^ o x . V ^ C" V&" , ^ ^" - . *** ^ * ^ ^^^Kat * «C^ * *b >* ^ V / u. '^ A HISTORY OP Cfre ^cljenectati|> patent . IN THE DUTCH AND ENGLISH TIMES; BEING CONTRIBUTIONS TOWARD A HISTORY OF THE LOWER MOHAWK VALLEY BY PROF. JONATHAN PEARSON, A. M., AND OTHERS. EDITED BY J. W. MAC MURRAY, A. M., U. S. A. ALBANY, N. Y 1883. Edition,— square octavo, 300 copies, and 50 quartos. ><5 2_ P^ Joel Munsell's Sons, Printers. CONTENTS. Pa&b 1 Table of Values 1V 2 Illustrations v 3 Preface, (the Editor) i x 4 Sketch of Prof. Pearson, (Rev. George Alexander) - - xv 5 Introduction, (Prof. Pearson) 1 6 Division of Lands, (Prof. Pearson) 58 7 Adult Freeholders, (Prof. Pearson) ----- 82 8 Indian Wars on the Border, (Prof. Pearson) ... 231 9 Burning of Schenectady, (Prof. Pearson) .-- - 244 10 Indian Wars on the Border, (Prof. Pearson) - - - 271 11 Old French War, (Prof. Pearson) 290 12 Fortifications and Garrisons, (Protf. Pearson and the Editor) 304 13 The Reformed Nether Dutch Church, (Prof. Pearson, and the Editor) 334 14 The English Church, (the Editor) 389 15 The Presbyterian Church, (Rev. T. G. Darling) - - 399 16 Indian Trade, (Prof. Pearson and the Editor) - - - 409 17 The Borough, (Prof. Pearson) 426 18 The Schenectady Academy and Union College - - 433 19 "Schenectady" (the Editor) 436 20 Houses in Ancient Albany County, (the Editor) - - 441 21 Appendices, (the Editor) - - - - ... 451 22 Index 455 TABLE OF VALUES CITED IN THESE PAGES. Amsterdam — Foot = 11.144 inches. Rhineland — Foot— 12.357 inches. Netherland — Mijle = 1093.62 yards = 3280.9 feet. English — Mile = 1760 yards = 5280 feet. U. S. — Acre = 4840 square yards. U. S. — Acre = a square of 208.7 feet. Amsterdam — Morgen = 9722 square yards. Amsterdam — Morgen = or 2.0076 Eng. ac. U. S. — Gallon = 231 cubic inches. TJ. S. — Bushel = 2150 cubic inches. Amsterdam — Schepel (or skipple or sgepel) = bushel of grain i. e. a. " struck bushel "or | of heaped English bushel. Amsterdam — Mudde = 6786 cu. inches = 3.15725 English bushel dry measure = 4 Skipples dry measure. Netherlands — Last = 108 skipples (wheat) = 14 barrels (Fish) = 2 Tons (Ships tonnage). Netherlands — Anker = 2331 cu. in. = 9 gallons. Netherlands — Guilder = 37| to 40 cents U. S. money. Netherlands — Stuiver = English penny = 2 cents U. S. Netherlands — Rix dollar = 50 stivers. New Netherlands— Pound = $2.50. New Netherlands — Shilling = 12| cents. New Netherlands — Penny = 1 cent. English — Pound sterling = $4.84. Time — Old Style year in vogue among the Dutch, ended noon March 25th. From Jan'y 1st to March 25th both old and new styles are noted. Thus : Schenectady was destroyed during the night of February 8th, 16f£. That is to say in 1689 old style, but 1690 new style. Properly an event occurring in the morning of March 25th, 1705, was noted as of 1705 O. S. and 1706 N. S., or 170|, while an event of the after- noon would be March 25th, 1706, under both styles. ILLUSTRATIONS. 1 Portrait of Prof. Pearson, Frontispiece With signature. (Heliotype.) 2 Indian signatures. 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 (Cuts.) 3 Map of the Bouwlands 1664. 59 Constructed from ac tual survey and old deeds and descriptions. The four town blocks are also shown. 4 Bratt house, Woestyne. 98 This old house is brick on front and sides, wood in rear. Bricks are set in colored pattern. (Heliotype.) 5 Portrait Rev. Barnardus Freerman. 112 And fac-simile signature. (Cut.) 6 Glen house, Scotia. 119 (Heliotype.) 7 Mebee house. 132 (3d Flat, cut.) 8 Abraham Yates' house. 229 (Cut.) 9 Destruction of Schenectady. 246 Engraved from a painting partly by Giles P. Yates. (Cut.) 10 Signatures of Albany Officials. 256 (Photo-engraving.) 11 Map of Albany and vicinity. 290 From Sauthier's map published in London in 1779, from data in colonial offices. The map was prepared for military purposes and shows minute details as to hofstedes, indicating with remarkable detail, buildings and enclosures. It may be con- sidered as accurate enough for the period from 1780 to 1780. (Photo-engraving.) 12 Chorographical map of the northern part of North America. 296 This map is added as showing routes to Canada and the names of places cited in the text. The representation of all western New York to near thepresent Utica, as part of Pennsylvania is curious. There are other features of interest in it. (Steel engraving.) vi History of the Schenectady Patent. 13 De Geaaf house and Beukendaal. 299 The vale on the right is Beukendaal or Beech vale. Along its sides occurred the skirmishing fight, exactly where, no one knows, or can know. The whites made a stand in the old red house and held their own against the Indians until relief arrived. (Heliotype.) 14 Indian Castle. 305 From Champlain's account. (Photo-engraving.) 15 Miller's map. 311 Quite fully described on its face and in the text. (Photo-engraving.) 16 Mary Ann Rocque's Map. 316 Copied from map in a curious little volume in the New York State Library, con- taining plans of royal forts in North America. This was doubtless engraved from a sketch by an officer of the British army stationed here or in the vicinity, and probably dates from the close of the " Old French War," or the beginning of the " 2d French War," say from 1748 to 1763. (Photo-engraving.) 17 Vrooman's Map 1768. 328 Is copied from a small rough manuscript map now in possession of Union College Library. (Photo-engraving.) 18 Deed to Dutch Church Lot. 350 Copied from ancient document in the deacon's chest in the Dutch church at Schen- ectady. (Photo-engraving.) 19 Dutch Church of 173|. 352 Constructed from descriptions, plans and the aid of elderly persons now living who were familiar with its appearance, from which a sketch was made by Mr. Franklin H. Janes, architect, of Albany, whose courtesy, skill and taste have been of much ser- vice to the editor. (Photo-engraving.) 20 Interior of the Church. 356 Was constructed in same manner as preceding cut. There are two errors in the drawing, the figures 1733, in Dutch style should have been on the wall over the pulpit, Genl. Fuller tells me, and the women in the congregation should have been bonnetless, as they rarely at that date wore bonnets or hats in or out doors. Probably also there are insufficient of the congregation asleep, but the sermon has not yet commenced, as indicated by the sexton stirring up the fires. Photo-engraving from drawiug of Mr. Franklin H. Janes, of Albany. 21 Plan of Church of 1734. 357 (Photo-engraving.) 22 Church. 362 From Giles F. Yates' painting. (Photo-engraving.) 23 Oldest grave-stone in Mohawk Valley. 372 Copied from the stone in Union College Library. The inscription is dim and almost undecipherable. The cut is purposely made to show this, but the laid paper has made it worse. (Photo-engraving.) Illustrations. vii 24 Batteau on Mohawk River. 423 (Cut.) 25 Durham Boat. 420 (Cut.) 26 Map op the Country of the VI Nations. 433 By Guy Johnson, 1771, (Lithograph from a Steel engraving). 27 Schenectady Academy. 434 (Cut.) From Scribner's Magazine. 28 Old Union College. 435 (Cut.) From Scribner's Magazine. PREFACE. Professor Pearson, of Union College, enjoys a well earned reputation as student, translator and writer on the colonial history of Northern New York. During the past forty or more years, he has been a constant worker at the records of the ancient county of Albany and has accumulated a vast store of information, which has fortunately been put in writing and embraces many thousand pages of legal cap manuscript. This herculean task was a labor of love without hope of pecuniaiy profit; as Professor Alexander aptly expresses it — the recreation of a busy life. His friend, the late Joel Munsell, of antiquarian fame, induced him to print much of this matter and " Early Records of the county of Albany," translated from the original Dutch, " Contributions toward the Genealogies of the First Settlers of Schenec- tady," " Genealogies of the First Settlers of Albany," " History of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in Schenectady " besides very many magazine and newspaper articles have been given to the public from Mun- sell's Press. There remain more than four thousand pages of unpublished manuscript and notes, much of which was written many years ago. Profe'ssor Pearson's unique collection of facts has been at the service of all who sought to write on the subject and much has appeared from time to time from others, which was strictly his work. In the study of the subject he is unquestionably the best guide and it is doubtful if any facts essential to a history of the ancient Schenectady Patent have been overlooked by him. He gave the writer free use of most of his manuscript and notes, and they are in the main printed here that due credit may be given to the author and. that the data may be at the service of the general historian. In the preparation of these contributions toward a history of the early settlements along the Mohawk river, Professor Pearson translated all known official records pertaining to the subject ; he made a careful and thorough search for all names of settlers in the " Doop " and " Trouw " books (bap- tismal and marriage records), in the early churches of Albany and Schenectady, x History of the Schenectady Patent. translated the " City Records" — the "Mortgage " and "Notarial " books of Albany county; searched and transcribed all pertinent matter from records of secretary of State and of the clerk of the Court of Appeals of the State of New York, which he was able to find, as well as collated similar extracts from records of the office of secretary of State of Massachusetts, where there is much pertaining to this subject. He has also gone over the old landmarks with the aid of copies of ancient deeds, wills, and surveys in the public offices, and the assistance of very old men whose distinct memory included the colonial times, when few changes had taken place. There are few Mohawk Dutch family chests whose old letters have not furnished a quota of data and every known tombstone has contributed its facts. There may be much he did not reach, but it is marvelous that he gleaned so much from obscure and scattered sources of information and is only understood when one knows of his knowledge of the Dutch language and its local dialects, his special fitness for the work and the long years of patient labor he has given it. During several years the writer has carefully searched out his authorities and compared the manuscript notes with original records. In the years since they were written, many new facts have come to light and additions have been made in many places but they amount to so little compared with the original work of the author, that they are seldom separated. Indeed, details have been so frequently discussed, that it would be difficult to sepa- rate his changes from the writer's. There are some matters of conclusion which have been changed and many additions, mainly however, in form of notes. Most of these occur in the condensation of more extended accounts. There are also additions by the writer and others, of separate chapters. In the early period of settlement of the Schenectady Patent, land was plenty and the value small, the methods of survey very crude and the de- scriptions vague. Land was stepped off, or measured with a pole, a rope, or pair of harness reins, which represented an approximate scale of measure- ment. Courses were run " northerly " " north-by-west," etc., or from some evanescent tree to an equally indefinite pool, or dove gat. So incorrect were the descriptions of the bounderies of lands granted or conveyed, that almost as much land lay in the gores where descriptions overlapped or under- lapped, as in the undisputed portions. The labor involved in retracing these Preface. xi old lines and defining " how the lands were divided" was almost incalcula- ble and required many years of patient toil. One of the sources of complication which the author had to contend against was the variation in form of names of the inhabitants. As a rule a man in those days had but one name, modified by that of his father, his birthplace or residence, his occupation or some personal characteristic and he was usually so spoken or written of whatever Ins name might properly be. Harme Janse Knickerbacker, i. e., Harme son of John the Knicker- baker, maker of knickers (or childrens' marbles,) or small china ware in general; de Steenbacker, i. e., brick maker. Storm van der Zee was Storm Bratt, who was born during a storm at sea, on the voyage to America. Kleyn Isaack meant little Isaac Swits, even when he was a man of mature years. Sander Leendertse Glen, probably was Alexander, (or Sandy for short) Lindsay of the Glen near Inverness, Scotland. Van Ness, derived probably from Inverness,* Scotland. It is not until late in English colonial times, that it became customary to use the full name even in official and church records. It is very fortunate for history that Prof. Pearson has made so full an analysis of these early names and fixed the connection between names now scarcely known and those of their descendants. Pearson's history of the Dutch Church of Schenectady, which was prepared as part of this series, has been published quite fully in the memorial of the 200th anniversary (1881) of the church. Such parts as are of general interest * The word ness meaning promontory or head land occurs all along the east coast of Great Britain, especially in Scotland ; is Dungenness, Foulness, Sheerness, in southern England; and Fifeness, Buchanness, Clytheness, OJinness and numberless others in Scotland ,where also whole counties take the name, as Caithness, Inverness. Holland traded extensively through the seaport town, Inverness with the highlands and the Glen country along: Loch Ness. Scotchmen escaping from the strife and sterility of their own country to Holland, readily found ships there to convey them away to the Dutch colonies and they were known as from the Ness or "Van Ness" or of the "Glen," etc. " 't Ness," indicated the point in the river Y, at Amsterdam. The Van Ness, Van Nes, Van Est, Van Nest families, seems to have been of different origin. xii History of the Schenectady Patent. appear here. The church organization was so interwoven with the town, that no history can be of value which does not include it. This church was the great land owner, loaner of money on mortgage and the church mill, which was the best; it dealt in dry goods, groceries, clothing and utensils, and was almoner of all the village poor. There are many details relating to the customs of the Dutch as a people prior to the Revolutionary war, at about which time most of their primitive peculiarities commenced to disappear. The war had taken the simple Dutchman from his bouwery on the flats and had brought him in contact with men from all the other colonies. Then again, the Mohawk river had become the highway along which a steady stream of immigrants has ever since been pouring, on its way to the westward. All accessions to the settlement were from other than Dutch sources. There were congregations of Episcopalians at the English church, and of Scotch settlers from the higher lands at the Presbyterian church. All these contributed gradually to the substitution of " American " customs in place of Dutch customs, which grew into disuse with the death of the older men. It will be seen that the chapter on the first settlers does not go beyond the first half century. If read in connection with " Pearsons' First Settlers of Albany," and " of Schenectady " it will be found to contain all important facts, not tradition merely, known of these people. The chapters pertaining to the military history of the ancient dorp have naturally been of special interest to me, and I have illustrated them by maps, photographs and photo-engravings and have added copious additions. The short article on the English church (St. George's Episcopal), is an abridgement by the editor, of a sermon delivered by the present rector, the Rev. Wm, Payne, D.D., — with some notes, and copies from the records of the " Society for the Propagation of the Gospel," at Lambeth Palace, England, the country hereabouts having been while under British govern- ment included in the See of the Bishop of London. The Rev. Timothy G. Darling contributes the article on the Presbyterian church, of which he is the pastor. To Professor George Alexander, of Union College, I am indebted for preparing the article on Professor Pearson. Preface. xiii It is nearly two centuries and a quarter since Schenectady was settled. It lies in a beautiful intervale on the margin of the Mohawk river. The great highway to the west led through it and along the only low valley pass through the Appalachian range; all other routes from the Atlantic led over mountain passes. Increase in traffic brought into existence the Erie canal, which served its purpose until the demands of commerce were met by the great four tracked New York Central railroad. Along the hillsides overlooking the valley, another great trunk railway will be in operation in a few months, and still another is working its way to the westward. A railroad to the south-west goes essentially over the trail toward the Susquehanna and Delaware valleys. To the northward another lays almost on the very trail past the Aal Plaas, Sarachtoge, Champlain Lake and Caughnawaga to Montreal, which was traversed by the destroying French and their allies, the Caughnawaga Mohawks, in 1690. The river flats were tilled for generations before 1661 by the Indians, and they still yield rich harvests in many cases to the descendants of the original white settlers — indeed to some whose ancestors antedated the Dutch regime. Out of the Dutch church schools grew the Schenectady Academy. It was incorporated by the State and became Union College, which with its five thousand Alumni has ever been a power for good in every state in the Union. Hanse Janse Eenkluys' Kil still flows through Union's grounds (in wet seasons), and his " poor pasture " is in much the same condition as when he left it to the poor, though immense works for building locomotive engines lie on one side and the Erie canal skirts along the upper edge. The beauty of the site has been commended by travelers, at intervals, for centuries since Van Curler pronouced it " the most beautiful the eyes of man ever beheld." The quaintness of the ancient Dutch architecture was always noted until 1819, when the major part of the old town was destroyed by fire and the landmarks of the Dutch period were swept away, leaving few specimens of its peculiar constructions. In two hundred and twenty-five years the village has grown to be a city in name. Thanks to its locomotive and stove works, a factory producing xiv History of the Schenectady Patent. plastic ware, shawl and knitting mills, it has a large commerce. Its popu- lation is but fifteen thousand in the city wards, but there is scarcely a directory of a city between Maine and Florida and Alaska, which does not contain names of Schenectady's colonists. This history deals with ante-newspaper times, when even the practice of writing was not very common. The period since the Revolution is full of records of facts, and larger volumes could be written portraying its history. Professor Pearson's labor represents the hard part of the task. It is to be hoped that workers as patient, skillful and conscientious as he, may carry the work to a later date. Much data is at hand for the purpose and may be published at a future time. Sketch of Professor Pearson. xv SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF PROFESSOR JONATHAN PEARSON, A. M., Union College, Schenectady, N. Y. The subject of this sketch is by lineage an alien to the Dutch community whose annals he has so diligently explored. His descent can be traced through seven generations from the Puritan fathers of New England. At some time previous to 1G43, John Pearson, an English carpenter, settled in the town of Rowley, county of Essex, Massachusetts. There he erected a fulling mill and became the first manufacturer of cloth in the infant colony. He was evidently a substantial and leading citizen. For many years he served his generation as deacon in the church, moderator of the town and deputy in the General Court. Having provided well for his family of ten children he died, full of years and honors, near the close of the century. The family record fov two hundred years, with its quaint scriptural names, reads like a genealogical chapter in the Old Testament. The meager story of their simple lives is sufficient to indicate that the Pearsons were a sturdy race of the genuine New England type, characterized by piety, industry and thrift. Caleb Pearsou, the grandfather of Professor Pearson, entered the Revo- lutionary army as a fifer at the age of fourteen and served through the whole war. Shortly after the close of the struggle he settled in Chichester N. H., when he erected mills, which his son Caleb owned and operated after him. There the subject of our sketch was born Feb. 23, 1813. Caleb Pearson apparently became dissatisfied with the fruits which his labor could wring from a stubborn soil, for in 1831 he joined the caravan that was then moving slowly westward to populate the plains of the interior. As he journeyed by the great thoroughfare of that day, the Erie canal, his eye was charmed by the rich valley about Schenectady, and especially by the sight of Union College, which seemed to promise him what he had xvi History of the Schenectady Patent. coveted, the opportunity to educate his children. He accordingly changed his plans, made his home in the ancient Dutch city, and resided there till the day of his death. His son Jonathan, then a youth of eighteen, had previously secured a pre- paratory education at Dover, Pembroke and New Hampton academies, in the vicinity of his former home. In January, 1832, he entered Union College and graduated with honor in 1835. The following year he was appointed tutor and in 1839, assistant pro- fessor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy. In 1849, he was elected pro- fessor of Natural History, and in 1873, was transferred to the department of Agriculture and Botany where he still serves. Thus for more than half a century his life has been incorporated with the life of his Alma Mater. In addition to the work of his department of instruction, other onerous and responsible duties have devolved upon him. Since 1854, he has been treasurer of the college, having in charge its varied and intricate financial interests. For years he has also held the office of librarian and has devoted a vast amount of time and labor to the puzzling and petty details of that try- ing vocation. The preparation of the general catalogue of the college has always devolved upon him, and he has repaid the affectionate esteem of thousands of Alumni by maintaining a constant interest in their individual fortunes. His mind is an encyclopcedia of facts concerning the Sons of Old Union. The mere fact that Professor Pearson his been called to engage in ser- vices so numerous and diverse, and that he has performed them satisfactorily through so long a period, is sufficient proof of his versatility and tireless in- dustry. Summer and winter, term time and vacation, have found him at his post, meeting with unruffled brow the numberless and exacting demands upon his time and patience. His antiquarian researches have been merely the recreations of a busy life. The interest awakened by the investigation of his own family tree, led him to think of exploring the scattered and puzzling records of the Dutch fami- lies who founded the settlements at Albany and along the valley of the Mohawk. The task was one of unusual difficulty. The colonists isolated from their own countrymen, and brought in contact with various races, civilized and savage, had developed a peculiar dialect in which English, Canadian, French and Indian words were freely incorporated with their Sketch of Professor Pearson. xvii mother tongue. To decipher the fragmentary relics of this vanishing speech, especially when still further obscured by the picturesque penman- ship and heterogeneous spelling of the early scribes, was an undertaking which would have appalled an ordinary investigator. With Professor Pearson, however, the difficulties of the pursuit served only to give it addi- tional zest. He continued his labors in this field through many years, without the hope of any reward except the pleasure of telling his neighbours the short and simple annals of their sires. He first transcribed, translated and collated the records of the Dutch church in Schenectady. Having mastered the pro- vincial dialect he afterwards performed a similar work upon the records of the Dutch church in Albany and also of the county clerk's office. The results of these studies and others of a like character, are embodied in his histories of the old families of Schenectady and Albany, published years ago, and in the volume which this sketch accompanies. He has thus rescued from oblivion, and made accessible to all students of history, facts, the value and interest of which will increase as time advances, and the region which these Hollanders redeemed from the wilderness becomes the home of a still larger and more prosperous population. It would be indelicate in a sketch published during the life time of Pro- fessor Pearson to refer to those incidents which belong more especially to his private and domestic life, or to those qualities which have endeared him to his more intimate personal friends. He has been for many years a faithful and active member of the Baptist church, trusted and revered by all. As a son, a husband and a father, his relations have been too tender and sacred to permit of comment here. Those who may survive him and have shared and prized his friendship will wonder that they did not prize it more, when the genial and unobtrusive presence lives only in memory or immortal hope. INTRODUCTION. Early in the seventeenth century, North America east of the Mississippi was claimed by right of discovery by four European nations : France, England, Spain and Holland. Although for fifty years there were but few colonists sent over, the whole continent was too small to hold them in peace. Jealousies and bickerings were rife ; the French crowded the English, and the English crowded the Dutch, until finally the latter disap- peared altogether and the rivalry between the former continued one hun- dred years longer. It was as plain then as it is now, that rival nations could not exist in the Mississippi Valley. The last great struggle for supremacy commenced on the Ohio in 1754, and ended on the plains of Abraham, in 1759. Henceforward there was but one nation between the Atlantic and the Mississippi. The French commenced the settlement of Canada in 1603. Their object was two-fold : the conversion of the natives, to the Christian faith, and trade. The missionary and the trader, therefore, went forth together visiting every tribe in the valleys of the St. Lawrence and the Mississippi, and rendering to each other mutual aid and assistance. No nation was ever more successful in winning the esteem and respect of the natives. The flexibility of the French character and the indomitable patience of their missionaries, were the secrets of their success. One nation alone resisted their influence ; all their efforts to coax or to drive the Iroquois or Five Nations into an alliance or even to remain long neutral, were unavailing. They were not unwilling to receive the French religion but they preferred English strouds and gun powder.* Their friendship [* Champlain, with a few of his men accompanied by a large number of Aigouquins, met and defeated a body of Mohawks near Crown Point on Lake Champlain. The Algonquins were an inferior and subject race, but the discharge of Freuch muskets with the accompanying flash, report and death by invisible bullets, carried terror to the Mo- hawks and they were nearly destroyed by an enemy for whom they had hitherto only felt contempt. When the Dutch, the declared enemy of the French, came into the Mohawk countiy from the south, offering fire arms and vengeance against the French and Algonquins, they secured the firm and abiding friendship of the Six Nations.— Jesuit Relations ; Champlain'' 's Acct. ; Parkman, ete. M'M. ] 2 History of the Schenectady Patent. was the salvation of the Province of New York. They claimed all the territory lying between the Hudson and the Maumee rivers, so that the French of Canada could never aim a blow at Albany or Schenectady with- out striking over the heads of the Five Nations. This celebrated confed- eracy, the terror of all surrounding tribes, was made up of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, five allied tribes, who acted as one nation ; herein lay their influence. During the long contest for dominion on this continent, between the French and English, they held the balance of power, and were assiduously courted by both parties. But after 1760, when the French influence ceased, their importance declined ; rum and gun powder had diminished their numbers and the once powerful Mohawks had almost ceased to exist as a separate tribe. During the Revolutionary war, large portions of the Oneidas and Tusca- roras favored the colonies and for safety were transferred to Scheuectady,* whilst most of the Onondagas, Cayugas and the Senecas, the most numerous and westerly tribes, adhered to Great Britain and became an awful scourge to the frontier settlements in the Schoharie and Mohawk valleys. At no time between 1660 and 1760 could not the English colonies by combined action have crushed the French power in Canada and driven it from the country. During that long period the English population was from fifteen to twenty times that of the French. Thus in 1690, when Schen- ectady was burned, the white population of Canada was but 12,000, that of the English colonies more than 200,000 or nearly eighteen to one. In 1754 * Mr. Nicholas Veeder has seen " 2,000 or 3,000 Indians in the Poor Pasture when Schuyler made a treaty with them. The Mohawks went to Canada and half of the Oneidas, in the Revolutionary war, the other half fought for us. They camped in the Pines on " Albany Hill," near McChes- neys. After the war was over the rest of the Oneidas came back from Canada to claim their lands. The Indian houses at Schenectady were made of bark, they were here about three years. The Mohawks before the Revolution were plenty ; could be seen in the roads in parties of fifteen or twenty ; made splint brooms and baskets. The town was full of them on New Years day — Nic: Veeder. " Has seen the Onondaga tribe, 000 in number, marching thro' Niskayuna street to Albany as prisoners of war, they having been in the King's service. — N. V. Introduction. 3 the population of Canada was 80,000, and about 1,500,000 in the colonies, the ratio being neai'ly the same as in the other case. Yet, in spite of this disparity of numbers, the French were usually the aggressive party; they seldom waited to be attacked but boldly carried the torch and tomahawk into the enemy's country. There is hardly a valley between the Penobscot and the Mohawk that has not echoed the cries of murdered victims, the midnight work of the French and their allied savages. In 1731 they boldly advanced a hun- dred miles into the province of New York and at the head of Lake Cham- plain built a fort on Crown Point, which they held twenty-eight years in spite of protest and menace. The apathy exhibited on the part of the colonies in view of such a danger- ous encroachment as this, was amazing, and in the end cost some of the best blood and treasure of the country. It is true several attempts were made to humble the French power, but divided councils, incompetent leaders and failure of the mother country to afford promised aid, rendered these expensive expeditions disgraceful failures. The chief cause of this ill success, however, was the want of union and cooperation among the colonies. Those immedi- ately threatened were ready to contribute more than their proportion of men and money to meet the danger, the others would do little or nothing. The New England states had early formed a confederacy for mutual support and assistance, but this association was neither long maintained nor extended beyond their borders. Each colony was an independent state, jealous of its rights and privileges ; it would yield little or nothing for the common good, but sat isolated and apart from its neighbors, cherishing the selfish doctrine of colonial sovereignty and provincial rights. This spirit was favored by the mother country from fear of the formidable strength which a united people might exhibit. At the beginning of the last French war in 1754, Franklin with his accustomed forethoiight and practical wisdom, prof- fered to the colonial delegates assembled at Albany, a plan of union. It was discussed and favorably received, yet it bore no fruit until twenty years later. The north-west passage to India was the fascinating day dream of the ad- venturers of the seventeenth century, and to this we owe the discovery by Hudson of the river which bears his name. This, his third voyage to America, was made in 1609 under the patronage of the Dutch East India Company. After coasting as far south as Chesapeake Bay, he returned and spent nearly a month in exploring the river to the head of navigation. This fortunate voy- • 4 History of the Schenectady Patent. age gave him immortality and a new empire in the West to the Dutch nation. By priority of discovery they claimed the coast from Cape Cod to Dela- ware Bay and inland north to the lake and river of Canada (St Lawrence), and west as far as the hitherto unexplored wilderness could be opened up by the trader and trapper. Trading adventures were at once fitted out f rom Holland for the new country, and the coast and rivers were carefully searched for peltries. Manhattan was made the chief port and headq'uarters of these ' enterprising traders and to prevent competition they procured from the States General in 1614, exclusive privileges under the name of the "United Nether- land Company "and afterwards in 1621 as the "Privileged West India Com- pany." The latter was a gigantic armed trading association, endowed with all the powers and sovereignty of an independent state. Its directors resided in Amsterdam, its authority was wielded in New Netherland by a director, who was at the same time the fountain of laws, the executive head and the chief of the judiciary. In a word he was supreme autocrat ; it is true he had a council but it was a mere cipher. The sole object of this company was trade, of which it had a complete monopoly. It is true indeed, by the second section of their charter the company was bound to " advance the peopling of these fruitful and un- settled parts," and to encourage colonization, but in this they utterly failed of their duty. The greed for gain swallowed up all other interests. At length the evil became so apparent and was so forcibly presented to the notice of the directors in Amsterdam, that they were obliged to seek a remedy. On the 7th day of June 1629, under the title of "Freedoms and Exemp- tions," concession was made to Patroons to plant colonies in New Nether- land. Thus it was attempted to trausfer to the new world, the objectionable features of the feudal system of the old. It burthened trade and agricul- ture with unnecessary restrictions and introduced at the same time aristoc- racy and slavery ; it prohibited manufactures and discouraged the settlement of the country by private persons. From the haste with which the directors in Holland proceeded to avail themselves of the privilege thus granted, one might almost suspect this charter was granted for their special profit and grat- ification. From the head waters of the Hudson around to the Delaware, immense tracts of the best lands were at once taken up, and instead of confin- ing themselves to the colonizing and cultivation of these lands, the Patroons engaged in trade contrary to the terms of their charter, as the directors Introduction. 5 claimed and to the ruin of the Company's interests. Hence arose quarrels between the officers and servants of the two opposing parties, and in the end the company was forced to remove the evil by purchasing back the great manors already granted, Rensselaerswyck alone excepted. The failure of the West Indian Company and Patroons to fulfill the re- quisitions of their charters relating to the colonization of the New Province and the encouragement of agriculture, became so apparent in 1638, as to call for the interference of the States General, and after the agitation and rejec- tion of many projects, the directors were induced to proclaim free trade and free lands to private persons under what they conceived necessary restrictions. This measure had a happy effect in increasing immigration not only from the mother country, but also from New England and Virginia, where reli- gious toleration was not so fully recognized in practice as in New Nether- land. The population of New Netherland at the beginning of Stuyvesant's administration in 16 17, is variously estimated at 1,000 to 3,000 ; at its close in 1664, it was about 10,000. The Dutch had held the Province fifty years and this was the result of their attempts to colonize it. Its natu- ral advantages both for trade and agriculture, were unequalled by any like portion of the continent. The nation which had redeemed its own country from the ocean, that had conquered its freedom from the Spanish yoke and lead all the European nations in foreign trade, was just the people to found a new empire on these shores. The Dutch character was not wanting in the requisite energy, perseverance and pluck, but it was the system of govern- ment that was chiefly in fault, persevered in against protests and petitions. RENSSELAERSWYCK. In 1614 Albany was occupied as a post for the fur trade, of which Man- hattan became the headquarters. Until 1630 the population of both j:>laces consisted of few more than the officers and servants of the West India Company, in which was vested the monopoly of trade. This year the Patroon of Rensselaerswyck sent over the first little company of settlers to his manor, a vast tract extending from the mouth of the Mohawk river twenty-four miles down the Hudson and twenty-four miles on each side of it, and comprising more than 700,000 acres. The lands along the river and upon the islands, were gradually leased with the usual reservations of rents, 6 History of the Schenectady Patent. service, fowls and quarter sales. Few conveyances were made in fee. Both the foreign and domestic trade was claimed by the Patroon. Under such heavy disabilities the population increased slowly. But the proclamation of free trade and cultivation of the soil, in 1638, gave an impulse to the prosperity of the Colonic Every man who could purchase a piece of duffels and strouds and an anker of brandy, became an Indian tracer ; indeed, there were almost as many traders in Beverwyck as there were men. So keen did competition run in beaver skins, that bosloojws* or runners, were employed to penetrate the wilderness west of the village and meet the natives on their way down wich peltries. The population of Beverwyck at this early period cannot be exactly known ; that it was small may be justly inferred from several facts. First : The church built in 1643 was thirty-four feet by nineteen feet in size, and contained but nine bancken (benches) for the worshippers, yet this house served the little community until 1656. Secondly : The number of colonists shown by the Van Rensselaer papers, as having been sent over to the Colonies up to 1646 is only 210f. It is not to be supposed that all those persons who were attracted to Beverwyck by its happy location for Indian traffic, were either tenants or servants of the Patroon, or were even under his manorial jurisdiction. Fort Orange and the little hamlet which clustered around its walls for safety, were always claimed by the West India Company as under their exclusive authority. This claim, however, was strenuously resisted by the Patroon. Hence originated that memorable and almost bloody contest for power between those obstinate, hardheaded officials, Governor Stuyvesant and Commissioner Schlectenhorst. The Dongan charter of 1686 however, quieted all further questions of jurisdiction ; Albany became a city one mile wide on the river and thirteen and one-half (130 miles long. The land outside these limits belonged to the Colonic The early population of Beverwyck was changeable. After a few years spent in traffic with the Indians, some returned to Latvia, some retired to New Amsterdam, whilst others passed beyond the limits of the Colonie and purchased lands at Kinderhook, Claverac, Cattskill, Niskayuna, Halvemaan and Schenectady. * [ Woods runners. Couriers du bois in Canada. — M'M.] f O'Callaghan's History N. N. Introduction. SCHENECTADY. The ancient township of Schenectady embraced a territory of 128 square miles, a portion of the Mohawk valley sixteen miles long and eight miles wide. The western half is an irregular plateau elevated 400 or 500 feet above the Mohawk, a spur of the Helderberg, passing north into Saratoga county, the eastern half is a sandy plain, whose general level is 300 or 400 feet lower. The river running through the middle of this tract in a south- easterly direction, forms the most beautiful and striking natural object in its landscape. At the westerly boundary where it enters the town, it flows through a narrow valley, whose sides though covered with foliage, are too steep for cultivation. From the hill Towereune, the valley widens gradually to Poversen and Maalwyck where the hills sink down into the great sand plain. Until the river reaches the city of Schenectady, it is a constant succession of rapids, and its general course is south-east, here it makes a great bend and flows with a deep, sluggish current north-eastward to the Aal Plaats, the eastern boundary of the town. The tributaries of the Mohawk within the town are small and unimportant streams ; those at the west end flowing from the slates, are nearly or quite dry in summer, whilst those at the opposite end, fed from the sand, are constant spring brooks. On the north side of the river are the folio wing brooks : Chucktenunda* at Tower- eune, and_ coming east in succession are Van Eps Kil, Droyberg, Verf, or color ( paint ) creek, called by the natives Tequatsera, Jan Mebie's Kil Creek of the lake in Scotia, Cromme Kil and Aal Plaats Kil. On the south side are Zanclige Kil, the sloot, Rigel brugse Kil, Platte Kil, Poenties Kil, Willem Tellers Killetje, Zand Kil, Coehorn Kil and Symon Groots Kil. But of these streams, few are of sufficient size and constancy now to serve as motive power. With the exception of a little limestone in the extreme western limits of the town, all the rocks found in place belong to Hudson shales and consist of alternate layers of blue slate and sandstones, some of which are used for building purposes. In the west half this geological formation is most abundant, and the soil there is a clayey loam, underlaid with clay or hard pan. The immediate * This Mohawk word signifies Stone homes, overhanging rocks affording shelter. Several streams and localities have this name. 8 History of the Schenectady Patent. valley of the river where it breaks through the range of hills, is narrow and composed chiefly of drift of at least two elevations. The highest called the "stone flats," raised twenty to thirty feet above the water, consists of coarse gravel and bowlders and is chiefly found on the north side of the river. The opposite bank is a lower plain of sand and gravel. The eastern half of the town has no hills worthy of the name ; its general level is perhaps 100 feet above the Mohawk, and the prevailing soil is a fine sand, underlaid with clay except in the extreme easterly limits where the clay loam again prevails. Besides this there is found in the bends and eddys of the river and upon the low islands, an alluvial deposit which is constantly enriched by the annual floods. This constitutes the widely known "Mohawk Flats," which though cultivated by the white man for more than 200 years, have lost little of their unsurpassed fertility. In the early period of the settlement no other land was tilled, hence they were called the land, arable land, or bowolandt, all else being denominated woodland and little valued. In addition to their fertility, These flats pre- sented another advantage to the first settler, they were mainly free from wood and ready for the plough and seed. For ages they had been the native's corn land, whilst the adjacent forests and river furnished him with flesh and fish. The great sand belt which passes across the town from south to north, was once covered with a heavy growth of pines, whilst the high lands lying north and west of it produced the usual varieties of hard woods. Nothing could have been more charming to the eye of the first white men travel- ing up the Mohawk to Tiononderoga (Fort Hunter ), than the flats skirt- ing the river banks, clothed in bright green of the Indian corn and other summer crops of the red man. In 1642, the kind hearted Arent Van Curler visited the Indian castles on an errand of mercy, to rescue some captive Frenchmen from the hands of the cruel Mohawks. On his return he wrote to the Patroon (Kilian Van Rensselaer) in Amsterdam, that a half day's journey from the Colonie, on the Mohawk river, there lies the most beautiful land that the eye of man ever beheld.* Who that has * Daer leyt q ualyck een hahen daegh Van den Colonie op de Maqvaas Kit, dot Schoonste landt dat men met oogen bezien mach. — O'Callaghan's Hist., N. N., i., 335, 456. Introduction. 9 stood upon Niskayuna berg or Schuylerberg and looked west and north over the bouwlandt and the adjacent islands can wonder at the rapture of the enthusiastic Dutchman, or can fail to discern in his admiration, the budding of that idea which twenty years after blossomed into the settle- ment of which he was the leader. The site of the village of Schenectady was admirably chosen. No other spot in the neighborhood of the bouwland offered such facilities for a village. From the eastern end of the " Great Flat" there makes out from the sandy bluff which surrounds it a low narrow spit, having upon the east, north and west sides the Mohawk river and Sand Kil. The extreme point only about 1,200 feet wide, was chosen for the site of the future city, a warm dry spot, easily fortified against an enemy and sufficiently elevated to be safe from the annual overflow of the Mohawk river. This little flat contains but 175 acres and it was the site of an earlier Indian village * whose numerous dead have been from time to time found buried along the Binne Kil. FIRST SETTLEMENT OF SCHENECTADY. If we may believe tradition, Schenectady had already been occupied by the white man many years when Van Curler first visited it in 1642, in fact it has been claimed to be little if any junior to Albany. That a few fur traders and bosloopers early roved among the Mohawks, married and raised families of half breeds cannot be denied ; indeed there are respectable families in the valley to this day, whose pedigree may be traced back to these marriages. But that the white man made any perma- nent settlement on the Mohawk west of Albany before 1662, there is no good reason for believing, and in view of the opposition of Albany and the Colonie, improbable. In the summer of 1661 Arent Van Curler the leader of the first settlement, made formal application to Governor Stuyvesant for permission to settle upon the " Great Flat " lying west of Schenectady. The following is a translation of his letter : "Right Honorable Sir, My Lord When last at Manhatans I informed your honor that there were some friends and well wishers, who were well inclined with your Honor's knowl- * A tradition that it was a former seat or capital of the Mohawks. 2 10 History of tlie Schenectady Patent. edge and approbation to take possession of and till the Groote Vlachte (Great Flats) well known to your worship ; whereto six or eight families are already inclined, and for which your Honor promised me a warrant author- ising us to purchase said lands, but by reason of your Honor's daily occupa- tions nothing came of it. So then your Honor promised to send it later but I am persuaded the daily cares of your Honor's government have driven it from your Honor's remembrance. Truly the way is now open, the savages being inclined to abandon the land for a moderate price, the more so as trade is so slack and meagre. Hence it is the wish of our friends to dispatch the bearer of this, Philip Hen- drickse Brouwer, to refresh your Honor's remembrance, for us much as it is high time, (if your Honor please) that the people provide themselves with hay and fodder for their beasts and like to lay out the road thither. Please not, your Honor, distrust the people as is generally done here, by the common folks, nor doubt that one loaf will last till another be gained. So then it will be better to provide betimes, to seize good fortune, for afterwards it may be too late. Doubtless as your Honor is likewise a lover of agriculture, your Honor will yield to the just request of the people ; the money for the purchase of the aforesaid land they themselves will furnish temporarily and until it shall be otherwise ordered by your Honor. Finally I pray your Honor to be pleased to favor the people's wood in- tention so far as possible, and conclude by commending your Honor to God's grace with the wish for a long and happy administration, and further I remain ever Sir Your Honor's most humble Rensselaerswyck ) Servant The 18th June, 1661. [ A. Van Curler. P. S. If your Honor falls short three or four Muds of oats as feed for your Honor's horses, please command me to supply your Honor with the same from my small store. Your Honor's servant A. V. Curler. * June 23, 1661. "The letter of Arent Van Curler being presented and read on the 18th June, containing in substance a request by him and a few other persons for the large plain situated to the back of Fort Orange toward the interior, for the purpose of cultivation, and consent to purchase the same from the original proprietors and make a settlement there, etc. ; which being maturely considered, the Director General and Council resolved to consent to it ; pro- vided that the said lands on being purchased from the native proprietors be Albany Records, xix. 179. Introduction. 11 as usual transferred to the Director General and Council aforesaid as repre- sentatives of the Lords Directory of the Privileged West India Company; and that whatever the petitioners shall pay for the aforesaid lands to the original propi'ietors, shall in due time be returned to them, or be discounted to them against the tenths."* Before the Governor's authority was received at Beverwyck a freshet laid the country for miles around under water. This was followed a few days after (June 26), by an inundation much greater than the first, which forced the inhabitants to quit their dwellings and fly with their cattle for safety to the woods on the adjoining hills. Incalculable damage was caused by these irruptions. The wheat and other grain were all prostrated, and had to be cut mostly for fodder, affording scarcely seed sufficient for the next spring. This visitation necessarily caused the postponement of the purchase of the " Great Flat " until the ensuing month when the following deed was obtained from the Indian owners."! " Compareerde voor mij Johannes La Montagne ten dienste vande Groet Wesendische Compagnie door de G 1 en Racden Van Nieu Ned erlant gead- mitteert, Viers Direct 1 en Commies op de fort ss Orangie en Dorp Beverwy, eenige Oversten vant Maquaes Lant genaempt Cantuquo, Sanareetse, Aiadane Sodackdi'asse eigenaers van een seeckere stuck Landts genaempt Op duyts de Groote Vlackten Liggende achter de fort Orangie tusschen de selve en het Maquaes Landt de welcke Verklaeren gecedeert en getransporteert te hebben gelyck sij seedeeren en transporteeren by deesen in reele en Actuelle possessie en sijgondom ten behoeve Van S r Arent Van Corlaer Ret gemelde stuck Landts of groote Vlackten op Wildts genaemdt Schonowe (is) in syn begrip en circonferentie met syn geboomte en killen voor een seecker getal of Cargosoenen voor welck de transportanton bekennen sattisfactie van gehadt te hebben renonceerende voor nu en altyt op alle eygendom en pre- tensie die sij op het gemelde stuck Landts tot nutoe gehadt hebben, be- loovende het te bevryden voor all pretensie die andere Wilden soude hebben konnen. Actum in de fort 88 Orangie den 27 e July A, 1661, in presentie Van Marten Mouris en Willem Montagne daertee versocht. dit ist merck a a a 7 van Cantuquo The Bear dit ist merck van Aiadane Albany Records, xix. 180. f O'Callaghan'3 Hist., N. N., 11. 438. 12 History of the Schenectady Patent. dit ist jv/>^ ^-/xx merck van SoNAREETSIE In Keunisse van mij "] La Montague I V. D r en Commies f M. Mou(kis) opt fort ss Orangie J Willum de La Montagnb.*" (Translation) Appeared before me, Johannes La Montagne in the service of the Privi- leged West India Company by the Director General and Council of New Netherland admitted vice-director and clerk {commies) at Fort Orange and village of Beverwyck, certain sachems of the Mohawk's land named Can- tuquo, Sonareetse, Aiadane, Sodachdrasse, owners of a certain piece of land named in Dutch the Groote Vlachte, and lying behind Fort Orange, between the same and the Mohawk's lands, who declare that they have granted, transferred, as by these presents they do grant and transfer in real and actual possession and ownership to the behoof of M r Arent Van Corlaer, the said piece of land or Great Flat by the Indians named Schonowe, in its compass of circumference, with its woods and kils for a certain number of cargoes, for which the grantors acknowledge they have had satisfaction ; renouncing henceforth and forever all ownership and pretensions, which they to said pieces of land heretofore have had and promising to free it from all pretensions which other Indians may have. Done in Fort Orange the 27 th July, anno 1661, in presence of Marten Mouris and Willem Mon- tagne hereto invited. This is the mark X of Cantuquo, This is the mark X of Sonareetsie, This is the mark X of Aidane. M. Mou(ris) Acknowledged before me, William de La Moxtagxe, La Montagne V. D., and Clerk at Fort Orange. * Deeds, n 542. f [" The ancient Mohawk village which stood at this place, was called Connocharu- guharie or as Benson writes it Oronowaragouhre, in allusion to the vast piles of flood wood which were left every spring on the flats. The term origoniwoutt, appears to have been applied, at a later period, to the village at the same place ; perhaps the site was a litle varied in its particular location, and perhaps both names were applied at the same time to the place, being different modes of describing the position of the village. When the"Dutch obtained a patent embracing the site in 1661, from Gov. Stuyvesant, the Indian name of the Vlachte or flats was mentioned therein, and it does not appear from Introduction. 13 On the sixth day of April, 1662, Arent Van Curler again addressed the Director General and Council stating that in accordance with their resolu- tion of the 23d June last, he and his associates had purchased and taken possession of the Great Flat behind Fort Orange and were now " engaged in constructing houses, mills and other buildings upon this plain," and that inasmuch as it was necessary to sow and cultivate these lands this season, which cannot be well done before they have been surveyed and allotted ; therefore he solicits the Director General " to authorize the surveyor Jacques Cortelyou, to measure and divide the same," and for this purpose tnat he return with the petitioner. On this petition the following apostil was given. "Before the requested settlement can be formed and surveyed, the persons who are inclined to establish themselves there ought to number at least twenty families and communicate their names at the office of the secretary of the Director General and Council and furthermore to engage and promise not to trade with the savages." * Another year passed and nothing was done towards the allotment of the lands among Van Curler's company. The inhabitants of Beverwyck and Colonie Rensselaerswyck " were most anxious to retain the fur monopoly and bad sufficient influence with the Director and Council to induce them to order that the settlers of Schenectady should confine themselves exclusively to agriculture and abstain from all trade with the Indians. f " On the 9th May, 1663, Governor Stuyvesant wrote to Commies La Mon- tagne and the court of Beverwyck, that by request he had sent up the sworn surveyor Jacques Cortelyou to lay out and survey the Great Flat, b«t as he " was indirectly informed that some of the new settlers there had dared against his express orders dated April 6, 1662, to sell strong liquors to the any author, that Schenectady — the original Mohawk name for Albany — was applied to it till after the first surrender of the colony to England, four years after the date of the patent." — Schoolcraft, Notes on the Iroquois. Van Curler in 1643, designated it as " dat Schoonste landt " that the eyes of man ever beheld. " This Schoonechtendeel is 24 miles west from Albany." — Banker & Sluyter's Journal, 1680. Query. — Did D & S., derive their name from Schoon = beautiful, achten = esteemed, valued, deel = portion of land (or del = a valley)"! or was it only a coincidence ? J/'i/".] * Albany Records, xxi. 137. f O'Callaghan's History, N. N., u. 441. 14 History of the Schenectady Patent. savages, he commanded the aforesaid Cortelyou to measure no lands for any individual there except he has previously signed the enclosed indenture in the presence of the commies and commissaries." * "Indenture, Wee landholders on the Plain called promise hereby that we will not on the aforesaid Plain nor in its vicinity undertake to trade in any manner under any pretext whatsoever, with the savages either directly or indirectly under the penalty, if we or any of us violate this our solemn promise, without any opposition for the first offence of fifty beavers, for the second offence, one hundred, and for the third, forfeiture of our solicited and acquired lands on the aforesaid Plain. In witness whereof this was signed by us in Fort 1663."f Van Curler laid the above communication of the governor and Council, before the "settlers of Schanechstede" on the 18th May, and proposed that they should subscribe to the annexed agreement as commended to him by Commies La Montague and the magistrates of Beverwyck. To this the settlers unanimously answered, declaring their willingness "to obey the Noble West India Company and the supreme magistrates in New Netherland, with other subjects to pay all their taxes, and neither to do nor attempt anything contrary to published orders and placards, fully trusting that their Honors will not treat us less kindly nor impose duties upon us other, than upon the other subjects of this Province and being fully assured that your Honors will Seriously consider, that in consequence of your resolution of date 23d June 1661 these lands were purchased out of our own pockets for the Noble Company, settled at great expence, build- ings erected and the land stocked with cattle and horses ; and that if these 6ettlers be treated otherwise and worse than other subjects, then all their labor would be in vain and they actually ruined, which God avert." " We petition therefore that it may please your Honors to permit us the continued cultivation of these lands, as by letters patent you granted [ Marten's island ] to Jan Barentse Wemp and Jacques Cornelise [ Van Slyck ] without any restrictions. J "Finally as the surveyor is in this vicinity and has no orders to survey the land save the aforesaid agreement is subscribed, we renew our request to prevent future differences and disputes that he may be authorised to survey and allot the land among us, otherwise we shall be compelled to help ourselves as best we can." A. Van Curler, Philip Hendrickse [Brouwer], Sander Leendertse Glen, Albany Records, xx. 350. f Albany Records, xx. 351. % Patent of date Nov. 12, 1662. Introduction. 15 The mark X of Simon Volckertse [VeederJ, PlETER [AdRIAENSE Van WoGELTJM], alias Sogemacklic, The mark X of Tuenis Coenelisse [Swart], The mark X of Marten Coenelisse [Van Isselsteyn], - Willem Teller, Geerit Bancker, Bastiaen De Winter, as attorney in the name of Catalyn [De Vos], widow of Arent Andriesse [Bratt], Pieter Jacobse Bosboom [De Steenbakker], PlETER DANIELSE Van OlINDA, The mark X of Jan Barentse Wemp [Wemple], The mark X of Jacques Cornelisse [Van Sltck]." * This petition was taken into consideration by the Director General and Council on the 18th June, 1663. In their answer the petitioners are again referred to their past action, especially to that of April 6, 1662, in regard to the necessity of settlers at Schenectady confining themselves to agriculture, "because of the dangers which unavoidably must follow any trade with the Barbarians at such a distant place," reminding them that " it is not and never can be our intention to raise and foster one place and to expose another, yea, even the whole country to imminent danger." f Renewed complaints both verbally and in writing, having been made to the Director General and Council by the inhabitants of the village of Bever- wyck, with regard to the injuries and losses which might be apprehended not only to Beverwyck and Colonie Rensselaerswyck, but also to Schenectady itself, if trade with the Indians be permitted at the latter settlement, par- ticularly at this dangerous period, — the Director and Council, on the same day, took into serious consideration these complaints, and the danger of carrying merchandize six or seven [Dutch] miles into the country, on horses and wagons, for purposes of trade with the savages, by whom it ought to be expected that such goods would be attacked and plundered upon the road, as indeed had already been the case, and " even attempts made to violate the women, who went thither, as well as other insolences committed by the Barbarians not only in the road but in the settlement itself." " To prevent all which and many other mishaps, the Director General and Council order that no goods for the savages on any pretext whatsoever shall be carried thither, much less directly or indirectly bartered away, under * Albany Records, xx. 376. f Albany Records, xxi. 139. 16 History of the Schenectady Patent. penalty of the forfeiture of these goods and merchandize, to be applied one- half for the informer and the other for the officer of Fort Orange, or of Colonie Rensselaerswyck, by whom the prosecution shall be instituted — ; to this end commanding their officers and court of Fort Orange and village of Beverwyck not only to have this order vigorously executed, but further- more to visit the new settlement of Schenectady and there make an inven- tory of all the goods and merchandize already carried thither in violation of the act of concession of the Director General nnd Council of date the 6th of April, 1662, and see them removed thence within thrice twenty-four hours on penalty as before mentioned." "Done in Fort amsterdam in New Netherland, 18th June, 1663.* The year passed away without any adjustment of these difficulties ; neither partition nor patents for the land could be had ; the people felt aggrieved that the privileges of trade should be accorded to Beverwyck and not to Schenectady, but they preferred to risk their cause to the mollify- ing power of time. On the 17th of April, 1664, another petition was presented to the Director General and Council by Sander Leendertse Glen, Willem Teller, and Harmen Vedder for themselves and the other inhabitants of the settlement named Schaneghstede, soliciting in substance that to prevent further dispute the surveyor might be sent up to lay out and parcel the land and house lots for every person interested.! The apostil to this petition was, that " the Director General and Council deem it proper to prevent disputes that the land and lots mentioned in this petition should be laid out, and therefore that the surveyor shall be sent up by the first opportunity." "20 May, 1664. " Resumed the apostil] upon the petition of those interested in the lands of Schanechstede made the 17th April; — the surveyor Jacques Cortelyou is commanded to proceed from here on the first Sailing Vessel to Fort Orange to lay out the aforesaid lands in the best manner possible and for the best accommodation of those interested therein, viz.: to each man his Share. In case any dispute arise between neighbors, the aforesaid Cortelyou together with the commissary La Montagne to reconcile the parties if possible and if they cannot succeed, to send their report to the Director General and Council in New Netherland." "Done in Fort Amsterdam." J * Albany Records, xxi. 135. \ Albany Records, xxii. 169. % Albany Records, xxii. 169. Introduction. 17 Thus after a delay of two years, Governor Stuyvesant came to an under- standing with the settlers, and the several lots and farms were surveyed and conveyed to them by patents. INDIAN DEED AND FIRST PATENT FOR THE TOWNSHIP. The description given in Van Curler's Indian deed of 1661 was quite indefinite and restricted the inhabitants to a comparatively small area. At this time and even for many years later, nothing was called land except the islands and alluvial flats bordering upon the river. Within ten years after the settlement commenced, all the tillable land was taken up and it became necessary to look for more farther west. Hence originated another negotiation with the Mohawks and the following deeds extinguishing the Indian title to the lands along the river to the present westerly limits of the county. '"On this 28th May, 1670, Kennighke and Auroensie, both sakemakers of the Maquase, acknowledge to have thankfully received the remainder of the sewant, tubs [of beer] and gunpowder, according to the tenor of the accompanying contract, and free the aforenamed buyers henceforth from all claims, and promise never more from this date to make any new action. In witness of the truth of which we have subscribed this with our own hands by our accustomed marks at Schanechted on the date as above in presence of Robbert Sanders and Jacques Cornelise [Van Slyck] both called as interpreters hereto. This mark sy/tS**** 1 ^ waa set by Kennighke This mark was set by " ^_ ^y C^_ ^Dorowingqese This mark was set by _f/ Auroensie. Robert Sanders. These letters were rf Q |< £ S set by Jacques Cornelise. In my presence, J. G. V. Marcken Schout.* " * See original in Dutch in my possession. 3 18 History of the Schenectady Patent. " On this 3d day of July A 1672, appeared before mee John Garretsen Van Marken, admitted publ: nota: by tbe worshipful court of Albany and the Inhabitants of Schanhectade; together with a sartain Indian called Dohorywachqua and Crage, being the representative of y e foure Mohockx Castells, who declared and promised to hold firm and stable, and will cause to be held in full force and virtue all and whatsoever hee shall act or doe in y e sale of y e Lands Lying Neare The Towne of Schanhechtade Within Three Dutch Myles * in compasse on boath sides of y e River Westwards, which endes at Hinguariones [Towareoune] Where the Last Battell Wass between The Mohoakx and the North Indians; Provided That Jaackes Cornelisse [Van Slyck] Shall have the first flatts or playne, — Except y e In- habitants of Schanhechtade Will Restore unto said Jaaques Cornelisse Two Rundlets of Brandy and one hundred hand of Wampum, which being paid unto s' 1 Jaaques The B d first Playne to Remaine to the Towne." "Whereupon Sander Leenders Gelen being a former magistrate and John Van Eps, and Sweer Teunisse [Van Velsen] being y e present magistrates of y e s d Towne did acknowledge and declare That They Weare Agreed with y c s d Indian uppon y e purchase of y e Land for ye Summe or quantity of six hundred hands of good Wheyte Wampum,f Six koates of Duffels, thirty barres of Lead and nine bagges of Powder, Whioh They doe promis unto y e s d Indians in two Terms, viz : The first as soon as The Sachems, or any person by Them authorized shall Comme out of y e Country and Produce full Power from Theyre Inhabitants according to Theyre usuall Manner, and have Thereupon delivered unto ye s d Indian as a present for The old man in the Mohawk Country a Rundlet of brandy, — To the end all Misunderstanding and Complaints May be Washt of and Removed." "To The trew performance of The premises The s d parties have hereunto Set theire handes, and Wass Interpreted by Cornells Viele in The Absence of Jaques Cornelisse,— In Schanhechtade, the date above written." (Signed) " With the Markes of f olloweth The Marke jT^ of Dohoriwachqua. The Marke 2^ o£ Crage. Sander Leenders Gelen. John Van Eps, Sweer Teunisse. "Attested by me, J. G. V. Marken, Notar : publ : " * [ A Dutch myl was 3.6394 (commonly called 4) English miles. 1 \ A hand of wampum was valued at 4 guilders, Albany Annals, n, 8. Introduction. 19 " (Coppy) This day the 13 th of July is pay d unto the Indians above men- tioned in parte of ye purchaze foure hundred hands of Wampum, 30 barres of Lead 3 bagges of pouder. More for a present, 3 ankers good beere, one koatt of duff ells, together with the above mentioned Rundler of Brandy." " (Coppy Transl:) A°° 1672 The 13' !l day of July, Did the underwritten Indians appeare before us and do declare that They did confirm all and whatsoever the Above written Indians by Name Tohoriowaghque and Crage in the Annexed Instrument have acted, and doo by These presents prommise, with the Last payment to give all further Assurances of the s' 1 Land, and That They and Theyre heires Shall desist from all further Claymes and pre- tences whatsoever. " In Witness whereof They have hereunto set Theyre handes, In Schan- hechtade at the house of Gerritt Bancker and in the presence of Severall particular Indians The Day and Yeare Above written. " Signed with ye following markes. The Marke of "^^k Canachqtto. The Marke of JLs f Ocquarry. The Marke JLy~~ °f Tohoeiowachque. Attested by mee, (Signed) J. G. V. Marcke, Nota. pub. Compared and found to agree with the prinsip: by mee. Lttdovicus Cobes, secret."* By virtue of the foregoing conveyance from the Indian proprietors, appli- cation was then made to the Governor and Council for a patent and with what result will be seen by the following proceeding in Council. " At a Councell Oct. 15, 1675. Present — The Governor, The Secretary, Capt. Dyre, Mr. Philips. Sander Leeuderts Glen and Ludovicus Cobes, Schout of Schanechtade, pro- duce (with a request from their Village) severall papers relating to an Indyan purchase &c, made Anno, 1672, somewhat before the surrender of this place to ye Dutch, and desire a Patent for ye lands three miles of each side of the River. They desire twelve miles farther, which they pretend to have purchased and make severall other Proposalls. * Land Papers, i. 47. 20 History of the Schenectady Patent. In answer whereunto, It is resolved as followeth viz 1 . To ye first Proposall, That they have a Patent for ye land about, and above Schanechtade, but there appearing no leave from ye Governor to buy ye same, nor a full information of the Premises, It is to be suspended for ye present, but no one else shall have a graunt for that land before them, In meantime it may Continue in Common as formerly. The Bouweryes or farmes of Schanechtade are to pay for each of them conteyning 20 morgan and so proporconably four Bushels of Winter Wheat pr annum as a quitt Rent. To ye second concerning their Priviledge of Trade or handling w th ye In- dyans. The Governor's Ord rs made above to bee observed. To ye 3 1 , That they may be excused ye paym 1 of their Burger's Packt or Excise att Albany and may bee ad." " It is ordered that ye Magistrates of Schanechtade shall at this time have liberty to impose and levy upon ye Inhabitants there the 300 11 ' penny for to pay present debts and defray publique Charges. To ye last request that may have a peculiar seal for their own particular affaires relating to their town, It is likewise graunted, and that a seal shall be made and sent them by the first convenience."* Thus the reasonable petition of the inhabitants was denied for informality and indefiniteness; first because, "leave from ye Governor to buy ye same," had not first been obtained and secondly, because " full information of the Premises" was riot given. And to add to the difficulties of the case, the Mohawks were inclined to repudiate the sale of their lands or at least de- mand a double compensation, as shown in the following minute of a council held by the Mohawks, before the Governor. " The Sachem spake for himself, That one Arent Van Corlaer bought all Schannectade and paid for it, but now there be some who have bought only Grasse, and pretend to the land allso; they say allso that they have bought the first flatt, but that is not so, for it belongs to Acques Cornelisse [Van Slyck], who is to have it, and none else, for he is of their [Mohawk] people and it is his inheritance; — that there are writings made of a sale of land, but it was never sold, but only the grasse, tho' it may be some drunken fellows may have made some writing without their knowledge, — That they have only bought the Grasse and now are going to live upon it, but they ought to pay for the land as well as the Grasse, and that they had given some to * Council Minutes, in. 2nd part, p. 59. Introduction. 21 that woman Hillah and another Leah,* who have the property of it ; — the others have only the Grasse ; — That now he has declared this matter and desires notice may be taken of it ; — and says that shame shall never come upon him, or to be found in a lye."f Answer. " That it is the custom of the Government and amongst Christians when they sell the Grass to sell the land allso; and if they be not paid for the land they shall be, and that the people of Schaunectade say that they sent Acques to purchase the land in the name of their Town, and that Acques bought in his own name; and they sent allso one Kernel to purchase it for the Towne, the Indyans told him that Acques had bought and paid some part of the payment, and they desired them to pay Acques the money back and the Towne should have it, which the Towne did and Acques was satisfied; it is the custom of this place to do justice among ourselves and if Acques have a better title than they for it, he shall have it."J Whatever may have been the arguments used on this occasion, whether in the shape of " ankers of good beere," or a " rundler of brandy," — jjotent reasons ever with the Indian, — opposition ceased from this time and the Governor and Council were brought to grant the inhabitants the following much needed Patent for the ancient township, afterwards city of Schenectady. "Thomas Dongan, Leiutenant and Governour and Vice-Admirall under his Royall Highnesse, James, Duke of Yorke, &c, of New Yorke and its Dependeucyes in Amerca &c. To all to whom these presents shall come, Sendeth Greeting, Whereas Tohorywachqua and Crage, Representatives of the four Mohake Castles, have for themselves, and Canachquo, Ocquary, and Tohoriowachque, true and Lawfull Owners of the Land within meneoned, have by their certaine Writeing, or Deed of Sale, dated the third day of July Anno Dni 1672, Given and Granted unto Sander Lend rs Glenn, John Van Epps, Sweere Teunesse, as being impowered by the Inhabitants of the Towne or Village of Schenectady and Places adjacent, a Certaine Tract or Parcell of Lands, beginning at the Maques River, by the Towne of Schenectade, and from * Hillelie a half breed, sister of Acques Cornelise Van Slyck, married Peter Danielse Van Olinda the First Settler ; the land given her by the Mohawks was the *' Willow Flat " below Port Jackson and the Great Island at Niskayuna. Leah, probably her sister, married first Claes Willemse Van Coppernol and secondly Jonathan Stevens. She owned a portion of the " Willow Flat " with her sister Hilletie. f Council Minutes v. 11. % Council Minutes, v. 12. 22 History of the Schenectady Patent. thence Runnes Westerly on both sides up the River to a Certaine Place called by the Indians Canaquarioeny, being Reputed three Dutch Miles or twelve English Miles; and from the said Towne of Schenectade downe the River one Dutch or four English miles to a kill or creeke called the Ael Place, and from the said Maques River into the woods South Towards Albany to the Sandkill one Dutch Mile and as much on the other side of the River North, being one Dutch mile more, there being Excepted in the said Bounds all Corne and Sawmills, that now are or hereafter shall be erected Within the Bounds of the said Towne, that they be lyable to pay a pellicular Quitt Rent for their Priviledges, besides what is herein sett forth, as shall hereafter be agreed for by the Inhabitants of the said Places, or owners of such Mills, with such Governour, or Governours as shall be Appointed by his Royall Highnesse; and likewise that noe Timber or Wood be Cutt but within the Bounds aforesaid, the said Excepeon being agreed upon by Myselfe as by a Certaine Writeing bearing date the 7th day of August last Past, doth more perticulerly Appeare: Now know Yee that by virtue of the Comicon and Authority to me Given, by his Royall Highnesse James Duke of Yorke and Albany, Lord Propi'ietor of this Province, I have hereby Given, Granted, Ratifyed and Coufirmed and by these Presents doe Give, Grant, Ratifye and confirme, unto William Teller, Ryert Schermerhorn, Sweer Teunessen, Jan Van Epps and Myndert Wemp on the Behalfe of the Inhabitants of the Towne of Schenectade and Places Adjacent aforesaid, Dependencyes thereon, there Associates, Heires, Successors and Assigns, all and Singular the before recited Tract and Tracts, Parcell and Parcells of Laud, Meadow, Ground and Premises with their and every of their Appurtenancyes, together with all and Singular the Houses, Buildings, Messuages, Tenements, Heridita- ments, Dams, Rivers, Runnes, Streames, Ponds, Woods, Quarryes, Fishing, Hawking and Fowling, with all Priviledges, Libertyes, and Improvements whatsoever, to the said Lands and Premisses belonging, or in any wise apper- taining, or accepted, reputed, taken or known as Part, Parcell, or Member thereof, with their ;md every of their Appurtenances ; Provided Alwayes that this shall not anywayes make null, or void a former Grant or Pattent, bearing date the 30th of October last past made to Jacques Cornelisse of a Piece of Land lyeing within the Bounds heretofore meneoned of the Towne of Schenectade, (that is to say ) the Land Lyeing and being betweene two Creekes, the one called the Stone Creeke to the Eastward, and the other the Platte Creeke to the westward thereof, the Low Land lyeing along the River side on the South of the Maques River, and then to the north of the Land belonging to the Inhabitants of Schenectade, the same Containing Forty Morgan or Eighty acres of Land, as alsoe Forty Morgan, or Eighty Acres of Woodland or upland more, on the West side of the Platte Creeke, adjoining to the arrable Land along the River side, which was wholly exempt by the Indian Proprietors, in the sale of this Land, as belonging to Introduction. 23 Jacques Cornelise : To have and to hold the aforesaid Tract and Tracts, Parcell and Parcells, of Land and Premisses with their and every of their Appurtenances, unto the said William Teller, Ryert Schermerhorne, Sweer Teunessen, Jan Van Epps and Myndart Wemp on the behalfe of the Inhabitants of the Towne of Schenectade and their Associates, their Heires, Successors and Assignes, unto the propper use and behoofe of the said William Teller, Ryert Schermerhorne, Sweer Teunessen, Jan Van Eps and Myndart Wemp, their Heires, Successors, and Assignes forever, to be holden of his Royall Highnesse, his Heires and Assignes in ffree and CoEon Soccage, According to the tenure of East Greenwich, in the County of Kent, in his Ma lies Kingdome of England, Yielding and Paying therefor, Yeai'ly and every Yeare, as a Quitt rent, for his Royall Highnesse use, unto such officer or Officers as shall be appointed to receive the same att Albany forty Bushels of Good Winter Wheat, on or before the twenty-fifth day of March. Given under my Hand and Sealed with the Seale of the Province, at ffort James in New York, the first day of November Anno Dni 1684, and in the thirty-sixth Yeare of his ma lies Raigne. Tho. Dongan." The importance of this grant will appear from the fact that it is the source of all legal titles to lands embraced within 128 square miles of territory given subsequently to the first day of November, 1684. The five trustees therein named, or their survivors and successors lawfully appointed, thereafter became the granters of all the public or common lands of the town. Previous to this date all lawful conveyances were in the first instance made by the Governor and Council. Of the five original trustees, Myndert Wemp, Jan Van Eps, and Sweer Teunise Van Velsen were killed Feb. 9, 169f leaving only Reyer Schermer- horn and Willem Teller survivors. The latter, then an aged man residing in Albany, took but little active interest in the management of the Patent. In 1692 he removed to New York, where he died in 1700, from which time until the confirmatory Patent of 1714, Reyer Schermerhorn was sole trustee. By the destruction of the village in 1690 and subsequent wars with the French and their Indian allies, the inhabitants of Schenectady had lost all but their lands ; in consequence of which Schermerhorn petitioned the Governor in 1698 for an abatement of the quit rent due,— 40 bushels of wheat yearly, — according to the Patent of 1684, but his request was not granted.* Land Papers, n, 271. 24 History of the Schenectady Patent. Making due allowance for water, there were about 80,000 acres of land in the Patent of Schenectady, — all under the charge and management of one trustee, save the few farms which had been heretofore granted. This one man power was distasteful to the people and it was urged against Scher- merhorn that he disposed of the lands belonging to the village, without rendering any account of the same ; they therefore petitioned for an en- largement of their privileges by a new charter which should give them power of choosing five trustees to hold office three years, who should account to their successors for the management of their trust. To this end the following petition of date Oct. 10, 1702, was sent to the Governor and Council. "To His Excellency Edward Lord Viscount Cornbury, her Maj ies Capt. General and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New York and all the tracts and Territories of land depending thereon in America, and Vice Admirall of the same, &c, and to the Honorable Councell, The Humble address of the Inhabitants of the Village of Schenectady in the County of Albany Humbly Sheweth How that sometime in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred, eighty-four the late Govern 1 Thomas Dongan, being at Schenectady afore- said, ordered ye payment of all ye quit rents then due to be made. The in- habitants Addressed themselves to ye said late Govern' to agree for the said quit Rents and to obtain a Generall Patent for the Lands Belonging to the said Village ; — the said late governour bidd them appoint some Persons to agree to y e Same, Whereupon some few Persons Desyned William Teller, Ryer Schermerboorn, Sweer Teunisse, Jan Van Eps and Myndert Wemp, who agreed for said quitt Rent, and in Pursuants thereof the said Ryer Schermerhoorn without any qualification hath obtained a generall Patent dated ye first of November, 1684, to the aforementioned few Pei'sones, their heirs and assigns forever. The said William Teller being at Schin- nectady sometime in June, 1700, when many Inhabitants complained of y e GrievaMce they suffered by ye administration of said Ryer Schermerhorn and John Wemp, whereby virtue of said Patent [they] dispose and sell the lands belonging to said Village and buy other as they then will, without Rendering any account of the same ; Whereupon ye said William Teller Declared that he never knew that the Intent of the Patent was upon * * * therein mentioned and their heirs and their * * * * to hear * * * in * * * and * * * said Patent should [be] altered to the end that ye said Inhabitants may yearly have a * * * of five (?) trustees for ye said village, and since ye said Sweer Teunisen is deceased without leaving an heir and John Van Eps, Myndert Wemp and William Teller also deceased and John Barentse [Baptist] Van Eps Sonn and heir of said John Introduction. 25 Van Eps refews to Administer ye said Patent, the heirs of said Teller living at New York so that the whole administration of said Patent is so managed by the said Ryer Schermerhorn and John Wemp his sonn-in law in manner as aforesaid. Wee the Inhabitants aforesaid doo therefore most humbly pray your Lordship and hon ble Council to take our Case into your serious consideration and that yee Power of said Ryer Schermerhorn and the heirs of said Three deceased may be annuld and made Void and to present a new patent Con- firming the Land [and] other Priviledges as in the Present Patent is con- tained for ye Behoofe of the Inhabitants of said Village, — Together with an addition that yearly and every year five Persons by the Major votes of the said Inhabitants be chosen Trustees over ye said Village and be accountable of there Proceedings at the Determination of Three years, humbly Sub- mitting to your Lordship to appoint such Persons for Trustees as aforesaid for ye first year and your humble Petitioners as in duty bounde shall ever pray, etc. Albany the 10 ;l1 of October, 1702. (Signed) Tjerck Fransen [vande Bogart]. barent (?) * * bent Robberse [Benj. Roberts]. Johannes Glen (?) Cornelis Van Sleyck. Jan Meebie. Jan luyse [Wyngaard]. Seyas Swart. Isles Van de Vorst. Arent Vedder. Symen Groot. Samuel braedt. Johannes Mynderse. Johannis Teller. Marte Van Slyck. Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel]. Geysebert Marselis. tfmerck HB van Hendr: brouwer. Barent Vrooman. [Jacobus] Van Dyck (?) Van benthuis. John Sanderse Glen. Albert Vedder. Adam Vrooman. Jan Vrooman. * * * / barent Wemp. Jacobus peeck. harmeu Van Slyck. Isaac (?) Danielse (?) phillip philipse. Isack Switts. daniet Van O Linda. Daniel Janse [Van Antwerp]. Claes Van * * * Johannes Jacobsen Glen. * * * * Pieter Van Olinda.*" As it had been charged that the first Patent granted the lands to the patentees therein named and to their heirs, successors and assigns, the second Patent given on the 17th Feb., 170§, in response to the foregoing * The skin of parchment on which this petition was written is badly worn and de- faced. It is deposited in the New York State Library at Albany. 4 26 History of the Schenectady Patent. petition, after reciting the Dongan Patent, conveyed the lands therein mentioned to Col. Pieter Schuyler, John Sanderse Glenn, Adam Vrooman and John Wemp, jointly or severally to be trustees for managing the trust and estate aforesaid, together with the said Ryer Schermerhorn or by them- selves. Schermerhorn paid no regard to the new charter, nor to his fellow trustees but still continued to act as sole " trustee for the town in receiving the rents, issues and profits thereof, and in prosecuting suits of law in his own name only, without giving any account thereof." All this too in spite of suspension from his office by the Governor. The secret of this stubborn persistance in the duties of his trusteeship was doubtless the fact that the first Patent of 1684, was still binding, notwith- standing the granting of a second, and also to the further fact 3 that in Schermerhorn as the sole survivor of the trustees therein mentioned was vested all the authority and power originally granted to said five trustees. The fee of the land was in him, his " heirs, successors and assigns," and could only be alienated by death or release in due form. In consequence thereof, Col. Peter Schuyler and Johannes Glen, two of the new trustees petitioned the Governor for an amended charter and were followed by the citizens asking for a yearly election of trustees and a more strict account- ability to the people; whereupon the Governor granted their request in the charter of April 16, 1705, from which after reciting both the former charters of 1684 and 1*703*, Schermerhorn's name as trustee is omitted. The following petitions set forth the grievances which agitated the people and led to the granting of the third charter above mentioned, and to the suspension of Schermerhorn from his office. " To his Excellency, Edward Viscount Cornbury, Captaine Generall and Governour in Cheife of the Province of New York and New Jersey and all the tracts of land thereon Depending in America, and Vice-Admirall of the same. "The Humble Memoriall of the Inhabitants of theTowneof Schenectady. May it Please your Lordship That upon y e complaint of us the said Inhabitants made to your Ex- cellency in Councill the twenty-first day of Aprill last [1704], of diverse abuses and unjust proceedings committed in the said towne by Ryer Schermerhorne, your Excellency was pleased to order the said Schermerhorne and one John Wemp and Thomas Williams to attend your Excellency in Councell, who accordingly appeared the twenty-fifth day of May then next * See charter of April 16, 1705. Introduction . 2 7 following [1704], upon which day after a full hearing of all matters against the said Mr. Schermerhorne, your Lordship in Councell did think fitt to suspend the said Mr. Schermerhorne from acting further as Trustee of the said Towne and that Likewise an order should Issue to her Majesties late Attorney Generall to Draw a new Patent for the said Towne and therein to appoint Coll. Schuyler, Johannes Sanderse Glenn, Adam Vrooman, Daniel Janze [Van Antwerpen] and John Baptist Van Eps, Trustees for the said Towne for one year with power to the Inhabitants Yearly to Choose five Trustees who should be accountable to the Sucseeding Trustees of their doings in That Trust. Notwithstanding tlie said Schermerhorne in Contempt of your Lordship's suspension as aforesaid and not regarding any of the Orders so made by your Excellency in Councell as aforesaid touching the same, doth still con- tinue to act as Trustee for the said Towne in Receiving the rents, Issues and Profits thereof and in Prosecuting suites of Law in his own name only, without giving any account thereof to the Trustees lately so appointed by your Excellency; And Particulai'ly the said Mr, Glenn and Mr. Vrooman having for the necessary Defence of the said Towne employed persons, who have been at expence in fortifying the same, Yett by the said Mr. Schermer- horne receiving the rents and Prnfitts of the said Towne (which ought to be applyed toward the defraying that necessary charge), the said Mr. Glenn and Mr. Vrooman are rendered uncapable to pay the same or to pay her Majesties Quit rents [1704]. All which is humbly Submitted to your Lordships great Wisdome.* P. Schuyler, Johannes Glen." " The humble memorial of the Inhabitants of Schenectaday. May it please your Lordship. The said Inhabitants of Schonectady by Virtue of Purchase from the Natives with the consent of the Goverment being seized of divers parcells of Land about the year 1684, had the same confirmed to them under a certaine quit rent by y e then Gov r . This Confirmation was made in the name of Willem Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sweer Teunise, Jan Van Eps and Myndert Wemp in trust for the said Inhabitants according to their respective Interests. The rest of y u Trustees being dead the onely Survivor, Ryer Schermer- horn has taken upon him to dispose of severall parcells of the same Lands and the Rents, Issues and profits of the same as if the same were his owne property and not a Trust as indeed it was, refuseing to be accountable to the Parties Interested. To remedy this the Inhabitants aforesaid having made their applycacon to your LordP By Letters Patents under the Great Seal [of date 17 Feb. Colonial Mss. , i, 52. 28 History of the Schenectady Patent. 170§], appointed Peter Schuyler, Johannis Sanderse Glenn, Adam Vrooman, John Wemp and Ryer Schermerhorn as Trustees on the behalf of the said Inhabitants with severall powers and Authoritys, but this hath hitherto proved ineffectual. It is their humble Request and they offer it as a means for their relief that your LordP will please to Nominate and appoint five proper persons as Trustees for the said Inhabitants for the management of their Comon affairs with Liberty of an Annual Choice by the major vote of the said In- habitants of five persons as Trustees in succession, who respectively may be accountable to the successive Trustees for such monies, Issues and profits as may in Generall belong to the said Inhabitants, Which is humbly sub- mitted to your LorcF' 8 Great Wisdome, By your Lord ps ' most humble and most obedient Servants. J. Abeel, On behalf of the said ) Evert Bancker.*" Inhabitants. J Accompanying the above petition was a list of lands sold and leases taken by Ryer Schermerhorn, for which he is said to have given no account to the Inhabitants. " A list of y e Lands and Income of the towneship of Schonhectady, viz: Jacobus Peek, agreedt for his land. Esias Swart, his land. Jan Brouwer, his lands. Phillip Groot, his land of y e Sixt plains [sixth flat], Phillip Groot has also y fyft plains [fifth flat] in hiere. Cornelis Slingerland, hows lott boght. Johannes Myndertse, hows loot boght. Claese Franse [van de Bogart], oplandt boght.. Symon Groot, oplandt bought. Jonathan Stevens, oplandt bought and some cattle, hendrik brower, opland bought. Jellis Yonda, oplandt bought. Jacobus peek, landt upon Earequiet of Erfpaght [quit rent]. Jan Landertse, Earequiet [quit-rent]. Lewies Viele, his Landt fore y e fourth shalf of 4th Garf [the fourth sheaf]. Lewis Viele the Groet of his former Landt and some cattell and hoggs. Arent Vedder, Earequiet [quit-rent]. * Read in Council 21st April, 1704 : Warrant to the Attorney General, 23d May, 1704. Land Papers in. 186. Introduction. 29 Claes franse [van de Bogart], Earequiet. Carel Hanse [Toll], Earequiet. Ryer Schermerhorn, Earequiet. Tarn Smith, Earequiet. Martje Mastkraft, Earequiet. These lands are given out. If any more wee cannott tell, nor what day Give. These folliug man [men] had last Jeare transports [deeds] for Great Rewards [of great value ?] pretending for the town Juse. Barent Wemp, Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel], Isack Swits, Jan Luycasse, Jan Vrooman, Jan batist [Van Eps], and others. What y e above 'mentioned persons pays Jearely wee cannot tell by reason wee nifer had none of y" peapers, nor conditions."* Opinion of Sampson Shelton Broughton, Esqr., in regard to Ryer Sche- merhorn's "mismanagement and breach of trust." " May it please your Excellency. In Obedience to an Order of your Excellency in Councill of the Eleventh instant to me made to consider of Ryer Schermerhorn's breach of the trust Committed to him in the Patent Granted by Coll: Dongan in the year 1684 to the towne of Schenectady, and to Report to this board what is proper to be done in the premises. I do hereby most humbly signifie to your Excel- lency and this board, that I have weighed and considered the said matter to me referred and do find the said Schermerhorn guilty of very great misman- agements and breach of trust upon the Patent aforesaid and of Great dis- regard and Contempt of your Excellency and this board and the Acts thereof and am humbly of opinion that the said Ryer Schermerhorn ought not to continue longer in the said trust but to be Discharged from the same. And I do not upon the whole matter find that the Misdemeanor aforesaid Does render the said Ryer Schermerhorn so Criminal in Law as to subject him to a higher punishment. Wh: is most humbly submitted to your Excellency's better Judgment by My Lord Your ExcelH' 5 Most obedient humble servant 18 May 1704 Sa: Sh: Broughton" f On the 25 of May, 1714, Schermerhorn appeared before the Governor and Council " and after a full hearing of all matters" against him, was suspended from " acting further as Trustee of the said Towne." But as he continued * Land papers, in. 186. f Land Papers, in. 186. 30 History of the Schenectady Patent. obstinate, disregarding the demand of the new Trustees for an accounting to them of his official acts, they commenced a suit against him in the court of chancery. The following is the substance of their complaint: " 1705 July 5 ) Complaint of Peter Schuyler, John Sanderse 'Will Sharpas \ Glen, Adam Vrooman, Daniel Johnson [Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen] and John Baptist Van Eps, trustees of the town of Schenectady. VS. Ryer Schermerhorn. Whereas Col. Dongan, Governor &c, being at Schenectady, the inhabi- tants petitioned for a General Grant or Patent in behalf and name of the freeholders and for the settlement of the quit-rents, which they were to pay. Col. Dongan directed the Inhabitants to appoint some persons from their number to agree with him for said rents & Patent : said inhabitants ap- pointed W m . Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sweer Tunisse. John Van Eps, and Myndert Wemp for that purpose. W m . Teller, Sweer Teunisse, Jno. Van Eps, & myndert Wemp deputed Ryer Schermerhorn to solicit & obtain the Patent for the freeholders. — The inhabitants advanced money to pay fees & charges, which was delivered into the hands of R. Schermerhorn who employed said monies in obtaining a Patent for R. Schermerhorn, W" 1 . Teller, Sweer Teunissen, Jno Baptist Van Eps & Myndert Wemp & their heirs and assigns for ever, — and hath detained said patent in his custody with out acquainting the other corporators with the purport of the same. About five years since Sweer Teunissen, Myndert Wemp & John Van Eps being dead, — W m . Teller declared that he never knew that said Patent was to the Corporators & their heirs & that it was contrary to the intent of the inhabitants. Teller is since deceased and Ryer Schermerhorn the only surviving Trus- tee has combined with John Wemp, Barent Wemp, John Glen, Godeit [Gerrit] Symonse [Veeder], John ffroman, Claas Van Patten & others & does sell and give away the lands of said Patent, and cut down & carry away the timber from said lands & refuses to give the inhabitants any account of his doiugs. The complainants therefore petition the Court to call Ryer Schermerhorn to account.* (Signed) B. Cosens." The year following the trustees commenced another suit in the same court, to wit, on the 13th of June, 170tJ, of which the following is the notice in the clerk's office. * See Complaint in the office of the Court of Appeals. Introduction. 31 " Petition of Peter Schuyler, John Sanderse Glen, Adam Vrooman, Daniel Johnson [Dan- iel Janse Van Antwerpen,] and John Bap- tist Van Eps, Trustees of Schenectady, VS. Stmon Groot, Jr., Stas Swart and Jonathan Stevens. Charges that the defendants have taken possession of lands belonging to the freeholders of the town of Schenectady pretending to deeds of convey- ance, or releases for the same, but refuse to show any evidence of their title. Prays that said defendants may be cited before the Court of Chancery to show their titles to said lands if they have any. (Signed) B. Cosens.*" Filed June 13, 1706. The complaint of Col. Schuyler and others against Schermerhorn as above given, was dated July 5, 1705 ; for the purpose of commencing a counter suit in the same court, he and his friends executed a power of attorney, July 28, to Jacob Reynier and Abraham Gouverneur of New York, to file a bill "against such persons and according to such instructions as you or either of you shall have from us." The following copy of said power is chiefly interesting now, as showing the respectable and numerous following which Schermerhorn had in his contest with the new trustees. " To Jacob Reynier. Esq., and Abraham Gouverneur, Gent : of the Citty of New York. New York, ss : Wee the subscribers Inhabitants and freeholders of The Town of Schonegh- tade in the County of Albany do for and on behalf of ourselves and the Rest of our Township hereby make, ordain, Constitute and appoint you the said Jacob Reynier, Esqr, and Abraham Gouverneur, Gent : our Lawful, Attorneys and Sollicitors for us and In our Names at our Suits and To the use of the said Township to file a bill In the Chancery Court of This Province against Such persons and according To such Instructions as You or Either of You Shall have from us or Some of us, and To Prosecute the Same with all Vigour and Effect and to Retain Councell and in all other things to Act and Do what shall seem Necessary to you or Either of You for the Carrying on of the said Suit and for your, or Either of Your so doing this Shall be To You or Either of You a Sufficient Warrant. * In office of Court of Appeals, 32 History of the Schenectady Patent. this 28th day of July in the year of our of the Reign of Queen Anna over Eng- (L.8.) (L.S.) Given under our hands and Seals Lord 1705, and in the fourth Year land, etc. r Jan Rinckhout Symen Groot, Juny r Willem brouer Manisse Sicksberrie thomas Davie ionatn Stevens .teunis Swart • luwis Viele Cornells Viele Johannis Glen Simon Vrooman William Bowin Andris Bratt Arent Van Petten John Lench Phylip Groot Johauuis teller Isack Swits Jan Luyckassen [Wyngaard] thomas Nobel Jan Schermerhoorn Ephraim Wimp Jan Wemp Jr. Simon Swits Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel] Jan Brouwer Volkert Symonse [Veeder] Aaron Bratt Tjrck francen [V. d. Bogart] " Gosen Van Oort " Gerret Symonse [Veeder] " Jelles Fonda " Schermerhorn's suit against the new trustees, probably commenced soon after the date of the above power, for the " joint plea and Demurrer of John Sanderse Glen, Adam Vrooman, Daniel Johnson [Daniel Janse Van Antwerp] and John Baptist Van Eps, [trustees], defendants to the bill of complaint of Ryer Schermerhorn, John Wemp, Barent Wemp, John Glen, Gen-it Simonse, John Vrooman and Claas Van Petten," was entered in the court of chancery Nov. 13, 1705. Reyer Schermei'horn Jan Wemp Barent Wemp Claes francen [V. de Bogart] Claes Lawrence [V. D. Volgen] Gerret * * * Hendrick Brouwer Jonathan Deyer Benjmin Lannyn Dou Ouke Arent Pootman Phylip Bosie Andries Van Petten Claes Van Petten Jan Mankentyer Abrm Swyts Symen Groot Jr. Jan gysberse Jacop Cromwell (?) Symon Wemp Pieter Symonse [Veeder] Cornells Swits Willem Appel Sealed and Delivered in the Pre- sence of Hend: Hansen, Justus. Johannes Roseboom, Justus. Introduction. 33 Of the several suits at law heretofore or subsequently commenced by the contending parties down to the death in 1795, of the second Ryer Scher- merhorn, grandson of the first, a period of nearly one hundred years, no one was ever determined. Tired and despairing of relief from litigation, the contestants resorted to negotiation and compromise, and failing of this as they always did, they reverted to the colonial legislature for redress but all in vain. The first serious effort at compromise was probably made in 1708, when a futile attempt was made to induce Schermerhorn to transfer his title to the town- ship to the then trustees elected under the charter of 1705. An imperfect contract dated 14 Aug., 1708, between Johannes Sanderse Glen, Gysbert Marselis, harmen Van Slyck and Carel Hanse [Toll], trustees for Schenectady, and Hendrick Hanse of Albany, attorney for Ryer Schermerhorn ; — states that said trustees had been " appointed to office in ac- cordance with a charter dated 15th April, 1703 [1705], but that notwith- standing said Ryer Schermerhorn under the Dongan Patent of 1684, continued to act as sole surviving patentee, which had occasioned the trustees to enter a suit in chancery against him, which hath hitherto been depending therein. Now therefore Hendrick Hanse as attorney for Ryer Schermerhorn agrees to convey to said trustees of Schenectady before the 1st day of May next " * [the rest wanting]. Failing in this attempt at compromise, the same trustees on June 3 1709 " in behalf of themselves and other the trustees and inhabitants of Schen- ectady " presented a petition to the colonial assembly to " bring in a bill confirming unto said inhabitants the Powers, etc., mentioned in Letters Patent granted to said town." On June 4th, said bill was presented on the 7th it was read a second time, referred to a committee with power to send for persons and papers and never more heard of.f The next step in this controversy was a power of attorney executed by the opponents of Schermerhorn and his party, to the then trustees elected under the charter of 1705, to demand of Ryer Schermerhorn, Barent Wemp Johannes Teller, Johannes Wemp and arent Bratt the books, deeds, bonds etc., belonging to the town. This paper is instructive, as showing who and how numerous were the opponents of Schermerhorn. * Dutch church papers, f Assembly Journal, i. 251-2. 5 34 History of the /Schenectady Patent. " 9th June, 1713, Much the majority of the freeholders and Inhabitants of Schenectady constitute Carel Hansen Toll, Sweer Marselis, Gerrit Gysbertse Van Brakel, arent Van Petten and Caleb Beck or any three of them our lawful attorney to take possession of the lands of, &c. &c, to demand of Ryer Schermerhorn, Barent Wemp, Johannes Teller, Johannes Wemp and Arent Bratt the books, deeds, bonds, &c, of said town — said attorneys having been chosen on the 1st Tuesday of april last by said (Signed) town as trustees thereof. Cornells Van Slyck Areut Bratt, Jr. Dirk Bratt Peter Clement Barent Vrooman Nico. D. Van Petten Daniel Danielse [V. Antwerpen] Samuel Bratt Julas Voo* Hendrick Hagedorn Victor Pootman Robert Jets [Yates] Pieter Vrooman Jan Luykassen Jacob Van Olinda Richard Hill* Jere: Thickstone Isa: Van Valkenburgh Harrae Philips Gysbert Marcelis Arent Vedder Daniel Toll Jan Danielse [Van Antwerpen] Arent Danielse [ do Symon Danielse [ do ] Philip Philipse Pieter Danielse [V. Antwerpen] Jacobus Peek Johannes Peek Marten Van Slyck Andries De Graaf Symon Groot Sander Philipse Dirk Miller* Andrew Mackans* Joseph Clement Wouter Vrooman Teuuis Van der Volgen Johannes Mynderse Wm. Bown Henry Hoof* Evert Van Eps Albert Vedder Wm. Brouwer Marten Van Benthuysen Cornelis Pootman Tennis Swart Benj : Lenine David Lewis Charles Burn John Bumpstead* Andries Van Petten Joh: Sanderse Glen Adam Vrooman Hendrick Vrooman Jacob Glen Harme Van Slyck Claas Fred: Van Petten Lawrens Claese [V. d. Volgen] Manus Vedder Jan. Baptiste Van Eps Jesse De Graaf Arnout De Graaf Willem Marinus Joh : Marinus Hendrick Philipse Abraham De Graaf Isaac De Graaf Thomas Davee.* * Names rarely met with in records relating to Schenectady. Introduction. 35 May 15, 1716, carel Hanse renounces in favor of Arent Danielse Van Antwerpen. * The strife and contention in respect to the management of the " common lands " of the township, were put to rest for a time by Schermerhorn, in 1714. By lease and release dated respectively Oct. 22d and 23d he con- veyed all his right and title to these lands to Willem Appel, innkeeper, of the city of New York. In this conveyance, after reciting the Dongan Patent of 1684, the fact that all the trustees therein named were deceased save Reyer Schermerhorn, " only survivor whereby all the estate, right and title of, in or to all said lands * * not otherwise legally disposed are became solely vested in the said Ryert Schermerhorn in fee simple by right of survivorship, and that said Schermerhorn growing antient is desirous that said * * lands and premises should be conveyed to others to- gether with himself and their heirs that the intent of the said Letters Patent may be duly observed," said Schermerhorn released and confirmed to "Willem Appel and his heirs, all the aforesaid lands in " Special trust and confidence that he the said Willem Appel or his heirs will upon request to him made by the said Ryert Schermerhorn his heirs or assigns shall * * execute such conveyance and assurance in the law for the vesting of all the hereinbefore mentioned * * lands * * and all the right, title and interest thereunto hereby conveyed or mentioned or intended to be conveyed to the said Willem Appel, unto the said Ryert Schermerhorn, Jan Wemp, Johannes Teller, Arent Bratt and Barent Wemp * * their heirs and assigns forever, to the intent the same may be held and enjoyed according to the true intent and meaning of the said letters Patent by the said Thomas Dongan " On the 25th and 26th of October, said Appel by lease and release recon- veyed said land to Ryer Schermerhorn and his said four associates for the purposes above mentioned.! And to confii'm the above conveyance, the fourth and last Patent was granted by Governor Hunter on the 14th November, 1714. J The patents of 1684 and 1714, are substantially the same, the grant of the township in both cases being made to Ryer Schermerhorn and his asso- ciates, their heirs, successors and assigns, " on behalf of the Inhabitants of the Towne of Schenectada." In neither case was any provision made to fill vacancies caused by death or otherwise ; hence the same difficulties were * Deeds v. 351. \ Deeds vi. 281, 282, 286, 288. \ Patents, Sec. State's office. Land papers vi. 94, 97. 36 History of the Schenectady Patent. sure to arise again. As Reyer Scheruierhorn managed the common lands from 1700 to 1714 as the sole surviving patentee under the Patent of 1684, so did Arent Bratt from 1749 to 1765, under the Patent of 1714. With the exception however, of a feeble move made in 1715, by the trustees elected under the charter of 1705, to prosecute Schermerhorn and his associates, " for not yielding up all bonds, deeds, writings, books, etc., belonging to said town and especially to prosecute them for cancelling a conveyance that belonged, one-half to said town and the other half to the Dutch Church " * it is believed that the patentees were not disturbed in their management of the common lands for thirty years. But as early as 1744, Jan Wemp and Arent Bratt then being the only surviving patentees, many of the inhabitants became dissatisfied with their management of the common lands, and proposed that they should render an account thereof to the freeholders, as set forth in the following paper. "Articles of agreement to be proposed to Mr. Jan Wimp and Arent Bratt as trustees of Schenectady, to set the same before a part of the community for their approbation, the same having been approved of by those, who have been asked, that some persons out of the commonalty may be appointed to negociate with the trustees about the following articles. Be it known there- fore by these presents that we underwritten inhabitants of the Village of Schenectady in the County of Albany have made, constituted and appointed as we do hereby make, constitute and appoint as our attorneys Wouter Vrooman, Nicholaas Groot, Sander Lansin, Abraham Gelen and Isaack trueck, to act for us in our names and for our use to negociate in respect to the following articles with the trustees of the Village of Schenectady, Jan Wemp and Arent Bratt and as they therein agree and concur, whether to lighten some articles which are found to heavy and impracticable, or to establish others, which are found good and needful, we hereby pledge and bind ourselves to abide thereby. In witness whereof we have hereunder written our names this third of April in the year 1744. In the first place it is desired that you Mr. Arent Bratt shall give a clear statement of all the lands granted out of the property of the village, which your honor, your married children or other heirs [kindred] now possess, and how and at what price they were at first granted, and that your honor, said children and heirs shall be obligated to give therefor to the church a proper actual quit-rent in wheat or money, and that therefor new and dupli- cate indentures be made, and which indentures to whomesover given, to * Dutch Church Papers. Introduction. 37 have the form first given by the trustees and be signed over by you, your heirs and assigns to the church. In the second place, that under or as under oath a neat and full list be given by you, Jan Werap and Arent bratt, of all the lands hitherto conveyed away and of the rents sex, thereupon at first, also you shall give up what money you as trustees have in till. Thirdly, that all the indentures made prior to 1716 and assigned to the church in 1716 but not yet delivered over, so far as they be in your power and hands be immediately and truly delivered up. Fourthly, that you shall bind yourselves, your heirs and assigns, to make over to the church all indentures made subsequent to 1716 until now and in the future to be made and all the rents imposed or to be imposed thereon. Fifth, our desire is that all single indentures be changed to double ones. Sixth, that you Jan Wemp and Arent Brat shall bind yourselves, your heirs and assigns always to act and deliver in the future with the ruling Consistory in respect to the conveyance of lands, so that the greatest profit be made, that they be made known by advertisement on the church door and offered to the highest bidder or others, that you may be wholly relieved of all further trouble and disquietude in future, and that you make the church wholly and altogether your assigns and sign over as trustees to the corporation [church] all your right, — but if this last clause of the article does not please you, then that the first part stand, and that you will please to bind yourselves, your heirs and assigns, in future to appoint a proper bookkeeper by whom the books shall be kept of all lands conveyed and to be conveyed, the bounds, lines, courses, length of lines of the same, con- tents in morgens or acres so that in time a map may be made thereof, like- wise of the quit-rents standing thereon and its commencement, that it always may appear ; also a careful account of what cash you now have and what in future from time to time shall be received and Disbursed by you, whereof you, your heirs and assigns shall make and give a yearly statement to the ruling consistory; — also shall all outstanding debts be collected in, if need be, — money or lands, that a careful statement thereof be given ; like- wise if we come to an agreement shall the writings thereof to be made be recorded so that they shall always stand. Cornelis Veder Takereus Van den bogart Albert Vedder Willem haal Cornelis Viele Johannis Vrooman Danel tol Johannis knoet Captyn helmes Veder Corneles brouwer Simon tol Vredryck Vn Petten Abram groot Adam'Condese hendericus brouwer Abram D Graaf Gerrit V: Antwerpen benimen Van Vleeck klaas de graaf Isaac Quackenbos 38 History of the Schenectady Patent. Yacobus Peeck Jno. B. V. Eps Jun r Ephraem Brat Albert A. Vedder Joseph R. Yatts Jr Jeroon Barhuyt Elias Post Johannis Vedder Sander Van Eps Toby us Ryckman, Junyer Takel Maerselis Johannis haal harmen Vedder Jan babtist Van Eps Jacobus Van Vorst Andries Mynderse Dirok Groot Adam Emraig [Empie] Andris Van Petten Gerrit Symonse Veder pieter Brouwer Jacobus Van Eps" Of the five patentees named in the deed and Patent of 1714, only two remained at the date of the above proposal, to wit, Arent Bratt and Jan Wemp. Reyer Schermerhorn died Feb. 19, 1719 ; Barent Wemp son of Myndert Wemp, one of the patentees named in the Dongan Patent of 1684, probably died next. Johannes Teller, son of Willem Teller, also one of the Dongan patentees, died May 28, 1725, and Jan Wemp, grandson of Myndert and son-in-law of Reyer Schermerhorn, died Oct. 14, 1749, leaving Arent Bratt sole surviving patentee. He was nephew of Schermerhorn's wife and lived until April, 17(35. What answer Bratt and Wemp made to this proposition of the freeholders, is not known, though it was probably substantially complied with, save the entire transfer of the common lands to the church. In 1750 complaints were made however, both by citizens and the church, of Bratt's acting alone as patentee and giving no account of his trusteeship, to which he answered April 6, 1750, that "the church had had the income of all lands leased down to 1744, and he was willing to convey and guarantee to said church, and that he was likewise willing yearly to give an account of his stewardship to the freeholders of the town if they would appoint a place and persons to make such investigations."* Hitherto a portion of the freeholders had chiefly complained of one man's acting alone as trustee, first in the case of Ryer Schermerhorn from 1700 to 1714, and now again in the case of Arent Bratt after 1749. In 1750, how- ever, began a new contest and upon entirely new grounds. * Dutch church papers. Introduction. 39 Jan, son and heir of Reyer Schermerhorn, " set up the pretense that all those who were inhabitants and freeholders of Schenectady at the date of Dongan's Patent were equally entitled to all the common lands included therein as tenants in common fee." This claim, of course led to questions of law, and a judicial interpretation of the Dongan and Hunter's Patents. As the English law of primogeniture was in force in the colony, if Schermer- horn's claim could be substantiated, those only who descended from the first settlers in the line of the eldest son, would be eligible to receive shares of these common lands, which at this time amounted probably to 50,000 to 60,000 acres. It was claimed that only twenty-seven persons at most, were then living who were legal heirs of the first free holders, and entitled to take the common lands. Jan Schermerhorn died in 1752, before he had fairly warmed up to the contest and before any legal proceedings were had in the matter. His eldest son and heh', Reyer, inherited both his estate, his claim and all the energy of character, business tact and stubborn perseverance of his forefathers. From the year 1754 to the year of his death in 1795, more than forty years, he applied all his energies in courts, before legislatures and governors, to obtain a favorable decision of this question and finally died without any determination whatever, bequeathing the continuance and maintenance of the suit to his children, upon the penalty of disinheritance. All further litigation however was buried in his grave upon the Schuy- lenberg. In 1755 Reyer Schermerhorn the second, commenced his suit in chancery against Arent Bratt, patentee, and others, for his share in the common lands in right of his grandfather Reyer. His attorney and councilor was William Smith of New York, a prominent lawyer of the province, with whom was associated subsequently his son Thomas Smith. On the 21st of July 1758, the joint and several answers of Bratt and his associates to Schermerhorn's complaint, were filed in the office of the court of chancery. The suit made but little progress however, up to the time of Bratt's death which occurred in April, 1765. With his decease passed away the last of the five patentees named in the Patent of 1714, after a long service of fifty-one years. To provide for his 40 History of the Schenectady Patent. successors in the management of the common lands, he made and executed a will on the 11th of March, preceding his death, in which he named twenty- three persons to whom he made over these lands, " in trust to and for the only use benefit and behoof of themselves and the other freeholders and inhabitance of the said township of Schenectady their heirs and assigns for- ever, also I give, devise and bequeath unto the said Harmanus Brat, Jacobus Van Slyck, John Sanders, Nicholas Van Petten, Isaac Vrooman, Jacob Swits, Isaac Swits, Jacob Vrooman, Frederick Van Petten, Nicholas Groot, Reyer Wernple, Tobyas Ten Eyck, Samuel A. Brat, Nicolas Van Der Volge, Abraham Wimple, Abraham Mabie, Jacobus Mynderse, John Babtist Van Eps, Gerrit A. Lansing, Harme Van Slyck, Peter Mabie, Isaac S. Swits and Abraham Fonda, the patent of the above recited tract of land, or of the said township of Schenectady and all other papers writings, books and proceedings relating to the same, and all bills, bounds [bond] notes and all sums of money due or which shall became due forever hereafter for rents on lands conveyed by me or any other patentees in trust for said township; and also all my right, title interest, claim and demand which I have as survi- ving patentee in trust for the said township, and it is my will and express order that the said Harmanus Brat, Jacobus Van Slyck * * * and Abra- ham Fonda or the survivor or survivors of them pay or cause to be paid out of the towns money now due to me or which shall hereafter be due by rents of land which I have herein above given to them, or by sale of any part of the above recited tract of land all cost and charges which may arise in and by defending the cause which has been and still is depending in the court of Chancery * at the suit or complaint of Reyer Schermerhorn against me * * and several others."* Soon after Bratt's death Schermerhorn presented the following petition to the Lieut. Governor. " To his excellency Cadwallader Colden Esq. His Majesty's Lieutenant Governor of the Province of New York, &ca &ca &ca. The Petition of the Subscribers Humbly Sheweth. That your Excellency's Petitioners are more than one half Proper Owners and Propriters in a Patent Granted by Thomas Duncan [Dongan] Esq r Dated the first Day of November one thousand six hundred and Eighty- four, and Whereas Ryer Schermerhorn Esq. one of the Petitioners has Commenced a suit againts Mr. Arent Bratt and others Since the year one Thousand Seven Hundred and Fifty five and is Still Depending in Chancery to the Great Hurt and Determent of the Petitioners, we now therefore beg your Honour Sincerly to take this into your Serious Consideration and Pray * Will recorded in Surrogate's office of Albany County, Jan. 20, 1795. Introduction. 41 that a Division of the said Patent may be made that Each of us may have his Just and Equal Chare and your Excellency's Petitioners will Ever Pray. his his Abraham X Truex ABram A S Schermerhorn mark mark his his Myndert X Van Guysling Peter P K Kelement mark mark his Arent Veeder Teunis X Potman his mark Peter P |VJ Mabie Teunis Van Vleck mark his John Babtist van eps, juner Helmus X Veader his mark Harma H Vedder Freeman Schermerhorn mark Saymon Schermerhorn his John: S: Vroman John | T Teller William Teller T _ mar k _ John Cuyler Ju r (A 00 ^ 8 V %s Henry Glen John Sconmker Jno Glen Jim' Jacobus Teller Jacob bchermei'horn Peter Van Benthusen Cornelius Browir " This petition producing no effect, in 1767 more than half of all the pro- prietors joined him in carrying on a new suit in chancery against the twenty- three new trustees mentioned in Arent Bratt's will ; and four years after, to wit, in 1771, it being still pending, Schermerhorn and his party first gave notice of their intention to apply to the legislature for relief, of which the following paper is a copy. — "Feb. 5, 1771. " The following notification of the intention of the Parties therein named to apply to the Legislature of this Province for leave to Bring in a Bill for the purposes therein mentioned and the affidavit presented therewith and now Sworn to before his Excellency in Council being read, were ordered to be Entered in the Minutes. " Publick Notice is hereby given to all whom it may concern that the Subscribers being Freeholders and Inhabitants in and having Rights respectively to Shares in the Common Lands of the Township of Schenec- tady do intend to apply to the Legislature of the Colony of New York for a Bill. " First to authorize Commissioners to hear and determine in a Summary way without process of Law whether the said Common Lands shall be divided or not. 6 42 History of the Schenectady Patent. Secondly, In case such Partition shall by such Commissioners be deter- mined to be made, then to Authorize and empower them to make, execute and complete the same among such Persons, in such manner and with such Powers, appointments, directions, provisoes, Savings, exceptions restrictions and Limitations, as shall be directed, appointed and enacted by the Legis- lature of this Colony in and by the said Act. Thirdly, That in case the said Partition shall take effect all Rents and Service, that have been reserved by any Grant or Grants made by the former Trustees of the said Township, or either of them to any person or persons for any of the said Common Lands shall thenceforth and forever thereafter cease and be extinguished. John B. V. Epps Jr. Balmus [Helmus] Vadder [Veeder] Harmin Vadder Freman Schermerhorn Henry Glen John S. Vrooman John Taller Daniel De Graft Jacobus Van Epps William Taller John Shomaker Jacobus Taller Abraham Truax Jacob Schermerhorn Mindert Van Gysling Reyer Shermerhorn Tunis Putman John Glen P. V. B. Benthuysen John Schermerhorn in behalf of themselves and Abraham Schermerhorn Tunis Van Vleck Peter Calment [Clement] Clous DeGraft Arent Vadder Philip Van Patten Peter Mabee." Hendrick Brouwer Jr John Cuyler Jr "John Littel of the Township of Schenectady in the County of Albany of full age being duly Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, de- poseth and saith that he the Deponent assisted by the within named Ryer Schermerhorn did affix notices in Writing, exactly corresponding with each other and of which the aforegoing is a true copy, at all the Several Churches and Public Places of Worship in the said Township on three Sundays suc- cessively that is to say on Sunday the twentieth day of the month of January last, and on the two next succeeding Sundays; — that the said notices were so fixed upon the said three Sundays in the following manner, that is to say, one on the Door of the only place of Entrance of the Episcopal Church ; — one other of the said Notices on the Door of the only place of entrance of the English Presbyterian Place of Worship ; and one other of the said Notices on the Door of the Main Entrance into the Dutch Church, each of which Doors opened inwards ; — That the new Presbyterian Church being as yet unfinished and therefore not as yet used for Divine Service, and having no Door, the said Notice therein affixed was placed against the Wall within the said Church ; — that the said Notices so affixed for three Introduction. 43 Sundays successively were so affixed at the said Several places where Divine Service was held just before Divine Service began in the.n respectively and in some of them continued till after the Commencement of Divine Service, and in another of them till the Service was over ; — That Divine Service was held on the said three Sundays successively at all the said several places, except the unfinished Presbyterian Church aforesaid ; — That at the several times when the said Notices were so affixed they were read more or less at the different Places where they were so affixed by a Variety of different Persons, Inhabitants of the said Town and resorting to the said Places of Worship ; — That most of the said Notices were taken down soon after they were fixed up, but by whom this Deponent knows not ; — That this was the Reason for fixing up new Notices on every of the said three successive Sundays ; That this Deponent is neither directly nor indirectly interested in the Common Lands of the Township of Schenectady and further saith not. John Littel." " Sworn this 25 day of February, 1771. Before his Lordship in Council Gol: Banyak D: Cou 1 *" The next step in the controversy was an attempt to compromise in ac- cordance with " the recommendation of the honorable general assembly as well as for the love of p'eace and unity," and in the progress of this com- promise the following paper was addressed by Schermerhorn and his friends to the committee appointed for this purpose by the trustees. " Gentlemen, " We received your proposals and tho' we can by no means doubt of your Intention to settle, yet can not help observing that whenever a Controversy is intended to be settled, the partys can neither server themselves, nor can their setting forth Title, Trust, Pretentions, and frivelous allegations be any means to forward it, because if need be such matters comes more properly before the Gentlemen to be appointed who will Judge of the facts as they appear; " Whatever advice you may have on these heads you certainly do not imagine such can in any wise add to the merit of your Claim, or have any weight with us, nor our not answering you thereon, will in any shape lessen ours. * Council Minutes, xxvi. 210. 44 History of the Schenectady Patent. " From the Recommendation of the Honorable Gen'. Assembly, as well as for the love of peace and unity we could apprehend no other than that a few of you with an equal number of us was to have met and used our mutual endeavors to settle the points in dispute, but on the contrary, at meeting, find that not the Case, as one of your four men said to be Impowered, was not of the number called Trustees; reasons could be given for this impropriety; however it being our earnest desire and real intention to come to an amicable settlement will avoid every thing that can be thought to have the least tendency to the Contrary and come to the point, vizt: " We agree to Confirm by an Act of the Legislature, or otherwise all Grants of Arent Bradt and his predecessors not exceeding one hundred and fifty Acres to each person to the time an Injunction from the Court of Chancery was served on him, according to the List he then gave in on Oath, except such Lands as the Proprietors have in possession, which shall be a part of their share ; "And further, that no poor person may in any wise suffer by or thro' any Act to be done or Committed by us or either of us, agree that every such poor person or persons, or let them be poor or rich who may be now in possession of Lands without a deed or deeds and not Comprehended in the aforesaid Sworn List, that such person or persons shall have their said pos- sessions confirmed to them in like manner as the others, who may have im- perfect Deeds &c, providing the same of each person do not exceed one hundred Acres and will likewise come into and agree to any other matter or thing that can possibly be proposed to us for the good of the poor. " We also agi'ee that a tract not exceeding ten thousand acres remain in Common for the Use of the Inhabitants for ever, in such a part or parcells as may be Judged most proper for that purpose; "Should our aforesaid proposals be objected, We consent and agree that a Law pass mutually to Impower Two, four or Six indifferent persons And the s' 1 Two, four or six to nominate a 3 1 , 5 th or 7 lh , and a majority of them be authorised finally to determine and end the whole Controversy without being Subject to any Regulation, Proviso, or Restriction and to have as much of their proceedings framed into a Law as they Judge re- quisite to render the same Compleat and Effectual. "And lastly if we cannot mutually agree on the nomination the three, five or seven persons as above ment d that then the Honble Genl. Assembly be requested to nominate them. Introduction. 45 " Gent m , Having seen your power and tho' not so perfect as it shou'd, We never- theless give these our said proposals, which we will abide by, providing your said power be made Compleat. Signed Ryer Schermerhorn, ) For themselves Peter Van Benthotjsen, > and other Pro- John Glen, ) prietors." John Duncan. Octo r 2d, 1773, To Abraham Wemple,[ Hariri's Bradt, AVm Fonda and Christo Yattes." " To his Excellency William Tryon Esquire, Captain General and Governor in Cheif in and over the Province of New York and the territories de- pending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same in Council. "The Petition of Ryer Schermerhorn, John Glen and Peter Van Benthuysen in behalf of themselves, and Tunis Van Vleck, Claas De Graff, Philip Van Petten, Hendrick Brower Jr., Peter Clement, Peter Mabie, John B. Van Eps Junior, Harme Vedder, Henry Glen, John Teller, Cornelius Glen, Jacobus Van Eps, Abraham Truax, Myndert Van Gysling, Tunis Potman, Helmes Veader, Freeman Schermerhorn, John S. Vrooman, Daniel De Graaf, William Teller, Jacobus Teller, Jacob Schermerhorn, Nicholas Velin, Simon Vedder, John Schermerhorn, John Cuyler Jr., Abraham C. Cuyler, Jacob Cuyler and Barent Ten Eyck, the major part of the Pro- prietors of the township of Schenectady. "Most humbly Showeth That the honorable Thomas Dungan late lieutenant Governor of this Province of New York, in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and eighty-four, did grant a Patent to William Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sware Teunise, John Baptist Van Eps and Myndert Wemple for the town- ship of Schenectady in trust for themselves and for the rest of the free- holders of the inhabitants of Schenectady; — that Sware Teunise, John Baptist Van Eps and Myndert Wemple were killed by the Indians in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and ninety, and that the said William Teller died in the year of our Lord one thousand Six hundred and ninety-nine; — that in the year of our Lord one thousand and Seven hundred and fourteen, the said Ryer Schermerhorn the Patentee took John Wemple, Johannis Teller, arent Bradt and Barent Wemple to assistance as trustees, and that after the decease of the said Ryer Schermerhorn, the 46 History of the Schenectady Patent. said Johannis Teller, Barent Wemple, Arent Brat and John Wemple have disposed of great part of the said township and granted considerable tracts thereof to each other and their relations without the advice, consent or ap- probation of any of the other Proprietors, or ever accounting for any part of the monies, which arose therefrom and at the same time refused to grant or give any part of the said lands to the other Proprietors, — that Ryer Schermerhorn your Petitioner in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty-four did request Arent Brat (then surviving trustee) to grant him such part of the said township which he claimed as heir at law to his grandfather Ryer Schermerhorn the Patentee and such other part or shares as he had purchased from other Proprietors, but that the said Arent Bradt refused to give or grant him any Part thereof: Whereupon your said Petitioner Ryer Schermerhorn in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty-five did commence a suit in Chancery against the said Arent Bradt in order to recover his just portion in the said township; — and in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven more than one-half of all the Proprietors of the said township joined the said Ryer Schermerhorn in carrying on the said suit in Chancery, which has been attended with such great expense (and having no prospect of its decision), that many of your Petitioners are already reduced to great Ex- tremity for want of means wherewith to sustain themselves and families in the said town of Schenectady, Whereas if they could get their just Portions ascertained and have the possession thereof, your Petitioners might get an honest Livelyhood by clearing and cultivating the same; — and that your Petitioners know of no other ways to acquire their shares of the said town- ship except an Act of your Excellency the honorable Council and General Assembly be passed for that purpose, since the said Arent Bratt has ap- pointed twenty-three persons of the best circumstances in the said township (tho' half of them are no Proprietors) to act as trustees after his decease, to whom the said Arent Bradt has made over the remainder of all the said lands, Also all the Bonds, Notes and Money, which had arisen from the said township and gave directions to the said trustees to lay it out in de- fending the before mentioned Chancery suit, which your Petitioners have the misfortune to find the last mentioned trustees are determined to comply with and to use every other means in their power to keep your suffering petitioners out of their property. — " And the honorable House of Representatives at their last session (upon the Prayer of your Petitioners that a bill might be passed to appoint Com- missioners to settle the controversy) did resolve that the prayer of your Petitioners should be postponed till the next sessions and recommended both parties to come to an amicable settlement during the recess thereof and that on failure of a Settlement, both Parties Should attend within ten days after the next meeting of the honorable house after the first day of Introduction. 47 May then next that the house might proceed thereon; — And your Peti- tioners during the Recess of the honorable House of Representatives have been very anxious on their part to come to an amicable determination with the Partys in opposition of this tedious dispute, but all their endeavours have proved unsuccessful, tho' your petitioners were resolved to take up with any reasonable Proposals to end so expensive a contention. "Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray that if in case the honorable house of Representatives should bring in any bill relative to the Premises that your Excellency will be pleased to assent to the same and your Peti- tioners as in duty bound shall ever pray. Schenectady fourth day of January, 1*774. Rter Schermerhorn, P. Benthuysen, John Glen." " Petition of the trustees of Schenectady in opposition to the foregoing petition of Ryer Schernierhora and others. To the Hon ble Representatives of the Colony of New York in General assembly convened. The Petition of the Subscribers, Trustees of the Township of Skinnectady in behalf of themselves and the other Inhabitants of the said Township. " Humbly Sheweth That your Petitioners have been served with a copy of a petition signed by Ryer Schermerhorn, Johannes Glen Jr, and Peter Van Benthuysen in behalf of them selves and other persons therein named presented to the Hon bly House [Jan. 4 1774] setting forth that a grant was obtained by W m Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sware Teunise, John Baptist Van Eps and myndert Wemple, from Gov r Dongan Dated in they year 1684, for the Township of Schinectady, in trust for the rest of the freeholders of the In- habitants of Schinectady, which fact your petitioners do not deny but do say in answer thereto that the said Trustees Nominated in the said Grant did dispose of the town lands by their deeds as Trustees at a low rent re- served to the use of the said town : — that Ryer Schermerhorne in the said grant named was Grandfather to Ryer Schermerhorn the petitioner and that he was the only surviving trustee for fourteen or fifteen years, during all which time he Granted to the Inhabitants by his deeds such tracts of Lands within the said town as they applyed for, — that Ryer Schermerhorne one of the subscribing petitioners now holds lands to very considerable value in Virtue of such deeds from the Trustees ; — that John Glen Jr another of the subscribing Petitioners has lately sold lands held by such Deeds to the value of at least one thousand pounds : — that the greatest part of the persons 48 History of the Schenectady Patent. named in the said Petition in Whose behalf the said Petition is Presented have not any right Whatever to any of the unappropriated town's lands as descendants from the original freeholders or by other ways or means whatso- ever : — that the disposal of the town lands has uninterruptedly from the date of the Patent from Governor Dongan in 1684 to this day been in the Trustees only, which right has been always exercised and acknowledged by the town untill the year 1755, when Ryer Schermerhorne one of the said Petitioners commenced a suit in Chancery against Arent Bradt at the time the only surviving Trustee ; — that the Chancellor at the Instance of the said Ryer Schermerhorne Issued an Injunction, prohibiting the said Arent Bradt from granting any of the town lands untill the determination of the said suit, notwithstanding which the said Ryer Schermerhorne and the said John Glen Jr have taken in and inclosed large tracts of the said town lands and now have the same in possession ; — that your petitioners are very anxious to have the suit now depending in Chancery determined with all possible speed and that your Petitioners are informed by their Councill that the delay is owing to the said Ryer Schermerhorne and not to them ; — that your Peti- tioners Verily believe the application to this House now made by the said Ryer Schermerhorne and his adherents proceeds from a consciousness that the suit in Chancery will be Determined against them ; — that the great Grievance complained of by the said Petitioners that they are prevented from cultivating the Common lands is Intirely occasioned by the Injunction procured by the said Ryer Schermerhorne and his adherents as aforesaid ; — that if the Injunction is taken off your Petitioners will proceed to grant the town lands as has always been accustomed and to the contrary of which not a single Instance can be produced from the beginning of time to this day. Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray the Hon ble House not to stop the ordinary course of the law, but to leave the suit commenced by the said Schermerhorne to the determination of the Court where he thought proper to commence it and that the Hon llle House will dismiss the Petition of the said Ryer Schermerhorne and his adherents, and your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray."* At or about the time of the foregoing petition in 1774, the following — " Case between the Trustees of the town of Schenectady and Ryer Schermerhorn " was laid before the Colonial Legislature. " The settlement of the town of Schenectady was begun about the year 1658 [1662], while this province was under the government of the States- General. The original settlers intending to frame a regular township, made a purchase of lands for that purpose from the native Indians, and laid out a town plat,and divided it into lots of about 200 ft. square Amsterdam wood * Toll Papers. Introduction. 49 measure, and to each lot in the town plat was annexed one lot or farm of about 24 or 25 morgens, each morgen containing about 2 acres, another lot for a garden, about 1 acre, and a third lot for pasture of about 5 acres. " After this division, they procured patents, or ground briefs for their respective lots. " Soon after the first settlement of the said town, the inhabitants and free- holders, for maintaining good order and advancing their settlement, began the election of five Trustees then called Commissaries. These Commis- sionaires took cognizance of Small Causes arising within the limits of the town. " They also purchased lands for the use of the freeholders and inhabitants of the town, and part of their business and powers was to sell and dispose of the common lands belonging to the town, which they did, as well to strangers as to the original Settlers, Their acts wei'e deemed by the in- habitants to be legal and binding, and their Sales of the Common land valid. "Upon the Surrender of this Province to the Crown of England, the in- habitants of Schenectady procured from the Duke's Governors confirmations for the lands they then held in Severalty; but they still continued the custom of annually choosing Commissaries, who exercised the like powers as the Commissaries had done in the Dutch time, until the 1st of November, 1684, when Governor Dongan, by patent under the great seal of this pro- vince granted to William Teller, Ryer Schcrmerhorn, Sweer Teunise, Jan Van Epps, and Myndert Wemp, a tract of lands including not only all the lands the inhabitants of Schenectady held in severalty but also a large ad- ditional tract before purchased of the Indians for the use of the town, to hold the same to ' the said William Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sweer Teunise, Jan Van Epps, and Myndert Wemp, on the behalf of the inhabi- tants of the town of Schenectady, and their associates, their heirs, suc- cessors and assigns, unto the proper use and behoof of the said William Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sweer Teunise, Jan Van Epps and Myndert Wemp, their heirs, successors and assigns forever.' " The Inhabitants of Schenectady, at the date of this Patent consisted of upwards of fifty persons, and the patent was procured not only to obtain a confirmation of the lands they then held by particular patents, but also a continuation of the powers of their Commissaries, as the same had been before used. " Why the town was not properly incorporated is unknown, but the in- habitants antiently conceived that the true intent and design of this patent, was to enable the grantees or trustees therein named to sell their Common lands in the manner, which had been before used by the Commissaries, either to the freeholders and inhabitants of the town, or to such Strangers as might be inclined to purchase and Settle among them; and accordingly, soon after the Date of the patent, the trustees proceeded to grant parcels 7 50 History of the Schenectady Patent. of the land included in the said patent to such persons as were willing to take the same, reserving a rent for the use of the town, as the Commissaries had usually done, and continued to do so till the year 1690, when the town was sacked and burned, in a memorable irruption of the French and their Indian allies. " The destruction of the town and the massacre of many of the inhabitants having discouraged any new Settlements in that exposed frontier, no sales of the common lands were afterwards made till the peace of Ryswick in 1697; when such of the trustees as were living again proceeded to grant the common lands in the said township, in the manner as they did before. " In 1702 Ryer Schermerhorn the Petitioner's grandfather, became the sole surviving trustee, and continued so till the year 1714, during which time, he as surviving trustee, made conveyances of parcels of the said common lands, as well to strangers as to such as were descended from those settled in the township at the time Dongan's patent was obtained. " Ryer Schermerhorn by indenture of lease and release bearing date the 22d and 23d of October, 1714, reciting the death of his fellow trustees, and that the estate, right, and title of, in and to all the land included in Dongan's patent, and not disposed of by the trustees, was solely vested in him in fee simple by survivorship; and that he growing antient was desirous that the premises should be conveyed to others with himself and their heirs and assigns,, that the intent of the patent might be duly ob- served, did thereby grant and convey the said premises to William Apple, his heirs and assigns, in trust to convey the same to the said Ryer Scher- merhorn, Jan Wemp, Johannes Teller, Arent Bradt and Barent Wemp in fee, to the intent the same might be held and enjoyed according to the true intent and meaning of Dongan's patent. "William Apple by indentures of lease and release bearing date the 25th and 26th of October 1714, in pursuance of said trust, granted and con- veyed the premises aforesaid to the said Ryer Schermerhorn, Jan Wemp, Johannes Teller, Arent Bradt and Barent Wemp in fee. "King George the First, by his letters patent under the great seal of this province, bearing date the 6th day of November in the first year of his reign [1714] granted and confirmed the premises aforesaid to the said Ryer Schermerhorn, Jan Wemp, Johannes Teller, Arent Bradt and Barent Wemp, their heirs and assigns forever to hold to them, ' their heirs and assigns forever, in trust, nevertheless, to and for the only use, benefit and behoof of themselves and the other inhabitants and freeholders of the said town of Schenectady their heirs and assigns forever.' " After obtaining the second letters patent the trustees named therein pro- ceeded in granting the common lands in the same manner as their prede- cessors had done until the year 1755. So that the greatest part of the estates in the township of Schenectady now depend upon the conveyances from the trustees. Introduction. 51 " None of the inhabitants of Schenectady ever, till lately, pretended to have any estate in the common lands belonging to the town, nor are there any instances, unless of a very late date, of any of them, except the trustees conveying or devising any of the said common lands, or any interest therein. " But supposing the trustees held the individual land for the common benefit of the town and the inhabitants, as well strangers as the original settlers, their descendants have from the first settlement of the town to the present day, indiscriminately claimed and enjoyed the privilege of cutting their necessary timber and firewood on the said common lands, a privilege without which many families in the said town would be reduced to great extremities. " About the [year] 1750, Jan Schermerhorn, the petitioner's father, first set up the pretence that all those who were inhabitants and freeholders of Schen- ectady at the date of Dongau's Patent, were equally entitled to all the com- mon lands, included therein as tenants in common fee. And in 1754, the petitioner after his father's death, upon the same pretence, purchased of the heirs of three of the original settlers, their right in the common lands belonging to the town ; but from the trifling consideration he paid, there is reason to believe the grantors themselves did not suppose they were en- titled to the rights they pretended to sell ; for two of them sold for six- pounds each of the third for ten, and the lands claimed by the petitioner in virtue of each of these conveyances were then worth at least fifteen hundred pounds. "In 1755, Ryer Schermerhorn, the petitioner, pretending that there were but twenty-five freeholders and inhabitants in Schenectady at the date of Dongan's Patent ; and that they were equally entitled to the undivided lands as tenants in common, and claiming one share as heir to his grand- father, the three shares he had purchased as aforesaid, and one-sixth of a share by the will of Catalyntie Andriese De Vos, filed a bill in Chancery against Arent Bradt, then the surviving trustee, and several others, to com- pel an acknowledgment of his claim, and a conveyance from Bradt of the lands he claimed, and obtained an injunction, which prevented Bradt from making any more sales of the common lands. The defendants answered the bill, but no further proceedings were had in that cause. " On the 11th of March, 1765, Arent Bradt made his will, and devised the premises in question to twenty-three trustees in fee ; to hold to them and their heirs and assigns forever in trust to and for the only use, benefit and behoof of themselves and the other freeholders and inhabitants of the said township of Schenectady, their heirs and assigns forever. "In 1767, soon after the death of Arent Bradt, the said Ryer Schermerhorn filed a bill in Chancery against all the trustees named in his will and a great number of other persons. This bill admits there were twenty-seven free- holders and inhabitants in Schenectady at the date of Dongan's patent and 52 History of the Schenectady Patent. prays a partition among those entitled under them. All the trustees except three and some of the other defendants hied their answer in April, 1*768. Since which no further proceedings have been had in that cause. "The trustees are willing and desirous of having the cause determined by the court in which the petitioner thought proper to bring it, and they sup- pose he now declines that judicature, from a consciousness that equity is against him ; for as the courts of justice in this province have always shown a great indulgence to the infancy of time, for the preservation of justice and private tranquility, the trustees conceive the petitioner cannot expect to prevail in opposing a usage begun by all their ancestors and invariably continued for nearly a century ; especially as the construction now insisted upon by the petitioner is not only repugnant to the constant sense of the inhabitants and freeholders of Schenectady, but will be necessarily produc- tive of the ruin of the greatest part of the inhabitants and throw the whole township into confusion. "For the petitioner claims to have the common lands divided into twenty- seven shares, of which he himself claims four and one-sixth, and the inhabit- ants of said township now consists of about four hundred freeholders and a division upon the petitioner's plan must be made only among about twenty persons, and none of the rest of the freeholders or inhabitants will have any shares, although they always considered themselves as equally entitled with the heirs of the original settlers, to the benefit of the common lands in virtue of their purchases, and have in consequence of such presumption been at great expense in building and other improvements." * When New York at the close of the revolution ceased to be a province of the British empire, many laws and legal customs of the mother country became obsolete ; among which was the law of primogeniture. Up to this time Ryer Schermerhorn and his friends acting under said law, had claimed that the common lands belonged of right to the eldest sons and heirs of the first settlers or to their assigns, only from twenty-five to thirty of whom were then living in the township. But with the change of the laws, the number of the claimants to the common lands was greatly in- creased. It is said that in 1797 there were nearly 500 families in the town- ship, descendants from the first settlers, who claimed in right of law that these lands belonged to them or their assigns and not to those interlopers, who had become citizens long subsequent to their forefathers. And as a recognition of rights they claimed that these lands should be leased to them on durable leases and at a nominal rent of from 50cts. to $7.50 per 100 acres. * Schenectady Directory, 1857-8, p. 142. Introduction. 53 These claims and demands of the " descendants " exasperated the other and later settlers, and led to protests and petitions, to the appointment of committees of conference, to consultations with legal authorities and to various reports and plans of compromise. One of the most elaborate and well digested plans for the management of the common lands was that of 17 93, offered by a committee appointed at a town meeting held Oct. 1, 1792, a "respectable number of the inhabitants being present." This committee consisted of, John Van Petten, John Glen, Andrew Van Patten, John Sanders, Albert A. Vedder, and Abraham Oothout, and made their report Jan. 28, 1793. Among other things they recommended : " 1. That the inhabitants of the township choose seven freeholders to whom the present trustees of the common lands shall render an account of their acts during their term of office. " 2. That the present trustees shall nominate seven freeholders to whom said trustees shall resign their trust of the common lands, etc. " 3. That the freeholders of the town shall yearly appoint seven other free- holders to audit the accounts of the seven trustees last above mentioned. " 4. When the trustees last above elected shall be reduced to three, that said remaining trustees shall assign their trust to seven other freeholders nominated by the inhabitants. " 5. That the male inhabitants who have resided in the town before the year 1760 and their descendants of full age, shall be the electors of said new trustees and so on in succession. " 6. That the income of the public property shall be expended as said trustees and ten other freeholders appointed yearly may order. " 7. That a certain tract of land on the north and south sides of the river and in the westerly bounds of the township shall be set apart for commons. " 8. That the highest price for land shall be forty shillings, and the lowest eight shillings per acre, the highest price for land leases shall be £10, the lowest £4, the hundred acres." Then follow a code of rules and by-laws. These recommendations were never carried into effect. In 1795, the old Board of Trustees appointed under Arent Bratt's will, had been in power thirty years, many had passed away, the others had become aged, and it seemed proper and desirable that new blood should be infused into this body ; therefore, on the 13th January, 1795, the following persons then seized in fee of the common lands, " as surviving trustees of the town in virtue of the Patent, 1714, and certain mesne conveyances and devises," to wit : Abraham Fonda, Harmanus Bratt, Isaac Vrooman, Nicholas Van Petten, Nicholaas Van der Volgen, Jacobus Myndertse, Samuel Bradt and Abraham Wemple, associated with themselves as trustees, Nicholaas Veeder, 54 History of the Schenectady Patent. Garret S. Veeder, Jr., Abraham Oothout, John Sanders and John Glen, by conveying said Patent to Michael Tyms, who reconveyed the same to the above named persona as trustees. And on the 15th day of March, 1796, Certain o( the above said trustees by reason of age resigned their trust and ft new board was appointed in their room ; to accomplish which the trustees then is power oonveyed the Patent to Joseph Mynderse and he reconveyed the same to Abraham Wemple, Nieholas Veeder, Gerrit S. Veeder, Jr., John Glen, John Sanders, Abraham Oothout, Abraham SwitS, Andries Van Petton, Jellis J. Fonda, Rykert Sohermerhorn and Adam S. Vrooman as new trustees, who executed a bond in the penal sum of £5,000 to the retiring trustees tor the faithful performance of the duties of their office. These last mentioned trustees held and managed the common lands until 1798, when their powers oeased, being merged by the first charter of the city of Schenectady in the mayor, aldermen and commonalty. In furtherance o( a compromise or settlement of the disputes in relation to the public lands, the inhabitants appointed a committee in 1795 to take legal counsel on the subject. This committee consisted o( Andries Van Petten, -idles Fonda and Maus Sohermerhorn, who obtained the following opinion : "Having considered the Several questions stated to us by the Committee appointed By the Inhabitants of the town o\' Schenectady as to the meas- ures most advisable to be pursued for the settlement of their present controversies and the future regulation and benefit of the concerns of the said Town we are o( opinion. /•7r.N\', that it will be extremely ditlicult, if not impracticable by any Voluntary arrangement to effect the above purpose ; — Secondly, That it will be expedient to Solicit the Interposition of the Legislature by Petition for the attainment of the objects which the parties have mutually in view. Thirdly, That the most advisable mode of prosecuting this Petition will be for the Persons who were the Inhabitants in 1714 and their Legal Representatives to appoint by Power of attorney a committee consisting of live or six persons, who shall be authorized to confer with a similar committee of the Trustees and jointly with them to form a plan for the future government and management of the affairs of the town, for setting apart a certain proportion of the Lands as commons and for the disposition of the remainder. Peter Van Schaick, Stephen Lush, Abm. Van Vechten. Albany, August 0, 1795.'* Introduction. 55 In accordance with the above opinion, the Board of Trustees recom- mended to the committee of the inhabitants to obtain a "proper power from said Inhabitants to transact the business of the town in a more perfect manner," which being done the trustees appointed out of their number, Abraham Swits, Jellis J. Fonda, Andries Van Petten, Adam S. Vrooman, Rykert Schermerhorn and Maus Schermerhorn, to act in connection with the committee of the inhabitants in " bringing the business of the common lands to a speedy settlement." And on the 10th of August, ( 1795 ), this committee reported to the Trustees that " there was a great prospect of a reconciliation of all disputes subsisting between the Inhabitants and Trustees," and asking for further time.* The acts and minutes of the Board of Trustees from time to time, show quite clearly that they considered the common lands to belong to the descendants of those who were inhabitants of the township in 1684, the date of the Dongan Patent, or at least in 1714, the date of the confirmation of the same. The Trustees were all of this character, and a yearly meeting of such descendants was held to appoint a committee of their number to audit the accounts of the Trustees. The other inhabitants were incensed that they had no voice in the dispo- sal of these lands, and on the 10th April, 1797, sent a petition to the Trustees, that a committee from their number might be heard on this subject. — This was signed by: " Jno. Bpt. Wendell, Jno. Bpt. Van Eps, Alexander Kelly, Jacob Beekman, David Tomlinson, Thomas V. Horn, Joseph Shurtliff, Jno. B. Vrooman, Charles Martin." f On the other hand on the 24th of the same month, a committee of the " Descendants " made and published the following reports: " The committee of the Descendants or legal Representatives of the Persons who were inhabitants of the Township of Schenectady in the year 1684, being the time when the Patent of said township was granted or the year 1714, when the above Patent was confirmed — Report that they have examined the state of the Business belonging to the Trustees of Schenectady Patent, and find that they have sold 8097 Acres of land, being part of said Patent, engaged 941 £ acres of land to different persons, and 600 acres of land applied for; — that it appears from the accounts rendered, that there is * Minutes of the Board of Trustees. \ Min. Bd. Trustees. 56 History of the Schenectady Patent. the sum of £10,593 for Union College, Market House and other requsites expended and a balance consisting of obligations to the amount of £4,680-6-5 remaining in their hands. The Committee report that in their opinion five trustees, who shall have arrived at the age of twenty-five years, from among the descendants should be elected annually by the male descendants, who are arrived at the age of twenty-one years, on the second Tuesday of June of every year, whose duty it shall be to render and account yearly and every year of their proceedings to their successors in office, or to any of the descendants who shall wish to have access and examine the same; and to have the deposit, care, trust and management of the Patent, lands, Books, Papers, Monies, Accounts, and other things belonging to the Trustees; and that the Trustees when elected, or before they enter on the execution of their office shall severally take and subscribe an oath before some justice of the peace in the town of Schenectady that they will well and faithfully perform the trust reposed in them. * * * The committee state, that there are nearly five hundred of the descendants' families residing on said patent and from a calculation about forty thousand acres of land unap- propriated. Therefore Resolved as the sense of the Committee * * * that it be recommended to the Trustees to lease the lands * * * for a durable term to the descendants or their legal Representatives for a sum not ex- ceeding three pounds nor less than fifty cents annually per hundred acres, regarding to every descendant's family or legal Representative, a proportion agreeable to equity, quality and local circumstances." " Given under our hands the twenty-fourth day of April, 1797. John Yates, Peter Mabee, Lawrence Schermerhorn, Abraham De Graff, Henry A. Teller, Jelles A. Fonda."* On the 9th Sept., 1797, the board of trustees appointed a committee to consult Abraham Van Vechten, Peter Yates and Joseph C. Yates, in relation to a plan of " settlement with the inhabitants concerning the Common lands." Finally on March 26, I798,f an act was passed by the Legislature with the assent and desire, not only of the other inhabitants of the township of Schenectady, but also of the surviving trustees, by which all their powers and duties in relation to the common lands were conferred upon the mayor, * Minutes Board Trustees, f See the first city charter. Introduction. 57 aldermen and commonalty of Schenectady. And to adjust all claims against said trustees, the Legislature passed an act the same day appointing a commission consisting of Zephaniah Piatt, Peter Cantine and Derick Lane, who finally determined said claims and closed their accounts on the 10th Aug., 1798. Even after this final transfer of the common lands to the corporation there was a party who doubted its legality, contending for the resumption and management of them by the old trustees, then surviving. Others while reluctantly acquiescing in the transfer of these lands to the city authorities, objected to their being sold off as fast as the inhabitants demanded, and contended they should be held for the purpose of supplying the citizens with fuel and timber.* Finally in 1810 (?) the election of alder- men turned on this question; the whole city, then bounded by the ancient limits of the Patent was canvassed by active partisans of both parties and after a close and heated contest it was decided that the common lands should be sold. *[ The following facsimile of permit to cut wood, and citizens affidavit, show how jealously the citizens held to this privilege. hereby permitted to cut and carry away, for S9SQ from the Common 3$5S Lands of the city of Schenectadv, 88*5$ Provided that in all things compl with the Law, WSM " To prevent waste of Timber and Fire-Wood on the Com- onnn mon Lands of the city of Schenectady, and for other purposes, gggfi passed December 25th, 1813."— This permit, however, to be 2SS2 in force for eight days only. — Dated day of 6885 ' 181 SS'(3S Mayor. 58 History of the Schenectady Patent. DIVISION OF LANDS. HOW THE LANDS PURCHASED BY Van CURLER FROM THE MOHAWKS IN 1661, WERE DIVIDED AMONG THE FIRST PROPRIETORS. Four different allotments were made to each of the first settlers ; first, a house lot in the village ; second, a farm on the Great Flat or islands ; third, a pasture ground east of the village, and fourth, a garden lot in the lowland (laeghte) west of Mill creek and near the Binne kill. First. — Mouse lots. The village plat originally embracing mainly the land lying west of Ferry street, was divided into four blocks, or squares, which were again subdivided into ample house lots. For protection this plat was early surrounded by stockades. As the population outgrew these narrow limits, house lots were assigned on the " Albany path " [now State street], so that before 1690 it was sparsely built up as far east as Lange gang (Centre street] and until about 1*700, only the north side was occupied by houses. Front, Green and Union streets east of Ferry street, used for I QQQQ do swear in presence of Almighty God that I will in all things during the 5SS8 continuance of the permit'granted by the Mayor of the city of Schenectady, dated Q8QQ day of to cut GOGS comply with the law to 2222 prevent waste of timber and fire-wood on the common lands of the city of Sche- «§§§ nectady, and for other purposes, passed the 25th December, 1813, that the ap- ^kr^ plication which I now make to cut n^nn when the same are cut, I intend for my own - use, and I will not directly or indirectly suffer the same to be removed without QQQQ the bounds of the said city, under any pretence whatsoever. SQ2Q From date it appears that the lands were not disposed of in 1810. M'M.] Division of Lands. 59 cow paths to the pastures and woodlands, were not then built upon. The little church and graveyard stood at the junction of State, Church and Water streets and the Dominie's house upon the site of the present church. Many of the original village lots were about 200 feet square — four to a block or square, but were early subdivided to meet the demands for resi- dences within the stockades. Second. The homeland. The great tract of flat or bottom land bounded northerly by the river and State street, southerly by the sand bluff, easterly by Centre street extended south, and westerly by the hills west of the hills west of the first lock on the canal, embracing several hundred acres of arable land, was anciently called the Groote Vlaehte. It was mainly cleared land when the white man first occupied it in 1662, and had been the Mohawks' maize land perhaps for centuries. This and other parcels of like soil along the Mohawk, formed the main inducement for the Hollanders to settle here ; in them they recognized the JPolders of fatherland.* The bouwland was originally divided into twenty-three * [ Smith in his history of New York published iu 1756, says, " the lands in the vale of Schenectady are so fertile that they are commonly sold at £45 [<$112 60 ] per acre. Though the farmers use no kind of manure, they till the fields every year and they always produce full crops of wheat or peas." " I went with [Robert] Sanders to one Adam [Vrooman] and to examine the flats which are exceedingly rich land." " This Schoouechtendeel is situated as we have said twenty-four miles west of Fort Albany, toward the country of the Mohawks, upon a good flat, high enough to be free from the overflowing of the water of the river, which sometimes overflow their cultivated lands, which lie much lower. Their cultivated lands are not what they call in that country Valleyen, but large flats between the hills on the margin, or along the side of the rivers, brooks or creeks, very flat and level without a single tree or bush upon them, of a black sandy soil, which is four and sometimes five or six feet deep, but sometimes less, which can hardly be exhausted. They cultivate it year after year without mauure for-uaany years. It yields large crops of wheat but not so good as that raised in the woodland around the city of New York and elsewhere, nor so productively, but it makes white flour. The wheat which comes from this place, the Hysopus [Esopus] and some other places is a little blue." ********* " The village proper of Schenectady is a square set off by palisades. There may be about thirty houses, which are situated on the side of Mohawk river." — Bankers & Sluytefs Journal, 168,301, 315. See Miller's map, 1695, which shows 28 houses. M'M.] 60 History of the Schenectady Patent. separate parcels and assigned to fifteen individuals, no one, with one ex- ception, holding more than fifty acres, — all being served alike, quantity and quality [and convenience] considered. The farm nearest the village embracing twenty-four acres was Yan Velsen's, bounded by State street, Coehorn and Mill creeks as far west as, or near to Church street. This, together with the water privilege was granted in consideration of his building a grist mill on Mill Lane.* The second parcel consisting of about forty acres of bottom land, anciently called " Gerrit Symonse's meadow," commenced at or near the Coehorn kil at the south bounds of Van Velsen's land and extended southerly to and including " Veeder's Mills." This parcel has been preserved nearly entire and is mostly in the ownership and occupation of the Veeder family at the present time.f The third the largest and most valuable farm, embracing 114 acres, was Arent Van Curler's, called the first piece of land and after his death, Juff row's landt.\ This was bounded northerly by the Binne kil, easterly by Van Velsen's farm (excepting a few gardens on the south side of Water street), southerly by " Gerrit Symonse's meadow," and by the sand bluff, or hills, as far as the Schermerhorn Mills, and westerly by farms Nos. 1 and 4, owned by Arent Bradt and Pieter Van Woggelum. The New York Central Rail- road runs through the southerly end of this valuable tract, and the canal nearly through the middle of it.§ Van Curler fairly earned this distinction above his partners in this land grant, by reason of his great exertions and influence in procuring the extinguishment of the Indian title in the first place, and by his subsequent labors in acquiring patents for these lands from the Governor and Council. The fourth large parcel of the bouwland called the second or foremost piece of land to distinguish it from Van Curler's which was called the first piece, lay next west. The east line of this tract ran along the west fence of the Schenectady car works yard, and so northerly to and around the east side of lot No. 1, belonging to Arent Bratt, following the small brook emptying into the Binne kil, a little east of the farm buildings of the late * See Van Velsen. f See Gerrit Symouse Veeder. % Madam's [Van Curler's] land. § See Van Curler. Division of Lands. 61 John Myers. The westerly line of this parcel was the Poenties Ml and lot No. 10 belonging to Teunis Cornelise Swart. This second piece was divided into ten farms including De Winter's or Ellas' Plantasie, by north-east and south-west lines from the river to the sand bluff, and by easterly and westerly lines nearly coinciding with the river road and canal. The fifth parcel of bouwlands called the hindermost piece of land, com- menced at the Poenties kil and extended west to the hills near the first lock, and was divided into ten farms by north-easterly and south-westerly lines from the river to the hills, and by easterly and westerly lines nearly coin- ciding with the canal and river road. According to the measurements of that day the entire Bouwland consisted of acres. Van Velsen's farm 24 Gerrit Symonse's meadow 40 Van Curler's farm or first piece 114 The second or foremost piece of land, say 245 The hindermost piece, say 261 The gardens along the south side of Water street, say 10 694 It is quite evident that this measurement was much too small. Probably only the good, clear, arable land was taken into account in the above allot- ments, creupelbos and dovegats being excluded. Since that early day these have been cleared and filled, thereby much enlarging the area of arable land. The second and hindmost great lots of the bouwlands including Julias' Plantasie were subdivided each into ten parcels of about twenty-five acres, numbered from 1 to 10, beginning at the easterly and westerly extrem- ities of these two parcels, and proceeding towards the Poenties Kil, * on the west side of which lay the two farms numbered 10, united into one. * The Poenties Kil is the brook (dry a large part of the year now), forming the west- ern boundary of the Van Eps farm on the river road, about a mile west of the city. The Kil next east of the Poenties Kil crossed by a stone bridge wa3 anciently called Willem Teller's Killetje, because it formed the eastern boundary of hia land. Many years since the Poenties Kil was connected with Willem Teller's Killetje by an artificial canal dug along the foot of the sand hill beginning near Col. Campbell's residence, and both streams now flow to the river in one channel. 62 History of the Schenectady Patent. So that persons to whom were allotted numbers 1, 2, 3, &c., of the second near the village, drew also numbers 1, 2, 3, &e., of the hindmost parcel at the western extremity of the bouwland, and only one person had all of his land in one place, to wit, Teunis Cornelise Swart, the fortunate holder of the double farm numbered ten. This ingenious plan of allotment was contrived to prevent any one person obtaining an undue advantage over his associates by selecting all his land near the village. Two other parcels of arable land separated from the Great Flat by the river, were also assigned at an early day, viz., Marten's or Van Slyck's, is- land comprising about 82 acres, patented to Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck and Jan Barentse Wemp : — and the flat lying west and south of the Lake in Scotia, granted to Sander Leendertse Glen, estimated at 50 acres.* Finally, on the eastern side of the village, between Front street and the river, was a strip of land called the Culver Wei/, which was allotted to the first settlers in parcels of 2^ morgens, the easternmost lot being that of Jellis Fonda. Adjoining Fonda's lot easterly, was Hans Janse Eenkluy's bouwery of 18 morgens, which, on his death, became the property of the Dutch Church, — a legacy for the benefit of the poor of Schenectady, f All lands lying outside of the palisades easterly of Ferry street, save the house lots on the north side of State street as far as Centre street, were originally allotted to individuals in parcels of a few acres as woodland or pasture ground. Original ownees of the twenty farms into which that portion of the Great Flat lying westerly of Arent Van Curler's Bouwery was divided. \ Farms No. 1. Both farms numbered one were patented to Catelyn De Vos, widow of Arent Bratt the norman, June 2, 1668. Patents, 590. June 15, 1668, a new patent was granted to Barent Janse [Van Ditmars] and Catelyn [De Vos] his wife. -Patents, 593. * See Van Slyck, Wemp and Glen, f See Eenkluys. \ The west line of Van Curler's farm is marked by the west fence of the Schenectady Car Works Yard. Divisio?i of Lands. 63 Feb. 27, 1690, On occasion of her third marriage with Claas Janse Van Boekhoven, Catelyn De Vos secured her childrens' share in their father's [Bratt's] property by a mortgage upon these two farm. Deeds, iv, 296. Oct. J 3, 1713, On her death an appraisal of these two farms was made when the foremost farm was valued at £393.15, and the hindmost farm at £354.7-6. Schermerhorn Papers. Jan. 169f-. The will of Catalyntje De Vos speaks of the first lot as con- taining thirty-six acres and the aftermost lot thirty acres. Wills, i, 74. 15 Aug. 1705. Former deeds being lost in 1690, Ryer Schmerhorn only surviving trustee, gave a new deed to Arent Bratt, grandson and heir of Arent Andriese Bratt, for the frst lot thirty-six acres and aftermost lot thirty acres. Deeds, v, 168. In 1707, a contract was made that Margaret, widow of Andries Bratt de- ceased and wife of Harmanus Vedder, should have the use of farm No. 1, during her life. 27 Aug. 1713, Beyer Schermerhorn and Dirk Bratt conveyed to Samuel Bratt the hindermost farm No. 1, containing fifteen morgens and 467 rods. Deeds, v, 284-5. Farms No. 2. They were first owned by Philip Hendrickse Brouwer. April, 29, 1664, his administrators sold them to Cornells Van Ness for Jan Dirkse Van Eps son of Maritie Damen his wife, for the sum of 1287, guilders. Deeds, n, 469. April 29, 1667, the above sale was confirmed by the Governor's patent. Patents, 392. May 1, 1681. Douwe Aukes claimed to have purchased at vendue half the hindmost farm which he afterwards sold to Davidt Christoffelse. Deeds, iv, s 181. Feb. 4, 17 If, Johannes Baptist Van Eps eldest son and heir of Jan Dirkse Van Eps deceased, conveyed to Arent Bratt the hindmost farm No. 2, com- prising twelve morgens. Deeds, v, 217. See also Deeds, v, 310, 311 — will of Reyer Schmerhorn 5 April, 1717, and will of Myndert Van Gyseling April 2, 1771, among H. Yates' Papers. 64 History of the Schenectady Patent. Farms No. 3. These farms were first granted to Sander Leendertse Glen, by Patent of date June 16, 1664. On 6 April, 1704, Johannes eldest son and heir of Jacob Glen, eldest son and heir of Sander Leendertse Glen both deceased, conveyed to Claas Van Petten the foremost farm No. 3 containing ten moigens 130 rods together with two morgens of hindmost farm No. 3. Deeds, iv, 324. Johannes Glen by will devised the remainder of hindmost farm, 26 Sept. 1706, to his younger brother Sander, comprising about twenty acres. Will in Court of Ajypeafs office. On the 4th June, 1711, Claas Van Patten conveyed to his son Andries the foremost lot. Deeds, v, 340, 353. Feb. 24, and Aug. 11, 1714. To rectify a disputed line, R. Schermerhorn and Andries Van Petten make a final settlement. Deeds, v, 222, 341. Farms No. 4. Farms No. 4 were granted to Pieter Adrianse Soegemakelyk, alias Van "Woggelum, June 5, 1667, the first containing fourteen morgens, and the second twelve morgens. Patents, 478. Van Woggelum conveyed both to Helmer Otten, Aug. 13, 1670. Deeds, u, 769. Ap. 6, 1681, Van Woggelum reconveyed the same to Reyer Schermer- horn who had married Otten's widow. Deeds, m, 108. June 18, 1695, Jan, eldest son of Pieter Adriaense Van Woggelum, quit claimed the same to Schermerhorn. Sohermerhorn Papers. Feb. 24 and Aug. 11, 1714, Schermerhorn and Claas Van Petten settle the disputed line between foremost farms No. 3 and 4. Deeds, v, 222, 341. Feb. 27, 170|. Catharine Otten, wife of Gerrit Symonse Veeder, exchanged eight morgens of the hoek [foremost farm, No. 9 ] with R. Schermerhorn for eight morgens of hindmost farm No. 4. Deeds, v, 287. The patent for R. Schermerhorn's mill privilege on the Schuylenbergh Kil [at Schermerhorn's mills], was given and recorded in the Secretary of State's office, in Boston, Mass., Sept. 29, 1688. Division of Lands. 65 Farms No. 5. June 29, 1667, Governor Nicolls confirmed to Willem Teller the two farms, No. 5, which were first patented to him by Governor Stuyvesant, June 16, 1664. Patents, 491. June 20, 1700, his son Johannes "being much reduced in property, in 1690 at Schenectady, by the French," received a conveyance of these two farms from his father. Deeds, iv, 209. 9 Ap., 1752, Willem Teller, son of Johannes, devised the foremost farm on the Poenties Kil to his son Willem, and the second or hindmost farm to his eldest son Johannes. Farms No. 6. Gerrit Bancker, of Albany, received the patent for these farms June 16, 1664, which patent was confirmed Ap. 27, 1667, by Governor Nicolls. * Patents, 382. Evert, son and heir of Gerrit Bancker, sold the foremost lot to Isaac Swits, July 7, 1702, for £183 12s ; — it contained 22 acres. Deeds, v, 154. Isaac Swits made his will Ap. 1, 1701, — proved Oct. 4, 1707, — and devised a portion of the first farm to his eldest son Cornells. Will, Court of Appeal's office. The hindmost farm belonging to Harmen Vedder; he conveyed the south- easterly half to his son Albert, Mar. 12, 170£, for the sum of £91 16s. This moiety then contained ten acres. Deeds, v, 107. Sept. 19, 1748, Albert Vedder was "now or late" the owner of the west half also. Deeds, vn, 212. Feb. 8, 175 j, Albert Vedder, " synde out van daghen," made his will which was proved Feb. 13, 175|, and devised four and one-half morgens of this hindmost farm, No. 6, to his son Harme. Will, Court of Appeal's office. Farms No. 7. Pieter Jacobse Bosboom de Steenbakker received a patent of these farms June 16, 1664, — confirmed May 9, 1668. Patents, 552. * Although granted to Gerrit Bancker, Harman Albertse Vedder had a half interest in these farms from the beginning. In the final division Bancker took the foremost lot and Vedder the hindmost, it being nearly opposite to lot No. 8, which he purchased of Hesselingh.— See Oroot, Not. Pap., 1. 9 66 History of the Scfienectady Patent. 17 Sept., 1669, Bosboom conveyed the foremost farm to Jan Labitie, — 11 morgens, 263 rods. Deeds, n, 759. In 1702 this foremost lot belonged to Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel. Deeds, v, 154. Jan Labitie sold \\ morgens out of this farm to Johannes Van Eps. The hindmost lot was partitioned among Bosboom's four daughters, to wit, Maritie, wife of Hendrick Brouwer, Fytie, wife of Marte Van Ben- thuysen, Tryntje, wife of John Oliver and Anna, wife of Jan Mebie. Deeds, vi, 185. Farms No. 8. Marten Cornelise Van Isselsteyn received a patent for these farms June 16, 1664,— confirmed by Governor Nicolls, April 13, 1668. Patents, 527. Oct. 23, 1668, he sold both farms to Claas Frederickse Van Petten and Cornells Cornelise Viele, comprising 22 acres. Deeds, n, 741. The former sold his moiety, — the foremost farm to Jan Dirkse Van Eps, for which Jan Baptist Van Eps, his son and heir received a confirmatory deed from the trustees of Schenectady, Feb., 170 J. Deeds, iv, 332. Viele sold his moiety, — the hindmost farm — to Jurriaen Teunise Tappen of Albany, the 25th Aug., 1670, and next day received from Tappen the conveyance of a house and lot in Albany, probably in exchange. Deeds, n, 777. Tappen disposed of this farm to Dirk Hesselingh, who conveyed the same Feb. 1, 167 J, to Harmen Vedder. Not. Pap., n; Deeds, vu, 185. On the 15th Dec, 1672, Tappen confirmed the above sale by quit-claim to Vedder. Deeds, n, 866. Farms No. 9. These farms were first conveyed to Simon Volckertse Veeder, de bakker, by patent of date June 16th, 1664, — confirmed Jan. 15, 1667, by patent from Governor Nicolls. Patents, 310. Veeder made his will Jan. 8 3 169^, bequeathing the hindmost farm to his son Volckert. Wills, Court of Appeal's office. Volckert Veeder made his will Aug. 4, 1733, and left the hindmost lot to his four sons. M. Yates" 1 Papers. Division of Lands. 67 Nov. 2, 1682, Simon Volckertse Veeder exchanged the foremost farm called the hoek with Jacob Casparse Hallenbeck for land on the Normans- kill. JVot. Pap., ii. And June 8, 1687, Jacob Casparse and wife conveyed the hoek to Jan Jansen Bleecker for " two hundred and fifty good merchantable beaver skinns." Schermerhorn Papers. 17 March, 169^, Reyer Schermerhorn agreed to convey to Gerrit Symonse Veeder 8 morgens of land out of the hoeck to be cut of with an east and west line from the south end. Deeds, iv, 106. 23d Feb., HOf, Jan Janse Bleecker conveyed the hoek to Reyer Scher- merhorn. 5th March, 170-f, Schermerhorn agreed to sell to Gillis Fonda four morgens out of the hoeck. Schermerhorn Papers. When Gerrit Symonse Veeder made his will 12 March, 174-f, he devised eight morgens out of the hoek to his children. H. Yates" 1 Papers. Farm No. 10. The double bouwery No. 10, was first patented to Teunis Cornelise Swart, June 16, 1664, and confirmed Jan. 16, 1667. Patents, 309. Elizabeth, widow of Teunis Swart, then wife of Jacob Meese Vrooman, of Albany, Feb. 20, 168-|, conveyed to her son Jesaias Swart, eight acres of land out of this farm to be taken from the extreme south end. Deeds, in, 310. 26th April, 1692. Wouter Uythoff (third husband of Elizabeth), and said Elizabeth his wife, for 540 beavers conveyed the whole bouwery No. 10, to Claas Laurense Van Purmerend {alias Van der Volgen). Deeds, iv. 35. Jan. 4, 169|. Claas Laurense Van Purmerend sold to Claas Janse Van Boekhoven for £147 the half of farm No. 10 lying between the highway and the river, — eleven morgens. Deeds, iv, 34. And Jan. 5, 169|. Claas Janse conveyed to Dirk Arentse Bratt, his step- son for £73|, five and one-half morgens of the above purchase, being the easterly half of that portion lying north of the highway. Deeds, iv, 38. On the same day, to wit, Jan. 5, 169§, in consideration of a sum of money paid him by Catharine Glen, sometime widow of Cornells Barentse Van Ditmars, eldest son of Barent Janse Van Ditmars, Claas Janse Van Boek- hoven conveyed to said Catharine Glen (and as her dower), now wife of 68 History of the Schenectady Patent. Gerrit Lansing, Jr., a piece of land out of farm No. 10, being the westerly- half of that portion lying between the highway and the river — consisting of five and one-half morgens. Deeds, iv, 3V. The land in the immediate vicinity of the village, — the Great Flat and island, — were all taken up in 1662, by the fifteen first proprietors. Other persons followed the next and succeeding years and finding no lands un- occupied, either bought up the rights of the earlier owners or pushed further into the wilderness, on both sides of the Mohawk river. The south side was considered the safest from Indian attacks and for that reason the Governor and Council at first discouraged settlements on the north side ; this was but a temporary check however. Before the year 1700 all the arable land on both sides of the river to and even beyond the western bounds of the town was taken up and sparsely settled.* These lands had a rich alluvial soil formed by the annual overflow of the river, and were mainly found in the bends and eddj^s ; excepting the Great Flat they were generally small, comjjrising but a few acres. FLATS OR PLAINS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE RIVER. PoVERSEN.f Going west this is the first arable land lying on the south side of the river above the Great Flat. It commenced at the road running west from the first lockj and extended up the river to the " stone kil," a dry creek next above the second lock. It was first purchased from the natives by Benjamin Roberts, who sold the same to Henderick Lambertse Bont. The latter sold the easterly portion to Barent Janse Yan Ditmars and the westerly poi'tion to Douwe Aukes, who conveyed the same to his [adopted] son Cornelia Viele. In 1713 Viel& was then residing on this land between the two locks.§ * It should be remembered that no land was considered arable, except the river bottoms and islands. There was not enough of this to meet the demand ; hence it was parcelled out sparingly and in small allotments, with much larger quantities of upland for wood and pasture. f This is the ancient name of this farm, the meaning of which is now lost. It is never overflowed by the river and can hardly be oalled a flat as the term was commonly used. % [Erie Canal.] § See Roberts, Bont, "Van Ditmars, Aukes and C. Viele Patents, 1038 ; Alb. Com. Coun. Min., ni, 75 ; Schermerhorn Papers ; Deeds, v, 198. Division of Lands. 69 First Flat. This flat or plain consisting of about 80 acres of lowlands is described in Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck's patent, granted in 1684, as "situated between two creeks, one called Stone creek to the eastward, the other ' Platte creek * to the westward, come to him in right of his mother who was a Mohawk woman." * It has remained in the family to this day, passing from father to son by inheritance. The easterly part of this flat called " Hazlenut flat " was owned by Manasseh Sixberry, in 1709 ; he then made his will, leaving his property to his four children. f Second Flat. This farm beginning at a little above " Reghel brugse Ml " \ was first taken up by Jacobus Peek and Isaac Du Trieux about 1670, and patented to them in 1677. It contained twenty-two and one-half morgens or forty-five acres and twenty acres of woodland. In 1706, Maria widow of Isaac Du Trieux had permission from the trustees of Schenectady to sell to Jacobus Peek eight morgens of land on this flat. Johannes and Jacobus, sons of Jacobus Peek, became the owners of the whole tract. It is now owned by John McCue on the west end, Abraham A. Bratt on the east end.§ Third Flat. This flat lies about eight miles above Schenectady, and consisted anciently of about 127 acres of lowland ; in 1864, it was computed at thirty morgens or say sixty-three acres and was then occupied, — the upper or westerly part by Simon and Nicholas Mebie and Abraham N. Bratt, the lower or easterly portion by the Bratts. It was taken up by Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen in 1670, and patented to him in 1680. * Council Min., v, 11, 12 ; Patents, 1,200; Deeds in Sec. State's office, in. f Toll papers; Patents, v, B. 10; Job. Van Slyck's will, Court of Appeal's office. X Rail bridge creek. § See Van der Baast's survey, Land Papers, n, 59 ; Dutch church and Toll Papers Deeds, rv. 70 History of the Schenectady Patent. In 1*706, he sold to Jan Pieterse Mebie, the west half of the same con- sisting of sixty-three acres and seventy-nine rods. Mebie at first lived on the westerly end of this flat near the river but subsequently moved to the lower end of the same, where his house is still standing and in the occupa- tion of one of his descendants. The old Van Antwerp house was standing to the west of the Mebie house, until a few years ago.* Fourth Flat. The Fourth Flat lying next west of the third was granted in 1715, by the trustees of Schenectady to Pieter Vrooman, who in 1 742, conveyed the same or at least the western portion of it, to Jan Wemple and Arent Bratt. Johannes Veeder married a daughter of Pieter Vrooman and inherited the easterly portion, now in possession of Myndert, grandson of said Johannes Veeder. Jan Wemple's land extended to the Zandig Ml. De Willegen, or Willow Flat. This flat commmenced at Stone creek below Port Jackson and ran down the river thirty-four rods [4188 ft.] and contained thirty-three morgens or sixty-six acres, 390 rods, — also 200 acres of woodland. It was first granted to Pieter Van Olinda and Claas Willemse Van Cop- pernol. Van Olinda holding the easterly half and Van Coppernol the westerly half, which he conveyed to Philip Philipse in 1689 in exchange for the 6th Flat on the north side of the river.f FLATS OR PLAINS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE RIVER. Claas Graven 's Hoek. The first land settled upon west of Scotia was the Hoek. This farm was taken up by Claas Andriese De Graaf, the first settler. After his death, which took place before 1697, his widow, Elizabeth Brouwer, leased it to Jonathan Stevens and Daniel Mascraft. \ * Deeds v, 79; Land papers n, 59; Albany Records, xx, 333, 334; Deeds vi, 215 John Mebie's will in Court of Appeal's office, f Deeds v, 354, 358, rv, 234, 236. % See De Graaf. Division of Lands. 71 In IV 14, Gysbert Marcelis received a patent for six acres of land on the Hoek for a hofsiede, he being then the owner of the neighboring island called Gyse's island. * Maalwtck. Next west of tbe Hoek, lies a tract called from the earliest times, Maal- wycJc, — a name of obscure origm and signification. Benjamin, or Bent Roberts first purchased this farm of the natives, with the approbation of the magistral es of Albany, — 36 acres of land, together with 40 acres of woodland, which was coufirmed to him July 1, 1669. This bouwery lay opposite to Arent [ Bratt], tbe norman's hindmost lot of land.f After Roberts' death his land passed *o his two step-sons, Joseph and Pieter Clement, who disposed of it, together with Beuten island, to Carel Hansen Toll and Cornelis Viele, Nov. 24, 1735, Toll taking the easterly half of the land, and westerly half of the island and Viele, the remainder. The farm is still in the possession and occupation of a descend- ant of Carel Hansen. J Secotstd Flat. This flat eytends from Rector's easterly, and in 1864 was owned by Gerrit Barhydt, 17 acres. Frank Potter, 40 " D. D. Campbell, 30 u Total with upland 87 " The Second Flat proper, was originally taken up about 1678, — the eastern half by Pieter Cornelise Viele, and the westerly half by Jan Janse Joncker, alias Rotterdam. Viele died early and his wife, Jacquemina Swart, married Benonny Arentse Van Hoeck, who was killed at Schenectady, in 1690. Afterwards she married Cornell's Vyohout, of Ulster county, and in 1699 they conveyed her share of this flat to her son, Lewis Viele, — 19 morgens, 82 rods. Lewis, * Patents 1673 ; Toll papers. f Opposite the first lock above the city. X See Roberts, Clement, Toll and Viele ; Patent, 981 ; Deeds, v, 108, 140, 141, 143. 72 History of the Schenectady Patent. about 1709, conveyed the same to Ryer Schermerhorn for "ye behoof e of said town " of Schenectady, — 18 morgens, and in 1718, the patentees of Schenectady conveyed the "easternmost end of said flat to Reyer Schermer- horn, bounded south, by the river, west, by heirs of Jan Jans'e Joncker, north, by woodland, in all, 17 morgens Rynland measure — together with 17 morgens woodland on the north side of the Second Flat." Reyer Schermerhorn, by will made 171 7, devised this land to his son Arent ; and Reyer Schermerhorn, grandson of Reyer Schermerhorn the first, in 1773, released said land to Abraham Schermerhorn. After Joncker's death his share of this flat, being the westerly half, was divided among his five daughters. * Fourth Flat. This flat extends westerly from Rector's to " Arent Mebie's kil," and was owned in 1864 by William Rector, 40 acres. Smith B. Walton, 3 " Adam Swart, 7 " Nicholas Swart, 7 " John Walton, 5* " Total with upland 62± " In 1678 Sander Glen petitioned the Governor to grant the fourth flat to Lewis Cobes and his son-in-law Johannes Kleyn. In 1683 the Mohawk Sakemakers conveyed this flat to Arnout Cornelise Viele, — 16 or 17 morgens — for services rendered as interpreter, — lying over against the [second] flat occupied by Jacobus Peek, — and by the Mohawks called Wachkeerhoha. In 1684 the patentees of Schenectady conveyed it to Ludovicus Cobes' and Johannes Kleyn with &lapie\ by it, on the other, [north] side of the river, containing 17 morgens, 164 rods of land. * Gen. Entries, 12 ; Deeds, rv, 215, 216 ; vr, 464 ; Papers in Sec. State's Offl ce, Mass. Book 129, p. 197 ; Toll papers ; Reyer Schermerhorn's will. Lapie = remnant — a gore. — M'M.] Division of Lands. 73 After Cobes' death, his widow Alida Pieterse married Dirk Ofmulder and occupied Cobes' portion. Maria, only daughter and heir of Cobes after her husband [Johannes Kleyn's] death in 1687, married Tarn Smit "Van Nieu HJnglandt." In 1698 Ofmulder and wife leased their share for life to Smith, save that on the death of Ofmulder's wife, her granddaughter Clara Kleyn was to have three morgens or the value of it. By Kleyn's will his widow Maria Cobes had the half of this flat for life, — by the above leaseher husband Smith had the use of the other half for life. In 1714 Willem Marinus, who had married Baefie, youngest daughter of said Kleyn united with his wife and conveyed her third share of three morgens to Pieter Clement and Anna his wife, — sister of said Baefie, and in 1716 said Pieter Clement conveyed to the trustees of Schenectady six morgens of land at the west end of said flat. In 1725 Col. Stephanus Groesbeck owned the westerly portion of this flat, which "hindmost half" was the portion owned by Kleyn and con- tained nine morgens.* Fifth oe Wolf Flat. This flat extending from " Arent Mebie's kil " west, is now in the pos- session and occupation of John Barhydt and consists of about 85 acres of land. In 1678 "the comissaries of Schanechtade made application to y e Go: that the fifth Plaine or Flatland on the other [north] side of the Maquaes river may be disposed of for a minister, reader, &c. — And also that the rest of the Plains or Flatts may be at the disposall of the Cort." It is presumed this application was successful, for in 1698, the trustees of Schenectady rented the westerly half for seven years to Arent Vedder, Jan Danielse [Van Antwerpen] and Dirk Groot for 24 pieces of eight and two quarties.f Jasaias Swart succeeded them as lessee, probably for another term of seven years and in 1713 his lease was renewed for twenty years at a rent of £6-19-6, and the trustees the same day conveyed to him thirty acres of * Toll, Sckennerhorn and Dutch Church Papers. Deeds, m, 119, 199 ; v, 196, 355. Col. MSB., xxvii. Col. Doc, ix, 251. Deeds, xin, 514. Jan Mebie's "will, t Toll Papers. 10 74 History of the Schenectady Patent woodland, " northward of the Wolf, that is the Fifth Flat, and runs up on both sides of a kil commonly called the Fifth Flat kil." * In 1716 the trustees of Schenectady sold the easterly half of this flat to Jan Mebie for £3.00 and a reserved rent of fifteen skipples of wheat, — commencing at the north-west end of the fourth flat by a [Mebie's] creek, — containing fifteen morgens Kynland measure. This rent was commuted by D. D. Campbell, Nov. 1, 1854. In 1*739 Lourens Claase Vander Volgen by will devised to his son Claas Lowrense his " lot of arable land, the hindmost [westerly] part of the five plains [Fifth flat] containing twelve morgens more or less, situate in the Woestyne on the north side of the Mohawk river come to me by the trustees of Schonegteday " — valued at £200. In 1725, John Mabie by will devised to his eldest son Pieter " my lands ... on the north side of the Mohawk between the lands of Lawrence Van Der Volgen and lands of Col. Stephanus Groesbeck ;" the latter owned the westerly half of the fourth flat at this time. In 1750, Claas Van Der Volgen sold to Pieter Mebie his twelve morgens and ninety-seven rods of land on the west end of this flat. In 1768, Pieter Mebie by will devised his land being the whole of the fifth flat, to Jan Mebie his son, who in 1789, devised the same to his widow and two sons, Pieter and Simon, and they in 1799, conveyed the same to David Lawyer, Jr. The latter sold the same to John S. Barhydt from whom it passed by inheritance to his son John, the present owner.f Sixth Flat. This flat begins just east of the seventh flat from which it is separated by the Droybergh, Verf or color kil, alias Tequatsera.\ It was owned in 1864, by Aaron Swart. It was first occupied by Philip Philipse De Moer as a tenant of the trustees of Schenectady. In 1689 he exchanged his ownership in the same with * Dutch Church Papers. f Col. Mss. xxvii^ xjvni, 18 ; Toll and Dutch Church Papers; Council Min., 1678; L. C. Van der Volgen's Will and John Mebie's will ; Deeds xvii, 312. % Sometimes written Togeutchero, and TogqutcJiero. Division of Lands. 75 Claas Willemse Van Coppernol for a portion of the Willegen Vlachte and in 1708, Sander his son, leased it for twelve years at a rent of £2.85. It then consisted of five morgens with an additional three morgens of woodland. On the 2d Sept., 1714, on a petition of Jacobus Van Dyck in the name of the consistory, Reyer Schermerhorn conveyed this flat containing about seven morgens or fourteen acres, — also ten morgens, or twenty acres of woodland lying behind it, — to the Dutch church. In 1770, Esaias Swart was in possession of this plain which then was computed to contain seven mor- gens.* Seventh Flat. This flat lies near Hoffman's ferry between the Droybergh kil on the east and Van Eps' kil on the west. In 1684 the trustees of Schenectady conveyed the westerly half to Carel Hansen Toll reserving a rent of one skipplc of wheat. Reyer Schermerhorn owned the easterly half. The whole flat contained 40 morgens. In 1721, Carel Hanse conveyed his half to his son-in-law Johannes Van Eps and Neeltie his wife. In 1742, Pieter Cornu, another son-in-law of Carel Hanse, who " sometime then past " had had conveyance of the same from Johannes Van Eps, leased it to said Van Eps save what he had leased to Claas Van Petten, and imme- diately thereafter quit claims it to Johannes Van Eps. In 1 705, Reyer Schermerhorn conveyed the easterly half of this plat to his son Jan ; and by his will made 1717, devised the same to the children of his daughter Catalyntje, wife of John Wemp. In 1719 Jan, eldest son of Reyer Schermerhorn, confirmed by deed the bequest made in his father's will to Catalyntje's children. In 1733 the "Wemps transferred their interest to Johannes Van Eps, owner of the other half, f Cambefort's Patent. In 1694 Gerardus Cambefort contracted to sell his patent to Carel Hansen Toll, land he had previously received of the Indians. In 1703 Lord Corn- * Toll and Dutch Church papers ; Deeds rv, 234, 236 ; Mort. in, 58. f Deeds, v, 69, 70, 494; vi, 145; Toll aud Dutch Church Papers; Wills of Reyer Schermerhorn and Volkert Symonse Veeder among H. Yates' Papers. 76 History of the Schenectady Patent. bury granted Cambefort a patent for 20 acres of land, " beginning from a place called Kanquaragoone [now Towereune] the westerly bounds of the Patent granted to Schenectady, running up westward to limits of land for- merly conveyed to Henry Cuyler, deceased." Immediately thereafter Cam- befort conveyed the same to Toll. This laud extends along the river west- ward from Towereune to Lewis' creek.* Claes Graven's Hoek. — Cuyler's Vlachte or Adriucha. This Claes Graven's Hoek is not to be confounded with that heretofore spoken of, situated near Scotia. f In 1686, " To Philip Wells, surveyor general ; — the humble petition of Hendrick Kyler for a certain piece of land called Claes Graven hook, — about thirty acres of lowland and fifty of up- land, being read was granted, provided the said land be not already appro- priated or disposed of. "J Governor Dongan issued to Cuyler a patent for this and other lands in 1687. After his death Ann Cuyler, his widow and John his eldest son sold the same in 1699 to Carel Hansen Toll for £180. Philip Groot of Schenectady early settled on this land and after his death in 1716 was succeeded by his son Ludovicus (Lewis), who gave name to the creek forming the easterly bounds of this patent. Adriucha is still in possession of the Groot family at what is now called Crane's Village.S ISLANDS. Great Island in Niskatuna. This is one of the largest islands in the river, containing about 80 acres. It was conveyed to Hilletie Cornelise, sister of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, by the Mohawks June 1, 1667, and confirmed by Governor Nicolls May 8, 1668. On the 4th March, 1669, and again Feb. 6, I70f, Hilletie * Patents, 1577; Deeds, v, 71 ; Toll Papers. f Perhaps Claes De Grafl first acquired the Indian title to this flat, which he trans- ferred to Cuylers. \ Coun. Minutes, v, 171. § Patents, 1370 ; Deeds, v, 70, 357, 358 ; Deeds, vi, 9 ; Toll Papers. Division of Lands. 77 and her husband, Pieter Van Olinda, conveyed it to Johannes Clute, * which sale was confirmed by the Governor and Council Aug. 2, 1671. f On 20 June, 1707, Johannes Clute and Bata his wife, conveyed it to his son Jacob, and sons-in-law of mature age, and to Robert Livingston, in trust, for his infant children. J Again, on June 25, 1707, Clute and his wife transferred the same to Robert Livingston for £420, § — and lastly to said Livingston, Aug. 9, 1707, for £706, together with 20 acres on the mainland between the two creeks, — to free himself from embarrassments. II Five Small Islands at Niskayuna. At a conference with the Five Nations at Albany, 19 July, 1701, they say : "Brother Corlaer : — Wee have a small right in the Maquase river att Canastagiowne, to wit, five small Islands containing about five or six acres between Rosen- dael and Cornelis Tymes's, which wee give to Jan Baptist Van Eps and Lawrence Claese [ Vander Volgen ], the two Interpreters to be equally divided between them, — John Baptist to have the uppermost halfe and Lawrence the lowermost, — and that in consideration, because they take much pains in interpreting." ** Marten's, Van Slyck's or Wemp's Island. This large island lying west of the city, and separated therefrom by the Binne Kil was early granted by the Mohawks to Marten Cornelise f f Van Slyck alias Marten Maurits, a half breed, who dying in 1662, Governor Stuyvesant gave a patent for the same, Nov. 12, 1662, to his brother and heir Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck and Jan Barentse Wemp.JJ Stuyvesant's patent was confirmed by Governor Nicolls Ap. 13, 1667 ; it then contained, including another small island separated by a creek, 82 acres.§§ Sept. 13, 1694, another confirmatory patent was granted to the heirs of Sweer Teunise ( who married Wemp's widow ) for three morgens or six acres, more than the half of this island, and the small one to the rear of it, * Deeds, 711. f Gen. Entries, iv, 283. % Deeds, v,55. § Deeds, v, 54. || Deeds, v, 192 ** Col. Doc. , iv. 906. \\ Col. MSS. xxxix. 216. %% See original in Union Coll. Library. §§ Patents 357, 1469, 1474. 78 History of the Schenectady Patent. separated by a small kil, " containing in the whole of both islands, 22 mor- gens, or 44 acres." The entire contents of the island were, therefore, 41 morgens or 82 acres. A portion of the west end of the island was anciently called, " Jan Pappen Leghten." * Kruysbessen (Gooseberry) Island. This island lies northerly of Van Slyck's island from which it is separated by a rapid called " Knock 'em stiff." Jan. 2, 169f, the justice of the peace (Johannes Sanderse Glen), and gemeen-mannen of Schenectady, conveyed to Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel] an island on the north sicle of the river called Kruysbessen (Gooseberry) island lying west of Spuyten duyvel [island] consideration 32 beavers at six guilders per beaver to be paid within three years.f On the 10th April, 1*702, Reyer Schermerhorn by virtue of the Dongan Patent conveyed the same to Jellis Fonda, containing one morgen more or less. Again the 22d Sept., 1*706, Gillis Fonda conveyed the same to Hendrick Vrooman and Arent Danielse [Van Antwerpen], — two morgens more or less. Hend. Vrooman and Arent Danielse conveyed this island to Barent Vrooman, on the 11 March, 170-f. June 6, 1750, Isaac Swits and wife Maria, by virtue of Barent Vrooman's will made Sept. 6, 1748, conveyed this island to Jacob Glen from whom it passed to the Sanders family in whose possession it has since remained. J Sputten Duyvel. Johannes Sanderse Glen bought this island of the trustees of Schenectady together with a parcel of " boslandt " in 17 Of for £16-10. § * Deeds, vii. 248. One Jean Poppe lived at Flatbush, in 1679. See Danker and Sluyter's Journal, 131. f Toll Papers; John Sander's Will. % Sander's Papers; Deeds, v, 97. § Orote Schuldt-boek ; Toll Papers. Division of Lands. 79 It lies just opposite the old Glen [now Sanders] House in Scotia and formerly contained several acres, but is now reduced to the fraction of an acre and quite valueless for tillage. Varkens or Hog Island. This island lies at the north end of Van Slyck's island and is separated from it by an arm of the Mohawk river, which at the ordinary low water is a mere sluggish bayou. It originally contained about three morgens or six acres. The eastern end next the Binne kil is called the platt, a low muddy islet of triangular shape and at ordinary times scarcely separated from it. In early times this island was claimed by the owners of Van Slyck's island. In 1694 Rode, a Mohawk Sachem, declared " that about thirty years ago when Schenectady " began to be settled he and other Mohawks granted to Marten Cornelise "[Van Slyck] the island known as Varken's island on the north side of "Akus' island."* On the 9th Nov., 1670, Pieter Jacobse Bosboom received a patent " to "confirm to him a small island belonging to him, which hath heretofore been " given to him by the Indians, lying in the river there next to the island of " Sweer Teunise and Akes Cornelise [Van Slyck] containing about six acres or three morgens."f Van Eps Island. This small island lies north of Varken's island from which it is separated by a bayou nearly filled up. A portion of this island was devised in 1800 by John Baptist Van Eps to his son John, after his wife's decease; another portion — an undivided sixth part — was conveyed in 1808 by Tobias H. Ten Eyck to Cornells Vrooman.J De La Warde's, Joris Aertse's, or Guise's Island. This island lies on the north-westerly side of Van Slyck's island, and con- tained originally fifteen or sixteen morgens of land. *Col. MSS, xxxix, 216. f See Patents, 651. J Deeds, xx, 25. 80 History of the Schenectady Patent. It was first owned by Jan De La Warde who sold it to Joris Aertse Van der Baast.* The latter was killed at the destruction of the village in 1690, and on the 27 Feb. 169-f his attorney Pieter Bogardus of Albany with the trustees of Schenectady, conveyed it to Gysbert Marselis of Albany.f This conveyance was confirmed by patent of date 23d June, 1714. J The hofstede of this farm was on the mainland opposite, adjoining the land of Claas De Graff and consisted of 6 acres. Nicholas De Graff who owned the neighboring mainland purchased this island of Gysbert Mar- selis^ Fonda's Island. The situation of this island is best described in the patent to Simon Simonse Groot, of date Aug. 9, 1694, " to confirm to him a small island in " the Mohawk river within the town of Schenectady possessed by him for " twenty-seven years, to wit, a certain small island in the Mohawk river lying "to the north of the Hoek,\ or point of Reyer Jacobsen's [Schermerhorn], " and the southward of the island belonging to Joris Aertsen [now Guise's] " and to the westward of the island lately belonging to Sweer Teunise " deceased, — containing five morgens or ten acres."** Philip Livingston of Albany, afterwards became its owner and sold it to Jellis Fonda Jby whose will made Sept. 8, 1737, it was divided among his three sons, Pieter, Abraham and Jacob. ff Sassian's or Claas Viele's Island. The next island above Guise's island is Sassian's or Claas Viele's island containing between seven and nine morgens. It lay opposite the " hindmost lot No. 1," of Arent Bratt, and belonged originally, to Hendrick Lambertse Bont alias Sassian, by whom it was sold to Douw Aukes and then to his adopted son Cornells Viele. The Viele's long possessed and gave their name to it. \ J * Deeds, rv, 140. f Deeds, rv, 264. % Patents, 1673. j § Mortgages rx, 89 ; xn, 95. | De oakker's Tioek on the south side of the river, being foremost farm numbered 9 owned by Volckertse Symonse Veeder de bakker. ** Patents, 1466. ft Will of Jellis Fonda among Bratt papers. XX Patents m, 64 ; Deeds v, 198 ; see also Douwe Aukes, Bont and Viele. Division of Lands. 81 Benten, or Bent's Island. This is the large island next above Sassian's island, lying on the north side of the river and originally contained about ten morgens. It was first pos- sessed by Bent Roberts, from whom it passed by his will to his two stepsons Joseph and Pieter Clement. They sold the upper half to Carel Hansen Toll and the lower half to Cornells Viele.* * Deeds, rv, 13 ; v, 108, 140,141; QrooteSchult boek; see also Toll, Roberts, Clement; Dutch Church papers. 11 82 History of the Schenectady Patent. ADULT FREEHOLDERS. Adult freeholders, who settled in Schenectady before 1700, together with a description of their house lots and other possessions.* Several of the first settlers who cooperated in founding the village in 1662, were of mature age, — scarcely any were aged. Van Curler, Glen, Bratt, Swits, Sehermerhorn, Vedder, Veeder, Van Eps, Vrooman, Wemp, etc., may be mentioned as of this class, whose children before 1700 had reached mature years and become heads of families. They were nearly all farmers, whatever else they might do ; their farms were small, seldom exceeding fifty acres of arable land and their families were large, often numbering from ten to fifteen children. Their wants were few and simple ; every one labored with his hands and the virgin soil yielded abundantly, and fully satisfied their frugal wants. There was neither poverty nor riches in the little community, but a sufficient competence was within the reach of all. Jan and Willem Appel. Adriaen Appel, cdias Van Leydeu, was an innkeeper in Beverwyck as early as 1654, when he received a patent for a lot on condition that the house to be erected thereon be not an ordinary tippling house but an inn for travelers. In 1656, being an innkeeper and tapster, he was complained of by Johannes Dyckman for refusing to permit the farmer of the excise to guage * For a list of all citizens of Schenectady as well freeholders as others, see " Schenec- tady Families." Adult Freeholders. 83 his liquors ; at this time he resided without the limits of Beverwyck, in Colonie Rensselaerswyck, and hence claimed exemption.* In 1662 he removed to New Amsterdam, where he remained till 1671, re- turning he was appointed one of the four schoolmasters of the village of Albany in 1676, and was so employed in 1686. His two sons Jan and Willem were residents of Schenectady in 1690, and when the village was destroyed, the former " being greviously wounded " was on that account granted £6 by the Governor and Council ; and the latter who " was wounded in his limbs at the burning of Schenectady " was for that reason exempted in 1693 from the payment of 30s. excise. About tnis time they removed to New York, whence Willem returned to Schenec- tady about 1704 and bought of Ryer Schermerhorn a lot on the north side of State street of 105 feet front and rear. This lot extended from the store of Mr. Robert Ellis west to the building of Mr. Samuel Myers, including the canal and the building called the " Wedge " and the lot in the rear on Liberty street now belonging to the estate of the late Peter Rowe. In 1710, Appel, then a vintner in New York, sold this lot to Simon Vrooman for £48 ($120). He also owned another lot on State street in 1709, comprising the lots of Mr. George I. Swortfiguer and estate of the late William Cun- ningham, — Numbers 103 to 111 inclusive. He probably disposed of this lot to Jonathan Dyer, who owned it in 1716. Douwe Aukes [De Freeze]. Douwe Aukes came over in 1663 in the ship Stettin from Arnhiem, being then a young man of twenty-four years. He early settled in Schenectady as an innkeeper or victualler, either as successor or partner of Cornells Viele. He married Maria Arnoutse Viele, widow of Matthys Vrooman of Albany, in 1685. Leisler made him justice of the peace in 1689. When the village was destroyed in 1690, his wife, two children and negro woman Francyn were killed and his brother-in-law, Arnout Viele was carried away to Canada. His inn was on the southerly corner made by State street and Mill lane next the church and it was here that the traditional merrymaking was going * Marselis Janse, the farmer of the excise this year, was defendant in a suit brought by Appel to recover the value of an anker of brandy, which he lost by drawing it with violence through the streets. — Albany Co. Records, 10. 84 History of the Schenectady Patent. on, on the fatal night of Feb. 8, 1689-90. In the Groote Schult JBoek (among the Common Council records) it is said of the dimensions of his house lot, Douwe syn erf by de kercke daer syn huys op staet is breet lang de weg [State street], 140 en lang [deep] thirty Voet. The depth of his lot is here limited to thirty Amsterdam feet or twenty-eight English feet, i. e., from the street to the palisades, which in early times extended from Ferry street to Washington street, at this distance from State street. Later he had an extension of his lot southerly on the low ground in the rear and across mill creek* On the 20th July, 1718, the patentees of Schenectady confirmed to Douwe Aukes, Victualler, the aforementioned lot, with " two houses thereon on the " south side of the street that leads from the east gate to the Dutch church "[standing in front of the late G. Q. Carley's store], bounded on the north " by said street [Albany road] on the west and south by the commons and on "the east by the lot of ground of Robert Wendel," being 140 feet front and fifty feet deep, thirty of which and the whole front were formerly granted to said Douwe Aukes De Freese by Reyer Schermerhorn, Feb. 15, iVOf.f In 1708 Aukes owned a lot on the north side of State street of fifty Amsterdam feet front, which he had parted with in 1716 to Abraham DeGraaf. This lot now belongs to the estate of William McCamus, deceased, and is comprised in numbers 131 to 137. J On the 10th of April, 1*704, he conveyed to Arent Danielse Van Ant- werpen, " a lot in Schenectady by virtue of transport from Jan Luykasse "[Wyngaardt] of date 13 Feb., I70f, bounded west by Giles Fonda, east by " Gerrit Gysbertse [Van Brakel], south by the highway [State street], length "on the east side 385 feet, on the west side 433 feet, breadth on the south " [State street] 78 feet, on the north 90 feet." This lot is now occupied by Given's -hotel, save what was taken in opening Wall street in 1803. § Aukes also owned a pasture on the east side of Ferry street between Union and Green streets described in the Groote Schult boek as " syn erf by het vort lang aen wee [west] syde 540 en aen eene sy [end] 211 en aen de andresy 220 voet." This lot is still well defined, the front upon Union street extends from * In 1710 Douwe Aukes petitioned the Governor against Capt. Fletcher Matthews, who in company with others at his house in Schenectady, " behaved scandalously and broke and defiled his furniture and goods." — Col. MSS., Lrv, 164. f Church Papers. % Deeds E, 114. § Deeds, v, 187. Adult Freeholders. 85 Ferry street to the Presbyterian church lot, the west line is Ferry street, 540 feet Arnst : or 495 feet Eng: the east line is the westerly bounds of the Presbyterian church lot and the north line, 220 feet Amst. or 202 feet Eng. is 93 Eng. feet south of Green street. This lot comprised the Episcopal church and parsonage lots. On the 10th Feb., 17 If, Aukes, being then eighty years of age, conveyed to Cornells Viele, son of the former owner and keeper of his inn, and uncle of his late wife Maria Arnoutse Viele, whom he called his son, all his estate in the village, that is to say: "1. One house and lot wherein he [Aukes] now lives. "2. One other lot of ground and barn behind or on the west side of the lot aforesaid near to the grist mill y l belongs to y e Dutch church.* "3. One other lot of pasture ground lying on ye south or west side of the creek whereon said mill stands. "4. One other lot of pasture ground lying on the east side of the street that leads directly up to the ffort gate [Ferry street] near to the fort.f" His farm was what was then called Poversens lying about the first and second locks west of the city. J Bent Bagge. He was an inhabitant as early as 1669, the owner of a house and land, which on the 12 July, he leased to Jan Rinckhout of Albany, for one year.§ He was also in Schenectady as late as 1681.|| Where his house stood or his land lay, is not now known. (Perhaps Bagge was an alias for Roberts) ? Gkrrit Bancker. Though one of the first proprietors, he never became a permanent resident of Schenectady. He probably came from Amsterdam where his brother Willem was a merchant as late as 1700. Before 1655 he was in New Amsterdam where he owned a house and lot; two years later he settled in Beverwyck, which became his residence until his death about February, * This grist mill stood upon Mill lane near the brick wool warehouse standing there. \ Old deed. J See Jan Hend. Bont and Cornelis Viele. § Notarial Papers, i. || Proceedings Just. Court, Albany, I, 13. 86 History of the Schenectady Patent. 169£. His home lot in Albany was on the south side of Yoncker [now State] street — the third east from Pearl as it then was; he also owned divers other lots in the village. Mr. Bancker married Elizabeth, daughter of Dirk Van Eps, and sister of Jan Van Eps, one of the first settlers of Schenectady. After her husband's death Mrs. Bancker removed to New York and engaged in trade; — she died July 3, 1693, aged 70 years, leaving a large property for those times, to her only son Evert. According to the inventory of her estate, she had three houses in State street, Albany; — a hof Steele, barn and two lots of land at Schenectady; — in Katskil two pieces of land; in Colonie, Rensselaerswyck a bouwery, two houses, barn, orchard, hofstede, negro slaves, &c, and lastly a house and lot in New York, besides considerable personal property.* When Arent Van Curler began the settlement of Schenectady in 1662, he became one of the fifteen proprietors, receiving the usual allotment of a village lot and two bouweries on the Groote Vlachte. His house lot was the north quarter of the block bounded by Union, Washington, State and Church streets, — 183 ft. on Union, and 184 ft. on Washington streets, Rhynland measure. In the confirmatory patent granted by Gov. Nicolls 27 April, 1667, it'is described as follows: " A certain parcel of land at Schenectady to the north of Catelyn [Bratt] " Norman's to the South of the hillsf being behind to the East of the way " [Washington Street] and before to the West of Pieter Adriaensen's in "length 15 rods 4 ft. [184 ft.] and in breadth 15 rods 3 ft. [183 ft.]"J His son Evert, who inherited this lot, sold it on the 7th July, 1702, for £42 [$105] to Cornells Swits, who also bought one of the Bancker farms at the same time, in whose family a portion of it remained until 1760.§ Towards the close of the last century this village lot was divided into several smaller parcels, which were owned by John Duncan and John and * Court of Appeal's office. f These hills or more properly hillocks, lay then on the westerly side of the block bounded by Front, Church, Union and Washington streets and were long since graded down. % The Rynland rod consisted of 12 feet, of 12.36 Eng. inches each. Patents, 383. § Deeds, rv, 296. Adult Freeholders. 87 Henry Glen, the last occupying the corner lot, which about 1802 he sold to James Murdoch. [Occupied by D. L Van Antwerp.] Bouweries No. 6. The farms allotted to Gerrit Bancker were numbered six, the one on the second piece, the other on the hindmost piece, and described in the Patent of 27th April, 1667, as, "two parcels of land at Schenectady both marked " number six, the one being on the second piece of land to the west of No. " 5 and to the east of No. 7 striking on both sides from the creek or kil " [Dove gat]* into the woods with a south west line something more " southerly ; it is in breadth 36 [Rynland''] rods containing about 22 acres " or 11 morgens and 145 rods : — the other, on the hindmost piece of land "near the river, to the west of No. 10 to the east of No. 4, striking on both " sides from the river to the small creek [Dove gat] with a south west " line ; it's in breadth 50 rods containing about 20 acres or 10 morgens and "520 rods: in all 44 acres, or 22 morgens 65 rods as granted by Gov. "Stuyvesant June 16, 1664."f As neither Gerrit Bancker nor his son Evert were ever permanent settlers here, both these farms were sold soon after the death of the former, — the foremost lot to Isaac Swits in 1702 for £183-12 and the hindmost parcel to Harmen Vedder.J Gerrit Bancker had a patent also for " a piece of pasture granted [be- " tween Front street and the river] at Schenectady lying to the south of " the woodside, to the east of Pointers or Cornelis Dirksen's [Teunis Swart's,] " and to the west of Simon the Baker's [Symon Veeder], containing the " quantity of ground as the land of said Cornelys Dirksen's doth." The date of this patent was Oct. 15, 1670.§ The dimensions of Swart's pasture was, length ninety-two rods, breadth by the river fifteen rods and by the highway [Front street] seventeen rods or about two and a half morgens. || In 1715, Evert Bancker sold this lot to Willem Abrahamse Tietsoort of Dutchess county. This pasture was between Front street and the river, commencing nearly opposite John street and extending easterly along the street 210 feet English. * [Dove gat -a cove-a pool where water sets back from the river-M'M.] f Patents No. 382. X Deeds v. 107, 154, vii ; Isaac Swit' s Will and Albert Vedder's will in Court of Appeal's office. § Patents No. 754. || Patents, No. 761. 88 History of the Schenectady Patent. Barheyt, or Barheit, or Barhtdt. There were two early settlers of this name in Albany county, viz., Andries Kanse Barheit, de Sweedt, dwelling at Kinderhook in 1675, and in 1693, "on y e great flatt neer Coxhachky, next to Pieter Bronck's farm ;" — and Jeronimus Hanse Barheit, probably a brother of the former. Johannes Barheit, perhaps the eldest son of the latter, residing in the manor of Rensselaerswyck, in 1720, married Catharina Gilbert of Albany, and among other children had two sons, — Johannes and Hieronimus, born in 1703 and 1709, respectively, who settled in Schenectady, and became the progenitors of the families bearing this name in this vicinity. Jeronimus married Maria, daughter of Jesse De Graaf, in 1737, and in 1760 purchased of the heirs of Hendrick Hansen, of Albany, a parcel of land lying between John, Jefferson, Front and Pine streets, comprising one and a half morgens. An account of the early ownership of this parcel of land is given in a deed of date 1766 : — "Whereas Ryer Schermerhorn " [patentee] late of Schenectady, deceased, by deed dated Jan. 3, 170| did " sell to Hendrick Hansen late of Albany deceased, all that certain lot "between the roads [Front and Pine Streets], bounded west by a lot hereto- " fore granted to Andries Bratt deceased, East, north and South by the " commons [Jefferson, Front and Pine Streets], being in breadth east and " west twenty rods and in length north and south sixty-five rods Rhynland " measure ; — And whereas Hendrick Hansen by will Sept. 2 1723 did devise " one half of said lot to his son Nicholas, — and whereas said Nicholas did on "the 21st Jan., I74f by deed sell to Hans Hansen his half of said lot ; and " whereas said Hans Hansen did by deed sell to Gerrit A. Lansing half a "morgen of said ground lying on the northwest part of said lot, and whereas " said Hans Hansen by his will the 10th March 1756 did direct that his wife " Sara should have the possession and income of his whole estate while she " remained a widow, and after to his two sons John and Pieter ; — and whereas " said Sara, John and Pieter did by deed the 11th Feb. 1760 sell to Jeroni- " mus Barhydt one and a half morgens of ground out of said lot bounded as " follows, beginning at the northeast corner of said lot by the street [ West " corner of Front and Jefferson streets], that leads from the town to Jellis "Fonda's [Front street], — and runs West along said [Front] street four rods " [48 feet], then south with a course parallel to the line of Gerrit A. Lansing's " ground there, fifteen rods [180 feet ] — then west with a course parallel to " said [Front] Street Six rods [ 72 feet] to the ground of Gerrit A. Lansing, " then south along the ground of Gerrit A. Lansing to the South East corner " of the same, being about seventeen rods [ 204 ft. ], — then west along the " same ground of Gerrit A. Lansing ten rods [120 ft.] to the ground formerly " belonging to Andries Bratt deceased, then South along the ground of Adult Freeholders. 89 " Andries Bratt thirty-two and one-half rods [ 390 ft.] to the [Pine] " street lying on the sotith part of the said lot, then East along the " [Pine] street twenty rods [240 ft.], — then north with a straight line to the "place of beginning Sixty-five rods [780 ft. ] Rhynland measure, containing " one and a half morgens," &c, &c. This lot, therefore, had a front on Front street of forty-eight feet at Jefferson, extended along the latter street 780 feet to Pine street, and westerly along the same 240 feet, and then north to the lot of Gerrit A. Lansing and John Glen, Jr., whose lots had a front on Front street together of sixteen rods [192 ft]. * Caleb Beck. Capt. Caleb Beck settled in Schenectady about the year 1700. He was an innkeeper licensed " to draw or sell liquor by retaile."f His house lot was on the south corner of Union and Church streets, where after his death in 1733, his widow continued the business together with trade in dry goods and groceries until her death. Beck's son also named Caleb, was an attorney-at-law and succeeded his mother in the ownership of this lot. The last Caleb, grandson of the first, married Catharina Theresa, daughter of Rev. Doctor Romeyn, minister of the Dutch church of Schenectady, and died in 1798, leaving five sons, of whom the best known was Dr. T. Romeyn Beck, late of Albany. In a mortgage for £8-8 given Sept. 9, 1716, to Harmauus Wendel of Albany, Beck's house lot is described as " a lot in Schenectady bounded " south by lot of Josias Swart 179 ft. 10 in. — East by lot of Isaac Van " Valkenburgh, formerly Pieter Van Olinda's 105 ft. 9 in. North by the " [Union] street and opposite over against the house and lot belonging to "the Dutch Church, 182 feet, West fronting the [Church] street that leads " from the now Dutch Church to the north gatej of said town of Schenectady " at present just by the dwelling house of Adam Vrooman, 107 ft. 4 in. — * Deeds, vn, 468. f In 1717 lie was complained of by the Chamberlain of Albany, for being in arrears several years for his license fees. — Albany Annals, vn, 61. In 1706 his wife Antje refused to pay her license for selling strong liquors. — Albany Annals, v, 150. In the town records of Portsmouth, N. H., under date May 8, 1674, is the following entry, " laid out to C. Beck thirteen acres beginning at his father [Henry] Beck's land ; " and under date 15 March, 1679-80, " a rebate is made in the rate of Caleb Beck of 5 shillings." Query, was this the Caleb Beck who afterwards settled in Schenectady ? % [ See Fortifications, — gates. — M'M.] 12 90 History of the Schenectady Patent. " all English measure, it being a southeast corner lot about in the middle " of said town, — by virtue of a conveyance to Caleb Beck by Carel Hanse "Toll, Oct. 4, 1714."* This lot remained in the family three generations — about 100 years. Capt. Beck made his will 8 March, 172$, — proved 29 Sept., 1733, — leaving to his only son Caleb " my waering cloaths from head to foot and " that he chues the best gun in the house and has it mended and prepared " as he thinks fit for himself and my Pocket Pistol and Sword * * with " all my Printed books, and the great new Chest." — " To my son-in-law " John Fairly two feet and a half of ground frunting the street that leads " to the Church [Church street] on the north side of his own lot and at the " eastmost end one foot and a halef wide that jenining to the breath of his " own lott." — To Anna his wife, his other property and after her death to son Caleb, if she thinks fit she may sell a lot behind where the bolting- house stands, 50 feet fronting on the [Union] street and so backward to Nicholas Schuyler's.f Fairly's lot was south of Beck's, now in possession of Mrs. Volney Freeman. The bolting-house lot is now owned and occupied by Mr. Hugh Cox. Hendkick Lambertse Bont (Bint, Bent) alias Sassian. He settled early in Schenectady upon land called Poversens Landeryen lying mainly above the first lock west of the city ; he also owned the island obliquely below, which was then called Sassian' 's island. He purchased these lands from Benjamin Roberts, who owned lands on the north side of the river called Maalvoyck. He sold the southerly half of his farm to Barent Janse Van Ditmars and the northerly half to Douwe Aukes for his (adopted) son Cornells Viele, and removed to Claverack.J In the confirmatory patent granted to Viele Sept. 29, 1677, this land is described as, " a parcel of land at Schenectady, — said land stretching from " the stone kil or creek to the point of the planted land of Barent Johnson " [Barent Jansen Van Ditmars] S. S. W., somewhat Easterly, and from the "point of the said land to a black oak tree without the fence of the said "land, striking S. E. by E. in length together 352 rods, and from the " black tree to the hills in breadth 80 rods and from the common planting " land to the stone creek along the hills in length 400 rods and by the stone "kil from the hills to the river in breadth 8 rods containing in all 16 mor- "gens, 240 rods or about 34 acres. §" Notwithstanding the above patent * Deeds, v, 343. \ Will in Court of Appeal's office. \ Albany Com. Coun. Records, in, 75. § Patents No. 1038. Adult Freeholders. 91 Bont still seems to have been accounted to have some right or title to the land, for on the 27 Sept., 1692, he conveyed it 'together with the island opposite, to Douwe Aukes for 60 beavers at 8 guilders each; and Aukes on the 14 Feb., I7lf transferred the same to Cornells Viele. On the same day- Jan Bont, son and heir of Hendrick Lambertse Bont, confirmed the same to Aukes, describing the farms as a parcel of land called Poversens above Schen- ectady on the south side of the river over against Maalwyck, also an island, Sassian's, now in the occupation of Cornells, — the description of said farm being substantially that above written in the patent.* This land long remained in the Viele family and the ancient house was stand- ing between the two locks within the memory of many persons now living. PlETER JACOBSE BORSBOOM HE StEENBAKKER. Pieter Jacobse Borsboom was at Fort Orange, as early as 1639, and con- tinued there until Schenectady was settled in the spring of 1662, when he became one of the fifteen first settlers. f In his will recorded in New York, Oct. 18, 1686, he mentioned his son Cornells and four daughters. An inventory of his property was made May 30, 1689, by Barent Janse Van Ditmars, Isaac Cornelise Swits and Douwe Aukes ; it then amounted to 1630 guilders. His son Cornells probably died young ; his daughters who survived him and inherited his property were Anna, wife of Jan Pieterse Mebie; Martie, wife of Hendrick Brouwer; Fytie, wife of Marten Van Benthuysen; and Tryntie, wife of John Oliver. Borsboom's village lot was on the south corner of Washington and Front streets. * Deeds, v, 198. t Nov. 7, 1657, he bought Mad. De Hulter's horse " old Cato " for 280 gl.— Albany Co. Bee., 59. June 4, 1657, he was wounded in the head by Marten de Metselaer. — Ibid, 246. 22 Jan., 1658, he was fined 500 gl., and costs and three years banishment for selling liquor to the Indians. — Mortg., i. Mar. 11, 1658, he was fined 125 gl., for swindling a Mohawk Indian.— Mbrtg., i, 23. July 28, 1661, he sold to Abram Staes [Staats] his brickyard for 350 gl., preparatory probably to removing to Schen. F. — Albany Co. Bee., 374. Aug. 2, 1661, he sold a lot of ground on the First Kil to Abm. Staes, etc.— Ibid, 380. 17 Sept., he bought of Jan Labatie a house and lot next south of the court house in Albany, and same day sold to Labatie his first lot at Schen., 11 Morg., etc. — Ibid, 460. Sept. 30, 1671, he sold said house and lot to Wm. Loveridge. — Ibid, 489. 92 History of the Schenectady Patent. On the 9th Nov., 1670, it was confirmed to him by patent and described as " a certain lot of ground at Schenectady belonging to Pieter Jacobse " Borsboom and now in his occupation, lying in a Square of 200 feet, wood "measure at eleven inches [English] to the foot, abutting on the east side on " Benjamin Robberts, on the south side on Willem Teller's, and on the West " and north sides on the highway [Washington aud Front streets], — also a " certain garden lying on the north side of his lot divided [therefrom] by a " common highway [Front street] of forty feet wide being in breadth one hun- " dred feet alongst the highway [Front street] and in length one hundred and "fifty feet striking [stretching] north near to the river; and likewise a small " island * belonging to him, which hath heretofore been given him by the " Indians, lying in the river there next the island of Sweer Teunise [Van Vel- " sen and Akes Cornelise [Van Slyck] containing about 6 acres or 3 mor- "gens."f These two lots on the south and east corners of Front and Washington streets, passed by inheritance to his four daughters, whose descendants con- tinued in the occupancy of portions for many years. Bouweries No. 7. These two farms on the bouwlandt assigned to Borsboom in the original allotment were described in his patent of May 9, 1668, as, "two certain par- "cels of land at Schenectady both marked No. 7 : — the one lying upon the " second piece west of No. 6, — East of No. 8, a line being run between them " from the creek or kil [dove gat] J to the woodland southwest somewhat "more southerly, containing about 22 acres or 11 morgens 263 rods : — the " other lying upon the hindmost part of land in the woods to the east of " No. 5, — west of No. 8, a line cutting on each side thereof from the small " creek [clove gat] to said woods south-w T est by west, it's in breadth sixty "rods and makes about 24 acres or* 12 morgens. — altogether about 40 [48] "acres or 23 morgens' 263 rods as granted by Gov. Stuyvesant June 16, " 1664 to said Pieter Jacobsen."§ On the 17th Sept. 1669, he exchanged hmjlrst lot of land or bouwery with Jan Labatie for a house and lot next the court house in Albany, and in 1702 it was owned by Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel of Schenectady. || * Now called Varkens or Hog Island, lying north-east of Van Slyck's Island. f Patents, 651. X Dove-gat, a pool, = a dead water hole, — a slough, in contradistinction to running water. Usually applied to a bay-like inlet from some river or running stream. Example : Coveville, Saratoga Co., on Dove Gat Cove. Probably derived Doof or Doom, = Deaf, Faint, Extinguished, Dead ; and Gat, = a port, a cove, a harbor, a gap, a hole, an inlet. Kreuplebosch, or Kreuplebos, a bush or thicket. — M'M. § Patents, 552. || Deeds, n, 759 ; vi, 185 ; x, 356. Adult Freeholders. 93 The hindmost bouwery after Borsboom's death, was divided into four equal parcels and assigned to his four daughters. Before 1738, Tryntie's quarter had been purchased by Maritie, who uniting with her children by Hendrick Brouwer, conveyed her half lot to Benjamin Van Vleck, her son by another husband, subsequently it became possessed by the Brouwers, who held until after 1800. Anna's quarter part was purchased by Fytie or her descendants and this second half remained in the Benthuysen family more than 100 years. Borsboom also owned a pasture on the north side of Front street of about two and one-half morgens, which was owned by Jan Labatie in 1670, and which subsequently came back to his family. This lot commenced 114 ft. Eng. east of North street and extended along Front street 15 rods Rynland, or 185 ft. English.* Arent Andriese Bratt. Two brothers of this name, — Albert Andriese and Arent Andriese, were among the early settlers of Albany.f They often were called De JVoorman or De Sioeedt. The former remained in Albany and is the ancestor of most of the name in that county ; the latter became one of the first proprietors of Schenectady in 1662, about which time he died, leaving a widow and six children. His wife was Catalyntje, daughter of Andries De Vos, deputy director of Rensselaerswyck. After the death of her husband, the grants of land allotted to him were confirmed to her. In 1664, she married Barent Janse Van Ditmars. Her ante-nuptial con- tract with the weesmeestersl for the protection of the interests of her infant children, is of date Nov. 12, and binds her to pay to them their patrimonial estate of 1,000 guilders at their majority, and mortgages her land at Schen- * Patents, 758. f Albert Andriese Be Noarman, had a mill on the Norman's kil, to which he gave name ; when he died June 7, 1686, he was " een Van de oudste en eerste inwoonders der Colonie Rensselaerswyck," having arrived in Albany in 1630.— Hist. N. JV., i 433. X [ Weesmeesters — orphan masters, or officers who cared for orphan's estates. M'M]. 94 History of the Schenectady Patent. ectadyl to secure the payment of the same. These children were Jefie, aged 15 yrs.,^Ariaantje, 13 yrs., Andries, 11 yrs., Cornelia, 9 yrs., Samuel, 5 yrs. and Dirk aged 3 yrs. * Van Ditmars was killed in the massacre of 1690, and the following year she married Claas Janse Van Boekhoven. By their ante-nuptial contract, made Feb. 27, 169£, among other things it was agreed by them that on the death of both parties thereto, their property should go to her children, f Van^ Boekhoven and wife made their wills Jan. 11, 169-f, and Jan. 7, 1705, they added a codicil by which her youngest son Dirk, was to have his farm at Niskayuna, and on the 17th January this codicil was revoked ; his will was proved 28 Oct., 1707. J Mrs. Bratt survived her third hus- band, and finally died in 1712. On the 18th Dec, 1712, the estates of both herself and Van Boekhoven, were appraised for the purpose of partition among her children. The real estate in Schenectady belonging to her, amounted to the sum of £976 12s. 6d., current money of the Province, and that of Van Boekhoven in Canistageioone [Niskayuna] and Albany, to the sum of £700 — together, £1676 22s. 6d., [equal to $4,191.56.] § Mrs. Bratt's home lot was the west quarter of the block bounded by Washington, State, Church and Union streets, being about 200 feet square. In the confirmatory patent issued to her and her second husband, Van Ditmars, June 15, 1668, it was described as: " A certain house and lot of ground at Schenectady now in occupation " of said Barent Janse [Van Ditmars] and Catelyn being in a square of 200 " feet. "I And in her will she spoke of "my house and lot lying west of " Maritie Damen's [Van Eps] lot and south of Evert Bancker's lot and having " the street [State and Washington] to the south and west."** In 1723 her grandson Capt. Arent Bratt sold the corner parcel, 45 feet wide on State street and 190 feet deep on Washington street, to Hendrick Vrooman, but it soon returned to the family and was again sold by Arent J. Bratt in 1769, to James Shuter. The remainder of this lot remained in the family until the beginning of^this century when it was sold to Robert Barker and Isaac De Graaf . * Albany Co. Deeds, B. 597. t Deeds, iv, 296. J Wills, i, 64, 74 ; and Court of Appeal's office. § Schermerliorn Papers. || 'Patents, 593. ** ..Wills, .1, 74 Adult Freeholders. 95 The ancient brick house standing on this lot, one of the few specimens of Dutch architecture remaining in the city, was probably built by Capt. Arent Bratt. Mrs. Bratt's allotments on the Great Flat are described in the patent of June 2, 1668, as — " two certain parcels of land at Schenectady both marked " No. 1 : — the first lying to the west of Arent Van Curler's, being enclosed "with the kil and the creek to number two containing 27 acres or 13 morgens "487 rods; — the other being upon the hindmost piece of land, to the west of " number two, lying in a bottom containing as it is enclosed by the river and "the woodland about 22 acres or 11 morgens: — altogether 50 acres or "24 morgens, 487 rods, as granted by Governor Stuyvesant June 16, 1664, " to said Catelyn Andriese [Bratt] widow aforesaid."* In her will she spoke of her foremost farm containing 36 acres and of her hindmost lot comprising 30 acres. The former is now embraced mainly in the farm formerly owned by the late Judge Tomlinson, purchased in 1855 by John Meyers, deceased. The easterly boundary was the small creek running through the canal culvert and emptying into the Binne kil just east of and behind the farmhouse, and it extended west along the Binnl kil and river about 1,300 feet to the Dove gat or dead hole lying between the canal and the river. Farm No. 4 owned by Van Woggelum and later by Reyer Schermerhorn, lay directly south of Mrs. Bratt's foremost lot.f Her eldest son, Andries, was killed in 1690; his son Arent succeeded to his inheritance and held this bouwery until his death in 1765. In 1732 he added 9| acres to the west by the purchase of a portion of No. 2. The hindmost farm No. 1 fell to Mrs. Bratt's second son Samuel. J Andries Arentse and Capt. Arent Andriese Bratt. Andries, was the eldest son and heir of Arent and Catelyn De Vos Bratt and at the time of the massacre lived near his mother upon the west quarter of the block bounded by State, Washington, Union and Church streets where he had a brewery, and where he was slain with one of his children. He was thirty-seven years old at the time of his death ; his wife Margarita, daughter of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck and his son Arent and daughter * Patents, 590; Deeds, iv, 296 ; v, 168; Wills, i, 74. f It was inventoried after death in 1712, at £393-15 equal to $984.37, or about $27 an acre. % This farm consisting of 30 acres was inventoried at £354-7-6 equal to $708.93 or $23.63 an acre. 96 History of the Schenectady Patent. Bathseba were spared. His rights of primogeniture in his father's estate passed to his surviving son, who after his mother's death came into full possession of the village lot above mentioned and also of the foremost bouwery numbered one on the bouwland. The ancient house No. 7 State street, was built and occupied by Capt. Bratt until his death in 1765. By trade he was a brewer. To the original lot he added another parcel Feb. 4, l7lf, by purchasing of Jan Baptist Van Eps his house and lot, barn and orchard, — 100 feet in breadth on State street, and 225 feet deep, — and bounded east by lots of Harmanus Vedder and Jacobus Van Dyck and north and west by lots of said Bratt * He thus became possessed of a lot having a front on State street of 300 feet and over 200 feet deep. Feb. 7, 170f, Reyer Schermerhorn, conveyed to him a lot of 100 feet by 200 feet wood measure, bounded north and east by the highway [Union and Ferry streets], south by Symon Volkertse [Veeder] and west by Pieter Van 01inda.f Subsequently, to wit on the 26 Mar., 1714, Arent Bratt, brewer, for the sum of £35 [$87.50] sold one-half of the above lot to bis brother-in-law Carl or Charles BurnsJ — bounded east and north by the highway [Ferry and Union streets], west by the lot of Isaac Van Vaikenburgh [now the court house lot], and south by the lot of Harmanus Vedder [Bratt's step-father]. This lot 100 feet square now belongs to the estate of the late A. A. Vedder.§ On 2d May, 1764, Francis Burns of Pounwell, N. H. [perhaps a son of Charles Bums above mentioned] conveyed said lot to Daniel Campbell for £165 [$412.50]. || On the 15th May, 1705, Reyer Schermerhorn, only surviving trustee, con- veyed to Arent Bratt, grandson of Arent Andriese Bratt, a piece of pasture ground lying east of the town — about 5 acres — bounded south by the common highway [Front street], north by the river, east by the pasture ground of Claes Franse [Van de Bogart] and west by Jan Mebie, the first deed being lost or destroyed. This pasture lot beginning at a point on the * Deeds, v, 168, 217. f Bratt Papers. X Burns married Batseba, only sister of Captain Bratt. This west corner of Union and Feny streets was long known as Batseba's hoekje. § Deeds, v, 264. || Deeds, vn, 483 ; v, 199. Adult Freeholders. 97 north side of Front street 100 feet east of Washington street, extended easterly along Front street to the easterly line of the lot of the estate of the late Nicholas Cain — about 325 feet Amsterdam measure. Andries Bratt, fathei of Capt. Arent Bratt, owned the parcel of ground hounded by John street on the east, the burying ground on the west, Front street on the north, and Green street on the south, comprising about four morgens. After his death it was sold to Thomas Williams of Albany, and by him to Arent Van Petten.* On the 7 Feb. 170-fReyer Schermerhorn only surviving trustee, conveyed to Capt. Arent Andriese Bratt, eldest son and heir of Andries Arentse Bratt, " a lot on the west end of the town bounded south by Mill creek, on ye " west by ye river \binne kit], on the north by the house and lott of Isaac " Swits and on ye East by ye commons [Washington street], equal with the " corner of said Swits lot."f This lot extending from Mill creek north nearly to State street, subsequently belonged to Willem Pieters. In 1705, he owned a wood lot on the south side of Front street, ex- tending east from Jefferson street to the Fonda lot or to a point nearly oppo- site Mohawk street and in the rear to Jan Vrooman's lot or the line of the canal. \ On the 4th Feb. I7lf Jan Baptist Van Eps conveyed to Arent Bratt the hindmost lot No. 2, it was represented as containing twelve morgens and bounded, " east by lot No. 3, running south-west by west from the river to " the standing pool of water [dove gat now covered by the canal] west by " No. 1, now in the occupancy of heirs of Samuel Bratt, South by the afore- " said pool, and north by Maquaas river. "§ Capt- Bratt was made trustee of the common lands in 1714, and continued in office until 1765; for the last fifteen years of his life, he was sole trus- tee. By his will made 11 March 1765, he devised those common lands to twenty-three persons in trust for the use of the inhabitants of the town.|| In 1745, he represented the county of Albany in the Provincial Assembly, He left his real estate to his three sons Capt. Andries, Johannes and Har- manus, all of whom had houses upon the ample lot owned by their father on the north side of State and continued the business of brewing. Harmanus was also an Indian trader and tradition says was the wealthiest man of the town. * Deeds, vn, 468. f Bratt papers. \ See Jan Vrooman's deed. § Deeds, v, 217 ; Bratt papers. || Wills, n, 63. 13 98 History of the Schenectady Patent. Samuel Arentse Beatt. Samuel, second son of Arent An dries Bratt the first settler, and of Catelyn De Vos, was born in 1659 and married Susanna daughter of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck. He died in the year 1713 or 1714, leaving five sons. His possessions were a lot in the village and the hindmost lot number one on the bouwland. The village lot was on the north side of Front street, and beginning on the west line of the lot of the late Gen. Jacob Swits ex- tended westerly along the street about 160 feet including the lot of the late Nicholas Cain, Governor's lane and part of the lot of Charles Mathews. He inherited the hindmost farm No. 1, on the bouwland, which in a con- firmatory deed from Reyer Schermerhoru [trustee], and his brother Dirk given in 1713, is described as, "a lot on the south side of the Mohawk above " Schenectady now occupied by Samuel Bratt called the hindmost lot No. 1, " containing fifteen morgens or thirty acres 467 rods Rynland measure, " bounded east by land of Arent Bratt and land of Johannes Teller, north " by the river, South by the commons and west by woodland of said Arent " Bratt and woodland of Samuel Bratt."* This farm passed to Samuel's son Arent, who built the brick housef still standing a short distance west of the first lock on the canal, and continued in the family until the death of Eva Bratt, widow of Takerius Vedder, in 1839. Dirk Ar^ntse Bratt. He was the third son of Arent Bratt and Catelyn De Vos, the first set- tlers. He was born in 1661, and married Maritje, daughter of Jan Baptist Van Eps, in 1684. In the division of his mother's and step-father's estate, he received Van Boekhoven's farm in Niskayuna, on the north side of the river, which by patent of date, 22d Ap. 1708, was extended north into the woods one mile.J He purchased several parcels of land in Schenectady, among which, by deed from the trustees, of date 10th Mar., 170-f, were, 1st "a parcel of wood- land in Schenectady one part of the same adjoining to the north of [ on ] " y e lot of ground belonging to y e said Dirk Bratt and to y e west of " Symon Groot Jr. . . . is broad on ye south end 150 feet and in length * Deeds, v, 284-5. \ On the front of this'house, sciatched on a brick, may be seen, "A. Bratt, 1736." % Patents, 1610 ; Albany An., rv. 163. Adult Freeholders. 99 " north 400 feet wood measure." This lot on the north side of State street, extended from the Carley house lot to the east line of the American hotel lot. 2d. "The other part is situated to ye north of said lot and of said Symon " Groot, and ye lott of said Dirk Bratt and to ye east of y e common high- " way that leads in between the lott of Barent Wemp and y e lot of Barent " Vroom an [ Centre Street] and to ye west from another lott of ye said " Dirk Bratt and contains y e breath (sic) of y e said lott of y e said Symon " Grott, the first above mentioned part and the first above mentioned lot of " ye said Dirk Bratt northward between the said highway and y e last men- " tioned lott of ye said Dirk Bratt to y e highway [ Union Street ] that leads "to Canastagione [Niskayuna] so that y e said woodland doth contain two " morgens." * The two lots of land above mentioned, extended along the south side of Union street from Centre street to a point 245 feet east of Barret street, or to the lot of the German Methodist church, and southward to the i-ear, about 445 feet. In 1719, the westerly portion of this lot 231 ft. by 444 ft. on the south corner of Union and Centre streets was owned by Hendrick Vrooman. The remainder of Dirk Bratt's land on Union street, was devised to his sons-in-law, Rickert Van Vranken and Willem Berrit. Dirk Bratt made his will 16th Jan., 1727, — proved June 1, 1759, — and was buried June 9, 1735. His eldest son Johannes inherited the farm at Niskayuna. Philip Hendkickse Brouwer. He settled in Beverwyck as early as 1655, and the year following pui-chased of Hendrick And. Van Doesburgh, second husband of Maritie Damens, a house, lot, garden and brewery for 4000 guilders, giving a mortgage on said property for 3144 gl. of the purchase money. In 1662 he became one of the original proprietors of Schenectady and it was on or near his foremost lot No. 2 that he shot Claes Cornelise Swits the following year.f His death occurred about the beginning of the year 1664, and on the 29 April, his administrators offered for sale his house, brewery and mill house in Beverwyck, and a house lot, garden and 25 morgens of land at Schen- ectady, — the lot 200 feet square, — also a barn 30 ft. by 24, two bergen, two horses, mare, two milch cows, heifer, calves, five sows, a waggon, &c.J * Church papers. f See Claes Swits. J Deeds, n, 469, 472, 475. ..0(-y. 100 History of the Schenectady Patent. The real estate at Schenectady was purchased Tby Cornells Van Nes, third husband of Maritie Damens, for 1,287 gl. for Jan Dirkse Van Eps, her son by her first husband, Dirk Van Eps. Brouwer's wife was Elsie Tjerck; the records make no mention of any children. Philip Hendrickse's house lot in Schenectady was on the north corner of State and Church streets — about 200 ft. square — * being a quarter of the block bounded by State, Washington, Union and Church streets. A patent was issued to Cornells Van Ness for this lot and bouweries No. 2, June 16, 1664, and confirmed to Jan Van Eps, April 29, 1667. f Hendrick Willemse Brouwer. One Willem Brouwer came to Beverwyck at or about the time that Philip Hend. Brouwer settled there and was probably a connection. In 1655 he owned property in New Amsterdam. His death occurred about the 3d of Aug., 166R; the following entry is found in the Deacon's book of the church at Albany. " Tot die begraevenisse van Willem brouwer 40 guilders, 15 [stuivers]." He left two sons Hendrick and Willem, both of whom settled in Schenectady. The former the progenitor of those bearing this name in Schenectady married Maria Pieterse, daughter of Pieter Jacobse Borsboom and widow of Teunis Carstense of Albany. Brouwer died about the beginning of the year 1707, having made his will Dec. 12, 1706, — proved Feb. 16, 170f. Later his wife married Van Vleck, by whom she had a son Benjamin. Hendrick Brouwer owned a lot on the east side of Church street, beginning at a point 108 feet north from the church lot and extending probably to Front street, and through his wife came into possession of one quarter of hindmost lot No 8, which she inherited from her father. J He left six sons and two daughters, one of whom, — Jacob — born 1700, — an Indian trader, was barbarously murdered at the falls on the Oswego river in the spring of 1730, by an Onondaga Indian.§ In 1724 Mrs. Brouwer was also called an Indian trader. || * As measured by Adam Vrooman in 1713, the north and south sides of this lot were 200 ft. long, and the east and west sides were 225 ft. , Amsterdam measure, f Patents, 392 ; see also Van Eps. % See Borsboom. § Note, Col. Doc, ix, 1019. || Albany Annals, vrn, 293. Adult Freeholders. 101 Geraldus Cambeeort, or Comfort. He was in Schenectady as early as 1690; his first wife was Antje Raal, his second, Arientje Uldrick, widow of Gerrit Claase Van Vranken of Nis- kayuna, married Oct. 16, 1692. The natives sold him a parcel of land " boven Kaquarrioone " [now Touereoune], which he contracted to sell to Carel Hansen Toll in 1694. The patent for this land was given April 22, 1703, and is described as " twenty acres of land on the north side of the Mohawk beginning at JTaquar- " rioone the west bounds of the patent of Schenectady, running west up the " river to the limits of land of Carel Hansen [Toll] formerly belonging to "Hendrick Cuyler."* On the 18th May, 1707, Cambefort being then a resident of Niskayuna, conveyed the above described land to Toll,f who conveyed the same to his son-in-law Johannes Van Eps. Lewis Groot about 1798, in his testimony before the commissioners appointed to settle the dispute between the proprietors of the Schenectady and Kayaderasseras Patents, said that Comfort's Patent extended west to the creek on which Groot's mill stood [Lewis' creek] and that Cuyler's Patent extended west from said creek. \ Not long after his second marriage, Comfort removed to Niskayuna, where he was living as late as 1720. Teunis Car'stense. In 1679 Carsten Carstense De Noorman died in Albany, leaving two children, viz. Teunis, aged 19 years, and Elizabeth, aged 14 years. The former settled in Schenectady, where he married Maritie, daughter of Pieter Jacobse Borsboom, and died in 1691, at which time his widow took out letters of administration on his estate ; subsequently — on 26 Mar., 1692, she married Hendrick Brouwer and after his deatli in 1706 became an Indian trader. Christiaan Christiaanse. In 1669 Paulus Janse received a patent for a morgen and a-half of land at Schenectady, " lying to the west about halfway the land of Arent Van Curler."§ This parcel of land lying on the Binue kil about halfway from Mill creek to the farmhouse of the late John Myers, was purchased from Paulus Janse by Christiaan Christiaanse in 167 1.| His village lot was on the north side of Union street' adjoining the Dutch church lot and included the * Patents, 1577. \ Deeds, v, 71. % Toll Papers. § Patents, 971. || Deeds, n, 811. 102 History of the Schenectady Patent, lot owned by the late Isaac Riggs (now included in the church grounds) and the lot occupied by Mr. Aaron Barringer, being 100 feet broad front and rear and 200 feet deep, Amsterdam measure. The deed for this lot having been lost in the destruction of Joris Aertse Van der Baast's house in 1690, Johannes Sanderse Glen, magistrate of the village, reconveyed the same Dec. 1, 1694, and on the same day Christiaanse conveyed it to Neeltie Claase, widow of Hendrick Gardenier.* April 7, 1695, an inventory of the estate of the late Hendrick Gardenier of Scotac, Albany county, was taken and this lot was then valued at 15 beaver skins sewant.f Feb. 22, 170£ Johannes Ouderkerk and Neeltie Claase, then his wife, conveyed it to Jellis Van Vorst.J Davidt Christoffelsf. His father, Christoffel Davidts § or Kit Davidts, a native of England |[ came to Beverwyck as early as 1650, and lived for a time on a farm at " Dominie's Hoek " now called "Van Wie's Point." He married Cornelia, daughter of Andries De Vos of Albany, and had two sons, David and Joris, and perhaps other children. His wife was not living in 1657, when an in- ventory of his and his wife's estate was made and his trustees agree to pay for a lot purchased by him 26 Feb., 1657. As early as 1658 he was a skipper on the North river. His son Davidt became an early resident of the village, occupying a lot of 100 feet front on the oast side of Church street, 100 feet southerly from Union street. Bastiaan De Winter sold this lot Nov. 21, 1670, to Jan Labatie, by whom it was probably sold to Christoffelse. In the massacre of Feb. 9, 1690, the latter was slain with his wife and four children. His heirs * Toll Papers. f "Het erff op Shinnectady gelegen tuschen het erff Van D Domini Salgr. Van Shinnectady en het erff Van Pottman zynde gewaerdeert opfifthien Bevers sewant." X Deeds, v, 111 ; see also Van Vorst ; Wills, i. § 3 Dec., 1654, he was ordered not to molest Mons. De Hulter in possession of his land, at Esopus probably, nor to incite the savages against him. — Albany Co. Eecords. 25 Sept., 1656, he received a patent for 36 morgens of land at Esopus about a [Dutch] mile inland^from the North river, &c— Dutch MSS., H. H, 68. In 1657 he sold this land to Jacob Janse Stoll for 1400 gl.— Albany Co. Eecords, 24, 377. 1663 he asked permission to reenter upon" land from which he had been driven by Indians at Esopus. — Dutch MSS. , x, 127. |] He was born'in 1616 at Bisscohopicyck, Eng. B. & M. I., — Dutch MSS., xvi, 246; Deeds, i, 64. Adult Freeholders. 103 still owned it in 1699; soon after it passed into the possession of Caleb Beck. Christoffelse also owned the west half of foremost lot No. 2, on the bouwland bought of Maritie Damens by Douwe Aukes in 1681. Pieter and Joseph Clement. Pieter Clement jonge man geboren in N. Utrecht en wonende tot Schan- nechtady, married in Albany, Anna Ruyting geboren en wonende tot Schannechtady, Nov. 26, 1707. July 28, 1721, he married Anna Vedder, " beide Van de Woestyne." Joseph, brother of Pieter, married Anna, daughter of Jacobus Peek of the Second flat on the south side of the river. In 1755 he was living in ' ' Maquaasland." These brothers were stepsons of Benjamin Roberts, who by will made June 28, 1706, devised his farm at Maalwyck to his wife Maria, and in case of her remarriage, to his stepsons, Pieter and Joseph Clement. In 1710 Pieter sold his half to Cornelis Viele, together with half of Benten island for £445, and in 1712 Joseph sold the other half to Carel Hansen Toll for £400.* LUDOVICCJS CoBES. He was born in Herentals, in Brabant, and from 1656 to 1677, was court messenger of Fort Orange and Beverwyck, notary public of Albany, and in 1677, became schout and secretary of Schenectady until his death. With his son-in-law, Johannes Klein, who married his only daughter, Maria, he purchased and occupied the Fourth flat on the north side of the river. This land was conveyed Sept. 26, 1683, by the Mohawk Sakemakers, to Arnout Cornelise Viele, of Albany, in consideration of his many labors undertaken for the Indians, and is described as lying over against the Second flat, occupied by Jacobus Peek, and containing 16 or 17 morgens of land, f It was called by the natives, wachkeerhoha. Dec. 11, 1684, the patentees of Schenectady conveyed it, together with a lapie by it, to Ludovicus Cobes and Johannes Klein, reserving a yearly rent of one skipple of wheat per morgen. \ On his death it passed to his widow and daughter Maria Klein. § Cobes also had a house lot in the village, on the north corner of Union and Church streets, which he mortgaged in 1684 to Johannes Wendel, of Albany, for 580 gl. The house was described as a "corner house — opposite * See Toll, Roberts and Viele. f Deeds, m, 199, % Deeds v, 196. § See Klein, also Fourth flat. 104 History of the Schenectady Patent. " to Reyer Schermerhom's [ on the west corner ], bounded west, by Symon " Groot, north, by the house and lot formerly occupied by Maria, wife of "Johannes Peek, and south and east, by the highway [Union and Church " streets], as enclosed."* Soon after, and before 1690, Reyer Schermerhorn bought Cobes' house and lot in the village, for his step-daughter, Tryntje Otten, prior to her marriage with Gerrit Symonse Veeder, and it remained in her family until after 1812, when it was occupied by Maj. Jelles Fonda, whose wife was a Veeder. Clute. There were three individuals of this name who early became residents of Albany or Niskayuna, — Capt. Jan, his nephew Johannes and Frederick Clute. Captain Jan Clute came to Beverwyck about 1656, from Neurenburg and became a trader and considerable land holder in Beverwyck, Loonen- burgh [opposite Hudson], Niskayuna, etc.f He was held in great esteem * Deef>s, in. 324. f Not. Papers, n ; Deeds, i, 187. The following are some of his real estate transactions as appears by the records. 1657, he bought a garden behind Fort Orange of Theunis Metselaer. 1662, he contracted to buy 22 morgens of land at Catskil of Jan Andriese. 1663, he bought of Sander L. Glen a house and lot on the Hill, Beverwyck. 1664, he bought of Adriaen Gerritse a house and lot for 630 gl. 1665, with Jan Hendr. Bruyn bought a tract of land opposite Claverac landing [now Hudson], of the Indians. 1665, he bought of Wm. Fred. Bont a house and lot for 390 gl. 1667, he bought a garden behind Fort Albany of the Estate of Rutger Jacobsen. 1667, he bought a house and lot of Jan C. Van Aecken. 1667, he bought lot No. 4 of Ludovicus Cobes, for which he conveyed to L. Cobes the lot bought of Wm. Bont in 1665. 1668, he bought of the commissaries of Albany, lot No. 11 on the Hill. 1669, 4 March, he bought " Great Island " at Niskayuna. of Pieter D. Van Olinda. 1670, he sold a house and lot, to J. J. Bleecker. 1670, he and others sold their land at Coxsackie to Marten G. Van Bergen. 1670, he sold a lot to Gabriel Thomase. 1676, he owned a house and lot in Yonkers (State) street. 1677, he bought of Claas J. Van Boekhoven a parcel of land at Niskayuna. 1677, he bought a part of Van Schelluyne's land at Niskayuna. 1678, he sells his land at Catskil to Jan Conell and Gerrit J. Van Vechten. Adult Freeholders. 105 "by the Indians from whom he obtained extensive grants of land. His chief purchases in Niskayuna, were: 1st. The " Great Island," in the Mohawk river which he purchased 4 March, 1669, of Pieter Danielse Van Olinda and his Indian wife Hilletie [Coraelise Van Slyck], and the same was confirmed to him by patent of Gov. Lovelace, Aug. 2, 1671, together with six morgens of land bought of Maritie Damens on the mainland and a small island lying west of the " Great island."* 2d. " A certain piece of land lying at Canastagioenef on this [South] side of the river," which he bought of Claas Janse Van Boekhoven, Oct. 21, 1677.J 3d. The lands of Dirk Van Schelluyne at Canastagioene.§ On the 3d April, 1678, Capt. Clute sold to Sweer Teunise[Van Velsen] of Schenectady, a certain neegher, named Jacob, about 24 years of age, for whom he promises to pay 100 good whole beaver skins @ eight guilders a piece [$320]. || It is not known that he had any other relative here than Johannes Clute, his nephew, who on his death in 1683 became his heir. Johannes Clute alias de boslooper.** Johannes Clute, nephew of the last, settled in Niskayuna upon land in- herited from his uncle Capt. Jan Clute. Through embarrassments caused either by his own or his uncle's debts, lie was obliged to part with a portion of his land soon after the death of the latter. Thus in 1704, he sold to Frederick Clute of Kingston, 150 acresff and in 1707 he conveyed the "Great Island" in the Mohawk and other lands at Niskayuna to Robert Livingston of Albany, for £706 " to free himself from embarrassment.JJ" * Gen. Entries, iv, and Albany Co. Records, 436. f [Canastagioene was properly applied to the flats on the north side of the river opposite the present Niskayuna. — M'M.] X Albany Co. Records, 167. § Albany Co. Records, 168. || Notarial Papers, ii; Albany Annals, n, 118. ** [Bush-runner, — a trader among the Indians. M'M.] ft Deeds rv, 308. # See Great Island. 14 106 History of the Schenectady Patent. To add to his other troubles he was taken prisoner in 1692, by the In- dians and carried captive to Canada. Whilst absent his affairs were managed by his wife Baata Van Slichtenhorst. On the 28th of June, she cited Sander Glen and Barent Wemp, administrators of Sweer Teunise Van Velsen's estate, before the court of Albany, demanding of them " nine "pounds six shillings and six pence for y e remaining pay 1 of a negro " named Jacob sold by old John Cloet to Sweer Teunise, and produces y e " book of s d John Cloet senior, kept by her husband, John Cloet Junior." The defendants asked time.* By his wife Baata, daughter of Gerrit Van Slichtenhorst, he had eight children. He was buried in Niskayuna, Nov. 26, 1725. Frederic Clute. He came from Kingston to Niskayuna in 1703, and bought 150 acres of land from Johannes Clute. f What relationship if any, existed between them is not known. He married Francyntje DuMond or Duniont, probably in Kingston and before removing to Niskayuna had six children and four afterwards. All the Clutes in this region are believed to be descended from either Johannes or Frederic. Jacobus Cromwell. He was an innkeeper and in 1711 bought a house and lot in Front street of Wouter Vrooman for £130. This lot which he occupied as a tavern, is described as bounded north by the river, south by the street, east by lot of Adam Vrooman and west by lot of Claas Fransen [Van de Bogart], length 542 feet, breadth on the street 95 h feet and on the river 33 feet, one inch, Dutch measure. It is now divided into two parcels and occupied by Messrs. Joseph Harmon and Nicholas Yates. J Cromwell married Maria Philipse, 26 September, 1703; after his death she married David Lewis, innkeeper, who received a conveyance of the aboye property from Willem Marinus to whom Cromwell had devised it by will of date 19 August, 1711. * Albany Annals, n, 118. f Deeds rv, 308. X Deeds, v, 496. Adult Freeholders. 107 De Graaf. Andries De Graaf was a citizen of New Amsterdam in 1661. His son Jan Andriese, brickmaker, was a resident of Albany in 1655; in 1658 he with two others, was fined 500 guilders for selling liquor to the Indians. In 1660 he went to New Amsterdam with one Roseboom and commenced the making of bricks.* Claas Andriese De Graaf, another son of Andries De Graaf, was born about the year 1628,f and became one of the first settlers of Schenectady, taking up land at the Hoek\ in Scotia, where for several generations the family resided. He probably died about 1697, in which year his wife leased her farm to Jonathan Stevens and Daniel Mascraft. De Graaf married Elizabeth, daughter of Willem Brouwer of Albany; she survived her husband many years, dying in 1723. Jan De la Wakde. He came over from Antwerp in 1662, in the ship De Vbs, Jacob Janse Huys, skipper, and settled in Albany. He bought land at Niskayuna and an island in the Mohawk, which he sold to Joris Aertse Van der Baast, from whom he acknowledged in 1698 to have received satisfaction several years before. § ^ He died in Albany, Jan. 28, 1702. His island called anciently La Warde's island and afterwards Joris Aertse's island, lies just north of Van Slyck's island. Van der Baast having been slain in 1690, his attorney, Pieter Bogardus of Albany, with the trustees of Schenectady conveyed it to Gysbert Marcelisof Albany in 1699; it then contained 15 morgens of land and was then called Joris' Great island; this conveyance was confirmed by patent dated June 23, 1714.11 From the time of Marcelis' purchase to this time, it has been called " Gyse's island" * Valentine's Man., 1861, p. 521; Albany Co. Rec, 59, 221. f Deeds, n, 88 ; Albany Co. Rec, 224. % Called Claas Graven's Twek ; another Claas Graven' a hoek is mentioned in the old records,— a portion of what subsequently became Cuyler's Patent at Crane's Village below Amsterdam. § Deeds, iv, 140. | Patent, 1673 ; Deeds, iv, 140; see also Van der Baast. 108 History of the Schenectady Patent. Bastiaen De Winter. He was a native of Middleburgh, Holland and came to Albany 1654 and to Schenectady in 1C62. Falling sick, in 1670, lie sold his house in the village and farm on the bouwland to Joris Aertse Vander Baast, Jan Labatie and Elias Van Gyse- ling, with the intention of returning to Holland but died before doing so, about August, 1678. Leaving no heirs in this country, the Dutch church of Albany claimed and probably received his property, for the use of the poor. De Winter's village lot 200 ft. square, was on the south corner of Church and Union streets. His patent was granted by Governor Lovelace, Oct. 21, 1670. On 22 Nov., 1670, he sold his house, barn and northerly half of this lot to Joris Arissen Van Der Baast, the surveyor, and on the next day the southerly half to Jan Labatie of Albany.* Van der Baast occupied his parcel until Feb. 9, 1690, when he was slain by the French and Indians, and his house burned. Sometime previous to 1690, Jan Labatie conveyed the southerly half to David Christoffelse, who was also slain at the same time. In 1699, Peter Bogardus, attorney for the heirs of Van der Baast, conveyed his lot to Gysbert Marcelis of Albany, and in 1716, Caleb Beck by virtue of a con- veyance from Carel Hansen Toll, of date Oct. 4, 1714, became owner of both lots.f De Winter's bouwland was conveyed to him by patent of Gov. Lovelace 21 Oct. 1670 and is described therein as : " a piece of ground at Schenectady to the south of [bouwery] No. 2, being " encompassed with a creek and containing 7 acres or 3 morgens 200 rods as " granted by Gov. Stuyvesant June 15, 1664, to said Bastiaen : — also the " plantation of then belonging to said Bastiaen having been lately measured, "containing in breadth on the west 350 rods abutting on Willem Teller's " first lot, on the north side by Jan Van Eps [late Maritie Damens his '• mother] in length 60 rods ; on the east side on Sander Leendertse Glen's " going with a sloping point south East 236 rods and so it is bounded with " a creek and hath on the south side the high woods."J By deed of date 22 Nov., 1670, De Winter conveyed this farm to Elias Van Gyseling and Pieter Cornelise Viele.§ Soon after Van Gyseling became owner of the whole parcel. || * Deeds n, 788 to 791. f Deeds, v, 343. % Patents, 759 § Deeds, n, 789. || See Van Gyseling. Adult Freeholders. 109 Johannes Dyckman. He was probably a son of Jan Dyckman, Commies of Fort Orange and Beverwyck and was born in 1662.* Marrying Jannetie, daughter of Cor- nells Viele, his father-in-law conveyed to him a farm below the Aal JPlaats, which he abandoned by reason of the Indian alarms after the year 1690.f Jonathan Dyer. He came from Wales, and was a bricklayer by trade. In 1695 he married Maria Dirkse Hessling,J and between that date and 1708, had six children baptized in the church at Schenectady. In 1714, being then a resident of New York, he quit claimed the Sixth flat, on the north side of the river, to Reyer Schermerhorn.§ In 1716 he owned a lot on the north side of State street, purchased probably, of Willeni Appel, of 75 feet front, Amsterdam measure, com- prising the lots of Mr. George Swortfiguer and estate of the late William Cunningham, — numbers 103-111. Hans Janse Eenkluts. He is first mentioned in the records as a servant or soldier in the Dutch West India Company's service, in 1632, and as such was one of those who erected the arms of the States General at Kievits Hoek [ Saybrook], at the mouth of the Connecticut river. || In 1648, on the occasion of Governor Stuyvesant's visit to Fort Orange, he was there, and was employed to clean the Heer Patroon's cannons and fire the salute.** After a long service he retired to Schenectady soon after it was settled, and in his old age was cared for by the church, to whom he left his property for the poor of the village. He died in 1683, leaving no heirs. * His mother Maria, 10 April, 1676, bound him to Maj. Abram Staas, he then being about fourteen years of age. — Not. Papers, I, 556. fLand Papers, vn, 78. \ Jonathan Dyer jonge man van Weels in Englandt en Maria Dirkse weduwe van Harmanus Hagedorn, married Nov. 21, 1695. — Albany Church Records. § Deeds, vi, 192. | Col. Hist., i, 287.— O'Callaghan's Hist.,N. N., i, 149. ** O'Callaghan's Hist. N . N., ii, 71. 110 History of the Schenectady Patent. His farm consisted of 18 morgens of river flats lying in the third ward, bounded by the Mohawk on the north, Front street on the south, the Hansen, or Simon Groofs kil [College brook] on the east, and the Fonda place on the west. After holding this land 180 years, it was sold by the church in 1863, for about $10,000. It was generally used as a cow pasture, and as it was given for the maintenance of the poor, was called the arme wey, or " poor pasture " * Jillis Fonda. The first settler of this name, — Jillis Douwese Fonda, was in Beverwyck as early as 1654, with his wife Hester.f In 1666 she was the widow of Barent Gerritse. Douwe Jillise, son of Jillis Douwese Fonda, married Rebecca . He owned land at Lubberde's landt [Troy], in 1676; and died Nov. 24 (27), 1700. Besides other children he had a son Jillis, who married Rachel, daughter of Pieter Winne of Albany, Dec. 11, 1695, and about 1700, re- moved to Schenectady. He was by trade a gunstocker. At the date of his will made Sept. 8, 1737, his wife and eight of his eleven children were living. Of his sons, Douw removed to Canghnawaga where he was slain by Sir John Johnson's Indians in 1780; Pieter was a shoemaker and tanner and lived upon the south corner of State street and Mill lane (now the site of the Young Men's Christian Association building), and had his tan vats in the rear; Abraham was a carpenter and in 1752, built and occupied the house No. 27 Front, now owned by his great-grandson Mr. Nicholas Yates. Jillis Fonda's farm was next west of the " poor pasture " and his house at the easterly end of Front street was within the memory of many persons marked by two huge elms, which throw their arms across the whole breadth * Church Papers. f Oct. 21, 1656, a suit was brought against her for removing Lewis Cobussen's wife's petticoat from the fence ; — defendant said plaintiff pawned the article for beaver ; — put over.— Dutch MSS., xvi, 2, 14, 15. 29 April, 1664, Hester Douwese assisted by her son Douwe Gillise and her daughter Geertien Gillise, sold to Jan Costerse Van Aeken two distiller's kettles for 400 guilders sewant. — Albany Co. Records, 347. It would seem by this transaction that the husband Jillis Douwese Fonda was deceased. Adult Freeholders. Ill of the street. This lot commenced at the centre line of Mohawk street and extended easterly along the street 480 feet to the Armewey and north to the Mohawk river, comprising latterly 6.43 acres; the land opposite this lot on the south side of the street extending easterly as far as the canal culvert and southerly across the canal and Fonda street, likewise belonged to this farm. He also owned a farm of Jcreupelbos land on the north side of the river about a mile north of Freeman's bridge, now in possession of Mr. Charles Ellis.* Besides this he owned the island called " Fonda's island," next west of Van Slyck's island, containing seven morgens, which he bought about 1736 of Philip Livingston, and devised in his will of date Sept. 8, 173V, to his three sons, — to Pieter two morgens, — to Abraham four morgens, — and to Jacob one morgen. This island originally belonged to Symon Symonse Groot, and was patented to him in 1694. f For a hofstecZe to this island farm he had two morgens of land on the mainland near Claas Gravens' hoek, which in his will was devised to his son Douwe. In addition to this, Reyer Schermerhorn [trustee] conveyed to him 10th April 1702, Kruis bessen (gooseberry) island, containing one morgen, more or less, by virtue of the Dongan Patent of 1684, which island he sold to Hendrick Vrooman and Arent Danielse Van Antwerpen, 22d Sept., 1706, — two morgens, more or less. J Jillis Fonda also owned a village lot on the north side of State street, extending from the canal to the centre of Wall street, at present owned by Messrs. Robert Ellis and Vandebogart brothers. On the 6th April, 1709, he sold this lot to Arent Danielse Van Antwerpen for £48 [ $120 ]; it was "then bounded on the east by the house and lot of " said Arent Danielse [ now Given's hotel lot ], west, by the lot of Willem " Appel [what was not taken by the canal now belonging to the estate of " the late Peter Rowe], north, by the lot of Gysbert Gerritse [ Van Brakel } " and south, by the [State] street ; — length on the east side, 393 feet, — and " on the west side, 348 feet, — breadth on the south, 80 feet, behind on the " north, 83 feet, wood measure." § * See his will, f Patents, 1466. % Sanders Papers. § Deeds, v, 188. 112 History of the Schenectady Patent. VJ ^fj^e^^^^^y Dominie Baenhaedus Feee*man. * Dominie Freerraan, the second minister of the church, was born at Gilhuis, Holland, and came over with Dominie Lydius in 1700. After remaining here five years, he removed to Flatbush, where he died in 1741. He married Margarita Van Schaaick, of New York, in 1705, and left one daughter, who married a son of Secretary Clarkson, whose descendants are still found in Flatbush and vicinity. Dominie Freerman was accounted a good Indian linguist, and with the help of Laurens Claase Van der Volgen, translated a part of the prayer book and portions of the Scriptures, into the Mohawk language ; he baptized many of the natives during his ministry at Schenectady. As missionary of the Mohawks he received a salary from the Provincial Government, of £60, and £15 for expenses, f * Commonly written Freeman ; all his autograph signatures that have come under the compiler's notice, are spelled as above. [In the facsimile signature appended to the cut, it will be seen that he signs without the r.— M'M]. f Col. MSS., xlv, 179. Adult Freeholders. 113 Hendkick Gardenier, alias Flodder. The Garden iers settled mainly in that part of the ancient county of Albany now comprehended in Columbia county. But little is known of Hendrick, beyond the fact that at the time of his death in 1694, he was a resident of Scotac and owned a lot on Union St., next east of the Dutch church lot, and that in the settlement of his estate for the benefit of his widow and children, it was sold to Jillis Van Vorst. The following year, 1695, his widow Neeltie Claase married Johannes Ouderkerk of Albany. To show the change made by time in the value of house lots in Schenec- tady, it may be mentioned that Gardenier's lot, 100 ft. front by 200 ft. deep, was appraised in 1695 at fifteen beaver skins seewant or $16.* Frederick Gerritse. Frederick Gerritse, yeoman, and Elizabeth Carstense his wife, were resi- dents of Schenectady in 1687. On 13th Sept., 1689, he conveyed to Myndert Wemp eight or ten acres of land at Maalwyck and Benten island, formerly belonging to Benjamin Roberts and by him conveyed to said Gerritse in 1687. f Glen. Alexander Leendertse [or Lindsay] Glen came from Scotland by way of Holland about 1633, in the service of the West India company at Fort Nassau on the Delaware. His wife was Catalyn Doncassen,J they both died within about a year of each other, — she Aug. 12, 1684, he Nov. 13, 1685, — leaving three sons Jacob, Sander and Johannes. He was a trader in Beverwyck and elsewhere for more than twenty years before removing to Schenectady, and his transactions seem to have been large both in real estate and merchandise^ * Toll Papers ; see also Van Vorst. f Deeds, iv, 13. \ She was sister of Margaret, first wife of Willem Teller, and perhaps sister of Pieter Loockerman's wife. — Deeds, n, 466. § In 1648 he gave his note to Willem [who ?] for 10,078 guilders wampum, to be reim- bursed iu beaver. — Dutch M8S., in, 11. 15 114 History of the Schenectady Patent. In 1646 he received a patent for a lot in "Smits Valey " [Pearl street], New Amsterdam,* which he sold Aug. 23, 1660, " huysing ende erve gelegen " in de Smits valey opt eyland Manhatans daer tegemoordig lauris Cornelise Van Welin woont, voor . . . . de somme van twee duysent guV\ In 1651 he received a grant of land at Fort Nassau and was preparing to build there, but was prevented by the Sweeds.J He also owned land at Fort Casimer in 1657. § When the company was formed in 1662 to take up lands at Schenectady Sander Leendertse became one of the first proprietors.! * Patents G. G., 152. f Not. Papers, I, 9. \ Col. Doc, i, 595. § Hist. N. N, n. 590. || The following are some of his real estate transactions in Schenectady, Beverwyck and elsewhere, as shown by the records : 1646, July 2, he received patent for lot in " Smils valey," New Amsterdam. — Patents Q. G., 152. 1652, April 28, received patent for garden by the river in Albany, owned by Evert Pels, 1661.— Albany Co. Bee, 293. 1653, took oath of allegiance to Heer Van Rensselaer. — Albany Annals, n, 185. 1655, had a lot south of the lot of Willem Fred. Bont near the river. — Albany Co. Bee, 21T. 1660, Aug. 13, mortgaged his house and lot where Jan Vinhagel lives for 576 gl. — Ibid, 277. 1660, 22 Dec, had a lot 30Uth and east of Annatie Bogardus.— Ibid, 289. 1661, had a garden south of Evert Pels' house and lot on the river — Ibid, 293. 1661, May 7, gave bond to Jan Sebast : Van Gutsenhoven for 975 gl. 12 st. — Ibid, 369. 1661, bought the house and lot of Marten Gerritse Van Bergen, sold under execution. — Ibid, 390-2. April 17, 1662, sold part of a lot adjoining the hill to Jan Tomase Witbeck, for which he had a patent, 23 April, 1652.— Ibid, 300. Oct. 25, 1662, sold the house where he now lives, lot and two gardens to Jan Bastiaense Gudsenhoven. — Ibid, 314. Oct. 26, 1662, sold his house next to Dominie Schaet's, to Thomas Powell, this lot was obtained by patent, 23 April, 1652.— Ibid, 314. Oct. 17, 1663, sold to Jan Clute his house and lot on the hill. — Ibid, 336. Dec. 28, 1663, sold his two gardens behind Heer Van Rensselaer's house to Juriaen Theunise Tappen.— Ibid, 341. Dec. 29, 1663, sold a garden in or near Fort Orange to Caspar Jacobse [Halenbeck]. — Ibid, 341. July 8, 1664, mortgaged his lands— upland and meadow, housing and cattle in Gravesend to Sarah Bridges of New York.— Deeds Sec. State's Office. Adult Freeholders. 115 Sander Glen's village lot was on the west side of Washington street, beginning at the north line of the lot belonging to the estate of the late Judge Paige and extending 200 (*r) feet northerly along said street. This lot passed by descent to his eldest son Jacob Sanderse and from the latter to his son Johannes Jacobse, who sold the southerly half in 1704 to Claas Van Petten. In 1707, Johannes son of Johannes Jacobse Glen, by will bequeathed the northerly half to his brother Sander, who in 1750 bequeathed the same to his son Isaac. On the death of the latter he left this lot with other property to Jillis and Jacob Fonda, sons of his sister Susanna and Abraham Fonda.* The farm of Sander Leendertse lying on the north side of the river was called N~ova Scotia or more common^ Scotia. The patent of date 3 Nov., 1665, describes this bouwery as "a parcel of land between the lake and the " river over against the town of Schenectady, — 100 acres or 50 inorgens — " in confirmation of a purchase of the grantee from the Indians."f The Glen property extended along the river from "Claas Graven's hoek" easterly to " Luysig hoek," just above Freeman's bridge, comprising with the additions several hundred acres. By marriage this estate passed to the Sanders family by whom a large portion of it is still held. Besides the above land, Sander Leendertse also owned two bouwery s numbered three on the Great Flat which his grandson Johannes, son of Jacob Glen, sold to Claas Van Petten in 1704. J Aug. 18, 1664, sells a house and lot on the hill, lately Marten Gerritse Van Bergen's, to Jan Hendiickse Van Baal. — Albany Co. Bee, 358. Nov. 3, 1665, received patent for land at Scotia. — Patents. Sept., 1665, he owned a lot south and east of David Pieterse Schuyler. — Albany Co. Bee, 392. May 11-21, 1667, he gave his bouwery at Scotia to his three sons. — Albany Co. Bee, 423. 9 Mar., 1669, he again conveys his bouwery at Schenectady to hia three sons, which bouwery he had received by patent 3 Nov., 1665. — Ibid, 436. Aug. 12, 1670, mortgaged his house and bouwery at Schenectady to Abram Staes for 288 gl.— Ibid, 504. 10 Jan., 1672, sold his lot opposite the court house, Albany, to Juriaen Theunise Tappen. — Albany Co. Bee, 492. * Dr. Alex. Fonda's Papers. f Patents, 21. X See Van Petten. 116 History of the Schenectady Patent. The foremost lot No. 3 which lies next west of the Schermerhorn farm No. 4 is described as " bounded on the east by lot No. 4, with a slaint line "between both lots south east by south and to the west [south-west] the " woods, — 10 morgens, 130 rods. — also two morgens of land being part of " the hind lot, being also lot No. 3, which Van Petten must take along the " swamp or kil that runs beneath the hill by the highway."* This latter parcel was taken from the south end of the lot next the highway [river road]; the remaining ten morgens were retained and held by the Glen family, and in 1707 passed by will of Johannes Glen to his younger brother Sander. The Van Petten bouwery, — the foremost lot No. 3, passed latterly into the Schermerhorn family and made part of their farm. Sander Leendertse likewise owned a pasture, next east of the Borsboom pasture on the north side of Front street, containing about 2 £ morgens. This lot commenced 299 feet east of North street and had a front of 17 Rhynland rods or 210 feet English, and extended north to the river. About 1670 he sold it to Jan Labatie of Albany.f The ^j May, 1667, and again 9th March, 1669, Sander Leendertse con- veyed his Scotia lands to his three sons, and on the 23 Aug., 1686, Gov. Dongan renewed the patent to Sander and Johannes (their brother Jacob being deceased), for the above lands together with an addition of three [morgens] of woodland adjoining.^ In Jacob's will dated Aug. 14, 1685, he directed that his " lands at " Nova Scotia near Schanegtade, at present used by my brothers to wit, " Sander and Johannes shall remain in their hands, provided they pay due " rent for the same," — said land to be kept in the f amily.§ Jan. 30 168f, "Capt. Sander Glen, Johannes Glen his brother, of Nova " Scotia, in the county of Albany, yeoman, and Antje wife of Capt. " Sander Glen, and Antje wife of Johannes Glen, for sixty-eight good "beavers, sold to Claas Van Petten of the manor of Rensselaerswyck, a "parcel of land between the river and the lake over against Schenectady, " comprising twelve morgens of land, bounded east by land of Capt. Sander " Glen, south by the river, west by land of Johannes Glen and north by " the lake."|| * Deeds, N., 324. f Patents, 758. % Col. MSS., xxn, 97 ; Deeds, n, 671, 712. § Will, Court of Appeal's office. || Deeds, rv, 330. Adult Freeholders. 117 The above twelve morgens of land, doubtless Jacob Glen's share — remained in the possession of Claas Van Petten until purchased back by exchange, by Johannes, Jacob's eldest son and heir, April 6, 1704. In this transaction Claas Van Patten reconveyed not only said twelve morgens, but also " another piece on the north side of the river as by said Johannes Jacobse Glen's transport appears," and in exchange for the same, Johannes Jacobse Glen conveyed to him a piece of land now in Van Pettens' occupa- tion, adjoining the lot of Reyer Schermerhorn, being lot No. 3, on the bouwland, bounded on the east by lot No. 4 "with a slaint line between both lots south-east by south, and to the west [south-west] the woods,"— ten morgens 130 rods ; — also "two morgens of land being part of the hind- most lot being also No. 3 which Van Petten must take along the swamp or kil that runs beneath the hill by the highway; " — " also the half lot in the said town of Schenectady bounded to ye north the other half of ye lot now in occupation of Johannes Jacobse Glen, to ye east the highway [Washington street], to the west the river [Binnk kil] and to the south the lot of Evert Van Eps, which he Glen doth convey to said Van Petten by virtue of a patent granted by Governor Stuyvesant to Sander Leendertse Glen grandfather of said Johannes Jacobse Glen June 16, 1664.*" Capt. Sander Glen died about 1695, without issue, leaving his estate to the children of his two brothers, Johannes and Jacob. Jacob Glen of Albany, son and heir of Jacob Sanderse Glen, deceased, of said city, on the 30th Aug. 1 707, conveyed to his uncle Johannes Sanderse Glen of Schenectady, his lauds at Scotia opposite Schenectady ; " lot in the town lying between lots of Arent Van Petten and Johannes Wemp ; — and lot to the South of said town between lots of Reyer Schermerhorn on the east and west sides as bequeathed to said Jacob by his father Jacob San- derse Glen by will dated 14th Aug., 1685, and by last will of his uncle Sander Glen deceased dated July 19 1690, and made over to him [Jacob Glen] by Harmanus Wendel and Anna his wife and by Helena Glen, co- heirs of said Jacob Glen, by conveyance of even date of these presents." Consideration £205 [$512 50 ].f By inheritance and pui'chase, Johannes Sanderse Glen thus became pos- sessor of the larger portion of his father's estate at Scotia, which after his death in 1731, passed to his two sons, Col. Jacob and Abraham Glen; — the former dwelt in the brick house built by his father in 1713, and still * Deeds, iv, 324 ; See also Van Petten. f Deeds, v, 59. 118 History of the Schenectady Patent. standing;— the latter occupied the wooden house standing easterly there- from and now occupied by Mrs. Connor. It is understood that Jacob purchased his brother's right in the estate, which he left to his only daughter and heir Debora, who married Johannes Sanders of Albany. And finally on the 27th of April, 1765, John Glen, Esq., of Albany, and John Glen, Jr., of Schenectady (and Catharine his wife), eldest son and heir of Jacob Glen of Albany, deceased, who was eldest son and heir of Johannes Jacobse Glen of Schenectady, deceased, who was eldest son and heir of Jacob Sanderse Glen, deceased, who was eldest son and heir of Sander Leendertse Glen of Schenectady, deceased, who died intestate; — conveyed to John Sanders of Schenectady, for £4,000 [$10,000]— "All " that tract of land called Scotia between the lake and the river over against "the town of Schenectady — 100 acres — Also those two dwelling houses on " Scotia's upland [above mentioned] and land thereunto belonging, herein- " after more fully described; — Also the lake and an island in the lake and " the cripplebush and Swamp or lowland lying between the lake and the "river; — Also a certain piece of land running from Nova ScQtia westerly " upwards along the Mohawk river 100 rods, thence with a north line into " the woods 100 rods all Rynland measure, thence with a straight line to " the northernmost end or part of a certain lake, which is lying a little " behind the land of Nova Scotia, and from thence along said lake and the " lake's kil or creek as the same runs including the same to the Mohawk " river, from thence westwardly, upwards and along said river to the place " of beginning, containing about 60 acres more or less; — Also another " parcel on the west bounds of Nova Scotia of 40 acres; — Also a tract " called Achter-Wey and cripplebush lying between the lake and the river u and the lake's kil, which said last tract contains part of the first mentioned " tract."* The two small islands in the Mohawk just west of the Glen house, also belonged to the Glen estate, — the one called Spuyten Duyvd now almost removed by the floods and Kruisbessen [gooseberry] island, which was purchased in 1750 by Col. Jacob Glen of Isaac Swits.f Spuyten Duyvel together with a parcel of boslandt was purchased of the trustees of Schenectady by Johannes Sanderse Glen in ]705 for £16-10 [$41. 25].} * Deeds, vni, 270. f Sanders Papers; Jno. Sanders' will. % A parcel of " boslandt gelegen achter U. E. lant op Schotia " for £36 ; also " aen parcell boslandt Rondt Scotia en Spieten Duyvel' s island " for £16-10. — Oroote Schull boek. Adult Freeholders. 119 In 1*706 Johannes Sanderse Glen owned a brew house; the lot on which this stood was on the east side of Washington street, 150 feet north of Front street, on the bank of the river. In 1734 this lot was the property of Jan Baptist Van Eps, to which he added in the rear a parcel by exchange with Myndert Van Gyseling.* The following were the children of Sander Leendertse Glen, the first settler. Jacob the eldest son, settled in Albany as a trader, where he married Catharina, daughter of Jan Tomase Witbeck ; after his death in 1685, f she married Jonas Volkertse Douw. His children were Johannes born 1675, Anna born 1677, wife of Harmanus Wendel, of Albany, Jacob born 1679, Helena born 1683, and Sander born 1685. J Capt. Sander Glen, the second son of Sander Leendertse, was born in 1647 and died in 1695. His wife was Antje, daughter of Jan Barentse Wemp ; after his death she married Abraham Groot in 1696. He left no children. By his will made July f 9, 1690, half of his property was devised to the children of his brothers Jacob and Johannes. Through his wife he came into possession of a portion of the estate of his wife's father and stepfather, Sweer Teunise Van Velsen [Westbrook.]§ His residence was in Scotia, near the site of the ancient Glen House. Johannes the youngest son of Sander Leendertse Glen was born in 1648. He settled in Schenectady and married first Annatie, daughter of Jan Peek, and secondly Diwer, daughter of Evert Wendel of Albany and widow of Myndert Wemp, in 1691. The ancient house standing in Scotia, the resi- dence of Charles P. Sanders, was built by him in 1713 and occupied until his death in 1731.J * Deeds, in, 99. f In Albanie anno 1685, Oct. 2 is myn broeder Jacob Sanderse dieiaken in den Here ont- slapen s'naghs ontrenteen winnigh naer 2 Vren tussen widay en saterdagh. — Albany Annals, xi, 47. % See " Albany Families " and will of Sander Glen among Bratt Papers. § See Wemp and Ven Velsen I [The Sanders (old Glen) house, is situated on a pretty bluff overlooking the river and its islands, and the town, less than a mile distant, nestling amid the trees under the hills. The view is charming, as it doubtless ever has been. The building as seen in the photo- graph of it is large and dignified in appearance. 120 History of the Schenectady Patent. Besides the property before mentioned inherited from his father and brother, he obtained through his wife a portion of the Wemp and Van Velsen estates. He had eight children all by his first wife.* Symon Symonse Groot. He came to New Netherland about the year 1645, a's boatswain of the ship Prince Maurits*, and purchased a house of Jacob Roy in New Ams- terdam. About ten years later he became a resident of Beverwyck where he purchased a house lot and remained until 1663, when he hired a bouwery of 25 or 30 morgens at Schenectady of Gerrit Bancker and Harmen Vedder.J He married Rebecca, daughter of Philip Du Trieux of New Amsterdam, and had six sons and four daughters ; of whom Symon, Abraham, Philip, Dirk and Claas were captured by the French and Indians and carried away to Canada in 1690. The year following they were redeemed. Symon Groot's home lot in the village, was on the northerly side of Union street 100 feet westerly from Church street ; fifty feet front and extending through to Front street more than 400 feet. It remained in the family several generations.§ A large Dutch cleft door opens into a hallway of very ample dimensions in the centre of the house ; the rooms on either side, though low ceiled, are large. The exterior is stuccoed. The roof is surmounted by a railed-in platform, giving a view down upon the very large farm (900 acres about), which pertains to the place. The house is English in style, though the wing or L in rear, has the characteristic sharp Dutch gable. (It probably ante-dates the main building.) — M'M] * See " Schenectady Families " Wemp and Van Velsen. f In 1654, he had a claim against the Dutch West India company lor services rendered of 684 guilders.— Deeds, n, 43 ; Albany Co. Bee, 207. 1659, he owned a lot in Beverwyck next south of Uldrick Kleyn's. — Albany Co. Bee, 268. 1659, offered the same for sale — size 4 rods x 1)4. rods, house 20 ft. sq. — Ibid, 274. 1660, had a lot south of Pieter Vrooman's on the Third Ml, Albany. — Ibid, 283. 1662, proposing to remove to Esopus he empowered Jan Withart to sell his house and lot in Beverwyck. — Not. Papers, i, 79, 271. 1667, 2 May, he had patent for a lot without the town of Albany, which passed into the possession of Jan Withart. — Albany Co. Bee, 145. IThis lease ran for 6 years at a rent of 500 guilders and included with the land, a dwelling house, barn, ricks, six draft horses including a mare, six milch cows, two sows, etc. Not. Papers, i. § Deeds, m, 324. Adult Freeholders. 121 He also owned a small island which came into his possession in 1667, de- scribed in the confirmatory patent, Aug. 9, 1694, as " a small island in the " Mohawk river within the town of Schenectady possessed for twenty-seven "years, to wit, a certain small island lying in the Mohawk river to the north " of the Hbek*, or point of Reyer Jacobsen's [Schermerhorn] and to the " southward of the island belonging to Joris Aertsen [Van der Baast] and " to the westward of the island lately belonging to Sweer Teunissen deceased " [Van Slyck's,] containing five morgens or ten acres."f This was subsequently owned by Jillis Fonda. Symon Symonse Groot, Jr. He was the eldest son of the first settler. After his return from captivity he married in 1692, Geertruy, daughter of Jan Rinckhout of Albany. His village lot was on the north side of State street and extended from Jan Baptist Van Eps' lane [Jay Street] westerly to the American Hotel, 155 feet Amsterdam measure. He also had a parcel of wood or pasture ground on the north side of Union street, extending from the west line of the Presbyterian church lot to the east line of the Harmanus Peek lot — 23 rods, and extending in the rear 47 rods to Green street, containing one morgen and 481 rods, Rynland measure. In 1726 this was called Dirk Groot's pasture, — brother of Symon. In 1709 he leased of the town 36 acres of the Third flat on the north side of the river. Philip Groot. He settled on the north side of the river at or near Crane's Village, then called Claas Graven's hoek, or by the natives Adriucka. His land — a portion of the original Cuyler's patent extended down the river, to Lewis' creek. He married Sarah, daughter of Jacobus Peek of the Second flat ; and was drowned in the river in 1717.J Abraham Groot. Son of the first settler, married Antje Wemp, widow of Sander Glen in 1696, and secondly Hesterje, daughter of Harmen Visscher of Albany, in 1699, by whom he had several children. * Be Bakker's Hoek. f Patents, 1466. \ See Sim's Hist Scho. Co. 16 122 History of the Schenectady Patent. On the 10th March, l70f, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to "him " and his brother Dirk, — to each one-half — fourteen morgens of woodland, " bounded west by the woodland of Barent Vrooman, south by the Niskayuna " Path [Union street], east by the hill called Niskayuna Bergh [College Hill], "to be measured north from the highway." This parcel extended along the north side of Union street 96 rods Ryn- land measure or 1152 feet, — from a point 152 feet easterly from Fonda street to a point 192 feet easterly from lot 187 Union street, — or about half way up College hill* and 87£ rods in the rear. This parcel was divided into two equal portions by an easterly and westerly line, Dirk taking the northerly half and Abraham the southerly half lying along the street. Subsequently Dirk sold his half to Philip Livingston of Albany, who 24 March, 173-f, exchanged it for a parcel of 12 morgens on the Kallebergh, called the Varken's Kraal, owned by the town.f Hendrick Hagedorn. He settled at the Aal-plaats\ near Jonathan Stevens, whose daughter Anna he married in 1716. He was probably a son of Harmanus Hagedorn whose widow Maria Dirkse married Jonathan Dyer in 1695. 15 Sept., 1733, Johannes and Hendrick, two Indians, conveyed to Hendrick Hagedorn an Aal-plaats lying near the " Aal-plaats kil, beginning at a "point 100 rods above the riff on the north side of the Mohawk river and " running thence 200 rods down the river, thence across the river to the south "bank, thence 200 rods up the river, thence across the river to the place " of beginning, all the water within these four bounds — for the purpose of " fishing and hunting." Signed by Johannes with the mark of the turtle, and by Hendrick with the mark of the deer.§ William Halt,. He was a citizen of Schenectady as early as 1695, when he married Tryntje Claese, widow of Elias Van Gyseling. He had three sons and one daughter. * [To a point now in premises of Judge J. S. Landon, S. Ct. S. K Y.— M'M.] f Dutch Church Papers. % {Eel-place — eel fishery in river — M'M]. § This is the only mention of fishing rights -which the compiler has met with among documents relating to Schenectady. Adult Freeholders. 123 Dirk Hesseling. In 1666, he was a resident of Albany where he owned a house ; subse- quently he removed to Schenectady where he bought a bouwery of Juriaen Teunise Tappen in 1671. The year following, — Feb. 1, 167£, he sold to Harmen Vedder " de Bouwery (daer de Voorz : Dirk Hessenlingh op woont "op Schanechtede), soo het landt,als thuys, Schuer, ende twee berghen, <#c, " so als het de Vborn de Hesselingh Van Juriaen Teunissen gecocht heeft ".gehadt" &c, to be delivered May 1 to Vedder together with the seed in the ground, the grantee promising to pay 20 whole beavers to Juriaen Teunissen.* In 1670 he bought Dirk Van Schelluyne's land at Lubberde's landt [Troy] sold under an execution ; this was still in his possession in 1675. f In 1667 he married Eytje Hendrickse, one of three sisters who were taken prisoners by the Indians at Yonkers in 1655 ; Albrechtje was in captivity twelve years and was only rescued in 166 7, being brought into New Haven ; Eytje, probably a widow, was living in Schenectady in 1697. J Paulus Janse alias Poweltn. But little is known of him beyond the fact that he received a patent in 1669 for a small parcel of ground on the Binne kil which three years later he sold to Christiaau Christiaanse.§ In the massacre of 1690 his son Arnout was carried away to Canada by the French. Jan Janse Joncker alias Van Rotterdam. He was an early resident of Schenectady and before 1678 a landholder. His village lot was on the east side of Church street, adjoining the Dutch church lot now owned by Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Benjamin. Before 1690 it had passed into the possession of Jan Mebie, and in a deed to him * This was the hindmost farm No. 8, of the bouwland, originally patented to Marten Cornelise Van Isselsteyn, now comprising the homestead of Mr. John D. Campbell. — Deeds, n, 796. Albany Co. Rec, 478. f Albany Co. Rec, 502, 118. % A Robert (Dirk?) Hesselingh was killed in the massacre of 1690. — Albany Annals, ix, 89. § Deeds, n, 811 j see also Christiaanse. 124 History of the Schenectady Patent. given in 1708 to supply the loss of the one burned in the destruction of the town in 1690, it is described as " lying on the street called the ' Cross street,' " having to the north the heirs of Hendrick Brouwer, deceased, on y e south " y e town [church] lot, on the east the lot of heirs of Jan Pootmau, deceased, " containing in breadth at y e [Church] street 108 feet and behind 107 feet, " in length on y e north and south sides 206 feet, wood measure."* In 1678 Jan Janse Yoncker alias Rotterdam and Pieter Cornelise Viele petitioned the Governor for permission to settle on the Second flat on the north side of the river and were answered that " they have liberty to Im- " prove their land provided they do not goe to live upon it but at Schanec- " tade or [among] the Inhabitants of Maalwyck." This flat then consisted of about 70 acres and was divided into equal portions, — Van Rotterdam taking the westerly half and Viele the easterly portion. Shortly before 1690 the latter died, leaving a widow and two sons; and in 1699 she con- veyed her rights in this farm to her son Lewis Viele, who probably about 1708 released the same to the trustees of Schenectady by whom it was leased for a term of years to Symon Groot, Jr. In 1718 they conveyed this parcel of land to Reyer Schermerhorn, and his descendants have held it until this day.f Letters of administration on Van Rotterdam's estate were issued 23 Feb., 170| to his sons-in-law Benjamin Lenyn, Willern Boin and Manasseh Sixbery. Rotterdam had five (?) daughters who probabiy inherited his portion of this flat. In 1717 Caleb Beck was empowered to sell two-fifths of it for two of them. Johannes Kleyn. He came to Schenectady about 1678; his wife Maria, only daughter and heir of Ludovicus Cobes, secretary of the village, on the death of Kleyn, married Thomas Smith, and Feb. 4, 170£, petitioned the Court of Common Pleas of Albany county, to admit her late husband's will to probate, saying that he died the 2d Oct., 1686, at his house above Schenectady; — that he made a will leaving half of the Fourth flat to the use of his wife, said * Deeds, v, 80. f Gen. entries, 32, p. 12 ; Col. MSS., xxvni, 18 ; Deeds, iv, 215 ; Deeds, vi, 464 ; Toll Papers ; Map of Ph. Ver Planck, 1718. See Second Flat. Adult Freeholders. 125 Mary, during her lifetime and after her decease to her children; that said will was written hy her father Ludovicus Cobes, and that said will was lost in the destruction of Schenectady.* Kleyn had five daughters, — Weyntje; Baata or Baafie who married Willeni Marinus; Clara; Anna, wife of Pieter Clement; and Catrina, wife of Thomas Davie. On the 22 Aug., 1678, Sander Glen petitioned the Governor and Council for a grant of the Fourth flat for Ludovicus Cobes and Johannes Kleyn, his son-in-law, and on the 11th Dec, 1684, the patentees of Schenectady conveyed the same, — the easterly half to Cobes and the westerly half lying on Arent Mebie's kil to his son-in-law. f Jan Labatie (Labadie). Jan Labatie, a native of France, came to New Netherlands prior to 1634; subsequently he was Commissaris to the Patroon of Rensselaerswyck and afterwards held a like office at Fort Orange under the Dutch West India Company. J He married Jillesje Claese Swits [or Schouw], sister of Cornelis Claese Swits of New Amsterdam, and widow of Surgeon Harmen Myndertse Van de Bogart, who died in 1647 or 1648.§ Besides divers lots in New Amsterdam and Beverwyck he purchased lands at Schenectady. [| * Dutch Church Papers, Schenectady. f Col. MSS., xxviii, 18 ; Deeds, v. 196; see also Cobes, Tarn Smit ; Dutch Church and Toll Papers. % O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N., i, 434. § Surgeon Van der Bogart made his will in September, 1638, " as he intends to go on a long and perilous West India voyage." He gave all his property to Jillisje Claese [Schow], maiden, of Zierickzee, " to keep in her own possession for herself and her heirs," " provided she give to his relatives " six carolus guilders with which they must be satisfied." — Albany Records, i, 44. || Aug. 19, 1654, he empowered Paulus Schrick to sell his house and lot standing in the fort at Manathans. — Albany Co. Rec, 188. 11 Nov., 1654, lie conveyed the last mentioned house and lot to Adrian Janse Van Leyden.— Ibid, 212. April 23, 1655, the last mentioned sale was cancelled. — Ibid, 213. Lots bought and sold at Beverwyck. 1661, Feb. 4, he owned a house and lot in Fort Orange, patented to him April 12 1650, which he sold to Evert Pels.— Ibid. 291. 126 History of the Schenectady Patent. His village lot in the last place was on the north side of State street, beginning 170 feet easterly from Church street and having a breadth in front upon the street of 50 ft. Subsequently it came into possession of Reyer Schermerhorn.* In 1669 Pieter Jacobse Borsboom conveyed to him, in exchange for a house and lot on Broadway, Albany, next south of the court house, his bouwery No. 7 on the second piece of land at Schenectady, comprising 11 morgens and 263 rods, which land Labatie afterwards sold to Johannes Van Eps.f He likewise received conveyance from Bastiaen De Winter, Nov. 21, 1670, of a lot on the east side of Church street, "broad 100 feet " more or less, bounded east by Pieter Van Olinda, south by Teunis " Cornelise Swart, north by Joris Avissen Van der Baast and west by the " highway [Church street]," according to the patent of date 21 October, 16704 This lot, 100 feet wide on Church street and 200 feet deep, commenced 100 feet south of the south corner of Union and Church streets. He also obtained a patent of date, Sept. 10, 1670, to confirm to him a certain lot of ground at Schenectady, being the first lot in the pasture or weylcmd, and another lot there adjoining, containing together in breadth by the woodside, 32 rods, and in length, 89 rods, having to the north the swamp or creiqiel-bosch, and to the south [east], Barent Janse, the former lotas purchase* of Sander Leendertse Glen, — the latter as purchased of 1662, he bought of S. L. Glen a lot 18 ft. 4 in. wide frout and rear, and 22£ ft. deep on the east side of Broadway a little north of Hudson street.— Not. Pap, i, 204. 1662 20 Aug., he conveyed to Surgeon Jacob D'Hinsse a house and lot on the Butten Ml patented to him 25 Oct., 1653.— Albany Co. Bee, 308. 1664, Sept. 15, he had a house and lot opposite Thomas Powell's. — Ibid, 360. 1668-9, Jan. 7, he bought of Ackes Cornelise Vau Slyck a house and lot in the Oolonie. — Ibid, 453. 1668-9, Jan. 12, he sold the last mentioned lot to Barent Pieterse [Coeymans].— Ibid, 454. 1669, Sept. 17, he sold a lot next south of the court house to P. J. Borsboom.— Ibid, 459. Lands bought and sold at Schenectady. 1669 Sept. 17, he bought of P. J. Borsboom his first lot at Schenectady.— Ibid, 460. 1670 Nov. 21, he bought a lot in Schenectady of Bastiaen De Winter. — Ibid, 474. * Deeds, rv, 34, 298. t Deeds, n, 759. % Deeds, n, 788. Adult Freeholders. 127 Pieter Jacobse Borsboora by said Labatie.* This lot commenced on the north side of Front street 114 feet Eng., east from North street, and extended easterly therefrom 395.6 feet Eng., comprising about five morgens or ten acres. Subsequently it became the property of Maritie Damens, mother of Jan Van Eps.f Benjamin Lenyn (Linne, La Noy). He was from Picardy, and settled first in the Woestyne,\ on the south side of the Mohawk river, but subsequently removed farther west into the Maquaas country, where he was living as late as 1736.§ On the 20th April, 1708, the patentees of Schenectady granted to him u a " certain parcel of land about three miles down the Schenectady river, and " on the south side thereof, — one part thereof joins on the north-east side of " the creek, that which parts this and y e woodland of Claas and Tjerk Fran- " sen [Vande Bogart], and lays between said river and the hill called Calle- "bergh\ containing ten morgens or twenty acres ; as also three morgens of "woodland, situate on the said hill, called y e Callebergh, together with five " morgens more situate about 50 yds. north from y e said three morgens, — " altogether 18 morgens or 36 acres."** This parcel is now included in the farm of Mr. George G. Maxon. Jan Lens ( Lensh ). He was in Schenectady as early as 1684, and a resident here as late as 1706. In 1684, the patentees of Schenectady conveyed to him a parcel of land in the Woestyne behind the flat of Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen ; after holding this farm 20 years, he reconveyed it to the patentees of the town, Feb. 1, 17 Of, and soon after probably left the township. The patentees sold this land Dec. 31, 1705, to Jan Danielse Van Antwerpen. ff * Patents, 758, see also, Glen and Borsboorn. t O'Callaghan Hist. N. N., i. % [ Woestyne = Wilderness. — M'M.] § Dutch Church records ; John Dunbar's -will. || [Calleburgh = a bare hill.— M'M.] ** Dutch Church Papers. ft Deeds, rv, 293 ; Groote Sclmlt boek. 128 History of the Schenectady Patent. PlETER MANGELSE. He was probably a son of Jan Mangelse of Albany; his wife was Jannetie Du Scheen. They had two children baptized in the church at Schenectady in 1700 and 1702, but were not afterwards mentioned in the records.* David Marinus. He married Rachel Hanse and had several children baptized in the church. On the 4th Nov., 1676, the magistrates of Schenectady ; — Sander Glen, Sweer Teunise Van Velsen, Jan Van Eps, Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen and Teunis Cornelise Swart — conveyed to him a piece of woodland at the end of the valley by the " Stone flats," in Glenville.f In 1740 David Marinus (peihaps son of the above) bought of the town 36 morgens of land at Poopendaal \Beukendaal\\ Marten Maurits. He was owner of one-half of "VanSlyck's island" lying immediately west of Schenectady. He died in the fall of 1662, and his brother Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck inherited his property. The island was at first called " Marten's island " and was owned by Marten Maurits and Jan Barentse Wemp in common. § Gerrit Marselis. He was a son of Marselis Janse of Albany and early settled here ; — in the massacre of ] 690 he was slain with his wife and one child. His village lot was on the north side of State street, having a front of 55 feet Amsterdam measure. This lot comprising numbers 139 to 143 now belongs to the estate of the late William McCamus. * Church Records. f Deeds, v, 75. In 1664 one David Maries [perhaps Marinus] was in Beverwyck. — Albany Co. Bee, 64. % Oroote Schult boek. § Notarial Papers, i, 48, 74 ; see also Van Slyck and J B. Wemp ; patent of this island of date Nov. 12, 1662, in Union College Library. Adult Freeholders. 129 On the 6th April, 1708, the trustees of Schenectady, — Johannes Sanderse Glen, Adam Vrooman, Jan Mebie and Arent Vedder conveyed the above mentioned lot to Gysbert Marselis brother of Gerrit; — in the deed they say, " whereas to our knowledge Gerrit Marselis late of Schenectady deceased, " when Schenectady was destroyed by the French, was in quiet possession " of a lot in said town on the north side of the street called Martelaers' " straat, of rack* having to the east the lot of Purmerent [Van der Volgen], '* on the west the lot of Douwe Aukes, to the north the pasture of Gysbert " Gerritse [Van Brakel], and as the writing is lost, or destroyed," etc., his brother Gysbert Marselis of Albany, asked for a conveyance which said trustees granted. And on the first day of April, 1709, Gysbert Marselis shoemaker of Albany, quit claimed this same lot to Myndert, son of Gerrit Marselis, deceased, late of Schenectady. f In 1716 it was owned by Daniel Danielse Van Autwerpen. Ahasuerus Marselis. He was a son of Marselis Janse, from Boimnel, in Guilderland, Holland, who early settled in Albany. Ahasuerus removed to Schenectady about 1698.J By trade he was a shoemaker and had his shop on the south corner of Mill lane and State street. On the 20th April, 1708, Johannes Sanderse Glen, Adam Vrooman, Gysbert Marselis, Jan Mebie and Arent Vedder, trustees of Schenectady, for £5 [$12 50 ] conveyed to Ahasuerus Marselis two lots on the south side of said town under the hill ; — "one lying opposite the " house of Gysbert Van Brakel [Col. Robert Furman's corner], 28 feet square, "the other on the north east side of the mill dam adjoining thereto, near the " south side of the mill path [Mill Lane] — in length on the west and east "sides 64 ft., — in breadth on the north and south sides 34 ft."§ The first above described lot subsequently became the property of Pieter Fonda ; and the second lot in the rear, near Mill creek, was used jointly by Marselis Fonda and Robert Yates, all shoemakers, for their tan vats. On the 4th May, 1753, Ahasuerus Marselis, cordwainer, quit claimed his interest in the tanyard above described, to Abraham Yates, merchant, to wit, one sixth of the tan pits and land as described below — : * [ Martelaers 1 straat, of rack = Martyr's street (State street) or to the highway.— M'M.] t Deeds, v, 114. X Annals of Albany, vn, 57 ; in, 43-5 ; vi, 292. § Dutch Church Papers. 17 130 History of the Schenectady Patent. " Whereas Johannes Sanderse Glen, Folkert Symonse [Veeder] and Symon " Swits trustees for sundry parcels of land belonging to the Nether Dutch " Reformed Church of Schenectady, together with Jacobus Van Dyck and " Gerrit Symonse [Veeder] elders, Arnout De Graaf, Harmen Van Slyck "Gysbert Van Brakel, deacons of said church did * * * 8th Dec. 1725 " quit claim to said Ahasuerus Marselis and Robert Yates a certain piece " of ground with the tan pits * * lying to the eastward of said Church's " mill and to the south of the house and lot of John Myndertse [now "Abraham Doty's], and on the west of a road that is to be left to the west "of the fence of Capt. Johannes Bleecker 16 feet wide, for a passage [now "Ferry street extended] to the pasture ground of said Church mill, con- " taining in length along the said road 90 feet to a small run of water, thence " along said run of water to the said road 65 feet, all Amsterdam wood " measure " etc. In 1747, Robert Yates by his will, left his interest in this tan yard to his sons Joseph and Abraham and in 1768 Abraham Yates of the " Mohawk country " quit claimed the same to Joseph R. Yates for ten shillings.* In 1723-7, Marselis had a house and lot on the south side of State street, 60 feet front, next east of the present Dunlap store and lot now occu- pied by the canal. It was subsequently divided into two lots of 30 feet each and occupied by the Van Sices.f Daniel Masceaft (Matheeceaft). He and Jonathan Stevens leased Lysbet Brouwer's farm at the Hoek in 1697 • — he soon disappeared and was not again mentioned in the records. Jan Pieteese Mebie. Jan Pieterse, of the woestyne, married Anna, daughter of Pieter Jacobse Borsboom. His home lot in the village was on the east side of Church street, to the north of the Dutch church, and had a breadth in front and rear of 108 feet, and depth of 206 feet. He was in possession of this lot before 1690, having purchased it, prob- ably, from the administrators of Jan Janse Jonckers.J His son Abraham inherited it after him. On the 6th April, 1708, the trustees of Schenectady, to wit, Johannes Sanderse Glen, Adam Vrooman, Gysbert Marselis and * Henry Yates Papers, f Toll Papers. X Deeds, v, 80. Adult Freeholders. 131 Arent Vedder, gave a new conveyance to Jan Mebie, in the following words : — "Whereas Jan Mebie to our knowledge was in quiet possession of " a lot in Schenectady at the destruction of the town in February 16-|-§- " lying on ^ e street called Cross street [Church], having to the north the " heirs of Hendrick Brouwer deceased, on ye south y e town lott [Dutch " Church lot], on the east the lot of the heirs of Jan Pootman deceased "containing in breadth at ye street 108 feet and behind 107 feet, in length " on ye north and south sides 206 feet wood measure," ..." and since "the writings are lost or consumed in the destruction of said town, said " trustees confirm said lot to said Mebie." This lot is now divided into two lots and owned by Mrs. Washington and Mrs. Benjamin. His farm was on the Third flat on the south side of the river about eight miles above the village. The whole flat, consisting of 127 acres of lowland, was patented in 1680, to Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen by Governor Andros, and in 1706 Daniel Janse sold the westerly half, comprising 63 acres, 79 rods, to Jan Pieterse,* who, by his will made in 1725, bequeathed it to his son Jacob. It was then described as lying between lands of Jacobus Peek on the east, and of Pieter Vrooman on the west.f The descendants of Jan Pieterse still occupy this farm.J * Deeds, v, 79; vi, 215 ; Will in Court of Appeal's office. f Subsequently he removed and settled to the eastward of Daniel Janse. ± [The Mebee house is doubtless the oldest house in the Mohawk valley, if not in the State of New York. It was in existence in 1706, the year that Jau Mebee purchased a portion of the Third flat from Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen. Its walls are of heavy stones, drawn from the neighboring mountain side, laid up without mortar but with joints pointed on outside and plastered inside. The roof is in the pointed gable style so easy to build and so com- mon in the early settlements in New Netherlands. The principal door is at the east end. It is ancient as the heavy iron hinges and latch and its construction indicate. It is in two parts common to old Dutch doors which were said to let the light in while the pigs were kept out. The window frames are heavy timbers and the sashes are of the strong hand-made kind with very heavy sash bars holding quite small glass. The interior consists of a first and second floor and attic space in the peak of the roof, being floored on the " hammer beams." This attic having doubtless been in fre- quent use as a spy loft during the Indian wars which the old house has seen. The ceiling of the lower story is formed by the planed under side of the second floor — this and the heavy joints are discolored by age but are polished by careful rubbing for nearly two centuries. 132 History of the Schenectady Patent. In 1697, Rode, a Mohawk sachem, called by the christians, Dirk, with consent of all the other Indians, granted a parcel of land on both sides of Tionnondorogoes [Schoharie] creek, commonly known by the name of Kadaroda, to Jan Pieterse in consideration that his wife " is something related to the christian castle."* His wife likewise inherited from her father (Borsboom) a quarter part of bouwery No. 7 of the hindmost allotment on the Bouwland, and a portion of Borsboom's lots on the southerly and easterly corners of Front and Washington streets, f The house is situated on a bluff at the edge of the Mohawk and at the concave side of a bend commanding a view of the river for a considerable distance in Neither direction. Itjis the writer's belief that this house, at least its stone walls, date from 1670-80 when Daniel Janse Van Antwerp occupied and receive 1 a patent for the land in the^centre of which it stands. Other buildings have been added near to it (within a few yards) to suit present needs and there have been rumors that the old house is to give place to a more modern and convenient structure. In view of the fact that a brick or stone wing across the end would connect the detached brick building and afford increased space with all modern conveniences and yet preserve unaltered this old hofstede to the Mebee family, and a time honored land mark in the Mohawk valley— its destruction would be regretted. — M'M.] *,'Patents, 1579 ; Deeds, vi, 215. f See Borsboom. Adult Freeholders. 133 Mebie also owned the easterly half of the Fifth or Wolf flat, lying opposite to his farm on the north side of the river, which by his will made April 3, 1725, he devised to his eldest son Pieter. This flat, separated from the Fourth flat by Jan Mebie's or Fifth flat kil, consisted of 25 to 30 (acres ?) morgens of land. It was conveyed to Jan Mebie, 23 May, 1716, by the patentees of Schenectady for £300, and a reserved rent of 15 skipples of wheat, which was paid by all successive owners until 185-4, when it was commuted.* On the 3d Feb., I7l£, Cornells Teunise, eldest son and heir of Teunis Swart, conveyed to Jan Mebie " a pasture bounded west [east] by land of " late belonging to Gerrit Bancker deceased, now unto Willem Abrahamse " [Tietsoort] of Dutchess county, east [west] by lands lately belonging to " Barent Janse [Van Ditmars] deceased now unto Harmanus Vedder, length "92 rods, — breadth by the river 15 rods and by the highway 17 rods by " virtue of a patent granted by Governor Lovelace to said Teunis Cornelise " [Swart] dated Sept. 10, 1670. "f Jan Mebie also received conveyance of another parcel of pasture ground on the north side of Front street, Feb. 12, 17ly, " having to the west the lot of Johannes Teller, east the lot of Har- " manus Vedder, south the highway [Front street], north the Mohawk river, ,; by virtue of a conveyance from Jan Van Eps and Evert Bancker, 15th Aug., 1698. This conveyance was from Marten Cregier and Jannetie his wife, heirs of Maritie Damens. This lot commenced 114 feet Eng., east of North street and had a front on Front street of 395 feet. In 1714, the west half of this pasture was in occupation of Marten Van Beuthuysen brother- in-law of Jan Mebie, who sold the easterly half to Willem Claase Van Cop- pernol.J Besides the bequests above mentioned to his sons Jacob and Pieter, he left to his youngest son Abraham, his house and lot on Church street, one of his pasture lots on Front street and his quarter of bouwery No. 7, — to his daughter the half of his land at Kacloritha for life, afterwards to his sons Pieter and Jacob ; — the three sons to pay to their seven sisters, £650. § * Col. MSS., xxviii ; Toll Papers ; Will, Court of Appeals ; Deeds, xvn, 312. t Toll Papers. X Deeds, v, 232. § Will of Jan Pieterse Mebie. 134 History of the Schenectady Patent. Johannes Myndeetse. He was son of Myndert Frederickse,* of Beverwyck and came to Schenec- tady about 1700; by trade, a smith, he was armorer of the Fort and like most other inhabitants of the village an Indian trader. By the ordinances of the common council of Albany, the inhabitants of Schenectady were forbidden to trade with the natives under heavy penal- ties; and frequent searches and seizures were made of Indian goods by the sheriff. In 1723, Myndertse was arrested by the sheriff for having, contrary to the ordinances, received into and harbored in his house, Indians with beavers and other peltry. He was brought before the council at Albany and fined £10, and in default of payment the sheriff was ordered to keep him safe in the common jail. Shortly thereafter he escaped, and to punish the sheriff for his negligence or connivance, the common council resolved that he should pay the culprit's fine. Myndertse appealed to the Supreme Court of the Province sitting in New York, and gained his cause ; — the common council was mulcted in damages, fees and costs in the sum of £41-9-3. f It is believed this decision effectually established the right of citizens of Schenectady to the same privileges of trade as citizens of Albany. He owned two lots on State street — one on the north side where he had his smiths shop and a bolting house — now the site of Barney & Co.'s store, and another on the west corner of Mill lane and State street, on which his dwelling house stood. The latter was conveyed to him April 6, 1708, by the trustees of Schenectady and described " as a lot on the south side of "a street called the Martelaer 's Straat [State Street], on the east of a lot " belonging to said Myndertse, — in breadth upon the street 64 feet and " behind the same ; — in length [depth] on both sides east and west 35 " feet : — also another lot on the south side of his house and lot 54 feet in "breadth and in length [depth] 17 feet all wood measure. "J The lot on which his house stood next west of the above described lot, had a front on State street of 54 feet ; both together had a frontage of 118 feet. Mr. Abraham Doty now owns a portion of those lots. Myndertse made his will May 4, 1754, — proved Sept. 7, 1757, — and left his real estate to his three sons, Myndert, Reinier and Jacobus.§ * See " Albany Families." t Albany Annals, viii, 286-9, 293-8 ; ix, 16. \ Dutch Church Papers. § Wills, Court of Appeal's office. Adult Freeholders, 135 Thomas Nobel. He married Catarina, daughter of David Marinus in 1701, and had several children baptized in the church here, — the last in 1708. He removed about this time to New York, where he had a child baptized in 1720. In 1706, he occupied lot No. 36 Washington street and the lot next north of it and was probably an innkeeper as he refused to pay for a license " to sell strong liquors."* Dikk Ofmulder. But little is known of him, save that he married Alida Pieterse, widow of Ludovicus Cobes, and in 1698, lived on the easterly half of the Fourth flat, on the north side of the river, on a farm formerly owned by Cobes. They gave Thomas Smith, Cobes' son-in-law, a life lease of the same in 1698.f Helmer Otten. He was from Isens [Essen, Rhenish Prussia (?) ] ; by trade a baker, and owned the north corner of North Pearl and State streets, Albany. The year before his death, which took place in 16 76, J he sold his Albany lot to Dominie Nicholaas Van Rensselaer.§ His wife was Ariaantje, daughter of Arent Bratt, by whom he had a daughter, Tryntje, who married Gerrit Symonse Veeder. After Otten's death his widow married Reyer Schermerhorn. His house lot in Schenectady was on the west corner of Church and Union streets, and comprised one quarter of the block bounded by Wash- ington, State, Church and Union streets, being about 200 feet square. This lot passed to Tryntje, his daughter, and her descendants, the Veeders. His bouwery (No. 4), was that owned by the Schermerhorns at the mills, to whom it came through Reyer's wife. * Johannes Glen's will, Court of Appeal's office ; Albany Annals, v, 150. f Toll Papers ; see also Cobes and Kleyn . % Proceedings of Magistrates 1675-80, fol. 19, Albany city clerk's office. § Deeds, i, 282 ; Albany Co. Records, 122. 136 History of the Schenectady Patent. Both village lot and bouwery, Otten purchased 13th Aug., 16 70, of Pieter Adriaense Soegemakelyk, alias Van Woggelum.* Jacobus Peeck. He was a son of Jan Peeck,f innkeeper, and Maria Du Truy [Truax], of New Amsterdam, where he was baptized Jan. 16, 1656. With his kins- man, Isaac De Trieux, he early took up land on the Second flat, on the south side of the Mohawk, about five miles above the village. He married Elizabeth Teunise and had two sons, Jacobus and Johannes, who succeeded him in the possession of his farm. His mother lived upon the lot on the west corner of Front and Church streets, now belonging to the heirs of the late Jeremiah Fuller ; she died befoi'e the year 1684. The patent conferring title to the Second flat upon Peeck and Du Trieux, was granted by Governor Andros on the 29th Oct., 1677. The survey made by Joris Arissen Vander Baast, describes this parcel of land as being 240 rods long on the woodside, and 150 rods broad, comprising 22 rnorgens and 230 rods, to which is added another parcel on the woodside behind said flat 200 rods long and 30 rods broad, making altogether about 32 rnor- gens and 230 rods of land. Du Trieux died about 1705, when his widow sold her half interest in this flat, probably to the Peecks.J The Second flat is now owned by Mr. John McGue and Mr. Abraham A. Bratt. * Albany Co. Records, 465 ; see also Van Woggelum, Schermerhom and Veeder. t Jan Peeck was probably a resident of Fort Orange before the year 1655, when he sold two houses there to Johannes Dykeman for 1627 gl. — Albany Co. Records, 226. He and his wife were frequently complained of in New Amsterdam, for selling liquor to the Indians and without license, and finally, in 1664, she was fined 500 gl., and banished from Manhattan island ; it is presumed that she retired to Schenectady, where she was found living not long after. — Butch MSS., v, 455 ; vr, 4, 308 ; vin, 80 ; x, 23, 24 ; x 2 , 452 ; x3, 1, 2 ; Council Minutes ; Deeds, m, 324. Mrs. Peeck at the time of her banishment, was said to be " one of the oldest inhabi- tants of the city of New Amsterdam." The town of Peekskill-on-the-Hudson, received its name from Jan Peeck, who ran his vessel into the creek and wintered there. \ Land papers, n, 59; Toll and Dutch Church Papers; Albany Co. Records in Deeds, rv; Col. MSS., 129th vol., p. 197 ; Col. Doc, iv, 802. Adult Freeholders. 137 • Philip Philipse (de Moer). He married Elizabeth, daughter of Harmen Ganzevoort of Albany, about 1685, and soon after took up his residence in the township of Schenectady. He owned or leased a portion of the Sixth flat on the north side of the Mohawk river, which in 1689 he exchanged with Claas Willemse Van Cop- pernol for the Willege/i Vlachte, lying on the south side of the river about one mile above Crane's village.* The descendants of Philipse still reside on or near the Willow flat. Jan Philipse. He was probably a brother of Philip and is first mentioned as a member of the church in 1701. On the 10th March, 170-f-, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to "Jan " Philipse, bachelor, a lot of ground in Schenectady, on the south side of the "street that leads by the church [State street], having to the east six feet " of ground adjoining to the lot of Cornells Slingerland, south the town " stockades, west y L vacant ground belonging to the town, — breadth on the " street three rods and four feet [40 feet],— behind the same, depth on east "and west sides two rods and four feet [28 feet], Rynland measure. "f This lot was on the south-west corner of State street and Water street alley, — in 1713, this lot then having a depth of fifty feet, was conveyed by Arent Bratt, brewer, who lived opposite, to Hendrick Vrooman, Jr., weaver, who, in 1721 mortgaged it to Philip Livingston, merchant of Albany. J Bartholomew Pikkert. He married Eva Claese and had four children baptized in the church here between 1700 and 1706. He lived at the Yerrebergh between Albany and Schenectady, having received a grant of land there in 1717.§ Jan Pootman (Putman). In 1661 being then a resident of Beverwyck, he was apprenticed by Jan Hendrickse Van Bael for three years to Philip Hendrickse Brouwer. He * Deeds, iv, 234, 236 ; Dutch Church Papers ; see also Van Coppernol. f Old deed. \ Deeds, vi, 30. § Albany Annals, vn, 61. 18 138 History of the Schenectady Patent. was then sixteen years of age.* On Brouwer' s removal to Schenectady in 1662, Pootman became a resident here and shortly after married Cornelia, daughter of Arent Andriese Bratt. His house lot was on the north corner of Union and Ferry streets, having a front of 100 feet on the former street; later he purchased the 100 feet next west, of Jan Roeloffse, son of the well known Anneke Janse.f On the fatal night of Feb. 8, 16f£, both Pootman and his neighbor Roeloffse with their wives were slain. Three of his sons, — Arent, Victoor and Cornells arrived at maturity and had families. On the 6th April, 1709, Arent Pootman, the eldest son, conveyed to his brother Victoor, " a certain lot of ground being part of the lot now in my " possession and occupation, bounded on the east and south by the common "highway [Ferry and Union streets] and on the north and west by the "other part of the lot of said Arent Pootman; — in length on the east and "west sides 21V feet and in breadth on the north and south 69 feet 4 in., — " wood measure. "J PlETEE RAL. He was a member of the church in 1700, but his name does not again appear in the records. JUBRIAN RlNCKHOUT. His father Jan Rinckhout was a baker in Albany.§ Jurrian was a free- holder here at an early date. In his will made Feb. 2, 1703, he spoke of his wife Maria Idessen, to whom letters of administration were issued March 30, 1704; — of his father, Jan, and several children. || He gave to his wife "the use of his real and personal estate here and in New York during her "lifetime, — his father to be maintained out of the estate; — son Teunis to * 14 Sept., 1661, " £k>o heeft Jan Hendr. Van Baei besteet ende Philip Hendr. Brouwer aen genome n Johannes Pootman, jong gesel out jegenwordich omtrent sestien jaeren," — to serve said Brouwer, " van drye achtereen wlgendejaaren." Jau Pootman signed his name to the indentures in a clear and beautiful hand. Brouwer engaged to pay him 80 gl. a year in lieu of outfit, for his services. — Not. Papers, i, 19. f Toll Papers ; see also Roeloffse. % Old deed. § In 1669 he hired of Bent Bagge, a house and land in Schenectady for one year. — Not. Papers, II. || Wilis, i, 104. Adult Freeholders. 139 " have the farm at Schenectady at a fair price; Ida when he comes of age " to have the fann, near New York as made over by his father-in-law Teunis " Idesse." AfteT Jurrian's death his widow married John Mclntyre, June 17, 1704, and the family was not afterwards mentioned in the records. Where Rinckhout's farm lay is not now known. Benjamin Roberts. " Bent " Roberts was a householder in the village as early as 1669. His house lot was on the north side of Union street, 150 feet westerly from Church street, — 51 feet front and rear and 404 feet deep, extending through the block to Front street. Roberts purchased this lot of Arent Van Curler or of his estate and subsequently sold it to Reynier, son of Dominie Gideon Schaets of Albany.* His patent for this lot dated March 17, 1669, described it as " a certain " lot of ground at Schenectady now in his occupation, which was granted to ' l him by A. Van Curler deceased, containing in length 400-feet — in breadth " 50 feet, abutting on the West [east] side with Symon Groot, ou the north " [west] with the bouwery [house lot] of Willem Teller and Pieter Jacobse " Borsboom."f His bouwery, called Maalwyck was just west of the village of Scotia and in the confirmatory patent granted to him July 1, 1669, was described as " a " piece of land near Schenectady on the north side of the river over against " the hindmost piece of land heretofore belonging to Arent [Bratt] the "Noornian, running in breadth on the east side along by the high woods 17 " rods and on the west side along said woods 56 rods, in length on the "south side along the river 278 rods, — all cleared land, together with the "several corners or hoeks of land, containing about 36 acres or 18 morgens ; " as also a parcel of woodland beginning at the east end and running with " a deep half moon to the west of the aforesaid cleared land, being divided "by the highwoods, containing about 40 acres or 20 morgens ; — in all 38 " morgens, as conveyed by the Indians to said Roberts with the approbation " of the commissioners at Albany. "J He made his will June 28, 1706, and gave his property to his wife Maria, and in case of her death or remarriage, to his" stepsons Pieter and Joseph Clement. * Roberts also owned a house and lot in Albany, which he sold in 1684. — Deqds, in, 266 ; v, 106 ; Not. Papers, n. f Patents, 647. . \ Patents, 981. 140 History of the Schenectady Patent. In 1711, Pieter Clement sold his half of the farm to Cornells Viele to- gether with Benten island, for £445 ;* and on March 17, 1712, his brother Joseph sold the other half to Carel Hansen Toll for £400. Roberts was also the original owner of Poversens lying opposite to Maal- wyck on the south side of the river.f Jan Roeloffse. He was the eldest son of -the famous Anneke Janse, by her first husband Roeloffe Jansen. Until about the year 1670 he was a resident of Bever- wyck, where he acted as the surveyor of lots. This year he accidently killed Gerrit Verbeeck at Albany, for which he was pardoned by the Governor. \ His house lot here was on the north side of Union street 100 Amsterdam feet west of Ferry street — the lot now owned and occupied by Messrs. Joseph Y. and Giles Van de Bogart. This lot he sold to Jan Poot- man, his neighbor on the east, reserving a life interest in the same for him- self and wife. The consideration to be paid by Pootman was 50 beavers at 8 guilders each, in merchantable grain at market price, within eight years from date — 12 Sept., 1687, whereof, it is stated, a cow had already been paid and delivered at nine beavers.§ On the fatal night of Feb. 8, 1690, both Pootman and Roeloffse with their wives were slain. The latter left no children. Reynier Schaets. Reynier Schaets " chyrurgion," eldest son of Dominie Gideon Schaets, was an early settler of Schenectady, where he was appointed justice of the peace by Leisler in 1689.| His house lot was on the north side of Union street, 100 Amsterdam feet west of Church street and extended through to Front, — 404 feet, having a front on both streets of 51 feet.** A portion of this lot fronting upon Union street was owned by the late Dr. Alexander G. Fonda, now by the county. Schaets and one of his sons were killed in 1690, when the village was burned by the French and Indians. His widow Catrina Bensing, afterwards married Jonathan Broadhurst of Albany, April, * Deeds, v, 108, 141. f See Douwe Aukes, Toll, and Viele. % Albany Annals, rv, 14 ; Court of Assizes, u, 524. § Toll Papers. || Doc. Hist., ii, 198 ; Col. MSB., xxxm, 12. ** Deeds, v, 106. Adult Freeholders. 141 23, 1696. Two of Schaets' children, — a son named Gideon, who sold the above mentioned lot in 1700 to Albert Vedder, — and a daughter Agnietje who married Matthys Nak of Albany. SCHERMERHORN. Jacob Janse Schermerhorn, the first settler, is said to have been born in Waterland, Holland, in 1622.* He came to Beverwyck quite early, where he prospered as a brewer and trader. In 1648 he was arrested at Fort Orange, by order of Governor Stuyvesant on a charge of selling arms and ammunition to the Indians. His books and papers were seized and himself removed, a prisoner, to Fort Amsterdam, — where he was sentenced to banishment for five years, with the confiscation of all his property. By the interference of some leading citizens, the first part of the sentence was struck out, but his property was never recovered. These severe proceed- ings against Schermerhorn formed subsequently a ground of complaint against Stuyvesant, to the States General. f Nothing daunted by his misfortunes, he began anew, and before his death in 1689, acquired a large property for the times. He made his will May 20, 1688, and the year following died at Schenectady, where he had resided for some years. By his will he gave " to my eldest son Reyer before partition of my " estate my lot at the river side in Albany, where Kleyn De Goyer J lived, — '.' my wife to have during her widowhood the rents and profits of all my " real estate, viz., my farm at Shotac [Schodac], — pasture over against " Marten Gerritse's island, two houses and lots in Albany, the one over "against Isaac Verplanck, the other where my son Symon lives; — my house " and lot at Schenectady where I now dwell, — to my wife all my movable " property." His son Jacob lived on his farm at Schotak. After his and his wife's death, his property was to be divided equally among his nine children. § At the final settlement of his estate, it was inventoried at 56,882 guilders. * O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N., rr, 63 note, 587; i, 436, 441 ; Deeds, n. In 1648 he was at South [Delaware] river. — O'Callaghan's Hist. jV. iV., n, 81. t Col. Doc, i, 312, 337, 345, 428; ir, 459 ; in, 179. X [De Goyer = the thrower — caster — pitcher.— M'M.] § Wills, i, 26. 142 History of the Schenectady Patent. Reyer Scherm^rhorn. Reyer was the only son of Jacob Janse, who settled permanently at Schenectady. He was gebortigh alhier in Alba?iie, — his wife, Ariaantje Bratt, in Esopus.* She was the widow of Helmer Otten and was married in July, 1676, at which time, in anticipation of this marriage, she made a contract with the guardians of her daughter Catharina, by which she mort- gaged her farm, No. 4, at Schenectady, for the payment of 225 beaver skins to said daughter when she arrived at mature age, or married; also to give her one-half of her late husband's property in Holland. Tryntje f married Gei-rit Symonse Veeder, in 1690, and in 1697, Gerrit and his wife made the following settlement with Schermerhorn and his wife, in relation to the patrimonial property of Veeder's wife : Schermerhorn agreed to make over 1st. Eight morgens of land at Schenectady, out of Symon Volckertse's hoeJc. 2d. To convey to Gerrit Symonse, four morgens of land from the south end of bouwery No. 4, hindmost land. 3d. To make satisfaction for money of Helmer Otten obtained from Holland. And Gerrit Symonse agreed to make satisfaction to Schermerhorn for the house the latter bought of Lewis Cobes for Catharina Otten before her marriage. J He was one of the five patentees mentioned in the patent of Schenectady 1684, and for nearly 15 years (1700 to 1714), was the only survivor, for which reason he was complained of as exercising arbitrary power over town affairs and rendering no account of his proceedings. In 1690 he was member of the Provincial Assembly from Albany county and justice of the peace. In 1700 he was appointed assistant to the Judge of Common Pleas. The mills on the Schuylenberg Jcil, together with the bouwery No. 4, re- mained in the family nearly 200 years and have but lately passed into other * Will made by them 7th Sept., 1678.— Not. Papers, n. He was baptized in New Amsterdam, June 23, 1652. — Valentine's Manual. f [Tryntje = dutch for Catherine. — M'M.] t Deeds, rv, 106, 287, 298. Adult Freeholders. 143 hands. Schermerhorn made his last will April 5, 1717, — proved April 8, 1719, and died Feb. 19, 1719,* leaving two daughters and three sons, all of whom had families. Meal estate owned by Meyer Schermerhorn. First. In addition to bouwery No. 4, acquired through his wife, he owned the easterly half of the Seventh flat on the north side of the river. In 1705 he conveyed this farm to his eldest son Jan, but in 1717 devised the same in his will to the children of his daughter Cataleyntje, wife of Johannes Wemp, which bequest her brother Jan confirmed after his father's death in 1719, by a deed in which the whole flat is said to contain 40 morgens, and to be bounded east by the creek called Tequatsero [Droybergh, Verf or Color kil], west by another small kil, north by the hills and south by the river. In 1733 the Wemps conveyed their half of this flat to Johannes Van Eps who owned the other half.f Second. He owned the lot on the east corner of State and Church streets, purchased probably of Claas Laurense Van der Volgen, having a front of 170 feet on State street and 160 feet on Church street. Of this lot by his will the corner lot, 50 feet by 160 (lately the property of Gen. Jay Cady), was devised to his daughter, Ariaantje, wife of Jan Wemp, and the next seventy feet, now belonging to the Schenectady bank and estate of the late S. C. Groot, to his son Jacob, who then lived upon it; this lot afterwards passed to Jacob's son Willem, who sold one-half of it to Cornelius Groot in 18064 Third. On the 23d February, I70f, Johannes J. Bleecker of Albany, guardian of Catharina Otten, sold to Reyer Schermerhorn a lot on the north side of State street, next west of the present lot and building of Isaac I. * Wills, i, 163. The following is a copy of the sexton's bill for his funeral expenses : Ano. 1719. Voor het aen sprecken van de overledene Reyer Gulden. Schermerhorn en Voor het begraaven. 54 en voor het aen sprecken op Nystakayoene, 12 en voor het doot Kleet, 6 en bekenne vol daen toe zyn tato dese den 27 April. Gulden, 72 Jan Vrooman. f Deeds, v, 69, 70, 494 ; vi, 145 ; Toll Papers. % Deeds, xm, 513 ; Deeds, rv, 298. 144 History of the Schenectady Patent. Truax, having a front of 73 feet. This included the lot of the late Nicholas Van Vranken, now occupied as a public house, and probably at the death of Schermerhorn or before, passed into the possession of Volkert Symonse Veeder, who married his daughter Jannetie, and who also owned the lot of 120 feet front, next east on the north corner of State and Ferry streets. Fourth. He also owned a lot on the west side of the lot of Douwe Aukes De Freeze, of 50 feet front on State street and 200 feet deep, which he be- queathed to his son Arent. This is the lot on which stands the house and store of the late G. Q. Carley. Fifth. He also owned a parcel of land on the south side of State street, extending from the lot of Edward Ellis to the Coehorne kill — 256 feet English, which in 1717, he devised to his son Jan. In Jan's will made 1752, this lot is said to comprise four morgens, it must therefore have extended in the rear from 1,000 to 1,500 feet. Sixth. In 1684, he owned the lot on the west corner of Union and Church streets, — about 190 feet square, which he acquired through his wife.* This lot subsequently became the property of Helmus Veeder, grandson of Mrs. Schermerhorn, to whom he devised the " lot of pasture ground lying on the " south of Schenectady next to the lot of Gerrit Symonse [Veeder] and now " in occupation of said Gerrit Symonse." This pasture was between Mill creek and the Canal, east of Ferry street extended south: Reyer Schermerhorn in his will bequeathed to his children the following parcels of real estate : " To his son Jan, all his real estate, provided he shall convey to his de- " ceased sister Catalina's three children, Myndert, Reyer and Ariaantje " Wemp, one-half of the house, farm and land where my son John now " lives on the north side of the Maquaas river, [Seventh Flat] and the other " half to my daughter Jannetie wife of Volkert Symonse [Veeder] : — to his " eldest son Jan, that lot of ground lying in Schenectady adjoining to the lots " of Ground of Hendrick Vrooman and Barent Wemp, [east end and south " side of State street] : — to. son Jacob, eight morgens of the hindmost bou- "wery No. 2, bounded east by land of Arent Bratt and west by lands of " Samuel Bratt, with 5* morgens of woodland bounded by the lands of " heirs of Samuel Bratt and the woods : — also part of the lot of ground in "the town of Schenectady where he now lives which part shall be broad on * Deeds, hi, 324. Adult Freeholders. 145 " on the front 70 feet, to be taken in the middle of the whole together with " a passage of four feet broad from the north end of said lot going Westerly " to the street [Church] by the house now in possession of Josias Swart : — " to son Arent the farm called the Second Flat, Avhere Symou Groot Jr., " formerly lived with the wood lands thereunto belonging; also one lot of " ground in the town lying on the west side of the lot of ground belonging " to Douwe Aukes De Ffreeze being broad in Front 50 feet and long 200 "feet [the late G. Q. Carley'slot] : — to Ariaantje daughter of Jan Wemp a " lot of ground in Schenectady lying on the west side of the lot of ground "hereinbefore devised to my son Jacob, being broad in front 50 feet and "long 160 feet, [lot of the late Gen. Jay Cady] : — to daughter Jannetie " wife of Volkert Symonse [Veeder] half of my lands on the Raritan in East " Jersey, and the other half to my three grandchildren, Myndert, Reyer and " Ariaantje Wemp : — to Hannah Symonse [Veeder] my lands in the Jerseys "called Ganse gat:* — to Wilhelmus Symonse, son of Gerrit Symonse " [Veeder] the lot of pasture lying in the south part of the town of Schenec- " tady next to the lot of said Gerrit Symonse, now in his occupation.! SYMON SciIERMERHORN. When Jacob Janse made his will in 1688, he spoke of his son Syrnon residing in Albany ; in 1690, when Schenectady was destroyed he was a resident of the village, and though wounded in the leg rode to Albany on the night of February 8 to carry the news. His son Johannes and three negroes were killed. Subsequently he removed to New York where he died about 1696, leaving his widow Willempie, daughter of Arnout Viele and one son Arnout; from whom have descended the Schermerhorns of New York city. In 1693 Symon Schermerhorn was a skipper on the Hudson river. J Manasseh. Sixbery. He was a young Englishman from London ; coming to Schenectady he married in 1699 Pietertje, daughter of Jan Janse Joncker and settled upon the easterly portion of the First Jiat, called Hazlenut flat. Ten years later, in 1709, being a soldier at Fort Nicholson [Fort Edward] and sick, he made a will giving his property to his wife and four children, Johannes, Wilhel- mus, Cornells and Mary. His son Wilhelmus settled in Maquaasland about 1720.§ * [Query, Goose pond.— M'M.] f Wills, i, 163. % Col. MSS., xxxix, 71. § Toll Papers. 19 146 History of the Schenectady Patent. CORNELIS SLINGERLAND. He was the eldest son of Teunis Cornelise Slingerland of Albany. In 1699 he married Eva Mebie of Schenectady, where he settled, and between 1700 and 1723 had eight of his ten children baptized in the church here. It is supposed the family removed to Niskatha [New Scotland] where a Cor- nelis Slingerland was buried 3d Sept., 1753. His house lot in the village, 1706-22, was on the south side of State street, forty feet east of Water street alley and extended easterly probably to Church street.* He also had a lot on the east side of Washington street, now owned by Mrs. Buchanan. Thomas Smith. Tam Smit was from New England ; — in 1696 he married Maria, only daughter and heir of Ludovicus Cobes, and widow of Johannes Kleyn; his wife inherited one-fourth of the Fourth Flat on the north side of the river from her father, and Smith held a life lease of the other half from the widow of Cobes.f Jan. 19, I70f, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to him " a certain " small swamp on the north side of the Fourth Flat about 8 miles above " the town about the bignes of two morgens, also one other morgen of land " on the hill behind the swamp," reserving a rent "one-half bushel of good " winter wheat yearly."]; Caspauus Springsteen. He was a miller ; married Jannetie, sister of Reyer Schermerhorn, 28th July, 1695, in New York, and had three children baptized here between 1703 and 1707.§ Jonathan Stevens. Jonathan Stevens, a young man from New England, probably came to Schenectady about 1690, with Thomas Smith. In 1693, he married a Mohawk woman named Lea, widow of Claas Willemse Van Coppernol.fl * Deeds, vi, 30, 31 ; Deeds, iv ; Old Deed ; Albany Annals, ix, 89. f See Cobes and Kleyn ; Deeds, v, 355. % Dutch Church papers. § Valentine's Manual for 1862 ; Albany Annals, v, 169. | Dutch Church records ; Deeds, iv. Adult Freeholders. 147 In 1698, he hired Mrs. De Graaf's farm at the Hbek, and the Fourth Flat of Tarn Smith for five years.* His home lot in the village was on the north side of State Street, having a front of 75 ft. 6 in., Amst. measure (now reduced to 65 ft. Eng.), and extending in the rear beyond Liberty street, and behind the lots lying on either side of it, comprising more than an acre of ground. Numbers 107 and 10 ( J, owned by Mr. G. I. Swortfiguer, and 111 and 113 belonging to the estate of the late William Cunningham, were parts of Stevens' lot. His farm was in Glenville, bounded east by the Aal plaats Ml, and south by the Mohawk river, and comprised several hundred acres of flat and woodland. His son Arent, had great influence with the Mohawks, and for more than 20 years acted as interpreter and agent for Sir William Johnson in his negotiations with the different tribes. He owned lands, and for some time resided at Canajoharie.f Isaac Cornelish: Swits. Two sons of Cornells Claese SwitsJ of New Amsterdam, settled in Schenectady in 1663, to wit, Claas and Isaac.§ Claas Cornelise Swits was hired Jan. 13, 1663, by Willem Teller to work on his farm No. 5 as bouwknecht.\\ Adjoining to this bouwery on the north- east side, was bouwery No. 2, owned by Philip Hendrickse Brouwer. In September, 1663, Claas was plowing his master's land, when Brouwer came along with his gun loaded with shot to shoot ducks, and forbade his ploughing there, ordering him off as he had repeatedly done before. Thereupon they had some words and finally Brouwer threatened if he did not leave the land, he would shoot him; which he did, and Swits receiving the shot, died about three or four hours later. It was claimed by Brouwer that the injury was greater than he intended, and Swits himself before he died and later all his near relatives, absolved him from the legal conse- * Toll Papers. t Col. Doc, vi, 292, 512, 783, 787, 796, 975 ; vn, 70. X Dutch MSS., X3, 37 ; Patents G. G., 129 ; H. H., 23 ; Gen. Ent., xxiii, 73. § See " Schenectady Families." — Albany Records, i, 72. | [BouwkneclU = farm laborer. — M'M.] 148 History of the Schenectady Patent. quences of his rash act, as appears by a formal release over their hands and seals executed March 1, IQQ^, and afterwards confirmed by Governor Nichols.* It would seem that the cause of this sad accident was a disputed line be- tween the two farms. Isaac Cornelise Swits alias Kleyn Isaack, was born in New Amsterdam in 1642, and came to Schenectady in 1663 with his brother Claas. The year following, in company with Claas Frederickse Van Petten, he hired of Willem Teller a " bouwerye gelegen op schauechtede bestaende in uoonhugs, " schner, bergh en bouwlandt in twee parcelles genomeneert van den lantmeter, " No. 5, &c."f He married Susanna, daughter of Symon Groot and had nine children, eight of whom were living in 1*701 when he made his will. J His home lot in the village was on the west side of Washington street opposite the west end of State street, extending to the Binrie kil and south- westerly towards Mill creek. In 1690 when the village was burned, he and his eldest son Cornells were carried captive to Canada, but returned the following summer.§ During his absence the Governor ordered his home lot in the village to be taken for the site of a new fort. [Probably one angle of stockade.] He repeatedly petitioned | the Governor and Council for remuneration in money (£30) or land, and finally on the 16 April, 1707, was allowed the privilege of receiving from the Indian proprietors a deed for 1,000 acres of land lying along the south side of the Mohawk river, extending from the Aal plaats to Rosendaal, for which a patent was granted Oct. 2, 1708, under the following description, " a tract of woodland on the south side " of Canastegione [Mohawk] river, bounded west by the bounds of the " woodland of the town of Schenectady, east by the bounds of Canastegione " aforesaid, containing 1000 acres from said river southward between the "" bounds aforesaid/'** Isaac Swits also had a parcel of woodland south-east of the vill age, bounded south-west by State street from the Coehorne creek to the easterly * Notarial Papers, i, 1, 410. t Not. Papers, i, 439. % Will, Court of Appeal's office; date of Will April 1, 1701 ; proved Oct. 4, 1707. § Doc. Hist., ii, 153, 200. | Once Nov. 2, 1704, and again Oct. 21, 1706. ** Coun. Min., x, 62 ; Land Papers, rv, 28, 120;; Patents, 1638. Adult Freeholders. 149 side of Nott Terrace, northerly and easterly by the Coehorn kil nearly, and south-easterly by the south-easterly side of Nott Terrace nearly. Portions of this large parcel of land remained in the family until the present generation, when it was divided into house lots and sold. When Juffrouid's land came into market, after the death of the widow of Ai-ent Van Curler, Isaac Swits purchased a portion thereof, commencing on the Binne kil a little to the south-east of the late John Myer's farm house on the flats, and extending thence southerly. In 1702 he purchased of Evert Bancker of Albany, the foremost bouwery No. 6 on the Great Flat, for £183-12; a portion of this farm remained in the family nearly 100 years.* Cornelis Swits. He was the eldest son of Isaac Cornelise Swits. At the destruction of the village in 1690, he was carried away to Canada but returned the follow- ing summer. He married Hester Visscher of Albany and took up his residence there, about 1702. On the 7th July, 1702, he purchased of Evert Bancker for £42 [$105] current money of the province, " a certain lott of ground lyeing at Sheu- "nechtady aforesaid to ye North of Cattelyn Noorman's [Bratt] and to y e " south of ye hills, being behynde to the east of the way and before to the "west of Pieter Adriaensen's, in length fifteen rodd and four foote " [184 ft], and in breath (sic) fifteen rodd and three foote [183 ft.], "all which ye said Evert Banker doth convey unto ye said Cornells Swits, "by virtue of a patent granted by y e late Governor Richard Nicolls unto "ye aforesaid Gerrit Banker bearing date y e 7" 1 of Aprill, 1667. "f This lot was on the south corner of Washington and Union streets. It is not probable that Swits ever resided here ; long afterwards, it came into possession of John Duncan and John and Henry Glen. Teunis Cornelise Swart. Two brothers of the name of Swart were among the early settlers of Schenectady; — Frederic Cornelise, who was proposed by Secretary Ludovicus * See Bancker ; Patents, 382-3 ; Deeds, v, 107, 154 ; and Isaac Swits' Will in Court of Appeal's office, f Deeds, it, 296 ; see also Bancker. 150 History of the Schenectady Patent. Cobes in 1676 as one of the magistrates of the village, and Teunis Cornelise from whom all the families of this name in this vicinity are descended. After the death of the latter about 1680, his wife Elizabeth Lendt or Van der Linde* married Jacob Meese Vrooman of Albany; he died about 1690, and Oct. 14, 1691 she again married Wouter Uythoff of Albany. Teunis Swart occupied the lot on the east corner of State and Church sti'eets, 170 feet front on the former and 200 feet on the latter street, until his death ; and was succeeded in possession of it by his widow and son Cor- nells, who early removing to Ulster county conveyed it in 1692 to his brother-in-law Claes Laurense Van der Volgen, reserving for his brother Esaias Swart a lot of forty feet front on Church street from the north end. The deed is dated Jan. 4, 1692, conveying the lot of Teunis Cornelise Swart, granted to and in the name of Jacob Meese Vrooman [second husband of Elizabeth, widow of said Swart] by the magistrates of Schenec- tady, according to deed of date Feb. 7, 168§, by Wouter Uythoff [third husband of said Elizabeth] and said Elizabeth to Claas Laurense Van Pur- merent [alias Vander Volgen], — " being a corner lot over against the church " (te weten de kerk),\ two hundred feet long [on Church street] and one " hundred and seventy feet broad [on State] street having des heeren " Straeten\ [State and Church streets] on the south and west and to the east " Jan Labatie according to deed of date Feb. 7, 168f-; — exceptinga piece "conveyed to Esaias Swart by deed of July 30, 1681. "§ His farm on the bouwland granted to him by patent Jan. 15, 1667, con- firmatory of that given by Gov. Stuyvesant, June 16, 1664, describes it as " a certain parcel of land at Schenectady over the third creek or kil [Poenties " kW\ marked with number ten, to the east of number nine and number six, "to the west of number nine and number eight, to the south the hills and "to the north the river south-west and by west, — in breath 64 rods and "containing 48 acres or 24 morgens, 576 rods."| This being the middle allotment of the bouwland was a double farm, ex- tending from the river to the sand bluff or hill and was divided nearly into * Deeds, in, 88, 310 ; rv, 35, f The church which then stood at the juuction of Church and State streets was from the beginning used as a watchhouse and continued to be so used nearly one hundred years. ['te blok huys (te weten de kerc?ie) = ihe block house that is to say the church. — M'M.] X [Heeren Straeten = public streets. — M'M.] § Deeds, rv, 34, 35. i Patents, 309. Adult Freelwlders. 151 two equal parts by the river road. It was sold by the Swart family about 1692 (except the southernmost eight acres which Jesaias Swart held),* to Claas Lourense Van Purmerend alias Van der Volgen, Teunis Swart's son- in-law, who conveyed the northerly half lying between the road and the river, to Claas Janse Van Boekhoven.f The latter dividing this portion comprising eleven morgens, into equal parcels by a line running from the road to the river, in 1693, conveyed the westerly half to Catharine Glen, wife of Gerrit Lansing ; J and the easterly half to Dirk Arentse Bratt, his step- son.§ Bratt's portion passed to Wouter Vrooman in 1741 ;|| and in 1757, Adam, son of Wouter Vrooman conveyed the same to Isaac Vrooman.** Teunis Swart also had a pasture on the north side of Front street, consist- ing of two and a half morgens of land, which was confirmed to him by patent Sept. 10, 1670, — " now in the occupation of Teunis Cornelys jonge "pointee, lying in the pasture or Weyland, having on the south [East] Ger- " rit Banckers on the north [west] Barent Janse [Van Ditmars] — in length "92 rods, breadth by the river side 15 rods and by the high way [Front "street] 17 rods."ff This lot commencing at or about the New York Central railroad, extended along the street easterly 210 feet Eng., and was conveyed in 1715 to Jan Mebie by Cornells eldest son of Teunis Swart.J| Esaias, or Jesaias Swaet. Teunis Cornelise Swart had three sons who lived to maturity and had families, — Cornells the eldest, who removed to Ulster county,§§ — Adam who * Deeds, in, 310. f Deeds, rv, 34, 35. X Deeds, iv, 37. Catharina Glen before her marriage with Lansing, was the widow of Cornelis, son of Barent Janse Van Ditmars, former husband ofVau Boekhoven's present wife (Mrs. Bratt). This parcel of land probably came to Catharina Glen as part of her inheritance from her first husband. § Deeds, iv, 38. || Wills Court of Appeal's office. ** Deeds, vn, 261 ; wills of Cornelis Vander Volgen, 1735 ; of Lourense Claase Vander Volgen 1739 ; and of Wouter Vrooman 1748, in Court of Appeal's office. ft Patents, 754. Xt Toll Papers. §S Cornelis Swart was 70 years old 22 May, 1722, and was born therefore about 1652. Wills, i, Deeds, iv, 35 ; Albany Annals, vi, 48, 152 History of the Schenectady Patent. settled in Kinderhook,* and Esaias or Jesaias, who remained in Schenectady and became the progenitor of those who bear this name in this vicinity. Esaias, born in 1653, married Eva, daughter of Teunis Van Woert of Albany, and had three sons, Teunis who settled in Schoharie; Wouter who settled on the south side of the Mohawk river on the Thickstone place,f whose daughter he married, and Jesaias who settled on the north side of the Mohawk at the Sixth Jlat, of which he received a conveyance Aug. 5, IV 13, from the trustees of Schenectady for £6-19-6 yearly rent, together with 60 acres of woodland lying northward of the same.J His village lot, of 40 feet front and 163 feet deep, was on the east side of Church street, 163 feet north from State street, the same having been re- served out of his father's lot when it was sold to his brother-in-law Van der Volgen.§ He had also had eight acres of bouwery No. 10, which his step-father Jacob Meese Vrooman and his mother Elizabeth, widow of Teunis Cornelise Swart, conveyed to him Feb. 20, 168|-, — "bounded south by the hills, west " by Symon Volckertse [Veeder], north by Claas Laurense Van der Volgen " and east by a low place formerly a swamp, adjoining the pasture of Claas " Laurense Purmerend [Van der Volgen], being a part of farm or bouwery " No. 10 granted to said Teunis Cornelise [Swart] by patent Jan. 15, " 1667."|| Willem Teller. Willem Teller was for nearly 50 years a trader in Albany. In a deposi- tion made by him in 1698, being then about 78 years of age, he said that he arrived in this province in the year 1639, — was sent to Fort Orange by Gov. Kieft, served there as corporal and was then advanced to be Wacht- meester of the Fort; that he had continued his residence at Albany from 1639 to 1692, with some small intermissions upon voyages to New York, Delaware and one short voyage to Holland. * Adam Swart Van Schenegtade married Metie Willemse Van Slyck Van Nieuw AHanie, Jan. 15, 1690 ; — in 1706 he resided in Kinderhook. — Albany Dutch Church Becords. f Above. Hoffman's Ferry. X Church and Toll Papers. § Deeds, rv, 35. | Deeds, m, 310. Adult Freeholders. 153 From Albany he removed in 1692 to New York, with his sons save Johannes, who settled in Schenectady. He was one of the first proprietors of Schenectady [though never a resident here] and one of the five patentees named in the first patent of the town in 1684. He died in 1701 in his 81st year.* His house lot was the west quarter of the block bounded by Washington, Front, Church and Union streets, and in his patent dated June 2, 1667, was described as " a certain house lot in Schenectady on the north-east side of " Gerrit Bancker's, on the south-west of Pieter [Jacobse Borsboom] de " Steenbakker, being in length and breadth on both sides 200 feet."f In 1700, he conveyed this lot to his son Johannes, who by will gave the same to his sons Willem and Jacobus, the latter taking the westerly half and Willem the remainder, which he left to his son Jacobus in 1752. At this time Gerrit A. Lansing owned the northerly half and Cornells Cuyler the southerly half of Willem's portion. | In 1801, the original lot was owned by Abraham Oothout, John Porteous and Jacobus Teller. About this time the corner lot came into possession of James Murdock who had a storehouse upon it ; after his death in 1812, it was sold by his administrators to Dr. Archibald Craig.§ Willem Teller's bouweries on the Great flat are described in the confirma- tory patent dated June 29, 1667, as "two pieces of land at Schenectady ' both marked No. 5, the first lying to the west of the first creek [ Willem ' Teller's Killet)e\\ to the east of No. 6, a line cutting between south west 1 somewhat southerly and so going forward on the other side of the creek ' into the woods, in bigness with the hoek about 26 acres or 13 morgens 95 ' rods." ..." The other lying on the hindmost piece of land by the wood- ' side, to the west of No. 7 to the east of No. 1, a line cutting again from 'the small creek [dove gat\ to the woodland South west and by west, — its ' breadth 72 rods and contains about 20 acres or 10 morgens 165 rods ; — ' in all 46 acres or 23 morgens and 260 rods, as granted by Governor Stuy- ' vesant June 16, 1664, to Willem Teller."** * N. Y. Wills, ii, 150-162; Albany Annals, vn, 87; Deeds, rv, 466. t Patents, 491. X Deeds, iv, 209 ; vi, 359. § Schenectady Deeds, i, 467 ; Albany Deeds, xvn, 464. | Now sometimes called the Poenties kil. ** Patents, 491. 20 154 History of the Schenectady Patent. June 20, 1700, Willeni Teller conveyed the above mentioned two bou- weries to his son Johannes, " in consideration that he was much reduced in "property in 1690, at the burning of Schenectady by the French."* These two parcels of land remained long in the Teller family, but have now passed out of the name either by sale or marriage. Willeni Teller also had a pasture on the north side of Front street, com- prising two and a half morgens lying between the pastures of Adam Vrooman and Pieter Jacobse Borsboom, which in 1*700 he also conveyed to his son Johannes. This lot commenced 194 feet Eng., west of North street and extended easterly along Front street to a point 114 feet, Eng., east of North street, f Johannes Teller, by his will made May 15, 1V25, devised to his son Johan- nes " a parcel of land at Schenectady No. 5, being the hindmost part by the " woodside to the west of No. 7 to the east of No. 1 containing about 20 acres " or 10 morgens and 260 rods with all the pasture ground and upland thereun- to belonging, also my third part in the saw miil : " — to sons Willem and Jacobus "a certain lot of land in Schenectady being the foremost lot No. " 5 over the first creek, to the east of No. 6; it is in bigness with the hoek " about 26 acres and 95 rods, together with my housing and lot of ground " in the town of Schenectady now in my possession being in length and " breadth 200 feet." J Johannes Teller, son of Willem, was born in 1659, and married Susanna, daughter of Capt. Johannes Wendel, of Albany, August 18, 1686. By the destruction of the village in 1690, he was not only greatly impoverished, but was carried away to Canada by the French. He had six children, — three sons and three daughters — living at the date of his will. He died May 28, 1725. Domini .'•: Petrus Thesschenmaecker. He was the first settled minister in Schenectady. Having officiated in 1676, in Kingston, to the acceptance of the people, they petitioned for his continuance ; — in 1679, he was ordained in New York, by a council com- prising the ministers then settled in the Province, as of the church at Newcastle on the Delaware, where he continued until about 1684, when he * Deeds, rv, 209 ;• vn, 359 ; xix, 56 ; — Willem Teller's will. f Deeds, rv, 209. % Johannes Teller's will. Adult Freeholders. 155 came to Schenectady. In the destruction of the village in 1690, the par- sonage the site of which is unknown, was burned, and the Dominie was killed.* Jeremi Thickstong. He was brother-in-law of Carel Hansen Toll and with him settled in the westerly bounds of Schenectady near Hoffman's ferry. His farm was first patented to Johannes Luykase [ Wyngaard] and lay on the south side of the river; afterwards it came into possession of Wouter Swart, who married Thickstone's daughter. Luykase's patent dated April 4, 1687, comprised "all that certain small " tract of land above Schenectady on the south side of the river beginning " at a marked tree above the steep rack strand\ and stretching along the " river to another tree and so back into the woods as far as the trees are "marked, containing eleven acres."f On the 24 Feb., 170f, Jan and Catie Luykase sold the above parcel of land to Carel Hansen Toll, and on the 9th March, 17 If, Toll sold the same and a small island in the river to his brother-in-law Thickstone for £100. § WlLLEM ArtRAHAMSE TlETSOORT.|| He was in Schenectady as early as 1681, but soon after removed to Dutchess county.** His lot in the village was on the north side of State street, late the prop- erty of John Vrooman, deceased, now belonging to the estate of the late Pieter Rowe. Tietsoort was in quiet possession of this lot in 1690, when the village was burned and afterwards sold it to Willem Appel, innkeeper of New York; — his writings having been burned, Tietsoort, on the 14 April, 1704, requested Reyer Schermerhorn, the sole surviving trustee, to give a new deed to Appel, which he did. This lot was then 55 feet wide front and * Doc. Hist., in, 8vo., 865; Gen. Ent., 65; Col. Doc. iv, 468 note; in, 458; County Records, i, 28. t Toll Papers. \ [Touching shore or rocky riff. Stoney landing place — for canoes.— M'M.l § Deeds, v, 72, 300. | [Claes Willemse in " Schenectady Families."— M'M.] ** Proceeding Justices' Court, Albany, i, 13. 156 History of the Schenectady Patent. rear, 348 feet long on the east side and 292 feet deep on the west side, Amsterdam measure. Nearly the whole front of this lot was taken by the canal.* He also in 1715, purchased a pasture of Evert Bancker on the north side of Front street, consisting of about 2| morgens of land. This pasture lies opposite John street.f Willem Tietsoort of Dutchess county made his will Dec. 11, 1716, — proved May 26, 1726, in which he spoke of his wife Neeltie, daughter of Teunis Swart and of ten children, four sons and six daughters.! Carel Hansen Toll. Carel Hansen first settled on land at or near Hoffman's Ferry, which he bought of Hendrick Cuyler and Geraldus Cambefort on the north side of the river and of Johannes Luykase [Wyngaart] on the south side, which latter parcel he conveyed to his brother-in-law Jeremi Thickston who married his sister Rachel. His lands on the north side extended from Taquaatsera, or Droybergh kil, the boundary between the Sixth and Seventh flats, westwardly to the lands of the heirs of Philip Groot, *. e., to about Swart's Ferry. In 1712 he purchased a parcel of land at Maalwyck from Joseph Clement, to which he removed and where he died in March, 173-f-. About the time of his removal to Maalwyck he owned the present court house lot on Union street, 100 feet front and 210 feet deep, which he sold in 1712 to Isaac Van Valkenburgh for £53 ($132.50).§ Oct. 4, 1714, he conveyed to Caleb Beck the lot on the southerly corner of Union and Church streets, bounded easterly by Van Valkenburgh's lot and southerly by Jesaias Swart's lot.|| Carel Hansen married Lysbet, daughter of Daniel Rinckhout of Albany, and had eight children, — three sons and five daughters. He was member of the Provincial Assembly for Albany county 1714- 1726.** * Schermerhorn Papers, f See Banker. X Schermerhorn Papers. § Deeds, v, 153. I Deeds, v, 343. ** The Indians gave him the nome of Kingego which signifies a fish, because of his swimming for his life to escape imprisonment. — Dr. ToWs Narrative. Adult Freeholders. 157 The following is a description of the lands owned by Carel Hansen. First. Cuyler's flat. This parcel of land was granted to Hendrick Cuyler of Albany, in confirmation of a purchase made of the Mohawks Dec. 13, 1686, by license of Governor Dongan, Sept. 2, 1686, and is described as a " piece of land situate mostly on the north side of the Mohawk river, " called Adriutha, above Schenectady, opposite Pieter Van de Linde's and '* a little above the farm of Claes Willemse Van Coppernol, beginning on " the north side of the river from a white oak tree that is marked with a " wolf, standing on the other [west] side of a small kil or creek [Lewis' " creek] on this [east] side of a certain piece of land called Claes GraeverCs 11 hoek, with a small island that lies almost over against it, and running up "in length above the rift of the river which lies a little above said Claes " and that as far as a great water beuken* or beach which is also marked " with the wolf standing just on this side of a small kil or creek [Eva's " kil (?)] and from thence over the river on the south side from a great black " oak tree which is also marked with the wolf, together with all the small " islands or banks that lie within said limits, and so down the river to a " young black oak tree growing on the site of an old tree which is marked " with the wolf, bear and turtle, the arms of three races of the Maquaas, being "on the water side and nigh the limits of Claes Willemse aforesaid, which " said land contains three small flats or plains on the north side of the river, " whereof the piece called Claes Graeven's Hoek is one, and one small flat " or plain on the south side of the river; the low land being about 40 acres " and the woodland and upland thereunto adjoining fifty aci*es."f After Cuyler's death, Anna his widow and Johannes his eldest son aud heir, sold this land on May 1, 1699 to Carel Hansen for £180 ($450). It was then described as a " piece of land mostly on the north side of the "river called Adriucha, opposite Pieter Van Olinda's and a little above the " farm of heirs of Claes Willemse Van Coppernol now in tenure and occupa- tion of Philip Philipse de more" etc., as in the above mentioned patent. J Carel Hansen held this land until the 1st March. 17l£ when he sold that portion lying on the south side of the river to Harme and Sander Philipse for £100 (&250).§ That part of Cuyler's patent lying on the north side of the river and west of Lewis' creek came into possession of the Groots, perhaps by purchase of Toll and is still partly owned by that family. * [Beuke = a beach tree. — M'M.] f Council Min., v, 171 ; Patents, 1370. X Deeds, v, 70 ; Toll Papers. § Deeds, v, 357, 358; vi, 9. 158 History of the Schenectady Patent. Second. Cambeforts' flat. This parcel of land was purchased of the Indians by Cambefort probably before Cuyler obtained his patent ; it ex- tends from Kanquarreyonne [Towereune] up the river to Lewis' creek, the easterly bounds of Cuyler's patent. March 8, 1694, Cambefort contracted to sell this land to Carel Hanse. The patent to Cambefort was not granted until 22 April, 1703 ; the farm is therein described as "20 acres of land " near Schenectady on the north side of the river, beginning from a place " called by the Indians Kaquarayoone, and the westerly bounds of the " patent granted to Schenectady, — running thence up westward along the " river to the limits [Lewis' creek] of land of Carel Hanse formerly belong- ing to Henry Cuyler deceased." On the 18th May, 1717, Cambefort gave a formal conveyance of said land to Toll.* Third. The Seventh flat. The westerly half of the Seventh flat, and adjacent uplands, were conveyed to Carel Hanse, Oct. 13, 1684, by the trustees of Schenectady, whilst the easterly half was taken up by Reyer Schermerhorn, who, on the 8th of June, 1705, conveyed his moiety to his son Jan. Toll, by deed dated 18th Sept., 1720, conveyed his half to his son-in-law, Johannes Van Eps, for the sum of £150 ($375), describing it as " a piece of land on the north side of the Mohawk, bounded west by the " widow of Philip Groot [Lewis' creek] called Towarjoenny, south by said "river east by land of heirs of Reyer Schermerhorn and north by the com- "mons," — in all about 50 acres, f Carel Hanse, therefore, at one time owned all the land along the north bank of the Mohawk from Verf kil on the east, to Eva's kil at Crane's village on the west. Fourth. Maalwyck. On the 17th March, 171 £, Joseph Clement, step- son of Benjamin Roberts, sold to Carel Hanse, the easterly half of his farm at Maalwyck, together with the uppermost half of Bent's island. In 1735, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to Toll an additional parcel of land of 170 acres.J This farm is still owned by descendants of Carel Hanse.§ Du Tseux or Truax. Philippe Du Treux, a Walloon, came to New Amsterdam during the administration of Governor Minuit, 1624-29; — was appointed court messenger * Patents, 1577 ; Deeds, v, 71 ; Toll Papers. f Deeds, v/69, 70, 494 ; vi, 145 ; Toll Papers J Ghroote ichult boek ; Church Papers. § Deeds, v, 142 ; see Roberts. Adult Freeholders. 159 or rnarshall, 1638, aud in 1640 received a patent for a lot in "Smit's valey" [Pearl street], New Amsterdam. He was born in 1585, married Susanna De Scheene and had seven children, three sons and four daughters, of whom Rebecca married Simon Simonse Groot, afterwards of Schenectady, and Susanna was the wife of Evert Janse Wendel of Beverwyck. About the year 1670, his son Isaac, then about twenty-eight years of age, came to Schenectady and settled upon the Second flat on the south side of the river. This flat consisting of 221 morgens with lOmorgens of woodland adjoining, was granted to him and his cousin Jacobus Peek in 1677 by patent of Gov. Andros. He married Maria daughter of Willem Brouwer and had four sons and three daughters. His death probably occurred about 1705; the following year his widow sold eight morgens of her land to Jacobus Peek.* Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen. He was born in 1635 ; in 1656 he was a deputy schout fiscal at Fort Orange; in September, 1661 he agreed with Adrian Appel (who was an inn- keeper in New Amsterdam and trader in Albany, and doubtless traded sub rosa among the Indians on the Mohawk river), to serve him " in all matters and affairs that are just and right " for one year for 35 beavers [280 guilders] and all expenses ; in 1662 he was at Altoona (on the Delaware river) as deputy schotit fiscal. He went to Schenectady very early in its settlement, probably about 1665. He had much to do with the Indians, probably as a trader and settled eight miles beyond the village with impunity, though it is believed he took the precaution to build a stone walled house on the bank of the Mohawk in the centre of his bouwery, where he and friends were protected against hostile Indians and yet were well out into the narrow channel of trade, along the Mohawk valley. The house being close to the bank the river furnished a route for communicating with the village of Schenectady. This house now exists essentially as it was, or possibly as rebuilt by Jan Pieterse Mabee,f in early part of the last century, with little change since. * See Peek; Col. MSS., xxvi, 139; Albany Rec., i, 160, 234; Albany Annals, vin, 299; Dutch MSS., i, 48 ; Patents G. G., 34; Valentine's Man., 1861 and 1863; O'Calla- ghan's Hist, N. N., i, 181, 344 ; n, 581, 640, 642; Toll Papers. f See Ants, page 132, Mabee. 160 Hi8tm"y of the Schenectady Patent. The English surveys (Sauthier's map) mark the house as late as the French and Indian war as Jan Danielse [Van Antwerpen's], and itineraries of the Mohawk Navigation Company show the adjacent shallow in the river as " Van Antwerp's Reef " where boatmen expected a struggle with the current. His village lot was on the east corner of Union and Church streets which was occupied by him prior to 1671, when a confirmatory grant was made to him by Governor Francis Lovelace. Daniel Janse Van Antwerp owned this lot until 1715 when, at eighty years of age he released it to the consistory of the Nether Dutch church " good causes and consideration him thereunto moving " for the sole and perpetual use of the church. In his deed it is described as " That Certain Lot of Ground Situate, " Lying and being in the Town of Schenectady and house thereon Erected " Containing In Lenth on the East Side Where It butts to the Lott of " Ground now belonging to Julius [Jillis] Van Vorst two hundred foot and " on the South Side by the Highway one hundred foot and on the west Side " Likewise by the High[way] and on the North Side abutting the Lott now " In Possession of John Peterson Mabee, that formerly belonged to Jan " Jans Yoncker where it is in breadth and lenth as before And so men- " tioned In the Confirmation above mentioned It being a Corner Lott," etc. Prior to 1670 he settled on the "Third flat" on the south side of the Mohawk river about eight milen above the village of Schenectady. On the 22 Oct., 1677 (having probably secured a deed from the Indians for it at that time),* he solicited letters of administration from the board of magistrates to the Governor and Council for " the third plain situated on this [south] side of the Mohawk river." The magistrates granted his request " acknowledging that he had done many services in their favor." A week later, to wit, on the 29 Oct., this letter was laid before the Governor in New York and he was granted the preference, " when it shall be deemed * [It is to be observed that in taking up lands, the Indian title was first purchased. This required time, besides duffels, strouds and brandy. The next step was to procure the approval of the magistrates and [their "letters of administration" to the Governor and Council soliciting them to confirm the Indian deed and issue a patent. Indian deeds were often given, but being valueless without the Governor's patent were not heard of again, the land in question being otherwise disposed of. Probably the Indians sold the same body of land repeatedly — they certainly demanded repeated pay for land in some instances. The policy of the magistrates of Albany was against extension of the white settlements into the Indian country as dangerous to their trade. — M'M.] Adult Freeholders. 161 proper to take possession of these lands."* In furtherance of this grant of the Governor and Council the following survey of this flat was made soon after by surveyor Van der Baast. " De derde Vlachte aen dese zyde Van de Maquaase rimer versoecht by " Daniel Jansen is lanch by de boskant in het geheele van de ptmt tot de an- " dere 356 Rooden ende buy ten de punten 193 rooden ende op zyn breetste " dwars ouer van de boskant tot de rivier 83 rooden maeckende te samen 31 " morgen en 379 rooden. "Aldus gemeten door. " Joris Arissen Van der Baast."f The patent for this land was granted 21 Aug., 1680, by Gov. Dongan, and on the 22 Jan., 1V0| Van Antwerp sold the westerly half of said farm to Jan Pieterse Mebie. The whole parcel was then described as being 356 rods long along the woodland and in breadth 193 rods and from the wood to the river 83 rods, containing altogether 31 morgens, 379 rods or 63 acres and 79 rods, in accordance with Van der Baast's measurement.]; A portion of this flat is still owned by descendants of Jan Pieterse Mebie. In 1676 he was one of five members of the court of justices of Schen- ectady and in 1701 was supervisor of the township. Van Antwerpen married Maria, daughter of Symon Symonse Groot, and had five sons and three daughters, all of whom arrived at maturity and left families. Jan the eldest son married Agnieta, daughter of Harmen Vedder and had eleven children; Symon married Maria, daughter of Jacobus Peek and had ten children; he bought land and settled in Schaghticoke, made his Avill in 1744 and devised the westerly sixty feet of the lot of the late S. C. Groot in Union street to his son Jacobus.§ Daniel married Ariaantje, * Albany Records, xx, 333, 334 ; Col. MSS., xxvr, 139. f Land Papers, n, 59. % Deeds, v, 79. § He gave to his ouiote soon Daniel Seymonse Van Antwerpen myn grooten Byble en consider 'atie van syneerste geboorten reclit; to his wife Maria, deurende haer naturelyck leven en wedueicschacp alle myn vasten staat roerende and onroerende, neegers, negerine, etc.; to his three sons Daniel, Johannes and Lewis, myn erfgront leggende, in het Dorp in Schonegtade ten westen de gront van Abraham Groot in de straadt die de wegh na Canis- tageione gaet [Union street] ; als meede de tioee hondert en Viftigh ackers boslandt leggende aen de suyde syden van de Mackquasse rivier ten westen boven Rosendaal. Children men- tioned as living 1744, Daniel, Jacobus, Johannes, Lewis, Maria wife of Gysbert Van Brakelen, Rebecca wife of Abraham De Foreest, Sara, wife of Philip Winne, and Margaret . — SchermerJwn Papers. 162 History of the Schenectady Patent. daughter of Gerrit Symonse Veeder and had a family of eleven children, and Pieter married Engeltie, daughter of Jan Mebie and had twelve children, Arent married Sara Van Eps and had nine children. Of the Van Antwerps living in eastern New York it is believed the major portion are descendants of Symon who founded the Schaghticoke branch of the family. From these they have spread throughout the country. Jan Danielse Van Antweepen. Jan Danielse — Daniel's oldest son, was born about 1670, in Schenectady; he married Angiiieta Vedder in 1 700; he died 20th Jan., 1 756. He probably never lived in the village except during Indian invasion, though as an active soldier in the militia it might have been necessary for him to put his family with friends for safety while the men did yeoman's service as scouts. The writer has been unable to locate his village lot, if he had any. In 169-| he was one of Lt. Bickford's party of volunteers* who chased and captured a squad of deserters from the garrison. Akent Danielse Van Antweepen. Arent, son of Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen, married Sara, daughter of Johannes Van Eps and had nine children. His village lot was on the north side of State street, the same as now occupied by Given's hotel and part of Wall street. This lot he purchased of Douw Aukes in 1704. Its dimensions were 80 feet front, 90 feet in the rear, 385 feet deep on the east side, and 433 feet on the west side. The laying out of Wall and Liberty streets in later times has reduced the width and length of this lot.f On the 10th March, 170f, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to him " a piece of woodland in Schenectady on the north side of a small spring of " water [Jack's spring between Albany street and East avenue], that runs " into the [Coehorn] creek by the lot of Jan Baptist Van Eps, bounded " west by the woodland of Isaac Swits in length from said spring north along " by the woodland of said Swits 50 rods [600 Rynland feet] and in breadth "east 24 rods [288 Rynland feet] Rynland measure, containing two * See Fortifications. t Deeds, v, 187. Adult Freeholders. 163 morgens."* This parcel of land was bounded west by Nott Terrace, north by Cemetery avenue, south by Albany street and east by the division lane between the property of the late Jno. G. McChesney and the late B. J. Myndertse.f He also owned 80 acres of land on the " Nestigeyone Hill at the Coehorn " mill, for which he and his partners were to deliver yearly 30 boards to the "grantors, — the trustees of Schenectady, beginning March 25, 1742. "J This mill was probably on or near the site of Van Vorst's mill. Seventeen acres of the above parcel subsequently belonged to Arent S. Vedder and Nicolaas Veeder. Marten Van Benthuysen. He was son of Paulus Martense Van Benthuysen of Albany; marrying Feitje, daughter of Pieter Jacobse Borsboom, he settled in Schenectady and on the death of his father-in-law became possessed through his wife of one- fourth of the estate. Borsboom owned the farms on the bouwland numbered seven, the first of which he sold in 1669 to Jan Labatie, but retained the hindmost parcel consisting of 12 morgens, till his death, after which it was divided into four equal parts, one for each of his daughters. He also owned an ample village lot, — the north quarter of the block bounded by Washington, Union, Church and Front streets, — about 200 feet square, — also a garden on the east corner of Washington and Front streets, extending north 150 feet, nearly to the river, and a pasture of 2 J morgens, beginning 182 feet, easterly from North street and extending from Front street to the river and having a front upon said street of 180 feet Amstei'dam measure. Van Benthuysen through his wife Feitje had a fourth interest in all these parcels of land.§ Claas Janse Van Boekhoven alias de Brabander. Claas Janse an early settler of Beverwyck, in 1662, owned a lot on the Vossen kil.\ * Dutch Church Papers, f Col. MSS., xlix, 21. % Groote Sehull boek. § See Borsboom. || Not. Papers, i, 200. 164 History of the Schenectady Patent. After his marriage with Catalyntje De Vos, widow of Arent Bratt, in 1691 he took up his residence in Schenectady. In 1672 in company with Ryck Claase Van Vranken he bought land over the river in Niskayuna, a part of which he sold in 16*78 to Theunis Willemse Van Woutbergh,* and the remainder came into possession of his step-son Dirk Bratt. He made his will Jan. 11, 169-| leaving all his property to his wife. He probably died about 1707 in which year his will was proved. f Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakelen. Before coming to Schenectady he was a resident of Albany ; his first wife was Reyntje Stephens ; on the 23d July, 1693, he married Elizabeth, widow of Jan Van Eps, who outlived him and made her will in 17344 Van Brakel made his will Dec. 10, 1709.§ His lands are particularly described and bounded in a new conveyance to him made Feb. 11, 170-f by the trustees of Schenectady, to replace "his writings which were lost when Schenectady was burned." First. A lot " on the north [east] of said town between Jan Vrooman to " the east and Jan Luykase to the west; — in length on the west side 29 rods " 4 feet [352 feet], on the east 28 rods 11 feet [374 feet], breadth on the south "50 feet, on the north 59 feet." This lot lies next east of Given's hotel lot and is now owned by the New York Central Railroad Company. Second. "A pasture containing five morgens [10 acres] lying behind the " lots [on State street] of several people, now improved, — to the west, north "and south the commons or vacant land." * Not. Papers; Col. MSS., v, 37; Deeds, i, 393; Albany Co. Rec., 166. f Wills, i, 64, Court of Appeal's office ; Deeds, in, 141. 1 This will made Sept. 13, 1734, was proved 22 May, 1735 ; by it she bequeathed to " my eldest son Jan Baptist Van Eps six shillings for his primogeniture ; " " to my son Gysbert Van Brakel 2% morgens of land of lot No. 7, of hindmost land, beginning by the wood lot of heirs of Evert Van Eps, from thence running in my lot untill he shall include or take in 2% morgens ; " — " to my daughter Maria Brat widow of Dirk Bratt 1% morgens adjoining the lands of my daughter Elizabeth above mentioned ; " — " to my daughter Elizabeth Van Vorst the wife of Gillis Van Vorst \% morgens of land adjoin- ing Gysbert's above mentioned ; " — " to my daughter Sarah Van Autwerpen 3 morgens adjoining the land of my daughter Maria Brat for which sheis to pay £50 to my daughter Anna Ten Eyck, widow of Conraet Ten Eyck, viz. £8, 6*. 8d., yearly after my decease untill all is paid." Will in hands of Abm. Van Antwerp, of Swagertoicn. § Wills, i, 129. Adult Freeholders. 165 This pasture so obscurely described, was bounded by Ferry, Union, Centre and very nearly Liberty streets, which latter was not then in existence. Third. " A lot bounded east by Goosen Van Oort, south by the highway " [State street] north and west by said Gysbert's pasture [last above des- " cribed and by Ferry street], — in length on the north 18 rods 7| feet "[223 J feet], west 14 rods 9 feet [HI feet], and south [on State street] 9 "rods 11 feet [119 feet]."* This lot was on the east corner of State and Ferry streets, and here Van Brakel lived, just without the south gate, on the fatal night of Feb. 8, 1690, when his son Sander was killed and Stephen was carried away to Canada and probably never returned. It had a front of 119 feet Amsterdam measure, or, say 107 feet English, measured from the palisades which stood in Ferry street, and is now comprised in the property of Messrs. Furman, Steinfuhrer and P. Levi, — Nos. 77 to No. 91, having a front altogether of 98 feet English, the remaining 9 feet being taken by Ferry street. Van Brakel left two sons living, — Gerrit the eldest and Gysbert; the former by right of primogeniture inheriting the estate, conveyed on Sept. 24, 1716, "to my loving brother-in-law [*. e., half-brother] Gysbert Gysbertse" two of the above lots of ground described as follows: First. " A lot fronting the street [State] southward that leads from the " eastern f gate of said town to Albany, 9 rods 11 feet, — to the west the " street [Ferry], to the east the lot now in possession of Robert Yates, to "the north the pasture ground; — together with the half of said pasture " ground behind said lot containing about 2\ morgens or 5 acres, butting " the street [Union] northly that leads by Adam Vrooman's brewhouse J " toward Niskayuna, easterly butts the land of the aforementioned Gerrit " Van Brakel's half — to the southward by the lots of Lawrence Van der " Volgen, Claas Van der Volgen [now lots of Meyer's Stores and Van " Home Hall], Abraham De Graaf, Daniel Danielse [Van Antwerpen], " Cornelis Pootman, Jonathan Dyer and the lot above mentioned [hereby " conveyed] to said Gysbert Gysbertse Van Brakel. "§ Gerrit Van Brakel retained for his share of his father's estate, the lot on State street next east of the Given's hotel lot, and the easterly half of the before mentioned * Deeds, vi, 191. f [Southern Gate.— M'M.] X This brewhouse stood about where the New York Central Railroad and the Erie Canal cross each other. § These lots extend from the east Hue of Samuel Meyer's lot to Ferry street ; — Deeds, vi, 191, 192. 166 History of the Schenectady Patent. pasture lot, extending from Centre street to a point a little west of Canal street. These parcels of land Gerrit was entitled to by virtue of his father's will, made 10 Dec., 1709, in which he devised to his son Gerrit, " his lot where " Gerrit's house now stands, lying next the lots of Jan Vrooman [on the east] "and Arent Danielse [Van Antwerpen] on the west; — also his piece of land " named Juffrouwsland and half of the pasture [on Union street]."* This parcel on Juffrouvisland containing two morgens, lay north-east of the car works upon the lane and was sold by Gerrit 17 April, 1741, to Robert Yates, merchant. Gysbert Gerritse also received a conveyance Jan. 2, 169f from the justice of the peace, Johannes Sanderse Glen and the gemeemnannen of Schenectady, of an island on the north side of the river, called Kruysbessen [Gooseberry] island lying west of Spuyten Duyvel [island], consideration 32 beavers at 6 guilders each", to be paid within three years; bondsmen his son Gerrit Gysbertse [Van Brakel] and Volckert Symonse [Veeder].f He probably did not long retain possession of this island, for on the 10th April, 1702, Reyer Schermerhorn by virtue of the Dongan patent, conveyed it to Jillis Fonda, who transferred it Sept. 22, 1706, to Heudrick Vrooman and Arent Danielse Antwerpen, comprising two morgens more or less of land, and they sold it to Barent Vrooman Mar. 11, 170|- for £21 [$52.50].| On the 6th June, 1750, Isaac Swits, mariner, and Maria his wife, by virtue of the will of Barent Vrooman, made 6 Sept., 1748, sold this island to Jacob Glen, since which time it has remained in the Sanders family.§ In 1702 Gysbert Gerritse also owned bouwery No. 7 on the second piece of land on the Great flat. On the 10th Mar., I70f the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to Gerrit, son of Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel, " a piece of woodland on both sides of "■Hansen kil [College brook], beginning 15 rods [180 feet] west of Symon " Groot's bridge, and runs up said creek the breadth of 24 rods [288 feet], " 75 rods [900 feet] making 3 morgens."|| Simon Groot's bridge over the College brook, or as it was then called Hansen kil, from Hendrick Hansen of Albany, was on the west side of * Wills, i, 129. f Toll Papers. % Deeds, v, 97 ; Sanders Papers. ■ § Barent Vrooman's will in Court of Appeal's office and Sanders Papers. 1 Dutch Church Papers. Adult Freeholders. 167 Rorneyn street, just within the fence of the Schenectady locomotive works; about one-fifth of/ the above parcel was within the locomotive works' yard and the adjacent lands north of it and four-fifths was south-east of Romeyn street reaching within the college grounds. Claas Willemse Van Coppernol. He married Lea, a Mohawk woman, who after his death, about 1692, married Jonathan Stevens. In 1678 Coppernol and wife contracted to serve Jan Conell on his bouwery at Catskil for one year for 42 beavers.* In 1679 he hired a bouwery at Schenectady of Willem Teller and subsequently pur- chased and settled upon land at de willegen [the Willows] below Port Jackson on the south side of the river. The Willow flat was granted to Pieter Van Olinda and Claas Willemse Van Coppernol by Governor Dongan, on 9th Nov., 1685, and is described as "bounded westerly by the woods 315 rods along the highest land to the V creek, east by the river 34 rods, the broadest part from the woods to the " river 66 rods, the point before [easterly end] runs to nothing, the after " [or westerly] end by Stone creek, containing 33 morgens or 66 acres and " 390 rods; — also 200 acres of woodland adjoining." This fiat was divided into two equal parcels, the hithermost or easterly portion to Van Olinda, the furthermost or westerly half to Van Coppernol. f In 1689 the latter sold his "half of the Willow flat to Philip Philipse de More in exchange for his " land received from Jan Mebie, house, barn and ricks together with the " Sixth flat on the over side [north side] of the Mohawk river just as he now possesses it. "J On the 5th June, 1714, Reyer Schermerhorn and Jan Pieterse Mebie sold to Coppernol for £4-16 [$12], '' a lot at Schenectady having to the west " /mother lot of said Mebie now occupied by Marte Van Benthuysen, to the " east a lot of Albert Vedder, to the south the highway [Front street], to " the north the Mohawk river, containing 21 morgens or 5 acres."§ This lot originally patented to Sander Leendertse Glen, commenced at a point * Albany Co. Rec, 182. t Deeds, iv, 236. t Deeds, rv, 234, 236. § Deeds v, 232. 168 History of the Schenectady Patent. 299 feet English easterly from North street and extended along Front street 210 feet English. In IV 18 this lot was in possession of Pieter Quackenbos.* In 1727 Willem, son of Claas Willemse Van Coppernol lived in Green street. Arent Van Curler. The acknowledged leader of the little colony at Schenectady in 1662, was Arent Van Curler. He came over in 1630 as superintendent of Colonic Rensselaerswyck, and continued in office until ] 646, besides acting as colonial secretary. In 1643 he married Antonia Slaaghboom, widow of Jonas Bronck,f and soon after settled on the " Flatts," above Fort Orange. Here he remained until the spring of 1662, when he took up his residence Schenectady and where he remained directing and furthering the inten of the settlers until his unfortunate death. Having accepted an invitation from De Tracy, the Governor of Can to visit Quebec, on his journey he embarked in a canoe on Lake Champ] and being overtaken by a storm was drowned in July, 1669.J No mai his time had so fully won the confidence and esteem of the red men as ^ Curler, and to honor his memory they ever after addressed the Governoi the Province by his name. His character for kindness and humanity known even to the French in Canada, many of whom he had rescued ft the hands of the cruel Mohawks ;§ to perpetuate his memory they gave name of Corlaer to Schenectady. Juffrouw Van Curler continued to reside in Schenectady until her do about the beginning of the year of 1676. On the 27th Jan., 167f, in c sideration of the loss of her husband in public service, and of her ho barns and corn by fire, Governor Lovelace licensed her to trade with Indians, it being thought also that her license would stop the quarrel the other two tapsters, Cornells Cornelise Viele and Acques Cornt Gautsh [Van Slyck], the Indian. || * Deeds, v, 417. f Jonas Bronck in 1639 became proprietor of 500 acres of land in what is Morrisania, Westchester Co.— Bolton's Westchester Co., n, 395. % O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N. § Col. MSS., in, 395. |[ Orders in Council, p. 127 ; Eng. MSS., xxin, 149 ; Col. Doc, n, 652. Adult Freeholders. 169 The Governor's order on her application is as follows: '• Upon ye Request of Antonio Van Curler of Schanechtide presented to " His Honor y e Governor, that having not long since received a very great "Losse by ffire, there may for her Reliefe bee so farr indulged as to have " licence to sell some Ruram to y e Indyans, as also some quantity of Powder " and Lead ; the Premises being taken into serious consideration, It is " ordered that in regard to the very great Losse and Damage sustayned by " the said Antonia Van Curler in having her House, Barnes and Corne " destroyed as by her is set forth, as also the Losse of her Husband, Arent " Van Curler while hee was employed in his Maj ties Publick Service, Shee, "the said Antonia his widdow shall have free Lyberty and Licence for y e " space and term of one whole yeare and two Months after the date hereof, " That is to say, from the first day of Aprill next untill the 29th day of " May wh. shall bee in the yeare of O r Lord 1674, to sell and dispose of to " the Indyans or others in and about Schanechtide in Rumme one hundred " Anckers and in Lead to the value of two hundred Beavers or 1,000 weight; " But for Powder in this conjuncture of time during the Warr, Its thought "inconvenient any Extraordinary Liberty should be granted therein." By order, &c. " The matter of difference between ye two Tappers [C. C. Viele, and A. " C. Van Slyck] at Schanechtide, not thought fitt any order shall be made " therein further, this Liberty to the Widdow probably being a mean to " defeat both their Expectations." Her will -was admitted to probate in New York city and letters of admin- istration were issued to Willem Beeckman, Jan. 15, 1676.* On the 5th of April, 1681, he reported the proceeds of her estate to be fl. 10,805-17 in beavers [$4,322.34] ;— debts, fl. 21,171-7 [$8,468.54] ;— preferred debts, fl. 4,600-6 [$1,840.12], leaving fl. 6,205-11 [$2,482.22] fur other creditors. The curateurs of Arent Van Curler's estate, were Dr. Cornells Van Dyck and Johannes Provoost of Albany. f Van Curler's home lot in the village was a portion (probably the whole of the easterly half) of the block bounded by 'Union, Church, Front and Washington streets. After the death of himself and his widow, with- out issue, this lot was divided into four smaller portions and sold ; the occupants of these parcels were as follows : The lot on the corner of Union and Church streets, 100 by 264 ft., was occupied by Ludovicus Cobes, in 1684 ; from him it passed to Catrina * Bolton's Westchester Co., n, 283. f Proceedings of Justices Court Albany, i, 20, 51 ; Deeds, in, 104. 22 170 History of the Schenectady Patent. Otten, wife of Gerrit Syraonse Veeder, and remained in his family or connections until after the beginning of this century. Before the year 1684 Maria, widow of Jan Peeck, lived on the lot immediately north of this, being the west corner of Front and Church streets. Adam Vrooman early came into possession of this parcel. It was here that he so bravely defended his house against the attack of the French and Indians in 1690. In 1718, he conveyed it to Pieter Quackenbos. The lot next west of the Veeder lot, 50 feet front on Union street and extending through the block 400 feet to Front street was owned by Symon Groot, the first settler, in 1669, and was still in the family in 1790. The lot next west of Groot's and of the same dimensions, was owned by Benjamin Roberts as early as 1669; from him it passed to Reinier Schaets, who was killed here in 1690; in 1701 Gideon, the son of Reinier, sold it to Albert Vedder, son of Harmen Albertse, the first settler.* Owing to Van Curler's great services in extinguishing the Indian title and in procuring a survey and the patents for the lands, he received more than a double share of the choicest land on the Great flat [and village]. The confirmatory patent for this farm was issued to his widow on the 4th of May, 1668, the description being as follows: "A certain parcel of land at Schenectady lying to the south-east of the " Great creek or kil [Binne kil] to the north of the woodlands, to the South "west of a certain small creek [Sand kil, now Mill creek], containing 114 "acres or 57 morgeus and thirty rods, as granted Aug. 19, 1664, by Governor " Stuyvesant to said Arent in his lifetime."! This land was bounded ac- cording to this description, north-east and south by the Great creek, now the Binne kil, by " a certain small creek," subsequently called the " Sand kil," now Mill creek and by the woods on the sandy bluff; on the west side it was bounded by Pieter Andriaense Van Woggelum's and Catalyntje De Vos' [Bratt's] farms numbered respectively four and one. The Schenectady car works stand on the extreme western boundary of Van Curler's farm, the west fence of the yard being a portion of the dividing line. After Van Curler's death in 1667, this farm passed to his widow, who continued to reside here until her death in 1677. The estate being insolvent was sold by the administrators, Cornells Van Dyck and Johannes Provoost, in 1681, to pay the debts. It was divided * Patents, 647 ; see also Roberts, Schaets and Vedder. \ Patents, 535. Adult Freeholders. 171 into at least five parcels. The westernmost parcel, on a part of which stand the Schenectady car works, was sold to Sweer Teunise Van Velsen, the town miller. After his death in 1690 it fell to his stepson Barent Wemp. The second parcel next east of the lane leading past the car works, was bought by Gerrit Gysbertse Van Brakel, and later in 1741 was divided by east and west lines into three lesser parcels owned by Johannes Abrahamse Truax, Robert Yates and Jacobus Vedder. The third parcel was owned wholly or in part by Isaac Cornelise Swits; the fourth by Barent Wemp and later by his son Jan; and the fifth and largest parcel comprising 20 morgens was purchased by Adam Vrooman and his brother Jan, the former the easterly half next the village and the latter the westerly half. Joris Aertse Van der Baast. He called himself " an Amsterdam boy;"* by trade he was a surveyor and in 1689 clerk or secretary of the town. In 1670 he bought of Bastiaen De Winter a lot 100 by 200 feet on the south corner of Church and Union streets, where in 1690 he was slain by the French and Indians. f He also owned Jan De La Ward's great island in the Mohawk. Pieter Bogardus attorney for his heirs, sold all his real estate in 1699 to Gysbert Marcelis of Albany. The description in the deed mentions Joris' great island in the Mohawk between Claas Graven's Hoek and Scotia and the adjacent small islands except Kruisbessen and Spuyten Dicyvel islands; which said island consisting of 15 morgens was bought of Jan De La Warde, also three mor- gens of land on the north side of the river for a hofstede\ adjoining the land of the widow of Claas Graven. § On the 23d of June. 1714, Mar- celis obtained a patent confirmatory of this purchase, in which the property is described as — " a great island called Joris Aertse's island in the Mohawk ' river above Schenectady between Scotia and the land called Graverts hoek 1 containing 30 acres with a house lot in the town of Schenectady, having ' to the north and west the high street [Union and Church], to the east ' Pieter Van Olinda's lot and to the south the lot of the heirs of David ' Christophelse, being a corner lot [south corner of Union and Church ' streets];— as also all those small islands about the said great island called ' Joris Aertse's island in the boght or bay between the land aforesaid called * Doc. Hist., in, 115. t Deeds, n, 790. \ Hofstede = country house, a Farm House and its accompanying garden orchards etc. ; a country homestead. — M'M.] § Deeds, rv, 140, 264. 172 History of the Schenectady Patent. " Glaas Graveri's hoek and the said Scotia, excepting only two islands " within the said bounds, one whereof, is called JKruisbesse island and the " other Spiten divel; — as also six acres of land upon the main on the other " side of the river, abutting on the east side of the land called Claes Graven's " Hoek in possession of his [Graven's] widow, for a hofstede, or place to " build a house and barn and for an orchard and garden."* As Gysbert Marcelis did not become a resident of Schenectady, it is probable that he sold the home lot on the south corner of Church and Union streets about 1714 to Caleb Beck. The Great island was sold to Nicholas De Graaf who dying about 1796 left it to his sous Jesse and John,f Van der Baast also owned a pasture lot on the north side of Front opposite Jefferson street, which he purchased of Symon Volkertse Veeder, 27 Feb., 1670, " in length 75 rods bounded on the " west by Gerrit Bancker, north by the river — breadth 15 rods, — east by the " common pasture and on the south by the common boswegh " [Front street]. J Frans Van de Bogart. He was a son of Harmen Myndertse Van de Bogart, who came over to New Netherland in 1631, as surgeon iu the ship Hendracht.§ Frans was born in New Amsterdam in 1640, came to Schenectady among the early settlers and was killed in the massacre of 1690. His son Claas (and probably the father also) owned a lot in the village on the north side of Front street (near the north gate), having a front of 131 Amsterdam feet on the street and 51 feet on the river. This parcel of ground comprises the lots of the late Gen. Jacob Swits, Henry Rosa, and John McMichael.fl His farm lay on the south side of the river at and below the Saratoga railroad bridge, and a portion of it still belongs to his descendants.** * Patents, 1673. f Mortgages, xn, 95. \ Deeds, n, 795-7, [Boswegh = wood road, road into the woods — M'M.] § For notices of Surgeon Van de Bogart, see O'Callaghaus Hist. N. N., i, 434, 441 ; II,' 585; Dutch MSS., i, 44; n, 24; vn, 120-1; Albany Rec, i, 41; Valentine's Man. , 1863. Doc. Hist., n, 74, 115, 200; rv, 135; Deeds, iv, 313. I Toll Papers ; Deeds, v, 199. ** Toll Papers. Adult Freeholders. 173 Claas Laurense Van dee Volgen, alias Van Purmeeend. Claas Laurense, one of the first settlers in 1662, married Maritie, daughter of Teunis Cornelise Swart, and had nine children, the most of whom attained maturity and left families. His village lot comprised the lots now occupied by Van Home Hall and Myers' stores, having a front on State street of 105 feet. In 1692, he bought the lot on the east corner of State and Church streets, — 170 feet on the former and 160 feet on the latter street. This lot was originally granted to Teunis Cornelise Swart, by patent of date Jan. 15, 1667; on his death, his wife Elizabeth married Jacob Meese Vrooman, of Albany, to whom the magistrates of Schenectady gave a deed of the same, of date Feb. 7, 168|. Vrooman dying, his widow again married Wouter Uythoff, with whom she united Jan. 4, 1692, in a conveyance of said lot to Claas Laurense Van Purmerend [alias Van der Volgen], — it " being a " corner lot over against the Blockhouse (te xoeteri de Jcerk)*, 200 feet long " [on Church street] — 170 ft. long [on State street], having south and west " des heeren straet\ [State and Church streets], and to the east Jan Labatie," according to deed of Feb. 7, 168|; excepting a piece conveyed to Esaias Swart, by deed of July 30, 1681. This latter parcel was taken from the rear of the whole lot, 40 ft. front on Church street and is now number 31 and owned by Mr. Marten De Forest. His farm on the bouwland was No. 10, which was conveyed to him 25th April, 1692, by Wouter Uythoff (third husband of Elizabeth Van der Linde), and said Elizabeth for 540 beavers, — "the bouwery, lot [in the "Village], house, barn and rick of the late Teunis Cornelise Swart, — the " bouwery being No. 10 over the third [Poenties~\ kil, to the east of Nos. 9 " and 6, to the west of Nos. 9 and 8 from the hill to the river Southwest by "west, 64 rods wide; comprising 24 morgens 576 rods as granted by pat- "ent 16 June 1664 and confirmed Jan. 15 1667." The half of this bouwery north of the road, comprising 11 morgens, Van Purmerend alias Van der Volgen, sold to Claas Janse Van Boekhoven, Jan. 4, 169|; for £147, current money of the Province. The next day, Jan. 5, the latter sold the easterly half of said 1 1 morgens to Dirk Arentse Bratt, for £1o\.\ * [To wit the church.— M'M.] f [Des heeren straaien — the public streets. — M'M.] % Deeds, iv, 34, 35. § Deeds, iv, 38. 174 History of the Schenectady Patent. Laubens Claese Van deb Volgen. He was son of Claes Laurense Van der Volgen; at the destruction of the village in 1690, he was carried away captive to Canada by the Indians, with whom he remained several years, acquiring a perfect knowledge of their language and customs. He was thirteen years of age when adopted by the Indians. Having obtained permission to visit Schenectady, with the promise of returning, his relatives remonstrated with him, but he was firmly determined to go back until his sister cut off his scalp-lock in his sleep. When he awoke and found his lock gone, he asked who had done it. " I," said his sister. " I am disgraced," said he, " and must remain till it is grown." Before that time he became reconciled to the white man's mode of life, and never again resumed his Indian habits.* He became an expert and trusted interpreter for the Province, which office he held until his death in 1742. In 1701, Abraham Governeur, speaker of the Provincial Assembly, prayed Gov. Nanfan to use no inter- preter for the Indians but Lawrence Claessen, the sworn interpreter.! His salary was £30 until 1734, when it was raised to £60. He married first Geertruy, daughter of Claas Van Patten, and secondly Susanna Welleven Sept. 18, 1722. His will was made Aug. 30, 1739, — proved October, 1742,J and he died Jan. 10, 1742, leaving ten children living. His village lot was the eastern half of his father's lot ; now the site of the Myers' block, he also owned " the hindmost [west] part of the five plains "[Fifth flat] containing 12 rnorgens more or less situate in the Woestytie on " the north side of the Mohawk river come to me by the ti'ustees of Schonegte- " day," — valued at £200, which farm he bequeathed to his eldest son Claas. The natives also gave him the half of " five small islands in the Maquase " river att Canastagiowne containing about five or six acres between Rosen- " daal & Cornells Tymesen's," the lower half, — " in consideration because " he takes much pains in interpreting. "§ * Tradition in the family. f Legislative Coun., 161, 385, 516 ; Col. MSB., xlvii, 166, 168. % To his eldest son Claas he left " my good [gold] seal ring; " to Neeltie " the silver cup marked L. V. V."; to Maritie " one silver spoon come from the deceased Jannitie Kroon," etc. Will, Court of Appeal's office. § Col. Doc. rv, 906, 574. [See Five Small Islands ; Van Eps.] Adult Freeholders. 175 Laurens Claese was employed by Domine Freerman in translating pas- sages from the Holy Scriptures and from the liturgy of the Dutch church for the use of the Mohawks.* Barent Janse Van Ditmars. He came to Schenectady as early as 1664, when he married Catalyntje De Vos, widow of Arent Andriese Bratt.f His village lot was that of his wife, — Mrs. Bratt,— and his farm lay next west of hindmost farm No. 1, belonging to the Bratt's. The first lock on the canal west of the city, stands upon the southernmost line of his farm, which was the south-westerly half of Poversen originally granted to Benjamin Roberts. J He also had a parcel of pasture ground on the north side of Front street, which was patented to him Sept. 10, 1670, — " a lot of ground at Schenectady " now in his tenure lying in the pasture or Wet/land, having on the east the " lot of Theunis Cornelissen's [Swart], and on the west that of John " Labatie, — in length 92 rods, in breadth by the river side 15 rods and by "the highway [Front street] 17 rods."§ This lot commenced 509 feet English easterly from North street and extended along said street 210 feet English. Its easterly line reached the New York Central Railroad. In 1701 this lot belonged to Harmen Albertse Vedder. By a former marriage Van Ditmars had a son Cornells, who married Catharina Glen; after his death she married Gerrit Lansing, Jr., of Albany. As her dower (?) Claas Janse Van Boekhoven, who married her stepmother Catalyntje De Vos Bratt, conveyed to her one quarter part of bouwery No. 10, consisting of 5? morgens of laudj In the massacre of 1690 both Van Ditmars and his son were killed. Jacobus Van Dyck. He was son of Cornells Van Dyck, " Cbirurgeon " of Albany, and grand- son of Hendrick Van Dyck, sellout fiscaal at New Amsterdam under Stuyvesant's administration. Having studied medicine with his father, he * A copy of this work is in possession of one of his descendants now living in Indiana. f The marriage contract was made Nov. 12, 1664; see Braat. % See Roberts, Viele, Douwe Aukes. § Patents, 755. |) Deeds, iv, 37. 176 History of the Schenectady Patent. settled in Schenectady where he practiced his profession until his death. He married Jacomyntje, daughter of Johannes Sanderse Glen, Oct. 25, 1694, and had two children, — Elizabeth and a son Cornells who followed his father's profession, and inherited his possessions. Dr. Van Dyck was surgeon of the fort at Schenectady at one shilling a day. His house lot, 153 feet front and 105 feet deep, was on the west side of Church street, 106 feet north from State street. This lot was sold to him July 7, 1713, by Jan Baptist Van Eps for £10 [825], and is described in the deed as "bounded east by the street [Church] 153 feet, south by the "lot of the heirs of Andries Bratt, now in possession of Harmanus Vedder, " 101 feet, — west by lot of heirs of Andries Bratt, now in possession of " Arent Bratt 145 feet, and north by the lot of Reyer Schermerhorn, now "in possession of Helmus Veeder, 109 feet eleven inches to the foot, — " of which said Van Dyke has had possession since 1698."* Van Eps. Dirk Van Eps married Maritie Damens and had two children, Johannes and Lysbet, who became the wife of Gen - it Bancker, of Albany. After Van Eps' death his widow married Hendrick Andriese Van Doesburgh, and had a daughter Jannetie, born in 1653, who married Marten, son of Capt. Marten Cregier, and settled in Niskayuna. And in 1664 Maritie Damens married her third husband, Cornells Van Ness, of Albany. She had lands in Albany, Niskayuna and Schenectady, — which after her death were dis- tributed among her three children. Johannes Dirkse Van Eps, the eldest son of Maritie Damen and Dirk Van Eps, married Elizabeth Jansef and had three sons and four daughters, all of whom left families save one, who with his father was killed in the massacre of 1690. He was one of the five magistrates of the village in 1676 and 1678, and named one of the five patentees in the Dongan patent of 1684. His nome lot in the village was on the north corner of State and Church streets, comprising one quarter of the block, — 200 by 225 feet. This lot together with bouweries No. 2 on the bouwland, were purchased for him * H. Yates' Papers ; Deeds, v, 217. f After her husband's dealh she married Gysbert Gerrilse Van Brakel ; for her will see Van Brakel. Adult Freeholders. 177 April 29, 1664, by his step-father, Van Ness, at the sale of Philip Hendrickse Brouwer's property in 1664.* The conveyance to him is dated April ^f, 1667, and the patent April 29, 1667, — " to Jan Van Epps, son of Maritie "Damens, to confirm a conveyance to him made April 15, 1667, by Cornells " Van Nesse, of a certain bouwery or farm at Schenectady on two several "parcels of land containing about 42 acres or 21 morgens 570 rods, as set " forth in the grondbriefe June 16, 1664, together with a house and lot and " another lot of ground and garden lying near the place where he inhabits " at Schenectady, being in breadth and length according as is Exprest in " the General's grant to him said Cornells Van Nesse dated April 10, 1665."f His eldest son Jan Baptist, inherited the above mentioned parcels of land. Jan Baptist Van Eps. He was the eldest son of Jan Dirkse Van Eps ; was born in 1673, and married Helena, daughter of Johannes Sanderse Glen, in 1699, and had eleven children, five sons and six daughters, all of whom save one, reached mature age and had families. When Schenectady was destroyed in 1690, he was carried away to Canada, where he remained three years but finally escaped in the following manner : "169§ Feb. 8, Wed. about 2 o'clock afternoon we had the alarm from " Schenectady that the French and their Indians had taken the Maqas " castles ; soon after we had the news that a young man named Jan Bap- " tist Van Eps (taken at Schenectady 3 years ago), was run over from the " French, as they were to attack the first castle of the Mohogs, and came " to Schenectady, who related that the French were 350 Christian and 200 " Indians."^ During his captivity with the Indians he had acquired a knowledge of the Indian language and was subsequently often employed as interpreter and embassador to the Five nations. § "In 1701, the Mohawk sachems granted five small islands at Canasta- "giowne to Jan Baptist Van Eps and Laurens Claes [Van der Volgen], to " be equally divided between them."|| * See Ph. Hendr. Brouwer ; Deeds, n, 469. f Patents, 392. % Col. Doc. iv, 16, 370, 497, 499, 559, etc. ; Col. Mss., xxxix, 73. §Col. MSS.,xlii,167. U Col. Doc, iv, 906. [See ante, p. 77, Five small islands.— M'M.] 23 178 History of the Schenectady Patent. In 1706 he was living on the east corner of State and Jay streets, the latter being his private lane leading to his land in the rear and along Coe- horne creek upon which he had a corn mill, situated a few rods above La- fayette street. His ample lot on the north corner of State and Church streets and hindmost bouwery No. 2, he subsequently sold to Arent Bratt and Jacobus Van Dyck.* In Feb., 1*70 \ the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to Jan Baptist Van Eps, his deed being lost, " a lot at the east end of Schenectady bounded " south by the high street [State] in breadth 9 rods, west by Symon " Groot Jr., and the commons as far as Niskayuna high road [Union Street], " and so upward eastwardly to a great pine, and from thence south east to " ye hill [Prospect] to another marked tree, and from thence south to a kil " [Coehorne], which is his east [west] boundary, containing seven mor- «gens."f The portion of this parcel fronting upon State street, extended from the west side of Jay street to Coehorne kil, nine rods or 108 feet ; on Union Street it extended from the lot of Mrs. Jackson No. 152, along the old Niskayuna road to the foot of Prospect Hill. That portion of this land fronting upon Union street came into possession of Isaac Quackenbos from whom it descended to his late son, Johannes and through his daughter to Abraham O. Clute. There was also conveyed to him another " lot on the south side and west "end of the town over the town bridge [in Water street], in length on the " south side 126 ft. bounded with the highroad [Water street], on the west " also the highroad, to y e north a small creek, to ye east Claas Van Boek- " hoven."J This lot was on the east corner of Water and Washington streets; in 1729, it belonged to Annatie, daughter of Jan Baptist Van Eps, wife of Ahasuerus Wendel.§ At the same time the trustees conveyed to him a third lot of ground near the last, " having to y e north the highroad [Water street] being 133 feet, — " the west side also ye high road 153 ft. — south Symon Groot being 133 " ft., — east Claas Van Boekhoven 153 ft.'"|| This lot was probably on the * See Bratt and Van Dyck ; Deeds v, 217. f Deeds, iv, 332 ; v, 217. % Deeds iv, 332. § Old deed. 1 Deeds, rv, 332. Adult Freeholders. 179 south corner of Water street and the old river road, which at that time occupied the place now covered by the Binnl Ml* On the 14 Oct., 1762, Edward Collins, innkeeper, gave to John Baptist Van Eps (perhaps son of the above Jan Baptist), " a house and lot on the " south end of Schenectady on the north-eastei*ly side of a street leading " from where the Old Church stood to Albany [State street], on the northerly " side of a road that leads from said road to the grist-mill of said John " Baptist Van Eps [Jay street], — in bi*eadth in front 55 feet, — in rear one "chain 60 links, — in length on both sides 6 chains. "f The front portion of this lot is now covered by Union Hall. In addition to the above parcels of ground in the village, Jan Baptist also owned the foremost farm No. 8, on the bouwland. This was originally patented to Marten Cornelise Van Isselsteyn by whom it was sold Oct. 23, 1668, to Claas Frederickse Van Pet ten and Cornells Cornelise Viele; the former immediately sold his moiety, being the foremost bouwery, to Jan Dirkse Van Eps, and in Feb., 170£, the trustees of Schenectady gave a con- firmatory deed of the same to his son and heir Jan Baptist,! his deed being lost, in which it is described as " a lot containing 12 morgens, bounded " north by y path, or highway [river road], south by y e hills, or woods, " east by Pieter Jacobsen's [Borsboom] lot now in occupation of Gysbert " Gerritse [Van Brakel], and west by a small kil or creek [Poenties kil], " all wood measure." This farm has remained in the family till this day. He had also another village lot at the north end and on the east side of Washington street, bought of Myndert Van Guyseling July 5, 1728, ex- tending from Pieter Mebie's lot to the river. § * [Rotterdam street (Frog Alley), did not then exist. The road up the river left the gate at south end Church street, followed Water street to the present line of the Binne kil — thence to the westward along the former bank of the stream. The wearing of the east bank of the Binne kil by floods, gradually pushed the road back, and finally Rotter- dam street — an extension of Handalaers (now Washington) street, was carried across Mill creek and a new line of road was carried back a distance from the river. It was afterwards made to conform to the line ot the Erie canal, as at present. — M'M.]j f Deeds, vn. % Patents, 527 ; Deeds, n, 741 ; Deeds, iv, 332. § Deeds, m, 99 ; xix, 193. 180 History of the Schenectady Patent. Evert Van Eps. He was son of Jan Dirkse Van Eps. His first wife was Eva, daughter of Carel Hansen Toll, his second, Elizabeth, daughter of Isaac Truax. He had 13 children. His village lot on the west side of Washington street is now divided into two parcels, on which stand the houses of the late Judge A. C. Paige and Mrs. Peck.* On the 3d of April, 1707, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to him four morgens of land on " both sides of the Hansen kil [College brook], " beginning from the east side of woodland belonging to Gerrit Gysbertse " [Van Brakel], where its 30 rods [360 feet] wide and holds that breadth " up along both sides of the said creek till it takes in four morgens."f This parcel of ground commenced at a point on College brook 720 feet easterly of the west side of Romeyn street or Symon Groot's bridge, and ran up the creek from that point 960 feet, having a breadth of 180 feet on each side of said creek, and was partly within the present [1883] College lands. Marten Cornelise Van Esselsteyn (Ysselsteyn). He was born in the city of Ysselteyn in Holland; his wife Mayke Cor- nelise was a native of Barnevelt; on the 12th Jan., 167y they made a joint will, both then living in Claverac.J He died before 1705, leaving one son Cornells Martense. Cornells was one of the first settlers of Schenectady; after residing here about six years he sold his farms and removed to Claverac. His residence was upon his hindmost farm near the site of Mr. John D. Campbell's house in Rotterdam. His farms are thus described in the patent of date April 13, 1668 : "Two parcels of land at Schenectady both marked No. 8; — one lying on " the second piece of land to the west of No. 7, — to the east of the creek " [Poenties kil],§ a line cutting between No. 7 [and No. 8] from the creek * Deeds, iv, 324. t Church Papers ; also H. Yates' Papers. % Not. Papers, n. § [The Poenties kil crosses the river road on the west side of the old Van Eps place and is usually dry now at that point, the water having been diverted into Willem Teller's killetje, which also crosses the river road about a quarter of a mile east of the Poenties kil. All these streams have failed of water of late years, though this kil comes from the sand. — M'M.l Adult Freeholders. 181 " or kil to the woods south-west somewhat more southerly; — in breadth 36 " rods containing about 22 acres or 11 morgens ; — the other being upon the " hindmost piece of land on the woodside, to the west of No. 9, to the east " of No. 7, a line being run as before from the creek [Dove gat]* to the woods "south-west by west, — breadth 56 rods, containing about 24 acres or 12 "morgens and 130 rods, as granted June 16, 1664 by Governor Stuyvesant "to said Cornelise."f On the 23d of October following, Van Esselstyn sold the hindmost lot to Claas Frederikse Van Petten and Cornells Cornelise Viele, " together with the house, barn, 3 ricks, 4 horses, 5 cows, 8 hogs, wagon, plough and harrow." On the 25 Aug., 1670, Viele exchanged the same with Jurriaen Teunise Tappen for a house and lot in Albany. Tappen conveyed the same to Dirk Hesselingh, who again transferred it to Harmen Albertse Vedder on the 1st day of February, 167|.J The foremost lot No. 8 early passed into the possession of Jan Baptist Van Eps.§ On the 23 Jan., 170^ " Cornelis Martense, eldest son and heir of Marten Cornelise Van Isselstyn, deceased, of Claverac," confirmed the sale of farms No. 8, to Claas Van Petten. | Elias Van Gyseling. He came to New Netherland in 1659, from Zeeland, in the ship Bont« Koe and settled first at Beverwyck. " Sprehende goet Frans " he was sometimes employed as an interpreter. His wife, Tryntje Claase, after hig death married Willem Hall in 1695. In 1670, he came to Schenectady and with Pieter Cornelise Viele pur- chased Bastiaen De Winter's farm, described as " a parcel of land at Schenec- " tady, wide on the west side 350 rods, long on the north side 60 rods, lying "by the first land of Willem Teller and Maritie Damens [Van Eps], accord- ing to patent of 21st October, 1670 from Governor Lovelace."** * [The Erie caual in its passage across the bouwlanJ was made over a series of dove gats or dead holes containing dead water, once doubtless the ancient bed of an arm of the river. One ol these dove gats (called '• Maritjes Gat") near the junction ot the Prince- town and river roads of great breadth and depth, was enclosed by the two banks of the canal and called " Navarino Bay." — M'M.] f Patents, 527. % Deeds, n, 741, 777, 866 ; vn, 185 ; Not. Papers, n ; Wills, i, 285 ; Will of Johannes Vedder, in Court of Appeal's office. § Deeds, iv, 332. || Deeds, iv. ** Deeds, n, 789 ; see also De Winter. 182 History of the Schenectady Patent. This farm usually called " Ellas' plantasie " remained in the Van Gyse- ling family until the death of the late Mr. Cornelius Van Gyseling, in 1865, when it passed into the possession of his stepson Mr. John C. Perry, the present occupant. One of the oldest dwellings in this region (possibly built by Elias Van Gyseliug but mo*re probably by his son Myndert),* is still standing on this farm. On his death, about 1694, his eldest son, Myndert, succeeded him. His second son Jacob resided in the village upon a lot conveyed to him by Reyer Schermerhorn [trustee] March 17 If, and described as " a lot on " the north side of the town with house, barn and orchard, bounded easterly " by the lot of heirs of Samuel Bratt, length from the river to the street 550 "feet, south by the [Front] street in breadth 155 feet, bounded [westerly] "on the house and lot of the heirs of Philip Philipse deceased 162 feet, " south by said heirs of Philip Philipse deceased 75 ft., west by the old " brewhouse [of the Glens], 294 feet and north by the river 255 feet." This lot containing about 2£ acres was probably purchased of Arent Bratt the former owner, but conveyed by Reyer Schermerhorn as being the sole sur- viving patentee of the town by the patent of 1684. It commenced at a point on the north side of Front street 100 feet easterly from Wash- ington street and extended easterly to the west line of the lot of the late Nicholas Cain excepting the lot of heirs of Philip Philipse 75 X 162 feet. In 1725-32, it belonged to Myndert Van Gyseling.f Bennony Arentse Van Hoek. He was son of Arent Isaacse Van Hoek of Beverwyck ; marrying Jacquemina Swart, widow bf Pieter Cornelise Viele, he settled in Schenec- tady. He is not known to have possessed any real estate save what he acquired by his marriage. J * | Myndert was married in 1721, — died in 1771, between which dates he probably built this house. — M'M.] f Deeds, v, 199, 220 JB. Van Hoek, Sept. 17, 1686, was cited to appear before the court at Albany on a complaint made by Cornells Viele and others, " y l Bennony Arentse doth most crewelly r and barbarously Beat y e Daughter of P r •' Viele deceased of w h he is the step-father, w h child being stood before ye justices of " Peace is found all blak and blew, and y e "said Bennony being sent for by a Warrant " and appearing before ye justices doth excuse himself Because she is a whole night and " somethings half a night out a seeking cows." Adult Freeholders. 183 Jan Geeritse Van Marcken. He and his wife Geertie Huybertse came over in the ship St. Jacob in 1654. For a time he was at New Amstel* on the Delaware, but came from thence to Beverwyck about 1659, where he served two years 1661-2, as farmer of the excise of wine and beer. He was appointed schout of Schenectady in 1673, but remained here only a short time.f Pieter Daniels e Van Olinda. He was a tailor in Beverwyck in 1663, about which time he came to Schenectady and married Hilletie Cornelise Van Slyck, — sister of Jacques Cornelise, — a half-breed of the Mohawk tribe, through whom he received valuable grants of land at De Willegen (the Willows), below Port Jackson, at the Boght in Watervliet, and the Great Islands in the river atNiskayuna. Van Olinda made his will Aug. 1, 1715, — proved Dec. 27, 1716, — and died at Watervliet in 1715, at an advanced age. For many years Hilletie his wife, was employed at a salary of £20 as Provincial interpreter. Her death occurred Feb. 10, 1705. Van Olinda in his willj speaks of only three children, — Daniel, Jacob and Matthys. The first inherited his land at the " Boght of the Kahoos " and married Lysbet, daughter of Martinus Cregier, Jr. To Jacob who married Eva, daughter of Claas De Graaf, he gave his land at De Willege?i, and Matthys being non compos mentis, was to be maintained till his death. Hilletie though born and brought up in her early years among the "Whereupon ordered y t y e s d Girle shal be delivered in ye hands of ye Trustees " Jacob Meese [ Vrooman] & Arnout Cornelise [Viele], who is to dispose of her as they shal " see meet, and if y e said Bennony Arentse shal for ye future abuse any of ye said " children of P r Viele upon complaint they shall be delivered to ye Trustees who shall " have Power to dispose of y e same accordingly and y e Bond of good behaviour given "y e tenth of y B instant to Remain in force." — Minutes of Common Goun.. Albany : rv. * [Amsterdam is a later spelling for Amsteldam, or the dam on the river Amstel (Holland). The city is now Amsterdam, but the river retains the spelling 'Amstel. — M'M.] t Dutch MSS., xiv, 116 ; Col. MSB., xxiv, 140 ; xxv, 135, 148 to 153. % Wills, i, 148 184 History of the Schenectady Patent. Mohawks, was soon separated from them and received the rudiments of a Christian education in Albany and Schenectady. She made excellent use of her advantages and is spoken of as an estimable woman. f f " While we were there [at Schenectady], a certain Indian woman or half-breed, '* that is, from an European and an Indian woman, came with a little boy, her child, " who was dumb, or whose tongue had grown fast. It was about four years old ; she " had heard we were there, and came to ask whether we knew of any advice for her " child, or whether we could net do a little something to cure it. Sanders [Glen] told " me aside that she was a Christian, that is had left the Indians and had been taught by " the Christians and baptized. I was surprised to rind so far in the woods and among " Indians, a person who should address me with such affection and love of God. She " then related to me from the beginning her case, that is how she had embraced christ- " ianity. She was born of a Christian father and an Indian mother of the Mohawk " tribes. Her mother remained in the country and lived among the Mohawks, and she " lived with her the same as Indians live together. Her mother would never listen to any " thing about the Christians, as it was against her heart, from an inward unfounded " hate. She lived there with her mother and brothers and sisters ; but sometimes she "went with her mother among' the Christians to trade and make purchases, or the " Christians came araons; them, and thus it was that some Christians took a fancy to the " girl, discovering in her more resemblance to the Christians than the Indians. They " therefore wished to take the girl and bring her up, which the mother would not hear " to. The little daughter herself had no disposition at lirst to go. This happened several " times when the daughter began to mistrust the Christians were not such as the mother " told her. She therefore began to hearken to them, but particularly she felt a great in- " clination and love in her heart towards those Christians who spoke to her about God " and of Christ Jesus and the Christian religion. Her mother observed it and began to " hate her, her brothers and sisters despised and cursed her, threw stones at her and did " all the wrong they could. They compelled her to leave them, as she did and went to " those who had so long solicited her. They gave her the name of Eltie or Illetie. She " lived a long time with a woman with whom we conversed alterwards, who taught her " to read and write and do various handiwork. She felt such a desire and eagerness to " learn that she could not be withheld, particularly when she began to understand the " Dutch language and what was expressed in the New Testament where her whole heart " was. Finally she made her profession and was baptized. " She has some children ; her husband is not as good as she is, though he is not one " of the worst; she sets a good example before him, and knows how to direct him." " She had a brother [Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck], who was also a half-breed, who " had made profession of Christianity and had been baptized and who was not by far as " good as she but on the contrary, very wicked ; though I believe he has been better and " has been corrupted by the conversation of impious Hollanders ; for this place is a god- " less one being without a minister and having only a homily (postyl) read on Sundays." — Banker'' » and Sluyter's Journal, 1680, p. 301-5. Adult Freeholders. 185 Great Island* at Niskayuna was conveyed to Hilletie Van Olinda, by the Mohawks, Jnne 11, 1667 and confirmed by Governor Nicolls, May 8, 1668. On the 4th March, 1669, and again 6 Feb., 170£, she and her husband con- veyed the same to Johannes Clute, which sale was ratified by the Governor and Council on the 2d Aug., 1671. f His house lot in Schenectady was on the south side of Union street, 100 feet westerly from Ferry street and had a front of 100 feet and a depth of 210 feet Amsterdam measure. He held it until 1712, when it was conveyed to Isaac Van Valkenburgh for £53 [$132.50]; it remained in Van Valken- burgh's possession until 1764 and perhaps later; from 1793 to 1821 or later it was owned and occupied by Hendrick Dellamot and is now the site of the Court House.J The " Willow Flat " (Ue u-illegeii) was granted to Pieter Van Olinda and Claas Willemse Van Coppernol, by Governor Dongan on the 9th Nov., 1685. It commenced at Stone creek and ran down the river 349 rods and contained 33 morgens or 66 acres and 390 rods of land, together with 200 acres of woodland adjoining. Van Coppernol owned the westerly half and Van Olinda the easterly half § Goosen Van Ooet. Nothing is known of him save that he early owned, down to 1702, the lot on the north side of State street, now occupied by the stores of H. S. Barney & Co., and of the estate of the late Barent J. Myndertse, Nos. 93 to 101, having a front of 84 feet. Ci.aas Frederickse Van Petten. He was born in 1641. His wife was Aeffie daughter of Arent Bratt and Catalyntje De Vos. They had eight children all of whom, reached mature age and had families save one. They both died in 1728, she at the age of 78 years, and he aged 87 years and five months. * [Great Island is now known as Shaker's Island. — M'M.] f Deeds, v, 55 ; n, 711 ; Gen. Entries, iv, 283 ; Albany Co. Rec, 436. \ Deeds, n, 788 ; iv, 236,; v, 153, 264, 343, 354, 358 ; Schen. Deeds B., 293. etc. § Deeds, iv, 236. 24 186 Histwy of the Schenectady Patent. At his first coming to Schenectady in 1664, in company with Isaac Cor- nelise Swits, he hired Willem Teller's bouwerye gelegen op Schanechtede be- staende in woonhuys, Schuerberg en bouwlant in twee parcelles genome- neert .... Van de landmeter No. 5, &c* Oct. 23, 1668, Van Petten and Cornells Cornelise Viele bought the two bouweries numbered 8, of Marten Cornelise Van Esselsteyn and mortgaged the same the same day to Van Esselsteyn for 220 beavers. Viele's moiety, — the hindmost farm, — he sold to Jurriaen Teunise Tappen, and Van Petten conveyed the foremost farm to Jan Baptist Van Eps.f On the 30th Jan., 168f-, the Glens sold to Claas Van Petten a piece of land between the river and the lake in Scotia, comprising 12 morgens of land. J And on the 6 April, 1*704, John Jacobse Glen, eldest son and heir of Jacob Sanderse Glen, eldest son and heir of Sander Leendertse Glen, both deceased, bought back the above mentioned 12 morgens of land, giving Van Petten in exchange therefor, "a piece of land now in his possession adjoining " the lot of Reyer Schermerhorn, — being the foremost lot No. 3 and two "morgens of land§ out of the hindmost lot No. 3."|| The above mentioned foremost lot No. 3 remained in the Van Petten family more than 100 years, and until it was purchased by the Schermerhorns who owned the adjoining farm. Van Petten built his dwelling house upon the south end of this farm at the foot of the sand bluff.** In the above exchange with Glen, Van Petten also received a house lot in the village, a part of the Glen lot. This lot extended from the lot of Mrs. Benjamin Willard No. 36 Washington street, to that of the late Judge A. C. Paige No. 42. For many years after Van Petten obtained possession of farm No. 3, the boundary line between him and his brother-in-law Schermerhorn, was in dispute; finally a compromise was effected in 1714-16, according to a survey * Not. Papers, i, 439. f Deeds, n, 741 ; iv, 325. % Deeds, iv, 330. § Conveyed by Claas Van Petten to his son Claas, March 6, 1713-14 ; Deeds, v, 353. || Deeds, rv, 324, [Ante, page 116, Glen.— M'M.J ** He had egress from his house by a lane running northerly across the flats to the river road along the boundary line between farms Nos. 3 and 4. Adult Freeholders. 187 • made by Philip Verplanck and mutual releases were executed, Scherrnerhora reserving to his use the right of way over the lane or road along the west side of the division fence from Van Patten's house to the river road. This lane as well as the division fence are now removed.* Andries Van Petten. - Andries, the eldest son of Claas Van Petten, born in September, 1684, married Maieke, daughter of Jacob Coenratse Ten Eyck of Albany, Dec. 26, 1712. They had seven children, only two of whom arrived at maturity and had families. He died in 1748, aged 62 years, — she died Jan. 31, 1779, at the age of 91 years, 9 months and 27 days. On the 4th June, 1711, his father conveyed the foremost farm No. 3 to him together with horses, cows, etc.; and on the 6th March, I71f, he likewise conveyed to his son Claas " the two morgens which he owned in the hind- " most lot No. 3, as it had been conveyed to him by Johannes Glen."f On the 28 Oct., 1717, he received from the patentees of Schenectady a lease of " a certain piece of lowland about one mile from Schenectady on ''the south side of the Mohawk, bounded west by the land of Jacob Van " Guyseling, north by the standing water [clove gat], South by the Commons, "beginning by a small creek by the foot of the hill and runs from thence " along the bounds of the said Jacob Van Guyseling, north 19° E. 49 rods " to the aforesaid standing water, thence S. 58° E. 29 rods, thence " South 34° E. 55 rods, thence S. 35° W. to the foot of said hill, thence " along said hill to the place of Beginning, containing three morgens and "411 rods Dutch Rynland measure; — rent one skipple of wheat yearly, — " said to have been previously granted by patent to Bastiaen De Winter "47 years before. "J This triangular parcel of land lay at the foot of the sand bluff between the Van Petten and the Van Guyseling farms. Arent Van Petten. Arent, son of Claas Van Petten the first settler, married Jannetje, daughter of Philip Conyn of Albany, 10th April, 1703. They had ten children. By trade he was a carpenter. On the 8th October, 1703, Reyer Schermerhorn [only surviving trustee] sold to Thomas Williams, of Albany " a parcel of woodland on the north * Deeds, v, 222. [See Ante, page 117, Glen.— M'M. t Deeds, v, 222, 340. 341, 353. X Dutch Church Papers ; see also Annals of Albany, vi, 79 ; Doc. Hist., ii, 200. 188 History of the Schenectady Patent. • " side of the town of Schenectady, over against the north-west corner " of woodland of Adam Vrooman, running between the highway that "leads to Niskayuna [Green street]* and the highway that leads to the '* Aal-plaas [Front street] and westward to the church yard or burial " place, being butted and bounded on the west the burial place or church- " yard, on the east the woodland of Hendrick Hansen, on the south and " north the said two roads or highways [Green and Front streets], containing "four morgens more or less." Said Williams by deed dated 7 April, 1709, conveyed the above land to Arent Van Petten of Schenectady, who by deed dated Jan. 20, 174§ conveyed the same to his son Frederic of Normanskill, for the sum of £60 [$150]. f The above parcel of land lying between Front and Green streets extended from the then burying ground of the Dutch church easterly nearly to John street and was from time to time divided into building lots and sold by Frederic Van Petten. Arent Van Petten, Myndert Schuyler and Jan Dellamont received a patent for 500 acres of land on the Normanskil Nov. 3, 1714, on which his son Frederic probably settled. J Cornelis Antonissen Van Slyck. Cornells Antonissen Van Slyck alias Broer Cornelis is said to have married a Mohawk woman by whom he had several children, three sons, Jacques, Marten and Cornelis, and two daughters Hilletie and Lea (?) Broer Cornelis by reason of his eminent services in bringing about peace and ransoming prisoners in the hands of the Indians, " which well known services should of right be duly acknowledged," — received a grant of lands at Katskill in 1646.§ In 1640 he lived near Cohoes falls; he died in 1676. || Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck. Of the three sons of Broer Cornelis, Marten died in 1662, and Cornelis is only once mentioned in the records, — in 1659. * [Union street was not opened out at this time beyond Ferry. The north gate (at Church and Front), opened out to the ferry, and to the Aal Plaats (River Road), and Niskayuna (Green st.) roads which lead through the pasture and wood lots. — M'M.] f Dutch Church Papers. J Patents, 1678. $ O'Callaghan's Hist. N. N , i, 382. I) Brodhead, Hist. X. N. i, 306. Adult freeholders. 189 Jacques was born in 1640, at Canajoharie ; his Indian name was Itsy- chosaquachka ; he was also sometimes called Jacques Cornelise Gautsh.* He married Grietje, daughter of Harmeu Janse Ryckman of Albany and had nine children living in 1697. He died probably about 1690, as his widow made an antenuptial contract 21 Feb., 169 J, being then about to marry Adam Vroomau. His will was made 8th May, 1690. f In 1671, he was one of the two licensed tapsters in the village. He seems to have had the regard both of the natives and the Dutch and to have had considerable influence with both peoples between whom he acted as interpreter.]; At one time he had a house lot in the village probably on the west corner of Washington street and Cucumber Alley, having a front on the former street of about 166 feet and extending back to the Binne kil. The alley on the north side — 16 feet wide wood measure, — was the passage to the Binne kil which was crossed by a scow to his farm on the Great island. This lot passed to his son Capt. Harmen Van Slyck ; in 1778, it was owned by Harmanus and Samuel sons of the latter, and still later by James Van Slyck Ryley their nephew, his mother being a daughter of Col. Jacobus Van Slyck. The first patent for land at Schenectady was made Nov. 12, 1662, by Governor Stuyvesant and confirmed by Governor Nicolls April 13, 1667, — to Sweer Theunissen [Van Velsen] and .Jacques Cornelyssen [Van Slyck] to each of them severally the moiety of " a certain Island, — Marten's "island — near Schenectady over against the town, etc., containing [82] acres " first taking out six acres or three morgens on said island the title to which " was vested in said Theunissen, who married the widow of Jan Barentse " Wemp to whom and to the said Jacque3 Cornelise said island was granted "Nov. 12, 1662."§ * [ Gautsh, pronounced Hotcb (nearly) ; can it be an abbreviation of Ots-tocb, bis rnotber's name? " A squaw was queen of tbe island wbicb lies back of Wasbingtou street. Sbe is buried on the island, under an old willow tree at tbe point towards tbe bridge. She had two children by a Frenchman — Mr. Harttell. Otstoch was like her mother, savage and wild. She married Cornelius Van Slyck. Kenutje, the second child, was small and handsome, like her father Mr. Harttell ; she was very white. She married a Bratt. " — Statement of tradition in his family, by Laurence R. Vrooman, of Cortland county. — M'M.] fWills, i, 11. J Col. Doc. in, 823,431, etc. § Patents, 357; also the original patent belonging to Union College. 190 History of the Schenectady Patent. After Van Slyck's death, Grietje Vrooman his widow, received a confir- matory patent April 2, 1695 for his moiety of said island in trust for the use of their four sons, — Harmen, Cornells, Marten and Acus.* This island orig- inally belonged to Marten Maurits,f Van Slyck's brother, who dying in 1662, it fell to Jacqties by inheritance ; hence at first it was called Marten's island, afterwards Van Slyck's and sometimes Sweer Theunise's and Wemp's island, all of whom had an interest in the same. Besides the half island above mentioned, VanSlyck also received a grant of land on the First flat on the south side of the Mohawk river to the west of the village, described in the confirmatory patent of Oct. 30, 1684, as " situate between two creeks, one called Stone creek to the eastward, the "other the Platte creek to the westward ; — the low land lying along the " river side to the south of the Mohawk river and on the north of the land "belonging to the inhabitants of Schenectady of which said Jacques is to "have forty morgens or eighty acres of the best clearest land lying be- " tween said creeks, and also forty morgens or eighty acres of woodland on " the west side of the Platte creek adjoining to his arable land along the " river side."J The land confirmed by this grant to Jacques Cornelise, is stated to have come to him in right of his mother who was a Mohawk woman. His sons Marten and Cornelis inherited and lived upon this farm which is still in possession and occupancy of the family.§ Capt. Harmanus Van Slyck. Harmanus, eldest son of Jacques Cornelise, married Jannetie, daughter of Adam Vrooman, in 1704 ; they had twehye children. lie died in 1733, His military title was given because of his commanding the company of foot in the village. By his father's will, fourteen morgens of land on the First flat was devised to him, and the Mohawks gave him 2,000 acres at Canajoharie. This conveyance was made Jan. 12, I7lf, "in consideration of y e love, goodwill " and affection which we have and do bear towards our loving cozen and * Patents, 1474. ■f-Col. MSS.,xxxrx, 216. % Coun. Min., v, 11, 12. Patents, 1200. § "Will of Jacques Cornelise in Court of Appeal's office, and Deeds, Sec, State's office, vii, [See Ante, page 69, First Flat, page 77, Martens, Van Slycks, Wemp's Island]. Adult Freeholders. 191 Cl friend Capt. Harmon Van Slyck of Schenectady aforesaid, whose grand- " mother was a right Mohaugs squaw and his father born with us in the " above said Kanajoree, ... it being his the said Harmon Van Slyke's by " Right of inheritance from his father." This deed was signed by Roddah, Kahekoe, Schenaktadee* and others of the principal Indians, and witnessed by " Lea Stevens interpreter to ye above deed."f In a deed of partition, dated 15th March, ] 771, of Capt. Van Slyck's land, it is recited that Capt. Harme Van Slyck, deceased, obtained a patent for 2,000 acres of land at "Anthony's Nose" ; — Nicholas Schuyler, deceased, surveyed the same 27th Sept., 1723, and divided it into sixteen lots ; Nov. 1, 1731, said Harme Van Slyck made his will and bequeathed to his three sons. Jacobus and Adam Van Slyck, both now [1771] of Schenectady, and Harmanus Van Slyck, now of Canajoharie, the half of the above mentioned tract of land, save lots No. 8 of lowland, and No. 9 of woodland, and five morgens of lowland out of the west end of No. 6 of lowland, which he bequeathed to his son Harmanus. Isaac Vrooman made a new map of this property and a new sub-division, and the same was alloted to said Jacobus, Adam and, Harmanus by lot ; and the above mentioned deed was given to confirm this allotment.^ Capt. Van Slyck probably inherited the half of Van Slyck's island belonging to his father ; in 1748 it belonged to his son, Capt. Jacobus Van Slyck.§ Isaac Van Valkenburgh. Isaac, son of Jochem Van Valkenburgh, of Albany, married Lydia, daughter of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, in 1705, and settled in Schenec- tady. His house lot, on the south side of Union street, was the lot now occupied by the Court House, and was bought of Carel Hansen Toll, for £53 [$132 60 ]. The conveyance made Sept. 6, 1712, he being then in possession, * [Is this only a coincidence ? — M'M.] f H. Yates' Papers. X H. Yates' Papers. § See Jan Wemple's will ; Wills, n, 4. 192 History of the Schenectady Patent describes it as * bounded north by the street [Union] near where the streets " cross [Union and Ferry], being in breadth on the street 100 feet, — east by "the lot now in possession of Arent Bratt 210 feet, — on the west by Caleb " Beck's house and lot 210 feet and on the south by lot of Symon Volckertse " [Veeder]."* He was still in possession of this lot as late as 1764. It is probable that his father was for a time a resident here. Sweer Teunise Van Velsen alias Van Westbeook. Sweer Teunisen, first settled in Beverwyck where and at the Esopus [Kingston], he remained for some years. In 1664 he married Maritie Myndertse, widow of Jan Barentse Wemp. In 1669 he received a convey- ance from Madam Johanna [De Laet] Ebbingh of land at Litbberde's landt [Troy], according to contract with Jan Barentse Wemp, and in 1675 he sold to Jan Cornelise Vyselaer and Lucas Pieterse Coeymans, a saw mill and two morgens of land on the Poesten kil.f He received a patent in 1667 for a lot on the west corner of Broadway and Van Tromp street, Albany, 9 rods square [108 feet English], which he sold in 1678, to Wouter Aertse, having previously removed the house to Schenectady. About the year 1666 he removed to Schenectady and built the first grist mill in the settlement, on Mill lane; this was carried away by a flood and rebuilt in 1673. In consideration of his loss he was allowed to take an eighth instead of a tenth as toll. The following is his petition to the Governor for redress of grievances: " Petition of Sweer Teunise to the Governor wherein he states that he " did build at Schenectady a corn mill and made a contract with the " comonalty 28th Jan. 1669, by which it was agreed that he should enjoy " all the privileges of any Miller in this countrey, being obliged to grind " every week i. e., on Tuesdays, all the corn that was to be ground and if "he could not grind it all that day he was to grind the day after, for which "he was to receive the 10th or 8 stuivers sewant per skipple, or 4 stuyvers " sewant for malt; No other mill was to be erected as long as he did ac- " commodate the people with good meal. After about two years an "extraordinary high flood carried off his mill; he engaged to rebuild the " mill and completed it before July, 1673, at which time a new covenant " was made whereby in consideration of his great damage it was agreed he * Deeds, v, 153, 264. f Deeds, i, 271 ; Deeds, n, 751. Adult Freeholders. 193 " should have the 9th, or 10 stuyvers sewant the skipple and enjoy all the " rights of the first contract; and whereas certain persons possessed of envy " and malice did send him certain new regulations ordering him to take the " 10th, or 8 stuyvers sewant, notwithstanding your humbleservant triumph- " ing and winning the Process with Lewis Cobes, your schout, the Court "releasing me of the same." Now said Teunise petitions to have his rights confirmed and ratified by the Governor and Council.* In 1676 Van Velsen was made one of the magistrates of the village. In the massacre of 1690 he was slain, with his wife and four negro slaves, leaving no heirs here, though there were many of his name in Ulster county. Besides the half of Van Slyck's island acquired through his wife, he owned the land on the south side of State street from Church street nearly to Coehorn ci'eek easterly, and extending southerly and westerly upon the lowland to and beyond Mill creek so as to comprehend 24 acres. Before his death it was understood that he had in his will devised a half or a third of his property to the church and the remainder to his wife's children by her first husband, Jan Barentse Wemp; but as his will, if ever made was burned in the destruction of the village, the church had no legal claim upon his estate. A compromise was however effected in 1694, the church taking that portion of his estate lying on the south side of State street between Church and Dock streets, together with his grist mill, and his wife's heirs the remainder.f This settlement of the estate having been concluded by the claimants, J the following property was assured to them by a confirmatory patent dated Sept. 13th, 1694, to wit : "to Capt. Sander Glenn and Johannes Glenn,§ * Col. MSB., 45. f Col. MSS., xxxvii, 216 ; Dutch Church Papers ; Deeds, iv, 82 ; Not. Pap., n. % "Feb. 26, 1689-90, Diewer Weadel, widow of the late Myndert Wemp, Capt. Sender Glen, man en vooghi of his wife Antje Janse [Wemp], daughter of Maritie Myndertse, late wile of Sweer Teunise. Barent Janse, son of Maritie Myndertse and Arnout Cornelise Viele, chosen guardian of all parties, — agree that the property of Sweer Teunise Van Velsen shall be divided into three parts, — one part for Maritie, widow of Myndert Wemp; one for Capt. Glen, husband of Antje Janse, and one for Barent Janse, son of Maritie Myndertse." — Not. Papers, n. § After the massacre he married the widow of Myndert Wemp, in 1691. 25 194 History of the Schenectady Patent. " and Barent Wemp, sundry parcels of land in Schenectady i. e. to each of " them one equal third part of said land, — the said Johannes Sanderse Glenn " to hold in trust one-third part for the benefit of the children of Myndert " Wemp lately deceased and of Dinah his wife, now wife of said Johannes, "said parcel of land being described as follows: — all that home lot of "ground in said town of Schenectady whereon are the messuage and barn " lately in occupation of Sweer Teunise Van Velson deceased, lying east- " ward and westward on both sides of the kil or stream of water [Coehorn " and Mill creeks], which the common highway from Albany to Schenec- " tady [State street] crosseth, running with a small arch or bow to the side " of the woods southward, to a marked white oak tree, which stands on the "brink of a hollow, and running west to the land, fly or marsh lately " belonging to Gerrit Bancker deceased, — the whole of the orchard, pas- " ture and part of the marsh, containing 12 morgens or 24 acres more or " less ; — and also one grist-mill or corn-mill standing upon the kil or creek " [on Mill Lane] within the said town of Schenectady ; and also three " morgens, or six acres more than the one-half part of a certain island " [Marten's or Van Slyck's island] lying over against said town on the other " side of the [Binn£] kil ; and also one equal half part of another island "lying to the rear [West] of said island, separated by a small kil, both "lying to the west of said town and the southernmost parts of said islands; "containing the whole of both islands 22 morgens, or 44 acres; and also " another small tract of land lying without said town upon the land com- "monly called Juffrouw Corlaer's land bounding to the West of Gysbert " Gerritse [Van Brakel's] land, and to the south of Isaac Cornelise Swits " land, containing four and a half morgens or 9 acres more or less."* The exact position of Van Velsen's house in the village cannot be fixed with certainty, but was probably situated between the house of Mrs. Abel Smith and the south corner of Mill Lane and State street. From his house easterly to Coehorn kil, State street at this time was only settled upon the north side, and the ancient burghers had a clear view from their front stoops, of Juffiroiiirfs lanclt and the wooded heights lying south and west of the village. That portion of the above described land, includ- ing the mill, lying between Church and Dock streets, was conveyed to the church ; the remainder was held by Wemp's heirs. As the demand for house lots increased, the church divided up and sold its portion fronting upon State street, reserving the lowland in the rear, and the corn mill on Mill lane. This was called the " church pasture," and was not finally sold until some time after 1800. * Patents, 1469 ; Coun. Mm., vi, 62; Dutch Church Papers ; see also Van Slyck. Adult Freeholders. 195 Jellis Van Vorst. He was son of Jacobus Gerritse Van Vorst of Beverwyck, and was born in 1670.* At the age of eleven years his father apprenticed him to Jeroni- mus Wendel for six years, to learn the shoemaker's trade. f Having in 1699, married Elizabeth, daughter of Jan Baptist Van Eps and widow of Tennis Viele, he removed to Schenectady the next vear, and pur- chased of Johannes Ouderkirk and Neeltie Claes his wife, the lot on Union street next east of the Dutch church lot, 100 feet front and rear and 20T) feet deep Amsterdam measure. Sander Glen de oude and Jan Gerritse Van Marcken, magistrate and sec- retary of the village, conveyed this lot originally to Christiaan Christiaanse ; the deed was burned in Joris Aertse Van der Baast's house at the sacking of the town by the French and Indians Feb. 9, 1690 ; therefore Johannes Sanderse Glen, renewed the same Dec. 1, 1694, and the same day Chris- tiaanse conveyed said lot to Neeltie Claase, widow of Hendrick Gardenier. It would seem however from the inventory of Gardenier's property that he had owned this lot long before the above conveyance. Neeltie Claase married Johannes Ouderkirk and with him conveyed said lot to Jellis Van Vorst 21st Feb., 170i for the sum of £21 [52 50 ] current money of the Province. Johannes son of Gillis, inherited it and gave the east half to his son Johannes 20 Aug., 1767, his other son Jan Baptist, at that time being owner of the west half.| The west half, 50 by 200 feet now forms part of church yard, the east half of the same dimensions Amsterdam measure, is owned and occupied by Mr. Aaron Barringer. Pietkr Adriaense Soegemakelyk § alias Van Woggelttm. Pieter and Jacob Adriaense (brothers), were innkeepers in Beverwyck or Colonie Rensselaerswyck. Although the former was one of the early proprietors of Schenectady, it is not known that he ever resided here. His village lot was the easterly quarter of the block bounded by Union, Washington, State and Church streets; he received a patent for this lot in 1664, and sold it to Helmer Otten, baker, of Albany in 1670,|| who dying soon after, it passed into the possession of Reyer Schermerhorn; the latter * Annals of Albany, n, 98, 163; Deeds, n, 690. fNot. Paper, n. X Toll Papers ; Wills, i, 3. § [Soegemakelyk = Oh so easy.— M'M.] | Deeds, n, 769. 196 History of the Schenectady Patent. having married Otten's widow. The descendants of Catharina Otten, who married Gerrit Symonse Veeder, long afterwards occupied this corner. Van Woggeluin's bouweries No. 4, confirmed to him by patent dated June 5, 1667, were described as "two parcels of land at Schenectady both " marked No. 4, — one lying west of Arent Van Curlers from which a line " being drawn between No. 3 [between which and No. 3 a line being drawn] '' south-east by south stretches along [north] till it conies to a killetje " bounding No. 1, containing by estimate with the vleylandt thereunto be- " longing, 14 morgens or 28 acres 164 rods;-r-the other lying on the hind- " most parcel of land near the river, to the east of No. 3, — to the west of " No. 6, a line being run on both sides from the river to the small creek " [dove-gat], south-west and by west, it is in breadth 56 rods and contains " 12 morgens, — as granted by Governor Stuyvesant June 16, 1664."* On the 13th Aug., 1670, Pieter Adriaense sold the above parcels of land to Helmer Otten together with " a barn and rick lying in Schaenhechtede and a garden in the valley {leeghte)" for thirty-five beaver skins [$112]. f After the death of the latter about 1685, these lands passed to his daughter and only heir, Catharina, wife of Gerrit Symonse Veeder, and to his widow Ariaentje Arentse Bratt, who subsequently married Reyer Schermerhorn. In the final partition of Otten's estate, Schermerhorn obtained the foremost lot No. 4, and 8 morgens of the hindmost lot; and Gerrit Symonse 4 morgens of the latter lot and a conveyance from Schermerhorn of 8 morgens of lot No. 9. Foremost lot No. 4 remained in possession of the Schermerhorn family until 1872. The mill right on this farm was confirmed to Schermerhorn in 1688 by patent from Governor Dongan,J and the farms No. 4, by quit-claim from Jan, eldest son of Pieter Van Woglum in 1695.§ Harmen Albertse Vedder. He was an early settler in New Netherland, residing mainly at Bever- wyck, even after he had purchased a bouwery at Schenectady. As agent of Dirk De Wolfe, merchant of Amsterdam, in 1661, he erected a salt kettle on Coney Island, which was claimed by the inhabitants of Gravesend. * Patents, 478. t Deeds, n, 769 ; in. 108. % Patent in the Secretary of State's office of Massachusetts at Boston ; also Deeds, v, 287. § Schermerhorn Papers. Adult Freeholders. 197 Vedcler and one Pieterse laid claim to the island, but in a suit brought before the Governor and Council, were beaten and probably abandoned their enterprise.* After the Province passed into the possession of the English, De Wolfe returned to Holland ; and in 1667 his house and lot in Albany, then occupied by Vedder, was ordered to be confiscated by Governor Nicolls.f He was a trader, at least so long as he remained in Albany, and made several voyages to Patriot, — one in 1660, and another in 1668, on which occasion, being in Holland, he, with other traders, having purchased goods and chartered the ship King Charles, petitioned the King of England for permission to send the same to New York, which was granted.^ Vedder's bouwery in Schenectady was rented in 1663 to Symon Groot, for six years at a yearly rent of 500 guilders.§ In the spring of 1672, it is probable he gave up business in Albany, and retired to Schenectady, for in February of that year he purchased bouweries No. 8 of Dirk Hesselingh, to be delivered to him May 1, 1672, and the year following he was appointed one of the three commissaries or magistrates of the village.|| In 1674, the magistrates of Schenectady were reprimanded for not show- ing due respect for those of Willemstadt [Albany], and for pretending to the privilege of the Indian trade, and Harmen Vedder, schout, in particular, was complained of because of his conduct towards Capt. Schuyler, and was warned "to regulate himself accordingly."** His children were probably born in Albany; but the records of the church there prior to 1684 being lost, neither the dates of their baptisms nor the name of his wife, are known. It is only known that in 1668 he was brother- in-law of Johannes Provoost, secretary of Albany. ff At the date of his death, which happened before June 18, 1714, JJ five sons and one daughter were living and had families of their own.§§ Although Harmen Albertse was among the earliest proprietors of Schen- ectady, his name does not appear as grantee or patentee in the records until 1672, Gen-it Bancker received the patent for bouweries No. 6, in 1664 and 1667 ;||| although in fact he had but a half interest in the same as appears by * Val. Man., 1863 ; O'Callaghan's Hist.N. N., n, 542. f Col. MSS., xxn, 18. t Col. Doc, in, 179; Deeds, n, 170. § Not Papers, i. ( Col. Doc, ir, 609. ** Col. Doc. it, 675. ff Deeds, n, 736. It Deeds, vu, 185. §§ Albany Annals, vn, 35. ||| Patents, 382. 198 History of the Schenectady Patent, the lease given in 1663, by Bancker and Vedder to Symon Groot for these bouweries,* aud from the fact that in 1701, Vedder sold the easterly half of hindmost lot No. 6, which seems to have been his share in the above men- tioned patent, to his son Albert for £91-16.f That he was an early pro- prietor also appears from the fact that he with Sander Lcendertse, Willem Teller and others, petitioned the Governor in 1664, to have their lands sur- veyed. Hindmost farm No. 6, lying between the river road and the river was unfit for a hofstede by reason of the annual floods, but the purchase of the adjacent bouwery No. 8, gave him a convenient and pleasant site for his house aud farm buildings beyond the reach of the highest floods. J This farm was originally allotted to Marten Cornelise Van Ysselsteyn who sold it to Cornelis Corn. Viele, from whom it passed successively to Jurriaen Teunise Tappen, to Dirk Hesselingh and finally Feb. I, 167£ to Harmen Vedder, who purchased with " de bouwery (daer den Vboz: Dirk " Hesselingh op woont op Schaenechtede), soo het landt als huys, schuer ende " twee berghen &e. soo als het de voorn &c. Hesselingh van Jurriaen Teu- " nissen gecocht heeft gehadt " * * * to be delivered to Herman Vedder the coming 1st May, 1672, together with the seed in the ground. Vedder promised to pay 20 whole beavers to Jurriaen Teunissen for the same.§ In 1701, Harmen Albertse owned a pasture of two and a half morgens lying between Front street and the river, beginning 509 feet Eng. east of north street and extending easterly along Front street 210 feet Eng. to the New York Central Railroad; in 1714-18 this lot belonged to his son Albert.! Outside of the limits of Schenectady he owned several parcels of land be- sides several houses and lots in Albany. Jan. 31, 1657, he bought of Rutger Jacobsen, "syne hugs en erff gelegen " in de doorpe beverwyck, breet voor en achter ses dertich voet, lanch vier en " sestich voet en met a en ganch van vifte voet en breet lanch tot aen Jcil " welcke ganch is Gelegen tusschen goossen gerritsen [van Schaick] en den " Vercooper " &c, consideration 2325 guilders. This lot was on the south side of State street, Albany, between Green and Pearl streets, and extended back only to the Rutten kil now arched over and used as a sewer; there was included in this sale Jacobsen's brewery which was to be delivered to Vedder the following November.** * Not. Papers, i. f Deeds, v, 107. % This site is now occupied by the house of Mr. Jno. D. Campbell. § Not. Paper. | Deeds, v, 232. ** Albany Co. Rec, 20. Adult Freeholders. 199 In 1665 he owned a house and lot on the hill in Albany next to Cornells Steenwyck's.* He contracted in 1662 to buy a house and lot next to Philip Pieterse Schuyler's, for 1600 guilders.f Aug. 21, 1670, he sold to Robert Sanders a parcel of land at Stone Ara- bia. [Lansingburgh ? ]J And on Oct. 31, 1677, he and Barent Reyndertse sold "to Claes Janse Van Boekhoven [cle Brabander] and Ryck Claase [Van Vranken] a farm in Canas- tagioene on the north side of the Mohawk river, consideration 550 skiples of wheat. "§ After his death, his children on the 3 May, 1715, petitioned the common council of Albany for the renewal of a release (burnt at Schenectady when it was cut off) of a lot owned by their father Harme Vedder deceased, and lying on the south side of Albany, which petition was granted. || Albert Vedder. Pie was probably the eldest son of Harmen Albertse, and was born in 1671. At the destruction of the village in 1690, he was carried away to Canada. On his return he married in 1699, Maria, daughter of Johannes Sandcrse Glen, and had at least five sons and two daughters, a part of whom were living 8th February, 175|, when his will was made. He died August 1, 1753, aged 82 yrs., 2 mos.' and 21 days. His village lot, on the north side of Union street, is thus described in a deed given June 3, 1701, by Reyer Schermerhorn and others, trustees. " Whereas Reynier Schaets was in peaceable possession of a certain lot in "Schenectady, the patent to which is thought to have been destroyed in 1690 "by the French, and as said lot was sold by Gideon Schaets, eldest son of "said Reynier Schaets to Albeit Vedder, and as said Vedder now desires a " conveyance, therefore, said trustees of Schenectady conveyed to said Vedder " said lot, having to the east the lot of Symon Groot, to the west the lot of " Johannes Teller, north and south, the common highway [Front and Union "streets], in breadth before and behind 51 feet, and in length 404 feet, wood " measure."** This same lot was in possession of Arent Van Curler in 1662, and after his death in 1667, it passed into possession of Benjamin Roberts, by whom it was sold to Reynier Schaets. * A lbany Co. Roc. , 83. f Albany Co. Rcc. , 306. % Ibid, 408 ; or Deeds, n, 775. § Albany Co., Rec, 166, also Not. Papers. | Albany Aunals, vn, 35. ** Deeds, v, 100. 200 History of the Schenectady Patent. He owned and occupied a farm on the north bank of the Mohawk river at what was called Lusigh hoek, a short distance above the lower Glenville bridge, late the property of Thomas Walmsley. At this point was the •' Lower Ferry," until 1808, when it was removed to Van Vorst's the next farm below, and without the limits (one mile), prescribed by the Mohawk Bridge charter. He also inherited his father's pasture on Front street ; in 1759 this lot belonged to Albert Johannese Vedder.* Harm an us Vedder. Harmanus, son of Harmen Albertse, was an Indian trader. He first married in 1691, Grietje, daughter of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck and widow of Andries Arentse Bratt, through whom he probably obtained pos- session of the village lot on the north corner of State and Church streets, and the use of most of Bratt's property during the life of his wife, who died about I730.f In 1 733 he married Ariaantje, daughter of Claas Laurense Van der Volgen and widow of Aarnold De Graaf. He had eleven children all born before 1711. On the 27th Sept., 1733, the Dutch church conveyed to him and his son Harmen, Jr., for £13 [$32.50], " a lot on the south side of Schenectady and " on the south side of Mill creek, beginning at the mill dam, — thence along '• said creek [easterly] with a straight line 283 feet to land of Gerrit Symonse " Veeder to a post, thence along land of said Gerrit Symonse Veeder [south] " westerly 180 feet to land of Cornells Viele, thence along land of Cornelis " Viele north [westerly] 215 feet and thence 70 feet to said Mill dam, Am- " sterdam measure."}; On the 21st July, 1757, Harmen Vedder, Jr., conveyed this lot to Alex- ander Vedder then in possession of the mill. Ferry street (extended south) from State street passes through this lot. In 1747 he was also the reputed owner of at least a part of his father's farm No. 9, — on the bouwland.§ * Deeds, v, 417. f Bratt Papers. X Dutch Church Papers. § Gerrit Symonse Veeder's -will. Adult Freeholders. 201 Arent Vedder. Arent, son of Harmen Albertse, married Sara, daughter of Symon Groot, and had eleven children, all of whom save one were living and had families 10 Aug., 1746, when he made his will. His village lot on the west side of Washington street, extended from the lot of Charles Thompson to that of Mrs. Peck, about 100 feet Amsterdam measure. This lot is now owned and occupied by D. Cady Smith. By his will which was proved March 1, 1755, he devised to his youngest son Albert, " my house and lot in Schenectady where I now dwell, bounded " south by the lot of Myndert Veeder, north by the house and lot of " Hendrick Brouwer, east by the street [Washington], and west by my son " Harmanus Vedder,"* He had a farm at Hoffman's [late Vedder's] ferry, which was confirmed to him by patent of date March 21, 168-f- ; — " a certain parcel of land lying " above Schenectady on the south side of the river, beginning at the end " of the limits of said town and so along the river side to the steep strand " just over a little stoney kil, stretching itself into the woods as far as the "trees are marked, containing 16 acres, according to the Indian deed thereof " dated July 20, 1686, and the warrant of Governor Dongan, dated 26 May, 1686."f By his will he gave to his eldest son Harmen £3; — to son Symon " the " east part of my land on the south side of the Mohawk river in the " Woestyne [opposite Hoffman's ferry], where I now live, with house, barn " and hofstede, beginning at the division between me and Jan Wemple and " running up the river to Ifromme kil, and a morgen on the hight over or " on the west side of the Kromme kil between the ditch (slooi) and the river "and then with a right line where the uppermost or most western line of " that morgen comes over the kromme kil from the river or to the Kings " highway, with bosland behind my house; — to my son Harmen my westerly "part of my bo uwland on the south side of the Mohawk in the Woestyne " where he has built a house and barn,— beginning on the west side of the " Kromme kil, &c, — to youngest son Albert Vedder, my house and lot in " Schenectady where he now dwells, &c — Also three morgens of lowland " at Schenectady [part of farm No. 8] bounded north by the King's high- " way, east by the land of Harmanus Vedder, south by land of Corset "Vedder, west by land of Abraham Mebie, — and my hay pasture ( Weytje) " \ of a morgen lying in the lowland on the south of Schenectady bounded " south, west and north by the pasture of heirs of Lourens V. D. Volgen " and east by the road."J * Wills, I, 285. f Patents, 1364 ; Toll Papers. % Wills, i, 285 26 202 History of the Schenectady Patent. Johannes Vedder. Johannes, fourth son of Harmen Albertse, was carried away to Canada in 1690 with his brother Albert. After his return he married Maria, daughter of Johannes Fort of Watervliet, in 1705, and secondly Engeltie, daughter of Gerrit Symonse Veeder in 1732. He had 13 children and died Aug. 14, 1748. He inherited perhaps a portion of the hindmost farm No. 8 from his father, to which was added 120 acres of upland in the rear, by patent dated June 12, 1714 ; this land was situated about 600 yards south of the Poenties kil.* Corset Vedder. Corset the fifth son of Harmen Albertse, settled in " Schaghkook " about 1708, where he remained until 1720. His first wife was Margarita Darrith in 1709; she died before the baptism of her first child; his second wife was Neeltje, daughter of Christiaan Christiaanse of Albany. He had twelve children. In 1721, he sold his farm in " Schaghkook " and moved to Niskayuna.f He owned four morgens of his father's farm No. 8. J His will was dated Oct. 25, 1745 and he was not living Sept. 20, 1748. Symon VolckErtse Veeder alias de Bakker. He was born in 1624; in 1644 he belonged to the ship Prince Willem plying between Holland and New Amsterdam. § In 1652 he was in New Amsterdam where he purchased a house and lot,[| which he sold in 1654 to Albert Gerritse for 30 beavers and removed to Beverwyck.** In 1665 he owned a house lot in Albany and the year follow- ing purchased another house and lot by the river of the heirs of Cornelia Theunise Bos.ff * Patents, 1672. f Albany Annals, v, 184, 186 ; vn, 17 ; vin, 231, 264, 308. % Deeds, vn. § Albany Rec. , n, 278 ; Albany Annals, rv, 44. | Patents, H. H., 3. ** Deeds, n, 36. ft Albany Co. Rec, 76, 408. Adult Freeholders. 203 His home lot in this village was on the north corner of State and Ferry- streets; — 120 feet front on the former and 268 feet on the latter street. On his death about 1700, this lot became the property of his son Volkert who bequeathed it to his thi*ee sons. Of the allotments made in 1662 of the bouwland, Veeder received the two parcels numbered 9, which by the confirmatory patent of Jan. 15, 1667, are described as — "two parcels of land at Schenectady, both marked No. 9: — one lying by the river to the east of No. 10 alongst the low ground, a line running between No. 9 and No. 10 then going forward, its encompassed by the river and the creek [Poenties kil], containing 24 acres or 12 mor- gens; — the other parcel lying upon the hindmost piece of land next to the woods, to the west of No. 10, to the east of No. 8, a line running on each side from the creek [dove gat] to the woodland south-west and by west, in breadth 50 rods, in bigness 24 acres or 12 morgens in all '24 morgens."* These two farms remained in the family wholly or in part for several generations.! He also had a pasture lot in the Kalver-viey between Front street and the river which he conveyed to Joris Arissen Van Baast 27 Feb., 167y, — "in " length 75 [95 ?] rods, bounded on the west by Gerrit Bancker, on the north "by the river, breadth 15 rods on the river, on the east by the common "pasture, on the south by the common boswegh [Front street] 17 rods."| This pasture containing nearly 2 \ morgens was opposite the pi'esent Jefferson street. Nov. 2, 1682, he bought a farm with house, barn, &c, on the Normanskil, of Jacob Casparse Hallenbeck of Albany, giving in exchange his foremost lot No. 9, commonly called De Bakkers hoek,§ and on the 16th June, the following year he purchased of Hallenbeck the same farm, probably, which passed to his sons Pieter and Johannes. || In his will Veeder speaks of his wife Engeltie, and five sons and three daughters all of whom married and left families. * Patents, 310. f See Wills of Symon Volckertse and sons Volkert and Gerrit; Deeds, iv, 106; Not. Pap., ii. % Deeds, n, 795. § Not. Pap., ii. j Deeds, m, 183 ; Will. 204 History of the Schenectady Patent. Gkrrit Symonse. Veedek. Gerrit, son of Symon Volckertse, married in 1690 Tryntje, daughter of Helmer Otten. They had eight children — four sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to maturity. Through this marriage in addition to other property, he obtained possession of lots in the village on the north and west corners of Union and Church streets, which remained in the family several generations.* The lot on the west corner came to him by Otten's purchase from Van Woggelum; that on the north corner was purchased by Reyer Schermerhorn, of Ludovicus Cobes; — 100 feet on Union street and 223 feet on Church street. By his will he divided this lot into four smaller ones and gave to his sons Hendrikus and Symon the lot on the corner, 50 by 180 feet, to his daughter Catriena, the lot of the same size next west having a front on Union street of 50 feet; — to Cornells a lot on Church street 40 by 100 feet 180 feet north of Union street and another 51 X 100 feet north of Cornells' lot to Hendrikus and Symon. A large portion of these lots fronting on Church street belonged to the estate of the late Col. Stephen Yates. December 9, 1718, the Dutch Church conveyed to him a lot on the south side of State street, " bounded north by the street, 52 feet, east by the lot " Folkert Symonse [Veeder, his brother] 142 feet, west by the lot of Adam " Smit 140 feet, and south by land belonging to the afore mentioned " church 44| feet wood measure."! Subsequently this lot came into the possession of Thomas Brouwer Bancker, who built upon it the house now occupied by Mr. John Lake and a blacksmith shop next east, which portion now belongs to the estate of James Walker deceased. Besides the above lots within the village, Gerrit Symonse owned several parcels of land on the bouwland among which were the two farms numbered * By the contract between Helmer Otten's widow and Jan Janse Bleecker and Hans Hendrickse, guardians for her daughter Catryna, made July 1, 1676, said widow agreed to pay her daughter as soon as she was of age or married, " y e somme of 225 whole beaver skins for the payment of which said Ariaantje dotli bind the farm [No. 4] at Schenectady," &c. The money in Holland was to be equally divided between mother and daughter, — a very comfortable estate for a young woman in those times — Veeder Papers. f Church and Veeder Ptpis. Adult Freeholders. 205 nine, patented to his father, four small gardens on the lowland between Mill creek and the canal and the mill privilege at u Veeder's mill " and the land adjacent. He built a mill at this locality quite early. On the 19th Feb. 171-f-, he received title to the lands on both sides of the creek, (then called Sand kil) from Vrooman's mill-right (at the Brandywine mill) to and north of the gasworks on Centre street ; this conveyance gave him 100 yards on each side of the creek, and that portion lying between the mill and the city along Centre street was called " Symon's meadow."* In 1762 the Veeders obtained from Isaac Vrooman (the owner of the Brandywine mill lot) a conveyance of 603 yards of land and stream above " Veeders mill" and this remained in the family until 1812, when Judge Gerrit S. Veeder conveyed the mill right and land at the "cotton factory" so called, to the "Schenectady Manufacturing Company." He made his will in which he was joined by his wife, Mar. 12, 174^, proved July 8, I755,f — making the following disposition of his estate: "To " his eldest son Helmer the hindmost lot of lowland [No. 9], which he now "has in possession, — 12 morgens more or less, — lying between the land of " Harmanus Vedder and Sander Glen, except a morgen that lies on the " Kings' highway [River road], — item two gardens lying next Cornelis " Vielen's pasture, that, part next Ephraim Smith's; — item those two gardens " which lie next above the foregoing gardens, which came from his grand- " mother" [OttenJJ to Henderikus his "corn mill and half part of the saw " mill, with the house, barn, stables and all belonging thereto lying on the " Zant Ml, — the whole pasture as it lies in fence called the vley belonging u to the right of the above written house and mills excepting six morgens " of the above written vley beginning at the village and next the pasture " of Jan Barentse Wempel;" — to his son Symon "the six morgens of the " vley above mentioned, "§ — to sons Hendrikes and Seymon " four morgens " of lowland lying in the Hoeck on the bouwland [part of foremost farm " No. 9] next the path or Kings highway; also my house and part of the lot " in the village of Schenectady next the new Dutch church, on the corner * Dutch Church and Veeder Papers. t Will in Court of Appeal's office. X These four gardens lay between Mill creek and the canal. § These six morgens of land commencing at or near the " Coehorn kil " on Centre street and extending southward, on the death of Symon without issue were the occasion of much doubt as to the interpretation of his father's will ; they were in the end sold to James Willson, merchant. 206 History of the Schenectady Patent. of the street [north corner of Union and Church streets],* being in breadth on the south side [on Union street] fifty feet and in length along the [Church] street on the east one hundred and thirty feet to the lot which I below give to our son Cornells, and a lot on which my barn stands, being fifty feet broad along the [Church] street on the east side and one hundred feet long to the lot of Nicolas Groot, all Amsterdam measure; — to my four daughters Engeltie, Ariaantje, Annatie and Magdalena, all the rest and remainder of my land in the Hoeck which I have not above devised, being four morgens to each one equal morgen; — to son Cornells, a lot lying in the aforesaid village near the new Church, lying to the south of the lot and barn that I gave above to my son Symon and Hendrikes, in breadth on the east side along the [Church] street forty feet and length from the street to the lot of Nicolas Groot one hundred feet; — to our sons Hen- drikes and Seymon and Gerrit, son of our son Helmer I give all our land in the Jersey at a place called the Ganse Gat; — to Catharina Vedder, daughter of my daughter Engeltie, wife of Johannes Albertse Vedder a lot of ground lying between the houseand lot of Nicolas Groot and the house and lot which I have herein above devised to our sons Hendrikes and Seymon being in breadth on the south side [on Union street] fifty feet and in length on both sides one hundred and thirty feet to the lot above devised to my son Cornells, — a little pasture remaining from the pastures which we herein above have devised to our son Helmer as it lies in fence next to Cornells Vielen's pasture and the church pasture and Jan Vrooman's in the corner where they go into the pley y also a morgen of woodland lying on the hill next the mill-right to the south of Jan Barentse [Wemps] woodland, which sometime ago was cleared, also a morgen of lowland lying on the road on the hindmost lot of lowland [No 9] hereinabove devised to my son Helmer on condition that my son Helmer shall have a waggon way over this morgen of land from his bouwland; and our sons Hendrikes and Symon shall have the right to drive their waggons to the saw and corn mills through the little pasture as the path now runs through it; — to Gerrit Van Antwerpen, four feet in breadth of ground lying by his house and lot on the south side thereof and one hundred feet long."f Gerrit Symonse Feb. 9, 173|, conveyed half of his sawmill to his son Wilhelmus [Helmers ?], who lived just south of the mill near the Veeder burying ground. \ * This house and lot on the death of Symon without issue came to Hendricus, who by will made 3 Mar., 1790, devised it to his daughter Catharina, wife of Jellis J. Fonda. — Veeder Papers. f Gerrit Symonse's will. \ Deeds, vn. Adult Freeholders. 207 PlETER SYMONSE VeEDER. Pieter, son of Symon Volkertse, married Neeltje, daughter of Claas Lawrense Van der VolgeD, in 1704. He settled on the Normans kil, prob- ably on land given him by his father. At the date of his last child's baptism in 1709, he was not living. Johannes Symonse Veeder. Johannes, son of Symon Volkertse, married, first, Susanna, daughter of Myndert Wemp, in 1697, and secondly, Susanna Wendel, of Albany, in 1718. He had seven children, all, save one, living at the time of his will, July 15, 1746,* children of his first wife. He resided on the Normans kil, where he had a portion of his father's land, to which he added a part of Jan Hendrickse Van Bael's patent, by purchase. Volkert Symonse Veeder. Volkert, son of Symon Volkertse, married Jannetje, daughter of Reyer Schermerhorn, in 1698. They had twelve children, seven of whom are mentioned in his will made August 4, 1733, and proved February 21, 1760. He died 12th August, 1733. He lived on the north corner of Ferry and State streets, on a lot received from his father, 120 ft. front, to which his father-in-law added about 60 ft. more on (he west, as a bequest to his wife Jannetje. This lot was divided into three equal shares and devised to his three sons, Symon, Hendricus and Johannes — to each a lot of about 60 ft. front. He also owned a lot on the south side of State street, east of the lot of the Young Men's Christian Association Building, which he devised to his wife. In 1729, he had an interest in the mill-right, for which he paid a quit rent to the town of 30 boards. f Pieter Cornelise Viele. Two brothers of this name were among the early settlers of Schenectady. Pieter Cornelise and Cornells Cornelise Viele. * Will, Court of Appeal's office, f Groote schult boek. 208 History of the Schenectady Patent. Pieter came to Schenectady with his brother Cornelis, senior, and in com- pany with Elias Van Gyseling purchased De Winter's bouwery in 1670.* His wife was Jacomyntje, daughter of Tennis Swart the first settler, by whom he had two sons and one or more daughters. He died sometime before 1690, after which his widow married Bennony Arentse Van Hoek, who was killed in the massacre of 1G90. She subsequently married Cornelis Vinhout and removed to Ulster county, where she was living as late as 1700. Viele's village lot was confirmed to him by patent of date Oct. 21, 1670, " containing as it lies along the highway 200 feet, having to the west Bent "Bagge and on the east the woodland; as also another small piece of land " for a plantation, of two morgens or four acres bounded west by the fence " of Claas Van Petten and on the lot aforementioned, * * behind on the " line of Pieter the Brasihaen's lot."f On the 12th Dec, 1684, Pieter Viele and Jan Janse Jonckers obtained a conveyance from the trustees of Schenectady of the Second flat, next above Maalwyck on the north side of the river, the former taking the easterly 17 morgens and the latter, the westerly 17 morgens. After his widow's removal to Ulster county, she conveyed her bouwery on the Second flat in 1699 to her only surviving son, Lewis Viele, who about 1708 being about to remove to Schaghticoke, reconveyed the same to the patentees of Schenectady; and they on the 25th March, 1718, conveyed it to Reyer Schermerhorn.J Cornelis Viele. Cornelise Viele in company with Claas Frederickse Van Petten, in 1668 purchased the two bouweries No. 8, of Marten Cornelise Van Ysselsteyn, in- cluding his house, barn, three ricks, four horses, five cows, eight hogs, wagon, plough and harrow. Viele sold his moiety, the hindmost farm to Jurriaen Teunise of Albany.§ He was one of the two licensed tapsters of the village, his inn being on the south corner of State street and Mill lane near Church street. He was suc- * Deeds, n, 789. f Patents, 752. The locality of these lots is unknown to the compiler. X Deeds, iv, 215, 216 ; vi, 464 ; Gen. Entr., xxxn, 12. § Deeds, ii, 740, 741, 777. Adult Freeholders. 209 ceeded here by Douw Aukes, who married Maria Vielef his grand-daughter. It was at his house that the traditional merry making was going on when the village was destroyed on the night of the*8th Feb., 16ff ; Aukes' wife, two children and a negro servant were slain, and his brother-in-law, Arnout Viele was carried away to Canada. The following action was taken Jan. 9, 16*71, by the Governor in refer- ence to a " Lycence for Cornelyse Cornelyssen Vielen of Schanechtide to tapp " strong Beer & Liquors there" &c. " Whereas Cornelys Cornelyssen Vielen " of Schanechtide haveing made this Address to ye commissarya att Albany, " desiring hee may have Liberty to tapp strong Beer & Liquors and to keep " an Ordinary, in recompence for several services done by him between us " & ye Maques, the wh : they have Recommended to mee for my approba- " tion. But in regard there is a Person already there by name Aques Cor- " nelyssen Gautsh [Van Slyck] an indyan, that doeth y- same by Lycence " and Appointm'- of my Predecessor, Coll: Richard Nicolls, would give noe " Determinacon therein : " And it being likewise represented that ye said Acques hath not sufficient " Aceotnmadagon for Strangers wh. y e said Cornely's Cornelyssen Vielen " doth promise to bee well provided off y e relief e of Strangers & Travellers, " Upon considerayon had thereupon I have Thought fitt to graunt ye Request " of y e said Coruelys Cornelyssen Vielen & by these Presents doe give him " free Lycence and Liberty to tap or sell by Retayle strong Beere & "Liquors to Strangers & Travellers at Schanechtide, wth this Proviso, "That this Lycence now granted shall not take away ye priviledge of ye "former Lycence given by my Predecessor to Aques: And that ye said " Cornelys Cornelyssen doe keep fitting Accommadacon for men and horses, " but doe not presume to sell any strong Liquors to ye Indyans to cause " any disturbance that way under ye penalty of forfeiting this Lycence " & paying such ffine as ye Law shall Require. " Given under my Hand at Fort James in New York this 9 th day of January 167l."f * [The Viele chart compiled by Gen]. E. L. Viele of N. Y., records : Maria married Matthys Vrooman, Mary married Douwe Aukes. The text agrees with Trouw boek and other Dutch church records. There were but two daughters mentioned. Willempie who married S. J. Schermerhorn, and Maria who mar- ried first M. Vrooman ; second Douwe Aukes. Sewell's Dictionary Amsterdam 1708, compares names: Maria, Mariken, Mary, Mar- ritje, Marytje Maartje, Maaike = Mary in the English. Was not this Maria of one mar- riage the Mary of the other ? — M'M.] t Gen. Entries, 83. 210 History of the Schenectady Patent. A dispute having arisen between the two above mentioned tapsters, Governor Lovelace on the 6th of May, 1672, "ordered that both have Lycence to tap without molesting each other."* On the 15th of Aug., 1671, Cornells Viele received a patent to confirm to him a parcel of land at Schenectady on the north side of the Mohawk river, " beo-innino- at a certain oaken tree markt on the east and west sides thereof and " so goes alongst the river S. S., east to y e Point containing in breadth 130 " rods and from ye Point goes again north-west 106 rods, lyeing south [North] " west from y p hindmost lot of bouwland belonging to Gerrit Bancker and "running along ye bush or woodside north-west, its in length 132 rods; — *' all ye said land as it lyes having been markt out by ye Indians at the "uttmost limits thereof ; — as also a certain island [Sassians] bounded on ye " south side by ye Maqaaees river over against ye north end of Jacques " Cornelissen's [Van Slyck's] island, on the north-east side with a creek or '• kil that lies by the aforementioned Hoeke of bouwland, containing in " bigness fourteen acres, or seven morgens of land."f Benjamin Roberts owned a farm at Maalwyck west of Viele's, also the land opposite on the south side of the river, called Poversen, which he sold to Hend. Lamb Bont, and Bont to Viele, to whom said lands were con- firmed by a patent of date Sept. 29, 1677, and by Bout's son to Douwe Aukes who conveyed the same to his adopted son Cornells Viele, Jr., son of the first settler. J After Robert's death his farm at Maalwyck came into possession of his two step-sons, Pieter and Joseph Clement; the former sold his share to Cornelis Viele, Jr., in 1710, being the westerly moiety. The deed recites that " whereas Benjamin Roberts late of Schenectady, obtained a patent " July 1, 1669, from Governor Lovelace for a piece of land on the north " side of the Mohawk river over against ye hindmost land heretofore belong- "- ino- to Arent [Bratt] the Norman, &c, and whereas said Roberts by his " will June 28 in y ' 5 lh year of Anne gave said land to his wife Mary for " her support while living and a widow, and if she married then to [his step- " sons] Pieter and Joseph Clement to be divided between them giving to " the former the house, barn, &c ," — therefore Pieter Clement aforesaid con- veyed the westerly half of said farm together with the easterly half of Benten island to Cornelis Viele [Jr.,] for the sum of £445. § * Gen. Ent., 133 ; Orders in Coun., 127. + Patents, in, 64. This land lay in Maalwyck and the island was subsequently called Viele's island. % Patents, 1038 ; see also Bont, § Deeds, v, 108, 140, 141. Adult Freeholders. 211 Comelis Viele, senior, also had a gift of land from the natives at the Aal Plaas on the north side of the river. This ti'act extended two miles down the river and five miles into the woods. The certificate is dated 12 Feb., 17 If-, and states that Viele had possession thereof eighteen years and then sold it to his daughter, Jannetie, wife of Johannes Dyckman, who left it at the time of the massacre (in 1690) after occupying it two years.* His wife was Suster [sister ?] possibly of Mohawk blood. Children: Arnout Cornells, Pieter, Volkert, bp. Dec. 1, 1689, [died without issue], Jannetie [wife of Johannes Dyckman], Debora [wife of Daniel Ketelhuyn].f Arnout Cornelise Viele. Arnout, son of Comelis Viele, the first settler, married Geeritje Gerritse of Amsterdam; the records mention but three children, — Arnout, Willempie, who married Symon Jacobse Schermerhorn, and Maria,} who married first Matthys Vrooman, and secondly Douwe Aukes of Schenectady. He usually resided in Albany and was for many years provincial interpreter at all the important negotiations with the Indians, and at their yearly gatherino-s at Albany. On account of their high esteem for him and as a recognition of his services, the Mohawks in 1683 gave him a parcel of land above Schen- ectady on the north side of the river called Wachkeerhoha. In 1687 while on his way to Ottawa to trade with the natives, he was taken prisoner by the French. § Espousing the cause of Leisler in opposition to Col. Ingoldsby he was dismissed from his office of interpreter, after which he retired to Long Island,! but being held in "great esteeme with the Indians " and "being a * Land Papers, vn, 78. f [The Viele family chart gives him eleven children : Arnout Cornelisson, 1677 ; Willem- pie, ; Maria, 1684; Mary, 1685; Cornellise, 1687; Debora, 1695; Pieter Cornellise, 1700; Susannah, 1707; Ludovickus, 1709; Teunis, ; Volkert, . It also makes Maria Cornellise instead of Maria Arnoutse, the wife of Mathys Vrooman and Mary Cornellise, the wife of Dowe Aukes. This does not accord with the Schenectady and Albany Dutch Church Records but Gen. Viele may have family bible of that date as authority.— M'M.] % [See Ants, Cornells Cornelise Viele, note.] § Col. Doc, in, 431. || Col. Doc, iv, 198. 212 History of the Schenectady Patent. good and faithful interpreter," he was recalled and reinstated in his office.* At the burning of Schenectady in 1690, his son Arnout was carried away to Canada and remained with the Indians three years, but on the occasion of the attack made upon the Mohawk castles by the French in 1693, he escape d.f The above mentioned grant from the Mohawks was that parcel of flat land afterwards called the Fourth flat. It is not probable that Viele settled upon it, or that his title was regarded as good, for it was about this time occupied by Ludovicus Cobes and his son-in-law Johannes Kleyn, \ under title re- ceived from the trustees of the township in 1684. Hendrick Meese Vrooman. Of the three brothers of this name who came to New Netherland, two, Pieter and Jacob, settled in Albany, and left no male descendants ; Hen- drick, after living at Kinderhook and Steene Raby [Lansingburgh] removed in 1677, to Schenectady, and on the sale of the Van Curler bouwery, pur- chased 20 morgens of the same. This parcel was a strip of laud, commenc- ing a little south of Water street, and extending south-westerly to or near the sand bluff, embracing the land covered by the canal and railroad tracks, being bounded on the east by the land belonging to the Veeders. As there were then no public roads across the flats in this direction, Vrooman's land was reached by a lane still in existence, called Vrooman's alley, or lane, leading from Water street south-westerly, nearly parallel to Rotterdam street. His village lot on the north side of State street, extended from Lange gang (Centre street), to within 49 feet of Given's Hotel, and extending back northerly about 500 feet. Here Hendrick Meese was slain in 1690, with a son and two negroes. His two sons, Adam and Jan, inherited his estate.§ * Col. Doc, iv, 214, 329, 347. \ Col. Doc, iv, 17. X [He may have transferred his claim under Indian title to Ludovicus Cobes schout and secretary. It would require no record, as no patent had been issued to him by the Governor. — M'M.] § Albany Annals, v, 79 ; Deeds, n, 848 ; Not. Papers, n. Adult Freeholders. 213 Adam Vrooman. Adam, son of Hendrick Meese, was born in Holland, in 1649; in 1670, with consent of bis fatber, he bound himself for two years to Cornells Van- den Bergh, of Albany county to learn the millwright's trade, for 80 guilders in silver and a pair of new shoes the first year, and 120 guilders in silver the second year; and in 1683 he built a mill on the Sand-kil where the Brandywine mill now stands. In 1690, when Schenectady was destroyed, he saved his life by his bravery in defending his house, which stood near the north gate on the west corner of Front and Church streets.* On this occasion his first wife, Engeltje, with her infant child, was killed, and his two sons, Wouter and Barent, were carried away to Canada. In 1697, he went to Canada with an embassy to obtain the release of his sons (one of whom had become a Catholic), his brother (Jan ?) and cousin (Matthys, son of Pieter Meese, of Albany), all held as prisoners. He made his will Sept. 12, 1729, — proved June 13, 1730, and died on his farm in Schoharie, Feb. 25, 1730, and was buried in his own private burying ground on lot No. 35 Front street. Vrooman married three times, first, Engeltie , secondly, Grietje Ryckman, widow of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, in 1691, and thirdly, Grietje Takelse Heemstraat, Jan. 13, 1697, in Albany. He had thirteen children, — nine sons and four daughters, all living at the date of his will save two daughters. Besides his village lot above mentioned he owned divers other parcels of land. On the 22 April, 1703, he received a patent for his mill right on the Sand kil, described as "all that creek called Sand creek near Schenectady and the mill thereon erected and all profits &c. to the said creek belonging." He is said to have " enjoyed the same" about 20 years. f In 1707, he petitioned to have his patent confirmed and explained because some people insinuate that tw r o small springs or sprouts of water which run into said creek and all meet at a place called Symonse's [Veeder's] meadow were not included in his patent ; he therefore desired a new patent, which * Henry Yates and Dulcli Church Papers, f Patents, 1578. 214 History of the Schenectady Patent. should include the same and the whole Sand kil to the Mohawk river.* The result of this petition was a new patent dated Sept. 17, 1708, for " all that " creek, called the Sand Creek and the mill thereon erected with two small " springs or sprouts of water which run into the same creek and all meet at " a place called Symon's meadow and so continue under the name of the " Sand creek till it empties itself into the Mohawk river." This mill prop- erty and land adjoining were conveyed to his son Wouter.f Jan. 2, 170^ Vrooman bought additional land of the trustees of Schenec- tady for the purpose of erecting another saw-mill there.! All that remains to show the occupation of this spot for milling purposes by the Voomans, is the ancient brick house built probably by Adam's son Wouter, still standing and used as a dwelling. Vrooman's patent for lands in Schoharie is dated Aug. 26, 1714 ; this tract comprised " 600 acres of lowland and upland," and was occupied by his son Pieter and his descendants.! March 30, 1726, he obtained a new Indian title to the flats known as "Vrooman s Land" about 1400 acres of the best land in the Schoharie Valley. 1 He likewise with his brother Jan, inherited about 20 morgens of land from his father Hendrick, who bought the same of the administrators of Mrs. Antonia Van Curler. Adam's portion, consisting of 10 morgens, lay directly south of the village and is now largely occupied by the canal and railroads; he conveyed his portion to his son Jan, in 1726.** June 5, 1688, " Adam Vrooman doth petition ye Common Council [of " Albany] y l whereas Rode ye Maquaase sachem, for divers considerations "hath about three years agoe granted him two flatts or plains upon both " sides of ye Maquaase river above Hendrick Cuyler's land [at Crane village] "containing about eleven morgens wh: said land he doth presume is in- " eluded -in y e grant given to this citty and inserted in their charter and " therefore prays y 1 ye Mayor, Aldermen and commonalty would be pleased " to grant him a conveyance for ye said two parcels of land lying near ye *Land papers, iv, 106. t Patentp > 1624 - Deeds, vi, 259. \ Groote sclndt boeJc. § Patents, 1680. )| Simm's Hist. Schoharie. ** Old deed. Adult Freeholders. 215 " stone house [Juchteminda] so called by y e Indians, as ye goe to y 8 " Maquaase Country, and forty acres of Woodland adjoining them, which " would be a convenient settlement for ye s' 1 Adam Vrooman, and is willing " to pay a small acknowledgement for ye same yearly."* These lands were granted and consisted of sixty acres, for a yearly rent of two bushels of winter wheat, conditioned that he should build a small house on it and plow a part of the land next spring. This grant is described as " being on both sides of the Mohawk river west of Hendrick Cuyler's " land; — on the south side ten morgeus opposite a place called by the Indians " jucJetanunda that is ye stone hoiises, being a hollow rock on ye river side " where ye Indians generally lie under when they travill to and from there " country. The other pieces on the north side of the river, one a little " higher than ye said hollow rock or stone houses att a place called by ye " natives Si/ejode)tawadde and so eastward down the river so as to compre- " hend twelve morgens The other just above the marked tree of "Hendrick Cuyler, .... one morgen and three or four little islands."! The patentees of Schenectady, on May 4, 1718, conveyed to him " a piece " of woodland containing three morgens 527 rods, butting the street south- *' ward [Union street] that leads from the town 49 rods, and on the north- " most end [on Green street] 49 rods, and butting westward the land of "Symon Groot 47 rods, and butting the woodland of his son Barent 48 rods " all Rynland measure."]; This wood lot commenced on the north line of Union street at the westerly line of the lot of John B. Clute, and extended along Union street to the original easterly line of the grounds of Union school, now occupied by the New York Central railroad track, and was bounded northerly by Green street. This lot he gave to his son Jan, January 17, 172-f, "being four morgens of bushland with one-half of the brewhouse " thereon erected, and likewise one-half of the furnaces, coppers, vats, " vessels and all other utensils in said brewhouse, being at present in the " use aud occupation of said Adam Vrooman and Barent his son." This brewhouse stood on the easterly end of the aforesaid lot where the canal and railroad cross Union street, which was often called Brewer's street. § On the 4th May, 1718, being about to dispose of his house and lot on the west corner of Front and Church streets, the patentees of Schenectady gave him a new deed describing it as a lot " in Schenectady fronting the street " eastward [northward] that leads from the Fort to the river [Front street] * Albany Aunals, n, 101. f Deeds, iv, 2. % H. Yates' and Dutch Church Papers. § Old Deed. 216 History of the Schenectady Patent. " 97 feet, and butting the lot of Gerrit Symonse [Veeder] southward 97 " feet, and butting the lot of Symon Groot [westward] 144 feet, all Dutch " wood measure, together with the houses, brewhouses, &c." On the 6th of May he conveyed the above lot to Pieter Quackenbos.* The patentees likewise conveyed to Adam Vrooman on the 4th May, 1718, "a piece of pasture land butting the road [Front street] south that " leads from the north gate towards Jan Luykasse'sf forty rods and four "feet, northward by the Mohawk river 29 rods, butting eastward the " pasture ground of Johannes Teller 46 rods, and westward the land in pos- session of David Lewis 42 ruds, allRynland measure, containing 2 morgens " 346 rods. "| This lot commenced on the north line of Front street at the east line of the lot of Nicholas Yates' and extended easterly along said street 498.5 feet English, to a point 194 feet westerly from the west side of North street,§ including that part of Ferry street between Front street|| and the river. In 1727 he conveyed all that portion of this pasture lot lying between the west line of No. 35 Front street and the easterly line of said lot, — 335 feet Amsterdam measure, — to his son Jan, reserving however a parcel 35 feet long and 18 feet broad, for a burying place for himself, his heirs and assigns forever. This burying place now forms a part of lot No. 35.** Jan Vrooman. He was son of Hendrick Meese, and married Geesie, daughter of Symon Volkertse Veeder, July 4, 1680, and had fifteen children, nine sons and six daughters, the most of whom attained maturity and left families. He made his will April 24, 1732. His village lot, inherited of his father, had a front on the north side of State street of 172 feet, extending from a point 49 ft. east of Given's Hotel lot to the Stanford block. * Deeds v, 417, 514. f The north gate through the palisades was at the north end of Church street, and Jan Luykasse's lot was on the west comer of Jefferson and Front streets. \ H. Yates' Papers. § To the lot of the late Isaac Ledyard. | This part of Ferry street was not then opened. ** Deeds, vi, 209. Adult Freeholders. 217 His house and the westerly half of this lot, by his will were devised to his son Cornelis, who died the next year, leaving his property to his mother, by whom it was devised to her son Bartholomew, in 1734. The easterly half Jan Vrooman devised to his son Jacob, who had already built a house upon it. In 1686 he bought half of Jan Hendrickse Van Bael's patent, on the Normanskil.* On March 10, 170£, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to Jan Vroo- man, " a piece of land near Schenectady, to the west the highway [Jefferson " St.] that's laid out on the east side of the woodland of Philip Schuyler, " to the north and north east ye woodland of Arent Bratt, to the east and " south the highway [Pine street] that leads to Symon Groot's bridge, " containing two morgens."f This parcel extended the whole length of Jefferson street, from Front to Pine streets, and of a sufficient breadth to comprise four acres. Jan Vrooman's portion of his father's bouwland was conveyed to him June 8, 1714, by his elder brother, Adam, to wit, "one half of a certain " piece of land called Juffrouw Corlaer's Weyland, which half contains ten " morgens or thereabouts, Bounded north by the other half belonging to " said Adam, east by the meadow of Gerrit Symonse [Veeder], south and " west by the land of Jan Wemp; together with free ingress and regress of " the waggon road [ Vrooman's lane] to the said piece of land and half the " benefit of the grass growing on said road. "J By his will, made April 24, 1732, this parcel was divided among his sons. Capt. Hendbick Vrooman. He was the fourth son of Adam Vrooman and until 1705 was resident of Albany. He married first Geertruy , and secondly Maria, daughter of Barent Wemp, and had eleven children. When the church was built in 1732 he was baes of the carpenters. Among other parcels of land owned by him, was one conveyed by the trustees of Schenectady 10 Mar., 170f, and described as "one morgen of " woodland on ye south side of the highway [State street], on the side of " the [Coehorn] creek that runs by Johannes Baptist Van Eps dwelling,§ * Deeds, in, 309, 322. f Dutch Church Papers. % Old Deed. § J. B. Van Eps lived on the east corner of Jay and State streets. 28 218 History of the Schenectady Patent. " breadth in front on the [State] street twenty rods [240 ft.] and runs back " south along said creek and land of Barent Wemp [which was on the west " side of the creek] thirty rods [360 ft.] untill it takes in one morgen."* The front of this lot extended from Coehorn kil south-easterly along State street to a point about 62 feet beyond Clinton street and to the rear towards Smith street 330 feet English. The patentees of Schenectady, Jan. 3, 17 If, likewise conveyed to him another parcel of land on the south corner of Union and Centre streets described as " a piece of woodland in the east part of the town, beginning "at the north west corner of the lot of Jan Barentse Wemp by the street " [Centre] and runs from thence along said street north 35° E. 37 rods [444] "to the crossway [Union and Centre streets], thence south 78° E. 19 rods " [228 ft.] along the road that leads to Niskayuna [Union street], thence " south 34° W. 40 rods [480 ft.] — thence to the place of beginning, con- " taining one morgen 105 rods, Rynland measure."f This lot extended south from Union street nearly to Liberty street and there joined upon his brother-in-law Wemp's lot which fronted upon State street, and easterly to No. 120 Union street. In 1755, Tobias Ryckman of Hackensack, N. J., conveyed the northerly half of this lot to Ryckert Ryck- ertse Van Vranken for £86 [$215]; it was then described as "a house and " lot bounded north by the road to Niskayuna, 19 rods 3 feet [231 ft.], East " by lands of Dirk Bratt 18 rods 8 ft. [224 ft.], south by land of Wouter u Vrooman 19 rods 3 ft. [231 ft.] and west by the road [Centre St.], leading "to Jellis Fonda's, 12 rods and 8 ft. [152 ft.]."J Wouter, who in 1755 owned the southerly half of Hendrick Vrooman's lot was his brother. Barent Vrooman. Barent, son of Adam Vrooman, maried Tryntje, daughter of Takel Heem- straat of Albany, June 18, 1699. He died and was buried in Albany, Aug. 14, 1746. (?) His village lot on the north corner of State and Centre streets had a front on the former street of 86 feet and extended in the rear to Liberty street. It was afterwards owned by Maj. Abraham Swits, now by Mr. Charles Stanford. Jan. 2, 17 Of- the trustees of the town conveyed to him " a piece of wood land at Schenectady adjoining on the east side of the woodland of Adam " Vrooman, on the north side of the cross way [Union street], on the south. Dutch Church Papers. f Dutch Church Papers. t Ibid. Adult Freeholders. 219 " side of the waggon way that leads to the bridge called Symon Groot's "bridge* [Green & Pine streets], on the west of the highway that comes " out from the lot of the said Barent Vrooman & the lot of Barent Wempf " [Centre street], containing in length on the west side along y- fence of " ye said Adam Vrooman's woodland 48 rods, and on the east side the like " breadth, on ye north end 37 rods 10 ft. and on the south end at the said "Crossway [Union street] 20 rods 3 ft. Rynland measure;" — consideration £9 [$22 50 ]"J This parcel of woodland bounded by Union, Centre and Green streets and the New York Central railroad nearly, and containing about 4.64 acres was sold for $22.50 or about $4.84 per acre. In Feb. 170-f- the trustees of the town sold to him another parcel of land described as "a piece woodland on ye east side of ye common highway that " leads betwixt the lot of Barent Vrooman and lot of Barent Wemp towards " Symond Groots bridge [Centre and Pine Streets], which piece lies opposite " to. ye pasture land of ye said Barent Vrooman and contains ye same " breadth of ye pasture, being 48 rods and holding that same breadth east- " ward along the north side of the highway that leads from Schenectady to "Niskayuna [Union street], till it takes in the quantity of four morgens, or " 8 acres."§ The consideration for these eight acres was £15 or $37 50 being $4.68 per acre. This parcel extended from Centre street to a point 152 feet easterly from Fonda street having a front on Union Street of about 618 feet, and in the rear to Pine street. In 1744 he bought of the town seven morgens 545 rods of land lying on the hill along the Nestigeyone road; — rent three shillings and three pence yearly. || He also owned Kruisbessen island containing about two morgens of land, which he purchased of Hendrick Vrooman and Arent Danielse Van Antwerpen, March 11, 170-f, and by his will made Sept. 6, 1748, devised to Isaac Swits and his wife Maria.** * Pine street at tbis time extended easterly through the lot of the Schenectady loco- motive works, crossing the college brook, then called Symon Groot's kil, within the yard, by a bridge called as above and so on through college grounds to Nott street. f As stated above Barent Vrooman's village lot was on the north corner of Centre and State streets ; Barent Wemp's lot was on the opposite or east corner, now occupied by the Carley house. \ Deeds, v, 95^; Groote schult boek. § Deeds, v, 96. | Groote schult boek. ** Sanders Papers. 220 History of tJie Schenectady Patent. Barent Vrooraan was by trade a carpenter, Indian trader and brewer, owning the brewhouse on Union street* with his father Adam, and after- wards with his brother Jan. WOUTEE VEOOMAN. Wouter, son of Adam Vrooman, married Marytje, daughter of Isaac Casparse Hallenbeck of Albany. They had sixteen children. His wife died Jan. 19, 1748; he made his will May 7, 1748, — proved April 18, 1757, — and died Oct. 26, 1756. He owned the following parcels of real estate in or adjacent to the village. 1st. The south half of his brother Hendrick's large lot on the south corner of Union and Centre streets. This lot fronted on Centre street com- mencing on the east side thereof — at a point 152 feet south-westerly from the south corner of Union and Centre streets and had a front of 292 feet and a depth of 231 feet Rynland measure, f 2d. A pasture lot on the north side of Front street next west of his father Adam's lot, which on the 21st April, 1711, he sold to Jacob Cromwell inn- keeper for £130 [$325], — " a house and lot bounded north by the river, " south by the street [Front], east by the lot of Adam Vrooman and west "by the lot of Claas Fransen Van de Bogart, — length 542 feet; — breadth " on south end 95| feet and on north end 33 feet one inch, Dutch measure.''^ This lot is now owned by Joseph Harmon and Nicholas Yates. 3d. His father also conveyed to him Oct. 13,1710, — consideration £292-10 the mills and land at the " Brandywine mills," which passed to Adam and Isaac, sons of said Wouter.§ The mill property and lands were confirmed to him in 1716 by a new lease for which he paid £15 and 600 boards, with a yearly rent reserved of one board. I 4th. He owned 5| morgens of bouwland, — a portion of farm No. 10, which he purchased of Dirk Bratt of Niskayuna, April 3, 1741, for £207, " just over the third bridge [on the " Poenties kil], between the lot late " belonging to Reyer Schermerhorn and the lot late belonging to Catrina "Glen, late widow of Cornelis Barentse Van Ditmarse and late wife of * At the crossing of the N. Y. Central railroad and the canal. f Deeds, vti ; Dutch Church Papers. X Deeds v, 496. § Deeds vi, 259. J Dutch Church Papers. Adult Freeholders. 221 " Gerrit Lansingh, Jr., dec d , having the waggon way [river road] to the " south and Maquas river to the north, in breadth to the waggon way 32 " rods, and the same breadth towards the river, formerly belonging to "Cornells Teunise Swart deceased."* 5th. His father Adam, by deed of gift of date 15 Feb., 172f, conveyed to him " a certain lot in Schenectady bounded south by the road [Front street] " over against the house and lot of the widow of Capt. Philip Schuyler " deceased, 75 feet, and west butting the lot of his sister Christiana "deceased, wife of Teunis Swart 215 feet from the roadway or street, on " the north end butting the land of his father Adam deceased (?) 65 feet "and on the land and orchard of his father Adam east 210 feet up to the "street; — Amsterdam measure."! The westerly line of this lot is now the westerly line of the lot of Daniel Vedder who owns a portion of said lot. In 1748 Wouter Vrooman devised this lot and the house "in which I now " dwell as the same was conveyed to me by my father," to his youngest son Nicholas also "that parcel of land, — 1i morgens, — purchased by me of " Philip Livingston near the fort. "J This latter lot, on the north side of Front street, was originally patented to Sander Leendertse Glen in 1664, and commenced at a point 299 feet English, east of North street and extended along the street easterly 210 feet English. Jan Vrooman. Jan, son of Adam Vrooman, was by trade a brewer. lie probably did not marry, — if so there is no record of it in the Dutch churches of Albany and Schenectady. On the 17 Jan., 172f, his father conveyed to him the following parcels of land : 1st. " A lot of Ground in Schenectady on the north side of said town and •' on the north side of the street that leads to the pastures [Front street] " near and partly over against his Majes4y\s_Fort, with barn, 2 dwelling " houses and kitchen thereon, the easternmost house, kitchen and barn being " now in possession of said Adam Vrooman, and the westernmost house, " now in possession of Takel Dirkse [Heemstraat], — beginning from the east " corner of Douwe Fonda's lot [No. 33 Front street] and running easterly " along the front to the lot of the heirs Johannes Teller [to a point 1 94 ft. "west of North street] 335 Amsterdam feet, then northerly along the lot of " heirs of said Johannes Teller to Schenectady river, then westerly up said * Deeds vi, 259. t Deeds vi, 259. J Will Court of Appeals. 222 History of the Schenectady Patent. " river to the lot belonging to the heirs of Jacob Cromwell, deceased, then " southerly up the said lot till it comes to the bottom of the lot belonging '■ to Teunis Swart, then easterly along the bottom of the lots of the said "Teunis Swart, Wouter Vrooman and Douwe Fonda aforesaid as the fences " now stand, then southerly up the east side of the lot of the said Douwe "Fonda till it comes to the street or front where it first began (excepting " only one small piece of ground lying on the east side and adjoining to the "fence of the lot of ground of the said Douwe Fonda, which the said Adam "Vrooman reserves for a burying place for himself, his heirs and assigns " forever, by the fence of the said Douwe Fonda, being 35 feet long and 18 " feet broad)."* " Also four morgens of bushland with one half of the brewhouse thereon " erected and likewise one-half of the furnaces, coppers, vats, vessels and " all other utensils in said brewhouse, the said brewhouse being at present " in the use and occupation of said Adam Vrooman and Barent his son, " bounded on the south by the Cross street [Union street], on the east " by the land of the said Barent Vrooman, on the north by the highway " that leads from the Fort by the house of Willem Coppernol into the "woods [Green and Pine streets] and on the west by the lot of Dirk " Groot."f " Also a lot of arable land on the sOuth west side of the town of Schen- " ectady on the first part of the land called Mrs. Corlaer's land, bounded " north west by land of Jan Wemp, south west by land of Jan Vrooman, "brother of said Adam Vrooman, where a large white oak tree stands, " & south east by land of his [Adam's] said brother Jan Vrooman and " further on the south east side, by the land of Hendrick Vrooman son of " said Adam Vrooman, and on the north east side by the lands of Gerrit " Symonse [Veeder] and the garden of Dirk Groot, as it now lyes in fence, — " about 8 morgens and 200 rods, all Rynland measure."]; This parcel lying west of the city is now mainly covered by the canal and railroad. Pibter Vrooman, Pieter, son of Adam Vrooman, married Grietje, daughter of Isaac Van Alstyne of Albany, Feb. 2, 1*706. They had twelve children. He settled early upon Vroomari's land in Schoharie, purchased by his father for him. He made his will Oct. 10, 1768, proved Dec. 20, 1771, — in which he speaks of most of his children and grandchildren. § * This burial lot is now included in lot No. 35 Front street. f This lot had a front on Union Street from the west line of John B. Clute to the N. Y. Central railroad. X Deeds, vi, 209. § Wills, Court of Appeal's office. Adult Freeholders. 223 Simon Vrooman. Simon, son of Jan Vrooman and Geesie Veeder, married Eytje, daughter of Jacob Delamont. In 1710 he bought of Willem Appel for £48 [$120], the lot lying on the west side of the canal extending from State to Liberty streets, now the pro- perty of the estate of Peter Rowe. This lot originally had a front on State street extending from the lot of Samuel Myers to that of Robert Ellis, the larger portion of which is now occupied by the canal. From his father he inherited a parcel of land bounded by Jefferson and Pine streets now in the occupation of the Schenectady elevator company, and Messrs. Vedder and Van Voast. By his will made in 1752, his son Jacob inherited his house and lot above mentioned, and his son Johannes the "tan pits" near the Church mill on Mill lane. Jan Barentse Wbmp, alias Poest. He arrived in Beverwyck in 1643 or 1645, where he became a resident owning from time to time several house lots in the village of Beverwyck, and parcels of land in Rensselaerswyck. His wife Maritie Myndertse, after his death about 1662, again married in 1663, Sweer Teunisse Van Velsen alias Van Westbrook.* Wemp had six children, three of whom were sons. He purchased of Mad. Johanna De Laet, a bouwery in Lubberde's Landt [Troy], which after his death his legal representatives sold for 250 beavers to Pieterse Van Woggelum, whom Wemp's son, Myndert sued in 1675 for the fourth payment of 40 beavers, f This bouwery was on the Poesten Ml which probably received its name from his alias, Poest. Nov. 12, 1662, Governor Stuyvesant granted the first patent for land at Schenectady to Jan Barentse Wemp and Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck. This grant was for the great island in the Mohawk, lying west of the village, called later Van Slyck's and sometimes Wemp's island, containing about 82 acres of the best land in the valley.J The description given in the patent * See Ante-nuptial contract, Not. Paps., i, 435, 438. f Albany Co. Rec, 456, 492 ; Proceed, of Magis., 1675-80, folio 7, Albany City Clerks office. X Bee Patent in Union College Library. 224 History of the Schenectady Patent. is as follows, to wit: "the island till now named Marten's island, lying " near Schenectady over against the town on the west side of the creek •' \_Bi7inb kil]* in its entirety, notwithstanding there is a little creek running " through it f comprising about [41] morgens." In the confirmatory patent given April 13, 1667, by Governor Nicoll to Sweer Teunise Van Velsen.J and Jaques Cornelise Van Slyck " in quality of brother and heir of Marten Mourits;" it is described as " a certain island, " called ' Marten's island near Schenectady, over against the town containing " [82] acres, first taking out six acres, or 3 morgens, on said island the title " to which was vested in said Theunissen, who married the widow of Jan " Barentse Wemp to whom and the said Jacques Cornelise said island was "granted Nov. 12, 1662, by Governor Stuyvesant."§ Wemp's village lot was on the west side of Washington, commencing on the north side of the lot of Charles Thompson and extending southward 166 feet more or less, and westward to the river. This lot was inherited by his son Myndert, who was killed in the massacre of 1690. Myndert Wemp. Myndert, eldest son of Jan Barentse Wemp, was born in 1649 ; he mar- ried Diower, daughter of Evert Janse Wendel of Albany. There is no record of more than two children. In 1689 Leisler appointed him justice of the peace and the following year he was slain when the village was de- stroyed by the French, and his only son Johannes with two negroes was carried to Canada. * [Binne kil (inner creek), is the modern name given to this branch of the Mohawk river. — M'M.J f The land thus separated from the greater island by this " little creek " was called later Varken's island. In 1693 Rode, a Mohawk Indian, declared that about 30 years ago when Schenectady began to be settled, he and other Mohawk Indians granted to Marte Cornelise Van Slyck the island known as Varken's on the north side of Akus' island. — Col. MSS., xxxix, 216. X Van Velsen married Wemp's widow in 1663, and therefore took his place in the land graut. § Patents, 357. This island was evidently at first owned by Jan Barentse Wemp and Marten Mourisse, brother of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck, for Sept. 16, 1662, they hired Hendrick Arentse to labor on their bouwery at Schenectady, and Mourise must have died between that date and Nov. 12, 1662, the date of the patent in which Wemp and Jacques Van Slyck are joint owners, the latter in character as heir of his brother Marten. — Not. Pap., i, 74. Adult Freeholders. 225 Myndert Werap inherited his father's village lot on Washington street. After his death it was divided into two parcels, — the northerly part embrac- ing the lots of Messrs. Thompson and Swortfiguer falling to his daughter Susanna, wife of Johannes Symonse Veeder, and the southerly portion hav- ing a front of 66 feet, to his son Johannes. In 1748 the latter bequeathed his lot to his two grandsons Johannes and Myndert ; the latter became the sole owner and in 1784, conveyed it to William Scott, who in 1816 sold it to Nathaniel Burdick. The northerly portion comprising about 100 feet on the street was divided into two lesser lots of 50 feet each, and after their mother's death allotted to her two sons Simon and Myndert Johannese Veeder, the northerly half to the latter and the southerly half to the former. In 1802, Myndert disposed his lot to Samuel McWilliams ; and in 1761, Symon conveyed his parcel to his son-in-law Col. John Glen, who in 1802, disposed of it to James Murdock, finally in 1803, Murdock sold it to Mrs. Ann Constable. The ancient house now standing on this lot and occupied by George Swortfiguer was built by " Quarter Master " John Glen. Johannes the son of Myndert, married first Catalina, daughter of Reyer Schermerhorn, June 15, 1700, and secondly, Ariaantje, daughter of Isaac Swits, Oct. 6, 1709, and had twelve children, — six sons and six daughters. He early moved up the river into Montgomery county. In 1711, he lived in " the Mohawk's country on the Mohawk river.'' He owned land in the present town of Rotterdam, bounded on the north by the river extend- ing from the Zandig kil to the burying ground of the Reformed church.* On the 16th Dec, 1737, he obtained a patent for 450 acres of land in the town of Florida.f Besides the house lot in Washington street, he also inherited from his father a portion of Van Slyck's island, which came into the family through his grandfather, Jan Barentse Wemp. He was one of the five patentees appointed by the new charter of 17L5, and continued to hold that office until his death, Oct. 14, 174'.). He made his will March 5, 1 74f,— proved Dec. 27, 1749, and disposed of his estate as follows, to wit : — " to Myndert ray oldest son one acre of " land in Schenectady in the Mohawk river on the south side of the fore- " most island [Van Slyck's]— also my eighth part of a sawmill '."f The year 1688 was generally quiet and barren of exciting events. Dongan kept up a paper war with Denonville until relieved in the spring by Gov. Andros. So long as James the Second occupied the throne peace between France and England was reasonably assured. Both Louis and James were bent upon converting England to the Romish faith. In December, 1688, the latter abdicated the throne and fled to France; whereupon Louis espoused his cause and furnished material aid in his efforts at reconquering his kingdom. In the spring of 1689 " rumours of War with France " alarmed the inhabitants of the Provinces, and incited them to pre- parations for defence. On the receipt of the news of the revolution in England and of the accession of William and Mary to the throne, a miniature revolution was attempted on this side. Governor Andros was imprisoned, his Lieutenant, Nicholson, departed and in New York city the train bands took possession of the fort under the lead of Leisler, dispossessing the Governor's Council and setting up a more popular government. All this done avowedly in the interest of William and Mary and the Protestant succession, was bitterly opposed by the more wealthy and intelli- gent portion of the community. In Albany the Anti-Leislerians held their opponents in check, but the parties here in Schenectady were so nearly balanced in influence, if not in numbers, that neither had the power to act energetically in fortifying the village and preparing to repel the anticipated irruption of the French. The Leislerians " blessed the Great God of heaven and earth for deliverance from Tyranny, Popery and Slavery " through the happy accession of William and Mary to the throne; — the Anti-Leislerians complained that " Fort James * Col. Doc. , in, 484. f Col. Doc, in, 485-6. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 237 was seized by the Rable," whose ill and rash proceedings " hardly one person of sense and Estate within the City [of New York] do countenance." During these unhappy divisions rumors were rife that the Indians of the Five Nations " were very jealous which if not prevented would cause great mis- chiefe " and " that the French from Cadaragua [Kingston, Canada] were comeing over with 1000 men and a great number of Indians." In August, 1689, the Five Nations made a destructive raid upon Montreal, killing several hundi-ed persons and holding the place until October. Re- taliation was naturally to be expected. The border settlements, as winter approached when relief from New Yo:-k would be cut off, cast about for help. The general apprehension of an attack by the French led to a kind of committee of safety called "the Convention," which convened in Albany from time to time to watch the progress of events and prepare for de- fence. This Convention was composed of the mayor and aldermen of the city, and the magistrates and chief military officers of the country. They were unanimously opposed to Leisler and would obey none of his orders. Many persons during the summer of 1689 meditated and prepared to flee to a place of greater safety, which led to the following proclamation published by the justices of the peace, forbidding all persons to depart from the country. A Proclamation. "Whereas we are credibly informed yt diverse persones upon ye late news of ye approach of ye french and there Indians are making Preparations to Transport themselfes out of this County by which means and bad Example of such Timeorous and Cowardly People others will be Dis- couraged to stay and Defend there maj ,s Interest in this Frontier part of ye Province, and Foreasmuch there is no setled government for ye p'sent in this Province, and that thereby it is a duty Incumbent upon us to Prevent any Danger and Inconvenience yt might happen ye Inhabitants of our County w h may arise by Suffering 1 men to Depart yt are able to do there maj ls service if any attempt should be made wee Therefore doe hereby De- clare That no Person or Persones (except masters of sloops & Boats) being fit & able to bear arms who have been setled or liveing in this county for these six monthes last past shall in ye space of three monthes Presume to Depart or absent themselfs out of this County of Albany whither they are under ye Roll or List of ye Respective Capt' 18 or not without a Passe from 238 History of the Schenectady Patent. one Justice of ye Peace of this County upon ye Penalty to be Esteemed, Pursued & followed after as fugitives Cowards, Runnaways & Vagabonds, <^!£&yU^ -55 S (- (Si o * [Prof. Pearson makes these signatures Dirk Wessells, Rekw and Kilien Van Rensselaer. I think they should be read Derck Wessells, Rekor and P. (Richard ?) Van Rensselaer, Justice. — M'M.] Burning of Schenectady. 257 " The Governor & Council of Massachusets to the Mayor, recorder, &c, of Albany. "Boston, 27' '' February, 16f£. " Hon-"" Gent". Yo rs of the 15"' instant bringing the sad and Solemn News of the desola- tion of Schinectedy, and the barbarous cruelties exercised towards the people of that place came to hand on Munday the 24 ,:i of this instant, which is a loud Alarm to the whole Country to make all meet preparation to put themselves in a posture of defence. The Government here have had before them the consideration of an expedition against the French in the Eastern parts And have consented to severall propositions for the Encouragement of such as shall undertake the charge of carrying on the same, divers con- siderable Gentlemen Offering to advance towards it, and hope that some- thing will be soon brought to Effect in that matter the people here seeming to be greatly Spirited therein. It is very unhappy that the animosities and divisions amongst the people in yo r parts and refusing to Subject to any Order should make them careless and neglectiveof their duty for their own Security and to expose themselves thereby to the incursion of the Enemy. It's hoped this sad providence will Awaken them that are yet unattacked to unite for the conion Safety and to make provision accordingly, and be very diligent in their watches to prevent Surprise. Should the French gain any more such advantages it is to be feared that it would farther their Jesuitical insinuations with the Indians and draw them to their side, when thev see their Success and Observe the security and divisions that are araonir the English, yo r care and Endeavours to hold the Indians firme to their promiss and Covenant lately renewed may by no meanes be wanting at this time; And it will highly concern the English of these Colony'* and those of New Yorke and Maryland & V :1 to maintain a good correspondance and intelli- gence at this critical time and to unite against a comon Enemy. In which wee shall not be wanting on our parts as Occasion shall offer. " Wee thanke you for y r care in the Speedy Intelligence and notice given of the danger to the upper Towns of this Colony. And desire the farther comunication from time to time of what may occur for their Ma lirS Service Copending you to the gracious Protection of the Almighty. Subscribe Gent" yo r Friends and Servant the Governo' and Councill of their Ma' ies Colony of the Massachusetts Bay. Signed by their Order." — Mass. Archives, Book xxxv, 277-8. 33 258 History of the Schenectady Patent. " Governor Bradstreet & Council of Massachusetts Bay in answer to a letter from Capt. Jonathan Bull commander of the Connecticut troops stationed at Albany & Schenectady. " Boston Feb. 27 16f£. " Cap' Bull. " Altho' we are excedingly greived for the horrid Tragedy lately acted at Schenectady, yet the matter of fact being so, we are glad to be inform' 1 of it by the Albany Magistrates, and your self. Because tho' it's to late to succor that dolefull desolate place; yet the Example of it may be a means to prevent the like Ruine to ourselves. And if their Destruction doe thoroughly awaken us, that being forewarn* 1 we may become forearm* 1 we shall be so far happy. Your sorrowfull account does the more concern us, because we therein take notice of five of our Men slain & five Captivated, the Leiu' being among the slain. Twas very Commendably done of you to endeavour a pursuit of the Enemy; and when that designe Jail* 1 to shew the last office of Humanity in providing a Grave for y bodyes of our mur- dered Freinds and Neighbours. One would hope that the very looks and hideous Complaints of the poor frosen persons who escaped would be an Oration powerfull enough to persuade your Cityzens to peace & Unity. Tis an universall Truth that a Cyty divided against itself cannot stand Albany New York and Boston must finally die the death, if stricken with the same Division Plague. The Lord inspire you and the Citizens with that Courage, Prudence and Unanimity, as not to think of deserting so im- portant and defensible a Post as Albany is • the hinge upon which in a great measure the weight of our present New England affairs doth turn. Division is your Ruine you say; but where can you so probably expect a Cure of it, as in tliat Neighbourhood: And without a Cure that disease will prove mortall Whatsoever Town or Climate you betake your selves to. Twould be satisfactory to us for you in your next to say how many fight- ing men were in Schenectady, how well provided with Great Guns and small Amies, of what strength & Circumference the fortification whether it be now Tenable or no, so as to give any encouragem 1 to the French to place a Garrison there; what Church & Minister was in the place. " An Embargoe is laid upon all vessells here this day which is to take effect the eight of March next That so we may the more vigorously apply our selves to the present Expedition against the French at the Eastward and to the defence of our own Frontier Towns, of which by the Blessing of God we hope we may in some short time be able to give you a good ac- count. We are very sensible of the good Corresponclance Albany Gentle- men hold with us in Communicating to us what occurs. In the same storm wherein Schenectady was lost, Skippar Dotey of Plimouth, his son, and Elkana Watson were Cast away on Barnstable Barr, & all three lost their Burning of Schenectady. 259 Lives, but whether by sea, or by persons, on shoar more inimicall than the sea itself, is matter of Doubt & Jealousy. The America a ship of near two hundred Tunns is near ready to saill for London, by which Conveyance, shall give a full account all Passages to our Agents, if we do not send on purpose. Not doubting but all prudent means will be used by your Magistrates to fix the five Nations on our side. We pray God to prosper you and us, as that our Actions may gain Credit with them, and so take leave l'emaining yo r Loveing ffriends. The Treasurer has given The Gov r & Councill of the y e Bearer Fourty shill- Massachusetts Colony signed ings to help bear his by their order. charges and even y e score in Town as to himselfe his Companion and Horses." — Mass. Archives, xxxv, 279. The survivors of the massacre had become so'discouraged by their late ter- rible experience, that it was seriously debated whether the settlement should not be abandoned. The frontiers were now so harrassed by straggling par- ties of the enemy, that the husbandmen could not safely plant and harvest their crops. In the midst of these discouragements the Mohawks strove to dissuade them from abandoning their plantations, promising them aid, and counsell- ing them to fortify their village more substantially. At a council held in Albany by the Sachems and the chief inhabitants of Albany and Schenectady, the Mohawks made the following speech to their white brethren. "25 Feb. 1690 '* Propositions made by the Sachims of ye Maquase Castles to ye Mayor &c— of ye Citty of Albany, * * 25 th day of February l6g$. " Brethern. — Wee are sory and Extreamly grieved for y e murther Lately Committed by y e french upon our Brethren of Shinnectady wee Es- teem this evill as if done to ourselfs being all in one Covenant chain, * * " Wee Lament and Condole the death of so many of our brethren so basely murthered at Shinnectady, we can not accompt it a great victory for itt is done by way of Deceit. " Bretheren. — Doe not be discouraged this is butt a beginning of ye Warr we are strong eneugh the whole house have there Eyes fixed upon y 3 and they only stay your motion and will bee ready to doe whatever shall be resolved upon by our Brethren. * * * * 260 History of the Schenectady Patent. " Wee Recommed ye brethren to keep good watch and if any Enemies came take care y* mesengers be more speedily sent to us than lately was done we would not advise ye brethren quite to deseret Shinnectady but to make a fort there. The Enemy would be too glorious to see it quite desolate and y r Towne is not well fortifyed ye Stockades are so short ye Indians can jump over them like a dogg. * * * " — Doc. Hist. n. "Leisler to the Bishop of Salisbury, 31 Mar. 1690. * * they murthered 60 persons and bore away with them 27 prisoners, wounding some others so that there remain but about one sixth part of them, having their cattle, goods and provision destroyed ; and arrested from them, the remnant sheltering them selves at Albany, where there is provi- sion made for them from New Yorke. "Robert Livingston to Sir Edmund Andros, ap. 14, 1690. * * * On ye 9 ,h of Feby last a Compy of 250 French and Indians came upon y* place when they were all asleep about 11 a'clock at night, and killed & destroyed 60 men women and children, carryed 27 men and boys prisoners and burnt 3 7 e towne except 6 or 7 houses which are saved by Capt. Sander [Glen], whom they did not touch, having Expresse command to med- dle with none of his relations for his wifes sake, who had always been kinde to ye French prisoners. " The people of that Towne were so bygotted to Leysler that they would not obey any of ye Magistrates neither would they entertain ye Souldiers sent thither by y 4 Convention of Albany, nothing but men sent from Leys- ler would do theire turn. " Thus had Leysler perperted yt poor people by his seditious letters now founde all bloody upon Skinnechtady streets, with the notions of a free trade boalting etc., and thus are they destroyed ; they would not watch, and where Capt. Sander [Glen] commanded, there they threatened to burn him upon ye fire, if he came upon the garde.* * * " — Doc. Hist, i, 193. Extract from Leisler's letter to Maryland. March 4, 16fg. * * 200 men fell upon them (Shenectady) and barbarously murdered sixty- two men, women and children and burned the place left but 5 or 6 houses unburned, carried away captive 27; the rest escaped, many of which being about 25 persons much damnified by the french. * * * "By the Com rs for Albany &c. " Forasmuch as it is of high Concern to preserve his Maj lies City and county of Albany from the rage and mischief of the French and their ad- herents, who to o r sad experience have made divers attempts upon the skirts of the same; Wee doe therefore Order, and hereby it is ordered that Burning of Schenectady. 261 the Posts of Schanechtede, Connestigieonc and the half Moone be forthwith supplyed with proper numbers of men to defend the same, ***** \2^ day of May, 1690."— Doc. Hist., n. In regard to the number of persons killed and carried away to Canada at the destruction of Schenectady, the best accounts agree substantially. The names of sixty persons massacred and of twenty-seven captives, have been preserved among the historical documents in the office of the secretary of State and are given below, accompanied by remarks as to their residences in the village. It will be noticed that the largest number of the slain resided when living on State Street; hence the survivors called this street Mar- telaer's straat, in pious remembrance of their slaughtered relatives and neighbors, — a name whose significance and sentiment are in striking con- trast with the utter poverty of invention and good taste shown by their descendants in borrowing a name from Albany for their chief business street. ' List of ye People kild and Destroyed by ye French of Canida and there Indians at Skinnechtady twenty miles to ye Westward of Albany, between Saturday and Sunday ye 9 lh day of February, 16f£. Myndert Wemp kild " 1 He was the eldest son of Jan Barcntse Wemp (Wemple) who owned half the great island west of the town and died in 1663, leaving another son Barent and two daughters. Myndert's house lot was on the west side of Washington street a little north of State street. His son Johannes was carried away to Canada but was redeemed and lived many years afterwards. " Jan Van Eps and his sonne and 2 of his Children kild." 4 Jan Van Eps was the only son of Dirk Van Eps and Maritie Damens. The father died early and the mother married two husbands afterwards, the last of whom was Cornells Van Nes of Albany. With Jan Van Eps were also killed three of his children, and a fourth, Jan Baptist, then seventeen years of age was carried away by the French. He remained with the Indians three years, but finally escaped in one of their excursions against the Mohawks. On account of his familiarity with the language of the natives, he was often employed by the Governors of the Province as an interpreter. 262 History of the Schenectady Patent. The Van Eps house lot was on the north corner of Church and State streets and embraced about two hundred feet on each street. The east half, including the corner, was early sold to the Bratts. It is probable that Van Eps resided upon the west half at the time of the massacre. " Serg* Church of Capt. Bull's compy." 1 "Barent Janse [Van Ditmars] killd and Burnd his sonne kild." 2 His son's name was Cornells, — a young man of mature age, the husband of Catharina Glen, daughter of Sander Leendertse Glen.(?) The elder Van Ditmar's in 1664, married Catalyntie De Vos, widow of Arent Andriese Bratt, one of the earliest settlers of Schenectady, by whom she had six children, all living at the time of her second marriage. At the time of the massacre she was living with her family on her village lot — on the east corner of Washington and State streets, and it was here that Van Ditmars and his son Cornells were slain. " Andries Arentse Bratt shott and Burnt and also his Child " [one child]. 2 He was the eldest son of Arent Andriese Bratt and Catalyntie De Vos above mentioned, and lived on the same ample lot (200 ft. square), as his mother, on the north side of State street. In the massacre his wife, Margareta Jacobse Van Slyck, and two other children were sjsared. " Maria Viele wife of Dowe Aukes and her two children killd, 3 and his Negro Woman Francyn, 1 Maria Alolff Wife of Cornells Viele Jun r Shott." i These five persons were killed in one house, standing on the south corner of Mill lane and State street next the ancient church. Aukes kept an Inn there; Viele was uncle of his wife and subsequently became heir of his property. At the same time Arnout Cornelise Viele, brother of Aukes' wife, was carried away to Canada. " Sweer Teunise [Van Velsen] Shott and burnt his wife kild & burnt, 2 Antje Janz daughter of Jan Spoor kild & burnt, l Item 4 Negroes of ye said Sweer Teunise ye same death, 4 Enos Talmidge Leift. of Capt. Bull kild & burnt." l All in one house. Burning of Schenectady. 263 Van Velsen's bouse was next east of Douwe Auke's above mentioned, on the south side of State street, now numbers 54 and 56. He was the town miller and directly in the rear of his house stood his corn mill on Mill lane. As he died without heirs, his estate was divided among his wife's child- ren, — the Wemps, — a portion being reserved for the church. " Hend : Meese Vrooman & Bartholomeus Vrooman kild & burnt, 2 Item 2 negroes of Hend : Meese ye same death." 2 He lived on the north side of State street where the New York Central railroad crosses. All the Vroomans in this vicinity are his descendants through his two sons Adam and Jan. " Gerrit Marcellis and his wife and Childe kiled," 3 He was son of Marselis Janse of Albany. At the time of his death he was residing on the lots now occupied by McCamus & Co's stores. " Rob* Alexander sould r of Capt Bulls Shott." I He was probably quartered in the blockhouse at north angle of the village at the corner of Front and Washington streets. " Robert Hesseling." Residence unknown. 1 " Sander ye sonne of gysbert gerritse [Van Brakel] kild & burnt," 1 He lived on the east corner of Ferry and State streets. " Jan Roeloffse de goyer burnt in ye house," 1 He was son of the famous Annke Janse, and lived upon the lot of Mr. G. Y. Van de Bogart opposite the Court House. He left no descendants. "Ralph grant a souldier in ye fort shott," 1 " David Christoffelse & his wife w th 4 children all burnt in there house," 6 His house lot was on the east side of Church street now occupied by the late Mrs. Volney Freeman. He was the son of Christoffel Davids of Albany, an Englishman by birth. " Joris Aertse [Vander Baast] shott and burnt, W m Pieterse kild," 2 His house lot was on the south corner of Church & Union streets. " Job : Potman kild his wife kild and her scalp taken off," 2 His house stood on the lot on the north corner of Ferry and Union streets where Mr. Barney now lives. He was the ancestor of the Putmans of this vicinity. 264 History of the Schenectady Patent. " Dom e Petrus Tassemaker ye minister kild and burnt in his house" 1 " Frans Harmense [Van de Bogart] kild." 1 His house lot was on Front street — and near the north gate. His son Claas was carried away, but was afterwards redeemed. '• Engel the wife of Adam Vrooman shot and burnt her child the brains dashed out against y«= wall." 2 Her maideu name was Engeltie Blom. Vrooman's house stood on the lot on the west corner of Front and Church streets. His son Barent and a negro were carried away to Canada. "Reynier Schaats and his sonne kild." 2 He was son of Dom e Gideon Schaets of Albany ; — surgeon and physician of the village as well as justice of the peace. His lot was on the north side of Union street, now owned by the county of Schenectady. " Daniel Andries & George 2 souldiers of Capt. Bull." 2 " A french girl Prisoner among the Mohogs kild." 1 "A maquase Indian kild." 1 " Johannes ye sonne of Symon Skercnerkorn, 1 3 Negroes of Symon Skermerhorn." 3 He probably lived on the west corner of Church and Union streets — the Tomlinson lot. " Lyst of ye Persones which ye French & there Indians have taken Prisoners att Skinnechtady and caried to Canida ye 9 !h day of February 16f o, Johannes Teller & his negroe." 2 The Teller lot was on the east corner of Union and Washington streets, extending 200 feet along each street. Teller was redeemed from the Indians. " John Wemp sonne of Mynd* Wemp and 2 negroes." 3 The Weinp's lived on the west side of Washington, a little north of State street. " Symon, Abraham, Phillip, Dyrck and Claas Groot all 5 sonnes of Symon Groot." 5 His house lot was next west of Reynier Schaet's on the north side of Union street, now owned by the county of Schenectady and A. W. Hunter, Esq. All these sons were redeemed with perhaps the exception of Claas. Burning of Schenectady. 265 " Jan Baptist sonne of Jan Van Eps." 1 The Van Eps lot was on the north corner of Church and State streets, Jan remained among the Canadian Indians about three years, and in one of their expeditions against the Mohawks escaped and returned home. "Albert & Johannes Vedder sonnes of harme Vedder." 2 Harmen Vedder the father, had a hofstede on the bouwland, now owned and occupied by Mr. John D. Campbell of Rotterdam, and it is not cer- tainly known that he had a village lot. Both were redeemed. " Isaak Cornelise Switts & his Eldest sonne." 2 He lived on the west side of Washington street directly opposite State. Both were redeemed. " A negroe of Barent Janse [Van Ditmars]" • 1 Van Ditmars married Mrs. Bratt in 1664 and lived upon the lot on the east corner of State and Washington streets. " Arnout ye Sonne of Arnout Corn: Viele ye Interp 1 ." 1 Arnout was brother-in-law of Douwe Aukes and was residing at his house on the south corner of State street and Mill Lane near the church. " Stephen ye sonne of Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel]" Van Brakel resided on the East corner of Ferry and State streets. " Lawrence Sonne of Claes Lawrence Purmurent [Vander Volgen]." 1 The Vander Volgen home lot included the lots on which are built the Van Home Hall and the Myers' Block. Lawrence remained with the Canada Indians about eleven years, becoming perfectly familiar with their language and customs. After his return he was employed as Provincial interpreter. " Arnout Sonne of Paulyn Janse." Residence unknown. 1 " Barent ye Sonne of Adam Vrooman and ye neger." 2 " Claes sonne of Frans Harmense [Van de Bogart]." ] His father's village lot was on the north side of Front street, now the res- idence of Mr. Henry Rosa. "Stephen adopted Sonne of Gcertje Bonts." Residence unknown. 1 " John Webb a souldier belonging to Capt Bull," 1 34 266 History of the Schenectady Patent. " David Burt belonging to ye same Comp e ," " Joseph Marks of ye same Comp 6 ," In all* 1 1 27 " List of the Goods sent from New York and received from Mons r Jan Hendricksen Brujn and Johannes Proofoost to be distributed among the Refugees of Schoonechtede, to wit : 2348| Dutch ells of Osenb: Linen. 3 ps Serge, 13 prs. Stockings, 72 ells pennestont, And delivered to the Deacons of Schoonechtede and the Deacons of Albany, to wit : Barent Wemp, Johannes De Wandelaer, Jan Byvanck, Jacob Loockermans. first distributed to Barent Wemp Harmen Vedder, Symen Schermerhoorn. Symen Groot, Arent Vedder, Anne widow of Frans [Van de Bogart], Willem Appel, Goosen Van Oort, Samuel Bradt, Andries Bradt, Johannes Dyckman, Geertruy Groot, 3 ps. sarge distributed of List of the Pennestont to Aces Cornelise [Van Slyck], Dirck Bradt, Isack De Teurex [Truax], Nieces Volekers, Johannes Dyckman, Jan [Van] Eps, Loowies Coopeele [Cobes], Pieter Van Olinda, Gerret Jansen, William Van Erde, Sarge. 6| ells 6| •I 6f 6| 6| *\ 61 H 79 & | Pennestont 7 ells 7 8 H 3 7 3£ 7 5 H * Doc. Hist. I, 191. Burning of Schenectady. 267 Arent Vedcler, 3^ Elias Swart, 7 Jan Buys, 4 Geertruy Groot, 3 72 ells List of Stockings. Man us Veclder, one pair of Stockings, 1 Symen Groot, one pair, 1 Jan Buys, 1 Willem Appel, 1 Symen Schermerhooren, 1 Gyspert Gerrets [Van Brakel], 1 Harmen Vedder, 1 Hendrick Gardeniers, 1 Samuel Bradt, 1 Dirck Hesseliugh, 1 Adam Froman, v 1 Teunis Carstensen, 1 Gerrit Gysbersen [Van Brakel], 1 The number of Stockings, 13 prs. < List of the Osenburg Linen. Harmen Vedder, 80 ells Jan [Van] Eps, 70 Catlyn Barensen [Van Ditmars], 70 Dirck Bradt, 65 Barent Wemp, 70 Dirck Hesselinge r , 58 Willem Appel, 80 Goosen Van Oort, 50 Geertruy [Groot (?)], 31 Susanne Tellers, 50 Aces Cornelise [Van Slyck], 50 Dieur Wemp, 55 Anne Harmensen [Van de Bogart], 65 • Tryntje Bosboom, 20 Symon Volcker [Veeder], 30 Samel Bradt, 50 Gyspert Gerrets [Van Brakel], 80 Nieces Volckertsen [Veeder (?)], 20 Jacob Van Laer, 20 Willem Van Eerde, 75 Cornells Viele, 40 Manus Haegedoorn, 40 268 History of the Schenectady Patent. Jannetie Scherraerhooren, Cornells Schermerhooren, Citte Bradt. Hendrick Gardeniers, Cornells Claesen, Tryntie Schaets, David Christoffelsen's children, Johannes Pootman's children, Adam Frooman, Symen Schermerhooren, Purmerent [Van de Volgen], Symen Groot, Fytie Pietersen Bosboom, 40 20 60 40 20 80 50 70 10 50 40 80 20 Distributed in Sehoonechtede, 1809 ells. List of the Linen distributed in the Bush. [ Woestine.~\ Elias Swart, 36 ells Lauries Coopesen [Ludovicus Cobes], 20 Isack Teurx [Trnax], 40 Jan Buys, 23 Tennis Carstensen, 35 Binnonie Arentsen [Van Hueck], 25 Davit Marienissen [marinus], 30* Elias [Van] Gyseling, 30 Arent Vedder, 30 Pitter Van Olinda, 35 Jan Frooman, 30 Manis [Harmanus] Vedder, 24 Tuenis Viele, 20 Tryntje Verwy, 15 Claes '[De] Graef, 35 Jan Hilt, 25 Cornells Groat, 20 Jan Luycessen [ Wyngaardt], 18 Johannes Dyckman, 30 Ifysbet Cornelissen, 15 540 From the other side, 1809 By me Johannes De Wandelaeb, Deacon of Albany* 2349 * Doc. Hist. N. Y., ii, in. Burning of Schenectady. 269 As the people of Albany were connected with those of Schenectady by ties of blood and marriage, the latter received much aid from the former. Thus in the Deacon's book of the church of Albany, immediately after the destruction of Schenectady, are found the following entries for goods given away. Aen Purmerent [Claas Laurense Van der Volgen], 8 el linne en 7 el plets (?) ~ 29 guld. Aen ditto 2\ el duffels en 7 el linne, 30 guld. Aen Jan Spoor 8 ell linne. Aen Kornelis groot een kempt, 8 gul. Aen purmerent [Claas Laurense Van der Volgen], 2 el duffels, 16 gul. The following ballad, though "without much literary merit, has some value for the facts set forth therein. Tt was evidently written by a person belonging to the English garrison stationed at Albany. 1690 Feb. 12. u 13. u 14 (( 17. "A BALLAD, In which is set forth the horrid cruellties practised by the French and In- dians on the Night of the 8th of Last February. The which I did compose Last Night in the space of one Hour, and am now writing, the Morning of Fryday, June 12, 1690. God prosper long our King and Queen Our lives & Safeties all A sad misfortune once there did Schenectady befall. From forth the woods of Canada The Frenchmen tooke their Way The People of Schenectady To captivate and slay. They march'd for two & twenty dais, All thro' the deepest snow ; And on a dismal Winter Night They strucke the Cruel Blow. The lightsome sun that rules the Day, Had gone down in the West ; And eke the drowsy Villagers Had sought and found their reste. w. w. They thought They were in Safetie all, And dreampt not of the Foe ; But att Midnight They all awoke, In Wonderment & Woe. For They were in their pleasant Beddies, And soundelie sleeping, when Each Door was sudden open broke By six or seven Men. The Men and Women, Younge & Olde, And eke the Girls & Boys, All started up in great Affright, Att the alarming Noise. They then were murther'din their Beddes, Without shame or remorse ; [stew'd And soon the Floores and Streets were With many a bleeding corse. 270 History of the Schenectady Patent. The Village soon began to Blaze Which shew'd the horrid sight : — But, O, I scarce can Beare to Tell The Mis'ries of that Night. They threw the Infants in the Fire, The Men they did not spare ; But killed All which they could find Tho' Aged or tho' Fair. Christe"! In the still Midnight air, It sounded dismally, [screams, The Women's Prayers, and the loud Of their great Agony. Methinks as if I hear them now All ringing in my ear ; The Shrieks & Groanes & Woefull Sighs, They utter'd in their Fear. But some ran off to Albany, And told the dolefull Tale : Yett tho' We gave our cheerful Aid, It did not much avail And We were horribly afraid, And shook with Terror, when They told us that the Frenchmen were More than a Thousand Men. The News came on the Sabbath morn Just att the Break of Day. And with a companie of Horse I galloped away. But soone We found the French were gone With all their great Bootye ; And then their Trail We did pursue, As was our true Dutye. The Mohaques joynd our brave Partye, And followed in the chase Till we came upp with the Frenchmen, Att a most likelye Place. Our soldiers fell upon their Reare, And killed twenty-five, Our Young Men were so much enrag'd They took scarce One alive. D'Aillebout Them did commande, Which were but Theevish Rogues, Else why did they consent and Goe With Bloodye Indian Dogges? And Here I End the long Ballad, The Which you just have redde ; Iwish that it may stay on earth Long after I am Dead. WALTER WILIE. Albany, 12th of June, 1690." Indian Wars on (he Border, 1662-1713. 271 INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER, 1662-1713. The destruction of Schenectady and the uncertainty of future safety of the border settlers in the vicinity of that village, awakened in their minds serious doubts as to the expediency of rebuilding their dwellings and put- ting seed into the ground. To reassure the courage of the people, the con- vention at Albany passed the following resolution on the 22 Feb., 1690. Resolved that for ye p'servation of there maj e8 Intrestin these parts & ye Secureiug of there Subjects in this time of war w th ye french, yt all means be used to Perswadeall ye maquase to come & live & Plant at Schinnectady lately Destroyed by ye french and there Indians w h will be a means yt ye winter Corn sowed there may be reaped & ye Indians in Readinesse to joyn with our forces upon any occasion if ye enemy should come. — Doc. Hist., ii, p. 90. The Five Nations too in a council held at Albany, May 3, spoke encourag- ing words, — " Brother Corlaer be no wise discouraged but make your fort strong (as we have our castles) at Schenectady and maintain a garrison there, that your Corne may be preserved & reap your harvest, also send for your wifes,* and children from New York and encourage them that we shall be safe, and fear not, * * * The words of Diadorus are ended."f In April an attack was made on the feeble settlement at Canastagione where eight or ten people were killed by the French Indians, " which has made the whole country in an Alarm and the People leave there planta- tions."! Of this attack Leisler wrote to Governor Treat of Connecticut, April 19, as follows : "It hapened y* last Sabeday, at Nistigione, 12 My le from Albany, ye people there gathered all in one house & keept watch, the said ffrench and in * Mr. Van Cortland writing to Gov. Audros May 19, says, " most of the Albany women Are att New Yorke." f Col. Doc. in, 714 X Col. Doc. in, 716. 272 History of the Schenectady Patent. Indians, finding in the night the houses empty, & perseving their retreat r went in a swamp, the people going in ye mourning, each to their houses, were surprized, 9 Christians, 2 negers were kild & captivated, which must needs encourage the enemie to further attempt if not prevented by a vigorous attake in Canada.*" * * * To the same effect, he wrote to the magistrates of Albany, April 30, in his Dutch English. * * "mest riarsf desired som guns with iff your seemeth most be taken from sloop or petrares for Schonectede with Wee Desiers ma not be deserted doo It shuld kost 50 soldiers to maentain." * * * J May 12, 1690, the magistrates of Albany to stay the general alarm and provide for the protection of the border, " Ordered that the Posts of Schen- echtade, Connestigioone, and halfe-moone be forthwith supplyed with the proper number of men to defend the same, — and that none doe presume to post any other forces saving at the 3 places aforesaid at their uttmost perill."§ " Whereas it is judged necessary for to defend Schanechtede and to that purpose it is likewise found requisite that a Fort shall be built to defend ye Inhabitants and oppugn the Enemy if he should attack the same," — Capt. Sander Glen and others are ordered to build a " substantiall Fort on that lot of grounde called by y name of Cleyn Isaacs."! Robert Livingston — a strong and active Anti-Leislerian, in a letter of June 7 to Lt. Gov. Nicholson, makes serious charges against Leisler's agents at Albany of their " drinking and Quaffing while the French Indians comes and cutts off the People at Canastagione and above Synechtady and never one of them cacht. We have all Leisler's seditious letters secured which was the occasion of the destruction of Synechtady, miraculously found in the streets all embrued with blood the morning after the massacre was committed."** So impoverished had Albany and Schenectady become, that aid was called for from Connecticut for " fournishing the souldiers with provisions, Shen- nectady being destroyed and most of the out plantations deserted, that your hon rs would be pleased to send a supply of an hundred barrels of porks or beefe equivalent for maintaining their Maj e9 Forces."ff On the 9th June, 1690, four persons of those who had been captured by the French and escaped from Canada, arrived in Albany, to wit, Klyn * Doc. Hist., ii, 131. f [Ryer Schermerhorn — M'M]. X Doc. Hist, ii, 131. § Col. MSS., xxxvi. | Isaac Svvits lot at foot of State street. ** Col. Doc, in, 727. ft Col. Doc, m, 693. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 273 Isack [Swits] of Schenectady, and his eldest son Symon, — Ryck Claessen [Van Vranken] of Niskayuna and one of Capt. Bull's soldiers taken at the destruction of Schenectady.* Four more captives taken at the same place were brought in March, 1091, by a "party of Christians and maquase."f In the beginning of June, 1691, Gov. Sloughter, who succeeded Andros, visited Albany and Schenectady to inspect the defences and hold a council with the Five Nations. In his speech June 1, to the Sachems assembled, he said: * * " I must acquaint the Brethren that it was very unpleasant news to me, which was told me at Schenectady two dayes ago, by the poor distressed Inhabitants of that Village, how that some of the Brethren have burnt and destroyed several of their deserted houses and Barns, and have killed their horses, Cattle, Hoggs and Poultry in the woods, left by the Enemy, which is an uncharitable act, and ought to be enquired into and for the future prevented and remedied."]; "The maquasse propose for themselves and say: * * * * (4 June, 1691). " We were glad to see your Excell cy safe arrived here to the Gent u of Albany and as soon as you have visited the Magistrates here, you took hoarse and rode to Schenectady where you see the mines to that Towne occasioned by the French, and there the poor people made there complaints to your Excell cy of the killing of their Cattle and Hoggs; — we must confess the thing was done, but could not be avoided for we were ready to pursue the Enemy when they had done the mischeife at Schennectady & comeing home were almost starved and therefor for mere necessity we were com- pelled to do what we did; you expect satisfaction for the same, but pray consider how business is now circumstanced that it cannot conveniently be done, for if you should draw us from prosecuting the warr to go to hunt to make satisfaction for that injury, it would be of badd consequence. "Brother Corlaer, we have often told you that you should fortifye your- selfe well, but you always tell us, the French were a Christian Enemy and they would warn you but you see how they have warned you by Schennec- tady, therefore pray you make the Citty as strong as the Forte and when our Indians doe goe out a fighting, then pray send seaven or eight Men in our Castle to make a noise (which is the manner of their Watching, a nights) that so our women and Children may be secure and not taken Captive whilst we are abroad." *Doct. Hist., ii, 153 ; Col. Doc, m, 781-2. f Col. MSS., xxvii. % Col. Doc. , in. 773. 35 274 History of the Schenectady Patent. " We deliver you a prisoner vis* Joseph Marks* which we brought from Canada who was taken at Schenectady by the French and their Indians and shall endeavor to bring more by all occasions."! — (June 1, 1691.) During the summer of 1691, Major Pieter Schuyler raised an expedition for Canada, in which he employed the Mohawks. Robert Livingston writing to Gov. Sloughter says, " I designe to send provisions to Schenec- tady for them to p r vent their sotting & drinking here, that they may march from thence directly. "J About this time the Indians took prisoner one Cornells Clatie at Canas- taguijone. " In the end of June 2 men went over the river att Canastogione to make hay upon Claas [Janse Van Boekhoven's] de Brabander's land, — the most dangerous place in all the Province; some French Indians sur- prises them, kills the one and takes off his skull & what is become of the other we know not. The other people that were mowing of hay upon Claes de Brabander's Island that now belongs to John Child [Clute], heard 3 gunns goe off went to the river side 1 , see noc body but the Cannoe; we sent a party of horse thither who found one of the men lying in the water at the shoare side."§ Such was the alarm that the people durst not stay upon their farms, and there was danger the crops would not be harvested. On the 11th July, Gov. Sloughter wrote to the Governors of the other Provinces, that he had just returned from Albany, where he "found our Plantations and Schenectady almost ruined. — I have garrisoned Schenectady and Halfe Moon with some of the 100 fusileers raised by our Assembly."! Again Aug. 6, he says, "I found Albany full of disorder, the people ready to disert it; about 150 farms deserted & destroyed by the French." October 5, 1691, " At a council held at Fort William Henry [N. Y]. " This Board having the Garrison of Schenectady under consideration, it is thought convenient to remove the 4 eruns from there to Albany and that Peterardoes be placed in their steade."** Late in the year 1691, another of the prisoners taken at Schenectady the year before was brought back by an Oneida Indian, who was rewarded in " Duffels and Rom " to the amount of £2, 2s. In January, 1692, Cornelis Van Slyck, Ilarmen Van Slyck and Hendrick Janse went out from Schenectady with the Maquase upon the Brandwach towards Canada, Capt. Sander Glen furnishing " Sno Shoes " for them.ff * A soldier of Li. Enos Talma^e's detachment posted in the fort at Schenectady. \ Col. Doc, in, 778, 779. % Col. Doc, in, 781, 782, 805. § Col. Doc, in, 783-4. || Col. Doc, in, 784, 792, 795. ** Council Minn., vi, 57; Col. MSS., xxxvin. •ft Col. MSS., xxxvin. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 275 Iu February came an alarm from Albany to Governor Fletcher that "350 French and 200 Indians had come within 36 miles of Schenectady." The Governor proposed to h detach three hundred men out of the City regiment and adjacent counties to be transported to Esopus by water," from whence they were to be sent on to Albany and Schenectady by horses.* In May there was a new alarm and Major Ingoldsby visited Albany where the officers " represented that they need a force of 400 men on this frontier, — 200 at Albany, 50 each at Schenectady, Canastagione, & half moon, & 50 to go out with 100 Indians as constant scouts in the woods."f Returning from Albany, the commander-in-chief, Maj. Ingoldsby, reported to the Council in New York, June 10, that he found the place in great disorder from the false alarm occasioned* by some skulking Indians from Canada; — that the fortifications were very much out of repair; — that he had confirmed the chain of friendship with the Five Nations and River Indians, and that he "had detached 30 men from the garrison at Albany to Schen- ectady; — 30 to Half-Moon and that 50 more were wanting at least for Can- nestgioenna but could not afford to detach any more from Albany."]; In October, Governor Fletcher visited Schenectady and put it in some posture of defense for the coming winter.§ In September, three French prisoners being examined at New York said that last summer (1692) the French of Canada " had a design to fall upon Albany & Schenectady & the Mohac country, but first, to take Shenec- tady where they resolved to build a fort * * but their design failed."! The Provincial Council, July 1, for the purpose of obtaining information in relation to the late massacre at Deerfield, examined Jan Baptist Van Eps (of Schenectady), " aged about 19 years, who had been a prisoner or captive amongst the ffrench Indians in Canada, the space of three years, and made his Escape from them in february last, when the ffrench and Indians attackt the Maquaes Castles, and came to Schenectade being the Uppermost ffrontier of this Province where His Excellency Ben]. Fletcher, &c, then was with the fforces from New York to repulse the Enemy."** In August, 1692, a new expedition was fitted out at Schenectady, consist- ing of 350 Indians of the Five Nations under Canachkorie to attack Canada. The expense of the outfit was £54, 3s. 5d. Among other things furnished was 4 ells of " red & blew " ribbons " to Tye in his Fares." * Council Min., vi, 165. f Col. MSS., xxxvni. X Coun. Min., vi, 104. § Coun. Min., vi, 134 ; Leg. Min., vi, 50. | Col. Doc, iu, 855. ** Col. MSS., xxxix 276 History of the Schenectady Patent. P. Davitse was allowed nine shillings for making two gun-stocks; Jellis Funda nineteen shillings and six pence for making four gun stocks, — & Barent Mynderse and Christian Smith £7, 6s. 8c?., for repairing arms for the Indians. While at Schenectady the " Mayor & the Rest " stayed with Johannes Glen; — Hille Van Olinda their interpreter, made two great belts of wampum for which she received £2, 8s. There was furnished for the expedition 600 lbs. of " Beefe & Pork besides the 4 quarters of a small beast," amounting to £1, 16s., — 25 skipples of Pease @ § and 24 Loaves of Bread @ Id. A large quantity of wampum belts was sent along to draw over the Pray- ing Indians of Canada. The zewant for two great belts cost £3, 12s. The low condition of Schenectady is plainly shown by the following petition, »-so impoverished had the poor people become that a paltry tax of only £29-7s ($73 -nnr) was considered too great a burthen for the whole township to bear. 11 To his Excell : &c. Ac. The Humble Peticon of the Inhabitants of Skenectady in the county of Albany, — Humbly Sheweth That youre Excell 8 Peticon™ have received many great damidges and Losses by the ffrench & there adherents, By Murdering of there ma]" 83 good Subjects and Burning there habitations and Cattle &c, and daly great Charges and truble with the Indian Souldg rs and there Wifes & Children as lately aboutt 300 of these were here 21 days before they Marched toward Canida, Destroying our grain &g. in our plantations, that our Winter Main- tenance for our poore ffamilies is much Shortened to our Ruin haveing many poore Widows and Children from the out places here to Secure there Lyves : — as alsoe the mag trates &c. of Albany have Lotted to us to pay towards the Tax of 315 lbs for our part £29-7p. which Seemes to our poore Condicon very hard, not Knowing how to Raise it, being Constrained to plant together that we can not [lose] that Little What wee have Left, &c. Whereupon your Peticon rs humbly Implore Your Excellency .for a Re- dress, & that wee may be freed of all Taxes till the Warr is ended and your Excellency's further assistance with Souldg rs &c. for a defence against the Enemies &c. [no Signatures.] Petition granted 'uemine contradicente ' 11 Oct. 1692."* *Coll. MSS., xxxviii. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 277 In February 1693, the French attacked and took the first and second Mohawk castles. Major Ingoldsby writing on the 1 1th to Governor Fletcher from Albany, informed him that the French and Indians to the number of 550 had marched to the attack, " which we had by a youth [Jan Baptist Van Eps] taken at Schenectady three years agoe and made his escape from them just as they were to fall upon the castles an hour before day."* On the 14th Governor Fletcher started from New York, arrived on the 17th by water and the same day set out for Schenectady, ordering the troops as they arrived from below to follow. On the ISth by the break of day the men who had gathered at Schenectady were ready to be set over the Mohawk but were hindered till the afternoon by a violent storm. The next day the rest of the forces attempted to cross but were hindered by floating ice ; by 10 o'clock the ice packed and the men walked across, within two hours after the river was open again. On the 20th the Governor sent another company of 42 men with 13 horses loaded with provisions and ammunition. 21st. Horses being carried over the river and men ready to be transported, an express came from Maj. Schuyler that he was near at hand on his return. 22d. The Governor and Major Schuyler returned to Albany with the forces.f Major Peter Schuyler who commanded the force first sent out to meet the French, received the first news of their attack upon the Mohawk Castles on the 8th February, " soon after which " he writes " we had the news that a young man named Jan Baptist Van Eps (taken at Schenectady 3 years agoe) was runn over from the French, as they were to attack the first castle of the Mohogs and come to Schenectady, who related that the French were 350 Christians and 200 Indians." That night Lieut. John Schuyler and Cornet Abeel with 55 horse marched to Schenectady. 9th. The Mohawks at Schenectady being exasperated at the delay of the Christians to pursue the French, Major Schuyler was sent to Schenectady to pacify them. 10th. Major Schuyler sent Lieut. John Schuyler and Lieut. John Sanderse Glen with 6 men to reconnoitre the enemy: — they brought word that the French occupied both the first and second castles or forts. * Col. Doc. iv, 2, 6. f Col. Doc, iv, 14. 278 History of the Schenectady Patent. 11th. A party of 50 men was sent out to watch, a part of whom returned on Sunday the 12th, reporting that firing was heard, on the receipt of which tidings Major Ingoldsby despatched 200 men from Albany out of the several companies of militia, who arrived in Schenectady the same day. 13th. Major Schuyler receiving no orders to march from the commander- in-chief moved his men over the river (Mohawk). In the afternoon orders were received to advance, and at the same time news came that the French had burned the three Mohawk Castles and were on their retreat. Major Schuyler marched 12 miles that evening with a force of 273 Christians. At 10 o clock he received word by a scout that 600 Indians were coming down to his assistance and despatched the same scout to Major Ingoldsby for more provisions and ammunition for them. About 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning of the 14th they broke camp, receiv- ing advice that the French were not above 8 miles from them. Lt. Harmen Van Slyck of Schenectady and two Indians being sent out to reconnoitre, brought word that the enemy had marched. 15th. Two hundred and ninety Indians, men and boys, some armed and some without arms joined the party. 16th. Major Schuyler sent word to Major Ingoldsby that the French had built a fort and had resolved to fight. In the march this day " Arnout [Viele] the interpreter's son came to them, who had been 3 years a prisoner among the French." In the morning the two parties were within a mile of each other. 17th. " Decamped and marched toward the enemy. At 8 o'clock in the morning came in sight of the enemies fort. The enemy sallied out but were beat back; so a 2' 1 & 3' 1 time;" finally the French became quiet and the English fortified their camp. A messenger was sent to Maj. Ingoldsby to hurry up provisions and ammunition, as many of the men had not had pro- visions for two days. 18th. Cold and stormy. The enemy retreated, but the men being out of provisions refused to follow. 19th. "News came that the provisions were near at hand with Capt. Simms and 80 men; 5 biscuits to a man were distributed & the march com- menced. Coming within a mile of the enemy, the Indians refused to attack for fear the French would kill all their wives & children whom they had prisoners." Indian Wars on (he Border, 1662-1713. 279 On reaching the river the enemy crossed on " a flake of ice " all being open above and below. 20th. Major Schuyler resolved to march over and pursue the enemy, but the men being wearied, " their shoes quite worn out & provisions scarce were not able to make any further pursuit." The most discouraging obstacle however, was the aversion of their Mohawk allies to attack the enemy for fear of the safety of their wives and children. Whereupon a retreat was ordered. 21st. Arrived at Schenectady where he found Governor Fletcher with 280 men from New York. In this expedition, the English lost four soldiers and four Indians, — wounded twelve, — killed of the enemy 33, including their captain commandant and 20 other officers and two of their commanding Indians, and rescued 40 or 50 prisoners.* During the summer of 1693, active warfare ceased, but as winter ap- proached, preparations were made to strengthen the fortifications and gar- risons on the frontier. Governor Fletcher writing to the Board of Trade Oct. 9, says, " the Pro- vince of New York is hardly circumstanced at present; we do not now muster 3000 militia, formerly 5000; — more families are dayly removing for Peusilvania & Connectictt to be eased from the taxes and detachments. The Assembly have provided for 300 men to be at Albany this winter, — too small a number by half to justify the fronteers."f On the 3d and 5th of October, Major Schuyler advised the Governor that the French were approaching Albany ; that two men were taken prisoners, *' near the Flats'' above Albany and that a party of the enemy on the east side of the Hudson river fired upon a canoe coming down. J During the winter of 169£ and summer following, there were no important movements on either side ; the French using their best endeavor to make peace with the Five Nations by which they would be free to attack the En- glish ; the latter striving to counteract their projects. About the 15th October, 1694, there was a disastrous "fire att Schenec- tady which burnt 1000 skippel of wheat."§ May 29 1695. " Some small skulking party of French & Indians have lately killed an old man near Albany & carried away one or two prison- ers."! * Col. Doc, iv, 16. f Col. Doc, rv, 55. X Col. Doc. rv, 65. § Col. Doc. iv, 118. 280 History of the Schenectady Patent. In 1695 Willem Appel, who had been severely wounded at the destruc- tion of the village in 1690, presented the following petition to the Gov- ernor and Council ; " The humble petition of William Appell, Humbly sheweth, " That y or poor petitioner was grieviously wounded when Schonechtade was cutt off, in so much that he could not gett up in his bed for 2 years together ; but through the blessing of God can now just walk about though his wounds still open ; and that yo r Excellency's petitioner hath a wife & 3 small children, and that your Pettitioner is incapacitated to maintain them onely by the selling of bier." " Prays for the remission of the Excise of £14 per year."* During the summer of 1695, there were constant conflicts between the Five Nations and the French ; and in July, Capt. Sander Glen of Schen- ectady conveyed a report from two Indians to Albany, that the French had landed in force at Cadarachqui [Kingston, C. W.]. Whereupon Dirk Wes- sels, Richard Ingoldsby, Charles Lodwick, Roger Wright, William Pin- horne and others were sent to Schenectady but could learn nothing further. April 21 1696, Gov. Fletcher offered by proclamation £3 bounty, and four pence per day above provisions for all soldiers, who will voluntarily enlist for one year, afterwai'ds raised to £4, 6s. f May 14, 1696, Col. Peter Schuyler writes, " Since my last I am obliged to give your Excellency an accompt of another man sculpt over against the Patroon's island."J In July the French attacked and burnt the castle of the Oneidas ; the Onondagas finding themselves too weak to cope with them, burnt their castles and retreated. There was great alarm at Schenectady lest the French should move down and attack the village.§ The declining condition of the border is well represented by the follow- ing petition : " Att a meeting of ye Mayor, Alderman & Assistants of ye Citty and ye Justices of ye County of Albany, the 30 ,h of Sept., 1696, who Represen- ted as follows: " To his Excell. Benj. Fletcher, Capt. Gen 1 & Governor in Cheeffe of his Majs Province of New York, &c. * Col. MSS., xl. f Col. MSB., xl. X Col. Doc. § Col. Doc. iv, 173. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 281 The bumble addresse of ye Mayor, Alderman & Assistants of ye Citty and y e Justices of y e County of Albany, who Representeth ye State and Con- dition of ye Citty and County aforesaid, humbly Sheweth : Imprimis, That since ye beginning of ye present warr by ye dayly depart- ing of ye inhabitants of ye Citty and County, we are weakened about 250 men, and that ye present garrison being 3 comps. Red Coats doe weaken dayly as well by desertion as oyrwise, so yt ye same with all ye Recruits from ye Governm 1 , where severall of our Inhabitants have Listed themselfs under can hardly make up two hundred men, which is not sufficient for ye Defence of this fronteer against ye Enemy. 2nd. That wee cannot Expect ye assistance from ye five nations as for- merly since wee can Reckon that ye Proselites alone have lost about 60 men in severall Renconters, besides ye Mohoggs upper nations and River Indians, and since the Last Invasion by ye French and there Indians in Onondage & oneyde, wee fear y x ye five nations will not be so zealous for ye Crowue of England and this Governm* against ye french our enemy as formerly. 3dly. That our Plantations round about ye towne can not be farther im- proved without ye great danger of there Lives, as it doth appear by ye bar- barous murder and skalping of severall People this summer in there Labour. 4thly. That by ye Examination of a french Prisoner from Cauada this Summer, who Reports yt there was Prepared 500 pare of Snow Shoes for a Design this winter. That by reason of ye above articles many families as well from Shinnech- tady as Albany are departed and severall more are Preparing to Depart, which can not be oyrwise but a fatal consequence. Wee do therefore begg your Excell: would be pleased to take this adresse in his Serious Consideration and humbly Pray yt wee may have ye favour of your Excell Presence here this winter with sufficient strength as your Excell shall think fitt, which will without Doubt be an occasion for many inhabitants to Continue and will Extreamly oblidge your Excell most humble and obed* Pet rs to Pray forever. (Signed by the city & county officers). — Albany City Mec, Albany Annals, in, 16. On the 10th Jan., 1696, about 12 o'clock at night, the whole guard of the garrison at Schenectady consisting of 16 men, deserted. Lieut. Bickford the commandant pursued them, — a fight ensued in which several of the deserters were killed and wounded. The remainder were brought back, tried by court martial and condemned to be shot.* 17 Sept., 1696. "About ten days ago a skulking party of French Indians killed a man & wounded another near Schenectady."f * Col. Doc, 160-1. f Col. Doc, rv, 198. 36 282 History of the Schenectady Patent. In the autumn of this year several small parties of French and Indians appeared on the frontiers and great apprehension of a more formidable attack during the winter was felt, so that " many of the Inhabitants thought of removing to New York." To allay their fears the Governor went up to Albany with a detachment of his own company.* This anticipated raid during the winter of 1696-7, happily did not take place, but in the spring of 1697 small parties appeared on the Mohawk doing much mischief as opportunity favored. The following letter describes one of these raids: " Col Schuyler. " Just now came hither two Indians & a Indian woman from the Maquas Country giving an ace 1 that to day about noon an onondage Indian was Killd coming from Albany by 8 French Indians though they found but 3 clubbs. They fired first upon another party but misst them, Escap'd then came this poor Dog, was knockt on the head and scalpt, a little Afterwards the French Indians saw a Young Indian man & endeavour'd to take him prisoner, but he Defended himself so long that another party of Onondages came to his reliefe upon sight of which the French Indians fled & run through the River. This happen'd Just on this side the Willigen [just below Post Jackson] where peter van olinda formerly lived. I break off and rest. " Your humble servant " Schenectade Johannes Glenn. " 6 May 1697." " A letter from Cap' Johannes Glen from Schenectade to Coll. Peter Schuyler at Albany translated from the Dutch by M. Clarkson."f So bold did the enemy become that " some [French] regulars and Indians captured at the gate of Schenectady a very influential Onondago Chief." " They were not able to make any prisoners, as recommended, having been pursued immediately after striking the blow by a number of the enemy half again as strong as they. "J Earl of Bellomont succeeded Fletcher as Governor in April, 1698; in July he made a journey in great state to Albany and Schenectady, staying two weeks at the former and two days at the latter place, " My Lady " accompanied him. * Col. Doc, iv, 234, 243, 245. \ Mass. Sect. State's office vol. xxx, 416. % Col. Doc. ix, 666. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 283 Among the items of expense were the following: " To John Anderson who goes to Shennectady for beer 3 shillings ; — "To Robert y° Coachman for y e horses at Shinnectady ann grease for y e Calesh, £0-8-3. " To My Lord's Butler John to give ye Servants at Shinnectady qwhen My Lord was there 6 Lyon Dollars, £1-135. " To Capt. Sanders [Glen] at Shinnectady for provisions, £8-9-3s. "To Willem Gysbertse [Van Brakel] for a man & horse Expresse to fetch Capt. Nanfan's men from Shinnectady 12 shillings, " To Jacob Teunise for his horse to Shinnectady with my Lord 6 shillings, " To Capt. Sander [Glen] his company of Train-bands at Shinnectady each man one shilling, — [63 men] — £3-3s. " To Harme Janse Knickerbacker for his Waggen & horses to Shinnec- tady £l-17s." At Albany the Governor and suite embarked on board a vessel with their calesh and 6 horses for their return to New York and a pinnace and crew were sent along to bring off provisions from the shore during the voyage. The whole expense of the journey was £245, of his Excellency's table £34. While at Schenectady Governor Bellomont gave orders for repairing the " ffloor, Roofe, hearth & beds of the middle Barracks."* During the year 1697-8 Lt. Daniel Hunt commanded the garrison at Schenectady which consisted of a detachment of Capt. Nanfan's company, formerly Capt. Hyde's.f On the 20 Sept., 1697, articles of peace were signed between France and Great Britain called the peace of Ryswick. For nearly ten years the Mohawk valley had been the scouting ground of the two hostile parties. The husbandman had labored with his musket by his side and made his dwelling literally his castle. The news of peace did not reach Canada until May, 1698, and then by the way of New York in a communication from Governor Bellomont.J Although peace had been declared between the two nations, the French of Canada still threatened war against the Five Nations, and Gov. Bellomont prepared to espouse the cause of his Indian allies by calling upon the train- bands of Albany and Schenectady to hold themselves in readiness to march with the regulars. The dangers and alarms of these times are clearly stated by Gov. Bellomont in a letter to the Lords of trade dated 24th Oct., 1698; * Col. MSS., xlii. f Co1 - MSS -. XLI1 - X Col. Doc, rv, 344-5. 284 History of the Schenectady Patent. "If by providence " says he, " the last winter had not been the severest that ever was known in the memory of man the French had certainly destroyed both Albany and Schenectady. I am well informed they were prepared at Mont Reall for it, having in readynesse 1500 pair of rnquetts or Snow Shoes, 140 small boats & 250 Canoes; but the snow being deeper than the height of a man, they durst not venture to put their designe in execution. Albany & Schenectady are equally defenceless, being only forti- fied with a single row of Stockades; — no ditch or wall, so that an enemy that would be hardy enough may come and with their muskets single out what men they please in either place. For I observed the stockades had in many places wide spaces between them and they are even with the ground. * * * In my next letter * * I shall propose a fund for building the Forts at Albany and. Schenectady, which are so necessary for the defence of this and the neighboring Provinces. * * * If such were built & well garrisoned the French could never make any impression on this Province. * * * They are both of them very well seated for frontier places; Albany for covering all the Province from attack, on Canada side & Schenectady for doing that in part, and for covering the Mohacks, it being very commodiously seated on the Mohacks river and much more pleasantly than Albany."* After the proclamation of peace, early in 1698, the fortifications and gar- risons on the border were greatly neglected. May 25, 1700, Gov. Bello- mont wrote to the Lords of trade " that at the very time they [the French] are fortifying against us and keeping up the same number of soldiers still, which they did all the war; we on our part let our wooden forts fall to the ground & reduce our pittance of soldiers and neither mind paying nor re- cruiting them."f 1700. On the 29 August, Gov. Bellomont held a conference with the sachems of the Five Nations at Albany, to whom he made the following complaint : "I have some complaints at this time made to mee of mischief lately done by some of your people ih killing their cattle above Schanegtade; I desire you will inquire into the matter and take such order that reparation may be done the people that have been so wronged." * * * J From 1697 to 1701 there was peace between England and France, conse- quently^ between Canada and the English Provinces. Nevertheless the constaut intrigues and threats of the French towaids the Five Nations made it necessary for the Provincial authorities of New York to use persistent and vigilant circumspection to counteract these intrigues. * Col. Doc, i\,'m. f Col. Doc, rv, 644. J Col. Doc, iv, 735. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 285 Governor Bellomont died 5th March, 1701. Already rumors were rife in New York of a prospective war between France and England, on which account Col. William Smith, President of the Council and ex-officio Governor of the Province, in writing to the Lords of Trade, " begs leave humbly to repeate the state and condition of the forts at Albany and Schenectady which are almost totally decayed & unserviceable."* In 1709, orders were sent from England to Governor Lovelace to prepare for an attack upon Canada and Nova Scotia. It was proposed to send out a naval squadron and 5 regiments of regular troops to Boston, there to be joined by 1200 men of New England. These troops were to attack Quebec, whilst 1500 men marching by way Albany were to attack Montreal. f The Five Nations and River Indians were to assist. This expedition was to be commanded by Col. Francis Nicholson and Col. Samuel Vetch, but like the attempt in 1691 proved a miserable failure. The English ministry in- stead of sending the promised armament to their American Provinces, sent it to Portugal. The Five Nations during the war 1701-13, between France and England, being neutral became corrupted, and less firmly attached to the latter. In 1711 another attempt was made to conquer Canada, as abortive as the others, the naval expedition proving a failure. As a consequence the French Indians commenced their skulking attacks upon the frontiers, killing two families in Schaghtakook.J Jan. 1, 1712, Governor Hunter wrote to the Lords of Trade "all is quiet at present upon the Frontier."§ From this time until the " Old French war " in 1744, there was peace between France and England and consequently between Canada and the colonies. In 1715 the township of Schenectady had two military companies of foot consisting of about 60 men each, including officers. The following lists show the names of the officers and men enrolled in these two companies at that date: * Col. Doc, iv, 867. f Col. Doc, v, 73. % Col. Doc, v, 281. § Col. Doc, v, 303. 286 History of the Schenectady Patent. 1st. FOOT COMPANY OF SCHEN^. " D Letst van Capt. Joh s Sanderse Glen zyn Compenye.* Cap*. J. Sanderse Glen Luy* Gerret Symer feed 1 [Veeder] Luy* Jan Wemp Luy* Arent Brat Luy 1 Barent Wemp Corp r Evert V. Eps Corp r theunis V. d Volge Corp r Manus Vedder Ab m Glen pieter Vrooman Ju r ghysbert V. Brakel Helmus Veeder Joh 8 teller Ju r Jacob Swits Sander Glen Cornells Van Dyck Claes franse [V. D. Bogart] Jacob Schermerhorn Jan Schermerhorn Symon tol Jan Dellemont Andries V. Pette Jan Marselus Jacob V. Olinda Joh s Vedder Cornells V. Slyck Cornells Viele David Marenus Joh Peck Jellis fonda 30 Jacobus Peck Jr Abr m D. Graef Pieter Danyelse [V. Antwerpen] phlip phlipse symon folkertse feeder [Veeder] • Jacob Vrooman pieter quinez ? Jelles Van Vorst Abr" 1 Groot Cornells Slingerlant theunis Swart -— Dirck Groot Sweer Marselus Jan baptist V. Eps Arent Danyelse [V. AntwerpenJ Barent Vrooman Hendrick Vrooman Jr Myndert Wimp Jacob teller Willem Marenus Claas V. Putte jr Jacob flipse [Philipse] Welm hael [Hall] Rob' Ets [Yates] Nicolas Stensel (?) Arent Samuel brat Symon Groot Marte V. Slyck Hendrick flipse [Philipse] Wilm Daes 30 30 In all 60 men Signed Joh Sanderse Glen Gerrit Symonse [Veeder] Jan Wemp. * Col. MSS., lx. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 287 2d FOOT COMPANY OF SCHEN. "D Leyst van Capt Harme van Slyck Compenye Ano. 1715. f Cap' Harme V. Slyck - Luy* Hendrick Vroomah Luy* Jacob Glen Sergaut Joh 8 teller Sergant Gerret V. Brakel Sergant folcket Symonse [Veeder] Corp 1 Jacob V. Ghyselinge Corp 1 Andries D. Graaf Corp 1 Harme Vedder Jan Barentse Wemp Jan Vrooman Ju r Cornelus Van der Volge Benyemen V. Vleck Marte V. Benthuysen Samuel Hagadorn Willem teller ■>Wouter Vrooman Jan Danyelse [V. Antwerpen] — Esyas Swart - Josepb Clement Arent Schernierhorn Jacob Meebie Myndert Van ghyselinge Joh 8 Marenus ficktoor pootman Daniel tol Bertolomew picker Jr Joh 8 Van Eps 29 Symon Swits Arenout d Graef Wilm Brouwer Pieter mebie Tyerck franse [V. D. Bogart] Philip Groot ysack a Graaf Philip Bosie -Johannes Vrooman Abraham Meebie Harme Vedder Ju r Jonetan Stevens Arent Van Putte <~ Jacobus Vedder Wouter Swart - Jeremy tickstoon Sander flipse [Philipse] Wilm Coppernol Hendrick hagedorn Pieter Vrooman Harme flipse [Philipse] Rob* Dyyer (?) Nicklas Stevens Pieter Brouwer pieter Clement Adam Smith John feerly 27 29 In all 56 men (Signed) Harme V. Slyck hendrick Vrooman Jacob Glen. Although the peace of Utrecht brought comparative quiet to the border settlements of this Province, the Five Nations still distrusted the French and their Indians and stood prepared to defend themselves against their attacks. f Col. MSS., lx. 288 History of the Schenectady Patent. The English sympathized with them and furnished them every aid and help short of an armed force. They built their forts, supplied them with arms and ammunition, — repaired their muskets and tomahawks, clothed them with duffels and strouds and in times of scarcity sent them corn. In many cases the smiths and carpenters sent there, were citizens of Schen- ectady. In 1711, Governor Hunter, the better to protect his faithful allies, — the Iroquois, — contracted with Gerrit Symonse [Veedcr], Barent Vrooman, Hendrick Vrooman, — John Wemp aud Arent Van Petten, carpenters of Schenectady, for £1000, to build two forts in the Indian country, — one for the Mohawks 150 feet square and 12 feet high of logs one foot square, with a blockhouse at each angle two stories high and 24 feet square;* also a chapel within the fort 24 feet square; the other for the Onondagas of like dimensions. In 1724, Harmen Vedder was appointed captain of a party of smiths stationed among the Senecas, at a salary of £50; and Andries Brat at £15, Hendrick Wemp at £25 and Harmen Van Slyck at £25, as smiths among the Onondagas.* In 1726, Joseph Van Sice of Schenectady, presented a bill to the Governor for seven months service as smith in the Seneca's country for which he claimed £20. At a conference between Governor Burnet and the six Sachims at Albany. 9 Sept., 1726. A Seneca Sachim said: * * * " It is three years ago that you Offer'd us a Smith, and told us we might look for one to our minds, we found one then who pleased us very well. It was Myndert Wemp; when his time was expired he told the Sachims that he was going home whereon they desired him to come again because he was good and charitable to the poor, therefore we desire he may be our Smith and go with us when we go home. We desire also an Armourer who can mend our Locks and Arms, such a Man lives at Schen- ectady."* * Col. Doc, v, 279. f Col. MSB., lxvi. % Col. Doc, v, 797. Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 289 "5 Oct., 1728. " Brother Corlaer " It has been Customary when we came here towards the fall that a Smith and an Armourer to be sent to work for you, but then to work in our Country we beg you to grant us now that Joseph Van Sise and Hendrick Wemp may be Ordered to go up with us who are fit persons for our Oc- casion. " His Excellency answered I will order a Smith and an Armourer to be sent to work for you but then I Expect that you will not suffer the ffrench Smith who is now there nor any other from Canada to reside among you for the Future.* " A Sinneke Sachim said "Brother Corlaer. " We desired a Smith & an Armourer but we do not hear further of it. You spoke about a ffrench Smith who is with us now, he can Make no work for he is an old man And can scarce see So we beg again that Joseph Van Size and Hendrick Wemp may go up with us. We would fain have the Smith and Armourer go with us Now that we may be sure of them other- wise it may be neglected. " His Excellency answered " Bretheren, " I will give Effectual orders to the Commissioners to send a Smith and an Armourer with you to work in your Country. + "Oct. 4, 1728. * Col? Doc, v, 867. f Col. Doc, v, 868. 37 290 History of the Schenectady Patent. THE OLD FRENCH WAR, 1744-1748. The Old French War, so called to distinguish it from that of 1753, waa declared by Louis XV. on March 15, 1744, and accepted by England, March 29th. It was two months after before the news reached New Eng- land although known a month earlier by the French of Canada. To secure the friendship and active aid of the Six Nations, the Governor of New York called a council of the chiefs of the confederacy, who met at Albany, June 18, 1744 and "renewed, strengthened and brightened the covenant chain that had so long tied them and the subjects of his majesty the great king their father, in mutual ties of friendship." Although inclining to peace they promised in the strongest terms to stand by their friends if attacked. During this war as in the others preceding it, the French and their allies were the most actively aggresive, sending out almost daily small parties of their Indians to annoy and distress the frontier set- tlements and bring back such plunder and captives as they could find. The points of attack in this Province were settlements along the Mohawk and Hudson, particularly Saratoga, Schenectady and Albany and the outlying places. No family was safe unless protected by blockhouse or palisade; no man was exempt from military duty save by age or infirmity. In Schenectady and Albany each, able bodied men kept watch and ward every third or fourth night. French and English reports alike give sad accounts of shock- ing barbarities practiced on both sides by skulking parties of savages and white men. The following examples, among many otr ers taken from French reports, clearly show the cruelties practiced by these two Christian nations, who rewarded their savage allies in proportion to the number of scalps returned.* " April 20, 1746, a party of fourteen Iroquois belonging to the Sault St. Louis commanded by Ontaseago, the son of the grand chief of that village who sojourned at Fort St. Frederic [Crown Point] made several scouts to Sarasteau [Saratoga]." These extracts are taken mainly from Drake's " Particular History" of this war. IIEHMWII BV F. H. JAISB8. I'lIOTO. I.rfM, BY \. WILD, ALBANY, R. V,, FOB MAJOR MAC MURRAY, V- *■ A. The Old French War, 1744-1748. 291 " April 26, a party of thirty-five Iroquois, belonging to the Sault set out. They have been in the neighborhood of Orange [Albany] and have made Borne prisoners and taken some scalps." " April 27, 1746, a party of six Iroquois of the Sault St. Louis struck a blow in the neighborhood of Orange [Albany]." "May 10, 1746, Gatienoudean Iroquois of the Five Nations who has been settled at the Lake [Champlain] for two or three years, left with five Indians of that village, and Sieur St. Blein to strike a blowe in the neighborhood of Orange. This small party brought in one prisoner, Gatienoude the leader of the party is killed and scalped by the English on the field of battle." " May 24, 1746, a party* of eight Abenakis of Missiskony has been fitted out, who have in the directions of Corlard [Schenectady] and have returned with some prisoners and scalps." "May 27, 1746, equipped a party of eight Iroquois of Sault St. Louis, which struck a. blow near Orange and brought back six scalps." " A party of Abenekis of Missiskony struck a blow near Orange [Albany] and Corlard [Schenectady] and brought some prisoners and scalps." "June 2, 1846, equipped a party of twenty-five warriors of the Sault and three Flatheads who joined the former in an expedition to the neighbor- hood of Orange and who returned with some scalps." "June 3, 1846, equipped a party of eighteen Nepissings who struck a blow at Orange & Corlard [Schenectady]." "June 17, 1846, equipped a party of ten Abenekis who went to make an attack at the river Kakecoute and were defeated near a fort ;f their chief Cadenaret, a famous warrior, has been killed; — the remainder returned with some scalps and left others which they were not able to bring away, the dead having remained too near the fort." "June 19, 1746, equipped a party of twenty-five Indians of the Sault St. Louis, who struck a blow near Orange [Albany]. One or two of the Indians were wounded : — they brought away some scalps." " June 20, 1746, equipped a party of nineteen Iroquois of the Sault St. Louis, who went to Orange to strike a blow." " June 21, 1746, equipped a party of twenty-seven Iroquois of the same village to go to Orange. Sieur Parqueville an officer and Sieu: 1 Blein, a cadet, have been of this party, which has brought in a prisoner that was in the scout to Sarasteau [Saratoga] and some scalps." * It was probably in this raid that John Groot of Schenectady was captured. He died in Quebec Nov. 20, 1746. f Probably the English Fort at Schaghticoke on the Hoosac river. 292 History of the Schenectady Patent. Such is an example of the energetic manner the French and their savages made war upon the almost undefended frontier settlers who were taken by- surprise and almost wholly unprepared for this war. The earliest and most severe attacks were upon the New England Prov- inces, which in 1745, raised an expedition and took the strongly fortified town of Louisburgh. The greatest annoyance to New York was experienced from the frequents parties sent out from Fort St. Frederick [Crown Point] which the French held strongly fortified in 1731. "Nov. 16, 1745, a large body of three hundred French & two hundred Indians came upon the Dutch settlement at Saratoga,* murdering the in- habitants without any opposition. The enemy were commanded by one M. Marin, accompanied by a mischeivous priest, Francis Piequet. " They ravaged a large extent of country, burning all the houses, several saw mills with much sawed lumber and a block house which belonged to John Henry Lydius ; f also all the cattle. Thirty persons were killed and scalped and above sixty taken prisoners. " All this was effected without so much as a wound to any of the French. A large number of negroes were among the captives. In the course of the winter the captives were sent to the prison in Quebec ; where many of them died of sickness. " The news of this attack reached Albany three days after it happened, and Deerfield nine days after, namely on the 25th"J Among the prisoners were Jonathan Hagadorn§ t:iken near Fort Ann while on a scout. He died on the 3d January, following, a prisoner at Quebec, after a long and painful illness, as also Capt. John Fortfl March 21, taken at the same time and place. He died of consumption. * Sckuylerville aud vicinity. •)■ Son of Dominie Lydius of Albany. % Col. Doc, x, 38, aud 761 ; vi, 289. § He was a son of Hendrick Hagadorn of the Aal plants, and was baptized Sept. 17, 1721, and married Lea Hagen Oct. 30, 1742. || Son of Johannes Fort of Niskayuna. He died at Quebec Dec. 7, 1746. Martha Quackenbos, a girl taken at Saratoga, Nov. 17, 1745, after a long and tedious sickness died Dec. 7, 1746. She was ten years of age. Abraham Fort, son of Capt. John Fort, taken Nov. 17, 1745, died at Quebec May 19, 1747. Also Jacob Quackenbos and Isaac his son; both taken at Saratoga, Nov. 17, 1745, died May 26, 1747. " March, 1747, there came into prison at Quebec a Dutchman from Schenectady and a woman from Saratoga. April 26, there came into the prison at Quebec three persons taken some time before at Saratoga. The Old French War, 1744-1748. 293 '* In the spring of 1746, Edward Cloutman and Robert Dunbar,* broke prison at Quebec 23 Oct., 1746, and escaped; Dunbar was taken not long before as he was scouting on the ' Carrying Place ' and his loss was greatly lamented as he had performed the most important service as a ranger ever since the war commenced. He was a New York man probably and the ' Carrying Place ' was that between the Hudson river and "Wood creek, doubtless."! "May 7th, 1746, One Christian Tedder or Tether [Vedder] is taken at Schenectady. He died at Quebec after a year and eight days captivity, namely May 15, 1747."J May 7, 1746, "The inhabitants along the Mohawks river have left their settlements so that we are now reduced to great distress. As we wrote in our last If a very considerable Force be not Immediately sent to our assistance we must remove and look out for New Settlements. We have neither Men, Money nor Warlike Stores "§ " P. S. Just now is news come that a house and Barn are burnt at Can- astagione [Niskayuna], and 4 men carried off or killed." "May 8th, seven in the morning."|| " May 10, 1746, six persons are killed in sight of the city of Albany, just across the river, two of whom were negroes. Pursuit was immediately made but before we could cross the river and pursue on the other side the enemy got into the woods & escaped." "May 13, 1746, as three men belonging to the garrison of Saraghtoga were fishing near the Fort, they were surprised by Indians, who killed a son of William Norwood, took another, a German who used to live with Col. John Schuyler while a third effected his escape to the Fort. Another person narrowly escaped being taken in his own garden within a fourth of a mile of the city of Albauy. So daring have the enemy become that they are daily seen about the settlements, and yet none of them are either killed or taken." June 11, we had an account from the French that they had taken a number of Indians and Dutch who had first done some mischief in Canada. There was about fifty in the whole scout, and they had taken about ten or twelve of them in this month." — Brake'* Particular History. * Son perhaps of John Dunbar of Schenectady, — if so he was born in Albany Nov. 20, 1709. f Drake's Particular History. \ He was son of Corset Vedder of Schaghticoke, born Jan. 7, 1720, and married Hillegonda Van Vranken, Sept. 27, 1745, both then residing at Niskayuna. § Extract from letter of Commissioner of Indian affairs at Albany to the Governor. i Col. MSS., lxxv. 294 History of the Schenectady Patent. " About the same time two negroes were takea at Stone Arabia, since Palatine, on the Mohawk river, a German settlement commenced in 1721."* " About the same time, Simon Groot and two of his brothers are butchered three miles from the village of Schenectady. The enemy burnt their build- ings, killed their cattle and destroyed their other effects. They were dis- covered while doing this mischeif by the settlers on the opposite side of the river, who knew some of the Indians, particularly Tom Wileman who had lately removed from the Mohawk country to Albany." It was doubtless to this raid that Smith refers in his history of New York, he says: " One hundred and six men were detached from Schenectady. The track of the Indians was discovered by the fires they had made, and they were pursued above Schenectady. At the house of one Simon Groot they had murdered & scalped a boy, taken o)ie man prisoner, plundered & set fire to the house & shot a man in attempting to escape by swimming over the river." During this year Abraham Glen asked permission to raise a company of 100 volunteers for the defence of the frontiers, which the Governor and Council granted. f " May, 1746, at Norman's creek about eighteen miles to the westward of Albany as fourteen men, all armed went with a waggon to bring corn from a deserted farm to a house where several families had removed for safety, they were met by a party of Indians, who killed and took all the party but two who made their escape to Albany. One of these was wounded in the shoulder."| " Near the end of this month [of August, 1746], it was reported that three Mohawks had killed the officer of the French garrison at Crown Point and another person as they were walking in the garden attached to the Fort. These they scalped and brought their scalps to Schenectade intending to present them to the Governor. Sixteen other Indians of the same tribe went towards Montreal with a design to seize some of the French, with a view to bring them to Albany but what success they met with is not re- ported." "About the middle of August, 1746, six men are killed at Scooduck or Schodac, eight miles below Albany. Another is missing supposed to be taken captive. Perhaps at the same time or it may be some days earlier, two men are wounded at the same place, one in the arm who is likely to do well, the other in the neck which 'tis thought will prove mortal." * Drake's Particular History. f Smith's Hist, of N. Y. X Drake's Particular History. The Old French War, 1744-1748 295 " The Indians killed four men and took four others prisoners at Saratoga. Capt. Schuyler in command of the militia post there went out to their assist- ance, but came near being cut off and with difficulty retreated to the Fort. Had the enemy effected this it was thought they would have taken the Fort." " To which affair the following refers is not very clear. ' A party of Abenekis headed by Ensign Monsigno who had been detached from Sieur Piquads [De Vaudreuil's] party after his attack on Fort Massachusetts pro- ceeded towards Fort Sarasteau [Saratoga]. They met seventeen soldiers belonging to the garrison, took four of them and scalped four others. The remainder threw themselves precipitately into the Fort pursued by our people who killed some of them.' "* " Oct. 12. 1746, at Saratoga sixteen men are killed aud taken about a mile from the Fort. They belonged to Langdon's and Hart's companies. The men attacked behaved with great cowardice except Lieut. Johnston and the Ensign of Hart's company. The latter having killed two Indians, returned to Albany with the gun of one of them. The party attacked was guarding some waggons." " On the 3d Dec, 1 746, news reached Boston that the Mohawk Indians had made a successful incursion into Canada. One party struck a blow at Caterougui Lake [Lake Ontario] killed eight persons and brought away six scalps and took seven or eight Frenchmen prisoners, all of which prisoners and scalps they brought to Albany. Another party under the chief Hen- drick went to Montreal and after a conference with the governor of Canada went to Isle La Motte in Lake Champlain where they fell upon some French- men getting out ship timber, killed & scalped one and took another prisoner. The Mohawks took their canoes and with their prisoners & scalps proceeded to Albany/'f " April 3, 1747, a company of Mohawks were sent out from the Mohawk Castle towards Crown Point, by Col. Johnson in pursuance of orders from Governor Clinton. The party was led by Lt. Walter Butler, Jr."J; They went towards Crown Point and dividing into two parties, one of thirteen Indians had a smart skirmish with twenty-seven Frenchmen and three Indians, several of whom they killed and wounded, bringing away six scalps. § This expedition is thus noticed in the French accounts: "We learn (May 7) by a carrier just arrived from Montreal that in the last days of April a party of Mohawks and English had fallen on twenty-one French scouts near Fort St. Frederic [Crown Point] and killed and scalped five of * Drake's Particular History. f Drake's Particular History. t N. Y. Col. Doc, vi, 343-4. § May 7, " I have paid £60 for the 6 scalps brought from Crown Point." — Col. Doe., vi, 361. 296 History of the Schenectady Patent. them. Sieur Laplante an officer had been very badly treated on that occasion having received seven gunshot wounds. This unfortunate occurrence was the result of too much confidence on the part of the French who have been surprised."* "April 7, 1747, the enemy appeared in large force at Saratoga, where they ambushed a party killing eight and wounding several others. Capt. Livingston despatched Capt. Bradt with a company who came up on the opposite side of the river and soon after the enemy drew off leaving some plunder and one wounded Frenchman behind them."f April 10, 1747, "The same party of the enemy next appeared at Kinder- hook, where they surprised a party of eleven men at work, killed two of them and made the other nine captives. They then burnt the house & barn of Mr. John Van Alstyne and escaped unmolested." April, 1747. " A party of ten French Indians captured a man. Two others heard the man halloo for help and ran to his assistance and fired upon his captors killing one and wounding another, at which the rest fled leaving their dead companion behind them." June 1, 1747. " About this date the Indian Chief Kintigo returns to the Lower Mohawk Castle, whence he went against the French with six men. They brought in seven prisoners and three scalps taken at St. Pierre a little below Montreal." June 15, 1747. "News came to Boston that the fort at Saraghtoga had been attacked by two thousand French and Indians who killed sixty of the garrison and the attack was still in progress. The place was relieved soon after by the arrival of Col. Schuyler. "J June 26, 1747, "The well known chief Hendrick returned from a march into the enemies country. He had some thirty Indians under him. They were surprised on an island in the St. Lawrence above Montreal by the ene- mies Indians in which four of the white men and nine of the Indians are killed by the first fire. The names of the whites were Cornells Van Slyck [of Schenectady], Johannes Pootman§ Le Roy and Gott. Hen- drick and the rest succeeded in escaping." July, 1747. "It was reported that a woman & six children were carried off from Burnetfield on the Mohawk river, the only out settlement undis- turbed hitherto in that region. || The distress occasioned by this war is clearly set forth by the following petition of the inhabitants of Albany for relief made to the Provincial assembly July 27, 1747. * Drake's Particular History. f Col. Doc, x, 112, 115. X Drake's Particular History. § Son of Cornelis Pootman [now Putman] of Schenectady, born March 18, 1720. || Drake's Particular History. A ,'„,/■ , t.«tC»>»PL«l /..../.A...,-,, ,'f^M. -.'U./. ./ NEW HAMPSHIRE . /,./t '/I/,/,/, n '>■/ /y'/" ■'/'■• /• '/ N E w y o R k ../../■/■,»: ,„./.■/,,,. M.y ./, ,„./.,,/,■■'/'■> ;,.....''>«< ■■#■>> - ' ~ &** ,/,.,,,,./.,/.,. ..,'/: '*■ ''/■/■ /.,/„,//,///.. .,../. ,.//.. ¥ : >■ .„■■/'■,;■■■■■'■■<' ,„ /A, /'. r ./-> ->-'/ " • ■' " /'" v ,/,,/-<•-• /*'■■—-■ '/ WaUi« ttq -v ■•■■'■■ ■/"■■■■ ' »i D N / Tito* ''■..../—/■- <56«f ,,„,./.,„/.,./'/■■ ■'//«'■ -/ '/»6hmU /,..////„„ /,//. />//' /'//,,/ /,.„..//">./ / - /.../.,../>./ «. .'////„/ /» <£/'<^ //•'/-/- A( , II()R()(;i{A|>m rvi MAT of ^ e .Northern Department of JT OH TH AM KltlCA The Old French War, 1744-1748. 297 The sufferings of Schenenectady were even greater because more ex- posed, more impoverished and less secure. ..." That the inhabitants of the corporation of the city of Albany are in great misery and distress by reason of the present war with France and with the Indians in their alliance : — That the Inhabitants of the said city ever since the Commencement of the war by their frequent watching have been very much taken off from themselves and families : — that every man of our corporation have been obliged to attend in person or pay a hired man in their stead upon Watch & ward every third or fourth night during the whole time excepting a small interval of time in the spring the duty was demanded only every fourth night, but now and for sometime past for the safety of this frontier and the poor inhabitants we are obliged again to come upon a fourth night : — that our Corporation by reason of the pre- sent war are indebted. . . . for the supplying of fire wood and candles for the night watches & for powder ■ Justice*. tun esse [surname not given] ) Johannes Wandelar B. Corlaer Johannes Roseboom Evert Wandel Johannes myngaell Eghbert tunesse J Fortifications and Garrisons. 323 you the necessity of a good & faithful interpreter, — which will he difficult to find here, — and I would dare say not a faithful one, according as I see affairs managed, with extraordinary division & jealousy. And though people may flatter your Excellency with the contrary and that a woman * may answer you as an interpreter, it will be my Lord, only for the purpose of deceiving you, and keeping you in ignorance of important affairs; for I find every thing in a state of confusion, through the management of some of your predecessors & of those who prefer their own to the publick interest. "Wherefore my Lord I take the liberty to propose to you a good & faith- ful interpreter, name Ai*nout Oornelissen Vile, living in the Bay [Wallabout] on Long Island. Dr. Staats will cause him to come to New York to you so that your Excellency may be master both of the man & his time. I would advise also your Excellency to send your Calash a head of you with four of the smallest sets of harness. Horses are to be had here. The roads to Schenectade and Nestegione are good & safe "f Report of Col. Romer on the frontiers of New York to Earl Bellomont. [New] "York, 26 Aug., 1698. " My Lord, "In obedience to your Excellency's orders, I proceeded, on the 18' h May of the present year 1698, to the frontiers of the New York government, and in the first instance toward Albany, Schanegtade, Kanestigioune and the Half Moon; and after having observed these places, I fouud the City of Albany situate on the Hudson river 144 miles north of New York, an im- portant frontier, as well as Sohanegtade 20 miles west of Albany on the Great Mohawk River; but these frontiers are neglected, built of wood and palisades of poor defence. " Saving better judgment, my opinion would be to build stone forts there, constructed & proportioned according to the respective situations, and the importance of the one & the other of these two places. "For I consider if these two places should one day fall into the hands of the enemy, the provinces of York, Jarse, Pensilvania and Connecticut would be obliged in a short time to submit; and that Maryland, Virginia and New England would consequently greatly suffer. Also as York is the depot of all the islands for flour, grain and other provisions these would experience a Very serious injury.;];" * * * Governor Bellomont fully appreciated the importance of Schenectady and the necessity of its being properly fortified for the protection of the Province on the side towards Canada. Hence he constantly importuned the Lords of trade for men and means to complete and garrison the forts. Thus * Reference is doubtless here made to Hilletie Van Olinda. f Col. Doc, iv, 328. % Col. Doc, rv, 440. :224 History of the Schenectady Patent. in a letter dated Oct. 24, 1698, he says "if by Providence the last winter had not been the severest that ever was known in the memory of man the French had certainly destroyed both Albany & Schinnectady." * * * They "are equally defenceless being only fortified with a single row of stockades, no ditch or wall; so that an enemy that would be hardy enough may come & with their musketts single out what men they please in either place; for I observed the stockades had in many places wide spaces between them, and they are even with the surface of the ground." * * He also assures the Lords of trade that a well built and strongly garrisoned fort would greatly animate and encourage the Indians of the Five Nations, who were well aware of the weakness of the fortifications here; alleging that Albany and Schenectady were well seated for frontier places, the former for covering attacks on the side of Canada and the latter for the same pur- pose in part and " also for covering the Mohacks & the rest of the In- dians, it being very commodiously seated on the Mohack's River & much more pleasantly than Albany."* On May 3, 1699, Gov. Bellomont again speaks of the forts at Albany and Schenectady, that they " are so scandalous that I cannot give your Lord- ships a low enough idea of them. They look more like pounds to impound cattle than Forts. "f So likewise, Oct. 1 7, 170(1, he calls attention again to these forts, saying " the inhabitants came all about me at my leaving Albany and told me in plain terms that if tlie King would not build a fort there to protect 'em, they would on the very first news of a war between England and France desert that place and fly to New York, rather than they would stay there to have their throats cut. "Several of the Inhabitants of Schenectady told me the same of their Fort. I sent Coll. Romer to view it and he reported to me that the gates of that fort were down & that a cart might pass through the palisades or rather stakes."! From this time on, the letters of the Governors of the Province to the Lords of trade, the reports of the military commanders at this post, the orders and warrants of the Provincial Council, the acts of the legislature from time to time and the petitions of the chief inhabitants, all combine to show the culpable neglect of the mother country of the safety of this her most important Province. All accounts of the condition of the fortifications and garrison at Schenectady after the peace of 1698, show that the stockades were neglected and suffered to rot down, rendering the town an open village, that the barracks became uninhabitable and that " it was by no foresight or * Col. Doc, rv, 409, 410. f Col. Doc, iv, 513. % Col. Doc, iv, 718. Fortifications and Garrisons. 325 energy of the Home government that Schenectady & its neighbors had been preserved from a second attack & destruction." Lieut. Daniel Hunt still commanding the small detachment* of men posted here, in 1698 was ordered by the Governor and Council to make some much * The following roll of Capt. Ingoldsby's company of which Lieutenant Hunt's detach- ment formed a part, shows not only the regular company of 50 men but the extra men from this vicinity who were added during the Indian troubles. " Wee underwritten non commissioned officers & PriVate Centinells under ye com- mand of Coll : Richard Ingoldsby doe acknowledge to have Received of his Excellency Richard Earl of Bellomont our cap* gen 11 by the hands of R e Livingston each of us y e summe of five and forty shillings & three pence pr diem for each soldier for six months commencing p mo novemb 1697 & ending p mo May 1698 out of y e money raised by act of assembly for the making 300 Effective men at y e fronteers at Albany. Thomas f Smith's mark Samuel 5 Gilbert's mark Rob 1 U Doick's mark Tho p holms mark William X Bryen's mark Phill + hams wifes mark David Mac creat Thomas Q merry Richard hill John -f- Williams, John Aleson atkins Thomas B Bombus William k Turner Tho: Rogers John 8 Tippin John $ Apleston Will : H hilton John X Seawell Ralph noles William 4- Renn William X R Rodgers John Careter william + hatter Robert R Farringtons mark Ro Barrett Symon C Williams John -f- Douglas mark W m + Shaw Edward Clayton Tho : X carter John Forster Rich d x Turner John 2 Oliver Rich d x Langdale henry X Bebe luke -|- Thomas Benjam + mosely John +- Cox John -f Jones will + makeaway Rob* + Giles John + woodcok John + hams Rich d -f- Tudor John + cole Barthol w + Pickard George Ingolclesby Lev X Shanke Rec d for Her Slytie Patrik magregorys wife Ren by Leiut Nicuke Charles C R Rodgers mark daniel brat voor pieter harmense John car for Sam 1 holmes Samuel + Doxy Dirk + brat for D 1 Fillips Gregory + magregory W m X Webb John X hull John Gilbixtt william white william white for Tho: pond francis neall John Radcliffe R 4 Livingston for Jos: Yetts Rt Livingston for W m hall absent L l Hunt for Dan Johnson Lev X Shanke for John Younker Math Shank In all 66 men at 45s. 3d., a man, amounts to £149:6:6. The above men were P d by me Rob t Livingston. 326 History of the Schenectady Patent. needed repairs to the barracks which were " before all open to the weather whereby the souldiers suffered very great hardships," for which repairs he received a warrant for £7, 16s. 6c?. ;* and another bill of £9,15s. 6d. was pre- sented by Johannes Sanderse Glen for repairs to the fort, and one of £16, Is. 6d. for work upon the barracks. f In 1701, Capt. Weems' company being still stationed at Albany, he re- ports upon the ruinous condition of the fortifications at that place and says " that the garrison at Schenectady is in the same condition in which there is neither house nor lodging to quarter officer or souldier, but one little small hole which can contain only twelve men. "J On the -19th Aug., 1701, the legislature directed that £50 be placed in the hands of Ryer Schermerhorn and Isaac Swits for repairing the fort Schen- ectady ; § — and Lieut. Gov. Nanfan on the 24 Sept., confirms the same order. || The following March, 1702, Capt. James Weems addressed a letter to Col. Peter Schuyler & the Mayor & Common Council of Albany, in behalf of the Companies posted there and at Schenectady, in which he asserts that " many of ye souldiers are reduced to Bread and water."** Lord Cornbury writing to the Lords of trade 24 Sept., 1702, reported that Albany and Schenectady were garrisoned then by two companies, Major Ingoldsby's and Capt. Weem's, — that Schenectady was then " an open village, formerly stockaded round but since the peace they are all down, and that the stockaded fort is more like a pound than a Fort. There is eight Guns in it not above three fit for service, no garrison in it when I came but a serjeant & twelve men, no powder nor shot neither great nor small, nor no place to put them into. "ft He recommends that a stone fort be built and garrisoned with " a captain and one hundred men." In the year 1703, Gov. Cornbury laid the foundations for a stone fort at Albany and by the " advice of Her Majesty's Council of this province re- paired as well as possible the stockaded Fort at Schenectady." * * * The two forts of Albany and Schenectady were garrisoned at this time by two companies, — that of Major Ingoldsby of 84 men, and that of Capt. Weem's of 92 men.JJ * Council Minutes, vin, 61, 69, 180. t Col. MBS., xliv, 78. | Col. Doc, it, 915-6. ft Col. Doc, iv, 968-9, 971. t Col. MSB., xm, 47. § Albany Annals, rv, 211. ** Albany Annals, iv, 155. %% Col. Doc, iv, 1057, 1035. Fortifications and Garrisons. 327 " In 1703, Sept. 1, John Myndertse presented a bill against the Province for blacksmith work on the fort of 49 guilders, and again on the 11th another bill of 28 guilders and 10 stuyvers, for repamng guns for the gar- rison.* Jan., 170f, Johannes Sanderse Glen, Adam Vrooman, Isaac Swits and Jan Pieterse Mebie, furnished 450 stockades for a new fort at Schenectady, for which they charge £35 or nearly 20 cents apiece.f March 13, 170f, Johannes Sanderse Glen and Jelles Van Vorst, furnished the garrison 218 double loads of wood at 2-6 the load. \ March 29, 1704, Arent Danielse Van Antwerpen, carpenter, petitioned the Governor and Council for the payment of £14 for repairing the fort and for materials supplied.§ April 13, 1704, Governor Cornbury in his speech to the legislature re- commended an increase of the garrison by 30 men to be raised and sent up for the ensuing year.|| 19 May, Johannes Glen, Adam Vrooman, Isaac Swits and Barent Wemp presented a bill against the Province for £35 for stockades.** Up to this time the palisades on the west side of the village stood about 100 feet back from Washington street, but on the 29th July, 1704, Governor Cornbury issued the following order for removing them to the bank of the JBinnl Ml. " You or Either of you are hereby required as early as the weather will permit y e next spring to cause the stockades sett upon the West side of the town of Schenecktady to be removed from the place where they now stand and be set up as near the River as the ground will permitt and hereof you are not to faile. " Given under my hand at Schenechtady this 29th day of July, 1704 ''To "Johannes Sanders [Glen],ff " Adam Vrooman." To understand the significance of this order it should be remembered that since the destruction of the first fort in 1690, the ground lying west of Washington street had been outside of the west wall of the second fort. By * Col. MSB., xlix, 36, 38. f Col. MSB., xlix, 105. % Col. MSB., xlix, 22. § Col. MSS., xlix, 17. | Leg. Coun., 208. ** Col. MSB., xlix, 114. ft Col. MSB., xlix. 328 History of the Schenectady Patent. the year 1704, the "Queen's New Fort"* had been erected in the east corner of the village at the junction of Front, Ferry and Green streets, the Governor therefore orders the removal of the west line of second fort by setting back the stockades to the bank of the Binne kil, the land along Washington street reverting to the original owners, f Aug. 8, 1704, "The commonality [of Albany] being desyreous to know what instructions Capt. Higley hath received relateing ye posting ye De- tachment on y e fronteers of Albany, which Capt. being desyred here doth appear, Producing his Instructions it appears that at ye Half Moon is to be posted 20 men, Shinnechtady 20 " Canastagioene 20 " &c.J Aug., 1704, Maas Kykse [Van Vranken] presented his bill against the Province for £12 for building a fort at Canastagioene [Niskayuna].§ Feb., 170|-, Johannes Mynderse for blacksmith work done on the fort at Schenectady was paid £12, 8s. 6d.\\ July 4, 1706, Jacobus Van Dyke petitions the Governor & Council for the payment of his salary as surgeon at the fort.** Aug. 12, Capt. Philip Schuyler was paid £6, 10s., for material and work on the fort, ff 27 Sept., 1706, Governor Cornbury announced to the Assembly in session at New York " that By accident very Lately the Guard Room in the ffort * Queen Anne of England. f [Was not this wall moved out to include houses built beyond it toward the Binne kil which had rendered it useless as a defence while it cut theinoff from access to the street? Eeferring to the Vrooman map of 1768 (page ), it will be seen that the square of four blocks was left intact by the Queen's Fort, it having been built beyond the old palisades in the triangle bounded by the palisades on the south— nearly Ferry street on the east and the River road (now State street) on the north side. The original wall went straight from corner Front and Washington to the site of the door of St. George's church. There was a gate at Church street at most times. From this gate ran the river road — the placing of the fort of 1704 threw the road beyond the north bastion of the fort and Green street when laid out conformed to it also. After the abandonment of the old fort — the triangle of land was converted into house lots.— M'M.] t Albany Annals, iv, 195. § Col. MSS., L, 14. || Col. MSB., Li, 148-9. ** Col. MSS., li, 152. His salary was one shilling a day. ft Col. MSS., li, 178. 7 fc^U^^- I' REDUCED COPY OF VROOWIAN MAP OF 1768. Fortifications and Garrisons. 329 at Schonechtady was Burnt down with a Great quantity of firewood which had been provided for this winter now coming on. I should be glad that it might be repaired before the cold weather comes, Else it will be impos- sible for the men to keep Guard in that place, which lies the most exposed of all our ffronteers."* 25 Nov., 1710, an act was passed by the assembly for repairing "ye Blockhouses, Platforms and other the ffortifications of ye City of Albany & towne of Schonectady in ye said County."f The next year the repairs mentioned in this act were made, as appears by the following two communications from Johannes Sanderse Glen to the Governor. " May it please y r Ex cy . " Upon ye receaving y r Ex cys ord r of ye 10th of this Instant I repaired imediately to Schonectady accordingly to repair the fort there, but found never a good stockado in ye fort; upon which I had it viewed by the Under- written persons who found the Stockados all rotten and one Piatt forme in- sufficient and the Carriages of the Guns rotten also; upon w h I have rid Stockados for the whole and tomorrow I begin to sett y m up and shall pre- pair carriages for ye guns and repair ye Piatt forme. — Your Ex cy was so kind to promise me a fflag, I beg leave to put your Ex cy in Mind of it who am with due regards y r Ex cys ." Most faithful and Obedient Serv* Albany Octob r ) 23 1711. Joha. Sanderse Glen" Dow Aucas, De Freest "Bareut Vrooman, Caleb Beck, Jacob Van Dyck, Claus Permerent vander Volgen, Aerent Daniellse Van Antwerpen, John Vrooman, Barent Wemp,J Sweer Marcellis, " May it please your Ex cy- I have made up the charges of the ffort at Schonectady to this day and have also made the Carpenters' calculate an ace* w th the Remaining Ex- pences of Platforms, carriages for Gunns and Centry boxes together with what is already layd out will in the whole amount to — w ch they compute at one hundred & eighteen pounds tenn shillings. I am going on as fast as possible with the remaineing part of Platforme &c, — there is now pntt * Leg. Couu , 242. f Leg. Coun., 309 % Col. MSS., lvi., 137. 42 330 History of the Schenectady Patent. up five hundred and ninety Stockados w ch all work a ffoot at the top, — If your Ex cy pleases any body here should receave & approve my ace* I shall be ready to render ace 1 to such persons whom y r Ex cy shall appoint for y l purpose. I wish y r Ex cy and Lady health and happyness and am your Ex cy '"' most dutifull and Obedient humble Serv* Albany Nov r 13 th ) 1711 ) Joha. Sanderse Glen."* Sometime in the year 1711, a change was made in the commanding officer of the garrisons of Albany and Schenectady as will appear by the following letter from Capt. Peter Matthews to Governor Hunter. " May it please y r Excellency, I have received y r Excell cie8 letter of the 29 th Decem br by the post. I am much surprised that Capt. Sanders should write to yr Excellency that there was but twenty four men at Schonecktady, for three days after y r Excel- lency left this town Capt" Schuylerf Marched with forty men to that garri- son. Sometime after a Serg* and four men of the Country forces deserted and as soon as Coll. [Peter] Schuyler came from York and the palatines were come I Ordered a Serg 1 and four men to goe to Schonecktady to corn- pleat the num br of fourty men whoe are all there as will appear to Your Excellency by the Inclosed Role signed by Capt" Sanders. I am sorry these Gentlemen doe not better consider before they write to y r Excell: for such storrys as these may be of ill consequence & I hope I have not given y r Excellency cause to believe I would be Guilty of soe great breach of my Duty as to send but twenty-four men when I have your written orders to send fourty. The gentlemen here seem much displeased that your Excellency has Ordered the Country Detachm ts to doe any duty at Schonechtady or the Indian Country. * * * Your most obedient humble servant. Albany, Jan. 8, 17^. Petek Matthews."! On the 10th Dec, 1712, the Assembly passed an act "for the better re- pairing the Fortifications of * * the Town of Schenectady and providing their Millitary watches with Firewood. "§ * Col. MSS., lvi, 167. f Capt. Philip Schuyler perhaps, who died at Schenectady 23 May, 1725, leaving a widow named Catharine. — Am. Hist Mag., i, 762. % Col. MSS., lvii, 47. $ Leg. Coun., 353. Fortifications and Garrisons. 331 After the peace of Utrecht in 1713, between Great Britain and France until the "Old French war" in 1744, the people on the borders enjoyed reasonable quiet and safety. There were efforts made from time to time however to keep up a show of defence by rebuilding the wooden forts and posting small garrisons therein. Thus in 1715 and again in 1719, the Assembly passed acts for repairing the fort here.* In 17^0, it is reported "that the kings fort att the Mohawks Country [Fort Hunter] is the one-fourth part of it fallen to the ground — & That the fort att Schenectady is in the like condition."! In 1721, an act was passed by the Assembly to pay for stockades for the fort. In 1726, a bill for labor and materials used on the fort, amounting to £41, 4s. 2c?. was presented to the Governor and Council. J In 1 734, an act was passed to enable Schenectady to raise £50 to make the old church defensible and for other fortifications. § A debt of £32 was contracted in this work which was provided for in another act passed in 1740. Similar acts were also passed in 1735, 1736, 1739, 1743, 1745, and in 1746 Governor Clinton recommends a line of blockhouses to be built from Fort Massachusetts to the Mohawk Castle at Fort Hunter. || Before the close of this war, in 1748, and before the news of the peace of Aix la Chapelle between Great Britain and France, had reached this country, an act was passed in the Assembly to enable Schenectady to build two new blockhouses.** In 1749, Governor Clinton reported that the forts of "Albany, Schen- ectadee, Oswego & in the Mohawk's country were all garrisoned by the Independent companys, but are very badly contrived and tumbling down."ff * * *Leg. Coun., 395, 448. f Col. MSB., lxii, 144 ; Col. Doe., v, 631. % Col. MSB., lxviii, 123. £ Leg. Coun., 645. The old stone church stood at the junction of Stale, Church and Water streets, and after 1736, when the new church was completed, was used for many years as a guard and watch house and market. || Col. Doc., vi, 27, 87, 160 ; Leg. Coun., 750, 827, 917, 924. ** Leg. Coun., 1015. ft Col. Doc, vr, 509, 940, 1196 332 History of the Schenectady Patent. Six years later at the beginning of the second "French war " the Assembly passed an act for raising £3,000 [$7,500], " to be expended in fortifying " the village, but after the close of this contest and the fall of French power in Canada in 1763, the defences of the village fell into decay through neglect and were in a very ruinous condition until renewed at the outbreak of the Revolutionary war. Thus Governor Tryon, June 11, 1774, writing in relation to the Province of New York, says: — * * * " Albany & Schenectady are defended by forts and both places incircled by large Pickets, or Stockades, with Blockhouses at Proper distances from each other, but, which since the Peace [of 1763], have been suffered to go to Decay and are now totally out of repair."* After the close of the Revolutionary war the defences of the village were never repaired, or renewed; — the old fort was removed and the land sold; — the stockades rotted and fell and Schenectady became an " open village." There are aged persons still living [1872], who remember seeing in their youth palisades then standing and used along the Binrie Ml for tying posts for the batteaux. Of the illustrations to this chapter the maps are of special value. The Miller map of 1695, is the oldest, and only lacks a scale and street lines to be all that we could desire of that date. The map of Schenectady was made by British army topographers about 1750, and was published in a little book giving plans of thirty fortifications in North America, by Mary Anne Rocque, topographer, etc., at the beginning of the 2d French war. The line of pickets shown there with blockhouses at intervals and the Royal Fort built in 1704, in the north-east angle, was essentially the defensive work of Schenectady during more than half a century. The location of the church, the fort and their relation to the streets which were by 1750 practically as now, is of great value. The Vrooman map dated 1768, shows the Royal Fort, the market place, the two churches and several mills and are doubtless correctly located. No map has come to hand after most diligent search which shows the change made during the Revolution, when the palisade line was carried out as far as Given's Hotel on the south or State street fiide and thence north to the old Dutch church burying ground. *Col. Doc, viii, 451. Fortifications and Garrisons. 333 It is worthy of note that the old north side Mond weg, Front street ex- tended straight from Washington Avenue to the corner of St. George's church, — is still to some extent indicated by the shape of the lots on Front street from Church to Ferry. They have manifestly been added to the old block of four hundred feet square, as their oblique fronts clearly show. This is shown in the Vrooman map. General Fuller now in his 91st year (1883), states that the line of Front street at Church street (the old Adam Vrooman corner where he now resides) was altered by continued encroach- ment on it. Its line was made to conform to the needs of the fort and con- venience of its garrison. There being necessary a clear space about the citadel not only for parade and drill of the garrison, but to give the guns clear command of the approaches to the work on all sides. This work com- manded the north and east sides of the town. As settlements extended along State street and to the south, the need of a strong place there was manifest, and in 1734 the old church in the middle of State street at Church being abandoned for the new church of 1734 at intersection of Church and Union streets, the opportunity was offered to turn the old structure to use as a town, watch and market house and a redoubt covering that end of town as well, and in that year £50 [$125] were appropriated to render it defen- sible. This probably consisted in loopholing the walls, barring and shutter- ing the windows and doors. 334 History of the Schenectady Patent. THE REFORMED NETHER DUTCH CHURCH. At the first settlement of Schenectady in 1662, there were but five Dutch churches and ministers in the Province, viz: those of New Amsterdam (New York), whose ministers were Johannes Megapolensis and Samuel Drisius. Beverwyck (Albany), Gideon Schaets. Breuckelyn (Brooklyn), llenricus Selyns. Esopus (Kingston), Hermanus Bloom. Midwout and Amersfort (Flatbush, L. I.), Johannes T. Polhemus. Of these the church at Beverwyck, founded twenty years before, was the oldest in the colony except that of New Amsterdam. Her first domine (1642 to 1647), was Johannes Megapolensis who now ministered in New Amsterdam; the second, Gideon Schaets (1652-1690). The latter probably assisted at the organization of the church at Schenectady, to which he oc- casionally ministei'ed until his labors ceased in his own church in 1690. The date and circumstances of this organization are involved in much obscurity, the early records of both churches being lost. But from oc- casional mention made in contemporaneous papers and records it is safe to say that the church of Schenectady was in existence between the years 1670 and 1680, and probably earlier. Thus, on the occasion of the death of Hans Janse Eenkluys, in 1683, the deacons petition the court at Albany for letters of administration on his effects and say * * * " dat eenen Hans Janssen op den 7 meert 167^ heeft overgedraegen aende aermen van Schaenhechtade zeecke syne plantage" &c. &c, in other words that Hans Janse, in 1675, made over to the poor of Schenectady his plantation, on condition he should be maintained in his old age and weakness, which they say they have done, and paid the expenses of his burial. Now this plantage was simply the " Poor Pasture," and was the property of the church from Eenkluys' time down to 1862, when it was sold. These facts seem to point to the existence of the church as early as 1674, for it is a well known fact that the Dutch churches were the guardians The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 335 of the poor, the orphans, and the aged, who were without natural protectors and received and dispensed large alms and property for this purpose. The next incidental mention of this church is found in the records of the city of Albany. In February, 1679, " the court and consistory of Schen- ectady request that Domine Schaets may be sent four Sundays in one year to administer the Lord's supper to said place and community, which request is granted in so far that Domine Schaets is allowed to go four times in one year to administer the Holy Sacrament, but not on a Sunday, whereas it would be unjust to let the community [of Albany] be without preaching."* Thirdly, The prosperous condition of the poor fund of the church from 1680 to 1690, shows pretty clearly that it had been organized some years previous to the former date. At the close of the year 1689 Domine Thes- schenmaecker audited the deacons' accounts and found that the unexpended alms contributed for the poor amounted to about 4,000 guilders, of which about 3,000 guilders had been loaned to individuals on bonds dating back in one case to 1681. Though the Dutch were a liberal people in matters appertaining to their church, it is not probable that such an accumulation of alms was made entirely within the ten years above mentioned, especially when their numbers are considered, and that in this time the parsonage house was constructed and their first Domine was called and maintained. It is fair therefore to conclude that the Dutch church of Schenectady was certainly an organized body in 1674, probably much earlier. The first twenty years of the village was a struggle with the hardships of frontier life; its energies were spent in removing the forest and subduing the soil. For religious privileges it was dependent upon Albany; until in 168|, when the little hamlet having grown sufficiently strong in numbers and wealth, called its first minister. The earliest mention of Domine Thess- chenmaecker in the church records is found in a book of miscellaneous writings, the first leaves of which unfortunately are wanting.f * Annals of Albany, 1, 103. f The following is a copy and translation of the first page in its present mutilated condition : (Copy.) (Translation). TJytgyeve. [1683?] Expenditures. [1683?] aen Myndert Wemp, F. 48 To Myndert Wemp, guilders, F. 48 aen een kan, 8 To [paid for] a pot, 8 aen Jan Roelofsen voor 24 To Jan Roelofsen, for 24 336 History of the Schenectady Patent. From these accounts we learn the following facts: 1. That Domine Thcsschenmaecker came to Schenectady before the death of Domine Schaets (1690). aen 5 Witte broden, aen domine Tassemaker aen amanual Oonsaul, aen Lubbert gysbertsc voor 2 dagen Wercke, aen spy eke rs van Albanie, aen den 1 ., duyzend harde steen aen 2 bevera aen LaseyBers tot het linys te singelen, aen 13 gulden aen .... door stackeu en . . . voor verbruyek aen de beyninge, 27 aprll voor wyn tot het naglit mad aen domine tasschenmaker betalt, 27 May domine Schats Verstelt, Schoonmaken van der Kerehe, Voor wyn van hoi Daght inael, aen Adam Vroom, nogh aen domine taSBChemaker voort maken vande heyninge aen bet erf, nogh voor 7 maal witte broot tot het avout inael @ fl., 1.10 a maal, Claas permurent eon dagen rydeu, 2 :; , dagen aen de heyninge, Voor te singelen van 't buys, aen 2 Vraysteu posteu gasacht, 2 ghizz Raamen,* 1 24 6 6 6 18 48 12 20 36 13 1.10 5. 2.10 20. 24. 45. 10.10 18 12 6 10 To 5 white loaves, To domine Tassemaker, To Bimanual Cousaul, To Lubbertse Gysbcrtse for two days- work, To nails trom Albany, To the half thousand hard bricks, To two beavers to Laseysers shing- ling the house, To 12 guilders .... for stakes for use on the fence, 27 April, For wine for the Lord's supper paid to Domine tasschen- makei - , 27 May, presented to Domine Scbaets • 'leaning the church, For wine for the Lord's supper, To Adam Vrooman, Also to Domine tasschemaker for making the fence to the lot, Also for white bread 7 times for the Lord's supper @ 11. 1.10 a time, Claas Purmerent [Van der Volgen] one day carting, 2 ;1 . l . days on the fence, for the shingles of the house, To two loads of posts sawed, 2 window glasses, (or sashes) 1 .42 6 6 6 18 48 12 20 , 36 13 1.10 5. 2.10 20. 24. 45. 10.10 18. 22. 12 6 10 Soinina, fl. 516-13f Total, a pane of glass ; Kaam florins 516-13 a frame ; Venster * [SewelPs Duteh-Kng. Dictionary, 1708, gives Glaze Kaam Kaam a wiudow frame.— M'MJ t The money of accounts of the Dutch was the guilder or florin and stuyver, 20 of the latter to one of the former. There wire the guilder sewant and the guilder beaver ;-thc latter of the value of about 40il*. M three times that of the former. The guilder of accounts was commonly valued at one shilling N. Y. currency. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 337 2. That the first house of worship was then huilt. 3. That the consistory this year (1683 ?), was building a parsonage house and fencing the lot. For although it is not stated that H huys was for the Domine's use, we can hardly conceive of his being engaged in building, and the church in paying for, a dwelling for any other person. Of the five houses of worship built by this church, the one above men- tioned was the first. We know little about it except that it was small and inconvenient and that it stood at the junction of Church, State and Water streets. The house erected for Domine Thessclienraaecker, who was an unmarried man, must have been of humble dimensions judging from the number and cost of the " glass Ramen " purchased for it in the above account.* It be- came the funeral pile of its first occupant when the village was burned in 1690. Its site is unknown though it has heretofore been assumed to be that of tne present church, but an old deed of 1715, shows that lot was in possession of Daniel Jansen Van Antwerp from prior to 1672 to 1715, when he deeded it to the church. 1684-1690. Domine Petkus Thekschknmaecker. Domine Thesscheninaecker best known for his tragical end, came to this country from Guiana whither he had gone from Utrecht, a young theo- logical student, \ and is first mentioned in following petition of date 1676: [* There is no evidence that this was a dwelling house for the minister, or that a lot was assigned to build one on. In so poor a community a parsonage for a bachelor was hardly a pressing need. Is it not likely that a minister settled among them, had the house of worship repaired and put in order ? A church without a minister is seldom well kept, and the arrival of a new one is usually marked by alterations if not improvements in the church building. This one never having had a minister, was doubtless much dilapidated — yet only two lights of glass — 500 bricks, % 1.50 worth of shingles were used on the house — most of the materials and labor being put on the fence, which was pos- sibly around the grave lot adjoining the church. There is a tradition that the D° was killed in the house of one of his parishoners. The Consistory did not own the present church lot. — M'M.] f The Amsterdam foot consisted of about 11 in. English. % Hist. Mag., ix, 323. 43 338 History of the Schenectady Patent. To the Rt. Honoral 6 Sr. Edmond Andrus Kt. of Sau^mares : under hia Royall Highness Duke of Yorke and Albany and dependances : The humble petition of Seuerall of the Inhabittanse of Esopus humbly shewith unto yo r Honor, Whereas this place is destitute of a minister for the Instruction of the people : It is our Ernest desiar and humble request with all Submission that yo r Hono r will be pleased to be aiding and assisting in the procuring one for us that can preache both Inglish and Duche, weich will be most fitting for this place, it being in its minority and having great charges is not very able to maintaine two ministares ; nether to be at the charge of sending for one out of England or Holland ; and we are Informed Mr. Peettar Tasetmakr is at liberty, who is a person well knowne to yo r Hon' and officiated in this [place] for sum time; And if to bee procured, is very well approved and much desired by moste, bee being a man of Sober life and conversacon having Deportted himselfe to satisfaction of ye Inhabi- tancy, — Wherefor wee Humbly pray that your honor will bee pleased to bee In- strumentall in the same and yo r Hono rs humble Pettigeners shall ever pray &c.* This appears to be a sufficient certificate of his fitness for the sacred office, but whether he returned to Esopus on this flattering call is not known. It appears that at this time he had not been ordained, for in 1679 on applica- tion from New-Castle, on the Delaware, the Governor directed Doraine Newenhuysen to examine and induct him into the ministry of the Protes- tant Reformed church. Probably he was then a resident of Staten Island. After his ordination Domine Thesschenmaecker departed immediately for his new field of labors; for November 20th, following, he received a patent f for a lot of land at New Castle, 300 by 480 feet, respecting which the colonial secretary received a letter J dated January 17th, 1679-80, prom- ising his fee of 4 shillings in wheat. Here he remained three years until 1682, " when in consequence of some disagreement with his congregation he left and accepted a call from Schenectady."§ * Doc. Hist., in., 583. t Patents, iv, 90. % " Do. Tesschenrnaecker katk promised to make satisfactory in ye Spring for ye pattent and ye otker wrytiDgs, 40 shillings in wheat, as by yorself demanded, wh I think is soe reasonable as can be considering ye trouble wh to my knowledge yrself had in yt buisnesse." Eph. Herman to Matthias Nicoll. — Albany Records, Jan., 17, 1679-80. § Anthology of New Netherlands, p. 100-1. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 339 In the latter place he labored six years with reasonable success; and in spite of the distant mutterings of war between Britain and France the little community grew in numbers and wealth. The virgin soil of the neighbor- ing flats and islands yielded abundantly, and the population, gaining con- fidence, ventured beyond the palisades of the village and gradually crept up the Mohawk river, occupying the fertile lands on either bank. It was while resting in fancied security that the place was surprised, on the 8th day of February, 1690, and totally destroyed. The work of des- truction commenced under such favorable circumstances was soon com- pleted; — day dawned upon a ghastly scene, — the labors of thirty years in ashes, — sixty of the inhabitants slain, — twenty-eight captives selected for the long winter march to Canada, — and the miserable remnant, wounded and frost-bitten, painfully seeking relief in flight towards Albany. The French commander had ordered his men to spare the life of the clergyman, but his savage allies knew no difference between minister and people; — he was slain and burned in his house.* Doraine Thesschenmaecker left no heirs. A farm of " eighty acres and a proportional quantity of meadow ground" granted to him 3 Nov., 1685, on the south side of Staten Island, f was claimed by the inhabitants of Richmond county as a poor fund. J For seven years from this sad event, till the peace of Ryswick in 1697, there was no safety north and west of Albany outside of the fortifications. Many forsook their plantations and sought places of greater security § and * " Dora. Petrus Tesschenmaker the minister at Schenectady has met with misfortune. He anfl most of his congregation were surprised at night and massacred by the French and Indians in their interest. His head was cloven open and his body burned to the shoulder-blades." Domine Selyns to the Classis of Amsterdam. — Antlwlogy of New Netherland, p. 116. \ Patents, iv, 902. \ 1692, 2 Nov. " Upon reading Anoy r Peticon of the s d Representatives [of the county of Richmond] setting forth (hat Mr. Tuschemaker having some reall and personall Estate in Staten Island was killed by the French and Indians at Schenectady and in his lifetime had promise'! the s d Estate to the Poor haveing noe heirs, praying an order for the same. The s d Peticon is likewise referred to the Attorney Generall who is to report what may be proper therein to be done." — Leg. Council, 4, 28. § See chapters " Indian Wars on the Uorder." 340 History of the Schenectady Patent. it is a matter of surprise that the hardy pioneers of Schenectady clung to the soil in the midst of such discouragements. It argues well for their pluck and endurance. Until 1*700 the church was without a pastor, and indeed it does not appear that the people had any religious privileges, except such as might be had by a visit to Albany, until 1694, when Domine Dellius began to minister to them occasionally. His first recorded visits this year were on the 11th of April and 9th of October, on which occasions new members were added to the church and children baptized. In 1695 he came four times, viz: oi the 2d Jan., 27th March, 26th June and 9th October. In 1696 five times — Jan. 8th, April 15, July 1, Sept. 19th and Dec. 30th. In 1697 three times- April 6th, June 30th, and Nov. 10th, and in 1698 four times — 27th April, 20 July, 19th Oct., and 28th Dec. In all eighteen visits in five years. In 1699 Domine Dellius returned to the Fatherland and Domine Johannes Petrus Nucella succeeding to his place as minister of Albany, visited Schenectady once— on the 31st of August. The following year he came twice, viz: on the 9th January and 25th May. The number of members added to the church by these two ministers was twenty-five ; the number of children baptized seventy-six, seven of whom were Indians. Taking into consideration, therefore, the fact that at this time all children were christened, ?ome idea may be formed of the small number and slow increase of the population when only sixty-nine were baptized in six years. Durin"- the same period five couples were married by Domine Dellius and seven by Johannes Glen, " Justis Van de peace" But no sooner was peace proclaimed in 1697 than both village and church began a new career of prosperity. Within five years a second minister was called, and a new house of worship was erected. 1700-5. Domine Barnardus Freeman,* Second Minister of thb Church and Missionary to the Mohawks. When Domine Dellius returned to Holland in 1693, his church gave him leave of absence for ten months, but subsequently commissioned William Bancker and others of Amsterdam to procure another minister in case he re- mained beyond that time. * He sometimes wrote his name Freeman, but oftener Freerman. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 341 Do. Freeman was a man of mature age, a native of Gilhuis in the county (Graafschap) of Benthem. In 1698 he was a member of the church of Amsterdam, and on the 9th of March of that year was licensed to preach by the Classes of Worden and Overrynland. Immediately after the above call from the church of Albany, he was ordained by the Classis of Lingen (16th March, 1700), and departed for his distant charge accompanied by Domine Johannes Lydius. On the 20th of July they arrived in Albany where the latter remained, while the former passed on to Schenectady, and on the 28th commenced his labors as pastor of the church and missionary to the Mohawks. His appointment to the latter office, brought about doubt- less after his arrival in New York, furnishes a reason for the change in his destination. Domine Dellius had filled the same office many years, and both for political as well as religious reasons it was considered important to continue so powerful an agency among the native tribes. In regard to this matter the Earl of Bellomont, Governor of the Provinces, said to the assembled Sachems of the Five Nations on the 26th of August, 1700. * * * "I have sent to England for ministers to instruct you in the true Christian religion. I expect some very soon ; for the present I shall settle Mr. Vreeman, an able good minister, at Schanectade, who I intend shall be one of those that shall be appointed to instruct you in the true faith. He will be near the Mohacks, and in your way as you came from [the] several castles to this town, [Albany], and will take pains to teach you. He has ju'omised me to apply himself with all diligence to learn your lan- guage, and doubts not to be able to preach to you therein in a year's time."* In a comnmnication to the Board of Trade the Governor says: "I send your Lordships a copy of Mr. Freeman's Letter. He is the Dutch minister at Schenectady and a very good sort of a man."f * * * The following is a copy of the letter referred to: "Schenegtade ihe 6th Jan., 1700-1. May it please your Excellency. I have received your Excell ci ' letter of the 15th Nov', 1700, whereby I understand that your Excell cy was satisfied with what I had done to promote the Gospel among the Indians, I shall also use my utmost to intreat them to be firm in their allegiance to his Maj ty and for as much as appears to me they are good subjects to His Maj ty whereof they desire me to give your Excell 07 an account. * Col. Doc, iv, 727. f Col. Doc, iv, 833. 342 History of the Schenectady Patent. Your Excell cy may remember that there are not above one hundred Maquasse in number, thirty-six whereof have embraced the Christian faith, ten whereof through the grace of God are brought over through my means, for I found but twenty-six. I shall do my utmost with the rest. So wishing your Excell 07 a happy new year and a continuation of your health, recommending myself to your favour, I remain, Your Excell ci08 most obedient Servant, B. Frkeuman.*" As Albany was the headquarters of Indian trade as well as of the yearly Council held with the Five Nations, Do. Lydius was also appointed to in- struct the natives in the Christian faith, and " ye bettar to enable him to serve them in ye work of the Gospell ye Interpretesse [Hillitiejf was appointed to be his assistant in that affair as formerly."^ * * * In the five years spent at Schenectady, Do. Freeman became well versed in the Indian tongue so as not only to preach, but to write in it. In this he was assisted by the Provincial interpreter, Lawrens Claese (Van der Volgen), a member of his church. And so attached were the natives to him that five years after he left Schenectady they petitioned Governor Hunter for his re- appointment, " and that he live [with us] at our Castle and not at Schin- nectady nor Albany. "§ Probably his was the first attempt made to translate the church service, or portions of the Holy Scriptures into the language of the Mohawks. In addition to the morning and evening prayers, Do. Freeman translated " the whole of the Gospel of St. Matthew, the three first chapters of Genesis, several chapters of P2xodus, a few of the Psalms, many portions of the scriptures relating to the birth, passion, resurrection and ascension of our Lord, and several chapters of the first Epistle of the Corinthians, par- ticularly the fifteenth chapter, proving the resurrection of the dead. But his work was not printed. "|| A copy having l>een presented to the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts," was given to their missionary, Rev. William Andrews, who was sent out in 1712, and by him printed in New York two years afterwards. * Col. Doc, rv, 835. f Hillitic was a half-breed, — sister of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck. She married Pieter Danielse Van Olinda. — See Van Slyck. % Lord Cornbury to the Five Nations, 1702 ; Col. Doc, iv, 983. § Col. Doc, v, 227. || Col. Doc, via, 815. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 343 The salary of the early ministers of this church was one hundred pounds of New York currency ($250), house and garden rent free, pasturage for two cows and a horse, and sixty cords of wood delivered at the parsonage. The salary commenced from the day the Domine sailed from Holland and the expenses of the voyage until he arrived in Schenectady were paid by the church. The following is Do. Freeman's first bill, rendered August 25, 1700: "16 mar. 1 700 to 25 aug. the Consistory is indebted to Domine Freeman: For current salary from the 16 march to the 25th of august, — is five months and nine days and amounts to a sum of fifty pounds and something more, — is in sewant, gl. 2.000 Also expenses incurred on the voyage, in fresh provisions, wine, brandy, vegetables and hens, besides about three weeks expenses on the Isle of "Wight, — is the sum of gl. 374 gl. 2.374 "Schenectady. Babnhardus Freerman."* The above bill shows that the expenses. of the voyage were 374 gl. ($46.75), and that the whole amount of salary and expenses was 2374 gl. or $296. 75. J Trifling as this amount may seem, the little community were unable to raise it, and on the 3d of September, 1700, applied to the Common Council of Albany for permission to solicit contributions in Albany. In reply the Commonality advise " that they first goe and Visite there own Congrega- tion, and if they do not obtaine said Sallary by them, then to make their application to the Commonality at ye next Court day.-" * Ano 1700 den 1G martius tot 25 Augustus is de kerkenraat Debet an Do. freeman Voor de Verlopene tractement van den 16 maert tot 25 august is 5 maenden en 9 dagen en bedraegt een somrae van fyftig pont en wat meer — is an sewant. 2.000 Noch ankostinge op Reise gehad so an Versche waren, wyn, Brandewyn, Creuderye en hoenden neffens onitrent dry weeke expences op het Eylant wigt is een som tot 374 gl. 2.374 Sceonegtade , Barnhardus Freekman. — See Church Papers. \ This sum is exclusive of 800 gl. paid by the Albany church as part of the expenses of Do. Freeman's passage. — MunselVs Collections, i, 53, 54. 344 History of the Schenectady Patent. On the 21st of September the application was renewed, " Whereupon ye Commonalty have concluded and doe allow and admitt two or more of said Church wardens of Shinnechtady to goe once Round for contribution to use as aforesaid from ye inhabitants of this Citty and no more, in ye time of the Sessions, which will be first and second of October next ensuing."* When Do. Freeman was appointed missionary to the Indians by Governor Bellomont, he was promised a salary of £60 ; for expenses £15, and for the interpreter, Laurens Claese Van der Volgen, who was his assistant £25. The Governor expected to obtain this salary from the corporation for the propagation of the gospel at Boston, but in case he failed there, promised to secure it for him out of the revenue of the Province, f It is presumed that said corporation declined to assume this burden, and as a consequence, the General Assembly passed an act in his favor. In a petition which Do. Freeman addressed to Governor Cornbury, in 1703, he affirms that " he has taken great pains in going to their [Mohawks] Castles and translating Divine things into their language for ye easier bringing ym over, and as he hopes with very good success ; for wh reason a con- tinuance of ye said salary was promised him by ye late Lieften't Governour, Capt. Nanfan, and confirmed to yr Petitioner by an act of Generall Assem- bly of this Province, wh said sallaries (tho' tis now two years since they were first settled) are unpaid, and no Warrants have yet passed for any part thereof, "t On the death of Do. Lupardus of Kings county, in 1 702, the consistory of the churches there applied to Governor Cornbury for permission to call Do. Freerman,§ who at the same time gave encouragement of his acceptance. The Governor answered : " I have duly Considered the Within petition and having been well In- formed that Mr. Bar. ffreeman has misbehaved himself, by promoting and * Albany City Records. | Mr. Freerman yck veresoeck dat gyu de voor aeu went om de heydeos tot bet Kristen geloof over te brengen en tot gerhoorsaembeyt van bekonning gy suit geensins on beetaalt blyve. yck sal nu boston schryve die dispositse bebben van bet corperasi gelt en yck Verspreeekne 60 pons in 't year en so die van boston bet wygeren yck Verse- kerene het yt de revenue van dese provinci. etc. — Gov. Bellommd's Letter, Col. MSS., XLIV. X Col. MSS., xliv, xlv, 134, 179; liii, 7, 70. § Doc. Hist., in, 89. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 345 Encouraging the unhappy division among the people of this province, do not think it consistent with her Majesties Service that the s d ffreeman should be admitted to be called as is prayed by s d petition. And the petitioners are hereby required not to call or receive the s d ffreeman."* Fearing their minister might be enticed away from them, the Consistory of the church in Schenectady the next year presented to Lord Cornbury the following petition: " The humble Petition of the Church Wardins of the Nether Dutch Church of the Town of Schoneghtede, sheweth: That the four severall towns to witt : Midwout or Flatbush, the Bay, New Utreght and Brockland, by their Certain writing doth Indeavour to Draw Mr Barnardus Freeman, Present Minister of Schoneghtende, from his Congregation, who are not able of themselves Without your Excellecy's assistance to gett another, and since we, your petitioners, have been att a great Charge and trouble with assistants thereunto from this County for De- fraying the Considerable Charge of Mr. Barnardus Freeman's Passage and other Charges that doih amount to the Valiable summe of near upon Eighty Pounds, so that if the s d Mr. Barnardus Freeman should be Drawn from us, as they Indeavor to Doe, we could not Preted that such a small Congrega- tion as we are can be able to Send for another, and they Who are of a greater Congregation could had another before this If they had not Endeavoured to Deprive us their neighbors ; therefore we, your Lordship's and Councill's Petitioners humbly Pray that y r Lordships and Councill be Pleased to take this our Great Case In Your Great Wisdom and Serious Consideration to give Such Incouragements to the Instructing of the Indians, that we may be more Enabeled to the Paying of his Salary and your Petitioners as In Duty Bound Shall ever Pray. Schoneghtende the 29th of May, 1703. Claes Wirbessen [Lawrense. Johannes Glenn, deacon. Vander Volgen] Elder. Isack Swits, elder. Daniel Jansen [Van. Jan Vrooman, elder. An twerpen] deacon. Claes Van Patten, deacon." Read in Council 24th June, 1703, and rejected."! Notwithstanding the above remonstrance and the fact that many persons in the congregation in Kings county were disaffected towards him, he visited the island and on the second of August, 1703, accepted the call under certain conditions.! It was not, however, until the summer of 1705 * Doc. Hist., in, 89. f Council Minutes, Doc. Hist., in, 93. 44 346 History of the Schenectady Patent. that he finally left Schenectady for Flatbush. The license thus to change his pastoral relations was granted by Governor Cornbury on the 26th of December, of the same year. 1703-28. Building of the Second Church. Domine Thomas Browkr the Third Minister. Soon after Do. Freeman came to Schenectady, the house of worship* then used was found to be unfit for the accommodation of the inhabitants and *[In an ancient deed dated 1692, the phrase occurs " 't blok huys (te weteu dekerche)" that is to say '* the block house known as the church." This deed is supposed to apply to a lot on corner of Church and State street. Miller in 1695 indicates a blockhouse at the north-west corner as " the blockhouse designed for a church." The Dutch deeds were so blind and crude in their descriptions that they con- vey little information without collateral evidence. They usually refer to something somewhere near, and are not usually very clear as to what direction or how far. There were but five or six houses spared in the town and the last building one might suppose would be left by French and Indians led by Jesuit propagandists of their faith would be the heretical church, more particularly if that church was capable of being used as a military defence. To add to the probability that in 1695, (three years after the deed of 1692), and even later, the statement in the petition to Governor Nanfan in 1701, for aid in erecting a new place of worship " the place where itt is now Exercised in Nott bein Large Euough to contain the whole assemply oft ye Inhabitants & Indian Proselytes," &c. " The Town of Schonegtade hath been wholly destroyed by ye French in y e late War & Sins the re- sattling oft y e same being verry low & oft mean Estates have not bein able to Erect a place convenient for y e Public Worohip of God " they want assistance in " ye buylding a convenient Place for ye Public Worship of God." Any sized church large enough before 1690 was large enough surely for the depleted almost depopulated town of 1692 to 1701, when there were not exceeding 250 souls in the township. Gov. Nanfan grants the petition because "nothing conduces more to the peace and well being of this Province than that the public worship of Almighty God be punctually ob- served and celebrated especially on the frontiers in a public and acknow- ledged place thereto dedicated." He authorizes contributions to be collected '* to be em- ployed solely for the erection and building a necessary and becoming place for public wor- ship." In view of the phraseology of the petition and permit and the known circumstances, may not the church that was too small have been either Blockhouse No. 8 of Miller's map or possibly an improvised house of worship on the walls or site of the destroyed church ? The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 347 Indian proselytes, but as the little community had not yet fully recovered from the effects of the late incursion of the French and their savage allies, the funds necessary for a new house could not be raised without aid from abroad. A petition therefore was presented to Governor Nanfan in 1701, asking permission to circulate a subscription throughout the Province for this purpose.* This petition being favorably received by the Governor and Council, on the 27 Oct., 1701, he issued his license to the inhabitants of Schenectady* If the French and Indians did not destroy the church, they were remarkable lenient for their time ; for this was one of the wars Louis XIV. waged against Holland and Eng- land mainly on religious grounds. They would certainly have been remiss in their duty as soldiers The sack of an heretical town in which it was wholly destroyed by infuriated half frozen Canadian French and Indians who were avenging their losses and disgrace at the sack of Montreal the previous year, could scarce have been complete without the destruc- tion of the heretical church which owned the civil authority and religious faith of Wil- liam of Orange. — M'M.] (Translation). * " To the Hon ble John Nanfan, Esq.,Lt. Gouv r and Command' in Cheifoft y e Province oft New Yorke in America and y e Hon ble Councell oft y e same. " The humble Peticion oft Barnard us Freerman minister oft y e Gospell att Schanegtade & Ryer Schermerhoorn, Esq r in ye behalf oft the Inhabitants oft said Town. Showeth, " That whereas The Town oft Schouegtade hath been wholy destroyed by y c french in y e late Warr & sins the resattling oft y e same The Inhabitants oft y e same being verry low & oft mean Estates have not bein able to Erect a Place convenient for ye Publick Worship oft God, the Place where itt is now Exercised in nott being Large Enough to con- taine [the] whole Assembly of ye Inhabitants & Indian Proselytes. " They Therefore humbly pray yo r houn" Lyceuse for the collecting a free will offering oft y e Inhabitants oft this Province for y e buylding a convenient Place for ye Public Worship oft God in y e town aforesaid and yo r Petic ra shall ever Pray, &c. " Ryer Schermerhooren " " B. freerman, Ecll. Skagnagt. " — Vol. MS8., xt,y. f "' By the Honorable John Nanfan, Esq., Governor and Commander-in-Chief over the Province of New York and territories dependent thereon in America, &c. "Whereas the Village of Schenectady in the Couuty of Albany, has been wholly destroyed through the incursion of the French in the late war, and after the rebuilding thereof the inhabitants have been and still are in a poor and low condition, so that they have not been able to erect a proper place for the public worship of Ood : — and whereas 348 History of the Schenectady Patent. to receive contributions from the people of the Province for the space of six months from that date, and directed all justices of the peace, schouts and other officers of his Majesty as well as ministers of the Gospel to use their utmost endeavors to aid this laudable object. This appeal to the liberality of their neighbors was successful and the church was probably finished in the year 1703. The site was that of the first house of worship at the junction of Church, Water and State streets, and the dimensions, fifty-six feet north and south by forty-six feet east and west Amsterdam measure. The burying ground adjoined the church upon nothing conduces more to the peace and well being of this Province than that the public -worship of Almighty God be punctually observed & celebrated in all parts & places and especially on the frontiers, in a public and acknowledgod place thereto dedicated, that the in- habitants and sojourners of this province may through their good example of piety and religious reverence be brought over & persuaded there to dwell to the great strengthening of said frontiers, which thereby become a defence for the other parts of this province if a war should again occur between his most Sacred Majesty and the King of France: — Therefore I by and with the advice of His majesty's council for this province and in his majesty's name hereby give and grant full & free liberty and licence to the Inhabitants of said Village of Schenectady in said county of Albany, or to such person or persons as by them or the majority of them shall be employed to gather, collect and receive the the free and voluntaiy offerings and contributions of all and every of his majesty's faith- ful subjects, — inhabitants of this Province at any time after this date and during the time of six months; — the said contributions to be employed solely for the erection and building a necessary and becoming place for the public worship of God by the Inhabitants of said village. And I hereby in his majesty's name require alibis majesty's justices, schouts, and all other his majesty's officers within this Province, together with all Pro- testant ministers in their sundry & respective Counties, Cities, Colonies, Churches, districts & jurisdictions to use tbeir utmost endeavors and diligence to arouse the liberality of the inhabitants on this occasion, which conduces to the honor and service of Almighty God, the welfare of this province in general & fbr the peace & security of all the inhabi- tants thereof. " Given under my hand and seal in Fort William Henry in New York, this seven and twentieth day of October, A 1701, and in the 13th year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord William the third by the grace of God of England, Scotland, France & Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, &c. " Was signed, John Nanfan." " Pr order of the Council, B. Cozens, Sec. Coun." * * B. Cozzens Secretary of the Council in a letter to Reyer Schermerhorn, of date 30 Jan., 1701, says " The Gov and Councill have given £10 towards the church at Schonectady."— Schermerhorn Papers. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 349 the west side and was fifteen feet wide by fifty-six feet long.* Speaking of Schenectady in 1710 the Rev. Thomas Barclay says: "There is a convenient and well built church which they freely give me the use of."f Probably it was substantially built of stone, for after its abandonment in 1734, as a place of worship it was used for some years as a fort. J A wooden building would hardly have been devoted to such a purpose. By the year 1754, it had been either removed or used as a barracks, watch- house and market,§ by 1768 the site was clear and designated the Market Place. In 1 792 the spot being vacant the consistory proposed to erect there- on a house at a cost of £170,|| but it is believed this project was never carried out, for in 1794 they resolve to lease it to Arent S. Vedderfor building pur- poses upon condition that it should never be dug up, save so far as was neces- sary to lay the foundations or to set the fence posts, — that the foundation should not be laid farther west than where the old church's west wall stood and that the house built thereon should never be used for " Tap-drink-of- VrolyJc-huys (so als men deselve gewoonlyk noent."** To account for these singular conditions in a deed of conveyance, it is only necessary to remember that this was then looked upon as sacred ground and that here for sixty years, to 1720, the dead of the village were buried. ff The building above mentioned was never erected. The next year, 1795, the trustees of the common lands resolved to make an offer of this lot,JJ but if made, nothing came of it, for in 1800, the consistory directed that it " be properly ascertained and marked out," and in 1805 agreed to lease it to Anne McFarlane for $10 per annum but she was not allowed to dig upon it. The removal of Do. Freeman was a disheartening event to the church. He had gained the confidence of the people and considerable influence over the neighboring Indians. To obtain another minister from Holland in their present circumstances was impossible. They were not only a small but a poor people and without aid not in a condition to support a minister. * [Mary Ann Roque's map, 1750, indicates its greatest dimension as east and west. The site certainly indicates that. — M'M.] f Doc. Hist., in, 540. J Act of the Assembly (1734 ?) § Jno. Myndertse's will in Court of Appeal's office .... and Deeds, xii ; Collins to Van Eps. II Consistory Minutes. ** Consistory Minutes. ft When the public cistern was built here in 1848, the ancient burial ground was en- croached upon and many bones were thrown out. XX Minutes of the Board. 350 History of the Schenectady Patent. For the following ten years they were destitute of the stated ministry, being only occasionally visited by the ministers of Albany and other more distant settlements. Between the years 1705 and 1715, Domines Johannes Lydius and Petrus Van Driessen of Albany, Petrus Vas of Kingston and Gualterus Du Bois of New York made 24 visits to Schenectady, baptizing 152 children of whom 19 were Indians. In all this time the records show but one member added to the church. Rev. Thomas Barclay, chaplain to the fort in Albany preached occasion- ally in Schenectady. In a letter* dated Sept. 26, 1710, he says: "At Schenectady I preach once a month, where there is a garrison of forty soldiers, besides about sixteen English and about one hundred Dutch fami- lies. They are all of them my constant hearers. I have this summer got an English school erected amongst them, and in a short time, I hope their children will be fit for catechising. Schenectady is a village situated upon a pleasant river, twenty English miles above Albany, and the first castle of the Indians is twenty-four miles above Schen- ectady. In this village there has been no Dutch minister these five years and there is no probability of any being settled among them. There is a convenient and well built church, which they freely give me the use of. " I have taken the pains to show them the agreement of the articles of our church, with theirs. I hope in sometime to bring them not only to be constant hearers, but communicants." As early as 1713, the church applied to Governor Hunter for permission to call a new minister and received his license dated July 27 that year. On the 17th day of May the following year, the consistory addressed a letter to Willem Bancker, merchant of Amsterdam and Rev. Matthias Winterwyck of Alphen (Dalphin ?) Holland, authorizing them to procure a minister for the church and promising him a salary of £90 to commence on his arrival, a dwelling free of rentf, fire wood at the door, a large garden, and free * Letter to the secretary of the society for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts ; Doc. Hist, ni, 540. f [Shortly after the arrival of Do. Brouvver the larger portion of the present church lot was acquired by deed from Daniel Janse Van Antwerp. (See fac simile.) It was for " 'te Dominie's huys." The original deed was found by the Ed. in a bundle of ancient papers in the Deacons' chest stored in the tower of the present church. This old pack- age was wrapped in a piece of leather tied hard with a leathern string and from appear- ance may have been unopened for many years — its existence seems to have been for- gotten. Early in this century strong efforts were made to remove the church to a locality more central for the majority of the church people, but the terms of this deed seem to have barred the sale of this lot and the new church [1814] was built on it.— M'M.] Fold-out Placeholder This fold-out is being digitized, and will be inserted at a future date. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 351 pasture for two cows and a horse. The result of this negotiation was the arrival of Dominie Thomas Brouwer in July, 1714. He probably came from the province of Overyssell, where he had two brothers living in 1728, the one Gerardus, at Zwoll and the other Theo- dorus, minister at Dalphin. He made his will * on the 24th Nov., 1 727, and died on 15th of Jan., I728.f He left £25 — one half to the church and the other for the poor ; his gun, pistols, horse, table linen, etc., to various members of the families of Gerrit Symonse Yeeder and Johannes Bancker, and his books, best clothing, linen, etc., to his two brothers above mentioned. He speaks of neither wife nor children. 1728 — 36. Domine Reinhardus Erichzon the Fourth Minister. Thb Third Church The fourth minister of the church was Do. Reinhardus Erichzon. His call or Beroep brief was dated 30th March, 1728, two and a half months after the death of his predecessor. He was probably a native or at least a resident of Groningen, North Hoi land and before his call to Schenectady had ministered three years to the churches of Hackensack, Paramus and Schraalenbergh, New Jersey. The consistory of Schenectady agreed to give him a salary of £100 ($250), a parsonage house in good repair, a garden kept in fence, pasture for a horse and two cows and fire wood \ at the door. * On file in the office of the clerk of the Court of Appeals. f He had been disabled by sickness however, since the month of August, 1723, and unable all that time to perform the active duties of his calling. An assistant was em- ployed to do his work but the records do not give his name. % Sixty or seventy loads of wood was the Domine's annual supply in these early times. For this purpose a bee was made, usually in the month of January. The congregation then turned out with their teams and in from one to three days his yard was filled. The consistory made bountiful provision for the entertainment of the bee makers on these occasions as appears by the following extracts from the treasurer's books : 16 Jan. 174% to Johannes De Peyster for five gallons of Rum for the Domine's bee @ 3-6 £-17-6 19 Jan. 174% to Pieter Groenendyk for % Gall, wine 4-0 23 Jan. 174% to Metie Fairly for the use of the house at the bee 4-0 352 History of the Schenectady Patent. During the eight years of his pastorate here he married seventy-nine couples, baptized about three hundred and fifty children and received two hundred and six members to the church. Domine Erichzon left Schenectady in October, 1736, having received a call to the church of Freehold and Middletown, N. J. His ministry in Schenectady seems to have been a successful one. Since the treaty of Utrecht in 1713, the country had been at peace, and wealth and population increased rapidly. Our village was no exception, and before the church erected in 1703, had stood thirty years, the population had outgrown its capacity and it became necessary to erect a larger. This matter began to be agitated soon after Do Erichzon became pastor, and instead of appealing to their neighbors for aid as in the former case, the congregation was able not only to build a house which for the times was both substantial and spacious, but also to furnish it with a bell and clock. As a preliminary step in this new enterprise, a subscription paper was cir- culated through the town in 1730, by which £322 was obtained, and ex- tending the appeal up the valley into Maquaas Landt* a still further sum of £33-15 was subscribed in money and wheat.f 1748, 28 April to Jacobus Mynderse for rum for the Domine's bee £3-12-2 1749, Jan. Beer for the bee 1-14-6 1751, Jan. 1 for rum and sugar 1-7-6 1751, Jan. 2 for beer 0-12-0 1751, Ap. 28 to Anna Wendell for house hire twice for a bee 9-0 to Isaac Abr : Truex for rum and sugar* 1-13,6 * Maquaas Landt was that part of the valley of the Mohawk river lying west of Amsterdam. f The following is that portion of this list made up of Schenectady names : July, 1730. List of the voluntary gifts which were promised here at Schenectady in the county of Albany, for the building of a new church for the behoof of the Dutch Reformed church at Schenectady : * 16 Jan. 174%, aan Joh : de Peyster Voor 5 gall : Ehum Voor Do. bee a Ssh. $d. £0-17-6 19 Jan. 174%, aan Pr. Groenendyk Voor y 2 gall : Wyn 4-0 23 Jan. 174%, aan Metje Fairly Voor 't buys gebruyck op de bee 4-0 1748, 28 April, an Jacobus Mynderse Voor rum Voor Doras Bee £3-13-2 1749, Jan. Bier Voor de Bee 1-14-6 &c. — ( Old church accounts.) The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 353 This sum did not amount to quite one-third the cost of the church, which was £1,167-17-10 [$2,919.73];— the remainder was probably derived from We or I the underwritten promise to pay to Arent Bratt, Jacobus Van Dyck, Dirck Groot and Cornells Van der Volgen and Robert Yates, Jacob Swits, Wouter Vrooman and Jan Barentse Wemp, Elders and Deacons, or to their successors, the sum which we or I subscribe with our hands so soon as the foundation of said church is laid ; and failing of the same, we or I promise to pay ten pounds current money, if we or I are negligent in the payment of the sum of money, which I with my hand subscribe, as witness our hands or my hand. Jellis Vonda drie pont* Henderick Vooman fyf pont Capt. Harme Van Slyck Ses pont Albert vedder drie pont Abraham Meebie 4 pout helmis Veder Vier pont John fairley 3 pont Myndert Wymp 3 pont pieter Cornu 3 pont Daniel tol 3 pont Barcnt Vrooman 2 pont Wyllcm Teller 4 pont Gysbert V. brakel 5 pont John VroomaD 6 pont Johannis Van Vorst 3 pont Johannis Marselis 2 pont Abram groot Vier stuck van achte Comelis Van Slyck drie pont Symon Veder drie pont Reinhart Erichzon, pred 5 pont Arent brat nege pont Jacobus Van Dyck drie pont dirck groot vier pont Cornelus van der Volge Vyf pont Robbert yets vyf pont Yacoep Swits 2 pont Wouter Vrooman twaels (12 ?) pont Jan Barentse Wemp 4 pont Abram D. Graaf 3 pout Cornelus Van Dyck 3 pont Joha. Sanders Glen Jacobus Peeck Arenout do Graaf Sander Laseng Jacob Glen barent heudrickse vrooman Joseph Van Sice Abraham Truax Sander Van Eps Davet Marinis Nicolaas Groodt Daniel Danielse [Van Antwerpen] Symon Vrooman Johannys ouderkerck Philip Van Putte haerme Vedder Reyer Wempel Gerret Van Vorst Johannis Vedder yu [Jr.] Abraham Glen Arent braet, yu. [Jr.] hendrick Vrooman, iunier, belofte William Peters Takel Maerseles Yacobus Vedder adryaeu Van Slyck harme M (?) Vedder Cornelus Veder harm an us Vedder 3 pont drie pont Vier pont 3 pont acht pont een pont 3 pont 4 pont 2 pont 1 pont 2£ 3 pont 4 pont 2 pont 1 pont 2 pont 3 pont 2 pont 2 " 3 " 4 " 2 " 2—10 2 pont 2 pont 1 " 2 " 2 " 3 " 58 £195—14 * The pound New Yo:k currency was $3.50. 45 854 History of the Schenectady Patent. the accumulations of former years and from the sale of lands or leases, — the gift of the trustees of the common lands. Job: Visger 2 pont Wilhelmus Ryckmau 2 " lourens Van der Volgen, Vrywillig 6 " Arent Stevens 1 " tieik franse [Van der Bogart] 3 " dou'vve ankis, geordcucert voor hem of syn erfgenamen 3 " Pieter Felinck. 7 stuck 8 of £2—8 Johannis Mynderse 12 gul. Johannis Bleecker 80 guld. Sara kiykes 12 sbil. pieter Winne 1 pont bartholomewis Vrooman 1 pont Jan V room an 1—4 marya Van der Volgen 1 pont elysabet van brakel 1 " barent wemp, junior 2 " geertruy mynders 4 " Sancb-rGlen 3 " Jacop teller 2 " antie beck 2 " Jan dellamond 3 Capt. bencks [Banks] 2 " Jellis Van Vorst 2 " Jacobus Van Vorst 1 " Domve Vonda 3 " anna lythall 1 " Jannetie Veders 2 pont Voldaen elyas post 1 — 10 Jan baptist Van eps 6 pont Anna Wendell 6 sbil. Catrina brat 6 " Cornelya brat 6 " engelie Symonse [Veeder] 1 pont gerret Symonse [Veeder] 6 " Wilem bancker 2 " evert Van eps 2 " De lyst Van de val en maquaaes landt De bet core tege 4 — 10 pr sch: Cornel is pooetman pieter Veder Jacop Vrooman Jacop truex Gysbert Marselis junior Gerret (?) Danielse [Van Antwer- pcn] 6 betaelt pont Volkie wemp 2 " Jan leenderse 10 shil. 75 £229—4 Jobn Dunbar 2 pont gerret gysbertsc [Van Brakel] 2 " gysbert van brakel, junior, 2 " Swear marselis 2 " Joseph Dance 3 " Johannis teller 3 " akis brat 2 " claes de graef 6 shil. daniel de graef 6 " Jacop Schermerhoorn 1 pont 4s. Johannis peeck 2 " Jan Danielse [Van Antwerpen] 2 " piete danielse [Van Antwerpen] 2 " Jacop mebie 3 " pieter Vrooman 3 " arent vedder 1 " Jacobus peeck, junior, 2 " en een tonne bier. Myndert van gyselingh 4 pont Johannis haell 1 — 10 Samuel brat 1 pout Wilyem Berret 2 " [total] gelt belofte comt £322—2 £19—16 13—19 [£355—17] The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 355 After thorough preparation the work was begun in the spring of 1732. Hendrick Vrooman was Baas * of the men of whom seventeen were car- penters, besides masons, glaziers, &c. His wages were seven shillings a day; — the others were paid from five to six shillings. The Preeck-stoel f [pulpit] was built by Pieter Cornu for £20; — and Gysbert W. Van den Bergh of Albany, contracted to do the mason work for £80. Among the first articles of hardware purchased were, twee vaten spykers £18 — 16 en een Ockshoft roni 13 — 12 and before the close of the year the latter article was exhausted and more purchased. The same liberal supply was made for the year 1733. J This house was dedicated Jan. 13, 173|, on which occasion Do. Erichzon preached in the morning. In the afternoon Do. Van Driessen of Albany, preached. The following Sabbaths — Jan. 20th and 27th, the pastor con- tinued the subject of his first sermon. § This third house was situated in Church street at its junction with Union street, and was eighty feet in length north and south and fifty-six feet wide;|| — the trustees of the town conveyed to the church not only this site but also the land around the same ten feet in width, except on the west 6ide, where by reason of the narrowness of the street, it was limited to five * This is a genuine Dutch word signifying master or chief. t In 1761 the pulpit was newly adorned at an expense of £1—14— 1 as follows : aan casa Betalt voor 't Bekleeden van de Predickstoel £0 — 3—0 12£ elle Swarte Saloen voor Predickstoel te Bekleeden @2-6 1 — 10—7 Kleyne spikertjes Gd 6 £1__14_1 — Church accounts. \ Church Records. §"173%, Jan. 13. — De Eerste predicatie gedaen in de nieuwe Kercke door heer Doomeny Erichzon uit den prophet Yesaia het 2 Capittel Vers 3. — Syn inlyding ait Luce 22 Verse 32 ent'tot besluit gesonge uit psalm 100, Vers. 3. — De twede predicatie gedaen door den Heer domeny Van Driessen uit den prophet Yesaia 35 capittel Vers. 1 en 2 en tot besluit gesonge uit 118 psalm, Vers 1.— 20 ditto [Jan.] Den predicatie uit jesaia 2, Vers. 3 het middel part en tot besluit gesongepsalm 25, Vers. 2.— ; 27 ditto [Jan.] De vierde predicatie uit jesaia 2 cap. 3 Vers., laste part, en tot besluit gesonge psalm 110 \ ers. 2. — From Simon Volkerlse Veeder's Bible now owned by Mrs. H. J. Bratt. I Church Charter, Aug. 23, 1734. 356 History of the Schenectady Patent. feet*. The building material was blue sandstone or greywacke from the quarries east of the village. It had two entrances, — one on the south end, — the other on the east side, over which was built a porch with a staircase leading to galleries. The roof was in the gambrel style, a few specimens of which still remain in the city. The belfry and clock tower stood on the north end. As seen from the east end of Union street it presented a pleas- ing and imposing appearance. The tub shaped pulpit fixed upon a narrow pedestal and surmounted by a conical sounding board, was built against the west wall, in front of which an open space was railed in called the Doop- huisje. Here the Domine stood while administering the rite of baptism. There was a gallery upon all sides save the west, whether built with the church, or at a later day is not known, as no mention is made of it before the year 1788, when it began to be occupied by adult males who could not obtain seats below. In this as in other Dutch congregations the males and females sat apart; — the former upon raised seats called gestoelte, placed against the walls of the church, and the latter in slips or bancken upon the floor of the house. PLAATSEN IN DE KKKKE.f In the first allotments of seats little regard was had to family relations, nor was there any exchange of sittings, and so long as the yearly rent was paid they were the property of the occupants, but in case of removal or death passed to the nearest relative of the same sex. Only in case of non- * Patentees Deed, 10 July, 1733. f The slips or Bancken were numbered nearly alike in 1734 and 1754, but the numbers were quite different in 17^8. As before stated, each silting in the church was held by its occupant for life, unless for- feited by nonpayment of the seat rent, or by removing from the town; and descended to his or her nearest male or female heir. Hence the same sitting was in some cases retained in the family for three or four generations. It will be noticed also that the males occupied the wall pews (ge$toelte) chiefly, which were slightly raised above the others; whilst the females sat upon the benches (bancken) in the body of the house. The slips for the two sexes were numbered from one upwards, — those of the males from i to xnr: — those of the females from 1 to 62 (see plan). Bench No. i was Occupied by magistrates and men of note. The Deacons and elders sat in the four benches on either side of the pulpit or doop- huiye. and the magistrates and other men of note upon the long bench on the west side of the church extending from the pulpit around to the south door. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 357 payment of the customary rent was a seat forfeited. It was then allotted anew at the discretion of the cousistory. Every transfer of a sitting cost the new occupant twelve shillings besides the yearly rent of five shillings, for males and four shillings for females. *I5 JL^l ^ £? % K o: u < Pocyhuifje T&mvSrtmttM fM*nk**) / -**■ if X» 1 1 // *> 1 1 , '/ 1 \ /< Al \ ./i- ur i /» jtf 1 j> •** 1 /*- *' i 1 IT ji 1 J< j/- I 1 jr Jf i •""• J1 T i Ji •/» t i Ji- •f/ r J j/ #*. i 1 ■ j * ** r- +* '* J JAfen't stah ( CetlaelJiJt.} 1~- Vlll c c= j?2L J^/< 7 aXf r pff T JiurcJi of J 7)* . During the eighty years that this church stood, but few and trifling changes were made in the slips or bancken first erected, and these chiefly by additions to accommodate the increasing congregation. The number of places (plaatsen) occupied by adults at different periods were as follows: men's seats men in gallery. Women's seats. total. In 1734 86 218 304 " 1754 104 328 432 " 1788 125 35 346 506 From 1788 to 1814 when the old church was removed, newcomers could not rent seats without great difficulty except in the gallery, which being ohiefly occupied by boys and negroes was not considered quite respectable. 358 History of the Schenectady Patent. The people worshipped on the Sabbath almost to the beginning of this century even in the coldest winter weather without any other artificial heat than that derived from foot stoves. The first stoves used in this church were bought in December, 1792 and set up that winter. They were placed upon two platforms elevated to the height of the gallery and reached by climb- ing over the balustrade. It is said that the klokluyer was accustomed to re- plenish them at the beginning of the Domine's sermon and — to notify to the congregation of the importance of his vocation, — was particularly noisy in opening and shutting the stove doors. By this arrangement it is said that " the top of the church was comfortable but the people below had to carry foot stoves to keep themselves warm." So unsatisfactory was this first ex- periment in warming the church that the matter came up and was discussed by the consistory and the result was that the elevated platforms were removed and the stoves placed upon the floor of the church.* 1731-4. The Bell and Clock. On the 10th of February, I73y a subscription was opened for a bell. The heading of this paper is as follows : * The following bill for these stores is translated from the treasurer's book.* £. ». d. 1792, Dec. 23. Paid James Mm dock for 2 stoves 12—15—8 29 Dec, to cash for riding stone for the stove floor — 13 — 3 Paid James McWilliams for setting the stoves in the church — 12—0 to a cart to Albany to haul the gryp (?) ironf for the stoves — 10—0 to 1403^ lbs. of iron by Swits for the small work about the stoves 3 — 10— \% to 1 quart of ruin for the workmen 2 — 5 119%, Jan. Cash to Maas Schermerhorn paid for set{?) iron, 251bs at 11 pence a pound 1 — 2 — 11 Cash paid Walter Swits & Peter Symens for the iron work on the stoves 8 — 19 — 6 * 1792, Dec. 23. Aen James Murdock betalt voor 2 kaghels " 29. aen cass vour Roye stein voor de Caghel vloer aen Jsimes McWilliams betaelt * + de Kagbele in de Kerk to sette aen Een wa^c na Albany voor 't gryp Eyser, an de Kauhels te hale aen 140v4 lb. Eyser Door Swits voor Clyn werk an de Kagbcls aen 1 qart rom'an de wi rk Lnyde l'i9%, Jan. Caesa aen Mans Schermerhorn voor set eyser betalt251b. at 11 pence p pont Cassa betalt aen Walter Swits cu pieter Symens voor het eyser werk an Cagels £28-05-10^ + [Is this grip irons = grapple irons or braces to hold the stoves on their elevated platforms.— M'M.] £28—05—10^ £12- -15— 8 0- -13— 8 0- -12— 0- -10- 3- -10- 1# 2— 5 1- - 2—11 8-19— 6 The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 359 " Subscriptions of persons for the bell. We the underwritten promise what wo with our hands or by our orders have here subscribed and promised, to pay for a new bell for the Low Dutch church here at Schenectady and we promise to pay the same to the Domine and Consistory of the Low Dutch church of Schenectady, viz : — to Domine Erichzon, Dirck GroQt, Cornelis Vander Volgen, Harmauus Vedder, Abraham Mebie, Jan Barentse Wemp, Wouter Vrooman, Abraham De Graaf and Cornelis Van Dyck, or to one of them, on or before the first day of May next coming. Done in Schenectady the 10th of February, 173£." To this paper are appended 152 names and the amount raised was c€45-6-6 ($113.31). The bell was procured in Amsterdam and did " good and faithful service for more than a century " until it was cracked in 1848. It bore the follow- ing inscription: " De Klok van de Neder-duidsch gemeente van Scon- echiade door Haar self bezorght anno 1732. Me fecerunt De Grave et muller Amsterdam*." In 1740, the church had a public or town clock purchased probably at the same time with the bell. The Charter. Although the church had owned considerable real estate more than fifty years, it had no corporate existence in law and could neither hold nor alienate property save through individuals acting as its trustees. Feeling the precarious nature of such tenure, when the church edifice was finished, the consistory petitioned the Governor and Council for a charter. This application was favorably considered and on the third day of August, 1734, a charter was granted under the great seal of the Province. *" The bell of the Low Dutch Church of Schenectady procured by themselves in the year 1732." " De Grave and Muller Amsterdam made me." It was the custom to ring the bell three times before commencing religious services down to January, 1810, when the consistory " Besolved, that in future the Bell shall be rung twice as usual, previous to the com- mencement of public worship and that tolling shall be substituted lor the third ringing." It is said the bell was also rung at the close of the service that the servants at home might have the dinner ready on their masters' return. 360 History of the Schenectady Patent. Do. Erichzon died in January, 1752, and until 1755, the church had no regular pastor, being dependent on Do. Frelinghuysen of Albany, Do. Vrooman of New Paltz, or some divinity student temporarily filling the pulpit. However the consistory opened a subscription for funds to pay for a minister when one should be called. One hundred and sixty-eight sub- scribers contributing from one shilling to thirty-six shillings, a fund of £165 was raised. The seat rents were increased and the income from these sources as well as rents of the mill, Eenkluy's " Poor Pasture," etc : , sufficed for current expenses. Parsonage. The ancient parsonage on the present church site had now stood fifty years or more and was falling to decay. It was doubtless the house men- tioned in the deed of 1715, to Do. Brouwer and the consistory, (the deed is endorsed " H D° kmjs ") and was probably of wood, as were all other houses of its date. It was therefore removed in 1753, and a new building of brick* erected on the same lot. It was one storey and a half high, with the usual pointed Dutch gable ends. There were two rooms in front on the Union street side. The door was in the middle, over which was a gable. This house stood about sixty years when it gave place to the church of 1814. The Church of 1814. As early as 1805, the subject of repairing the old church was agitated. The church which had stood for so long in mid-street in Albany, had gone before the march of improvement and there was a feeling that Schen- ectady should follow in its wake. In 1810, the consistory appointed a committee to draw a plan and to report as to the possibility of a new church building, and still another committee to meet the wishes of those who desired to see the old church put in repair. The result of this was a de- cision to build anew on the parsonage lot. There was much opposition to * The bricks used in it were made by Jacobus Van Vorst at £1 [$2.50] per M —Church Treasurer' 8 book. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 361 this on the part of those whose affections clung to the old church in the street, as well as a considerable party who urged that this lot was not central enough but that the church should be built further to the east as population had extended in that direction. Petitions to this effect numerously signed by towns people and those residing on the roads eastward, are in the deacons' chest in the church tower. The consistory's plan was adopted and in 1812, the two sites of the former churches were sold to the city to be thrown open to the streets, and the contracts for the new house of worship signed. In the autumn of 1814, a new house was so near completion that it could be used for worship, and on the 20th November, the last services were held in the old building.* The increase of this congregation had doubtless been much retarded by the want of seat room. This was felt many years before the church of 1734 was removed. In view of this fact, it is singular that the church of 1814 should not have been built larger. It could accommodate but few more persons than its predecessor. :£ Indeed it may be said that from 1734 to 1862, a period of 128 years, the church accommodations of this congregation remained sub- stantially the same. In the meantime the little hamlet grew into a village and the village into a city of respectable dimensions. It had but few com- petitors in the field, and though it became the mother church of this region, with one exception all her colonies were sent out some years subsequent to 1814. * The old church was sold to the contractors for 450 dollars, and they were about to remove it in the spring of 1813, when on a remonstrance being made to the consistory against thus depriving the congregation of a place of worship, whilst the new house was building, the contract was annulled and it was left standing until 1814. In the remonstrance allusion is made to the desecration of the old_church by lawless persons breaking the seats and pews and it was advised to prosecute the marauders. — Consistory Min In the treasurer's book is the following entry under date 5th July, 1814. " To paid for liquor when the old spire was taken down, 37}^ cents. Nov. 30, 1814, Charles Kane and Henry Yates bought the old church for $442 50." f The dimensions of the church of 1734 were 80 feet by 56 feet, those of the church of 1814 were 86 feet by 57 feet. 46 362 History of the Schenectady Patent. Before closing this short account of this house it may be proper to mention the honored names of Nicholas Van der Volgen and his wife, who were considerable benefactors to it. Many of the congregation remember the huge brass chandeliers and pleasant organ of the old church. These were their gifts, the former in 1792, the latter in 1797. The great chandelier (groote Kroori) had eighteen lights, besides which there were seven lesser ones (JKleymdere kroonen) of six lights each, — costing altogether £67-10 New York currency. The money for the organ was given in 1797, and suffered to accumulate until 1826 (?) when an instrument was obtained from Henry Erben, of New York, at the cost of 1,000 (?) dollars. This was consumed with the church in 1861. Voorlezer and Voorzanger. The duties of Voorlezer and Vborsanger were usually united in the game person and defined by resolution of the consistory : — Jan. 8, 1810, roniontories— out of the way glens or mountain valleys, where the people lived in hardship and poverty, their houses far apart, merely of one or two rooms, and even light and fuel deemed luxuries. In the thinly settled regions of the new world in early days these conditions existed, but the compact settlement of Schenectady was productive of easy social intercourse and the custom was not necessary for very long. It was easy for young people to get up their merry makings and other means of acquaintance which the isolated settlers could not do, but must go to distances after their day's work wu done and do their courting in the dark, returning many miles to their work before daybreak. — M'M,] 368 History of the Sclienectady Patent. appropriated as the ' dead room ' and was rarely opened but to be aired and cleaned.* Wealthy citizens in anticipation of a death in their families, were accus- tomed to procure a cask of wine during their lifetime and preserved it for * July 14 [1758]. Predikant Vrooman and some of ye quality of ye town attended Prayers in ye Fort in ye Evening. July 15. Three o'clock p.m. attended ye funeral of Mr. Vrooman's Brother-in-law. After ye people were collected who kept abroad, except the relatives of the Deceased ; the clerk proclaimed from ye Stupe before the door, " If any where disposed to see ye corpse they might come in." But few from the many abroad went in ;— the corpse was soon brought out and laid upon the Bier. The coffin was made with a regular Taper from head to foot ; the top like a pitched roof of a house. The relations to remote cousin* follow next ye corpse two and two. The mourners all silent at the grave. All returned from ye Grave to ye house and drank wine plentifully. — Rev. Danid Shute's Journal, Essex Inst. Coll., April, 1874. 1718-19 De Erfgename van Rijer Schennerhoorn D r Voor Aenspreecken iu de Stadt en buijten De ttomme van 14sh. Theuuis brat Ano 1719 gGlde Voor het aen spricken van de over leedene Reijer schermerhooren en voor hot beegraaven 54 en Voor het aen sprecken op nijstakaijoenie 12 en Voor het Doot kleet 6 die bekene Voldaen guide 72 toe zyn tato dese den 27 April Jan Vrooman I will give you a sketch of the manner of burying the dead among the Dutch nobility. When any one was dead the friends would commence to make preparation for the funeral ; in the first place after the corpse was laid out they would send for 35 or 50 gallons of Chewy wine, and some 15 or 22 gallons of it was taken and a compound of spices was put in it and made hot, and the rest was used cold ; also two or three bushels of small sugar cake was made which was called Dote Kooken or dead cake, also three to five pounds of tobacco and from two to three hundred pipes ; then a table was set through the house in every room, on those tables is plates of cake, plates of tobacco and at each side of the plates of tobacco is a number of pipesand a roll of paper done up to light the tobacco ; also candles lit, also wine put up in bottles and set on the table, and wine glasses ; the spice wine was put in silver tankers and sat on the tables. After the funeral has taken place and while the corpse is going to the grave then the tables was set by the slaves or hired help and after the person is buried then they return to the house and to partake of the wine, cake, and smoke ; it was more like a wedding than a funeral. The coffins was black and a large silver plate weighing from five to seven ounces the name age and time of death carved on it and the coffin was carried on a bier with the corpse iu it, they had from six to eight pall bearers and each of those pall bearers had four yards of liunen given to them for scarfs and also had the minister the same. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 369 this purpose."* When the coffin was removed from the house, it was placed upon a bier at the door and covered with a pall of black cloth. f The bier was then borne upon the shoulders of the bearers to the grave followed only by invited guests. The chief direction of the funeral cere- monies was taken by the Vborlezer assisted by the Mokluye)\ and all their charges were regulated by the consistory.! If there was spiced wine left after the funeral was over, it was taken in the silver tankers and sent to the sick friends and those that were not able to come to the funeral. No one would attend a funeral in the old times without they had a invitation to come. There was always a list made out by the friends of the deceased who they wished to have come to the funeral, and this list was given to the sexton of the church and he would go around and invite them to attend. The bell of the church would ring three times and toll once, the day the person was a going to be hurried — End. I give you the tacts just as they are and you will have to dress it up in your own lan- guage to make it read well. — L. R. Vrooman, Cortland Co., 1856. * Annals of Albany, i, 129. f The church owned two palls, which were always used on these occasions ; for the use of the great pall a charge was made of three shillings; for the small pall nine pence. \ The following is a list of prices established in 1771 : "Rules for Cornelis De Graaf, appointed sexton the 18th November, 1771, in regard to what he is at liberty to take for inviting [the friends] and burying [the dead]. " For a person of 20 years and upwards, 16s. to 20s. For a person of 15 to 19 years, 15s. to 19s. For a person of 10 to 14 years, 14s. to 18s. For a person of 5 to 9 years, 13s. to 17s. For a person of 1 to 4 yrs., 8s. to 12s. For an unbaptized child [infant] when the bell shall be rung once, 6s. to 10s. For ditto when the bell shall not be rung, 3s. to 7s» For the Great Pall, 3s. For the Little Pall, 9 d All thus when he is obliged to invite [the friends] within the village ; but when he likewise is obliged to extend the invitations without, he may ask 4 shillings [altered to 6 shillings] more each; — this is to be understood, as far as Claas Viele's [upper end of Maalwyck], or this side ; but when he is obliged to extend invitations further, — to Syme Vedder's [Hoffman's Ferry] or this side, — then he may ask yet 3 shillings [altered to 6 shillings] more. The prices in the above standing rules are increased by reason of the hard limes." " Regulations for Jacobus Van Sice appointed grave digger and bell ringer for the dead on the 18th November 1771, in respect to what he may take for grave digging and bell ringing. For a person of 7 up to and above 20 for a grave 3s. and for the bell 3s. For a child of 1 to 6 years, for the grave 2s. and for the bell 3s. For an unbaptized child when the bell shall be rung once for the grave 2s. and for the bell 2s. For tolling the bell he may likewise ask one shilling more. The above mentioned Jacobus Van Sice, shall at his own expense, keep proper tools for making and filling graves, likewise proper cords, etc." 47 370 History of the Schenectady Patent. Prior to the year 1800 there had probably been no hearse in the village ; in all funeral processions the bier and pall were used ; hence as it was not convenient to carry the dead great distances in this manner, the people in the country buried upon their own lands. At a meeting of the consistory held April 7, 1800, it was "Resolved: That a herse be procured as soon as convenient for the use of carrying the dead of this congregation to the burying ground, and also for the use of the public, under such regulations as this board shall afterwards prescribe." And again Dec. 3, 1800, having obtained a hearse if. was "Resolved, That the herse and harness be kept by the sexton in some convenient place as near the burying ground as possible, to be provided by the consistory ; and that whenever any of the citizens may want it, application be made to him, and that it be his duty to collect the fees." Burial Places. The earliest public burying ground* in the village was on the west side of the first church at the junction of Church and State streets. After this plat of ground had been used for this purpose about 60 years another was selected without the palisades, — the grave yard situated between Front and Green streets, lately sold by the church for building lots — with exception of Yates' lot and vault. In 1705, this spot together with all the land lying west of it to the fort, then covered with woods, was granted to Philip Schuyler for £18 N. Y. currency, or 45 dollars. Two years before, Ryer Schermerhorn, the sole living patentee had granted 4 morgens of woodland lying to the eastward of the burying ground to Thomas Williams of Albany, who conveyed it April 7, 1709, to Arent Van Petten; from whom it passed to his son Frederick. The following are abstracts from the conveyances of the burial ground made to the church: Aug. 1, 1721. The patentees of Schenectady conveyed to the Dutch church a lot, "for a Christian burial place for all the Christians of the town of Schen- * It was usual for persons residing without the village to bury their dead upon their own lands. Many of these enclosures are still found on the old homesteads along the banks of the Mohawk. The only private burying ground known to have been within the village was that of Adam Vroouian. This was on his pasture lot on the north side of Front street, on lot now numbered 35, its dimensions were 46 feet in depth by 9% feet in width. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 371 ectady and adjacent places ;" " lying Eastward of the ffort of Schen- ectady, the south side butting the roadway [Green street] opposite over against Dirk Groot's pasture ground 160 feet, — on the west side 240 feet, and on the east end 338 feet long, butting the lot of Arent Van Petten; — and on the north side [on Front street] is 195 feet long."* This conveyance was confirmed by another conveyance to the church made March 1, I73f, by Jan Wemp and Arent Bradt, the surviving trustees of the common lands. On the 7th of August, 1765, Frederic Van Petten for the sum of £125, conveyed to the church a parcel of ground for an addition to the east side of the burial ground, which parcel is described as follows: "All that parcel of land on the East side of the town on the south side of a street that comes out of said town and leads by Jacob Fonday's to the Ael plaas, \ [Front street], and also on the north side of a street [Green], that comes out of said town and leads back of his Majesty's fort by the house of Jacobes Van Vorst and Jeroniraus Barheyt, — being putted and bounded as followeth: — On the north the Highway leading by Jacob Fonday's to the Ael plaas aforesaid; — on the West the church yard or burial place; — on the south the Highway that leads back of the Fort by Jacobes Van Vorst afs d ; — on the east by a lott of ground [which the said Frederic Van Petten reserves for himself] laid out between the lott of Myndert Wemple and the hereinabove recited land, which lot is to contain in front along said street [Green] fifty feet and in rare [rear] along the lot of Zeger Van Santfort 53 feet all wood measure, and the above rented ground is also bounded on the east by a lot of ground heretofore sold to Zeger Van Santfort."t A great majority of the towns people buried their dead in the common burying ground, but for those who coveted the honor or sanctity of a grave in the church, this privilege could be bought for about twenty times the price of a common grave. The following were the rules for burying the dead in the church in 1759: " For persons of twelve years old and upwards there shall be paid three pounds. * See old deed among church papers. f The Ael plaas was above the state dam at the aqueduct. \ It is believed that this lot of Zeger Van Santvoord, fronting on Front street, was ■ubaequently acquired by the church and added to the burial ground. — See Church Papers. 372 History of the Schenectady Patent. " For graves of children of four years to twelve, forty shillings. "And for the grave of a young child up to four years of age, four A twenty shillings."* Monuments. No headstones are found at the graves of first settlers ; the graver's art did not then exist among them and the marble and granite had not then been quarried. The oldest gravestone found in the city was a few years since taken from a cellar wall into which it had been built, having been used evidently as a whetstone many years after it had served the purpose of a funeral monu- ment. It was a fragment of the blue stone found in the quarries east of the city ; its dimensions were fourteen by seven inches and four inches thick, and bore the following inscription rudely and slightly cut : Anno 1690 DEN XX8 MAY IS MIN SOON IN DEN HEERE GERUST HENDRICK IANSEN VROOMAN IAN VROOMAN * Regelatie voor Graften in do kerck van Dooden als Volght : Van Twalf Jaaren out tot dat sy out syn sullen daar Voor Betalen Drie Pont, En voor de Graften van kinderen van vier Jaar out Tot Twalf Jaaren out Veertigh Schellinge, — En voor Een graft van Een Jonck kint Tot vier Jaaren out vier en Twentigh Schellinge. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 373 [Translation.] " On the 28th of May in the year 1690 my son, Hendrick Jansen Vrooman, rested in the Lord. Jan Vrooman." The oldest gravestone in the church burying ground, was set up in 1722 and is of the same material as the above mentioned stone. Endowments Probably no church in the State, outside of the city of New York, was so munificently endowed as that of Schenectady. In 1740 she owned fully twelve square miles of land in this county, which, had it been conveyed by long leases and not in fee, would have been worth to her now from $300,000 to $500,000. All this magnificent estate has passed away; at this time she possesses barely a fine house of worship and the lot upon which it stands. Several reasons may be assigned for the dissipation of this large property. Inasmuch as the pew rents covered but a small part of the current expenses of the church, this deficiency was supplied from time to time by the sales of the patent lands, which were held of little account except for pasturage and timber, and were sold, therefore, at a low figure. Moreover, if tradition be correct, large portions also of this fair domain were frittered away in gifts to the relatives and friends of influential members of the congregation, under cover of conveyances with a mere nominal considera- tion. Only a brief description can be given here of the chief pieces of real estate that have been owned by this church. Church Sites.- The first in order of time, was the old site at the junction of Church and State streets. It must have been reserved for this purpose from the first laying out of the village, before the year 1664. Its dimensions north and couth were 56 feet, — east and west 46 feet, Amsterdam measure, together with a strip fifteen feet wide upon the west side for a burying ground. Subsequently it was extended south 84 feet towards the creek, — the rear line being 44^ feet.* * About fifty years after the village was laid out, the church first received a formal conveyance of their house of worship and lot from the Patentees of Schenectady. This 374 History of the Schenectady Patent. After having been used for various public purposes, the consistory resolved in 1785, to build their new academy upon it; — afterwards to erect a dwelling house upon it, — and finally to convey it to Arent S. Vedder, for the same purpose. But all these projects failed because it was manifestly unsuitable for a building site, and especially that portion which had been used for more than fifty years as a village burial ground. The present church site was acquired from Daniel Janse Van Antwerp in 1715 — as seen in deed of which a fac-simile is here inserted. A strip along the east side was added by purchase as noted under head of Van Vorst. De Abme Wey ok Poor Pasture. Of all the ample domains of the church, De Arme wey was the longest held and the last sold. The title deeds of this property are lost if any ever existed; even tradition is at fault and the donor's true name has nearly perished from the remembrance of those who have been benefited by it. The story has been told that Jan Rinckhout gave this property to the church, reserving simply " a small spot on which he erected a hut partly under ground," and there lived a hermit's life. Rinckhout was a baker in Albany, but about 1670, removed to Schenec- tady having leased his house and bakery to Antony Lespinard " with privi- lege of baking for Christians and Savages." He was living in Schenectady as late as 1704, when his son Jurriaen dying made provision in his will that his wife, six children and father, Jan, should be maintained out of his real and personal estate here and in New York. It is certain that the church owned De Arme Wey seventeen years prior to this date. These facts there- fore render it quite improbable that Jan Rinckhout was the donor. Discarding tradition and romance, the evidence is clear that the true bene- factor of " the poor of Schenectady " was Hans Janse Eenkluys, an ancient servant and soldier of the Dutch West India Company. He early came to is dated 3d October, 1715, and on the back is this endorsement, made doubtless at an earlier date : "Wood measure" [11 inches to the foot] "The front is 60 [feet] "behind 44^ "Deph 140." The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 375 New Netherland and was sent by Governor Van Twiller in 1632 to erect the arms of the States General at a spot called Kievits Hoek [Saybrook] at the mouth of the Connecticut river. On the occasion of Governor Stuyvesant's visit to Rensselaerswyck in 1648, he was employed to clean the Heer Patroon's cannons and to fire the salutes. As early as 1668 he was an inhabitant of Schenectady, where he continued to reside until his death in 1683, after which event the deacons of the church, Johannes Pootman and Sweer Teunise Van Velsen, petitioned the court of Albany for authority to administer upon his estate, saying that on the 7th day of March, 167^, he [Hans Janse Eenkluys] had made over to the poor of Schenectady his plantation upon condition that he should be maintained in his old age and weakness, and that on the 2d of May, 1680, he had made the deacons of the church administrators of his whole estate. They aver also that thirteen years ago [1670] he began to be very weak, that they had given him support while living and had paid the expenses of his funeral. This Plantasie is first mentioned in the church books in 1687, when it was leased to Symcn Groot, Barent Werap and Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel for 82 guilders ($32.80), per annum. The rent was paid chiefly in wheat at five skipples the beaver, or 80 cents a bushel. About this time it began to be called De Wei/, Hans Janse's wey, and De Arme Wey.* In its original condition it consisted of eighteen morgens (about 36 acres) of the finest Mohawk flats, and was bounded by the river on the north, — the river road (a continuation of Front street) on the south, — the " Fonda place," on the west and the " Hansen kil " (now College brook) on the east, by which it was separated from the Boght. This latter parcel of land consisting of 16 acres was purchased of Har- manus Van Slyck in 1806 for $1,750. Several attempts were formerly made by the church to dispose of this property but without success. * A memorandum made by D° Van Santvoord makes mention of the conveyance of The Pasture by Gov. Lovelace (Grondbrief van de wei'de by Gov. Lovelace), as among the important papers of the church. This was probably the Governor's patent to Eenkluys and must have been dated about. 1670. It is no longer among the church papers. 376 History of the Schenectady Patent. In 1795, the consistory " Resolved to sell the Arme wey for not less than £800" ($2,000), at which price no purchaser was found; but in 1863, it was disposed of, including the Boght, at auction for about $11,000, and the avails were mingled with the general funds of the church. Thus passed away Eenkluy's gift " to the poor of Schenectady " after having been in the possession of the church nearly 190 years. Long ago the old soldier's name was forgotten, but the results of his benefaction are perpetuated to this day, not indeed in the direction which he had indicated, but in that beautiful structure lately dedicated as a house of worship. Among the honored names there emblazoned that of Hanse Jansk Eenkluys, is entitled to special consideration. Church mill and mill pasture. This fine property, — the bequest of Sweer Teunise Van Velsen (alias Van Westbrook), the town miller, consisted of six acres of land bounded northerly by State street, southerly by the Sand kil (laterly called Mill creek), easterly by Dock street and westerly by the lot of Douwe Aukes Defreeze, which latter lot 140 feet front on State street (Amsterdam measure), was on corner of Mill lane and State street. Defreeze was an innkeeper and next east of his lot probably stood Van Velsen's house, his grist-mill being- in the rear on the creek. Both houses were burned in the massacre of 1690 by the French and Indians, at which time Sweer Teunise with his wife Maritie Mynderse perished in the flames. As he left no heirs here, his property passed to children of his wife by her first husband, Jan Barentse Wemp. It was understood however before his death that he had made a will de- vising the half or third of his estate to the church; but no such instrument was ever found. Nevertheless his step-children to carry out his wishes re- leased to the church the mill and six acres of land above described. The church took possession of this property soon after Van Velsen's death and within about thirty years disposed of the entire front upon State street for building lots. That portion between Ferry and Dock streets was divided into ten parcels varying in width from 45 to 53 feet (Amsterdam measure). The lowland in the rear called the Church pasture was retained until early in this century. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 377 The Church mill stood upon, or near the site of the old brick mill now standing in Mill lane. It was usually leased for about £50 New York cur- rency. After holding it for 120 years, the church sold it in 1800 to David Burt and John J. Peck for $2,570. In 1813 it was turned into a cotton mill by Dr. Archibald Craig who built the present brick building. The Sixth Flat. On the 20th May, 1714, Ryer Schermerhorn, the only surviving patentee of Schenectady, conveyed to the Dutch church, "A lot of land on the north side of the Mohawk river about 7 miles above Schenectady, called the Sixth flat, containing about seven morgens or fourteen acres;" — " Also 10 morgens, or 20 acres of Woodland behind said Sixth flat and so going up to a creek called by the Indians Toggutchero, — in English named ' Color creek, [in Dutch Verfkit], at the east end of the ' Seventh flat,' and so on north behind the said flat into the woods as far as the bounds of the said town." From a petition presented to the trustees of the town, on the 16th Jan., 1716, by Jacobus Van Dyck, in behalf of the consistory, it appears that these parcels of land had been purchased, but on account of pi'essing debts and urgent need they are asked to remit the purchase money. How long the church retained this farm and how or when they disposed of it is not known.* On the 25th Jan., 171^, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to the Dutch church a piece of woodland, " in the East end of the town, bounded north by the highway [river road to the Aqueduct] — south by the common woods, West by the woodland of heirs of Hendrick Brouwer, and East by the land of Claas and Tjerk Fransen " [Van de Bogart]. This land lay opposite to and this side of the lower (late Freeman's) bridge on the river road and was still in possession of the church in 1734. How or when it was disposed of is not known. The Burial Lot. As has been before stated the earliest burial place used by the founders of Schenectady was on the west side of the old church at the junction of State and Church streets. Some were buried under the church, especially such as could afford to pay for this privilege. * See Church Papers. 48 378 History of the Schenectady Patent. The first mention made of the burying ground between Front and Green streets is in the deed of this plat given by the patentees of the town to the church, dated Aug. 1, 1721. The Niskayuna Patent. This tract lay to the east and south of the Schenectady patent and ex- tended from the Ael-plaats south to the north line of the manor of Renssel- aerswyck. On the 5th of August, 1738, a patent was obtained for this land by Arent Bradt and Jacob Glen in trust for the Reformed Protestant Dutch church of Schenectady, it was then estimated to contain 2500 acres, but owing to an error in measurement rectified in 1786, fell considerably short of that amount. The west line of this church patent was the east line of the Schenectady patent, the starting point for which line at the Ael-plaats had been fixed by the citizens at the mouth of Jan de Laggers Ml.\ The consistory claimed and rightly too, that this point should be at the mouth of the Ael-plaats Ml, thus claiming a strip of land from the east bounds of the town, of more than 1200 acres. This controversy was finally determined in favor of the church and Arent Bratt, only surveying patentee of the town on Feb. 5th, 1754, gave them a deed of conveyance of the property. The whole number of acres conveyed to the church by these conveyances was 3621. Finances. In early times the Dutch churches often acted as guardians of widows and orphans ; they provided for the poor and kindly looked after the aged and infirm, who had no natural protectors : and it was not unusual for the latter to place their property in the hands of the consistory from whom they received from time to time such support as their wants required. The con- sistory were the almoners of the church ; every Lord's day a collection was *Jan De Laggers kil is a small brook or rill emptying into the Mohawk river from tbe north side near the Aqueduct and many rods easterly from the Ael-plaats kil; by assuming this as the starting point of the south-easterly line of the town patent, the area of the town lands was increased at the expense of the church, whose lands adjoined them on the south-east. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 379 taken of the free will offerings of the people for this and certain other pur- poses, and this duty was not omitted even though there were no present objects upon whom their bounty might be bestowed. In the outset, the little community of Schenectady seems to have had few or no poor people, with the exception of a " shirt for a captive Frenchman," it does not appear from the accounts that the deacons gave a stiver to any person during the years 1687-9. As the funds accumulated they were loaned on bond at 6% interest to citizens. Thus in the audit of 1689, obligations to the amount of nearly 3000 guilders were included in the assets of the church. Moreover the consistory traded with another portion of these funds, buying and selling brass kettles, nails, linen, thread, baize, coverlets, etc. This seeming perversion of the funds given for a more sacred purpose was simply a temporary necessity of the times and ceased altogether when private enterprise provided for the wants of the people. Among the permanent sources of income, were de wet/ or " Poor Pasture," originally given by Hans Janse Eenkluys " for the poor of Schenectady;" — the church mill and mill pasture given by Sweer Teunise Van Velsen; — leases received from the trustees of the town; — seat rents and burial fees. Besides the payment of the domine's salary and the Voorlezer's and Klokluyer's stipends, out of these funds the bread and wine and sacred utensils for the Lord's Supper were purchased; the church was cleaned, and incidental repairs to the parsonage were made, such as glass for windows, posts, nails, &c, for the fence. The following from the church account books are illustrations: " 1735, By een predication Boek, £1-4-0." 1777, Dec, the church paid " Voor een gifte aan afgebrande menschen van dese plaats." "13 Sept., 1794. Bey cassa voor een groten Engelsen Beybel." 5 Sept., 1815. The consistory resolve to refund to the deacons enough to buy 4 silver mugs and one metal flaggon, which is still used in the church at communion service. A knowledge of the domestic habits and church customs of a people is most difficult to be learned after a lapse of two centuries; — even uncommon events were seldom recorded, how much less likely then that social manners and every day occurrences should become matters of history. 380 History of the Schenectady Patent. Particularly unfortunate has it been for Schenectady that the flames of 1690, spared almost nothing of her early records; — with the exception of a few leaves of the deacons' account book, all is blank. As something however may be learned, even from such unpromising ma- terials as these, both in respect to the customs and finances of the church, the following extracts are subjoined. During the year 168£, the church accounts were kept by Deacon Johannes Sanderse Glen and are quite legible. [Translation.] 1686 1686 den 20 oktb. Jan brouwer debet. 20 Oct. Jan Brouwer Dr aen 14 el linnen a 7 el. pr bever* gl. 16. — to 14 ells of linnen a 7 ells the beaver 16 gl. Maria Clyn ditto aen 6 el linnen a 7 el. pr bever, aen een kombaers a f. 10 aen 6 el. bay aen 4 lbs spykers aen 7 el. linnen a 7 el. pr. bev. aen 2 strenge garen debet fl. 6—18 10— 8.— 2. 8. 0. 5 Maria Klein Dr ditto to 6 ells of linnen a 7 ells the beaver 6 — 8 to a coverlet a 10 guild gl. 10 — to 6 ells bfize 8.— to 4 lbs. nails 2. to 7 ells linnen a 7 ells the beav. ' 8. to 2 skeins thread — 5 Johannes potman Credet den 15 Septem. aen de kerck gewerekt 11 dagen a f . 7 des dagen. 25 ditto. Isack de Trou [Truax] aen 6 lbs spykers 3 — 15th Septem. Johannes Potman 11 days work on the church a 7 guilders a day 25 Cr ditto Isaac de Trieux [Truax] to 6 lbs nails 3.— den 20 Novem. Adam Vroman aen 9 lb spykers, scwant 14 aen 2 lb spykers, bever ditto Sander Glen aen 9 lbs spykers 1686 den 30 Septe. Johannes Glen, aen 42 lbs spykers a 20 lb. pr. bev. aen 34 lb. spykers a 20 lb. pr. bev aen 2 sgepel taru 1689 80 oktober 2 bevers aen silv. gelt aen bever noch by reckeninge * The guilder or florin beaver was worth'about 38 or 40 cts. — the guilder seewant, or wampum, was equal to one shilling N. Y. currency or one-third of the former;— the beaver skin being considered the specie of the Province. _ These accounts are kept in guilders and stivers, partly seewant and partly beaver. debet 20 Nov. Adam Vrooman Dr f.4.— to 9 lbs nails sewant 14 4. 1. to 2 lbs nails beaver 1. debet ditto Sander Glen Dr fl.4 to 9 lbs nails 1686 4. debet. 30 Sept. Johannes Glen Dr '. 17. to 42 lbs nails a 20 lbs pr beaver 17- . 13—15 to 34 lbs nails a 20 lbs pr. to skiples of wheat 1689 beaver 13- -15 Credit, 30 Oct. Cr fl. 16. 2 beavers in silver money 16.- 8 one beaver 8. 6—15 also by settlement 6- -15 The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 381 den 8 ockto. domenie tassemaker, aen 14 el. linnen a 7 el. pr bever Credet Wouter Vrooman Voor plaes voor sin vroouw ditto Barant Wemp aen 14 el. a 7 el. pr bev. 1689 Ockt. 2 bevers aen zilvr debet 8 Oct. Domine Thesscbenmaecker Dr 16 — to 14 ells of linnen a 7 ells pr beaver 16. — Cr. Walter Vrooman for a place [seat] 36 gul for his wife* 86 — ditto debet Barent Wemp Br 16. — to 14 ells of linnen a 7 ells pr beaver 16. — 1689, Oct. Cr. Credit 2 beavers in silver 16 — 16.— ditto Sweer tunisse debet, aen 14 el. linnen a 7 el. pr bev. fl. 16. aen 7 el linnen door syn myt Jannetje gehaelt fl. 8. den 1 novem. Credit, aen sulver tot fl. 26 bevers 26 ditto. Sweer Teunisse [Van Velsen]f Dr to 14 ells linnen a 7 ells pr beav. 16. — to 7 ells linnen fetched by his maid Jaunetie 8. Nov. 1 ' cr. to silver fl. 26— beaver 26. den 10 Oktob Daniel Janse debet aen 26 el. linnen a 7 el. pr. bev. 29 — 15 1688 den 20 Augus. credet aen fl. 89 — 5 sewant 29 — 15 1686 10 Oktob. Abratn Groot debet e en 14 el. linnen a 7 el. pr. bev. 16. 1688 Credet 2 bevers door barent Janse op recken- inge van domine tassemaker 16. 10 Oct. Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen Dr. to 26 ells linnen a 7 ells Dr beavers 29—15 1688, 20 Aug. Cr. to 89-5 sewant 29 — 15 1686 10 Oct. Abraham Groot Dr io 14 ells linnen a 7 ells pr. beav. 16 — 1688 Cr. two beavers by Barent Janse [Ditmars] on a reckoning of Domine Thesscben- maecker 16 ditto. Andries Arentse [Bratt] to 17£ ells linnen a 7 ells pr. beav. 20. Dr Dr ditto. Andries Arentse debet. aen 171 el. linnen a 7 el. pr bev. 20. ditto Jan Van Rotterdam, debet, aen fl. 12 sewant over een aksic die hey met hendrik mese hat 4. — den 6 meert.aen fl.12 sewant over questie die hey met hendrik lammerse hat 4. ditto hendrik lammerse debet aen fl. 12 sewant over qestie die hey met rotlerdam had 4. * It would seem from this that a single seat in the church at this time cost 36 guilders or $4.50.1 t The town miller, killed in the massacre of 1690. X Did ihe Consistory act as a court of justice imposing and collecting fines, or were the fines collectedOjy the magistrates handed over to the deacons for the poor? ditto. Jan Van Rotterdam to 12 guilders sewant in an action which he had with Hendrick Meese [Vrooman] 4. 6 Mar. to 12 guilders sewant in the con- test which he had with Hendrick Lammerse 4 ditto Hendrick Lammerse to 12 guilders sewant in the contest which he had with Rotterdam:! 4. Dr 382 History of the Schenectady Patent. den 10 oktob. de Commissariss: aen 20 lb. spykers Content Verkoght. 10 lb. spykers 40 lb. spykers sewant li el. linnen 8 streuge garen 3 lb. spykers voor de kerk Uyt gift. den 6 novem. voor bet klyne doot kleet 108.- voor bet naye 1- den 5 desem. voor het nagbtmaels wyn 25.- voor ryen van een vert spyke von de Vuyk, 4 lb. spykers 0- voor de ^lasen van de kerck 30- 1687 den 28 Maret aen ryer Jacobse, sewant 600.- en 47 sgepel taru a 5 sg. d bever die by van Sweer tunesse ontfangen beeft nogb door Synien Groot 12£ sgepel taru nog door gysbert gerretse 16 sgepel taru nog door barent Wimp 11 sgepel taru dit alles a 5 d bever. Den 4 sept. nog aen wyn Voort nagt maels 30. nog voor linnen 4 ell 7.- nog een henit voor een gevangen Vrans- meu 8. nog 2 sgepels taru gekogt 10. nog voor wyn aen't nagtma 15. nog f. 27 sew: aen Potman gelyck het by syn reckening te sien is 27. 10 Oct. 1 debet The commissaries* Dr. fl.8. to 20 lbs. nails Account of sales fl.8. 4. 10 lbs. nails 4.— 48. 40 lbs. nails sewant 48.— 5— 3 1£ ells linnen 5- 3 2—16 8 skeins thread 2—16 4—10 3 lbs nails for the church 4—10 Expenditures. 6 Nov. for the little pallf fl.108 for the sewing [same] 1 — 6 5 Dec. for the wine for the Lord's supper 25. — for freight of a tub of nails from the Fuyclc\ 4 lbs. nails 6 — for glass for the church 30 — 1687 28 Mar. to Ryer Jacobse [Schermerhorn] 600— and 47 skiples of wheat a 5 skiples pr. beaver, which he has received of Sweer Teunisse [Van Velsen] also through Simon Groot 12| skiples of wheat, also through Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel] 16 skiples of wheat also through Barent Wemp 11 skiples of wheat, all a 5 skiples per beaver. 4 Sept. also to wine for the Lord's supper 30 — also for linnen 4 ells 7 — 6 also a shirt for a captive Frenchman 8.— also 2 skiples of wheat bo't 10 — also for wine for the Lord's supper 15 — also 27 guilders sewant to Potman as is to be seen by his settlement 27. [Audit of the past year's accounts.] A° D* 1687 Den 5 Decemb r in Skach- nechtade So heeft de kercken-raed so predikant, A. D. 1687, 5 Dec. in Schenectady. The consistory, minister, elders and dea- cons, — have received an account of * The magistrates of the village. + The " little pall " owned by the church was used at the funeral of children . % A name given to that part of Broadway, Albany, from State street to Steuben street, as also to Albany itself. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 383 onderlingen als diackenen de Recker- ingh Van de Cas en alles opgenomen Van Johannes Sanders en Levert de Reckening aen Claes Lowrense pur- merent aldus voer Dat hy in zewant & silver gelt in Cas heeft g.697- 2 en hy nioet ontfangen aen nystaenden schulden van linnen 423. Purmerent heeft volgens Zyn Boek verkoegt 2494 lb. spykers noch onbetaelt 128 lb spykers. noch heeft Purmerent in zyn huys 149 lb. spykers the cash and all other things from John Sanderse [Glen] and delivered the same to Claas Lourentse Purme- rent [alias Van der Volgen] as fol- lows: — he has in sewant [wampum] and silver money g.697 — 2 and he is to receive in outstanding debts for linnen fl.423 Purmerent has sold according to his books 2494 lb. nails in his book yet unpaid 128 lb. " also Purmerent has in his house 149 lbs. " [H samen] [Signed.] Petrus Thesschenmacker Meyndert Weinp. 528| lbs total Petrus Thesscheumaker, Meyndert Wemp. 5284 The accounts for 1688 were kept by deacon CU^as Lourentse Purmerent [Van der Volgen]. The sales being similar to those of the year preceding but few extracts will be made. 1687 den 15 april. Symon Groot, bareut Wjmp ende Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel], syn debat voor een jaer huer van de plantasie*, — bever f.82 1688 den 15 april Symen Groot, barent Wemp en gys- bert gerritse (Van Brake]) nog een jaer huer van dite plantasie a bever fi.82 fi.164 1687 15 ap. Simon Groot, Barent Wemp and Gysbert Gerritse (Van Brakel) are in- debted lor a year's hire of the plan- tation* — guilders 82 1688 ap. 15. Simon Groot, Barent Wemp and Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel] are still indebted for a year's hire of this plantation 82 fl.164 16^9 15 ap. Symen Groot, barent wemp and gys- bert gerritse (Van Brakel) deb. een jaer Huer van de plantasie f.82 1687 den 28 meert. Symen Groot credet aen 134 sgepels taru a 5 sgepel pr bever f!20 1689 15 ap. Simon Groot, Barent Wemp and Gys- bert Gerritse [Van Brakel] debit for a years' hire of the plantation fl82 1687 28 Mar. Simon Groot, to 134 skiples of wheat a 5 skiples pr bever fl.20 Cr * The • plantasie here mentioned for the first time in these accounts, but afterwards called de wey and de Arme wey was the 18 morgens of land bequeathed "for the poor of Schenectady by Hans Janse Eenkluys. This parcel of ground was known later as the Poor Pasture. 384 History of the Schenectady Patent. Gysbert Gerritse , Credet aen 16 sgepel taru a 5 sgepel d bever 25—12 barent wemp Credet aen 11 sgepel taru a 5 sgepel pr bever 17 — 12 1688 gysbert gerritse credet 10 schepel erten a 5 schepel per bever 16 — dirck brat Credet 15 schepel taru 24 door Jan Roeloflse, credet 6 109— 4 Gysbert Gerritse (Van Brakel) Cr. to 16 skiples of wheat a 5 skip : pr. beaver 25 — 12 Barent Wemp Cr. to 11 skiples of wheat a 5 skiples pr beaver 17—12 1688 Gysbert Gerritse (Van Brakel) Cr 10 skiples of peas a 5 skiples pr beaver 16 Dirck Bratt Cr. 15 skiples of wheat 24 by Jan Roeloffse* (De Goyer) 6 109- 1688 de diyacony deb. 66 lb. spykcrs aen de Ileyninge en 39£ lbs spykers Aen't buys 1688' de diyacony Credit 66 lbs spykers. Verkoght 34 strengen garen a 6 sfuy- vers pr streng: de strengen Konipt fliO — 4 credet 1688 The diaconate Dr 66 lbs nails on the fence and 39i lbs nails on the House 1688 The diaconate Cr. 66 lbs. nails sold 34 skeins of thread at 6 stuyvers pr skein, the skeins come to 1110 — 4 credit Voort verkoght garen fllO — 4 For the selling of thread, 10— 4 [Audit for the year 1688.] A° D 1 1688 Den INovemb: in Skack- uechtadie So heeft de kerckenraad van Shach- nechtadie, so predicant, ouderlingen als Diaeekanen De Reckeninge van de Cas opgenomen van Claes Lou- rentse Purmerent en de selveopdato aen Adam Vrooman overgelevert in dese naer Volgende posten. In casa en Zewant A99.-7 noch vier Stucken vanachten 48. aen Boeck schuld 696. Een obligatie op Hendrick meese~ van't jaer 1681 den 23 ap 1 g> 350 Een obligatie op Bennony Adre- I £ sse Vau 't jaer 1686 den 2 Augs. ' » 336-1 Een obligatie op Willem Abramse s van t jaer 1687, den 28 Nov r J " 600 A.D. 1688 Nov. 1 in Schenectady The consistory of Schenectady, minis- ter, elders and deacons, have received from Claas Lourentse Purmerend [alias Van der Volgen] an account of the cash, and at this date have delivered over the same to Adam Vroomau in the follow- ing items: in cash in Zewant four pieces of Eight (spanish) by book accounts An obligation against Hendrick meese [Vrooman] of the year 1681 Ap. 23, An obligation of Bennony Aren- tse [Van Hoeck] of the year ► 1686, Aug. 2, An obligation against William Abrahamse [Tietsoort] of the year 1687, Nov. 28, fH99.-7 48. 696. 350. 336- 1 600. * Son of Anneke Janse by her first husband Roeloff Janee. The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 385 Eeu obligatie op Reyer Jacobse van 't jaer 1087 den 28 maert 1008 except de interest Verschenen gelt van't weyland van 't jaer 1688 den 15 ap 1 verschenen 184 — Van Gerrit Banckert Van 't wey- land 44 Vrywillige besloften van Barent Deip- mars 24 % lb garen s a A3369- 't welck wy getuygen Petrus Thesschemnaecker, predicant. Sweer thooniscben Van Velsen, Reynier IScbaets Meyndert Werup Claes Louresses Adam Vroomman Dit I C C/3 is 't merck van Isaac Swits -16 An obligation against Reyer Jacobse [Schermorhorn] of the year 1687, 28 mar., A1008.— except the interest, Sundry sums from the pasture land of the year 1688 ap. 15, 164— 8 From Gerrit Bancker for the Pasture land, 44 — Freewill offerings of Barent Ditmars, 24 — % lb thread, sum. fl3369— 16 The which we witness — Petrus Thesschenmaecker, preacher Sweer Tcunise Van Velsen, Reynier Schaets, Meyndert Wemp, Claes Lourenise [Vander Volgen] Adam Vroman, This is I C C/3 the mark of Isaac Swits. Deacon Adam Vrooman was treasurer of the Diaconate for the year 1689. lowing are some of the expenditures. The fol 1689 6 ianwari. betaelt aen Lysbet Van Trych voer bans iansen Kluys 57 — 12 1689 6 Jan. paid [Tricht*] klys] to Elizabeth Von Trich for Hans Janse [Een- 57—12 febwer. acn meyndert wemp betaelt 7 schep a taru 28. maert, betaelt aen wyn voerhet avont- mael 17. betaelt aen de wesvaders van Pyeter kwyns 144. 1689 den 30 mey noch aen lodewyck cobes op renten gelandt 132. den 23 July noch betaelt voer 4 dagen gewerck my wey van bans iansen * * * * 16. Feb. to Myndert Wemp paid 7 skiples of wheat, 28. March, paid for wine for the Lord's supper, 17. paid to the guardians of Peter Kwyns 144. 1689 30 may, also to Ludovicus Cobes lent upon in- terest, 132. 23 July. Also paid for 4 days work in the pas- ture of Hans Janse [Eenkluys], 16. * Daughter of Willem Teller and wife of Abraham Van Tricht of Albany. 49 386 History of the Schenectady Patent. den 30 okto. noch bctaelt voer wyn Voer het avont- mael 17-10 den 3 septetn. noch aen teunis karsten op renten gelandt 120. 30 Oct. also paid for wine for the Lord's sup- per 17-10 3. Sept. also to Teunis Karstense lent upon in- terest, 120 [Audit for tG89.] A D' 1689 Den 26 en Novem r in Skacknechtadie. So heeft de kercken raad van Skah- nechtadieso Prrdicnnt, Oudcrlingen en Diacckcnen De Rcekeningh van de Cas en alle Schuld en Obligatien en Van de wey op genomen van Adam Vroomman, en deselve op data aen Isaac Swits overgelevert in dcse uaer volgende postein : The consistory, minister, Elders and Deacons, — have received from Adam Vrooman an account ot the cash, debts, obligations and [dues] for the [Poor] Pasture and delivered the same to Isaac Swits at this date in the following items : In cas in zewant De wey is debet Aen Obligatien Debet Hendrick meese Benony Aersse Keyer Jacobse Scher- merhooren Willem Abramse Ludovicus Cobes Teunis Carstense Carel Hansen aen Boeck schulder Jan Brouwer Maria Cobes Isaac de Triex Sander Glen Johannes Glen Jacob Van Laer Philip Philipse Jan Joncker Hendrick Lammerse Andries Bratt Willem Abramse A245— 14 In cash sewnnt, gl. 245—14 The Poor Pasture is in- 212—11 debted 212—11 458—5 451— 5 396— 1 1128. 612. 132. 120. 120. 54 115—19 16—10 15—15 33—15 3— 27—12 24— 12— 24— 30 Obligations Debit Hendrick meese [Vroo A2959— 6 458— 5 A451— 5 [Van man], Bennoni Arentse Hock], 396— 1 Rycr Jacobse Schermer- hooren, 1128 Willem Abramse [Tiet- sooit], 612 Ludovicus Cobes, 132 Tennis Carstense, 120 Carel Hansen [Toll], 120 A2959— 6 Book debts. John Brouwer, 54 Maria Cobes, 115- -19 Isaac De Triex [Truax] 16- -10 Alexander Glen, 15- -15 John Glen, 33- -15 Jacob Van Laer, 3 Philip Philipse [De Mort :]27- -12 Jan Joncker [van Rot- terdam], 24. Hendrick Lammerse, 12 Andries Bratt, 24 Willem Abrahamse [Tietsoort], 30 The Reformed Nether Dutch Church. 387 Douwe A ukes 31— 1 Douwe Aukes Freese] [De 31— 1 Jan Meby 13—10 Jan Mebie, 13—10 Joris Aerse 12— Joris Aersse [van der Baast], 12. Jesaias Swart 12— Jesaias Swart, 12 Benony Aersse 33—10 Benoni Aersse [Hoek] [Van 33—10 Qerrit Banckert 44— 8 Gerrit IJancker, 44— 8 Barent Deipinars 24— Barent [Jause] van Dit- raars, 24 s 8 527 527 A3944— 11 fl3944—ll [Signed by] Petrus Thesschenmaecker, Predicant Meyndert Wemp / , ,. frans Harmeuse f ouderlingen Adam Vrooman Dit is 't I C c/3 merck Van Isaac Svvts I dese vicr Willem Appel j Diaeckenen Dit B W is 't merck Van Barendt Weinp J Petrus Thesschenmaecker, preacher Myndert Wemp, ) Frans Harmense, \ Elders. [Van der Bogart], ) Adam Vrooman, This is the I C C/3 mark of Isaac 8 wits, [These four Willem Appel, (Deacons. This is the 15 W mark of Barendt Wemp [Wemple], Memorandum. The foregoing compilation is in the main, from original matter collected by Professor Pearson and published imperfectly in the church history issued in 1880, on the supposed 200th anniversary of the founding of the Dutch church in Schenectady. It contains an abstract of facts of interest to the general reader and some additional notes as to peculiar Dutch customs as well as some conclusions by the editor. In 1715, the church was called "The Reformed Nether Dutch church," which title in 1727 was transposed into " Nether Dutch Reformed church" (Nederduytse gereformeerde gemynte), or commonly the " Dutch church." The authorities for the foregoing are records and papers in the " Deacons' Chest," the baptismal and marriage books here and in Albany county, records of Albany and Schenectady counties, as well as data in State offices and State library. The Doop and Trouw books begin in 1694, prior registers having been lost in the flames of 1690 There are a few imperfect records kept by the treasurer, of somewhat older date. 388 ffistory of the Schenectady Patent. This church with its vast estates and civil interests must have had many valuable papers pertaining to the ancestry of the people and defining many historical facts which are now but conjectures. A committee " to examine the papers in the old box belonging to this Board and to destroy all such papers as they may deem useless," was appointed in 1813, and they probably destroyed much history. It is said that the old records of Virginia were destroyed to cover up sins of the destroyers' ancestors and tradition has it that the consistory of this church in its business aspect was a close corpora- tion for the benefit of its friends. However this may be, this committee swept out of existence the original titles to much of the land and doubtless obliterated the ancestral trace of many worthy as well as unworthy Dutch settlers whose descendants are numerous throughout the country. The most valuable of these records were the Notarial papers of Schenec- tady kept by Ludovicns Cobes, schout and secretavy from 1677 to about 1695, when he died. They contained all deeds, wills, marriage contracts, testimony of witnesses prior to trial, and similar miscellaneous official matter. On examining the Albany Notarial papers one feels the deepest regret that those of Schenectady should have disappeared. Possibly there were un- pleasant Tacts but as facts they were worthy of preservation. Whether they were destroyed with other unreadable Dutch documents by this committee, it is impossible to say now. They were appointed to destroy and not to preserve and they left no list of what went to the flames. The Dutch quoted in the foregoing was " Mohawk Dutch." In Father Jogues time (1643) there were eighteen different languages spoken at New York, presumably as many at Albany. A considerable number of the early settlers had Indian wives. (Domine Megapolensis says the Dutch are constantly running after the Mohawk women.) The children growing up with Indian relatives, among the tribes and with men speaking so great a variety of tongues built up a patois of their own, the "Mohawk Dutch;" many words met with in it defying the dictionary of the schools and yield- ing only to the explanation of very old men who had been familiar with this kind of Dutch and the Indian languages in their early youth. Many words are untranslatable save by the context. The English Church. 389 ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH (EPISCOPAL). This church was the natural outgrowth of the English occupation from 1664, to the Revolution. There were many immigrants from England and the New England colonies and many discharged soldiers turned settlers. There were always considerable garrisons of British regulars or New Eng- land militia more particularly during the French wars. Where they had mar- ried Dutch wives their families were usually brought up in the Dutch com- munion, this was especially true of those whose business carried them away with the troops to Oswego 01 beyond trading, during a large part of the year. English chaplains doubtless had many hearers among the inhabitants. After the peace in 1754, at the close of the old French war, few troops were stationed here, and those of the inhabitants who desired to hear preaching in the English language such as the English, Scotch and New Englanders were forced to build a church for themselves. Paucity of numbers and of means delayed this for years, though the foundation was commenced in 1759. The old church still stands — transepts have been added in same style of architecture. Unfortunately the old sounding board has been removed from over the pulpit but the general quaintness of the interior lias been preserved. The following letter in answer to some inquiries addressed to the late Archbishop Tait by the Bishop of Albany, quotes some data from records of the " Society for Promotion of the Gospel in Foreigu Parts" pertinent to the early history of this old church. "S. P. G. House, 19 Delahay St., Westminster, November 24, 1882. Mem. for Major MacMiirray, IT. /$. A. Schenectady. We have no " sketch, map, or diagram " of the town of Schenectady — the only information here, likely to be useful is contained in the following extracts : — I. From the Petition of the European Protestant Inhabitants of the town of Schenectady and Province of New York." "Your Petitioners from Sundry parts of Great Britain and Ireland have mostly since the commencement of the late war settled in this remote part 890 History of the Schenectady Patent. of His Majesty's Dominions, where they have had no opportunity of hearing the gospel preached there being no established church nearer them than six- teen miles. "They have from their small ability and great desire to become like other Christians, with much perseverance almost finished a small church for pub- lick worship, but being unable to support a Clergyman, renders all their endeavours abortive. " Your petitioners therefore humbly pray the Venerable Society will grant them a mission and enable them to compleat the work begun, or other assistance out of their great wisdom they please." [This petition is dated "Schenectady March 23,1765" and signed by 55 persons. It will be noted that they speak of having "almost finished" a church, Maj. MacMurray (in his letter to the Bishop) states that a church was built there in 1759.] II. From the Report of the Society, for 1766. " Upon the Representation of Sir William Johnson in his letter of Oct. 8, and of Dr. Auchmuty in his letter dated Oct. 24, 1766, together with the petition of the Protestant Inhabitants in communion with the church of England in the town of Schenectady about 17 miles from Albany, the Society have engaged to appoint a missionary to that place, it appearing that there is but one Clergyman in all the extensive county of Albany, and that the church people of Schenectady have purchased a glebe lot and by Subscription, chiefly amongst themselves, erected a neat Stone church." III. From a letter of Sir William Johnson to the Society, dated : "Johnson Hall October 8, 1766. " Some members of the church of England settled at the town of Schen- ectady purchased a lot there and by subscriptions chiefly amongst them- selves, erected a neat stone church and petitioned for a missionary In the meantime the Dissentors claimed a principal property thereon because some of them had been promised the use of it when it did not interfere with the service of the church of England — not content therewith they have done all in their power to obstruct the work and draw of the members threatening to pull it down. The Governor, at my instance lias promised bis protection but unless something is immediately done for these people the next generation must become dissentors and all future hope of the increase of the church will prove abortive, neither is that town the only one where such practices are carried on." The English Church. 391 IV. From a letter of Rev. Dr. S. Auchmuty to the Society, dated : " New York, October 24, 1766. " The enclosed petition was sent to me a few days ago, with a request to forward it to the Society, Schenectady is a growing village about 17 miles beyond Albany. The people that have signed the petition are (the most of them) respectable in those parts and have exerted themselves in building their church. There is not one Church Clergyman in all the extensive county of Albany except Mr. Browne, whose usefulness I have informed you is little, little indeed. It may not be amiss for the Society to give the peti- tioners some encouragement provided they set about purchasing a glebe house etc." V. From letters from Rev. William Andrews to the Society. "Schenectady, March 15, 1771. "The first time I preached here was on Sunday the 6th of January last and since that I only baptized 5 children, buried 1, and administered the Sacrement to 20 communicants I have preached twice every Sunday in the evening I catechise the children — several of whom are Dutch. 24 June 1771, The number of my people I believe may be about 80 grown up persons who attend regularly and devoutly, besides some of the other De- nominations come at times. My church is particularly more filled in the winter time, as several of them are Indian traders or Batteaumen, who, when the Mohawk River is open, proceed in those kind of vessels to Fort Detroit and even to Mishillimackauac in sloop which is reckoned upward of 1000 miles from here." The Rev. William Payne, D.D., Rector of the church, preached an his- torical sermon November 12th, 1882 ; the following extracts give an outline of the growth of this church: " In tracing out the history of the building, we must go back nearly to the beginning of the preceding century. The memories of the old French war, in which the inhabitants of this town suffered severely, had hardly begun to fade away, and there was not the first thought of that Revolution which, seventy years afterwards, resulted in our independence of the mother country. The smoke of the Indian wigwam still arose all along this Mohawk valley, and the cry of the wolf and the panther could be heard on its hillsides and in the forests. Though fears of another savage invasion had mostly subsided, yet the Old Fort, near by the spot where we are now assembled, 392 History of the Schenectady Patent. was still standing, stocked with arms and surrounded by the pickets or pali- sades, within which the early settlers had been accustomed to find refuge in case of alarm. " At this early period, the Rev. Thomas Barclay, missionary of the. English church at Albany, visited Schenectady, and so far as I can ascertain, was the first Episcopal minister who held service in the place. Writing to London, to the society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign parts, by which he had been sent over, he says, under date of 1710 : 'At Schen- ectady I preach once a month, where there is a garrison of forty soldiers, besides about sixteen English and about one hundred Dutch families. They are all of them my constant hearers. I have this summer got an English school erected amongst them, and in a short time I hope their children will be fit for catechising.' ' Schenectady,' continues Mr. Barclay, ' is a village situated upon a pleasant river, twenty English miles above Albany, and the first castle of the Indians is twenty-four miles above Schenectady. In this village there has been no Dutch minister these five years, and there is no probability of any being settled among them. There is a convenient and well-built church, which they freely gave me the use of. I have taken pains to show them the agreement of the Articles of our church with theirs. I hope in some time to bring them not only to be constant hearers, but com- municants. * * From New York to the utmost bounds of my parish there is no minister but myself.' " Two years after Mr. Barclay left Albany, where he was succeeded by the Rev. Mr. Milu, and he by other missionaries, till 1746. These gentle- men doubtless often crossed the pine plains to minister to the few church- men here, though I do not find on our records any mention of their visits or acts. The Dutch pulpit became regularly occupied by its own pastors, and the English people who were the feeblest of the two, seem to have been brought under its predominating influence, instead of vice versa as Mr. Barclay so fondly anticipated. "In 1748, the Rev. John Ogilvie came to Albany as rector of St. Peter's. And the same year arrived in Schenectady a layman, who, from the love he bore to the principles and usages of the English church, and the zeal he showed in promoting them, has been called the father of this parish. I refer to Mr. John W. Brown, whose memory is appropriately preserved by a tablet on these walls. He is said to have come from London, and was only The English Church. 393 twenty-one years old at the time of his arrival here. Through a long life, till the day of his death at the age of eighty-seven, he was the steady friend and unwavering supporter of this church. From him probably it received its name, St. George being the patron saint of bis native country. " The earliest baptism, by an Episcopal minister, on our parish register is that of a daughter of Mr. Brown, in 1754, by the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, who performed the same office for another child of Mr. Brown in 1759. It also records the baptism of three other children of Mr. Brown by Dutch minis- ters — the Revs. Thomas Frelinghise and B. Vrooman. " That year— 1759— the erection of the church edifice seems to have been undertaken; for under date of that year our parish books still preserve, among other items of disbursement, to ' Richard Oldrick and Horseford, for digging the foundation of the church, £4. 3s. 9cV Amounts for drawing timber, and work of the like kind, are mentioned from that date onward. The woodwork was done under the superintendence of Mr. Samuel Fuller, who also became the builder of Johnson Hall. He was master of the king's artificers, and came to this vicinity from Needham, Massachusetts, with Abercrombie's army. To obtain the necessary assistance for fulfilling his part of the work on the church, he went back, in 1762, to Needham, and engaged several carpenters; and besides having their regular wages while here, they were to be allowed a specified sum for the seven days it would take them to come from Needham, and also for the same number of days for their return. It was several years before the building was completed for occupancy and use, though as early as 1767 we find sums collected for pew rents among the treasurer's papers. These papers also show the names of persons who subscribed for the erection of the church, with their respective amounts. " At that time lived in the Mohawk Valley Sir William Johnson.* He was a major-general in the British service, and general superintendent of Indian affairs in North America. The English church had in him a warm friend. He not only contributed liberally himself to the erection of this building, but also obtained subscriptions from his friends in various parts of the colonies — at one time £61 10s. from the Governors of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and other distinguished gentlemen, while attending a treaty * At Fort Johnson, near Tribe's Hill, before he built Johnson Hall, Johnstown, where he died in 1774. 50 394 History of the Schenectady Patent. of peace at Fort Stanwix. Sir William was also of great service to the church here, in procuring for it missionaries from the Venerable Society in England, which seems to have consulted him in most of its appointments to this region of country. Through his co-operation the wardens obtained from the Governor of the colony a charter for their church in 1766, and Sir William was requested to act as one of the trustees. He was a frequent worshipper in these walls, and tradition says that his pew, which was on the south side, was distinguished by a canopy. The church, as it then was, according to a ground plan of it in one of the old books, had two doors — one on the west end, and the other on the south side (the arch of which still remains), with a communion table against the east wall in the middle, and directly in front of it two desks for reading and preaching; and only a part of the church was finished with pews. " During those years the building was used more or less by the Presby- terians, who had none of their own.* I have before me a curious statement on this point, said to have been found among the papers of a Mr. Alexander Kelly, a member of that body. He says: ' Betwext 1760 and 1770, the Episcopalians and presbyterians agreed & build a Church Betwext them, The Former to goe in at the west Door the Later at the South Door when the Church was Finesht John Brown Belonig to the English Church went to New York & get it Consecrated under the Bishop unknown to the pres- byterians, The presbyterians highly ofended at this John Duncan James Wilson James Shuter Andrew & Hugh Michel Andrew McFarland & Wm. White & Alexander Merser purchest a lot From a Gentelm in New York Colected money in varies places To Build a Church. The Dutch Inhabi- tants Seing How they were Served advanct very Liberal in money Boards plank Nails Hinges & paint The Church was built about the year 1770.' " Mr. Kelly's representation of the case must be as faulty as his or- thography. To prove this, it is enough to state two facts — one, that there * [This church is on part of the site of British barracks which extended along the Rondweg (Ferry street) from Union street to the " Queen's New Fort," at Front street. It wa3 immediately under the walls of this citadel of the town and close to the palisades along Ferry street. All British regiments had chaplains ; the English those of their faith, the Scotch, Pres- byterians. The regulations of the war dcparlment then as now required very strict attendance at divine worship by the troops, thus having services in which citizens and army followers were welcome to engage. Is it not probable that this was the origin of the joint use of the "English church " by both denominations of English speaking people? — M'M.] The English Church. 395 was no bishop in this country till 1784, thirty years after this alleged trans- action; and the other, that the church was never ' consecrated ' till nearly one hundred years later, by Bishop Potter, in 1859. The long and short of the whole story is, that the Presbyterian party was disappointed in not getting permanent possession of the building, to which they had no claim except that they had kindly contributed to its erection. " As connected with this part of the ecclesiastical history of Schenectady, I take the liberty of quoting from a note on the subject, received from my esteemed friend, the Rev. Dr. Darling: ' One of the oldest members of my church (Presbyterian), when I came here, informed me that the south door was walled up after the Presbyterian exodus, ' and the Lord put a curse on the mortar, so that it would not stick;' though, as she had no prophetic credentials, you may prefer to account for it in some other way.' "It was to matters of this kind, I suppose, that Dr. Darling's predecessor, the venerable Dr. Backus, referred in his historical sermon, preached in 1869, when he said: 'Ritualism and evangelicism long contended here for the mastery.' One of the champions in that contest was this same Mi*. Kelly — Sandy Kelly, generally called — who, when a pitch-pipe was introduced into the Presbyterian worship, rushed down the aisle and out of the door, crying, « Awa' with your box o' whistles ! ' What would he have said and done, had his evangelic ears been shocked by the noble organ which now vies with that of St. George's in improving the ritual of God's house ? " While the church was being built, the Rev. Thomas Brown, who suc- ceeded Mr. Ogilvie at St. Peter's, Albany, and after him the Rev. Harry Monroe, seem to have ministered now and then to the church people here, baptizing their children and burying their dead, until the arrival of Mr. William Andrews. This gentleman had been for some time catechist among the Mohawk Indians. He was a native of Great Britain. He returned home in 1770, when he was ordained by the bishop of London, and ap- pointed missionary at Schenectady. He may be considered the first resident minister, or rector, of St. George's. Mr. Andrews opened a grammar school here in 1771; but the labor attendant on this and his parish broke down his health, and he relinquished the mission in 1773, and went to Virginia.* * A glimpse of the state of the parish in Mr. Andrews' time is preserved in a letter then written by the wardens to the secretary of the Venerable Society. They complain of the difficulty of pledging a fixed salary for their rector, owing, as they say, "to the absence of many of the congregation (which must make the contributions casual and uncertain), who are Indian traders over the Great Lakes, and do not always return within the year. 396 History of the Schenectady Patent. " Mr. Andrews was soon succeeded by the Rev. John Doty, a native of Westchester, and an alumnus of King's (now Columbia) College. It was now the eve of the Revolution. Not long had the new incumbent been proclaiming within these walls the gospel of peace, before the sounds of war were echoed from Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill. The rupture between the colonies and the mother country was to try the souls of all, but of none more than the clergy of the English church, who were sustained by the bounty of its society at home, and whose ordination vows would not allow them to disuse the liturgy, with the prayer for the king and royal family. Like many of his brethren, Mr. Doty suffered between a sense of duty and the pressure of the times. He was arrested, and kept in ward for a while. On being released, he left for Canada; and divine service was suspended in the church during the remainder of the war. " When the independence of the States was established, and peace de- clared in 1782, the few sheep which Mr. Doty had been forced to abandon were almost entirely scattered. The church edifice had become dilapidated, the windows were broken out, and desolation reigned within and around. I have been told by those who remember those times, that it became a resort even to the swine, which were then allowed to run in the streets of this Dutch city. As soon, however, as the little remnant of church people recovered their courage and strength, they took measures to restore their house of prayer, and liberal offerings were made for the purpose, especially by Mr. Brown and Mr. Charles Martin, for a long time the faithful treasurer of the society. Soon after, in 1790, the parish was admitted into union with the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal church, which had become duly organized. But it was some time before it could enjoy the services of a settled clergyman, depending upon those of Albany and other neighboring towns. "In 1798, the Rev. Robert G. Wetmore became rector, in connection with Christ church, Duanesborough; and from that day its affairs moved on in uninterrupted order and with increasing success. At the first election of the corporation, Charles Martin and John Kane were chosen wardens. In a register book, then begun, there is a rude pen-and-ink sketch, by Mr. Wet- more's own hand, of the church as it then was — a little, oblong, stone structure, fifty-six feet long (about half its present length) by thirty-six feet wide, with three windows on each side (the old south door being walled The English Church. 397 up), and in front a small wooden steeple, crowned by a low bell tower with a cross upon it. It contained thirty-six pews (about one-third of its present number), and no gallery, except across the west end, which was reached by a stairway within the church in the north-west corner. The pulpit, with a long flight of stairs, was against the east wall in the centre, with a reading desk in front, and a clerk's pew in front of that, and the altar, with rails, on the north side — an arrangement similar to that still existing in the old church at Duanesborough. "Mr. Wetmore resigned in 1801, and some years elapsed before his place was regularly supplied. Meanwhile the services of neighboring clergy were occasionally obtained, and several improvements made in the chui-ch edifice. At a meeting of the vestry in 1804, ' Charles Martin and John W. Brown represented to the board the necessity of taking down the steeple, on account of its being in a decayed situation; and proposed to obtain by subscription a sum adequate to the erecting a new steeple.' Messrs. David Tomlinson and Win. Corlett were appointed the committee, and the result was the wooden tower (which was taken down twelve years ago) and the beautiful belfry and spire which crowned it, and which were deemed worthy of preservation. " The foundation of that tower was laid by a young man who had then just arrived in Schenectady, and who, though born and reared a New Eng- land Congregationalist, soon attached himself to this church, and afterwards became most intimately identified with all its changes and improvements — David Hearsey. " The next rector was the Rev. Cyrus Stebbins, who, having been a Methodist minister at Albany, was ordained with special reference to this parish, by Bishop Moore. He was here from 1806 to 1819, but I do not find that any alterations were made in the church edifice during his incum- bency. "For a year or two after Dr. Stebbins' resignation, the services were kept up, with much acceptance to the congregation, by Mr. Alonzo Potter, as lay reader, then tutor of Union College, aud afterwards the Bishop of Pennsylvania. A tablet to his memory has been placed by the trustees of the college on the walls of St. George's. "In 1821, the Rev. Alexis P. Proal was called to the rectorship, and he continued in it till 1836. During those fifteen years, several substantial 398 History of the Schenectady Patent. additions were made to the church property. A house with lot, belonging to Ahasuerus Wendell, was brought for a rectory by the church's side on the north ; and more sittings being found necessary in the church, side gal- leries were erected, running from the west to the east wall. " Dr. Proal was succeeded by the Rev. Aldert Smedes, during whose rectorship of three years a radical change was made in the church edifice. Increased accommodations being required, the vestry debated whether to pull down the old building and erect a new one, or to enlarge. The latter course was adopted, for which we may well be thankful ; for, apart from the loss of the charm of age and historical associations, a new structure would very likely have proved an abortion. It was a period in the history of ecclesiastical architecture in this country, when ignorance and false ideas prevailed on the subject. In place of that which, though simple and rude, was not unchurchly, there might have been entailed upon the parish some monstrosity, perhaps a wooden Gothic building, such as those times often gave birth to. From that misfortune we were saved by the wisdom and right taste of those who had the direction of matters ; and so, in the spring and summer of 1838, two transepts, or wings, were added to the old nave. But, alas ! the former chancel arrangement was discarded, and in lieu of it arose a huge three-decker — a pulpit large enough for several, and desk of corresponding size, with a communion table in front. Under the pulpit was a hole, where the clergyman could go and change his surplice for a black gown between the service and the sermon. Thirty pews were gained on the lower floor, besides many others by continuing the galleries around the new transepts ; and the graceful arch over your heads was shut out of sight by a floor, making the whole upper ceiling flat. Another important event in the history of the parish during Dr. Smede's rectorship, was the purchase of the house next south of the church, called the Peek house, where the Sunday school met and the sexton lived. The garden was added to the burial ground." The Presbyterian Church. 399 AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. By Rev. Timothy G. Darling, the Pastor. The early history of the Presbyterian Church in Schenectady is obscure. As late as 1756 we learn from Smith's History of the Province of New York that there was no Church in the town except the Dutch. Before this date, however, settlers from England and Scotland and from New England were drawn to this " frontier " town by the facilities afforded for trading with the Interior. Missionaries, chiefly for the Indians, had been sent- into these parts by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel early in the 18th century. One of these, the Rev. Mr. Barclay, under date of 26 Sept., 1710, reports preaching once a month at Schenectady, " where there is a garrison of 40 soldiers, besides about 16 English and 100 Dutch families * * * the only ' dissenters ' there are Dutch.' " There was a chapel in the fort at Schenec- tady which was built about 1735. In July, 1759, the Rev. Dr. Johnson writes to Archbishop Seeker, " They are building a church at Schenecty, a fine county town on the west side of the river above Albany, and will soon want a minister there," " Chenectedi or Corlaer," is said about this date to be a village of some 300 houses. Concerning this building, now St. George's Episcopal Church, a tradition existed that Presbyterians subscribed to its erection with the understanding that it should be used in common by both denominations. Unfortunately all the ecclesiastical records which might have thrown light on the earliest Presbyterian history here, have been destroyed by fire. It is not unlikely that such Presbyterian missionaries as had penetrated to Albany had also visited this region, but there was no minister settled over the Presbyterian church here before 1770. For some time prior to this, however, there had been a congregation worshipping statedly in a hired 400 History of the Schenectady Patent. "meeting-house," as under date of 11 Jan., '69, there is an entry in "An account of what Andrew McFarlan has laid out," as follows: "To Balance due on the first 2 years of the old house £6 14s. 6c?." On the 12th Oct., '69, a lot was purchased from Peter De Bois for £100, and work seems to have begun at once in earnest, as almost immediately follows: "To 2 Gallons West d Rum when cutting the timber for the church lis." — the next item being, " To cash paid to Phinn & Ellice for rum and sugar when rideing timber £4 9s. 4c?.* The site of the old meeting house cannot now be ascertained, nor can I learn concerning it more than that it was furnished with a bell. It was still in use 22 March, 1773, as at that date Mr. Fuller was paid £1 16s. 0c?., for attending to the windows. By the end of '73, the edifice seems to have been completed, and the bell in the new steeple with its leaden ball adorned with " 6 bookes of gold leaf " no doubt called the congregation to a joyful service of dedication, of which we have no notice whatever. The church and lot are credited with an expenditure of about $1,800. The carpenter's work was done by Sam'l Fuller and John Hall. The church had a gallery and, on the ground floor, 21 wall and 22 " Boddy " pews and the carpenters agreed " to do the work on the Pulpit In the Same manner as In the English Church only it is to Joyn the wall So as to have no piller for a Soport & to make the Clark's Seat." Of the size and strength of the congregation there is no record until much later; but in 1768 they felt able to compete with their brethren in Albany; for a letter of Mr. Brown to Sir Wm, Johnson at this time, in urging the necessity of securing Mr. Murray for St. George's, says: " We are the more Anxiously Solicitous on this Head as the Presbyterians are busee to get Mr. Bay among them " — this Mr. Bay being called about this time to the Pres- byterian church at Albany. The first minister who is known to have preached to the congregation statedly is the Rev. Alexander Miller. Mr. Miller was a pupil of Rev. James Findley, a graduate of Princeton College in 1764, a student of theology under Dr. Rodgers, of New York, was * As illustrating the " better days of our Fathers " may be mentioned also this entry, 3 Aug., 1771, To tickets bought at New Castle Lottery £4 16s. ; but I cannot learn that we enjoyed any such good luck here as did our friends and neighbors of St. George's church. The Presbyterian Church. 401 licensed 1161, and ordained by the Presbytery of New York, 1770, which is the date of his settlement here. He may have preached here, however, prior to this date, and may possibly be the person alluded to in a letter of 25th Feb., '60, from the church wardens to Sir Wm., expressing their dis- appointment at not securing Mr. Murray, which " will be attended with the consequence of losing some part of our congregation by their joining the Dissenters, as they have provided themselves with a Gentleman who is much admired." . Mr. Kelly states that Mr. Miller left in 1781, during the summer. Mr. Miller also preached at Currie's Bush and Remsen's Bush in connection with his charge here. The elders in Mr. Miller's time, were James Wilson, James Shuler and Andrew McFarlan, with William White as deacon. The gram- mar school which was taught by Mr. Miller during the Revolutionary war, was, according to Spafford's Gazeteer, a very respectable one, " in which Gov. Tichenor of Vermont (and in which the late John Wells received his education), and others since celebrated acted as assistants." During the war the Church, though not exposed to the outrages which were perpetrated upon the neighboring Episcopal church for political reasons, seems to have suffered greatly. Mr. Andrews had reported to the S. P. G. (year ending Feb., 1773) 43 communicants and 16 catechumens ; but Mr. Doty, his successor, reports in 1780 from Montreal, where he had taken refuge, that '' his poor little flock has been almost dispersed and the few remain- ing were in the most deplorable circumstances" and had been informed by a young man, lately from Schenectady, that the congregation consisted of only 27 white adults, 20 children and some blacks. It is not likely that the Presbyterian Church was much less afflicted. The congregation was in' arrears for salary due to Mr. Miller at the time that his successor, Mr. John Young, was called. Mr. Young* first came here about the middle of 1787, was ordained June 14th, 1788, and gave one-third of his time to Currie's Bush or Princetown. In the interval, however, there had been occasional supplies,! there is recorded the payment of £6-10-0 to Mr. Ball, whom I take to be the Rev. Eliphalet Ball of Bedford, N. Y., who was so much pleased with the country that in 1788 he took a portion of his congregation to settle in the region which is now called in honor of him, Ballston). ♦According to Mr. Kelley'a ■ f I" the absence of Mr. Miller (1771). 51 402 History of the Schenectady Patent. The congregation at this time, and for years later, was composed of ele- ments which did not mix very kindly, Formalism contending stubbornly against the growing evangelical spirit in the Church, and Mr. Young was dismissed in consequence of the dissensions, 9th Dec, 1790.* Perhaps one cause of the disaffection with him may be found in Mr. Kelley's note, "no session in his time." From 1791 to 1795, among those preaching here occasionally, are Rev. Messrs. Baldwin, Chapman, Coe, Cook, Davenport, Dod, Dun, Judd, McDonald, Pomeroy, Schenck, Thompson and Williams. With the election of the Rev. John B. Smith, to the presidency of the College, a brighter day dawned for the Church. Dr. Smith did much to re- organize the Church, ordaining 4 elders in 1795 or I796,f viz. Alexander Kelly, John Taylor, Alexander Walmsley and John McAtyre. . On the 13th Sept., 1796, the Rev. Robt. Smith of Pennsylvania, a graduate of Princeton, was installed over the Church, which at this time numbered only 37 communicants. There were however about 85 pew holders, and the income of the Church from pews and subscriptions was a little over $700. Mr. Smith remained until July, 1801, when the severity of the climate having impaired his health he sought refuge in Savannah, Ga., dying soon after his removal. He is said by Dr. Dwight to have been a man of re- markable gifts, resembling in many traits President Smith of the College, but excelling " him and most other men in amenity and tenderness of dis- position and sweetness of deportment." His life was sacrificed to his zeal and affection for his people. Under his ministry the Church received 51 additional members.^ During Ihe illness of Mr. Smith the Rev. Mr. Adair and Dr. Jonathan Edwards, Jr., second president of the College, frequently supplied the pulpit, *Mr. Young requested a dissolution of the pastoral relation, Nov. 10th, 1790, on the ground of non payment of salary and ill health. The Church had not yet settled-its in- debtedness to Mr. Miller who was still seeking payment, and the Church at Currie's Bush applied to Presbytery for two thirds of Mr. Young's time on the ground that the Church in Schenectady, was no longer able to support him. f Mr. Kelly's paper gives the date as May 1st, 1796. 1 The township of Schenectady contained in 1796, 3472 inhabitants, 683 being electors and 381 slaves. TJie Presbyterian Church. 403 and as the collections for 1801 show an increase over previous records, and additions to the Church are also recorded, the impetus given by Mr. Smith's pastorate would seem not to have been arrested. In March, 1802, three elders and 73 others, petition Presbytery for the speedy instalment of the Rev. William Clarkson, 20 petitioners, including two elders, however, pray that the installation may not take place. Mr. Clark- son's settlement was the signal for war among the discordant elements in the congregation, and shortly after such serious charges were preferred against him as that he did not " preach," but read sermons " contrary to Luke 4 : 16-23 where our Lord preached, said preaching being without notes." Mr. Clarkson was also charged with saying that " we never had such preach- ing here before, we had nothing but like the reading of an almanack," and the Presbytery failing to see the heinousness of Mr. Clarkson's homiletic shortcomings, a temporary secession of 24 families took place. Although considerable accessions to the Church took place in Mr. Clarkson's brief pastorate, his opponents claimed that the communicants had diminished one- half. During this unhappy contention in which perhaps Mr. Clarkson was rather the occasion than the cause of the quarrel, an election for elders had occurred and the session now consisted of Alexander Kelly, Alexander Walmsley, John McAtyre, Jas. Murdock, Jos. Shurtleff, Rob't Loague, Wm. Dunlap, Geo. Leslie and Caleb Lyon (elder John Taylor died 1801). The election seems to have intensified the strife, and in September, 1803, Mr. Clarkson sought peace in departure. In the succeeding December, the Rev. John B. Romeyn, a son of Dr. Romeyn of the Reformed Dutch Church and founder of Union College, was settled over the Church at a salary of $625. But the Church was at strife, and in November, 1804, Mr. Romeyn also left. The number of communi- cants at this time could not have been much above 100, the highest rental for pews was but $35 and the support of the Church and pastor in the midst of such difficulties very doubtful and precarious. At least, Mr. Nathaniel Todd, ordained over the Church 11 Dec, 1805, was dismissed by Presbytery in the succeeding November, on the ground that the congregation were unable to support him. For some time the Church depended upon temporary supplies, but, as if still further to complicate and confuse matters, the ear of the congregation was taken by an Irishman of the Methodist Church, a lay preacher, Mr. 404 History of the Schenectady Patent. John Joyce. In spite of the pevil of a threatened schism if Mr. Joyce were not settled over the Church, Presbytery declined to entrust the Church to his care and declared it expedient for the session to resign that new elders might in the interest of harmony he elected. The new session consisted of Messrs. Kelly, Walmsley, Daniel Chandler and Prof. Henry Davis, after- wards president of Middlebury, and still later of Hamilton college. Notwithstanding its want of a pastor, and its internal differences, the Church does not seem to have lost any confidence in itself, for on the 3d of July, 1809, the corner stone of a new edifice wns laid,* the old building on the site of the chapel being taken down, and the congregation worshipping for a time in the college chapel. No doubt a large part of the strength and impulse in this movement came from the college. Dr. Nott from his accession to the presidency in 1804 had been a warm friend, and to his kindness, as well as that of Dr. McAuley and other members of the Faculty, it was probably in large measure owing that the Church came through its crisis with so little loss of strength. It was no doubt in grateful acknowledgment of their sympathy and practical help that the galleries of the church which was elliptical in form were so constructed as to enable the graduating classes to march down an inclined plane into the pulpit for their diplomas, and up again into the opposite gallery. Meantime, the Rev. Alexander Monteith had been caUed to the pastorate, and on Aug. 29th, 1809, he was settled over the Church, remaining its pastor until his death, Jan. 29th, 1815. lie must have been a judicious and good man, for there seems an absence of all party-strife during his ministry. The church must have also prospered generally, as there was an increase in its collections, its communion roll was enlarged by 62 additions, and the pastor's salary was advanced from $700 to $1000. Mr. Monteith's successor was the Rev. Hooper Cummings, whose eloquence covered not a few of his own sins and other men's sermons. Eccentric and * Concerning the form of the original church building, nothing is cenainiy known, but it is believed that the church seal (an impression of which is here reproduced) represents it. This seal was made under the supervision of the late Dr. Magoffin, and it was the understanding of my predecessor and quite in conformity with Dr. Magoffin's habit of mind, that the seal was intended to represent the original structure. Tlie Presbyterian CJmrch. 405 unfortunate, to speak mildly, Mr. Cummings' brief pastorate, judged by statistics, was most successful. Installed 22d Nov., 1815, and dismissed 18th Feb., 1817, C5 persons were added to tlie communion roll, and work among the colored people prosecuted with vigor and success, Presbytery having authorized Messrs. Wisner and Davis, then members of the Church in Union College, to catechise and exhort among them. During Mr. Cummings' ministry however, old strifes broke out again and it was not till the Sih of June, 1820, that another pastor could be secured, changes having occurred in the session, and some withdrawing from the Church, which in the interval enjoyed the services of Drs. Nott and McAuley. In April, 1820, the famous Mr. Nettleton preached, and the Church seems to have enjoyed spiritual prosperity, not less than 120 being added to the Church during the year. " Tokens"* at the communion were etill in use, not being dispensed with till March, 1821, when members of other Evangelical Churches were welcomed to the Lord's table. Besides these changes, during Mr. (Walter) Monteith's pastorate (1820 to 1826), the old psalm book (Rouse) was relinquished, which indicates that a decided change was taking place in the sentiment of the Church. In Mr. Monteith's time also the old "Session House" was built by subscription, and not without much opposition from those who did not favor Sabbath Schools, prayer meetings and other "new fangled ideas." The Sunday School had been started by Mr. Jonathan Crane, an elder in the church, in the basement kitchen of his own house as a Mission Union School in 1817, but in 1824, it divided into two church schools, one Dutch, the other Presbyterian, which found a home in the session house, though viewed with suspicion if not with dislike by many who regarded it as "a school for outcasts." Mr. Monteith's successor was the liev. Erskine Mason, a son of the cele- brated Dr. John M. Mason, whom in intellectual strength he in no small degree resembled. A scholarly and finished preacher, the three years of his service here were years of strength and blessing to the Church, which received during his brief pastorate an addition of 89 members, 806 being the total number of communicants reported to Presbytery in 1830. From July, 1830, until December, the church seems to have depended for service upon various ministers, when the Kev. Win. James, a brilliant but somewhat eccentric preacher, became its " Stated Supply," declining, how- PR E S B Y.N CHURCH SCHEN.DY * 1809 * I I . T I M : I I . X I X I. COR: XI . XXVIII *The "Token" was intended to prevent any unknown person, or member underdiscipline from coming to the Lord's table. Tokens were distributed by the elders before com- munion to all who were in good standing, and were taken up by the elders again from the communicants at the table. They were mide of lead, or pewter, were about an inch square having inscripiions on each side. 406 History of the Schenectady Patent. ever, in 1832 the call to become pastor, and ceasing to preach in the spring of the same year, for the Rev. James W. Henry appears to have supplied the Church in April and May. The day of rapid changes in the pastorate and shifting fortunes was soon to end, for the pulpit having been supplied by the Rev. Jonathan Trumbull Backus, May 2 7th, 1832, a call was extended to him, and on the 6th Dec, 1832, he was ordained and installed over the Church, remaining its pastor until the 18th June, 1873. During all this long pastorate, under the blessing of God, the Church steadily grew and strengthened; old differences died out; larger ideas of the privilege of Christian benevolence obtained; more efficient methods of work were adopted, and the usefulness of the Church greatly increased. During the ministry of Dr. Backus, over 1,000 persons were added to the communion of the Church and a new era of benevolence entered upon, the aggregate of the reported benevolence during this period being over $160,000. The Church edifice was enlarged in 1834, and again in 1859; and the old "Session House" in 1843 gave way to the chapel to which was added in 1857 the session room. During this century not less than 60 of its members have entered the Christian ministry. The Pastors and Supplies of the Church, as far as known, are: Rev. Alexander Miller, 1770-1781. Rev. John Young, 1787-1791. Rev. John Blair Smith, D.D., 1795, etc. Rev. Robt. Smith, 1796-1801. Rev. Wm. Clarkson, 1801-1803. Rev. John B. Romeyn, D.D., 180 :-1804. Rev. Nathaniel Todd, 1805-1806. Rev. Alexander Monteith, 1809-1815. Rev. Hooper Cummings, 1815-1817. Rev. Drs. Nott & McAuley, 1817-1820. Rev. Walter Monteith, 1820-1826. Rev. Erskine Mason, D.D., 1827-1830 Rev. Wm. James, D.D., 1831-1832. Rev. J. Trumbull Backus, D.D., LL.D., 1832-1873. Rev. Timothv G. Darling, D.D., 1873-. Mr. Kelly's Paper, to which reference has been made, contains a list of the ministers of the Church down to Dr. Mason's day and could not therefore have been written before 1827, when Mr. Kelly was nearly 80 years old. In this paper it is stated that between 1700 and 1770. the Episcopalians and Presbyterians " agreed and built a church betwext them, The former to Goe in at the west door, the Later at the South Door. When the church was Finesht John Brown belonging to the English Church went to New York and got it consecrated under the Bishop unknown to the presbyterians. The Presby- terians Highlie offended at this, John Duncan. James Wilson, James Shuter, Andrew and Hugh Michel, Andrew McFarland, William White and Alexander Merser, purchest a lot from a Gentelmin New York, colected money in varies places to Build a Church. The Dutch Inhabitants seing How they were served advanst very Liberal in money, Boards, plank, Nails, Hinges & paint, The Church was built about the year 1770," &c. The allusion to consecration by the bishop is a manifest anachronism ; Seabury, the first bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, receiving his consecration as bishop in Scotland in 1784, New York beinu under the care of the bishop of London, who succeeded in defeating all attempts of the Presbyterians to procure incorporation. The Presbyterian Church. 407 Mr. Kelly is evidently referring to something which gave legal title to the property and which was done in New Yoik and not on the spot. Writing in extreme age, his memory might tail to disting ish between consecralion and incorporation. In a letter from Mr. Brown and others to Sir Wm. Johnson, 20th Dec, 17G5, it is stated that " the congregation of the Church of England have come to the conclusion to petition H. E., the Governor to grant them a charter to secure their Rights &, Privileges in the Church built here," and seek Sir Wm's consent to acting as a Trustee " as we can have no doubt if a Gentleman of your known merit and character will Espouse our Cause, it will prevent for the future the Presbyterians from making any unjust attempts on our privileges in the church."— (Doe. Hist., N. Y, iv, page 229.) On the 4lh Dec, 1766, it is stated that the charter had been granted (lb., p. 234). Of this petition and charier I can find no trace, though the kindness of Mr. Fernow, of the State Library, has furnished me a copy of the petition of 1774, in which it is stated that the title to the church lot was vested in Dr. Ogilvie and others, petitioners. A letter from Sir Win. to the S. P. G., 8th Oct., 1760, states that the church was built chit fly by subscriptions among themselves. " In the meantiuje the Dissenters claimed a principal property therein, because some of them had been promised the use ot it when it did not interfere with the seivice of the chinch of England," and that they were so incensed at the turn of affairs, as to desire to destroy the organization and demolish the building. The Rev. Dr. Payne, of St. George's church has with great courtesy put at my disposal his church records of this period, and 1 have diligently searched them, without coining, however, to any very positive conclusions. . In 1759 both bodies must have been very feeble and in no condition, unaided, to support regular services, and the application to the S. P. G., does not seem to have been made till some time after. In 1769, Dr. A uchmuly thought that " Albany and Schenectady should be but one living," and in 1773, Mr. lnglis join's with Dr. Auchniuty in thinking the grant to Schenectady a perversion of the sociely's bounty, which ought to be ex- tended to larger bodies of people without worship.— {Due. H ist., JY. Y., iv, pp. 263 and 311), though Sir Wm. about the same time, writes to the society that although because of poverty and small contributions the "Church of England be then in its infancy, it is such as affords the most flattering hopes, if properly nourished and improved."— {Abstract of Proceedings of the S. P. O. Hid. /Society's Libr^try, N. Y.) The lists of the contributors to the two edifices are extant. The subscribers were mainly residents of New Yoik city, Albany and Schenectady, and in the two latter places, the names are largely Dutch. In Albany there were about 126 subscribers to the Episcopal, and 107 to the Pn sbyterian church, 22 of the above subscribing to both. In New York 71 to the Episcopal and 161 to the Presbyterian, and only 15 names in common. In Schenectady 192 to the Episcopal, and 212 to the Presbyterian, 47 in common. Of the Schcnun&y Utsals* " Ufa '■■ ■' • ■■•'■■>■ fbrm fii. st€£h Ifati&n art enu&e&hawf a Explanation A. .Indian VUiaatj a, i kief Jt-n'i) orUargt ViUag Jn.dia.ri Path J & Jlir JOouincLa.rti Jettlect with the J„Ma„, in Ot?g U 'f'Jr,-,/,,./ (\ To His Excellency William Tryon Esq' i Genera! & Governor m Chiei Province of NEW -YORK A; 'J' his Map . Country of (tie VI. Nations / .M'ith .l'\iri of the Qdiacent Cot i hhi irucribed by hu> excellency ■ I H<>, I OoedierU bionhl,- Schenectady Academy and Union College. 433 SCHENECTADY ACADEMY AND UNION COLLEGE. Schenectady academy out of which grew Union College, was commenced in 1785. Domine Romeyn, who came to the village the year before was the soul of this new enterprise. Through his influence the church was induced to erect a commodious building, and the citizens engaged to give it their patronage and furnish it with a library. After a prosperous exis- tence of ten years, a college charter having been obtained, the Academy property was passed over into the hands of its trustees. The progress of this undertaking can be clearly traced in the minutes of the consistory. Their first official action was taken on the 21st day of February 1785, when they resolved to construct as speedily as possible with the help of the church, a house of two stories with two rooms in each story upon the lot of ground belonging to the church upon which the old guardhouse* now stands; and that upon the completion of the building three of said rooms shall be assigned for the use of the school and academy. f Moreover on account of the great cost of the academy house to the church, it was "resolved that said church shall receive four shillings yearly from every scholar taught in said house, and if said academy or Illmtre school shall become changed into a college, then the president of such college as well as the rector of said school, shall be a member of the Dutch church and minister of this church ; and the said four shillings for each scholar shall be bestowed upon such poor scholars as the church shall name." March 5, 1785. The consistory about this time were still negotiating with the town magistrates for the improvement of the common schools * After the erection of the church of 1734, that of 1715, standing at the junction of Church and State streets, was used as a fort, guard or watch house. f Bestolen so spoedig als mogelyk met de hulpe van nun E. Gemeente, een Huys van twee Verdiepingen en twee Verbrekken in yeder Verdiepinge te Bouwen op het Lot grondt tot de Kerk behorende, daar tegenswoordigh het Oude Wachthuys staat; sul- lende op volvoeringe van het gebouw, drie van desselfs Vertrekken worden of gesondert tot school en Academie gebruyk. — Consistory Minutes. 55 434 History of the Schenectady Patent. (triviale schooleri) of the town and for the establishment of an Illusive school or academy. March 16, 1785. The consistory order the gathering of materials for the academy building. March 28. It was considered expedient to build the academy, not upon the old guardhouse lot, but upon the north corner of Union and Ferry streets, on land then belonging to Johannes Pootman: — ordered that building materials shall be procured as speedily as possible, — also carpenters and masons. April 7, 1785. The academy building being now well under way, the consistory and twenty-seven respectable citizens of the town met at Reuben Simonds' public house in Church street, to close the matter of the academy by signing articles of agreement for the management and support of said academy.* ACADEMY BUILDING. April 22, 1785. The consistory appoint Win. Schermerhorn to superin- tend the building of the academy. Aug. 1, 1785. Committees, both of citizens and consistory, are appointed to urge forward the academy building. f * This agreement is drawn up with great formality and particularity in eleven sections and is written on fifteen pages of foolscap. It was probably drawn up by Dr. Romeyn who was president of the meeting. f A stone of an oval shape was built into the front on which were cut the names of the building committee ; this stone is now in Union College Museum. Schenectady Academy and Union College. 435 An effort was made in 1791, to endow this school by a grant of Indian lands; and Nov. 16, Dr. Dirk Van In gen announced to the consistory that he and others had rented 10,240 acres of land of the Oneida Indians for 21 years, on consideration that he paid after five years £100 yearly to said Indians. Dr. V., offered said land to the consistory to be held for the benefit of the Schenectady church, inasmuch as said academy unincor- porated could not hold real estate. At first the consistory agreed to receive the land but subsequently gave it up, finding doubtless that it could not be legally held by the church. On the second day of April, 1793, the trustees of the academy ask that the building erected by the Dutch church be made over unto them, to which the consistory consent. And on Sept. 24, 1796, the trustees of Union College ask that the building be made over to them unconditionally, to be sold and the money put into a more commodious building; on due con- sideration this request was granted and the proceeds of this sale with other moneys 'were used in building the present Union School edifice. UNION SCHOOL. 436 History of the Schenectady Patent. SCHENECTADY. Probably no city has enjoyed so many names or rather spellings of names as Schenectady. That first recorded is in the Indian deed in 1661, to Van Curler for the flats, — Schonowe. In his honor the Iroquois called it Curler or Corlaer, meaning the village of Curler, or Corlaer's village. Similarly the wild Indians of the "plains" speak of the President of the United States as " Wasseeton," and the great dome of the National capitol as " Wasseeton's Campo" i. rse, was placed above the peaked turret of the door at Sunny Side." * Notarial papers— Magistrate's Court Albany. 446 History of the Schenectady Patent. (1743.) In contract for a house : prescribed that there should be built : " Stone founda- tion above the ground with lime, new roof of squared white pine boards ; to make a chimney and to mason it with hard bricks and lime above the roof."* (1749) Peter Kalm. " The houses in the town (Albany) are very neat and partly built of stones [brick?] covered with shingles of the white pine. Some are slated with tiles from Holland because the clay of this neighborhood is not reckoned fit for tiles.f Most of the houses are built in the old way with the gable end towards the street, a few excepted which were lately built in the manner now used. A great number were built like those of New Brunswick which I have described ; the gable end being towards the street, of bricks and all the other wails of planks. * * * " T ne gutters on the roofs reach almost to the middle of the street. This preserves the walls from rain but is extremely disagreeable in rainy weather for the people in the streets." The street doors are generally in the middle of the houses and on both sides are seats. (1755.) " The Dutch Chimnies have very small Jambs with 3 or 4 Rows of Tiles, some no Jambs at all. * * * Some Stone Houses many Brick. * * * The Brick houses many of them curiously floured with Black Bricks and dated with the same, the Governour's house has 2 Hearts in Black brick. Houses chiefly but one storey high and Brick ends notched like steps. Window shutters and loop holes in Sellars. On top of the Houses for weather cocks Horses, lions, Geese, Sloops," <&c, &c.% (1786.) Albany had 550 houses. (1789.) Morse's Geography, Edition 1789. " The houses are mostly built in the old Dutch gothic style, with the gable end to the street, which custom the first settlers brought from Holland with them. The gable end is commonly of brick with the heavy m julded ornament standing with notches like stairs and an iron horse for a weather cock at top. The houses are seldom more than one story and a-half high and have but little conveniences and less elegance, but they are kept very neat." Skenectady, "The town is compact and regular, built of brick and excepting a few, in the old Dutch style, on a rich flat of low land surrounded with hills." (1795 ) Rochefoucault Liancourt. " Skenectady is a small town and containing mostty old houses built in the Dutch style which gives it altogether the appearance of an ancient European cit3 r ." (1795.) Isaac Weld, Jr. * Albany Annals, x. t Yet there were pan tile (roofing tile) bakeries here a century before. X Journal of Rev. Sam'l Chandler, Chaplain Mass. Troops, 1755. Jlouses in Ancient Albany County. 447 "Albany contains 1.100 houses. * * "In the old part of town the streets are narrow and the houses are frightful ; they are all built in the old Dutch taste with the gable end to the street and ornamented ou top with large iron weather cock." (1798) Dr. Timothy Dwight, president of Yale College, says : " The houses (of Albany) are almost all built in the Dutch manner, standing endwise upon the street, with high sharp roofs, small windows and low ceilings. Their appearance is ordiuarily dull and disagreeable. " (1800.) Worth's Random Ree. — " All the old buildings, and they constituted a large majority — were but one story high with shaip peaked roofs surmounted by a rooster, vulgarly called a weather cock. Every house having any pretense to dignity was placed with its gable end to the street, and was ornamented with huge iron numerals announcing its date of erection." There is a popular belief in some quarters that in the Dutch times houses in Schenectady were built of bricks brought from Holland. To support this it is advanced that the bricks are exactly similar to bricks of Holland cities aud that vessels coming out for cargoes of furs, brought bricks as ballast. Dutch steen backers (brickmakers) had brick yards in Albany prior to 1G50, and there were a number of brick yards and pantile (rooting tile), bakeries as appear by their sale* in Notarial papers. The business of brick making is one of the least skillful arts, (one skilled brickmakcr diluting the ignorance of many common laboring men,) brick clay of good quality and quantity was exposed on the hillsides — wood for burning was near the clay — the bricks were small and were largely the hard burned arch bricks made in small kilns, especially kilns built to make a small number of bricks. Many of the so-called Holland Dutch bricks contain the gravels of this region (mostly argillaceous shales), and besides nearly all the old Dutch " brick houses" are not built of brick but of strong yellow pine timber and have only brick fronts which were added in later years of prosperity and comparative wealth. There is no evidence that a single brick house was built before 1710-15. That bricks were brought from Holland as ballast, seems very unlikely especially as to bricks for Schenectady. Almost immediately after the settlement of Schenectady, the colony passed into the hands of Great * Peter Jacobse Borsboom de steenbnkker sold his brick kiln in Albany just prior to taking part in settlement of Schenectady, in 1662. 448 History of the Schenectady Patent. Britain and all direct trade with Holland ceased at once. If we follow the course of a vessel from Amsterdam to Albany by the then common trading routes, we shall see that such bricks even as ballast would be expensive. The Dutch West India Company freighted a ship with a cargo of stroud s and duffels, hardware, cutlery, arms and similar goods. She cleared for a market and arriving in the Dutch Islands of the West Indies, traded for rum, sugar and molasses, an amply heavy cargo "with- out ballast. She then in regular course sailed for the South (Delaware) or North (Hudson's) river — and supplied traders with goods from Holland and some of the rum, molasses and sugar for the Indian trade, taking on furs which were as good as gold — then her route hiy home, via, Isles of Slmals or the banks of New Foundland, where she took on as many quintals of fish as she could purchase-. When the trade here was more important and carried on more directly, heavy hardware, etc., served ample purpose as ballast for the small ships of that time. Grant that some cargoes of brick ballast were landed at Albany from the sixty ton s-hips of that day, would any one be justified on commercial grounds, which the Dutch closely considered, in hauling them through the woods and over the sand hills tw T enty odd miles, via, Niskayuna or the Norman's Kil ? There were no real roads for a hundred years and even now the same trails used then are impassable most of the year for heavily loaded wagons. From the foregoing quotations it is manifest, that except in the very first settlement of the colony, bricks were made in this locality, that they were very cheap, costing less than one-half or one-quarter the present market price, and that bouses cost very little to construct or at any rate as they were in the main alike in style and character, they sold at very mode- rate prices. Bricks that were brought from Holland were sent for building a house for the commies of the colonie by the Patroon's company and do not appear as imported on private venture. Stone walls were ordinarily laid up " dry," or with mud mortar, only using lime on the exterior and exposed sides or above the ground. Chimnies •were usually erected inside the houses and were likewise built of stone or Houses in Ancient Albany County. 449 bricks, with clay mortar within the roof, and bricks laid in lime mortar above the roof. In the earliest times chimneys were built of wood, plastered, or daubed with mud. Probably this was commonly done in log or block houses. Of the notable houses in Albany, the oldest dated is the Pemberton house, corner of Pearl and Columbia streets. This is brick on the two street sides and wood on the others The gable is the normal Dutch gothic with the indented steps rilled with oblique courses of brick. The house fronted on Columbia street and had the side extension, and was otherwise almost identical in appearance with the Abraham Yates' house in Schenectady. The house was one and a-half stories on Columbia street, and was doubtless one of those referred to in the preceding quotations from accounts of travelers in the last century. Another ancient house on corner of Steuben and Chapel streets, is of two brick sides, one of which, the gable, looked down on its accompanying garden which extended to Pearl street. Several years ago there were visible on the boards on the Chapel street side, the pocket knife records of long bye- gone day's amusement, in cutting names, initials and dates as early as 1708 or 9 and later. Whether these dates were correct or only cut care- lessly or were the dates of birth of the artists, cannot be known of course, but the entire building in materials and details of construction, indicate that it may be as old if not many years older than the Pemberton house. Another similar house is buried amid modern surroundings on Maiden Lane above Pearl street. It is now (April, 1883) being removed. At Schenectady " the oldest house " is that built by Capt. Arent Bradt, on State street near Washington. Its front is essentially that of the Pem- berton house in Albany in almost every detail, its date is from 1715 to 1730. The house is heavily framed of timber, and the front is of bricks anchored to the front of the frame. It is the writer's* belief that the front was added after the construction of the house. The Vrooman house at the Brandywine mills, about the same date, is entirely of bricks. It is well built and is staunch enough to staud more centuries if modern improvements do not sweep it away. The Van Gyselling house on the flats is a wooden building and is a remarka- ble specimen of early Dutch architecture. The house is largely roof, a form of building both easy and economical of construction, requiring the minimum of iron work and nails and yet standing firmly against the winter's blasts. It is claimed to have been built in the 1 7th century, which, if true, makes it the oldest house in the valley, unless the Mabie house out dates it. A part of one of the buildings at the Schermerhorn's mills, dates about 1715 to 1720. 450 Illstory of the Schenectady Patent. The Abraham Yates house on Union street near the Dutch church, dates about 1 1-iO. It is brick fronted, whether so built or added later to the timber frame is unknown. The Bratt house in the Woestyne, the Glen houses in Scotia, the Mabie house in the Third flut have been described elsewhere. The town was doubtless as much Indian in appearance as Dutch, for many years. In 104-3, according to Father Jogues, the houses of Albany (then the frontier), were roughly built of boards and rudely thatched, with no masonry save chimneys. Up to the early part of the 18th century when there was a period of peace and confidence, greater population and prosper- ity, Schenectady was doubtless in about the same condition architecturally. Timber was plenty and immediately at hand, and the writer believes from careful study of the subject that there was not a single brick dwelling house in Schenectady prior to 1700, probably not before 1715, and that the houses were rarely ever more than one and a half stories high. The Capt. Arent Bratt house was built by the wealthiest man in this section of the country and was doubtless the best here. The wood built Glen house, of the usual Dutch pattern, probably soon fol- lowed, jind then the large square gambrel roofed house of Quarter Master Glen, in 1713. A wooden house of uncertain date, stands on the north side of Union street between Ferry and College streets. It is of the same pattern as the Abraham Yates house including the L, and it still has its ancient Dutch door cut into upper and lower divisions, serving as door and window all in one. In the cut of the church of 173^ this form of door is shown. There is not an ancient stone house in the city. This material was not popular with the Dutch, they prefering baked steenen or bricks for their masonry. All the earlier churches, save possibly the first, were built of stone; its permanency and massive character commending itself for that purpose. About the middle of the last century the English taste began to prevail and walls were carried higher and gambrel roofs came in fashion. The platform on the top served for a family gathering place on hot nights and the view of the valley bounded hy the spurs of the Heldeibergs and the Kayaderoseras hills was secured, unencumbered by the dense foliage and thickening houses of the town. The place was peculiar and quaintly old in appearance, until the fire in 1819 swept blocks of the densest portions of the town away. On the site arose modern styles of buildings in no wise different from the heterogeneous styles of brick, wood and stone, common to all small cities and towns. The depot of the great railroad suggests a town of yesterday that might be hurried out of existence by extension of the road beyond, rather than a place of the hoary age of two and a quarter centuries and yet in the bed of the trackway was found a skull cleft by an Indian tomahawk in 1690. Appendix. 451 APPENDIX. Indian Wars on the Border. (Page 281). To his Excelly Benjamin ffletcher Captain Gremrall and comand r in chiefe of the Province of New York, &c. The humble petition of Cap* Kilian Van Ranslaer Sheweth That yo r Excell petitioner is Proprietor of the colony of Ranslaerwick in the county of Albany. That the settlements & Plantations in the said colony are deserted by * * being a frontier place so that it brings no rent nor profite to yo r Excell' petitioner bnt a charge & trouble. That by his Patent there is a considerable quitrent reserved payable to his Maty. Yo r Excell petitioner therefor humbly prays * * yo r petitioner yo r * * of his arrearages of qnit rent * * the time of warr & for such time as the warr may continue & yo r Excell petitioner as in Duty bound shall ever pray &c. K. V. Rensselaer, June 10, 1691. Population in 1714. (See page 287.) "In y e Township of Schinectady." White males above 60 years 12 White males 16 to 60 years 110 White males less than 16 years 154 White females above 60 years 13 White females 16 to 60 years 107 White females less than 16 years 151 Slaves male over 16 years 7 Slaves male under 16 years 10 452 History of the Schenectady Patent. Slaves female over 16 years 19 Slaves female under 16 years 8 591 It will be seen from the above official census that there were only 110 white males of from 16 to 60 years and as the two foot companies of that year (see pages 286-287) numbered 116, it followed that every able bodied male was in the active militia of the place, the additional 6 being either over or under " age." Indian Fortifications. (Page 304.) The Indian town * * " Nothing was visible but its encircling palisades. They were of trunks of trees, set in a triple row. The outer and inner ranges inclined until ihcy met and crossed near the summit while the upright row between ihem aided by transverse braces gave to the whole an abundant strength. Within were galleries for the defenders * * * It was a mode of fortification practiced by all the tribes speaking dialects of the Iroquois language." — Pioneers of France, Parhnan. Dutch Church (Page 335.) "The parish reader (vorleser van de plaats) [Schenectady] who is the son of minister Schatts came to visit my ccmradc, and said he had heard of us and had been desirous to converse with us. lie was a little conceited, but my comrade having heard he was the voorlczcr, gave him a good lesson at which he was not badly content and with which he went away." — Banker and Sluyter's Journal, 1679. Marriage (Note page 366). " Marriage in the colony [at Albany] was always early, very often happy and very seldom interested. 11 When a man had [a] son there was nothing to be expected with a daughter but a well brought up female slave, and the furniture of the best bed chamber. At the death of her father she obtained another division of his effects such as he thought she needed, or deserved, for there was no rule in these cases." — Mrs. Grant, Memoirs. Appendix. 453 Bundling or Queesten. (Note, page 367.) " Those who in earnest do intend to be married together are in so much haste, that, commonly, enjoyment precedes the marriage, to which they seldom come till * * * * *they must either submit to that, or to shame and disgrace which they avoid by marrying; ante-nuptial fornica- tion, when that succeeds, being not looked upon as any scandal or sin at all." — Rev. John Miller's account of the Province of New York, 1695. Mr. Miller was alien to the people and their customs and doubtless greatly overstates the condition of affairs. It is probable that his observation of the life of some of the ruder people about the trading posts has colored his judgment and he has confused queesten or bundling with the crime he speaks of. He evidently did not understand that the custom was European and was in most instances perfectly honorable. (1658). Albany. Before the magistrate's court a young woman's reputa- tion having been assailed, the principal witness testified " when we were visiting together," " we slept together in the garret," also that the lady was " perfectly virtuous," as doubtless she was in her day and generation. Cost of Military and Indian Supplies. — (See pp. 409-425). The Com rs D T To Sundrys Deliver" Cap Helling at Saraghtoge Viz* : To 512 lb brod £2 14 9 (« 514 " beef at 2* £5 7 11 << 487 " Do "3 6 1 9 M 46 " poork " 4h 17 3 « 76 " Vensen " ^ or •OL' *v«v - -^ bv* H °* Jr s, *■ V $ «*■ o x '