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Edition,—square octavo, 300 copies., and 50 quartos.

Joel Mansell's Sons, Printers.

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.

XJ. 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.

XJ. 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 = 37J 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-f, while an event of the afternoon would be March 25th, 1706, under both styles.

ILLUSTRATIONS

1

2 3

4

5

6

7

8 9

10

11

12

Poeteait of Peof. Peaeson, Frontispiece

With signature. (Heliotype.)

Indian signatuees. 11 , 12, 17, 18, 19

(Cuts.)

Map of the Bouwlands 1664. 59

Constructed from actual survey and old deeds and descriptions. The four town blocks are also shown.

Beatt house, Woestyne. 98

This old house is brick on front and sides, wood in rear. Bricks are set in colored

pattern. (Heliotype.)

Poeteait Bey. Baenaedus Feeeeman. 112

And fac-simile signature. (Cut.)

Glen house, Scotia. 119

(Heliotype.)

Mebee house. 132

(8d Flat, cut.)

Abeaham Yates’ house. 229

(Cut.)

Desteuction of Schenectady. 246

Engraved from a painting partly by Giles F. Yates. (Cut.)

Signatuees of Albany Officials. 256

(Photo-engraving.)

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 considered as accurate enough for the period from 1780 to 1780. (Photo-engraving.)

Choeogeaphical map of the noetheen paet of Noeth Ameeica. 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 the present Utica, as part of Pennsylvania is curious. There are other features of interest in it. (Steel engraving.)

History of the Schenectady Patent

13

14

15

16

17

18

De Graaf house and Beukendaal. 299

The vale on the right is Beukendaal or Beech vale. AlongAts 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.)

Indian Castle. 305

From Champlain’s account. (Photo-engraving.)

Miller’s map.

Quite fully described on its face and in the text. (Photo-engraving.)

Mary Ann Rocque’s Map. 316

Copied from map in a curious little volume in the New York State Library, containing 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 probablv dates from the close of the “ Old French War,” or the beginning of the “ 2d French War,” say from 1748 to 1763. (Photo-engraving.)i

Yrooman’s Map 1768. 323

Is copied from a small rough manuscript map now in possession of Union College Library. (Photo-engraving.)

Deed to Dutch Church Lot. 350

Copied from ancient document in the deacon’s chest in the Dutch church at Schenectady. (Photo-engraving.)

19 Dutch Church of 173-f. 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 service to the editor. (Photo-engraving.) j

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 drawing 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 graye-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 w r orse. (Photo-engraving.)

Illustrations. vii

24 Batteau on Mohawk River. 423

(Cut.)

25 Durham Boat. 426

(Cut.)

26 Map of 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 pecuniary 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 Schenectady,” “ 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.

Professor 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 (baptismal and marriage records),in the early churches of Albany and Schenectady,

x History of the Schenectady Patent .

translated the “City Kecords”—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 separate 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 descriptions vague. Land was stepped off, or measured with a pole, a rope, or pair of harness reins, which represented an approximate scale of measurement. 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 thebounderies of lands granted or conveyed, that almost as much land lay in the gores where descriptions overlapped or underlapped, as in the undisputed portions. The labor involved in retracing these

Preface .

xi

old lines and defining “ how the lands were divided ” was almost incalculable 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 his 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 ; as Dungenness, Foulness, Sheerness, in southern England; and Fifeness, Buchanness, Clytheness, Odinness 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 Yan Ness, Van Nes, Yan Est, Yan Nest families, seems to have been of different origin.

xii History of ilie 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 government 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.

xm

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 Yan Curler pronouced it “fhe 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 population 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 Avriting 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 lias so diligently explored. His descent can be traced through seven generations from the Puritan fathers of New England.

At some time previous to 1643, 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 tbe century.

The family record for 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 Pearson, the grandfather of Professor Pearson, entered the Revolutionary 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.

Ilis son Jonathan, then a youth of eighteen, had previously secured a preparatory education at Dover, Pembroke and New Hampton academies, m 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 professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy. In 1849, he was elected professor 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 trying 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 has been called to engage in services so numerous and diverse, and that he has performed them satisfactorily through so long a period, is sufficient proof of his versatility and tireless industry. 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 families 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 penmanship 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 additional 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 provincial 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 Professor 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 disappeared altogether and the rivalry between the former continued one hundred years longer. It was as plain then as it is now, that rival nations could not exist in the Mississippi Yalley.

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 Algonquins, 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 French muskets with the accompanying flash, report and death by invisible bullets, carried terror to the Mohawks and they were nearly destroyed by an enemy for whom they hacl 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. ; ParTcman, etc. M’M. ]

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 without striking over the heads of the Five Nations. This celebrated confederacy, 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 Schenectady,* 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 Schenectady 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, 600 in number, marching thro’ Niskayuna street to Albany as prisoners of war, they having been in the King’s service.—A. V.

Introduction.

3

the population of Canada was 80,000, and about 1,500,000 in the colonies, the ratio being nearly 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 hundred miles into the province of New York and at the head of Lake Champlain 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 dangerous 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 immediately 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 forethought and practical wisdom, proffered 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 adventurers 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-

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 Delaware 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 from Holland for the new Country, and the coast and rivers were carefully searched for peltries. Manhattan was made the chief port and headquarters 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 Company.” 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 unsettled 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 Exemptions,” concession was made to Patroons to plant colonies in New Netherland. Thus it was attempted to transfer to the new world, the objectionable features of the feudal system of the old. It burthened trade and agriculture with unnecessary restrictions and introduced at the same time aristocracy 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 gratification. 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 confining themselves to the colonizing and cultivation of these lands, the Patroo?is 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 requisitions 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 rejection 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 religious 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 1647 , 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 natural 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 government 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 Manhattan became the headquarters. Until 1630 the population of both places 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,

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 Colonie. 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 bosloopers* or runners, were employed to penetrate the wilderness west of the village and meet the natives on their way down with 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 wer,e 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 (13J) miles long. The land outside these limits belonged to the Colonie.

The early population of Beverwyck was changeable. After a few years spent in traffic with the Indians, some returned to Patriot , some retired to New Amsterdam, whilst others passed beyond the limits of the Colonie and purchased lands at Kinderhook, Claverac, Cattskill, Niskayuna, PTalvemaan and Schenectady. ,

* [ Woods runners. Couriers du bois in Canada.—M’M.] f O’Callaghan’s History N. N.

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 southeasterly 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 MaalwycJc 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 Placets, 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 Towereune, and coming east in succession are Yan Eps Kil, Droyberg, Verf, or color (paint) creek, called by the natives Tequatsera, Jan Mebie’s Kil Creek of the lake in Scotia, C romme Kil and Aal Plaats Kil. On the south side are Zandige Kil, the sloot, Pigel 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 S'tone houses, overhanging rocks affording shelter. Several streams and localities have this name.

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 bouwlandt , all else being denominated woodland and little valued. In addition to their fertility, these flats presented 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 traveling up the Mohawk to Tiononderoga (Fort Hunter), than the flats skirting 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

* Baer leyt qualyck een hcilven daegh Van den Colonie op de Maquaas Kil, dat Schoonste landt dat men met oogen bezien mack.—O' Callaghan’s Hist., N. N., i c , 335, 456.

Introduction.

9

stood upon Niskayuna berg or Sehuylerberg 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 settlement 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 115 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 permanent 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.

History of the 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 authorising us to purchase said lands, but by reason of your Honor’s daily occupations 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 as 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 good intention 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. f 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. Y. Curler. *

June 23, 1661.

“The letter of Arent Yan 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; provided 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 representatives of the Lords Directory of the Privileged West India Company; and that whatever the petitioners shall pay for the aforesaid lands to the original proprietors, shall in due time be returned to them, or be discounted to them against the tenths.”*

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.”f

“ Compareerde voor mij Johannes La Montague 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 33 Orangie en Dorp Beverwy, eenige Oversten vant Maquaes Lant genaempt Cantuquo, Sanareetse, Aiadane Sodackdrasse 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 circonference 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 2 1 e July A, 1661, in presentie Van Marten Mouris en Willem Montagne daertee versocht.

dit ist merck

van Cantuquo

The Bear.

dit ist merck van Aiauane

* Albany Records, xix. 180. f O’Callaghan’3 Hist., N. N., ii. 438.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

dit ist

SoNAUEETSIE

merck van

In Keunisse van ruij)

La Montague I

Y. D r en Commies ( Motj(ris)

opt fort 88 Orangie J William de La Montagne * ”

(Translation)

Appeared before me, Johannes La Montagne in the service of the Privileged 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 2'7 th July, anno 1661, in presence of Marten Mouris and Willem Montagne hereto invited.

This is the mark X of Cantuqito,

This is the mark X of Sonareetsie,

This is the mark X of Aidane.

M. Mon (bis)

Acknowledged before me, William de La Montague,

La Montagne Y. D., and Clerk at Fort Orange.

* Deeds, ii. 542.

f [“ The ancient Mohawk village which stood at this place, was called Connocharie-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 Yan Curler again addressed the Director General and Council stating that in accordance with their resolution 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 Yan Curler’s company. The inhabitants of Beverwyck and Colonie Rensselaerswyck “ were most anxious to retain the fur monopoly and had 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 Maj^, 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, but 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 yems after the date of the 'patent” — Schoolcraft, Notes on the Iroquois.

Yan Curler in 1643, designated it as “ dat Schoonste landt” that the eyes of man ever beheld.

“ This Schoonechtendeel is 24 miles west from Albany.”— Danker & 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’M\

* Albany Records, xxi. 137. f O’Callaghan’s History, N. N., it. 441.

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

Yan 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 Montagne 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, buildings erected and the land stocked with cattle and horses ; and that if these settlers 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 [Yan 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. Yan Curler,

Philip Hendrickse [Brouwer],

Sander Leendertse Glen,

* Albany Records, xx. 350. f Albany Records, xx. 351. \ Patent of date Nov. 12, 1662.

Introduction.

15

of Simon Volckertse [Veeder],

Pieter [Adriaense Van Wogelum],

alias Sogemacklic, of Tuenis Cornelisse [Swart], of Marten Cornelisse [Van Isselsteyn], Willem Teller,

Gerrit Bancker,

Bastiaen De Winter, as attorney in the ilyn [De Vos], widow of Arent Andriesse [Bratt], Pieter Jacobse Bosboom [De Steenbakker], Pieter Danielse Van Olinda, of Jan Barentse Wemp [Wemple], of Jacques Cornelisse [Van Slyck].”*

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 Rensselaers wyck, but also to Schenectady itself, if trade with the Indians be permitted at the latter settlement, particularly 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. 876. f Albany Records, xxi. 139.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

penalty of the forfeiture of these goods and merchandize, to he applied one-half for the informer and the other for the officer of Fort Orange, or of Golonie 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 furthermore to visit the new settlement of Schenectady and there make an inventory of all the goods and merchandize already carried thither in violation of the act of concession of the Director General and 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 mollifying 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.f

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 apostill 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. 185. f Albany Records, xxii. 169. f Albany Records, xxii.

169 .

Introduction.

17

Thus after a delay of two years, Governor Stuyvesant came to an understanding 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.

ts On this 28 th 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.

Phis mark was set by Kennighke

This mark was set by Dorowingo

Dorowingoese

Robert Sanders.

These letters were A ai<ES set by Jacques Cornelise.

In my presence,

J. G. V. Marcken Schout.* ”

See original in Dutch in my possession .

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ On this 3d day of July A° 1672, appeared before mee John Garretsen Van Marken, admitted publ: nota: by the 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 Inhabitants of Schanhechtade Will Restore unto said Jaaques Cornelisse Two Rundlets of Brandy and one hundred hand of Wampum, which being paid unto s d Jaaques The s (1 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 e 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, Which 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 Cornelis Viele in The Absence of Jaques Cornelisse,—In Schanhechtade, the date above written.” (Signed) “ With the Markes of followeth

The Marke

of Dohoriwachqua.

The Marke

of Crage.

“Attested by me,

Sander Leenders Gelen. John Van Eps,

Sweer Teunisse.

J. G. V. Marken, Notar : publ: ”

* [ A Dutch myl was 3.6394 (commonly called 4) English miles.] f A hand of wampum was valued at 4 guilders, Albany Annals , ii, 8.

Introduction.

19

“ (Coppy) This day the 13 th of July is pay d unto the Indians above mentioned 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 ,h 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 d Land, and That They and Theyre heires Shall desist from all further Claymes and pretences 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

Canachquq.

The Marke of

of

OcQUARRY.

The Marke

of Tohoriowachque.

Attested by mee,

(Signed) J. G. V. Marcke, Nota. pub.

Compared and found to agree with the prinsip: by mee.

Ludovicus Cobes, secret.”*

By virtue of the foregoing conveyance from the Indian proprietors, application 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 , Gapt. Tyre, Mr. Philips.

Sander Leenderts Glen and Ludovicus Cobes, Schout of Schanechtade, produce (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.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

In answer whereunto, It is resolved as followetli 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 Bent.

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 d , 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 th 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 not given. And to add to the difficulties of the case, the Mohawks were inclined to repudiate the sale of their lands or at least demand 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, hi. 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,”—potent 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 Roy all Highnesse, James, Duke of Yorke, <fcc., of New Yorke and its Dependencyes in Amei;ca <fcc.

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 Owner's of the Land within menconed, 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

* Hilletie 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. f Council Minutes, v. 12.

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 aperticular 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 Excepcon 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 Proprietor of this Province, I have hereby Given, Granted, Ratifyed and Confirmed 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 Land, 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 appertaining, or accepted, reputed, taken or known as Part, Parcell, or Member thereof, with their and 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 menooned 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 Plattfc 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 Yan 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 Yan Eps and Myndart Wemp, their Heires, Successors, and Assignes forever, to be holden of his Royall Highnesse, his Heires and Assignes in ffree and Comon Soccage, According to the tenure of East Greenwich, in the County of Kent, in his Ma lies Kingdome of England, Yielding and Paying therefor, Yearly 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 liliS 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 Yan Eps, and Sweer Teunise Yan Yelsen were killed Feb. 9, 169§ 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, ii, 271.

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 enlargement 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 Hew 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 aforesaid, ordered ye payment of all ye quit rents then due to be made. The inhabitants Addressed themselves to ye said late Govern 1 ' to agree for the said quit Rents and to obtain a Generali 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 Persones, their heirs and assigns forever. The said William Teller being at Schin-nectady sometime in June, 1700 , when many Inhabitants complained of y e Grievance 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 Confirming the Land [and] other Priviledges as in the Present Patent is contained 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 Submitting 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 lil of October, 1702.

(Signed)

Tjerck Fransen [vande Bogart], bent Robberse [Benj. Roberts]. Cornelis Van Sleyck.

Jan luyse [Wyngaard].

Isles Van de Vorst.

Symen Groot.

Johannes Mynderse.

Marte Van Slyck.

Geysebert Marselis.

Barent Vrooman.

— Van benthuis.

Albert Vedder.

Jan Vrooman. barent Wemp. harmen Van Slyck. phillip philipse. daniel Van O Linda.

Claes Van * * *

* * * *

barent (?) * *

Johannes Glen (?)

Jan Meebie.

Seyas Swart.

Arent Vedder.

Samuel braedt.

Johannis Teller.

Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel]. timer ck HB van Hendr: brouwer. [Jacobus] Van Dyck (?)

John Sanderse Glen.

Adam Vrooman.

* * *

Jacobus peeck.

Isaac (?) Danielse (?)

Isack Switts.

Daniel Janse [Van Antwerp]. 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 defaced. It is deposited in the New York State Library at Albany.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

petition, after reciting the Dongan Patent, conveyed the lands therein mentioned to Col. Pieter Schuyler, John Sanderse Glenn, Adam Yrooman and John Wemp, jointly or severally to be trustees for managing the trust and estate aforesaid, together with the said Ryer Schermerhorn or by themselves. 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, notwithstanding 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 Schuler 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 accountability 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 1703*, 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.

11 To his Excellency, Edward Viscount Cornbury, Captaine Generali 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 theTowne of Schenectady.

May it Please your Lordship

That upon y e complaint of us the said Inhabitants made to your Excellency in Councill the twenty-first day of A prill 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.

27

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 Generali to Draw a new Patent for the said Towne and therein to appoint Coll. Schuyler, Johannes Sanderse Glenn, Adam Yrooman, 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 the 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 continue 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 Particularly the said Mr, Glenn and Mr. Yrooman 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 Profitts of the said Towne (which ought to be applyed toward the defraying that necessary charge), the said Mr. Glenn and Mr. Yrooman 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 Yirtue 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 Yan Eps and Myndert Wemp in trust for the said Inhabitants according to their respective Interests.

The rest of y e Trustees being dead the onely Survivor, Ryer Schermerhorn 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 Lord p By Letters Patents under the Great Seal [of date 17 Feb.

* Colonial Mss., i, 52.

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 Lord*! 1 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 Inhabitants 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 Generali belong to the said Inhabitants, Which is humbly submitted to your Lord p,s Great Wisdome, By your Lord ps ’ most humble and most obedient Servants.

J. Abeel,

On behalf of the said ) Evert Bancker.*”

Inhabitants. (

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 e fyft plains [fifth flat] in hiere.

Cornelia 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 Vonda, oplandt bought.

Jacobus peek, landt upon Earequiet of Erfpaght [quit rent].

Jan Landertse, Earequiet [quit-rent].

Lewies Viel&, 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.

Tam Smith, Earequiet.

Martje Mastkraft, Earequiet.

These lands are given out. If any more wee cannott tell, nor what day Give. J

These foiling 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 e 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 Excellency 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 mismanagements and breach of trust upon the Patent aforesaid and of Great disregard 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 Excell 0 > rs 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

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 j Glen, Adam Yrooman, Daniel Johnson [Daniel

Janse Van Antwerpen] and John Baptist Yan Eps, trustees of the town of Schenectady. VS.

Ryer Schermerhorn.

Whereas Col. Dongan, Governor <fcc., being at Schenectady, the inhabitants 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 appointed W m . Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sweer Tunisse. John Van Eps, and Myndert Wemp for that purpose.

W ,n . Teller, Sweer Teunisse, Jno. Yan 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 m . Teller, Sweer Teunissen, Jno Baptist Yan Eps & Myndert Wemp & their heirs and assignsforever ,—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 Yan 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 Trustee has combined with John Wemp, Barent Wemp, John Glen, Godeit [Gerrit] Symonse [Veeder], John if roman, Claas Yan 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 doings.

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, 1706, 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 Yrooman, Daniel Johnson [Daniel Janse Yan Antwerpen,] and John Baptist Yan Eps, Trustees of Schenectady,

VS.

Symon Groot, Jr., Syas Swart and Jonathan Steyens.

Charges that the defendants have taken possession of lands belonging to the freeholders of the town of Schenectady pretending to deeds of conveyance, 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 Schermerhom 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 Yigour 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Given under our hands and Seals this 28th day of July in the year of our Lord 1705, and in the fourth Year of the Reign of Queen Anna over Eng-

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 Yrooman, Daniel Johnson [Daniel Janse Yan Antwerp] and John Baptist Yan Eps, [trustees], defendants to the hill of complaint of Ryer Schermerhorn, John Wemp, Barent Wemp, John Glen, Gerrit Simonse, John Yrooman and Claas Yan Petten,” was entered in the court of chancery Nov. 13 , 1705 .

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 Schermerhorn, 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 township to the then trustees elected under the charter of 1705.

An imperfect contract dated 14 Aug., 1708, between Johannes Sanderse Glen, Gysbert Marselis, harmen Yan Slyck and Carel Hanse [Toll], trustees for Schenectadjr, and Hendrick Hanse of Albany, attorney for Ryer Schermerhorn;—states that said trustees had been “appointed to office in accordance with a charter dated loth April, 1703 [1705], but that notwithstanding 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. How 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 Schenectady ” 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ 9th June, 1*713, Much the majority of the freeholders and Inhabitants of Schenectady constitute Carel Hansen Toll, Sweer Marselis, Gerrit Gysbertse Yan 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 town as trustees thereof. (Signed)

Cornells Yan Slyck Arent Bratt, Jr.

Dirk Bratt

Peter Clement

Barent Yrooman

Nico. D. Yan Petten

Daniel Danielse [Y. Antwerpen]

Samuel Bratt

Julas Yoo*

Hendrick Hagedorn Yictor Pootman Robert Jets [Yates]

Pieter Yrooman Jan Luykassen Jacob Yan Olinda Richard Hill*

Jere: Thickstone Isa: Yan Yalkenburgh Harme Philips Gysbert Marcelis Arent Yedder Daniel Toll

Jan Danielse [Yan Antwerpen] Arent Danielse [ do

Symon Danielse [ do ]

Philip Philipse

Pieter Danielse [Y. Antwerpen]

Jacobus Peek

Johannes Peek

Marten Yan Slyck

Andries De Graaf

Symon Groot

Sander Philipse

Dirk Miller*

Andrew Mackans*

Joseph Clement Wouter Yrooman Teunis Yan der Yolgen Johannes Mynderse Wm. Bown Henry Hoof*

Evert Yan Eps Albert Yedder Wm. Brouwer Marten Yan Benthuysen Cornells Pootman Teunis Swart Benj : Lenine David Lewis Charles Burn John Bumpstead*

Andries Yan Petten

Joh: Sanderse Glen

Adam Yrooman

Hendrick Yrooman

Jacob Glen

Harme Yan Slyck

Claas Fred: Yan Petten

Lawrens Claese [Y. d. Volgen]

Manus Yedder

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.

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 conveyed 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 Beyer 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 Jh “ 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 BarentWemp * * 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 reconveyed said land to Ryer Schermerhorn and his said four associates for the purposes above mentioned.!

And to confirm 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 associates, 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. f Deeds vi. 281, 282, 286, 288. f Patents, Sec. State’s office. Land papers vi. 94, 97.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

sure to arise again. As Reyer Schermerhorn 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 therefore 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 duplicate 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 Wemp and Arent bratt, of all the lands hitherto conveyed away and of the rents ser 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, contents in morgens or acres so that in time a map may be made thereof, likewise 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 ; likewise if we come to an agreement shall the writings thereof to be made be recorded so that they shall always stand.

Cornells Yeder Albert Yedder Cornells Yiele Danel tol

Captyn helmes Yeder Simon tol Abram groot hendericus brouwer Gerrit Y: Antwerpen klaas de graaf

Takereus Yan den bogart Willem haal Johannis Yrooman Johannis knoet Corneles brouwer Yredrvck Yn Petten Adam Condese Abram D Graaf benimen Yan Yleeck Isaac Quackenbos

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Yacobus Peeck Ephraem Brat Joseph R. Yatts Jr Elias Post Sander Yan Eps Takel Maerselis harmen Yedder Jacobus Van Vorst Dirck Groot Andris Van Petten pieter Brouwer

Jno. B. V. Eps Jun r Albert A. Yedder Jeroon Barhuyt Johannis Yedder Tobyus Ryckman, Junyer Johannis haal Jan babtist Yan Eps Andries Mynderse Adam Emmig [Empie] Gerrit Symonse Yeder Jacobus Yan 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, 1765.

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, however, began a new contest and upon entirely new grounds.

* Dutch church papers.

Introduction .

39

Jan, son and heir of Reyer Schermerhorn, “ set np 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 heir, 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 4795, 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

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 forever, 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, Beyer Wemple, 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 townships and also all my right, title interest, claim and demand which I have as surviving patentee in trust for the said township, and it is my will and express order that the said Harmanus Brat, Jacobus Van Slyck * * * and Abraham 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 Beyer Schermerhorn against me * * and several others.”*

Soon after Bratt’s death Scherfiierhorn 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, <fcca &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 Byer 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 ns may have his Just and Equal Chare and your Excellency’s Petitioners will Ever Pray.

his

Abraham X Truex mark his

Myndert X Van Guysling mark his

Teunis X Potman mark

Teunis Van Vleck his

Helmus X Vender mark

Freeman Schermerhorn Saymon Schermerhorn John: S: Vroman William Teller John Cuyler Ju r Henry Glen Jno Glen Jun r

his

ABram AS Schermerhorn

mark

his

Peter P K Kelement mark

Arent Yeeder his

Peter p jVI Mabie

mark

John Babtist van eps, juner his

Harma H Vedder mark his

John | J Teller mark

Jacobus Y Eps John Sconmker Jacobus Teller Jacob Schermerhorn Peter Yan Benthusen Cornelius Browir ”

This petition producing no effect, in 176V more than half of all the proprietors 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 Schenectady 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Secondly, In case such Partition shall by such Commissioners be determined 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 Legislature 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.

Balmus [Helmus] Vadder [Veeder] Freman Schermerhorn

John B. Y. Epps Jr. Harmin Vadder Llenry Glen John Taller Jacobus Van Epps John Shornaker Abraham Truax Mindert Van Gysling Tunis Putman P. V. B. Benthuysen in behalf of themselves and Tunis Van Yleck Clous DeGraft Philip Van Patten Hendrick Brouwer Jr

John S. Vrooman Daniel De Graft William Taller Jacobus Taller Jacob Schermerhorn Reyer Shermerhorn John Glen John Schermerhorn Abraham Schermerhorn Peter Calment [Clement] Arent Vadder Peter Mabee.”

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 successively 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 them 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: Banyar D: Cou 1 *”

The next step in the controversy was an attempt to compromise in accordance with “ the recommendation of the honorable general assembly as well as for the love of peace and unity,” and in the progress of this compromise 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;

44 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ From the Recommendation of the Honorable Gen 1 . 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 possessions confirmed to them in like manner as the others, who may have imperfect 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 agree 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 d Two, four or six to nominate a 3 d , 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 requisite 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 nevertheless give these our said proposals, which we will abide by, providing your said power be made Compleat.

Signed Ryer Schermerhorn, ) For themselves

Peter Van Benthousen, [• and other Pro-John Glen, ) prietors.”

John Duncan.

Octo r 2d, 1V73,

To

Abraham Wernple,

Harm’s JBradt,

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 depending thereon in America* Chancellor and Vice-Admiral of the same in Council.

“The Petition of Ryer Schermerhorn, John Glen and Peter VanBenthuysen 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 Proprietors 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 Wernple for the township of Schenectady in trust for themselves and for the rest of the freeholders of the inhabitants of Schenectady;—that Sware Teunise, John Baptist Van Eps and Myndert Wernple 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 Wernple, Johannis Teller, arent Bradt and Barent Wernple to assistance as trustees, and that after the decease of the said Ryer Schermerhorn, the

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 approbation 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 Extremity 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 township except an Act of your Excellency the honorable Council and General Assembly be passed for that purpose, since the said Arent Bratt has appointed 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 defending 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 Commissioners 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 Petitioners 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 Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.

Schenectady ) fourth day of >•

January, 1774. )

Ryer Schermerhorn,

P. Benthuysen,

John Glen.”

“ Petition of the trustees of Schenectady in opposition to the foregoing petition of Ryer Schermerhorn 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 ble House [Jan. 4 1774] setting forth that a grant was obtained by W m Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sware Teunise, John Baptist Yan 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 Inhabitants 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 reserved 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 Yirtue 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

History of the Schenectady Patent .

named in the said Petition in Whose hehalf 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 whatsoever :— 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 Petitioners 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 b!e 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 b!e 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.

<f 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 freeholders, for maintaining good order and advancing their settlement, began the election of five Trustees then called Commissaries. These Commis-sionaries 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 were deemed by the inhabitants 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 inhabitants 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 province granted to William Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, 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 additional tract before purchased of the Indians for the use of the town, to hold the same to 4 the said William Teller, Ryer Schermerhorn, Sweer Teunise, Jan Van Epps, and Myndert Wemp, on the behalf of the inhabitants of the town of Schenectady, and their associates, their heirs, successors 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 inhabitants 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

History of the Schenectady Patent .

of tlie 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 wete 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 observed, 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 conveyed 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 Bchermerhorn, 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 proceeded in granting the common lands in the same manner as their predecessors 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 Schenectady at the date of Dongan’s Patent, were equally entitled to all the common 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 entitled 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 w T ere 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 grandfather, 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 compel 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 freeholders and inhabitants in Schenectady at the date of Dongan’s patent and

History of the Schenectady Patent.

prays a partition among those entitled under them. All the trustees except three and some of the other defendants filed their answer in April, 1768. 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 suppose 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 productive 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 inhabitants 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 increased. It is said that in 1797 there were nearly 500 families in the township, 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 1793, 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 Yan Petten, John Glen, Andrew Yan Patten, John Sanders, Albert A. Yedder, 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 freeholders 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 Yrooman, Nicholas Yan Petten, Nicholaas Yan der Yolgen, Jacobus Myndertse, Samuel Bradt and Abraham Wemple, associated with themselves as trustees, Nicholaas Veeder,

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Gerret S. Yeeder, Jr., Abraham Oothout, John Sanders and John Glen, by conveying said Patent to Michael Tyms, who reconveyed the same to the above named persons as trustees. And on the 15th day of March, 1796, certain of the above said trustees by reason of age resigned their trust and a new board was appointed in their room ; to accomplish which the trustees then in power conveyed the Patent to Joseph Mynderse and he reconveyed the same to Abraham Wemple, Nicholas Yeeder, Gerrit S. Yeeder, Jr., John Glen, John Sanders, Abraham Oothout, Abraham Swits, Andries Yan Petton, Jellis J. Fonda, Rykert Schermerhorn and Adam S. Yrooman as new trustees, who executed a bond in the penal sum of £5,000 to the retiring trustees for the faithful performance of the duties of their office. These last mentioned trustees held and managed the common lands until 1798, when their powers ceased, being merged by the first charter of the city of Schenectady in the mayor, aldermen and commonalty.

In furtherance of 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 of Andries Yan Petten, Jelles Fonda and Mans Schermerhorn, who obtained the following opinion :

“ Having considered the several questions stated to us by the Committee appointed by the Inhabitants of the town of Schenectady as to the measures 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 of opinion.

First , that it will be extremely difficult, if not impracticable by any Yoluntary 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 five 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 Yan Schaick, Stephen Lush,

Abm. Yan Yechten.

Albany, August 6, 1795.’’

Introduction.

55

In accordance with the above opinion, the Board of Trustees recommended 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 Yan 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 disposal 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. Yan Eps, Alexander Kelly,

Jacob Beekman, David Tomlinson, Thomas Y. Horn,

Joseph Shurtlief, Jno. B. Yrooman, 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 i 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, f Min. Bd. Trustees.

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 unappropriated.

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 exceeding 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 eC settlement with the inhabitants concerning the Common lands.”

Finally on March 26, 1798,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 plaims against said trustees, the Legislature passed an act the same day appointing a commission consisting of Zephaniah Platt, 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 aider-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 cqntest 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

saaa

Provided that in all things compl with the Law,

“ To prevent waste of Timber and Fire-Wood on the Common Lands of the city of Schenectady, and for other purposes, passed December 25th, 1813.”— This permit, however, to be in force for eight days only.— Dated day of

181

Mayor.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

DIVISION OF LANDS.

HOW THE LANDS PURCHASED BY VAN CURLER PROM 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.— House 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 l^OO, only the north side was occupied by houses. Front, Green and Union streets east of Ferry street, used for

2299 58S5

2809 ,

6E36S A

SQQQ do swear P resence °f Almighty God that I will in all things during the continuance of the permit granted by the Mayor of the city of Schenectady, dated Q8QQ day of to cut

comply with the law to

SOQS prevent waste of timber and fire-wood on the common lands of the city of Schenectady, and for other purposes, passed the 25th December, 1813, that the ap-

plication which I now make to cut

mm

QQrjp when the same are cut, I intend for my own

SSsi USG ’ anc * ^ not directly or indirectly suffer the same to be removed without QQQS the bounds of the said city, under any pretence whatsoever.

6555 S2QQ 8583

From date it appears that the lands were not disposed of in 1810. M’M.]

MAP, CONSTRUCTED FROM ACTUAL SURVEY AND THE ANCIENT DEED.

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 resh dences within the stockades.

Second. The houwland. 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 Vlachte.

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 Polders of fatherland.* The bouwland was originally divided into twenty-three

* [ Smith in his history of New York published in 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 Schoonechtendeel 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 withouF-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 manure for many 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 & Sluyter's Journal , 168,301, 315. See Miller’s map, 1695, which shows 28 houses. M’M.]

History of the Schenectady Patent.

separate parcels and assigned to fifteen individual no one, with one exception, 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 Yelsen’s, bounded by St$te 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 Yan Yelsen’s land and extended southerly to and including “ Yeeder’s Mills.” This parcel has been preserved nearly entire and is mostly in the ownership and occupation of the Yeeder family at the present time.f

The third the largest and most valuable farm, embracing 114 acres, was Arent Yan Curler’s, called the first piece of land and after his death, Jujfrovfs landt.% This was bounded northerly by the Binne kil, easterly by Yan Yelsen'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 Yan Woggelum. The New York Central Railroad runs through the southerly end of this valuable tract, and the canal nearly through the middle of it.§ Yan 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 Yan 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 Yan Yelsen. f See Gerrit Symonse Yeeder.

X Madam’s [Yan Curler’s] land. § See Yan Curler.

Division of Lands.

61

John Myers. The westerly line of this parcel was the Poenties kil and lot No. 10 belonging to Teunis Cornelise Swart. This second piece was divided into ten farms including De Winter’s or Mias' 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 fif£h parcel of bouwlands called the Undermost piece of land, commenced 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 coinciding 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 Undermost 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 allotments, 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 Elias' Plantasie were subdivided each into ten parcels of about twenty-five acres, numbered from 1 to 10, beginning at the easterly and westerly extremities 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 western boundary of the Van Eps farm on the river road, about a mile west of the city. Tbe 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 his land. Many years since the Poenties Kil was connected with Willem Teller’s Killetje by an artificial canal dug along tbe foot of the sand hill beginning near Col. Campbell’s residence, and both streams now flow to the river in one channel.

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, &g., 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 Yan Slyck’s, island comprising about 82 acres, patented to Jacques Cornelise Yan 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 Galver Wei/, which was allotted to the first settlers in parcels of 2 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 owners oe the twenty farms into which that portion of the Great Flat lying westerly of Arent Yan Curler’s Bouwery was

DIVIDED. J

Farms No. 1.

Both farms numbered one were patented to Catelyn De Yos, widow of Arent Bratt the norman, June 2, 1668. Patents , 590.

June 15, 1668, a new patent was granted to Barent Janse [Yan Ditmars] and Catelyn [De Vos] his wife. Patents, 593.

* See Van Slyck, Wemp and Glen, f See Eenkluys.

1 The west line of Van Curler’s farm is marked by tbe west fence of the Schenectady Car Works Yard.

Division of Lands.

63

Feb. 27, 1690, On occasion of her third marriage with Claas Janse Yan Boekhoven, Catelyn De Yos secured her childrens’ share in their father’s [Bratt’s] property by a mortgage upon these two farm. Deeds , iv, 296.

Oct. 13, 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. 16 9f. The will of Catalyntje De Yos speaks of the first lot as containing 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 first lot thirty-six acres and aftermost lot thirty acres. Deeds , v, 168.

In 1707, a contract was made that Margaret, widow of Andries Bratt deceased and wife of Harmanus Yedder, should have the use of farm No. 1, during her life.

27 Aug. 1713, Reyer 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 Yan Ness for Jan Dirkse Yan 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, 181 .

Feb. 4, 17 If, Johannes Baptist Yan Eps eldest son and heir of Jan Dirkse Yan Eps deceased, conveyed to Arent Bratt the hindmost farm No. 2, comprising twelve morgens. Deeds , v, 217.

See also Deeds , v, 310, 311 — will of Reyer Schmerhorn 5 April, 1717, and will of Myndert Yan Gyseling April 2, 1771, among H. Yates’ Papers.

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 morgens 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 Appeal's 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 , n, 769.

Ap. 6, 1681, Van Woggelum reconveyed the same to Reyer Schermerhorn who had married Otten’s widow. Deeds , in, 108.

June 18, 1695, Jan, eldest son of Pieter Adriaense Van Woggelum, quit claimed the same to Schermerhorn. Schermerhorn 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 AppeaVs office.

The hindmost farm belonging toHarmen Vedder; he conveyed the southeasterly half to his son Albert, Mar. 12, 170-f, 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, 175Albert Vedder, “ synde out van daghenfi 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 AppeaVs office.

Farms No. 7.

Pieter Jacobse Bosboom de SteenbakJcer 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.

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 lj 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 Xsselsteyn 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 Viel&, 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., 170J. Deeds , iv, 332.

Viel& 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, 167J, to Harmen Vedder. Not. Pap ., n; Deeds , vn, 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 baJcJcer , by patent of date June 16th, 1664,— confirmed Jan. 15, 1667, by patent from Governor Nicolls. Patents , 310.

Veeder made his will Jan. 8, 169-f, bequeathing the hindmost farm to his son Volckert. Wills , <3ourt of Appeal's office.

Volckert Veeder made his will Aug. 4, 1733, and left the hindmost lot to his four sons. H. Tates' Papers.

Division of Lands.

67

Nov. 2, 1682, Simon Volckertse Yeeder 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, 169f, Reyer Schermerhorn agreed to convey to Gerrit Symonse Yeeder 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., 170§, Jan Janse Bleecker conveyed the hoek to Reyer Schermerhorn.

5th March, 170|-, Schermerhorn agreed to sell to Gillis Fonda four morgens out of the hoeck. Schermerhorn Papers.

When Gerrit Symonse Yeeder made his will 12 March, 174-f, he devised eight morgens out of the hoek to his children. H. Yates' 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 Yrooman, 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, hi, 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 Yan Purmerend ( alias Yan der Yolgen). Deeds, iv. 35.

Jan. 4, 169§. Claas Laurense Yan Purmerend sold to Claas Janse Yan 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 stepson 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 Cornelis Barentse Yan Ditmars, eldest son of Barent Janse Yan Ditmars, Claas Janse Yan Boekhoven conveyed to said Catharine Glen (and as her dower), now wife of

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, 37.

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 unoccupied, 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 eddys ; excepting the Great Flat they were generally small, comprising 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 Van Ditmars and the westerly portion to Douwe Aukes, who conveyed the same to his [adopted] son Cornelis VieR. In 1713 VieR was then residing on this land between the two locks.§

* It should he 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.

f [Erie Canal.]

§ See Roberts, Bont, Van Ditmars, Aukes and C. Viele Patents, 1038; Alb. Com. Coun. Min., iii, 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 Yan Slyck’s patent, granted in 1684, as “situated between two creeks, one called Stone creek to the eastward, the other 4 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 kil ” | 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 Yan Antwerpen in 1670, and patented to him in 1680.

* Council Min., v, 11,12 ; Patents, 1,200; Deeds in Sec. State’s office, m.

f Toll papers; Patents, v, B. 10; Joh. Yan Slyck’s will, Court of Appeal’s office.

X Rail bridge creek.

§ See Yan der Baast’s survey, Land Papers, ii, 59; Dutch church and Toll Papers Deeds, iv.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

In 1706, 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 occupation of one of his descendants. The old Yan 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 Yrooman, who in 1742, conveyed the same or at least the western portion of it, to Jan Wemple and Arent Bratt. Johannes Yeeder married a daughter of Pieter Yrooman and inherited the easterly portion, now in possession of Myndert, grandson of said Johannes Yeeder.

Jan Wemple’s land extended to the Zandig Jcil.

De Willegen, or Willow Flat.

This fiat 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 Yan Olinda and Claas Willemse Yan Cop-pernol. Yan Olinda holding the easterly half and Yan 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 OB PLAINS ON THE NOBTH SIDE OF THE RIYER.

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. J

* 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, iv, 234, 236.

j See De Graaf.

Division of Lands .

71

In 1714, Gysbert Marcelis received a patent for six acres of land on the Hoek for a hofstede , he being then the owner of the neighboring island called Gyse’s island. *

Maalwyck.

Next west of the Hoek, lies a tract called from the earliest times, Maal-wyok ,—a name of obscure origin and signification.

Benjamin, or Bent Roberts first purchased this farm of the natives, with the approbation of the magistrates of Albany,—36 acres of land, together with 40 acres of woodland, which was confirmed to him July 1, 1669.

This bouwery lay opposite to Arent [ Bratt], the norman’s hindmost lot of land.f After Roberts’ death his land passed to his two step-sons, Joseph and Pieter Clement, who disposed of it, together with Benten island, to Carel Hansen Toll and Cornelis VieR, Nov. 24, 1735, Toll taking the easterly half of the land, and westerly half of the island and VieR, the remainder. The farm is still in the possession and occupation of a descendant of Carel Hansen. J

Second Flat.

This flat extends from Rector’s easterly, and in 1864 was owned by

The Second Flat proper, was originally taken up about 1678,—the eastern half by Pieter Cornelise VieR, and the westerly half by Jan Janse Joncker, alias Rotterdam.

VieR died early and his wife, Jacquemina Swart, married Benonny Arentse Yan Hoeck, who was killed at Schenectady, in 1690. Afterwards she married Cornelis Yynhout, of Ulster county, and in 1699 they conveyed her share of this flat to her son, Lewis VieR,— 19 morgens, 82 rods. Lewis,

* Patents 1073 ; Toll papers.

f Opposite the first lock above the city.

X See Roberts, Clement, Toll and Viele; Patent, 981; Deeds, v, 108,140, 141, 142.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

about 1709, conveyed the same to Ryer Schermerhorn for “ye behoofe of said town” of Schenectady,—13 morgens, and in 1718, the patentees of Schenectady conveyed the “easternmost end of said flat to Reyer Schermerhorn, bounded south, by the river, west, by heirs of Jan Janse 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 1717, 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, “

Total with upland 62J “

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 Yiele,—d6 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 a lapie f by it, on the other [north] side of the river, containing 17 morgens, 164 rods of land.

* Gen. Entries, 12; Deeds, iv, 215, 216; vi, 464; Papers in Sec. State’s Offi 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 Tam Smit “ Van Nieu Englandt .”

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 lease her 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 contained nine morgens.*

Fifth or Wolf Flat.

This flat extending from “ Arent Mebie’s kil ” west, is now in the possession 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, Schermerhorn and Dutch Church Papers. Deeds, hi, 119, 199; v, 196, 355. Col. MSS., xxvii. Col. Doc., ix, 251. Deeds, xm, 514. Jan Mebie’s will.

+ Toll Papers.

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 £300 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 Rynland measure. This rent was commuted by D. D. Campbell, Nov. 1, 1854.

In 1739 Lourens Claase Vander Yolgen 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 Yan Der Yolgen and lands of Col. Stephanus Groesbeck the latter owned the westerly half of the fourth flat at this time.

In 1750, Claas Yan Der Yolgen 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, xxviii, 18 ; Toll and Dutch Church Papers; Council Min., 1678; L. C. Yan der Yolgen’s Will and John Mebie’s will; Deeds xvn, 312.

% Sometimes written Togeutchero , and Togqutchero.

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 Yan 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 morgens.*

Seventh Flat.

This flat lies near Hoffman’s ferry between the Droybergh kil on the east and Yan Eps’ kil on the west.

In 1684 the trustees of Schenectady conveyed the westerly half to Carel Hansen Toll reserving a rent of one skipple 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 Yan 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 Yan Eps, leased it to said Yan Eps save what he had leased to Claas Yan Petten, and immediately thereafter quit claims it to Johannes Yan Eps.

In 1705, 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 Yan Eps, owner of the other half, f

Cambeeokt’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 iv, 234, 236 ; Mort. m, 58.

f Deeds, v, 69, 70, 494; vi, 145; Toll and Dutch Church Papers; Wills of Reyer Schermerhorn and Volkert Symonse Yeeder among H. Yates’ Papers.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

bury granted Cambefort a patent for 20 acres of land, “ beginning from a place called Kanquaragoone [now Towereune] tbe westerly bounds of the Patent granted to Schenectady, running up westward to limits of land formerly conveyed to Henry Cuyler, deceased.” Immediately thereafter Cambefort conveyed the same to Toll. This land extends along the river westward from Towereune to Lewis’ creek.* * * §

Claes Graven’s Hoek.—Cutler’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 upland, being read was granted, provided the said land be not already appropriated or disposed of.”!

Governor Hongan issued to Cuyler a patent for this and other lands in 168V. 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 IV16 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.§

ISLANDS.

Great Island in Niskayuna.

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, 166V, and confirmed by Governor Nicolls May 8, 1668. On the 4th March, 1669, and again Feb. 6, lVOf, Hilletie

* Patents, 157V; Deeds, v, 71; Toll Papers.

f Perhaps Claes De Graff first acquired the Indian title to this flat, which he transferred to Cuylers.

\ Coun. Minutes, v, 171.

§ Patents, 1370; Deeds, v, 70, 357, 358 ; Deeds, vi, 9 ; Toll Papers.

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, g—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. ||

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 [Yander Yolgen], 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, Yan 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 ff Yan 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 Yan Slyck and Jan Barentse Wemp.Jt Stuyvesant’s patent was confirmed by Governor Nicolls Ap. 13, 1667 ; it then contained, including another small island separated by a creek, 82 acres.gg

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. X Deeds, v,55. § Deeds, v, 54. || Deeds, v, 192 ** Col. Doc., iv. 906. ff Col. MSS. xxxix. 216. XX See original in Union Coll. Library. §§ Patents 357,1469,1474.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

separated by a small kil, “containing in the whole of both islands, 22 morgens, 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, “ JanPappen 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 [Yan Brakel] an island on the north side 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 Yrooman and Arent Danielse [Yan Antwerpen],—two morgens more or less.

Hend. Yrooman and Arent Danielse conveyed this island to Barent Yrooman, on the 11 March, 1*7Of.

June 6, 1750, Isaac Swits and wife Maria, by virtue of Barent Yrooman’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.];

Spuyten Duyvel.

Johannes Sanderse Glen bought this island of the trustees of Schenectady together with a parcel of “ boslandt ” in 170-f 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.

X Sander’s Papers; Deeds, v, 97.

§ Chrote Schuldt-boeTc; 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.

Vaekens oe 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 Yan Slyck’s island. In 1694 Rod&, 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 Yarken’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 [Yan Slyck] containing about six acres or three morgens.”f

Van Eps Island.

This small island lies north of Yarken’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 Yan 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 Cornelis Yrooman.j;

He La Waede’s, Joeis Aeetse’s, oe Guise’s Island.

This island lies on the north-westerly side of Yan Slyck’s island, and contained originally fifteen or sixteen morgens of land.

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. 169f 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 Marselis. §

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 HoeTc ,|| 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 by whose will made Sept. 8, 1737, it was divided among his three sons, Pieter, Abraham and Jacob.ff

Sassian’s or Claas Yiele’s Island.

The next island above Guise’s island is Sassian’s or Claas Yield’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 Cornelis Yiele.

The Yield’s long possessed and gave their name to it.J J

* Deeds, iv, 140. f Deeds, iv, 264. % Patents, 1673.

§ Mortgages ix, 89 ; xn, 95.

| De bakker's Tioek on the south side of the river, being foremost farm numbered 9 owned by Volckertse Symonse Yeeder de bakker.

** Patents, 1466.

ff Will of Jellis Fonda among Bratt papers.

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 possessed 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, iv, 13; v, 108, 140,141; Oroote Schult book ; see also Toll, Roberts, Clement; Dutch Church papers.

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, Schermerhorn, Yedder, Yeeder, Yan Eps, Yrooman, Wemp, etc., may he 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, alias Yan Leyden, 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 “ Schenectady 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 Hew Amsterdam, where he remained till 1671, returning 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 M 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 this time they removed to New York, whence Willem returned to Schenectady 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 Cunningham,—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.

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 Vbet. 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 Scbermerhorn, Feb. 15, 170-J.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.];

On the 10th of April, 1704, he conveyed to Arent Danielse Van Antwerpen, “ a lot in Schenectady by virtue of transport from Jan Luykasse “[Wyngaardt] of date 13 Feb., 170§, 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., liv, 184. 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 Amst: 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., 17If, Aukes, being then eighty years of age, conveyed to Cornelis Viele, son of the former owner and keeper of his inn, and uncle of his late wife Maria Arnoutse VieR, 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 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 fliort 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 1681.1|

Where his house stood or his land lay, is not now known. (Perhaps Bagge was an alias for Roberts) ?

Gerrit 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.

f Old deed. \ See Jan Hend. Bont and Cornelis Viel&.

§ Notarial Papers, i. || Proceedings Just. Court, Albany, i, 13.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

169y. 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 Yan Eps, and sister of Jan Yan 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 hofstede, barn and two lots of land at Schenectady;—in Katskiltwo 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 Yan 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 <f 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.

\ 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.

X The Rynland rod consisted of 12 feet, of 12.36 Eng. inches each. Patents , 383.

§ Deeds, iv, 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 ox Cornells 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,-& cove,-a pool where water sets back from the river-M’M.]

f Patents No. 882.

X Deeds v. 107,154, vn; Isaac Swit’s Will and Albert Vedder’s will in Court of Appeal’s office.

§ Patents No. 754. || Patents, No. 761.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Barheyt, or Barheit, or Barhydt.

There were two early settlers of this name in Albany county, viz., Andries Hanse 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, 170j did “ sell to Hendrick Hansen late of Albany deceased, all that certain lot “between the roads [Front and Pine Streets ], bounded west by a lothereto-“ 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., 174J- 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 south 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., &e. 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 Harmanus 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 Yan “ 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 Yrooman, 107 ft. 4 in.—

* Deed’s, vii, 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 , vii, 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 ?

t [ See Fortifications,— gates.—M’M.]

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-J,—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. Yolney Freeman. The bolting-house lot is now owned and occupied by Mr. Hugh Cox.

Hendrick 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 Maalwyck. He sold the southerly half of his farm to Barent Janse Van.Ditmars and the northerly half to Douwe Aukes for his (adopted) son Cornelis Viel&, and removed to Claverack.J

In the confirmatory patent granted to Viel5 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 F. 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. f Will in Court of Appeal’s office.

X Albany Com. Coun. Records, hi, 75. § Patents No. 1038.

Adult Freeholders.

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Boot 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., 171 j transferred the same to Cornells VielA 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 Schenectady on the south side of the river over against Maalwyck , also an island, Sassian’s, now in the occupation of Cornelis,—the description of said farm being substantially that above written in the patent.*

This land long remained in the Viel& family and the ancient house was stand' ing between the two locks within the memory of many persons now living.

Pieter Jacobse Borsboom de Steenbakker.

Pieter Jacobse Borsboom was at Fort Orange, as early as 1639, and continued 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 Cornelis 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 Cornelis 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.

f Nov. 7,1657, he bought Mad. De Hulter’s horse “ old Cato” for 280 gl.— Albany Go. 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.— Mortg., 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.

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 and Front streets],— also a “ certain garden lying on the north side of his lot divided [therefrom] by a “ common highway [Front Streep 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 continued 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, aline 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 \dove gat] to said woods south-west 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 his first 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 nortli-east of Van Slyck’s Island.

f Patents, 651.

J 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 Doove , = Deaf, Faint, Extinguished, Dead; and Oat, = 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 Yan 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 Noorman or De Sweedt. 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 Catalyntj&, daughter of Andries De Yos, 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 Yan Ditmars. Her ante-nuptial contract with the weesmeesters\ 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 De Noorman , 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 inwoondevs der Colonie Rensselaerswyck,” having arrived in Albany in 1630.— Hist. N. JV., i 433. f [ Weesmeesters—orphan masters, or officers who cared for orphan’s estates. M’M].

History of the Schenectady Patent .

ectadyto 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. *

Yan Ditmars was killed in the massacre of 1690, and the following year she married Claas Janse Yan 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 Yan Boekhoven and wife made their wills Jan. 11, 169-J, 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 husband, and finally died in 1712.

On the 18th Dec., 1712, the estates of both herself and Yan Boekhoven, were appraised for the purpose of partition among her children.

Thefreal estate in Schenectady belonging to her, amounted to the sum of £976 12 s. Qd. f current money of the Province, and that of Yan 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 b y Washington, State, Church and Union streets, being about 200 feet square. In the confirmatory patent issued to her and her second husband, Yan Ditmars, June 15, 1668, it was described as:

u A certain house and lot of ground at Schenectady now in occupation “ of said Barent Janse [Yan Ditmars] and Catelyn being in a square of 200 “ feet.”|| And in her will she spoke of “my house and lot lying west of “ Maritie Damen’s [Yan 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 Yrooman, 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 c to Robert Barker an d Isaac De Graaf.

* Albany Co. Deeds, B. 597.

f Deeds, iv, 296. f Wills, i, 64, 74; and Court of Appeal’s office. § Schermerliorn Papers. || ^Patents, 593. **jWills, i, 74

Adult Freeholders.

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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 Yan 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 JBinne 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 Yan 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 9j 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.];

Andries Arentse and Capt. Arent Andriese Bratt.

Andries, was the eldest son and heir of Arent and Catelyn De Yos 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 Yan 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.

J This farm consisting of 30 acres was inventoried at £354-7-6 equal to $708.93 or $23.63 an acre.

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 Yan 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, 170-J, 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 Yolkertse [Yeeder] and west by Pieter Yan Olinda.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 his brother-in-law Garl or Charles BurnsJ—bounded east and north by the highway [Ferry and Union streets], west by the lot of Isaac Yan Yaikenburgh [now the court house lot], and south by the lot of Harmanus Yedder [Bratt’s step-father]. This lot 100 feet square now belongs to the estate of the late A. A. Yedder.§

On 2d May, 1764, Francis Burns of Pounwell, N. H. [perhaps a son of Charles Burns above mentioned] conveyed said lot to Daniel Campbell for £165 [$412.50].||

On the 15th May, 1705, Reyer Schermerhorn, only surviving trustee, conveyed 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 [Yan 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 Ferry streets was long known as Batseba 1 s Tioekje.

§ Deeds, v, 264. || Deeds, vii, 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 bounded 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 Petteu.*

On the 7 Feb. 17D-J Reyer 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 kil\, 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, extending east from Jefferson street to the Fonda lot or to a point nearly opposite Mohawk street and in the rear to Jan Vrooman’s lot or the line of the canal.];

On the 4th Feb. 171§ 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 trustee. 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. f See Jan Vrooman’s deed.

§ Deeds, v, 217 ; Bratt papers. || Wills, ii, 63.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Samuel Arentse Bratt.

Samuel, second son of Arent Andries Bratt the first settler, and of Catelyn De Yos, was horn 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 extended 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 confirmatory deed from Reyer Schermerhorn [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 Yedder, in 1839.

Dirk Arhntse Bratt.

He was the third son of Arent Bratt and Catelyn De Yos, the first settlers. He was born in 1661, and married Maritje, daughter of Jan Baptist Yan Eps, in 1684.

In the division of his mother’s and step-father’s estate, he received Yan 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 woodland 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.

f On the front of this house, scratched on a brick, may be seen, ‘‘A. Bratt, 1736.” j Patents, 1610; Albany An., iv. 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 “ Yroom 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 mentioned 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 o[ Barret street, or to the lot of the German Methodist church, and southward to the rear, 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 Yrooman. The remainder of Dirk Bratt’s land on Union street, was devised to his sons-in-law, Rickert Yan Yranken 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 Hendrickse Brouwer.

He settled in Beverwyck as early as 1655, and the year following purchased of Hendrick And. Yan 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 Schenectady,—the lot 200 feet square,—also a barn 30 ft. by 24, two her gen, two horses, mare, two milch cows, heifer, calves, five sows, a waggon, &c.J

* Church papers. f See Claes Swits. f Deeds, h, 469, 472, 475.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

The real estate at Schenectady was purchased by Cornells Yan Nes, third husband of Maritie Damens, for 1,287 gl. for Jan Dirkse Yan Eps, her son by her first husband, Dirk Yan 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 Yan Ness for this lot and bouweries No. 2, June 16, 1664, and confirmed to Jan Yan 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., 1668; the following entry is found in the Deacon’s book of the church at Albany. “ Tot die begraevenisse van Willem brouwer 40 guilders , 15 [siuivers\y 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 Eeb. 16, 170-J. Later his wife married Yan Yleck, by whom

she had a son Benjamin.

Hendrick Brouwer o wned 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 Yrooman 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 Yan Eps.

j See Borsboom. § Note, Col. Doc., ix, 1019. || Albany Annals, vm, 293.

Adult Freeholders .

101

Gerardus Cambefort, 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 Yranken 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 Kaquar-u 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 Carstense.

In 1679 Carsten Carstense De Noorman died in Albany, leaving two children, viz. Tennis, 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 death 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 Yan Curler.”§ This parcel of land lying on the Binne kil about halfway from Mill creek to the farmhouse of the late John Myers, was purchased from Paulus Janse by Christiaan Christiaanse in 1671.1| His village lot was on the north side of Union street adjoining the Dutch church lot and included the

* Patents, 1577. § Patents, 971.

f Deeds, v, 71. || Deeds, n, 811.

X Toll Papers.

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 Yan 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 Yan Yorst.J

Davidt Cheistoeeelse.

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 “Yan Wie’s Point.” He married Cornelia, daughter of Andries De Yos of Albany, and had two sons, David and Joris, and perhaps other children. His wife was not living in 1657, when an inventory 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 east 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.

t let erff op Shinnectady gelegen tuschenhet erff Van D Domini Salgr. Van Shinnectady en Tiet erff Van Pottman zynde gewaerdeert op fifthien Bevers sewant .”

J Deeds, v, 111; see also Yan 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 Go. Records.

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 Go. Records, 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 BisscohopwycJc,Vng. 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. Christoff else also owned the west half of foremost lot No. 2, on the bonwland 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 Cornells Viele, together with half of Benten island for £445, and in 1712 Joseph sold the other half to Carel Hansen Toll for £400.*

Ludovicus 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. J 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ to Reyer Schermerhorn’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.

Cltjte.

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

* Deeres, hi. 324. f Not. Papers, ii; 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 ofland at Catskil of Jan Andriese.

1668, 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 ofland 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.

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 Yan Olinda and his Indian wife Hilletie [Cornelise Yan 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.”* * * §

2rd. “ A certain piece of land lying at Canastagioenef on this [South] side of the river,” which he bought of Claas Janse Yan Boekhoven, Oct. 21, 1677. J

3d. The lands of Dirk Yan Schelluyne at Canastagioene.§

On the 3d April, 1678, Capt. Clute sold to Sweer Teunise[Yan Yelsen] of S chenectady, 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 inherited from his uncle Capt. Jan Clute.

Through embarrassments caused either by his own or his uncle’s debts, he was obliged to $art 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 Go. Records, 436.

f [Ganastagioene was properly applied to the flats on the north side of the river opposite the present Niskayuna. —M’M.]

t Albany Co. Records, 167.

§ Albany Co. Records, 168. || Notarial Papers, ii ; Albany Annals, ii, 118.

** [Bush-runner,—a trader among the Indians. M’M.] ft Deeds iv, 308. ft See Great Island.

14

History of the Schenectady Patent .

To add to his other troubles he was taken prisoner in 1692, by the Indians 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 Dumont, 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 i on the street 95 i 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 above property from Willem Marinus to whom Cromwell had devised it by will of date 19 August, 1711.

* Albany Annals, n, 118. f Deeds iv, 308.

| Deeds, v, 496.

Adult Freeholders .

107

De Graae.

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 Waede.

He came over from Antwerp in 1662, in the ship De Vos, 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 Yan Slyck’s island. Yan der Baast having been slain in 1690, his attorney, Pieter Bogardus of Albany, with the trustees of Schenectady conveyed it to Gysbert Marcelis of 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.|| 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, ii, 88; Albany Co. Rec., 224.

% Called Claas Graven's hoek; another Claas Graven's 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Bastiaen De Winter.

He was a native of Middleburgh, Holland and came to Albany 1654 and to Schenectady in 1662.

Falling sick, in 1670, he sold his house in the village and farm on the bouwland to Joris Aertse Yander Baast, Jan Labatie and Elias Yan 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 Yan Der Baast, the surveyor, and on the next day the southerly half to Jan Labatie of Albany.* Yan 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 Christoff else, who was also slain at the same time. In 1699, Peter Bogardus, attorney for the heirs of Yan der Baast, conveyed his lot to Gysbert Marcelis of Albany, and in 1716, Caleb Beck by virtue of a conveyance 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 u first lot, on the north side by Jan Yan 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 Yan Gyseling and Pieter Cornelise Yiele.§ Soon after Yan Gyseling became owner of the whole parcel. ||

* Deeds n, 788 to 791. f Deeds, v, 343. " f Patents, 759

§ Deeds, ii,^ 789. || See Yan 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-nelis VieP, his father-in-law conveyed to him a farm below the Aal Floats , which he abandoned by reason of the Indian alarms after the year 1690. f

Jonathan Dyek.

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 Willem Appel, of 75 feet front, Amsterdam measure, comprising the lots of Mr. George Swortfiguer and estate of the late William Cunningham,—numbers 103-111.

Hans Janse Eenkluys.

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.

f Land Papers, vii, 78.

^ Jonathan Dyer jonge man van Weels in Englandt en Maria Dirkse wedmoe van Harmanus Hagedorn, married Nov. 21, 1695.— Albany Church Records.

§ Deeds, vi, 192.

1 Col. Hist., i, 287.—O’Callaghan’s Hist. N. N., i, 149. ** O’Callaghan’s Hist. 1ST . N., ii, 71.

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 Grootfs 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 y 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 Lubberdds 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, removed 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 Caughnawaga 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 <c 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 Yan Aeken two distiller’s kettles for 400 guilders sew ant .—Albany Go. 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 Arme wey 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, 1737, 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 hofstecle to this island farm he had two morgens of land on the mainland near Claas Gravens ’ hoe7c, which in his will was devised to his son Douwe.

In addition to this, Reyer Schermerhorn [trustee] conveyed to him 10th April 1702 , Fruisbessen (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 6tli 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. f Sanders Papers. § Deeds, v, 188.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Dominie Barnhardus Freerman. *

Dominie Freerman, 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 Yan 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 Yan der Yolgen, 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

Hendrick Gardenier, alias Flodder.

The Gardeniers 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 Yan Yorst.

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 Schenectady, 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 Oarstense his wife, were residents of Schenectady in 1687.

On 13th Sept., 1689, he conveyed to Myndert Wemp eight or ten acres of land at Maalwych 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,]; 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.

X 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 reimbursed in beaver .—Dutch MSS., hi, 11.

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 endeervegelegen “in de Smits valey opt eyland Manhatans daer tegenwordig lauris Cornelise Van Welin woont , voor . ... de somme van twee duysent gulP\

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.

X Col. Doc., i, 595. § Hist. N. N., in 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 “ Smits valey,” New Amsterdam. — Patents G. 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 Yan Rensselaer.— Albany Annals , ii, 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 Yinhagel lives for 576 gl.— Ibid, 277.

1660, 22 Dec., had a lot south 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: Yan Gutsenhoven for 975 gl. 12 st.— Ibid , 369. 1661, bought the house and lot of Marten Gerritse Yan 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.-16^, 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 Yan 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 (?) 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 Nova Scotia or more commonly 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 morgens — “ 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 bouwerys 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 Hendrickse Yan Baal .—Albany Go. iitec.,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 Go. Pec., 392.

May 11-21,1667, he gave his bouwery at Scotia to his three sons .—Albany Go. Pec., 423.

9 Mar., 1669, he again conveys his bouwery at Schenectady to his 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 g\.—lbid, 504.

10 Jan., 1672, sold his lot opposite the court house, Albany, to Juriaen Theunise Tappen .—Albany Go. Pec., 492.

* Dr. Alex. Fonda’s Papers.

% See Yan Petten.

f Patents, 21.

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 Yan 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 -Jy May, 1667, and again 9th March, 1669, Sander Leendertse conveyed 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 family.§

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, ii, 671, 712.

§ Will, Court of Appeal’s office.

|| Deeds, iv, 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’ occupation, 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 \JBinne 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. 1707, conveyed to his uncle Johannes Sanderse Glen of Schenectady, his lands 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-’°J.f

By inheritance and purchase, Johannes Sanderse Glen thus became possessor 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

standing;—the latter occupied the wooden house standing easterly therefrom 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 Scotia 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 “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 JDuyvel 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 1705 for £16-10 [$41.25].];

* Deeds, vm, 270. f Sanders Papers; Jno. Sanders’ will.

t A parcel of “ boslandt gelegen achter U. E. lant op Schotia ” for £36; also “ aen parcell boslandt Rondt Scotia en Spieten DuyveVs island ” for £16-10 .—Groote Schult boek.

Adult Freeholders .

119

In 1706 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 19, 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 residence of Charles P. Sanders, was built by him in 1713 and occupied until his death in 1731.[

* Deeds, hi, 99.

f In Albanie anno 1685, Oct. 2 is myn broeder Jacob Sanderse dieiaken in den Here ont-slapen s’naghs ontrent een winnigh naer 2 JJren tussen vriday en saterdagh.—Albany Annals ,

xi, 47.

X See “ Albany Families ” and will of Sander Glen among Bratt Papers.

§ See Wemp and Ven Velsen

|| [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 photograph of it is large and dignified in appearance.

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 Yelsen estates. He had eight children all by his first wife.*

Symon Symonse Groot.

He came to New Netherland about the year 1645, as boatsw T ain of the ship Prince Maurits *, and purchased a house of Jacob Hoy in New Amsterdam. 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 wery 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 Wan Yelsen.

f In 1654, he had a claim against the Dutch West India company for services rendered of 684 guilders.— Deeds , ii, 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 734 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.

| This 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, described 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 u of the Hoek *, 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 “ [Yan 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 th o 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 Yisscher of Albany, in 1699, by whom he had several children.

* De Bahtier's Hoek. f Patents, 1466.

X See Sim’s Hist Sclio. Co.

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 y called the Varkerts 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 Hall.

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. N. Y.—M’M.]

f Dutch Church Papers. f [. 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 ; subsequently he removed to Schenectady where he bought a bouwery of Juriaen Teunise Tappen in 1671. The year following,—Feb. 1, 167J, he sold to Harmen Yedder “ de Bouwery (daer de Voorz : Dirk Hessenlingh op woont “ op Schanechtede), soo het landt , als thuys , Schuer, ende twee berghen , dbc., “ so als het de Voorn de Hesselingh Van Juriaen Teunissen gecocht heeft “ Igehadt ,” &c., to be delivered May 1 to Yedder together with the seed in the ground, the grantee promising to pay 20 whole beavers to Juriaen Teunissen.* * * §

In 1670 he bought Dirk Yan 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 ; Albrecht je 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.];

Paulus Janse alias Powelyn.

But little is known of him beyond the fact that he received a patent in 1669 for a small parcel of ground on the Binrib kil which three years later he sold to Christiaan Christiaanse.§

In the massacre of 1690 his son Arnout was carried away to Canada by the French.

Jan Janse Joncker alias Yan 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 Yan Isselsteyn, now comprising the homestead of Mr. John D. Campbell.— Deeds, n, 796. Albany Co. Rec., 478.

f Albany Co. Rec., 502, 118.

X A Robert (Dirk?) Hesselingh was killed in the massacre of 1690. — Albany Annals, ix, 89.

§ Deeds, n, 811; see also Christiaanse.

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 Pootman, 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 Viel5 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 conveyed 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., I70f to his sons-in-law Benjamin Lenyn, Willem Boin and Manasseh Sixbery.

Rotterdam had five (?) daughters who probably 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, 170J, 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., xxviii, 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 by 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 Willem 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 kii 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 Coramissaris to the Patroon of Rensselaerswyck and afterwards held a like office at Fort Orange under the Dutch West India Company.| 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 Beverwyek he purchased lands at Schenectady.||

* Dutch Church Papers, Schenectady.

f Col. MSS., xxviii, 18 ; Deeds, v. 196; see also Cobes, Tam Smit ; Dutch Church and Toll Papers.

t O’Callaghans Hist. N. N., i, 434.

§ Surgeon Yan 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 Go. Bee., 188.

11 Nov., 1654, he conveyed the last mentioned house and lot to Adrian Janse Yan Leyden.— Ibid, 212.

April 23,1655, the last mentioned sale was cancelled.— Ibid , 213.

Lots bought and sold at Beverwyek.

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.

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 Arissen Van der Baast and west by the “ highway [Church street],” according to the patent of date 21 October, 1670.J

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 weyland , 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 creupel-bosch , and to the south [east], Barent Janse, the former lot as purchased of Sander Leendertse Glen,— the latter as purchased of

1662, he bought of S. L. Glen a lot 18 ft. 4 in. wide front 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 Go. 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 Van Slyck a house and lot in the Golonie .— Ibid, 453.

v 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.— lbid 9 460.

1670, Nov. 21, he bought a lot in Schenectady of Bastiaen De Winter.— Ibid, 474.

* Deeds, iv, 34, 298. f Deeds, ii, 759. J Deeds, n, 788.

Adult Freeholders.

127

Pieter Jacobse Borsboom 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^l on the south side of the Mohawk river, but subsequently removed farther west into the Maquaas country, where he w T as 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 , 17Of, and soon after probably left the township. The patentees sold this land Dec. 31, 1705, to Jan Danielse Yan Antwerpen.ff

* Patents, 758, see also, Glen and Borsboom.

f O’Callaghan Hist. N. N., i.

X \ Woestyne = Wilderness.—M’M.]

§ Dutch Church records; John Dunbar’s will. I [Calleburgh = a bare hill.—M’M.]

** Dutch Church Papers, ff Deeds, iv, 293; Groote Schult boek.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Pieter 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 Marestus.

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 Tennis 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 (perhaps son of the above) bought of the town 36 morgens of land at Poopendaal \Beukendaal\\

Marten Maurits.

He was owner of one-half of “Van Slyck’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 Mars el is.

He was a son of Marselis Janse of Albany and early settled here ;— in the massacre of 1690 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. Rec 64.

J Groote Schult boek.

§ Notarial Papers, i, 48, 74; see also Yan 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 Yrooman, Jan Mebie and Arent Yedder 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 [Yan der Yolgen], <k on the west the lot of Douwe Aukes, to the north the pasture of Gysbert “ Gerritse [Yan 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 Yan Antwerpen.

Ahasuerus Marselis.

He was a son of Marselis Janse, from Boramel, 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 Yrooman, Gysbert Marselis, Jan Mebie and Arent Yedder, 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 Yan 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' straat, of rack = Martyr’s street (State street) or to the highway.—M'M.j

f Deeds, v, 114.

f Annals of Albany, vn, 57; hi, 43-5; vi, 292. § Dutch Church Papers.

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, Ilarmen 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 occupied by the-eanal. It was subsequently divided into two lots of 30 feet each and occupied by the Van Sices.f

Daniel Mascraft ( Mathercraft).

He and Jonathan Stevens leased Lysbet Brouwer’s farm at the Hoek in 1097 ;—h e soon disappeared and was not again mentioned in the records.

Jan Pieterse 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, probably, 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

Arenfc 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 16f$ “ lying on the street called Gross 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 68 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.

f [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 Jan 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 common 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 frequent 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.

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 Ho. 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 either direction.

It is the writer’s belief that this house, at least its stone walls, date from 1670-80 when Daniel Janse Van Antwerp occupied and received a patent for the land in the centre of which it stabds.

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 Tiofstede 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 1854, when it was commuted.* * * §

On the 3d Feb., 171|-, Cornelis 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, I7ly, “ 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 Benthuysen brother-in-law of Jan Mebie, who sold the easterly half to Willem Claase Van Cop-pemol.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 Jots on Front street and his quarter of bouwery No. 7,—to his daughter the half of his land at Kadoritha 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.

f Toll Papers.

i Deeds, v, 232.

§ Will of Jau Pieterse Mebie.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Johannes Myndeetse.

He was son of Myndert Frederickse,* of Beverwyck and came to Schenectady 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 penalties; 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.”]; 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 egtate to his three sons, Myndert, Beinier and Jacobus.§

* See “ Albany Families.” f Albany Annals, vm, 286-9, 293-8; ix, 16.

t 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.”* * * §

Dirk 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 1676,]; 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 Washington, 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.

X Proceedings of Magistrates 1675-80, fol. 19, Albany city clerk’s office.

§ Deeds, i, 282 ; Albany Co. Records, 122.

Both, village lot and bonwery, Otten purchased 13th Aug., 1670, of Pieter Adriaense Soegemakelyk, alias Van Woggelum.*

Jacobus Peeck.

He was a son of Jan Peeck,f innkeeper, and Maria Du Truy [Truax], of Hew Amsterdam, where he was baptized Jan. 16, 1656. With his kinsman, 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 before 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 morgens 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 morgens 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, Schermerhorn and Veeder.

f 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 .—Dutch MSS., v, 455 ; vi, 4, 308; viii, 80; x, 23, 24; x 2 , 452; x3,1, 2 ; Council Minutes ; Deeds, hi, 324.

Mrs. Peeck at the time of her banishment, was said to be “ one of the oldest inhabitants 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.

X Land papers, ii, 59; Toll and Dutch Church Papers; Albany Co. Records in Deeds, iv; 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 T Villegen 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, I70f, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to “Jan “ Philipse, bachelor, a lot of ground in Schenectady, on the south side of the “ sfreet 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 c 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.”! 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.];

Bartholomew Pikkert.

He married Eva Claese and had four children baptized in the church here between 1700 and 1706. He lived at the Ferrebergh 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, rv, 234, 236 ; Dutch Church Papers ; see also Van Coppernol. f Old deed. f Deeds, vi, 30.

§ Albany Annals, vn, 61.

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, Yictoor and Cornelis arrived at maturity and had families.

On the 6th April, 1709, Arent Pootman, the eldest son, conveyed to his brother Yictoor, “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 21*7 feet and in breadth on the north and south 69 feet 4 in.,— “ wood measure.”^

Pieter Ral.

He was a member of the church in 1700, but his name does not again appear in the records.

JURRIAN RlNCKHOUT.

His father Jan Rinckhout was a baker in Albany.§ Jurrian was a freeholder 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, “ Boo heeft Jan Hendr. Van Bael besteet ende Philip Hendr. Brouwer (ten genomen Johannes Pootman, jong gesel out jegenwordich omtrent sestien jaeren," —to serve said Brouwer, “ van drye achtereen volgende jaaren." Jan 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 farm, near New York as made over by his father-in-law Teunis “ Idesse.”

After Jurrian’s death his widow married John McIntyre, 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 Yan 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 “ him by A. Yan Curler deceased, containing in length 400 feet —in breadth “ 50 feet, abutting on the West [east] side with Symon Groot, on the north “[west] with the bouwery [house lot] of Willem Teller and Pieter Jacobse “ Borsboom.”f

His bouwery, called MaalwycJc 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 “Noorman, 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 hoeJcs 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.”];

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.— Deeds, hi, 266; v, 106; Not. Papers, n.

t Patents, 647.

X Patents, 981.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

In 1711, Pieter Clement sold his half of the farm to Cornells Viel5 together 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.J 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 himself 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 Sensing, afterwards married Jonathan Broadhurst of Albany, April,

* Deeds, v, 108, 141. f See Douwe Aukes, Toll, and Viele.

X Albany Annals, iv, 14; Court of Assizes, ii, 524. § Toll Papers.

|| Doc. Hist., ii, 198 ; Col. MSS., xxxiii, 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 OraDge, 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 proceedings 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 Klevn 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 Yerplanck, 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., it, 63 note, 587 ; i, 436, 441; Deeds, ii. In 1648 he vvas at South [Delaware] river.— O' Callaghan's Hist. H. N., ii, 81.

t Col. Doc., i, 312, 337, 345, 428; ii, 459 ; hi, 179.

X [De Goyer = the thrower—caster—pitcher.—M’M.]

§ Wills, i, 26.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Reyer Schermerhorn.

Reyer was the only son of Jacob Janse, who settled permanently at Schenectady. He was gebortigh alhier in Albanie ,— 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 riiort-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 Gerrit Symonse Yeeder, 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 hoek.

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 kit , together with the bouwery No. 4, remained in the family nearly 200 years and have but lately passed into other

* Will made by them 7th Sept., 1678.— Not. Papers, ii. He was baptized in New Amsterdam, June 23, 1652.— Valentine's Manual. t [ Tryntje = dutch for Catherine.—M’M.]

J Deeds, iv, 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.

Real estate owned by Reyer 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 \Droybercjh , 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 1806. J

Third. On the 23d February, 170§, 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. Yoor het aen sprecken van de overledene Reyer Gulden. - Schermerhorn en Yoor 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 Yrooman.

f Deeds, v, 69, 70, 494; vi, 145 ; Toll Papers.

\ Deeds, xiii, 513; Deeds, iv, 298.

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 bequeathed 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 5i 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 VO feet, to be taken in the middie 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, where Symou Groot Jr., “formerly lived with the w r ood 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. Carlcy’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 Yolkert 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 [Yeeder] my lands in the Jerseys “called Ganse gat:* —to Wilhelmus Symonse, son of Gerrit Symonse “ [Yeeder] 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.f

SyMON SCIIERMERHORN.

When Jacob Janse made his will in 1688, he spoke of his son Symon 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 Yiele 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.]; Maxasseh 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 flat, 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, Wilhelmus, Cornells and Mary.

His son Wilhelmus settled in Maquaasland about 1720.§

* [Query, Goose pond.—M’M.] f Wills, 1 ,163,

t Col. MSS., xxxix, 71. § Toll Papers.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Cornells 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 Cornells 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.”];

Casparus 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.||

* Deeds, vi, 30, 31; Deeds, iv; Old Deed ; Albany Annals, ix, 89. f See Cobes and Kleyn ; Deeds, v, 355. % Hutch Church papers.

§ Valentine’s Manual for 1862; Albany Annals, v, 169.

| Dutch Church records; Deeds, iv.

In 1698, he hired Mrs. De Graaf’s farm at the Hoek , and the Fourth Flat of Tam 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 109, 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 Aalplaats kil , and south by the Mohawk river, and comprised several hundred acres of flat and woodland.

I

His son Arent, had great influence with the Mohaw T ks, 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 Corneeise Swits.

Two sons of Cornelis 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 boiiwknecht\ Adjoining to this bouwery on the northeast side, w^as 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.

f Col. Doc., vi, 292, 512, 783, 787, 796, 975; vn, 70.

% Dutch MSS., x3, 37 ; Patents G. G., 129 ; H. H., 23 ; Gen. Ent., xxiii, 72.

§ See “ Schenectady Families.”— Albany Records, i, 72.

| \Bomoknecht = farm laborer.—M’M.]

History of the Schenectady Patent.

quences of his rash act, as appears by a formal release over their hands and seals executed March 1, 166f, and afterwards confirmed by Governor Nichols.* * * §

It would seem that the cause of this sad accident was a disputed line between 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 schanechtede bestaende in teoonhuys, “ schuer, bergh en bouwlandt intwee parcelles genomeneert van den lantmeter , “ No. 5, <fcc ”f

He married Susanna, daughter of Symon Groot and had nine children, eight of whom were living in 1701 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 Binne kil and southwesterly towards Mill creek.

In 1690 when the village was burned, he and his eldest son Cornelis 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 a ge, bounded south-west by State street from the Coehorne creek to the easterly

* Notarial Papers, i, 1, 410.

f 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, iv, 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 Juffrouw's land came into market, after the death of the widow of Arent 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, th z 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 following summer.

He married Hester Yisscher 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 Shen-“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 Cornelis Swits, “ by virtue of a patent granted by y e late Governor Richard Nicolls unto “ ye aforesaid Gerrit Banker bearing date y e 7 lh 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.

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 Yan der Linde* * * § married Jacob Meese Yrooman 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 streets, 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 Cornells, who early removing to Ulster county conveyed it in 1692 to his brother-in-law Claes Laurense Yan der Yolgen, 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 Yrooman [second husband of Elizabeth, widow of said Swart] by the magistrates of Schenectady, according to deed of date Feb. 7, 168§, by Wouter Uythoff [third husband of said Elizabeth] and said Elizabeth to Claas Laurense Yan Pur-merent \alias Yander Yolgen],—“ being a corner lot over against the church “ (te weten de kerk ),f two hundred feet long [on Church street] and one “hundred and seventy feet broad [on State] street having des heeren “ Straetenl [State and Church streets] on the south and west and to the east “Jan Labatie according to deed of date Feb. 7, 168-|;—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, confirmatory 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 “ kiV\ 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, extending from the river to the sand bluff or hill and was divided nearly into

* Deeds, hi, 88, 310 ; rv, 35,

f The church which then stood at the junction of Church and State streets was from the beginning used as a watchhouse and continued to be so used nearly one hundred years, [’te Hok huys (te weten de kerche) = the block house that is to say the church.— M’M.]

X [Heeren Straeten = public streets.—M’M.]

§ Deeds, iv, 34, 35.

1 Patents, 309.

Adult Freeholders.

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 Yan Purmerend alias Van der Yolgen, Teunis Swart’s son-in-law, who conveyed the northerly half lying between the road and the river, to Claas Janse Yan 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 stepson.§ Bratt’s portion passed to Wouter Yrooman in 1741 ;|| and in 1757, Adam, son of Wouter Yrooman conveyed the same to Isaac Yrooman.** * * §§ Teunis Swart also had a pasture on the north side of Front street, consisting 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 [Yan 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 Cornelis eldest son of Teunis Swart.JI

Esaias, or Jesaias Swart.

Teunis Cornelise Swart had three sons who lived to maturity and had families,—Cornelis the eldest, who removed to Ulster county,§§—Adam who

* Deeds, iii, 310.

f Deeds, rv, 34, 35.

% Deeds, iv, 37. Catharina Glen before her marriage with Lansing, was the widow of Cornelis, son of Barent Janse Yan Ditmars, former husband of Van 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 Yander Yolgen, 1735 ; of Lourense Claase Vander Yolgen 1739; and of Wouter Yrooman 1748, in Court of Appeal’s office.

ff Patents, 754.

XX Toll Papers.

§§ Cornelis Swart was 70 years old 22 May, 1722, and was bom therefore about 1652. Wills, i, Deeds, iv, 35 ; Albany Annals, vi, 48,

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 Teuni-s Van Woert of Albany, and had three sons, Tennis 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 flat , of which he received a conveyance Aug. 5, 1713, 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 reserved out of his father’s lot when it was sold to his brother-in-law Yan der Volgen.§

He had also had eight acres of bouwery No. 10, which his step-father Jacob Meese Yrooman and his mother Elizabeth, widow of Teunis Cornelise Swart, conveyed to him Feb. 20, 168f,—“bounded south by the hills, west “by Symon Yolckertse [Yeeder], north by Claas Laurense Van der Volgen “ and east by a low place formerly a swamp, adjoining the pasture of Claas “ Laurense Purmerend [Yan der Yolgen], 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 deposition 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 Yan Slyck Van Nieuw Albanie , Jan. 15, 1690 ;—in 1706 he resided in Kinderhook .—Albany Dutch Church Decor ds.

f Above Hoffman’s Ferry.

J 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 Cornelis 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 confirmatory 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 Killetje\\ to the east of No. 6, a line cutting between south west “ 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, iv, 466.

f Patents, 491.

\ Deeds, iv, 209; vi, 359.

§ Schenectady Deeds, i, 467; Albany Deeds, xvn, 464.

| Now sometimes called the Poenties kil.

** Patents, 491.

June 20, 1700, Willem 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.

Willem Teller also had a pasture on the north side of Front street, comprising two and a half morgens lying between the pastures of Adam Vrooman and Pieter Jacobse Borsboom, which in 1700 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, 1725, devised to his son Johannes “ 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 therhun-“ to belonging, also my third part in the saw mill : ”— 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 lioek “ 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 hot 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.

Dominie 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 comprising 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, iv, 209 ; vn, 359; xix, 56; — Willem Teller’s will.

f Deeds, iv, 209.

J Johannes Teller’s will.

Adult Freeholders.

155

came to Schenectady. In the destruction of the village in 1690, the parsonage the site of which is unknown, was burned, and the Dominie was killed.* * * §

Jeremi Thickstone.

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., 170^, Jan and Catie Luykase sold the above parcel of land to Carel Hansen Toll, and on the 9th March, 171^, Toll sold the same and a small island in the river to his brother-in-law Thickstone for £100.§

Willem Abrahamse Tietsoort.||

He was in Schenectady as early as 1681, but soon after remo“ved to Dutchess county.**

His lot in the village was on the north side of State street, late the property of John Vrooman, deceased, now belonging to the estate of the late Pieter Rowe. Tietsoort was in qifiet 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., hi, 8vo., 865; Gen. Ent., 65 ; Col. Doc., iv, 468 note; in, 458; County Records, i, 28.

f Toll Papers.

J [Touching shore or rocky riff. Stoney landing place — for canoes.—M’M.]

§ Deeds, v, 72, 300.

| [Claes Willemse in “ Schenectady Families.”—M’M.]

** Proceeding Justices’ Court, Albany, i, 13.

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.!

Cakel 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, i. 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-J.

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 Yalkenburgh 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.

% Schermerhorn Papers.

§ Deeds, v, 153.

|| 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. TolVs 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 Yan de Linde’s and “a little above the farm of Claes Willemse Yan 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 Graeven's “ hoeJc, 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 acres.”f

After Cuyler’s death, Anna his widow and Johannes his eldest son and 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 Yan Olinda’s and a little above the “ farm of heirs of Claes Willemse Yan Coppernol now in tenure and occupation of Philip Philipse de more” etc., as in the above mentioned patent. J Carel Hansen held this land until the 1st March, I7l£ 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.

% Deeds, v, 70; Toll Papers.

§ Deeds, v, 357, 358 jvi, 9.

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 extends 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 d^ated 18th Sept., 1720, conveyed his half to his son-in-law, Johannes Van Eps, for the sum of £150 ($075), 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 V'erf kil on the east, to Eva’s kil at Crane’s village on the west.

Fourth. Maalwyck. On the 17th March, 171 i, Joseph Clement, stepson 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 Tbeux 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

% Qroote schult boeJc ; Church Papers.

§ Deeds, v, 142 ; see Roberts.

Adult Freeholders.

159

or marshall, 1638, and 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 22^ morgens with 10 morgens 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 ]656 he was a deputy sellout fiscal at Fort Orange; in September, 1661 he agreed with Adrian Appel (who was an innkeeper 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 sellout 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, vrn, 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 Ante , page 132, Mabee.

History 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 miles 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 Yan der Baast.

De derde Vlachte aen dese zyde Van de Maquaase rimer versoecht by “Daniel Jansen is laneh by de boskant in het geheele van de punt totde an-“ dere 356 Rooden ende buyten de punten 193 rooden ende op zyn breetste “ drears ouer van de boskant tot de rivier 83 rooden maecke7ide te samen 31 “ morgen en 379 rooden.

“ Aldus gemeten door.

“ Joris Arissen Yan der .Baast,”f

The patent for this land was granted 21 Aug., 1680, by Gov. Dongan, and on the 22 Jan., 170-f- Yan 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 Yan der Baast’s measurement.J 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 Schenectady and in 1701 was supervisor of the township.

Yan 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 Yedder and had eleven children; Symon married Maria, daughter of Jacobus Peek and had ten children; he bought land and settled in Schaghticoke, made his will in 1744 and devised the westerly sixty feet of the lot of the late S. C. Groot in Union street to his son Jacobus.g Daniel married Ariaantje,

* Albany Records, xx, 333, 334; Col. MSS., xxvi, 139.

f Land Papers, n, 59. f Deeds, v, 79.

§ He gave to his outste soon Daniel Seymonse Van Antwerpen myn grooten Byble en consideratie van syneerste geboorten recht; to his wife Maria, deurende haer naturelyck leven en weduewschaap 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 gdet [Union street] ; als meede de twee hondert en Viftigh ackers boslandt leggende aen de suyde syden van de Mackquasse rivier ten westen boven Rosendaal. Children mentioned 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.— Schermerhorn Papers .

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 Yan Eps and had nine children.

Of the Yan 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 Yan Antwerpen.

Jan Danielse—Daniel’s oldest son, was born about 1670, in Schenectady; he married Angnieta Yedder in 1700; he died 20th Jan., 1756. 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.

Arent Danielse Yan Antwerpen.

Arent, son of Daniel Janse Yan Antwerpen, married Sara, daughter of Johannes Yan 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, 170-f-, 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 Yan 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. f Deeds, v, 187.

Adult Freeholders.

163

morgens.’ 7 * * * § 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, 1V42.”| This mill was probably on or near the site of Yan Yorst’s mill. Seventeen acres of the above parcel subsequently belonged to Arent S. Yedder and Nicolaas Ye e der.

Marten Yan Benthuysen.

He was son of Paulus Martense Yan 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 2i 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 Amsterdam measure. Yan Benthuysen through his wife Feitje had a fourth interest in all these parcels of land.§

Claas Janse Yan 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.

X Oroote Schult boek.

§ See Borsboom.

|j Not. Papers, r, 200.

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 Claaee Van Vranken he bought land over the river in Niskayuna, a part of which he sold in 1678 to Theunis Willemse Van Woutbergh,* * * § and the remainder came into possession of his step-son Dirk Bratt. He made his will Jan. 11, 169f 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 1734.J 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§ 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, iii, 141.

| This will made Sept. 13, 1734, was proved 22 May, 1735; by it she bequeathed to “ my eldest son Jan Baptist Yan 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 Yan 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*4 morgens adjoining the lands of my daughter Elizabeth above mentioned;”—“to my daughter Elizabeth Yan Vorst, the wife of Gillis Yan Vorst \% morgens of land adjoining Gysbert’s above mentioned; ”—“ to my daughter Sarah Van Antwerpen 3 morgens adjoining the land of my daughter Maria Brat for which she is to pay £50 to my daughter Anna Ten Eyck, widow of Conraet Ten Eyck, viz. £8, 6s. 8d., yearly after my decease untill all is paid.” Will in hands of Abm. Yan Antwerp, of 8wagertown.

§ Wills, 1 ,129.

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 7J feet “ [223$ feet], west 14 rods 9 feet [177 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 [i. 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 “ easternf 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 2J 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 “Horne Hall], Abraham De Graaf, Daniel Danielse [Van Antwerpen], “ Cornells 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.]

f This brewhouse stood about where the New York Central Railroad and the Erie Canal cross each other.

§ These lots extend from the east line of Samuel Meyer’s lot to Ferry street;— Deeds, vi, 191,192.

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 Yrooman [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 Juffrouwsland 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, 169-f from the justice of the peace, Johannes Sanderse Glen and the gemeenmannen of Schenectady, of an island on the north side of the river, called Kruysbessen [Gooseberry] island lying west of Spuyten Huyvel [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 Hendrick Vrooman and Arent Danielse Antwerpen, comprising two morgens more or less of land, and they sold it to Barent Vrooman Mar. 11, 170-J for £21 [$52.50].J 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., I70y the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to Gerrit, son of Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel, “a piece of woodland on both sides of “Hansen Tdl [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.

f Deeds, v, 97; Sanders Papers.

§ Barent Vrooman’s will in Court of Appeal’s office and Sanders Papers.

jj Dutch Church Papers.

Adult Freeholders ,

167

Romeyn 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 purchased 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 “ 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 flat 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.”];

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 “ another 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 2J morgens or 5 acres.”§ This lot originally patented to Sander Leendertse Glen, commenced at a point

* Albany Co. Rec., 182.

f Deeds, iv, 236.

t Deeds, iv, 234, 236.

§ Deeds v, 232.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

299 feet English easterly from North street and extended along Front street 210 feet English. In 1718 this lot was in possession of Pieter Quackenbos.* * * §

In 1727 Willem, son of Claas Willemse Yan Coppernol lived in Green street.

Arent Yan Curler.

The acknowledged leader of the little colony at Schenectady in 1662, was Arent Yan Curler. He came over in 1630 as superintendent of Golonie Rensselaerswyck, and continued in office until 1646, 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 at Schenectady and where he remained directing and furthering the interests of the settlers until his unfortunate death.

Having accepted an invitation from He Tracy, the Governor of Canada to visit Quebec, on his journey he embarked in a canoe on Lake Champlain and being overtaken by a storm was drowned in July, 1669.J No man of his time had so fully won the confidence and esteem of the red men as Yan Curler, and to honor his memory they ever after addressed the Governor of the Province by his name. His character for kindness and humanity was known even to the French in Canada, many of whom he had rescued from the hands of the cruel Mohawks ;§ to perpetuate his memory they gave the name of Corlaer to Schenectady.

Juffrouw Yan Curler continued to reside in Schenectady until her death about the beginning of the year of 1676. On the 27th Jan., 167§, in consideration of the loss of her husband in public service, and of her house, barns and corn by fire, Governor Lovelace licensed her to trade with the Indians, it being thought also that her license would stop the quarrels of the other two tapsters, Cornells Cornelise Yiel& and Acques Cornelise Gautsh [Yan Slyck], the Indian.]

* Deeds, v, 417.

f Jonas Bronck in 1639 became proprietor of 500 acres of land in what is now Morrisania, Westchester Co.— Boltov's Westchester Co., ii, 395.

% O’Callaghan’s Hist. N. N.

§ Col. MSS., hi, 395.

I Orders in Council, p. 127; Eng. MSS., xxiii, 149 ; Col. Doc., ii, 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 dire, there may for her Reliefe bee so farr indulged as to have “ licence to sell some Rumrn to y e Iudyans, 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 April 1 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 administration 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 [$4,322.84] debts, fl. 21,171-7 [$8,468.54] preferred debts, fl. 4,600-6 [$1,840.3 2], leaving fl. 6,205-11 [$2,482.22] for other creditors.

The curateurs of Arent Van Curler’s estate, were Dr. Cornelis 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, without 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.

Otten, wife of Gerrit Symonse 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 morgens and thirty rods, as granted Aug. 19, 1664, by Governor “ Stuyvesant to said Arent in his lifetime.”! This land was bounded according 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, Cornelis Van Dyck and Johannes Provoost, in 1681, to pay the debts. It was divided

* Patents, 647; see also Roberts, Schaets and Vedder. f Patents, 585.

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 Yelsen, 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 Duyvel islands; which said island consisting of 15 morgens was bought of Jan De La Warde, also three morgens of land on the north side of the river for a kofstede\ adjoining the land of the widow of Claas Graven.§ On the 23d of June. 1714, Marcelis 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 Graven's hoek “ 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., hi, 115. f Deeds, n, 790.

X Hofstede = country house, a Farm House and its accompanying garden orchards

etc.; a country homestead.— M’M.]

§ Deeds, iv, 140, 264.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ Olaas Graven's hoek and the said Scotia, excepting only two islands “ within the said bounds, one whereof, is called Kruisbesse 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 1*714 to Caleb Beck.

The Great island was sold to Nicholas De Graaf who dying about 1* * § 796 left it to his sons 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 Yolkertse Yeeder, 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].|

Frans Yan l»e Bogart.

He was a son of Harmen Myndertse Yan de Bogart, who came over to New Netherland in 1631, as surgeon in the ship Eendraeht .§

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.||

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’Callaghan's Hist. N. N., i, 434, 441; n, 585; Dutch MSS., i, 44; n, 24; vn, 120-1; Albany Rec., i, 41; Valentine’s Man., 1863. Doc. Hist., n, 74,115, 200; iv, 135; Deeds, iv, 313.

| Toll Papers ; Deeds, v, 199.

** Toll Papers.

Adult Freeholders.

173

Claas Laurense Van der Yolgen, alias Yan Purmerend.

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 Yan Horne 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 Yrooman, of Albany, to whom the magistrates of Schenectady gave a deed of the same, of date Feb. 7, 168§. Yrooman dying, his widow again married Wouter Uythoff, with whom she united Jan. 4, 1692, in a conveyance of said lot to Claas Laurense Yan Purmerend [alias Yan der Yolgen], — it “being a “ corner lot over against the Blockhouse (te weten de Jceric )*, 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 Yan der Linde), and said Elizabeth for 540 beavers, — “the bouwery, lot [in the “ Yillage], 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, Yan Purmerend alias Yan der Yolgen, sold to Claas Janse Yan Boekhoven, Jan. 4, 169§; for £147, current money of the Province.

The next day, Jan. 5, the latter sold the easterly half of said 11 morgens to Dirk Arentse Bratt, for £73J.J

* [To wit the church.—M’M.] f [Des heeren straciten *= the public streets.—M’M.] f Deeds, iv, 34, 35. § Deeds, iv, 38.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Laueens Claese Van dee 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. 44 1,” said his sister. 44 1 am disgraced,” said he, 44 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 interpreter for the Indians but Lawrence Claessen, the sworn interpreter.f 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 44 the hindmost [west] part of the five plains 44 [Fifth flat] containing 12 morgens more or less situate in the Woestyne on 44 the north side of the Mohawk river come to me by the trustees of Schonegte-44 day,”— valued at £200, which farm he bequeathed to his eldest son Claas.

The natives also gave him the half of 44 five small islands in the Maquase 44 river att Canastagiowne containing about five or six acres between j Rosen-44 daal & Cornelis Tymesen’s,” the lower half,— 44 in consideration because 44 he takes much pains in interpreting.”!

* Tradition in the family.

f Legislative Coun., 161, 385, 516; Col. MSS., 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 passages from the Holy Scriptures and from the liturgy of the Dutch church for the use of the Mohawks.* * * §

Barent Janse Yan Ditmars.

He came to Schenectady as early as 1664, when he married Catalyntje De Yos, 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.^

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 Weyland , 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 Yedder.

By a former marriage Yan Ditmars had a son Cornelis, who married Catharina Glen; after his death she married Gerrit Lansing, Jr., of Albany. As her dower (?) Claas Janse Yan Boekhoven, who married her stepmother Catalyntje De Yos Bratt, conveyed to her one quarter part of bouwery No. 10, consisting of 51 morgens of land.J

In the massacre of 1690 both Yan Ditmars and his son were killed.

Jacobus Yan Dyck.

He was son of Cornelis Yan Dyck, “ Chirurgeon ” of Albany, and grandson of Hendrick Yan 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.

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.

Hr. 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 [$25], 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 Yedder, “ 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 Gerrit 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, Cornelis Van Ness, of Albany. She had lands in Albany, Niskayuna and Schenectady,—which after her death were distributed 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 death she married Gysbert Gerritse Van Brakel; for her will see Van Brakel.

Adult Freeholders .

177

April 29, 1664, by his step-father, Yan Ness, at the sale of Philip Hendrickse Brouwer’s property in 1664.* The conveyance to him is dated April 1667, and the patent April 29, 1667,—“to Jan Yan Epps, son of Maritie “Damens, to confirm a conveyance to him made April 15, 1667, by Cornells “Yan 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 CornelisYan Nesse dated April 10, 1665.”f

His eldest son Jan Baptist, inherited the above mentioned parcels of land.

Jan Baptist Yan Eps.

He was the eldest son of Jan Dirkse Yan 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 Baptist Yan 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 Yan Eps and Laurens Claes [Yan der Yolgen], 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.

|| Col. Doc., iv, 906. [See ante , p. 77, Five small islands.— M’M.]

History of the Schenectady Patent .

In 1706 be 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 Lafayette 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., 1702- the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to Jan Baptist Yan 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 Yan Boek-“ hoven.”| This lot was on the east corner of Water and Washington streets; in 1729, it belonged to Annatie, daughter of Jan Baptist Yan 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 Yan Boekhoven 153 ft.”|| This lot was probably on the

* See Bratt and Yan Dyck ; Deeds v, 217.

f Deeds, iv, 332 ; v, 217.

X Deeds iv, 332.

§ Old deed.

|| Deeds, iv, 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 kil* * * §

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-easterly 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 Yan Eps [Jay street],—in breadth 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 Yan Xsselsteyn by whom it was sold Oct. 23, 1668, to Claas Frederickse Yan Petten and Cornells Cornelise Yiel&; the former immediately sold his moiety, being the foremost bouwery, to Jan L>irkse Van Eps, and in Feb., 170}, the trustees of Schenectady gave a confirmatory 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 e 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 [Yan 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 Yan Guyseling July 5, 1728, extending 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 Rotterdam 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 of the Erie canal, as at present.—M’M.] ;

f Deeds, vn.

t Patents, 527; Deeds, ii, 741; Deeds, iv, 332.

§ Deeds, m, 99 ; xix, 193.

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. t

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 Yan Esselsteyn (Ysselsteyn).

He was born in the city of Ysselteyn in Holland; his wife Mayke Cornelise was a native of Barnevelt; on the 12th Jan., 167|- they made a joint will, both then living in Claverac.J He died before 1705, leaving one son Cornelis Martense.

Cornelis 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 Ho. 8;—one lying on “the second piece of land to the west of No. 7,—to the east of the creek “ [Poenties HZ],§ a line cutting between No. 7 [and No. 8] from the creek

* Deeds, IV, 324. f Church Papers; also H. Yates’ Papers.

x Not. Papers, n.

§ [The Poenties Ml crosses the river road on the west side of the old Yan Eps place and ia usually dry now at that point, the water having been diverted into Willem Teller's Mlletje, 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.]

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, Yan Esselstyn sold the hindmost lot to Claas Frederikse Yan Petten and Cornells Cornelise Yiele, “ together with the house, barn, 3 ricks, 4 horses, 5 cows, 8 hogs, wagon, plough and harrow.” On the 25 Aug., 1670, Yiel& 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 Yedder on the 1st day of February, 167|.J

The foremost lot No. 8 early passed into the possession of Jan Baptist Yan Eps.§

On the 23 Jan., 170§ “ Cornells Martense, eldest son and heir of Marten Cornelise Yan Isselstyn, deceased, of Claverac,” confirmed the sale of farms No. 8, to Claas Yan Petten.||

Elias Yan Gyseling.

He came to New Netherland in 1659, from Zeeland, in the ship Bonte Koe and settled first at Beverwjmk. “ Sprekende goet Frans ” he was sometimes employed as an interpreter. His wife, Tryntje Claase, after his death married Willem Hall in 1695.

In 1670, he came to Schenectady and with Pieter Cornelise Yiele purchased 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 [Yan Eps], according to patent of 21st October, 1670 from Governor Lovelace.”**

* [The Erie canal in its passage across the bouwland was made over a series of dove gait or dead holes containing dead water, once doubtless the ancient bed of an arm of the river. One of these dove gats (called “ Maritjes Gat”) near the junction of 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.

t Deeds, ii, 741, 777, 866 ; vii, 185; Not. Papers, n; Wills, i, 285 ; Will of Johannes Yedder, in Court of Appeal’s office.

This farm usually called “ Elias ’ 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 Gyseling but more 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 171-f, 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 surviving 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 Washington 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 of Pieter Cornelise VieR, he settled in Schenectady. He is not known to have possessed any real estate save what he acquired by his marriage.];

* [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 Cornelis Viele and others,

“y l Bennony Arentse doth most crewelly ’and barbarously Beat y« 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 Gerritse Van Marcken.

He and his wife Geertie Huybertse came over in the ship St. Jacob in 1654. For a time he was at Hew 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 Danielse Van Olinda.

He was a tailor in Beverwyck in 1663, about which time he came to Schenectady and married Hilletie Cornelise Yan 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 at Niskayuna. Yan 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.

Yan 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 Be Willegen , 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 Beunouy 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 8 instant to Remain in force .”—Minutes of Common Coun. Albany: iv.

* [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. MSS., xxiv, 140; xxv, 135, 148 to 153.

X Wills, i, 148

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

■}• “ 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 not 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 find 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 among 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 first 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 afterwards, 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’s and Sluyter's Journal , 1680, p. 301-5.

Adult Freeholders .

185

Great Island* at Niskayuna was conveyed to Hilletie Van Olinda, by the Mohawks, June 11, 1667 and confirmed by Governor Nicolls, May 8, 1668. On the 4th March, 1669, and again 6 Feb., 170-f, she and her husband conveyed the same to Johannes Clute, which sale was ratified by the Governor and Council on the 2d Aug., 167l.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 Yalkenburgh for £53 [$132.50]; it remained in Yan Yalken-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 ” (J)e willegeri) was granted to Pieter Yan Olinda and Claas Willemse Yan 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. Yan Coppernol owned the westerly half and Yan Olinda the easterly half §

Goosen Yan Oort.

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 Yan Petten.

He was born in 1641. His wife was Aetfie daughter of Arent Bratt and Catalyntje De Yos. They had eight children all of whom, reached mature age and had families save one.

They both died in 1728, she ait 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, ii, 788 ; iv, 236,; v, 153, 264, 343, 354, 358; Schen. Deeds B., 293. etc.

§ Deeds, iv, 236.

History 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 pareelles genorm-neert .... Van de landmeter No. 5, &c *

Oct. 23, 1668, Van Petten and Cornells Cornelise Yiele bought the two bouweries numbered 8, of Marten Cornelise Yan Esselsteyn and mortgaged the same the same day to Yan Esselsteyn for 220 beavers. Yiele’s moiety,— the hindmost farm,—he sold to Jurriaen Teunise Tappen, and Yan Petten conveyed the foremost farm to Jan Baptist Yan Eps.f

On the 30th Jan., 168-f, the Glens sold to Claas Yan 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 Yan 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 Yan Petten family more than 100 years, and until it was purchased by the Schermerhorns who owned the adjoining farm.

Yan 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, Yan 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 Yan 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 1*714-16, according to a survey

* Not. Papers, i, 439. •

\ Deeds, ii, 741; iv, 325.

\ Deeds, iv, 330.

| Conveyed by Claas Van Petten to bis son Claas, March 6,1713-14; Deeds, v, 358.

|| Deeds, rv, 324, [Ante, page 116, Glen.—M’M.]

** 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 Verplanckand mutual releases were executed, Schermerhorn 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 Mai eke, 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 [dove 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.”]; 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.

f Deeds, v, 222, 340. 341, 353.

X Dutch Church Papers ; see also Annals of Albany, vi, 79 ; Doc. Hist., n, 200.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

I

“ 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 Yan Petten of Schenectady, who by deed dated .Tan. 20, 174§ conveyed the same to his son Frederic of Normanskill, for the sum of £60 [$150].f The above parcel of land lying betweeu 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 Yan Petten.

Arent Yan 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 Yan Slyck.

Cornells Antonissen Yan 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 Yan 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.

% Patents, 1678.

§ O’Callaghan’s Hist. N. N , i, 382.

| Brodhead, Hist. N. 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 Harmen 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., 169J, being then about to marry Adam Vrooman. 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 bad 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 Binn& kil which was crossed by a scow to his farm on the Great island.

This lot passed to his son Capt. Harmen Yan Slyck ; in 1778, it was owned by Harmanus and Samuel sons of the latter, and still later by James Yan Slyck Rylev their nephew, his mother being a daughter of Col. Jacobus Yan 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 [Yan Yelsen] and Jacques Cornelyssen [Yan 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 Jacques Cornelise said island was granted “Nov. 12, 1662.”§

* [Gautsh , pronounced Hotch (nearly); can it be an abbreviation of Ots-toch, his mother’s name? “ A squaw was queen of the island which lies back of Washington street. She is buried on the island, under an old willow tree at the point towards the bridge. She had two children by a Frenchman— Mr. Harttell. Otstoch was like her mother, savage and wild. She married Cornelius Yan 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.

% Col. Doc. hi, 823, 431, etc.

§ Patents, 357; also the original patent belonging to Union College.

History of the /Schenectady Patent.

After Van Slyck’s death, Grietje Vrooman his widow, received a confirmatory patent April 2, 1695 for his moiety of said island in trust for the use of their four sons,—Harmen, Cornelis, Marten andAcus.* * * § This island originally belonged to Marten Maurits,f Van Slyck’s brother, who dying in 1662, it fell to Jacques by inheritance ; hence at first it was called Marten’s island, afterwards Van Slyck’s and sometimes Sweer Theunise’s andWemp’s island, all of whom had an interest in the same.

Besides the half island above mentioned, Yan Slyck 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 ( ailed 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-“ tw T een 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 upoh this farm which is still in possession and occupancy of the family.§

Capt. Haemanus Van Slyck.

Harmanus, eldest son of Jacques Cornelise, married Jannetie, daughter of Adam Yrooman, in 1704 ; they had twelve children. He 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, I7l|, “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., xxxix, 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, Yan Slycke, Wemp’s Island].

Adult Freeholders.

191

‘‘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, 1771, 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 Schenectady.

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 [S132 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.

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.

Sweee Teunise Van Velsen alias Van Westbrook.

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 conveyance from Madam Johanna [De Laet] Ebbingh of land at Lubberde’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 hesold 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 be 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 humble servant 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 creek 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.-)*

This settlement of the estate having been concluded by the claimants,]; 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. MSS., 45.

f Col. MSS., xxxvii, 216; Dutch Church Papers ; Deeds, iv, 82 ; Not. Pap., ii.

J “Feb. 26, 1689-90, Diewer Wendel, widow of the late Myndert Wemp, Capt. Sender Glen, man en vooghi of his wife Antje Janse [Wemp], daughter of Maritie Myndertse, late wife 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, ii.

§ After the massacre he married the widow of Myndert Wemp, in 1691.

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 u 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 [Binn6] 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 probabty 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 Juffromds landt and the wooded heights lying south and west of the village. That portion of the above described land, including 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. Min., vi, 62; Dutch Church Papers ; see also Yan 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 Teunis VieR, he removed to Schenectady the next year, and purchased 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 200 feet deep Amsterdam measure.

Sander Glen de oude and Jan Gerritse Van Marcken, magistrate and secretary 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 Christiaanse 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., 170^ for the sum of £21 [52 50 ] current money of the Province. Johannes son of Gill is, 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.J

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.

Pieter Adriaense Soegemakelyk § alias Van Woggelum.

Pieter and Jacob Adriaense (brothers), were innkeepers in Beverwyck or Golonie 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, ii, 98, 163; Deeds, n, 690. f Not. Paper, n.

f Toll Papers ; Wills, i, 3. § [ Soegemakelyk = Oh so easy.—M’M.] | Deeds, n, 769.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

having married Otten’s widow. The descendants of Catharina Otten, who married Gerrit Symonse Yeeder, long afterwards occupied this corner.

Yan Woggelum’s bouweries No. 4, confirmed to him by patent dated June 5, 166* * * § 7, were described as “ two parcels of land at Schenectady both “marked No. 4,—one lying west of Arent Yan 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 comes to a Tcilletje “bounding No. 1, containing by estimate with the vleylandt thereunto be-“ longing, 14 morgens or 28 acres 164 rods;—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., 16*70, 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)f 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 Yeeder, 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 Yan Woglurn in 1695.§

Harmen Albertse Yedder.

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; hi. 108.

f Patent in the Secretary of State’s office of Massachusetts at Boston ; also Deeds, v,

287.

§ Schermerhorn Papers.

Adult Freeholders.

197

Vedder 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 Patria , — 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.J

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 showing 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 Schenectady, his name does not appear as grantee or patentee in the records until 1672, Gerrit Bancker received the patent for bouweries No. 6, in 1664 and 1667 ;||1] although in fact he had but a half interest in the same as appears by

* Yal. Man., 1863; O’Callaghan’s Hist.N. N., ii, 542. f Col. MSS., xxii, 18. i Col. Doc., hi, 179; Deeds, n, 170. § Not Papers, i.

| Col. Doc., ii, 609. ** Col. Doc. it, 675. ff Deeds, n, 736.

Deeds, vii, 185. §§ Albany A.nnals, vn, 35. || Patents, 382.

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 mentioned patent, to his son Albert for £9 1-16.f That he was an early pro-

prietor also appears from the fact that he with Sander Leendertse, Willem Teller and others, petitioned the Governor in 1664, to have their lands surveyed. 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 and 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. VieR, from whom it passed successively to Jurriaen Teunise Tappen, to Dirk Hesselingh and finally Feb. 1, 167£ to Harmen Vedder, who purchased with “ de bouwery ( daer den Vooz: Dirk “ Hesselingh op woont op Schaenechtede), soo liet landt als liuys , schuer ende “ twee berg hen &c. soo als het de voorn &e. 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 besides several houses and lots in Albany.

Jan. 31, 1657, he bought of Rutger Jacobsen, “ syne buys en erff gelegen “ in de doorpe beverwyck, breet voor en achter ses dertich voet , lanch vier en “ sestich voet en met aen ganch van vifte voet en breet lanch tot aen Jtil “ 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.

J This site is now occupied by the house of Mr. Jno. D. Campbell.

§ Not. Paper. | Deeds, v, 232. ** Albany Co. Rec., 20.

In 1665 he owned a house and lot on the hill in Albany next to Cornells Steen wyck’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 Arabia. [Lansingburgh ? ]J

And on Oct. 31, 1677, he and Barent Reyndertse sold “to Claes Janse Van Bockhoven [de 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.

#

He 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 Sanderse Glen, and had at least five sons and two daughters, a part of whom were living 8th February, 175J, 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 Sehermerhorn 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 Albert Vedder, and as said Vedder now desires a “ conveyance, therefore, said trustees of Schenectady conveyed to said Vedder u 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.

* Albany Co. Roc., 83. f Albany Co. Rec., 306.

% Ibid, 408 ; or Deeds, it, 775. § Albany Co., Rec., 166, also Not. Papers.

| Albany Annals, vn, 35. ** Deeds, v, 106.

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 Yan Yorst’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 Yedder.* * * §

Harmanus Yeddkr.

Harmanus, son of Harmen Albertse, was an Indian trader. He first married in 1691, Grietje, daughter of Jacques Cornelise Yan Slyck and widow of Andries Arentse Bratt, through whom he probably obtained possession 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 hi§ wife, who died about I730.f In 1733 he married Ariaantje, daughter of Claas Laurense Yan der Yolgen and widow of Aarnold He Graaf. He had eleven children all born before 1711.

On the 27th Sept., 1733, the Hutch 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 Symouse “ Yeeder to a post, thence along land of said Gerrit Symonse Yeeder [south] “ westerly 180 feet to land of Cornells Yiele, thence along land of Cornells “ Yiel& north [westerly] 215 feet and thence 70 feet to said Mill dam, Am-“ sterdam measure.”];

On the 21st July, 1757, Harmen Yedder, Jr., conveyed this lot to Alexander Yedder 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,

f Dutch Church Papers.

§ Gerrit Symonse Yeeder’s will.

Adult Freeholders .

201

Arent Yedder.

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 Yeeder, north by the house and lot of “Hendrick Brouwer, east by the street [Washington], and west, by my son “ Harmanus Yedder,”*

He had a farm at Hoffman’s [late Yedder’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 T3;—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 Kromme kil , and a morgen on the hight over or “ on the west side of the Krommekil between the ditch ($foo£)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, wfith bosland behind my house;—to my son Harmen my westerly “ part of my homeland 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 “ Fromme kil, &e., —to youngest son Albert Yedder, 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 Yedder, south by land of Corset “Yedder, 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 Y. D. Yolgen “ and east by the road.”J

* Wills, i, 285. f Patents, 1364 ; Toll Papers. f Wills, i, 285

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Johannes Yedder.

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 Yeeder 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 Yedder.

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 Yolckertse Yeeder 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 following purchased another house and lot by the river of the heirs of Cornelis Theunise Bos.ff

* Patents, 1672. f Albany Annals, v, 184, 186 ; vii, 17 ; viii, 231, 264, 308.

t Deeds, vii. § Albany Rec., ii, 278 ; Albany Annals, iv, 44.

|| Patents, H. H., 3. ** Deeds, ii, 36. ff 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 three sons.

Of the allotments made in 1662 of the bouwland, Yeeder 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 Ho. 9:— “ one lying by the river to the east of Ho. 10 alongst the low ground, a line “running between Ho. 9 and Ho. 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 Ho. 10, to the east of Ho. 8, a line running on each “ side from the creek \dovg 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-wey between Front street and the river which he conveyed to Joris Arissen Yan Baast 27 Feb., 167y,—“in “ length 75 [95 ?] rods, bounded on the west by G err it 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 present Jefferson street.

Hov. 2, 1682, he bought a farm with house, barn, &c., on the Hormanskil, of Jacob Casparse Hallenbeck of Albany, giving in exchange his foremost lot Ho. 9, commonly called J)e 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 Yeeder 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 Yolckertse and sons Volkert and Gerrit; Deeds, iv, 106; Not. Pap., ii.

X Deeds, ii, 795.

§ Not. Pap., ii.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Gerrit Symonse Veeder.

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 Woggelura; 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 441 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 doth 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 Papers.

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 “ Yeeder’s mill ” and the land adjacent.

He built a mill at this locality quite early. On the 19th Feb. 171-j-, he received title to the lands on both sides of the creek, (then called Sand kil) from Yrooman’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 Yrooman (the owner of the Brandywine mill lot) a conveyance of 600 yards of land and stream above “ Yeeders mill ” and this remained in the family until 1812, when Judge Gerrit S. Yeeder 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, 1744, proved July 8, 1755,f—makingthe 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 Yedder and Sander Glen, except a morgen that lies on the “ Kings’ highway [River road],— item two gardens lying next Cornelis “ Yielen’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 kil,— the whole pasture as it lies in fence called the vley belonging “ 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 Wempei;”—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 Yeeder Papers,

f 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.

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 Cornelis, 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 Cornelis, 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 Yedder, “ daughter of my daughter Engeltie, wife of Johannes Albertse Yedder a “lot of ground lying between the house and 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 Cornelis,—a little pasture remaining from the “ pastures which we herein above have devised to our son Helmer as it lies “ in fence next to Cornelis Yielen’s pasture and the church pasture and Jan “ Yrooman’s in the corner where they go into the vley / 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 Yan 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 Yeeder burying ground.J

* This house and lot on the death of Sj^mon without issue came to Hendricus, who by will made 3 Mar., 1790, devised it to his daughter Catharina, wife of Jellis J. Fonda.— Yeeder Papers. f Gerrit Symonse’s will.

X Deeds, vii.

Adult Freeholders.

207

Pieter Symonse Veeder.

Pieter, son of Symon Volkertse, married Neeltje, daughter of Claas Lawrense Van der Volgen, in 1704. He settled on the Normans kil, probably 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-ip-law added about 60 ft. more on the 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 Cornelis Cornelise Viel&.

* Will, Court of Appeal’s office, f Gfroote schult boek.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Pieter came to Schenectady with his brother Cornelis, senior, and in company with Elias Van Gyseling purchased De Winter’s bouwery in 1670.* * * § His wife was Jacomyntje, daughter of Teunis 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 1690. She subsequently married Cornelis Vinhout and removed to Ulster county, where she was living as late as 1700.

View’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 Viel5 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 Viel&, 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 Viel5 in company with Claas Frederickse Van Petten, in 1668 purchased the two bouweries Ho. 8, of Marten Cornelise Van Ysselsteyn, including his house, barn, three ricks, four horses, five cows, eight hogs, wagon, plough and harrow. Viel5 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, ii, 789.

f Patents, 752. The locality of these lots is unknown to the compiler.

X Deeds, iv, 215, 216; vi, 464; Gen. Entr., xxxii, 12.

§ Deeds, n, 740, 741, 777.

Adult Freeholders .

209

ceeded here by DouwAukes, who married Maria VieRf 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., 16f & ; Aukes’ wife, two children and a negro servant were slain, and his brother-in-law, Arnout VieR was carried away to Canada.

The following action was taken Jan. 9, 1671, by the Governor in reference 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 commissarys 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 [VanSlyck] an indyan, that doeth y same by Lycence “ and Appointm 1 of my Predecessor, Coll: Richard Nicolls, would give noe “ Determinagon therein :

“And it being likewise represented that ye said Acques hath not sufficient “ Accommadagon for Strangers wh. y e said Cornely’s Cornelyssen Vielen “ doth promise to bee well provided off y e reliefe of Strangers & Travellers, “ Upon consideragon had thereupon I have Thought fitt to graunt ye Request “ of y e said Cornelys 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 Accommadagon 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 I67l.”f

* [The Viele chart compiled by Geol. E. L. Viele of N. Y., records : Maria married Matthys Vrooman, Mary married Douwe Aukes.

The text agrees with Trouw loek aud other Dutch church records. There were but two daughters mentioned. Willempie who married S. J. Schermerhorn, and Maria who married 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 marriage the Mary of the other ? —M’M.] f Gen. Entries, 83.

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, Cornelis Viele received a patent to confirm to him a parcel of land at Schenectady on the north side of the Mohawk river, “ beginning 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 e hindmost lot of bouwland belonging to Gerrit Bancker and “running along ye bush or woodside north-west, its in length ]32 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 Vielfc, to whom said lands were confirmed by a patent of date Sept. 29, 1677, and by Bont’s son to Douwe Aukes who conveyed the same to his adopted son Cornelis 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-“ ing to Arent [Bratt] the Norman, &c., and whereas said Roberts by his “ will June 28 in y e 5 th 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 stepsons] Pieter and Joseph Clement to be divided between them giving to “ the former the house, barn, &c ,”—therefore Pieter Clement aforesaid conveyed 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.

f Patents, hi, 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

Cornelis VieD, senior, also had a gift of land from the natives at the Aal Flaas on the north side of the river. This tract extended two miles down the river and five miles into the woods. The certificate is dated 12 Feb., 17If, and states that Viel& 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 Cornelis VieD, 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 gatherings 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 Schenectady 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 Comelisson, 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.]

X [See Ante , Cornelis Cornelise Viele, note.]

§ Col. Doc., hi, 431.

| Col. Doc., iv, 198.

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 escaped, f

The above mentioned grant from the Mohawks was that parcel of flat land afterwards called the Fourth flat. It is not probable that Yiele 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, J under title received from the trustees of the township in 1684.

Hendrick Meese Yrooman.

Of the three brothers of this name who came to New Netherland, two, Pieter and Jacob, settled in Albany, and left no male descendants ; Hendrick, after living at Kinderhook and Steene Raby [Lansingburgh] removed in 1677, to Schenectady, and on the sale of the Yan Curler bouwery, purchased 20 morgens of the same. This parcel was a strip of land, commencing 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 Yeeders. As there were then no public roads across the flats in this direction, Yrooman’s land was reached by a lane still in existence, called Yrooman’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.

f Col. Doc., iv, 17.

X [He may have transferred his claim under Indian title to Ludovicus Cobes sellout 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, ii, 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 his father, he bound himself for two years to Cornelis Van-den Bei^h, 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 two 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 Tates and Dutch Church Papers, f Patents, 1578.

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 property and land adjoining were conveyed to his son Wouter.f

Jan. 2, 170-f Vrooman bought additional land of the trustees of Schenectady for the purpose of erecting another saw-mill there.J

All that remains to show the occupation of this spot for milling purposes by the Yoomans, is the ancient brick house built probably by Adam’s son Wouter, still standing and used as a dwelling.

Yrooman’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.g

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. ||

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 Rod5 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. f Patents, 1624. Deeds, vi, 259. f X Oroote schult boek. § Patents, 1680.

|| Simm’s Hist. Schoharie. ** Old deed.

Adult Freeholders.

215

“ stone bouse [Juchtenunda] so called by y e Indians, as ye goe to y e “ Maquaase Country, and forty acres of Woodland adjoining them, which “ would be a convenient settlement for ye s fl 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 morgens opposite a place called by the Indians “juektanunda that, is ye stone houses , 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 /Syejodenawadde 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 u by Green street. This lot he gave to his son Jan, January 17, l72f, “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 and occupation of said Adam Yrooman 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 Annals, n, 101.

f Deeds, iv, 2.

f H. Yates’ and Dutch Church Papers.

§ Old Deed.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ 97 feet, and butting tbe 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 Yrooman 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 possession of David Lewis 42 rods, all Iiynland 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 Yrooman.

He was son of Hendrick Meese, and married Geesie, daughter of Symon Yolkertse Yeeder, 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 corner of Jeflerson and Front streets,

f H. Yates’ Papers.

§ To the lot of the late Isaac Ledyard.

J 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, 17Of, the trustees of Schenectady conveyed to Jan Vrooman, “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 Goriaev'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. Hendrick 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., 170-f-, 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, m, 309, 322. f Dutch Church Papers. f Old Deed. § J. B. Van Eps lived on the east corner of Jay and State streets.

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, 17If, 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 jvest 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-rt 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 Uo. 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 “ Vrooman 19 rods 3 ft. [231 ft.] and west by the road [Centre st.J, leading “to Jellis Fonda’s, 12 rods and 8 ft. [152 ft.].”]; 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, 170-J 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.

flbid.

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 ft fence of “ ye said Adam Yrooman’s woodland 48 rods, and on the east side the like “breadth, on ye north end 3V rods 10 ft. and on the south end at the said “Crossway [Union street] 20 rods 3 ft. Rynland measure;” — consideration £9 [$22 50 ]”| 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-| 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 Yrooman 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 Yrooman 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 Yrooman and Arent Danielse Yan Antwerpen, March 11, 170-f, and by his will made Sept. 6, 1748, devised to Isaac Swits and his wife Maria.**

* Pine street at this time extended easterly through the lot of the Schenectady locomotive 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 Nett street.

t 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 j Ghroote schult boek.

§ Deeds, v, 96. || Ghroote schult boek. ** Sanders Papers.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Barent Vrooman was by trade a carpenter, Indian trader and brewer, owning the brewhouse on Union street* with his father Adam, and afterwards with his brother Jan.

Wouteb Vrooman.

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 commencing 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 innkeeper 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 whicli he paid £15 and 600 boards, with a yearly rent reserved of one board.||

4th. He owned 5J 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. T. Central railroad and the canal, f Deeds, vii ; Dutch Church Papers.

X Deeds v, 496. § Deeds vi, 259. fl 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 “ Cornelis Teunise Swart deceased.”*

5tb. His father Adam, by deed of gift of date 15 Feb., 172-|, 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 no\y 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,— 21 morgens,— purchased by me of “ Philip Livingston near the fort ”! 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 Y room an.

Jan, son of Adam Vrooman, was by trade a brewer. He probably did not marry,—if so there is no record of it in the Dutch churches of Albany and Schenectady.

On the 17 Jan., 172£, 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 Majesty’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 194 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.

X Will Court of Appeals.

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 Yrooman 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 “Yrooman 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 Yrooman and Barent his son, “ bounded on the south by the Cross street [Union street], on the east “by the land of the said Barent Yrooman, 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 Yrooman, “brother of said Adam Yrooman, where a large white oak tree stands, “& south east by land of his [Adam’s] said brother Jan Yrooman and “further on the south east side, by the land of Hendrick Yrooman son of “ said Adam Yrooman, and on the north east side by the lands of Gerrit “ Symonse [Yeeder] 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.

Pieter Yrooman.

Pieter, son of Adam Yrooman, married Grietje, daughter of Isaac^Yan Alstyne of Albany, Feb. 2, 1706. They had twelve children. He settled early upon Vrooman's land in Schoharie, purchased by his father for him. He made his will Oct. 10, 1768, proved Dec. 20, 1771,—in which lie 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.

f 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 [8120], the lot lying on the west side of the canal extending from State to Liberty streets, now the property 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.

Frond 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 Wemp, 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 Labberde’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 Jtil 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.! 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.

\ See Patent in Union College Library.

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 \_Binrik Mf\* in its entirety, notwithstanding there is a little creek running “ through it f comprising about [41] morgens.”

In the confirmatory patent given April 13, 166V, by Governor Nicoll to Sweer Teunise Van Velsen,]; 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 married Diewer, 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 destroyed by the French, and his only son Johannes with two negroes was carried to Canada.

# [Bmne 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 Yarken’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 Yarken’s on the north side of Akus’ island.— Col. MSS., xxxix, 216.

t Van Yelsen married Wemp’s widow in 1663, and therefore took his place in the land grant.

§ Patents, 357. This island was evidently at first owned by Jan Barentse Wemp and Marten Mourisse, brother of Jacques Cornelise Yan 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 Yan Slyck are joint owners, the latter in character as heir of his brother Marten.— Not. Pap ., i, 74.

Adult Freeholders.

225

Myndert Wemp inherited his father’s village lot on Washington street. After his death it was divided into two parcels,—the northerly part embracing the lots of Messrs. Thompson and Swortfiguer falling to his daughter Susanna, wife of Johannes Symonse Veeder, and the southerly portion having 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 sous 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 extending from the Zandig Jril to the burying ground of the Reformed church.*

On the loth 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 1715, and continued to hold that office until his death, Oct. 14, 1749.

He made his will March 5, 174f,—proved Dec. 27, 1749, and disposed of his estate as follows, to wit:—“to Myndert my 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 &c. inSchen-

* This was purchased in 1742, of Pieter Yrooman.

f Wills, Court of Appeal’s office; Deeds, vii, 451; xi, 1; xviii, 114; Wills, Albany Co. Clerk’s office, i, 285; Schen. Deeds B., 152 ; Patents, 1889.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ ectady on the east side of the Mohawk river about four miles north east u from the village on a certain creek called Mill creek [Jan Wemp’s creek]; “ —to Reyer my messuage or tenements on the south side of the Mohawk “ within the limits of the township of Schenectady where said Reyer lived “ so as it now belongs to me (commonly called Dans Kamer and War-“ moes gat at a place called Woestyne ) ;—to Isaac and Ephraim the westerly “ part of the flats on the south side of the Mohawk river, where I now live “in the Mohawks Country; to John Jr. the easterly part of my flats &c .; “ to children of my deceased daughter Ariaantje,—viz. : Arent Bratt and “ Catalyntje Bratt children of Capt. Andries Bratt, two morgens on the “ [Van Slyck’s] island near Schenectady west of the said town on the “ southerly half of said island, bounded west by the two morgens I conveyed to Widow Van Driessen, north the half belongingto Capt. Jacobus “Van Slyck, south by the creek and so running along said creek and partition fence of Capt. Jacobus Van Slyck easterly till it takes in two mor-“gens; . . . to my daughter Maria Butler wife of Lt. Walter Butler Jr. “ two morgens of land on the aforesaid island &c.; ... to my daughter “ Rebecca wife of Pieter Conyn two morgens of land on the aforesaid “island &c., ... to the two sons of my deceased son Myndert,—John and “ Myndert,—all the rest of the said Island also my house and lot in Schen-“ ectady bounded east by the [Washington] street south by Daniel De “ Graaf, north by the lot of Symon Johannese Veeder and west by the creek “[Binne kil] :*

Capt. Barent Wemp.

Barent, son of Jan Barentse Wemp, was born in 1656, and married Folkje, daughter of Symon Volckertse Veeder. They had ten children. He was appointed captain of the company of foot by Leisler in 1690.

His village lot was on the east corner of State and Centre streets, which was conveyed to him in 1703, by the trustees; this lot he made over to his son Jan Barentse, who by deed dated Feb. 7, 172|-, conveyed the same to his brother Barent, described as “a lot in Schenectady, bounded east by the “ lot of Dirk Bratt, south and w r est by the common highway [State and “Centre] and north by a lot of Wouter Vrooman’s in length by the lane “ [Centre street] 675 feet, and on the other [east] side 725 feet, in breadth “ in front [on State street] and rear 100 feet wood or Dutch measure;—by “virtue of a transport to him given by his father Barent Wemp, 9 Mar., “170f, which is confirmed by a transport made over to his said father “Barent Wemp by Reyer Schermerhorn, J. B. Van Eps and Jan Wemp as “trustees of Schenectady, 11 Feb., I70j-.”f

* Wills, ii, 4.

f Deeds, vii, 275.

Adult Freeholders.

227

The front of this lot is now occupied by the Carley House.

Barent Wemp also owned the land on the south side of State street from Dock street, nearly to Coehorn kil and extending in the rear to the meadow of Gerrit Symonse Veeder, which land was inherited by his son Jan Barentse Wemp.

Jan Luykase Wyngaakd.

He was probably son of Luykas Gerritse Wyngaard of Albany.

His village lot was on the north side of State street and included the present lot of Given's hotel and the larger portion of Wall street, having a front of 78 feet, 433 feet deep on the west side, 385 feet on the east side and 90 feet in the rear, Amsterdam measure. In 1703 he sold it to Douwe Aukes, who again sold it, next year, to Arent Danielse Yan Antwerpen.*

He also had a lot on the south side of Front at or near the corner of Jefferson street.

His earlier residence was on a farm on the south side of the Mohawk river a little above Hoffman’s ferry, from which he fled in 1690, when Schenectady was destroyed by the French and Indians and never returned.

In 1757 his son Luykas owned a lot on the south side of State street, of 51 feet front, 118 feet west of Mill Lane or Ferry street.

Jan Luykase obtained a license to purchase his farm on the south side of the Mohawk on the 26th of May, 1686, and on the 31 March, 1687, obtained a patent, for “ that small piece above [the limits of] Schenectady on the “ south side of the Mohawk river, beginning at a marked tree above the “ steep rocky strand and stretching along the river side to another marked “ tree and so back into the woods as far as the trees are marked, containing “ eleven acres as purchased by said John of the Indians under a license of u Governor Dongan, May 26, 1686.”f

On the 24 Feb., I7(4f, Luykase conveyed this farm to Carel Hansen Toll, and he sold the same^to his brother-in-law Jeremie Thickstone, together with an island opposite Thickstone’s house, of about three acres, for £100.J

Subsequently this farm came into the possession of the Swarts’.

* Deeds, v, 187.

f Toll Papers; Patents, 1371. Deeds, v, 72, 300.

*

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Yates (Yets, Yetz, Yattes).

The first of this name in this vicinity was Joseph Yates, an Englishman, who settled in Albany about 1664, when the colony was occupied by the English.

In early documents the name is very commonly spelled Yets or Yetz, which would be pronounced as at present—Yates.

He died in Albany and was buried May 22d, 1730.

He either learned the trade of cordwainer or shoemaker, or worked with Marcelis Janse Van Bommel, in Albany. He married Hubertje Yan Bommel, and had seven children.

His son Robert settled in Schenectady, at the age of 23, (probably soon after acquiring his father’s trade,) and married Grietje Claase De Graaf of the Hoek in Scotia.

His village lot was on the Albany road near the present Ferry street.

His tan vats and tannery buildings were situated on the bank of the Mill pond on Mill lane (near Ferry street extended), where the considerable quantity of water required in tanning leather was at hand, as appears by the following: Whereas, the trustees of the Dutch church did “ 8th

“ December, 1725, quit claim to said Ahasuerus Marselis and Robert Yates “ a certain piece of ground with the tan pits * * * * lying to the east-

“ ward 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 Captain Johannes Bleeker 16 feet wide “ for a passage [now Ferry street extended] to the pasture ground of said “ church mill,” <fcc.

Robert Yates in 1741 bought a parcel of two morgens bouwland lying on east side of the car works lane, being a part of the original Yan Curler’s or Juffroiiw's Landt.

In 1747 Robert Yates by his will left his interest iri*tan yards to his sons Joseph and Abraham, and in 1768 Abraham Yates of the “Mohawk Country ” quit claimed the same to Joseph Robertse Yates (his brother) for 10 shillings.*

* H. Yates Papers.

Adult Freeholders.

229

Robert son of Joseph, settled in Schenectady before 1712, and his nephew Joseph Christolfelse, also a cordwainer, married and settled there in 1734.

Abraham the son of the latter, owned a house* and lot on Union street opposite the court house.

ABRAHAM YATES HOUSE,

[1710 to 1730.]

Christoffel (son of Joseph Christolfelse and Eva Fonda), was a land surveyor and a man of intelligence and energy. He was colonel of a regiment of (fatigue men, engineers who cut approaches to fords, constructed bridges, cut roads through the forest, built fortifications, etc.), during the revolution. He was a gallant soldier and was wounded at “ Bloody Pond.” He was at the battle of Saratoga where he picked up a book on fortification, bearing the crest and signature of Col. Frazer, 24th British Infantry, which is now in possession of the Hon. A. A. Yates, of Schenectady.

During the construction of his house (in Front street) he died, leaving a family in somewhat straitened circumstances. It is said that his brother Jellis had “ practical ” views and as executor urged that his nephews, should be taken from school and put to trade to earn their living, but their mother

* [The house now standing on this lot was doubtless built by Abraham Yates about 1730 as indicated by its style of architecture.

The pointed Dutch gable going out of fashion and higher buildings with gambrel roofs (as seen in cut of the church of 1734), coming into fashion —M’M.]

History of the Schenectady Patent .

with greater foresight, insisted on their education, for which she made great personal sacrifices and she was rewarded by the result; Joseph became governor of the State, Henry was a member of Congress, John engineer of of the Welland canal and a millionaire, Andrew a minister and professor in Union College.

Other members of the family have occupied a high position in the civil, military or political history of the State and nation.

231

INDIAN WARS ON THE BORDER, 1662-1713.

In 1614 a handful of Dutch traders ascended the Hudson river and erected their trading post on what is now the site of the city of Albany. The five nations then possessed ail the territory north and west of this point to the St. Lawrence and the lakes. This powerful confederacy was the terror and scourge of their neighbors; they annihilated or absorbed the Hurons, the Neuters, Dinondaties and other lesser tribes, and from the year 1615 when Champlain uniting his forces with the Algonquins and Hurons attacked the Mohawks, (Five Nations,) hoping to force them to a peace with his Indian allies, down to the close of the French war in 1763, the Iroquois carried on an intermittent warfare with the French of Canada. On the contrary, with the Dutch, and after them the English, they always maintained peace and good fellowship, “ keeping bright the chain of friendship ” by annual conferences, trade, gifts and other good offices. Why then the necessity of fortifying all important points along the frontier and the constant and painful apprehension of the border settlers ? Firstly, the peaceful conduct and intentions of the Iroquois towards the Dutch and English could never be fully trusted. The Indian character was fickle and untrustworthy. So long as he was dependent on the white man for powder, rum and duffels, he maintained an interested friendship. From the French he received his religion,—from the English his supplies. Secondly, whenever England and France were at war, their colonies in America were at war also, and it became necessary to fortify and garrison the frontier towns.

All settlements in the valley of the upper Hudson were made on this river and the Mohawk. Here was the gate to the Province on the side of Canada. This once carried, New York city must succumb and New England become isolated. The danger line was along the banks of the Mohawk and the shores of the Hudson above Haalve-Maan [Waterford].

Hence it was proposed by Governor Clinton in 1746, to build a line of block houses west from Fort Massachusetts to the Mohawk castle at Fort Hunter.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

The chief settlements and fortifications along this line were at Halve-Maan, Canastagioone [Niskayuna], Saratoga [Schuylerville], Schenectady, Claas Graven’s Hook [Crane’s village] and later Amsterdam, Caughnawaga [Fonda], Canajoharie, Palatine and German flats. The period of greatest danger and alarm were the ten years prior to the peace of Ryswick in 1697;—“ the war of the Spanish succession,” 1701-1713, which was followed by the peace of Utrecht and more than twenty-five years of comparative quiet;—“the war of the Austrian succession,” 1743-8, commonly called the “Old French war,” and the “Second French war,” 1753-60, when the French power forever ceased on this continent to create any serious alarm.

During a period therefore of more than seventy years,—4688 to 1760,—the English provinces were more than half the time in a state of war or painful apprehension.

No formidable body of Frenchmen, it is true, ever crossed the Mohawk but once,—in 1690,—but parties of their Indian allies, in squads of five to twenty, were constantly sent out to skulk along the border and pick off unwary husbandmen. Every dwelling along this danger line was constructed for defence as well as for habitation. Moveable blockhouses were placed in the field for temporary shelter, and the farmer labored with his musket by his side; yet, in spite of every precaution suggested by experience, scarcely a year passed in which some households were not bereft of one or more of their members.

Less than four years after Schenectady was settled, occurred the first alarm to the inhabitants.

M. De Courcelles, Governot* of Canada, on the 29th Dec., 1665, began a march from Montreal, with six hundred volunteers, “ to seeke out their “ inveterate ennerayes* called the Mohanke Indians, to take revenge upon “them for the several! murthers and spoyles, which the Barbarians had for “ many yeares exercised in Canada.” The snow was four feet deep; the soldiers marched on snow shoes, whilst their provisions were drawn on “slight sledges” by mastiff dogs. On the 9th of February, they encamped within two miles of Schenectady, having been misled by their guide. That evening “60 of their best Fusileers being let into an ambuscade by the Mohaks lost 11 men besides divers others” who were wounded. Governor Courcelles applied to the inhabitants for provisions which were supplied according to the “ best accommodations ye poore village afforded,” but

Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713.

refused shelter for his men, fearing if “ hee had brought his weary and halfe starved people within the smell of a chimney corner,” he could not keep them from straggling or running away.

Seven of his wounded were sent to Albany. “ The Dutch bores carryed to the camp such provisions as they had, especially peaz and bread of which a good quantity was bought.” On the 12th February, the French began their return to Canada.*

Three years later, to wit, in 1669, another Indian battle was fought on the western borders of the town.

In August, Caughnawaga [Fonda], a stockaded village of the Mohawks, was attacked by the river Indians or Mahikanders. After an obstinate resistance the latter were repulsed and retired. The Mohawks descended the river in their canoes and attacked the retreating foe at a place called Kinaquariones and put them to flight.f

In the Indian deed of 1673 for the township of Schenectady, the westerly bounds were “ at Kinaquariones , where the last Battell wass between the “ Mohoakx and the North [river] Indians.”];

Although England and France were at peace with each other for nearly twenty years from this time, their provinces in America were unquiet and suspicious.

The intermittent warfare carried on by the French and the Iroquois was a constant source of apprehension to the English provinces. The latter claimed the Five Nations as subjects of the English crown, and their territory as part of the province of New York, and as such that they should not be attacked without information thereof being first given to the Governor of New York.

The French denied the authority of the English King over either the people or lands of the Iroquois, at the same time claiming for the French crown the valleys of the St. Lawrence, of the great lakes and of the Mississippi, and the innumerable tribes of natives inhabiting this vast region. The French, moreover, charged the English not only with furnishing the Indians with muskets and powder but with inciting them to war upon the

* Col. Doc., hi, 118.

f Kinaquariones is the steep rocky hill on the north side of the river just above Hoffman's ferry and now called Towereoune.

X Land Papers, i, 47.

30

History of the Schenectady Patent.

French and their allies in Canada. Such being the feeling of the two peoples, there remained nothing but suspicion, want of confidence and recriminations between them.

In 1666 Governor Nicolls, writing to the commissaries at Albany, highly commended them for their care in the preservation of His Majesty’s interest, “ in these times of Difficulty with the ambitious French,” promising to have all the “ souldiers at the Sopes ready upon an houres warning.”* So in writing to Arent Van Curler of Schenectady, in the winter of 1666, after commending him for his “conduct in these troubles,” hopes the French will be discouraged from attempting “to disturbe yow and the Maquaes.”f . Governor Winthrop also in writing to Secretary Arlington in 1667, says, “Wee know the pretence of those French forces uppon the lake behind us “against a nation of the Indians called the Mohaukes with whom they are “ at war; but wee have good cause to be jealous of there great designes.”J

In 1670, Governor Lovelace in a letter to Secretary Williamson writes, “but that which comes near to us is the incroachment of the French in “ Canada, * * they pretent it is no more but to advance the kingdom

“ of Christ when it is to be suspected it is rather the kingdome of his most “Christian Maj tie .” §

In 1678 the country was “ much allarmed with news of a French war,” though nothing came of it.|| In 1685 Governor Dongan wrote that “ the “French are more quiet. Wee have a very good trade this year and shall “ have much better if wee take but the same care as the ffrench.”**

In this long peace, Schenectady slowly gained in population and agricultural wealth and comforts. Some trade too, was had surreptitiously with the Indians. But now in 1687, came the news of an attack by the French upon the Senecas, which caused great uneasiness to the people of the province. The Senecas were furnished with arms and ammunition by the Provincial authorities, but with no active aid.

As early as 1684 and subsequently, Governor Dongan and M. M. De La Barre and Denonville had an exasperating correspondence in relation to the Senecas, the former claiming sovereignty over the Five Nations, the latter denying it.

* Col. Doc., in, 144; [Sopes = Esopus or Kingston.—M’M.] f Col. Doc., in, 145. % Col. Doc., in, 155.

§ Col. Doc. in, 190. |1 Col. Doc., hi, 272. ** Col. Doc. m, 363.

%

The winter of 168-J, was looked forward to with apprehension. When the Hudson was closed by ice all communication with New York was cut off. It was then that the French taking advantage of the helplessness of the border settlements sent out their maurading expeditions. Governor Dongan writing at New York, Sept. 12, 1687, says, “some messages have “ come to my hands from Albany of their apprehensions of the French, “ which obliges me to carry up thither 200 men besides the garrison and go “ and stay there this winter and to get together live or six hundred of the “ Five Nations about Albany and Schenectady.”* * * §

The gathering of these savages about Schenectady was always a source of annoyance to the inhabitants. They were given to drink and were then reckless and quarrelsome, many complaints were from time to time made of these disorders to the Governor.

In Sept., 1687, Maj. Peter Schuyler says, “ we find that the selling of “ strong Liquor to the Indians is a great hindrance to all designs they take “in hand; they stay a drinking continually at Schenectady.”f

On the same day Robert Livingston wrote to the Governor from Albany

that “Keman came here last night and his brought the six

“ prisoners allong with him al women, which has occasioned his so long “ stay, the seventh being a boy, is at Cayouge, and will be here in a few “ days; the prisoners att his house at Shinnectady, being wearied could not “ reach this place.

On the 5th Sept., Livingston wrote again that “ there are 70 Maquase “ lying at Schenectady, who are thought to be disinclined to go out until “they heard what the Governor would do with one Janitie.”§

Not long before this Arnout Cornelise VieR, the interpreter, traveling to Otawawa on a trading expedition was taken prisoner by the French. He was held in great esteem by the Indians because he “hath don good “ service for us in travelling up and down in our Country, and wee having “ a French prisoner according to our custome doe deliver him to the family “ of Arnout in his stead and Room to wash of the tears of his wife and “ children.”||. This gift was made by the Mohawk sachems to the mayor and aldermen of Albany. At this time—Sept. 9, 1687, —they had “at “ Schennectady a company of one hundered and thirty men that goe out to-“ morrow toward the Lake of Canada [Lake Champlain], to do all the

* Col. Doc., hi, 477. f Col. Doc., hi, 479.

X Keman was an interpreter and perhaps an Indian ; no white man of this name is

known.— Col. Doc., hi, 480.

§ Col. Doc., m, 481. ||

Col. Doc., hi, 483.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ mischeife they can against the French.”* On the 14th and 15th Sept., the Onondagas held a council with the mayor and aldermen at Albany, by whom they were advised on account of the threatening aspect of affairs the coming winter, to send their wives and children to Cattskil and other places on the Hudson, “ and let none stay in the Castles butt such as are fit for warr” They were also advised that the Governor ‘‘desired a 100 men “from the Sinnekes, 50 from the Cayouges, 60 from the Onondages, 50 “ from the Oneydes and 40 from the Maquasse, to be at Schannectada this “ winter to joyne with the forces of his Excel?. ”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 preparations 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 intelligent 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., hi, 484.

f Col Doc., hi, 485-6.

Indian Wars on the Border , 1662 1713 .

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 hundred persons and holding the place until October. Retaliation was naturally to be expected. The border settlements, as winter approached when relief from New York 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 defence. 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 Discouraged to stajr 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 men to Depart yt are able to do there maj ls service if any attempt should be made wee Therefore doe hereby Declare That no Person or Persones (except masters of sloops & Boats) being fit & able to bear arms who have been setled or liveing in this county for these six monthes last past shall in ye space of three monthes Presume to Depart or absent themselfs out of this County of Albany whither they are under ye Roll or List of ye Respective Capt 118 or not without a Passe from

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, & as such to be Prosecuted by ye utmost severity of ye Law, & yt all People take notice thereof accordingly, given at ye Cetty Hall of Albany ye 7 th day of August 1689 in ye first year of there Maj e!s Reign.”— Doc. Hist., ii, 48.

The following proceedings of the convention during the month of September, 1699, show very clearly the agitation of the public mind, and that the attack of the French on Schenectady which took place the following February was not unexpected.

“Att a Convention &c., atty e Citty Hall (Albany) y e 4th day of September, * * * 1689.

* * * * * *

“ Resolved, since there is such Eminent Danger Threatened by y e French of Canida and there Praying Indians* to come into this County to kill and Destroy there Maj* s Subjects that there be Immediately An Express sent doune to Capt. Leysler and y e Rest of y e Militia Officers of y e Citty and County of New Yorke for assistance of one hundred men or more for y e secureing of there Maj ,s Fort and y e out Plantations of this County as also a Recruite of six hundred weight of Pouder and foure hundred Ball Vist 200 Two Pounders and 200 four Pounders with some match and one hundred hand grenadoes out of there Maj ss Stores and Two hundred Pounds out of there Maj es Revenue, which we understand is dayly collected by them for to employ y e Maquase & oy r Indians in there Maj es service for y e Securing y e frontier Parts of this County from any Incursions of s d Indians or French.

******

“Upon y e news j x three People should be kild at Bartel Vrooman’s at Sarachtoge by y e Indians.

“ Resolved by y e Convention y l Rob 1 Sanders & Eghbert Tuenise forthwith goe to Sarachtoge to lye there till further order, whither any mischeefe be done there or nott & yt they goe themselfs with s d Indians to Sarachtoge where Leift Jochim Staets will stay there Comeing & if Eghbert be not at y e farm y l he take any oy r whom he shall think Convenient.

* * * * * *

“ Resolved that there be a fort made about y e house of Bartel Vrooman at Sarachtoge & Twelve men Raised out of y e Two Companies of y e Citty

* [Praying Indians.—The Caughnawaga band of Mohawks who had moved to the St. Lawrence River near Montreal, having been converted to Catholicism by the French priests. Their descendants still occupy the village of Caughnawaga on the Lachine Rapids. The Indian pilots so familiar to summer tourists are of this band.— M’M.]

Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713.

and 2 Companies of y e County to Lye there upon pay, who are to have 12 d a day besides Provisions and some Indians of Skachkook to be there with them to goe out as Skouts in y l Part of y e County.

***** * “Understanding by y e Commission officers of Schennectady that there is no settlement there how or what way they are to Behave themselfs if y e enemy should come, since they can not agree amongst themselves in y l particular-.

“Resolved that M r Dirk Wesselesand Cap 1 Johannes Wendel Justice of y e Peace goe thither & Conveen y e Company together and consult what measures they are to take upon occasion if an enemy should come, to y e end there may be unity in such extremityes & y e Inhabitants there are ordered to submitt to what y c s d gent 11 and y e head officers of there Toune shall Conclude upon, upon there oun Perill.

“Resolved since we have Rec d Certain Information of Some Praying Canida Indians lately taken by our Maquase that y e french Design to send out there Indians and french to kill and Destroy there Maj t3 Subjects of this County that Dirk Tuenise Esqr. * * * g 0e to y e County of Ulster for y e as-

sistance of 25 or 30 men to be Ready upon occasion if any attaque or Incursion should be made on y e frontiers of this County. * * *

“By ye mayor aldermen and Commonality ye Citty of Albany and ye Justice of ye Peace of ye County aforesaid.

“ Whereas the selling and giving of Strong Drink to ye Indians at this present juncture is founde by Experience Extreame Dangerous insomuch yt divers Inhabitants of Schenectady and Elsewhere have mad there Complaint that there is no living if ye Indians be not kept from Drinke, Wee doe therefore hereby strikly Prohibite & forbid in the name of King William and queen Mary yt no Inhabitants of the Citty and County of Albany doe sell or give any Rum, Brandy, Strong Liquor, or Beer to any Indian or Indians upon any pretence whatsoever upon ye Penalty of Two monthes Imprisonment without Baile or main prise & more over a fine of five Pounds toties quoties, ye Proofe here of to be made as is Incerted in ye Proclamation Prohibiting ye Selling of Strong Drink dated ye 21 th day of May 1689 which is by Proof or Purgation by oath, always Provided yt it shall and may be in ye Power of ye Mayor aldermen & Commonality of ye said Citty if they see cause to give any Smal quality of Rum to any Sachim who come here about Publick Businesse, any Prohibition above d in any manner notwithstanding, given att ye Citty hall of Albany ye 12 th day of September, 1689.

u Att a Convention &c Sept. 17 th , 1689.

“The messenger Johannes Bleeker, who was sent Express to N: Yorke with a letter to Capt. Leysler * * * being Returned * * (Reports that

Leisler would have nothing) “to doe w ll) ye Civill Power, he was a Souldier and would write to a Soulder.”

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“Leisler wrote to Captains Wendell & Bleeker, and the Convention were forced to send toSopus for Indians to act as Sellouts, & proposed to send for men from New England. Gov. Treat of Connecticut, agreed to, & did, send them eighty men under the Command of Capt. Bull, hut requested the County and City to pay the officers wages.

“ Upon which this following was Besolved Cap* Sander Glen Leifts Jan Van Eps Ens: Johannes Sanders Glen, and Sweer Teunise doe vote in ye Behalf of ye Toune of Schennectady yt ye men may be sent for from Conet-ticut and that they will bear there Proportiones of ye Cherge of y e Officers there wages and maintain them accordingly, Provided they be under Command and obey such orders and Instructions as they shall Receive from time to time from ye Convention of this City and County and in ye time of there not sitting to ye may r & aldermen of this Citty.

“ It is the opinion of ye Convention yt ye 8 men still att Sarachtoge doe Remain there til further order .”—Mortgage Book B.

Schenectady equally with Albany was rent by party spirit, the inhabitants being divided into Leislerians and Anti-Leislerians. Leisler promised the people the same privileges as Albany, to wit : those of trading with the Indians hitherto forbidden them and the right of bolting flour.*

This was a strong bid for public favor, but Adam Vrooman, who was addressed as Leisler’s agent very modestly and prudently declined the honor.

“Memorandum that on ye lO 11 ' Day of November [1689] being Sunday,

“The following letter was Sent by Adam Yrooman of Shinnectady to ye May r which Milborne had sent to him to warne all ye People there forthwith to come to Albany and Receive there Rights Priviledges and Liberties in such manner as if the governm* of King James ye 2 Ild never had been, or any of his arbitrary Commissions or what is Illegally done by his gov-ernours never had been done or Past, which Letter followz in Terminis :—

(Translation).

“ Whereas I am authorized by the Hon ble Delegates or members elected at a Free and Publick Election of the Freemen and Respective counties of the Province of N. York and Military Council thereof, to arrange and settle the affairs of the City and County of Albany according to the Constitution of the other Counties of the Province aforesaid pursuant to the interest of Ilis Majesty our Sovereign Lord & King and the Welfare of the Inhabitants of said Counties.

* [Grinding meal at Schenectady was at this time claimed by Sweer Teunise Van Vel-sen as a monopoly,— but bolting could only be done in Albany and New York.—M’M.]

Indian Wars on the Border, 1662 1713 .

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

Jacob Milborne,”

Upon which Adam Vrooman sent him this answer.

(Translation).

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

Your affectionate friend,

Adam Vrooman.”

“By which letter it is Plainly Evident y e s J Milborne Designs y e Subversion of y e Governm 1 Confirmed by there Maj ts Proclamation of y e 14 feb. last, and .thereby to Disturb ye Peace and Tranquility of there Maj e ‘ Leige People Especially in this Juncture when the Indians are Round about us, who much Depend on the Present Magistracy that have with So much trouble^ Pains and Cost Secured them to this governm' which if they should see y l y e authority here should be troden under foot would undoubtedly undertake Some Dangerous Design.

“ And that it may be'apparent to y G world y l y e Design was Laid at N. Yorke, y e following Letter writt by llend. Cuyler one of there Councill of warr as they Term themselfs, to y e People of Schinnectady Desyreing there assistance, and that they would come to Albany, Telling them itt was Resolved upon that they should have no lesser Priviledges then they of Albany both in Trade!ng and boalting which Jacob Milborne would Disclose unto them and Such like false notions doth Sufficiently Demonstrate.”

(Translation).

N. Yorke, 2 Nov., 1689 .

“ Copiavera of a Letter from London.

“All Lands, Plantations, houses and Lots which were escheated (prys gemaekt) since the year 16G0, are again restored by Act of Parliament. It was communicated to his Majesty who approved of it. It will be passed in a few days. Parliament is resolved to a public example of Sr Edmund Andros to the next Generation on account of his Arbitrary illegal proceed-

31

History of the Schenectady Patent.

ings. I break off herewith as it is too long to enlarge upon. Hearty respects to all Noble friends of Shinnectady. This goes by Mr. Vedder’s hand.

I remain your friend and Servant,

Hend. Cuyler.”

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

“ We expect a short answer from You by the next opportunity.

“Sir, we have this day resolved that you shall have no less Privileges than those of Albany in Trading and Bolting which Mr. Milborne will explain to yon. We therefore request that you will exhibit all diligence in repairing together to Albany to welcome said Milborn.”— Doc. Hist ., 11 .

Early in November, 1689, news reached Albany “that Leysler is about to send up an armed force to take possession of the place and overthrow the government.” Capt. Sander Glen, Jan Van Eps and Sweer Teunise Van Velsen of Schenectady, were opponents of Leisler and sustained the Convention to the last, Capt. Glen being one of the eight men appointed by the Convention to sign articles with Milbourne, Leisler’s agent.

On the 25 Nov., Capt. Jonathan Bull arrived with 87 men from Connecticut, and on the 29th Lieut. Enos Talmage of Capt. Bull’s company, “ marched with 24 men to Shinnectady to keep y t Post as it was agreed upon by y e five gentlemen appoint 4 by y e Convention and ye Capt. Bull and Jochim Staats.” Dec. 9th, was ordered as a day of fasting and prayer. All was confusion at Albany; Mr. Staats who commanded Leysler’s soldiers would not submit to the Convention, and send ten of his men to Schenectady as they wished, but went thither himself with some of his faction to stir up the people so that the Convention thought it necessary to send some one after him.*

Jan. 12, 16-f£. “While the convention were debating-whether to submit to Joachim Staats as deputy of Leysler a letter comes from Capt. Sander Glen there Maj ies Justice of the Peace at Shinnectady Informing them how that there are five commissions come to Shinnectady from Captain Leysler

* Mortgage Book B.

Indian Wars on the Border , 1662 1713 .

for five justices of ye Peace, brought thither by Jeronimus Wendel & Gerrit Luycasse [Wyngaard];—Y e Persons are Dowe Aukus, Ryer Jacobse [Schermerhorn], David Christoff else, Myndert Wemp and Johannes Poot-man;—and a commission to call the people together, to choose new Capt., Lieut., and Ensigne and Town Court, and y l y e s d five justices come here to-morrow to assist M r Jochim Staats and to enter upon there office.”

“ The said Capt. Sanders [Glen] together with y e Lieut, and Ensigne and Sweer Teunisse,—members of y e Convention doe write to the gent 11 that there vote is not to obey Capt. Leysler’s orders, But to protest against his Illegal proceedings.”— Col. MSS., xxxvi.

et Albany y e 20th of January, 16|f.

“ The Mayor and Aldermen haveing consulted to day how to Procure some Christians and Indians to goe towards ye Great Lake to Lye as skouts for ye space of three weeks to give notice if ye ffrench, should come with an army to Invade there maj’ es Territory, but could fynde none yt would goe under 2 shil 6d to 3 shil. per day, for Capt. Bull would suffer none of his men to goe alledging it Contrare to his Instructions, and while they were bussy to discouse s d affare ye following Indians came and s d as follows

yi z t • *4® H 4 H*

“Brethren —We have (been) sent by ye 40 Maquase Souldiers now at Shenechtady to acquaint y w that they are come to goe out as Skouts toward ye Lake and Otter creek to wath ye Designe of ye Deceiver ye gov r of Canida to see if he will come and Invade our Country again & if we Discern any Progresse of his we have 4 Indians y' wee send forth Post to give y u & our people advertiser^ * * * *

“ The s d Indians were very thankful and s d they would withal speed goe to Shinnechtady & forward ye Comp e & hasten them upon there march.”— Doc. Hist., ii , 86 .

These preparations to “ wath the Designe of y e Gov r of Canida,” miscarried; and before the Indian Scouts reached “ ye Lake and Otter creek,” the invading force had passed those points and the fatal blow was struck, destroyingthe village and scattering such of its inhabitants as were spared.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

BURNING OF SCHENECTADY.

The story of the massacre of 1690 has often been told. The essential facts are few and well established, both by the English and French accounts. The causes of this attack were first, the war between England and France occasioned by the English revolution of 1688, and secondly, the desire of the French in Canada to intimidate and detach the Iroquois from the English, by delivering a stunning blow and capturing both Albany and Schenectady. The destruction of these places would perhaps have decided the fate of the Province, for they then would have held the key to the navigation of the Hudson.

A march from Montreal to Schenectady—a distance of 200 miles, was one of extreme labor, requiring great pluck and endurance.

Between the St. Lawrence and the Mohawk rivers there was then an unbroken wilderness, without a single habitation.

In mid-winter the snow lay in the forest from three to six feet deep and could be traveled only on snow-shoes.

In addition to their heavy muskets and ammunition, the French were forced to carry provisions for the march of 22 days. Such were the conditions of an attack upon Schenectady,—only possible in winter without a flotilla of canoes, to pass the lakes.

The attacking party consisted of 114 Frenchmen, 80 savages from the Sault and 16 Algonquins,—in all 210 men.

The commander was Lemoine de Sainte Helene, assisted by Lieutenant D’Aillebout de Mantet. They started from Montreal on the 17th of January, and after suffering incredible hardships on the way, arrived in sight of the town about 11 o’clock at night on the 8th February. It was their intention to make the attack later, but the intense cold forced them to enter the town at once.

The village at this time lay mainly west of Ferry street, and was stockaded with palisades of pine logs ten feet high. It had at least two gates;* one

* [The French.account in Paris Documents states precisely, the town of Corlaer forms a sort of oblong with only two gates—M’M.]

Burning of Schenectady.

at north end of Church street opening out to the highway [Front street], which led to the eastward to Niskayuna. Another at south end of Church at State, opening out to Mill lane and the Flats and the Albany road [State street].

The only dwellings outside the stockade were built on the northerly side of State street, extending as far south-east as Lange gang (Centre Street). It is said there were 80 good houses* in the village and a population of 400 souls, both numbers doubtless greatly exaggerated.

In the northerly angle of the village on the JBinnb Jcil [near corner Washington and Front Streets] was a double stockaded fortf garrisoned by a detachment of 24 men of Capt. Jonathan Bull’s Connecticut company under the command of Lieut. Talmadge.

Thus fortified and garrisoned the inhabitants should have repelled any ordinary attack, or at least held the enemy at bay until succor could reach them from Albany.

The destruction of the place was occasioned by divided counsels and a fatal apathy. The whole Province was then divided into two factions,— the Leislerians and the Anti-Leislerians — the short hairs and swallow-tails. Divided feelings and counsels ran so high in Albany and Schenectady as to counteract the sense of self preservation. Both parties were determined to rule, neither was strong enough to take the lead.

On the fatal night of Feb. 8th, the Noche triste of the ill fated village, the inhabitants went to rest with their gates open and no guard set. They trusted that the Indians who had been sent out as scouts to Lake George would forewarn them of the enemy’s approach. The French marched upon the village from the north, crossed the river on the ice and divided their men into two companies with the intention of entering the town, one by the north or Church street gate, the other by the south or State street gate. The latter entrance being in a measure covered by the dwellings on that street could not be found; both companies therefore entered by the north gate and separating, spread themselves throughout the village, five or six before each house. At the signal agreed upon a simultaneous onslaught was made upon each dwelling and before the

* [This probably included barns and out buildings as " good houses.”—M’M.] f [Block-house properly speaking.—M’M.]

History of the Schenectady Patent.

terror stricken inhabitants could seize their arms the savages, were upon them. Resistance was vain. Within two hours 60 of the people were slaughtered without distinction of age or sex. After selecting such booty as they could carry away, the French fired the houses and burnt all but five or six.

Capt. Sander Glen’s family and relatives with their habitations and other property, on account of former kindness shown to captive Frenchmen, were

DESTRUCTION OF SCHENECTADY EY FRENCH AND INDIANS IN 1690*

* [From painting by Giles F. Yates now in possession of his niece Mrs. A. A. Yates of Schenectady. The painter has doubtless taken the traditional poet’s license in his drawing. It is very improbable that a single brick or clear two story house stood in Schenectady in 1690 — or until the middle of the next century when large bodies of British troops in the town or passing through, gave quiet and prosperity to the people. In 1690 they were poor farmers and Indian traders, with little wealth in money, carrying on their trade in produce, skins or sewant. —M’M.]

spared by express order of the Governor of Canada. The utter helplessness of the inhabitants to offer resistance, is shown by the fact that only two of the enemy were killed and one severely wounded.

The plucky fight made by Adam Vrooman and his family comes down to us by tradition. His house stood on the west corner of Front and Church streets opposite the north gate.

By keeping up a brisk fire from his dwelling he kept the enemy at bay and extorted a promise from the French commander to spare his life.

After taking a few hours of much needed rest, the French began their retreat at 11 o’clock of the 9th, with 27 prisoners, men and boys, and fifty horses laden with plunder.

Nineteen of their men perished in the retreat and the remainder were only saved from starvation by killing.the horses.

Of the many accounts of this transaction written at the time, the following are the most trustworthy.

The first is the French report, and may be found among the “Paris documents ” Vol. iv, in the secretary of State’s office.

“ An account of the burning of Schenectady by Mons. De Monsignat, comptroller.General of the marine in Canada to Madam de Maintenon, the morganatic wife of Louis XIY.

“The orders received by M. Le Comte [De Frontenac] to commence hostilities against New England and New York, which had declared for the Prince of Orange, afforded him considerable pleasure and were very necessary for the country. He allowed no more time to elapse before carrying them into execution than was required to send off some dispatches to France, immediately after which, he determined to organise three different detachments, to attack those rebels at all points at the same moment, and to punish them at various places for having afforded protection to our enemies, the Mohawks.

“The first party was to rendezvous at Montreal, and proceed towards Orange ; the second at Three Rivers, and to make a descent on New York, at some place between Boston and Orange ; and the third was to depart from Quebec, and gain the seaboard between Boston and Pentagouet, verging towards Acadia. They all succeeded perfectly well, and I shall communicate to you the details. * * * *

“The detachment which formed at Montreal, may have been composed of about two hundred and ten men, namely : eighty savages from the Sault and from La Montague ; sixteen Algonquins ; and the remainder Frenchmen— all under the command of the Sieur Le Moyne de Sainte Helene, and Lieutenant Daillebout de Mantet, both of whom Canadians.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

his people, and his property, whereupon he laid down his arms, on parole, entertaining them in his fort, and returned with them to see the commandants of the town.

“In order to occupy the savages, who would otherwise have taken to drink and thus render themselves unable for defence, the houses had already been set on fire. None were spared in the town but one house belonging to Condre [Sander Glen], and that of a widow [Bratt], who had six children, whither M. de Montigny had been carried when wounded. All the rest were consumed. The lives of between fifty and sixty persons, old men, women and children were spared, they having escaped the first fury of the attack. Some twenty Mohawks were also spared, in order to show them that it was the English and not they against whom the grudge was entertained.

“ The loss on this occasion in houses, cattle and grain, amounts to more than four hundred thousand livres. There were upwards of eighty well built and well furnished houses in the town.

“The return march commenced with thirty prisoners. The wounded, who were to be carried, and the plunder, with which all the Indians and some Frenchmen were loaded, caused considerable inconvenience. Fifty good horses were brought away. Sixteen of these only reached Montreal. The remainder were killed for food on the road.

“Sixty leagues from Corlaer the Indians began to hunt, and the French not being able to wait for them, being short of provisions, continued their route, having detached Messieures d’Iberville and Du Chesne with two savages before them to Montreal. On the same day, some Frenchmen, who'doubt-less were much fatigued, lost their way. Fearful that they should be obliged to keep up with the main body, and believing themselves in safety having eighty Indians in their rear, they were found missing from the camp. They were waited for next day until eleven o’clock, but in vain, and no account has since been received of them.

“Two hours after, forty men more left the main body without acquainting the commander, continued their route by themselves, and arrived within two leagues of Montreal one day ahead, so that there were not more than fifty or sixty men together. The evening on which they should arrive at Montreal, being extremely fatigued from fasting and bad roads, the rear fell away from M. de Sainte Helene, who was in front with an Indian guide, and who could not find a place suitable for camping nearer than three or four leagues of the spot where he expected to halt. He was not rejoined by M. de Mantet and the others until far advanced in the night. Seven have not been found. Next day on parade, about ten o’clock in the forenoon, a soldier arrived who announced that they had been attacked by fourteen or fifteen savages, and that six had been killed. The party proceeded somewhat afflicted at this accident, and arrived at Montreal at 3 o’clock p. m.

“ Such, Madame, is the account of what passed at the taking of Corlaer. The French lost but twenty-one men, namely four Indians and seventeen Frenchmen. Only one Indian and one Frenchman were killed at the capture of the town. The others were lost on the road.”— Doc. Hist. JSf. Fi, i, 186.

“ In a book entitled “ Mortgages B ” found in the office of the clerk of Albany county, is the following account:*

“Albany ye 9th day of February 16f$ Die Sabbathi.

“This morning about 5 o’clock ye alarm was brought here by Symon Scher-merhoorn who was shott threw his Thigh y l ye french and Indians had murthered ye People of Skinnechtady ; haveing got into yeTowne about 11 or 12 a Clock there being no Watch Kept (ye Inhabitants being so negligent & Refractory) and yt he had much a doe to Escape they being very numerous. They fyred severall times at him at last throw his Thigh and wounded his horse and was come over Canatagione (Niskayuna) to bring ye news. * * * *

“Several! ye People haveing Escaped ye Cruelty of ye french and there Indians came Running here & told us ye Village was a fyre and yt they had much a doe to Escape for all ye streets were full of french and Indians & yt many People were murthered and yt ye enemy were marching hither which news was Continually Confirmed till afternoon. * * * *

“Some horse men sent out to Discover ye Enemies force and there march but were forced to Return ye snow being so Deep yet some were sent out again who got thither. Lawrence ye Indian with ye Maquase yt were in Towne were sent out also to Skinnechtady to Dispatch posts to ye Maquase Castles for all ye Indians to come downe, but unhappily sa d Indians comeing to Skinnechtady were so much amazed to see so many People murthered and Destroyed that they omitted ye sending up to ye Maquase Castles according to there Engagement, While ye Enemy was at N. Scotia a man came to Ensign Joh : Sander Glen and said he would goe to ye Maquase Castles and warn ye Maquase to come downe who was ordered to goe in all haste but comeing to ye Upper Plantations went for fear along with some of ye oy r Inhabitants into ye Woods and never went to ye Maquase Castles, this night

* In an ancient Dutch bible owned by Jacob G. Sanders of Albany,—a descendant of the Glens who settled at Scotia,—is the following account of the massacre :

1690. “ tusschen de 8 & 9 Februarie is de droovige mort gedaan hereop Schenectady by de Franse en haar Wildes:—alles verdestreurt en Verbrant * * * op 5 huysen naer maer; maer op Schotieage [Scotia] neen quaet gedaen by akpresse order van haer gover-neur, Voor bet goet doet myn grootvader [Sander Leendertse Glen], myn vader en Oem [Johannes & Sander Glen] aan een gevange paep priest & verscheiden anderen gevangen gedaen liadde in de oorlogh tussche onse Wildet & de Franse.”

History of the Schenectady Patent.

we gott a letter from Skinnechtady Informing us yt y e Enemy yt had done yt mischieffe there were about one hundred and fifty or 200 men but that there were 1400 men in all. One army for Albany & anoy r for Sopus which hindered much ye marching of any force out of ye Citty fearing yt ye enemy might watch such an opportuuity.

“ The 10th day of February.

“Present. — Pr. Schuyler, May r ; D. Wessels, Rec r ; J. Bleecker, Capt. Bull, Capt. Staets, Aid. Schaick, Aid. Ryckman, Joh : Cuyler, Ens. Bennett,

“ Resolved yt Capt. Jonathan Bull be sent w ,h 5 men out of each Compy to Skinnechtady to bury ye dead there & if ye Indians be come doune to join with them & Pursue ye Enemy.

“The way how ye Bloody French and Indians committed this tragedy was thus.

“ After they were gott into ye Toune without being discovered (no watch or guard being kept, notwithstanding severall gent 11 of Albany no longer than three days before were up there to Perswade y rn to it), The french and ye Indians besett each house and after they had murthered ye People they burnt all ye houses and barns Cattle &ca Except 5 @ 6 ; which were saved by Cap 1 Sander [Glen] to whom they were kinde as they had particular orders so to be by reason of ye many kindnesse shewne by his wife to ye french Prisoners.”— Mort. Bk. B. Alb. Co. clerk's office.

A few days subsequent to the massacre at Schenectady, Pieter Schuyler, mayor, and Dirk Wessels Ten Broeck, recorder of Albany, and Kilian Yan Rensselaer Patroon of Rensselaerswyck, addressed the following appeal to the Governor Bradstreet and Council of Massachusetts. This letter as well as one from Capt. Bull, was answered by the Governor and Council on the 27 th of February.

“ Albany y e 15 th day of feb r , 16f§.

“ Honrd Gent 11 .

“ To our great greeffe and Sorrow we must acquaint you with our Deplorable Condition there haveing never y e Like Dreadfull massacre and murther been Committed in these Parts of America, as hath been acted by y e french and there Indians at Shinnectady 20 miles from Albanie Betwixt Saturday and Sunday Last, at 11 a dok at night. A Companie of Two hundred french and Indians fell upon said village and murther’d Sixty men women and Children most Barbarously, Burning y e Place and Carried 27 along

Burning of Schenectady .

with them Prisoners, among which the Leif 1 of Cap'. Bull Enos Talmadge & 4 more of sd Company were killed da 5 taken Prisoners y e Rest being Inhabitants and above 25 Persones there Limbs frozen in y e flight.

“The Cruelties Committed at s d Place no Penn can write nor Tongue Ex-presse, y e women bigg with Childe Pip’d up and y e Children alive throwne into y e flames, and there heads Dash’d in Peices against the Doors and windows.

“ But what shall we say we must Lay our hands upon our mouth and be silent. It is Gods will and Pleasure and we must Submitt, it is but what our Sinns and Transgressions have Deserv’d. And since Generally humane things are Directed by outward means, so we must ascribe this sad misfortune to y factions and Divisions which were amongst y (> People and there great Dissobedience to there officers for they would Obey no Commands or keep any watch, so y l y e Enemie haveing Discovered there Negligence and Security by there Praying maquase Indians (who were in s d Place 2 or 3 Days before y e attaque was made) Came in and Broak open there verry doors before any Soule knew of it, y e Enemy Divideing them-selfs in 3 severall Companies Came in at 3 severall Places no gate being shutt, and Seperated themselfs 6 or 7 to a house and in this manner begunn to Murther spareing no man till they see all y J houses open and masterd, and so took what Plunder they would, Loading 30 or 40 of y 3 Best horses and so went away about 11 or 12 a Clock at noon on Sabbath day.

“ It was as if y e heavens Combined for y e Destruction of y l Poor Villadge; That Saturday night a Snow fell above knee Deep and Dreadfull cold, and y e Poor People y* Escaped and brought us y e news about break of day did so much Increase y e numbers of y e Enemy that we all Concluded there was a Considerable Army comeing to fall upon our City as was affirmed were upon there March hither; we being told not only then but y 3 day that they were 1900 att Least, we sent out some few horse forthwith after after we had Rec d y° news, but scarcely could get throw y 3 Deep Snow, some whereof gott to y* De Solato [desolate] Place, and there being some few maquase here in Towne we got them to goe thither with our men in Cornpanie to send messengers in all haste to y e Maquase Castles, and to Spye where the Enemy went, who were not very free to goe y 3 Snow being so Deep and afraid of being Discovered by there Tract; but comeing to y 3 Village were in such Consternation seing so many People & Catle kill’d and Burnt, that it was not Effected till 2 days after, when we heard y 1 y e Maquase knew nothing of it, upon which messengers were sent, and the Maquase of y° first and 2 1 Castle came downe in 24 houres whom we sent out with some of our young men in Pursute of y e Enemy: afterwards y ‘ Maquase of y v 3 d Castle came downe who are also gone out, but are afraid will not overtake them, & which is worse if they doe fynde them fear will doe them no great hurt y J Indians amongst them being all of y 3 kindred of our Indians; for ye Policy of y 3 french is so great that they Declar’d to some of y 1 -’ Maquase

History of the Schenectady Patent .

which they founde at Shinnechtady that they would not doe the Maquase harm Yea if they should burn and Destroy never so many houses at Canida and kill never so many french, they would not touch a hayr of there head; for there Govern r had such an Inclination to that People he would live in Peace with them; nay to gain the hearts of y e Maquase whatever they Desyred at Shinnechtady was graunted y e women and Children that were left alive upon there Desyre were Released and saved, y e very houses where y c Maquase lay at were saved upon there Request, so that they leave no stone unturned to bring y e Indians to there Devotion.

“The 40 Maquase that were out as Skouts at y e Lake whom we furnish’d with Powder and Lead to lye there a Purpose, we must Conclude have knowne nothing of y e Enemies Comeing; for they had Posted themselfs at one of y e Passages, and before they had sent men to y e oy r Passage y e Enemy was Past by, which we must Impute to there negligence.

“The s' 1 French had Beits of wampum along with them which they showed to a maquase Squae at Shinnechtady which they Design’d to have given to our Indians upon Proposeails of Peace if they had met with any upon y tt way, soe y* we must Conclude they want nothing but a Peace with our Indians to Destroy al the s d Parts.

“ Our Maquase have got one of there Indians Prisoner whom they have Tortur’d and afterwards have Released him, but Delivered him into our Custody; for we feard he would make his Escape and Runn away to y e Enemy; y s 1 Indian Confesses that there were 600 men Preparing to come out upon this Place or N. England, and one hundred men were gone out against Skachkook Indians which Was Besides this 200 men; & that this Company had been 22 days from Canida.

“After y e french had done y e Principall mischieffe at Shinnechtady Capt. Sander a Justice y 1 lives cross y c River was sent for by y L Cap*. of y e french, who had Put himself in a Posture of Defence in his fort with the men that he could get by him ; when 13 came there and told him they should not fear for there orders was not to wrong a Chicken of his, upon which Cap 1 Sander Ordered them to lay downe there arms, and so were let in where they Left one man for a hostage & Cap*. Sander went to ther, Commander who told him he had Commission to come and Pay a Debte which they owed ; Col Dongan our gov r . had stirrd up our Indians to doe mischief at Canida, & they had done the same here ; and Pulling his Commission out of his Bosom told he was strikley Charged not to doe any harm to him or his, since he but Especially his wife had been so Charitable to y e french Prisoners, so y l Capt Sander saved sundrey houses from being burnt and women & Children Irom being Carried away ; But y e Snow was so Extream Deep y 1 it was Impossible for any woman to inarch a mile, so y l they took none but men and boys that could march.

“ As soon as y e Maquase of y e first and 2d Castle came downe and see y« Ruines of Shennechtady were Verry much griev’d The 2 Principall Cap'"" said to M r Wessels and some oy r gen', y' were sent from Albany to Dispatch y e Christians and Indians away in Pursute of y e french. Now you see your Blood spilt, and this is y y beginning of y e miseries if not suddenly Prevented. Therefore write to all them that are in Covenant with us Viz'. New England Virginia and all y y English Plantagons of America to make all Readinesse to master Canida early in the Spring with Great Shipps Else you cannot live in Peace You Say y e King is a great king, and you are Very numerous here in this Country farr above y y french you are so But now is the time to show it, else y e more you are y e greater shame it is to suffer y c french to be master; and then we and all the 5 nations yea all y e fan-nations must acknowlege y m for a great People and master of y y french if you now Subdue it. But hitherto we see y y french are the Souldiers they have been at v e northwest and killd y e English there ; They have killd y y Indians at y e Sinnekes Country and now they come here and kill y e Dutch meaning y y Inhabitants of Shinnechtady who were formerly of y e Dutch nation. They are Victorious wherever they goe. Them of N. England have told us they would Destroy Canida, we have much Depended upon there great Promises since we know they are Potent Enough to doe it, & now we know there is open warr. If we were but assured y 4 y e English would minde theree Interest now and make Ready agaiust y e spring we would keep them in alarm, we must gOe hand in hand and Destroy the french, we hope y 4 y e Govern 1 with men is come which you have often told us off.’ You told us also y 4 y e king of England was so Potent that he had Blokt up the french havens; yet y y french gov r is come & we hear nothing of yours. In y e mean time we goe out now with Sixty Maquase of y e first & 2 d Castle 25 River Indians Besides y e Christians and above 100 men of y e 3 d Castle are comeing to morrow, we will Pursue y e Enemy and doubt not but to overtake them too; and Rescue y y Prisoners.

“ Now Gent" The Indians Speak well yet we are Satisfyed by all there actions that they will side with y e Strongest and y e Indians y* are among y e french are all of our Indian Relations, so y l it cannot be Imagined that they will Destroy or anoy; Therefore if there maj cs subjects doe not Rise like one only man against y e french there Maj es Interest in these Parts will be Destroyed, and they once being Rooted out all oy r Evills which Spring from them as the fountain will be quashed, the Longer we stay the worse it will be, for we must doe it at last and then probably after we have lost many hundreds of our People which would be fitt to help in stich an Expedition; we have felt y e smart of that nation and Pray God our neighbours may not come to y e same Disaster, we are Satisfyed they did not Design to Destroy Shinnectady but all our out Plantations but fyndeing them so .secure sett upon them & left the oy r untoucht thinkeing they could never Escape there Cruelties.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

“ Dear neighbours and friends we must acquaint y u y T never Poor People in y c ‘ world was in a worse Condition then we are at Present, no governour nor Command no money to forward any Expedition and Scarce men enough to maintain y e Citty and we must Conclude there only aim is this Place which once being attaind y e 5 nations are Rent from y e English Crowne & in Stead of being a Bulwark to these Dominions as hitherto they have Proov’d will help to Ruine and Destroy the Countrey and Lay all waste. We have here Plainly Laid y e Case before y u and doubt not but you will so much take it to heart and make all Readinesse in y e Spring to Invade Canida by water. We Pray God Continually for y e arriveall of our Gov r without which we can doe but litle haveing enough to doe to keep y e Indians to our side with great Expense; for these Distractions and Revolutions at N: Yorke hath brougt us into a miserable Condition, That without y r assistance and the 50 men from N. Yorke we should not be able to keep y e Place if any Enemy came wee begg an answer with al haste y l we may Satisfy y e Indians, we write to N: Yorke and oy r Parts of our mean Condition. We long much to hear from y r hon rs haveing sent an Indian Expresse y e 15 January last with what papers Related to y e Indians at y l time, since when our messengers are come from onnendage and y e Indians al declare to be faithfull to this governm*. We have writt to Col Pynchon to warn v e upper townes to be upon there guarde feareing y* some french & Indians might be out to Destroy them. We have no more to add in these Troublesome times but y* we are Hon ble gent.

Your most humble & obed ! serv ,s y e Convention of Albanie P r Schuyler, Mayor

[Mass. Archives , 239-246.]

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* [Prof. Pearson makes these signatures Dirk Wessells, Rekor and Kilien Van Rensselaer. I think they should he read Derck Wessells, Rekor and R. (Richard ?). Van Rensselaer, Justice. —M’M.]

Burning of Schenectady .

257

“ The Governor & Council of Massachusets to the Mayor, recorder, &c., of

Albany.

“Boston, 27 lh February, 16f|.

“ Hon ,d Gent".

Yo rs of the 15’ 1: instant bringing the sad and Solemn News of the desolation of Schinectedy, and the barbarous cruelties exercised towards the people of that place came to hand on Munday the 24 i!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 considerable Gentlemen Offering to advance towards it, and hope that something 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 neglective of 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 coion 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 among 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 intelligence 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 lies Service, Comending you to the gracious Protection of the Almighty.

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Gent” yo r Friends and Servant the Governo r and Councill of their Ma' ies Colony of the Massachusetts Bay. Signed by their Order.” — Mass. Archives , Book xxxv, 277-8.

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. 2 1 16f£.

“ Cap 1 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 4 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 4 we may become forearm 4 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 1 being among the slain. Twas very Commendably done of you to endeavour a pursuit of the Enemy; and when that designe fail 4 to shew the last office of Humanity in providing a Grave for y e bodyes of our murdered 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 tliinh of deserting so important 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 that Neighbourhood: And without a Cure that disease

will prove mortall Whatsoever Town or Climate you betake your selves to. Twould be satisfactory to ns for you in your next to say how many fighting men were in Schenectady, how w T ell provided w T ith Great Guns and small Armes, 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 otir 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 account. We are very sensible of the good Correspondance Albany Gentlemen 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 .

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 remaining 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 terrible experience, that it was seriously debated whether the settlement should not be abandoned. The frontiers were now so harrassed by straggling parties 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 counselling 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 16§£.

“Brethern. — Wee are sory and Extreamly grieved for y e murther Lately Committed by y e french upon our Brethren of Shinnectady wee Esteem 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 rs and they only stay your motion and will bee ready to doe whatever shall be resolved upon by our Brethren. * * * *

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 provision made for them from New Yorke.

“Robert Livingston to Sir Edmund Andros, ap. 14, 1690.

* * * On ye 9 th 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 ye towne except 6 or 7 houses which are saved by Capt. Sander [Glen], whom they did not touch, having Expresse command to meddle 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* Convention of Albany, nothing but men sent from Leysler would do theire turn.

“ Thus had Leysler perperted yt poor people by his seditious letters now foundc all bloody upon Skinneclitady 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, 16fJ.

* * 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 1-s 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 adherents, 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.

the Posts of Schanechtede, Connestigieone and the half Moone be forthwith supplyed with proper numbers of men to defend the same, ***** 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 ftre in striking contrast 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 th day of February, 16f§.

Myndert Wemp kild ” 1

He was the eldest son of Jan Barentse 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 Mari tie 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 ladians 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.

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

te Barent Janse [Van Ditmars] killd and Burnd his sonne kild.” 2

His son’s name was Cornelis,—a young man of mature age, the husband of Catharina Glen, daughter of Sander Leendeftse 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 Cornelis 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 spared.

“ Maria Viel& wife of Dowe Aukes and her two children killd, 3

and his Negro Woman Francyn, 1

Maria Alolff Wife of Cornelis Viel& Jun r Shott.” 1

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; Viel& was uncle of his wife and subsequently became heir of his property.

At the same time Arnout Cornelise Vielfc, 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, 1

Item 4 Negroes of ye said Sweer Teunise ye same death, 4

Enos Talmidge Leift. of Capt. Bull kild & burnt.” 1

All in one house.

Burning of Schenectady.

Van Velsen’s house 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 children,— the Wemps,— a portion being reserved for the church.

“ Hend : Meese Vrooman & Bartholomeus Yrooman 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 Ilesseling.” 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 Christoff else & 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.

“ Joh : 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.

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 b wall.” 2

Her maiden name was Engeltie Blom. Yrooman’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 Horn® 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 Skermerhorn, 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 M| day of February 16fo, 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 Wemp’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.

“ Jan Baptist sonne of Jan Yan Eps.”

The Yan 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 Yedder sonnes of harme Yedder.” 2

Harmen Yedder the father, had a hofstede on the bouwland, now owned and occupied by Mr. John D. Campbell of Rotterdam, and it is not certainly 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 [Yan Ditmars]” 1

Yan 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: YieR ye InterpY’ 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 [Yan Brakel]”

Yan Brakel resided on the East corner of Ferry and State streets.

“ Lawrence Sonne of Claes Lawrence Purmurent [Yander Yolgen].” I

The Yander Yolgen home lot included the lots on which are built the Yan Horne 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 Yrooman and ye neger.” 2

“ Claes sonne of Frans Harmense [Yan de Bogart].” 1

His father’s village lot was on the north side of Front street, now the residence of Mr. Henry Rosa.

“Stephen adopted Sonne of Geertje Bonts.” Residence unknown. 1 “John Webb a souldier belonging to Capt Bull,” 1

34

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ David Bnrt belonging to ye same Comp*,”

“ Joseph Marks of ye same Comp e ,”

In all*

1

1

27

“ List of the Goods sent from Yew York and received from Mons 1 Jan Hendric-ksen Brujn and Johannes Proofoost to be distributed among the Refugees of Schoonechtede, to wit:

234SJ 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 Byvanc-k, Jacob Loockermans.

first distributed to Sarge.

Barent Wemp 6f ells

Harmen Yedder, 6f

Symen Schermerhoorn. 6#

Symen Groot, 61

Arent Yedder, 6|

Anne widow of Frans [Van de Bogart], 6f

Willem Appel, 6j

Goosen Van Oort, 64

Samuel Bradt, 64

An dries Bradt, 64

Johannes Dyekman, 64

Geertruy Groot, 6|

3 ps. sarge distributed of

List of the Pennestont to Aces Cornelise [Van Slyc-k], Dirck Bradt,

Isack De Teurex [Truax], Xieces Volekers.

Johannes Dyekman,

Jan [Van] Eps,

L: awies Coopeele [Cobes], Pieter V an Olinda,

Gerret Jansen,

William Van Erde,

79 & I

Pennestont 7 ells

8

H

3

f

5

3 *

* Doc. Hist, i, 191.

Burning of Schenectady.

267

Arent Vedder, 31

Elias Swart, 7 2

Jan Buys, 4

Geertruy Groot, 3

72 ells

List of Stockings.

Manus Vedder, one pair of Stockings, ]

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 Hesselingh, 1

Adam Froman, 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 1 , 58

Willem Appel, 80

Goosen Van Oort, 50

Geertruy [Groot (?)], 31

Susanne Tellers, 50

Aces Cornelise [Van Slyek], 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,

Cornells VieD, 40

Jannetie Schermerhooren, 40

Cornells Schermerhooren, 20

Citte Bradt, 60

Hendrick Gardeniers, 40

Cornells Claesen, 20

Tryntie Schaets, 80

David Christoffelsen’s children, 50

Johannes Pootman’s children, 70

Adam Frooman, 70

Symen Schermerhooren, 50

Purmerent [Van de Volgen], 40

Symen Groot, 80

Fytie Pietersen Bosboom, 20

Distributed in Schoonechtede, 1809 ells.

List of the Linen distributed in the Bush. [ Woestine.]

Elias Swart, 36 ells

Lauries Coopesen [Ludovicus Cobes], 20

Isack Teurx [Truax], 40

Jan Buys, 23

Teunis Carstensen, 35

Binnonie Arentsen [Yan Hoeck], 25

Davit Marienissen [marinus], 30£

Elias [Yan] Gyseling, 30

Arent Yedder, 30

Pitter Yan Olinda, 35

Jan Frooman, 30

Man is [Harmanus] Yedder, 24

Tuenis Yiele, 20

Tryntje Yerwy, 15

Claes [Do] Graef, 35

Jan Hilt, 25

Cornells Groat, 20

Jan Luycessen [Wyngaardt], 18

Johannes Dyckman, 30

Lysbet Cornelissen, 15

540

From the other side, 1809

2349

By me Johannes De Wandelaer,

Deacon of Albany *

* Doc. Hist. N. Y., ii, hi.

Burning of Schenectady.

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.

1690

Feb. 12. Aen Purmerent [Claas Laurense-Van der Volgen], 8 el linne en 1 el plets (?) 29 guld.

Aen ditto 2 \ el duffels en 7 el linne , 30 guld.

“ 13. Aen Jan Spoor 8 ell linne.

u 14. Aen Kornelis groot een hempt , 8 qul.

“ 17. Aen purmerent [Claas Laurense Yan der Volgen], 2 el duffels ,

16 gul.

The following ballad, though without much literary merit, has some value for the facts set forth therein.

It was evidently written by a person belonging to the English garrison stationed at Albany.

“ A BALLAD,

In which is set forth the horrid cruellties practised by the French and Indians 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. W. W.

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, Ail 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.

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 murtlier’din their Beddes, Without shame or remorse ; [stew’d

And soon the Floores and Streets were With many a bleeding corse.

The Village soon began to Blaze Which skew’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.

O Christe! In the still Midnight air,

It sounded dismally, [screams,

The Women’s Prayers, and the loud Of their great Agony.

Mcthinks as if I hear them now All ringing in my ear;

The Shrieks & Groaues & Woefull Sighs, They utter’d in their Fear.

But some ran off to Albany,

And told the dolef all 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 the 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 putting seed into the ground. To reassure the courage of the people, the convention at Albany passed the following resolution on the 22 Feb., 1690.

Resolved that for ye p’servation of there maj es Tntrest in these parts & ye Secureing of there Subjects in this time of war w th ye french, yt all means be used to Perswade all 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.— Roc. Hist., ii, p. 90.

The Five Nations too in a council held at Albany, May 3, spoke encouraging 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.”!

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 plantations.”!

Of this attack Leisler wrote to Governor Treat of Connecticut, April 19, as follows :

“It hapened y t last Sabeday, at Nistigione, 12 Myle from Albany, ye people there gathered all in one house & keept watch, the said ffrench and in

*Mr. Van Cortland writing to Gov. Andros May 19, says, “ most of the Albany women are att New Yorke.” f Col. Doc. hi, 714.

X Col. Doc. iii, 716.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

Indians, finding in the night the houses empty, & perseving their retreat, 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, Connestigioon&, 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 peril!. ”§

“ Whereas it is judged necessary for to defend Schanechtede and to that purpose ik 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 “ substantial! Fort on that lot of grounde called by y p 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 Canastagjon5 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 es 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.

J Isaac Svvits lot at foot of State street.

** Col. Doc., hi, 727. ft Col. Doc., iii, 693.

Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713.

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"' of Albany and as soon as you have visited the Magistrates here, you took hoarse and rode to Schenectady where you see the ruines 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 Scbennectady & comeing home were almost starved and therefor for mere necessity we were compelled 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., hi, 781-2. t Col. MSS., xxvii. X Col. Doc., hi, 773.

35

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ We deliver you a prisoner vis 4 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 Schenectady 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 Cornelis 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 surprises 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, see noe 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. ,5 § 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 sruns 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, Harmen Van Slyck and Hendrick Janse went out from Schenectady with the Maquase upon the JBrandicach towards Canada, Capt. Sander Glen furnishing “Sno Shoes ” for them.ff

* A soldier of Lt. Enos Talmage’s detachment posted in the fort at Schenectady, f Col. Doc., hi, 778, 779. % Col. Doc., m , 781, 782, 805.

§ Col. Doc., hi, 783-4. | Col. Doc., in, 784, 792, 795.

** Council Minn., vi, 57; Col. MSS., xxxviii. ft Col. MSS., xxxviii.

In 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 “ 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 frontier200 at Albany, 50 each at Schenectady, Canastagiond, & half moon, & 50 to go out with 100 Indians as constant scouts in the woods.”f

Returning from Albany, the comtnander-in-chief, Maj. Ingoldsby, reported to the Council in New York, June 16, 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 Schenectady;-—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 Benj. 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, consisting 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 Eares.”

* Council Min., vi, 165. X Coun. Min-, vi, 104. fl Col. Doc., hi, 855.

f Col. MSS., xxxviit.

§ Coun. Min., vi, 134; Leg. Min., vi, 50. ** Col. MSS., xxxix.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

P. Davitse was allowed nine shillings for making two gnn-stocks; Jellis Funda nineteen shillings and six pence for making four gun stocks ,—& Barent Mynderse and Christian Smith £7, 6s. 86?., for repairing arms for the Indians.

While at Schenectady the “ Mayor & the Rest” stayed with Johannes Glen;—Hille Yan 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 Praying 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 -^5-) was considered too great a burthen for the whole township to bear.

“ To his Excell : &e. &e.

The Humble Petigon of the Inhabitants of Skenectady in the county of Albany,—

Humbly Sheweth

That youre Excell 8 Petigon™ have received many great damidges and Losses by the ffrench & there adherents, By Murdering of there maj ties 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 &c. in our plantations, that our Winter Maintenance 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 Condigon 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 Petigon rs humbly Implore Your Excellency for a Redress, & that wee may be freed of all Taxes till the Warr is ended and your Excellency’s further assistance with Souldg rs <fcc. for a defence against the Enemies &c. [00 Signatures.]

Petition granted 4 nemine contradicente ’ 11 Oct. 1692.”*

* Coll. MSS., xxxviii.

Indian Wars on the Border, 1662 1713 .

In February 1693, the French attacked and took the first and second Mohawk castles. Major Iugoldsby writing on the 11th 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 18th 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. JohnSanderse 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

llth. 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 thfe 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, receiving advice that the French were not above 8 miles from them. Lt. Harmen Yan 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 [Viel&] 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 d & 3 d 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 provisions 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 commenced. 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 the 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 oaptain 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 approached, preparations were made to strengthen the fortifications and garrisons on the frontier.

Governor Fletcher writing to the Board of Trade Oct. 9, says, “ the Province of New York is hardly circumstanced at present; we do not now muster 3000 militia, formerly 5000;—more families are dayly removing for Pensilvania & 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 English ; the latter striving to counteract their projects.

About the 15th October, 1694, there was a disastrous “fire att Schenectady 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 prisoners.”;];

* Col. Doc., iv, 16. t Col. Doc. iv, 65.

f Col. Doc., iv, 55. § Col. Doc. iv, 118.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

In 1695 Willem Appel, who had been severely wounded at the destruction of the village in 1690, presented the following petition to the Governor and Council ;

“ The humble petition of William Appell,

Humbly sheweth,

“ That y or poor petitioner w T as 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 Petitioner 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 Schenectady 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, afterwards 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.”];

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 following petition :

“ Att a meeting of ye Mayor, Alderman & Assistants of ye Citty and ye

Justices of ye County of Albany, the 30 lh of Sept., 1696, who Represen-

teth as follows:

“ To his Excell. Benj. Fletcher, Capt. Gen 1 & Governor in Cheeffe of his Majs Province of New York, &c.

* Col. MSS., xl. t Col. Doc.

f Col. MSS., xl.

§ Col. Doc. iv, 173.

Indian Wars on the Border, 1662 1713 .

The humble addresse of ye Mayor, Alderman & Assistants of ye Citty and y e Justices of y e County of Albany, who Represented ye State and Condition of ye Citty and County aforesaid, humbly Sheweth:

Imprimis, That since ye beginning of ye present warr by ye dayly departing 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 formerly 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 & oheyde, wee fear y l ye five nations will not be so zealous for ye Crowne of England and this Governm* against ye french our enemy as formerly.

3dly. That our Plantations round about ye towne can not be farther improved without ye great danger of there Lives, as it doth appear by ye barbarous murder and skalping of severall People this summer in there Labour.

4thly. That by ye Examination of a french Prisoner from Canada 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 Bee., Albany Annals , hi, 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.*

IV Sept., 1696. “ About ten days ago a skulking party of French Indians killed a man & wounded another near Schenectady.”!

* Col. Doc., 160-1.

36

f Col. Doc., iv, 198.

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’ 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 fied & 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. Clatkson.”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.”];

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. x Col. Doc, IX, 666.

f Mass. Sect. State’s office vol. xxx, 416.

283

Among the items of expense were the following:

“To John Anderson who goes to Shennectady for beer 3 shillings ; —

“ To Robert y e 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, £1-13s.

“ To Capt. Sanders [Glen] at Shinnectady for provisions, £8-9-3s.

“To Willem Gysbertse [Van Brakel] for a man & horse Bxpresse 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 Shinnectady £1-17s.”

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 Col. MSS., xlii.

$ Col. Doc., iv, 344-5.

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 raquetts 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 fortified 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 garrisons 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 recruiting 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 la'tely done by some of your people in 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.” * * * |

From 1697 to 1701 there was peace between England and France, consequently^ between Canada and the English Provinces. Nevertheless the constant intrigues and threats of the French towards 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., iv,[409.

f Col. Doc., rv, 644.

t Col. Doc., iv, 735.

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 Piver 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 instead 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.

Iu 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.

X Col. Doc., v, 281. § Col. Doc., v, 303.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

1st. FOOT COMPANY OF SCHEN T .

“D Leyst van Capt. Joh b Sanderse Glen ztn Compenye.*

Cap*. J. Sanderse Glen

Luy* Gerret Symer feed 1 [Yeeder]

Luy* Jan Wemp

Luy* Arent Brat

Luy* Barent Wemp

Corp r Evert Y. Eps

Corp r theunis Y. d Yolge

Corp r Manus Yedder

Ab m Glen

pieter Yrooman Ju r

gjiysbert Y. Brakel

Helmus Yeeder

Joh s teller Ju r

Jacob Swits

Sander Glen

Cornells Yan Dyck

Claes franse [Y. D. Bogart]

Jacob Schermerhorn Jan Schermerhorn Symon tol Jan Dellemont Andries Y. Pette Jan Marsel us Jacob Y. Olinda Joh s Yedder Cornells Y. Slyck Cornells Yiele David Marenus Job Peck

Jellis fonda 30

Jacobus Peck Jr Abr m D. Graef

Pieter Danyelse [Y. Antwerpen] phlip phlipse

symon folkertse feeder [Yeeder] Jacob Yrooman pieter quinez ?

Jelles Yan Yorst

Abr m Groot

Cornelis Slingerlant

theunis Swart

Dirck Groot

Sweer Marselus

Jan baptist Y. Eps

Arent Danyelse [Y. Antwerpen]

Barent Yrooman

Hendrick Yrooman Jr

Myndert Wimp

Jacob teller

Willem Marenus

Claas Y. Putte jr

Jacob flipse [Philipse]

Welm hael [Hall]

Rob* Ets [Yates]

Nicolas Stensel (?)

Arent Samuel brat Symon Groot Marte Y. Slyck Hendrick flipse [Philipse]

Wilm Daes 30

30

Signed

In all 60 men

Joh Sanderse Glen Gerrit Symonse [Yeeder]

Jan Wemp.

* Col. MSS., lx.

Indian Wars on the Border, 1662-1713. 287

2d FOOT COMPANY OF SCPIEN.

“D Leyst yan Capt Haeme van Slyck Compenye Ano. 1715.f

In all 56 men

Harme Y. 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.

(Signed)

f Col. MSS., lx.

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 Schenectady.

In 1711, Governor Hunter, the better to protect his faithful allies,—the Iroquois,—contracted with Gerrit Symonse [Yeeder], Barent Yrooman, Hendrick Yrooman,—John Wemp and Arent Yan 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 Yedder 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 Yan Slyck at £25, as smiths among the Onondagas.*

In 1726, Joseph Yan 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 Schenectady.”*

* Col. Doc., v, 279.

f Col. MSS., lxvi.

X Col. Doc., v, 797.

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 Occasion.

“ 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 Yan 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 otherwise 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.f

“Oct. 4, 1728.

* Col Doc., y, 867. f Col. Doc., v, 868.

37

History of the Schenectady Patent.

THE OLD FRENCH WAR, 1744-1748.

The Old French War, so called to distinguish it from that of 1753, was declared by Louis XV. on March 15, 1744, and accepted by England, March 29th. It was two months after before the news reached New England 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 settlements 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 shocking barbarities practiced on both sides by skulking parties of savages and white men. The following examples, among many others 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 Ontassago, 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.

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 some 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 neighborhood 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 Sieur 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.

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 Provinces, 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 inhabitants without any opposition. The enemy were commanded bj^ 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 ; \ 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”|

Among the prisoners were Jonathan Hagadorn§ taken 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 Fort|| March 21, taken at the same time and place. He died of consumption.

* Schuylerville and vicinity.

f Son of Dominie Lydius of Albany.

X Col. Doc., x, 38, and 761 ; vi, 289.

§ He was a son of Hendrick Hagadorn of the Aal plaats , and was baptized Sept. 17, 1721, and married Lea Hagen Oct. 30,1742.

II Son of Johannes Foi\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.

293

“In the spring of 1746, Edward Clontman and Robert Dunbar,* broke prison at Quebec 23 Oct., 1746, and escaped; Dunbar was taken not long before as he was scouting on the 4 Carrying Place 5 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 4 Carrying Place ’ was that between the Hudson river and Wood creek, doubtless.”f

“May 7th, 1746, One Christian Tedder or Tether [Yedder] 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 Albany. 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 Indiana 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.”— Drake’s Particular History.

* Son perhaps of John Dunbar of Schenectady,—if so he was born in Albany Nov. 20,1709.

f Drake’s Particular History.

X He was son of Corset Yedder of Schaghticoke, born Jan. 7, 1720, and married Hillegonda Yan Yranken, Sept. 27,1745, both then residing at Niskayuna.

§ Extract from letter of Commissioner of Indian affairs at Albany to the Governor.

j Col. MSS., lxxv.

“ About the same time two negroes were taken at Stone Arabia, since Palatine, on the Mobawk 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 buildings, killed their cattle and destroyed their other effects. They were discovered 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 one 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.”J

“ 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 reported.”

“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 Drake’s Particular History.

f Smith’s Hist, of N. Y.

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 assistance, 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 proceeded 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 and 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., 1746, 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 Albanjr. Another party under the chief Hendrick 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 Frenchmen 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.”|

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.

x N. Y. Col. Doc., VI, 343-4.

§ May 7, “ I have paid £60 for the 6 scalps brought from Crown Point.”— Col. Doc., vi, 361.

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 enemies 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 Cornelis Yan Slyck [of Schenectady], Johannes Pootmang 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 undisturbed 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.

f Drake’s Particular History.

§ Son of Cornelis Pootman [now Putman] of Schenectady, born March 18, 1720.

8 Drake’s Particular History.

6 U dirSA GRA GE

i CHOROGRAPHI CAL Map of fte Northern Department of XORTII AMER

tO’C. 4w' ^iW'/C /UWf- f//’ ////// rffl'V/'/Yffr A'AfS-t f YY/MVt<J.

The suffering!? of Schenenectady were even greater because more exposed, 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 present war are indebted. . . . for the supplying of fire wood and candles for the night watches & for powder & ball for the poorest of the inhabitants : . . . . besides what the inhabitants have done by a voluntary taxing themselves for providing & setting up new Stockadoes where the old ones were gone to decay.”

Whilst the people of Schenectady were striving to protect their borders from the attack of the enemy, they were called on to send men to Oswego.

The following answer of Col. Jacob Glen discloses a sad state of morals at that important fortress.

“ Col. Schuyler

“It is impossible to procure men for going to Oswego, especially when John Yischer remains there. John Baptist [Van Eps, the interpreter], says if a hundred pounds was offered him over and above his Wages [he] would not remain a year under his command.*

Jacob Glen.”

“ Schenectady, )

Sept. y e 8, 174V.” j

Glen in a previous letter says the officers at Oswego are drunkards.

During the year 1747, Capt. Tiebout’s company of foot was stationed at Schenectady, f

* Col. MSS., lxxv, 158. f Stone’s life of Sir Wm. Johnson, i, 268.

38

History of the Schenectady Patent.

THE BEUKENDAAL MASSACRE.

As the war drew to a close, in 1748, Schenectady met with the severest loss it had suffered at any one time since the year 1690. This is generally called the Poopendal* massacre. It was however in no sense a massacre like that of 1690, except perhaps in the killing of the first victim, but a stand up and hand to hand fight in Indian fashion, in which the whites were the attacking party, and on that account suffered more severely than the savages.

About 20 of the former were killed and some 13 or more made prisoners; of the losses of the latter we have no sufficient accounts.

Beyond tradition the accounts of this skirmish are meagre and uncircumstantial.

A brief letter to Col. William Johnson written by Albert Van Slyck, July 21, 1748,—three days after the affair, is the only semi-official narrative we have by one who was in the fight.

“From the details preserved in this letter it appears that a party of men from Schenectady, the leader of whom was Daniel Toll, had been dispatched to some place in the vicinity to bring in a number of horses, which was surprised by a party of the enemy whose presence in the neighborhood was neither known nor suspected.

“ The firing being heard by Adrian Van Slyck a brother of the writer of the account, who seems to have resided at a distance from the town, he sent a negro man to the latter place to give the alarm and obtain reinforcements. Four parties of Armed men successively repaired to the scene of Action, the first of which was composed of the ‘New England lieutenant with some of his men and five or six young lads,’ accompanied by Daniel Van Slyck, another brother. The second party was led by Ackes Van Slyck ‘ and some men,’—how many of either party is not stated.

“ Adrian Yan Slyck followed next at the head of a party of New York levies, but on reaching the scene of action, where Ackes with inferior numbers was holding the enemy at bay, the levies all fled, in the most cowardly manner.

“ r Ihe fourth party was composed of Albert Yan Slyck (the writer of the letter) Jacob Glen ‘ and several others ’ on the approach of whom the enemy drew off leaving Adrian among the dead.

“ The letter adds,—It grieves me, I not being Commander, that when we went, Garret Yan Antwerp would suffer no more to accompany the party.”f

* A corruption of Beukendaal, i. e., Beechdale. '

f Stone’s life of Johnson, i, 350.

299

The second account written by Giles F. Yates, Esq., and published in the Schenectady Democrat and Reflector , April 22, 1836, was gathered from tradition then floating about among the aged people of that day, with whom Mr. Yates had an extended acquaintance.

“In the beginning of the month of July, 1748, Mr. [Daniel] Toll and his favorite servant Ryckert, went in search of some stray horses at Beukendal, a locality about three miles from this city. They soon heard as they supposed the trampling of horses; but on a nearer approach, the sound they mistook for that made by horses hoofs on the clayey ground, proceeded from the quaits with which some Indians were playing.

“ Mr. Toll discovered his danger too late and fell pierced by the bullets of the French savages, for such they were. Ryckert more fortunate took to his heels and fled. Pie reached Schenectady in safety and told the dreadful news of the death of his master, and the presence of the enemy.

“ In less than an hour about sixty volunteers were on their march to Beukendal. The greater part of these were young men & such was their zeal that they would not wait until the proper authorities had called out the Militia. * * *

“ Without discipline or experience and even without a leader they hastened to the Indian Camp.

“ Those in advance of the main body, before they reached the enemy were attracted by a singular sight. They saw a man resembling Mr. Toll sitting near a fence in an adjoining field and a crow flying up and down before him.

“ On coming nearer they discovered it to be the corpse of Mr. Toll with a crow attached to it by a string.

“ This proved to be a stratagem of the Indians to decoy their adversaries. The Schenectadians fell alas ! too easily into the snare laid for them and were in a few moments surrounded by the Indians who had been lying in ambush. Thus taken by surprise they lost many of their number, and some were taken prisoners before they could make good their retreat.

“ They however succeeded in reaching the house of Mr. De Graaf* in the neighborhood which had been for some time deserted. But while retreating they continued to fire upon their enemy. On reaching Mr. De Graaf’s houso

* [The view of the scene of the fight at Beukendaal is from a photograph by the editor. The view is taken looking north along the Sacandaga road. The hollow to the right is Beuken-daal (or Beech Yale) in which at a distance the fight commenced. The whites were forced back and they took possession of the De Graaf house shown in picture and there defended themselves. It will be observed that this house is on high commanding ground which made it a strongly defensive position. Doubtless the whites’ losses were mainly in the ambuscade along the creek further north.—M’M.]

History of the Schenectady Patent.

they entered, bolted the doors and ascended to the second floor. Here they tore off all the boards near the eaves and thro the opening thus made fired with success at the savages and succeeded in keeping them at bay. In the meantime Dirck Van Vorst, who had been left in the charge of two young Indians effected his escape.

“ The two youngsters were anxious to see the fight and secured their prisoner by tying him to a tree and left him alone. He succeeded in getting his knife from his pocket and cutting the cord with which he was bound. On the approach of the Schenectady militia under Col. Jacob Glen the party in Mr. De Graaf’s house were relieved from their perilous situation and the enemy took up their line of march for Canada.

“On this occasion there were thirty-two citizens killed [?] : — of these we are able to give the names of Jacob Glen (cousin of Col. Glen), Peter

Vrooman, John Darling, Adam Conde, Van Antwerpen, Cornelius

Viel&, Nicholaas De Graaf and Adrian Van Slyck : — wounded, Ryer

Wemp, Robinson and Wilson:— prisoners, Abraham De

Graaf* and his son William, John Phelps, Harmen Veeder and Lewis Groot.

“ The bodies of De Graaf and Glen were found lying in a close contact with their savage antagonists with whom they had wrestled in deadly strife.

“ The corpses were brought to Schenectady the evening of the massacre and deposited in the large barn of Abraham Mabee, being the identical one now standing on the premises of Mrs. Benjamin, in Church street. The relatives of the deceased repaired thither to claim their departed kindred and remove them for interment.”

The third narrative may be found in Drake’s “ Particular History ” and seems to have been gleaned from various sources. It is particularly valuable as giving more names of the killed and missing than any other account.

“July 18, 1748. About three miles from Schenectady, Daniel Toll, Dirck Van Vorst and a negro went to a place called Poependal to catch their horses ; but not finding the horses as they expected they went into the adjacent woods to a place called the Clay pit [. Kley Jcuif\. They discovered Indians and attempted to escape from them, but were pursued by them and both Toll & Van Vorst where shot down, but the negro escaped. Van Vorst, though wounded was not killed but taken prisoner. The firing was heard at MaalwycJc about two miles distant and the people there know-

* “ Abrm. De Graaf and his son Wilhelmus were taken captives to Canada, Oct. 80, 1746. He died at Quebec and was buried there June 12.” June 12, 1747, died at Quebec, Abraham De Grave [Graaf] of iSchenectada taken Oct., 1746.— Be Graaf Bible, 1747.

301

ing that Toll & Van Yorst had gone for their horses suspected the occasion of the firing. This was about ten o’clock in the morning and a messenger was at once dispatched to the town where the alarm was sounded about twelve. Some of the inhabitants with a company of new levies posted there under Lieut. Darling of Connecticut in all seventy men marched out toward Poependal cautiously searching for the enemy, as far as the lands of Simon Groot, but made no discovery of the enemy. At this point the negro before mentioned came to the party and told them where the body of his master was.

The negro was furnished with a horse and they (about forty in number) were piloted to the spot where his master lay dead ; and near Poependal at Abraham De Graaf’s house. They immediately entered the woods with the negro where they at once discovered the enemy in great numbers upon whom they discharged a volley with a shout. The enemy shouted in return accompanying it with a volley also. This was the commencement of a most desperate fight. All but two or three of the English stood to it manfully, although they were hemmed in on every side by the great numbers of the enemy, and fought over a space of about two acres; yet the battle ground was left in possession of the settlers. In this hand to hand encounter twelve of the inhabitants of Schenectady were killed outright, five were taken prisoners and seven of Lieut. Darlings men including himself were killed and six of them missing supposed to be taken prisoners. The news of this battle reached Albany in the evening of the same day and by midnight Lieut. Chew with one hundred English and two hundred friendly Indians were on the march for the scene of action, but to no other purpose than as showing their willingness to meet an emergency of this kind. The names of the people killed so far as ascertained were Daniel Toll, Frans Van der Bogart Jr., Jacob Glen Jr., Daniel Van Antwerpen, J. P. Van Antwerpen, Cornells Vielen Jr., Adrian Van Slyck, Peter Vrooman, Klaas A. De Graaf, Adam Cond&, John A. Bradt & John Marinus.

“ There were missing, Isaac Truax, Ryer Wemp, Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Albert John Vedder & Frank Conner all belonging to Schenectady. Of the soldiers seven were killed & six missing.”*

From these accounts it is certain that the presence of the Indians was not suspected until the first shot;—that Capt. Daniel Toll was the first victim;— that the alarm was given by his negro Ryckert—that a company of Connecticut levies under Lieut. John Darling accompanied and followed by squads of the inhabitants marched to the scene, and that after a hot engagement the Indians retreated leaving twenty of the whites dead and taking away thirteen or fourteen prisoners besides the wounded.

* Drake’s Particular History, 169-70.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Considering the number of the whites engaged, their loss was very severe, amounting probably to one-third of their force.

The following is the fullest list of killed and missing that can now he given:

Killed.

John A. Bradt,

Johannes Marinus,

Peter Vrooman,

Daniel Van Antwerpen,

Cornells Viel&, Jr.,

Nicolaas De Graaf,*

Lt. John Darling,J and seven of

Adrian Van Slyck,

Jacob Glen, Jr.,

Adam Conde,

J. P. Van Antwerpen,

Frans Van der Bogart,

Capt. Daniel Toll.f his soldiers, in all twenty men.

Ryer Wemp,

Robinson,

And probably many others.

Wounded.

Dirk Van Yorst, Wilson.

Missing.— Prisoners.

John Phelps, Harman Veeder,

Lewis Groot, Isaac Truax,

Johannes Seyer Vrooman, Albert John Yedder.

Frank Connor,

And six soldiers, in all thirteen men.

After the close of hostilities Governor Clinton sent Lieut. Stoddert to Montreal to arrange for an exchange of prisoners. With Capt. Anthony Van Schaick he went into the Indian country to recover the captives, but

1748, July 18, Nicolaas De Graaf and twenty others, were murdered at Poopenda] by the savage Indians.”—De Graaf Bible.

f At the Poopendal massacre Capt. Daniel Toll was killed ; he was standing by a tree when the fatal bullet struck him. His name was to be seen cut in the bark for many years after, but is now gone .—Glaas Veeder , the Centennarian.

t Commander of the Connecticut levies.

It would seem that Capt. Stoddard commanded at Schenectady during a portion of the year 1748, but was doubtless absent on this occasion.—Stone’s life of Johnson, i. 365

308

with indifferent success. Among those who returned with Lieut. Stoddert were Capt. Anthony Van Schaick, John Vrooman 3 Peter Vasborough [Vos-burgh], Albert Yedder and Francis Connor. Efforts were made to induce others to return but without success; of these were Rachel Quackenbos Simon Fort and Philip Phillipsen. Rachel Quackenbos abjured the English religion and Lieut. Stoddert could not persuade her to return. Fort and Phillipse also desired to remain with the Iroquois; the former belonged by adoption to a sister of a chief named Agonareche. She refused to give him up at any price. Capt. Van Schaick offered six hundred limes for Fort without succeeding in obtaining him. On the contrary, so determined was his squaw owner to retain him, that she said she would obey the French commandant and deliver him up, but that she and her husband would follow him, and he should not reach home alive. Lieut. Stoddert left Canada on the 28th June, 1750, with twenty-four prisoners.*

* Drake’s Particular Hist., 178-9; Col. Doc., x, 209, 215.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

FORTIFICATIONS AND GARRISONS.

All considerable settlements on the upper Hudson and Mohawk rivers were from the first protected by wooden walls. Though never attacked nor even seriously threatened by the Iroquois or Mohicans, there were but few short periods down to the close of the French war (1763) when they were not subject to frequent alarms from the French or their Indian allies from Canada.

The method of fortification was by stockades, which the abundance of timber at their very doors made a cheap and ready protection. Guns were only used for defense, attacks being always made by the musket.

The stockade consisted of a series of posts or logs from 15 to 18 feet long and 12 inches or more thick, sharpened at one end and hewed flat on opposite sides.*

Pine was usually chosen because most abundant and easily worked.

The line of stockade being marked out, a trench three feet deep was dug, the posts were set therein, the flattened sides together and the earth shoveled back and rammed against them.f To strengthen the top two adjoining posts were bored and fastened together with oaken trenails.

* [Doubless after the manner of the Mohawk Castles. The only illustration which represents one of these castles is that shown in the cut from Champlain and Jesuit accounts.

This shows after a crude fashion that poles or palisades were planted in the ground forming a wall. That the Indians used round poles or light saplings and to reduce the chance of missiles passing through the interstices, two or more rows were planted in quincunx order. The palisades used by the Dutch were of larger diameter and were flattened on two sides so that adjoining palisades were in contact and there was no interval through which an arrow could be sent.—M’M.]

f “ 22 May 1716, Albany. This day the Commonalty agreed with Jacob Luykasse and Jacob Schermerhorn pow’r to Sett up ye Stockados where they are wanting about this City, which they are to square at two sides and sharpe at ye top and to sett them three feet in ye ground, which they are to perform at or before primo July next, for which they shall be paid six pence apiece and give bonds of £15 to perform said agreement .”—Albany Annals , vn, 56.

Fortifications and Garrisons.

At the angles, gates and other important points, blockhouses for the shelter of the garrison and guards were built, and within the stockade all around was a free space called the Rondweg , of sufficient width for the patrol to march.

In addition to this outer circle of fortification, in Albany and Schenectady* there was a fort in one of the angles of the latterf place, surrounded by a double row .of high palisades, furnished with barracks for the garn-

INDIAN CASTLE, FROM CHAMPLAIN'S ACCOUNT.

son, platforms, guns, lookouts, &c. And in later times, when Schenectady became a depot for men and materials, there were barracks outside the

* [See note to Miller’s map.— M’M.]

f [Not so certain as to Schenectady prior to 1704, though it was as to Albany.— M’M.]

39

History of the Schenectady Patent .

walls ; in 1765, the troops were posted along the east side of Ferry street, from Union to the Episcopal church ; in 1762, on the south side of Union street from Ferry to Mrs. Colon Clute’s house;* in the Revolutionary war, on the south side of Union street from Lafayette eastwardly to Quacken-bush street.

For protection and safety Schenectady was admirably placed, being surrounded with water and marsh on three sides and open only to the southeast, from which side the inhabitants had little to fear.

The first settlers though their land lay elsewhere, built their habitations mainly together for their greater protection. Doubtless as soon after the settlement in 1662, as it could conveniently be done, the village was stockaded. Starting at State street the line ran along the east side of Ferry to about the gate of the Episcopal church—then in a straight line to the north side of Front a little beyond Washington street,—then southerly and parallel to the same to State and lastly along the same 28 feet south thereof to Ferry street or Mill lane. This was the original plat enclosed and contained most of the houses of the first settlers.

The south and west lines remained substantially the same down to the time of their extinction soon after the Revolutionary war. The Front and Washington street lines were later moved north and west to the river bank, and the Ferry street line sometime after 1765, was carried southeasterly to the New York Central railroad depot, and thence northerly through the Dutch church burying ground to the river bank.

Gates. In 1690 it was said in the French account of the village, that there were but two gates,—one at the north end of Church street called the “north gate”,—the other at State. This wa^ doubtless at the junction of State and Church Streets—and opened out to the roads through Mill Lane and Water street leading to the bouwlands and to the Mohawk country.

In later times there were others—at Front and Union streets. The foundations of the gates and guardhouses where Ferry crosses State and Union streets were exposed in laying the water pipes in 1871.

* Mortgages in, 147 ; Deeds, ix. 51.

Fortifications and Garrisons.

307

Forts. Schenectady was so important a post for the protection of the Province against the incursions of the Canadians, that for the first hundred years of its existence it was deemed necessary to strengthen it by a fort and garrison.*

The writer is led to believe from references in the records, that the first blockhouse was in the north angle of the stockade at or near the junction of Front and Washington streets.f This was destroyed in 1690 by the French, at which time it was garrisoned by a small detachment under Lt. Enos Talmage, from Capt. Jonathan Bull’s company, then stationed at Albany. These troops were Connecticut men.

The magazine stood on or near the lot of Mrs. Willard, then belonging to Capt. Sander Glen.

A second was built in 1690 between Washington street and the river opposite the west end of State street, covering the lot 'of ICleine Isaack , (that is Isaac Swits,) who with his son Cornells was carried away by the French to Canada. On his return from captivity next year, he found his homestead occupied, by soldiers,—his orchard cut down and his home utterly ruined. He repeatedly petitioned for remuneration for his losses, but it was not until 1708 that his son received a patent for 1000 acres of land in Niskayuna as a recognition of his father’s claim.

The following order was issued by Leisler’s commissioners at Albany for the rebuilding of the fort at Schenectady.

“ Whereas it is judged necessary for to defend Schanechtede and to that purposed it is found requisite that a fort shall be erected to defend ye Inhabitants and oppugn the Enemy if should attack the same.”

“ These are in his Ma ties name to require your Cap n Sander Glen and all Officers & Inhabitants belonging to ye said Schanechtede and adjacent Parts, with the Souldiers there in Garrison, to build a substantiall Fort of due magnitude and strength upon that part or parcell of ground (called by the name of Cleyn Isaacs), and that all are aiding and assisting therein according to their abilitye to dispatch and compleat the same, as they will

* Petition of New York merchants.

* * * “ That a new [fort be built at Schenectida which lyes twenty miles above Albany and is the utmost English settlement toward the Indians and French, and that fourteen gunns and sixty men be placed there. — Col. Doc., hi, 653.

+ [See note to Miller’s map.—M’M.]

History of the Schenectady Patent .

answer the contrary at their utmost perills. Given under our hand this 13th day of May in the Second year of his Ma ties Reigne Annog : Dom 1690.”* * * §

The damage to Swits though considerable and most evident, was redressed only after many petitions and a delay of eighteen years. The following papers show the progress of the negotiation for redress.

“ Petition of Isaac Swits.

To his Excellency Edward Viscount Cornbuiy, Captain Generali and Governor-in-chief,” etc.

“ The humble petition of Isaac Swits an ancient Inhabitant of the if rontier Garrison of Schenectady.

“ Sheweth

“That your Excellencies petitioner while your Lordshipp was at Albany in July 1702, preferred his humble petition to your Excellency, setting forth that about the beginning of the late happy revolution, the town of Schenectady being surprised & Destroyed by the ffrench of Canada, your Excellencies petitioner and his son were taken and carried away prisoners ; — That during your petitioners imprisonment the then governor of this province ordered the ground whereon your Excellencies’ petitioner’s house, Barne, orchard, Garden &c. stood to be for his majesties service Inclosed and stockadoed as a fort, and garisoned the same during the Warrf to your petitioner’s very detriment; and your petitioner has not any manner of way been relieved therein, and therefore prayed to be redressed for the damages* he has suffered,” etc.

“ May it please your Excellency To grant unto your petitioner your Lordship’s warrant for the said sume of thirty pounds, or otherwise to favour your petitioner with her majesties Grant for a parcell of Land on the Norman’s Creek in Lieu thereof.

“And your Excellencies petitioner shall ever pray.’’J [Read in council, 2d Nov., 1704].

The second fort was a large and spacious enclosure surrounded by “ a triple stockade, a new blockhouse at every angle and in each blockhouse two great guns.”

It contained twenty-eight huts for inhabitants of the village, two wigwams for Indians, a large barn & styes for hogs.§

* Col. MSS., xxxvi, 70 ; Doc. Hist. N. Y., n, 125.

t The peace of Ryswick was declared in 1697.

$ Land Papers, iv, 28.

§ [ See Miller’s map.—M’M.]

Fortifications and Garrisons.

309

At a court martial held at Schenectady, Aug. 7, 1691, upon a soldier named George Castleton, it was proved that he quarreled with a fellow soldier named Desvallons, about some beer ; the latter struck the former with a stick, whereupon Castleton, drawing his sword, thrust it into his side, causing almost instant death. The facts of the case were mainly proved by persons living within the fort,* among whom were the following:

Daniel Janse Van Antwerp, aged 57 years, deposed that “ he was walking by to go to Douwe Aukes’ house ” in the fort, and witnessed the fight.

Josias Swart, aged about 33 years, testified to the facts in the case.

Douwe Aukes, aged about 47 years, “ being in his house in ye fort at Schenectady with Cobus Peek looked out and saw George Castleton and James Desvallons pass at one another,” &c.

Tryntie Claas,f wife of Elias Van Gyseling, aged about 43 years, “ being in Schenectady fort at her house neer ye cort of garde * * * went into her house and heard ye sword and stick Ratle together, came out of her house forthwith & she see ye Prisoner, George Castleton make a thrust at James Desvallons,” &c.

Maritye Pieterse wife of Wm. Noble, aged about 40 years “being in her house in ye fort at Schenectady heard a noise in ye street and comes out of doors and sees George Castleton attack Desvallons.”

The culprit was adjudged guilty of manslaughter, burnt in the hand and banished the Province.];

* [All these people were of prominent families ia Schenectady, and they all lived inside the town, even though owning and working farms elsewhere. Their houses constituted the town and were surrounded by palisades, which constituted the whole fort; “ the fort,” or strong place of Schenectady. When the English made a strong place they named it a Royal fort in contradistinction to the town or fortress.—M.’M.]

f [Tryntie Claes Van C-ysling being .... at her house near ye “ Oort of Garde,” that is to say, the court of the guard or parade ground in front of the main guard house. Miller shows such a space, which corresponds to State street from Ferry to near Church. This would be the place where the guard mount took place, and where the garrison assembled for drills or parades, as is customary.—M.’M.]

J Common Council of Albany Minutes, iv.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

If Miller’s drawing of this fort be correct* it must have extended quite across the west end of the village from State to Front street, and included much of the land between Washington street and the Binne kil. The blockhouse in the south angle covered Swit’s lot.

* r“ Dependent on this City [Albany] and about twenty miles northward from it, is the Fort of Scanectade, quadrangular with a treble stockado with a new block house at every angle and in each block house two great guns.” Miller's description of Schen., 1695.

‘‘ This Schoonectheu deel is 24 miles west from Albany. * * The village proper is a square set oft by palisades. There may be 80 houses which are situated on the side of the Mohawk river, etc,” Banker & Sluyter , 1680.

Schenectady “ being in form of a long square entered by two gates.

J Charlevoix, 1690.

Miller’s map of New York city is fully supported by contemporaneous and later maps.

His map of Schenectady is doubtless as correct in all essentials. Certainly after nearly two centuries have elapsed the sketch of what an intelligent man observed and recorded is entitled to acceptance unless some other contemporaneous plan or detailed description can be found. Rev. John Miller was chaplain to the British forces stationed at New York city. He visited all the up-river posts and returned to England in 1695. His manuscript “ Description of the Province and City of New York, with Plans of the City and several Forts as they existed in the year 1695. By the Rev. John Miller, London. Printed and Published for the Enlightenment of such as would desire information Anent the New-Found-Land of America,” is in the British Museum.

The stockade therein depicted was probably in the main on the site of the stockade destroyed in 1690, and represented the growth of five years. The first fort or strong place built after the massacre on Clyn Isaack’s land, was the blockhouse at foot of State (Jay Westinghouse lot) where it dominated the bouwland and Great Island—and was guarded by the then bluff banks of Mill creek and the Binne kil. It was a purely military position—a blockhouse to which the few remaining settlers could rally, and probably became the south-west blockhouse of Miller’s map.

The guard house was at State and Ferry streets and was a blockhouse also. The writer believes that the small garrison was at this point on the night of the massacre— and many of those who escaped from their houses naturally ran to the guard house and were there killed—a good enough reason why State street from Centre to Washington street should be called Martyr’s street. This blockhouse was at State and Ferry-r-its “two great guns ” commanded the Albany road, the town mill and bouwlands as well as the plain east of Ferry street.

Miller’s map shows the “spy loft” or lookout station (where perched high up the look out could see all that was in sight in the vicinity and give the signal of danger), the “ centry box ” and flag staff, which indicate the main guard and headquarters. It was put there because it was the best site in 1691, and the site was the same in 1690, and earlier.

Another blockhouse was at the angle opposite the Episcopal church, to which point Front street originally ran ; that is to say when it was the Rondweg inside the north wall.

A fourth blockhouse was about Washington and Front streets, and was larger than the others (No. 8, Miller’s map) ; —protected by being near the junction of the river and the Binne kil it was probably intended for a store house as well as church. [Query.

otwithstandmg the description of the land in the deed where the phrase occurs— Notarial papers, page 320 was not this “’t blok huys (te weten de Kerche),” =* the blockhouse

Fortifications aud Garrisons.

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Map of Schenectady in 1695.—Rev. John Miller.

('Original in British Museum.)

Explanation.

1.1. Block houses.

2.2. Rivers running beside y e Fort.

3.3. Indians Wigwams.

4. Flag staff.

5. Centry box.

6. Spy loft.

7.7.7. Sties for hogs.

8. The block house designed for a church.

9.9. Those and others like them houses.

10. A great barn.

11.11. The treble stockadoes.

12.12. The Fort Gates.

History of the Schenectady Patent

The renewal of the stockadoes, which being made of pine logs lasted but five or six years, became very burthensome to the inhabitants of the village after its destruction in 1690. Having built a new fort in 1690 they were ordered to renew the palisades in 1695. On this occasion Reyer Scher-

known as the church ? Only occasional services were held at Schenectady from 1690 to 1704, and in a place which besides falling to decay was “ not a fit and proper place dedicated to the service of God, as represented in petition to Governor Nanfan—See chapter on Church History].

At the massacre the town was destroyed, but few houses being unburnt—the site was practically abandoned and only the strenuous efforts of government and Indians induced the return of the major portion of the people. A large number of Mohawks established themselves there and the following summer they gathered the crops which had been planted—[winter wheat]. Miller’s map shows their two large “long houses” inside the walls. The triple stockade was probably built by, or with the aid of the Indians, and in their fashion, of light poles or saplings—and not the regular hewn stockade of civilized peoples.

Miller’s map shows twenty-eight houses within the stockade in 1695.

In 1698, the population of the township from Niskayuna to Hoffman’s Ferry was 50 men, 41 women and the 183 children. (Alb. Annals, ix.)

Of these the Glens, Schermerhorns, De Graafs and others lived at a distance from the village, so that if the 41 women represented nearly as many families, which is probable, twenty-eight houses would suffice for the inhabitants — the soldiers barracking in the blockhouses.

The “ Fort of Schanecthede ” doubtless contained all there was of the village, save a few houses on the Albany road and on the bouwlands, and was the whole occupied town west of Ferry street.

Miller indicates two gates — one at the south end of State street, where its location protected it from sudden attack and where the ancient church covered, or in military parlance traversed it. The writer believes, after careful study of the site and the history of the town, that this south gate located at twenty-eight feet south of State street, was the early outlet of the town.

On passing out of the gate the road to Albany via Normans kil, (the oldest road,) lay across the bouwlands and via Schemaerhorn mills over the hills. Later to avoid the hill and the sand, the road up Albany hill was traveled. It was for a century a rnpre trail, in common with others equally poor but occasionally used, — this road led from the gate along the hill side under the guns of the south-east blockhouse and above the ’mill. (In digging cellars and foundations of Vrooman’s hardware store, stone McAdamizing or pavement was found 75 feet south of State street, as also at other houses along the same block at other times).

It was improbable that any man with a military eye would locate a blockhouse back from the steep bluff bank of mill creek — it would be placed on the crest so that the guns of the blockhouse could fully command the whole slope. Again a road along under such a slope w r ould be in proper position for its protection but very wet and muddy in spring, or in wet weather — hence it was paved very early but abandoned for the higher iTfvf ^ iere street now is, probably not long after the Queen’s Fort was built in 1704. vy hen the road was moved, the gate was moved, and the English army topographers at the time of the “ old French war ” locate the road as State street now is, and open a

gate at its crossing of Ferry street.

■^* er indicates another gate at the west side (on present lot of Jay Westinghouse probably) which opened to the Binne kil, which was a canoe harbor,—to the ferry,— to tne threat Island, and also on the old river road on the Mohawk country. There had been

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313

merhorn refused to cut and draw his proportion of the logs, it may be because living at the mills he thought himself exempt from this burthensome service, or that his quota was too large. Thereupon Justice Johannes Sanderse Glen fined him twelve shillings,* and continuing contumacious Gov. Fletcher on the 9th of April, 1698, directed the sheriff of Albany county to bring him before the Council in New York to answer for his conduct. On the 30th he appeared before the council and 11 stood upon his vindication,” whereupon he was “ committed to answer at the next Supreme Court & Col. Courtlandt was desired to take bond with sureties for his appearance and that he be of good behaviour in the mean time.”f

In the winter of 1695-6 the garrison at Schenectady consisted of a detachment under command of Lt. Bickford, from the companies of Captains

a gate at north end of the town, but after 1690 it was not rebuilt, as the small garrison had enough to do to guard the south end of the town, which contained the mill, guardhouse and gardens and the roads to the bouwlands and Albany. The whole tendency seemed to be to concentrate force at the State street side of the town, and new buildings clustered about the neighborhood. Besides, settlements were neither near nor numerous along the Mohawk, and the Indian incursions made roads there very unsafe.

As the need for them arose, and their safety was assured, new gates were opened.

The building of the Queens fort, called for reopening the north gate, which it completely protected. Likewise, when the original four blocks of four lots each, included in the stockade, afforded insufficient area, the walls were moved to include them, notably when the west Rondweg was made into the present Washington Avenue, by moving the stockades to the Binne kil, and the north Rondweg was converted into part of the present Front street and partly into an open space or parade ground by moving the pickets toward the Mohawk, as in map of 1750, where the line of pickets is decidedly irregular and has a number of blockhouses as flankers to protect it from assault from straggling small parties of Indians, while the comparatively strong citadel on the highest ground the site afforded dominated the whole fortress and the open approaches by land or ice, and it3 cannon pointed up Front anil Green streets on the direct route to Canada, whence attack was a constant probability.—M’M.]

* “ William by ye grace of God of England, Scotland, france & Irelande Kinge defender of ye faith, to John Mebee & Dirack Brat Constables of Scanectedy, yu are in his Majestyes name to requier & commande Ryer Jacobse Schermerhorn to pay ye sum of twellve shillinges.for ye Disobayinge my formur warande in not adinge & assistinge ye rebuelldinge, of ye forte of Scanectedy, wh. are for his Majestyes sarvis <fc ye Publick good : I do fourder commande yu yt with in fouer dayes from ye dayte of thes presants yt yu leed & bringe ye complyment of Stockades as I have given yu formur notis as is Alotecl yu for yr share & yt yu do mount & fix ye sd Stockades answerabell to ye rest of ye inhabitants at yr parill as yu will answer ye neglect, given under my hande ye furst day of Novbr in ye seventh yeare of his majestyes reane Anno dom: 1695.

Johannes Sanderse [Glen],

Justes.”

f Council Min. vii, 183, 188.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

James Weems and William Hyde', stationed at Albany. <£ On the 10th Jan., about 12 of the Clock at night deserted the whole guard except one & others, to the number of sixteen broak through the north west Block house next the water side.” [Binne kil].

“ They drew the guns of both powder & Shott. The Lieutenant about two o’clock discovering their desertion, notified by express Col. Richard Ingoldsby at Albany, and with ten volunteers of the inhabitants and eleven soldiers started in pursuit. The serjeant & seven red coats soon gave out and were left behind. At four in the afternoon the lieutenant and his 14 men came up with the 16 diserters ; ordering them to lay down their arms, they answered with a volley and both sides continued to fire until five of the deserters were killed and two wounded when the remainder surrendered.”

These facts were stated by Lieut. Bickford in his account of the affair to Governor Fletcher, of March 9th. In closing his dispatch he says, “ Here is a strong and regular Fort built by the inhabitants with foot works and a stone magazine fitt for this garrison.” The following were the volunteers from Schenectady who accompanied Lt. Bickford in his hazardous enterprise ; “ Harmen Van Slyck, ensigne of the trained bands of Schen-echtide and Gerryt Simons Veeder, Peter Simons Yeeder, Albert Yeeder, Gerryt Gysbert [Gvsbertse Yan Brakel], Jan Danielse Yan Antwerpen, Dirck Groot, Jonas De Roy, John Wemp, Daniel Mutchcraft [Mascraft] & Thomas Smith.”

At a court martial held in Schenectady April 21, the survivors of the deserting party were accounted guilty and condemned to be shot.*

The commander of the garrison who succeeded Lieut. Bickford in the spring of 1696 was Lt. Daniel Hunt from the garrison at Albany.

He reports in relation to the military stores and effectiveness of the military force at Schenectady as follows:

“ In July, 1696, and in ye beginning of April ’96 I was commander on ye frontieers at Schonaetady, when ye French Indians destroyed Onondage & Oneide, when all ye news that arrived to mee concerning the enemy^ I did

[I? the petition of Lieut. Abraham Bickford for reimbursement for his extraordinary expenses in pursuing and re-capturing deserters from time to time “ more Particularly in January, 1695-6, when the whole Guard spikt the great Gunns and Deserted from his Majestys fort at Schenectady all with their Arms and in the Dead of night;” he says “ yey were Tryed at a Court Marshall condemned and one of the Chiefe Leaders Executed the Best being Pardoned having obtained his Maj^ 8 Mercy.”

From this it would appear that the hardships they endured were considered as extenuating their crime.—M’M.]

Fortifications and Garrisons.

315

from time to time by express Signifie to Col. Ingoldesby then Comander in Chiefe of ye frontieers, who as his letter makes appeare did truly acquaint his Excel: Coll: Fletcher, who did after ye enemy was gone come up to Albany without any forces: — when I came up to ye garrison at Schonec-tady and where ye enemy was marching towards us, I had but part of a barrel of powder and but little shott, but I writt to Col. Ingoldsby who sent me a one barrel of powder with 6 cannon balls.

Daniel Hunt.”

“An account of what stores of Warr was in the frontieer garrison at Schonectady when commanded by Lieut. Daniel Hunt, in June, July, Aug. 1696, being the time when Count Frontenack the French governor of Canada destroyed the habita§ons and castles of ye Onondgoes and Oneides Viz:*

8 Pieces of Ordinance,

4 Pattararoes, whereof one unserviceable,

28 Shott l lb weight each.

6 Shott 4 lb weight each,

1 Barrel of Cannon powder.

Part of a barrel of small powder not good,

I Runlet -J of musquet ball,

Part of a Schaine of match,

10 Linstocks, 2 Priming horns,

9 Sheets of Cartharidge paper, 8 flints,

32 Cartharidges for ye ordinance,

II baggs of musquett bail, viz 4 , partedges,

1 Ax, 1 Flagg,— 1 pr. of Shackles,

2 Buckets, 4 Iron potts, 4 Canns.

The forces in ye Garrison was one Lieut, one Serj 1 , ore drum and thirty of his Ma tys Soldiers and no more.

Witness Daniel Hunt.”*

After the second fort had been occupied about 15 years, 1690 to 1705 the blockhouses were abandonedf and “ Queens new Fort ” was built at the east angle of the stockade. This was the “ Old Fort ” about which all the traditions of the people cluster.

It was at first simply a double or triple stockade 100 feet square, with bastions or blockhouses at the angles. In 1735 it was rebuilt in a more substantial manner of timbers on a stone foundation.J The four curtains

* Col. Doc., iv, 431. f [Abandoned as barracks only.— M’M.] t Col. Doc., vi, 120 ; Smith’s Hist. N. Y.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

were “ about 76 ft. each and the four bastions or blockhouses 24 ft. square.” In 1754 at the beginning of the French war, it contained one 6 and one 9 pounder on carriages but no “ Port holes in the curtain to fire them.”

The following petition gives an account of the condition of the fortifications of the village in 1754.

“ To the Honorable James De Lancey Lieut. Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon, &c., &c.

“ The Humble petition of the Officers of the four Companies of Militia at Schonechtady and also the Magistrates and Principal Inhabitants thereof.

“ Most Humbly Sheweth that the security of this place as well as the preservation of the Lives of our Wives and children greatly depends on the strength of Fort Cosby as the only place of refuge in case of an Attack or surprize. The Hostilities committed by the Indians on our Neighbours and the Daily Expectation of their Attempts upon us also; Induces us most humbly to represent to your Honour the state of the said Garrison which Consists of 4 Curtains of about 76 feet each and four Bastions or blockhouses 24 feet square, the superstructure built with timbers on a foundation of a stone wall about two feet above the surface of the earth.*

^[Description of the country between Oswego and Albany, 1757].

Extract.

“ From Fort Hunter to Ghenectedi or Corlar is seven leagues. The public carriage way continues along the right bank of the Mohawk river. About 20 or 30 houses are found within this distance separated the one from the other from about a quarter to half a league. The Inhabitants of this section are Dutch. They form a company with some other inhabitants of the left bank of the Mohawk river about 100 men strong.

Chenectedi or Corlar, situated on the bank of the Mohawk river is a village of about 300 houses. It is surrounded by upright pickets flanked from distance to distance. Entering this village by the gate on the Fort Hunter side, there is a fort to the right which forms a species of citadel in the interior of the village itself. It is a square, flanked with four bastions or demi-bastions, and is constructed half of masonry and half of timbers piled one over the other above the masonry. It is capable of holding 2 or 300 men. There are some pieces of cannon as a battery on the rampart. It is not encircled by a ditch. The entrance is through a large swing gate raised like a drawbridge. By penetrating the village in attacking it at another point, the fire from the fort can be avoided.”— Paris Document , xm.

“ After the Earl of Loudon had resigned to Genl. Abercrombie the command of the Army which had reduced Oswego, my father, then a young man, was called to Schenectady by sudden business.

Fortifications and Garrisons.

317

“ On the Parade stands one Nine Pounder and one six pounder on carriages rotten and unfit for service. Nor is there any Embrasure or rather Port-Hole in the Curtains to fire them.

“ Above is a sort of Gallery Loophold but of little or no service. In each of the Bastions or Block houses Chambers* stand of three or four pounder, mettle, very insignificant, Should the enemy make a lodgement in any part of the town; Nor is there Powder or any other Military Stores in the Garrison;—Garrisoned with only an Officer, a corporal and sixteen Private men.

“ And we further beg leave to represent to your Honour the Ruinous and Defenceless condition of this town;—the Block houses in Decay and the town open and exposed; and that the number of Indians passing & repassing is a daily burthen to us, too heavy to be borne to which add the Expenses of frequent Indian Expresses makes the weight still more grevious as there is no Allowance or Publick fund to Reimburse and we still groan our Losses, sufferings and fatigue in the Late War as well as heavy Debt then contracted.

“ To expatiate on the value of this town as a frontier of the Province would be troublesome, your Honour well knowing it to be the Key of a Large Country and of the greatest Consequence to the Metropolis as well as to the province in General you have the Honour to command.

“ Your Petitioners therefore most humbly entreat your Honour will be pleased to take the premises into your Serious Consideration and Grant us two Nine Pounders for each curtain and a Nine Pounder for each Bastion & that you would be pleased to give orders that the Port Holes be made to open and shut as in a Man of War, and to grant us a proper supply of Military stores, and such other assistance as you in Your great Wisdom shall think meet.

“ And your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever Pray.

“ Schenectady, |

31 Aug., 1754. j

“ Jno. B. Y. Eps, Justice.

“ John Yisger, Justice.

“Nicolaas Groot, Jacob Glen, Arent Bratt, and thirty others.”f

“ That place was then fortified. It had the shape of a parallelogram, with two gates, one opening to the eastern the other to the northern road and was garrisoned by 50 or 60 soldiers .”—Recollections of a Sexagenary.

[Manifestly the petitioners refer to the citadel or fort within the walls of the town. The description by the French officers shows both existed. The Sexagenarian seems to have considered the wall as the strong part of the town’s defences. Besides the guns were probably on top of the work as they should have been.—M’M.]

* [Chambered Cannon—such as Mortars or probably Howitzers.—M’M.] f Col. MSS.. Lxxiv. 20.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

On the 15 Oct., following, the inhabitants of Schenectady again petitioned the Governor to build a fort in the village, signed by Daniel Campbell, Arent Bratt, Abm. Glen, and others.*

The open space on which this fort stood at the junction of Ferry, Front and Green streets was about 264 feet by more than 200 feet, extending from the Episcopal church yard to Green street.

The fort was built nearly in the centre of this plat, the south wall extending across Ferry street, three feet south of the north corner of the parsonage house.

The well of the fort was in the middle of the street, three feet south of the north corner of Mr. James Sanders’ house, f

Garrison at Schenectady. Whilst the Province remained under the Dutch rule a small body of soldiers was stationed in Fort Orange,—after the English occupation in 1664, there was seldom less than one full company there,—sometimes two; and Schenectady was garrisoned by a detachment therefrom of 20 to 40 men under command of a lieutenant.

In times of alarm and war as in the ten years war between England and France —1688-1698, the regulars were supplemented by the militia of the town or from Connecticut.

Hardly a year passed that the importance of having Schenectady better fortified and garrisoned was not recognized either by the Governor and Council, the Legislative assembly or the ruling powers in the mother country. In 1671, Governor Lovelace wrote as follows to Capt. Delavall in command at Albany, ‘‘ upon rumor that the French were coming to invade us ” * * * * “It will be necessary that in ye first place a good and careful correspondence be maintained between Albany and Schanechtidee for I look on that [Schenectady] as a Frontier; and that ye Inhabit* 8 of that place putt themselves into some posture of Defence by keeping out Schouts

* Col. MSS., lxxiv, 60.

t Mr. Nicholas Veeder, who died in Glenville in 1862, aged 100 years, said that this fort was about 20 feet high and built of hewn timber,—that it was taken down in the Revolutionary war and the timber used in the frame of soldiers barracks built on land of Johannes Quackenbos, at the south corner of Union and Lafayette streets. The village then had an armament of iron cannons and swivels,—the largest of which were the “ Lady Washington '’and the “ Long nine Pounder,” which were placed in the streets so as to command the gates. In digging trenches for water pipes in 1871, the south wall and well of the fort were discovered. See also Mortgages, 1784, v, 102.

Fortifications and Garrisons .

319

and making some Block house w ch may give some Check to ye Enemy, in case hee should p r sume to advance into his Royall Highness Dominions: * * * That out of each Squadron [of horse] one be constantly sent to schout between you and Schanechtide, to bring dayly Intelligence, and they from Schanechtide to doe ye like further into ye Country, & that these Schouts be constantly relieved.”*

N. York, July 6, 1671.

In accordance with the spirit of the above letter Capt. Thomas De Lavall chief officer at Albany, on the 15th of July, ordered all the inhabitants of Albany and Schenectady over 15 and under 60 years to provide themselves with guns, side arms, two pounds of powder and four pounds of lead each under a penalty of 100 guilders,—all within 14 days. The year following this order was renewed at a meeting of the chief officers of Albany and Schenectady, those of the latter place being- Ensign Jacob Sanderse Glen and Ensign Sweer Teunise Yan Yelsen.f

In 1687 Major Brockholes being in command at Albany reported to the Governor and Council assembled at Fort James July 19, the condition of things at Albany and Schenectady,—that “ he is now come from Albany to Schanectade with Instructions ffrom the Government to bring up there with all convenient Speed a certain number of men & some Provisions.”

Whereupon it was “ ordered that sixty men be reysed in & out of ye Citty & county of New York & fifty men out of Queens County.”

“ It being now plaine that y e French are Resolved to do all the Prejudice they can to the Kings subjects of this Government it is for ye Prevention thereof ordered that ye People of y e Citty and county of Albany Do Cutt Pallysade and by ye five & twentieth day of March cart them to ye Citty, and ye town of Schanectade to fortify the place in the spring,—that in the meantime they keep a careful Watse and that this order be sent to ye Justices of the peace of ye County who are to take care that it be put in execution.”j;

The same order was again made by the Council on the 7th Sept., 1687, and Maj. Chambers was directed to “ march his company of militia on horseback to Albany and Schenectady.”§

In anticipation of an immediate attack upon the frontiers, the mayor, Common Council of Albany, military officers and justices of the peace of the county, met in convention at Albany, on the 4th of Sept., 1689, as a com-

* Court of A.ssize, n. f Council Minutes, v, 195, 203.

f Not. Papers, n.

§ Orders in Council, vi, 7-12.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

mittee of safety and after deliberation resolved to send an express to Capt. Leisler of New York for one hundred or more men, “ a Recrute of six hundred weight of Powder and foure hundred Ball, viz. 200 Two pounders and 200 foure pounders with some match and one hundred hand Grenadoes.”

In November, 1689, there were two companies of militia stationed at Albany—one from Connecticut commanded by Capt. Jonathan Bull,—the other from New York under Capt. Jochim Staats, an adherent of Leisler. The convention before mentioned, being desirous of having the out-posts at Schenectady, Canastagioene&Half Moon, garrisoned, appointed acommittee of five to arrange with two captains for this duty. After much higgling it was finally agreed that Capt. Bull should send his Lieutenant, Enos Talmadge, with 24 men to hold the post at Schenectady, the magistrates of which were Anti-Leislerian.

The people however were divided and party spirit ran so high that their sense of safety was lost in the bitter strife.

The period from 1688 to 1698, was the most trying and critical in the history of Schenectady. First there were alarms and apprehensions of an attack by the French and their Indian allies, the destruction of the village, the slaughter and the captivity of a large part of its inhabitants and lastly the departure of many of the remainder to Albany, New York and other places of safety. The town was in danger of being depopulated in spite of stringent ordinances against removal and the encouragement of the Mohawks to stay by the post, fortify and maintain a vigorous warfare against their enemies.

For ten years the town gained little or nothing in population and prosperity and until the peace of Ryswick, the chief aim of the government and inhabitants was to hold the village, keep in repair its fortifications and maintain a sufficient garrison.

Thus on May 30, 1696, Governor Fletcher writing to tlie Lords of trade says .... “I have always thought 500 men necessary to the defence of Albany & Schenectidy ettc, yet I hope with those three companies to justify those places against the French & their Indians.*” * * *

And again writing from Albany to the Council in New York, he says :

“ The 30th [Dec., 1696] I went to Schenectady, directed the paynfi of that Garrisson equal to * * * which is four months ending the last of August,

* Col. Doc., iv, 151.

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321

and I doe earnestly desire y r endeavours to gett in money for the paym* of them three months more, which will give great Satisfaction both to the Garrison and Citty.”

“ The 31st in the forenoon I dispatched scouts to the Lake [George], gave Instructions under my hand & seal to Ens. Harman Yan Slyke with power to command them. I walked with them to the [Mohawk] River, gave them a bottle of Rum, Saw ’em putt on their Snow-Shoes and begin their march. I view that little fortification & saw some defects which can not be cured for want of money.

“ The inhabitants of that place [Schenectady] presented me with an Address,* which being in Hutch I could not read, but accepted it as a mark of their esteem, I sent it to the Clerke of Councill, together with those from the Magistracy & Millitia of this place [Albany]. After dinner I returned to Albany.”f

In 1698, the Government sent over one Col. Romer, a military engineer to examine, report upon and build certain forts needed on the coast and the frontiers. In May and August he sent the following letter and report to Governor Bellomont:

* This letter dated Jan. 9, 1696-7, was published in the Hist. Mag., in March, 1865.

f [The following from records in office of the Secretary of State show somewhat of the panic which existed in Albany county.

To His Excellency Benjamin Fletcher Captain Generali and Governor in Chiefe of His

Majesties Province of New York and all the Territoryes and Grants of Laud depending thereon in America and Vice Admiral of the same, &c.

May it Please your Excellency

Wee the Mayor Justices of the Peace & comm 1 ^ of this citty & county of Albany haveing formerly Adres your Excellencey for your favourable presence this winter & have been very sencible how much it hath been obstructed have Notwithstanding been so happy as to have your Excellencey’s Presents no hardship Danger or Difficulty haveing been the least Preventive to your Excellencey’s care of us & the frontiers to direct and defend us against our enemy, &c.

Wee being extreamely sencible of your Excell c y s Extraordinary Goodnesse to us do in the due sence of highest Gratitude Returne our most gratefull acknowledgments. Wee must owne that your Excellency’s presence hath Kept many familys here which nothing but the sence of your Excellencys conduct could have retained in this place.

Wee are so well satisfied with your Excellency’s management of the affairs of the five Indian Nations & all other Administrations both Civill & Military & wee do think our selves extreamly happy under the Umbrage of your Excellency’s Couradge & conduct, Wee do heartly Wish & Pray for your Excellency’s long continuance w th us and do

History of the Schenectady Patent .

u

Albany, 27 May, 1698.

“ My Lord,

“ I consider it my duty to inform your Excellency that I arrived here on the 23d instant, and as soon as I had landed in the city of Albany, I found an opportunity to proceed to Schenectady in order to inspect that important frontier.

“ This I did successfully, running over 40 miles; for I took a general observation of said place, and can assure you, My Lord, that the situation of Schenectady is admirable and good and deserves attention on account of the importance of the frontier.

(i It is a pity and even a shame, to behold a frontier neglected as we now perceive this is; and had the public interest been heretofore preferred to individual & private profit, which has been scattered among a handful of people with diabolical profusion, the enemy had never committed pernicious forays on the honest inhabitants generally/’

“As regards Albany I find that as important as the other * * * * * I have since been to observe another frontier, named the Half-Moon [Waterford] concerning which I have been spoken to a great deal; I find it of very little consideration; but there is a place seven leagues higher up the [Hudson] river called Cheragtoge [Schuylerville], which must be an important frontier.” * * *

“ I am told your Excellency is to come here in the beginning of the next month. That being the case I have considered it my duty to propose to

Unanimously & faithfully pray for your long life, health & prosperity & wee do cordially & truly assure yo r Excels that wee will Assist, Defend & Stand by your Excellency with our Lives & ffortunes.

Decemb r 26, 1696.

Dirck Wessells, Mayor.

J. Janse, [Bleecker] Recorder, Hend van Rensselaer Jan Lansingh Jan [surname not given] Albeit [surname not given] Hendrick Hanse

K. Y. Rensselar hett merik van Gerret tunesse [surname not given] Johannes Wandelar B. Corlaer Johannes Roseboom Evert Wandel Johannes myngaell Eghbert tunesse

> Assisting.

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323

you the necessity of a good & faithful interpreter,—which will be 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 & faithful interpreter, name Arnout Cornelissen ViR, 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. Rorner 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 ,!l 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 found the City of Albany situate on the Hudson river 144 miles north of New York, an important frontier, as well as Schanegtade 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.J” * * *

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., iv, 440.

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 purpose in part and “ also for covering the Mohacks & the rest of the Indians, 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. IV, 1700, 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 the 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

t Col. Doc., rv, 513.

* Col. Doc., rv, 409, 410.

x 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.Tngoldsby’s company of which Lieutenant Hunt’s detachment 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 command of Coll: Richard Ingoldsby doe acknowledge to have Received of his Excellency Richard Earl of Bellomont our cap 1 gen 11 by the hands of R* 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* IT 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 + Williams,

John Aleson atkins

Thomas B Bombus

William k Turner

Tho: Rogers

John 8 Tippin

John $ Apleston

Will: H hilton

Johu X Sea well

Ralph noles

William -p Renn

William X R Rodgers

John Careter

william -f- hatter

Robert R Farringtons mark

Ro Barrett

Symon C Williams

John Douglas mark

W m -p Shaw

Edward Clayton

Tho: X carter

John Forster

Rich d x Turner

John 2 Oliver

Rich d x Langdale

henry x Bebe

luke ~p Thomas

Benjam -f- mosely

John +- Cox

John -j- Jones

will + makeaway

Rob* + Giles

John -j- woodcok

John -f- hams

Rich d -f Tudor

John -p cole

Barthol w + Pickard

George Ingoldesby

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 -P brat for D 1 Fillips

Gregory -p magregory

W m X Webb

John X hull

John Gilbixtt

william white

william white for Tho: pond francis neall John Radcliffe R* Livingston for Jos: Yetts Rt Livingston for W m hall absent L* Hunt for Dan Johnson Lev X Shanke for John Younker Math Shank

In all 66 men at 45s. 3 d., a man, amounts to

£149:6:6.

The above men were P d by me

Rob t Livingston.

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. 6 d. ;* and another bill of £9,15s. Qd. was presented 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 reports 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 Schenectady ; § — and Lieut. Gov. ISTanfan 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 <c 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.”ff

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 repaired 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, vm, 61,69, 180. f Col. MSS., xlii, 47.

X Col. MSS., xnv, 78.

R Col. Doc., iv, 915-6. ft Col. Doc., iv, 968-9, 971.

§ Albany Annals, iv, 211. ** Albany Annals, iv, 155. tt Col. Doc., iv, 1057, 1035.

Fortifications and Garrisons .

“ 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 repairing guns for the garrison.*

Jan., 170§, Johannes Sanderse Glen, Adam Yrooman, 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, 170§, Johannes Sanderse Glen and Jelles Van Vorst, furnished the garrison 218 double loads of wood at 2-6 the load.J

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 recommended 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 Binrik kzl.

“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. MSS., xlix, 36, 38.

X Col. MSS., xlix, 22. i Leg. Coun., 208.

f Col. MSS., xlix, 105. § Col. MSS., xlix, 17. ** Col. MSS., xlix, 114.

ff Col. MSS., xlix.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

the year 1704, the “Queen’s New Fort”* had been erected in the east corner o/ 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 JBinrie 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 Detachment 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 Rykse [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. 6c?.||

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.ft

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 them off from access to the street ? Referring 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 w T all 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. MSS., Li, 148-9.

Col. MSS., li, 152. His salary was one shilling a day. ft Col. MSS., li, 178.

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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 impossible 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 Underwritten persons who found the Stockados all rotten and one Platt forme insufficient 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 prepair carriages for ye guns and repair ye Platt 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 1 ' )

23 1711. \

Joha. Sanderse Glen”

Barent Vrooman,

Jacob Van Dyck,

Aerent Daniellse Van Antwerpen, Barent Wemp,|

“ May it please your Ex cy -

Dow Aucas, De Freest Caleb Beck,

Claus Permerent vander Yolgen, John Vrooman,

Sweer Marcellis,

I have made up the charges of the ffort at Schonectady to this day and have also made the Carpenters’ calculate an acc* 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 <fcc,— there is now putt

Leg. Coun , 242.

42

f Leg. Coun., 309

History of the Schenectady Patent.

up five hundred and ninety Stockados w cb all work a ffoot at the top,— If your Ex cy pleases any body here should receave & approve my acc 4 I shall be ready to render acc 4 to such persons whom y r .Ex cy shall appoint for y 4 purpose.

I wish y r Ex cy and Lady health and happyness and am your Ex cy s ” most dutifull and Obedient humble Serv*

Albany Nov r 13 th )

1711 j 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 cies 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 Excellency left this town Capt :i Schuylerf Marched with forty men to that garrison. Sometime after a Serg 4 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 4 and four men to goe to Schonecktady to com-pleat the num br of fourty men whoe are alL there as will appear to Your Excellency by the Inclosed Role signed by Capt n 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 43 to doe any duty at Schonechtady or the Indian Country. * * *

Your most obedient humble servant.

Albany, Jan. 8, 17-^-J.

Peter Matthews.”^

On the 10th Dec., 1712, the Assembly passed an act “for the better repairing 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.—Aw. Hist Mag., i, 762. t 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 1720, 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. 2 d. wa3 presented to the Governor and Council.];

In 1734, 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 w r ere all garrisoned by the Independent companys, but are very badly contrived and tumbling down.”ff * *

* Leg. Coun., 395, 448.

f Col. MSS., lxii, 144; Col. Doc., v, 631- f Col. MSS., lxviii, 123.

§ Leg. Coun., 645. The old stone church stood at the junction of State, 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.

1 Col. Doc., vi, 27, 87, 160; Leg. Conn., 750, 827, 917, 924.

** Leg. Coun., 1015. ft Col. Doc., vi, 509, 940, 1196

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 Binnl hil 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 Yrooman 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 side and thence north to the old Dutch church burying ground.

* Col. Doc., vm, 451.

Fortifications and Garrisons .

333

It is worthy of note that the old north side Fond weg^ Front street extended 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 Yrooman corner where he now resides) was altered by continued encroachment on it. Its line was made to conform to the needs of the fort and convenience 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 commanded 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 defensible. This probably consisted in loopholing the walls, barring and shuttering the windows and doors.

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), Henricus 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 occasionally ministered 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 occasional 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 : f heeft overgedraegen aende aermen van Schaenhechtade zeecke syne planiage &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 Schenectady 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, i, 103.

f The following is a copy and translation of the first page in its present mutilated condition:

(Copy.)

Uytgyeve. [1683 ?]

aen Myndert Wemp, F. 48

aen een kan, 8

aen Jan Roelofsen voor 24

(Translation).

Expenditures. [1683 ?]

To Myndert Wemp, guilders, F. 48

To [paid for] a pot, 8

To Jan Roelofsen, for 24

History of the Schenectady Patent .

From these accounts we learn the following facts:

1. That Domiyie Thesschenmaecker came to Schenectady before the death of Domine Schaets (1690).

[Sewell 6 Dutch Eng. Dictionary, 1708, gives Glaze Kaam = a pane of glass ; Kaam = a frame ; Yenster Kaam = a window frame.—M’M]

t The money of accounts of the Dutch was the guilder or florin and stuyver, 20 of the latter to one of the ormer. ere were the guilder sewant and the guilder beaverthe latter of the value of about 40cts. <u ree imes t at of the former. The guilder of accounts was commonly valued at one shilling N. Y.

#

The Reformed Nether Dutch Church.

2. That the first house of worship was then built.

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 mentioned 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 Thesschenmaecker, who was an unmarried man, must have been of humble dimensions judging from the number and cost of the “ glass Hamen ” purchased for it in the above account.* It became 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 Petrus Thesschenmaecker,

Domine Thesschenmaecker best known for his tragical end, came to this country from Guiana whither he had gone from Utrecht, a young theological student,J 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 possibly 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.

X Hist. Mag., ix, 323.

43

History of the Schenectady Patent .

To the Rt. Honoral 6 Sr. Edmond Andrus Kt. of Sauemares : under his Royall Highness Duke of Yorke and Albany and dependances : The humble petition of Seuerall of the Inhabittanse of Esopus humbly she with 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 IIon r and officiated in this [place] for sum time; And if to bee procured, is very well approved and much desired by moste, hee being a man of Sober life and conversagon having Deportted himselfe to sattisfaction of ye Inhabi-tance,—

Wherefor wee Humbly pray that your honor will bee pleased to bee Instrumental! 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 application from New-Castle, on the Delaware, the Governor directed Domine Newenliuysen to examine and induct him into the ministry of the Protestant 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 letterj dated January 17th, 1679-80, promising his fee of 40 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., hi., 583. f Patents, iv, 90.

t “ Do. Tesschenmaecker hath promised to make satisfactory in ye Spring for ye

pattent and ye other wrj'tings, 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 neighboring flats and islands yielded abundantly, and the population, gaining confidence, 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 destruction commenced under such favorable circumstances was soon completed;—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.* * * §

Domine Thesschenmaeoker 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,]- was claimed by the inhabitants of Richmond county as a poor fund.];

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

* “Dom, Petrus Tesschenmaker the minister at Schenectady has met with misfortune. He and 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 .—Anthology of New Netherlands, p. 116.

f Patents, iv, 902.

f 1692, 2 Nov. “ Upon reading Anoy r Peticon of the s d Representatives [of the county of Richmond] setting forth that 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 promised 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 Generali who is to report what may be proper therein to be done.”— Leg. Council, 4, 28.

§ See chapters “ Indian Wars on the Border.”

History of the Schenectady Patent.

it is a matter of surprise that the hardy pioneers of Schenectady clung to the soil in the ihidst of such discouragements. It argues well for their pluck and endurance.

Until 1700 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: ox 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, some idea may be formed of the small number and slow increase of the population when only sixty-nine were baptized in six years.

During the same period five couples were married by Domine Dellius and seven by Johannes Glen, “ Justis Van depeace.”

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 Barnard us Freeman,* Second Minister of the 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 remained 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 doubtless 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. Yreeman, 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 promised me to apply himself with all diligence to learn your language, and doubts not to be able to preach to you therein in a year’s time.”*

In a communication 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 the 6th Jan., 1700-1.

May it please your Excellency.

I have received your Excell C18 letter of the 15th Nov r , 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 cy an account.

* Col. Doc., iv, 727.

f Col. Doc., iv, 833.

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 cy a happy new year and a continuation of your health, recommending myself to your favour,

I remain,

Your Excell cies most obedient Servant,

B. Freerman.* * * § ”

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 instruct the natives in the Christian faith, and “ ye bettar to enable him to serve them in ye work of the Gospell ye Xnterpretesse [Hillitie]f 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 (Yan der Yolgen), 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 reappointment, “ 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 Exodus, 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, particularly the fifteenth chapter, proving the resurrection of the dead. But his work was not printed.”||

A copy having been 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., iv, 835.

f Hillitie was a half-breed, — sister of Jacques Cornelise Van Slyck. She married Pieter Danielse Van Olinda .—See Van Slyck.

X Lord Cornbury to the Five Nations, 1702 ; Col. Doc., iv, 983.

§ Col. Doc., v, 227. | Col. Doc., vm, 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. 1700 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 sew ant, 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 Yisite there own Congregation, and if they do not obtaine said Sailary by them, then to make their application to the Commonality at ye next Court day.-”

* Ano 1700 den 16 martius tot 25 Augustus is de kerkenraat Debet an Do. freeman

Yoor de Verlopene tractement van den 16 maert tot 25 august is 5 maenden en 9 dagen en bedraegt een somme van fyftig pont en wat meer — is an sewant. 2.000

Noch ankostinge op Reise geliad so an Versche waren, wyn, Brandewyn, Creuderye en hoenden neffens omtrent dry weeke expences op het Eylant wigt is een som tot 374

gl. 2.374

Sceonegtade

Barnhardus Freerman.

—See Church Papers.

f 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.

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 Yan 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.!

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 continuance of ye said salary was promised him by ye late Lieften’t Governour, Capt. Nanfan, and confirmed to yr Petitioner by an act of Generali Assembly 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.”];

On the death of Do. Lupardus of Kings county, in 1702, 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. T he Governor answered :

“I have duly Considered the Within petition and having been well Informed that Mr. Bar. ffreeman has misbehaved himself, by promoting and

* Albany City Records.

f Mr. Freerman yck veresoeck dat gyu de voor aen went om de heydens tot het Kristen geloof over te brengen en tot gerkoorsaemheyt van bekonning gy suit geensins on beetaalt blyve. yck sal nu boston schryve die dispositse bebben van het corperasi gelt en yck Veispreeckne 60 pons in ’t year en so die van boston het wygeren yck Verse-kerene het yt de revenue van dese provinci. etc .— Gov.Bellom<mt's Letter , Col. MSS.,

XLIV.

$ Col. MSS., XLIV, xlv, 134,179; mi, 7, 70.

§ Doc. Hist., in, 89.

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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 he 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 Defraying the Considerable Charge of Mr. Barnardus Freeman’s Passage and other Charges that doth 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 Congregation 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.

Yander Volgen] Elder. Isack Swits, elder.

Daniel Jansen [Van. Jan Vrooman, elder.

Antwerpen] 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., hi, 89.

44

f Council Minutes, Doc. Hist., in, 93.

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 Brower

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 weten 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 convey 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 Enough 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 ye Public,Worcliip 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 observed and celebrated especially on the frontiers in a public and acknow-

ledged place thereto dedicated He authorizes contributions to be collected “ to be employed solely for the erection and building a necessary and becoming place for public worship.”

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 Rejormed 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 5 *

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 England 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 destruction of the heretical church which owned the civil authority and religious faith of William of Orange.— M’M.]

(Translation).

* “ To the Hon ble John Nanfan, Esq., Lt. Gouv r and Command 1 ' in Cheifoft y e Province oft New Yorke in America and y e Hon ble Councell oft y e same.

“ The humble Peticion oft Barnardus 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 Schonegtade hath been wholy destroyed by y* french in y« late Warr & sins the resattling oft y e same The Inhabitants oft y e same being verry low & oft mean Estates have not beiu 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 vo r houn rs Lycense for the collecting a free will offering oft y® 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 rs shall ever Pray, &c.

“ Ryer Schermerhooren ”

“ B. freerman, Ecll. Skagnagt.”

— Col. MSS. , xlv.

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 County 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 God :—and whereas

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 acknowledged place thereto dedicated , that the inhabitants 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 voluntary offerings and contributions of all and every of his majesty’s faithful 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 all his majesty’s justices, schouts, and all other his majesty’s officers within this Province, together with all Protestant ministers in their sundry & respective Counties, Cities, Colonies, Churches, districts & jurisdictions to use their 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 & for the peace & security of all the inhabitants thereof.

“ Given under my hand and seal in Fort William Henry in New York, this seven and twentieth day of October, A 0 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 Schermerhom, of date 30 Jan., 1701, says “ The Govr and Councill have given £10 towards the church at Schonectady.”-^erm«rAom 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 1792 the spot being vacant the consistory proposed to erect thereon 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. Vedder for building purposes upon condition that it should never be dug up, save so far as was necessary 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-V'rolyk-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., hi, 540. J Act of the Assembly (1734 ?)

§ Jno. Myndertse’s will in Court of Appeal’s office .... and Deeds, xn; Collins to Van Eps.

U Consistory Minutes. ** Consistory Minutes.

ff When the public cistern was built here in 1848, the ancient burial ground was encroached upon and many bones were thrown out. ff Minutes of the Board.

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 occasionally 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-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 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 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 Alpheu (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., iii, 540.

f [Shortly after the arrival of Do. Brouwer the larger portion of the present church lot was acquired by deed from Daniel Janse Van Autwerp. (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 package was wrapped in a piece of leather tied hard with a leathern string and from appearance may have been unopened for many years — its existence seems to have been forgotten. 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.]

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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., 1727, 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. The

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 J 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 employed to do his work but the records do not give his name.

X 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

19 Jan. 174% to Pieter Groenendyk for % Gall, wine 23 Jan. 174% to Metie Fairly for the use of the house at the bee

£-17-6

4-0

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 circulated through the town in 1730, by which £322 was obtained, and extending the appeal up the valley into Maqucias 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 £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

* Magmas 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:

Zr'iS’ aan ^ oh ' de Pey8ter Voor 5 gall: Rhum Voor Do. bee a 3 sh. 19 Jan. 174%, aan Pr. Groenendyk Voor 14 gall: Wyn

iS/oa a 174 ^’ aan MCtje Fakly V °° r huys Sebrnyc-k op de bee

1748, 28 April, an Jacobus Mynderse Voor rum Voor Dorns Bee

1749, Jan. Bier Voor de Bee

&c.

£0-17-6

4-0

4-0

£3-13-2

1-14-6

—{Old church accounts .)

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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 Cornelis Van der Volgen and Robert Yates, Jacob Swits, Wouter Vrooman and Jan Bareutse 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.

58

* The pound New York currency was $2.60. 45

£195—14

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.

The Reformed Nether Dutch Church.

355

After thorough preparation the work was begun in the spring of 1732. Hendrick Yrooman was Baas* of the men of whom seventeen were carpenters, 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 rom 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, 173J, 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 continued 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 side, where by reason of the narrowness of the street, it was limited to five

* This is a genuine Dutch word signifying master or chief.

f 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 6 d ' 6

£1—14—1 — Church accounts.

1 Church Kecords.

§,173%, Jan. 13.—De Eerste predicatie gedaen in de nieuwe Kercke door heer Doomeny Erichzon uit den prophet Yesaia het 2 Capittel Yers 3.—Syn inlyding uit Luce 22 Verse 32 ent’tot besluit gesonge uit psalm 100, Yers. 3.—De twede predicatie gedaen door den Heer domeny Van Driessen uit den prophet Yesaia 35 capittel Yers. 1 en 2 en tot besluit gesonge uit 118 psalm, Vers 1.—20 ditto [Jan.] Den predicatie uit jesaia 2, Yers. 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 Vers. 2.— From Simon Volkertse Veeder's Bible now owned by Mrs. H. J. Bratt.

| Church Charter, Aug. 23, 1734.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

feet 1 *. 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 pleasing 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 baneken upon the floor of the house.

PLAATSEN .IN DE SEBKE.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 Baneken were numbered nearly alike in 1734 and 1754, but the numbers were quite different in 1788.

As before stated, each sitting in the church was held by its occupant for life, unless forfeited 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 ( gestoelte ) chiefly, which were slightly raised above the others ; whilst the females sat upon the benches {baneken) in the body of the house. The slips for the two sexes were numbered from one upwards,—those of the males from i to xm:— 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-hui*jc. 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 consistory. 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.

During the eighty years that this church stood, but few and trifling changes were made in the slips or bancTcen 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:

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.

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 climbing over the balustrade. It is said that the klokluyer was accustomed to replenish 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 experiment 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, 173f a subscription was opened for a bell. The heading of this paper is as follows :

* The following bill for these stoves is translated from the treasurer’s book.*

£. 8. d.

1792, Dec. 23. Paid James Murdock for 2 stoves 12 15—8

29 Dec., to cash for riding stone for the stove floor 0 13 8

Paid James McWilliams for setting the stoves in the church 0—12—0

to a cart to Albany to haul the gryp (?) ironf for the stoves 0—10—0

to 14034 l bs - of iron by Swits for the small work about the stoves 3—10—134

to 1 quart of rum for the workmen 2 5

179%, Jan. Cash to Maas Schermerhorn paid for set (?) iron, 251bs at 11 pence a pound i_ 2—11

Cash paid Walter Swits & Peter Symens for the iron work on the stoves 8—19— 6

£28—05—1034

* 1792, Dee. 23. Aen James Murdock betalt voor 2 knghels 29. aen cass vo«»r Roye stein voor de Caghel vloer aen James McWilliams betaelt * + de Kaghels in de Kerk to Sette Sm D Wb, na A £ aDy P ov ? r y P Eygt ‘L an de Kauhels te hale 3 40 % b Ey?e b Door bw,ts V00r Clyn werk an de Kaghels aen 1 qart rom an de w< rfc Luyde

179%, Jan. ( assa aen Maas Schermerhorn voor set eyser betalt 25 lb at 11 pence n Dont Cassa betalt aen Walter Swits eu pieter Symens voor het eyser werk an Cagels P P

+ r T a rn- - • . £28—05—10%

is gi ip irons — grapple irons or braces to hold the stoves on their elevated platforms.—M’M.]

£12—15— 8

0— 13— 3 0 — 12 — 0 0 10 — 0 3—10— IX

2—5

1 — 2—11 8—19— 6

The Reformed Nelher Dutch Church .

359

“ Subscriptions of persons for the bell.

We the underwritten promise what we 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 Groot, Cornelis Vander Volgen, Harmanus 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 £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 following 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 couid 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 iu the year 1732.”

“ De Grave and Muller Amsterdam made me.”

It was the custom to ling the bell three times before commencing religious services down to January, 1810, when the consistory “ Resolved , that in future the Bell shall be rung twice as usual, previous to the commencement of public worship and that tolling shall be substituted for 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.

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 subscribers 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 mentioned in the deed of 1715, to Do. Brouwer and the consistory, (the deed is endorsed “ H D° huys ”) 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 Schenectady 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 decision to build anew on the parsonage lot. There was much opposition to

* The bricks used in it were made by Jacobus Van Yorst at£l [$2.50] perM — Church Treasurer's 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 substantially 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 competitors 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, 3734 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.

Before closing this short account of this house it may be proper to mention the honored names of Nicholas Van der Yolgen 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 Kroon) had eighteen lights, besides which there were seven lesser ones (.Kleyndere 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 Voorsanger were usually united in the same person and defined by resolution of the consistory : —

Jan. 8, 1810, “ Resolved , that in future the clerk of the church shall commence the public service in the morning with the reading of the ten commandments, a chapter of the Bible* and Psalm or Hymn at discretion, and in the afternoons with the reading of the articles of the Creed together

*1759 Aen Johannes Vedder Voor een Voorlezer’s Bybel £2.0.0.— Church account Book.

The Reformed Nether Dutch Church .

363

with a Chapter and Psalm or Hymn.” In addition to the above he had “ the right and emoluments of burying the dead of the congregation.” Next to the minister he was the most important officer of the church.

According to tradition the first Voorlezer of this church was Harmen Albertse Vedder, and the second his son Albert.*

To improve the psalmody of the congregation, on the 13th Feb., 1794, the consistory took the following action:

“The consistory taking into consideration the defective condition of the Dutch Psalmody in the public worship of this church : Resolved , that Cornelis De Graaf the chorister shall use his endeavors, in each family of this village and elsewhere, to obtain pupils in singing, on condition that each shall pay one shilling and six pence a month, the Consistory also adding thereto for each scholar for the term of six months, one shilling and six pence a month ; provided a certificate be shown to the consistory signed by Mr. De Graaf that each scholar has diligently spent his time as he ought.

“ Also Mr. Do Graaf in singing shall try to observe the measure of the half notes and soften his voice as much as possible.”f

If tradition tells the truth respecting Mr. De Graaf’s singing, the advice last given was by no means inappropriate. It is said that while sitting on the “back stoop” of his house, then standing upon the site of Mrs. Abel Smith’s house in State street, he beguiled the evening hours in summer by psalm singing, and that his voice could be clearly heard two miles up the river in a straight line.

Klokluyer.

The sexton of the church was called th$ klokluyer, or bellringer, and his duties seem to have been not only to ring the bell but to keep the benches and seats in proper order and to dig and fill the graves. The earliest mention of this officer by the church records is the following:

“ At a Consistory held this 1st July, 1696, it was resolved that Simon Groot, Senior, for ringing the bell and arranging the benches and stools in

* Philip Ryley was catechisatie meester (and probably Voorsanger and doodgraver) of the church of Albany in 1761; in 1767, the church of Schenectady complained that he had taught unsound doctrine and he was called upon by the church of Albany to recant, refusing to do so, they deprived him of his office of Voorlezer , doodgraver etc., and ordered him to vacate his house.— Albany Church Minutes. f Cornelius De Graaf was voorzanger 1771 to 1800.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

the church, shall receive annually out of the income of the church, or out of the deacons’ money, the sum of 60 guilders seawant [$7.50], to begin on this 1st July.”

Simon Groot, senior, mentioned in this resolution was the first of the name who settled at Schenectady, and the ancestor of all the Groots found in this vicinity. He and his five sons were carried away captive into Canada by the French and Indians in 1690.

The salary of the sexton down to 1735, was 60 guilders or $7.50. This year Hendrick Vrooman filled the office and was succeeded by Joseph Van Sice until 1747, at a yearly stipend of £6 or $15.

Margarita Veeder,* widow of Symon Volkertse Yeeder, held the office during the years I74f, for £3-10 or $8.25.

From 17*50 to 1758, Sara Marselis was MoJduyer , the duties being performed for £4, or $10, “ by haar neger Sees”

In 1759, Isaac Quackenbos’ neger rang the bell;—and “ Peeter Seesar ” (Caesar) from 1760 to 1766, for £6 per annum .

Jacobus Van Sice Was sexton from 1771 to 1791, at a salary of £10, and was succeeded by his son Gysbert, who was dismissed from office in 1799 for an unfortunate indiscretion, as appears from the consistory minutes.f

It would appear from the following resolution of the consistory, that it was the duty of the sexton to preserve order in church during public worship.

“June 8, 1810. Resolved , That the sexton is authorized by this board to maintain due order in church during public worship, and that he shall be indemnified against any legal process, which may arise in consequence of correcting or turning out of church, the unruly and refractory; provided h« do not essentially injure, or scandalously abuse any person.”

* She lived on the north corner of Union and Church streets.

f “ Oct. 25, 1799. A complaint having been delivered in against G. Yan Sice, the sexton, that he had delivered the scull of a corpse to the house of Doctor Anderson; being sent for and interrogated, he finally confessed that he had taken a scull out of the burying yard and delivered it to Mr. Hagaman, student of medicine with Dr. Anderson.” “ Resolved , that Yan Sice without fail return the scull to-morrow morning and deposit® it in presence of one of the members of this board in the place whence it was taken.”

“ Resolved, moreover, that said Yan Sice be and is hereby dismissed from his service as sexton.”

“26 Oct., 1799, Mr. James Lighthall was appointed sexton in place of G. Yan Sice, removed.”

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Baptisms.

The baptismal register (. Doep-boek ) of this church from 1694 to this time is entire with the exception of ten years during Domine Vrooman’s ministry; and as all children were baptized, both colored and Indian as well as white,— legitimate and illegitimate,—it is the only authoritive source, if rightly interpreted, whence the descendants of most of the old Dutch families of this region can derive their pedigrees. In early times baptism was always performed in the church, unless unavoidably prevented and within a few days after birth; sometimes on the birthday. And it was the duty of the Domine to register each child so baptized with parents and witnesses ( < getuygen ) names.

The number of registered baptisms from 1694 to 1852 is 11.396. Marriages.

The marriage register or Trouw-boek of this church contains the names of 2,543 couples married between the years 1694 and 1852.

Under the Dutch government of New Netherlands, marriage was considered a civil contract, and might be confirmed ( bevestight ) either by a magistrate or by a minister of the Gospel. Preliminary to such confirmation however, due notification of intention of marriage was required. The banns were published three Sundays or market days, by the minister of the church where the parties resided or by a magistrate in court, 'after which the marriage could be confirmed by any minister or magistrate on presentation of a certificate ( attestatie ) of such publication. No particular place was required for the marriage ceremony;—sometimes it was performed in church, at other times in private houses.*

As it was impossible or inconvenient to comply with the law of publication in all cases, a dispensation and license were granted by the Governor,

* * [Little can be learned now of the courtship customs in the early days of the frontier settlements.

“ Old maids ” were unknown and widows with families of helpful hands were well endowed and in such request that they seldom died in widowhood unless at very advanced age. After a year or sometimes less, they took another husband, a very necessary protection in the sparse settlements of the border lands.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

on the presentation of a “penal bond.of £500 that there was no lawful let or impediment ” to the marriage.

The first marriage by license recorded in the “ Trouw-Boek ” of this church was in 1717. (?)

The practice of issuing licenses ceased with the British rule in this State in 1783.

The girls were needed at home and they were also in great demand as huysvrouws (literally house wives) by the houwers as in all newly settled districts. They needed no fortune save health and strength as their marriage portion.

Until the Revolution the law of primogeniture was generally strictly observed. As a rule, inheritance was by the male line, the daughters having provision for support merely, or some agreed upon dower if they married. The eldest son was the Erf genaame or heir (patrimony named).

If marriages of convenience were made, the wealth brought the husband was in the bride’s strength, housewifely skill and the family influence gained by the match.

According to the Holland custom the Dutch here kept the sexes apart in church, but not elsewhere*

The settlement was isolated and small. Every one was related to or intimately acquainted with every one else, the houses were small, bringing people in close contact, no newspaper, cheap book or circulating library was in existence and they had but their own local affairs to discuss. This enforced an intimacy and familiarity which would be called license now. While it would be intolerable at present, for the small community there then, it had advantages. Faults were well known and criticised and the wrongdoer was sure of punishment either by public opinion or legal condemnation.—M'M.] .

* [From Notarial Papers of Albany and other sources, tradition being the most prolific as well as the most uncertain, the practice of “bundling ” was common in the early days along the whole of both sides of the Hudson river and in all the settlements of the back country..’ As civilization advanced the practice grew inio desuetude and along the great highways of travel it had become uncommon before the close of the last century in the cities and towns of this vicinity.

In searching for information as to such customs the trace is always difficult to follow. They were seldom matters of record, and very old men consulted rarely locate the practice in their own town. In Albany it was said to be a custom along the Mohawk. At Schenectady no one is old enough to remember it as nearer than the Catskills, r „Helderbergs and Schoharie and German flats. It is difficult to say where the people there locate it. It is like malaria, always over in the next valley.

Records of Albany county show some early cases in this locality. In 1804 the testimony is clear as to the practice in Orange county then and previously (/Seager v. Slingerland; Caine, S. C. Reports).

In Graham v. Smith. 1853, witnesses of the highest respectability testified that that manner of courtship was the universal custom of that part of the country. One lady fifty-six years old said that such had been the custom since she was a little girl.

The court stated that some of the early settlers of the country from the continent of Europe had brought with them the custom, which had been proved in this case. At the time of the Revolution it was generally

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When a widow or widower with infant children married again, it was customary for the parties to contract with the Orphan’s Court guardians, to protect and preserve the property of said children until they arrived at lawful age.

These were called Weesmaster’s or Orphan Masters.

Funerals.

At funerals “ no woman attended the body to the grave, but after the corpse was borne out, remained to eat cakes and drink spiced wine. They retired quietly before the men returned, who resumed the feast and regaled themselves.

Spiced wine and cakes and pipes were provided, and wine and cakes were sent to the friends of the family. The best room in the house was specially

prevalent in the Dutch settlements on both sides of the Hudson river, insomuch that the idea of anything wrong in it did not prevail. The custom still (1853)'lingers in the land, back in the woods and mountains not habitually accessible to the moving, advancing world outside.

Other cases might be referred to.

Stiles’ “Bundling” contains much poetry or rhyme devoted to its defence and some in deprecation of the custom as generally practiced in Connecticut. Sermons were preached attacking it and the minister soundly rated for them.

It was doubtless common in most provincial parts of England, Scotland and Wales, and brought to Connecticut by immigrants from those districts.

Washington Irving refers to the practice and quotes it as imported from Connecticut. It may have been, hut it was like carrying coals to New Castle, it was already a time honored and highly respectable custom in the Dutch and German settlements.

Sewall’s Dutch-English Dictionary (1703) defines the custom as 11 Queesten, an odd way of wooing usual in some Sea towns or Isles of Holland &c.

The derivation of Queesten is not given, but was doubtless analogous to Quest to examine, to discuss, to seek and Queste to question, debate.

We know from dry court records and from tradition that the practice existed. Tradition says that within this century, sermons were preached against it in the Dutch church here and that it was earnestly defended, but thus far neither sermon nor rhyme has been found to compare with Stiles’ collection of Connecticut doggerel verse.

Doubtless it was the practice at remote times of all peoples—and was maintained by poor communities in out of the way places from motives of habit or economy ; later it fell into disuse save in the fishing islands, remote nesses or [promontories—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 wa* done and do their courting in the dark, returning many miles to their work before daybreak.— M’M,]

History of the Schenectady 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 accustomed to procure a cask of wine during their lifetime and preserved it for

* July 14 [1758]. Predikant Yrooman 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. Yrooman s Brother-in-law. Alter 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 mio-ht 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 cousins 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.— Bev. Daniel Shute's Journal, Essex Inst. Coll., April, 1874.

1718-19 De Erfgename van Rijer Schermerhoorn D r

Voor Aenspreecken in de Stadt en buijten De Somme van 14sh.

Theunis brat

Ano 1719 ghlde

Yoor liet aen spricken van de over leedene Reijer schermerhooren en voor liet

beegraaven • 54

en Yoor het aen sprecken op nijstakaijoenie 12

en Yoor het Doot kleet .. 6

die bekene Yoldaen guide 72

toe zvn 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 85 or 50 gallons of Cherry 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 pipes and 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 luneral 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 in it, they had from six to eight pall bearers and each of those pall bearers had four yards of linnen given to them for scarfs and also had the minister the same.

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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 ceremonies was taken by the Vborlezer assisted by the klokluyer, and all their charges were regulated by the consistory.J

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 iuvitatiou 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 burned—End.

I give you the tacts just as they are and you will have to dress it up in your own language to make it read well.— L. R. Vrooman , Cortland Co. t 1850.

* 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.

f The following is a list of prices established in 1771 :

“ Rules for Oornelis De Graaf, appointed sexton the 18tli 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, 18s. 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 times.”

“ 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.”

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 it was “ Resolved t 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 Sehermerhorn, 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, “fora 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 Vrooman. 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 feet in width.

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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, 173J, 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, f [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 Jeronimus Barheyt,—being putted and bounded as followeth:—On the north the Highway leading by Jacob Fonday’s to the Aelplaas aforesaid;—on the West the churchyard 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.”|

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 subsequently acquired by the church and added to the burial ground .—See Church Papers.

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 <fc 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 monument. 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

* Rcgclatie voor Graf ten in de kerck van Dooden als Volght:

Van Twalf Jaaren out tot dat sy out syn sullen daar Yoor Betalen Drie Pont,

En voor de Graften van kinderen van vier Jaar out Tot Twalf Jaaren out Veertigk Schellinge,—

En voor Een graft van Een Jonck kint Tot vier Jaaren out vier en Twentigh Schellinge.

[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 1*722 and is of the same material as the abpve 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 1*740 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 consideration.

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 south 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 44J 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

History of the Schenectady Patent.

After having been used for various public purposes, the consistory resolved in 1785, to build their new academy upon itafterwards 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 Aeme 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 Schenectady having leased his house and bakery to Antony Lespinard ^'with privilege 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 therefore render it quite improbable that Jan Rinckhout was the donor.

Discarding tradition and romance, the evidence is clear that the true benefactor 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.”

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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 Hoeh [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 Yelsen, petitioned the court of Albany for authority to administer upon his estate, saying that on the 7th day of March, 167f, 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 Symen Groot, Barent Wemp 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 Wey , Hans Jansens 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° Yan Santvoord makes mention of the conveyance of The Pasture by Gov. Lovelace (Grondbrief van de weide 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.

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 Janse Eenkluys, is entitled to special consideration.

Church mill and mill pasture.

This fine property,—the bequest of Sweer Teunise Van Yelsen (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 devising 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 released 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 currency. 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 1 Color creek, [in Dutch Verfhil ], 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 Yan Dyck, in behalf of the consistory, it appears that these parcels of land had been purchased, but on account of pressing 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 ” [Yan 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.

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 extended 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 1788, 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 kil.\ The consistory claimed and rightly too, that this point should be at the mouth of the Ael-plaats kil , 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 consistory were the almoners of the church; every Lord’s day a collection was

* Jan Be Laggers kil is a small brook or rill emptying into the Mohawk river from the 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 Reformed Nether Dutch Church.

379

taken of the free will offerings of the people for this and certain other purposes, 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 wey 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 Yelsen;— leases received from the trustees of the town;—seat rents and burial fees.

Besides the payment of the domine’s salary and the Yoorlezer’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 “Yoor 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.

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 materials as these, both in respect to the customs and finances of the church, the following extracts are subjoined.

During the year 168 f, the church accounts were kept by Deacon Johannes Sanderse Glen and are quite legible.

1686

den 20 oktb. Jan brouwer debet.

aen 14 el linnen a 7 el. pr bever* gl. 16.—

Maria Clyn debet

ditto

aen 6 el linnen a 7 el. pr bever, fl. 6—18 aen een kombaers a f. 10 10—

aen 6 el. bay 8.—

aen 4 lbs spykers 2.

aen 7 el. linnen a 7 el. pr. bev. 8.

aen 2 strenge garen 0. 5

Johannes potman Credet

den 15 Septem. aen de kerck gewerekt 11 dagen a f. 7 des dagen. 25

[Translation.]

1686

20 Oct. Jan Brouwer Dr

to 14 ells of linnen a 7 ells the beaver 16 gl.

Maria Klein

Dr

ditto

to 6 ells of linnen a 7 ells the beaver 6— 8 to a coverlet a 10 guild gl. 10— 0

to 6 ells baize 8.—

to 4 lbs. nails 2.

to 7 ells linnen a 7 ells the beav. 8. to 2 skeins thread 0— 5

15th Septem. Johannes Potman Cr

11 days work on the church a 7 guilders a day 25

ditto. Isack de Trou [Truax] aen 6 lbs spykers

3 —

ditto Isaac de Trieux [Truax] to 6 lbs nails

den 20 Novem. Adam Vroman debet

aen 9 lb spykers, sewant 14 f.4.—

aen 2 lb spykers, bever 1.

ditto Sander Glen debet

aen 9 lbs spykers fl 4

1686

den 30 Septe. Johannes Glen, debet.

aen 42 lbs spykers a 20 lb. pr. bev. 17. aen 34 lb. spykers a 20 lb. pr. bev. 13—15 aen 2 sgepeltaru 1689

80 oktober

2 bevel's aen silv. gelt aen bever

noch by reckeninge

Credit fl. 16.

8

6—15

4.

20 Nov. Adam Vrooman Dr

to 9 lbs nails sewant 14 4.

to 2 lbs nails beaver 1.

ditto Sander Glen to 9 lbs nails 1686

30 Sept. Johannes Glen D

to 42 lbs nails a 20 lbs pr beaver 17—

to 34 lbs nails a 20 lbs pr. beaver 13—1

to skiples of wheat 1689

30 Oct. Qj

2 beavers in silver money 16.

one beaver 8.

also by settlement 6—1

eo‘J h toSeBhill, fl NV beaVer:Wa8 W ° rth ab ° ttt 38 ° r 40c ‘ a the sewant, or wampum, w.

.XVtheSa ' " 0t the beaver skin being considered tt

These accounts are kept in guilders and stivers, partly seewant and partly beaver.

The Reformed Nether Dutch Church.

den 8 ockto. domenie tassemaker, debet aen 14 el. linnen a 7 el. pr bever 16—

Credet Wouter Vrooman

Yoor plaes voor sin vroouw 86 gul

ditto

Barant Wemp debet

aen 14 el. a 7 el. pr bev. 16.—

1689

Ockt. Credit

2 bevers aen zilvr 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

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. Abram Groot debet

een 14 el. linnen a 7 el. pr. bev. 16.

1688 Credet

2 bevers door barent Janse op recken-inge van domine tassemaker 16.

ditto. Andries Arentse debet.

aen 17$ el. linnen a 7 el. pr bev. 20.

ditto Jan Van Rotterdam, debet.

aen fl. 12 sewant over .een aksie die hey

met fyendrik 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 rotterdam had 4.

8 Oct. Domine Thesschenmaecker Dr

to 14 ells of linnen a 7 ellspr beaver 16.—

Cr. Walter Vrooman for a place [seat] for his wife* 86—

ditto

Barent Wemp Dr

to 14 ells of linnen a 7 ells pr beaver 16.— 1689, Oct. Cr.

2 beavers in silver 16.—

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.

10 Oct. Daniel Janse Van Antwerpen Dr. to 26 ells linnen a 7 ells nr beavers 29—15 1688,20 Aug. ‘ Cr.

to 89-5 sewant 29—15

1686

10 Oct. Abraham Groot Dr

to 14 eils linnen a 7 ells pr. beav. 16.— 1688 Cr.

two beavers by Barent Janse [Ditmars] on a reckoning of Domine Thesschenmaecker 16—

ditto. Andries Arentse [Bratt] Dr

to 17£ ells linnen a 7 ells pr. beav. 20.

ditto. Jan Van Rotterdam Dr

to 12 guilders sewant in an action which he had with Hendrick Meese [Vrooman] 4.—

6 Mar. to 12 guilders sewant in the contest which he had with Hendrick Lammerse 4—

ditto

Hendrick Lammerse Dr

to 12 guilders sewant in the contest which he had with Rotterdam]: 4.

* It would seem from this that a single seat in the church at this time cost 36 guilders or $4.60.’ t The town miller, killed in the massacre of 1690.

% Did the Consistory act as a court of justice imposing and collecting fines, or were the fines collected'ljy the magistrates handed over to the deacons for the poor?

History of the Schenectady Patent.

den 10 oktob. de Commissariss: aen 20 lb. spykers

10 Oct.

debet The commissaries* fl.8. to 20 lbs. nails

Dr.

fl.8.

Content Verkoght.

10 lb. spykers

40 lb. spykers sewant

1| el. linnen

8 streuge garen

3 lb. spykers voor de kerk

Account of sales 4. 10 lbs. nails

48. 40 lbs. nails sewant

5 — 8 H e H s linnen 2—16 8 skeins thread 4—10 3 lbs nails for the church

4.— 48.— 5— 3 2—16 4—10

Uyt gift.

den 6 novem. voor het klyne doot kleet 108.—

voor het naye 1— 6

den 5 desem. voor het naghtmaels wyn 25.—

voor ryen van een vert spyke von de Vuyk, 4 lb. spykers 6—

voor de glasen van de kerck 30—

1687 den 28 Maret

aen ryer Jacobse, sewant 600.—

en 47 sgepel taru a 5 sg. d bever die hy vau Sweer tunesse ontfangen heeft

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 Fuyck\ 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, w r hich he has received of Sweer Teunisse [Van Velsen]

nogh door Symen 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.— 6

nog een hemt voor een gevangen Vrans-men 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.

also through Simon Groot 12i 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 0 D 1 1687 Den 5 Decemb 1 in Skach- A. D. 1687,5 Dec. in Schenectady. The nechtade consistory, minister, elders and dea-

So heeft de kercken-raed so predikant, cons,—have received an account of

* The magistrates of the village.

t The “ little pall ” owned by the church was used at the funeral of children.

X 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-ingli Van de Cas en alles opgenomen Van Johannes Sanders en Levert de Reckening aen Claes Lowrense pur-merent aldus voer Dat liy in zewant & silver gelt in Cas heeft g.697— 2

en hy moet ontfangen aen nystaenden schulden van linnen 423.

Purmerent heeft volgens Zyn Boek verkoegt 249£ lb. spykers noch onbetaelt 128 lb spykers.

noch heeft Purmerent in zyn huys 149 lb. spykers

[’t samen] 5281 lbs

[Signed.]

Petrus Thesschenmacker Meyndert Wemp.

the cash and all other things from John Sanderse [Glen] and delivered the same to Claas Lourentse Purmerent [alias Van der Yolgen] as follows:—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 2491 lb. nails

in his book yet unpaid 128 lb. “

also Purmerent has in his house 149 lbs. “

total 5281

Petrus Thesschenmaker,

Meyndert Wemp.

The accounts for 1688 were kept by deacon Claas Lourentse Purmerent [Van der Yolgen].

The sales being similar to those of the year preceding but few extracts will be made.

1687

den 15 april. Symon Groot, barent Wemp ende Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel], syn debat voor een jaer huer van de plantasie*,—bever f.82

1688 den 15 april

1687

15 ap. Simon Groot, Barent Wemp and Gysbert Gerritse (Van Brakel) are indebted for a year’s hire of the plantation*—guilders 82

1688 ap. 15.

Symen Groot, barent Wemp en gysbert gerritse (Van Brakel) nog een jaer huer van dite plantasie a bever fl.82

Simon Groot, Barent Wemp and Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel] are still indebted for a year’s hire of this plantation 82

fl.164

fl.164

1689 15 ap.

Symen Groot, barent wemp and gysbert gerritse (Van Brakel) deb. een jaer Huer van de plantasie f.82

1687 den 28 meert.

Symen Groot credet

aen 13£ sgepels taru a 5 sgepel pr bever fl20

1689 15 ap.

Simon Groot. Barent Wemp and Gysbert Gerritse [Van Brakel] debit for a years’ hire of the plantation fl82

1687 28 Mar. Simon Groot, Cr

to 13£ skiples of wheat a 5 skiples pr bever fl.20

* 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 Ecnkluys. This parcel of ground was known later as the Poor Pasture.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Hubert Gerritse Credet Gysbert Gerritse (Yan Brakel) Cr.

aen 16sgepel tarua 5sgepeld bever to 16 skiples of wheat a 5 skip: pr.

n r 25—12! beaver 25—12

hnrpnt wpmn Credet Barent Wemp Cr.

^ to 11 skiples of wheat a 5 skiples pr

aenllsgepeltarua5sgepelprbever 17—12 beaver _ . „ 17—

1688 gysbert gerritse credet 1688 Gysbert Gerritse (Yan Brakel) C

h 10 skiples of peas a 5 skiples pr

10schepelertena5schepelperbever 16— beaver 16

dirck brat Credet Dirck Bratt Cr.

24 15 skiples of wheat 24

6 by Jan Roeloffse* (De Goyer) 6

15 schepel taru

door Jan Roeloflse, credet

109-

109— 4

1688

de diyacony deb.

66 lb. spykers aen de Heyninge en 39£ lbs spykers Aen’t buys 1688

de diyacony Credit

66 lbs spykers.

Yerkoght 34 strengen garen a 6 stuv-vers pr streng: de strengen Kompt 1110— 4 credet

Yoort verkoght garen 1110— 4

1688

The diaconate Dr

66 lbs nails on the fence and 39i lbs nails on the House

1688 n

The diaconate ^r.

66 lbs. nails

sold 34 skeins of thread at 6 stuyvers pr skein, the skeins come to fllO— 4 credit

For the selling of thread, 10— 4

[Audit for the year 1688.]

A 0 D* 1688 Den 1 Novemb: in Skach-nechtadie

So heeft de kerckenraad van Shach-nechtadie, so predicant, ouderlingen als Diaeckanen De Reckeninge van de Cas opgenomen van Claes Lou-rentse Purmerent en de selveopdato aen Adam Yrooman overgelevert in dese naer Yolgende posten.

In casa en Zewant 1199.-7

nocli vier Stucken vanachten 48.

aen Boeck schuld 696.

Een obligatie op Hendrick meese' van’t jaer 1681 den 23 ap 1

j? 350

Een obligatie op Bennony Adre-sse Yan’t jaer 1686 den 2 Augs.

Een obligatie op Willem Abramse yan’t jaer 1687, den 28 JSov r

| 336-1

g-

600

A.D. 1688 Nov. 1 in Schenectady

The consistory of Schenectady, minister, elders and deacons, have received from Claas Lourentse Purmerend [alias Yan der Yolgen] an account of the cash, and at this date have delivered over the same to Adam Yrooman in the following 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,

11199.-7

48.

696.

350.

i- 1

600 .

* Son of Anneke Janse by her first husband Roeloff Janse.

The Reformed Nether Dutch Church.

385

Eeu obligatie op Reyer Jacobse van ’t jaer 1687 den 28 maert 1008

except de interest

Verschenen gelt van’t weyland van ’t jaer 1688 den 15 ap 1 verschenen 164— 8 Van Gerrit Banckert Yan 't wev-land 44

Vrywillige besloften van Barent Deip-mars 24

% lb garen

s tt 63369—16

’t welck wy getuygen

Petrus Tliessclienmaecker, predicant.

Sweer tlioonischen Van Velsen,

Reynier Scliaets Meyndert Wemp Claes Louresses Adam Vroomman

Dit I C C/3 is ’t merck van Isaac Swits

Deacon Adam Vrooman was treasurer of lowing are some of the expenditures.

1689

6 ianwari. betaelt aen Lysbet Van Trych voer bans iansen Kluys 57—12

febwer. aen meyndert wemp betaelt 7 scliep a taru 28.

maert, betaelt aen wyn voer het 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 * * * * ic.

An obligation against Reyer Jacobse [Schermorhorn] of the year 1687, 28 mar., 61008.—

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. 63369—16

The which we witness —

Petrus Tliessclienmaecker, preacher Sweer Teuuise Yan Yelsen,

Reynier Schaets,

Meyndert Wemp,

Claes Lourentse [Vander Volgen]

Adam Vroman,

This is I C OO the mark of Isaac Swits.

the Diaconate for the year 1689. The fol

1689

6 Jan. paid to Elizabeth Yon Trich [Tricht*] for Hans Janse [Een-klys] 57—12

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 interest, 132.

23 July.

Also paid for 4 days work in the pasture of Hans Janse [Eenkluys], 16.

* Daughter of Willem Teller and wife or Abraham Van Tricht of Albany.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

den 30 okto.

nocli betaelt voer wyn Voer bet avont-raael 17—10

den 3 septem.

nocli aen teunis karsten op renten gelandt 120.

30 Oct.

also paid for wine for the Lord’s supper 17—10

3. Sept.

also to Teunis Karstense lent upon interest, 120

[Audit for .1089.]

A 0 D 1 1689 Den 26 en Novem r in Skackneclitadie.

So heeft de kercken raad van Skab-nechtadie so Predicant, Ouderlingen en Diaeckenen De Reckeningh van de Cas eu alle Scliuld en Obligatien en Van de wey op genomen van Adam Yroomman, en deselve op dats aen Isaac Swits overgelevert in dese uaer volgendc postern:

The consistory, minister, Elders and Deacons,— have received from Adam Vrooman an account ol 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 cash sewant, gl. 245—14

The Poor Pasture is indebted 212—11

458— 5

Obligations Debit Hendrick meese [Vrooman], A451— 5

Bennoni Arentse [Van Hoek], 396— 1

Ryer Jacobse Scliermer-

hooren, 1128

Willem Abramse [Tiet-

The Reformed Nether Dutch Church .

387

s* A3944—11

Douwe Aukes [De

527

03944—11

[Signed by]

Petrus Tiiesschenmaecker, Predicant

Mevndert Wemp / ,

frans Harmcuse puderlmgen

Adam Yrooman Dit is’t IC c/D merck Yan Isaac Svvts Willem Appel Dit 15 W is’t merck Van Barendt Wemp

dese vier | Diaeckenen

Memorandum.

Petrus Thesschenmaecker, preacher Myndert Wemp, )

Frans Harmense, V Elders.

[Yan der Bogart], )

Adam Yrooman,

This is the I C CO mark

of Isaac S wits, .These four

Willem Appel, 'Deacons.

This is the 15 W mark

of Barendt Wemp [Wemple],

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.

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 corporation 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 Schenectady kept by Ludovicns Cobes, schout and secretary 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 unpleasant facts 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 yielding 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.

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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 England militia more particularly during the French wars. Where they had married Dutch wives their families were usually brought up in the Dutch communion, this was especially true of those whose business carried them away with the troops to Oswego or 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 has 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 Foreign Parts ” pertinent to the early history of this old church.

“S. P. G. House, 19 Delahay St., Westminster,

November 24, 1882.

Mem. for Major MacMurray , U. S. 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

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 sixteen 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 Schenectady purchased a lot there and by subscriptions chiefly amongst themselves, 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 has promised his 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.”

IY. 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 petitioners some encouragement provided they set about purchasing a glebe house etc.”

Y. 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 Denominations 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 Mishillimackanac in sloop which is reckoned upward of 1000 miles from here.”

The Rev. William Payne, D.D., Rector of the church, preached an historical 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,

History of the Schenectady Patent .

was still standing, stocked with arms and surrounded by the pickets or palisades, 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 Schenectady 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 communicants. * * 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. Miln, and he by other missionaries, till 1746. These gentlemen doubtless often crossed the pine plains to minister to the few churchmen here, though I do not find on our records any mention of their visits or acts. 1 he 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 t0 i r * W. Brown, whose memory is appropriately preserved by a

ta et on these walls. He is said to have come from London, and was only

The English Church.

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 his native country.

“ The earliest baptism, by an Episcopal minister, on our parish register is that of a daughter of Mr. Brown, in 1*754, 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 ministers—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 4 Richard Oldrick and Horseford, for digging the foundation of the church, £4. 3s. 9 cl.' 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 be built Johnson Hall, Johnstown, where he died in 1774.

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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 Presbyterians, 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 presbyterians, The presbyterians highly of ended 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 Inhabitants 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 orthography. 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 was immediately under the w T alls 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, Presbyterians. The regulations of the war department then as now required very strict attendance at divine wmrship 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 ^°ITM S ] ° f the " EngliSh church ” b y botb denominations of English speaking people ?

The English Church.

395

was no bishop in this country till 1784, thirty years after this alleged transaction; and the other, that the church was never 4 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: 4 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, 4 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 Mr. 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 succeeded 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 appointed 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 toVirginia.*

* 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.

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 declared 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 resoit 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 recoveied their courage and strength, they took measures to restore their house of prayer, and liberal offerings were made for the purpose, especially by Mi. 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 c u y oiganized. But it was some time before it could enjoy the services of towns^ Clergyman ’ de P endi °g u P° n those of Albany and other neighboring

n 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 iegis,ei °° ’ then begUDj there is a rude pen-and-ink sketch, by Mr. Wet-

ChUrCh ^ itthen was a little, oblong, stone structure, fifty-six feet long (about half its present length) by thirty-six

wide, with three windows on each side (the old south door being willed

The English Church .

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 church edifice. At a meeting of the vestry in 1804 , e 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 Wm. 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 England Oongregationalist, 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 incumbency. • -

“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, and 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

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 galleries 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 hy 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 Key. 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 Schenectady 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

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. 6df.”

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 11s.”—the next item being, “ To cash paid to Phinn & Ellice for rum and. sugar when rideing timber £4 9s. 4 d*

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. 0 d., 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 Win. 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-byteiian church at Albany. The first minister who is known to have pleached to the congregation statedly is the Rev. Alexander Miller.

Mi. 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

The Presbyterian Church .

licensed 1767, and ordained by the Presbytery of New York, 1770, which is the date of his settlement here. lie may have preached here, however, prior to this date, and may possibly be the person alluded to in a letter of 25th Feb., ’69, from the church wardens to Sir Wm., expressing their disappointment 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 grammar 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 remaining 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 Prineetowri. 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's f In the absence of Mr. Miller (1771).

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History of tlie Schenectady Patent.

The congregation at this time, and for years later, was composed of elements 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 179.5, 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 reorganize 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 remarkable gifts, resembling in many traits President Smith of the College, but excelling “ him and most other men in amenity and tenderness of disposition 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 the 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 indebtedness 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.

X The township of Schenectady contained in 1796, 3472 inhabitants, 683 being electors and 381 slaves.

The Presbyterian Church.

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. Clarkson’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 u we never had such preaching 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 communicants 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.

Uistonj of the Schenectady Patent.

John Joyce. In spite of the peril 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 be elected. The new session consisted of Messrs. Kelly, Walmsley, Daniel Chandler and Prof. Henry Davis, afterwards 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 was 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 w T ere 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 called to the pastorate, and on Aug. 29th, 1809, he w r as settled over the Church, remaining its pastor until his death, Jan. 29th, 1815. He must have been a judicious and good man, for there seems an absence of all party-strife during his ministry, lhe church must have also prospered generally, as there was an increase in its collections, its communion roll w r as 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 certainly 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.

unfortunate, to speak mildly, Mr. Cummings’ brief pastorate, judged by statistics, was most successful. Installed 22d Nov., 1815, and dismissed 18th Feb., 1817, 65 persons were added to the 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 8th of June, 1820, that another pastor could be secured, changes having occurred in the session, and some wilhdrawing 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 still 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 Rev. Erskine Mason, a son of the celebrated 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, S06 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 Rev. Win. James, a brilliant but somewhat eccentric preacher, became its “ Stated Supply,” declining, how-

PR E S B Y. N

CHURCH

S CH EN. D Y

* 1809 #

I I . T I M : ;

I I . X I X *•

I. C O R : XI. ; XXVIII :

* The “Token’ ’ was intended to prevent any unknown person, or member under discipline from coming to the Lord's fable. Tokens were distributed by the elders before communion to all who were in trood standing, and were taken up by the elders again from the communicants at the table. They were made of lead, or pewter, were about an inch square having inscriptions on each side.

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 27th, 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 Si60,000. 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. Win. Clarkson, 1801-1803. Rev. John B. Rorneyn, 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. Timothy 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 1760 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-tenans 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. 1 he 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.

« ^ us i°P to consecration by the bishop is a manifest anachronism; Seabury, the nrst bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America, receiving his consecration as bishop in Scotland in 1784, New York being under the care of the bishop of London, who succeeded in defeating all attempts of the Presbyterians to procure incorporation.

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Mr. Kelly is evidently referring to something which gave legal title to the property and which was clone in New Yoik and not on the spot. Writing in extreme age, his memory might tail to disting ish between consecration and incorporation.

In a letter from Mr. Brown and others to Sir Wm. Johnson, 20th Dec., 1765, 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 fin’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.”— {Doc. Hist., N. V, iv, page 229 ) On the 4th Dec., 17(16, it is stated that the charter had been granted (lb., p. 234). Of this petition and charter 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., 8tli Oct., 17G0, states that the church was built chiefly by subscriptions among themselves. “ In the meantime the Dissenters claimed a principal property therein, because some of them had been promised the use ol it when it did not interfere with the service of the church 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 coming, 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. Auchmuty thought that “ Albany and Schenectady should be but one living,” and in 1773, Mr. Inglis joins with Dr. Auchmuty in thinking the grant to Schenectady a perversion of the society’s bounty, which ought to be extended to larger bodies of people without worship.—(Dec. Hist., N. 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 <f the S. P. O Ilist. Society's Library , N. Y.)

The lists of the contributors to the two edifices are extant. The subscribers were mainly residents of New York city, Albany and Schenectady, and in the two latter places, tlie names are largely Dutch. In Albany there were about 126 subscribers to the Episcopal, and 107 to the Pr< 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 Schenectady subscribers 1 think 1 have identified 63 of the Presbyterian, and 47 of the Episcopal subscr.bei s as pew holders in the Dutch church, and many with like names not recorded as pew holders.

Unhappily there are no pew lists of the Presbyterian church prior to 1796. Of the 25 or 26 names attached to the agreement that the money from the sale and rental of pews he at the disposal of the church wardens and the vestry, dated 31st March, 1766, stands the name of John Duncan* He was one of the largest benefactors of the church, subscribing £30, and giving besides “ a fine of Pat’k Larkins” £4-12-0. Before 1765, he had bought pew No. 1 at £5. On a loose sheet, apparently a part of the original record, he is charged 12s. pew rent and £5 for Mrs. Hephburu’s grave. The latter is marked paid on the record, but I cannot find that he ever paid pew rent. On the other hand Mr. Jas. Willson who subscribes £4-10-0, and Mr. James Sliuter who subscribes £4-4-0,

* Which he likely did not himself affix, as his name and that of John Glen and Sir Wm., are in the same handwriting.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

both pay pew rent as late as Jan., 1707, but do not sign. These men are prominent in the Presbyterian movement, and disappear about this time from the Episcopal records. This would tally with the publication of the charter which Dec., 17G9, “ would shortly be sent up.”

On a loose slip of paper in St. George’s Records, with memoranda of different dates, under a most curious “ Church a Count of Ilatts,” and after a date of 1765, is this writing “ Ye Daley Labor I Have stot down in This Count I wold Now if Church wold take Back ye Seets again Sence ye Presbyterns are Sep} 7 erated.”

It was a time when ministers were few, and in 1759 there could scarcely have been strength enough in both parties combined to support a minister. Nor was the idea of a building common to several congregations, so foreign to the necessities of the times as to our notions of fitness. The churches so built by Sir Wm. Johnson, at Johnstown, 1763 and 1767, were used in common by Lutherans, Episcopalians and Presbyterians (after the war the chut( h building of ’67 was granted by the legislature to the Piesbyterians except for eight Sabbaths in the year .—{Gilleit Hist. Pres. Ch , I, 383). Moreover, there was at this time the beginuing ot a movement in the Dutch church in favor of services in English. Ail these circumstances incline me to believe that there was a concerted eflort, independent of denominational control, to erect a building in which there might be services as occasion offered in the English language in which all classes united harmoniously, until about 1767, when the Presbyterians felt themselves aggrieved and withdrew.

Curiously enough, in the plans of St. George’s church, to which reference is made, March, 1766, the “ South Door,” referred to by Mr. Kelly, is just west ot Mr. Duncan’s pew, and the six “ body pews” (there are 17 wall pews) are near the two desks in the eastern portion of the church, leaving more than half of the body of the church vacant. In the second plan, which seems to be of only a little later date, the “south door’ walled up, and there are sixteen ‘‘body pews,” but^ removed quite far from the desks .near to the western wall, suggesting in connection with note on taking back the seats, the query whether in the original building the Presbyterians did not have the western halt of the church, with a movable desk near the western door, which would then not unnaturally, be kept closed during worship, entrance being at the south door, for which no necessity would exist after the Presbyterian exodus. Not earlier than February, John Moflatl is credited with £14, 12s. (M. for “ masonry,” and as the previous credits on this account are in 1763, this may indicate the date of the closing of the door —though work was still being clone upon the church, 6th December, 1768, when Mr. Blown iegrets that there is “ not one Plasterer in Town,” and that for the joiner’s work Daves and he proposes, will Vastly exceed what we can pretend to do.” Whatever uncertainty may attach to these conjectures, the above items, in conjunction with the allusion to “the balance due or the first two years’ rent,” indicate certainly a leguiar organization lor Presbyterian worship not later than 1766, and probably at lie tune of beginning to build in 1759, what afterwards became St. George s church difice, to which justly or unjustly the Presbyterians made joint claim.

Indian Trade .

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INDIAN TRADE.

New Netherland was first occupied for the purposes of trade only. For the first fifteen years but few persons came over, save the servants and factors of the trading companies. So intent were they upon the Indian traffic that agriculture was greatly neglected and hardly breadstuffs enough for the trading posts were raised. The colonization of the country was n^lected or positively discouraged, until the attention of the States General was called to the fact, when in 1629 they passed an act called Privileges and Exemptions for the creation of great manors with feudal rights and powers.

The servants of the United New Netherland company built the first trading house on the Hudson river on Casteel Eylandt* in the year 1614. Their charter expired in 1618, at which time their stockaded fort called Nassau was destroyed by high water, and the post was removed two miles below at the mouth of the Norman’s kii.

The privileged West India company was chartered in 1621, with extraordinary powers of sovereignty and trade, and two years after erected Fort Orange where Albany now stands.f Manhattens was the port of entry and departure of all vessels trading with New Netherland, but the chief seat of the Indian trade was at Fort Orange, where in the business season, to wit, in June, July and August, the natives gathered in great numbers with their peltries. Until 1630, the two chartered companies above mentioned claimed, and practicalty had, a monopoly of the Indian traffic. Van Rensselaer, who had obtained possession of about 700,000 acres of land around the fort in that year, claimed not only a share of the profitable beaver trade but the land also on which Fort Orange stood. Not only so but it was found that the servants of the West India company as well as interlopers, made private

* This island is now comprehended within the limits of the city of Albany, and is used for manufacturing purposes.

t [About the steamboat wharf or the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad freight depot.—M’M.]

History of the Schenectady Patent.

ventures of their own, so that by 1639, when trade was nominally thrown open to all, the income of the company from this source had very much diminished.

In 1652, Stuyvesant established a court at Fort Orange and Beverwyck.

Hitherto the jurisdiction of Rensselaerswyck had extended to all the inhabitants; but as the boundaries of the little village had not been defined, there were constant clashings between the two civil authorities thus established. With Stuyvesant’s courts came municipal rights, excise, taxes, civil officers and all the privileges thereto belonging; among which was claimed the monopoly of trade with the Indians.

Every burgher (for outsiders were denied this privilege) who could purchase an anker of brandy, a tub of beer or a piece of duffels or strouds, claimed and used his right to trade for beaver, and often forestalled the market by sending bos loopers , or runners, up the Mohawk to purchase the natives’ peltries. Such was the condition of the Indian trade when the first settlement was made at Schenectady in 1662.

Having extinguished the Indian title to the “ Great Flatt,” the settlers applied for a patent from the Governor and Council, which was granted and in 1663 the Provincial surveyor was sent up to survey and allot the lands to the inhabitants, but only on condition that they “promise not to carry on or allow to be carried on at the aforesaid Flatt or there about any the least handeling (trade) however it may be called.” To this prohibition they demurred, hoping “ they should not be treated less liberally than others.”

To this remonstrance Van Curler added a letter to the Governor in which he says that “ it seemed to him that those who followed agriculture ought not to be worse treated than those who pursue commerce; and that it would be lamentable were the settlers and their posterity to remain for ever under the ban of slavery and be excluded from bartering either bread, milk or the produce of their farms for a beaver, so as to be able to purchase some covering for their bodies & dwellings.” All appeals to Stuyvesant were vain. The schout of Fort Orange was ordered to proceed to Schenectady and take an inventory of all goods brought thither, “as it was not the intention to build one place for the purpose of bringing ruin on another, yea on the whole country.” Thus the matter rested another year and not till the spring of 1664, were the lands legally measured and allotted.

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This arbitrary prohibition, though for the time apparently acquiesced in by the people, outraged their sense of justice and right. It soon began to be reported that these trade regulations were disregarded at Schenectady; Gov. Lovelace therefore in 1669-71, promulgated the following orders and instructions:

“ An order prohibiting to trade with Indyans at Schanechtade

“Whereas I am given to understand that divers persons doe presume contrary to former acts and Lawes Establisht within this Govern* to trade with the Indyans from divers places to Schanechtade and that other of that place pretending or that the goods really belong to them do trade there with the Indyans contrary to the custome and practice of former times and the Con-digeons upon which they first settled, which already doth & hereafter may tend to the ruine '& destruction of the trade in the towne of Albany, which is of farr greater consideragon & benefitt of the governm*—then the private end and respects of particular persons can redound to,—These are to require you to see that the former acts and laws in the behalfe aforesaid bee putt in Execugon and that you take care that no such liberty bee taken or hereafter graunted for any persons under what pretence whatsoever to traficke or trade with the Indians at Schanechtade,—And that the Inhabitants have no further liberty to trade with them but onely for their necessary subsistence and reliefe, Hereafter you are not to favle.

“Given under my hand and seale at Fort James in New York this 7 th day of June in the 21 st yeare of his Maj ties Raigne Annog 6 Dominie, 1669.”*

“11 ap. 1670 [Gov. Lovelace’s] Instructions for M. Thomas Delavall & Capt. Dudly Lovelace at their arrival to Albany;

* * * “ To make a prohibition that no strangers coming from hence or goeing from Albany that have no residence at Schanektade do trade there and that ye Inhabitants of that place be likewise lymitted as to their Trade with ye Indians.”! * * *

The next year, 1671, the Governor issued another order against trading at * Schenectady of which the following is a copy:

“ An order prohibiting handling (trade) with the Indyans at Schenectide.

“ Whereas it has not been found convenient that ye Trade of handling with the Indians at Schenectide should bee permitted or tolerated, for that it may prove a great prejudice to y e towne of Albany; And complaint having been made unto mee that divers small Partyes of Indyans doe come privately to Schenectide w th whom diverse of y e place do presume to Trade and handle notwithstanding the severall orders to ye contrary; If or ye prevention whereof for y e future. These are to authorize and Empower Capt. Sylvester Salisbury, commander of y e Ffort at Albany and Schout there

* Orders and Warrants, n, 431.

f Court of Assize, ii, 490.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

and in y e places adjacent, as he shall have informagon, or shall see cause,— to make such search and enquiry in any suspected House at Schenectide or parts adjacent, for such Indyan Goods as are prohibited to be handled there; And that hee bring the Transgressors to condigne punishment, ffor y e doing of which this shall bee his warrant.

“Given this 9 th day of Jan., 1671.

“ ffrancis Lovelace.”*

The earliest innkeeper of the village was probably Ackes Cornelise Van Slyck. The privilege of retailing beer and strong waters was granted in early timfe by license from the Governor on the payment of a certain yearly sum as excise. In 1671, Cornelis Cornelise Yiele, through the commissaries of Albany, petitioned Governor Lovelace for the right to open another inn in Schenectady, basing his claim upon services rendered with the Mohawks and upon the fact that Van Slyck had not suitable accommodations for strangers, which Yiele promised to provide. The Governor granted his request as appears by the following minute :

“ Lycence for Cornelys Cornelyssen Yielen to tapp strong Beer & Liquors at Schanechtide.

_ “ Whereas Cornelys Cornelyssen Yielen of Schanechtide having made his address to ye commissaryes at Albany desireing that hee may have Liberty to tapp Strong Beere & Liquors & to keep an Ordinary, in Recompense for severall services done by him between them and y e Maquaes the w ch They have recommended to mee for my approbation. But in regard there is a person already there (by name Aques Cornelyssen Gautsh,f an Indyan) that doth y e same by Lycense and appointment of my Predecessor, Coll. Richard Nicolls,J would give no determination therein and it being likewise represented that y e said Aques hath not sufficient accommodagon for strangers w ch y e said Cornelys Cornelyssen Yielen doth promise to be well provided off, for y e reliefe of Strang rs and Travellers, Upon consideragon had hereupon, I have thought fitt to grant y e request of y e said Cornelys Cornelyssen Yielen &c. Jan. 9, 1671.

“ F. Lovelace.”

* General Entries, iv, 84. * General Entries iv, 83,133.

f Alias Aques Cornelise Van Slyck.

The ordinary kept by Van Slyck if it was any thing more than a beer shop, was probably on the lot on the west corner of Cucumber alley and Washington street. Being a half breed Mohawk he doubtless had a thriving trade with his tribe not only in fire water but in whatever else they required.

Viele’s ordinary was on the south corner of State street and Mill lane next the church: he was succeeded by his relative Douwe Aukes, and it was here that the traditional merry making was held on the eventful night of the 8th Feb., 1690.

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The following year a violent dispute arose between these two tapsters, but on appealing to the Governor he refused to interfere.

In June, 1678, Gov. Andross being in Albany it would appear that the Albanians renewed their complaints about the contraband trade at Schenectady, whereupon his excellency laid the little village under an embargo for three months* by the following extraordinary proclamation:

“ By the Governor.

“ Whereas I have been Informed of the frequent goeing off waggons or carts betwixt this place and Shinnectady Upon verry slight or frivolous occasions or Pretences, which att this time and Season of the year might Proove Verry Prejudiciall. I have therefore by the advice of the Magistrates, Resolved and doe hereby order that for the space of three months next Ensueing, no waggon cart or carts whatever doe or be Permitted to goe between said towns unLesse on Extraordinary occasions, with the Knowledge and consent of the Magistrates, but to carry no Passengers or merchandable goods whatever upon Penalty off forfeiting all such waggons or carts and horses. Given under my hand in Albany, 26 day June, 1676.

“ Sic subscribitur.\

“ Andkoss.”

But orders and proclamations were not the only means used against the offending town. In 1678, sheriff Pretty was sent over “ to visit all the houses” and search for any goods which might possibly be sold to the Indians; at the same time the Governor and Council renewed their prohibitions. In anticipation of the sheriff’s visit the magistrates of Schenectady state that they cannot discover that his commission gives him power to visit Schenectady, but those dependences of Albany which have no bench of justices. “Indeed,” they say, “referring to our commission given by his Excellency Sept. 6, 1678 it is required that the duty and respect due to our

bench shall be given. Wherefore by the sheriff of Albany.”

[signed]

Ludovicus Cobes, Schout ”*

we can not allow any visit to our place Jan Van Epps,

Daniel Janse [Van Antwerpen] Harme Vedder,

Barent Janse [Wemp],

* The months of June, July and August were called the handel-tyde (business season). This proclamation was made to cut ofi any supplies for trade $t Schenectady, f General Entries. J Col. MSS., xxviii, 24.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

Notwithstanding the above protest, Sheriff Pretty reports Oct. 22, that he went to Schenectady on the complaint of divers individuals to visit the houses for contraband goods and that the magistrates resisted him; for which reason the justices of Albany presented their complaint to the Governor, setting forth the enormity of the crime which the people of Schenectady were guilty of in trading with the Indians, and praying for an abatement of this offence.*

Whereupon the Governor orders

“ Sconextady strictly prohibited all Indian trade, as well all other out places, as pr order to be executed by the court scout of Albany as formerly against all infringers in s d Sconextedy as in appeals to be in this case of trade and in all cases relating to itt concluded by ye court of Albany.”

And at a council held Oct. 31, 1678, an order was passed “to y e Com-issarys of Schenechtade minding them of the intent of their settlement for husbandry and not to trade w th the Injens & to be under the jurisdiction of Albany as formerly.”!

Neither orders of the Council nor proclamations of the Governor, served to quell their resistance to the inquisitorial visits of the sheriff. In 1686, forcible resistance having again been made to sheriff Pretty in the exercise of his duty at Schenectady, in search for Indian goods, on this occasion “ Myndert Wemp, Reynier Schaets, Gysbert Gerretsen [Van Brakel] and Adam Vrooman late of Schonectide were brought before the court of Oyer & Terminer at Albany, and fined 18 shillings each and 3 shillings costs each. |

Albany was chartered as a city in 1686, before which time though claiming a monopoly of the Indian trade, the magistrates were powerless to pass ordinances for its regulation, but operated through the Governor and Council.

Immediately after the granting of the charter, however, the Common Council passed the following extraordinary ordinances which in a modified form were renewed from time to time.

“ Common Council, City of Albany,

14 Sept., 1686.

t Governor Dongan having by the city charter of the 22d July last past, amongst divers other things granted, ratifyed and confirmed unto us, y e

* Col. MSS., xxviii, 25, 26.

f Col. MSS., xxviii, 27.

X Col. MSS., xxx.

Indian Trade.

415

said Mayor, Alderman and Commonalty of the Citty of Albany to have, hold and enjoy the Privilege, Preheminence and advantage of having within our own walls the sole management of y e Trade with all y e Indians, Living within and to y e Eastward, Northward and Westward of ye said county of Albany within y e compasse of his said Majesties Dominion here.’ By virtue of said monopoly of trade thus conferred the Common Council prohibited all 4 Trade or Traffique with the Indians for Bever or Peltry or any Indian Commodities without y e Gates of this Citty; Except for Indian Corn, Vennison and Drest Dear Skinns on Penalty of forfeiting such Indian commodities so traded for as aforesaid, and a fine at discretion of the Court not exceeding £20 Courant Money of this Country.’ One-third to the mayor, one-third to mayor, aldermen and commonalty and one-third to the person who shall sue for the same;

44 That no person shall keep within their houses or elsewhere outside of the city gates, 4 any Gunns, Strouds, Blanketts, Rumm, Powder, Lead or other Indian goods;’

“That no person within the said Citty or County 4 shall take or Receive on any Pretence whatsoever any Paun or Paunes (zewant excepted) from any Indian;’

“ 4 That no person within this Citty shall upon y e arrivall of any Indian or Indians address themselfs or speak to them of and Concerning Trade, nor Entice y m Either within or without y e Citty gates by signs or oy r wise howsoever to trade with themselfs or any other persons.’

Penalty £10 if committed without the gates, and if within Qsh .;

44 4 That no person within this Citty shall send out any Broakers* whether Christians or Indians,’—Penalty £5.

44 That no person shall trade for or Receive any Bevers, Peltry, &c., 4 after y e Ringing of y e Bell.’ Wampum, wampum pipes, Indian Jewells, &c., not to be transported out of the city.

44 Whereas it has been for some time past the Practice of Severall Indian Traders within this Citty themselfs to send for there Indian merchandises to England,’ &e., whereby 4 y e Indian Trade is for most part engrossed into there hands,—the other Traders who for y e smallness of their Stocks want the means of doing y e Like not being able to afford such Penneworths, have themselfs bought y e goods of ye merchants here, by means whereof the trade of the Place is much Decayed, in that our Merchandizes are Rendered by farr more cheape to y e Indians and by consequence there Commodities more dear to us,’ therefore all Indian traders are prohibited from Importing any Duffels, Rom, Strouds, Blankets, Plains, half-thicks, woolen stockings, White ozenbridge, Kitles, Hatchetts, hoes, Redlead, Vermillion, Cotton, Redkersey, Indian haberdashery or any oy r Indian goods;’—upon penalty .of paying £40 on every £100 of their value.

* Brokers = bos lookers.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ Whereas the selling of y e Severall Small Indian wares hereinafter named would conduce much to y e affording ‘of a Comfortable Livelyhood to Severall People—Inhabitants within this Citty, whose mean stocks renders them uncapable of dealing in Commodities of greater Value, in y e doeing whereof they are obstructed by ye Constant Resort of y e Indians to such Persons, as sell all sorts of goods, for y e Remedy whereof and for the making a more equall Distribugon of y e Indian trade amonst y e inhabitants of this Citty;—Its hereby ordered that no Trader who hereafter shall sell or Dispose off to any Indian or Indians whatsoever, Duffels, Strouds Blanketts or other Indian goods of Value;—shall or may sell these small wares after-mentioned, vizt. Knives, Lookeing Glasses, Painting Stuff, Boxes Aules, tobacco-Pipes, Tobacco, Tobacco-boxes, flints, Steels, Sizers, wire of any sort. Ribboning, Bottles, thread, Salt, Sugar, Prunes, apples, Razines, Juise-harps 9 bells, thimbles, Beeds, Indian Combs and needles,’—Under penalty of 20 sh. And because there might be a ‘Violent presumption’ but no positive proof of a violation of these, any trader might be required to take his oath that he had not violated them, upon the instance of any person who believed him to have violated them.”*

These severe ordinances had not the effect of confining the Indian trade within the walls of Albany;—her own citizens were as great offenders as those in the country; and again they appeal to the Governor for aid, complaining that their “ small trade is snatch’t away by the inhabitants of Schenectady and others in the County, who not only sell all sorts of goods, but rum and other strong liquors * to the Indians without paying any excise for y e same to the apparent diminution and impoverishment of his Majest es revenue of this Province.”!

The following remarks on the Indian trade as connected with the settlement of the back country were made in a communication of Robert Livingston to the Board of Trade in 1701. As secretary of Albany for many years he was well able to give advice on this subject.

* * * “ I humbly beg leave to propose. * * *

That his Majesty’s subjects be encouraged to extend their settlements into the Country, under cover of said forts, by the liberty of the Indian

* Col. MSS., xxxiv. f Col. Doc., iv, 753.

$ 15 Jan., 1716-7, Albany.

Whereas ye chamberlain of this city complains that Caleb Beck of Schinnectady is severall year in arrear for his liberty to draw or sell liquor by retaile Resolved , that he be ordered to make an account how much he is in arrear, and that Mr. John Collins be employed to prosecute the said Caleb Beck in behalf of ye Commonalty .—Albany City Rec., Albany An., vn, 61.

Indian Trade.

417

trade, without being imposed upon by the City of Albany or any other town or City. The City of Albany always practis’d to hinder such settlements, because they have ingrossed the Indian trade in this Province, and having built large houses and made good farms and settlements near to Albany care not to leave them to go further info the Country and will not suffer others to goe beyond them to intercept the trade; and the giving of land gratis to soldiers or planters (who know better how to use it) will not tempt them to remove so farr into the country; the Indian trade will do it as the inland country comes to be settled it will be valuable, not before.*

Notwithstanding the resistance to and rough handling to which the sheriff of Albany was subjected in his former inquisitorial visits to Schenectady, these searches did not cease, or if he had sufficient reason to suspect a citizen of possessing Indian goods, he cited him to appear • before the mayor’s court in Albany to answer for this offence.

Thus two pieces of strouds having been found in the house of Volkert Symonse Veeder in 1719, he was cited to appear and answer before the court why the same should not be condemned according to the city charter.

On Aug. 11th, “the court having taken into consideration the two pieces of Strowd seized by Adam Haydon Deputy Sheriff, from Yolkert Symonse, do condemn them to be disposed off according to the directions of ye charter of y e City of Albany.”

But on application of Veeder, the Common Council released their third of the goods condemned.!

Again in 1721, Henry Holland sheriff of the county, “ made a seizure of some Strowds at Schinectady lying to y e North of y e East and West lines drawn from y e North limitts of this City, which has been duly condemned;” and as an additional penalty of £100 for every such offence might be inflicted according to an act of the Provincial Assembly, Governor Burnet gave orders “ to stop ye execution for levying y e s d fine,” “ wherefore ” say the Common Council in their petition, “ we hope that your Ex’ ly for y e safety and prosperity of this City will be pleased to lett the Law have its course wh. if not duly observed we humbly conceive will tend to y e ruin and destruction of ye Inhabitants of y e s d City.”J

Again in 1723 and 1724 we find another citation issued to the sheriff,— for Isaac Truex and Van Slyck of Schenectady.

Hitherto the jurisdiction of the city of Albany over the village of Schenectady in the matter of trade, had not been contested in the highest court

* Col. Doc., iv, 874. f Albany Annals, viii, 236-7.

X Albany Annals, viii, 269.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

of the Province but had been reluctantly and sullenly acquiesced in; in the year 1723 however, began a legal contest, which in 1727 resulted in freeing Schenectady from the authority of those hateful ordinances that had fettered its trade for more than fifty years.

Johannes Myndertse, a trader residing on the west corner of Mill lane and State street was on the 15th June, 1723, informed against by Johannes E. Wendell and Robert Roseboom with having “ taken Indians with bever & peltry in his house.”

Whereupon a warrant was issued to the sheriff to bring said Myndertse before the Common Council “ to answer for his said offence.” When brought before the court on the 25th June, and charged with the above offence “he confessed to have taken Indians into his house.” Whereupon a fine of ten pounds was imposed upon him and the sheriff was directed to commit him to gaol until said fine was paid.

He was detained however, only “ till a Habeas Corpus was sent, for removing him to the next Supreme Court ” where he immediately commenced an action against Johannes Pruyn, Hendrick Roseboom, Barent Sanders, Dirck Ten Broeck and Johannes De Peyster, Esqrs, aldermen of the city of Albany for trespass and false imprisonment.

Feeling confident of a verdict against Myndertse in the above suit, the Common Council shortly thereafter, to wit, on Feb. 1st, 1724, “Resolved that the following articles be concluded and remain as a standing rule till the same be effected:

“That Johannis Myndertse pay the ten pound and charges accrud thereon, and the witnesses against Nicholas Schuyler be further examind;”

“That an ordinance be made for the better regulation of the Indian trade in the city of Albany, against Schinnechtady and elsewhere to the Westward, northward & Eastward;”

“That no lycences be granted to the Indian Traders at Schinnectady as Johannis Myndertse, Nicholas Schuyler, Harmanus Vedder, Harme Van Slyck, Jan Baptist Yan Eps, Barent Vrooman, Maritie Brouwers, &c., nor to any above Schinnectady and others to the north of this city which cant be otherwise but stretch to the Ruine of this city.”

Not only did the Common Council make it a standing rule that Myndertse should pay the fine of ten pounds and charges, but in April, 1724, they resolved to employ Evert Wendell “ to sue Philip Yerplanck, late sheriff for ten pound & charges accrued in prosecuting Johannis Myndertse, for siittermg the s d Myndertse to escape out of his custody being committed in the Comon gaol for refusing to pay a fine of ten pound.”

Indian Trade.

419

Myndertse’s suit against the Common Council commenced in 1723, was not determined in the Supreme Court until 1727, and then in his favor.

As a consequence the defendants, Johannes Pruyn, Dirck Ten Broeck, Barent Sanders, Hendrick Roseboom and John De Peyster were mulcted and an execution was served upon them for £38—Is. for damages and costs, which with sheriff’s fees amounted to £41 9s. 3d*

Thus was finally settled the right of the inhabitants of Schenectady to trade with the Indians, after innumerable annoyances from sheriff’s visits, court citations and fines for more than sixty years.

The trade in strong liquors both at Albany and Schenectady had very disastrous effects upon the Indians and was often spoken against by the better class of whites and natives. Thus in 1687 Col. Peter Schuyler wrote to the Governor, “ we find that the selling of strong liquor to the Indians is a great hindrance to all designs they take in hand; they stay a drinking continually at Schinectady; if your Excell: would be pleased to prohibit itt for two or three months it would do very well.”f

So also at a convention of the four nations at Albany, 3 Sept., 1720, Hendrick in the name of the Sachems acquainted the president “ that it was Impossible they Could Exercise their Devotions as, Long as rum was sold so Publickly in their Country ; that Joho. Harmense [Visscher], Capt. Scott, Joseph Clement and Thomas Wileman sold R'um so plentifully as if it ware water out of a fountain and that if it cannot be Privinted they cannot Live Peaceably in their Castle.”J

Again at an Indian Council held in New York, June 12, 1753, Hendrick Sachem of the Mohawks, spake as follows :

“Brother I am going to tell you how many persons we design to drive away from our Lands, viz : Barclay, Pickett’s wife who lives just by us and who does us a great deal of Damage by selling us liquors and by that means making us destroy one another.”§

Sir. Wm. Johnson at an Indian council held Feb. 26, 1756, addressed them in regard to trade, promising that as he had no goods to sell (himself) he would take all possible care that they should not be imposed upon in their trade at Schenectady. “I shall give directions to M r . (Arent) Stevens, the interpreter, to assist you and see that justice be done you in every respect for I have a great regard for your casile.”|| He also gave directions

* Common Council Minutes of city of Albany, f Col. MSS., hi, 479. % Col. Doc., v, 569.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

March 26 th, to Myndert Wemp of Schenectady, to stay in the Senecas’ country “ till their corn was a foot higher in order to keep their Arras and Working Utensils in Repair.”*

Returning, 29th April, Wemp reported that the scarcity of provisions was such among the Senecas, that the Indians told him he must leave, for they could not supply him and his son with food. He also reported to Sir William that they were greatly pleased at his promise to build them a fort and that they desired “ some of Myndert Wemp’s sons when the Fort was built might reside there as they understood their language and were known to them and were smiths.”

In respect to the illicit trade in rum, Wemp reported that last winter John Abeelf (of Albany) “ brought so much Rum & sold it amongst the Indians & caused so much drunkenness that he was greatly molested and hindered in his work by it and when he threatened John Abeel that he would complain against him he said he did not care ; he would sell it and that for every quart of Rum he sold he got a Spanish Dollar.”

The sole motive of establishing the various Dutch stations in the New Netherlands being trade—they were from the first simply trading posts. Some gardening and farming was done by nearly all the people but all were traders in Indian goods. Their standard of value was the “ good merchantable beaver” sometimes quoting its value in guilders (money of the Netherlands) or in “ guilders sewant,” the alternative currency.

The trader had strouds and duffels, beads and other gew-gaws, guns, powder, lead, rum, molasses, sugar, pans, kettles, knives, axes, hatchets and other simple utensils, hoop iron to make arrow heads of and files to make them with and some pottery.

The Indian had skins of animals, such as the elk, deer, fox, wolf, polecat, etc., and most valuable of all, furnishing the standard of value of the Indian trade, the fur skin of the beaver. Even to this day Holland furriers excel in dressing most of these furs, though by a somewhat singular coincidence

* Col. Doc., vii, 95.

f [John Abeel settled on the present site of Fort Plain. Probably all Indian traders who resided among the Indians had Indian wives. It is supposed that Abeel was the father of the famous chief Gornplanter, who was a friend of Washington and who died on his tract of land on the Allegheny river, within the state of Pennsylvania. A monument erected to his memory bears an inscription which states he was the son of John O’Ball.—M’M.]

Indian Trade.

421

Albany, “ the oldest Dutch settlement in the New Netherlands,” produces finer finished and more enduring dyed furs than any other city in the world.

As the posts grew in population, more and more of the inhabitants devoted all their time to some other pursuit, but even to a very late day merely as an auxiliary to the Indian trade. Grants of “ bouwlands ” in out of the way valleys simply gave the bouwers a nearer approach to some band of Indians with whom they could trade.

The Manor of Rensselaer—twenty-four by forty-eight miles—included the valley of Norman’s kil, the junction of the Mohawk and upper Hudson and had practical control of the Indian trade of a thousand square miles of the best hunting lands of the Iroquois and River Indians. The West India Company’s trading post was in competition and bos loopers from Beverwyck and the Colonie Rensselaerswyck scoured the territory of the various tribes as assiduously as the modern “drummers”—of whom they were the proto-types. The alfairs of the Colonie and Manor— were directed for a time by Arent Van Curler who had visited some of the Indian castles more than once, doubtless in the interests of trade. The Mohawks after the coming of the whites, receded from the line of the Hudson where they had a town at mouth of Norman’s kil, and later deeded away the beautiful tract upon which Van Curler many years before had looked with covetous as well as admiring eyes,— the “Great Flatt of the Mohawks.” Officially this infant settlement was born in 1661, but there must have been for years before a number of bos loopers , if not regular traders, at the Indian villagef —which was on the site.

Then began the war against Schenectady which lay in the throat of the valley of the Mohawk, and by its proximity to the Indian castles and affiliation or intermarriage of many of its people with the Indians, had the decided advantage of getting the greater number as well as first choice of furs, as the Indians possessed limited means of transportation and were saved the difficult “carry ” at the Cohoes Falls. This advantage was somewhat offset by its exposed situation—so exposed that only the Indian blood in the veins of many of the second generation kept it in existence, but the

* North of Clinton Avenue, Albany.

\ Of great age as attested by the immense quantity of remains found within the present site of the city.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

«

settlers of that time who were accustomed to the barbarities of the wars of Spain and France in the old world as well as the battle of the low countries with the sea, were too hardy to fly from any threatened danger nor until it had appeared and had exhausted them in the unequal strife.

During more than sixty years after the settlement at the “ Groote Vlachte,” there had been contraband trade only,—there was much of that, as shown by the court records of Albany.

After 1727, by decision of the highest court in the Province, trade was made free. The flow of emigration to the westward; the coming of the Palatines who had been despoiled of their houses in the Palatinate and were settling on the upper Mohawk and along the Scoharie; the Scotch and Irish settlers of the hill lands, pushed the frontier further off and greatly increased the volumes of trade.

With free trade came traders, who receiving their goods in bulk at Albany, distributed them at and beyond * Schenectady. Better roads were made from Albany to the foot of navigation here, as owing to the impediments in the lower Mohawk, Schenectady was always the best place of departure while the distance from Albany was little if any greater than points farther down the stream.

The Schenectadans who had traded in defiance of the law, were ready for the new conditions and extended their journeys to the extreme westernf parts of the State and even to Detroit and Michilimackinac in later years.

* The merchant in the Mohawk Valley west of Schenectady, w T as Major Jellis londa, a sou of Douw Fonda—an early settler at Caughnawaga. For many years he carried on an extensive business for the times, at the latter place,—trading with the white citizens of the valley, and the natives of western New York; the latter trade being carried on at old Fort Schuyler, now Utica; Fort Schuyler (called in the Revolution r ort Schuyler), now Rome, and Forts Oswego, Niagara and Schlesser. An abstract from his ledger shows an indebtedness of his customers at one time just before the Revolution, amounting to over ten thousand dollars. Many of liis goods he imported directly from London. To his Indian customers he sold blankets, trinkets, ammunition and rum; and received in return, peltries and ginseng root. The latter was at that time an important item among the exports of what was then western New : a ^ cl . tIle ) W0 . name fi» added to the article of potash, almost the only commodities puichased in a foreign market.—tom’s Hist., p. 136.

he

f Congress of the Six Nations at Johnson Hall,

Ap. 9,1773.

t ^ en acquainted them (the Indians), with the intelligence J eceived from the General respecting the conduct of the Pawtawatamies, six

Indian Trade.

423

Canoes afforded the only means of transit by water at the earlier periods They were the simple hark or log canoe—very light and carrying considerable cargo. One or two men sitting in the bottom, propelled the little vessel by paddles and at riffs or shallow places waded and pushed or pulled it over. Where water failed them or the fall could not thus be overcome—the boat and cargo were carried around the portage, when navigation was again resumed.

Later, the cargoes were heavier and boats called batteaux were used. They were paddled or poled, or towed by men along the bank or the shallow places.

POLING A BATTEAU,

In the riffs a channel was made by throwing out boulders which were m the way.

In time the line of deepest water became defined and all the riffs came to be named and were land marks in the itineraries of travelers.

The efforts of the boatmen during a century were furthered by the “ Inland Lock and Navigation Company,” which built a series of wing dams on all the riffs. They were usually crude affairs and intended only to serve their office in low water.

These wing dams—collections of stone which were dragged from the channel and arranged in shape of a the wings stretching over the shallow from the shore to the centre, where there was a narrow outlet. The effect of this was to throw what water there was into the centre of the stream and float the boat. Then by dint of wind and muscle—sail and poles, and men towing at a long line, the boat was hauled over the rapid into stiller water again and so pursued her journey.

ot whom, and three squaws last December had wounded and attempted to murder Mr. Van Slyck a considerable trader at St. Joseph’s, killed one of his people and dangerously wounded another, and that one Indian was killed, and two wounded. That Mr. Yan Slyck was obliged to fly leaving goods of his and Mr. McComb’s of above £1,500 value behind them — Col. Doc., viii, 368.

Jacob Brouwer, an Indian trader, was “barbarously murdered” at the falls on the Oswego river, in the spring of 1730, by an Onondaga Indian.— N. T. Goan. Min., xvi, 28.

The later form of boat which carried a fair cargo, and which held its own until the Erie canal sounded the death knell of the Mohawk river as a navi-gable stream, was the “ Durham” boat, said to have been first used on Long Island Sound. The name occurs early as a Dorem or Deurem. The Dorey or Dorry common along the coast is probably similarly derived.

The Schenectady Durham boat was the pride of the place, and extensive boat yards were employed in construction and repair of these crafts, which were roughly treated by the boulders on the many riffs and landing places.

This gallant craft was broad, flat bottomed and straight sided with easy lines at bow and stern to help her flotation on striking a rapid. She was decked fore and aft and along the gunwales which were cleated to give footholds for the boatmen. The balance of the deck was open and in the well hole thus formed was stored the cargo, covered from the weather if necessary by canvass tarpaulins.

A mast was stepped near the bow and was equipped with square sails.

When wind and tide were favorable these Durhams sailed easily, but owing to the crookedness of the channel and its shallowness, this was only for very short reaches. The main reliance was on the pole or tow line using the sails as an auxiliary power only.*

In the cut taken from a work published many years ago a boat is seen forcing a “riff.” The wing dams are shown—the sails are filled by a breeze dead astern and the crew are wading and pushing the craft through the pass.

Schultz Journal.

Indian Trade.

425

As the country became more fully settled — and more especially after the Revolution, the traffic on the river grew to immense proportions. A stone tramway was built at enormous cost by the “ Albany and Schenectady turnpike company,” to expedite the hauling of goods to the harbor on the Binn& kil, which in time was lined with batteaux and Durham boats loading or discharging cargoes.

The goods were simply supplies for farmers, going west and farm staples coming east, and need no further description.

The New York Central Railroad carries many thousand times the burthen of the Mohawk flotilla but Schenectady profits relatively less thereby, while the picturesque element has gone completely.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

BOROUGH AND CITY CHARTER, 1765 AND 1798.

The inhabitants of the township of Schenectady for more than a hundred years from its first settlement, had enjoyed no civil privileges or political rights other than those appertaining to other towns in the Province.

During and subsequent to the French war, which closed in 1763, the town made rapid growth in population and importance.

All goods and supplies destined for the western tribes and forts were embarked in batteaux at this point, and all furs and peltries received in return passed through Schenectady for New York. To prevent disorders and excesses, therefore, in so large an influx of foreign people, the magistrates and people were anxious to secure an independent government and in 1763 and 1764, applied to Governor Monckton for a city or borough charter.

Their petition dated April 11 , 1763,* was laid before the Governor and Council April 19, 1764;—on the 2d of May following, the corporation of Albany presented a counter petition, which though it may have delayed did not prevent the granting the Charter.

* “ To the Hon ble CadwaLLAdsr Colden, Esq., His Majesties Lieut. Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Province of New York and the Territories thereon depending in America, in Council.

“ The petition of the principal Inhabitants of the Township of Schenectady, whose names are Subscribed to the Schedule hereunto annexed, in behalf of themselves, and the rest of the Inhabitants of the said town,

“ Humbly Sheweth

“ that the Town of Schenectady is an Ancient Town, scituate on the Mohawk river and with the Lanas thereunto belonging, is thus described in the respective Grants thereof:—‘ Beginning at the Maques liiver by the Town of Schonectady and from thence, runs on both sides of the River to a certain place called by the Indians Canquarioeny , being reputed three Dutch or twelve English miles; and from the said Town of Schonectady down the river, one Dutch or four English miles to a kil or creek called the A.6? l J lo.dts, and.from the said Maques River into the Woods south towards Albany to the Sand kil, one Dutch mile, and as much on the other side of the River north, being one Dutch mile more,’—the said tract was conveyed by the Indian Proprietors thereof in the name of certain Trustees, for the use of the Inhabitants of said town, by their deed dated the third day of July, 1672, and granted and confirmed to Trustees for their use, by Col. Thomas Dongan then Governor of this Province, under his Royal Highness the Duke ot Y’ork, by Patent dated the First day ot Novejnber, 1684.

The Borough .

427

This struggle had been going on for many years and after securing freedom of trade, the citizens of Schenectady hoped for, and Albany feared, their complete emancipation from the control of the latter city.

The latter were alert as the following correspondence indicates:

Albany, 21st Feb., 1761.

Gentlemen :

We are apprehensive that we will be obliged to contend with the Inhabitants of Schonectady about the Bounds and Jurisdiction of our City.

We inclose you a Copy of our Charter dated 1686 in July, and a Copy of the Schonectady Patent dated Nov., 1684, with a Map of the Premisses, therefore desire you will send us your Opinions as soon as may be ; you will observe by the Patent that his Majesties grants to five Trustees for the use and behoof of the Inhabitants of the Town of Schonectady.

1st Station.

A certain Tract of Land beginning at the Maquas River by the Town of Schonectady (See the Map at D), which from thence runs westerly on both sides up the said River to a certain Place called by the Indians Kagwarione being reputed three Dutch or twelve English Miles as at F on the Map.

2d Station.

And from the said Town of Schonectady down the River one Dutch or four English Miles to a Kill or Creek called the Ael Place at E.

“ That the said town from its advantageous situation on the Mohawk River, the only communication by water to the numerous Tribes of Indians to the West, has long been the place where all goods intended for the Indian trade, have been imbarked, and at which all the returns have been unladen ;—that this intercourse with the Western Nations and the extent of the important commerce with them has long occasoned not only a great increase of Inhabitants of the said Town and the parts adjacent, but also a vast resort of others imployed in carrying on that trade, all which have for some years been highly augmented by the communication and Support of the various fortresses occupied by us, in these extended countries/that amongst so great a concourse of People, many crimes and excesses are frequently committed, to the great Prejudice of His Majesties subjects, and disturbances of the Publice pace, which it is to be feared will increase for want of sound wholesome Regulations for the Government of the said Town.

Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray that your honour will be pleased to take the premises into your favorable consideration and create the said town a city, incorporating the Inhabitants with such officers, powers, privileges and Immunities and Liberties, as to your honour shall seem meet.

And your Petitioners shall ever pray etc.

We whose names are hereunto subscribed, being the magistrates, the officers of the militia, the ministers and Church Wardens joined with the principal Freeholders of the

History of the Schenectady Patent.

3d Station.

And from the said Maqnas River into the Woods South towards Albany to the S d Kill one Dutch Mile at G or H.

4th Station.

And as much on the other side of the said River North being one Dutch Mile more as at

His Majesty reserves all Grist Mills and Saw Mills already built or hereafter to be built, as the above Lines do not close and the meaning must have been to take in Lands.

How are the Inhabitants of Schonectady to run their Lines to Entitle them to any Lands? they make pretence to one Dutch Mile on each side of the River from the Ael Place at E to Kanoweryone at F which we conceive they have no right to.

How do you understand the Words of the 1st Station? (a certain Tract of Land on both sides up the River & ca )

How do you understand the Words of the 3d Station? (and from the said Maquas River into the Woods South towards Albany to the s d Kill one Dutch Mile as at G.

township of Schenectady, do hereby agree that a Petition shall be made to his Excellent Governor Monckton, in our name, to have the said town of Schonectady made in a Corporation City, as Witness our said names in Schonectady April the 11th 1763.

John Duncan, J. P. John Fisher.

John Duncan for John Glen Jr.

Daniel Campbell by his order Isaac Yrooman Justices

B. Yrooman, minister of the Gospel Jacobus Yan Slyck, Coll,

Joseph R. Yates, Town Major.

[— Council Min., xxiii, 469, 472.1

We the Subscribers, Freeholders of the Township of Schenectady, do hereby agree that a Petition be made to his Excellency Governor Monckton, to Endeavour to get a charter for this town, to be made a county town corporation, April 12,1763.

Reyer Meyndertse Maas Yan Yranken, Arent Andriese Bratt, Samuel Yedder,

John Cuyler Jr.,

Jno. Brouwer.

Petrus Vander Yolge, John Mynderse, Harmanus Bratt, Johannes Yedder, Hendrik Brouwer, Elias Post,

Cornelius Yrooman, Peter Fonda,

John Hale [Hall],

John Stevens,

Reuben Horsford,

C. V. D. Yolge,

John S. Yrooman, Cornel 8 Runkel,

Jacob Vrooman,

Henry Glen,

Jno. Yedder,

Isaac Yredenburgh,

Jno. Yan Sice,

Hend r - Yeder,

William Schermerhorn, Barent Yeder,

Karel H. Toll,

Jacob Swits,

Christopher Yelthuyse, Abraham Wemple,

Corn 8 Y. D. Yolgen, Henry Peck,

Job: Yan Antwerpe,

Isaac Marselis,

Fouti Yan rene, (?)

John J. Bastian,

Andrew Truax,

Ab m Truax,

Thos. Brouwer Bancker, Adam Smith.”

[ Toll Papers .]

The Borough.

429

The Schonectady People take this to he in their favour and insist upon it that the Abbreviation S d Kill is intended for Sand Kill at H), and that it gives them a Dutch Mile all along the river from E to F, and the same on the other Side of the River by the 4 Station—if you Think that the Abbreviation S d may he taken for (Sand) as the Schonectady People will have it than it will he Sand Kill as at H in the Map which be it at G or H must they not run from thence to Schonectady at D ? if not must they not then go with a Straight Line' to Kanoweryone at F ?

The Bounds of the City of Albany you will find in the Charter inclosed Page 4 viz : from—the South by a Line to be drawn from the Southermost end of the Pasture at the North end of the Said Island called Marten Gerretsons Island at B, running back into the Woods sixteen English Miles Due North West to a certain Kill or Creek called the Sand Kill.

Must this Line he run North West as the Needle Points as you see the Prickt Line in the Map ? or must this Line be run North 33 D : West so as to Touch the Sand Kill at C ? which is near Due north West wanting only two Degrees if we allow Ten Degrees for Variation, if the Latter must we then stop at the Sant Kill which is 14 Miles and 37 Chains from tfie River? or must we extend the 16 Miles on the North to a Line to be drawn from the Post that was set by Governour Styvesant near Hudsons River running Likewise, North West Sixteen English Miles and on the West by a straight Line to be drawn from the Points of the Said South & north Lines follow the Charter from (B) to C. If you are of Opinion that the South Line is to touch at the Sand Kill from (B) to (C,) are we then to run parrellel to that Line ? or must we run the cource of the Prickt Line and must we stop at the same Length or must we extend to the end of the 16 Miles ?

If you should Judge that the Lines of the Schonectady Patent should Interfiere with the Bounds of our Charter (as the Charter seems to be very express as to the Jurisdiction). • Tho older then the Charter will they not he subject to our Jurisdiction ? And as his Majesty reserves all Grist Mills and Saw Mills out of their Patent, will not they belong to us tho the Soil should be theirs ? (see Albany Charter Page 3, at A.)

Whatsoever information you may want to give you a further Idea hereof you may have from Mess r Ten Eyck, Dow and Ten Broeck.

We are apprehensive that the People of Schonectady are or have been about obtaining a Charter or some instrument or other whereby they might be excluded from our & have a Court and Jurisdiction of their own which We conceive would be a detriment to this City; we therefore would also have you to Consider whether if such a thing was Attempted, there Would be a probability of their succeeding and what steps would be necessary for us to take in order to prevent them.

By order of Common Councill,

Ha. Gansevoort,

Clerk.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

In accordance with this petition Lt. Governor Colden, on the 22d of October, 1765, granted the inhabitants a borough charter, seemingly fashioned after an English model, with great care, formality and minuteness, which is as worthy to be called a city charter as any that have succeeded it.

After reciting the chief facts stated in the petition, the boundaries of the township, the Dongan patent, the advantageous situation of the village; and the necessity of a city government to restrain those employed in the carrying trade from crimes and excesses,—the Lt. Governor created “ said township of Schenectady a borough town ” under the name of the Borough town of Schenectady , and the “ Mayor, Aldermen and commonalty of the said borough town of Schenectady one Body Politick and corporate by the name & title of the Mayor, Aldermen and commonalty of the Borough town of Schenectady.”

The following is a list of the first officers named in the charter, Isaac Yrooman for mayor; John Duncan, Recorder; Jacobus Yan Slyke, John Glen, Jr., John Sanders, Daniel Campbell, John Visger and John B. Yan Eps,—Aldermen;—Garret Lansing, Rynier Myndertse, Ryer Schermerhorn, Tobias Ten Eyck, Cornelius Cuyler and Hermanns Bradt, Assistants;— Ihomas Mcllworth town clerk; Christopher Yates, Treasurer or chamber-lain; Isaac Merselis and Isaac Swits, assessors; Barent S. Yeder, Collector; Richard Collins High-Constable; Thomas Murray, Hermanus Terwilliger, John Yan Yorst, Charles Dennison, James Dunlop, and John Wasson Jr., sub-eonstables; and Alexander Campbell, Sergeant of the Mace. The mayor recorder and town clerk were to be appointed and were removable by the Governor and Council ; the aldermen and assistants, assessors, collector and constables were elected by the plurality of votes, or voices of the freeman assembled yearly for that purpose, on the feast day of St. Michael the Arch-angel, the high-constable and chamberlain were named by the mayor and Common Council and the sergeant of the Mace by the Mayor.

Ihe mayor or recorder with three or more aldermen and three or more assistants, by the name of the “ Common Council of the Borough town of Schenectady ” were to have power to “ make laws, ordinances, &c., for the good iule of the Borough aforesaid,” and the trade carried on there, for legislating the watermen and ferriage, for the preserving and selling the lands of Schenectady, &c.,—to remain in force for twelve months. The fieemen of the borough were to be such persons of lawful age as had been

The Borough .

born therein, or such as had resided therein ten years previously, or such as had that privilege granted by the Common Council; and none but freemen were allowed to use any art, trade or mystery, or to expose for sale any manner of goods or wares at retail under penalty of five pounds.

It is doubtful if this very elaborate charter was ever carried into effect; it was altogether too complicated a piece of machinery for the simple minded burghers of Schenectady. The mayor, recorder, aldermen and assistants were called together the following December to hear it read and take their official oaths; whether they ever met again or performed any acts under it is not known, no records being now extant of their doings.*

A fatal defect of this charter was, that it did not finally dispose of the dispute about the management of the common lands; the trustees appointed under Arent Bradt’s will did not relinquish their office and power to the new Common Council; they still held and managed all the property of the town.

Soon after this charter was granted the contest for independence began with the mother country. All local differences were merged in this, and it was not until some years after the war closed, that the dispute about the public lands of the town was settled and a new city charter obtained.

In the beginning of the year 1798, the Board of Trustees of Schenectady petitioned the Legislature for the passage of a bill which they had procured to be drawn up by Abraham Van Vechten of Albany; and on the 13th Feb., a resolution was passed by the Board in relation thereto as follows,—“ that unless the principles of our bill now before the Legislature, according to resolution of this Board, or the amendments now made by this Board be inserted in the bill now pending in the Legislation, and should those amendments not be inserted, we therefore Resolve that we will never surrender or convey our right & trust, and that we appoint Ab m Oothout, John Glen, Jellis Fonda, & Nicholas Veeder a Committee [who] shali immediately petition the Legislature and recall our former Petition.” On

* The following is the call for the first meeting of the Common Council under this charter.

“ Isaac Vrooman, Esq., Mayor, & Jno. Duncan, Esq , Recorder of the Borrowgh town of Schenectady, as appointed by Charter bearing date the 28d Oct r Last, is now arraived, Desires Theire Compliments To Reyer Schermerhorn, Esq., assistant Alderman for said Burrougli, & Beggs the favour of his Company at the House of Alexander Campbell Tavernkeeper, on Monday Next the 2d December, at Ten O’Clock in the forenoon, in order to Take the Oath ol Office & be present at reading The Charter. November the 29th, 1765.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

the 26 Feb., said committee “reported that they have perused a bill, which was to be laid before the Legislature, which they disproved of;—having added several amendments to the said Bill, Therefore Resolved by this Board that John Glen, Ab m Oothout, Andries Van Petten & Jellis Fonda, being appointed a committee to go to Albany in order to examine the said Bill and if approved of by said Committee, then the said Bill to be delivered into the Legislature,—Otherwise to lay in a remonstrance before the Legislature, to recall the petition of the Board of trustees.”*

After many conferences between the inhabitants and the trustees, a common understanding was finally reached, which resulted, March 26th, 1798, in an act to incorporate all the freemen within the ancient limits of the township into one body politic “ by the name of the Mayor, aldermen & Commonalty of the city of Schenectady.”

By this charter the surviving trustees became divested voluntarily of all right and claim over the common lands, the same being vested in the mayor, aldermen and commonalty of the city, three commissioners were appointed to settle all accounts against and in favor of the trust, and it was provided by the act that no sale or transfer of the common lands should be made “ unless two thirds of the whole number of aldermen and assistants of said City shall give their assent to such sale.”

The territory embraced in the city limits was divided into four wards, the present town of Glenville forming the fourth ward, Rotterdam the third, and the village including the territory to the east line of the patent formed the first and second wards, Union street and the Niskayuna road being the dividing line.

All monies received for rents or sale of lands was to be divided between the four wards, one half for the first and second wards, and one quarter for each the third and fourth wards ; and finally “ all the unimproved woodlands within the limits and bounds of Schenectady wdiich shall not have been lawfully granted by said trustees at the time of passing this act” were to lemain in common for timber and fuel for the use of the free-holders and inhabitants aforesaid,” and it was not lawful for the common council to sell any part of the same.

* Min. Board Trustees of Schenectady.

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To His Excellency

William Try on Esq! \

' aptain General &. Governor m Chief 1 o£ tlie Province of NEW-YORKcL^j.

of tli e Country of the VI.Nations j

’roper,-with flan of the (Ldyaceni Coflfl |

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which, they principally reside 1 r dependants The, Mohocks arc- notmenl Coney oh-arc, past of the, Cruida- foundry ■'Stoth, Motion, ore, onutted, being a, 'Incu.la, <£ Cnondaga,

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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 xbefore 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 existence 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 Illustre 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 hun E. Gemeente, een Huys van twee Verdiepingen en twee Verbrekken in yeder Verdiepinge te Bouwen op het Lot grondt tot de Kerk behorende, daar tegenswoordigli het Oude Wachtliuys staat; sul-lende op volvoeringe van het gebouw, drie van desselfs Yertrekken worden of gesondert tot school en Academie gebruyk .—Consistory Minutes.

(triviale schoolen ) of the town and for the establishment of an Illustre 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 superintend 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 an is written on fifteen pages of foolscap. It was probably drawn up by Dr. Romeyn who was president of the meeting.

, ^ an ° va * s ^ a P e 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 .

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 unincorporated 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 consideration this request was granted and the proceeds of this sale with other moneys were used in building the present Union School edifice.

UNION SCHOOL.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

SCHENECTADY.

Probably no city bas 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 “TV asseeton,” and the great dome of the National capitol as “ Wasseeton’s Campo” i. e., Washington’s wigwam or tent.

The French designated the town as Corlaer after they had become acquainted with it; though the first map, in which the editor has found the settlement mentioned, is in Jesuit Relations (Madam le Mercier’s relation to the Superior of the Society of Jesus, dated Kebec, 1665), where it appears as “ Les nouvelles habitations hollandoises .”

Doctor Samuel Mitchell in a communication to the New York Historical Society (i, 43), gives the following names which he derived from John Bleecker the old Indian interpreter at Albany:

“ Cahohatatea = Hudson’s River.

“ Schenectadea = Albany.

“ Schenectadea Cahohatatea = Albany River.

“ Ohonowa-langantle* = town of Schenectady.

“ Schenectadea (Albany), signified the place the natives of the Iroquois arrived at by traveling through the pine trees.”f

* Compare first half of this word Ohonowa with Schonowe the name in the deed, and consider that the Mohawk gutterals were unrenderable in Dutch. They are likely to have been identical.

f Comparing these words with the derivations of Dr. O’Callaghan, we may have with little straining, Ca-ho-Tiact-at-ea = the river that flows without (or beyond “ the cabin.”) Schen-ec-ta-dea Ca-ho-hact-at-ea = the river that flows beyond the town without the door.

Schenectady .

437

Similarly the present town of Schenectady took the name when referred to at Albany, as “beyond the pine plains.”

Danker and Sluyter having described the beautiful valley in which it lies, speak of it as “ this Schoon-echtendeel.” Hon. H. C. Murphy in his translation of their journal, notes this as a play on the words Schoon-echtendeel — beauiifid portion .

When the Dutch arrived at the head of navigation of the Hudson’s river in 1609, the Mohawks had castles at the mouths of the Norman’s kil and the Mohawk river, but the larger portion of the natives first seen were Mauhattans, Minguas, Mohegans, Delawares and other river Indians.

These gave names to remoter places, by which they became later known, and the name Schenectady was connected with the Mohegan explanation of its meaning. The Mohawk country was to the north and west of the highest point to which ships could go.

The following hitherto unpublished memorandum by the late Dr. E. B. O’Callaghan presents a different and probably the correct explanation of the term Schenectady as it was variously used.

As it applies to the town on the site of Albany at an earlier date its authenticity is the more probable.

“The usual signification attributed to this word is believed to be erroneous having been derived not from the Mohawk but from the Mohegan language.

“ In the former tongue G/Vun-ho-ha== door ,

S’Gaun-ho-ha = the door ,

Hac-ta-tie = without.

“ These two words combined form:

S’Gaun-ho-ha-hac-ta-tie, this abbreviated and written S’ Gaun-hac-ta-tie == without the door.

“S’ Gaun-ho-ha , appears also in another name given to the town by the Mohawks at an earlier date. The Indian title to the land in the immediate vicinity of Schenectady was extinguished July 27, 1661, by a conveyance to Arent Van Curler. In his deed the land called by the Dutch 4 Groote Vlacht,’ is named by the Indians Schon-o-we , identical probably with S’ Gaun-ho-ha in sound and signification. *

History of the Schenectady Patent.

“ To understand the full import of these terms it should be remembered that the Mohawk tribe was the head of the confederacy called the Five Nations or Iroquois; they claimed the exclusive power to initiate treaties with other tribes and foreign powers; in their figurative language the Mohawks were the dooroi the cabin, i.e., the confederacy.* All ambassadors to the Five Nations approached the confederacy by the Mohawk tribe.

“On one occasion the Governor of Canada seeking to divide the Counsels and strength of the Iroquois sent an ambassador to the Senecas. The Mohawks resented this infringment of their prerogative, and informed the Governor that they were the Door of the Cabin 1 but,’ say they, ‘ you enter the Cabin by the chimney, be cautious lest you get smoke in your eyes.’

“It is well known that the present site of Schenectady was early occupied as a Mohawk settlement—probably the chief town of the tribe. What name could then be more significant than Sgaun-ho-ha ,— the door? But when their principal settlement was removed west to Fort Hunter;— Schon-o-ioe —the door—would become Sgaun-hac-ta-tie —without the door.

“It should also be remembered that the Iroquois called Albany Schanec-tadea , and very properly according to the above signification of the word, especially whilst our town was occupied by the Indians.”f

On a hill on the flatsj at the outlet of valley of the Norman’s Kil was a town, noted by the early Dutch navigators as Tawas-gaunshee. This, the most easterly castle of the Mohawks, was literally the eastern door of the long house of the confederacy, and here the Five Nations concluded that formal treaty of peace and alliance which never was broken. From

*“The Iroquois consisted of five nations, Mohawks, Oneidas, Cayugas, Onondagas and Senecas, occupying the heart of what is now the State of New York. The Mohawks lay on the river of that name; the Oneidas, Onondagas and Cayugas, successively to the west, near the lakes, and west of all towards the Niagara lay the Senecas. These names, except the first, are corruptions of their own. The Mohawks called themselves Gagnie-guahague, but as the tribe collectively was styled Ganniageari, the She Bear ; the neighboring Algonquin tribes called them Magua , the Bear, a name which the Dutch and English accepted. These five nations formed a league, and in their idea, constituted a complete cabin, hence the name for the whole was Holinousionni , meaning, ‘ they form a cabin.’ ”— Dr. J. G. Shea , in note to Gowaii’s Ed. Miller's N. T. t Based on notes furnished by the late Dr. E. B. O’Callaghan.

4 Prof. Pearson.

Schenectady.

439

there along the Tawas-gauntha (Norman’s Kil), led the trail* to the valley of the Mohawk river and thence through the gate or gap in the mountains to the Indian castles near and above Schoharie creek.f

It would not be difficult to connect this Sgaunshee or ( Sgauntha ) with S' Gaun-ho-ha, as derived by Dr. O’Callaghan. The scribes of the time were not skillful in the spellings of their own languages, and were not very likely to render the terms and sounds of an unknown tongue either literally or consistently, the same Indian-term being variously spelled and as variously sounded. This is equally true of Dutch words in records of that date.

In the Vrooman map of 1768, it will be seen the Mohawk is designated as the “ Schenectady River.” Was this the Mohawk name of the river which led through the eastern gate of the Iroquois country ?

In a note to Gowan’s Edition of Miller’s Description of the Province of New York, the editor, Hon. John Gilmary Shea, says: “ Scanectade (Schenectady) is the Mohawk. The name means, beyond the openings. It was given by the tribe to Albany, and retained on the division by the present town.”

He does not quote his authorities, but beyond the opening was probably as near to beyond or “ without the door” as the limited vocabulary of the Indians could be expected to go. What he means by “ retained on the division” is not clear, as the division of Schenectady from Albany occurred in this century.

“The ancient Mohawk village which stood at this place, was called Con -?iocharie-guharie, or, as Benson writes it, Oronowaragouhre , in allusion to the vast piles of drift 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.” * * * * “ it does not appear from any author

* For a century or more this was the common route from Albany to the present Schenectady.

f Tawas-SchoTwr was the Mohawk name for Schoharie.— Simm's Pioneers.

The Schoharie creek was a gateway to the Mohawk valley, and after Schenectady, was ceded and was without the door s the locality became the real door to the Mohawk country, whether from the south along the Scoharie—the east along the Mohawk or the North Woods. Spelled sgau-hor it would sound the same as Scho-hor, and we are doubtless indebted to crude ears and cruder recorders for the present soun dand spelling of the name.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

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*

It is evident, from the “indenture ”f prepared to be signed by the “landholders on the plain called ” that Governor Stuyvesant did not

know the Dutch name for the place May 5, 1663, probably ignoring the Indian name. Van Curler registered the baptism of the town as Schan-echstede , in the agreement of May 18, 1663,J sent to the Commies at Albany.

In official papers of 1664, the town is designated as Schaneghstede and Schanechstede (egh and ech being used interchangeably).

In the Indian deed for the Schenectady township,§ in 1672, the name is Schan-hech-ta-de, which is very like S' Gaun-hac-ta-tie. This is as recorded by Van Marken, Notary Public. In 1675, Ludovicus Cobes — schout and secretary, writes it in the same manner except the middle h which is dropped, and as if to make up for this, changes Schan into Schaun , thus reverting very positively to Dr. O’Callaghan’s derivation.

In Governor Stuyvesant’s order of June, 1663, the word is spelled as now, Schenectady , and with slight variation this seemed to be the official orthography.

In 1802, a petition signed by original settlers, familiar with its history and surroundings, and at a time when the Mohawk language was more or less familiar to all of the inhabitants,—was accompanied by “ a list of ye Lands and Income of the township of Schon-hec-ta-dy”. The Rev. John Miller, the best educated man who had the visited the town up to 1693-5, spelled the name as he had heard it pronounced, when he visited the town, Scan-ec-ta-de and Scan-ecli-la-de. He may have gotten this spelling from Glen whom he knew, and who during the year 1695, at least, spelled it Scanectady.

In 1696, the commander of the fort, Lieutenant Hunt spelled it Schon-ac-ta-cly.\\

Governor Andross orders“ Sconextady strictly prohibited all trade,” etc., in 1678.

* Introduction, see page 14. t Introduction, page 14. fi Fortifications and Garrisons, page 313.

t Ibid, 12.

§ Ibid, page 18.

Houses in Ancient Albany County .

441

HOUSES IN ANCIENT ALBANY COUNTY,

The first settlements in the county were on Castle Island at the mouthL of the Norman’s Kil. Being a mere trading station, the buildings were simple in design, and probably after the pattern so common for a long period here and still common in the Netherlands. They were built by mechanics brought over for the purpose and it was long before there was need of any others. When the settlement grew in dimensions, houses were scattered along the river bank to suit the needs or convenience of the traders. Doubtless the log or block house was common but the Dutch gothic taste was most prevalent. They were either of usual Indian pattern or a simple rectangle in plan, from fifteen to eighteen feet wide and two or three times as long. The walls whether after the Indian pattern or of framed timbers boarded,* or brick filled, or partly one and partly the other, or of brick or stone masonry, were usually about eight to twelve feet in height. Across these were laid heavy beams, the covering of which, very heavy plank usually two and a-half to four inches thick, formed floor of upper and ceiling of lower rooms.

On each beam was framed a pair of rafters tied by a hammer beam, thus forming a triangular truss of simple construction and very great strength. The exterior was sheathed with broad heavy planks which in turn were thatched or covered with shingles.

* The dwellings in the Jarseyes are wretchedly constructed, “ most of the English, and many others, have their houses made of nothing but clapboards, as they call them there, in this manner; they first make a wooden frame, the same as they do in Westphalia and at Altona, but not so strong ; they then split the boards of clapwood, so that they are like cooper’s pipe staves except that they are not bent. These are made very thin, with a large knife, so that the thickest end is about a little finger thick and the other is made sharp like the edge of a knife, they are about five or six feet long and are nailed on the outside of the frame with the ends lapped over each other. They are not usually laid so close together as to prevent you from sticking a finger between them in consequence either of their not being well joined, or the boards being crooked. When it is cold and windy the best people plaster them with clay. Such are most all the English houses in the country except those they have which were built by people of other nations .”—Danker and Sluyter , 1679,

History of the Schenectady Patent.

No masonry save chimneys was used in any house in Albany prior to 1656 when father Jogues described the town of Albany.

The earlier houses of the average traders were built of poles after the fashion of the Indians in the locality, as later houses were erected and sawed lumber was introduced, the houses were framed of timber and boarded on the exterior, as in the description of the ancient commissary’s residence at the fort. That they w ere poor, shabby affairs even as late as 1643, appears from the statement of Father Jogues who describes Fort Orange as a miserable structure of logs. The settlement about it consisted of some twenty-five or thirty houses roughly built of boards and roofed with thatch, scattered along near the river above and below the fort (about the site of the Susquehanna R. R. depot).

While in Albany he was lodged in a large building like a barn, belonging to a Dutch farmer. It was a hundred feet long and had no partition of any kind; at one end he kept his cattle and at the other he slept with his wife, a Mohaw T k squaw, and his children, while his Indian guests slept on the floor in the middle.* As he is described as one of the principal inhabitants it is clear the civilization of Rensselaerswyck was not very high.f

That the cattle were in the end of the house was not very peculiar, the practice is still common among peasantry of many countries, notably Switzerland, Germany and Holland; barns were uncommon duiing the early years of the settlement of this section of country and in transfers of hofatedes they are rarely mentioned, all crops being kept in cellars or under bergen or

* This description implies a long house built after the general plan practiced by the Indians and the easiest thing for the first settlers (all Indian traders) to erect.

“Iroquois and Huron dwellings were fifty yards or more in length and twelve or fifteen wide, framed with sapling poles closely covered with bark, each containing many fires and many families ”— Parkman's Pioneers of Prance.

f Parkman.

(1679.) “ Their [the Indians’] house was low and long, about sixty feet long and fourteen or fifteen feet wide. The bottom was earth, the sides and roof were made of reed and the bark of chestnut trees; the posts, or columns, were limbs of trees stuck in tlieground and all fastened together. * * * * On the sides, or walls, of the house the roof was so low that 3 ou can hardly stand under it. The entrances or doors, which were at both ends were so small and low that they had to stoop down and squeeze themselves to get thiough them. The doors were made of reed or flat bark .”—Danker and Sluyter’s Journal , description of Indian house.

Houses in Ancient Albany County.

ricks. With woods full of roaming Indians, cattle could not be allowed to stray and they were housed in the end of the domicile or annexed to it under the same roof.

“It is said on New Year’s night in 1655, during a controversy between Jean Baptiste Van Rensselaer and Governor Stuyvesant’s officers, some soldiers armed with matchlocks sallied from the fort and fired a number of shots at the Patroon’s house. Several pieces of wadding settled on the roof which was of reeds and had caused the destruction of the building had not the inmates been on the alert.”—( O’ Callagaharfs HensselierswycJc ).

Johannes La Montagne was appointed commissarie of Fort Orange in 1656. The residence of the commissarie was an old building about twenty-five feet long, one story and a half high with the typical Dutch peaked roof covered with old shingles. At the north end was a room about fifteen feet square and at the south, one about ten by fifteen, into which the door opened and was thus a sort of entry. The second floor was undivided and was under the roof, access being had by a straight ladder through a trap door. There was a cellar under the house.

This was condemned in 1756, and a stone house built, as one of timber would cost as much owing to the distance the timbers had to be hauled. This was to serve as a residence for the vice director as well as for.a court of justice. It cost about $3,500 and was the first stone house in Albany.

The new building had a foundation of stone, brought from a quarry four miles distant, three to four feet thick and six feet high, and the cellar was divided into two rooms each twenty feet square. The foundation was carried above the ground to a height of two feet of “ baked stones three stones,” or three bricks thick [probably about twenty inches] and on this were laid thirty-three floor beams. The walls were carried up, “ a stone and a half” thick. On these rested the upper floor beams and nine pairs of rafters, of the roof was covered wdth sound tiles; there was a double chimney (double flued chimney ?) in each gable, masoned of choice bricks and the whole was bound with forty-two iron anchors. The wiudow frames were of white oak.

The^first floor was divided into three compartments; in the centre was an entry or vestibule separated from the hall, five feet wide by a four inch brick wall. At the north end was a room about twenty feet square with a stone

History of the Schenectady Patent.

chimney, at the south end a kitchen about twenty by fifteen with a chimney, a recess for a bed and pantry.

The upper floor was divided into two rooms about twenty feet square, access was gained by a winding stair which also led to the attic where ammunition and other stores belonging to the fort were stored.*

This building corresponds in description very closely to many old Dutch buildings the writer has examined.

The Bratt house now standing on the hills overlooking the first lock to the west of Schenectady has the central hall, the rooms to correspond with their great fire places, a jutting partition which forms an alcove for a bed on one side and a pantry on the other, the winding stair leading to the upper floor and to the attic. The walls of this house are of bricks; dark colored arch bricks being laid to form diamonds all over the face. In a brick in the front is cut the inscription “ A Bradt 1736.” The building may have been built some time then.

The following are a few citations from common authorities referring to buildings:

(1040.) Ship Hou'tluya was froiglite l with goods for the Colonie (Rensselaerswyck) * * * four thousand tiles and thirty thousand bricks.f

(1610.) The greater number of the houses aroun l forts Amsterdam and Orange, were in those days, low sized wooden buildings with roofs of reeds or straw and chimneys of wood. Wind or water mills were erected here and there to grind corn or to saw lumber.

(1640.) The city * * [ >f Albany] contained in 1643 not more than ten houses.

(1646.) Bricks $4.16 per thousand in Albany.

“Conditions and terms on which Jutfrouw Johanna De Hulterf proposes to sell her brick kiln (Steen bakkerij) as it stands:

"First. The brick kiln shall be delivered to the buyer as it stands fenced and shall be shown to him, in free ownership except- that he shall pay as an acknowledgment two guilders yearly to the patroon. The delivery shall be made 8th Nov., 1637,” &c.

Adrian Jansen Van Ilpendam bought for 1,100 guilders.

Madam Johanna De Hulter proposes to sell at public sale her tile kiln (pannen backerij) on the same terms as the brick kiln.

* First stone house in Albany.—#. B. O' Callaghan. t O Callaghan’s Colony of Rensselaerswyck.

* Johan Dtf Hulter one of the partners of Rensselaerswyck embarked in May, 1653, from Amsterdam in a vessel called tne Graef with different families, taking with them a number of freemen among whom were several mechanics, as one extraordinary potter (Steeubakker). who intended to settle in the colony or any other convenient place .—Albany Rtcords , xv, 93.

Houses in Ancient Albany County,

Peter Meese (Yrooman) purchased for three thousand seven hundred and seventeen (3,717) guilders.— Pearson's Albany County Records.

(1658.) A claim for value of pan tiles and bricks furnished for the church.*

(1658.) Claim for payment for 12,000 bricks and 1,600 pan tiles.*

(1658.) Claim for'5,500 bricks.*

(1658.) Tjerk Claesson for laying bricks*

(1658.) Noted,—the Hoogeboom brothers tile makers in van Slechtenhorst’s bakery or kiln.*

(1662.) Pieter Jacobse Borseboom de Steenbakker sells his Steenbakkerij prior to moving to Schenectady of which he was one of the first proprietors.

(1671.) Saw mill in Bethlehem.

The Patroon had saw mills prior to this.

(1683.) House sold for 95 beavers (or about $300.00).

(1683.) Tjerk Harmenson Yisscher contracts to build a house for Hendrik Roseboom, 18 feet X 10 feet, with a standing gable; a garret and floor. One cross bar window and door case in the front gable. Strips for tiles, likewise a back door and light over the door, a chimney and a mantel, for ten beavers ($32,00).

(1690-1734.) Bricks are quoted at $2.00 to 3.00 per thousand in Schenectady. Albany rates about the same.

(1704.) Wouter Quackenbos bill for 1,300 bricks with carting to the fort, £1-2-0

(1723.) Granted to Lambert Radley and Jonathan Broecks, one acre with the clay in or near the same fit to make bricks to the west of Luykas Hooghkirk’s brick kill. (Albany)

(1736.) Granted to Wynant Yan De Bergh ground where he makes bricks. (Albany).

(1725.) Yan der Heyden Palace, erected 1725, demolished 1833.

“ Built by Johannes Beekman in 1725.” Dimensions 50 X 20 feet, having a hall and two rooms on each floor.

This building stood in Pearl street near State street. It was said to have been constructed of bricks, etc., brought from Holland.

Munsell’s note to this says: “ This is a common tradition of all the old houses, yet there were many brick and tile makers here and abundant material for the manufacture of the article. Probably bricks were brought over as ballast in some.cases. It is also asserted that the timbers of certain houses were imported from Holland, although the best of timber abounded here which could be had at the mere cost of cutting and hauling.

“ Although it had been somewhat modernized internally, the massive beams and braces projecting into the rooms, the ancient wainscoting and the iron figures on the gable ends, carried the mind back to days of old.

“ Washington Irving described it in “ Bracebridge Hall ” as the residence of Heer Antony Yanderlieyden.

“The iron weather vane, a running horse, was placed above the peaked turret of the door at Sunny Side.”

* Notarial papers—Magistrate’s Court Albany.

History of the Schenectady Patent .

(1743.) In contract for a house: prescribed that there should be built: “ Stone foundation 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.

* * * “ The 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,” tfcc., &c4

(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 moulded 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 mostly old houses built in the Dutch style which gives it altogether the appearance of an ancient European cit3 r .”

(1.795.) 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.

Ilouses in Ancient Albany County.

“ Albany contains 1.100 houses. * * “In the old part of town the streets are narrow and the houses are friglitlul; they are all built in the old Dutch taste with the gable end to the street and ornamented on 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 ordinarily dull and disagreeable. ”

(1800.) Worth’s Random Rec.—“ All the old buildings, and they constituted a large majoriiy—were but one story high with sharp 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 and 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 briekmaker 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 w r ere 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.

57

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 strouds 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 without 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 lay home, via, Isles of Shoals 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 ships 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 twenty 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 houses cost very little to construct or at any rate as they were in the main alike in style and character, they sold at very moderate 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.

Stonewalls 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 tilled 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 carelessly 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 Pemberton 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 stand more centuries if modern improvements do not sweep it away.

The Van Gyselling house on the flats is a wooden building and is a remarkable 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 17th 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.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

The Abraham Yates house on Union street near the Dutch church, dates about 1730. 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 flat have been described elsewhere.

The town was doubtless as much Indian in appearance as Dutch, for many years. In 1G43, 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 prosperity, 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 i 715, 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 followed, and 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 1 ates 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.

J here 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 Ue view of the valley bounded by the spurs of the Helderbergs and the -Kayaderoseras hills was secured, unencumbered by the dense foliage and thickening houses of the town.

llie 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 ot 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 o e 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 Grenerall and comand r in chiefe of the Province of Ne w 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 Excel! 8

petitioner but 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 quit 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, 1697.

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

Ilistory of the Schenectady Patent.

Slaves female over 16 years Slaves female under 16 years

19

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 they met and crossed near the summit while the upright row between them 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^ ParJcman.

Dutch Church (Page 335.)

“The parish reader (vorleser van de plaats) [Schenectady] who is the son of minister Schatts came to visit my comrade, 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 voorlezer, gave him a good lesson at which he was not badly content and with which he "went aw ay .”—Danher and Sluyter's Journal , 1679.

Marriage (Note page 366),

“ Marriage in the colony [at Albany] was alw ays early, very often happy and very seldom interested.

“ 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 ok 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 fornication, 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 , 3 695.

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 reputation 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 r To Sundrys Deliver 41 Cap Helling at Saraghtoge Viz* :

Err rs Excep d

per John Schuyler, Willaim Helling.

History of the Schenectady Patent.

[The following items are extracted from sundry accounts against the province of New York rendered by inhabitants of Albany in the year 1698.]

6 gall. Rom to y e Indians at 5s 9c? y* is 4s 6c? at n. york 4c? y e Custome at n. York 3c? to y e Towne of albany, Loy r Charges besides y e Excyse, £2—12.

To John Pruyn for making 3 french prisoners coats 6s.

To 200 loavs bread delivered to y e Indians of y e five nations a sp r lukas y e *bakers acc* £1—10.

To a Bar 1 Syder at y e propositions, £1.

To 8 p 8 strouds att £12—10.

To 8 ps Duffels 386 yards att 7s 6c? p r yard.

Aug. 4. To Jean Rosie for y e pasturage of his Excellencys Coach horses while at Albany, £3—6.

By order of Coll. Schuyler given to y e french Indians when they were here 6 fyn shirts y e linning amounts to 12s apiece is w th making & threed, £3—18.

Schenectady. (Page 438.)

Cornplanter, the great Seneca chief, made a speech at the council, at Fort Harmar, of the Six Nations,Wyandots, Shawanese, Delawares, Munsecs, Ojib-ways,Ottawas, Pottowatomies and Sauks in which he said “when the Americans first dropped on this Island, they found the Six Nations very powerful and willing to assist them, taking them by y e hand ” etc., mentioning the treaty of Schenectady. * * * *

“ Taking up up ye Great Belt he offered one end to ye governor and said he and his Brothers of all ye nations held ye other— this contained ye Treaties of Schenectady ”* etc., meaning doubtless that the first treaty with the whites, made at the village on the Hudson’s River at the mouth of Norman’s Kil, was the first link in the covenant chain and that he held it unbroken.

Mag. of Am. History, April, 1883.

A al Plaats, 7, 109, 122, 148, 188, 211, 371, 378

Abeel, Cornet. 277 J., 28, 420 Abenekis, 291, 295 Academy, 374, 434 Accession of William and Mary, 236

Account of stores, 315 Accounts, Dutch, 380 Ackes, 17

Address of the Mayor, 281 Adherent of Leisler, 320 Adriaensen’s, Pieter, 86, 149

Adriucka, 76, 121,157 Advertisement on the Church door, 37 Aertse’s Island, 79, 107, 171

Affidavit, Citizen’s* 58 Aggrieved, 16 Agreement, signers of proposed, 37, 38 Agriculture neglected, 409 Aiadane, 11,12 Aid from Connecticut, 272

from Massachusetts, 256

Akus Island, 79, 224 Alarm at Schenectady, 280

from Albany, 275 Alarms from the French, 304

Albany, 2, 3, 6 chartered, 414 path, 58

people of, 2, 3, 6, 9, 17, 269

Alderman, 54, 57 Alexander, Rev. George, viii

Robt., 263 Algonquins, 1 Allies, French and Indian, 23, 50.

the Iroquois, 288. Allotments, 58, 62 Almoner, 378 Alluvial deposit, 8 AlolfE, Maria, 262 Ambuscade, 232, 299 Amsterdam, 4, 8, 232 boy,171 foot, 337

Ammunition, 444

Ancient brick house, 95.

96, 98,214, 443 Andries, Daniel, 264 Andros, Gov., impris-, oned, 236

Anti-Leislerians, 245, 272 Antiquarian, xvi Anneke Janse, 263, 384 Annual floods, 8 Appendix, 452 Archbishop Tate, 389 Architecture, xiii Armament of Schenectady, 315

Arme wey or poor pasture, 110. Ill Armorer, 134, 289 Appeal, Notice of, 42 of Gov. and Coun. of Mass., 252

Appel, Adriaen, 82,159 Jan, 82, 83

Willem, 35, 82, 83, 109. 155, 223, 266, 267, 280 Arable land, 22, 68, 82 Arentsen Binnonie, 268 Arlington, Sec’y, 234 Articles of agreement, 36 Assembly, Gen., 44 Attack, cause of, 244 French upon the Senecas, 234 Quebec, 285 signal of, 248 upon Mohawk Castles, 277

Attempt to conquer Canada, 285

Attempts made to violate women, 15

Auchmuty, Dr., 390, 407 Aukes, Diuwe [De Freeze], 63, 68, 80, 83, 90,91,129,162,209,211, 227, 243, 262, 265, 309 Auroensie, 17

B aas, 355

of the carpenters,217 Backus, Rev. J. T., 395, 404, 406

Bagge, Bent, 138 Baker, a, 135

Ballad, Walter Wilies, 269

Bancken, 6, 356, 357 Bancker, Evert, 28, 87, 94, 133, 149, 156

Gerrit, 15, 65, 87, 149, 197

Johannes, 350 Thos. Brower, 204 William, 340, 350 Banns published, 365 Banyar, Gol., 43 Baptism, 365 Baptismal records, ix Barbarities practiced, 290 Barclay, Rev. Thos., 392 Barheit, Barheyt, Bar-huydt, 88

Barhydt, John, 73, 74, 88 Andries Hanse, 88 Barker, Robert, 94 Barns, 442

Barracks, 283, 305, 306, 315, 324, 326, 349 Batteaux, 332, 423 men, 391 Beaver, 336 Beck, Antje, 89 Caleb, 89, 90, 124, 156, 192, 329, 416 Capt. Will, 90 Rev. T. Romeyn, 89 Bee, 351, 352 Beeckman, Williem, 169 Belfry, 356

Bell, 352, 358, 359, 369 Bellomont, Earl, 282, 283 Lady, 282 Belt, great sand, 8 Belts of Wampum, 276 Bends andEddies of river, 8

Benefactor of the poor, 374

Benevolence, 406 Benten island, 103, 113, 140

Bergen, 442 Beroep brief, 351 Berrit, Willem, 99 Beuken or beach, 157 Beukendael Massacre, 298, 299, 300, 301, 302 Beverwyck, 6, 11, 13,15, 16, 223.

Beyond the pine plains, 437

Bickford, Lieut., 281,313, 314

Bill, for stoves, 358 in Chancery, 51 BinneJcil, 9, 58, 60, 77. 79, 97, 101, 117, 123, 179, 189, 224, 327, 328, 332

Bishop Albany, 389 London, 407 Seabury, 406

Blacksmiths to Indians, 288

Bleecker, Jan Jansen, 67, 322

Block house, 150, 232, 290, 305, 308, 310,

311, 314, 315, 316, 317, 331, 346

Blom, Engeltie, 264 Bloody Pond, 229 Blue slate, 7 Board of Trustees, 53 Boat, Durham, 424 Bogardus, Pieter, 107 Boght, 183 of the Kahoos, 183 Bolting, 90, 134, 240, 242 Boin, Willem, 124 Bont, Geertje, 265 Hendrick Lambertse, 68, 80, 90, 91, 210 Jan,91 Stephen, 265 Book Treasurer’s, 361 Borough, 426, 430, 431 Borsboom, Pieter Jacobse (de Steenbacker), 15, 65,79, 445

Borsboom, Fytie Pieter-son, 268 Maria, 100

Piet. Jac., 91, 92, 101, 126, 130, 139, 153, 154 163, 179

Bosloopers, 6, 9, 410, 421 Boswegh, 172, 203 Bounds of Schen., 429 Albany, 429 Boundary dispute, 427 Bouweries 20, 62 Bouwknecht, 147 Bouwlands, 8, 9, 59, 60, 61, 62

Brandwach , 374 Brandywine mill, 205, 220, 449

Bratt, 82, 286, 296, 444 Ab. N., 69

Arent, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 44, 50, 51, 60, 62, 70, 71, 80, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 135, 137, 164, 178, 185, 192, 286, 296, 317, 371

Ar. And., 15, 63, 93, 95, 96, 98, 175, 262

58

Index ,

And., 88, 89, 97. 266, 288 Alb. And., 93, 95 Cat. And., 95 Cate , 86,149 Cittie, 268

Dirk, 63, 98, 99,164,220, 266, 267

Dirk Arentse, 67, 173 Harmanus, 45, 53, 97 John A., 301, 302 Margaret, 63, 95 Tlieunis, 368 Samuel. 25, 53, 63, 266, 267

Samuel Arentse, 98 house, 444, 450 widow, 250 will, 40

Brewer, 141, 221 Brewhouse, 182, 215, 216, 220, 222

Brick ballast, 448 Bricks, 336, 360, 441, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447, 448 cost, 444 Holland house, 117, 246 maker, vii, 107, 360 layer, 109

Bridge, Sym. Groot’s, 166, 180

Freeman’s, 115 Brokers, bos loopers, 415 Brouck, Jonas Brough on, S. S.,opinion, 29

Brouwer, 25 Hend., 66, 91, 93, 101, 124

Hend. W., 100 Jacob, 423 Lysbet, 70, 130 Martie. 66, 91 Philip Hendrickse, 10, 14, 63, 99, 100, 137. 138,147, 177 Do. Thos., 346, 351 Willem, 100, 107, 159 Brown, John, 406, 407 Rev. John W., 391, 392 Buildings, 337 Building of church, 346 of academy, 434 Bull, Capt., 240, 242, 243, 245, 252, 253, 258, 262. 263, 273, 320 Bundling, 366, 367 or Queesten, 454 Burger’s excise, 20 Burial customs, 369 lot, 377 places, 370

under the church, 377 Burnet, Governor, 288 Burns, Charles, 96 Francis, 96 Burt, David, 266 Burying ground, 213, 216, 222, 225, 348, 349, 374. 398

private, 370

Butler, Jr., Lieut. Walter, 295

Buys, Jan, 267, 268 Bybel Voorlezeir, 362 Byvanck, Jan, 266

C adarachqui (Kingston, C. W.), 237, 280 Cahohattea, 436 Callebergh, 127 Calver Wey, 62, 203 Cambefort, Geraldus, 75, 101, 156

Cambefort’s patent, 75, 76

Canachkorie, 275 Canachquo,19 Canada, carried away to, 165,199

attempt on, 285 population of, 3 Canal, Erie, 68 Canatagione (Niskayuna), 251

Canastagione (Niskayuna), 99, 271, 275, 328 Canastegione, 148 Canastagioone [Niskayuna], 232

Canastagiowne, 77, 174, 177,

Canastagioene, 105, 199, 272

Canistageioone, 94 Connestigioone Canistageione, 161 Canajoharie, 232 Cannon,238 Canoes, 423 Cantine, Peter, 57 Cantuquo, 11,12 Cape Cod,4 Capital, New York, 248 Mohawks, 9 Captain of foot, 226 Captive Frenchmen, 382 Captives in Canada, 364 Capture of deserters, 162 Captured by the French, 272

Carley House, 227 Carried away to Canada, 165, 174, 199 Carrying place, 293 Carstense, Carsten, 101 Elizabeth, 113 Teunis, 101, 267, 268 Car works, 171 Casteel, Eylandt, 409 Catechist among the Mohawk Indians, 395, 398

Caughnawaga, 110, 232, 422

Chief of the Iroquois, 248 Children, Arent Bratt’s, 94

Joh. Glen’s, 120 Christiaanse, Christiaan, 101, 123

Christoffelse, David, 102, 108, 243, 263, 268 Case between trustees and Schermerhorn, 48 Castle, Indian, 8,18, 236, 305, 315, 341 Christian, 132 Mohawks, 251, 253 Oneidas burnt, 280 Castleton, George, 309 Cattskill, 6 Cayugas, 2, 236 Centry box, 310, 311, 339 Central Railroad, New York, 60 Champlain, 1 Champlain’s account, 1 Chandeliers, 362 Chaplain, 310, 350 Chapel in the fort, 399 Charter, 426 Dongan, 6 college, 433 the, 33, 359

Cheragtoge (Schuyler-ville), 322 Chesapeake Bay, 3 Chest, deacon’s, 350 Children slain, 209 Chiranies, 446, 448 Christian Castle, 132 Christoffelse, Davidt, 63 Chuektenunda, 7 Church, viii, 150, 154,160, 217, 312, 331, 333, 335, 337, 340, 348, 349, 355, 390, 433, 451

Church accomodation, 361 accounts, 335, 336, 379 Albany, 6

block house designed for, 346

building of, 346 cleaning of, 336 clerk of, 362 clock, 359 commenced, 389 contribution for, 346 cost of, 353 defensible, old, 331 desecration of the old, 361

destruction of, 347 dimensions of, 361 Dutch, 36, 42, 62, 75, 123, 306, 359, 387 English, viii, 389, 390, 406

Episcopal, 42, 206, 401 German Methodist, 99 mill, 376, 377 mother, 361 of 1814, 360 organized, 335 plan of, 357 pasture, 194, 376 people of Schenectady, 390

Presbyterian, xii, 42, 121, 399

records, 335, 385

Reformed, 334 seal, 404 seats in, 356 Sergt., 262 I

service in Mohawk, 342 stone, 390 sites, 373 trade, xii, 380 Cistern, public, 349 Citadel, 317 Citizen’s affidavit, 58 Civilization in Rensse-laerswyck, 442 Civil officers of Albany, 321

privileges, 426 Clerk of the Church, 362 452

Clock, 352, 356, 358,

359

Claas Graven’s Hook [Crane’s Village], 232 Claesen, Com., 268 Clapboards, 441 Clarkson, secretary, 112 Claverac, 6 Clay, Clay loam, 7, 8 pit (Kley knil), 300 Clement, Joseph, 81, 103, 139, 210

Pieter 71, 73, 81, 103, 139, 140, 210 Cloet,. John, 106 Cloutman, Edward, 293 Jr., John, 106 Clute, 104 Bata, 77

Frederick, 104, 105,106 Jan, Capt., 104, 105 Johannes, 77, 104, 105, 106, 185

Cobes, Ludovicus or Lewis, 19, 72, 73, 103, 124, 125, 135, 142, 146, 149, 150, 161, 193, 204, 212, 268

Loomis, Coopeele, 266 Maria 103, 124 Coehorn kil, 7 Coeymans, Lucas Pie-terse, 192 Coffin, 368

Colden, Cadwaliader, 40 Colonie, 8, 9, 13, 15, 16 Collegebrook, Hansen’s kil or, 110

Collins, Mr. John, 416 Colonie, Rensslaerswyck, 83, 421

Commies , 13, 109 Commissaries, 49,50,125, 443

Commissioner, 6 Committee, 54 Commodities, prices, 455 Commonalty, 54, 57 Common lands, 35, 36,39, 49, 51, 52, 57 Company, 5 Complaint, 30, 82 Compromise, 43, 54

457

Conde, Adam, 300,301,302 Conference with Sachems of Five Nations, 284 Congratulation to Gov. Fletcher, 321

Congregation build a house, 352

Congress of the Six Nations, 422

Connecticut levies, 302 Connocharieguharie, 12 Conner, Frank, 301, 302, 303

Consistory, 37 Contention about boundary, 427

Contraband trade, 413, 422 Contract for a house, 445, 446

Contributions for church, 346, 407

public worship, 346 Condition of people, 256 Condre (Sander Glen), 250 Coney Island, 196 Connecticut troops, 302 Convention, 237, 238, 242 Conyn, Pieter, 226 Corlaer, 17, 168, 248, 249, 250, 251, 271, 273, 289, 291

B., 322

Corlaer, French description of town of, 249 Corlard, 291

Cornbury, Lord, 26, 75, 326

Cornelise, Hilletie (see Van Slvck), 76 Jacquese, 17, 23 Cornelissen, Lys., 268 Country was much alarmed, 134

Cornelys jonge pointee, Teunis, 151 Corn, Indian, 8.

Mill, 178, 192.

Corn planter, 420, 454 Cornu, Pieter, 75 Cortelyou, Jaques, 13, 16 Cort o' Garde, 309 Cosby, fort, 316 Cosens, B., 30, 31, 348 Cost of bricks, 444 of houses, 448 of Mit. and Ind. goods, 455

Courcelles expedition, 232 Council called, 290 Count of hats, 408 Court at Fort Orange, 410 martial, 281 of Chancery, 32 of justice, 381 Courtship custom, 365 Cow path, 59 Crane’s village, 76 Crage , 18

Creek, of the lake, 7 Platte, 69 Stone,69

Cregier, Jr., Martinus, 133, 183

Creupel-bosch, 61,126 Cromwell, Jacobus, 106, 222

Crown Point, 3, 295 Cruelties, 253 Cummings, Rev. Hooper, 404, 405

Currie’s Bush, 401 Curateurs of Arent Van Curler’s estate, 169 Customs, 366 courtship, 365 funeral, 368 Cuyler, Ann, 76 Hendrick, 101, 152, 157, 242

Cuyler’s Vlachte, 76

D ’Aillebout, 270

Damens, Martie, 63, 100, 105, 108, 127, 133, 261 Dams, 423 Danger line, 231 Of sale liquor, 239 Danielse, see Van Antwerp 159

Danker & Sluyter's Journal, 59, 184, 441, 442, ^453

Dans Kauier, 226 Darling, John, 300, 301, 302

Rev. T., viii, 395, 399, 406

Davids, Chist., 263 Davidts, Kit, 102 Davitee, P., 276 Day of fasting and prayer, 242

De Arme wey, 374 Deacon’s account book, 380

chest, 350 Dead room, 368 De Bakker (see S. V. Veeder), 66

De Bakkers hoek , 80,121, 203

De Bonrepos, Sieurs, 248 Deed, Dutch, 11, 346 Deerfield, 275 De Freeze (see Auker), 83, 144, 145, 329 De Frontenac, M. Le Comte, 247 De Goyer, Kleyn, 141 De Graafe, 312 Abraham, 56, 165, 300, 301

Aernout, 287 Andries, 107 Claas, 76, 107, 183, 286, 301

Claas Andriese, 70, 107, 306

Cornelis, 363, 369 Grietje Claase, 228 house, 299, 300, 301

Isaac, 94, 237 Jesse, 88 Maria, 88 Mrs., 147

Nicholas, 172, 300, 301 De Graaf’s singing. 363 De Hulter, Johan., 444 Mad., 91, 444 Mons, 102 De La Brosse, 248 (De Laet) Ebbingh, Mad.

Johanna, 192 Delamont, Jacob. 223 Jan, 188

De Lavall, Capt. Thos., 319

De La Warde, Island, 79 Jan, 80, 107, 171 Delaware Bay, 4 Dellius, Domine, 340 De Mautet, M., 244, 247, 249, 250

De Metselaer, Marten, 91 De Moer, see Philip Phil-ipse, 70, 74

De Montessen, Repen-tigny, 248

De Montigny, Marque, 248, 249, 250

Denonville, correspondence in relation to Senecas, 234

Departure from Montreal, 248

Derivation of Schenectady, 454

De Roy, Jonas, 314 De Scheene, Susanna, 159 Description of country, 316

Albany, 441, et seq Fort Orange, 249 houses, 441 Lord Cornbury, 328 Schen. French, 316 Deserters, 281, 314 Destroy the church, 347 Destruction of the town, 50

De Sweedt (see Barhydt), 88

De Tracy, Governor of Canada, 168

De Treux or Truax, 158 Isaac, 136 Philip, 120, 158 De Vos, AndrLs, 93 Catelyn, 15, 62, 63, 98 Catalyntie, 51, 164, 170, 175, 185, 262 Catalyntie Andriese, 51 DeWandelaer, Johannes, 268

De Willegen (the wil-lo .vs), 70,167, 183, 185 De Winters’ or Elias Plantasie, 61

De Winter, Bastiaen, 15, 102, 108, 126, 171, 187 De Wolf, Dirk, 196 Diadorus, 271

Dialects, xvi D Iberville, Sieur C.

Moyne, 248, 249, 250 Director in Amsterdam, 4 Dirksen, Cornelys, 87 Dispute between two tap-stcrs 413

Dissenters, 390, 398, 407 Dissentions at Schen., 239 Divine service suspended, 396

Division of lauds, 58 of patent, 41 Doep book, 365, 387 Domain frittered away, 373

Domestic habits, 379 Dominie’s Hoek, 102 house, 59 salary, 379

Doncassen, Catalyn, 113 Dongan, Governor, 21, 23, 24, 49, 76

paper war with Denonville, 236

patent, 6, 26, 33, 35, 39, 50, 78

Dood-graver, 363 Doop-huisje, 356 and town books, ix, .3 Door of the cabin, 438 south, 408 Dorowingoese, 17 Drinking and quaffing, 272

Droybergb, verf or color kil alias Tequatsera, 7, 74, 75

Du Bois, Gualterus, 350 Da Chene, La Bert, 248, 250

Duffels, 274, 455 Du Mond, or Dumont, Francyntje, 106 Dunbar, Robert, 293, 407 Duncan, John, 45, 86 Duncan’s pew, 408 Durham boat, 424 Dutch account of burning of Scheuectadv, 251 arrived at head of navigation, 437 bricks 444, 447 church, xii, xiii, 36, 42, 62, 75, 123, 130, 306, 387, 408 customs, xii deeds, 11, 346 East India Co., 3 language, x liberality, 335 Mohawk, 388 ‘‘ myl,” 18 style, 446

West India Co., 448 Duties of Kloclduyer, 363 of sexton, 364 ofVoorleezer 362 Du Trieux, see Truax, 69

Dwight, Dr. Timothy, 447

Index.

Dyckman, Johannes 82, 109, 266, 268,

Dyer, Jonathan , 83, 109, 165

E arliest baptism, 393 Early history of Presbyterian Ch., 399

houses, 442 proprietors, 195 records, 380 Easterly Castle, 438 Eastern boundary, 7 Edifice dilapidated, 396 Endowments, 373 Een dracht, 172.

Eenkluys’ gift, 376 Hanse Janse, 62, 109, 334, 374, 375, 379, 385 Kil, xiii

Effects of incursion of French, 347

Election of aldermen, 57 Elias 1 plantasie, 182 Eltie or Illetie, 184 English Church, 389, 406 crowd the Dutch, 1 Entrances, 356 Episcopal Church, 42, 306, 401

Erection of the Church, 393, 406

Erichzon, Do. Reinhar-dus, 351, 352, 355, 360 Erie Canal, 68 Esopus (Kingston), 234 Ets (Yates), Robt., 286 Evil, apparent, 4 Exacting demands, xvi Exchange of prisoners, 302

Exempt from military duty. 290

Expense of outfit, 275 Extraordinary ordinances, 414

Extract from Leisler’s letter to Maryland, 260

aithful allies, 288 Families, large, 82 family chests, x Farm, 49, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67 Farmers, 82

Farmer of the excise, 82, 83

Fate of the Province, 244 Father Jogues, 388, 442, 450 ’

Fifth Flat, 73 Kil, 74

Finances, 378 Findley, Rev. James, 400 Fines, 381 Ferry, 75, 201 Feudal System, 4

Fire in 1819, 451 First Flat, 69 grist mill, 192 houses, 441 piece, 60 proprietors, 68 settlers, 52

settlement, 9, 49, 170, 442

stone house, 443, 444 Fishing rights, 122 Five Magistrates, 176 patentees, 176 Five Nations, see Iroquois, 2, 281, 285, 341 at Schenectady, 279 conference with sachems of, 284 in council, 271, 273 neutral, 285 raid Montreal, 237 Flat, De Willegen or Willow, 21, 70,137,167 Fifth or Wolf, 73, 74, 133

First, 69 Fourth, 70, 72 Great, 9, 11, 13, 58, 62, 68, 115, 149, 153, 170 Ha2lenut, 45, 69 second, 69, 71, 72 third, 69, 70,126,131 sixth, 74, 377 seventh, 75

Great, 9,10, 11, 12, 13, 58, 62, 68, 421 stone, 8

Flats, north side 70 south side 68 Fletcher, Governor, 282 Floods, annual, 8 Foot Company, 286, 287 Fonda, Abraham, 45, 53, 115

Douwe, 222, 422 island, 80, 111 Jelles A., 56 Jellis J., 54, 55 Jilles Douwese, 110, 276 Jillis, 54, 62, 67, 78, 110, 121, 180, 422 Marselis, 129 Foray by French Indians, 282

Forces, British, 310 Foreign and Domestic trade, 6

Foremost farm No. 8, 179

Forms of names, vii Fort, Captain John, 292 Simon, 303

Fort,221, 238, 260, 271, 273, 274, 277, 278, 284, 285, 288, 293, 295, 305, 307, 308, 309, 312, 315, 317, 318, 324, 326, 332, 333, 349. 368, 442 Albany, 59, 324 Amsterdam, 16 Ann, 292

at Bartel Vrooman’s, 238

Casimer, 114 Massachusetts,. 295 Mohawk, 238 Nassua, 114 Onondaga, 288 Orange, 6, 10, 13, 16, 409, 442

Queens, 312, 313, 315, 328

Royal, 309

Sarasteau (Saratoga), 295

Schenectady, 309, 31J, 324, 326, 327 site of a new, 148 St. Frederick (Crown Point) 292

Fortifications, 232, 275, 304, 305, 316, 320, 321, 322, 329, 330, 331, 339 Indian, 304 Fortify, 259 Foundations, 446 Fourth Flat, 52, 72 Franklin, Benj., 3 Freeholders, 53,82,428,432 Freeman’s bridge, 115 Freerman, Dominie Barn-hardus, 112, 175, 340, 341, 342, 343, 345, Afi, 347, 349

Freerman’s Portrait and signature, 112 Free trade, 6, 422 Frelinghuysen, Do., 360, 393

French, 3, 65 acc. dest. Schen., 247 approaching Albany, 279

attack Schen., 120, 245 attack Mohawk castle, 277, 278

character, flexibility of the, 1

commenced to settle in Canada, 1

crowd the English, 1 description of town of Corlaer, 247, 249 designs, 239, 275 endeavor to make peace with Five Nations, 279

garrison at Crown Point, 294 girl prisoners, 264 loss, 251

kindness to captive, 246

of Canada, 2 prisoner, 8, 235, 281 retreat, 247

supplied by people of Schenectady, 232, 233 war, 332 war, last, 3

and their Indian allies, 23, 50

Frontiers of New York, 323, 329

Fuel and Timber, 57 Fuller General, 333 Funeral, 368 invitation to, 369 expenses, 368 procession, 370 Fuyck, 382

ables, 446

Ganse gat, 145, 206 Ganzevoort, Harmen, 137 Garden, 49, 58, 61 Gardeniers, Hendrick, 11, 267, 268

Garrisons, 281, 283, 284. 304, 307, 330, 331, 333, 392

Garrison of Schenectady, 274, 281, 297, 318, 326 Gat, Dove, 87, 92, 97, 203 Gates, 244, 245, 282, 305, 306, 311, 312,313 Gate to the Province, 231 Gathering of Savages about Schenectady, 235

Gaun ho-ha, 437 Gautsb, Jacques Cornel-ise, 189 Geeritje, 211

Geological formation, 7 George 1st, King, 50 German Flats, 232 Gen. assembly, 44 Methodist church, 99 Gerritse, Barent, 110 Frederick, 113 Gestoelte, 356 Gifts, 362, 373 Giguieres, 249 Gilbert, Catharine, 88 Given’s Hotel, 65, 84, 111, 227 Glebe lot, 390 Glen, 82, 312 Abraham, 36, 294 Alex. Leendertse, 113 Catharine, 67, 151 Helena, 117, 118 Henry, 87

House (New Sanders) 79, 117, 149

Jacob, 64, 78, 117, 118, 287,297, 298, 300, 317 Jacob, Jr., 301, 302 Jacob Sanderse, 117,

118, 319

Johannes, 25, 27, 64, 86, 89, 116, 118, 120, 187, 224, 282, 340, 345-380

Johannes Jacobse, 25, 115,118

Johannes Sanderse, 25, 26, 30, 31, 78, 117,

119, 166, 176, 177, 199, 251, 277, 286, 313, 327, 330, 380

John, 30, 45, 47, 54

459

Sander, 64, 72, 106,115, 116, 119, 128, 193, 242, 246, 272, 274, 283, 307, 380

Sander Leendertse, 14, 16, 18, 19, 62, 64, 108, 118, 119, 167, 198 Glen’s sons, 113 Glenville, 432 Gospel, Soc. for Prop., xii Gouverneur, Abraham, 31 Government, aim of, 320 Governor, 72 and Council, 60, 68, 77 of Mass., 257, 258, 259 Stuyvesant, 6 Governor’s authority, 11 patent to Eenkluys, 375

Grammar school, 395 Graven, Claas, see De Graaf, 70

Grave digger and bell ringer, 369

Graven’s hoek, 76, 171, 172

Graves in Churches, 371 Gravestones, oldest, 372 Great Britain, 2 Great Flat, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 58, 59, 62, 68, 86, 421 ~

island, 105, 107, 172, 183, 185

island of Niskayuna, 21 Pall, 369 sand belt, 8 Grievances, 26 Grinding meal, 240 Grist mill, 60 Groesbeck, Stephanus, 73

Groot, Abraham, 120,121, 264, 381 Claas, 120, 264 Corn., 268

Dirk, 73, 120 121, 264, 314

Gertruy, 266 267 Kornelis, 269 John, 291 Lewis, 76, 300, 302 Nicholas, 36, 206, 317 Philip, 76,120, 121, 156, 264

Sym, 25, 99, 104, 120, 139, 148, 178, 197, 198, 199, 201, 215, 216, 264, 266, 267, 294, 301, 364, 375, 382, 383 Symon Symonse, 80, 120, 159, 161

Seymon, Jr., 31, 121, 124, 144

Groote Vlachte, 10, 59, 86

Groot’s bridge, 166, 180 captured by French and Indians, 120 kil, 7 mill, 101

Gryp irons, 358 Guard, 245, 252, 281,314 desert the garrison, 281 houses, 306,310, 433 Guardian of widows and orphans, 378

Guilder or florin beaver, 380

Guns, 304, 329, Gunstocker, 110 Gyse’s island, 71

H agadorn, Manus, 267 Jonathan, 292 Hendrick, 122 Half breeds, 9 moon (Waterford), 6, 232, 272, 274, 275, 322 Hallenbeck, Casparse, 220 Jacob Casparse, 67 Handel-tyde (business season), 413 Hand of Wampum, 18 Hansen, Hendrick, 88 Kil (College brook), 166, 180

Hanse, Carel, 35, 75 Rachel, 128 Hazlenut Flat, 69 Head Of navigation, 3 stones, 372

waters of the Hudson, 4 Heer Patroon’s cannons, 109

Heeren straet, 150, 173 Helderberg, 7 Hendrick, Chief, 296 Hendrickse, Philip, 100 Hesselingh, Dirk, 66, 123, 181, 197, 267 Hesseling, Rob., 263 Hillitie, see Van Slyck, 76

Hilt, Jan, 268 Hindmost piece, 61, 62 History of church building, 391

Hoek, 64, 67, 70, 71, 80, 107, 121, 130, 147, 206, 228

Claas Graven’s, 76, 107, 111, 115, 121, 157, 171, 172

De Bakker’s, 80, 121, 203

Symon Yolckertse’s,142 Hoffman’s Ferry, 75, 227 Hoffstede , 71, 80, 86, 111, ‘ 132, 171, 172, 198, 201, 442

Holland, 1 Hollanders, 59 Hotel, Given’s, 84, 111, 165, 227

Houses, 159, 245, 306, 337, 355, 360, 441, 446, 447 about Orange, 442 Ancient, 119, 159, 224, 229

brick, 246 Dominie’s, 59

Houses, first stone, 443 in Albany, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 447 English, 441 De Graaf’s, 299, 300, 301 Glen, 79, 117, 118 Indian, 442, 444 Indian at Schen., 2 in Jarseys, 441 log or block, 441 Mabee, 131,133, 159, 450 Patroons, 443 in Schen., 250, 446 S. P. G., 389 lots, 62, 82 Mebie, 131,133, 159 of worship, 348 set on fire, 250 spared, 346 stone, 7 Vrooman, 214 watch and market, 333 wooden, 118

Hudson, 2, 3 river, 2 shales, 7

Hunt, Lt. Daniel, 283,314, 315, 325

Hunter, Fort, 316 Gov., 35 Patent, 39

Huys, Jacob Janse, 107

Hjde, William, 314

I dessen, Maria, 138 Illicit trade, 420 Immigration, increasing, 5

Imperfect records, 387 Importance of Schenectady, 323

Income of Dutch Church 379

of English Church 396, of Presbyterian Church, 402

of the public property, 53

Increase of congregation retarded, 361 Indenture, 14 Indian Blacksmith, 288 Castles, 8, 305 character, 231 corn, 8 council, 419 decoy, 299

Deed and First Patent, 17

destroy deserted houses and barns, 273 fortifications, 304, 453 haberdashery, 415 houses, 2, 441, 442 at Schenectady, 2 incursions, 313 killed, 273 linguist

name of the Vlachte or flats, 12

owners, 11 Proselytes, 347 refuse to attack, 278 Scouts, 243 titles, 17, 60, 76, 160 trade, 409, 417 traders, 6, 418, 423 village, 9, 453 wars on the border, 231, 271, 452 wives, 420 Infancy of time, 52 Influence with the Mohawks. 147, 167 Ingoldsby, Maj., 278 Inhabitants, 16, 23, 24, 49, 51, 55

armed, 319.

of Schenectady forbidden to trade, 134 Inland lock and Navigation Co., 423 Inn, 83

keeper, 82, 89. 106, 135, 136, 155, 195, 376, 412, 418, 423

Inquisitorial visits of the sheriff, 414

Inscription on the bell, 359

Interpreter, 77, 147, 174, 177, 183, 211, 212, 261, 265, 276, 278, 297, 323, 344, 419

Interpret.esse, 342 Intrigues of French, 284 Introduction, 1 Inundation, 11 Invasion, French, 281 Inverness, xi Invitation to funeral, 368, 369

Irons, grip, 358 Iroquois consisted of five nations, 438 dwellings, 442 see Five Nations, 1 of the Sault, 291 Isaack Kleine, 272, 307 Island, 58, 78 Akus, 79, 224 Benton or Bent’s, 81, 103, 113, 140 De Brabander’s, 274 five small, 77,177 Fonda’s, 80

Great, 76, 105, 172, 183, 185

Joris Aertse’s or Guises, 71,79,107,171 Kruysbessen (Gooseberry), 78, 111, 118, 166, 219

De La Warde’s, 79, 107 Marten’s, 14, 62, 77, 128, 141 Patroon’s, 280 Sassians or Claas Viele’s, 80, 81, 90 Spuyten duyvel, 78,118, 166

Index.

Island,

Van Slyck’s, 62, 77, 78, 92, 107.128, 191, 193 Varken’s or Hog, 79, 92, 221

Van Eps, 79 Wemp’s, 77, 190 Itsychosaquachka, 189

J ack’s spring, 162 James, Rev. Wm. Jan de Laggin kil, 378 Jan Mebie’s kil, 7 Janse, Anneke, 138, 140, 263

Antje, 262 Arnout, 265

Dan.el, see Van Antwerpen, 69 Ger., 266 Hendrick, 274 Marselis, 83, 128 Paulus, 101, 123 Paulyn, 265 Roeloffe, 140

Jesuit propagandists, 346 relations, 1, 436 Johnson, Col. William, 298

Daniel, 30, 31 Sir William, 147, 390, 393, 407. 419, 422 Sir William’s pew, 394 Joint plea and demurrer in Court of Chancery, 32

Joncker, Jan Janse, 71, 72, 123, 130, 145, 208. Jucktanunda , i. e., stone house, 215

Juffrou'w's landt, 60, 149, 166, 194, 228

Jurisdiction over the village, 417

Justice, 224, 254, 428 of the peace, 83, 243

adoritha, 133 ^ Kallebergh, 122 Kalm, Peter, 446 Kalver wey, 203 Kanestigioune, 323 Kanquaragoone (now To-wereune), 76,158 Kelly, Alex., 394, 406, 407 Keman, 235 Kennighke, 17 Kievits Hoek (Saybrook), 109, 375

King George the 1st, 50 Kil, 78

Aal plaats, 7, 122,147 Arent Mebie’s, 72, 73.

125 ’

Binne, 9, 58, 60, 77. 79 Coehorn, 7 Cromme, 7 Droybergh, 75 Fifth Flat, 74

Kil,

Hansen(College brook), 166, 180 Jan Mebie’s, 7 Platte, 7

Poenties, 7,61, 65 Poesten, 192 Reghel brugse, 7, 69 Schuylenberg, 64,142 Sand, 9 Stone, 68 Symon Groote, 7 Van Eps, 75 Verf, 158 Vossen, 163 Zand, 7, 70

Killed at Beukendaal, 300, 301, 302

Norman’s creek, 294 Saratoga, 295 Scooduck or Schodac, 294

near Albany, 293 in massacre, 123, 381 wife and two children, 83, 209

Killetje, Willem Tellers, 61, 153

Killing cattle, 284 Kilns, brick, 445, 447 Kinaquariones , 233 Kinderhook, 6 Kingego, 156 Kingston, 234 Kintigo, Indian Chief, 296

Kleyn, Anna, 125 Baata, 125 Baefie, 73 Catrina, 125 Clara, 125 Isaack, xi

Johannes, 72, 103, 124 125, 146 Weyntja, 125 Johannes’ death, 73 Klokluyer, 358, 363, 364, 369, 379

Knickerbacker, Harme Janse, 283 Kreupelbos, 92, 111 Kromme kil , 201 Kruisbessen island, 78 111, 118,166, 171,172, 219 ’

Kyler, Hendrick, 176

L abatie, Jan, 66, 91, 92 108,116, 125, 163 Lady Bellamont, 282 Lake Champlain, 1, 3 in Scotia, 62, 186 La Montagne, 12, 16, 247. 443

Lambeth palace, viii La Moyne, De Blainville, 248 ’

De Saint Helene, Sieur. 247, 249, 250

Lands, co., mon, 35,36 39 49, 51, 52, 57 ’

Lands,

division of, 58 legally measured, 410 native’s corn, 8 purchased, 49 Lane, Derick, 57 Lange gang (Centre St.), 58, 212

Lansing, Gerrit, Jr., 68 Gerrit A., 88, 89,151,153 Sander, 36 Lapie, 72, 103 Laplante, Sieur, 296 La Warde’s island, 107 Law of primogeniture in force, 39 Laws, 52

Lawrence, ye Indian, 251 Lawyer, David, Jr., 74 Lea, Mohawk woman named, 146, 168 Leases, 52 Leeghte , 196

Leendertse, Sander, 114, 115

Legal contest, 418 heirs of the first freeholders, 39

Legislature, 41, 54, 56, 57 acts of the, 44 Leisler, 140, 211, 237 letter to Albany, 272 opponents of, 242 overture toSchen., 242 to Bishop of Salisbury, 260

Lendt or Van der Linde, Elizabeth, 150 Lens (Lensh), Jan, 127 Lenyn (Linne, La Noy), Benjamin, 124, 127 Lespinard, Antony, 374 Letter. Freeman’s, 341 to Stuyvesant, 9 Lewis, David, 106 Liberty to tapp, 209 Library, N, Y. State, at Albany, 25

Licensed tapsters. 189 Lieut. Bickford, 313, 314 Lime, 448, 449 Limestone, 7 Linen distributed in the Bush [Woestine],268 Line of stockades, 304 Linguist, Indian, 112 Liquor, a great hindrance to all designs, 235 List of people killed, 261 of stockings, 267 of ye lands and income, 28

Littel, John, 42, 43 Little Pall, 382 Livingston, Capt., 296 Philip, 80, 122 Robert, 77, 260, 272, 416 Locomotive works, 167 Log or block-houses, 441

Loonenburgh, 104

Lords directors of the privileged West India Co., 11 of trade, 285 supper, 382

Lots and farms surveyed and patents, 17 house, 62 village, 59

Lottery, New Castle, 400 Louisburgh, 292 Lovelace, Governor, 234, 411, 412

Loveridge, Wm., 91 Lower Mohawk Castle, 296

Lubberde’s landt (Troy), 110, 123, 192, 223 Lupardus, Do., 344 Lush, Stephen, 54 Luykasse, Jacob, 304 Luysig hoek, 115, 200 Lydius, Dom. Joh., 341, 350

John Henry, 292

aalwyck, 7, 71, 90, 91, IVl 113, 124, 139, 140, 156, 158, 210, 300, 369

Mabie, Arent Kil, 72, 73, 125

Anna, 66, 91 Eva. 146

house, 131, 133, 159, 450 Jacob, 287

Jan, 7, 25,73, 74, 96,123, 131, 133, 151, 162, 287 John, 74

Jan P„ 70, 91, 130, 160, 161, 167,327 Nicholas, 69 Pieter, 56, 74, 179, 287 Magistrates, 20, 193, 195, 197, 272,320 Mangelse, Pieter, 128 Manhatten, 4, 439 Manor of Rensselaer, 420 Map of Bouwlands Indian

Miller’s, 59, 307, 310, 311, 332

Mary Anne Rocques Sauthiers

of Schenectady, 310 Vrooman’s, 332, 333,439 Maquase, 235, 236 castles, 251, 253, 259 Maquaas country, 127 landt, 352 river, 77

Marcken, J. G. V., 17, 18 Maria, 209

Mariuus, David, 128, 135,

Joh, 301, 302 Maritie, 98 William, 73, 106 Marks, Joseph, 266, 274 Mary, 209

461

Marriage by license, 366 civil contract, 365 records,ix

Marselis, Ahasuerus, 129 Gerrit, 128, 263 Gysebert, 25,71, 107,129 Sara, 364 Sweer, 329

Martelaers straat of rack,

129, 134

Marten Gerritse’s island, 141

Marten’s island, 14, 62, 77, 128, 224

Mascraft, Daniel, 70, 107,

130, 314

Masonry, 355,442, 448 Massacre, 50, 102, 193, 208, 244, 252, 275 the Beukendaal, 298 Mastiff dogs, 232 Matthews, Capt.Fletcher, 84

Petter, 330 Maumee river, 2 Maurits, Marten see Yan Slyck, 77, 128, 190 Mayor, 54, 56 alderman and common alty, 54

McCue, John, 69 Meadow, Gerrit Sy-monse’s, 60, 61 Meeting house, 400 Megapolensis, 388 Merchantable beaver, good, 420

Michillimackinac, 391 Milborne, Jac., 241 Military duty, 290 Militia, 285, 318, 320 Connecticut, 318 officers, 238

Mill, 36, 194, 200, 205, 213, 220, 263, 379, 444, 445 Brandywine, 205, 220 carried by flood, 192 church, 193, 376, 377 corn, 178, 192

ptpaIt

grist,’60, 192,193, 376 Groot’s, 101 right, 196 saw, 192, 214, 226 Schermerhorn, 60, 64 Yan Yelsens, 193 Yeeders, 60, 205 Yrooman’s, 205 Miller, town, 171, 376 Miller, Rev. Alexander, 400

Rev. John, 310, 311, 392, 440

Miller’s map, 59, 307, 310, 311, 332

Milling regulations, 192 Minister, the first, 154, 249, 346 Missing, 302 Missionary, 340, 342, 392 Mississippi valley, 1

Mohacks, 284 Mohawks, 2, 7, 59, 76, 79, 284, 288, 312, 395 Mohawk bridge, 200 castles, 18, 212,231,277, 278, 295 296, 304 country, 1, 225, 228 Dutch, x, xvi, 388 flats,8 flotilla, 425

river, 2, 8, 9, 59, 68,79,80 sakemakers, 72,103 valley, 7 women, 69, 146 spared, 250 Mohoakx, 18, 233 Mohogs, 177

Mohegan explanation of Schen., 437 Monckion, Gov., 426 Money of the Dutch, 336 Monopoly, 4, 240 Monsigno, Ensign, 295 Montagne, Willem, 12 Mont Beall, 284 Monuments, 372 Movals at Oswego, 297 Motive for Dutch stations, 420

Mouris, Marten, 12 Mrs. Grant’s memoirs, 453

Muds of oats, 10 Munitions, 238 Munsell, Joel, ix Murdock, James, 87,153 My lady, 282 Myl, Dutch, 18 Myndertse appeals and gains his cause, 134 arrested, 134 Barent, 276 Jacobus, 53 Johannes, 25,134, 418 Joseph, 54 Maritie, 192 suit, 419

Myngaell, Johannes, 322

, Matthys, 141 Names, rare, 34 Nanfan, Capt., 283, 344, 348

Native’s corn land, 8 •first seen, 437 Navigation, 422 Negotiation and compromise, 33 Nepissings, 291 Ness, xi

Nestigeyone, 163, 219 New Amstel, 183 England, 5 lieutenant, 298 states form a confederacy, 3

New Netherland, 4 population of, 5 New trustees, 41, 54

New York Central Rail Road, xiii, 60, 425 currency, 353 distraction and revolution at, 256

Newenhuysen, Dominie, 338

Nicolls, Governor, 65, 76, 77

Nicholson, Col. Francis, 285

Niskatba (New Scotland), 146

Niskayuna, 6, 312, 448 berg or Schuylerberg, 9, 122

great islands in, 76 five small islands of, 77 patent, 378 Nistigione, 271 Noble, Maritye Pieterse, 309

Thomas, 135 William

Noorman, Cattelyn, 149 Norman’s Kil, 67, 188, 207, 454

creek, killed at, 294 North gate, 89, 172, 213, 216

west passage, 3 Norwood, William, 293 Notable houses, 449 Notarial papers, 388 Notice of appeal, 42 Notification, 41 Nott, Rev. Dr., 404 Nova Scotia, 118, 251 Nucella, Dom. Johannse Petrus, 340

O ’Callaghan, Dr. E. B., 437, 440 Ocquarry, 19 Officers, Calvanist, 248 Ofmulder, Dirk, 135 Ogilivie, Rev. John, 392 Ohio, 1

Ohouowa-langantle, 436 Old building, 443, 449 church removed, 357 French war, 285, 290 maids, 365 trustees, 57 Oliver, John, 66, 91 Trynt.je, 66, 91 Oneidas, 2, 236 Onondagas, 2, 236, 288 retreated, 280 Oothout, Abraham, 54, 153

Opponents of Schermerhorn, 33, 34 Orange, 291 Ordinary, 209, 412 Order prohibiting trade, 411

Organ, 362

Original name for Albany, 440

owners, 62

settlers, 48, 49 Origin of church, 335 Origoniwoutt, 12 Oronowaragowhre, 12 Osenburg linen, 267 Oswego, morals at, 297 Otten, Catharine, 64,142, 143, 196

Helmer, 135,142, 195 Ouderkerk. Johannes, 113, 195

P alatine, 232, 294

Palisades, 62, 165, 244, 290, 305, 327, 332, 370

used by the Dutch, 304 Panic in Albany, 321 Paper, a subscription, 352 Papers in old box, 388 Pappen, Leghten Jan, 78 Parkman, 1, 442, 453 Parsonage, 337, 351, 360 Pastors, 406

Pasture, 49, 58, 59, 62, 68, 121

poor, 2

Patent, 24, 49, 50, 54, 55, 56, 57

bounds of the, 76 Cambefort’s, 76 division of, 41 Dongan, 23, 26, 33, 35, 36, 39, 50, 78 for the ancient township, 21

fourth and last, 35 Hunter’s, 39 J. C. Yan Slyck’s, 69 Stuyvesant’s, 77 of 1714, 35, 36, 38, 39 Yan Slyck’s island, 128 Patentees, five, 38,. 153 not disturbed, 36 of Schenectady, 72, 182 Patria, 6

Patroons, 4, 5, 6, 8, 125 company, 448 house, 443 island, 280

Payne, Rev. William, xii, 391, 407 Peace, 284

between England and France, 284 declared, 283 of Ryswick, 232, 283, 320, 339

of Utrecht, 232, 331 Pearson, Caleb, xv Prof. Jonathan, ix, xv Peek, Harmanus, 121 Jan, 136, 170 Jacobus, 25, 69, 72, 103, 136, 159, 161, 309 Jacobus, drowned, 121 Johannes, 69, 104 Mrs., banished from Manhattan Island, 136 Peekskill, named, 136 Pels, Evert, 125

Index.

Pennestont 26G People killed, 238, 261 ofAlbany,269 Permit to cut wood, 57 Persons killed near Albany, 293

Petition, 31, 33, 54, 55, 276, 337, 345, 390 Bicklord’s, 314 for charter, 426 for removal of church, 361

in state library, 25 Isaac Swits 1 , 308 Rycr Schemerhorn’s, 40, 41, 45, 46 signers, 41 the trustees, 47 to Gov. Nantan, 347 to Gov. and Coun., 24, 280

William Appell, 280 Petitioner, 52 Philipse, Jan, 137, 300,

302

Maria, 106

Philip, see de Moer, 25, 70. 74, 137, 157, 167,

303

Picquet, Francis, 292 Pieterse, Wm„ 263 Pikkert, Bartholomew, 137

Pine plains, beyond the, 437

Pitch pipe introduced, 395 Places in church, 357 Plains of Ahraham, 1 Plan of church, 357 of settlement, 56 Plans for the management of the common lands, 53

Plantasie, church (Een-kluys), 375 Elias, 61

Plantations deserted, 272, 281, 339,452 Plasterer, 408 Plat, village, 58 Platt, Zephaniah, 57 Platte kil, 7, 69,190 Poenties kil, 7, 61, 65,153, 180, 220

Poesten kil, 192, 223 Points of attack, 290 Polders 59

Poopenclaal (Beukendaal), 128, 298 Poor fund, 335 of Schenectady, 62 pasture, 2, 374, 375 Pootman, Arent, 138 Cornelis, 165 Jan, 124, 137 and wife slain Jan., 140 Johannes, 138, 243, 263, 268, 296, 375

Population, x, 58,245, 312, 402, 452 Beverwyck, 6

of New Netherland, 5 of Canada, 3 Porteous, John, 153 Port Jackson, 21, 282 Potter, Bishop, 395, 397 Poversen, 7, 68, 91, 140, 17 5, 210

Power of attorney, 31, 33, 54

to treat, 438

Praying Indians, 238, 239, 276

Preeck-stoel, 355 Presbyterian church, 42, 121

party, 395

Primogeniture, 52, 96 Prisoners, 123, 235, 247, 250, 278, 291, 302 Privileges of trade, 16, 20 Privileged West India Co., 4, 409

Proal, Rev. Alexis P., 397 Proclamation, 237 forbidding departures, 237

made to cut off trade, 413

Promise not to trade, 410 Proposed line of blockhouses, 231

Proprietors, first, 68,153 Provisions, cost, 455 Province,2

Provincial assembly, 156, 174

Provisions to Schenectady, 274

Provoost, Johannes, 197 Pruyn, John,454 Public property, income of, 53

Pulpit, 355, 356, 397 Purchase of lands, 49 Putman see Pootman, 137

/“\uackenbos, Martha, 292

Isaac,178 Pieter, 168 Rachel, 303

Quaint architecture, xiii Quebeck, attack, 285 Queesten, 367, 454 Quit rent, 23

R ack strand, 155

Railroad, N. Y. C., 60

Ral, Pieter, 138 Ramen, 337

Real estate owned by Reyer Schermerhorn, 143

Rebuilding fort, 331 Records, Church,xvii,335, 408

Rectors, 71, 72, 391 Rectory, 398

Reef, Van Antwerps’, 160 Regelbrugse kil, 7, 69 Register, baptismal, 365 marriage, 365 Regulation, milling, 192 Remarks on the Indian, 416

Remonstrance, 345 Removing to New York, 282

Rensselaerswyck, 5, 13, 15, 16, 88, 93, 223, 252 Rent, 20, 50, 52, 73, 74, 75 Repairing guns for the garrison, 327

Representatives, House of, 46

Returned prisoners, 303 Revolution, 2, 52, 332,333 Reynier, Jacob, 31 Rich valley, xv Rights, 52

Rinckhout, Daniel, 156 Jan, 121, 138, 374 Jurrian, 138 River, Hudson, 2 flats, xiii

Indians, 233, 281, 285 Maumee, 2

Mohav k, 8, 9,59,68, 77, 79, 80

south side of, 68 road, 221

Road, oldest, 312, 448 Roberts, Benj. or Bent, 25, 68, 71, 81, 92, 139, 158, 170, 175

Robert Livingston to Sir Edmond Andros, 260 Robinson, 300 Rocque, Mary Anne, 332 Rode (Roddah) a Mohawk, 79, 132, -191, 214, 224

Roeloffse, Jan, 138, 140, 263, 384

and wile slain Jan, 140 Roofing tiles, 446 Roll of Col. Ingoldsby’s company, 325 Romer, Col., 321, 323, 324 Romeyn, Catharina Theresa, 89

Rev. Doctor, 89 Rondweg, 305, 310, 313, 332

Roseboom, Johannes, 4122 Rotterdam, see Joncker, 71, 432

Ruin of Schenectady, 255 Rules for burying, 371 Ruyting, Anna, 103 Ryley, James Van Slyck, 189

Ryswick, peace of, 283

S achem, 79

of the Mohawks’ land, 12

Saint Helene, Le Moyne de, 244, 247

Sale, strong drink dangerous, 239 patent lands, 373 Salt kettle, 196 Sakemakers, 17, 72 Sanders family, 78 Chas. P., 119 Condre [Condre ?], 249 Jacob,115 Jacob G., 251 John, 54,118 Robert, 17, 59, 238 bible, 251 Sand, fine, 8 kil, 9-stone, 7 Sarachtoge, 238 Saraghtoga,293 Saratoga country, 7 (Schuylerville), 232 Sarge distributed, 266 Sassian (see Bont), 80, 90 island, 90 Sault, 247 St. Louis, 290 Saw mill, 192 Scarcity of provisions, 420

Schaets, Dominie Gideon, 139, 199, 264, 334, 335, 336, 453

Reynier, 140,199, 264 Tryntie, 268 and son killed, 140 Schaghtikook, 285, 291 Scan-ech-ta-de, 440 Scan-ec-ta-de, 310, 439, 440

Schaenhechtede, 196 Schanachstede, 14 Schanagtade, 284 Schanechstede, 16, 440j Schanechtade, 411 Schanechtede Schanectadea, 438 Schaneghstede, 16, 440 Schanegtade, 284, 323,347 Schaenhehtade, 334 Schanechtade, 18, 20, 73 Schanechted, 17,18 Schancchtide, 169, 209, 319, 412

Schanechtidee, 318 Schanectade, 124, 341 Schanechtade, magistrates of, 20 Schanechtede, 307 Schanecthede, 312 Schanektade, 411 Schan-hech-ta-de, 440 Schannectada, 236 Schannectade, 20 Schaunectade, 21 bought, 20

Schenechtade, 272, 414 Schenecktady, 327 Schenectadea, 436 (Albany), signified, 436 Schenectade, 22, 275,

282

Schenectadee, 331

463

Schenectady, 2, 6,7, 9,13, 15, 16, 21,49, 232, 271, 273, 274, 279 academy, xiii burning of, 154, 164, 213, 244, 245, 246, 253, 261, 271

car works yard, 62 derivation, 436 destruction of, 308, 339 breed, 418 fort of, 811, 392 garrison of, 297, 310 inhabitants of, 23, 24, 49, 51

importance of, 323 map of, 311 massacre at, 252 origin of name, 12,13 poor of, 62 patent, 24 patentees of, 72 provisions, 274 rent by party spirit, 240 ruin of, 255

site early occupied, 438 Township of, 42, 285 trade privileges refused, 16

trustees of, 36, 47, 75, 78

village of, 36 Shenectedi, 316 Schenectide, 411 Chenectide , 399 Schenectida, 307 Schenectidy, 320 Schenenectady,the sufferings of, 297 Schennectady. 273 Schinectady, 417 Schinnectady, 271, 224, 342, 416, 418

Schonactady, 314, 315,440 Schonechtade, 280 Schonechtady, 329, 330 Schonecktady, 330 Schonectady, 329 Schoneghtade, form of, 31 Schoneghtede, 345 Schonectede, 272 Schonectide, 414 Schoneghtende, 345 Schoneghtide, 345 Schonegtade, 161, 347 Schoneghtade, 31 Schonegteday, 74 Schonliectady, 440 Schoonechtede, 266, 268 Schoonechtendeel, 59,310, 437

Sclionowe, 4, 36, 436, 437, 438

Sconechiade, 359 Sconextady, 414, 440 Skenektadea, 191 Sgaun-hac-ta-tie, 438 S’Gaun-hac-ta-tie, 437, 438, 440

S’Gaun-ho-ha, 437 Sgaun-ho-ha, 438

Shenechtady, 243, 255 Shennectady, 283 Shinnectady, 240,242,259, 260, 283, 328, 344, 413 Shinnechtady, 252, 254, 255, 281

Skachnechtade, 382 Skachneclitadie, 384 Skacknechtadie, 386 Skahnecktadie, 386 Skenectady, 446 Skinnechtady, 251, 260 Synichtady, 272 Sckermerkorn,82,116,141, 312

corn, 268

Johannes and three negroes killed, 145 Jacob, 304 Jacob Janse, 141 Jan, 51, 75 Jannetie, 146, 268 Lawrence, 56 Maus, 54, 55 Mills, CO, 64

Eyer, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 33, 35, 36, 38, 40, 45, 47, 49, 50, 51, 63, 67, 72, 75, 78, 84, 96, 97, 104, 117, 135, 142, 143, 144, 167, 182, 186, 204, 220, 226, 272, 347 Beyer Jacobsen, 80,121, 243

Eykert, 54, 55 Symon, 145, 251, 266, 267, 268

Sym. Jacobse, 211 arrested, 141 banished, 141 case betw een the trustees and Eyer, 48 death of, 141 died, Jan., 39 opponents, 33, 34 suit, 32

the second, Beyer, 39 Schlectenhcrst, Com., 6 Schoharie, 2, 439 Schoolcraft, notes on Iroquois, 13, 440 Schoolen, trivale, 434 School, lliustre, 433 Union, 435 masters, 83

Schout and secretary, 103 Sckovt, 193, 197, 240, 348 Schuylenburgh kil, 64,142 Scuuyler, Col. John, 282, 293

Lieut. John, 277 Myndert, 188 Capt. Philip, 221 Col. Pieter, 2, 26,27, 30, 31, 252, 274, 277 warned, 197 Scotchmen, xi Scotia, 70, 76, 79, 115,116, 117, 118, 139, 172, 228 lake, 186 Scouts, 276, 321

Seal, 20, 404

Search for Indian goods, 414

Second Flat, 69, 72 foremost piece, 60, 61, 62

French war, 232 Senecas, 2, 288 ask assistance, 288 attacked by French, 234 Denonville’s correspondence, 234

Separation of Presbyterians, 408

Services, last in old church, 361 Session house, 406 Settlers, 53 first, 206

taken by surprise, 292 Settlement begun, 48 on the north side. 68 hindrance to, 417 Settlements, 232 Seventh Flat, 75 Severe winter, 284 Sewant (tubs of beer), 17, 336

Sexagenary, recollections of, 317

Sexes apart, 366 Sexton, 364 bill of, 143 duties of, 364 Shea, Hon. J. G., 438 Shingles, 336, 443, 446 Ship Bcnte Koe, 181 King Charles , 197 Piince William , 202 St. Jacob , 183 Shute, Eev. Daniel, 368 Signatures, tac simile, 11, 17, 18, 19, 256 to power of attorney, 32 Yan Eensselaer’s, 256 Signers of proposed agreement, 37, 38 to petition, 41 Singing, Mr. De Graaf’s, 363

Sinnekes, 236 Site, practically abandoned, 312

of Schenectady, 438 Sixbury family, 145 Manasseh, 69, 124, 145 Six Nations, 1, 454 aid of, 290 Sixth Flat, 74 Skachkook,239 Sketch of St. George’s church, 396 Skouts, 254 Skulking Indians, 275 parties, 290 party, 281

Slaaghboom, Antonia 168 Slingeiland, Cornells, 137, 146

Teunis Cornelise, 146 Sloot , 7

Small Pall, 369 Smith, 289 Christian, 276,

- D. Cady, 201 Thomas, 39, 73, 124,135, 146, 147, 314 William, 39, 285 French, 289

Smiis Yaley (New Amsterdam), 114,159 Soc. for the Prop, of the Gospel, xii, 342, 407 Social manners, 379 Soegemakelyk, alias Yan Woggelum, Pieter Adrianse, 64, 195 Soil, 82 Soldiers, 314 hardships, 326 killed, 301 Sonareetsie, 12 Sopus (Kingston), 234 South-door, 408 side of the river, 68 Spoor, Jan, 262, 269 Springsteen, Casparus, 146 Spuyten Duyvel, 78,118, 166, 171 Spy loft, 310 Staes, Abm., 91 Staets, Jochim, 242, 248, 320

Standing rule, 418 State library, 25, 407 States General, 5, 141 Stebbins, Eev. Cyrus, 397 Steenbakkar (see bricks), xi, 444, 445, 447 see Borsboom, 65, 91, 153, 445, 447

Steene Baby (Stone Arabia), 212

Stevens, Jonathan, 21, 31, 70,107, 130, 146, 167 Lea, 191 Keyntje, 164 St. Lawrence, 1, 4 Stockaded, 233, 244, 245 Stockade destroyed, 307 Stockades, 58, 59, 260, 284, 297, 304, 305, 807, 308, 310, 311, 812, 315, 324, 327, 328, 329, 330, 332

Stoddard, Captain, 302 Stone Arabia, 199, 294 creek, 69, 190 fiats, 8, 128 houses, 7, 443, 450 kil, 68

Stores, bill for, 358 in church, 358 Strangers, 49 Street, martyrs, 310 Strength of the congregation, 400 Strouds, 417, 455 Student, divinity, 360 Stuyvesant, 5 Gov., 6, 9, 12, 13,’i 17 65, 77

59

Index.

Stuyvesant, letter to, 9 order of, 440 patent of, 77 visit to Rensselaer-wyck, 378

Subscription for church, 353

for bell, 359 paper, 352 Suit, 30

Schermerhorn’s, 32, 39 Supplies cost, 455 Supreme autocrat, 4 Court, 418

Surgeon at the fort, 328 of the fort, 176 Surrender of Province, 49

Survey of Third Flat, 161 Surveyor, 13, 14,16,171 Surveys, crude, x Surviving trustees, 53,432 Swart, Elias, 267, 268 Jacquemina, 71, 182 Jessaias, 25, 31, 67, 89, 145, 151, 309 Teunis, 67,150, 151, 222 Cornelisse, 15, 61, 62, 67, 126, 128, 149, 151, 152,173, 221 Wouter, 155 Swits, 82

Abraham. 54, 55, 218 Cornelis, 86, 149 Claese, 147

Isaac Coru., 91,147,148, 149, 171, 186, 265 Jillesje Claese, 125 Klein Isaac, 25, 65, 78, 87, 148, 149, 166, 219. 273, 307, 327, 345 petition, 308 Maria, 78

carried away to Canada, 149

Syejodenawadde, 215 Symonse’s meadow, Ger-rit, 61

System, feudal, 4

r Palmage, Lieut. Enos, JL 242, 245, 253, 262, 274, 307, 320 Tan vats, 129, 228 Tappen, Jurriaen Teu-nise, 66, 123, 186 Tapsters, 168,189,208,210 Taquaatsera or Droy-bergh kil, 7, 74, 143, 156

Tawas-gauntha(Norman’s kil), 439

Teller, Henry A,, 56 Jacobus, 153 Johannes, 25, 35, 50, 65, 133, 154, 216, 221 William, 15, 16, 22, 23, 24, 49, 65,139,147,148, 152, 153, 154, 167, 181, 186, 198

Ten Broeck, Dirk Weasels, 252

Ten Eyck, Jacob Coen-ratse, 187 Tobias H., 79 Teunise, Eg’nbert, 238 Jurriaen, 208 Sweer, 18, 22, 24, 49, 77, 79, 121, 243 Thatch, 442, 443, 445 The Bear, 11 little church and graveyard, 59

Norman (see Bratt), 62 scene at Beukendaal, 299

Willows (de Willegen), 167

Thessenmaecker, Do. P., 154, 264, 336, 337, 338, 339, 381, 387

Thickstone, Jeremi, 152, 155

Third Flat, 69, 70, 121, 131, 160, 161 minister, 346

Tiebout’s company of foot, 297

Tietsoort, Willem, 156 Willem Abrahause, 87, 155

Tile kiln, 444 Tiles, 445

Timber and firewood, 51 Tiononderoga (Fort Hunter), 8

Titles, Indian, 17, 60, 76, 160

Tjerck, Elsie, 100 Tohoriowachque, 19 Tokens, 405

Toll, Carel Hanse, 71, 75, 76,81, 90, 101, 108,140, 155,156, 157, 158, 180, 287, 298, 301, 302 Daniel, 287,298, 301, 302 Hansen, 157 Topography, 7 Towereune, 7, 101,158 Town, destroyed, xiii, 50 dangers of depopulation, 320 miller, 171 on site Albany, 437 plat, 48, 49

sa?ked and burned, 50 Township, Schenectady, 42, 285

Trade, 240, 242, 448 foreign and domestic, 6 free, 6 Indian, 15 in liquors, 419 privileges, 16, 20 prohibited, 15 regulations, 414 Traders houses, 442 Indian, 6, 13, 15, 409, 417

Trading post on site Albany,231

Traditional merrymaking, 83, 412 Traffic on river, 425 Train bands at Shinnec-tady, 283

under Leisler, 236 Translation of scriptures, Mohawk, 112, 175 Treaty of Schenectady, 454

Troops, 306, 389 Connecticut, 307 Trouw-boek, 209, 365,366, 387

Troy, 223

Truax, Isack De Teurex, 36, 69, 180, 266. 268, 301, 302

Johannes Abrahamse, 171

Maria, 69

Trustees, 36, 47,50, 51.52, 53,54, 55, 56, 73, '75, 78, 129, 130

called commissaries, 49 surviving, 53, 432 Turnpike company, 425 Tyrns, Michael, 54

U nion College, xiii, xv, xvi, 56, 223, 230, 404, 433, 435 Union school, 435 United Netherland Co., 4, 409

Unsound doctrine, 363 Uythoff, Wouter, 67, 150, 173

alue of house lots, 113 Values quoted, iv Van Alystyne, John, 296 Van Antwerp, Van Antwerpen, Janse, Dan-ielse, 159

Ar. Dan., 35, 78, 84, 111, 162, 166, 219. 227, 286, 227, 286, 327, 329 Daniel, 301, 302 Daniel Danielse, 129, 165

Danl. Janse, 25, 30, 31, 69, 127, 128, 131, 132, 159, 160, 162, 309, 337, 345, 350, 381, 413 Daniel Symonse, 161 Gerrit, 206, 298 Jan Danielse, 73, 127, 160, 162, 287, 314 J. P., 301, 302 Pieter Danyelse, 286 Simon,

Van Antwerp’s Reef, 160 Vau Bael, Jan. Hend-rickse. 137, 138, 217 Van Benthuysen, 25 Fytie, 66, 91 Marten, 66, 91, 133, 163, 167, 287.

Paul us Martense, 163 Peter, 45

Van Boekhoeven, Claas, 178

Claas Janse, 105, 151, 199

(De Brabander) Claase Janse 63, 67, 94, 163, 173 , 274

Van Bommel, Herbertje, 228

Mar. Jan, 228

Van Brakel, Gerrit, 165 Ger. Gysbertse, 84, 166, 267

Gysbertse, 314 Gys. Gerritse, 25, 66,78, 92, 164, 165, 179, 263, 265, 267

Van Coppernol, Claes Willemse, 21, 70, 75, 137, 146, 157, 167, 168, 185

Sander, 75

Van Curler, Antonio, 169 Arent, ix, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 20, 58, 60, 86, 95, 101, 139, 149, 168, 199, 212, 234, 421 Bouwery, 62 drowned, 168 farm, 61 Juflrow, 168

Van der Baast, 10, 69, 80, 102, 107, 121, 126, 136, 161, 171, 172, 195, 263

Van den berg, Gysbert W., 355

Vande Bogart, Anne, 266 Claes, 265

Claas F., 96, 106, 220, 286

Frans, 172, 266, 302 Frans Harm,264, 265 Frans Jr., 301 Surgeon Harmen Myn-dertse, 125, 172 Tjerck Fransen, 25, 377

Decisson, Petrus, 350, 355

Van der Heyden Palace. 445

Van Der Volgen, alias Van Purmerend, Claas Lauren se, 67, 74, 77, 112, 143, 150, 152, 173, 174, 177, 200, 207, 265, 268, 269, 344 Claas, 74, 165 C. P., 329 Lawrence, 165 Nicholaas, 63, 362

Van de Vorst, Isles, 25

Van Ditmars Bar. Jan. 62, 67, 68, 90, 91, 93, 94, 133, 151, 175, 262, 265

Catlyn Barensen, 267 Cornelis Barense, 67

Van Dyck, Cornelis, 175 Hendrick, 175

465

Van Dyck,

Jacobus, 25, 75, 96, 175, 178, 329, 377 Van Eps, 7, 82. 176 Annatie, 178 Dirk, 100, 176, 261 Evert, 117,180 Jan., 22, 25, 28, 49, 75, 126, 127, 128, 133, 162, 164, 177, 242, 261, 265, 266, 267, 413

Jan Bap., 30, 31, 63, 66, 77, 79, 96, 119, 121, 178, 177, 178, 179, 186, 195, 226, 265, 275, 277, 297, 317

Jan D.,-63, 100, 176,177, 180

Maritie Damen, 94,181 Neeltie, 75 Sara, 162 Eliz’s will, 164 farm, 61 Island, 79 kill, 75 Jan killed, 23 Van Erde, William, 266, 267

Van Esselsteyn (Yssel-steyn) Marten Cor-nelise, ISO, 186 Van Gyseling, Elias, 108,

181, 182, 268, 309, 450 Cornelius, 182 Myndert, 63,119,182 house, 449

Van Hoek, Arent Isaacs®, 182

Benonny Arentse, 71,

182, 208, 268

Van Isselsteyn, Marten Cornelise, 15, 66, 179, 181

Van Laer, Jacob, 267 Van Leyden, (see Appel), 82

Adrien Janse, 125 Van Marken, John Gar., 18,195

Van Ness, xi Cornelis, 63,100,177, 261 Van Ort, Goosen, 165, 185, 266, 267 Van Olinda, Daniel, 25 Helletie, 185, 276, 323 Jacob, 286

Pieter, 25, 70,77, 89,96, 126, 157, 185, 266,

286

Van Olinder, Pieter Dan-ielse, 15, 21, 105, 183 Van Petten, Andries. 54, 55, 187

Arent, 117,187,188, 288, 371

Claas, 64, 75, 115, 117, 174, 187, 203, 345 Frederic, 371 Claas Frederickse, 66, 81, 148, 179, 185, 208 Nicholas, 53

Van Pnrmerend (see Van der Volgen), 15, 67 Van Rotterdam (se Jonc-ker, 123, 381 Van Rensselaer, 6, 409 Head., 322 J. B., 442, 443 Kilian, 8, 252, 256, 322 R. (Richard ?), 256 signatures, 256 Van Schaick, Capt. Anthony, 302, 303 Margarita, 112 Peter, 54

Van Schelluyne, Dirk,

105, 123 Van Sice, 369

Jacobus, 364 Joseph, 288, 289 Van Slichte^horst, Baata, 106

Van Slyck, Adam, 191 Adrian, 298, 300,301,302 Albert, 298

Cornelis Antonissen, alias Broer Cornelis, 25, 188, 274, 296 Daniel, 298

Capt. Harmanus, 25, 190, 191, 274, 278, 287, 28S, 314, 321

Hillah, 21, 105, 183,184 Jacques Cornelisse, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 62, 69, 76, 77, 79, 92, 95, 98, 168, 169, 188, 189, 191, 209, 223, 224, 266, 298, 412 Col. Jacobus, 189, 226 Leah, 21, 146 Marte, 25, 77, 188, 224 island, 62, 77, 78, 92, 107, 111, 128, 191,193 Van Valkenburgh, Isaac, 89, 96, 156, 185, 191 Jochem, 191

Van Vechten, Abm., 54, 56

Van Velsen, Sweer Teu-nise, 23, 92, 105,

106, 119, 128, 171, 189, 192, 194, 223, 224, 240, 242, 262, 319, 375, 376, 379, 381

farm, 60, 61 slain, 193

Van Vleck, Benjamin, 93 Van Vorst, Dirck, 300, 302

Jac. Ger., 195 Jeliis, 102, 113, 195, 327 Van Vranken, Gerrit, Claase, 101 Hillegonda, 293 Rickert, 99

Ryck Claase, 164, 199, 273

Van Westbrook see Van Velsen, 192

Van Woggelum alias Soegemakelyk, Pieter

Adriense, 15, 60, 64, 136, 170

Van Woutbergh, Theunis Willemse, 164 Van Ysselsteyn, Marten Corn., 198, 200 Varken’s (or Hog island), 79

Kraal, 122 Vos, Petrus, 350 Vedder, 82

Albert, 25, 65, 141, 170, 199, 265, 303 John, 200, 301, 302 Anna, 103

Arent, 25 , 73, 201, 266, 267, 268 Christian, 293 Corset, 202, 293 Daniel, 221

Harmanus, 16, 63, 65, 66, 87, 96, 123, 161, 199, 200, 265, 266, 267, 288, 413

Harmen A'.bertse, 175, 181, 196, 199 Jacobus, 171 Joh, 202, 265, 362 Veeder, 82 Albert, 314 Geesie, 223

Ger. Sym, 64, 67, 104, 142, 144, 145, 162, 170, 196, 200, 204, 216, 286, 288, 314, 350 Jr., Gerret S., 541 Hannah Symonse, 145 Harmen, 300, 302 Helmus, 144 Johannes, 70 Sym., 207 Margarita, 364 Myndert, 70, 201 Nicholas, 2, 53, 54, 318 Nieces Volck., 267 Pieter Sym., 207, 314 Symon, 87

Volkertse, 15,66, 67,96, 152, 192, 202, 216,

384

the centennarian, 302 Volkert, 66

Symonse, 144, 145, 186, 207

foot, 318 mills, 60, 205 Verbeeck, Gerret, 140 Verf Kil, 7, 158 Vermy, Tryntje, 268 Verplauck, Isaac, 141 Philip, 187 Verrebergh, 137 Vetch, Col. Samuel, 285 Viele, Arnout, 145, 209, 278

Cornelise, 72, 103, 211, 235, 262, 265, 323 Claas, 389

Corn., 68, 71,80, 81, 90, 91, 109, 140, 200, 208, 210, 211, 267, 286, 300

Viele,

Corn., Jr., 210, 262, 301, 302

Cornelis Cornelise, 66, 168, 169, 179, 180, 186, 207, 209, 412 Lewis, 71, 124, 208 Maria, 209, 262 Arnoutse, married, 83 Pieter Cornelise, 71,108, 124, 182, 207 Teunis, 195, 268 Willempie, 209 chart, 209, 211 killed, 71 ordinary, 412 taken prisoner, 211 View of the scene of fight at Beukendaal, 299 Village, 62 Cranes, 76 Indian, 9 lots, 59

of Schenectady, 36 plat, 58

under an embargo, 413 Virgmia, 5 Visger, John, 317 Visscher, Harmen, 121 Volckert, nieces, 266 Volunteers, 314 for defence of frontiers, 294

Voorlezer and Voorzan-ger, 362, 363, 369, 379, vase de plaats, 453 Vosburgh, Peter, 303 Vossen kil, 163 Vrooman, Adam, 25, 26, 30, 31, 59, 82, 89, 106, 154, 170, 171, 188, 190, 213, 218, 217, 221, 222, 241, 247, 264, 265, 267, 268, 327, 333, 336, 370, 380

Adam S , 54, 55 Barent, 25, 78, 99, 122, 166, 218, 219, 220, 265, 288, 329, 393 Bartel, 238 Bartholomew, 263 Cornelis, 79 Do., 360, 368 Grietje, 190

Hendrick, 78, 94, 99, 111, 144, 217, 218, 219, 287, 288, 355 Hend. Jansen, 373 Meese, 212, 263 Isaac, 53, 151, 191 Jacob Meese, 67, 150, 152, 173

Jan. 20, 25,166, 206, 216, 221, 223, 345, 368, 873 Johannes Seyer, 301, 302 Johu, 155, 303, 329 L. R., 369 Matthvs, 83, 211 Pieter, 70, 222, 300, 301, 302

Simon, 223

Index.

Walter, 381

Wouter, 36, 161, 220, 226

house, 449

land, 214, 222

lane , 217 mill, 205 map, 332, 439

Vynhout, Corneliis, 71 Yyselaer, Jan Comelise, 192

achkeerhoha, 72,103,

Wachtmeaster, 152 Wages, 297

Wagon forbidden to go to Schen, 413 Walls, bricks, 448 stone.448

Walter Wilie’s ballad, 269 Wampum, 254, 276 Wandel, Evert (see Wen-del), 322 Wants, 82

War, Austrian succession, 232

Britain and France, 339 last French, 3 old French, 232, 285, 290, 312, 316, 331, 332 Revolutionary, 2 second French, 232, 332 Spanish succession, 232 Warmoesgat, 226 Watch, 251, 252, 290, 333 and market house, 333

Weather vane, 445 Webb, John, 265 Weerm, James, 314 Weesmeesters, 93, 367 Weights and measures, iv Weld, Isaac, Jr., 446 Welland canal, 230 Welleven, Susanna, 174 Wells, Philip, 76 Wemple, Wemp, 82 Abraham, 45, 53, 54 Antje, 121

Barent, 25, 30, 35, 50, 99, 106, 144, 171, 194, 218, 219, 226, 266, 267, 286, 329 Bar. Jan., 413 Catalyntje, 75 Hend., 288, 289 island, 77, 190, 223, 224 Jan, 26, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 50, 70,117,143,226, 264, 286, 288, 314, 371 Jan Barentse, 14,15, 62, 67, 128, 192, 193, 205, 206, 218, 223, 224, 261, 287

Myndert, 22, 23, 24, 49, 224, 225, 243, 264, 288 Myndert, killed, 261 Ryer, 300,301, 302 Wendel, Ahasuerus, 178 Evert Janse, 169, 224 Harmanus, 89,117 Jer., 243

Capt. Johannes, 154 Susanna, 207

Wessels, Dirck, 256, 322 Westerly boundary, 7 West India Co., 5, 6,109 Wetmore, Rev. Robert G., 396

Wey, Calver, 62 Weyland, 126,151 Wigwam, Indians, 311 Wilderness, 68 Wileman, Tom, 294 Wilie, Walter, 270 Will, Bratt’s, 40 Elizabeth Van Eps, 164 Jan Mebies, 73 Mrs. Van Curler’s, 169 Myndert Van Gyse-ling’s, 63

Ryer Schermerhorn’s, 63

Symon Van Antwerp’s, 161

Willem Tellers Killetje, 7, 61

Willem stadt, 197 William of Orange, 347 Williamson, secretary, 234

Williams, Thomas, 187 Willow Flat (Willigen), 21, 70, 75,137,183,185 Wilson, 300, 302 Windows, 336, 443 Wingdams, 424 Winnie, Pieter, 110 Winter, severe, 284 Winterwyck, Rev. Matthias, 350

Winthrop, Governor, 284 Witbeck, Jan Tomase, 119

Woestyne, 74, 127, 130, 174, 201, 226, 268 Wood, 68

Wooden house, 118, 304 Woodland, 8, 59, 62, 432 Worth’s Rand. Rec., 447 Wounded, 302 sent to Albany, 233 Wyngaard, Jan L., 25,84, 155, 156, 227, 242, 268

Y (river), xi

Yates (Yets, Yetz, Yattes), 228 Abraham, 130, 228, 229 Andrew, 230 Christopher, 45, 229 Giles F., 246 Henry, 230 John, 56, 230 Joseph, 228, 229, 230 Joseph C., 56, 229 Joseph R., 130, 228 Mrs. A. A„ 246 Peter, 56

Robert, 129, 130, |171, 229

account of Beukendaal, 299

Yoncker, Jan Janse, 124, 160

Z and or Zant kil, 7,70, 205, 224