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CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY 
 
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HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 The Seventeen Towns 
 
 OF 
 
 Rensselaer County 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 Colonization of the Majtor of Rensselaerwyck 
 to the Present Time. 
 
 BY 
 
 A. J. Weise, a. M., 
 
 AS PUBLISHED IN THE TROY DAILY TIMES. 
 
 TROY; N. Y. 
 J. M. FRANCIS & TUCKER. 
 
 1880. 
 
History of the Towns of Rensselaer County. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Peculiar Colonization Scheme of the Dutch — Purchases of Kilian 
 Van Rensselaer — Extent of the Manor of Rensselaerwyck — 
 Names of Freeholders in 1720 — Public Whipping of Slaves — 
 The Province of New York divided into Counties — Courts of 
 
 PVPOWDER held in THE MaNOR — ERECTION OF RENSSELAER COUNTV 
 
 — The first Court held at Platt's Inn — County Officers — 
 First Censuses. 
 
 The history of Rensselaer county properly 
 begins with the first purpose of the Dutch to 
 colonize the attractive and fertile country which 
 bordered the river explored by Henry Hudson, 
 the English navigator, in 1609. The project. If 
 we except a possible fear of the Indians inhab- 
 iting this inviting region, was one that would 
 readily captivate the attention of speculators, 
 esi>ecially those living in a land where the labors 
 of agriculturists were of an extremely arduous 
 character. A people whose vigilance and 
 work preserved their fields and homes from the 
 constant danger of inundation from the high 
 tides of a troublesome ocean, we may suppose, 
 would look with favoring interest npon a 
 scheme of emigration that would release them 
 from such continuous cares and give them 
 larger and more satisfying rewards for their in- 
 dustry and thrift. 
 
 PATKOON FBIVILGOES. 
 
 In Holland there was in 1639 a guild of 
 wealthy merchants known as the West India 
 company. Conscious that by right of discovery 
 the country adjacent to the river explored by 
 Hudson 20 years previously was a possession 
 of Holland, the association petitioned the legis- 
 lative bodies of the United Provinces to grant 
 it the exclusive privilege for 34 years of taking 
 charge of this territory and of developing by 
 means of emigrants its agricultural and mineral 
 products. This petition was granted, and by 
 the powers conferred by it the West India com- 
 
 pany issued its charter of liberties and exemp- 
 tions under which the colonization of the pos- 
 sessions of the Dutch in North America began. 
 Inquiring persons will find in this charter of 
 the West India company valuable information 
 regarding the inducements offered to emigrants 
 and what gave the patroons the proprietary 
 right to such extensive tracts of land, as that 
 of the manor of Rensselaerwick, from which 
 Rensselaer county was erected. This important 
 instrument provided that any person who 
 wished to become a patroon would be obliged 
 to give notice of his intention to the company, 
 and that he would not be entitled to the abso- 
 lute property right of such lands on which he 
 intended to settle colonists, if, during the four 
 years following the giving of this notice, 50 
 souls, upwards of 15 years of age, were not 
 living thereon ; one-fourth of the above number 
 during the first year and the remainder the suc- 
 ceeding three years. The patroons were allowed 
 for these colonies a tract of land on 
 one side of a navigable river, four Dutch or 
 twelve English miles in extent, or two Dutch or 
 six English miles on each side of a river, and 
 which tracts were to extend so far into the 
 country as the situation of the occupiers per- 
 mitted. The West India company also agreed 
 to transport emigrants and their effects from 
 Holland at a stipulated price ; and the animals 
 and instruments necessary for farming, free of 
 freight. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWJSTS 0^ EKNSSELAEB COUNTY. 
 
 The company also granted to allpatroonswbo 
 should desire the same the right to hold the 
 tracts of lands settled by them as an eternal 
 heritage, which they could transmit to their 
 heirs by testament. The charter further pro- 
 vided that the patroons aind colonists should in 
 particular and in the speediest manner endeavor 
 to find out ways and means whereby they might 
 support a minister and schoolmaster, that the 
 service of tiod and zeal for religion might not 
 grow cold and be neglected among them. 
 
 All the colonies were required, at least once 
 in every 12 months, to make an exact report of 
 their condition to the West India company. 
 
 The company also stipulated, on certain con- 
 ditions, that it would use its best efforts to 
 supply the colonists with as many blacks as it 
 conveniently could after the land had been oc- 
 cupied by a colony. 
 
 As a means to protect the manufacturers of 
 Holland, the colonists were not permitted to 
 make any woolen, linen or cotton cloth, nor 
 weave any other stuffs, on pain of banishment. 
 
 THE MANOB OF KENS8ELABRWTCK. 
 
 It was under the liberal provisions of this 
 charter that Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, a dealer 
 in pearls and diamonds in Amsterdam, and one 
 of the wealthy directors of the Dutch West 
 India company, became a patroon and acquired 
 by right of settlement a property right to the 
 extensive territory known as the manor of 
 Rensselaerwyck, lying on the east and west 
 banks of the upper Hudson. 
 
 The charter of liberties also provided that any 
 one who should settle any colony out of the 
 limits of Manhattan island would be obliged to 
 satisfy the Indians for the land upon which be 
 should place colonists, and that a patroon 
 might extend or enlarge the limits of his colo- 
 nies if he settled a proportionate number of 
 persons thereon. 
 
 Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, in order to perfect a 
 claim to a large extent of land in New Nether- 
 land, made purchases of the Indians of several 
 tracts of land, which in time embraced a terri- 
 tory a miles long and 48 broad, containing as 
 estimated more than 700,000 acres of land, over 
 which the present counties of Albany, Rensse- 
 laer and a portion of Columbia now extend. 
 The persons who acted as agents of Kiliaen Van 
 Rensselaer were Sebastian Jansen Krol, who 
 made the first purchase, April 8, 1630 ; Gillis 
 Hassett, the second, July 27, 1630, and Brandt 
 van Slechtenhorst, the third, March 13, 1652. 
 
 The English confirmation of a patent to Kili- 
 aen Van Rensselaer given by Gov. Thomas 
 Dongan, dated November 4, 1685, describes 
 the boundaries of the several purchases made 
 by the agents of Van Rensselaer as follows : 
 
 Beeinnlne at the south end of or part of Berrent 
 island on Hudson's river and extending northwards 
 UD along both aides of the said Hudson's river unto 
 a place heretofore called the Kahoos. or the great 
 falls of the said river and extending itself east 
 and west from each side of the said river 
 backwards into the woods 34 English miles, 
 as also a certain tract of land situate 
 lying and being on the east side of Hud- 
 son's river, beginning at the creek by Major Abra- 
 ham Staet's and so along the said river southward 
 to the south side of Yaxtrix island by a creek 
 called Waghankasigh, stretching from thence with 
 an easterlv line into the woods Zi English miles to 
 a place called Wawanaquiaslck, and from thence 
 northward to the head of said creek by Major 
 Abraham Staet's as aforesaid. 
 
 Tbis patent excepted Fort Albany and tde 
 town of Albany, from the southernmost end of 
 the pasture lying over against the north end of 
 Martin Garrittson's island to the post on the 
 north side of the said town, where it was 
 formerly marked by Gov. Stuyvesant, and so 
 backward into the woods northwest 16 English 
 miles. 
 
 THE CONDITION OF THE PROVINCE IN 1678. 
 
 It should be remembered that the English dis- 
 possessed the Dutch, in 1664, of New Nether- 
 land, as their possessions in America were 
 called. However, the Dutch, in turn, wrested 
 the province from the English in 1672, but who, 
 by the treaty of Westminster, restored it again 
 to the English in 1674. 
 
 Major Edmund Andros, having received the 
 appointment of governor of the province, he, 
 in 1678, made a report respecting the condition 
 and growth of the province of New York, 
 which, although it shows that little attention 
 was paid to orthography and punctuation, is so 
 full of important information as makes It quite 
 interesting. The governor says : 
 
 Albany is a smale long stockadoed forte with 
 foore bastions in it, 12 gunns, sutScient agt In- 
 dians. 
 
 The Militia is about 3,000, of wch about 140 
 horse in three troopes the foote formed into com- 
 panyes, most under 100 men each all indifferently 
 armed with fire-annes of all sizes. 
 
 Our principal places of Trade are New Torke and 
 Sonth'ton except Albany for the Indyans, our 
 buildings most wood, some lately stone & brick, 
 good country houses & strong of their several! 
 kindes. 
 
 Wee have about 34 townes, villlages or parishes 
 in Six PreclnotB, Divisions, Rydelngs. or Courts of 
 Sessions. 
 
 Our Merch'ts are not many but with inhabitants 
 A planters about 2,000, able to beare armes, old 
 inhabitants of the place or of England, Except in 
 & neere New Torke of Dutch Extraction A 
 some few of all nations, but few serv'ts, much 
 wanted & but very few slaves. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 Ministers have been soe scarce and Religions 
 many that noe acot eann be (riven of Children's 
 births or christenings. 
 
 Scaroity of Ministers and Law admitting mar- 
 riages by Justices, noe acct can be given of the 
 numtier marryed. 
 
 Noe acct can be given of burialls, formes of burlalls 
 not being generally observed & few ministers 
 till very lately. 
 
 A mercht worth 1,000 lb. or SOD lb. is accompted a 
 good substantial! merchant and a planter worthe 
 haUe that in moveables accompted with all the 
 Estates may be valued att about £1SO,000. 
 
 There may lately have traded to ye CoUony In a 
 yeare from tenn to fifteen shipps or vessells of about 
 together 100 tunns each, English new England and 
 our owne buUt of wch 5 small shipps and a Ketch 
 now belonging to New Torke foure of them built 
 there. 
 
 There are Religions of all sorts, one Church of 
 England, Several Presbiterians and Independents, 
 Quakers & Anabaptists of Several sects, some 
 Jews but presbiterians & Independts most nu- 
 merous & Substantiall. 
 
 The Duke malntaines a chapllne woh is all the 
 certaine allowance or Church of England, but peo- 
 ples free gifts to ye Ministry, and all places ob- 
 Udged to build Churches & provide for a minis- 
 ter, in woh most very wanting, but presbiterians 
 & Independts desierous to have and maintaine 
 them if to be had. There are abt 30 Churches or 
 Meeting places of wch above halfe vacant their al- 
 lowance like to be from 40Ib to 701b a yeare and a 
 house and garden. Noe Beggars but all poore 
 cared ffor. If good Ministers could be had to go 
 thelther might doe well & galne much upon 
 those people. 
 
 It has been estimated that in proportion to 
 the number of militia that the population of 
 the province in 1678 must have been about 
 20,000. A few years afterward the shipping 
 numbered 10 three-masted vessels, 20 sloops, 
 and several ketches. 
 
 THE PBOTINCE OP NEW TOBK DIVIDED INTO 
 COUNTIES. 
 
 , The first assembly convened in the province 
 of New York, then a dependency of Charles 
 II. of England, held its first session at Hamp- 
 stead on the 17th of October, 1683. 
 
 "The act to divide this province and de- 
 pendencies Into shires and countyes" was 
 passed by tUs assembly. The preamble to the 
 bill reads: 
 
 Having taken into conslderacon the necessity of 
 dividing the province into respective countys for 
 the better governing and settling courts in the 
 same: 
 
 Bee it enacted by the Govemour, Counoell, and 
 Representatives, and by the authority of the same, 
 Thatt the said province be divided into twelve 
 countys, as followeth : 
 
 The counties as mentioned in the act were : " The 
 oltty and county of New Torke ;" " the county of 
 
 Westchester;" "the county of Ulster;" "the 
 county of Albany;" "the Butchesses county;" 
 " the county of Orange ;" " the county of Rich- 
 mond;" "King's county;" "Queen's county;" 
 "the county of Suffolk ;" " Duke's county ;" and 
 " the county of Cornwall." 
 
 The county of Albany, erected by this act, 
 embraced the following portion of the territory 
 of the province : 
 
 The county of Albany to conteyne the towne of 
 Albany, the colony of Bensselaerwyck, Schonecte- 
 da, and all the villages, neighbourhoods and Chris- 
 tian plantacons, on the east side of Hudson's 
 river, from Roelef Jansen's Creeke, [six miles be- 
 low Hudson city] and on the west side from Saw- 
 yer's Creeke to the Saraagbtoga, [Saratoga.] 
 THE FREEHOLDERS OF RENS3ELAERWTCK. 
 
 As the county of Rensselaer is part of the 
 territory embraced in the manor of Rensselaer- 
 wyck, it is interesting to know what methods 
 were first adopted to give the manor a repre- 
 sentation in the general assembly, and to pro- 
 vide for its inhabitants the necessary officers 
 for the management of its local affairs. "An 
 act tor defraying the common and necessary 
 charge, in the manor of Rensselaerwyck, in 
 the county of Albany, passed August 4, 1705, 
 permitted the freeholders of the manor to elect 
 and choose yearly, and every year, one super- 
 visor, one treasurer, one assessor and one col- 
 lector for the said manor." 
 
 The second section of the same bill recites 
 " that the wages and charge of their representa- 
 tive, or deputy in general assembly," should be 
 "ten shillings per diem," and that the inhabit- 
 ants should " be liable to defray the wages and 
 charge of their own representative or deputy." 
 
 In 1714 there were in the manor of Rensselaer- 
 wyck 427 white persons and 181 slaves ; making 
 a popolatidn of 608 persons. 
 
 In a return made on the 11th of Jane, 1720, 
 by Gerrit Van Schaick, sheriff of the city and 
 county of Albany, is preserved the names of all 
 the freeholders in the colony of Rensselaer- 
 wyck, As many of the present residents of 
 Rensselaer county are descendants of the per- 
 sons named in this early census report, it may 
 be well to mention them in this connection: 
 Wouter Barheyt, Andries Huyck, 
 
 Johannis Valkenburgh, Maes Van Buren, 
 Jno. Barheyt, Com'lis Van Vechten, 
 
 Isaac Van Alstine, Jonat. Wltbeek, 
 
 Jacob Schermerhom, Martin Vanburen. 
 Jacob Schermerhorn, jr., Barent Geritse, 
 Johns Ouderkirk, Jan Witbeck, 
 
 Claes Oardineer, Jonas Dow. 
 
 Andries Gardinier, FolcortDow, 
 
 Hend. Valkenburgh, Jno. Van Vechten, 
 
 Jacob Valkenburgh, Gerrit Lansen, 
 
 Tho. Witheek. Volcort Van Vechten, 
 
 Luykas Witbeek, Melgert Vandense, 
 
 Solomon Van Vechten, Rut Vandense, 
 Cap. Hendrick Van Ren- Daniell Winne, 
 
 selaer, Gerrit Van Wie, 
 
 Philip Foreest, Jan Van Wie, 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 SCartln Van Alstine, 
 Albert Roolifae, 
 Haite Van AJstme, jnnr. 
 Jno. Fonda, 
 Derrick Yanderhyden, 
 Qerrit Yandenbergb, 
 Albert Brat, 
 ComellB Yan Alstlne, 
 Johns. Wendell, 
 Jan Yan Alstyne, 
 Adrian Oothoat, 
 Peter Coyeman, 
 Barent Staats, 
 Andries Coyeman, 
 Samnell Coyeman, 
 Jno. Wltbeek, 
 Coonrod Hoophteellng, 
 Storm Backer, 
 Jno. Backer, 
 Hendrick Yan Wyen, 
 Wm. Yan Alen, 
 Jaac. Falkenburgh, 
 Phillip Wendell, 
 
 Claea. 
 
 GeiTit Yandenbergb, 
 Hendr. Dow. 
 Albert SUneerlant, 
 Svert Banker, 
 Wouter Vanderse, ' 
 KllUan Yanderse, v 
 Johannis Appel, 
 Peter Hnsyele, 
 Derrick Bagodom, 
 Andries Brat, 
 Storm Brat, 
 Ome. Legrange, 
 Jotms. Legrange, 
 Johannis Simouse, 
 Nicos. Grewsbeek, 
 Jno. Oothont, 
 Mindert Harselis, 
 Jacob Lansen. 
 Abram Ouderkirk, 
 Peter Sohnyler. Esqr., 
 Abram Wendell, 
 William Eetlyne, 
 Francs Pryn, 
 Bo vie. 
 
 SLAVES AUK SLAVB LAWS. 
 
 Slaves were first brought into the New Neth- 
 erland by the Datcb, under the granting power 
 of the charter of liberties of 1629. When the 
 English became possessed of the territory, they, 
 by importations from Africa, further perpetu- 
 ated slavery and protected It by different laws. 
 "Forasmuch," reads an act passed by the gen- 
 eral assembly, October 89, 1730, " as the num- 
 ber of .slaves in the cities of New York and 
 Albany, as also within the several counties, 
 towns and manors within this colony doth daily 
 increase, and that they have oftentime been 
 guilty of confederating together in running 
 away, and of other ill and dangerous practices," 
 it is unlawful "for above three slaves to 
 meet together at any time," or " at any other 
 place than when it shall happen they meet in 
 some servile employment for their masters' or 
 mistresses' profit, and by their masters' or mis- 
 tresses' consent, upon penalty of being whipt 
 upon the naked back, at the discretion of any 
 one justice of the peace, not exceeding forty 
 lashes." 
 
 The act further provided that each town and 
 manor might appoint a common whipper for 
 their slaves, who was to be paid a sum of money 
 " not to exceed three shillings per head." Five 
 pounds was the penalty for harboring a slave 
 for every 24 hours. Free negroes for entertain- 
 ing slaves had to pay a penalty of £10. This 
 was in the fourth year of the reign of George 
 
 in. 
 
 In the act for granting to his majesty the 
 several duties and importations on goods, wares 
 and merchandises imported into the colony, 
 passed December 12, 1753, it was provided there 
 should be paid " for every negro, mulatto or 
 other Slave, of four years old and upwards, im- 
 ported directly from Africa, five ounces of 
 Sevil, FiUar or Mexico plate, or forty shillings 
 in bills of credit made current in this colony." 
 
 To avoid and clear up disputes that might 
 happen concerning this duty on slaves, it was 
 further provided ' ' that all slaves imported from 
 Africa, in the same vessel which took them on 
 board on any part of that coast," should pay 
 no duty greater than 40 shillings, " tho» such ves- 
 sel had stopp'd at, or entered in any other port 
 or ports, before her arrival at New York," pro- 
 vided the master or mate, and some other offi- 
 cer which came in such vessel from A&ica, 
 " made oath before the treasurer of the colony 
 that the slave or slaves so imported had been 
 actually taken on board of that vessel on the 
 coast of Africa." 
 
 FAIRS AND COUBTS OF PTPOWDBK. 
 
 The holding of fairs and markets In each 
 city and county throughout the province of 
 New York was as early as the year 1692, com- 
 manded by law. An act passed by the general 
 assembly March 8, 1773, directed that there 
 should be held in the city and county of Albany, 
 two fairs yearly ; the first fair to be kept at 
 Albany, commencing on the third Tuesday of 
 July and ending on the Friday following ; the 
 second to be held at CrawUer in Rensselaer- 
 wyck, commencing on the third Tuesday in 
 October and ending on the Friday following. 
 These fairs or public markets brought together 
 the country people, and were made not only 
 occasions of pleasurable reiinions and of re- 
 laxation from toil, but also opportunities for 
 the sale of produce, cattle, clothing and other 
 articles. The fair was kept open from 10 o'clock 
 in the morning until sunset. 
 
 The governor of the province issued a com- 
 mission to a proper person who acted as ruler 
 of the fair and who was also delegated to hold 
 courts of pypowder, as was the custom at fairs 
 in England. 
 
 As explained by Blackstone the lowest and at 
 the same time the most expeditions court of 
 justice known to the law of England was " the 
 court of piepoudre, ewria pedis pulverizati; sa 
 called from the dusty feet of the suitors ; or ac- 
 cording to Sir Edward Coke, because justice is 
 there done as speedily as dust can fall from the 
 foot; upon- the same principle that justice 
 among the Jews was administered in the gate 
 of the city, that the proceedings might 
 be more speedy as well as public. But 
 the etymology given us by a learned mod- 
 em writer is much more ingenious and satisfac- 
 tory ; it being derived, according to him, from 
 pied piddreavx (a peddler, in old French), and 
 therefore signifying the court of such petty 
 chapmen as resort to fairs or markets. It is a 
 court of record, incident to every fair and mar- 
 ket ; of which the steward of him who owns or 
 has the toll of the market is the judge, and its 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 juriBdlction extenda to administer justice for all 
 commercial injuries done in that very fair or 
 market, and not in any preceding one. 
 
 THE DIVIBION OF ALBANY COXJNTY. 
 
 When the province of New York in 1683 was 
 divided Into counties, Albany county embraced 
 more territory than all the remaining portion of 
 the province. By an act of general assembly, 
 passed March 12, 1772, Albany county was 
 divided into three counties : Albany, Tryon and 
 Charlotte. On the 24th of the same month it 
 was divided into districts, among which were 
 the district of Rensselaerwyck, Schactekoke dis- 
 trict and the Hoosic district. 
 
 By an act, dated March 7, 1788, entitled " An 
 act for dividing the state into comities," 16 
 counties were included within the boundaries 
 of New York, namely : New York, Albany, 
 Suffolk, Queens, Kings, Richmond, Westches- 
 ter, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, Columbia, Wash- 
 ington, OUnton, Montgomery, Cumberland and 
 Gloucester. 
 
 The state convention which assembled at 
 Poughkeepeie on the 17th of June, 1788, took 
 into consideration the ratification of the pres- 
 ent constitution of the United States. On the 
 a6th of July the question was voted upon and 
 was carried by a majority of three. The poli- 
 tics of this body of delegates was distinguished 
 by certain principles known as federal and anti- 
 federal. 
 
 THE KBBGTION OF BENSSELAEB COUKTT. 
 
 Rensselaer county was erected under "An 
 act for apportioning the representation in the 
 legislatore according to the rules prescribed by 
 the constitution, and for dividing the county of 
 Albany," passed February 7, 1791. 
 
 The act provides " that the towns of Cam- 
 bridge and Easton, in the county of Albany, 
 shall be and hereby are annexed to and shall 
 hereafter be considered as part of the county of 
 Washington, and that all that part of the 
 leaidue of the said county of Albany which is 
 on the east side of a line drawn through the 
 middle of the main stream of Hudson's river, 
 with such variations as to include the islands 
 lying nearest to the east bank thereof, shall be 
 one separate and distinct county, and be called 
 and known by the name of Rensselaer." 
 
 A court of common pleas and a court of gen- 
 eral sessions of the peace were to be held at 
 such places as should be designated by the 
 judges of the court of common pleas 
 and such justices of the peace as should 
 be appointed. The first term of the 
 courts of common pleas and general ses- 
 sions of the peace were to begin on the first 
 Tuesday in May and might "continue to be 
 
 held until the Saturday following inclusive," 
 and the second term, on the second Tuesday of 
 November and " might continue to the follow- 
 ing Saturday inclusive." 
 
 The act also made it lawful for all courts and 
 officers in the said counties, in all cases, civil 
 and criminal, to confine their prisoners in the 
 gaol of the county of Albany until gaols should 
 be provided in the said counties. 
 
 The act divided the state into four great dis- 
 tricts, namely, southern, middle, western and 
 eastern districts. The eastern district compre- 
 hended the counties of Columbia, Rensselaer, 
 Washington and Clinton. 
 
 The senatorial representation of the districts 
 was southern 8, middle 6, western 5 and east- 
 em 5. 
 
 The number of members of assembly to be 
 elected in each county was : The city and coun- 
 ty of New York 7, Suffolk 4, Queens 3, Kings 1, 
 Richmond 1, Westchester 5, Dutchess 7, 
 Ulster 5, Orange 3, Columbia 6, Rensselaer 5, 
 Washington 4, city and county of Albany 7, 
 Saratoga 4, Montgomery 7 and Ontario 1. 
 
 THE FIRST COUNTT OFFIOEBS. 
 
 The first officers of Rensselaer county as- 
 sembled at Lansingburgh, at the inn of Ana- 
 nias Flatt, on Tuesday, April 15, 1791, and 
 there took the necessary oaths of office, and ap- 
 pointed Tuesday, the third day of May, for the 
 sitting of the first court. 
 
 The following persons were the first county 
 officers in 1791 : 
 
 First Jtatye— Anthony Ten Eyok. 
 
 Judgee—Sobn Van Rensselaer, Israel Thompson, 
 Robert Woodworth and Jonathan Brown. 
 
 Assistant Justices— Jobn Eniokerbacker, Jr., John 
 W. Schermerbom, Jonathan Nlles, Benjamin 
 Hicks, Nicholas Staats, Robert Montgomery, Hoss 
 Kent and John E. Van Alen. 
 
 Justices of the Peoee— Anthony Ten Eyck, John 
 Van Rensselaer, Israel Thompson, Robert Wood- 
 worth, Jonathan Brown, John Eniokerbacker, Jr., 
 John W. Schermerhom, Jonathan Niles, Benjamin 
 Hicks, Nichola^Staats, Robert Montgomery, Moss 
 Kent, John E. Van Alen, Levlnus Lansing, Jonah 
 Martin, Hosea Mofflt, Daniel B. Bradt, Joseph 
 Spencer, Bavid Brown, Moses VaO, James Mo- 
 Kbwn, Abner Newton, Stephen Gorham, Jacob 
 Van Alstyne, Ephraim Morgan, Josiah Masters, 
 Gerritt Winne, Jacob A. Lansing, Rowland Hall, 
 Hezeklah Hull, William Douglas, Daniel Gray, 
 Jonas Odell, Benjamin Randall, Benjamin Hanks, 
 Barman Van Vecbten, Benjamin Milks, Ebenezer 
 Darling, Jacob Van der Heyden, jr., John C. Scher- 
 merhom and Nathaniel Jacobs. 
 
 Sarroffote— Moss Kent. 
 
 5?ie?^— Albert Pawling. 
 
 7Vea»arer— Aaron Lane. 
 
 Cawniy cfert— Nicholas Schuyler. 
 
8 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 C!iwwi«r»— Silas Weeks, Abraham Ten Eyok, 
 John De Wandelaer, James Smith and Aaron 
 Ostrander. 
 
 THE SITTING OF THE FIBBT COimT. 
 
 There being no county buildings and no par- 
 ticular site determined upon for their erection, 
 tbe county clerk's office was first located in 
 Lansingburgh in a house previously occupied 
 by N. Jacobs, near that of Col. John Van Rens- 
 selaer. 
 
 The brief record of the minutes of the first 
 session of the court of common pleas is the fol- 
 lowing: 
 
 Hat Term, 1791.— At a court of common pleas 
 ' held for the county of Rensselaer at Lansingburgh, 
 on the first Tuesday in Hay, 1791, at the house of 
 Ananias Flatt. Present: Honorable Anthony Ten 
 Eyok, Esq., first judge ; John Van Bensselaer, 
 Israel Thompson, Robert Woodworth, Jon'n 
 Brown, Esq'rs., judges; Benjamin Hicks, Rob't 
 Hontgomery, Hoss Kent, Esq'rs., assistant jus- 
 tices. 
 
 On an application of Hr. John Woodworth to be 
 examined as to his learning and ability to practice 
 as an attorney and coimselor of this court— 
 
 Ordered, That the said John Woodworth be ex- 
 amined accordingly by Gnert Van Schoonhoven, 
 John D. Diclcinson and Corn's Van Derbergh in the 
 presence of the judges of this court. 
 
 On motion of Hr. Ten Brook and others for 
 leaye to be admitted to practice as a counsellor 
 and attorney in this court on producing their com- 
 missions from the supreme court, which commis- 
 sions being produced, ordered that the following 
 persons be admitted and they were sworn ac- 
 cordingly : Dirck Ten Brook, Hoss Kent, John V. 
 Henry, Peter D. V'n Dyck, Ab'm Hun, John Waters 
 Yates, Nlch's Funda, Guert Wendall, JohnD. Dick- 
 inson, Gnert V'n Sohoonhoven, Corn's V'n Der- 
 bergh, John Lovett, Peter E. Elmendorf . 
 
 On motion of Hr. Dickinson, in favor of John 
 Woodworth that this court approve his examina- 
 tion and he be admitted to practice as a counsellor 
 and attorney therein. Ordered that he be ad- 
 mitted and sworn. 
 
 William Fenshaw vs. Joseph Kline : A plaint to 
 the sheriff in this cause with a return of replevin 
 was made and filed. 
 
 On motion of Hr. Dickinson, attorney for plain- 
 tiff ordered that this cause be entered and the de- 
 fendant appear and answer, etc., or that an at- 
 tachment issue against him. Defendant appeared 
 by Hoss Kent, his attorney. 
 
 Thirty-three rules and orders, at this point, 
 were adopted by the court, to be " observed by 
 all the officers thereof." The second cause be- 
 fore the court was that of 
 
 Nathaniel Hann vs. Aaron B. Himnan and Livi 
 nus Lansing, administrators of Gideon HlnmiiTi 
 Hr. Woodworth, attorney for the plaintiff. The 
 defendants appeared by John D. Dickinson, their 
 attorney. 
 
 Tbe next actions were : 
 
 John Harbeck vs. William Houlton. Hoss Kent 
 for the plaintiff and John D. Dickinson for the de- 
 fendant. 
 
 Frederick Butler vs. Jehiel Galpln. John D. 
 Dickinson for the plaintiff and Gnert Van Schoon- 
 hoven for the defendant. 
 
 It was directed by the court " that a seal be 
 made for the county of Rensselaer and be af- 
 fixed by the clerk of the court to all process and 
 records thereof to authenticate the same, and 
 that the device be a plough, with the words 
 ' Rensselaer county seal' engraved round the 
 edge thereof." 
 
 Court adjourned till 10 o'clock to-morrow morn- 
 ing. 
 
 The court the next morning, the 4th of Hay, met 
 according to adjournment, all the judges and Jus- 
 tices being present. 
 
 On motion of Hr. Dickinson, for leave that San- 
 ders Lansing and Francis Silvester be admitted to 
 practice as counsellors and attorneys in this conrt, 
 on producing their licenses in the supreme oonrt, 
 leave was granted accordingly and they were ad- 
 mitted and sworn. 
 
 The conrt then adjourned till 8 o'clock in the 
 afternoon. The conrt having assembled it ad- 
 journed tUl 10 o'clock in the next morning. 
 
 The only business recorded on Friday was : 
 
 Ordered, That this conrt stands adjourned to the 
 second Tuesday in November next, then to meet 
 at the house of Stephen Ashley In the town of 
 Troy. 
 
 THE FntST CENSUSES OF BENSSELAER OOUNTT. 
 
 On March 3, 1795, the legislature ordered a 
 census to be taken of the freeholders in the 
 state having property valued at £20 and up- 
 wards, also of persons renting tenements at a 
 yearly rent of 40 shillings. The census taken 
 that year under the act was the first enumera- 
 tion of the people in the county of Rensselaer. 
 It was as follows : 
 
 A general acoount of the number qf eUctori in M< 
 counti/ of Setuseiaer motdejfom the returns deliv- 
 ered mto the secretary's <mce of the slate <if New 
 York pursuant to an act etMOed an act for vMng a 
 census in this state, passed theSd<tf March, 1795 : 
 
 
 ^§ : 
 
 ^-§: 
 
 •OOD • 
 
 till 
 
 TOWNS. 
 
 si : 
 
 fi i 
 
 S** : 
 
 
 lis 
 
 
 illl 
 
 
 H 
 
 u 
 
 H 
 
 Troy 
 
 358 
 
 60 
 
 132 
 
 Oreenbush 
 
 198 
 
 76 
 
 41 
 
 Scbodack 
 
 206 
 
 18 
 
 158 
 
 Stephentown 
 
 339 
 
 186 
 
 119 
 
 Petersbugb 
 
 278 
 
 38 
 
 206 
 
 HooBlck 
 
 1S4 
 
 26 
 
 909 
 
 Plttatown 
 
 242 
 
 22 
 
 156 
 
 Scbaghtlcoke 
 
 106 
 
 8 
 
 112 
 
 1,900 
 
 413 
 
 1,217 
 
HISTORY or THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 In 1801 a second census was taken, which ex- 
 hibits the number of freeholders as follows : 
 
 A general account of the number of electors in the 
 - " ■ • ■ .(tu ■ 
 
 _. Jienfselaer, tnade from the returns deliv- 
 ered into the secretary's office of the state qf New 
 Tm% pursuant to an act entitled '■'■An act for 
 teeing a cenms in this state." Passed 7th April, 
 1801 
 
 TOWNB. 
 
 it 
 =1 
 
 
 i,*J° 
 
 
 
 lectors n 
 frecliolds 
 value of 
 der £100 
 
 lectors n 
 of f reeho 
 rent tene 
 yearly va 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 » 
 
 H 
 
 8chagbtlaoke 
 
 Schodack 
 
 18S 
 
 15 
 
 71 
 
 34! 
 
 44 
 
 117 
 
 Hooslck 
 
 338 
 
 7 
 
 195 
 
 Stcphentown 
 
 420 
 
 81 
 
 158 
 
 Troy 
 
 478 
 
 27 
 
 252 
 
 Plttstown 
 
 294 
 
 16 
 
 138 
 
 GreenbuBh 
 
 357 
 
 36 
 
 OS 
 
 Pcteraburgh 
 
 3S7 
 
 16 
 
 819 
 
 2,79C 842 1,846 
 
 The third census that of 1807 gives the follow- 
 ing enumeration : 
 
 EETUBN OF ELECTOK6 IN THE COUNTY OF RENSSE- 
 LAER. 
 
 
 •SS : 
 
 ■ss 
 
 a ' 
 
 ^2 2 : 
 
 
 Hi 
 
 Soo : 
 
 possess 
 8, but w 
 eiits of t 
 e of 40s 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 'A ■ 
 
 ISSEH 
 
 
 So** 
 
 US 
 
 
 lectors n 
 of frecho 
 rent tone 
 yearly va 
 
 
 B 
 
 » 
 
 
 Pd 
 
 Schodack 
 
 297 
 
 
 1 
 
 155 
 
 Stephentown 
 
 241 
 
 
 22 
 
 145 
 
 Petersburgh 
 
 132 
 
 
 3 
 
 SO 
 
 Grecnbush 
 
 414 
 
 
 n 
 
 130 
 
 Troy 
 
 303 
 
 
 
 268 
 
 Schaghtlcoke 
 
 FIttslown 
 
 213 
 
 
 11 
 
 54 
 
 313 
 
 
 2 
 
 105 
 
 Hooslck 
 
 254 
 
 
 4 
 
 169 
 
 Lanslngburgh 
 
 124 
 
 
 14 
 
 7S 
 
 Brunswick 
 
 204 
 
 
 11 
 
 113 
 
 Grafton 
 
 1.14 
 
 
 7 
 
 28 
 
 Berlin 
 
 243 
 
 
 17 
 
 118 
 
 PMllpstown 
 
 831 
 
 
 20 
 
 59 
 
 8,103 123 1,502 
 
 The town of Nassau, formed March 31, 1806, 
 was first known by the name of Philipstown, 
 until April 6, 1808, when the former name was 
 adopted. 
 
 The fourth census of 1811 exhibits the fol- 
 lowing enumeration : 
 
 BETUBN OP ELECTORS (AND OTBER INHABITANTS) IN 
 THE COUNTY OF BENSSELAEB. 
 
 H 05 03 IB t» ►tj >fl a IT" a 
 
 lOCtJ 
 
 « 
 
 cc «o cc td to to M CO H> A3 i-t ts ^s ^s 
 i-> aa •-' re » CO 00 o CO -} )&> CO w «s 
 oa<i-jig;penDCOOi-'Oio5oc 
 
 i(^ CO t-i CO CO CD •(• 3 K< ;o >i m • 
 
 •lA3OXC0CCMl-*-aOrfi.O-IW 
 
 o *L> 3D «.i o CO c:i -1 CO -1 )^ a> C7I en 
 
 gc )^«3 Cp to 1^ ;D U •j iF^ tC CO CD CR 
 ^OCCiXCCI-'-.thJ.fr--3-J«^ac 
 
 -.1 CO «k. •£> pi 1^ M >U ^S itk M CO GO CO 
 
 03 CDOICJl £. 03 lO CO » Ur X Cb 2^ O 
 
 KJMMMt-itC MMIO Wt-M 
 h^ 33 X -^l CD p h-i «1 tC O CD 33 1(> if^ 
 
 o o to M --1 cor^ to to ocn oo>t IE 
 
 o) 1^ ut iCk ^ it. CO A. ^s oi >~* tC>- M CO 
 
 cQdoi&.ib.>icoi(^u-JoeDo^o 
 05xoMCP3>-'ii-'>-'aiogoaD-3 
 
 *». » 03 to CO CO i-i to W M ^-i to tC M 
 
 "cpWN-mTo't-i'V-iVj'b'tocowio'eD 
 f^ i£. (s )[• CO p a: if>> m o ^ CO CO CJ1 
 MOOD <i CO w H» -a o moD 03 com 
 
 Electors possessed of 
 freeholds of tbe value 
 of £100 
 
 Electors posBessed of 
 freeholds of the value 
 of £20 and under £100. 
 
 Electors not posses- 
 sed of freeholds, but 
 who rent tenements of 
 the yearly value of 408. 
 
 Free white males under 
 18 years of age 
 
 Free white males of the 
 age of 18 years and un- 
 der 45 years 
 
 Free white males of the 
 age of 45 years and up- 
 wards 
 
 Free white females un- 
 der 18 years of age 
 
 Free white females of 
 the age of 18 years and 
 under 45 years 
 
 Free white females of 
 the age of 45 years and 
 upwards 
 
 All other free persons. . . 
 
 Slaves. . 
 
10 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF KENSSELAKK COUNTY. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 THE TOWN OF TROY. 
 
 The Great Meadow Ground of the Indians — Irs first Dutch Set- 
 tlers Massacred — Peter Van Woggelum's Transport — Army of 
 the North at Van Schaick's Island — The Nederduitsch of the 
 Upper Hudson — The little Hamlet of Ferry Hook — Remark- 
 able Prophecy concerning Troy — A Thousand Pounds for the 
 County Seat — The Erection of the First Court House — A 
 Public Whipping Post and Stocks. 
 
 The art ot writing has become a great bles- 
 sing to man. What innumerable controversies 
 would arise to disturb his peace and to dis- 
 possess him of his property had he not some 
 written instrument providing him with the 
 proper proof of his ownership and giving him 
 the sole privilege of the use of the thing held 
 by him. He is conscious that the details of a 
 business transaction when written out and 
 properly attested are of a more satisfying 
 character than when they are intrusted to the 
 remembrance of witnesses. It is this pecu- 
 liarity of man that has left to our examina- 
 tion in the offices of county clerks and the de- 
 partments of state a multitude of well pre- 
 served papers relating to the acquirement and 
 the disposal of landed property from a very 
 early period of our history to the present time. 
 For onr further enlightenment respecting the 
 situation, limits and designations of such estate 
 . these valuable papers are frequently accom- 
 panied with maps, some of which topographi- 
 cally exhibit the special features of the terri- 
 tory referred to. 
 
 FAFBAETS DAEL. 
 
 Washington Irving in his humorous descrip- 
 tion of the early settlers of New Netherland 
 misleads his readers into a belief that the Dutch 
 were a very dull and ridiculous class of people. 
 The radiant glory of the grand achievements of 
 the Dutch nation which threw its effulgence 
 over Europe in the seventeenth century is the 
 contradiction to any error of opinion founded 
 on the burlesque of this highly honored Ameri- 
 can writer. The practical shrewdness of the 
 
 Hollanders is most notable in the enormous 
 profits of their great commercial companies 
 — ^the East India and the West India com- 
 panies. 
 
 Eiliaen Van Rensselaer and his associated 
 partners, Samuel Goodyn, Samuel Bloemmaert 
 and John De Laet, the proprietors of the terri- 
 tory of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, were as 
 enterprising in their efforts to settle colonists 
 in America as any of the men in our day who 
 have amassed wealth by speculations in landed 
 property. And it is quite interesting to know 
 how they accomplished their purpose and by 
 what means they induced the people of Holland 
 to emigrate to this newly discovered country 
 and begin the cultivation of the wild land lying 
 within the limits of the manor, which they named 
 Kensselaerwyck. If we study the oldest and 
 the rarest map of this particular tract, or rather 
 tracts of land, made by Gillis Van Schendel in 
 1630, we will perceive that they gave certain 
 divisions of the territory possessed by them 
 very flattering designations, and which no doubt 
 captivated the minds of those persons who 
 sailed from Holland to seek and settle upon the 
 land whose fertility was so highly praised. 
 
 Ihfraets dael, the paradise of a lazy man, is 
 the attractive title they bestowed upon the ter- 
 ritory now occupied by the city of Troy. The 
 land on the west side of the Noord rivier they 
 denominated Weelys dad, a valley of luxuri- 
 ance. 
 
 There was, however, more of fact than of 
 fancy in these names. The virgin soil was sur- 
 prisingly fertile, game of all kinds abounded in 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 11 
 
 the greatest plenty, fish of finest flavor were to 
 be caught in the streams, and the woods were 
 dark with the thick foliage of stately and use- 
 ful trees. 
 
 On the north side of an unnamed water course, 
 fliat no doubt was Intended to Indicate the 
 creek which we now call the Poesten Idll, is the 
 marked site of an Indian stronghold, designated 
 Umanatt Canteel, probably one belonging to the 
 last of the Mohegans, a tribe of Indians once in- 
 habiting the east bank of the Hudson river. 
 On what appears to be Haver Island, is another 
 Indian fortification, named Monomins Caateel. 
 This stronghold may have been in the posses- 
 sion of the Mohawks, dwelling along the Mo- 
 hawk river, or rather the Maquas river, as it 
 was then called. 
 
 The three islands opposite the site of the 
 Bessemer steel works, are named Bloemaert's 
 Eylanden, Bloemaert's islands. Where now is 
 the city of Albany, a mark is given, which is 
 called Fort Orange. On the opposite and west 
 side of the river, the site of Greenbush, is 
 De iMtfii Eyland and just below is a stream, 
 which was Jh LaePs Mauten kill ende watervall, 
 De Laet's mill creek and waterfall. 
 
 The second branch of the Mohawk river is 
 called Smtidaer's kUl ende watervall, Rensselaer's 
 creek and waterfall. The third and fourth 
 aproDts of the Mohawk are each denominated 
 teater vaU, waterfall. 
 
 THE SITE OF TBOT PUKCHASED FSOM THE 
 INDIANS. 
 
 The Indians who claimed the territory, — the 
 site of the city of Troy, — by right of posses- 
 sion, it seems, could not resist the temptations 
 which the acquisitive Hollanders placed before 
 them In order to obtain the property right of 
 their land, which they desired for agricultural 
 purposes. In the oflice of the secretary of the 
 Btate is preserved the record of the purchase 
 from the Indians of the land now occupied by 
 the city of Troy, and as it is a very brief instru- 
 ment, and has never been published, as we be- 
 lieve, it may be a pleasure to the readers of the 
 Troy Itaily Times to peruse it : 
 
 A Confirmacon Oraunted unto Sweer Theunissen of 
 a P'ceU of Land lying neer Albany : 
 
 Richard NichoUs Esq &c Whereas there is a Cer- 
 tain P'ceU of Land lying neer Albany on the other 
 side af the Creek or Kill beginning from the Mill 
 on the Creek and to goe on over the Sd Creek unto 
 the Qreat Meadow Qround whereabout sixty-six 
 paces the Trees are markt which Sd F'cell of Land 
 was In the Yeare 1659 Purchased of the Indyan 
 Proprietrs by Jan Barentsen Wemp with the 
 Leave and Consent o5-Jan Baptist Van Renselaer 
 and Arent Van Corlaer Now the Title and Interest 
 with Sd Land being devolved upon Sweer Theunis- 
 sen who hath Harried the Widdow and liellct of 
 
 the f orenamed Jan Barentsen Wemp Now for a Con- 
 
 firmacon &c The Patent is Dated the 13th of Apr 
 
 1667: 
 
 I do hereby Certify the aforegoing to be a true 
 Copy of the Original Becord Compared there- 
 witli By Me Lewis A. Scon, Secretary. 
 
 Brodhead, in his history of the state of New 
 York, referring to the last purchase of land 
 made by the agent of Eiliaen Van Rensselaer, 
 March 13, 1652, says : 
 
 He [Brandt Van Slechtenhorst] had Just pur- 
 chased for his patron two large additional tracts on 
 the east side of the river ; one called " Paanpaack,' ' 
 including the site of the present city of Troy, and 
 another farther north, called " Par^Monc." 
 
 Comparing this statement with the record in 
 the office of the secretary of state, it is seen 
 that the two contradict one another. The first 
 asserts that Jan Barentsen Wemp purchased 
 the ground from the Indian proprietors with 
 the lease and consent of Jan Baptist Van Rens- 
 selaer and Arent Van Corlaer, and that the pur- 
 chase was made in the year 1659. 
 
 Several writers, upon what authority it is not 
 known, have accepted the word " Bianpaaek" aa 
 being an Indian designation. Further, in using 
 it, they assert that its meaning is, " the field of 
 standing com." From personal inquiry, the 
 writer of the present article, has found the per- 
 sons employing the term unable to give any 
 other reference than that which has already 
 been carefully quoted from the history of the 
 state of New York, by Brodhead. This writer 
 makes no declaration that it is an Indian term, 
 nor does he give it any interpretation. 
 
 Instead of being an Indian designation it has 
 every evidence that it is a Dutch compound of 
 the two words I\mi, a ferry, and Bicht or i^<, 
 a farm, a ferry-farm. The pronunciation of 
 Bianpaaek and of Pantrpaeht is phonetically 
 similar. The fact that from a very early date 
 the farm of the Van der Heyden family, and, 
 perhaps, when the same was previously owned 
 by Peter Van Woggleum, had a ferry belonging 
 to it, seemingly corroborates the correctness of 
 a conclusion that the names used by Brodhead 
 are of Dutch derivation. Apparently in the 
 same way the word JbttAoosic had its derivation : 
 Pont, a ferry, and Woestijne or Woexlenij, a wil- 
 derness, a ferry in a wilderness, or where the 
 country is uncultivated. 
 
 THE EABLT SETTLEBS ALONG THE POESTEN KILL. 
 
 In the clerk's office of Albany county are seven 
 volumes of early records written in what is called 
 "black Dutch." These unique volumes em- 
 brace in their contents a variety of papers rela- 
 ting to the transfer of real and personal prop- 
 erty, contracts, proposals and other transac- 
 tions made by the early inhabitants of Beaver- 
 
12 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EENS3ELAEB COUNTY. 
 
 wyck and of the manor of Rensselaerwyck. 
 Certain papers belonging to other records dis- 
 close the manner in which the land acquired by 
 Sweer Theunissen by marriage was subdivided 
 and sold. It appears that a Hollander named 
 Pieter Adriaens, either by inheritance or pur- 
 chase, became owner of a piece of ground in 
 Lubbede's land, as the territory whereon Troy 
 now stands was called, which he on the 11th of 
 February, 1669, conveyed to his son Reter 
 Pieterse. It is designated as "a certain lot, 
 with a part of a garden, and the fruit trees, 
 standing and lying on Lubbede's land in the 
 colony of Rensselaerwyck, according to the 
 proofs of his title existing, stretching along and 
 adjoining the lot of Barent Pieterse, the same 
 in length and breadth, as it lies in fence." 
 
 According to another record " Sweer Theu- 
 nissen, husbandman, dwelling in the Colonic 
 Bensselaerswyck," acknowledges that he is 
 "indebted to Geertruyt Barents, wife of Jacob 
 Heven, in the number of fourteen whole and 
 merchantable beaver skins, for money disbursed 
 and merchandise received." For the payment 
 of this debt and interest thereon on the 27th of 
 May, 1669, he pledges "his two lots lying at 
 Lubberde land, in the occupation of Jacob 
 Heven." 
 
 Besides his former grant of land, Sweer Theu- 
 nissen, on the ISth of June, 1669, received an- 
 other portion from Madame Johanna Ebbink, 
 the heiress of John De Laet, one of the four co- 
 partners of Kiliaen Van Rensselaer, which land 
 is designated as the granter's certain lot, to the 
 west the river, lying between Hendrick Reurand 
 and said Sweer Theunissen at Lubbede land in 
 the colony Rensselaerswyck, according to the 
 description thereof made in the contract with 
 his predecessor Jan BarentseWemp, deceased." 
 
 A certain Dirk Hesseling makes an acknowl- 
 edgment that he has transferred to Jacob Heven 
 " two certain lots of land lying in the colony of 
 Rensselaerswyck, the one before this belonging 
 to Dirk Van Schelluyne, which devolved upon 
 him by commission of the honorable court, by 
 virtue of an execution of date the 17th of June, 
 1670, and the other before this belonging to 
 Hendrick Reur, deceased, and by the late 
 director Mons. Jeremias Van Rensselaer, sold at 
 public sale, of which the granter remained the 
 highest bidder and buyer, according to the 
 vendue book in the custody of the vendue mas- 
 ter, Mons. Provoost, of date the 9th of July, 
 1670." 
 
 HOW THE WYNAUT'S KILL GOT ITS NAME. 
 
 Another conveyance shows that the creek 
 south of the Poesten kill received its name from 
 the purchaser of a saw mill erected on its banks. 
 This paper bears date of October 18, 1674, and 
 
 recites that " Geertruyt Pieterse, late widow of 
 Abraham Pieterse Vosburgh, deceased," grants 
 to " W^ynant Gerritse Van der Poel, her half of 
 the saw mill, lying in the colony Bensslers- 
 wyck, on the east bank, opposite the bouwery 
 of Mr. Philip Schuyler, standing on the kill, 
 which lies on the south side of the bouwery of 
 Mr. Jeronimus Elbingh, with all the tools thereto 
 belonging " 
 
 A record of a later date establishes the fact 
 that on the Poesten kiU, Sweer Theunissen had 
 built a saw mill, which he on the 25th of June, 
 1675, sells to Jan Comelise Vyselaer, and Lucas 
 Pieterse. In addition to the " saw mill, to- 
 gether with the kill whereon " it stood, he fur- 
 ther conveys to the same persons " two mor- 
 gens of arable land lying In the colony Rense- 
 laerwyck, up the river, on the east bank over 
 against Stoney point [steene hoeck, now the 
 site of the "Rock house" in West Troy], before 
 this called Poesten mill, together with free 
 egress and a road along the hill, by Pieter Pie- 
 terse Van Woggelum's, to the shore, as has 
 been used before this ; which land is a part of 
 the patent granted to him the grantor, by Qov- 
 enor Richard Nicols, of date the 13th of April, 
 A. D., 1667." 
 
 On the 7th of July, 1676, " Jeronimus Ebbink, 
 husband and guardian of Madam Johanna de 
 Laet," conveys to Jurian Teunisse Tappen "a 
 certain bouwery, lying in the colony Rensselaers- 
 wyck, where Jurian aforesaid at present dwells, 
 with dwelling house, bam and two ricks," * * 
 " moreover all the land, as well arable as pas- 
 ture land, as the same lies in fence between two 
 kills, aU by virtue of the contract and convey- 
 ance thereof, passed between Mr. Jeremias Von 
 Renselaer, deceased, late director of the colony 
 before named, and Madam Johanna De Laet for 
 her tenth part, being the just tenth part of the 
 colony, the same being of date of the Slst of 
 June, 1674." The aforesaid bowery, " together 
 with horses, cattle, house and bam, grain 
 sowed, and all that is thereon fast by earth and 
 nailed" Capt. Philip Pieterse Schuyler pur- 
 chased of Jurian Teunisse Tappen on the 6th of 
 November, 1677, for " six hundred merchantable 
 beaver skins." 
 
 A piece of woodland, called Paasquasslck, 
 which lay south of the Piscawen kill, Peter Van 
 Woggelum, on the 19th of September, 1681, pur- 
 chased of Robert Saunders, who held the patent 
 of Stone Arabia, the site of Lansingburgh. Pre- 
 vious to this last acquisition of land Peter Van 
 Woggelum, on the 6th of May, 1679, had become 
 the sole owner of all the original Wemp property. 
 It may be here remarked that Sweer Theunissen 
 is frequently called Sweer Theunissen Van Vel- 
 sen In some of the old documents. 
 
HISTOKY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 13 
 
 When Sieiir Le Moyne de Sainte Helene with 
 a i>arty of French and Indians surprised the lit- 
 tle community of Schenectady in February, 1690, 
 and massacred the inhabitants, Sweer Theu- 
 nissen, who had removed thither about the year 
 1669, was shot and burnt, as also was his wife. 
 Among the names of those killed is that of 
 Myndert Wemp, and of those taken prisoners, 
 that of John Wemp, children likely of Jan Bar- 
 entsen Wemp. This barbarous and unexpected 
 attack upon a village so distant from Canada, 
 in midwinter, created the greatest consterna- 
 tion among the settlers living along the upper 
 Hudson. 
 
 THE VAN DEK HETDEN PURCHASE. 
 
 By virtue of a transport from Peter Van Wog- 
 gelnm bearing date the 2d day of June, 1707, 
 which was confirmed by a release of Madam 
 Maria Van Rensselaer and Hendrick Van Rens- 
 selaer, two of the executors of the last will and 
 testament of Eiliaen Van Rensselaer, lord oi 
 the manor of Rensselaerwyck, bearidg date of 
 the 15th of December, 1720, Dirck Van der 
 Heyden became possessed of " all that certain 
 tract of land" * * » " in the county of Al- 
 bany on the east side of Hudson's river, about 
 five miles above the city of Albany, beginning 
 on the north side of a certain creek called 
 Poesten creek, where there formerly wa« a saw- 
 mill (which said mill stood on a straight line 58 
 chains from the said river)" thence along the 
 creek to the river, thence along the river " to a 
 small creek called the Meadow creek," thence 
 eastwardly into the woods, thence southwardly 
 "along the west side of the land of Albert 
 Bratt to the place of beginning, " containing 497 
 acres and one rood." Dirck Van der Heyden 
 at the same time also purchased of Peter Van 
 Woggelum " another parcel of land and meadow 
 thereunto adjoining, bounded on the north side 
 by a certain kill or creek known and called by 
 the name of Piskawen kill, and on the north by 
 the aforesaid parcel of land, on the west the 
 river and on the east the hill. 
 
 The lease from Maria Van Rensselaer and 
 Hendrick Van Rensselaer was subject to an an- 
 nual ground rent, in lieu of all other dues, of 
 three and three-fourth bushels of wheat, and 
 two fat hens or capons. 
 
 In November, 1731, Dirck Van der Heyden 
 conveyed the above land to his three sons, 
 Jacob, David and Mattys. 
 
 THE INVASION OF BTTBGOTNB. 
 
 In the month of August, 1777, the people of 
 the manor of Rensselaerwyck became greatly 
 excited in consequence of the news that Gen. 
 John Bnrgoyne was rapidly advancing by the 
 way of Fort Edward with a large body of British 
 
 soldiery, Hessian mercenaries and a force of 
 hostile Indians. It was Burgoyne's intention to 
 form a junction with that part of the Brit- 
 ish army commanded by Sir William Howe, 
 who was to ascend the Hudson and meet him at 
 Albany. Seemingly assured of accomplishing 
 this purpose, he wrote to Gen. Howe that he 
 was Ukely to be in possession of Albany before 
 the 22d or 23d of the month. Not having a 
 sufficient force to withstand the advance of the 
 British Invader, Gen. Philip Schuyler, in com- 
 mand of the northern department of the 
 American army, retreated down the river 
 road, and on the 14th day of the month 
 encamped his small body of continental 
 troops upon Haver and Van Schaick islands. 
 The apparent inability of the American troops 
 to cope with the British force of Burgoyne spread 
 a great alarm among the inhabitants of the 
 frontier towns and among the farmers residing 
 along the line of Burgoyne's march. The ferry 
 of the Van der Heyden family became the con- 
 verging point of the frightened people, who with 
 their families and flocks were hastening south- 
 ward to escape massacre and the pillage of their 
 movable property. The entire country in and 
 around the confluence of the Mohawk and Hud- 
 son rivers was filled with stories of burned 
 homes, of desolated and destroyed households, 
 of inhuman cruelties, of plunder and of brutal 
 outrages. Having taken the old Van Schaick 
 household for his headquarters. General 
 Schuyler ordered the construction of a 
 formidable line of earthworks along the 
 northeastern and northwestern sides of 
 Haver island, in order to defend the 
 approaches to the fords at Half Moon 
 Point, as the site of Waterford was then called. 
 The chief engineer of the army of the north was 
 the brave Pole, Thaddeus Kosciusko, and under 
 his superintendence and direction these defen- 
 sive works were constructed. These remarkably 
 well-preserved works attest to this day the care 
 and labor bestowed upon them by the soldiers 
 of General Schuyler's little army. 
 
 GEN. SCHUTI.EB RELIEVED BT OEN. GATES. 
 
 It was at Van Schaick's island that General 
 Horatio Gates relieved General Philip Schuyler 
 of the command of the army of the northern de- 
 partment. The apparent want of success of 
 General Schuyler Induced Congress to make 
 this change. General Gates two days after as- 
 suming the command of the department wrote 
 the following letter to General Washington, then 
 with the army, in Bucks county, in Pennsylva- 
 nia: 
 
 Head<)Uabtibs, Van Schaick's Island, August 
 22, Vm.—Sir: Upon my arrival in this department 
 
14 
 
 HISTOEY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 I found the main body of the army encamped npon 
 Van Schaick's island, which is made by the eprouts 
 of the Mohawk river joining with the Hudson 
 river, nine miles north of Albany. A brigade under 
 Gon. Poor encamped at Loudon's ferry, on the 
 south bank of the Mohawk river, five miles from 
 hence ; a brigade under Gen. Lincoln had joined 
 Gen. Stark at Bennington, and a brigade under 
 Gen. Arnold marched the 15th inst. to join the mili- 
 tia of Tryon county, to raise the siege of Fort 
 Stanwix. Upon leaving Philadelphia the prospect 
 this way appeared very gloomy; but the severe 
 clieoks the enemy have met with at Bennington 
 and in Tryon county have given a more pleasing 
 view to public affairs. Particular accounts of the 
 signal victory gained by Gen. Stark, and the severe 
 blow Gen. Herkimer gave Sir John Johnson and 
 the scalpers under his command, have been trans- 
 mitted to your excellency by Gen. Schuyler. I 
 anxiously expect the arrival of an express from 
 Gen. Arnold with an account of the total defeat of 
 the enemy in that quarter. By my calculation he 
 reached Fort Stanwix the day before yesterday. 
 Cols. Livingston's and Courtland's regiments ar- 
 rived yesterday and immediately joined Qeu. 
 Poor's division. I shall also order Gen. Arnold, 
 upon his return, to march to that post. I cannot 
 suflciently thank your excellency for sending Col. 
 Morgan's corps to this army. They will be of the 
 greatest service to it, for until the late successes 
 this way I am told the army were quite panic- 
 struck by the Indians and their tory and Canadian 
 assassins in Indian dresses. Horrible, indeed, have 
 been the cruelties they have wantonly committed 
 upon many of the miserable inhabitants, insomuch 
 that it is not fair for Gen. Burgoyne, even if the 
 bloody hatchet he has so barbarously used should 
 find its way into his own head. Gov. Clinton wlU 
 be here to-day. Upon his arrival I shall consult 
 with him and Gen. Lincoln upon the best plan to 
 distress, and I hope finally defeat the enemy. I 
 am sorry to be necessitated to acquaint your ez- 
 ceUenoy how neglectfully your orders have been 
 executed at Springfield— few of the militia demand- 
 ed are yet arrived, but I hear of great numbers 
 upon the march. Your excellency's advice in re- 
 gard to Morgan's corps, etc., etc., shall be careful- 
 ly observed. My scouts and spies inform me that 
 the enemy's headquarters and main body are at 
 Saratoga, and that they have lately been repairing 
 the bridges between that place and StiUwater. As 
 soon as time and circumstances will admit I shall 
 send your excellency a general return of this army. 
 I am, sir, your excellency's most obedient humble 
 servant, Hobatio Gates. 
 
 His Excellency, Gen. Washinqton. 
 
 THE MEN OF BATTLE OF 1777. 
 
 In these dark and perilous days the men in 
 the Tillages and upon the farms along the up- 
 per Hudson took up arms in defense of their 
 homes, and were found doing duty in the differ- 
 ent militia regiments of the county. The fol- 
 lowing return of a brigade of militia of the 
 county o£ Albany, of which Abraham Ten Bro- 
 
 eck was brigadier general, dated Fort ESdward, 
 July 18, 1777, designates the different com- 
 manders and the number of men belonging; to 
 their regiments, at the time Oen. Schuyler had 
 command of the department of the north : 
 
 Bantc ana jilt. 
 
 Col. Jacob Lansing's regiment 6S 
 
 Col. Abraham Wimple's regiment ISS 
 
 Col. FiancisNlcoirs regiment., 00 
 
 Col. ElUlan Van Rensselaer's regiment M 
 
 Col, Gerric Vandenberg's regiment 48 
 
 Col. Stephen J. Schuyler's regiment 191 
 
 Col. Robert Van Rensselaer's regiment 109 
 
 Col. Abraham Van Alstyne'B re^ment 36 
 
 Col. Peter Van Ness's regiment 238 
 
 Col. Feter R. Livingstones regiment 100 
 
 Col. Anthony Van Borgeu's regiment 6S 
 
 Col. Jacobus Van Scboonboren'B regiment., 118 
 
 Col. John McCrea'B regiment ISO 
 
 Col. Johannes Knickerbocker's regiment 97 
 
 Col. Peter Vrooman's regiment S7 
 
 Col. William B. Whiting's regiment 207 
 
 Total .1,7H 
 
 The Lansingborgh company, of which C!ome- 
 
 lius Noble was captain, belonged to Stephen J. 
 
 Schuyler's regiment. 
 
 The army of the North, commanded by Oen. 
 
 Horatio Gates, having secured the necessary 
 
 munitions, broke camp on September 8 and 
 
 marched toward Stillwater, where It arrived the 
 
 next day. The force under Oen. Oates at this 
 
 time numbered about 6,000 men. 
 
 DUTCH NAMES. 
 
 The Dutch language, Nederduitack, was at the 
 time of the war of the revolution Vbs common 
 vernacular of the people residing along the up- 
 per Hudson, or the North river, de Noord rivier. 
 Opposite Oats island, Haver EylatU, was in 1778 
 de nieuw Stadt, the new city of Lanaingburgh, 
 which name was used to distinguish it from de 
 oude Stadt, the old city of Albany, incorporated 
 In 1686. Opposite the ferry farm, pon^>aeia, of 
 the Van der Heyden family was Stony Point, 
 Steene Hoeck, a conspicuous ridge of shale rock 
 projecting into the river, where now is the ter- 
 minus of Buffalo street, West Troy, a part of 
 which forms the foundation of the house stand- 
 ing on the southeast comer of Buffalo street 
 and Broadway. The Mohawk river, de Maewae* 
 rivier, then emptied its water by four branches, 
 vier spruyteti, into the Hudson. On the island, 
 between the first and second yn-uyten, was a 
 green wood of pines, een groen botch, from wliich 
 Green island took its name. On the site of Troy 
 were the farm houses, pag/U-hiii2en, of Jacob 
 Van der Heyden, Dirck Van der Heyden, Hattys 
 Van der Heyden, and below the Foesten-kill 
 that of Jan Van Beuren. Still southward, in 
 the river, were three islands, respectively called 
 Sucker's, YlacMe and Schuyler's eylants. Here 
 and there along the river, within inclosed spaces 
 of land of one or two margens in extent (a mor- 
 gen being equal to two English acres) was a 
 farm house built of brick, gebaklcen Oem, baked 
 stone. From their doors, deurm, one could view 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 15 
 
 the arable land, bouw landt, or the pasture- 
 gronnd, iiiei4andt, and the adjacent creek, kUl, 
 that belonged to these farms. 
 
 After the surrender of Burgoyne, a sense of 
 secnrlty came npon these scattered homes. No 
 longer did the frightfal deeds of Indian massa- 
 cre disturb their peace, nor a threatened deso- 
 lation add a burden of fear to their quietude. 
 The goeden morgen, or goeden avoird or hoe vaart 
 gij? good morning, or good evening, or bow 
 d' ye do T of the farmers were now more hearty 
 and cordial. No longer did they with eager 
 questioning ask each other, is 'er eening nieuws? 
 is there any news ? 
 
 Although in their bams, schuuren, there was 
 not as much hay, Aoot, nor as much wheat, 
 tarxK, nor as much barley, garst, nor in their 
 corn-lofts as much com, koom, as had been in 
 them in the winter before the invasion of Bur- 
 goyne, they were none the less thankful that 
 there still remained shelter and food sufficient 
 for their horses, paerden, and cattle, ree, which 
 they in the summer had driven to hiding places 
 at the approach of the English invader. Many 
 of these thrifty farmers with their sons, had 
 joined the army as Krijgs^oolk, war people, or 
 militia men, and had there ennobled their hum- 
 ble service with such conspicuous displays of 
 unconscious heroism and bravery as to call 
 forth the personal praise of their commanders 
 and. comrades. Some less martial had by sub- 
 stitution sent de negers, the negroes, their 
 damien, slaves, who were to be seen in battle 
 fighting as bravely as their white coiapanions 
 in arms. 
 
 FBBBY HOOK. 
 
 In 1786 the present site of Troy, known by 
 the name of Ferry Hook, was occupied by the 
 tliree farms of Jacob I., Jacob D. and Matthias 
 Ver der Heyden. The first and eldest, whose 
 farm extended from where is now Grand Divi- 
 sion street northward to the Piscawen kill, re- 
 sided in a small, one-story brick dwelling, a 
 short remove from the junction of the Hoosick 
 and Biver roads, where now is the building 
 known as No. 548 River street, between Hoosick 
 and Vanderheyden streets. 
 
 Jacob D. Van der Heyden, known to the 
 early inhabitants of the village of Troy as the 
 "Fatroon," lived in a frame building on the 
 east side of the River road, now the southeast 
 comer of Ferry and River streets. 
 
 Matthias, the youngest of the three farmers, 
 dwelt in the old brick building still standing on 
 the southeast comer of Division and River 
 streets, whose farm extended southward of the 
 line of Division street to the Poesten kill. At 
 this time Lansingburgh, known as New City, 
 had already grown into a village of some im- 
 
 portance. The Van der Heydens, observing the 
 growing wealth of Abraham J. Lansing, who 
 had in 1771 divided a part of his farm into 
 building lots, streets and alleys, and had at- 
 tracted tliither a number of New England emi- 
 grants, at length consented to part with por- 
 tions of their farms to a few of the more per- 
 sistent and far-seeing Rhode Island and Con- 
 necticut men who persuaded them to lease, 
 here and there, along the river bank, a lot suf- 
 ficient for the erection and accommodation of a 
 dwelling and a store. 
 
 Among the first to secure such a place was 
 Benjamin Thurber from Providence, Rhode 
 Island. The following advertisement which 
 appeared in the Northern Gentind and Lansitiq- 
 burgh Advertiser, June 4, 1787, manifests the 
 business which engaged his attention at this 
 early period in the history of Troy : 
 
 Benjamin Thurber Hereby acquaints the Public 
 tliat he continues to sort his New Cash Store, at the 
 sign of the Bunch of Grapes at the Fork of 
 Hoosack Head, near Mr. Jacob Vanderheyden's 
 with East, West-Indian and European goods of all 
 kinds. For which he will receive, in lieu of Cash, 
 black Salts, Shipping Furs, Wheat, Com, Eye, But- 
 ter, Cheese, Flax and Flax Seed, Tallow, Hogs' 
 lard, Gammons, Pork, Bees-Wax and old Pewter. 
 He also continues to receive ashes, as usual, to 
 supply his new erected Pot and Pearl Ash factory, 
 and will pearl black Salts in the best manner on 
 Equitable Terms ; and also will give the highest 
 Price for black salts. 
 
 N. B. — A number of New French Muskets for 
 sale at the above store. 
 
 Following him, came Benjamin Covell from 
 Providence and secured a lot on the west side 
 of River street, between Ferry and Division 
 streets. On his arrival he wrote as follows to 
 his brother Silas : 
 
 Pbrkt Hooe, Nov. 16, 1786.— I arrived here the 2d. 
 This country is the best for business I ever saw. I 
 will go into my store the 18th of November ; hired 
 it for six months for £13 lawful money. Done more 
 business in one day than in one week in Provi- 
 dence. The night of the 15th, after sundown, took 
 in twenty dollars. Got my goods first from Al- 
 bany, but in the spring will go to New York. I am 
 one mile from Benjamin Thurber's down the river. 
 They are all well. I board to Stephen Ashley's, 
 the same man that I hire of. He appears to be a 
 clever man, and keeps a large tavern, which is a 
 great advantage to me. Benj. Coveix. 
 
 Capt. Stephen Ashley, to whom Benjamin 
 Covell refers in his letter, was keeping a tavern 
 in the old brick building of Matthias Van der 
 Heyden, standing on the southeast comer of 
 Division and River streets, at that time t>eing 
 the east side of the river road. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Gale of Killingworth, Conn., was 
 the next person to come to Ferry Hook, who 
 
16 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENS8ELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 bmilt a residence on the second lot sonth of 
 the southwest comer of Ferry and River streets. 
 These early settlers in time attracted other New 
 Englanders to Ferry Hook, or Aahley's ferry, 
 as it was sometimes called, in consequence of 
 Capt. Stephen Ashley having leased the fenry 
 from Matthias Van der Heyden, and which he 
 held until the summer of 1788. 
 
 Elkanah Watson, returning from a journey 
 in the West in the fall of 1788, thus wrote in his 
 journal concerning the little hamlet : 
 
 From Schenectady, I passed the road to Ashley's 
 Ferry, six miles above Albany. On the east side 
 of the river, at this point, a new town has been 
 recently laid out, named Vanderheyden. This 
 place is situated precisely at the head of naviga- 
 tion on the Hudson. Several bold and enterpris- 
 ing adventurers have already settled here ; a num- 
 ber of capacious warehouses and several dwell- 
 ings are already erected. It is favorably situated 
 in reference to the important and growing trade 
 of Vermont and Massachusetts ; and I believe it 
 not only bids fair to be a serious thorn In the side 
 of New caty, but in the issue a fatal rival. I 
 think Vanderheyden must, from its more eligible 
 ■ position, attain ultimate ascendancy. 
 
 In consequence of the unanticipated rapid 
 growth of the little hamlet which had for sev- 
 eral years been known under different names, 
 the enterprising settlers assembled together on 
 Monday evening, January 5, 1789, and resolved 
 that the place should thereafter be known as 
 Troy. They published this notice in the papers 
 of Albany and Lansingburgh : 
 
 To (he PuNlc : This evening the freekolders of the 
 place lately known by the name of Vanderheyden's 
 or Ashley's Ferry, situated on the east bank of the 
 Hudson river, about seven miles above Albany, 
 met for the purpose of establishing a name for said 
 place, when by a majority of voices it was con- 
 firmed that in the future it should be known by the 
 name of Troy. From its present improved state, 
 and the yet more pleasing prospect of its popular- 
 ity arising from the natural advantages in the mer- 
 cantile line, it may not be too sanguine to expect, 
 at no very distant period, to see Troy as famous 
 for her trade and navigation, as many of our first 
 towns. 
 
 Trot, January 5, 1789. 
 
 To this new center of trade and commerce 
 the tide of emigration from the older Atlantic 
 coast states turned, contributing men whose 
 active minds and industrious hands soon gave 
 to Troy a prestige for the rapid development of 
 its advantages of situation at the height of nav- 
 igation, and for the indomitable zeal constantly 
 manifested to enhance their interests among the 
 farmers from whom they obtained grain and 
 produce which formed the chief staples of traffic. 
 In 1788 Ephraim Morgan, Jonathan Hunt and 
 ' John Boardman were numbered among its mer- 
 
 chants. In 1780 Ebenezer and Samuel WlUson 
 from Mason, N. H. ; Mahlon Taylor, Albert 
 Pawling, Abraham Ten Eyck, Richard Grinnell, 
 James Caldwell, Josiah Kellogg, Israel Knapp, 
 Robert McClellan, Isaac Rogers and Henry Oud- 
 thont are found among those engaged in busi- 
 ness in the growing villa^. 
 
 OLD WATS OP TBAVBLnJG. 
 
 The early merchants of Troy were not slow In 
 competing with Lansingburgh and Albany for 
 the trade of the surrounding country. As soon 
 as the Dutch fanners began bringing their 
 wheat and other productions to Troy, means 
 were at once adopted to establish the necessary 
 transportation of them to New York. This is 
 quite evident from the following advertisement 
 in the Northern CeiUind: 
 
 The subscribers respectfully inform the public 
 that the schooner Flora of 60 tons burthen, Oate 
 from New London) will in future ply between New 
 York and Mr. Vanderheyden's ferry, two miles be- 
 low Lansingburgh, from which place she will 
 freight for New York, or elsewhere, on the same 
 terms they freight from Albany. The vessel has 
 good accommodations for passengers. Those gen- 
 tlemen who have any commands must apply to 
 Abraham Van Amam, near Benjamin Thurber's 
 store, who makes it his business to wait on such as 
 I may please to favor him. Casfbb Frats, 
 
 Seftbiibeb 10, 1787. Yailes Masdevilije. 
 
 Anyone taking passage in a sloop or schooner 
 sailing to New York, or from that city to Troy, 
 at this early day, generally expected, if the 
 wind was favorable, to make the voyage in two 
 days at the furthest, but should the wind be 
 variable and continue to blow in the opposite 
 direction to that in which he was going, the 
 journey was often lengthened to several weeks. 
 When there was a head-wind and the tide 
 against the vessel, the sloop would be compelled 
 to lay to. If there was a period of calm weath- 
 er, she went with the tide six hours and then 
 anchored six hours. Sailing with "a white-ash 
 breeze" was a burlesque phrase to express that 
 the men employed on the vessel were row- 
 ing with long white-ash oars, or " sweeps," as 
 they were called. These sweeps were about 20 
 feet in length, and when used in connection 
 with the drift of the tide, about 14 miles a day 
 could be made by a sloop in calm weather. 
 Oftentimes the large anchor of the sloop was 
 let go, and a boat sent ahead to a bar, with a 
 line and a small anchor called a kedge. The 
 kedge being dropped on the bar, the large an- 
 chor was taken up and the sloop by means of 
 the line attached was towed forward. The 
 operation of moving a vessel in this way was 
 called kedging. It was a very tiresome and 
 slow process, slower, in fact, than the move- 
 
HISTORY OF THR TOWNS OF BENS8ELAER COUNTY. 
 
 17 
 
 ment of a canal boat. A sloop generally bad 
 accommodatlona for conTeying from 10 to 15 
 passengers, having as high as 14 or 10 berths In 
 aoabln. 
 
 THE BTAOBB TO NEW TOBK. 
 
 In winter persons going to New York either 
 went on horseback or took passage In the 
 stages that at this time tan between Albany 
 and New York once a week. In 1789 the state 
 legislatore granted Ananias Flatt, an Innkeeper 
 In Lanslngburgh, a right to mn a dally stage 
 between that place and Albany, which going 
 and retnmlng passed through Troy, stopping 
 for flTe minutes at Capt. Ashley's tavern. Pas- 
 sengers were charged four shillings for a round 
 trip, ao pounds of baggage being allowed to 
 each person paying full fare. The exclnslTe 
 right of running a line of stages, on the east 
 side of the Hudson rlyer, between the cities of 
 New York and Albany, for a term of 10 years, 
 was granted by the legislature, April 4, 1786, to 
 Isaac Van Wyck, Talmage Hall and John Kin- 
 ney. They ware to furnish at least two good 
 and sufficient covered stages, such to be drawn 
 by four able horses, the price per passenger 
 not to exceed four pence per mile, with liberty 
 of carrying 14 pounds of baggage. The stages 
 were to proceed at least once each week on the 
 journey from the respective cities unless they 
 were prevented by the badness of the roads or 
 some uncommon accident. In the summer of 
 1794 the fare by stage from Albany to New York 
 was t7.25 ; in the following winter t8. In the 
 winter of 1796 the fare was tlO, but In the 
 spring .of tl797 It was reduced to (6. 
 
 THE TOWS OP TROT FOUNDED. 
 
 On the 7th of February, 1791, Rensselaer 
 county was erected by an act of the legislature. 
 On the 18th of March following the town of 
 Troy was formed by a legislative enactment. 
 The act relating to It reads : 
 
 That from and after the first Monday in April 
 next, all that part of the town of Sensselaerwyck 
 in the county of Bensselaer which lies north of a 
 line to be drawn from a point on the east bank of 
 the Hudson river sixteen miles distant from the 
 southwest comer of the town of Bensselaerwyck, 
 and running from thence east to the west bounds of 
 the town of Fetersburgh, shall be, and Is hereby 
 created, into a distinct and separate town by the 
 name of Troy, and that the first town meeting of 
 tiie said town of Troy shall be held at the dwelling 
 house now occupied by Stephen Ashley, In the 
 said town. 
 
 On Monday the 4th of April a town meeting 
 was held at Ashley's tavern, and the first town 
 officers elected. They were : 
 
 5uperci<or— Cornelius Lansing. 
 
 Aueuon—DerlBk Lane, Ephralm Morgan, David 
 
 3 
 
 DeFreest, Henry H. Gardlnlerand Nicholas Wager. 
 
 CbfMtaMw— David Henry, William Hiokok, I«w- 
 renoe Dorset and Samuel Colamore. 
 
 Collector (ff TVtXM— David Henry. 
 
 Ovtrieen tf the i^»r— David Henry and Henry H. 
 Gardinler. <■ 
 
 Oommittionert of Blghwayt Cornelius Lansing, 
 
 Mahlon Taylor and Jacob Wager. i 
 
 Town Clerj;— Cornelius Lanslns. 
 
 From the territory first embraced in the town 
 of Troy the section known as the town of Bruns- 
 wick, and parts of Grafton and Lanslngburgh, 
 were taken off March 20, 1807, and a portion 6f 
 Oreenbush in 1836. In 1814 a part of Bruns- 
 wick was annexed, 
 
 TBOT IN 1791. 
 
 The farm of Jacob D. Van der Heyden, ex- 
 tending from the present centre line of Grand 
 Division street on the north to the middle of 
 Division street on the south, was surveyed and 
 laid out Into lots, streets and alleys In 1787 by 
 Flores Bancker. 
 
 We are told that " it was, with a foresight not 
 always observed, laid out with a view of its ul- 
 timately being a place of considerable magni- 
 tude ; and Philadelphia, with its regular squares 
 and rectangular streets, was selected as Ite 
 model, by the advice of a gentleman who had 
 made a then rare visit to that celebrated city." 
 
 The farm of Matthias Van der Heyden, 
 bounded north by Division street and south by 
 the Poesten kill, was laid out into building lots 
 by John E. Van Alen in 1793. 
 
 The property of Jacob I. Van der Heyden, ex- 
 tending from Grand Division street to the Fls- 
 cawen kill, was surveyed and divided Into lots 
 and streets by John E. Van Alen, also In 1793. 
 
 An inquisitive slgbt-eeer could only have 
 counted about 65 buildings along the newly laid 
 out streets of the village of Troy in 1791. These 
 had been erected principally on River street, 
 between Division and Albany (now Broadway) 
 streets. The brick building still standing on 
 the southeast comer of Division and River 
 streete, stood the farthest south. From that 
 point northward on the east side of the street 
 to the comer of First and River streete there 
 were 16 houses and stores. On the west side of 
 River street, from the site of the Fulton market 
 to Division street, were distributed 17 build- 
 ings. On both sides of First street from Divis- 
 ion to River streets there were only 12 houses. 
 On Second street there were two ; one on Third 
 and one on Fourth. On both sides of River 
 street from Federal street to the Piscawen kill 
 only 10 buildings could be counted. 
 
 The following persons embraced the heads of 
 families, the merchants and manufacturers 
 of the place in 1791 : 
 
18 
 
 HISTOKY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 BUjab Adams, 
 Asa Anthony, 
 Zephaniah Anthony, 
 Capt. Stephen Ashley, 
 Jesse Benham, 
 James Betts, 
 Jacob Bishop, 
 Daniel Carpenter, 
 Benjamin Covell, 
 Jonathan Davis, 
 John Dickens, 
 Lawrence Dorset, 
 Capt. Fellows, 
 Casper Frats, 
 Abraham Frear, 
 Dr. Samnel Qale, 
 Benjamin Qorton, 
 Philip Heartt, 
 Capt. John Hudson, 
 Christopher Button, 
 Timothy Button, 
 Adam Eeeline, 
 Robert Elncaide, 
 Israel Knapp, 
 
 Bobert HcClellan, 
 
 Daniel Ilerritt, 
 
 Bphriam Morgan, 
 
 Henry Ondthout, 
 
 Col. Albert Pawling, 
 
 John Pease, 
 
 Wait Bathbun, 
 
 William Sheldon, 
 
 Capt. Squires, 
 
 Abraham Ten Eyck, 
 
 Jacob D. Van der Hey- 
 den, 
 
 Jacob I. Van der Heyden, 
 
 Matthias Van der Hey- 
 den, 
 
 Nanning Van der Hey- 
 den, 
 
 James Wardwell, 
 
 Capt. John Warren, 
 
 Solomon Wilbur, 
 
 Capt. Joseph WUson, 
 
 Samuel Wilson, 
 
 George Young, 
 
 Henry Yonng. 
 
 THE INDOMITABLE ZEAI. OF THE TBOJTANS. 
 
 The local advantages that would accrue to 
 the village in which the county court-house and 
 jail should be built, were plainly apparent to 
 the people of Troy and Lanslngbuigh. The 
 Trojans were too zealous and enterprising to 
 permit the county seat being placed at Lansing- 
 burgh without a struggle on their part to secure 
 its location at Troy. They had carefully con- 
 sidered their means to obtain the county build- 
 ings and at once began to demand the privilege 
 of competing for their erection in Troy. Lan- 
 singburgh as the older village set forth its claims 
 of age and growth, and Troy argued that its 
 position was central and convenient of ap- 
 proach. As the decision in regard to the selec- 
 tion of the site for the court-house and jail lay 
 with the legislature, the people of the village 
 with practical shrewdness nominated as candi- 
 dates for senator and assemblymen individuals 
 of unquestioned ability and unequaled popu- 
 larity. These were Bobert Woodworth for sen- 
 ator; CSuistopher Hutton, Josiah Masters, 
 Nicholas Staats, Jonathan Niles and Benjamin 
 Hicks for assemblymen. This ticket was elected, 
 although a mixed one, partly Federalist and 
 anti-Federalist. 
 
 To avoid any appearance of partiality, these 
 members of the legislature announced that the 
 yillage which would subscribe the more liber- 
 ally for the erection of county buildings would 
 have the preference in the decision. " Let no 
 man despise thy youth," St. Paul enjoined upon 
 Timothy. The advice of the apostle to the 
 Gentiles was the quickening thought of the 
 early Trojans. Lansingburgh was satisfied 
 that the people of the little village of Troy 
 were too few in number, young adventurers, 
 with no capital, and were already burdened 
 with personal debts. But time provided 
 another factor of success which the people of 
 Lansingburgh had overlooked in their estimate 
 
 of the ability of the people of Troy to dare and 
 to do. Quietly and persistently a subscription 
 paper was circulated and signed, some men 
 writing their names for more than they were 
 actually worth, while others gave generously of 
 their more abundant means. 
 
 THE CODNTT BUILDINGS AWARDED TO TROT. 
 
 The "act for building a court-house and 
 gaol in the county of Rensselaer" was passed 
 January 11, 1793. 
 
 The first section reads : " The supervisors of 
 the several towns in the county of Rensselaer, 
 for the time being or the major part of them, 
 shall be and they are hereby authorized and re- 
 quired to direct to be raised and levied on the 
 freeholders and inhabitants of the said county 
 the sum of six hundred pounds, for the purpose 
 of building a court-house and gaol in said county, 
 with the additional sum of one shilling in the 
 pound for collecting the same, which sums 
 shall be raised, levied and collected in the same 
 manner as the other necessary and contingent 
 charges of the said county are levied and col- 
 lected. 
 
 Section three provides " that the said sum of 
 six hundred pounds shall be paid into the treas- 
 ury of the said county on or before the first of 
 October next." 
 
 Section four provides " that Cornelius Lan- 
 sing, Jacob C. Schermerhom, Abraham Ten 
 Eyck, Mahlon Taylor and Jacob D. Van der 
 Heyden shall be the commissioners to superin- 
 tend the building of said court house and gaol ; 
 and that the said commissioners, or thie major 
 part of them, shall and maycontract with work- 
 men and purchase materials for the erecting the 
 same, and shall from time to time draw upon 
 the treasurer of the said county for the money 
 for the aforesaid purpose." 
 
 Section five of the act provides "that it shall 
 and may be lawful for the treasurer to retain in 
 his hands the sum of three pence in the pound 
 for his trouble in receiving and paying out the 
 money to be raised." 
 
 Section six. " That the court house and coal 
 to be built, shall be erected and built within 
 sixty rods of the dwelling house of Stephen Ash- 
 ley in the village of Troy, in the town of Troy." 
 
 Section seven. " That the aforesaid commis- 
 sioners or the major part of them are hereby au- 
 thorized and required to determine and fix upon 
 some suitable place for erecting and building 
 the aforesaid court house and goal, within sixty 
 rods of the dwelling bouse of Stephen Ashley 
 aforesaid. And whereas it appears to the legis- 
 lature thatjacob D. Van der Heyden and others, 
 inhabitants of the village of Troy, in the town 
 aforesaid, have promised and agreed to pay the 
 
HISTORY OP THE TOWNS OF REN8SELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 19 
 
 sum of one thousand pounds for erectlBg and 
 building a court house and goal, in the said 
 county of Rensselaer to such commissioners as 
 should be by law appointed to build and erect 
 the same ; therefore it was provided in section 
 eight that the said sum of one thousand pounds 
 should be paid to the treasurer of the county 
 for the aforesaid purposes. 
 
 TBOT'S PLBDOE. 
 
 Three days after the passage of the above act, 
 the following subscription paper was circulated 
 among the inhabitants of Troy and its neigh- 
 borhood: 
 
 To all to whom theaepreaenU shaU come or may eon- 
 cem—Wlureas, By an act of the legislature of the 
 state of New York at their present session, It was 
 enacted that a Court House and Gaol should be 
 erected and built In the county of Ilensselaer with- 
 in ststy rods of the dwelling house of Stephen 
 Ashley, In the village of Troy, In the town of Troy, 
 and that the sum of one thousand pounds should 
 be made payable to the treasurer of said county 
 for the time being, for the purpose aforesaid, by 
 the inhabitants of the said village in the town of 
 Troy. Now therefore know ye that we whose 
 names are hereunto subscribed do resiwctively 
 promise to pay unto Albert Pawling and Christo- 
 pher Button, or to one of them, to tfaetr or one of 
 their executors, administrators or assigns, the sum 
 of money, annexed to our respective names on de- 
 mand, which money is to be appropriated to the 
 buildlnc of a Court House and Gaol as aforesaid- 
 dated this fourteenth day of January, in the year 
 of our Lord, one thousand and seven hundred and 
 ninety-three : 
 JmcobD.Vanderheyden.twohundrcd pounds. £900 
 
 Abraliam Ten Ejck & Co., fifty pounds SO 
 
 Cbrlst' A Tlm'7 Button, tblr^-flve pounds.... 36 
 
 BenJ'n Gorton, twenty pounds 20 
 
 Jons' * Alaop Hunt, tmrty-flve pounds 85 6 
 
 Benjamin Covell, fifty pounds ISO 
 
 John D. Vanderlieyden, thirty pounds SO 
 
 IlatblBeVanderbeyden, one hundred dollars.. 40 
 
 Hugh 8. McClellan 13 
 
 Adam Keeling, elgbt pounds 8 
 
 Epta'm Morgan, tblrty-five pounds 35 
 
 James Betts IS 
 
 Jonathan Piatt 10 
 
 CalebRussell : 2 
 
 Asa Antbony, five pounds 5 
 
 Joalab Sheldon, tbree pounds 8 
 
 Bobert Power, five pounds 5 
 
 Jotm ft Peter Frear, five ponnds 5 
 
 Daniel Harris, two pounds, 40s £2 
 
 Jeremlab Felrce, five pounds 5 
 
 Lather Walker, lour pounds 4 
 
 Humpbrey Clark, sixty sbllUngs 3 
 
 JOD'hn Warren, eight pounds £8 
 
 John WlUson, four pounds 4 
 
 James Wardwell, four pounds In plank 4 
 
 Stephen Andres, two pounds 2 
 
 Samuel Wilson, four pounds 4 
 
 Lawrence Dorset 4 
 
 Jobn Fowler, eight pounds 8 
 
 Solomon Wllbore, forty shillings 8 
 
 Oeoige Greenwood, fifteen shillings OlS 
 
 his 
 
 Hendrick Coonndt, M twenty dollars 8 
 
 mark. 
 
 Jobn Anthony, thirty shillings 1 10 
 
 Samuel Johnson, aOs 10 
 
 Tennis Skabt, forty sblUlngs 2 
 
 Bobert McClellan, ten pounds 10 
 
 William Sheldon, ten pounds 10 
 
 Flact WIckes, five pounds 6 
 
 Hedges, WIckes ft Co., fifteen pounds 16 
 
 Caaper Frata, ten pounds 10 
 
 AbelHonse, four pounds 4 
 
 Jobn Warren, eight pounds 8 
 
 Jobn De Camp, six pounds BOO 
 
 Henry De Camp 
 
 Jobn Woodworth, twenty pounds 20 
 
 Jacob D. Vanderheyden, one hundred pounds 
 
 more 100 6 
 
 Jamea Spencer, ten pounds 10 
 
 MalilOD Taylor. 100 
 
 JohnElncald 10 
 
 Joshua Owen, eight pounds 8 
 
 Jonathan Larrabee, eight pounds 8 
 
 Samuel Miner, five pounds 6 
 
 Walt Rathbun, ten pounds 10 
 
 Joslah Kellogg, four pounds 4 
 
 Philip Hesrtt, four pounds 4 
 
 WUllam Wlllard, four pounds 4 
 
 Eben'r Wlllson, three pounds 3 
 
 Bennljah Wright, twelve pounds 12 
 
 Benl.ftB.Gale 15 
 
 Anthony Goodspeed, ten pounds 10 
 
 GeorgeDlckens, ten pounds 10 
 
 Daniel ft M. Merrltt, thirty pounds SO 
 
 James Van Blarum, three pounds £3 
 
 Moses Bears, eight pounds 8 
 
 As a gift, Jacob D. Van der Heyden conveyed 
 to the supervisors of the county lots 145, 146 and 
 147, on the southeast corner of Congress and 
 Second streets, on March 32, 1793, whereon the 
 building of the court house began that year. 
 
 THE EBECTION OF THE OOJiL. 
 
 The legislature on March 25, 1794, passed a 
 second act to raise a further sum of eight hun- 
 dred pounds for completing the courthouse and 
 goal, under which act Cornelius Lansing, Jacob 
 E. Schermerhom, Abram Ten Eyok, Mahlon 
 Taylor and Jacob D. Van der Heyden, together 
 with John Van Rensselaer, James Dole, Eph- 
 raim Morgan and Benjamin Gorton were ap- 
 pointed to act as commissioners to superintend 
 the erection of the county buildings. 
 
 By a third act passed April 3, 1797, the super- 
 visors of the county were authorized to raise a 
 further sum of $3,500, together with an addi- 
 tion of five cents on the dollar for collecting 
 the same, and one cent on each dollar for treas- 
 urer's fees. 
 
 By a further act, passed April 4, 1798, a sum 
 of $500 was authorized to be raised for making 
 certain necessary accommodations for the goal 
 and certain repairs for the court house. 
 
 On November 11, 1794, Benjamin Gorton, 
 clerk of the supervisors, advertised for propo- 
 sals for the building of the county jail. The 
 new court house, in which the court of com- 
 mon pleas was the first to convene on the second 
 Tuesday in June, 1794, was a two-story brick 
 building, with a cupola for a bell, occupying 
 the site of the present court house. In 1795 
 the gaol was completed, being built of brick, 
 two stories high, with iron barred windows. It 
 was erected on the southwest comer of the 
 alley, at the rear of the court house. 
 
 In the court house yard were erected a whip- 
 ping post and stocks. Here, at intervals, a 
 class of criminals were publicly whipped, re- 
 ceiving from the sherifi or his deputy so many 
 lashes, less than 40, as a punishment for their 
 misdeeds. The unfortunates who were placed 
 in the stocks were made the objects of the ridi- 
 cule of passers-by, and were often pelted by 
 the village children with the most disagreeable 
 missiles that tbey could find for the purpose. 
 
20 
 
 HI9T0BT OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAEK COTTNTT, 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE TOWN OF TROY. 
 
 The first Meeting - House Erected in it — Secrets Concerning the 
 Location of the Farmers' Bank — The Early Physicians of the 
 County — Inaugural Procession of the Agricultural Society 7— 
 New County Buildings Erected — The Competitive Spirit of the 
 Troy People — Their Manufacturing Enterprises — The Calami- 
 tous Fires of 1820, 1854 and 1862 — An Honorable War Record 
 — Statistical Summary. 
 
 One is no little soiprised to find such a qnick- 
 eninj; spirit of enterprise in so small a Tillage 
 as Troy was in 1794. Eight years before this 
 date on its site were only three houses— the 
 homes of three Dutch farmers ; one built in 
 1752, now standing on the southeast comer of 
 Division and River streets ; one erected in 1756, 
 now forming a part of the brick building known 
 as No. 548 River street, between Hoosick and 
 Vanderheyden streets ; the third, a two-story 
 frame house, built, perhaps, about the middle of 
 the eighteenth century, opposite the ferry, be- 
 longing to the old homestead. In 1830, this last 
 house, formerly occupied by Jacob D. Van der 
 Heyden, on the southeast comer of Ferry and 
 River streets, was rented by John Barney and 
 kept as a boarding-house. South of Division 
 street was the farm of Matthias Van der Hey- 
 den, which was still under cultivation, while 
 northward the farm of Jacob D. Van der Hey- 
 den, extending to Grand Divlaon street, ad- 
 joining the river, was a barren plain covered 
 with small pines and scrub oaks. Where is now 
 Sixth street or the railroad track, there was a 
 small stream that ran southwardly to the Poes- 
 tenkUl. 
 
 THE FIBST MKBTINO-HOUSB. 
 
 While the active-minded, diligent and sanguine 
 men of this small community were doing with 
 their might the things they deemed the most im- 
 portant for the development of the local advan- 
 tages of the place, they were also respecters of 
 
 the 
 
 " DiTinity that shapes onr ends, 
 BouKh-hew them how we will." 
 
 Without any clergyman to direct or to lead 
 them, they with common accord met together 
 on Sundays at the sound of the conch shell 
 used at the ferry, in the ball-chamber of Capt. 
 Stephen Ashley's tavem, near the northwest 
 comer of Ferry and River streets, where Dr. 
 Samuel Qale or CoL Albert Pawling would read 
 to them selected sermons. When the number 
 of the inhabitants had increased, desiring a 
 more united organization, the citizens assem- 
 bled at Ashley's tavem on the Slst of Decem- 
 ber, 1791, and organized the Presbyterian con- 
 gregation of the town of Troy, and selected for 
 its irst trustees Jacob D. Van der Heyden, Dr. 
 Samuel Qale, Ephraim Morgan, John McChes- 
 ney, sr., Benjamin Covell and Benjamin Ctorton. 
 A frame bnilding for a meeting house having 
 been erected a short distance south of the 
 southeast comer of Congress and First streets, 
 and the trustees desiring to complete it, the 
 following memorial was drawn up on the 20th 
 of November, 1792, and presented to the peo- 
 ple of Troy : 
 
 Whereat, The inhabitants of the town have began 
 and partly completed a church bnilding, but by 
 reason of the almost Infant settlement, and a vari- 
 ety of other public expenses, which mnst neoes- 
 sarily attend a newly settled town, they And it 
 burdensome for them to carry their wishes into 
 effect without calling in the aid of their friends 
 and fellow-ChristiaDs ; we therefore, the tmstess 
 of said eongregation, have and do hereby appoint 
 Jacob D. Van derBeyden to present this onr me- 
 morial to all whom he shall think proper, request- 
 ing their aid and asslstanoe in the completion of 
 the above undertaking. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EBNSSELAER COTJNTT. 
 
 21 
 
 Safflcient money having been subscribed, a 
 contract for doing the wood-work was let to 
 Abel House, Robert Powers, Henry and John 
 DeCamp and Benjamin Smith for "forty-six 
 pounds, thirteen shillings, York money, in 
 cash ; and ninety-three pounds, seven shillings, 
 in European and West Indian goods at the re- 
 tail prices in Troy." When the Rev. Jonas Coe 
 was ordained in the new meeting-house on the 
 25th of June, 1793, blocks of wood were brought 
 into the unfurnished building, and boards were 
 placed on them for the seating of the people in 
 attendance. The installation services, a news- 
 paper of that time, says, were "conducted 
 with propriety and dignity becoming the 
 solemnity of the occasion." ' 
 
 THE PIBBT VILLAGE OFFICERS. 
 
 The first village oflScers were created by an 
 act of the legislature, entitled " An act to ap- 
 point trustees to take and hold certain lands 
 therein mentioned, and for other purposes," 
 passed March 25, 1794. The first part of the 
 act relates to the village of Lansingburgh. Sec- 
 tion six relates to Troy : 
 
 Arid be it further enacted, by the auUiority aforeiaid. 
 That Jacob D. Van der Heyden, Benjamin Covell, 
 Anthony Goodspeed, John Pease, Ephraim Hor- . 
 gao, Christopher Button and Samuel Gale, shall 
 be, and they are hereby declared to be the first 
 tmstees for the freeholders and inhabitants of 
 tbatpartof the town of Troy, in the county of 
 Bensselaer, residing within the limits following, 
 viz : Beginning on the north side of a certain 
 creek called Poesten creek, where there was for- 
 meriy a saw-mill fifty-eight chains from Hudson's 
 river, and runs from thence down along the said 
 eroek to the said river, thence up along the said 
 river to a small creek called the Meadow creek, [a 
 little north of Hoosick street,] thence along the 
 aald creek into the woods, south seventy degrees 
 easterly, forty chains, thence south twenty-three 
 degrees and thirty minutes westerly, along the 
 west side of the land of the late Albert Bratt, one 
 hundred and six chains to the place of beginning. 
 The above courses to be run as the magnetic nee- 
 dle pointed In the year one thousand seven hun- 
 dred and twenty. And shall continue to be 
 trustees as aforesaid until the first Tuesday in 
 May next, and until others shall be chosen In their 
 place ; and It shall and may he lawful to and for 
 the freeholders and inhabitants for the time 
 being, residing within the village of Troy, within 
 the boundaries aforesaid, and qualified by law to 
 vote at town meetings, to assemble on the second 
 Tuesday of May next, and annually on the second 
 Tuesday of May thereafter, at such place, and at 
 such time of the day as the tmstees for the tbne 
 being, or the major part of them, shall by public 
 advertisement appoint, and under the direction of 
 the said tmstees, or snch of them as shall be pres- 
 ent, who are hereby made inspectors of such eleo- 
 tion, then and there, by a majority of voices, to 
 
 elect seven Inhabitants, being freeholders, to be 
 trustees as aforesaid, who shall continue in office 
 until the second Tuesday of Hay in the next ensu- 
 ing year, and until others shall be chosen in their 
 place. 
 
 The same act empowered the freeholders and 
 inhabitants of the village to ordain and estab- 
 lish prudential rules and orders relative to the 
 cleansing and keeping in order and repair the 
 oommon streets and highways of Troy; also, 
 "to compel the housekeepers in Troy" to fur- 
 nish themselves with a sufficient number of fire 
 buckets, and with necessary tools and imple- 
 ments for extingoishing of fires, and to impose 
 such penalties on offenders as the majority of 
 the freeholders and inhabitants should from 
 time to time deem proper, not exceeding forty 
 shillings for any one offense. 
 
 The trustees also, "with all convenient 
 speed," were to elect a sufficient number of 
 men willing to accept, not exceeding 15 in num- 
 ber, to have the caie, management, working 
 and use of the fire engine belonging to the vil- 
 lage. 
 
 EVIDBKCES OF OBOWTB. 
 
 Before Troy became a post-village letters to 
 its inhabitants were directed to " Albany " and 
 were brought to the village by a postman. After 
 Lansingburgh, in 1792, obtained a postofflce 
 letters for the people of Troy were directed 
 thither. Early in 1796 Nathan Williams, at 
 that time a law student In the office of John 
 Woodworth, was appointed postmaster of the 
 village of Troy. 
 
 In the following year, Troy's first newspaper, 
 the Farmers^ Orade, was published by Luther 
 Pratt & Co. The first issue of the paper was 
 announced in the Americari Spy, of Lansing- 
 burgh: 
 
 Luther Pratt & Co. inform their old customers 
 that they have removed their printing material 
 from Lansingburgh to Troy, and commenced pub- 
 lishing a newspaper at their printing office in Water 
 street, opposite the ferry, entitled Farmert^ Oracle, 
 printed every Tuesday, at 12 shilllngB per annum. 
 
 Tbot, January 31, 1797. 
 
 THE FIBBT PABTICULAB BAITI8T CHUBOH. 
 
 Among the early inhabitants of the growing 
 village were a number of families which had 
 previoualy been connected with Baptist socle- 
 ties in the places where they formerly resided. 
 Of these persons were Silas Covell and wife, of 
 Providence, R. I., Adam Keeling, Ebenezer 
 Wilson and John Howard. Social worship was 
 held at first at the dwellings of the Baptist 
 people. At length a room was rented in a 
 building near the comer of Albany and River 
 streets, which was used as a place of assem- 
 blage. On the 15th of October, 1795, a church 
 
22 
 
 HISTOEY OP THE TOWN'S OF BENS8ELAEE COTJNTY. 
 
 oiganizatlon was effected under the name of 
 " The First Particular Baptist church In the vil- 
 lage of Troy." Through theliberality of Jacob 
 D. Van der Heyden, the society became pos- 
 sessed of lot number 331, south of the old Third 
 street burying ground. On January 4, 1804, 
 Adam Keeling, Edward Tylee, Silas Corell, 
 Ebenezer Wilson, Kbenezer Jones and Noble S. 
 Johnson w«e elected trustees, who with other 
 members of the congregation made contribu- 
 tions for the erection in 1805 of a small meeting 
 house. The society in a few years had so in- 
 creased in numbers that a large room for con- 
 ference meetings was needed and built. In 
 1846 the old church edifice was removed and the 
 present building erected. 
 
 Referring to the taking of the census in 1800, 
 the editor of the Troy weekly paper says of the 
 village : 
 
 To exhibit, however, some idea of the rapidity 
 of onr growth, it will he suffiolent for as to ob- 
 serve that 15 years ago there were in this village 
 (now compriBing somewhat more than u mile 
 square) but two dwelling houses, and probably 
 not more than 15 inhabitants : and that, at the 
 present time it contains about SOO dwelling-honses 
 (independent of stores, etc.,) and 1,803 Inhabitants. 
 A population so rapid has, we believe, but seldom 
 been witnessed in the United States. Situated as 
 we are at the head of the sloop navigation of an 
 extensive river, and surrounded on every side by 
 a fertile country, whose population has also ex- 
 perienced a rapid Increase, our commerce has In- 
 creased in at least an equal ratio with our Inhab- 
 itanU. 
 
 At this time the land, from the month of the 
 Poesten kill southward to within 20 rods of the 
 Van Buren house, belonged to the farm of Ste- 
 phen I. Schuyler. From the latter point to 
 the Mathiss kill Mrs. Van Buren's farm extended. 
 From the last named kill, southward about 70 
 rods, was the mill-property of Thomas L. Wit- 
 beck, leased from David DeFriest. The mills of 
 Thomas L. Witbeck occupied the present site of 
 the Bessemer steel works. 
 
 STBIFB FOB TOE SITE OF THE FARMEBS' BANK. 
 
 When the state legislature, on the 31st of 
 March, 1801, passed the act to Incorporate the 
 Farmers' bank, with a capital stock of {300,000, 
 it provided that the bank should be located 'at 
 such place In the town of Troy as Hosea Mofflt, 
 Jonathan Brown, John E. Van Alen and James 
 McKown, or any three of them, should desig- 
 nate and point out, which location, when so 
 made, should be unalterable, and the said 
 place should be near the road leading from Troy 
 to Lansingburgh, and not further north than 
 the Mill creek, nor further south than the house 
 of Joshua Raymond ; and that the bank should 
 be erected and so far completed as to admit the 
 
 transaction of the business of the bank by the 
 first day of December, 1801. 
 
 The first directors of the Farmers' bank 
 were: 
 
 ?Voy— John Woodworth, Daniel Herritt, Benja- 
 min Tibbits, Christopher Button, Townsend If o- 
 Coun and Ephralm Morgan. 
 
 XaMini^&ur^A— Elijah Janes, Charles Selden, John 
 D. Dickinson, James Hickok and WUUam Bradley. 
 
 IFa/t^ord— QnertVanSchoonhoven and Samuel 
 Stewart. 
 
 When the time came to determine upon the 
 location of the bank building it seems that the 
 majority of the directors favored the selection 
 of a site convenient to the village of Troy. To 
 accomplish this wish tactics of a most unbnsl- 
 ness like character were adopted. As a full 
 but brief record of the proceedings of the direc- 
 tors respecting the selection of a site has never 
 been heretofore published, it may be interest- 
 ing to the readers of the Troy SaOy Timet to 
 know what was the course pursued to obtain 
 the location of the bank as near to the village 
 as the law allowed. At a meeting of the direc- 
 tors, held at Jacob's hotel in Lansingburgh, 
 June 29, 1801, the following action was taken : 
 
 On motion of Mr. Woodworth— 
 
 Setolved, Unanimously, that in case the lot for 
 the temporary place of establishment of the bank . 
 shall fall to the village of Troy, that we will point 
 ont to the commissioners the bouse of Joshua 
 Raymond, In the village of Troy, as the house con- 
 templated in the act, and that In case It should 
 fall to the village of Lansingburgh, we will Imme- 
 diately cause a temporary building to be erected 
 on the middle ground at or near the place contem- 
 plated by the commissioners for transacting the 
 business until the legislature shall have decided on 
 the petition of the directors. 
 
 Setolved, unmtimouely. That we will unite in a pe- 
 tition to the legislature at the next session for ob- 
 taining the alterations In the act of Incorporation 
 to enable the directors to carry Into efFect the mat- 
 ters contemplated in the resolutions of the board 
 respecting the permanent and temporary place for 
 the buildings, and that we will, unitedly and sev- 
 erally, use our best exertions In the premises. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Selden : 
 
 Beeolved, That we will teverally keep tecret the rent 
 of the lot for the temporary place of establishing 
 the bank, and our resolutions this day passed re- 
 specting the same, until the farther order of the 
 board on the same. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Woodward, seconded by Mr. 
 Bradley: 
 
 Setolved, That this board do pledge themselves 
 individually that they will adhere to and perform 
 the several matters contained In the preceding 
 resolutions, and that the president put the same to 
 the several members of the board. 
 
 This was done by the president, John D. 
 Dickinson. 
 
HISTORY OF THE T0WK8 OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 23 
 
 On motion of Mr. Woodward, seconded by Mr. 
 Button : 
 
 Setolved, vnanimouily. That this board will im- 
 mediately proceed to determine by lot agreeable 
 to the resolutions of the 6th day of June as amend- 
 ed, the temporary place for the establishment of 
 the bank, and that Mr. Bradley do prepare and 
 roll np for the purpose five ballots with the word 
 " Lanslngbnrgh" written thereon, and five ballots 
 with the word " Troy" written thereon ; that the 
 same be placed and shook together in a hat by Mr. 
 Button and drawn by Mr. Herritt blindfold In the 
 presence of the board, and that the said tempor- 
 ary place shall be at the village, the name of which 
 shall be written on two of the three first ballots so 
 to be drawn. 
 
 The ballots having been prepared by Mr. Button 
 and Mr. Bradley, Mr. Merritt drew one after an- 
 other three ballots out of the hat so prepared, on 
 opening which it appeared that the word " Lan- 
 slngbnrgb" was written on the two first and the 
 word "Troy" on the third. Mr. Merritt then pro- 
 ceeded to draw the residue of the ballots which, 
 having been all opened, were found to be prepared 
 agreeable to the preceding resolution. 
 
 At a subsequent meeting it was determined 
 that a banking house should be buUt 30 by 40 
 feet and a kitchen 18 by 21 feet, and that 
 Hessrs. Hntton, Hlckok and Merritt should be 
 the bnllding committee. Jacob D. Van der 
 Heyden having presented the bank with two 
 lots on the northwest comer of Middleborgh 
 and River streets, two other adjoining lots were 
 purchased from him, and the foundations of 
 the banking house built directly over the 
 boundary line of Troy and Lanslngbuigh. 
 
 On the 1st of December, 1801, the Tanners' 
 bank, Hugh Peebles cashier, commenced busi- 
 ness in its newly-erected building. The bank- 
 vault, built of brick, is still to be seen in the 
 cellar, as it was left November 15, 1808, when 
 the bank was removed to a new building 
 erected on the second lot south of the south- 
 west comer of First and State streets. 
 
 A. TDBHPIEB TOWARD THE WEST. 
 
 Aware that much of the trade of the country 
 west of the Hudson was drawn to Albany, the 
 enterprising merchants of Troy determined to 
 attract by means of a good and direct road the 
 Dutch fanners living toward Schenectady to 
 bring their grain and produce to Troy. For 
 this purpose they petitioned the legislature to 
 grant them the right of making a turnpike to 
 Schenectady. "An act for establishing a turn- 
 pike road from opposite the village of Troy to 
 the city of Schenectady " was passed April 2, 
 1808. By it Ephraim Morgan, Oeorge Tibbits, 
 Abraham Oothoudt and their associates were 
 constituted a body corporate and politic by the 
 name of " the president, directors and compa- 
 ny of the Troy and Schenectady turnpike." 
 
 The capital stock consisted of 350 shares of 150 
 each. The first officers of the company were : 
 President, Ephraim Morgan ; directors, Qeorge 
 Tibbits, Abraham Oothoudt (of Schenectady), 
 Derick Lane, Abraham Ten Eyck, Albert Pawling, 
 John Bird, Silas CoveU and Daniel Merritt. 
 
 Alluding to the enterprise of the people of 
 Troy in constructing this road, a writer says : 
 
 The expense of first opening the road west was 
 then quite an onerous one, and drew heavily upon 
 their spare resources. The whole expenditure for 
 the first three miles out was raised and paid for by 
 the subscriptions of those interested in trade at 
 the village, but this improvement amply repaid 
 them for the outlay and returned its cost in a few 
 years, while great subsequent remuneration came 
 with the Increased trade directed from Albany to 
 this point. 
 
 ST. PAUL'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 The first Protestant Episcopal church in Troy 
 was organized at the court house, January 16, 
 1804, at which Eliakim Warren and Jeremiah 
 Pierce were elected church wardens, and Nich- 
 olas Schuyler, David Buel, Lemuel Hawley, 
 Thomas Davis, Thomas HiUhonse, John Bird, 
 William S. Parker and Hugh Peebles vestry- 
 men. Two lots on the northwest comer of 
 Congress and Third streets — the site of Sand's 
 hall— were purchased, on which the bnllding 
 committee was instructed "to contract with 
 proper workmen to put np the building of the 
 church, the frame to be well put up and filled in 
 with brick, one thick." 
 
 On the 2d of July, 1804, the comer stone of 
 the building was laid, the Rev. Jonas Coe, 
 pastor of the Presbyterian church, assisting the 
 Rev. David Butler. Early in the summer of 
 1805 the church was completed. On the 17th of 
 July, the Rev. David Butler was granted his let- 
 ter of institution as rector of St. Paul's parish 
 by the Right Rev. Bishop Benjamin Moore. 
 
 The present church building on the northeast 
 comer of State and Third streets was erected in 
 1827, and consecrated August 16, 1828. 
 
 THE RENSSELAER MEDICAL SOCIETy. 
 
 For the purpose of protecting the people of 
 the state against impostors and quacks in the 
 medical profession, the legislature, April 4, 
 1806, passed a law by which candidates desiring 
 to enter upon the practice of physic and surgery 
 were to be examined by censors of the medical 
 societies throughout the state, and licensed by 
 the judges of the county courts. 
 
 It was in accordance with the provisions of this 
 law that the physicians and surgeons of the vil- 
 lage of Troy and the towns of the county assem- 
 bled in the court house, at Troy, on Tuesday, 
 July 1, 1806, and there organized the Rensselaer 
 medical society. 
 
24 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 The minntea of this first meeting are aa fol- 
 lows: 
 
 In oonf ormtty to an act of the legislatare of the 
 state of New York, entitled an act to incorporate 
 medical societies for the purpose of regulating the 
 practice of physio and snrgery in this state, passed 
 April 4, 1806, the physicians and surgeons of the 
 county of Rensselaer to the number of twenty, 
 viz : Benjamin Woodward, Aaron T). Patchin, Ben- 
 jamin Bowe, Abner Thnrber, Moses Willard, Asher 
 Armstrong, Ely Burrltt, I. ffi. Wells, Hezekiah Eld- 
 ridge, Samuel Qale, David Oleason, Edward Davis, 
 Alexander Bonsseau, U. M. Gregory, John Loudon, 
 Sanford Smith, Edward Ostrander, David Doo- 
 llttle. Hoses Hale, James H. Ball, convened in the 
 court bouse in Troy and proceeded by ballot to 
 elect their olBcers, when the following gentlemen 
 were declared duly elected : 
 
 President, Dr. Benjamin Woodward ; vice presi- 
 dent. Dr. John Loudon ; treasurer. Dr. Samuel 
 Gale ; secretary, Dr. I. H. Wells ; censors. Dr. Ely 
 Burritt, Dr. Hoses Willard, Dr. Hezekiah Eldridge, 
 Dr. David Doollttle, Dr. Benjamin Rowe ; delegate 
 to the medical society of the state of New York, 
 Dr. Hoses Willard. Benjamin Woodwabd, 
 
 Tbot, July 1, 1806. Secretary, pro. tern. 
 
 Semlved, That a committee of five be appointed 
 to draft a code of by-laws for the use of the Rens- 
 selaer medical society, and that Dr. Ely Burrltt, 
 Dr. Hezekiah Eldridge, Dr. Moses Willard, Dr. 
 Hoses Hale and Dr. Aaron D. Patchin to be the 
 committee. 
 
 Setolved, That the annual meeting of the Rens- 
 selaer medical society be the first Tuesday of July, 
 and that it bs held at the court house in Troy. 
 
 Betolvtd, That a tax of twenty-five cents be lev- 
 ied upon every member for the use of the society, 
 Ac, &c. 
 
 The licenses of the early physicians, accord- 
 ing to the law of the state.were in the following 
 form : 
 
 Stati of Nbw Yohk, Rensselaer County— 
 Whenat, Samuel Gale of Troy, in the said county, 
 physioian and surgeon, hath made application to 
 me, Thos. Sickles, one of the judges of the 
 court of common pleas for the said county, to ob- 
 tain B certificate in conformity to a law of this 
 state, entitled " An act to regulate the practice of 
 physick and surgery, passed the twenty-third of 
 March, one thousand seven hundred and ninety- 
 seven, and having produced to me satisfactory 
 evidence, that he, the said Samuel Gale, hath been 
 regularly in the practice of physick and snrgery 
 for more than two years last past, I do in conform- 
 ity to the said act, certify the same. In testimony 
 whereof I have hereunto set my band and alBzed 
 my seal this thirteenth day of October, 1797. 
 
 Thos. Sickles. 
 
 The licenses of some of the other early physi- 
 cians of Troy and in the towns of the county, 
 bear the following dates : 
 
 Dr. Barnabas Scott, September 0, 1T97. 
 Dr. Thomas Hartwell, September 21, 1797. 
 Dr. Felix Greene, September 23, 1797. 
 
 Dr. David Hillen, September 27, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Lewis Beebe, October 1, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Benjamin Lyon, October 1, 1797. 
 
 Dr. James H. Ball, October 2, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Francis Smith, October 8, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Ezekiel Baker, October 12, 1797. 
 
 Dr. David DooUttle, October 13, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Nicholas Schuyler, October IS, 1797. 
 
 Dr. John Loudon, October 14) 1797. 
 
 Dr. Alexander Rousseau, October 14, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Jacob Campbell, October 16, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Jason Bannister, October, 17, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Jonathan P. Sill, October 20, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Jacob Holt, October 21, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Christopher Dillen, November 9, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Elisha Baker, November 20, 1797. 
 
 Dr. James HcClung, November 23, 1797. 
 
 Dr. William Brown, November 29, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Nehemiah King, December 4, 1797. 
 
 Dr. Nicholas Harris, January 4, 1798. 
 
 Dr. Edward Ostrander, January 13, 1798. 
 
 Dr. William Baker, February 23, 1798. 
 
 Dr. Job Tripp, February 23, 1798. 
 
 Dr. Charles Beckwith, March 15, 1798. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Gale, jr., December 11, 1796. 
 
 Dr. Jedediah Pendergast, Hay 6, 1800. 
 
 Dr. Hulbert Smith, May 16, 1800. 
 
 Dr. Abner Armstrong, May 27, 1800. 
 
 Dr. David Gleason, July 15, 1800. 
 
 Dr. John Robinson, August 4, 1800. 
 
 Dr. William C. Froutt, August 14, 1800. 
 
 Dr. Samuel Porter, March 26, 1801. 
 
 Dr. SUas Goodrich, Hay 2, 1601. 
 
 Dr. Martin Smith, July 15, 1801. 
 
 Dr. Ely Burritt, March 29, 1802. 
 
 Dr. George W. Paige, April 22, 1802. 
 
 Dr. Uriah M. Gregory, September 15, 1802. 
 
 Dr. Benjamin Woodward, December 11, 1802. 
 
 Dr. Nicholas B. Harris, February 20, 1803. 
 
 Dr. Thaddeus Sweet, March 15, 1803. 
 
 Dr. Simon Newcomb, jr.. Hay 30, 1803. 
 
 Dr. Ira Gregory, June 8, 1803. 
 
 Dr. Thaddeus Waugh, June 8, 1803. 
 
 Dr. David Bliss, July S3, 1803. 
 
 Dr. Paul Maxson, November 23, 1808. 
 
 Dr. Abner Thnrber, December 17, 1803. 
 
 Dr. Jared Hitcock, February 18, 1804. 
 
 Dr. John Ward, Hay 29, 1804. 
 
 Dr. Abel Hovey, June 21, 1804. 
 
 Dr. Hoses Hale, July 12, 1804. 
 
 Dr. Hezekiah Eldridge, February 8, 1805. 
 
 Dr. JetFrey W. Thomas, Harch 21, 1805. 
 
 Dr. Joshua Griggs, April 4, 1806. 
 
 Dr. Aaron J. Mfler, April 4, 1805. 
 
 Dr. John Hilton Stewart, April 15, 1805. 
 
 Dr. Augustus Burgoyne, April 25, 1805. 
 
 Dr. Daniel Bemus, June 5, 1805. 
 
 Dr. Ebenezer Stratton, November 2, 1805. 
 
 Dr. Rufus A. Burritt, April 21, 1806. 
 
 Dr. Jacob Eingsley, April 21, 1806. 
 
 Dr. Israel P. Baldwin, April 25, 1806. 
 
 Dr. Theodore Hay, July 24, 1806. 
 
 Dr. Jacob Burgess, Ang. 15, 1806. 
 
 Dr. Stephen Ingham, August 29, 1806. 
 
 THE FIBaT METHODISTS OF TBOT. 
 
 Followers of Wesley were at a very early date 
 nmnbered among the inhabitants of the Tillage 
 of Troy. Stephen Andres, Caleb Curtis, Samuel 
 Goodrich, Benjamin Betts, Archibald Gray and 
 a number of other New England people were 
 among the first congregations that gathered to 
 hear thediSerent itinerant preachers who visited 
 Troy. About the year 1803, by removal, death 
 and other causes, the first Methodist society 
 was broken up. In 1805 the Rev. Elijah Chi- 
 chester revived the society, and enrolled seven 
 persons in a class. At a meeting at the house 
 of Samuel Scoby in November, 1808, David 
 Canfield and Morris De Camp were chosen to 
 
HISTOBY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 25 
 
 preside over a meeting held on the Ist of De- 
 cember. At this meeting David Canfield, Eli- 
 phalet King and Samuel Scoby were elected 
 " trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church of 
 the village M Troy." On the 25th of December 
 two lots on State street, Nos. 743 and 744, were 
 rented of Jacob D. Van der Heyden, on which 
 in 1809 a frame building two stories in height 
 was erected as a place of worship. This church 
 had a few years thereafter a large membership. 
 
 BENSSZXAXB COrNTT BIBLE SOCIETT. 
 
 Pursuant to a notice given throughout the 
 county, persons from the different towns as- 
 sembled in the court house on the 11th day of 
 July, 1815, for the purpose of organizing a 
 county Bible society. After the meeting was 
 organized an election was held for the first 
 ofBcers of the Rensselaer county Bible society, 
 which resulted in the selection of the following 
 persons : 
 
 Fresident, the Key. Jonas Coe ; first vice presi- 
 dent, the Key. Balph Westervelt; second vice 
 president, the Key. Samuel Blatchtord ; corre- 
 sponding secretary, David Buel, jr.; recording sec- 
 retary, the Rev. Francis Wayland ; treasurer, Der- 
 ick Lane ; board of managers, the Bev. Parker 
 Adams, the Kev. Tobias Spicer, the Rev. John 
 Yonnglove, jr., the Rev. Justus Hull, Dr. Ely Bnr- 
 rltt, the Hon. Josiah Hasteis, Jabob A. Fort, the 
 Hon. Hosea Hofflt and James L. Hodgeboom. 
 THE VILLAGE GROWS INTO A CITT. 
 
 By an act of the legislature, passed February 
 16, 1798, the freeholders and inhabitants were 
 incorporated under the name of " the trustees 
 of the village of Troy." 
 
 On the 2d of April, 1801, the provisions of the 
 former act were somewhat altered. Another 
 act of March S, 1803, particularly described the 
 west bounds of the village, carrying the south- 
 em limits " due west to the east bounds of Al- 
 bany county, thence northwardly along the 
 boundary line between the county of Albany 
 and the county of Rensselaer to the southern 
 bounds of the village of Lansingburgh." 
 
 By an act of the legislature passed April 4, 
 1806, the village was divided into four wards 
 and four trustees were authorized to be elected 
 to represent each of these wards. Under this 
 act a president of the board was annually ap- 
 pointed by the governor of the state and the 
 council of appointment. This act authorized 
 the trustees to annually raise by tax the sum 
 of $1,500 to defray the expenses of the city, and 
 also to support a night watch and to light the 
 streets at night. Among the acts of the trus- 
 tees of the village in 1806 was the making of 
 appropriation of (25 to have the names of the 
 streets painted on small boards and placed on 
 buildings, at the intersection of the streets. 
 
 A 
 
 The population of Troy in 1805 had increased 
 to 2,255 ; in 1810 to 3,395, and in 1815 to 4,254. 
 
 On the 12th of April, 1816, a city charter was 
 granted by the legislature incorporating " the 
 mayor, recorder, aldermen and commonalty of 
 the city of Troy." An election for charter offi- 
 cers of the city was held on Tuesday, May 14. 
 At this election the following persons were elect- 
 ed aldermen : 
 
 Wards. Aldermen. AaaUtants. 
 
 First George Allen. AmoB SsllBbury. 
 
 Second Hugh Peebles. John Loudon. 
 
 Third Townsend McCoun. Gurdon Corning. 
 
 Fourth Stephen Ross. Henry Mallory. 
 
 Fifth Samuel Hawley. 
 
 Sixth PhUlp Hart, Jr. 
 
 The 'governor and council of appointment 
 designated Albert Pawling mayor and William 
 L. Marcy recorder. 
 
 KEHSSELABR COUNTT AGBICULTUEAL SOCIETy. 
 
 As early as the year 1818 the subject of organ- 
 izing a county agricultural society engaged the 
 attention of the farmers and other persons in- 
 terested in the products of the soil. Early in 
 the summer of 1819 a notice was inserted in the 
 village newspapers that a meeting would be 
 held on June 3, in the court house, to take 
 into consideration the organization of such a 
 society. On the day fixed, a respectable num- 
 ber of the leading men of the county interested 
 in farming assembled and adopted a constitu- 
 tion and elected officers of the Rensselaer coun- 
 ty agricultural society. The following persons 
 were elected: 
 
 President, George Tlbbita ; first vice president, 
 H. Knickerbacker ; second vice president, Simon 
 Newoomb, jr. ; third vice president, Edmund C. 
 Genet; treasurer, Philip Heartt; corresponding 
 secretary, George K. Davis ; recording secretary, 
 Henry Hogle. 
 
 At a second meeting, July 14, 1819, the follow- 
 ing board of managers were elected : 
 
 Troy— John P. Cushman, Hugh Peebles, Thomas 
 aowes, Thomas Turner, Stephen V. K. Schuyler, 
 Stephen Boss. 
 
 ianiinftarffft— Jacob C. Lansing, Wooster Brook- 
 ins. Smith German. 
 
 Sruntwiek^kaa. Gardner, Samuel I. McChesney, 
 Martin Springer. 
 
 SchagMicoke— Bethel Mather. 
 
 fi^totoWTj— Michael S. Van der Cook. 
 
 Soosick—Tioaes Warren, John Carpenter, jr. 
 
 Fetemburgh— 3 oaeph Case. 
 
 rffrfj/toTC— Ziba Hewitt. 
 
 Berlin— Barton Hammond. 
 
 5<^Aentoi«»— Henry Piatt. 
 
 SoTMHafe— WUUam Carmichael. 
 6i Mnbueh— John Breese. 
 
 SWiodact— Cornelius I. Schennerhom. 
 
 Naesau— Vernier Palmer. 
 
26 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSEIiAEE COUNTY. 
 
 The first fair was held on the common south 
 of Hoosick street and east of River street, on 
 Tuesday and Wednesday, October 12th and 
 13th, 1819. Each day was ushered in by the 
 tinging of bells and the discharge of cannon. 
 A procession was formed at the court house on 
 the first day of the fair, at 9 o'clock, which 
 marched to the gronnds. As described by a 
 Troy newspaper the fair was a great success. 
 It says : 
 
 In the interior a very large oolleotion of rival 
 fanners had arrived on the ground and bro't with 
 them the best cattle of the oonnty— exhibiting the 
 interesting spectacle of the finest oxen, cows, 
 bulls, calves, sheep, swine, horses, colts with their 
 dams, &c., engaging the curiosity and employing 
 the observation of both practical men and ama- 
 teurs. » • * At 4 o'clock p. M. the ploughing 
 match took place, and for novelty and effect 
 proved itself most interesting. The crowd, large 
 as it was In the morning, had now increased to 3 
 or 4,000, occupying the adjacent eminences, and 
 pressing in upon the ground designated for the in- 
 teresting strife. * * * In 80 minutes the quick 
 moving team of Mr. Filldn completed its quarter 
 acre of unusually tough sward, amid the shouts of 
 the spectators. A minute more brought in the 
 cattle of Mr. Harrington, who received the pre- 
 mium, having turned up the sward either deeper 
 and better than his swifter competitor. * * * 
 
 On the second day the society again formed at 
 the flag-staff, accompanied by the clergy of the 
 city and neighboring towns, under the direction 
 of the Marshal Col. Enickerbacker, Assistant Mar- 
 shal Gen. Carr, and escorted by the line company 
 from the United States arsenal, commanded by 
 Lients. Morton and Walker, preceded by the ex- 
 cellent band. The procession moved down River 
 and First streets to the Presbyterian meeting 
 house, where had assembled a large audience of 
 females from the city and country. The services 
 at the church were commenced by an appropriate 
 ode sung by the large choir under the direction of 
 Mr. Hastings, in a style of unrivalled excellence. 
 * * * The throne of grace was then addressed 
 by the Rev. Dr. Coe in his peculiarly impressive 
 and appropriate manner. A second ode was fol- 
 lowed by a very able, instructive and interesting 
 address from the president. * * » 
 
 The premiums which had been awarded by the 
 committee were then announced, after some per- 
 tinent prefatory remarks by Elkanah Watson, 
 Esq. 
 
 After the distribution of premiums an appro- 
 priate prayer by the Rev. Mr. Sommers concluded 
 the services at the church. 
 
 The society then again formed and proceeded to 
 Barney's hotel— where they partook of an excel- 
 lent farmers' dinner. 
 
 The Rensselaer county agricultural society, 
 after many years of usefulness, holding its an- 
 nual fairs at different places in the immediate 
 vicinity of Troy, at length became embarrassed, 
 
 which culminated in the sale of its grounds and 
 buildings under foreclosure of mortgage, in 
 October, 1874. 
 
 THE GBEAT FIKX OF 1820. 
 
 The most calamitous event that befell the 
 small city of Troy was a devastating fire, which 
 occurred June 20, 1820. It originated in a bam 
 in the rear of Col. Thomas Davis's house, No. 
 35, west side of First street. The wind was 
 blowing from the south, and the fire jspread 
 rapidly northward. Fire engines from Lansing- 
 burgh, Waterford, the United States arsenal 
 and from Albany came to aid in the suppres- 
 sion of the devouring flames. All the build- 
 ings on the west side of Biver street, north of 
 Dr. Samuel Gale's store, in which was the x>08t- 
 offlce, now the site of the drug and medical 
 warehouse of J. L. Thompson, Sons & Co., were 
 burned down as far north as the store of 
 Coming & Co., now Fisk, Cowee & Co.'s, on 
 the east side of Biver street ; all the buildings 
 from H. & G. Vail's store, opposite the post- 
 offlce, northward as far as the comer of River 
 and First streets, where now is the Hall build- 
 ing, then southward along the west side of 
 First street to the middle of the block between 
 State and Congress streets. The total number 
 of buildings burned was 69 stores and houses, 
 atiout 12 stables, and outhouses, in all 93. The 
 loss was estimated to be from $700,000 to tl,- 
 000,000. 
 
 From all parts of the state and neighboring 
 states money and other contributions were 
 with immediate liberality forwarded to the dis- 
 tressed people. 
 
 The 12th of July was observed in Troy by all 
 the churches as a day of humiliation and 
 prayer. 
 
 THE ERECTION OF NEW COUNTY BUILDIN03. 
 
 In 1821 action was taken by the common 
 council of the city of Troy towards raising by 
 tax money to pay the city's proportion of the 
 expense of purchasing the necessary land and 
 of erecting thereon buildings for the accommo- 
 dation of the indigent, infirm and insane of the 
 county. The board of supervisors January 10, 
 1822, made a report to the common conncil that 
 the entire cost of the property purchased and 
 the new biiildings erected was S9,064.84^Troy's 
 proportion being $4,647.94. The land purchased 
 for this purpose embraced about 146 acres. The 
 several buildings on it are known as the house 
 of industry. 
 
 At a meeting of the common council, held 
 May 17, 1825, a committee consisting of Ephraim 
 Morgan, Thomas Clowes and Jeremiah Danchy, 
 was appointed to confer with the board of su- 
 pervisors in regard to the erection and selec- 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 27 
 
 tlon of a site for a new jail. By agreement it 
 was decided to erect the needed building on lot 
 No. 435, on the northeast corner of Ferry and 
 Fifth streets. When the building was com- 
 pleted, the old jaU in the alley back of the 
 court house was torn down and the prisoners 
 lemoyed to the new structure. By a resolution 
 passed by the common council August 2, 1832, 
 the old bell on the court house was ordered to 
 be transferred to the cupola of the jail, to be 
 used as a fire-alarm bell. 
 
 The old court house building not being suffi- 
 ciently commodious for the purposes of the 
 people of the county the board of supervisors, 
 at a meeting held at William Pierce's inn, No- 
 vember 15, 1826, resolved to petition the state 
 legislature for an- act empowering it to raise 
 sufficient moneys by tax for the erection and 
 furnishing of a new building. The board also 
 made an agreement with the common council 
 of the city of Troy to provide certain rooms in 
 the new court house for the use of the city of 
 Troy. The new building was first occupied in 
 1831, the entire cost of the structure being 
 about tlO,000. The city of Troy had what was 
 designated as " the mayor's court room " and 
 the "common council room" on the second 
 floor of the building, and three rooms in the 
 basement, assigned it by the board of super- 
 visors. The style of the architecture of the 
 court house building, it is said, is that of the 
 temple of Theseus. 
 
 SBW WATS OP TRAVEL ANB TRANSPOBTATION. 
 
 The project of connecting the waters of the 
 western lakes with the Hudson by a canal was 
 at a very early date looked upon with much 
 favor by the enterprising people of Troy. Early 
 in 1816 this card appeared in one of the weekly 
 papers of the village : 
 
 Cakai.— The inhabitants of the village of Troy 
 are requested to meet at the Court House on Sat- 
 urday evening [February 24], at 6 o'clock, to take 
 Into consideration the propriety of memorializing 
 the Legislature on the subject of the contemplated 
 Western Canal. 
 
 At this meeting, which was largely attended 
 by the enthusiastic citizens and which was pre- 
 sided over by the Hon. Qeorge Tibbits, a com- 
 mittee of four i>ersons was appointed from each 
 of the four wards to obtain signatures to a pe- 
 tition to the legislature setting forth the im- 
 portance of the canal : 
 
 First ward— Mheit Pawling, J. Sampson, I. M. 
 Wells and ^hraim Morgan. 
 
 Second ward— Samnel Gale, J. Hallory, John P. 
 Coshman and Hugh Peebles. 
 
 TMrd ward— Stephen Warren, Townsend Hc- 
 Conn, Francis Adancourt and Gurdon Coming. 
 
 Fourth ward— v.. Arnold, 3. Hammil, Stepbeu 
 Boss and J. Beed. 
 
 When the " Great Canal Bill " was passed, 
 George Tibbits, John D. Dickinson and Albert 
 Pawling were appointed agents of the commis- 
 sioners to secure donations, land and moneys 
 to aid in the construction of the two public 
 works — the Erie and the Champlain canals. 
 
 The steamboat Fire-fly, one of Robert Ful- 
 ton's, commenced plying twice a day between 
 Troy and Albany, in the fall of 1812. Immedi- 
 ately the steamboat monopoly on the Hudson 
 was broken down by a decision of the supreme 
 court in 1824:, a number of the citizens applied 
 to the legislature for an act incorpor- 
 ating "the Troy steamboat company." This 
 company was chartered March 81, 1825. 
 The persons first interested in its organization 
 were John D. Dickinson, George Yail, Nathan 
 Warren, Alsop Weed, Samuel Gale, Nathan 
 Dauchy, Philip Hart, jr., Gurdon Grant, George 
 Tibbits, John Faine,- Townsend McCoun, James 
 Van Brokle and Richard P. Hart. 
 
 On Saturday, March 12, 1825, Troy's first 
 steamboat, the Chief Justice Marshall, made 
 her first appearance at the steamboat landing. 
 
 The Citizens' steamboat company was organ- 
 ized in January, 1872. The articles of associa- 
 tion were signed February 19, 1873. The City 
 of Troy was built in 1876 and the Saratoga in 
 1877. 
 
 Previous to the construction of a railroad to 
 Troy, stages were the means of public convey- 
 ance. In 1829 the Troy and Schenectady line 
 of stages left Troy twice a day at 8 o'clock a. 
 M. and 2 o'clock p. m., and at the same hours 
 Schenectady. The Troy and Boston stages 
 every morning at 3 o'clock, Sundays excepted. 
 The Troy and Albany line twice a day, 8 o'clock 
 A. M. and 2 o'clock p. m. The Phoenix line, 
 Troy and Boston, via WiUiamstown and Green- 
 field, at 2 o'clock A. H. on Mondays, Wednes- 
 days and Fridays. 
 
 The first railroad project which interested the 
 people of Troy was the building of a road from 
 Troy to Ballston. The act to incorporate the 
 Rensselaer and Saratoga railroad company was 
 passed April 14, 1832. The capital stock was 
 fixed at 300,000 shares of $100 each. The first 
 officers were : 
 
 President, Richard P. Bart ; directors, Eltaha 
 'nbblts, George Griswold, John Cramer, John 
 Enickerbacker, Richard P. Hart, Townsend Mc- 
 Conn, Nathan Warren, Stephen Warren, George 
 Vail, LeGrand Cannon, Moses Williams, John P. 
 Cusbman and John Paine. 
 
 The railroad was completed October 6, 1835, 
 and trains crossed the new bridge from Green 
 Island to Troy for the first time that day. On 
 the arrival of the cars at the west side of the 
 river, horses were substituted for the engine. 
 
28 
 
 HISTOKY OF THE TOWNS OF KENSSELAF-R COUNTY, 
 
 and the cars were drawn over by them and 
 down River street to the Troy house, the ter- 
 minus of the road. 
 
 tbot'b spirit op competition. 
 A correspondent of a leading New York 
 paper wrote as follows in 183.5 regarding the 
 competitive spirit of the Troy people : 
 
 There is something remarkable in the character 
 of the people. No matter where they come from, 
 or what have been their previous habits, the mo- 
 ment they become residents of this place, they are 
 Trojans. They not only look well to iiheir own in" 
 dividual interests, but imbibe the same spirit of 
 enterprise which they find prevailing, and nnite as 
 one man in sustaining the interests and advanc- 
 ing the prosperity of Troy. * * * No sooner, 
 for instance, had the steamboat monopoly been 
 broken up by the supreme com-t, and Albany placed 
 a line of steamboats on the river of her own, than 
 Troy did the same. When a railroad brought the 
 valley of the Mohawk within an hour's distance 
 from Albany, Troy united herself with Vermont by 
 the process of macadam. * * * At last, though 
 not least, a railroad having in effect brought 
 Ballston and Saratoga health springs within two 
 hours of Albany, another railroad brings the same 
 fountains within an hour and a half of Troy. * * 
 * It was originally intended that the Troy road 
 should run along the eastern margin of the Hud- 
 son, through Lansingburgh, crossing the river 
 upon the old bridge at Waterf ord. Obstructions, 
 however, of various kinds were thrown in the way 
 of the company, and prices demanded for the use 
 of the bridge— under the impression that the rail- 
 road must be carried across it and nowhere else, 
 which induced the directors to change the route. 
 
 Trains on the Schenectady and Troy railroad 
 began running between the two places In No- 
 vember, 1842. 
 
 The first through train from New York 
 reached Troy December 19, 1851. 
 
 The formal opening of the Rutland and Wash- 
 ington railroad, and the Troy and Boston rail- 
 road from its junction at Eagle Bridge, was 
 celebrated June 28, 1852. 
 
 THE DEVBLOPMENT OF TROT'S MANOTACTUMNQ 
 
 * rNTEBESTS. 
 
 The immense manufacturing establishments 
 of H. Burden & Sons, in which more than 1,400 
 men are employed, and who receive over 1500,- 
 000 annually in wages, had their beginning in 
 1809, at which time John Converse and several 
 associates erected a rolling and slitting mill at 
 the upper fall of the Wynant's kill. The mile of 
 mills, which now annually send out $2,000,000 
 of horseshoes, is a notable triumph to *he en- 
 terprise and inventive genius of Henry Burden, 
 whose fame as an inventor and machinist is 
 world-wide. 
 
 The extensive works of the Albany and 
 
 Rensselaer iron and steel company, where steel 
 rails of the finest quality, merchant steel, horse 
 shoes, etc., are manufactured in such large 
 quantities as to astonish those who first hear 
 of the thousands of tons produced annually, 
 and at which over 2,000 men obtained work and 
 are annually paid wages amounting to $1,000,- 
 000, had their origin in a rolling mill erected in 
 1807 by John Brinokerhoof , on the north bank 
 of the Wynant's kill, at its second fall. 
 
 The manufacture of collars, cuffs and shirts, 
 which affords employment to more than 12,000 
 persons, who receive annually almost $2,000,- 
 000 in wages, began in a very humble way in 
 1829. The sales of the productions of this one 
 branch of manufacture exceed $5,000,000 an- 
 nually. 
 
 Stoves were first made in Troy about the year 
 1831 by the firm of Starbucks & Gurley. The 
 fame which Troy stoves have secnred through- 
 out the United States is well known, and which 
 has made the value of their annual production 
 reach nearly to $3,000,000. Besides these lead- 
 ing branches of manufacture the casting of 
 church bells, car wheels, the making of fire- 
 brick, paper, valves, car coaches, hosiery, ma- 
 chinery, surveying instruments, flour and other 
 mentionable and useful articles, add to the wel- 
 fare and wealth of the industrious people of 
 Troy. 
 
 THE TROT TOUNQ MEN'S ABSOOIATION. 
 
 After several preliminary meetings which 
 were largely attended by the people of Troy, the 
 young men's association was organized Decem- 
 ber 19, 1834, by the election of John T. McCoun 
 president. The first rooms occupied by the 
 association, February, 1835, were on the second 
 fioor of the building No. 197 Kiver street. On 
 the completion of the Athentenm building, on 
 First street, the library was transferred to it. 
 By an act of legislature, passed May 8, 1880, 
 amending the act incorporating the association 
 April 20, 1835, the control and management of 
 the property of the association were placed in 
 the hands of 23 trustees. The number of vol- 
 umes in the library is about 23,325. Since De- 
 cember, 1870, De Witt Clinton has been the 
 efficient librarian of the young men's associa- 
 tion. 
 
 THE LARGE FIRE OF 1854. 
 
 The second large fiie, which rendered three 
 hundred families houseless, occurred on the 
 afternoon of August 26, 1854. About 1 o'clock 
 that day a brick planing mill on the southwest 
 comer of Front and Division streets was dis- 
 covered on fire, and although the fire compa- 
 nies of the city arrived early, the flames spread 
 rapidly southward among the lumber piles in 
 the adjoining yards. A strong northwest wind 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 29 
 
 was blowing, and the conflagration in a short 
 time assume such alarming proportions that 
 fire engines from the neighboring places were 
 solicited to aid in its suppression. Fire com- 
 panies Nos. 1, 8 and 11 of Albany, with 
 their apparatus, promptly responded, as 
 did companies from West Troy, Co- 
 hoes, Waterford and Lansingburgh. The 
 area of the fire included the blocks south 
 of DiviBion street and west of River street, as 
 far as Liberty street. The fire then extended 
 on the south side of Liberty street to First 
 street, where it crossed to the east side about 
 the middle of the block between Liberty and 
 Washington streets, and thence southward, 
 having its eastern margin along the east side 
 of the alley, between First and Second streets, 
 to Jefferson street. All the buildings westward 
 to the river were consumed by the fire, which 
 was not under control of the firemen until 6 
 o'clock in the evening. The day was extreme- 
 ly warm and the firemen labored under many 
 disadvantages. About 80 acres of ground were 
 burned over by this fire. The total loss was 
 estimated at $1,000,000. 
 
 The frame work of the steeple of St. John's 
 Episcopal church, on the southeast comer of 
 First and Liberty streets, during the progress 
 of the conflagration was set on fire by a flying 
 brand, but James Stantial, seeing the great dan- 
 ger the newly erected church was m, daringly 
 climbed to the dizzy height, and with uncovered 
 hands seized the flaming brand and threw it to 
 the ground and then extinguished the fire 
 spreading along the frame work. The sufferers 
 by this fire were generously aided by the people 
 of this and neighboring places in the time of 
 their need and distress. 
 
 THE OREi.T FIRE OF 1862. 
 
 A third fiery scourge visited the city on Satur- 
 day, May 10, 1862. The fearful and rapid 
 ravages of this devastating conflagration ap- 
 palled the stoutest hearts, desolatingin the short 
 space of six hours seventy-five acres of prop- 
 erty and reducing to ashes five hundred 
 and seven buildings. To aid in extin- 
 goishing this conflagration the firemen 
 of Albany, West Troy, Cohoes, Waterford 
 and Lansingburgh came with their engines 
 and toiled with great efBclency in saving prop- 
 erty exposed to the spreading flames and flying 
 brands. 
 
 The fire had its beginning in the Rensselaer 
 and Saratoga railroad bridge. This structnre, 
 it was supposed, was set on fire by a locomo- 
 tive. The wind was from the northwest, and 
 blowing a stiff gale, which carried burning cin- 
 ders southeastwardly to the buildings adjacent 
 
 to the bridge. The irresistible fury of the 
 fiames and the dense smoke made it a most dif- 
 ficult task to suppress this extensive confiagra- 
 tiou. During the progress of the fire several 
 persons lost their lives in the flames. Thomas 
 O'Donnell, an aged blind man, living on Green 
 street, above Grand Division, was burned to 
 death. Ransom S. Haight, while trying to es- 
 cape from the path of the fire along Seventh 
 street, was suffocated by the smoke and per- 
 ished in the flames issuing from the neighbor- 
 ing dwellings. Mary Dunlop and child also lost 
 their lives in a burning building. Dr. Zenas 
 Gary died the following day from bums 
 received while endeavoring to escape 
 from the fiames enveloping his residence. 
 
 Among the principal buildings consumed 
 were the Second Presbyterian church, on the 
 southeast comer of Sixth and Grand Division 
 streets ; the Scotch Presbyterian church, on the 
 east side of Seventh street, between Broadway 
 and State street ; the North Baptist church, on 
 the southeast comer of Fulton and Fifth streets ; 
 the Rensselaer polytechnic institute, on the 
 north side of State street, between Sixth and 
 Seventh streets ; the Troy City bank, on the 
 southeast comer of Grand Division and Fourth 
 streets ; the orphan asylum, on the south side 
 of Federal street, opposite Harrison place ; the 
 church asylum, west of the orphan asylum, and 
 the Union railroad depot,. The total loss by 
 this fire was estimated at {3,000,000, with an in- 
 surance of $1,000,000. 
 
 In a very short time the undaunted spirit of 
 enterprise of the Troy people asserted its former 
 power, and new buildings rapidly rose up over 
 the desolated space of the great conflagnttion. 
 In the month of July following the fire, 181 
 buildings were in course of erection. From all 
 parts of the country came kind benefactions of 
 sympathizing people, which were gratefully re- 
 ceived by those suffering in basket and store 
 from the impoverishing effects of this calam- 
 itous fire. 
 tbot'b fatbiotish in the war of sbcb^on. 
 
 In 1861 Troy reared its altars of loyalty on 
 which brightly burned the fires of its patriot- 
 ism until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox 
 in 1865. On the evening of April 16, 1861, the 
 first great war meeting was held in Harmony 
 hall. The Hon. John A. Griswold was chosen 
 chairman of the meeting. A committee was 
 appointed, consisting of William E. Eissel- 
 burgh, Isaac McConihe, jr., and Robert A. Lot- 
 tridge, which reported a series of patriotic res- 
 olutions, in which it was declared that Troy 
 was ready to contribute a part of the means 
 necessary to defend the government and to 
 maintain the permanency of its institutions ; 
 
30 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELABB COUNTY. 
 
 that a regiment of volunteers would at once be 
 formed whose serrices would be offered to 
 the executive of the state, to be transferred to 
 the support of the federal government. 
 
 In consequence of the immense concourse of 
 people assembled in and outside of the build- 
 ing, the meeting was adjourned to the Union 
 depot, where addresses were made by Isaac Mc- 
 Conlhe, jr., Martin I. Townsend, George W. 
 Demers, Clarence Buel, Gen. John E. Wool and 
 others. 
 
 A second large meeting was held on April 
 18th, at Harmony hall, at which a committee of 
 five was appointed to wait upon the common 
 conncil and solicit the subscription of $10,000 
 for the support of the families of volunteers. 
 The common council at once complied with this 
 request. The spirit of loyalty to the country's 
 flag was everywhere apparent among the peo- 
 ple. Union cockades and diminutive banners 
 were buttoned and pinned to the hats and 
 clothing of men, women and children ; and in 
 the churches, on Sundays, the services of the 
 day were appropriately patriotic and filled with 
 loyal aspirations for the preservation of liberty 
 and law. 
 
 The first corps of volunteers which left Troy 
 for the seat of war in 1861 was the second New 
 York regiment, which departed from the city 
 on the 18th of May. This fine body of soldiers 
 was under the command of Col. Joseph B. 
 Carr. 
 
 The need of more men to suppress the rebel- 
 lion called into the field from Troy, on the 30th 
 of August, 1868, the one hundred and twenty- 
 fifth regiment. George L. Willard was the 
 colonel of this noted regiment. 
 
 The one hundred and sixty-ninth regiment, 
 the third contribution of Troy's patriotism, re- 
 ceived its marching orders September 28, 1862. 
 The command of this regiment was first held by 
 Clarence Buel. It won a splendid record daring 
 the war. 
 
 trot's chcbchbs. 
 
 The date of the organization of the different 
 religious societies of Troy and of the erection 
 of the houses of worship is shown in the fol- 
 lowing table : 
 
 First ct. Present 
 
 Name ani Oate of oraaniiatton. built, ck. built. 
 
 Flret Pres., Dec. 31, ini 1792-3 1S3S-6 
 
 Second Pres., Sept. 2S. IS27 18«7 -1884-5 
 
 Tblrd Frea., Jan. le, 1831 18S1 ISill 
 
 Second itreet Fres., Sept. 23, 1S34 IXU ISM 
 
 United Free., Feb. 6, 1^ 1836 187!J 
 
 Libeny street Frea., Jan. 17, 1810 1834 1834 
 
 Fark Frea., Aug. 24, 1854 1854 1854 
 
 Woodalde Free., June 19, 1887 1868 1869 
 
 Oakvood avenue Free., July 1, 1S6S.. 1868 1868 
 
 Ninth Frea., Sept. SO. 1869 
 
 Westmlnater Frea.. Nov. S, 1871* 
 
 Memorial Frea., Oct. 18, 1878 
 
 Flrat Baptlat, Oct. 15,17% 
 
 Second Baptlat, Feb. 4, 1SS4 
 
 North Baptist, June 6, 1S4S 
 
 South Troy Baptist, March, 1868 
 
 Vail avenue Baptlat, April, 1871 
 
 St.FauraP. E., Jan. 16,1804 
 
 St. John's P. E., 1830 
 
 Chrlat Church, P. E., Dec. 3, 1898 
 
 Church of Holy Croaa, F. E., 1844 
 
 St. Luke's P. E., 1866. 
 
 1888 
 1878 
 1872 
 1805 
 1823 
 1844 
 
 1873 
 
 1804-5 
 
 1804-5 
 
 1838 
 
 1848 
 
 1880 
 
 1870 
 
 1810 
 1835 
 18SB 
 
 Free ch. of Aacen., P. E., Feb. 14. 1888. 
 St.Faul'a Free Chapel.P. E., Nov. 1869 
 
 SUte street M.E.,Dec. 8,1803 
 
 North Second atreet M. E., May, 1835. 
 
 Levlng'B Chapel, M. E., 1883 
 
 ZIonM. E., 1841 
 
 Third atreet M. E., 1843 1848 
 
 Congreas atreet M. E., 1847 1848 
 
 Yall avenue M.E., April. 1854 1858 
 
 Pawling avenue M. £., 1827 1827 
 
 German M, E., July 25, 1857 1856 
 
 St. Feter'a Roman Catholic, 1824 1829 
 
 St. Mary'a Soman Catholic, 1844 1844 
 
 St. Joseph'a Roman Catholic, 1847. . . . 1852 
 
 St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic. 1850 1880 
 
 St. Fisncla, Roman Catholic, 1862 1863 
 
 St. Lawrence, Roman Catholic, 1880 
 
 St. Michael Roman Catholic, 1872 .... 1873 
 
 St. Fatrlck'a R. Catholic, Jan. 1, 187S. 1872 
 
 Quaker society, Nov., 1803 1804 
 
 tinlveraallat church 
 
 Bethel church, 1821 
 
 Flrat Congregational church 
 
 First Unitarian church, 184S 
 
 Church or Chrlat, 1865 1868 
 
 Trinity. Lutheran, 1870 18TO 
 
 Berlth Sholom, Jewlah, 1866 1870 
 
 TROT'S BANKS. 
 
 The following table shows the date of the in- 
 corporation of the different banking institutions 
 of Troy : 
 
 1888 
 1870 
 1878 
 1846 
 1860 
 1883 
 
 1973 
 1827 
 1864 
 1838 
 
 1848 
 1880 
 1670 
 
 1B98-71 
 
 1870 
 
 1880 
 
 IMS 
 1848 
 1858 
 1888 
 1881 
 184B 
 1844 
 1852 
 1880 
 1883 
 
 1^ 
 1872 
 
 1823 1875 
 
 18S3 
 
 1837 
 
 1875 
 1888 
 187S 
 18W 
 
 Names. Actofincorp. 
 
 Farmers' bank March 31, 1801. 
 
 Began business. 
 
 Dec. 1, 1801. 
 
 ISll. 
 
 Aug. SO, 1823. 
 
 Bank of Troy March 22, 1811. 
 
 Troy Savlnga bank. April 23, 1823. 
 Merchants* and Me* 
 
 chanlca' April 20, 1829. 1820. 
 
 •Troy City bank. . . . April 19, 1SS3. July 11, 1888. 
 Troy Exchange 
 
 bank Dec. 7, 1838. 
 
 Commercial bank of 
 
 Troy Aug.,1839. 1839. 
 
 Howard Trust and 
 
 Banking Co Feb 1,1839. 1839. 
 
 *Unlon bank of 
 
 Troy Jan., 1851. April, 1851. 
 
 •State bank of Troy 1852. Sept. 2, 1852. 
 
 •Mutual bank of 
 
 Troy N0T.24,1S52. Jan. ' IS, ISSS. 
 
 •Central Bank of 
 
 Troy Dec, 1852. Dec. 29, 1862. 
 
 •Manufacturers' 
 
 bank 1852. May, 1852. 
 
 Market bank Jan., 1S53. Sept. 18BS. 
 
 Troy Savings Co.... June 29, 1854. 1854. 
 First National bank. Oct. 24, 1863. Jan. 1,1864. 
 tUnlted National 
 
 bank ...^,.... March, 1885. April IS, 1866. 
 
 National Exchange 
 
 bank 1865. From Market bank. 
 
 •Changed to national banks In 1885, except the Manu- 
 faeturera' which became a national bank In 1864. 
 tFormed from Farmera' bank and Bank of Troy. 
 
 TH» POPCLATIOir 0» TBOT. 
 
 1795 460 
 
 1800 1,802 
 
 1805 2,251 
 
 1810 3,805 
 
 1815 4,2« 
 
 ISaO 6.284 
 
 1825 7,869 
 
 1830 11,551 
 
 1836 18,959 
 
 1840 10,884 
 
 1846 21,700 
 
 1850 28,786 
 
 1855 33.280 
 
 1860 30,235 
 
 1865 Se,2«8 
 
 1870 44,633 
 
 1876 40,631 
 
 1880 66,731 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAEB COXTNTT. 
 
 31 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE TOWN OF LANSINGBURGH. 
 
 The Original Patent of Stone Arabia — The Old Indian Designa- 
 tions — A Big Fish in the River — De Nieuw Stadt on the Upper 
 Hudson — The First Settlers of Lansingburgh — No Slavish 
 Submission to Great Britain — Commodore Macdonough Present- 
 ed with Plate — Lansingburgh in 1824 and 1836 — Summary of 
 the History of its Churches — Manufacturing Interests — Cen- 
 sus OF the Town from 1770. 
 
 Theold, original, parchment patents relating to 
 the possession of landed estate by the first settlers 
 of the province of New York are quite impres- 
 sive in the manner in vrhich they are worded. 
 These documents translate us to a period when 
 the people living in this part of the continent 
 of America were loyal subjects of English 
 kiogg, whose favor was sought through depu- 
 ties to give the necessary legal confirmation to 
 the patents by which they acquired ownership 
 of tracts of land once possessed by the Indians. 
 The patent of Steene Arabia, — the first name 
 given by the Dutch to a part of the territory 
 now mcluded in the present bounds of the 
 town of Lansingburgh, — ^is a large parchment 
 manuscript, to which, by a red and blue cord, 
 a large disk of figured wax, the royal seal, pre- 
 served in a silver box, is attached. 
 
 TASCAMCATICK. 
 
 The grand, monarchical phraseology with 
 which the instrument is worded is rather pecul- 
 iar to our democratic ears : 
 
 Thomas Dongan, lientena>t-govenior and vice- 
 admiral of New York and its dependencies under 
 his majesty, James the Second, by the grace of 
 Ood, of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, 
 king, defender of the faith, &e., supreme lord and 
 proprietor of the colony and province of New 
 York and its dependencies in America, &c., to all 
 whom these presents shall come, sendeth greeting : 
 • * * Whereas, Francis Lovelace, Esq,, one of 
 the gentlemen of his majesty's honorable privy 
 chamber and late governor of the province as 
 aforesaid, did by patent nnder his hand and sealed 
 with the seal of the province, bearing date the 
 
 first day of September, 1670, did give, grant, ratify 
 and confirm onto Robert Saunders of Albany a 
 certain tract or parcel of land called by the Indi- 
 ans Tascamcatick, lying on the east side of the 
 North river, and stretching alongst the said river 
 from the second to the third spring which mnnc 
 over to the west side of the river, striking into the 
 woods np to the high hills and including within it 
 a piece of the * • • ground or hoog valley ; * * 
 the said Robert Saunders, his heirs and assigns, 
 * * paying as a quit rent for the same, yearly and 
 every year, two bushels of winter wheat, if de- 
 manded unto his royal highness. 
 
 PASBqlTASSICK. 
 
 And whereas Sir Edmund Andross, late governor 
 of this province, as aforesaid, did likewise by pat- 
 ent nnder his hand and sealed with the seal of the 
 the province, bearing date, 22d March, 1679 and 80, 
 did give, grant unto the said Robert Saunders of 
 Albany, a certain parcel or piece of woodland ly- 
 ing on the east side of the North river, above Al- 
 bany, to the sonth of the said land above recited, 
 called by the Indians Passqnassick, as also a small 
 Island; near thereunto, commonly known by the 
 name of the whale fishing island, containing in 
 breadth to the north, one hundred, seventy rod, 
 and to the sonth one hundred rod, in length four 
 himdred and ninety rod, amounting in all to one 
 hundred and one quarter pf a morgan or abont 
 two hundred twenty acres and a half, * * the 
 said Robert Saunders, * * » paying therefor 
 yearly and every year unto his majesty's highness 
 as a quit rent, one bushel of good winter wheat, 
 <Sec. 
 
 From the above tract there was excepted " a 
 certain piece of woodland, which he, the said 
 Robert Saunders, did sell and alienate to Peter 
 Van Woggelnm, lying to the southward of 
 
32 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 Fiskawen kill, which creek or kill separates and 
 makes the bounds between the above recited 
 land, and what was sold unto the said Peter 
 Van Woggelum as by Kobert Saunder's deed 
 under hand bearing date the 19th September, 
 1681." 
 
 PABNSICK. 
 
 The patent which also transfers this property 
 of Robert Saunders to Johannes Wendell, a 
 farmer, of Albany county, further recites that 
 the said Johannes Wendell did by Governor 
 Dongan's license "purchase of the native In- 
 dians another piece of woodland adjoining to 
 the northermost part of the several tracts of 
 land above recited and stretches along the river 
 side, northward to a certain kill or creek called 
 by the Indians Faensick, over against Jan Van 
 Wessel's land, that lies in the Half-moon, and 
 from the said creek unto the woods as far as 
 the high hills, and from thence southward to 
 the bounds of the lands above said." 
 
 The above patent, which conveyed the 
 property of Robert Saunders to Johannes Wen- 
 dell, was signed by Gov. Thomas Dongan, July 
 32, 1686, and afterwards confirmed May 28, 
 WSS, by Gov. James De Lancey. 
 
 WALVISCH EYLANT. 
 
 Whale island, or as the Dutch called It, 
 WalviKh eylard, purchased by Robert Saun- 
 ders, has, by the building of the state dam, 
 been submerged by the higher waters of the 
 Hudson. The story as related by Van der 
 Donck, in his description of New Netherland, 
 runs as follows : The winter of 1646-7 was ex- 
 tremely cold, and the river closed November 
 the 35th and remained so for four months 
 thereafter. In the month of March a great 
 freshet occurred, "by which the water of the 
 river became nearly fresh to the bay, when at 
 ordinary seasons the salt flows up from 20 to 24 
 miles [a Dutch mile is about three English 
 miles] from the sea. At this season two 
 whales of conmion size swam up the river 
 40 miles, from which place one of them 
 returned and stranded about 12 miles 
 from the sea, near which four others 
 stranded the same year. The other ran fiuther 
 up the river and grounded near the great Cha- 
 hoos falls, about 43 miles from the sea. This 
 fish was tolerably fat, for, although the citizens 
 of Rensselaer wyck broiled out a great quantity of 
 train oil, still the whole river, (the current being 
 still rapid) was oily for three weeks, and cov- 
 ered with grease. As the fish lay rotting, the 
 air was infected with its stench to such a degree 
 that the smell was offensive and perceptible for 
 two miles leeward. For what pui-poso those 
 whales ascended the river so far, it being at the 
 
 time about 40 miles from all salt or brackish 
 water, it is difBcult to say, unless their great 
 desire for fish, which were plenty at this season, 
 led them onward." 
 
 The citizens of Rensselaerwyck, of whom 
 Van der Donk speaks, did not live in the imme- 
 diate vicinity of Whale island, for at the early 
 date mentioned, the land at the confluence of 
 the Mohawk and Hudson rivers was still unoc- 
 cupied by settlers. 
 
 THE FUBCHASE OF ABRAHAM JACOB LANSINO. 
 
 The conveyance of the territory embraced in 
 the Stone Arabia patent, by Robert Wendell, 
 jr., heir of Johannes Wendell, to Abraham 
 Jacob Lansing, begins with these words : " This 
 indenture made and concluded the 31 day of 
 June in the 3 year of the reign of King George 
 the third & of our Lord 1763, between Robert 
 Wendell of Steene Arabia, in the county of 
 Albany, in the province of New York, 
 yeoman of the one part, and Abraham 
 Jacob Lansingh of the same place, gentleman, 
 of the other part." The price paid for the 
 land was " the sum of three hundred pounds 
 currency money." From the above tract was 
 excepted a part which had been sold prerionsly 
 to Simon Van Antwerpe, but which was then 
 owned by William Rogers. 
 
 The name Steene Arabia, or Stone Arabia, 
 given to this land was bestowed most likely on 
 account of the great quantity of coarse gravel 
 and water-worn stones which were thickly em- 
 bedded by deposition in its surface soil. It was 
 perhaps, this peculiar condition of the land that 
 induced Abraham Jacob Lansing to have a 
 part of it surveyed and laid out into building 
 lots in 1771. 
 
 NEW CITT. 
 
 The map of this survey is to be seen in the 
 Albany county clerk's ofBce. A description of 
 thie city of Lansingburgh is engrossed upon it, 
 as follows : 
 
 This map describetb a tract of land lying on the 
 east side of Hudson's river, about eight miles 
 above the city of Albany, and is layed out in a 
 regular square for the erecting of a city by the 
 name of Lansingburgh ; the lots are one hundred 
 and twenty feet long and fifty wide. The streets are 
 seventy feet wide, and the alleys 20 feet wide ; the 
 oblong square (the Green or Park) in the center Is 
 reserved for publick uses. Laid down by a scale 
 of ninety feet to an inch. June 7, 1771. Joseph 
 Blanchard, surveyor. May 11, 1771. A. Jacob Lan- 
 sing. 
 
 Undoubtedly the purpose of Abraham Jacob 
 Lansing in thus dividing up his estate, eight 
 years after purchasing it, was of a speculative 
 character. His shrewd discernment was well 
 rewarded when the tide of emigration from the 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 33 
 
 New England provinces set towards it, and 
 made the newly laid out city a notable place of 
 trade and commerce at the head of navigation. 
 The Dutch name, de Nieuw Stadt, the New City, 
 in contradistinction to de Oude Stadt, the Old 
 City, as Albany was called, was, either in its 
 Dutch or English form, the most common term 
 by which Lansingburgh was at first known. 
 
 TEE NAldE OF ITS FIBST SETTLEBS. 
 
 The growth of Lansingburgh is in part 
 marked by the sale of the lots exhibited on the 
 old map. The limits of the new city were 
 North, East and South streets, and on the west, 
 the river. The names of the first settlers, and 
 the time of their purchase of lots, are given in 
 the following list : 
 
 JTome and time qf purchase. No. qf lot or lota. 
 
 Bobert TiiteB, Marcb 7, 1770 fl 
 
 JobnDonbar.Marcb 0,1770 81,83,152 
 
 BenJ. Frencb, March 80, 1770 17,18 
 
 Elinor Taylor, Hay 25,1770 1,2 
 
 Jacob A. Lansing, Oct. 7, 1770 13,216 
 
 Ab'm Blaau, Oct. 25, 1770 5,211 
 
 Isaac Lansing, Oct. 26, 1770 65 
 
 Jonatban WicKwlre, Dec. 9, 1770 31 
 
 Bamnel Halstead, Dec. 10,1770 102 
 
 Jobn Barber. Jan. 26,1771 240 
 
 Anne Hamersley, Marcb 30, 1771 225,288 
 
 (189 to 183, 185, 186, 187. 
 Flores Bancker, June 8, 1771. . \ to 192. and water lot 
 
 I 25. 
 
 CbarlesMeal, Jnne 8, 1771 11 
 
 Antbony Bntgers, Jnne 8, 1771 105.129 
 
 Evert Bancker, June 11, 1771 118 
 
 Feter Cnrtlnus, .Tune 11,1771 8 
 
 Alex. HcClean, June 18, 1771 7,257 
 
 Waldron Blaau, June IS, 1771 5,184 
 
 Jonathan Brewer, Aug. 24, 1771 66,212 
 
 Eldart Fnnda, Dec.3,1771 50 
 
 John D.Funda, Dec. 27, 1771 97 to 99 
 
 HayeUe McCoy, Dec. 27, 1771 213 
 
 Isaac H. Lansing, Dec. 30,1771 27. 51 
 
 Ab'm K. Van Vleek, Jan. 31, 1772.. | ^^atl'r totsfi toi 
 
 Jonathan Severs, Feb. 22,1772 200,210 
 
 Charles Reed,Fel). 28,1772 288 
 
 Francis Lansing, April 24. 1772 14, M of 15, 261 
 
 Hendrlck Lansing, April 24, 1772 16 
 
 James Abeel, June 20, 1772 3,153,154 
 
 Ab'm Brlnkerboot, June 22, 1772 159, 160 
 
 Ab'm NUson, July 21, 1772 263.264 
 
 Thomas Hlatt, July 22, 1772 60 
 
 Comellns S. Bebrlng, July 22, 1772 96 
 
 James Van Varlck, July 22, 1772 89 
 
 Joba D. Witt, Jnly 22, 1772 237 
 
 BametDeClyn, July 28, 1772 12 
 
 James Moran, MOT. 13, 1772 59 
 
 Volkort Dawson, Feb. 3. 1772 206 
 
 tenia Elpp, July 19, I'm 206 
 
 Cftrrlt and Catherine Van WIe, Aug. 27, 1772.... 180, 181 
 
 Ralph vratson, Sept. 14, 1772 68 
 
 Joseph NorrlB, Oct. 22, 1772 68 
 
 .TohnSkUBngton. April 7. 1774 127 
 
 Patrick Smjlh, June 3,1774 10 
 
 .John TllmBn,Ang.8, 1774 56 
 
 MaigRt Tllman, Aug. 8,1774 55 
 
 Amos Graves, Nov. 25.1774 38, 3!) 
 
 Peter Weaver, Dec. 9, 1774 70, 80 
 
 Peter Qoewy, Feb. 21, 1775 lOO 
 
 Ab'm J. Onderklrk, March 6,1775 121 
 
 Joseph Tonng, April 6, 1775 128,124 
 
 Franclscns Lansing. April 27, 1775 25, 26, 44, 45 
 
 Wynkoop and Ten Eyck, May 3, 1775 285 
 
 Moses Holt. Sept. 20, 1776 24 
 
 WUUam Nichols. Feb. 5. 1777 SS 
 
 Patrick McNlff, Feb. 8, 1777 35 
 
 WUUam McGUI. April 9,1777 32 
 
 Wmiam Conkltai, June 28, 1777 9, 10 
 
 James Tbompson, April 15. 1778 68 
 
 Lyman Hitchcock, May 3, 17S0 84 
 
 John Tlbblt, Oct. 27, 1780 41, 42 
 
 Cornelius Cooper, Oct. 30, 1780 71, TC 
 
 Ezra Httchcodc, Jnne 16,1783 40 
 
 Joy Chambers, March 9, 1784 4S 
 
 Hoogland and Seymour, March 7, 1785 47, 48 
 
 Thomas Knight, ADril28,1785 48 
 
 John Van Cortland, Nov. 1, 1785 , 85,88 
 
 4 
 
 Piatt and Williams, April 24, 1788 Water lot 17 
 
 Maria Rosa, March 7, 1786 20 
 
 John Von Rensselaer, June 1, 1786 Water lot 16 
 
 Caleb Carr, June 10, 1786 37 
 
 Aaron Ward, July 17, 1786. 67 
 
 Benjamin Snyder. July 28, 1786 275 
 
 Cornelius Vandebureh, Sept. 10, 1788 193,11)4 
 
 Agnus Murry, Sept. 23, 1786 69 
 
 Nathaniel JacobB, Nov. 16, 1787 Water lot IS 
 
 Ebenezer Cooley, March 11. 1788 19 
 
 James Boggs, Jr., Nov. IS, 1788 231,232 
 
 Levlnns Lansing, J»n. 14,1790 115 
 
 wmiam Adams, no date 101 
 
 .Toshua Bumham, no date 91 
 
 James Caldwell, no date 29, 30 
 
 Jeremiah Comstock, no date 81 
 
 Peter Hpgle, no date 188 
 
 Hugh Mccarty, no date 116 
 
 •Tames McMurray, no date 70 
 
 Aaron Noble, no date 92 
 
 School lots, no date 108,109,132,183 
 
 Wllltom Scott, no date 184,185,136 
 
 Smith and Whitney, no date 90 
 
 Bamt Ten Eyck, no date 140 
 
 Hendrlck Van Amam, no date 76 
 
 Frederick Weaver, no date S3, 54 
 
 Jonathan Wood, no date 114 
 
 Peter W. Yates, no date 34,62,104 
 
 THE TOVTN AND BOROUGH OF STONE ABASIA. 
 
 The local government of the town and bor- 
 ough of Stone Arabia was in 1771 vested in a 
 committee of five persons, chosen by the inhab- 
 itants and freeholders yearly. The other of- 
 ficers elected annually were a moderator, a 
 town clerk, a pathmaster and three fence- 
 viewers. 
 
 The first officers of the town and borough in 
 1771 were : 
 
 Moderator, Ebenezer Marvin ; clerk, Tbomas S. 
 Diamond; committee. Abraham Jacob Lansing, 
 Isaac Bogart, John Barber, Ebenezer Marvin and 
 Benjamin French ; pathmaster, Abraham Wen- 
 dell; fence viewers, Kobert Wendell, Levinus 
 Lansing and Isaac Van Amum. 
 
 The records of these town meetings con- 
 tribute the following names to the list of the 
 inhabitants of Stone Arabia at this early 
 period: 
 
 1772— William Spotten, William Pemberton, 
 Ralph Watson, Joshua Austin, Josiah Hose, Abra- 
 ham Stephens, Nathaniel Oaks, John Walker, 
 Archibald Campbell, Aklah Fonda, Anthony Van 
 Schaick. 
 
 1778— Roger Noble, John Breezing, Stephen Mar- 
 vin, William Carr, James Wilson, Beniamin Evans, 
 Joseph Joy, Obediah Benthouse. 
 
 1774— David Callinder, Christopher Tillman, John 
 D. Wynkoop, Cornelius Lansing, Michael House- 
 wirt, John Follett, Daniel Toneray, John Clark, 
 Adonijah Stambonrgh, Cornelius Noble, Frederick 
 Weaver. 
 
 1777— James Williams. 
 
 1784— Albert Pawling, Jeremiah Hoogland. 
 
 1785-John Van Rensselaer, Horace Seymour, 
 Sidney Berry, Samuel Cogswell. 
 
 A PATBIOTIC PLEDGE. 
 
 The news of the battle of Lexington, fought 
 on the 19th of April, 1775, when heard by tlic 
 people, of Lansingburgh, awakened all their 
 pride i md love of country. They felt the neces- 
 sity 01' defending themselves against the ag- 
 
34 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSBELAEB COUNTY. 
 
 1.V 
 
 greasions of the British soldiery. They held 
 meetings and discussed the questions affecting 
 the interests of the people. They pledged one 
 another in an agreement which is remarkable 
 for its patriotic fervor and loyal sentiments. It 
 was as follows : 
 
 LAHsiHeBUBGH, Hay 22, 1775.— A general assoota- 
 tion airreed to and sabscribed by the freemen, 
 freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Lan- 
 slngburgh and patent of Stone Arabia : 
 Persuaded that the Bolvation of the rights and 
 liberties of America depends, mider Qod, on the 
 firm onion of its Inhabitants in a Tlgorons prose 
 cation of the measores necessary for Its safety,— 
 convinced of the necessity of preventing the an- 
 archy and conf asion which attend a dissolntion of 
 the power of government, we, the freemen, free- 
 holders and inhabitants of the town of Lansing- 
 bugh and patent of Stone Arabia, being greatly 
 alarmed at the avowed design of the British min- 
 istry to raise a revenue In America, and shocked 
 by the bloody scenes now enacting In Hassaohn- 
 setts bay government, in the most solemn manner. 
 Resolved, Never to become slaves, and do associ- 
 ate onrselves under all the ties of religion, honor 
 and love to our country, to adopt and to endeavor 
 to carry into execution whatever measures may be 
 recommended by the continental congress, or re- 
 solved by our provincial convention, for the pur- 
 pose of preserving our constitution, and opposing 
 the execntion of the several arbitrary and oppres- 
 sive acts of the British parliament, until a reconcil- 
 iation between Great Britain and America, on con- 
 stitutional principles can be obtained, than which 
 we wish for nothing more ardently, and we do 
 hereby covenant, promise and agree that we will 
 in all things follow the advice of our general com- 
 mittee respecting the purpose aforesaid, the pres- 
 ervation of peace, good order and safety of the in- 
 dividuals and private property. 
 
 Abraham Jacob Lansingh, Christopher Tillman, 
 John D. Wynkoop, Daniel Toneray, Jonathan Se- 
 vers, Henry Pollock, Hichael Housewirt, John 
 Fine, Stephen Marvin, James Boggs, Abraham 
 Ouderkirk, Ephralm Griswould, Samnel Ulggins, 
 James Willson, Justus Brown, John Clark, David 
 Layton, Francis Hogle, John Sloan, Gerry Lane, 
 Samuel Bums, Isaac Van Amum, Robert Wendell, 
 Pennell Brown, Frederick Weaver, Levinus Lan- 
 singh, William Thompkins, Joseph Bacon, John 
 Dunbar, Peletlah WInchell, John Young, Levinus 
 Leverse, Gershom French, Joseph Jones, John 
 Skiffington, Thomas Cook, William Nichoils, Alex- 
 ander Boyd, John Winn, Josiah Bose, Daniel 
 Shaw, Aaron Ward, William Conkling, Edward 
 Bmster, Samuel Bmster, Jacob A. Lansingh. 
 
 A line copy of the original association paper, 
 drawed this 16th day of June, 1775. 
 
 Chb. TiixaAK, Town Clerk. 
 SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION. 
 
 LansingbuTgh, in the dark hours of the revo- 
 lutionary war, sent forth, from their new homes, 
 bands of patriotic men, who with willing hearts 
 
 defended, while connected with the army of 
 the North, the frontier towns on the upper 
 Hudson, from the invading army under Bor- 
 goyne. Under Gens. Schuyler and Gates they 
 won honorable mention. The following muster 
 and pay-rolls exhibit the names of the officers 
 and privates of two Lansingburgb companies 
 doing service as militia men of Albany county 
 in 1777: 
 
 A roll of the Lansingburgb company of Col. 
 Stephen L Schuyler's militia, Feb. 17, 1777 : 
 
 Christopher Tillman, captain. 
 
 Abraham Ten Eyck, Jonathan Severs, Uenten- 
 ants. 
 
 John Clark, ensign. 
 
 Daniel Toneray, Aaron Ward, William Conklln, 
 Jonathan Douglas, sergeants. 
 
 William Willoughby, James Barber, James Sloan, 
 Stephen Harvin, Jr., corporals. 
 
 George liSne, Abraham J. Ouderkirk, Henry Van 
 Amum, Bobert Thompson, Samuel Bums, Levlnns 
 Lansingh, William Thomkins, Samuel Bennett, V 
 Iflchael Housewirt, Comfort Shaw, George Hastln, 
 Bobert Armstrong, Conrad Hentlebeeker, John 
 Dunbar, Bobert Dunbar, John Hogg, Peletlah 
 Winchell, Henry Campbell, Benjamin Bmster, 
 Samuel Bruster, John Young, Levlnns Leverse, 
 Solomon Goewy, Francis Hogel, Isaac Van Aranm, 
 Thomas Blartin, Ephraim Gnswould, Jebez Gris- 
 would, William Carr, John Wool, Christopher 
 Pasiser, John Barber, Job Paddock, William Spot- 
 ton, Nicholas Fisher, Justus Brown, James Per- 
 kins, Joseph Perkins, John Walker, George Van 
 Vleck, George Boyd, Leonard HUler, William 
 Boyd, John Follet, Phhieas Bacon, William Dong- 
 las, privates. 
 Pay-roll of Capt. Cornelius Noble's company in 
 
 Stephen I. Schuyler's regiment of Albany mlUtla, 
 
 to August 11th, 1777 : 
 
 Cornelius Noble, captain. 
 
 Samnel Shaw, John Clarke, lieutenants. 
 
 John Byly, ensign. 
 
 Hugh HoHanus, William Greenfield, Samuel 
 Lape, Hezeklah Hull, William Norton, sergeants. 
 
 James Barber, Stephen Harvin, Samuel Frazer, 
 John S. Fine, corporals. 
 
 Emanuel Hennloke, drummer. 
 
 Hercules Kronckhyte, Abraham Kronckhyte, 
 William Crannell, Uendrlck Strunok, Jacob Fel- 
 low, William Cooper, John Van Ostrander, Hen- 
 driok PlosB, Jr., Jacob Smith, William Horris, 
 John Hannah, Isaac Crannel, Samuel Evans, Job 
 Paddock, William WUloughby, John Paget, Matthew 
 Marvin, Andrew Colehammer, Daniel Qroyberger, 
 John Van der Warken, Ephralm Griswould, David 
 Randel, Joseph Doay, Bethnel Greenfield. Solomon 
 Griffiths, Stephen Millard, Joshua Bandal, Stephen 
 liandal, Benben Bompis, Ephralm Jackson, Israel 
 Brooks, Jacob Van Every, Philip Haner, Joseph 
 Benson, Sleazer Hill, Andreas Barott, Ebenezer 
 Baker, Francis Hogel, John Frazer, John Camer, 
 Folket Miller, Peter Minigh, Andreas Parker, Cas- 
 paris, Valentine, Jost Harwlck, John Walter, 
 Frederick Conrad, John Craver, Garrit Peck, 
 
HI8T0KT OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 35 
 
 BneU OstnuD, John Lansing, Thomas Martin, John 
 Kelly, Solomon Battler, Hendrick Floss, Peter 
 Coons, Isaiah Dorham, privates. 
 
 THE OLD liANSHABKS. 
 
 The sites of several of the homesteads of the 
 earlier settlers of Stone Arabia are marked on 
 the map of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, made 
 by Jno. B. Bleeker in 1767. The north line of 
 the manor, north 88° east, is placed north of the 
 fourth branch of the Mohawk river, about where 
 is now the Union bridge between Waterford 
 and Lansingburgh. On Santhier's map of the 
 proyince of New York, 1779, the inclosing 
 boundary lines of the patent of Stone Arabia 
 are soath of this line. A map of Rensselaer- 
 wyck, drawn by Robert Yates, alderman of the 
 city of Albany, who made a survey of the manor 
 lines in 1773, assisted by Gterardns Lansing, a 
 baker of Albany, and Nicholas Marselius, a 
 silversmith of the same city, as chainman, 
 the north line of the manor is located sonth 
 of the second branch of the Mohawk river. 
 This liin, instead of being the north line of the 
 manor, was most likely the south line of the 
 patent of Stone Arabia. This Inference is well 
 supported by the lines given by Sauthier. 
 Bleeker and Yates agree in the location of the 
 points. On the latter's map appears a small 
 stream north of Lansingburgh, named Koele 
 Killitie, south of this creek Iser Berg creek, 
 south of it Iser Berg, then the fourth 
 spruyt of the Mohawk, then the third 
 spruyt, then Stone Arabia, or Lansing- 
 burgh, opposite of which is an island, 
 on which is the name of Anthony 
 Van Schaick, then Whale Fish island, then the 
 middle or second spruyt, on the south line of 
 which, extended to the east side of the river, 
 is the house of William Rogers, then a long 
 line, erroneously drawn as the north boundary 
 of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, which is de- 
 scribed as " a line north 70° west as the needle 
 pointed, 1737, from the present northwest 
 comer of Massachusetts bay to Hud- 
 son's river, 21 miles, 21 chains, 75 links." 
 This line appears to be about 1,500 feet north 
 of the Piscawken kill. The residence of Abra- 
 ham Jacob Lansing is still to be seen on the 
 east aide of State street, No. 405, north of the 
 oil doth manufactory of Deborah Powers & 
 Sons. The three sons of Jacob A. Lansing 
 were Jacob A. Lansing, who died February 25, 
 1801 ; Comeltus Lansing, who died April 23, 
 1812, and Levinus Lansing, who died In 1837. 
 Comellns Lansing's residence was what is now 
 known as the Abbey property ; and that of 
 Levinus Lansing, where now is the home of 
 David Judson, No. 3 Grove street. Jacob C. 
 
 Lansing, the son of Cornelius Lansing, and 
 father of Charlea J. Lansing, Esq., died July 
 10, 1852. 
 
 THB OBOWTH OF THE NEW CITT. 
 
 In 1788 Elkanah Watson, while making a tour 
 through New York, visited New City and wrote 
 as follows concerning it : "I spent a day in ex- 
 amining this locality, [Vanderheyden, the site 
 of Troy,] and then walked on the banks of the 
 Hudson, a distance of three miles to New City, 
 where I continued several days. This place is 
 thronged by mercantile emigrants, principally 
 from New England, who have enjoyed a very 
 extensive and lucrative trade, supplying Ver- 
 mont and the region of both banks of the Hud- 
 son, as far as Lake George, with merchandise ; 
 and receiving in payment wheat, pot and pearl 
 ashes and lumber." 
 
 Elkanah Watson was at this early date in- 
 specting the country and examining the river 
 for the purpose of ascertaining the cost of a 
 canal to the west. Alluding to this project, he 
 further writes : 
 
 In the view of ascending by locks from the Hud- 
 son Into the Mohawk river, it appears to me that 
 the obstacles at this place [Cohoes falls] will be 
 much greater than to cut a canal across the pine 
 plains, Into a grand basin, back of Albany. I took 
 passage In a batteau at New City to Albany, 
 for the purpose of sounding the river. The result 
 of my examination satisfied me that in ordinary 
 tides five or six feet may be carried to within a 
 mile of New City, and from thence to that town 
 15 or 18 inches. 
 
 Respecting the navigableness of the river to 
 New City, the following paragraphs from the 
 American S/^, March 8, 1793, published in Lan- 
 singbugh, show the size of the vessels which 
 ascended the river to that height : 
 
 The sloop Arabia, of 90 tons burden, arrived at 
 this place yesterday and !« now loading for New 
 York. 
 
 It Is of great importance to the bnsiness of the 
 place that vessels of 80 or 90 tons can generally 
 load at onr docks through the spring season, at 
 which time the most of the produce of the country 
 is shipped off ; and it is contemplated that the 
 same advantage will continue through the whole 
 season after the present year, as dams are to be 
 erected next summer to give a sufttcient depth of 
 water up to this town to navigate vessels of 40 and 
 60 tons burthen. 
 
 Previous to the establishment of a postofflce 
 at Lansingburgh letters were transmitted to the 
 postofflce at Albany by post-riders or stage- 
 drivers. Ananias Piatt, to whom had been 
 granted in 1789 by the state legislature the ex- 
 clusive right to run a line of stages between 
 Lansingburgh and Albany, advertised in the 
 Feder<a Herald that " the public will please take 
 
36 
 
 HISTOTIT OF THE TOWNS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY, 
 
 notice that f ovirpence will be required, as post- 
 age, for each letter which may be conveyed 
 by the stage from Lansingborgh to Albany, or 
 from Albany to Lansingburgh. Those who 
 wish to have their letters conveyed by the year, 
 will make their arrangements with A. Piatt." 
 
 In April, 1791, Stephen Gorham was ap- 
 pointed deputy postmaster for Lansingburgh, 
 but a po8to£9ce was not established in the place 
 until June, 1792. 
 
 The increase of travel between Lansingburgh 
 and the neighboring places was thus spoken of 
 in 1796 : 
 
 A few years ago there was but one stage between 
 this town and Albany. It was established and 
 maintained at great expense by A. Flatt, and for a 
 considerable time had little encouragement. He, 
 however, persevered, and at this day, this mode 
 of traveling has so increased, that 30 stages pass 
 and repass daily between the neighboring towns 
 of Lansingburgh, Troy, Waterford and Albany, 
 averaging more than 190 passengers per day, a 
 proof of our growth and prosperity. 
 
 LAKSINOBtmOH rNCOKPOBATEO. 
 
 The preamble to the act under which the first 
 trustees of Lansingburgh were appointed 
 passed April .5, 1790, begins with a historical 
 statement that "whereas, in that part of the 
 town of Rensselaerwyck, in the county of Al- 
 bany, hereinafter descrilied, a considerable 
 number of houses are already erected and oc- 
 cupied by merchants, mechanics and others, to 
 the advancement of commerce and manufactures 
 in the state ; and in order to enable them to 
 regulate their internal police and secure the 
 benefits of certain commonable lands lying 
 within the same, have prayed that they might 
 be enabled to appoint trustees." 
 
 It was then enacted that John Van Kens- 
 selaer, Christopher Tilliman, Elijah Janes, 
 Aaron Ward, Stephen Gorham, Ezra Hickok 
 and Levinus Lansing should "be the first 
 trustees for the freeholders and inhabitants of 
 that part of the town of Rensselaerwyck com- 
 monly called Lansingburgh." 
 
 The powers conferred upon the freeholders 
 and inhabitants at their annual town meetings, 
 made it their duty to direct the use and man- 
 agement of their common lands, and respecting 
 the cutting of the wood on the same ; to estab- 
 lish prudential rules relative to the cleaning 
 and keeping in order and repair the common 
 streets and highways of Lansingburgh; to 
 compel the housekeepers of Lansingburgh to 
 furnish themselves with a sufficient number of 
 proper fire-buckets, and with necessary tools 
 and implements for extinguishing fires. 
 
 The trustees appointed by the act were to act 
 as inspectors of election ; the first one to be 
 
 held on the third Tuesday of May, 1790, at 
 which time " seven discreet inhabitants, being 
 freeholders," were to be elected " by a majority 
 of voices," to hold office for one year ; and an- 
 nually thereafter, the same number was to be 
 elected. 
 
 Since that time the following persons have 
 filled the offices of president, clerk and 
 treasurer : 
 
 1790, President, Abraham J. Lansing; clerk, 
 John b. Dickinson ; treasurer, Aaron Lane. 
 
 1791, President, Abraham J. Lansing; clerk, 
 John D. Dickinson ; treasnrer, Aaron Lane. 
 
 1792, President, Levinus Lansing ; clerk, John D. 
 Dickinson, treasurer, Aaron Lane. 
 
 1798, President, Aaron Lane; clerk, John D. 
 Dickhison ; treasurer, William Bell. 
 
 179i, President, John Van Bensselaer; clerk, 
 John D. Dickinson ; treasurer, William Bell. 
 
 1795, President, James Hickok; clerk, Joseph 
 Alexander ; treasnrer, Joseph Alexander. 
 
 179(S, I>resident, James Hickok; clerk, Joseph 
 Alexander ; treasurer, William Bell. 
 
 1797, President, James Hickok; clerk, Joseph 
 Alexander; treasurer, William Bell. 
 
 1798, President, James Hickok. 
 
 1799, President, Elijah Janes; clerk, Joseph 
 Alexander ; treasurer, Charles Selden. 
 
 1800, President, Elijah Janes; clerk,. 'Joseph 
 Alexander; treasurer, Charles Selden. 
 
 1801-5, President, John D. Dickinson: clerk, 
 Joseph Alexander ; treasurer, Charles Selden. 
 
 1806-8, President, David Allen ; clerk, Charles 
 Selden ; treasurer, B. W. Walbrldge. 
 
 1809, President, E. W. Walbrid^ ; clerk, James 
 Dougrey ; treasurer, E. W. Walbrldge. 
 
 1811-31.— Records lost. 
 
 1832-S. President, John U. Caswell ; clerk, Mar- 
 cus L. ,Filley ; treasurer, Horace Janes. 
 
 1834, President, John H. Caswell ; clerk, Harons 
 L. Filley ; treasurer, Jabez F. Parmelee. 
 
 1835, President. Wm. HcHurray ; clerk, Marcus 
 L. iiilley ; treasurer, Jabez F. Parmelee. 
 
 1836, President, John M. Caswell ; clerk, Bichard 
 McDonald ; treasurer, Jabez F. Parmelee. 
 
 1837, President, John M. Caswell; clerk, M. L. 
 Filley ; treasurer, Jabez F. Parmelee. 
 
 1838, President, B. W. Walbrldge ; clerk, B. Mc- 
 Donald ; treasurer, Jabez F. Parmelee. 
 
 1839, President, Nicholas Weaver; clerk, Corne- 
 lius L. Tracy ; treasurer. Gerrit Fort. 
 
 1840, President, John B. Chipman ; clerk, Bich- 
 ard McDonald ; treasurer, Gerrit Fort. 
 
 1841, President, Nicholas Weaver ; clerk, Bichard 
 McDonald ; treasurer, Gerrit Fort. 
 
 1842, President, JohnB. Chipman ; clerk, Stephen 
 S. Hunt ; treasurer, Gerrit Port. 
 
 1848, President, John 8. Fake; clerk, Walter 
 Chipman ; treasurer, Gerrit Port. 
 
 1844, President, John 8. Fake ; clerk, Stephen S. 
 Hunt ; treasurer, Gerrit Fort. 
 
 1845-6, President, John S. Bake ; clerk, Charles 
 C. Parmelee : treasurer, Gerrit Fort. 
 
 1847, President, John C. Fllkin ; clerk, Charles C. 
 Parmelee ; treasurer, B. G. Hathaway. 
 
 1848, President, John B. Chipman; clerk, Isaac 
 Bansom ; treasurer, B. G. Hathaway. 
 
 18^, President, John G. MoMurray ; clerk, J. F. 
 Knickerbocker ; treasurer Charles Hitohoook. 
 
 1850, President, John E. Whipple : clerk, J. F. 
 Knickerbocker ; treasurer, Charles Hltokoook. 
 
 1851, President, Bailey G. Hathaway ; clerk, Isaac 
 Bansom ; treasurer, John Mains. 
 
 1852, President, John G. MoMurray ; clerk, Hiram 
 Bleekman ; treasurer, Ed. P. Pickett. 
 
 1858, President, Henry A. Mercer ; clerk, B. Q. 
 Hathaway ; treasurer, Stephen Heimstreet. 
 
 1864. President, Joseph Fox ; clerk, B. G. Hatha- 
 way. 
 
 1855, President, F. B. Leonard ; clerk, B. G. Hath- 
 away. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COTTNTY. 
 
 37 
 
 1866, PreBident, John G. McMurray ; clerk, WU- 
 liam J. Lamb ; treasurer, Ed. P. Pickett. 
 
 1857, President, Thomas Curran ; clerk, James D. 
 Comsiook ; treasurer, Ed. P. Pickett. 
 
 1858, President, Henry A. Mercer ; clerk, Daniel 
 Kins ; treasurer, Ed. P. Pickett. 
 
 1850, President, B. G. Hathaway ; clerk, Daniel 
 King ; treasurer, Ed. P. Pickett. 
 
 1860, President, Charles Clark; clerk, Daniel 
 King ; treasurer, Ed. P. Pickett. 
 
 1861, President, J. E. Whipple; clerk, Daniel 
 Ktne ; treasurer, Ed. P. Pickett. 
 
 IMS, President, Bobert Dickson ; clerk, Daniel 
 Kine ; treasurer, Patrick Fltzeerald. 
 
 1868, President, Bobert Dlokson ; clerk, Daniel 
 King ; treasurer, Ed. P. Pickett. 
 
 1864, President, Edward P. Pickett ; clerk, Daniel 
 King ; treasurer, Edwin Adams. 
 
 1865-6, President, Bobert Dickson ; clerk, Louis 
 Bansom ; treasurer, H. L. Fancher. 
 
 1867, President, William Alien ; clerk, John W. 
 Gaston ; treasurer, B. G. Hathaway. 
 
 1868, President, William Allen ; clerk, John Hig- 
 gins ; treasurer, Bd. P. Pickett. • 
 
 1869, President, Seth P. Welch ; clerk, S. B. Kirk- 
 patrlok ; treasurer, Edwin Adams. 
 
 1870-71, President, Seth P. Welch ; clerk, John 
 M. Chambers ; treasurer, Edwin Adams. 
 
 1872, President, Seth P. Welch ; clerk, John B. 
 Burke ; treasurer, Edwin Adams. 
 
 1873, President, Bobert Dickson; clerk, Milo 
 Thompson ; treasurer, Edwin Adams. 
 
 1874-S, President, Bobert Dickson ; clerk, C. W. 
 Witbeok ; treasurer, Thos. Bourk. 
 
 1876, President, James McQulde; clerk, C. W. 
 Witbeck ; treasurer, Thos. Bourk. 
 
 1877, President, Chas. H. Dauchy ; clerk, John 
 Quinn : treasurer, Thos. Bourk. 
 
 1878, President, Chas. H. Dauchy ; clerk, C. W. 
 Witbeok ; treasurer, Thos. Bourk. 
 
 1879, President, Frederick E. Draper ; clerk, C. 
 W. Witbeck; treasurer, J. E. West. 
 
 1880, President, Frederick E. Draper ; clerk, C. 
 W. Witbeck; treasurer, J. E. West. 
 
 THX DUTIES OF ASSESSOBS LA.BT CENTUBT. 
 
 Under the act providing for the yalnation of 
 lands and dwelling houses, and the enumera- 
 tion of slaves, within the United States, 
 Ephraim Morgan was appointed in October, 
 1798, principal assessor, andEliphalet W. Close, 
 Joseph Alexander, Jacob A. Fort, John Knick- 
 erbacker, Jonathan Brown and John Carpenter 
 were appointed assistant assessors for the sev- 
 enth district of the fifth division, comprehend- 
 ing the towns of Troy, Hoosick, Schaghticoke 
 and Pittstown. The assessors gave notice of 
 their beginning the assessment in this viclmty 
 and of the peculiar requirements of the law gev- 
 eming their duties. It ran thus : 
 
 The inhabitants of the villages of Troy and Lan- 
 singburgh are earnestly requested immediately to 
 prepare their lists, — desoribing the size and num- 
 ber of their lot or lots, as they are known on the 
 charts of said villages ; also, the size and height of 
 their dwelling houses, with the particular dimen- 
 sions of all the windows therein contained— and 
 also, the number, age and sex of aU their slaves, 
 If between the ages of 12 and 50 years. 
 
 The assessors think it their duty to mention, that 
 in case any fraudnlency or omissions are discov- 
 ered In the aforesaid lists, the offender will be sub- 
 ject to a fine of not more than $500, nor less than 
 •100, to be recovered with costs of prosecution. 
 
 The prosperity of Lansingburgh at the close 
 of the year 1799 was quite notable and attracted 
 considerable comment both from travelers visit- 
 ing the place and from newspapers reviewing 
 Its rapid growth and local interests. Lansing- 
 burgh had now a population of 1,200 inhabi- 
 tants ; there were two churches ; from 1787 five 
 newspapers had successively been printed and 
 issued weekly to the citizens of the thriving 
 village ; a postofflce had been established ; and 
 a very remunerative traffic in grain and other 
 agricultural products was compensating the ac- 
 tive and indefatigable efforts of the New Eng- 
 land men who had become its leading mer- 
 chants. 
 
 THE WAS OP 1812. 
 
 During the war of 1812 the people of Lansing- 
 burgh, besides contributing men to the defense of 
 the northern border often hospitably entertained 
 United States soldiers, who, while on the march 
 to the scene of hostilities, bivouacked over night 
 in the village. Several British officers having 
 been taken prisoners and being paroled, were 
 for a time, quartered in Lansingburgh. At the 
 termination of the war the inhabitants cele- 
 brated the ratification of peace with a proces- 
 sion and an illumination. A great bonfire 
 blazed upon Diamond rock ; a decorated bal- 
 loon fioated away from the village, and apnbUc 
 supper at the hotel, were special features of the 
 occasion. 
 
 The presentation of an elegant service of silver 
 plate to Commodore T. Macdonongh, the hero 
 of Lake Champlain, by the citizens of the pat- 
 riotic village, was an event of no little 
 interest to the inhabitants of Lansing- 
 burgh. Commodore Macdonongh, having ar- 
 rived in the village on Saturday, April 8, 1815, 
 on his way to Washington, a committee met him 
 at the hotel, and in the presence of a large 
 number of the principal citizens of the place 
 presented him with two large silver pitchers 
 and twelve goblets. The Inscriptions on the 
 pitchers were : "Commodore T. Macdonongh, 
 with an inferior force, captured the British 
 squadron on Lake Champlain, Sep. 11, 1814 ;" 
 and, ''Presented by the aitizens of Lansing- 
 burgh to the Hero of Lake Champlain." On 
 the silver goblets : " The citizens of Lansing- 
 burgh to Commodore Macdonongh." 
 
 To the presentation committee, consisting of 
 James Hlckok, Daniel Smith, Ellas Parmelee, 
 John Topping, Elijah Janes, Gardiner Tracy, 
 James Adams and James Reid, the commodore 
 returned the following reply : 
 
 Oaitlemen : It is with much pleasure and satis- 
 faction I receive the several pieces of plate which 
 you, on behalf of the citizens of Lansingburgh, 
 have been pleased to present me. This handsome 
 
38 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EEN8SELAER COtrNTT. 
 
 testimonial of your approbation of my eeirioes on 
 Lake Cbamplain is liiglily valued, and shall be care- 
 fully preserved among other precious and flatter- 
 ing presents with which my countrymen have 
 honored me. Permit me to reciprocate your con- 
 gratulations on the return of peace to our country. 
 With sentiments of the highest respect and esteem, 
 I am, gentlemen, your obedient servant, 
 
 T. Macdonough. 
 
 THE TOWN OF LANSINGBUItaB. 
 
 The village of Lansingburgh, after the erec- 
 tion of the town of Troy, In 1791, was within 
 the bounds of the latter, until March 20, 1807, 
 when the town of Lansingburgh was formed 
 from parts of the towns of Troy and Peters- 
 burgh. A part of the town of Schaghticoke 
 was annexed in 1819; in 183C a part of the 
 town was added to the town of Troy, and a part 
 to the town of Brunswick in 1839. The min- 
 utes of the town meeting in 1807 are in part as 
 follows : 
 
 At an annual town meeting of the freeholders 
 and iuhabltants of the town of Lansingburgh, be- 
 gan and held at the house of Robert Wand on the 
 7th day of April, A. D., 1807, the following persons 
 were elected to office for the ensuing year, viz. -. 
 
 Town clerk, Bbenezer W. Walbridge ; super- 
 visor, Cornelius Lansing ; assessors, Ellas Farme- 
 lee, Aaron B. Hinman, David Henry ; collector, 
 John Williams ; overseers of the poor, James 
 Adams, David Henry ; commissioners of highways, 
 John Gaston, Shubael Gorham, Allen McLean ; 
 commissioners of schools, Charles Selden, Thomas 
 Wallace ; constables, John Williams, John Wol- 
 cott, William Bancker ; fence viewers, Aaron B. 
 Hinman, John Wolcoft ; poundmaster, Asa Burt ; 
 overseers of the highways, David Thomas, district 
 No. 1, James Hickok, district No. 2, Aaron B. Hin- 
 man, district No. 3. 
 
 LAKSINGBUSOH IN 1834. 
 
 To what importance I^ansingburgh had grown 
 in 1824 is briefly disclosed by Horatio Gates 
 Spofford, LL. D., in his gazetteer of the State 
 of New York of that date. He says : 
 
 It is regularly laid out in blocks or oblong 
 squares, 400 by 260 feet, bounded by capacious 
 streets in right lines, and it is two miles long and 
 a half-mile wide. There is a bank with a capital 
 of t2S0,000, and a handsome banking house ; five 
 churches ; a flourishing academy, occupying two 
 academical buildings with about 200 students. 
 The whole number of houses and stores, including 
 public buildings, 830 ; population of the village, 
 1,650. Upwards of 8,000 beeves were slaughtered 
 and packed here during last year, and it is ac- 
 knowledged that as a pork market this town does 
 more business than any other on the Hudson 
 north of the city of New York. There are two ex- 
 tensive breweries, which sold 6,000 barrels of ale 
 last year. There are large tanneries also, and nail 
 works, and a brush factory, that produces about 
 t8,000 to $12,000 worth a year. It has a very re- 
 
 spectable printing establishment, a weekly naws- 
 paper, and some book stores. 
 
 I snpimse I must also mention Batestown, half- 
 way between Troy and Lansingbor^ for it bas a 
 tavern, and, if I mistake not, a few shops. 
 
 In 1836 the village contained i Fiesbyterian, 
 1 Baptist, 1 Methodist, 1 Episcopal and 1 Dni- 
 versalist churches; an excellent academy, 7 
 schools, a printing office, where was published 
 the Lansingburgh Gazette, i hotels, 6 wholesale 
 and 40 retail stores. Of manof aotories there 
 were 2 oil cloth, 1 brush and bellows, 1 tin, 1 
 gun, 2 breweries, 3 maltsteries and 2 grist 
 mills. Also a bank and several slaughtering 
 and i>acking houses. The number of buildings 
 in the place was estimated at 500. 
 
 On Sunday •afternoon, July 9, 1813, a Are, 
 which originated in the stables of the Rens- 
 selaer house, destroyed between SO and 40 
 buildings on State, Congress, Bichaid and 
 Elizabeth streets. 
 
 On Sunday night, July 23, the same year, 
 another flre consumed 12 buildings on State 
 street, between Richard and Elizabeth streets. 
 
 THE WAB OF BBBEIXION. 
 
 When the dark clouds of war again lowered 
 over the land in 1861, many of the citizens of 
 Lansingburgh left their peaceful occupations to 
 stand in their loyalty before the enemy for the 
 defense of the union of the states. The first 
 full company formed was organized for the 
 thirtieth regiment, New York state volunteers, 
 Col. Frisby commanding. It was mustered In 
 as company A, Samuel King captain ; John H, 
 Campbell lieutenant, and Francis Itergen en- 
 sign. Capt. King and Ensign Dargen were both 
 killed at the first battle of Bull Run, as were 
 also five privates of the same company. Capt. 
 King is buried in Qreenwood cemetery, and 
 Lieut. Dargen in St. John's cemetery. 
 A number of Lansingburgh's brave sons also 
 joined company A of the twenty-second regi- 
 ment. New York volunteers. Chauncey F. 
 Vandeusen, of this company, lost his left arm 
 at the second battle of Bull Run. Company K, 
 one hundred and sixty-ninth regiment was 
 raised by Captain Daniel Ferguson, who was 
 killed at the explosion of the mine at Fort 
 Fisher. There were also many who were con- 
 nected with the one hundred and twenty-fifth, 
 one hundred and ninety-second regiments, the 
 Griswold cavalry, and other military organiza- 
 tions. 
 
 The first war committee in 1862, consisted of 
 A. E. Powers, J. E. Whipple and E. P. Pickett. 
 On the 23d of August, the town resolved to levy 
 a tax of 16,000 for bounty moneys, |50 being 
 paid for an enlistment. In September follow- 
 ing an additional bounty of fSO was voted. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 39 
 
 Tbis was followed, during the progress of the 
 war, by other public contributions. 
 
 THE VILLAGE OF DORT. 
 
 The territory which now forms the north part 
 of the town of Lanslngburgh previous to the 
 year 1819 belonged to the town of SchaKbticoke. 
 The site of the hamlet of Spiegletown, which'is 
 about two miles north of Lanslngburgh, was in 
 1796 called the village of Dort. The village 
 plat, as it was "laid out and constructed by a 
 scale of 100 feet to an inch by F. Bancker, May, 
 1796," on a piece of parchment, is stiU pre- 
 served. On It are marked three roads, which 
 diverge from a common point, a little south of 
 which was a building, the site of which is now 
 occupied by the residence of James H. Rice. 
 The road to the north is designated " St. Coick 
 road;" the one leading eastwardly "Cooks- 
 buigh road," and the one to the south 
 "Lansigbnrgh road." On the northeast 
 part of the plat appears the name 
 of John FoUet; on the southeast that 
 of WllUam Douglas ; on the south that of 
 Rattoon & Von der Spiegel ; on the southwest 
 that of William Douglas, and on the northwest 
 that of Charles Follet. 
 
 On another map appears the names of John 
 Ciab, Crab & Boos, Leonard Wager and Abra- 
 ham Francisco, who were residents of the im- 
 mediate vicinity at that time. 
 
 The name of Spiegletown no doubt derived 
 its name from the Van der Spiegel who was a 
 partner of Rattoon in 1796. Of the score of 
 buildings which form the hamlet of Spiegel- 
 town, there is a hotel, the Union church, school 
 house No. 2, a blacksmith and wagon-making 
 shop. The Germondville Union church of 
 North Lanslngburgh was incorporated July 23, 
 1841. The first trustees were John Storm, Aaron 
 Perry, Nicholas Lape, Charles T. Overocker 
 and William Mills. The church is now con- 
 nected with the Cooksburgh charge of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church. , 
 
 OHUBCHES. 
 
 The first religious society organized in Lan- 
 slngburgh was "The Protestant Reformed 
 Dutch church," on the asth of September, 1784. 
 Its first officers were Zachariah Garnrych and 
 Flores Bancker, elders, and Albert Pawling and 
 Christopher Tillman, deacons. The Rev. 
 Brandt Schuyler Lupton was ordained pastor of 
 this church on the third Sunday of November, 
 1788. Traditionally it is said that a building 
 once standing on the west side of State street, 
 between Lansing and South streets, was first 
 used as a meeting house by the membership of 
 this church. After the organization of the first 
 
 Presbyterian church the Dutch church rapidly 
 lost its members, and about the close of the 
 century its pulpit was no longer filled by minis- 
 ters of the latter denomination. 
 
 The record of the incorporation of the First 
 Presbyterian church of Lanslngburgh affords 
 us the principal facts concerning the early his- 
 tory of this society : " Be it remembered, that 
 on the 9th day of August, A. D. 1792, the in- 
 habitants of Lanslngburgh, in consequence of 
 due notice, convened in general meeting for 
 the purpose of organizing themselves in a re- 
 ligious society, agreeably to the direction of an 
 act of the legislature of the state of New York, 
 etc., and in pursuance of the directions of said 
 act, did, on this day, elect Levinus Lansing, 
 John Lovett, John D. Dicldnson, James 
 Dole, Jonas Morgan and Shubacl Gorham 
 trustees for said congregation ; and 
 the said inhabitants did vote and agree that the 
 said corporation should be known by law by 
 the name of the trustees of the First Presbyte- 
 rian church and congregation of Lanslng- 
 burgh." It was determined that a house for 
 worship should t>e built of brick, 50x64 feet, at 
 the north end of "The Green," the rear of the 
 building toward Hoosick street. The corner- 
 stone of the edifice was laid on Thursday after- 
 noon, July 5, 1793, by the Rev. Jonas Coc, 
 pastor of the United Presbyterian congrega- 
 tions of Lanslngburgh and Troy. On the 2'2d 
 of June, 1794, the church was dedicated. 
 
 In 1844-45 the present Presbyterian church 
 was erected on the east side of Congress street, 
 between Elizabeth and Market streets. The 
 Rev. Jonas Coe, D. D., was pastor of this 
 church from June 35, 1793, to 1804. His 
 successor was the Rev. Samuel Blatchford, 
 D. D., who began his pastorate July 19, 1804, 
 which he held to March 18, 1828. The Rev. 
 A. M. Beveridge, the present pastor, entered 
 upon his ministry in this church on the third 
 Sunday of July, 1858. 
 
 The first Protestant Episcopal church In Lan- 
 slngburgh was duly organized on the fifth of 
 January, 1804, by the election of the following 
 persons as officers ; John Young and 
 David Smith, wardens ; John Rutherford, 
 William Bradley, Stephen Ross, John 
 Walsh, Joseph S. Mabbett, Jonathan Burr, 
 John Stewart and Henry Davis, vestrymen. 
 The organization took the name of Trinity 
 church of Lansingbnrgh. A frame building, 45 
 by 50 feet, it is said, was built the same year, on 
 the northwest corner of John and Market 
 streets. The Rev. David Butler, D. D., was 
 rector of this church, and also of St. Paul's, 
 Troy, from January 9, 1806, to 1814. As rector 
 of Trinity church, in 1814, he was succeeded by 
 
40 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 the Rev. Parker Adams. A new church edifice 
 was built in 1869-70 on the northwest corner of 
 John and Market streets. The Rev. Byron J. 
 Hall has been the rector of Trinity church 
 since December 16, 1867. 
 
 The first Baptist society of Lansingburgh 
 was formed on the 11th day of June, 1803. The 
 first tmstees were Daniel Seymour, Aaron B. 
 Hinman, Francis Choate, Nathaniel Jacobs and 
 William Spafford. The meeting house was erect- 
 ed on the comer of North and John streets. A 
 reorganization of this society was effected July 
 28, 1858. The present church building, on the 
 east side of John street, between Kichard and 
 Elizabeth streets, formerly belonged to the Sec- 
 ond Presbyterian chu^h. The present pastor, 
 the Rev. A. C. Ferguson, entered upon his min- 
 istrations over this society October 1, 1878. 
 
 In 1810 the members of the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church in Lansingburgh erected their 
 first house of worship on the river bank, at the 
 foot of Elizabeth street. In 1827 the following 
 persons were the trustees of the church : Eph- 
 raim Goss, Jacob Heimstreet, Edwin Filley, 
 Alexander Van Pelt, jr., Thomas Ward, Benja- 
 min Case and Alexander Van Felt, sr. The 
 present house of worship, on the northeast cor- 
 ner of Congress and Elizabeth streets, was 
 erected in 1818. The Rev. Joel W. Eaton is the 
 present pastor of the church. 
 
 The first Universalist society of Lansingburgh 
 was formed December 15, 1832. A small church 
 was erected in 18S4 on the comer of John and 
 North streets. The property subsequently was 
 purchased by the tmstees of St. John's Roman 
 Catholic church. 
 
 The Second Presbyterian church was organ- 
 ized June 2i, 1835. A bouse of worship was 
 erected on the east side of John street, between 
 Elizabeth and Richard streets, which is now oc- 
 cupied by the Baptist society. The first tms- 
 tees of the Second Presbyterian church were : 
 William Van Vleck, Jonathan Wickware, 
 Nathan Stmtton, Lemuel Kennedy, William 
 McMurray and Chauncey Ives. The Rev. 
 Samuel P. Spear was the first pastor of the 
 church. This congregation since the resigna- 
 tion of the Rev. Q«orge P. Tyler, D. D., in June, 
 1874, has not continued its organization. Some 
 of the members of this body, however, erected 
 amission chai>el on the northwest comer of 
 Congress and Clinton streets, which was dedi- 
 cated September 1, 1877. 
 
 St. John's Roman Catholic church was or- 
 ganized about the year 1841. On June 
 5, 1842, James B. Smith, James Halligan, 
 Keating Rawson, John Higgins, George T. 
 Gillespie, Barnet Evers, John Dooley, John 
 Driscoll and Daniel Murray were chosen trust- 
 
 ees. The church was dedicated in 1844, by the 
 Right Rev. John MisCloskey, D. D. The present 
 edifice used now by the old congregation 
 of St. John's church, known as St. Augustine's 
 church, is on the east side of John street, be- 
 tween Market and Elizabeth streets, and was 
 erected in 1864-65 at an expense of $40,000. 
 
 The Free Methodist church was organized at 
 Whipple hall, October 15, 1867. That year a 
 house of worship was erected on Ann street, 
 south of Elizabeth street. The Rev. George E. 
 Ferrin was the first pastor of this church. 
 
 Among the early religious societies organized 
 in the village, one knovm as the Scotch Seced- 
 ers is said to have occupied about the year 
 1790, as a place of worship, a building on the 
 northwest comer of John and Richard streets. 
 
 The African Methodist Episcopal church of 
 Lansingburgh was incorporated May 18, 1841. 
 Twenty-five years after its organization the so- 
 ciety dissolved. 
 
 MANtrPACTUKING INTEBBSTB. 
 
 The most prominent manufacturing business 
 of the place is the making of oil cloths. Early 
 in the year 1817 William Powers advertised that 
 he had engaged in the business of manufactur- 
 ing oil cloths. The extensive establishment of 
 Deborah Powers & Sons and that of R. C. Haa^ 
 kell, in the southern part of the village, indi- 
 cate the local importance of the business. 
 
 WilUam McMurray, in 1818, began the manu- 
 facture of brushes in the village. His business, 
 since that date, has grown into one of the lead- 
 ing industries of Lansingburgh. The wide 
 reputation which the various factories of the 
 village enjoys throughout the United States for 
 the excellent quality of the various kinds and 
 styles of brushes made by them is quite nota- 
 ble. The principal brush manufacturers are J. 
 G. McMurray <fc Co. ; George Scott, Peter B. 
 King, E. & C. Wood, J. C. Pushee & Co., James 
 McQuide, FUnn Brothers, Comeskey Brothers, 
 F/Hoytand Thomas Curran. 
 
 The manufacture of crackers in the village 
 dates back to 1806, when the father of Joseph 
 Fox was engaged in the business. The large 
 steam cracker establishment of Joseph Fox and 
 the weU-known cracker bakery of R. M. DeFreest 
 enhance the value of Lansingburgh's manu- 
 facturing interests. The firm of Edward Tracy 
 & Co. has long been established in the manu- 
 facture of malt. The Ludlow valve manufac- 
 turing company, which since 1872 has been 
 extensively engaged in making the celebrated 
 " Ludlow sUding stop valves," for the safe and 
 economical distribution of water, steam and 
 gas, and also the " Ludlow patent friction hy- 
 drants," at the extreme south part of the vil- 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENS8BLAER COUNTY. 
 
 41 
 
 lage, gives employment to a large number of 
 workmen. The carriage factory of Edwin 
 Chamberlain, the knit goods mlU of Harder & 
 Co., the scale works and foundry of Arnold 
 & Bowe, and the brewing establishment of 
 Samuel Bolton & Sons add industry and pros- 
 perity to the place. 
 
 LAssniaBnitOH newsfafebs. 
 
 The Northern Centind and Lansingburgh Adver- 
 iiter, issued on Monday, May 21, 1787, as a 
 weekly, by Claxton & Babcock, King street, be- 
 tween Hoosick and South streets, Lansing- 
 burgh, was the first newspaper published within 
 the territory now embraced in the county of 
 Bensselaer. 
 
 The Federal Herald, weekly, by Babcock & 
 Hickok, succeeded the Nmihem Ceniind May 
 5,1788. 
 
 The American Spy was the name of the news. 
 paper which followed the former, April 8, 1791, 
 published by Silvester Tiffany. 
 
 The NorOiem Budget, by Robert MofStt & Co., 
 became the successor of the Spy, Jime 30, 1797. 
 
 The liansingburgh Gazette, after the removal 
 of the Budget to Troy, May 15, 1798, had its 
 first issue on September 12, 1798, and was first 
 edited and printed by Gardiner Tracy. A. B. 
 • Elliott is the present editor and proprietor of 
 this well known jonmal. 
 
 The ParmerU Begister was Issued for the first 
 time January 25, 1803, by Francis Adanconrt. 
 
 The Democratic Press and LanHnglmrgh Adoer- 
 tiaer had its first publication January 13, 1838, 
 by William J. Lamb 
 
 The Literary Cabinet was the nex' paper, 
 November, 1841. 
 
 The Oddem Rule, January 1, 1844, monthly, 
 by the Bev. Bolla J. Smith. 
 
 The Antiguarianand Oenerai Semew, a month- 
 ly, by the Bev. Wm. Arthur, March, 1847. 
 
 The Lansingburgh DaUy Gazette, by Mitchell 
 & Eirkpatrick, January 3, 1860. 
 
 The Semir-WeeUy Chronicec, April 6, 1864, by J. 
 D. Comstock. 
 
 Our LitOe Ptper, September 13, 1872, by E. D. 
 Ayres. 
 
 The Enlerpriae, November 29, 1873, by J. D. 
 Comstock. 
 
 The lAnsingbnrgh Courier, December 84, 
 1875, by Isaac L. VanVoast and William H. 
 EngeL 
 
 33ANK3. 
 
 The first banking institution of the village 
 was the bank of Lansingburgh, incorporated 
 March 19, 1818. The building in which the 
 bonk began business was the one now known as 
 No. 531 State street. The first board of directors 
 was : Elijah Janes, ShubaelOorham, Abraham C. 
 Lansing, James Dennison, Gardiner Tracy, 
 
 5 
 
 James Hickok, James Adams, Jonathan 
 Burr, Thnothy Leonard, Silvanus J. Penni- 
 man, Ellas Farmelee, John Stewart, Calvin 
 Barker, James Dougrey and Asa Burt. Elijah 
 Janes was chosen president and James Beid 
 cashier. The amount of capital authorized was 
 t200,000. This institution, by the depreciation 
 of the value of its assets, disconttiued business 
 March 19, 1877. 
 
 The Bensselaer county bank was established 
 in Lansingburgh January 1, 1853. John 8. 
 Fake was the first president of the institution. 
 On the 13th of July, 1872, the bank disco - 
 tinned business. 
 
 Bank of D. Powers & Sons was establijihed 
 March 20, 1877. Deborah Powers, Albert E. 
 Powers and Nathaniel Powers being sole part- 
 ners in the institution. 
 
 LOOAI. OBOAIIIZA.TION8. 
 
 The first masonic organization that was 
 formed in Lansingburgh was Hiram lodge, No. 
 35, the warrant granteo it by the grand lodge, 
 bearing date of August 16, 1787. The lodge 
 room in the year 1795 was on the second fioor 
 of Hanmer's tavern, which stood where now is 
 the Phoenix hotel. Early in this century Hiram 
 lodge ended its work. 
 
 Phoenix lodge No. 861 has its warrant dated 
 Jnne 23, 1823. Under a dispensation of the 
 
 gBnd lodge in September, 1^, Benjamin W. 
 orr, Chauncey Ives, Nathan Morey, Alvan 
 Hawley, Samuel H. Mnlford, Samuel S. Bing- 
 ham, David Beading, Ephraim Goss, B. B. 
 Stearns and JonathanChoate met together for the 
 first time on September 26. The poUtlcal crusade 
 against masonic bodies about the year 1884 led 
 the few remaining members of Phcenix lodge 
 to surrender its charter on January 6, 1886. In 
 1838 the grand lodge was petitioned for a new 
 charter, which was granted, and on June 7, 
 1839, Phoenix lodge No. 58 assumed its second 
 existence. The lodge room Is in the Masonic 
 hall, No. 685 State street. 
 
 In 1854 Jerusalem lodge No. 355 was or- 
 ganized. 
 
 Phoenix chapter No. 183 received its dispensa- 
 tion Nov. 22, 1849. 
 
 The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is 
 represented by Bethl^em Bebecca degree lodge 
 No. 49. 
 
 The temperance cause is advocated by Dia- 
 mond Bock Temple of Honor No. 85 and by the 
 Christian Temperance Union of Lansingburgh. 
 
 The Lansingburgh academy was incorporated 
 February 20, 1796. 
 
 CENSUS or THE TOWN OF LANSINOBUBGH. 
 
 18S5 8,388 
 
 1840 8,880 
 
 184S 8,982 
 
 18S0 5,762 
 
 18S6 5,700 
 
 1800 5,577 
 
 1865 6,072 
 
 1870 6,804 
 
 1875 6,984 
 
 1880 7,774 
 
 17T0 60 
 
 1780 400 
 
 1790 609 
 
 17B5 900 
 
 1800 1,200 
 
 1805 1,400 
 
 1810 1,800 
 
 1816 1,800 
 
 1820 2,035 
 
 1826 2,428 
 
 1830 ......2,868 
 
 From 1771 to 1815 the population of the vil- 
 lage is estimated. From 1820 it is the census of 
 the town of Ltuisingburgh. 
 
42 
 
 HISTOBT OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAER COTJNTT. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE TOWN OF GREENBUSH. 
 
 The Ground of the Indian Nawanemitt— The Arable Land of De 
 Laet's Burg— The Flight of the Settlers to Fort Cralo— The 
 Division of Rensselaerwyck— The Sale of the Lots of the Akin 
 Mile Square — The Burial of Thirty-three Persons in One Day — 
 The Incorporation of the Village — The History of its Churches 
 — Historical Memoranda. 
 
 In the month of May, 1633, while the Indians 
 inhabiting the east and west banks of the Hud- 
 son Were busily engaged with their spring fish- 
 ing, they beheld a Dutch ship, with all its sails 
 spread, moving slowly past them, going north- 
 ward. It was the New Netherland, which 
 had left Holland, in March, for the fertile coun- 
 try bordering the beautiful river recently ex- 
 plored by the English navigator, Henry Hud- 
 son. There were 18 families on board that in- 
 tended settling about the rudely built outpost, 
 named Fort Orange, which had just been 
 " thrown up and completed" near the river, on 
 a part of the ground that is now occupied by 
 the city of Albany. 
 
 It is said that shortly after these emigrants 
 had built themselves " some huts of bark," the 
 Mohegans, the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the On- 
 ondagas, the Cayugas and the Senecas, with the 
 Ottawawa Indians, " came and made covenants 
 of friendship" with the Dutch commander, 
 Adriaen Joris, " bringing him great presents of 
 beaver or other peltry, and desired that they 
 might come and have a constant free trade 
 with them, which was concluded upon." It is 
 further related that for years thereafter the In- 
 dians "were all as quiet as lambs, and came 
 and traded with all the freedom imaginable." 
 
 DG LAST'S BURQ. 
 
 This early settlement at Fort Orange, it 
 should be remembered, was previous to the year 
 1629. Afterward, in 1629, the Dutch West In- 
 dia company permitted persons of wealth to 
 become permanent possessors of large tracts of 
 
 land, who, within four years, should settle on 
 them colonies of 50 adult persons. Among the 
 several purchases of tracts of lands from the 
 Indians made by the agents of Eiliaen Van. 
 Rensselaer, under this charter of exemptions 
 and privileges, was one which embraced the 
 ground on which Greenbush is now built. This 
 part of the manor of Rensselaerwyck along the 
 Hudson belonged to an Indian sachem named 
 Nawanemitt, and was " called Semesseeck, ly- 
 ing on the east side of the aforesaid 
 river, opposite the Fort Orange, as well above 
 as below, and from Foetanock, the mill creek, 
 northwards to Negagonce, being about 12 miles 
 large measure." Among the shareholders of 
 the West India company considerable dissatis- 
 faction was caused by these large acquirements 
 of landed estate by Eillaen Van Rensselaer. 
 This wealthy patroon in order to have his pa- 
 tents confirmed by the legislative chambers of 
 Holland, was obliged to divide the territory ob- 
 tained from the Indians with three other di- 
 rectors of the Amsterdam chamber : the Dutch 
 historian, John de Laet, Samuel Godyn and 
 Samuel Blommaert. The latter had associated 
 with him Adam Bissels and Toussaint Mous- 
 sart. 
 
 The several divisions of the manor of Rens- 
 selaerwyck are in a general way designated on 
 the old map of the manor made by Gillis van 
 Schcndel in 1630. That portion of land occu- 
 pied by the raUroad companies' freight houses 
 and car shops is named on this old chart De 
 LacCs Hylandt—Tie Laet's island ; the stream 
 south of it is called De LaeVs mueUn kiS, ende 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY, 
 
 43 
 
 vxUerval — De Laet's mill creek and waterfall. 
 On the south side of the creek, and on the hank 
 of the river, there are several houses delineated 
 which no doubt were intended to mark the 
 probable site of a future village, and which is 
 denominated De Laet's Burg. This was the 
 local name given 230 years ago to the land on 
 which the village of Oreenbush is situated. 
 
 THE PIKST SETTLERS. 
 
 The bouw landt, arable land, opposite Fort 
 Orange, on the east bank of the river, soon at- 
 tracted the attention of the Dutch fanners im- 
 migrating from Holland. The several streams 
 of water emptying contiguously into the river 
 very likely reminded them of the fatherland, 
 where numerous canals diversified the dyke- 
 protected country. Gerrit Teunissen de Reus, 
 acliepen, sheriS, as early as 1631, had built him- 
 self a home and had a well stocked farm, in the 
 vicinity of the Oroenen boaeh, the green or pine 
 woods, which formed a part of the landscape 
 in the vicinity of De Laet's mill creek. At 
 the south end of this wood, Tennis 
 Comelissen van Yechten was living in 
 1648. North of him. Tennis Dircksen van 
 Yechten had a farm. He had emigrated from 
 Holland in 1638, having taken passage in the 
 Arms of Norway with his wife, child and two 
 servants. In 1643 Evert Pels van Steltyn, a 
 brewer, was living near the river, on the bank 
 of Mill creek. For the purpose of facilitating 
 communication between the people living on 
 the west and east banks of the river, as early 
 as 1643 a ferry was established between Fort 
 Orange, or Beaverwyck, as the village around 
 the fort was early called, and Groenen bosch, 
 nowGreenbusb. HendrickAlbertsen had charge 
 of it. 
 
 FOBT OUALO. 
 
 As a means of protection against any sudden 
 attack of the Indians the patroon of Rensse- 
 laerwyck had a small fort constructed on his 
 farm at Greenbush. This newly built fort, in 
 June, 1663, when the news of the massacre of 
 the people living at Esopus reached the ears of 
 farmers dwelling in the vicinity of it, be- 
 came a very important place of safety to them. 
 The alarm at the time was widespread, and the 
 entire neighborhood was deserted by those who 
 for weeks found a home within its walls. The 
 following extract from the " Resolutie boek der 
 Colonie Rensselaerwyck," refers to what took 
 place among the early settlers who had fled to 
 Fort Cralo : 
 
 12th Juki, 1663,— Information rec'd of murders 
 and bnniing which occnred at Esopus, last Thurs- 
 day, 7th inst, the Conrt of RensBelaerwyck re- 
 newed the resolution of the Ist of April, 1660, for 
 
 the establishment of a night watch. Ciomelis van 
 Neswas appointed captain, and Willem Freder- 
 icks Bout, corporal. List of colonists in Oreen- 
 bush ; Under the chief ofacer Cornells van Nes : 
 Comelis Stevensen Hullen, Adam Dingermans, 
 Gerrit van Nes, Jan Juriaensen, Jan van Nes, Ja- 
 cobus Jansen, Tymon Hendrickseu. Under Cor- 
 poral WiUem Bout : Jan Ootbout, Hendrlck van 
 Nes ; Hendiick Maessen [van Buren} Gerrit Teu- 
 nissen, Frans Jacobsen, Hendriok Willemsen, Claes 
 Claessen. The ofScers shall take good care that 
 ' none of the watch shall fire unless when necessary, 
 under the penalty of six guilders for the first, 
 twelve for the second, and an arbitrary correction 
 for the third offence. Actum in Greene Bos in the 
 Colonie Bensselaerswyck, this 12th June 1663. 
 
 In July, 1664, war broke out among the In- 
 dians, and the Mohawks inhabiting the west 
 side of the river drew the hatchet against the 
 Mohegans, or Mahicans as the Dutch called 
 the Indians living on the east side. Jeremias 
 Yan Rensselaer, writing to Director Stuyvesant 
 from Fort Orange, July 14, says that the latter 
 "are fled from the Mohawks, and the next con- 
 sequence was that the Indians of the colonic 
 have, on last Monday, the 7th instant, at one 
 onslaught, killed nine head " of cattle "in Di- 
 rector Rensselaer's bouwerie in Greenbush." 
 Subsequently the Indians became quite friendly, 
 and for a long time gave no occasion to the set- 
 tlers to fear any secret attack from them. 
 
 THE FBENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 
 
 In 1689 the people were once more alarmed 
 by fears of incursions from the French and 
 Indians, who, by rapid marches, made sudden 
 descents from Canada upon the New England 
 colonies and the farmers of northern New 
 York. The following minutes of a convention 
 assembled at Albany, August 21, 1689, exhibit 
 the apprehensions of the people residing along 
 the upper Hudson : 
 
 Resolved to acquaint ye Inhabitants of ye County 
 ye news yt we received of Col. Pynchen, 
 
 That Pemmaqnid was taken by ye Indians and 
 french 45 People Eild & Taken— also that there 
 shonld be a ship be come to Quebek of ye french 
 with news of wars Between Engld & france & 
 therefore nothing can be Expected but yt ye 
 french will doe all ye miechietTe they can to this 
 govemmt & therefore every one to be npon 
 there guarde & take care that they be not sur- 
 prized. Mr. [D.] Wessels and Eeynier Barentse 
 were Desynedto Commmiicate this to the farmers 
 of kinderhook & daverack. Capt. [J.] Wendel A 
 John Lansing the People above. Richd Pretty & 
 Evert Banker at Skeneehtady & Canasta^ome. 
 
 Two days afterward the people of Greenbush 
 it seems were thrown into great alarm by a sup- 
 posed attack upon them by the Indians. This 
 is apparent from the records of the convention 
 held at Albany : 
 
44 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF KENSSETiAER COUNTY. 
 
 The 24th day of Augast, 1889. BetUted, That ye 
 Inhabitants of ye County be Informed of ye alarm 
 which was last night at ye green Bnsh oooasioned 
 by some Halitlons Persones fyreing of Severall 
 ganns with Baale throw ye Door and honse of 
 John Witment wUoh was done by letters accord- 
 ingly. 
 
 The 28th of August, 1689. Setolved, yt Barent 
 Gerritse of Bethlehem who is suspected to have 
 had a hand in ye late distnrbance yt was at Qreen 
 Bush, or least Privy to It yt he give 80 £ security to 
 answer when he shall be called for to be Kzamlned ' 
 about yt Bnsslnesse. 
 
 In time the disturbing elements of hostility 
 were repressed by the strong arm of the Eng- 
 lish government and peace and prosperity 
 blessed the province. 
 
 THE TOWN OF GBEENBU8E. 
 
 On the lOtb day of April, 1792, the state leg- 
 islature passed " An act for dlvldlngthe several 
 towns therein mentioned," by which the town 
 of Greenbush was formed. The territory em- 
 braced was the following : 
 
 All that part of the town of RensseUderwyok, 
 which Ilea north of aline to be drawn from a point 
 on the east bank of the river Hudson, eight miles 
 distant from the southwest comer of the town of 
 Bensselaerwyck, and running from thenee east to 
 the west bounds of Stephentown, shall be and is 
 hareby erected into a separate town, by the name 
 of Greenbush ; and that the first town meeting in 
 Greenbush shall be held at the dwelling house of 
 Abraham M. de Forest, In the said town. And 
 that all the remaining part of the town of Bens- 
 selaerwyck shall be and remain a separate town 
 by the name of Rensselaerwyok ; and that the 
 first town meeting in Bensselaerwyck shall be held 
 at the dwelling house of John J. Miller In said 
 town. 
 
 A second act relatint; to the town was passed 
 March 17, 1795. A portion of the town was 
 taken off June 19, 1812, to form the town of 
 Sandlake. To make the towns of Clinton (now 
 East Greenbush) and North Greenbush, an- 
 other part was subtracted February 23, 1855. 
 
 THE AKIN MII/E SQUABS. 
 
 The ground on which the vUlage of 
 Greenbnsh is situate was on the S9th 
 day of March, 1810, conveyed by Stephen 
 Van Rensselaer and Stephen N. Bayard, 
 the surviving trustees of John J. Van 
 Rensselaer, to William Akin of Pawlings- 
 town, Dutchess county, Titus Goodman and 
 John Dickinson of Pittsfleld, Mass., for 
 the sum of $60,000. It was purchased 
 for speculative purposes, and was laid 
 out Into building lots and streets. Em- 
 bracing an area of ground a mile square, it 
 was thereafter designated "the Akin mile 
 square." The lots near the river were 100 feet 
 
 wide in front and in the rear 66 feet. The 
 greater part of the blocks contained three and 
 two-third acres of land. In the smaller blocks 
 the lots were generally 200 feet long by 60 feet 
 wide. In 1773, this portion of the manor of 
 Rensselaerwyck appears on a map made by 
 Robert Yates. The residence of John Van 
 Rensselaer, esq., widow Ten Broeck, widow 
 Lumbus, John Yates, John McLallan, Henry 
 Cuyler and Jacob Van Schaick seem to form the 
 embryo hamlet which grew into the village of 
 Greenbnsh. The first sale of lots was quite re- 
 munerative, but the second attracted only a few 
 buyers, and the project of the purchasers 
 ended in a long litigation. In 1813, it la said that 
 50 buildings had been erected on this plot. 
 
 A HXIuUICHOLT DAT. 
 
 Among the events connected with the growth 
 of Greenbush was one which was long remem- 
 bered by its inhabitants. In the spring of 1807 
 the ferry-boat plying between the little hamlet 
 and Albany was swamped by a south wind and 
 3S persons on it were drowned. Among the 
 lost were a large number of leading persons liv- 
 ing In the vicinity and in Albany, and their 
 funerals made one of the most melancholy days 
 known in the history of the two places. 
 
 THE yiLLASE OF OBXENBUBH. 
 
 The act incorporating the village of Green- 
 bnsh was passed April 14, 1815. Subsequent 
 acts were passed April 5, 1828 ; March 22, 1851, 
 and April 26, 1863. The present bounds of the 
 village are found in the act passed April 25, 1871 : 
 
 Beginning at a point in the Hudson river, op- 
 posite the city of Albany, on the division line be- 
 tween the counties of Albany and Bensselaer, on 
 a line running ISO feet north of the northerly Une 
 of Catharine street, thenoe running easterly, and 
 parallel to, and 150 north of the northerly line of 
 said Catharine street, to its terminus; thenoe 
 easterly on the same parallel, across the lands now 
 owned by Dr. James HoNanghton, to a point 160 
 feet east of the westerly line of the lands known as 
 the Mason farm ; thence southerly, IGO feet east of 
 the westerly hue of the said Mason farm, to a point 
 IGO feet south of the southerly Itaie of Partition 
 street; thence westerly, parallel to and 150 feet south 
 of the southerly line of Partition street, to a point 
 150 feet east of the easterly line of Cottage Hill 
 street ; thence southerly, parallel to and 150 feet 
 east of the easterly line of Cottage Hill street, to a 
 point 160 feet south of the southerly line of Hill 
 street ; thenoe west, parallel to and 150 feet south 
 of the southerly line of said Mill street, to a point 
 Where the said Une will intersect the west bounds 
 of the county of Bensselaer ; thenoe north along 
 the said west bounds to the place of beginning, 
 shall be known and distinguisbed as the village of 
 Greenbush. • * • « The officers shall be a 
 president, eight trustees, clerk, street commls- 
 
HISTORY OP THE TOWNS OF EENS8ELAER COUNTY. 
 
 45 
 
 Bioner and treasurer, and three Inspectors of elec 
 Hon in each ward. 
 
 CHCBCHBB. 
 
 As eturly as the year 18i30 the people of Green, 
 bosh were accnstomed to meet together In the 
 Tillage school honse to hear on Sundays various 
 preachers discourse upon selected Bible texts. 
 The certificate of incorporation of the First 
 Presbyterian church of Greenbush declares 
 that "a meeting of the male inhabitants of 
 full age who haye been statedly in the habit of 
 attending public religious worship at the upper 
 room In the school house in the village of 
 Qreenbnsh ♦ • « was held at said room on 
 the 27th day of April, 1835, pursuant to a no- 
 tice read at said room for two Sabbaths 
 preceding said 27th day of April, imme- 
 diately after divine service ended and 
 the first notice given more than 15 days previ- 
 ous to said 27th day of April, 1825, for the pur- 
 pose of choosing a board of trustees with a 
 view to the incorporation of a religions society 
 in said village according to the statute." The 
 trustees chosen were Samuel Cheever, Hugh 
 Gordon, Jacob S. Miller, Samuel Tibbals, jr., 
 John Alden, Solomon Cone and Merrick Ross. 
 The organization took the name of " The First 
 Presbyterian church in Greenbush." 
 
 In 1827 a house of worship was erected on 
 land donated by William Akin. The Rev. Ed- 
 ward Stratton, the present pastor, was installed 
 June 25, 1874. 
 
 The organization of the First Methodist 
 Episcopal church of Greenbush took place in 
 the village school-house, February 22, 1833. At 
 this meeting the following persons were elected 
 trustees : James Walker, Enos Northnp, Ben- 
 jamin Bradbury, Robert D. Kemp and James 
 Hallenbeck. In 1833 the congregation began 
 the erection of a frame building for a place of 
 worship on Washington street, which was first 
 used for worship May 11, 1834, the Rev. Joshua 
 Poor being the first pastor. In 1853 the old 
 building was torn down, and a handsome struc- 
 ture of brick, 65x42 feet, erected near its site, at 
 a cost of about $8,000. It was dedicated in Janu- 
 ary, 1854. Inl862thebuilding was enlarged by 
 the addition of a transept 24x62 feet, at a cost 
 of $7,000. The Rev. R H. Robinson became 
 pastor of this congregation in 1879. 
 
 The first Protestant Episcopal church organ- 
 iced in Greenbush was that of the " Church of 
 the Meesiah." The congregation, which had 
 been meeting since 1851 in the village school 
 house, assembled on the evening of the 19th 
 of July, 1853, Jeremiah Van Rensselaer, 
 chairman. A vote being taken, Jeremiah Van 
 Rensselaer and Henry Finch were elected church 
 wardens, and George S. Weaver, Alexander H. 
 
 Henry, Thomas R. Mather, Frederick G. Lane, 
 Francis Van Rensselaer, Benjamin B. Eirtland, 
 John M. Boudy and Squire Oreenhogh vestry- 
 men. The present church edifice, on the comer 
 of Third avenue and Washington street, was 
 erected in 1853-4. The Rev. Edgar T. Chapman 
 is the present rector of this church. 
 
 St. John's Roman Catholic church was organ- 
 ized about the year 1850 by the Rev. John 
 Cory, who became the first resident priest. A 
 small church was erected shortly afterward, 
 which in 1857 gave place to a new building, 
 built at an expense of $12,000. The Rev. James 
 E. DufEy is the present pastor and the Rev. M. 
 Scanlon assistant. The church has about 2,000 
 communicants. 
 
 The Greenbush Baptist church sprang from 
 a mission established by the Albany Baptist 
 missionary union. A congregation was organ- 
 ized in 1870. The society was formally incor- 
 porated May 27, 1874. The following trustees 
 were then elected: Merritt H. Waterbury, 
 Thomas Garrison, D. 0. Denison, William 
 Brooks, Sylvester Waterbury, James E. Aiken 
 and James A. Campbell. The present pastor, 
 the Rev. Adoniram Waterbury, was installed 
 February 1, 1874. 
 
 The second Protestant Episcopal church or- 
 ganized in Greenbush was the body known as 
 the "Church of the Epiphany," in 1873. Sev- 
 eral years after a church building was erected 
 on the comer of Catharine and Third streets. 
 The Rev. Richard Temple is the rector. 
 
 The Greenbush Congregational church was 
 organized in 1879 by the Rev. 6. Stanton, the 
 present pastor, and 16 other persons from 
 various sister churches. The church building, 
 on the comer of Partition and Third streets, 
 was erected in 1879-W. 
 
 NZWSFAPBKS. 
 
 The Greenbush Guardian was first published 
 in August, 1856, by A. J. Goodrich and after- 
 wards by J. D. Comstock. 
 
 The Betisielaer County Oazette had its first iS' 
 sue September 8, 1870, Thomas McKee and Dun- 
 can MacFarlane, publishers and proprietors. 
 Early in the summer of 1871 Thomas McKee be- 
 came the editor and owner of the paper. 
 
 The Greenbush Democrat began its publica- 
 tion December 2, 1876, by Philip F. Bray, the 
 present editor and proprietor. 
 
 POPDI.ATION. 
 
 The village of Greenbush is known locally by 
 two names. The lower or southern part is 
 called by the former name, while the northern 
 part is generally designated as East Albany. 
 The Albany and Boston railroad freight houses 
 
46 
 
 HISTOBT OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 and workshops are on the island opposite, as is 
 also the Greenbnsh depot. 
 
 In 1836 Greenbnsh contained two grist mills, 
 on Mill creek, a distillery, two churches, a 
 flonrishing academy, four hotels, eight stores 
 and from 80 to 100 dwellings. 
 
 At present the steam saw mill of T. Miles & 
 Co., that of C. Warren & Son, the grist mill 
 and malt house of William M. Irwin & Co., the 
 grist mill of Charles C. Lodewick, the steam 
 cracker bakery of Jonas Whiting & Co., the 
 tannery of J. Ruyter & Son, the shoe- factory of 
 Walden & France, and the Albany stamping 
 works, Hoy & Co., are the important manufac- 
 turing interests of the village. 
 
 The population of the town of Groenbush 
 since 1800 is as follows : 
 
 ISOO S,472 
 
 1810 4,458 
 
 1815 2.396 
 
 1820 2,764 
 
 1825 2,914 
 
 1830 3,216 
 
 1835 3,345 
 
 1840 3,70. 
 
 1845 4,182 
 
 1850 3,945 
 
 1855 3,303 
 
 1860 3,992 
 
 1865 4,779 
 
 1370 6,202 
 
 1875 7,066 
 
 1880 6,742 
 
 SOCIETIES. 
 
 The masonic societies of Greenbnsh embrace 
 the Greenbush lodge of F. and A. M., No. 387, 
 chartered July 1, 18.54. The Greenbush Chap- 
 ter, E. A. M., No. 274, organized February 2, 
 1876. 
 
 The Independent order of Odd Fellows have 
 one lodge, the Farmers' and Mechanics', No. 
 157. 
 
 Of temperance societies there are Irving lodge 
 I. O. of G. T., No. 26, and St. Patrick's Father 
 Matthew society. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 47 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 TOWN OF EAST GREENBUSH. 
 
 The Great Forest Extended to Canada — The Building of a Fort at 
 Paepsknee— An Old Dutch Kirken Boek— The Famous Springs of 
 Harrowgate — The Home of Minister Genet — The Military Can- 
 tonment AT Greenbush — The Punishment of Riding in a Whirli- 
 gig — The Erection of the Town of Clinton — Present Statistics 
 — Population. 
 
 It was Oowper who longingly sighed : 
 " O for a lodge in some vast wildemess, 
 Some boundless contiguity of shade, 
 Where rumor of oppression and deceit, 
 Of nnsuccessful or successful war. 
 Might reach me no more." 
 
 The peace-loving poet no doubt believed that 
 the somber suiroundings of a great, continuous 
 forest were protective against the evil machina- 
 tions of men. Had he lived in America, about 
 the year 1689, on the east side of the Hudson river, 
 where then, as it is said, was a vast and closely 
 grown wood that extended from Kinderhookto 
 Canada, perhaps, he would not have thought it 
 a proper place for the realization of his fanci- 
 ful conceptions of a contented retirement from 
 the disturbing enmities of mankind. Through 
 the sunless depths of this immense forest bands 
 of horribly painted Indians and companies of 
 hostile French soldiers sometimes secretly 
 moved on murderous missions. 
 
 FAEPSENEE ISLAND. 
 
 The first Dutch settlers who, with cleaving 
 axes, had felled, here and there, near the river, 
 .green trees of this old forest of pines, de 
 groenen touch, and had upon these clearings 
 built themselves log farm-houses, were often 
 alarmed by the sudden incursions from Canada 
 of massacring bodies of savages and revenge- 
 ful French soldiery. 
 
 Opposite the mainland now known as 
 East Greenbush, at a close remove from 
 the shore, is a long island which at a 
 quite early date had received the name 
 
 of Paepsknee. This isolated piece of 
 land, sometimes called Poepskenekoes and 
 Papakenenea, it would seem, was selected by 
 the Dutch people living in the vicinity as a place 
 of refuge from the bloody tomahawks of the 
 Indians and the capturing hands of the Cana- 
 dian invaders. For at a convention held in Al- 
 bany on the 4th of September " in ye First year 
 of ye Reign of our Souveraign Lord and Lady, 
 King William and Queen Mary of Eng'l, France 
 & Ireland &c Defenders of ye Faith, Ao 1689," 
 the following action was taken for the defense 
 and security of the farmers living in the vicinity 
 of Paepsknee island : 
 
 Besolved, Since there is such Eminent Danger 
 Threatened by ye French of Canida and there 
 Praying Indians to come into this Country to kill 
 and Destroy there Hajes Subjects that there be 
 Immediately An Express sent doune to Capt. Leys- 
 ler and ye Eest of ye Militia offtcers of ye City and 
 County of New Torke for assistance of one hun- 
 dred men or more for ye secureing of there Majes 
 Fort and ye out Plantations of this County as also 
 a Recraite of six hundred weight of Ponder and 
 fonre hundred Bale viz to 200 Two Pounders and 
 200 four Pounders with some match & one hun- 
 dred hand granadoes out of there Majes Stores 
 and Two hundred Pounds out of there Majes Reve- 
 nue which we understand is dayly collected by 
 them for to employ ye Maquase andoyr Indians in 
 there Majes Service for ye Securing ye frontier 
 Parts of this County from any Inourslons of sd In- 
 dians or French. 
 
 Resolved, That there be a fort made at Paepsknee 
 in ye moat Convenient Place & yt Melgert 
 abrah Claes van Petten marte Cornells gerrit 
 
48 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER OOtTNTY. 
 
 gyebertBen & ye Inhabitants of Paepaknee make 
 ye same for there security to retreat Into upon oc- 
 casion & that albt Ryckman & John Beekman see 
 it effected. 
 
 THE HBST DUTCH CHURCH. 
 
 For a long time after the settlement of the 
 territory now included within the town of East 
 Greenbnsh the farmers and their families were 
 in the habit of attending religions worship at 
 the Dutch church, in Albany. AVhen, however, 
 the community of farmers was large enough for 
 the organization of a congregation, the settlers 
 were gathered together and a society formed, 
 which took the name of the Reformed Protestant 
 Dutch church of Greenbush. This was done 
 in the year 1787. The first pastor of this rural 
 church was the Bev. Jacobus Van Campen 
 Romeyn, who, being licensed by the synod of 
 the Dutch Reformed church of New York, 
 October 5, 1787, began his pastorate in Febru- 
 ary, 1788. Shortly after the passage of the 
 state law in regard to the incorporation of 
 churches, this congregation took the nec- 
 essary steps to comply with the legal 
 enactment. As stated in the preamble of 
 the legal certificate of the meeting held 
 for this purpose the proceedings of the 
 members of the church were according to 
 "an act making snch alterations in the 
 act for incorporating religions societies as 
 to render the same more convenient to the Re- 
 formed Protestant Dutch congregations, passed 
 the 7th day of March, 1788. The meeting was 
 held in the church at Greenbush, in the county 
 of Albany, on the 12th of Angost, 1788. The 
 Rev. Jacobus Van Campen Romeyn, minister ; 
 Christopher Yates, Abraham Ostrander and 
 Peter H. Van Bnren, elders; and Abraham 
 Cooi>er, Kaspams Witbeck and John E. Lans- 
 ing, deacons, were then and there, by virtne of 
 the said act, organized as " The minister, elders 
 and deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch 
 church of Greenbush." 
 
 AS OLD CHUBCH BOOK. 
 
 The records of the congregation of this date 
 are still preserved in the church book, which Is 
 written in " black Dutch." On the title-page 
 is the following : 
 
 KerkenBoek 
 
 vanM 
 Greene Bos 
 Be/ulzende een register van gedoopte, huwelljk, tcer- 
 kemienst, handelingen, etc., begonnen door. 
 Jacobus Van Campen Romeyn, 
 Predikant van de nederige Gfermenteen van het 
 Oreene Bos en Schodack. Anno 1788. 
 
 [The church book of Greenbush, containing a 
 register of baptisms, marriages, services, pro- 
 ceedings, etc., begun by Jacobus Van Campen 
 
 Romeyn, preacher of low German at Greenbush 
 and Schodack. Year 1788.] 
 
 Among the fljwt members of the church were 
 Anthony Abrams, Nancy Abrams, Andrles 
 Bartel, Hendriok Brezee, William BnsweU, 
 Peter Dingman, Peter Fonda, Abraham Lan- 
 sing, Dirck Hansen, Samuel Hitchcock, Hen- 
 drick Hollenbeck, John Holliday, Matthew Hol- 
 liday, Thomas Mesick, Stephen Mnller, Francis 
 Ott, James Patten, Jacobus Salsbury, Jonathan 
 Salsbuiy, Joseph Salsbury, John Schermerhom, 
 Robert Scharp, Jeremiah Shane, Johannes 
 Spoor, Christian Spring, Adam Tod, Benjamin 
 Van den Bergh, Cornelius Van Buren, Isaac 
 Van der Poel, Jonathan T. Witbeck, Peter W. 
 Witbeck and Tobias Witbeck. 
 
 The various pastors of this church since its 
 organization have been the following : 1788-99, 
 the Rev. J. V. C. Romeyn ; 1801-11, the Rev. J. 
 L. Zabriskie; 1811-13, the Rev. I. Labagh; 
 1814r-a8, the Rev. N. J. Marselus ; 1828-25, the 
 Rev. B. C. Taylor ; 1826-29, the Rev. A. H. Du- 
 mont ; 1830-34, the Rev. J. A. LiddeU ; 1831-52, 
 the Rev. E. P. Stimpson ; 1853-60, the Rev. J. 
 R. Talmage ; 1861-66, the Rev. P. Q. Wilson ; 
 1866-77, the Rev. W. Anderson ; 1877 to date, 
 the Rev. John Steely, D. D. 
 
 The site of the old church edifice was near 
 that of the present one. Although services 
 were held in the old one as early as 1788, it was 
 not completed for a number of years afterward. 
 On February 10, 1794, the committee of the 
 house of assembly to whom was referred the 
 petition of a number of the members of the 
 church for an act permitting them to create a 
 lottery to raise money to complete the church, 
 reported against granting the petition. Tlie 
 second church edifice was bnilt in 1860 and 
 dedicated in 1861. The church has a large and 
 active membership, and an excellent Sunday 
 school. 
 
 THE TOWN OF OBEEMBU8H. 
 
 The territory which is now known as East 
 Greenbush, on April 10, 1792, was designated 
 by the legislature as part of the town of Green- 
 bush, having been subtracted from the town of 
 Rensselaerwyck at that time. The Tierken 
 kill, or Mill creek, rises in the town of East 
 Greenbush and flows into the Hudson, opposite 
 Albany, by a meandering course of sevev 
 miles. Moordener's creek, having its source in 
 the town of Sandlake, flows through the south- 
 east part of the town and empties into the 
 Hudson, at Castleton. Along the Hudson, op- 
 posite Albany, the land belonging to East 
 Greenbush rises to elevations varying from 100 
 to 800 feet. A high hill, conspicuous to an ob- 
 server looking eastwardly from the new capitol 
 building in Albany, is known by the name of 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 49 
 
 Fonokose, a name said to have been given it 
 by an old Stockbridge Indian. Eastwardly 
 from the blufis along the river the surface 
 dlspreads into a rolling upland, rising gradual- 
 ly toward the eastern boundaries of the town. 
 The soil is composed of gravel, sand and clay, 
 and is quite fertile. 
 
 THE HA.BKOWaATE SPRIITO. 
 
 In 1792, about half a mile from the Green- 
 bush ferry, a spring of water was found, which 
 was deemed a discovery of no little importance 
 at the time. Having mineral properties simi- 
 lar to the famous Harrowgate springs, 20 miles 
 west of York city, England, and valuable to 
 persons having diseases of the skin, scrofula 
 and gout, this spring was designated by the 
 same name, which it retains to the present day. 
 A suitable building was erected for visitors 
 seeking the use of the water. Until the war of 
 1812 this spring attracted considerable atten- 
 tion, but when in 1812 a military encampment 
 was formed near it, the frequenters gradually 
 decreased, and the establishment lost favor 
 with the public. In 1822 a second effort was 
 made to popularize the spring by the erection 
 of bathing houses and other accommodations, 
 but the project was a failure. 
 
 THE HOME OF GENET. 
 
 The name of Edmund Charles Genet at the 
 close of the eighteenth century was a very 
 familiar one to the people of the United States. 
 He had been sent from France in December, 
 1792, as minister plenipotentary and consul- 
 general to this country. The aversion of the 
 people of the United States, engendered by the 
 war of the revolution, toward Great Britain, had 
 not been much abated, and th^ sympathy of the 
 people toward France was still generous and 
 affectionate. When the French republic de- 
 clared war against England, Washington, as 
 president, was obliged to issue in 1793 a procla- 
 mation enjoining strict neutrality on the part 
 of the United States. Genet, misled by 
 the enthusiastic reception given him on 
 his arrival in this country, immediately 
 began to use his influence to excite the people 
 into a state of opposition to this proclamation. 
 He went so far as to flt out vessels and to com- 
 mission officers in America to sail the high seas 
 in quest of British shipping. In these measures, 
 it is said, he was supported by an opposition 
 party, or as it began to be called, the Democratic 
 party, which now undertook, under the direct 
 management of Genet and in imitation of the 
 associated parties in France, to form demo- 
 cratic societies throughout the United States. 
 At the desire of President Washington the 
 
 6 
 
 French minister was superseded. In 1794 
 Genet married Cornelia Tappan, daughter of 
 Gfov. George Clinton, and settled on a farm, at 
 Jamaica, L. I. In March, 1810, his wife died, 
 after which, he took up his residence 
 in the town of Greenbush, now East Green- 
 bush, where he purchased a farm and lived for 
 the most part of his life until the day of his 
 death. His residence was known as Prospect 
 hill, and was south of a small stream called 
 Mill brook, in district No. 1, and west of the 
 Boston and Albany railroad. The Genet home- 
 stead is now owned and occupied as a summer 
 residence by Nelson Davenport of Troy. In 181 4 
 Genet married his second wife, Martha Bran- 
 don Osgood. In 1816 he removed to New York, 
 but returned to his farm in Greenbush in 1818. 
 Ex-Miuister Genet was taken sick on July 3, 
 1834, in consequence of getting wet in a rain 
 while going to attend a meeting of an agricul- 
 tural society of which he was president, and 
 before which he was to deliver an address. His 
 illness continued until the 14th of the month, 
 when, at 10 o'clock in the evening, he died. 
 
 THE TOMB or OENET. 
 
 In the burial ground in the rear of the Dutch 
 church in East Greenbush is the grave of ex- 
 Mlnister Genet. The slab which marks his 
 grave bears the following inscription : 
 
 Under this Humble Stone are interred the re- 
 mains of Edmund Charles Genet, Late Adjutant- 
 General, Minister Plenipotentiary And Consul- 
 General from the French Bepublic to the United 
 States of America. He was bom at Versailles, 
 Parish of St. Louis, in France, Jan. 8, 1763, and died 
 at Prospect Hill, Town of Greenbush, July 14, 1884. 
 Driven by the storms of the revolution to the 
 shades of retirement, he devoted bis talents to his 
 adopted country, where he cherished the love of 
 liberty and virtue. The pursuits of literature and 
 science enlivened his peaceful solitude, and he de- 
 voted his life to usefulness and benevolence. His 
 last moments were, like his life, an example of for- 
 titude and true Christian philosophy. His heart 
 was love and friendship's sun, which has set on 
 this transitory world to rise vrith radiant splendor 
 beyond the grave. 
 
 By the side of his grave are the tombs of his 
 two wives. 
 
 THE UHITED STATES CANTONMENT. 
 
 In the month of May, 1812, the United States 
 government purchased about 300 acres of land, 
 one mile and a half east of the village of 
 Greenbush, for the purpose of using it as a 
 military post, for the organization of 
 recruited men into regiments, for service in 
 the war against Great Britain then existing. 
 The persons conveying the tract of land to the 
 government were Henry Ward, Thomas Leg- 
 
50 
 
 HISTOBY OF THE TOWITS OF KENS8ELAER COTJNTT. 
 
 gett, James Thompson, Samuel Danton and 
 James Head. After the purchase had been 
 made it was discovered that an exclusive title 
 had not been obtained to the property. A deed, 
 however, was some time afterward given by 
 Stephen Van Rensselaer, which secured the full 
 right of the land to the United States. 
 Mai.-Oen. Dearborn, the commandant of the 
 post, began at once the erection of the neces- 
 sary buildings. Eight frame buildings, known 
 as the barracks, each 252x22 feet, two stories 
 high, with basements, were erected, four on 
 each side of the parade ground, which occupied 
 a space of half a mile in width. Four 
 buildings, 90 feet in length, two stories 
 high, for officers' quarters, were also built, 
 on opposite sides of the parade ground. Two 
 large buildings for the use of the commissary 
 department, a fire proof arsenal, built of brick, 
 three large structures, two stories high and 90 
 feet long, for the general's headquarters, hos- 
 pital and medical departments were erected on 
 an eminence commanding a view of the sur- 
 rounding country. Other buildings for shelter 
 for men, horses and cattle were constructed 
 upon the ample grounds of this large farm. 
 
 BIDING nj THE WHIBLIOIO. 
 
 It is said that the commanding general was 
 a man of many eccentricities. To him is at- 
 tributed, perhaps, without any authoritative 
 proof, the construction of an instrument of 
 punishment called a whirligig. It was a rudely- 
 made box or cage, faced with slats, that could 
 be revolved with rapidity around an upright 
 post that passed through it. The person to be 
 punished for the commission of an offense was 
 put in it, his hands being first secured to the 
 upper part of the box, which was whirled around 
 the post. The exposed position of the of- 
 fender thus being punished, it is said, never 
 failed to attract the idle crowd of hangers-on 
 about the cantonment. The rapid revolutions 
 of the box soon, it is said, caused extreme gid- 
 diness, and prevented the person subjected to 
 this punishment from retaining an upright po- 
 sition, but who was kept from falling by the 
 firm fastening which retained his hands. 
 
 The Greenbush cantonment, had accommo- 
 dations for over 4,000 troops. The elevated po- 
 sition of the camp, sometimes called " Mount 
 Madison," was thought at first to be a very 
 healthy one ; but during the first year much 
 sickness occurred. After the treaty of peace 
 of 1815, very few soldiers were stationed at the 
 post, and finally, on May 2, 1831, the property 
 was sold by the government to Hathorn McCul- 
 loch of Albany, who made the place his resi- 
 dence until his death. The property in 1848 was 
 
 divided, one part of which is the now the prop- 
 ety of William A. McCuUoch, son of Hathorn 
 McCulloch, and the remainder is retained by 
 the latter's grandchildren, William H. Kirt- 
 land, Albert B. Eirtland and Mrs. A. 6. Oenet. 
 
 THE TOWN OP CLINTON. 
 
 The town of East Greenbush was first known 
 by the name of Clinton. The board of super- 
 visors of Rensselaer county, in answer to a pe- 
 tition of more than 12 freeholders of the town 
 of Greenbush, granted the erection of the town 
 of Clinton, on the 23d of February, 1855. Fol- 
 lowing the description of the boundaries of the 
 town of North Greenbush, which was erected at 
 the same time, are the following words describ- 
 ing the limits of the town of Clinton : 
 
 All the remaining part of the town of Greenbush, 
 excepting that part thereof embraced within the 
 present limits of the village of Greenbush, and 
 bounded northerly by the southern boundary line 
 of said village and the southern boimdary line of 
 the above-named town of North Greenbush, here- 
 by erected ; easterly and southerly by the present 
 easterly and southerly boundary lines, respective- 
 ly, of the town of Greenbush ; and westerly by the 
 present westerly boundary line of the town of 
 Greenbush, and the easterly boundary line of said 
 village, is hereby erected and constituted a new 
 and separate town by the name of Clinton. 
 
 The first annual meeting in the said town of 
 Clinton hereby erected shall be held at the house 
 of William R. Befreest, in East Greenbush, in said 
 town of Clinton hereby erected. Said [meeting] 
 shall be held on the first Tuesday of April, 1856, 
 and annually thereafter, at such places as a ma- 
 jority of the electors of said [town] * • • 
 shall determine. • * * Frederick K. Rockefel- 
 ler, John J. Sliter and Philip L. Rysedorph, three 
 electors of said town of Clinton hereby erected, 
 are hereby designated, whose duty it shall be to 
 preside at the first annual meeting in the respective 
 town as aforesaid, appoint a clerk, open and keep 
 the polls, and exercise the same powers as jus- 
 tices of the peace when presiding at town meet- 
 ings. 
 
 THE FIB8T TOWN OFFICERS. 
 
 The first annual town meeting, as ordered, 
 was held at the place appointed, on April 3, 
 1855. The following persons were selected offi- 
 cers of the town of Clinton : 
 
 Supervisor, Frederick R. Rockefeller; town 
 clerk, William R. De Freest; assessors, Barney 
 Hoes, David De Freest, Jr., Martin D. De Freest ; 
 commissioner of highways, David Phillips ; over- 
 seers of the poor, Adam Dings, John W. Graver ; 
 justices of the peace, Andrew L. Wetherwax, 
 Frederick Rockefeller, Thomas B. Simmons, Wil- 
 liam Holsapple; superintendent of common 
 schools, Henry J. Qenet ; collector, Harris N. 
 Elliot ; constables, Henry Ostrander, Frederick B. 
 Conkey, Jacob Earing, Harris N. Elliot ; inspectors 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EKN8SELAER COUNTY. 
 
 51 
 
 of eleotlon,A. B. Eirtland, Leonard L. Rysedorph ; 
 poundinaaters, John W. Craver, W. 11. De Freest, 
 Peter G. Clark. 
 
 The act to change the name of the town of 
 Clinton, in the county of Rensselaer, to that of 
 East Qreenbush, was passed April 14, 1858. 
 
 TH£ METHODIST EFI9COPAI. CHTHICH. 
 
 For some time previous to the organization of 
 the Methodist Episcopal church of the village 
 of East Qreenbush in 1875, the people of this 
 denomination had been in the habit of assem- 
 bling together in private houses for religious 
 worship. The first regular pastor of this church 
 was the Rev. Joseph Zweifel, who served from 
 1875-77 ; the Rev. J. S. Bridgeford, 1877-1878 ; 
 1878 to date the Rev. Charles W. Rowley. The 
 
 society possesses a very commodious church in 
 the village of East Qreenbush. 
 
 THB VILLAGE OF BAST QREENBUSH. 
 
 The only village in the town is that of East 
 Qreenbush, which is situate very near the 
 middle of the southern boundary line of the 
 town. The present population of the village 
 is 101 persons. Twenty-flve houses comprise 
 the number of buildings in the village. There 
 are two churches, one hotel, one store, one 
 blacksmith shop and one paint shop in the 
 place. A postofflce was established here, Febru- 
 ary 23, 1855. 
 
 POPULATION OP THK TOWN. 
 
 18SB 1,80611870 1.845 
 
 1860 1,607 1875 8,063 
 
 1865 1.863 1880 a.liff 
 
52 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAEU COUNTT. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE TOWN OF NORTH GREENBUSH. 
 
 A Part of Pafraets Dael — Dickop's House on the Hudson— The 
 First Settlers of the Territory — Bath to Rival Ballston — 
 Erection of the Town of North Greenbush — The Villages of 
 THE Town — Sketches of the Churches and Newspapers — The 
 Population. 
 
 Rural life, pictured in the thonghful, melan- 
 choly utterances of Gray, in his "Elegy Written 
 in a Country Churchyard," has filled many a 
 heart with the quiet beauty and unassumed at- 
 tractions of its sober surroundings. The hum- 
 ble, laborious men who have tilled, sown seed, 
 and harvested during the long centuries since 
 Adam left Eden need no grander tribute than 
 the immortal verse of the poet to enhance the 
 part they took in the world's work : 
 
 " Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield, 
 Their furrow oft the Btubbom glebe has broke ; 
 
 How Jocund did they drive their teams afield I 
 How bowed the woods beneath their sturdy 
 stroke I 
 
 Let not Ambition mock their useful toll, 
 Their homely Joys, and destiny obscure." 
 
 THE HOUSE OF THE LOOOERHEAS. 
 
 That part of the manor of Rensselaerwyck 
 now embraced in the territory of the town of 
 North Greenbush was, in 1630, according to the 
 designations on the map of Gillis Van Schen- 
 del, known as the southern portion of Fafraets 
 dael. A little south of the kill which is im- 
 mediately north of Defreestville, running west- 
 ward to the river, was the marked position of 
 a rudely built hut, known as Dickop's huit, — 
 the loggerhead's house. In the river, opposite 
 it, were three islands, called "Bloemaert's 
 Eylanden." These islands, which still remain, 
 extending southward from the mouth of the 
 Wynant's kill, were in 1773 known by the 
 names of Bricker's, Flatt's and Schuyler 
 islands, as shown on a map made that year by 
 Robert Tates. 
 
 Being so near the river and situated at the 
 foot of the steep bills, it may be conjectured 
 
 that Dicker's huts wa^he hut of some Indian 
 who, in 1630, was friendly to the Dutch settlers, 
 and who on account of his obtnseness had re- 
 ceived the name of thick-skull, or logger- 
 head. 
 
 THE NAMES OF THE FIRST SETTLERS. 
 
 The territory of North Greenbush being up- 
 land, or elevated above the river, along the 
 shores of which it juts out in bold declivitous 
 ridges, is dissociated from all the uses made of 
 such a navigable stream, except at Bath-on-the- 
 Hudson, where the hill is more distant eastward- 
 ly, and a wider tract ot lowland extends for 
 some distance, southwardly and northwardly. 
 The soil is somewhat sandy, mixed with clay, 
 and is well adapted for agricultural uses. The 
 greater number of its first settlers occupied 
 farms in this section of the manor of Rensse- 
 laerwyck as early as the year 1670. 
 A century afterwards about a score of 
 homesteads diversified the landscape, and 
 nearly the entire portion of the land was under 
 cultivation. Opposite the patroon's house, 
 which was on the western side of the river, a 
 road ran from the river eastwardly toward Sand- 
 lake. Where it terminated at the river was a 
 ferry, which transported the wagons and sleighs 
 bearing the annual ground rents of grain, wood 
 and fowls of the farmers to the west side, 
 where were the patroon's great storehouses. 
 
 On the map of the manor of Rensselaerwyck 
 made by John R. Bleeker, in 1767, appear the 
 designated sites of the early farm-houses within 
 this territory. South of the road running from 
 the river eastwardly toward Sandlake, and 
 west of the one running northwardly toward 
 the site of Troy, was the home of Widow Hin- 
 
HISTORY OF THK TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 53 
 
 dert Van Elveren. On the other side of the 
 road and north of this farm-house was that of 
 Jnria Sharp. West of the north road and 
 northward of Joria Sharp's house was the 
 home of Reinier Van Alstyne. More to the 
 north of it, and near the river, was the farm- 
 house of John Grannel. Eastward of it, and on 
 the west side of the north road were 
 the homes of Marte and Philip Deforest. 
 On the opposite side of the road was the house 
 of DaTid Deforest. Beyond it to the north was 
 the house of Rutger Van Den Bergh, and north 
 of it that of Cornelia M. Van Buren. West of 
 the north road and south of the Wynants-kill 
 was the farm-house of Philip Wendell. South 
 of the Sandlake road was the house of Law- 
 rence Kysdorp, and north of it those of Edward 
 Hogg, Wilhelmus Van Deusen and John Fonda. 
 These early settlers are still represented by the 
 families of the DeFreests, Van Denbergha, Van 
 Alstynes, Fondas, Wendells and others, 
 which in most instances dwell in the old 
 homesteads of their ancestors. In the 
 history of the town the male members 
 of nearly all of them have, from time 
 to time, been conspicuous, representing 
 with fidelity and honor offices in the 
 churches, town and districts. Among the pe- 
 culiarities of family names, perhaps, there is 
 no other national characteristic so apparent as 
 that manifested by the Dutch in the change- 
 fulness of the orthography of surnames. It is 
 often difficult, during a long period of years, 
 to put together the connecting links of a family's 
 history on this account, and no little trouble is 
 giren, when a writer finds so many variations 
 existing in the modes of spelling individual 
 names. 
 
 BATH IN 1800. 
 
 Before the close of the last century the won- 
 derful efficacy of the waters of several mineral 
 springs at Bath iiad made the little hamlet 
 somewhat conspicuous as a place of cure. 
 John Maude, an English traveler, visiting places 
 of note in the United States, in 1800, thus 
 speaks of its notoriety, in his journal, dated 
 Monday, June 30, of that year : 
 
 CroBsed the river to Bath, a town lately laid out 
 by the patroon ; it at present consists of about 
 thirty houses, but it is very doubtful if Its further 
 proeress will be so rapid. The medicinal springs 
 and the baths, at one time so much vaunted, are 
 now shut up and neglected ; yet, as u watering 
 plaoe. It was to have rivaled Ballstown, and as a 
 trading place, Lanslngburgh and Troy. 
 
 A country girl returoing from market, (who 
 crossed the ferry at the same time,) spoke Dutch 
 and English with equal fluency, and I may add 
 with equal pertness. Climbed the heights east of 
 Bath ; fine view of the river and of Troy. Ke- 
 
 turned by the lower or Greenbnsh ferry. Never 
 saw the wild grape and wild strawberry vines In 
 greater profusion ; in the coppice near the river 
 scarcely a tree that did not support one of the 
 former ; or a field that was not overrun by the 
 latter. This ramble was a very wild and a very 
 pleasant one ; the air bracing and refreshing, and 
 highly perfumed with the fragrance of wild roses 
 and red clover. White clover is a native of this 
 country ; the red is, I believe, an exotic, though it 
 is now to be found in a wild state aU over this part 
 of the country, even in the woods. The birds, I 
 noticed, were boblincolns, brown thrashers and 
 robins. 
 
 THE ERECTION OP NORTH GREBNBUSH. 
 
 The erection of the town of North Greenbush 
 from a portion of the town of Greenbush was 
 due to ''an application having been made to 
 the board of supervisors of the county of Rens- 
 selaer by 12 freeholders and upwards of the 
 town of Greenbush, in said county, praying for 
 a division of said town and the erection of two 
 towns therefrom." This petition was granted 
 by the board of supervisors on the 23d of 
 February, 1855. The boundaries of the town 
 as fixed upon were as follows : 
 
 By a line beginning at a point in the western 
 boundary line of the nresent town of Greenbush, 
 and at the northwest comer of the chartered lim- 
 its of the village of Qreenbusb. and running along 
 the northern line of said chartered limits to the 
 northeast comer of said limits ; then on a straight 
 line eastwardly to the south side of the dwelling 
 house of J. Pruyn Van Allen ; thence eastwardly 
 on a straight line to the south side of the dwelling 
 house of John P. DeFreest ; thence on a straight 
 line eastwardly to the south aide of the present 
 dwelling house of George J. Sharpe : thence on a 
 straight line eastwardly to a point in the eastern 
 boundary line of the tovm of Greenbush and the 
 western boundary of the town of Sandlake, which 
 said point is distant about eight chains and eighty 
 links southerly from the centre of a road or 
 public highway leading to the Albany and 
 Sandlake plankroad, past the late dwelling house 
 of Peleg Thomas, and where hia widow now resides 
 —which said line shall be the southern boundary 
 of a new town hereby erected ; and the eastern 
 and western boundary hnea of said town shall be 
 and remain such parts of the present eastern and 
 western boundary hues respectively of the present 
 town of Greenbush as lie northwardly of the pointa 
 in said eastern and weatem boundary linea reapec- 
 tively, where the aame are reapectively intersected 
 by said aouthem boundary line of the aforesaid 
 new town. And the northern boundary line of the 
 town of Greenbush shall be and remain the north- 
 em boundary hue of said new town, and all the 
 territory lying within the boundaries above named 
 is hereby erected and constituted a new and sepa- 
 rate town by the name of North Greenbush. * • * 
 
 The first annual meeting in the said town of 
 North Greenbush hereby erected shall be held in 
 
54 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 the boose of John Mason, in Blooming Orore, in 
 said town of North Qreenbush. * • • Said 
 [meeting] shall be held on the first Tuesday of 
 April, 1855, and annually thereafter, at such places 
 as a majority of the electors of said [town] » * * 
 shall determine according to law. And Henry 
 Frazee, William Witbeck and James Dearstyne, 
 three electors of said town of Xorth Greenbush 
 hereby erected, * * * are hereby designated 
 whose duty it shall be to preside at the first an- 
 nual meeting In their * * * town as aforesaid, 
 appoint a clerk, open and keep the polls and exer- 
 cise the same powers as justices of the peace when 
 presiding at town meetings. 
 
 THE PIRBT TOWDT OFFICEB8. 
 
 In accordance with the action of the board 
 of superrisors, the first town meeting was held 
 on Tuesday, April 3, 1855. The foUowiDg per- 
 sons were elected officers of the town of North 
 Greenbush : 
 
 Supervisor, Abram Witbeck ; town clerk, Qarret 
 Vanderburgh ; assessor, Philip L. De Freest ; 
 commissioners of highways, Rinier H. De Freest, 
 Matthew V. A. Fonda, Francis B. Bitchie ; jus- 
 tices of the peace, Barney Wendell, Abram Wit- 
 beck; overseers of the poor, Cornelius Dubois, 
 John G. Sharp ; collector, David D. De Freest ; 
 superintendent of common schools, Sandford A. 
 Tracy ; inspectors of election, first district, John 
 Fonda, John W. Yandenburgh, George W. Green ; 
 (appointed), second district, Andrew V. Barrenger, 
 Alonzo N. Kinney, James Henderson, (appointed) ; 
 constables, David H. Wyland, Channcey I. Wen- 
 dell, David S. Wendell, Harmon Snyder, Barney 
 Cole ; sealer of weights and measures, John B. 
 Marble ; poundmasters, John Mason and H. Fer- 
 guson. 
 
 VILI/A.OES. 
 
 The village of Bath-on-the-Hudson received 
 its name from several mineral springs discov- 
 ered in its immediate vicinity during the latter 
 part of the last century. So great was consid- 
 ered their importance that wide publicity was 
 given to the remarkable properties of the water 
 flowing from them, and bath houses for invalids 
 were erected in close proximity to them. In 
 SpotCord's gazetteer of the state of New York, 
 1824, the village is described as being one mile 
 from Orecnbush. " It stands on the declivity 
 of the dry, gravelly river hill, has some docks, 
 stores, about 40 houses and an extensive tan- 
 nery and some small business in trade. The 
 eastern turnpike extends from Bath through 
 Sandlake and Berlin to Williamstown, in the 
 state of Massachusetts." 
 
 The tannery ref ered to was that of James and 
 John Woods, on the northwest corner of Broad- 
 way and Tracy street. 
 
 The present population of the village is about 
 2,150 inhabitants. The ferry which connects 
 
 the village with the north part of Albany is 
 operated by Fitchet & Smith. 
 
 The fire department is represented by two 
 companies, one, the W. 8. Hevenor protectives, 
 organized in 1876, and the other, the A. L. 
 Hotchkin hook and ladder company, formed in 
 1874. 
 
 INOOKPOBATION OF BATH-ON-THE-HDDSON. 
 
 Bath-on-the-Hudson was incorporated by an 
 act of the legislature, passed May 5, 1874 ; 
 bounded as follows : 
 
 Beginning at a point on the east shore of the 
 Hudson river (at low watermark), where the north 
 line of the town of Greenbush intersects the said 
 river ; and running thence from said point along 
 the said north line of said town of Greenbush 
 south, SB degrees 40 minutes east, about 2,080 feet 
 to the centre of Quackendary kill (in this line there 
 are two stone monuments set in the ground, one 
 on the west side of Broadway, and one on the 
 brow of the hill west of the said Quackendary kill, 
 to Indicate the direction of the line) ; thence up and 
 along the centre of said Quackendary kill, and the 
 most westerly branch thereof, to a stone monument 
 set in the ground, and which said stone monument 
 bears south, 18 degrees 45 minutes west, 140 feet 
 from a stone monument set in the ground on the 
 north side of the Albany and Sandlake plank- 
 road : thence north, 16 degrees 45 minutes east, 
 145 feet to said stone monument on the north side 
 of said Albany and Sandlake plank-road; and 
 thence south 86 degrees 30 minutes west, about 
 1,194 feet to a stone monument in the centre of the 
 gateway at the entrance to the grounds of P. 8. 
 Forbes; thence north, 21 degrees 25 min- 
 utes east, about 406 feet to a stone mon- 
 ument; thence north, 40 degrees 30 min- 
 utes west, about 1,700 feet to the Hudson river ; 
 tbenoe westerly, and at right angles to the shore 
 of said Hudson river, until such line meets the 
 channel of said river ; thence down and along the 
 said channel (and which line is the westerly bound- 
 ary of the county of Bensselaer) until a line drawn 
 westerly and at right angles to the shore of said 
 river from the place of beginning shall intersect 
 said channel ; and thence from said point easterly 
 to the place of beginning ; and containing, exclu- 
 sive of said river, about 250 acres, as surveyed by 
 L. D. Eddy and others, and the courses taken as 
 the magnetic needle now points, comprising a part 
 of the town of North Greenbush, in the county of 
 Rensselaer and state of New York, to be known 
 and distinguished as the village of Bath-on-tbe- 
 Hudson. 
 
 WTNANT8KII.L. 
 
 The hamlet of Wynantskill is in the north- 
 east part of the town, on a small stream of 
 water from which it derives it name. In 1824 
 it is spoken of as having about 85 buildings and 
 a church in it. It became a post village 
 about the year 1830 ; Dr. Aseph Clark being 
 the first postmaster. Wynantskill has now a 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 55 
 
 population of about 300 inhabitants, 50 houses, 
 two churches, two hotels, one store, three 
 blacksmith shops, three carriage shops, one 
 harness and one shoemaker shop. 
 
 DEFREBSTVILLE. 
 
 Defreestville, named in honor of the De Freest 
 or DeForest family, is in the southern part of 
 the town. It is also known by the name of 
 BloomiugGrove. The present population num- 
 bers about 115 persons. There are 26 houses, 
 1 church, two hotels, 1 blacksmith shop, 1 shoe- 
 maker shop and 1 wagonmaker shop in the 
 place. A postofflce was established here about 
 a half century ago. 
 
 THE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CBUROE 
 OF WTNANTSKILL. 
 
 This reli(;ious society was organized about 
 the year 1793. On May 17, 1824, at a meeting 
 of the consistory of the church, Andrew Finch, 
 John Coonradt, John P. Clapper and Frederick 
 G. Barrenger, elders, and Henry Frazee, Fred- 
 erick Barrenger, Francis Bradt and James 
 Westfall, assumed the name of the " Mini ter, 
 elders and deacons of the Reformed Protestant 
 Dutch church of WynantsklU." The church 
 has about 100 members. 
 
 A second Dutch Reformed church, an out- 
 growth of the former society, was organized 
 about 15 years ago, and has a neat house of 
 worship. 
 
 THE DUTCH CHURCH OF BLOOMING GROVE. 
 
 On the aeth day of December, 1814, the 
 Dutch church of Blooming Grove was formed. 
 In the certificate of incorporation Matthew 
 Van Alstyne, Guysbert Van Denbergh, Leonard 
 Rysdorp and Samuel Earing, elders, and Mar- 
 tin DeFreest, William Crannel, William W. Van 
 Denbergh and John P. Witbeck, deacons, cer- 
 tify that they took the name of "the Dutch 
 church of Blooming Grove, in the town of 
 Greenbush." The house of worship of this 
 congregation, in Defreestville, is a very neat 
 and commodious building. 
 
 THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OP NORTH GREEN- 
 BUSH. 
 
 This society was established by the Albany 
 Baptist missionary union, which erected the 
 first building used by it as a place of worship. 
 The First Baptist church of North Greenbush 
 was organized January 6, 1866, in the mission 
 building on the comer of Ferry and First 
 streets, in Bath. The Rev. William F. Benedict 
 became the first pastor of the congregation in 
 January, 1866. In ~ 871 the first frame building 
 was torn down, and a second frame 
 structure erected on its site, which 
 
 was destroyed by fire, January 21. 1874. 
 A third frame building was erected in 1875, on 
 the comer of First and Church streets, which 
 was dedicated February 18, 1875, the services 
 being conducted by the Rev. A. Waterbury, 
 the Rev. John Love, the Rev. Frank Rodgers 
 Morse, the Rev. D. M. Reeves, D. D., the Rev. 
 C. W. Bridgeman, D. D., and the Rev. J. L. 
 Ray, pastor. The building cost $10,000, and 
 has a seating capacity for 400 persons. The 
 present membership numbers about 175 per- 
 sons. The following are the terms of the dif- 
 ferent pastors of the congregation : The Rev. 
 Wm. F. Benedict, January, 1866, to January, 
 1869; the Rev. J. W. Hammond, November, 
 1869 to September, 1870; the Rev. Wm. H. 
 Donward, September, 1871 to August, 1872 ; the 
 Rev. J. L. Ray, September, 1873, to September, 
 1877 ; the Rev. R. N. Van Doren, the present 
 pastor, from April 1, 1878. 
 
 THE METHODIST ErlSCOPAL CHURCH OF BATH. 
 
 The organizatian of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church of Bath was due to the active and suc- 
 cessful efEorts of the Albany Methodist Sunday 
 school union about the year 1867. The Rev. A. 
 A. Farr in 1868, and the Rev. Louis A. Beaudry 
 in 1869, were the first missionary pastors of 
 this congregation. The present membership of 
 the church is about 150 persons. 
 
 THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH OF BATH. 
 
 This society was organized in Bath about the 
 year 1872 by the Rev. A. Burdick. A neat 
 frame church edifice was erected in 1874 on 
 Second avenue, at a cost of {300, which has 
 about 150 seats. The Rev. Aaron Burdick is 
 the present pastor of the church. 
 
 NEWSPAPERS. 
 
 The Bath Hun was first published May 1, 
 1874, by William H. Westfall. John D. 
 Houghtaling succeeded him in the owner- 
 ship of the paper, April 1, 1876. The publica- 
 tion of the paper was discontinued August 1, 
 1879. 
 
 The East Albany News, which was first is- 
 sued October 16, 1875, and changed in October, 
 1876, to the Oreentnush Democrat, was established 
 by John D. Houghtaling, the publisher of the 
 Bath Sun. 
 
 The Evining Star, still published at Bath, was 
 first issued in March, 1873, by C. F. R. Coe & 
 Co. publishers. The paper is now known as 
 the Euening Star and Sckodack Sentind, and is 
 edited and owned by C. F. R. Coe. 
 
 THE FORBES MANOR HOUSE. 
 
 The manor house, north of Bath, was built 
 about the year 1839 by William P. Van Rensse- 
 
56 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAEK COUNTY. 
 
 laer, the son of the patroon of the east part of 
 the manor of Rensselaerwyck. In August, 1850, 
 Paul S. Forbes of New York city purchased the 
 property for $62,500. 
 
 POPULATION OF THE TOWH OP NORTH GREEN- 
 BUSH. 
 
 1855., 
 1S60.. 
 1865.. 
 
 .1,812 11870 S,0B8 
 
 .8,110 1875 sese 
 
 .2,57511880 4,238 
 
HI8T0KY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAEB COUNTY, 
 
 57 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 THE TOWN OF SCHAGHTICOKE. 
 
 The Retreat of the New England Indians — Planting of the Tree 
 OF Peace — A Puzzling Orthography — The Patent obtained by 
 Albany — The Settlers of the Eight Schaghticoke Plantations 
 — People of the Valley of Peace Massacred — Interesting Inci- 
 dents of the Revolution — Homestead of the Knickerbackers — 
 Its Curious Collection of Heirlooms — The Story about Old 
 Tom — The Churches of Schaghticoke Point — Manufactories at 
 Hart's Falls — Population. 
 
 The pioneer life of the settlers of the territory 
 of the upper Hudson has been nowhere more 
 attractively surrounded with so many peculiar 
 circumstances than on that portion of the 
 province of New York now known as the town 
 of Schaghticoke, in the county of Rensselaer. 
 The great wilderness north of Albany with its 
 darkly-foliaged woods, sequestered lakes and 
 serpentine water-courses, was looked upon as 
 a land of fatness by the acquisitive Hollanders 
 who had emigrated to America in the latter 
 part of the seventeenth century. Fearlessly 
 they ventured with their households into the 
 Isolating depths of this vast forest-covered 
 country and with industrious hands built them- 
 selves homes, where for a long time came only 
 hunting bands of game-seeking Indians. To 
 these they gave shelter and hospitable welcome, 
 which friendly kindnesses were amicably hon- 
 ored for many years by the wild men, as the 
 aborigines were called by th»Dutch people. 
 
 THE SOHAaHTICOEi: INDIAII8. 
 
 The small band of Indians found occupying 
 this part of the country was a remnant of that 
 body of red men which Philip, the son of Mas- 
 sasoit, had conunanded during the bloody and 
 brief struggle known as King Philip's war, 
 waged against the New England settlers, during 
 the years 1675 and 1676. Being driven from 
 place to place by the enraged settlers, the 
 Peqaods sought safety by removing westward 
 to the east bank of the Hudson. 
 
 7 
 
 Speaking of these Indians, Cadwallader Col- 
 den, in his history of the five Indian nations, 
 1747, says that after the English got possession 
 of the country of New Netherland, "the great- 
 est number of the inhabitants of the province of 
 New York being Dutch, still retained an affec- 
 tion for their mother country, and by their 
 aversion to the English weakened the adminis- 
 tration. The common people of Albany, who 
 are all Dutch, could not not forbear giving the 
 Indians some ill impressions of the English ; for 
 the Mohawks, in one of their publick speeches, 
 .expressed themselves thus : 
 
 " We hear a Dutch prince reigns now in Eng- 
 land, why do you suffer the English soldiers to re- 
 main in the fort ? Put all the English out of the 
 town. When the Dutch held this country long 
 ago we lay in their houses ; but the English have 
 always made us lie without doors." 
 
 " The people of New England were engaged 
 in a bloody war at this time with the Owena- 
 gungas, Ouragies and Ponacoks, the Indians 
 that lie between them and the French settle- 
 ments. The Scahkooks were originally part of 
 these Indians. They left their country about 
 the year 1672, and settled above Albany, on 
 the branch of Hudson's river that runs 
 toward Canada. The people of New 
 England were jealous of the Scahkook 
 Indians, that they remembering the old 
 difference they had with the people of New Eng- 
 land, and the relations they bore to the eastern 
 Indians, did countenance and assist these 
 
58 
 
 HISTOET OF THE TOWNS OF BEIfSSELAEB COUUTT. 
 
 Indians in tiie war against New England. They 
 had reason for these jealousies, for the Scah-, 
 kooli Indians received privately some Owena- 
 gonga messengers, and kept their coming 
 among them secret from the people of Albany ; 
 and some Scahkooks had gone privately to the 
 Owenagangas. They were afried, likewise, that 
 the Mohawks might have some inclination to 
 favor those Indians because some of the eastern 
 Indians had fled to the Mohawks, and were 
 kindly received by them and lived among them. " 
 
 THE TREE OF PEACE. 
 
 The most conspicnous object which still 
 marks the old Indian council ground at Schagh- 
 ticoke, is the famous tree of peace planted more 
 than two centuries ago. Its wide spreading 
 branches covering an acre of ground and its 
 immense trunk, 22 feet in diameter, place it 
 among the few old landmarks that remain to 
 indicate the places of interesting occurrences 
 in the early days of the settlement of this coun- 
 try. When Richard, the earl of Bellmont, was 
 governor of the province of New York, in 1700, 
 the Indians living on the east banks of the Hud- 
 son in their address to him, thus spoke of the 
 event which the tree of peace commemorates : 
 
 It Is DOW six and twenty years since wee were 
 allmost dead when wee left New England and 
 were first received into this government ; then it 
 was that a tree was planted at Schakkook whose 
 branches is spread that there Is a comfortable 
 shade under the leaves of it : we are nnanlmously 
 resolved to live and dye under the shadow of that 
 Tree, and pray our Father to nourish and have a 
 favorable aspect towards that Tree, for yon need 
 not apprehend that tho' any of our people goe ont 
 a hunting they will look out for another Country, 
 since they like that place call'd Schakkook so 
 well. 
 
 In another address to Lieut. Gov. John Nan- 
 fan in 1701, they said : 
 
 We are now two hundred fighting men belonging 
 to this county of Albany, from Eatsklll to Skach- 
 kook, and hope to increase in a year's time to three 
 hundred. 
 
 July 20, 1702, the following is given as their 
 number: "110 Indians at Skachcock; 87 be- 
 low ye towne ; in all, 197 fighting men." 
 
 In an answer made by the River Indians to 
 his excellency, Edward Lord Cembury, governor 
 of New York, July 20, 1702, they further related 
 the particulars of the planting of the tree : 
 
 About twenty-six years agoe sUr Edmund An- 
 dros, then Qovernor of this Province, planted a 
 Tree of welfare at Shachkook and Invited us to 
 come and Itve there, which we very luckily com- 
 plyed witbaU, and we have had the good fortune 
 ever since that we have increased that Tree and 
 ye very leaves thereof are grown hard and strong, 
 the Tree is grown so thick of leaves and bows that 
 
 ye sun can scarcely shine throw It, yea the fire it- 
 self cannot consume it, (meaning that they are 
 now so strong that they do not much fear ye 
 enemy), and we now desire that our Father Cor- 
 laer may strengthen that Tree and canse ye leaves 
 to grow so thick that no sunn at all may shine 
 throw it. 
 
 A SPECIMEN OF PHONETIC SPELLING. 
 
 In the early days of our country's history 
 there was no apparent uniform way of spelling 
 proper names, and every writer, it seems, 
 adopted a mode of phonetic orthography best 
 suited to his individual purpose. The following 
 are some of the early forms in which the 
 name of Schaghticoke, as now written, was 
 spelled: 
 
 Scatfcoke, Scaacticook, Scaclikook, Scaghti- 
 oook, Scatikook, Schacbtacook, Schaokhook, 
 Scdiackoooke, Schacthook, Sohaggkooke, Schagh- 
 ticoke, Schakhook, Schaticoke, Schantecoqne, 
 Shaakkooke, Skaahkook, Schaahtecogue, Skach- 
 cook, Skachkook, Skachhook, Skackhook, Skack- 
 kook, Shackkooke and Schaaghticoke. 
 
 There have been a number of fanciful inter- 
 pretations given to the word, but as the true 
 orthography of it has never been determined It 
 would be more pertinent to the subject first to 
 establish its derivation. 
 
 ALBANY FERMITrBD TO PUBCHASE LAND. 
 
 Besides granting unto individuals the right to 
 acquire land by purchase from the Indians, per- 
 mission was also given, as will be seen, to 
 corporations, such as those of cities, to obtain 
 the same. What is known as the patent of 
 Albany, dated July 22, 1686, obtained from Gov. 
 Thomas Dongan, allowed that city to secure 
 from the Indian o?mers a tract of land at 
 Schaghticoke, containing 500 acres. It reads as 
 follows : 
 
 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 hcense at their pleasure, to purchase from the 
 Indians the quantity of 600 acres of low or 
 meadow land, lying at a certain place called or 
 known by the name of Schaahtecogne, which 
 quantity of BOO acres shall, and may be, in what 
 part of Schaahtecogue, or land adjacent, as they, 
 the said mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the 
 city of Albany shall think most convenient. 
 
 Gk)v. Fletcher, March 29, 1698, granted a 
 patent to Hendrick Van Rensselaer, which per- 
 mitted him to purchase from the Indians a tract 
 of land " by Skachkook's creek," and extend- 
 ing easterly from Hudson's river, six English 
 miles. As the latter grant embraced a i>ortion 
 of the land desired by the city of Albany, the 
 two parties entered into an agreement Augnst S, 
 1698, whereby Hendrick Van Rensselaer con- 
 
HISTORY OP THE TOWNS OF KENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 5^ 
 
 reyed hla patent for a consideration to the city 
 of Albany, August 8, 1699. 
 
 THE INDIAItS SEIX THEIB LAMO. 
 
 The Indians at Schaghticoke being per- 
 suaded by the authorized parties representing 
 the city of Albany to convey to the corporation 
 a tract of land, did so, as is shown by the min- 
 utes of the proceedings of the mayor, aldermen 
 and commonalty of Albany, February 28, 
 1706-7: 
 
 Whereas.ye Commonalty have Lately Besolved 
 to send to Hasbahaes and other Indian owners of 
 ye land & woodland Caled Shaaktelcook to ye 
 End that ye Comonality might agree & purchase 
 the same for ye Behoofe of ye Citty in order there- 
 to ye sd Indians doe here appear, yizt Uashabaes 
 & Haohatawe who after some time Spent in mak- 
 ing an agreemnt the said Uashahaes & Mach- 
 atawe for themselyes & on ye behalfe of 
 Caemskaek aesiah qnanoh Jan Coneel Schacha- 
 empe Taasawampe and Ahantowanit Indian 
 owners and native proprietors of ye Sd lands 
 & woodlands hare sold & transported ye 
 sd land Scltuate on ye East side of hudson's River 
 tbove ye half-moon Commonly Caled Scbaabkook 
 is bounded on ye west side by ye sd river on ye 
 south side of ye bounds Eghbt Tonise & Barent al- 
 bertse bratt & Runns northwarde along the said 
 River side to ye End of two mUes from Schaah- 
 kooks (%«eke and Striks from thence into ye 
 woods by an East line twelve miles and on the 
 South Side by a South east line 14 miles or so much 
 further that ye line on ye East side doth Compre- 
 hend and take in ye third Carryeing place on ye 
 said Schaahkooks Creek which Carryeing place is 
 the outmost bounds of sd Scbaahkook lands East- 
 ward as by Conveyance bearing Even date here- 
 with may more fully appear, whereof is yt to be 
 paid in June next unto ye sd Mashahaes, etc 2 
 blankets, 13 duffel coats, 30 shirts 2 guns, twelve 
 pounds ponder, 86 pounds of Lead, 8 gallons of 
 Rom, 2 Casks Beer, 2 Rolls Tobacco, 10 gallons 
 Medera wine & some pypes, and moreover yearly 
 to l>e paid and delivered unto ye sd Indian Maslia- 
 haes or his heirs in ye month off Octobr during 
 the Space of tenn years commencing from ye day, 
 1 blanket 1 shirt 1 pair stockings 1 Lapp, 1 Eegg 
 Rom 3 pounds ponder 6 pounds Lead 12 pounds To- 
 bacco and that a writtering sliall be given to ye sd 
 Masabaes for about 12 acres of Low Land on 
 Shaahkook at such place as ye Commonalty shall 
 lay it out ft that ye same must be Laid & Kept In 
 fence at ye Charge of ys Citty on occasion so that 
 ye sd Mashahaes & his heirs may Cultivate & 
 make use thereof for ever Sc none other by his or 
 there meanes unleesehe or they shall first have de- 
 posed of this priviledge unto ye Mayr Recorder, 
 Aldermen and Conmionalty for ye behooffe of ye 
 sd Citty which writterings is as followith : etc. 
 
 BIOBT FLANTATIOIIB CONYETBD TO SETTIiEBS. 
 
 In order to secure the settlement of the land 
 thus pnrcha sed from the Indians the tract was 
 
 to be divided into eight parts, "containing 
 each five and twenty morgen or fifty acres of 
 low land under the hill by the said Sachtekook 
 creek, and five morgen or ten acres of upland 
 towards the said hill, all adjoining together." 
 
 It was provided that " if any person or per- 
 sons who shall farm any of the said plantations 
 containing altogether two hundred morgens or 
 four hundred acres of low land towards the 
 said hill and forty morgens or eighty acres of 
 upland as aforesaid shall together divide the 
 said eight plantations as equal as they shall or 
 may agree among themselves." 
 
 Each plantation which was conveyed by in- 
 denture given September 1, 1708, was leased 
 for £15 current money, and after the expiration 
 of six years " two schepel of good winter wheat 
 off of each morgen or two acres " was also to 
 be paid yearly forever. Buildings were to be 
 erected and improvements made three years 
 after the date of the conveyances. 
 
 These plantations were disposed of on July 
 10, 1708, as shown by the minutes of the com- 
 mon council of Albany : 
 
 The Commonalty Seeing yt here are twenty per- 
 sons willing Each to have a Plantation of Sachte- 
 kook on ye aforesd Conditions, ordered ye Clerk 
 to write Eight Billets for ye Eight Plantations and 
 twelf Billets Blank and to Let them all draw, wh 
 they accordingly did out of Hr. Mayor hatt and 
 they tbat gett ye Billett to have a Plantation were 
 these vizt. Danibl Eitilhutk, 
 
 Jobs Cutlib, 
 Jobs habkersx [Vischib], 
 Joes D. WAnni^AiB, Juhb., 
 Babxnt euBBrrsz, 
 CoBNius van Bkcbin, 
 EoBSST vmnzB, 
 DmE VAN DIB Himiii. 
 
 On the 31st of August, 1708, it was resolved 
 by the commonalty that a general indenture 
 should be written and given unto the aforesaid 
 eight persons. 
 
 OTHEB BABLT SETTLBBS. 
 
 Besides the disposal of the eight plantations 
 to the persons already named, several others, it 
 appears, were desirous of obtaining landed 
 property at Schaghticoke. The following entry 
 is in the proceedings of the common council, at 
 Albany, dated January 8, 1708-9 : 
 
 Petitions of Jobs. Knickerbacker and dirk Van 
 Vechten whereby they desire ye water Run on the 
 hemacks kill at Schactekook ware a convenenoy 
 may be found fit to erect a sawmill on together 
 with a privilege to cut saw logs within ye Citty 
 bound there for ye use of Such mill and also 
 Ground needful were such mill shall be erected. 
 
 The conveyance by which the firstr-named 
 petitioner became entitled to the possession of 
 land at S chaghticoke is an indenture made the 
 
60 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COTJNTT. 
 
 thirteenth day of October, 1709, in the eighth 
 year of the reign of Queen Anne, between 
 Evert Bancker, mayor, and the commonalty of 
 the city of Albany, of the first part, and 
 Johannes Enickerbacker of the manor of Rens- 
 selaerwyck, miller, of the other part ; the latter, 
 for the sum of £16 10s., current money of New 
 Tork, secured 80 morgens of land belonging to 
 the city of Albany, being in two parcels, " at 
 Schaahtikook." This instnunent is signed by 
 the party of the second part in this manner : 
 "J. K. Backer." 
 
 FBBEH0IJ>EBS AT SCHAOHTICOKE. 
 
 The following persons are named as free- 
 holders in "Schaatkooke" in 1720: Samuel 
 Doxie, Cnrset Fether [Eorset Vedder ?] Johan- 
 nis Enickerbacker, Derrick Van Vechten, Jo- 
 faannis De Wandelaer, Simon Danielse [Eetel- 
 huyn?], Martin Delamon [de La Mont?], Lewis 
 Fele [Viele?], Daniel Eetlyne [Ketelhuyn?], 
 Peter Winne, Adrian Quacumbus and Abram 
 Fort. 
 
 Subsequently the following names of persons 
 appear in conveyances and other papers as liv- 
 ing at Schaghticoke : Sybrandt Van Schaick, 
 Harme Enickerbacker, Johannis Groesbeeck, 
 Daniel Fort, Isaac Fort, Gerrit Van Bommel, 
 Dr. Nicholas Young, Abraham Beecker, Peter 
 Viele, Peter Benoway, Simon De Freest, Lewis 
 Van Antwerp, James Burris, Jacob Fort, Henry 
 Van Beuren, Peter Tates, John Hansen, Caroll 
 Toll, Cornelius W. Van Denbergh, Wynant 
 Van Denbergh, Marte Winnie and Lewis Mago. 
 
 INDIAN BABBABITIBS. 
 
 The peaceful valley of Schaghticoke, with its 
 numerous farm-houses and cultivated fields, 
 was, in the year 1746, invaded by French 
 soldiery and bands of Indian allies. Many of 
 the settlers, at the first intimation of the dan- 
 gerous proximity of the approaching enemy, 
 hastily forsook their homes and removed south 
 to Albany and its neighborhood. A few of the 
 more intrepid remained to see the ruthless foe 
 devastate with fire and slaughter the once happy 
 valley of peace. One of the darkest records 
 of this hostile invasion of the French and In- 
 dians is that of the massacre and captivity of the 
 members of the Eittle family. The narrative of 
 the barbarous attack upon these settlers at 
 Schaghticoke is briefly as follows : When the 
 first intelligence of the bloody acts of the in- 
 vaders in the more northern part of the province 
 was received by Mr. Eittle, he persuaded his 
 brothers then living near Fort Edwaid to make 
 their homes with his family, which consisted of 
 his wife, a young daughter about 14 years of 
 age, and a young son. On the closer approach 
 of tha hostile French and terrifying savages, it 
 
 was thought best by Mr. Eittle and his brothers, 
 who had removed to Schaghticoke, to leave this 
 threatened point and retire with the family to 
 the city of Albany, as the neighbors had pre- 
 viously done. A number of Indians that 
 was on apparently friendly terms with 
 the Eittles seeing the preparations for 
 departure going on, came to the 
 house and endeavored to dissuade the inmates 
 that they had no cause for fear, and should 
 there be any danger they would apprise them 
 in time to make their escape. In order to allay 
 their apprehensions the Indians presented Mrs. 
 Eettle with a belt of wampum in token of their 
 friendship. It is said that notwithstanding this 
 amicable show of good feeling on the part of 
 the Indians, Mr. Eettle was still fearful of im- 
 pending evil. On the day following the visit of 
 the supposed friendly Indians, Mr. Eettle and 
 his brother Peter left the house for a brief hunt 
 in the neighboring woods. On their return, 
 and when very near home, Peter shot a deer. 
 Immediately upon the discharge of his gun 
 they were confronted by two Indians, who 
 fired at them their pieces, killing Mr. Eittle's 
 brother. Mr. Eittle, aware of his dangerous 
 surroundings, at once brought down one of the 
 savages with a well-aimed shot, and with the 
 butt of his gun struck the other senseless to 
 the earth. Taking his brother's corpse upon 
 his horse, he hurried home with the news of the 
 menacing danger. He then hastened on horse- 
 back to the hamlet at Schaghticoke to procure 
 the necessary conveyance for his family and 
 household goods to Albany. Shortly after hid 
 departure, his house was surrounded by 
 a party of Indians, who with fearful 
 war-whoops, demanded an entrance at the 
 closed door. They, however, soon with hellish 
 fury entered the house, and with their bloody 
 instruments of death murdered a second 
 brother of Mr. Eittle and that brother's wife, 
 in a most shocking maimer. Mrs. Eittle and 
 her brother-in-law Henry were permitted an 
 escape from their bloody tomahawks, but the 
 Eittle children were burned in the flames which 
 consumed the house. On Mr. Eittle's return 
 he found only the mangled and charred remains 
 of the persons that lay in the smoking embers 
 of his burned house. Uninformed of his wife's 
 and brother's captivity, he mourned them 
 as dead. Having endured all the hor- 
 rors consequent upon the terrible ordeal 
 through which they had passed, the 
 captives at length arrived in Montreal. 
 Here Mrs. Eittle found another married 
 woman, Mrs. Bratt, who also had been taken 
 prisoner by the Indians and French. For two 
 years Mrs. Eittle was kindly cared for by sym- 
 
HISTOET OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 61 
 
 pathizing women in Montreal, but all her en- 
 dearors to commnnicate with her mourning 
 hnsband seemed fruitless. By good fortune, 
 however, Mr. Kittle ftnally found his supposed 
 murdered wife and brother, and heard the story 
 of the massacre with all its distressing details. 
 
 During this calamitous time Herman Van 
 Vechten, the son of Dirck Van Vechten, one of 
 the first settlers of Schaghticoke, was also shot 
 by the Indians, on the 23th of April, 1746. 
 
 For the purpose of protecting the farmers, 
 who again returned to their despoiled farms. 
 Gov. CUnton posted, in March, i©, two com- 
 panies of soldiers at Schaghticoke. > 
 
 THE WAR OF 1755. 
 
 In 1755, a second war brought terror to the 
 peace-loving settlers at Schaghticoke. Again 
 the French and Indians invaded the country 
 from Canada and drove the farmers along the 
 upper Hudson to places of security in the 
 vicinity of Albany. The heavy boards of a 
 farm-hoi^se, some distance east of the Knicker- 
 backer homestead, pierced with shots from the 
 fort occupied by the French, are still preserved 
 to show the marks of actual hostilities, in 1755, 
 in that vicinity. 
 
 It was in consequence of these invasions 
 that the common council of the city of Albany 
 informed the general assembly, June 10, 1755, 
 that the "corporation has no income from 
 their tenants at Schagtekook, who are all 
 obliged to leave their farms, and are in a man- 
 ner ruined, and this corporation is at least a 
 thousand pounds indebted, occasioned by the 
 last French war." 
 
 A SOHOOl-MASTER ON HIS GOOD BBHAVIOK. 
 
 The cause of education, however, seems not to 
 have been forgotten after the war's rude alarms. 
 A school had been organized and a teacher em- 
 ployed to teach the children of the people gath- 
 ered about the hamlet of Schaghticoke. His 
 acquisitiveness is exhibited in his application 
 to the city of Albany for a portion of land 
 which was granted him during the time of his 
 good behavior. This grant is entered in the 
 proceedings of the common council : 
 
 JtTLT 8, 1762.— The schoolmaster at Schaagkook 
 made application to this corporation for a piece of 
 wood land, which they grant him so long a time as 
 he remains sohoolmaster for that place and be- 
 haves himself well, and no longer. 
 
 A MODEL COMMON COtlNCII.. 
 
 As early as the year 1770 it had become a cus- 
 tom for the mayor and members of the com- 
 mon council of the city of Albany, to make 
 annual visits to Schaghticoke for the purpose of 
 attending to such matters as were connected 
 with the occupancy of the lands belonging to 
 
 the corporation. These occasions at the time 
 of their occurrence were no doubt attended with 
 some inconvenience "and expense, and the pe- 
 culiar provision made to meet them, was cer- 
 tainly a most generous one. 
 
 This indenture made and concluded this 28th 
 day of February, In the eleventh year of the reign 
 of our sovereign lord George the third, etc., and in 
 the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred 
 and seventy-one between the mayor, aldermen 
 and commonality of the city of Albany of the one 
 part and John Enlckerbacker, jr., of Schatacoock 
 in the county of Albany of the other part wit- 
 nesseth, that the said mayor, aldermen and com- 
 monality of the city of Albany for and in consider- 
 ation of the sum of five shillings current money of 
 the province of New York. * « • convey all 
 that certain piece or parcel of land lying and being 
 at Schatacoock and begins at the month of Schata- 
 coock creek, containing three hundred and fifty- 
 nine acres. 
 
 This grant was to continue to the said John 
 Knickerbocker, so long as he would supply and 
 provide at his house the said authorities or any 
 commmittee of the city of Albany, whenever 
 they visited Schaghticoke, and during their stay 
 there, with sufficient meat, drink and lodging, 
 and their horses with good grain, hay or good 
 pasture. 
 
 Among the duties imposed upon committees 
 of the common council of Albany was the fol- 
 lowing: 
 
 Febbuakt 11, 1776.— Three members are author- 
 ized and empowered to collect from their tenants 
 at Schactekook the Fowles which are dne and in 
 arrear to the corporation. 
 
 SCHAGHTICOKE DISTRICT. 
 
 The general assembly of New York, March 
 24, 1772, passed "An act to divide the counties 
 of Albany and Tryon into districts." The pro- 
 visions of the act respecting that division of 
 Albany county known by the name of Schacte- 
 koke district reads as follows : 
 
 All that part of the said county of Albany which 
 is bounded as follows, to wit : On the south by 
 Bensselaerwyck district ; on the north by a line 
 south 84° east, drawn from the mouth of Lewis's 
 creek or kill, and on the east by a straight line 
 drawn from a point in the north bounds of Bens- 
 selaerwyck district, 13 miles distant from Hud- 
 son's river, to a point in said line from the mouth 
 of Lewis's creek or kiU, at 10 miles distant from 
 Hudson's river, and on the west by Hudson's river, 
 shall be one separate and distinct district, and be 
 henceforth called and known by the name of 
 Schactekoke district. 
 
 REVOLDTIONABT PATRIOTS. 
 
 When the clouds of war lowered in 1775 over 
 the American colonies there was found in the 
 hearts of the people of Schaghtlcolce a spirit of 
 
62 
 
 HI8TOBT OF THE TOWNS OP BEKSSELAEB OOITNTT. 
 
 independence and a firm determination not to 
 submit as slaves to BritiBh oppression. CoLJohn 
 Enickerbacker, having been commissioned col- 
 onel October 20, 1775, was placed in command 
 of the fourteenth regiment of state militia, 
 composed of cempanies organized in the dis- 
 tricts of Hoosick and Schaghticoke. 
 
 The following is the roster of the regiment, 
 October 20, 1775: 
 
 Colonel, Jobn Knlckerbacker ; lieutenant colonel, 
 David Bratt ; Srst major. Derrick Van Yechten ; 
 second major, John Tan Rensselaer ; adjutant, 
 Charles H. Toll ; quartermaster, Ignas Kip. 
 
 Mrtt Cbmpony— Captain, HenderiokVanderhoof; 
 first lieutenant, Samuel Eetchum ; second lieuten- 
 ant, Nathaniel Ford ; ensign, Jacob Hallenbeck. 
 
 Second Company— Captain, Walter N. Qroves- 
 beck ; first lieutenant, Wynant Yandenbergh ; sec- 
 ond lieutenant, Peter Davenport; ensign, Jacob 
 Yates. 
 
 Third Company— Captahi, John J. Bleecker ; first 
 lieutenant, John Snyder ; second lieutenant, Mat- 
 thew D. Oamo ; ensign, Stephen Thorn. 
 
 I^rth Company— Captain, Lewis Van Woerdt ; 
 first lieutenant, John Schouten ; second lieutenant, 
 Joseph Boyce ; ensign, John Horrel. 
 
 Mjfth Oom^xiny— Captain, Fenner Palmer; first 
 lieutenant, John Johnson ; second lieutenant, 
 James Williamson ; ensign, Jonathan Davis. 
 
 Bixth Company— Captain, Daniel B. Bratt ; first 
 lieutenant, Michael Campman ; second lieutenant, 
 Isaac Lansing; ensign, Francis Hogle. 
 
 Seventh Company— C&ptain, Van Bensselaer ; 
 
 first lieutenant, Michael Byan ; ensign, Peter Hart- 
 well, 
 
 JfifiufeJfcn— Captain, John J. Bleecker ; first lieu- 
 tenant, William Thorn ; second lieutenant, Thomas 
 Hicks ; ensign, Jonathan Bowland. 
 
 These and other officers, with the men in the 
 ranks, in doing the duties assigned them in the 
 army of the North nnder Gens, Schnyler and 
 Ghttes achieved a prond record which is still re- 
 called in the traditions of the people of Schagh- 
 ticoke, 
 
 Previous to the introdnction of the militia of 
 Schaghticoke into the stem realities of the war 
 similar notices to the following were sent to 
 the company commanders in the districts : 
 
 Scai.cTiKooK, May 80, 1776.— Captain John 
 Sthdib, or the next Conmiandlng OtScer at Tom- 
 haniok. Sear Mr : By order of Qen. TenBroeok, 
 it is now become my duty, as we do not know 
 how soon the country may call upon us for mili- 
 tary service, to earnestly recommend it unto you 
 to use your utmost endeavor with 'the company 
 under your command, as well as officers as pri- 
 vates, that they shall pay due obedience and strict- 
 ly observe the rules and orders for regulating the 
 militia of the colony of New Tork, recommended 
 by the Provincial Congress, the2Sd day of August, 
 and the aoth day of December last ; and, in pai^ 
 tlcular, the 6tb, 7tb and 8th sections of said rules 
 
 and orders, and the fifth section of the appendix 
 to the said rules and orders. If you or any of yonr 
 officers have not the printed rules, they may be 
 furnished them by applying nnto Matthew VIsher, 
 esq., secretary of the committee for the city and 
 county of Albany. And, also, I desire that yon 
 furnish me with a list of the company under yonr 
 command by the 5th day of June next, and inform 
 me In what manner the men are equipped as to 
 arms, ammunition and accoutrements, I am yonr 
 most truly humble servant, 
 
 John Knickikbackkb, 
 
 THE niTABION OF BCBOOTXZ, 
 
 When, in 1777, Bnrgoyne had reached the 
 waters of the upper Hudson, the call for men 
 to resist the advance of the British Invader was 
 immediately answered by the militia force of 
 the district of Schaghticoke, As jnstly said by 
 a patriotic member of the Enickerbacker 
 family, in his centennial oration, July 4, 1876 : 
 
 At the time of the engagement at Stillwater 
 (more generally known as the battle of Saratoga), 
 the hillsides surrounding the present qnlet valley 
 of old Schaghticoke were often the rendezvous, or 
 resting-place, for the forces on their way to and 
 from the scene of action, while the ancient fort 
 or block-house, erected during the Indian incur- 
 sions, was taken possession of by a troop of 
 Hessian soldiery, in the service of the British, and 
 who were not especially scrupulous in their 
 maraudings upon the domains of the neighboring 
 inhabitants. 
 
 While Bnrgoyne was tarrying on the banks 
 of the Hudson previous to the battle of Bemis 
 Heights, scouting parties ventured in search of 
 information and secreted stores into the neigh- 
 boring country. As the fanners had mostly 
 deserted their homes, now and then, dnilng 
 this time, one or more men ventured back 
 to them for the purpose of observation and 
 Intelligence. With this object in view it was 
 that Major Derick Van Yechten with Solomon 
 Acker crossed the Hndson. While they were 
 guardedly gathering information they were 
 fired upon by the enemy, when crossing the 
 country in the fields now belonging to the farm 
 of Jacob Yates, Shots were exchanged on 
 both sides. Having several times been slightly 
 wounded by the flying bullets, Major Yan 
 Yechten was at length mortally wonnded by a 
 ball passing through his tobacco box into bis 
 body. Confident of the danger of his com- 
 panion, he persuaded Solomon Acker to flee 
 and save his own life. Acker succeeded in 
 escaping, and returned with a detachment 
 of soldiers for the body of his dead neighbor. 
 The perforated tobacco box Is still preserved as 
 a relic of the dark days of the revolution by the 
 Yan Yechten family. 
 
HI8T0BY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAEB COUNTY. 
 
 63 
 
 i. TBBBinED WOMAB'S FLIGHT. 
 
 On the approach of the invading army of 
 Burgoyne, Capt. John J. Bleecker, for the pur- 
 pose of securing a temporary home for bis 
 alarmed family, harried to Albany with that 
 object in view. The day after his departun 
 the news reached the ears of Mrs. Bleecker that 
 massacring bands of Indians and plundering sol- 
 diers were within two miles of the hamlet of 
 Schaghticoke. Wildly alarmed by this sudden 
 intelligence, the frightened woman hastened, 
 with her yonngest child in her arms and 
 another about four years old caught by 
 the hand, in company with a young negro 
 girl, down the road toward Albany, filled 
 with the conveyances of other fleeing peo- 
 ple. She walked in this way for about five 
 miles, when her children were taken 
 into one of the wagons passing southward. 
 Having made the journey on foot, she at length 
 arrived at Lansingburgh, " where she expected 
 to find many friends, but she was deceived ; no 
 door was open to her whose house by many of 
 them had ' been made use of as a home. She 
 wandered from house to house, and at length 
 obtained a place in the garret of a rich old ac- 
 quaintance, where a couple of blankets 
 stretched upon some bare boards were offered 
 as a bed. She, however, sat up all night and 
 wept, and the next morning Mr. Bleecker, 
 coming from Albany, met them and returned to 
 that city, from whence they set off with several 
 other families by water." 
 
 Mrs. Bleecker, in 1781, was subjected a sec- 
 ond time to a terrifying beUef that her husband 
 had been murdered by a party of hostile In- 
 dians. While taking in his harvest, he with 
 two other men were captured and hurried off in 
 the direction of Canada. Her husband not re- 
 turning at the accustomed time to the house, 
 she, fearing some evil, sent a servant to the 
 field to bring her information, who came back 
 telling her that the men were not to be fonnd, 
 but that the horses and wagons which they had 
 been nsing were in the road, the horses being 
 tied to a tree. The neighbors carefully searched 
 the adjacent fields and woods, but the men 
 could not be found. In her distressed condition 
 Mis. Bleecker, thinking her husband forever lost 
 to her, that same night, started for Albany. But 
 her mourning was turned into joy, for a few 
 days afterward her husband was recovered from 
 his captors by a party from Bennington. 
 
 XBECTION OF THE TOWN OF SCHAOBTICOEE. 
 
 The general assembly, March 7, 1788, passed 
 " An act for dividing the counties of this state 
 into towns." It was by this act that the town 
 
 of Schaghticoke was erected. The bounds of 
 the town were the following : 
 
 All that part of said oonnty of Albany bounded 
 southerly by the said town of Bensselaerwyck, 
 westerly by Hudson's river, northerly by a line be- 
 ginning at the mouth of Lewis's creek or kill, and 
 running from thence south 84° east to Hudson's 
 river, and easterly and southerly by a line running 
 from thence down along Hoslck river as it runs to 
 the place where Toll's bridge formerly stood, and 
 then due south to the road leading from St. Hoick 
 to Albany, and then along the same road to the 
 north bounds of Rensaelaerwyck, shall be and 
 hereby is erected into a town by the name of 
 Schaatekoke. 
 
 The first town officers elected under this act, 
 as entered in the rucords of the town, were the 
 following : 
 
 Record of town officers chosen on the seventh 
 and eighth of April, one thousand seven hundred 
 and eighty-nine, at the house of John Carpenter : 
 
 Town clerk, Silas Wlckes ; supervisor, Jacob A. 
 Lansing; assessors, Nicholas Groesbeck, Zepha- 
 nlah Russell, Abraham Yiele, Jacob Tates, Martin 
 Weatherwax ; overseers of the poor, Walter N. 
 Oroesbeck, James Masters, Fennel Bacon ; com- 
 missioners for roads, James S. Masters, John W. 
 Groesbeck, William Kittle ; constables, John Story, 
 Sybrandt Viele, Jacob Groesbeck ; collector, 
 William Oroesbeck; pathmasters, Jared Esbell, 
 Ashley Goodrich, Richard Bennett, John Einnion, 
 Walter N. Groesbeck, Athniel Sambums, Harrison 
 Qnackenbusb, John W. Oroesbeck, Abraham 
 Vlele, Garret Waldion, Peter Yates ; fence viewers, 
 Walter N. Groesbeck, Asa Havens, Nathaniel 
 Rnsco ; poundmaster, Walter N. Oroesbeck. 
 
 FOCBTH OF JULY FESTIVITIES. 
 
 The return of the anniversary day of our 
 national independence was yearly honored after 
 the revolution by the people of Schaghticoke. 
 The following are parts of the recorded pro- 
 ceedings of the citizens of the town July 4, 
 1798: 
 
 A respectable number of the inhabitants of the 
 town of Schaghticoke convened at the house of 
 Jesse Jadwin on the 4th of July, 1798, to celebrate 
 the anniversary of American independence, where 
 they partook of an elegant dinner and spent the 
 day in conviviality and merriment, and received a 
 federal salute from a number of militia, who at- 
 tended on the occasion. 
 
 Among the toasts of the day were : 
 May we never pay tribute to any nation except 
 in powder and ball. May the tree of liberty, which 
 blossoms with the American cockade, flourish 
 trimflphantly in the soil of America and root out 
 all foreign obnoxious weeds. 
 
 Another company assembled at Mr. Yiele's 
 for the celebration of the birth of our national 
 existence. "The ceremonies were introduced 
 by a song, wherein was developed the progress 
 
64 
 
 HISTOKY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAEK OOITlfTY. 
 
 of the Revolution," etc. " Mr. Howell Gardner 
 then delivered an oration pertinent to the occa- 
 sion ; after which a song, composed for the day 
 was sung. The company then partook of a 
 repast of the delicious bounties of nature, the 
 rich reward of independence." 
 
 THE HOME OF THE KIOKEBBACEEBS. 
 
 The old homestead of the Knickerbacker fam- 
 ily is one of the Interesting monuments which 
 remain at Schaghticoke to invest the pictur- 
 esque valley of peace with many quaint and 
 historical associations. A pleasant ride of five 
 miles westward from Hart's Falls, early known 
 as Schaghticoke Point, brings the visitor be- 
 fore the venerable mansion, which is charming- 
 ly embowered by a number of stately trees, 
 whose great leafy branches spread their grate- 
 ful shade over its vine^Jlad walls. Seated with- 
 in tne welcoming arms of the comfort- 
 able chairs on the front porch, a 
 most delightful landscape attracts and 
 charms the eye with its varied scenery. 
 The old front door, with its upper and lower 
 sections swinging separately upon heavy iron 
 hinges, forcibly recalls the days of a past cen- 
 tury and the people living within its portals. 
 The big brass knocker, or as the Dutch people 
 would say, de groot koper kUrpper, is still at- 
 tached to the upper half of the door. Entering 
 into the ball the visitor is surrounded with nu- 
 merous mementoes of lang syne. Besides the 
 quaint Dutch furniture which attracts one's 
 examination, upon the wall are suspended some 
 of the prized heir-looms of the ECnickerbacker 
 family. Over the parlor door is hung the mem- 
 orial platter to Hermanns Knickerbacker, 1768. 
 It is a thick, heavy silver dish, about 15 inches 
 in diameter, and has on its rim this inscrip- 
 tion: 
 
 Sne GedastenlE van Herman Knickerbacker die 
 is overleeden op den 18 de September A. D. 1768 
 Oud STude 8 en 50 jaeren 8 maanden ende 18 
 dagen. 
 
 Above the back hall door hangs the sword of 
 Col. John Knickerbacker, worn by him at the 
 battle of Stillwater, 1777. With it are suspended 
 an old powder horn, a sickle and a military 
 sash. Among the other curiosities of the hall 
 way are an old fashioned brass warming pan, 
 and a foot stove which, filled with' live coals, 
 was borne to the old Dutch church, In winter, to 
 warm the feet of the Knickerbacker dames.. 
 
 In the parlor is the Dutch family clock more 
 than two centuries old, made by Day. Moras 
 Mnchty. Here one sees the tiles of the fire- 
 place ornamented with scriptural scenes, and a 
 large collection of relics consisting of silver 
 shoe-buckles, watch-fobs, cloak-fastenings, 
 
 Indian arrow-heads, stone hatchets, snuff- 
 boxes, etc. 
 
 AK OLD DUTCH BIBI/E. 
 
 The old Dutch Bible used by the ministers of 
 the first Beformed Protestant Dutch church of 
 Schaghticoke, is here also preserved in its origi- 
 nal heavy board binding and brass clasps. The 
 title i>age of the old testament is torn out, but 
 the other leaves and the engraving are retained. 
 The new testament title page reads : 
 
 Het Nieuwe Testament ofte alle Boecken des 
 Nlenwen Verbonts onses Heeren Jesn Chrlsti Door 
 Last van de Hoog : Mog : Heeren Staaten Qenerael 
 Der Veereenighde Nederlanden, ende volgens 't 
 Besluyt vaude Synode Nationael, gehonden tot' 
 Dordrecht, in de Jaren 1618 ende 1619, etc. • * • 
 Te Dordrecht by Hendriok-en-Jacob-Keur en t' 
 Amsterdam by Marcos Doomeck, incompagnie 
 Ao. 1682. 
 
 The arms of the Knickerbacker family are 
 seen in a painting hanging on the parlor wall. 
 Below the figure of a helmet is a lion rampant 
 and three Maltese crosses. The Dutch motto 
 reads : " Die Stryd met Fortuyn wint," " Who 
 strives with fortune wins." 
 
 Every room in the house Is full of novel sur- 
 prises. The spacious cellar, the great bam, the 
 old well with its weighted sweep-pole and the 
 venerable tree of peace, at a close remove from 
 the house, attract the attention of the visitor. 
 
 THE KNICKEBBACEER BUBTIHO GBOUND. 
 
 At a short distance northwest of the house is 
 the burying ground of the Knickerbacker 
 family. In this Grod's acre stand the stone 
 monuments which mark the last resting place 
 of many of the Knickerbackers. 
 
 Here is found a rude gray stone slab on which 
 Is inscribed : " In memory of Johannes Knick- 
 erbacker, died 1749, aged 70 years. His wife 
 Anna, died 1732, aged 57." 
 
 Near by is a white marble tablet marking the 
 grave of their son : " In memory of Col. John 
 Knickerbacker, who departed this life, 16th 
 August, 1802, in the 79th year of his age." 
 
 The grave of the colonel's son is designated 
 by an Inscribed stone : "In memory of John 
 Knickerbacker, Esq., who was born January 29, 
 1751, old style, and departed this life November 
 10, 1827, new style." 
 
 The tombstone of the eldest son of Johannes 
 Knickerbacker, the first of the family settling 
 at Schaghticoke, is thus Inscribed : " Sacred to 
 the memory of Herman Knickerbacker, who 
 died September 6, 1769, in the fifty-ninth year 
 of his age." 
 
 Here is to be seen the grave of that worthy 
 and genial gentleman who was so widely known 
 as Prince Knickerbacker, son of John Knlcker- 
 
•HISTOET OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 65 
 
 backer, the third. " Herman Kniokerbacker, a 
 representative in the eleventh congress of the 
 United States, and for many years judge of the 
 covmty of Rensselaer. Born July 27, 1779 ; 
 died June 30, 1855." 
 
 The father of Joseph Foster Knickerbacker, 
 the present occupant of the homestead, is also 
 buried here. His tomb is marked by a large 
 stone monument, on which is inscribed: 
 "Abraham Knickerbacker, born April 7th, 
 1796 ; died March 11, 1869. Mary Ann Hale, 
 his wife, bom April 39, 1806 ; died March 18th, 
 1869." 
 
 The grave stone of the brother of Joseph 
 Foster Knickerbocker is inscribed : "In mem- 
 ory of John Hale, son of Abraham and Mary 
 Ann Knickerbacker, bom March 16, 1829 : died 
 June 17, 1858." 
 
 John Hale Knickerbacker was a graduate of 
 Union college and also of the Rensselaer Poly- 
 technic institute, and was for a time a member 
 of the firm of Wallace & Knickerbacker, drug- 
 gists, on River street, Troy. He had a cultured 
 taste for Dutch literature, and wrote the gene- 
 alogy of the family in the Dutch language, and 
 at the time of his death had in preparation for 
 the press a Dutch grammar. 
 
 By the side of his grave is that of his sister, 
 Mary E. Knickerbacker, who died on the eve of 
 her graduation from the Troy female seminary, 
 July 30, 1846, aged 16 years and 5 months. 
 
 The durability of wood is practically exhib- 
 ited by the excellent preservation of a pitch- 
 pine head-board, standing in this graveyard, 
 which bears date of 1773. 
 
 The marble monument " erected by the con- 
 sistory of the Reformed Protestant Dutch 
 church of the city of New York in commemo- 
 ration of the services of the Rev. Lambertns 
 De Ronde " is a conspicuous object in this 
 burial ground. On it, besides the above para- 
 graph, Is the following inscription : 
 
 Bev. Lambertns De Sonde, minister of the Ke- 
 formed Protestant Dutch church in the city of New 
 York, bom in Holland, 1719, settled in the ministry 
 at New York, 1751, died at Schagticoke, 1795, aged 
 76 years. 
 
 UKCLE TOM. 
 
 In that part of the burial ground where the 
 slaves and servants of the Knickerbacker fam- 
 ily are buried is a rude stone on which are the 
 memorial words " Old Tom," who had been a 
 most devoted servant for almost 90 years. 
 Among the stories handed down of Tom's 
 many peculiarities is this one : Old Tom's 
 arithmetic was limited, and he could not enu- 
 merate higher than three. On one occasion, it 
 is said, It became necessary for him to count 
 the sheep of a flock. Being placed at the en- 
 
 trance of a field, he was told to count them 
 out in a loud voice as they passed him. As the 
 sheep ran through the gate Tom called out : 
 "One! two! tree! Dar goes anudderl dar 
 goes anudder ! dar goes anudder 1" " Stop 1" 
 cried his master, " what do you mean by that ?" 
 " Why, massa," said Tom, " I done count no 
 more than tree; I tought I could, but I 
 couldn't." 
 
 TB£ ENICKEBBACKEB GENEALOOT. 
 
 Herman Jansen Knickerbacker, son of 
 Johannes Von Bergen Knickerbacker, it is said, 
 was the first person of the Knickerbacker name 
 that emigrated to America. Shortly after his 
 arrival in New Netherland he married the 
 daughter of Myndert Hermance Von de Bogert, 
 commissary at Fort Orange. Of his seven 
 children his eldest was Johannes Knickerback- 
 er, the first settler of that name that obtained a 
 tract of land from the authorities of the city of 
 Albany at Schaghticoke. 
 
 THE OLD DUTCH CHUBCH. 
 
 Tradition asserts that there was a church or- 
 ganization effected at a very early date in 
 Schaghticoke, and that the first house of wor- 
 ship was burned at the time of the French and 
 Indian war. A new meeting house was erected, 
 it is said, in 1760, opposite the red school house, 
 about a mile east of the Knickerbacker home- 
 stead. This building was a frame one, 60 by 40 
 feet, with low walls and a light pitched roof. 
 At the east end of the edifice was a bulbous 
 turret, surmounted by a weather cock. The 
 octagonal pulpit, cramped and elevated, had 
 its accompanying canopy and sounding board. 
 The desk of the " voorlezer," or reading clerk, 
 was immediately in front of the pulpit. 
 
 Among the petitions in 1780 presented to the 
 common council of Albany was one " signed by 
 Johannes Knickerbacker, jr., in behalf of the 
 elders and deacons of the Reformed Dutch 
 church at Schaghtekoke * • * praying a 
 grant of one acre of land adjoining the lands 
 of Walter N. Groesbeck." 
 
 The following is a part of the certificate of the 
 incorporation of the church, found among the 
 church patents in the office of the clerk of Al- 
 bany county : 
 
 We, the subscribers, elders and deacons of the 
 Reformed Protestant Dutch church or congrega- 
 tion, lately formed and established at Schagticook, 
 in the county of Albany, having assembled to- 
 gether at the said church on this fourth day of 
 November, in the year 1788, « • * certify that 
 the trustees of the said church or congregation, 
 and their successors forever shall as a body cor- 
 porate be called * • * the ministers, elders and 
 deacons of the Reformed Protestant Dutch church 
 of Sohagtlkook. -Signed by Peter Benewy, John 
 
66 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAFiE COTJNTT. 
 
 Enlckerbacker, jr., Hannan Qnaokenboss and 
 Peter P. Wlnne. 
 
 In 1833 the old building was torn down and a 
 more modem structure erected on its site. A 
 number of years ago this building was burned. 
 The site of the next church building was selec- 
 ted in another locality, which is a short dis- 
 tance from the railroad station known as 
 Keynolds, on the Boston, Hoosac tunnel and 
 Western railroad. The Rev. Theodore Freling- 
 huysen was the first pastor of this church. He 
 was succeeded by the Eev. E. Westerloo. The 
 pastors of the church successively have been 
 the following, from the time of the last-named 
 one's ministrations: 
 
 From 1773 to 1784, the Rev. Elias Van Bunsoho- 
 ten; 1784-1796, the Rev. Lambertus De Ronde; 
 1796-1807, the Rev. Winslow Page ; 1810-1821, the 
 Rev. Stephen Ostrander ; 1828-1829, the Rev. Abra- 
 ham D. Switz ; 1881-1834, the Rev. Aaron A. Mar- 
 oelus ; 1886-1841, the Rev. Hugh Boyd ; 1842-1844, the 
 Rev. M. Aokerman ; 1845-1847, the Eev. A. H. My- 
 ers ; 1848-1856, the Rev. Jacob D. Fonda ; 1857-1S61, 
 the Kev. Rutgers Van Brunt ; 1864-1869, the Rev. 
 George White ; 1870-1872, the Rev. J. D. Viele ; 
 1872-1879, the Rev. Solomon T. Cole ; 1879 to date, 
 the Rev. Aokerman. 
 
 THB PKESBTTERIAK CHUBOH OF SCHAOHTICOKE. 
 
 The first Presbyterian church in the town of 
 Schaghticoke was organized May 24, 1803. At 
 the meeting held at that time at the house of 
 Bethuel Masters, which was attended by 44 per- 
 sons, the following men were elected trustees : 
 Ezekiel Baker, Lewis Bryant, Edward Ostrander, 
 Jacob WlUiams and Nathaniel Rnsco. About 
 the year 1805 a frame house of worship was 
 built. About the year 1820 the building was 
 removed from the hill on the Baucus farm to 
 Schaghticoke point or Hart's Falls, as the vil- 
 lage is now called. The present brick church 
 near the American house was erected in 1848 at 
 a cost of $18,000. It has seats for about 400 
 people. The edifice was enlarged in 1865 and 
 further improved in 1875. The first pastor of 
 the church was the Rev. Thomas Fletcher, who 
 began his ministry here August 11, 1824. He 
 was succeeded by the following ministers : 1837- 
 1868, the Rev. J. H. Noble ; 186»-1871, the Rev. 
 G. W. Martin; 1872-1879, the Rev. Henry 
 Noill, jr. ; 1880 to date, the Rev. William Bel- 
 den, D. D. The membership of the church 
 numbers about 150 communicants. 
 
 TRINITY PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 The first Protestant Episcopal church at 
 Hart's Falls, known as Trinity church, was or- 
 ganized September 21, 1846. At the meeting 
 held at this date at the school-house, district No. 
 3, the following persons were elected officers 
 of the church : Roswell J. Brown and James 
 
 Ackhurst, wardens ; and Zechariah Lyon, Tib- 
 bits Briggs, Benjamin Rogers, William Searles, 
 Joseph Brown, John Quintin, Charles Bay- 
 ward and Edwin Smith. The Rev. Oeorge 
 H. Eastman, immediately after the organization 
 of the church, became rector. For about 20 
 years the church was in a disorganized condi- 
 tion. However, in 1871, July 16, the Rev. WU- 
 liam Bogart Walker of St. Luke's parish, Me- 
 chanicville, entered upon bis rectorship of this 
 church, and soon had it in a more prosperous 
 condition. In 1875 a commodious church edi- 
 fice was erected at a cost of $5,000, with a seat- 
 ing capacity for 200 people. The Rev. William 
 B. Walker resigned his rectorship July 26, 1865, 
 and was succeeded by the Rev. R. G. Hamilton, 
 October 14, 1875, who recently, in 1880, also ten- 
 dered his resignation to the congregation. A 
 parsonage has recently been built near the 
 church. The church register has the names of 
 about 50 communicants upon its pages. 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAl. CHDBCH AT HABT'S 
 FALLS. 
 
 The First Methodist society at Schaghticoke 
 point was organized about the year 1825. A 
 small building was shortly after refitted for a 
 meeting house. The church was incorporated 
 January 15, 1831. The first structure not being 
 sufficiently commodious for the increased mem- 
 bership, another building about the year 1835 
 was erected on the north side of Fifth street. 
 The church now numbers about 100 members. 
 The trustees of the church at the time of its In- 
 corporation were: Franklin Miller, Daniel 
 Chase and Samuel D. Welch. The Rev. B. T. 
 Wade is its present pastor. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT HABT'B 
 FALLS. 
 
 The missionary labors of different priests be- 
 longing to the Roman Catholic church were 
 successful, about the year 1840, in gathering 
 together a large congregation at Schaghticoke 
 point. Among the chief promoters of this new 
 church enterprise were Patrick Butler, John 
 Breslin, William Graham and Patrick Mc- 
 Gowan. George Tibbits of Troy gave to the 
 congregation the site of the church, which was 
 erected in 1842 on it at a cost of $5,000. The 
 building was enlarged in 1863. The Rev. 
 Father Riley is the present pastor of the church. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH AT 
 MELROSE. 
 
 Previous to the year 1850 the congregation of 
 this church was united with the Gilead Evan- 
 gelical Lutheran church at Centre Brunswick. 
 The certificate of the church's incorporation 
 bears date of May 13, 1850, in which the follow- 
 ing persons are named as trustees : Thomas 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWN'S OP RENSSELAER COUIITT. 
 
 67 
 
 Esmond, Jacob Stover, Jacob Dater, Leonard 
 Oreen, John J. Sipperly, Allen Way, Mather 
 Webster, Seneca Dennis, Solomon V. R. MUler. 
 The pastors of the church have been since the 
 year of American independence the following : 
 
 The Rev. Q. J. Wlchteman, 1776-1793 ; the Rev. 
 Anthon T. Braun, 1794-1812 ; the Rev. John Bach- 
 man, 181S-1813 ; the Rev. John Molther, 1814-1817 ; 
 the Rev. William McArthy, 1817-1821 ; the Rev. J. 
 R. Goodman, 1821-1828 ; the Rev. J. Z. Senderling, 
 1828-1849 ; the Rev. S. Curtis, 185(W852 ; the Rev. 
 John Selmser, 1852-1857 ; the Rev. V. F. Bolton, 
 1858-1872 ; the Rev. J. R. Sikes, 1873-1877 ; the Rev. 
 N. Wirt, from Octol>eT 11, 1877, to present time. 
 
 The present church building, situated on the 
 hill at Melrose, was erected at the time the Rev. 
 John Selmser was pastor. The church is in a 
 very prosperous condition. 
 
 THE FBAHEEAN EYiUrOELICJLL LUTHEBAN 
 CHTmCH AT BBTANS' COBNERS. 
 
 This church was organized at Bryans' Cor- 
 ners, on the east bank of the Hudson river, on 
 the 6th of March, 1853. At this meeting the 
 Rev. Rnfus Smith was chosen pastor and 
 Matthias Snyder, 2d, Silas Miller and William 
 T. Blewer elected deacons. The church was in- 
 corporated April 6, 1852, Hiram C. Bryan, 
 Matthias Snyder and George W. Blewer being 
 trustees. 
 
 A frame church building was erected that 
 same year, at a cost of $1,200, with a seating 
 cajMicity for 100 persons. The successors of 
 thr first pastor have been the following : 
 
 The Rev. Qeorge W. Hemperly, 1860-62 ; the Rev. 
 Valentine F. Bolton, 1866-1867 ; the Rev. J. E. Sikes, 
 1876 ; the Rev. M. W. Empric, 1877 ; the Rev. Mr. 
 Sanks, 1878 ; the Rev. N. Wirt, 1879— to date. 
 
 There is also Methodist Episcopal church 
 at Scbaghticoke Hill, and another at Grant's 
 Hollow, both of which are in a very flourishing 
 condition and are in charge of the same pastor. 
 
 habt's falls. 
 
 The Tillage of Hart's Falls, early known as 
 Scbaghticoke point, was incorporated March 
 20, 1867. About the first manufacturing busi- 
 ness carried on at this place was a fulling mill 
 which September 1, 1798, was operated by Ed- 
 ward Hart. The postofSce established here 
 early in the present century was designated as 
 being at Scbaghticoke. The village has 1,525 
 inhabitants, and is about 13 miles north- 
 east of Troy, at the "Great Falls" of the 
 Hoosick river. The Boston, Hoosac tunnel and 
 Western railway passes through the village, and 
 the Troy and Boston railroad has a station 
 known as the Scbaghticoke depot, a short dis- 
 tance east of the place. 
 
 Among the societies of the place was Homer 
 
 lodge No. 76, F. and A. Masons, which had its 
 first charter given it January 3, 1799, signed by 
 John Adams, secretary. In 1847 it ceased 
 working. 
 
 Victor lodge No. 680 was organized November 
 13, 1867. The lodge meets as did the Homer 
 lodge, in rooms in the Scbaghticoke house. 
 The first officers of Victor lodge were : 
 
 Worshipful master, W. H. Steele ; senior warden, 
 George W, Finch ; junior warden, Charles A, 
 Pickett ; treasurer, John A. Baucus ; correspond- 
 ing secretary, Chauncey B. SlocunL 
 
 The excellent water power, at this point, 
 makes Hart's Falls quite an important place 
 of manufactories. Here are the paper mills of 
 James Baucus & Co., built about the year 
 1850 ; the Cable flax mills, which give employ- 
 ment to more than 200 persons. This success- 
 ful manufacturing company was organized in 
 1871. The officers of the company are : 
 President, Thomas Lape; secretary, E. A. 
 Hartshorn ; treasurer, R. E. Starks. The office 
 and salesrooms of the company are at No. 179 
 River street, Troy. 
 
 The mills of the Scbaghticoke powder com- 
 pany are about a half mile southeast of the 
 village. The officers of the company are : Wm. 
 P. Bliss, president ; Thomas L. Doremus, sec- 
 retary ; and C. J. Olds, superintendent. 
 
 The Scbaghticoke woolen mills were built in 
 1864. In March, 1879, J. J. Joslin became the 
 owner of the mills. About 200 persons find 
 employment in these factories. The grist mill 
 of George Ewart & Son also adds importance 
 to the place. 
 
 SCHAGHTICOEE HILL. 
 
 This hamlet is situated on the Tomhannock 
 creek, abont one mile from the Troy and Boston 
 railroad. Here is a Methodist church and the 
 school house of district No. 11. It has also one 
 hotel, a blacksmith shop, and shoemaker shop, 
 a store, G. B. Burton's twine mill and saw mill. 
 
 At Scbaghticoke Hill was the residence of 
 Hon. Herman Knickerbacker, who once at 
 Washington facetiously called himself "the 
 prince of the tribe of Schaghticokes." 
 
 It is said that the humorous history of New 
 York, written by Washington Irving under the 
 nom de plume of Diedrich Knickerboker, was 
 suggested to the author by his long and pleasant 
 acquaintance with Herman Knickerbacker. 
 
 It was at the prince's house at Scbaghticoke 
 hill that the mayor and common council of Troy 
 were handsomely entertained a nomber of 
 years ago, as had been the custom at the old 
 Knickerbacker homestead, for a long time, to 
 extend such hospitalities to the mayor and mem- 
 bers of the common council of the city of Al- 
 bany. It is related that when the Troy guests 
 
68 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COTTNTT. 
 
 arrived with appetites sharpened by a long 
 drive, the prince pretended to have forgotten 
 the day appointed for their reception. He, 
 however, told his hungry visitors that he would 
 do the best the short time then allowed him for 
 preparation permitted. He was shortly after- 
 ward heard earnestly discussing with his cook 
 how to make one pair of chickens suffice for so 
 many guests. The mayor and members of the 
 common council of Troy were greatly disturbed 
 by the perplexing position in which their un- 
 anticipated visit had placed their unprovided 
 host. But a pleasant surprise and a hearty 
 enjoyment of the practical joke followed, when 
 inmiediately after the occurrence of the con- 
 versation between the prince and the cook, the 
 dining room doors were thrown open, exhibit- 
 ing to the astonished guests a most bountifiil 
 and appetizing repast already prepared and 
 waiting their eating. 
 
 MELBOSE. 
 
 This is a station on the Troy and Boston rail- 
 road in the south part of the town of Schaghti- 
 
 coke. It has a postoffice, hotel, a store and a 
 blacksmith shop. South of it is Grant's Hollow, 
 where there is a store, a Methodist church and 
 the school house of district No. 10. The manu- 
 factory of the Grant fan mill and cradle com- 
 pany is one of the chief enterprises of 
 the place and is managed by the firm 
 of D. H. Viall, J. F. Leavens and Ezra Banker. 
 At Bryant's Comers, on the east bank of the 
 Hudson, is the school house of district Ko. 9 
 and a manufactory of agricultural implements 
 carried on by W. W. Bryan. Reynolds is a 
 newly established postofBce and a station on 
 the Boston, Hoosac tunnel and Western rail- 
 road, east of Mechanicville. 
 
 POPULATION OF THE TOWN OF 8CHA6HTICOKB. 
 
 1790 1,8SS 
 
 1800 2.355 
 
 1810 2,492 
 
 1815 2,847 
 
 1820 8,582 
 
 1825 2,924 
 
 1830 3,002 
 
 1835 3,243 
 
 1840 S,SS9 
 
 1845.. 
 1850.. 
 1855.. 
 I860.. 
 186S.. 
 1870.. 
 187S. . 
 1S80.. 
 
 ..3,091 
 .8,200 
 ..3,303 
 ..£,989 
 .8,054 
 .3,125 
 .3,271 
 .3,611 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 69 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 THE TOWN OF SCHODACK. 
 
 A Great Corn Country — The Opdracht Brief of 1637 — Rensselaer's 
 Stein at Beeren Island — The Island called Schotack by the 
 Indians — Jacob Janse Plodder on the Gojer's Kill — Schodack 
 Invaded by the French in 1696 — Erection of the Town of 
 Schodack — Organization of Dutch Churches — The Villages 
 and Hamlets — Population of the Town. 
 
 The tmthfnlness of any statement seems 
 generally more patent when the particnlars of 
 such a declaration are derived from an original 
 and well-aathenticated document than when 
 the same are transmitted orally or by tradition. 
 The first as a source of information is not 
 easily corrupted by subsequent changes of its 
 text without such Interpolations and cancella- 
 tions being detected, but when the narration of 
 the circumstances of the occurrence is ob- 
 tained through the channels of tradition, the 
 reliability of such information is often ques- 
 tionable as regards veracity. 
 
 THE INBIANS EltTEBTAIN HXNBT HUDSON. 
 
 In 1625 John de Laet published a work under 
 the name of the "New World, or a Description 
 of the West Indies." In his description of the 
 New Netherlands, — the territory now mostly em- 
 braced by the state of New York, then pos- 
 sessed by the Dutch, — this historian alludes to 
 some of the incidents connected with Henry 
 Hudson's exploration of the river which now 
 bears his name. The Dutch writer says that 
 when the English navigator had sailed up the 
 river as far as latitude 42° 18', he was invited 
 ashore by the friendly aborigines. Then quot- 
 ing Hudson's journal, he furnishes the follow- 
 ing details of the visit made to the home of a 
 hospitable Indian chief by the commander of 
 the Half Moon : 
 
 I sailed to the shore in one of their canoes with 
 an old man, who was the clilef of a tribe consist- 
 ing of 40 men and 17 women ; these I saw there in 
 a house well conatrnoted of oak-bark, and circnlar 
 in shape, so that it had the appearance of being 
 built with an arched roof. It contained a great 
 
 qnantitv of maize or Indian com and beans of the 
 last year's growth, and there lay near the honae 
 for the purpose of drying enough to load three 
 ships, besides what was growing In the fields. On 
 our coming into the house, two mats were spread 
 out to sit upon, and immediately some food was 
 served in well made red wooden bowls ; two men 
 were dispatched at once with bows and arrows in 
 qnest of game, who soon after brought in a pair of 
 pigeons which they had shot. They likewise killed 
 a fat dog, and skinned it in haste with shells which 
 they had got out of the water. They sopposed 
 that I would remain with them for the night, hat 
 I returned after a short time on board the ship. 
 The land is the finest for cultivation that I ever in 
 my life set foot upon, and it also abounds In trees 
 of every description, The natives are a very good 
 people, for when they saw that I would not re- 
 main, they supposed that I was afraid of their 
 bows, and, taking the arrows, they broke them in 
 pieces and threw them into the fire. 
 
 Tradition adds to this historic record that 
 the place where Hudson was thus entertained 
 was on Castle hill, an eminence east of the 
 village of Castleton, whereon was the house of 
 the Indian chief referred to in De Laet's his- 
 tory. But as the southern boundary line of 
 Rensselaer county is given in the state gazet- 
 teers as 42° 27' north latitude, the location of 
 the place if it was on the east side of the river, 
 42° 18', would rather indicate that it was nearer 
 the city of Hudson, in Columbia county, which 
 is in latitude 42° 14'. 
 
 PAFSICEEIIBSAS. 
 
 For the purpose of complying with the re- 
 quirements of the Dutch West India company 
 in becoming the patroon of a large body of 
 
70 
 
 HISTOBY Of THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COtTNTY. 
 
 land, Eiliaen Van Rensselaer, throngh bis 
 agent, Jacob Albertzsen Flank, became the 
 owner by purchase from the Indians, April 13, 
 1637, o{ a tract called Fapsickenekas lying on 
 the east bank of the Hudson river, and extend- 
 ing from a point opposite Castle island south- 
 wardly as far as a point opposite Smackz 
 island, and including the adjacent islands and 
 all the land back into the interior. The remun- 
 eration which the Indian owners received for 
 this grant was " certain quantities of duffels, 
 axes, knives and wampum." The deed of the 
 land purchased is endorsed " Opdrouiht britf 
 van'( lartdt aende Oo^imil en de eylanden van 
 Papiickaen, 1637" — the transfer paper of the 
 land on the east shore and the islands of 
 Papsickaen, 1637. Castle island is a short 
 distance south of the city of Albany, and 
 Smackx island is south of the long island, on 
 the east side of the river, partly included in the 
 territory belonging to the town of East Green- 
 bush and Schodack. Below Smackx island is 
 Beeren island. On the map of Rensselaerwyck, 
 made by QillisVan Schendel in 1630, appear 
 both Smackx eyland and Beeren eyland nu Sen- 
 tela.rt eyland. North of Smackx island are 
 Oodyn* eylanden, Oodyn's islands, and east of 
 them Paepgykenekaes KUl, Faepsykenekaes creek. 
 
 BEBBEN ISLAND FOBTIPIED. 
 
 At a certain marked tree on the southern 
 point of Beeren island are the southwest, south- 
 east, northwest and northeast comers of Rens- 
 selaer, Albany, Columbia and Greene counties, 
 respectively. It is said that about the year 
 1643 a number of unlicensed traders visited the 
 manor of Rensselaer??yck and enticed the In- 
 dians into " secret trading places," where they 
 persuaded them to part with the valuable furs 
 which they had obtained by trapping, "not 
 caring whether or not the trade was injured as 
 to render the patroon unable to meet the ex- 
 penses of this colonic." The next reprehensi- 
 ble thing which these interlopers, as they were 
 called, did, was to debauch the Indians with 
 " wine and strong drink which they sold at an 
 nsnrlons rate," and to induce the colonists not 
 only to sell them the peltries which they had 
 secured, but also to dispose of large quantities 
 of grain, disregarding the patroon's preemption 
 right, thereby not paying the tenths, or ac- 
 counting for the halves or thirds which they 
 had agreed to do in leasing the land Which 
 they were cultivating. Two measures were 
 adopted by the patroon to prevent this 
 high-handed boldness. First, he erected 
 on Beeren island, or Bear's island, the southern 
 boundary of his manorial estate, a fortification, 
 the guns of which, commanding the river 
 
 could prevent all other vessels but his own and 
 those of the West India company from ascend- 
 ing the upper Hudson. He also established at 
 this point a trading post. In the next place he 
 exported from Holland a sufficient stock of 
 goods to supply through his agents at Bever- 
 wyck and Beeren island the Indians of this part 
 of the country and the neighboring set- 
 tlers, taking in exchange furs and agricni- 
 tural produce. Nicholas Coorn was made 
 waclUmeester, or quartermaster, of the post at 
 Beeren island. A claim of " staple right," a 
 toll of five guilders, or two dollars, was then de- 
 manded of every trading vessel passing the 
 fort and the lowering of their colors in honor of 
 Rensselaer's stein. This feudal claim was 
 maintained, it is said, until the death of the 
 patroon, in 1646. 
 
 THE FIBST SETTL£BS AT SCBODACE. 
 
 In the Albany county records the following 
 conveyance of land from the Indians at Scho- 
 dack is preserved : 
 
 "An Indian, Wattawit, with his mother named 
 Pepewlts, sold to Volokert Janssen [Donw] and 
 Jan Tomassen, 3d, their certain land lying on the 
 Gtoojers kill on Apjen's island, or by the Indians 
 called Schotack, their portion of Apjen's Island, is 
 the north end, extending from the north end until 
 right over against the south end of the green flat 
 (groene plaei) cutting obliquely over Apjen's island 
 to the kill which makes the island ; together with 
 a piece of land on the east shore of the kill, being 
 the fast bank where the house of Hachacknotas 
 stood, and extending Into the woods ; for the sum 
 of 443 guilders In beavers, payable in merchan- 
 dise." This was done In the village of Beverwyck 
 In presence of Thomas Chambers and Johannes 
 Provost, October 14, 1663. 
 
 At the same time, on the same day there ap- 
 peared before Johannes La Montague, "an In- 
 dian with a squaw, the Indian named Naspa- 
 han or Fofponick, and the squaw named Pasies, 
 owners of the south end of Apjen's island, 
 named Schotack" who sold to the parties 
 named in the previous conveyance the "sonth 
 end of the aforesaid island, being the greatest 
 half, beginning from the point over against the 
 Green Flat (groene plaet) and nmning to the 
 south end of said Apjen's island * * * for 
 the sum of'500 guilders in beavers in merchan- 
 dise." 
 
 fXCOB JANSB FLODDEB BUTS THE OOJEB'S KILL. 
 
 By another conveyance it appears that Jacob 
 Janse Flodder had as early as the year 1646 
 purchased a small creek and had hired a little 
 piece of ground adjoining the kill from the In- 
 dians living in that vicinity. The paper is dated 
 May 14, 1664, and names the following Indians 
 as api>earing before Johannes La Montagne, at 
 
HI8T0ET OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COITNTT. 
 
 71 
 
 Albany, and making the declaration hereafter 
 quoted: "Queskinuet, son of Facies, Aepie, 
 Wickepe and Kleyne Davidtie." These testi- 
 fied that 18 years before Jacob Janse Rodder 
 bought the Oojer's kill, but no land with it, only 
 a little piece north of said kill, which was grant- 
 ed him to make a garden, for the hire of which 
 these deponents, owners of the same, bad re- 
 ceived only a piece of cloth. " The deponents 
 being asked if Jacob Janse Flodder had bought 
 some land at Schotack, thereupon unanimously 
 answered, 'no,' but that he only had a small 
 piece of land that they had rented to him to sow 
 oats upon ; furthermore that he had a rick there 
 to house his grain in for the winter, but 
 that he never had any ownership therein. 
 Again the deponents being asked who are the 
 lawful owners of Schotack and the fast bank 
 extending the whole length of the island, de- 
 clared that Jan Tomasse and Volckert Janse 
 [Douw] are the lawful owners, who bought and 
 paid for the same and nobody else." 
 
 The last named parties, on the 29th of De- 
 cember, 1670, conveyed to "Jan Laurense [Van 
 Alen] a certain parcel of land or plantation, as 
 the same lies in fence and formerly occupied by 
 Adrien Dirruxse de Vries, lying on the fast 
 bank, at Schotack, with a little piece outside 
 the fence formerly planted by the Indians." 
 
 PBENCE FOES INVADE SCBODACK. 
 
 The territory now embraced within the town 
 of Schodack was before the close of the seven- 
 teenth century to some extent under tillage 
 and the land lying along the river occupied by 
 an industrious class of Dutch emigrants. Now 
 and then, during the disturbances occasioned 
 by the hostilities of the French directed against 
 the English,the people at Schodack were alarmed 
 by the close proximity of bodies of invading 
 French soldiers. The most daring venture in 
 this vicinity made by the hostile French was in 
 the fall of 1696, the particulars of which are set 
 forth in the following testimony : 
 
 The Biaminacons of Joseph De Boake, Philip 
 Andrie la qpndre and Isaag Giggon laPomere, 
 taken by Captain James Weems and Captain Wil- 
 liam Hyde in Fort Orange, at Albany, separately 
 exAied, the 16th of Ootolwr, 1696. 
 
 Joseph de Boake being called saith that on the 
 24th of September last, by an order in writelng 
 from Mons'r Govem'r of the Isle of Montreall, he 
 marched from the said place having under his 
 command one and twenty French and one Indian, 
 with fourty-flve dayes provisions, that they were 
 twelve days upon the river and landed upon the 
 shoare of Lake Shamfahlre above the point 
 of La Sheblare; there left their three 
 Cannoes with aU their provisions but 
 tenn dayes, which they took with them 
 and designed to make an eager attack upon 
 
 some part of the Five Nations or the English their 
 enemys. After eight dayes travell they arrived at 
 some uninhabited houses over against the Flatts 
 where he advanced himself e with two more to dis- 
 cover what he could ; leaving the rest of his party 
 behlnde him about a league and half e : bnt dis- 
 cerning three Indians bnmiog of a ring, fearing 
 lest he should be discovered retreated to his party, 
 and betook themselves to a thtckett that night, 
 and next morning marched towards Klnderhook, 
 and nest day about two hours before snnsett they 
 were attacked, being only at that time together 
 of them, thirteen, the rest being dispersed or lost. 
 After some shott being discharged on both sides 
 his party and he retreated, the ezaminant 
 being grievously wounded in the arm was 
 not able to proceed ; therefore advised his 
 party to surrender to some of the Snglish in 
 the next villages, for he was not able to head them 
 any longer, by reason of lieing very faint with the 
 loss of much blood, and earnestly importuned 
 them to submitt according to his council, least 
 they should fall Into the hands of the Indians, who 
 would have no mercy of them; all refused but 
 two who joyned with him, and in three dayes after 
 surrendered to the inhabitants of Scotack who 
 brought them to Albany this day. 
 
 PEOPLE LIVING IN SCHODACK IN 1767 AND 1778. 
 
 From a map of the manor of Rensselaer- 
 wyck made by Jno. B. Sleeker, in 1767, and 
 from one made by Robert Tates, li 1773, the 
 names of the following persons are taken whose 
 houses were designated as being in the south- 
 ern part of the manor : 
 
 Opposite Mosieman's or Musmus island, now 
 Imown as Schermerhom's island, near the 
 southern boundary line of the manor, dwelt 
 Hendrick Van Beuren and Jacobus Van der 
 Foel, and eastwardly Nicolaes Eetel. East of 
 the Murtius or Muitzes kill and west of the Vly 
 kill Hansie Van Valkenbergh, and east- 
 wardly beyond the old road running 
 northward, Anthony Van der Poel. North 
 ward along the river road were the 
 houses of Wouter Barhuyt, Jeronimus 
 Van Valkenbergh, Casper Sprinsteen and Jacob 
 Comelise Schermerhom. Opposite Schotack 
 island, north of a small stream, were the 
 houses of Reyer Schermerhom, Jacob Scher- 
 merhom, Engelie Schermerhom, Jacob Van 
 Valkenbergh, Bolof Janze and John H. Beek- 
 man. North of Reyer Schermerhom's house 
 was the Dutch church. Eastwardly along the 
 branches of the Muitzes kill were the farms of 
 
 Andries Huyck, Springsteen, Isaac Muller 
 
 and Schevers. On the north side of the 
 
 mouth of the Muitzes kill were the Schotack 
 mills. North of the stream known as 
 Vlockie kill was the house of Hans 
 Van Beuren, and eastward, beyond the 
 north road, that of Peter Lodwiok. 
 
72 
 
 HISTOET OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 Eastwardly from the river, and on the sonth 
 side of Moordeners kill, were the homes of a 
 Van Beuren family and of Cornelius Sprong. 
 North and along the north bank of the kill 
 going eastwardly dwelt Jonathan Witbeck, 
 
 Hans Salsberg, Fetch, Henry Shans and 
 
 Caper Ham. Northwardly of these farmers 
 lived Marte Van Beuren, Benjamin Van Den 
 Bergh, Benjamin Van Beuren, Hans Witbeck 
 and Henry Peter Van Beuren. North of the 
 Vlerda kill were the residences of Cornelius 
 Van Beuren, Hansie Van Hegan, Jacobns Van 
 Hegan, Abraham Van Hegan, Jacob Jacobse 
 Schermerhom and Evert Lansing. On the 
 sonth part of Staats's island were the homes of 
 Joachim and Gerrit Statts. Erom these desig- 
 nations it may be inferred that about the year 
 1770 there were about 40 families of farmers re- 
 siding within the limits of the territory now em- 
 braced in the present town of Schodack. 
 
 THE OVERSLA.0aH. 
 
 Between Staats's island and Douw's point, 
 formerly the channel of the Hudson river was 
 often made shallow by accumulations of dilu- 
 vial detritus. The shoals and bars thus created 
 often rendered the navigation of this part of 
 the river extremely difficult. This hinderance 
 to the easy passage of river craft gave to the 
 place the designation of the overdavgh. Early 
 in the present century the state expended con- 
 siderable money here in building dykes and in 
 dredging the river bed. When steamboats be- 
 gan to ply between New York and Albany and 
 Troy, it often happened that the shallowness of 
 the water at this point permitted them to ascend 
 no farther northward. At such times passen- 
 gers were carried to and from the boats in 
 stage coaches, and the cargoes taken away and 
 brought to them in lighters. Van Wie's point 
 on the west side of the river and Staats's dock 
 on the east side were generally the places to 
 which the stages ran to connect with the steam- 
 boats. 
 
 ESBOTION OF THE TOWU OF SCHODACK. 
 
 On the 17th of March, 1795, the state legisla- 
 ture passed "An act to divide the town of 
 Bensselaerwyck, in the county of Rensselaer." 
 By this enactment the town of Schodack was 
 erected. It provided : 
 
 That all that part of the town of Bensselaer- 
 wyck, bounded as follows : Beginning at the south- 
 west comer of the town of Troy, and running 
 thence easterly along the southern boundary line 
 of said town, to the western bounds of the town 
 of Petersburgh, thence southerly along the west- 
 ern bounds of the towns of Petersburgh and 
 Stephentown, 632 chains, thence south 86 degrees 
 and 48 minutes west, as the needle now points unto 
 Hudson's river, thence northerly along the said 
 
 river, to the place of beginning, and including such 
 of the islands in the said river as are nearest the 
 east side thereof, and are adjacent to the 
 said last mentioned line, shall, from and after 
 the first Monday in April next, be erected into a 
 separate town, by the name of Greenbush ; and 
 that the first town meeting in Oreenbush shall be 
 held at the dwelling honse of David H. De Forest 
 in the said town ; and that all the remaining part 
 of the town of Bensselaerwyck shall be and re- 
 main a separate town by the name of Schodack ; 
 and that the first town meeting in the town of 
 Schodack shall be held at the dwelling house of 
 John I. Miller in the said town. 
 
 The provisions of this act, it will be seen, 
 extinguished the designation "Bensselaer- 
 wyck," which had, since 1630, been applied to 
 the whole and subsequently to portions of the 
 territory now embraced in the limits of Rens- 
 selaer county. 
 
 In 1806 portions of the territory of the town 
 were subtracted to form the towns of Berlin 
 and Nassau. The town is bounded on the west 
 by the Hudson river and is in the southwest- 
 ern comer of the connty. The soil in the east- 
 em part is clayey, and in the .western a fertile 
 loam of sand and gravel. The land is mostly 
 very productive, and is devoted generally to 
 agricultural uses. 
 
 THE FIRST OFFICEBS OF THE TOWN. 
 
 The first officers of the town were elected on 
 April 7, 1795. They were the following : 
 
 Supervisor, Aaron Ostrander ; assessors, Corne- 
 lius Schermerhom, Nicholas Staats, Thomas Frost, 
 Jonathan Hoag, Nathaniel Brockway; overseers 
 of the poor, James McKown, Isaac Phillips; col- 
 lector, Henry Sheffer; commissioners of high- 
 ways, Slijah Eelsey, Hosea Hamilton, Walter Car- 
 penter ; constables, Henry Sheffer, Charles Mason, 
 Benben Barton, Joseph Burch, Thomas Bruma- 
 gem ; ponndmasters, John Van Ness, Jonathan 
 Hoag ; fence viewers, Jacobns Van der Poel, Jacob 
 Barhuyt, Barent Van der Bergh, David Arnold, 
 Jesse De Freest, Peter Aulthuyser, George Milleas, 
 Nathaniel Brockway, Samuel Brown, Gtermond 
 Filkln, Bichard Yates ; pathmasters, John E. Lan- 
 sing, St. Ledger Cowles, Darius Sherman, Jacobus 
 Van Ness, Jacob Van Valkenburgh, "David Bell, 
 Joseph Bell, Joseph Vichory, Comelius Schermer- 
 hom, Jacobns Volmsbee, John Van Ness, jr., and 
 Harmon Conn. 
 
 THE BEFOBMES PEOTBSTANT DUTCH CHURCH 
 OF SCHODACK. 
 
 It is believed that this church was organized 
 about the year 1756, when the Rev. Johannes 
 Caspams Fryenmoet became pastor of the 
 Dutch churches at Einderhook, Claverack and 
 Livingston manor. In the call to this minister 
 it was stipulated that he was to serve the peo- 
 ple of Einderhook two-thirds of his time and 
 the remainder those living at Schodack. In 
 
HISTORY OF THK TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 73 
 
 1778 the site of the church is designated on a 
 map made by Robert Yates, which was between 
 the residences of Ryer Schennei'hom and Jacob 
 Scheimerhom, a short distance north of Scho- 
 dack landing. 
 
 In the certiflcate of incorporation it is stated 
 that Jacobus V. C. Romeyn, minister, Andries 
 Ten Eyck, John H. Beckman, Jacob C. 
 Schermerhom and Jacobiis Van der Foel, 
 elders, and Daniel Schermerhorn, Johannis J. 
 Van Valkenburgh, Mans Van Bnren and Boelef 
 Johnson, deacons, had assembled together at 
 the church on the 18th day of August, 1788, 
 and had taken the title of "the minister, 
 elders and deacons of the Reformed Protestant 
 Dutch church of Schotack." 
 
 In ISIO the church building was removed to 
 its present site at Muitzeskill, two and a quar- 
 ter miles east of Schodack landing. In 1825 it 
 was enlarged, and further remoddled in 1866. 
 On the 27th of February, 1876, the building was 
 destroyed by fire. The present commodious 
 edifice was erected in 1876 at a cost of about 
 £6,000, and was dedicated the same year on the 
 6th of December. The Rev. R. W. Clark, D. 
 D., of Albany, preached the sermon on this oc- 
 casion, and the Rev. William Veenschoten offi- 
 ciating. This church has a seating capacity for 
 about 300 persons. The roll of membership in- 
 cludes 126 persons, and the Sabbath school 150. 
 The following persons have been successively 
 the pastors of this flourishing church : 
 
 The Ilev. J. C. Fryenmoet, 1756-1778 ; the Rev. 
 Jacobus Van Campen Romeyn, 1788-1794 ; the Kev. 
 Christian Berk, 1798-1808 ; the Sev. Jesse Fonda, 
 1809-1613 ; the Kev. Peter Van Buren, 1814-1820 ; 
 the Rev. Isaiah Y. Johnson, 1821-1823, died in his 
 pastorate ; the Rev. Asa Bennett, 1824-1828 ; the 
 Rev. Staats Van Santvoord, 1829-1834; the Rev. 
 John, Gray, 1835-1846; the Rev. William Bailey, 
 1847-1856 ; the Rev. Benjamin P. Snyder, 1856-1869 ; 
 the Rev. A. B. PefEers, 1869-1873, and the Rev. Wil- 
 liam Veenschoten, 1874 to date. 
 
 BBFOBMED DUTCH CHUBCH OF SCHODACK 
 LANDINO. 
 
 The reformed Dutch church of Schodack land- 
 ing was organized Nov. 2, 1858. The officers of 
 the church, Egbert Seed and Peter G. Ten Eyck, 
 elders, and Joel Reed and Israel Matson, dea- 
 cons, were installed at that time by the Rev. L. 
 H. Van Dyck and the Rev. J. R. Talmage, the 
 committee appointed by the classis of Rens- 
 selaer, which had met at Ghent, on the third 
 Tuesday of September that same year. The 
 object of this organization was for the purpose 
 of enabling the society to legally possess the pre- 
 sent church building which had been erected In 
 18S5 upon land given by John Schemerhorn. 
 This body held connection with the charch at 
 
 9 
 
 Muitzeskill until 1866, at which time It became 
 a separate society belonging to the classis of 
 Rensselaer. The first pastor of this flourishing 
 church was the Rev. Isaac L. Kip, who served 
 the congregation from 1867 to 1875. The Rev. 
 William J. Leggett succeeded the former pastor 
 in 1875, and has served the congregation 
 to the present time. The present membership 
 of the church is 172 persons, and that of the 
 Sunday school 160. 
 
 ST. PETER'S BAPTIST OHBBCH OF SCHODAOK. 
 
 This Baptist society dates Its organization 
 back as early as the year 1780. The Rev. 
 Stephen Olmstead was elected In 1797 pastor of 
 this society, which then had 51 members. The 
 society was first known as the Baptist church of 
 New Bethlehem, and erected its first log house 
 of worship in the north east comer of the town 
 of Schodack. The old structure was removed 
 about the year 1800, and the present church 
 building erected on its site. Stephen Van 
 Rensselaer gave the society a deed of 21 acres 
 of ground for the site of a meeting house and a 
 parsonage. 
 
 The following persona were elected March 
 29, 1802, "to take charge of the estate and 
 property belonging to the Baptist church," as 
 there were "no church wardens or elders of 
 said church," at the time : William Lewis, 
 James Gillyers, Timothy Phillips, Thomas 
 Frost, jr., David Calkins and David Tremer. 
 The early records of the church were consumed 
 at the time the Rev. Stephen Olmstead's house 
 was burned, early in the present century. The 
 names of the following ministers are given as 
 those of the different pastors of this church : 
 
 The Rev. Stephen Olmstead, 1797-1832 ; the Rev. 
 C. C. Williams, 1832-1834 ; the Rev. D. Ford, 1831- 
 1885 ; the Rev. J. D. Rogers, four years ; the Rev. 
 W. Harris, six years ; the Rev. A. Hilne, 1816-1^4 ; 
 the Rev. P. P. Sanderson, two years ; the Rev. W. 
 W. Allen, two years ; the Rev. D. Robinson, 1858- 
 1860 ; the Rev. H. M. Jones, two years ; the Rev. Q. 
 W. Demers ; the Rev. Lewis Selleclt, 1866-1870 ; the 
 Rev. T. H. Greene, 1870 to present time. 
 The number of the present membership is 83. 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAI, CHURCH AT CASTLE- 
 TON. 
 
 This society was organized in 1836 through 
 the missionary labors of the Rev. Joshua Poor. 
 In 1838 the first church edifice was erected on 
 lot No. 81 Main street, at a cost of 13,000, hav- 
 ing a seating capacity for about 300 persons. 
 It was remodeled in 1858 and enlarged in 1879. 
 The present membership of the church em- 
 braces 160 persons, and the Sunday school 
 about 200. In the order of time the following 
 ministers have served this congregation : 
 
u 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAER OOITNTY. 
 
 The Revs. Joshua Poor, Philetus Green, Dillon 
 Stevens, C. E. Morris. C. Barber, W, W. Pierce, A. 
 A. Farr, H. B. Knight, A. A. Farr; in 1844 the charge 
 having become a separate station, the Kevs. E. 
 Wescott, J. W. Belknap, E. H. Foster. S. H. Han- 
 cook, D. W. Dayton, J. L. Cook, A. Heath, H. War- 
 ner, B. Isbell, Homer Eaton, E. Wescott, Truman 
 Seymour, E. Qoss, J. Pegg, Selah W. Brown, An- 
 drew McGilton, B. P. Livingston, Edward E. Tay- 
 lor, J. G. Gooding, and the present pastor, the 
 Eev. E. A. Blanchard. 
 
 THE REPORMED PROTESTiLNT DUTCH OHDEOH 
 OF CA9TI.ET0N. 
 
 This church was organized in 1853. The 
 bouse of worship was erected in 1852. The fol- 
 lowing pastors have been connected with the 
 ministrations of this church. The Kev. E. P. 
 Stimpson was called the year of the organiza- 
 tion of the body ; the Rev. Edgar L. Hermance 
 from 1861-869, and the Rev. George A. MUU, 
 the present pastor, began his labors in 1870. 
 
 THE BVANGBLICiL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF EAST 
 SCHODACK. 
 
 The congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran 
 church of East Schodack was organized May 
 15, 1843. A house of worship was erected in 
 1844. A new edifice was built in 1872. The 
 pastors of this church have been the following : 
 
 The Eev. H. L. Dox, 184»-1850 ; the Rev. N. Van 
 Alstyne, 1850-1880 ; the Eev. M. W. Empie, 1861 ; 
 the Eev. J. Kling, and the present pastor, the Bev. 
 C. L. Barringer. 
 
 RAILROADS. 
 
 The Castleton and West Stockbridge railroad 
 company was incorporated May 5, 1834. The 
 act provided for the construction of " single or 
 double railroad from any part of the village of 
 Castleton to the state line near the village of 
 West Stockbridge, In the state of Massachn- 
 aetts." The following persons were named as 
 incorporators : 
 
 Jeremiah Gage, James L. Hogeboom, Abiel 
 Buckman, John E. Stearns, John I. Schermerhom, 
 Jacob A. Ten Eyok, Sylvester Van Valkenburgh, 
 Edward Door, .1r., Joseph Colman, Ebenezer 
 Crocker, Peter Grote, William Cevill, James Hoge- 
 boom, and their associates. 
 
 This company was changed May 5, 1836, to 
 that of the Albany and West Stockbridge rail- 
 road company. The road being constructed, it 
 was opened from Greenbush to Chatham, De- 
 cember 21, 1841, and as far as to the state line 
 on the 12th of September, 1842. It was leased 
 to the Western (Mass.) railroad company No- 
 vember 18, 1841, for the period of years stated 
 in its charter. This road was consolidated with 
 the Hudson and Boston railroad, extending 
 from Hudson to Chatham Four Corners, and 
 
 with the road to Boston, known as the Boston 
 and Albany raibroad. The articles were agreed 
 to, November 2, 1870, and filed January, 1871. 
 
 The Hudson river railroad which runs 
 through the western part of the town of Scho- 
 dack was organized May 13, 1846, and was 
 opened from Albany to Hudson June 16, 1851, 
 and to New York, October 1, 1851. This road 
 was consolidated with the New York Central 
 railroad, forming the New York Central and 
 Hudson river railroad, by articles filed Novem- 
 ber 1, 1869. 
 
 CASTI/ETOW. 
 
 The village of Castleton, situated on the east 
 bank of the Hudson river. Is eight miles south 
 of Greenbush, and is a station of the Hudson 
 river railroad. It was incorporated in the year 
 1827. There are at present about 300 buildings 
 in the village, among which are the Reformed 
 Protestant Dutch church, the Methodist Epis- 
 copal church, a school-house and two hotels. 
 The Castleton cemetery association was incor- 
 porated October 5, 1855, and owns a plot of 
 ground east of the village of 6 acres, which are 
 attractively laid out into drives, walks and 
 burial lots. 
 
 The national bank of Castleton was organ- 
 ized with a capital of $100,000, January 25, 
 1865. Its first officers were : President, Joel D. 
 Smith ; directors, Joel D. Smith, J. V. D. Wit- 
 beck, Andrew Harder, Castle W. Herrick, Ed- 
 win H. Griffith, Frederick H. Hastings and 
 Russell Dovmer. The present officers of this 
 banking institution are : President, Joel Smith ; 
 directors, Andrew Harder, Joel Smith, Abel 
 Merchant, T. B. Simmons, G. Van Voorhis, 8. 
 D. Campbell, P. P. Harder and J. R. Downer. 
 
 The Frank P. Harder engine company was or- 
 ganized in 1871, and possesses an excellent 
 steam fire engine. 
 
 The order of F. and A. Masons is represented 
 In the village by Sunnyslde lodge. No. 731, 
 which was organized in 1872. The village has a 
 population of about 900. 
 
 SCHODACK LANDING. 
 
 This village is opposite Schodack island, and 
 is 83^ miles south of Castleton. It is a station 
 of the Hudson River railroad and contains about 
 70 buildings, among which ore the Reformed 
 church, an academy built in 1844, a school bouse 
 and two hotels. The population is about 350. 
 
 SCHODACK DGFOT. 
 
 The hamlet, which has assumed this name, is 
 situated about the centre of the town and is a 
 station of the Boston and Albany railroad. It 
 contains about 30 buildings and a population 
 of 100. 
 
HlSfORY OP THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 75 
 
 SOUTH SCHODACK. 
 
 Sonth Schodack is south of Schodack depot, 
 on the Boston and Albany railroad. There are 
 about 15 buildings in the immediate vicinity of 
 the station. As the places already mentioned, 
 it has also a postoffice. 
 
 EAST SCHODACK. 
 
 East Schodack, frequently called Scott's Cor- 
 ners, is in the northeastern part of the town, 
 and contains about SO houses, among which is 
 the Evangelical Lutheran church. The place 
 took the designation of Scott's Comers from a 
 hotel which was kept here quite early by a man 
 named Scott. It has also a postoffice. Scho- 
 dack lodge No. 87, F. and A. Masons, holds its 
 meetings here. 
 
 SCHODACK CENTER. 
 
 Schodack Center is in the northern part of 
 the town, and embraces about a half dozen 
 buildings. A postoffice was established here 
 about 1840. It has also a hotel. 
 
 MUITZESEILL. 
 
 This hamlet is in the southern part of the 
 town, on a small creek known as Muitzes kill. 
 It contains about 30 buildings, among which 
 are the Reformed Protestant Dutch church, a 
 woolen mill, a store, a hotel, and a school 
 house. A number of years ago a postoffice was 
 established here. 
 
 Masten's Corners is two miles south of Cas- 
 tleton, and Clark's Comers and the Baptist 
 Neighborhood are In the northeastern part of 
 the town, where is the site of the old Baptist 
 church. 
 
 POPULATION OE THE TOWN OF SHODACE. 
 
 1800 3,688 
 
 ISIO 3,180 
 
 1815 3,123 
 
 1830 3,4»3 
 
 1825 .<!.506 
 
 1830 8,794 
 
 1835 .S,793 
 
 1840 4.125 
 
 1845 3,746 
 
 1850 s,5oa 
 
 1855 3.837 
 
 1300 3,993 
 
 1865 4,015 
 
 1870 4,442 
 
 1875 4,454 
 
 1880 4,308 
 
76 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF T51SNSS15LAER OOTJNTY. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 THE TOWN OF HOOSICK. 
 
 The Land Extending to Nachawickquaak — The Tract called Wal- 
 
 LUMSCHAAK — TrEES PRESERVED FOR MaSTS FOR THE ROYAL NaVY — 
 
 The Burning of Houses and Barns at Hoseck — The Old Set- 
 tlement OF Sancoik — Defeat of the British at Walloomsac — 
 Numerous Churches erected in the Town — A World Renowned 
 Manufactory — The Unexcelled Record of a Great Invention — ■ 
 Nearly Twenty-eight Thousand Reaping Machines Made in 1880 
 — The Wilder Collection — Villages of the Town — Population. 
 
 The unoccupied condition o( the vast terri- 
 tory north of Albany, within the province of 
 New York, no donbt induced the English gov- 
 ernment to convey by letters patent in the 
 seventeenth and eighteenth centuries large 
 tracts of this land for small considerations to 
 different individuals and associated persons. 
 To have this wooded wilderness occupied by 
 a class of frugal, industrious people would 
 not only give greater prosperity to the 
 new country, but such frontier farms would 
 also of themselves be a protective girdle of 
 safety to the growing settlements southward 
 along the Hudson. There may have been some 
 personal favoritism in this method of convey- 
 ance, but as there was such an immense tract 
 of unsettled land to be disposed of, the question 
 of partiality did not likely form the subject of 
 any special comment or criticism at the time 
 the letters patent were obtained, as had been the 
 case when Kiliaen Van Rensselaer acquired his 
 patroonship of the manor of Rensselaerwyck. 
 
 THE HOOSICE PATENT. 
 
 This grant of an extensive tract of land 
 was recorded for Maria Van Rensselaer and her 
 associates, July 28, 1688. It reads : 
 
 Thomas Dongan Capt. Qeall & Governor in 
 Cheife in and over the Province of New Yorke 
 and Terrltoryes Dependine thereon in America 
 under his most Sacred Majesty James the second 
 by the Grace of God King of England Scotland 
 ffrance & Ireland Defender of the faith &c : To 
 all whom these Presents Shall Come Sendeth 
 
 Greeting Whereas Maria Van Banslear of 
 Renslerswyck in the County of Albany 
 wlddow, Hendrick Van Nesse of the same 
 place Yeoman, Gerritt Tunissen of Katts- 
 kill in the same county Yeoman, and Jacobus 
 Van Cortland of the Citty of New Yorke Marohant 
 by Virtue of my Lycenoe Consent and approbacon 
 have Purchased of and from the Indyans Naturall 
 owners and Possessors of the same all that Tract 
 of Land with itts appurtennces Scitnate Lyeing & 
 being above Albany on both sides of a Certalne 
 Creek Called Hosslck begining att the Bounds of 
 Schackoock and from thence extending to the 
 said Creeke to a Certaine ffall Called Qnequick 
 and from the said ffall upwards along the Creek 
 to a Certaine Place Called Nachawickquaak being 
 in Breadth on each side of the said Creek two 
 English Miles that is to say two English Miles on 
 the one side of the said Creek and two English 
 Miles on the other side of the said Creek the whole 
 breadth being f ouer English MUes, and is in length 
 from the bounds off Schackoock aforesaid to the 
 said place called Nachawickquaak ; • * • * 
 paying therefore unto his said Matie, his Heirs and 
 Successors yearly, and every yeare, the quantity 
 of ten bushells of good sweett marohantable Win- 
 ter Wheat, to be Delivered att the Citty of Albany 
 unto such ofScer or officers as shall from time to 
 time be Empowred to Receive the same as a Quitt 
 Rent. 
 
 The patent is dated the "Second Day of 
 June in the fourth Yeare of his Matis Relgne 
 and in the Yeare our Lord, 1688." 
 
 This territory extended along both sides of 
 the Hoosick river, being the middle portion of 
 the present towB of Hoosick, stretching from 
 
MISf ORY OF THE TOWNS OF ftBNSSSlJiAEtt COtJNTY. 
 
 77 
 
 the north bounds to the southern limits of the 
 town. 
 
 THE WALLOOMSAO PATENT. 
 
 This conveyance of 12,000 acres of land be- 
 gins as follows : 
 
 George the Second, by the Grace of God of 
 Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender 
 of the Faith, &c. To all to whom these presents 
 shall come Greeting Whereas our loving subjects, 
 Cornelius Van Ness, John Liudesay, Gen-ardus 
 Stuyvesant, Stephen Bensselaer, Charles Williams 
 and firederick Morris by their humble [petitions] 
 presented on the twenty-fifth day of August in the 
 Year Seventeen hundred and thirty-two To 
 William Cosby, Esq'r, our Late Governor and 
 Commander in Chief of our Province of 
 New York, &c.. In Council Have Set forth 
 that the Native Indians and Proprietors 
 of Certain Lands in the County of Albany 
 had by their Deed under their Hands and 
 Seals bearing Date the twenty-eight day of Jan- 
 uary, in the Year Seventeen hundred and thirty- 
 one Granted and Released unto us all that Certain 
 Tract or Parcel of Land Containing twelve thou- 
 sond acres of land, etc. • • » Whereas James 
 De Lancey, Esqr., our Chief Justice of our said 
 Provlnoe and Edward Collins Gent by their Bum- 
 ble Petn, presented to our trusty and welbeloved 
 George Clarke, Esqr., now our Lieutenant Gov- 
 ernor and Commander in Chief of our said Prov- 
 ince, &c. In Council on the Seventeenth day of 
 May Inst, have set forth that in the said Petition 
 which was presented as aforesaid to our said late 
 Governor the Name of John Lindesay was made 
 use of therein in Trust for the said James De 
 Lancey and the Name of Cornelius Van Ness in 
 Trust for the said Edward Collins. 
 
 In accordance with this petition the grant was 
 made to "Edward Collins, James De Lancey, 
 Gerardus Stuyvesant, Stephen Bensselaer, 
 Charles Williams and Frederick Morris," con- 
 veying to them 
 
 All that Certain Tract or Parcel of Land Called 
 Wallnmschack scitnate lying and being in the 
 county of Albany to the Eastward of a Place 
 Called Hoseck, beginning at a Certain marked 
 Tree which is 14T chains distant from the late 
 DwelUn: House of Garret Comeilus Van Ness, 
 measured on a Line Bnnntng South 75° east from 
 the Southeast Corner of the said House to the 
 said Tree and running from the said marked Tree 
 North 80° my West 90 Chains and 40 links then 
 North 40° IS* East 230 chains then North 77° East 
 90 chains then South 31° 4^ East 604 chains then 
 South 65 °We8t 9-2 chains then North 44° 30' West 150 
 Chains then North 75° west 129 Chains then North 
 20* West 146 Chains then South 60° West 173 C%alns 
 and then North 4° West 76 Chains to the place 
 where this Tract of Land first began Containing 
 twelve thousand acres of Land and the usual al- 
 lowance for Highways. * • • 
 
 In this patent, "all Trees of the Diameter of 
 tw«nt7«foiir Inches and upwards at twelve 
 
 Inches from the Ground " were excepted "for 
 Masts for our Royal Navy, and also all such 
 other Trees as may be fit to make planks. 
 Knees and other things Necessary for the use 
 ot our Said Navy only, which now are Standing 
 Growing and being or at any time hereafter 
 shall be Standing Growing, or being in or upon 
 the above Granted Lands or any part thereof." 
 * » "The Yearly Rent of two shillings and 
 six pence for each hundred acres of the above 
 Granted Lands " was to be paid at the custom 
 house in the city of New York, on Lady Day, 
 the annunciation of the blessed virgin Mary. 
 
 The patent is dated the 15th of June, in the 
 thirteenth year of George II. 's reign, and in the 
 year 1739. The tract of land given by this 
 patent lies in the northeastern part of the town 
 of Hoosick. 
 
 THE SCHNETDEK PATENT. 
 
 The patent granted to Hendrick Schneyder, 
 John Wettek, Hendrick Lake, John Johnson, 
 Garret Williamson, Nathaniel Archerly, Benja- 
 min Abbot, William Taylor and Martinus Voor- 
 heis, all of the province of New Jersey, and 
 Daniel Hallenbeck of the city of Albany, em- 
 braced : 
 
 All that certain Tract or parcell of land situate 
 lying and being iu the county of Albany on the 
 East side ot Hudson's river. Beginning at the 
 Southwest comer of a Tract of land granted to 
 Cornelius Van Ness and others, known by the name 
 of Wallnmschack and runs thence South 73° 
 east 218 chains to another comer nf the 
 aforesaid tract called Wallumschack, then 
 along the South bounds of the last mentioned 
 Tract, south 75° east 129 chains, and South 44° 80' 
 east ISO chains, then south 241 chains to the north 
 bounds of the Manor of Ilensselaerwyck, then 
 along the said North Bounds of the said Manor 
 west 42 chains, then north 85° west 126 chains, 
 then west to the east bounds of a tract of Land 
 granted to Maria Van Renselaer, Hendrick Van 
 Ness and others commonly called and known by 
 the name of Hoseck, and then along the said east 
 bounds of the said tract called Hoseck to the place 
 where this tract first began containing 10,000 acres 
 of land and the usual allowance for highways. 
 
 Two shillings and six pence sterling were to 
 be paid yearly at the custom house in the city 
 of New York, on Lady day, for each and every 
 hundred acres of the above granted land. The 
 patent is dated March 2i, 1762. 
 
 TEE FIBST SETTLERS. 
 
 Among the early settlers of the territory now 
 embraced in the town of Hoosick were Hendrick 
 Van Ness, Abraham Fort, Lewis and Peter 
 Viele, Adam Vrooman, John Van Bnskirk, 
 Walter Van Vechten, Jacob Oudekirk, Daniel 
 Bradt, Beykert Bovie, Jan Outhont. 
 
78 
 
 HISTORY OP ItfH TOWNS OF ftl?NS8EIiAS)E COtrNTT. 
 
 The farms of these intrepid pioneers of the 
 Hoosick valley were mostly adjacent the 
 Hoosick river. As was common to frontier life 
 in North America at this early period of its his- 
 tory, the constantly occiurring sanguinary 
 stmggles between the English and French gov- 
 ernments brought very frequent distresses to 
 these forest homes in the great wilderness 
 north of Albany. When the English ministry in 
 the spring of 1745 ordered Gov. Clinton of the 
 province of New Tork to make immediate pre- 
 parations for carrying on an offensive war 
 against the French and their Indian allies, great 
 alarm at once began to prevail among the fron- 
 tier settlers of the province. The wary and 
 sudden attacks from the hostile Indians asso- 
 ciated with the French, made life in these ex- 
 posed positions almost a burden to the Dutch 
 farmers, whose minds were more intent on the 
 cultivation of the land on which they had re- 
 cently built log houses for their families than 
 on the bloody strife which brought so much dis- 
 tress and loss to them. Col. Schuyler and 
 Major Collins, who commanded a body of sol- 
 diers at Saratoga, now Schuylerville, were com- 
 pelled to abandon the construction of six block 
 houses which they were building as places 
 of protection for the settlers against the 
 sudden attacks of the Indians. When the 
 calamitous visitation came upon the peaceful 
 settlers those who escaped massacre fled south- 
 ward to the older settlements. It is said that 
 even Kinderhook, Claverack and Foughkeepsie, 
 although on the east side of the Hudson were 
 not exempt from danger. A vast forest ex- 
 tended from Kinderhook to Canada, and the 
 settlement of Hoosick was made in a part of it. 
 
 In 1747 four companies of soldiers were post- 
 ed at Half moon, two at Schaghticoke and three 
 at old Saratoga, now Schuylerville. The main 
 force was stationed at Albany. In October, 
 1747, peace was concluded between Great 
 Britain and France, and the dispersed farmers 
 shortly afterwards returned to their abandoned 
 farms. 
 
 THE TRIBULATIONS OF THE SETTLERS IN 1754. 
 
 As will appear from the following cone- 
 si>ondence the early settlers were again mo- 
 lested, and were a second time compelled to 
 flee from their farms on account of the inva- 
 sions of the province by the French and their 
 hired savages. 
 
 In a letter to the English lords of trade, Lieut. - 
 Gov. De Lancey writes as follows on October 8, 
 1754: 
 
 Od the 28th August a Party of French Indians 
 said to be of Bekancourt, a place between Quebec 
 and Hontreal, made an Incursion into this Prov'oe 
 
 and burnt the houses and Bams full of grain at 
 Hoseck, a place lying about 10 or iiO miles East from 
 that part of Hudson's River, which is 10 Miles 
 above Albany ; they carried off with them the 
 few remaining Indians of Scachtacook, being be- 
 tween fifty and sixty in Number, Men, Women and 
 Children ; these had a little before, when I was 
 at Albany, assured me of their fidelity. The 
 Indians who did this mischief live among the 
 French, and are entirely under the direction of the 
 General of Canada, so that there is no room to 
 doubt of their being encouraged to this barbarity 
 by him, esiwcially as the French ofBcer at Crown 
 Point furnished them and the Scachtacook In- 
 dians, whom they had drawn from this province, 
 with a vessel to carry them back to Canada across 
 the Lake Champlain. 
 
 In another letter addressed to the same per- 
 sons, dated New York, October 21, 1754, he 
 remarks he had omitted to say in his letter of 
 the 8th what steps he had taken since the in- 
 cursions of the French Indians into the prov- 
 ince : " I Immediately ordered the city of Al- 
 bany to be inclosed with Stockadoes in the 
 places where wanting, the Blockhouses to be 
 repaired, two hundred Men of each Regiment 
 of MUitia of the adjoining counties to be held 
 in readiness to march, and the whole Regiment 
 in case of need, to the assistance of Albany. 
 I sent the independent Company posted in Fort 
 George in this City to Albany, detaining a Ser- 
 jeant and the Invalids to do the Fort duty ; 
 and had also directed a fort to be built at a 
 Pass on the Hudson River about forty miles 
 above Albany, but no workmen wonid under- 
 take it on the credit of the Govemt." 
 
 BARBARITIES CONNIVED BY THE FRENCH. 
 
 The reprehensible conduct of the French in 
 instigating the Indians to invade the peaceful 
 Hoosick valley, and there murder and lead into 
 captivity so many innocent people, was thus 
 censnred by Lieut. Gov. De Lancey, in a letter 
 to the governor of Canada, dated New York, 
 October 16, 1754: 
 
 I have received accounts from Albany that sev- 
 eral of the Indians of the Orondacks and other 
 Tribes domiciled within you govemt, and as I 
 have been well informed entirely in your direction, 
 have lately made incursions into this and the 
 Neighboring provinces and have burnt and de- 
 stroyed the Houses and Bams of the Poor Farmers 
 Uving at and near Hoseck within my govemt : 
 this, in a time of profound peace between His 
 Britanlck and Most Christian Majesty, is a prac- 
 tice so Barbarous as I think is not war- 
 ranted by any orders, and I persuade myself 
 will not be approved of by the Most Christian 
 King ; and I would willingly flatter myself, could 
 not have been done by the encouragement of a 
 person of your Sxcell's Sank and Character, and 
 yet you will permitt me to say, it is with dUBonlty 
 
HISTOET OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER OOUNTT. 
 
 79 
 
 I oan oonoeiye, that those Indians would have at- 
 tempted this piece of cruelty without your priyity 
 and connivance since those Indians live among the 
 French and are under your direction, what adds 
 to the difficulty is, that I am told the commanding 
 officer at Fort St. Fredcricli furnished these Indi- 
 ana and those of Scachtacoolc whom they had taken 
 with them with a vessel to carry them back to 
 Canada. I am in duty bound to lay these things 
 before the King my Master. 
 
 Speaking of the def enselessness of the north- 
 em part of the province, the lieutenant governor 
 thus writes to Sir Thomas Robinson, dated 
 New York, December 15, 1754 : 
 
 I think it mv duty to lay before you the defense- 
 less state of the northern frontiers of this province, 
 and to point out some measures which seem to me 
 of general utility. From Albany northwards to- 
 wards Canada there is no fort ; we had one before 
 andin the late war at a place on Hudson's river 
 called Saraghtogo (Schuylerville), about 36 miles 
 above Albany, which was abandoned and de- 
 stroyed, so that the country lies entirely open. 
 
 He then proposes that forts should be built : 
 "one at Wood creek and one on the south end 
 of Lake St. Sacrament ; the waters of this creek 
 and lake pass Crown Point and fall into the Lake 
 Champlain, and so into the river St. Lawrence, 
 and make the common passage between this 
 country and Montreal, and from this creek and 
 lake the French and their Indians can and do 
 enter this province, Massachusetts bay and New 
 Hampshire." 
 
 For a number of years the successive terrors 
 of Indian and French animosities deterred new 
 settlers from making any further eSorts to oc- 
 cupy the territory of the Hoosick valley. But 
 in time treaties of peace were made and emi- 
 grants began to seek homes along the Hoosick 
 and its tributary streams. 
 
 ST. CBOIX. 
 
 It is believed that the French in their various 
 incursions into the Hoosick vaUey had given to 
 the small settlement in the vicinity of the con- 
 fluence of the Walloomjac with the Hoasick 
 river the name of St. Croix. The former stream 
 is often designated as the St. Coic or Walloom- 
 scoic river. There seems to have been a very 
 careless way of writing the name of the place, 
 for often it appears as Sancoik, St. Coych, San- 
 coick, St. Hoick, Sancolx and Saintcoix. The 
 hamlet before the dark days of the revolu- 
 tionary war is said to have contained a grist 
 mill, saw miU, a pot ashery, a tavern, a meet- 
 ing house and a number of farm houses. 
 
 THE HOOSICK DISTRICT. 
 
 By "an act to divide the counties of Albany 
 and Tryon into districts," passed March 24, 
 
 1773, the Hoosick district was erected. Its 
 boundaries were the following : 
 
 That all that part of the said county of Albany 
 which lays to the northward of Rensselaerwyck 
 district to the southward of the said line from the 
 month of Lewis's creek or kill, continued to the 
 west bounds of the county of Cnmberland to the 
 eastward of Schactekoke district and to the 
 westward of the county of Cumberland, shall be 
 one separate and distinct district, and be hence- 
 forth called and known by the name of Hoosick 
 district'. 
 
 THE ISViSIOM OF BnBOOTNE. 
 
 When in the summer of 1777 Gen. Burgoyne 
 was making almost an unopposed invasion of 
 the northern part of New Tork from Canada, 
 the people of the Hoosick valley were greatly 
 alarmed by the reports of the barbarous cruel- 
 ties of the Indians which the British com- 
 mander had sent forward as a band of terror to 
 the rebellions people. In the vicinity of Fort 
 Edward he dispatched Col. Frederick Baum on 
 a " secret expedition to the Connecticut river," 
 having been informed that the Americans had 
 gathered together there "a considerable depot 
 of cattle, cows, horses and wheel carriages, 
 most of which were driven across the Connecti- 
 cut river from the provinces of New England ; 
 and, as it was understood to be guarded by a 
 party of militia only, an attempt to surprise 
 it seemed by no means unjustifiable." He re- 
 ceived of Burgoyne instructions on August 9th, 
 that he was "to try the affections of the 
 country; to disconcert the councils of the 
 enemy ; to mount the Riedesel's dragoons ; to 
 complete Peters's corps ; and to obtain large 
 supplies of cattle, horses and carriages." Hav- 
 ing performed these and other things men- 
 tioned in the Instructions he was then, in order 
 to form a junction with the main army of Bur- 
 goyne, to proceed expeditiously with his force 
 "by the great road to Albany." Col. Baum de- 
 parted on this mission with about 900 Hessian 
 mercenaries, Canadians, tories and Indians and 
 two cannon. Col. Philip Skene accompanied 
 Col. Baum for the purpose of advising him 
 "upon all matters of intelligence." On the 
 14th of August, Baum reached the little settle- 
 ment at Sancoik. Here, in a grist mill, on 
 Little White creek, a small stream emptying 
 into the Walldomsac, he wrote a letter to Bur- 
 goyne regarding his progress : 
 
 Sahcoik, 14th August, 1777, 9 o'clock— ^tr ; I 
 have the honor to inform your excellency that I 
 arrived here at eight in the morning, having had in- 
 telligence of a party of the enemy being in posses- 
 sion of a mill, which they abandoned at our ap- 
 proach, but, in their usual way, fted from the 
 bushes and took their road to Bennington. A sav- 
 age was sUghtly wounded ; they broke down the 
 
80 
 
 HI8T0BT OS' THE TOWNS OP BENSSELAEB COUNTY. 
 
 bridge, which has retarded our inarch over an 
 hour ; they left In the mill about 78 barrels of very 
 fine flour, 1,0(X) bushels of wheat, 80 barrels of salt, 
 aud about £1,000 worth of pearlash and potash. I 
 have ordered 30 provincials and an officer to guard 
 the provisions and the pass of the bridge. By five 
 prisoners taken here, thoy agree that from 1,500 to 
 1,800 are at Bennington, but are supposed to leave 
 it on our approach. I will proceed so far to-day as 
 to fall on the enemy early to-morrow, and make 
 such dispositions as I may think necessary from 
 the intelligence I my receive. People are flocking 
 in hourly, but want to be armed. The savages 
 cannot be controlled, they ruin and take every- 
 thing they please. I am your excellency's most 
 humble servant, F. Baum. 
 
 P. S.— Beg your excellency to pardon the hurry 
 of this letter, as it is written upon the head of a 
 barrel. 
 
 The mill in which this letter was written is 
 still standing, it is said, and that on one of the 
 timbers of the structure there is to be seen the 
 inscription "A. D. 1776," the supposed date of 
 the erection of the building. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF WALLOOMSAC. 
 
 On the night of the 14th of August, Baum 
 "bivouacked at the farm of Walmscott, abont 
 four miles from Sancoick, and three from Ben- 
 nington." On the 15th there was "a perfect 
 hurricane of wind," and a great fall of rain. 
 During the day the skirmishers of the provin- 
 cial militia under Gen. John Stark several times 
 drew the fire of the British pickets. Mean- 
 while Col. Baum took a position on an 
 eminence near the " farm of Walmscott." "He 
 posted here the dragoons, with a portion of the 
 marksmen on their right, in rear of a little zig- 
 zag breastwork, composed of logs and loose 
 earth. Such of the detached (houses of which 
 there were about half a dozen log ones) as came 
 within the compass of his position he filled 
 with Canadians, supporting them with detach- 
 ments of chasseurs and grenadiers, likewise in- 
 trenched behind breastworks ; aud he k^t the 
 whole, with the exception of about 100 men, on 
 the north side of the stream, holding the woods 
 upon his flanks, in his front and rear by the 
 Indians." 
 
 Gen. Stark with his brigade of Mew Hamp- 
 sliire militia and a number of companies 
 of Vermont and Massachusetts militia, on 
 the morning of the 16tb, moved against 
 Baum in the position taken by the latter on the 
 luth. Gen. Stark, in his report of the bngage- 
 ment, says : 
 
 X divided my army into three divisions, and sent 
 Col. Nichols with 260 men on the rear of their left 
 wing. Col. Iftrriok in the rear of their right with 
 300 men. • • • In the meantime I sent 800 men 
 to oppose the enemy's front to draw their atten- 
 
 tion that way. Soon after I detached the Cols. 
 Hulbert and Stlckney on their right wing, with 
 200 men. to attack that part, all of which plans had 
 their desired effect. Col. Nichols sent me word 
 that he stood in need of a reenforcement, which I 
 readily granted, consisting of 100 men, at which 
 time he commenced the attack, precisely at 3 
 o'clock in the afternoon, which was followed by 
 all the rest. I pushed forward the remainder with 
 all speed. Our people behaved with the 
 greatest spirit and bravery imaginable. Had 
 they been Alexanders or Charles of 
 Sweden they could not have behaved better. 
 The actiou lasted two hours, at the expiration of 
 which time we forced their breastworks at the 
 muzzle of their guns, took two pieces of brasscan- 
 non, with a number of prisoners, but before I 
 could get them into proper form again I received 
 intelligence that there was a large reenforcement 
 within two miles of us, on their march, which oc- 
 casioned us to renew our attack. But lucky for 
 us. Col. Warner's regiment came up, which put a 
 stop to their career. We soon ralUed, and in a 
 few minutes the action began very warm and des- 
 perate, which lasted till night. We used their own 
 cannon against them, which proved of great serv- 
 ice to us. At sunset we obliged them to retreat a 
 second time. We pursued them till dark, when I 
 was obliged to halt for fear of killing my own 
 men. We recovered two pieces more of their can- 
 non, together with all their baggage, a number of 
 horses, carriages, etc., killed upwards of 200 of the 
 enemy in the field of battle. The num- 
 ber of wounded is not yet known, 
 as they are scattered about in many 
 places. I have one lieutenant-colonel, since dead, 
 one major, seven captains, fourteen lieutenants, 
 four ensigns, two comets, one judge-advocate, 
 one baron, two Canadian officers, six sergeants, 
 one aid-de-camp and seven hundred prisoners. I 
 almost forgot one Hessian chaplain. • • « Our 
 wounded are forty-two. Ten privates and four 
 officers belonging to my brigade are dead. The 
 dead and wounded in the other corps I do not 
 know, as tliey have not brought in their returns 
 yet. 
 
 In the engagement Col. Baum was shot 
 through the body and mortally wounded. 
 
 THE FI8HT AT THE BBISOE OF SAMCOICE. 
 
 Col. Breyman, who had been sent by Bnr- 
 goyne to reenforce Col. Baum, reached the 
 "mill at St. Coyk" at half-past 4 o'clock on 
 the afternoon of the 16th, being then only two 
 miles distant from the main body of the British 
 forces then engaged by the force under Gen. 
 Stark. He had not marched but a little ways 
 beyond "the bridge of Sancoick" when he 
 saw through the woods "a considerable num- 
 ber of armed men, some of whom wore blouses 
 and some jackets " moving toward a hill on his 
 left. In a very short time he came upon a por- 
 tion of Baum's force in retreat, but he having 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 81 
 
 reformed the men was about to push on toward 
 the place where Baum had been engaged. At 
 this juncture he was attacked by Stark 
 and shortly after by a reinforcement under Col. 
 Warren, by which he was soon forced to retreat 
 toward. Cambridge. To obstruct the advance 
 of the Americans, Breyman set fire to the bridge 
 at " St. Coyk." It was in this last engagement 
 that for the second time that day the Americans 
 took two cannon from the routed British. 
 Among the difierent i>oint8 of interest shown 
 visitors viewing the battle ground are the old 
 grist mill of David Van Rensselaer, who fled to 
 Albany on the approach of the English, and 
 where Baum wrote his letter. The mill, at 
 North Hoosick, is now owned by John G. Burk ; 
 " Hessian hlU" is now a part of the farm of 
 Seymour C. Gooding, the place of Baum's se- 
 lection on the 15th ; the ridge beyond the vil- 
 lage of WaUoomsac where Breyman was 
 routed ; and the spot where the body of Baum's 
 men was captured being in the vicinity of the 
 residence of William P. Cbace, not far from 
 North Hoosick. 
 
 THB EBECTION OF THE TOWN OF HOOSICE. 
 
 By " an act for dividing the counties of this 
 state into towns," passed by the legislature, 
 March 7, 1788, the town of Hoosick was erected. 
 Its limits were the following : 
 
 All that part of said county of Albany bounded 
 easterly by the east bounds of this state, sontheriy 
 by Stephentown, westerly by Plttstown, and 
 northerly by the north line of Schactckoke and 
 PittBtown continned, to the east bounds of this 
 state, shall be andhereby is erected Into a to wn by 
 the name of Hoosick. 
 
 TOVTN OFFICEBS OF 1789. 
 
 The record of the town oflBcers of, 1789 is the 
 oldest preserved paper of the proceedings of 
 the town meetings. It furnishes the following 
 names of the officers selected that year : 
 
 Supervisor, Thomas Sickles ; town clerk, Zacha- 
 riah W. Siokles ; assessors, Jacob Van Ness, Henry 
 Breese, Nichoias Snyder, Reuben Thayer, Isaac 
 Bull, John Johnson, Zachariah W. Sickles ; col- 
 lector, Henry Brown ; commissioners of highways, 
 Thomas Sickles, William Kerr, Nicholas Snyder ; 
 overseers of the poor, Ebenezer Arnold, William 
 Kerr ; constables, Henry Brown, Squire Read, 
 Henry Walker, Samuel Latham ; fence-viewers, 
 James Williamson, Henry Snyder, John Van Bnren, 
 Henry Breese, Jotm Van Ness, Zachariah 
 W. Sickles, Godfrey Stark, Asel Oray; pound- 
 keepers. Squire Bead, Harper Rogers, Timothy 
 Graves, Benjamin Waite ; pathmasters, John Mil- 
 liman, Samuel Latham, John Ryan, Anthony V. 
 Surdam, George Nichols, Samuel Snrdam, Garrett 
 Van Horn, Isaac H. Lansing, Daniel Rogers, John 
 Bovle, Godfrey Stark, Jonathan Case, Ezekiel 
 Hodges, Jonathan Mosely, William Briggs, William 
 
 10 
 
 Mellen, jr., David Brown, John Johnson, Luke 
 rrink. 
 
 THE WAR OF 1812. 
 
 The loyalty of the people of the town of 
 Hoosick was conspicuously exhibited during 
 the existence of the hostilities between Great 
 Britain and the United States in 18l»-15. Vol- 
 unteers patriotically sought positions in the 
 ranks of the various military organizations 
 which bore honorable record during the war. 
 Among these were Benjamin Baker, Clark 
 Baker, Ebenezer Cross, Jacob Case, Job Cass, 
 Stephen Chapman, Talman Chace, William 
 Coon, Garret Hallenbeck, John Hallenbeck, 
 John H. Hayes, Jacob Haight, William Palmer, 
 Lemuel Sherwood, Benjamin G. Sweet, Isaac 
 Webb, Edward Webb, John Walworth, Reuben 
 H. Walworth and Solomon Wilson. The 
 memorable expedition in September, 1777, for 
 the defense of Plattsburgh, under command of 
 Brig. Gen. Gilbert Eddy, formed for yeara an 
 interesting subject of conversation tothemem- 
 l>ers of the militia organizations who took part 
 in it. The militia of the town were represented 
 by Capt. Thomas Osborne's artillery company, 
 Capt. Abram Keach's company of infantry, 
 that of Capt. Nathaniel Bosworth, and one 
 company of volunteers under Capt. George R. 
 Davis. 
 
 THE DOTCH CHCSCH AT BAMOKOTCK. 
 
 It would seem that at a very early date there 
 was a Reformed Protestant Dutch church in 
 the town of Hoosick. In the Albany county 
 clerk's ofBce a certificate of incorporation is 
 filed which recites that the elders and deacons 
 of the Reformed Protestant Dutch congrega- 
 tion established at Schaghticoke became on the 
 25th day of February, 1789, the officers of an- 
 other church which was then organized in the 
 town of Hoosick, the corporate title of which 
 was " The minister, elders and deacons of the 
 Reformed Protestant Church of Sanckoyck." 
 The certificate is signed by Cornelius Van 
 Ness, Philip Van Ness, David Becker and 
 Lewis van Woert. It is said that Cornelius 
 Van Ness gave the piece of land on which the 
 church was built. The building, it is said, was 
 'erected on the south side of the Cambridge 
 'road, near where is now the residence of Mrs. 
 David Gooding. The old building remained in 
 a dilapidated condition until about the year 
 1825, when it was torn down. There are no 
 records apparently preserved of this old church. 
 
 THE BEFOBMED PBOTE3TANT CHUBCH AT TIOS- 
 SIOOK. 
 
 Some time previous to the month of August, 
 1791, there was a small religious society wor- 
 shipping at" Teasoak " in the town of Hoosick. 
 
82 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENS8ELAER COmiTY. 
 
 This fact is shown from an old and well-pre- 
 Kerved document which reads : 
 
 Where as the Kevd Mr. Samuel Smith of Saratoga 
 hast in time Past showed his Willingness to serre 
 us In the Gosple one Fourth part of aTeare for the 
 Neighberhood of Teasoak on Bouth sids of the 
 Biver Bach an Eqnel Chance to Preach one half of 
 the Time on the One Side of the River and the Best 
 part of the time on the other Side of the River. 
 
 We to show our Readiness to have and our Will- 
 ingness to Communicate to him such Sum as Teach- 
 eth in Such Things as are Necessary for his Support 
 having aflBxed our Names such Sums as God has 
 Qiven us Ability and hearts to l>estow on him who 
 may he sent to labour Among us. 
 
 TsAsoAK August 10th 1791. 
 
 Then follow the names of the subscribers 
 and the sums which they contribute : Philip 
 van Ness, £2 ; Lewis Vleley, £1.108 ; Martin 
 van Bnsldrk, £1.16a ; Peter Vieley,£l ; Francis 
 S. Pruyn, £1 ; Walter van Vechten, £1 ; Rich- 
 ard V. Bnskirk, 8s ; John van Bnskirk, ISs ; 
 Joseph V. Bnskirk, 4s ; Samuel Brown, 93 ; John 
 Bratt, £1 ; Abraham I. Fort, 8s ; Timothy 
 Tomes, 4s ; Peter D. Goes, 128 ; Cor's. Sebrlng, 
 48 ; Nicholas W. Groesbeck, 10s ; "Winant C. 
 Van Denbergh, IGs. 
 
 In January, 1793, a further sum of £30.88 is 
 subscribed by 58 persons as the salary of the 
 itev. Samuel Smith for serving them " in the 
 gospel one-fourth part of the year." 
 
 On May 2, 1792, it was determined by the 
 congregation that the church should be "in 
 communion with the reverend elassis of Albany 
 and the reverend Keformed Protestant Dutch 
 synod of New York and New Jersey." At this 
 meeting Philip Van Ness and Levrls Viele were 
 elected elders and John S. Quackenboss and 
 Peter Viele deacons. 
 
 The congregation having given the Bev. 
 Samuel Smith of Saratoga a call to become 
 pastor of the church on July 2, 1792, the same 
 was accepted by letter, July 13, 1792. The letter 
 is addressed to " The Reverend Consistory of 
 Tiossiook." 
 
 In the fall of 1793 the house in which the 
 society met being too small and inconvenient 
 it was determined that the congregation in the 
 ensuing season would build a church " ou the 
 south side of the river, on Mr. Peter Viele's 
 land." 
 
 On the 15th of February, 1794, the consistory 
 contracted with Tenis Van Der Werken and 
 Abram Clute " to frame and inclose a church 
 35x40 feet, and lay the upper floor," etc. 
 Twelve windows and a gallery were several of 
 the appointments of the building. Forty-flve 
 pounds was the sum paid for this part of the 
 work. On the 1st of September, 1794, Daniel 
 Bratt contracted to finish the inside work for 
 
 I £47. " The pulpit and the seats of the clerk 
 I and consystory were to be made like the chuich 
 in Seeticoak." 
 
 In 1823 a new church was erected at Bus- 
 kirk's Bridge, which was dedicated on the 2d of 
 May of that year. This edifice was enlarged 
 in 1872. 
 
 The following pastors have served this con- 
 gregation : The Revs. Samuel Smith, Peter D. 
 Froleigh, Stephen Ostrander, Abram J. Switz, 
 J. H. Pitcher, H. Hermance, A. T. Searles, J. B. 
 Shaw, F. A. Gardner, P. Furbeck, and from 
 December 1875, the Rev. J. G. Ogden. The 
 number of the present membership Of this old 
 church is 64. 
 
 TBB HOOSICK BAPTIST CHUBCB, 
 
 This church, which was first known as the 
 Mapleton Baptist church, was otganifeed March 
 16, 1785. In 1810 its name was changed to that . 
 of the Hoosick church. Abonttlie year 1835 the 
 congregation became disorganized and ceased 
 to have any regular pastor. The pastors con- 
 nected with this congregation were the Rev. Sam- 
 uel Rogers, the Rev. David Ratbbnn, the Bev. 
 James Glass, the Rev. Thomas Puringto i, the 
 Rev. I. Keach, the Rev. Obed Warren, the Bev. 
 Isaac Webb, the Rev. George Wltherell and the 
 Bev. I. Keach. 
 
 BAPTIST CHUBCEAT HOOSICK COBMUtS. 
 
 Many of the Baptist families residing near 
 Hoosick village, finding it inconvenient for 
 them to attend the services at the Baptist 
 church in the Mapleton neighborhood, erected 
 a church about the year 18S1 on the hill north 
 of the hamlet. The Bev. Isaac Keach was the 
 first pastor of this church. The subsequent 
 pastors were: The Bev. Archibald Kenyon, 
 1840-41 ; the Rev. J. B. Wilkins, 1842-43 ; the 
 Rev. J. Mitchell, 1844 ; the Rev. C. O. Gnrr, 
 1846-48 ; the Rev. Wm. Arthur, 1849-^2 ; the 
 Rev. H. D. Doolittle, 1853. Between the years 
 1854 and 1864 a number of pastors filled the 
 pulpit. The Rev. Thomas Rogers was pastor 
 from 1864 to 1870, who was succeeded by the 
 Revs. Conover, Raymond and HilL In Sep- 
 tember, 1878, the Rev. Thomas Rogers again 
 was called to the pastorate. About the year 
 1840 a new building was erected in the vlUage 
 at a cost of $13,000. 
 
 FIBST BAPTIST CHDBCH AT BOOSIOK TAIiIiS. 
 
 The First Baptist church of Hoosick Falls was 
 organized October 30, 1847. On the 8th of Hay, 
 1851, at a meeting held at the place of worship, 
 John Lyon, Jonathan Case, Allen Spencer, Hosea 
 Daniels and Edmund Leonard were elected 
 trustees of the Hoosick Falls Baptist church. 
 The certificate of incorporation is dated Hay 
 16, 1851. 
 
HISTOKY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAER COUNTT. 
 
 83 
 
 The following have been the pastors of the 
 church : The Rev. John M. Gregory, 1847-50 ; 
 supplies for several years, the Bevs. Grant and 
 Thos. Rogers from Hoosick Corners ; the Rev. 
 O. C. Eirkham, 1860-63 ; the Rev. Thos. Rogers, 
 the Rev. WUllam A. Doolittle, the Kev. William 
 Wilcox, the Rev. William Garnet, 1867-69 ; the 
 Rev. E. T. Hunt, 1869-13 ; the Rev. A. B. Whip- 
 ple, 1872-74 ; the Rev. H. W. Webber, 1874 ; 
 the Rev. H. A. Morgan, 1875-76 ; 1876 to present 
 time, the Rev. George R. Robbina. 
 
 This congregation has occupied since its or- 
 ganization " the meeting-house" of the Wai-ren 
 society, erected in 1800. The roll of the pres- 
 ent membership shows the names of about 200 
 persons. 
 
 THE WABBEN SOCIETY. 
 
 In 1800 the first meeting-house for religious 
 worship was erected at Hoosick Falls. The 
 ground on which the wooden edifice was built 
 was the profwrty of Sylvester Noble. The lat- 
 ter conveyed it, April 6, 1804, to John Ryan, 
 Braijamin Walworth, Samuel Burrell and Joseph 
 Dorr, for SO cents consideration money. The 
 Indenture recites that "the said John, Benja- 
 min, Samuel and Joseph • * * with the 
 said Sylvester Noble « * » were on the 
 17th of February, in the year A. D. 1800, ap- 
 pointed a committee for the purpose of build- 
 ing a meeting-house near the Falls Quick 
 Quack, » * • with express directions to se- 
 cure a good and sufficient title to the land on 
 which the said house was to stand, for and on 
 behalf of the proprietors to the said house, 
 being now members of a society denominated 
 Warren society." The lot purchased was " on 
 the south line of a lot called the parade lot. 
 The lot was 74 by 114 feet. The Warren 
 society, it is believed, took its name from the 
 Rev. Obed Warren, a noted Baptist missionary 
 of the town of Warren, R. I., where, about the 
 year 1767, the first New England Baptist society 
 was organized. The first holders of pews 
 in the meeting-house were Sylvester Noble, 
 John Ryan, Benjamin Walworth, Samuel Bur- 
 lell, Joseph Dorr, Daniel Noble, Thomas Os- 
 borne, John Comstock, Elam Buel, Reuben Fax- 
 on, Daniel Ciomstock, Joseph Coon, Abram 
 Keach, Benjamin Lewis, John Mattison, Ed- 
 ward Richmond, James Brown, David Wing, 
 Jacob Martin, Richard Covell, Moses Arm- 
 strong, John Palmer, John Baker, A. D. Patch- 
 in, Nathaniel Bishop, Theophilos Comstock, 
 Jacob A. Faxon, Josiah Buel, A. Cronkhite, 
 Alex. WUson, Edward Haynes, Jonathan Case, 
 Timothy Graves, Samuel CottcrcU, Thomas 
 Eldridge, Rnf us Johnson, Elijah Wallis, John 
 Haviland, Ebenezer Cross, John ^aker, Israel 
 Storks and Henry Johnson. 
 
 Among the Baptist ministers serving the so- 
 ciety successively were the Rev. Samuel 
 Rogers, the Rev. David Rathbun, the Rev. 
 James Glass, the Rev. Thomas Purrington, the 
 Rev. Israel Keach, the Rev. Obed Warren, the 
 Rev. Isaac Webb, the Rev. George Wltherell, 
 and the Rev. Israel Keach. About the year 
 1840 the society lost its organization. 
 
 THB BAPTIST CHURCH OP WEST HOOSICK. 
 
 The Baptist church of West Hoosick was 
 legally constituted April 16, 1861. The first 
 trustees were: Phillip Herrington, Stephen 
 Paddock and Israel Shedd. The house of wor- 
 ship is known as the Union church, having 
 been built by the general contribution of the 
 people in that vicinity. 
 
 PBESBTTERIAN CHUKOII OF HOOSICK FAILS. 
 
 On the 5th oE January, 1825, a number of the 
 inhabitants of Hoosick Falls assembled at the 
 Warren meeting house, on Main street, and 
 there organized a religious society by the name 
 of the " Presbyterian society of Hoosiek," and 
 elec ed the following persons trustees : Tim- 
 othy Graves, Garret T. Brcese, John March, 
 Harry Patterson, Samuel Burrell and Robert 
 Haswell. In 1829 the congregation erected on 
 Church street a frame meeting house, which, 
 when finished, was dedicated by the Rev. N. S. 
 S. Beman, D. D., of Troy, the Rev. A. Peters of 
 Bennington, Vt., and other Presbyterian min- 
 isters. This building cost about fl,800 and 
 had seats for about 800 persons. In 
 18.54 the old building was removed, and the 
 present church edifice was erected at a cost of 
 about $7,000 and having a seating capacity for 
 about 500 persons. It was dedicated in the 
 spring of 1854, the Rev. N. S. 8. Beman, D. D. 
 LL. D., of Troy, the Rev. J. H. Noble, D. D., of 
 Schaghticoke and the Rev. A. M. Beveridge 
 officiating. The membership of the church is 
 about 1.50 and the Sunday school 140. The 
 first Sunday school of Hoosick Falls was organ- 
 ized in 1825 by persons belongiag to this con- 
 gregation and those connected with the Warren 
 society. Seth Parsons was the first superin- 
 tendent. 
 
 The different pastors of this church have been 
 the Rev. C. Cheever, 1825-26 ; the Rev. Samuel 
 W. May, 1826-29 ; the Rev. Robert Shaw, 1830- 
 31 ; the Rev. Luther P. Blodgett, 1831-36 ; the 
 Rev. Leonard Johnson, 1837-39; the Rev. 
 Thomas Gordon, 1841-50 ; the Rev. A. M. Bev- 
 eridge, 1851-58 ; the Rev. A. De Witt, 1859-65 ; 
 the Rev. A. B. Lambert, D. D., 1865-68, and the 
 Rev. John Tatlock, 1868 to the present time. 
 
 ST. MARK'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CBDBCH OP 
 HOOSICK PALLS. 
 
 This religious society was organized in 1883 
 
84 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENS8ELAEE COTTNTY. 
 
 under the ministrations of the Rev. Nathaniel. 
 O. Preston. The first services were held in the 
 village schoolhouse. On the first of Novem- 
 ber, 1834, the members of the church met at 
 the place of worship for the purpose of incor- 
 porating themselves according to an act of 
 the legislature. The Rev. N. 0. Preston was 
 made moderator of the meeting. George M. 
 Tibbits and Salmon Moses were chosen church 
 wardens, and L. Chandler Ball, Jonathan Eddy, 
 jr., George M. Tibbits, Salmon Moses, Harry 
 Patterson, Seth Parsons, Samuel Shaw Crocker, 
 and Hezekiah Munsell, jr., elected vestrymen. 
 These were incorporated as the rector, church 
 wardens and vestrymen of St. Mark's Protestant 
 Episcopal church in the village of Hoosick 
 Falls. For a number of years thereafter the 
 church continued to exist in a very weak way. 
 In the year 1858 the society was reorganized, and 
 shortly thereafter the erection of the present 
 church was begun, the comer stone being laid 
 in the summer of 1858 by the Right Rev. Bishop 
 Horatio Potter. The first services were held in the 
 church on Sunday, August 26, 1860. On the 5th 
 of May, 1863, the building was consecrated. In 
 1871 an addition of a chapel arcade and a cam- 
 panile was made to the building, which, the 
 present year, has been farther enlarged and re- 
 moddled. The bell, clock and chimes of the 
 church were purchased at an expense of $6,000. 
 The rectors of the church have been the Rev. 
 Nathaniel O. Preston, the Rev. Ebenezer 
 Williams, the Rev. James Henry Morgan, 1861- 
 63 ; the Rev. George A. Weeks, 186S-65 ; the 
 Rev. George Huntington NichoUs, from 1865 to 
 the present lime. There are about 175 names 
 of communicants on the parish register. 
 
 THE TIBBITS PBOTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHUBCH 
 A.T HOOSICK COBNEBS. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal church at Hoosick 
 Comers was organized and a handsome church 
 edifice costing about $30,000 erected by the lib- 
 erality of the late George M. Tibbits. The 
 church is popularly designated as " the Tibbits 
 church." The rector of the church is the Rev. 
 John B. Tibbits. The church is not connected 
 with any diocese. 
 
 THE WALLOOMSAC METHODIST EPISCOPAL 
 CHUBCH. 
 
 The members of the Methodist Episcopal 
 church who early in the century had formed a 
 society at Walloomsac, met on the 18th of 
 April, 1811, at the house of Thomas Milliman, 
 where they had been assembling for divine 
 worship, and elected the following persons : 
 John Matthews, Benjamin Barnett, Isaac 
 Mosher, Thomas Milliman, Simeon Sweet and 
 John Comstock as trustees of the Walloomsac 
 
 Methodist Episcopal church. On June 2, 1868, 
 the church was reincorporated as "the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal society of Hoosick circuit." 
 Shortly after this time services were no longer 
 continued at this point by the Methodists. It 
 was known as the "up-river church." 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHDBOH AT HOO- 
 SICK FALLS. 
 
 This society was legally incorporated April 
 12, 1858. On that day the members of the con- 
 gregation assembled at the place of worship, 
 the meeting house of the Warren society, and 
 elected Stephen Williams, William A. Stoney, 
 John V. Carney, Jesse F. Dnnham and Asa 
 Colgrove "trustees of the Methodist Episcopal 
 society at the village of Hoosick Falls." In 
 1860 a frame church edifice was erected on 
 Main street, in which services were first held on 
 Christmas day of that year, at which time It 
 was dedicated, the Rev. J. E. King, D. D., 
 preaching the sermon on the occasion. The 
 building cost about $3,300 and had a siting 
 capacity for 300 persons. It was further en- 
 larged in 1877. The present membership em- 
 braces 270 persons. The pastors of the chuich 
 have been the following : The Kev. Reuben 
 Washburn, 1858 ; the Rev. Joseph Fames, 
 1859 ; the Rev. Jesse Brown, 1860 ; the Rev. A. 
 Viele, 1861-62 ; the Rev. B. B. Loomis, 1888-66; 
 the Rev. William H. Washburn, 1866-«9 ; the 
 Rev. George C. Morehouse, 1869-72 ; the Rev. 
 J. K. Wager, 1872-74 ; the Rev. M. A. Senter, 
 1874-76 ; the Rev. George Skene, 1876-79 ; the 
 Rev. William H. Meeker, 1879 to present time: 
 
 NORTH HOOSICK METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUBCH. 
 
 The society known as the North Hoosick 
 Methodist Episcopal church was organized, 
 January 5, 1865, in the district school house, 
 where religious services had been held by the 
 Methodists for 30 years. The first trustees were 
 William P. Chace, Warren Cox and Edward 
 Spalding. In the summer of 1866 a frame 
 church building was erected on the main street 
 of the village of North Hoosick, which was on 
 October 18 of that year used for worship and 
 dedicated. The dedication services were per- 
 formed in part by the Rev. Wm. Griffin, pre- 
 siding elder, the Rev. Wm. H. Washburn, pastor 
 in charge, the Rev. S. M. Merrill of North 
 Adams, Mass., the Rev. John W. Carhart of 
 Troy, and the Rev. Joel Eaton of Cambridge. 
 The building cost about $4,000, and had a seat- 
 ing capacity tor 300 persons. In 1875 it was en- 
 larged. The church has a membership of 50 
 persons. The following persons have been 
 pastors of the church : The Rev. W. H. Wash- 
 bum, 1866-69 ; the Rev. George C. Morehouse, 
 1869-72 ; the «ev. Joel K. Wager, 1872-75 ; the 
 Rev. John W. Belknap, 1875-76; the Bev;. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAER COtTNTY. 
 
 85 
 
 Thomas Munroe, 1876 ; the Rev. Geo. A. Korr, 
 1877 ; the Rev. M. F. Lee, 1878 ; the Rev. A. S. 
 Clark, April, 1879, to the present time. 
 
 THE MSfHODIST EPISCOPAI. CHURCH AT BDS- 
 KIBK'B BBtDOE. 
 
 This 'society was organlEed near Buskirk's 
 Bridge, March 8, 1843. Nicholas Eyclishymer 
 was the first and prominent person to take part 
 in its organization. A frame bnilding 'for wor- 
 ship was erected in 1843 which was dedicated in 
 June of that year. The present brick bniidlng 
 was erected in 1869 on the gronnd where the 
 first building stood; The new church was dedi- 
 cated January 11, 1860. The following minis- 
 ten participated in the dedicatory services : 
 The Rer.. Jacob Leonard, pastor in charge, the 
 Revs. Lewis Potter, John B. Shaw, John P. 
 Newman and lYuman Seymour. The cost of 
 the structore was $4,191.73, the whole amoont 
 having been ptid. It has a seating capaclty-for 
 4,000 persons. The following have been pastors 
 of, the chnroh : The Itev. Jacob Leonard, one 
 year ; the Sev. Hiram Blanchard, two years ; the 
 Rev. S. G. Ford, two years ; the Rev. F. A. 
 Sonle, two years ; the Rev. John M. Webster, 
 two years ; Wm. Clark, three years ; the Rev. 
 J. B. Sylvester, one year ; the Rev. R. 6. 
 Adams, one year ; Wm. W. Foster, three years ; 
 the Rev.-'Wm. Earl, three years, and the Rev. 
 D. M. Sohell, 1880 to present time. 
 
 CHURCH OP THE IMMACUI.ATE CONCEPTION AT 
 HOOSiCK FAIJ.S. 
 
 As early as the year 1838, through the mis- 
 sionary efforts of various Roman Catholic 
 priests there hod been gathered quite a re- 
 spectable Congregation at Hoosick Falls of be- 
 lievers In the teachings of the Roman Catholic 
 church. In 1849 the erection of a chiirch on 
 South ChurCh street was begnn by the Rev. 
 Father Qnigleyj which was finished in 1831. In 
 1870-71 a larger edifice vras bmlt on Main 
 street, the comer-stone having been laid on 
 August 12, 1869. The chturch was dedicated 
 December 10, 1871, by the Rev. T. Galberry. 
 The present pastor of the church is the Rev. 
 Father Waldron, assisted by the Rev. Father 
 0'Fw*eIl. 
 
 SOMAN CATHOLIC CHUBCH AT BUSKIKK'S BItlDOE. 
 
 At Buskirk's Bridge a Roman Catholic con- 
 gregation was organized a number of years ago, 
 and built a very neat and commodious house 
 of worship. The Rev. Father Waldron has it 
 included in his pastorate. 
 
 THE MAPLETON UBBRAI. BBLIOIOUS SOCIETT. 
 
 A number of the inhabitants of the south- 
 eastern part of the town of Hoosick, commonly 
 called Mapleton, convened at the school house 
 in school district No. 4 on Saturday, January 
 
 2, 1836, for the purpose of organizing a, religious 
 society to rebuild and rebccupy the site and 
 premises where the old Mapleton meeting house 
 was standing at that time. The persons assem- 
 bled organized themselves under the name of 
 the "Mapleton Liberal Religious Society." 
 On the 28d of January, the foUowing persons 
 were elected trustees : Moses Armstrong, Joseph 
 Percey, Daniel Rogers, David Wallace, James 
 Percey, Lyman Andrews, Jonathan Hayner, 
 Randall James and Garret Van Hoosen. It Is 
 often known by the name of the Union church. 
 Various denominations hold meetings in the 
 church. 
 
 HOOSICK FALLS. 
 
 The first known lease of land of the Hoosick 
 patent, at Hoosick Falls, was made of 2Q0 
 acres by Jonathan Fuller from Augustus Van 
 Home of New York. The survey of this tract 
 began at a marked brich tree standing below 
 the falls of Quequick. This farm was next 
 conveyed to Henry Northup of North Kingston, 
 R. I., who shortly after removed to It, where ho 
 lived until his death in 1797. The other part of 
 the village west of Main street and east of the 
 Hoosick river was a part of the farm of 230 
 acres belonging to Henry Barahart. The first 
 store in Hoosick Falls, it is said, was one opened 
 in 1785 by Isaac Turner. In 1784 Joseph Dorr 
 came to Hoosick Falls and leasing of Bamardus 
 Bratt 280 acres of land together with all the 
 water power on the north side of the river, 
 began tha erection of a carding and 
 fulling mill. Subsequently a flax mill, a dis- 
 tillery and a saw mill were also erected there. 
 Benjamin Colvin, about the year 1786, built a 
 grist mill on the south side of the river. His 
 successors were John Chase and Theopbilus 
 Comstock. In 1791 the first bridge was con- 
 structed over the river at Hoosick Falls. In 
 1822 the first postofflce was established in the 
 place, Seth Parsons being made postmaster. 
 
 In 1823 Joseph Gordon, a Scotchman, built 
 what was known as the Caledonian cotton fac- 
 tory on the south bank of the Hoosick river be- 
 tween the bridge and the grist mill. About 150 
 persons were employed in the factory. In 1827 
 the factory was purchased by Samuel S. Crocker, 
 John Knickerbacker, John House of Waterford 
 and Jacob Merritt of Troy. In 1868 this prop- 
 erty was sold to the Walter A. Wood reaping 
 and mowing machine company. 
 
 On April 14, 1827, the village of Hoosick Falls 
 was incorporated, Seth Parsons being elected 
 president of the board of trustees. It is said 
 that at the time of its incorporation the popula- 
 tion of the village was 200, the number of build- 
 ings 86,. the electors 50, and the valuation of 
 the property $96,370. 
 
86 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OP KEKSSELA^ER COTTNTT. 
 
 In 1831 George W. and Lyman Benedict 
 erected the Tremont cotton factory on the 
 north side of the river. About 25,000 yards of 
 cloth were manufactured weekly, the number 
 of employ^ being; about TO. In 1835 the 
 property was sold to Walter A. Wood. The 
 first stockholders of the Tremont cotton fac- 
 tory were Seth Parsons, H. Parsons, Lyman 
 Wilder, Hairy Patterson, Norman and Hiram 
 Herrington of Hoosick Falls, Joseph Case of 
 Petersburgh, Daniel Wight of Troy, and 
 Erastus Ball of New Orleans. 
 
 In 1838 the following description was given 
 of the place in "Gordon's Gazetteer" of the 
 state: 
 
 Hoosick Falls, 24 miles from Troy, on the right 
 bank of the river, which has a fall here of 40 feet 
 within 12 rods, affording fine water power, nearly 
 all of whloh la unemployed, contains 1 Baptist and 
 1 Presbyterian churches, grist, saw, oil, carding 
 and cloth dressing mills. 2 large cotton factories, 
 a manufactory of shearing machines [of Lyman 
 Wilder], which supplies with that article almost 
 the whole of the United States ; 1 tavern, four 
 stores, and about 60 dwellings. 
 
 The Ball seminary, named in honor of L. 
 Chandler Ball, was erected in 1842, at a coat of 
 about $4,500. It was incorporated April U, 
 1843 ; the first tmstees being L. Chandler Ball, 
 Seth Parsons, Lyman Wilder, Harry Patterson, 
 Adin Thayer, Hial Parsons, Thomas Gordon, 
 Andrew Russell, John White, William Palmer, 
 WUliard Herrington and John Benwick. In 18S3 
 the property was given to school district No. 1 
 of the totni of Hooeick. 
 
 The First National bank of Hoosick Falls, 
 which began business Hay 3, 1880, has the 
 following officers: President, T. J. Wallace; 
 vice president, C. A. Cheney ; cashier, Addison 
 Getty. The capital of the bank is $60,000. 
 
 WALTER A. WOOD'S WORKS. 
 
 The most celebrated manufactory of harvest- 
 ing machines in the world is at Hoosick Falls. 
 The immense establishment is the property of 
 the Walter A. Wood mowing and reaping ma- 
 chine company, the officers of which are the 
 Hon. Walter A. Wood, president ; J. Russell 
 Parsons, vice president ; A. C. Geer, secretary ; 
 Willaid Gay, treasurer; J. M. RosebrooKs, 
 superintendent. 
 
 The history of these extensive works at which, 
 during the months of June and July of the pres- 
 ent year, were daily made and completed 114 per- 
 fect machines, and manufactured during this 
 season 37,908 of the world-renowned harvest- 
 ers, begins in the year when Walter A. Wood, a 
 young man of vigorous mind and active body, 
 come to Hoosick Falls and engaged himself as 
 a journeyman machinist to work for Seth Par- 
 
 sons, being at the time 90 years of age. 
 Subsequently he became interested in the man- 
 ufacture of plows and other agricultural im- 
 plements. In 1863, having carefully infepected 
 the working of the combined mowing and har- 
 vesting machine patented by John H. Manny of 
 Illinois, Walter A. Wood was Induced to purchase 
 a territorial right, and to begin the manofao- 
 ture of the machines at Hoosick Falls. Besides 
 occupying the old-foundry building, he in 1856 
 purehased the old Tremont cotton factory. In 
 1868 Ball & Parsons, who had also been engaged 
 since 1862 in manufacturing the same machines, 
 quitted the business, leaving Walter A. Wood 
 the only one to carry on this branch of 
 manufacturing in Hoosick Falls. In ISoA 
 flnding that he needed more conveniences for 
 bis increasing business, Mr. Wood rented the 
 mill formerly occupied by Ball and Parsons. In 
 November, 1860, a disastrous flra swept away In 
 flame all of the buildings. The same year the 
 work of rebuilding began, and the new 
 buildings erected on the site of the old ones 
 were the next year noisy with the horn of 
 machinery, and another period of manufactnie 
 began. " The Wood Mower," constructed by 
 the mechanical ingenuity of Mr. Wood in 1889, 
 was sent oTit among the farmers and achieved a 
 notable success. In 1861 "the seUnnking 
 reaper," patented by Mr. Wood, which was 
 farther perfected in 1863, added to his greater 
 celebrity as a maker of excellent harvesters. 
 
 In 1870 a second fire swept away all the 
 buildings. The Caledonia mill having been 
 bought in 1869, became the workshop where 
 most all the machines were constructed during 
 the year 1870. From the date of this calamity 
 new buildings have, from year to year, been 
 erected, which now form this extensive manu- 
 facturing establishment. 
 
 The present stock company, known as the 
 Walter A. Wood mowing and reaping machine 
 company, was formed in 1865. From this time 
 until 1879 various useful attachments and ad- 
 ditions were made to the machines invented by 
 Mr. Wood. In 1874 the wire seU-binding hai^ 
 vester was brought out and aciiieved the dgnal 
 success which has made the machines of this 
 character known in all the grain-prodttcing 
 countries of the earth. OHver Daltymple, the 
 great grain grower, employed in 18T9, in harvest- 
 ing his immense fields of grain, 106 of these ma- 
 chines, each of which reaped on an average 15 
 acres of grain a day, 
 
 A COMBTEIXATION OF MEDALS. 
 
 Writing of the first trial of the Wood auto- 
 matic twine binder in England, in October, 
 1879, on the farm of Simeon Leather, Dela- 
 mere lodge, near Northwich, Cheshire, an 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EEN8SELAEB COCNTy, 
 
 87 
 
 obserrant witness says : " I saw it make 500 
 staeaves without one stoppage, in tlie most 
 perfect manner possible, at the rate of 37 
 sheaves per minute." The rightly merited 
 praises bestowed npon these wonderful and 
 naefnl machines have not only placed thousands 
 and tens of thonsands of them upon the great 
 grain plains of the United States, but have car- 
 ried them to those of Europe, Asia, Africa, 
 South America, Australia and New Zealand. 
 As the visitor inspects the 200 and more gold, 
 sliver and bronze medals handsomely displayed 
 In the vice president's room, at the works at 
 Hoosick Falls, awarded to Walter A. Wood as 
 testimonials of the unexcelled merits of his 
 harvesting machines, he cannot but think that 
 " worth makes the man." In field competi- 
 tions between American and European reaping 
 machines In Europe, the Wood harvesters took 
 207 first prizes. The brilliancy of this honor- 
 able mention is further increased by the Wood 
 machines dnring the same time taking 
 109 first prizes on other fields of com- 
 petition against all the leading machines. 
 In 1876 at the centennial exhibition he obtained 
 the highest awards for his harvesters. Austria 
 conferred upon him the knight's cross of the 
 imperial order of Francis Joseph, and France, 
 in 1869, decorated him with the cross of the 
 chevalier of thq legion of honor, and in 1878 
 added two gold medals and the cross of officer 
 of the legion of honor — ^the highest award of 
 honor. The amazing record of the machines 
 manufactured since 1853 at the Hoosick Falls 
 establishment is the following : 
 
 185S fioo 
 
 1864 600 
 
 18H i.aoo 
 
 1858 2,600 
 
 18« 3,800 
 
 1868 4.500 
 
 1860 6,600 
 
 1880 8,000 
 
 1861 ajBOO 
 
 1882 6,600 
 
 1S68 6,800 
 
 18M 7,600 
 
 1886 8,500 
 
 1888 10,600 
 
 1867 11,500 
 
 1868 17.600 
 
 1880 23,000 
 
 1870 16,000 
 
 1871 16,771 
 
 1872 17,0e7 
 
 1878 20.715 
 
 1874 20,430 
 
 1875 23,607 
 
 1876 28,336 
 
 1877 19,071 
 
 1878 26,085 
 
 1879 24,920 
 
 1S80 27,903 
 
 Total 354,015 
 
 The monthly pay roll is $45,000, the number 
 of regular employes being about 1,000. 
 
 SOCnSTIES IN HOOSICK FAI.L8. 
 
 The masonic association was first represented 
 at Hoosick Falls by Federal lodge No. 33 F. and 
 A. M., which was organized September 8, 1792, 
 and which erected and dedicated a masonic hall 
 in .the place October 6, 1824. It forfeited its 
 warrant during the anti-masonic excitement in 
 18S2. Among the founders of the lodge were 
 Thomas SicUes, William Castle, Robert Sim, 
 Henry Ten Brook, Samuel Crary, Stephen Read, 
 Barney Read, Solomon King, William Roberts, 
 Abraham Van Tnyl, Enoch Stall, Andrew 
 
 White, Benjamin Hawks, George Eager, James 
 Fairbaim, Henry Brown, William Brae, Thomas 
 Hartwell and Jonathan Chase. 
 
 Van Rensselaer lodge No. 400 F. and A. M. 
 received its dispensation in 1856 and held its 
 first meeting February 26 of that year. 
 
 The warrant to open and hold a mark lodge by 
 the name of Hoosick mark lodge was granted on 
 February 3, 1807. In 1825 and 1826 dispensa- 
 tions were granted ; and on February 12 1869, 
 one was issued to open and hold Raymond 
 chapter, U. D., at Hoosick Falls. The first 
 convocation was held February 18, 1869. The 
 dispensation was renewed June 18, 1870, and a 
 charter granted February 8, 1871, to Raymond 
 chapter 248. 
 
 The independent order of Odd Fellows is 
 represented by Hoosick Falls lodge No. 430. 
 The Knights of Pythias have also a lodge. 
 
 The temperance cause is represented by the 
 Continental Temple of Honor, No. 21, and a 
 Father Matthew T. A. B. society. No. 1. There 
 is also the ancient order of Hibernians, No. 1, 
 and the Robert Emmett association, No. 1. 
 
 The Mower and Reaper band, vrganized in 
 1857, has earned an excellent musical reputa- 
 tion. 
 
 The Hoosick Falls veteran association was 
 organized about the year 1873. On the 30th of 
 Hay, 1878, the town having voted (800 and the 
 village tSOO, a beautiful soldiers' marble monu- 
 ment was erected at the intersection of Classic 
 and High streets. The inscription on the mon- 
 ument reads : " The Citizens of the town of 
 Hoosick hold in grateful remembrance the men 
 who fought to save the Union. 1861—1865." 
 The total cost of the monument was $1,500. 
 
 NEWBPAPEBS. 
 
 The first newspaper Issued at Hoosick Falls 
 was the Hoosick Falls Gazette, published by A. 
 C. Eddy about the year 1863. This paper had 
 been known previously as the Cambridge Valley 
 NoM. It was published about one year. Sub- 
 sequently, about the year 1869 the Hoosick 
 Falls Independent was published for a year by 
 Botsford. 
 
 The Benmelaer County Standard was first is- 
 sued, at Hoosick Falls, Nov. 15, 1878, by James 
 H. Livingston, editor and proprietor. 
 
 On the 6th of March, 1880, the paper became 
 the property of Benjamin Horsley, who ably 
 continues its publication. 
 
 THE WIIJ>EB COIXECTIOH. 
 
 For many years the large and splendid collec- 
 tion of minerals made by Lyman Wilder was 
 one of the chief attractions of Hoosick Falls 
 for visitors. They were tastefully displayed in 
 an octagonal shaped building south of the min- 
 
88 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 eralogist's residence. Being the finest and largest 
 collection In the United States, Williams col- 
 lege through the liberality of Dr Edward Clark 
 of Cooperstown, who purchased It for the nom- 
 inal sum of $8,000 in 1879, became possessed of 
 this grand cabinet of nature's handiwork. Mr. 
 Wilder is now in his eighty-third year, and is 
 still all aglow with the early enthusiasm which 
 for years impelled him to give many of his 
 hours of rest after the labors of the day to per- 
 fecting this unequalled collection of beautiful 
 crystals, fossils, etc. 
 
 THE HOOSICK FALLS MALLEABLE IRON WOBKS. 
 
 These works were originated by a stock com- 
 pany with a capital of $10,000, in 1871 ; Isaac 6. 
 Johnson of' New York, president, and William 
 Nicbolls of Hoosick Falls, secretary and treas- 
 urer. The establishment is situated about a mile 
 from the village ou the Troy and Boston railroad. 
 About 70 employ^ are regularly engaged in the 
 production of agricultural implements, carriage 
 fixtures, carpenters' tools, etc. 
 
 The lawn mower manufactory of Lyman 
 Wilder, near the Walter A. Wood works, also 
 adds to the manufacturing interests of Hoosick 
 FaHs. 
 
 The fire department is represented by the 8eth 
 Parsons steamer company. 
 
 The present population of the village is 4,610. 
 
 HOOSICK. 
 
 This place is situate on the Hoosick river 
 and on the line of the Troy and Boston rail- 
 road and the Boston, Hoosac tunnel and West- 
 em railway, and was the first postoflSce, about 
 1785, in the town of Huosick, when stages ran 
 between Troy and Bennington, on the turnpike 
 that lay through it. Asher Armstrong was post- 
 master here from 1800 to 1832. In 1836 the 
 place had 1 Baptist church, 2 taverns, 3 stores 
 and about 30 dwellings. The village at present 
 contains 2 churches, 1 Baptist and 1 Protestant 
 Episcopal, 2 hotels, 3 stores, 1 button factory, 
 2 grist mills, 3 saw mills, 1 flax mill, 2 black- 
 smtth shops and 1 wagon-maker shop. There 
 are about 110 buildings in the village, which has 
 about 1,000 inhabitants within the radius of 
 the postoffice delivery. 
 
 BOBTH HOOSICK. 
 
 North Hoosick is on the Troy and Bennington 
 railroad, in the northern part of the town. The 
 Walloomsac creek flows through it. It is a 
 short distance east of the site of the old settle- 
 ment of Sancoik. In 1836 North Hoosick is 
 spoken of as having a large flannel factory, 
 scythe factory, a store, a tavern and some 20 
 dwellings. At present there are about 75 build- 
 
 ings in the place. Stevens & Thompson's wall 
 paper manufactory is the chief industry of the 
 place. The Methodists have a flourishing 
 church in the village. 
 
 EAOLE BBIDOE. 
 
 Eagle Bridge is at the junction of the Troy 
 and Boston railroad with the Rutland and 
 Washington branch of the Delaware and Hud- 
 son canal company's road. It is also, a station 
 of the Boston, Hoosac tunnel and Weston rail~ 
 way. There are here 2 hotels, 4 stores, 1. com- 
 mission house, 2 wagon maker shops, 2 black- 
 smith shops, 1 rope mill, 1 coid and thread mill, 
 2 grist mills and 1 saw mill ; also a Methodist 
 church. The buildings number 67, and the 
 population is S15. 
 
 WALLOOMBAG. 
 
 This hamlet is on the Walloomsac creek, and 
 is east of North Hoosick, on the Troy aod Ben- 
 nington branch railroad. It contains about 17 
 buildings. Here are also the Walloomsac pa- 
 per company's mills, owned by Stevens & 
 Thompson. 
 
 BCSKIBK'S BBIDOB. 
 
 The hamlet of Bnskirk's Bridge is in the 
 northwestern part of the town on the Troy and 
 Boston and the Boston, Hoosac tunnel and 
 Western railways. There are three churches 
 here, a Reformed Dutch chnich; a Methodist 
 and a Roman Catholic church. About 40 build- 
 ings comprise the place. 
 
 WEST HOOSICK. 
 
 This place is near the western boundary line 
 of the town. It is in what is known as the 
 Nepimore valley, and has a school-house, a 
 grist mill, a store, a blacksmith shop and about 
 15 buildings. 
 
 FETERSBDBGH /UNCTION. 
 
 This place is at the junction of the Troy and 
 Boston and the Harlem Extension railroads. It 
 is also a station on the Boston, Hoosac 
 tunnel and Western railway. It is near 
 the southern boundary of the town. In 
 the vicinity are several flax and grist mills. On 
 the Bratt farm are several excellent mineral 
 springs. 
 
 POTTER HnX. 
 
 Potter Hill, which has a poatofBce, is in the 
 southwestern part of the town. 
 
 POPULATION OF THE TOWN OP H008ACK. 
 
 IWO S.085 
 
 1800 8,1« 
 
 1810 8117 
 
 1816 ; a,907 
 
 IgO 8.373 
 
 }M8 :.... 8,481 
 
 IgO 8*84 
 
 }»5 8,1886 
 
 1840 8,689 
 
 18«. 8.678 
 
 IfSg ■ 8,W« 
 
 ii§::- •:;;;■;;;:-;;;: iag 
 
 1886 4W 
 
 18TO 5SW 
 
 1*76 OAK 
 
 1880 tSB 
 
HISTOEY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COTTNTT. 
 
 89 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 THE TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 
 
 The Letters Patent of George III. — The Township Named in Honor 
 OF William Pitt, Earl of Chatham — Grant of Two Thousand 
 Acres along the Tomlenack — Provision Made for Ministers of 
 THE Gospel — Singular Dispensations of Justice — The Great 
 Northern Turnpike — A Score of Churches — James A. Garfield 
 Preaches at Pittstown — The Villages of the Town — Table 
 OF Population. 
 
 The first settlers of the tenitory lying north 
 of Albany, on the east side of the Hndson, it 
 would seem, were generally a very religions 
 class of people. Whenever their nnmber be- 
 came sofBciently large to form a respectable 
 sized congregation, steps were at once taken to 
 secure a minister who should statedly preach in 
 one of the school-houses erected here and there 
 along the roads through the newly occupied 
 country. It sometimes occurred that in the 
 petitions for land patents the parties desiring 
 to obtain such proprietary rights would set 
 forth such an intention specifically as regarded 
 the proTisions necessary to be made for reli- 
 gious teachers and schoolmasters. A purpose 
 of this kind is made a special feature of what is 
 known as the Pittstown patent, whereby an 
 association of 62 persons obtained from the 
 English crown about 60,000 acres of land, a 
 part of which included the greater portion of 
 the territory now embraced ?rithln the boundary 
 lines of Pittstown. 
 
 THE PITTSTOWN PATENT. 
 
 Following the customary preamble of the 
 sovereignty of his majesty, the king of Great 
 Britain, etc., the instrument recites that 
 "our loving subjects Isaac Sawyer, 
 John B. Bleecker, Abraham Jacob Lan- 
 sing" and their named associates had presented 
 a i>etition on the 10th of June, 1761, in which 
 they declared that they had purchased of the 
 Indian proprietor four tracts of land, on the 
 east side of Hudson's river, containing in the 
 whole about 60,000 acres exclusive of the allow- 
 
 11 
 
 ance for highways, and humbly prayed 
 his majesty that the same might be 
 confirmed to their use by letters patent. 
 In this petition the petitioners proposed making 
 an immediate settlement on part of the two 
 largest tracts, and to settle to the number of 
 62 families on the whole of the land purchased 
 within the term of three years, the time to be com- 
 puted from the termination of the existing war 
 with France, and to seat and establish a township 
 on each of the said two large tracts, "reserving 
 and setting apart for the support of a minister 
 of the gospel and the maintenance of a school- 
 master in each township forever the quantity of 
 five hundred acres of each of the said two 
 large tracts." In answer to this petition, his 
 majesty, George IH., granted respectively to 
 each of the petitioners 1,000 acres of the land 
 described in the royal patent. 
 
 THE SECOND TBACT OF 3,700 ACRES. 
 
 The first tract mentioned lay near the Hudson 
 river. The second began " in the north bounds 
 of the manor of Bensselaerwyck, six chains 
 west from a brook or creek called Tomlenack." 
 This point was "the beginning of a certain tract 
 of 2,000 acres of land granted to John Schuyler 
 and Neiltje Bradt. ' ' The line of the second tract 
 ran along the bounds of the last mentioned 
 tract to a tract of 600 acres of land formerly 
 granted to John DePeyster, and then along this 
 tract to the land granted to David Abrahamson 
 Schuyler and others, and along it, an* thence 
 back to the place of beginning. This tract 
 contained " 3,700 acres of land and the usual 
 
90 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF KENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 allowance for highways." It chiefly lies in the 
 southwestern part of the to?yn of Pittstown. 
 
 THE THIRD TRACT OP 34,650 ACRES. 
 
 The third tract began "in the north bounds of 
 the manor of Rensselaerwyck at the southeast 
 comer of the aforesaid tract of 2,000 acres of 
 land granted to John Schuyler and Neiltje 
 Bradt," which southeast corner is 170 chains 
 east from the point, " six chains west from the 
 aforesaid brook called Tomlenack." It ran 
 thence along the bounds of the land conveyed 
 to John Schuyler and Neiltje Bradt to the 
 aforesaid tract of land granted John DePeyster, 
 then along it to another tract granted to David 
 Abrahamson Schuyler, Frederick Morris, 
 Charles Williams, Thomas Clarke, Edward Col- 
 lins and Sarah Williams, then along it and 
 crossing one other tract granted to the 
 latter persons and then by several courses 
 to the north bounds of the manor 
 of Rensselaerwyck and along this line 
 to the place of beginning, " surrounding the 
 greatest part of the last mentioned tract of 
 land granted to the said David Abrahamson 
 Schuyler and others." The third tract con- 
 tained 24,650 acres of land and the usual al- 
 lowance for highways. This tract is the south- 
 eastern part of the town of Pittstown. 
 
 KING GEORGE III. CALLS THE THIRD TRACT 
 PITTSTOWN. 
 
 The name of Pittstown, given, it would 
 seem, by George HI. to the third tract, was in 
 honor of William Pitt, earl of Chatham, who 
 was at this time the leading statesman of Eng- 
 land. The king says : 
 
 We do by our own special grace, certain knowl- 
 edge and meer motion create, erect and constitute 
 the tract or parcel of land herein granted and dis- 
 tinguished as aforesaid by the name and distinc- 
 tion of the third tract and every part and parcel 
 thereof a township forever hereafter to be, con- 
 tinue and remain : and by the name of Pittstown, 
 forever hereafter to be called and Icnown. • • * 
 And we also ordain and establish that there shall 
 be forever hereafter In each of the said townships 
 [the fourth tract being called Cambridge] respect- 
 ively, one supervisor, one treasurer, two over- 
 seers of the highways, two overseers of the poor, 
 one collector and four constables elected and 
 chosen out of the inhabitants of the said town- 
 ships respectively yearly and every year, on the 
 first Tuesday in May, at the most public place in 
 the said townships. 
 
 THE CONSIDERATION MONET. 
 
 The patentees were to pay yearly and every 
 year at the king's custom house in the city of 
 New York unto his receiver general, on the feast 
 of the annunciation of the blessed virgin Mary, 
 commonly called Lady day, the yearly rent of 
 
 two shillings and six pence sterling for each and 
 every hundred acres of these granted lands. 
 The patent is dated July 23, 1761, the first year 
 of the reign of George the third. Previous to 
 this grant there was another recorded known 
 as the Tomhannock patent. 
 
 THE TOMHANNOCK PATENT. 
 
 For the purpose of obtaining a royal patent to 
 a certain tract of land north of Albany on the 
 east side of the Hudson river, John Schuyler 
 and Joakim Bradt petitioned John Mont- 
 gomery, the governor of the province of New 
 York, July 23, 1730, for a grant of over 2,000 
 acres. Joakim Bradt died a short time after 
 making this request, and the patent was then 
 granted to John Schuyler and Neiltje Bradt, be- 
 ing dated July 29, 1737. The line of survey be- 
 gan " at a certain white oak tree standing in 
 the line of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, six 
 chains west from the said brook called Tom- 
 lenack and running thence from the said white 
 oak tree, " by several courses to the "west comer 
 of the land granted to Myndert Schuyler and 
 company, thence east along the line of their 
 lands," by several courses, " to the patroon's 
 line of his land there, thence along the same 
 line west 179 chains to the place from whence 
 the said tract or parcel of land first began, con- 
 taining near 2,000 acres of land besides the 
 usual allowance for highways." 
 
 THE SCHUYLER PATENT. 
 
 In the tenth year of the reign of George H., 
 May 19, 1737, a patent of 11,250 acres of land 
 was granted David Abrahamson Schuyler, Fred- 
 erick Morris, Charles Williams, Thomas Clarke, 
 Edward Collins and Sarah Williams. The line 
 of survey began at the northeast comer of a 
 tract of land previously In possession of 
 Johnnes Becker, and ran " to a certain brook 
 called Tomhenack, then up the stream of the 
 said brook to the said tract of land now in pos- 
 session of the said Johnnes Becker," etc. This 
 the third tract was designated as being on the 
 east side of the Tomhenack. 
 
 THE DE PEY3TER PATENT. 
 
 Another tract of land lying within the county 
 of Albany, on the west side of the Hudson 
 river " nigh to Schachtekok," beginning at a 
 certain marked tree standing near to the dwell- 
 ing house of one Johannes Becker, and running 
 from the said marked tree along the lines of 
 the tract formerly granted to John De Peyster, 
 was conveyed by patent, dated November 10, 
 1743, to John De Peyster, containing 1,275 acres. 
 
 TUE BOOSICK PATENT. 
 
 The several patents previously referred to 
 embraced the greater part of the present terri- 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS Of RENSSELAER COUNTy. 
 
 91 
 
 tbry of the town of Pittstown. The northern 
 portion of the town, along the Hoosiok river, 
 was part of the tract included in the Hoosick 
 patent, dated June 2, 1688. Subsequently 
 small tracts adjoining the former tracts were 
 granted to a number of individuals. 
 
 THE FIRST SETTLERS. 
 
 Among the first settlers that are said to have 
 made their homes within the territory of the 
 different tracts were William Pendergrast, 
 Stephen Hunt and Edmund Aiken in the vicinity 
 of Johnsonville ; Ludovicus Viele near Valley 
 Falls, in 1772 ; Christian Fisher and Michael 
 Vandercook in the Cooksborough neighborhood 
 about the year 1772. A few years earlier Wil- 
 liam Shepard began farming on 500 acres of 
 land lying in the township. In 1774 Moses Van 
 Namee occupied a farm a short distance north 
 of Pittstown Comers. Benjamin Aiken took a 
 farm of 950 acres about 1779 ; Isaac Carpenter 
 came to the town about 1784, Joseph Abbott 
 about 1788, and Gilbert Eddy a year or two be- 
 fore the latter date. 
 
 BBECTION OF THE TOWN OF PITTSTOWN. 
 
 By "an act for dividing the counties of this 
 state into towns," passed by the legislature 
 March 7, 1788, the town of Pittstown was 
 erected. Its boundary lines were: "All that 
 part of the said county of Albany bounded 
 southerly by Rensselaerwyck and Stephen- 
 town, westerly by Schactekoke, northerly by 
 Schactekoke and Cambridge, and easterly by a 
 line beginning at the distance of ten miles east 
 from Hudson's river, on the north line of 
 Schactekoke continued east and running from 
 thence to a place in the north bounds of 
 Stephentown, at the distance of 13 miles from 
 Hudson's river, shall be and hereby is erected 
 into a town by the name of Pittstown." These 
 lines bounding it were altered February 14, 
 1798. The town lies along the northern 
 boundary line of Rensselaer county, between 
 the tovms of Schaghticoke on the west and 
 Hoosick on the east. 
 
 THE FIRST TOWN OFFICERS. 
 
 The first town officers were elected at the 
 town meeting held on the first Tuesday in April, 
 1789. They were : Supervisor, Israel Thomj)- 
 son ; town clerk, Evans Humphrey ; assessors, 
 John Francisco, Harmon Vanvarter, HazacU 
 Shepard, Benjamin Milks, John Rowan ; col- 
 lectors, Gilbert Eddy, Hazael Shepard; poor- 
 masters, Simon Vandercook, George Gage, Ste- 
 phen Hunt ; constables, Gilbert Eddy, Hazael 
 Shepard, Aaron Van Namee, John Rowan, jr., 
 and Stephen Hunt. 
 
 A VARIETY OF VERDICTS. 
 
 It is said that at the July term of the supreme 
 court, held in Albany in 1789, Elihu Smeeds of 
 Pittstown, indicted for the murder of Ezekiel 
 Mitchell, and convicted of manslaughter, was 
 to receive 39 lashes at the public whipping-post 
 and be imprisoned three calendar months. Six 
 others, convicted of stealing, were condemned 
 to receive 39 lashes each, while about the same 
 time Francis Uss, convicted of breaking open 
 and robbing a store in Foughkeepsie, was pub- 
 licly hanged. 
 
 AN EARLY POST ROUTE. 
 
 In 1790, when the New York mail arrived at 
 Albany twice a week, one of the routes taken 
 by a post-rider distributing letters and news- 
 papers through the country north of Albany, 
 was the following : Leaving Albany on Monday 
 evening for Vermont, he arrived at Pittstown 
 on Tuesday, at Bennington on Wednesday, at 
 Little White Creek and Cambridge on Thurs- 
 day, at Tomhannock and Schaghticoke on Fri- 
 day, and at Hoosick on Saturday. 
 
 THE NORTHERN TURNPIKE. 
 
 Previous to the building of the northern turn- 
 pike from Troy to Vermont the following notice 
 was given to those interested in the construc- 
 tion of this important thoroughfare : 
 
 Notice is hereby given that the books of the first 
 company of the Korthem turnpike road are 
 opened, agreeably to the direction of the statute 
 incorporating said company, and are lodged with 
 the commissioners, at the following places, viz. : 
 At LanstDgburgh, with John Lovett ; at Pittstown, 
 with John Carpenter ; at Buskirk's Bridge, with 
 Martin Van Buskirk ; at Cambridge, with Edmund 
 Wells, jr.; at Salem, with John Williams ; at 
 Hebron, with David Long ; at Granville, with Tim- 
 othy Leonard. All persons desiring to subscribe 
 for shares in said company may apply to either of 
 said commissioners, at either of the aforesaid 
 places. June 11, 1799. 
 
 REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH AT PITTSTOWN. 
 
 A document which preserves in part the his- 
 tory of this church is the certificate of incorpo- 
 ration dated November 25, 1800. At that time 
 the officers named as " the elders and deacons 
 of the Reformed Dutch church at Pittstown," 
 were John Van Woert, Jonathan Yates, Simon 
 Vandercook, Stephen Jackson, Israel Shepard 
 ■ and Enoch Raskins. On the organization of the 
 Presbyterian society in the south part of Pitts- 
 town, it would seem, this congregation became 
 connected with the latter body. 
 
 THE PRESBYTERIAN SOCIETY IN THE SOUTH PART 
 OF THE TOWN. 
 
 For some time previous to the year 1817 a 
 congregation of Presbyterians had been holding 
 
92 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF REKSSELAEB COTJNTY. 
 
 religious services in the south part of the town. 
 On the 20th of December, 1817, a meeting was 
 held " at the usual place of divine worship" and 
 the following persons were elected trustees : 
 Simon Vandercook, Enoch Haskins, jr., Joseph 
 Brown, Reuben Halstead, Tisdale Eddy and 
 James Stitt. The nams adopted for this legally 
 organized body was " the Presbyterian society 
 in the south part of the town of Kttstown." 
 This church after many years of embarrassment 
 and unsuccessful grovrth, ceased to exist, and 
 in 1868 the property passed to the Evangelical 
 Lutheran church. 
 
 THE PITTSTOWN TTNION SOCIBTT. 
 
 The members of the Pittstown Union society 
 on Monday, February 15, 1819, met at the 
 school house near Maham Taft's house, where 
 they had usually met for divine worship, to 
 elect " trustees for the building a church for 
 said congregation." The following pei^ons 
 were then chosen as trustees of the "Pittstown 
 Union society " : Abraham Van Woert, Royal 
 Abbott, Reuben Williams, Otis Taft, Walter 
 W. Groesbeck, Jeduthan Hall and Naham 
 Taft. 
 
 This organization, it appears, changed its 
 legal name in 1819. A meeting of the male 
 members of the society was held at the house 
 of Elbert I. Willett, on the 22d of March, that 
 year, at which John Yan Woert, Robert S. Bost- 
 wick, Jacob P. Tates, Thomas Henderson, 
 Jonathan Rouse and Jesse Smith were elected 
 trustees of " the Dutch and Presbyterian society 
 in Pittstown." 
 
 PRBSBTTEBIA.N CHUKCH AT TOMHASKOCE. 
 
 This congregation being the after growth of 
 the former society about the year 18^ held a 
 joint session meeting with the Presbyterian 
 society in the south part of the town. The two 
 churches united in calling a pastor, the Rev. 
 Solomon Lyman, who was Installed January, 
 1826. He was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph 
 P. Tyler in 1829. The Rev. Phineas Smith 
 served the Tomhannock church from 1830 to 
 1833 ; The Rev. Oren Brown 1833-34 ; the Rev. 
 J. J. Dana 1834-36 ; then successively the Rev. 
 Mr. Hayden, the Revs. B. Brown, J. B. Hub- 
 bard, P. Barber, Toombs, F. Harman, P. 
 
 Gordon, Viele, Hall, A. Ostrom, J. H. 
 
 Noble and the Rev. R. J. Jones, who served 
 both the Tomhannock and Johnsonville con- 
 gregations. 
 
 PBESBTTEBIAN CHUKCH AT JOHNSONVILLE. 
 
 The legal organization of this church is dated 
 the nth day of February, 1856, when there was 
 a meeting held " at the place of worship in the 
 Tillage of Johnsonville," and the following 
 
 persons were elected trustees of "the Presby- 
 terian congregation of Johnsonville:" J. H. 
 Akin, jr., C. Jenkins, G. MacRae, Alexander 
 Ross, E. F. Hurd and J. Westinghouse. This 
 society has a very neat and commodious 
 church. 
 
 ETANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHTOCH AT BATMER- 
 TOWN. 
 
 This religious society was organized the 24th 
 of August, 1840, and held religions services in 
 the Presbyterian church, known as being in 
 " the south part of the town of Pittstown." In 
 1868 the Lutheran congregation became the 
 owner of the old Presbyterian church. On the 
 first day of January, 1870, the members of the 
 "Frankean Lutheran church and society of 
 Raymertown" assembled at their stated place 
 of worship to further perfect an organization 
 made by the said church in the year 1853 under 
 the name of " the Evangelical Lutheran church 
 and society of Raymertown in South Pitts- 
 town." The following persons as trustees ap- 
 pear in the certificate of incorporation : Coon- 
 rad Clum, Charles U. Barry, John E. Twogood, 
 Martin 8ipi)erly, Jacob L. Snyder and William 
 Stanton. A new church edifice was erected in 
 1871, at a cost of $8,500. The membership now 
 embraces about 135 persons. The Rev. N. Van 
 Alstyne is the present pastor of the congrega- 
 tion. 
 
 THE SOCIETT OF FRIENDS. 
 
 Some years before the opening of the present 
 century a society of Friends was organized in 
 the town of Pittstown. For the purpose of a 
 site for a meeting house and for a burying 
 ground, Claudius Lamb sold to ther society two 
 pieces of land belonging to his farm along " the 
 middle road," between the two turnpikes, one 
 of which ran to Buskirk's bridge and the other 
 to Hoosick and Bennington. The meeting 
 house place was on the north side of " the mid- 
 dle road," about two miles north of Pittstown 
 Corners. The burying ground was on the 
 south side of the road. About the year 1824 a 
 new meeting house was erected, the old build- 
 ing being used afterward as a horse shed. 
 Among the early Friends living in the 
 neighborhood of the meeting house were 
 David Norton, Micajah Hunt, Asa Hoag, John 
 Osborne, Simeon Brownell and Nathan Peck- 
 ham. The present leader of the society is Caleb 
 Norton. Meetings are still held in the forenoon 
 of First day, in the meeting house, by the 
 present small congregation of Friends. 
 
 THB BAPTIST CHURCH OF PITTSTOWN CORKERS. 
 
 The first Baptist church at Pittstown Corners 
 was organized about the year 1784 under the 
 name of the Pittstown Baptist church. In 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 93 
 
 1793 the Rev. Isaac Webb accepted the pastor- 
 ship of this church. He was succeeded by the 
 Rev. Lemuel Covell in 1799. The Revs. Charles 
 Lahatt, Charles Somers, Stephen Olmstead, 
 Richmond Taggart, Wllber Sherman, H. Slade, 
 Solomon Gale, jr., and Harvey Slade, subsequent- 
 ly served as pastors of the church. The first 
 meeting house was erected about the year 1789. 
 About the year 1847 a new house of worship 
 was erected. On the 13th of September, 1847, 
 a meeting was held at the church for the purpose 
 of electing trustees and to organize a Baptist 
 church and society, the Rev. D. S. Dean being 
 chosen moderator and Benjamin Boswortb and 
 Norman Baker clerks. It was resolved that 
 the new society should be known by the name 
 of " the Baptist church and society of Pitts- 
 town." The following persons were elected 
 trustees of the new organization: Henry 
 Warren, Benjamin Bosworth, George Gibbs, 
 Anthony Hydom, Hugh Reid, Jonas Halstead, 
 Timothy Allen, James L. Halstead and 
 Joseph L. Patterson. The pastors of this 
 church have been the Revs. D. S. Dean, 
 Foster Hartwell, William Hart, William Lucas, 
 0. C. Kirkham, William Bowen and L. Sellick. 
 For a number of years no services of this de- 
 nomination have been held in the church. It is 
 now occupied by the Disciples. 
 
 THE DISCIPIiES CHUBCH OF PITTSTOWN COBNERS. 
 
 This society was legally organized on the 3d 
 of September, 1847, when the following per- 
 sons were elected trustees: Joseph Haskins, 
 Samuel S. Hyde, Benjamin Chapman, Solomon 
 W. Thompson. The name adopted by the so- 
 ciety was " the Baptist Church in the town of 
 Pittstown." The Rev. Porter Thomas was the 
 first pastor to serve this congregation. His 
 successors were the Rev. Warren L. Hayden, 
 1860-64 ; the Rev. A. B. Chamberlain, 1864r69 ; 
 the Rev. George Lobingier, 1869-72 ; the Rev. 
 W. H. Rogers, 1872-73 ; the Rev. J. G. Ensel, 
 1873-77 ; the Rev. Edgar Pardee, from October 
 38, 1877, to the present time. The names on 
 the roll of membership number about 100. 
 This society now occupies the old Baptist 
 church, which in 1860 was enlarged and re- 
 modeled. It was in the church of this society 
 that Gen. James A. Garfield, when a student at 
 Williams college, preached. 
 
 CHBISTIA.N CEITRCH AT B0TKT0NVIU.E. 
 
 In 1838 a Christian church was organized in 
 the southeastern part of the town now Imown 
 as Boyntonville. In 1840 a house of worship 
 was erected on Main street, which was dedi- 
 cated in the month of February, 1841. In the 
 certificate of incorporation, dated July 25, 1855, 
 the congregation is denominated a religions so- 
 
 ciety, "called Christian and nothing but 
 Christian to the exclusion of all the 
 names of factions and party, or of any 
 addition thereto, in Pittstown and Graf- 
 ton in the county of Rensselaer." On 
 the day mentioned, according to a notice given 
 by Elder Aaron Eldred, the following persons 
 were elected trustees : Aaron Eldred, Titus B. 
 Todd, Eraatus Geer, William Rowland, Whiting 
 B. Slason and Richard Vandenberg. About five 
 years ago the church was remodeled. The 
 present membership of the church is 64. The fol- 
 lowing ministers have served the congregation : 
 Elder Wilson Mosher, Elder S. F. Dexter, Elder 
 Joel Gallup, Elder Aaron Eldred, Elder Ancel 
 Bourne, Elder Thomas Taylor, Elder J. W. 
 Steams, Elder Stephen Mosher, Elder J. 6. 
 Encel, Elder James Wright, Elder A. H. Hans- 
 com, Elder J. W. Steams and Elder Joel Gal- 
 lup. 
 
 COOKSBOBOUGH HBTBODIST EPISCOPAL CHCKCH. 
 
 Some time previous to the year 1815 a Meth- 
 odist society had been organized in the south- 
 western part of the town of Pittstown. For a 
 meeting was held in the church of this congre- 
 gation in Cooksborough, on Friday, the 
 twentieth day of January, 1815, at which 
 Comelius Filkins, Andrew Follett, William 
 Haner, John Friot, Anthony Lockrow and 
 Joseph Friot were elected as the trustees of 
 the society, which was to be known by the 
 name of the " Cooksborough Methodist Epis- 
 copal church." 
 
 TOMHANNOCK METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHTBCH. 
 
 The work of itinerant Methodist preachers in 
 the vicinity of the present village of Tomhan- 
 nock was successful in the early part of the 
 century, in collecting, from time to time, con- 
 gregations to hear the gospel preached in the 
 school-house, near the house of Solomon Tins- 
 ler. For the purpose of better accommodating 
 the number of people attending these services 
 a subscription paper was circulated in 1811 to 
 secure money sufficient to build a house of wor- 
 ship. In order to organize this congregation 
 legally a meeting was held on Tuesday, Jklv^h 
 9, 1811, at the school-house where the peo- 
 ple had been assembling for divine worship. 
 In accordance with the notice previously given 
 an election was then held for trustees, result- 
 ing in the choice of Christopher Snyder, James 
 Deyoe, Simon Newcomb, jr., Anthony Miller, 
 Daniel Carpenter and Amaziah Herrick. As a 
 corporate body they were to be Icnown as the 
 trustees of the Tomhannock Methodist Episco- 
 pal church. At a cost of about $1,000 a frame 
 building for a house of worship was shortly 
 afterwards erected, on the west side of the 
 
94 
 
 IIISTORT OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COTTNTT. 
 
 northern turnpike. In 1845 a commodious 
 brick building was erected on the Bite of the 
 old church, at an expense of ?3,300, having a 
 seating capacity for 630 persons. One hundred 
 and twelve names are on the present roll of 
 membership. The Rev. Edward N. Howe is the 
 present pastor of this church. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN THE SOUTH 
 PAKT OP P1TT8TOWN. 
 
 A congregation of Methodists had for some 
 time previous to the year 1835 been worshiping 
 in the schoolhouse in the neighborhood of 
 Baymertown, in the south part of the town of 
 Fittstown. For the purpose of incorporating 
 themselves legally as a religious organization, 
 at a meeting held on the 11th of May, 1835, the 
 following persons were elected trustees of this 
 Methodist Episcopal society in the south part 
 of the town of Fittstown : Gilbert Alexander, 
 Devotion E. Williams, James Mosher, Samuel 
 Davis and David Snyder. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAI, CHURCH AT VALLEY 
 FALLS. 
 
 This church grew from the small beginnings 
 of missionary work of various itinerant preach- 
 ers of the Methodist church. From private 
 houses where little gatherings of people had 
 assembled to hear the gospel preached by the 
 zealous followers of Wesley to the large assem- 
 blages in school houses, in which revival meet- 
 ings were held, was the first step of the ad- 
 vancement toward an organized body possess- 
 ing church property. The building of 
 a house of worship by the Meth- 
 odists began in 1839, at which time a 
 a frame edifice was erected on State street. 
 Valley Falls, at a cost of about $1,300, having 
 about SCO seats. In 1854 this church was en- 
 larged and remodeled. In 1870 the congrega- 
 tion became a separate charge. The following 
 pastors have served this church since its dis- 
 sociation from the Fittstown circuit : The Bev. 
 E. Goss, 1866 ; the Rev. R. Cook, 1867 ; the Rev. 
 J. K. Cheeseman, 1807-68; the Rev. Wm. J. 
 Heath, the Rev. Isaac McCann, 1869-70 ; the 
 Rev. H. Blanchard, 1872 ; the Rev. Andrew Mc- 
 Gilton, 187a-75; the Rev. H. Dunn, 1875-76; 
 the Rev. B. M. Hall, 1875-76; the Rev. D. 
 Brough, 1876; the Rev. G. C. Morehouse, 
 1877-80 ; the Rev. H. W. Slocum, 1880 to date. 
 The number of persons connected at present 
 ^vith the church is 159. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL OHUBCH OF PITTSTOWH 
 CORNERS. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal church at Fittstown 
 Comers was legally constituted September 5, 
 1843. At the meeting held on that day John M. 
 
 Abbott, Leonard Reed and James G. Jeffers 
 were elected trustees. Shortly afterwards a 
 small house of worship was erected, and a par- 
 sonage in 1878. This and the Methodist Episco- 
 pal churches at Boyntonville, and at Potter Hill, 
 in the town of Hoosick, are served by the same 
 pastor. 
 
 NORTH PITTSTOWN METHODIST EPISCOPAL 
 CHURCH. 
 
 The meeting house in which the Methodists 
 of Millertown, now North Fittstown, were ac- 
 customed to bold divine services, was built 
 about the year 1843. In this house of worship 
 a meeting was held on Tuesday, April 8, 1850, 
 for the purpose of legally incorporating the 
 church, which was thereafter to be known by 
 the name of the North Fittstown Methodist 
 Episcopal church, previously called the Miller- 
 town Methodist Episcopal church. At this 
 meeting Francis Ingraham, John Comstock, 
 John G. Davenport, William I. Baucus and 
 Simeon Lamb were elected trustees. There are 
 about 160 names on the roll of membership of 
 this church. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT BOTNTON- 
 VILLE. 
 
 The incorporation of the " Methodist Episco- 
 pal society at Boynton," which was included in 
 the circuit with the Methodist church at Ray- 
 mertown was effected on the 16th of November, 
 1859. The Rev. Reuben Washburn was then 
 pastor of the two charges. The following per- 
 sons were elected trustees of the society: 
 Erastus Geer, William Boynton, Benjamin 
 Brock, Wm. H. Rowland and Kingsley Slade. 
 
 METHODIST EPICOPAL CHURCH AT EAST PITTB- 
 TOWN. 
 
 This Methodist society was incorporated 
 February 18, 1860. The congregation which 
 had been sometime previously organized, 
 assembled on that day in the Union church in 
 which it had been worshiping, at East Fitts- 
 town and elected William P. Abbott, John Rus- 
 sell, Hiram Benson, Flatt Sherman, Farker H. 
 Bosworth, Benjamin Street and Fletcher Ward 
 as trustees of the church. This society pur- 
 chased the meeting house formerly belonging 
 to the Fittstown Union society, built about the 
 year 1820. 
 
 ST. PAUL'S PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT 
 JOHNSONVILLE. 
 
 The Protestant Episcopal church at Johnson- 
 ville was erected about the year 1871. A meet- 
 ing for the purpose of having the officers of the 
 church a corporate body was held on Novem- 
 ber 4, 1872, in the chapel, over which the Rev. 
 W. Bogert Walker, rector, presided. Georg^ 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OP RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 95 
 
 O. Catlinand Charles J. Joslin, church wardens, 
 and William A. Osbom, Charles W. Arrand, 
 JohnT. Peel, A. H. Johnson, C. A. Banker, 
 Thomas Thomas and Orlando 6. Johnson, 
 yestrymen, were named together with the rector 
 to be incorporated as "the rector, church war- 
 dens and yestrymen of St. Paul's Protestant 
 Episcopal church," at Johnsonyille. 
 
 THE JOHNSON VILLE JtOMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
 
 The zealous missionary work of a 
 few Roman Catholic priests was successful 
 about the year 1874, at Johnsonville, in gather- 
 ing together a number of believers in the faith 
 of the Roman Catholic church. After the dis- 
 organization of St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal 
 church this congregation purchased the Epis- 
 copal chapel and since then have held regular 
 services in it. 
 
 There is a Roman Catholic church a short dis- 
 tance north of Pittstown Corners. 
 
 PITTSTOWN CORNERS. 
 
 This Tillage contains about 35 buildings, 
 among which are the Disciples', the Baptist 
 and the Methodist Episcopal churches. The 
 school house of district No. 2 is in the place. 
 The business of Pittstown Corners is represent- 
 ed by three stores, a saw-mill and a blacksmith 
 shop. In 1836 it is described as being 13 miles 
 from Troy, containing one Baptist church, two 
 stores, one tavern and about 20 dwellings. A 
 postofBce was established here at a very early 
 date. 
 
 JOHNSONVILLE. 
 
 Johnsonville is situated on the south side of 
 the Hoosick river, on the lines of the Troy and 
 Boston and the Boston, Hoosac tunnel and 
 Western railroads, which here connect with the 
 Johnsonville and Greenwich railroad. The 
 place has about 600 inhabitants. In 1836 it is 
 described as being 19 miles from Troy, a mile 
 northwest from the northern turnpike, having 
 one tavern, three stores, one grist mill, one 
 saw mill, a woolen factory and about 20 dwel- 
 lings. The number of buildings at pres- 
 ent is about 100, of which three are 
 churches, the Presbyterian, Methodijt 
 Episcopal and the Roman Catholic. There 
 are two hotels and six stores in the place. 
 The manufacturing places and shops are the 
 Johnsonville axe manufacturing company's 
 works, owned by Lane & Gale of Troy, at 
 which 75 men are employed ; 2 grist mills, 1 
 flax mill, a cabinet maker's shop, a blacksmith 
 shop, a tin shop and a harness shop. The post- 
 offlce was established in 1850. 
 
 The place was early known as " the Lick." 
 It is said to have derived its present name from 
 William Johnson, who having built a grist mill 
 
 at " the Lick," one day surprised his neighbors 
 by displaying the name "Johnsonville" in 
 large letters on the front wall of his mill. 
 
 Isaac M. Singer, the famous sewing machine 
 inventor, was born in the village of Johnson- 
 ville. 
 
 Lodge No. 411, Independent Order of Odd 
 Fellows has a neatly fitted up hall in the place 
 
 VALLEY PALLS. 
 
 The village of Valley Falls is built on both 
 sides of the Hoosick river, the northern part 
 being in the town of Schaghticoke. It has 
 about 800 inhabitants and about 100 dwellings. 
 The one house of worship is the Methodist 
 Episcopal church. There are three hotels and 
 five stores in the place. Among its manu- 
 factories is a mosquito-net factory, a paper 
 mill, a mowing machine shop, a linen twine 
 mill and a flour mill. There is also an iron fur- 
 nace and three blacksmith shops. It is a sta- 
 tion on the lines of the Troy and Boston and the 
 Boston, Hoosac tunnel and Western railroads. 
 
 TOMHANNOCK. 
 
 The village of Tomhannook is built on Otter 
 creek, a tributary of the Tomhannock. Early 
 in the present century it was known as Reed's 
 Hollow. When the postoflice was established 
 the place took its present name. In 1836 it is 
 spoken of as Tomhenick on the northern turn- 
 pike, 13 miles northeast of Troy, having a grist 
 mUl, a Presbyterian and a Methodist Episcopal 
 church, two taverns, three stores and about 20 
 dwellings. At present there are about .50 build- 
 ings in it and two churches, the Methodist 
 Episcopal and the Presbyterian. A school 
 house of district No. 10 is in the village. One 
 hotel, three stores, two grist mills, a machine 
 shop, two blacksmith shops, a harness shop, a 
 cooper shop and a wagonmaker's shop em- 
 brace the business interests of the village. 
 
 RATMERTOWX. 
 
 The village of Raymertown is on the old 
 turnpike road leading from Troy to Benning- 
 ton and is about 10 miles from Troy. It con- 
 tains about 50 dwellint;s, among which is the 
 Evangelical Lutheran church, and a school 
 house of district No. 3. There are in the vil- 
 lage limits one hotel, two grist mills, two flax 
 mills, a saw mill, three stores and three black- 
 smith shops. 
 
 BOTNTONVILLE. 
 
 The Tillage of Boyntonville is in the south- 
 eastern part of the town, and has about 35 
 buildings in it, two of which are the Methodist 
 Episcopal and Christian churches. A school- 
 house of district No. 1 is in the place. The 
 business interests of the place embrace two 
 hotels, three stores, a harness shop, a tin shop 
 
96 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF KENSSELAEB COUNTY. 
 
 and two blacksmitb shops. The number of in- 
 habitants is about 200. A postofflce was estab- 
 lished here June 21, 1875. 
 
 NORTH PITTSTOWN. 
 
 This place was early known as Millertown. 
 There are about 20 houses in the place, one of 
 which is the Methodist church. All of these 
 villages have postofflces. 
 
 BAST PITT8T0WU. 
 
 This name is given to the eastern part of the 
 town, district No. 15, where is a Methodist 
 Episcopal church. 
 
 COOKSBOBOUOH. 
 
 This name applies to a neighborhood in the 
 southwestern part of the town, where is a 
 school house and a Methodist Episcopal 
 church. 
 
 POPULATION OP THE TOWK OF PITTBTOWW. 
 
 1845 8,828 
 
 1850 S,73>! 
 
 1855 3,60? 
 
 1860 3,826 
 
 1865 S,831 
 
 1S70 4,00S 
 
 1876 B,9S6 
 
 ISaO 4,138 
 
 1790 2,447 
 
 1800 3,483 
 
 1810 8,602 
 
 1815 3,708 
 
 1820 3,772 
 
 1825 3.748 
 
 1830 3,702 
 
 1835 3,919 
 
 1840 8,784 
 
mSTOEY OF THE TOWNS OF EEN8SELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 97 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 THE TOWN OF PETERSBURGH. 
 
 Indian Attacks upon the Settlers — Farmers Killed and Carried 
 INTO Captivity — Proceedings of the First Town Meeting — 
 Notes of a Traveling Missionary — Erection of Churches in 
 the Town — The Villages Described — Population of the Town. 
 
 The early settlers who dared to enter the 
 great forestoountry north of Albany, in the 
 middle of the eighteenth century, for the pur- 
 pose of clearing the tree-covered land in arder 
 to cultivate it, were persons of no common 
 courage and physical ability. When plough- 
 ing, sowing or reaping in the stumpy spaces of 
 ground from which their axes had removed the 
 closely growing trees, these intrepid pioneers, 
 as a means of self-protection, always carried 
 their guns afield to meet any sudden attack of 
 Indians. Protected from observation as they 
 were by the surrounding woods, hostile bands 
 of savages often surprised and massacred these 
 industrious farmers while at work tilling the 
 virgin soil of the newly occupied territory. 
 
 BORDEB WABFABE. 
 
 In the summer of 1754 the few settlers of the 
 boosick valley were repeatedly the victims of 
 many barbarous outrages, perpetrated by In- 
 dians from Canada. Among the bloody deeds 
 committed by these ruthless savages was an at- 
 tack by day made by a party of Indians upon 
 John G. Brimmer and his three sons, — John, 
 George and Godfrey, — ^while at work in a field 
 of their farm along the Hoosick river, near the 
 site of the village of North Petersburgh. The 
 first intimation they had of the close proximity 
 of their unobserved foes was the discovery of 
 a number of Indian blankets. The father at 
 once hastened to his house to defend its in- 
 mates, having previously instructed bis sons to 
 unharness the horses and follow him. While 
 carrying out their father's commands four Ini 
 dians made their appearance on the borders of 
 the field. The young men immediately grasped 
 their guns and prepared to defend themselves. 
 In the first exchange of shots, George 
 was killed. Godfrey, seeing his brother 
 
 12 
 
 fall, ran and hid behind a brush fence. 
 While thus concealed the Indians approached 
 his hiding place. Just as he was about to fire 
 at thea he was discovered in the act, and one 
 of the Indians exchanged shots with Mm. Both 
 balls missed their marks. Godfrey, seeing 
 another one of the Indians about to fire at him, 
 dropped the butt of his gun upon the ground, 
 placed one hand over the muzzle and extended 
 the other towards the Indian in token of sur- 
 render. One of the Indians then seized him by 
 the collar, passed one of his fingers three times 
 around Godfrey's neck, after which he laid his 
 hand upon his head signifying that Godfrey was 
 his prisoner. John fled to an island in the 
 river, but the Indians threw stones at him until 
 he was compelled to surrender himself. John 
 was 16 years old, being five years younger than 
 his brother Godfrey. 
 
 The Indians at once started off with their 
 captives toward Canada, going by the way of 
 Lake Champlain, where they had left their 
 boats. When they reached St. Johns they 
 were met by about 300 other Indians, who 
 formed a circle around the white men, and or- 
 dered them to sing. This, it is said, they re- 
 fused to do, although ordered a second and a 
 third time. This so angered the Indians that 
 they were about to brain them with their war- 
 clubs, but at this juncture Godfey discovered 
 in the crowd of Indians one who had once par- 
 taken of the hospitalities of his father's house. 
 He immediately sxjoke to the Indian, who, 
 recognizing him, interfered and saved the 
 prisoners from the dreadful tortures which 
 the Indians would have inflicted upon 
 them. They remained at St. Johns for six 
 weeks, and were then sold as slaves 
 to the French. After a hard term of five years' 
 
98 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 servitude, they obtained their freedom on the 
 surrender of Quebec to the English in 1759. 
 They immediately started for Albany, but be- 
 fore reaching the city they were detained as 
 prisoners by the British at Lake George. How- 
 ever, in a short time they were released, and 
 joined the other members of the family at 
 Khinebeck, who had not heard anything con- 
 cerning them since the day of their capture. 
 
 It is further related that a body of soldiers 
 that had been sent from Albany up into the 
 Hoosick valley, 10 days after this attack upon 
 the settlers found the dead body of George 
 Brimmer, which they buried by the side of a 
 rock. 
 
 After the treaty between France and Eng- 
 land, John G. Brimmer, with his family, re- 
 occupied his deserted farm, which is still in the 
 possession of his descendants. 
 
 THE FIRST SETTLERS OP THE TOWN. 
 
 On the map of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, 
 made by Jno. R. Bleecker in 1707, the following 
 names of the settlers of that part of the county 
 of Rensselaer now known by the name of the 
 town of Petersburgh, appear : 
 
 West of the little Hoosick river were the 
 houses of Peter Bachus, Jobs Huyter and Henry 
 Litcher. On the east side that of Hans Bachus. 
 
 Along the west side of the Hoosick river, near 
 the north manor line, were the farms of Barcnt 
 Hogg and Jacob Best ; and near the eastern 
 boundary, the house of Schoolmaster Watson. 
 
 On the east side of the Hoosick river lived 
 the following persons, taking them in their 
 order, beginning near the north line of the 
 manor and going southwardly : Hans Lant- 
 
 man, Primmer, Jacob Best, Petrus Vos- 
 
 burgh, Bastian Deel, Frans Burn, Juria 
 Kreiger, Henry Young, Devoet and hereto- 
 fore Long Andries. 
 
 Other settlers followed the above and took 
 tracts of land for cultivation. William M. Rey- 
 nolds, in 1780, came from Rhode Island ; Icha- 
 bod Prosser, from Vermont ; in 1794, Asa and 
 David Maxon from Rhode Island ; Sterry Hewitt 
 from Connecticut, Stanton Bailey from the 
 same state, Joseph Allen from Rhode Island, 
 about 1790 ; WUliam Hiscok, from Rhode Island, 
 several years earlier ; James Weaver and 
 Thomas Phillips from the same state, Joshua, 
 Thomas and Benjamin Randall, Abraham 
 Lewis, Augustus Lewis, Oliver Spencer, Stephen 
 Card and Sylvanus Stephens settled at an early 
 date at Lewis's Hollow. John and Nathaniel 
 Church came into the valley in 1780. Simon 
 Odell occupied a farm at East Hollow shortly 
 after the close of the revolutionary war. John 
 Green, Hezekiah Coon, Aaron Cole, John 
 
 Nichols, Abel Russell, George Gardner, Jchabod 
 Irish, William Clark, Laban Jones, David Hus- 
 tis, John G. Croy, Stephen Potter and Lyman 
 Maine were also early settlers. 
 
 This part of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, 
 in the county of Albany, was made a part of 
 the district of Stephentown by the general 
 assembly March 29, 1784. 
 
 THE TOWN OF PETERSBURGH ERECTED. 
 
 On the 18th of March, 1791, the state legis- 
 lature passed " an act for dividing the towns 
 therein mentioned." Among its provisions is 
 the paragraph respecting the boundary lines of 
 the town of Petersburgh, erected by the act. 
 It reads : 
 
 That from and after the first Monday in April 
 next, all that part of the town of Stephentown, in 
 the county of Kensselaer, which lies north of aline 
 to be drawn east and west from the south bounds 
 of Peter Seaman's farm, until it intersects the 
 aast and west hounds of the said town of Stephen- 
 town, shall be and is hereby erected into a dis- 
 tinct and separate town oy the name of Peters- 
 burgh, and that the first town meeting of the in- 
 habitants of Petersburgh shaU be held at the house 
 of Hezekiah Coon, in the said town. 
 
 The tovm boundary line was changed on 
 January 4, 1793 ; parts of the towns of Berlin 
 and Lansingburgh were subtracted March 21, 
 1806 ; and parts of Grafton and Nassau, March 
 20, 1807. 
 
 THE FIRST TOWN OFFCERS. 
 
 The proceedings of the first town meeting, 
 held according to the act of the state legisla- 
 ture, are thus recorded in the town book : 
 
 At a town meeting holding at the dwelling house 
 of Hezekiah Coon, in Petersburgh, April 5, 1791, 
 this day voted Hezekiah Coon, moderator ; Jonas 
 Odell, supervisor ; John Greene, town clerk ; Ben-' 
 jamin Hanks, llandall Spencer, John Nichols, 
 assessors; Abel Russell, Luke Greene, Matthew 
 Randall, commissioners ; David Randall, Hezekiah 
 Coon, poormasters. 
 
 Voted, That the constables and collector shall 
 procure sufficient hail. 
 
 Voted, That there shall be but two constables 
 for the town of Petersburgh in the year 1791. 
 
 Stephen Maxon, Phineas Lewis, constables and 
 collectors; Charles Greene, Abel Russell, Heze- 
 kiah Good, fence viewers. 
 
 Voted, That sheep rams from the 15th of Sep- 
 tember untU the 15th of November be kept in ; If 
 the rams is ketched out the ram shall be forfeited 
 to the poor of said town. 
 
 Voted, Benjamin Hanks and Hezekiah Coon, 
 poundmasters. 
 
 Voted, That wolves catched and killed in Peters- 
 burgh shall receive a bounty of ten pounds, to be 
 paid in produce. 
 
 Voted, That the next annual town meeting be 
 at Hezekiah Coon's. John Gbeene, T, Clerk. 
 
HISTOKT OF THE TOWNS OF HENSSELAEE COtTNTy. 
 
 ^9 
 
 This town has only a small number of 
 churches. It is said that the first church 
 erected in this part of the county was by a 
 number of Lutherans about the year 1798, at 
 North Fetersburgh. There are no records of 
 this religious society preserved. 
 
 PETEBSBDRQH BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 Some years before 1822 there was a small so- 
 ciety of Baptists existing in South Fetersburgh. 
 For the purpose of complying with the statute 
 in regard to the incorporation of religious so- 
 cieties, the male members of this congregation 
 assembled " at the Baptist meeting-house, near 
 Aaron Worthington's," on Monday, July 8, 
 1822, and elected Aaron Worthington, James 
 Allen, Asa Stillman, Asa Maxon, jr., Gardner 
 Hiscox, Walter F. Burlingame, Zebulon Scriven, 
 Sanford Hewitt and Ebenezer Robinson trus- 
 tees of the Fetersburgh Baptist church. 
 
 In 1828 the congregation built a house of 
 worship, which has since been remodeled. 
 The names of most of the pastors that have 
 served this congregation are the following : 
 The Kev. Nathan Lewis and the Rev. J. D. 
 Rogers, 1832 ; the Rev. Asa H. Palmer, 1833 ; 
 the Rev. Gardner C. Tripp, 1836-37 ; the Rev. 
 Nathan Lewis, 1838 ; the Rev. Edwin Wescott, 
 1841-42 : the Rev. E. B. Crandall, 1843-51 ; the 
 Rev. A. Waterbury, 1850 ; the Rev. D. Eldrldge, 
 1852 ; the Rev. A. Waterbury, 1856-70 ; the 
 Rev. J. G. PhUlips, 1871-72 ; the Rev. N. B. H. 
 Gardner, 1873 ; the Rev. G. H. Day, 1873 ; the 
 Rev. N. C. Hill, 1875-76 ; the Rev. J. G. Fhillips. 
 1877 ; the Rev. L. Benedict, 1878, and the Rev. 
 G. W. Adams to the present time. 
 
 PETEBSBUBGH FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL 
 CHTTRCH. 
 
 The success of the itinerancy of Lorenzo 
 Dow among the people settled along the eastern 
 limits of Rensselaer county was marked by 
 the organization of a number of Methodist 
 Episcopal congregations. This remarkable 
 evangelist was induced in 1798 to visit North 
 Fetersburgh by the invitation of Daniel Moon, 
 who had heard Lorenzo Dow preach at Wil- 
 liamstown, Mass. .The request made by Dan- 
 iel Moon was complied with, and Lorenzo 
 Dow, in company with James Millard of Strat- 
 ford, Vt., preached to a goodly number of per- 
 sons assembled at Moon's house. 
 
 By Dow's appointment the Rev. Joseph Saw- 
 yer, then on the Pittsfield circuit, preached at 
 Fetersburgh. On one of his visits to this place 
 he discoursed on the barren fig tree, which was 
 the means of the conversion of Ebenezer 
 Washburn. The latter was then appointed the 
 
 leader of a class of which his wife, John Pros" 
 ser and wife and John G. Croy and wife were 
 members. From this time for a number of 
 years dlvineservices were held at John G. Croy's 
 house. 
 
 In 1799 Daniel Brumley of the Fittsfleld cir- 
 cuit had this society under his charge. In 1821 
 the name of Fetersburgh was given to the cir- 
 cuit. 
 
 This society of Methodists had so greatly 
 increased the muuber of its members that, in 
 1831, it built a commodious house of worship 
 at North Fetersburgh at a cost of $1,000. The 
 Rev. C. B. Lewis is the present pastor of this 
 church and of the one in Fetersburgh. 
 
 THE SOUTH PETERSBUBGH METHODIST EPISCO- 
 PAL CHURCH. 
 
 The work of organizing a Methodist society 
 in the south part of the town of Fetersburgh 
 was begun by the Rev. Joseph Mitchell in 1800. 
 He formed a class of the small number of new 
 converts to Methodism and preached to them 
 at the house of George Springer. This congre- 
 gation grew rapidly and in 1820 was able to 
 build a house of worship at South Fetersburgh, 
 which is still used by the society. 
 
 For the purpose of making it an incorporated 
 body, on Monday, March 4, 1822, a meeting of 
 the male members of the church was held at 
 the meeting house and the following persons 
 were elected " trustees of the Fetersburgh first 
 Methodist church " : Joshua Randall, Joshua 
 Lamb and Job W. Matteson. 
 
 THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF FETERSBURGH. 
 
 The certificate of the incorporation of this 
 society recites that the members of it assembled 
 at the place wherein they had statedly met 
 upon Sundays for divine worship, on the 10th 
 of September, 1855, at 9 o'clock in the forenoon 
 and had there elected, according to the notice 
 previously given, the following trustees of " a 
 religious society denominationally called Chris- 
 tians and nothing but Christians to the exclu- 
 sion of all names of faction and party or of any 
 addition thereto in Fetersburgh and Grafton" : 
 Elijah Reynolds, Ebenezer Stephens, Aaron 
 Worthington, Martin T. Brown, Orlando D. 
 Thurber and Elijah S. Randall. In 1843 
 the erection of a house of worship was 
 begun, but the building was not finished until 
 1856. The pastors of the church have success- 
 ively been the following: The Revs. Samuel 
 F. Dreter, R. D. Hawes, Thomas Taylor, H. B. 
 Haight, James Summerville, James Hayes, 
 John M. Woodward and Joseph W. Steams. 
 
 The names on the roll of the membership of 
 this society number 105. 
 
100 
 
 mSTOKY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAEK COUNTY. 
 
 THE TOWN IS 1802. 
 
 When in 1799 the building of the public road 
 from the village of Bath-on-tbe-Uudson to Wil- 
 liamstown was in contemplation, the commis- 
 Bioners, David Fonda, James Maine, John £. 
 Van Alen and David Gray, gave notice that a 
 book for recording subscriptions to the capital 
 stock of the Eastern turnpike company was 
 opened at the house of James Maine, in Peters- 
 burgh. 
 
 The Rev. John Taylor, a traveling missionary, 
 thus wrote in his diary of his observations in 
 the town of Petersburgh in 1802 : 
 
 Jnly 22. Left WlUiamstown about 8 o'clock, 
 took the road to Albany across the mountains, on 
 the ground of the proposed turnpike. After pass- 
 ing a high mountain, came into a valley and into 
 the town of Petersburgh, in ye state of New York. 
 This town contains about 2,900 Inhabitants. There 
 are two churches of pedo-Baptists and one of 
 Saturday Baptists. After passing in this valley 
 about 3 miles, I rose another mountain and for 10 
 miles found a most intolerable road. 
 
 NORTH PETEBSBUEOH. 
 
 This village was the earliest settlement in this 
 part of the county of Rensselaer. In 1836 it 
 was known by the name of Petersburgh Cor- 
 ners, at the junction of the Little Hoosick 
 creek with the Hoosick river. It then contained 
 a tavern, two stores, one Methodist church and 
 16 dwellings. It is 33 miles northeast of 
 Albany and 27 miles from Troy. The village at 
 present has about 300 inhabitants. About 25 
 buildings make up the place. There is one 
 church, two hotels, one store, a blacksmith 
 shop and a wagonmaker's shop in the village. 
 It Is a station on the Harlem Extension railroad. 
 A postofflce was established at this point about 
 50 years ago. 
 
 SOUTH FBTEBSBITROH. 
 
 This place was early known as Rensselaer's 
 mills. It is situated on the Little Hoosick river 
 on the Harlem extension railroad. In 1836 it is 
 referred to as being 20 miles east from Troy, 
 having "a grist, saw, oil, carding and cloth 
 dressing mills, three stores, one tavern, one 
 Methodist and one Baptist church, and 20 
 dwellings." As a post village it bears the 
 same name as the town in which it is situated. 
 There are at present 80 dwellings in South 
 Petersburgh, which has a population of about 
 800 persons. There are three churches, four 
 hotels and six stores in the place. Its manu- 
 facturing interests embrace three shirt manu- 
 factories, a shoe factory, a machine shop, three 
 blacksmith shops, a wagon maker's shop and a 
 cabinet making shop. About the year 1825 a 
 postofflce was established at this point. Star 
 lodge No. 670, F. and A. M., was established 
 about 1861. The lodge has a neatly fitted-up 
 hall in the village and numbers over 50 mem- 
 bers. 
 
 STILLMXN VILLAGE. 
 
 This name is applied to a neighborhood some 
 distance west of South Petersburgh. The 
 milling interests at this point are of some im- 
 portance. 
 
 Several other neighborhoods in the town are 
 distinguished by the names of " East Hollow," 
 " Hell Hollow " and " The Kitchen." 
 
 POPULATIOir OF THE TOWIf. 
 
 ISIO 2,039 
 
 1815 1,781 
 
 1S20 2,248 
 
 1826 8,088 
 
 1880 2,011 
 
 1335 1,950 
 
 1840 1,901 
 
 1846 1,S78 
 
 1850 1,903 
 
 1855 1,063 
 
 18«0 1,898 
 
 1865 1,670 
 
 1870 1,732 
 
 1875 1,715 
 
 ISM 1,781 
 
HISTOEY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 101 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE TOWN OF BRUNSWICK. 
 
 The First Farms Along the Poesten and Quacken Kills — Beaver 
 Dams Built in these Streams — Manufacture of Black Salts — 
 The Outrages of the Royalists — The First Town Officers — 
 An Old Kerkenording — The Erection of Churches— The Vil- 
 lages OF the Town — Population. 
 
 That portion of the manor of Rensselaerwyck 
 lying immediately east of the territory now the 
 site of the city of Troy was occupied by a num- 
 ber of settlers as early as the year 1720. The 
 farm of Derick Van der Heyden at that time 
 extended from the Hudson river eastwardly to 
 the west side of the land of Albert Bratt. The 
 latter's property embraced the extensive plateau 
 of ground on the eastern range of high lands, 
 beginning at the old mill on the Foesten kill 
 southwest of Ida falls and continuing to the 
 woods east of Meadow creek, a stream which 
 emptied into the Hudson a little north of the 
 old Hoosick road. The farm house of Albert 
 Bratt was on the north side of the road running 
 eastwardly over the hill from Van der Heyden's 
 ferry, afterwards the home of Barent Bratt. 
 
 TBE NAMES OF OTHER EARLY SETTLERS. 
 
 The names given on the map of the manor of 
 Rensselaerwyck, made by Jon R. Bleeker in 
 1767, designate other early settlers who had 
 secured land from the patroon by lease. On 
 the south side of the road leading to Van der 
 Heyden's ferry, not far south of the farm of 
 Barent Bratt, lived Wilhelmus Smith, and south- 
 ward of his farm, on the south side of the Foes- 
 tenkill, Peter Fonda. Very near the site of 
 Winne's hotel, on Oakwood avenue, was the 
 homestead of Lavinus Winne. A short dis- 
 tance to the northeast of the latter was the 
 dwelling of Henry Van Amem. Northward 
 were the farms of Peter Hoewey and Robert 
 Wendell. Adam Beem and. Frans Hogg had 
 farms northwest of the beaver dam. David 
 Benn and Melgert Fret northeast of it, along 
 the west side of the ferry road. West of the 
 drowned land, Verdrtmken lant, were the farms 
 
 of Hans MuUer and Jacob Quaekenboss. North 
 of the drowned land lived Hans Heyner. 
 
 THE HOME OP THE BEAVER. 
 
 Among the places frequented by the beaver 
 when the Dutch first established a trading post 
 at Fort Orange were the Poesten kill and its 
 tributary streams. A number of well-preserved 
 dams thrown up by these furred animals were 
 still visible in the town of Brunswick at the be- 
 ginning of the present century. It was along 
 these water courses that the Mohegau Indians 
 had trapped the beavers, the skins of which 
 they exchanged for small trifles with Henry 
 Hudson,when in 1609, this famous English navi- 
 gator explored the river which now bears his 
 name, as far as its confluence with the Mohawk. 
 
 BLACK SALTS, POT AND PEARL ASH. 
 
 Besides the products of their farms the early, 
 settlers of the upper Hudson sold to manufac- 
 turers of pot and pearl ash in Troy and Albany 
 the ashes of the green wood, especially that of 
 oak, which they obtained by burning the non- 
 resinous trees o£ the great forests which sur- 
 rounded their cultivated land. The farmers of 
 the town of Brunswick were first induced to 
 bring their ashes to Van der Heyden's ferry in 
 1787, when Benjamin Thurber built his potash- 
 ery near the forks of the Hoosick and River 
 roads, and advertised that he " continues to 
 receive ashes, as usual, to supply his new 
 erected pot and pearl ash factory, and will 
 pearl black salts in the best manner on equita- 
 ble terms ; and will give the highest price for 
 black salts." 
 
 When Duke de la Rochefoucault-Lianconrt 
 Tisited Troy, in 1795, and mentioned in his de- 
 
102 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OT RENSSELAER COTTNTY. 
 
 scription of the new settlement Us potash 
 works, then belonging to Ten Eyok and Pawling, 
 he further wrote : 
 
 I shall here insert such information as I have 
 collected pn the manner of preparing this salt 
 which is generally observed in the United States. 
 This alkaline salt is extracted from common ashes 
 after they have been previously purified from all 
 heterogenous matter. It is obtained by solution 
 and evaporation. Large tubs with double bot- 
 toms are filled with ashes ; the uppermost bottom, 
 which contains several holes, is covered with 
 ashes, about 10 or 11 inches deep, while the under 
 part of the tub is filled with straw or hay. 
 Water being ponred over the ashes extracts 
 the particles of salt and discharges all 
 the heterogenous matter, which it may yet 
 contain on the layer of hay or straw. The lye is 
 drawn off by means of a cock, and if it should not 
 yet have attained a sufftcient degree of strength, 
 it is poured again over the ashes. The lye is 
 deemed sufficiently strong when an egg swims on 
 it. This lye is afterwards boiled in large cauldrons, 
 which are constantly filled out of other cauldrons 
 in which lye is likewise boiling. Then the lye begins 
 to thicken in the cauldron until all the aqueous 
 particles are separated and the whole is com- 
 pletely inspissated and endurated. This salt is of 
 a black color and called black potash. * * * 
 The process of preparing the potash requires more 
 or less time, according to the quaUty of the ashes 
 and the lye, and to the degree of strength of the 
 latter; the medium time is 24 hours. » * * 
 By a general estimate, from 500 to 600 
 bushels of ashes yield a ton of potash. 
 
 * * * Pearl ash is potash purified by calcination. 
 To this end the potash is put into a kiln con- 
 structed in an oval form of plaster of Paris ; the 
 inside of which being made otherwise perfectly 
 close, is horizontally intersected by an iron grate, 
 on which the potash is placed. Under this erate a 
 fire is made, and the heat reverberated by the 
 arched upper part of the kiln completes the cal- 
 cination, and converts the potash into pearlash. 
 
 * • • The process of calcination lasts about an 
 hour. • » • Although pearlash is less liable to 
 deliquate by the air than potash, yet the barrels in 
 which it is packed are of the same sort and 
 structure as those in which the latter salt is bar- 
 reled. They contain from 200 to 300 lbs. Both are 
 sold by tons. They must be duly inspected by the 
 public searchers. 
 
 TORYISM RAMPANT. 
 
 Peculiar to this portion of the manor of Rens- 
 selaerwyck a great number of the earlier settlers 
 were Germans. When Burgoyne invaded the 
 province of New York, in the summer of 1777, 
 many of them, on account of their national re- 
 lationship to the Hessians, hired by British 
 money to take an armed and offensive part 
 against the Americans, manifested extreme 
 partisanship toward the royal cause, which 
 soon stirred up among the patriotic supporters 
 
 of the continental rebellion considerable ill-will. 
 On the closer approach of the English forces 
 many of the loyal farmers fled to Albany, 
 and the royalists, believing that the English 
 crown was about to conquer the rebellious 
 Americans, committed many transgressions, 
 both in the way of personal insults, appropri- 
 ation and despoliation of property. It is re- 
 lated that Abner Roberts, who belonged to the 
 army of the North, was waylaid, murdered and 
 scalped on the old Hoosick road, a short dis- 
 tance from Troy, by the Tories as they were 
 called. When, however, Burgoyne was forced 
 to surrender to Gates at old Saratoga, (Schuy- 
 lerville), these royalists were forced to flee to 
 Canada, from which they never dared to return 
 to enter again into the possession of their de- 
 serted farms. 
 
 TOWN OP BRUNSWICK ERECTED. 
 
 By " an act to divide the towns of Troy and 
 Petersburgh, in the county of Rensselaer," 
 passed by the state legislature March 20, 1807, 
 the town of Brunswick was erected. The 
 boundary lines of the town are thus given : 
 
 All that part of the present town of Troy, 
 bounded on the west by the towns of Lansing- 
 burgh and Troy aforesaid, and on the east by aline 
 to commence on the north line of said [town of] 
 Troy, seven miles and one-third of a mile east of 
 the southeast comer of the town of Lansing- 
 burgh ; thence southerly in a straight direction to 
 intersect the north line of the town of Greenbush, 
 seven miles and one-third of a mile east of the 
 southeast comer of the town of Troy, shall be a 
 separate town by the name of Brunswick ; and the 
 first town meeting shall be held at the dwelling 
 house of Nathan Betts. 
 
 A portion of the town was added to the town 
 of Troy April 15, 1814. 
 
 THE FIRST TOWN OFFICERS. 
 
 In accordance with the act of the legislature 
 the first town meeting was held on the first 
 Tuesday in April, 1807, at the house of Nathan 
 Betts, inn holder, Robert Mf^hesney, Daniel 
 Wagar and John McManus, presiding justices. 
 The following persons were elected town 
 officers : 
 
 Supervisor, Flores Bancker ; town clerk, Daniel 
 Wagar; assessors, south-east district, Daniel 
 Simmons, north-east district, Gilbert Alex- 
 ander, western district, Levinus Leversee ; 
 collector, Barnard J. Wagar ; /overseers of the 
 poor, Daniel Simmons, AuguKus Burdick ; com- 
 missioners of highways, Augustus Burdick, John 
 Filkins. Isaac Bucklin ; constables, Thomas Betts, 
 6. Y. Goewey, John Filkins, John Wilson, Andrew 
 Myers, Daniel Kiser, Barnard J. Wagar, Abner 
 Roberts ; fence viewers, John Wheeler, Frederick 
 Ifyers, John Wagar, John P. Goewey, John H. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF KENSSELAER COUNTT. 
 
 103 
 
 Shaver ; pound masters, Gilbert J. Travers, Hiram 
 Clowes ; commissioners of schools, EobAt 
 McChesney, Mores Bancker, Lemuel Hawley ; 
 overseers of highways, Abraham Roberts, N»than 
 Betts, George Brnst, Isaac Fllkins, George Clpper- 
 ly, Daniel Van Pelt, Benjamin Brewster, John 
 Dick, Jacob J. Wagar, William Smith, Walter 
 McChesney, Michael Philips, Philip H. Coonradt, 
 Henry Coonradt, Cornelius Dubois, Lemuel Haw- 
 ley and Mosea Dusenbury. 
 
 GILBAD BVANGELICAI, LUTHERAN CHUBCH AT 
 CENTEB BRUNSWICK. 
 
 The first religious society organized in this 
 part of the manor of Rensselaerwyck was one 
 known as the congregation of the Gilead Lu- 
 theran church. In the " kerkenording" or con- 
 stitution of this congregation, 1777, it is stated 
 that a log church had been built about the 
 year 1757, where now is the village of Hayner- 
 ville. The erection of a second church was be- 
 gun in 1777, because the members were fearful 
 that the old edifice " might fall down and kill" 
 them. It is said that the first pastor of the 
 church on account of his changed views of 
 church polity joined the church of Eng- 
 land. The Kev. Samuel Schwerdfeger, in 
 1768, was called from Frederick, Md., 
 to the pastorate of the Gilead Lutheran 
 church, in which office he remained for 24 
 years. While he served this congregation the 
 members were divided into two parties, one 
 favoring the revolutionary acts of the people 
 of America and the other espousing the royal 
 cause. No little anarchy existed at this time in 
 this society, and the denomination suffered 
 very much from local disturbances. The frame 
 church building, the erection of which began 
 in 1777, was not finished until 1788. This sec- 
 ond house of worship was built between the 
 old log church and the burial ground. Samuel 
 Collamer is said to have done some of the car- 
 penter work of the new church. John Bamett, 
 Jacob Wager, jr., Casper Frats and Sebastian 
 Lolinis were then the church council. The 
 patroon, it is said, presented to the congrega- 
 tion as a free gift 114 acres of land, a part of 
 which was occupied by the two church sites 
 and the burial ground. The first church and 
 parsonage grounds are now the property of 
 Charles Mickel. The present church is situated 
 about a mile west of Cropseyville and east of 
 Brunswick Centre. 
 
 The certificate of incorporation, filed in the 
 Rensselaer county clerk's oflice, states that at 
 a meeting of the members of the congregation, 
 held on the 15th of June, 1790, at their meeting 
 house called Gilead in Rensselaerwyck, Bastian 
 Lohnis, John Hanor and John Godfrey Knauft 
 were elected trustees of the church. To this 
 
 document Nicholas Bonesteel and Albertua 
 Seymour, as elders and church wardens, set 
 their hands and seals on the 21st of July, 1790. 
 Among the early members of the church were : 
 John Barnett, Johannes Bergman, Christopher 
 Beokman, Albert Bratt, Jacob Bratt, James, 
 John and Thomas Burnside, Jacob Cipperly, 
 Heinrich Conrad, Henry and Johannes Dader' 
 Philip and Andori Derk, John Fergison, John 
 Gerhard, Heinrich Gross, John Gunther, Con- 
 rad and Johannes Hainer, Abraham Kuntz, 
 George Klockner, Petrus Loose, John McChes- 
 ney, Duncan McMuUen, Adam Ostrander, 
 Bemhard Polak, Abner and Abraham Roberts, 
 Laurentius Schneider, Jacob Schmidt, Johannes 
 Sti-aub, Wilhelm Van Alstyne, Hermauus Van 
 Buehren, Jacob Waeger, Petrus and Laurentius 
 Weiderwaks. 
 
 In 1817 a third church edifice was erected, 
 and on its site a new church was built at a cost 
 of 513,000 in 1865. 
 
 The pastors who have successively served 
 this congregation are the following : The Rev. 
 Samue! Schwerdfeger, 1768-92 ; the Rev. Fred- 
 erick Meier, 1791-94; the Rev. George Seig- 
 mund Liebich, 1794-95 ; the Rev. George Jo- 
 seph Wichterman, 1795-1801 ; the Rev. Anthou 
 Theodore Braun, 1802-12 ; the Rev. John Bach- 
 man, D. D., LL.D., 1814-15 ; the Rev. John 
 Molther, 1815-16 ; the Rev. William McCarthy, 
 1816-21 ; the Rev. John R. Goodman, 1821-28 ; 
 the Rev. Jacob L. Senderling, D. D., 1828-53 ; 
 the Rev. David Kline, 1853-64 ; the Rev. Philip 
 A. Stroebel, 1864-68 ; the Rev. P. M. Rightmyer, 
 1868-71 ; the Rev. Alonzo P. Ludden, 1871-75 ; 
 the Rev. J. Nelson Bamett, 1875-80. 
 
 The present roll of the membership of this 
 flourishing church contains about 300 names. 
 
 FIRST TBESBYTERIA:) church of BRUNSWICK. 
 
 Through the zealous interest of the Rev. 
 Jonas Coe of the First Presbyterian church of 
 Troy the first Presbyterian society of Brunswick 
 was organized. At a meeting held on the Uth 
 of June, 1809, over which he presided, the fol- 
 lowing resolutions were passed : 
 
 Mrst, That all proper measures be adopted as 
 speedily as possible to obtain the preaching of the 
 gospel in this town in the English language, in a 
 regular and stated manner, as we have already 
 lived too lone without it. 
 
 Second— ResUved, That Francis ColUson, Keuben 
 Merriman, Hiram Clowes, William Bidwell, Samuel 
 De La Mater and John Filkins be appointed a com- 
 mittee for raising funds and procuring a preacher 
 as soon as convenient, and they are authorized to 
 treat with the Rev. John Keys of Sand Lake and 
 with the trustees of that congregation for one- 
 fourth of his time to be appropriated here should 
 he be settled there. 
 
104 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EENS8ELAEE OOtTNTY. 
 
 A subscription paper was then circulated 
 which read as follows : 
 
 We, the subscribers in the town of Brunswick, 
 in the county of Kensselaer, being desirous of 
 having the Gospel of Christ preached among us, 
 do hereby promise to pay to Francis Collison, 
 Reuben Merriman, Hiram iClowes, William Bid- 
 well, Samuel De La Mater and John Fill-ins the 
 several sums annexed to our respective names 
 yearly, for the term of five years, in quarterly pay- 
 ments for the Key. John Keys, to preach one- 
 fourth part of the time for the said term of five 
 years in the town of Brunswick, at such place or 
 places as a majority of the subscribers shall deem 
 proper in said town, or on the borders of adjoin- 
 ing towns. 
 
 This paper, it is said, bears the signatures of 
 63 persons, the total amount subscribed being 
 S115.37, the largest subscription written was 
 $8 and the smallest 37 cents, made " by the 
 widow." 
 
 At a meeting held September 25, 1809, it was 
 determined that meetings should be held on 
 Sundays, in the school house near the residence 
 of Matthias Abbott. It was in this building 
 that the Rev. John Keys began his ministry, in 
 this pastorate in the fall of 1809. 
 
 In the following year on the 23d of July, 1810, 
 a meeting was held " at the usual place of pulo- 
 lic worship in the vicinity of Matthias Ab- 
 bott's " house, for the purpose of electing trus- 
 tees for incorporating the congregation, which 
 was to be distinguished by the name of the 
 "First Presbyterian society of Brunswick." 
 The trustees elected were William Bidwell, 
 Matthias Abbott, Walter McChesney, James 
 Cox, jr., and Francis Collison. 
 
 About the beginning of the year 1812 the 
 erection of a frame house of worship was be- 
 gun upon ground offered to the congregation 
 by Matthias Abbott, at the meeting held in 
 July, 1810. William Bidwell having taken the 
 contract of building the church, so far com- 
 pleted it that on Sunday, June 21, 1812, the 
 Rev. John Keys preached for the first time in 
 the pulpitless building to a large congregation. 
 The edifice was finished early in the year 1813, 
 at a cost of about $1,500. Shortly after the Rev. 
 John Keys ended his connection with the so- 
 ciety, May 1, 1813, the church became disorgan- 
 ized. A reorganization, however, was effected on 
 Thursday, July 11, 1816, when 17 persons hav- 
 ing certificates of dismissal from the First 
 Presbyterian church of Troy, elected John Hut- 
 ton, J. B. Goodrich and John Abbott, ruling 
 elders. The Rev. John Younglove, who had 
 for several months previously been filling the 
 vacant pulpit of the church, was called to the 
 pastorship. In this office he continued until De- 
 
 cember 29, 1827, when he died suddenly of heart 
 disease. 
 
 The second certificate of incorporation of this 
 church is dated April 9, 1825, at which time 
 the following persons were elected trustees of 
 "the First Presbyterian congregation of the 
 town of Brunswick :" Philip M. Coons, Philip 
 P. Dater, George Derrick, Valen^ne Cropsey, 
 John H. Lansing and Walter JJ<JChesney. 
 
 This congregation, through the generosity of 
 the patroon, Stephen Van Rensselaer, came 
 into possession of 25 acres of land, together 
 with a suitable building for a parsonage, June 
 28, 1833, the date of the deed. 
 
 In 1861 the work of remodeling the old honse 
 of worship was begun. When it was com- 
 pleted in 1863, the expense incurred was report- 
 ed to be $2,583.88. The church is about one 
 mile south of Cropseyville. The pastors who 
 served the congregation after the death of the 
 Rev. John Younglove were the Rev. John Clay- 
 ton, 1829-1830 ; the Rev. Leonard Johnson, 
 1830-32 ; the Rev. Gardner Hayden, 1834r-49 ; 
 the Rev. Joseph E. Lamb, 1852-58 ; the Rev. 
 Samuel M. Wood, 1860-76 ; the Rev. J. V. Gris- 
 wold, 1876 to date. 
 
 The present membership of this church em- 
 braces about 110 persons. 
 
 METHODIST 
 
 EPISOOPAI, SOCIETT OP 
 BBUBSWICK. 
 
 The first Methodist society organized in the 
 town of Brunswick was formed about the year 
 1834. This body for the purpose of incorpora- 
 tion, held a meeting on February 2, 1835, at the 
 dwelling house of David Files, where they had 
 been in the habit of assembling for divine 
 worship, and elected David Files, Martin M. 
 Hayner, Joseph Cleaveland, Jacob E. Adams 
 and Hiram Van Pelt trustees of " the Methodist 
 Episcopal society in the town of Brunswick." 
 The first house of worship was erected during 
 the summer of 1835, on the Stone road, four and 
 one-half miles from Troy. This frame building 
 was dedicated in December 1835, the Rev. Buel 
 Goodsell, presiding elder of the Troy district, 
 preaching the first sermon and the Rev. Noah 
 Levings the second on that day. The bnilding 
 was erected at an expense of $1,898.50. In 1866 
 it was remodeled. 
 
 The following ministers have been pastors of 
 this church : The Rev. Charles Pomeroy, 
 1836-37 ; the Rev. P. M. Hitchcock, 1838 ; the 
 Rev. D. Starks, 1839-40 ; the Rev. D. Stevens, 
 1841 ; the Rev. Asa C. Hand, 1842 ; the Rev. J. 
 F. Craig, 1843^4 ; the Rev. Wm. M. Frazer, 
 1845-46 ; the Rev. John Graves, 1847-48 ; the 
 Rev. Charles Devol, 1849 ; the Rev. M. Wither- 
 ill, 1850; the Rev. S. Tubbs, 1851-52 ; the Rev. 
 
HI8TOBT OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 105 
 
 John Chase, 1853-54 ; the Rev. Wm. Smith, 
 1855-56 ; the Rev. Joseph Eames, 1857-58 ; the 
 Rev. H. Chase, 1859-60 ; the Rev. David Os- 
 good, 1861-62 ; the Rev. C. Meeker, 1863-65 ; 
 the Rev. Louis N. Beaudry, 1866-68 ; the Rev. 
 H. W. Slocum, 1869-72 ; the Rev. D. T. EUiott, 
 1872-74; the Rev. Wm. Clark, 1874-76; the 
 Rev. E. A. Bramar, 1877-79 ; the Rev. W. L. 
 Smith, 1880 to date. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT MILLVILLE. 
 
 The second society of Methodists in the 
 tovra of Brunswick was organized in 1849. The 
 members of the congregation on the 2d of April 
 of that year held a meeting to incorporate 
 themselves as the society of the Methodist 
 Episcopal church at Millville, now known as 
 Eagle mills, by electing the following persons 
 trustees : Adam Conrad, Lodowick Myers, Am- 
 brose Eddy, Joseph McChesney and Edward 
 L. Roberts. 
 
 The congregation that year began the erec- 
 tion of a frame house of worship at Millville, at 
 a cost of $1,275, which was dedicated January 
 17, 1850. There are about 60 names on the roll 
 of membership of this church. From the year 
 1849 until the spring of 1880 the same pastors ; 
 officiated in this church as are mentioned as ' 
 filling the pulpit of the Brunswick Methodist 
 Episcopal church, beginning with the Rev. 
 John Graves. Since its disconnection from the 
 Brunswick church it has been connected with ', 
 the Pawling avenue Methodist Episcopal church 1 
 of Troy. The present pastor of the church is ! 
 the Rev. W. H. Groat. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF EAST BRUUS- 
 WICK. 
 
 This society was organized in that part of 
 the town known as Rock Hollow, in 1874. The 
 certificate of incorporation is dated Marcn 28, 
 1874, at which time a meeting was held in the 
 school house of district No. 14, it being the 
 place where the members of the society had 
 steadily attended divine worship. At this 
 meeting the following persons were elected 
 trustees of the East Brunswick Methodist 
 Episcopal church : Levi Hqyner, Jacob Housin- 
 ger, Willard D. Green, Orrin Mcjilhesney and 
 William Wager. 
 
 During the summer of 1874 a frame church 
 building was erected which was dedicated on 
 the ISth of November of that year, the Rev. 
 J. E. Bowen, presiding elder of the district, 
 
 the Rev. Whitson and the Rev. D. T. 
 
 Elliott officiating. The pastors of the church 
 have been the Rev. D. T. Elliott, one year ; the 
 Rev. W. Clark, two years ; the Rev. A. E. Bra- 
 man, three years, and the Rev. W. L. Smith, 
 the present pastor. 
 
 13 
 
 CHURCH OF THE DISCIPLES OF CHBIST. 
 
 This religious society was formed December 
 14, 1853. For the purpose of incorporating it, 
 a meeting was held in Millville on the 12th day 
 of March, 1853, at which J. H. Allen presided. 
 The trustees elected were William Einlock, 
 John Welch and Henry Myers. The name 
 adopted by the body was "the Church of the 
 Disciples of Christ at the village of Millville." 
 A frame church building was erected during 
 the summer of 18.53, at a cost of about $1,200. 
 At its dedication on the 5th of February of the 
 following year Elder Silas E. Shepherd of New 
 York city preached the dedicatory sermon. 
 The pastorate of this church has been filled by 
 the following elders since the organization of 
 the society : Elder H. C. Parsons, Elder Bart- 
 let, Z. P. Birdsall, Dexter Moody, Edwin Wake- 
 field, James A. Garfield, J. H. Gardner, J. C. 
 Stark, J. 0. Cutts and J. G. Ensel. 
 
 EAGLE MILLS. 
 
 The village of Eagle Mills was first known as 
 Milltown, and subsequently as MillvDle. It is 
 situated on the Poesten kill, and is about four 
 miles distant eastwardly from Troy. In 1836 it 
 was spoken of as having a grist mill, a saw 
 mill, a tavern, a store and 10 or 12 dwellings. 
 Eagle Mills now embraces about 60 buildings, 
 two of which are churches, the Methodist Epis- 
 copal and the Disciples' church, and one dis- 
 trict school house. The valuable water power 
 of the Poesten kill at this point makes the place 
 important as a manufacturing centre. In 1851 
 Joseph H. Allen purchased the old flour 
 mill of Sheldon, DeFreest and Van Al- 
 styne, built in 1831, and converted the 
 building into a bit and auger factory. 
 In 1854 the Millville manufacturing company 
 was organized, which erected new buildings 
 near the factory of J. H. Allen, for the purpose 
 of making cable chains. Subsequently this 
 property came into the possession of J. H. 
 Allen, who began the manufacture of fanning 
 hoes in these buildings. The Planters' hoe 
 company, represented by J. H. Allen and George 
 T. Lane, after the close of the late civil war, 
 was formed, which entered very largely into 
 the manufacture of hoes in the buildings pre- 
 viously mentioned. Besides this manufacturing 
 interest there are a foundry, a saw mill, three 
 blacksmith shops and a wagonmaker's shop in 
 the village. There are also two stores and a 
 hotel in Eagle Mills. The population is about 
 500. A postofflce was established here a num- 
 ber of years ago. 
 
 CROPSETVILLB. 
 
 This village, which is near the eastern bounds 
 of the town, contains about 25 buildings and 
 
106 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELA-EB COUNTT. 
 
 bas a population of 115 persons. In tbe sum- 
 mer of 1854 a postoffice was established at this 
 point. The business interests of the place com- 
 prise a store, a grist mill (built by Henry Clum 
 in the latter part of the last century), a saw mill, 
 a harness shop and two shoemaker shops. 
 About one mile south of Cropseyville is the 
 First Presbyterian church of Brunswick, and 
 also tbe parsonage. 
 
 BRUNSWICK CEUTBE. 
 
 This hamlet is situated about the centre of 
 the town of Brunswick, on the old Stone road. 
 Sweet Milk creek runs through the place. 
 Brunswick Center comprises a, schoolhouse, a 
 store and a small number of dwellings. The 
 Oilead Evangelical Lutheran church is a short 
 distance east of the place. A postofSce was 
 established here a number of years ago. 
 
 HATNERVILLE. 
 
 HaynerviUe is in the northern part of the 
 town. It has a postoffice. The school-house of 
 district No. 8 is in HaynerviUe. A store and a 
 wagon maker's shop comprise the business in- 
 terests of the place. 
 
 CLtrU'S CORNEBS. 
 
 Clum's Corners are about half of a mile west 
 of Cropseyville. The number of people living 
 in the immediate vicinity is about 40. At the 
 comers are 10 dwellings, a hotel, a blacksmith 
 shop and two wagon maker shops. 
 
 PLATEBTOWN. 
 
 This hamlet is about one and a half miles 
 northeast of Clum's Corners. District school 
 No. 12 is situated at this point. The place is 
 also known by the name of Tamarac. 
 
 ROCK HOLLOW. 
 
 This place is about a mile northeast of 
 Cropseyville, and on the Quaken kill. The ham- 
 let embraces about 25 buildings, a Methodist 
 Episcopal church, a school house, a hotel, a 
 brush block factory, a paper mill and a black- 
 smith shop. 
 
 POPULATION OP THE TOWN OF BBT7N8WICK. 
 
 1810 2,302 
 
 1815 2,233 
 
 1820 2.31S 
 
 1825 2.47S 
 
 1830 2,575 
 
 1835 2,679 
 
 1840 3,051 
 
 1845 2,855 
 
 1850 3,146 
 
 1855 3,101 
 
 1860 3,110 
 
 1865 3,175 
 
 1870 3,1''8 
 
 1875 3,286 
 
 1S80 3,404 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAEE COtTNTY, 
 
 107 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 THE TOWN OF POESTENKILL. 
 
 Domestic Features of Slavery — Remarkable Fidelity of Family 
 Servants — The Emancipation Acts — First Settlers of the 
 Town — The Election of Town Officers — The Organization of 
 Religious Societies — Population Statistics. 
 
 Ilie elements of a, quiet, unpretentious exist- 
 ence are peculiarly associated with country 
 life. The isolation which the occupancy of a 
 broad acreage of land establishes naturally 
 affects the disposition and character of those 
 who live surrounded by the continuous quie- 
 tude of the fields in which they plough, sow and 
 reap. The rural tranquility of their homes is 
 seldom disturbed by the excitements of sudden 
 and novel occurrences which so frequently 
 quicken the pulse of the inhabitants of cities. 
 The seU-same, commonplace round of daily 
 toil, changing only its phases with the re- 
 curring seasons, engages the thought of 
 him who drives his team afield at the first rosy 
 blush of the eastern sky and weary returns to 
 the sheltering roof of his home when night be- 
 gins to robe the earth with its dusky garments. 
 The incidents of country life glow with no great 
 effulgence upon the page of history. It is <mly 
 now and then that the beauty and simplicity of 
 humble farm-life attract ns when they are 
 charmingly portrayed in the gentle songs of 
 Bums, in the melancholy meditations of Gray, 
 or in the tender thoughts of Wordsworth. 
 
 The ownership of slaves by the early settlers 
 of the manor of Rensselaerwyck was in its 
 domestic relationship, about the close of the 
 last century, a peculiar feature of the house- 
 holds of many farmers living along the Poesten- 
 kill at that time. 
 
 SLAVERY IN THE MANOR OF RENSSELAERWYCK. 
 
 The emancipation of negro and mulatto 
 slaves, in the state of New York, was due to 
 the enactment of a law passed by the legisla- 
 ture March 17, 1817, by which every negro, mu- 
 latto or mustee within the state, bom before the 
 4th of July, 1799, should be free from and after 
 the 4th of July, 1827. By a former law it was 
 
 provided that all persons born of slave parents 
 after July 4, 1799, were bom free, the males 
 being required to do service until they were 27 
 years of age, and the females until they wsre 
 25 years of age. 
 
 In the entertaining book entitled the '• Mem- 
 oirs of an American Lady," by Mrs. Grant, an 
 allusion is made to the possession of slaves in 
 the manor of Rensselaerwyck, and the care and 
 affection that were bestowed upon those who by 
 dutiful service had endeared themselves to the 
 members of the family in which they had been 
 reared. The writer remarks : 
 
 When a negro woHiaa's child attained the age of 
 three years it was solemnly presented the first 
 New Tear'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 presented. 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 attach- 
 ment grew between the domestic and the destined 
 owner. 
 
 THE FIUELITT Or SLAVES. 
 
 I have nowhere met with instances of friend- 
 ship more tender and generous than that which 
 here subsisted between the slaves and their mas- 
 ters and mistresses. Extraordinary proofs of 
 them have been when a young man and his slave 
 have gone to the trackless woods together, In the 
 case of fics of 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 throngh nnfre- 
 quented wilds, with labor and fidelity scarce credi- 
 ble ; and the master has been equally tender on 
 similar occasions of the humble friend who stuck 
 closer than a brother ; who was baptised at the 
 same baptism, nurtured under the same roof, and 
 often rocked in the same cradle with himself. 
 
 These gifts of domestics to the younger mem- 
 bers of the family were not irrevocable ; yet they 
 
108 
 
 HISTOKT OF THE TOWNS OF BEN3SELA.EB COUNTY. 
 
 were very rarely withdrawn. If the kitchen fam- 
 ily did not increase In proportion to that of the 
 master, young children were purchased from some 
 family where they abounded to furnish those at- 
 tached to the rising progeny. They were never 
 sold without consulting their mother, who, if ex- 
 pert and sagacious, had a gi-eat deal to say in the 
 family, and would not allow her children to go into 
 any family with whose domestics she was not ac- 
 quainted. These negro women piqued themselves 
 on teaching their children to be excellent servants, 
 weU lino wing servitude to be their lot for life, and 
 that it could only be sweetened by making them- 
 selves particularly 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 
 prudent mothers. They would chide, reprove and 
 expostulate in amanner that we would not endure 
 from our hired servants; 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 ser- 
 vants were In general, there were some instances 
 (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 punishments were inflicted at 
 home. But the terrible sentence, which they 
 dreaded worse than death, was passed— they were 
 sold to Jamaica. The necessity of seUing them 
 was bewailed by the whole family as a most dread- 
 ful calamity, and the culprits were carefully 
 watched on their way to New York lest they 
 should evade the sentence by self-destruction. 
 
 EABLY SETTLEBS OF POESTEXKILL. 
 
 Some time previous to the revolutionary war 
 a number of farms of the territory, now be- 
 longing to the town of PoestenklU but then to 
 the manor of Rensselaerwyck, was obtained 
 by settlers by lease from the patroon of the 
 manor. The names of these early farmers and 
 of a few who followed them at later dates, be- 
 fore the close of the century, were : J. Berringer, 
 T. Berringer, Johannes Burger, Peter Clapper, 
 Graver Coons, J. Coons, C. Cooper, P. Cooper, 
 W. Cooper, David J. De Freest, N. Fulman, P. 
 Heyner, A. Homocker, B. Ives, Lazarus Ives, 
 W. Kilmer, J. Leibblte, Archelaus Lynd, P. 
 Link, 8. MuUer, E. Nightart, Grant Peck, Wm. 
 Peck, Barent Polock, W. Seamon, C. Sluyter, 
 H. Stronk and J. Sater, jr. 
 
 THE TOWN ERECTED. 
 
 By " an act for the division of the town of 
 Sand Lake, and to erect the town of Poesten- 
 kill," passed by the legislature March 2, 184S, 
 
 the town of Poestenkill was created. Its 
 bounds were : 
 
 Beginning at the northeast corner of the town of 
 Oreenbush, running thence east along the south 
 line of the towns of Brunswick and Grafton, to the 
 northwest corner of the town of Berlin ; thence 
 southerly along the west line of the town of Berlin, 
 four miles to the south line of the eighth range of 
 lots in the Middletown survey, in the line of lots 
 known as numbers 12.3 and 134 ; thence west along 
 the line of said range of lots to the 
 north side of the dwelling house of John Peck ; 
 thence west to the intersection of the roads, about 
 four rods easterly from the Troy and Sand Lake 
 turnpike toll gate ; thence westerly to the north 
 side of the dwelling house of Coonrad Reicbard 
 and Andrew Link and to the Greenbush line ; 
 thence northerly along tlie east line of the town of 
 Greenbush, to the place of beginning, shall be and 
 Is hereby erected into a separate town by the 
 name of Poestenkill, and the first town meeting 
 shall be held on the first Tuesday in April next, at 
 the inn of Jeremiah Becker, in the said town of 
 Poestenkill. 
 
 FIBST TOWN OFFICEBS. 
 
 At the first town meeting, held at the house 
 of J. L. Becker, on the 4th of April, 1848, the 
 following persons were elected the first town 
 officers : 
 
 Supervisor, James Henderson, jr.; town clerk, 
 David Luce ; superintendent of common schools, 
 Eleazer Flint ; assessors, John I. Vosburgh, Ben- 
 jamin B. Randall, Harmon Vanderzee ; commis- 
 sioners of highwars, Barney Wetherwax, Stephen 
 Austin ; justices of the peace, George Cottrell, 
 George Barker, Benjamin Wilkerson ; overseers of 
 the poor. Christian C. Cooper, Samuel Comick ; 
 constables, John Barker, Alonzo Whyland, William 
 Cooper, JohnF. Whyland ; collector, JohnBark«T ; 
 sealer of weights and measures, James D. Sim- 
 mons. 
 
 THE FIRST BAPTIST CHUBCB. 
 
 The first society of Baptists in the town was 
 organized in 1814. The meetings of the so- 
 ciety were first held in a building formerly a 
 wagon-maker's shop, standing on the highway 
 about a mile west of East Poestenkill. The 
 present house of worship was erected about 
 the year 1860, in East Poestenkill. Among the 
 names of the pastors who have ministered to 
 this society are those of Elders Alderman 
 Baker, Joseph Rogers, Peter Ambler and Edvrin 
 Westcott. The present pastor is the Bev. 
 Charles S. Catlin. 
 
 The First Baptist church has about 75 mem- 
 bers. 
 
 THE PBANKEAN EVANOELICAl LUTHEBAK 
 CHURCH. 
 
 The congregation which assumed the name 
 of the Frankean Evangelical Lutheran church 
 
HISTOET OF THE TOWISTS OF REN8SELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 109 
 
 of PoestenkiU dates its organization from the 
 nth day of August, 1833. The formation of 
 this religious society was due to the active 
 ministrations of the Rev. J. D. Lawyer. At 
 the time of its organization the society had 73 
 members. Three stations— Poestcnicill, West 
 Sand Lake and Raymertowu, formed one 
 charge. The first church, erected south of the 
 village of PoestenkiU, on the road leading 
 thence to West Sand Lake, iu 1832, was dedi- 
 cated on the 13th of November of that year, 
 the Rev. George Lintner, D. D., and the Rev. 
 J. D. Lawyer ofiBciating. 
 
 The pastorate of this church has been suc- 
 cessively filled by the following ministers : The 
 Rev. J. D. Lawyer, August 11, 1833-38; the 
 Rev. J. S. Robinson, April 1, 1838-39 ; the Rev. 
 Isaac Kimball, July 1, 1839-40 ; the Rev. G. W. 
 Porter, 1848-49 ; the Rev. R. Smith, jr., 1850- 
 57 ; the Rev. J. A. Rosenberg, 1857-67 ; the Rev. 
 John Kling, August 1, 1867-74 ; the Rev. H. A. 
 Strait, 1874-77 ; the Rev. Silas W. Young, 
 March 14, 1877, to date. 
 
 The present house of worship was erected in 
 1865, on the site of the first church, at a cost of 
 $8,000. It was dedicated December 24, 1865, 
 the Revs. N. Van Alstvne, H. L. Dox, J. A. 
 Rosenberg and M. W. Empie taking part in the 
 service. 
 
 The present roll of membership of the church 
 has the signatures of 120 persons. The Sunday 
 school embraces five officers, seven teachers 
 and 102 scholars. 
 
 THE FIRST FBEE BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 The First Free Baptist society was organized 
 about the year 1836, at which time its meetings 
 were held at different places in the vicinity of 
 Oak Hill. Shortly afterward the congregation 
 erected a meeting house on Oak Hill. A sec- 
 ond edifice was subsequently built a short dis- 
 tance from East FoestenJcill. 
 
 Of the number of pastors of this church, the 
 following ones may be mentioned : Elders 
 Miller, I. B. Coleman, J. D. Howe, Isaac 
 Hoag, Hyde, Ketoham, Van Erden and Smith, 
 the present elder in charge. The present meet- 
 ing house, erected about the year 1872, is situ- 
 ated a mile west of East PoestenkiU. 
 
 CHURCH OF CHRIST. 
 
 The religious society known as the Disciples 
 of Christ was organized at the house of Miles 
 Clark on April 2, 1850. Among the founders of 
 the body were Elder Dexter Moody, Francis 
 Parsons, Durfee Read, Matthew Moody, Mar- 
 vin Moody, Miles Clark, Eliza Read, Sally A. 
 Clark, Martha Read and Diana Wooster. In 
 1850 a frame house of worship was erected in 
 the village of PoestenkiU, which was dedicated 
 
 September 20, 1850. The building cost about 
 $800 and had a seating capacity for nearly 200 per- 
 sons. The present frame building was erected 
 in the village of PoestenkiU, in 1864, at a cost 
 of $4,000. At its dedication August 18, 1864, 
 Elders A. N. Gilbert, L. R. Gault, D. Moody 
 and Chamberlain took part in the services. 
 The present membership of the church is 100. 
 The following elders have served the congre- 
 gation at different periods: Elders Dexter 
 Moody, one year ; M. J. Streator, two years ; I. 
 J. LoweU, two years; Elder Parsons, two 
 years ; Elder Wakefield, one year ; J. C. Starks, 
 one year ; J. H. Gordinier, three years ; L. R. 
 Gault, one year ; Elder Olin, three years ; Elder 
 Reynolds, one year ; J. S. Bell, three years ; J. 
 Callylean, two years ; Elder Ensel, two years ; 
 J. Benenstukl, one year, and Elder Theodore 
 Crooks. 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAl. CHURCH. 
 
 Through the missionary efforts of the Rev. 
 George Hudson, a small congregation of Meth- 
 odists was gathered near Dyking pond, on 
 Berlin mountain, where he preached. Subse- 
 quently divine worship was held in Lewis 
 Horton's haU, in PoestenkiU. In 1872, the 
 Rev. E. A. Blanchard was appointed to take 
 charge of the Dyking pond congregation and 
 the one at PoestenkiU village. That year the 
 present meeting-honse at PoestenkiU village 
 was erected at a cost of $6,500. 
 
 The following pastors have officiated in this 
 church: The Rev. E. A. Blanchard, 1872-74; 
 the Rev. Thomas Monroe, April 18, 1874-76 ; 
 the Rev. John Sumner, 1876-78 ; the Rev. John 
 W. Coons, April, 1878-80. The membership of 
 the PoestenkiU church embraces about 110 
 persons. 
 
 POESTENKILL. 
 
 The village of PoestenkiU is on the Pocsten- 
 kill, a stream from which it derived its name. 
 It is somewhat west of the center of the town, 
 and contains about 50 buildings, among which 
 are two churches, three hotels, a grist and a 
 saw mill and three stores. The village has 
 about 350 inhabitants. At a quite early date in 
 the present century the medical spring at a 
 close remove from the village attracted the at- 
 tention of invalids for its curative properties in 
 cutaneous diseases. A number of bathing 
 houses were erected to accommodate the people 
 resorting to the spring. These buildings, to- 
 gether with a number of other structures, were 
 subsequently swept away by a remarkable 
 freshet in the PoestenkiU, caused by a heavy 
 fall of rain for two days. Dr. Luther H. Barber 
 was made the first postmaster of the postoffice 
 established at this point about the year 1836. 
 
110 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 EAST POESTENKILL. 
 
 The hamlet of East Poestenkill is situated in 
 the eastern part of the town. The place has about 
 100 inhabitants and contains two churches, two 
 stores, a hotel and several shops. East Poes- 
 tenkill was known at one time by the name of 
 Columbia. Cyrus Amidon was the first post- 
 master of the postofSce established at this 
 place. 
 
 BARBERVILLE. 
 
 Some distance east of the village of Poesten- 
 
 kill is BarberviUe, which contains about a half 
 score of houses, a hotel, a store and one or two 
 shops. 
 
 IVES'S CORNEKS. 
 
 Ives's Corners is the name given to a small 
 collection of houses near the centre of the 
 town. 
 
 POPULATIOK OF THE TOWN OF POESTENKIU,. 
 
 1850 2,092 
 
 1855 1,878 
 
 1860 1,833 
 
 1885 1,952 
 
 3870 1,769 
 
 1875 1,727 
 
 1880 1,765 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 Ill 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE TOWN OF GRAFTON. 
 
 The Latest Settled Town in the County — Emigration from New 
 England — The Erection of the Town — The Beginning of the 
 Anti-Rent War — Lighting the Candles of Industry and Econ- 
 omy — Troy Troops Sent to the Helderberg Region — A Mur- 
 derous Affray in the Town of Grafton — Anti-Rentism a Polit- 
 ical Question — The Erection of Churches — Population. 
 
 It seems that the teiritory embraced within 
 the present bounds of the town of Grafton was 
 not as early occupied b.v settlers as were the 
 other contiguous portions of the manor of 
 Bensselaerwyck. The rocky roughness and 
 mountainous character of this part of the 
 manor were no doubt not as inviting to emigrants 
 as were the more arable tracts of the other sec- 
 tions of Rensselaerwyck, and on this account it 
 was later settled. 
 
 EMiaRA.TION FROM NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Immediately after the revolutionary struggle 
 a tide of emigration set in toward the upper 
 Hudson from the older New England settle- 
 ments. The patroon, in order to place under 
 cultivation the immense tracts of untilled land 
 lying within the manor, made such liberal over- 
 tures at this time to emigrants that not a few 
 vigorous and industrious New Englanders were 
 found willing to accept his offers and to lease 
 of him certain farm lands now forming part of 
 the town of Grafton. Dr. Amos Hall, a resi- 
 dent of the town, speaking of the settlement 
 of this part of the manor in an unpublished 
 sketch of its history, says : 
 
 There were few (if any) inhabitants within the 
 present limits of Grafton down to the time of the 
 commencement of the revolutionary war in 1775. 
 Soon after peace was restored, in 1783, many per- 
 sons whose families had been reduced to poverty 
 and to great extremities during the struggle for 
 liberty, found it necessary to emiBrate in order, 
 if possible, to improve their circumstances, and 
 to regain the lost means of supplying the increas- 
 ing wants of their families. 
 
 In the midst of these circumstanceB, from 1786 
 to 1788, very many industrious, hardy yeo- 
 
 manry came with their families and settled here. 
 It was a complete wilderness at the time, all the 
 country being covered with heavy timber, and, as 
 a matter of course, they suffered the usual wants 
 and privations of the first settlers of most new 
 countries. 
 
 Among the first failles that settled here were 
 the Owen, the q^n and the Semmons families, 
 Abel Owen, a revolutionary soldier, soon after the 
 close of the war emigrated from Connecticut or 
 Bhode Island, and settled on the farm where Stew- 
 ard Allen now lives. Gen. Van Rensselaer, as an 
 inducement to settle on the manor, gave him a 
 deed-title to 300 acres of land. He lived in a log 
 house on the old road, some 50 rods south of said 
 Allen's house, and the well from which his family 
 drew water is still in use. As early as 1787 he had 
 many acres cleared, kept some stock, and raised 
 his own grain and provisions. Being a somewhat 
 prominent resident, the old road which runs 
 through the town from Petersburgh to Troy was 
 called in all the old leases " Owen's road." 
 
 THE FARMS OF OTHER SETTLERS. 
 
 Francis West and family from Rhode Island 
 took a farm in this part of the manor some time 
 about the revolutionary period. John Bab- 
 cock from the same state, and Elkanah Smith 
 from New Jersey, also became farmers of land 
 leased from the patroon at this early date. 
 About the year 1779 William Scriven and wife, 
 with two daughters and seven sons, from 
 Rhode Island, made his home in this new sec- 
 tion. Joshua Banker, John and Thomas Phil- 
 lips, Ael Ford, Francis Brock, John and David 
 Mills, John Monroe, Solomon Smith, Rufus 
 Rix and Capt. Charles Ferry are also 
 named as early settlers of the town 
 of Grafton. John P, Hayner, Solomon Root, 
 
112 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 Nathaniel Dumbleton, Daniel Littlefield, Wil- 
 liam Snyder, James Keid, Henry Coonrad, God- 
 frey Howard, Andrus Miller, Lodowlck Bone- 
 steel, Marcus Simmons, John Hydom, Henry 
 Hydom and B. Hayner are mentioned as being 
 farmers in this part of the manor of Rensse- 
 laerwyck. The annual rent of the farms was 
 based upon their fertility and acreage. From 
 five to twenty-five bushels of wheat were paid 
 for the use of land. In the town there are 
 about 25 lakes or large ponds. 
 
 THE TOWN OF GRAPTON ERECTED. 
 
 By " an act to divide the towns of Troy and 
 Petersburgh, in the county of Rensselaer," 
 passed March 20, 1807, the town of Grafton 
 was erected. The boundaries of the new town 
 were : 
 
 All the remaining part of the town of Troy, and 
 so much of the west side of Petersburgh, as shall 
 malie seven miles in width from the east line of 
 the town of Brunswick, cut off by a line to com- 
 mence on the north line of Petersburgh, seven 
 miles east of the northeast comer of Brunswick ; 
 thence southerly parallel to the east line of said 
 Brunswick to the south line of Petersburgh, shall 
 be a separate town by the name of Grafton ; and 
 the first town meeting shall be held at the dwelling 
 house of Nathan Hakes. 
 
 The name Grafton, it is supposed, was given 
 to the town at the suggestion of Nathaniel 
 Dumbleton, the first supervisor, who had re- 
 moved to this part of Rensselaerwyck from 
 Grafton, Vt. 
 
 THE FIBST TOWN OFFICERS. 
 
 At the first town meeting held at the house of 
 Nathaniel Hakes on the first Tuesday of April, 
 lfi07, the following persons were elected town 
 officers : 
 
 Supervisor, Nathaniel Dumbleton ; town clerk, 
 David S. Crandall ; assessors, Patrick Agan, Ziba 
 Hewett and John Babcock ; overseers of the poor, 
 Joseph Burdick and Benjamin West; commis- 
 sioners of highways, Samuel PundaU, James West, 
 2d, and Jedadiah Wellman ; collector, Joseph Bur- 
 dick, jr.; constables, Ethan d6azou, Simeon Smith 
 and Joseph Btfrdick, jr. ; overseers of highways 
 and fence viewers, Thomas West, Jonathan Brook, 
 James West, 1st, John Worthington, Nathan West, 
 Joseph Burdick, John Phillips, Marcus Simmons, 
 William Snyder, Henry Coonradt, John Eeld, Syl- 
 vester Chase, Peter Wager, Stephen Chandler, 
 Walter Durkee, William Soriven, Francis Brook, 
 Zebulon Scriven, 2d, Jonathan M. Scriven, Michael 
 Brenanstufal, Charles Ball and John Babcock; 
 poundkeepers, Thomas Smith, Joseph Scriven and 
 John Babcock. 
 
 THE ANTI-RENT TROUBLES. 
 
 Upon the death of Stephen Van Rensselaer, 
 which occurred on tlip 26th of January, 1839, 
 the manor property of Rensselaerwyck, or 
 
 rather the leased farms which were formerly 
 within its boundaries, were by the will of the 
 deceased patroon divided between his two sons, 
 Stephen and William P., the former obtaining 
 the ownership of the farms lying on the west 
 side of the Hudson, and the latter those east of 
 the river. When the will of the patroon was 
 proved, notices were published requesting per- 
 sons indebted to him to settle their ac- 
 counts. A few of the tenants occupying the 
 land of which be was the patroon paid their ar- 
 rears, while the larger number delayed their 
 payments. 
 
 On the 22d of May, 1839, a committee con- 
 sisting of Egbert Schoonmaker, Hugh Scott, 
 Lawrence Van Deusen, Joseph Conner and 
 John F. Shaffer, representing tenants in the 
 towns of Rensselaerville, Westerlo, Bern, Enox 
 and New Scotland, visited Stephen Van Rens- 
 selaer at &.Ibany, and left with him a communi- 
 cation in which they .set forth their complaint 
 regarding their grievances. The statements 
 made in this paper were mainly the following : 
 " The enormous price put upon wheat above 
 what it formerly was when leases were origin- 
 ally given, it being then $0.75 per bushel at the 
 extreme, one day's services with carriage and 
 team, at $1 per day, and four fowls at 50 cents, 
 making in all, for one year's rent, on a lot of 
 100 acres (at 22J^ bushels per lot) at $18.37 per 
 lot, at which time wheat rating at from $1.50 to 
 $2.25 per bushel— day's services at $2 per day, 
 and four foirts at $0.75, making our rents rate at 
 from $35 to $50 a year, making it now extremely 
 difficult for many of the tenants to support 
 their families and pay their rents, without in- 
 volving themselves and posterity in extreme 
 peril and hardship." 
 
 To remedy the evils complained of the fol- 
 lowing changes were suggested : "To have the 
 old leases abolished and new leases given, in 
 which rents to be stipulated shall be in money ; 
 the same number of bushels allowed as in the 
 old leases, and retail in the following order, to 
 wit : $1 per bushel for the first quality ot land, 
 $0.87Ji per bushel for the second quality of 
 land, $0,621^ per bushel for the ihird quality of 
 land : $1 per day for the day's services, and 
 $0.50 for the four fowls, excluding the reservation 
 of greater sales, water privilege, the soil under 
 water, the privilege of buying the soil, to those 
 who wish to purchase the same at any future 
 time, for such sum as the interest thereof will 
 amount to, the amount of rent on each lot now 
 fixed." 
 
 In regard to the payment of arrearages they 
 gave this opinion: "Those tenants whose 
 property ia incumbered to the amount of their 
 personal effects, over and above their arrear- 
 
HISTOET OF THE TOWNS OP KENSSELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 113 
 
 ages of rents due said proprietor, should be re- 
 mitted in whole, or at aU events in equal pro- 
 portion to the stipulations to be entered into for 
 future rents." 
 
 THE PATROON'S BBPLY. 
 
 In answer to this complaint Stephen Van 
 Rensselaer, patroon of the western manor, 
 wrote : 
 
 Your ancestors or youraelTes who are tenants, 
 accepted leases with a full knowledge of the kind 
 and amount of rent to be paid, and of the reser- 
 vations and conditions to which the land was sub- 
 ject ; and It was matter of agreement, the nature of 
 which was fully understood at the time the same 
 was made. Such as now hold as purchasers, knew 
 full well the rents and covenants subject to which 
 they purchased ; and I am at a loss to conceive 
 how the conditions and covenants upon which the 
 lands are held can now be deemec^ grievous unless 
 something is now claimed by the landlord entirely 
 new, and which operates oppressively upon the 
 tenant ; and as nothing more is claimed than has 
 been acquiesced in and acknowledged by your an- 
 cestors and yourselves, or those from whom you 
 have purchased, for more than half a century, I 
 can not admit that you have now any grievances 
 to be redressed ; and especially so, as no rent was 
 charged for the first seven years after the tenant 
 went into possession. * « * 
 
 Your last suggestion in behalf of tenants as have 
 been delinquent in the payment of their rents as 
 that arrears now amount to abnost the value of 
 the lands, it seems to me is a matter with which 
 you have nothing to do. * * * 
 
 You seem to be under a mistaken impression as 
 to the price of wheat, which I will endeavor to 
 correct. Wheat as you have been charged for the 
 last 10 years has averaged $1.38 per bushel; for 
 the last ao years has averaged $1.35 per bushel ; 
 for the last 30 years has averaged $1.45 per bushel ; 
 for the last 40 years has averaged $1.44 per bushel ; 
 for the last 47 years has averaged $1.40^ per 
 bushel. » * * 
 
 I am, however, willing to charge the wheat to 
 money rent, and to take the average price of 
 wheat for the last 47 years as the price at which a 
 bushel of wheat shall be estimated hereafter ; the 
 days' service and team to be $2 ; and the four 
 fowls 75-100. 
 
 And I am also willing to sell and give a release 
 of the rents and reservations in the leases, so that 
 the land shall and may be held hereafter in fee for 
 the said $5 per acre of all lands in the four west 
 towns, but not to include any of the towns below 
 the hill. 
 This answer is dated May 29, 1830. 
 
 BBBELLION INAnGUBATED. 
 
 On the 4th of July, 1839, a meeting of the 
 west manor tenants was held at Bern, who re- 
 solved not to conform to the requirements set 
 forth in their leases nor to the demands of the 
 patroon, saying : 
 
 14 
 
 We do sincerely and solemnly believe that the 
 proposals of the standing committee to Stephen 
 Van Rensselaer (in strict justice) is all that any 
 man of honor or patriotism, having at heart the 
 welfare and prosperity of his fellow creatures, 
 could reasouably ask or expect to receive ; and 
 that we consider the proposals of said Van Heus- 
 selaer to be an outrage on the laws of humani cy, 
 and therefore utterly reject and contemn the 
 same. And the said committee in behalf of us, 
 said tenants, are requested to inform said Van 
 Kensselaer that we consider his proposals in the 
 same light that Dr. Franklin considered the act In 
 the British parliament imposing stamp duties on 
 certain papers and documents used in the colonies. 
 Franklin said, in addressing Charles Thompson 
 relative to said act, that '• the sun of liberty is set ; 
 you must light up the candles of industry and 
 economy." And that we also reply in the lan- 
 guage of the patriot Thompson, that we shall 
 light up torches of quite another sort if we arc 
 thus driven to the alternative of choosing an un- 
 conditional submission to the will of one man, 
 elevated by an aristocratic law, emanating from 
 a foreign monarchy, or the resistance thereof. 
 The latter Is our choice ; we have counted the cost 
 of such a contest, and find nothing so dreadful as 
 volantary slavery. 
 
 The committee was also " instructed to in- 
 form the pretended proprietor of our soil that 
 if he will establish or present a good, suflBcient 
 and valid proper title to or for the soil of the 
 land we occupy, and then give new leases, cast- 
 ing aside the day's services, fowls, quarter 
 sales, all reservations and restrictions con- 
 tained in the old leases, excepting the wheat, 
 and change that from wheat to money rent, 
 computing the same at $1 per bushel for each 
 and every bushel on each and any lot as re- 
 served in the old leases, give the tenants or any 
 of them the privilege at any future time here- 
 after of buying the soil for a sum of money that 
 the interest thereof at seven per cent, will 
 amount to a sum equal to the value of the 
 wheat on each and every lot at said $1 per 
 bushel, and reduce all arrears of rent to said $1 
 per bushel, relinquishing the day's services and 
 fowls on each and any lot against which arrears 
 are claimed." 
 
 The patroon made no reply to this deSant 
 statement. 
 
 THE TENANTS IN ABMS. 
 
 The sheriff of Albany county, Michael 
 Artcher, having been resisted in serving cer- 
 tain legal process on the defiant tenants of the 
 patroon of the west manor, in the vicinity of 
 the Helderberg mountains, on the 30th of 
 November, 1839, callled out a po>»e comitatui to 
 assist him in the discharge of his duty. About 
 1,000 persons answered this call, who in a long 
 procession of stages, barouches, wagons and 
 
114 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 horses, on the 2d of December, proceeded 
 toward Reedsville. About four miles beyond 
 Clark's tavern tliey were met by several hun- 
 dred armed men on horseback, who opposed 
 their further progress and compelled them to 
 return to Albany. 
 
 THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOVERNOR. 
 
 For the purpose of sustaining the laws of the 
 state, his excellency, William H. Seward, gov- 
 ernor of the state, issued a proclamation on 
 the 10th of December, 1839, warning all per- 
 sons from hindering or obstructing the ofScers 
 of justice in the execution of their duties. The 
 governor tells the people that he has taken 
 measures to call forth a sufficient military force 
 to enable the sheriff of the county of Albany 
 to execute effectually the legal process com- 
 mitted to him, and to maintain the supremacy 
 of the laws. 
 
 THE TROY MILITARY CALLED OUT. 
 
 On Monday, December 9, 1839, an order was 
 received from the adjutant general of the state 
 calling out the three uniformed mUitary compan- 
 ies of the city of Troy to proceed to Albany to 
 aid the sheriff of Albany county in executing 
 process upon the rebellious tenants of the west 
 manor. On Tuesday morning, the Troy Citi- 
 zens' corps, Capt. Pierce, the Troy City guard, 
 Capt. Wickes, and the Troy independent artil- 
 lery, Capt. Howe, proceeded to Albany in 
 obedience to this order. These companies, in 
 connection with the Albany Burgesses corps, 
 Capt. Bayeux, the Albany Union guards, Capt. 
 Brown, the Albany Republican artillery, Capt. 
 Strain, the first company Van Rensselaer 
 guards, Capt. Kearney, the second company 
 Van Rensselaer guards, Capt. Berry, all being 
 under the command of Major William Blood- 
 good, marched 12 miles to the scene of disturb- 
 ance, where they remained until the following 
 Tuesday, when they returned to Albany, over a 
 very bad road, covered with snow to the depth 
 of 15 inches. Speaking of the deportment of 
 the citizen soldiers, an Albany pai)er remarked : 
 
 Everything we hear of their bearing and deport- 
 ment excites admiration and gratitude. They 
 submitted strictly and cheerfully to a discipline as 
 rigid as that observed in any service. Their inter- 
 course with the inhabitants of the resisting towns 
 was in the highest degree conciliatory. Their for- 
 bearance amid the taunts and insults of an excited 
 populace awaiting their lirst approach is worthy 
 of all praise. They discharged their duty faith- 
 fully and fearlessly, but with a due and careful re- 
 gard to the rights of others, the peace of society, 
 and the honor of the service. 
 
 The formidable appearance of this large body 
 of military in the midst of the disaffected peo- 
 
 ple had the desired effect, and the sheriff of 
 Albany county served the processes without 
 any opposition. 
 
 ELIJAH S.MITH KILLED. 
 
 In the east manor, of which William P. Van- 
 Rensselaer was patroon, the troubles among 
 the tenants of the leased farms were often very 
 alarming in their character. In the excitement 
 of a gathering of ;■, party of disguised anti- 
 renters, on the 19th of December, 1845, In the 
 town of Grafton, near the house of Oliver 
 West, a short distance west of Grafton Centre, 
 Elijah Smith was killed. The latter, it seems, 
 while defensively or aggressively, had an up- 
 lifted axe in his hand, was shot. Several in- 
 vestigations were held to discover the person 
 committing the murder, and although more 
 than 200 persons were examined, the perpe- 
 trator of the deed was not identified. 
 
 A POLITICAL QUESTION. 
 
 Gov. Seward in several of his annual messages 
 called the attention of the legislature to the 
 matters complained of by the manor tenants. 
 A commission was appointed but nothing of a 
 definite or a pacific character resulted from its 
 investigations. The anti-rent feeling affected 
 not only the local but the state politics for a 
 number of years, particularly from 1842 to 
 1^7. In time the vexing questions connected 
 with the collection of rents by the agents of the 
 patroons ceased to trouble the public mind. In 
 1854 the patroons conveyed their interests in the 
 rents due them to Walter S. Church of Albany, 
 who for a time brought suits against the six 
 non-paying tenants and made collections of 
 rents. 
 
 THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OP THE TOWN OP 
 GRAFTON. 
 
 The first Baptist chiu-ch and society of the 
 town of Grafton, as named in the certificate of 
 incorporation, in 1841, had its origin early in 
 the century, when at several places in the town 
 small congregations of Baptists were accus- 
 tomed to assemble to hear certain elders of the 
 church preach. What is known as the Cobb 
 schoolhouse, in the Lortheastern part of the 
 town, was one of the places where divine wor- 
 ship was held. A second place of assemblage 
 was the schoolhouse, at East Grafton, formerly 
 designated as the Scriven neighborhood. 
 Often when the congregations were too large 
 to be accommodated with seats in the school- 
 house, it is said, the people repaired to Col. 
 Scriven's barn, where they held some very in- 
 teresting meetings. Elder Hull at this time 
 ofSciated, and once ministered when the ele- 
 ments of the Lord's supper were partaken of 
 by the members of the congregation in the 
 
HISTORY OP THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COXJHTT. 
 
 115 
 
 bam. Elder Joseph Wilcox was early known 
 as having charge of the congregation worship- 
 ing in the Cobb school house. During the 
 summer of 1815 a meeting was held in the 
 maple grove on the farm of the late Peter S. 
 Hjdom. It was here that the Rev. Nathan 
 Lewis, son of Elder John Lewis, was ordained. 
 From these several organizations the Grafton 
 Baptist church was formed in 1827. The first 
 church edifice, erected by the liberality of 
 Stephen Van Rensselaer, was built near the 
 present residence of Dr. Amos Allen. Among 
 the first members of the society were Benajah 
 Allen, Daniel Brimmer, John Crandall, Roswell 
 Crandall, Cyrus Davenport, Daniel P. M. 
 Davison, Ezra Davison, John Eldred, George 
 5akes, Jabez Hakes, John Howard, Ira Lam- 
 phire, John L. Lamphire, Nathan Lewis, Oliver 
 Main, Joseph D. Rogers, Ira Stone, David 
 West and Elisha Wells. For a number of 
 years the Rev. N. Lewis and the Rev. J. D. 
 Rogers jointly had charge of the spiritual con- 
 cerns of this congregation. 
 
 On the 14th of August, 1841, a meeting of the 
 members of the society was held at the house 
 of Benajah Allen for the purpose of complying 
 with the statute respecting the incorporation of 
 religious bodies. At this meeting Benajah 
 Allen, Potter Maxon, Caleb W. Scriven, Joseph 
 D. Wells, Zebulon P. Burdick and Rufus S. 
 Waite were elected " trustees of the First Bap- 
 tist church and society of the town of 
 Grafton." 
 
 About the year 1851 the work of erecting a 
 new church edifice was beeun, the site selected 
 being a short distance east of the old building 
 at Grafton Centre. During the pastorate of the 
 Rev. J. D. Rogers, about the year 18.53, the new 
 house of worship was finished and dedicated. 
 
 The followingpastors have served this church 
 since the year 1827 : The Revs. Nathan Lewis, 
 Joseph D. Rogers, H. J. S. Lewis, P. T. Shirley, 
 Timberman, E. D. Wilcox, Roswell Col- 
 lins, Catlin. The Rev. H. J. S. Lewis is 
 
 the present pastor. 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF ORAPTON 
 
 The earnest labors of Lorenzo Dow about the 
 beginning of the present century were fruitful in 
 the formation of a large number of Methodist 
 congregations along the eastern border of the 
 state. In 1828, on the seventh day of April, the 
 members of the Methodist Episcopal society in 
 the town of Grafton assembled at the usual 
 place of worship and elected David Hayner, 
 John P. I. Hayner and Timothy B. Wilds trus- 
 tees, by which the body became incorporated. 
 A church was erected on the road leading to 
 Grafton Center, about a mile east of Qnacken- 
 ail, which was known as the " Hemlocks 
 
 church." This old building was sold, and the 
 money used in building a parsonage at Grafton 
 Center in 1877. For a time the old church 
 building at Grafton Center, erected by the 
 patroon, was used by the society for divine 
 worship. In 1877 the new church building at 
 Grafton Center was finished, having cost about 
 $3,500. The Rev. G. W. Douglass was pastor 
 of the church at this time. The present roll of 
 membership registers the names of about fiO 
 persons. 
 
 THE FREE METHODIST CHURCH OF GRAFTON. 
 
 The organization of the Free Methodist 
 
 I church of Grafton was effected on the 5th day 
 
 j of January, 186-S. The Rev. A. B. Burdick was 
 
 I the first pastor of the church. In 1873 the so- 
 
 I ciety erected a house of worship about a mile 
 
 j east of Quackenkill at a cost of about $1,200. 
 
 For the purpose of incorporation the following 
 
 trustees were elected on the 18th day of June, 
 
 1872 : Edward Birdsall, Jonas Snyder, George 
 
 Graver and Aaron B. Burdick. 
 
 THE FIRST FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF 
 GRAFTOK. 
 
 This Baptist society was incorporated, accord- 
 ing to the statute, May 28, 1873. The trustees 
 then elected were the Rev. Choate Pratt, Ariel 
 C. Durkee and Warren Stewart. 
 
 GRAFTOX CENTER. 
 
 Grafton Center, which is situated about 13 
 miles east of the city of Troy, is in the center 
 of the town. In 1836 the place was known as 
 the Patroon's Mills, where at an early date the 
 patroon of the manor of Rensslaerwyck had 
 erected for the use of his tenants a grist mill, a 
 saw mill, a church and a tavern. In 1836 there 
 was a grist mill, a tavern, a store and about a 
 half score of buildings here. In the village at 
 present there are two churches, two hotels, 
 three stores, two blacksmith shops, a wagon- 
 maker's shop, a chair shop, and several shirt 
 factories. 
 
 EAST GRAFTON. 
 
 East Grafton is a hamlet containing a small 
 number of houses. The business interests of 
 the place include a hotel, a store, a blacksmith 
 shop and a wagonmaker's shop. 
 
 QUACKENKILL. 
 
 Tliis place derives its name from the stream 
 on which it is situated. The paint mill of E. H. 
 G. Clark, where is manufactured " Grafton 
 mineral paint," is the most important business 
 interest in the hamlet. From 600 to 700 tons 
 of paint are made annually. There are a hotel 
 and a blacksmith shop in the place. 
 
 POPrLATIO' OF THE TOWN. 
 
 ISIO 1.410 
 
 1S15 1,378 
 
 1S20 1,611 
 
 1S25 1,5».S 
 
 1830 1.681 
 
 1835 1,682 
 
 1840 2.019 
 
 1845 1,905 
 
 1330 2,033 
 
 1855 1,888 
 
 1880 1,837 
 
 1865 1,6W 
 
 1870 1,599 
 
 1875 l.fflM 
 
 1880 1,676 
 
116 
 
 HI9TOBT OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAKR COUNTY. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 THE TOWN OF BERLIN. 
 
 The Common Hardships of the Settlers — A Scarcity of Food — 
 The Clothing of the Pioneers — The Reception of the Declar- 
 ation OF Independence — The Epidemic of 1813 — Erection of the 
 Town — An Awful Case of Poisoning — Churches of the Town 
 — Table of Population. 
 
 The lives of the men and women who about 
 the close of the seventeenth and the beginning 
 of the eighteenth centuries were the first pi- 
 oneers to enter and settle within the depths of 
 the great northern wilderness lying on both 
 sides of the upper Hudson were marked with 
 many hardships and self-denials. The barest 
 necessities of furniture were found inside their 
 log-built, buk-covered cabins. Oiled linen or 
 greased paper were the common substitutes for 
 window glass, and dried stalks formed the cov- 
 ering of the unfloored building. 
 
 THE KEHimSCENCES OF A. SETTLES. 
 
 The description given of the common experi- 
 ences of the early settlers show a variety of dis- 
 comforts which people of more modern times 
 seldom endnre. Among the first to penetrate 
 the great woodland in the vicinity of the Little 
 Hoosick river, near its source, in the present 
 town of Berlin, was Daniel Hull. In the sum- 
 mer of 1769 he, on foot, left Connecticut in 
 search of a suitable spot where he might build 
 himself a home, and by tillage obtain a living 
 for his family. Having found such a locality in 
 the southern part of Hoosick valley, he re- 
 turned home. His two sons began in the 
 winter of that year to clear away the 
 trees, and shortly he with them erected a log 
 house near the site of the present residence of 
 DanielJ. Hull. It is said that in 1770 he brought 
 his family and the few household goods which 
 he possessed as far as the Douglas farm, where 
 now is East Stephentown. He had with him a 
 yoke of oxen, a farm cart and a horse. Beyond 
 this stopping point there was no open road, and 
 he was comi>elled to leave the cart and pursue 
 the remainder of his journey along an old In- 
 dian trail. Nelson Hull, in his reminiscences. 
 
 thus speaks of the pioneer life of his grand- 
 father's family in the great woods : 
 
 When they arrived at their new home their pro- 
 visions were nearly consumed. Means must be 
 taken to replenish their store. This howl- 
 ing wilderness was a poor market to look for 
 stores for subsistence. Bears and deer and other 
 game roamed in the forest. The brooks were 
 alive with trout, but they had no time to take 
 them. Every moment must be employed in clear- 
 ing up the land to raise grain for bread and 
 increase their store of the necessaries of life. 
 Corn they bought of the Dutch in the Brimmer 
 neighborhood. To get it ground they were neces- 
 sitated to carry it on horseback to a mill near the 
 federal stores, now West Nassau. Nearly the whole 
 of this way was a dense forest : the roads con- 
 sisted of nothing but paths most of the way. The 
 distance was full 30 miles, and it usually required 
 about three days to make one of those mill Jour- 
 neys. In the course of three years a highway was 
 opened to Williamstown, Mass., the distance was 
 shortened, but it often took three days to get a, 
 grist ground there and return home. There was no 
 mill in the valley of the Hoosick till the year 1779 
 or 1780. This was erected by a Mr. Trial, and after- 
 wards called the Bates mill. 
 
 A SCANTT SUPPLT OF FOOD. 
 
 They had no milk, butter or meat, except occa- 
 sionally some wild game. They got buttermilk of 
 the Dutch. On ibis and com bread they mostly 
 lived. The second year they had a small crop of 
 wheat and purchased a cow. Fare was a little 
 better. The cow had to be turned into the woods 
 to get her living ; if she roamed so far away that 
 they could not find her, the family went to bed 
 without their supper, or supped upon dry bread, 
 which was often the case. * • * The second 
 year they also raised some pork. The means 
 for raising or fattening pork was al- 
 most wholly on wild nuts for several yean. 
 
HISTOBT OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 117 
 
 The little store of pork laid in was generally con- 
 sumed at an early day in the spring, if not long 
 before. When spring opened they commenced 
 making sugar from the maple. To make up for 
 milk, which they seldom had at this season, they 
 substituted sap-porridge. Several dishes were 
 seasoned with this beverage [maple sugar] ; it also 
 took the place of butter. The facilities for mak- 
 ing It were such they could obtain but little. The 
 sugar seldom lasted longer than the spring 
 months ; for the remainder of the year milk and 
 bread served them for food. 
 
 They suffered much from the cold ; it was not 
 uncommon to rise in the morning with their beds 
 covered with snow to the depth of several inches. 
 Their houses were open and their furniture con- 
 sisted of a few articles of the simplest kind. Their 
 outside clothing consisted of flannel or linsey- 
 wool, in fashion not dissimilar from a hunting 
 coat ; a jacket of the same, if they could get one : 
 short breeches almost invariably of leather, either 
 buckskin or sheep, shoes and stockings. 
 
 THEIB OWN CI/OTHES MAKERS. 
 
 There were no factories or mills to card wool or 
 dress cloth. Fulling mills were in use, but none 
 existed in these parts for some years. The first 
 fulling mill in this place was on the Swamp creek, 
 west of Cherry Plain hill, near the Bailey orchard, 
 built by Mr. Ludington. The wool taken from the 
 sheep was carded, spun and woven, also fulled ; 
 this was done by pounding in a trough -or barrel, 
 in the usual way of pounding clothes at the pres- 
 ent day ; lastly cut and made by their wives and 
 daughters. • • • 
 
 Their market was Schodack landing or Castle- 
 ton. In consequence of the poor roads the market 
 could be reached only in winter, with a sleigh. 
 The inhabitants, for several years, seldom made 
 the journey, except when compelled to for want 
 of salt {this article was very dear) and a few other 
 indispensables. The little trade carried on or cur- 
 rency in use among the inhabitants of the valley 
 was 'n wheat. ♦ • • There was no store in the 
 country till 1778. This was opened by Joseph 
 Westooat, North Stephentown now. and where 
 the house of Mrs. B. Dennison Jones afterwards 
 stood. The next by James Jones, 1783, at Sweet's 
 Comers, now South Berlin. 
 
 THE PATRIOTISM OF THE SETTLERS. 
 
 When the declaration of independence was re- 
 ceived the inhabitants through the country 
 assembled at the house of Daniel Bull to hear it 
 read and counsel for future action. The military 
 formed in line on the ground, now the door-yard 
 in front of Benjamin L. Hull's house. Here 
 Daniel Hull read the declaration for the first time 
 publicly in the valley of the Hoosick. After the 
 reading, he said : " I am one to sustain this declara- 
 tion." Requesting the commanding ofiicer (I think 
 Capt. Samuel Shaw) to order his ranks to open to 
 the right and left, which was accordingly done, he, 
 (Daniel Hull), stepping forth between the two lines 
 requested all that would sustain the declaration to 
 foUow him. Seeing an exciting stir and smile 
 
 from the soldiers, looking behind himself, 
 he saw his vrife. who had joined in the line 
 of march, acknowledging her services should not 
 be withheld in sustaining that declaration of inde- 
 pendence. Every man joined in this line of march 
 as volunteers in the cause of liberty and inde- 
 pendence. It is said the reading of the declara- 
 tion and the exercises were affecting, and a deep 
 sense of the importance of the cause and the 
 trust pervaded the heart of every individual 
 present. 
 
 Much deprivation and suffering were in every 
 part of the country. Bvery able-bodied man was 
 serving his country, either at home or abroad. 
 The lands were neglected, families left in want, 
 but all was with a .willing heart for independence. 
 The women did not withhold ; they applied their 
 hands to the tilling of the lands, etc., to keep a 
 starving family alive, and a famishing soldier. 
 
 THE NAMES OF THE FXBST SETTLEBS. 
 
 Godfrey Brimmer is accorded the honor of 
 being the first settler located on the territory 
 now embraced within the boundaries of the 
 town of Berlin. He is said to hare made his 
 home in the noi'them part of this portion of the 
 manor of Rensselaerwyck as early as the year 
 1765. Reuben Bonesteel came shortly after- 
 wards. In 1769 Peter Simmons, Jacob O. Crop- 
 sey and Joseph Green were numbered among 
 the persons occupying farms in this part of the 
 couuty. Col. Caleb Bentley took to farming in 
 the northern and Thomas Sweet in the south- 
 em part about this time. Paul Braman, James 
 and Daniel Dennison, Nathaniel NUes, Feleg 
 Thomas and Joshua Whitford were also early 
 settlers. 
 
 Nelson Hull in his reminiscences thus refers 
 to the tide of emigration in this vicinity : 
 
 After the revolution new settlers began to come 
 in and enlarge the boundaries of cultivation. 
 Mechanical arts began to increase. A saw mill 
 was built near the year 1780 by Amos Sweet, in the 
 hollow east of the Christian chapel. A black- 
 smith shop was opened by Thomas Sweet, on the 
 east side of the road, a short distance north of 
 Sweet's Comers. This was much earlier than the 
 above date. 
 
 The early inhabitants of the country were gen- 
 erally quite healthy and athletic, but a doctor saw 
 fit to settle here, whether for weal or woe, near 
 the year 1775— Dr. John Forbes— at Sweet's Cor- 
 ners. 
 
 The first frame house in the present limits of 
 the town of Berlin was built by Daniel Hull, near 
 the close of the revolution, on the same ground 
 where now resides Daniel J. Hull. 
 
 In 1813 an epidemic made its appearance in the 
 valley of the Hoosick and swept through the 
 country like a tomado. * * * There was little 
 or no exception as to age ; the young and the ath- 
 letic fell before the destroyer. Mourning was in 
 almost every house ; but few families escaped- 
 
118 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 Few cases were cured. It made its appearance 
 near midwinter, and continued till warm weather. 
 
 TOWS OP BERLIN ERECTED. 
 
 By "an act to divide the towns of Peters- 
 burg, Stephentown and Schodack, in the county 
 of Rensselaer, into five towns," passed by the 
 legislature March 21, 1806, the town of Berlin 
 was erected. The boundary lines of the town 
 were. 
 
 All that part of the town of Petersburg lying 
 south of a line drawn from the south-east comer 
 of the town of Troy, in a direct course with the 
 south line of Troy, east to the line of the state of 
 Massachusetts ; and all that part of the town of 
 Stephentown lying north of a line drawn from the 
 north-east comer of the town of Shodack, running 
 east to the aforesaid line of Massachusetts, shall 
 be a separate town by the name of Berlin, and the 
 first town meeting shall be held at the house of 
 Charles Denison. 
 
 In 1812, June 19, a part of the territory of 
 the town was taken to form the town of Sand- 
 lake. 
 
 The town lies near the centre of the eastern 
 boundary of the county. The Kinderhook 
 creek flowing southwardly and the Little 
 Hoosick northwardly are the two principal 
 streams watering the town. Several lakes 
 beautify the western part of the town. 
 
 POISONED HIS WIPE. 
 
 In the year 1845 the people of the town of 
 Berlin were horrified by the details of a crime 
 which for its cold-blooded character is without 
 a parallel. The facts connected with its per- 
 petration, as related in the newspapers, were 
 the following : It appears that Henry G. Green, 
 a resident of the town, became enamored of 
 a young woman named Mary Ann Wyatt of 
 Lowell, Mass. Green made her acquaintance 
 while she was a member of a theatrical troupe 
 with which her brother was associated. 
 After a short engagement they were mar- 
 ried. Soon after their marriage they 
 in company with a number of other friends 
 made a visit to Hoosick. In a merr.v way one 
 of the ladies had told Green that she had once 
 entertained hopes that she would have been his 
 wife. By some strong fatality he at once began 
 in a secret way to plan the death of his wife by 
 the administration of poison. Opium was first 
 used by him, but this only sickened his wife for 
 a time. He then purchased a quantity of 
 arsenic, which he put in the coffee and soup 
 partaken of by his unsuspecting and loving 
 wife. In his confession he admitted that his 
 victim was all that he could have desired her to 
 be, but that his mind was bent upon her re- 
 moval so that he might many the woman who 
 had playfully told him that she had thought she 
 
 would have been his bride. He declared that 
 he had no fears of detection, and that the first 
 feeling of sympathy he had for his wife was 
 when he witnessed her sufferings from the ef- 
 fect of the poison. It is said that he had 
 evinced his affection for his wife after their 
 marriage, on the 9th day of February, by pre- 
 senting her with a cloak, a dress and other ar- 
 ticles. His wife never became aware of any 
 want of affection on his part until she became 
 suspicious that he was the cause of her sick- 
 ness. Five days after their marriage his wife 
 died, on the 14th of February, from the effects 
 of the poison she had taken in her food, placed 
 there by her husband. 
 
 The judge, in pronouncing sentence against 
 Green, said: 
 
 An intelligent jury have found yon guilty, and 
 there is no person who has heard the trial who 
 does not concur in the justice of the verdict. You 
 stand condemned as guilty of having murdered 
 your wife. Your case in all respects exceeds in 
 enormity any of which I have ever heard. It will, 
 no doubt, stand out on the page of history as the 
 most criminally awful case of murder that ever 
 came before court or jury. You murdered her 
 deliberatelv ; you murdered the woman you had 
 sworn but one short week, I may say four days be- 
 fore, to cherish through Ufe ; the woman whose 
 destiny had been placed in your keeping, in less 
 than one week after marriage you deUberately 
 poisoned. You pursued your design day and night, 
 repeating the deadly potation from time to time 
 until she expired, and then added to the crime of 
 murder the black crime of perjury, for you viola- 
 ted the most solemn vow you made at the altar. 
 
 For this crime Green was hung, on Wednes- 
 day, Sept. 10, 1845. 
 
 In the burying ground near the village of Ber- 
 lin two marble tablets were placed, at the heads 
 of the two graves ; one bearing the following 
 inscription : 
 
 Henry G. Green, bom Dec. 30, 1822, died Sept. 10, 
 1845. 
 
 " Prepare to meet thy God." 
 
 Another marking the tomb of his wife : 
 
 Mary A. W. Green, died Feb. 14, 1845, in the 23d 
 year of her age. 
 
 This monument is erected by the citizens of Ber- 
 lin in memory of Mary Ann Wyatt, wife of Henry 
 G. Green, who was married Feb. 9, 1845, and on the 
 14tb day of the same month was poisoned by her 
 husband with arsenic without any real or pre- 
 tended cause. 
 
 Beautiful, intelligent and virtuous, she was 
 wept over by the community, and the violated law 
 justly exacted the life of her murderer as a penalty 
 for his crime. 
 
 THE SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 This religious society dates its organization 
 CD the 24th of September, 1780. It was first 
 
HISTOBY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 119 
 
 known as the Sabbatarian church of Christ in 
 Little Hoosick. The first meeting for the pur- 
 pose of organization was held at the house of 
 Joshua Whitford, on the South Hollow road. 
 Elder John Bnrdick of Hopkinton, R. I., and 
 Elder John Darts of Farmington, Conn., were 
 the chief organizers of this society. At the 
 first meeting William Coon was selected as 
 elder of the congregation and AV'illiam Green- 
 man deacon. In 1800 the first house cf wor- 
 ship was erected, which was first used for 
 divine service on the 31st of October of that 
 year. It had a seating capacity for about 
 300 persons and cost about $2,000. 
 In the month of August, 1821. the building was 
 blown down during a tornado. In 1823 the 
 erection of a new structure on the old church 
 site was begun, which was completed in 1835. 
 In 1848 it was enlarged by the addition of a ves- 
 tibule and a bell tower, and in 1876 it was fur- 
 ther remodeled. The present building was ded- 
 idated in the winter of 1825-:36, elder William 
 Satterlee officiating. During the erection of 
 the church the society was incorporated. For 
 this purpose a meeting was held at the school- 
 house in the village of Berlin on the 8th of Feb- 
 ruary, 1824. The following persons were elect- 
 ed trustees of the "Seventh Day Baptist socie- 
 ty in Berlin": Edward Whitford, Lodowick 
 Saunders, Asa Coon, W. Green and Benjamin 
 Vars. 
 
 The following elders have had charge of the 
 spiritual affairs of the society since its organ- 
 ization : Elders William Coon, 1780-1821 ; Asa 
 Coon, 1821 ; WilUam Satterlee, 1822-40 ; J. L. 
 Scott, 1847-49 : J. H. Cochran, 1849-53 ; L. C. 
 Rogers, 1853-57 ; A. W. Coon, 1857-63 ; Varnum 
 HuU, 1863-65 ; Solomon Carpenter, 1865-6'3 ; 
 J. Summerbell, 1867-75 ; and Elder B. F. Rog- 
 ers to the present time. 
 
 The present roll of membership of the so- 
 ciety bears the names of 141 persons. This 
 church is in the village of Berlin. 
 
 THE FIBST DAY BAPTIST CHUBCH. 
 
 This society was organized about the close of 
 the revolutionary war. A house of worship 
 built ot logs was erected near the present 
 boundary lines of the towns of Berlin and Ste- 
 phentown. The first settled minister over this 
 society was Elder Justus Hull, who was or- 
 dained about the year 1784. He continued his 
 pastoral relations with the society until his 
 death. May 29, 1833. The first meeting held 
 for the purpose of incorporating the society 
 was on the a4th of January, 1834, at the meet- 
 ing house at Berlin. Daniel Hull, Daniel Gray, 
 Albin Matison, Joseph Crandall and Clark Bly 
 were then elected trustees of the first day Bap- 
 
 tist society in the town of Berlin. A second 
 meeting for the same purpose appears to have 
 been held on the 13th of January, 1834, when 
 John Reeve, Joseph Crandall, Ebenezer Robin- 
 son, Samuel Green, Jonathan H. Rhodes, Wil- 
 liam J. Sheldon, Jonathan Nichols, Clark B. 
 Lamphire and Henry Brown were elected 
 trustees. 
 
 The following elders have served the congre- 
 gation : Elders Justus Hull, 1784-1833 ; Joseph 
 D. Rogers, 18-34-1838 ; Isaac S. Clifford, 1839- 
 1850 ; William Bowen, 1850-1851 ; William 
 Smith, 1852-1855; Solomon Gale, 1855-1880; 
 H. A. Gould, 1861-1865; William Gamett, 
 1866-1867 ; J. C. Butler, 1867-1868 ; and Elder 
 N. Mulford, 1869 to present time. The church 
 has at present about 200 members. 
 
 THE CHKISTIAN CHURCH. 
 
 This society dates its organization from Jan- 
 uary 37, 1830, when it was an auxiliary to the 
 Petersburgh church. In 1832 the first house of 
 worship, at South Berlin, was dedicated in 
 September by the Rev. Joseph Rogers. Among 
 the persons named as the organizers of the 
 society are the Revs. John Spoor, Joseph 
 Rogers, David Ford and Abner Jones. In 1865 
 the church building was repaired and dedicated 
 a second time. It is a frame structure, having 
 about 400 seats. It has on its roll of member- 
 ship the names of about 45 persons. 
 
 The following persons have ministered to this 
 congregation : The Revs. John Spoor, 1831-32 ; 
 
 David Ford, Martin, Currier, J. Hoag, 
 
 Conklin, Benjamin F. Summerbell, W. O. 
 
 Cushen; Cox, George Strevell, William 
 
 Olin, Hicks, J. R. Taylor and the Rev. 
 
 George Strevell to present time. 
 
 For the purpose of incorporating the society 
 a meeting was held on the 6th of January, 1853, 
 at which the following persons were elected 
 trustees of the Christian chapel of Berlin : 
 Egbert B. Hull, Lorenzo B. Dennison, Harry 
 Hull, Jonathan Dennison, William Jones and 
 Andrew Hcwett. 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAl, CHURCH. 
 
 The first class of this society was organized 
 in November, 1877, in the good templars' hall 
 in the village of Berlin. In 1778 the erection of 
 a frame house of worship was begun on the 
 road a short distance south of the village. 
 It was dedicated January 19, 1879; the 
 Revs. L. Marshall presiding elder, H. L. Starks 
 and J. W. Coons officiating. The edifice has a 
 seating capacity for about 200 persons, and cost 
 about $1,200. The church has about 85 mem- 
 bers. The pastors of the church have been the 
 Revs. J. M. Appleman, J. W. Coons and the 
 Rev. Charles B. Lewis to date. 
 
120 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EBNSSELAEE OO0NTY. 
 
 THE GERMAN LUTHEBAN ZION's CHtTBOE. 
 
 The congregation of this church was organ- 
 ized on the first Sunday in Hay, 1863, in South 
 Berlin. In 1863 a frame building for a house 
 of worship was erected, which was dedicated 
 October 83, 1863, the Rev. F. A. Classen of- 
 ficiating. The cost of the building was placed 
 at 18.50, and it has a seating capacity for about 
 250 persons. The number of its present mem- 
 bership is 58. The pastors of this church have 
 been the Revs. John Bochert, F. A. Classen, F. 
 Heinle, Die*erich Bruno, and the Rev. George 
 Vetter. 
 
 BERLIN. 
 
 This village on account of its situation in the 
 northern part of the town is frequently called 
 North Berlin. The eastern turnpike from Al- 
 bany to Williamstown, Mass., projected in the 
 early part of this century, passed through this 
 place. In 1836 it is mentioned as having " a 
 small public library, one Seventh day Baptist 
 church, two grist mills, two saw mills, a tavern, 
 three stores, and about 50 dwellings." In the 
 village at present there are three churches, two 
 hotels, a number of stores and shops and about 
 150 dwellings. The oldest house in Berlin is 
 
 said to be the one occupied by James Irwin, 
 which was built about the close of the last cen- 
 tury by John Reeve. 
 
 BEBLIN CENTEB. 
 
 This place is situated very near the centre of 
 the town on the Little Hoosick creek. As early 
 as the year 1790, the hamlet was an important 
 point in the town, there being here a tavern, a 
 store, a tannery and a potashery. In 1836 the 
 place comprised a church, a store, a tavern and 
 about 16 dwellings. At present the place in- 
 cludes a store and postoffice, a tavern, a car- 
 penter shop, and about a score of buildings. 
 
 SOUTH BERLm. 
 
 This hamlet is in the south part 'of the town, 
 and is situated on the Little Hoosick creek. 
 The Christian church, a cheese factory, two 
 blacksmith shops, a. steam saw mill and about 
 35 buildings compose the place. 
 
 POPULATION OF THE TOWK OP BERLIN. 
 
 1810 3,012 
 
 1816 1,955 
 
 1820 1,986 
 
 1825 1,989 
 
 1830 2,019 
 
 1835 1.757 
 
 1840 1,794 
 
 184S 134S 
 
 1850 2,005 
 
 1855 2,167 
 
 1860 2,S2S 
 
 1865 2,140 
 
 1870 2,088 
 
 1875 2,260 
 
 1880 2,203 
 
HISTOET OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 121 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE TOWN OF NASSAU. 
 
 The Home Life of the Early Settlers — The Productions of the 
 Gardens — The Summer Habits of the Indians — The Labors of 
 AN Early Missionary — Erection of Philipstown — The Indian 
 Titles of the Anti-Renters — The Birthplace of John A. Gris- 
 woLD — The Churches of the Town — Its Villages and Hamlets 
 — Population. 
 
 The domestic life of the early settlers of the 
 county of Bensselaer was, no doubt, dull and 
 monotonous. Recreation in its more modern 
 acceptation seldom lightened the constant and 
 increasing cares of the busy households shel- 
 tered beneath the rooms of the widely scattered 
 log houses in the manor of Rensselaerwyck. 
 Labor, from early morning until darkening 
 night, permitted little rest and relaxation. 
 While the cultivation of the fields demanded the 
 attention of men the women, besides bear- 
 ing uncomplainingly a multitude of burdens, 
 industriously toiled in the little sjoaces of 
 ground attached to every dwelling, known as 
 their gardens. 
 
 women's wokk. 
 
 Referring to the various household duties 
 which engaged the thought and labor of the 
 females, a lady writing of life in the country 
 during the last century, says : 
 
 Every one in town or country bad a garden ; but 
 all the more hardy plants grew in the fields, in 
 rows, amidst the bills, as they were called, of 
 Indian com. These lofty plauts sheltered them 
 from the sun, while the same hoeing served for 
 both; there cabbages, potatoes and other esculent 
 roots, with a variety of gourds, grew to a great 
 size and were of an excellent quality. Eidney- 
 beans, asparagus, celery, cucumbers, etc., were 
 only admitted iLto the garden, into which no foot 
 of man intruded, after it was dug in spring. Here 
 were no trees ; those grew in the orchard in high 
 perfection. Strawberries and many high-flavored 
 wild fruits of the shrub kind abounded so much in 
 the woods that they did not think of cultivating 
 them in their gardens, which were extremely neat 
 but small, not by any means calculated for walk- 
 ing in. I think I yet see what I have often beheld 
 
 15 
 
 both in town and country, a respectable mistresi 
 of a family going out to her garden, in an April 
 morning, with her great calasb, her little pointed 
 basket of seeds, and her rake over her shoulder, to 
 her labors. These were by no means figurative. 
 " From mom till noon, from noon till dewy eve," 
 a woman, in very easy circumstances and abund- 
 antly gentle in form and manners, would sow, and 
 plant, and rake, incessantly. These fair gardeners 
 were also great florists ; their emulation and solici- 
 tude in this pleashig employment did produce 
 ''flowers worthy of paradise." Though not set in 
 " carious knots," they were arranged in beds, the 
 varieties ot each Kind by themselves ; this, if not 
 varied and elegant, was at least rich and gay. 
 
 THE FBIEKDLT INDIASS. 
 
 The Indians from whom the various tracts of 
 land had been purchased, from time to time, 
 returned to the places where they had roamed 
 in quest of game before the white men had put 
 the ground under tillage. They manifested in 
 the days of peace strong friendly feelings to- 
 ward the families of the settlers. The visita- 
 tion of these "wild men," as the Dutch at first 
 called the aboriginal inhabitants of the upper 
 Hudson, were generally made in summer. The 
 writer already quoted gives a very interesting 
 description of the habits of the red men on 
 these occasions, when they made their home 
 for a season in the vicinity of the residences of 
 the more wealthy and benevolent inhabitants of 
 Rensselaerwyck. She remarks : 
 
 They generally built a slight wigwam under shel- 
 ter of the orchard fence on the shadiest side, and 
 never were neighbors more harmless and peace- 
 able and obliging— I might truly add, industrious, 
 for in one way or other they were constantly oc- 
 cupied. The women and their children employed 
 
122 
 
 HI8TOKY OF THE TOWNS OF KEN3SELAER COUNTY. 
 
 themselves in many ingenious handicrafts, which, 
 since the introduction of European arts and manu- 
 factures, have greatly declined. 
 
 INDIAN HANDICRAFT. 
 
 Baking trays, wooden dishes, ladles and 
 spoons, shovels and rakes, brooms of a peculiar 
 manufacture, made by splitting a birch block into 
 slender but tough filaments, enriched with the 
 most beautiful colors, which they alone knew 
 how to extract from vegetable substances and in- 
 corporate with the wood. They made also of 
 the birch-bark (which is here so strong and tena 
 cious that cradles and canoes are made of it,) 
 many receptacles for holding fruit and othei; 
 things, curiously adorned with embroidery not 
 inelegant, done with the sinews of deer; and 
 leggins and moccasins, a very comfortable and 
 highly ornamented substitute for shoes and stock- 
 ings, then universally used in winter among the 
 men of our own people. 
 
 They bad also a beautiful manufacture of deer 
 skin, softened to the consistence of the finest 
 chamois leather, and embroidered with beads and 
 wampum formed like bugles ; these with great art 
 and industry they formed out of shells, which had 
 the appearance of flne white porcelain, veined 
 with purple. This embroidery showed both skill 
 and taste, and was among themselves highly 
 valued. They had belts, large embroidered gar- 
 ters and many other ornaments, formed, first of 
 deer sinews, divided to the size of coarse thread, 
 and afterwards, when they obtained worsted 
 thread from us, of that material, formed in a man- 
 ner which I could never comprehend. It was 
 neither knitted nor wrought in the manner of a 
 net, nor yet woven ; but the texture was more 
 like that of an ofBoer'e sash than anything I can 
 compare it to. 
 
 While the women and children were thus em- 
 ployed the men sometimes assisted them in the 
 more laborious part of their business, but oftener 
 occupied themselves in fishing on the rivers, and 
 drying or preserving, by means of smoke, in sheds 
 erected for the purpose, sturgeon and large eels, 
 which they caught in great quantities and of an 
 extraordinary size, for winter provision. 
 
 Boys on the verge of manhood and ambitious to 
 be admitted into the hunting parties of the ensu- 
 ing winter, exercised themselves in trying to im- 
 prove their sitill in archery, by shooting birds, 
 squirrels and raccoons. » • * The summer 
 residence of these ingenious artisans promoted a 
 great intimacy between the females of the vicinity 
 and the Indian women, whose sagacity and com- 
 prehension of mind were beyond belief. 
 
 THT ANTIPATHY OP THE INDIANS TOWARD THE NE- 
 QBOES. 
 
 It is a singular circumstance that though they 
 saw the negroes in every respectable family not 
 only treated with humanity but cherished with pa- 
 rental kindness, they always regarded them vrith 
 contempt and dislike as an inferior race, and 
 would have no communication with them. It was 
 necessary, then, that all conversations should be 
 
 held and all business transacted with these females 
 by the mistress of the family. In the infancy of 
 the settlement the Indian language was familiar to 
 the more intelligent inhabitants, who found It very 
 useful, and were no doubt pleased with its nervous 
 and emphatic idiom, and its lofty and sonorous ca- 
 dence. It was, indeed, a noble and copious lan- 
 guage, when one considers that it served as the 
 vehicle of thought to a people whose ideas and 
 sphere of action we should consider as so very 
 confined. 
 
 THE MISSIONABY OF KAMAMUCK. 
 
 The Christian zeal of the Kev. David Brain- 
 ard for the conversion of the Indians inhabiting 
 that part of the manor of Kensselaerwyck, 
 then designated as Eamamuck, now included 
 within the boundaries of the town of Nassau, 
 drew this devoted and self-denjing missionary 
 to this field of gospel work. It is said that this 
 evangelist entered upon his brief residence in 
 this section on the 1st of April, 1743. The 
 rude, one-roomed, unfloored log cabin of an in- 
 dustrious pioneer, a Scotchman, became his 
 home. Here, in the southeastern part of the 
 territory embraced within the present limits of 
 the town of Nassau, the Kev. David Brainard 
 disseminated the truths of the Christian re 
 ligion to the friendly Indians. The short visit 
 of the pious man was concluded by his re- 
 moval, by reason of ill health, on May 1, 1744. 
 The present hamlet of Brainard was named 
 in honor of this zealous missionary's work in 
 this section among the Indians. 
 
 About the year 1760 Hugh Wilson and Joseph 
 Primmer became settlers of two tracts of land 
 lying near the present body of water on the 
 western bounds of the town, known as Hoag's 
 pond. At a close remove from it a number of 
 Stockbridge Indians had a village, which they 
 called Ontikehomuck. Their chief's name was 
 Kashekekomuck. On the 16th of May, 1760, 
 these Indians sold two pieces of land to Hugh 
 Wilson and Joseph Primmer, one being north 
 and the other south of the pond. 
 
 As designated on the map of the manor of 
 Kensselaerwyck made by Jno. R. Bleeker, in 
 1767, the following persons were at that time 
 residing mthin the territory of the present 
 town of Nassau : Hugh Wilson, Henry Post, 
 John W. Schermerhom and John McCagg. 
 Subsequently other settlers were added to this 
 small number of pioneers. Thomas Hicks, 
 Daniel Litz, Titus Huested, Major Abijah Bush, 
 Abraham Holmes, James Marks, John B. Adsit, 
 William Root, Jonathan Williams, Amaziab 
 Bailey, Reuben Bateman, David Waterbury, 
 Patrick McGee and James H. Ball took up 
 leases of land from the patroon during the 
 latter part of the century. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OV RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 123 
 
 Hoag's pond took Us name from an early set- 
 tler named Jonathan Hoag, who on May 16, 
 1793, purchased a tract of land from Stephen 
 Van Rensselaer, which included the pond, 
 which was then known as the "Vly," or 
 "Beaver dam." This enterprising pioneer 
 erected, a, short distance north of the site of 
 the Nassau mills, a grist mill, which was des- 
 troyed by fire in 1818. Jonathan Hoag repre- 
 sented his district in the state legislature dur- 
 ing the years 1798 and 1799. 
 
 CREATION OP THE TOWX OF PHILIPSTOWN. 
 
 By "An act to divide the towns of Peters- 
 borgh, Stephentown and Schodack, m the 
 county of Rensselaer, into five towns," passed 
 by the state legislature March 21, 1806, the 
 town of Philipstown was erected. The bound- 
 aries of the town are given as follows : 
 
 AU the remaioine part of the town of Stephen- 
 town lying west of a line running parallel with the 
 east line of the said town of Stephentown, at a 
 distance of eight miles from the said east line, and 
 all that part of the town of Schodack lying east of 
 the eight mile stake, standine a little east of the 
 house of Timothy Philips, and extending southerly 
 to Jonathan Hoag's erist-mill pond, and thence 
 southerly as the creek runs to the north bounds 
 of the county of Columbia, shall be a separate town 
 by the name of Philipstown ; and that the first town 
 meeting shiill be held at the house of Pliny Miller. 
 
 The name of the town was changed by "An 
 act to change the names of towns therein men- 
 tioned," passed April 6, 1808. The clause in 
 the act referring to it reads: "The town of 
 Philipstown, in the county of Rensselaer, shall 
 be named Nassau." 
 
 THE FIRST TOWK OFFICERS. 
 
 The first town meeting for the election of 
 town officers was held on the 1st of April, 
 1806, at the house of Pliny Miller, inn-holder. 
 The following persons were elected : Super- 
 visor, Jonathan Hoag; town clerk, William 
 C. Elmore; assessors, Fenuer Palmer, Joseph 
 Finch, Elijah Adams, Joseph S. Gale and Titus 
 Huested ; collector, Charles Mason ; overseers 
 of the poor, Samuel Gale and David Water- 
 bnry ; commissioners of highways, Fenner | 
 Palmer, Enoch Benedict and James H. Bail; 
 constables, Charles Mason, William King and | 
 Ebenezer Martin ; fence viewers, Enoch Bene- j 
 diet, Fenner Palmer, Benjamin Mason, Titus ; 
 Huested, Timothy Sibley, Gershorn Tabor, ' 
 Samuel Enapp, John Turner and Jeremiah j 
 Macks ; poundmasters, Jonathan Hoag, Abijah 
 Bush and Isaac Dunham. At this meeting 39 | 
 overseers of highways were elected. 
 
 THE ANTI-BEST INDIAKS. 
 
 During the anti-rent troubles of 1839-47, a 
 
 large number of the tenants of the patroon of 
 Rensselaerwyck who at the time occupied 
 leased farms in the town of Nassau became dis- 
 affected. An anti-rent organization was formed 
 at the " old Martin tavern," at Hoag's Comers. 
 It was determined by its members that they 
 would resist the collection of ground rents and 
 by various ways resist the officers of the law in 
 the entorcement of the demands of the patroon. 
 The different officers of the organization were 
 designated by high-sounding titles, derived 
 from the Indians. Among the names bestowed 
 were "Big Thunder" to Dr. Smith A.Boughton 
 of Alps, " Little Thunder" to Franklin Abbott, 
 a resident of Hoag's Comers, and "Tusca- 
 rora" to Thomas Thompson of Hoag's Comers. 
 On one occasion the sheriff of Rensselaer 
 county, Gideon Reynolds, with & posse eonuUatus 
 of 25 men, was captured by this organization, 
 the members of which were accustomed to array 
 themselves in outlandish Indian costume, and, 
 with painted faces, ride with alarming yells on 
 horseback though the country about the time 
 a collection of rents was demanded. The cap- 
 ture was made near Alps. The horses of the 
 sheriff and his company of law-sustainers were 
 turned loose, and the sheriff and his posse were 
 compelled to return a part of the way to their 
 homes on foot. A deputy, on whom the civil 
 process were found, was tarred and feathered. 
 Deputy Sheriff Lewis of Nassau village was on 
 another occasion similarly treated by the antl- 
 renter.s. 
 
 MEN or FAME. 
 
 The village of Nassau on the 11th of Novem- 
 ber, 1818, became the birthplace of John Augus- 
 tus Griswold. The latter in 1823, 1831 and 1835 
 was a member of the assembly from Rensselaer 
 county. 
 
 Major Gen. John E. Wool for a number of 
 years made the village of Nassau his residence. 
 
 It is said that at the Van Valkenburgh inn at 
 Nassau Joseph Bonaparte, the Marquis de 
 Lafayette, Major Gen. Lewis Cass, Martin Van 
 Buren, Gov. Clinton, and other distinguished 
 persons have partaken of its cheer and com- 
 forts. 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 The erection of the first church in the vicin- 
 ity of Hoag's pond, on the western boundaries 
 of the town, in 1787, by a number of persons 
 belonging to the Dutch Reformed, Lutheran 
 and Presbyterian churches, was prior to the 
 preaching of the Rev. Jacobus V. C. Romeyn 
 in a barn which once stood opposite the site of 
 the dwelling of Dr. Samuel McClellan, in Nas- 
 sau village. 
 
 In 1795 a house of worship of an undenomi- 
 national character was erected in the village of 
 
124 
 
 HISTOEY OF THE TOWITS OF EENSSELAEE COTJNTY. 
 
 Xassan. The boilding stood near the site of 
 the present Reformed church parsonage, on 
 Chatham street. 
 
 FIBST BAPTIST OHnBCH OP NASSAU. 
 
 The society of the first Baptist church, it is 
 said, was organized about the year 1790, and a 
 house of worship erected a short distance east 
 of Nassau Tillage. On the 7th of December, 
 1850, the following persons were elected trus- 
 tees of " the First Baptist church and society 
 in Nassau :" David Shaver, Ezra Hemingway 
 and Bernard E. Lord. 
 
 SBCONI) BAPTIST CHUBCH OF NA3SAT7. 
 
 The certificate of the incorporation of this 
 church recites that the members of the society 
 assembled at their meeting house on Saturday, 
 January 18, 1845, and elected the following 
 persons trustees of the " Second Baptist church 
 and society in Nassau" : Stephen Phillips, 
 Alexander H. Tucker and Caleb S. Vickery. 
 This congregation was gathered together about 
 the year 1820. 
 
 THE FIEST BAPTIST CHT7RCH AT EAST IfASSAtT. 
 
 At quite an early date in the present century 
 a Baptist society was organized at East Nassau. 
 The present house of worship was erected in 
 1879, the former church building having been 
 destroyed by fire. The new house was dedica- 
 ted October 15, 1879, the Rev. W. W. Everts of- 
 ficiating. It has a seating capacity for about 
 200 persons. The roll of membership of the 
 church bears 53 signatures. 
 
 THE FREE WHX BAPTIST CEUBCE OF ALPS. 
 
 This society was formed in 1876. The erec- 
 tion of a church was commenced the same year 
 and was first used for worship on the day of 
 dedication, January 18, 1877. The dedicatory 
 services were performed by the Revs. J. M. 
 Langworthy, J. B. Coleman, William Fuller and 
 W. H. Fonderden. The building cost about 
 $1,700, and has a seating capacity for about 250 
 persons. The number of members is 3S. The 
 church was incorporated July 29, 1878. The 
 pastors of the church have been the Revs. W. 
 H. Fonderden and William H. Fuller. The 
 church is without a pastor at this time. 
 
 THE BAPTIST CEUBCH AT HOAO'S COBNEBS. 
 
 The house of worship of the society of Bap- 
 tists at Hoag's Comers was erected in 1861-62. 
 The congregation is a part of the Baptist 
 society of North Nassau. 
 
 THE PRESBTTEKIAN OHnEOH OF KASSAU. 
 
 On November 11, 1802, the people who had 
 been statedly worshiping in the Union church 
 erected In 1795, in Union village, now called 
 Nassau, held a meeting and elected Andrew 
 
 Griffin and Joseph Boughton elders, and William 
 Southworth and John Strong deacons. For the 
 use of the new body a house of worship was 
 erected, and the building was dedicated Janu- 
 ary 13, 1828. This edifice stood northwest of 
 the Nassau ac demy building. In 1848 it was 
 moved to its present site. 
 
 The society was incorporated in 1822, Chaun- 
 cey Porter, Samuel GriflSth and Samuel B. Lud- 
 low being elected trustees of the "Presbyterian 
 church of Nassau" on the 8th of May of that 
 year. 
 
 The pastors of this church have been the 
 
 Revs. Jonas Coe, John Tounglove, Tonng 
 
 and Joel T. Benedict. The Rev. Ezra D. Kin- 
 ney, 1828-29 ; the Rev. Solomon I. Tracy, 1830- 
 33; the Rev. Washington Rosevelt, 1834-36; 
 the Rev. Ezra D. Kinney, 1837-38 ; the Rev. S. 
 Bryant, 1840^2 ; the Rev. John Batey, 1842-43 ; 
 the Rev. Jostph Hurlburt, 1844r-48 : the Rev. 
 Fayette Shepherd, 1850-52; the Rev. Robert 
 Day, 1856-58 ; the Rev. Charles Doolittle, 1859- 
 67; the Rev. G. R. Alden, 1869-70; the Rev. 
 C. S. Sherman, 871-75 ; and the Rev. G. R. 
 Knowles, 1876-78. 
 
 THE ALPS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 A Presbyterian society was organized about 
 the latter part of the last century, in the 
 northern part of the town. A house of wor- 
 ship was erected, which about 35 years after- 
 wards was destroyed by fire. 
 
 THE PBESBTTERIAN CEUBCH OF BAST NASSAU. 
 
 This society was organized in 1807 at East 
 Nassau by the Rev. John Tounglove. The 
 Union church was used for divine worship un- 
 til it was burned in 1853. In the following year 
 a Presbyterian meeting house was erected, 
 which in January, 1855, was dedicated. 
 
 The society was incorporated July 8, 1853, 
 when the following persons were elected trus- 
 tees : John H. Haynes, Joseph Phillips, John 
 Bush and William H. Sherman. 
 
 The pastors of this church have been the 
 Revs. Barker, Laidlow, Henderson, Henry 
 Neill, Acker and Knowles. The Rev. W. E. 
 Faulkner is the present pastor. 
 
 PROTESTANT REFORMED SUTOE OEUBOE OF 
 
 NASSAU. 
 
 In the autumn of 1803 this society was organ- 
 ized by the order of the classis of the Re- 
 formed Protestant Dutch church of Rensselaer. 
 The Rev. Jacob Sickels, D. D., ordained the 
 first consistory of the church, which included 
 the following persons : Dennis Harder, Heniy 
 Goes, Nicholas Smith and Abraham Welch 
 elders, and George Melius, Michael T. Smith, 
 William Jacoby and Nicholas T. Smith. Until 
 the year 1821 this charge was in connection 
 
HISTOKT OF THl! TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 125 
 
 with the church at Schodack. The Union 
 church was first used by this congregation for 
 public worship. In 1820 a lot was purchased of 
 Chauncey Porter, on which a house of worship 
 was erected, which was finished December 1, 
 1820. The congregation purchased the old 
 Union church or Free church building. On its 
 site, in 1839, the present parsonage of this 
 church was erected. The roll of membership 
 of this church bears the signatures of about 
 360 persons. 
 
 The following persons have served the con- 
 gregation as pastors : The Bev. Christian Bork, 
 1804-6 ; the Rev. Jesse Fonda, 1809-13 ; the Rev. 
 Peter Van Buren, 1814-20 ; from the time of the 
 separation of the church from the charge of 
 Schodack, the Rev. James Romeyn, 1821-27 ; 
 the Rev. J. F. Morris, 1829-32 ; the Rev. Chris- 
 topher Hunt, 1832-S7 ; the Rev. John Knox, 
 1838-41 ; the P.ev. Edwin Holmes, 1841-52 ; the 
 Rev. Richard H. Steele, 1852-03 ; the r.ev. Isaac 
 Collier, 1864-66, and the Rev. Alfred H. Brush, 
 1867 to the present time. 
 
 TEE METHODIST EFISCOPAI, CHUBCH AT KASSAU. 
 
 About a half a century ago a class of Method- 
 ists was organized in Nassau village. The 
 meeting house of this society was a building 
 situated a short distance west of the place. 
 This was sold and the present house of worship 
 erected opposite the Dutch Reformed 
 church. The edifice was dedicated in 1833, the 
 
 Rev. Carpenter preaching the dedicatory 
 
 sermon. 
 
 The pastors of this church have been the 
 
 Revs. William Anson, Aaron Schofield, 
 
 Amidon, Samuel Howe, Samuel Eighmy, Daniel 
 Brayton, Elias Vandiirlip, Seymour Coleman, 
 
 Coles Carpenter, Osbom, John Clark, John 
 
 Pegg, Pelton, Abiatban Osbom, D. D., 
 
 John Alley, C. R. Morris, Sprague, Oliver 
 
 Emerson, Edward Asa, Samuel Stover, William 
 A. Miller, Lewis Potter, J. W. Belknap, Rufus 
 
 Pratt, William N. Frazer, Hiram Chase, 
 
 Dwight, H. C. Sexton, F. Soule, P. M. Hitch- 
 cock, A. Heath, W. H. Washburn, H. W. Slo- 
 cum, A. D. Heath and C. M. Clark. 
 
 MBTHODIST EPISCOPAX CHUBCH AT EAST NASSAU. 
 
 This society was incorporated in 1854. On 
 the 18th Of April of that year a election was 
 held for trustees in the Union Methodist meet- 
 ing house at East Nassau, and the following 
 persons were elected trustees of the Union 
 Methodist church at East Nassau : Pliny Gould, 
 Horace Clark, David Phillips, C. Raodes and 
 Erastus Hemmingway. The society dates its 
 organization in 1830. The house of worship 
 used by the society was built in 1834. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT BKAnfAKD. 
 
 A society of Methodists was organized in the 
 southern part of the town about the year 1840. 
 A house of worship was erected that year at 
 Brainard, on land presented by Seth Hastings. 
 A larger and more commodious structure was 
 built in 1875, west of the old building. This 
 charge is connected with the church at Nassau. 
 
 PBEE UNION METHODIST CHUBCH. 
 
 A house of worship erected east of Dunham 
 Hollow belongs to the society of Methodists. It 
 is known as the Free Union Methodist church. 
 
 BOMAK CATHOLIC CHUBCH. 
 
 At Nassau village there is a small congrega- 
 tion of Roman Catholics. A neat chapel has 
 been built by the congregation. 
 
 THE VILLAGE OF NASSAU. 
 
 This place was early known as Union village. 
 It is situated in the southwestern part of the 
 town, near the west boundary line. A post- 
 ofBce was established at this point in 1811. The 
 village was incorporated March 12, 1819. The 
 first village offices under the act were : Wm. 
 B. Hermance, Chaunoey Porter, Samuel B. 
 Ludlow, Chester Griswold and Ebenezer Bas- 
 sett, trustees ; Henry Goodrich, collector, and 
 Calvin Pardee, treasurer. The present charter 
 was passed April 17, 1866. 
 
 The village is spoken of in 1836 as being in " a 
 pleasant vale on the turnpike road from Albany 
 to New Lebanon, lli4 miles southeast of the 
 former, 18 miles from Troy, and on the Valatie 
 creek ; has one Baptist, one Methodist and one 
 Presbyterian churcfti ; an academy incorporated 
 in 1835, a grist mill and a saw mill, one tavern, 
 two stores and about 40 dwellings." 
 
 Nassau at present is a very attractive village, 
 and has about 450 inhabitants and about 90 
 dwelling houses, four churches, two hotels, four 
 stores and about 30 shops and manufacturing 
 places. Among the latter are a grist mUl, a saw 
 mill and a foundry. 
 
 About the year 1835 a fire company was or- 
 ganized in the village and was known as old No. 
 1 Washington engine company. No. 1 was or- 
 ganized July 18, 1872. 
 
 The Nassau Gazette was issued in December, 
 1830, by J. M. Geer. It was shortly after dis- 
 continued. 
 
 The Nassau, Schodack and Chatham mutual 
 insurance company was organized in 1855. 
 
 Gratitude lodge of F. and A. Masons, No. 
 674, sprang from Nassau lodge, the first meet- 
 ing under the dispensation to the latter being 
 held September 26, 1867. The charter to Grati- 
 tude lodge is dated June 19, 1868. The first 
 officers under this charter were George L. 
 
126 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BEN88ELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 Eighmy, worshipful master ; James Van Allen, 
 senior warden, and George B. Mitchell, junior 
 warden. 
 
 EAST NASSAU. 
 
 The village of East Nassau, in the south- 
 eastern part of the town, is situated on Kinder- 
 hook creek. It was early known as Scherraer- 
 hom's— John W. Schermerhom keeping the 
 tlrst tavern at this point. A postoflSce was es- 
 tablished here in 1830. 
 
 In 1836 it was described as being at the con- 
 fluence of the Einderhook and Tackawasiok 
 (xeeks, 16 miles southeast of Albany, 19 miles 
 from Troy, containing one Methodist and one 
 Baptist churches, one cotton, one woolen and 
 one stoneware factories ; a tannery, two 
 taverns, two stores and from 50 to 60 dwellings. 
 
 The present population of the village is about 
 200. There are now in the village 60 houses, 
 three churches — a Presbsrterian, a Baptist and 
 a Methodist — two taverns, two stores, two 
 blacksmith shops, two wagon-makers' shops 
 and two saw mills. 
 
 SORTH NASSAU. 
 
 This hamlet is situated in the northern part 
 of the town. A postofBce was established at 
 this point about 1845, of which James H. Ball 
 was first postmaster. North Nassau contains 
 a Baptist church, a store and a small number 
 of dwellings. 
 
 HOAG'S COBNEBS. 
 
 This hamlet is situated on the Tackawasick 
 creek. About the year 1832 the site of this 
 place was covered with heavy timber, and it is 
 said that 10 saw mills were erected in the 
 vicinity. The place derives its name from Wil- 
 liam Hoag, who here kept a hotel as early as 
 the year 1825. About 1832 a postoffice was es- 
 tablished at this point. The present popula- 
 tion of the Corners is 235. There are 56 dwel- 
 lings, a Baptist church, a hotel and four stores 
 and four blacksmith shops in the place. 
 
 BBAINABD. 
 
 This hamlet was early known as Brainard's 
 Bridge, in honor of Joseph Brainard, who built 
 the bridge over Kinderhook creek. It was af- 
 terwards changed to Brainard, in honor of the 
 Bev. David Brainard. the Indian missionary. 
 In 1836 it is spoken of as being upon the Kin- 
 derhook creek, 24 miles from Troy, having a 
 cotton and woolen factory, 1 tavern, 2 stores 
 and 40 dwellings. The Harlem extension rail- 
 road has a station near the place. The plac« 
 now comprises a Methodist church, a store, a 
 hotel and a number of dwellings. 
 
 ALPS. 
 
 In 1836 this hamlet in the northern part of 
 the town is spoken of as having two taverns, a 
 store and about 20 dwellings, and being 16 
 miles from Troy. At this point at present there 
 are a church, a store and about 80 buildings. 
 Jonathan G. Taft had a store at Alps about a 
 half century ago. 
 
 DUNHAM HOLLOW. 
 
 This hamlet derives its name from Isaac Dun- 
 ham, who settled here about the beginning of 
 the century. It is in the northeastern part of 
 the town, and contains a small foundry, a grist 
 mill, a saw mUl, a hoop factory, a blacksmith 
 shop and a small number of dwellings. 
 
 miller's cornebs. 
 This is a hamlet composed of a small collec- 
 tion of houses in the northwestern part of the 
 About 40 years ago George Miller kept a store 
 at this point. 
 
 POPCIATIOK OF THE TOT\T!. 
 
 1810 8.60111850 8,a«l 
 
 1815 2.747 1 1855 3,000 
 
 ISSiO 2.»7SI1860 8,089 
 
 1885 2.935 1 1S65 2,894 
 
 18S0 3,t!5i|1870 9,705 
 
 1835 S.2«|l875 2,657 
 
 1840 3,2361 ISSO 2,829 
 
 1845 3.1041 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAEK COUNTY. 
 
 127 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 THE TOWN OF STEPHEN TOWN. 
 
 Boundary Line Troubles — New York Extending to the Connecti- 
 cut River — The Sheriff of Albany County Resisted — One 
 Hundred Pounds Reward for the Arrest of Ethan Allen =— 
 The First Settler of Jericho Hollow — Stephen A. Douglas's 
 Ancestors — Houses of Entertainment in 1788 — Old Military 
 Officers — A Census of Slaves in the Town — Historic Review 
 of Churches — Villages and HaiVlets — Census Statistics. 
 
 The newly discovered country of America, 
 which attracted In the seventeenth century a 
 large number of emigrants from Europe to its 
 shores, was of such vast an extent that very 
 little of its true geography and topography was 
 sufficiently known to furnish what might be 
 thought correct and explicit information by 
 which important boundary lines might be desig- 
 nated, as circumscribina; the various land grants 
 that had been conveyed by the kings of those 
 countries that claimed portions of the continent 
 by right of discovery. For more than a century 
 after the occupancy of the different portions of 
 the territory of the new country by various 
 companies and individual proprietors questions 
 arose regarding the boundary lines of the greater 
 and lesser divisions of land. 
 
 THE BA8TEBN BOUNDARY LINE DISPUTE. 
 
 The indefinite wording of the patent of New 
 England granted by King James I. in 1620, was 
 for a long time the cause ot much controversy 
 and belligerence respecting the position of the 
 boundary line which should legally separate 
 the province of New York from the territories 
 of the adjacent New England provinces. In 
 1763, December 28, for the purpose of settling 
 the questions at issue, Lieut. Gov. Cadwallader 
 Golden of the provisce of New York issued a 
 proclamation declaring the Connecticut river 
 to be the east bounds of the province of New 
 York. In this paper the lieutenant governor, 
 in addressing the people of the province, says : 
 
 To prevent therefore the Incautious from be- 
 coming Purchasers of the Lands so granted ; to 
 msertthe Sights, and fully to maintain the juris- 
 
 diction 01 the Government of this His majesty's 
 Pi'ovince of New York ; I have thought fit, with 
 the advice of His majesty's Council, to issue this 
 Proclamation, hereby commanding and requiring 
 all Judges, Justices and other Civil Officers within 
 the same to continue to exercise Jurisdiction in 
 their Respective I^incti<yis, as far as to the Banks 
 of Connecticut river, the undoubted Eastern Lim- 
 its of that Part of the Province of New York, not- 
 withstanding any contrariety of Jurisdiction 
 claimed by the Government of New Hampshire, or 
 any Grants of land Westward of that Itlver, made 
 by the said Government, and I do hereby enjoin 
 the High Sheriff of the County of Albany, to re- 
 turn to me or the Commander in chief, the Names 
 of all and every Person and Persons, who under 
 grants of the Government of New Hampshire, do 
 or shall hold the Possession of any Lands West- 
 ward of Connecticut River, that they may be pro- 
 ceeded against according to Law. 
 
 Benning Wentworth who was at this time 
 governor of the province of New Hampshire is- 
 sued a counter proclamation, March 13, 1764, 
 commanding all the civil officers of that prov- 
 ince "to deal with any person, or persons, that 
 may presume to intermiit the inhabitants or 
 settlers on said lands as to law and justice doth 
 appertain, the pretended right of jurisdiction 
 mentioned in the aforesaid proclamation not- 
 withstanding." 
 
 The ejection of the settlers from the lands 
 west of the Connecticut river as ordered by the 
 proclamation of the lieutenant governor of 
 New York, which tracts they had purchased of 
 Governor Wentworth, as soon as the sheriff of 
 Albany county attempted it, was vigorously re- 
 sisted. It is said that the governor of New 
 
128 
 
 HISTOEY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAEK COUNTY. 
 
 Hampshire from the year 1763 to 1768 had 
 granted to a large number of persons no less 
 than 138 townships, and that many settlers, 
 generally from Connecticut, had taken up the 
 lands 60 granted. 
 
 TBOUBLES X.T HO6E0K. 
 
 As connected with the history of Rensselaer 
 county, it may be related that the sheriff of 
 Albany county, on the 17th of August, 1764, 
 received intelligence from "Hoseck," that the 
 "New Hampshire people had turned Hans 
 Jerry Creiger, an inhabitant under the proprie- 
 tors of Hoseck patent, out of possession of his 
 lands and tenements, drove off his cattle and 
 took with them a parcel of Indian com, and 
 for the redemption of the cattle compelled him 
 to pay 545 ; and the said express further in- 
 formed him that the said New Hampshire peo- 
 ple were the next day to be at the houses of 
 Peter Voss and Bastiane Deale in order in like 
 manner to dispossess them of their possessions, 
 which they had peaceably enjoyed under the 
 proprietors of said Hoseck patent for upwards 
 of three years, except when driven ofiE by the 
 enemy (Indians) during the two last wars." 
 
 The sheriff of Albany county. In company 
 with " two justices and a few other good peo- 
 ple of this province," proceeded to Hoosick, 
 where, on his arrival, he was told that the New 
 Hampshire people would not come until the 
 following Monday. Having heard that the 
 New Hampshire people were at the bouses of 
 Voss and Deale, he went thither immediately, but 
 on his arrival he found that they bad departed. 
 He followed the party, and, overtaking them, 
 arrested four of the number and carried them to 
 Albany, where they were confined in the county 
 jail. 
 
 THE BEKKINOTON MOB. 
 
 What was known as " the Bennington mob " 
 at this period of local disturbance, became a 
 great terror to the people living within the 
 county of Albany, adjoining the province of 
 New Hampshire. Of this lawless body of men 
 it was said that they had seized, insulted and 
 terrified magistrates and other civil officers so 
 that they dare not execute the.r respective 
 functions ; rescued prisoners for debt, assumed 
 to themselves military commands and judicial 
 powers ; burned and demolished the houses 
 and property and beat and abused the persons 
 of many of his majesty's subjects, expelled 
 them from their possessions, and put a period 
 to the administrations of justice, and spread 
 terror and destruction throughout that part of 
 the country which was exposed to their oppres- 
 sion. 
 For the purpose of suppressing these dis- 
 
 turbances the governor, by the recommendation 
 of the assembly of the province of New York, 
 issued a proclamation, March 9, 1774, "enjoin- 
 ing and commanding all magistrates, justices 
 of the peace, sheriffs and other civil officers of 
 the counties of Albany and Charlotte to appre- 
 hend and take" the ringleaders of the Benning- 
 ton mob and "to commit them to safe and 
 secure custody in the gaol of the city and 
 county of Albany to answer for the several 
 offenses and to be dealt with according to law." 
 A reward of £100 was offered for the appre- 
 hension of Ethan Allen of Bennington, yeo- 
 man, also for the apprehension of Remember 
 Baker, and £50 for the arrest of Seth Warner, 
 Robert Cochran, Peleg Sunderland. Sylvanns 
 Brown, James Breckenridge and John Smith. 
 
 BLOODY ATFBATS ALOSO THE MASSACHUSETTS 
 LIBE. 
 
 Between the years 1765 and 1769 efforts were 
 unsuccessfully made to settle the boundary line 
 between the provinces of New York and Massa- 
 chusetts. While New York claimed a right to 
 the territory to the Connecticut river, Massa- 
 chusetts insisted on her ownership of the 
 oountry as far as the Pacific ocean. Emigrants 
 from the latter province took up land in the 
 manor of Rensselaerwyck without any permis- 
 sion being granted by the patroon. Force be- 
 ing often employed to eject them, blood was 
 frequently shed in doing it. Commissioners 
 were appointed by the two provinces to de- 
 termine the position of the boundary line, who 
 met at New Haven, October 1,1767. It was 
 agreed by them that the western line of Masssr 
 cbusctts should be fixed at 30 miles east of the 
 Hudson river, but the commissioners could not 
 agree as to the way in which the line should be 
 determined. However, by an agreement, dated 
 May 18, 1773, the boundary line on the eastern 
 part of the province was settled to begin at the 
 northwest angle of the oblong and to run 
 tAence north 21° 10' 30" to the north Une of 
 Massachusetts. 
 
 In December, 1781 Vermont took measures to 
 resist the territorial claims of New York re- 
 specting the position of the disputed boundary 
 line. To enforce obedience to the laws of New 
 York Gen. Gansevoort bad marched with a 
 body of soldiery into the districts of Schaghti- 
 ooke and Hoosick, where he was confronted by 
 Col. Walbridge. The influence of Gen. Wash- 
 ington led to lees bloody means for the adjudi- 
 cation of these conflicting claims. A proposi- 
 tion was made on the part of New York that if 
 the legislature of Vermont, before the first of 
 January, 1792, should agree that on or before 
 the first of June, 1794, that state should pay to 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENSSELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 129 
 
 New York the sum of $30,000, that all right to 
 lands under grants from the government of the 
 colony of New York, or from the state of New 
 York should cease, those excepted which had 
 been made in confirmation of the grants of New 
 Hampshire. The border troubles which had 
 continued for 26 years, during which only one 
 life had been lost, were terminated on the 28th 
 of October, 1790, by Vermont consenting to the 
 terms proposed by New York. On the 18th of 
 February, 1791, Vermont became a state of the 
 Union. 
 
 FIRST SETTLERS. 
 
 The largest number of the early settlers of 
 the town of Stephentown were from the New 
 England colonies. Many came from Rhode 
 Island, settling upon the land of the manor of 
 Bensselaerwj'Ck, adjoining the Massachusetts 
 line. Among the first of the New England 
 emigrants to make their homes on this part of 
 the great manor were Joshua, Caleb and 
 Benjamin Gardner, three brothers ; Asa 
 Douglas, Elnathan Sweet, Nathaniel Rose, 
 Joseph Carpenter, Alexander Brown and 
 Joseph Rogers. Most of these settled here 
 about the year 1766. William Douglas, a grand- 
 son of Asa Douglas, is said to have been the 
 first child bom in this part of the manor. The 
 Hon. Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois was a de- 
 scendant of this Douglas family. 
 
 In the year 1766, it is said that Asa Douglas 
 came from Plainfield, Conn., into this wilder- 
 ness portion of the manor in search of suitable 
 land for farming purposes. Having met an 
 ludian chief he made known his object. The 
 Indian told him that there was fertile land in 
 what was shortly afterwards designated as 
 "Jericho hollow." He, on a survey of the 
 ground described by the Indian, was satisfied 
 of its suitableness for farming purposes, and at 
 once took up about one thousand acres for cul- 
 tivation. One half of this land now lies in the 
 state of Massachusetts. Of the three Gardner 
 brothers, Caleb's house was immediately on the 
 boundary line of Massachusetts and New York. 
 Joshua Gardner, in 1774, is said to have cut a 
 private road through the thick woods from the 
 •' old east road," over the mountain to the place 
 where he had erected his log house. Job 
 Gardner sometime after the year 1777 moved 
 from Providence, R. I., to the vicinity of his 
 three brothers' farms. 
 
 Among the names of settlers which appear 
 upon the district records in 1784, are the fol- 
 lowing: Stephen Arnold, Samuel Bailey, 
 Gideon Brayton, Aaron Budlong, Alexander 
 Case, Hezekiaj/ Coon, John Forbs, Benjamin 
 Green, Jacob Green, Edward Hoard, Jonathan 
 
 16 
 
 Howard, Ezekiel Huntington, William Kittel, 
 2d., Abel Lewis, Augustus Lewis, Obadiah 
 Matthews, Timothy Mattison, Jonathan NUes, 
 Nathaniel Niles, William Reynolds, William 
 Rose, Benjamin Sackett, WUliam Sanford, John 
 W. Schermerhorn, Randal Shiner, Samuel 
 Sweet, Nathan Tanner, Elijah West, Joshua 
 Whltford, Abraham Winston and Walter Wor- 
 den. 
 
 EABLT ROAD MAKINO. 
 
 The following extract frem the proceedings 
 of the common council of Albany, of May 6, 
 1770, shows what measures were taken to open 
 a road through Stephentown at that early day : 
 
 Levy Peas applyed to this board for assistance 
 to make a road from his house through Stephen- 
 town to the house of Andries Michal. 
 
 Besolved, That this board will sive 20 £ to the in- 
 habitants of Stephentown, or such of them as will 
 undertake to make a good and sufficient waggon 
 road and Bridges from the house of Levy Peas 
 thro' Stephen Town to the House of Andries 
 Mtohal, along the Markt Trees shewn to Mr. Mar- 
 selis and Alderman Ten Brook, in behalf of the 
 widow Van Renselaer, undertake to pay 20 £ 
 more. 
 
 STEPHENTOWN DISTRICT. 
 
 By "an act to divide the east district of the 
 manor of Rensselaerwyck, in the county of Al- 
 bany," passed March 29, 1784, that part of the 
 manor known as the Stephentown district was 
 formed. The act designated its boundaries as 
 follows : 
 
 That the said east district of the manor of Rens- 
 selaerwyck, in the county of Albany, shaU be and 
 is hereby declared to be divided into two districts 
 by the following line ; Beginning at a point in the 
 division line between the said east district of the 
 manor of Rensselaer and the district of Kinder- 
 hook, 10 miles distant from Hudson's river, and 
 thence running northerly to a point in the division 
 line of the said east district of the manor of Rens- 
 selaerwyck and the district of Sohactikoke, nine 
 miles distant from the said Hudson river. 
 
 That all the lands immediately before the pas- 
 sage of this act, comprehended within the said east 
 district of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, lying 
 westward of the aforesaid division line, shall be 
 one separate and distinct district and be called by 
 the name of the Rensselaerwyck district ; and that 
 all the lands immediately before the passing of this 
 act comprehended within the said east district of 
 the manor of Rensselaerwyck, and lying eastward 
 of the aforesaid line, shall be one separate and dis- 
 tinct district, and be called by the name of Stephen- 
 town district. » • * 
 
 The inhabitants of the district of Stephentown 
 to hold their first annual meeting at the dwelling 
 house of Daniel Hull, esq., to elect a supervisor, 
 town clerk and all the other town officers. 
 
 The designation of the name Stephentown 
 
130 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTT. 
 
 was given in honor of Stephen Van Rensselaer, 
 the patroon of the manor. 
 
 Under the proTisions of the act Caleb Bent- 
 ley was elected, in 1784, supervisor of the dis- 
 trict, and Jonathan Niles, clerk. 
 
 THE TOWN OP 3TEPHENT0WN ERECTED. 
 
 67 " an act for dividing the counties of this 
 state into towns," passed March 7, 1788, the 
 town of Stephentown was erected. The town 
 was bounded as follows : 
 
 All that part of the said county of Albany bonnd- 
 ed easterly by the east bonnds of this state, south- 
 erly by the county of Columbia, westerly by the 
 said town of Uensselaerwyck, and northerly by 
 the north bounds of the said manor of Uensselaer- 
 wyck. shall be and hereby is erected into a town 
 by the name of Stephentown. 
 
 A portion of the territory of the town was 
 subtracted, March 18, 1791, to form the town of 
 Petersburgh, and parts, in 1806, to make the 
 towns of Berlin andPhilipstown, (Nassau). 
 
 INNS AND TAVERNS IN 1788. 
 
 The Inns and taverns scattered along the 
 public roads of the newly-settled territory of 
 northern New York, besides being places of en- 
 tertainment, were generally points at which the 
 people gathered at certain times for the trans- 
 action of business connected with the towns 
 and districts of the counties. At the time the 
 town of Stephentown was erected each inn and 
 tavern keeper was required to enter iato 
 recognizance to the people of the state 
 of New Tork in the sum of £50 
 not to keep a disorderly house or 
 suffer any cock fighting, gaming or 
 playing with cards or dice, or keep any billard 
 table or other gaming table or shuflBie board 
 within it. In regard to the selling of strong 
 liquors, exceptions were made for the sale of 
 metheglin, currant wine, cherry wine and cider 
 made by the inn-keepers. At each tavern at 
 leatt two spare beds for guests with good and 
 sufficient sheeting and covering were to be 
 kept in accordance with the demands of the 
 law. It was also required that each tavern 
 keeper should provide good and sufficient 
 stabling and provender for four horses or cat- 
 tle, and hay and pasturage in summer. No 
 liquors were allowed to be sold to apprentices, 
 servants and slaves. No inn-keeper could col- 
 lect a debt higher than 10 shillings for liquors 
 sold to travelers. Each keeper of an inn or 
 tavern was required 30 days after receiving 
 license to put up and Sx a proper sign on or 
 adjacent to the front of his house, with his 
 name thereon. Every month's neglect in 
 (lomplylng with this provision of the law sub- 
 
 jected the inn-keeper to the payment of 10 
 shillings to the state. 
 
 DISTRICT MILITABT IN 1788. 
 
 In 1788 the following persons were recom- 
 mended as officers to form a new regiment 
 within the district of Hoosick and Stephen- 
 town: 
 
 Thomas Sickels, lieutenant-colonel command- 
 ing ; Pet«r Van l^ensselaer, first major ; Samuel 
 Shaw, second major. 
 
 LIGHT INf ANTRT COHPAHIE8. 
 
 Zacbarias W. Sickles, captain ; Henry Brown, 
 lieutenant ; Samuel Latham, ensign. 
 
 Thomas Palmer, captain ; Luke Green, lieuten- 
 ant ; Joshua Whiteford, ensi^, 
 
 BATTALION OFFICERS. 
 
 Jacob Van Valltenburgh, captain ; Isaac Turner, 
 lieutenant ; Henry Lansing, ensign. 
 
 David Brown, captain ; John Van Wormer, lieu- 
 tenant : Thomas Powell, ensign. 
 
 Jacob Van Ness, captain ; Zach. G. Sickels, lieu- 
 tenant ; Juhn Waldo, jr., ensign. 
 
 Eldred Fonda, captain ; -Toseph Brown, lieuten- 
 ant ; Gideon Olmstead. ensign. 
 
 Charles Green, captain ; Eandall Spencer, lieu- 
 tenant; John Green, ensign. 
 
 HezeWah Hull, captain ; Clark Bly, lieutenant ; 
 Jonathan Green, ensign. 
 
 Matthew I?andall, captain: Jacob Lampman, 
 lieutenant ; Abel Lewis, ensign. 
 
 Isaac Gates, captain ; John Wilkinson, lieuten- 
 ant ; WilUam Jones, ensign. 
 
 STAFF OFFICERS. 
 
 James Sickels, adjutant ; Oliver Hull, quarter- 
 master ; David Van Bensselaer, paymaster ; Jo- 
 seph Spencer, surgeon ; Job Tripp, surgeon's 
 mate. 
 
 Another paper bearing date of 1788 contains 
 the names of the following officers, and the sub- 
 joined general order : 
 
 Peter Van Rensselaer, lieutenant colonel com- 
 manding. 
 
 Jonathan Niles, major in General Henry K. Van 
 Kensselaer's brigade, to rank from the 22d of 
 Karch 17ES inclusive. 
 
 James Jones and Hosea Moffit, captains. 
 
 /' LIGHT lUPANTRT. 
 
 IchaWd Cone, captain ; KeubenDelanse, lieuten- 
 ant ; Henry Piatt, ensign. 
 
 John Whjlie. captain ; Benjamin Saokett, lieu- 
 tenant ; Nathaniel Spring, ensign. 
 
 Daniel Brown, captain ; Joseph Sogers, jr., lieu- 
 tenant ; Libbeus Biockway, ensign. 
 
 Moses Wordin, captain ; Elemander Cone, lieu- 
 tenant ; Elisha hteward, ensign. 
 
 Daniel Gray, captain ; Jeremiah Griffith, lieuten- 
 ant; Stephen Maxson, jr., ensign. 
 
 Bennoni Moon, captam ; Wyat Rose, lieutenant : 
 Roger Jones, ensign. 
 
 Oeneral orders JTeto Tork: His excellency, the 
 commander in chief, is pleased to direct that the 
 companies heretofore commanded by Lieut.-CoL 
 Peter Van Rensselaer while a major be now con- 
 sidered as a regiment and formed accordingly. 
 
 Those commanded by Major Samuel Shaw and 
 those oqjnmanded by Major Jonathan Niles, while 
 captains, be considered as separate battalions and 
 for their accommodation, until further orders, 
 parade on their respective battalion parades. 
 ELECTION RETCBNS. 
 
 The election returns of that part of Albany 
 county now embraced in the county of Rensse- 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 131 
 
 laer, when opened on the 28th of April, 1789, 
 
 for governor, showed the following vote : 
 
 Tomru. CUnton. Kjle*. 
 
 Hooslck 34 S3 
 
 StephentowQ 21 its 
 
 ReDBBelaerwfCk 23 ISS 
 
 Schagbtlcoke 7 54 
 
 Plttstown 58 31 
 
 At this period an election in the manor of 
 Rensselaerwyck frequently occupied an entire 
 week, Sunday being excepted. Gov. CUnton 
 received at this election a majority in Ulster 
 county, which gave him 1039 out of 1145 votes 
 cast. 
 
 When the legislature assembled at Albany 
 Gov. Clinton opened the session with a message 
 which made only 33 lines in a newspaper. 
 
 CENSUS OF 1790. 
 
 The population of that part of the manor of 
 
 Rensselaerwyck, which now forms Rensselaer 
 
 county, was in 1790 the following : 
 
 Males. Fefmales. Staves. Total. 
 
 Kensselaerwyck 3,972 3.504 572 8,048 
 
 Stephentown 3,652 3,362 28 7,042 
 
 Hooslck 1,542 1,455 36 3,033 
 
 Schagbtlcoke 786 694 137 1,617 
 
 Plttstown..., 1,260 1,134 31 2,425 
 
 BELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 
 
 Peculiar to people living away from the more 
 animated centres of busy life, such as large 
 cities and manufacturing towns, the scattered 
 inhabitants of the manor of Rensselaerwyck 
 early associated themselves together in relig- 
 ious societies, and built themselves convenient 
 and commodious meeting-houses at accessible 
 points along the public roads or thickly settled 
 ueghborhoods. It is the history of these differ- 
 ent organizations which has preserved the 
 names of the more prominent and active men 
 of the localities where churches were erected 
 and divine worship statedly held. 
 
 FIRST FBEE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH OF STEPHEN- 
 TOWN CENTER. 
 
 For the purpose of organizing a society of 
 Baptists a deputation of members of certain 
 Baptist churches of Rhode Island and Con- 
 necticut met at Little Hoosick, now Stephen- 
 town Center, on the 13th of September, 1783. 
 Among the persons forming the first member- 
 ship of the society were Hezekiah Hull, Dorcas 
 Hull, Benajah Corpe, Margaret Corpe, John 
 Pool, Zerviah Pool, Wait Crum, Patience Crum 
 and William Fanning. 
 
 The Black river school house was for a great 
 number of years the place where the members 
 of the society statedly assembled for divine 
 worship. In 1828 the building which was 
 known as the " old Black river meeting house " 
 was erected at a cost of about $1,000. This 
 stmcture was afterward removed from its first 
 site to the present one, when the old building 
 
 was in 1858 enlarged and remodeled at a cost of 
 about fl,500. 
 
 On the 4th of September, 1858, the society 
 became incorporated by the election of Joel 
 Latham, George W. Weatherly and Thomas G. 
 Carpenter as trustees of "the First Free-will 
 Baptist Society of Stephentown." 
 
 The following elders have served the church 
 as pastors : Elders Benajah Corpe, 1785-97 ; 
 John Allen, 1834-28 ; Samuel Dean, 183841 ; 
 Isaiah B. Coleman, 1844-50; J. D. Waldron, 
 1851-53; A. H. Miller, 1854-56; David Hyde, 
 1859-63; J. Parkin, 1863-64; J. B. Randall, 
 1866-73 ; E. B. Collins, 1875-76 ; and W. FnUer, 
 1876-80. The church has about 45 members. 
 
 SECOND FREE-COMMUNION BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 This society was organized at Little Hoosick 
 hollow, in the eastern part of Stephentown, 
 March 20, 1793. Elder Nicholas Northrup was 
 ordained its first pastor. He had the pastoral 
 care of the society for about 35 years. Shortly 
 after his removal to the West the congregation 
 was broken up. In 1819 its membership was 
 
 loa 
 
 FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AT STEPHENTOWN. 
 
 Early in the summer of 1795 steps were taken 
 to organize this society. On the 19th of No- 
 vember of that year Robert Niles was made the 
 first elder of this church. The first meetings 
 of the society were held at the house of Asa 
 Burtch. A church building was erected about 
 the year 1796. The society for the purpose of 
 being incorporated held a meeting on the 4th 
 of November, 1825, at v,hich Abel Tanner, 
 Ephriam Pierce, John Russell, Rufus Sweet, 
 Simeon G. Goodrich, Henry Stanton, William 
 Kittel, jr., Erastus Brown and David Sweet 
 were elected trustees of the " First Baptist 
 church and society of Stephentown." 
 
 The following pastors have been associated 
 with the society since its organization : Elders 
 
 Robert Niles, Harris, Matthew Jones, 
 
 Daniel H. Grant, Elnathan Sweet, M. P. Favor 
 and George H. Day. 
 
 THE UNION BAPTIST SOCIETY. 
 
 A Baptist society at the beginning of the 
 present century, it appears, existed in the 
 southwestern part of the town, having the 
 designation, "The Union Baptist society." In 
 the certificate of its incorporation, March 1, 
 1804, it is declared that a meeting was held in 
 the meeting-house of the society, and that 
 Samuel Gale, James Harris and Joseph S. Gale 
 were elected trustees. 
 
 THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH AT WEST 
 STEPHENTOWN. 
 
 This religious society was organized on the 
 
132 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF BENS8ELAER COUNTY. 
 
 14th day of November, 1829, in West Stephen- 
 town, by the Rev. Andrew H. Miller. Josiah C. 
 Humphrey, Calvin Coleman, Samuel Coleman, 
 Isaiah B. Coleman, Clark Vary and Daniel 
 Beers. The organization adopted the name of 
 the Stephentown and Nassau Free Communion 
 Baptist church. A commodious frame meeting 
 house, seating about 500 persons, was erected 
 at a cost of $2,500, on the town line of Stephen- 
 town and Nassau, in 1829. The church was 
 dedicated In November, 1829, the Revs. P. W. 
 Lake, A. H. Miller and John Allen officiating. 
 In 1877 the building was remodeled and a bell 
 purchased at a cost of $1,400. This house of 
 worship, which has a seating capacity for 
 about 400 persons, was dedicated November 3, 
 1877, the Revs. J. M. Langworthy. J. J. Hoag, j 
 W. Fuller and I. B. Coleman taking part in the | 
 dedicatory services. 
 
 In accordance with the laws of the state, the 
 society to be incorporated elected on the 19th 
 day of November, 1831, the following persons 
 as trustees : Jonathan DaboU, Isaiah B. Cole- 
 man, Ephraim B. Kendall, Samuel Coleman, 
 3d, and Benjamin Chase. The society adopted 
 the name of "The First Free Communion Bap- 
 tist Church." On the 6th of October, 1841, the 
 name was changed to "Free Baptist Church." 
 Subsequently it has been known as the " Free 
 Will Baptist Church." The roll of the present 
 membership of this church bears the names of 
 192 persens. 
 
 The following pastors have served this con- 
 gregation : The Rev. A. H. Miller, 1829-1842 ; 
 the Rev. J. D. Howe, 1842-'44 and the Rev. I. 
 B. Coleman 1844 to date. 
 
 THE SEVENTH DAT BAPTIST SOCIETY OP STE- 
 PHENTOWN. 
 
 Another organization of Baptists was formed 
 in the southeastern part of the town in the 
 early part of this century. On the 15th of Oc- 
 tober a meeting was held at the usual place for 
 divine worship, at which Philander Carpenter, 
 Calvin P. Carpenter and Joshua B. Maxon were 
 elected trustees of the Seventh Day Baptist 
 society of Stephentown. The church of this 
 society was erected in the extremf) southeast- 
 em part of the town, a short distance west of 
 the Massachusetts line. 
 
 THE PRESBTTEBIAN CHURCH AT STEPHENTOWN 
 PLATS. 
 
 The first record preserved of this society's 
 organization is found in the old church book : 
 
 SEPTEMBBRTHE20, 1793.— Then the Presbyterian 
 society of Stepnentown met agreeable to a law- 
 ful puDlic notice given by William Boardmau and 
 Jacob Wylie, elders. Tlie meeting then balloted 
 for trustees, when the following gentlemen were 
 chosen : William Boardman, John Wylie. Hosea 
 HofBti. 
 
 In 1794 the session of the church, 
 desiring an enrollment of the names 
 of the persons belonging to the "two 
 churches" that had united to form this one, 
 the following names were furnished : James 
 WJyiie, Joseph Huntington and William Board- 
 man, elders: Hosea Meffitt, Widow Sarah 
 Wylie, Mrs. Holmes, Mr. Brainard, William 
 Dfclty, Andrew Hunter, Esther Graves, Ruth 
 Doty, Mary Howard and Mrs. Mofatt.— 13. 
 
 The first meeting house of this society was 
 erected in 1794 on what was known as Presby- 
 terian hill, at Stephentown Flats. In 18-36 the 
 old building was torn down and a new one 
 erected. On December 25, 1868, this building 
 was destroyed by lire, on the site of which the 
 present house of worship was erected. 
 
 The church has at present about 75 members. 
 
 The pulpit of this church was at first filled by 
 stated supplies. These were : The Rev. John 
 Warford, July, 1794. and the Rev. Samuel 
 Sturges, June, 1799. 
 
 The pastors of the church have been the 
 Revs. Aaron Jordon Boage, November, 1800- 
 January, 1809: John Younglove, July, 1806- 
 June, 1816; Noah M. Wells, March, 1817; 
 Jonas Coe, February, 181S-1821, (supply); 
 Moses Hunter, February. 1821-1825 : Charles G. 
 Finney, October, 1827-November, 1827, sup- 
 ply) ; Edwards A. Beach, June, 1828-May 16, 
 1834; Bowman Brown, March, 1835-April, 
 1839, (supply): J. G. Hall, January, 1840; 
 Hugh Carlile, 18*1-1842: Joshua B. Graves; 
 
 Almon Underwood ; Gould : John Davis 
 
 (two years) ; J. Northrup (one and a half 
 years) ; John Hendricks ; Fayette Shepherd, 
 March 1, 1850, (supply) ; M. C. Bronson, June 
 23, 1850-February 10. 1858 (supply); Robert 
 Day, June 1, 1838-May, 1860, (supply) ; John B. 
 Shaw, July 12, lS60-April, 1865 ; Eber M. Rollo, 
 April, 1865-September, 1874, (supply); A. G. 
 Beebe. 
 
 UNION PRESBTTEBIAN SOCIETY. 
 
 This society was organized in the southwest^ 
 em part of the town. On the Ist of March, 
 1804, the members assembled at "the meet- 
 ing house in the southwest part of Stephen- 
 town," and for the purpose of incorpoiation, 
 elected as trustees John W. Schermerhorn, 
 Ebenezer Smith and Winthrop Root. 
 
 The Baptist society formed a part of this 
 union. 
 
 THE CONOREOATIONAL CHURCH. 
 
 A rehgious body known as the Congrega- 
 tional church existed in the beginning of the 
 century in the western part of Stephentown. 
 For the purpose of being incorporated a meet- 
 ing was held by the members and the following 
 
HISTORT OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY, 
 
 133 
 
 persons elected trustees : Jonathan Emmons, 
 jr., Abijah WiUmot and Amaziah Bailey. 
 
 STEPHENTOWN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUKCH. 
 
 This society was organized in 1868 in the 
 Ciuistian chapel, near the Stephentown depot. 
 In 1870-71, a frame house of worship was 
 erected at Stephentown Flats, which was ded- 
 icated on the 4th of April, 1871, the Rev. C. F. 
 Bvirdick, presiding elder of the Troy district, 
 officiating. The church, which has a seating 
 capacity for about 300 persons, cost 83,243.41. 
 The church has a membership of 78 persons. 
 
 The following persons have been pastors of 
 the church : The Rev. George Hudson, 1868-70; 
 the Rev. E. A. Braman, 1871 ; the Revs. E. A. 
 Braman and Francis Booth, 1872: the Rev. 
 Nathan C. Hill, 1873 ; the Rev. W. F. Sanford, 
 1874-75; the Rev. George \V. Hughes, 1876; 
 the Rev. George Hudson, 1877-79 ; and the Rev. 
 W. A. Phelps, to date. 
 
 The society was incorporated June 4, 1873, at 
 which time a meeting was held and the follow- 
 ing persons elected trustees : John F. Blinn, 
 James H. Taylor, William D. Wally, Alvah 
 Hunt and William Kittel. 
 
 ST. JOSEPH'S BOMAK CATHOLIC CHURCH AT 
 9TEPHENT0WS. 
 
 About five years ago, through the active zeal 
 of several Roman Catholic priests, a small Bo- 
 man Catholic congregation was organized in 
 Stephentown. Shortly afterwards a church 
 was erected. On the 14th of October, 1875, 
 Hugh Lindsey and Cornelius McFeeley were 
 appointed trustees of St. Joseph's Roman 
 Catholic church. 
 
 HARLEM EXTENSIOK KAILROAU. 
 
 The Harlem extension railroad, which ex- 
 tends through the towns of Stephentown, Ber- 
 lin, Petersburgh and Hoosick, originated from 
 the consolidation of the Lebanon Springs rail- 
 road and the Bennington and Rutland railroad, 
 April 23, 1870, when the articles of agreement 
 were filed. The Lebanon Springs railroad filed 
 its articles March 25, 1865. The New York and 
 Harlem railroad company was formed April 2. 
 1881. The Harlem extension railroad forms a 
 very important line from New York city to 
 Vermont and Canada. The length of the road 
 is 114 miles. 
 
 9TEPUEMTOWN. 
 
 The village of Stephentown, near the centre 
 of the town, is situated ou the Einderhook 
 creek, and is a station of the Harlem Extension 
 railroad. In 1804 a postofiice was established 
 at this place, of which Nathan Howard was the 
 first postmaster. In the " State Gazetteer" of 
 1836, Stephentown, Stephentown Centre and 
 
 Stephentown Flats are apparently described as 
 one place, as follows : 
 
 Stephentown Hollow or Centre, 21 miles from 
 Troy and Albany, contains four woolen factories, 
 ODe grist and three saw mills, one cotton factory, 
 three wool carding machines, one tanneiy, three 
 stores, one tavern, one Presbyterian and two Bap- 
 tist churches, and from 50 to 60 dwellings. 
 
 Stephentown at present has a population of 
 about 100, contains about 45 buildings, among 
 which are the Baptist church, the Roman 
 Catholic church, the Christian chapel, and the 
 school house of district No. 4. The business 
 interests of the place comprise two taverns, 
 four stores, one tinshop, two wagon maker 
 shops, a blacksmith shop and a saw mill. 
 
 STEPHENTOWN FLATS. 
 
 Stephentown Flats is a hamlet on the Kinder- 
 hook creek about a mile southwest of the 
 village of Stephentown. The place embraces 
 about 35 buildings, among which is the Presby- 
 terian and the Methodist Episcopal churches. 
 It has a hotel, a saw mill, a grist mill and sev- 
 eral vacant mill buildings. 
 
 STEPHENTOWN CENTER. 
 
 This hamlet, formerly known as Mechanio- 
 ville, is situated in the center of the town, on 
 the Black river. A postofflce was established 
 here in December, 1878, of which Ezra Chase 
 since then has been postmaster. The place 
 comprises about 43 buildings, which include the 
 Free Will Baptist church and the schoolhouse 
 of district No. 10. It has a saw mill, a grist 
 mill, a store andseveral shops. The population 
 of the place is 185. 
 
 NORTH STEPHENTOWN. 
 
 This hamlet is situated in the northeastern 
 part of the town. About the year 1824 a post- 
 offlce was established here, of which Lawrence 
 Van Valkenburgh was first postmaster. In 
 1836 the place is spoken of as being 20 miles 
 from Troy, having a woolen factory, a store, a 
 tavern and about 20 dwellings, near Black 
 Brook, which drives several saw mills and two 
 extensive turning establishments. At present 
 there is a store at this point and about 25 
 buildings. 
 
 SOUTH STEPHENTOWN. 
 
 This hamlet is in the southern part of the 
 town. In 1836 it is mentioned as being 24 miles 
 from Troy, on the Kinderhook creek, having a 
 cotton tactory, a grist mill, two saw mills, a 
 tannery, a store, a tavern and 30 dwellings. 
 There is a postofflce at this point, of which 
 William Hand is postmaster. 
 
 WEST STEPHENTOWN. 
 
 This hamlet is in the northwestern part of 
 the town, a short distance east of the boundary 
 
134 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAEK COUNTY. 
 
 line of the town of Nassau. West Stephen- 
 town, including Dunham's Hollow In the town 
 of Nassau, contains within a radius of about 
 a mile 65 buildings, among which is the Free- 
 Will Baptist church. The business interests of 
 the place comprise four stores, a postoffice, 
 agricultural works, a furnace, a grist mill, two 
 saw mills and four blacksmith shops. 
 
 POPniATION OF THK TOWN. 
 
 1790 6,795 11845 !i,548 
 
 1800 4,988 1850 2.622 
 
 ISIO 4,567 I 1855 2,397 
 
 1S15 2.H40I1360 2,311 
 
 1S80 2,592 1865 2,0a« 
 
 1825 2,70.S|1870 2,133 
 
 1830 2,716 I 1375 2,047 
 
 1835 2,528 1 1880 1,986 
 
 1840 2.753) 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 135 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 THE TOWN OF SANDLAKE. 
 
 Prominent Pioneer People — The Law Erecting the Town in 1812 — 
 The Vicissitudes of a Man of Fortune — The Early Manufac- 
 ture OF Glass in the Town — Establishment of the Rensselaer 
 Glass Factory — The First Library Association in the Town — 
 The Building of the Plank Road — Organization of Churches 
 — Manufacturing Interests — Village History — Census. 
 
 That portion of the manor of Rensselaerwyck 
 which in the early part of the present century 
 took by legislative enactment the name of 
 Sandlake was shortly before the revolutionary 
 war inhabited by a few Dutch and English 
 speaking settlers. The date of each one's set- 
 tlement is not easily determined, for the names 
 of these pioneer people are mostly preserved 
 by tradition, and only a small number of re- 
 corded papers indicate when they first leased 
 their farms from the patroon. 
 
 THE FIEST SETTLERS. 
 
 Among the names remembered the following 
 may be said to comprise those of the more 
 prominent of the first settlers of Sandlake : 
 Wynanf Van Alstyne, John Bowman, Abram 
 Bristol, William Butts, John Carmichael, Philip 
 Feller, Nicholas Fellows, Abram Frear, Philip 
 Gardner, Job Gilbert, William Goslin, Elias 
 Gregory, Stephen Gregory, Andreas Miller, 
 Henry Miller, Henry Moul. Eleazer Peck, 
 Ephraim Quimby, Michael Eykert, Frederick 
 Shaver, Joseph H. Sipperly, Solomon Taylor, 
 Andreas Weatherwax and Hendrick Young- 
 hans. 
 
 It is said that Joshua Lockwood and William 
 Carpenter built the first grist mill at Sand- 
 lake in 176S. 
 
 Most of these early farmers took up land in 
 the vicinity of the several beautiful lakes or 
 along the devious course of the Wynantskill. 
 A great portion of the territory of the town 
 formerly belonged to the town of Greenbush, 
 and a part to the town of Berlin. 
 
 THE TOWN OF SANDLAKE ERECTED. 
 
 By " an act to divide the towns of Greenbush 
 
 and Berlin, in the county of Rensselaer, into 
 three towns," passed by the legislature, June 
 19, 1812, the town of Sandlake was created. In 
 regard to the boundaries of the town the act 
 reads : 
 
 That from and after the first day of March next, 
 all that part of the town of Greenbush, within the 
 following homids to wit : Beginning at the north- 
 west corner of the said town of Greenbush, and 
 running; eastwardly, on the line between the towns 
 of Troy and Greenbush, five miles; thence south 
 17° 57' west, until it intersects the northerly hue 
 of the town of Schodack ; thence westerly, on the 
 hue between the towns of Schodack and Green- 
 bush, until it intersects the line of the county of 
 Albany, in the Hudson river, and thence up the 
 river, on a line of the county of Albany, to the 
 place of beginning, including all the islands in the 
 said river lying nearest the east side thereof 
 shall he considered as the town of Greenbush. * 
 * * And that all the residue of the town of 
 Greenbush, together with the three miles set off 
 from the west end of Berlin, parallel to the present 
 west line of said tovni, shall be erected into a new 
 town, by the name of Sandlake, and that the first 
 town meeting in said town shall be held at the 
 dweUing house of Thomas Thompson in said town. 
 
 In 1843 a part of the town of Greenbush was 
 taken off, and on March 2, 1848, a portion sub- 
 tracted to form the town of Poestenkill. The 
 landscape of the town is picturesquely diversi- 
 fied with several large lakes : Crooked, Martin's 
 or Burden's, Glass and Sand lakes. The big 
 Bowman, little Bowman and Eeichard's ponds 
 are attractive bodies of water. The principal 
 streams irrigating the town are the Wynants- 
 kill and Tsatsawassa creek. The former is 
 highly valued for its water power. The eastern 
 
136 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EEKSSEIAER OOXTNTT. 
 
 part of the town is mountainous and thickly 
 wooded. 
 
 TEE FIRST OFFICERS OF THE TOWN. 
 
 The first oflScers of the town elected in ac- 
 accordance with the statute were : 
 
 Supervisor, CalTin Thompson ; town clerk, David 
 E. Gregory; assessors, Lawrence Van Alstyne, 
 John Clint, Ezra Newton ; commissioners of high- 
 ways, John Stevens, John North, Jacob Boyce ; 
 overseers of the poor, Stephen Gregory, Lewis 
 Bullock ; collector, Jonathan Ford ; constables, 
 John Simebark, Jonathan Ford, Henry Lord ; 
 school commissioners, Aretus Lyman, Joel Bnstol, 
 Ellis Foster. 
 
 THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS. 
 
 Eady in the present century the establish- 
 ment of glass works on the banks of Glass lake 
 gave the town of Sandlake an important local 
 industry. The small collection of houses that 
 grew up about these works assumed the name 
 of Rensselaer village, which is now designated 
 Gla£s house. 
 
 The history of these works properly begins 
 about the year 1788, when Leonard de Neuf- 
 ville, Jan Heefke and Ferdinand Waif ahert, the 
 proprietors of the Dowesbourgh glass works, 
 10 miles west of Albany, appealed to the people 
 of the state of New York to sustain their man- 
 ufacture of glass. They set forth that the state 
 was annually drained of £30,000 for this neces- 
 sary article which they could manufacture and 
 which excelled in quality English glass. These 
 works were visited in 1788 by Elkauah Wat- 
 son. His acquaintance with the founder of 
 this enterprise gave him the following informa- 
 tion, which his son published in the memoirs 
 of his father. 
 
 life's vicissitudes. 
 
 Elkanah Watson proceeded eight miles from 
 Albany to the new glass house erected by John 
 de NeufvUle, a former correspondent of his, 
 and once a citizen of Amsterdam. John de 
 Neuf ville had been the negotiator of the treaty 
 made by Holland with the American congress, 
 which primarily produced the war between the 
 former and England, in 1751. He commenced 
 business with a hereditary capital of half a 
 miUion sterling, and lived in Amsterdam at his 
 country seat in the highest affluence and splen- 
 dor. He sacrificed his fortune by his attach- 
 ment to the cause of American independence. 
 The fragments of his estate be invested in the 
 enterprise of establishing this glass factory. 
 Elkanah Watson found this gentleman, born to 
 affluence, living in a solitary place, occupying 
 a miserable log cabin, furnished with a single 
 deal table and two common chairs, destitute of 
 the ordinary comforts of life. 
 
 THE ALBANY GLASS WORKS. 
 
 In 1795 it appears that the works erected by 
 De Neufville had become the property of Jere- 
 miah Van Rensselaer, Elkanah Watson, Robert 
 MacGregor and Thomas and Samuel Mather, 
 andbadbeen carried on for some time under the 
 firm name of MacGregor & Co. On the 7th of 
 April of that year the partnership was dissolved 
 and a new company formed under the name of 
 Thomas Mather & Co. 
 
 In February, 1796, the state legislature passed 
 an act for the encouragement of the Albany 
 glass factory. The proprietors of the glass 
 works at this time were .Jeremiah Van Rens- 
 selaer, John Saunders, Abraham Ten Eyck, 
 Elkanah Watson, Frederick A. de Zeng, K. K. 
 Van Rensselaer, Douw Fonda, Walter Cochran 
 and Samuel Mather. 
 
 the RENSSELAER GLASS FACTORT. 
 
 On the 28th of February, 18D6, the legislature 
 passed "An act to incorporate the stockholders 
 of the Rensselaer glass factory." The pream- 
 ble of the act recites that " whereas Jeremiah 
 Van Bensselaer, Elisha Jenkins, Elkanah 
 Watson, George Pearson, James Kane, 
 Thomas Frothingham, Frederick Jenkins, 
 Rensselaer Havens and Francis Bloodgood have 
 associated for the purpose of establishing a 
 glass factory in the county of Rensseiaer, in 
 this state," that the request of the petitioners 
 be granted. The capital stock, it was provided, 
 of the company should not exceed 100 shares 
 and each share $1,U00. From the patroon of 
 the manor of Rensselaerwyck the company ob- 
 tained a lare;e tract of land lying about the 
 shares of Glass lake and upon a portion of it, 
 adjacent to the lake, erected a number of build- 
 ings necessary for the manufacture of glass. 
 It is related that the company in order to secure 
 experienced workmen sent William Richmond, 
 a Scotchman, to England, where dressed as a 
 beggar, he traveled as a bag-pipe player and 
 visited the principal glass manufacturing dis- 
 tricts and engaged the number of employes de- 
 sired. Major Thomas Frothingham, who bad 
 served as an olficer during the revolutionary 
 war, was made general superintendent of the 
 works. Under his efficient management the 
 establishment obtained considerable popularity 
 for the superior quality of its glass. The gen- 
 eral appreciation in which Major Frothingham's 
 personal abilities were held by the public led to 
 his election as a member of the state legisla- 
 ture in 1820-22, at which time he very ably repre- 
 sented the district as a senator. The Rensselaer 
 glass factory gave employment to a large num- 
 ber of workmen, for whom comfortable dwell- 
 ings were erected in the immediate vicinity of 
 
HISTOKY OF THE TOWNS OP KEN8SELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 137 
 
 the works. The company coutinued to manu- 
 factm'e a fine quality of window glass until 
 1816, when the cylinder works were destroyed 
 by fire, which was so gi'eat a loss to the pro- 
 prietors that they became pecuniarily embar- 
 rassed. " An act for the relief of the president 
 and directors of the Rensselaer glass factory," 
 was passed by the legislature, April 13, 1819. 
 The bill states that " it was discovered that the 
 business could not be prosecuted any further 
 with a prospect of profit ; that heavy losses 
 had already been incurred in the persevering 
 efforts of the directors to render the business 
 productive of seme benefit to the stockholders, 
 and had therefore been abandoned." As the 
 further prosecution of it would inevitably pro- 
 duce still heavier losses the petitioners prayed 
 that an act of the legislature might be passed 
 authorizing them to dissolve the corporation, 
 to sell the estate, pay their debts and make a 
 distribution of their effects among the several 
 stockholders. 
 
 A KEW OOMPAHy FORMED. 
 
 Shortly after the passage of the act referred 
 to, Nathan B. Crandall and Isaac B. Fox pur- 
 chased the works and erected new buildings. 
 This firm began the manufacture of cylinder 
 glass, the former company having made crown 
 and cylinder window glass. On the death of 
 Nathan R. Crandall the manufacture of glass 
 at this establishment was for a time discon- 
 tinued. On March 11, 1825. the property was 
 sold by Moses Warren, sheriff of Rensselaer 
 county, to Richard J. Knowlson. 
 
 On the 16th of April, 1830, the legislature 
 passed " an act to incorporate the Rensselaer 
 glass manufacturing company," by which 
 Richard J. Knowlson, Isaac B. Fox, Daniel M. 
 Gregory and such persons as thereafter might 
 become stockholders of the said company were to 
 be known by the name of ' ' The Rensselaer Glass 
 manufacturing company. " For the purpose of 
 making cylinder, window, crown and other 
 glass ware, the capital stock was to be $50,000, 
 shares $100 each. The subscription books were 
 to be opened under the direction of Richard J. 
 Knowlson, Daniel M. Gregory and Richard 
 Spencer, jr. The affairs of the company were 
 to be managed by five directors. About the 
 year 1831 the firm of Knowlson & Schmeuiss 
 began the manufacture of glass at this place, 
 which it continued for more than a year. 
 
 On the 1st of July, 1835, Richard J. Knowl- 
 son sold the land and buildings formerly owned 
 by the Rensselaer glass factory company to 
 Francis Stadler, Joseph Stadler, Anthony Rush 
 and Joseph Wetser, who took the name of 
 Stadlers, Rush & Co., in the manufacture of 
 
 17 
 
 glass at Rensselaer village. This firm becoming 
 involved conveyed the property to Richard J. 
 Knowlson and Isaac B. Fox, as trustees, May 7, 
 1838, for the settlement of their liabilities. Sub- 
 sequently, about the year 1839, A. R. & 8. H. 
 Fox bewail again the manufacture of glass at 
 this place, and continued the business until the 
 year 1853, when the works were destroyed by 
 fire and were not again rebuilt. The sand which 
 first led the early manufacturers of glass to 
 establish works at this place was found in time 
 to be unsuited for the purposes desired, and for 
 a number of years sand was obtained from 
 Berkshire county, Mass. 
 
 THE SANDLAKE LIBRARY SOCIETY. 
 
 It appears that steps were early taken to pro- 
 vide the people of a part of the town with a 
 circulating library. On the second Tuesday in 
 April, 1808, $100 having been subscribed for the 
 establishment of a library, the members of the 
 Sandlake library society assembled at the house 
 of Thomas Thompson, and after making 
 William Van Tress chairman of the meeting, 
 elected Uriah M. Gregory, Joel Bristol, Stephen 
 Gregory, Aretus LjTnau and Nathan R. Cran- 
 dall trustees of the association. 
 
 THE PLASK-ROAD OOMPAUT. 
 
 When a number of years ago the construc- 
 tion of plank-roads attracted the atteniion of the 
 pubhc, it was deemed judicious by those inter- 
 ested in maintaining a good road between the 
 city of Albany and village of Sandlake 
 to obtain from the legislature the priv- 
 ilege of building such a road. On the 
 10th of April, 1S49, was passed "an act 
 to allow the ijresident and directors of the east- 
 ern turnpike to sell a part or all of their road, 
 and to form a i>lank-road from Albany to Sand- 
 lake." By this act, Erastus Corning, David V. 
 N. Radcliffe, Samuel S. Fowler, Richard J. 
 Knowlson, Gideon Butts, Evert van Alden, John 
 DeFreest, James Dearstyne, DeWitt DeForest, 
 George Cipperly, Wynant Younghans and their 
 associates were constituted a company to con- 
 struct and maintain a plank-road from the east 
 side of the Hudson river opposite the city of 
 Albany, through the town of Greenbush on the 
 most eligible route to the Glass Factory village 
 in the town of Sandlake. Although the planks 
 of this road have almost all disappeared from 
 the road-bed which were used in its construc- 
 tion, the highway is still designated as the plank- 
 road. 
 
 CEMETERIES. 
 
 The Sandlake union cemetery association 
 was organized on the 7th of June, 1847, at the 
 house of Calvin Sliter, and incorporated by the 
 election of the following trustees : Calvin Sli- 
 
138 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 ter, Nathan Uphara, Solomon Gregory, Corne- 
 lius Sohemerhorn, Richard J. Knowlson and 
 Albert K. Fox. In 1840 WiUiam P. Van Rensse- 
 laer conveyed to the Rensselaer burial-ground 
 association three acres of land in the vicinity of 
 Sliter's Corners. Another acre was in 1874 ob- 
 tained from Eben W. Carmichael, which, with 
 the former ground, was neatly laid out into a 
 rural cemetery. 
 
 The old burial ground about a mile south of 
 the viUa!?e of West Sandlake, and the grave- 
 yard in the rear of Zion's Lutheran church, in 
 the village, contain the tombs of many of the 
 first settlers of the western part of the town of 
 Sandlake. 
 
 THE LUTHEEAN CHURCH AT BENSSELABRWYCK. 
 
 The eariiest religious society formed in that 
 part of the manor of Rensselaerwyck, now the 
 town of Sandlake, was an organization of 
 Lutherans known as the congregation of the 
 church ^called Zion at Rensselaerwyck. This 
 society was incorporated on the 25th day of 
 ■January, 1790. On that day Andreas "Weafher- 
 wax and Andreas Miller were elected trustees of 
 Zion church. The .ludges of election were Henry 
 Moeller, Henry Miller and Philip Feller. The 
 meeting house was built of logs, on a piece of 
 land given to the congregation by Stephen Van 
 Rensselaer. The site of this old building, 
 which was removed about the year 1815, is still 
 pointed out, it being a part of the present farm 
 of Henry S. Traver. The membership of Zion 
 church became the basis of the organization of 
 the First Lutheran church of West Sandlake. 
 
 SECOND EVANQELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF 
 WEST SANDLAKE. 
 
 This society was organized in 1837. For the 
 purpose of being incorporated the male mem- 
 bers of the congregation on the 8th of May, 
 1839, assembled at the house of John Cipperly 
 and there elected Wynant Younghans, Ber- 
 nard Uline, Bernard U. Sharp, John Cipperly 
 and John P. Shaver, trustees of " The Evan- 
 gelical Lutheran Church of Sandlake." For a 
 time after the organization of this society di- 
 vine worship was held by it at the house of 
 Bernard Uline. On the 16th of the same 
 month of that year the trustees made pur- 
 chase of a piece of ground whereon to erect a 
 church edifice, which was subsequently built 
 and dedicated October 5. 1839. In 1864 the 
 building was remodeled at a cost of about 
 $2,500, and was rededicated January 19, 1865. 
 The present roll of the membership of this 
 church embraces the names of 190 persons. 
 
 The pastors who have served this congrega- 
 tion since its organization have been the Rev. 
 John D. Lawyer, 1837 ; the Rev. Jesse 8. Robin- 
 
 son, 1838-39; the Rev. Isaac Kimball, 1839- 
 40; the Rev. H. L. Dox, 1841-50; the Rev. 
 Nicholas Van Alstyne, 1850-61 ; and the Rev. 
 M. W. Empie, July 1, 1861, to date. 
 
 THE GERMAN LUTHERAN, ZION'S CHURCH, at 
 EAST SANDLAKE. 
 
 A society of German Lutherans was organ- 
 ized in East Sandlake, in school district No. 
 11, in 1865, by the Rev. F.Heinle. The old 
 wooden Baptist church, north of the school 
 house, near big Bowman pond, was first used 
 by this congregation for divine worship, in July 
 1865. which, on the first Sunday in August, was 
 dedicated with appropriate services. The 
 building cost about $500, and has a seating ca- 
 pacity for about 300 persons. The church has 
 80 members. The following have been the 
 pastors of this church : The Revs. F. Heinle, 
 D. Bruno, F. A. Sydaw, and the present pas- 
 tor, the Rev. George Vetter. 
 
 SALEM CHURCH OF THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIA- 
 TION OF WEST SANDLAKE, (GERMAN.) 
 
 This religious association was organized in 
 1845 at the present parsonage, at that time the 
 old Lutheran church, by the Rev. J. G. Marg- 
 quart, Philip Young, Andrew Schafer, Philip 
 Schwartz, John Scheer and John Schuster. In 
 1849 the old wooden schoolhouse, erected in 
 1840, was dedicated as a house of worship, the 
 Rev. R. J. Derrick officiating. In 1866 the 
 present frame church edifice was erected at a 
 cost of about S;7,000, which has a seating 
 capacity for about 800 persons. In October of 
 the same year it was dedicated by Bishop J. J. 
 Esher. 
 
 On the 27th of February, 1867, the society 
 became incorporated by the election of John 
 Wagner, Andrew Schafer and John Scheer as 
 trustees of " The Salem church of the village 
 of West Sandlake." The church has 
 at present 160 members. The following 
 pastors have had charge of this church : 
 The Revs. J. G. Margquart, 1845-46 ; M. Laner, 
 1847-48; J. Wagner, 1849-.50 ; R. J. Derrick, 
 1851-52 ; D. Fisher, 1853-54 : L. Jacobi, 1854- 
 53 ; George Eckhard, 1856-5T ; G. J. Grenze- 
 bach, 18o8-.'59; F. Lohmeyer, 1860-61; C. F. 
 Boiler, 1863-63 ; H. Fisher, 1864 ; W. Mentz, 
 186.5-66 ; C. F. Scheopflins, 1867-68 ; M. Yanch, 
 1869-70 ; J. G. Seigrist, 1871-73 ; A. Luescher, 
 1873-75 ; C. F. Stube, 1876-78 ; and A. Schlenk, 
 1879-80. 
 
 THE TRUE DUTCH REFORMED PROTESTANT 
 CHURCH. 
 
 Among the early religious societies of which 
 the inhabitants of the town of Sandlake were 
 members, was the congregation known as 
 " The Wynants and Foestenkill True Dutch Re- 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF REITSSELAEK OOUNTT. 
 
 139 
 
 formed Protestant church in the towBS of 
 Greenbush and Sandlake." On the 17th of May, 
 1824, the members of this church assembled at 
 the usual place of divine worship, in the town 
 Sandlake, and elected as trustees William W. 
 Cooper, Moses P. B. Bloomendale and Coonrad 
 Cooper for the purpose of being incorporated. 
 On the 28th of June, 1825, the name of the 
 church was changed to " The True Reformed 
 Dutch church of Wynants and Poestenkill in 
 the county of Rensselaer." 
 
 THE PROTESTANT SOCIETY. 
 
 A religious organization known as the Pro- 
 testant society was formed at the house of 
 Stephen Gregory on the 7th of January, 1805. 
 For the purpose of incorporation the associa- 
 tion elected Henry Withy, Stephen Gregory, 
 John Stephens, Daniel Bristol, Wm. Van Trass 
 and Samuel Hammond trustees. A seal was 
 adopted, having a representation of an altar, 
 two doves and the motto •' Unite" engraved 
 upon it. 
 
 FIBST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF SANDLAKE. 
 
 The First Presbyterian society in Sandlake 
 was organized on the 21st of December, 1808. 
 The Presbyterian people of Sandlake uniting 
 with the members of the Congregational church 
 of Nassau formed a congregation of 35 mem- 
 bers, which took the name of the First Presby- 
 terian church of Greenbush, before a portion of 
 the town of Greenbush, in 1812, became a part 
 of the town of Sandlake. When the town of 
 Sandlake was erected the society was called the 
 First Presbyterian church of Sandlake. The 
 present frame house of worship was erected 
 near Sliter's Corners in 1835. The church now 
 belonging to the Baptist congregation at Sand- 
 lake was previous to this year, 1835, wor- 
 shiped in by this society, the building 
 then being known as the Union church. 
 The society was incorporated on the 28th of 
 February, 1826, by the election of Scott Vlning, 
 Calvin Thompson, Stephen Gregory, Silas 
 Willmot, Gilbert Bailey and Uriah Gregory as 
 trustees of the " First Presbyterian society of 
 the town of Sandlake." The church has at 
 present 62 members. The church has had the 
 following pastors : The Revs. John Keyes, 
 
 1808-12 ; Brown ; Perry ; John Knill ; 
 
 William Glynn ; Lummis ; Metcalf ; 
 
 Woodbury ; John Younglove, 1818-24 ; 
 
 Ezra D. Kinney, 1835-30; Thomas Wickes, 
 1831-32 ; Gardner Hayden, 1832-34 ; Isaac Fos- 
 ter, 1835-36, supply ; McDowell, 1836-37 ; 
 
 Thomas J. Haswell, 1838-39; John Davis, 
 1840-43 ; John Sessions, 1843-47 ; Chauncey H. 
 Hubbard, 1847-50; Eber M. RoUo, 1851-54; 
 Charles Doolittle, 1855-59 ; John P. Cushmac, 
 
 ! 1859-62 ; Andrew MoMuUeu, 1863-64 ; Eber M. 
 Rollo, 1865; Albert C. Bishop, 1865-75; and 
 James P. Viele, May, 1876, to date. 
 
 riRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF SANDLAKE. 
 
 The first Baptist society of Sandlake secured 
 its incorporation by electing on the 18th of 
 March, 1826, Lockwood Butts, William King 
 and Nathan Barber trustees. The society as- 
 sumed the name nf the First Baptist church in 
 the town of Sandlake. This congregation 
 worshiped in the Union meeting house, at 
 Sandlake, now known as Averill. 
 
 THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH OF SANDLAKE. 
 
 The society which is now known as the Bap- 
 tist church of Sandlake was organized in 1831 
 by Isaac B. Fox, Joseph Gregory, A. V. P. 
 Gregory, R. P. Whipple, Albert K. Fox, and 13 
 other persons. This congregation, in connec- 
 tion with the Presbyterians, held divine services 
 in the Union meeting house, which was erected 
 and dedicated in 1805, the Rev. Mr. Woodbridge 
 performing the dedicatory services. This build- 
 ing has a seating capacity for about 500 persons, 
 and cost about $3,000. It became the sole 
 property of the Baptist society some years sub- 
 sequent to the organization of this congrega- 
 tion. It was remodeled in 1843 at an expense 
 of about $2,000, and in 1862, at about the same 
 expenditure. 
 
 On the 13th of July, 1835, the members of the 
 Second Baptist society met at their meeting 
 house, and for the purpose of being incorpo- 
 rated elected Stephen Gregory, Joseph Gregorj', 
 Abraham V. P. Gregory, Isaac B. Fox, Charles 
 H. Gregory and Henry L. Wynants trustees. 
 The church has at present 120 members. 
 
 The pastors and supplies of the church have 
 been the Revs. Calvin C. Williams, 1833-33 ; 
 
 Orrin Dodge, 1834-37 ; Barker, 1837 ; E. D. 
 
 Turner, 1837-39 ; Merritt House, 1840-41 ; Abel 
 Brown, 1841-42; William I. Loomls, 1843-46 ; 
 E. G. Perry, 1846-1850 ; J. B. Pixley, 1850-51 ; 
 Alexander Milne. 1851; WUliam W. AUen, 
 1855-58 ; Daniel Robinson, 1858-62 ; George W. 
 Demers, 1863-65 ; Ezra D. Simmons, 1865-68 ; 
 Reuben H. Weeks, 1869-80. 
 
 THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT WEST 
 SANDLAKE. 
 
 A society of Methodists was early formed in 
 the vicinity of West Sandlake. About the 
 year 1825 a small house of worship was erected 
 by the followers of Wesley which took the 
 name of Hedding chapel. The Rev. Samuel 
 Howat was among the first ministers who 
 watched over the spiritual interests of this so- 
 ciety. A meeting was held on the 4th of De- 
 cember, 1826, in the chapel, for the purpose of 
 incorporating the congregation, at which 
 
140 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF EENSSELAEE COUNTY. 
 
 William Mott, ■William M. Martin, Benjamin 
 Sibley, jr., and Henry Moul were elected trus- 
 tees of the Methodist Episcopal Hedding chapel 
 society. About the year 1845 a larger and more 
 convenient meeting house was erected in the 
 Tillage of West Sandlake, which is still used 
 by the society as a house of worship. 
 
 A second certificate of incorporation was 
 secured in 1850 by this society, which on the 
 13th of May of that year elected William R. 
 Mott, Solomon Coon, Samuel Weatherwax, 
 Henry Moul, Henry Weatherwax, Jacob 
 Ostranderand George Uline "trustees of the 
 Methodist Episcopal church of West Sand- 
 lake." 
 
 The following ministers have had this con- 
 gregation under their charge since 1836 : The 
 Revs. Asa Hand, 1836 ; D. Stevens, 1838 ; D. 
 
 Starks, 1840; Hancock, 1842; J. Earns. 
 
 1847 ; Jonn Grove, 1850 ; John Chase, 1853 ; 
 P. P. narrower, 1855 ; William Smith, ia5S ; 
 W. F. Hend, 1861 ; Merrick Bates, 1863 ; J. D. 
 Bennham, 1865 ; J. W. Quinland, 1868 ; S. D. 
 Elliott, 1871 ; R. Patterson, 1872 ; B. O Meeker, 
 1875 ; J. B. Sylvester, 1876 ; C. M. Clark, 1877 ; E. 
 Marsh, 1878. 
 
 The church has on its roll of membership 
 the names of 100 persons. 
 
 WESLET CHAPEL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHCRCH. 
 
 A society of Methodists was organized 
 about the year 1830, at Oak hill, near the centre 
 of the town. A meeting of the members of 
 the congregation was held at the house of Cy- 
 renius Finch, on the 30th of April, 1831, at 
 which the Rev. John North was present. The 
 following persons were elected trustees : The 
 Rev. John North, Andrew A. Smith, Lewis 
 Finch, Adam Feathers and John W. Belknap. 
 
 THE WESLETAN CHAPEL SOCIETY. 
 
 Another society of the followers of John 
 Wesley was organized in the town, which body 
 held divine worship in the school house of dis- 
 trict No. 14. To be incorporated the members 
 of this congregation, which was served by min- 
 isters of the Chatham circuit, assembled at the 
 school house, and there elected the Rev. John 
 North, Sylvanus Baboock, Charles Dngar, 
 Samuel H. Arnold and John McCann trustees 
 of the Wesleyan chapel. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUKCH OF SANDLAKE. 
 
 The three congregations of Methodists, one 
 at Sandlake village, (Averill,) one at Glass 
 House, and one known as Clark's chapel in the 
 town of Sohodack, have been consolidated into 
 a charge and the resident pastor at Sandlake 
 has them under his care. The congregation at 
 Glass House embraces about 50 members. This 
 
 society had a church at this point about the year 
 1830. Clark's chapel was erected shortly after 
 this date. The congregation was connected for 
 a time with the charge at Nassau village, sub- 
 sequently with the Glass House church, and 
 latterly with the Sandlake charge. There are 
 about l.TO persons connected with this church. 
 Olive chapel was erected at Sandlake village 
 about the year 1874, at an expense of about 
 $2,500. It was first associated as a charge with 
 the church at West Sandlake, but In 1878 it was 
 connected with the Sandlake charge. The Rev. 
 Wm. W. Witney was the first pastor of this 
 church. The roll of membership of the con- 
 gregation bears S4 names. 
 
 ST. HENRT'S EOMAN CATHOLIC CHUBOH AT SAND- 
 LAKE, (AVEEILL.) 
 
 This church originated about the year 1868 
 when religious services were first held at the 
 house of M. Cusack, by the Rev. H. Hopkins of 
 St. Francis Roman Catholic church of Troy. 
 In June. 1869 it was decided that a small church 
 should be erected, and the work of building was 
 shortly afterwards commenced on a lot pre- 
 sented by J. Aken. On the 4th of January, 1870, 
 the church was incorporated under the name of 
 "St. Henry's church." The first services were 
 held in the new^ building on Sunday, April 17, 
 1870. On the 16th of October, 1870, the church 
 was dedicated by the Very Rev. V. G. Wadhams. 
 The following priests have had charge of this 
 church : The Revs. Father Gabriels, Father 
 Wiebbe, Father Schoppe, and the Rev. Father 
 Trieb, from May 31, 1879, to date. 
 
 AVEBILL. 
 
 The village of Averill, which is situated on 
 the Wynantskill, is a little north of the center 
 of the town of Sandlake. The valuable water 
 power of the Wynantskill at this point early at- 
 tracted the attention of manufacturers. About 
 the beginning of the century Thomas ThMup- 
 son erected a saw mill and a forge on the stream 
 running southward from the present village of 
 Averill. A woolen mill was built about the 
 year 1825 on the site of the former buildings, 
 which was first operated by Coleman & Hem- 
 ingway as a satinet factory. Subsequently the 
 mill was purchased by John Kerr of Troy. It 
 was afterward changed into a hosiery mill by 
 Hezekiah C. and George C. Arnold, who were 
 associated with Daniel Wight in this branch 
 of manufacture. This firm was succeeded by 
 James Aken, and he in turn by the firm of 
 Kidder & Aken. In 1871 the building was 
 destroyed by fire. 
 
 Where now is the hosiery mill operated by 
 Nicholas T. Eane was, about the year 1823, a 
 tannery belonging to Ephraim Whittaker. 
 
HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY. 
 
 141 
 
 Subsequently it was successively owned by 
 Caleb Finch, John Ladue, and Qershom Tabor. 
 The tannery buildings were several times de- 
 stroyed by fire. James Aken having purchased 
 the property erected thereon a hosiery mill in 
 1862. In 1873 James F. Aken and Jeptha P. 
 Eidder leased it, and were succeeded a year 
 afterward by Kidder & McCready, and they by 
 Kidder & North. Subsequently Nicholas T. 
 Eane purchased it of James Aken. It is known 
 as the Aken hosiery mill, has five setts of 
 machinery and giving employment to about 75 
 persons. 
 
 About the year 1820 Aretus Lyman was run- 
 ning a saw-mill where now is the Sandlake 
 warp and yarn factory, owned and operated by 
 I. McConihe & Co. A short distance south of 
 the saw-mill was a grist-mill, which a number 
 of years afterwards was changed to a plaster- 
 mill. A second grist-mill was erected below 
 this mill. Aretus Lyman and Stephen Gregory 
 were for a number of years the owners of these 
 mills. Coonradt Albridge erected at this point 
 a cotton mill, where was manufactured cotton 
 batting and yarn. On August 27, 1836, Daniel 
 Wight, Hezekiah C. Arnold and Alfred Robin- 
 son purchased from Aretus Lyman a grist- 
 mill, in which they began the manufacture of 
 satinet warps. In 1870 1. McConihe & Co. suc- 
 ceeded to the ownership of the property. This 
 firm employs about thirty-five persons in the 
 manufacture of cotton warp. 
 
 An old mill known as the cloth dressing fac- 
 tory of John P. Albertson was in operation on 
 this part of the Wynantskill as early as the 
 year 1820. Where now is the Eagle hosiery 
 mill was once the mill of Cornelius Schemer- 
 horn, destroyed by fire in 1870. 
 
 The site of the Beaverwyck hosiery mill, the 
 property of Thomas Knowlson, was about the 
 year 1835 occupied by the satinet mill of John 
 Van Husen. For a time it was run as a grist 
 mill by Arnold, Hunt & Wight. Subse- 
 quently Andrew B. Knowlson purchased the 
 property and fitted up the building as a hosiery 
 mill, which in 1874 was destroyed by fire. The 
 mill was rebuilt, and is now called the Beaver- 
 wyck hosiery mill, and is in operation at 
 present under the management of Andrew B. 
 Knowlson. 
 
 About the year 1860 a paper mill was erected 
 on the Wynantskill, south of the former mills, 
 by Staats D. Tompkins. In 1865 the property 
 passed into the hands of Eugene and John W. 
 Merwin. In March, 1875, Andrew J. Smart of 
 Troy became the owner of the mill, who at 
 present manufactures annually about 700 tons 
 of straw paper. About the year 1836 the fur- 
 nace of William Carmichael was built at this 
 
 point. Here, also, at an early day was a cloth 
 dressing factory. 
 
 In 1836 the village of Sandlake is spoken of 
 as being 10 miles from Troy, containing a Bap- 
 tist and a Presbyterian church, a postoflice, 
 two satinet factories, two cotton factories, a 
 grist and a saw-mill, a furnace, a large tannery, 
 a tavern, two stores and about 40 dwellings. 
 The place now comprises about 100 houses, 
 among which are the Baptist church, the Meth- 
 odist Episcopal chapel and St. Henry's Roman 
 Catholic church and the school house of dis- 
 trict No. 7. The Sandlake collegiate institute 
 was established here in 1852 by Wm. H. Scram. 
 The school obtained an excellent reputation 
 under the management of this well known 
 educator of boys. The building is now re- 
 modeled and is owned by Horatio F. Averill, 
 being known as the Averill house. The busi- 
 ness interests of the place besides the manu- 
 factures already mentioned, include at present 
 two hotels and several stores. 
 
 The place which was until 1880 the western 
 part of the village of Sandlake being given a 
 postofflce by the government, received the 
 designation of Averill. The pretty sheet of 
 water known as Sand lake is at a short remove 
 from the Averill house. 
 
 BAND LAKE (SLITER'S COKNER'S.) 
 
 The place known as Sliter's Corners, in the 
 town of Sandlake, is now the village of Sand- 
 lake, for here about the year 181.5 was estab- 
 lished a postofflce by the name of Sandlake. 
 The place contains about 40 buildings, among 
 which is the Presbyterian church. The grounds 
 of the Union cemetery are in the immediate 
 vicinity. At this point is a hotel, two stores, 
 an undertaker's shop, a carriage and a black- 
 smith shop. The ofBce of the Mutual insur- 
 ance association of Sandlake, PoestenkUl, 
 Berlin and Stephentown is at this village. The 
 association was organized March 21, 1878. The 
 first directors were Joel B. Peck, Dr. E. W. 
 Carmichael, Lewis W. AUendorph, John Vos- 
 burgh, John M. Miller, John Miller, William 
 Upham and Arthur M. Peck. The interests of 
 the company are mutual. About 230 persons 
 are members of the association. 
 
 GLASS HOUSE. 
 
 This place was early known as Rensselaer 
 village when the Rensselaer glass factory was 
 in operation on the banks of Glass lake. It is 
 a short distance south of Sliter's Comers. 
 There are about 30 buildings at this point, 
 among which is a Methodist Episcopal church, 
 the school house of district No. 8, and a hotel. 
 It is mentioned in 1836 as being 12 mUes from 
 Troy, having a Methodist church, a select 
 
142 
 
 HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF REN8SELAEK COTTNTT. 
 
 school, a postoSBce, a glass manufactory 
 making cylinder glass, a saw-mill, a tavern, 
 two stores and 50 dwellings. 
 
 WEST SANDLAKE. 
 
 This village, in the western part of the town, 
 was early known by the name of Ullnes, in 
 honor of Bernardt Ulino, who built the first 
 house at this point. In 1S36 Ulines is 
 referred to in the "State Gazetteer" as 
 being seven miles from Troy, upon the 
 Wynantskill, having a Lutheran and a 
 Methodist Episcopal church, a grist and 
 a saw mill, two stores, two taverns and about 
 50 dwellings. A postofflee was established here 
 about the year 1S:35. of which Frost 
 Myers was the tirst postmaster. Suc- 
 cessively the following persons have been 
 his successors in office : Burton A. Thomas, 
 Jacob Taylor, Samuel D. Seymour, Dr. Wm. H. 
 Snyder, Jacob Wheeler and Elbert W. Moul. 
 The village contains about 90 houses and a 
 population of 40S. There are four churches 
 in the place, two Lutheran, a Methodist Epis- 
 copal and a German Evangelical. It has one 
 hotel, four stores, a hosiery mill, a yarn fac- 
 
 tory, two grist mills and a plow manufactory. 
 The school house of district No. 4 is in the 
 village. The hosiery mill of John H. Akin and 
 John McLaren affords employment to about 40 
 persons. The stocking yam factory of Albert 
 Donaldson and William Uline is also an im- 
 portant industry. 
 
 The Lmllmaii Herald was issued in 1844, at 
 West Sandlake, by the Rev. Henry L. Dox, pas- 
 tor of the Second Lutheran church of the vil- 
 lage. It was published for several years. 
 
 SOUTH SANDLAEE. 
 
 This hamlet is situated in the southwestern 
 part of the town. It comprises about a half- 
 score of houses, a store, a blacksmith shop and 
 a wagonmaker's shop. The postoffice was es- 
 tablished here about the year 1852. William 
 Stevens has been the postmaster for many 
 years. 
 
 POPULATION OF THE TOWS. 
 
 1S15. 
 ]8S>0. 
 1S25., 
 1S30., 
 
 .3,29311850 2,5Sfl 
 
 .S,30a|lS55 2,588 
 
 ..3.4261 1860 2,S02 
 
 .3,6561 1S65 2,606 
 
 1S3S 3,840 1 1870.. 
 
 1840 4.303 18T5 2,S72 
 
 1845 4.291 llSSO 2,570 
 
 EMENDATION. 
 
 On page h%, line It*, in first column, instead of "diameter," read circumference. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 143 
 
 lusriDEix: 
 
 Ministers' Names are not Indexed. 
 
 See Churches. 
 
 Abbott, Benjamin. . 
 
 Frank 
 
 John 
 
 John M. . . . 
 
 Joseph 
 
 Matthias . . 
 
 Royal 
 
 William P. 
 
 Abecl, James 
 
 Abrams, Anthony 
 
 Acker, Solomon 
 
 Ackhurst, James 
 
 Adams, Edwin 
 
 Elijah 
 
 Jacob E 
 
 James 
 
 John 
 
 R. G 
 
 William 
 
 Adancourt, Francis 
 
 Adriaen, Peter 
 
 Adsit, John B 
 
 Agan, Patrick 
 
 Aiken, Benjamin 
 
 Edmund 
 
 James E 
 
 Aken, James 
 
 James F 
 
 Akin, John H 
 
 William 
 
 Albertsen, Hendrick 
 
 Albertson, J. P 
 
 Alden, John 
 
 Allen, Amos 
 
 Benijah 
 
 David 
 
 Ethan 
 
 George 
 
 James 
 
 Joseph 
 
 Joseph H 
 
 Stewart 
 
 Timothy 
 
 William 
 
 Alexander. Gilbert 
 
 Joseph 
 
 AUendorph, Lewis W 
 
 Alps 
 
 Ambler, Peter 
 
 Amidon, Cyrus 
 
 Andrews, Lyman 
 
 Anti-rent troubles 112, 113, 
 
 Appel, Johannis 
 
 Armstrong, Abner 
 
 Asher 
 
 Moses 
 
 Robert 34, 
 
 Archerly, Nathaniel 
 
 Arnold, David 
 
 Eleazer 
 
 George C 
 
 Hezekiah C 27, 
 
 Samuel H 
 
 Stephen 
 
 Arrand, Charles W 
 
 Artcher, Michael 
 
 Ash, pot and pearl 
 
 P.-VGE 
 01 
 
 123 
 IW 
 94 
 91 
 104 
 92 
 94 
 3-3 
 41) 
 82 
 
 m 
 
 .37 
 
 18, 133 
 
 104 
 
 37, 38, 41 
 
 67 
 
 85 
 
 :« 
 
 27,41 
 
 12 
 
 112 
 
 112 
 
 91 
 
 91 
 
 llj 
 
 140, 141 
 
 141 
 
 142 
 
 44,43 
 
 4.3 
 
 141 
 
 4.5 
 
 115 
 
 11.5 
 
 36 
 
 128 
 
 26 
 
 99 
 
 98 
 
 105 
 
 111 
 
 9:3 
 
 37 
 
 94, 102 
 
 36,37 
 
 141 
 
 126 
 
 108 
 
 110 
 
 85 
 
 , 114, 123 
 
 6 
 
 24 
 
 24,88 
 
 83,85 
 
 , 140, 141 
 
 77 
 
 W 
 
 81 
 
 140. 141 
 
 , 140. 141 
 
 140 
 
 129 
 
 94 
 
 113 
 
 101. 102 
 
 PACE 
 
 Aulthuyser. Peler 72 
 
 Austin, Joshua ,33 
 
 Stephen 1O8 
 
 .\verill 140 
 
 Ayres, E. D 41 
 
 Babcock & Hickok 41 
 
 Babcock. John 111. 112 
 
 Sylvanus 140 
 
 Bachus. Hans 98 
 
 Peter 98 
 
 Backer, Jno 6 
 
 J- K 60 
 
 Storm 6 
 
 Bacon, Penuel 63 
 
 Bailey, Amaziah 122, 133 
 
 Gilbert 139 
 
 Samuel 129 
 
 Stanton 98 
 
 Baker, Alderman lOH 
 
 Benjamin 81 
 
 Clark 81 
 
 Elisha 24 
 
 Ezekiel 24, 66 
 
 John 83 
 
 Norman 93 
 
 Remember 108 
 
 William 24 
 
 Baldwin, Israel P 24 
 
 Ball, Erastus 86 
 
 James H 24,122.123.126 
 
 L. Chandler 84. 86 
 
 Ballston .5:1 
 
 Bancker, Flores 17,33,39,102,103 
 
 Joshua Ill 
 
 Willi.im 38 
 
 Banker, C. A 95 
 
 Evert 6, .3:3. -13, 60 
 
 68 
 
 Ezra 
 
 Banks, Trov — 
 
 Bank of Troy 
 
 Central National 
 
 Commercial 
 
 Farmers 
 
 First National 
 
 Howard Trust 
 
 Manufacturers 
 
 Market 
 
 Merchants and Mechanics . 
 
 Mutual 
 
 National Exchange 
 
 State 
 
 Troy City 
 
 Troy Exchange 
 
 Troy Savings 
 
 Troy Savings Company 
 
 llnion 
 
 United National 
 
 Bank of Lansingburgh 
 
 D. Powers & Co 
 
 First National, Hoosick Falls 
 
 National Bank of Casileton 
 
 Rensselaer County Bank 
 
 Bannister, Jason 
 
 Barber, John 
 
 Luther 
 
 Nathan 
 
 Barberville 
 
 .30 
 30 
 30 
 30 
 30 
 .30 
 ,30 
 .30 
 .30 
 •30 
 30 
 30 
 30 
 .30 
 30 
 .30 
 30 
 30 
 41 
 41 
 86 
 74 
 41 
 S4 
 33,34 
 106 
 139 
 110 
 
144 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Bareatse, Regnier 43 
 
 Barheyt, Jacobus 72, 103 
 
 Jno 5 
 
 Wouter 5, 71 
 
 Barkar, Calvin 41 
 
 George 108 
 
 Harnett, Benjamin 84 
 
 John 103 
 
 Barney, John 20 
 
 Barnhart, Henry 85 
 
 Barrenger, Andre iv V 54 
 
 Fred 55 
 
 Fred. P 55 
 
 Barry, Charles W 93 
 
 Bartel, Andries 43 
 
 Barton, Reuben 72 
 
 Bassett, Ebenezar 125 
 
 Bateman, Reuben 122 
 
 Batestown 38 
 
 Bath-on-the-Hudion 33, 54, 100 
 
 Baucus, John A 67 
 
 William 1 94 
 
 Baucus & Co., Jamss 67 
 
 Baum, Col. Frederick 79, 80, 81 
 
 Bayard, Stephen N 44 
 
 Becker, David 81 
 
 Jeremiah L lOS 
 
 Johannis 90 
 
 Beckwith, Charles 24 
 
 Lewis 24 
 
 Beecker, Abraham 60 
 
 Beckman, Christopher 103 
 
 John 48 
 
 JohnH 71,73 
 
 Beem, Adam 101 
 
 Beers, Daniel 132 
 
 Bell, David 72 
 
 J. D 109 
 
 Joseph 72 
 
 William 36 
 
 Bemus, Daniel 24 
 
 Benedict, Enoch 123 
 
 George W 86 
 
 Lyman 86 
 
 Benenstukl, J 109 
 
 Benn, David 101 
 
 Bennett, Richard 63 
 
 Benoway, Peter 60. 65 
 
 Benson, H 94 
 
 Benthouse, Obadiah 33 
 
 Bentley, Caleb 117, 130 
 
 Bergman, Johannes 103 
 
 BerRn 120 
 
 Berlin Center 120 
 
 Berringer, J 108 
 
 S 108 
 
 Berry, Sidney 33 
 
 Best, Jacob 98 
 
 Betts, Benjamin 24 
 
 James 18, 19 
 
 Nathan 102, 103 
 
 Thomas 102 
 
 Bidwell, William 103, 104 
 
 Bird, John 23 
 
 Birdsall, Edward 115 
 
 Birdsell, Z. P 103 
 
 Bishop, Nathaniel 83 
 
 Bissels, Adam 42 
 
 Blaau, Abm 33 
 
 Waldron 33 
 
 Blanchard, Joseph 32 
 
 Bleccker, John J 62,63 
 
 Bleeker, Jno. R 35, 89 
 
 Bleckman, H 36 
 
 Blewer, George W 67 
 
 William T 67 
 
 Blinn, John F 133 
 
 Bliss, David 24 
 
 William P 67 
 
 Bloodgood, Francis 136 
 
 Bloomendale, Moses P. B 139 
 
 Blooming Grove 54, 55 
 
 Bly, Clark 119, 130 
 
 Boardman, John 16 
 
 Bogart, Isaac 33 
 
 Boggs, J 33, 34 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Bonesteel, Lodowick }% 
 
 Nicholas Igg 
 
 Bostwick, Robert S ^ 
 
 Bosworth, Benjamin 9j 
 
 Nathaniel 81 
 
 ParkerH 94 
 
 Bondy, John M ^45 
 
 Boundary line troubles 127, 128, 129 
 
 Bourne, Ancel 93 
 
 Bout, William F 43 
 
 Bovie, Claes 6 
 
 John 81 
 
 Reykert 77 
 
 Boyce, Joseph 62 
 
 Boynton, William 94 
 
 Boyntonville 95 
 
 Brae, William 87 
 
 Bradbury. Benjamin 45 
 
 Bradley, William 22,39 
 
 Bradt, Bernardus 85 
 
 Daniel 77 
 
 Francis 55 
 
 Joakim 90 
 
 Neiltje 69, 90 
 
 Brainard 126 
 
 Joseph 126 
 
 Braman, Paul 117 
 
 Brat, Storm 6 
 
 Bratt, Albert 6, 13, 21, 101, 103 
 
 Andres 6 
 
 Barent Albertse 59, 101 
 
 Daniel B 7, 62, 82 
 
 David 62 
 
 John 82 
 
 Bray, Philip F 45 
 
 Brayton, Gideon 129 
 
 Brimmer, Daniel 115 
 
 Godfrey 97, 117 
 
 George 97 
 
 John 97 
 
 John G 97, 98 
 
 Briggs, Tibbits 66 
 
 William 81 
 
 Brinkerhoff, Abm 33 
 
 John 33 
 
 Bristol, Abm 135 
 
 Daniel 139 
 
 Joel 137 
 
 Breckenridge, James 128 
 
 Breese, Garret S 83 
 
 Henry 81 
 
 John 25 
 
 Breezing, John 33 
 
 Brenanstuhl, Michael 112 
 
 Breslin, John 66 
 
 Brewer, Jonathan 33 
 
 Brezee, Hendrick 43 
 
 Brock, Benjamin 94 
 
 Francis m 
 
 Brockway, Libbeus 130 
 
 Nathaniel 72 
 
 Brook, Francis 112 
 
 Jonathan 112 
 
 Brooks, William ' 45 
 
 Brookins, Wooster 25 
 
 Brown, Daniel , \ 130 
 
 David 7, 81, 130 
 
 Erastus 131 
 
 Henry M, 87, 119 130 
 
 Jam" 83 
 
 Jonathan 7, 8, 22, 37 
 
 Joseph 66, 92, 130 
 
 Martin S gg 
 
 Penuel 34 
 
 Roswell J gg 
 
 sam"<;i :.::: 72,82 
 
 Sy.lvanus 123 
 
 William 34 
 
 Brownell, Simeon 92 
 
 Bnimagem, Thomas 73 
 
 Brunswick Center ,,[ igg 
 
 Brunswick, Town of . . . .9, 17, 25, 37, 101, 102. 108, 112 
 
 Brust, George 103 
 
 Bruster, Benjamin .'.'.'.".".'.'.'.' 34 102 
 
 Bryan's Comers ' gg 
 
 Bryan, Hiram C !!!!!!! 67 
 
INDEX 
 
 145 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Bum, Frans 98 
 
 Bumham, Joshua 33 
 
 Burnside, James 103 
 
 John 103 
 
 Thomas 1C3 
 
 Burr, Jonathan 39, 41 
 
 Burrell, Samuel 83 
 
 Burrett, Ely 34,25 
 
 Rufus A 24 
 
 Burris, James 60 
 
 Burt, Asa 38, 41 
 
 Burtch, Asa 131 
 
 Burton, G. W 67 
 
 Bush, Abijah 120, 123 
 
 John 121 
 
 Buskirk's Bridge 88 
 
 Buswell, William 48 
 
 W. W 138 
 
 Bryant, Lewis 66 
 
 Budlong, Aaron 129 
 
 Bucklin, Isaac 102 
 
 Buckman, Abiel 74 
 
 Buel, Clarence 30 
 
 David 23 
 
 Jr., David 25 
 
 Elam 83 
 
 Josiah 83 
 
 Bull, Isaac 81 
 
 Bullock, Lewis 138 
 
 Burdeck, John 119 
 
 Zebulon P 115 
 
 Burdick, Aaron B 115 
 
 Augustus 102 
 
 Joseph 112 
 
 Jr., Joseph 113 
 
 Burch, Joseph 72 
 
 Burger, Johannes 108 
 
 Burgess, Jacob 24 
 
 Burgoyne, Augustus 24 
 
 Burk, John G 81 
 
 Burke, John R 37 
 
 Burlingame, Walter P 99 
 
 Butler, Fred 8 
 
 Patrick 66 
 
 Butts, Gideon 137 
 
 Lockwood 139 
 
 William 135 
 
 Caldwell, James 16,33 
 
 Calkins, David 73 
 
 Callender, David 33 
 
 Callylean,J 109 
 
 Campbell, Archibald 33 
 
 Jacob 24 
 
 James A 45 
 
 John H 38 
 
 S.D 74 
 
 Campman, Michael 62 
 
 Canfield, David 34,25 
 
 Cannon, Le Grand 27 
 
 Card, Stephen 98 
 
 Carmichael, Eben W 138, 141 
 
 John 135 
 
 William 25,141 
 
 Carney, John V 84 
 
 Carpenter, Calvin P 132 
 
 Daniel 18,93 
 
 Isaac. 91 
 
 Jr., John 25,37 
 
 Joseph 129 
 
 Philander 132 
 
 Solomon 119 
 
 Thomas G 131 
 
 Walter 72 
 
 William 135 
 
 Carr, Caleb 33 
 
 Joseph B 30 
 
 William 33,34 
 
 Cary, Zenas 29 
 
 Case, Alexander 129 
 
 Benjamin 40 
 
 Daniel 66 
 
 Jacob 81 
 
 Jonathan 81, 83,83,87 
 
 Joseph 25,86 
 
 Cassj Job 81 
 
 Castle, William 87 
 
 Castleton 69, 74 
 
 Caswell, John M 86 
 
 Catlin, George 95 
 
 Cevill, William 74 
 
 Chace, Talman 81 
 
 WilliamP 81,84 
 
 Chambers, lohn M 37 
 
 Joy 33 
 
 Thomas 70 
 
 Chamberlin, Edwin 41 
 
 Chandler, Stephen 112 
 
 Chapman, Benjamin 93 
 
 Stephen 93 
 
 Chase, Benjamin 132 
 
 Ezra 138 
 
 John 85 
 
 Sylvester 112 
 
 Cheever, Samuel e 45 
 
 Cheney, C. A 86 
 
 Chipman, John B 36 
 
 Walter 38 
 
 Choate, Francis 40 
 
 Church, John 98 
 
 Nathaniel 98 
 
 Churches, Baptist — 
 
 Freewill, Alps 124 
 
 First, Bath 55 
 
 First Day, Berlin 119 
 
 Seventh Day, Berlin 118, 119 
 
 First, East Nassau 124 
 
 First, East Poestenkill 108 
 
 First Freewill, East Poestenkill 109 
 
 First, Greenbush 45 
 
 First, Grafton 114 
 
 First Freewill, Grafton 115 
 
 First, Hoag's Corners 124 
 
 First, Hoosick 82 
 
 First , Hoosick Comers 82 
 
 First, Hoosick Falls 82 
 
 First, Hoosick Hollow 131 
 
 First, Lansingburgh 40 
 
 First, Nassau 124 
 
 Second , Nassau 124 
 
 First, Petersburgh 99 
 
 First, Pittstown Corners 92 
 
 First, Sandlake 139 
 
 Second, Sandlake 139 
 
 St. Peter's, Schodack 73 
 
 First, Stephentown 131 
 
 Seventh Day, Stephentown 132 
 
 Union, Stephentown 131 
 
 First Freewill, Stephent'n C'n'r 131 
 
 First, Troy 21, 22 
 
 Second, Troy 301 
 
 North, Troy 29 
 
 South, Troy 30 
 
 Freewill, West Stephentown. . . 131 
 
 First, West Hoosick 83 
 
 Christian — 
 
 Berlin 119 
 
 Boyntonville 93 
 
 Petersburgh 99 
 
 Church of Christ, Poestenkill 109 
 
 Troy 30 
 
 Congregational — 
 
 Greenbush 45 
 
 Stephentown 132 
 
 Troy 30 
 
 Disciples — 
 
 Eagle Mills 106 
 
 Pittstown Comers 93 
 
 Friends' Society — 
 
 Pittstown 92 
 
 Troy 30 
 
 Evangelical Association— 
 
 Safem, West Sandlake 138 
 
 Lutheran — 
 
 Evangelical, Bryan's Comers.. 67 
 
 Gilead Ev'g'l, Cent. Bnmswick 66, 103 
 
 Zion's, East Sandlake 138 
 
 Evangelical, East Schodack ... 74 
 
 St. John's, Melrose 66 
 
 Evangelical, Poestenkill 108, 109 
 
 Raymertown 92 
 
 Zion, South Berlin 120 
 
 Trinity, Troy «> 
 
 18 
 
146 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 C burches — continued. 
 
 Lutheran — page 
 
 First, West Sandlake 138 
 
 Second, West Sandlake 138 
 
 Zion, West Sandlake 138 
 
 Liberal Religious— 
 
 Mapleton 85 
 
 Methodist Episcopal — 
 
 Olive Chapel, Averill 140 
 
 Bath 55 
 
 Free, Bath 55 
 
 Berlin 119 
 
 Boyntonville fti 
 
 Brainard . 125 
 
 Buskirk's Bridge 85 
 
 Castleton 73 
 
 Cooksborough 93 
 
 Center Brunswick 104 
 
 Dunham Hollow 125 
 
 Eagle Mills 105 
 
 East Brunswick 105 
 
 East Greenbush 51 
 
 East Nassau 125 
 
 East Pittstown 94 
 
 Glass House 140 
 
 Grant's Hollow 67 
 
 Grafton Center 115 
 
 First, Greenbush 45 
 
 Hart's Falls 66 
 
 Lansingrburgh 19 
 
 Free, Lansinj^burgh 20 
 
 African, Lansingburgh 21 
 
 Nassau 125 
 
 North Hoosick 84 
 
 North Petersburgh 99 
 
 Wesley Chapel, Oak Hill 140 
 
 Pittstown 94 
 
 Pittstown Corners 94 
 
 Poestenkill 109 
 
 Free, Quackenkill 115 
 
 Schaghticoke Hill ti" 
 
 Schodack . 140 
 
 South Petersburgh 99 
 
 Tomhannock 93 
 
 State Street, Troy 24, 25 
 
 North Second Street. Troy .... 30 
 
 Levings Chapel, " 30 
 
 Zion, " ... 30 
 
 Third Street, "... 30 
 
 Congress Street, '" 30 
 
 Vail Avenue, " 30 
 
 Pawling Avenue. " ... 30 
 
 German " 30 
 
 Valley Falls 94 
 
 Walloomsac 84 
 
 West Sandlake 139, 140 
 
 Presbyterian- 
 Alps 124 
 
 Brunswick 103 
 
 EasuNassau 124 
 
 Greenbush 45 
 
 Hoosick Falls ^3 
 
 Johnsonville 92 
 
 First, LansinjGfburgh 39 
 
 Second, L;insmgburgh 40 
 
 Nassau 124 
 
 Pittstown 91.92 
 
 Sandlake 139 
 
 Schaghticoke 66 
 
 Union, Stephentown 132 
 
 Stephentown Flats 132 
 
 Tomhannock 92 
 
 First, Troy 20,26,30 
 
 Second, '' 29,30 
 
 Third, *' .^ 30 
 
 Second St., ■■' 30 
 
 United, " 30 
 
 Liberty, " 30 
 
 Park, '* 30 
 
 Woodside, " 30 
 
 Oakwood, ' 30 
 
 Ninth, " 30 
 
 Westminster," 30 
 
 Memorial, " 30 
 
 Protestant Episcopal — 
 
 Church of Messiah, Greenbush, 45 
 
 Epiphany, *■' 45 
 
 Trinity, Hart's Falis 66 
 
 Tibbits, Hoosick Corners 84 
 
 St. Marks, Hoosick Falls 83 
 
 S. Paul's, Johnsonville 94 
 
 Trinity. Lansingburgh 39 
 
 St. Paul's, Troy 23, 30 
 
 St. John's, '' 29,30 
 
 Christ Church, " 30 
 
 Church of Holy Cross, Troy. . . 30 
 
 St. Luke's, "... 30 
 
 Church of Ascension, "... 30 
 
 St. Paul's Free Chapel, "... 30 
 
 Protestant Society, Sandlake 139 
 
 Protestant Reformed Dutch — 
 
 Blooming Grove 55 
 
 Castleton 74 
 
 Greenbush 48 
 
 Lansingburgh 39 
 
 Nassau 124 
 
 Pittstown 91 
 
 Sanckovck 81 
 
 Sandlake 138, 139 
 
 Schaghticoke 64, 65 
 
 Schodack 72 
 
 Schodack Landing 73 
 
 Tiossiook 81 
 
 Wynantskill 55 
 
 Roman Catholic— 
 
 St. Henry's, Averill 140 
 
 Buskirk's Bridge 85 
 
 St. John's, Greenbush 45 
 
 Hart's Falls 66 
 
 Immaculate Conception, Hoos- 
 ick Falls ... 85 
 
 St. Augustine, Lansingburgh.. 40 
 
 St. John's, Lansingburgh 40 
 
 Nassau 125 
 
 Pittstown Corners 95 
 
 St. Joseph's, Stephentown 133 
 
 St. Peter's, Troy.... 30 
 
 St. Mary's, " .... 30 
 
 St. Joseph's, " 30 
 
 St. Jean Baptiste. " 30 
 
 St. Francis, " 30 
 
 St. Lav/rence's, "... 30 
 
 St. Michael's, " 30 
 
 St. Patrick's. " .... 30 
 Seceders- 
 
 Scoich. Lansingburgh 40 
 
 Union — 
 
 Germondvilie, No. Lansingb'gh 39 
 
 Pittstown 92 
 
 Unitarian — 
 
 First, Troy .30 
 
 Universalis!— 
 
 First, Lansingburgh 40 
 
 First, Troy 30 
 
 Bethel, Troy 30 
 
 Jewish — 
 
 Beth Israel Bikur Cholim, Troy 30 
 
 Berith Sholum .30 
 
 Warren Society — 
 
 Hoosick Falls 83 
 
 Cipperly, George 103,137 
 
 Jacob 103 
 
 John 138 
 
 Claes, Melgert A 47 
 
 Claessen, Claes .... 43 
 
 Clapper, John P 55 
 
 Peter ... 108 
 
 Clark, Aseph 54 
 
 Charles ' ' 37 
 
 Horace ... 135 
 
 John ; 33 3.1 
 
 Peter G 51 
 
 Thomas 99 
 
 William gg 104 
 
 Clark's Corners ' 75 
 
 Claxton & Babcock 41 
 
 Cleaveland, Joseph 104 
 
 Clint, John 135 
 
 Clinton, Town of ... ...44,50 51 
 
 Clowes, Hiram .", i03, 104 
 
 Thomas ... 25 2fi 
 
 Close, Eliphalet W '37 
 
 Clum, Conrad 92 
 
IITDEX. 
 
 147 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Clum, Henry 105 
 
 Clum's Corners 106 
 
 Clute, Abm 82 
 
 Cochran, J. H 119 
 
 Robert 128 
 
 Walter 128 
 
 Coe, C. F. R... 55 
 
 Cogswell, Samuel 33 
 
 Colamore, Samuel 17, 103 
 
 Cole, Aaron 98 
 
 Barney 54 
 
 Coleman, Calvin 132 
 
 Samuel 132 
 
 Coleman & Hemingway 140 
 
 Colgrove, Asa 84 
 
 ColUns, Edward 77, 90 
 
 Collison, Francis 103, 104 
 
 Colman, Joseph 74 
 
 Calvin, Benjamin 85 
 
 Comesky Brothers 40 
 
 Comick, Samuel 108 
 
 Comstock, Daniel ... 83 
 
 James D 37,41 
 
 Jeremiah 33 
 
 John 83,&1,94 
 
 Theophilus 83, 85 
 
 Cone, Elemander 130 
 
 Ichabod 130 
 
 Solomon 45 
 
 Conkey, Fred. B 50 
 
 Conner, Joseph 112 
 
 Conrad, Adam 105 
 
 Hendrick 19, 103, 112 
 
 John 55 
 
 Philip H 103 
 
 Converse, John 28 
 
 Cook, Thomas 34 
 
 Cooksborough 39,91.93 
 
 Cooley, Ebenezer 33 
 
 Coon, Asa 119 
 
 A. W 119 
 
 Hezekiah 98, 129 
 
 Joseph 83 
 
 Solomon 140 
 
 William 81, 119 
 
 Coons, Craver 108 
 
 J 108 
 
 Philip M 104 
 
 Cooper, Abm 48 
 
 C 108 
 
 Christian C 108 
 
 Conrad 139 
 
 Cornelius 33 
 
 p 106 
 
 W 34, 108 
 
 W.W 139 
 
 Corpe, Benijah 131 
 
 Cotterell, Samuel 83 
 
 Coun, Harmon 72 
 
 Covell, Benjamin 15,18,19,20,21 
 
 Richard 83 
 
 Samuel 93 
 
 Silas 15,21.22,23 
 
 Cowles, St. Leger 72 
 
 Cox, Jr., James 104 
 
 Warren 84 
 
 Coyeman, Andries 6 
 
 Peter 6 
 
 Samuel 6 
 
 Crabb,John 39 
 
 Crabb & Boos 39 
 
 Cramer, John ^?7 
 
 Crandall, David S 112 
 
 John llo 
 
 Joseph 119 
 
 Nathan R 137 
 
 Roswell 115 
 
 Crannell, John „, 53 
 
 William 34, o5 
 
 Crary , Samuel 87 
 
 115 
 
 Craver, George „ 'ip 
 
 JohnTV 50,51 
 
 Crawlier 6 
 
 Creiger, Hans Jerry 128 
 
 Crocker, Ebenezer 74 
 
 SamuelShaw 84,85 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Cronkhite, A 83 
 
 Crook, Theo 109 
 
 Cropsey, Jacob D 117 
 
 Valentine 104 
 
 Cropseyville 105, 106 
 
 Cross, Ebenezer 81,83 
 
 Croy, John G 98,99 
 
 Crum, Wait 131 
 
 Curran, Thomas 37,40 
 
 Curtinus, Peter 33 
 
 Curtis, Caleb 2i 
 
 Cushman, John P 25,27 
 
 Cusack,M 140 
 
 Cutts, J. 105 
 
 Cuyler, Henry 44 
 
 John 59 
 
 DaboU, Jonathan 132 
 
 Daniels, Hosea 82 
 
 Danielse, Simon 60 
 
 Danton, Samuel 50 
 
 Darling, Ebenezer 7 
 
 Dargon , Francis 38 
 
 Dater, Jacob 67 
 
 Philip P 104 
 
 Dauchy. Charles 37 
 
 Jeremiah 26 
 
 Nathan S7 
 
 Davenport. Cyru* 115 
 
 John G 94 
 
 Nelson 49 
 
 Peter 62 
 
 Davis, Edward 24 
 
 George R 25, 81 
 
 Henry 39 
 
 Jonathan 18,62 
 
 John 119,132 
 
 Samuel 94 
 
 Thomas 23,26 
 
 Davison, Ezra 115 
 
 Daniel P. M 115 
 
 Dawson ,Volcart 33 
 
 Draper, Fred E '^-7 
 
 Dearstyne, James 54, 137 
 
 DeCamp, Morris ^ 
 
 DeClyn, Bamet 33 
 
 Deel, Bastian 98,128 
 
 DeForest, Abraham M 44 
 
 David 53 
 
 DavidD 54 
 
 DavidJ 108 
 
 , DavidM 72 
 
 DeWitt 137 
 
 / John 137 
 
 / Marte 53 
 
 / , Philip. i. 58,54 
 
 / /.RtnierM 54 
 
 / / Simon oO 
 
 DeFfetst, David 17, 88, 50 -i y 
 
 J "* I Jesse 72 
 
 ^ I JohnP 68 
 
 NiMartin D 50 
 
 ^R.M ^ « 
 
 William R oO, 51 
 
 Defreestville 55 
 
 De la Mater, Samuel Iw 
 
 De Lancey, James 32, 77, 78 
 
 Delause, Reuben • ■ 130 
 
 Demers, George W 80,73,189 
 
 Dennis, Seneca W 
 
 Dennison, Daniel 117 
 
 D. 46 
 
 Charles 118 
 
 James 41,117 
 
 Jonathan Jl» 
 
 Lorenzo B 11» 
 
 De Peyster Patent 90 
 
 De Reus, Gerrit S « 
 
 Derk, Andori JJ» 
 
 Philip }^ 
 
 Derrick, George '^ 
 
 De Vries, Adriaen D "i 
 
 Dexter, S.F ^ 
 
 Deyoe, James ™ 
 
 Diamond, Thomas S » 
 
 Dick, John 1^ 
 
 Dickinson, John ** 
 
148 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Dickinson, John D 8,23,27,36,30 
 
 Dicljson, Robert 37 
 
 Dillon, Christopher 24 
 
 Dimebarck, John 136 
 
 Dingermans, Adam 43 
 
 Dingman, Peter 48 
 
 Dings, Adam 50 
 
 Dole, James 13, 39 
 
 Donalson, Albert 143 
 
 Dooley, John 40 
 
 Doolittle, Daniel 24 
 
 W. A 83 
 
 Door, Edward 74 
 
 Joseph 83,85 
 
 Doremus, Thomas L 67 
 
 Don, Village of 39 
 
 Doty, William 132 
 
 Douglas, Asa 129 
 
 Stephen A 129 
 
 Wifliam 7, 34, 39, 129 
 
 Dougrey, James 36, 41 
 
 Dow, Folcort 5 
 
 Hendrick 6 
 
 Jonas 5 
 
 Volckert Jansen 70, 71 
 
 Downer, J. R 74 
 
 Russell T4 
 
 Doxie, Samuel 60 
 
 Driscoll, John 40 
 
 Dubois, Cornelius 54, 103 
 
 Dugar, Charles 140 
 
 Dumbleton, Nathaniel 112 
 
 Dunlop, Mary 29 
 
 Durham, Isaac 126 
 
 Isaiah 35, 123 
 
 Jesse F 84 
 
 Dunham Hollow 126, 134 
 
 Durkee, Ariel C 115 
 
 Walter 112 
 
 Dusenbury, Moses 103 
 
 Eager, George 87 
 
 Eagle Bridge 88 
 
 Mills 105 
 
 Earing, Jacob 50 
 
 Samuel 55 
 
 East Albany 45 
 
 Grafton 113 
 
 Greenbush, Town of 44, 47, 48, 50, 61 
 
 Village of 51 
 
 Nassau 126 
 
 Pittsiown 96 
 
 Poestenkill 7 
 
 Schodack 75 
 
 Stephentown 116 
 
 Eddy, Ambrose 105 
 
 A.C 87 
 
 Gilbert 81, 91 
 
 Jonathan 84 
 
 Tisdale 92 
 
 Eldred, Aaron 93 
 
 John 115 
 
 Eldridge, Hezekiah 24 
 
 Thomas 83 
 
 Elliott, A. B 41 
 
 Hams N 50 
 
 Elmendorf, Peter E 8 
 
 Elmore, William C 123 
 
 Emmons, Jonathan 133 
 
 Engel,W. H 41 
 
 Esbell, Jared 63 
 
 Esher, hi 138 
 
 Esmon, Thomas 67 
 
 Evers, Bamet 40 
 
 Eyclishymer, Nicholas 85 
 
 Fairs 6 
 
 Fairbaim, James 87 
 
 Fake, John S 36, 41 
 
 F'aalkenburgh, Jaac 6 
 
 Fancher, M. L 37 
 
 Fanning, M. P 131 
 
 Faxon, Jacob A 83 
 
 Reuben 83 
 
 Feathers, Adam 140 
 
 Feller, Philip 135, 138 
 
 Fellows, Capt 18 
 
 Nicholas 185 
 
 PACB 
 
 Fanshaw, William 8, 9 
 
 Ferguson, John 103 
 
 rj 54 
 
 Ferry, Charles. .' .' Ill 
 
 Files, David 104 
 
 Filkin, Cornelius 93 
 
 Isaac 103 
 
 John 102,103,104 
 
 JohnC 36 
 
 Filley, Edward 40 
 
 Marcus L 86 
 
 Finch, Caleb 141 
 
 Cyreneus 140 
 
 Henry 45 
 
 Lewis 140 
 
 Joseph 123 
 
 Fisher, Christian 91 
 
 Flint, Eleazer 108 
 
 Fodder,J.J 70,71 
 
 Follett, Andrew 93 
 
 Charles 39 
 
 John 33, 34, 39 
 
 Fonda, David 100 
 
 Dow 136 
 
 Eldred 130 
 
 Jacob D 66 
 
 Matthew V. A 54 
 
 Peter 101 
 
 Forbes, John 117, 129 
 
 Pauls S6 
 
 Ford, G.G 85 
 
 Jonathan 136 
 
 Nathaniel 62 
 
 Foreest, Philip 5 
 
 Fort, Cralo 43 
 
 Orange 42, 43, 65, 71 
 
 Abel Ill 
 
 Abm 60, 77 
 
 Abm. 1 82 
 
 Daniel 60 
 
 Gerrit 86 
 
 Isaac 60 
 
 Jacob 60 
 
 Jacob A 25, 37 
 
 Foster, Ellis 136 
 
 Fowler, Samuel S 137 
 
 Fox, Albert R 137, 138, 139 
 
 Isaac B 137, 1S9 
 
 i"^'- 
 
 S.H. 137 
 
 Francisco, Abner 39 
 
 John 91 
 
 Frats, Casper 16, 18, 19, 103 
 
 Frazee, Henry 54, 55 
 
 Frear, Abm 18, 135 
 
 John 19 
 
 Peter 19 
 
 French, Andrew 55 
 
 Benjamin S3 
 
 George W 67 
 
 Gershom 34 
 
 French and Indian W^ars 
 
 43, 47, 60, 61, 71, 77, 78, 97, 98 
 
 Fret, Melgert 101 
 
 Frink, Luke 81 
 
 Freiot, John 93 
 
 Joseph 93 
 
 Frisby, Col 38 
 
 Frost, Thomas 72 
 
 Theodore J 73 
 
 Frothingham, Thomas isg 
 
 Fuller, Jonathan 85 
 
 Fulmar., N log 
 
 Funda, Aldah 33 
 
 Eldart ' 33 
 
 lohn • • 53, 54 
 
 John D 33 
 
 Jonathan g 
 
 Nicholas [[" g 
 
 Furbeck, P " " ' gg 
 
 Gage, George ][[[ gj 
 
 Jeremiah '.'/.'.'.'. 74 
 
 Gale, Benjamin jg 
 
 Joseph S .'.".'.'.'...■.'.".■." 123, 131 
 
 ^amuel 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 123, 131 
 
 Jr., Samuel 24,36,27 
 
INDEX. 
 
 149 
 
 Gallup, Joel 
 
 Galpin, Jehiel 
 
 Gardineer, Andries . 
 
 Claes 
 
 Henry H 
 Gardner, Asa 
 
 Beniamin. 
 
 Caleb 
 
 George 
 
 Howell... 
 
 J. H 
 
 Job 
 
 Joshua . . . 
 
 Philip 
 
 5 
 5 
 17 
 25 
 129 
 129 
 98 
 64 
 105, 109 
 129 
 129 
 135 
 
 Garfield, James A, 93, 105 
 
 Garno, Matthew U 62 
 
 Garnryck, Zachariah 39 
 
 Garrison, Thomas 45 
 
 Gaston, John 88 
 
 Gates, Isaac 130 
 
 Gault. L. R 109 
 
 Gay, Willard 86 
 
 Geer, A. C 86 
 
 Erastus 93. 94 
 
 J. M 125 
 
 Genet, Edmund C 25, 49 
 
 Henry J CO 
 
 Gerhard, John 103 
 
 Geritse, Barent 5, 44, 59 
 
 German, Smith 25 
 
 Gettv, Addison 86 
 
 Gibbs, George 93 
 
 Gilbert, A.N 109 
 
 Job 135 
 
 Gillespie, George S 40 
 
 Gillgers, James 73 
 
 Glass House 141 
 
 Gleason, David 24 
 
 Goes, Henry 124 
 
 Peter D 82 
 
 Goewy, G. Y 102 
 
 JohnP 102 
 
 Peter 33 
 
 Gooding, David, Mrs 81 
 
 Seymour C 81 
 
 Goodman, Titus 44 
 
 Goodrich, Ashley 63 
 
 A. J 46 
 
 Henr>- 125 
 
 J. B. 104 
 
 Samuel 24 
 
 Silas 24 
 
 Simeon G 131 
 
 Goodspeed. Anthony 19, 21 
 
 Goslin, William 135 
 
 Goss, Ephraim 40 
 
 Gordon, Joseph 85 
 
 Thomas t6 
 
 Gorham, Shubael ^' 39, 41 
 
 Stephen 7,36 
 
 Gould,H.A 119 
 
 Pliny 125 
 
 Grafton Center • - • ■ ■ ,^, Jlj 
 
 Grafton, Town of 9, 17, 25, 98, 108, 111, 112 
 
 Graham, W 66 
 
 Grant, Daniel H lol 
 
 Gurdon j7 
 
 Grant's Hollow 68 
 
 Gray, Asel gl 
 
 Archibald 24 
 
 olniel ''•"9-}^ 
 
 , D^vid 100 
 
 Graves,Amos « 
 
 Timothy 'iSs 
 
 Green, Benjamin 1*2 
 
 George W 54 
 
 Jonathan 1|0 
 
 Leonard ,°J 
 
 Samuel Jl? 
 
 WillardD , ,10= 
 
 Greenbush 11,42,43,44,45,46 
 
 Greenbush, Town of li-;^,- ,™ <nt 
 
 8, 9, 17, 25, 42, 44, 50, 63, 54, 72, 102, 1C8, 135 
 
 Greene, Charles ^^' ^S? 
 
 Felix ,24 
 
 HenryG "8 
 
 Greene, John 99 jgo 
 
 Joseph 117 
 
 _ HH?„-- 98.130 
 
 Greeman, William ii9 
 
 Gregory, A. V, P '.. 139 
 
 Charles H x.39 
 
 Daniel M ' 137 
 
 David E 136 
 
 Elias 135 
 
 {■■^ -v 24 
 
 Joseph 139 
 
 Solomon 138 
 
 Stephen 135, 136, 137, 139, 141 
 
 r- u t'-^^C-, 24,137,139 
 
 Grewsbeck, Nicholas 6 
 
 Griffin, Andrew 124 
 
 Griffith, Edwin H 74 
 
 Samuel 124 
 
 Griggs, Joshua 04 
 
 Grinneil, Richard 16 
 
 Griswold, Chester 125 
 
 George 27 
 
 John A 29,123 
 
 Groesbeck, Jacob 63 
 
 Johannis 60 
 
 John W 63 
 
 Nicholas 63, 82 
 
 Walter N 62, 63, 65 
 
 Walter W 92 
 
 William 63 
 
 Gross, Heinrich 103 
 
 Grole, Peter 74 
 
 Gunther, John 103 
 
 Gysbertsen, C. G 48 
 
 Hagadorn, Derrick 6 
 
 Haight, Jacob 81 
 
 H. B 99 
 
 R. S 29 
 
 Hakes, George 115 
 
 Jabez 115 
 
 Nathaniel 112 
 
 Hale, Amos Ul 
 
 Moses 24 
 
 Hall, Jeduthan 92 
 
 Rowland 7 
 
 Talmage 17 
 
 Hallenbeck, Daniel 77 
 
 Garrett 81 
 
 Henry 48 
 
 Jacob 62 
 
 James 45 
 
 John 81 
 
 Halligan, 1 40 
 
 Halstead, James L 93 
 
 Jonas 93 
 
 Reuben 92 
 
 Samuel 33 
 
 Ham, Caper 72 
 
 Hamilton, Ilosea 72 
 
 Hammil, J 27 
 
 Hammond, Barton 25 
 
 Samuel 139 
 
 Hand, William 133 
 
 Hanks, Benjamin 7, 98 
 
 Hansen, Dirck 48 
 
 John 60 
 
 Hanscom, A.H 93 
 
 Harbeck, John 8 
 
 Harder, Andrew 74 
 
 Dennis 124 
 
 F.P 74 
 
 Harris, Daniel 19 
 
 James 131 
 
 Nicholas 24 
 
 Nicholas B 24 
 
 Harrowgate Spring 49 
 
 Hart, Edward 67 
 
 Jr., Philip 25, 27 
 
 Richard P 27 
 
 Hart's Falls 64.66,67 
 
 Hanshom, E. A 67 
 
 Hartwell, Peter ^ 
 
 Thomas 24, 87 
 
 Haskell, R.C.... « 
 
 Haskins, Enoch 88, ^ 
 
 Joseph *• 
 
150 
 
 HTDEX. 
 
 Hastings, Frederick H 7 
 
 Seth 125 
 
 Haswell, Robert 83 
 
 Hathaway, Bailey G 36 
 
 Havens, Asa 63 
 
 Rensselaer Ia6 
 
 Haviland, John 83 
 
 Hawks, Benjamin 87 
 
 Hawley, Lemuel 23, 103 
 
 Samuel 25 
 
 Hayes, James 99 
 
 J. H 81 
 
 Hayner, Conrad 103 
 
 David 115 
 
 Jonathan 85 
 
 John 10,31,108 
 
 JohnP Ill 
 
 John P. 1 115 
 
 Levi 105 
 
 Martin M 104 
 
 William 93 
 
 Haynerville 106 
 
 Haynes, Edward &3 
 
 JohnH 124 
 
 Hayward, Charles 66 
 
 Head, James 50 
 
 Heimstreet, Jacob 40 
 
 Steohen 36 
 
 Hemmingway, Erastus 125 
 
 Ezra 124 
 
 Henderson, James 54, 108 
 
 Thomas 92 
 
 Hendricksen, Tyraon 43 
 
 Henry, Alexander 45 
 
 David 17, 38 
 
 John V 8 
 
 William B 125 
 
 Herrington, Hiram 86 
 
 Norman 86 
 
 Philip 83 
 
 Willard 86 
 
 Hesseling, Dirk 12 
 
 Hewitt, Andrew 119 
 
 Sanford 90 
 
 Sterry 98 
 
 Zeba 25, 112 
 
 Hiat, Thomas 33 
 
 Hicks, Benjamin 7, 8, 18 
 
 Thomas 62, 122 
 
 Hickok, Ezra 36 
 
 James 3n. 37, 41 
 
 William 17,22 
 
 Higgins, John 37,40 
 
 Samuel 34 
 
 Hillhouse, Thomas 23 
 
 Hinman, Aaron B 8, 38, 40 
 
 Hiscock, Gardner 99 
 
 William 98 
 
 Hitchcock. Charles 36 
 
 Ezra 33 
 
 Jared 24 
 
 Lyman 33 
 
 Samuel 48 
 
 Hoag, Asa 92 
 
 Jonathan 72,123 
 
 William las 
 
 Hoag's Corners 126 
 
 Hodges, Ezekiel 81 
 
 Hoes, Barney 50 
 
 Hoewey, Peter 101 
 
 Hogeboom, James 74 
 
 James 1 24,74 
 
 Hogg, Barent 98 
 
 Edward 53 
 
 Frans 101 
 
 Hogle, Francis 34, 62 
 
 Hoyle, Henry 25 
 
 Peter 33 
 
 HoUiday, John 48 
 
 Matthew 48 
 
 Holmes, Abraham 122 
 
 Holsapple, William 50 
 
 Holt, Moses 33 
 
 Homocker,''A 108 
 
 Hooghtelinpr, Conrad 6 
 
 Hoogland, Jeremiah 33 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Hoosick 77,78,88,128 
 
 District 7,62,79 
 
 Falls 85,86 
 
 Patent 76,80,91 
 
 Town 8,8,23,37,76,81 
 
 Horsely, Benjamin 87 
 
 Houghtaling. John D 55 
 
 House, John 85 
 
 Honsinger, Jacob 105 
 
 Hovey, Abel 24 
 
 Howard. Edward 129 
 
 Godfrey 112 
 
 John 81, 115 
 
 Jonathan 129 
 
 Nathan 133 
 
 Hoyt,F 40 
 
 Jacob 24 
 
 Huested, Titus 122,123 
 
 Hull, Benjamin L 117 
 
 Daniel 116,117,119,129 
 
 Daniel J 117 
 
 Egbert B 119 
 
 Harry 119 
 
 Hezekiah 7, 34, 130, 131 
 
 Nelson 117 
 
 Oliver 130 
 
 Vamum 119 
 
 Humphrey, Evans 91 
 
 Josiah C 132 
 
 Hun, Abraham 8 
 
 Hunt, Alsop 19 
 
 Hunt,Alvah 130 
 
 Jonathan 16, 19 
 
 Micajah 92 
 
 Stephen 91 
 
 Stephen S 36 
 
 Hunter, Andrew 132 
 
 Huntingdon, Ezekiel 129 
 
 Joseph 132 
 
 Hurd.E.F 92 
 
 Hustis, David 98 
 
 Husyele, Peter 6 
 
 Hutton. Christopher 18, 19, 21, 22 
 
 John 18,119 
 
 Timothy 18, 119 
 
 Huyck, Andries 5, 71 
 
 Hyde, David 131 
 
 Samuel S, 93 
 
 William 71 
 
 Hydorn, Anthony 93 
 
 Henry 112 
 
 John 112 
 
 Peter S 115 
 
 Ingham, Stephen 24 
 
 Ingraham, Francis 94 
 
 Irish, Ichabod 98 
 
 Irwin, James 120 
 
 Ives.B 108 
 
 Chauncey 40 
 
 Lazarus 108 
 
 Ives' Corners HO 
 
 Jackson, Stephen 91 
 
 Jacobs, Nathaniel 7, 8, 22, 33, 40 
 
 Jacobsen, Frans 43 
 
 Jacoby , William 124 
 
 Jadwin. Jesse 68 
 
 James, Randall 85 
 
 Jansen, Jacobus 43 
 
 Volckert 70 71 
 
 Janes, Elijah 22, 36, 37, 41 
 
 Jeffers, James G 94 
 
 Jenkins, C 92 
 
 Elisha 136 
 
 Frederick isg 
 
 Johnson, A. H 95 
 
 Hen'T- 83 
 
 Isaac G 88 
 
 Josiah V ' 73 
 
 John . 62.77, 81 
 
 Noble S 22 
 
 Orlando G 95 
 
 Roelef 73 
 
 William '. 95 
 
 Johnsonville 95 
 
 Jones, Ebenezer '.,' 22 
 
 James 117,189 
 
INDEX. 
 
 151 
 
 Jones, Joseph 
 Li ' 
 
 ,aban . . . 
 Matthew . 
 Roffer — 
 
 R.I) 
 
 R.J. 
 
 98 
 131 
 130 
 117 
 
 92 
 
 PAGE 
 
 45 
 105 
 34 
 48 
 41 
 
 William 119, 130 
 
 Joris, Adriaen 42 
 
 Joslin, C. J 95 
 
 J.J 6T 
 
 Judson, David 35 
 
 Juriaensen, Jan 43 
 
 Kane, James 13ti 
 
 Nicholas T 140,141 
 
 Keach, Abraham 81,83 
 
 Keeling, Adam 18. 19. 21, 3-2 
 
 Kelsey, Elijah 72 
 
 Kemp, Robert D 45 
 
 Kendall, Ephraim B 132 
 
 Kennedy, Lemuel 40 
 
 Kerr,John 140 
 
 William 81 
 
 Ketchum, Samuel 62 
 
 Ketel, Nicholas 71 
 
 Ketelhuyn, Daniel .')9, CO 
 
 Simun Danielse 60 
 
 Ketlyne, William 6 
 
 Kidder & Aken 140 
 
 Kidder, Jeptha P 141 
 
 Kidder & McCready 141 i 
 
 Kidder & North 141 I 
 
 Kilmer, William 108 
 
 King, Daniel 37 
 
 Eliphalet 3.5 
 
 Nehemiah 24 
 
 Peter 123 
 
 Peter B 40 
 
 Samuel 38 
 
 William 139 
 
 Kingsley, Jacob 24 
 
 Kincade, Robert 18 
 
 Kinlock, William 105 
 
 Kinney, Alonzo N 45 
 
 John 16 1 
 
 Kinnion, John 63 I 
 
 Kipp,Ignis 33,02 ' 
 
 Kirtland, Albert B 50, 51 | 
 
 Benjamin B 45 ; 
 
 WilliamH SO i 
 
 Kisselburgh, William E 29 
 
 Kittle, Peter 60 
 
 William 63, 129, 131. 133 
 
 Kline, Joseph 8 
 
 Klockner, George 103 
 
 Knapp, Samuel 123 
 
 Knauff, JohnG 103 
 
 Knickerbacker, Abraham 65 
 
 H 35,26,67 
 
 Harme 6? 
 
 Hermanus 64, 6o 
 
 Johannes 14, 59, CO, 61, 64, 65, 66 
 
 Johannes, Von B 65 
 
 John 27,37,62,04.85 
 
 Jr., John t 
 
 JohnH 65 
 
 J.F 36 
 
 Joseph Foster 65 
 
 Knight, Thomas 33 
 
 Knowlson, Andrew B 141 
 
 RichardJ 157,138 
 
 Thomas Ml 
 
 Kreiger, Juria 98 
 
 Kronckhyte, Abraham 'iS 
 
 Kuntz, Abraham 1^ 
 
 Ladue, John 'IJ 
 
 Lake, Hendrick 77 
 
 LaJnb, Claudius „*; 
 
 JosephE IM 
 
 J9shua «« 
 
 Simeon .,_ »? 
 
 William J 3< , 41 
 
 Lamphire, Clark B }19 
 
 JohnL 115 
 
 Lampman, Jacob '*; 
 
 Lane, Aaron „ oi ok 
 
 Derick 17, 23, 25 
 
 35 
 
 ,38 
 
 72 
 
 33 
 
 as 
 a5 
 
 Lane, Frederick G 
 
 George T 
 
 Gerry 
 
 Lansing, Abraham 
 
 Abraham C 
 
 Abraham Jacob 15. 3:3, :j3, 34, 35, ; 
 
 Charles J 
 
 Cornelius .17,18,19,33,35,! 
 
 Evert 
 
 Francis 
 
 Franciscus 
 
 Gerardus 
 
 Gerrit 
 
 Hendrick 33, 130 
 
 Isaac 33, 62 
 
 Isaac H 33, 81 
 
 Jacob 6, 14 
 
 Jacob A 7. 33, 34, 63 
 
 Jacob C 25,35 
 
 John 35,43 
 
 John E 48, 72 
 
 John H 104 
 
 Levinus 7, 8, 33, 34, 35, 36, 39 
 
 Sanders 8 
 
 Lansingbureh 7, 8, 12, 14, 15. IB, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 
 
 31.32.33,35,36,37,38,63 
 Town of . .9. 17. 25, 31. 34, 37, 30, 98, 103 
 
 Lantman, Hans 98 
 
 Lape, Nicholas 39 
 
 Thomas 67 
 
 Latham, Joel 131 
 
 Samuel 81. 130 
 
 Laurense, Jan 71 
 
 Laytoun, David 34 
 
 Leavens, J. P 68 
 
 Leibhite, J 108 
 
 Leggitt, Thomas 50 
 
 Legrange, Johns 6 
 
 Ome 6 
 
 Leonard. Edmund 82 
 
 F. B 36 
 
 Timothy 41.91 
 
 Leverse, Levinus 34, 102 
 
 Lewis.Abel 129,130 
 
 Abraham 98 
 
 Augustus 98, 129 
 
 Benjamin 83 
 
 John 115 
 
 Nathan 115 
 
 Phineas 9S 
 
 William 73 
 
 Lindsey, Hugh 133 
 
 John 77 
 
 Link, Andrew 108 
 
 P 108 
 
 Litcher, Henry 98 
 
 Littlefield. Daniel Ill 
 
 Livingston, JamesH 87 
 
 Lockrow, Anthony 93 
 
 Lockwood, Joshua 135 
 
 Lcdwick, Peter 71 
 
 Lohnis, Sebastian — 103 
 
 Long, David 91 
 
 Loose, Petrus 103 
 
 Lord, Bernard H 123 
 
 Henry 136 
 
 Lotteridge, Robert A 29 
 
 Loudon, John o ?^' n^ 
 
 Lovett, John "'39.91 
 
 Lowell,I.J 109 
 
 Lyon, Benjamin •4 
 
 Luce, David 108 
 
 Ludlow, Samuel B _ 1:^., 12o 
 
 Lyman,Eretus 136, 13(, 141 
 
 Lynd, Archilaus 1^ 
 
 Lyon, John °- 
 
 Mabbitt, Joseph S ^ ^o 
 
 Macdonough, Com. T ai,* 
 
 MacGregor, Robert i^ 
 
 Macks, Jeremiah '■f' 
 
 Maessen, Hendrick ■« 
 
 Mago, Lewis "" 
 
 Main, Oliver 
 
 Maine, James 
 
 Lyman 
 
 Mains, John 
 
 115 
 
 100 
 
 98 
 
 36 
 
152 
 
 OyVcv-yJuL^^^-^ , 'Z^<»ii.i 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 FAGE 
 
 25 
 
 27 i 
 8 
 82,85 
 
 54 
 
 122 
 
 7 
 140 
 
 Mallory, Henry 
 
 Mallory, J 
 
 Mann, Nathaniel . 
 
 Mapleton 
 
 Marble, John B. . , 
 
 March, John 
 
 Marks, James 
 
 Martin, Ebcnezer . . 
 
 Jacob 
 
 Jonah .... 
 William M 
 
 Marvin, Ebenezer 33 
 
 Stephen 33,34 
 
 Masten's Corners ... 75 
 
 Mason, Benjamin 123 
 
 Charles 72, 123 
 
 John 54 i 
 
 Masters, Bethuel 66 
 
 James 63 
 
 James S 63 
 
 josiah 7,18,25 
 
 Thomas 45 
 
 Mather, Bethel 25 
 
 Samuel 136 
 
 Thomas 136 
 
 Matison, A 119 
 
 John 83 
 
 Timothy 129 
 
 Matson, Israel 73 
 
 Matteson, Job W 99 
 
 Maxon, Asa 98, 99 
 
 David 18 
 
 Ethan 112 
 
 Joshua B 132 
 
 Paul 24 
 
 Potter 115 
 
 Stephen 98, 130 
 
 May, Theodore 24 
 
 McCasg, John 122 
 
 McCann. John 140 
 
 McCarthy, HuRh 33 
 
 McChesney, John 20, 103 
 
 Joseph 105 
 
 Orrin 105 
 
 Samuel 1 25 
 
 Walter 103, 104 
 
 McClellan. Hugh 19 
 
 John 44 
 
 Robert 10, 18,19 
 
 Samuel 123 
 
 McClung, James 24 
 
 McConihe, Jr., Isaac 29,30 
 
 McConihe & Co^ 1 141 
 
 McCoun, John T 28 
 
 Tovpnsend 22, 2.^, 27 
 
 McCoy, Mayekie .33, 92 
 
 McCullough, Hathom .",0 
 
 William A 50 
 
 McDonald, R 36 
 
 McFeelev, Cornelius 133 
 
 McGee, Patrick 133 
 
 McGill, William 33 
 
 McGowan, Patrick 66 
 
 McKee, Thomas 45 
 
 McKown, James *', 22, 72 
 
 McLaren, John ' 142 
 
 McLean, Alexander 33 
 
 Allen '. 38 
 
 McM anus, John 102 
 
 McMullen, Duncan ... .". )03 
 
 McMurray, James 33 
 
 John G 36,40 
 
 William 36, 37, 40 
 
 McNaughton, James 44 
 
 McQuide, James ... 37, 40 
 
 Meal, Charles 3,3 
 
 Melius, George 124 
 
 Melrose ]'.'.'. gg 
 
 Mercer, Henry A 36 37 
 
 Merchant, Abel 74 
 
 Merriman, Reuben 103, 104 
 
 Merritt, Daniel 18, 19 22 
 
 Jacob 85 
 
 M 19 
 
 Merwin, Eugene 141 
 
 John W 141 
 
 Mesick, Thomas 
 
 Mickel, Charles 
 
 Michael, Andries . . . 
 
 Mitchell, Ezekiel . . . 
 
 George B. 
 
 Miles & Co., T. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 48 
 
 103 
 
 129 
 
 91 
 
 126 
 
 46 
 
 Milks, Banjamin 7, 91 
 
 Milleas, George 72 
 
 Millen, David 24 
 
 Jr., William 81 
 
 Miller, Aaron J 24 
 
 Andres 112, 135, 138 
 
 .A.nthony 93 
 
 Franklin 66 
 
 George 126 
 
 Henry 125, 138 
 
 Jacob 1 45 
 
 John 141 
 
 John J 44 
 
 John M 141 
 
 Leonard 34 
 
 Pliny 123 
 
 Silas 67 
 
 Solomon V. R 67 
 
 Miller's Corners 126 
 
 Milliman, John 81 
 
 Thomas 84 
 
 Mills, David Ill 
 
 John Ill 
 
 William 39 
 
 Millville 105 
 
 Ministers. Sec Churches. 
 
 Moeller, Henry 138 
 
 Moffitt. Hosea 7, 22, 25, 130, 132 
 
 Mohawrks 11,42,43,58 
 
 Mohegans 11,42,43,69,101 
 
 Moody. Dexter 105, 109 
 
 Marvin 109 
 
 Matthew 109 
 
 Moon, Bennoni 130 
 
 Daniel 99 
 
 Monroe, John Ill 
 
 Montgomery, Robert 7, 8 
 
 Morgan, Ephraim ... 7, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 
 
 23. 26, 27, 37 
 
 Morrell, John 62 
 
 Morris, Frederick 77. 90 
 
 Mosely, Jonathan 81 
 
 Moses, Salmon 84 
 
 Mosher, Isaac 84 
 
 Tames 94 
 
 Steohen 93 
 
 Wilson 98 
 
 Mott, R 140 
 
 William 140 
 
 Moul, Elbert W 142 
 
 Henry 135, 140 
 
 Muitzeskill 73, 75 
 
 Mullen, Cornelius S 43 
 
 Isaac 71 
 
 MuUer, Hans lOl 
 
 S 108 
 
 Stephen 48 
 
 Munsell Jr., Hezekiah §4 
 
 Murry, Daniel 40 
 
 Myers, Andrevir 102 
 
 Frederick 103 
 
 Henry 105 
 
 Lodowick 105 
 
 Nassau 125 
 
 Nassau, Tovirn of 9, 25, 72, 98, 121, 122, 123 
 
 Nassau Gazette 135 
 
 New Bethlehem 73 
 
 New City. 14, 16, 32, 83, 35 
 
 Newcomb, Simon 24 25 93 
 
 Newton, Abner ' ' 7 
 
 Ezra 136 
 
 Nichols, George gl 
 
 John 98 
 
 Jonathan 119 
 
 William 33, 34 
 
 Nicholls, Francis 14 
 
 William gg 
 
 Nightart, E log 
 
 Niles, Jonathan 7, 18, 129, ISO 
 
 Nathaniel 117, 139 
 
rNDEX. 
 
 153 
 
 »T ^ PAGE 
 
 Norton, D 92 
 
 Oak Hill 109 140 
 
 Oaks, Nathaniel ' 33 
 
 Odell, James 7 
 
 Jonas 98 
 
 Simon 9q 
 
 O'Donnell, Thomas 29 
 
 Olds, C.J 67 
 
 Olmstead, Gideon 130 
 
 Oothout, Abraham 23 
 
 Adson 6 
 
 Jan 43, 77 
 
 Jno 6 
 
 Osborne, John 90 
 
 Thomas 81.83 
 
 William A 95 
 
 Ostrander, Aaron 8.7'^ 
 
 Abrm 4g 
 
 Adam 103 
 
 Edward ai, (56 
 
 Jacob 140 
 
 Ott, Francis 48 
 
 Ouderkirk, Abm 0, .34 
 
 Abm. J 33. 34 
 
 Johns 5 
 
 Overrocker, Charles T S9 
 
 Owen, Abel Ill 
 
 Paddock, Stephen 83 
 
 Paige, George W 34 
 
 Paine, John 27 
 
 Palmer, Fenner 25. 63, 123 
 
 lohn 83 
 
 Thomas 130 
 
 William 81,86 
 
 Pardee, Calvin 126 
 
 Parker, William S 23 
 
 Parmelee, Charles C 36 
 
 Elias 37, 38,41 
 
 Jabez F 30 
 
 Parsons, Francis 109 
 
 H 86 
 
 H.C 103 
 
 J. R 8B 
 
 Seth 83. 84, 83, 86 
 
 Patchen, Aaron D 24, 83 
 
 Patten, James ^ 48 
 
 Patterson, Henry 83, 84. 86 
 
 Joseph L 93 
 
 Pawling, Albert 7, 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 25, 27, 33, 39 
 
 Pease. John 18,21 
 
 Levi 129 
 
 Pearson, George 136 
 
 Peck, Arthur M 141 
 
 Eleazer 133 
 
 Grant lOS 
 
 Joel B 141 
 
 John 108 
 
 William 108 
 
 Peckham, Nathan 92 
 
 Peebles, Hugh 2:3, 25, 27 
 
 Peel, John T 95 
 
 Pendergast, Jedediah 24 
 
 William 91 
 
 Penniman, Sylvanus J 41 
 
 Percy, James '■ 85 
 
 Joseph 85 
 
 Perry, Aaron ,„ _, 39 
 
 Petersburgh, Town of 8, 9. 17, 25, 38, 72, 
 
 97, 98, 100, 102, 112, 118, 123, 1.30 
 
 Petersburgh Junction 88 
 
 Philips, David ^' '™ 
 
 Isaac "* 
 
 John iii.n? 
 
 Joseph 124 
 
 Michael „„ JOj 
 
 Thomas 98,111 
 
 Timothy 73,133 
 
 Stephen 1*4 
 
 Philipstown, Town of „„■ •.;A-;,y ,«„ ,«„ 
 
 8,9,35,37,81,89,90,91,123,130 
 
 Pickett. Charles A ■ 67 
 
 Ed. P 36, 37, 38 
 
 Pierce, Ephraim lo^oi 
 
 Jeremiah "' ™ 
 
 William g 
 
 Pittstown Comers " 
 
 Pittstown Patent 89 
 
 Town of 8, 9, 25, 37. 81, 89, 90, 91 
 
 Plank, Jacob A 70 
 
 Plattstown 106 
 
 Piatt, Ananias 7. 8, 17, ,35, 36 
 
 Henry '. . . . 25, 130 
 
 Jonathan 19 
 
 Poestenkill j09 
 
 Poestenkill, Town of 107 108 
 
 103 
 
 108 
 
 34 
 
 131 
 
 131 
 
 Polak, Bernhard 
 Pollock, Barent . . 
 Henry . 
 
 Pool, John 
 
 Zeriah 
 
 Population — 
 
 Berlin 120 
 
 Brunswick 106 
 
 East Greenbush 51 
 
 Grafton 115 
 
 Greenbush 46 
 
 Hoosick 88 
 
 Lansingburgh 41 
 
 Nassau 126 
 
 North Greenbush 56 
 
 Petersburgh 100 
 
 Pittstown 96 
 
 Poestenkill 110 
 
 Sandlake 142 
 
 Schaghticoke 68 
 
 Schodack 75 
 
 Stenhentown 134 
 
 Troy 30 
 
 Porter. Chauncey 134 
 
 Post, Samuel 34 
 
 Henry 122 
 
 Potter Hill 88 
 
 Potter, Stephen 98 
 
 Powell, Thomas 130 
 
 Powers, Robert 19, 20 
 
 A. E 38,41 
 
 Nathaniel 41 
 
 William 40 
 
 Pratt, Rufus 125 
 
 W. C 24 
 
 Primmer. Joseph 122 
 
 Prosser, Ichabod 98, 99 
 
 Provoost, Johannes 70 
 
 Pryn, Francs 6 
 
 Pruyn, Francis S 82 
 
 Pundall, Samuel 112 
 
 Qiiackenbush. Harman 6fi 
 
 Harrison 63 
 
 JohnS 82 
 
 Quackenboss. Jacob 101 
 
 i^uacumbus, Adrian 60 
 
 yuackenkill 115 
 
 Quimbj', Ephraim 1-35 
 
 Duinn, John -37 
 
 Quintin , John 66 
 
 Radcliff, David V. R 137 
 
 Railroads- 
 Albany & West Stockbridge 74 
 
 Bennington & Rutland 133 
 
 Boston & Albany. 74 
 
 Boston, Hoosac Tun'l & Western 
 
 Castleton & West Stockbridge ... 74 
 
 Harlem E.ttension 133 
 
 Hudson River 28, 74 
 
 Hudson & Boston 74 
 
 Lebanon Springs 133 
 
 New York Central 
 
 New York & Harlem . . . 
 Rensselaer & Saratoga. . 
 Rutland & Washington. 
 
 Schenectady & Troy 
 
 Troy & Boston 
 
 Randall, Benjamin 
 
 Beniamin B 
 
 David 34,98 
 
 Elijahs 99 
 
 J. B 108 
 
 Joshua 34, 98, 99 
 
 Matthew 98,130 
 
 Thomas 98 
 
 Ransom, Isaac 36 
 
 Lewis -ii 
 
 74 
 133 
 27 
 28 
 •» 
 28 
 7.98 
 108 
 
 19 
 
154 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 40 
 
 23 ! 
 87 I 
 
 log 
 
 87 
 
 Rawson, Keating 
 
 Raymertown 
 
 Raymond, Joshua 
 
 Read, Barney 
 
 Durfee 
 
 Stephen 
 
 Reed, Charles 33 
 
 Egbert 73 
 
 Joel 73 
 
 Leonard M 
 
 Reeve, John 119, 120 
 
 Reichard, Coonrad 108 
 
 Reid, Hugh 93 
 
 J. 27 
 
 James 37,-41, 112 
 
 John 112 
 
 Rensselaer 136, 137, 141 
 
 Rensselaer Medical Society 23, 34 
 
 Rensselaer County — 
 
 Agricultural Society 25, 26 
 
 Bible Society 25 
 
 Bounds of 7, 17, 44, 69, 70 
 
 Buildings 18, 19, 26, 27 
 
 Courts 7,8 
 
 Rensselaerwyck, District of 7, 61 
 
 Manor of ... .3, 4, 5, 10, 13, 13, 35, 
 42, 43, 44, 70, 77, 89, 107, 117, 122, 129 
 
 Town of 36, 63, 122, 130 
 
 Renwick, John 86 
 
 Reur, Hendrick 12 
 
 Reynolds 66, 68 
 
 Ehjah 99 
 
 Gideon 123 
 
 William 129 
 
 WilliamM 98 
 
 Rhodes, C 125 
 
 Jonathan H 119 
 
 Rice, James H 39 
 
 Richmond, Edward 83 
 
 William 136 
 
 Ritche, Francis E 54 
 
 Rix, Rufus Ill 
 
 Roberts, Abner 102, 103 
 
 Abraham 103 
 
 Edward L 105 
 
 William 87 
 
 Robinson, Ebenezer 99, 119 
 
 John 21 
 
 Rockefeller, Fred. R 50 
 
 Rock Hollow 106 
 
 Rogers, Benjamin 66 
 
 B.F 119 
 
 Daniel 81,85 
 
 Harper 81 
 
 Isaac 16 
 
 Joseph 108, 119, 129, 130 
 
 Joseph D 115 
 
 L. C 119 
 
 William 32,35 
 
 Roolifse, Albert 6 
 
 Root, Solomon Ill 
 
 William 122 
 
 Winthrop 132 
 
 Rose, Josiah 33, 34 
 
 Nathaniel 129 
 
 William 129 
 
 Wyat 130 
 
 Rosebrooks, J. M 86 
 
 Ross, Alexander 92 
 
 Merick 45 
 
 Stephen 25, 27, 39 
 
 Rourk, Thomas 37 
 
 Rouse, Jonathan 92 
 
 Rousseau, Alexander 24 
 
 Rowan, John 91 
 
 Jr., John 91 
 
 Rowe, Benjamin 24 
 
 Rowland, Jonathan 62 
 
 William 93 
 
 William H 94 
 
 Rusca, Nathaniel 63, 66 
 
 Rush, Anthony 137 
 
 Russell, Abel 98 
 
 Andrew 86 
 
 John 94,181 
 
 Zachariah 63 
 
 98 
 
 Rutherford, John 
 
 Ruyter,John 
 
 Ryan, John "^'22 
 
 Michael of 
 
 Rykert, Michael 135 
 
 Ryckman, Albert 48 
 
 Rysdorp, Leonard gS 
 
 Lawrence ^ 
 
 Rysedorph, Leonard L 51 
 
 Philip 50 
 
 Sackett, Benjamin 129, 130 
 
 Sandlake !« 
 
 Town of 9, 25, 44, 53, 118 
 
 Salsberg, Hans 72 
 
 Salisbury, Amos »5 
 
 Jacobus *8 
 
 Jonathan 48 
 
 Samburns, Athniel 63 
 
 Sampson, J 27 
 
 Sanford, William 129 
 
 Safer, Jr., J 108 
 
 Satterlee, William 119 
 
 Saunders, John 136 
 
 Lodowick 119 
 
 Robert 12, 31, 32 
 
 Sawyer, Isaac 89 
 
 Schaghticoke 7, 57, 58, 59, 62, 67, 78, 90 
 
 District 61,62,79,129 
 
 Hill 67 
 
 Point 64,66,67 
 
 Town of 
 
 8, 9, 25, 37, 38, 39, 57, 63, 66, 81, 91 
 
 Scharp, Robert 48 
 
 Schaue, Jeremiali 48 
 
 Scharpe, Bernard U 138 
 
 George J 53 
 
 John G 54 
 
 Schermerhorn, Cornelius 72, 138, 141 
 
 Cornelius 1 25 
 
 Daniel 73 
 
 Engelie 71 
 
 Jacob 5, 71, 73 
 
 Jr., Jacob 5 
 
 Jacob C 18,71,73 
 
 Jacob E 19 
 
 Jacob J 72 
 
 John 48, 73 
 
 JohnC 7 
 
 John 1 74 
 
 John W 7,112,126,129,132 
 
 Reyer 71,73 
 
 Schmidt, Jacob 103 
 
 Schneyder, Hendrick 77 
 
 Scheyder Patent 77 
 
 Schodack 70, 71 
 
 Center 75 
 
 Depot 74 
 
 Landing 73, 74, 117 
 
 Town of 8, 9, 2S, 69, 72, 118, 123, 115 
 
 Schoonmaker, Edwin 112 
 
 Schouten, John 62 
 
 Schuyler, David Abm 89, 90 
 
 John 89, 90 
 
 Myndert 90 
 
 Nicholas 7, 23, 24 
 
 Patent 90 
 
 Peter 6 
 
 Philip 12, 13,14 
 
 Philip Pieterse 12 
 
 Stephen 1 14, 22, 34 
 
 Stephen V. R 25 
 
 Schuylcrville 78, 79 
 
 Scoby, Samuel 24, 25 
 
 Scott, Barnabas 34 
 
 George 40 
 
 Hugh 112 
 
 J. L 119 
 
 Lewis 11 
 
 William 33 
 
 Scott's Comers 74 
 
 Scram, William H 141 
 
 Scriven, Caleb 115 
 
 Jonathan M 112 
 
 Joseph 112 
 
 William Ill, 112 
 
 Zebulon 99, 112 
 
INDEX. 
 
 155 
 
 Searles, William 66 
 
 Seaman, Peter gg 
 
 William 108 
 
 Sebring, Cornelius ..', 33, 82 
 
 Selden, Charles 22, 3(il 38 
 
 Seymour, Albertus IO3 
 
 Daniel 40 
 
 Horace 33 
 
 Samuel D 143 
 
 Shaus, Henry 72 
 
 Shaw, Samuel 34, 117, 130 
 
 Sheldon, William J ng 
 
 Shepard, Hazael 91 
 
 Israel gi 
 
 William 91 
 
 Sibley, Benjamin 140 
 
 Timothy I33 
 
 Sickels, James 130 
 
 Thomas 24, 81, 87, 130 
 
 Zachariah W 81, 130 
 
 Sill, Jonathan P 24 
 
 Silvester, Krancis 8 
 
 Sim, Robert 87 
 
 Simmons, Daniel 102 
 
 Tames D 108 
 
 Marcus 118 
 
 Peter 117 
 
 Thomas B 50, 74 
 
 Simonse, Johannis 6 
 
 Singer, Isaac M 95 
 
 Sipperly, John J 67 
 
 Joshua H 135 
 
 Martin 92 
 
 Shaffer, John F 112 
 
 Shaver, David 124 
 
 Frederick 135 
 
 John H 103 
 
 John P 138 
 
 Shedd, Israel 83 
 
 Sheffer, Henry 78 
 
 Sherman, Darius 78 
 
 Piatt 94 
 
 William H 124 
 
 Sherwood, Lemuel 81 
 
 Shiner, Randal 129 
 
 Skiffington, John 83, 34 
 
 Slason, Whiting B. . . . 93 
 
 Slaves 5,6,9,107,108 
 
 SUter, Calvin 108,137 
 
 JohnJ 50 
 
 Sliter*s Corners 141 
 
 Slingerlant, Albert 6 
 
 Slocum, Chauncey B 67 
 
 Smart, A. J 141 
 
 Smeeds, Elihu 91 
 
 Smith, Andrew A 140 
 
 Benjamin 20 
 
 David 39 
 
 Daniel 37 
 
 Ebenezer 138 
 
 Edwin 66 
 
 Elijah 114 
 
 Francis 24 
 
 Hulbert 24 
 
 James 8 
 
 James B 40 
 
 Jesse 98 
 
 Joel D 74 
 
 John 128 
 
 Martin 24 
 
 Michael T 124 
 
 Nicholas 124 
 
 Nicholas T 124 
 
 Patrick 33 
 
 Samuel 82 
 
 Simeon 112 
 
 Solomon Ill 
 
 Thomas 112 
 
 Wilhelmus 101 
 
 William 103,119 
 
 Snyder, Benjamin 33 
 
 Christopher 93 
 
 David 94 
 
 Harmon 5^ 
 
 Henry 81 
 
 Jacob N 92 
 
 PACE 
 
 62 
 115 
 103 
 67 
 81 
 118 
 142 
 
 Snyder, John 
 
 Jonas 
 
 Laurenlius 
 
 Matthias 
 
 Nicholas 
 
 William 
 
 William H 
 
 Societies — 
 
 Odd Fellows' Lodges 41, 46, 87, 95 
 
 Masonic Lodges. .41, 46, 67. 74, 75, 87, 100, 125 
 
 Temperance Lodges 41, 46, 87 
 
 South Berlin .' 117. 120 
 
 South Pctersburgh 100 
 
 South Sandlake 142 
 
 South Schodack 75 
 
 South Stephentown 133 
 
 Southworth, William 124 
 
 Spofford, William 40 
 
 Spalding, Edward 84 
 
 Speigletown 3i) 
 
 Spencer, Allen 88 
 
 Joseph 7. 130 
 
 Oliver 98 
 
 Randall 98.130 
 
 Jr., Richard 137 
 
 Spoor, Johannes 48 
 
 Spring, Christian 48 
 
 Nathaniel 130 
 
 Springer, George 99 
 
 Martin 85 
 
 Springsteen, Casper 71 
 
 Sprong, Cornelius 78 
 
 Staats, Abraham 4 
 
 Barent 6 
 
 Gerrit 78 
 
 Joachim 72 
 
 Nicholas i'. 18. 78 
 
 Stadler, Francis 137 
 
 Joseph 137 
 
 Stages 17, 27. 35. 36 
 
 Stall, Enoch 87 
 
 Stanton, Henry 1-31 
 
 William 92 
 
 Stack, Godfrey 81 
 
 Starks, Israel Sfi 
 
 J. C 105, 109 
 
 R. E 67 
 
 Stearns, John 1-36 
 
 John E 74 
 
 J. W 93. 99 
 
 Steele, William H 67 
 
 Stephens, Abm 33 
 
 Ebenezer 99 
 
 John 139 
 
 Sylvanus 98 
 
 William 142 
 
 Stephentown 133 
 
 Center 133 
 
 District 189 
 
 Flats 133 
 
 Town of 8. 9, 85, 44, 
 
 78, 81, 91, 98, 118, 123, 187, 129, 130 
 
 Steward. Elislia 1.30 
 
 Stewart, John 39, 41 
 
 JohnM 24 
 
 Samuel 23 
 
 Warren 115 
 
 Stillman, Asa 99 
 
 Stillman Village 100 
 
 Stitt, James 92 
 
 Stone, Ira 115 
 
 Stone Arabia 12, 31, 32, 33, 34. .35 
 
 Stoney, William A 84 
 
 Storm, John 39 
 
 Story, John 63 
 
 Stover, Jacob 67 
 
 Stratton, Ebenezer 84 
 
 Straub, Johannis 103 
 
 Streator, M.J 109 
 
 Street, Benjamin 94 
 
 Strevell, George 119 
 
 Strong, John 124 
 
 Stronck, H 108 
 
 Strutton, Nathan 40 
 
 Stuyvesant, Gerardus 77 
 
 Summerhill, J 119 
 
156 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Surdara. Anthony N. 
 
 Samuel 
 
 Sunderland, Peleff . . . 
 Sweet. Amos 
 
 Benjamin G. . 
 
 David 
 
 Elnatiian 
 
 Rufus 
 
 Samuel 
 
 Simeon 
 
 Thaddeus.... 
 
 Thomas 
 
 Sweet's Corners . 
 riwitz, Abm. J. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 81 
 
 81 
 
 128 
 
 117 
 
 81 
 
 131 
 
 129 
 
 131 
 
 129 
 
 81 
 
 24 
 
 IIT 
 
 117 
 
 82 
 
 Tabc.r, Gershbm .'.!'.'.'..'..'.'..!'.... 123, 124 
 
 Tafts, Jonar.han G 126 
 
 N'athan 92 
 
 Otis 92 
 
 Tanner, Abel 131 
 
 Nathan 129 
 
 Taylor, Edward E 74 
 
 Jacob 142 
 
 James H 133 
 
 J"ohn lOO 
 
 Mahlon 16,17,18.19 
 
 Solomon 135 
 
 Thomas 93,99 
 
 William 77 
 
 Ten Brock, Henry 87 
 
 Ten Broeck, Abm 14 
 
 Ten Brook, Dirck 8 
 
 Ten Ej'ck, Abm 8, 16, 18, 19, 23, 34, 136 
 
 Andries 78 
 
 Anthony 7.8 
 
 Barnt 33 
 
 Jacob A 74 
 
 Peter G 73 
 
 Thayer, Adin 86 
 
 Reuben 81 
 
 Theunessen, Sweer 11, 12, 13 
 
 Thomas, Burton 142 
 
 David 38 
 
 Jeffrey W 24 
 
 Peleg 53, 117 
 
 Thompson, Calvin 136, 139 
 
 Israel 7, 8, 91 
 
 James 33, 30 
 
 Milo 37 
 
 Solomon \\" 93 
 
 Thomas 123,133.137,140 
 
 Thorn, Stephen 62 
 
 Thurber. Abner 24 
 
 Benjamin 13, 10, 101 
 
 Orlando D 99 
 
 Tibbals, Jr., Samuel 45 
 
 Tibbit, John 33 
 
 Tibbits, Benjamin 32 
 
 Elisha 27 
 
 George 23,23,27,66 
 
 George M 84 
 
 Tiffany, Silvester 41 
 
 Tillman, Christopher 33, 34, 30, 39 
 
 John 33 
 
 Tinsler, Solomon 93 
 
 Todd, Adam 48 
 
 Titus 93 
 
 Toll, Carroll 60 
 
 Charles H 62 
 
 Tomassen, Jan 70,71 
 
 Tomes, Timothy 82 
 
 Tomhannock 95 
 
 Tomhannock Patent 90 
 
 Tompkins, Staats D 141 
 
 Toneray, Daniel 33, 34 
 
 Topping, John 37 
 
 Townsend, Martin 1 30 
 
 Tracy, Cornelius L 36 
 
 Edward & Co 40 
 
 Gardiner 37, 41 
 
 Sanford A .34 
 
 Traver, Henry S 138 
 
 Travers, Gilbert J 103 
 
 Tremer, David 73 
 
 Tripp, Job 180 
 
 John 24 
 
 Troy...l],]0, 17. 18,19,20,21,22,23,20,27.28,36,29,37 
 
 Troy, Town of 8. 9, 10, 17, 21 , 25, 37, 38, 72, 102, 113 
 
 Troy & Schenectady Turnpike Company 23 
 
 Troy Young Men's Association 28 
 
 Tucker, Alexander H 124 
 
 Tunise, Eghbt 59 
 
 Turner, Isaac 85, 130 
 
 John 123 
 
 Thomas 25 
 
 Twogood, John E 92 
 
 Uline, Bemhard 138, 142 
 
 George 140 
 
 William 142 
 
 Upham, Nathan 138 
 
 William 141 
 
 Vail, G 26, 27 
 
 H 26 
 
 Moses 7 
 
 Valkenburgh, Hendrick 5 
 
 Jacob 5 
 
 Johannis 5 
 
 Valley Falls 95 
 
 Van Alen, Evert 137 
 
 James 126 
 
 Jan L 71 
 
 John E 7, 17, 22, 100 
 
 J. Pruyn 53 
 
 William 6 
 
 Van Alstyne, Abraham 14 
 
 Cornelius 6 
 
 Isaac 5 
 
 Jan 6 
 
 Jacob 7 
 
 Laurence 136 
 
 Martin 6 
 
 Jr., Marte 6 
 
 Matthew 55 
 
 Remier 53 
 
 Wilhelm 103 
 
 Wynant 135 
 
 Van Antwerp. Lewis 60 
 
 Simon 32 
 
 Van Arnum, Abner 16 
 
 Hendrick ..33, 34, 101 
 
 Isaac 33, 34 
 
 Van Buren, Benjamin 72 
 
 Cornelius 48, 53. 59, 72 
 
 Hendrick M 43 
 
 Henry 60, 71 
 
 Henry P 72 
 
 Hermanus 103 
 
 Jan 14,60,71 
 
 John 81 
 
 Martin 5,73 
 
 Mans 73 
 
 Peter M 48 
 
 Van Buskirk, John 77, 82 
 
 Joseph 82 
 
 Martin 82, 91 
 
 Richard ^ 
 
 Van Cortland, Jacobus 76 
 
 Vandenberg, Benjamin 48 72 
 
 Barent '72 
 
 Cornelius 8, 33 
 
 Cornelius W 60 
 
 Gerrit 6, 14, 54 
 
 Richard 93 
 
 Wynant '. 60, 63 
 
 Wynant C 82 
 
 Van der Cook. Michael 91 
 
 Michaels 35 
 
 Simon 91, 93 
 
 Van der Heyden. David 13 
 
 Derrick 6 
 
 Pi'-'-'k 13,14,59 
 
 Jacob 7, 13, 14 
 
 Jacob D 
 
 IS, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21,' 32, 33, 25 
 
 Jacob 1 5, 17, 18 
 
 John D 19 
 
 Matthias 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 
 
 Mattys IS 
 
 Nanning 18 
 
 Van der Heyden's Ferry 13, 16, 35, 101 
 
 Vanderhoff, Hendrick 62 
 
 Van der Poel, Anthony 71 
 
 Isaac 48 
 
INDEX. 
 
 157 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Van der Poel, Jacobus 71,72,73 
 
 Wynant G 12 
 
 Vanderse, Killian 6 
 
 Wouter 6 
 
 Van der Werken, Tenis 83 
 
 Vanderzee, Harmon 108 
 
 Vandeuse, Melgert 5 
 
 Rut 5 
 
 Van Deusen, Lawrence, .*. 112 
 
 Wilhelm 53 
 
 Van Dyck, Peter D 8 
 
 Van Hagen, Abner 72 
 
 Hansel .' 72 
 
 Jacobus 72 
 
 Van Hoosen, Ganet 85 
 
 Van Horn, Garrett 81 
 
 Van Home, Augustus 85 
 
 Van Hasen, John 141 
 
 Van Namee, Aaron 91 
 
 Moses 91 
 
 Van Ness, Cornelius 43, 77, 81 
 
 Gerrit 43 
 
 Hendrick 43, 76, 77 
 
 Jacobus 72, 81, 130 
 
 Jan 43 
 
 John 72, 81 
 
 Jr., John 72 
 
 Peter 14 
 
 Van Pelt, Sr., Alexander 40 
 
 Jr., Alexander 40 
 
 Daniel 103 
 
 Hiram 104 
 
 Van Rennselaer, David 81, 130 
 
 Francis 45 
 
 Hendrick 5,13,58 
 
 Henry K 130 
 
 Jan Baptist 11 
 
 Jeremias 12. 43. 45. 136 
 
 John 7, 8, 19, 33, 36, 44, 62 
 
 John J 44 
 
 Kiliaen. . . .4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 42, 70 
 
 K. K 136 
 
 Maria 13,76,77 
 
 Peter 30 
 
 Robert 14 
 
 Stephen 
 
 44. 50, 73, 77, 104, 112, 113, 130 
 
 William P 55, 112, 138 
 
 Van Schelluyne, Dirk 12 
 
 Van Schaick, Anthony 33, 35 
 
 Gerrit 5 
 
 Jacob 44 
 
 Sylvandt 60 
 
 Van Schoonhoven, Guert 8, 22 
 
 Jacobus 14 
 
 Van Tress, William 137, 139 
 
 VanTuyl, Abm 87 
 
 Van Valkenburgh, Hansie 71 
 
 Jacob 71,72,130 
 
 Jerominus 71 
 
 Johannis J 73 
 
 Lawrence 133 
 
 Sylvester 74 
 
 Van Varick, James 33 
 
 Vanvarter, Harmon 91 
 
 Van Vechten, Cornelius 5,43 
 
 Dirk 59,60,61,62 
 
 Harmon 7, 61 
 
 Jno 5 
 
 Solomon 5 
 
 TeunisD 43 
 
 Volcort 5 
 
 Walter 77, 82 
 
 Van Velsen, Sweer T 12 
 
 Van Vleck, Abner K 33 
 
 William 40 
 
 Van Voast. Isaac L 41 
 
 Van Voorhis, G 74 
 
 Van Wessels, Jan 32 
 
 Van Wie, Gerrit 5,33 
 
 Jan 5 
 
 Van Woert, Abm 92 
 
 John 91,92 
 
 Lewis 62,81 
 
 Van Woggelum, Peter 11,12,13,31,32 
 
 Van Wonner, John 130 
 
 P.^GE 
 
 Van Wyck, Isaac 17 
 
 Van Wyen, Hendrick 6 
 
 Vars, Benjamin 119 
 
 Vary, Ciark 182 
 
 Vedder, Korset 59, 60 
 
 Viall, D. H 68 
 
 rVickery, Caleb S 124 
 
 Vickory, "Joseph 72 
 
 Viele, Abraham 63 
 
 Lewis 60,77,82 
 
 Ludovicus 91 
 
 Peter 60,77,82 
 
 Sybrandt 63 
 
 Vining, Scott 139 
 
 Vischer, Johs. H 59 
 
 Voorheis, Martin 77 
 
 Vosburgh, Abm. P 12 
 
 John 141 
 
 John I 108 
 
 Petrus 98 
 
 Voss, Peter 128 
 
 Vrooman, Adam 77 
 
 Wager, Barnard J 102 
 
 Daniel 102 
 
 Jacob 17, 103 
 
 Jacob J 103 
 
 John 102,138 
 
 Leonard 39 
 
 Nicholas 17 
 
 Peter 112 
 
 William 105 
 
 Waite, Beniamin 81 
 
 RufusS 115 
 
 Wakefield, Edwin 105 
 
 Walbridge, E. W 36, 38 
 
 Waldo, John ISO 
 
 Waldron, Gerrit 63 
 
 Walfahert, Fred 136 
 
 Walker, Henry 81 
 
 James 45 
 
 John 33, 34 
 
 Luther 19 
 
 Wallace, David 85 
 
 Thomas 38 
 
 T. J 86 
 
 Wallis, Elijah 83 
 
 Wally,W. D 133 
 
 Walsh, John 39 
 
 Walloomsac 79, 80, 81, 88 
 
 Patent 77 
 
 Walworth, Benjamin 83 
 
 John 81 
 
 Reuben H 81 
 
 Wand, Robert 38 
 
 Wandelaer, John D 8,60 
 
 War, Revolutionary 13, 14, 34, 62, 79, 102 
 
 Secession 29, 30, 38 
 
 1812 37,49,50,81 
 
 Ward, Aaron 33, 34, 36 
 
 Fletcher 94 
 
 Henry 49 
 
 John 24 
 
 Thomas 40 
 
 Warner, Seth 128 
 
 Warren, Eliakim 33 
 
 Henry 93 
 
 Moses 25 
 
 Nathan 87 
 
 Stephen 37 
 
 Washburn, Ebenezer 99 
 
 Waterbury, David 122, 123 
 
 M.H 45 
 
 Sylvester 45 
 
 Watson, Elkanah 26, 35, 136 
 
 Ralph 33 
 
 Waugh, Thaddeus 24 
 
 Way, Allen 67 
 
 Weatherwax, Andres 135. 138 
 
 Andrew L 50 
 
 Barney 108 
 
 Henry 140 
 
 Laurentius 103 
 
 Martin 63 
 
 Peter 10s 
 
 Samuel 140 
 
 Weaver, Frederick 33. 34 
 
158 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Weaver, George S. 
 James . . . , 
 Nicholas. . 
 
 Peter 
 
 Webb, Isaac 
 
 Webster, Mather . . . 
 
 Weed, Alsop 
 
 Weeks, Silas 
 
 Weem, James 
 
 Welch, Abm 
 
 John 
 
 Samuel D . . . 
 
 Seth P 
 
 Wellman, Jedediah . 
 
 Wells, Jr., Edward . 
 
 Elisha . 
 
 PAGE 
 
 45 
 
 81 
 
 67 
 
 27 
 
 8 
 
 71 
 
 184 
 
 105 
 
 66 
 
 37 
 
 iia 
 
 91 
 
 115 
 
 I. M 24,27 
 
 J. D 115 
 
 Wemp, Jan B 11, 12, 13 
 
 John 13 
 
 Myndert 13 
 
 Wendell, Abm 6,33 
 
 Barney 54 
 
 Chauncey I 54 
 
 David S 54 
 
 Guert 8 
 
 J 43 
 
 Johs 6 
 
 Johannis 31 
 
 Philip 6,53 
 
 Robert 32,a3, 34, 101 
 
 Wescott, Joseph 117 
 
 West, Benjamin 112 
 
 David 115 
 
 Elijah 139 
 
 Francis Ill 
 
 James 112 
 
 J. E 37 
 
 Nathan 112 
 
 Oliver 114 
 
 Thomas 112 
 
 Westfall, James 55 
 
 W. H 55 
 
 WestHoosick 88 
 
 Westinghouse, J 92 
 
 West Nassau 116 
 
 West Sandlake 142 
 
 West Stephentown 133 
 
 Wetser, Joseph 137 
 
 Wettek, John 77 
 
 Wheeler, Jacob 142 
 
 Whipple, John 102 
 
 John 36.37,38 
 
 R. P 13!) 
 
 White, Andrew 87 
 
 John 86 
 
 Whitford, Edv/ard 119 
 
 Joshua 117, 119, 129, 130 
 
 Whittaker, Ephraim 140 
 
 Whyland, Alonzo 108 
 
 John F 108 
 
 Whylie, Jacob 132 
 
 James 132 
 
 John 130 
 
 Weatherly, George W 131 
 
 Wickes, Silas 63 
 
 Wickwire, Jonathan 33, 40 
 
 Wight, Daniel 86,140 
 
 Wilcox, Joseph ^-n4r... r..iy^..-. : ^ 115 
 
 Wilder, Lyman 86,87,88 
 
 Wilds, Timothy B 115 
 
 Wilkeson, Benjamin 108 
 
 Wilkinson, J ohn 130 
 
 Willard, George L 30 
 
 Moses 24, 27 
 
 Williams. Charles 77,90 
 
 D. E 93 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Williams, Jacob 66 
 
 James 33 
 
 John 38.91 
 
 Jon athan 122 
 
 Nathan 21 
 
 Reuben 92 
 
 Stephen 84 
 
 Williamson, Gerrit 77 
 
 Hendrick 43 
 
 James 62,81 
 
 Willett, Elbert J 92 
 
 Willmet, John 44 
 
 Wilmot, Abijah r 133 
 
 Silas 139 
 
 Wilson, Alexander 83 
 
 Hugh . . 122 
 
 James 33, 34 
 
 John 19, 102 
 
 Solomon 81 
 
 Wing, David 83 
 
 Winne, Daniel ... 5 
 
 Serinus 101 
 
 Marte 60 
 
 Peter 60 
 
 Peter P 66 
 
 Winston, Abm 129 
 
 Witbeck, Casparus 48 
 
 C. W 37 
 
 Hans 72 
 
 Jan 5 
 
 Jouat 5, 72 
 
 Jonathan T 48 
 
 Jno 6 
 
 Luykas ... 5 
 
 Peter W 48 
 
 Tho 5 
 
 Thomas L 22 
 
 Tobias 48 
 
 William 54 
 
 Withy, Henry 139 
 
 Witt, John D 33 
 
 Wolcott, John 38 
 
 Wood, Jonathan 33 
 
 Walter A 86, 87 
 
 Wood, Walter A., M. & R. Machine Co 86, 87 
 
 Woods, James 54 
 
 John 54 
 
 Woodward. Benjamin 24 
 
 John M 99 
 
 Woodworth, John 19,21,22 
 
 Robert 7, 8, 18 
 
 Worden, Moses 130 
 
 Walter 129 
 
 Worthington, Aaron 99 
 
 John 112 
 
 Wright, James 93 
 
 Wyland, David H 54 
 
 Wynants, Henry L 139 
 
 Wynkoop, John D 33, 34 
 
 Yates, Christopher 48 
 
 Jacob 62, 63 
 
 Jacob P 92 
 
 John 44 
 
 John Waters 8 
 
 Jonathan 91 
 
 Peter go, 63 
 
 PeterW '33 
 
 Richard 72 
 
 Robert '.;".: .33, 35, 44 
 
 Young, George ig 
 
 Henry ; ig gg 
 
 John 34,sj 
 
 Joseph 33 
 
 Nicholas 60 
 
 Vounghans, Hendrick 185 
 
 Wynant 137, 138 
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1880, by J. M. Francis & Tucker, in the Office of the 
 Librarian of Congress, at Washington.