman,  John  T.  Norton,.  John  Knower,  Henry  H. 
Martin,  Lansing  Pruyn,  James  Goold,  Samuel  White,  J.  V. 
L.  Pruyn,  Ellis  Baker,  C.  W.  Bender,  William  Humphrey, 
James   Kidd,  Thomas  Noonan,  John  McKnight,  trustees ; 

Watts  Sherman,  treasurer The  old  Albany  Savings  Bank 

was  also  open  daily  for  depositors,  under  the  following  officers  : 
John  Townsend,  president ;  Teunis  Van  Yechten,  1st  vice 
president ;    Samuel    Stevens,    2d   vice    president ;  William 
Newton,  William  McHarg,  James  Taylor,  Rufus  H.  King, 
Jacob  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Gerrit  Y.  Lansing,  Frederick  I.  Bar- 
nard,   Benjamin    Tibbitts,    James    Stevenson,    William    E. 
Bleecker,  Robert  H.    Pruyn,  Harmon   Pumpelly,  James  D. 
Wasson,  Friend    Humphrey,    trustees;  James  Taylor,  trea- 
surer ;  Robert  H.  Pruyn,  secretary. 


340  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

27.  The  body  of  John  L.  Lawyer,  drowned  two  weeks  pre- 
viously, was  found  below  the  city Lawrence  Dempsey 

died,  aged  52. 

29.  Joseph  Dibble  died,  aged  55. 

30.  Maria  J.  Hoyt  died,  aged  87. 

31.  Twenty-two  days  of  rain  during  the  month. 

JUNE  1.  Rain.  At  a  meeting  of  the  journeymen  printers 
of  the  city  at  Clinton  Hotel,  the  following  were  elected  offi- 
cers of  the  Printers'  Union  for  the  six  months  next  ensuing; 
Giles  K.  Winne,  president ;  John  S.  Nafew,  vice  president ; 
A.  F.  Chatfield,  rec.  sec. ;  R.  F.  Johnstone,  cor.  sec. ;  D. 

Farling,  treasurer There  had   occurred   in   the   eighth 

ward  158  deaths  within  the  year  ending  this  day,  according 
to  the  census  report.  * 

2.  Rain. Anthony  Charbonnon  died,  aged  36. 

3.  Rain. 

5.  Dinner  given  by  the  printers  to  the  Hon.  Edward  Gil- 
bert, of  California,  who  was  a  journeyman  printer  in  Albany 
before  the  Mexican  war. 

6.  The  Caledonian   Fusileers  arrived  from  New  York  as 
the  guests  of  the  Albany  Emmet  Guards,  by  whom  they 

were  escorted  to  their  quarters  at  Stanwix  Hall Julius 

R.  Ames  died,  aged  49. 

12.  The  steam  boat  Kosciusko  left  the  pier  for  New  York, 
fare  6i  cents. 

15.  The  following  were  elected  directors  of  the  Water- 
vliet  Turnpike  Company :  John  Townsend,  John  Knicker- 
backer,  James  D.  Wasson,  Nathan  Dauchy,  Edward  Learned, 
Charles  B.  Lansing,  Tjiomas  Hillhouse,  Stephen  Van  Rens- 
selaer  and  D.  T.  Vail. 

16.  James  B.  Tyler  died,  aged  37. 

17.  John    B.    Robinson    died,    aged  21.     Maria  Louisa, 
wife  of  Dr.  David  Springstead,  died. 

18.  Robert  Atkins  died,  aged  52. 

21.  Caroline  Matilda,  wife  of  Egbert  W.   Barnum,  and 
daughter  of  Lewis  Benedict,  died.     Isaac  Turner  died,  aged 
50. 

22.  The  amount  of  down  freight  on  the  Albany  and  Sche- 
nectady  Rail   Road  from    the  1st  June   to  22d,  1849,  was 
1,045,554  Ibs;  same  time  1850,  was  3,350,219  Ibs;  Excess 
in  June,  1850,  2,304,665  Ibs;  equal  to  about  225  per  cent. 


JULY.]         Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  341 

One-half  of  the  above  increase  is  owing  to  the  great  number 
of  cattle  passing  over  the  road  toward  Boston.  This  is  a 
new  and  valuable  feature  in  the  business  of  the  roads,  and 
has  been  the  result  of  the  repeal  of  the  tolls  on  live  stock 
passing  over  the  roads  parallel  to  the  canal.  The  first  class 
passengers  for  the  last  few  days,  exceed  those  of  the  same 
time  last  June  by  2,500. 

23.  John  Capron  died,  aged  59. 

24.  William  Champlin,  of  Albany,  was  drowned  in  Scho- 
harie  creek,  wbile  bathing. 

25.  O'Reilly  line  of  telegraph  connected  with  New  York. 

26.  The  Horticultural  exhibition  at  the  Geological  rooms 
was  a  rare  display  of  the    products  of  the   season,   among 
which  were  more  than  fifty  varieties  of  stawberries. 

28.  Jane  Ellen  D.  McKo.wn,  wife  of  John  C.  Campbell, 
died. 

29.  The  Albany  and  Schenectady  Rail  Road  negotiated 
to-day  their  seven  per  cent  convertible  ten  year   bonds   at 
par  to   an  amount  sufficient  to  fund  the  entire  amount  of 
their  floating  debt.     The  takers   of  these  bonds  were   the 
leading  stockholders  of  this  road  in  Albany  and  New  York, 
and  they  were  taken  for  permanent  investment.     The  road 
had  now  none  but  a  funded  debt,  and  the  entire  net  earnings 
of  the  road  were  thereafter  to  be  divided  among  the  stock- 
holders after  reserving  a  sinking  fund  of  not  less  than  one 
per  cent  or  $10,000  a  year.     The  prospects  of  this  road 
were  now  more  favorable  than  at  any  time  since  it  was  built. 
The  track  and  equipage  were  in  first  rate  order,  and  the  in- 
ventory larger  than  at  any  previous  time.     The  receipts  for 

June  exhibited  a  large  excess  over  June  of  last  year 

Mrs  Margaret  Mclntosh  died,  aged  74.     Owen  Mead,  aged 
35,  was  drowned  while  bathing  in  the  Island  creek.     Mary 
Bruce,  daughter  of  Thomas  Hillson,  died,  aged  47. 

JULY  1.  Mrs  Susan  Foster  died,  aged  88.     Mrs  Mary 
Curran  died,  aged  63. 

3.  Mrs.   Phosbe  Beardsley  died,   aged  77.     William   S. 
MaGrowan  died,  aged  52. 

4.  INDEPENDENCE  j  celebrated  by  the  usual  processions 
and  ceremonies ;  oration  by  William  Barnes ;  reading  De- 
claration of  Independence  by  Walter  R.  Bush.    The  Young 


342  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

Men's  Association  held  their  usual  celebration  in  the  after- 
noon ;  the  Declaration  was  read  by  John  N.  Cutler ;  an  ori- 
ginal poem  was  read  by  H.  S.  McCall;  and  an  oration  by 

Isaac  Edwards James  Meads  died,  aged  29. 

5.  The  city  was  visited  at  night,  by  a  storm  of  thunder, 
lightning  and  rain,  the  like  of  which  had  not  been  witnessed 
in  this  city  for  thirty  years ;  and  which,  in  this  latitude, 
is  a  rare  phenomenon.  It  had  all  the  characteristics  of  a 
tropical  storm,  or  rather,  succession  of  storms,  for  it  was  pro- 
longed from  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening  until  after  midnight. 
The  city  seemed  to  be  the  centre  of  some  extraordinary 
perturbation  of  the  elements  ;  and  the  whole  dome  of  the 
sky  was  kept  illuminated  with  the  sheet  lightning  with  but 
momentary  intermissions  of  darkness,  between  the  flashes. 
Thunder  and  violent  rain  accompanied  the  manifestation. 
The  electricity  seemed  to  pervade  the  whole  atmosphere,  and 
to  surround  every  object.  After  about  two  hours,  a  new 
storm  from  the  west  was  attracted  hither,  to  intermingle  in 
the  elemental  strife,  and  sharp,  forked  lightning,  rattling 
thunder,  and  bolts  that  appeared  to  strike,  added  additional 
grandeur  and  terror  to  the  scene.  From  time  to  time,  a 
new  phase  in  the  storm  showed  that  its  wasting  energies 
were  recruited  by  new  arrivals  of  clouds,  attracted  to  the 
vortex  which  the  atmospheric  commotion  and  the  altered 
temperature  produced.  The  rain  fell  in  torrents  and  the 
streets  in  all  parts  of  the  city  were  inundated,  and  in  many 
places  the  pavements  torn  up  and  much  damage  done  to  cel- 
lars. A  house  or  barn  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  was 
struck  and  fired,  and  the  blaze  could  be  seen  from  the  city. 
The  schooner  Rockaway,  lying  at  the  pier  at  the  foot  of 
Columbia  street,  loading  with  lumber,  was  struck  by  the 
lightning,  which  descended  the  forward  mast,  winding 
around  it  in  its  descent,  shivering  it  to  pieces,  tearing  the 
sails,  &c.  The  crew  were  in  the  cabin  and  escaped  unin- 
jured. The  sloop  J.  K.  Polk,  lying  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
basin,  and  one  or  two  other  vessels  were  also  struck,  but  no 
material  injury  was  done.  The  day  had  been  extremely  warm 
and  close.  Much  injury  was  done  to  the  Rural  Cemetery, 
the  roads  being  broken,  and  the  embankments  destroyed, 
and  large  trees  torn  down  by  the  storm. — Express. 


JULY.]          Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  343 

6.  High  water  in  the  river  caused  by  the  heavy  rains  of 
th'e  preceding  night. 

7.  A  rail   road  train  left  for  the  west  at  night,  with  two 
days  mails,  there  having  been  no  communication  with  the 
west  .since  Friday  night,  on  account  of  the  damage  by  the 
storm. 

8.  The    corner-stone  of  Grace  Church,  a  new  house  of 
worship   to  be  erected  on    the  corner  of  Washington    and 
Lark    streets,  was  laid  by    Bishop  Whittingham,    assisted 
by   Rev.   Drs.   Potter  and  Kip  of  this  city,   and  Rev.  Mr. 
Bostwick  of  Fort  Edward. 

10.  Splendid  exhibition  of  the  Albany  and  Rensselaer 
Horticultural  Society  at  the  Geological  Rooms Intelli- 
gence of  the  death  of  General  Taylor,  president  of  the 

United  States,  reached  Albany James  Noonan  died, 

aged  19 Mrs.  Mary  Reynolds  died,  aged  60. 

It.   Edward  B.  Colburn  died,  aged  48. 

12.  Francis  N.  Selkirk  died,  aged  44. 

14.  Business  suspended   in  the  morning  and  the  stores 
hung  in  mourning  in   honor  of  the  funeral  of  President 
Taylor  at  Washington. 

15.  Margaret  C.,  wife  of  John  B.  Stonehouse,  died,  aged 
32.      Henry  Salisbury  died,  aged  68. 

16.  Jacob  Griffin,  Jr.,  aged  30,  was  drowned  by  the  up- 
setting of  a  sail  boat. 

17.  Funeral  procession  in  honor  of  the  late  President  of 
the  United  States,  Zachary  Taylor.     It  was  one  of  the  most 
imposing  that  had  ever  been  witnessed  in  the  city.     George 
Benton  drowned,  aged  18. 

18.  Francis  Kant  was  drowned. 

19.  Great  rain   storm A  man   drowned  at  the  Co- 
lumbia street  bridge. 

20;  High  water  for  sixth  time  this  season  ;  the  pier  and 

docks  submerged Mrs.  Elizabeth  Russell  died,  aged 

65.  Timothy  Spiers  died,  aged  62. 

21.  The  flood  which  had  begun  to  inundate  the  docks  on 
Friday,  reached  its  greatest  height  about  9  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  it  was  higher  than  had  been  known  for 
several  years,  and  the  current  of  the  river  running  at  the 
rate  of  seven  miles  an  hour.  The  docks  were  submerged 
several  feet,  and  the  gardens  on  the  island  below  the  city 


344  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

were  from  three  to  five  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  water, 

and  the  crops    totally   destroyed Richard  Merrifield 

died,  aged  67.     Mrs.  Skerrett  died. 

22.  Mrs.   Margaret  E.   Dempsey,  daughter  of  John   C. 
Feltman,  died,  aged  27. 

23.  The  children  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  had  an  excur- 
sion to  Kinderhook. 

26.  Exhibition  and  procession  of  the  District  School 
children  of  the  city,  who  turned  out  with  their  teachers 
to  the  number  of  about  2,500,  and  held  their  exercises  in 
the  Capitol  park Margaret  Ann  Thornton,  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, was  found  dead  in  her  bed  at  the  Delavan  House, 
from  the  use  of  chloroform. 

28.  John  Griffin  died,  aged  64. 

30.  Mrs.  Fanny  Hand  died,  aged  50. 

31.  Michael  Kennedy  drowned,  aged  23. 

AUGUST  2.  A  barge  laden  with  12,000   bushels  of  corn 

sunk  in  the  river  a  short  distance  below^the   city Alicia 

Maria,  wife  of  Thomas  J.  Tuite,  and  daughter  of  John  Cos- 
tigan,  died  at  Cincinnati,  aged  26. 

3.  John  Clark  died,  aged  74. 

4.  Peter  Hughes  was  drowned  at  the  Steam  boat  Banding. 
Thomas  Van  Heynigen  died,  aged  24. 

5.  The  Republican  Artillery  left  the  city  in  two  barges 
with  excellent  music  and  other  arrangements  for  a  pleasure 

excursion  to    Hudson The   Burgesses    Corps  took   the 

Rip  Van  Winkle  in  the  evening  for   New  York,  on   their 

annual    excursion Election   of    officers   of    Mechanics' 

Benefit  Society ;  William  A.   Carr,   president ;    John  Vos- 
burg,  1st  vice  president ;    Oliver  Houle,  2d  vice  president ; 
James  A.  Buckbee,  treasurer ;  R.  S.   Cushman,   secretary ; 
S.  L.  Hodgkins,  assistant  secretary ;  J.  W.  Hinkley,  physi- 
cian.   Stewards:    1st  ward,  H.  F.  Near;  2d  ward,  Michael 
Delehanty ;  3d  ward,  John   Byrnes  ;  4th  ward,  Paul  Cush- 
man ;  5th  ward,  William  A.  Rice  ;  6th  ward,  Daniel  Boyle ; 
7th  ward,    J.  W.  Parsons;    8th   ward,  Alexander    Sickles; 
9th  ward,  E..C.  Batcheldor ;    10th  ward,  J.  H.  Waggoner. 

6.  By  the  books  of  the  deputy  marshal,  the  census  of  the 
eighth  ward  just  completed,  was  6126,  being  an  increase  of 


AUG.]          Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  345 

1300  in  five  years.     There  were  1155  families  in  the  ward, 
and  718  houses Mrs.  Edward  Pacy  died,  aged  54. 

7.  Excursion  of  the  Universalist  Church  sabbath  school 
by  steam  boat  to  Beeren  island.     The  steam  boat  American 
Eagle  and  two  barges  were  freighted  with  a  greater  number 
of  people  than  were  ever  before  known  to  embark  upon  a 
similar  expedition  from  this  city. 

8.  Francis  McLelland,  owner  and  master  of  a  canal  boat, 

drowned  by  an  accidental  fall  into  the  river Frederick 

Platto,  formerly  of  Albany,  died  at  Sullivan,  Madison  county, 
aged  55. 

9.  Mrs.  Margaret  Bergen  died. 

10.  The  Burgesses  corps  returned  from  their  excursion 
to  New  York,  Providence  and  Boston,  and  partook  of  a  sup- 
per at  the  refectory  of  John  McCardel,  in  Beaver  street,  by 
his  invitation...... George  W.  Burk,   formerly  of    Albany, 

died  at  Sandusky  city,  Ohio A  frost   in  the  vicinity, 

which  touched  lightly  some"  of  the  city  gardens. 

11.  John    F.  Stadtler    died,  aged   33.     Volkert   Austin 
died,  aged  78. 

13.  William  Hotaling,  formerly  of  Albany,  died  in  West- 
chester  county,  aged  40. 

14.  Mrs.  -Margaret  Finch  died,  aged  33. 

.15.  The  volunteer  night  watch  succeeded  in  arresting  one 
of  the  burglars  which  had  infested  the  city  for  several  weeks, 
and  who  were  engaged  in  opening  the  store  of  Mr.  William 
Mitchell,  in  Broadway.  The  burglar  captured  was  Hugh 
Johnson.  The  watchman,  James  Wilson,  was  shot  in  the 
face.  These  depredations  had  been  made  every  night  for  a 
month An  Englishman  named  Nichols  committed  sui- 
cide by  shooting  himself  through  the  head  with  a  double 
barrelled  fowling  piece Mrs.  Ann  McHench  died. 

16.  Another  of  the  burglars  disturbed  the  night  previous 
was  taken  during  the  day.  It  was  John  Finnegan,  the  one 
who  shot  Wilson. 

19.  Mrs.  Margaret  M.  Helnie  died,  aged  52. 

20.  William  Stevens  died,  aged    33.     Elizabeth   Dubois 
died,  aged  82. 

22.  Mrs.  Agnes  Johnson  died,  aged  29. 

23.  John  Hawthorn  drowned  in  the  Basin,  and  the  body 
of  a  man  found,  which  had  the  appearance  of  being  several 


346  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [i860. 

days  in  the  water  The  water   commissioners,  on  behalf 

of  the  common  council,  purchased  the  Patroon's  creek,  with 
1  and  sufficient  for  all  the  purposes  contemplated,  for  $150,- 
000.  The  water  leases,  which  paid  an  annual  rent  of  about 
$8,000,  but  only  ran  for  from  three  to  seven  years,  were 
included  in  the  purchase. 

24.  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel  Van  Valkenburgh,  formerly 
of  Albany,  died  at  Utica. 

25.  Lucia  Marvin,  wife  of  Thomas  Olcott,  died,  aged  25. 

27.  Upwards  of  70,000   baskets  of  peaches  arrived  in 

market  from  New  Jersey,  sold  at  from   12J  to  37?  cts 

James  Wilson  and  Thomas  Mead,  who  were  instrumental  in 
arresting  the  burglar  Johnson    on  the  night  of  the  15th 
Aug.,  received  from  the  citizens  a  donation  of  $1,125. 

28.  Daniel  Fry  died,  aged  42.     Abraham  Phillips  died 
at  Ithaca,  aged  23,  formerly  of  Albany. 

29.  John  D.  Fisher  died. 

30.  Robert  Wallace  died,  aged  40.     John  Hodge  died, 
aged  55. 

SEPTEMBER  2.  A  drenching  rain,  the  like  whereof  was 

not  remembered The  common  council  determined  to  light 

the  city  with  spirit  gas,  instead  of  oil  as  heretofore. 

2.  The  church  of  the  Holy  Innocents  was  consecrated  by ' 
-the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Whittingham,  according  to  the  ritual  of 
the  Episcopal  church.  Among  the  officiating  clergymen  pre- 
sent, were  the.  Rev.  Mr.  Reed,  rector,  Rev.  Dr.  Potter  and 
Rev.  Mr.  Davenport,  and  several  others  from  abroad.  The 
bishop  administered  the  rite  of  confirmation  to  some  20 
persons Frederika  Bremer,  the  Swedish  authoress,  ar- 
rived in  the  city The  river  much  swollen  by  the  rain  of 

the  previous  day.     At  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  water 
was  over  the  docks,  but  soon  after  b'egan  to  fall. 

4.  State  fair  opened  at  Bull's  Head  on  the  Troy  road 

Abigail  Mott  of  Albany,  died  at  Battle  Creek,  Mich. 

5.  The  second  day  of  the  fair,  on  which  occasion  the  city 
was  visited  by  the  greatest  multitude  of  strangers  it  had 
ever  witnessed.     The  New  World  brought  up  1200  passen- 
gers.    The  avenue  to  the  fair  grounds  was  thronged  all  day 
with  an  interminable  mass  of  people  moving  up  and  down, 
enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  dust  so  dense  as  to  render  it  inipos- 


SEPT.]          Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  347 

sible  to  discern  objects  across  the  road.  At  seven  o'clock  a 
rain  storm  came  up  which  continued  until  morning.  The 
number  of  tickets  sold,  40,000.  It  was  estimated  that  over 

6000  vehicles  were  in  attendance  upon  the  fair Hon.  D. 

D.  Barnard  appointed  minister  to  Berlin. 

6.  Francis  Schadelle  died,  agad  33. 

7.  The  State  fair  closed.     The  net  income  was  $10,465.10, 
being   double  that  ...of  any   two   previous   fairs  of  the  so- 
ciety  George  George  died,  aged  59. 

9.  Jane  Roessle  killed  by  an  accident  on  the  rail  road. 

10.  Joseph  R.  Pitcher  died,  aged  23. 

12.  Fires  were  required  in  many  houses  by  reason  of  the 

coldness  of  the  weather Catharine  E.,  wife  of  Isaac  Rose, 

died,  aged  24.     Sanders  Van  Rensselaer  died,  aged  35. 

13.  Abraham  Baum,  a  German,  accidentally  fell  into  the 

river  and  was  drowned Lord  Elgin,  governor-general  of 

Canada,  left  this  city  for  New  York  in  the  Hendrik  Hudson. 

14.  Henry  E.  Hills  died,  aged  20 John  Norton,  for- 
merly teller  in  the  State  bank,  died  at  Buffalo. 

16.  Catharine  Barton  died,  aged  40. 

16.  Sarah  Ann,  wife  of  Andrew  Passenger,  died. 

17.  The    water   commissioners  opened   the  various  pro- 
posals which  had  been  submitted  for  the  construction   of 
the  projected  water  works.     Nearly  one  hundred  proposals 
were  sent  in  from  various  sections  of  the  state.     The  work 
was  awarded  to  the  following  persons:  Brick,   to   Dennis 
McCall,  of  Albany;  retaining  reservoir,  Andrew  Brigham, 
of  West  Troy;  receiving  reservoir,  Aspinwall  &  Jackson  of 
Albany;    section    No.    1,    William   J.  Martlett,    Syracuse; 
conduit  sections  Nos.  2  and  3  to  A.  G.  Sage,  Chittenango. 
The  proposals  were  twenty-five  per  cent  lower  than  the  esti- 
mates of  the  engineer,  bringing  the  entire   cost  to  about 
$600,000. 

18.  Andrew  Brand,  the   Kentucky  giant  boy,  died,  aged 
16.     The  deceased  came  to  this  city  about  four  weeks  pre- 
vious to  this  time,  for  the  purpose  of  attending  the  state  fair, 
accompanied  by  his  brother  and  two  friends,  and  not  being 
in  good  health  was  immediately  after  his  arrival  prostrated 
by  an  attack  of  intermittent  fever",  from  which  he  never  re- 
covered.    In    size  he  was  probably  the  most  extraordinary 
person  in  the  world ;  his  advertised  weight  previous  to  his 


348  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

demise,  being  537  pounds.  He  measured  over  6  feet  around 
the  body,  and  4  feet  8  inches  round  the  thigh.  His  age 
was  less  than  16  years. 

19.  Sanders  Lansing,  formerly  of  Albany,  died  at  Man- 
heim,  aged  85.     He  was  born  and  educated  in   the  city  of 
Albany,  and  passed  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  in  the 
place  of  his  nativity.     For  the  last  thirty  years  he  had  been 
a  resident  of  Herkimer  county.     A  member  of  one  of  the 
most  ancient  families  in  the  state>  he  was  intimately  con- 
nected with  many  of  the  distinguished  men  who  acted  a 
prominent  part  in  the  scenes  of  the  revolutionary  war,  and 
who  participated  largely   in  the  formation  and  establish- 
ment  of  our  state  government.     He  was  one  of  -the  last 
links  in  the  chain  which  connected  the  present  generation 
with    the  immediate    actors  .in    those   memorable   scenes. 
While  the  Hon.  John  Lansing,  a  brother  of  the  deceased, 
held  the  office  of  chancellor,  the  subject  of  this  notice  was 
the  register  of  the  court  of  chancery.     He  held  the  office  of 
county  judge,  and  other  places  of  trust  and  responsibility. 
At  a  good  old  age  he  descended  to  the  tomb,  sustained  by 
the  confidence  and  hopes  that  Christianity  inspires,  and  sur- 
rounded by  numerous  friends  and  relatives  who  cherish  his 
memory  with  respect  and  affection.     His  widow  survived 
him  but  four  days. 

20.  Torch  light  procession  at  night,  in  honor  of  a  com- 
pany of  firemen  from  Utica  on  a  visit Mrs.  Elizabeth 

Cluett  died,  aged  85.     Mrs.  Sarah  Lay  died,  aged  52. 

21.  The  St.  Charles  Hotel  in  Hudson  street  burnt. 

23.  Eliza  Gushing,  wife  of  Granville  Slack,  died,  aged  42. 

24.  Torch  light  procession  in  the  evening  by  the  fire  de- 
partment, in  honor  of  the  Howard  engine  company  which 
arrived  from  New  York  on  a  visit. 

28.  James  Kidd  appointed  postmaster  in  place  of  Lewis 
Benedict. 
30.  James  A.  Pratt  died  at  Binghamton,  aged  29. 

OCTOBER  1.  Hannah  Briggs  died,  aged  71. 

2.  The  contract  for  the  construction  of  the  Albany  and 
Rutland  Rail  Road  from  Rutland  to  the  New  York  state 
line  was  closed,  conditioned  that  the  road  should  be  ready 


OCT.]  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  349 

for  the  rail  on  the  first  September  next Samuel  Waddell 

died,  aged  59. 

3.  Meeting  of  colored  and  uncolored  citizens  at  the  City 
Hall  on  the  fugitive  slave  law. 

5.  John  Regan  died,  aged  51. 

6.  Arthur    Bulgin,   book    keeper   and   accountant,    was 
found  dead  at  the  door  of  his  room  in  Blunt's  Building ;  age 
35.     Richard  Cooper  died 

7.  Mrs.  Esther,  wife  of  Michael  Artcher,  died,  aged  50. 

8.  Ground  was  broken  for  the  erection  of  a  row  of  splen- 
did stores  on  the  old  Eagle  Tavern  lot,  by  Mr.  Delavan 

Annual  election  of  the  Burgesses  Corps  when  the  following 
were  elected  for  the  ensuing  year  :  Military.,    B.   R.  Spel- 
man,  captain ;    J.  W.  Blanchard,  1st  lieut. ;  S.    W.  Whit- 
ney, 2d  lieut. ;  Hale  Kingsley,  3d  lieut. ;  E.  J.  Lansing, 
1st  sergt. ;   E.    A.    Benedict,    2d.  sergt.  ;    Win.  0.   Muir, 
3d  sergt. ;  John  Hastings,   4th  sergt.  ;   Staff,    Lewis  Bene- 
dict, jr.,   quarter-master;   W.  J.  Thomas,    pay-master;  J. 
McMichael,  surgeon  ;  William  Davis,  chaplain  ;  Civil,  John 
R.  Taylor,  president;  Joseph  Clinton,  vice  president;  Wm. 
0.  Muir,  treasurer;  J.  C.  Cuyler,  secretary;  S.  W.  Whitney, 

asst.  secretary Sarah,  wife  of  Erastus  Hills,  died,  aged 

53.     Mrs  Hannah  L.  Warren  died,  aged  68. 

14.  Cornelia  Knower,  wife  of  Peter  D.  Stevens,  died, 
aged  27. 

12.  Some  idea  of'  the  magnitude  of  the  freight  business 
at  the  depot  of  the  Western  rail  road  at  East  Albany,  may 
be  gained  from  the  fact  that  two  hundred  and  fifty  cars  per 
day  were  loaded  aud  sent  off.     The  freight  business  of  last     / 
month,  at  that  place  was  larger  than  in  any  other  previous    f 
September.     In    October,  1849,  eight  freight  trains  were 
sent  off  one  morning.     The  freight  bills  of  that  day  amounted 
to  over  $5000. 

14.  Canal  receipts  in  Albany  for  the  2d  week  in  October  : 
flour,  50,294  brls. ;  ashes,  276  do;  whiskey,  &c.,  326  do; 
corn,  33,090  bu. ;  barley,  100,010  do;  oats,  45,600  do;  rye, 
4,270  do;  wheat,  60,782  do;  peas  and  beans,  1,220  do; 
potatoes,  4,580  do ;  seed,  19,400  Ibs. ;  butter,  "92,140  do; 
cheese,  291,400  do;  lard,  72,700  do;  wool,  10,250  do. 

16.  Helen,  wife  of  James  Gourlay,  died,  aged  76. 

Annals,  ii.  30 


350  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

17.  Matthew  Trotter  died  at  sea,  on  his  return  from  France, 
whither  he  had  been  for  the  recovery  of  his  health. 

19.  John   A.  Zuliinan  died,    aged  21.     Isabella    Clark, 
wife  of  Charles  0.  Hagan,  died,  aged  46. 

21.  John  Kerin  died,  aged  27.  Henry  Kelley  died,  aged 
30. 

23.  Ashley  Scovil  died,  aged  52.  Martha,  wife  of  Chaun- 
cey  V.  Crapo,  died,  aged  23. 

25.  The  common  council,  by  a  vote  of  15  to  1  adopted 
the  report  of  the  water  commissioners  recommending  the 
purchase  of  the  Patroon's  creek  for  supplying  the  city  with 
water.     A  loan  of  three  hundred  thousand  dollars  was  nego- 
ciated  with    Rufus  H.  King  and  Watts  Sherman  for  the 

purpose  of  prosecuting  the  work Lucy  Jane  Osterhout 

died,  aged  35. 

26.  John  Harris  died,  aged  53.     A  man,  name  unknown, 
walked   off  the  Steam  boat  dock  and  was  drowned. 

27.  Catherine,  wife  of  Augustus  Waterman,  died,  aged 
20.     Hezekiah  W.  Whitney,  late  of  Albany,  died  at  Mil- 
waukie,  aged  66. 

28.  High    water   caused  by  the  drenching  rains  of  the 
previous  thirty-six  hours.     The  island  at  the  lower  end  of 
the  city  inundated  for  the  eighth  time  this  season,  causing 

great   damage    to  crops ...The  Van  Namee  Guards,  a 

corps  composed  entirely  of  hatters,  went  out  for  a  target 
exercise.     The  prizes,  consisting  of  a  silver  cup  and  gold 
pencil  case,  were  won  by  B.  Lockwood  and  Teunis  Visscher. 

20.  The   horse   boat   attached    to  the    Greenbush  ferry 
sunk  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  with  8  horses  and  milk 
wagons  on  board,  four  of  which  were  lost  overboard. 

30.  A  fly  wheel  cast  at  Low's  furnace  weighing  six  tons, 
said  to  be  the  largest  one  ever  cast. 

31.  House's  Telegraph  line  having  been  completed,  went 
into  operation  this  day,  forming  the  third  telegraph  line. 

NOVEMBER  2.  Margaret  Paddock  died,  aged  23. 

5.  Election  day.  John  L.  Schoolcraft  reelected  to  Con- 
gress; A.  J.  Colvin,  district  attorney;  Hamilton  Harris 
and  Eli  Perry,  assemblymen.  Greatest  number  of  votes 
polled  in  the  county  for  any  two  candidates,  13,906. 


Nov.]  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  351 

6.  Walter  B.  Thayer,  of  Albany,    died,  at    Cannelton, 
Indiana,  aged  42. 

8.  Mrs.  Francis' Dougherty  died,  aged  64. 

9.  Celebration  of  the  completion  of  the  Albany  and  Mo- 
hawk Plank  Road,  took  place  at  the  aqueduct. 

11.  Martin  Lawlor  died,  aged  52. 

12  Bartholomew  Van  Valkenburgh  died,  aged  49.     Lucia 
M.  Gregory  died,  aged  41.     Nathaniel  Ring  died,  aged  84. 
Joseph  Sherwood  died,  aged  22. 

14.  Annual  meeting  of  Albany  County  Medical  Society. 
Address    by  Dr.  James    McNaughton,  president.     Officers 
chosen  for  the  ensuing  year;  James  H.  Armsby,  president; 
William  F.  Carter,  vice  president ;  13.  A.  Sheldon,  secretary; 
J.    B.     Rossman,  treasurer ;    John     Swinburne,    librarian; 
P.  McNaughton,  Howard  Townsend,  P.  P.  Boyd,  Uriah  G. 
Bigelow,  and  Leonard  G.  Warren,  censors Annual  meet- 
ing of  St.  Andrew's  Society,  when  the  following  Ameers  were 
chosen  for    the    ensuing   year :    Dr.    James    McNaughton, 
president;  D.  D.  Ramsey,  1st  vice  president ;' Lithan  Algie, 
2d,  do. ;  Rev.  Peter  Bullions,  chaplain ;  Dr.  Peter  McNaugh- 
ton, physician  ;  William  Gray,  treasurer ;  Peter  Smith,  jr., 
secretary;    Robert   Cameron,    assistant   do.;    Peter  Smith, 
Alexander   Gray,  James  Dickson,   James  Duncan,  George 
Young,  managers Sarah  Welch  died,  aged  16. 

15.  Annual' meeting  of  Phoenix  engine  company,  the  fol- 
lowing were  elected  officers  for  the  ensuing  year ;  J.  B. 
Stonehouse,  president;  J.  Kearney,  1st  assistant ;  D.  Winne, 
2d  assistant;  G.  Campbell,  clerk;  P.  Hewson,  steward. 

17.  The  sloop  Index,  Capt.  Morris  Bumpus,  arrived  on 
her  return  trip  from  New  Bedford,  having  made  two  trips 
of  400  miles  each,  equal  to  800  miles  in  8  days.     She  left 
this  port  on  the   9th  inst.,  fully  laden,  and  arrived  at  New 
Bedford  on  the  llth.     She  discharged  her  cargo,  reloaded 
in  part,  sailed  again  on  the  14th,  and  arrived  here  on  Sunday 
evening,  the  17th.     During  the  run  she   encountered  con- 
siderable head  winds,  and  when  within  twenty  miles  of  New 
York  on  her  return,  nearly  a  whole  day  was  passed  in  a 
calm.     This  favorite  vessel  is  the  property  of  Capt.  Gibb. 

18.  Canal  receipts,  Albany,  Nov.  18:  flour,  25,310  brls. ; 
ashes,  298  do.;  beef,  1520  do.;  whiskey,  &c.,  6380  galls.; 


352  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.          [1850. 

barley,  18,250  bu. ;  oats,  6000  do. ;  wheat,  14,600  do. ; 
potatoes,  1000  do  .;  seed,  5100  Ibs. ;  butter,  79,700  do.; 
cheese,  95,900  do.;  wool,  14,900  do.;  hams  and  bacon, 

21,800  do The  first  snow  storm  of  the  season  occurred 

before  daylight,  and  was  perceptible  on  the  surrounding 
hills  after  sunrise Sarah  Johnston  died,  aged  92. 

19.  At  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  of  the  Utica  and 
Schenectady  Rail  Road  Company,  the  president  of  the  road, 
Erastus  Corning,  of  this  city,  was  voted  a  service  of  plate, 
for  his  long  and  valuable  services,  for  which  he  has  always 

declined  to  receive  any  compensation .In  the  early  part 

of  the  week,  three  brigs  arrived  at  Hudson  from  Maine  for 
the  purpose  of  loading.     The  high  water  enabled  them  to 
reach  Albany,  they  being  of  such  a  large  draft  of  water  that 
in  an  ordinary  state  of  the  river  they  would  have  been  una- 
ble to  reach  our  port.     They  were  towed  up  and  loaded  with 
staves  from  J;he  stave  yard  of  Mr.  William  H.  Dewitt,  and 
immediately  left  for  the  southern  market.     Their  presence 
in  our  harbor  was  the  subject  of  great  curiosity  among  our 

commercial  men Maria,  wife  of  Aaron  S.  Ward,  died. 

Mrs.  Mary  Percy  died. 

20.  A  lad  named  David  Barscall  drowned  at  the  Rail 
Road  ferry.     Sarah,  wife  of  Wm.  M.  Graves,  died,  aged  22. 

21.  Introductory  lecture  before  the  Young  Men's  Associa- 
tion by  Charles  King  of  New  York,  and  poem  by  Wm.  L. 
Learned,  in  Pearl  Street  Baptist  Church. 

25.  A  new  company,  the  Schoolcraft  Light  Horse,  num- 
bering 120,  under  Capt.  James  B.  Harris,  went  out  for  a 
target  excursion  to  Sloan's  tavern  in  Gruilderland.     The  first 
prize,  a  silver  goblet,  was  won  by  David  Osterhout;  the 
second  a  silver  cup,  by  Mr.  Schoonmaker,  the  third  a  gold 
pencil  case,  by  Mr.  Henderson The  Corning  corps,  num- 
bering  120,   under  Capt.   John    Osborn,    went   to  Crane's 
tavern  on  the  Troy  road,  for  target  firing.     The  first  prize  a 
$100  dollar  watch,  was  taken  by  John  Clark ;  the  $30  silver 
goblet,  by  Alexander  Thompson;  the  $15  gold  pencil  case, 
by  John  Ingmire,  and  the  $10  gold  pencil  case,  by  William 
Dwyer Mrs.  Hannah  Hilton  died,  aged  51. 

26.  The  streets  were  whitened  with  snow  in  the  morning, 
which  disappeared  in  a  few  hours;  the  day  dark  and  rainy. 


'Nov.']  Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.  353 

27.  Harvey  Kilbourn,  of  St.  Louis,  died  at  the  Franklin 
House,  aged  45.     Abigail,  -wife  of  Samuel   Carter,   died, 
aged  53. 

28.  The   machinists   of    Jagger,    Treadwell   &   Perry's 
establishment  organized  as  a  military  company,  under  the 
name  of  the  Eagle  Guards,  turned  out  for  a  target  excur- 
sion  Thomas  J.  McCall  died. 

29.  The   Emigrant's  Friend  Society,   organized  for  the 
protection  and  assistance  of  emigrants,  elected  the  following 
officers:  Hon.  Franklin  Townsend,  mayor,  president;  John 
Tracey,  vice  president;  R.  M.  Van  Sickler,  rec.  sec.;  C. 
P.    Williams, .  treasurer;    James    Maher,    John    0.    Cole, 
James  Dexter,  I.  N.  Wyckoff,  H.  B.  Haswell,  M.  McMa- 

hon,  directors The  quantity  of  flour,  wheat,  corn,  and 

barley  left  at  tide  water  during  the  4th  week  in  Nov.,  in 
the  years  1849  and  1850,  was  as  follows: 

Flour,  brls.         Wheat,  bu.          Corn,  bu.         Barley,  bu. 

1849, 270,426  212,183  84.644  88,448 

1850, 301,500  490,215  35,419  93,066 


Inc.  31,074  Inc.  298,032    Dec.  49,225  Inc.    4,618 

The  aggregate  quantity  of  the  same  articles  left  at  tide 
water  from  the  commencement  of  navigation  to  the  30th 
Nov.,  inclusive,  during  the  years  1849  and  1850,  was  as 
follows : 

Flour,  brls.       Wheat,  bu.  Corn,  bu.         Barley,  bn. 

1849, 3,191,864        2,667.802         5,053,559        1,390,737 

1850, 8,170,272        3,566,551          3,219,476        1,723,914 


Dec.  21,592  Inc.  888,749  Dec.  1,834,083  Inc.  333,177 

The  aggregate  quantity  of  the  same  articles  left  at  tide 
water  from  the  commencement  of  navigation  to  the  30th 
of  Nov.,  inclusive,  during  the  years  1848  and  1850,  was  as 
follows : 

Flour,  brls.        Wheat,  bu.          Corn,  bu.          Barley,  bn. 

1848, 3,074,292    .    3,038,168        2,886,575        1,544.603 

1850, 3,170,272        3,556,551        3,219,476        1,723,914 


Inc.  95,980  518,383          832,901  179,311 

By  reducing  the  wheat  to  flour,  the  quantity  of  the  latter 
left  at  tide  water  this  year,  compared  with  the  correspond- 


354 


Chronicle  of  Events  in  Albany.         [1850. 


ing  period  of  last  year,  shows  an  increase  of  156,157  barrels 
of  flour. 

The  following  table  shows  the  quantity  of  some  of  the 
principal  articles  of  produce  left  at  tide  water  from  the 
commencement  of  navigation  to  the  30th  of  Nov.,  inclusive 
during  the  years  1848,  114  days;  1849,  114  days;  1850, 
122  days : 

1848. 

Flour,  brls., 3,074,292 

Wheat,  bu ., 3,083,148 

Corn,  bu ., 2,886,575 

Barley,  bu., 1,544,603 

Rye,  bu., 284,472 

Other  grains,  bu.,. . . .     1,425,739 

Beef,  brls., 61,075 

Pork,  brls., ' 89,760 

Ashes,  brls., 63,676 

Butter,  Ibs., 23,516,783 

Lard,  Ibs., 9,775,277 

Cheese,  Ibs., 22,985,803 

Wool,  Ibs., 8,736,660 

Bacon,  Ibs., 8,201,865 

Stephen  Harris  died,  aged  61. 


1849. 

1850. 

3,191,864 

3,170,272 

2,667,802 

3,556,551 

5,053,559 

3,219,476 

1,390,737 

1,723,914 

313,272 

608,834 

1,376,558 

2,404,326 

99,861 

88,065 

73,312 

46,621 

56,180 

36,421 

20,510,411 

16,607,981 

9,051,821 

8,276,934 

41,622,669 

32,125,874 

12,633,096 

11,860,756 

8,422,242 

9,514,421 

Statistics.  355 


STATISTICS. 


CITY  FINANCES,  1849—50. 

The  annual  report  of  the  chamberlain  for  the  year  ending  May 
1,  1850,  was  referred  by  the  common  council  to  the  finance  com- 
mittee consisting  of  Visscher  Ten  Eyck,  C.  P.  Williams,  and  John 
D.  Hewson,  who,  on  the  12th  August,  made  the  following  report 
on  the  condition  of  the  finances  of  the  city. 

The  financial  affairs  of  our  city,  from  their  magnitude  and  varied 
character,  require  from  the  officers  connected  with  their  manage- 
ment a  strict  devotion  to  duty,  as  well  as  zeal,  promptness,  fidelity, 
system  and  good  order  to  control  and  govern  all  their  operations. 
The  essentials  are  now  the  prominent  features  of  the  chamberlain's 
office;  and  the  officers  connected  therewith,  are  justly  entitled  to 
the  commendation  of  the  board  for  the  faithful  manner  in  which 
they  have  discharged  their  laborious  and  highly  responsible  duties. 
.  Beceipts  and  Expenditures — The  aggregate  amount  received  by 
the  chamberlain  from  all  sources,  during  the  past  year,  including 
$41,668.78,  the  balance  on  hand 

May  1,  1849,  was $695,366.67 

Expenditures  during  the  same  period 627,635.42 


Leaving  a  balance  on  hand,  May  1, 1850,  of $67,731.34 

In  the  year  1844,  when  the  annual  report  of  the  chamberlain  was 
made,  the  city  had  available  means,  applicable  to  the  support  of 

the  city  government  of $19,464.67 

In  the  year  1845 10,677.81 

do  1846..... 6,797.98 

do  1847 793.70 

do  1848 662.35 

do  1849 ' 41,668.78 

do  1850.. 67,631.34 

The  large  balance  of  1849,  and  the  still  larger  balance  of  1850, 
are  the  results  of  the  operations  of  the  law  of  1848.  In  former 
years  the  amount  raised  by  tax  for  support  of  the  city  government 
was  nearly  if  not  entirely  exhausted  on  the  1st  of  May,  by  its  ap- 
plication to  the  payment  of  temporary  loans.  These  loans  were 
made  in  anticipation  of  the  annual  taxes,  and  the  means  realized 
therefrom  were  required  for  the  ordinary  expenditures  of  the  city. 
By  a  strict  adherence  to  the  requirements  of  the  law  above  referred 
to,  and  a  due  regard  to  economy  in  the  administration  of  the  affairs 
of  the  city,  these  temporary  expedients  may  be  in  a  great  degree, 
if  not  entirely,  avoided. 


356  Statistics. 

Loans  and  Interest. — The  amount  of  temporary  and  other  loans 

made  during  the  past  year  is $190,000.00 

During  the  same  period  the  amount  paid  and  cancelled 

by  the  city  was $192,008.75 

Cash  paid  to  trustees  of  sinking  fund  for 

the  same  purpose 178,700.00 

370,708.75 


Making  a  diminution  in  the  debt  of  the  city  in  one  year 

of $180,708.75 

Of  this  amount,  $153,415.36  was  received  from  the  state  under 
the  provisions  of  the  law  of  1859  relative  to  the  Albany  basin.  The 
further  sum  of  $20,000  was  received  from  the  state  under  the  pro- 
visions of  the  same  law,  but  the  applications  thereof  by  the  city 
was  changed  by  a  law  passed  at  the  last  session  of  the  legislature. 
This  $20,000  formed  a  part  of  the  moneys  paid  by  the  city  to  the 
Pier  proprietors,  to  procure  their  assent  and  release  required  in 
the  law  of  1849  relating  to  the  Albany  basin. 

The  amount  raised  by  tax  during  the  past  year  on  account  of 
interest  on  the  city  debt,  was $45,500.00 

Amount  received  of  the  Albany  and  Schenectady  Rail 

Road  Co.,  and  from  other  sources 9,830.74 


Making  a  total  of $55,330.74 

The  expenditures  during  the  same  period  were 61,991.11 


Leaving  a  deficiency  of > $6,660.37 

This  deficiency  was  caused  by  the  accumulation  of  interest  on  the 
bonds  held  by  the  state,  and  which  were  paid  and  cancelled  by 
carrying  into  effect  the  law  of  1849,  above  referred  to. 

City  Lamps. —  The  amount  raised  by  tax  during  the  past  year 

for  the  maintenance  of  the  city  lamps  was $10,000.00 

The  expenditures  during  the  same  period  were 10,489.17 

Leaving  a  deficiency  of $489.17 

This  deficiency  was  occasioned  in  part,  if  not  entirely,  by  the 
high  rates  of  oil  during  the  past  year. 

The  expenditures  for  the  city  lamps  were, 
In  the  year  1844,  $7,135.90 

1845,  7,121.58 

1846, 10,899.49 

1847,  9,076.85 

1848,  9,207.30 

1849,  9,342.60 

1850,  10,489.17 


Statistics.  357 

A  part  of  the  city  lamps  are  now  maintained  under  the  provi- 
sions of  a  contract  made  with  the  Albany  Gas  Light  Company. 
The  expense  attending  the  execution  of  the  contract  can  always 
be  estimated,  a.nd  it  can  be  increased  or  diminished  by  the  com- 
mittee of  the  board  having  this-  subject  in  charge.  The  expense 
attending  the  oil  lamps  is  variant  and  must  continue  so,  under  the 
present  system  ;  and  your  committee  would  suggest  that  measures 
be  adopted  by  the  appropriate  committee  to  ascertain  if  the  contract 
system  can  not  be  carried  into  effect  for  these  lamps,  and  a  large 
saving  to  the  city  be  realized  by  its  adoption. 

Markets. —  The  aggregate  amount  received  from  butchers  for 
licenses  and  for  rents  of  the  several  markets  and  out  stalls,  during 

the  past  year  is •. $1,819.08 

Expenditures  during  the  same  period 1,369.58 

Leaving  a  balance  in  favor  of  the  city  of $449.50 

Of  this  balance  the  sum  of  $225  was  realized  from  the  lease  of  the 
North  market,  which  being  deducted  from  $449.50  would  leave 
$224.50  as  the  net  sum  received  by  the  city  for  the  use  of  the  large 
amount  of  property  connected  with  the  Centre  and  Vegetable 
markets. 

From  the  year  1835  to  1845,  the  average  annual  net  income  de- 
rived from  the  several  markets  was  $342.13,  and  from  that  period 
up  to  the  present  year,  the  average  annual  revenue  was  $915.69  ; 
a  revenue  entirely  below  a  fair  compensation  for  the  use  of  so 
arge  an  amount  of  real  estate. 

Common  Schools. —  The  amount  raised  by  tax  during  the  past 
year  for  the  support  of  common  schools  and  the  erection  of  a  school 

house,  was $9,503.36 

Amount  received  from  the  School  fund 4,501.68 

For  tuition..  301.00 


Making  a  total  of . . .  /. $14,306.04 

Expended  during  the  year 15,340.46 


Leaving  a  deficiency  of $1,034.42 

The  Ferry. —  There  has  been  received  during  the  past  year  from 

the  lessee  of  the  ferry  the  sum  of $1,525.00 

Expenditures  during  the  same  period  for  repairs 273.34 


Leaving  a  net  revenue  of $1,251.66 

The  ferry  is  now  under  the  operation  of  a  lease  or  contract,  and 
the  city  is  realizing  annually  therefrom  a  fair  equivalent  for  its 
use,  whilst,  under  the  old  system,  its  management  and  maintenance 
was  attended  with  expenditures  far  above  the  revenues  received. 

Night  Police. —  The  amount  authorized  to  be  raised  annually  by 
tax  for  the  support  of  the  night  police  under  the  provisions  of  the 
2d  section  of  the  act  of  March,  1848,  is  $17,000. 


358  Statistics. ' 

The  amount  raised  during  the  past  year  under  the  authority 

conferred  by  the  3d  section  of  said  act,  was $18,000.00 

The  amount  expended  during  the  same  period  was.. . .      16,979.46 

Leaving  a  surplus  of. * . .     $1,020.54 

Day  Police. —  The  amount  expended  during  the  past  year  for 
the  support  of  this  department,  including  the  salaries  of  the  police 

justices,  was , $4,249.29 

Making  an  aggregate  for  the  support  of -the  night  and 

day  police  of $21,228.75 

This  sum  ought,  in  the  opinon  of  your  committee  to  be  sufficient 
to  secure  a  united  and  always  reliable  night  and  day  police  for  our 
city,  which  would  be  prompt  and  efficient  in  its  operation,  and  are 
preferable  to  the  system  now  existing. 

City  and  County  Poor. —  There  was  expended  during  the  past 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  Alms  House  $15.405.87 

For  temporary  relief  in  the  city,  salaries,  cholera  ex- 
'  penses,  &c 12,885.83 

Making  a  total  of... $28,291.70 

During  the  year  1849,  the  expenditures  for  the  same  objects 
were $26,127.49 

During  the  year  1848 33,966.34 

"  1847 20,455.73 

"  1846, 18,797.51 

Justice's  Court. —  The  amount  received  during  the  past  year  from 

this  court  for  fees  was , $2,667.84 

Expenditures  during  the  same  period  to  the  justices  for 

salaries 2,630.00 

Leaving  a  balance  in  favor  of  the  court  of $37.84 

Fire  Department. —  The  amount  expended  during  the  past  year 
for  the  support  of  this  department  was  $20,476.47 

Of  this  sum  $2,598.57  was  expended  for  the  Hose  depot,  $1,303.58 
for  new  hose,  and  $890  for  fire  policemen. 

Contingencies. —  The  amount  received  during  the  past  year  on 

this  account  from  taxes  was $40,000.00 

From  the  state  under  the  law  of  1849,  relating  to  the 

Albany  basin 20,000.00 

From  fines  imposed  by  the  Albany  special  sessions, 

($1,240.50)  rents,  surveys,  and  sundry  other  items,    $14,699.86 

$74,699.86 
Expenditures  during  the  same  period 59,998.55 

Leaving  a  balance  in  favor  of  the  city  of 14,701.31 


Statistics.  359 

City  Debt.—  On  the  first  day  of  May,  1848,  the  debt  of  the  city 

was.  .  i $877,896.93 

On  the  first  day  of  May,  1849 858,396.93 

Making  a  diminution  during  the  year  of. $19,500.00 

On  the  first  of  May,  1850,  the  debt  of  the  city  was  $677,688.18 
Showing  a  reduction  during  the  past  year  of $180,708.74 

The  debt  here  stated  does  not  include  the  contingent  liabilities 
of  the  city,  viz  :  $100,000  of  the  bonds  of  the  Albany  and  gchenec- 
tady  Rail  Road  Company,  guarantied  by  the  city,  and  falling  due 
in  the  year  1852  ;  and  1,000,000  of  city  bonds  issued  to  the  Western 
Rail  Road  Corporation.  These  liabilities  of  the  city  are  amply 
secured,  and  they  can  not  therefore  be  classed  as  a  debt,  for  the 
payment  of  which  means  should  be  provided. 

Your  committee  have  stated  that  the  debt  of  the  city  on  the  1st 
day  of  May,  1850,  was. $677,688.18 

From  this  there  should  be  deducted  the  sum  of  $125,- 
000  loaned  to  the  Albany  and  Schenectady  Rail  Road 
Company,  and  upon  which  they  pay  an  interest  of  5  per 
cent ;  and  also  further  the  sum  of  $123,468.80,  being  the 
ain't  expended  by  the  city  for  the  same  company,  for 
the  purchase  of  the  depot  and  track  in  the  city,  which 
sum,  according  to  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  is  to  be 
refunded  to  the  city  or  interest  paid  thereon,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  the  20  years,  at  the  rate  of  5  per  cent  per 
annum,  making  an  aggregate  of. 248,468.80 


Leaving  the  actual  debt  of  the  city $429,219.38 

Under  the  restraining  operations  of  the  law  of  1848,  this  debt 
can  be  steadily  and  successfully  reduced  each  year,  if  the  common 
council  on  their  part  carry  into  practical  operation  all  the  require- 
ments therein  contained.  To  reduce  taxation  and  lessen  the  bur- 
dens of  our  citizens  should  be  the  constant  aim  of  all,  and  in  order 
to  do  so  effectually,  great  care  must  be  exercised  in  the  prosecution 
of  new  improvements.  If  improvements  are  directed  by  the  board 
and  the  owners  of  the  property  benefited  by  the  improvement  are 
negligent  or  remiss  in  their  payments,  the  deficiency  must  be 
raised  by  taxation.  If  the  common  council  are  profuse  in  their 
expenditures  for  the  public  lamps,  or  the  night  police,  or  in  the  ordi- 
nary contingent  expenses  of  the  city,  all  deficiencies  beyond  the 
amount  received  during  the  previous  year  must  be  raised  by  taxa- 
tion. 

It  is  this  inattention  to  small  matters  in  the  beginning,  which 
has  been  the  cause  of  rolling  up  this  large  debt  against  the  city, 
and  to  cancel  which  all  our  energies  should  now  be  directe.d 

During  the  past  year  it  became  necessary  to  renew  some  of  the 
loans  of  the  city,  and  for  that  purpose  stock  was  issued  amounting 


360  Statistics. 

to  $50,000  bearing  an  interest  of  6  per  cent.  This  loan  was  taken 
by  Watts  Sherman,  Esq.,  of  tins  city,  and  upon  which  the  city  real- 
ized a  premium  of  If  per  cent,  being  the  first  premium  ever  re- 
ceived by  the  city. 

During  the  month  of  May  last,  a  further  loan  was  negotiated 
with  the  same  gentleman  for  $100,000  of  the  city  bonds,  bearing 
an  interest  of  5  per  cent.  This  loan  was  taken  at  par,  and  the 
amount  realized  therefrom  is  to  be  applied  to  the  payment  of  city 
"bonds,  bearing  an  interest  of  7  per  cent,  and  falling  due  during  the 
present  and  ensuing  years. 

To  provide  means  for  the  gradual  payment  of  our  present  debt, 
and  the  necessary  increase  which  must  inevitably  follow,  when  the 
water  law  is  carried  into  effect,  requires  the  board  to  be  firm  in  the 
discharge  of  their  duty,  and  to  be  governed  and  directed  by  the 
restraining  law  of  1848,  before  referred  to,  and  all  other  laws  which 
may  tend  to  the  same  result. 

The  character  and  prosperity  of  our  city  depend,  in  a  great 
measure,  upon  the  faithful  discharge  of  the  trust  committed  to  our 
care  ;  and  it  is  for  us  to  determine  by  our  acts,  whether  the  credit 
which  our  city  now  enjoys  shall  continue  to  grow  and  flourish,  or 
be  reduced  to  that  low  standard  under  which  we  groaned  a  few 
years  since. 

ASSESSORS'  VALUATION. 
From  the  Albany  Evening  Journal. 

From  many  untoward  and  disastrous  circumstances,  the  citizens 
of  Albany,  for  several  years  past,  have  been  burthened  with  what 
may  be  very  justly  termed  most  enormous  rates  of  taxation  ; 
reaching  a  point  far  exceeding  that  of  any  city  in  the  Union.  The 
causes  which  have  produced  such  results  have  been  numerous  and 
in  many  instances,  unavoidable  ;  while,  in  other  cases,  it  has  been 
the  result  of  mismanagement  and  political  maneuvering.  The 
failure  of  the  Canal  Bank  was  a  sad  blow  to  the  moneyed  interests 
of  our  city,  and  coming  at  a  time,  too,  when  we  were  sorely  scourged 
by  conflagrations,  the  finale  to  which  was  the  devastation  of  nearly 
one-eighth  of  our  city.  The  basin  assessment  has  been  hanging 
over  our  heads  like  a  leaden  weight,  completely  crushing  us  and 
retarding  our  progress.  From  these  and  other  numerous  causes, 
rates  of  our  taxation  havebeen  rangingfrom  two  to  two  and  a  quarter 
per  cent,  and  on  one  occasion  going  beyond  even  that  high  figure. 

It  will  be  a  matter  of  congratulation  to  every  Albanian,  that  we 
have  at  last  emerged  from  the  woods,  and  are  now  so  firmly  esta- 
blished on  a  good,  sound  basis,  that  we  can  rejoice  at  our  deliver- 
ance, and  look  with  bright  hopes  to  the  future.  We  have  recovered 
from  all  our  disasters;  that  incubus,  the  basin  assessment,  is 
wiped  away  ;  our  limits  are  extending  on  every  side ;  the  last  ves- 
tiges of  the  fire  of  1848  are  rapidly  disappearing,  and  our  popula- 
tion has,  in  spite  of  all  the  stumbling  blocks  cast  in  our  way, 
reached  over  50,000,  an  increase  of  over  12,000  since  the  last  census. 


Statistics.  361 

We  feel  that  we  have  a  right  to  rejoice  for  all  these  favorable  re- 
sults, and  should  any  of  our  friends  need  additional  cause  for  such 
manifestations,  we  have  only  to  call  their  attention  to  the  returns 
of  the  Assessors  for  the  present  year. 

In  the  year  1849,  the  entire  amount  of  real  and  personal  property 
returned  as  assessed  by  the  common  council,  amounted  to  $11,971,- 
274.38.  For  the  present  year  the  amount  returned  is  $12,602,284.- 
85,  or  an  increase  of  $630,415.47  over  the  year  1849.  The  increase 
over  1849,  when  distributed  among  the  wards  of  the  city  is  as  for- 
lows: 

REAL  ESTATE. 
1st  Ward        1850  $422,665 

1849  400,880  $21,785.00 

2d       "  1850  602,010 

1849  591,440  10,570.00 

3d       "  1850  903,186 

1849  874,015  29,171.00 

4th     "  1850  1,925,175 

1849  1,879,448  45,727.00 

5th     "  1850  1,916,196 

1849  1,912,306  3,890.00 

6th     "  1850  1,003,360 

1849  930,050  73,210.00 

7th     "  1850  583,289 

1849  514,935  68,354.00 

8th     "  1850  387,635 

1849  351,860      35,775,00 

1850  853,009 

1849  814,993      38,016.00 

1850  833,575 

1849       781,365      52,210.00 


9th 
10th 


Total  increase  of  real  estate, $378,708.00 

PERSONAL  ESTATE. 

1st  Ward        1850  $5,500 

1849  4,455               $1,045.00 

2d      «           1850  32,300 

1849  27,300                 5,000.00 

3d       "            1850  92,200 

1849  38,500               53,700.00 

4th     "           1850  766,822 

1849  713,666               53,156.00 

5th     "           1850  1,928,617 

1849  1,896,240               32,377.00 

6th     "           1850  151,950 

1849  123,450               28,500.00 

7th     "           1850  44,200 

Annals ,  ii.  •  31 


362  Statistics. 


7th  Wi 
8th 

9th 
10th 

Totali 

ird        1849                 $17,000             $37,200.00 
1850                     6,500 
1849                     6,800 
1850                  103,500 
1849                   63,000               40,500.00 
1850                   40,000 
.  1849                   29,500               10,500.00 

ncrease  of  personal  estate,  $251,978.00 

"    real  estate,  378,738.00 

Total  excess, $630,415.47 


TOTAL  VALUATION. 

1st  Ward $428,165.00    6th 

3d       "      634,310.00    7th 

3d       "      995,386.00    8th 

4th     "      2,691,997.00    9th 

5th     "      3,844,813.00    10th 


1,155,310.00 
627,489.00 
394,135.00 
956,509.00 
873,575.00 


Total, $12,601,689.85 

The  above  statement  gives  us  ample  cause  for  congratulation, 
and  although  we  have  been  groping  in  darkness  for  a  long  time, 
the  day  is  breaking  and  light  is  pouring  in  upon  us.  As  another 
gratifying  evidence  of  our  progress  we  would  state  that  the  rate  of 
assessment  will  be  about  1.70,  where  it  was  $2  to  $2.25  last  season 


THE  MAYOR'S  STATEMENT  ON  THE  FINANCIAL  CONDI- 
TION OF  THE  CITY. 

Mayor's  Office,  Albany,  May  25, 1850. 
WATTS  SHERMAN,  ESQ., 

Sir,  In  accordance  with  your  request,  I  take  pleasure  in  present- 
ing to  you  the  following  statement  of  the  financial  condition  of 
the  city  of  Albany : 

For  many  years  prior  to- 1847,  the  public  debt  of  the  city  had 
been  gradually  rolling  up,  from  the  operation  of  the  same  causes 
which  produce  individual  embarrassment ;  an  expenditure  greater 
than  the  resources,  and  a  reluctance  to  resort  to  those  trenchant 
and  restrictive  measures  necessary,  as  well  to  reduce  the  evil  as  to 
prevent  its  recurrence.  But  in  the  year  1847,  the  finance  commit- 
tee of  the  common  council,  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  preventing 
any  additions  being  made  to  the  debt,  and  also  of  providing  for  its 
liquidation,  recommended  a  restraining  law,  which  was  passed  by 
the  legislature  of  the  state  in  1848. 


Statistics.  363 

This  law  is  one  of  the  most  restrictive  character  :  requiring  that 
all  expenses  of  the  city  government,  and  the  deficiencies  arising 
from  the  non-payment  of  assessments  for  street  improvements,  to- 
gether with  the  interest  and  ten  thousand  dollars  of  the  principal 
of  the  debt,  shall  be  raised  by  taxation  annually  :  and  also  provid- 
ing that  no  expenditure  of  the  public  money,  except  for  the  ordinary 
expenses,  which  with  the  amounts,  are  specified  in  the  law,  shall 
be  made,  unless  the  appropriations  for  the  same  shall  have  been 
passed  by  the  votes  of  two-thirds  of  all  the  members  of  the  common 
council. 

On  the  first  day  of  May,  1848,  the  debt  of  the  city  (exclusive  of 
the  loans  made  to  the  Western  Rail  Road  Corporation,  and  to  the 
Albany  and  Schenectady  Rail  Road  Company,  both  of  which  are 
so  amply  secured  that  they  can  not  be  considered  absolute  liabili- 
ties of  the  city),  amounted  to  $752,896.93.  Since  that  date,  this 
debt  has  been  reduced  $211,764.90  ;  and  the  exact  amount  of  the 
same  at  this  present  time,  is  $541.132.03. 

This  rapid  extinguishment  of  so  large  a  portion  of  the  debt,  re- 
sulted from  the  assumption  by  the  state  of  a  part  of  the  expenses 
which  the  city  had  incurred  for  the  excavation  of  the  basin  at  the 
eastern  termination  of  the  Erie  and  Champlain  canals,  and  from 
the  effect  of  the  restraining  law  before  alluded  to. 

There  is  every  probability  that  the  amount  which  will  be  real- 
ized by  the  trustees  of  the  sinking  fund  from  taxation,  receipts  from 
the  sales  of  city  property,  and  payments  of  assessments,  will  not 
fall  short  of  $20,000  annually.  As  this  fund  is  sacredly  pledged 
for  the  redemption  of  the  debt,  it  is  sufficiently  evident  that  the 
liquidation  of  the  same  within  a  reasonable  period,  is  placed  be- 
yond contingence.  In  addition  to  all  this,  the  city,  in  its  corporate 
capacity,  possesses  property  which  may  be  fairly  valued  at  $415,000, 
of  which  $375,000  are  invested  in  real  estate,  and  $40,000  in  the 
stocks  of  water  works,  insurance  and  plank  road  companies. 

The  population  of  the  city  as  shown  by  the  last  census  which 
was  taken  in  1845,  was  42,189.  The  increase  during  the  then 
previous  five  years  was  8,476.  The  census  which  is  to  be  taken  this 
year,  will  probably  show  the  present  population  to  be  over  50,000. 

The  value  of  the  taxable  property  in  the  city  as  shown  by  the 
assessment  rolls  returned  to  the  board  of  supervisors,  in  November, 
1849,  was  $11,971,203. 

In  speaking  of  the  value  of  the  taxable  property,  it  should  be  re- 
marked that  although  the  assessment  rolls  furnish  the  only  criterion 
by  which  the  aggregate  value  can  be  ascertained,  they  are  by  no 
means  a  correct  one.  To  lessen  the  amount  which  each  county 
must  pay  towards  defraying  the  general  expenses  of  the  state,  it 
has  been,  and  still  continues  to  be  the  practice  of  the  assessors  in 
most  of  the  counties,  to  value  property  at  much  less  than  its  actual 
worth.  In  this  respect,  the  county  of  Albany  is  not  an  exception ; 
and,  therefore,  the  assessors  of  this  city  have  established  a  standard 
of  valuation  which  is  equal  to  about  sixty-five  per  centum.  For 


364  Statistics. 

this  reason,  the  value  of  the  taxable  property  in  the  city  of  Albany 
may  be  safely  estimated  at  $18,000,000. 

Trusting  that  the  information  here  contained  may  serve  to  main- 
tain the  high  credit  which  our  city  already  enjoys, 
I  remain  very  respectfully,  your  ob't  serv't, 

FRANKLIN  TOWNSEND, 
Mayor  of  the  City  of  Albany. 


TAXES  FOR  CITY  GOVERNMENT. 

The  following  statement  of  the  amounts  raised  by  tax  for  the 
support  of  the  government  of  the  city,  is  gathered  from  the  reports 
of  the  finance  committees  of  the  years  1848  and  1849  : 

Amount  required  to  be  raised  by  tax  for  the  support  of  the  city 
government,  1848. 

For  night  police, '. $18,000.00 

Public  lamps, 10,000.00 

Contingent  expenses, 30,000.00 

Fire  department, 5,000.00 

Interest  on  city  debt, 47.000.00 

School  house  on  Arbor  hill, 7,000.00 

•  Temporary  relief  of  city  poor, 7,000.00 

Account  of  city  debt, 10,000.00 

Improving  streets, 22,500.00 

Support'of  common  schools, 9,003.36 

Total, $165,503.36 

Amount  required  to  be  raised  by  tax  for  the  support  of  the  city 
government,  1849. 

For  night  police, '. $18,000.00 

Public  lamps, 10,000.00 

Expenses  of  fire  department, 20,000.00 

Contingent  expenses  (ordinary), • 30,000.00 

On  account  of  payment  to  pier  proprietors  to  ob- 
tain their  consent  to  the  law  relative  to  expendi- 
tures for  excavating  Albany  basin,  &c., 10,000.00 

To  pay  interest  on  city  debt, 45,500.00 

On  account  of  sinking  fund, 10,000.00 

For  support  of  common  schools, ,. . . .        9,003.36 

For  alterations  and  repairs  to  district  school  No. 

10, 500.00 

For  temporary  relief  of  city  poor, 5,000.00 

Probable  balance  that  will  remain  unpaid  May  1, 
1850,  on  assessments,  and  apportionments  for 
improving  streets,  &c.,  approved  and  confirmed 
during  the  year  ending  Nov.  1,  1848, 10,000.00 

$168,003.36 


Statistics.     .  365 


PAUPERISM  IN  ALBANY. 

From  May  1st,  1849,  to  May  1st,  1850,  overseer  of  the  poor  of  the 
city  of  Albany  gave  permits  to  1,373  persons  to  enter  the  Alms- 
house  ;  of  which  number  169  were  Americans,  and  1,204  were 
foreigners ;  of  the  latter  number  737  were  chargeable  to  the  com- 
missioners of  emigration. 

The  ages  of  those  admitted  were  as  follows :  202  were  under  5 
years  ;  190  were  5  and  under  10  years ;  79  were  10  and  under  15 
years  ;  112  were  15,  and  under  20  years ;  320  were  20  and  under 
30  years  ;  218  were  30  and  under  40  years ;  152  were  40  and  under 
50  years ;  62  .were  50  and  under  60  years ;  and  32-  were  over  60 
years. 

Of  the  above  number,  6  were  idiotic  ;  19  were  insane  ;  and  563 
were  afflicted  with  various  diseases. 

The  amount  collected  by  the  overseer  from  the  commissioners  of 
emigration,  during  the  year,  on  account  of  board  of  the  emigrants 
supported  in  the  Almshouse,  and  paid  over  by  him  to  the  chamber- 
lain of  the  city,  to  be  placed  to  the  credit  of  the  county,  is  $2,405.97 
The  additional  amount  audited  and  allowed  by  said 

commissioners  for  the  like  purpose,  the  payment  of 

which  has  been  withheld  for  the  want  of  funds  to  pay 

the  same,  is 2,038.39 

Making  a  total  credit  to  the  county, $4,444.36 

The  amount  collected  from  said  commissioners  and  paid 

to  the  chamberlain  on  account  of  temporary  relief,  is        2,542.26 
The  amount  audited  and  allowed  by  the  said  commis- 
sioners, and  remaining  due  the  city,  is 2,598.08 


$9,584.70 

During  the  year  he  assisted  1560  persons  principally  heads  of 
families  by  affording  temporary  relief,  exclusive  of  fuel ;  he  also 
aided  in  the  funeral  expenses  of  270  deceased  persons,  who  died 
within  the  year,  which  expenses  amounted  in  the  aggregate  to 
$914.25.  Of  the  whole  number  thus  relieved  280  were  native  born 
citizens,  and  1550  were  foreigners,  718  of  the  lal^er  were  charge- 
able to  the  commissioners  of  emigration ;  and  of  the  former,  38 
were  persons  of  color. 

Of  the  whole  number  assisted  1555  received  less  than  $5  each, 
166  received  from  $5  to  $10  each,  and  109  received  more^han  $10 
each,  one  of  the  latter  received  $72,  that  being  the  largest  amount 
given  to  any  family. 

The  number  of  families  who  shared  in  the  distribution  of  the 
fuel  during  the  past  winter,  is  804,  composed  of  3162  persons. 
The  heads  of  the  families  thus  relieved  may  be  classified  as  follows : 
Americans,  white,  177  ;  do.  (colored)  62 ;  foreigners,  565  ;  of  the 
latter  212  were  chargeable  to  the  commissioners  of  emigration. 


366  Statistics. 

For  the  purpose  of  granting  the  above  temporary  relief,  and  of 
meeting  the  incidental  expenses  of  his  office,  the  undersigned  drew 
orders  on  the  chamberlain  for  the  payment  of  money  to  different 

persons  amounting  in  the  aggregate  to $7,118.39 

From  which  deduct  the  following,  to  wit :  for  accounts 
charged  to  county  for  cholera  and  other  expenses,  in- 
curred by  the  city,  prior  to  Nov.  13,  1849,  which 
accounts  were  audited  and  allowed  by  the  board  of 

supervisors  amounting  to $550.40 

Amount  of  similar  accounts  chargeable  to  the  county 

from  Nov.  13,  1840,  to  May  1,  1850 84.30 

Blank  books  and  stationery  for  office, 67.89 

Desks  and  repairs  to  office,  and  other  incidental  expenses         49.87 

Delivering  wood  to  indigent  families, $    145.50 

Amount  collected  from  commissioners  of  emi- 
gration and  paid  to  chamberlain  on  account 

of  temporary  relief, : $2,542.26 

Amount  audited  and  allowed  by  said  commis- 
sioners not  collected, -. 2,598.08 

Making  a  total  amount  of  credit $6,038.30 

Balance,  exclusive  of  fuel  and  incidental  expenses...     I,1 
To  which  should  be  added  the  expenses  incurred  by 
the  city  for  fuel  delivered  during  the  past  winter  to 
indigent  families,  to  wit :  291  cords  of  wood 

at$5.51, $1,603.41 

Amount  paid  for  delivering  same, 145.50 

258|  tonsof  coal  at  $4.38, 1,132.96 


Total  for  fuel $2,881.87 

Balance  of  expenses  for  temporary  relief  proper $3,961.96 

The  number  of  cords  of  wood  on  hand  belonging  to  the  city  is  150. 
The  overseer  during  the  year  took  the  affidavits  of  986  emigrants, 
principally  heads  of  families  (representing  2606  persons),  who  for 
the  first  time  applied  for  relief  at  his  office.  All  of  whom  were 
relieved  by  him1;  either  by  sending  them  to  the  Almshouse,  or  by 
giving  out  door  or  temporary  relief. 

COMPARISON  OF  TAXES  FOR  1849  AND  1850. 

1850.  1849. 

Expenses  of  night  police, $18,000.00  $18,000.00 

public  lamps 8,500.00  10,000.00 

Interest  on  city  debt, 35,500.00  45,500.00 

Amount  carried  forward, $62,000.00        $73,500.00 


Statistics.  367 

Amount  brought  forward, $62,000.00  $72,500.00 

Sinking  fund, 10,000.00  10,000.00 

Contingent  expenses, < 27,000.00  30,000.00 

Fire  department, 15,500.00  20,000.00 

Temporary  relief  to  city  poor, 3,000.00  5,000.00 

Common  schools, 9,853.36  9,503.36 

Deficiencies  improving  streets, 3,500.00  10,000.00 

On  account  payment  to  pier  proprietors, 10,000.00 

Totals $130,853.36      $168,003.36 


ALBANY  AND  SCHENECTADY  RAIL  ROAD. 

The  following  facts  are  gathered  from  the  annual  report  of  the 
condition  of  this  company  made  to  the  comptroller  on  the  30th 
November : 

Capital  stock  subscribed  and  paid  in, $1,000,000 

Funded  debt  as  by  last  report, 552,000 

Total  amount  of  funded  debt, 700,000 

Total  amount  of  funded  and  floating  debt, 700,000 

Average  rate  per  annum  of  interest  on  funded  debt,    6f  per  ct. 
Cost  of  road  and  equipment, 1,711,412.30 

Length  of  road  nearly  17  miles  ;  double  track  9  miles  ;  weight 
of  rail,  60  Ibs.  per  yard.  The  company  own  3  engine  houses  and 
shops,  7  engines,  36  first  class  passenger  cars,  33  second  class  do., 
45  mail  and  baggage,  and  34  freight  cars. 

Miles  run  by  the  passenger  trains  51,545 ;  do.,  freight  32,248 ; 
freight  carried  63,012  tons ;  number  of  passengers  carried  over 
road  284,279. 

Expense  of  maintaining  road, $19,000.10 

repairs  of  machinery,  &c., 5,924.87 

operating  the  road, 66,247  01 

Total  expenses, 91,171.98 

Earnings  from  passengers, 132,207.69 

freight, 70,242.69 

rents  and  mail  services, 6,134.50 

Total  earnings, ' $208,584.88 

The  receipts  are  the  same  as  the  earnings. 

Transportations  including  tolls  paid  state, $91.171.88 

Paid  interest, 38,808.67 

dividends, 70,000.00 

Surplus  fund, 8,604.23 

Total  amount  of  surplus  and  reserved  fund, 25,000.00 


368  Statistics. 


ALBANY  AND  WEST  STOCKBRIDGE  RAIL  ROAD. 

Capital  stock  subscribed  and  paid  in, $1,000,000.00 

Floating  and  funded  debt, 930,895.01 

Cost  of  road  and  equipment, 1,930,895.01 

Length  of  road  38£  miles.  The  company  have  leased  the  road  to 
the  Western  Rail  Road  Corporation  ;  the  expense  for  repairs  of 
machinery  and  running  the  road,  are  paid  by  the  lessees. 


BASIN  EXCAVATION. 

It  was  charged  in  August,  that  the  person  having  the  contract 
for  removing  the  earth  which  had  accumulated  in  the  Basin,  had 
dumped  it  near  the  channel  below  the  city.  The  editor  of  the 
Express,  having  investigated  the  matter,  made  the  following  state- 
ment. It  is  interesting  as  showing  the  changes  which  the  channel 
of  the  river  is  subject  to  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  city. 

During  the  last  spring  freshet,  the  ice  formed  a  complete  dam, 
from  a  point  a  few  yards  south  of  the  termination  of  the  docks  near 
the  island,  and  a  new  channel  was  made  by  a  diversion  of  a  great 
body  of  the  water  which  was  flowing  down  the  river.  When  this 
formidable  barrier  was  worn  away,  it  was  found  that  an  entire  new 
channel  had  been  made  through  the  creek,  and  running  out  into 
the  river  at  an  opening  in  the  dyke,  nearly  opposite  the  Abbey,  and 
the  flats  had  been  materially  increased,  in  very  many  places.  The 
forwarding  men  who  are  most  deeply  interested  in  the  navigation 
of  the  Hudson,  last  year  had  a  channel  cut  through  these  flats  upon 
the  western  side  of  the  river,  and  when  the  work  of  excavation  of 
the  basin  was  commenced,  made  a  visit  to  this  formidable  obstruc- 
tion. Upon  consultation  they  arrived  at  the  conclusion  that  by  les- 
sening the  depth  of  water  upon  these  flats  by  depositions  of  earth,  it 
would  be  forced  into  the  original  channel  of  the  river,  and  in  a 
great  degree  aid  in  rendering  it  navigable  for  vessels.  Accord- 
ingly, the  earth  dug  from  the  bed  of  the  basin,  is  taken  in  scows 
to  the  flats,  and  dumped  upon  them,  so  as  to  lessen  the  quantity 
of  'water  in  that  locality,  and  throw  it  over  into  the  channel. 
These  deposits  are  of  a  hard  formation,  impregnated  with  clay, 
and  remain  in  their  position,  notwithstanding  the  ordinary  current ; 
rivermen  contend  that  it  is  proving  an  advantage  to  the  navigation 
instead  of  a  detriment,  and  is  consequently  worthy  of  approval. 
When  the  bill  authorizing  the  removal  from  the  basin,  of  the  ob- 
structions to  its  free  navigation,  was  pending,  it  was  contended 
that  the  work  would  cost  from  $150,000  to  $200,000.  The  whole 
expense,  however,  will  not  exceed  $35,000.  The  lower  section  will 
be  completed  on  Saturday,  after  having  dug  out  over  twenty  thou- 
sand yards  of  earth  affording  eight  feet  of  water  in  every  portion 
of  the  same.  The  upper  sections  will  also  be  soon  finished, 


Statistics.  369 


THE  BARLEY  TRADE  OF  ALBANY. 

Albany  is  the  barley  market  of  tlie  Northern  and  Eastern  states, 
and  of  many  of  the  cities  in  the  Atlantic  states.  Purchases  have 
been  made  here  during  the  past  season  for  points  as  far  south  as 
Charleston,  while  with  Baltimore  and  Philadelphia  a  large  busi- 
ness has  been  transacted.  To  show  the  increase  of  the  trade  in 
this  article  within  the  last  few  years,  we  give  from  official  docu- 
ments the  receipts  of  barley  at  tide-water  for  a  period  of  nine  years ; 

1838, 677,338  bush.    1847; 1,523,020  bush. 

1841, 121,010       "      1848,  1,548,197      " 

1844, 818,472       "      1849, 1,400,194     " 

1845, 1,137,917    "      1850, 1,720,000     " 

1846, 1,427,953    " 

At  Albany  almost  the  entire  of  these  receipts  are  sold.  Of  the 
new  crop  of  the  last  season,  of  which  we  estimate  that  at  least, 
1,600,000  bushels  were  received  at  tide-water,  we  have  reported 
sales  in  this  market  of  1,330,000  bushels.  In  these  reported 
sales  the  contracts  made  with. our  brewers  early  in  the  season  for 
delivery  of  barley  are  not  included,  and  allowance  should  also 
be  made  for  sales  which  were  not  reported  to  us.  If  we  place  the 
sale  of  the  new  crop  in  this  market  at  1,430,000  bushels,  we  think 
we  shall  be  within  the  mark.  Of  the  value  of  the  contract,  sales 
and  the  sales  not  reported  to  us,  we  can  not  make  any  esti- 
mate, but  we  have  made  a  valuation  of  the  actual  transactions 
reported,  reaching  to  about  1,330,000  bushels;  all  of  the  new  crop, 
and  find  it  amounts  to  the  sum  of  $1,008,574,  an  average  of  76  cents 
on  the  bushel.  The  lowest  figure  paid  was  65  cents,  the  highest 
101^.  The  greatest  number  of  bushels  sold  at  one  price  was  117,500, 
which  brought  lOOc. ;  89,100  bushels  were  sold  at  85c. ;  77,200  at 
77c. ;  75,100  at  60c. ;  69,500  at  78c.  ;  &c.,  &c.,  and  the  smallest 
quantity  sold  at  any  one  figure  was  700  bushels  at  97c.  It  will 
be  seen  that  the  receipts  of  barley  at  tide-water  for  the  season 
which  has  just  closed,  are  1,720  000  bushels,  exceeding  our  estimate, 
which  was  considered  a  rash  one,  made  at  the  opening  of  the  new 
crop,  120,000  bushels,  and  exceeding  the  receipts  of  any  previous 
season.  The  high  prices  realized  during  this  season  will  no  doubt 
be  a,  sufficient  inducement  to  farmers  to  sow  a  greater  breadth  of 
land  than  usual  with  this  grain.  Whether  the  next  season  will  call 
out  the  crop  to  such  an  extent  as  to  justify  the  payment  of  high 
prices,  is  a  problem  yet  to  be  solved. — Argus. 


370  Hills  and  Greeks. 


HILLS  AND  CREEKS. 

For  the  past  twenty  years  there  has  been  a  species  of  civil  war 
going  forward  between  the  lads  and  young  men  residing  on  the 
hill,  as  the  Texan  section  of  Albany  is  called,  and  the  creek,  as  the 
upper  part  of  the  8th  ward  is  styled.  We  remember  twelve  or 
fifteen  years  ago,  that  these  feuds  were  of  a  serious  character  ;  on 
one  occasion  a  Creek  who  had  ventured  from  his  valley,  upon  the 
hill,  was  set  upon  by  a  large  party  of  Hills,  who  pounded  the  life 
nearly  out  of  him,  when  he  fired  a  pistol  and  they  retreated  just 
far  enough  to  enable  him  to  limp  down  hill  all  bruised  and  bloody, 
being  well  revenged  a  night  or  two  thereafter,  for  two  of  the  Hills 
who  strayed  down  into  the  creek,  were  attacked  and  soon  trans- 
formed from  tolerably  good  looking  fellows  into  mummies.  There 
were  in  those  days  frequent  fights,  in  which  one  hundred  and  fifty 
persons,  and  often  as  many  as  two  hundred,  were  engaged.  Many 
who  were  engaged  in  them  have  grown  up  to  manhood,  become 
peaceable  and  influential  members  of  society,  and  their  children  have 
succeeded  them  in  carrying  on  the  war.  The  combats  within  the 
last  eighteen  years  between  the  Hills  and  Creeks,  would  fill  vo- 
lumes. -For  the  last  ten  years  the  war  has  been  carried  on,  but 
with  less  spirit,  and  at  times  lengthy  cessations  of  hostilities.  On 
Saturday,  Nov.  4,  however,  it  was  renewed,  and  on  sabbath  after- 
noon the  Hills  and  Creeks  met  again  upon  their  old  battle  ground. 
The  Creeks  marched  up  hill,  and  the  Hills  drove  them  down 
again,  when  the  latter  sallied  down  and  were  driven  back  in  great 
haste  by  the  valley  men  ;  and  woe  to  the  straggler  or  cripple  who 
could  not  run  fast  and  lagged  behind  his  fellows.  The  running 
fight,  which  lasted  several  hours,  attracted  great  crowds  of  specta- 
tors. No  one,  we  are  glad  to  say,  was  seriously  hurt.  This  spe- 
cies of  sabbath  breaking  and  disgraceful  wrangling  should  be 
stopped  by  the  interference  of  a  strong  body  of  policemen.  If  such 
civil  war  is  allowed  to  exist,  it  will  soon  be  as  of  old,  unsafe  for 
persons  residing  on  the  hill  or  in  the  creek,  to  venture  into  the 
districts  of  the  contending  parties.  It  is  morally  wrong  that  such 
occurrences  should  take  place  in  a  law  abiding  community. — 
Knickerbocker. 


INDEX. 


Abeel,  Christopher,  freeholder,  283 
Gerrit,  assistant  alderman,  200 
Johannes,  94,  107,  113,  119,  120, 
246,  247;  justice,  106;  council- 
man, 94, 105 ;  alderman,  240,  245, 
250,  251;   mayor,  251,  259,  262, 
265 
Stoffel    Janse,    99.     See    Stoffel 

Janse,  and  Evert  Janse. 
Abercrombie's  army,  312 
Abrahamse,  Jacob,  119 
widow  of  Jacob,  256 
Melgert,  115,  119 
Act  of  2  per  cent,  1693,  253,  261 
Adgate,  Matthew,  287 ;  for  assembly- 
man, 293 

Adochtirasse,  162 
Adriaensz,  Rutger,  280 
Aernoutts,  Hendrik,  soldier,  222 
Aersen,  Joris  (George),  216,  217,  218, 

219,  220 

Aiadane,  sachem,  44 
Albany  Academy  medals,  320 
and  Mohawk  plank  road,  324 
beer,  price  of,  230 
chartered,  56 

City  Tract  Society,  325,  326 
claimed  to  be  the  place  to  hold 

treaties  of  peace,  165 
Daily  Times  begun,  332 
description  of,  48 
expedition  to,  222 
Gazette  by  Robertsons,  284;  by 
Webster,    286;    enlarged,   295; 
semi-weekly,  300 

inhabitants     manufacture    wam- 
pum, 6 
Institute,  285 

Insurance  Company,  directors,  328 
Journal,  1788,  298 
petition  for  better  defense  of,  253 
Register  founded,  298      . 
Republican  Artillery  ball,  329 
sends  reluctant  aid  to   Sehenec- 

tady, 179 
soldiers  for  garrison  at,  221,  222, 

223 

Aldermen,  1687,  93 ;  1688,  94;  1689, 103: 
assistant,  see  councilmeu;  fined 
for  absence,  85 ;  first  board,  65,  83 ; 
fine  for  refusal  to  serve,  72 ;  surety 
for  city  loan,  96 


Alexandria,  houses,  1785,  295 

Algie,  Lithan,  351 

Allan,  John,  202 

Allen,  Henry  A.,  324 

Allyn,  John,  letter  to  Leisler,  206 

Almanac  first  printed,  290 

Almshouse,  1849,  327 ;  1850, 358 ;  health 

of,  336 

Alofsen,  S.,  translates  Schuyler's  jour- 
nal, 237 
Alvord,  Nancy,  333 

William,  takes  medal,  320.   ' 
Ambercrombie's  army,  55 
Ames,  Julius  R.,  died,  340 
Amsterdam   chamber,  complaint   to, 

33 ;  merchants,  suit  by,  242 
Andrew,  Janet,  died,  325 
Andriese,  Jan,  92 

Jurian,  soldier,  223 
Andros,  Edmund,  94,  200 ;  neglects  to 

confirm  Van  Rensselaer's  title,  56; 

example  to  be  made  of,  141 
Annals  of  the  year  1849-50,  324-354. 
Annapolis,  houses,  1785,  295. 
Annesly,  Lawson,  338 
Appel,  Adriaen,  256,  259  ;  his  house  to 
be   pulled -down,  182;    ganger, 
228;  grant  of  lot  to,  183 

Johannes,  119,  247,  266;  assessor, 
245 ;  chamberlain,  251 ;  consta- 
ble, 103,  123;  plaintiff,  252,  253, 
254 ;  representative,  265 ;  sheriff, 
246,  262;  signs  against  Leisler, 
135;  treasurer,  258;  juror,  243 

Willem,  212 
Appell,  Joh.,  267 
Aqueduct,  1686,  86;  1779,  285;  creek 

purchased  for,  346 ;  project  of,  337, 

Arachkoenichta,  162 

Arbor  Hill  improved,  332 

Arentse,  Gerrit,  soldier,   221;    takes 

oath, 124 

Arentsen,  Binnonie,  212 
Arms  deposited  in  the  church,  107  ; 

importation  prohibited,  15 
Armsby,  James  H.,  president  County 

Medical  Society,  351 
Army  encampment,  312 
Arnold,  Isaac,  trader,  290 
Arnout's  letter  from  the  Maquase,  113 
Artcher,  Mrs.  Michael,  died,  349 


372 


Index. 


Articles  with  Milborne,  148 
Ashley's  ferry  named  Troy,  300 
Askanga,  Indian  owner,  19 
Aspinwall  &  Jackson,  contractors,  347 
Assemblymen  elected,  1785,  292 
Assessment  voted  for,  92 
Assessors  elected,  85 ;  valuation,  1849- 

50,360-362 
Assistant  aldermen,  first  board,  65, 84. 

See  election. 

Assize,  collecting  of  neglected,  223 
Atkins,  Robert,  died,  340 
Atonement  for  dead  by  savages,  235 
Aukus,  Douwe,  ensign,  209,  237 :  Leis- 
ler's  justice  at  Schenectady,  171 

Hille,  154 

Indian  interpreter,  159, 160 
Austin,  Volkert,  died,  345 

William,  died,  332 

William,  Jr.,  takes  medal,  320 
Avery,  Mr.  L.  D.,  died,  336 


Babcock,  Mrs.  Abby,  died.  332 

Backer,  Abram,  for  assemblyman,  293 
Jochim  Weasels,  281 

Baker,  Ellis,  339 

John,  soldier.  223 
Rebecca,  died,  332 

Bakers  complained  of,  97;  petition 
for  advance  on  bread,  240 ;  regula- 
tions of,  245 

Bakker,  Jacob,  270 

Balch  and  Fryer,  merchants,  287 

Balentine,  Solomon,  285,  286 

Balstown  vote,  1789,  300 

Baltimore,  houses,  1785,  295:  popula- 
tion, 296 

Banker,  Evert,  107,  111,  113,  115,  119, 
120,  121,  125,  126,  129,  143,  148, 
158,  164,  167,  168,  181,  184,  192, 
193,  213,  246,  252;  alderman,  105, 
200,  240,  245,  250,  251,  257;  con- 
curs in  protest,  177;  constable, 
94;  councilman,  94, 103, 106 
Gerrit,  subscription  to  war  fund, 
119;  daughter  died,  336 

Banks,  Capt.  246 

Barbar,  Thomas,  soldier,  223 

Barber,  Robert,  prints  Register,  298 

Barclay,  Daniel,  trader,  killed,  290 

Barends,  Matthew,  soldier,  221 

Barensen,  Catlyn,  212 

Barents,  Reynier,  111,  119. 129, 136, 143, 
150,  158,  164,  167,  182,  184,  185, 
186,  195,  209,  213,  242;  agent  to 
New  York,  192;  agent  to  pro- 
cure aid,  193;  assistant  alder- 
man, 240,  245;  councilman,  93, 
94,  103, 1052 106;  did  not  under- 
stand English,  193 ;  instructions 
to,  194-  lieutenant,  237 

Barheyott.  Wouter,  freeholder,  283 

Barhydt,  Richard,  died,  335 

Bark  canoes,  210 


Barley  trade,  1838-1849, 369;  statistics, 

1850,  353,  354 
Barnard,  D.D.,  minister  to  Berlin,  347 

Frederick  J.,  339 
Barnes,  Wm.,  331,  341 
Barnet,  Robt.,  takes  oath,  124 
Barnsford,  Christoph,  takes  oath,  124 
Barnum,  Mrs.  Egbert  W.,  died,  340 
Barrack  street,  derivation  of,  303 
Barratt,  Robert,  Jun.,  freeholder,  282 
Barrett,  Thomas,  291;   road  master, 

293 

Barrington,  Nicholas,  school  of,  288 
Barry,  Thomas,  merchant,  285 
Barscall,  David,  drowned,  352 
Barsett,  John,  soldier,  221 
Barton,  Catharine,,  died,  347 

Leiftenant  Rodgar,  222 
Basin  excavation,  3b8 
Bass  in  Hudson,  316,  319 
Basset,  Michael,  freeholder,  282 

John,  ordained,  297 
Bastiaensz,  Harmen,  280 
Batcheldor,  E.  C.,  344 
Battle  New  Orleans,  anniversary,  328 
Baum,  Abraham,  drowned,  347 
Baxter,  Major,  109 
Beardsley,  Phoebe,  died,  341 

Rufus,  G.,  Pres.  Y.  M.  Association, 

331 

Beasley,  John,  freeholder,  282  , 
Beaver  Block,  294 

skins,  duty  on,  36 ;  exported,  42 ; 

price  of,  238,  239 
Beck,  T.  Romeyn,  327;  address  by, 

306 

Becker,  Jan,  119,  256,  267;  assessor, 

245,  251;  called  to  account,  as 

city  treasurer,  251 ;  signs  against 

Leisler,  134 

Johannes,  the  younger,  257 ;  signs 

against  Leisler,  135 
John,  alderman,  105,  200;  assist- 
ant  alderman,   257;   constable, 
240 ;  treasurer,  103,  245,  248,  249 
Bedding  furnished  to  soldiers,  266 
Bedell,  David  A.,  died,  326 
Beeckman,  Martin,  soldier,  222 ;  free- 
holder, 283 
Beef,  price  of,  334 
Beeker,  Abraham,  287 

Johannes,  express  to  Leisler,  117 
Beekman,  Capt.,  181,  184;  volunteers 

to  aid  Albany,  123 
Cornells,  270 
Gerardus,  139,  287 
Hendrick,    firemaster,    88;     free- 
holder, 283 ;  signs  against  Leis- 
ler, 134 

Joh,  111,  113, 115, 119, 139, 199,  254 ; 
assessor,  240,  245;  councilman, 
94 ;  freeholder,  282 ;  justice,  106 ; 
juror,  243 

Beer  excise,  34, 37 ;  good  [i.  e.,  strong], 
244 


Index. 


373 


Be'eren  island,  excursion  to,  345 ;  forti- 
fied, 19 ;  Indians,  184 ;  limit  of  col- 
onie,  25 ;  signification  of  name,  316 

Belcher,  Capt.,  114 

Bender,  C.  W.,  339 

Benedict,  Caroline  Matilda,  died,  340 
E.  A.,  349 

Lewis,  postmaster,  348 
Lewis,  Jr.,  349 

Benjamin,  G.  W.,  325 

Bennet,  James,  171 

Bennitt,  Ens.,  184 

Bensen,  Cornelia  Dunbar,  died,  330 
Egbert,  316,  317,  318 
Leift  Job,  120 

Sensing,  Dirk,  119,  241,  242;  appraiser 
of  houses  to  be  taken  down,  182 ; 
treats  with  Milborne,  155 
Johannes,  his  house  a  retreat,  115 ; 
captain,  209 

Benson,  Judge,  account  of  funeral  cus- 
toms, 307 

Benton,  George,  drowned,  343 

Berg  street,  now  Chapel,  303 

Bergen  county  made  wampum,  6 
Margaret,  died,  345 
See  Van  Bergen  and  Gerritsen 

Berry,  Michael,  333 
Pieter,  soldier,  221 

Bethlehem,  fort  at,  115 

Betson,  Mrs.  Oscar  C.,  died,  337 

Betts,  Daniel,  326  - 
Mary,  died,  326 

Sever  kil,  267 ;  question  of  title,  261 ; 
king's  highway  west  of,  96 

Beverwyck,  9,  37  ;  court  of  justice  for, 
31,  32;  early  name  of  Albany,  279; 
now  Albany,  311 ;  so  called,  57 ; 
its  site,  311,  n.;  cut  off  from  Colo- 
nie,  25,  27;  enclosed  by  board 
fence,  278;  improvements  at,  13; 
excited  by  armed  posse,  15 

Bickford,  Leift  Abra.,  255 

Bigelow,  Uriah  G.,  351 

Billets  offered  to  Milborne,  139 

Billou,  Pierre,  270 

Bissel,  Giacomo,  274 

Blagge,  Captain  Benjamin,  200,  202, 
232 ;  sent  in  pursuit  of  Rob.  Liv- 
ingston, 204 

Blake,  Mrs.  Hannah,  died,  331 
John,  merchant,  287 

Blanchard,  J.  W.,  349 

Blanks,  Nicolaes,  211 

Bleeker,  Captain  John,  104,  116,  127, 
136,  172,  ^~ 


177,  179 ;  his  company, 
113,  116;  to  pull  down  houses, 
183;  to  repair  stockadoes,  115; 
his  kettles  distrained,  227 ;  Leis- 
ler  willing  to  treat  with,  117 

Ens.  Job,  209 

Hall,  its  site,  287 

Hendrick,  freeholder,  282 

Henry,  328 

Jacob,  road  master,  293 


Bleeker,  Jan,  90, 107,  111,  128, 129, 158, 
178,  182,  184 ;  alderman,  106,  120 ; 
assessor,  258 ;  first  chamberlain, 
65,  148,  164,  167,  170;  on  select 
committee,  193 

Jan  Janse,  84,  91, 113, 119, 123, 124, 
125,  166,  186,  192,  198,  199,  207, 
213,  247,  267;   captain,  143,  147, 
260;  alderman,  93,  94,  103,  240, 
245,  258 ;  first  alderman,  65,  83 ; 
justice,  216,  217,  218,  219,  237; 
his  opinion  on  Leisler1  s  author- 
ity, 171 ;  delegate,  216 
Jan,  Jr.,  signs  against  Leisler,  135 
Johannes,    246,    254;    freeholder, 

282;  Job.,  Jun.,  256,  257 
John,  185,  242 ;  alderman,  105,  200, 

250 ;  Indian  interpreter,  317 
John  N.,  overseer  poor,  293 
Nicholas,  freeholder,  282 
Nicholas,  Jr.,  freeholder,  282 
Rutgert,  311 ;  freeholder,  282 ;  pur- 
chaser of  Cosby 's  manor,  334 
William  E.,  339 
Blockhuijse,  268 

Bloodgood,  Abraham,  merchant,  292 
Mrs.  Lydia,  died,  290 
William,  290 
Blue  Belle  tavern,  285 
Blue  Stocking,  Capt.,  proposal  by,  177 
Bogardus,  Antlesius,  freeholder,  282 
Pieter,  takes  sides  with  Milborne, 
137,  155;   in  Leisler's  interest, 
169, 170 ;  appraiser  of  houses  to 
be  taken  down,  182;  alderman, 
250 

Schebolet,  freeholder,  282 
Bogart,  Abraham,  freeholder,  283 
Benja.,  freeholder,  282 
Cornelius,  freeholder,  283 
Isaac,  freeholder,  282 
Jacob,  freeholder,  283;    signs  a- 

gainst  Leisler,  135 
John,  sells  mill  stones,  292 
Peter,  freeholder,  283 
Boils,  Joseph,  soldier,  222 
Bolting  privileges  promised,  141 
Bompoenik,  fort  at,  115 
Bond  to  Robt.  Livingston,  for  money 

advanced, 127,  129 
Bookstore,  early,  285 
Booth,  Mrs.  Philo,  died,  334 
Borsboom,  Pieter  Jacobse,  45 
Bos,  Isaac,  soldier,  222 
Bosboom,  Tryntie,  212 

Hendrick,  freeholder,  282 
Bosloopers  prohibited,  23 
Boss,  Pieter,  constable,  103, 123 
Boston  called  upon  for  aid,  181 ;  called 
.  upon  for  100  men,  120;   declines 
aid  in  French  war,  121 ;  houses, 
1785,  295;  population.  296;  Leis- 
ler's letter  to,  202,  203 
Bowen,  S.  T.,  325 
Bowne,  Andrew,  loan  to  city,  95 


Annals,  ii. 


32 


374 


Index. 


Boyd,  Charles,  takes  medal,  323 

James  P.,  327 

John,  soldier,  221 

P.  P.,  351 

Robert,  325 

Boyen,  William,  108, 109 
Boyle,  Daniel,  333,  344 
Bradford,  Rev.  Mr.,  306;  school  trus- 
tee, 305,  306 
Bradstreet,  Gen.,  purchaser  of  Cosby's 

manor,  334 
Bradt,  Andries,  212 ;  freeholder,  282 

Anthony,  119;  assessor,  258;  signs 
against  Leisler,  135 ;  freeholder, 

Barent,  259 ;  does  not  subscribe  to 
the  war  fund,  119;  freeholder, 
283 
Barent  Albertse,  his  house  to  be 

demolished,  182, 183 
Bernardus,  freeholder,  282 
Citte,  212 

Daniel,  214 ;  fined,  244 ;  illicit  trad- 
er, 243 ;  sells  rum  to  Indians  on 
Sunday,  252,  253;  fined  therefor, 
254 ;  died,  329 
Dirck,  212 

Dirk  Albertse,  212;  sent  to  Sara- 
toga, 128 ;  recalled  from  Sarato- 
ga, 159;  guide  and  interpreter, 
210 ;  signs  against  Leisler,  135 ; 
volunteers  to  aid  Indians  in 
building,  113 ;  scout  at  Saratoga, 
123 ;  to  be  consulted  about  ren- 
dezvous, 215. 

Egbert,  freeholder,  282.   See  Bradt 
Johannes,  illicit  trader,  243,  244 ; 

plaintiff,  240;  constable,  258 
Johannes  Barentse,  fine  remitted, 

244 

Samuel,  212 

Brand,  Andrew,  giant,  died,  347 
Brandy  not  to  be  sold  to  Indians,  46 
Brant  haeken  (fire  hooks),  268 

hout  (fire  wood),  268 
.     leere  (fire  ladders),  268 
Bread,   increase   of  price,   240;   one 
penny  a  loaf,  97  ;  price,  1785,  296 ; 
weight  of  prescribed,  245 
Bredenbent,  Wm.,  270 
Breeches  patterns,  285 
Bremer,  Frederika,  arrived,  346 
Bridges,  repair  of,  263,  265 
Bries,  Anthony,  256,  257 

Hendrick,  119;  constable,  245; 
firemaster,  97;  freeholder,  283; 
juror,  243 

Briggs,  Hannah,  died,  348 
Brignam,  Andrew,  347 
Brinsmade.  J.  B.,  331 
Brodgat,  Thomas,  soldier,  222 
Bronck,  Leonard,  assemblyman,  293 
Pieter,  280 
Jan,  judgment  against,  241 


Bronson,  Greene  C.,  327,  283 
Oliver,  takes  medal,  323 

Brooke,  Chida,  his  bill,  258 

Brooks,  Jonathan,  freeholder,  282 

Broun,  Abraim,  soldier,  222 

Brown,  Joseph  B.,  takes  medal,  320 

Brouwer,  Peter,  soldier,  223 

Bruyn,  Monsieur  Jan  Hendricksen,  139, 
211,  214,  215,  216,  217,  219,  234, 
239 

Buckbee,  James  A.,  344 

Buffalo  steam  boat,  334 

Building  active,  1850,  335 

Bulgin,  Arthur,  died,  349 

Bull,  Capt.  Jonathan,  114, 157, 184, 192, 
196,  205;  expense  of  quartering, 
262;  his  proposal  to  garrison 
neighboring  places,  157,  158;  dis- 
allows Leisler's  pretensions,  171 ; 
motion  to  retain,  205 ;  request  that 
he  be  not  withdrawn,  193 ;  returns 
home,  220 ;  declines  to  send  scouts, 
177:  soldier  returned,  233 ;  arrives 
with  New  England  troops,  155 ;  to 
aid  in  French  war,  121, 122 

Bullions,  Henry  L.,  takes  medal,  323 
John  C.,  takes  medal,  323 
Rev.  Peter,  351 

Bumpus,  Capt.  Morris,  351 

Burger,  Gerret,  soldier,  222 
excise,  241 
pacht,  98 

Burgers  to  be  defended,  134 

Burgess,  Mr.,  288 

Burgesses  corps  excursion,  344 ;  to  be 
convened  in  defence  of  their  liber- 
ty, 131. 

Burglar  hanged,  301 

Bunal  ground  desecrated,  88 

Burials,  few  in  1785,  292 

Burk,  George  W.,  died,  345 

Burnaby  mentions  wampum,  6 

Burritt,  Elihu,  address  by,  333 

Bush,  linen  distributed  in,  212 

Bush,  Walter  R.,  325.  341 

Buss  loopers  (bush  rangers)  or  scouts, 
253 

Butler,  Richard,  289 

Butter,  receipts  of,  349 

Buttermilk  falls  sold,  103 

Buys,  Jan,  212 

Byrnes,  John,  344 

Byvanck,  Jan, 211 


Cab  driver  drowned,  338 
Cable,  John,  soldier,  222 

Joseph,  soldier,  222 
Cadarachqui,     186;     abandoned     by 

French,  160,  161,  162;  expedition 

at,  235 
Cahohatatea,  the  Hudson  river,  314, 

317,  318 
Cajadorus,  161 


Index. 


375 


Caldwell,  William,  mathematical  me- 
dal, 320 

Caledonian  Fusileers,  340 

Cam,  Robert,  soldier,  222 

Cambridge  vote,  1789,  300 

Cameron,  Robert,  351 

Camioll,  James,  soldier,  222 

Campbell,  Archibald,  merchant,  287 ; 

removed,  325 
Daniel,  338 
G.,  351 
John  N..  farewell  discourse,  333, 

a34 

James,  town-major,  237 
Mrs.  John  C.,  died,  341 

Canada,  233  ;  equipment  against,  213; 
expedition  against,  231 ;  expedi- 
tion under  Capt.  John  Schuyler, 
234;  Indians  invade,  38;  Indians 
pursued,  178;  reluctance  to  spare 
forces  from  Albany,  179 ;  invasion 
from  suspected,  1689,  107,  108; 
news  from,  128;  proposal  to  in- 
vade, 197 ;  to  be  attacked  by  sea, 
194,195 

Canadian  invasion  threatened,  110 

Canaghsionie,  235 

Canal  boat,  large  freight,  338 

Canals  closed,  1849,  324 ;  opened,  1850, 
337;  receipts,  1850.  349,  351 

Canastigeone,  proposal  to  garrison, 
157,  158 

Canneogahakalononitade,  or  Mohawk 
river,  318  . 

Cannon,  patroon's,  11 

Canoe,  delegates  to  be  'forwarded  to 
New  York  by,  216 

Canoes,  bark,  210 

Cansalis,  Manuel,  soldier,  116 

Cantuquo,  sachem,  44 

Capron,  John,  died,  341 

Captain,  pay  of,  142 

Captives,  290,  291 ;  redemption  of,  238 

Care,  John,  soldier,  222 

Carey,  John,  merchant,  289 

Carlan,  Manas,  freeholder,  282 

Caristasie,  Indian  messenger,  162, 164, 
165 

Carmen  licensed,  91 

Carnes,  William,  256 

Carpenter,  Ephraim,  soldier,  222 

Carr,  William  A.,  344 

Carristasio,  warrior,  235 

Carson,  Sarah  Matilda,  died,  336 

Carstensen,  Teunis,  212 

Warner,  signs  against  Leisler,  135 

Carter,    John,  256;    city   porter,    87; 
takes  oath,  124  ;  witness,  238 

Carter,  Mrs.  Samuel,  died.  353 
William  F.,  351 

Cartwright's  tavern,  285 

Casane,  Jacobus  Mons.,  soldier,  223 

Casperse  (Hallenbeck),  Jan,  260 

Casseltowne,  George,  soldier,  223 

Castle  Island,  316 


Catskill,  its  location,  purchased,  19; 
Indians  invited  to  settle  at,  184; 
price  paid,  20 ;  right  contested,  21, 
24;  ptockadoes  apportioned  to, 
249 ;  to  furnish  firewood  and  can- 
dles to  the  block  house,  250  ;  pro- 
portion of  tax,  260;  to  furnish  fire- 
wood, 260;  vote,  1789,  300 

Cattle  brought  by  rail  road,  340 ;  fair, 
1784,290 

Census.  1785,  296;  8th -ward,  344 

Chalender,  Jan,  soldier,  222 

Chalk,  a  mulatto,  54 

Chamberlain,  first,  65 ;  report,  1850,  355 

Chambers,  Ivie,  merchant,  293 

Major,  orders  vote  of  Ulster  county 
on  sending  troops  to  Albany,  123 
Thomas,  soldier,  22,  221,  270 

Chambly,  sand  bank,  of,  235 

Champlain,  William,  drowned,  341 

Chandlery  established,  299 

Chapman,  Wm.  H.,  died,  324 

Charbonnon,  Anthony,  died,  340 

Charleston,  houses,  1785,  295 ;  popula- 
tion, 296 

Charter  centennial  anniversary,  295; 
expense  of  obtaining,  87;  first 
printed,  57 ;  granted,  56  ;  reception 
of,  82,  83 ;  loan  to  pay  expenses  of, 
95 ;  pronounced  null,  137 

Chatfield,  A.  F.,  340 

Cheapside  street,  285 

Chimneys,  fine  for  foul,  98 ;  inspected, 
87 

China,  voyage  to,  295  ;  return,  297 

Christman,  a  clerk,  30 

Christoffelse,  David,  Leisler's  justice 
at  Schenectady,  171 

Church,  becomes  a  depot  of  arms,  107; 
cannon  placed  on,  278;  erected 
in  1643,  38 ;  pasture,  58,  59,  96 
First  Presbyterian,  294 

Churches,  1764,  48 

Churchill,  candidate  for  command  of 

fort,  130 
William,  139 

City  bounds,  movement   to   change, 

328 ;  prescribed,  62 
expenses,  1686,  86 
Hall,  its  site,  268;  dock,  288;  pri- 
son, 292;  site  of,  286 
oflBcers  prescribed  by  charter,  63 
records  partly  found,  215 
treasurer,  103 

Claese,  Johannes,  illicit  trader,  244 
Wm.  [Groesbeeck  ?]  92;  council- 
man, 93 ;  assessor,  240 

Claesen,  Cornells.  212 

Claessen,  Ryck,  son  little  Isaac  re- 
turned from  captivity,  233 

Clapp,  Mr.  Ruel,  died,  329 

Clark,  Isabella,  died,  350 
John,  died,  344 
John,  soldier,  221 
John,  wins  prize,  352 


376 


Index. 


Claverack  conveyed,  47;  purchased, 
19;  stockadoes  portioned  to,  249; 
to  supply  firewood,  260 

Claxton  &  Babcock,  printers,  298 

Clerk,  David.  139 

Clinton  county  taken  off,  298 

George,  elected  governor,  300 ;  his 
message,  301 ;  at  treaty,  288 

Cloathes  not  to  be  rinsed  at  the  public 

wells,  88 
Cloet,  Bate,  suit  of,  243 

John,  prisoner  in  Canada,  243 
Clothing  not  to  be  exported,  185,  199 
Clowes,  Timothy,  school  trustee,  305 
Clnett,  Elizabeth,  died,  348 
Cobbes,  Ludovicus,  court  messenger, 

Coburn,  Kobt.,  325 
Coeymans,  Peter,  freeholder,  283 
Samuel,  freeholder,  283 
coal,  sought  for,  325 
Cohoes,  311 ;  limit  of  colonie,  25 ;  rail 

road  extension,  332 
Cok,  John,  killed,  256 
Colburn,  Edward  B.,  died,  343 
Cold,  1789,  300,  303,  329,  331 ;  in  Sep- 
tember, 1850,  347 
Cole,  John  O.,  353 
Collins,  Edward,  freeholder,  282 
Colonie,  limits  undetermined,  36 ;  de- 
prived of  revenue,  37 ;  minister  of 
church,  33 
Columbia  county  set  off,  295;   steam 

boat,  325;  sold,  327 
Colve,  Jacobus,  soldier,  222 
Colvin,  A.  J.,  elected  dist.  attorney,  350 
Commercial  Bank  dividend,  327 ;  build- 
ing, 286 

Commissaries  write  to  Leisler,  215 
Commission  of  Gerrit  Swart,  of  Rens- 

selaerswick,  273-277 
Common  council,  how  constituted,  65 
Commonalty  refractory,  199 
Cone,  Solomon,  326 
Congregational  church  bell,  336 
Conkling,  Aurelian,  takes  medal,  320 
Connetticut  furnishes  80  men  to  aid 
Albany,  125,  126;    sends   aid   in 
French  war,  121 ;  sends  80  men  to 
aid  Albany,  142,  205 ;  called  upon 
for  troops,  120 ;  soldiers  furnished 
by,  231 ;  thanks  voted  to,  for  aid, 
123,  313;  troops  withdrawn,  220; 
pay  of  soldiers,  159 
Connestigioene,  to  be  garrisoned,  229 
Constables  to  keep  the  pound,  91 
Constitution,  ratification   celebrated, 

299 

Constitutional  dissensions,  298 
Convention  on  the  state  of  the  pro- 
vince, 1664,  270,  271;  to  resist 
Leisler,  and  all  comers,  107;  re- 
solve to  hold  the  city  against  Leis- 
ler, 131 ;  lives  of  members  endan- 


Convention,  continued  — 

gered,  145;  of  military  and  civil 
officers,  195 ;  superseded  by  Leis- 
ler, 200 

Conveyances,  fees  for  acknowledg- 
ment of,  98 

Coome,  Philiph,  soldier,  221 

Coopele,  Loowies,  212 

Cooper.  Christian,  death  sentence,  293 
John  Tayler,  328,  337 
Obadiah,  freeholder,  282 
Petrus,  death  sentence,  293 
Richard,  died,  349 

Coopers  Town,  -famine  at,  301 

Coopesen,  Lauries,  212 

Corlaer,  Ambrosio,  place  of  drowning, 

235 

Arent,  freeholder,  283 
Bennony,  assistant  alderman,  257 

Corn  high  in  1789,  301 ;  statistics,  1850, 
353,  354 ;  viewer,  his  fees  and  how 
paid,  99 

Cornelissen,  Akes,  212,  217,  218,  219 
Arnout,  interpreter,  108, 165,  234 ; 
sent  to  Indian  council,  166.    See 
Viele 

Dicke  Jan,  103 
Greetje,  216,  217 
Jacquse,  45 ;  his  letter,  162 
Jan,  soldier,  222' 
Lysbet,  213 
Marte,  45,  115 
Teuuis,  45,  280 

Cornes,  William,  soldier.  221 

Corning,  Erastus,  332,  337;  president 
iron  meeting,  325 ;  pres.  savings 
bank,  339;  service  of  plate  voted 
to,  352 
corps  target  excursion,  352 

Coroner,  office  created,  71 

Corporation  bond  to  Mrs.  Schuyler,  159 

Corten,  Myndert,  139 

Cortlandt,  Mr.,  56 
Coll.,  248 

Cortleyou,  Jaques,  surveyor,  45 

Cosby,  William,  governor,  277 

Costigan,  John,  344 

Couch,  Samuel,  soldier,  222 

Councilmen,  84,  93,  94,  103,  105 

Counterfeiter  arrested,  292;  hanged, 
295 

County,  convened  on  the  state  of  the 
country,  132;    called-  upon   for 
men,  118 
court,  79 
tax  levied,  247,  248 

Court  house,  first  in  Albany,  42 
of  common  pleas,  69,  79 

Courtney,  Samuel  G.,  takes  medal,  323 

Cows  milked  in  the  streets,  49 

Coxsackie,  proportion  of  tax,  260 ;  to 
furnish  firewood,  260;  to  furnish 
firewood  and  candles  to  the  block- 
house, 250;  stockadoes  appor- 
tioned to,  249 ;  vote,  1789,  300 


Index. 


377 


Coyle,  Hugh,  333 

Coyler  [Cuyler] ,  Abraham,  ensign,  237 

Henry,  202 

Cozens,  Richard,  soldier,  222 
Crafft,  Robert,  soldier,  223 
Cralo  estate,  47 

Crane,  Elisha,  cider  merchant,  294 
Crapo,  Mrs.  Chauncey  V.,  died,  350 
Cregier,  Captain  Martin,  256,  257,  260, 

278 ;  petition  to  extend  his  house, 

263 ;  permitted  to  build,  266,  267 
Cridel,  Lodewick,  freeholder,  283 
Crime,  punishment  for,  301 
Cristofelseu,  David,  212 
Croesveld,  Bay.,  242 
Cromwell,  Thomas,  soldier,  221 
Croon,  Dirck  Jansen,  281 

Jannetie,  widow  of  Papendoro,  94 
Cross,  Hans,  cartman,  113,  246;  signs 

against  Leisler,  135 
Croswell,  John  R. ,  takes  medal,  320, 323 
Crown  Point,  rendezvous  at,  215,  235 
Cuadaroghque,  161 
Cullen,  Patrick,  333 
Cummings,  John,  328 

Jane  Frances,  died,  328 
Cumpston,    Edward,   merchant,  288; 


Curran,  Mary,  died,  341 
Cushing,  Eliza,  died,  348 
Cushman,  Paul,  344 

R.  S.,  344 

Cutler,  C.  L.,  custodian  of  town  clock, 
328 

John  N.,  331,  342;  died,  326 
Cuyler,  Abraham,  119,  254;  assistant 
alderman,    245,    251,  290;    free- 
holder, 282 ;  signs  against  Leis- 
ler, 135 

Cornelius,  freeholder,  282 

Elizabeth,  married,  277 

Gansevoort  &  Co.,  291 

George,  329 

Hend  ,  86,  92,  95;  alderman,  93; 
writes  to  Schenectady  in  Mil- 
borne1  s  interest,  140, 141 ;  widow 
of,  231 

Henry,  139 

Jacob,  federal  elector,  298 ;  super- 
visor, 293 

Jacob  C.,  328,  349 

Jacob  I.,  daughter  died,  336 

Joh.,  90, 119, 125, 128,  129,  136, 143, 
145,  146,  148,  149,  150,  151,  157, 
158,  167,  182,  184,  185,  186,  208, 
213,  216,  219,  233,  242,  252,  267; 
agent  to  New  YOrk,  192 ;  attor- 
ney, 238;  assistant  alderman, 
240,  258;  clerk,  208,  237;  council- 
man, 93,  103,  105;  declines 
agency,  193 ;  surety  for  city,  95 ; 
suspends  his  vote,  136 

John,  266;  deacon,  261 

Mrs.  Anna,  231 ;  plaintiff,  238 
Cuyper,  Jan  Andrese,  86 


Daly,  John,  333 

Danford,  William,  soldier,  222 

Danielse,  John,  soldier,  222 

Davenport,  Mr.,  181 
Rev.  Mr.,  346 

Davidtse,  Pr.  (Schuyler),  119;  assist- 
ant alderman,  200 

Davis,  Joseph,  339 
Nathaniel,  328 
William,  349 

Deacons,  goods  delivered  to,  211 

Dean,  Capt.  Stewart,  house  of,  292: 
sailed  to  China,  295;  returned 
from  China,  297 

Death  record,  340 

De  Bruyn,  Johannes,  his  commission 
from  Leisler,  201 

Debt,  confinement  for,  302;  of  city, 
1850,359 

De  Chene,  109  . 

De  Decker,  Johannes,  vice  director, 
37,  38;  arrests  tapsters,  39;  com- 
missaris  resigned,  42;  councillor, 
278 

Deer  abundant,  1641,  281 

De  Foreest,  Jesse,  freeholder,  283 

Degannesore,  166 

Deganochkeeri,  proposal  by,  177 

De  Hart,  Matthys,  soldier,  222 
&  Kinney,  mail  carriers,  302 

Dehashedis,  162 

De  Hooges,  Anthony,  280;   secretary 
'  of  colony,  28,  272 

De  Laet,  Johan,  277 
on  fishes,  319 

Delafortune  removed  on  suspicion, 
107, 108,  111 

De  Lanoy,  P.,  139,  202 

Delavan  stores  begun,  349 

Delaware  Indians,  murder  by,  290 

Delehanty,  Michael,  344 

Dellius,  Godfredius,  261 ;  delivers  In- 
dian threats  to  Milborne,  154 

De  Marest,  David,  270 

De  Mayer,  William,  184 

De  Metselaer,  Teunise,  119 

Demilt,  Pieter,  139 

Dempsey,  Lawrence,  died,  340 
Margaret  E.  dird,  344 

De  Neufville,  Leonard,  glass  factory, 
297 

Denney,  John,  takes  oath,  124 

Denniston'Hugh,  tavern  of,  287,  292 

Denoan,  Denys  A.,  soldier,  222 

De  Peyster,  John,  139 ;  freeholder,  282 

De  Razier,  Isaac,  introduced  wam- 
pum, 2 

De  Ridder,  Leift.  Evert,  118,  119,  120, 
180,  209;  commands  volunteers, 
178 

Desagochquaetha,  162 

Desmareest,  Jean,  139 

De  Teurcx,  Isack,  212 

Detroit,  trading  voyage  to,  290 

De  Vos,  Andries,  15 


378 


Index. 


De  Wandelaer,  Johannes,  90, 183,  211, 
354 ;  assessor,  240,  250,  257 ;  as- 
sistant alderman,  200;  consta- 
ble, 94 :  councilman,  105 :  deacon, 
213 
Doude  Johannes,  assessor,  245 

DeWarm,  Capt.  Jacobus,  211,  215; 
soldier,  222 

De  Winter,  Bastiaen,  45 

De  Witt,  Rev.  Mr.,  306 
Richard  V.,  325 
Simeon,  school  trustee,  304,  305, 

307 

William   H.,    staves    loaded    for 
Maine,  352 

Dexter,  James,  338,  353 

Deyermand,  Wm.,  oil  factory,  335 
Wm.  G,,  328 

Dibble,  Joseph,  died,  340 

Dickson,  James,  351 

Dircksen,  Theunis,  soldier,  223 

Dirkse,  Takel,  defendant,  256 

Ditches,  regulations  of,  264 

Dochstetter,  Jacob,  Oneida  interpre- 
ter, 317 

Documentary  History  contain  council 
minutes,  106 

Dodge,  Mrs.  Amos,  died,  336 
Capt.,  327 

Dogs  to  be  killed,  294 

Doig,  James,  teacher,  291 

Domis,  Toussain,  242 

Donahoe,  Edward,  333 

Dongan,  Col.  Thomas,  demands  In- 
dian prisoners,  188 ;  his  authority 
vindicated,  200 ;  executes  the  city 
charter,  56;  signs  the  same,  81; 
his  administration,  308 

Dougherty,  Mrs.  Francis,  died,*351 

Douglas,  John,  takes  oath,  124 
Wheeler,  287 

Doulier,  Jean,  soldier,  221 

Douw,  Abraham,  merchant,  289 ;  free- 
holder, 283 

Hendrick,  freeholder,  283 
Peter,  freeholder,  283 
Peter  W.,  alderman,  290 
Volkert  A.,  road  master,  293 
Volkert,  freeholder,  282 
Volkert,  Jun.,  freeholder,  282 
Volkert  P.,  senator,  293 

Douwsborough  glass  factory,  297 

Dowd,  Lawrence,  333 

Dragoons,  Dirk,  99 

Drew,  Daniel,  327 

Drowning,  case  of,  333 

Duanesburgh,  vote,  1789,  300 

Dubison  suepectrd  of  being  a  spy,  101 

Dubois,  Elizabeth,  died,  345 

Dudley,  J.  E.,  drowned,  325 

Duffels,  price  of,  230 

Duinandougha,  161 

Dulonpres,  Mons.,  dancing  school,  288 

Duncan,  James,  351 

John,  assemblyman,  298 


Dunlop,  Robert,  325 

Durant,  Clark,  327 

&  Lathrop,  grain  store  fell,  335 

Dutch  church,  site  of,  286 

language,  308-310;  transition  of, 

267 

names  for  Albany  and  vicinity,  311 
names  for  the  fish  in  our  rivers,  312 

Duyking,  Gerrit,  139 

Dwyer,  William,  wins  prize,  352 

Dyckman,  Johannes,  34,  212,  213 ;  ac- 
count of,  26 ;  defines  his  authority, 
28 ;  of  unsound  mind,  37 


Eagle  guards,  353 

tavern,  lot  built  upon,  349 

Eastown,  vote,  1789,  300 

Edgar,  Dr.  Alexander,  died,  291 

Edsall,  Samuel,  139,  202,  220,  233 ;  en- 
sign, 278 

Edwards,  Isaac,  342 
James,  325,  332,  337 

Egbertse,  Benja.,  freeholder,  282 
Egbert,  freeholder,  282 

Eights,  Abraham,  merchant,  292 

Elbertsen,  Elbert,  270 

Elderkin,  speaker,  327 

Election,  1687,  93;  1691, 240;  1692,  245 ; 
1694,  257,  258 ;  1784,  289 ;  1785,  293 ; 
"  1789,  300 ;  polls  open,  a  week,  300 ; 
1850,  336,  350;  for  delegates  to 
New  York,  216 :  of  legislators,  292; 
proposed  by  Milborne,  146 ;  to  be 
held,  72.  See  aldermen 

Elgin,  Lord,  347 

ElUs,  Wm.,  takes  oath,  124 

Ely,  John,  teacher,  293 

Emerson,  Ralph  Waldo,  lecturer,  329 

Emigrants'  Friend  Society,  353 

Emmet  Guards,  340 ;  ball,  329 

Empire  steam  boat  sold,  327 

Encluys,  Hans,  11 

English  rebels,  271 

Ensign,  pay  of,  142 

Eps,  Jan.  212 

Esmay,  Barent  W.,  died,  338 

Esopus  destroyed,  278 ;  Indians  em- 
ployed, 118, 120 ;  sends  aid  to  Al- 
bany, 181, 185, 194 ;  volunteers  aid 
in  French  war,  123 

Evertse,  Jacob,  freeholder,  283 
Johannes,  freeholder,  283 
Teunise,  freeholder,  283 

Excise,  258,  259;  claimed  by  Stuy- 
vesant,  23 ;  of  liquors,  98 ;  3  per 
cent,  265,  266 ;  unsettled,  39 

Execution  for  burglary,  301 

Experiment,  sloop  voyage  to  China, 
297 

Exports  prohibited,  199 


Faction  of  Milborne,  151 
Faifre,  Jean,  soldier,  221 


Index. 


379 


Fair  for  cattle,  1784,  290;  State  Agri- 
cultural Society,  346 

Fairs  regulated,  73 

Farle,  Alexander,  soldier,  223 

Farling,  D.,  340 

Farrall,  Catharine,  died,  331 

Farrington,  Robt.,  takes  oath,  124 

Fast  ordered  by  Stuyvesant,  11 

Fay,  Dr.,  almshouse  physician,  327 

Federal  Constitutional  electors,  297; 
Herald,  298 

Feloo,  Richard,  soldier,  222 

Feltman,  John  C.,  344 

John  C.,  Jr.,  foreman,  328 

Ferry  horse  boat  sank,  350 ;  to  Green- 
bush,  58,  59 

Finagel,  Jan,  justice,  237 

Finances,  1783,  90,  302,  303 

Finch,  Margaret,  died,  345 

Fine  for  foul  chimneys,  98 ;  for  illicit 
trade  with  Indians,  102,  244;  for 
neglecting  to  draw  firewood,  91, 93; 
for  obstructing  streets,  261 ;  for 
sabbath  breaking,  254 ;  for  selling 
liquors  after  tattoo,  93 ;  for  selling 
liquors  to  Indians,  100,  227;  for 
using  fire  apparatus,  97;  for  re- 
fusing to  take  office,  72 

Finnagell,  John,  see  Vinhagel 

Finnegan,  John,  burglar,  345 

Fire  of  1793,  285 

department,  1850,  358 

Firehearths  inspected,  87,  97 

Firehooks  inspected,  87 

Fireladders,  97,  258 

Firemasters,  258 ;  1693,  252 ;  duties  of, 
87,  97 ;  resisted,  90 

Firewood  brought  in  canoes,  247 ;  for 
Indian  houses,  91 ;  required  for 
watch  house,  93;  allowed  to  be 
cut  on  the  commons,  61 

First  Presbyterian  Church  edifice,  294 ; 
farewell  discourse,  333;  new  edi- 
fice opened,  334 ;  sold,  825 

Fish  abundant,  1641, 281 ;  Dutch  names 
for,  319 

Fish,  N.  A.,  825 

Fisher,  John,  254,  256 
John  D.,  died,  346 

Fisker,  John,  suit  of,  252.    See  Visger 

Fitzpatrick,  Andrew,  died,  325 
Ann  Eliza,  died,  335 

Five  Nations,  god  of,  6 ;  not  to  be  dis- 
couraged, 204 ;  useful  in  war,  197 

Flats,  residence  of  the  Schuylers,  55 

Flensbtirgh,  Johannes,  freeholder,  282 

Fletcher,  Ben}.,  267 

Floid,  John,  soldier,  221 

Florida,  commissions  to  sail  to,  36 

Flour  high,  1789,  301 ;  price  of,  334 ; 
price,  1785,  296;  receipts  of,  849, 
351 ;  statistics,  1850,  353,  354 

Floyd,  Thomas,  freeholder,  283 

Flynn,  Patrick,  333 

Fog  extraordinary,  328 


Folther,  Robert,  soldier,  221 
Fonda,  Abraham,  freeholder,  283 

David,  assessor,  293;   merchant, 

292 

Nicholas,  freeholder,  282 
Peter,  freeholder,  283 
Fonteyn,  Charles,  soldier,  222 
Foot  race,  335 
Foot,  Thomas,  soldier,  223 
Ford,  Edward,  sailor,  222 

Jacob,  287 ;  for  assemblyman,  293 
Foreest,  David  D.,  freeholder,  283 
Johannes  D.,  freeholder,  282 
Phill,    254;    constable,   94;    high 

constable,  103 

Forgeson,  John,  soldier,  222 
Form  of  oath  to  the  Patroon,  280 
Forsyth,  William  W.,  337 
Fort,  Orange,  39,  206 ;  aided  by  the 
Colonie,  40 ;  attempt  to  possess, 
36;  buildings  erectdti  at,  11; 
building  prohibited,  12 ;  cannon 
in,  278 ;  Capt.  Staats  to  quarter 
in,  167 ;  citizens  build  near,  19 ; 
prior  claim  of  company,  20; 
claimed  by  Stuyvesant,  13 ;  court 
of  justice  in,  31 ;  damaged  by 
freshets,  14 ;  extent  claimed  150 
rods,  25 ;  limits  of,  27 ;  frontier 
town,  42;  in  1784,  287;  its 
strength,  22 ;  jurisdiction  claim- 
ed for  1,000  rods,  37;  Leisler's 
orders  to  occupy,  201 ;  repre- 
sented in  convention,  1664,  270 ; 
retains  fur  monopoly,  43 
alterations  in,  114 ;  candidates  for 
command  of,  130;  deficient  of 
.  clothing,  911 ;  held  for  William 
and  Mary,  and  against  Leisler, 
125;  Leisler' s  orders  to  .occupy, 
901 ;  officers  of  1689,  209,  210 ; 
regulations  for  securing  against 
Leisler,  135 ;  to  be  held  by  the 
mayor,  etc.,  145;  to  be  repaired, 
249 
Schuyler,  Indian  treaty  at,  289: 

site  of,  334 

Stanwix,  troops  arrived  from,  291 
William,  203,  Leisler's  letter  from, 

202 

Fortifications  in  country,  115;  neg- 
lected, 104;  repaired,  1689, 113;  to 
be  made,  185 

Foster,  Mrs.  Susan,  died,  341 
Fourth  July  in  iail,  302 
Fowler,  Samuel  S.,  died,  339 
Foxes  creek,  sturgeon  in,  281,  314.  See 

Vossen  kil 

Fran,  Isaak,  soldier,  223 
France,  force  sent  against,  160 
Franck,  Isaac,  soldier,  222 
Frederickse,  Carsten  [Smith],  died,  98 
Myndert,  84,  85, 119 ;  signs  against 

Leisler,  134 
Willem,  280 


380 


Index. 


Fredericktown,  houses,  1785,  295 

Freedoms  to  be  granted,  73 

Freeholders,  election  by,  216;  in  Al- 
bany and  Rensselaerswyck,  1742, 
282 

Freight  business  by  Boston  road,  349 

French,  expedition  against,  227,  228 ; 
invasion,  effort  to  prepare  for,  118 ; 
prisoners  removed  from  Saratoga, 
107, 108, 110.  Ill ;  to  be  rooted  out, 
166:  war  subscription,  failure  of, 
121 

Freshet,  331,  335,  336,  337,  338,  343,  346, 
350;  in  1661,  43 

Frieslanders  required,  194 

Frooman,  Adam,  212.    See  Vrooman 

Frost  in  August,  1850,  345 

Frothingham,  W.  W.,  328 

Furman,  Gabriel,  1 

Fyn,  Mr.,  30 

Fyne.  Joflannes,  soldier,  221 

Fry,  Daniel,  died,  346 

Fryer,    Isaac,    freeholder,    282,   Mrs. 

Isaac,  died,  337 
Captain  John,  died,  288 

Fugitive  slave  meeting,  349 

Funda,  Jellis,  soldier,  116 

Funeral  customs,  307 

Furbush,  Nathaniel,  soldier,  222 

Furs  became  scarce,  43 ;  exports  of,  42 

Fusileers,  241 ;  arrive,  1694,  254 

Fuyck,  early  name  of  Albany,  279,  311 


Gaine,  Hugh,  284 ;  prints  city  charter, 

Galpin,  Philip,  soldier.  222 
Gambia  river,  316 
Game  abundant,  1641,  281 
Gansevoort,  Conradt,  329 

Elizabeth,  died,  329 

Harme,"  152,  153;  appraiser  of 
houses  to  be  taken  down,  182 ; 
justice,  237;  sued,  256;  fined, 
257 ;  treats  with  Milborne,  155 

Leendert,  freeholder,  283 

Leonard,  federalist,  298 

Peter,  Jr.,  assessor,  293;  federal 

elector,  298 
Gardenier,  Andries,  freeholder,  283 

Hendrick,  212 
Gardens,  1764,  49 
Gardner,  Caleb,  sentenced,  295 
Garius,  Jillis  D.,  freeholder,  282 

Johannis,  freeholder,  282 
Garrison,  firewood  for,  247 ;  increased, 

185;   quartered,  1694,  254;   to  be 

under  the  Convention,  145 
Garritse,  Adrian,  see  Papendorp 
Garten,  Captain,  181,  184,  198,   194; 

volunteers  to  aid  Albany,  123 
Gas  meeting,  324.  825 
Gates,  Joseph,  freeholder,  282 
Gates  of  city,  keeper  of,  252 ;  repaired, 

127, 183,  262 


Gayner,  Mrs.  George  C.,  died,  336 
Genesee.  famine  in,  301 
George,  George,  died,  347 
Gerechtsrolle  der  Colonie,  23 
Gerlet,  Gillian,  soldier,  222 
German  Catholic  Church,  corner  stone 

laid,  338 

Gerrets,  Gyspert,  212 
Gerritse,  Adrian,  84,  86,  92 

Barent,  suspected  of  a  disturbance, 

111 

Capt.  Marte,  106, 113, 114, 115, 122, 
135,  143,  145,  147,  157,  158,  164, 
167,  170,  182,  184,  186,  209,  247 ; 
his  company,  116, 119 ;  his  opin- 
ion   on    Leisler's    claim,    171; 
justice,  129;  his  island,  soldiers 
quartered   on,    151;    on   select 
committee,  193 
Elbert,  constable,  251 
Elbert,  freeholder,  283 
Gooseu  (Van  Schaick),  280 
Hendrick,  113 ;  recalled  from  Sara- 
toga, 159 
Jannetje,  119 

Luykas,  86,  87,  92,  208,  242,  254, 
256;    assessor,    251;    assistant 
alderman,  200;  councilman,  105 
Marte,  [Van  Bergen,]  96,  119, 120, 
121,  168, 190,  192,  205,  208  ;  signs 
protest,  176 
Roeloff,  119 
Ryer,  freeholder,  282 
Wynant,  107 
Gibb,  Capt.,  351 
Gibson,  Hannah,  died,  334 
William,  325 

William  J.,  takes  medal,  320 
Gilbert,  Edward,  dinner  to,  340 

John,  baker,  240;   signs  against 

Leisler,  135 ;  takes  oath,  124 
Gilder,  value  of,  268 
Glass  factory  established,  297 
Glen,  Capt.  Alexander,  209 

Capt.  Sander,  121, 122, 143, 145, 148, 
150,  157,  170,  192,  208,  217,  247 ; 
concurs  in  protest,  177 ;  his  age, 
218;  his  deposition  respecting 
Livingston,  218,  220;  his  com- 
pany, 234 ;  to  build  fort,  230 ;  in- 
structed not  to  recognize  Leis- 
ler's  orders,  172;   took  oath  of 
allegiance,  156 
Cathmrina,  119 
Ens.  Johannes  Sander,  122 
Henry,  assemblyman,  292 
Jacob,  Jun.,  freeholder,  282 
Jacob,  marries  Elizabeth  Cuyler, 

277 

Johannes,  209,  217 
Sander,  executor,  243 
Sander  Leendertsen,  28,  45,  280; 

arrested,  29 

Glossary  of  Dutch-English  terms,  267 
Goewyck,  Johannes,  freeholder,  283 


Index.. 


381 


Goewyck,  Soloman,  freeholder,  283 

Gold.  Major.  232 

Gombell,  Wm.  F.,  died,  325 

Goodrich,  Elihu,  teacher,  293 

Goold,  James,  327,  339 

Gordon,  James,   assemblyman,   292; 

federal  elector,  298 
Goslee,  Mrs.  Matthew,  died,  337 
Gott.  William  A.,  takes  medal,  323 
Gould,  Anthony,  328 
Gourlay,  Mrs.  James,  died,  349 

James  &  Co.,  285 

Government  usurped  by  Leisler,  200 
Governor,  tax  of  a  penny  on  the  pound 

for,  248,  249 
Gow,  Daniel,  soldier,  222 

Jan,  219,  244,  255 

John,  firemaster,  88,  97,  258 
Grace  church,  corner  stone  laid,  343 
Grady,  Patrick.  333;  died,  336 
Graef,  Claes,  213 
Graham,  James,  56 
Grains,  Robord,  soldier,  222 
Grant,  Mrs.,  memoirs,  48 

Ralph,  takes  oath,  124 

Richard  J..  338 

Graves,  Mrs.  Wm.  M.,  died,  352 
Gray,  Alexander,  351 

Margaret,  died,  325 

William,  merchant,  291,  351 
Great  flat  purchased,  43 

pasture  (same  as  church  past.),  96 
Green,  John,  soldier,  222 
Greenbush,  Cralo  estate  at,  47;  ferry,  58 

(net  graen  bosch),  311 
Greene  county,  settlement  impeded,  21 
Greene,  Henry  P.,  takes  medal,  323 
Gregory,  Lucia  M.,  died,  351 
Grenadiers,  refusal  to  quarter,  261 
Greveraet,  Isaac,  freeholder,  283 
Griffin,  Jacob,  Jr.,  drowned,  343 

John,  died,  344 

killed,  332 

Groesbeeck,  see  William  Claese 

David,  freeholder,  232 

Stephanus,  constable,  258;    free- 
holder, 282 

William,  86 

William  Claese,  242 ;  appraiser  of 

houses  to  be  taken  down,  182 
Groot,  Cornelia,  213 

Geertruy,  212 

Symen,  212      ' 
Groot  Stuk,  fort  at,  115 
Groote  Vlacht  (Great  Flatt),  44 
Grout.  Patrick,  killed,  332 
Guard  by  soldiery  not  well  kept,  104  ; 

house,  1764,  48 
Guilliams.  Wm.,  270 
Gysbert,  William,  overseer  of  high- 
ways, 252 
Gysbertse,  Gerrit,  115,  119,  212 

William,   91,  255;   signs   against 

Leisler,  134 
Gyseling,  Elias,  212 


Haaton,  Wm.,  takes  oath,  124 

Haegedoorn,  Marius,  212 

Hagan,  Mrs.  Charles  O.,  died,  350 

Hale,  Major.  286 

Half  Moon  (Waterford),  311 ;  prepared 

for  invasion,  115 ;  proposal  to  gar- 
rison, 157, 158 ;  to  be  garrisoned, 

229 ;  vote,  1789,  300 
Hall,  Francis  B.,  takes  medal,  320 
Hallenbeck,  Casper  Jacobse,  58 

Henderick,  freeholder,  282 

Jan  Casperse,  260 

Michael,  tavern,  293 
Halsted.  Mrs.  Prudence,  died,  336 
Hand,  Mrs.  Fanny,  died,  344 
Hangman  performs  a  duty,  85 
Hankisson,  William,  soldier,  221 
Hansen,  And.,  119 

Hendrick,  258,  264,  266,  267 ;  asst. 
alderman,  251,  258;  constable, 
240;  freeholder,  282;  juror,  243; 
high  constable,  245 

Johannes,  freeholder,  283 

Richard,  freeholder,  283 
Hanz,  Volckert,  22 
Hap,  J.,  38 

Haid,  Moses  Manase,  soldier,  222 
Harmense,  Myndert,  92,  119,  224 ;  his 

pasture,    58;    juror,    243;    treats 

with  Milborne,  155;  justice,  237; 

testifies  in  Livingston's  case,  218 
Harmensen,  Anne,  212 
Harris,  Hamilton,  assemblyman,  350 

Capt.  James  B.,  352 

John,  96;   signs  against  Leisler, 

John,  died,  350 
Stephen,  354 

Harrison,  Mr.,  priest,  239 
Harsen,  Bernardus,  freeholder,  282 
Hart,  Henry,  merchant,  288,  294 
Hartford,  communication  with   only 
on  horseback,  290;  houses,  1785, 
295  ;  agents  sent  to,  194 
Hartgers,  Pieter,  280 
Hartman,  Johannes,  soldier,  223 
Harvey,  Matthew,  139 

Robert  W.,  328 
Hastings,  John,  349 
Haswell,  H.  B.,  353 
Hater,  Ens.  John,  209 
Hather,  Wm.,  takes  oath,  124 
Hawley,  D.  E.,  died,  336 
Hawthorn,  John,  drowned,  345 
Hazen,  Jacob  T.,  editor,  332 
Health,  1785,  292 
Heaton,  John,  freeholder,  282 
Heefke,  Jan,  glass  factory,  297 
Heffelingh,  Dirck,  212 
Heimslraet,  Take!,  signs  against  Leis- 
ler, 135 

Helling,  William,  freeholder,  282 
Helme,  Margaret  M.,  died,  345 
Helmer,  Anthony,  merchant,  292 
Helms,  Jan,  281 


382 


Index. 


Henderson,  Tobyas,  125 

Mr.,  wins  prize,  352 
Hendricks,   Barentie,  wife   of  Dom. 

Schaets,  96,  97 
Hendrickse,  Geurt,  119 

Hans,  1&3 ;  captain,  237 ;  juror,  243 

Hendrick,  soldier,  221 

Jan,  120 

Philip,  45 

Willem,  113;    illicit  trader,  243; 
fined,  244;    fine  remitted,  244; 
signs  against  Leisler,  135 
Hendrik  Hudson  steam  boat,  334 
Henkesson,  Peter,  soldier,  222 
Henry,  Jacob,  324 

John  V.,  school  trustee,  305 

Major,  297 

Herbertz,  Andries,  280 
Hercules,  negro  thief,  84,  85 
Hermit,  1764,  50 

Heron,  Furman  &  Thornton,  332 
Herperts,  Andries,  38 
Herrings  in  Hudson,  315 
Hesselinger,  Dirck,  212 
Hewson,  John  D.,  355 

Mr.,  house  of,  292 

P.,  351 

Robert,  died,  327 
Hibernian  Provident  Society,  333 


Higgins,  John,  333 
HighT 


water,  331.    See  freshet 
Hifi,  Richard,  soldier,  222 
Hillegas  issues  currency,  287,  289 
Hillhouse,  Thomas,  340 
Hills  and  creeks,  369-370 
Hills,  Mrs.  Erastus,  died,  349 

Henry  E.,  died,  347 
Hillson,  Mary  Bruce,  died,  341 
Hilt,  Jan.,  213 
Hilton,  Hannah,  died,  352 

Jacobus,  freeholder,  282 

Phoebe,  died,  324 

Richard,  freeholder,  282 

William,  freeholder,  282 

William,  Jun.,  freeholder,  282 
Hinde,  John,  cloth  merchant,  292 
Hinkley,  J.  W.,  344 
Hodge,  John,  died,  346 
Hodgkins,  S.  L.,  344 
Hoffmayer,  Wm.,  183,  289;  deceased, 

260 ;  his  house  to  be  taken  down, 

182 
Hogan,  Johannes,  freeholder,  282 

William,  freeholder,  282 

William,  Jun.,  freeholder,  282 
Hogeboom,  Lawrence,  assemblyman, 

292 
Holland,  Edward,  freeholder,  282 

Henry,  freeholder,  283 

Jacobus,  freeholder,  283 

Kitchen,  freeholder,  283 
Hollie,  Hend.  Janse,  128 

Willem,  128,  219,  239;  porter  and 
town  crier,  252 ;  takes  oath,  128 

Holman,  John,  takes  oath,  124 


Hoist,  Lowrens,  Jr.,  soldier,  223 

Holste.n,  L.  D.,  329,  339 

Holy  Innocents  church  opened,  330; 

consecrated,  346 
Hooghkerk,  Mr.  John,  291 

Luykas,  freeholder,  282 
Hoogland,  Jeronemus,  federal  elector, 

298 
Hoogteling,  Coenraet,  freeholder,  283 

William,  freeholder,  283 
Hooks  and  ladders,  1688,  97 
Hooper,  Stephen  takes  oath,  124 
Hoosic,  ancient  name  of,  28 ;  vote,  1789, 

300 

Home,  Hanse,  house  of,  291 
Horse  boat  sunk  at  ferry,  350 

stealing,  penal,  293 
Horticultural  exhibition,  341,  343 
Horton,  Sargant  Jonathan,  soldier,  222 
Hospital,  1784,  site  of,  294 

governors,  1849,  327 
Hotaling,  William,  died,  345 
Houle,  Oliver,  344 
Housatonia  train  quick  trip,  328 
House  telegraph  hue  opened,  350 
Houses  enumerated,  1785,  295 :  in  8th 

ward,  345;   removed,    settlement 

for,  259,  260 ;   to  be  demolished, 

13,  16,  18, 182;  number  of,  17 
Howard,  Ephraim,  died,  329 
Howe,  Lord,  55 
Howe,  Silas  B.,  325 
Hoyt,  George  B.,  takes  medal,  320 

Maria  J.,  died,  340 

Hubbard  attributes  the  wars  in  New 
England  to  the  use  of  wampum,  3 

Mrs.H.  L.,  died,  335 
Hudson,    Heudrik,    steam  boat.  324, 
325 ;  sold,  327,  347 ;  fare  reduced, 
335 

river,  claim  of  Van  Twiller,  19; 

names  for,  317,  318 
Hughes,  Peter,  drowned,  344 
Humphrey,  Mrs.  Chauncey,  died,  333 

Friend,  327,  339;   president  tract 
society,  325 

John,  died,  337 

Ralph,  325 

William,  339 
Hun,  Dirk,  freeholder,  282 

Johannes,  freeholder,  283 

Thomas,    alderman,  290;    for  as- 
semblyman, 293 
Hunt,  Josiah,  soldier,  222 

Thomas,  soldier,  222 ;  surgeon,  221 
Hunting  not  permitted  except  to  citi- 
zens, 77 

Hntton,  Isaac,  clergyman,  288 
Huyck,  Andries,  freeholder,  283 


Ice  exported,  333 ;  first  crossed,  1849, 
327  ;  prevents  crossing  river,  253 ; 
weak,  1850,  329 ;  broken  through, 
033 ;  moved  out,  331 


Index. 


383 


Importers  from  London.291 
Imprisonment  for  debt*  impolicy  of, 

298 

Index,  quick  sloop  voyage,  351 
Indian  aid  called  in,  118, 120 ;  affairs, 
meeting  on,  164,  165;  ornaments, 
1 ;  bond  in  war,  235 ;  cloak,  price 
of,  231;  depredations,  40;  dis- 
turbances, 1663,  278,  279;  excur- 
sion to  Canada,  38 ;  goods  taxed  2 
per  cent,  266 ;  graves,  relics  in,  2 ; 
hostages,  290 ;  nouses,  to  be  sup- 
plied, 246 ;  money,  1 ;  none  but 
wampum  ever  known,  5;  names 
of  Albany  and  vicinity,  317,  318 ; 
prisoners  die  in  France,  160, 162 ; 
demanded  of  French,  163 ;  racers, 
335;  scouts  employed  in  French 
war,  120;  trade  secured  to  the 
city,  74;  its  advantages,  75;  pro- 
hibited to  all  others,  76,  77 ;  fine 
for  violating,  89,  244,  265 ;  meeting 
to  regulate,  86 ;  proclamation  con- 
cerning, 102 :  trade  at  Schenectady 
prohibited,  46 ;  traders  fined,  244 ; 
treaty  at  Fort  Schuyler,  289 ;  war 
threatened,  22 ;  Toby,  old  soldier, 
223 

Indians  captured,  112;   condole  with 
citizens  on  the  Schenectady  mas- 
sacre, 186;    depend  upon  magis- 
tracy, 140 ;  drunk  on  Sunday,  253, 
254;    excited  by  Stuyvesant,  15, 
16;  invited  to  settle  in  the  vicinity, 
184, 190;  liquors  forbidden  to,  99  ; 
troublesome    when    drunk,    100; 
liquors  prohibited,  117,  223,  226, 
244,  245 ;  message  from,  160 ;  pay- 
ing taxes,  296 ;  prohibited  coming 
into  the  city,  102;   supplies  for, 
194;   threaten   Milborne^s   party, 
153,    154;    to    be    retained,    197; 
volunteer  as  scouts,  177, 178 
Ingells,  William,  soldier,  221 
Ingmire,  John,  wins  prize,  352 
Ingoldesby,  Col.  Richard,  249,  261 
Invasion  by  Leislerians  expected,  131 
Isaacs,  Cleyn,  his  laud  taken  for  fort, 

230 
Isaakse,  Abram,  signs  against  Leisler, 

134 
Isack,  Klyn,  returned  from  captivity, 

233 

Island  inundated  eighth  time,  1850, 
350 ;  soldiers  quartered  at,  240 


Jackmonssc,  John,  soldier,  223 

Jacobse,  Jan,  224 

Jacobsen,  Ryer,  Leisler's  justice  at 

Schenectady,  171 
Rutger,  38,  280 ;  lays  corner  stone, 

39 
Jacobsz,  Aert,  281 


Jacobsz,  Casper,  280 ;  hie  pasture,  58 

Teunis,  280] 

Jagger,  Treadwell  &  Perry,  353 
Jagogthare,  Aridarenda,  186 
Jail,  4th  July  celebrated  at,  302;  on 

State  and  Eagle  streets,  298 
Jailer,  his  duties,"  70 
Jamaica,  negroes  sold  to,  52 
James,  Augustus,  328 

&  Vail,  merchants,  288 

John  B.,  337 

the  Second  grants  charter,  57 

Thomas  V.,  281 ;  merchant,  288 

Rev.  Wm.,  pres.  soc.  relief  of  poor, 
328 

William,  327,  338 

Jannetje  the  Indian,  234.    See  Law- 
rence 
Janse,  Ensign  Abraham,  155 

Andries,  first  schoolmaster,  21 

Cobus,  119 

Dorite,  119 

Douw  Volcker,  281 

Ens.  Johannis,  209 

Evert,  [Abeel,]  99 

Geertruy,  119 

•  Hendrik,  fine  remitted,  244;  illicit 
trader,  243 

Joseph,  soldier,  116 

Luykas,  120 

Matthys,  120 

Roelif,  freeholder,  283 

Stoftell,  [Abeel,]  99 
Jansen,  Gerret,  212 

Harmen,  soldier,  222 

Hendk.,  214 

Jacob,  cut  fir  trees,  17 

Rein.,  soldier,  223 

Steven,  280 

Van  Saregtoge,  214 

Volckert,  38 
Jenkins,  Elizabeth,  died,  332 

Elisha,  school  trustee,  305 

Lemuel,  325,  328 

Jocelyn,  Christopher,  killed,  331 
Jochemsen,  David,  270 

H.,  38 

Jochimes,  Lambt.,  soldier,  116 
John  Mason,  steam  boat  sold,  327 
Johnson,  Agnes,  died,  345 

Hugh,  burglar,  345 

James  I.,  331 

Thomas,  soldier,  221 
Johnston,  Sarah,  died,  352 
Johnstone,  R.  F.,  340 
Jones,  Frank,  takes  medal,  320 
Josselyn  John,  1 
Judd,  Charles  Edward,  died,  332 
Judson,  Ichabod  L.,  338 
July  4th  celebrated,  1784,  287. 
Juriaense,  Hans,  120 
Jurian,  Indian  messenger,  162,  165; 

the  ferocious,  warrior,  235 
Justices  court  organized,  69 


384 


Index. 


Kanondoro,  235 

Kant,  Francis,  drowned,  348 

Katskill,  why  acquired,  9.  See  Catskill 

Kearney,  J.,  351 

Keaty,  Michael,  killed,  337 

Kelley,  Henry,  died,  350 

Joseph,  currier,  290 
Kemble,  Francis  Ann,  readings  by,  329 
Kennedy,  Michael,  drowned,  344 

Rev.  Dr.,  326 

Kent,  James,  school  trustee,  305 
Kentucky  giant  (Andrew  Brand)  died, 

347 

Keogh,  Jane  M.,  died,  337 
Kerin,  John,  died,  350 
Ketelheyn,  David,  illicit  trader,  214, 
243;    sells  rum  to  Indians   on 
Sunday,  252,  253 ;  fined  therefor, 
254 ;  fine  remitted,  244 

William,  119 

Keteltas,  Jan,  soldier,  222 
Kettles  distrained  for  public  use,  227 
Keuningh,  Thomas,  281 
Kickham,  Samuel,  soldier,  223 
Kidd,  James,  325,  332,  337,  339 ;  post- 
master, 348;   pres.  plank  road, 
338 

Capt.  Win.,  his  company,  266 
Kidney,  Jacobus,  freeholder,  282 

Johannes,  freeholder,  282 

Roelif,  freeholder,  282 
Kieft,  director,  28 ;    regulates   wam- 
pum, 4 

Kilbourn,  Harvey,  died,  353 
Kinderhook  excited  byMilborne's  let- 
ter, 142 ;   proportion  of  tax,  260 ; 

to  furnish  firewood  260 ;  rum  sold 

to  Indians  on  Sunday,  252,  254; 

stockadoes   apportioned  to.  249; 

to  furnish  firewood  and  candles  to 

the  blockhouse,  250 
King,  Charles,  lecture  by,  352 

Kufus  H.,  328,  333,  339 

William,  104,  128 

King's  Arms  tavern,  285 ;  sign  burnt, 
285 

highway,  96 
Kingsley,  Hale,  349 
Kip,  Abraham,  224 

Isaak,  242  ;  freeholder,  282 

Rev.  Dr.,  lays  corner  stone,  343 

Volkquijn,  242 

Kleermaker,  Evert  Jansen,  281 
Klinkenbergh,  captive  at,  239 
Klock,  Leiut.  Marte,  209 
Klomp,  Jacob  Simons,  281 
Knap,  John,  soldier,  222 
Knickerbacker,  John,  340;  federalist, 

298 

Knight,  Thomas,  soldier,  221 
Knower,  Cornelia,  died,  349 

John,  339 

Knowles,  Horace,  died,  325 
Knox,  John,  256 
Koeherder,  Laurens,  224 


Koeymans,  Sarent  Pietersen,  justice, 
237 

Kok,  J.,  signs  against  Leisler,  135 

Koonz,  Jacob  C.,  takes  medal,  320 

Kosciusko,  steam  boat,  340 

Koster,  Anthony,  freeholder,  282 

Krygier,  see  Cregier 

Kryg's  jack  (war  flag)  sent  up  by  Leis- 
ler, 142 


Labadie,  Jan,  French  commissaris,  22 

to  repair  fort,  18 
Ladders  of  city  inspected,  87 
Laerse,  Caste  Junior,  soldier,  223 
Lafayette,  Marquis,  attends  treaty  at 

Fort  Schuyler,  289,  290 
Lafleur,  alias  Rene  Poupar,  89,  90, 109 ; 

removed   on  suspicion,  107,  108, 

110,  111 
La  Grange,  Angelica,  died,  331 

Isaac,  freeholder,  283 

Jacobus,  freeholder,  283 

Johannes,  freeholder,  283 

Omy,  plaintiff,  257 
Lamberville,  Pere,  162;   letter  from, 

161 

La  Montagne,  Johannes,  44;  vice  di- 
rector, 42 

Lamps,  expenditures  for,  356 
Lancaster,  Joseph,  founder  of  schools, 

304 ;  visits  Albany,  306  . 
Lancasterian  school  founded,  304,  305 ; 

finances,    305;    building   opened, 

305  ;  cost  of,  306 
Lane,  Capt.,  291 
Laney,  Lucien  B.,  330 

Mary  Ann,  died,  330 
Langestraet,  Johannes,  soldier,  221 
Lansing,  Abraham  A.,  assessor,  293; 
freeholder,  282 

Aeltje,  married,  10 

A.  A.,  331 

Charles  B.,  340 

Cornelia  S.,  died,  331 

E.  J.,  349 

Evert,  freeholder,  283 

Gerrit,  241,  242;  freeholder,  282, 
283 ;  and  brothers  do  not  sub- 
scribe to  war  fund,  119 

Gerrit  Y.,  328.  339 

Hendrick,  256;  freeholder,  283 

Isaac,  freeholder,  282 

Jacob,  freeholder,  283 

Jacob  G.,  for  assemblyman,  293 

Jacob,  Jun.,  freeholder,  283 

Jan,  90,  91, 113,  119,  120,  246,  255  ; 
alderman,  94,  106,  111,  240,  245, 
250,  258;  Johannes,  freeholder, 
282 

Johannes  Gerr'se,  freeholder,  282 

Johannes,  Jun.,  freeholder,  S82 

John,  247,  263,  266 ;  assistant  alder- 
man, 65,  84;  captain,  237;  alder- 
man, 258 


Index. 


385 


Lansing,  John,  assemblyman,  298,  348, 
John,  Jun.,  304;  anti-federal  elec- 
tor,   298;    assemblyman,    292; 
school  trustee,  305 
Robert,  freeholder,  282 
Sanders,  road  master,  293;  died, 
348 

Lansingburgh,  first  stage  from,  302 

Laprairie,  to  be  attacked,  235 

Larmond,  James,  125 

Lathrop,  Dyer,  327 

Laurens,  Cornells,  224 
Jan,  224 

Laverty,  Alexander,  tailor,  294 

Law  School,  305 

Lawlor,  Martin,  died,  351 

Lawrence,  Thaddeus,  debtor,  299 

alias  Jannetje,  the  Indian,  160; 
234 ;  march  of,  213 ;  pursues  the 
French,  179,  180, 185 

Lawyer,  John,  drowned,  338 
John  L.,  drowned,  340 

Lay,  Sarah,  died,  348 

Lead,  price  of,  230;  seized  for  cus- 
toms, 246 

Learned,  Edward,  340 
Win.  L.,  poem  by,  352 

Lee,  Arthur,  289 
Charles,  55 
George  C.,  331,  339 
Mother  Ann,  died,  288 
Stephen, 181 

Legislative  journals,  1789,  300 

Legislature,  1789,  meet  in  Albany,  301 

Leightou,  David  A.,  died,  324 

Leijsler'e  time,  268 

Leisler,  Jacob,  139,  169,  170,  202,  216, 
230,  232;  authority  of  protested 
against  at  Schenectady,  172 :  called 
upon  to  assist  against  the  French, 
114;  magistrates  write  to.  215; 
express  returned  from,  117;  his 
authority  required  to  be  exhibited 
168,  109,  170,  171;  his  commis- 
sioned officers,  237;  his  letter  to 
the  people,  138;  letter  from,  167; 
protest  against  his  sending  up 
armed  men,  125,  128,  129,  172; 
sends  commissions  to  Scheuec- 
tady,  171 ;  usurper  resisted  in 
Albany,  106;  usurper,  105,  200; 
gives  Jochirn  Staats  command  of 
the  fort,  130 

Le  Moyiie,  Father,  37 

Leonard,  Solomon  S.,  died,  331 

Lespinard,  Antho.,  90,  94,  255;  corn 
viewer,  99;  firemaster,  97;  re- 
moved on  suspicionr  108, 110,  111 ; 
rent  of  his  house  to  officers,  248 

Lewis's  tavern,  288,  294;  negro  sold 
at,  289 

Lewys,  Barent,  241 ;  Leisler's  officer, 
sued  for  planks,  238 

Licenses,  order  to  collect,  247;  to  be 
given  by  mayor,  70 

Annals,  ii.  33 


Liekeris,  Johannes,  soldier,  222 

Lieutenant,  pay  of,  142 

Lievens,  Annetje,  119 

Lieverse,  Harme,  119 ;  house  fortified, 
115 

Lighting  city  with  spirit  gas,  346 

Liquor  sales  restricted,  88 

Liquors,  excise  of,  98;  forbidden  to 
be  sold  to  Indians,  99,  117,  244; 
not  be  drunk  after  tattoo,  93 ;  regu- 
lations concerning,  228;  selling 
without  license,  penalty  of,  244, 
245 

Litchoe,  sergeant,  31 

Livingston,  John,  assemblyman,  292 
Philip,  freeholder,  282 
Robert,  87,  93,  108,  112,  115,  124, 
166,  178,  179,  191,  192,  215,  249, 
250,  253 ;  a  fugitive,  106 ;  a  rebel, 
203;  pursued,  204;  is  sheltered 
by  Connecticut  authorities,  204 ; 
absconds  with  public  records, 
224 ;  agent  to  New  England,  198 ; 
awarded  papers  of  \an  llpen- 
dam,  94;  borrows  money  foe 
city,  95;  certifies  proceedings- 
against  Leisler,  177 ;  clerk,  259 ;. 
goes  to  England,  259;  clerk  of 
common  council,  69;  deposi- 
tions against,  216,  217,  218,  219 ;. 
first  clerk,  65,  84 ;  his  property 
attached,  225 ;  his  records  partly 
surrendered,  215 ;  depositions, 
against,  216;  indemnified,  129;, 
instructions  to  as  agent,  195;, 
large  subscription  to  war  fund,. 
119;  letter  to  Indian  council,. 
164 ;  married,  272 ;  loans  money 
to  aid  the  war,  127, 129 ;  order  to 
apprehend,  200 ;  order  to  deliver 
city  books,  208;  plaintiff,  241,. 
256 ;  proposal  to  send  him  to  New 
England  for  aid,  193;  receives 
city  charter,  56 ;  salary  fixed,  86 ;. 
takes  oath  of  allegiance,  122;. 
tax  levied  to  pay,  240,  247;  to- 
fine  illicit  traders,  243 
Walter,  287 

Locker,  William,  soldier,  221 

Lockermans,  Jacob,  90, 113,  211 ;  signs, 

against  Leisler,  135 
P.,  119 

Lockwood,  B.,  wins  prize,  350 

Loltus,  Mathys,  soldier,  223. 

London  tailor,  1785,  294 

Long  Island,  wampum  made  on,  6 

Long  reach  Indians  procured,  118, 1201 

Loosje,  Cornelis,  222 

Lottery,  1772,  285 

Loucks,  Christian,  death  sentence,  293 

Loudons  print  journals,  300 

Louis,  Colonel,  Indian  warrior,  317 

Lovett,  John,  eulogy  by,  286 
P.  M.,  328 

Low,  F.  S.,  machine  works,  326 


386 


Index. 


Low.  Henry,  soldier,  222 

Low  s  furnace,  large  cast,  350 

Luitersekerk  (Lutheran  church),  268 

Luke,  Philip,  freeholder,  288 

Lush,  Richard,  assessor,  293;  assist- 
ant alderman,  290;  for  assembly- 
man, 293 

Luther,  Elizabeth,  died,  324 
John,  324 

Lutheran  church,  block  house  behind, 
250;  erected,  297;  treasury  stolen, 

Luwis,  Capt.  Barnet,  209 

Luycessen,  Jan,  213 

Luyerez,  Jacob,  281 

Luykasse,  Qerrit,  defames  Job.  Rose- 
boom,  243;  defendant,  257:  re- 
ceives commissions  from  Leis- 
ler,  171 ;  soldier,  116 
Johannes,  illicit  trader,  244 

Lydius  street,  opening  of,  330 

Lyon,  Ebenezar,  soldier,  221 


Maase,  Cornelius,  freeholder,  283 

John,  freeholder,  283  ;  see  Meesen, 
and  Van  Buren, 

Machin,  Captain,  engineer,  285 

Machinists,  military  company,  353 

Macilby,  Lieft.  Robert,  255 

McAllister,  Capt.,  333 
Mrs.  H.  E.,  died,  337 

McAlpine,  William  J.,  337 

McAnnespie,  Mrs.,  Bridget,  died,  331 

McBride,  John,  329 

McCall,  Dennis,  347 

McCall,  H.  S.,  342 

McCall,  Thomas  J.,  died,  353 

McCammon,  Cyrus  S.,  died,  339 

McCardel,  JohnT  345 

McClallen,  Henryr«fc  Henry,  merchants, 

Robert,  alderman,  290 ;  for  assem- 
blyman, 292 ;  supervisor,  293 
McClintock,  John,  school  of,  287 
McClosky,  Bishop,  lays  corner  stone, 

338 

McDonald,  John,  ordained,  294 ;  stated 
clerk,  303 

i^arah,  died,  339 
McElroy,  Andrew,  takes  medal,  320 

Thomas,  328 

Wm.,  324,  325,  328 
McGowan,  William  S.,  341 
McHarg,  Charles  K.,  takes  medal,  323 

William,  339 
McHench,  Ann,  died,  345 
Mclntosh,  Margaret,  died,  341 
Mclntyre,  Archibald,  328;  school  trus- 
tee, 305 

McJimpsey,  John,  school  trustee,  305 
McKnight,  John,  339 
McLelland,  Francis,  drowned,  345 
McMahon,  M.,  353 


McManus,  Catharine,  wife  of  Owen, 
died,  325 

McMichael,  J.,  349 

McMullen,  Thos.,  325 

McMurdy,  Mrs.  Isaac,  died,  336 

McMurry,  Thomas,  his  house,  300 

McNaughton,  Dr.  James,  prea.  County 
Medical  Society,  351;  pres.  St. 
Andrews  Society,  351 
Peter,  328,  351 

Magdaniell,  Daniell,  soldier,  221 

Magistrates  endorsed  by  the  county, 
133;  indemnify  Robert  Livingston, 
1*9;  take  the  city,  107 

Magrigerie,  Patrick,  soldier,  221 

Mahakaneghtuc,  the  Hudson  river, 
314,  317,  318 

Mahecander  chiefs,  19 

Maher,  James,  339,  353 

Mahiccans,  name  for  Hudson  river,  317 
318 

Maijs  (Indian  corn).  268 

Mail,  1785,  295;  1790,  303;  carriers, 
1790,302 

Maine,  brigs  arrive  from,  352 

Maize  for  Indians,  194 

Manhattan  steam  boat  fare  reduced, 
335 

Mannin,  John,  soldier,  221 

Many,  Wm.  V.,  337 

Maquase  persuaded  to  settle  at  Schen- 
ectady,  184 ;  follow  the  marauders 
to  Canada,  185,  190;  river  (Mo- 
hawk), 87,  268;  castie,  113 

Marcelise,  Gysbt.,  256;  constable,  240 

March,  Alden,  325 

Marchael,  William,  died,  332 

Marespink  savages,'  278 

Murienissen,  Dauit,  212 

Market  days,  78;  house,  1764,  48;  in 
Broadway,  287 ;  receipts  from,  357 ; 
state  of.  334 

Marlett,  Jean,  soldier,  221 

Marriage  license,  a  governor's,  277 

Marselis,  Garret,  freeholder,  282 
Johannes,  freeholder,  282 
John,  road  master,  293 
Myndert,  freeholder,  283 

Marshal,  salary  of,  98 

Marten,  Richard,  soldier,  221 

Martense,  Hendrick,  soldier,  222 
Paulus,  96,  260 
Pr.,  constable,  252,  254 

Martin  Geritsen's  island,  58 
Henry  H.,  339 
Peter  J.,  died,  339 

Martlett,  William  J.,  contractor,  347 

Marvin,  Lucia,  died,  346 

Maryland,   soldiers  furnished  by,  231 

Massachusetts,  142;  furnishes  sol- 
diers, 231;  troops,  313  n. ;  wam- 
pum in,  1,  4 

Masshell,  Charles,  soldier,  222 

Mathus,  Thomas,  soldier,  222 


Index. 


387 


Mathys,  109 ;  Captain,  181 ;  volunteers 

to  aid  Albany,  123 
Matysse,  Abram,  soldier,  222 
Manriss,  Francis,  soldier,  221 
Mayell,  Jefferson,  328 
Mayor  to  be  coroner,  71,  83 ;  to  grant 

licenses,  70;   to  be  clerk  of  the 

market,  70 

Meads,  James,  died,  342 
Mead,  Owen,  drowned,  341 

Thomas,  346 

Mechanics  and  Farmers'  Bank  divi- 
dend, 828 

Mechanics'  Benefit  Society  election, 
344 

School.  304 
Medical  College,  305 
Meech,  Ralph  H.,  died,  326 
Meeseii,  Jacob,  [Van  Buren?]  87,  119? 

to    inspect  stockadoes,  229;  see 


Megapel ensis,  Rev.  Mr.,  19,  281 

Mellon,  Daniel,  soldier,  222 

Melyn,  outlawed,  29 

Merchandise  not  to  be  exported,  185 

Merchants,  stock  multifarious,  291 

Merrifield,  Richard,  died,  344 

Messenger,  Mrs.  Jacob,  died,  336 

Meteorological  record,  285 

Metslaer,  see  De  Metslaer,  119 

Michelz,  Jan,  280 

Milborne,  Jacob,;i36,  146, 148,205,  232; 
answer  to  his  proposals,  149 ;  ar- 
rives with  soldiers,  and  harrangues 
the  people,  137 ;  his  letter  to  Sche- 
nectady,  139 ;  letter  to  Kinderhook, 
142;  attempts  to  take  the  fort,  153; 
before  the  convention,  143 ;  insti- 
gates mutiny,  146 ;  created  major, 
231 ;  his  commission  from  Leis- 
ler,  201,  ;  expedition  to  Albany, 
221;  his  soldiers  marched  into 
town,  151;  his  soldiers  provided 
for,  149 ;  demands  the  old  arms  in 
the  fort,  147;  order  to  for  stores, 
211;  protest  against,  154;  threat- 
ened by  Maquase,  154;  leaves  the 
city,  155;  proposes  better  security 
for  the  fort,  130;  sinister  inten- 
tions of,  151 

Military  officers,  1689,  209;  stores  to 
be  delivered,  208 

Militia  organization,  297 

Mill,  soldiers  quartered  at,  240 

Miller,  Andrew,  soldier,  222 
Mrs.  Christian,  died,  337 
Dr.,  on  rivers,  317 
Ernest  J.,  takes  medal,  323 
Isaac  L.  K.,  takes  medal,  323 
Maria  B.,  died,  334 
Morris  S.,  333 
Wm,  C.,-325,  32§ 

Millington,  John,  Jr.,  died,  324 

Mills's  island  dam,  302 

Miln,  John,  freeholder,  283 


Milton,  John,  freeholder,  283 
Minderse,  Marte,  overseer  poor,  293 
Minerals,  search  for,  9 
Mines  of  gold  and  silver  reserved,  60 
Mingael,  Johannes,  111,  251,  257 ;  coun- 
cilman, 94 

Pr.,  assessor,  258 

Minister  supported  by  patroon,  23 
Minnesink,  trade  at,  257 
Minquas  at  war  with  Senecas,  278 
Mitchell,  Ezekiel,  murdered,  301 

William,  345 
Mitchill,  Dr.,  299,  314,  318;   on  fish, 

315,  316 
Mohawk  country,  22;    prisoners   in 

France,  160 ;  plank  road  finished, 

351 ;  river,  317,  318 
Mohawks    meditate    an    attack,    22; 

treaty  with,  22,  23 ;  pursue  French 

to  Canada,  185.    See  also  Maquase 
Montagne,  William,  44 
Morris,  Hendk.,  deputy  secretary,  277 

Martin,  44 

Morris's  notes,  currency,  287,  289 
Mott,  Abigail,  died,  346 
Mountain  crossed  only  on  horseback, 

290 

Muff  and  Tippet  maker,  291 
Muir,  James,  Jr.,  died,  328 

Wm.  O.,  349 
Mulholland,  John,  333 
Muller,  Jacob,  freeholder,  283 
Mulloch,  Jane,  died,  332 
Munn,  Mrs.  Stephen  B.,  died,  837 
Murray,  Lawrence,  died,  329 
Murtaugh,  Michael,  333 
Museum  building,  site  of,  286 
Mutiny  instigated  by  Milborne,  146 
Myndertse,  Johannes,  freeholder,  282 


Nack,  Jan,  128, 129, 143 ;  constable,  94 ; 
councilman,  103 ;  gunstock  maker, 
a  refractory  councilman,  105 ;  sus- 
pends his  vote,  136 

Nafew,  John  S.,  340 

Nail  factory,  296 

Naill,  John,  justice,  237 

Nails,  prices  of  hand  made,  296 

Navigation  improved,  1790,  302 

Navy  flogging  denounced,  338 

Near,  H.  P.,  344 

Nfiill,  William,  school  trustee,  305 

Negress  arrested,  28 

Negro  of  Mrs.  Schuyler  sold  by  auc- 
tion, 289;  whipt  through  the 
streets  at  a  cart  tail,  85 

Negroes,  their  privileges,  51 

New  England,  agents  sent  to  for  assist- 
ance, 192;  Indian  money  in,  1,  4, 
5 ;  resorted  to  for  troops,  118,  120 ; 
soldiers,  231 ;  succored  from  Eng- 
land, 160;  troops  arrive,  155; 
wampum  first  known  in  1627,  2 

New  Haven,  houses,  1785,  295 


388 


Index. 


New  Jersey,  made  wampum,  6 

Newland,  David,  house  of,  291 
John,  takes  medal,  320 

New  Netherland,  money  in  use  in,  1 

Newspaper,  first  in  Albany,  284,  290 

Newton,  John  M.,  324 
William,  339 

New  York,  agents  sent  to  for  assist- 
ance, 114,  192;  assistance  from 
asked,  114 ;  furnishes  soldiers,  231 ; 
Gazetteer  or  Northern  Intelli- 
gencer, 285;  Indian  graves  in,  2; 
invasion  from  expected,  132;  not 
to  be  suffered  to  turn  the  city 
government  upside  down,  133 

Nichols,  suicide,  345  , 

Nicholson,  Captain,  168 

.Nicoll,  Francis,  federal  elector,  298 
Rensselaer,  freeholder,  283 

"Nisqueunia,  Mother  Lee  buried  at,  288 

Nobell,  William,  soldier,  221 

INoonan,  James,  died,  343 
Thomas,  339 

Normal  School,  329 

Normans  kil,  318 

North  America  steam  boat  sold,  327 

Northern  rail  road  contracted,  348; 
election,  337 ;  meeting,  332,  335 

North  gate,  291 ;  1784,  290 

North  river,  names  for,  317,  318 

Northrop,  R.  H.,  331 

Norton,  John,  died,  347 
John  T.,  339 

,Notes  from  the  newspapers,  284,  303 

Oath  administered  to  city  porter,  87 

of  allegiance   required,    25,   124; 

taken,  103;   1789,  122:   of  first 

mayor,  83 ;  to  be  administered, 

66 ;  to  the  patroon,  280 

O'Callaghan,  Dr.  E.  B.,  279,  280;  finds 

council  minutes,  106 
Officers  prescribed  by  charter,  63 
Ogdin,  John,  soldier,  222 
Ogharonde,  expedition  at,  235 
Ohnowalagantle,  Schenectady,  318 
Oil  for  lighting  city  abandoned,  346 
Olcott,  John  J.,  takes  medal,  320 

Mrs.  Thomas,  died,  346 

Thomas  W.,  332 
Olivatt,  Charles,  soldier,  221 
Olpherse,  Sjort,  139 
Omnibuses  introduced,  338 
•Oneida  interpreter,  317 ;  savages  atone 

for  dead,  235 
<Oneyde,  162 
(Onnondage    council,    165;    letter    to 

council  at,  162;  embassy,  112 
Oonondages  send  for  Mohawks,  160 
Oothout,  Aerje,  freeholder,  283 

Henry,  antifedeiral  elector,  298 ;  for 
senator,  293 

Johannes,  freeholder,  283 

Jonas,  freeholder,  283 


Orange,  Prince  of,  216,  217 

O'Reilly    telegraph    connected    with 

New  York,  341 ;  opened,  337 
Orphan  Asylum  managers,  338 
Orphans,  excursion  of,  344 
Osborn,  Eliza,  died,  336 

Capt.  John,  352 
Osterhout,  David,  wins  prize,  353 

Lucy  Jane,  died,  350 
Otter  skins  exported,  42 
Ottowawa,  good*  carried  to,  238 
Ouderkerck,  Abraham,  freeholder,  283 

Cornelius,  freeholder,  283 

Jan, 119 

Johannes,  freeholder,  283 

Johannes  Janse,  soldier,  116 
Overslagh,  derivation  of  name,  316 
Owen,  John,  soldier,  222 
Oyster  shells,  wampum  made  from,  2 


Paanpaack,  now  Troy,  28 

Pacht,  see  excise  and  tax 

Pacy,  Mrs.  Edward,  died,  345 

Paddock,  Margaret,  died,  350 

Paepsknee  fortified,  115;  garrisoned, 
158 

Paers,  Jacob,  soldier,  221 

Paffane,  furrier,  291 

Paling,  (Pawling  ?)  Capt,,  181,  184; 
failed  to  respond  to  call  for  aid  to 
Albany,  123 

Palmer,  Judge,  56 

Pangborne,  Pieter,  soldier,  223 

Panhoosick,  or  Hoosick,  28 

Panton,  Richard,  139 

Papendorp,  Adriaen  Gerritse,  first  al- 
derman, 65,  83;  his  will,  94 

Paper  money,  287 

Paponicnck,  purchased,  19 

Papaknee  island  dam,  302 

Parker,  James,  250;  first  marshal, 
65,  84;  his  account  settled,  259; 
his  salary  as  marshal,  98 ;  tax 
levied  to  pay,  247,  248 

Parrell  street  (Pearl),  268 

Parsons,  Peter,  soldier,  222 
J.  W.,  344 
8.  H.  H.,  339 

Passenger,  Mrs.  Andrew,  died,  347 

Pasture,  claimed  for  the  king,  226 ;  lo- 
cation of,  58,  59 

Pate,  Roburte,  soldier,  223 

Patkook,  fortified,  115 ;  to  furnish 
firewood  and  candles  to  the  block- 
house, 250 

Patroon's  creek  purchased,  846;  his 
authority  and  immunities,  16; 
his  house  attacked  ;•  25,  releases 
Albany,  27  ;  flag  pulled  down,  31 ; 
jealousy  of,  10;  mill  fortified, 
225 ;  trading  house,  18 

Patton,  Mrs.  Ann,  died,  336 

Pauperism,  1850,  365,  36e 

Pavonia,  repurchased,  10 


Index. 


389 


Payn's  tavern,  fired,  336 

Peace  convention,  333 

Peaches,  great  arrival  of,  346 

Peag,  wampum,  1,  4 ;  see  Wampum 

Pearse,  Jacob  L.,  takes  medal,  323 

Peas,  white,  price  of,  230 

Peaee,  ErastusH.,  325 

Peck,  S.  S.  .338 

Peebles,  John,  died,  326 

Pelican,  captured,  299 

Pels,  Evert,  281 

Pemaquid,  taken.  111 

Pembroke,  Mr.,  202.  220,  232 

Pepper.  Calvin,  died,  336 

Pequot  Indians  pay  tribute,  5 

Percy,  Mary,  died,  352 

Perry,  EH,  325,   338;  assemblyman, 

350:  mayor,  336 
Mrs.  Eli.  died,  337 

Personal  estate  valuation.  361 

Petereburgh,  houses,  1785,  295 

Pewasck,   squaw   chief   of   Catskill,- 
19 

Phelps,  Philip,  325,  326 

Philip.  Jr.,  takes  medal,  320,  323 

Philadelphia,  houses,  1785,  295 :  popu- 
lation, 296 

Philips,  Loeling,  soldier,  222 

Phillips,  Abraham,  died,  346;  John, 
died,  330 

Phipps,  Captain  Benj.,  249 

Piece  of  8,  231 ;  its  value,  268 

Pieterse,   Barent,  256 

Hille,  the  Indian  interpreter's  sis- 
ter, 153 

Volkie   [Vroomanl  89:  deceased, 
256 

Pieterson,  Nathaniel,  soldier,  221 

Pike  in  Vossen  kil,  281 

Piscataway,  Maryland,  soldiers  from 
at  Albany,  222 

Pitcher,  Joseph  R.,  died,  347 

Pitts  town,  vote,  1789,  300 

Plain,  lots  on  to  be  sold,  87;  its  loca- 
tion, 268 

Plank,  Caspar,  freeholder,  283 

Plank  road  election.  338 

Platt,  Ananias,  sta^e  right,  302 

Platto,  Frederick,  died,  345 

Pleijn,  see  Plain 

Plymouth,  furnishes  soldiers,  231 

Pocket  almanac  published,  286 

Poen,  John,  soldier,  221 

Poinier,  Daniel,  died,  324 

Police  1850,  -357,  358 

Poor  expenses,  1850,  358;    relief   so- 
ciety, 328 

Poor,  Thomas,  soldier,  222 

Pootman,    Johannes,    212;    Leisler' s 
justice  at  Schenectady,  171 

Popery,  accusation  of  repelled,  123 

Population,  1785,  296 ;  8th  ward,  1850, 
344 

Porter,  Nicholas,  soldier,  223 

Porters,  public,  228,  252 


Post  Office,  1784,  286-;  location  of,  1784, 

291 

Potatoes,  high  in  1789,  301 
Potter,  Rev.  Dr.,  consecrates  church, 

346  ;  lays  corner  stone,  343 
Pound  ordered  to  be  made.  91 
Poupar.  Rene,  (alias  Lafleur)  89 ;  fined, 

90 

Pow,  Jost,  soldier,  222 
Powder,  not  be  wasted,  228 
Powel,  Wm  ,  125 

Powers,William,  for  assemblyman,  293 
Prairie,  Coteau  du,  red  pipe  stone  of,  2 
Pratt,  James  A.,  died,  348 

Ralph,  327 

Prentice,  Ezra  P.,  327 
Presbytery  of  Albany,  302 
Prescott,  John,  soldier,  222 
Pretty,  Richard,  90,  111,  148,  219,  226, 

227,  249  ;  first  sheriff,  65,  84,  168, 

192, 239 ;  sheriff  under  Leisler,  237 ; 

to  guage  liquors,  224 
Price,  John,  for  assemblyman,  293 
Priest,  Hannah  C..  died,  330 
Priest  to  be  required  to  be  sent  to 

Albany, 191 

Printing  office.  (Barber's),  287 
Printing  office,  first,  284 
Prise,  Philip,  soldier,  222 
Prisoners,  hostages  for,  290,  291;  re- 
turned from  France,  159 
Proclamation  about  the  excise,  258; 

on  approach  of  the  French,  109 
Produce  statistics,  1850,  353,  354 
Proposals  offered  by  Milborne,  146, 149 
Protest,  against    Leisler,    172 ;    how 

published,  176 ;  against  Milborne, 

154 ;  sent  to  Leister.  125, 129 
Provisions  called  for,  195  ;  scarcity  of, 

1789,  301 

Provoost,  Johannes,  205,  211,  214,  215, 
216,  217,  219,  234,  239,  201,  211  ; 
his  commission  from  Leisler, 
201;  secretary,  42 

Johannes,  Jr.,  soldier,  222 
Pruyn,  Casparus,  assessor,  293 

Johannes,  freeholder,  283 

J.  H.,205 

J.  V.  L.,  339 

Lansing,  339 

Robert  H.,  327,  339 ;  assemblyman, 
327,  328 

Samuel,  327,  337 

Samuel,  freeholder,  283 
Public  money  distributed,  5 
Public  schools,  none  in  1810,  304 
Pumpelly,  Harmon,  329,  339 
Purcell,  John,  333 
Pyper,  Henry,  soldier,  221 
Pynchon,  Col.,  Ill 


Quackenboss,   Henry,  for  assembly- 
man, 293  ;  Mrs.  Isaac  A.,  died, 


390 


Index. 


Quackenboss,    Johannes    W.,    free- 
holder, 283 

Peter,  freeholder,  283 

Sybrant,  freeholder,  283 
Quahaug,  shells  used  for  wampum,  1 
Quebec   supplies  to   be  intercepted, 

192 ;  project  for  taking,  181;  meanly 

fortified,  196;  vessels  wanted  to 

invade.  397 
Queen  Mary,  104, 1S8 


Radley,  William,  died,  m 

Radlif,  Johannes,  freeholder,  282 
John,  takes  oath,  124 

Raedmacker,  Jacob  Adriaensz,  280 

Rail  roads  obstructed  by  rain  storm, 
343 ;  statistics,  340 

Rain,  guage,  340 

Rain  storm,  346,  349 

Raley,  Robert,  soldier,  221 

Ramsey.  D.  D.,  351 

Randall.  Horace,  died,  335 
Mathu,  soldier,  222 

Rashiedeagoe,  162 

Ratel  watch,  definition  of,  268 ;  salary 
of,  104;  to  be  paid,  92 

Rathbone,  John  F.,  338 

Ratlif,  Jacobus,  freeholder,  282 
.Lambert,  freeholder,  282 

Rattes  kil  (Rutten  kil)  246,  311 

Rawson,  Rev.  Thomas  R.,  325,  328 

Reab,  George,  merchant,  289 

Real  estate  valuation,  361 

Records,  Livingston,  absconds  with, 
224 ;  lost,  106 ;  to  be  kept  in  Eng- 
lish, 267 

Redden,  David,  died,  336 

Reed,  Sylvanus,  rector,  346 

Reformed  German  Church,  285 

Regan,  John,  died,  349 

Relay,  William  8.,  died,  336 

Removal  from  city,  prohibited,  207 

Rensselaer,  Hend,  signs  against  Leis- 

ler,  ia5 

Jacobus,  freeholder,  283 
John,  freeholder,  283 
Stephen,  freeholder.  282,  283 
William,  freeholder,  283 
colony,  stockadoes  apportioned  to, 
248 ;  mill  to  be  fortified,  225 

Rensselaers-8tein,staple  right  claimed, 
35 

Rensselaerswyck,  account  of,  colony 
of,  9 ;  boundaries  questioned,  31 ; 
separated  from  Beverwyck,  31 ; 
deprived  of  excise  revenue,  37 ; 
endeavor  to  repurchase,  10:  ex- 
tent of,  25  ;  regiment,  297 ;  repre- 
sented in  convention,  1K64,  270  ; 
admitted  as  the  oldest  colony, 
270 ;  to  furnish  fire  wood  and  can- 
dles to  the  blockhouse,  250 ;  260 ; 
value  of  wampum  in,  8;  vote, 
1789,300 


Republican  Artillery  excursion,  344 
Revolutions,  268 ;  1689,  expenses  of  ,262 
Reyers,  Garrit.,  assessors,  245  ;  alder- 
man, 240 

Reynolds,  Marcus    TM  327,  328,  338; 
president  northern  rail  road,  337 

Mary,  died,  343 
Rhineland  measure,  42 
Rice,  William  A.,  344 

Mrs.  Wm.  H.,  died,  336 
Richardson,  Chas.,  324 

Cornelia  Ann,  died,  324 
Richmond,  houses,  1785  ;  295 
Ridder,  Hendrick  D.,  freeholder,  283 

Simon  D.,  freeholder,  283 
Rideing,  definition  of,  268 
Riede,Xievt,  266 
Riemer,  Is  :  d,  139 
Ring,  Nathaniel,  died,  351 
Rip  Van  Winkle,  steam  boat,  325,  344 
Riper,  Claes,  [Claee  Ripse  Van  Dam?] 

87,  121 

Ripse,  Claes,  alderman,  105 
River  closed,  1849,  326,  327  ;  in  March, 

333 ;  open,  334 ;  low  water,  324 ; 

open,  1850,  334 
Roach,  John,  died,  324 
Rob,  John,  soldier,  221 
Robbery,  penal  offence,  293 
Robertson,  Alexander,  and  James,  284 

Alexander,  died,  290 
Robinson,  Albert  D.,  337 

John  B.,  died,  340 

John,  soldier,  222 ;    imprisoned, 

331 

Robison  &  Hale,  merchants,  286 
Robison's  corner,  site  of,  286 
Robotham.  Daniel,  soldier.  222 
Rochester,  steam  boat,  sold,  327 
Rock  fish  in  the  Hudson,  316 
Rode,  Maquase  sachem,  96 
Roelofse,  Teunis,  139 
Roessle,  Jane,  died,  333,  347 

Theophilus,  333 
Roff,  Capt.  John,  290 
Rogers,  Charles,  takes  oath,  124 

Wm.,  takes  oath,  124;  freeholder, 

283 

Rom,  rum,  268 

Rombouts,  Lena,  deals  in  rum,  242 
Rome,  Brian,  soldier,  223 
Rookey,  Maria,  died,  332 
Rose,  Mrs.  Isaac,  died,  347 

James  R.,  clerk  assembly,  327 
Roseboom,  Ahasuerus,  freeholder,  283 

Abraham,  merchant,  292 ;  died,  292 
&  Co..  merchants,  287 

Fytie  Pietersen,  212 

Gerrit,    freeholder,    282;    consta- 
ble, 251 ;  high  constable,  258 

Gnysbert,  freeholder,  283 

Hend.,  his   son    restrained,  253; 
voorleezer.  247 

Hendrick  M.',  freeholder,  282 

Jacob,  freeholder,  282 


Index. 


391 


Roseboom,  Johannes,  119, 254, 256;  as- 
sistant alderman,  245:  deacon, 
261 ;  freeholder,  282 :  plaintiff,  243 
Johannes,  Jr.,  freeholder,  282 
Robert,  freeholder,  283 
Rosie  Jan.,  242 :  does  not  subscribe  to 

war  fund,  119 
Ross,  Wm.  H.,  325 
Rossman,  J.  B.,  351 
Rum,  excise,  98:  retailing  to  Indians 
prohibited,  223,  226 ;  see  Liquors 
Rumsey,  Isaac,  soldier,  222 

Sargant  Joseph,  222 
Russell,  Elihu,  328 

Elizabeth,  died,  343 
Jubal  T.,  died.  337 
Rust.Claes,  123 ;  officer  at  18d  a  day,116 
Ruster,  Cajptain,  203 
Rutgers,  Harme,  119 

Johannes,  soldier,  116 
Rutgert's,  kil  (Rutten  or  rats),  311 
Rutten  kil,  246;  definition  of,  311 ;  its 
location,  268 ;  pastures  on   to  be 
sold,  87 

Ruyoull  (ryaoel,  sewer),  26 
Ryan,  Cornelius,  333 
Ryckman,  Albt.,  86,  92,  111,  113,  115, 
119,   120,  121,  124,  127,   128,   129, 
143,  148,  158,   164,  167,  170,   177, 
181,  182,  184,   185,  186,  205,  207, 
213,  246,  260 ;  alderman,  93,  94, 
103, 106,  107,  245,  250,    251,  258; 
assessor,    240;    his  opinion  on 
Leisler's  authority,  171 ;    signs 
protest,  176  ;  assistant  alderman, 
'    65,84 

Harm  en,  freeholder,  282 
Peter,  freeholder,  282 
Tobias,  freeholder,  282 
Ryerse,  Gert,  86,  87,  92,  121,  135, 143, 
148,  158,  164,   165,  167,  182,   213  ; 
alderman,  105,  200 ;  councilman, 
93,  103  ;  concurs  in  protest,  177 ; 
justice,  239 
Jan,  281 
Rysse,  Claes,  143 

Sabbath  regulations,  85 

Sachems,  invited  to  stay  here,  191  ; 

may  have  a  little  rum,  117  ;  rum 

allowed  to,  100 
Sage,  A.  G.,  contractor,  347 

John,  108, 109 

Saggoddiochquisax,  ^Oquedagoa,    186 
St.  Charles  Hotel  burnt,  348 
St.  Michaels,  election  on,  67 
Salesbury,  Francis,  signs  against  Leis- 
ler,  135  ;  trooper,  116 

Henry,  died,  343 ;  captain,  sheriff, 

33 
Salmon,  319 ;  in  the  Hudson  river,  314 ; 

no  breeding  places  for  them,  316 
Salt  merchant,  29:2 
Salvay,  Mons.,  died,  94 


Sammons,  James,  died,  329 
Sander  Glen,  Capt.,  114:  see  Glen 
Sanders,  Barent,  freeholder,  282 ;  cap- 
tain,   180;    declines    to    obey, 
Leisler's  order,  172 
Jacob, 242 
James  B.,  325 
Ens.  Joh,  114, 121, 143,145, 146, 184 ; 

took  oath  of  allegiance,  156 
Robt.  91, 101,  111,  116, 122, 129, 143, 
184, 192,  209, 255, 266 ;  firemaster, 
258 ;  his  pasture,  58 :  justice,  99 ; 
sent  to  Indian  council,  166 ;  sent 
to  Indian  council  to  interpret 
proposition,  165 ;  sent  to  Sara- 
toga,  114;  subscription  to  war 
rand,  219 ;  see  Saunders 
Sandkill,  a  city  boundary,  62 
Sansz,  Everardus,  281 
Santwoort,  Arien,  soldier,  222 
Sarachtoge,  107 ;  fortified,  115 ;  French 
at,    removed,    107;    garrison   re- 
called from,  159 ;  garrison  relieved, 
123 ;   Indian    murders     at,    114 ; 
scouts  sent  to,  230 ;  spy  removed 
from,  101 ;  soldiers  exchanged, 128 ; 
troops  to   remain  at,  122 ;  vote, 
1789,  300 
Satterlee,  Alderman,  proposes  to  open 

Lydius  street,  330 
Saunders,  Leift.  Rob.,  sent  to  procure 

Indian  aid,  120 ;  see  Sanders 
Savage,  John,  freeholder,  282 

Major,  114 

Savings  Institution  chartered,  239 
Saw  mill  on  Bever  kil,  103 
Saxbury,  Evert,  freeholder,  282 
Sayles,  Geo.  M.,  339 
Schadelle,  Francis,  died,  347 
Schaets,  Rev.  Gideon,  pastor,  33 
Reynier,  deceased,  183 
Trynte,  212 
Schaick,    alderman,    151  ;     see    Van 

Schaick 

Schano,  Christian,  freeholder,  282 
Schaticoke  Indians,  108,  115.  180,  235  ; 
invited  to  settle  as  the  island,  184, 
190,  191 ;  march  of,  214 ;  permitted 
to  be  purchased,  61 :  soldiers  sent 
to,  260 ;  vote  1789,  300 
Schenck,  Rev.  William,  303 
Schenectady,  aftairs  at,  234;  attempt 
to  revolutionize,  171 ;  citizens  re- 
quired by  Milborneto  appear  be- 
fore him,  140 ;  privileges  promised 
by  Milborne,  14l ;  commissaris  of, 
10  ;  condolence  of  Indians  on  mas- 
sacre, 182;  r,eply  to,  189;  could 
not  agree  how  to  fortify,  115  ; 
goods  distributed  in,  212;  grants 
aid  in  the  French  war,  122 ;  Leis- 
ler's authority  declined,  172  ;  Ma- 
qu.-isesojdiers,  177;  178;  massacre 
at,  178,  202;  feeble  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  179 ;  name  for  Albany, 


392 


Index. 


Schenectady,  contihued— 

318 ;  New  England  soldiers,  gar- 
rison, 155 ;  path,  burial  ground  on ; 
88;  proportion  of  tax,  260;  pro- 
posal to  garrison,  157,  158 ;  pur- 
chased, 43;  deed  of,  by  Indians, 
44;  settlers  restricted  from  In- 
dian trade,  45;  rail  road,  367; 
prosperity  of,  341  ;  stockadoes 
apportioned  to  249;  to  be  gar- 
risoned, 229  ;  fort  to  be  built  at, 
230 ;  vote  1789,  300 ;  winter  corn 
to  be  saved,  184 ;  goods  delivered 
to  deacons,  211 

Schermerhooren,  Cornells,  212 
Jacob  Cornells,  freeholder,  282" 
Jacob,  freeholder,  283 ;  for  assem- 
blyman, 293 
Jannetie,  212 
Johannes,  freeholder,  283 
John  W.,  federal  elector,  298 
Eeyer,  delegate,  216;  representa- 
tive,^, 261 ;  testifies  in  Livings- 
ton's case,  217 
Eeyer,  Jacobse,  justice,  237;  his 

pasture,  96 
Simon,  212,  224 ;  his  testimony  in 

Livingston's  case,  218 
Schoharie  plank  road,  338 ;  vote,  1789, 

300 

Schonowe,  Schenectady,  44 
School,  304;  1784,  291;  1785,  293;  pro- 
cession, 344 

Schoolcraft,  John  L.,  337  ;  congress- 
man, 350 ;  light  horse,  352 
H.  R.,  2 

Schoolmaster,  first,  21 
Schoonmaker,  Mr.,  wins  prize,  352 
Schout  fiscaal,  10 

Schuyler,  149  ;  see  Davidse,  Pieter 
Abraham,  146,  148,  150,  151,  186, 
19-2,  214,  215,    257;    freeholder, 
283;  for  assemblyman,  293;  JUB- 
tice,  99 
Alida,  <272 
Ann,  died,  337 
Anna  E.,  died,  330 
Arent,  119,  214,  272;  abuses  fire- 
masters,    90  ;    fined,  91 ;   signs 
against  Leisler,  134 
Brant,  272 

Capt.  John,  his  journal,  234 
Colonel,  54 

David,  90, 107,  111,  113, 119,  121,122, 
124,  127,  128,  129,  143,  164,   167, 
170;  alderman,  93,  94,103,  107; 
first  alderman,  65,  83;    council- 
man, 105,  106;  freeholder,  283  ; 
his  opinion,  on  Leisler's  author- 
ity,   171 ;    signs   protest,    176 ; 
widow  of,  246 
David,  juror,  243 
Ensign,  180 

Gen.Philip,impri8on8Shoemaker, 
299;   heads  constitutional  pro- 


Schuyler,  continued  — 

cession,  299 ;  great  bridge  at  his 
house,  265;  Indian  commis- 
sioner, 287 ;  purchaser  of  Cosby's 
manor,  334 ;  senator,  293 

Gertrude,  272 

Guysbert,  272 

Jacobus,  freeholder,  283 

Jeremiah,  freeholder,  283 

Johannes,  272 ;  freeholder,  282 ; 
signs  against  Leisler,  135 

John,  272 

Madam,  55 

Margaret,  deceased,  289,  272 ;  loans 
money  to  city,  159 ;  subscription 
to  war  fund,  119 

Myndert,  256,  257;  freeholder,  282; 
signs  against  Leisler,  135 

Peter,  88,  89,  91,  92,  95,  105,  111, 

120,  125,  126,  127,  128,   129,  145, 
148,   150,  151,  153,   154,  156.   158, 
160,  162,  164,  166,  167.  168,  170. 
177,  179,  181,  182,  186,  211,  213, 
214,  215,  232,  247,   249,   251,   261, 
272 ;  borrows  money  for  city,  95  ; 
first  mayor,  64, 106,  107, 113,  116, 

121,  177,  184,  198,  199,  205,  207; 
freeholder,  283;  put  in  posses- 
sion of  the  fort,  135,  136,   238  ; 
receives  city  charter,  56  ;  refuses 
to  see  Milborne,  137  ;  signs  pro- 
test,   176;    subscription,    119; 
takes  oath' of  allegiance,  122  ;  to 
fortify  patroon's  mill,  225 

Philip,  272,  28K;  freeholder,  283; 

Col.  Philip,  55 

Philip  Pietersen,  38 ;  first  of  the 
Schuylers,    272 ;  threatened   by 
Dyckman,  26 
Pr.84 

Pr.  Davidtse,  242,  256,  257 ;  consta- 
ble,   94-     married,     10;    signs 
against  Leisler,  134 
Sally,  Mrs., died,  331 
Stephen  J.,  for  assemblyman,  293 
Stephen  P.,  330 

Sybilla,  272 ;  house  burnt,  55 ;  (near 
State  in  Broadway),  264;  widow 
beats  Milborne,  232 
Scot,  Jorge,  soldier,  222 
Scott,    John    Morin,    purchaser    of 

Cosby's  manor,  334 
Thomas,  died,  329 
Scouts,  pay  of,  177 
Scovil,  Ashley,  dted,  350 
Seager,  Johannes,  freeholder,  283 
Seaman,  Catharine  M.,  died,  324 

David,  324 
Seery,  John,  3-33 
Segersz,  Cornells,  281 
Selkirk,  Francis  N.,  died,  343 
Senators  elected,  1785,  293 
Seneca,  prisoners  returned,  161,  162 
Senecas,  at  war  with  Minquas,  278 ; 
peace  with,  165 


Index. 


393 


Sewant,  see  Wampum 

Seward,  Umphery,  witness,  238, 

Sewer,  (rnyoull),  265 

Shackburg,  Doctor,  Yankee  Doodle  at- 
tributed to,  313 

Shad,  Dutch  name  for,  319 ;  in  Hud- 
son, 315 

Shakers,  bury  Mother  Ann  Lee,  288 

Shanks,  Leift*  refusal  to  quarter  his 
troops,  261 

Sharp,  George,  soldier,  221 

Sharpe,  Capt.  107,  121 

'Leift.  Thos.,  commands  the  fort, 
125, 128,  135 ;  freeholder,  282  ;  in- 
quiry respecting,  132  ;  to  be  su- 
perseded, 130 ;  his  letter,  147 

Shatemuck,  the  Hudson  river,  317,318 

Shaver,  Tho.,  125 

Shaw,  William,  256;  ganger,  242; 
searcher  of  the  port,  246;  takes 
oath,  124 

Sheldon,  B.  A.,  351 

Shered,  Samuel,  soldier,  222 

Sheriff,  ordered  to  impress  carts,  263 ; 
puts  mark  of  broad  arrow  upon 
goods,seized,  239 ;  to  lew  licenses, 
245 

Sherman,  Watts,  339,  350,  360 

Sherwood,  Joseph,  died,  351 

Ships,  arrival  of,  160;  proposes  to  in- 
tercept French  supplies,  192 

Shoemaker  in  jail,  299 

Shotlander,  David  Mandre,  soldier,223 

Sickells,    Zacharias,    ratelman,    104 ; 

town  crier,  252 
Alexander,  344 
John  A.,  329 
Thomas,  merchant,  288 

Sill,  Richard,  federalist,  298 

Silley,  soldier,  221 

Sinerongnirese,  186 

Sjeer,  Tho.,  214 

Skepel,  its  capacity,  268 

Skerrett,  Mrs.,  died,  344 

Skiwias,  (alias  Aepje),  19 

Slack,  Mrs.  Granville,  died,  348 

Slavery,  1764,  50,  53 

Slaves,  1785,  296 

Slechtenhorst,  Gerrit,  member  of  con- 
vention, 1664,  270 

Sleighing,  first,  1849,  326 

Slingerlandt,  Cornells,  113 
Cornelius,  freeholder,  283 
Johannes,  freeholder,  288 
Tennis,  freeholder,  283 

Sloan's  tavern,  352 

Sloop,  quick  trip  of,  351 

Slott,  John,  139 

Smeeds,  EHhu,  murderer,  301 

Smeeman,  Herman,  270 

Smit,  see  Myndert  Frederickse 

Smith,  Alexander,  murderer,  290 
Andrew,  soldier,  222 
Carsten  Frederickse,  98 
Isaac,  murdered,  290 


Smith,  Peter,  Jr    351 

Thomas  Sanderz,  281 
Snow,  324,   352 :  1850,   328,  335,   336  ; 
in  May,  339 ;  in  Nov  ,  1789,   301 
shoes,  109 ;  storm,  first,  1850 ;  352 
Soap  and  candle  factory,  1788,  299 
Sodrachdrasse,  sachem,  44 
Soghmaekelyk,  Pieter,  45 
Soldiers  furnished  with  bedding,  266 ; 
from   Connecticut,    pay   of,  159 ; 
from    New  England,    welcomed, 
155;    in   fort   demand   pay,  128; 
furnished  to  Albany,  231 ;  neglect 
of,  254 ;  order  for  quartering,   263 ; 
264  ;  paid  12d  a  day,  115,  116 ;  pay 
25s.  a  month.  143 ;  pay  of,  1689, 221  ; 
1690,  142  ;  petition  for  aid  in  pro- 
viding for.  241 ;  quartering,  of.  240 ; 
refused,   203;  refused  to  quarter, 
226 ;  to  take  oath  of  fidelity,  124 
Sopus,  Kingston,  268,  278 
South  America  steam  boat  sold,  327 
Southey,  Rdbert,  died,  327 
Spaniard,  John,  soldier,  223 
Specie,  held  in  derision  by  Indiana,  3 
Speker,  Rode,  186 
Spelman,  B.  R.,  captain,  349 
Spencer,  John  C.,  327 
Spiers,  Timothy,  died,  343 
Spouts  to  be  repaired,  86 
Springfield,  mail  from.  303 
Spriugstead,  Mrs.  David,  died,  340 
Spruytes  of  the  Mohawk,  311 
Staats,  Abrah,  208 

Abraham,  170,    242 ;   his  garden, 

58 

Anna,  died,  332 
Barent,  freeholder,  283 
Barent  P.,  327,  .338 
Isaac,  freeholder,  282 
Jacob,  119,  258,  260,  264  ;  assistant 
alderman,  251 ;  alderman,  257 ;  as- 
sessor, 240,  245 ;  councilman,  93 ; 
justice,  237 

Jochim,  Lieut.,  116,  119, 1  21,  123, 
128,  145,  146,  155,  157,  168,  179, 
182,  185 ;  attempts  to  revolu- 
tionize Schenectady,  171 ;  assist- 
ant alderman,  65,  84  ;  com- 
mander of  the  fort,  111,  179 ; 
180, 184, 186,  208  ;  to  be  quartered 
in  Fort  Orange,  167 ;  cowardice 
of,  181  ;  declines  to  divide  his 
company,  157 ;  or  to  show  his 
commission,  158;  elected  cap- 
tain, by  youths,  145,  146;  en- 
deavors to  proclaim  for  Leisler, 
at  Schenectady,  172  ;  his  sloop 
brings  Milborne.  136;  induced 
to  side  with  Leisler,  129,  130 : 
insists  on  proclaiming  Wm.  and 
Mary,  169, 170  ;  intractable,  147  ; 
justice,  106,12 1;  sent  to  Saratoga, 
114 ;  Leisler' s  officer  sued  for 
planks,  238 ;  protest  sent  by  135, 


394 


Index. 


Stoats,  continued  — 

128,    129;   sued    for  hats,    352; 
takes   sides  with  Milborne,  137 
Col.  Philip,  332 
Samuel,  202 
Stadt  house,  Its  location,  250;  (City 

hall),  268 

Stadtler,  John  P.,  died,  345 
Stafford,  Spencer,  285 
Stage  to  New  York,  302  ;  1785,  294 
Stanton,  Thomas,  Indian  agent,  5 
Starr,  Richard,  died,  324 
State  population,  296 ;  bank  dividend, 

328 

Staten  Island,  wampum  made  on,  6 
Statistics,  355,  360 
Steamboat,  fare   6#  cts.,  340 ;   25cte, 

335  ;  obstructed,  325 ;  sale,  327 
Steenhouse,  James,  freeholder,  282 
Steenhuysen,  Engelbert,  270 
Steenwyk,  Cornelius,  270 
Steeprock,  Indian  racer,  335 
Stephentown,  vote  1789,  300 
Sterling,  Lord,  died,  286 
Stevens,  Mrs.  Peter  D.,  died,  349 
Samuel,  339 
William,  died,  345 
Stevense,  Cornelius,  120 

Jonas,  soldier,  221 
Stevensen,  Coert,  270 

Thomas,  soldier,  222 
Stevenson,  Douw  &  Ten  Eyck,  296 

James,  339 ;  freeholder,  282 
Stewart,  James,  trader,  290 
Still  water,  vote,  1789,  300 
Stillwell,  Lieut.  Nicholas,  278 
Stockadoes,   apportioned  .to  citizens, 
99 ;  described,  269  ;  fine  for  cutting 
down,  97 ;  houses  to  be  removed 
sixty  paces  from,  183, 192 ;  ordered, 
114;   order    to  repair,  92;    price 
.     paid  for,  249 ;  so  short  the  Indians 
could  jump  over  them,  188 ;  to  be 
inspected,  258;  to    be   repaired, 
246;   length  of,  prescribed,    247, 
249 ;  to  be  set  up,  262,  263 ;    to 
have  breast  works,  225,  to  be  in- 
spected, 229 
Stonehouse,  John  B.,  president  fire 

department,  329,  351 
Mrs.  John  B.,  died,  343 
Stone  house  tavern,  285,  292  ;  on  Mo- 
hawk, 95 

Stores,  sent  up  by  Leisler,  142 
Storm,  342 

Strawberries,  variety  of,  341 
Strays,  pertain  to  the  corporation,  61 
Street  scenes,  1764,  49     . 
Streets,  repairs  of,  265 
Streets  to  be  cleared,  255,  261,  263 
Stringer,  Dr,  Samuel,  medicine  store, 

287 

Strong,  Richard  M,,  takes  medal,  320 
Strycker,  Jan,  270 


Stuart,  James,  123 

Sturgeon  in  Hudson,  315 

Sturgis,  Sargant,  Thomis,  222 

Stuyver,  its  value,  269 

Stuyvesant,  Peter,  11,  makes  war  on 
'Indians,  278 ;  his  illegal  acts  com- 
plained of,  33,  34 ;  hostile  to.  pa- 
troon,  10  ;  his  post,62 ;  visit  Bever- 
wyck,  11,  31  ;  entertained,  at  pa- 
troon's  expense,  11 :  threatens  to 
destroy  patroon's  buildings,  13; 
sends  up  soldiers,  15;  his  leg 
not  silver,  15;  his  illegal  pro- 
ceedings, 16,  17 ;  imprisons  van 
Slechtenhorst,  24,  32 

Style,  old  and  new.  269 

Subscription  to  French  war  fund, 
1689,  119 ;  insufficient  and  there- 
fore annulled,  120 

Suckhaunock,  black  wampum,  1 

Suffolk  Bounds,  221 

Sunday,  desecrated  at  Kinderhook, 
252,  254  ;  police,  1790,  303 ;  trade 
prohibited,  102 

Supahoof,  Indian  chief,  19 

Swart,  Dirk,  287 ;  anti  federal  elector, 

298 

Elias,  212 
Gerrit,    274;     schout,  273,    274; 

sheriff,  32,  33,  35 
Peter,  for  assemblyman,  293 

Swartout,  Roelof,  justice,  237 

Swinburne,  John,  351 

Swinton,  Isaac,  first  recorder,  64 

Swits,  Isaac,  freeholder,  283 

Isaac  Cornelis,  lieutenant,  237 


Taber,  Azor,  328 

Tachkanick,  194 

Tahaiadoris,  chief  sachem  of  Maquas, 
164,  165 

Tailor's  prices,  1785,  294 

Taller,  Jacobus,  trader,  killed,  290 

Talmadge,  Leift  Enos,  155 

Tappen,  Gerrit,  soldier,  221 

Tapsters  fined,  42 

Taptoo,  definition  of,  269 ;  liquors  not 
to  be  sold  after,  93 

Tassemaker,  Dom,  218 

Tavern  regulations,  1687,  93 

Tax,  1694,  259;  1850,  356;  for  city 
charges,  92  ;  for  city  government, 
1849,  364 ;  1850,  367";  levy  for  city 
expenses,  86;  levied,  1693,  247, 
248  ;  to  be  levied,  264 ;  to  be  col- 
lected,  265 

Taxation,  1849,  50 ;  rates  of,  361 

Tayler,  John,  818 ;  assemblyman,  293 

Taylor,  James,  325,  339 
John,  339 

John  R.,  349 ;  president,  funeral 
obsequies,  343 

Tehoesequathq,  warrior,  235 


Index. 


395 


Teller,  A.,  signs  against  Leisler,  135 

Andrews,  Jr.,  signs  against  Leis- 
ler, 135 

Caspr.,  214  ;  signs  against  Leister, 
135 

Jobs.,  constable,  257 

Mr.  Jacob,  242 

Susanne,  212 

William,  45;  defendant.  242;   re- 
fuses  to  quarter  soldiers,  226; 
signs  against  Leisler,  134 
Temperature,  324,  329,  330,  331,  332: 

•1789,  300,  301 ;  1790,  303 
Temple,  Eobert  E.,  328,  332 
Ten  Broeck,  Abraham,  federal  elector, 
298 

Cornelius,  freeholder,  282 

Dirk,  freeholder,  283 

Dirk  Wessels,  his  garden,  58 ;  first 
alderman,  65,  83 

GenM  his  house,  292 

Johannes,  freeholder,  282 

John,  alderman,  290 

Wessel,  90,  208,  247  ;  assistant  al- 
derman, 240,  245;  baker,  240; 
constable,  94;  signs  against 
Leisler,  135 

Teneur,  Lieut.  Daniel,  sent  in   pur- 
suit of  Livingston,  204 
Ten  Eyck,  Anthony,  anti  federal  elect- 
or, 298 

Coenraet,  freeholder,  283 

Hendrick,  139, 146 ;  freeholder,  282 

Jacob,  254 ;  assessor,  251 ;  free- 
holder, 282 

Jacob  C.,  freeholder,  282 

Jacob  H.,  328,  339 

Visscher,  355 ;  treasurer  of  the  fire 

department,  329 
Terneur,  Daniel,  270 
Teunise,  Cornelius,  22, 119,  252 

Dirck,  justice,  208 

Dirk,  113,  123,  lr,0,  260;  sent  to 
Ulster  for  assistance,  116;  [Van 
Vechten],  125, 127 

Capt.  Gert,  114,  115,  116,  119,  120, 
122,  123,  143,  145,  179,  181,  184, 
247,  260 ;  agent,  to  New  Eng- 
land, 193, 196,  198 ;  his  company, 
116;*  his  return  from  Connec- 
ticut, 142;  sent  to  treat  with 
Connecticut,  125, 126  ;  subscrip- 
tions of  his  company,  to  war 
*fund,  120 

Eghbert,  121,  128,  129,  143,  182, 
213;  alderman,  105,  200;  as- 
sistant alderman,  245  ;  assessor, 
251,  258 ;  concurs  in  protest,  177 ; 
councilman,  103 ;  juror,  243 ;  sent 
to  Saratoga,  114 

Kutger,  soldier,  116 

Sweer,  122,  143,  145;  protest 
against  Leisler' s  proceedings, 
172;  executors  sued,  243;  mes- 
senger to  Indians,  160 


Tennlssen,  But,  214 

Dirk,  247 

Gysbert,  270 

Thayer,  Walter  B.,  died,  351 
Theatricals,  1785,  294,  296 
Thomas,  Charles,  died,  329 

Capt.  commander  of  the  fort,  103 

John,  soldier,  222 

W.  J.,  349 

Thomase,  Johannes,  119,  258.  264 ;  as- 
sistant alderman,  251,  258 ;  signs 
against  Leisler,  135 

Frans,  soldier,  221 

Jan,  280 
Thompson,  Alexander,  352 

Ens :  Gabriel,  119,  120,  122,  127, 
143,  148, 155,  186, 192,  224,256,  113 

Israel,  287;     anti-federal  elector, 
298;  for  assemblyman,  293 

John,  takes  oath,  124 

Samuel,  died,  290 

Thomson,  John,  assemblyman,  298 
Thorburn,  Samuel  T.,  328 

William  338 

Thornton,  Margaret  Ann,  died,  344 
Thyssen,  John,  justice,  237 
Tibbitts,  Benjamin,  339 
Ticonderoga,  defeat  of,  1758,  55 
Tierks,  Hester,  executrix  of  Volkert 

Pieterse,  256 
Timber  allowed  to  be  cut  on  common, 

61 

Tinonderoga,  vote  to  sell  lands  at,  92 
Tioghsahron^de,  or  Hudson  river,  318 
Tiouondage,  castle  at  113;  Indians, 

180 ;   Indians   torment   prisoner, 

181 
Tiononderoga,  explored,  87;  land  at 

petitioned  for,  101 ;  permitted  to 

be  purchased,  61 
Tithes,  compounded,  42 
Tivoli  Hoee  Co.  officers,  328 
Torch  light  procession,  348 
Tosoquatho,  Odagerasse,  186;  Indian 

messenger,  162,  164,  165 
Town  clerk,  salary  of,  86 

Hall,  57,  59  ;  1764,  48 

ladders,  rules  about,  97 
Townsend,  Franklin,  337,  364  ;  may- 
or,  336;  president    Emigrant's 
Friend  Society,  353 

Howard,  351 

John,  328,  340;  president  savings 

bank,  339 
Tracy  &  Edson,  distillery,  335 

John,  328,  353 
Traders  not  to  export,  199 
Trauis,  Philip, 'soldier,  222 
Treadwell,  Geo.  C.,  328 
Treat,  Robert,  governor  of  Connecti- 
cut, 121 

Tremer,  James  A.,  338 
Trees  in  street,  1764,  48 
Trinity  church  repaired,  326 
Trip,  William,  soldier,  223 


396 


Index. 


Troopers  to,  set  up  stockadoes^  114 
Troops,  eastern,  motley,  312 
Trotter,  Mathew,  died,  350 
Troy,  ancient  name  of,  28  ;  first  so 

called,  300  ;  steam  boat  sold,  327 
Truax,  see  JL)e  Teurcx,  aud  De  Trieux 
Tryoii,  Gen.,  visits  Albany,  285 
Tsenondoga,  savage,  died,  235 
Tuite,  Mrs.  Thomas  J.,  died,  344 
Tuimell,  Richd.,  takes  oath,  124 
Turke,  Jacobus,  119,  199,  264 
Turkeys  abundant,  281 
Turner,  Isaac,  died,  340 
Thomas,  died,  324 
Tweddle  &  Darlington,  333 
Tweed  Dale,    William  A.,  preceptor, 

305,  306 
Twigh    Twighs,  threaten   Five   Na- 

tions, 159 
Twist,  Charles,  soldier,  221 

Lieut.,  ordered  to  force  Wm.  Tel- 

ler's house,  226 
Tyler,  James  B.,  died,  240 
Tysse,  Jan,  soldier.  223 


TJail,  Samuel,  soldier,  222 

Ulster  county,  applied  to  for  aid,  121, 

193,  196 
United  States  creditors,  meeting  of, 

286 

Unity,  Dirk  Bensing's  boat,  242 
Universalist  church,    337  ;  excursion, 

345 

Uss,  Francis,  burglar,  hanged,  301 
Utica,  .  original   proprietors   of,  334  ; 

and  Schen  R.  R.,  352 
Uytersael,  Abram,  soldier,  222 


Valiand,  Canadian  Jesuit,  216  ;  inven- 

tory of  his  goods,  219 
Van   Aernum,  Abraham,  freeholder, 

283 

Isaac,  overseer  poor,  293 
John,  freeholder,  283 
Van  Alen,  Laurens,  justice,  90,  237, 
256  ;  assistant  alderman,  65,  84  ; 
barn  fortified,  115 
Johannes,  freeholder,  282 
William,  freeholder,  283 
Van  Alkmaer,  Adriaen  Pietersz,  281 
Van  Alstyne,  Abraham  I.,  assembly- 

man, 292 
Isaac,  killed,  290 

Van  Benthuysen,  Baltus,  collector,  293 
Charles,  337 
Gerrit,  freeholder,  '282 
Van  Berckel,  P.  J.,  Dutch  minister, 

288 
Van    Bergen,    Marte    Gerritse,    see 

Gerritse 
Mary,  died,  330 
Peter,  assessor,  293 


Van  Bommel,  Harme  Jause,  112 

Jeronimee,  soldier,  222 
Van  Bremen,  Jan  Dircksen,  11 
Van  Breucfcelen,  Cornelis  Teunisz,  22 
Van  Bronk,  Jonas,  18 
Van  Brugge,  Carl,   14,  15,  18  :  provin- 
cial secretary,  30 

Pieter,  high  constable,  251,  260, 

264  ;  (see  Van  Brugh.) 
Van  Buren,    Barent   Martense,  free- 
holder, 283 

Hendrick,  freeholder,  283 

Johannes,  freeholder,  283 
Van  Cleef,  Jan,  270 
Van  Corlaer,  Bennony,  96,   119,   240, 
258, 264 ;  assessor,  251 ,  assistant 
alderman,  240 ;  high  constable, 
94 ;  signs  against  Leisler,  135 

Bennony,  juror,  243 
Van  Cortlandt,  Stephanus,  279;  mar- 
ried Gertrude  Schuyler,  272 
Van  Couwenhooven,  Lieut.  Pieter  W., 

278 
Van  Curler,  (or  Corlear)  Arendt,   38, 

45,  47,   280;    his    testimony,   34; 

purchases  Schenectady,  43,  44  ;  to 

treat  with  Indians,  22 
Van  Dam,  Claes  Ripse,    87,  122,   127, 

128,  129,  150,  158,  164,  167,  170,  182, 

184,   192,  207,  213,  261 ;  alderman, 

103,  200  ;  his  opinion  on  Leisler's 

pretensions,    171 ;  signs   protest, 

176 ;    to  inspect   stockadoes,  229 
Vande  Berg,  Guysbert  Cornelisz,  281 
Van  de  Bilt,  Jacob,  chandler,  299 
Vande  Hoeve,  Cornells,  deceased,  259 

Jan,  constable,  251 

Van  Dell,  Godevridus,  96 ;  see  Delliua 
Van  den  Burgh,  Cornelius,  J«r.,  free- 
holder, 283 

Cornelise  K.,  merchant,  289 

Garrit,  freeholder,  283 

Gerrit  Willemse,  freeholder,  283 

Gysbert,  freeholder,  283 

Matthias,  freeholder,  283 

Nicholas,  freeholder,  282 

Petrus,  freeholder,  282 

Volkert,  freeholder,  283 

Wilhelmus,  freeholder,  283 

Wynant,  freeholder,  283 
Van  Deusen,  Harpert,  freeholder,  282 

Harpert,  Jr.,  freeholder,  283 

Peter,  chandler,  299 
Vander  Beck,  Coenradus,  soldier,  222 
Van  der  Donck,  mentions  whales,  311 ; 

on  fishes,  319 
Vanderheyden,  Dirk,  110,  257 

David,  freeholder,  282 

Jacob,  assessor,  293:    freeholder 
283,  merchant,  292  ;  deceased,  331 

Janet,  died,  331 

Johannes,     freeholder,    128,  282; 
takes  oath,  128 

Matthias,  freeholder,  283 


Index. 


397 


Vanderheyden's  ferry  named  Troy,  300 
Vanclerhoeve,  widow,  Maritie,  259 
Cornelise,  his  house  to  be  taken 

down,  182 
Vander  Kemp's,  43 
Vanderpool,  Abraham,  freeholder,  292 
Catharine,  119 

Melgert  Wynantse,  assistant  al- 
derman, 65,  84 ;  see  Wynantse, 
Melgert 

Vander  Spiegel,  Jacobus,  soldier,  222 
Vander  Utthoft,  Wouter.  256,  257 
Vanderzee,  Anthony,  freeholder,  283 
Van  De  Ven,  J.,  274 
Van  Dinclage,  at  Staten  Island,  29 
Vandyck,  Cornells,  assemblyman,  298 ; 
estate  appraised,  92  ;  freeholder, 
282 

Mrs.  Elizabeth,  92 
Hend.,    242,  ,247,  264;    attorney, 
248 ;  attorney  general,  ill  usage 
of,  29,  30;  assistant  alderman, 
200,  240,  245,  251 :  assessor,  257  ; 
councilman,  105  ;  signs  against 
Leisler,  134  ;  juror,  243 
Peter  D  ..merchant,  291 
Van  Eerde,  Willem,  212 
Van  Eps,  Lieut.  Jan,  114, 121,  122,  143, 

145 :  took  oath  of  allegiance,  156 
Van  Es,  281  (Van  Ness  ?) 
Van  Everen,  Barent,  died,  337 ;  see 

Van  leveren 

Van  Feurden,  Henry,  202 
Van  Heynigen  Thomas,  died,  344 
Van  Hoese,  Jurian,  183;  accused  of 

stealing  water  melons,  240 
Jacob, 120 
Jan,  280 
Volkert,  120 

Van  leveren,  Barent,  freeholder,  283 
Myndert,  freeholder,  282 
Kegnier,  freeholder,  283 :  see  Van 

Everen 

Van  Ilpendam,  Adrian,  notary,  died,94 
Van  Imbroeck,  Gysbert,  270 
Van  Korlaers,  Bennony,  curtain  at,  to 

be  repaired,  182 
Van  Laer,  Jacob,  212 
Van  Loon,  John,  coroner,  94  ;  plaint- 
iff, 239;    removed  on   suspicion, 
108,  110,  111 

Van  Namee  Guards,  hatters,  350 
Van  Ness,  Gerrit,  240,  258,   264,  266; 
alderman,    258  ;  assessor,  251 ; 
assistant   alderman,    200  ;  con- 
stable, 103,  245 :  firemaster,  252 ; 
overseer  of  high  way,  252;  free- 
holder, 283 ;  councilman,  93, 105 ; 
signs  against  Leisler,  135  ;  sues 
for  planks,  238;  witness,  238 
Hend.,  119 

Jan,  119 ;  freeholder,  283 
Peter,  senator,   287:  Symon,  184, 
209  ;  to  go  in  search  of  enemy, 
230 

Annals,  ii.  34 


Van  Nostrandt,  Jacob  Janse,  280 
Van  Oort,  Goosen,  212 
Van  Orden,  Hezekiah,  federalist,  298 
Van  Olinda,  Peter,  101,  212 

Pieter  Danielse,  45 
Van  Petten,   Claes,  115,  119  ;  justice, 

237 

Van  Purmnrent,  Claes  Lawrence,  101 
Van    Ravesteyn,   Elias,    takes   oath, 

124 
Van  Rensselaer,  family  seat,  311     • 

General  Stephen,  323  ;  federalist, 
298 ;  school  trustee,  305 

Guiliam,  208 

Hendrik,  47 

Henry  I.,  assemblyman,  293 

Henry  K.,  assemblyman,  298 

Jan  Baptist,  24,  25,  33,  38,  273, 
274,  280 ;  arranges  for  tapsters, 
39 ;  director  of  colony,  32,  33  ; 
elected  magistrate,  25 ;  fined  by 
Stuyvesant,  41 ;  died,  47 

Jeremiah,  assemblyman,  298 ; 
army  encamp  on  his  land,  312 

Jeremias,  279 ;  member  of  con- 
vention, 1664,  270;  president  of 
the  same,  270 ;  succeeds  to  the 
manor,  47 ;  his  correspondence, 
47 

John,  277;  instructions  for  his 
colony,  274;  freeholder,  283; 
heir  to  the  manor,  9,  11 

Kilian,  47,  113,  116,  123,  143,  145, 
150,  158,  159,  164,  165,  167,  170, 
184,  192,  199,  205,  248,  261,  262  ; 
induced  to  release  city  of  Al- 
bany, 56 ;  agent  to  Boston,  125, 
126 ;  his  garden,  58 ;  his  opinion 
on  Leisler1  s  pretensions,  171 ; 
his  proportion  of  tax,  260 ;  his 
return  from  Connecticut,  142; 
justice,  106 ;  signs  protest,'  176  ; 
subscription  to  war  fund,  119  ; 
takes  oath  of  allegiance,  122 

Lieut.  Col.  John,  297 

Philip,  alderman,  2.K) 

Philip  S.,  303,  306  ;  school  trustee, 
304,  305,  306 

Reusselaer,  died,  327 

Rev.  Nicholas,  married  Alida 
Schnyler,  272 ;  died,  47 

Sanders,  died,  347 

Stephen,  Jr.,  340;  title  confirmed 

by  British  government,  56 
Van  Sante,  David,  freeholder,  282 

Garrit,  freeholder.  28'2 

Johannes,  119  ;  constable,  94 ;  free- 
holder, 282 ;  high  constable,  94 ; 
juror,  243 

Joseph,  freeholder,  282 
Van  Santvoord,  A.,  327 
Van  Schaik,  Adrian,  139 

Anthony,  119,  254;  freeholder, 
282;  constable  at  Half  Moon, 
101 


393 


Index. 


Van  Schaick,  Goosen  Gerritsen,  mar- 
ried, 10  ;  died,  10 
Jacob,  merchant,  286 
Van  Schaik,  Liv.,  84,  92,  107,  116,  119, 
120,  129,  143,  145,  157,  158,  164, 
167,  168,  170,  177,  178.  182,  184, 
186,  192, 205,  207,  211  ;  first  alder- 
man, 65,  83, ;  alderman,  93,  94y 
103  106,  180,240  ;  agent  to  New 
York,  192 ;  cowardice  of,  181 ; 
protest  sent  by,  125;  delivers 
protest  to  Leisler,  130 ;  his  opin- 
ion on  Leisler's  authority,  171 ; 
on  select  committee,  193 ;  signs 
protest,  176 ;  to  fortify  patroon's 
mill,  225 

Nicholas,  freeholder,  282 
Sybrant,  freeholder,  282,  283 
Sybrant,  Jr.,  freeholder,  282 
Van  Schelluyne,  29 

Dirk,  freeholder,  282  ;  member  of 

convention,  1664,  270 
Harmanus,  freeholder,  282 
Johannes,  freeholder,  282 
Teleman,  .freeholder,  282 
William,  freeholder,  282 
Van  Schoouhoven,  James,  assembly- 
man, 292 

Van  Sickler,  E.  M.,  353 
Van  Slechtenhorst,  Brant,  10,  31 
Arent,  director,  9 
Gerrit,  director,  10 ;  champion  of 
Rensselaerswyck,    10 ;  protests 
against  btuyvesant,  11,  18  ;  ex- 
tends   patrooa's  territory,  19; 
imprisoned,    24;    deposed    and 
imprisoned,  32 ;  his  family,  10 ; 
died, 10 
Margritta,  272 

Van  Slyck,  Akes  Cornelissen,  his  de- 
position against  Robert  Livings- 
ton, 216,  217 
Van    Tienhoven,    Adriaen,    receiver 

general,  30 
Cornelius,  attorney  general,  30  ; 

accused  of  drunkenness,  31 
Van  Tilburgh,  Isaac  JansenT  soldier, 

222 

Johannes,  soldier,  222. 
Van  Tricht,  Abraham,  86 

Elizabeth,  119 ;  sued,  241,  242 
VanTwiller,  J.,  38 

Wouter,  his  claims,  19  ;  died,  9 
Van    Valkenburgh,    Abraham,    free- 
holder, 283 

Bartholomew,  died,  351 
Johannes,  freeholder,  283. 
John,  332 
Mary,  died,  332 
Mrs.  Daniel,  died,  346 
Van  Vechten,  see  Dirk  Teunisse 
Douw,  freeholder,  283 
Hall,  329 

Johannes,  freeholder,  283 
Johannes,  Jr.,  freeholder,  283 


Van  Vechten,  Joh.  Gerritse,  soldier,  116 
Lucas,  for  assemblyman ,  293 
Solomon,  freeholder,  283 
Teunis,  339  ;  president  of  the  Al- 
bany Insurance  company,  328 
Teunise,  Dirkse,  soldier,  116 
Teunis  Ts.,  merchant,  292 
Volkert,  freeholder,  283  ' 

Van  Velsen,  Sweer  Teunissen,  217 

Van  Voorhout,    Cornells    Cornelisz, 

281 

Jacobus,  city  porter,  87  ;  city  car- 
ter, 91 

Van  Vranken,  Ulderick,  freeholder. 
282 

Van  Waggelum,  Capt.  Pieter,  110, 
157,  209,  225,  239  ;  treats  with  Mil- 
borne,  155 

Van  Waggoner,  Rev.  M.,  valedictory, 


Van  Weesp.  Gysbert  Cornelisz,  280 
Van  Wely,  Johannes,  24 ;  died,  9 
Van  Wencom,.  Gerrit,  32 
Van  Wie-  Gerrit,  freeholder,  283 

Hendrick,  freeholder,  283 

John,  freeholder,  283 
Van  Woort,  Jacob,  freeholder,  283 

Nicholas,  freeholder,  282 

Peter,  freeholder,  283 

Rutger,  freeholder,  283 
Van  Zandt,  Mrs.  Benjamin,  died,  336 
Vedder,  Arent,  212 

Harmen,  212 

Marius,  212 

Veeder,    Johannes     Symenge,    free- 
holder, 28a 
Verbeeck, — -Hendricksz,  281 

Jan,  280;  member  of  convention, 

1664,  270 
Verbrugh,    Pr.,  constable,    245,    see 

Van  Brugh 

Vermilje,  Joannesv  139,  202 
Verplanck,  David,  freeholder,  283 

Gulian,  freeholder,  282 

Isaac,  assistant  alderman,  65,  84 ; 
constable,  86,  88;  councilman, 
94 ;  high  constable,  91,  94  . 

Isak,   111,    113,  119,  242,  254,  256 
Ver    Planken,  Isaak,    signs  against 

Leisler  135 

Verveeler,  Johannes,  270 
Verwy.  Tryntin,  212 
Vice-director's  house,  42 
Viele,  Arnout   Cornelise,  defendant, 
238,  23ft 

Cornelise,  212  ;  sent  to  New  York, 
181 ;  surgeon,  224 

Henry  K.,  takes  medal,  320 

Isaac,  freeholder,  283 

Rufus  K.,  325 

Teunis,  212;  freeholder,  283;  fine 

remitted,  244 
Villeroy,    Pietre,  illicit   trader,  243; 

deposition   of,  109:  removed   on 

suspicion,  107, 108, 110,  111 


Index. 


399 


Vinnagen,  Jan,  90,  199,  240,  254,  256  ; 
assistant  alderman,  240 ;  firemas- 
ter  252 :  freeholder,  282 
Virginia,  called  upon  for  aid,  181 
Visscher,  Ann,  died,  324 

Harmanus,  freeholder,  283 
Jacob,  freeholder,  283 
Johannes,  freeholder,  283 
Matthew,  287 ;  assemblyman,  293 ; 
assistant  alderman,  290  ;  county 
clerk,  297 
Tennis,     freeholder,    283;    wins 

prize,  350 

Volcker,  Symon,  212 
Volckers,  Nieces,  212 
Volkertse,  Jonas,  257;  juror,  243 
Volkertsen,  Symon,  45 
VOB,  Cornells  Cornelisz,  280 

Andries,  deputy,  15 
Vosburg,  Abraham  Pietersz,  281 
Isaac,  260 
John,  325,  344 
Pieter,  247,  260 
Vose  &  Co.,  stoves,  335 
Voss,  Jacob,  119 

Vossen  kil,  281 ;  see  also  Fox  creek 
Vote,  polled  1850,  350  ;  see  election 
Vrooman,  Adam,  101,  212 ;  petition  for 
land,     95:     sends     Milborne's 
letter  to  Mayor  Schuyler,  139; 
his  reply  to  Milborne,  140 
Bartel,  114 ;  his  house   fortified, 

115 

Cornelia  109 
Isaac,  federalist,298 ;  foraesembly- 

man,  292 
Jacob  Meese,  signs  against  Leis- 

ler,  135 

Peter,  anti-federal  elector,  298  ;  as- 
semblyman, 292;  eee  alsoFroo- 
raan 
Vyde  kil  (fifth  kil,  Pafcroon's  creek), 

311 

Vyselaer,  John  Cornelise,  defendant, 
239,  256;  signs  against  Leisler, 
134;  appraiser  of  houses  to  be 
taken  down,  182 ;  firemaster,  252 


Waddell,  Samuel,  died,  349 
Waell  (ditches),  264 
•Waggoner,  J.  H.,  344 
Wait,  John  C.,  died,  336 
Wakefield,  Tho.,  takes  oath,  125 
Wakeman,  Ensiue  Ebennazar,  222 
Waldron,  Charles  N.,  takes  medal,  320 

Henry,  takes  medal,  320 

William,  freeholder,  282 
Walfahrtr  Ferdinand,  glass   factory, 

297 

Walker,  Mary  Ann,  died,  339 
Wallace,  Benjamin,  merchant,  291 

Christopher,  333 

Robert,  died,  346 
Walters,  Richard,  soldier,  221 


Wampenakicks,  28 

Wampi,  White,  1 

Wampum,  1  ;  its  manufacture  labo- 
rious, 2 :  circulating  medium,  4  ; 
definition  of,  269;  made  in  Al- 
bany, '&;  on  Staten  Island,  6 ;  on 
Long  Island,  6 ;  its  mode  of  inanu- 
iacture,  7 ;  its  value,  in  1660,  8 ; 
stolen,  84,  85  ;  wars  attributed  to, 
2 ;  its  qualities,  3  ;  its  value,  4,  5  ; 
its  importance  in  all  public  busi- 
ness, 5 

Wampumit,  Indian  chief,  19 

Wampumpeage,  1,  4 

Wandelaer,  see  De  Wandelaer 

Wanemankeebe,  Indian  owner,  19 

Wantenaar,  Albert  Cornells,  270 

War  between  France  and    England, 

111 

with  France,  107 
fund,  subscription  to,  1689,  119 

Ward,  Mrs.  Aaron  S.,  died,  352. 

Warford,  Rev.  John,  303 

Warners,  Tryntie,  widow  of  Carsten 
Frederickse,  99 

Warren,  Hannah  L.,  died,  349 
Leonard  G.,  "351 

Washburn,  Bethuel,  assessor,  293 

Washington's  birthday  celebrated,  332 

Wasson,  James  D.,  327,  338,  339,  340 

Watch,  by  soldiery  irregular,  104; 
house,  1686,  59:  ordered  to  be 
kept,  $2;  regulated,  158;  volun- 
teer night,  345 

Water,  project,  loan  for,  350 
runs  to  be  repaired,  264 
supply  project,  337 
supply  sought  for,  285 
works,  bids  for  construction,  347 

Waterman,  Mrs.  Augustus,  died,  350 

Waters,  John,  freeholder,  283 

Watervliet  kiL  318;  signification  of. 
311  ;  turnpike  election,  340  ;  vote 
1789,  300 

Wawyachtenock  Indians,  118, 120 

Way,  Rev.  P.  M.,  330 

Hester  Maria,  died,  330 

Weak  Faith  Strengthened,  288 

Weaver,  William,  soldier,  222 

Webster,  Charles   R,,    285,  286,    298; 

school  trustee,  305 
George,  298 
Noah,  his  third  part,  295 

Webster's  Calendar  first  printed,  290 

Weed,  Thurlow,  328 

Weems,  Captain,  chamber  hired  for. 
226 

Weigh  house,  78 

Weith,  James,  soldier,  223 

Welch,  .Sarah,  died,  351 

Wells,  A.  H.,  325 

Edmund,  for  assemblyman,  293 

Henry  J.,  328 

Sidney,  died,  336 

regulations  of,88 ;  to  be  repaired,8C 


400 


Index. 


Wemp,  Barent,  captain,  211,  212,  237 ; 
executor,  243  ;  officer  of  guard, 
235 

Diener,  212 

Jan  Barentse,  45 

Myndert,  217 ;  Leisler's  justice  at 

Schenectady,  171 
Wendell,  Abraham  E.,  freeholder,  283 

&  Trotter,  merchants,  291 

Capt.,  104,  113,  116,  127,  136,  145, 
172, 177, 183 ;  his  company,  113, 
116  ;  to  repair  stockadoes,  115 ; 
his  opinion  in  Dutch,  on  Leis- 
ler's authority.  171 

Cornelius  and  John  H.,  merch.,  291 

Cornelius,  supervisor,  293 

Ephraim,  freeholder,  282 

Evert,  119.  242,  256,  257 ;  assistant 
alderman,  258;  freeholder,  282; 
his  pasture,  58 

Evert,  Jr.,  224;  constable,  94 

Hannanus,  freeholder,  282 ;  house 
of,  292 

Isaac,  freeholder,  282 

Jan,  111,  124,  178,  220 ;  alderman, 
106,  107, 113,  120 

Jeronimus,  119,  152 ;  receives  com- 
missions from  Leisler,  171 

Johannis,  (same  as  Jan)  92,  126, 
158,  166,  182,  198,  199,  205,  207, 
214,  215,  217 ;  first  alderman,  65, 
83 ;  alderman,93, 94,103,  214,  217 ; 
illicit  trader,  239 ;  suspends  his 
vote,  136 ;  mayor  under  Leisler, 
237 

Capt.  Johannes,  (same  as  above), 
84,  119,  121,  125,  126,  129,  143, 
148,  160,  170,  209,  225,  164,  167, 
170 ;  sent  to  assist  Schenectady, 
115 ;  Leisler  willing  to  treat 
with,  117;  deceased.  241 

John  W.,  assistant  alderman,  290 ; 
hatter,  288 

Mrs.  William,  died,  339 

Philip,  119 

Wendell's  mill,  location  of,  269 
Wertze,  Jan,  soldier,  223 
Wessells,  D.,  84,  86,  87,  92,  107,  111, 
119,  120,   123,  124,  126,  127,  128, 
129,  143,  157,  158,  164,  166,  167, 
168,  170,  178,  179,  180,  186,  207, 
211,  213,  214,  215,  244,    262;  re- 
corder,  106,   113,   177,    184,   185, 
198, 199,  205;  on  select  commit- 
tee, 193 ;  to  prepare  munitions 
for  expedition  against  French, 
228;    replies  to  Milborne,  137; 
representative,  253,  265 ;  sent  to 
assist  Schenectady,  115 ;  signs 
protest,  176 ;  takes  oath  of  alle- 
giance, 122  ;  see  Ten  Broek 
[ajor,  251.  261,  267  ;  required  to 
perform  his  duty,  264 
West  India  Company  inefficient,  271 

Stockbridge  rail  road,  368 


git 
Maic 


Westenhook  river,  canoe  to  be  pro- 
vided for,  142 

Westercamp,  Hendrick,  281 
Westerlo,  Eilardus,  297 

Rensselaer,  284 
Whale  island,  811 
Wheat,  price,  1693,  252;  receipts  of, 

349,  352 

Wheel,  large  cast,  326 
Wheeler,  Mrs.  Hiram,  died,  334 

Nath.,  witness,  254 
Whig  election,  339 
Whipping  for  manslaughter,  301 ;  for 

petit  larceny,  293  ;  in  navy,  338 
White,  Rich.,  takes  oath,  124 

Samuel,  339 
Whitney,  Hezekiah  W.,  died,  350 

Selleck,  died,  336 

S   W.,  349 

William  B.,  for  senator,  293 
Whittirigham,  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop,  conse- 
crates   church,    346;  lays   corner 

stone,  343 

Wickes,  Jonas,  died,  326 
Wilkinson,  Thomas,  freeholder,  282 

Willem ,  135 ;  the  Indian,  214 

Willemstadt,  now  Albany,  311 
Willet,  James,  125 

Elbert,  for  assemblyman,  292 ;  site 

of  house,  291 
William  and  Mary  proclaimed,  101 

of  Orange,  216,  217 
Williams,.  C.  P.,  328,  353,  355 

James  B.,  died,  331 

Symon,  soldier,  221 

Thomas,  freeholder,  282 
Williamsburgh,  houses,  1785,  295 
Williamstadt,  so  called,  57 
Wilmington,  houses,  1788,  295 
Wilson,  Alexander,  soldier,  222 

Gilbert  L.,  takes  medal,  323 

James,  345,  346 

James  A.,  325,  337 

John  Q.,  338 

Richard,  takes  oath,  124 

Stuart,  bookstore  of,  285 
Winantse,  Melgerl,  see  Vanderpoel 
Winantze,  seeWynantse 
Wind  mills  for  cleaning  wheat,  292 
Wine  excise,  34,  37 
Wing,  J.  K..  died,  329 
Winne,  Benjamin,  freeholder,  283 

D.,  351 

Daniel,  freeholder,  283 

Giles  K.,  340 

Isaac,  died,  326 

Jellis,  assistant  alderman,  290 

John  L.,  died,  330 

Levinus  L.,  324 

Lieve,  120 

Peter,  184 ;  appraisers,  of  houses  to 
be  taken  down,  182  ;  freeholder, 
283 ;  town  major,  209 

William,  freeholder,  283 
Winslow,  Edward  T.,  died,  329 


Index. 


401 


Witbeck,  Abraham,  freeholder,  283. 
Garret,  nailer,  296 
John,  freeholder,  283 
Luykas,  freeholder,  283 
Witchcraft,  defence  against,  2 
Witment,  John,  house  attacked,  111 
Wogolem,  Pieter,   captain,  237 ;  see 

Van  Waggelnm 
Wolcott,  Oliver,  289 
Wolleston,  John,  soldier,  223 
Woodbury,  horses  returned  to,  155 
Wood  creek,  234 ;  for  Indian  trader, 

246 

Woodert,  James,  soldier,  222 
Woutersen,  Gerrit,  soldier,  221 
Wright,  Lieut.  Jonathan,  209 
Wrighteon,  George,  takes  medal,  320 

William,  takes  medal,  320,  323 
Wyckoff,  I.  N.,  353 
Wynantse,  Melgert,  209 ;  firemaster, 
90,  97,  252,  258 ;  purchases  Butter- 
milk falls,  103 ;  see  Vanderpool. 
Wyngaard,  Lucas,  307:  freeholder,  282 
Luykas  Johs.,  freeholder,  2B2 


Wyngaard,    Luykas    Gerritse,    free- 
holder, 282 

Wyngaert,  Abraham,  freeholder,  283 
Johannes,  freeholder,  282 

Wynkoop,  Cornells  J.,  auctioneer,  302 

Yardin,  Samuel,  soldier,  222 
Yates,  Abraham,  postmaster,  291 

Adam,  freeholder,  283 

Christopher,  287 ;  freeholder,  282 

Henry,  330 

Peter  W.,  287 ;  alderman,  290  ;  for 

assemblyman,  293 
Yetts,  Jos.,  takes  oath,  91, 125 
Young,  Archibald,  329 

George,  351 

Left.  Symon,  255 

Men's  Association,  325 
Younglove,  John,  287 


Zewant,  (wampum),  269 
Zwanendaal,  repurchased,  10 


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